Seeker (Shadows) by Jolene Perry Page B

Now.”
    “You’re not really in a position to be making demands.” Ocean chuckles and wrenches Dean’s arm a little further, which makes Dean grunt again.
    I slide the plastic cuffs onto Addison and climb off her back, helping her slowly stand up. The side of her face is a bit scratched, but she’ll be fine. Rage fills her features, and I’m half waiting for a stream of cuss words or for her to spit on me.
    “Let’s go back to our room and we can talk there,” I say. Best to get out of here before… I feel him too late. Damn. Landon’s shield is amazing.
    Landon steps around the corner with Micah looking completely unsurprised, and I touch my fingers to my taser again. Two more shadows are lurking off to the side running a shiver through me, and I’m not looking forward to possibly fighting them off at the same time I’m dealing with the group.
    But then I realize. This is Landon. Right here. Close enough that I could touch him. I hate that we’re meeting again this way. Does he remember me? Nothing in his face says that he does, but I was a kid last time we met. I’m waiting for a flicker of recognition that never comes, and my chest aches at how different this is from what I’ve imagined it would be like. Landon should know me, or there should be something like the energy between me and Ocean, but there’s nothing.
    W hen Landon steps closer, I remember that we’re on opposite sides here, and now I’m assessing our odds of taking all four together. It’s better than thinking about how many ways I wish this situation was different. We’d have to find a way to cuff Dean and keep those two secure while getting the other two… Odds aren’t great, but doable.
    “Well…” Landon says. “I was going to let myself get caught by you, but this works too.”
    He glances at Dean and then Addison whose hair is half covering her angry face.
    “Sorry guys.” Landon shrugs. “Micah’s timing must be off.”
    “Not me.” She’s trying to mimic Landon’s relaxed stance, but failing a bit. “I think you got smug and lazy.”
    He gives her a peck on the cheek, which I already want to erase from my memory. It’s so relaxed and familiar.
    Ocean and I glance at one another, and Ocean drops Dean’s hand putting both his in front of him. “We’re more than happy to come with you. We just want to talk.”
    Ocean let Dean go. What the…?
    “Let me take care of something first.” Landon pulls a roll of metallic tape out of his backpack and grabs Ocean’s hand, wrapping the tape quickly over his watch about six times. Ocean just lets it happen—his face un-readably relaxed.
    A gust of wind slams into my side. The storm’s coming in, and I’m sure my parents will just think that the storm is interfering with reception instead of the tape, which may or may not work. But still. Damn.
    I reach for my watch knowing it’ll send a warning out, but Dean’s too fast, grabbing both my arms. Now that he’s holding me, I pull my arms out to the side, bringing him closer and jerk my leg, giving him a hard knee in the groin.
    “Holy…” Dean gasps as he leans forward, bu t still doesn’t let go of my wrists.
    “Play nice, K,” Ocean says with a smirk, but he’s also not moving or stepping in, and neither is anyone else.
    I make another play for my watch, but Landon’s grabbed my hands, too, and I’m pissed that Ocean’s not helping me out. I writhe to the left, and swing my leg around almost hard enough to knock Landon’s right leg out from underneath him, but not quite. And then I realize it’s Landon and he’s close and touching me and I don’t want to hurt him. I stare at his blue eyes and wish for him to remember me.
    “Kara, relax,” Ocean says, and I have a moment of panic where I wonder if he’s working with them.
    My chest caves in as my watch is firmly covered in the foiled tape, because Landon doesn’t even pause in constricting me further. I jerk my arms a few times as Dean continues to