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Finite: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 4)

Page 24

by Felisha Antonette


  I kiss the skin between Tracey’s breast, as I glide my hands from her shoulders down over her curves to her hips, and draw her forward. Her heartbeat’s strong and quick, pounding against my lips.

  Tracey lowers, but I stop her before we can connect. She’s not the least bit hesitant, and I’d claim to not be either, but I do, again, hesitate.

  I press my ear to her chest and listen as I imagine the feeling in mine. What the fuck could’ve been strong enough to erase something as strong as bonding, as mating?

  Tracey steadily slips through my arms, down on top of me, and I slowly slide inside her. Our bodies shudder. She makes me hold my breath.

  That’s a first.

  I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her neck, breathing in her lilac scent as she rocks her hips. Her gentle moans are to die for, forcing a lustful high over me that drives me into aggression.

  “Shh,” I plead, wanting to hold on to the last bit of control I have, while my Burdened has other plans. He nearly begs for control as I let Tracey drive our actions.

  She feels phenomenal, and I lose one control for giving into another. My Burdened takes over, opening all my senses to the girl that’s now beneath me, clutching me between her thighs. Every breath she releases, I take. Every sensation she’s filled with I embrace. Her kiss is overtaking and her body is inundating.

  I sink down on her, keeping my teeth from digging deep into her shoulder, and instead stroke deeper inside her, connecting our bodies in a way that would never have been possible if we were human. My Burdened feeds off her pleasure and transfers it back to her so she can feel mine.

  She melts beneath me, hands trembling as she claws at my back, legs shaking as they wrap around me.

  The more she coos, my beast’s driven into action. I kiss her, brushing my tongue over hers, helping keep her quiet. I take her breath and fill my hand with her ass. Anywhere my lips and hands can touch, I fill that desire and she doesn’t give out. She should be broken by now if she were human, but she’s sucking up every bit of my pain and pleasure, taking every inch of me and the power I put behind it.

  Keeping her quiet has an adverse effect. Tracey bursts into flames, blazing vines grow off her body and wrap around my arms. Her eyes don’t turn black, but there’s a fire in them. She doesn’t burn me but heightens whatever this is we’re having. It can’t just be sex.

  The fire’s burned out, and the night’s gotten chilly. In the tent, I coddle us in the sleeping bags and an extra cover.

  Tracey clears her throat but pulls the cover over her head.

  “Spit it out, Tracey.”

  “Did that make you feel weird?” There’s a soft smile on her words.

  I laugh softly. “It does now. And we’re covered in dirt. And every time I remember why I’m covered in dirt, I think about it. And while it was pretty fucking mind-blowing, it does kinda feel like we shouldn’t have.”

  She turns on her back and covers her face with her hands. “Ugh. Me too.”

  We share a laugh. “Should I apologize?” I ask.

  “No. Don’t. We’re both responsible.” Tracey turns on to her side and her arm brushes my ribs. An angered thought charges before my eyes, but quickly goes away. Her skin brushes me again and the same thing happens. I lay my hand on her shoulder and watch her sadness and anger play through my memory.

  She screams, blocked by something, not allowing her to make it to her target. Me. My throat’s sliced, and I hit the ground. Life drains from her in the way water would a cracked fish tank; slowly like a fallen tear and then rushing like a broken damn.

  I scoot away from her, and she cowers in a corner of the tent. “D-did, you just see that?” she asks.

  I work my jaw, fighting the sadness. “Is that your memory of the past me? You see that every day? Feel it?”

  “Every hour,” she whispers. “It never goes away. I ignore it.”

  “Every day, you’re dying over and over again?”

  Tracey nods. She lifts my shirt she threw on and reveals her dirt-smudged stomach where the scar rests that she showed me earlier. “I wanted so bad to give up. I didn’t care if he was real or not. If only to silence the memory and eliminate the pain.” She meets my eyes. “But then I met you.” She scoffs. “I re-met you and you lightened every bit of pain I had, and I’m willing to keep you as my friend even if I can’t have you as my mate. As you are, you make me happy, and I love you for that.”

