Ryder turned to Alec, raising a brow. “Well, that explains everything.”
“Not what I saw,” Alec whispered.
He’d seen the girl. He’d spoken to the old man. He didn’t understand what was going on, but there was something very, very wrong.
“Listen guys,” Crissy said, some of her attitude leaving her voice. “I can say with absolute certainty that everyone here is good. Not perfect. But these are good people.”
Ryder nodded. “I believe you.”
What? Even after what I told him?
The thing was, Alec’s mind was screaming that his brother and this woman were wrong. But his heart? That was the issue, because his heart begged him to believe them.
They stopped by the fire. Ryder ate a s’more and checked on the kid with his head wrapped. Even dressed in black and decked out in weapons, Ryder seemed to join the group with an easy smile that put everyone at ease. Within minutes, he was laughing, telling jokes, and talking to the group as if he was their best friend.
How the hell does he do it?
People shot Alec a few curious glances, but otherwise, left him alone. So, he used the opportunity to watch Becky closely. In all ways, she seemed to be a sweet little kid... ridiculously hyper on sugar, but a sweet little kid.
Something is rotten here, and I’m going to figure it out.
When they got into the car later, Alec didn’t turn on the engine. “What do you think?”
Ryder spoke, his voice low and threatening. “Someone wanted to stop us from helping these people. Maybe even get us to hurt them. And we’re going to find out who it is.”
“The old man.” Alec’s instincts tinged. “I knew there was something off about him. But how is it possible he was here? How is it that no one else knows him or has seen him?”
Ryder shook his head. “I don’t know. But I think our plan for the evening was doomed from the start.”
Find the old man. Question him. And kill him.
His sword suddenly felt heavier on his back. Whoever that man was, even if they could question him, Alec was certain they couldn’t believe his answers.
“So what do we do now?”
Ryder buckled up. “Now? We tighten security around the refuge, and we watch our backs. Because even though we thought the Hunters and the angels were our only enemies, I have a feeling the ones we don’t know about are even more dangerous.”
Alec felt sweat trickled down his back. All this on top of changing our world forever.
Switching the car on, they started back down the quiet road. As they turned back onto the main road, he caught a motion out of the corner of his eye just before a massive truck slammed into the side of their car.
ALEC BLINKED AWAKE. Was the world tilted? Warm blood ran into his eyes, but he couldn’t lift his hand to wipe it away. The smell of gasoline and smoke filled his nostrils. Air bags clouded his face. But with great effort, he turned his head toward his brother.
Ryder’s head had gone through the window. Blood coated his head and face. His eyes remained closed, and his chest was still.
He tried to reach for him, but his body wouldn’t obey him.
Outside his brother’s window, there was motion. It took him a second to spot the two dark-winged angels. His heart sank.
We’re dead.
Chapter Seventeen
Sharen woke early the next morning and discovered Alec and Ryder were missing from their bed. Immediately, she felt agitated. Where would they have gone without telling her?
Shaking Kade awake, he grumbled something and pulled the covers more tightly over his shoulders.
“Alec and Ryder are gone.”
Slowly, he sat up, his eyes instantly open. His hair was a mess, his stubble bordering on a beard, and lines creased his face from his pillow.
“Gone?” He sounded confused.
Her worry grew. “They didn’t tell you anything?”
He shook his head.
Frowning, she grabbed her phone and called Alec, but his phone rang and rang before going to voicemail. When she called Ryder, the same thing happened. “What the hell is wrong with you guys that you can’t send a text before you take off to God only knows where?” She smacked her phone down on the table and sprang out of bed.
“They probably went to get donuts,” he muttered.
She watched him climb out of bed and briefly forgot to breathe. Geez, as annoying as Kade was, she never got tired of seeing him naked. Who could possibly get tired of seeing a sea of beautiful muscles and a gorgeous cock?
“You don’t seem too worried.”
Her gaze traveled up to see his smug expression. Damn I hate when he sees me checking him out.
She forced herself to focus. “I know it’s probably nothing... but what if something’s wrong?”
He shrugged. “Those two can take care of themselves.”
Suddenly, her phone rang. Springing into action, she grabbed it. The number was restricted, but she answered it anyway.
“Mrs. Bran?”
She stiffened. “This is her.”
Instantly her gaze went to her dark wedding band. Why was her heart suddenly racing?
“This is Officer Smith. It seems that a vehicle registered in your name was involved in a car accident last night.”
Ice ran through her veins. “A car accident? Was anyone hurt?”
It took him a long time to answer. “A semi-truck barreled into the side of your vehicle. Your car is in pretty bad shape. And the interior is covered in blood.”
No. No. This can’t be happening.
“The thing is, we didn’t find any bodies inside, either in your car or the truck. It’s as if everyone simply vanished.”
Her legs folded beneath her, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Kade was by her side in an instant, wrapping his large arms around her.
“Where was the last place you saw your car, Mrs. Bran?”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “In my parking garage. It must have been stolen.”
