by CJ England
The demon wrung gnarled hands, whimpering fearfully. He had tried to prevent this by burning the woman in the fire, but the Phoenix had rescued her. He’d even whispered in the candy maker’s ear, telling her to reveal the truth about the arson. He’d thought it would be the end of them, but instead the opposite had happened.
For some reason it was very important that the Phoenix and the woman be torn apart from each other, but no matter what was tried, it seemed to fail. The Master would not be pleased.
Pain speared through its scaled body when a dark cloud swirled up from the abyss to envelope him. It screamed in agony, as two red eyes appeared in the dark and sharp claws rent the leathery wings.
The demon tried to scrabble away, but the cloud was merciless. It tore and ripped and stabbed as it pulled him into the gloom. The punishment had begun.
The Ancient One slowly pulled himself from the putrid darkness and stared down at the dimly lit trailer where the lovers lay intertwined. “No more,” he hissed, his hatred overflowing. “I have stopped you before, and I’ll stop you again. This union will never take place.” He smiled evilly. “I will not allow it.”
—
It was much later, when they finally made it to the shower. They tickled each other and laughed like children as they washed each other’s sticky bodies. They had left a good portion of the floss mix on the bed sheets, but it didn’t matter to them. All they cared about was being together.
Aithne sighed as she felt his hand cup her breast. “You make me feel wonderful. It’s even better now. How can that be?”
Milcham nibbled gently on the back of her neck. “We know our love is shared. It is…extraordinary.”
She turned to face him, putting her hands on his hard chest. “I’ve never told another man…I love you. I was waiting. For you.”
He smoothed back her tangled hair. “You are the first woman I have ever wanted to say these words to.” He kissed her, lingeringly. “I wasn’t sure I ever would find the right one.”
She searched his face, her green eyes suddenly serious. “Am I your twin-flame, Milcham?”
“I…I don’t know, Aithne. I want you to be, but things are more complicated than you know.”
“I don’t understand.”
He pulled her against him, delighting in the feel of her silky body against his. “I know you don’t. I would ask you give me time. I have to tell you something, and I am afraid to.”
Aithne pulled away from him, fear touching her face. “Is there…someone else?”
He wrapped her long hair around his fist and held her so she couldn’t move. “No! Never!” He shook his head. “It is you I love, Assai, only you.”
“Then what—”
He stopped her with another kiss. “Please…let me tell you in my own way.”
She sighed and melted against him. “Now I am worried. Don’t take too long…okay?”
He nodded. “I promise.”
She smiled and ran her hands over his wet body. “I guess you’ll have to make me forget my worry.”
His breath caught as she wrapped her hand around his awakening cock. Suddenly needing her, he pulled one of her legs up to around his waist, sliding his hard length deep inside of her. When her head fell back in surrender, he feasted upon her slim neck, nibbling and sucking.
His throat ached with a combination of fear, love and desire. Could he tell Aithne the truth? Would she accept what he was? If she didn’t, could he let her go, now that he’d loved her? Could he go back to his lonely life of before?
And what if she did accept who he was? What then? Could he chance her dying in the fire that gave him his life, if she wasn’t deemed worthy? Would he even be able to chance it?
He buried his face against her, his heart breaking. Either way, he could lose her. Unless he was given another miracle, these precious moments may be all he’d ever have to remember her by.
Chapter Twelve
Milcham wiped the sweat from his face and stared around at the almost empty fairground. He’d be glad to get out of this town. It was like they were jinxed. It had been one thing after another. Permit problems, then one of the games had been accused of cheating, then to top it off, just before they were to pull out, Jarrod had gotten into it with one of the locals and had been arrested.
Alexander had gone into town to get him, and pay whatever fine the corrupt local government would demand, but it still pissed Milcham off. He hated those who dealt unfairly or were judgmental. It was one part of his carnival life he despised.
Luckily, Alexander’s temperament was much more conducive to working with the locals. Over the last year, Milcham had made use of his talents more and more often. He knew when he left to go home, Alexander would be the one he’d leave in charge.
