by Faulks, Kim
“I’ll get them back,” Shadow murmured dipping his head to mine. “I don’t know how, but I swear to you, I’ll get them, back.”
A shudder coursed through me. They were only photos, I tried to eased that ache inside. Not the truth…not anywhere near the truth.
But that would come…tearing open my world like the lightning from my dream.
That would come.
I pulled away and lifted my gaze. Deep brown eyes bored into mine. My heart boomed inside my ears as he lifted his hand and traced the slick of a tear down my cheek.
Tension mounted, humming through my body like I was a live wire…and he…he was the ground under my feet, drawing me closer.
“There’s no need to rush, Ol…” he whispered, warm breath tickling the skin behind my ear. He pressed his lips there, and all the way to the edge of my jaw. “No need to rush at all.”
I opened my mouth, millimeters stood between his lips and mine. I was aware of that distance…very aware. Just a tiny shift, a turn of my head.
My breath rushed…images slipped away now…everything slipped away.
Until he eased backwards.
A promise glinted in those perfect brown eyes. There was a twitch, and then a curl of his lips as footsteps sounded along the hall. We had a secret just for us…a perfect secret built on pain.
He rose from the bed in one swift movement and then held out his hand. Reflex rode my movements with him…with all of them. My body was not my own, obeying another now…three of them.
I scooted to the edge of the bed and then rose. I followed Shadow from the room and out to the kitchen. With the rush of a breath my mind shifted gears, turning to Harvey.
Voices murmured, drawing me toward the lounge room. A map was spread wide against the wooden floor. Sixth crouched, following the city streets before he lifted his head. “This internet cafe, where is it?”
I knelt, searched the markers, found the shelter and followed it down. “I think it’s about here, but I can’t be sure.”
He gave a nod, and then glanced behind me. “We wait for dark and then we move. You’re with Oleander, Shadow. Tex is going to be here.” He pointed to a spot on the opposite side of Harvey’s shop. “And I’m going to be somewhere around here. You won’t see me…but I’ll see you.”
This was all too real now—all too fast, and strange. Days ago I was strapped to a bed, tortured and in pain, and now…now I was here. I thought of Maddox, of the man who gave me a key on a necklace, and then the monster he became. But he was dead now, and the dead couldn’t hurt me anymore. I wasn’t the one fighting to survive anymore…wasn’t one out in cold, or the one alone. I glanced to the map and then to Sixth.
I wasn’t one.
I was four…I was us.
The feeling rippled through me like it’d always been this way. Shadow nodded, Tex moved closer behind me and stared where Sixth pointed.
“The car’s refuelled.” Shadow lifted his gaze to Tex. “Should get us far enough away, to be safe.”
“Timing’s important.” Sixth leaned backwards. “We can’t stick around, okay? Get in, get the information you need and we’re out of here.”
Out of the city…
Out of Demand.
Leave everything behind.
The faint tick…tick…tick…inside my head surfaced. For some reason the thought weighed me down.
As though I was here for a reason.
A reason I hadn’t yet fulfilled.
Tick…tick…tick…
“Oleander?” Shadow’s voice broke though. “You okay?”
I flinched and jerked my gaze high. Still that ticking closed in, smothering everything else. “I…I don’t know. I think I…”
Sixth rose from the ground and stepped around the corner of the map. “It’s important we leave here. You understand that, right? If this friend off yours can get us the information we need, then he can also tell Pryor.”
I shook my head, the words spilling from my lips as Harvey filled my head. “He wouldn’t do that. Not to me…”
“He would. You know he would. Anyone who isn’t us can’t be trusted. You understand that, right?”
The truth settled. Deep down I’d known this all along. Just like I knew it was us…us against the world. He reached for my hand. “No one’s going to hurt you again. I mean it. I’ll kill anyone…anyone at all. This is the first real piece of information, the first step to understanding what we are. But this Harvey guy can’t be trusted. He’ll talk, they always talk. So, we get the information and we run. We run hard and fast and hope to God we get to wherever we need to be before Pryor or any other sonofabitch does.”