“If you're sure about that, we will open an investigation and get back to you as soon as we have some answers.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Hanging up the phone, she looked to Kade. “Our car was covered in blood. But there weren’t any bodies.”
“Sharen—“
“The only way there wouldn’t be bodies is if the accident killed them. If they—“
“No.” The word came out a growl. “It’d take a lot more than a car accident to kill those two idiots. There’s got to be another answer. We just haven’t found it yet.”
Her stomach turned. “Maybe.”
He rose, looking agitated. “Let’s get dressed. We’ll figure out what to do from there.” She took the hand he offered and they moved toward their closets. Autopilot took over and Sharen dressed without thinking. She couldn't feel her fingers but numbness was beginning to creep through her. God did she want her demons to be okay. Even though all logic said they weren’t.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she put on her boots. When she looked up, Kade was dressed in a tight, dark shirt and jeans, his expression thunderous.
They took their SUV’s keys off the chain and headed for the door. But when she opened it, the most shocking thing greeted her. Two massive angels were carrying her very beat up looking demons.
Kade growled and sprang forward, but Sharen caught his arm.
Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other.
“We weren’t responsible for this.” The angel who spoke had short blond hair and dark eyes. He was older than most of the angels she’d seen, and he carried a gun strapped to his side.
“Come in,” she said.
“What are you doing?” Kade asked, his voice rising. “You can’t possibly believe them!”
She looked between Ryder’s face, which was covered in deep gashes, and Alec’s swollen face. “If the angels wanted to hurt them, they would have.”
Stepping out of the way, she waited.
Slowly, the angels moved into the apartment, their dark wings folded tightly on their backs. They walked across the room and gently laid her demons onto the couches in their living room, then turned to face her.
“What happened?” she asked.
The older angel studied her for a moment. “We’ve been watching your demons for some time.”
“Why?” Kade barked the question.
His dark gaze moved to Kade. “Because, we wanted to see if they could truly exist in this world without trying to destroy it. There was an angel we knew... Surcy. She said some things that have disturbed us. And so, we watched without acting, to see if there were truly demons who were good.”
“And?”
“And, they did nothing terrible.” He shrugged. “We still hadn’t decided exactly what that means, but last night we witnessed something strange. An angel possessed a truck driver and barreled into these demons’ car.”
The other angel, a man with black hair and stunning olive skin, cut in. “Which made no sense. An angel’s job is to kill demons. This one knew he wasn’t going to kill your demons, so why injure them so terribly? It made no sense. And then what was stranger... he just left. Again, why? So, we got involved.”
She stared between the two angels. “Why when you could have just left them?”
The two exchanged a look, but the older angel spoke first. “Because we think Surcy might be right. We think we might be fighting on the wrong side.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Liar!” Kade shouted. “This is just Caine’s latest plan.”
The older angel’s brows rose. “Say what you wish, but we’re done following your demons. We plan to seek out Surcy and ask our questions. So the next time these two are injured, we won’t be there to save them. Might I advise being more careful?”
The angels started toward the door.
Sharen’s brain seemed to unfreeze in a rush. “Wait. I don’t even know your names.”
“I am Steven, and that is Gene,” the younger angel answered her.
“Well, thank you,” she said, meaning it in her very soul.
Steven's expression grew thoughtful. “May I ask you something?”
Gene waited by the door, radiating annoyance.
“Of course.”
“Why would Caine wish your demons injured when he could have killed them?”
She stiffened. Good question. “I don’t know.”
“I’ve heard it whispered that no one is to kill you or your husbands. Why?”
Her heart raced. “I don’t know.”
The younger angel shook his head and headed for the door, but when he reached his friend, he looked back. “If I were you, I’d try to find the answers to some of these questions, because there’s nothing more dangerous than ignorance.”
She nodded. “I will.”
The angels left as quickly as they came, closing the door softly behind them.
Instantly, she ran to Ryder’s side. He had two black eyes, a terrible cut on his forehead that was mostly healed, and several more red gashes on his neck and cheeks. Placing her hand on his chest, she listened intently to the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He looked like hell, but he was alive and breathing, which meant he was healing. Thank God!
That left Alec. He had severe burns on his arms, probably from the airbags. His face was swollen and his nose looked broken. Despite the terrible bruises beneath his eyes, his breathing was steady and even.
That’s something. More than something.
She glanced up. Kade stood across the room, watching his brothers from afar, his arms folded across his chest.
“Will they be okay?” She asked, unable to stop the question.
Kade crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders. “They’ll be fine. When we get injured this badly, we sleep so that our bodies can heal us faster. They’ll wake up soon, probably feeling like hell, but they’ll be okay.”
She wiped away a tear she hadn’t even realized trailed down her cheek. Reaching out, she took one of each of their hands and held them in her clammy ones. It was heart-wrenching to see them like this, but she was thankful beyond words that they were okay.
“Do you really trust those angels?” Kade asked.
