He stood, as she had first seen him behind the mermaid's gate, his wild white hair blowing in the wind, yet she wasn't afraid. She got lost in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He smiled as he stepped closer. You are so beautiful—inside and out. I shall miss being a part of you. He cupped her cheek and then leaning down, he kissed her ever so softly, as if a feather had brushed her lips. Thank you for not killing me. His lips lifted with a smile. Then turning, he walked away.
She followed his shadowy silhouette, and when he blurred with the darkness, she let him go completely.
BETWEEN THE SEVEN-layer chocolate cake and the tray of cupcakes, Halen made out the long line of Wolfe’s back. He leaned against the windowpane, his arms crossed over his denim jacket, and when he brushed his hair from his collar, she noticed his nails were hooked and dark—canine.
A woman with her arms loaded with loaves of bread and a dagger at her hip wedged the door ajar with her foot. Wolfe opened it for her, and when she turned toward him, he smiled; his incisors jutted over his bottom lip and the woman let out a slight gasp. She clutched the loaves against her chest and ran.
When Halen stepped onto the street, the door slammed behind her. “Do you know her?”
“No, but the city is in chaos. A second ring of fire emerged in France this morning.” His gaze drifted down the sidewalk. He sniffed the air and then grabbed her by the arm. “We need to go. Your boyfriend is searching all over for you.”
She snatched her sleeve back, though the action sent her head spinning. When she had awoken, Jae had given her a pale pink fluid that sparkled with effervescent bubbles, to aid the recovery process. Quinn still snored, tucked beneath a woolen blanket and would remain this way for several days until he and Asair got acquainted. She hugged herself, feeling slightly empty inside. “He’s not my boyfriend—he’s my Guardian.”
“Yeah whatever, he’s about to call in some backup if we don’t get you to the flat.”
“What kind of backup?” She pulled her collar up shielding the brisk wind.
“Dax’s connected right to the top. I wouldn’t be surprised to see half the Tari army.” He nudged her this time. “This way.”
Jae’s potion should have helped with nausea, but right now her stomach curdled with the thought of being face to face with Dax. Had he deceived her or simply not had the time to tell her the whole truth? And what of the lies she was covering now? “I don’t know what I’m going to say to him.”
Wolfe walked, tucking his hands in his pockets. “You’ll figure it out.”
A crowd charged down the street. They shouted with whoops and hollers, shoving into one another like penned bulls. Magick crackled in the air. Wolfe pushed her against a building. With his arm across her chest, his keen gaze scanned the crowd.
“What the hell is going on?” She eyed the nearing mob.
“People are scared.” He turned to face Halen and his eyes narrowed. “And they should be.”
She swallowed hard. She was scared too, but people were counting on her. The truth didn’t matter if they all burned. She needed to get the Hunter’s soul from Dax. “Just get me back to the flat. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Wolfe nodded and then sprinted.
They wound down several streets, some crowded with riots breaking out and others eerily empty. Whether she believed Dax or Asair, it didn’t matter. She had to stop the fires and the fastest way was to seal the portal. But then there was a memory of Asair’s she held onto; one he had hid, yet in a moment when the door was ajar she peeked inside. There was another way to end the fires, but it required a sacrifice—one Asair chose a hundred years in solitude over facing.
Wolfe stopped. She butted into his back. He smelled of the night sky with thunder rolling in before the rain. He stiffened at her touch and she retreated. “Across the street and two doors down.” He pointed.
Her heart leaped to her throat. “Come with me.”
He turned around. His eyes were alight with the sheen of amusement. “You really have no idea—do you?”
“I’ll tell Dax you found me.” She shrugged. “I mean, I really don’t know how to explain how I’ve been gone all this time.” She tilted her head skyward. Streaks of dark clouds muddled the gray backdrop, crowding out the sun. If it were morning or afternoon, she couldn’t tell; for all she knew, dusk loomed along the horizon. “I don’t even know how long I’ve been gone.”
