by Kaye Draper
I untangled myself from the covers and stumbled to the dresser to yank on some clothes, choosing my red leather pants and a black t-shirt with "go fuck yourself," emblazoned across the front. Maybe Angel would get the hint. Though, I wasn't holding my breath.
I recalled the sensation of breathing in water and barked out a short, bitter laugh.
Turning, I found Emerson still hovering. Fin had disappeared. Probably off to stare daggers at Angel and make sure the siren didn't pull anymore shit. I headed toward the kitchen and Em reached for me, pulling me to a stop and enfolding me against his massive chest. I forced myself to stop being so rigid and relax into his warmth. "It's okay, big guy," I muttered against his shirt. "I'm fine."
He pulled back and his big red-brown eyes studied my face, searching. "I'm sorry for whatever happened to you, Sam. I wish I could take it all away."
I huffed. "That would be a great bit of magic, Em. But fucking impossible."
He pressed his lips together and got that look I knew meant he was afraid to say what he was about to say. But he pushed through his hesitation. "Not impossible. He took it away, didn't he? Your fear?"
I pulled away before I could smack the big, green moron. "Mind games and magic tricks," I snapped. "That's all."
Emerson didn't say anything else as we headed to the kitchen.
Fin was sipping a cup of coffee and watching Angel like a hawk as the siren drifted around the apartment, touching everything with his long, graceful fingers. He picked up a fiend tooth from a shelf, examined it, and set it back down. So I was a bit of a magpie. It had taken me an hour to dig that fucking crocodile tooth out of my calf. I earned the right to display it.
"What the fuck do you want, Angel?" I demanded, stealing Fin's coffee and ignoring his muttered threats.
Angel drifted closer and turned to lean his ass against the back of the couch that separated the kitchen area from the living room. "Like I said, I had an errand." He slipped a hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a package. Holding it out, he tilted his head, his expression bland, but his gold eyes simmering. "For you."
I leaned against the counter and refused to get any closer to him. "What makes you think I want anything from you?"
He sighed and straightened, coming to stand closer to me. "It's from Theo."
I rolled my eyes. "What makes you think I want anything from him either?"
Angel smirked. "You do work for him. I hear he's got big plans for you."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "He doesn't own me. Just because he waves his damned money around doesn't mean I'll come running like a fucking whore."
I snapped my mouth closed. Angel's eyes lost their spark. "Of course not," he said softly. "Even when you're killing, you still manage to keep that dignity, don't you?"
My seething comebacks dried up. I'd gone for the low hanging fruit and hit Angel where it hurt. It somehow didn't give me the satisfaction I'd wanted.
I set my coffee cup aside and held out my hand. "What is it?"
He dropped the tissue-wrapped bundle into my hand, and I felt the tingle of magic. "A charm. To help with the night terrors. Theo said you had some trouble with them on your latest trip."
I wrapped my hand around the charm. Fucking Theo, blabbing things that were none of his business. "Okay, package delivered. There's the door." I pointed.
Angel stared into my eyes for a long moment, and I couldn't look away. "Take care, Sam." He said finally, turning and flowing to the exit.
He paused and tossed a glance over his shoulder at Emerson and Fin. "Make sure Sam wears it," he said, eyes flashing. "You know how they get about accepting help."
Fin huffed. "We don't need you telling us how to care for our mate."
Emerson just nodded. "We'll take good care of her."
I turned to glare at them. "Oh, for fuck's sake! I'm right here. And I can take care of my damned self!"
Angel smiled sadly at me and walked out the door.
Fucker.
Sighing, I unwrapped the tissue paper bundle, revealing a silver chain with a pendant shaped like a fish with a long, flowing tail. I hissed when I felt the kiss of the charm's magic against my skin. That fucking asshole. Angel's cool water magic pulsed against my skin like a heartbeat. From Theo, my ass.
"It's pretty," Emerson said, coming to look over my head at the pendant. "It was nice of Theo to think of this." He bent around me to look at my face. "Sam? Aren't you going to put it on?"
I drew in a deep breath, trying to calm all my racing emotions. Heartache and yearning were stupid, useless things, so I settled on rage instead. Why the fuck wouldn't the stupid siren just leave me the fuck alone? I glanced up and met Fin's eyes from across the room.
"Put it on, Saber," he said flatly. "You need it."
When I scoffed, his expression got hard and pointed. "It wasn't just this time," he said, his voice low. "You've cried out for him every single fucking time I've seen you sleep, Sam."
I swallowed hard, my eyes filling with hot tears that I refused to shed. I slapped the charm down on the counter and walked away, slamming the bedroom door behind me so hard the doorframe splintered.
I heard the low murmur of Fin and Emerson's voices, and the clinking of dishes as they started making breakfast. Feeling weaker than I had in a long time, I crawled into the middle of my bed and curled up around the pain in my chest. No matter how hard I resisted it, there was a bond between me and Angel that I fought. I'd wanted him for years. I'd given in to his seduction in a moment of stupidity the night he betrayed me, but I wouldn't give in to him again. I couldn't. Because whatever this thing was between us—it felt like surrender. Like giving up my will. I curled up tighter around my secret, finally letting the tears fall. Angel was everything. He had been ever since his magic let me breathe water. Ever since he chased off my attackers and pulled me out of the river and convinced me to keep on living. And if I gave in to the stupid pull of his magic, I'd lose myself completely. I’d lose Fin and Emerson.
I'd lose everything I'd fought so hard to keep.
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