“What if the Doctor’s here, what if he’s in Demand?” Tex looked to all of us. “Has no one else thought of that? We’d be running away from him, not running to.”
Tick…tick…tick…he wasn’t. I knew it like I knew Sixth and Tex and Shadow, I felt it. “He’s not here, trust me, I’d know.”
“Gready would find him first, anyway,” Tex snarled.
“Gready?” I shook my head. “I don’t know a Gready.”
“No,” Tex answered and nodded toward Sixth. “But he does.”
There was a flare of surprise in Sixth’s eyes, of secrets just waiting to spill free. Seems like we were all getting used to being an us instead of a me.
“He’s a Marine, was, a Marine. Vicious sonofabitch. It would’ve been fine if that was all he was. But his father…his father.”
Silver shone from deep within his eye, the piercing glare, blinding. I reached up, catching the flinch in his head. Muscles tensed, still he held strong as I caressed the side of his cheek.
“His father was one of them…those men who held me down…who held us all down. I freaked out in the middle of Parent’s Day, fucking ran like a kid. That was the first day, I saw them…those from that place. That day this…whatever this is grew stronger. I saw them…and you…saw you just as clear as I see you now.”
Jesus…I hurt for him, for that kid all alone reliving things no kid should ever live through in the first place. “How old were you?”
“Eighteen.”
“That’s tough man.” Shadow stepped close and gripped Sixth’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” Sixth answered. His gaze blazed brighter than the sun as he stared at me. “If I didn’t have that breakthrough then I wouldn’t be here…I wouldn’t be here with you.”
I wound my arms around him. We were all fractured in ways we couldn’t comprehend. Alone we were running…alone we were weak.
But together…together we were a force.
I knew then as I stood there with my heart lunging against my chest…
Knew how brutal he’d become to protect me.
It was nothing…nothing compared to what I’d do if they came for him.
If they came for any of them.
I lifted my hand to Tex, and then the other to Shadow as I stepped closer and craned my head.
Sixth’s power was a starburst behind my eyes as I closed them. Warm lips brushed mine, and hands went around my back.
Something in the room trembled as fingers entwined. Power rushed from them to me and then back again.
The floor beneath us quaked.
Sixth kissed me, widening his mouth under mine. The ground beneath me seemed to sway…I was lost, lost to the feel of them as they pressed in close. Hard chests against me…the pounding of our hearts blending together in cacophony of thunder.
I’d killed. I’d fought. I’d hunted and I’d survived.
But in this moment…this perfect moment I knew why.
To get to them.
Something inside me clicked like a lock in a key.
I wanted to stay here forever, in this moment…in this space with the feel of their bodies hard against mine, and Sixth’s tongue dancing against my lips.
The piercing glare dulled as he broke away.
I opened my eyes to glistening lips. Heavy breaths echoed
, moving against me. I turned my head as Tex curled his spine, his lips replaced Sixth’s.
Hands slid around the small of my back, fingers spanned the curve of my ass. A jolt of desire carved a line through me. I’d never been touched, never been kissed—not like this.
Shadow moved closer, pressing our entwined fingers against his chest. I broke away from Tex and stared into his eyes.
Blue sparkled as he smiled and then motioned toward Shadow. There was no flare of jealously, no spark of anger. It was as though we’d loved liked this forever.
Shadow dragged my hand backwards and gripped the curve of my ass, dragging me hard against him. The hard outline of his cock pressed against my thigh, sending a tremor through my core.
I closed my eyes as his lips met mine. Visions blared inside my mind, naked, entwined, fingers and tongues. A shudder coursed as he took more, delving his tongue inside my mouth.
I stilled, soft and pliable under his hands. The beast fought the darkness, rising to the surface. But she never snarled, never hated…only took control.
She lifted my hand, fingers curled…just one touch—one tiny touch.
