Fallen Redemption (The Trihune Series Book 1)

by Austin, RB

  “But,” he began.

  “I love you. I want to be with you.”

  His face was blank and he held himself so still underneath her hand. Her heart thudded once. “Isn’t that what you want?”

  “Oh, yes, you’re my reason for living.”

  Relief coursed through her body. Again she reached for him. He skirted to the side.

  “Your body needs food in order to heal and for you to stay strong.” He all but ran from her, his robe swishing with the movement.

  Emma paused, then accessed his appearance for the first time.

  “What are you hungry for? Whatever we don’t have I’d be happy to go get for you.”

  “Cade?”

  “Yes.” He stood five feet from her, near the door.

  “Did you feed from Elias when you met with him?”

  “Uh huh. How about some soup? I know a place downtown. It makes the best homemade chicken noodle soup. Don’t tell Martha I said that. I can go get it for you. Won’t take me long. You can rest while I get you food.”

  “Did you get the same reaction you always receive from a feeding with Elias?”

  Cade stopped. His gaze bounced around the room before landing on her. She stepped toward him. He took a step back.

  “Cade, did you get the same reaction?”

  “You need time to heal. You need to rest. I’ll take care of it myself.”

  Her eyebrows rose and the image of Cade touching himself sent a flood of heat through her.

  Cade groaned. Eyes flared. “Emma.” His voice was strained. “Let me leave and I’ll come back to you when the urges pass.”

  “I don’t want you to leave.” Another step. Desire stoked the flames in her belly to burn hotter. His robe began to jut in the front.

  “I won’t leave the house, I promise.” He began to pant. “If you need me for any reason you can call.”

  “I don’t want you to leave the room.”

  “You’re not—”

  “Stop telling me what I’m not. If we’re going to be a couple you have to learn you’re not the boss and can’t dictate to me. What I am,” she said, voice dropping. “Is wet for you.”

  His eyes flared and stayed glowing. He inhaled.

  “I want you inside of me. Now.”

  Emma was in his arms before the last syllable left her mouth

  Mouths fused, she moaned as his tongue stroked hers causing the fire inside to burn brighter. He laid her on the mattress and she reached for her pants. If her shoulder or wrists were hurting she didn’t notice. Cade had been busy while she was getting rid of her pants. His robe lay on the floor, his erection thick and solid. Her legs fell open in response, eager to have him where it burned the most.

  He growled low in his throat and reached for her shirt. He yanked it off and sent it sailing through the air. Then he was deep inside her.

  They both groaned. She moved her legs to encircle his waist, urging him on. Cade stopped, his arms on either side of her face supporting his weight, gazing down at her, his expression intent.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he said after a moment, sweeping her hair from her face, leaning down to brush his mouth over hers. “Nothing can ever be wrong when you’re by my side.” He started to thrust, slow, languid strokes. His gaze never left hers as he withdrew completely before filling her again.

  Emma’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the man she loved. Her chest tightened from the emotions bubbling inside and she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She pulled him down for another kiss.

  They came together, both crying each other’s name.

  Still inside her he leaned down and kissed her mouth, nose, jawline, ear. He whispered something.

  “What?”

  “My bahshrett.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you’re my one true love. Together our love transcends earth and there’s nothing comparable to it except in the heavens.”

  Cade gazed down at her. Her throat tightened from the love reflected in his eyes.

  “You’re my bahshrett and I’m yours.”

  “I’m yours,” she whispered. “Always.”

  Chapter 29

  Cade paced the conference room. The scarlet robe swished with every step. His achs planned to convene here before heading to meet Elias in the chamber. Cade had a small clue what Elias was going to say and his gut agreed. Nothing would be the same after tonight. And it’d inadvertently started with Emma.

  She’d left the HQ an hour ago. Planned to meet Jenny and Sean for a late lunch. Then to check in with George at the art gallery. Her wrists were still healing and the bruises on her face were still dark but she’d covered them with some product of Martha’s so they weren’t too noticeable.

  The fact she was eating with Sean didn’t bother him. Too much.

  Cade felt it was necessary to mention, casually, that her good buddy Sean wanted more than friendship. Then Cade added, rather quickly, that of course he trusted her. He just didn’t see why she couldn’t tell Sean over the phone that she was moving into the HQ. Emma’s response: “I’ll call you when I reach the coffee shop.”

