‘Indeed,’ agreed Isabella sharply, with a dagger-glare.
‘And I am delighted to see you back to your old self, Miss Caruso,’ he added drily. ‘I have a proposition to put to you and Jake. I own a safari lodge in the Mount Kenya National Park; it’s extremely comfortable.’
‘I bet it is,’ muttered Cassie.
He ignored her. ‘I’d like to send you both there to recuperate, Isabella. I’m sure your roommate Miss Bell will be more than willing to take extra notes in class for you.’ Cassie cleared her throat pointedly. ‘Meanwhile, you and Jake can spend some time together, relax. I’ll even allow you to take the remaining Tears, in case Jake has need of them, but that should not be necessary. With those, you’ll be fully equipped to take care of him, Isabella; you’ll need nothing else.’
Cassie couldn’t help lifting her eyebrows in surprise.
‘And Cassie: your class is scheduled for a field trip and game drive there in a week’s time, so you’ll see your friends again soon.’ He shot her a meaningful glance, and she flushed, realising he was thinking of her feeding opportunities. ‘Just don’t say a word to your classmates – especially not the Few – and keep your visits to Isabella and Jake extremely quiet. Do you all understand?’
‘It’s perfect.’ A grin spread across Isabella’s face, all the light and life back in it. ‘And Cassie – I think I’ll have a little more energy from now on.’
Nervously, Cassie glanced at Jake, expecting him to explode with anger – but he was nodding. Clearly his recent experiences had changed much about his attitudes to the Few. Jake might not be thrilled about the feeding relationship between Cassie and his girlfriend, she thought, but he understood. He even gave her a rueful smile.
‘I agree about the safari lodge, Sir Alric,’ Jake said. ‘It’s exactly what Isabella needs.’
‘And you!’ Isabella tapped his chin with a scolding finger.
‘Both of you,’ grinned Cassie. ‘And I’d say I was going to miss you – but given the situation half an hour ago, I think I can afford to tell you to bugger off for a few weeks!’
CHAPTER NINE
The twin-engined plane was a little bigger than Richard’s, and full of her classmates, but Cassie might as well have been alone. She huddled in her seat, staring out of the window at the savannah below, using the landscape and the wildlife, scattered like so many toys across it, as an excuse to be unsociable.
She couldn’t help thinking about Ranjit, especially now that Isabella and Jake were so loved-up again. She’d tried many times over the last few days to draw out Tiger_eye again, but whoever it was, they’d been resolutely silent. Nothing else she’d seen or heard discussed in that chatroom or any other had proved such a strong lead. She was certain now that if it wasn’t Ranjit, it was certainly a friend of his – someone who could help.
But she was desperate to believe it was Ranjit himself. It was just the sort of thing he would do – he must be very familiar with the Few networks, and he was bound to use them to keep track of anyone who might be hunting for him. And if he suspected she was looking for him – as he surely must – then wouldn’t he be tempted to make a tentative contact, even if he later regretted it and went back into hiding? It all made sense.
Now she had to convince him there was no need for him to hide, that he could stop running. She loved him; that was all he needed to know. The whole hideous situation was fixable. All she had to do was tempt him back out of his hidey-hole once more …
A friendly elbow nudged her side, and she turned to Richard with a practised smile.
He grinned back. ‘Hey, Cassie Bell, you’re missing my magnificent flying skills, aren’t you?’
She laughed. ‘What, the ones that add such excitement to a trip?’
‘She’s just missing excitement, full stop,’ called Cormac from the seat in front. ‘Richard, why aren’t you showing our friend one of your famous good times?’
For an instant Cassie’s eyes locked with Richard’s, and he gave her a slightly regretful smile, and her heart turned over. Then, solemnly, he winked.
‘Ah, if only,’ sighed Richard. ‘There’s more than that I’d like to show her … But I fear I’m a poor substitute for our bella Isabella.’
Relieved, Cassie returned his elbow-nudge with added force. ‘You’ve got that right!’ Richard clutched his side with a grin. ‘Gosh, for a moment, it was as if Isabella was right here with me.’
Cassie couldn’t help giggling, all the more so when Cormac leaned over the back of his seat to share his latest filthy jokes. She barely listened to the punchlines, but only because she was enjoying the sheer laughter and companionship of the moment.
But in spite of the feeling of camaraderie with the other Few, she knew she’d made her decision, and she was sticking to it. Why else was she tracking Ranjit down so determinedly? She was absolutely certain, more so than she’d been even when she was first initiated into the Few. She would separate herself from Estelle; she would be with Ranjit.
What if he doesn’t want you any more?
The small spiteful voice was clear in her head, and Cassie almost smiled to hear it.
Ah, Estelle, she thought sarcastically. Always so encouraging.
Well? Tell me, girl. He ran from you, he’s hiding from you. He may not even want to know you any more. And even if he does return, what if why he really loves you, even if he doesn’t know it, is because you are one of the Few? You’re strong, fearless, beautiful! Perhaps a mere mortal won’t quite measure up. You’re so much better off with me.