“My family is deeply connected with yours, Bri. We share a heritage that goes back countless generations. A legacy I know you’ve only just learned about. Your grandmother is also the High Priestess. We answer to her as our leader, and follow her guidance.” He paused and gestured to the surrounding chairs. “I gather she didn’t mention that either. Let’s take a seat and see if I can answer any of your questions.”
I was amazed. “I had no idea she was so important.” Moving around the table I found a place that gave me full view of the room. My phone vibrated inside my jeans pocket and a quick glance showed Quinn had resumed his texting.
Where are you babe? Missing me yet?
I placed the device on the mahogany surface and turned my attention back toward Liam and Noah. They both raised their eyebrows, questioning the interruption. I shook my head, signaling I wasn’t ready to share.
“So . . .” I looked between them. “I’m gathering you’re both part Fae as well?”
“We are. Everyone here shares the same lineage. I know it’s rough having it all thrown at you at once. Because of your father, your family thought it might be better if you were kept in hiding, which unfortunately meant you weren’t told anything. It was a difficult decision, but we all wanted to keep you safe.” Noah leaned over and rested his hand over mine. “I’m sorry this has come as a shock. I was just getting ready to send a team to look for you when Liam brought you in. You were in quite a battle.”
Instinct whispered I could trust Noah and it was okay to share what I’d been through. As I looked at him, everything I saw proved he was genuinely trying to help—from the gentle way he touched me to the kindness radiating from his brown eyes.
Brown eyes. I would never underestimate that color again.
“It’s been like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. One minute everything seemed so normal, then my boyfriend turns into this . . . monster and I had to run. Everywhere I turn people are attacking each other, and I’m finally told the family secret. Yeah, I’ve had quite the experience.” I slumped into the chair and stared. “I’m still expecting someone to jump out and tell me this is all some kind of sick, twisted, joke, but I’ve seen too much for it not to be true. I just . . .” I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“You need rest,” Liam chimed in. He leaned over and took hold of my hand, squeezing it gently. The gesture was reassuring, and I smiled.
“I can’t though. Quinn is out there and he needs me.”
“He’s the boyfriend you spoke of?” Noah asked, and pointed to my throat. “Was he the one who left that bruise around your neck?”
I lifted my fingers and gingerly touched the soft skin there. I hadn’t been able to look in the mirror since I’d left my apartment, but I could only imagine the kind of marks I’d see. His grip had been tight—painfully so. I nodded, not meeting Noah’s gaze.
“He wasn’t himself. The Quinn I know would never lift a finger to hurt me. He’d rather die. I need to figure out a way to save him.”
“And if he doesn’t want saving?”
I shot a dirty look at Noah. “Don’t judge. You don’t know him. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Quinn.”
It was his turn to nod now, and he wore a pensive look. The room became silent and I wondered what would happen next.
“I think Liam’s right. Try and get some sleep, then come back and we can talk more. I’ll do what I can to help you with your boyfriend, but I’m not going to sugar coat it, this situation is bigger than just him. The Fae are trying to take over and if we don’t find a way to stop them, your Quinn will be the least of your worries.”
“I’ll show her to one of the empty rooms,” Liam offered, and pushing back from his chair, he offered his hand to help me stand. “I’ll make sure she has everything she needs.” Noah cocked his eyebrow, but said nothing.
Liam leaned to the side and rested his hip against the doorjamb with his arms folded. “I don’t want to state the obvious, but it’s a madhouse out there on the streets and this is only the beginning. The sooner we can stop the invasion and put an end to the threat, the better. Each minute the Fae hold influence, humans are being attacked.”
Noah stood and made his way over to where we were standing. “That reminds me. I’m assuming your grandmother told you that even though we share blood with the Fae, this glamor can also affect us. It doesn’t take hold as strongly or as quickly as it does with full blooded humans, but sooner or later we do succumb if left unprotected.”
