Free Vampire's Forbidden Territory (Sídhí Summer Camp Series #2) by Jodie B. Cooper Page A

until none of them were left except her.
    Yeah, she had a very vivid imagination.
    Katie couldn't help herself. She slowed and glanced behind her.
    Brianna ran smack into Katie then stumbled backward, thumping into the damp wall.
    Beth flashed her fangs at Katie, warning her to back off. The shorter girl quickly stepped forward, standing in front of Brianna, protecting her in a complete reversal of roles.
    Katie's instinct, or her gut as Mitch called her odd gift, started shouting at her. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on the problem.
    Beth looked straight at Katie. Her protective stance told Katie if she swallowed wrong, the girl would attack. Her fangs had slightly lengthened and her eyes glowed amber.
    Brianna's hand slid along the cave wall. Her other hand reached for Beth. Twice. The girl missed the first time, clutching at thin air.
    Katie hissed in shock.
    Brianna's eyes were wide and unfocused. She couldn’t see in the dark. She had assumed the girl was past puberty. And since she smelled like a mundane, Katie believed both girls were shapeshifters. Now she wasn't too sure.
    Brianna straightened and confidently stepped forward, but when she reached to touch Katie's shoulder she missed by a fraction of an inch. She tried again and lightly touched Katie's arm in apology. “Sorry, you stopped really fast.”
    When Katie remained silent, Brianna shuffled her feet. From the sharp scent the girl suddenly threw off, she was nervously sweating and highly uncomfortable with the conversation.
     “I can see as well as you and Jared,” Beth said mentally, in an obvious attempt to shield her friend from Katie’s growling anger. “Brianna’s in the middle of puberty so she cannot see in the dark. Back home caves have glow moss that starts glowing fifty to a hundred feet beyond the entrance. We’re hoping the same will happen here.”
    “If not?” Katie hissed her question at Beth while she glared at Brianna. She knew if the tunnel stayed pitch black the blonde would become a liability. A liability that might get one of them killed.
    Katie heard Beth’s soft chuckle. “Part of her training took place with a blindfold on. Trust me, she can still fight.”
    Katie nodded her head, even though Brianna couldn't see her. She knew she didn't have a choice but accept what the shifter said. When they found Mitch and the others, they would need every pair of hands.
    She slightly turned and jerked to a stop. The tunnel was dead silent, not even the slightest wisp of movement could be heard.
    Katie's heart lurched to a stop.
    Jared. Where was he?
    She couldn't hear his footsteps. She cursed her stupidity for allowing them to be separated. She had only stopped for a few seconds, but who knew what was ahead of them. And he was angry enough he might storm into unknown danger without backup.
    Something long and warm slid around her waist, slowly tightening its grip. The image of a long black tentacle popped into her head.
    She squealed. Fear smashed through her.
    The tentacle squeezed, tightening its hold around her waist.
    She thumped backward into Jared’s hard body.
    He pulled her against his chest, rubbing her hip in a soothing motion.
    She shuddered and her heart slammed against her chest. Jeez! Perfect way to get rid of an unwanted lifeMate: frighten her to death.
    Katie began shaking. Tears brimmed, wetting her eyelashes. She was still soaking wet and shivering from the cold air. Getting the holy crap scared out of her didn’t help matters.
    “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you,” Jared said, his voice was gruff with unspoken emotion.
    Katie was shocked. He actually sounded remorseful. Even more surprising, she felt strong wisps of remorse wrap around his anger as he held her.
    Katie knew he only spoke to her, but his words of reassurance didn't make her feel any better. Even with his regret pulsing through her, his mental voice echoed his anger as it burned across their lifeBond. She wanted to