He bent and picked up his ax, walking toward the truck to store it as he thought about his trip. He wasn’t looking forward to it. He’d have to leave Aithne, and he wasn’t sure how long Yahweh expected him to stay in the walled city. In fact…for all he knew, he might not be allowed to leave again.
Either way, he knew it wasn’t fair to expect Aithne to wait for him, no matter how much she said she loved him. And as for telling her… Milcham sighed. The thought of how she might react, scared him to death. If he told her at all, he’d wait till the last possible moment. He didn’t want to lose these last few days with her. He still struggled with calling her his twin-flame. Not because he didn’t love her. He did, more than he thought he could love any female.
But if he did finally admit she was his soulmate, he would want to take her home with him and he was terrified she might come to harm there. The flame that gave him life, might cost her, her own.
He found himself looking around for Aithne, before he remembered she’d gone into town to pick up supplies, while Alexander bailed Jarrod out. He didn’t like her out of his sight, but he trusted both men to keep an eye on her. Though…he wouldn’t be telling Aithne that any time soon. She was too independent for words.
Turning, he went back to the ride he was dismantling. If they were lucky, they’d be out of here by nightfall.
—
“Son-of-a-bitch, sheriff.”
“Calm down, Jarrod.” Alexander glanced across the cab at his friend.
“It’s over now,” Aithne agreed soothingly. “Let it go.”
Jarrod slammed his hand against the dash of the truck. “You shouldn’t have had to pay a fine.”
Alexander sighed. He drove carefully down the darkened road towards the fairgrounds. “If that’s what it took to get you out of there, it was worth it.”
“But it was that damn kid who took the money. Not me!” Jarrod glared at his friend. “I even had witnesses.”
“Yes, and if that one local hadn’t admitted she saw the kid take the money, you would still be in jail,” Aithne responded. “I love you to death, Jarrod, but you can’t go around manhandling people. Even if they deserve it.”
“I didn’t manhandle him,” the big man sulked. “I just pulled him away from the gate.”
“And tossed him on his ass,” Alexander put in. “You don’t know your own strength.”
“I knew it. Didn’t care.”
Aithne rolled her eyes. Sitting between the two men in the truck seat, she could feel the anger and frustration rolling off them both. She didn’t need her gift to tell her they were both furious at the whole situation. “It’s over and done with. They got what they wanted, and we got Jarrod. But I wasn’t able to get supplies, so we’ll have to stop in the next town for them.”
Jarrod looked ashamed of himself. “Sorry, girl. But we needed to get out of there…and fast.”
She smiled. “It’s okay. Let’s just get home so we can help Milcham. Then we can get out of this area. No more surprises!”
“Amen,” Alexander agreed fervently.
“Hey!” exclaimed Jarrod. “Did you see that?”
Aithne peered out the window. “What?”
“I don’t know.” The big m
an rolled down his window and stuck his head outside. “But it was big. It flew right over us.”
“Probably an owl.” Alexander kept his eyes on the narrow winding road. They were less than a mile from the fairgrounds and he too, was anxious to be back.
“I know what a fucking owl looks like,” Jarrod growled. “And this wasn’t it! I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t an owl.”
Something swooped by the front of the truck, making Alexander veer to the right. “Damn it! What the hell was that?”
“I told you I saw something!” Jarrod growled. He craned his neck to look out the small back window. “Think that was an owl?”
Alexander ignored the jab. “It was huge and I swear its wings were leathery.” He glanced at Aithne. “Don’t suppose you know any vampires in this area,” he said only half jokingly.
Aithne bit her lip. “It wasn’t a vampire. I can still sense them. Haven’t seen one of the brethren, since Charleston .” She leaned forward and hesitantly looked into the sky. “Besides…vampires can’t fly. At least most of them can’t.”
Jarrod turned back around, but his eyes didn’t stop searching the dark. “I thought all vamps could fly.”
