Emerge: The Judgment: (Book 2)

by Melissa A. Craven

“Aidan?” Her voice trembled as she fumbled with his jeans.

  “I got it, baby.” He kissed her slow and deep, pushing her hands aside as he shed the rest of his clothes.

  The feel of his lean, hard body nestled fully against hers was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time.

  “We don’t have much time, Allie,” he murmured, nipping at her throat, just below her ear as he draped her legs around his hips. I want to go slow and relish every moment of this with you … every part of you.

  We don’t have time. Aidan, I just … I need to feel close to you. Her power churned in her chest as warmth flooded her body.

  I don’t want to hurt you, baby. He looked down at her, concern filling his dark eyes.

  You won’t. I’m your equal; your power won’t hurt me.

  “I wasn’t talking about that part, silly.” He chuckled as he moved over her, resting his weight on his elbows.

  “Oh. Right. Um … I think I can handle it.” She arched up against him, her hands resting on his lower back. She wanted to explore every inch of him too, but they only had these few stolen moments.

  He moved so slowly, so carefully, like she was made of glass. His lips were warm and firm against hers; her hands glided over his strong back, eager to bring him closer.

  More. She wanted to forget the horrible images that continued to flicker through her mind. She wanted to feel anything but the boiling anger and fear in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to feel love. And in Aidan’s arms was right where she knew she would find it.

  You’ve always had me, Lex. He moaned, his breath hot against her fevered skin.

  Sensation bloomed inside her as they began to move, fluid and sure, like they’d done this a thousand times. He knew what she wanted and he gave it to her and then some. Their minds completely open to each other with no secrets between them, she felt his pleasure as well as her own. Her breath came faster, his sexy growl a deep rumble in his chest, his hands all over her body. Allie had never felt so much all at once. For so long she’d resisted what he’d offered so freely. She’d held his love at bay, too scared to risk the heartbreak she knew would kill her if she ever lost him. But this—she would never get enough of this … of him.

  “Aidan.…” She clutched him as her body responded to his.

  “Allie.” His voice came out in a strangled rasp. “I love you.” He pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes like simmering gold in the darkness, staring into the green fire of hers. They breathed the same air, gazing at each other in complete awe of what passed between them.

  Aidan pulled her against his chest, holding her close. “If I had a choice, I would never let you out of this bed.” He kissed her softly. “If I had a choice, I would lay here all night, just holding you, making sure your first time was memorable.”

  “It was definitely memorable, Aidan.” She traced the lines of his face, examining every detail—the curve of his lips and the golden sparkle of his black star sapphire eyes, so full of love she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to fathom it.

  “As memorable as Agra?”

  “What a stupid night that was.” She laughed.

  “We could have saved ourselves a lot of drama if we’d just done it then,” Aidan said. “Think of all the opportunities we’ve missed over the last six months.”

  “I had a boyfriend then—I’m just glad he wasn’t there that night. I had no business throwing myself at you like that. And in front of everyone too.” She was mortified all over again.

  “I blame Liam. You’re immune to his poison, but you definitely are not immune to his intoxicating song.”

  “I blame Liam too.” She nodded. That night had been sort of a celebration. Sasha was about to leave for her job with the Senate and everyone wanted to have a going-away party to cheer her up. But when Liam sang, coupled with the hardcore shots she and Aidan had sneaked from the bar, Allie got sloshed.

  “Drunk Allie is super cute, though.” Aidan smiled at the memory.

  “Drunk Allie apparently has zero inhibitions.” She and Aidan had danced with their friends, but she wasn’t subtle in her hints that they should go make out somewhere.

  “I wasn’t sober either, but I didn’t want to take advantage of the situation. I knew you would regret it and then you’d never forgive me.” Aidan sighed.

  “Well, I didn’t make turning me down very easy.” By the time Liam had come looking for them, the situation was intense and he’d interrupted at just the right time.

  “I’ve never been so happy and so pissed to see Liam in my life.” Aidan rolled over, tucking her under his arm.

  “I think we scarred him for life.”

  The morning after, Allie hadn’t been hung over, but she was mortified and demanded no one ever speak of it again.

  “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here, Aidan,” she whispered.

  “I’m just glad you finally made it. Just promise me you’re not going to freak out and take it all back once you’ve had time to think about it. I honestly don't think I can handle that.”

  “I’m all in, Aidan.”

  “Me too. But we have to go, Lex.”

  “I know.”

  “When this is all over. I’m taking you to bed and we’re not coming up for air for an entire weekend.” His arrogant smile lit his face and she laughed.

  “Don’t laugh, baby. I’m dead serious.” He pinned her beneath him, kissing her so hard her toes curled and she gasped into his mouth, feeling the familiar warmth spread through her body.

  “Damn,” Aidan growled. “Shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Come on, babe. We have to go.” Allie wiggled out from under him, reluctant to leave their happy bubble. After this was all over, who knew how this would affect their relationship, but she had no regrets. Aidan was always the guy for her. She just hadn’t been ready to stand beside him as an equal. She didn’t want to be the baggage he had to hold up beside him. But she thought she was ready to stand on her own now and he was the one she wanted standing beside her.

