Copula Chronicles: The Complete Collection: Origin, Descend, Ascend, Legacy

by Venessa Kimball

  My frustration gets the better of me, and I blurt out, “Xander kissed me!”

  He stares at me frozen in shock for only a second before his eyes shift down to his plate. As his eyes scan the remaining food on his plate, I know rage is building behind them and I feel like such a bitch for bringing it up to spite him. His eyes dart up and narrow on me. “Did you kiss him back?”

  Okay, maybe I’m not sorry for being a bitch with his asshole comeback. “Yes, I did.”

  “Gives a whole new meaning to kissing the enemy, don’t you think?”

  “He isn’t the enemy Nate. Sam used him.”

  “Oh, so now you’re defending him? Defending someone that you shouldn’t trust as far as you can throw him? Where are you going?”

  “I’m leaving,” I hiss as I start to rise, not wanting to listen to him berate me any longer, when suddenly the romantic music playing in the background increases in volume.

  I turn around and see Mrs. Getty peeking at us through a small window next to the door to the kitchen. As soon as I spy her, she tucks behind the curtain and I look down, embarrassed by what she saw between Nate and me. I glance over at him expecting him to be shooting lasers at me, but he isn’t. He’s still glancing at the window where Mrs. Getty watched us. His chest broadens as he breathes in deep before looking up at me. He motions to the chair for me to sit. “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t want our one night of normal going to shit because of...”

  He closes his eyes, like the thought of even saying Xander’s name is agonizing.

  “Please Jes. Here, I have another question for you.”

  Wearily, I sit back down and watch him as he puts his napkin back on his lap. He picks up his glass of water and takes a long drink before asking, “Were you in college before the facility?”

  I nod slowly, hopeful that the new direction of the conversation might save the night. “Yeah. In Georgia. I was just wrapping up my basics when Ezra told me.”

  I’m teetering on a fine line, as we said no shoptalk tonight. I wipe my mouth quickly with my napkin and ask, “Were you in college?”

  “I went to the University of Colorado. I was studying mechanical engineering.”

  Seeming distracted all of a sudden, Nate looks beyond me toward the kitchen door as a smirk pulls at his lips. Not sure of what he’s looking at, I turn to see Mr. and Mrs. Getty coming toward us with one heaping portion of dark chocolate cake. I look back at Nate, unable to keep from grinning myself at the sight of its decadence.

  “Chocolate cake is your favorite, right?”

  Without analyzing when he might have collected that bit of information, I respond with a gentle nod. “Yes. My all time favorite.”

  Mrs. Getty sets the dish between us. “When Nathaniel called today, I asked if there was a special dessert. He said it had to be chocolate, so I baked my best recipe from scratch.”

  I’m not only in awe of Mrs. Getty baking a cake from scratch for me, but of Nate making a point that, it had to be chocolate. “Thank you so much Mrs. Getty.”

  Nate watches me intently as I react to the surprise and insists I take the first bite.” You first.”

  I nearly melt in my chair from the gooey ganache center as it fills my mouth. I don’t care as I speak with my mouth partly full with this goodness. “This is amazing!”

  His smile grows with my comment and he picks up his fork. Just before his fork touches the cake, he looks at me and starts to say something, then quickly clams up. Like he’s changed his mind about saying it. He takes a forkful of cake and puts it in his mouth. I can’t help but wonder what he’s withholding. Nate isn’t the type to clam up if he has something on his mind. Obviously. “What were you going to say just then?”

  Ignoring my questions, he moans lightly as he savors the bite of cake. “That is a damn good cake. I’ve never been a chocolate fan, but this—this might make me a believer that chocolate is the answer to everything.”

  As I sit there holding my fork mid-air, I interrupt his sudden adoration for chocolate.

  “Nate.”

  As he cuts into the cake with the prongs of his fork for another bite, his dark hair falls just above his eyes disguising his quick glance at me. “I was going to see if you wanted to dance with me.”

