by LJ Swallow
"What changed his mind? Did somebody tell him?"
Heath shrugs. "Said he had a dream that you were out there and hidden."
"Right. A dream." My doubt matches that I see in his eyes. "But why did whoever hide me?"
"No fucking clue."
We exchange a smile, then sit in silence as I mull over his words and last night’s events. "I freaked out and attacked Joss."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that too. I think he has bruises."
"Really?"
"No, I’m kidding. I also heard he slept with you last night." Heath stretches his long legs out and taps his boot toes together. "I always hoped it would be my bed you spent the night in."
"I've slept in Joss's bed before."
"Not with him in too."
"Believe me, there was nothing romantic about it—or anything else."
"Yeah, but he was there to help. Joss was the one who made things better for you." Heath turns his eyes to mine. "I wish I’d been there for you."
"But that's his power, right? He was helping me."
"I doubt that's all he feels.” Heath drains his mug and stands, mouth set firm. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Want me to cook you breakfast?"
His response irritates me. Heath should be happy Joss was there to help. "Sure. Then I can get ready for work."
"Work?" Heath's expression is as if I told him demons had breached the house's defences.
"I thought we agreed I could work?" I ask.
"I don't think Xander agrees."
"Screw Xander."
Heath chokes a laugh. "I think you two are going to have an 'interesting' relationship."
"Hey, whatever I am, Vee still exists. and she doesn't take bad attitude from people. Especially not guys." I pause. "I need to be the Vee who works at Alphanet, just for a few hours. Can you explain that to him, please?"
"Okay. And for the record, I think you’ll need that attitude around my brother." I follow as he yanks open the door to the house.
Inside the kitchen, the smell of cooked bacon hits me and my stomach rumbles. Joss stands at the stove, spatula in hand.
"Just in time! I cooked breakfast. Nothing like bacon to make the world a happier place." A smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. "How are you this morning, Vee?"
"Better," I say cautiously.
"Cool." He rubs his nose. "Want some too, Heath?"
I glance at an unimpressed Heath and nudge him. "Famine making breakfast. Funny, huh?"
"Yeah, he’s quite the cook. I don’t eat breakfast." Heath inclines his head to the hallway. "If you want to head to work today, I'll get ready and take you."
I chew my lip as I watch him leave. Heath told me he was hungry. Did Joss ruin his appetite?
Joss dumps the bacon on a chipped plate and slides it along the kitchen counter towards me. "Has Heath explained things?"
"Not much, but I don’t feel like talking about everything again."
He nods and drops bacon on a plate for himself. "I want you to know I'm here if you need help coping. A hug or whatever." He cocks a brow. "Distraction."
Joss’s words are the opposite of Heath’s heavy conversation. "You know what?" I say. "I think your Joss-ness helps. I don’t mean the guy who calms me when I'm around him, but the joking."
He smiles. "I try."
"Where did you go last night? I woke up and you weren’t there anymore."
Joss rests against the kitchen counter and folds his arms across his broad chest. "I left you once you fell asleep because holding you drove me nuts." His shining eyes meet mine, and he shakes his head, as if shaking away a thought. "Do you realise you smell better than bacon, and that’s pretty damn impossible?"
I laugh softly. "I’m pretty sure it is."
"I went to find the others after I left you, and the four of us talked about the ‘situation’." Joss picks at his bacon. "We decided Heath should be the one who spoke to you this morning. And Ewan... be nice to him. He feels like shit about opening his big mouth.”
"Ewan? I don't blame him. I mean, yes the news could've been broken more diplomatically, but he didn't mean to hurt me. I'm sure of that."
Joss bites his lip. "Good. Well, the other thing we decided last night is we’ll give you a hundred percent control over what you want to happen next."
I snort. "I bet Xander loved that idea."
"Actually, it was his suggestion. Xander's worried that you'll run now. You're crucial to us as the missing piece and we need you to stick around. So, you call the shots and if you want anything from any of us, ask." He drops the seriousness and bows, flourishing his hands in front of him. "We're here to carry out your every whim."
