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  And how long they planned to stay.

  It was several minutes before Mom came out. I played nervously with my hands, wringing them until the skin was raw and red. The woman at the desk glanced over at me curiously many times before I realized I was shaking my legs nervously. I forced them to steady.

  When Mom emerged, I searched her face, hoping the answer would be visible. When she flashed me a subtle smile, I hoped that meant whatever she said to the officer had worked. His face behind her offered nothing. His lips were a thin, hard line, his eyes dark.

  From down the hallway at the back of the station I heard noises. The clanging of metal, the shuffle of feet, the sound of men talking. My heart sped up. When I spotted Jasper being led in our direction, my breath hitched in my throat. Glancing over at Mom, I raised my brows, wanting to believe she’d pulled it off, but needing proof. The handcuffs were still on, so they could simply be moving him like they were earlier. Mom’s face didn’t give much away.

  I blew out the breath I’d been holding when the handcuffs were taken off of Jasper.

  “You’re free to go,” Officer Dante told him, but there was no joy in his statement. It was clear he’d made the decision reluctantly. Again, I wondered what Mom had said to him. Clearly, I’d underestimated the power that woman had.

  Jasper’s eyes widened in surprise. Then he turned, his gaze finding mine. I couldn’t stay still any longer. He was free.

  I ran forward. When I reached him he swept me up into an embrace. My feet lifted off the floor from the strength of his hug, and he held me so tight it stole my breath. But it wasn’t scary, and it didn’t hurt. It was nothing like when Henry had held me earlier, or when Dad dragged me away from Jasper as he fought with the officers. This was the best hug I’d had in a long time. Maybe ever.

  Peering up at him, I took in his bruises. Lifting my hand, I touched them gently. “I’m so sorry,” I said again.

  He covered my hand with his, holding it in place. “Stop saying that. None of this was your fault. I did this to myself.”

  “Jasper, I meant what I said earlier,” I told him as I looked deeply into his eyes. It always amazed me how gorgeous his eyes were. On a face that was so mismatched and deformed, it was odd to see something so achingly beautiful. When I stared into them, I could lose myself. I could drown in them, forgetting that anything or anyone else existed. “I enjoyed our time together so much. You were kind to me. And you saved my life. That’s not something that deserves punishment.”

  “I just feel bad that I put you through all of this.” His eyes swept the station.

  “Don’t be.” I forced a laugh. “It’s the most excitement I’ve had in my entire life.” It wasn’t a lie. My life had been pretty mundane before meeting Jasper. It was the kind of life most kids lived. School, homework, family. No big traumas or explosive life events.

  “Layla.” Mom’s hand landed on my shoulder. “We really should get out of here.”

  I turned to her and nodded. The crowd outside was getting louder.

  Jasper’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s that?” His gaze slid over my shoulder.

  Mom and I exchanged a glance. She bobbed her head up and down as if to say it was okay to tell him. Then again, it’s not like I could keep it a secret. There was only one way out of the station, so we’d have to pass the mob.

  “Some of the townspeople found out you were here,” I said slowly, watching his reaction.

  His body tensed, his lips lowering into a frown.

  “But it’s all right. I’ll get us out of here safely,” Mom said in that same assured tone she’d had the entire afternoon.

  “Thank you so much.” Jasper took a step toward my mom, thrusting out his hand. “I wish we had met under different circumstances, Mrs. Higgins. I’m Jasper.”

  “You can call me Diane,” she responded, taking his hand in hers.

  “I understand you were responsible for getting me released,” he said when their hands disconnected.

  “Well, I’m not really the person you should be thanking. It was Layla who talked me into helping.” She threw him a serious look. “Make sure I don’t regret it.”

  “You won’t. I promise,” Jasper replied earnestly.

  “All right. Now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s get outta here.” She spun around, and Jasper and I followed.

  “Good luck,” Officer Dante said ominously as we neared the front doors.

