“I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted, fame, money. You can live in luxury while you’re there. It will feel like paradise compared to this hole.”
I can see him thinking it over; I know how much the Titans mean to him, “Stop talking Marcus, the answer is still no.”
“Fair enough, I guess I will try another way,” I concede, reaching out my hand to shake his. He relents and shakes my hand, stupid bastard. “You will kill your next opponent. Have a nice life, Blaze.” I turn and walk away. He thinks he’s won; I will let him keep living the dream, for now. Everyone ends up doing as I wish eventually. Freewill is an illusion.
Taking out my cell, I dial the trackers, “He was uncooperative, track him to his next fight and raid the place. Charge him and ship him back to the Academy.” I hang up and climb into my car.
I’m a patient man, but I always get what I want.
Chapter Seventeen
Phoenyx
Silas and I have just come in the north gate, returning from a hike, crossing through the courtyard toward the dining hall. We startle, hearing screaming and chaos coming from the front gate. I can’t stay away. Someone is being brought in against their will and some sick part of me wants to watch.
We get close enough to see it is a fire chaser. My heart is pounding out of my chest; it can’t be. He is being held, or attempting to be held by several guards dragging him through the gates. He is screaming and thrashing. It looks like him, but it can’t be. His power is reaching out to me. Losing his grip on his control; flames lick just under the surface of his skin, I know the feeling all too well. There is a thick band tattooed above his wrist. He’s been charged with murder... oh, Asher, what have you done?
Without thinking, I start walking toward them. Silas' arms wrap around my waist, holding me still against him. “Leave them, Nyx. That guy looks dangerous.” He rests his chin on my shoulder, kissing my neck.
Pulling away I look up at him over my shoulder, “So was I, Silas. He needs to calm down before someone gets hurt, I can help. I… know him.” Once out of Silas’ arms, I walk over to the crowd trying to contain him. Pushing them aside I lock eyes with the only other fire chaser I have ever met. Someone who abandoned me, someone I thought was dead. My first love, my first heartbreak.
He stops fighting and we just stare at each other as I walk up to him, with only inches between us. He is still aflame, on guard. Placing my hand on his cheek, I try to calm the fear and panic dancing in his eyes.
“Ash...” I say. “Don't hurt them, please. It’ll be okay.”
He closes his eyes and a tear falls down his cheek and touches my hand. There is this blissful calm that envelopes me when we touch; I know he feels it too. People with like powers are connected; the feeling is so powerful, so calming, like I am finally home. Like he was created for me, and I him. A tear escapes my eye as I am lost and found in Asher. We both smile and his flames dissipated.
“Let’s go,” Adam demands, shoving Asher in the back, earning him a glare from me.
We walk hand in hand; he was so dear to me once. Catching the other sneaking glances; I keep thinking he will disappear again if I don’t keep my eyes on him. The guards lead us to his room, a suite; none of us have our own suite. I try to let go of his hand, but he lifts it to his lips, placing a kiss on my palm then placing my hand over his heart.
“I can’t believe I found you,” he says, looking at me like he doesn’t believe I’m real.
Fighting the urge to hug him or slap him. “I've been right here, where you left me.”
We’re standing inches apart, and my hand is still on his chest. His heart beats wildly under my fingertips. We just stare at each other. He leans into me, his lips brushing mine in a feather-light touch, like a dream.
“We need to talk,” he whispers against my lips, “come back when the guards leave.”
I shake my head, pulling my hand away slowly. “I better go, let you get settled,” I say, but my feet didn't want to move. Taking one step back, then another, each step I take away from him, I feel his warmth dimming. A small smile is playing on both our lips. What is happening to me? Shaking my head, I will not fall for his easy smiles, “It was nice to see you again, Asher.” I turn my back to him and walk out of the room.
“See you around, Phoenyx,” he calls out after me.
Adam steps in front of me on my way out, “We didn't need your help, Nyx.”
