by Kelly Hall
“Nope, you’ve still got it. But let’s keep this our little secret, shall we?” She didn’t like to seem vulnerable, but it was nice to be pampered now and then. Ignis understood her.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead, but she grabbed his hand. “You’re not leaving, are you?” She wasn’t too sleepy yet, and she feared where her mind would go if she were left alone.
He laughed. “Not if you don’t want me to, but I’m not telling you a story.” He’d acted out many things to entertain her through the years, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to see her smile. Her father used to say that she had Ignis wrapped around her little finger, and he always seemed okay with that.
“Remember the one about the soldiers? You’d stomp around, pretending to march, and Sister Ophelius would knock on the wall with her cane.”
Ignis laughed. “That wasn’t a cane. It was her wooden leg.”
They shared a laugh, and then the silence stretched out between them as she gathered her thoughts. “We have to do something, Ignis. I can’t let my bloodline die.”
“I don’t know what to do, Bex. I wish I could help. You know I tried several times to come up with some way. It’s not like with you or me. The spell that made you changed your DNA, not to mention the fact that you died in the process. What nulls you from being a bloodline in the prophecy, is the very thing that keeps that magic from working. And then there’s me. Mine and Talia’s bond might keep me alive, and her blood might do wonders for my youth, but you’ve seen the abominations that were created when her blood mixes with humans and wolves. We have to face it, Bex, there’s just no way on earth to stop the inevitable.”
“That’s it! No way on Earth.” She propped herself on her elbows. Ignis got a sinking feeling of what she was about to ask, and she didn’t disappoint. “What about Esper?”
“You mean the place I left for a reason, long before I met you?”
“Come on. You’ve been back since, several times, and all I need you to do is ask around and see if anyone has heard anything about a spell that could suspend aging or stop time. Surely, someone has the ability, right?”
“Even our magic has its limits, Bex.” He really didn’t want to go back to Esper, but he knew that if he wanted to stop the prophecy, he would have to do something. It wasn’t like the old woman was getting any younger. Ignis slumped as if the breath had been taken out of him. “I will leave in the morning.”
“Thank you, Ignis.” He had always cared so much for her. “Her name is Estelle. I can’t wait to see her again, but I doubt she remembers me.”
Ignis gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m sure you two will get along fine, even if she doesn’t.”
“Oh, I also need you to check into the incident,” she said. “See if anyone is talking about working with rogue wolves.”
“I will, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. I’m not well respected at home, as you know.” He hated to call it that. Home was where Rebekah was. He’d not only befriended her father after seeking asylum in his cathedral, but he’d become part of his family the minute he hid Rebekah’s mother’s baby bump.
“Thank you for doing his, Ignis. I’ll find her address and go tomorrow and talk to her about Merik. I only hope it doesn’t make her sick with grief.” Rebekah didn’t know the type of health the woman was in or if she needed care. “I suppose I should look into her safety. I could move her here to one of the spares and hire a nursemaid and see if Doc Spence could look in on her from time to time.”
“But what about Ireland? You’re talking like we’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”
“I thought you hated Ireland?” She loved her castle, but she knew she had to stay around long enough to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.
“I do, but I didn’t think we’d be staying here forever with a bunch of misfit trainees, a creepy nun, and an angel.”
Rebekah giggled, knowing he was being silly. “Sister Frankie is not creepy.”
“There’s something off with her emotional grid. I can’t get a clear reading on her energy, and it’s bugging the hell out of me. Not to mention, when she looks at me, she’s giving me the stink eye.”
“The stink eye?” Rebekah laughed. “Now I really know you’re overreacting. Maybe it’s you. Have you ever thought about that? You are full of magic and centuries old. Maybe she can tell.”
“Maybe one of that trio you so admire ran their mouths.”
“Or maybe she saw you walking around, listening to the walls.”
“Okay, that’s totally possible.” He let out a satisfied breath. “I’ll try to make nice with her when I get back. Maybe I’ll bring her something; a gift?”
“I’m sure she’d like that.” Rebekah yawned. “I guess I should stop talking your ear off and get some sleep.”
Ignis arranged the covers around her feet, and with a wink, he disappeared, his blue mist traveling across the floor and under the door.
Chapter 10
Delilah sat on the training room bench while Jarreth and Canter gave the mats, and each other, a pounding. The room was full of others doing the same, but her attention was solely on her friends.
Jarreth’s strong frame held her attention, especially the rippling muscles beneath his thin, issued shirt, which he’d ripped the sleeves from. Jarreth had taken the scissors to most of his shirts, leaving just enough of the fronts to see the Fellowship emblem and gaping most of the armholes to see everything he had from the sides; and she was grateful for that. His washboard abs were a sight to behold.
She curled the weight, doing her own reps while she waited for one of them to let her take a turn. She was just as powerful for her size, and even though she couldn’t take one of them down without her marks, sparring with one of them, preferably Jarreth, could help sharpen her reflexes.
“When are you two going to give up and realize you can’t best each other?” They were such an even match in strength but held out to see who had the best stamina.
