The Soul's Alliance (The Agents Series Book 2)

by Wendy Knight

  "Navi said you would love it but if you don't we can exchange it or get cash—"

  It was a charm necklace with a small sapphire gem and a caduceus with a K on it. Caduceus was the symbol of the healer and I nearly cried. "It's so beautiful. I love it."

  He took it out of the box and draped it around my neck, his fingers brushing against the skin. His lips followed and my knees gave out. He turned me to face him, mouth hot against mine, his hands on my hips, roving over my back, tangling in my hair. He gently leaned me back onto my bed and fitted himself against me, braced on his elbows as his lips devoured me—my mouth, my neck, my collarbone. My whole body felt like it was on fire. He sat up, pulled his sweatshirt over his head, and tossed it out of the way.

  "K, people are showing up." Terrie banged on the door, startling us both.

  Bryson groaned. "Seriously, never alone. Maybe they won't notice we're not there."

  I laughed softly and kissed him, long and gentle. "I think they'll notice."

  Sighing, he pulled his t-shirt out of the sweatshirt and tugged it over his head before helping me up. "One day, Konstanz."

  "Promise?" I teased as he led the way out of my room.

  "Definitely."

  The next several hours were a blur of people and eating and cake and presents. Our little apartment was bursting with bodies, so many I felt like I was swimming upstream just trying to make it to the kitchen. "So Konstanz, where's the hot girl Bryson keeps telling us about?"

  It was some guy I didn't know, and up until that point, I hadn't even noticed Navi wasn't here. Because there were a million people in just my living room and not because I was a bad friend.

  I hoped.

  "Uh...she might be here somewhere..." I craned my neck, searching the wave of chaos.

  "Bryson said she isn't here. He's even tried calling her."

  Worry gnawed at my stomach. Navi wouldn't miss this, not if she was physically able to be here. "Did she answer?"

  He shrugged and I fought my way in the opposite direction, back to where Bryson had disappeared outside. It took me way longer than it should have to make it out my front door, and by then he was snarling into the phone. "Bryson?"

  He jabbed his finger into the screen. "What?"

  I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.

  "Sorry. It's Navi." He blew out a breath.

  "What's Navi? Is she okay? Did—"

  He cut me off. "I don't know, because she won't even bother to answer my calls."

  He was angry. Angrier than I'd ever seen him. "Hey," I frowned, wondering why it was him and not me throwing the fit. "She would if she was able. Her work—"

  "Her work is a joke. She uses it as an excuse for everything but this is crossing the line, Konstanz. She knows how much you hate birthdays and she couldn't even show up."

  "She was with me all day, Bryson. She did what she could."

  "So she knew she wasn't even going to come and didn't bother to tell me?"

  "Bryson, you're being unreasonable.” I sucked in a breath, fighting my own wave of anger. "You have a choice here. Keep standing in the parking lot ignoring the party and ruin your whole evening or forget about Navi for thirty seconds and come have a good time."

  The anger melted—not completely, but enough that he could function—and he nodded. "I'm sorry. I just can't believe she didn't show up. You would never have been MIA if the situation was reversed."

  I started to answer, to tell him that wasn't true—that situations arose and Navi and I both understood that—but he shook it off and shoved his phone in his back pocket before he brushed a kiss across my forehead. "Let's go back to the party."

  Three hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, Navi came back. The party was almost over. Bryson was coordinating rides for everyone too drunk to drive home, and Reese was somehow conning everyone left into cleaning up for us. "You. Take this garbage out. You over there, clean up all the red cups. Terrie, stop trying to kiss that guy, he wants to go."

  Navi slid past it all and went straight to our bedroom. I only caught a glimpse of her, hair disheveled and a bruise lining the whole left side of her face. By the time I made it through the crowd to the relative quiet of her room, she'd covered most of that bruise with makeup, and her blood-stained clothes were scattered near the hamper while she tried to pick up a sock with one foot so she didn't have to bend over.

  "What happened?" I shut the door behind me.

