“I’ll be fine. A little sun will make it better.”
He looked at me as though he wanted to say something else, but he nodded and let me go. I stepped out onto the front lawn and took a breath. It did feel better. Ever since gaining contact with my wolf, nature soothed me.
Grunting sounds came from the house next door. Glancing over, I saw Luis and Sebastian sparring in Nico’s parents’ yard. I strolled over and watched them.
It looked like it was nothing but training. That was a relief. I had no clue whether the two had completely buried the hatchetor not, but the fact that they weren’t bloodying each other was a good sign. If nothing else, the animosity between them had markedly decreased since Viola’s announcement.
“Hey, chick,” Abi said from behind me.
I turned, surprised to see her there. “Hi.”
Abi was the reason for the friction between Luis and Sebastian. Everything that had passed between her and the two friends still hung over them like a dark cloud.
“So, have you worked things out with Sebastian yet?”
She visibly deflated. “No. We haven’t really talked about it.”
“Abi, I told you weeks ago you needed to lay it all on the table.”
The little charade Abi had pulled had turned the two best friends against each other. Sebastian had nearly believed she and Luis were a thing. Luis, for his part, had played along to goad his friend but had stopped when he saw how upset it wasactuallymaking Sebastian.
“I know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
I sighed with relief. “Good. Are you going to do it today? Is that what brought you out here?”
Abi chewed at her lip uncertainly before saying, “No. At least not yet. I… uhm, I think it’s time I leave the compound.”
Her words rooted me to the spot. Not only that, but Luis and Sebastian stopped sparring. Their shifter hearing must have picked up her statement. Abi went red in the face when she saw them look our way.
“Hold up,” I said, throwing my hands into the air. “You want to go back to your apartment? You do realize this is the safest place for you, don’t you? You’re still a target. Viola may try to take you again. Christ, my parents are staying until all this is over.”
Abi shook her head adamantly. “No. I don’t think I’m still a target. Things have gotten bigger. I’m probably not even on her radar anymore.”
I couldn’t believe how dense she was being. Of course, she was still on Viola’s radar. The one thing that woman wanted more than anything was me. Why the hell did Abi think she wouldn’t try to kidnap her again? What I had to say next wasn’t pleasant, but it was the truth.
“Abi, you’re not going anywhere. I’m sorry, but I won’t let you put yourself in danger.”
“She’s right.” Sebastian stalked toward us, adding his two cents. Luis hung back.
“You shouldn’t go anywhere,” Sebastian continued. “Maddy’s right. It’s safe here.”
Abi scoffed. “You don’t get a say in this.”
“The hell I don’t. My friends almost died trying to save you and Maddy’s parents. We put our lives on the line to get you guys back. Of course, I get a say.”
Abi whirled on him and dug a finger into his chest. “I’ve already thanked all of you for that, but it has nothing to do with this.”
“Wait,” I called out, an idea suddenly springing into my mind. “Is this about you two?”
Sebastian’s eyes slid off Abi and onto me. His face told me the thought hadn’t occurred to him until I said it.
“Oh my God, Maddy. Seriously?” Abi asked incredulously.
She could say what she wanted, and she could put all the feeling and emotion into the words, but I knew her. The look in her eyes told me I was right.
Sebastian must have seen the same thing I did because he leveled a grim smile at Abi. “You can’t run off and put your life in danger because you can’t face the repercussions of the decisions you’ve made.”
When Abi rounded on him, I thought for a split second she was going to deck him, but she didn’t. Instead, her lips trembled as she slammed her palms against his chest, knocking him back a step.
