Wings Horns and Shifters

by Lacey Carter Andersen

  And I can’t do that with her big eyes staring at me as if I’m some awful demon who’s about to tear her head off.

  The three of them took turns watching over her, worried she would run again. Even though no one said it out loud. But we can’t do this forever.

  His entire chest ached each time he looked at her, curled up in bed. Her wings gone. Her face pale and thin. She was a shadow of the woman he’d once known. Both on the inside and out.

  What happened to her?

  And how could I have let it happen?

  His cellphone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. Tristan glanced at him from the couch, and tension sung between them.

  Reaching into his pocket, Daniel looked at the blocked number, knowing immediately who it was. Swiping the screen, he answered. And waited.

  “Have you found one yet?” The familiar woman’s voice came, whispered and intense.

  Daniel took a deep breath. “No, we—“

  “Then what the hell are you doing! I told you time is essential. We won’t be able to keep our plan from Caine for long.”

  “We had a... complication.”

  If finding Surcy could be called that.

  “A fucking complication? Your brother has the one tool that can help us find them. And I gave you the information you need to use it. There’s no excuse for any hesitation. Find them! Before it’s too late!”

  “We...”

  But the dial tone said the mystery caller had already hung up.

  “Was it her?” Tristan asked, although his tone suggested he already knew.

  “She’s pissed.” Daniel stuffed his phone back in his pocket, feeling as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

  Which it did.

  They had a goal, an almost impossible task set before them. They had to find and save The Immortal Ten, the ten immortals who had once been the judges of mankind until Caine had mysterious overthrown them. People we only learned about a few days ago. Caine erased their memories, scattering them like lost souls throughout the world.

  Finding the immortals and returning them to power was the only way to change the world. And they were the only ones who could do it.

  Even though I’m the last person who should have this kind of responsibility.

  When Daniel and his brothers had first stared crawling up through the demon-realms after their deaths, his goal had simply been to return to earth and get back the life that had been taken from him. But this time not to fuck it up. But Surcy’s passionate desire to change the system had spread through them like a wild fire, and now, it wasn’t something he could simply walk away from. As much as he wanted to.

  But things were different now. In order to protect their plan, they would need to keep it a secret from Surcy. But could they do that?

  Probably not.

  And if she told Caine what they planned, it would put the entire Rebellion at risk and the future of mankind.

  Which we can’t do.

  Daniel glanced over at his brother. Tristan was staring in the distance, his expression far away.

  “How are we going to do this with her here?” Daniel asked.

  Tristan spoke slowly, as if this was exactly the problem he’d been considering since she’d returned. “She needs to be reminded of the cause, of why we do this. We should pursue the first of The Immortal Ten with her by our side. She doesn’t need to know the significance of the person, only that he or she needs our help.”

  Of course!

  It made perfect sense. One of the many differences between Surcy and the other angels was that she didn’t simply follow the brainwashing ideas of Caine. She didn’t just see the world in black and white. She saw all the areas of gray and often got lost in them, just as the humans did.

  Mark came back into the room, and Tristan stood, leaving to take his place by Surcy's bed. His brother said little as he grabbed a drink and collapsed onto the couch.

  Too bad I’ve got to make this crappy day even worse for him. After all the pressure he already feels.

  “Our mysterious informer called.”

  Mark stiffened. “What did she want?”

  “To find out why we haven’t started looking for the immortals yet.”

  His brother touched the silver chain around his neck, a nervous habit he’d had as long as Daniel had known him. “I wish we could focus on Surcy and forget all of this, but we can’t. It’s too important.”

  “I know.”

  “But Surcy...” The pained look on Mark’s face was heart wrenching.

  “Tristan came up with a plan.”

  Daniel explained their brother’s idea, glad to finally have some good news to share.

  Mark looked relieved. “That’s the perfect way to save the immortals and get our Surcy back.”

  But will this really bring her back to us?

  Something was bothering Daniel, and he finally realized what it was. “You know... that’s not the best way to bring her back to herself.”

  There’s another better way, and we all know it.

  An image came to him, of laying Surcy back on the bed, and spreading her pale thighs. Of reaching out to stroke her wet folds while she chanted his name.

  He loved to drive her wild. He challenged himself to make her orgasms longer and harder each time. And he knew exactly what she liked.

  He’d place his mouth on her hot core and lick her slowly, then press hard kisses that made her entire body spasm. And when her legs locked around his head, he’d suck her clit.

  She’d beg him for release, and he’d slide his cock into her slick passage and thrust into her until she exploded. And then, and only then, would he allow himself to release. To come into her eager body.

  Shit. He sat up straighter, adjusting his erection. Going a year without sex does strange things to a man.

  “What are you saying?” Mark asked, his cheeks turning red.

  He was imagining fucking her too!

  “You know damn well what I’m saying. She needs to be touched. She needs us to make love to her. That’s the only way to bring her human side back to life.”

  Mark rubbed his face, looking flustered. “I’m sure sex with us is the last thing on her mind.”

