by Tena Stetler
“He… Angie.” He tried to raise up, the pounding in his head and shooting pain in his back was excruciating, his stomach roiled. “Hannah. Where’s Hannah?” he mumbled, then succumbed to sleep again.
Tristian drifted in and out of consciousness, but didn’t know for how long. When he finally could stay awake long enough to put a sentence together, Tobi and Owen stood at his bedside. “How long have I been out of it?” Shifting in the bed was less painful than it had been previously, he peered up at Owen.
“About seventy-two hours. We need to get you up and dressed. Bruce wants a meeting,” Owen said.
“No way.” Tristian shook his head vehemently, then put his hands to his head in an attempt to stop the pounding.
Owen waited a couple of beats. “That wasn’t a request. You tried to murder your Overlord and his mate. Lucky you’re not dead or imprisoned.” He put an arm under Tristian’s arms and lifted. “Now, I’ll help you get vertical. The injuries are healing nicely, but you have a way to go. The meeting is in twenty minutes.”
As Owen angled Tristian up, his stomach roiled, and he tried to stop the onslaught of stomach contents unsuccessfully.
Tobi rushed over with a trash can.
Pain shot through his back as his diaphragm spasmed. At last he was able to take a deep breath and pushed the rest of the way up to a sitting position. Tobi wiped his face with a warm wash cloth.
“Owen, the son-of-a-bitch was seeing my little sister without talking to me. I don’t want her involved with a demon. Especially, if he’s my boss.” He spat out between halting breaths.
“That’s not your choice, and you might as well know, it’s more that dating. And you better get used to it. Angie was a willing participant, as you know she must be. The rest… Well, you have fifteen minutes now.”
Tristian tried to jerk away from Owen and fell back against the bed. The injuries to his spine and internal organs were severe. He hissed out a breath. Slowly, Owen assisted him to his feet, again, where he wobbled then straightened taking a few steps on his own.
“Are you strong enough to conjure clothes? Yours were destroyed in the battle and aftermath of trying to save your life. Angie nearly lost her life trying to save both you and Bruce.”
“Of course.” He drew his arm along his side and was instantly clad in jeans, navy sweater, and black boots. Sweat trickled down his face at the effort.
****
Arriving at The Wycked Hair Salon after hours, Tristian leaned on Owen as they climbed the stairs to the mezzanine. He paused breathing hard, his hand braced against the wall for a couple beats outside Bruce’s office.
“These are for your own good.” Owen snapped his fingers to effectively restrain Tristian with magic.
Tristian jerked, his jaws clenched in anger, he narrowed his eyes at Owen in rage.
“Trust me, it’s safer this way.” Owen knocked on the metal frame of the open glass door. Bruce’s head turned, and he motioned them in. Angie stood behind his chair, Tobi made herself at home on the white leather couch. Owen escorted Tristian to one of the leather chairs in front of Bruce’s desk.
Hatred sparked in Tristian as his gaze met Bruce’s, then swept over Angie. He’d never seen or felt his sister so filled with rage. Sorrow knotted his stomach nearly causing him to retch.
“There’s no need for the magic shackles. We’ve done enough damage to each other. Don’t you think?” Bruce rose and met Tristian’s gaze. “Tobi, Owen, and Angie, give us a minute alone. Close the door behind you,” he commanded.
“Boss, I don’t think that’s advisable,” Owen said.
“Don’t question my decisions.” Bruce pointed to the doorway.
Angie stood and moved behind Bruce, her hands on his shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Tristian’s rage boiled over as Bruce tilted his head and grinned up at Angie. “Okay, you can stay only because I love looking at you.”
Tristian stood, poised to leap over the desk. In a split second, he collided midair with Bruce, as he knocked him to the floor, breath whooshed out of him. Bruce held him to the floor, hands on his shoulders and slight pressure to his injured back. Tristian let out a low moan, his body jerking. He heard the door open and saw Angie’s feet start toward him then she disappeared out of his view.
