Wrath moaned.
The fire finally diedonly to be replaced by a frigid ice.
Aeron?
He slowed, his motions sluggish, his feet tripping over each other. Reach into my back pocket. Grab my phone. At this rate, he wouldnt have the strength to fly both women to the fortress.
Whats wrong with you? Olivia asked, doing as hed requested. Is it your injury? You told me not to worry!
He ignored the question and the concern. He didnt want to lie to heragainand tell her everything was going to be fine, but he didnt have an answer, either. Neither he nor Wrath had ever reacted this way to a simple gunshot.
Do you know how to text? They rounded a corner.
No. Ive seen humans do it, but Ive never tried it myself.
What about making a call? Up ahead, he could finally see the sunlight pushing its way into the crypt. Sweat beaded every inch of him, yet that did nothing to melt the ice. His motions were slowing further, dragging.
No, she said again. Im sorry.
Damn. If he released the girl, he wouldnt be able to pick her back up. That, he knew. Damn, damn, damn.
There were only two possibilities that explained this reaction, he realized. Either the Hunters had used some sort of special bullets or he hadnt truly recovered from their last attack, as hed assumed. Neither boded well for him.
Outsidefinally, blessedlyhe searched for waiting Hunters. He didnt see any, but wasnt sure if that was because they werent there or because his vision continued to fade. No one jumped out at them, at least.
Flying or not, he wasnt going to make it home.
He searched his surroundings once more, this time looking for a place to hide. There, a few yards ahead, was a large headstone, flowers of every color perched all around it, forming a hidden alcove.
This way. He lumbered forward, weaker with every step.
Olivia wound her arm around his waist, acting as his crutch. Here. Lean on me.
He didnt want to, was embarrassed that he needed to, was even more embarrassed that he actually liked having someone take care of him, but with her aid, he managed to make it. Thank you.
He tried to ease Scarlet down, but his knees gave out and the two of them just sort of tumbled forward. She flopped unceremoniously to the ground, and he next to her. Not a peep did she make.
Nor did Wrath. The demon was silent now. Eerily so.
Aeron rolled to his side. Olivia, he saw, was busy rearranging the flowers to pin them in and shield them from prying eyes. Goodgirl, he told her.
The smile she flicked him was all bravery and iron will. It caused his heart to skip a damned beat. And either he was seeing things that werent there or butterflies were actually floating around her head. Squirrels sat at her feet, as well, and birds picked at the grass around her. All of them were watching her, as though waiting for her attention.
Surely he was hallucinating. Which meant he was even worse off than hed thought. Since he knew he wouldnt be able to read the numbers on his phone, he told Olivia what to dial.
Ringing, she said, and pressed the device to his ear.
Torin, he said after his friend answered. Follow signal. Come getus.
He didnt hear the warriors reply. A darkness very similar to what hed suffered inside that crypt closed around him, and this time, he could only welcome it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
AFTER OLIVIA TORE a strip of cloth from the bottom of her robe and wrapped it around Aerons shoulder, she withdrew one of the blades from the sheath anchored to his ankle. I will protect him. No matter the actions necessary. Just as hed done for her. She crouched in front of him, waiting for his friends to arrive. Or Hunters. If anyone besides a Lord approached, she wouldnt hesitate to attack.
Never had she felt more like a warrior, more confident in herself, yet more afraidfor the man beside her. Hed taken bullets before; shed seen him. Hed been stabbed, beaten and cut with knives and arrows. Yet he hadnt reacted like this. He hadnt gone pallid, hadnt moaned and trembled. Hadnt continued to bleed and weaken.
Minute after minute passed, and there was no change in him. Where in heavens name were those Lords? They had better hurry, and not just for Aerons sake. If they waited too long, dusk would arrive and Scarlet would awaken. And she would be very, very angry.
No one would survive.
At least that tempting voice had shut up the moment shed left the fortress, and stopped urging her to do those vilewonderfulthings. Hardly a silver lining, though. Nothing was. The animals were even now crowding through the flowers and bushes, perhaps drawing the attention of passersby. Trying to get closer to her? Or Aeron? She didnt remember them ever approaching Aeron before, but couldnt figure out why the squirrels, rabbits, birds, cats and even a dog would seek her.
