To Fall (The To Fall Trilogy Book 1) (40 page)

My words awarded me another smile.

I kissed her until Caleb cleared his throat. Regretfully, I stopped, knowing they didn’t want to hear me practice with Abby. There were a few hours left before we needed to pack. “Do you mind if we go for a quick fly before the sun is up?”

She said, “No, you should go. Leave the Bozo.”

58

Abby

The Fabulous Four took flight. Disassembling the tents would be a joke, but I could clean. Tidying up, I noticed strewn garbage by the restrooms and went to clean it. My eye caught the trash bin where the drunks camped. The lid was ajar and I groaned—they didn’t lock it. Beer cans, chip bags, and paper littered the campsite.

Bozo followed me, his nose helping to locate all the garbage. Locking up the trash bin, a low whine came from him.

“What is it?” With a tail wag, he whined once more, and then ran off barking. “Ugh, we were doing so well, Bozo. Do you only listen when angels are around?”

Above me, tree limbs rustled, but there wasn’t a breeze. My head arched back and I focused on a dark, fuzzy object perched in a tree. I stared at it, trying to figure it out. It shifted and turned to face me. Two shining marbles locked onto me and I froze. A black bear. My heart hammered. I didn’t know what to do, it never occurred to me to ask. I backed up until my eye caught movement to my right. Another bear of the same size.

Crap.

I moved my hand to my back pocket. Double crap. I forgot my phone in the tent. I heard a loud gruff behind me, and the hairs at the nape of my neck stood on end. Slowly, I turned to an even bigger bear. I stumbled into a bear family picnic. Triple crap.

My chest tightened and breaths quickened. With a frozen body, I watched the bear in the tree climb down as though he was part monkey. The two smaller bears lumbered closer. I was trapped from all sides. I couldn’t see the momma bear behind me, but I sensed she was huge and coming closer. Her breaths were loud grunts and sniffs. Their pungent musk worsened as they encroached.

Feeling my front pocket, it was empty. No pills. Way to go. Oh for two. I left everything in the tent. I didn’t think I could maneuver taking a pill with the bears, but the blood rushed faster through my veins. I thought I was supposed to get loud and big. I was barely five feet tall. Who would I scare? My limbs trembled, and I was sure they sensed it, too.

I was going to be an Abby-flavored Lunchables, split three ways.

The momma stepped to my front and pawed at the ground, disturbing the vegetation with her sharp claws. Now that she was in front of me, I realized she was much bigger than I thought. A cub circled behind me, cutting off a possible exit.

Sniffing the air once more, the mother looked like a ginormous black dog with pale lips opening to reveal long, stained canines. A deafening growl exploded from her, so
not
like a dog. Pain tore through my chest and my knees slammed into the dirt.

She charged me. Feet away, her rank breath burned my nostrils and she bared her teeth. Falling onto my side, my chest constricted as though the bear was on top of me. Her claws were close enough to count the individual cracks in them, breath hot on my skin.

A bright light swooped between us, and the black beast rolled away along the dirt. I saw the tips of wings and Xander’s sneakers. Xander whipped around and his hand shot out to grab me. Inches away at his ankle was a cub, and my eyes widened. Seeing my reaction, Xander spun and rolled in the earth with the smaller bear.

Caleb landed in front of me and his wings kicked up dirt into my face as he flung out to tackle the other cub. A black fur ball flew over me and landed with a loud
thud
.

I gasped for air. The scene blurred and darkened.

I heard the momma bear snarl. There was shuffling of dirt and leaves, then a loud
snap
!
Xander yelled from somewhere, “Get Abby!”

Another light hurtled at me; I was off the ground, wind whipping in my ears, and Calista heated around me. My vision focused to see a giant aspen cracked in two and Xander holding a cub down with the momma bear charging him. Screaming out, I was too late. The mother hit Xander; he and the cub tumbled over each other. Calista deposited me in a tree nearby and she plunged back into the fight.

