by Ariel Marie
~Lina~
Colin and Christian agree to let bygones be bygones for my sake, or I promise to kick their asses, with my heels on. They both agree that my safety is priority number one. Their handshake is tense and I know Colin will not forget Christian’s comment. Colin wants us to split up in teams as we surround the house. But Christian refuses to leave my side, even with Colin shooting him daggers with his eyes. He calmly says he is not going with the other team.
Devyn, Dante and Alec run off together to start placing the cameras, that Nick needs placed, around the home, with the plan that they will cover the front of the house. Grandmother’s human driver Tim stays back with the two trucks to keep watch of the street. He has a small communicator that connects to Christian’s and my earpieces so that he can communicate with us. With the ruckus from Colin and Christian’s fight, I’m surprised we didn’t draw any attention, but I guess with us being in the rundown part of town, no one cares or even heard us.
“There’s a faint hint of sulfur in the air. It’s really weak. The demons aren’t here anymore.” Colin sniffs the air. Christian snorts watching Colin. I elbow him in the stomach and narrow my eyes at him warning him.
“Christian, can you sense if anyone is in the house?” Christian has a unique sense of being able to tell if someone is near. It comes in handy in battle, not being taken by surprise when the enemy is hidden. All of his multiple talents make him one of the deadliest Guardians that we have.
“No, no one is in the house. At least, no one alive that is. I don’t sense any heat signals coming from inside.” Christian moves in front of me to direct his senses at the house.
“Let’s go.” Colin grabs my hand and pulls me behind him with Christian right behind me. We quickly walk from the side of the garage across the broken up concrete driveway. The back porch wood is rotted out and it’s missing stairs. We slowly climb up the back porch stairs, trying not to make any noise. The door to the house isn’t locked. Colin pushes open the door slowly. There is no movement in the house. The stale musty air greets us as we slowly walk in the house.
The house is trashed, litter strewn everywhere, graffiti on the walls. Some of the floorboards are missing, causing us to have to watch where we step. The house rubs me the wrong way. Goosebumps form on my arms as I look around. We walk into a large kitchen. All of the appliances are missing, the cupboard doors are missing and the linoleum floor has been ripped up exposing the dirty wood planks.
“Energy has been expelled here.” My spidey senses are picking up a few spells that have been cast in this house. The energy traces are stronger in the large destroyed kitchen and the pull of energy is coming from down the hallway that leads away from the kitchen. My amulet is warming up against my chest letting me know to follow the trail of energy. Colin and Christian trail behind me as we head down the hallway. There is a bathroom and two bedrooms located across from each other at the end of the hallway.
The bedroom on the left is the place of origination of the energy. I step in the room trying not to touch anything and inform the guys not to touch anything as I look around.
“I believe this house is used as a portal.” I look at Colin and Christian as they watch me walk around the small room.
“From the Underworld?” Colin asks.
“Without casting my own spell, I would just assume so since the Vampires witnessed demons here. It’s not too often that a portal is located in the middle of a city but I would bet whoever opened the portal knew this would be a good place to create one.” I walk over to examine one of the walls that looks like it has burn marks on it. Power is radiating from the wall. The amulet’s warmth begins pulsing.
“So someone, who knows the history of this area, knew it was abandoned,” Christian said.
“Yes, someone who knows this area is abandoned near the inner city. Usually portals are opened in areas that are remote areas where there are no witnesses. The amount of energy that is expelled is substantial and can be picked up by other witches or Fae. So having one in the part of city that is abandoned is quite clever,” Lina says.
“Because the energy used by the city and the people here will mask some of the energy used to open a portal,” Christian finishes nodding his head.
“So it won’t stand out like it would if it was somewhere secluded,” Colin answers, understanding.
“There’s movement coming down the street.” Tim’s voice comes across the communicators. Colin’s sensitive hearing picks up the message too as we start out of the room.
“Copy that,” Christian responds into the communicator.
“Looks like a young male walking down the street. Five feet ten inches, brown hair, blue jeans, dirty t-shirt. He’s heading into a brick house three houses up and across the street from your location,” Tim’s voice crackles again.
“I just let Devyn and the others know. They just finished mounting all the cameras and are going over to check that house out,” Colin says. We walk into the living room where the windows and front door are boarded up. Sunlight streams through the cracks in between the boards.
“Let’s check out the rest of the house.” I figure before we leave the house we better take a look around and make sure there are no more surprises. We quickly go through the house and don’t find anything aside from the tons of garbage and junk left scattered around.
“Devyn has the boy. He wants us to come over to the house,” Colin says as we walk out the back door. We quickly make our way over to the house and walk up the front porch. This house is in just as bad of shape as the other house. We walk through the front door and notice that someone has been living in the house. Devyn, Dante and Alec have the teenager sitting in a recliner in the living room. Not much is in the living room; a rundown recliner, a wooden chair, a sleeping bag over in the corner on the floor.
“What’s going on?” Colin asks, eyeing the boy.
