The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong Read Free Book Online

empty.
    I checked the bathroom, but the door was open, the inside dark. I thought about the roof, but after the other night, I was saving that for last. Downstairs, then. First stop? The kitchen,naturally. I found an empty milk glass and a crumb-spotted plate neatly placed in the sink.
    As I walked through the rooms on the first floor, I kept glancing down the hall at the rear door. He had said he’d call me if he went out to Change, hadn’t he? Did he go alone? A stab of hurt zinged through me.
    So what if he had? That was his right. He didn’t need me to help. Except he’d seemed to appreciate having me there, and I’d liked that, being able to do something for him.
    I went to the back door. Sure enough, it was unlocked. I stifled the fresh stab of disappointment and opened it. The house backed onto a tiny rear yard surrounded by forest. The sun was rising over the trees. I stepped out and peered around.
    “Derek?” I called.
    No answer.
    I took a few more steps, then called a little louder, “Derek? Are you out here?”
    A branch snapped in the woods. I pictured Derek, in the middle of a Change, unable to respond, and hurried toward the forest’s edge. The noise stopped and I paused at the end of the path leading in, peering into the dark woods, listening. Another snap. Something like a groan.
    “Derek? It’s me.”
    I stepped in. It took only a few paces for the morning light to fade and darkness to envelop me.
    “Derek?”
    I jumped as he rounded a corner down the path. I didn’t need full daylight to see the expression on his face. I didn’t even need to see his face at all to know I was in trouble, just the set of his shoulders and the long strides as he bore down on me.
    “I—” I began.
    “What the hell are you doing, Chloe? I said we’d come out here later and try to contact that ghost. Key word? We . If you’re here—”
    I lifted my hands. “Okay, you caught me. I was sneaking out on my own, hoping no one would notice. That’s why I’ve been calling your name.”
    That gave him pause.
    I went on. “I had another early encounter in my room and thought, after yesterday, I’d better get backup. Tori and Simon are sleeping, but you’re up, so I was looking for you.”
    “Oh.” He rubbed a hand over his mouth and muttered what could have been an apology.
    “Are you Changing?” I asked.
    “Hmm? Nah. I would have come to get you if I was.”
    “Good. These days, the buddy system is a smart idea for both of us.”
    I walked back into the yard. Derek followed. The path was narrow, but he walked beside me, so close his hand brushed my elbow a few times before he mumbled something and pulled back, letting me go ahead.
    “So what were you doing?” I asked. “Early morning hike?”
    “Looking around. Just…restless.”
    I glanced back at him, seeing the tightness in his face, the way his gaze darted about. More anxiety than restlessness. I stepped from the forest into the yard and turned to face him.
    “Something bothering you?”
    “Nah.” A pause, then, “Yeah. I couldn’t sleep so I went up on the roof and thought I saw something down here. A light in the woods. I couldn’t find anything, though.”
    His gaze returned to the forest, fingers tapping his thigh, like he was eager to get back in there.
    “You want to keep looking?” I asked.
    “Yeah, maybe.”
    “I’ll leave you to it, then.” I started for the door.
    “No.” He said it quickly, and reached for my arm, but stopped before he touched me. “I mean, if you’re tired, sure. But you don’t have to.”
    “Okay.”
    He nodded. Then we stood there. After a moment, he rubbed the back of his neck and rolled his shoulders.
    “So, uh, you said something about a ghost?”
    “Right.” I told him what happened.
    “You okay?” he said when I finished.
    “Spooked, but sure, I’m fine.” He kept looking at me, like he didn’t believe that, and I hurried on. “So did you find anything last night when you searched the