And as if her words had triggered it, Gustavo suddenly felt a sharp pain in his gut. He felt as if someone had plunged a cold hand into his stomach and wrapped a strong fist around his spine, jerking him forward onto his knees. He could hear the voices around him, but he couldn’t decipher any of their words. All he could focus on was his mate and the pain that was coming through loud and clear from their bond. If she’d been safe only moments ago when she’d reached for him, she was safe nolonger.
* * *
Jewel awoketo the sound of pounding on the motel door. She couldn’t see any sunlight coming through the curtains, so it was either very late or very early. The pounding started again, and she flipped the covers back and slid her legs over the side ofthebed.
“Who is it?” she called out as she stood up and straightened her rumbled sleepclothes.
“It’s Sly and Z. We’re the only two people who know where you are. Who did you think it was, the tooth fairy?” Sly saiddryly.
“We really need to figure out a way to zap them with all this magic we have shacking up inside of us,” Anna saidgroggily.
“I’m in utmost agreement.” Jewel walked over to the door but didn’t open it. “Let us get dressed, and we will meet you at the doors to thelobby.”
“Sounds good, but don’t take all day,” Z called out. “We have a plane tocatch.”
“What?” Anna asked as she bolted upright. “Where are we going?” sheyelledback.
“Hurry up, Wheelers,” Z called back with alaugh.
Jewel shook her head and motioned toward the bathroom. “Do you want to gofirst?”
Anna waved her off. “Naw, you go ahead. I need a minute to get mybearings.”
Jewel did her business in the bathroom and then washed her face and brushed her teeth. It was amazing what a good face and teeth scrub could do for a person. Though the minute she looked in the mirror and saw the empty eyes staring back at her, any refreshment she’d gleaned was gone. All of the previous day’s happenings rushed to the forefront of her mind, and she once again felt the weight of helplessness settle over her like a heavy blanket. She felt so isolated and alone. Even with the comradeship of Anna, Z, and Sly, she found no comfort in their presence. Her heart longed for someone else’s company, and she had no idea when she would see himagain.
Anna took over the bathroom when Jewel emerged some ten minutes later. While her partner was indisposed, Jewel gathered their clothes and packed them in the duffle bag they’d bought with their other purchases. It didn’t take her long to get it all folded and put up, and when she was done, she found herself standing at the motel window looking out into the night, wondering what Dalton was doing. She missed him. Yes, she barely knew him, but what she did know of him, she loved. He was faithful and loyal. He was a man of a character and someone she never dreamed she’d ever have a chance with, let alone hold the other half of his soul. She wanted a chance with him. She longed to have a lifewithhim.
Jewel rubbed her hand across her face and gritted her teeth in frustration. She just needed to figure out what the connection was between the magic and the transformation from ordinary young woman to powerful witch. If she couldn’t figure it out, then she could just kiss her presentandfuture goodbye because Volcan would have no useforher.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Anna said as she stepped out of thebathroom.
“Did you know that fruit flies were the first living creature to be sent into space?” Jewel spat out the information before she had time to process what her brain was thinking. And why on earth was she thinking about fruitflies?
Anna shook her head. “I did not know that, but I do know you must be feeling better if you’re spouting random facts. I’ve noticed when you stop sharing all that useless info in your huge brain, it means you’re past the stress bar on your stressmeter.”
“I have a stressmeter?”
“Of course.” Anna smiled. “Everyone has a stress meter. But everyone’s stress bar isn’t on the same level. Some are higher, and some are lower. Yours is actuallyprettyhigh.”
Jewel let out a sigh. “Well, I guess that’s a silver lining in the massive storm clouds that have accumulated over ourheads.”
“Oh, wait.” Anna held up a finger. Jewel imagined if there had been a light bulb over the girl’s head, it would have clicked on in that moment. “I have one for you. Speaking of storms, did you know that there are about eighteen hundred thunderstorms happening around the world at any givenmoment?”
Jewel laughed. “No, I didn’t. But I do know that lightning kills more people than tornadoeseveryyear.”
“That’s a no-brainer,” Anna said, wavingheroff.
They headed for the door, Jewel carrying the bag and Anna following. “Okay, bet you don’t know this one. In 1933, there was a massive hailstorm around a city in Massachusetts, and in the hail, they found fresh, frozen ducksinside.”
She heard Anna suck in a breath behind her. “You’re makingthatup.”
“Nope.”
“Seriously? Frozen ducksinhail?”
Jewel snorted. “We are mated to werewolves, are gypsy healers, and have magic flowing through our veins. What about frozen ducks in hail isunbelievable?”
“Alright, alright,” Anna said dryly. “You won that round. But still, frozen ducks falling from the sky? That’s justweird.”