  Which should be any moment. Emma vetoed the idea of Sarid putting a tracking device on her phone, but then succumbed when Cade explained it would relieve his stress and worry over her absence. Cade might have neglected to mention the monitor on her car. It was Michael’s old one. The young ebhed hadn’t driven it since receiving the Porsche after his induction. Emma was adamant on paying for the vehicle, either from the money she earned at her art show or the job she still insisted on getting. Oh, the argument they had over that one.

  A few fights broke out over her stubbornness and the fact he was centuries older than her and thus more knowledgeable of certain things. She called him a caveman and a few other not so nice nicknames.

  Cade had never been happier.

  Still pacing, he narrowed his eyes at the little pink dot on the computer screen. Emma reached the city already. She should’ve called by now.

  “Uh oh.” Gabriel walked into the room, his cocky grin in place. Lucas and Sarid followed. “Emma hasn’t called yet?”

  At Cade’s growl Gabriel chuckled. Lucas shook his head at Gabriel. The phone rang saving his ach from a beating. Emma’s name popped on the screen. Cade sighed with relief and went into the hallway. A few minutes later he walked back his steps lighter.

  “Aww, smoochie, smoochie Emma. I love you so much.”

  Cade pocketed his phone and slapped Gabriel in the back of his head. Hard.

  “Hey.”

  Cade chuckled as he rounded the table.

  Gabriel rubbed the back of his head. “I won’t retaliate by telling Emma you hit me. And also because I’ve never seen you like this and I’m happy for you.”

  Cade blinked. He met Gabriel’s raised fist with his own.

  “This is the one freebie you’re getting,” Gabriel added.

  With everyone in their spots, Cade launched into a repeat of what Elias told him of bahshretts. Lucas asked a few questions and he answered the best he could. It’d be a learning experience for them all.

  “I’ve received word,” Lucas said. “There’s been another case like Emma’s. The Follower was found on the street, still breathing and was taken to the hospital. The one and a half inch cut on her neck was treated along with the loss of blood. She was released and three days later was found dead in her home. The wound site had blackened. The surrounding tissue and skin had died. The toxicology reports state cause of death by poisoning.”

  “What are the Fallen playing at?” Gabriel asked.

  “I don’t know.” Cade turned. “Lucas, I want you to go there and discover as much as you can.�
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  “I’ll leave right after the meeting with Elias.”

  Cade hesitated. “I’d like to discuss one more topic before we go. After tonight I believe we’ll have a different outlook on this fight.” He paused. “So I’ve decided to step down as leader.”

  The room fell silent. Lucas’s gaze locked onto Cade’s face as though trying to read his emotions. Gabriel’s mouth hung open. Sarid straightened from the wall but his expression, as usual, gave nothing away.

  Gabriel was the first to recover. “What are you talking about?”

  Cade met his gaze. “You, out of all of us, are aware I haven’t been a progressive leader. Your ideas are absolutely right on the money and I should’ve listened to them. I plan to recommend that Elias hand the position over to you.”

  Panic widened Gabriel’s eyes. “I’m not a leader. I don’t want the position.”

  Cade frowned, disappointed. “All right. Lucas?”

  “I’m better at taking orders than giving them. I’m not right for the job.”

  Frown deepening, Cade shifted his gaze to Sarid. “Sarid?”

  Sarid moved until he stood opposite Cade across the table. “If it comes down to it, I’ll take the job.”

  Cade exhaled. “Thank you, my ach.”

  “But,” Sarid continued. “A leader isn’t one who always has the right answers, but asks for help when needed. A leader won’t always pick the best path but will correct a mistake when made. A leader can’t command respect. It is earned. A leader doesn’t stand idle, but will fight with his achs until the end.

  “Out of every one of us in this room, you have all the makings of a leader and I believe whatever is coming will only be defeated if you guide the way.”

  Cade dropped his gaze to the table. His throat burned. He tried to swallow the lump in order to respond. A loud noise brought his head up.

  All three achs had stood. They knelt in one fluid motion, heads tilted, neck bared.

  “Rise achs of my blood,” he said hoarsely in the Trihune language. “The universe holds no greater warriors than the ones before me and I’m honored to lead you.”

  They rose as one and he led them to the chamber, knowing whatever they learned today wouldn’t defeat them but make them a stronger unit against the true fight between good and evil.