  She grabbed her clothes and darted for the bathroom.

  “Need some help?” Aidan called behind her.

  “Something tells me that would be counter-productive.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  Allie rushed to get dressed, checking the time on her phone. They had to get back before Liam came looking for them.

  “Besides…” She stepped back into the room with her protective gear on. “…I think my parents are up now, so we should behave ourselves.” Allie paced across the room, stuffing her weapons belt into her bag.

  “Those are from last year?” Aidan asked.

  “What, my fatigues? Yeah.”

  “Were they that tight?” Aidan stepped behind her, running his hands over her hips.

  “Are you saying I gained weight?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m saying I think you got curvier in all the right places. You look hot. I’m a little tempted to shove a sweater over your head.”

  “Aidan. We don’t have time for this, silly.” Allie grabbed her hip-length leather jacket and zipped it up. “That better?”

  “Slightly.”

  Allie grabbed her bag in one hand and Aidan’s hand in the other. “Let’s go check on my parents and make sure they’ll be safe. Then we have some a-holes to deal with.”

  ~~~

  “What are you going to tell your mom?” Aidan met Allie at the kitchen door, like he’d just arrived for an early breakfast.

  “The usual, I guess.” Allie shrugged. She knew her mother wouldn’t ask too many questions.

  “Where are you kids off to so early this morning?” Carson asked when they joined her parents at the bar.

  “Kayla’s … having a party tonight,” Allie lied.

  “Isn’t it a little early for a party?” Carson looked at his watch.

  “We’re helping her with all the setup,” Aidan offered, shooting Allie a “you-suck-at-lying” glance.

  “Yeah, but
… her parents will be there. Um, I think we’re just going to stay there tonight and then go shopping tomorrow. So I won’t be home till Sunday night.”

  Wow, you really do suck at this.

  “Aidan.” Lilly smiled. “Your mom was going to tell me about her next advanced yoga class at her studio and I seem to have misplaced her number. Can you give it to me?”

  Allie watched her mother’s transparent attempt to distract Aidan and she turned to her dad with a question on her face.

  “My office. Two seconds and I’ll let you get to your ‘party.’” Carson steered her toward his office across the living room.

  Allie blocked Aidan, hoping he wouldn’t push her for answers later.

  “What’s up, Dad?” She watched as he shut the door and turned on some background music to drown out their voices.

  “I don’t know what you’re up against, but I’m pretty sure it’s not a party.” He crossed the room to his desk and pulled a gun from his top drawer. A Beretta.

  “I’ll assume you know how to use one of these by now?” Carson kept his voice low enough that Aidan wouldn’t be able to hear.

  Allie nodded. Guns weren’t a typical weapon of choice for most Immortals, but Emma had made sure she knew how to use one. Target practice was a huge part of her training over the summer and was the reason her aim had improved so much recently.

  Carson crossed the room and quickly went through the instructions for loading the gun and removing the safety.

  “I don’t want a repeat of last spring. So whatever it is that had you so upset in the middle of the night last night, I’ll feel better knowing you have this as an added precaution.”

  “This might not help where I’m going,” she whispered. She hadn’t even considered that her parents would have heard her screaming when she woke from the worst nightmare of her life, but of course they knew. They always seemed to be one step ahead of her.

  “I’m not worried about your kind, sweetheart. I know you and your friends can take care of yourselves. I’m worried about my kind and whatever they did that gave you that scar.” He traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips.

  Allie gasped in surprise. Her parents shouldn’t be able to see her scar.

  “Relax, Allie. I just want you to be safe. Shoot first and ask questions later. Aim for the kneecaps and take care of yourself.”

  Allie nodded as she tucked the gun at her back.

  “We love you, honey. Always know you can call us for help. You may find us more capable than you think.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Allie stepped back into the living room, her mind a whirl of possibilities. Her parents knew more than they should, but they also knew how to pick their moments. Maybe one day they wouldn’t have to.

  “Your parents really don’t ask a lot of questions, do they?” Aidan asked as they pulled out of the driveway and back toward his house. They would slip back into the underground there, hoping they weren’t missed. She would get back in time to meet Liam for the long ride up to Imogen’s house. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving Aidan behind.

  “They trust me,” Allie said. “Which is why I hate lying to them so much.”

  “It’s for their protection, Lex.” Aidan nodded toward the two cars parked at the end of her driveway. She wasn’t sure who was guarding her family, but she knew they were friends of Gregg’s and that was good enough for her.

  “I know.” Allie thought about the gun that was now resting at the bottom of her bag. Somehow, knowing it was there made her feel a little better about everything she would face in the coming hours.

  ~~~

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY

  Armed to the teeth and fidgeting in her protective gear, Allie sat in the backseat between Ming Lao and Daniel. Liam drove and Darius sat beside him. It was eerily similar to her frightening trip through the night nearly a year ago.

  “Stop squirming,” Ming said. “You’ve done well, Allie. We’re sufficiently prepared. We’ll all get through this, thanks to you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” Allie muttered. A thousand things had to go right for this to work and she was the only one who could orchestrate it all. If she missed even one minor detail, this intricate house of cards she was trying to build would come crashing down around her.