  "Busy night. I'm so sorry I missed it, Konstanz. I couldn't get away."

  I bent and retrieved the sock, which was the only thing not splattered with blood. "Are you hurt?"

  She sent me a grateful smile and tugged a clean shirt over her head before turning back to the mirror. "No. I'm okay."

  "Then where'd all the blood come from?"

  She hesitated. "It isn't mine."

  I didn't even know what to do with that information.

  Bryson burst through the door just as she turned away from the mirror. The smile died on her lips in the face of his scowl. "Hi...?"

  "What the hell, Navi? You missed her birthday party!"

  Navi looked at me, hurt in her eyes. "I tried to make it back—"

  "You know damn well that she hates birthdays—"

  "That's not a problem, Bryson," I snapped. We'd already had this conversation. She was covered in blood. Whatever had happened, it wasn't her choice that she hadn't been here.

  He continued as if I hadn't spoken. "And I invited all these stupid guys to fawn all over you—"

  Ah. That was the problem. She'd made him look bad in front of his friends.

  She turned her back on him to face me. "I'm sorry, Konstanz. I really, really am. I did everything I could to get here in time."

  I hugged her, glaring at Bryson. "I know you did."

  "You ruined her birthday!" he yelled.

  Outside, the chaos dimmed and I assumed everyone was listening intently to the fight in here.

  Navi's face paled, which was hard to do given how white it already was. "I tried to make it back in time," she whispered.

  "You didn't ruin my birthday. There were so many people here I don't think I would have seen you anyway."

  She glanced uncertainly at Bryson.

  "Hey, you helped me survive my parents. That means the world to me."

  A small smile lit the corners of her mouth, but it didn't reach her eyes. "This won't happen again," she said quietly.

  "Damn right it won't. You're supposed to be her best friend. She would never have done this to you," Bryson snarled.

  "Bryson, enough." Reese stood behind him, deadly calm as her dark eyes flashed dangerously. "Go home."

  Navi froze. I knew Bryson was doing this because he thought she'd hurt me, but she got it already. We all did. He was way out of line.

  He shook his head. "Right. I'm sorry. I'll go." With a half-look in Navi's direction, he said, "Sorry, Navi. Konstanz, I'm—I'm sorry. Looks like I was the one ruining everything."

  I watched him stalk out before I finally pushed past Reese and went after him. I caught him in the parking lot, just climbing into his car. "Are you safe to drive?" I didn't even know if he'd been drinking.

  He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I assumed I'd be staying with you tonight. Apparently not."

  "That was harsh back there, Bryson. You yelled at me earlier and you totally blew up at Navi. You have no idea what she's going through right now. It was way out of line."

  He ducked his head, peering up at me. "You, too, huh?"

  "Me too what?"

  "You're mad at me, too."

  "Hell yes I am. You don't get to treat people like that, Bryson."

  He sucked in a breath and reached out to me, hesitating like he thought I would reject him. I didn't. I came to him and laid my head against his chest, listening to his heart rage against his ribs. "I'm sorry. I don't—you're right. I shouldn't have acted like that. I'll apologize to Navi."

  "Thank
you. But you still don't get to act like that. Apologies only work once, Bryson. If you have to continually do it—"

  "They don't mean anything." He laughed once, bitterly. "I should know that."

  "You should?" I'd been attempting to lecture him but now I was curious.

  "Yes. My dad. He's big on the whole 'it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission' thing. It's why he and my mom split and why she won't have anything to do with us now. And here I am following in his footsteps."

  I traced a pattern against his skin, watching my fingers following his veins. "You realize what you hate about it, so don't do it."

  He sort-of half-laughed, but it was all derision and frustration. "Easier said than done."

  "You can't treat people like that, Bryson. Especially my friends." I leaned back to look at him. "I like you. I really do. But that—" I waved my hand back toward the apartment, "—is not okay."