The guards barely tolerate me on a good day. I’ve never respected their authority, mainly because I’ve done the deed with most of them, Adam included. “Well, maybe if you weren't failing miserably at your job, Adam, I wouldn't have to step in to save your ass,” I respond in a sweet tone.
“Saving my ass?” he says, stepping in my face again. “Maybe I should tell Blaze how much fun we had after he left? All the dirty little things you did to me and any other guy who looked your way.” Leaning in close, he chides, “I could be persuaded to keep our little secret. I do miss that dirty mouth of yours.”
I cringe, it makes me sick I let him touch me, “Screw you.” I shoved past him.
My eyes lock with Silas'. He is leaning against the wall outside Asher’s suite. He looks confused and pissed, watching all that just happened. How did I forget about Silas? How did I forget I have a boyfriend?
Wrapping my arms around him I feel his body goes ridged under my touch. Pulling back to see his face, he says, “Stay away from him, Nyx. Please, for me, just stay away from him,” he asks, kissing my temple, hugging me close.
“He’s been through a lot. He needs me,” I say.
With a sigh, Silas pulls me tighter in his arms. “That's what I'm afraid of.”
Chapter Eighteen
It's the last few weeks before everyone packs up and leaves for summer. Well, almost everyone. Violent offenders don't get to leave the island. That's the twist in being a Demigod; the world is your playground with riches and fame. Until you break the law, there is zero tolerance on power-driven acts of violence. If you break this law, you will never be allowed off this island. Unless, of course, you enlist in the Titan Elite. Just once, I wish I could go away with Ianna. Everyone is leaving, even Silas. He tried to get out of it, but since he stayed for winter break, his family demands he come home for summer. It must be nice to be wanted.
It's been two months since Asher Blaze returned to the Academy and my life. He is now part of our group of friends. We eat together for every meal in the dining hall. We are the only two fire chasers here, so we are thrown together for training exercises. He has far more control than I ever had, but there is a reason behind the black band around his wrist. Something went down after he left me.
I want to ask him where he went, why he left me without a word, but I’m a coward. Instead I stand here, watching his hard body go through techniques with Mason. My eyes can’t stop exploring the new tattoos that decorate his arms and across his back. Both guys are so damn sexy to watch.
Mason barely utters the word, “Dismissed.” before I high tail it out of there.
Asher doesn't seem to care that time has passed or that I have moved on. He looks at Silas like he hates him. Keeps telling me I belong to him, not Silas, which I ignore, refusing to be sucked into the Asher Blaze vortex of lies. Instead, I hold tight to Silas. He would never leave me.
Keeping my distance from Asher proves to be more difficult than anticipated. I try to avoid him; I swear I do. Unfortunately, he isn’t trying to avoid me at all. Every time I turn around, Asher’s watching me. Which makes Silas watch me; he’s always searching my eyes, looking for betrayal in them. Maybe it's just my guilty conscience. I haven't kissed Ash again since that first day he returned. Refusing to fall for him again I didn’t go back to his room like he asked. Our connection is always there, like a constant buzzing of bees in my head. It's so distracting the closer he is. No matter where I am on campus, I can sense his exact location. Knowing if I just reach out and touch him, the world will fall into blissful silence and I will fe
el that familiar feeling of belonging.
He is sitting directly across from me now in the dining hall. Silas is to my right, and Ianna and Kai are on my left. Every time I look up, Asher is staring at me. Glaring at him, I glance over to Silas; who is staring daggers at Asher. Wishing I was anywhere else but here, I stare back down at my food. When did my life get this complicated?
When I cross my legs under the table I feel my bare leg brushes Asher’s. My breath hitches, as the chaos of the world silences the second our skin touches. Closing my eyes, I let his power wash over me until I feel his hand run over my bare skin my eyes shoot open meeting Asher's eyes/ I move my leg out of his reach, silently warning him with a glare.
