Free Altered Souls by Karice Bolton Page A

leaned forward and smiled, touching my chin with his thumb sending a current of happiness through me. His reaction wasn’t for the reason I feared.
    Unable to hide my smile, I looked into blue eyes that were full of the life I’d come to expect from him, and as mischievous as always.
    “Oh, my god,” I whispered, sliding my arms around his waist. “It’s a miracle.”
    “No, it’s magic,” he replied coyly, bringing me into his embrace.
    “Are you going to be okay?” I asked, resting my head on his chest.
    “Thanks to you,” he replied. “But I think it’s time I quit underestimating Trevor.”
    “You think?” I laughed, feeling Logan’s energy returning to its normal state.
    “We should probably grab what we need and get out of here,” he replied, his arms not letting go even though his words said something else.
    I nodded and felt the tears beginning again.
    “I thought you’d slipped away,” I whispered. “And there’s so much I’ve wanted to tell you.”
    “Well, I think we’ve got plenty of time for that now. It’s a long trip to New York.”
    “We need to stop in Illinois first,” I said.
    “Why’s that?” His embrace loosened slightly.
    “I’m worried about your mom. I think she’s in danger.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
     
    He turned the car down a narrow street where rows of trees created a canopy over the road. We had finally made it to Illinois.
    “Are we close?” I asked, in awe of the sprawling homes that lined the street.
    “Yeah…a little farther.” His voice was tense.
    We had driven over two thousand miles and the entire time we were unable to reach his mom. Between the images that Trevor’s mind spilled into mine, and my mom’s own disappearance, neither of us ran on much hope.
    “Maybe she didn’t charge her phone,” I offered, attempting to believe my own words.
    “Thanks for trying,” Logan replied, placing his hand on my knee. The familiar tingle ran through me, and I scolded myself.
    “We’ll find out soon enough,” he replied.
    The homes began to decrease in size but only slightly. Our home in Seattle was amazing — awesome really, but I think four of them would fit in one of these.
    “That street sign we passed didn’t say Logan Loop, did it?”
    Looking somewhat embarrassed, he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
    “I’m guessing we’re in your neighborhood now,” I continued.
    “My mom couldn’t resist moving to this street for obvious reasons.”
    “You left this to come out to Seattle for college?” I turned in the seat to look at him, giving him my best skeptical expression.
    “I left this to come out to Seattle for you .” He shrugged and wore a crooked smile. “I kinda thought we’d established that.” He raised his right eyebrow, and a full smile spread across his lips.
    “Well, I didn’t think you’d be leaving this behind.” I smiled, waving my hand at everything I was seeing through the windows.
    “That’s a little superficial.” His laughter filled the car. It was the first time since we left Seattle that his wonderful melody reached my soul. It was nice to hear it again.
    “I’m only human,” I replied, trying to hide my smile. “And this is pretty impressive.”
    Who was I kidding? This actually frightened me a little. First, cleaning it would be horrible. Second, I wouldn’t want to be home alone in it. It’s too big. Third, well I guess that was it. I’d probably adapt pretty quickly.
    Unaware of the smile that had planted itself on my lips, Logan touched my chin softly to interrupt my daydreaming episode.
    “Too bad I’m not the one who owns it.” He slowed the car down as we approached a beautiful stone home.
    “Is that a guest house?” I asked, spotting a miniature replica of the grey house we were now parked in front of.
    “Yeah. That’s actually where I stayed the last year or so of high school,” he said, turning off the car.
    Wow, that’s some