Unchained

by J. Lynn

  “Damn.” That was really weird.

  “What made you check into this?”

  “I saw some pictures of his mom,” she admitted. “You know how all our moms were, right?”

  There was a silence. Then he answered, “Coldhearted and soulless.”

  “Exactly,” she responded. “Except in every single picture of his mom, she was smiling. I mean, really smiling. I don’t know. It just struck me as odd.”

  “I really don’t know what this could mean. If Michael’s mom was murdered, then were the Fallen behind it?”

  Lily wished she could ask Danyal about Michael not showing up in the Book, but she wasn’t supposed to know that. “And why would they kill his mom?” she finished for him.

  “You should bring this to Nate. You never know. It could be a coincidence, or it could mean something.”

  Lily nodded and then frowned at herself. Not like he can see you nod, idiot. “Yeah, I will.” She pushed on the lobby doors. “Thanks, Danyal. Be safe out there.”

  “Same to you,” he responded.

  Once inside, she went in search of Nathaniel but wasn’t able to find him. She headed back to her room, digging out the file on Michael again. Scanning through it a second time, she still didn’t find anything that stood out to her.

  Sitting down on the bed, she tried to piece together the connection between Michael’s mother’s death and the fact that his name never showed in the Book. Luke would probably tell her there was no connection at all, but she couldn’t shake the feeling there was, and she was missing it somehow.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nathaniel stared down at the Contract on his desk. “Interesting,” he murmured.

  Is that all he would say to finding out Micah was snooping around his office? Disappointed, Lily’s shoulders slumped. “I figured you’d be more intrigued with the news.”

  He arched a brow at her. “Intrigued is not a word I would use, Lily. Disappointed and angry are better-suited words. I have known Micah for decades. To suspect someone like him is not something I can take lightly.”

  She tucked a leg under her. “It has to be someone in the circle,” she pointed out. “Those are the only ones who know where the Book is.”

  Nathaniel tapped his fingers. “I will talk with him. See what information I can get. I’ll admit I hope your suspicions are incorrect.”

  “If they are, then it only means it’s someone else you trust. No matter what happens, it isn’t going to be pretty.” She bit her lip, rubbing her palms over her knees. “Is that Michael’s Contract?”

  “Yes. Have you mentioned it to him yet?”

  She laughed. “No. I figured I’d leave that to you.”

  Nathaniel leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. “I’ve sent Luke to retrieve him. I think it would be good if you could hang out here for just a few more minutes.”

  She didn’t like the sound of that. “Why?”

  His lips curved into a smile. “Lily, you grew up knowing about the Contract. You accepted it. Hell, you worked toward it. It’s not the same with Michael. It’s going to come as a shock.”

  “Oh yeah, good point,” she murmured absently. She hadn’t really paid much thought to the idea of the Contract being offered to Michael. Now that she did, she kind of wished she had somehow escaped this meeting. She couldn’t imagine him not freaking out once he heard the terms. “It’s pretty heavy stuff. Are you really going to offer it to him now?”

  “No, but I think he should have a good idea of what it is.”

  She wanted to laugh, but Michael arrived with Luke trailing behind him. Nathaniel motioned for Michael to sit. Luke could have pulled up a chair, but he chose to hover behind her.

  She inspected Michael. He was dressed in the customary sweats and shirt. Poor guy looked like he could use some sleep. But although a little ragged around the edges, he was still something to look at. Especially with his hair grown out a bit. He wasn’t tatted up, and his masculine beauty seemed much more refined than the wilder look the other male Nephilim favored.

  Lost in her own thoughts, she realized she had missed a good part of the conversation—and all of them were staring at her.

  “What?” she asked.

  Luke leaned over the back of her chair, grinning. “Nate asked if you had any input on the rookie’s training.”

  “Oh! Um,” she fumbled as she turned to Nathaniel. “He’s doing really well, picking up the jujitsu and grappling training faster than I thought he would. He does need to improve on his knife fighting, but that’s expected. Also, his blocking could improve.” She stopped, sparing Michael a smile. “He has the determination and stamina of a Nephilim. He will make a good fighter.”

