“I’m not needed,” I muttered.
There was a long pause, and Maggie chimed in. “Awkward.”
When Tristrom made an appearance, I wasn’t sure what Maggie had been referring to with her comment, Mia or Luke’s Doppelganger.
“You must be Luke,” Tristrom said and held out a hand.
Luke didn’t say anything. He just stared at Tristrom as if the guy was an interesting reflection. It wasn’t that they looked exactly alike in the way identical twins did. But, you could see an almost familial resemblance.
“Wow. I thought I was coming to get Mercy, not step into a family reunion.” I glanced over and watched as Tom stepped into my now crowded room. He moved in the space Luke had left hanging between him and Tristrom.
They man-hugged and slapped each other on the back.
“It’s good to see you, man,” Tom said.
“You too.” When had Luke become a guy of few words?
I turned and pulled my bag from the bed. Then I headed for the door, avoiding Flynn and Luke’s eyes.
“Tom, we should be going.”
“Eme, where are you headed?” Maggie called at my back.
I kept going needing air. I just had to get away from everything that didn’t make sense anymore.
Maggie’s pounding feet after me didn’t come as a surprise. I knew her curiosity would get the best of her. She caught up and grabbed my arm dragging me to a stop.
“Hold up. You just got here, and now you’re leaving. Luke’s here, and you should be excited. Granted Mia’s presence may have come as a shock. But she seems nice and genuinely cares for Flynn. And with Luke back that should make things a lot easier for you.”
“Mags, I love you like a sister. You know that.” She nodded. “But I can’t talk about this now. I need to get away from everyone.”
“Even Luke.”
“Especially Luke.”
He stepped out into the hall just in time to hear me say that. I turned away, confusion becoming my new companion. I wasn’t even sure if he was Luke. He looked like him, sounded him. But he in no way acted like him. When Tom caught up with me, I made my way to the stairs.
“There is no way you’re leaving, Mercy, without us. “
I kept walking and didn’t turn back. “Flynn, for your health, your best bet is to be far away from me.”
The words stung my eyes making my vision blur. But I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t cry. I just had to leave as soon as possible.
Tom was right behind me with the chain on his jeans clanking along.
“Come on boyfriend, let’s go meet the family,” I said forcing a joke.
I took Tom’s arm knowing he would be uncomfortable with my touch.
“What’s up with you? Luke’s back and you act like he didn’t just come back from the dead.”
I’d gotten into his truck and ignored what was in the back. I closed the door and hooked my seatbelt before I spoke. “I don’t know. He doesn’t seem much like himself.”
Tom fired up his car and the engine muffled some of his words, yet I pieced them together.
“Why do you say that?”
I stared out of the windshield.
“He barely said two words to me. And the Luke I know would have…” My words drifted off because I began to get choked up.
“You don’t have to explain. I get it. He would be all over you.”
I faced Tom as he navigated the streets. “Yeah, exactly.”
He glanced over at me. “What? You surprised.”
“I shouldn’t be. You’re very observant.”
Like a seed, I planted my head in the buttery-soft headrest of Tom’s GMC pickup truck that fit his personality. However, the reason he drove it was probably the large crate with a growling wolf that I’d ignored. I was immensely grateful he didn’t need to fill in the silence when there was so much to think about.
“What’s that?” He pointed to the scepter I’d grabbed before I exited my room.
I held it up grateful for something to talk about besides my screwed-up love life or lack thereof.
“That would be the magic wand of fairy, able to open all doors, including a portal into the mortal realm.”
A smile unhinged from my face that wasn’t fake.
“I imagine there is a story.”
“There is,” I admitted. And I dove head first into my time in fairy after I last saw him, grateful for the subject change.
The tail end had Tom gaping. “You killed the Winter Fairy Queen.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
I encased her in a block of ice and sent it to skate down stairs as we made our escape. As she was the master of winter, I couldn’t imagine the ice would hold her.