Hannah battled a cub. Caleb was on his back when Calista landed between him and the charging cub. Caleb flipped, turned, and yelled out, “Alexander!”

With another charge from the mother, Xander twisted around and punched her in the muzzle. She let out a roar and charged him again, relentless and enraged. Her enormous body hit Xander in the chest, took him off his feet, and he flew back into a tree, snapping it at the base with a resounding
crack
that echoed through the woods. Xander’s cry reached me from below.

As Xander struggled to get up, the mother charged again. Caleb gripped her leg and swung her onto her back. From the side, a cub flew twenty feet into the dirt. The other cub charged Hannah when she had her back turned. Calista dove on top of it and put it in a choke hold.

The momma and cub went after Caleb. The cub reached Caleb first and knocked him on his back. Caleb put his knee under the cub’s stomach and flipped him in the air. The mother bit down onto Caleb’s leg and thrashed him around. Xander rammed the bear’s side and she released Caleb. Her growl sent shivers up my spine as she targeted Xander. He stood, waiting for the attack.

With each paw, her claws tore up the ground, and breath heaved from flared nostrils. She roared again, drove into Xander, and he slammed into a massive boulder with a
boom
, the rock fissuring behind him. Caleb flew at her and launched her into a tree. With a whine, she was down, finally.

My attention drew to the cubs whimpering in the dirt. All but Xander knelt by them and healed the bears. Seconds later, the mother and her cubs ambled away as if nothing happened.

Ear-splitting
cracks
like the trees snapping had me searching for the source. Xander was on all fours, gripping dirt. His wing was at an odd angle, feathers trembled, and painful groans escaped him. I saw feathers shift, another
pop
, and a cry from Xander. He was healing himself.

Caleb put his hands on Xander’s wing and the entire thing snapped back into place with a series of
cracks
like the Fourth of July. Xander let out a painful howl. I’d never seen him hurt before.

The leaves on the limb shook and I realized I was the source. Bozo paced around the base of the tree and barked. Xander glanced up, looking for me, then shot up and snatched me out of the tree, and held me too tight.

Wild eyes searched me for wounds. “Oh, you are a magnet for trouble.” He kissed my forehead. “Damn, you scared me. Thank you.” I didn’t know exactly who he was thanking, God maybe. He nuzzled my hair. “Abby, you have no idea what it would do to me to lose you.”

“Are you okay? Your wing was broken, you were hurt.” I examined his beautiful pearl wings. There was nothing wrong with them.

He scoffed. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I said as he flew us back to our tent. “But now I have to do something when I get back home.”

“Learn how to fight off three bears at one time?” he offered.

“No, I have to change your résumé. I have to add bear wrangler to it,” I complained, smiling.

He laughed. “Make sure you put hunk extraordinaire on there, too.”

My nose crinkled. “Xander, people don’t say
hunk
anymore.”

“Really? Man, now I have to fix my own résumé.”

I laughed. “Why didn’t you guys just fly off? Why did you fight the bears?”

The corner of his mouth pulled into an impish grin and tilted his head. “The best way to describe angels? Adrenaline junkies. We’ll pretty much fight anything.”

I shook my head at him.

“Abby, you do realize Bozo saved you again?”

My mouth fell open. “He did not. He ran away!”

“He ran off barking to alert us. Again.”

It dawned on me that he was. My room. The hike. The drunks. The bears. “Okay, after you practice with me, I’ll give him a treat.”

He laughed again. “Deal.”

“What happened to your animal magnetism, by the way?”

Xander laced kisses along my jaw. “Uh, I guess when they are pissed off at the human girl interrupting their meal, angel charm goes out the window. Next time, we won’t leave you to be the main dish in nature’s buffet.”

“Oh, you mean the next time I never go camping!”