  Michael looked like he’d fall out of his chair.

  “Good,” Nate answered. “Luke?”

  “He still needs improvement,” he said bluntly.

  She tipped her head back. “You spend what—an hour or so a day with him? How can you even answer that?”

  Luke cocked a brow. “Nate asked for my opinion.”

  Ignoring him, she looked at Michael. His brows had knitted together. “So, how do you think you are doing?” she asked.

  “I’m doing damn good. Take into consideration that a week or so ago I would’ve thought you all were on crack,” he retorted. “Not to mention my training consists of me getting my ass handed to me on a regular basis, and I am still standing.”

  Nathaniel had remained quiet up until that point. “That may be, but in reality, out on the streets your ass won’t be handed to you if you fail. You will die.”

  A red flush traveled over Michael’s features, and his lips thinned. “I know I can improve.” He leaned forward, meeting Nathaniel’s gaze with his own level one. “Lily is right. I need better blocking. I need to not end up on my back every five seconds, but I can get this done. I can do this.”

  At the moment, Lily was sort of proud of him. Like a mother who just saw her child do something right.

  “I don’t believe you can do this,” Nathaniel said. “I believe you can master this.”

  Michael once again looked startled. “Thank you.”

  He continued. “I know you are curious about the Contract and what it entails. I think at this point in your training, it’s a good idea to discuss what it is.”

  “What? Are you for real?” Luke exploded. The chair Lily sat in rocked forward.

  She pushed his arm off the back of her chair. “Jesus,” she muttered crossly. “Not necessary.”

  Luke stood straight, crossing his thick arms. “Nate, he’s only been training for little over a week. He didn’t even know he was Nephilim until recently. There’s a lot for him to learn, to experience before he can accept the Contract. He’s nowhere near ready for such a commitment and responsibility!”

  Nathaniel regarded him calmly. “Is there anything else you wish to add?”

  “Oh, give me a few seconds, and I’m sure I can come up with a dozen or more reasons why he shouldn’t be offered the Contract.”

  Michael shot to his feet. “Is this a conversation you’d rather have without me here? I have this feeling it doesn’t matter if I’m here or not.”

  “I happen to agree,” Luke responded, forever the smart-ass.

  Michael whirled on him. “Man, what the fuck is your problem?”

  Lily sighed wearily. This wasn’t going as planned. “Michael, sit down. Luke, shut up.” It was a sad day for Nephilim around the world when she played mediator. “If you guys want to pull out your dicks and see whose is bigger, can you go ahead and do it so we can move on?”

  The men looked at her like she had sprouted two heads, but Michael did sit down at least. Luke seemed like he was going to do as she asked, which she seriously hoped he didn’t. That was something she didn’t want to see. Ever. “Luke?”

  He stared at her for a moment. “Whatever. Go ahead.”

  “Thank you for your permission,” Nathaniel said evenly. There was a glint in his eye
s that warned Luke against any other outbursts. “Michael, once your training is complete, you will be paired up with hunters. Nephilim like Lily and Luke.”

  She hoped he didn’t pair Michael with Luke anytime soon. One of them wouldn’t make it back.

  “What is this Contract exactly?” Michael asked.

  She slid a curious glance at Nathaniel. How was he going to explain this? Eternal life and all that jargon wasn’t going to be easy.

  “The Contract is an agreement between you and the Sanctuary. It entails your duty to the Sanctuary, and what’s expected of you as a hunter. Hunters do not guide souls. You’re the hand that moves against evil. You’ll agree to stand against the Fallen, the Nephilim that have turned minion, and the disposal of humans who have become possessed by souls. You agree to protect your fellow Nephilim—even if it means with your life.” He paused long enough to take a breath. “You will be rewarded greatly; monetarily on Earth and spiritually in Heaven. You shall want for nothing. There is no limit to what you are paid.”

  That was the God’s honest truth.