“And Sebastian was Rowen the whole time. And he said nothing to you?”
I shook my head. That’s the puzzling thing. Then again, maybe it wasn’t. I’d almost been married off to him. What would that have meant? Rowen had been everything Sebastian was. Protective of me, and he saved me yet again.
“Mercy sometimes I think your life is crazier than mine.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Not really. Your problem is choosing one guy out of several good options. My life is just the opposite. I’m expected to choose several options to be with.”
“What?” I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly. Most guys wouldn’t find being with more than one girl a problem. Flynn could attest to that.
“I’m expected to have more than one girl. These girls don’t care they will be one of many. They are more concerned with being number one.”
I couldn’t imagine it. I glanced over at him. “Most guys would be excited to have your life.”
“I’m not most guys.”
“Don’t I know it?” He laughed. “Flynn could take your place.”
As I continued to watch Tom for clues to see if he was serious or not, he glanced over at me. “You’re wrong about that Mercy. Flynn only wants one girl.”
“Yeah, and her name is Mia,” I said sourly.
He snorted. “You go on and believe that. Not that I blame the guy. With Luke back, he doesn’t stand a chance.”
I said nothing and instead eyed the ring on my finger. It wasn’t a true wedding ring as Luke and I hadn’t been legally married that day. Nevertheless, it was a promise. Yet, he hadn’t once tried to touch me. I had been the one to initiate contact with him. I was reminded that Flynn said Luke had secrets. Had his love for me been an act?
Tom parked. “You know Mercy. I appreciate your help on this. So, I hope you won’t be mad.”
Chapter Five
As I got out, I understood. Flynn’s Hummer pulled to a stop next to us, just as I was getting my bag. Out spilled Mia, Luke, Tristrom, Maggie, and Flynn.
“Mags, you can’t come.” I ignored everyone else even though I wasn’t pissed at Tristrom.
“The hell I can’t.” She pointed to the back of the truck. The pacing wolf snarled and chuffed.
“What are your parents going to think?” I reasoned.
She crossed her arms over my chest. “Got that covered. David’s going to talk to them.”
I knew what that meant, and I felt guilty I left without talking to Mom.
“Tristrom, what about Molly?” I shook my head. It was getting confusing. “CeCe.” I corrected myself.
He looked stricken for a minute before his face took on a more resolute quality. “I can’t be with her for now. And I can help.”
I finally let my eyes fall to Luke’s. Again, he was expressionless, and I desperately wanted to know what was in his head.
Then I skipped to stoic frosty eyes. “Don’t bother. I’m coming,” he said, rebuffing my unsaid words.
“Don’t you think it’s better if you don’t?” My voice got softer as a spoke. I didn’t say her name, but I let my gaze fall to Mia.
She didn’t look smug. In fact, she looked more concerned, which served to annoy me because I wanted to hate her.
“Fine.�
�
I grabbed my bag, turned, and headed towards a plane that stood alone in front of a hanger. I had no idea if it was the one, but I couldn’t stand there with them any longer.
“Oh my gosh,” I heard Mags say. I resisted in turning around. “You can carry it all by yourself.”
“Yeah, I got it, Flynn,” Luke said.
I couldn’t imagine the strength it took or what it meant that Luke could carry caged Brent, in wolf form all by himself.
“Is that the plane?” I pointed with my free hand, hoping Tom heard me.
The patter of footsteps caught up with me. “Mercy, wait.” Tom glanced at the plane, which was still a good distance away. I stopped and turned to face him. “I know I explained this a few days ago, but you’re my pretend girlfriend remember?”
Quickly, I nodded. The gang had almost caught up with us.
“I’m not sure who on the crew is on my family’s side. So we need to start the pretending now.”
I had signed up for this, but with all the crazy in my life, I wasn’t sure I was prepared. Ready or not, I nodded and took his hand. “Let the games begin.”
After I had begun to drag Tom along, I heard Flynn cuss. “What is that all about?”
