“I do mind. I want to know what you were doing when you snuck out of the house before dawn.”
“It’s none of your business.” Shoving her door open, she slammed it behind her and ran for the house.
He’d never seen a woman run so fast.
Moving much more slowly, he got out of his truck and locked the doors before pocketing the keys. The beginnings of a headache hovered at the back of his eyes and he blinked, willing it away.
She wasn’t in the kitchen. Or the den, or the dining room. Suddenly, inexplicably weary, he trudged down the hall to her bedroom, finding the door closed.
“Jewel?” No answer. He knocked twice, then tried the handle, knowing the lock didn’t work. As he opened the door, she spun around to face him.
“Leave me alone.” Her lips drew back in a snarl.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Wrong with me?” Her tone rose. “Despite the fact that I completely misjudged you, not a whole lot. Unless you take into account the fact that Leo isn’t going to rest until he drives me insane and has me bleeding and cowed. I don’t have a job or money or any way to escape him. So do I start digging my grave and planning my funeral, or what?”
He wanted to hold her, to touch that silky short hair and soothe away the tension in her neck. Instead, he stayed where he was, unmoving. Her eyes, while flashing with anger, also were full of fear. “This really isn’t about me, is it?”
“Get out.” Toneless, she gave the order in a voice so low it sounded like a growl. “Get out and leave me alone.”
Instead, he took a step forward.
She opened her mouth to speak, and convulsed instead. She made a howling sound, her expression stricken. “Oh, God. Not now!”
Heart pounding, instantly, he crossed to her side. “What is it, Jewel? What’s wrong with you? Let me help.”
“Get back,” she snarled.
He reached for her. Dodging him, she dropped to the ground on all fours, facing him from that position, looking for all the world like an animal caught in a rusty trap.
“Jewel!”
“Go!” She convulsed again.
Was it his imagination, or was she suddenly surrounded by fireflies? He rubbed his eyes. Not fireflies, but sparkles of light, like an animated cartoon with magic. Pixie dust.
Washeon drugs? He couldn’t be seeing this. Was her body changing shape? What thehellwas going on here? Suddenly uncertain, he took a step back. Then another.
He’d just reached the doorway when she howled. The sound was so full of sadness, so full of pain, he couldn’t leave.
The lights surrounding her intensified. Colors swirled, rainbows danced and sparkles flowed in random patterns.
Once, when he’d been young and stupid, he’d tried taking a hit of acid. He felt as if he were tripping on that right now.
He took a tentative step forward, half expecting to feel the ground tilt under his feet.
“Stay back,” she warned from somewhere inside the maelstrom.
“Are you hurt?”
No answer. For a second he could have sworn he saw a wolf peering out at him. He blinked and the image had vanished.
As quickly as they’d begun, the colors and traces of light vanished.
Jewel lay on the floor, one arm flung out as if in entreaty, unconscious.
He crossed to her, lifting her wrist to check for a pulse.