  I shivered. Jasper’s hand found mine, our fingers threading. I was grateful for the support, even though I knew he was the one who needed it. The crowd would be brutal, and it would be directed at him.

  “There’s gotta be another exit,” I said to the officer, but he shook his head. Most likely there was, but he wouldn’t tell us. Not if it meant helping Jasper. By the small smile on his face, it was obvious he was enjoying this. When I glanced at Jasper once again, I thought about how sad it was that he’d had to endure this kind of life all because of how he looked. I knew the rumors I’d heard of kids he’d hurt or eaten weren’t true. In fact, they were ridiculous. They’d only been started because people were afraid of how he looked, and they’d made him into a monster in their own minds.

  Mom spun around suddenly. “You two wait right here. I’ll go grab the car and pull it in as close to the front doors as possible.” I nodded. “When I get back, you two run out and get in the car quickly.”

  Jasper reached out and grabbed her arm before she could leave. “Thank you.”

  She smiled. “Consider it payment for saving my daughter’s life.”

  Releasing my mom’s arm, Jasper grinned at me. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

  My cheeks flushed.

  The door to the station opened, and the sound of the crowd swelled around us.

  “Bring out the beast! Bring out the beast!”

  Mom stepped through the door, but before it could close Jasper let go of my hand and lunged forward.

  “What are you doing?” I screeched as he headed outside.

  “I can’t let her do this for me.”

  Heart pounding, I trailed him. Mom swung around when we walked up behind her.

  “I thought I told you two to wait inside.”

  “I appreciate you trying to help me, but I can’t let you out here alone. I can’t ask you to face this for me,” he said. “What if they hurt you?”

  Mom’s eyes softened.

  “There he is!”

  “It’s him!”

  “The beastly boy!”

  My heart slammed against my rib cage. I snatched up Jasper’s hand and tried to position my body in front of his. Mom straightened her spine and took a wide stance in front of both of us. But I knew it was futile. There were too many of them. And we were only three people. There was no way we could stand up to them. What had we been thinking?

  A group of men came in our direction, glaring and muttering curses.

  A woman at the back of the crowd caught my attention. Nina. I turned to Jasper, tugging on his hand.

  “Jasper, is that--?” But when I glanced back out at the crowd, she was gone. Perhaps she’d only been a figment of my imagination.

  “C’mon. Let’s go.” Mom began walking forward.

  Swarming us, men and women, even children began hurling insults at Jasper. One even threw an empty soda can. It bounced off his shoulder.

  “Keep your heads down and keep walking. We just need to make it to the car,” Mom instructed.

  “Let go of her!” Someone hollered.

  “Haven’t you done enough damage?” Another voice echoed.

  “Move out of the way, ladies. Let us at him.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the reporter from earlier. Gaining a surge of courage, I knew it was time to set the record straight. Jasper would never be safe unless they knew the truth. The townspeople needed to hear the correct story about him.

  “You’re wrong about him!” I hollered, scanning the crowd. It was almost impossible
to be heard above all the chanting, hollering and chatter. So, I stared right at the reporter, nodding dramatically. I knew she’d take the bait. This was the story of a lifetime for her.

  Nodding back, she lifted the microphone to her lips. “Hold on, everyone. Layla would like to say a few words.”

  Mom looked over at me wide-eyed. ‘Trust me’ I mouthed.

  “Layla, you don’t have to do this,” Jasper said.

