my temple to jaw joined in. When I tried to speak, the razor blades lining my throat changed my words into whimpers. It was almost enough to drive me back
into oblivion, but the niggling sensation of impending disaster blocked the tempting escape route. As the discordant symphony of aches and pain began to
recede, I realized Kayden was yelling at me.
“Cyn! Dammit, Cyn, answer me.”
I forced my eyes open and flinched at the shadow hovering over me.
“Relax, it’s me.” Kayden pulled back and my surroundings came into hazy
focus. “Are you with me?”
I raised a hand to my throat, swallowed, and winced. Instead of answering, I
nodded.
“If you can sit up, I’ll get you water.”
No wonder my floor was so comfortable. I was half sitting in Kayden’s lap.
With his help, I managed to prop myself against the wall under the counter while he grabbed a glass of water. I focused on just breathing, doing my best not
to trigger the emotional avalanche poised to crash on my head.
A glass appeared on the edge of my vision. My arm shook as I reached out.
Kayden kept his hand on the glass, steadying it. “Take it slow,” he warned.
I sipped until the razor blades dulled enough to speak. “Did you get
anything?” He let me take the glass and I cradle it in my lap.
“It’s Ellery’s signature.” He brushed gentle fingers over my aching cheek, down my throat, and over my scars, some strong emotion darkening his eyes and
tightening his jaw. “You’re going to have some very interesting bruises.”
My hand rose and covered his on my neck. “They’re Kelsey’s. They’ll fade.”
His gaze flickered to my cheek. “Not that one.” His fingers stilled. “Does this always happen?”
My fingers tightened, then dropped away. I shook my head. “No, just when I
go too deep.”
He pulled his hand free and cradled the side of my face. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.” My answer was a mere whisper. And a horrible lie.
Hot tears rose and burned a path over my cold cheeks. I pulled away,
struggling to get to my feet. Ignoring Kayden’s attempts to help, I grabbed the cell phone off the counter. This time, I would force my ability to bend to my demands. For once it would help me.
Sharp, stabbing pains sliced lines across my vision and Kayden’s curses
turned into background noise. It hurt so much, I wanted to drop to my knees, but
the need to prove I hadn’t failed my sister kept me upright.
I almost missed the flickering images as they had resumed their amorphous
nature. Still, I was able to catch a glimpse of Ellery’s back as he headed toward
the front door. It was hard to make out what he was doing, but I stumbled behind
the rapidly disintegrating visuals. I hit the porch, trying to track his movements.
A strange numbness inched over me, and I couldn’t feel the phone or my fingers.
Something thumped to the ground. Outside in the bright, hot afternoon the image
flickered near the carport, then disappeared. Someone kept saying, “No, no, no.”
It was irritating, and I wished they’d shut up.
My body felt clumsy, and I tripped down the steps to the loose gravel. My fingers began to tingle as if small pins were trying to poke their way out of my
skin. The disturbing sensation raced up my arms and wrapped tight bands around
my chest. Caught in this strange reality, it took a moment to understand that I was standing in front of Kelsey’s car. My hands hovered over the trunk, shaking
violently.
Just do it, Cyn. Open the trunk and prove you’re just losing your mind.
My hands didn’t move.
“Cyn?” Kayden’s careful use of my name snapped my paralysis. My fingers
fumbled for the release latch. Suddenly, larger hands covered mine, stilling my
frantic movements. “We’ll do it together, okay?” His voice came from behind me, gentle and soft. His hands steady.
I gave a sharp nod, choking off the sob trapped in my throat. Together we raised the lid. A thin wail broke through the quiet afternoon and my heart shattered.
I’d found Kelsey.
CHAPTER 5
