Touching Fire (Touch Saga)

by Airicka Phoenix

  His eyes hardened. “Perhaps, but my one and only job is and always will be to protect you. You always come first.”

  I couldn’t help it, I raised an eyebrow. “Does that hand of protection extend to all your kids, or am I just lucky? Your mom came to see me,” I said when he stared at me in confusion. “She wanted to know if I knew where I belonged. She also made it very clear that you were making a big mistake.”

  He cursed, raking a hand back through his hair. “I’m sorry, Fallon. I should have realized…”

  “Why did you bring me here?” I swung my arms open wide. “I don’t belong—”

  “You do!” he snapped unexpectedly, making me jump. “I have been alive for more years than you can possibly count. I have seen kings rise and fall. But do you know what I learned? That monarchies change. They grow and adapt with each new generation. I have reigned this long because I believe in those changes. I have moved my people into each new century without hesitation. Now, do you honestly believe that I wouldn’t find a place for you here in my world? Do you think that I have not thought of this moment for seventeen years? I have and I have crossed all my T’s with pain-stricken accuracy. I know what I’m doing, Fallon. This world, by the time I am finished, will be as much yours as it is mine.”

  It was hard not to fall into the promises he was making, to not blindly accept that he could make it all better. But there were facts missing that I couldn’t overlook.

  “What about Isaiah? Can you make this his home, too?”

  Ashton sighed heavily. “As far as we have come, we are not there yet. Isaiah is still human despite his abilities. I can’t change many millennia of prejudice.”

  “But why is there prejudice? You guys aren’t even on the same planet.”

  “It’s like humans like to say, the grass is always greener on the other side.” He grinned at his own joke. “We all want what we can’t have.”

  “I always thought sin walked with humans, like side by side,” I said.

  Ashton laughed. “Could you imagine if we were on the same plane?” He sighed and moved to the sofa. He sunk down on it and motioned for me to do the same. “Us with them…” He shook his head. “The chaos, the mayhem … the bloodshed would destroy us all. Mankind would never survive.” He looked at me and it was with a depth and heat that shot straight through me with an urgency that sent a cold chill down my spine. “Riots, Fallon. Blood on the streets. Could you imagine all our powers, unfiltered and unrestrained just rampaging through humanity? Greed, wrath, envy and pride, tearing through the streets at will?” He sucked in a sharp breath. “We are contained here.”

  “But you can still cross over.”

  He nodded slowly. “Only Sires and heirs can travel between the worlds, because we are the only ones in possession of a rawel and even that can only be decided by the Guild with a unanimous vote. We are also bound by our powers here never to physically cause harm. There are times when an heir gets out of control and you have mass riots and wars, but they are quickly taken under hand by their Sires, restrained and things revert. People forget. We all move on. A rawel isn’t freely given to all members of Agartha.”

  I released a humorless chuckle. “You would think being unleashed on mankind would be something a sin would want. Unlimited sinning and all.”

  Ashton snorted. “We all have a place and a duty. To become overzealous too quickly would only be the downfall of what we all need to survive. If there is no man, then there is no sin. Everything must be done in small doses. That is not to say that there aren’t those who wish for more. There is always the few, but there are still enough in our mix to outvote them. Also, that is why we have the guard. They make sure things like that don’t happen.”

  “If you’re so against humans, why did you make house with my mom? Did she not smell human?”

  This time, when he laughed, it was slivered with pain. “No. She smelled like oranges and that blasted chamomile hand lotion she was so fond of.” His gaze dropped to the cushion between us.

  “I don’t understand you,” I murmured. “You say you loved my mom and you married her, had a family, but you think humans are beneath you.”

  “I do not think they are beneath me!” His eyes were big and round against his appalled expression. “But I have learned the error of my ways. Your mother taught me that. No matter how good your intentions, or how hard you fight to make it work, they will never understand. To them, everything is either good or evil and you can only be good or evil. They don’t understand that we don’t have a choice in the matter. Both are in us and we are both.”

  “But Isaiah already knows all this about me,” I said. “He knows everything about me and he accepts me—”

  “But he won’t, not forever.” His lips thinned as sorrow took hold of his features. “I only want to protect you, Fallon. Nothing hurts worse than rejection from someone who claims to love you.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to justify what my mom had done, or why she did it. I couldn’t speak for her.

  Ashton didn’t seem to need an explanation from me.

  “I begged her not to go,” he said at last, after what felt like hours. “I told her that I would fix things. That I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, but she’d made up her mind and nothing was going to change it back.”

  “She said you had secrets.” I recalled vividly the last conversation I’d had with my mother, only mere minutes before she was brutally snatched away from me. “And that you were dangerous.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “She wasn’t kidding.”

  “No, she wasn’t.” He dampened his lips, and then bit down on the bottom half. “What happened between your mother and I, it wasn’t something I walked knowingly into, Fallon. I would have been happy to simply be with her, but she longed for children and I … I was too weak to resist.”

  “So you went to Garrison.”

  He nodded. “I had known Terrell years before I met your mother. I knew what he was doing, or attempting to do. I was fascinated. It was barbaric, but I could see the progress in each new experiment. Terrell Garrison is a brilliant man,” he said, probably having noticed my disgust. “He is far beyond his time. I never had any doubt that he would one day do incredible things.”

