Noah snorted. “The defensiveness would make some sense if you told us what you were talking about?”
“There’s a Christmas service at McEwan Hall at Edinburgh Uni every year. The Hall is huge and stunning and it has an old organ. They hold a proper Christmas service with these amazing choirs.
It’s kind of beautiful.”
Eden thought it sounded wonderful. “And you’re embarrassed by this why?”
“Because I’m not religious. It’s weird for me to go.”
“No it’s not.”
Tobe smiled at her and turned back around.
Cameron grimaced and threw her a look. “I’ve been telling you it’s not weird for five years and you still sneak off to it with a furry hat pulled down over your head so no one recognises you. Eden tells you it’s not weird and suddenly it’s not.”
Eden and Noah shared an amused smile.
Tobe shrugged. “Well she is the authority on weird.”
Eden’s smirk slipped and Noah smothered a laugh with a cough.
“Thanks, Tobe, real nice.”
Her ‘cousin’ shrugged without looking back. “Don’t mention it.” They made their way to their destination in relative quiet, letting Eden soak up the atmosphere of the city. Less than ten minutes later and Tobe and Cameron were leading them into a glass front building with two giant metal giraffes outside. The centre had a cinema and a bunch of restaurants and clubs inside it, and they stood for a while trying to agree on where to eat. Eventually they decided on an Asian fusion restaurant and settled around the table in a comfortable silence as they perused the menu. Cameron asked Noah a couple of questions and Eden relaxed as Noah answered them amiably. She’d noticed that Noah had been a little cagey around the cute Neith over the last week. Cameron was a naturally flirty person and she had kind of got the impression that his flirtatiousness with her was bothering Noah.
That made her stupidly happy.
Eden, however, didn’t put any stock in Cameron’s flirting. She had been watching him and Tobe over the last few days and was beginning to think there was something going on there. Yeah Tobe had said that they had tried dating and quit because it was too much like kissing her cousin but the way they acted around each other had Eden questioning that story. Tobe excused herself to go to the bathroom and Eden watched with amusement as Cameron followed the girl with wistful eyes. She looked at Noah and was surprised to see he had noticed too. They shared a knowing smile that made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Flushing, Eden quickly picked up her glass of water and waited for Tobe to come back to the table. Sure enough, Tobe kept glancing at Cameron surreptitiously, just as she had been doing all week. For the first time ever Eden wanted to meddle. She chuckled inwardly at the thought. She’d never had a group of friends before, people that she cared enough about to want to stick her nose in where it didn’t belong if it meant bringing two people she liked together in happiness. Her eyes widened. Jeez, when had she become such a cheesy dork? She found herself looking at Noah again. Maybe she had always been a cheesy dork underneath it all. Back in her life in Salton her friendship with Noah had meant the world to her. She would have done anything for him then, even with the soul eater inside of her battling for her conscience. The memory of her depth of feeling for Noah was so sharp, and suddenly not so clouded by his duplicity now that she was Ankh and fully understood what that all meant. When Noah looked up at her, his violet eyes smiled at her and she lost her breath for a moment as she drowned in that familiar look. It was a look that said he cared. And he had looked at her like that for nearly the entire time they had been friends in Salton. For the first time, Eden began to see how difficult it must have been for him to lie to her.
The smile in Noah’s eyes dimmed until he was gazing at her with the most intense expression –
almost as if he had seen the light bulb go on in her head.
A kick to her shins broke their eye contact and Eden glanced sharply at Tobe. The girl was grinning suggestively at her, her eyes flicking between her and Noah questioningly. Eden made a face at her and then lowered her gaze to the menu. “I’m thinking lemon chicken. What are you guys having?”
Dinner was fun. Now that Noah had relaxed around Cameron the two of them discovered they had the same taste in music, literature and movies. Eden swore she and Tobe could have walked away from the table and they wouldn’t have even noticed their absence. Instead she sat and had a similar conversation with Tobe, the boys only interrupting if they heard them talking about a band or a movie they liked. There was a lot of teasing sarcasm flying around and Eden was amazed by how much fun she was having.
So this was what it was like to have friends.