“This is Seth. He’s not saying much,” Dante speaks up, crossing his arms in front of his chest. The poor boy’s eyes are as big as saucers as he looks around the room; he gulps loud enough where I can hear him across the room. He must be petrified with abnormally large men glaring at him. All of the men are large, muscular and could snap his neck with a flick of their thumb. I step forward hoping not to seem threatening so I can get information out of him.
“Hi, Seth. My name is Arlina. But everyone calls me Lina,” I say gently as I make my way over to him, needing to gain his trust. His eyes catch mine and he relaxes a little.
“Hi,” he says, his eyes flickering to everyone else. I wave my hand signaling for the guys to move to the other side of the room. They grumble but move to the other side. I already know they won’t leave the house even if I ask.
“You mind if I ask you a few questions?” He shakes his head no, turning his eyes back to me.
“How old are you?” I ask pulling up the other chair to sit on.
“Nineteen.” My eyebrows shoot up. There is no way this boy is nineteen! He blushes slightly and mumbles, “Seventeen, but I’ll be eighteen next Tuesday!” His big brown eyes show that he’s telling the truth.
“Why are you living here?” I look around the house. It’s empty, dirty, but doable I guess if you don’t have a place to live.
“My foster mother was in love with her Jack, and my foster father liked to use his fists too much on me, so I left. I figured I’d be better off on my own than be a punching bag for him. I only have until next week then I’ll be eighteen.”
“Do they know where you are?”
“No, I doubt that they’ve reported me gone because then they won’t get a check for me if they do.” His upper lip curls up as his thoughts turn to something else.
“There is no one that you can turn to for help?” He shakes his head no, eyes still looking around the room at the guys. I feel bad for the kid. No kid should grow up without loving parents and a loving home.
“I never exactly fit in with anyone else. I’ve been through so many foster homes I’ve l
ost count. They all end up getting rid of me for one reason or another. No one wants me.” This kid is tugging at my heartstrings.
“Why would no one want you?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” He looks out the main window of the living room.
“Try me.”
He looks at me for a few seconds. “Things happen around me that can’t be explained,” he said slowly, his gaze flickers to me then the floor.
“Like what?” I lean forward in my chair.
“You wouldn’t believe me.” He sighs, shakes his head and sits back in the recliner.
“Kid, there isn’t much you can say that none of us would not believe,” Christian speaks up from where he is standing by the front door.
“You’re pretty,” he blurts out. Realizing he said that out loud, he turns beat red, still looking at the floor. A large grin spreads across my face. The guys snicker and I can hear a growl coming from across the room. I don’t have to look to know it’s Colin. Seth jumps at the inhuman growl, looking over my shoulder.
“Thank you! You’re quite handsome yourself. Now what types of things happen around you?”
“Things move without being touched or sometimes, I can cause the wind to shift and blow even if there is no wind outside.” He looks around the room as if waiting for us to laugh at him. It’s so quiet in the room that you can hear a pin drop.
“Really?” I look over at Christian and motion him over. He comes to stand at my side.
“Can you do it at will or does it happen when you’re emotional. Like when you’re mad?” Christian asks.
“Both.” Christian and I look at each other then look back at Seth. We both know what this means. I have a feeling that Seth is not fully human.
“Do you know who your real parents are?” I ask gently. He shakes his head.
“My mom didn’t put my father’s name on my birth certificate and she died when I was around three. I don’t really remember her.”
“This is Christian. He’s a good friend of mine. He can do some weird things too. Actually all of us can.” Seth’s eyes grow wide again as he looks up Christian, taking in his large size.
“What can you do?” he asks me shyly.
“You promise not to freak out?” He nods his head quickly. I flash out of the room into the kitchen. The guys are chuckling and laugh at Seth hollering and jumping so hard he tipped the recliner back on the floor.
“I showed you mine, now show me yours,” I say with a large grin as I stroll back into the living room.
* * *
Seth has been living in the house for about three months, and has seen people go in and out of the portal house. He didn’t pay much attention to the people, he would hide, so no one would notice him. He would hear loud noises coming from the house but never went over there. The electricity to his house is still on for some reason and he is able to put a hot plate in the kitchen and cook small meals for himself. He works as a bagger at the local grocery store so he is able to afford a little food, plus he can get food for cheap from his job.
After he calmed down after my flashing demonstration he let Christian touch him. Christian has the capability to detect if someone has Fae blood in them. Christian believes that Seth is half human and half Fae. His mother must have been human and his father Fae. I called my grandmother and informed her. She invited him to our house. Christian called Keegan and explained to him what we discovered. He insisted too, that Seth comes to the house and that he will speak to Seth and will try to explain about Faery. Seth agreed to go back to my grandmother’s house to meet with my brother and Grandmother. For a seventeen year old he is very mature and open-minded about only being half human. We have Tim take him to my grandmother’s house.
Colin has been speaking with Nick and updating him that we have a house we can set up surveillance in. Nick confirms that all the cameras that are mounted are all working and he is able to capture video of the neighborhood. Twenty minutes, later a truck shows up with a wolf driving that I haven’t met yet. The guys are busy unloading it and Colin helps direct where everything needs to go in the house. They want to hurry and get everything set up before it starts getting dark, in case any of the witches or demons comes back to the portal house.