“She told me I needed to retrieve a family heirloom she’d placed in my apartment.” I answered. “I know I felt something earlier . . . violent, but then it stopped.”
“Are you wearing it?” Noah asked, and I could see Liam scanning my neckline for the telltale sign of jewelry.
I shook my head. “I haven’t had a chance yet. I didn’t think it was wise to go home alone.”
“I hate doing this because I know you’re tired, but you need to go do that now. I’ll send Liam and a few others to escort you. It’s really important we keep everyone safe.”
“We all have something.” Liam raised his hand and flashed a signet ring on his finger. I turned to Noah, who revealed his own chain. “The silver is charmed with Fae magic and places a defense shield over the wearer when it comes in contact with their skin.”
My stomach sunk. I was all for getting whatever my grandmother had prepared for me, but the idea of returning to where Quinn and I had spent so much time together made me ill. A voice in the back of my mind also whispered there was a good chance I could find him there—waiting. It was this thought that spurred me into action. If he was there, then my new friends could help subdue him and bring him back here to keep him safe. He couldn’t hurt anyone if he was under lock and key.
“Okay, let’s go then. The sooner we leave, the quicker we can return and I can sleep.” I didn’t bother stifling the yawn that escaped. The excitement and worry from the night was quickly turning into fatigue.
“Come find me later, Bri. We have more to talk about,” Noah added.
I let him pull me into a side hug, his hand squeezing my shoulder twice before letting go. Liam and he exchanged a few brief words, and when Liam nodded in answer, I followed him from the room.
I sighed. It was time to head out into the madness again.
Chapter Seventeen
The trek from Rebel Central to my apartment had been a series of terrifying near misses—eye opening moments. It had been less than a day since I’d left and a lot had changed since then.
It had been a nerve wracking five minutes as I waited downstairs while James and Marshall did a thorough check of my apartment. We weren’t sure what I’d find when I entered—a trashed home or Quinn himself, but they weren’t willing to have me walk into danger. Liam and I stood at the curb in silence, my heart beating while he kept a vigilant eye on the street.
“You’re good to go, Bri,” James said when they finally returned. “It doesn’t look like it’s been disturbed, but I wouldn’t waste too much time.”
Liam nodded at his assessment. “I think if each of us stands guard, we should be good. I’ll go inside with Bri, and you two stay in front of the building. Holler if you see anything unusual. Any sign of possible trouble, we’ll leave and come back later.” He looked at me, concerned. “Without you though, if that’s the case.”
Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I was anxious to get moving. I didn’t like feeling so exposed, and I knew it was going to be hard enough entering my apartment with all the memories of Quinn. “Sounds good to me,” I agreed. I gave him a quick smile and entered the building.
We ran up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. When we were finally standing at my door, I pushed it open and a whoosh of familiar air hit me. I was home.
Stepping inside, I was relieved by how normal everything appeared. Even though the others had said nothing had been trashed, I hadn’t believed it until I could see for myself. The room looked like an organized kind of chao
s, same as everyday, and I felt a sudden twinge in my heart. I closed my eyes, hoping when I opened them I would somehow find myself back to how it should be—coming home from work, in a hurry because Quinn was on his way over.
It hurt how desperately I wanted it, but I knew as I reopened them it was foolish to wish for something that was gone. The apartment might look the same, but it was the only thing that did. Outside the world was still in turmoil and somewhere in the city lurked Quinn.
A recognizable wave of loneliness washed over me. I missed him so badly it ached, but I was gradually coming to the realization he was gone as well. The fact he was trying to kill me drove that painful point home.
“You going to be okay?” Liam’s voice was filled with compassion and his hand touched my elbow.
“Yeah. It’s just rough. We had so many good memories here. I want everything to go back to the way it was . . . we were happy.”
“It’ll happen, hopefully . . . it just might take some time. First we need to get you protected though. Right now that’s the most important,” Liam added. He looked around the apartment, gazing at the different mementos I used to decorate. “I’ll stay in here while you go get the necklace.”
