Free Secretly Sam by Heather Killough-Walden

Dominic stood. She went still as his green, green eyes found hers. They seemed more a deep, almost bluish emerald than jade now. They were so vivid, so brightly mesmerizing, she felt strange looking up into them. She felt caught .
    “I have to get that,” he told her. His voice sounded gruff, as if choked by something. She wondered whether a sob were stuck in his throat, held in check by Dominic’s force of will. That would explain the near glow to his eyes; maybe they were unshed tears.
    Logan nodded and rose as well. They made their way out of the room and down the hall, down several flights of stairs, and finally to the front door. By that time, the doorbell had been rung a second time, and someone had begun knocking.
    Dom opened the door to reveal two of his band mates, Nathan McCay the drummer, and Shawn Briggs, the bass guitarist and keyboardist.
    Logan knew at once why they were there. The stricken, pale looks on their faces told her everything. They’d obviously heard about Alec.
    Nathan looked from Dominic to Logan, and Logan suddenly felt way, way out of her league. Too far left field. She felt conspicuous, as if she were trespassing. She shouldn’t be there; this was guy time. They’d lost one of their own.
    “Logan,” Nathan said, and some strange emotion crossed his features. His hazel eyes focused on her and he frowned in seriousness. “I’m glad you’re here with him,” he said, and Logan could swear he sounded like he actually meant it.
    Shawn brushed past his companion and stepped across the threshold, taking Dominic in a hard hug. “We heard, Dom. My dad’s friends with one of the cops.” His voice was tight, strained with the same unshed tears Logan had been wondering about with Dominic. “Fuck, I’m so sorry, man.”
    Nathan made his way inside as Shawn pulled back from the hug, releasing Dominic. Logan did the only thing she could think of doing and closed the door.
    Nathan ran a hand through his long blonde hair. “Dom… what the hell happened?” He shook his head. “I mean, I heard it, but I don’t believe it. Alec went nuts or some shit? Was he high?” He seemed desperate for some kind of explanation that would make sense. Alec Sheffield had been one of their closest friends, one of the gang, a band mate. This kind of thing just didn’t happen.
    Dominic looked from Nathan to Logan, and there were secret, hidden messages galore in his emerald gaze.
    “He wasn’t himself,” Dom said without looking away. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “That’s all I know.”

 
    Chapter Thirteen
    Logan left Dominic’s home shortly after his band mates showed up. Dom hadn’t wanted her to leave. At least, that’s what he’d said. But she’d felt like a fourth wheel, if there could be such a thing. Or maybe it was more like a fifth wheel, where one of the wheels was a ghost wheel…. Anyway, she’d told him that she should be heading home so her parents wouldn’t worry.
    Reluctantly, he’d agreed. It was hard to argue with something like that, especially in the face of murders and escaped Death Gods. In the end, even teenagers understood that family came first.
    It was too bad families couldn’t understand as much.
    Now Logan squinted against the stark lines of the road highlighted by her headlights. She ran her hand over her face. It felt flushed and feverish, and she wanted a shower. As she navigated the winding streets back home, she wondered what would be waiting for her. Another fight? Would everyone be asleep, or would Taylor still be up?
    She braced herself for whatever she’d find and turned onto her driveway.
    *****
    This was bullshit. He was wasting time.
    Sam swore internally and pinched the bridge of his nose. This human body was frail compared to his true form. He’d been rejuvenated, re-energized, and now the bulk of his power swirled and swelled just beneath the surface of Dominic Maldovan’s form, stretching this puny reality until Sam was afraid he