  I grab her ankle and yank her to me. I hover over her. “I’m glad I can help. And I’m sorry I had sex with you. But, it was the best sex I ever had in my fucking life, so that’s something to overshadow the worse.”

  “Your jokes are so poorly timed,” she says in a laugh. “Does this mean things are going to change between us now?”

  “No more drastically than they’ve already changed. We kinda live together now.”

  She nods. “But I mean, you won’t start acting weird about it. Like always. You’re always taking longer to not say the wrong things like it’s going to affect me in some huge way.”

  “You’re very observant,” I say with a hint of embarrassment, sitting up.

  She shrugs. “I know you pretty well. Just stop. I’ve told you over and over. I get it . . . And now you get it, too.”

  “Then you won’t feel bad if I don’t cuddle with you tonight? Like most people do just because they had sex.”

  “Nope.” She meets my eyes and grins. “Actually, I kinda would. But don’t feel obligated or nothing.”

  “Mm-hmm.” We lay back down, and I stuff my arm around her shoulder as she lies on my chest.

  Tracey talks about this and that until she dozes off. All I’m thinking and begging is ‘remember her in the way she wants so you can make her happy.’ If every day, she recalls the death of her mate and relives it as though it were happening throughout her day, I just want to release that agony forever. I know exactly what that feels like, and it’s a lasting bruise.

  I push my hand over my empty chest. “Looks like trying to re-bond didn’t work . . .” I say to myself. I close my eyes and am flooded with an onslaught of memories of events and experiences I shared with Tracey. Reincarnated feelings I’ve long forgotten crashes over me.

  Is this you? I ask my Burdened.

  “Is what me?” Tracey asks, stretching her arms over her head.

  “What?” I ask her, sitting up. “Did you just respond to my thought?”

  She sits up beside me and looks toward her left shoulder. “Did I? Say something again.”

  Are you peeking in my head with a superpower? I say in my mind, directing the thought to Tracey.

  Tracey squeals and throws her hand to my chest. I move out of her reach, knowing she’s seeing if her heart has found its way back in my chest, and I don’t want to discourage her. Catching her hand, I lift my brows high, and expectantly ask, “Well, did you hear me?”

  She smiles brightly and cheers, “Yes! Yes, I did.”

  This confirms she and I are growing closer, but for her, she probably thinks we’re bound, and I’m not ready to correct her just yet.

  My Nightmare’s Dream

  Nathan

  “Have a good day at school, dear!” Olar hangs out the window, yelling at Tracey.

  She’ll be here all day and told me not to worry about picking her up, that she’ll be sticking around after her last class so she can catch up on the ton of work she’s missed. I’m a record of emotions, thoughts, and sensation spinning round, a needle digging into my spine as I play the same track on repeat. Every time Tracey brushed against me last night, a different thought resurfaced, bringing life to memories I’m starting to wish I can’t remember. She thought long about Lunis and the Qualms. I couldn’t bring them up, we were having a decent night, and the more shit we talked about, the more it lowered the high. We ended our night on a good note, and I didn’t want to turn those tables.

  Something leads her to believe Lunis is behind every inkling of turmoil she’s been through.
It’s really me who’s the reason for most of her strife; the worst of my returning memories and one I’ve held secrets from her since we’ve met. It puts a sinking feeling in my stomach to think about it and even sends my Burdened shuddering. So, for now, I’ll agree that Lunis is the source of her anger and won’t deny it until I can find a way to fix my own errors.

  “How’s everything coming together for you, Nate? Feeling better?” Olar asks, rolling up the window. He’s made friendly with a few school goers, likely while waiting on the others.

  “A bit.”

  “Good. I have a gift for you that I know will make you feel loads better.”

  I survey him from the corner of my eye. “Oh really?”

  “For sure. Take a left up here.”

  I hate surprises, but he’s positive I’m going to love this one. Turn for turn, we drive about an hour out, and he’s still not told me where the hell we’re going. “Bro, the last time I blindly followed you somewhere, you got me murdered. I’m uncomfortable.”

  He laughs loudly. I join in, though I’m serious. “Swear, I’m fully me. Stop right up there.” He points to a brown brick bungalow.

