by Susan Illene
Breathing in and out, she relaxed her body and focused her search along the route where Melena had been staring. Cori found that easier than when she had to push her abilities in all directions. Almost like a bumble bee flying along a path, she eventually found her target.
Tormod was out there, perhaps a hundred or so feet away. They’d allowed him to participate in this? As far as she knew, they’d been keeping him separated from others. They’d had to give him his own trailer to sleep in at night at the compound, rather than staying with the others in the dorms, and he ate at a table by himself in the dining facility. Bartol had been working with Tormod and mentioned that he was showing more signs of life. The nerou had even begun holding short conversations, but her mate said the nerou wasn’t back to normal yet.
At least with this exercise, Tormod didn’t have to do much other than stand in the woods. Maybe that was why he was allowed to be involved. They needed someone with demon blood in which to practice tracking, and he was the safest option while just starting to learn. He might have still been a little off, but he hadn’t hurt anyone recently. Still, Cori hated that they had to bother him now when he really wasn’t ready to be back out in the world.
She turned to Melena with a questioning look, not wanting to voice her thoughts and ruin the surprise for the others. In this group, even a whisper could be heard by everyone. The sensor gave her a faint smile and shrug.
“Raise your hand if you detected the demon,” Raguel instructed.
Cori and Melena lifted theirs, along with half the nerou. Bartol had his up as well, sitting at the opposite end of the circle. They were apart so that their mating bond wouldn’t distract them from training. When they were close together, it was harder to concentrate.
“You can come out now,” the archangel called.
Tormod and Micah stepped out of the woods, their tall, muscular forms slowly coming into view. Cori hadn’t sensed the nephilim with the nerou, but her abilities were still weak and she hadn’t been looking for him. It disappointed her that she was nowhere near the level of a full sensor, though. Would she ever get better?
When they reached the high-security fence, they disappeared in a flash of light. The magical warding was set to admit them both, so they didn’t need to come around to the front gate. Upon their reappearance at the edge of the circle, several nerou gasped. Tormod was definitely not the same lighthearted young man he’d once been, and it showed in his violet gaze. He still wore his brown hair in a shaggy cut, and his clothes reflected someone who was only in their early twenties with just jeans and a loose t-shirt, but his expression reflected someone much older and jaded. Not a hint of humor glimmered in his eyes like it once did.
He crossed his arms and glared at the students who hadn’t raised their hands. “Try harder next time.”
His voice was cold.
Cori rose to her feet and started heading toward him. “How are you, Tormod?”
She hadn’t seen him in months. Everyone said it was best she stay away until he’d recovered more since he’d not responded well to visitors. There’d been violent outbursts in the beginning, followed by frigid silence, and then grim tolerance of those he saw on a daily basis. Tormod didn’t seem to want to be around anyone if he could help it. Even with Emily, Melena’s adopted daughter, the nerou had told her to stay away. It had broken the teenager’s heart.
“Fine.” He glanced down at her growing belly, lips twitching as if he fought a smile. “I see the baby will be coming soon.”
“Yes.”
He ducked his head and balled his fists. “You should keep it away from me.”
A lump formed in her throat. She’d caught that small sign of the old Tormod, but it had only lasted a moment. “Why?”
“I’m not safe to be around.”
“You can’t control yourself?” Other than being a little stiff, he seemed fine so far.
He lifted his head and pain filled his eyes. “There’s something dark inside of me. I don’t want to risk you or the baby.”
It said something that he recognized it and wanted to protect her from it. Tormod wasn’t gone, but he was a long way from putting the Haagenti incident behind him. She only hoped he could find balance and maybe a little peace. It hadn’t been his fault.
“You should let Emily see you. She misses you.”
Melena stepped up beside Cori. “It’s true. Maybe Em could help.”
“No. I don’t want her seeing me like this.”
Melena’s expression softened. “That doesn’t matter to her. I think being around friends and people who care about you could help.”
“I don’t want anyone’s help!” he growled and flashed away.
Micah rubbed his face. “Today was an improvement, believe it or not.”
“I’m sure,” Cori said. “He just needs time.”
“We don’t have much left.”
No, they didn’t. “But he still helped.”
“He was getting restless.” Micah gazed around at the nerou who were now chatting with each other since the lesson finished. “We haven’t allowed Tormod outside the compound much.”
Melena nodded. “Keep getting him out. It will help.”
“We will break for the day,” Raguel announced, already looking worn after the short training exercise. “You’ll have a bigger exercise tomorrow. Be prepared.”
Bartol made his way over to them and stopped close to Cori. Only two feet separated them and yet he seemed so far away. “I’m going to check on Tormod.”
“Will you be back for dinner?” she asked. Sometimes, it seemed like he would use any excuse to stay away from her unless there was a danger of some sort.
He lifted a brow. “What are you cooking?”
“Fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I’ll make brownies too if you make it.”
His golden eyes lit up. “I’ll do my best to be there then.”