Silas, oblivious to what just happened, brushes the hair off my shoulder and kisses my bare skin. My body shivers and once again Asher’s eyes are on me. Asher lifts my foot into his lap and starts tracing circles on my ankle with his thumb as Silas kisses up my neck. The sensations are too much; I feel like I’m going crazy. This is wrong, so wrong, but I’m turned on by it.
Asher's eyes are hard and dangerous as he watches Silas trail his lips over my shoulder to my neck, causing an involuntary moan to slip out of me. Asher’s hand grips my leg to the point of pain. Snapping out of the slutty fog, I try to discretely move my leg. Feeling like I can't breathe with them touching me, I shrug Silas off and whisper to him, “Silas, not here.”
Silas jerks his head back like I slapped him. “Why? Why suddenly not here? It’s because of him, isn’t it? He left you, Nyx.” He leaves his hand on the back of my neck and squeezes gently, “He had his chance. He used you; then he chose to bail. I don't care if he wants to stare like a freak.” Silas brings his lips to mine, kissing me hard and demanding, staking his claim in front of Asher.
Asher jumps up out of his seat and yells, “What the hell did you just call me?”
This is getting out of hand. I put my hand on Silas' chest, trying to calm him, “Ignore him.”
“I think you heard me, asshole!” he yells back. Now they are both standing, only a table between them. The guards are looking over, assessing the risk.
Standing up I raise my hands in surrender. “Jesus, would you both sit down before the guards come over!”
Asher sits down immediately, but Silas stays standing. “I’m not going to sit here and watch him eye fuck you!” he yells and walks away.
He passes Mason, who asks him something, but Silas shakes his head, pushing past him.
“Silas!” I call after him, but he's already gone. I glare back at Ash and find him smirking.
“What the hell was that about?” asks Ianna.
“Just Silas finally coming to his senses,” Asher chuckles.
“You’re an asshole,” I groan and grab my tray of uneaten food and storm out, throwing it away as I head out the door. Mason falls into step beside me on my way out.
“What the hell was that, Nyx?” he asks.
“I don't need your judgment, Mase.” Leaning against the wall, I slide down to the floor. “What do I do? This is getting way out of hand. Asher won't leave me alone! And the way it feels when he's touches me. I’m so confused. I don't know what's happening to me. I can't keep doing this. I need to end things with Silas or tell Asher to back off. I'm hurting Silas, and he deserves better than that, better than me.” shaking my head. He sits down next to me, shoulder to shoulder. “Why is my life always such a mess, Mase?” I say, leaning on his shoulder.
“I have no idea. Are you trying to break the world record for stupid decisions? You’re like a freaking train wreck.” He shakes his head. “Look, if you're asking my valued opinion as your mentor and best friend, pick me. I’m the obvious choice but that aside, Silas is the better man. Asher has too much baggage, I don't trust him and neither should you.” He is all attitude and bravado, but Jacob Mason sees everything, and knows everything that goes on here. My life would be simpler if he was serious about me picking him.
I hope I have the willpower to follow his advice.
Chapter Nineteen
Glancing at the clock for the hundredth time, its 3:15am, exactly two minutes since the last time I looked, groaning, I rolling over. With a reluctant sigh, I swing my feet to the cold floor. Ianna is sleeping soundly, lucky bastard. Grabbing my hoody, I sneak out the door. Wandering the grounds aimlessly like I used to after Asher left, only sober. Campus is so quiet at night. After an hour, I find myself in front of Asher’s door. He is drawing me here; I can feel his power pulling me in.
Where he’s been, why he left, and what he did to end up here now, so many unanswered questions. He makes me feel powerful and powerless all at once. It feels like this is where I should be. I press my palm on his door, feeling his energy inside. I could find him in a dark forest, blindfolded; his powers call out to me so loudly. With a sigh, I rest my forehead against his door.
“What is happening to me?” I love Silas. Am I only drawn to Asher because he is a fire chaser, or is this something deeper, soul mates? I shake my head at the thought, I need my head examined. There is no doubt in my mind that I love Silas, but here I am standing outside Asher’s door at 3am. This is so wrong. What am I doing here? Turning to leave, I feel like I’m cheating on Silas by being here.
