“No, I don’t believe he was,” Erebus said. “Adamaris gets confused. Lonely. I’ll have words with him. He won’t bother you again.”
I nodded. “Thanks.” I set the comb on my bedside table. “That’s twice you’ve saved my life now.”
His lips twitched. “Yes, you do seem to have a tendency to find yourself in trouble.”
“I never used to. I used to be the one bailing people out.” My hand went to my leg. “I hate this. I hate being this.”
“Hating it won’t make it go away. This is now a part of you and until you learn to accept it, to grow into it, you will never be whole.”
“Easier said than done.”
“The training will help. Right now you view your limb as a foreign entity; it behaves in a contrary manner, unpredictable and unreliable. The training will help alter your mindset.” He sat forward, his silver eyes alight. “I promise you Kenna, you will feel whole again.”
Our eyes locked and my breath caught in a knot at the back of my throat. My gaze fell to his lips. What was I doing? This was dangerous ground. He was something else, something otherworldly and cosmic. My pulse kicked up and crawled into my throat to join the knot. He shifted slightly, angling his body toward me, leaning in, his breath hot on my face. My eyes fluttered closed, my chest rising and falling erratically. His heat brushed my skin, sending an electric shiver up my spine to settle at the nape of my neck. My lips parted instinctively. I wanted this . . . wanted him to kiss me.
A long beat passed. Just the sound of our erratic breath, accompanied by a twisting tension, and then his fingers brushed my cheek, running over the delicate shell of my ear to tuck an errant strand of my silver hair behind it.
“Get some rest, Kenna.” His voice was a soft rasp.
I opened my eyes to see my reflection in his pupils. Open and yearning.
He moved off the bed, taking his heat with him. The door closed behind him and I threw myself backward onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. What the fuck had I just been about to do? Thank god he’d taken a step back. Okay it stung a little, rejection always did, but it was for the best. He was a djinn—a cosmic otherworld force bound to this place, and I was going home in a year’s time.
Suddenly a year felt way too long.
CHAPTER31
W e trained hard for another week, and then Erebus took off on one of his trips. It was three days before he summoned me for another training session. I didn’t ask where he’d been, even though I felt his absence keenly. It was strange how someone could make such an impact on your world in such a short span of time, but then Erebus was like a force of nature, undeniably enthralling.
I found him in our training room, stripped down to just loose black pants, feet bare and hair tied back in a braid. He was finishing off a kata, and I hovered by the door, not wanting to distract him with my presence. He moved like deadly silk, his powerful body cutting through the air like a lethal blade. Who would have thought such a huge frame could be so graceful? His movements were almost hypnotic; his skin gleamed in the light cast by the chandeliers above, and his usually stern and ferocious expression was replaced by one of serenity and calm.
He was . . . beautiful.
I blinked and stepped back out of the room. Standing with my back to the wall, I placed my hand on my heart.
What the fuck was I doing? The guy wasn’t even a guy, he was a bloody djinn! I needed to get my shit together and fast, all this easy living was making me soft, and when was the last time I’d had sex? Ah, yes, almost a year ago, about the same time I’d stopped thinking about it. Rolling around on mats and getting pinned under his hard, taut body wasn’t helping keep my libido in check either. I needed to clear my head, get out there, kick some denizen ass, and forget about my sex drive. Surely Fearless training coupled with the two weeks Erebus had given me was enough. It felt like it was enough. The old Kenna was back, simmering beneath the surface and raring to go. The ache in my leg was barely noticeable now.
I strolled in as Erebus finished off his kata. He had his back to me while he wiped his face with a towel.
Okay, time to make my case. “Hey listen, I think I’m ready to go out there.”
The muscles in his back tensed and then relaxed as he let out a snort.
“What? Look, the best kind of training is on the job training, and it’s not like I haven’t done this before. Plus we’ve had two weeks of lessons. I won’t be able to put what I’ve learned into practice until I’m out there. You can send one of your henchmen with me if it makes you feel better.”
