by J. N. Colon
He leaned forward and grabbed my hand, squeezing. “That’s all I want to say right now, okay?”
“I won’t ask anymore.” Even though I wanted to. I wanted to know everything. I tugged his hand. “Come up here.”
Surprisingly, he complied and sat on the edge of the bed. I lifted my uninjured arm and ran my fingers over his face. His lids drifted closed. I was an only child and lost my mom within moments of my first breaths. I had friends, but I was never that close to anyone. Not really.
Jayson was the only person to ever witness an epic meltdown like what happened after the dweller inside of Mrs. Gracin hit me with a dose of toxic visions. Letting him in was thrilling—and terrifying. Jayson Casteel could break my heart into a million pieces.
“I’m glad you were there to save me in the cemetery,” I whispered. “I don’t say it a lot, but I mean it.”
“I know, Angel Eyes.” He pressed my hand into his face. “If I had to do it all over again, I’d save you. No matter what.” When his lids cracked, flecks of gold and topaz danced within the green.
My pulse quivered. We spent most of our time together trying not to strangle the other. We irritated each other like it was our job. When we stopped being stubborn and let our souls push us together, a sense of peace always fell over me.
Jayson’s lips gently brushed mine, stealing my breath. “Angel Eyes, I will save you every time. I promise.”
Sweet angels in Heaven. “I just might let you.”
The kiss burned slowly. Passion always swirled between us, but a deeper connection also lingered now. This wasn’t that all-consuming fire between us. This was comfort and safety. Trust.
Jayson pushed me down on the bed, his mouth secured to mine. He tasted like warm paradise. He rolled me on my side, careful of my arm. My leg slipped over his as we kissed, exploring each other.
Our hearts beat in sync, tapping out an erratic song. I had a hard time facing my feelings for the enigmatic Nephilim. Ignoring them was safer.
If I admitted how hard I’d fallen, he’d know how easy it would be to crush me.
But my body was already saying what my mouth wouldn’t. The way I pressed into him—gave as much as I received—showed what was really in my heart.
Jayson Casteel.
He’d wormed his way in deep. Cutting him out was impossible.
“Lena,” he murmured, his lips hot and soft. “You drive me insane, but I can’t stand to be without you.”
My breath hitched. Why did he have to say things like that? It made me want to toss caution into the wind and bare my soul to him. He already had part of it. Why not give him the rest? “And I can’t stand to be around you.”
A chuckle vibrated through his chest. “You’re a terrible liar.”
My fingers slipped under his shirt, tracing his abs. His muscles jumped. “I don’t even know why I’m letting you kiss me now. I don’t even like you. Not in the least.”
We both knew I was full of it.
Jayson’s mouth left mine, traveling across my jaw. His tongue swirled over my throat, shooting arcs of searing electricity through my belly. The world fell away, leaving only him and the sensations unfolding inside of me.
A soft moan slipped out, and I pressed closer to him until not one molecule of space existed between us. We were fused together. And I never wanted to be separated.
Jayson’s hands roamed over me, firm and then gentle and then firm again. Heat spilled around us, yanking away any chill I’d felt after the encounter with the demons today. Our tongues tangled, and we reveled in the taste of each other.
I couldn’t get enough.
My life in Charleston seemed like a lifetime ago. Mystic Hollow had swallowed me up the moment I crossed over the town line. But right now, I couldn’t seem to care. All that mattered was the heavenly creature currently doing sinful things to me.
Jayson pulled back, his lips swollen from our kisses. “Stay with me for a while?”
My fingers played with his hair, running between the silken strands. “Okay.” Like I was in any shape to get up. My legs were pure jelly.
Jayson pulled me to his chest, and I snuggled in, breathing in his salty ocean scent.
My lids began to drift closed. “You always smell so good,” I mumbled.
His face pressed into my hair. “You smell like sugar and spice.”
“And everything nice?”