Shadow moaned, and the sound was trapped in my mouth. Fingers crested his cheek, sliding all the way down his jaw. My heart thundered as I fought…you’ll kill him!
But he never slowed, widening his mouth against mine as he grasped my hand. The beast inside shuddered with the touch before he broke away, turning to kiss my fingers.
He knew…they all knew. Knew where she lived…where she waited.
Knew how she needed…always hungry…always…
“Claws like a bear,” Shadow murmured. “Teeth like a wolf...”
I flinched at the words and pulled away.
Panic reared, punching to the surface. I pulled away from him...pulled away from them all.
“It’s okay, Oleander," Shadow murmured. “You won’t hurt us. You needed to know that. You needed to know it was safe for her to come out and be around us.”
I looked from one to the other as the sudden realization dawned. The kiss…it was all about the kiss. “And you what? Thought kissing me would make you safe?”
“We were always safe,” Sixth answered. “Your power can no more hurt us than you can. But it was a problem…for you. Now it’s not.”
Heat filled my cheeks. “You kissed me on purpose?”
“Well not entirely, not the first time…” Tex murmured. “But there was no way we could run, no way we could live together with this fear inside you.”
“The beast is you, Oleander. She always has been, just like my power is me, and Tex and Shadow’s are theirs.” Sixth moved closer, and lifted his hand. “You’re not a beast, and you’re not ugly. You’re beautiful, and powerful…and dangerous, yes, but only to those you need to be dangerous for.”
I closed my eyes as a whisper filled me. Ugly…ugly…UGLY…
Just a beast…just a dark, vicious beast. She hovered close, drawing their scent deep into my lungs. A new hunger bloomed now, one I’d never felt before.
Mine, she growled.
I opened my eyes to find them watching me intently. A tremor broke free. They had no idea…no idea the kind of terror she could bring…no idea what would be left. “You are an idiot, all of you. Idiots. You thought you could bring her to the surface and make her fall in love with you?”
Shadow gave a shrug. “It worked though, didn’t it?”
Her…me…both of us…falling. “Yes,” I whispered.
Shadow smiled, followed by Tex. But Sixth just nodded and then bent to the map. His hands worked fast, rolling one end to the other. “We need to get ready, so if you want to shower or eat, I suggest you do it now. We might on the road for quite a while.”
“I’m eating,” Tex muttered.
“Figures.” Shadow followed him into the kitchen.
And just like that it was all over. I glanced to the orange sun shining through the windows and then at Sixth once more. We’d slept most of the day away…and soon we’d be on the road, running once more.
“You okay?” He wound a band around the map and stepped closer. “I don’t want you to feel like we tricked you. I hope one day soon you’ll see that wasn’t the case.”
I glanced at the map. “How did you know…my power wouldn’t hurt you?”
“I’ve occupied a space inside your mind for as long as you’ve occupied a space in my heart. You think I wouldn’t know her as well as I know you?” He stepped close. “If it’s any consolation, it’s you we were kissing. But we want both of you. We want all of you.”
I glanced toward the kitchen. Tex yanked open the refrigerator and piled all the food onto the counter. Sixth stepped close, reached out and grasped my hand, before he gave me a soft kiss and moved away.
Leaving me staring after them.
They acted like none of this was a big thing, like kissing me…and loving the darkness inside wasn’t a big thing.
My world was shifting, morphing into something I didn’t understand—while they ate and joked. I waited for a second and then followed, stepping closer.
Shadow turned his head and smiled as though he’d been waiting for me to catch up, and in a way they all had. Tex handed me a sandwich filled with chicken and cheese.
I bit and chewed while Sixth came back out from the bedroom and joined us. And for a perfect second there was no talk about the beast, no talk about tonight. There was just us… just perfect, awkward, and ravenous us.
I ate until my belly gave a shudder of relief and watched while Tex packed up the rest of the food into sandwiches and containers and stowed them in a bag.
