Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 16

Kas’s POV

According to the clock, it’s one in the afternoon.

My stomach growling rouses me out of bed.

Before he left, Bronx said Mrs.Miller was going to bring food up to the apartment.

Seems as good a time as any to go see what goodies she brought up.

I go into the walk-in closet and find a pair of sweatpants and an oversized shirt.

As I’m getting dressed, my mind churns with the events from yesterday, trying to put some sense to all of it.

How did I end up in the pool in the first place? Where have I been for the last four days? I think they are questions best thought about over a turkey sandwich and hopefully a banana.I put my hair up ina floppy bun before I head out to the kitchen.

As I get to the bedroom door, I smell someone’s scent.

It definitely isn’t Bronx’s dark chocolate and coffee scent that I love so much, besides, he told me he was going to the office.

This scent is out of place in my home and I'll be damned if I’m disappearing for another four days.

My brain immediately switches from questions of my disappearance to defense mode.

I let my fangs and claws extend, ready to attack as I slowly, quietly crack the door open.

A large man is standing half-way between the bedroom door and the sofa with his back facing me.

He is in jeans and a white t-shirt with his arms crossed in front of him as if he’s waiting for something.

All the training James and Marco have given me over the past year floods into my brain.

If I can get a foot planted on the small of his back, I can get leverage over him and try to bring him down.

"Kas, what are you doing?" Lex hisses at me.

"Attacking a man who broke into my apartment.I’m not getting kidnapped again, Lex.What do you think I’m doing?" I snap.

"Kas, that’s just-"

"Not now, Lex," I interrupt.

Before she can respond again, I let a purple aura build around me.I suppress a growl as I launch myself at the man from behind.

One foot securely lands on the small of his back while my knee is between his shoulder blades, giving me leverage to lean back without falling off of him.

My hands wrap tightly around his thick neck at the same time.He lets out a strangled cry as my claws bury deep into his windpipe.He grabs my wrists and starts to pull, but not enough to throw me off of his back.

The growl I was suppressing lets loose from my chest, making the room rumble as he grabs me.I start to push my claws deeper into his neck, pulling them back toward my body at the same time.I can feel his pulse quicken against my fingertips as I get closer to his jugular.

The metallic scent of blood is thick in the air as he drops to his knees.

Something's wrong.

isn’t he defending himself? Why isn’t he fighting against me? Just as his knees hit the ground, Marco throws the apartment door

NO! Stop! It’s James! Luna, please! It's just James! You’re gonna to kill

has both hands in the air in front of

eyes are wide, darting from James to me

second of distraction is enough for the intruder to reach up, grab me by the shoulders, and throw me over

me as I hit the ground, forcing me to dislodge my

see James

gushing out between his fingers as he

retract at the shock of seeing James

to James’ side and drops

as panicked as it

mind links someone, then I watch in horror as Marco

have I done? "Kas, don’t just sit there.Heal

head.I can feel the tears stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I

done? There’s

face is pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes

so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink

the tears now.I force down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position

James with disbelief in his watery

me

opens and closes,

concentrate.We can do

as I can, which isn’t very calm at all.I wipe

all my energy, Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing James fading on

gently pull James’s hands away

feel like someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the damage

fade away as I focus on saving James’s life.I send my energy out into his body, pulling

repairing tissue that I tore in half.I

energy to their touch, intense but familiar and

a truck hit me? As I come out of the darkness of

that voice, but I can’t

me Iokaste, except for Delilah’s mom, Lady Camille.It definitely isn’t her

does this woman sound so

the doorway into the dark room, making it impossible to

where are we?" I

Kas.You have important visitors," her tone is full

on.I jolt up and push

eyes adjust to the bright light from the doorway.I

her a little, she will back

focus to slow time

out the

look around to see if there is a way to escape around them, but

Is that who I

her outline becomes more clear with Lenora’s strong features and

woman looks annoyed, "No, I’m

the floor in front

holding a metal wine glass toward me.Her long chocolate brown hair is in dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises,