Chapter Twenty-Two
Savannah
My life hadbecome pure bliss. Rhys and I were in love and living together. Every day, I learned something new about him. And every night, we explored each other’s bodies before falling asleep with our limbs tangled together.
I felt as though all my dreams had come true.
Rhys came to work with me every day. He seemed to enjoy it. I could tell that the restriction of staying close to the store or home was beginning to wear on Ava. There was also something else bothering her. Every day she seemed paler and more withdrawn. I’d tried talking to her, but she kept brushing me off, which wasn’t like her.
Today, she seemed even more distracted, constantly checking her phone and unable to stand still. When she disappeared into the storeroom, I walked over to the table where Rhys sat reading a book and plopped down in his lap.
“I need you to do something for me,” I told him.
He smiled up at me. “Anything.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Anything? That’s a dangerous offer.”
Rhys’ smile widened and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “Okay, almost anything.”
“Will you go into the storeroom with Ava and see if you can get her to talk about what’s bugging her? She’s not herself and she won’t tell me.”
“What makes you think she’ll talk to me about it if she won’t talk to you?” he asked.
“Because I’m worried that she thinks she’s protecting me. She considers you her partner when it comes to keeping me safe. Though I don’t understand why she feels that way. I may not have the power or skills that she has, but I’m not completely defenseless.” I shook my head. “But that doesn’t matter. I just want to make sure she’s okay and if she won’t talk to me, maybe she’ll share it with you.”
Rhys looked undecided.
“Just go in and check on her. I’m worried.” I truly hoped Ava would at least unload a little of whatever was bothering her. It had to be serious if she wouldn’t even discuss it with me.
“Fine,” Rhys sighed, lifting me off his lap. “I’ll go talk to her, but if she tells me it’s none of my concern, I’m taking her at her word. Which you should do too,” he admonished.
“Normally, I would, but she’s not acting like herself.”
He kissed my lips and murmured, “I’ll be right back. Stay inside the store.”
I barely refrained from rolling my eyes because I already knew to stay inside. I didn’t need to be told. There was an itch between my shoulder blades when I was at the store, a sensation of being watched. I knew something was coming, but I wasn’t sure when.
Rhys disappeared into the storeroom and I grabbed a cloth and disinfectant from behind the counter. The shop was slow today and I decided to clean since the tables were empty. I started with the booth closest to the door, spraying the table down and wiping it with the damp towel.
Suddenly, the windows seemed to melt away and the wall beneath disappeared. Before I could move, two long arms reached through the space and took hold of me. I gripped the bottle of disinfectant tightly, pointing it the direction of my attacker’s face and sprayed it several times.
The man swore, his hands releasing me, and I took three stumbling steps back. I turned to flee, drawing in a breath to scream, when a hand clamped down over my mouth and an arm circled my waist.
I was yanked off my feet and back into a rock solid body.
“Stupid move, Savannah,” a low male voice whispered in my ear. “Now you’ve pissed me off.”
I tried to scream as Macgrath carried me backward through the portal. Though my struggle was fruitless against the vampire’s strength, I fought his hold with all my might as I watched the wall in front of us close up brick by brick and the window shift into place.
Then I felt a sickening lurch in my stomach and the sensation of falling through the air, only my feet remained planted on solid ground.
When the whirling colors around me stopped, I heaved, struggling to hold back the sickness that wanted to rise from my belly. My head spun wildly and my legs gave out beneath me.
With nearly gentle hands, Macgrath deposited me onto a sofa, tucking a pillow behind me. “Take slow, deep breaths,” he commanded. “And don’t close your eyes because it will only make it worse.”
I swallowed back another gag and focused on my breathing, hoping that I wouldn’t embarrass myself and puke everywhere. I didn’t even notice that Macgrath disappeared until he returned with a glass of ginger ale.
“Drink this. The sugar and the bubbles will help.”