“Let it go,” Luke said sounding way too reasonable.
“They have to pretend to be together,” Maggie stage whispered.
“Oh,” Flynn said as if that made more sense.
Brent was loaded below as Maggie stood and watched like a faithful girlfriend. Everyone else had boarded, leaving Tom with me because we had a performance to put on that had to be Oscar worthy.
After they'd closed the hatch door, Maggie turned and eyed Tom and my clasped hands. “It’s going to be a weird ride.”
Tom frowned, so Maggie amended. “You know with Brent stuck below unable to speak. What if he has to pee or something?”
I rolled my eyes and began walking up the stairs. “Does he even know he’s human when in wolf form?”
Tom answered. "Initially, you do. But the longer you stay in animal form, you can lose yourself.”
Maggie and I needed to talk about what exactly happened after prom between her and Brent. With ears we couldn’t trust, I didn’t ask any other questions.
Luke, Mia, Flynn and Tristrom sat in a cluster of four seats with a table between them. Tom decided to sit on the couch across from them. As his de-facto girlfriend, I had no choice but to join him. Maggie plunked down next to me.
Tired and feeling like giving Tom a hard time, I laid my head on his shoulder. He stiffened.
“Don’t like it,” I whispered. “Too bad, get used to it, boyfriend.”
He shook with a silent chuckle. Moments later, his arm reluctantly wound around my shoulder as the flight attendant brought a man aboard.
“Passports please?” the man asked our group.
I reached for my bag, which was at my feet. Prepared, I pulled out my passport. I glanced up at the table in front of us because it had gotten quiet.
Mia stood and moved towards the woman and man. Apparently, we had a problem. My guess was that Tristrom, Mia and Maggie probably didn’t have their passports as none of them planned for this trip. Besides, Tristrom had been living in Fairy. He most likely didn’t have one at all.
“Thanks for stamping our passports,” Mia said confidently. “Now we really must be on our way.”
Both the stewardess and the Custom’s guy nodded. They turned, and the stewardess ushered him towards the door. Mia’s face bloomed with a radiant smile. Maggie silently clapped. I nodded not wanting to look envious that she had soundly handled the situation.
Tom patted my shoulder. “There is a bedroom through that door if you want to lie down.”
Tired wasn’t the word for how I felt. Drained and bone weary were better. As I couldn’t imagine sitting there with Luke and Flynn wondering what they were thinking, I stood while grabbing my bag. I made my way to the back and opened the door that seemed to be standard in every private plane I’d been on. Behind it, I found a room with a bed on one side and two chairs facing each other on the other side. Like David’s plane, all the leather was tannish in color and all the wood a rich polished tawny brown.
I dropped my bag in the chair when the door opened. I turned and found Luke.
For the longest moment, we said nothing. I wasn’t sure what he waited for, but I needed answers to his strange behavior.
“Mercy.”
I couldn’t tell if it was a plea or what the emotion, if any, had been laced in that one word. I hit him back with the same.
“Luke.”
His throat muscles worked as he swallowed, and that was about as much emotion as he’d given me thus far.
“There isn’t time.”
“There never is,” I said flippantly.
He blinked with no other reaction than pushing at his blonde locks from his face.
“I dispatched Sebastian, but he will be back.”
“He always is,” I admitted wearily and deflated.
“Mercy, you haven’t the luxury of time. Sebastian is dangerous, but there is something so much bigger than all of this.”
His hand waved around the small room. His comment was begging for another offhand remark, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.
Instead, I despairingly sat on the bed, sagging, knowing he was right. My love life wasn’t the most important thing. Brent was trapped in animal form; Tom's family might be in danger of a coup; I had the Fairy scepter which could bring all of Fairy down on me; Flynn might still be in danger of dying with my nearness; Tristrom's girlfriend could also die; Sebastian was after me and Luke had died…
Luke left, I repeated in my head because I wasn’t sure what had returned in his place.