He chuckled. “Something like that.” His hand stroked up and down my back, further lulling me to sleep. “One day, I’ll tell you all the dark things about me,” he whispered. “I just hope it doesn’t scare you away.”
Chapter 17
The housewife wearing pearls and a pink cardigan flashed my dad a kilowatt smile as he passed over the bag of items she purchased. “Thank you so much, Mr. Raven. I never would have found this without your help.”
His grin reached all the way to his golden-brown eyes, light crinkles forming around them. “You’re welcome. That’s what I’m here for.” He closed the register on the thick wooden counter. “And please, call me James.”
She fluttered her eyelashes.
And I gagged.
The bell over Raven Hardware jingled as she sashayed out.
“How could she have not found a hammer?” I pointed to the back wall full of them.
“Maybe she was confused,” he said, shrugging.
I scoffed. “She doesn’t even need that hammer. She probably has no idea what to do with it.”
“What are you saying?” My dad turned, his lopsided grin wide. “She just wanted to check me out?”
Ugh. “Don’t make me hurl right on the freshly polished cement floor.”
He patted my shoulder. “That’s okay. I have plenty of sawdust for you to clean it up.”
I shook my head and grabbed another piece of candy from the shelf behind the counter, wincing as the stitches on my arm tugged. I told my dad I fell in the woods hiking with Jessica. It was technically true. I simply left out all the chaos involving demons.
Jessica didn’t remember anything supernatural about our hike. According to her, I slipped on our walk back down the trail and sliced my arm open. Jayson took me to the hospital for stitches.
A heavy weight had settled on my chest, made even worse when she came over to check on me. I waited on the edge of my seat for her to call me out on my lies.
That didn’t happen. Seth had one hell of a gift. He’d completely wiped her memories.
It didn’t take away the guilt eating a hole through my gut though. What if it wore off and Jessica suddenly remembered? Not only would she know the evil in this world, but she’d hate me. And I couldn’t blame her. Messing with someone’s mind was no joke.
I shook the dark, depressing thoughts off and leaned against the counter. I’d stopped by to help my dad at the register. So far, a couple of hunters ordered wood for stands, the taxidermist also needed wood, Ms. Hall bought gardening tools, and a hand full of overly dressed women came in for random items.
The female population of Mystic Hollow was still enamored by James Raven.
Mayor Gentry also came in to discuss supplies for the famous Mystic Hollow’s fall festival. They needed new booths built.
I could only imagine what this fall festival comprised of. Some banjo? Shooting Fish in a Barrel game or two?
Okay, so Mystic Hollow wasn’t that hick. It may have had a burger joint and a pizzeria smashed together and more than one taxidermist, but the townsfolk knew how to read and write.
“Lena, you need to start eating more than sugar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” My dad glanced at his watch. It was almost six-thirty. “What have you eaten today?”
I chewed the rest of my candy and swallowed. “I plead the fifth.” I’d consumed nothing but sugary goodness. “Why don’t I get us some burgers from Jimmie’s?”
My dad playfully narrowed his eyes. “Bribery? I’ll take it.”
“Cool.” I stuck my hand out for some dough, meeting his incredulous
expression. “What? I’m a teenager. You’re supposed to provide me with food.”
He shook his head and drew his wallet out of his back pocket. “You need to work on your bribery skills.”
I took the cash. “You’re still getting something out of this. I’m walking all the way around the corner to the end of the street, ordering you food, and bringing it back.”
“No stopping at Tea Cakes,” he shook his finger. “Ms. Mavis told me last time you came in, you ate the entire sample tray.”
I winced. Yeah. I did do that.
Cinnamon and apples perfumed the air as I walked by the few people roaming Main Street. I licked my lips, thinking of the pecan pie Austin’s mom made. I hadn’t talked to Mr. Football much in the past few days. He gave up on asking me out. Melinda was stuck to his side most of the time at school. That girl was a leech. I wouldn’t be surprised if she actually sucked blood to survive.
A boy sprinted from the small alley behind Stu’s Rifles, tears streaming down his freckled cheeks.
