by Aliyah Burke
Fear leeched into her gaze and he knew he had her. “Will I ever be able to come back?”
The thought of her wanting to leave him stung. Painfully. He nodded. “If we all survive this, I’ll bring you back myself. You have my word.”
She stared hard before nodding. “How long do I need to pack for?”
“Take whatever clothes you like. We can always shop for more out in Oregon.”
“Great.” She rose and retreated to her room.
He entered in time to see her zip closed a duffel and heft her backpack on one shoulder. Another wheeled suitcase waited by her feet.
“I’ll quit my job on the way and need to stop by James’ place. He can move in here. He’s responsible enough to keep it nice until I get back.”
Although he hung back, Tiarnán trailed her the whole way until they got back to his truck. Once he unlocked it, she tossed her duffle and suitcase. Her backpack she took to the front with her.
A wail of a siren and a few flashes of lights had his edge up in seconds. Briefly he met Calida’s gaze. “Stay here.”
For a short time he thought she would argue but she gave a nod with a smile on her face. He shut the driver’s door and turned to face the officer who’d just pulled up. The second the door opened and the man got out, Tiarnán went on alert. This was no man—it was a demon who could shift his form at will. And right now it posed as a law enforcement officer.
Across his shoulder, he could feel his tattoo moving, pushing its power through him. He wanted to glance back and give her a warning of some kind but knew the second that happened, this thing would attack.
Another uniform stepped from the passenger side. He wriggled his fingers slightly as he waited for them to make the first move. Before either could say a word, Calida appeared at his side. He was both grateful and furious at her action. He didn’t want her to face one of them alone but he also didn’t want her caught in the crossfire.
“Everything okay here?” one officer asked as he hooked one hand in his belt and moved closer. Officer Jones, his tag read.
Tiarnán slid his arm around Calida’s waist, tugging her flush to him. “Fine here, Officers. Something we can help you with?”
Each man took a side of the truck and moved up along it, peering in the back and cab as if looking for something specific. And Tiarnán had a good idea of what they sought.
“Going somewhere?” the other asked. Larkin, his tag had on it.
He fought the snarl. These men knew they were leaving. Calida rubbed along his side, a subtle motion that had him stilling.
“Yes,” she said. “He’s taking me to see my grandfather. I just got news that he’s in the hospital.”
He could read their expressions like a book—they hadn’t thought she knew anything about what was coming. Officer Jones neared but stopped just out of attack range and rocked back on his heels.
“And where does your grandfather live?”
“He’s in Kansas City,” she said without missing a beat.
Behind him he saw others from her building beginning to gather and watch what was happening. Thankfully the officers backed off and he knew they would have someone waiting for them along the route. Or have them followed. Of course, people would be put in Kansas City.
“Well, you two have a safe trip.” Officer Larkin gave a smile.
“Thank you,” Tiarnán replied.
Keeping himself between the two demons and Calida, he backed her up to the truck. She slid in across the seat and he followed. It didn’t take him long to start the engine and get them on their way.
“They weren’t human, were they?” she asked after looking over her shoulder for the fifth time.
“No. How could you tell?”
“I smelled sulfur on them. No matter how much they tried to cover it up with that rancid cologne they wore, it still came through.”
He checked the rear-view and while nothing jumped out at him, he figured somehow they were trailing them. Perhaps from overhead.
“What did she give you?”
A sharp chuckle came from her side of the truck and he glanced over at her. The passing lights flashed along her face. He didn’t miss the eye roll but she pulled out her phone and placed a call. One in which she quit her job. He could hear her sorrow and reluctance for doing such a thing.
“Why does it bother you to quit the job?”
“I liked it there and everyone was always nice to me. I don’t like leaving them shorthanded.” A lift of one shoulder. “I told him I’d be back as soon as I could and if anyone asked, I was in Kansas City.”
“That was smooth. Do you really have a grandfather there?”
“Not anymore. He passed three years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
This time her smile was sad. “Me too. He was a great man.” She snuggled against the door and stretched out her legs. “Figured it was a viable option if we’re heading to Oregon. Kinda go off in that direction to start.”
We’re. She’d said we’re. Tiarnán hid his cheesy grin and focused on the road.
* * * *
“Really? Here?”
She hopped out of the truck and glanced over the hood at Tiarnán. His tanned skin seemed sallow in the weak light of the hotel’s neon sign.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “You expected a five star?”
“Nope but I think I need a tetanus shot just from being in their parking lot. This has more of a rent-me-by-the-hour look to it.”
As if to prove her point, a woman in four inch heels tottered from a room, wiping her mouth with one hand and tugging down her short skirt with the other. A man left moments later, straightening his belt. Gross. Then the woman went in the main office. Let me add a nasty to that gross as well.
With a pointed look, she gazed at Tiarnán. Plucky man, he winked at her. “Let’s get a room.”
She shuddered but trailed after him. The interior office was like something from the seventies. Shag carpet and hideous colors—on both the walls and furniture—that had no business being anywhere. Christ, is that a disco ball in the corner? It was, and she just put her head down. No sense in saying a word.