He finally turned to face me, towel slung about his neck. “No.”
“No?” I shook my head. “No, you won’t let me out there or no, you won’t let me take back-up?”
“No, period.”
Fuck this! “Listen, I know that you’re aware I’m meant to do something important, so how can you be so sure it’s not out there?”
He didn’t even flinch. “Unless that something important is getting yourself killed, then I’m pretty sure it’s not out there. Not yet anyhow.”
The flame came to mind, possibly my true purpose, and one that would kill me. He had no idea how close he’d come to hitting the proverbial nail on the head. The little voice of reason in my mind told me to shut the hell up and listen to the big guy, but I shoved it in a box and slammed a lid on it. I needed to be out there doing something productive, because every day that passed where I wasn’t fighting the denizens was another step away from the person I used to be.
“Look, I know you’re trying to keep me safe, but that’s never been an option for me. It’s not who I was. I’m not who I was, and I won’t be her until you take me off the leash and let me out there.”
“You’re not ready, Kenna.”
I stifled a curse. “So how many sessions until you’re satisfied?”
He moved in until he was inches away from me, throwing heat in my face and forcing me to ogle his pecs. “You’re good, but not good enough. Stay on your feet for a whole session and then we’ll talk.”
I lifted my chin to meet his gaze with a determined one of my own. “So what are we waiting for?”
I’d been delusional to think he’d been tough on me before. As I dodged and swiped and lunged and dodged some more, sweat soaked limbs screaming out for relief, I realised that he was right—I was good, but not good enough. Not yet. I went down three times, but I wasn’t fazed, because I was learning his moves, figuring out his tells, and the next time or the time after that I would use them to my advantage. It was no longer enough for me to stay on my feet. No. Now I wanted to bring him down.
***
My bath was calling to me, offering me relief from the aches and pains. I entered my room and shivered. Man it was chilly, and the reason rattled against its wooden frame. One of the shutters had come undone and was flapping in the breeze. Movement beyond caught my eye. Cautiously, so as not to alert whatever was out there, I tiptoed toward the shutters and then breathed a sigh of relief. Fargol’s grey hulking frame was standing against the balcony railing looking out at Evernight beyond.
I stepped out to join him. “Hey, what’s up?”
His brow furrowed and then he craned his neck to look up at the sky. “Stars. Nothing to be concerned about.”
I pressed my lips together. Okay so he was a literal kind of creature. “How are you?”
He sighed. “Bored. Fargol has no beasts to kill.” His shoulders slumped.
I moved closer to look up into his face. “But that’s good right? It means you’re doing your job well. Surely you don’t like having to kill?”
“Arch, Fargol, hates the killing, but Fargol lives to serve. And if Fargol is not useful Fargol fear he will be sent to sleep.”
“To sleep?”
He beckoned me closer and pointed at something above us on the stone facade of the fortress. I craned my neck to see a massive stone shape jutting out of the building—a stationary stone gargoyle.
Fargol sighed. “
Muriel is Fargol’s friend, but she was put to sleep. Not enough work for two of us. Now there is only Fargol.”
He sounded so dejected, so lonely, that I couldn’t help but reach out and pat his arm. It was cold to the touch and slightly rough, like sandpaper.
“I won’t let them put you to sleep. I need you.” I smiled reassuringly. “It makes me feel so much better knowing you’re out there keeping me safe when I sleep.”
His brows shot up a little. “Really?”
“Really, so I’ll speak to Erebus and tell him not to put you to sleep.”
Fargol’s brows fell. “Erebus does not put us to sleep. The fortress does. We are part of the fortress and the fortress decides if we sleep or wake.”
Ah, the enchanted fortress. “So, as long as you’re useful you stay . . . awake?”
He nodded.
Maybe he just needed to feel useful? The whole sleep wake thing could be connected to his emotions somehow.
