Unseen (The Heights, Vol. 1) by Lauren Stewart

hide your emotions
better, Addison. Especially now. You blocked me once before;
therefore, it is possible you can do it again. You should learn how
to shield.”
    “You mean from mind readers?”
    “Among others. Angels and demons could easily
sense what you are if you do not have a strong shield. Although
everything could function differently because of what you are.”
    “I’m not anything.”
    “Not even human?” he asked.
    “Are you always this condescending?” When he
didn’t answer, she mumbled, “Another question we need
answered.”
    He enjoyed hearing her repeat his words.
Particularly when he remembered when he’d used them.
    As the cave narrowed, he ducked his head.
Addison clung to him, her breath shallower, her heat increasing
against his bare skin.
    “I told you that you have nothing to be
afraid of.”
    “And it didn’t help at all. What am I
supposed to say to her?”
    “Nothing. You remain silent until she asks
you a question. Then you respond to only that point. No more, no
less. What you do here can change things, but you will never know
if it is for the better or for the worse. That is the only danger
here.” When they reached the third chamber, he stopped. “Choose a
path.”
    “Jeez, how many of these are there?”
    “This is the last.”
    “We should’ve left breadcrumbs.” She pointed
to the one on the right. “That one.” He’d already known which she
would choose—the opposite of what he would have, as were the prior
two.
    “Walk in front,” he said. “I will keep you
from stumbling.”
    “Wow, how chivalrous of you. For the final
leg of the trip, you make the human go first.”
    He could have corrected her again, told her
that she was no more human than he was, but he let it go. She would
know soon enough. “We are here to learn about you, so you must pick
each path. Now you must go first. If you do not, then we will not
see the oracle.”
    “So you’re totally unnecessary here?”
    “I am merely a mode of transportation.”
    She went through the door on the right. “Too
bad I can’t park you in a bad part of town with the key in the
ignition and your motor running.”
    He chuckled, his hands on her hips to guide
her through the darkness. “Believe me, Addison, my motor is running.”

Fourteen
    ~ ~ ~
    Logan, a seer & Noah, a
seer-turned-werewolf
    “You don’t have to move out, you
know.” Logan leaned against the truck and watched his friend work
for a while. It had been a very long couple of nights/days and they
hadn’t ended yet.
    “All our neighbors look at me like I’m the
enemy now,” Noah said, shaking his head. “I don’t want to make
anybody uncomfortable.”
    “Fuck ’em. They’ll get used to it.”
    “Really? I’m not sure I will.” Over
the past month, Noah had developed the habit of rubbing his
shoulder where he’d been bit. No teeth marks or scar, because a
were’s bite changed a lot of things, including creating
faster-than-human healing abilities. Ironic for a healer who’d
accidentally gotten bit while fixing up a couple members of the
local were pack.
    “Think if I switch deodorants, seers won’t be
able to smell the dog in me? I should try it.” His smile tightened.
“You know, whenever the alpha lets me come back.”
    “This is messed up, Noah. They can’t ship you
off like this.”
    “They can do whatever they want.”
    “Not anymore. You’re not a seer anymore.”
    “ They can’t, but the lead alpha can,
and he’s not exactly my biggest supporter.”
    “Do you know how long you’ll be gone, at
least?”
    Noah hefted another box into the storage
unit, his increased strength making it look like he was stacking
tissue boxes. “Not a clue.”
    “They must have told you something.”
    “Oh yeah, they were extremely helpful.” His
sarcasm was obvious, even without the eye rolling or the hugely
exaggerated enthusiasm. “I think it went something like, ‘Welcome
to a modified version of hell where you get to turn