Five steps, that’s how far I get before Asher's door opens and he steps out into the hall. He looks at me like I might not be real. Standing there shirtless with basketball shorts hanging low on his hips, he looks like a dream. My eyes travel over his hard body; fighting the urge to reach out and touch the art he has inked into his skin. I want to know all the stories behind them, why he is here, why he left. A million questions lay in the empty space between us.
“You're really here. I'd think it was a dream, but I haven’t been able to sleep since I got here,” he admits.
“Me either,” I respond. Running a hand through his short-cropped hair, a small smile playing on his lips. He likes that I can’t stop thinking about him that I snuck out to see him. This was a mistake; I should leave right now.
“Why are you here, Nyx?” he asks, the look in his eyes tells me he is afraid to hear the reason. I feel like a stalker.
“I don't know. I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk and, ended up here,” I confess, motioning to the hallway. Finally meet his gaze with an awkward smile. Yup, total stalker. He quirks an eyebrow up at me, and I know he doesn't believe I ended up on his doorstep by accident.
“I felt something pulling me here; can't explain it,” I blurt out before I even realize it. Asher smiles a huge, beaming smile at me, showcasing his sexy dimple, and instantly I relax.
“I was lying awake thinking about you. I wanted to see you so bad, but I didn’t think you would want to see me.” He once again runs his hand through his hair. It's sweet that he is nervous; it puts me at ease.
“Want to come in?” he asks.
Everything sensible in me screams no! “Okay,” I say.
His head jerks up; he's as surprised as I am. Before I lose my nerve, feeling brave, I walk past him into his room and sit down on his couch.
“I need answers and I have waited long enough. Is it just a power thing, this thing between us? Like an electric current running through my veins. I’ve never met another fire chaser aside from you,” trying to make sense of these feelings. He has turned my life upside down, again.
Asher shakes his head. “No, I have met other fire chasers, and never felt anything like this,” he answers with a smile, motioning between the two of us.
He walks over to me and sits on the coffee table directly in front of me. Our knees are touching, the buzzing silences and my whole body relaxes, and I exhale the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“Stop distracting me, I need answers, Ash. I need to know why you left without me, why you didn’t say goodbye.” I feel pathetic begging him to tell me why he stopped loving me.
“I was so lost after you left. I kept looking for you, kept going to those stupid parties thinking one night you would come back
for me. You never did,” I reply in barely above a whisper. The tears start flowing down my cheeks. “I was so alone, Ash. I… I did so many stupid things. God, I feel sick thinking about how close to rock-bottom I was. It broke me, you leaving, I thought you loved me. I gave myself to you and you left in the middle of the night. I felt like such an idiot for trusting you.” There, I laid all my hurt at his feet.
“Jesus, Nyx, I don’t know what to tell you. I needed to get out of this place. I wanted to be free; I couldn’t be locked up in here for no reason.” He hesitates. “You claim you loved me so much, but moved on the second I left this place. I've heard the stories. I came back and you are with another guy! Now you come here demanding answers from me. What the fuck, Nyx!”
He grows quiet, looking down at the band on his wrist that match mine. We are trying to rein in our anger. There is so much baggage between us; this all needs to come out, now or never.
“You left me here alone! No goodbye, nothing. I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again. Do you have any idea what I went through without you! Where were you? What happened to you out there, Ash?” I ask, reaching out and touching the tattoo branded on his wrist.
The shame of wearing your crimes on your skin is something I understand. I wish I could take away his pain. I wish I could wash away our crimes, our mistakes.
“I was in hell, fucking hell, living on the street like a rat. The things I had to do to survive...” He trails off, shaking his head, “I couldn’t put you through that. I found my way back to you, but you moved on, so it was all for nothing. I’m not the same person I was. Can you forgive me?” placing his hands on my knees. His touch feels like home, like the world slows down and I can finally make sense of everything.
Phoenyx Rising (Demigods Duet Book 1) Page 10