“You want first shower?” Sixth glanced at me. “Pretty boy here might be all damn night. He sings in the shower, you know that?”
“I do not sing,” Shadow bit. “I hum.”
“Sing, hum, thought there was a cat dying first time I heard it.” Tex gave me a wink.
“You guys can suck it anytime you want to,” Shadow snarled and then grinned.
Tex opened his arms to Shadow for a hug and was met with a raised brow. I smothered a smile and stepped close. I’d never in my life felt like this, like somehow in some strange way we were meant for this.
We were a family.
Chapter Sixteen
Oleander
“You know what to do, right?” Sixth climbed out of the car and then turned to me. Familiar lights sparkled and brightened beyond the alley—lights I’d seen a hundred times before.
Only tonight was different.
I was different.
I climbed out of the rear door and winced at the sight. “Yeah, get the information we need and get out.”
“Shadow’s gonna be right there, but he needs to stay out of sight, okay?” Sixth closed the passenger’s door with a soft thud. He reached for me, grasping my hand and lifting it to his chest. “You need to stay focused, just until this is done and we’re out of here, okay?”
The thunder in my head pounded. I licked arid lips and nodded. The sickness still lingered, making me slow…making me weak. Claws raking my nerves, making me jumpy…
The flesh at the crook of my elbow ached with need. Just needed a little something…to take this ache away.
I could do this…I had to do this.
Cool night air snaked its way along my skin. A shudder tore free, chattering my teeth before I bit my lip. I breathed in deep, sending a spear of icy air into my lungs.
Sixth turned and shoved his pistol into the waistband of his pants before he shrugged out of his jacket. “Here, take this.”
Warmth cloaked me as the heavy jacket settled around my shoulders. I slid my arms through as he tugged it tight and lifted the hood over my hair. He was so gentle, tucking in wayward strands.
His touch, and the heady masculine scent, made me nervous. My pulse raced, sending a flare of heat through my body.
“You okay now?” he murmured and brushed the back of his knuckle along my cheek.
Hard muscles flexe
d as he moved. The cotton t-shirt strained as he moved. Goosebumps raced along his skin. He was cold…cold for me.
“In and straight back out. I’ll be watching, okay? I’ll be right there.”
I nodded and turned toward the entrance of the alley. Movement came from the corner of my eye.
Shadow was there stepping out of the darkness to hold out his hand. “Just like every other day, beautiful.”
I stepped away from Sixth, holding his gaze until I felt the warmth of Shadow’s hand.
Just like every other day…where I was hunted.
Shadow eased me forward. I glanced over my shoulder to Tex sitting in the driver’s seat. He gave a smile and then a nod, urging me forward.
Tick…tick…tick…
The sound mingled with the echo of my boots. Shadow gripped me tighter as we headed for the entrance. He seemed to melt from view, slipping into the shadows as I hit the entrance.
Fingers slid from mine…but he was there…moving with me as I scanned both ways and then turned left.
I hugged the side of the building, just like Sixth told me, and lowered my gaze. Cracks shattered the pavement. I stepped over raised edges and shoved my hands into my pockets.
The thunder in my head was deafening, stabbing like a knife as I lifted my gaze, catching sight of the small shack in the distance.
Just like every other night…every other night where people were trying to kill me.
I winced, catching the flicker of lights inside the building as I came close.
Lights filtered out through the filthy glass doors, just as it always had. I glanced along the street to the darkened buildings on one side, and the ratty half-hearted attempt at a community garden on the other.
No one stood at the counter, but that wasn’t anything new. I reached out, gripped the door handle and heaved. Metal scraped against metal, grinding and howling. A head snapped upwards, dark eyes peered at me from across the top of the monitor.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then the brutal scrape of a chair against the floor. Harvey heaved his body from the seat, eyes widening as he muttered. “Oleander?”
I tried to force a smile, tried to be more than a sickly, desperate, shitty friend. “It’s me.”