Tiarnán didn’t even have to tell her to stay close. She wasn’t going far from him, not in here.
“Be right with ya,” a man hollered out after Tiarnán rang the silver bell on the counter. A counter that had seen better days by far.
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing aloud when he strode into view. Oh my God. Who dresses like this nowadays? It’s like he stepped out of a time warp. His headband was under mousy and stringy brown hair. And she had to look away. It was too much.
“You two need a room for a bit?” he asked with a suggestive voice.
“The night.”
“Whole night?”
“Definitely,” Tiarnán said as he slapped his hand on her ass, bringing her head up with a snap. “Going to need all that time.”
Her gaze flew to his face and she saw the laughter he tried not to release. He gave the man cash and asked for the furthest unit.
“You two have fun. And Candy here will bring room service if there’s anything you need.”
Candy. Swell, she’s the hooker who just left the other room. No plans or intentions of calling for room service.
“That’s right, anything at all,” Candy fairly purred. She curled her fingers through her auburn hair, her gaze locked on Tiarnán the entire time.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Tiarnán said.
Once he’d gotten the key, they went back outside. She didn’t say anything until he’d driven them down to park before their unit.
“If you’re calling for room service, I’m sleeping in your truck.”
“Why the hell would I call her?” He sounded genuinely surprised. “I doubt she’s even washed her mouth, or any other part of her for that matter, since she walked out of that other man’s room.”
“She seemed interested in you.”
“And th
e man couldn’t keep his eyes off you.” He grabbed their bags and walked to the door.
She laughed. “Yes, him, and his bell bottoms with the porn star mustache. Oh please,” she whined. “Please let me have that in my bed.” She followed him inside once he opened the door. “I bet he’s groovy. Did you see the damn disco ball in the corner? I bet that place lights up like hell when they turn it down and get their groove on. All those fluorescent hues. Awesome.”
“I’m curious to know what you know of porn stars and their mustaches.” Tiarnán flicked on the lights and they looked around.
“Oh wow.” Calida didn’t know what to say. If the main office had had a child with ugly, this was it. “This… This is very orange.”
From the shag carpet to the bedspread, orange was everywhere. Even the furniture was shellacked with the color. There were some pillows the base color of which was white, but there were orange circles on them.
“Yeah,” he said. His tone mirrored hers. A mix of fear and awe.
Tiarnán placed their bags on the chair—also orange—and went to where she presumed to be the bathroom. Calida walked to the full-sized bed and sat.
“Hello,” she said to her reflection as she stared up into her image, courtesy of the large mirror over the bed.
“Who are you talking to?” he asked, reappearing.
She held his gaze and pointed up. “Myself. We get a mirror over the bed.”
He sat beside her and tipped his head back. “That could be fun. Especially if we feed the box to add in the vibrations.” He glanced at her. “I think the lava lamps are a nice touch.”
Hysterical laughter slid from her throat and she covered her mouth with one hand. “This is so gross. What color is the bathroom? Wait, don’t tell me, I’m not sure I could handle it.” A deep breath and she glanced around again. “I see now why they were so shocked we wanted more than an hour. I can’t imagine trying to get all sexy with this surrounding you and whomever you’re with. Candy must be blind, or she’s just that good.”
“Want to put your theory to the test?” His question rumbled in her ear.
Pleasure danced along her skin and she shuddered as his breath teased her. “Which theory is that?”
“About this decor stopping your desire from becoming full-fledged. I bet we could forget all about the color.” He nibbled along the flesh of her neck.
“No way, man. I don’t know you that well.”
He grinned. “I’m willing to get naked with you in neon lights, lava lamps, and on shag carpet. How much more do we need to know one another?”
He had a point there. She crossed her arms and canted her head. “Tell you what, you go ahead and strip down and give me a look see. Then I’ll decide if I want to join you.”
“Spoilsport.”
She batted her eyes at him. “I think I have some ones in my bag. Can you make it a strip tease? Oh, and do it on the bed so I can also watch you in the mirror?”
“I get it, I get it.” He shook his head. “Sheez, just trying to find some way to occupy the time.”
She didn’t take offense, since he was teasing. Taking a moment, she headed to the bathroom and found it wasn’t any better color-wise. She didn’t linger so soon she was back out in the main room.
“I’m going to the vending machine for some drinks. I don’t trust the water.” Tiarnán paused by the door. “Don’t leave the room.”
“Leave all this? Surely you jest.”
He flipped her a quarter and winked before slipping from the room. Holding it in her hand, she flicked her gaze between it and the box. “Oh, why the hell not?” Calida put the quarter in and lay down.
The bed began doing its thing and she watched herself in the mirror. Laughing, she rolled to her side and closed her eyes. When she opened them next, a hard body had curled up beside her and held her close.
Tiarnán. She knew it was him. One lava lamp offered a bit of light to the room, otherwise it was dark. The red numbers on the digital clock informed her it was one thirty in the morning.