  “Yes, I do,” I responded as the reporter handed me the microphone. I took it in my free hand, not wishing to let go of Jasper with the other. “You’re wrong about him,” I repeated. This time my voice boomed through the crowd, and it was instantly quiet. Everyone stared at me wide-eyed. I was certain it wasn’t what they expected me to say. I was the beastly boy’s victim, after all. I stared into the camera the man was holding next to the reporter and swallowed hard, knowing this was probably being broadcast live. I’d never been on TV before, and this was definitely not how I pictured making my debut. Jasper squeezed the hand he was holding, and I offered him a quick smile. It was odd that I’d only known him a short time. In a lot of ways I felt like I’d known him all my life. The calming effect he had on me was amazing. “The man standing next to me is no beast. He’s not a monster. He’s not a warlock or evil person or any of the other things we’ve heard. The stories we’ve been told our entire lives aren’t true. His name is Jasper, and he’s kind and gentle. He took me in after I’d been in a car accident driving through the forest.” A round of gasps circled me, and I almost laughed. Funny how the woods were still perceived as an off-limits area. “He saved my life, and he nursed me back to health.” I glanced around, wondering if my words were getting through. By the stern looks on everyone’s faces, it didn’t seem like I was. In the distance I saw the flash of lights as more cars arrived. And in the crowd I saw many people I recognized. Some were those I considered friends before all of this. In fact, my best friend stood a few feet away wearing a scowl. We’d been friends since we were little girls, but she hadn’t once come to see me since I’d returned. I guess she’d moved on. By the looks of the group she was standing with, it was clear she had. One of those people was Henry. He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes as he stared at Jasper. The angry expression caused a shiver to run up my spine. “There was no crime committed here,” I continued. “It was all a big misunderstanding. And now all Jasper wants is to go home and live his life.”

  “Why should we let him go?” A man yelled.

  “Yeah. He just wants to continue to torment us, to keep us out of the forest!”

  I held up my hand. “No. You don’t understand. He’s never tormented anyone. All of those stories were false. He’s simply been living in the forest, minding his own business.”

  “Was he minding his own business when he took you?” Henry stepped forward.

  “I just said that he didn’t take me,” I spoke through gritted teeth.

  “You said that you were in an accident and he took you in. Did you walk to his house?” Henry let out a chuckle as if he already knew the answer. “He could’ve called an ambulance, but instead he took you and kept you for months! That sounds exactly like the stories we’ve heard about him.”

  “Yeah!”

  “Kidnapper!”

  “Monster!”

  Henry’s words had gotten the town riled up again.

  “I say if the cops aren’t going to keep our town safe, then we need to,” Henry said.

  “No!” My breath was coming out in labored gasps now. The crowd was closing in on us. A man grabbed at Jasper. I held his hand tighter, but then another man grabbed him. “Stop! Everyone, calm down! You’re not listening to me!” Jasper’s hand left mine. I squealed, dropping the mic. It landed with a thud and rolled along the ground. Jasper was being pulled through the crowd. “Jasper!” I hollered, trying to elbow my way toward him, but I couldn’t get by. There were too many people, and they were boxing me out. “Mom?” My gaze found hers.

  But she looked as lost as I felt. Hot tears stung my eyes. Where was Jasper? I couldn’t locate him. Desperately, my gaze swung to the reporter. “Do something!” I told her.

  She bent down in search of the microphone. When she came up with it in her hand, hope unfurled in my chest. Perhaps, she could stop this madness. The cameraman pointed the lens at her. She brought the mic to her lips.

  “If you’re just tuning in, I’m at the police station where an angry mob has assembled, trying to get a look at the beast. Well, they’ve gotten a lot more than a look.” She pointed to where I’d last seen Jasper.

  I shook my head. This was no use. She wasn’t interested in helping Jasper. Once again, I was on my own. Determined, I ducked down and slid between as many people as I could. Any opening I could find, I took. I heard Mom calling out my name, but I didn’t respond. I had to find Jasper, and drawing attention to myself would only make it more difficult to move through the crowd.

  “This’ll teach you to leave our girls alone.” It was Henry’s voice. Hot and cold flashes ripped up my spine. I froze when I heard a punch and a grunt.

  “Yeah. Hit ‘em again!”

  “Jasper,” I breathed, moving forward.

  “Clearly you brainwashed her, you freak. There’s no way she’d choose to be with you,” Henry continued.

  Another punch. I felt sick as I fought my way through the crowd.

  “Or he threatened her,” someone offered.