  Lily didn’t know how much she had in her bank account. She stopped counting about two years ago. She could buy and sell half of the DC elites. Money was never an issue.

  “There would be no need for you to keep your job as a police officer unless you want to. Danyal is the example. He has successfully done both jobs for years, and he has proven to be an invaluable asset.”

  There was no hesitation. “So where do I sign up?” he asked.

  He has no idea. Nathaniel had left out some very important details. “Michael, it’s not your kind of lifetime agreement—like twenty years till retirement and you get to spend your golden years playing golf down in Florida.”

  He looked at her blandly. “Gee, really?”

  “You won’t get the golden years. Once you sign the Contract, you will not age. It’s forever.” She stopped with a slight frown. “Or till you die. Whatever. But it’s not just a job. It’s a duty you will always have to uphold.” Something she was desperately in need of being reminded of. “Your life will become your duty. It is everything.”

  Michael stared at her, clearly unsure that he had heard her correctly. “Not age?” he repeated dumbly.

  She nodded. “The Nephilim who accept the Contract do so knowing they could walk Earth for eternity, fighting the Fallen and their creations.” She tipped her head at Nathaniel. “God knows how old he is. Luke is well over eighty.”

  Michael’s eyes widened. “Shit…”

  “What Lily is trying to say is the Contract is not something you can take lightly,” Nathaniel advised. “It is until death in most cases—and that death could be eons from now. Very rarely do we ever revoke the Contract once it is made. If you accept this, Michael, you will have a very long life ahead of you.”

  Michael paled by several degrees. He sat back in his chair, blinking rapidly. “Wow.”

  It didn’t pass by Nathaniel. “I think that is enough for now. You can have the rest of the afternoon and evening off. Take some time and relax. I don’t expect an answer from you anytime soon.” Nathaniel paused, meeting Michael’s wide-eyed stare. “Frankly, not until you’ve made your first kill will I even consider your answer. This is the kind of life you have to experience before you can decide it is what you want.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  Lily glanced down at the floor. She had never asked that question. Signing the Contract had been all she ever wanted. When she was younger, she idolized the ones who accepted the Contract, leaving every night to hunt the Fallen and their creations. To her, they were like superheroes, and she wanted to be one of them. Now, hearing Michael ask a question she never considered, she was curious as to how Nathaniel would answer.

  “There are many Nephilim who don’t accept the Contract and are an asset to the Sanctuary. Most are guides to souls, while others have assumed positions within the Sanctuary’s more public sectors. We even have a few Nephilim politicians. They age like any other person would.”

  “So they don’t hunt?” he asked, confused.

  “Yes, but it is not often,” Lily answered softly. “It’s very dangerous for them. See, when you take the Contract you are gifted with certain things. Not just the fountain-of-youth stuff. You will be healthier, resistant to most injuries, be able to jump and run faster than you ever believed possible. You will be stronger in battle, quicker in your attacks. The Contract makes you a better hunter. Without it, you are just a human going up against creatures that aren’t.”

  “Why would anyone choose to hunt and not take the Contract? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  The clock on the wall ticked ten times before anyone answered. Surprisingly it was Luke who did. “That’s why most do it, but if they have their heart set on hunting while remaining as human as they possibly can, then so be it.”

  Michael shook his head. “I don’t get it.”

  “It’s like this.” Lily leaned forward, placing her hand on his arm. “The ones who want to remain as human as possible want more out of the life than this…duty. Some want to marry, want to grow old. Guiding souls is as important as hunting, and it affords you with a chance to have more of a personal life.”

  “So, if I accept this Contract, then I don’t have a life?”

  “You have a different life,” she said. “When you don’t age, it kind of raises a lot of questions. Eventually you will have to quit the police department. Not to mention, you don’t meet the greatest people when you’re hunting. The stuff we hunt are kind of like cockroaches—they only come out at night, and so do we. Those who don’t accept the Contract tend to meet others and live out their lives blissfully in love.” The last part was a tad bit sarcastic, even for her.

  He looked at Lily, his eyes piercing. “You didn’t want that? Someone you could love and live your years with? Have a life with?”