“He’s slowing down. I can feel it.” Canter, who was looking like a god himself, gave a big smile, showing his perfect, pearly teeth.
“No way. You’re slowing down, and when you do, it’s all over, man. Tap out city.” Before he could finish his thought, Canter flipped him over and got him in a chokehold. But Jarreth refused to tap. His face turned red, and Delilah dropped the dumbbell and hurried over as if playing referee.
“Stop it, Jarreth. Tap! He’s got you.” She hated to see him pass out just to prove that he wouldn’t give up, but as she got down beside him, he gripped Canter’s powerful torso and squeezed. Canter growled out and lost his hold, which gave Jarreth time to turn the tables. The move found the two standing and circling one another, waiting for them to make their next move.
“I had you, Jarreth. I could have put you out.”
“Why didn’t you?” Jarreth held out his arms to taunt his friend.
“Because this is practice, you dick.” Canter didn’t want to hurt his friend, and he knew that was what Jarreth was hoping for. But Canter was onto him. He wasn’t going to let the guy off so easily. They might be equals in strength and stamina, but just like Jarreth could always best him with stubbornness, he could use his brainpower. “You know I won’t put you out.”
Jarreth’s shoulders slumped and his feet stopped. He wasn’t trying to be a dick, especially to Canter, but it wasn’t in his nature to give up. His father had hounded him his entire life about not quitting and having no fear. He just wanted to make the man proud, even though he’d run off years ago leaving Jarreth with his mother. But this was Canter, his best friend, the only guy who would put up with his shit. He offered his hand. “I’m sorry, man.”
Taking advantage, Canter grabbed his arm and spun around until he had Jarreth in another hold.
“You fucking tricked me,” Jarreth mumbled, his voice straining around the focus he needed to fight back. But it was no use.
“Tap out already!” Delilah shook her head and turned a
way. She couldn’t stand to look at him when he was being this way. His father, the asshole, had really done a number on him, and the lingering effects of that upbringing were still a problem.
Growing up across the street from him, she got to witness it all firsthand. Not only the way his father had treated him, always expecting his son to be the best, pressuring him to play sports, to do martial arts, to stay in shape and condition himself as a fighter, but his mother had encouraged it as well, convincing him that he had something to live up to.
Canter didn’t relent, and just as Jarreth felt the pressure building, the spots forming in his vision, he used his last bit of strength to tap out. Canter let him go, and he laid on the mat trying to get his breath as the world came back into focus.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” Canter asked, even though he knew the answer. He’d seen and heard enough about the amazing hunter, Brock Barnes, to know that the pressure of having him as a father must have been intense.
Jarreth didn’t respond, and when Delilah walked over to offer a hand, he shook his head. No one was picking him up and dusting him off. He’d get up on his own. He didn’t know why it had to be like that in his head. He hadn’t wanted to make a scene, but as he looked around the training room, he noticed the others glancing his way. Delilah stood beside him like she always did. Only now, her jaw was set to the side and she had crossed her arms. She’d done the same pose since she was a kid, and he knew what it meant. She was pissed.
He sat up and then got to his feet, seeing that Canter was gone, and suddenly, the crowd went back to its usual pace. Delilah walked to the bench, and he followed, knowing he had to make this right with her.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Del.”
“You do, Jarreth. You just don’t want to admit it.”
“I’m sorry.” His hand was heavy on her shoulder, and she took a deep breath, knowing his apologies weren’t given easily, and when he said them, he meant it.
“Go apologize to Canter. You know, winning is important to him too. He’s had to work hard and struggle without a family to cheer him on.”
Jarreth picked up his towel and sports bottle. “I know. It’s just hard. He’s the only person here who gets the best of me.” He patted himself down and then took a long pull of water into his mouth.
“Because he earns it. Show enough damned respect to honor that. If you want to be relentless on the hunt, to our enemies, that’s fine, but in here with our friends, with our Fellowship, you show some fucking respect.” Delilah didn’t throw down the F-bomb freely, but when he needed to know she meant business, she let it fly.
“You’re right.” He hung his head.
She had never met anyone who could make her feel so many emotions like he could. All she wanted to do at that moment was pull him close and kiss him. Why she didn’t was just as complicated as why he didn’t tap out.
“Do you still want me to help you on your holds?” he asked, even though he didn’t think she wanted to be around him when he was in that kind of mood.
She let out a long breath, knowing there was nothing hotter than rolling around on the mats with him, but she felt he’d had enough for one day. “No, that’s okay. I’ll ask one of the girls.” She turned to walk away, but his palm clamped down on her arm.
“Del, are we good?”
She turned to meet his eyes and gave him a nod. “Yeah, we’re good. I’ll see you in a bit.”
She watched as he turned and headed toward the men’s locker room, no doubt to find Canter.
“What’s the deal with you two?” someone asked behind her.
She turned to see Aziel standing shirtless, looking like pure sex with his pants slung low on his waist. The cut muscles formed a v between his hips, and if it were any lower, she’d find out just how big a warrior he was.
She averted her eyes. “It’s a long story. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
“And you’ve been in love with him ever since?”
“Is it that obvious?” she asked.
“To everyone but you, yes.”