Scat, she whispered, not wanting them hurt if a fight did, in fact, break out.
They didnt budge. No, they inched closer. To her. So she was the draw. Why?
You have to leave now
A twig snapped, quieting her.
The dog growled and the cats hissed, but none ran away. They crouched, ready to leap into attack.
Her lips pressed together, every muscle in her body freezing. She even stopped breathing. Who was here? Lords? Or Hunters? The hand holding the blade trembled. For Aeron, she thought, readying like the animals. She was suddenly glad theyd stubbornly stayed with her.
Two men stepped past the foliage and at first, she didnt recognize them. She was too prepped, too determined to save this man sheloved? But just as she launched herself at one of them, the dog sprang forward, beating her to the target.
Ow! Get off me, you mangy mutt, he gritted out.
She recognized the voiceWilliambut didnt lower her blade in time, her momentum too swift. Just before contact, a hard hand wrapped around her wrist, jerking her to the side before stilling her.
Whoa, there, Liv, he said with a laugh. His voice was familiar, too. Paris. I can call you Liv, right? Drop the blade for me, yes?
Relief pounded through her, and she released the weapon.
Now tell this mutt to let go! William shouted.
Theyre friends of mine, she told the dog. Im safe now.
The dog removed its teeth from Williams ankle and each of the animals dashed away as if that was all theyd been waiting for. The assurance of her safety.
What little darlings. Thank you, she called gratefully.
Now that Williams been properly welcomed, Paris said with another laugh, we should get this show on the road. Concern lit his beautiful face when he spied Aeron. He bent down, slid his arms under the still-sleeping warrior and hefted him over his shoulder. How longs he been like this?
Too long.
William limped to Scarlet and did the same, only he cradled her in his arms as if she were a precious treasure. At least I get the pretty package.
Yeah, good luck with her, Paris replied. Id say I got the better end of this deal. Apparently shes possessed by Nightmares.
William rolled his eyes. And thats a bad thing?
If you dont like having your balls handed to you, then yeah, Id say its a bad thing.
Come to Daddy, William said, holding Scarlet all the tighter.
Olivia listened to their banter, head zinging back and forth between them. Enough. There were Hunters here, you know. This is a dangerous location. More than that, somethings wrong with Aeron. I want him in bed.
Sure, sure, William told her with a nod. Weve known that from the beginning. But youre going to have to wait until he wakes up for that kind of sport. When you finish with him, though, Id love a go at you myself. Show you what its like to be with someone who knows what theyre doing, and all that.
Her hands fisted. Did he take nothing seriously?
Were parked over here. Paris jerked his head to the side.
Finally. Lets go.
Together they broke through the bushes, and each man went on alert. In the span of a single second, it was as if they were different people. Hidden, theyd joked with each other and teased her about wanting to bed Aeron. Now, they were soldiers, hardened, capable of anything.
So many times, shed watched the same change overcome Aeron. Until now, she hadnt truly appreciated it.
Aeron. Brave, injured Aeron. When her nine days ticked away and he was taken from her, where would she go? What would she do? She doubted these men would invite her to remain with them. And would she want them to? Aeron would no longer be there, the memory of him taunting her from every corner.
For the second time, Olivia found herself upset with the short amount of time she and Aeron had. Maybe there was a way to save him. Maybe there was a way for them to be together forever. Yes. Surely. Her Deity was the creator of love. Actually, her Deity was love. He would want two people who loved each other to be together. Right?
But she still wasnt sure beyond any doubt that she loved Aeron. Admired him, yes. Was aroused by him and craved his touch, oh, yes. But die in his place? she wondered again. Again, she wasnt sure. Shed given up everything to be with himeverything except her life.
Could she?
Plus, in dying for Aeron, shed have to die for Legion, as well. Because she knew, knew, Aeron wouldnt be happy without the littlebig nowtyrant. And if Aeron was going to live, she wanted him to be happy while doing so. Yet the thought of dying for such a lying, conniving brat didnt settle well.
