[Southern Arcana 2.0] Crossroads Read Online Free PDF Page B

Alec.” Derek shoved the phone in his pocket before rummaging through the boxes again. It only took a few seconds to find the one box of decaffeinated tea. The pretzels were easier to find, and Derek snatched up an entire bag and hurried upstairs.
    He found Michelle and Aaron sitting on the overstuffed sofa. The tall man had one brawny arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. Nick paced in the kitchen and rushed over to him as soon as he opened the door. “Thanks, Derek.”
    “Alec’s on his way.” He handed her the box of pretzels and nodded to the kitchen. “Want me to put the kettle on?”
    Nick shook her head nervously. “It’s already on.” She turned the box over in her hands and gave him a serious look. “Can I talk to you outside?”
    He wanted to curl around her until the nervousness in her body eased, but there was nothing to do but nod. “Of course.”
    She closed the door behind them and motioned him down the iron staircase. He stopped on the first landing and she stood a step above, nearly eye to eye with him. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she whispered, “and don’t think this is what I want. But you need to go.” He stiffened. “No. No way , Nick.”
    22
    www.samhainpublishing.com

    Crossroads
    “I don’t know how they got away, Derek. What I do know is it’s not going to take the board long to find them.” She raised a hand to smooth his hair. “I’ll be safe, I promise. But if you’re here… If you get in the way—” Her teeth sank into her lower lip. “Please trust me.”
    “But Alec and Jackson can be here?” That hurt. “So this is all about what I am? About the fact that I was made a shapeshifter instead of born that way?”
    “That has nothing to do with it!” Fear blanched her face and clouded her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.” She exhaled and gripped the iron railing with both hands. “That’s all this is.”
    “Okay.” He reached out and wrapped both arms around her, though he wasn’t sure if the hug was for her benefit or his own. “I’ll go, but you have to promise me you’ll call me tomorrow. First thing. Or I’ll show right back up over here and you won’t get rid of me again.”
    “I might even wake you up,” she said instantly, her words muffled against his chest. “I’ll need your help. I just have to—to figure this out first.”
    “Anything you need. Anything, darling.” He tugged her head back and kissed her forehead. “I’ll help you.”
    “I know you will.” They stood there for several moments. “Derek—” The scrape of booted feet on the pavement at the base of the stairs cut her off. Derek didn’t have to turn; he could smell Alec. “It has not been ten minutes.”
    “I speed.”
    Derek smiled at Nick. “He speeds. Why am I not surprised?”
    Though she smiled in return, the expression was wan and tremulous. “Because he’s crazy?” She brushed a wrinkle from the sleeve of his shirt. “Be careful. If anything odd happens, call. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    He ignored Alec’s presence and leaned down to kiss her. “Tomorrow.” She nodded, her eyes bright. “I mean it. Be careful.”
    “I will.”

    ***
    Nick cast another glance down the hall toward the small bedroom, the tenth in as many minutes, and clenched her jaw against the anger that flooded her. Michelle had fallen into an exhausted, fitful sleep, but her own rage hadn’t faded. “This is bullshit. Absolute bullshit.” The repetition usually would have earned her a caustic comment from Alec, but for once he seemed equally irate. “Yeah, Nick. It’s bullshit.”
    Aaron spoke, but his tired words only made Nick angrier. “When her magic started failing, she went to the Conclave. She didn’t know they’d call in a midwife right away to see if she was pregnant.” www.samhainpublishing.com
    23

    Moira Rogers
    And she didn’t know they’d point a finger at you. “How did you get out?” He met her