“It shouldn’t take long. Grandma said she hid it in my closet, in the box of keepsakes I have on the top shelf.”
Liam nodded again, and smiled. “I’ll just stand here and wait.”
I took in a deep breath and crossed to my bedroom. My hand brushed over my furniture as I passed as if I was memorizing each piece. I didn’t know when I’d return or even if I would. Everything was so uncertain and I was quickly learning things I’d taken for granted could change from one moment to another.
I entered the room, only to be stopped in my tracks as the smell of Quinn’s cologne flooded my senses. He was everywhere in this space, and I cursed myself for not remembering it sooner. If there was any place in my apartment where I was fully aware of his presence in my life, it would be here.
Photos were hung randomly on the wall, snap shots of happy moments we’d shared. Each picture was a reminder of how in love we were. I could see it in our wide smiles, the sparkle in our eyes, and the way we naturally gravitated to each other. Looking at those images served as a painful reminder of everything we’d lost.
I reached for a specific frame on the wall, tenderly tracing Quinn’s face with my finger. He was so happy on the day I’d captured it on film. He’d come over grinning from ear to ear, scooping me up in his arms to spin me around in the air.
“Bri, you’ll never guess what happened,” he said, the excitement in his voice contagious.
“Um, let me see. You’ve just received news your favorite cereal company has accepted your suggestion for making chocolate covered strawberry tipped banana chip corn flakes.” I’d desperately tried keeping a straight face as I looked him, knowing I wouldn’t be able to do it for much longer.
Calling Quinn a breakfast fanatic was a definite understatement. He was obsessed when it came to his cereal and was forever thinking up new concoctions. Countless mornings had been spent experimenting, he appointing me as his official taste tester. I had learned real fast to smile big while looking for a way to hide my bowl. Some of those “adventurous” attempts still made me shudder.
He abruptly stopped, long enough for me to see him roll his eyes. “Noooo,” he replied, drawing it out in a long breath. “Smarty Pants.” He sighed, kissing the tip of my nose before continuing. “Mock me all you want, but that was a pretty good idea and you know it. Just think, each mouthful is like a mini banana split.”
I cupped the side of his face with my hand. “What’s your news?” I knew it had to be something good because he looked like he would burst at any second. I had a rough idea what it might be and it caused a butterfly sensation in my stomach. I offered up a quick prayer, mentally crossing my fingers as I watched him—waiting.
“No wait, don’t guess. I’ll tell you. Are you ready?” He held the letter in his hand, now opened, his eyes lit up with excitement.
“Tell me already!” I laughed.
He gave a quick snap to the paper and cleared his throat dramatically. “Dear Mr. Michaels. That’s me,” he said, his chest swelling with pride. “It is with extreme pleasure we at Glass Publishing House accept your submitted manuscript From Within The Shadows and would like to begin the process of publishing your work.” He threw the letter in the air with a whoop, lifting me back into his arms to resume spinning me. “Did you hear that? I’ve been accepted. They liked my book and they’re going to publish it.”
I threw my arms around him and rained kisses over his face. “I knew it. I knew they’d take one look at it and fall over themselves. Oh, I’m so proud of you. You did it!”
He kissed me then, deep and masterful, and we’d spent the rest of the day in lazy celebration.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I came back to reality. I stepped away from the frame, taking another look at Quinn’s smiling face and felt my resolve to save him strengthen. I didn’t know how, but I wasn’t going to stop until I had him back—whole.
I tried to ignore the way different memories tugged at my heartstrings. I didn’t have time to fall apart, to revisit each one. Liam had told me he’d wait outside with the others and judging by the furtive glances they’d kept casting, the sooner I got in and out, the better.
I switched on the light inside the closet and stood on my tiptoes to pull down the various containers. Some of the items I hadn’t seen for a while, and I made a mental note to clean everything out in the future.