  She removed her hand as if she’d been burned. His question caught her off guard, bringing the image of Julian to mind. She looked away, uncomfortable by the intensity in his eyes and the image of Julian she couldn’t push away as much as she tried. “It’s just not what I chose.”

  …

  A week ago, Michael didn’t believe in immortality. Shit, he hadn’t believed in fallen angels and Nephilim, either. And if he was honest with himself, he probably didn’t believe in angels at all.

  It was hard for him to wrap his head around the idea of living forever—or at least living until something killed him. And it seemed things were always trying to kill the Nephilim.

  What kind of life could he have if he signed the Contract?

  He shuffled from his bed to the small dresser and picked up the jar Rafe had given him a few days earlier. Unscrewing the lid, he tilted his head back as the smell of peppermint nearly knocked him over. Supposedly the salve was good for aching muscles and bruises. The goopy balm was cold and caused him to flinch, but the icy burn went to work at easing the sore muscles in his sides immediately.

  He tried distracting himself from the meeting he’d just had, but nothing in this room could keep his attention long enough. If he had a soft woman under him, that would be a different story. Then he could forget everything.

  A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. “Yeah?” he yelled.

  The door opened, revealing a smiling Remy. His thick dreads were tied back, but one fell forward, bouncing off his cheek as he strode into the room. “Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.”

  Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Michael snorted. “Dealing, I guess.”

  The easy smile didn’t falter. “Heard you learned about the Contract.”

  “Damn. Word travels fast here.”

  Remy leaned against the wall, folding his arms. “That it does. The Contract is some heavy shit. Not an easy call.”

  “If you’re wondering if I’m going to sign it, I really don’t know. I mean, the increase in strength and the crazy shit I’ve seen some of you do seems cool, b
ut the whole living forever part? I don’t know.”

  Remy laughed. “That’s the funny thing about mortals. Most think they’d jump at a chance to live forever, but when presented with the option, it’s not as great as it seems.”

  “Did you sign the Contract?” Michael asked, curious.

  “Yep, some fifty years ago.” He flashed another broad smile. “I’m aging well.”

  “Damn.” Michael blinked. The man didn’t look a day beyond thirty, and that was pushing it. “And Luke’s really close to eighty?”

  “Yep. There are some who signed the Contract hundreds of years ago.” Remy tipped his head to the side. “This freaking you out?”

  In a way, yes, but out of everything else he’d learned, he figured this was the least crazy. Maybe. “What about Lily?”

  “She signed the Contract when she was twenty-two or twenty-three. So around three or four years ago. She’s the baby of the group. Well, except for you if you take the Contract. Then you’ll be the baby.”

  Michael ignored the last statement. “So that’s why some of the guys around here are protective of her.”

  Remy laughed. “Lily can take care of herself. It’s not her age that has them running around like idiots.”

  “Julian?” Michael said, remembering his first day here. “See, man, I don’t get that. He’s a fallen angel. Why would he want to protect Lily?”

  “Who knows?” Remy stretched. “It’s been like that ever since she started hunting. Probably wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for Anna.”

  “Anna?”

  Remy glanced at the open door before he continued. “Anna was one of us. A really damn good hunter and one the sweetest gals you’d ever meet. You’d have liked her.” The ever-present smile faded from his face. “She was nothing like Lily. Don’t get me wrong, Lily is…well, Lily. But Anna was always smiling, and she was the type of girl you’d want to take home to momma, you know what I mean?”

  Michael nodded. He couldn’t picture taking Lily to a nice restaurant, let alone home to meet his mom, if she’d still been alive.

  “Anyway, she got too close to a Fallen. No one really knew about it until Luke caught Anna with the fallen angel. Nate forbid her from continuing to see him, but she didn’t listen. Anna could see the good in anything. She felt sorry for the minions, the deadheads.” He shook his head. “The fallen angel eventually killed her. And it was pretty bad. Luke found her shortly after. Killed the bastard responsible, but it tore him up pretty badly. All of us, actually.”