“So you and the Alpha, huh?” Christian says in my ear as he stands behind me. I am standing at the front window watching the guys unload the truck with the equipment Nick sent over. I’m not exactly dressed to help unload equipment.
“Yeah.” I look over at my shoulder at him, wondering where this is going.
“Lina, I swear I never messed with any of those girls.” I put up my hand to stop him. I didn’t want to get into this again with him. Especially here at the house with Colin in the vicinity possibly hearing our whole conversation.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Christian.”
“It matters to me!” His eyes search mine as I turn towards him.
“I’m with Colin now, Christian. I need you to respect that, please?”
“Lina, baby. All I’ve wanted was for us to sit down and talk this out. Don’t shut me out. Give me another chance, please. I still love you.” He moves closer to me, his blue eyes plead with me. I don’t even know what to say right now. I’ve never seen him willing to put his emotions out like this before.
“I will always love you, Christian, but I found that I couldn’t trust you. I cannot be in a relationship with someone I can’t trust. There can be no us anymore, I’m with Colin.”
“I’ll wait, Lina. I’ll always be here for you.” He moves closer tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, trailing the back of his hand down my cheek.
I know he cares for me in his own way and I hope that he can respect my wishes. Colin comes back in the house scowling, sensing that something just passed between Christian and me. Colin stalks over to us grabbing my arm, dragging me into the kitchen. He pushes me up against the wall grabbing my face.
“You’re mine,” he hisses as his mouth covers mine in a hard, punishing kiss as if marking me as his.
“I can’t stand the thought of his hands on you!” he says in between trailing kisses to my neck.
“Your body belongs to me!” He growls as he runs his canines along my neck, his hands grabbing my ass and pulling me against him. I can feel his erection pressing into my stomach. A moan slips out as he nips my neck with his teeth. My body totally agrees with him, my nipples are hard as rocks poking through my shirt. My sex is wet and slick, clenching in anticipation. I grab him by his hair, kissing him as he kisses me.
“You’re mine!” I growl right back, using his favorite phrase towards him, nipping at his lips. He gives me a lopsided grin, squeezing my ass.
“Tonight, you’re spending the night with me! You’ve been away from me too long.” His voice is deep and filled with need. I nod my head quickly licking my lips, his eyes following my tongue.
“I need to help them finish setting up the equipment.” He reluctantly lets my ass go but grabs my hand in his.
He leans in kissing me slowly and thoroughly before leading me back into the other room where the guys are. My face warms, as I’m sure they all know what was going on in the kitchen. With the wolves’ sensitive hearing I’m sure they heard everything.
Christian’s jaw tightens as he takes a look at Colin and me, then he walks out the house. Colin’s face is so smug he should have just banged on his chest like a caveman! Within minutes the rest of the equipment is in the house and there is no trace of anyone being in the front yard of this house. The other truck and wolf are nowhere to be seen.
“Do you guys need any help?” I ask walking around watching the guys working around the living room. The room is starting to look like a mini command center. I’m blown away by all the technology that Nick was able to send over so quickly. Tables, chairs, computer monitors and wires are running all over the room.
“Not really, Princess! We got this covered!” Alec says with a grin peaking from under one of the tables handing a wire t
o Dante who connects it to a monitor.
“Ok, well then, I need to change my clothes.” I go to find Christian, but Colin grabs me.
“I don’t want you alone with him.” He speaks softly in my ear, out of earshot of Christian. I understand wanting the world to know I’m his, but this bossy side of his is not going to work.
“It’s not about what you want. My father wants him as my bodyguard and he has sworn to my father that he will protect me.”
“Tell the Prince you don’t need a bodyguard that you have me and my pack to protect you.”
“I can’t do that, Colin. We’ll just have to deal with this for a little while. We still need to have that talk. I promise, later, we’ll talk.” My eyes plead for understanding with this. He releases me and sighs, running his hands through his midnight hair.
“I won’t be long.” I kiss him on the cheek and go find Christian. He is in the back yard of Seth’s house. He must have gotten the garage open, parked the wolves’ truck in it and is now closing the garage door.
“I need to go to my grandmother’s house,” I say as I walk up to him. He doesn’t say anything, nods his head, grabs on to me and we flash out.
Chapter Thirty-One
~Malia~
Shit! Shit! Shit! I can’t believe that they have banned me from the main house! He had the nerve to have his Beta talk to me. He couldn’t tell me his fucking self! All over the little half-breed! He didn’t even drink the water with the potion in it! I can’t believe he freaked out the way he did when I walked in the shower. I just knew it was going to be like it always was, but boy was I wrong.
I strip my clothes off in his room, then walk in the bathroom. It is foggy in the bathroom from the steamy hot water. I stand and watch for a second as he is rinsing out his hair with his head tilted back under the water and his eyes closed. His body is perfection as the water runs down it; his erection long and hard. I lick my lips as I slide into the shower getting on my knees, eye level to his magnificent erection. I run my hands down his stomach and grab his hard erection and lick the tip. He jumps cursing when he sees it is me on the shower floor, sucking on his cock. He grabs me by my arms and pushes me out the shower, yelling, grabbing a towel to cover himself up then grabs one and throws it at me.