She felt she had been with Jae for weeks, even months. She brushed her bangs back over her greasy hair, and then smoothed her crumpled clothes. Yeah, she didn’t know how she would pull this off without coming off as a complete liar. And without trust, Dax would never let her near Otho’s soul.
“Two days.” He paused, staring at the flat. He swayed from side to side, running his hand across his chin.
“Are you nervous?”
“You’ve been gone for two days,” he repeated. “And I’ve got your excuse covered.” His lips twitched as wiry whiskers sprouted on either side, poking through his cheeks. He snarled with a low growl, and she stepped away.
“What are you doing?” She scanned the streets for onlookers. “Don’t shift here!”
Wolfe’s shoulders rolled back; he shed his denim jacket, dropping it to the ground. Thick white fur flecked with gray sprang out along his skin. His calloused hands rounded to paws, and his nails curved. He dropped to all fours, though he still stood above Halen’s waist. She choked back the fear as his crystal-blue gaze met with her. She had seen these eyes flashing in the night, watching her as she peered from Natalie’s bedroom window.
He growled, lunging forward, but she stood frozen. His black lips snarled back over razor-sharp teeth and when she still didn't move, he nipped her arm, breaking through the leather coat, cutting into her skin. Blood trickled down to her wrist. “Hey! What the hell!”
“Run!” he said with a growl. And he gnashed his teeth, threatening to bite her again.
At once, she bolted, sprinting toward the buildings. The door was but a few yards away. She felt Wolfe’s hot breath at her back; his panting hunger fueled her stride. Had he forgotten he was to help her? Ahead, curtains flowed like floating ghosts from an open window. A silhouette passed by and she screamed a curdling plea for help.
“Dax!” His name shattered the air around her. “Help!”
Wolfe’s bristled fur brushed her arm; her skin electrified with sparks. If she used magick while this frightened, she would seriously injure him. Surely, he wouldn’t hurt her.
The door to Quinn’s flat flew open.
“Dax!” She waved.
Wolfe pounced on her back. She fell hard, slamming against the street. Her palms scraped in the grit as she braced her fall. Wolfe shoved her down with his heavy paws. Her bones ached with the crushing force. “Help!” She reached for Dax.
Dax disappeared back inside, while Halen pleaded with Wolfe. “Let me go! What’s wrong with you?” She raised her hand, thinking she could summon the tree branch down to swat him away, but Wolfe slammed his paw on the back of her hand.
He nipped her again, and with a whispered growl, spoke, “Galadia evermore.” He nestled his rough wet nose into the back of her neck.
Halen didn’t understand his sudden cowering behavior until a gunshot blasted through the air.
Her gaze darted toward the door. Dax stood with a rifle propped against his shoulder.
He shot again.
Wolfe collapsed at her side.
“No!” She spread his fur, searching for the bullet wound, but there was so much blood. “No, no, no…”
What had Dax done? When he strode toward her, she fought the sparks that wanted to obliterate him on the spot.
Wolfe’s voice entered her mind. Let me go.
She swiped her tears with the back of her hand, as Dax lifted her trembling body away from Wolfe.
“It’s okay.” Dax wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I’ve got you now.”
A couple huddled, snapping pictures with their cel
l phones, and a crowd quickly gathered. All they saw was a bleeding wolf, not the boy who just stupidly sacrificed himself. Why would he do this—for her?
Dax drew her close. “We need to get inside.”
He guided her into the flat, and though she walked forward, she couldn’t feel her feet moving. He locked the door behind him, and pulled her against his chest.
“It’s okay.” His arms were chains binding her to him. “It’s over now.”
She tensed. “You didn’t have to shoot him.”
“That shifter would have killed you.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks. He reached for her arm. “He bit you?”
She glanced down. Blood coated her shirt, her pants, her hands—Wolfe’s blood. “You knew he was a…” She gagged, buckling over, but Jae’s potion inhibited her from puking.