“Thanks, I didn’t realize I was that transparent.”
Aziel held out his hands in defense. “Hey, it’s not a bad thing. I just don’t understand why you two aren’t together. You long for him. It’s in your eyes. And whether you know it or not, he’s into you, too.”
“We tried dating, but it got to be too intense, and since we’re training together, we thought it was best that we put our relationship on the backburner.”
“Where it can simmer just enough to be painful?”
“On some days, yes. Other times, it’s like we’re still together.”
“Do you think you’re destined?” he asked.
“I don’t think either of us is certain of that, though I like to think so. He’s a little girl crazy, though, so that makes it tough, especially when I have no control over what he does and doesn’t do, and who he does or doesn’t do it with.”
Aziel laughed. “You do, though. You have more control over him than you even know. He cares what you think of him.” Aziel wished he had someone who could make him feel that way.
“I’m not sure that’s true anymore, but thanks.” Delilah looked up into his eyes. “You’re a good friend, Aziel.”
He smiled but felt a pang of guilt from keeping his true identity a secret. With Merik not having the time to properly introduce him, he’d taken the opportunity to see how long he could go under the radar. His secret of being an angel would come out at the marking ceremony when the rest of the trainees would receive marks and he wouldn’t, and he hoped that Delilah wouldn’t be upset with him. “Thanks,” he said. “I don’t have many friends. I guess I’ve always felt like an outsider.”
“Well, if you let people in, I think you’ll find you’re no different.” She gave him a pat on the arm. As she turned to walk away, he stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve got to work on my holds.”
“I could help.”
She hated to tell him no after he’d gone out of his way to talk to her.“No offense, but Jarreth would probably flip out on you, and as much as I like to torment him at times, I don’t think either of us want that kind of drama.”
Aziel smiled. “But then I’d get to practice my moves as well.”
“If you want to go against him, all you have to do is say so. He’ll take you on. Jarreth is one of the bravest fighters I know.”
“When I said I can help, I didn’t exactly mean you and me on the mat, Delilah. I could introduce you to my friend, Katie. She is in need of a little help as well.”
Delilah looked across the room where Katie was wrapped up in Grady Gimble’s hoodie and hooked on his every move. “You’re friends with Katie Kelly?”
“Yes, she’s a nice girl.”
“Katie Kelly?” She waited for him to give a nod. “The girl has no soul, and neither does her boy toy, Grady.”
“Grady is an asshole, sure,” Aziel said. “But Katie is just using her bitchiness as a shield. Trust me. Besides, you two are the same height. It will actually be a good match. The fact that there is a little tension between you couldn’t hurt, either.”
“You sound like Merik.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. I heard he was a great commander,” Aziel said. “I only met him once, but I can tell there is still pain from his loss in the hearts of many.”
Delilah noticed he could be almost poetic with his words, and while she got what he was suggesting and knew he had a point, she didn’t really want to deal with Katie.
“Thanks, anyway, but I already had someone in mind.” She left him to go ask one of the other girls to get the practice she needed.
By the time an hour had passed, she was sweaty and wishing she’d taken on Katie, who wouldn’t have been as hard to pin. After showering and changing into a pair of clean sweats and a Fellowship standard gray tee, she walked out of the locker room and headed back t
o her room where she found Jarreth in the hall.
“Hey, you want to come hang out with us?” he asked. “I took one of the TVs out of the commons and brought it to our room. Canter is hooking up the game system, and we’re going to watch a movie and then kill some zombies.”
“I take it the two of you have kissed and made up, since you’re collecting contraband together.” Delilah tucked a stray curl behind his ear.
He leaned against the wall. “We hugged it out, but I’m sure he would’ve rather tongued me. Who wouldn’t want that?”
Delilah laughed. “Canter would punch you in the mouth first, and I can’t see him doing that, either.”
“So, will you come join us? It’s not the same without my best friend and my favorite girl.”
“Fine, but I’m picking the movie. I’m sick of those stoner films you choose. You don’t even get high.” She remembered the only time he’d experimented with smoking, and he’d turned green and tossed his cookies into his mother’s flower bed, killing her award-winning violets.
He shrugged. “They’re still funny.”
Delilah wasn’t having it. “I want action. Something old school like Die Hard, or something with that other guy who looks like an angry overgrown baby.”
“Oh, yeah. I can’t remember his name. Sounds good, though.” He held out his hand, and she took it, knowing he was only trying to make up for earlier, as he led her to his room.
When they arrived, Canter had finished setting up the game console and was sitting on the floor at the foot of his bed with a controller in his hand.
“You’re lucky you showed up. I was just about to start a game.” He dropped the controller and got to his feet.
Delilah was drained. “You guys go ahead and I’ll watch. I’m sore from working out.”
Canter smiled. “Someone got the best of you, huh?”
“Sarah,” she said.
Canter threw his hands up in frustration. “You always pick the wrong partners. She’s too tall for you. She’s all arms and legs.”
Delilah rubbed her side where the other girl had left a bruise. “Knees and elbows is more like it. But it helped. Aziel suggested I pair up with Katie. No thanks.”