I must have been exhausted. She’d not planned on falling asleep. Last thing she remembered was turning away from the sight of her body on the bed as it vibrated. She couldn’t turn to face Tiarnán for he was spooning her. His warmth surrounded her and she realized neither of them had a blanket.
She placed one hand on the arm around her waist and again those pinpricks of fire appeared, dancing about them. Calida lay there in silence and went over everything he’d told her, combined it with what she’d seen and experienced. He must be telling the truth. There had been many times he could have killed her but he hadn’t. He also could have gone through her bags looking for the disc Mrs. Chen had given her. As far as she knew, he hadn’t done that either.
“You’re awake.”
His voice was gravelly and all kinds of sexy as it rumbled in her ear.
“Did I wake you?”
“Nope. Sleep okay?”
“Surprisingly so. Why didn’t you wake me when you came back?”
“You needed your rest. The drinks and chips are on the dresser if you want some.”
“I’m fine.” Truth was, she didn’t want to leave his arms. “Where do these flames come from?”
She lifted her hand and they continued to dance along her skin, offering their cooling caress.
“I don’t know.”
“Really? Not something you’ve been told about?”
“You want to ask me more questions about this battle.”
“I have a lot of questions, yes. I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”
“Start at the beginning.” He joined his hand to hers and the flames grew brighter, yet remained just as cool.
“What is this prophecy you’ve mentioned a time or two?”
He tensed behind her. “The parts to waken the world’s hope have been scattered far and wide to the winds and throughout the stars. It is from there the chosen ones are marked, becoming Astral Guardians. Alone their individual defeat has a greater chance than when paired with the amaranthine and genuine love of their mate. Those Guardians must find, defend and bind the pieces to call forth the hope of the world. It will take courage, strength, love and sacrifice. If the Guardians fail, swift death will arrive to the one who calms the beasts. With this outcome, the world shall descend into darkness, chaos and anarchy.”
With this outcome, the world shall descend into darkness, chaos and anarchy. Fucking great.
“And you are one of the ones who’s been chosen, one of the Guardians.”
“Yes. There are six of us.”
“Who’s the one who calms the beasts?”
“We don’t know.” His frustration was evident.
“And the hope that needs to be wakened? What’s that?”
“Not sure.”
“So all you know is you have to find a piece and try to figure out what to do with it as you find a way to save the world?”
“Pretty much sums it up.”
“How many pieces are there?”
“Four have been found. I’ve not found mine and Dracen hasn’t found hers.”
“Hers?”
He stroked her skin. “Yes. Does that surprise you?”
“I thought all of you were male.”
“Three of each.”
Coolness. Glad there are some women there. “How are you chosen?”
“I was picked by the spirit of the animal I have within me.”
“Animals? Is that why there isn’t twelve of you, because there aren’t twelve animals in the zodiac?”
“We were all marked by animals from the Asian Zodiac.” He lowered their arms back to the mattress. “Mine is the tiger. You’ve seen the mark on my shoulder and the shape behind it.”
True. She had. It was beautifully done. “So you are given…powers?”
“Yes. They guide and help us as they can.” He pulled her tighter to him. “I can’t shapeshift, so don’t ask. It’s hard to explain, but they amplify what we are.”
“An Astral Warrior. Guardian, to be precise.”
Tiarnán said that with such finality it gave her pause. On any other day if she’d just heard what he’d said to her, she would have not believed it. There was another question teasing the tip of her tongue to ask but when she opened her mouth, it was a scream that escaped.
A loud explosion rocked the area and the window blew in, raining glass down upon them. Tiarnán immediately rolled them so he took the brunt of the blast. Even so, she could feel the heat passing them.
“Stay down!” he shouted as he pushed up and met the thing flying in through the window that had just shattered.
Staying down sounded like a wonderful idea but she’d come to the decision that she didn’t want to die. And whatever was in store for the earth, which could end her life, it was her duty to help stop it. She jumped up and lunged over the bed, scrambling for her bag. This time she knew exactly where her Taser was. She’d slapped a new battery in after the incident in the alley, so now she had one hundred and fifty shots with this thing.
Whirling when talons dug into her shoulder, she fired. The flat-faced creature screamed in agony before it burst into flame. That’s new. Two men kicked in the door, and she hit one with more voltage as a silver dagger appeared in the throat of the other.
Calida looked at Tiarnán. He lunged, spun, and fought like a man who had either nothing to lose—or everything to lose. Sword and whip dealing damage as he moved. As before, there were times when she couldn’t see him, he would be camouflaged so well. Then he’d appear and deliver a killing blow.
Rising from his shoulders was more of that mist and as she stared, mesmerized, it took the shape of a tiger. The roar it released shoved the creatures pouring in the hotel room back, incinerating some instantly. Some it injured.
Tiarnán followed them out of the window. She swiped their bags and climbed out as well. The entire place burned and she knew the ones in the main office were dead. She just knew.
Another two came at her and she shot one before swinging the bags at the other. The screech hurt her eardrums but she ignored the pain and threw the bags in the bed of the truck—it was locked, she couldn’t get in.