Tristian’s body slumped to the floor as Bruce informed him that Angie had consented to be his mate and at Bruce’s estate they had consummated that union over the weekend, before the attack.
Bruce helped Tristian into a lounge chair, then paced the office floor to the window. “We have bigger problems. Demon Lord Rezar is back and out for revenge. It seems he didn’t appreciate our efforts to kill him nor banish him to the underworld.”
“We should have killed the son-of-a-bitch, when we had the chance,” Tristian said vehemently. “If it hadn’t been for Paul—we would have.”
Bruce nodded.
Angie walked over to the lounger, sat on the arm, reached behind her brother’s neck rubbing at the stress knots. “Tristian, you and Bruce have trusted each other for decades. We’ve done nothing wrong. I wanted what Bruce offered more than anything in my entire life. I love him. I have no regrets, only that I’ve hurt and angered you. Can you honestly say that if we’d come to you sooner, you would’ve acted any differently?”
He hung his head. “No. I can’t.” I should tell her what happened to our parents. Then she’d understand—Or would it drive a bigger wedge between us? I couldn’t bear it. He remained silent, even though Birch’s words reverberated in his mind. “You know Rezar is going to come after Angie, once he discovers you’ve taken a mate.”
Angie returned to Bruce’s side. “You guys know I’m right here.”
Bruce smiled at her. “All the more reason for you to accept Angie’s decisions and for us to rebuild the trust we’ve enjoyed throughout our working relationship. You’ve twenty-four hours to decide before I take Angie to a safe house until this is over.” He switched his gaze from Tristian to the door. “Owen, Tobi, please come in here.”
Quietly, Owen and Tobi slipped inside, closed the door, and took a seat on the couch.
“Nowhere will be safe,” Tristian argued, his fingers digging in on the arms of his chair.
“That’s where you are wrong. She will be in the safest place on earth.”
“What makes you so sure?”
Bruce rested his head against the chair. “You’re free to go. But you may want to consider your woman? She could be in grave danger as well. Although, it’s a far stretch that he would suspect such a relationship.”
“You mean I’m free to go home?” Tristian smirked and raised an eyebrow incredulously.
“I never intended to hold you against your will, only to make sure you healed. Your attack on Angie and I will be dealt with later.”
Tristian leaned back against his chair, closed his eyes. His back throbbed. Hannah was innocent in all this. I shouldn’t have tried to… Doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that she’s safe. He sat up and stared at Bruce. “I’ll accept your offer for Hannah. But I need to talk to her. Explain.”
“Not a good idea. She doesn’t have a secure phone. I’ll send security to go get her. You’re welcome to write her a note explaining the situation when she is picked up. Where can we find her?”
“She won’t come with—Hell she doesn’t know what I do. She won’t understand.”
“You can address all that when she arrives.”
Angie padded to Tristian’s side, pushed him gently forward to check his back. “It’s healing nicely, but you are nowhere near battle ready. Staying with Owen and Tobi for a few more days until Hannah arrives is a great idea.”
“Yeah, we’ll put up with him. But where are we going to put Hannah up?”
Bruce sighed and reached into his desk drawer pulling out an iridescent disk. Tossed it to Owen. “My apartment has substantial security in place, no one knows about it with the exception of you.” He glanced at Owen. “And Angi
e.”
“Thank you.” Tristian scrubbed his hand over his face, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Of course. I didn’t want you to find out the way you did, but…” Bruce waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.
“How the hell did Rezar escape the underworld? Is he still wearing the collar?”
“Called in favors. He still wears the collar, so he has no power, and is weak, but has others to do his bidding until he is recovered. At least that’s what my sources tell me. Last known location was the far east.”
“They’re reliable?” Tristian shifted in his chair, locked gazes with Bruce. He didn’t like his sister aligned with a demon, but Bruce was one of the good guys. If I’d been honest with her about our parents’ death, this wouldn’t have happened. I’ll tell her as soon as I get Hannah—Shit, she’s going to hate me. Women. He huffed out a breath.