Dax rubbed her back. “You were right about the wolf. I’ve been so worried about you. What happened to you? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
A veil of tears hid her confusion. Should she lie or tell him everything? He just saved her. But Wolfe had sacrificed himself so she could have an alibi. None of this made sense. “I went outside for fresh air. I couldn’t stand being cooped up any longer.” She sucked back a tearful breath. “I just wanted to go for a walk.”
“You’ve been gone for days.”
“I got lost and then I blacked out again. When I tried to find my way back, the wolf chased me here.”
His eyes searched hers, darting from one to the other. What did he see? She wondered. Was he searching for the ally or traitor inside? He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him; her sparks surged.
She touched his neck, her fingers lingering on the chain securing Otho’s soul. She needed him to trust her now more than ever. She wound her bloodied fingers in his hair and he relaxed with her touch.
He whispered against her ear, “Don’t ever leave me again.”
Through the door’s window, she could make out two police officers hovering over Wolfe’s body, his once gray fur now crimson. Dax hadn’t hesitated. He’d shot Wolfe without even trying to scare him off first. If he were willing to kill so easily, how far would he go if he knew her truth? He wouldn’t kill her, or he would die. But he had access to her seam, to a dark place with no return. Is this why Natalie had run? She clutched his shirt in her fists. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said and the words felt like locks fastening one by one against her soul.
UPSTAIRS, IN THE powder-pink living room, Dax wound gauze around her arm and fastened it with a little knot at the end. She was thankful for the bandage blocking his energy. She didn’t need the sparks clouding her judgement.
“Nasty bite. You’re lucky he didn’t go for your throat.”
“It looks worse than it is.” She pulled her arm back. “You didn’t have to kill him.”
“You’re right. I should have waited until it tore you to bits.”
She glanced up, shocked, but met his mischievous dimpled smile.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he said and Halen sensed a mocking ring to it.
She was working up the courage to ask him about the gun, but she still couldn’t process what he had done. He could have shouted, even kicked Wolfe off her, but he had taken the deadliest route and the easiest. When the police questioned them, Dax explained the gun belonged to Quinn’s father and when asked for the registration he spent ten minutes upstairs pretending to search for the papers, but came back empty handed. He lied so easily, and that scared Halen just as much as the gun.
Thankfully, the police took the weapon to the station, but if they hadn’t been called to a more pressing incident, then they may have wanted more than just Dax’s name and number.
When the removal truck came for Wolfe’s body, Halen said a prayer for the boy who had risked it all just so she could have a viable story to tell Dax. Had Wolfe known the sacrifice would be so great?
She cleared her throat. “Have you heard any word from the others? Or from Quinn?” Halen held herself tight, wondering how Asair was adjusting in Quinn’s body.
“Nothing.” Dax leaned back on the pink settee with one arm behind his head. He didn’t seem concerned at all for a boy whose father and friend were in eminent danger.
“I’m really worried about my mom. And Tage and Ezra and Daspar, of course. I wish there was something we could do.”
“I do too, but we need to hang on. I can’t just leave Maddie, and your dad would go ballistic if we left. I promised to look after you.”
“Do you always listen to Huron? I mean, what if he doesn’t know what’s best?” A part of her hoped his answer would clarify his intentions.
“You haven’t had much time with your dad, but Halen, his vision of what he wants for the realms is amazing…” His voice trailed off. His gaze narrowed. She turned, hoping whatever had grabbed his attention was behind her.
“What?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned forward. “You look different.”
“I do?” She inhaled a sharp breath. “Well, I picked up a little road rash to add to my war wounds. Because, you know, I was going for that slasher look.”
“No, it’s something else.” His tone was flat, missing her attempt at humor entirely. “Your eyes.”
As he met her gaze, an uncontrollable charge leaped under her skin, skipping like a lovesick school girl. Stupid connection. She ground her teeth.
“They’re so much brighter.” He smiled a lopsided grin that made her weak in the knees, and she was thankful she was sitting.