  But we can change that. “That’s only because we haven’t reminded her of how good it was.”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “She just went through hell. We are not talking to her about that now.”

  Maybe not tonight. But tomorrow is soon enough.

  Daniel rose and went to the wet-bar, making himself a scotch. “Our Surcy was a sarcastic, arrogant, funny-as-hell woman who wasn’t afraid of anything. But until we awaken the human in her, she’ll be the distant, thoughtful angel who can’t connect with anything or anybody. You guys can pretend all you want that pulling her into our quest will be enough, but it won’t be. So you'd better accept that now.”

  “We need to be patient.”

  Daniel walked across the room and clinked his drink against his brother’s. “To patience.”

  Not that I have any intention of waiting longer than I have to.

  “Get some sleep. Tomorrow we pursue the first Immortal.”

  Mark shrugged. “I’m not tired.”

  “Neither am I.”

  So they sat together in silence, their arrogant, cocky demon shell peeled back for just a little while. Tomorrow, they’d have to go back to fighting the deadly creatures who tortured the Immortals.

  And try to survive.

  All while trying to win the love of an angel.

  If I was the praying kind, I would.

  But Daniel knew better. The only one who could fix their situation was them.

  I think we might be fucked.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Surcy dressed in jeans and a pale blue sweater. The clothes seemed familiar enough that she knew the brothers weren't lying. She had lived here with them. But what had she been to them? Even more important, what had they been to her?

  Their lover, i
f I believe them. But what was our relationship like?

  I guess time to find out.

  She pushed her sleeves up and put on her sneakers, ready to get moving. She’d rested well, showered, and felt a little less lost and frightened. Time for breakfast with the three handsome demons.

  Taking a deep breath, she walked out into the living room.

  The three of them were seated around the table, talking softly, but they stopped when she came in. Feeling self-conscious, she crossed the room and sat at the remaining empty seat. Mark poured her a cup of coffee and Tristan piled a plate high with French toast, bacon, and eggs.

  After her first bite of the French toast, she looked up to find them watching her closely.

  “How is it?” Tristan asked.

  She shrugged. “It's good.”

  His shoulders fell.

  “What?” she asked, a wave of emotion sweeping through her.

  The big man’s mismatched eyes stared at her for a moment before speaking. It was disconcerting how it seemed he could see straight through her. “French toast used to be your favorite food... when you felt more human. You said the sweetness overwhelmed your senses.”

  Frowning, she took another bite. It tasted like slightly sweet bread, and that was all. “It’s fine.”

  The big man’s long, dark hair fell forward as he sipped his coffee. He didn't look at her again.

  Her chest ached strangely.

  “Am I really so different than when you knew me?”

  Daniel snorted. “Not in the beginning. You were cold as ice and annoying as hell.”

  “But then,” Mark added. “You changed, and you started loving everything life had to offer.”

  She took a deep drink from her coffee, relishing the heat. “What caused the change?”

  Mark cleared his throat, looking at his brothers. “Well,” he said carefully, “you started to help people in need.”

  “And you realized that physical touch reminded you what it was like to be human.” Daniel's tone was harsh, defiant.

  Her cheeks burned. “Is that how things began between us?”

  “Yes,” Daniel said, locking gazes with her. “You begging me to touch you. To remind you what it was to be human.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said, raising her chin. Daring him to argue.

  He didn't disappoint her. “Don’t kid yourself. All an angel wants is to feel alive again. To pick up a piece of French toast and feel the butter melt in your mouth. To have the sugar dance along your tongue. To experience the food, not just eat to eat.”

  Her pulse picked up as he spoke, and her gaze slid over from his black sport coat, black shirt, and black pants. He looked like some rich businessman preparing for work. His clothes were almost ridiculously perfect.

  “Food’s never been that important to me,” she argued, having a feeling she hadn't cared that much about food when she was human.

  Daniel smirked. “But you always loved sex.”

  “Daniel...” Mark began in warning.

  “No,” she said. “It’s fine.”

  “Ignore him.” Mark reached across the table and patted her hand gently, as if she was a fragile child.

  Which irritated her.

  “Not to worry. Daniel strikes me as the kind of man who uses corny lines to get women into bed all the time, so I won’t take it seriously.”

  Tristan laughed, but Daniel looked pleased at her rebuttal. “Maybe there’s some of the old Surcy in you after all.”

  She stiffened. Am I changing?

  “Speaking of which,” Mark said, clearing his throat. “We wanted to discuss something with you. Before you... left, you assisted us on our missions. Would you like to continue doing so?”

  Missions?

  “And what exactly would that entail?”

  “Helping people who need us.”

  She raised a brow. “People or demons?”

  “Are you saying demons aren’t people?” Daniel asked, leveling her with a steely gaze. “Because then you might as well say angels aren’t people either.”

  “You know what I meant.”

  Mark put down his fork. “It's complicated, but I would say that we assist people, demons and magical beings of every sort who are being tortured by creatures more powerful than themselves.”