Lifting the decorated box I’d bought for my keepsakes, I almost didn’t see the small package until too late. The only warning I had was the slight scraping noise before it dropped toward my face. My brow furrowed in confusion—I’d never seen it before.
I carefully picked it up, the velvet texture of the outside combined with the shape instantly told me what it was. I knew Quinn had been thinking something over and as I sat on the floor, the necklace forgotten. I opened the box.
My hand automatically covered my mouth to cover the soft gasp. Nestled in the silk lining was the most exquisite ring I’d ever seen. It was a white gold band which held a beautiful diamond setting—one central square cut stone surrounded by smaller gems. The light from above caught each facet, causing it to sparkle and twinkle. It was absolutely perfect, and I knew he’d taken great care in choosing it.
My muffled exclamation turned into a jagged sob. This was all wrong. This wasn’t the way I envisioned it would be. Since falling in love, and knowing Quinn was the man I wanted to spend my forever with, I’d been day dreaming all kinds of romantic scenarios where he’d sweep me off my feet and propose.
This wasn’t down on bended knee with soft music and candles. But that wasn’t what hurt the most as I stared down at the engagement token. Quinn wasn’t here with his lopsided grin or dark eyes that stared through me and into my soul. There was no watching his lips as he spoke from his heart. There were no excited jitters as he took my hand and slid the ring on my finger.
Be positive, Brianna Lane, I chastised myself. You can still have it. Pretend you didn’t find it, and when this is all over, let him propose. Wiping away the fallen tears from my cheek with the back of my hand, I closed the box and tried to refocus.
I couldn’t stifle the squeak of surprise when my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Quinn. I knew with the way I was feeling I should press ignore. The last thing I needed was to engage in a verbal sparring match with him and my thumb hovered over the screen. In a moment of weakness, I moved over an inch and hit accept.
“Good girl, Bri. I didn’t think you’d answer.” Even though the words were said with a healthy dose of sarcasm, his voice was still the same.
“Hi.” I leaned back against the closet wall and closed my eyes, wrapping my left arm around my stomach.
“Not so chatty? I would have thought you’d have all kinds of things to ask me. Aren’t you curious about the plans I have for the two
of us?”
I contemplated what I could say. My mind shuffled through questions, but when my gaze dropped on the small box beside my knee, it all narrowed down to one important statement.
“I found the engagement ring.”
I wasn’t sure what I expected to hear. Once upon a time I could almost guarantee his response to any number of things, but not now. I offered up a silent prayer his next comment wouldn’t hurt—that it wouldn’t break my heart too bad.
There was silence over the phone and I peeked at the screen to make sure we hadn’t been disconnected. The call was still open and I braced myself. No response.
“Quinn, are you there?” I hated how vulnerable I sounded.
“I love it when you sound . . . desperate.” His snarky comment made my heart sink.
“I don’t want to argue with you.” I sighed. It was discouraging not knowing how to talk to him. He was so . . . indifferent. I wanted our old conversations back. I needed to know he could be reached. “How long have you had it?”
“Does it matter? That was a lifetime ago. It means nothing . . . it’s just a flashy bauble.
“The answer is yes.”
“Who says I’m asking you? I’ve had some time to think and I realized something very important.” He chuckled, but it wasn’t the kind that made the world feel brighter.
“And?” I asked hesitantly. Something told me I wouldn’t like his answer.
“Why the hell would I marry you when I can just keep on screwing you whenever I want. You know . . . why buy the cow when I can get the milk for free.”
“Are you calling me a cow?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Or something.”
His comment made me sick and was a painful reminder things had changed. The old Quinn would never have said something so crass. The old Quinn knew there was more to our relationship than sex.
Suddenly the urge—the desperate need to put an end to this, shot through me. I needed to save him—not later—now. “Where are you?”
Broken Promises (The Brianna Lane Series) Page 13