Once home, my priority was the shower, to get in it as fast as possible and stay in it until the water went cold. Mom and Dad had different ideas. They asked Xander to stay while they explained their winter vacation plan to take the twins and Margaret to the theme parks in Southern California for twelve days. Knowing I didn’t do well at amusement parks, they wanted to know if I would be okay staying home, and I totally was.

I walked Xander back out to the 4Runner and he stopped me on the porch because the car was filled with snooping angel ears that couldn’t be turned off.

“Twelve whole days with me, huh?” he asked. “You think you can handle it?”

Did that mean…? My heart did a little stutter. “Would you be able to be with me the whole time?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He pinched his brows together.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I figured you had angel business. Hunting or something. I thought I could see you for some of that time, but I didn’t expect all of it.”

“Abby business trumps angel business. I wouldn’t miss this.” His head nodded to the car. “They’ll understand.”

I settled in against him. “Well, you better rest up, Wright. You’re gonna be doing a whole lotta practicing.”

“Really?” His voice turned to a sexy rumble.

“Yes.”

Dipping his head, lips traced kisses up my neck and I didn’t care that I was stinky anymore. “It’s a dirty, dirty job, Abby, but I’m up to the challenge.” A wag of his brows and a wicked grin had me laughing at his innuendo.

Xander kissed me and the angel fan club began cheering at us. Xander grunted at his siblings.

59

Abby

This week Danielle was extra annoying. In class, she would find some way to drape herself over Xander’s desk to “discuss” their assignment. Her voice had carried over to catch my attention and alert me to how lucky she was to have Xander as a partner. There was usually a laugh or a touch of muscle, trying to make me jealous. And yeah…it worked. She was in her own heaven with all his attention. Xander did his best to keep her focused and create a distance from her bountiful chest. Stopping a herd of bulls down a narrow alley would be easier.

Will was Will, helping pass the time in biology. Every class he had a new story of a recent hike and shared the pictures he took. My one hiking trip was a disaster that I couldn’t share with Will or anyone, for that matter.

Xander had to hunt this weekend and I was ready for girl time. Planning to stay over at Mel and Beth’s dorm, they picked me up Friday night. My overnight bag with my blood kit inside went into the trunk and I slid into the back of the Lexus, triple checking I had my pills in my purse for the weekend.

Mel swiveled toward us. “You guys wanna go to a par-tay? Jake’s having one tonight! I just found out from Greg. It’s low-key. There won’t be many people there.”

I was ready to negate the plan when Beth said, “Yeah, let’s go.”

Mel went catatonic. Her head rotated toward me. “She said yes, right? My hair gel didn’t clog my ears?”

I studied our friend. “That’s not Beth, Mel! She’s an alien!”

A thin arm smacked us both. “Shut up and go!”

Mel’s mushy side made an appearance. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

“I don’t know.” Beth shrugged. “Maybe I’d be willing to put a pause on my no-boy rule.” She held up one finger. “For one night,” she amended. “Don’t get any crazy ideas, Mitchell. I don’t need to be set up.”

Mel held up her hands. “I wasn’t thinking it!”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right. You probably already have a mental list of possible dates for Bethie.”

“I do not!” Her cheeks turned pink. “It’s on my phone.” Another arm flung out. “Ouch!”

Beth settled into her seat. “You deserved it.”

We pulled up to Jake’s and our mouths dropped open.

“That’s low-key?” Beth asked, looking at the house.

“Medium-key?” Mel offered with a shrug.

Beth rolled her eyes. “That’s all out high-key, Mel! Come on, let’s tell Jake to turn the music down. He’s gonna have the cops here soon.”

The living room was dense with sweaty bodies, the music drowned us out, and we resorted to primitive hand signals. Greg spotted us and took Mel to dance. Beth caught up with her friends from art class.

Alone in a room packed with people, I wanted Xander. I missed him. Needing to hear his voice, I knew he was busy, but I called anyway and it went to voicemail.

I left a message with the full intent on trying to call him again when someone whispered, “Pink Polka Dots.”

The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I turned to Jake—the one I didn’t like.

