Out of nowhere, my body was yanked around. Instinctively, I struggled against the powerful grip on my arms, when the sound of Hunter's voice broke through my haze of confusion.
"Cassandra, are you all right?" He shook me when all I managed to do was stare blankly at him. "Cassandra, are you hurt?"
"I'm... I'm..."
"She would have been just fine if you wouldn't have gotten in the way again," Caleb said from the corner, standing back up. "I actually think she was beginning to like it."
Hunter flung me behind his body while he faced Caleb. "Touch her again, and I swear to you, I will make sure you rot in Hell," he said with such venom, I cringed. "You may live there now, Caleb, but I will personally make sure you suffer for the rest of eternity."
I peeked over his shoulder and saw the sneer that Caleb wore was made of pure evil that would have made the Devil himself proud. He didn't seem to be concerned with Hunter's threats at all. When he caught me peering over Hunter, his eyes blazed bluer, and I could almost feel them piercing my soul.
Caleb's body tensed as he turned his gaze back to Hunter. I was afraid he was going to attack him right there in the hospital room. I grabbed onto Hunter's arms, fearful of what could happen if these two forces battled it out.
"We shall see who suffers in hell, brother." Caleb seethed. "Soon, very soon." His warning made me shudder before he disappeared into thin air.
I knew I should have been relieved, but his final words refused to disappear with him, reminding me of the dream where he used the same moniker - brother. I let go of Hunter's arms and stepped around to stand in front of him. His expression was unreadable. I hoped to find a look of surprise on it, something telling me that Caleb's words were a mistake. Could they really be from the same blood?
"Why did he call you brother, Hunter?" I asked, not sure if I was ready for the answer.
He stared at me, his blue eyes searching my face for something I was oblivious to. Was he looking for trust? Understanding? I wanted to tell him that he could confide in me, if only to find out what was between Caleb and him. But the fact that I wasn't sure if I could trust in him kept me from opening up.
"Oh my God! What just happened?" Nora cried out from over by the bed. I kept my eyes on Hunter for a second longer before turning to go to my mom and Nora, who had re-appeared as if they'd never left. But in that split second, I saw Hunter slowly close his eyes and let out an almost imperceptible sigh. Was it relief or disappointment? I wasn't sure if I would ever find out.
"Cassie, are you all right? Did they hurt you?" my mom asked, panicking. She tried to sit up, wincing from the effort, but I got to her before she tried any further. "I'm okay, Mom, just a little shaken up. How are you two?" I looked them both over. "Caleb made you vanish, but where did you go?"
My mom shook her head, but it was Nora that answered. "I didn't go anywhere. It was as if I just lost time." My mom agreed. "How long have we been gone? Where'd he go?" Nora asked, looking around warily for Caleb.
"You weren't gone long. I think we scared Caleb off for now."
"Did he hurt you, baby?" Mom asked.
I told her I was fine, that he'd just bruised me a little, but my toned down version did nothing to ease my mom's nerves. "But how could he make us just disappear like that?" she asked.
"That is one of the many powers of a Seeker," Hunter said bluntly, walking towards us. "It helps them get the Guardian alone with them so there are no distractions in their attempt to seduce and turn them. They have the power to make anything disappear from sight. Those that disappear do not cease to exist, however. They are just... on hold, if you will."
"And how would you know this?" my mom asked.
"I've had experience with Seekers," he answered her calmly.
"I just bet you do," she said, her temper rising with every word. "I don't trust you, Hunter. And I want you to stay the hell away from Cassie... from all of—"
"Mom!" I shouted over her. "Hunter's the one that scared Caleb off. He's the reason that I'm still here right now. Stop this!" Even though I didn't completely trust him myself, it felt wrong to let my mom attack him.
"What if he did it just to have you for himself, Cassie? You don't know him any better than you know Caleb. No," she said adamantly, despite my protests, "I want you out of here, Hunter. Just get out!"
I could see my mom was getting really aggravated, and I knew it couldn't be good for her. I went over to Hunter and put my hand on his arm. "Just go, Hunter," I told him softly. "Wait for me out in the hallway."
"Cassandra—" he started, but never got the chance to finish because Dr. Lambach came into the room. He assessed my mom's state, along with the rest of us, and ordered us all out so he could give her medication to help her rest. She'd had enough, he told us. Hunter left the room right away, while Nora and I said our goodbyes, promising to be back as soon as she slept. My mom made me promise that I'd stay away from Hunter, which I obliged with crossed fingers, so she'd calm herself enough to get some well-deserved rest. As soon as she was better, we'd all have to leave and get to the Elders post haste, hopefully with no surprises along the way.
As I left the room, I contemplated what I was going to do about Hunter. I still didn't know whether I could really trust him. My mom was right, I didn't really know who he was or what he wanted from me. He could be staying close for his own evil purposes. But there was a nagging piece of me that refused to believe that. I felt safe with him. I was an angel, right? I thought to myself. Wouldn't an angel be able to feel when someone was evil? Regardless of how I felt, both my mom and Hunter were two very stubborn people. I wasn't sure I could persuade either one of them to do anything.
