Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

It wasn’t a sound I could describe, though. Their
heartbeat? The slow, nearly silent intake of breath. A joint in
their body shifting.
It’s Arion. It’s Arion. It’s…
Bile burned my throat.
I finally forced the words out. “Who…who is that?” I
stammered. “The…um…” I tried to swallow. My mouth was
so dry. “The…the party stays down at the pool. You’re not
supposed to be in the house.”
I should’ve bolted out the door, but if someone actually
broke in, I wouldn’t get anywhere. Not without being able to
run the shortcut I was never able to take anymore without
tripping over something in the yard.
I took a step left, inching back into the kitchen. Toward the
cutlery.
Not that it gave me any better chance, but…
I took another step, feeling him—or her—watching me.
Mere feet away.
They were there. Were they matching my steps, moving in
as I moved backward? I tried to listen, but my pulse in my ears
was too damn loud.
I took another step.
“This isn’t funny.” My voice shook. “You getting your
kicks or something? GGet out of my house.”
Another step.
Who was it? I felt lightheaded, my mind and heart racing.
And as I fumbled for the drawer at my side with one hand
and shot out my other to protect myself, a breath hit my ear
from behind.
“Boo,” he breathed out.
I gasped, crying out and running as I pushed off the island
and bolted through the kitchen. I scrambled for the back door,
but it was suddenly pushed closed just as I reached it, and I