  "It won't happen again. I promise. I'll apologize to Navi and I'll apologize to Reese and if Terrie was conscious enough to remember this tomorrow, I'll apologize to her, too. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was just—I thought I was protecting you."

  "I know."

  Navi met us on the sidewalk. "Konstanz, I am so sorry I missed your party." I tried not to notice that her hands were still blood-stained. "And Bryson—"

  He winced, expecting a blow that didn't come.

  "—Thank you. For having her back and calling me on my crap. Thank you for taking care of her."

  Bryson gaped at her. She squeezed my shoulder.

  "I'm heading back out. There was a problem. So...the room will be empty tonight. You know. In case you were wondering."

  She winked at me and patted Bryson on the shoulder as she passed him.

  Chapter 11

  Bryson

  Waking up with Konstanz in my arms was...heaven. After the way I'd acted the night before, nearly ruining everyone's night, to wake up where I did was beyond anything I deserved. But there she was, her head on my chest, light brown hair splayed across the pillow behind her. Navi, true to her word, hadn't come home, and it was after eleven when I woke up.

  I watched Konstanz sleep, memorized her every feature. The long, thick lashes swept across her cheeks, her pert little nose and the full, sinful lips. Her skin was flawless, her hair like silk. She had the body of a goddess.

  I'd fallen for her. I'd fallen damn hard.

  Whatever I'd felt for Navi was like a match compared to a fire storm. Konstanz was everything. Everything I'd ever wanted, everything I thought I'd never have.

  And she'd forgiven me, despite me being a complete ass the night before. Reese, not so much. But that was okay. I deserved that.

  Konstanz sighed and her eyes fluttered.

  I was in love with her.

  And I had no idea what to do with that information.

  "Hey," she smiled up at me, eyes sleepy as she snuggled closer. "How long have you been awake?"

  I squinted at the clock. "Over an hour."

  She yawned and stretched and I could feel every curve against my body. "You should have woken me. You're probably starving."

  Food hadn't been on my mind, but now that she mentioned it, yeah. I was starving. "I could eat," I smiled. "As long as we come back here after."

  She laughed lightly. "We'll see."

  DAYS were a flurry of work and trying to finish everything my dad needed so I could get back to Konstanz. All I could see, breathe, think of, was Konstanz.

  I was in love with her. Crazy, stupid, completely in love with her.

  I had to tell her.

  And pray she said it back.

  I'd never told anyone those three scary words before. I wasn't sure how to go about it, exactly, but I knew it had to be a big deal. Perfect. Everything had to be...

  Perfect.

  I planned dinner at my apartment. I went grocery shopping, I had candles and everything. The house smelled heavenly and I was just tightening my tie when I got her text.

  Another emergency at work.

  I was crushed, to say the least. The nerves that had driven me all day seemed to splinter into bitter shards of disappointment. But what could I say? I couldn't ask her to stay home from work. She lived for those animals.

  Instead, I put away the candles, changed out of my tie, and ate by myself.

  Or at least that was the plan, but Alec stayed home that night. He mumbled something about baseball season being over and Scout camp, which I didn't understand, but whatever. I moped around the house for a while, went to the gym, anything that could possibly distract me. The moon rose, set out across the sky, and it was past two when she finally wrote me.

  "I'm on my way home. Rough night. I'm sorry I missed dinner."

  Damn. That didn't sound good. I hesitated, staring at my phone. It was late. She was probably exhausted.

  But she was also probably hungry. If things had been bad, dinner wouldn't have been a priority.

  Before I could second guess myself, I boxed up everything leftover from our dinner and flew out the door. The streets were abandoned, hardly a car on the road, and I made it to her house in record time.

  Before she got there.

  I got out, too antsy to stay inside, and slid onto the hood. I didn't have to wait long before her little car pulled into the parking lot. For some reason, my hands were suddenly clammy and my mouth went dry.

  She put the car in park and got out, eyeing me. "I'm a mess."

  She was in scrubs. Her hair was in a bun, long strands escaping and tumbling down her back. I slid off the hood and went to her, gently pushing the stray curls away from her face. "You're beautiful."

