by Erin West
Deciding to entertain his request, I sigh and close my eyes. My hands hang by my side, loose and limber, waiting to spring into action. Silence surrounds us. There’s not even a breeze blowing.
My eyebrows furrow as I listen for movement.
“Can you sense me?” His voice is everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time. It startles me out of my concentration and I begin to open my eyes.
“Keep your eyes closed.” His tone is sharp, then decreases in volume as he continues. “Tap inside yourself and use more than just human senses. You’re not human. Feel it and focus.”
He makes it sound so simple, but it seems as if he’s surrounding me. That he’s everywhere. I take a deep breath and try to calm down. Getting flustered and overwhelmed will not help me here, and for some reason, I need to prove something to myself now. I will the outside noises to leave my head and just focus on the sounds. I try for several moments, but still nothing.
Not willing to accept defeat, I concentrate even more. Soon, my core flares hotter than normal. Going with instinct, I push the warmth from the center and allow it to pulse all throughout me. It flares and the back of my eyelids take on a reddish tint.
As soon as my body acclimates to my warmth, I sense something behind me and to my right. It is moving closer; I can tell by the amount of heat that is pulsing toward me. I wait a few minutes, letting it come closer.
Just as soon as he’s close enough, I feel something foreign click inside me and turn with vampire speed, kneeing him in the crotch.
He goes down with a thud. “Holy fuck.”
Turning around, I find him crouched down, holding his groin. I can’t hide the smirk that spreads across my cheeks.
Despite the moaning, his ice blue eyes find mine and they have a tad bit of respect. “This hurts like hell, but good job.” He gets up, wincing. “Maybe there is some hope for us, after all.”
I toss my hair over my shoulder. “I can’t even say I’m sorry.”
Chuckling, he walks in a slow pace to the door. “Don’t get cocky. Being aware is crucial, but being able to defend yourself is the key.” He opens the door and turns back to me. “I’ll get my revenge on you tomorrow.”
Shit. What did I just do?
Chapter Two
I step out of the shower the next morning and dry myself off. At least I remembered to bring in clothes with me this time. The black leather shirt and matching pants aren’t the most comfortable workout clothes, but this is what he told me I should wear. Something about it being harder to get through leather than cotton.
Pulling my blonde hair into my ponytail, I take in the dark circles under my blue eyes in the mirror. The past month has been horrible, and I dream about Eli, Drake, and Oren each night. It’s almost as if I’m there with them, but that’s impossible.
Noises from the kitchen alert me to Bael’s presence and snap me out of my daze. If I’m going to train today, I’ve got to get myself out of this funk. I grab some concealer and attempt to cover up my tiredness.
“Briar, you okay?” His voice comes from right outside the door.
I set down the makeup and sigh. There is no hiding it. “Yes, I’m fine. Coming out now.”
Opening the door, I find him standing there, concern reflecting in his eyes. “Did you sleep last night? You knew we are to train today.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.” I lift my face up to meet his. “You’ll still get to take out your anger on me and leave me in a ball of pain.”
His eyes flash with annoyance. “That’s not what this is about. Don’t be stupid. I need you to be able to protect yourself. You can’t do it if you aren’t taking it seriously.”
Taking a step toward him, I poke him in the chest, my own anger rising. “I went to sleep, but it wasn’t like I was asleep. It was the weirdest thing.”
Ignoring my finger, he takes a step closer. “What do you mean?”
I walk around him and head into the den, plopping down on the couch. “I don’t know. It was as if I was back home in my old apartment.” Rubbing my eyes, I let out a breath. “Eli kept knocking on the door, trying to get in. But he couldn’t get in, and I couldn’t get the door to open either.”
“Fuck.” Bael pinches the bridge of his nose. “That vampire sure is a pain in the ass and causing problems as usual.”
Not able to stop myself, I snort. “Tell me about it.”
“You aren’t innocent.” He glares at me.
I cross my arms across my chest. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You should be protecting your mind.” He takes a step toward me. “Don’t act all innocent. I’m serious. With Rumple looking for you, you have to be careful, no matter how desperate you are to get back to those idiots you think are your mates.”
Standing up, I march over to him. “Stop talking in riddles. What the fuck does that mean?”
He grabs my chin in a firm but gentle way and tilts my face up toward him. “You can’t meet up with him in your dreams. Rumple could be watching.”
What the hell is he talking about? “That’s not even possible. Why are you acting this way?”
Staring into my eyes, his forehead wrinkles and his face softens. “You really don’t know, do you?”
Turning away, I throw up my hands and begin pacing. “No, I don’t know anything. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn’t even know I wasn’t human. Then bam, my life turned upside down. I have three men proclaiming me as their mates, and now, I believe them. I have a connection with each one of them, one that doesn’t make sense.”
Growling, he grabs my arm. “What do you mean, you didn’t know you weren’t human? And what kind of fucking connection to you have with each of them?”
His touch sets off the burning inferno inside me. It is amazing, and all my senses are buzzing at our connection. I can’t concentrate on anything but him, and I take a step closer, needing more.