She took an unsteady breath. “Yes.”
He shook his head and began pacing the length of the room. “I don’t understand you.”
Oh no, he’s pacing. That’s never good.
She frowned at his reaction. “What do you mean?”
“Sharen, you forget that we’re in the middle of a war. Caine, his angels, and the Hunters—they all want us dead. You know that, but every chance you have to trust one of them you do. It makes no sense.”
Sharen stared at Kade, willing him to understand. She couldn’t look away if she tried. “From the moment I met you three, everything changed for me. A power greater than myself took over. I have spent my life fighting demons, training Hunters, and being betrayed by everyone I loved. But when I met you, I realized I was wrong about demons. I was wrong about Hunters and angels. And... well, I was wrong to believe I’d always be betrayed by everyone I loved. You and your brothers showed me that. So now, instead of always expecting everyone to hurt me... I guess, I just hope for the best. It's that hope that helps me go on.”
Staring at Kade, her demon with such a hard outer shell, she was prepared for many things. For starters, he would tell her she was crazy and foolish.
But instead, he knelt down and placed his hands on top of hers. Leaning closer, he planted a soft kiss against her lips. “Logic says that trusting our enemies is a mistake, so why can’t I find one thing wrong with what you just said?”
She smiled. “I'm rubbing off on you.”
He returned her smile with one of his rare ones. “And somehow that doesn’t feel like a bad thing.”
Alec suddenly groaned and her interest immediately snapped to him. His swollen eyes popped open and she could see bloody streaks through his white pupils. He struggled to talk. “Ryder—“
“Is safe,” she reassured him.
The tension faded from his face, and then he sat up, groaning in pain. “The angels.”
She put her hands on his shoulders, trying to push him back down. “They brought you safely to us.”
He frowned and looked at Kade.
“She isn’t crazy. They actually brought you here... and might just be on our side.”
Alec lay back down, pressing his palms to his forehead. “I must have hit my head harder than I thought,” he panted. “It sounds like you two are saying the angels helped us.”
Kade chuckled. “We are.”
Alec dropped his hands and looked at them. “Someone ran into our car. On purpose. And something weird is going on at the refugee. That David guy apparently doesn’t exist, and the little girl apparently doesn’t kill animals.”
Sharen felt something tighten in her chest. “I don’t understand.”
Alec sighed loudly, his eyes closing once more. “That makes two of us.”
She looked to Kade, feeling panic building in her chest.
“We need to figure out what’s going on. And we only have another day to do it.”
How the hell do we do that?
Chapter Eighteen
Sharen wiped her sweaty palms onto her pants and stared out at the busy park. She needed to get to headquarters. Today was the day she had to use the portal to rescue the demons. So what was she doing here?
She hated that when she found the note tucked under her door that she’d come without thinking. No matter how stupid it was. Because she hoped against all odds that today might not only be the day she helped the demons, it might also be the day she found out the truth about what she was, and why she had such strange powers.
Alderon came around the path, walking at a leisurely pace. He stopped to pet a dog and flirt with the dog’s owner, shifted out of the way of kids chasing a ball, and then appr
oached her. His smile was easy, non-threatening, which immediately put her on high-alert.
“You left me a note.” She held it up, watching him closely.
He nodded and sat down beside her. “Have you ever heard the name Surrena?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t sound familiar.”
He spun to face her on the bench, an element of excitement in his expression. “She’s Caine’s daughter. A powerful nearly immortal being with the ability to change her identity.”
She frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”
“That’s where it gets interesting,” he lowered his voice. “I think you might be her.”
Her back went rigid. “What?”
No chance in hell!
He nodded enthusiastically. “I found her name in your file and started doing some digging. It all makes sense. I think all the women’s names are actually..." He paused for a heartbeat before he continued. "I think they’re all you."
No! Her memories instantly went back to her childhood home. She pictured the tire swing under the tree in the backyard, and the way she’d tell her dad to spin her faster and faster. She remembered her kitchen, the one her mom always exclaimed was falling apart. But Sharen never noticed, because she was too busy eating her mom’s delicious cooking.
Is it possible they aren’t my parents?
Her fists clenched. It wasn’t! She had her mother’s green eyes! And her father’s dark hair! She might not have pictures of them after stupidly leaving the couple she had at her house before going on the run, but she’d never forget her parent’s faces.
I’m their child. Nothing this man says will ever change that.
He doesn’t need to know I’m not entirely human. She paused at the thought. Being a half-breed meant that either one of her parents weren’t human, or... she shook her head, unwilling as always, to even consider that possibility.
“Are you sure you’re human?” he pressed, as if reading her thoughts.
“Wouldn’t I know if I wasn’t?” she shot back, trying to keep her voice steady and calm and failing miserably.
“Maybe, maybe not.” His brows drew together. “I think they’ve somehow come up with a way to alter your memories.”
Mates of the Realms: The Complete Collection: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Box Set Page 20
