Cave of Terror (37 page)
The trio stopped in front of us. Val looked at me and then at Ryan. Her brows drew together and her gaze moved up and to the right. I didn't dare say a word, neither did Ryan.
"Why are you stopping in front of the bat girl?” Kimee whined.
Val glanced at Kimee and frowned. “Shut up, Kimee. You can be such a bitch sometimes.” She looked at me with a complete blank stare. “Hey, Cheyenne.” Then, she continued on her way.
I choked on my own spit and after coughing up a lung, I managed to croak out, “Hi."
"Wow. That was interesting,” Ryan said.
"You can say that again."
As I continued to stare after Val and her buddies, a prickly feeling centered between my shoulder blades. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Warning bells in my head sounded off with a vengeance.
I was being watched.
Twisting my torso around, I searched the hall, looking for the threat. Ryan also scanned the area. He must have sensed the threat through me. It rocked being linked to someone so intimately.
"What is it?” I asked.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it's strong.” Ryan moved closer to me in a protective stance, ready to pounce if needed.
It may be a powerful entity, but with Ryan by my side I could deal.
I refused to allow anything to ruin my day, not even the evil now stalking me.
I'm a proud
Vânetor
from the
clice Pantere
, and a gorgeous, wonderful guy loves and accepts me. What more could I ask for?
Evil be damned!
Ryan draped his arm around my shoulders, and we walked off into the sunset and lived happily ever after.
Okay, he walked me to algebra, but you get the point.
Turn the page for additional adventures in Cheyenne's life.
My name is Cheyenne Wilde, and I'm a vampire. Yep, that's right. Trust me, I couldn't believe it either. But on my sixteenth birthday of all days, I was let in on this little secret. Well, I wouldn't exactly call it
little
, especially since I'm also a
Vanator
.
You see, I have these kick-ass powers that are used to protect my
clice
(clan in human terms) from evil. I'm a hunter of sorts. The last
Vanator
was my great-great-grandmother who was born over 500 years ago. She was killed while fighting another vampire
clice
—a very nasty one.
Needless to say, the revelation of my status thrilled my
clice
. Me? Nope, I wasn't as excited. Seriously, how would you feel if you'd been going along with your life for sixteen years and then BAM! you find out you're not who or what you thought you were? Talk about disturbing. It blew my neatly ordered life into a million shattered pieces. I've had a tough time trying to combine my new life with my old.
Gymanstics has been the main focus of my life for as long as I can remember, spending five hours a day in the gym training. Now, I have more life-altering things to deal with—like hunting down wayward vampires. It's taken some time to get used to, and even more time to accept.
Nicoleta is my mentor. She's helped me to understand my special ability and how to use it in order to keep our kind safe from outside evil. And I had no idea just how much evil there is in the world ... or in my small part of it any way. But I sure got one heck of an initiation into my new life within the first week of finding out my status.
Oh, did I mention I can shift into a black panther? Yeah, it happened once in a rather awkward situation. There I was about to get my very first kiss and fur starts sprouting from my skin. Lucky for me, the guy, Ryan, just happens to be my
lifemate
. Yep, we're
bonded
. It's kind of like having a boyfriend for life. He can feel what I feel and vice versa. And it doesn't hurt he's drop-dead gorgeous. Dang! I still melt into a puddle of goo with just the mention of his name. It's quite disgusting, really. My best friend Mandy, the only one outside of my
clice
besides Ryan who knows about my ability, has gotten a huge kick out of watching me react like a typical love-struck teenager.
Now that you're caught up with my life so far, it's time I tell of another ... adventure. But, I must caution you. If you're scared of things that go bump in the night, don't turn the page.
You have been warned.
The scent of cinnamon and almonds wafted through the hall. I scanned the swarm of students filing past me. Ryan would be rounding the corner any second. I leaned against my locker. The cold metal seeping through my thin Aéropostale shirt chilled my back. I clutched my literature book tighter, not bothering to shove it in my backpack. Butterflies fluttered inside my stomach. He neared—my every instinct alerted.
It's still hard to believe he's mine. Literally. As in
bonded
for life. As in no one or nothing can come between us. You see, we share blood. When he was on the brink of death, I gave him the needed blood, and he returned the favor not long after. Nasty, right? Well, it freaked me out, too. Still does. But, because of it we now have a connection so strong we can sense the other. Feel the other. It's the coolest thing—ever.
I watched the corner, twirling a lock of hair around my finger. My heart thumped loudly in my chest, my ribs expanding faster and faster. A tingle shot up my spine. Locker doors clanking shut and muted voices blended together in a blur of sound. Funny how everything around me fades in the background whenever Ryan is near. He rocks my world in ways you can't imagine. I worried my bottom lip—the anticipation intensifying until I thought I'd lose my mind. The air crackled around me. I straightened, focusing in the direction Ryan always appeared in the mornings. The aroma of cinnamon strengthened. I licked my lips.
"Boo-yah!” Mandy goosed me from behind.
"Eeeeeeh!” I dropped the phonebook sized book on my toe, hopping around like one of those chattering teeth wind-up toys. “Dang! That freakin’ hurt. Thanks a lot."
Mandy, my now ex-best friend, covered her mouth to stifle the giggle I managed to hear anyway. “My bad."
"Yeah, your bad.” I glared at her. Why she loves doing that I'll never know. But, one of these days, I'll get her good.
"Who's bad?” The deep and sexy voice washed over me, freezing me to the spot.