I take a bite from my sandwich. This is what I mean. The joking Joss is who I need, the way I’ve discovered that I need Ewan's forthrightness and Heath's gentleness. In a way, I also need Xander's control of the situation, although that doesn't sit as well with me.
I swallow the mouthful. "Thanks for last night. And for the sandwich."
"Any time," he says softly. "If you need anything Vee, I’m here. Just say the word."
As Joss’s focus remains on me, a realisation hits. When the human memories ebbed, something else flowed in to replace them. The bond to these four men is stronger than I imagined, and an idea I dismissed until now crystallises.
My heart and soul are now completely open to all four guys, and I not only want them all, but I have them all.
2
VEE
I hate to admit this, because I don't want him to be, but Xander's right. Work is a world away from my new life, and sitting in a cubicle answering queries feels insignificant after the last forty-eight hours.
Heath and I rushed to arrive on time after the decision was made to work, which means I didn't see Ewan and Xander before we left. I worry about Ewan after Joss's words. Ewan last saw me in a hysterical mess he was partly responsible for, and the regret on his face sticks with me. Xander... hmm. Not so sorry I missed him.
Heath works in a different part of the building to me, so we part ways at the elevators. With our passionate encounter yesterday evening now pushed down by the events that followed, I engage in mundane conversation before we separate, although the false brightness must be apparent to everybody else crammed in the elevator with us.
Heath texts a couple of times to check up on me. Joss does too, which isn't a surprise. I smile to myself when the second message from Joss arrives while I’m by the water cooler, and I glance over at Charlotte and Victoria. They can lust over Heath, but not only do I have him, but also his equally hot friend. My fingers itch to type back a request for Joss to meet me after work and flaunt in the girls' faces that both guys are in my life and care for me.
One day I should allow myself to be seen with both of them, in the Clone Club's vicinity, of course. Or maybe all four of my new harem. My smile grows, amused by the thought and the word, and I return to my desk.
For today, I’ll have to make do with Heath as a lunch date. Make do. Ha ha.
At lunch, I head to the cafeteria where Heath stands outside, facing away from me, hands in suit pockets. He draws looks from girls passing, as ever, but remains oblivious. Yep, arse still awesome in a suit. I have mixed emotions as I look at him. First, the instant arousal from remembering how his hands felt on my skin and how intoxicating he tasted, but trepidation joins because I'm walking away from my fading human life and into my new one with each moment I spend with him.
I poke Heath as I approach, and he blinks around at me. "Hey," I say.
"Vee." He kisses my cheek, and I freeze in surprise.
Friendly. Caring. Not a sign he wants to pin me to the wall and continue our activities from last night.
"You okay?" he asks. "You look flushed."
I touch my cheek with the back of a hand. "Warm in here."
"Uh huh." His knowing smile confirms what I suspected—Heath is aware of the effect he has on girls.
We head into the cafeteria, and I fight giving a litt
le wave to Charlotte who turns from the cashier holding a tray with her solitary salad wrap and bottle of water. She blinks, barely disguising her disbelief, before walking over to a table to sit with her friends. No Victoria? Perhaps she’s working on her hair.
Shiny wooden round tables and chairs dot around the place, some occupied by fellow employees on phones, or others chatting, and my stomach rumbles at the smell of fried food. Bacon for breakfast? I suppose I should pick a healthier lunch.
We choose a quiet corner, and I sit on the hard chair, avoiding the fake Yucca plant attacking my head. Heath heads off to order and returns with a plate piled with burger and chips for him, and a salad for me. I watch with curiosity as he digs in. Do Horsemen genes stop massive weight gain? Is chasing demons a good workout?
"What do we have planned for this evening?" I ask as I pick up my cutlery. "Demons need killing? Trip to the pub? Maybe you could introduce me to some werewolves?"
