Changed

Chapter Nineteen

"Hail calm down it was just a dream." Maybe I should have spared him the details of my nightmare, because his take on the situation was immediate panic.

He was pacing back and forth, nervously cracking his knuckles.

"Explain your cheek for me please." He demanded, stopping and crossing his arms, his broad shoulders looming over me. I had never seen him this distraught - his reaction was odd and out of place, and he worried me. I was sitting on the motel bed as he continued up and down over the beige carpet of the small room. My hand stroked my cheek, and ran over the four scabs interrupting the smooth skin of my face.

"It was probably just me freaking out in my sleep and scratching my face."

"With what nails Amara?" He questioned, stopping again. I stretched out my fingers, chewing the side of my mouth while I examined my unexplainably short nails.

"Malus is getting stronger. That's the only explanation. Somehow he... He projected himself into your dream and caused you physical harm. Shit. Shit. This isn't good."

Hail's constant droning on about how much damage Malus could do while I lay unconsciously sleeping did not ease my traumatized mind. I was desperately trying to repress my lingering thoughts of terror.

He crashed onto the bed, causing me to bounce slightly.

"Can we just not talk about it. Please. We'll figure it out when we've found the rest of the Changed."

Hail sighed. "What happens the next time you fall asleep?"

I grinned at him. "I'm a tough one. I can handle a couple all-nighters."

The worry didn't leave his eyes, and he bit his lower lip as he sat up.

"Amara, I can't ---"

"Hey love birds!! Want a bagel??" Quinn sprinted into the room and launched herself onto the bed, wriggling to declare the inches between Hail and I hers. She had a rustling paper bag in each hand and proudly held one out to us both. Slate walked in carrying a carton tray of coffees - a blessing for the state my mind was in. Caffeine might just be the only thing that would keep me alive. Slate handed us each a paper cup, and sat on the floor in front of us, Quinn swiftly joining him at our feet.

We sat in silence for a while as we ate our bagels and sipped our hot coffees. Well, the three of us did as Quinn excitedly elaborated on the giant dog she saw while her and Slate got breakfast, and how she's always wanted a Great Dane. She continuously blurted facts about the breed, the laugh lines around her bright eyes becoming more noticeable as her young face lit up while she passionately spoke. Her hands flew up and about as she talked, each word accompanied by a hand motion - so often it reminded me of sign language. Her giggle chimed almost musically through the room when Slate put his large arm around her, hugging her tightly as he told her every Great Dane on earth would be lucky to have her as an owner - and he knew because they told him so. I couldn't help but smile at the sickly adorableness of their relationship. Glancing over at the man 'incapable of love' beside me, I saw his mouth too curl into a very slight crescent.

Hail returned the motel room keys as we prepared to travel to the magical Google forest I was first attacked in. He assumed Alec and whoever was with him would go there and wait for us, since that was the very first camp base and they had always agreed to meet there should they ever separate. Besides, you could sense other Changed there, so finding them would be a hell of a lot easier. We rented a jeep with Hail's apparent never-ending funds and loaded it up with camping supplies. Slate sat in the passenger seat as Hail drove - Quinn and I sat in the back. The October air was getting cooler, especially at night, so I was grateful for the warm fleece sweater I was wearing as it engulfed me in comfort and tranquility. Even in the car it was miserably chilly.