Melena cleared her throat. “I don’t suppose…”
“You, Lucas, and Emily are welcome to come as well if you want. There will be plenty.” Cori was used to people inviting themselves over for dinner and always made extra just in case.
Micah gave her a hurt look. “What about me?”
“You and your daughter can come as well, but leave Kerbasi,” she said sternly. If they all left their home for dinner, chances were greater the guardian would catch on and look for them at her place. She didn’t need that fool disrupting a perfectly good meal.
“He’s on duty this evening at the compound. You won’t have to worry about him,” Micah promised.
Cori pulled out her cell phone to check the time. It was almost four in the afternoon, which was later than expected. They must have been doing the meditation exercises even longer than she realized. “Okay, come by at seven.”
“Let’s get you home then.” Melena tucked her arm into Cori’s.
They’d ridden together to the compound since they both worked in Fairbanks, with the sensor having a job at the Department of Homeland Security office. There was no sense in them taking separate vehicles, especially since Cori hated driving at this stage of her pregnancy anyway.
“Take care of my mate,” Bartol said, giving Melena a stern look.
“You know I will.”
They began walking toward the parking area. Cori glanced over at Melena, who walked with far more grace than her. “Is it me or does something feel off?”
Melena unlocked her Jeep and they climbed inside. “Yeah, though I can’t put my finger on it.”
“You’d think if Jeriel was going to take on his new job of governing the supernaturals and dealing with the demon threat, he’d have set up shop sooner.” Cori fastened her seatbelt. “Why show up and announce it, makes some threats, and then run off?”
“Something is certainly going on,” Melena agreed, worrying her lip.
“Do you think this demon problem is even worse than we think?”
“So far, their activities aren’t anywhere near as bad as l
ast year when things got ugly. A few robberies are barely enough to hit our radar.” She started driving them out of the compound. They pushed through the layers of protective spells, both wincing at the stronger ones. They were scary the first time Cori went through them, but it was getting easier to ignore them. She could even see through the glamour that hid the place from human eyes, which she’d never been able to do until recently.
“The fact that they’re stationing an elite archangel to handle problems on Earth with a headquarters and everything says something,” Cori mused as she stared out the window at the passing trees. There was no lack of evergreens in Alaska. “It just seems like there could be more to all this.”
“I’ll keep my ears open at the office. You’re right that something seems fishy about all this,” Melena agreed.
Cori just wondered what it might be and what it meant for them. Were things going to get worse?
Chapter 10
Cori
Cori had no ambition to compete with Martha Stewart, but she loved preparing large meals and feeding people. It gave her a certain satisfaction to see others fill their bellies and enjoy what she cooked for them. At that moment, she had quite a few guests. Her large dining room table was nearly filled with only Lucas having taken his plate to the living room where he could eat in relative privacy. He was quirky like that. And Bartol’s chair sat empty, depressing her that he hadn’t made it yet.
She finished eating her meal quickly so she could go by the window to watch for him. Her mate only flashed inside her home if he was in a hurry, but otherwise, he arrived from the outside. It was a courtesy since showing up unexpected had nearly given her a heart attack more than once. Not a good thing while pregnant.
At some point, they were going to have to discuss living together again. She didn’t know how to broach the topic, and the few times she’d tried, he’d changed the subject. He continued to claim he wasn’t ready. Cori knew he was doing his best to make their relationship work, even spending a couple of nights with her a week, but she couldn’t help wanting more. Their child deserved it. There was a good, wonderful man inside of Bartol waiting to come out. She knew it down in her heart and had seen glimpses of who he could be if he tried. Like her, he was damaged, but she didn’t believe him irreparable. It just required far more patience than she ever imagined.
Two figures appeared on the front lawn. She pulled the curtain back farther to get a better look and gasped. Tormod had come with Bartol. How had he managed that and was it a good idea? If anyone could be more antisocial than her mate, it would be the demon nerou. Even just standing there and taking in his surroundings without a crowd, he appeared uncomfortable and on edge.
Her heart ached that he’d changed so much during his time with Haagenti. Would he ever be the same young man again? What had happened during his capture? No one was sure since Tormod wouldn’t talk about it beyond apologizing for his actions during the big battle when he’d attacked their side with fireballs. They didn’t blame him since he’d hardly been in control of himself and at least he was back to recognizing right from wrong. Seeing him now, though, his posture spoke of a man barely holding his sanity together. As if any one thing could set him off again and then they’d all be in trouble.
What was Bartol thinking to bring him here?
The two men headed for the front door and Cori backed away from the window. She glanced at her guests and whispered that Tormod was here. Everyone appeared as surprised as her. Micah and Lucas repositioned themselves in front of her staircase, as if guarding the women who still sat eating. They’d all stopped to stare at the front entrance. Sure, Tormod had gotten close at the nerou compound, but he’d kept some distance from the trainees, and they’d been outside with more room to maneuver. This was close quarters and could be more dangerous.
Bartol entered first, then gestured for Tormod to come in next. The young man made it just far enough inside to close the door. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor.
