Cassie fought the bone wracking shudder that tore though her, she desperately wanted those seven years. They may not seem like much, but they would be precious, and she had a very bad feeling that she was going to be cheated of them. “There are times I wish that Luther had never found you.”
Cassie tried to push aside the cold terror, and aching hurt, that was firmly embedded in her belly. “There are times I wish that too,” she admitted softly.
If Luther had never found her that day, then she and Chris never would have known that they were Hunter’s. Chris’s mother, and her grandmother, had decided to keep the truth hidden from them. They had been determined to keep them safe, and to raise them as normally as possible. Until Luther arrived, Chris’s power had been passed off as a psychic ability that some normal people may have possessed. At the time, Cassie’s grandmother believed that they were the last of The Hunter line, and that no one would come looking for them.
They had been wrong.
“You will be safe, right?” Cassie asked worriedly.
Her grandmother smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “Don’t worry about me dear, don’t you ever worry about me. You don’t get to be my ripe old age without knowing how to take care of yourself.”
Cassie nodded, but she was not completely soothed. She knew her grandmother; she was not one to sit idly by, especially if she thought she would be keeping Cassie safe. She could only hope that she didn’t do something crazy.
“Eat your breakfast dear, Chris is on his way over.”
Cassie glanced back at her bowl of oatmeal, but she had no appetite. “I’ll see you tonight grandma, I love you.”
She dropped a quick kiss on her soft cheek as she grabbed hold of her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Love you too dear. Have a good day.”
Cassie glanced back at her, but she was still staring out the window, a distant look on her pretty features. A chill of apprehension slid down Cassie’s spine.
CHAPTER 16
Cassie played with the applesauce on her plate, twirling it over on her spoon; her thoughts were distant and distracted. She could not get the lonely image of her grandmother out of her head, or shake the foreboding that had seized hold of her. Devon took hold of her hand, his touch soothing some of her tension.
Looking up at him, she managed a wan smile as she met his troubled gaze. “What is wrong?”
Shaking her head, she dropped her spoon; seizing hold of his hand she once again noted that it was abnormally cold. She frowned as she ran her finger over his skin, savoring in the feel of him. His circulation had to be poor for him to be this chilled. Either that, or he had just come from outside as it was a little brisk for September.
Shrugging it off, she managed a small smile for him. “Nothing, just not that hungry.”
He didn’t seem to buy it as he stared hard at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She studied him carefully for a moment, her questions from earlier returning to her. “Devon, where do you live?”
Quirking an eyebrow, a small smile flitted across his full lips. “Is that what has you so distracted?”
Cassie shrugged absently. “I just realized that I don’t know much about you.”
Something flickered in his eyes. It was a quick flash, but she was certain that she saw it. She couldn’t be sure what it had been though, but for a moment she thought it was fear. But why would her question cause him fear? “Well, we will have to remedy that,” he said softly, his hand tightened briefly around hers. “My place is in Oyster Hills.”
Cassie blinked in surprise; she didn’t know much about Oyster Hills, except for the fact that it was very expensive, and highly upscale. “Wow. What do your parents do?”
His jaw clenched tight, a muscle jumped in his cheek. “They’re dead.”
Cassie gasped, horror filled her. “I’m so sorry; I know how awful that is.”
He shrugged absently, his finger caressing her hand lightly. “It was a long time ago.”
“But the hole never heals,” she whispered.
His distant gaze came back to hers, tender and loving as he studied her. “I suppose not.”
Swallowing heavily, she leaned closer to him, hoping to ease some of the pain she knew such a passing left. “Do you mind me asking what happened?” she inquired softly.
He hesitated for a moment, before shrugging. “They were killed.”
Cassie’s eyes widened, anguish filled her as she studied his hard countenance. Though curiosity filled her, she decided against pressing further. She knew how much it could upset someone; how the wound never completely healed. No matter how much time passed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
He smiled at her, kissing her hand gently. “Anything you wish to know, you just ask.”
Leaning closer to him, she was surprised to realize that she had completely forgotten about the noise and confusion of the cafeteria. He had a way about him that made it very easy to forget that the rest of the world even existed. He had a way that made it impossible to focus on anything, except him. She rested her head on his shoulder, savoring in his scent as he gently caressed her hair.
Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift into him, relishing in the comfort that he brought her. “Would you like to see my place today?”
She glanced up at him, grinning brightly as she nodded. “I would.”
His eyes twinkled merrily as he dropped a chaste kiss upon her forehead. The memory of the passionate kiss they had shared last night assailed her, leaving her longing for more. For a moment a tremor of fear trickled through her. What would happen if they went to his place alone? Though the thought did arise some fear, she couldn’t stop her pulse from racing with excitement.
A new commotion snapped her eyes to the center of the cafeteria. Marcy had grabbed a chair and was pulling it into the center of the room. Mrs. Kindel shook her head, but didn’t stop her as Marcy brought forth a microphone and climbed onto the chair. Cassie had no idea where the microphone had come from; she didn’t want to know either.
“Hello, testing.” Everyone in the room winced as the microphone squealed loudly. “Ok, I have some announcements to make,” Marcy continued when the noise died down.
Cassie glanced at Melissa, who smiled superiorly back at her and gave a quick wink. Groaning inwardly, she slid slightly down in her chair, hoping that she could somehow be overlooked. Devon was frowning in confusion; his dark eyebrows were drawn tightly together as he studied Marcy like some strange bug.