  She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  Daniel's fork clattered on his plate as he stood up. “Maybe instead of just talking about it, we should show her.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Surcy took Tristan and Mark’s hands, and they took Daniel’s. Am I really helping demons with a mission? What if they aren’t telling me the truth about their plan? Can I actually trust them?

  Images flashed in her mind. Of the pictures on the walls of their house. Of her smiling and laughing. Of her kissing them. Is there any life in which I could love evil men? In the deepest regions of her heart, she knew she could not. If they were evil, she wouldn't have loved them.

  “Surcy?” Mark’s ice blue eyes locked onto hers. “If you’re having doubts—“

  “No, I’m not.” She reassured him.

  Why did I say that?

  “Do you know where to take us?” He asked, still watching her too-closely.

  She nodded, the image he’d pressed into her mind still fresh. With angels, they didn’t need to know the address or the name of where they needed to go, all they needed was an image. If someone concentrated really hard on a place, an angel could see it. And she had a perfect picture of where Mark wanted to go.

  Taking a steadying breath, she teleported them.

  A second later, they were standing on the roof in a city far from their own. A fog lay heavy over the crowded buildings as far as she could see, but the smell of the salty ocean came to her, light and teasing.

  “So what is it that we’re looking for here?”

  Mark pulled a necklace from beneath his shirt and stared down at it. She saw a flash of a silver pendant with swirling colors that moved within a large stone for a brief moment before he wrapped his hand around the gem. Squeezing it tightly, his breathing became rapid.

  Something’s wrong.

  She reached out a hand for him, but Tristan caught her wrist. Her reluctant gaze moved to the big man. He shook his head in warning.

  What’s going on? What are they not telling me?

  A second later, Mark gasped and his eyes flashed open.

  She took a step back, her heart pounding. His blue eyes were now swirling silver pools. He looked without seeing and his mouth moved, speaking words no one could hear.

  The gem fell from his hand, landing against his chest, and the swirling silver disappeared, replaced by blue eyes once more. He would have sagged to his knees, but Daniel caught him.

  “What did you see?” Daniel asked, his voice tense.

  Mark took several deep breaths, blinking slowly. “I—I saw her. I know who she is and where she is.”

  She?

  Daniel grinned and clapped him on the back. “Then, let’s go find her.”

  “Is this the woman we’re here to help?”

  Daniel and Tristan exchanged a glance, but Mark spoke first. “Yes, and it’s very important. She needs our help."

  He turned and led them all toward the door on the roof. He pulled the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

  “Locked.” He grinned back at her just before he pulled again. The metal on the door creaked as he bent it back and yanked the door open.

  Wow. That was... I don’t know.

  Her cheeks flamed again. She bowed her head as she walked past him, trying to hide her embarrassment.

  Did I just find his strength attractive?

  The demons followed her down the dark stairs, the only sound their steps on the concrete.

  When they emerged onto the street below, Surcy hesitated. The sidewalks were filthy, but more than that, a general sense of danger and misery hung over the streets like a cloud.

  “This way,” Mark said, lead
ing them to the left.

  They passed a homeless person lying sprawled on the sidewalk. Down the first alley, six people crowded around a fire burning in a trash can. Trash crunched beneath their feet as they walked. A chill settled beneath her skin that she couldn’t quite shake.

  “What is this place?” she whispered.

  Daniel answered. “It used to be a thriving city, before it was cursed.”

  “Who would do such a thing?"

  His gaze slid to hers, but before he answered, she saw them. Angels walked in a group along the opposite sidewalk. Their wings folded gracefully on their backs, although hidden from the sight of the humans by magic.

  “There’s your answer.” Each of Daniel’s words were laced with bitterness.

  She frowned. “That can’t be true. An angel’s job is to protect humanity from the cruelty of demons, but not to interfere with their lives otherwise.”

  Daniel smirked. “And yet, they do it all the time. All at the whim of that bastard Caine.”

  One of the angels turned and looked straight at her. She stiffened, waiting to see what they would do. Surely they would recognize one of their own kind, even without her wings. Yet his gaze moved on.

  Her heart twisted. Were my wings all that made me an angel? What am I if even my own kind don’t recognize me?

  And then an even more disturbing thought made a shiver run through her body. It’s a good thing they don’t recognize me, since now they see me as an enemy.

  “Are you all right?” Tristan asked.

  She folded her arms over her stomach. “Of course.”

  “It’ll get easier,” he promised.

  For reasons she couldn’t explain, his words brought her comfort.

  They walked until they left the main part of the city and moved to a neighborhood filled with tiny, rundown houses. When they reached the end of a cul-de-sac, Mark gestured to one particularly awful looking house.

  “She’s there, in that house,” Mark said, pointing.

  “And what will we do once we see her?” Surcy glanced between the house and her demons.

  Mark spoke as if to himself. “We'll save her from the angels.”

  Chapter Sixteen