“He will be back for you,” Luke repeated as if that was newsworthy.
I cupped my hands over my face. “I know.”
The bed dipped, and warm pressure overlaid the back of my hand. Luke forced me to reveal my hidden face and kept my hand in his. “You will survive this. I have faith in you.” His soft-spoken words were the first that felt like the Luke I’d known. I glanced down, but he kept my hand in his. “You must convince Sebastian to fight on our side.”
“Our side of what?” I asked suddenly alarmed. What more could possibly be wrong?
“War.”
He let the word hang in the air as I processed it. Did he mean the war between heaven and hell? If so, hadn’t that been going on since the beginning of time? Somehow I knew I wouldn’t get the answers to those questions, so I asked a different one.
“How can I get Sebastian on my side when he’s acting like a rabid dog?” How else could I describe how he’d practically been foaming at the mouth to get at me?
“Belial made a mistake with Sebastian.” He eyed me before saying another word. “He created him with human DNA and let him be born. He thought by making him more human, he would be a better weapon. He didn’t bank on him being susceptible to human emotions. You make him feel, and that’s your only defense.”
The door opened, and Flynn strode in closing the door behind him.
“Figures,” he muttered, staring at our joined hands.
When Luke released me, I glanced at him wondering why, but his face was blank. I closed my eyes for a second not wanting confrontation. I had no answers to the confusing ball of emotions in my chest. I rubbed at the ring, which now felt like a mistake.
Astute as ever, Flynn question why I was fidgeting. “What’s up with the ring?”
When Luke and I didn’t answer, he drew all the right conclusions. “Interesting choice… Shouldn’t you wear it on a different finger? I mean people might think…”
My eyes found the floor. On the way, I spied Luke, who held Flynn’s gaze without an ounce of remorse.
Flynn’s forced chuckle didn’t help the awkwardness that was created. “You two couldn’t have…”
He kept trailing off as he pieced it all together.
As much as
I hated to admit the truth, he had a right to know.
“We got married,” I told the floor.
The laugh was real now. Only Flynn was the sole one doing it. “You can’t be serious. When did you have time for that? Plus, you two aren’t old enough. So why even pretend…”
I happened to glance up in time to see Flynn’s jaw tighten. When Luke glanced heavenward, I thought he was trying to think of a way to explain it. Only he stood.
“I have to go,” Luke claimed.
“Convenient,” I spat. I mean this wasn't the time to bow out. “Don’t you go all invisible on me.”
But he was gone before my sentence was finished as I talked to air.
“Jesus, Mercy.” Flynn shook his head as the weight of betrayal leveled on his face. “All the shit about being in love with me was crap, wasn’t it? I can’t believe I almost fell for it. You and he planned it.” He pointed at the roof of the plane. “You knew I wouldn’t play into your Save Flynn routine by offering yourself to me.” He continued to shake his head in disbelief. “I have to give it to you.” One hand reached for the door right behind him, and I stood knowing he was preparing to leave. “You are quite the succubus. I should give you a hand for your performance. Or maybe I should warn Tristrom and Tom. Wouldn’t want them to fall for you like Paul and I did.”
And he was out the door slamming it in his wake. I stood stunned wanting to beat the door with my fist. Was I my grandfather’s spawn?
I didn’t set out to fall for Flynn or even Luke, yet I had. Was it because of what I was that I’d been caught under my own spell? McKayla stirred, and the demon wanted out. My moment of weakness gave her an opportunity. When she crashed into my skin, my knees buckled. I strained against the onslaught of her attack and pushed my face into the side of the bed as she tried her best to force me to relinquish control.
The door opened, and I felt myself stand. The flight attendant’s eyes widened when I turned around. My body moved forward. My palm landed on the side of her head using it to push the door closed.
My head tilted as our faces got closer.
“Open.” The command came from my lips, but I hadn’t said it.
Sacrifice of Mercy Page 3