“Where’s your guy at? You come to your senses and leave him?” He reeked of alcohol.

“No.”

“It’s Friday night. The music’s pumping. We should make the most of our time together, don’t you think? We could go to my bedroom. I never showed it to you the last time you were here.” An icy finger trailed from my shoulder to my collarbone.

Looking for Mel and Beth, they weren’t where I left them. Greg? I couldn’t miss him—he towered over everyone. Damn, no Greg. The house was full. Blaring music. Drinks. Kegs. Alone.

“No, Jake.” I turned and five icicles grabbed my arm. Hard. He jerked me against him. “You’re hurting me.”

He smirked.

Struggling against his hold was useless. My heart was erratic, breaths fast, and a dull ache stretched across my chest. I needed my pills. Fishing in my purse with my free hand, he wrenched my hand away, pinning both arms to my sides, and I dropped my phone.

My voice was strained. “Jake, let me go. I need my pills. Please.”

He stared at my lips and I tried to back away, but he yanked me against him and put his mouth on mine. Jake’s scruff scratched my face, and a cold tongue invaded my mouth. I bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and he smiled. I watched him lick his lips, absent of teeth marks, and he slammed his mouth back on mine.

Xander’s faint ringtone rose from the floor.

Wriggling my hand out of his grip, I slapped him hard enough my hand stung. “Jake, stop! I said, no!”

Jake pulled back. His eye color bordered on black and they were lifeless as though he were looking through me, searching for something. Then, an evil smile stretched across his features and a chill ran up my spine. “Your rat boyfriend have his way with you yet? Or are you still a virgin?” He grabbed my stinging hand, pulled it down to his crotch, and forced me to touch his erection. “We could take care of it, ya know.”

I couldn’t focus, my chest hurt, lungs ached for air as though I was breathing through a straw. I coughed out, “Get off me!”

Jake wrapped my arms behind my back with one hand and the other grabbed me between my legs. I cried out and his dark eyes blazed, fingers cinched me harder.

A room full of people and everyone was in their own dance world; no one noticed what Jake was doing. Tears erupted and I trembled. My chest screamed in pain, lungs burned for breath, and I collapsed into his chest.

A large, dark hand appeared on Jake’s shoulder. Greg loomed over him, shaking, refusing to take his eyes off Jake. He growled, “You been drinking, man? This is Xander’s girl. What. Are. You. Doing?” Greg shoved Jake off me.

Beth and Mel picked me up. Mel slipped a pill under my tongue, put my phone in my purse, and slung my bag over her shoulder.

Jake’s eyes returned to their bottle green shade and he blinked as though he were stuck in a dust devil. He blurted out, “Abby, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. That wasn’t me. I would never do anything to you. You’re my friend.” He looked remorseful and I didn’t care.

Greg, still scowling, hauled Jake away. With an arm draped over Mel and Beth, they guided me outside. My pill wasn’t working yet, spots entered my vision, and the ground moved beneath me.

Beth’s voice wobbled. “Abby, let’s lay you down. You don’t look good. Mel, call the paramedics.”

Next thing I knew, I was looking up at the stars.

“Good evening, ladies,” Caleb said. Heat bled over my chest, relief came, and I could see the concern etched onto his features. “Hannah, can you get the girls inside? I’ll take care of Abby.”

My friends went willingly and I wondered if Hannah used mind control; the thought bothered me.

The next moment, heated arms wrapped around me, and I was closer to Caleb’s face. “Are you okay?” I moved with the tiny jostles of him carrying me.

The last five minutes, the decision to come here without Xander, and my friends being tricked, all overwhelmed me. I tried to be strong, but my lip trembled and I couldn’t lie. “No.”

His frown deepened and brow creased.

“Where’s Hannah?” I choked out.

His deep voice pulsed against my forehead. “Taking care of our friends. She’s coming.”

My head shot back to look at him. “I don’t understand.”