The movie selection was a little disappointing so they eventually decided on a comedy about a group of guys in the 80’s. There was some laugh out loud moments but Eden had seen funnier. They trailed out of the cinema back into the light of the centre discussing the film with the lukewarm reception it had received.
“God, it brought back memories,” Noah said, running a hand through his hair and shuddering. “So glad the 80’s are over. The hair, the clothes, the music. Not cool.” The others laughed but Eden drew to an abrupt halt.
Noah was like… really seventy! Why was that just hitting her? Cyrus and Val were really old, yeah, but Noah? Well, he acted so ‘current’ that she kind of forgot that he had lived through World War II and the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam and… disco.
“What is it?” Noah asked turning back to her, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.
Eden gave him a little smile. “I was just thinking you’ll have to tell me about it sometime.”
“What the 80’s?”
“Your life.”
His eyes brightened and his mouth quirked up into a sexy half smile. “Anytime.”
“Oh, out on a double date are we?” an annoying sugary sweet Celtic voice shot through Eden. She closed her eyes and groaned . Shona. The four of them turned as Shona and Mark strolled over to them. Arms crossed over her chest and hip cocked, Shona slid a pointed look at Tobe and then Cameron. “Oh silly me, of course not.”
At the wounded, tight look on Tobe’s face, Eden’s eyes narrowed. What was that all about? Shona knew something. Enough to hurt Tobe’s feelings with it. Oh, to hell with making a good impression.
Eden snapped her gaze back at Shona and the girl flinched under her regard. “What about you, Shona? It’s getting late; shouldn’t you be working your corner already?” Eden ignored the choked laughter from behind her and the expressionless Noah beside her as Shona bravely (or foolishly) sneered at her, “Whore jokes? How original.”
“Well, I like to stick with the classics.”
“You know, it’s no wonder McLeish has a problem with you. I thought his attitude was peculiar because you’re an Ankh, but you’re such an unbelievable brat I can see why he can’t stand you.” Eden tried not to let the comment affect her and was about to verbally bitch slap Shona when Noah stepped forward. “What are you talking about?”
Immediately Shona’s eyes widened, a tiny spark of fear glittering in their depths at Noah’s sudden interest. “Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
At his rumbling tone, Mark nudged his girlfriend to respond.
“Um,” Shona gulped. “I just overhead him telling my dad that he thought Eden was a problem.” Anxiety shot through Eden. Crap, was Councilman McLeish the betrayer? Please no. She glanced at Noah for his reaction and watched the tendons in his jaw flex. “The only problem I see right now is your lack of respect for the Princeps’ daughter.”
At the thickening tension, Mark coughed uncomfortably, his olive skin flushing dark with embarrassment. “Uh, we’re just here to see Drop Dead Zombie 2.”
“Ehhh nooooo.” Shona spun on him, glaring. “The Diary.”
“I thought-”
“Don’t think.” She threw her palm up to interrupt him. “Ugh, I need the bathroom. The air in here is messing up my hair. Get the t
ickets will you. And get me a Diet Coke, no ice. Diiieet. No ice. Also a little box of salted popcorn, not sweet like last time. It was sweet instead of salt and they gave me crap for trying to change it. Oh and make sure it’s fresh and hot. I don’t want any of that soggy rubbish.” With that she flounced off in search of the ladies room, leaving them all in stunned silence.
Eden quirked an eyebrow at the easy-going Mark. “Dude, your girlfriend is so far past high maintenance even the janitor quit.”
Chapter Fourteen. Playing with Fire
Dwight Carey was the kind of guy even an unconscionable son-of-a-bitch like Teagan despised. He was a Warrior of Neith who had worked for the Ankh Princeps for six years as part of his security team in his mansion in Weston. Teagan watched him pace nervously back and forth before him, sweat sliding down his pale face, his hands scrunching into his brown curls. Betraying someone as powerful as Cyrus was bound to make a man anxious.
“You got the money?” Dwight asked him, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and guilt.
Teagan took another drag of his cigarette and leaned back against the packing crates. He could tell his utter calm was making the Neith more nervous; it sprinkled his soul with a dash of salt and Teagan was enjoying the extra flavour. Flicking some ash, he glanced around the dark warehouse.