  She blushed and ducked, peeking at me through the free strands. "Thank you."

  I tipped her head up and met her eyes. I hadn't meant to kiss her. I meant to feed her because I knew she was exhausted and starving. But it wasn't something I could fight. I couldn't even pretend I didn't want her.

  But I didn't let it get out of hand. I could feel the exhaustion in her body, and a sadness. The surgery hadn't gone well. "I brought you dinner," I breathed against her skin. "I thought you might be hungry."

  She smiled, leaning her forehead against my cheek. "That's so sweet."

  "Do you have time?"

  She didn't hesitate, didn't look at the sky. She nodded and let me lead her to my car. She snuggled against the leather and watched me come around my side. "We can go anywhere but the beach. Navi said we can't go to the beach at night. It's too dangerous."

  "Okay. How about parks? Are parks safe?" Astoria had many parks. They were gorgeous, especially at night without the ten thousand small children running through them.

  "Parks work."

  She was nearly asleep by the time I got there, and I felt guilty for keeping her awake. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you home?"

  She opened sleepy eyes and smiled at me and everything in my soul went weak. "I'm sure. A girl's gotta eat," she teased.

  I helped her out of the car and grabbed the basket, then followed her to the swings. She sank into the first one and kicked her feet. "I haven't been on a swing since I was a kid."

  I joined her, honestly unable to remember the last time I was in a swing. I assumed that I had been at one point or another, but not that I could remember. Probably before my mom had left. I handed Konstanz a dish and pulled her close to me, so her swing was trapped between my legs. She grinned. "I don't think this is how swings work."

  "It seems to be working for me."

  She took the offered fork and jabbed it into her macaroni. "Yes. Yes it does."

  We ate in silence until I realized she was peeking at me through her eyelashes. "What's up, Buttercup?"

  She smirked. "You have a job. I know you work. I have no idea what you do."

  Ah. I'd hoped we'd successfully maneuvered past that question, but apparently not. "Random," I said while my mind raced for an answer.

  She nodded, eyes closed. "This is delicious. I was thinking about my wor
k. And Navi's work because it's night and—you know. And then I wondered about your work."

  Damned by the train of thought.

  "I work for my father's company. He's a...bounty hunter...of sorts."

  Her eyebrows shot up as her eyes flew open. "You're a bounty hunter?"

  I laughed. "Not even close. I do his paperwork, a lot of research. It's actually what brought me to Astoria. We thought someone he was looking for was here, but by the time I got here to scout ahead for him, we lost the trail and I realized how much I liked not being under his thumb. He's...not a great guy. His bosses are even worse, from the sound of things. But he finds dangerous people and takes them off the streets, so I guess that's good."

  "You don't sound like you miss him much."

  I shook my head, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. We weren't close enough yet to scare her away with how absolutely dysfunctional my family was. "Not much. I talk to him as little as possible, actually."

  "What about your mom?" She seemed to have lost interest in her food and her light brown eyes were watching me fixedly.

  As always, mention of my mom hurt, but I hid it. "She left years ago. My dad's work...she couldn't handle it. She thought I was better with him and his money than with her. She walked away and never looked back."

  She reached out, brushing her fingers across my cheek. Her touch was warm and soft and everything I ever needed. "I'm so sorry."

  I shrugged, trying to be flippant. "Her loss. I was an adorable kid."

  She laughed softly. "I'm sure you were."

  This time, she kissed me, setting her food aside and twining her legs around mine so our swings were stuck close. She kissed my eyelids, my cheeks, my forehead, before landing on my mouth like she could possibly kiss away all the pain I'd been trying to hide. Pain I'd been hiding my whole life.

  I was lost. Lost in her smell, lost in her touch. I never wanted to move, never wanted that moment to end.

  The gasp, however, was unexpected.

  We jerked apart and I was on my feet. I hadn't seen another soul, there were no cars on the road, but there was definitely someone here with us.