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.

as his knees hit

Luna, please! It's just James! You’re gonna to

but he has both hands in the air in front of

eyes are wide, darting from James to me as he takes slow, deliberate steps

for the intruder to reach up, grab me

me as I hit the ground, forcing me to

up to see James grabbing

between his fingers as he falls

fangs and claws retract at the shock of seeing

to James’ side and drops to his knees,

as panicked as

someone, then I watch in horror as Marco consoles

have I done? What have I done? "Kas, don’t

stinging my eyes as I pull myself up.I can’t catch my breath as I

I done? There’s

face is pale, his usually cheerful blue eyes look

my Goddess, I’m so sorry.I’m so sorry.Can I heal you, please, James? Please! Just blink if it's okay for me to

down a sob as he looks to me and slowly blinks.I position myself next to his shoulder, surrounded by a growing pool of blood

looks at James with disbelief in

he looks at me and shakes

closes, but

Lex.Let’s concentrate.We

as I can, which isn’t very calm at all.I wipe my tears away with

my energy, Kas.Let’s go," she whines, seeing

James’s hands away

pour out in spurts from the gaping wound.I feel like someone is squeezing my heart as I see the extent of the damage my claws made.I place my hands over his neck and close my

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

repairing tissue that I tore in half.I

an energy to their

truck hit me? As I come out of the darkness of sleep, I can

know that voice, but I can’t

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

this woman sound so familiar?

is shining through the doorway into the dark

are we?"

have important visitors," her tone is full

woman is crouching next to the cot I'm laying on.I jolt up

light from the doorway.I try to send energy

I can burn her a little, she will back away.I concentrate on my energy, but nothing

to slow

out the door and no one gets

to escape around

a minute? Is that who

more clear with Lenora’s

woman looks annoyed, "No, I’m

woman, who is sitting on the floor in front of the cot.I look more carefully

pulled back into a ponytail.She has scarlet irises, red as blood.Her sun-weathered skin makes her look older than