“Are you okay?” I called after him. “Do you need help?”
He glanced over his shoulder, auburn curls bouncing around his chubby face. “That chick is crazy.”
A line creased my brow as I glanced toward the alley. Who else was behind there? Maybe they were in trouble.
And maybe it was a dweller.
I ignored the rational voice in my head telling me to turn around and go straight to Jimmie’s. I shouldn’t be tiptoeing down a dark alley as the sun continued its trajectory out of the sky. The last time I strayed from my path, I ended up in the clutches of a couple demons performing a dark blessing on a totem.
But what could happen in the middle of town? Plenty of people meandered nearby.
Cigarette smoke sifted through the air, and a curvy figure materialized in the back of the alley. Tawny waves cascaded down her back.
The girl whipped around, a sneer curling her lips. “What do you want?” Shannon, Melinda’s bestie, stood a few feet from the entrance, a cigarette clutched between her fingers.
“Nothing,” I said, scrutinizing the stunning brunette. When I first came to Mystic Hollow, she was bright and bubbly. Maybe she was having a bad day.
She flicked the cigarette, tiny specks of ash floating to the ground. “You shouldn’t have come down here. Didn’t anyone ever tell you curiosity killed the cat?”
Nope. Never heard that one.
“I’m not a cat,” I mumbled.
She snickered. “No, you’re certainly not.”
A chill ghosted down my spine as she continued to stare. Crap on crackers. A dweller had taken up residence in Shannon’s body.
Craptacular. I glanced behind me. Only a few feet stood between me and safety. I could quickly backtrack and be out in the open in no time.
A tug on my hair had my body spinning. Shannon was standing directly in front of me. “What the frack!”
She blew smoke in my face. “You’re so naïve.”
I coughed and waved away the toxic cloud. “I’ve heard that one before.”
“I don’t know what Astaroth sees in you,” she spat. “What makes you so special? You’re just an avis. You’re not even that rare.”
My shoulders tightened at the mention of the Fallen. I took a step back, but her hand darted out, catching my arm. I tensed, waiting on the horrific flashes. But the visions never came.
I blinked. She clutched my jacket. Maybe it had to be skin to skin action to spark the images.
A long breath puffed out of my mouth.
Shannon scoffed. “I don’t know why you’re relieved. I’m going to have some fun. And my kind of fun involves pain.”
Son of a buttery biscuit.
Slick ebony leaked into Shannon’s eyes, and her smile twisted into something right out of a nightmare.
My body tensed as blood rapidly pumped through my veins. If she touched my skin, this could go from dicey to downright nightmarish in seconds.
Those black holes lifted above my head, and her smile quickly faded. A blanket of heat spilled over my back.
“Didn’t I give strict orders to stay away from my little bird?” Astaroth’s voice glided out smooth and intoxicating, but there was no mistaking the danger lingering beneath the pretty cadence. It was sharp. And it was lethal.
Shannon backed away, her irises returning to their usual chocolate brown. “Sorry, sir. I forgot.”
Astaroth walked past without sparing me a glance. “Oh, you forgot?” His onyx suit fit his tall, lithe frame like a glove.
“It won’t happen again.” Her head bowed, her gaze cast on the cement.
Astaroth’s chuckle made my stomach clench. “You’re right. It won’t happen again.” His hand moved too fast, splaying on Shannon’s forehead.
Her head jerked back, and her mouth opened in a silent scream. A roiling dark mist whirled out, wind stirring through the alley. The cloud was yanked into the ground, evaporating into nothing.
Straight down to the fiery pits of Hell.
My jaw unhinged, hanging wide open. He yanked the dweller right from Shannon without so much as a word. Jayson and Hannah had to perform an exorcism to tear Morten out of that guy in the woods. Did Astaroth have control over the damned souls because he was a Fallen?
He caught Shannon as she passed out and gently set her against a wall, her head lolling to the side. “There, there.” He patted her cheek. “You’ll be good as new in a few minutes.” He stood and spun around. “Hello, little bird.”
