Page 68 of First Kiss with a Mothman

She gulps, then says, “But the cops will sniff around, and…”

“My sources say this whole dock has been condemned. This place was an accident waiting to happen. What’s one random fire?” When I open my eyes, I spot them in the distance, and Arie’s uncle is lighting a match. “We might as well use this place to purge our world of one of these fucking shifters. It’s the price to pay for converting one of our kind into theirs.”

His words are filled with such venom, but all I can focus on is the light in his hand. I catch Arie’s mom’s gaze and give her a look of pure fear. To her credit, she seems genuinely distressed. But none of that matters, because he’s dropping the match.

The two leave, and I try to pry the ropes off my arm. I’m tied to a metal post, and it’s not budging. In seconds, the flame spreads to the rest of the floor, a blaze surrounding me and catching the walls.

“Help, help, HEEELLLP!” I holler. As the fire gets closer to me, all I can think of is holding Arie in my arms and not admitting to him that I love him. If I die now, that will be my only true regret.

Chapter

Twenty-One

ARIE

My night out with my cousin feels off. We’re at the nearby mall, sharing a pizza at the food court. Hanging out with her simply isn’t as entertaining as when I’m with Mort, or even Owen, Seth, or Tanner. Selena and I will always be family, but she doesn’t interest me as much as my new monster friends. She won’t stop chatting about places where she and I can live together, and I make noncommittal agreement noises. I don’t intend to live with her after graduation; she just assumes I’ll need her forever.

Maybe we’ve grown apart. Because I want to live with monsters, maybe even a future monster life partner. Perhaps someone with pretty wings and cute antennae?

When my phone buzzes, I let out a sigh of relief. I excuse myself from my cousin’s monologue and stride to the nearest exit, taking any excuse to get out of here. With Reginald on my shoulder, I make it through the double doors. My brow furrows when I find out it’s not Mort.

Huh. He’s the only one who calls me.

“Tanner?”

“Hey, Arie, you’re okay.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Where are you?” The voice on the other line shifts, and it sounds like Tanner and Kovi are together on speakerphone.

“I’m at the mall. Why?”

“And you’re not, like, hurt?”

“No, why would I be?”

“Seth told me that Caleb told him that your mom came to Alpha Claw Omega House.”

My head goes dizzy. “What?” I yelp.

“Yeah, she seemed really panicky. Claimed that you were in danger. She and Mort took off.”

“No.” I shake my head, and I suddenly feel dizzy. “No no no, I’m…I’m fine. Hanging out with my cousin. We’re at a mall.”

“Squawk!” Reginald flies around, sounding more distressed than usual, but I try to ignore him.

“And you haven’t spoken to your mom?” Tanner asks over the phone.

“No, what…what’s going on?”

“Wait, what?” Tanner mumbles something to Kovi, and the two of them sound like they’re walking around. “What the hell…?”

“What’s happening?” I ask. Reginald continues to make noises and pull at my shirt, and I bat him away.

“I sense a, like…disturbance in the forest,” Kovi says. “The…moths are going wild.”

Moths?! Now I’ve gone from confused to panicked.