  “Garrison is a madman with a god complex,” I said, not bothering to conceal my hatred of the guy.

  “Yes, but look at what he has accomplished.”

  My eyes narrowed. “You sound like you admire the guy.”

  Ashton nodded. “I do. He has managed to achieve the impossible. You would need to be blind not to be slightly impressed.”

  “I’m not impressed. He’s evil.”

  Ashton chuckled. “So am I. So is your Isaiah. That creature he became in the corridor yesterday, there was no good in him. No mercy. No kindness. Garrison once believed what he was doing was for the greater good, that he was helping mankind.”

  “What changed?” I bit out.

  “I think the death of his daughter.” He lowered his gaze to the sofa. “His wife, Abagail, also took her own life. I think the grief of two losses so close together was what destroyed his sense of purpose. It’s something I can almost understand. After your mother left with you, it took a great deal of time for me not to fall apart. I had a region to rule and siblings just waiting for the first hint of weakness to swoop in and … well, doesn’t matter now.” He looked at me. “If you’re waiting for an apology for what I did, you won’t get one. Not from me. If I could have you again, I would without hesitation, because you were never a mistake, Fallon.”

  I believed him. As much as I wanted to be angry with him and wanted to hold on to the grudge that had been festering inside me for seventeen years, I couldn’t and that infuriated me. Why couldn’t he be some lowlife jerk who used me to make hybrid killing machines? Why couldn’t he have been awful to my mom, forcing her to leave? Yeah I got that he wasn’t innocent, but I couldn’t fault him for his reasons either. He had loved my mom. It showed every
time he spoke of her.

  A gentle hand patted me lightly on the knee, bringing the room back into focus. Ashton offered me a half smile.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He removed his hand after a gentle squeeze. “I’m actually not here to discuss that. I want to talk to you about Isaiah.” His gaze pinned mine. “He really must be returned to his world tomorrow at the latest, not only because his humanity will begin deteriorating soon, but because it’s only a matter of time before the guard appears on our doorstep, looking for him.”

  I knew it was coming. Ashton had told me often enough that Isaiah had to go back. I just hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

  “We’ll be ready,” I murmured.

  Ashton started. “We?”

  “Yes. We. Isaiah and I. I can’t stay if he goes,” I told him when he simply stared at me.

  “Because you think you need his blood?”

  Something in the way he said it, like I was being ridiculous, had my spine stiffening.

  “I don’t think I need his blood,” I said, barely moving my lips. “I know I need it, but that’s not the only reason. We’re partners. We watch each other’s backs. I won’t let him face Garrison alone.”

  “It is not safe, Fallon, not with the passing just around the corner.” Ashton exhaled and forced ten fingers back through his hair. “It’s only a matter of time someone realizes who you are and what you can do.”

  “I don’t have a choice,” I replied. “If Garrison gets his hands on Isaiah … there won’t be a world left because I won’t even bother keeping the monster at bay. He is everything to me,” I added in a much softer tone. “I love him.”

  I didn’t know how else to say it. I felt guilty for hurting him, but his world wasn’t mine and I wasn’t sure it ever would be. I was too used to being human. It was the only thing I knew how to do.

  I rose to my feet. “I should get ready if we’re leaving tomorrow.”

  “Fallon…”

  I offered him a small smile. “It’s okay. We’ll see each other again, right?”

  His clothes gave the faintest rustle as he got to his feet. His hands rested lightly on my shoulders. He drew me forward. “Of course we will. This is your home.”

  “Thank you.”

  The kiss he brushed against my brow was tender, almost as tender as the hand he skimmed down my hair. He drew back and searched my face.

  “There is still so much I need to tell you.”

  “Maybe I can call you from time to time?” I suggested. “I mean, assumingly this place has phone reception.”

  Ashton chuckled. “No, but I will find a way.”

  “I am sorry to interrupt.”

  We twisted around to find Celia watching us from the doorway.

  “What is it?” Ashton asked.

  Celia never glanced at me as she spoke to her husband. “Emeric is here to see you. He insists that it is urgent.”

  “All right.” He glanced down at me. “We’ll finish this later, okay?”

  I nodded and watched as he hurried from the room, leaving me alone with Celia.

  She offered me a small smile. “How are you feeling, Fallon?”

  “Honestly?” I gave a weak chuckle and threw up my hands. “I have no idea. It’s all been so much. I kind of feel lost and numb.”

  Her face took on that sympathetic look, right down to the slight head tilt, pursed lips and hands folding delicately in front of her. “I wish I could help ease your mind.”

  “I wouldn’t say no to a giant box of chocolates.”

  She laughed. “I will see what I can do.”

  No sooner had she waved her slim fingers and slipped out of the room when Archer stalked in. He inclined his head to Celia before swinging his tall frame through my door.

  Couldn’t a girl get a few minutes alone? Why did everyone think now was the time to visit?

  “Good evening, Princess.” He did that mock bowing thing. “I have come to whisk you away.”

  “Really?” I half moaned. “I’m really not up to—”

  “Boss’ orders,” he interrupted.