He drops his hands and takes a step back. “I want an answer.”
Shaking my head, I snap back to reality. If I thought he might be interested, he sure didn’t seem like it just now. “Similar to the connection I have with you, but ours seems to be more powerful. It’s almost as if...”
Eyes blazing, he growls. “Just tell me, dammit.”
Taking a deep breath, I face him. Fuck it. I’m just going to let it all out and deal with the consequences. No more being chicken shit. “It’s as if, when I touch any of the four of you, all I can think about is the pleasant feelings coursing through my body, and,” I cover my face with my hands, “how much I want each of you.”
His breath becomes erratic. “You feel that way with them, too?” A scowl spreads across his face.
“Yes.” It hurts to say it, but I am tired of the games…the lies. “And I feel guilty about it.”
Shoulders sagging, he walks past me and takes my place on the couch. “Of course, this would happen to me.” He looks at me with a resigned expression. “Tell me the other part.”
The other part? Oh, yes. “I grew up in foster care on Earth and never knew my parents.” I draw my arms in close. “I moved from one home to another and never fit in. Anyways, I learned at a young age that I could only rely on myself. Then one night, it all changed. Eli and Drake came into my life, then Oren, and it’s never been the same since.”
“So that’s why you have no survival skills.” He stands and walks toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat and get to training.”
There’s a shift between us and I’m not sure what to do. Maybe throwing it all out there isn’t the best, but I’m tired of trying to figure it out.
When we reach the training ground on level three, there is still commotion on the street. Someone comes running out of the crumpled building with some food in their hand. He runs past us, followed by a black ogre-looking creature with a horn sticking out of its head.
The odd creature catches up with the boy and slams him into the ground. Soon, he’s straddling him and punching him in the face, over and over again.<
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I move toward him, but Bael grabs my arm.
“You can’t interfere.” He turns me toward his body, shielding me.
I attempt to turn back around. “That poor boy.”
He turns me back around, his grip getting stronger. “You can’t. It’ll upset the balance and then Satan will get involved.” A pleading enters his eyes. “Stop this, for both of us.”
Despite everything inside me, I nod. I can’t say no to him like this. He’s right. This is Hell. What was I expecting? Puppies, unicorns, and rainbows? “I’m only agreeing because I understand what you’re you saying and see the point.”
His grip loosens on my arms. “Good. Let’s keep going. Just remember, you can’t save the people here.”
We continue to walk through level three. Keeping my eyes on the path, I attempt to block out everything going on around me. Things are getting even more violent and every so often, I see people having sex out in the open.
Soon, a huge building comes into view. It’s almost like a stadium and there are bright lights shining, lighting it up. It’s the only put together building in the entire section.
“Here we are.” He glances at me. “I hope you’re ready.”
Walking into the dome is incredible. It reminds me of the gladiator movies but more modern and sleek. The center is surrounded by a large, smooth wall where you can’t climb out. The center is all dirt with specks of dark red every few steps. I turn to Bael. “Is that blood?”
He frowns. “What else would you think it would be?”
“Nothing. It was my first guess.” I shrug and stare back at the center.
Taking my hand, he pulls me along. “Come on. We are going down to the training area.”
The moment our hands touch, my power rushes toward him like two magnets being drawn to each other. I take a deep breath, reining in the uncontrollable power. It’s so damn easy to lose control with him.
He tugs me, leading us down the side of the building toward a set of stairs in the corner.
When we reach them, they descend into the ground and almost seem endless. There are no handrails and the walls are smooth, just like in the center of the arena. I stay close to Bael but try to put enough distance so he isn’t aware. I don’t know what the hell to expect. The deeper we descend, the darker it gets. We duck under a covering, and it’s almost pitch black until some dim light begins to filter through.
A few steps more, and the lights are on full blast, the bottom of the stairs appearing.
Clearing the last two, I let out a breath. “I thought these were the never-ending steps.”
Bael chuckles and shakes his head. “No, it’s a huge place and the training grounds are located underneath. Stop being dramatic.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “I’m not being dramatic.”
He smiles and walks down a hallway before opening a door and stepping inside.
Grunts and hisses come from inside the gym. There are all kinds of creatures inside, even the shadow ones.
A cold shiver runs up my spine. I hate those things after one attacked me my first night here. They are creepy as hell anyway, with their shadow appearances. Their eyes are barely visible and a tad bit darker than the rest of their essence.
“Let’s start over here.” Bael walks past me, moving toward the back corner.
The place is packed with workout equipment like I’ve never seen anywhere else. I walk by a weight bench and the guy on it was bench pressing seven-hundred and fifty pounds. How is that fucking possible?
Shaking his head, Bael grabs my hand, causing it to course with my fire. “Stop staring.”
Shit. I am standing here, hovering over him like an imbecile. Taking a deep breath, I tear my gaze away and pull my hand out of Bael’s. I don’t need to add confusing sexual tension to my list of issues right now.
Following him, I attempt to keep my eyes on the ground, but there are some very interesting characters to look at. There is one gorgeous guy in the back with dark, black wings. He’s in a combat zone, fighting with a sword. He’s swinging the blade with poise and grace while taking down his human-looking adversary.