He’d come all the way to Boston for this information. So far Dwight had been feeding him the right info but Teagan needed to know his guilt hadn’t gotten the better of him. He nudged the briefcase at his feet forward along the dusty concrete floor. “It’s in there. You get it when I’m done grilling you.” Dwight suddenly stopped. “I got all the info you need man.” Teagan shrugged. “I’m just curious about a couple of things. Indulge me.”
“What kind of things?”
“No need to be nervous, Mr Carey… not if you’re telling me the truth.”
“I am.”
You better be. The flare of anger nudged at his hunger and it wrapped its hands around Teagan’s windpipe with its pleading. Take him, take him now. “Why did you betray Cyrus to Cosmina Arcos.
To me?”
Dwight gulped. “Does it matter?”
Teagan smiled lazily, his grey eyes flashing in warning. “It always matters.” The traitor shifted on his feet, not quite able to meet Teagan’s gaze. “I need the money.”
“What, Cyrus of Persepolis only pays minimum wage?”
“No, I make alright money. I just… he’s so superior. They all are, the Ankh. Think they’re better than the Neith. They treat us like the poor effing cousin when we out-populate them thousands to one. They wouldn’t exist without us. Turning their nose up at us… piece of…” he trailed off, kicking at the floor in disgust like an eight year old denied a toy.
Teagan snorted and took another puff of his cigarette. He couldn’t believe it. “So… who was she?”
“What?” Dwight snapped.
“The Ankh bitch that turned you down?”
The Neith coloured and looked at the briefcase. “Valeria. She’ll cosy up to Cyrus and all those other uppity decrepit hasbeens but she-”
“Laughed in your face huh?” Teagan couldn’t help but chortle. Stupid son-of-a-bitch had actually thought he was in with a chance with Valeria of Corsica. Idiot deserved everything that was coming to him, betraying his kin over a woman who didn’t even want him. The confession, however, made Teagan feel better. As a man who had been spurned by the woman he loved, he understood how much possession it could take over your motivations. Dwight Carey was going to give him the correct information.
And he was going to die for it.
Putting the cigarette out, Teagan lowered himself to his haunches and unlocked the briefcase. He let it fall open so Dwight could see the million dollars in cash. The treacherous little creep’s eyes widened.
“That will get me the hell out of dodge once the Princeps finds out who leaked the info.” For a moment Teagan almost considered letting the Neith walk out of here with the money. Either way he’d die. Ryan had told Teagan all he ever needed to know about Cyrus. Dwight Carey could move to Timbuktu and Cyrus would still hunt him down and destroy him for his betrayal.
No! The hunger cried within. Mine. Take.
Nah, why lose a million bucks just to teach the little asshat a lesson. A lesson that Teagan himself was perfectly capable of teaching.
“So.” Teagan stood back up to face the Neith, eyeing him now as one would an opponent. Dwight was tall and wiry, but like all Neith he was pure muscle. He held himself like a man who knew how to take care of himself. Plus, he was one of Cyrus’ own security, which meant he was probably exceptionally well trained. The thought of it exhausted Teagan. He really couldn’t be bothered with an actual fist fight. He mused over the best way to take him out. “Where is my darling betrothed?” Dwight looked around them again to make sure they were completely alone. “Scotland. Edinburgh to be exact.” He took a few tentative steps forward and held out a piece of paper. “It’s got the address she’s staying at. She’s living near the Scottish Councilman and their training centre so the place is crawling with Neith. She’s Ankh now, Teagan. You better watch your back.” So Eden had changed. Well… it looked like he had some work to do. Rather than irritating him, Teagan felt a rush of anticipation at the thought of the job before him. He grinned and took the piece of paper from Dwight, double checking the address before tucking it into his pants’ pocket. “Are you displaying concern?”
Teagan laughed as Dwight gulped, as if remembering whom he was dealing with. “Can I get my money now?” The Neith gestured to the briefcase.
