I love Devon, she breathed against his lips all the while damning herself for hurting him again.
Smart move avoiding, Trevor said after a moment and leaned back just a little bit to let his gaze pierce hers. Because if you lie to me Ill be able to smell it on you.
Envy took a step back while Trevor hovered above her, blocking out everything else even though hed moved away. Reaching behind her, her hand fumbled around trying to find the doorknob. She didnt want to think about this it was only breaking her heart.
Finally, her fingers brushed the knob and she turned it, opening the door. She slipped inside and started to close it when Trevors hand shot out and stopped the action.
You know Im right, Trevor whispered. You feel it too.
Envy felt butterflies erupt in the pit of her stomach and quickly shut the door in Trevors face. Turning the lock, she spun around and pressed her back against the door waiting to hear Trevor start up his car and leave. For some reason, it felt like he was still standing behind her just waiting to reach through the door and wrap his arms around her.
Trevor laid his palms against the doorframe feeling her presence lingering leaning against the other side of the wood separating them. He could hear her heart racing through the thick wood and inhaled deep to calm his nerves. His instincts were screaming at him to burst through the door and take back what was his but hed be damned before giving her a reason to stop loving him.
He frowned after a moment when he didnt hear her move away from the door. Leaning closer to the barrier between them, he laid his forehead against the cold wood and sighed.
Envy, he whispered. I love you.
It was then that he heard her flee to her room.
*****
Jason sat down on a stone bench that had been placed in front of one of the larger crypts to take a breather. He hadn't run into anything or anyone for the last three minutes and that was a record for the night so far.
Tapping the ring, he hoped the thing would somehow turn back on. His stomach was twisted in knots not knowing where Tiara was and if she was really okay. Lowering his head a little, he mentally berated himself for not being able to get her out of the mausoleum. Some protector hed turned out to be. Shed even had to ask a demon for help.
You might want to look behind you, a voice suddenly said from the surrounding silence.
Jasons eyes snapped up seeing a man with long dark hair standing only a short distance away. He blinked when what the man said finally sunk in.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and Jason shot forward a few steps before doing a one-eighty to see what was behind him. Four skitters stared back at him from only a couple of feet away with their lipless mouths pulled back showing every one of their sharp teeth.
Oh come on! Jason yelled, feeling a small rush of anger. He was bored with fighting these things. Havent you morons figured it out yet? If you live in a graveyard youre supposed to be dead.
Angelica smirked having caught up with Syn just in time to hear Jasons tantrum. Hey Jason, wanna see something cool? she asked stepping up beside him and raising her hands in front of her. She opened her mouth and started whispering a spell that was supposed to make them implode. To her dismay, the Skitters suddenly backed away before turning and fleeing into the darkness.
Neat, Jason said thinking that had been the spell.
Damn it, if youd quit scaring the hell out of them, maybe I could have made a decent kill tonight. Angelica snapped as she turned around finding Syn right behind her. Youre like demon repellant.
Jason smirked when he caught on to what she was ranting about. Black Flag for demons, he muttered but quickly shut his mouth when Angelicas glare turned on him. I mean right. You are so right. When in doubt, always agree with the women.
Syn laughed softly, I did nothing but walk up behind you, my dear. I cant help it if the Spinnan fear me. Maybe they were just cowards. Shall we go in search of braver monsters? He was rewarded when Angelica rolled her eyes and smiled. She was warming up to him quite nicely.
Jasons shoulders slumped realizing this was the man hed been warned about when hed started asking questions about the beautiful Angelica. Deciding that path was hopeless, he sighed and returned his attention to the ring.
This stupid thing is worthless the damn GPS is broke or something. He growled and attempted to take the ring off. He pulled for a moment but decided to stop when he felt his finger pop at the joint. He stared at it again for a moment and tilted his head to the side. Maybe it was a good thing it couldnt come off, because if it did hed probably throw it at the damn Skitters.
How can I protect Tiara if I dont know where the hell she is? he ranted at the ring. This isnt the time to be taking a nap for crying out loud.