  I scan the idle neighborhood streets. The silence is compelling. No children play or lawn mowers run, not a car passes. At seven fifty in the morning, maybe they’re still resting. “Alright, now, what’s in there?”

  “Lunis,” he states simply.

  My Burdened racks with excitement, and I fold my hands around the steering wheel so tightly it squeaks under my grip. I try to resist the urge to follow this through. Precautious, I grill Olar. “How do you know he’s in there? Where’d you get the lead? Who else is in there with him? Is he expecting company?”

  He cuts me off. “I’ve been on the hunt for him for years. Finally, night before last, Lana let the thought slip. Some time ago, Tracey and I burned down his home and found a note between him and my mate. She’s known what’s been up with him the entire time.” He shrugs a shoulder. “I can’t help who I mate with, and I’m forced to love her forever no matter how she betrays me. But, there’s no way, after what Lunis did to me and Tracey and you, can I let him walk our earth and smile about it.”

  Nodding, I’m convinced and out of the truck, pushing the door closed. I cross the street and crack my neck, welcoming my beast with desire. We suck in a breath of air reeking with the scent of Lunis. The sun is high, and it’s likely there may be one nosey old lady looking out her window, wondering why the hell Olar and I are studying this house.

  Fuck yes. I’m willing to snatch Lunis right in front of her.

  The front door’s likely locked, Olar says.

  Yeah. Let’s walk around back and find another.

  He nods, and we round the house, finding a sliding door. Olar handles the lock. I ease aside the curtains and gracefully step through, quietly pressing my boot to the wood floor without it making a sound. We creep through the small house, avoiding being seen and heard. Allowing my senses to search out Lunis, down a short hallway, I round a corner to a closed door.

  He’s in here, I say, reaching for the doorknob. I’m going to bust in here and grab him and take him to my father’s old cellar near the abandoned farmhouse by the lake.

  If we get separated, I’ll meet you there.

  I nod and lift my free hand, counting down from three. On one, I bust in the room. Lunis is alone, sleeping. “I’m disappointed,” I tell Olar.

  “Shit. Me too. I hoped he’d put up a fight or something.”

  Lunis shifts and when his tired eyes meet mine, I snatch him up by his collar. We’re in my truck and speeding to the cellar.

  Ten feet underground, in a concrete corridor, we tie Lunis up by barbed wire as he’d done Olar. Minutes crawl by as we watch him hang, pearl drenched barbed wire piercing his flesh. His eyes lock on ours. Smirking, he scoffs. “I told you, you wouldn’t be able to stay away, Nathan.”

  In a blink, I’ve crossed the floor and am ramming my fist into his nose. Once, twice, and then again.

  Olar pulls me back, warning, “We didn’t bring him here to kill him yet.”

  I shake him off me and take a step back to recoup and ease the anger that rushed over me. Easy. . . I tell my beast. A roguish growl cuts from my throat with his refusal.

  Lunis chortles. The echo of his aimless humor sends my skin morphing, and a flash of Tracey’s face calms us. This memory comes from my Burdened. We calm.

  “Lunis, how were you so easy to snatch?” Olar asks, awaiting the punch line.

  Lunis gives a single shrug. “Did you two bring me here to talk about me? Or you?” He yanks one arm, and the metal of the restraints grind against each other. He hisses. His gaze flicks to the other tightly wrapped around his left arm. “You’ve got these things pretty tight, Nathan.”

  I observe him, contemplating a way to enhance his suffering while he hangs here when I’m gone. I want to inject him with something vile. Something that’s so slow, and with every breath he takes it blisters through his veins, killing him so slowly he’d hold his breath in wait for death.

  He blinks long and a grin wrinkles his cheeks. “For years, Nathan, I’ve been trying to get to you. I’ve been through so many, made death deals with people I knew couldn’t pay up because they promised they could get a hold of you. Even your cousin there.” His hanging hand throws a lazy point at Olar. “And here we are, feet from each other, and I’m on the wrong side.” He nods. “If you knew what we could accomplish together.” He tsks three times. “You would be far more likely to side with me than your father.”

  “My father?” I spit.

