Jordyn yanked on my arm. “See you later, Aunt Tab.”
“Is something wrong, Aunt Tab?” I asked, knowing she probably wouldn’t tell me.
Aside from her unkempt physical appearance, which probably stemmed from her rooting around in the workshop or barn for mason jars, I detected a hint of despair in her dark eyes.
I wondered if she and my uncle had a spat.
“I’m fine.” She didn’t sound convincing. “Go. Enjoy the sunshine.”
As I left, I got the feeling her sour mood had something to do with me.
3
LAYLA
An hour later, Jordyn and I were riding down the dirt path along the edge of the property. The wind was cold but light. The weather in February averaged high thirties to low forties during the day and below freezing at night. Despite the cool temps, the fresh Montana air felt amazing. Inhaling, I turned my face toward the late-morning sun as Poncho trotted alongside Yankee.
Jordyn cleared her throat. “I love the energy here. It’s the only thing I miss about living in Montana.”
I righted my head and blinked. “That and our parents.” I was tempted to suggest we ride to the cemetery, but it was too far on horseback.
Jordyn adjusted her knitted brown scarf so it covered some of her chin. “Layla, are we going our separate ways?”
A shiver ran through me. I hated to think that we were. Rianne, Jordyn, and I had been inseparable since Mom had gotten breast cancer, even more so when our father died. But we needed to do something with our lives. “It’s time, sis, to move on.”
Silence followed us as we took a detour off the beaten path. Snow capped the mountains along our right side. There were open fields to our left, and a defunct ranch that had once been occupied by our great-great-grandparents lay ahead.
“I hate this place,” Jordyn said as we approached.
An eerie feeling gripped my soul. Images of vampires burning, screaming, and fighting for their lives flashed before me as I caught a glimpse of the firepit in front of the boarded-up house and barn.
It was the very place where my uncles drank beer and laughed as they tortured vampires. I couldn’t say I hadn’t enjoyed watching them burn or seeing how satisfied my father had been to watch them die. But after spending time with Sam, the hatred I’d harbored for them was slowly waning. Another sick feeling dropped into the pit of my stomach when I pictured Sam hanging from the makeshift structure over the firepit, his body going up in flames.
I choked as acid settled in my throat. I couldn’t discern whether what I was imagining was real or not.
Jordyn came to a halt with Yankee, a mare who had a beautiful brown coat with white spots on her muzzle. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. We should go back.”
I yanked my scarf away from my neck, suddenly hot and panicked as I pulled on Poncho’s reins. “I’m fine.”
“Did you have a vision?” she asked as though she was talking about the weather.
Fuck, I hope not.The thought of Sam’s flesh burning to a crisp sent my heart galloping, and not only because I might have seen Sam’s demise. My chest hurt at the notion he could die.Oh, crap. I can’t have feelings for him.Sex was one thing. Feelings for him… no way. Not an option.
“Answer me, Layla.” Panic laced her tone.
“I don’t know. But if I did, then Sam is going to die.”
She sucked in a sharp jagged breath and pointed to the pit. “You mean burn at the hands of our family?”
I shrugged. “It’s nothing. Sam can’t die. He’s too powerful.”
She stared at me like I had five heads. “Holy shit. You have feelings for him.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You are so lying through your perfect white teeth,” she said, suddenly giddy.
“You’re right. We should go back.” I hadn’t had anything to eat, and my stomach didn’t feel so well.
