Breaking the Nexus (Mythrian Realm)

by Avalon, Lindsay

  Ian grabbed the door before he could shut it. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

  Not really, he thought, but replied, “Don’t have much of a choice.”

  Ian gave him a knowing look before stepping back and letting Connor start the car. “I’ll stop by when I’ve finished up here. It could be a while sorting through the witness statements. Was there really a monster flying around ripping apart cars? Actually, don’t answer that, I’m not sure I want to know. Try not to get into trouble.”

  Connor raised his hand in a wave then pulled away. Bringing a beautiful woman to his home, one who’d just taken out a vicious banshee with magic, was pretty much a recipe for trouble. At this point, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to fight the desire.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sha tried to push through the thick layers of sleep when gentle hands lifted her. “Huh? What’s happening?”

  “Shh, It’s just me.”

  She relaxed, feeling a grin tease her lips at the thrill of realizing it was Connor speaking. “You can put me down now, I’m capable of walking.” Despite her words, she let her head fall onto his shoulder.

  Part of her hoped he wouldn’t release her, content to feel his arms around her. They’d known each other all of a day, but she couldn’t deny he fascinated her more than anyone she’d ever met. Any man who could stare down a banshee hell-bent on rending you limb from limb without flinching more than had her respect, especially considering he hadn’t known banshees existed until tonight.

  He chuckled, his chest vibrating beneath her ear. “It’s not far to the house.”

  Twining her arms around his neck, she hid her smile against his coat, breathing deep the smell of leather mixed with the musky scent of him. “Is that the only reason?”

  His arms tightened just a fraction. “Nothing can happen between us, you must realize that.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  As he walked up a set of stairs, the movement jostled her. If her lips just happened to brush against his neck when her head moved against the crook of his shoulder, it wasn’t her fault. She watched his throat work as he swallowed hard. Good, she was getting to him. Served him right when he’d gotten under her skin.

  “Stop that,” he ordered, the command holding no heat. He shifted her weight for a moment while he unlocked the front door and pushed it open.

  Unable to resist pushing him a little further, she brushed her lips against his skin once more. “Stop what?” Sha gazed at him, the heat of his eyes making her melt. Those metallic eyes shifted and swirled unlike anything she’d ever seen, even among the Metallum Sorceri she’d met over the years.

  He let her body slide down his, hands settling on her hips, holding her body close against him for a moment. “You’re playing with fire,” he warned.

  “That’s alright, lucky for you, I’m an Infernum.”

  “Really? And what does that mean?” Although he towered over her, his head was bent and she thought she might be able to reach his mouth if she stretched

  “It means I happen to like playing with fire,” she whispered, standing on her tiptoes to brush her lips to his.

  She’d intended it to be a brief kiss, more of a tease than anything else. They hardly knew each other and had just escaped from a potentially deadly situation, after all. But the moment their lips met, all rational thought became impossible, incinerated by the flash of desire that swept through her.

  One hand slid into her hair and fisted, pulling her head back to give him better access to her mouth. His tongue swept over hers, drawing a low moan from her. By the flame, his taste. Her hands grasped his coat as she pressed her breasts against his chest, pressure building low in her core. He was staking his claim on her, and she wanted more. Frantic to feel him, she pushed her hands beneath his shirt, running her fingers along the dusting of hair on his chest. Too soon he broke away, both of them breathing heavy.

  “That—that probably shouldn’t have happened,” he said after a moment, stepping back to put some distance between them.

  Sha touched her lips, swollen from their passion. Kissing him had electrified her senses, energizing her more than when she tapped a node, a direct line to power. It would be all too easy to become addicted to him. “That’s funny, I was thinking it should happen again.”

  “Sha, I’m serious. I’m supposed to protect you, not make out with you on my porch.”

  “Connor, I’m serious,” she mimicked. “I can protect myself and I don’t know what ‘make out’ means, but if it makes you feel better, I kissed you.”

  His hand smoothed over her hair, brushing it from her face. “You’re a witch, aren’t you? Say it again.”

  Confused, she cocked her head to the side. “Huh?”

  “My name. I liked hearing you say it instead of ‘Detective.’”

  Her heart melted a little. She had to tread carefully or she’d end up falling for this man. “Connor. And I’m not a witch, I’m a Sorceri, there’s a difference.” Before he could answer, her stomach rumbled and she winced, embarrassed at how loud it had been. “Sorry, I haven’t eaten all day.”

  “Damn, I didn’t think about that. You’ve got to be starving by now. Ian should be here in a couple of hours; in the meantime, let’s see if we can find you something to eat.”

  He stepped away and she took time to glance around the property. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected when he said he was bringing her to his home, but it hadn’t been this beautiful house nestled away in among an endless array of pine trees. After the overwhelming noise and chaos of the city, the peaceful quiet of the woods brought forth a pang of longing for home so unexpected she felt a sting of tears. Must be the exhaustion, she told herself. She never cried. Mythria had grand cities, though they were nothing like Denver, but she didn’t like to be in them for long. Tall buildings squeezed into cramped areas made her feel claustrophobic. It never failed to amaze her how anyone could live in a place like that instead of having space to breathe.