My head hurt from thinking about everything and I decided that I wasn't going to deal with any of it until I refreshed with a shower. I'd talk to Hunter after I recharged, tell him everything my mom told me, and gauge his reaction to it all. I walked up to him in the hallway, told him my mom was resting, and that I was going to ride home with Nora.
"I really need someone to watch over her. I can't leave unless I know that she's going to be safe while I'm gone. Will you stay?" I asked.
"No. I stay with you, Cassandra. But I will have someone else watch over her. Someone I trust completely. Let me make a call and then I'll follow you two back."
"She'll be okay?"
"It will be as if I were watching over her myself. This man is very loyal to me," he said.
"Great, more mystery men," I breathed. I started down the hallway, motioning to Nora. "C'mon, Nora. Let's go home. I need a shower. I need to wipe Caleb's scum off of me."
***
Nora and I sat in silence on the way home. I imagined she was trying to sort out everything that had just happened, just as I was, only from a different perspective. As we neared the apartment, I stole a glance at her and my heart felt a little heavy from the hurt expression she wore. I knew that I'd probably lost a little bit of trust from my best friend. I lied to her about much of what had happened the last few days. Sure, she'd kept being a Guardian from me, but that is what we, as Guardians, had to do. I, on the other hand, outright lied to her.
Hunter stayed true to his word of following us home. There was not one car that came between us during the whole ride. We all entered the building and walked up the staircase without speaking a word to one another. When we got to the apartment, I turned to Hunter and said, "You need to give us a little space right now, Hunter. Give me a chance to explain everything to Nora. I owe it to her." The tone of my voice made it clear that there would be no negotiation on it. He nodded and told me he'd be in his apartment if anything were to happen.
Once Nora and I were in our apartment, I sat down with her and told her everything; from my first visions of Hunter to everything he had told me that night in his apartment.
"And you've been dealing with all of this by yourself?" she asked me, shock and pity in her voice.
"To be honest, I really haven't had time to deal with anything. It's all happ
ened so fast. And Hunter has been with me every step of the way."
"Cassie, do you really think you can trust him? I mean, what if your mom is right?"
"I thought about that so many times, Nora, my head is spinning. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel this connection with him. The visions I've had of him for so long make me feel like I've known him forever, like he's always been with me. I know this must sound crazy, and believe me, I still have my doubts about him, but I have to go with my gut right now. So far, he hasn't done anything to hurt me and I really don't think he will."
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Is there something more to your connection with Hunter? I see the way he looks at you. Has something happened between you two?"
I didn't really know what to tell her. Yes, I lost control when he touched me and my entire body melted into his? How do you explain something like that? Especially when it's about someone you don't even know if you should trust? Love at first touch doesn't happen in the real world. Was it lust? Maybe.
"We may have kissed a couple of times," I told her shyly. "But before you even ask me if I think he is just seducing me like Caleb, I don't. It's like there's this power surge I can actually feel when he's near me, and I think he feels it too. It's as if we're being pulled together by some invisible force." I looked down into my lap, embarrassed. "God, that sounds so corny."
There was silence for a few minutes before she put her hand on mine. "What you feel is not corny, Cassie. You're feelings don't lie. They're real. I just want you to be safe. Trust is an easy thing to give until it's taken away from you."
"I know," I answered her. "I will."
"Good, because we're all in this together now," she said with a smile. I squeezed her hand in agreement.
"Well then. I refuse to just sit around and wait for something to happen while your mom rests. I'm going to try and go about things as normally as I can, until we can go and get her. So, I am going to study for an exam I'll probably never end up taking," she laughed as she stood. "I suggest you do the same. Go take your shower. Refresh and relax. I'm sure you need it."
"Okay," I said. She turned to go, but I called her back, "Nora, thanks... for everything."
She smiled back at me. "Together, Cassie. No thanks needed." She turned back, walked into her room, and shut the door.
I sat on the couch for a while, going over everything we had just talked about, my feelings for Hunter front and center in my mind. I was driving myself crazy with all of my mixed emotions. I knew there was not much time left before I'd have to leave for the Elders. I knew I wanted Hunter with us, to keep watching over us. And to be honest, I wanted just to be near him.
I needed to do something normal, like Nora said. Wipe the slate clean and start with a fresh mind. The shower would be a great start. I felt dirty from Caleb's touch.
In my room, I started to pull clothing out when I saw my jogging shorts and tank from the other day lying in a heap on my floor. The idea of a run compelled me. Something about the fresh air and the real world around me convinced me that a jog would be the most normal and refreshing thing for me. I knew that Nora and Hunter would kill me for going out on my own, but I decided I'd make it quick and be back before they'd even know I was gone. It was dangerous, but I desperately needed to feel some semblance of normalcy to keep my sanity. I pulled on a new pair of running clothes, stopped to write Nora a quick note, and went out to the park.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The run was as refreshing as I thought it would be. I felt free of all the burdens I had to bear, if only for those few moments. I imagined myself to be someone normal running down the path; no powers, no demons chasing me to Hell, no angel bloodlines. I was just an average college girl out enjoying the invigorating elements around her.