Can I see that? Angelica requested, holding her hand out so Jason could lay his hand in hers. She recognized the ring from the memories that Zachary had shared with her and was curious as to its power.
Jason couldnt help himself as he watched Angelica with wide moon eyes. She was gently cradling his hand and examining the ring with a critical eye. The softness of her skin was very soothing against his though he did flinch when Syn decided that was a good moment to laugh.
He glanced up and saw Syn out of the corner of his eye. That laugh had been just a little too creepy. The run in with Kane last night had scared him but this guy he was probably the one Satan searched for under his bed or in the closet before daring to call it a night.
Syn watched patiently as Angelica held her other palm about an inch above the ring. Seeing her bite her lower lip in concentration was his undoing. Reaching out, he laid his hand over hers and slowly interlocked their fingers. Bringing his head down next to hers, he brushed his cheek against her soft hair while reaching around with his other hand to gently hold her against him.
Angelica blinked suddenly feeling what shed been searching for. Thats cheating, she whispered but quickly searched the aura of the ring while she was so tapped into it. She felt two paths coming from the right one light and one dark. Out of morbid curiosity, she began following the dark one to see where it led.
Thats enough, Syn said softly and pulled her hand away from the rings power. Not only is it linked to the girl but also to the demons mind. We must be careful not to summon him accidentally.
Angelica swallowed and nodded knowing he was right. Shed felt it, the power of the demon inside the ring. She let her hair fall forward to hide her eyes as she gazed at their hands still linked together. It was intimate and sexual at the same time, such a simple gesture that left her mind reeling.
Hes still alive? Jason gritted his teeth and held his hand away from himself imagining a demon exploding from it. If what Nile had said about Deth was true, then that was one demon he really didnt want to just pop out of the ring like a Genie. Like I really needed another reason to want rid of this thing right now.
The girl is unconscious, Syn informed him but narrowed his eyes not liking the aura of the ring. Hed felt the demon turn to look at him but cut the link before his image was stable. If that creature returned to earth there was no telling what darkness he would bring with him.
The girl is unconscious, Syn informed him but narrowed his eyes not liking the aura of the ring. Hed felt the demon turn to look at him but cut the link before his image was stable. If that creature returned to earth there was no telling what darkness he would bring with him.
Unconscious? Thats even more of a reason to find her, Jason said, forgetting his fear of the ring. Theres no telling how much trouble she could be in. With her missing and Zachary down for the count
Down for the count? What are you talking about? Angelica demanded as her temper spiked making her jerk her hand from Syns.
I thought you knew, Jason frowned, I thought everyone on the team knew by now.
Knew what? Angelica asked in frustration.
Zachary went ballistic when that demon ran off with Tiara and he blew up the main nest all of these things were coming from. The demon breeding them all went up in flames along with it. Zachary passed out in the fire right after the explosion.
Seeing the shock on her face Jason quickly continued, Its okay, Ren got him out of there and vanished we havent seen him since. Storm would probably know where they went because he was there when it happened.
And Tiara was kidnapped by a demon? Angelica felt her heartbeat racing. No wonder Zachary had gone ballistic.
Not exactly, Jason hedged. Its hard to explain. The point is she passed out as she was leaving with the other demon and until this thing starts working again, I dont even know if shes okay, much less where to start looking. He smacked the ring with his other hand in frustration trying again to kick start it into working.
Without another word, Angelica took off toward the entrance of the graveyard while mentally kicking herself for her selfishness. Shed been so busy with Syn and the monsters that she hadn't been there to watch Zacharys back the one time that he needed her.
Her vision blurred with tears and she angrily swiped at them only to run right into a brick wall named Syn. His arms went around her to steady her but before she could stop herself, she started to struggle against him. She hit his chest with her small fists, knowing it wouldnt do any good but her first instinct was to remove whatever had gotten in the way of finding her best friend.
Let go of me, Angelica hissed, madder at herself than she was at him. This was why she didnt want to get close to anyone. Shed chosen Zacharys friendship because he was strong and wouldnt give her a reason to cry. If hed passed out in his own fire then something was terribly wrong with him.
