Free Soul Deep: Dark Souls, Book 2 by Anne Hope

territory when you’re sworn to a life of secrecy and seclusion.”
    “We’re going to need a place to stay,” he told her, ignoring the caustic note in her voice. “Most decent hotels ask for a credit card as security. I could addle the clerk’s brain and have him make an exception in our case, but that’s exactly the kind of thing that could raise a red flag. Every time we use our special abilities, we strengthen the trail of energy we leave behind. I probably shouldn’t have used my powers at the campground, but I had no choice. From now on, I want us to look as normal as possible—just your everyday, run-of-the-mill family on a road trip.”
    A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. “That’s us, all right.” Two soulless immortals with a human time bomb in the backseat hardly qualified as normal in her book. “And how long are we going to act like the happy couple? A week, a month, ten years?”
    “Just as long as it takes to leave the country. Cal’s reach stretches far and wide, but there are places we could go where it’ll be harder for him to track us—South Africa or the Middle East, for instance.”
    Centuries ago, two powerful Ancients had set up their bases there, and these areas were rich in Kleptopsych activity. Ancients were first generation Nephilim. Having survived the Great Flood, they were both feared and revered among the Kleptopsychs. Because of the influence these Ancients wielded, Cal had had a hard time stopping the violence and chaos that eternally plagued Middle Eastern countries and several regions of Africa.
    “And you’re all right with that—leaving everything behind, constantly looking over your shoulder, never seeing Cal or the Watchers again?”
    His jaw hardened, and a flicker of something flashed in his eyes. Something that reminded her of the sad acceptance often seen on the faces of mourners surrounding the grave of a loved one. “Does it matter? It’s not like I have much of a choice.”
    “Sure you do.” She ignored the clutch of disappointment in her belly. “You can return to the complex, beg Cal for forgiveness. You’re his favorite. He’ll take it easy on you. I’m certain of it.”
    His gaze touched hers just for a moment before he redirected his attention to the road, but in that brief instant she saw a gleam of surprise, lit by the underlying embers of respect.
    “You make a great Watcher, Marcus, but you’d make a lousy fugitive.” She knew where he belonged, and it wasn’t with her. Why then was it so hard to tell him to go? Swallowing a mouthful of bitter regret, she said, “You need to be out there saving the world with Cal, not playing bodyguard to Ben and me.”
    His features remained as smooth and unyielding as polished stone. “If I do what you say, and assuming Cal does let my little lapse in judgment slide, he’ll order me to track you. And when he does, I’ll have no choice but to comply.”
    She knew he was right, and with Marcus on her trail, she didn’t stand a chance. Still, she had to believe there was a way. “Just give me a head start, a couple of days. That’s all I ask.”
    His fingers tensed around the steering wheel. “I’m good at what I do, Regan. A couple of days won’t save you. Sooner or later, I’ll find you.”
    “Even if I’m somewhere in the Congo?”
    Swords of light carved yellow slits through the trees to striate the windshield. “It may take a while, but one day you’ll wake up, and I’ll be there.”
    “Am I supposed to be afraid?”
    His lips twitched at the corners. “You should be.”
    The abrupt rumble that gripped the road reminded her of thunder, but there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Not anymore. The day hummed with electric brightness, the sky a clear shade of blue that perfectly matched the ridiculous dress she had on.
    Three black SUVs peeled across the blacktop behind them, each emitting a dark energy she recognized all too well. “Shit. The Watchers.”

Chapter Twelve
    Marcus floored the