Callum: Trillionaire Shifter Club Book Four Read online

  “Yes, I’m helping you,” Lindsay said.

  “Why – I thought you –”

  “Come on,” Callum said pushing past her. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Just a minute,” Lindsay said. “I know a better way.”

  She exited the tent.

  Ava turned to Callum. “We should follow her.”

  “She can’t be trusted,” Callum said. “She’s involved with –”

  “You heard her!” Ruby protested. “She led the others away!”

  Callum sighed and then proceeded to follow Lindsay’s lead. They rushed back out to the ground and moved round until they were at the front of a section of attractions that were also closed. Lindsay led them up the ramp of the ghost train, and through the curtain into the ride. She switched on the dim lights within and made some alterations to the controls mounted to the wall.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Callum demanded.

  Lindsay looked back at him slyly. “This train here is a secret way out of the park. If you make the right adjustments it will take you to a tunnel that leads out to the main road. Chase and I have used it numerous times.”

  “I want to know why you’re helping us,” Callum said.

  “I couldn’t even begin to…” Lindsay said, trailing off.

  “Begin to what?”

  Lindsay bowed her head. “I heard the Dark Prince is coming here tonight. You need to get that message out.”

  She pulled back a leaver and sparkling green lights lit up along the track.

  “On you go,” Lindsay instructed.

  Ava and Ruby climbed aboard the train.

  Callum lingered behind. “Did he send you as well then?”

  “If he did,” Lindsay replied, “then would he allow me to tell you?”

  Callum took a deep breath, moved by her words. He climbed into the train cart next to Ava, his face staring down the tunnel ahead.

  “What was she talking about?” Ava asked.

  “It’s a long story,” Callum said.

  Lindsay then pulled the final lever, and the train’s engine revved into motion.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Ten. Nine. Eight, seven. Six…

  Ruby stood up as distant fireworks from the theme park lit up the sky. “I should really get going. I can see the two of you want to be alone together.”

  Ava and Callum were sitting together, on the other side of the fire, keeping themselves warm.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Ava said. “There’s nowhere for you to go.”

  “I could call my Mom. Have her come get me.”

  “How’s she going to find you? There’s nothing out here.”

  “I know where the road is,” Ruby stammered. “I can walk along it, find a gas station –”

  “What if they’re still looking for us? What if they find you?”

  “Well, it’s gotta be better than waiting for his friend to show up. We’ve been here for a bloody hour already.”

  “I’m really sorry,” Callum said. “He’s the only person I trust. We have to wait.”

  “For how much longer?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Ava stood up and approached Ruby. “Sit back down. Please.”

  Ruby shrugged. She complied, shaking her head.

  “This is so crazy,” she said. “We should just call the cops.”

  “Contacting the police would close the gap between us and them,” Callum said. “They’d be easily able to get to you.”

  “Why – why would they even want to?” Ruby argued. “We didn’t even see anything freaky.”

  “I left my mark on Madame Patricia. She will desire revenge. She won’t stop till she gets it.”

  “That shit’s between you and her.”

  “It’s between all of us.”

  “Guys,” Ava said. “Can we not fight?”

  “I’m just airing my concerns,” Ruby said. “I think I have a right.”

  “This is just the beginning,” Callum said rising to his feet. “A war between shifters and vampires. For too long, the vampires have been made to feel oppressed. Second class citizens in the supernatural world. This … is their first move in taking over. I have to report back to the Guardian … and his son…”

  “Who are they?” Ava asked.

  “The shifter council who protect the city, they’re inherently corrupt. Now that Bane and the Trillionaire Club have fallen, there’s only one source of power in this world. And that lies in the Lion Guardian and his isolated kingdom. It was his son Rory, who told me about this.”

  “Is he a lion shifter too?” Ava asked.

  Callum nodded. “He used to run the shifter club before Bane took over. There was a falling out between him and … his half brother, Slash. From what I’ve overheard during my ‘stay’ with the vampires, Slash appears to have betrayed the rest of us.”

  “You see, I don’t get that,” Ruby said. “If this is a shifter vs vamps war, why are there shifters helping the vampires?”

  “War brings traitors from either camps. I can’t speak about Slash, but as far as Chase goes … he has been acting on his own accord.”

  “So is this ‘Rory’ guy coming for us then?” Ruby asked.

  “I don’t know,” Callum said. “I just left a message with his people. Someone will come for us.”

  Ruby shook her head. She stood up.