  So much for taking a nap and pretending my brain wasn’t about to explode.

  I took a step before stopping myself. “Wait. Which boss?”

  He smirked. “Prince Charming of course. Now come along. I have other things to do that don’t involve fetching cranky girls.”

  “I’m not cranky!” Okay, so I was a little cranky. After everything I learned in the last two months, I think I earned a little crankiness. “Lead the way,” I muttered, waving him towards the door.

  He didn’t. Instead, he folded himself at the waist and spread his arms open wide for me to go ahead first. Any other time, I would have argued he was being condescending, until I realized I didn’t care. I wanted to go down, see what Isaiah was up to and then return to my room for a much needed nap. God I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I felt absolutely drained, and the sun was still fairly high in the sky.

  “Ashton says you’re next in line to be a Sire. Is that true?” I asked, needing something to distract myself from falling asleep standing up.

  He paused and turned those shaded eyes to me, at least I thought he did. It was impossible to tell. “It is.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that when my father is ready, he will step down and I will take his place.”

  “As the ruler of Ira?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you an only child, or the eldest? Is that how you got the position?”

  “I am neither.” He dropped his chin to watch our feet. “Ashton was the one to suggest me to my father.”

  “Why?”

  The corner of his lip turned up, revealing a hint of tooth. “So many questions.” He sighed. “He believes I’ll make a good ruler.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “Does anyone?”

  I shrugged. “Guess not. So how old are you?” I couldn’t help asking. “Are you married? Do you have kids? Why are you here? Why do you always wear those sunglasses? What’s with the—”

  “Whoa, slow down, Princess. I think I just got word-lash.”

  I grimaced. “Sorry.”

  He folded his arms, his expression amused. “What’s with the third degree?”

  “I’m curious and they’re legitimate questions.”

  Snickering, he turned and started for the door. “Aye, they are, but you have to ask yourself, are you ready to hear the answers?”

  I thought about it for a moment as we walked through the corridors. “I think so.”

  “All right.” He cleared his throat. “I’m a couple thousand, give or take a century. I’m not married. I have no children, at least none that I am aware of. I wear the glasses because my eyes are very sensitive and no, I won’t take them off.”

  I blinked. I hadn’t been expecting complete honesty, or forthrightness. I was expecting an argument.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Because Ashton asked me to be.”

  “And do you always do what Ashton tells you to do?”

  He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Most times. He’s like a brother to me, but more than that, I owe him my life.”

  “Why do you call him Ashton? And who chose Archer? Why don’t you like your name?”

  He turned his head in my direction. “You are just full of questions today.” He faced forward once more. “He asked to be called Ashton and I chose Archer and I have no problem with my name. It’s just simpler when we do business with humans if I use a name that isn’t mine.”

  I frowned. “Why?”

  He sighed. I couldn’t see it, but he may have also rolled his eyes. “Because, Princess, a name has power. Giving it to just anyone can be dangerous. I’m not a Sire like Ashton. My name could be used against me.”

  “How?”

  “Good lord, woman!” he exploded with an exasperated huff. “It just can be. In the hands of the wrong person, your na
me could be power. They can bind it so you do everything they ask of you.”

  “Then why did you give me your name?”

  For several long moments, he said nothing. We walked in silence in some unknown direction. Finally, when we reached the top of a stairway, he stopped and faced me.

  “Maybe because I wouldn’t mind my wife having power over me.” While I started at this blunt response, Archer burst out laughing. Maybe at my stunned, slack-jawed expression. When he sobered, he continued to grin widely at me. “Take it easy, Princess.” He turned towards the stairs and started down them without waiting for me. “It’s usually around humans we have to worry. They’re always trying to find answers to life’s big questions. Those of our kind aren’t into the whole controlling each other thing.”

  I narrowed my eyes, my shock having worn off. “Do you come across humans often?”

  He cast me a glance from over his shoulder. “Who do you think helps your father with those human children?”

  I blinked, quickening my pace. “You help Ashton?”

  He shrugged. “When I can.”

  “What do you do? Do you pop into Garrison’s compound like Night crawler?”

  His fair eyebrows furrowed over the frame of his glasses. “Who?”

  I shook my head quickly. “Never mind. How do you do it?”

  Still eyeing me, he replied, “Like any normal person. We walk through the doors.”

  My shoulders drooped in disappointment. I was expecting something a bit more … dramatic.

  “That’s it?”

  He snickered. “Sorry to disappoint, Princess. The only way our kind survives is if the humans don’t know about us. That’s easier to accomplish if we don’t use our powers on a whim. Besides, it’s against the rules. What Ashton did at the park … if anyone were to find out … he’d be in a whole world of trouble. But that’s nothing compared to the shit he’d be in if people were to find out about you. He could get executed.”

  I swallowed the shiver that threatened to grip me. “Why are you so cool with it? And who set these rules?””

  “Because I’ll back anything Ashton does and the Guild did.”

  “Even if you don’t agree with it?”

  He turned his head forward as we reached the bottom. “Just walk down that way until you reach the end,” he said rather than answer me. He jerked a nod to the corridor on the left.