She crossed her legs, hating how much she wanted to be near him. Jae warned her; the pull would be greater without Asair helping to block the Guardian connection, but this was ridiculous. She was a magnet fighting a steel wall, which only frustrated her more.
She dug her toes into the shaggy pink carpet. “I’m feeling much better.” She didn’t dare look up at him. “I think that might have been my last blackout.”
“Let’s hope so. You know, I’m really sorry we didn’t get into Etlis.”
“Is that what you really think is best? To open the portal—break the curse?”
“Of course. The shifters want to go home.”
“But their home is destroyed.” She pushed further hoping—wishing Jae and Asair had been wrong.
“Etlis will open. We’ll find a way. Besides the fire rings are getting worse. We need to stop the fires.”
“But what if there was a way to seal the portal and it could all go back to the way it was—would you want that?”
“I want to get to a place where we don’t have to worry about these things anymore.”
She sighed. He wasn’t going to give her a straight answer. Whether or not he was on her side, one thing was for certain, the Guardian bond was a curse. Dax was drug clouding her mind from seeing the truth. Or was the truth right in front of her? This was the problem—she didn’t now. She rubbed her head, wincing with the pain.
“Let me get that.” Dax grabbed a dishcloth from the stack he had gathered from the kitchen, most now stained with a mix of Wolfe’s and her blood.
She took the cloth from him before he could touch her. “I’ve got it.”
“I can’t imagine you slept well on the street.”
“I found a church.” She prayed her lies were blocked. “I thought it would be safe. You know, holy ground and all.”
He laughed. “Yeah, like the church where the mermaids attacked us.”
Her face reddened. Her story had holes—big, deep, cavernous chasms. She had to put some space between them before she blew it. She stood. “I need to get changed and clean up.”
He rose, meeting her at the edge of the settee. Drinking in his soft smile, she fought the sparks flickering with his proximity. Everyone had lied to her; maybe this had been true for Dax as well. The sparks tingled along arms, swirling across her heart. Like her, maybe Dax didn’t have a choice and he just wanted to make things right. She searched now, for a reason to hate him.
“She never trusted us,” Dax said.
Her sparks flickered, scattering with his sharp tone. “Who?”
“Natalie.” He nodded toward the coffee table where the edge of Natalie’s leather-bound journal poked from under a stack of magazines.
Oh no. She had left it under the pillow. Had he been reading it? Did he find something she hadn’t?
Dax stepped closer. “You trust me—right, Halen?”
“Of course.” She steadied her breath. “You’re my Guardian.” She forced a smile to her lips.
“I want to be more than your Guardian.” He pulled her ever so slightly toward him. His hand was warm against the small of her back. “I know you have feelings for me.”
Her sparks swirled in the storm of her uncertainty.
“I need you to trust me.” He kissed her forehead, lingering before saying, “I need you.”
She closed her eyes, faltering with the static sparks trailing her arms. Her lips parted and he claimed her kiss.
Sparks surged as she surrendered to his intoxicating kiss. His hands glided along her hips, pulling her against him. His heart beat as one with hers, calling to their tethered destiny. His lips followed the sparks along her neck, her magick soaring with his touch. He whispered with soft breath at her ear, “I knew you were still mine.”
She stiffened in his arms. What had she done? She willingly jumped into his snare. His heart thrummed beneath her fingertips. She fought the urge to silence the beat that drew her to him. Was his death the only way to be free? Her magick churned focused on the steady beat.
“I thought I had lost the connection, but now I feel you more than ever.” He laced his fingers through hers. He kissed the tips of her fingers. “We are one.”
Her stomach twisted with this sickening thought. Were his gentle kisses no more real than one of Jae’s glamours? Harnessing her willpower, she slipped her hands from his and stepped back.
“What I mean is, our fates our tied,” he said, as if sensing her hesitation.
Her gaze slipped to Natalie’s journal. She was envious of Natalie for finding a way to be free. “Was it like this between you and my sister?”
Curses and Ash (The Siren Chronicles Book 2) Page 20
