A Touch Mortal

Chapter 9





Gabe’s hands clutched the rock, his legs quaking, threatening to give out, tip him into the fresh puddle of sick beside him in his hiding spot. He pulled himself up, fingers cramping and sweaty against the stone he’d hunkered down behind.

Eden’s body was facedown, far enough from the water’s edge that only the most ambitious waves brushed her heels. The shadowed figure at her side had her by the wrist. Gabe swallowed hard. Leave her, Luke. Walk away. He sent the thought out, hoping the suggestion would be enough. She’s dead. She’s nothing to you.

There was no reason for him to take her now, mutilate her. No gain. But with Luke, anything was possible.

Dead. The word echoed through his head, louder each time. She’s dead. She’s really dead. He squeezed his eyes shut. Stop. She’s gonna be fine. Three hours from now, you’ll have her at Kristen’s. He stifled a relieved moan when Luke cast Eden’s wrist loose, the arm falling, deadweight.

Gabe stayed hidden long after Luke made his way up the stairs and out of sight. Finally, he stumbled to Eden.

Her head was turned toward him, her eyes closed. The skin he could make out under the veil of her sopping hair was tinged blue.

All he had to do was get her to the parking lot, to the rental car.

“Come on, love,” he whispered, scooping a hand under her knees, another under her back. “We caught some luck with Luke seeing you like this. He’ll think you’re dead.” Her head lolled and he tightened his grip, pulling her against his chest. “Now we just gotta get you to Kristen’s.”

He straightened, stumbling in the sand.

There would be people on the boardwalk, but even if they suspected something was wrong, he doubted they’d get involved. If there was one thing to be counted on, it was how eagerly the mortals ignored what they didn’t want to see. The truth passed right by, and never once did they open their eyes.