It was worth a shot. “Well, I could really do with someone to talk to. You know, a friend. It would be very useful to me.”
His brows climbed up to the top of his head this time and I bit back a chuckle.
“You be Fargol’s friend?”
“Sure.”
“Fargol is useful?”
“You certainly are! Now, how about I take a quick bath and then we can have a chin wag before supper.”
“Chin wag?”
“Remind me to teach you some human phrases.”
He nodded eagerly.
I left him to his survey of the landscape beneath us and headed for my quick bath. I had a feeling that Fargol was going to be a wealth of information, and if I was going to be stuck here for the next year then it would be nice to have someone not invested in my future to talk to.
***
Samson, Vale, Erebus, and Sabriel were already at the table when I joined them.
I took my usual seat beside Sabriel. “What did I miss?”
“Samson was just asking me when I’d be leaving,” Sabriel said.
My chest tightened in panic. “What? You can’t leave.” I hadn’t realised up until now how important his presence here was to me. I’d just taken his company for granted. After all, he had come here for me, right?
“Aw, how sweet, the angel-hater has been converted,” Samson said.
I grit my teeth. The black-eyed djinn really grated on my nerves, his constant jibes and thinly veiled insults were beginning to take their toll, but I was determined to take the high road.
Ignoring him I focused instead on Sabriel. “I’d really like it if you could stay.”
Sabriel gave me his signature smile: soft, warm, and just for me. The band around my chest loosened a little.
“Of course I will remain if my host allows.” He looked past me up the table to Erebus who was watching us intently, his eyes silver slits.
“Why would Erebus mind? One distraction is as good as another,” Samson said.
Erebus shifted his gaze to Samson and tension thrummed in the air.
Vale sighed. “Seriously Samson? Learn to keep your peace.”
“Why? Someone needs to say it.”
Erebus picked up his goblet and took a swig of his drink, his eyes moving back and forth between the two djinn.
I was intrigued now. What exactly was Samson getting at? And why was Vale looking so worried?
Sabriel addressed Erebus. “May I stay, Erebus?”
Erebus glanced at me, his lips lifting in a tight smile. “It seems our guest would be despondent without you. I may be many things, but I’m not an inconsiderate host.”
Sabriel inclined his head.
Samson snorted.
“Samson . . .” Vale’s tone was saturated with warning; a warning which Samson chose to ignore.
“You’re encouraging their alliance? As if having an angel and a human parading through our halls wasn’t enough, must we be subjected to the repulsive sounds of their coupling?”
The room fell into pin-drop silence.
Heat flooded my veins.
I set down my knife and fork.
I was done taking the high road.
“Fuck you Samson, for your filthy mind and filthier mouth! You don’t like me, yeah I get it, but don’t you dare sully my relationship with Sabriel!” My eyes pricked with angry tears and I blinked back the moisture.
He surveyed me for a long beat, his face a mask of distain. “You really don’t see it? You really are an moron. Any fool can see he wants you. It’s there, plain as day every time he looks at you.”
“Samson! Enough!” Erebus’s voice was the crack of a whip, stunning Samson into silence. “Leave the table. Now.”
Samson, all white knuckled and flashing eyes, scraped back his seat and stood slowly. “I am warrior djinn. I serve my lord,” He spat out the words, short and sharp, inclined his head and left the room
I stared at my plate, my veins still burning with the strange heat that Samson’s words had evoked. My appetite was gone, but I was damned if I was going to let him ruin my meal. Picking up my fork and knife I continued to eat.
CHAPTER32
BRETT
S tupid bloody kids!
He swept the third warehouse on the abandoned estate and then held his finger to the com in his ear. “Clear. Over and out.”
“Me too. Over and out.” Karl said.
“Meet you outside. Over and out.”