  “You guys don’t mind if I call my Mom just to let her know where I am, do you?”

  Ava turned to Callum.

  “I wouldn’t recommend it,” he said.

  Ruby turned her nose up at him and walked off in the snow.

  “Stay close by,” Ava called after her.

  “I’m trying to get reception,” Ruby hollered back.

  She disappeared into the dark around them.

  Callum stood beside Ava. “She’ll be alright,” he said. “They won’t find us out here.”

  “Are you sure they won’t be drawn to the fire?” Ava questioned.

  Callum inhaled calmly. “I’ll know if they are.”

  He put his arm around her and Ava sighed with relief, still not believing much of what happened or where they were. They looked up to the colorful sky together and held each other tightly.

  So that they would never let go.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Ruby took one last look at the pair, and then slowly descended the hill before her. She moved further into the trees, quiet and darkness all around her. She took out her phone and made the call.

  “Chase?” she whispered.

  “Hello, beautiful. Are you still with them?”

  “I just took a breather. Said I was calling home. They’re just standing around looking at the sky together.”

  “And what’s the plan from here?”

  “Someone is supposedly coming to get us. But I don’t know when.”

  “Did he say who?”

  “Someone named Rory. And he mentioned a Guardian. Does that mean anything to you?”

  “Yes, it does,” Chase replied. “He’s that old friend of mine I wanted to get reacquainted with.”

  “Okay.”

  “Did he say anything else about him?”

  “Only that he told him this stuff was going to happen. And Lindsay mentioned some stuff to him before we left –”

  “Yes, I know all about that. I told her to say it.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you … are you guys still…?”

  “Listen to my voice, Ruby. Picture … me staring into your eyes. Can you do that for me?”

  “I can see it.”

  “You love me. You only love me. Lindsay doesn’t matter. Only you and I. Just keep repeating it over and over and over. Think it in your mind.”

  “I’m trying to.”

  “I know you are. You have proven yourself quite loyal.”

  “So what am I supposed to do now? Do I keep going with them when Callum’s friend shows up?”

&n
bsp; “Yes, and keep your phone switched on as we’re tracking you. For safety.”

  “Okay…”

  “Good.”

  “And … when will it be over?”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  A dial tone. He’d hung up.

  “Chase…?” Ruby murmured. “Are you still there?”

  She looked at her phone, her heart sinking.

  Just picture me, his voice sang to her inside.

  I’m holding you. I’m loving you.

  The others do not matter.

  There is only us.

  Forever. And ever.

  And ever.

  Until the end of time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  A gust of harsh wind blew Ruby Wittrock off her knees and face-first into the snow. As she looked up, the creature saw her glimpse his presence and he took off flying higher and higher.

  From this height, he could see the dark van making its approach. As to who was inside of it, the creature could only guess. But an accurate guess it would be.

  He passed over Callum Ren and Ava Armadale, who were now on the ground together, making out passionately.

  The creature’s wings extended and he glided towards the direction of the lights…

  Beyond the forest, and the road nearby…

  Over the towering resort and the hills behind it…

  Towards the Shifter World he flew, out onto the open roof of the tower.

  There he landed, a haze of black and purple smog rising from his feet.

  His arching frame materialized and rose above it, looking downward to his brothers and their Queen.

  “We didn’t think you were coming,” Curtis mumbled. “You missed quite the party.”

  “On the contrary,” Casper Stalker replied. “I’m just in time.”

  He snapped his fingers and Patricia ran to his side.

  He put his hands through her hair.

  “Have security shut down all the exits.”

  “It’s too late,” Leon said. “We already let them go. They’re going to lead us to the Guardian.”

  “I know,” Casper said stiffly. “I just don’t want anyone else to escape.”

  “You mean … anyone…?” Curtis questioned.

  “I mean anyone.”

  Patricia kissed his cheek. “Consider it done.”

  She moved away quickly towards the roof’s exit.

  Casper raised his hand so that his brothers would join him on their feet.

  “What aren’t you telling us?” Leon asked.

  Casper turned and walked out to the edge.

  His brothers looked over.

  “What?” Leon demanded. “What are we not seeing?”

  Curtis touched Leon’s shoulder.

  And then their eyes began to melt into the distant horizon, where a swarm of bats was making their way towards them.

  “What is – ?” Leon stammered.

  “Who are –?” Curtis began.

  “Yes,” Casper replied. “We have some friends joining us tonight. And they are … ever so … hungry…”

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