  Lunis clears his throat then carries a long grumble like an old drunk man rising from being passed out. “Don’t leave me hanging here too long. I can’t be out of the picture and have your father running around shouting orders like a damn rooster.”

  “What’s this about my father?” At the thought of him my mind races as does my Burdened’s. I have two different memories clashing. But in both, I despise this son of a bitch. My Burdened sends the last events involving him charging through my recall. The onslaught of memories makes me dizzy.

  Lunis scoffs. “The amount of information you don’t know is depressing. Do what you’re going to do so I can get out of here. I have a delivery in the morning that I’d prefer to be around for when it arrives.” He chuckles, gliding his tongue over his lips. “I remember when your mate arrived. She was the sweetest of gifts. I would’ve traded her for you if you would’ve accepted my offer. But, instead, you decided to steal her from me, forcing me to turn your world upside down. Mmm,” he moans. “Her scream was to die for.”

  Control slips from my grasp and my Burdened takes the reins of my sanity. First, my sight blackens, and when it returns, I’m seeing through the eyes of Tracey as she’s watching fists plowing down on her, the heels of boots making bone cracking contact with her body. Her pain inundates my entire body and her hope that the torture will be over soon follows it, but never does it cease.

  Forever it goes on. Days and days she was drowned and brought back to life, electrocuted, and broken to the last of her limbs. And every second, Lunis was there, shouting orders, excited by her suffering.

  My Burdened flashes scene after scene to my recall, every day of her damn near two hundred days in that place. Every tear she cried. Every scar she obtained. Every day she doubted that I wouldn’t come for her. Every day she gave up.

  And for every fucking every my Burdened reveals, it’s throwing blow after blow at Lunis. His restraints have broken, and he’s cowered against the wall.

  Olar grabs me around my chest, shouting for me to stop. We try to shake him off me, but he’s got me secured.

  “Now you see what it feels like,” we growl. The shout booms through the concrete cellar. “To be defenseless. To have to deal with it and do nothing to stop it.” Calming, I shake Olar off me again. “You better thank Olar for drawing me back. Leaving you alive is the last thing I want right now.”

  Lunis laug
hs, a soft titter. “Your father was right,” he mumbles through his swollen lips. “Your mate did make you soft. You think you’re proving a point to me,” he says clearer. He spits across the floor. “Let me point something out to you, Nathan. Because you’ve clearly missed the joy of the punishment. I’ve still won . . .” he derides, forcing my Burdened to deny me control. “You’re still my bitch.” Lunis laughs. “The punishment you suffer from right now,” he drawls slowly with emphasis. “Her living with me for months, without you . . . It wasn’t punishment for her, you fool!” The humor in his voice morphs to a tone of seriousness. “It was never punishment for her. It’s all yours. The pain you’ll go through every time your mate remembers seeing you, watching you die. The detrimental separation she experienced while living with me, finding comfort in a Burdened Sephlem’s greatest enemy.”

  He sighs with satisfaction. “Even if she’s happy she has you back, you will still suffer from her memories. Every . . . last . . . one of them.” He bellows a laugh. “You think I care about being tied up while you slap me. No, Nathan. I’m living for something far bigger than this. And I will continue living because you won’t kill me. You can’t kill me.”

  A growl vibrates my chest. My back stings, itching for me to rip his esophagus from his throat. “Oh, I’ll kill you.”

  He lifts his head from the gravel, body still restrained. “Prove it,” he taunts.

  My Burdened drawls back, and I retake claim over my body. Calmly, I relay, “Slapping you around, that’s something I needed to get off my chest. We’ve not remotely approached the payback you’re going to receive from the torture you inflicted on my mate. Or, as you pointed out, the torture you will continue to inflict on her. And for every time she remembers what she’s gone through, that’s going to worsen your punishment. And every time I remember it, I’ll make you regret the thought of taking her. So, this petty slapping, that was for my mate. You have something far worse than death coming for you, Lunis. You think what you were doing to those people made them wish they were dead, made them beg to be saved? No . . . You’re going to wish you were dead when I start with you. And the best part about it. When I get tired.” I huff a laugh. “I can pass you off.”

 

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