Syn locked his hands around her wrist and pulled her flush against his body with a growl, I will show you another thing that we can do together. He slashed his lips against hers in an attempt to ease the jealous hunger hed felt rising within him.
Angelica stilled and her eyes went wide the moment his lips descended on hers. She felt her knees weaken when Syn slowly sucked her bottom lip between his. The movement was so slow and sexual that her thighs nearly went up in flames. The urge to kiss him back hit her hard.
Before she could follow through with the growing need, he ended the kiss and she found herself once again staring up into his dark amethyst eyes. In her semi-dazed state, it took her a moment to realize there was now a wall behind him and the breeze shed been feeling no longer caressed her skin.
Syn waited on his mate to come back down from the touch of ecstasy hed just given her before he let go of her wrist. He hadn't needed to kiss her to perform the teleportation, but if she thought he did he wouldnt correct the misunderstanding.
Angelica swung around in surprise finding herself in Storms office. Her eyes quickly scanned the room before locking on Zachary. He was inside a translucent barrier lying on a bed of his own flames just like Jason had described. A soft sob left her seeing him in such a state.
Her steps were slow as she approached the seal around him. Shed never seen such dark flames coming from him and knew it couldnt be a good sign.
Whats wrong? she whispered, wondering if Zachary could hear her.
Placing her hands on the barrier, she watched a river of what looked like sparkling water rush between her fingers and disappear before hitting the floor. The shield turned an electric blue around her hands and she pushed on it testing its strength.
Zachary, open your eyes. Please just to let me know youre okay. Angelica felt her hope plummet with every passing second that he didnt respond.
His blond hair fluttered around his face and his body was just barely swaying gently in the flames letting her know that it was what kept him levitated above the floor. What frightened her the most was his complete stillness she couldnt even tell if he was breathing.
Is it a spell Zachary? Did someone do this to you? Im coming just hold on. She closed her eyes and started mentally picking at the locks around the barrier. She could do this she would do this for Zachary.
Syn had remained quiet, giving her privacy with her friend but he could not take her heartache a moment longer. Stepping up behind her, he laid his palms against the shield above hers strengthening it rather than helping her bring it down.
Why? Why are you stopping me? Angelica asked not understanding.
Because, I do not think your friend Zachary will be very happy when he wakes up only to find he has harmed you with his phoenix fire. He is not dying he is reviving himself. And from the looks of it, he is going to bring all of his power with him when he awakens.
Angelica turned her back on the barrier not wanting to watch the eerie image of Zachary burning. Wanting to feel safe, she wrapped her arms around Syns waist and hid her face against his warm chest.
Syn folded his arms around her giving her the comfort she was quietly seeking. He gazed at Zachary and silently wondered what would have happened to her in this life if he hadn't found her. Would her friendship with Zachary have grown into something more intimate?
He tightened his arms around her, burying his face in her dark hair and decided not to dwell on it. She loved the phoenix dearly and for that he was at least thankful but it was time for his mate to remember what true love really was.
Chapter 3
Damon crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the tool shed used by the caretakers of the cemetery. This area was lacking in hunters because it was in the very corner of the massive graveyard and fairly secluded. It also seemed to be a refuge for a lot of the Spinnan that had survived this long, almost as though they were trying to regroup and hide.
He had promised to let Alicia practice fighting and, all in all this was an excellent place for her to do it as long as he was there acting as the referee. These Spinnan were weak compared to most of the things running around the city right now, but still he only allowed Alicia to fight one at a time.
Every time a brave Spinnan would try to tag team her, he would shatter them before they got close enough to distract her from the one she was fighting. Destroying the monsters coming at Alicia was giving him a sense of satisfaction and Damon was quite enjoying himself. She wasnt half bad for a beginner.
Hed also noticed a drastic drop in the creatures since the explosion a few hours ago and concluded that someone had found and destroyed the nest. Personally, he wouldnt have minded getting a look at the demon that had spawned these creepy critters but he shrugged it off. It was probably just as ugly as these things were anyway.