Cori cleared her throat. “Welcome, Tormod.”
“Thank you,” he said, not quite meeting her gaze.
Lucas cleared his throat. His expression had been skeptical, but it turned resolved. “Go fix your plate.”
Tormod stood there for a moment unsure.
“Do as he said,” Micah ordered.
After the young man passed by her, she mouthed to Bartol, “Is this a good idea?”
She agreed he needed to be around people more, but this was a big step to take.
“He won’t cause any trouble,” her mate replied. “He knows we’ll take him down without hesitation should he do anything stupid, but I don’t believe he will, or I wouldn’t have brought him near you.”
She suspected he’d given Tormod a long lecture full of warnings before coming. That was surely the only way he’d take the risk, considering his protectiveness toward her. There were also three nephilim present, plus Melena, who was no slouch in her fighting abilities. Everyone in the house had some special skills and inhuman strength. That included Cori, though she was more vulnerable at the moment with the baby inside her. She noted all the men had put themselves in protective postures around her. They wanted Tormod to socialize, but they weren’t taking chances with her safety.
She wasn’t going to simply stand in the living room while a guest found his way around her kitchen, though. Cori headed that way, ignoring the nephilim who shadowed her.
“Eat as much as you like,” she said to Tormod.
He’d already filled half his plate with chicken. “Thank you.”
Emily patted the seat next to her. “You can sit here.”
Tormod stiffened. “I’ll sit on the other end.”
“Afraid you’ll hurt me while you’re eating?” She gave him a disdainful look. “I’m not that breakable.”
Like Cori, she’d had Melena’s blood, but in a much smaller dose that didn’t change her physical make-up as much. Emily wasn’t immortal, just much sturdier and stronger than a normal human. It also helped that her adopted mother had trained her well and she could put up a good fight.
“I’m not the same guy you knew before.”
She shrugged. “So I’ll get to know the new one.”
Like Cori, the others in the kitchen were all pretending not to listen to the conversation. She poured herself a glass of ice water, and everyone else went back to eating. Tormod and Emily had been good friends before the incident in London, but they’d hardly seen each other since. The tension was palpable as they sat at the table. Bartol took Cori’s former chair so he could be between the young sensor and nerou.
“Don’t bother,” Tormod said, then filled his mouth with chicken.
Emily let out an exasperated breath. “You’re such an idiot.”
Tormod swallowed his food and lifted a brow. “Why is that?”
“It’s not like you have a whole lot of friends, but we promised we’d always be there for each other. Remember?”
That was news to Cori, but they were young people who obviously weren’t going to tell the adults everything. Tormod might be fifty, but in nerou years—and especially being sequestered in Purgatory for most of his life—his maturity level wasn’t any greater than Emily’s. He didn’t seem like a teenager these days, though.
“Things changed,” he said.
Emily gripped her fork so hard it bent. “Not this. I won’t give up on you.”
“I’ve moved on.” He stared hard at her. “I’m not even a virgin anymore.”
Cori choked on her water, and Melena leaped up to pat her on the back.
Emily’s eyes rounded and she opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Bartol had told Cori about the brothel they’d visited while searching for the demon troubles in Europe. If nothing else, her mate had tried to be open about whatever he was doing since their relationship started, and they’d agreed to have honesty between each other. It was only Bartol’s past that she had a harder time getting more inform
ation. So she knew they’d had to meet with a brothel owner, but only Tormod had taken advantage of the services offered there. She just hadn’t expected him to blurt it out in front of a big audience.
“What? Like I was going to wait for you when we’re only friends, and you’re still getting over that other guy?” Tormod asked while the teenager continued to gape at him. “It’s not like you’re so pure, either.”
Emily’s last boyfriend, Hunter, had been killed a little over a year before in a battle in Fairbanks. It was a tough blow for her, and it had taken a while for her to get past the worst of her grief. While she enjoyed hanging out with Tormod since the nerou’s arrival on Earth, they’d never taken their relationship further. She wasn’t ready for that yet—a relief to everyone since they’d make quite an explosive pair. They each needed more time to find themselves, especially Tormod after what had happened to him recently.
Melena coughed. “Um, maybe you two should take this conversation outside? It’s nice out there.”
“Is that such a good idea?” Cori asked, frowning at Tormod.
The sensor lifted her chin. “If there is one thing I know, it’s that he won’t hurt her no matter what is going on in that head of his.”
“You have more confidence than I do,” the nerou said, pushing his empty plate away. The young man had eaten the chicken like it was the first meal he’d had in months, even while managing to hold a conversation with Emily. Cori was almost certain he’d inhaled most of it without chewing.
“Go talk, preferably not about sex.” Melena pointed toward the back door in the laundry room just off the kitchen. “Now.”
They grumbled but did as ordered. Cori was shocked everyone was fine with Tormod being alone with Emily in the state he was in, but she seemed to be the only one concerned. The back door shut and the kitchen went quiet.