More than that, Aeron would have to love Olivia. Right now, there was no question that he didnt.
Olivia sighed as she climbed into the SUV. Aeron was laid across the backseat, and she cradled his head in her lap. Paris took the wheel and William flopped into the passenger seat with Scarlet still in his arms. Her first time in a car, something shed looked forward to, but now she didnt care. Her mind whirled.
Death wasnt something shed ever considered for herself. Not really. Shed just always been and had known she would always be. Now she could die. Not to save someone, but just because, say, a car hit her. How did she feel about that? She didnt know. All she knew was that dying, without experiencing everything she wanted, was abhorrent. But afterward? Being without Aeron would be far more so.
Shed seen thousands, millions, of humans die. Not one of those deaths had ever affected her, for they had simply been part of the circle of life. Every beginning had an end. Perhaps thats why she hadnt mourned the thought of ultimately losing Aeron at first. It would be just another death in a long line of deaths shed witnessed.
Now, his was personal. She knew him intimately, had kissed and tasted him. Had experienced the ultimate pleasure with him. She had slept in his arms, curled into his side. He had protected her. He could have climbed inside that casket himself, but he hadnt. Hed placed her inside, ensuring she walked away unscathed rather than himself.
Therefore, hed been willing to die for her. Why? Again, she had no illusions that he loved her.
She heaved another sigh and ran her palm along his scalp. As short as his hair was, the spikes tickled her skin. Later, she would summon Lysander. She would ask him about all of thisand also why hed visited Aeron before. He wouldnt be able to lie to her. And if what he said was bad, destroying her hope for a future with this amazing man, shedwhat? She gulped.
We shouldnt leave Gilly in that apartment, William said suddenly, drawing Olivia from her thoughts. Not with your enemies buzzing around like flies.
One, Aeron needs to get home. Two, shes better off there, disassociated from us. Paris fiddled with the rearview mirror, gaze darting in front of and behind him. The Hunters have no idea
William slapped a hand on the console between them. I beg to differ, Sex. They knew about Scarlet, and what contact have we had with her? Almost none. How much have we had with Gilly? Too much. And with Rhea on Team Dumbness, we cant leave Gilly out there on her own. Besides, Aeron is immortal. Hell keep. So again, we cant leave her out there on her own.
Shit. Youre right.
I always am.
Well pick her up on the way to the fortress.
Shell be at school, William said, and Paris cursed as he made an illegal turn, the tires squealing.
Olivia thought about complaining. She wanted Aeron safe and doctored as soon as possible, but the men were right. Gilly was human and needed protecting.
Shit, Paris repeated. Shes at the American International School of Budapest, and its located in the Nagykovácsi Campus. I think. Pretty good distance weve gotta go.
Worth it.
There was an odd tenderness in Williams voice when he spoke about the girl. She was too young for him, though. Too young for any of the men at the fortress. If Olivia had to warn the warrior away, he wouldnt like her methods. Theyd involve a knife and a small plastic bag.
Embracing the warrior life you once so easily discarded?
I doubt that shell be happy to see us, Paris said.
Speak for yourself. Anya says she has a crush on me. William sounded proud about that.
Shes just a child, Olivia reminded him. And I dont care if Im considered a warrior or not, I really will borrow one of Aerons knives.
William twisted in his seat to face her, hardly disturbing Scarlet at all. His lips were lifting in a naughty grin. I know that, but when it comes to my appeal, youll find that age doesnt matter. Gender, either. Im irresistible.
What are your intentions toward her?
He rolled his eyes. I have no intentions. I like to be admired, and she likes to admire me. Thats the extent of it.
Good. Olivia didnt hear a lie in his voice. Still. She wasnt taking any chances. Not with Gillys well-being. Shes led a difficult life. Her moms husbanddid things to her. Perhaps she shouldnt be spilling Gillys secrets, but she knew how the memories festered inside the girl. Finally bringing them into the light could be the first step to healing. She told her mom, but the woman refused to believe her. Even accused her of trying to destroy her new, wonderful life.