“I’d trust them with my life.” Bruce nodded.
Tristian’s jaw clinched, the vein in his temple pulsed. “Good enough for me. I’m in ’til the end, as I’ve always been.”
“I’ve your oath that you’ll have my back, as I’ll have yours, should it be necessary?”
“Of course, she’s my sister. I don’t like what she’s done, but I’ll learn to live with it. As far as between us, business as usual.”
After discussing the possibilities of Rezar’s escape and plans to neutralize him permanently, Bruce called an end to the meeting. Tristian left with Owen and Tobi.
Chapter Nine
Telling the Tale—Better Late Than Never
Tristian turned the door handle and hobbled into the apartment. Hannah rushed to him, throwing her arms around him. He pulled her to him and buried his face in her soft red hair. Her body wrapped around him had never felt so good. Yet, trying to have a life outside his professional life…was going to be tough.
She backed away and leveled her gaze at him. “What the hell is going on? You need to tell me now.”
He paced away from her. Stopped in front of the big picture window, looking out over the city. In an apartment owned by his…what exactly was Bruce? His boss definitely…his sister’s demon mate, brother-in-law to be? Oh yeah. Tristian ran his fingers through his hair rubbing at the base of his neck, where the nerves were bunched and aching. “It’s not that easy.”
“Not that easy. Are you out of your mind? Let’s recap the last few days.”
Spinning around to face her, eyes flashing with anger. “I never should have tried to have a life with you. It just can’t be done.”
Hannah’s mouth fell open, she collapsed onto the couch. “What… After all this…” She jumped up and slapped him hard across the face, leaving a large red hand print. “First, I get a phone call from a woman I’ve never heard of, Tobi, she says there’s been an accident. Then she tells me to pack a bag and hangs up.”
Tristian backed away, touching his hand to his cheek. It stung like a bitch. “It couldn’t be helped.”
Hands fisted on hips she continues, “But wait it gets better. A few hours later, a security team shows up at my door and informs me that I’m going with them. My life is in serious danger and you are—They’ve been sent to take me to you—refusal is not an option. At this point, I am scared out of my mind.”
“I couldn’t leave you alone, unprotected under the circumstances,” Tristian said hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
“Let’s talk about those circumstances. No one will tell me anything. Why? Because it’s your tale to tell.” She threw her arms over her head and let them drop to her side.
“There wasn’t time. The altercation, threats, things were happening too fast.” She doesn’t need to know I attacked Bruce, yet. Later—I’ll…
“Wow, that’s the most information I’ve gotten out of anyone to date,” she said caustically.
“That’s enough,” Tristian roared. The medicinal herbs for pain are wearing off. Every time, I move, pain shoots up my back.
“Oh, no—not even. I’m not allowed to leave this apartment—condo—whatever it is.”
“This whole thing was a bad idea. I’m truly sorry. But for you—at this time—there is no way out. You voluntarily tied yourself to me, even after I told you…”
“Told me what? You would be gone a lot, sometimes for days, weeks. I figured you were special forces… Never in my wildest dreams did I figure it would be for the Demon Overlord of the Western Hemisphere. Who now I discover is involved with your little sister.”
“I told you before the less you know the better.”
“Well—the days of keeping me in the dark are over. Spill it, or I’m leaving on the next plane out of here.”
“No…you’re not.” He yanked his coat off the back of the chair, clenching his teeth at the pain. He gave her a cold stare and strode out the door.
She followed him. “That’s it, run away.” She paused, tears streaming down her face. “I’ll be gone when you get back.”
He turned on his heel and barked out orders to the two men standing guard outside the door. “She is not to leave the premises.”
The men blocked her going any farther even though she tried to push her way through. She met with a wall of muscle that not so gently guided her back into the apartment and closed the door.