  Where are you now? Allie asked.

  Two feet farther than the last time you asked. You need to chill, babe, or you’re going to drive us both crazy.

  Let me know when you’re in the water.

  Oh, I’m pretty sure you’ll know.

  “How long until we’re there, Liam?” Allie asked.

  “It’s nearly a three-hour drive, little one. We just left.”

  She trembled, feeling a chill creep into her bones.

  “Are you cold?” Daniel asked.

  “A little,” she lied. She felt like she’d taken a dive into an ice bucket. Aidan and the others were in the lake now. It would be a quick swim in the frigid water before they would meet Vince.

  You okay?

  Freezing off some rather important parts, but I’ll live.

  How are the others?

  They’re doing okay. I’ve done what I can to give them a little extra warmth, but I don’t want to overdo it.

  Did anyone suspect you guys were sneaking out?

  No. The yard has always been a last-resort escape route. It’s been there so long, no one really thinks about it anymore. I just hope Vince is not waiting up there with a bunch of his buddies.

  He won’t be.

  Almost there.

  Allie could feel Aidan’s relief when he broke through the thin layers of ice at the surface, but the chilly winter wind was almost worse than the swim.

  She could see through their connection as Vince approached in Aidan’s boat.

  The bastard stole my boat?

  Borrowed. With my permission.

  When they were out of the water, shivering and near hypothermia despite Aidan’s efforts to keep them all warm, they quickly shed their wet clothes and changed into the dry clothes they’d brought with them in a waterproof pack. Allie watched from Aidan’s perspective as they donned their gear and weapons. She knew Vince would never ask questions. But Vince wasn’t alone.

  Why the hell would he bring Kayla? Aidan practically snarled. He still cared a great deal for Kayla and didn’t want her anywhere near the danger they faced.

  Allie should have anticipated that Kayla wouldn’t want Vince doing this alone. She must have been there with him when she called.

  Just let it be what it is. They’re giving you a ride. That’s all.

  I don’t like this.

  I never expected you would.

  ~~~

  Allie sat back, eyes closed, relieved Aidan and the others were on their way. She needed to go over every last detail in her mind now, but she had to fully block Aidan first. She couldn’t chance letting him see what she saw. It would overwhelm him to see every possible scenario of what might happen to his family. And there were things about herself—about what she might have to do—that she never wanted him to see.

  But she couldn’t just block him this time. She had to go into the box in her mind where he’d never been. She’d never attempted it before, but when she felt confident that she was completely alone with her thoughts, Allie ran through everything again and again. Darius in the orchard. The barn. The beach. The house. Aidan on the lawn. Sasha by the gates with Quinn. Chloe with her parents. Graham keeping the enemy’s communication confused. She couldn’t mess this up now. Not when her gift had spent the last several weeks preparing her for this.

  Why didn’t I see it? She was young and her gift was new, but it was all right there in front of her face for weeks. It had taken her way too long to put the pieces together.

  “Are we there yet?” She cringed at how obnoxious she sounded.

  “Almost, little one.”

  “So what’s the plan while we wait for tonight?” she asked.

  “Darius and
I will wait in the barn with you,” Liam began. “Emma and Jin will wait in the tunnels near the house so they can help when the attack begins. Ming and Daniel will be hiding near the beach cottage so when they run from the house they’ll have immediate backup waiting. George will wait up near the gates to alert us all when they arrive. Lucien, Erin, and Dean will wait for the attack and follow. We want to give them a false sense of security that their surprise attack is still a surprise. The goal will be to bring the fight to the orchard where we can contain them all and bring this thing to an end quickly.”

  “It won’t work, but it’s a good plan for starters,” she said absently as the constant parade of images raced through her mind. One day she might be able to absorb it all, but right now she could only catch glimpses here and there.

  “What do we need to do to make it work?” Daniel asked.

  “I don’t know yet. Just run with your plan until I tell you otherwise. Listen when I tell you something needs to happen and do it. And … you know … try not to let them capture you,” Allie said dryly.

  “Will do.” Daniel gave her a half-hearted fist bump.

  “I know it’s killing every single one of you to put so much faith in such a young gift, but I promise, I’ll do my best.”

  “We know, Allie,” Ming said softly. “No one expects you to shoulder all the burden of this night. We will heed your instructions, pray for the best possible outcome, and no one will hold you accountable for any of this.”

  Allie nodded, but she wondered if they would really feel the same way after it was all over.

  ~~~

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-ONE

  “Stop pacing, Allie. You’re making me nervous.” Darius pressed Allie back to her seat on a bale of hay.

  “Sorry,” she muttered. They’d arrived at the barn just before sunset. It would be a long wait, but she was happy they’d had the time to prepare. Everyone involved was strategically moving into the area, taking their places to wait for the coming attack.

  It was bizarre, seeing the orchard in the waking world. Everything, down to the finest detail, was exactly as she’d seen it in her dreams. That alone was enough to truly make her see just how powerful she was.