She shook her head. “All vampires have special gifts given to them at their turning. Different gifts, for different vamps. Aidan has super human strength, is very fast and can read minds.” She grinned in memory. “Dawn says it’s why he’s such a great lover. He knows exactly what she wants.”
“TMI…girl,” grumbled Jarrod. “Don’t need to know about your brother’s sex life. Need to know about flying vamps.”
Aithne giggled at the werewolf’s discomfiture. “Flying is a very rare gift. I’ve never heard of a vampire who could in this century.”
“There it is again,” Alexander shouted as the figure sped toward them. It crashed into the top of the truck, making the dark haired man fight for control of the wheel.
Jarrod swore and Aithne stifled a scream. It would be of no help, and she refused to be one of those women who screamed in the middle of a crisis for no good reason.
The thing hit them again, this time from the right. It plowed into them so hard Alexander lost control of the truck and its tires squealed as it veered across the road to the steep incline on the other side.
“Damn it,” Alexander roared as he fought the wheel. “Hold on!” They all heard an inhuman screech of laughter and the vehicle was hit again, this time sending it careening over the side of the mountain.
Jarrod shouted Aithne’s name as he used his were-strength to rip the truck door open. Wrapping a strong arm around her, he threw himself and her from the cab.
“No!” Aithne screamed as she felt herself fly through the air. She watched as if in slow motion, as the truck went over the side of the cliff, plummeting to the ground below. “Alexander!”
Jarrod and Aithne hit the ground hard, the big man scrabbling for a hand hold on the side of the bushy hill. He grabbed onto a small bush and heaved Aithne to the top, pulling himself up after her.
“Are you all right?” he asked frantically.
She nodded and struggled to her knees. Her face was scraped and her arms were bleeding from the impact, but she wasn’t badly hurt. She stared at Jarrod’s bloody face and then crawled over to the edge. “Oh God…he went over the edge! We’ve got to get to him.”
Jarrod staggered to his feet. “I’m going down.”
“Me too!”
One look at her set face, told him she wasn’t going to back down, so together, they carefully made their way down the hill. It wasn’t as steep as it looked, but they both knew the car had rolled on its way down. They were terrified of what they might find.
“Keep an eye open for that damn bird,” he yelled as they scrambled down the steep slope. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but it caused this.”
Aithne nodded, more frightened of what might have happened to Alexander than the unknown creature. When they finally made it to the base of the cliff, she sucked her breath in at the sight of the mangled truck. It was on its side, with the driver’s door to the ground, jammed between two huge boulders.
Jarrod let out another shout and rushed over to it. Aithne followed him, her heart dropping when she saw the still form of Alexander lying half under the torn and smashed metal.
“Alex?” Jarrod dropped to his knees and put two fingers to his pulse. His jaw worked hard. “Come on, man! You’re not giving up on me!”
Aithne joined him, brushing the black locks out of her friend’s eyes. “Please, Alexander,” she begged tearfully. “Wake up.”
His blue eyes fluttered open and then closed again. He groaned, and a ribbon of blood trickled from his mouth. Aithne pressed a fist against her mouth to keep from screaming at the pain she saw in his face.
“I gotta get this off of him,” Jarrod growled. He leapt to his feet and put his shoulder to the truck. He heaved and Aithne watched as his muscles bulged and knotted, but while he was able to move it slightly, even his werewolf strength couldn’t move the truck because of the rocks holding it on either side.
He panted against it for a moment then swung back around to Aithne. “I can’t do it alone.” He pulled out his cell and tried it, then tossed it to the ground with a curse. “No fucking signal.”
“What do we do?”
“I need you to run and get Phoenix . We need him…now!”
Her eyes widened in confusion. “But—”
Jarrod didn’t give her time to argue. “Damn it, Aithne. Trust me! Go! He’s the only one who can save Alex now!”
Without another word, her face wreathed in fear and confusion, she turned and started up the hill. Jarrod knelt back down next to his friend.
“Hang on, buddy,” he muttered. “Help’s on the way.”