Outside the building, Tristian stopped, pounded a fist against the brick wall, whirled at the sound of footsteps. He glanced around and saw one of his men standing at a discreet distance. His head pounded, body ached, he leaned his back against the cool wall. What am I doing? I brought her into this world—I can’t just walk out. Send her back…to what. I don’t want to, I need her. Oh…my God. Am I in love with her? He shook his head in disbelief.
****
Hannah cried, screamed, and finally flopped down on the bed. Nowhere to turn, she called the only person she knew here—Tobi, the woman who’d greeted her at the apartment upon her arrival, who also worked for Bruce. She explained a little of what had happened, what to expect and cautioned her, contact with her sister was forbidden. Before Tobi could answer, Hannah hung up the phone.
She didn’t care who saw her transform, she had to get out. Quietly, she walked into the living room where French doors led out to a balcony and carefully tried the handle on one door. It turned. When she pushed it open a crack, the hinge creaked. She paused, turned to see if anyone would come in to check on her. Nothing. Pushing it open farther, she slipped outside and closed the door carefully.
If she shifted out here, her clothes would be shredded and scattered all over, and when she returned to human form, she’d be nude. Bad idea. Could she throw her clothes down to the ground, behind a bush and retrieve them later? She stared down the three stories. There were a few bushes beside the building.
Thankful for the darkness, she slipped out of her clothes, tied them in a bundle, made sure no one was watching, and tossed them to the ground. Luck was with her, and the bundle landed behind the tree nearest the corner of the building. With a deep breath, Hannah transformed and took flight, soaring over the structure high into the sky. Her multicolored wings shimmered in the moonlight as she banked and faded into the inky darkness.
Anger and feelings of helplessness subsided as she drifted through the night sky. Free. Not one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. I don’t know where… She circled high and spotted a wooded area, she was completely out of the city. Landing on her rear paws, she drew her wings against her body and padded deep into the trees. Her semi-neutral colors blended nicely in the dark. But she couldn’t stay here without being discovered. Somehow she had to retrieve the bundle of clothes. By now, Tristian would have discovered she was missing, no way she could get close enough to get her clothes. Unless…
A light mist began to fall; she was so tired. Hannah in gryphon form settled behind a large tree, her eyes drifted closed for what felt like only a few minutes. When she heard the rustle of leaves, felt movement not far, her eyes fluttered open, then her head jerked up. Tristian dressed in jeans,
sweater, boots, and a black leather duster sat, legs stretched out in front of him, arms crossed over his muscular chest, head resting against the tree opposite her. A slow smile curved one side of his full lips. His eyes sharp, shifting from hazel to green with blue flecks, and assessing her. Next to him, was her bundle of clothing. She should be afraid, but she wasn’t. He’d never given her any reason to fear him, though from the snippets of conversation she’d overheard, it seemed he was a dangerous warlock.
He shifted and sat up straighter. The other side of his mouth curved up in a sexy as the devil smile. “I have to admit in all my travels, assignments, and battles, I’ve never seen a gryphon. Believed they were myths of Irish folklore. But here you sit in front of me, an exquisite specimen proving me wrong.” He shook his head, blond hair falling over his face. Brushing it aside with his long fingers, his gaze held hers, then swept over her body slowly. “Found the apartment a bit confining, did you?”
She blinked her large eyes and nodded.
****
Tristian had never seen such a beautiful combination of colors and textures on a creature. I’d love to run my fingers along her enchanting body. But better not right now. Best if we could reach some common ground in this situation. Head, shoulders, and front talons of an eagle, the rest of her body and hind quarters that of a lion, covered in a combination of coppery colored fur and sleek feathers, a sharp, tawny beak and huge cornflower blue eyes. Her wings were folded against her body, but wisps of bright-multicolored feathers peeked out.
“We have a lot to discuss, and it would be easier if you were in human form. Though I find your current form absolutely beautiful.” He waited a couple beats, and when she didn’t move, he pressed on. “Have it your way, I’ll go first.”
She held his gaze and waited.