  He shakes his head. “Maybe it’s the music, you sitting there looking beautiful and smiling because I did something that made you happy. I don’t know.”

  He’s struggling to find the words as he puts the piece of cake balanced on his fork in his mouth. “I just thought it would be nice. That’s all. End the one night of normalcy on a good note.”

  He taps his fork on the plate as he looks over at the pond. Leave it to Nate. Always able to give words to what I’m feeling. I did want to end this night on a good note and it would just be one dance. Nothing more. A normal dance.

  “Um, I’m not very good—at dancing I mean.”

  He shrugs and smiles. “Me either.”

  Nate pulls me to him gently, holding my hand in his while the other wraps around my waist. As he turns me, I notice Mr. and Mrs. Getty standing in the doorway arm and arm watching us. They are the most adorable couple I’ve ever seen. Could they be linked? And if so, how long have they been able to grow that link into what appears to be unconditional love?

  The warmth radiating from Nate’s touch is yielded, not as overwhelming as it usually is. I can tell he’s intentionally holding back, a testament to how much he cares.

  Feeling relaxed from the small amount of comfort his touch is offering, I close my eyes and lean my head on his shoulder. He seems to relax too as he releases my hand and encircles both of his arms around me.

  Mr. and Mrs. Getty had time to let their link, if they even have one, grow, change, become love. Nate and I—

  Suddenly, he whispers into my hair. “You all right?”

  I nod my head still on his shoulder as I mindlessly answer, “Yes. I’m—yes.”

  Nate lightly chuckles. “You’re yes?”

  Lifting my head, I roll my eyes at him and give him a half smile. “Yes. I’m fine.”

  Not wanting to let this moment slip away just yet, I lean my head back on his shoulder and close my eyes. As I melt into his warm embrace, I find myself trying to see into the future with him. What if we didn’t have this intersection crap happening? What if we had time? Would that make a difference in the way things are so complicated between us right now?

  It’s pointless to think about it. We don’t have that luxury. And yeah, I feel cheated, but it is what it is. No matter how much I wish things to be different, it isn’t going to buy us time. It’s as if we’ve been left in the deepest part of the ocean and the only way to survive is to keep treading water and stay afloat.

  The sound of the music fading should technically mean the end of our dance, but Nate’s and my hold on each other is unwavering. Slowly, I lift my head off his shoulders and turn to look up at him just as he looks down at me. We are dangerously close, but not a danger I’ve ever feared with him. Not a danger that I haven’t wanted with him before. I slide my hands up the length of his back as he lowers his mouth, barely capturing mine. The first kiss is as light as a feather. The second lingers just a second longer. Long enough to draw me back in to take what I want.

  The sound of a man clearing his throat breaks our kiss and pulls us apart. As we stand side by side, Mr. Getty is standing in front of us smiling. “Pardon my interrupting, but is there anything else I can get for you two tonight?”

  Feeling tongue-tied, Nate answers for the both of us. “No Mr. Getty. Everything was wonderful.”

  He looks beyond Mr. Getty, “Thank you Mrs. Getty.”

  Mrs. Getty rises on the toes of her shoes and smiles. “Of course.”

  Mr. Getty walks back to meet Mrs. Getty at the door. She leans into him, and he rests his lips on her forehead. I immediately think of Nate
, how he’s rested his lips on my forehead more than once. Both of them close their eyes seeming lost in the moment––lost in each other.

  Needing to get out of my head, I look up at the sky beyond the incandescent lights strung from tree to tree. “Thank you for tonight. It’s breath-taking.”

  Nate comes to my side. We both glance sideways at each other at the same time as he grins and says, “So much for a normal night, huh?”

  We both look up at the sky. The stars sparkle against the onyx backdrop and I wonder where in the far distance Dobria and Sonde exist. How far are they now that the intersection is coming like the wave in my vision? Will this gorgeous view change when the intersection strikes? Will we be here to witness the aftermath, or will it bring instant death?

