Page 5

Trees blurred past my windows as I sped down the road, well over the limit. Something about speed made my whole body hum, my mind felt loose, uncoiled. If I could’ve pushed Tammy faster, I would’ve, but the curved mountainside always demanded some caution. Still, the adrenaline rushed through my veins like fuel.

Dragging a hand through my hair I shut my eyes for just a second, long enough to feel that weightless rush. When I opened them, the car in front of me was too close. Way too close.

My bumper hovered so close to theirs it could’ve kissed it. One wrong move from them and it would’ve been an accident meant for the Darwin Awards. I eased off the gas and tapped the brakes, just in time. I missed them by luck alone. Before I could even breathe, I checked the mirror. Someone was behind me.

SHIT.

Unlike me, they had zero fucking driving instincts. The second I slowed by ten miles an hour, their hood slammed into my bumper. The hit hurled my body forward into the steering wheel, my muscles locking tight on impact. The seatbelt snapped like a noose, choking the air out of my lungs as the airbags exploded. White clouds busted from the wheel and glove compartment.

My mind scattered. I’d never been in an accident before. I could have lost my life. All because I’d wanted a little thrill mixed into uncertainty. My chest tightened as panic started to settle beneath my skin, tight like a cobra. I didn’t feel hurt, but the thought of someone else injured sent panic slicing through me. What if I just killed someone?

When the seatbelt finally released, I pushed it away from my neck and rubbed the sore spot, breathing hard. Everything from death to jail to someone else’s family crying all jammed its way into my head, not letting my nerves settle. What if I had just ruined my chances of college forever? After sitting still for a minute grounding myself, I climbed out of the car. I couldn’t just dwell in doubt. I walked to the back, already dreading what I’d see.

The bumper hung loose almost on the floor; the once shiny silver tail now scattered with scratches and soot. Tammy’s frame was crushed and dented all the way into the trunk. The entire rear end was destroyed.

Totaled.

“My gods, Tammy… you’re about to give out on me,” I muttered, staring at the damage. I’d worked so hard for her, and now she was just… Gone. “They murdered you.” I couldn’t help myself as my foot stomped against the gravel in frustration. I couldn’t believe it! Stretching my shoulders, I took one last look at her and headed toward the other car.

Theirs didn’t even have a scratch on the frame as I approached; it was flawless, slick black gloss that caught the light, untouched, unnatural. It had to be built from something strong. That’s why mine took all the damage; Tammy never stood a chance. Clearly, some rich kids owned this thing. I wanted to take my key and drag it across the perfect paint just to make the universe fair again.

Tapping the darkly tinted window, irritation burning hot in my chest. “You have got to be kidding me. I hope you’re okay because I need your insurance.”

The window rolled down.

It was her. The girl from the library. Smiling. Sweetly. Like this was normal. “Your car is completely totaled,” she said lightly. “Let me give you a ride. It would be rude not to.”

“You followed me. And you hit me?” I stared at her, somewhere between outrage and disbelief.

“You didn’t let me explain back there,” she said simply. “So yes, I followed you, Alexander. I told you I would. Why are you surprised? I didn’t mean to hit you. That was an accident.” She slipped on sunglasses, wincing as the sunlight hit her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, silent, relentless, as if they had absolutely nothing to do with the smile still on her lips. Grief? Pain? Unhinged girl magic? I couldn’t tell.

“You’re insane,” I snapped.

“And you’re the King of my kingdom,” she shot back, her smile tightening. “And I care about the King. Who happens to be you.” Her composure faltered, just a crack, before her voice dropped to something darker. “Now get in the car. We need to go to your mother’s. She needs to hear this too.”

I stared at her, torn between running and throwing her into a ditch.

A snarl twisted her pretty features. “Get the fuck in the car, Alexander. Unless you plan on driving that wrecked heap to your mother’s yourself.”

“How do you know about my mom?” My voice sharpened. “You know what? Never mind. That’s none of your business. You’re lucky I’m not calling the police.” Not that they’d show up fast. We were half a mountain away from town. But she didn’t know that. “Are you going to give me your insurance or not?” I demanded, baffled, my eyes dragging down her face again like maybe the answers were hidden there.

Ingoing my question entirely and tossed back her own order. “Get in the car and quit the drama. I knew how to find you. Of course I know about the human who raised you.” Her eyes lowered, hand waving through the air in a dramatic flourish that made my teeth clench. I wasn’t about to take orders from some crazy-ass stranger. Turning away, my fists shoved in my pockets and started walking toward my mother’s house. “Suit yourself, you royal ass!” she shouted after me. “I’ll just be waiting at your mother’s house!”

A second later she peeled out, fast. Faster than I had. The car leapt from zero to what felt like a hundred in half a breath. I couldn’t help it, some small part of me was impressed and I hated that I was.

I ran back to Tammy, scribbled a note, stuck it under the wiper, then I ran. I didn’t think. My feet just moved. I wasn’t going to beat her there, but I wasn’t letting that deranged woman anywhere near my mom alone. Her place wasn’t far. I’d run this stretch of highway in six minutes back when I conditioned for football. I hugged the guardrail as I picked up speed… but something was off.

My legs weren’t just moving fast. They were hungry.

With every stride, my body pushed harder, smoother, almost too fluid. My knees swung like hinges oiled by something supernatural. My tendons fired like I’d been training for a marathon I didn’t remember signing up for.

And the speed, the speed made no damn sense.

Each step devoured twenty feet of ground, the pavement flicking beneath me like I was gliding over ice. The wind whistled past my ears, not like resistance, more like it was urging me on.

I’d been a good runner before.

But this? This was new. Thrilling. Terrifying. Wrong. Right. All of it at once.