  “Your home is amazing,” she said, fascinated by the rustic cabin feel of it. The two-story home was made from gorgeous white pine logs stacked one atop the other. A beautiful cedar deck wrapped around the house, providing a nice contrast in color. A massive stone chimney rose up along one side of the house and was flanked by enormous windows. Sha wondered what it must be like to wake up and take in the picturesque view every morning. She’d grown up in Fire Falls, a city built on an island surrounded by steep waterfalls and ancient trees. This place reminded her a bit of her home, minus the water of course. It elicited the same feeling of peace and solitude she’d missed when she had moved to the capital city, Elysium, to begin Sentinel training. “I love the architecture, Connor. I don’t think I’d ever want to leave if I lived here.”

  He seemed pleased that she approved. “Yup, home sweet home. I’ve always loved this style so I decided to bring a little piece of it to these woods.” He gestured toward the steep pitch of the roof then to the carved wooden door. “One of my sisters married a carpenter and he made that. They actually live outside of Portland so you can imagine that his work is in high demand.”

  Sha had no idea what Portland was like, although it hardly mattered, It was obvious the man had skill, and even in Mythria, people would’ve been clamoring to employ his talent.

  “We may be deep in the woods, but I still don’t think it’s safe to be outside for long. Let’s go inside.” As he spoke, Connor’s eyes tracked over their surroundings, assessing for threats, efficient in the way he conducted the sweep. Gotta love a practical man who knew his property. All too often people grew complacent and complacency could get you killed.

  “Lead the way,” she murmured, lowering her lashes to match the low pitch, and enjoying the way his pupils flared. He’d continue denying the lust she knew he must feel, and she supposed she should honor his wishes. She didn’t want to get him in trouble with his captain, and even among the Sentinels, it was frowned upon to fraternize with someone you w
ere assigned to protect.

  But then she’d never been the best at following orders, and where was the fun in leaving things alone?

  *******

  Connor couldn’t shake the memory of the taste of Sha. When he’d carried her from his car to the house, the weight of her in his arms had felt…right. He didn’t have a logical explanation for the way he wanted her. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to protect a woman, he was a cop for heaven’s sake. He’d aways been able to maintain his objectivity, but Sha was different. She was special. Touching her was like touching a live wire, and it hadn’t sated his desire an iota to kiss her. No, if anything, it had intensified it.

  As much as he craved to have her in his arms, it was a bad idea on so many levels. Sex with a witness could be a death knell for a career, not to mention it would cloud his judgment. If only he could convince his body it was a bad idea. He looked to where she was stretched out on the couch, fast asleep. Once inside, she’d stayed awake long enough to eat the sandwich he’d thrown together before she started to nod off, nearly falling out of her chair. She had wanted to wait for Ian so she could get the latest updates, but he’d managed to convince her to take a nap until he arrived.

  Showing her how to work the microwave and refrigerator and watching her face light up with childlike curiosity had been priceless. If he hadn’t already believed her story, and how could he not after the incidence with the freaking banshee, her utter fascination would have convinced him of her sincerity. So many questions raced through his mind about where she came from, but they’d have to wait for now.

  He rose and grabbed a quilt one of his sisters had given him for Christmas and shook it out, spreading it over her body. She was curled on her side, her hands tucked beneath her cheek. In sleep she looked so serene, but awake she was a spitfire; never had going head to head with someone been so much fun. Tucking the blanket around her, he indulged himself in a single caress over her hair before returning to the kitchen to review the case files.

  Going over his notes after the events of today was surreal. How was he supposed to look at the photos of the runes and not think that real magic could’ve been involved? He snorted. God, listen to him. If someone had told him a few days ago he’d be contemplating the use of actual magic in a homicide, he’d have had the person committed for psychiatric observation.

  Hell, the only reason he wasn’t checking himself into the nearest psych ward was because he’d seen that creature with his own eyes. A shudder rippled down his spine at the memory of the banshee. He still had a hard time reconciling that thing had been female. Something told him that if Sha hadn’t blasted it into oblivion, it would have sliced and diced him as deftly as the chefs on those cooking shows his sisters loved.

  Going down in the line of duty was a possibility every cop had to come to terms with; going down because a nightmarish monster wants to make you dinner was not what he’d signed on for. Lucky for him, Sha remained cool under pressure. She’d been magnificent, facing down the banshee without hesitation. Granted, she’d also been somewhat foolish and scared ten years off his life, but he had to admire her courage.

  Hours later, Connor surfaced from the endless sea of papers and crime scene photos, his neck and shoulders stiff form being hunched over for so long. A glance at the clock told him it was approaching midnight. Holy crap how was it midnight already and where was Ian? He should’ve been here by now.

  A thread of worry began to wind through him, not for his partner since he could handle himself, no he worried what else could have gone wrong today. The scene had been chaotic with multiple accidents when frightened bystanders tried to flee, but it shouldn’t have taken this long to wrap up; most of the legwork would’ve been done by uniforms.

  A knock at the door broke his train of thought. Speak of the devil, that must be him now. Rising, he went to the door, hand on his holstered gun just in case. He’d taken precautions to ensure they weren’t followed, but it never hurt to be safe. Through the peephole he made out Ian’s grim face. Wonderful, something had happened. Dammit.