—
Milcham wiped his hands on a rag then glanced at his watch. They should be back soon. It had been almost three hours since they left and Alexander knew enough not to hang about after a gig.
He bent and packed the last of the tools in the truck. When they got here, he was going to send Alexander and Jarrod on ahead. Then he was going to take Aithne somewhere special. He grinned. He was going to find the biggest and fanciest hotel in the area and treat them both to a night in a real bed.
Room service, candlelight and champagne. He wanted it all for her. He’d even go buy roses so he could cover their bed with them. His body stirred at the mental image of Aithne, lying naked among the petals. He’d kiss her from the tip of her nose to the bottoms of her feet. Then he’d make love to her. Over and over again, until they both collapsed from exhaustion. And when they woke up…he’d start all over…
He frowned and stilled. Had someone called him? He listened for a couple of moments, but heard nothing. Shrugging, he turned to walk towards his trailer.
“Milcham!”
He whirled around, his eyes searching in the darkness. His muscles clenched in worry. It was Aithne’s voice he heard, he was sure of it. He walked towards the front gate and it was then he saw her.
She was stumbling up the road, her hair hanging in her face. Her blouse was torn off one creamy shoulder and he could see dirt and blood staining her pants. His anger went to flash point in seconds. He was there, next to her, before she drew her next breath to scream his name.
He took her into his arms. “Aithne! Assai! What happened? My God! Are you all right?”
She clawed at his arm. “I’m fine. We have to go! It’s Alexander! Truck wrecked! Please!”
Milcham didn’t understand it all, but the fear and panic in her eyes made him head for his own vehicle without any other questions. He tossed her in the cab and slid in beside her. “Where?”
Her breath hitched. “Half mile down the road.”
He started the truck and floored it. It fishtailed wildly, but then he got it pointed in the right direction and headed out of the fairground’s gate. Once they were on the road, he glanced over to her. “Talk.”
Aithne
wiped away her tears. “Something pushed us off the road. It flew…and it was huge. It kept hitting the side of the truck and wouldn’t stop. It pushed us over the side. Jarrod pulled me out, but he couldn’t get to both of us.” She broke off, fighting her emotions. “The truck went all the way to the bottom and Alexander is trapped. Oh, God…I think he’s dead!”
Milcham’s jaw tightened and he drove faster. The idea he may lose his quiet dark friend was more than he could stomach.
Aithne went on, “Jarrod sent me to get you. He said you were the only one who could help him. I don’t understand. Shouldn’t I go get a rescue crew or something?”
Coming around the last corner, Milcham pulled over to where he could see the broken guard rail. The truck squealed to a stop. He didn’t answer as he helped her out of the truck. His heart pounded at the choice he might soon have to make. “Let me see if it’s as bad as you think. If it is, we’ll send you to town.”
She frowned at that, but seconds later she was too busy scrambling back down the hill to worry. She led Milcham to where Jarrod sat with Alexander’s head in his lap. The wolfman looked exhausted, but his face brightened when he saw Milcham.
“Boss! Thank God. I tried, but I couldn’t move it.” He eased out from under the limp man. “It’s my fault. I couldn’t get to him. I—”
“Shut up, Jarrod.” Milcham took one look at the scene and went to his knees to check Alexander. One touch and his heart sank. The man’s skin was cold and clammy, and if there was a pulse, he couldn’t feel it.
Shooting back to his feet, he knew there was only one thing left to do. He stared over at Aithne who stood watching him confusion in her eyes. He wanted to explain, but in the end, all he could say was…
“Assai…I am so sorry.”
Aithne blinked at his sorrowful words. She was even more confused as he moved a distance away from his fallen friend. Was Alexander dead? Were they too late?
Then…without warning, there was a flash of bright red-gold light. Thinking the truck had exploded, she cried out and covered her face with her hands. Expecting to be peppered with debris and hot metal, she waited, but nothing came her way. Instead of the pain she was expecting, there was a sudden surprising feeling of warmth and light.