He didn’t explain as he walked us away from the neighborhood. Suddenly, Caleb was glowing and his wings unfurled. “May I?”

I nodded.

Before I realized it, we were airborne and flying fast. Caleb would look like a shooting star if anyone saw him tonight. The world swirled around us and my stomach dipped. Tucking my face, I gripped on and understood this was why Xander didn’t fly at these speeds with me. I tried to focus on the cool night air, but my body flushed and wished I wasn’t wearing such warm clothes.

“I’m sorry, Abby. To put it mildly, Alexander is upset. I thought it would be best if we hurried.”

Shifting his hand under my shirt, the nausea subsided and I relaxed. Five minutes later, we were at his house. Caleb put me down on the grass and pulled his phone out. My stomach twisted from the sudden change in movement. I stumbled over to the rocks and leaned against the stone wall.

Caleb’s voice neared and placed his hand on my neck. “Oh, sorry, Abby. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

I gave him a weak smile as he eased my nausea for the second time.

“Alexander will be here in a minute. We were split up tonight. Hannah and I happened to be close. It’s a good thing you were able to call him.”

Another bright comet hurtled toward us. Xander landed and gravel spit up around him as he ran toward me. With wild eyes, he cupped my face and covered my mouth with his. “Are you all right?”

I shook my head, tears pricked my eyes, and emotion clogged my throat. Xander clenched his fists and looked up at the sky as though Heaven was instructing him to calm down. After slipping his shirt on, he carried me inside the house.

Xander turned to his brother. “Thank you, Caleb.”

Caleb nodded. “Anytime.”

Curled in Xander’s lap, he held me a little too tight, but I didn’t care. I was safe. Caleb handed me a mug of hot tea.

Xander pushed a few stray hairs from my face. “What happened, Abby?”

“We went to Jake’s. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt lonely and that’s why I called you. But Jake—”

Caleb growled, “What did Jake do?”

“He was drunk. He wanted to take me to his bedroom. He kissed me and I bit him. He kissed me again and I slapped him.”

Xander’s body tensed up like a piece of warm granite around me, and his jaw clenched down while he waited for me to finish.

“He wanted to know if we had sex. And if not, he—” My hands shook around the mug.

Blowing out a deep breath, Xander relaxed and touched my cheek. “It’s okay. What happened?”

Unable to face them, I looked down at the tawny liquid sloshing in the cup. “He took my hand and forced me to touch him.” Hot tears ran down my face. “He held my hands behind my back and grabbed me. Greg stopped him. And after Greg reminded Jake I was your girlfriend, he was different. He even apologized. Why does he act like that?”

I couldn’t hold the tea anymore and Caleb took it. I buried my face into Xander’s neck and he rubbed my back. Something on his skin caught the light. “Xander, is that…glitter?”

He groaned, looking down at himself. “Yeah.”

I grimaced. “Do I want to know?”

“No, you don’t.”

Hannah and Calista came home with my overnight bag from Mel’s car. They stood in the room for a long moment before Calista touched my neck. “Abby, why don’t you take a bath? I have a magic tub, it’ll melt tonight away.”

I nodded. A bath. Images of bubbles and warm water enveloping me sounded like heaven. She followed me down the hall when I remembered something. “Xander, I don’t have my purse. It has my phone and pills. Those are the only pills I packed.”

“Okay, let me know if you need me. We’ll get your things tomorrow.”

Calista showed me her bathroom and my mouth opened in amazement. Swirling brown granite covered the walk-in snail shower and matching counters. A glass window was the one barrier to the outside. I could make out the mountaintops with stars tracing around them. Against the window was a huge tub someone my size could take a swim in, with a hand shower among the ornate brushed nickel faucets.

Calista gave me a bottle of vanilla bubbles and told me to use as much as I liked, and lit vanilla scented candles. Once she left, I undressed and dipped into the warm water. It felt wonderful. She had given me her iPod with earbuds and I put them in, trying to forget this night.