His smile was too charming. I should’ve run as fast and as far as I could. Unfortunately, my feet were glued to the pavement.
Astaroth moved in front of me, shades of black cloaking him in shadows. Vivid sapphire burned through his irises, the only color on him. His finger touched my chin, closing my mouth. “It’s nice to see you too.”
I shrugged his finger off and took a step back. Of course I tripped. A squeal slipped out as my body began falling.
Astaroth reached out and wrenched me back, pinning me against his chest. Bands of steel encircled my waist. Earthy amber and fire swirled around him. “You’d be much safer with me near you all the time, little bird.” His hand stroked my back, spawning a line of heat beneath my clothes. “I can keep you safe in my home. I can protect you.”
I wiggled out of his grasp, a fine tremor shaking my muscles. I swallowed hard and peered into his face. “Protect me?” His words had sent a burst of angry heat through me. “Jayson is the one protecting me.”
His charming smile melted away. “Did I not just save you from that dweller? And the one in the library? And Moloch?”
My lips thinned. “Those dwellers are only here because you had demons open the gates wider. Moloch attacked me because you sent him to Mystic Hollow.” My fists balled by my sides so tight my fingernails bit into my palm. “None of this would be happening if you weren’t collecting the totems for whatever ritual you plan on using them for. And me.”
Astaroth’s eyes darkened. “Things were set in motion a long time ago, Lena. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t important. I’m sorry you didn’t turn out to be some normal girl with a normal boring mortal existence.” He reached up to touch my hair.
I batted his hand away. I had no idea where this courage came from, but I’d rather stand up to the Fallen than let him push me around. “Don’t pretend like you’re one of the good guys. You’re not. Jayson is. He’s the one protecting me against you.”
Harsh lines cut into his face, intensifying the shadows around him. “Jayson isn’t as angelic as you think.”
My head tilted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Astaroth leaned forward, his warm breath dusting my cheeks. Streaks of red lightning flickered through his bottomless blue irises. “Son of Nithael has secrets, little bird. You think he’s some perfect creature of light.” He shook his head. “Your soul may be linked to his, but you don’t know him at all.”
My bravery faltered. I really didn’t know Jayson
that well. Just the other night he’d mumbled something about dark things in his past he feared would turn me away.
A humorless smile curled Astaroth’s mouth. “Don’t decide who’s good and evil yet. You should know the facts first.” He quickly leaned forward and brushed his lips across my cheek. “I’ll see you soon, little bird.
A gust of warm air blew, and he disappeared.
My ragged breathing bounced along the brick walls of the alley. Astaroth was a duplicitous, deceitful fallen angel. He wanted to plant doubt in my head. He wanted me vulnerable.
Jayson was good. He was a Nephilim for crap sakes. He’d saved my life—multiple times.
He did have secrets though. Plenty of them. But they weren’t as bad as Astaroth wanted me to believe. They couldn’t be.
Chapter 18
Faint streaks of moonlight penetrated the woods around the Meriden Mansion, spreading long, thick shadows through the historic former bed and breakfast. My hand was barely visible in front of my face.
I was going to break something. I just knew it.
Sebastian had finally gotten approval from the owners and scheduled the investigation. Jeanine and Gary Laveen met us before sunset and gave us a tour of the three-story house. Dusty chandeliers, peeling wallpaper, creaky boards, and antique watery mirrors added to the spooky atmosphere.
The bed and breakfast had been closed for years, but the old couple had regular maintenance performed on the premises. It was perfectly safe to explore. We made the small office to the left of the front door our safe zone and deposited our belongings.
“Let’s go to the second floor.” Sebastian’s voice echoed through the soaring foyer. “Several sightings of Mitchel Robertson have occurred around the banister where he jumped to his death.”
“It’s just so sad,” Jessica whispered as we followed Sebastian to the stairs, his blond spikes highlighted by the camera in front of him.