  Opening the door, Connor didn’t waste any time. “What’s wrong?”

  Ian shook his head, pushing inside and locking the door before answering. “It’s bad. Where’s Sha?”

  “Sleeping on the couch. Spit it out, man.”

  “There’s been another murder.”

  Okay, that was bad, obviously, but not cause for the concern he could see in Ian’s eyes. There must be more. “And the rest?”

  His partner hesitated, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. “See for yourself,” he said finally, handing Connor a folder.

  Connor took it, motioning for Ian to follow him to the kitchen table. Opening the folder, he absently flipped through the pages until he reached the pictures taken of the victim. He grunted, feeling like he’d been punched in the gut. The latest victim was without a doubt connected to their other murders, the same runes and dismemberment were present, but there was one glaring difference. This time, the killer had targeted a woman.

  A woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to a certain blonde and blue haired temptress asleep on his couch. Rage ignited within him at the clear threat to her safety. No question, this was meant to send a message, one Connor received loud and clear, though probably not what the perpetrator intended.

  Anyone who came after Sha would have to go through him first.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Waves of anger beat at her, pulling her from a deep sleep. Someone was inches away from exploding and she was pretty sure it wasn’t her. Sha had some empathic traits, so it wasn’t hard to figure out they had activated and her instincts told her the emotions she felt belonged to Connor. Why was he in such a rage?

  Well, she wasn’t going to get answers lying on the couch, comfortable though it was. At some point, Connor must have covered her with a blanket and her lips curved at the gesture. He wanted to fight the attraction between them, but that was okay; she loved a challenge and the compulsion to break through his defenses was strong.

  Hushed voices drifted from another room, sparking her curiosity. Ian must’ve come back but it didn’t explain the strong feelings rolling off of Connor. She even picked up faint traces of worry and anger from Ian. Alright, she had to know what was going on now. With a sigh she sat up, her head swimming at the sudden movement. Mother Night, her head was pounding. The banshee had been stronger than she’d anticipated and the amount of effort needed to break through the forces blocking her had drained her energy faster than usual. It had been years since she’d suffered backlash, but tonight she’d skirted the line of it. Thank the Gods she hadn’t; it could debilitate her for days if it was bad enough.

  She dropped her head, centering herself the way her instructors had taught her long ago. Sha was an oddity among the Sorceri in that she belonged to both Aquarum and Infernum classes. It wasn’t unusual to possess power in multiple elements, however, it was rare for a person to have equal strength in such polar opposites, not that she complained. The fire elements played a large part in her offensive magic, but the water traits were particularly helpful at aiding her in grounding herself as well as minor healing.

  Drawing on the Aquarum gifts, she worked to block out the burgeoning headache threatening to transform into a full-blown migraine. The cursed banshee was still causing trouble, even after being decimated by the energy burst. When the pain subsided to a dull throb, she decided it was time to announce she was awake and ready to receive the bad news.

  She rose, padding toward the sound of the men. Connor was holding a folder, hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Hearing her steps he turned toward her, a muscle ticking in his cheek, fury blazing in his eyes.

  Hoping for a little levity, she smiled at Ian. “I take it you aren’t bringing news that you’ve found the murderer?”

  He shook his head. “He’s killed again.”

  A pang of sympathy struck her for the man who had succumbed this time. “What was his name? Th
e latest victim.”

  “It wasn’t a man,” Connor bit out, the words thick with roiling emotions.

  “I don’t understand. You said he’s only targeted men, it seems illogical he’d change his preference.”

  He handed her a picture from the file. “See for yourself.”

  By the flame, it was like looking at a member of her family. The woman appeared to be a similar age, coloring and build as Sha, her hair almost the exact shade as her own. Wait a minute, something wasn’t right. Her eyes narrowed on the victim’s roots. “This isn’t her natural hair color is it?”

  Connor craned his head to get a better view. “What do you mean?”

  “If you look closely, you can see her natural shade is much lighter, almost platinum blonde.”

  “Are you telling me you have hair dye in Mythria?” Ian sounded amused at the prospect.

  She leveled a cool glare at him. “You think blue streaks occur naturally? I doubt it’s the same as what women use here, but yes we’re able to dye our hair. In any case, this looks hurried. Her nails are well-kept and painted so it doesn’t make sense she’d rush that.”

  Understanding dawned on her. “He wanted to send me a message didn’t he? He knows about me, knows I was at the crime scene. He’s going to come after me.” The knowledge didn’t scare her, it strengthened her determination. She never backed down from a fight.

  “He will not come after you,” Connor said fiercely.

  His reaction warmed her, made her want to break out in a huge grin despite the gravity of the situation. “Connor, as sweet as that is, did I prove earlier how well I can take care of myself?”

  “Of course, but this guy has taken down three grown men and now a woman with disturbing similarities to you. Yes you’re powerful, but you’re not in Mythria. You’re out of your element here. I’m afraid you’ll race headlong into danger like you did with the banshee. Did you stop to think that maybe there were other perils besides the banshee?”