  I swallow hard before I respond. “It’s the most normal night I’ve had in a long time. Really. Thank you.”

  All of a sudden, I feel his warmth graze my palm as his fingers thread through mine. Without a second thought, I lace my fingers in his and hold on just a little longer to something normal.

  I must have dozed off on the way home in the car. I feel cold air on my face, and a familiar warm hand dances along my arm, bringing me out of my slumber. Nate’s looking down on me through the open passenger door. “Hey sleepy head.”

  As soon as Nate unlocks the front door, a note slips to the ground from the doorframe it was wedged in. I follow Nate into the house as he reads the note, lays the keys down on the table, then hands it to me. “Ezra.”

  Went to meet with an old friend before we leave. Will be home late.

  Pack and get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

  E

  I put the note down on the table and conceal a yawn the best I can, before catching Nate watching me. “Better pack and get to bed.”

  I nod and start toward the hallway to my room when his voice carries, “I will always protect you, Jes.”

  I turn to face him, giving him my undivided attention as he walks toward me. “No matter what happens from here out. That’s never going to change. I just want you to know that.”

  Unsure of what the future has planned for us, I can’t fully look him in the eye with unwavering belief. “I do, and I’ll always protect you too. We’re in this together and we’re stronger together.”

  He moves past me to his door, but before entering, he glances at me. “Everything in me says that we’ll be okay. We’ll adapt, evolve and survive this.”

  For a second, I wonder if he’s talking about the intersection, or us. Does he fear the unforeseen future just as I do?

  I take a hard look at the guy who has kept watch over me through the nightmares, pulled me out of my panic, and helped me find laughter in the midst of our new crazy life as guardians. He’s the guy that is level when I’m off the walls, my balance. For the last two months, he has been all of these things and more. A protector, healer, friend and possibly something more if we had time on our side like the Getty’s.

  My stomach twists as I feel the weight of how time is too short for us. Two guardians who will fight with each and for each other in the same breath, but may never have a chance to become more. I choke back the knot building in my throat as I say, “Whatever it takes. We will.”

  Nate smiles softly opening his door, and then glancing back at me before closing it. “Good night, Jes.”

  “Good night.”

  CHAPTER 11: CRUEL FATE

  Nate

  Leaning against the door, I remind myself again I did it because I was protecting her. It wasn’t a lie. I didn’t lie when I told her I wanted to go on a date with her, which then turned out to be hanging out because of how complicated this whole link is between us.

  I’ve wanted to take her out on a date for the last two months, but couldn’t get up the nerve to ask until Ezra gave me a reason.

  I was lying in my room, thinking about what Ezra once again unloaded on us when I hear a knock at my door.

  ***

  “Nate, can I come in?”

  I sit up quickly. “Yeah.”

  Ezra closes the door behind him and sits on the swivel chair near the desk across from me. He’s quiet for a moment, just looking at me with his hands resting on the arms of the chair. With what happened between Jes and me this morning, I check my mental block before asking,

  “What’s up?”

  “A team of Sondians have been watching you and Jes coming and going from Ms. Olivia’s, for the past week and a half.”

  “Shit! How did they find us?”

  “Sam, I’m sure. Doesn’t matter now. I need you to distract Jes.”

  I’m not sure what he means. “How?”

  “Take her out to dinner.”

  He doesn’t seem to like the suggestion he’s given me.

  “A date?”

  His face stiffens and instantly turns beet red. I back pedal. “I mean, not like a real date. A fake date.”

  His eat shit and die glare is spot on as he rises from the chair. “Out to dinner. That’s it.”

  I nod understanding where I stand with his little girl. “Okay.”

  As Ezra walks over to the window, moving the blinds to look out, I ask, “What are you going to do? Are you going to go after them?”

  “It’s best if you concentrate on keeping Jesca your priority. Ms. Olivia and I will take care of the rest when you leave tonight.”

  “Ms. Olivia?”

  What the hell is she going to do? She’s like a grandma. “She’s going with you?”