“Of course.” Teagan dropped back down to the case and stuck his hand furtively under the bills to grasp a hold of cold metal. In a blurry flick of movement he spun around and launched a blade straight into the Neith’s chest. Dwight’s mouth fell open, a small whisper of pain escaping as his knees buckled beneath him. As blood spread quickly over his shirt from his punctured heart, Teagan strolled over to him.
“W-why?” He gulped for life.
With a weary sigh, Teagan knelt down beside the dying man to clasp his head in his hands. “Many reasons. But mostly… I’m hungry.”
Locking the Neith in his gaze, Teagan pushed a little compulsion on him so he’d stop gulping down blood. The noise was irritating. As Dwight relaxed, Teagan gave the reigns over to his hunger and a rush of exciting heat licked his flesh as his blood picked up speed in his veins. The darkness poured out of him in an invisible mass of inky glue and shot in and down into Dwight’s soul. It was a tangled mass of light and dark, just the kind Teagan enjoyed the most. His hunger crawled over it, spreading itself across and around it so that every last piece of the Neith’s soul was stuck in its grasp.
With a sigh of pleasure, Teagan jerked his hunger back towards him and drew the soul into his body.
His nerve ends sparked and flared with the decadence of the feeding and finally as his hunger purred itself back to sleep, satisfied, every muscle in his body relaxed, pulsing with the blissful aftermath.
Lazily, Teagan focused his eyes and found himself staring into a dead man’s face. Rolling his eyes at how easy it had been, he let go of Dwight’s head, not even wincing at the horrendous thud it made against the concrete floor. He wrenched the blade out of the Neith’s chest as he stood up and let his eyes wander over the body. He felt restless all of sudden. Perhaps he should have at least let Dwight fight him rather than the sneak attack he’d executed. Teagan hadn’t had a good fight in a while.
Then he thought of the paper in his pocket with Eden’s whereabouts. He smirked. There were plenty of fights in his future.
Feeling relaxed now that he had a lead that would keep the Tribunal off his back for a while longer, Teagan began to whistle as he wrapped the bloody knife up in plastic so that it didn’t get the cash covered in Neith goo when he put it back in the briefcase.
Feeling sentimental, he pulled his wallet out to look at the photograph of Eden he carried on him.
In t
he original photograph she’d been sitting with Stellan so she was actually smiling for once. He’d cut Stellan out of it of course. But he liked to look at it. There was so much humanity in her eyes. He supposed there would be even more so now that she was Ankh. It would make what he was about to do to her all the sweeter.
With a wicked smile, Teagan shoved his wallet back in his pocket, picked up the briefcase and strode out of the warehouse without ever looking back at the man on the floor in a pool of blood.
“I’m coming, my love. I’m coming.”
Chapter Fifteen. Taking the Long Way-kend Around
As Eden made her way down into the training centre she thought about what a long weekend it had been. She was pumped that it was Monday, that sword training was finally here. That she had an outlet for all her frustrations. She followed Cyrus and Noah past the first training room and down the hall to another set of doors. When they walked in, she glanced around in awe at the varied weaponry bolted to the wall.
“You need complete focus in here, Eden,” Cyrus instructed as he strolled towards one of the swords and took it down. He took a matching one down from beside it and turned to hand it to her.
She studied it, feeling its weight in her hand, the slope of its forward curve. “This is a Kopis. A weapon the ancient Greeks would use when they were not using it for cutting animal meat. Fighting with the Kopis is not an elegant dance; it is fast, close, and extremely lethal. So pay attention.” Her guardian was in a particularly serious mood because of Friday night. Cyrus had not been pleased when they returned from their night out. Noah had reported what Shona had overheard McLeish say and Cyrus had had to do the one thing he hated doing: go behind one of his own official’s back to his people and recruit one of them against him; to recruit Christopher, who had been more than willing to serve Cyrus, for whom he had deep respect. Now that McLeish was suspect Numero Uno, Christopher was keeping his senses extra alert around McLeish to uncover whether or not he was guilty of betrayal. The last thing Cyrus needed was McLeish getting in contact with Cosmina Arcos’ people. As for Eden, she had been uncomfortable enough as it was around McLeish.
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