"Vee," he growls in warning. "Keep your voice down."
"You guys really need to lighten up."
Heath gives a despairing shake of his head. "Sure, Vee."
"Can we talk?" I ask
"What did you want to talk about?" Heath’s discomfort level ramps up as worry crosses his face. "I can’t really explain anymore about your... origins."
"Not last night, don't worry. Or the other issue between us. We already had that awkward conversation."
We sure did. As with last time, Heath's "act as if nothing happened" performance started, and on the way here, I called him out on the behaviour. The short exchange didn't touch on how intense the situation was for the pair of us, and it ended with an agreement not to touch each other again.
Not to touch in the same way, at least.
Or soon, anyway.
Well, maybe in the future.
Ah, crap.
"You guys talk about something called the Order. What’s the Order? Is this all connected to the demons holding power?"
"The Order?" Heath lowers his voice and I look around the cafeteria. Everybody’s too engrossed in their own world to worry about ours. "The Order is the name for the demon-led organisation in the world. Their activity criss-crosses and tangles every area of human society in a web." He draws on the table with his fingers as he talks. "It’s an umbrella term because the Order’s split into many cells present in most countries. They influence governments or control business and financial institutions, but they’re also found in lower level roles. Law enforcement, medical, even schools. You name any part of society, and there’ll be a demon influence in there somewhere."
"How the hell are four of you supposed to deal with that?"
Heath bites down on a chip. "We can’t deal with everything. That’s why we’re allied with the other races who exist here. Nobody wants a world taken over by demons. The humans wouldn’t be the only ones wiped out or enslaved. After what happened with Portia, seems our alliances have become shaky."
I stare back, unable to find words as I attempt to process all this.
"Our main role is to keep the portals closed and prevent more demons arriving. A side role involves interrupting communication and planning between the demons who exist here already, or stepping in for damage control."
"Damage control?"
"Preventing attacks on humans, small scale or large scale."
Wow. "How widespread is the demon influence?"
"Wide. Getting wider. We can’t keep on top of this without the help of those on our side. That's why this fuck-up with the fae doesn't help."
I recognise the self-blame on Heath’s face and place a hand over his. "Heath. You killing the fae attacking me was orchestrated and so was the attack on Portia."
"Doesn't change the ripples it causes." He sinks back and runs his hands through his hair, elbows at right angles
His words exhaust me; the juggling the guys do hurts my head. "Let me get this straight. You're here to keep portals closed. And keep the peace between supernatural races. And investigate and stop demon corruption."
He raises both brows. "Fun, huh?"
"Whoa. No wonder you need a Fifth. Surprised you don't need another fifteen."
"The portals are safe currently; we haven’t seen major activity around any in months. Plus, the keeping the peace part isn’t too hard. Usually. Like I said, we have help, but we never totally trust people. The biggest problem? We may need to ally with those we don't want to, if this gets any worse."
Does he mean demons? I don't voice the question, but Portia mentioned that too. But there’s one question, bigger than all my others. "Heath, what happens if the Horsemen fail?"
Heath clenches his jaw and looks behind me. "I have no fucking clue."
I bite inside my cheek. Why did I ask that? He’s already told me they only vaguely understand their own situation. Heath pulls out his phone, brow tugged, and switches his attention from me. Ordinarily, this rude behaviour would irritate me, but I’ve pushed him too far out of what he can cope with.
3
VEE
I’m relieved when I return from work and back into my new life. All day I studied faces around me, worried another demon, or fae, or goodness-knows-what lurked, waiting for an opportunity to attack me. I know I have a power, but no clue how to use it yet. My self-defence skills failed against a demon once, and even with Death close by to back me up, I doubt my chances.
I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts and head downstairs as soon as I change from my work uniform. Black leggings and a baggy blue jumper suit the cool farmhouse, and I pull on thick socks too. What am I supposed to spend evenings doing? I guess laptop and TV is my usual entertainment, but that was the old Verity.
