Flutter Read Free Page A

yet.
    On top of that, I had very little experience being
around people. I found myself attracted to Jack’s blood, and his
pulse is significantly weaker than humans. Their blood smelled
stronger, pounded harder, and would be far more enticing. I had
shown a lot of self-control so far, but in all honesty, I’d had
very little temptation.
    “Good.” Ezra nodded once, then looked at Mae. “Is
everything packed then?”
    “Yes.” She bit her lip when she met his gaze, and she
didn’t want him to go anymore than Jack wanted me to.
    “Well, then.” He smiled wanly at me. “Are you
ready?”
    “Yeah,” I nodded again.
    He put all the papers in the front pocket of his
suitcase and grabbed his bags. Up until that point, I think Milo
expected Ezra to tell me that I had to stay behind, but when he saw
that we were really serious, he balked loudly.
    “You can’t really be going!” Milo flared with
agitation, and Mae put her hand on his back, rubbing it to ease him
down before he went berserk. “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever
heard! You’re going to get her killed!”
    “Milo, that’s enough,” Mae said.
    “But… but…” Milo stammered and turned to her for
help. “You know this is stupid!”
    “Milo.” Ezra cut him off decisively, and Milo’s face
crumpled. “Just say goodbye to your sister before we go.”
    He cried when he hugged me, which didn’t make things
easier. He didn’t want me to go, and he didn’t want to be left
behind, but there was very little in the way of options. The one
time that he had actually met Peter, it hadn’t gone over well, so
he wouldn’t be able to do anything to help the cause of rescuing
Peter.
    Mae kissed Ezra with tears in her eyes, and once
again asked him if there was anything that could get him to stay.
He didn’t say anything, but that was as she had expected.
Sniffling, she hugged me and made me promise to be safe, to always
run at the first sign of trouble, and to call her constantly,
whether anything was wrong or not.
    When we left, she had her arm wrapped around Milo,
and they stood in the entryway, looking terribly forlorn. Jack
hadn’t said anything as we left, and he continued his silence on
the car ride to the airport. He took Ezra’s Lexus, and Ezra seemed
lost in his own thoughts, trying to figure something out.
    The Minneapolis airport was a bustle of human
activity. The cold October air felt good on my skin as we walked
from the parking lot to the airport, but everything was already
filled with the warm, tantalizing scent of blood.
    My heart sped up a little, and Jack took my hand,
squeezing it to reassure me. Once inside, the feeling only got
worse, and I tried to think of sad things, like dead bunnies, to
keep my appetite under wraps.
    Ezra went to the desk to pick up our tickets while
Jack stood with me, waiting in the crowd. Jack was unusually still,
but that was for my benefit. I felt everything he felt, so he tried
to be calm and soothing so I wouldn’t get agitated or hungry.
    “I’m going to have to go soon,” I said, looking up at
him sadly.
    “I know.”
    The crowds around us paused to stare. Before, when I
had been out with Jack in public, it drove me crazy the way
everyone fawned all over him. Now, I had the same power, and it was
incredibly odd having a private moment in front of an audience.
    Jack touched my face, his hand warming my cheek, and
I leaned into it. Leaving, even for a short time, would be so
painful, but it was the only thing I could do. I couldn’t live with
myself if I didn’t do everything to help Peter.
    Gently, he pressed his lips against mine, and his
luscious heart beat through my skin. He kept it soft and very PG,
because I didn’t want to get out of control in a crowded airport.
Still, nothing was sweeter than his kisses, and I couldn’t help but
want more.
    “The plane is going to board soon,” Ezra interrupted
us, not unkindly. “We need to get through baggage claims