  “Did you threaten her, beast?”

  I finally reached them. Jasper was on the ground, lip bleeding, and Henry and his friends stood over him. Anger surged deep in my gut.

  “Stop it!” I screamed.

  “Layla, stay back,” Jasper commanded.

  “Yeah, Layla, stay back.” Henry parroted with a laugh while balling his hand into a fist. When he went in for another punch, I wondered why Jasper wasn’t fighting back. But when I saw the resigned expression on his face, understanding dawned on me. He thought it was what he deserved. He was still punishing himself. But I wouldn’t let him do this any longer.

  Lunging forward, I fell on top of him, shielding his body with mine. “Don’t touch him,” I growled. “I won’t let you hurt him. You’ll have to go through me.”

  “No, Layla, I won’t let you do this. I won’t let them hurt you,” Jasper said.

  “That makes two of us, because I won’t let them hurt you either,” I said.

  “Seriously, Layla, what is the deal with you and this guy?” Henry asked.

  With my arms out to block anyone from coming near Jasper, I faced Henry and held my head high like my mom would’ve done. “I love him,” I said.

  15

  THE CURSE

  “WHAT?” HENRY’S EYES practically popped out of his head.

  “I love him,” I repeated even louder this time. Gasps and whispers traveled through the crowd. But I didn’t care what anyone thought. They were the ones missing out by not being able to see past Jasper’s looks. If only they could see what I did, they would know how gorgeous he really was. “That’s why I’m not letting you near him.” Holding out my arms, I said, “Back off!”

  Henry chuckled. “It’s cute that you think you can hold off an entire crowd, Layla. You’re not exactly intimidating.”

  He was right, but I had to try. My gaze scanned the area for Mom, but I couldn’t find her. I was on my own. Reaching down, I grabbed a tree branch.

  Henry took a step toward me, one eyebrow cocking. “Is that your weapon?” The crowd was closing in on us again, and there was no way I could hold them off with a branch.

  “Move out of the way!” A man growled. “Let us at ‘em!”

  Others grumbled similar statements. My chest tightened. It was no use. All I’d done was press pause on Jasper’s beatings. I wasn’t strong enough to stop them for good.

  An ear-piercing boom shot through the air. Covering my ears, I flinched. Bright orange flames appeared on the other side of the parking lot. The entire crowd swung
around to inspect it when another explosion happened. Screaming, many of them scattered. My heart leapt into my throat. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew I had to take advantage of my opening. Spinning around, I grabbed Jasper’s arm and helped him up. He was losing strength by the minute, his injuries affecting him. But I needed him to move with me.

  “Come on, Jasper. We have to get out of here.” With one arm around his middle and the other one holding his arm, I started running away from the crowd. We only made it to the back side of the building before Jasper slumped forward, and I could no longer carry him. I was worried that we hadn’t made it far enough, but the blood on his face and the way he clutched his middle told me he couldn’t go any further. I helped situate him against the wall, and then I sunk to my knees in front of him.

  “Did I hear you correctly? Do you love me?” Jasper asked in an awed tone.

  “Yes. I love you, Jasper.” Reaching out, I wiped the blood from his chin and mouth with my finger. When I drew my hand back, the fingertips were painted in red.

  “I love you too, Layla. More than you can imagine.”

  I stared into those stunning eyes of his and smiled. Then I leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. As our mouths fused, warmth spread through me. It was the most magical kiss I’d ever experienced. I’d heard that when you kissed the right boy it was explosive like fireworks, but that had never been what kisses were like in the past. However, this time it was explosive. I even felt a current pass through Jasper’s lips and run through my body. It stole my breath. Drawing back, I sucked air into my lungs and opened my eyes. When I did, a squeal escaped through my lips.

  “Jasper?” I glanced around, confused.

  “Layla, I’m right here,” he said, as if he couldn’t understand why I’d reacted like that. His hand touched my cheek.

  “But it can’t be you,” I said, bewildered.