  Ezra snickers and turns back to face me. “Don’t let her age deceive you, Nate. She is one tough old lady.”

  The thought of sweet little Ms. Olivia being an active guardian is insane.

  “Look, after tonight, you, Jes and I will be out of here. We don’t need anyone tracking us beyond this evening.”

  Ezra hands me a card with a name and number on it. “Nick Getty’s grandmother and grandfather live here in Florida. They own a beautiful restaurant. Give them a call and tell them who you are.”

  This isn’t the scenario I had played in my mind so many times when I had thought about asking Jesca out. But, let’s face it; things weren’t going to slow down for us to be normal any time soon. I mean, we are fucking protectors of the human race and all. This was the only chance I was going to get, and I wasn’t going to waste it. Plus, if I can spend time with her at a romantic dinner, one last time before we go meet up with my prick cousin, I won’t pass it up.

  * * *

  Now, I am standing here, wishing that the hand dealt would allow us more time. More time to dance. More time to watch her smile. More time to make her heart race when I touch her. More time to possibly be the man that makes love to her for the first time, to hold her and look up into the night sky, as we did tonight. Yeah, I’m still fucking pissed about her kissing Xander. Yeah, I’m jealous, and God, I can’t help that. I can’t help feeling as if I have to keep her safe, while at the same time I’m falling for her.

  Ezra said that while our Copula implantation was determined for us, the partner we inevitably link with isn’t. It’s left to fate. Right now, I’m thinking fate is playing a cruel fucking joke on me. Tonight when she goes to sleep, she may or may not have a nightmare. If she does, I can’t let myself rush to her. I can’t lay by her side and not feel every part of me wanting her as I hold her body close to mine. Yeah, fucking cruel I know; but it’s just as cruel to be that close to her and use everything in my power to hold back from showing her how much she means to me. It wouldn’t just be sex. Not with her. And while I can’t say that I have really, truly made love with any of my past girlfriends, I can say that with Jes—I would be making love.

  Right now, that’s just a fucking pipe dream. If we’re going to survive whatever is ahead of us, we can’t make this anymore screwed up than it already is. If
that means backing off, which is the last thing I want to do with her, then I’m going to have to resist all my feelings for her and just be her partner. Fate fucking sucks right now.

  CHAPTER 12: DREAM AND LITTLE DREAM

  Jesca

  The same nightmare repeatedly plagues my mind when I sleep now. Corinna is on a street near a busy Japanese market place, convulsing and grabbing my leg. Nate is trying to pull me away from her as Ezra and Xander are calling for us to cross the street. I don’t want to stay with Nate, or go to Ezra and Xander, I just want to get out of Corinna’s hold and run. I finally break free, sprint down the middle of the crowded street of what could be middle town Japan or China. The sudden flash of light blinding me transforms the low-lit Asian street market and crowd to wirey branches and sharp brush tugging at my hair and tangling around my feet. Nate’s still chasing me, but so is another––the presence of the dark aura that’s followed me most of my life in my dreams has latched on. An opening in the woods ahead has me pumping faster as Nate and the dark shadow keeps pace with me. Once in the open, I’m witness to a war zone; Dobrians, Sondians and the grotesque once-human creatures in Ezra’s files come to life and attack.

  My alarm jolts me awake from the nightmare and I gasp for air, as if I’ve been holding my breath underwater. I am slow to move, but it’s not from the sleep paralysis. I am waiting—waiting for the guy who has come to my door every morning for the past two months to comfort me after my nightmares, or visions. Whatever they are.

  He doesn’t come though. And without catching a single thought from him, I realize he’s giving us space. I get it. I understand. But it still hurts not to see his silhouette in the doorway right now.

  Not able to go back to sleep, I open my door and see a light on in the living room. Someone is in the kitchen. It’s super early, but I’m sure it’s Ezra making coffee.

  Ezra is sitting at the table, fully dressed and reading over a file. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”