Old Verity. The desire to examine my face in the mirror, to cement in my mind who I am, drops as the hours pass and the old Vee fades. How? How can somebody or something create false memories and put me here? And why the hell are those memories fading this quickly?
Worse than that, how am I readily accepting the situation?
I walk into the kitchen where the guys examine a large map spread across the pine table, files of paper and an open book either side of Xander, who's central to the group. Heath stands behind him, arms crossed over his broad chest; Ewan beside Xander, laptop open glancing between the map and screen. Joss sits on the table with his feet on a chair, the other side of Xander, reading the map upside down.
Hell, these men are hot. Individually, I can almost cope, but seeing them together like this addles my brain. I don’t think that’s only the "power of the Five," or whatever this is, but a normal, female physical reaction to them. They don't notice me at first as I flick my gaze from guy to guy.
Heath’s long legs in his perfect-fitting jeans are as distracting as the sensuous mouth that kissed me. I switch to looking at Ewan’s deep-browed concentration and the broad-chested, tattooed body I’d love to explore. Then there’s Joss’s lithe figure hinting at toned muscle beneath and the way his eyes shine when he looks at me. And Xander... Why does he have to rank as high on the heat metre? Forget his killer body and the pursed lips I half fantasise about kissing to shut him up, but his presence exudes a sexuality as raw as the anger I’ve seen in him.
Were they created too? Heath said he chose to take this role, which means in the past, he was somebody else. Are they from a magical gene pool that creates heart-stoppingly gorgeous men?
I inhale and convince myself the dizziness is from forgetting to breathe and not my intoxication by the guys.
"Old school?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" Xander looks up at me, finger resting on a map location. The exhausted look from yesterday has lifted, his eyes brighter and the stress doesn't emanate from him the way it did. I compare him to his brother. Same eyes, same symmetrical faces, but Xander’s lighter brown hair and shorter style set them apart.
I point. "Paper maps."
"This is an old map we're comparing to Google maps," retorts Xander.
Okay, I was wrong—he's a
s "friendly" as ever.
"Evening, Vee." Joss waves at me. He’s dressed in green cargo pants, a black T-shirt beneath a plaid shirt and feet bare. His smile brings down my anxiety a notch as usual, and I move to stand next to him. "Nice day at work?"
I pull a face. "I think I should give up work. I don't think they appreciate my new role in saving the world," I say tongue in cheek.
"Told you," replies Xander as he squints at the map.
Ewan's focus remains on his laptop, and my forgiveness for his big mouth switches to irritation that he’s refusing to acknowledge me.
I spot the half-empty bottles lined up on the table. "Is that how you fuel your powers? Do I need to become a beer drinker too?"
Joss grins and I swear Xander fights a smile too. "Yup. You’d better get started."
"I'm not a hundred percent sure you're joking." I take a bottle from the table and swig before pulling a face. "Nope. I prefer cider."
"Ugh!" protests Heath. "Really?"
Ewan's continued silence, and refusal to look at me, continues to niggle.
"So, what are you looking for?" I ask them and hand the beer to Joss.
"Ley lines are marked on old maps. Demons often base themselves where the lines intersect because they can draw on the power. We're checking what's built over the lines nowadays by comparing with Google street view," explains Heath.
"Ley lines?" I ask.
"Lines between places in the world that carry positive or negative energy from the earth. A matrix of them across the world was mapped out in the past. So where two or more lines converge, you have a place of great power and energy. That’s what we’re looking for," replies Heath
"Okay." Red and blue lines cross a creased map of the UK, spots where they cross annotated in black ink. Wanting a clearer view, I stand behind Xander and Ewan, besides Heath.
Close to the four, something unexpected happens. Images crash into my mind, different to the strange darkness and blood ones. This place is brighter, blinding the faces and surroundings out of focus. Pain stabs behind my eyes, joined by the same fear as the shadowy nightmares.