“Briar.” Bael crosses his arms, giving me a disapproving frown.
Right. I need to keep walking. I make sure to keep my eyes on the center of Bael’s back as I follow him once again. His muscles ripple under his shirt, defining the deliciousness underneath. I wonder what it would feel like to run my nails down his back?
I trip over my own feet but catch my balance at the last second. What the fuck is wrong with me? If I’m not distracted by the people working out, I’m busy ogling Bael. I’ve got to pull my shit together. Rumple is after me and I don’t have time for distractions of any kind.
We walk to the back and find another flat combat area where we can spar. It has rope around it and the center seems to be made of a bouncy type of floor.
Bael ducks underneath the rope and walks to the center of the floor. “This is the best place to start, and it’s away from prying eyes.”
I mimic his motions and stand in front of him. “Okay, let’s do this.”
He pulls off his shirt, revealing the black tank top he wears underneath. His whole body is muscular and gorgeous.
Tearing my eyes away from his physique, I bend to the side, raising my arm over my head and leaning over. I hold it for a few seconds, then move to the other side, stretching it out as well.
Raising an eyebrow, Bael watches me with a smirk. “What are you doing?”
I narrow my eyes. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“So, you think you’ll have time to stretch out before someone attacks?” He snorts, glancing at the wall and then back at me.
Standing up straight, I place my hand on my hip. “No, but I thought this was just practice.”
Letting out a deep breath, he closes his eyes just for a second. “Of course, this would be my match.” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “Yes, this is practice, but we don’t need to treat it as such.”
I drop my arms to the side. “Fine. How do you want to begin?”
Facing me, he raises his hand and a bolt of lightning shoots out, heading straight toward me. Oh shit. My legs propel me out of the way without conscious thought and I land on my side.
“Oomph.” The breath is knocked out of my lungs, and I look from the charred spot where I was standing back to Bael, glaring.
A smirk lifts the corners of his mouth before another bolt strikes the ground, forcing me to move again. That fucking asshole.
Jumping up to my feet, my fire courses out of my body and through my hands as I aim at his head. When the flames dissipate, he’s no longer standing there.
His chuckle echoes from behind me.
I spin around to face him, brows furrowed, and my hands clench at my sides. Damn him. His laugh makes me feel things I shouldn’t at a time like this.
He takes a step toward me, and I have to resist the urge to take a step back to keep our distance.
“Not bad. At least you can think on your feet. When you stay on them, that is.” He stops just out of arm’s reach, which is more than likely for my benefit, not his, considering his ability to disappear whenever he feels like it. I need to find out more about that talent of his; maybe I can use it to my advantage later.
My fire simmers below the surface, waiting for his next move. He's unpredictable.
Our eyes meet, his amused to my angry ones. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re cute when you’re mad.” He laughs.
What the fuck did he just say? My eyes narrow.
He disappears, and then I’m grabbed from behind. A huge muscular arm wraps around my neck, placing me in a chokehold.
Holy shit. I bend down, trying to throw him over my shoulder, but he doesn’t budge. I reach around my side to grab his balls. He blocks my hand with his knee. How the hell am I supposed to get out of this?
“Having problems?” He leans down, his breath grazing my ear.
My whole bo
dy is on fire and my breathing becomes ragged. How can he have this effect on me? How can they all have this effect on me?
I’m not going to get out of this by being distracted. I close my eyes and focus inside me. I connect to the raging inferno inside and push it out toward the surface of my skin. It intensifies the heat, but it’s not enough. I search harder, desperate to feel the heat like never before.
It blazes inside me but doesn’t seem to bother him at all. In fact, it just makes our connection even stronger.
His breathing becomes ragged and he lets go, stepping back. “Okay, you’ve got to stop doing that.”
Well, it’s good to know I’m not the only one affected. He hasn’t admitted it, but this proves he feels the same connection between us.
Standing straight up, I cross my arms. “You’re the one that put me in that position. I was trying to figure a way out.”
He takes a step back and runs his hands through his hair, a gesture that reminds me of Drake.
It makes my heart break.
“Okay, let’s get you conditioned before sparring.” He looks over at the machinery where everyone else is.
Walking over to the crowd, his expression hardens. “All right, everyone, get out now.”
The black-winged angel groans. “Seriously? This is for everyone.”
In the blink of the eye, Bael has him up against the wall. He moved so fast you couldn’t even see him. “Don’t make me fucking repeat myself. It won’t end well.”
The instigator nods. “Yes, my prince. I’m sorry.”
Bael releases him and glares. Stumbling, the angel makes his way to the exit with everyone following him. One after another, they leave the gym.
Why does everyone obey his every command? He is intimidating, I’ll admit that, but that angel could kick ass. I can't take my eyes off him.
He turns back to me. “Now, let’s head over to the bench press.”
I'm tempted to argue with him to see his reaction, but refrain. I think he needs to be knocked off of his high horse every once in a while, but I’ll keep the peace for now.
