by Amber Lynn
“He was only trying to protect you. If you should be mad at anyone, talk to your mom. She’s the one who had you without telling him, and then dropped the information on him via a letter when you turned a hundred.”
“He’s a bloodsucker. How in the world did she magically have me?”
The better question is why every word out of Michael’s mouth leads to a new question. We’re supposed to be focused on what he did to me. Not what my mom did two centuries ago.
“I know that, but I feel sorry for your dad. He gave up everything to make sure his part of the Petravich family line ended with him. Then he found out the love of his life had taken the decision away from him, and now his daughter won’t even look at him.”
I’m going to have to verify some of that, but it does take a little wind out of my sails. I suppose that’s a different story than him just abandoning me.
“I’ll think about what that means later. What did you do to me?”
I reach up and point my finger into his very firm chest. I’m starting to think he added muscles to his appearance to be more impressive during his fight scene. Either that, or I haven’t looked at him closely enough.
His hand curls around my wrist, but he doesn’t pull my hand away from him. The usual zap has some extra oomph as it sends a shiver up my arm and down to my toes.
“Technically, I didn’t do anything. The guardians I know always talk about how it’s some activation that turns a truthseer on. We’ve tried pretty much everything we could think of to do it, but until I saw you moving in with your mom, I didn’t understand how it works.”
“You watched me move in?”
I know I’ve called him a stalker before, but that’s just weird. I clearly need to pay more attention.
“I couldn’t stop myself. As soon as you got close enough, I had to be near you. It’s not just you who got activated. You being near activated me, which made me hear your thoughts, live through your senses, know everything going on around you. No one has ever mentioned any of that stuff happening when they find their potential truthseer.”
“What does all that mean?”
There feels like there’s something more being left out. Why in the world would just being close to me make things go crazy? It sounds like other angels found their supposed charges and didn’t turn into giant stalkers.
“It means what I said earlier. That this isn’t just about your life. I’m pretty sure if someone manages to kill you, I’m going to die too. I felt the pain Anne threw at you like it was happening to me. It wasn’t just being in your head. Then, of course, there’s this.”
He lifts the hand he hasn’t let go of up to his face, pushing the palm with his hand against it. I feel the warm energy flow through my body. It’s so inviting. I want to just curl up with it and relax.
“Angels can’t share their power with other people, not even other angels. Other guardians have tried over the years, and it always ends with the enchanter fried, literally. Your bodies are not meant to hold this kind of energy.”
That’s hard to believe after my aforementioned thoughts. With the little sparks when we originally touch, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. The question is why those sparks don’t ignite.
“That’s a good question, and right now, I don’t have an answer. We can talk about it later. First, we need to go meet with your parents and decide what happens next.”
My parents, great. They aren’t exactly people I want to deal with, but I have to concede that we should get the conversation about next steps moving as quickly as possible. It sounds like Mrs. Kline’s demise isn’t going to be the last of my worries.
Chapter Thirty-seven
I’ve never wondered what Michael’s home life was like. I guess I should’ve considered whether he had a fake mom hanging around to make his portrayal of a student realistic. He’s been around town for a while, so there must be some kind of story.
After entering his apartment, I look around Michael to see it becomes clear he’s a bachelor living alone. A bean bag chair and a large television on the wall are the only things in the living room. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a bean bag chair. His looks to be used often.
“Not so much these days. I haven’t actually been here in a week, and since you came to town, I only come to take a shower every couple of days.”
I’m surprised he bothers with a shower at all. Not that I want him creeping outside my window more, which I assume is how he spends his free time. It just isn’t something we have to do. Don’t get me wrong. I can easily spend an hour soaking in a bubble bath.
“And I do my best thinking while I’m in the shower. Speaking of which, I should probably jump in and get cleaned up before the others get here. The only thing that will kill an angel is hellfire, and that stuff reeks.”
That would be why my nose still feels like the burning smell has burrowed on every hair. It’s gotten a little better since Michael teleported us to his digs, but I wonder if it’s something I need to wash away too.
Get your mind out of the gutter. I wasn’t suggesting joining him in the shower.
“There’s plenty of room if you did want to join, but if I were you, I’d pull out a map and start thinking about where you want to move. When the others get here, they’ll have opinions.”
As far as I know, no one has called whichever others he’s talking about. I assume he means my parents, but wouldn’t he just say that?