My body heated as I slowly turned my attention to Ryan. Aaag! Why does my whole system go wacko every time he's near? Because he's the most beautiful guy I've ever seen. Duh! There he stood in his Hollister jeans and t-shirt—the material hugging his pecs and hinting at his six-pack. His startling blue eyes burned into mine with a warming intensity that rendered me speechless—as usual.
His voice lowered to a caress. “Mornin,’ Sparkie."
Oh, God! Just the way he said my nickname shot weird feelings straight to my lower abdomen. The endearment touched me, reminding me of our first meeting when he'd wrapped his warm fingers around mine while I played one of those love tester games, sending electrical sparks into the air. Ever since then, he's called me ‘Sparkie.'
"Hi,” I managed to say—my voice all husky.
His lips spread into a grin, revealing his straight white teeth. “How's my girl?” He leaned in closer where only inches separated us.
His girl? Gush! Oh, how I love the sound of that. And I was fan-freakin'-tabulous! Like he needed to ask. He sensed exactly how I was doing. Not to mention the proof was written across his smug face. “I'm fine."
"Well, I can see that, but how are you doing?” He waggled his eyebrows.
Mandy cleared her throat. “On that note, I think I'll leave.” She rolled her eyes, then turned to leave.
"Bye, Mandy.” Ryan kept his eyes set on me.
"See ya...” I barely managed to utter.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Brad is taking me out to the Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner tonight. You know, to celebrate. He wants y'all to come, too."
Crap! Mandy's birthday! I was so caught up in Ryan it poofed right out of my head. “Happy birthday! I really didn't forget. Well, okay, maybe for a minute.” My face flushed. “Yeah, we can come.” I turned my head back to Ryan. “Right?"
"Sure. Should we meet y'all at the gym and go from there?” Ryan asked.
"No, let's meet at my house around 8:45. After five hours of gymnastics, I'm thinking we could use a little ... freshening up.” Mandy looked at me for support.
"Yep, but we'll have to hurry. It'd be 9:15 or so if we went straight there. If we stop it's going to be even later.” Mom and Dad don't like me staying out late on school nights, but Mandy's birthday would hopefully be an exception.
The bell rang, and the hall exploded with students scrambling to get to class.
"See y'all later.” Mandy waved.
"Happy birthday,” Ryan called after her.
"Thanks."
"See you at lunch.” I waved back.
Ryan looped his arm around me. “We better get going, too.” Walking me to class had become a morning custom—one I wasn't gonna complain about.
Once we reached my English class, he glanced around the hall, then pressed a quick kiss against my lips. “Later, Sparkie.” He winked.
I watched him disappear down the hall—my lips still burning from his kiss.
"You still alive?” Mandy wiped the sweat from her brow, then bent to gather her things.
"I think he was trying to kill us.” I dropped to my knees. Even working out as hard as I normally did, I rarely broke out in a sweat. But today, Larry, our coach, decided to try a new conditioning routine. My hair plastered to my head and my leo was damp. Yick! Not how I wanted Ryan to see me.
"Ladies, where do y'all think you're going?” Larry put his hands on his hips. “We're not done."
Mandy looked up and crinkled her nose. “Huh? We did our stretches and put away the mats. What else is there?"
Oh crap. I had an idea of where this was going and Mandy wasn't going to like it. A smile tugged the corner of Larry's lips when he caught my questioning stare. Yep, just as I thought—the birthday spanking train. I'm still puzzled how I managed to escape the train on my birthday, but it didn't look like Mandy would be so lucky. I chuckled to myself.
"What? Why is everyone looking at me?” Mandy flicked her gaze around the circle of girls crowded around her—white chalk coating their palms. Awareness flickered across her face. “Oh no. I don't think so."
"It's time for the birthday spaaaaanking train!” Larry announced like a wrestling match was about to begin. And it just might by the look on Mandy's face.
"You can either go willingly, or I'll hold you down and let them at you.” Larry hitched his thumb in the direction of the girls anxiously awaiting the coming torture.
"You're so mean.” Mandy huffed.
"That's my job."
"And you're so good at it,” Mandy mumbled.
"You might as well get it over with.” I couldn't help but laugh. It served her right for scaring the crap out of me earlier today, bruising my poor toe. “Besides, we have to go."
"Easy for you to say, Cheyenne. You got out of it."
"Yep, I guess I'm special."
Larry lunged forward, causing Mandy to jump up. “Okay, okay."
The younger girls squealed with excitement as we got into a line—our legs braced wide enough apart, so Mandy could crawl through. The object of the ‘game’ is to make it under everyone's legs as fast as you can before they have a chance to smack you on the butt as you pass through. And the added bonus is getting chalk hand prints on your rear to prove a hit landed.
Everyone cheered for Mandy to go. She crouched, then dove through the tunnel of legs. I got in one solid spank. When she stood, we all cracked up laughing. The booty area of her black leo was now white.
"Happy now?” She raised her hands up in a questioning gesture.
Larry grabbed her, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Happy birthday, honey. Now you can go."
"Gee, thanks."
We grabbed our stuff and ran out the door. The boys would be waiting for us, so we had to hurry.
When we drove into Mandy's driveway, we noticed that neither of them had arrived yet. Only my car was parked along the curb since I'd driven with Mandy to the gym. I sighed with relief. I needed at least a few minutes to put myself together. I looked like warmed over crap—make that sweaty warmed over crap. And Mandy didn't fare much better.
We got ready in record speed and made it downstairs right as the doorbell rang.