He hated the com, but they were a new addition to the uniform. Fearless were dropping like flies, and only a handful had emerged from the next generation. The government was in panic mode, scrambling to find solutions to keep their existing Fearless Officers safe. If they could have doubled up on call outs they would have, but there were too many calls and not enough bodies to double up with.
Giving the derelict building a final visual sweep, he headed out to liaise with Karl.
He found him outside talking to the kids who’d reported the crawler. Karl’s tone matched Brett’s suspicion.
The kids had played a prank. There was no crawler.
“Just admit it, lads, you lied. Come on, was it a dare? Look, I promise you we won’t report you.”
The tallest boy, probably fourteen or fifteen years of age, shook his head, his brows snapping together. “Listen, man, we’re not lying. We saw it, okay?”
“Yeah, it was fucking huge!” the shorter one said.
“Gary! Fucksake stop swearing!” the taller boy said.
“It was over by the far warehouse,” the third boy said. He couldn’t have been more than twelve years old. His voice was squeaky, a sure sign it would be breaking any day.
Brett joined them, hands on hip. He was so done with this. They’d searched all three warehouses and come up clean.
“Come on, let’s get going.” He began ushering them back out toward the dirt road where their bikes were lying at an angle on the dusty ground. “It’s getting late.”
They grumbled but followed.
Karl and Brett walked ahead.
“Bloody kids,” Karl muttered.
Brett snorted. “Yep.”
The sun was setting and it would be dark soon. He just wanted the kids to be out of here before that happened. This part of town wasn’t luma treated, and it was a twenty-minute ride back to the centre of the borough and safety.
“And promise us you won’t come back out here it’s dangerous and—”
A short, sharp scream had Brett whirling round to scan the area.
“It got him! It got Freddie!” Gary shook his head and legged it toward his bike. The taller boy looked torn but then he turned and ran.
Karl met Brett’s gaze, and then they were running back toward the warehouses.
There was a definite trail.
Drag marks.
Likelihood was that poor Freddie was dead. Crawlers may look like spiders, but they didn’t bother wrapping up their meals for later consumption; they liked to chow down and split, so they had minutes to find this thi
ng and end it before it moved on. From the look on Karl’s face he was thinking the same.
The drag marks led round the back of the warehouse Brett had checked, and ended at a run-down shed.
“Fuck!”
“Yeah, I missed it too mate.”
Not good enough. His negligence had cost this kid his life. Everlight swords at the ready, they moved toward the building. The sky was darkening rapidly and their swords glowed reassuringly in the gathering gloom.
Karl nodded and Brett inclined his head.
Karl held up his fingers—one, two—they burst into the shed, ready to tear the crawler to ribbons, but the interior was empty. The denizen was gone.
“What the heck?”
Brett stared at the lifeless body lying on the ground. It made no sense. Crawlers fed, they didn’t just kill and leave. Karl moved to examine the body and Brett joined him, kneeling to get a better look. There were no outward signs of trauma, no indication of how the boy had been killed.
“Oh man look.” Karl lifted the boy’s wrist and Brett stared at the half open bloom and the three letters that had emerged before his death . . . FEA.
***
Brett stood before his boss’s desk while he examined the photo.
“It’s one child,” Derek Brunt said.
“Yes, one child who was destined to be Fearless, and was cut down before he could emerge, by a crawler who didn’t even stick around to finish his meal.”
“You spooked it before it could dig in.”
“So why not take the body back with it? Unless the aim was to simply kill him all along.”
“Assassin crawlers?” Derek rolled his eyes. “Come on!”
Brett exhaled, struggling to keep his cool. The guy wasn’t even giving his theory a chance. “Forty kids have either gone missing or been killed by denizens in the last two years. Forty! How do we know that they weren’t destined to be Fearless? It would explain the lack of new Emergents.”
Derek dropped his gaze to the photo, his eyes narrowing in speculation. He was finally considering the possibility.
Beyond Everlight: an Urban Fantasy Novel (Fearless Destiny Book 1) Page 17