My average Jane Doe persona was mentally knocked on her ass as I neared the turn where I'd run into Hunter the day before. The memory of his kiss burned into my mind, slashing through the nothingness I'd accomplished when I first started my run. My eyes instinctively went to the bench where we sat so close together, the waves of electricity pulsing between us.
I tried to shake off the reverie and sped up on the path, determined to bring myself back to the comfort zone I had been in. I'd just run past a big bush on the side of the path when I was suddenly grabbed from behind, my mouth covered by a large hand holding back my screams. I was lifted through the air, before being pushed into a large tree, pinned between it and the hard body behind me. I struggled to free myself, but the strong arms around me were solid and locked.
Anger fused with regret as I thought about the chance I'd taken coming out alone. I wondered if there were anywhere I could go that Caleb wouldn't hunt me down. Would the Elders even be able to protect my mom, Nora, and me? The question was moot now. I had no idea how I was getting out of this one, and it was my own fault.
The hand over my mouth relaxed only enough to allow me to breathe through my nose, and when I did, I smelled him. There was no mistaking the scent of lavender and musk that I'd become familiar with when I was close to him. It was intoxicating. My chest rose and fell in fast gasps against the tree, every inhalation bringing with it the sweet scent.
His other hand yanked my ponytail to the side, forcing one cheek into the tree, his hand only partially shielding me from the bark. Within a second his lips brushed my ear.
"Is this what you want, Cassandra?" he asked in a throaty whisper as his tongue flicked over my lobe. "Tell me. Can you not wait to get to Hell? Can you not wait to feel Caleb use your body for the rest of eternity there?"
The hand covering my mouth slid down my chest and roughly squeezed one of my breasts. The aggressiveness made my breath catch, but the energy that flowed from it was surprisingly erotic.
"Hunter, let me go!" I struggled with less force than I should have, caught up in the sensual feelings he was igniting in me.
He released his hold on me, but only enough to spin me around so that I was facing him; my hands held above my head against the tree, his body pressed against mine. I could feel his hardness through the thin material of my shorts and there was a tightening inside where it made contact. My breathing grew heavy, causing my chest to pulsate against his.
"Isn't this how he held you?" he taunted. The anger in his eyes cut into mine accusingly. "Did you enjoy him pressed against you like this? How about his kiss?" His lips were hard on my own, as his tongue forced its way into my mouth.
Just as quickly as he'd started the kiss, he pulled his mouth away. "Was it like that? Maybe you didn't want me to rescue you, after all, in the hospital, is that it? Is that why you snuck out here on your own? So that he could find you again?" He was breathing just as heavily as I was. I didn't know if it were from his rage against me, or the way our bodies were responding to each other on their own.
"No!" I shouted at him. "God no! How could you even think that! I hated it! I hate him!"
He stood staring at me for what felt like hours, searching my face for truth. I couldn't speak. I felt hypnotized by the glow of his eyes on me. He finally spoke in a hesitant whisper, "Like you hate me, Cassandra?"
Defensively, I rambled, "No! I don't hate you, Hunter! I lo—" My eyes widened as I caught the words that came out of my mouth of their own free will, not even sure why I would have said such a thing.
His eyes glazed over with passion, and a slow, steady breath came from his lips, as he lowered his head towards mine.
"No, wait... Hunter... wait... I didn't mea—" but my words were never spoken. This time his lips were soft against mine, caressing them tenderly. His hand released my arms and he gently cupped the back of my neck. His tongue tickled my lips, as if requesting permission to go in. I opened my mouth willingly and met his tongue with my own. The sexual current the contact sent through my body was overwhelming and my legs gave out, forcing me to lean into him, my palms pressed lightly against his strong chest.
I felt the rumble of his deep growl in my mouth before he tore his away to
send trails of ecstasy over my jaw and down my neck. Making his way to the sensitive spots below my ear, shivers ran down the side of my body, where they met with shock waves of pleasure, when he rubbed his hardness between my thighs. He pulled my leg up to rest on the back of his thigh before his hand found its way inside the back of my shorts and gently molded the tender skin there. I let out an audible groan of pleasure as I let him take advantage of my body.
His hot breath caressed my ear as his lips lingered just outside of it, the anticipation of them causing my skin to tingle uncontrollably, until I almost screamed at him to continue. Through my haze of euphoria I heard him whisper, "I'll never let him have you, Cassandra. I'm going to make you mine, right here. There will be no turning back."
I tried to comprehend the meaning of his words, but his touch melted away any source of interpretation. The sensations he was causing throughout my body were the only things my mind could realize. I was beyond any control over it; my body was a slave to his.
Hunter continued to make love to my mouth as he lifted me up into his arms and carried me. I was oblivious to where he was taking me, until I felt the soft grass beneath me. He put me down gently, and lay on his side next to me, half of his body covering mine. His thigh moved to open my legs, rubbing the very core of my sexuality, making me wet with desire for him.
Guardian Of Fate (Fate Series) Page 14