At this point in everything going on, I’d feel better running away by myself. That’s all I’ve wanted to do for two centuries, but it’s always been impossible. I have to stay with my mother. At least I’m pretty sure I still do. With my eyes changing, maybe I don’t.
It really doesn’t matter. My shadow wouldn’t let me go. I can see in his eyes as he listens.
“Where do you suggest we go?” I ask.
I’m sure he’s right that there will be opinions. I imagine it’s not going to be a pleasant discussion. I know it never is when Ophelia and I talk about where we’re moving next.
“They’re going to want to hide out where there are no other Fae. Keeping you a secret by making sure no one sees your powers growing.”
The idea makes a certain amount of sense, but I know there’s a but coming. He doesn’t have to say it to know we’ll stick out like sore thumbs is we’re the only Fae around. Michael has hidden the things I can do, but he’s afraid the energy in me will be too much.
“Now who’s reading who’s mind. A guardian and truthseer have never connected. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“So, I’ll ask again, where do you suggest we go?”
I understand his reasoning. He didn’t have to spell everything out. I’m not saying I can read him like he does me, but I do feel a sense of insight I don’t with other people.
“There’s a lot to consider. I don’t suggest flying anywhere. Ian’s mom is still getting her strength back, so that restricts going too far, yet, we can’t stay too close.”
“Ian’s mom? They’re coming with us?”
I didn’t get a straight answer from Mrs. Kline whether she was behind the chaos in Ian’s family. I also haven’t gotten a straight-forward update on how his mom is doing. Seeing through her curse was supposedly going to make her better.
“Since he has a little obsession with you, I’d prefer he didn’t come, but he’s your dad’s ward until further notice.”
“I’m pretty sure his obsession doesn’t hold a candle to yours, if that makes you feel better.”
“Yes, that makes it so much better. At least his lips haven’t touched these.”
He lifts his hand up to press a finger against my lips. I think about biting it, but I don’t want whatever stench he’s got going on in my mouth. He moves his hand before I have second thoughts.
“Smart move. I should get on with that shower.”
“Wait, you know I have all sorts of questions, but I want to know what you meant when you told Mrs. Kline I was y
ours.”
That shouldn’t be the question I’m pushing on right now. We were supposed to be discussing where he wants to go. Maybe wants is the wrong word. If what he says is true about us being connected as deeply as life and death, he’s the only one I trust making the right decision.
Yeah, trust isn’t the right word either, because I don’t trust anyone at this moment.
“First, Anne, who you like to call Mrs. Kline, isn’t behind the curse. That’s an enchanter’s doing, and I have no idea what they were trying to accomplish, but we have to keep our eyes open for your kind just as much as mine.”
The information is good to know, but it’s stalling to get to the real question I asked.
“Second, my suggestion for places to go is Atchison, Kansas. There are more people, including Fae, that we can blend in with. I know some people there, and they’ll help hide us.”
Again, it’s an answer to one of my questions, so I’m happy. Maybe we’re going to sit here and play answer Jazz’s questions.
“No such luck. If I answer all the questions now, we’d be stuck here when the next attack comes.”
“How do we know it really will come? How many of them can there be? Won’t they know what happened to Mrs. Kline and just leave us alone?”
Michael rolls his eyes as a smile spreads across his face. I’m rarely looking on the bright side of things, but he was pure fury when he took care of the other angel. That should send a message.
“That’s more questions, and I don’t have specific answers. I want to think like you just did. That they’ll realize they’re too late and leave us alone. The problem is, that no one really knows what you’ll be. What we’ll be together. They all assume that it’s as simple as seeing through lies and curses, because that’s logical to the lore. If anyone knows differently, it’s your father.”
And I’m more comfortable having conversations with an angel I swore I’d never trust. I couldn’t even look at Mr. Hamilton when he clearly came to try to rescue me, or at least be there for moral support since Michael was the real rescuer.
“You’re going to have to stop thinking about him as Mr. Hamilton. Like I said earlier, it’s not his fault you’re just meeting him now. So, give him a break. He has no idea how to act around you.”
“Since you know so much about him, have you asked him what he knows?”
“I have, and since he wasn’t ever sure about which side I was on, he neglected to tell me. So, I know I’ve said it a few times, but I have to go jump in the shower. You call your mom and tell her to meet us here. The others are with her.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out if he’s playing a mind game on me. The last time he said he was getting in the shower, I requested just one answer to a question. He led me on a path to get away from it. I know he did. And I know I want to beat the crap out of him for doing it.
“Calm down. I’m not leading you on a wild goose chase. We get talking and things just lead other places. There’s so much we have to learn about each other.”
He reaches up and smooths some of my hair back behind my ear. His hand lingers on my neck, letting the warmth of his touch spread through me.
“About what’s going on. I want to tell you that everything will be okay, and Anne was the only threat we’ll ever have to face. But then your throat would get sore.”
“I think if you believe it, it won’t tickle. Can’t you at least pretend?”
“Not with you. I can’t pretend anymore. That’s why I told her to tell the others you were mine. I’ve already told you I’ll die to protect you and about the draw I feel towards you. Is there really another definition needed for my claim?”
Yes. That’s a resounding yes. I’ve never been claimed by someone, and at the present moment, I don’t know that I can protest it. Is it a protection kind of claim or something more? I thought I made it clear about how I feel about the something more.
It’s not going to happen.
“Is this really what we need to talk about right now? I know how you feel and that it won’t change anytime soon. Even if you were admiring my muscles back in the school basement.”
My nose crinkles as I mentally kick myself for doing that. He seemed a little busy at the time, so I’d hoped he wouldn’t pick it up.
“Maybe you should go get in the shower.”
He’s suggested that enough that I figure it’s my turn. I can understand why he keeps doing it now. There are some subjects we just don’t need to go into deep detail.
“I’m glad you see that my way. I’ll make it quick. While I’m gone, make yourself at home. I know you’re hungry, but the cupboards are kind of bare. I imagine you can snap your fingers and make something appear, though.”
As soon as he tells me to make myself at home, I look around again. I wish I could see more than the sad living room. I’m vaguely interested in seeing how an angel lives.
“There’s a nice memory foam bed in the back bedroom, if you want something more comfortable than the bean bag chair. The left side of the bed is molded to my body, but the right is all yours.”
I smile and shake my head. He’s not getting me to lay in his bed. I don’t care how connected he thinks we are.
He winks as he pulls my face closer to his and kisses my forehead. Is it bad that my initial thought is that he missed my lips by about four inches?
Yes, it is.
Crap.
Yes, I’m saying crap about the kiss, but my journal just gave me like a last page warning. I didn’t know that was possible, but here we are.
I guess this is as good of a place as any. What I’m sure is to follow will be a huge argument about where we’re moving. You probably didn’t want to sit through that anyway.
Don’t worry, I’m sure my shrink will somehow get me another journal, so we can continue this in whatever new city I find myself. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Kansas, and the idea of touching down there is growing on me.
I hope you come back to see whether that’s where we land and whether my life has calmed down at all. With the group of misfits I’m traveling with, there’s a good chance the fun is just beginning.
About the Author
Amber has always had a passion for the written word. Along with that, she’s always had ideas for stories swimming around in her head. It finally got to the point where she couldn’t take it anymore and had to start getting her thoughts down on paper. There are still too many ideas, but she is working to get them out as fast as she can. Her hope is that one day her brain will be hers again.
Other hobbies of Amber’s include: drawing, baking, arts and crafts, motorcycles, hockey and archery. She likes to think she has eclectic tastes where her hobbies are concerned. She loves to laugh and tries to make herself smile at least once a day. With the crazy thoughts going on in her head that usually isn't hard.
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Other books by Amber Lynn:
Love on Thin Ice
Blocked Shot
Neutral Zone
Missed Call
Penalty Kill
Delay of Game
Too Many Men
Splitting the Defense
Five for Fighting
Game Misconduct
Blue Lines
Empty Net
Top Shelf
Dropped Gloves
Twisted Fates series
The Call
The Pull
Argonauts’ Adventures
The Witch’s Web
The Dragon’s Fire
Daughter of Gaia series
Daughter of Gaia
Queen of Aquima
Nightwalker Saga
The Nightwalker Knocks
The Nightwalker Teaches
The Nightwalker Fights
Unlucky in Love series
Calypso in Love
Nani in Love
Rhea in Love
Hermia in Love
Desma in Love
Avery Clavens series
Not in My Job Description
Just Another Day at the Office
Working through the Weekend
Another Day, Another Dollar
The Harder I Work, the Luckier I Get
All in a Day’s Work
Nyx Slaughter series
Nyx Slaughter: Books 1-7
More Books
Searching for Home
Between Blood
From Earth to Oblivion
The Monster in the Woods
The Gray Side of Eden
