by Lela Grayce
I couldn’t waste this opportunity like I had the last time. I needed to figure out what I wanted. Which was difficult with the whole outing of my deepest secrets and the danger that puts me in. I enjoyed working for the club and with my friends. Maybe it was time to take on a more active role with the Faceless. I could help Lyndee place Mutts in affordable housing or help them find work. I’d always wanted to work with Mutt teens, to show them that there was more they could do. More often than not they were tossed aside by their race parent and raised by the human one until they couldn’t be handled anymore. That would mean that I had to figure my life out and set an example for the young adults.
A soft, muffled knock sounded. I assumed that my dinner arrived. The sounds of Kreed’s body moving through the room had my stomach growling with anticipation of the warm gooey cheese. I stood hoping for regular non-murdery pizza but in case Kreed was right I needed to be prepared for an attack. Still blew my mind that some could be so threatened by my ability. Seemed a bit useless to me.
A knock sounded on my door and I stepped back as the door unsealed and the knob turned revealing Kreed with a pizza box balanced on his hand. I raised an eyebrow noticing there was no smaller box of wings.
“The wing box dropped,” he said.
I frowned then leaned sideways to look behind him. A small box lay on the floor open as Zazu happily chomped on the wings, buffalo sauce already staining the fur around his mouth.
“What…”
“He gave me no other choice.” Kreed shrugged, some pink coloring his cheeks.
“Does he scare you?” I queried.
“Immensely.” He nodded, glancing over his shoulder at the reptilian beast.
“He’s not that threatening.” I grabbed the pizza box from Kreed’s hands and stepped around him.
“Everything about him is just creepy.”
I made my way toward the kitchen, stepping around the wing thief, with Kreed behind me. “Are you sure it’s not that you think he’s cute but in an ugly way?”
“Uh, no, definitely sure that’s not it.”
I’ve lost count on how many people commented on Zazu’s creepiness then later came to love the ugly thing.
I put the warm box on the counter and grabbed two paper plates from the cabinet, because screw dishes. Flipping the lid open was the best part about pizza, except for the eating part, naturally. Inhaling the Italian scent, my mouth watered. I handed a plate to Kreed so I could grab my own slice.
The first bite of cheesy-tomatoey-crispy-bread goodness across my tongue had me groaning like no man ever could. Regardless of what dudes believed, pizza was always a girl’s first love. If a girl tells you differently, she’s lying. You’re welcome.
Slice number one went down all too quick, so with the second one, I took my time and savored the sweet basil, spicy sausage, and crisp onions. It would be going straight to my hips, but they could use a little love. More junk in the trunk.
Kreed had finished his first slice when I grabbed my third.
“So, you can eat like real food?” I then belatedly realized how rude the question was. Why are you so fucking awkward, Nik?
“Obviously,” he responded, holding up his slice of pizza, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
“I meant in general. Your kind is new to me and I’m curious. Plus there’s a good possibility that I’ve got your race's DNA in me.” Smooth, Nik.
“Ingesting blood is only done when we are healing the person. To share blood beyond that isn’t done. Though, I have heard mated couples sometimes drink from the other. It keeps them healthy and reaffirms their commitment to each other. I’m not sure if that’s true.”
“Brutus said that you lost the girl you loved, along with your mother.” I slapped my hand over my mouth completely horrified with what I had just said. The pizza made my brain obviously fuzzy. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me, and none of my business. Pizza messes with my filter.”
“You’re curious and I understand.” He took a bite and I thought he wouldn’t answer my question. He thoroughly chewed and swallowed, when he spoke again. “Aquila was my best friend’s sister and I’d loved her since we were both children. I had hoped that we would be matched when we became of age. I found out that she was in love with another. When the dragon’s invaded, her mate was killed in the initial battle. She wasn’t the same after that. Her pain was great. I was relieved that her pain was gone after she… I hate myself for that.”
“You hate yourself for feeling relieved that someone that you love’s pain is gone? Why on earth do you hate yourself for that? If you were the one to kill her, then I could see you feeling that way, but what happened to her was out of your control. It's tragic, yes. She’s no longer in pain and with her love again.”
“No one’s ever said that before—”
“I didn’t mean to offend,” I interrupted hastily, cursing myself for opening my mouth and inserting my foot.
“You didn't, it's just… everyone who knew the story and my role in it, thinks I’m a failure.”
“Why?”
“My people prize our women above all else. Because I couldn’t revive Aquila after her mate's death, I failed her, her family, and my people.”
“Your people have some strange views. You can’t force love. So you let her go, let her grieve, then felt relieved that her pain was finally gone. It is not failure but rather courageous, I think. You did the exact right thing.”
The races that came through during The Surge looked human, but they were far from it. They were more. In times like these, when customs went against everything humans believed, they seemed much less. Funny how humanity could be found in races that were not human.
“That’s kind of you to say,” Kreed whispered.
What sort of beings were these people? Kreed was their prince and he was shamed for being a standup dude. No wonder he went off and decided to meddle in some dark shit.
I need a drink.
I made my way to the fridge and started searching its contents. I wasn’t a betting girl, but I’d bet Kreed’s left pinky that Lyndee had a bottle hidden away. She did that. Kept a bottle around for “emergencies”. Not sure what types of dire straits we’d have to be in before she brought it out.
In the corner, in the way back, behind a jar of pickled eggs-Syd’s favorite snack- sat a bottle of Phoria, short for euphoria. It was Fae made wine which meant its taste was unique to each drinker. Lyndee told me that she tasted hot chocolate that had a bit of zing you could feel all the way to your toes. Syd always thought it tasted like the oldest and sweetest bourbon he’d ever tasted. I was anxious to find out what it tasted like for me.
I grabbed two shot glasses from the cabinet and turned back to the counter. I filled both glasses then passed one to Kreed.
“Phoria?” he asked, taking a sniff of the liquid. The silvery color changed to a deep green like grass after a light rain.
“Ever had it before?” I asked, taking my own lungful. It reminded me of wood smoke and something spicy, like the whiskey I served at the club.
I checked the color in my glass and found that it had turned a coppery-orange color.
“I’ve had it before but I wasn’t in a situation where I could relax.”
“Shame.” I held my shot out to him. He clicked his against mine. “We could both use it, I think.”
He nodded, then together, we knocked it back and swallowed.
The liquid danced over my tongue warming my throat as it passed. I nearly groaned as the heat spread from my stomach to every part of my body. The taste was decadent and so damn good, it felt like I was on the edge of climax. I gripped the edge of the counter. This had never happened before. I closed my eyes and rode the waves as it coursed through every cell and hair follicle. This was euphoria and why the wine was named after.
“Nik,” Kreed said.
It took me several moments, or minutes. I wasn’t sure which before I was able to relax and open my eyes again.
“What…” My words slurred slightly, and my thoughts were slow and foggy.
“I think you’re having a reaction.” Kreed stood in front of me. I had no idea how he’d gotten there.
“Ohh,” I said, gripping his shirt trying to regain control over myself.
I took a breath and Kreed’s scent swirled with the air. He smelled of musk and something completely him and for a second it reminded me of the Phoria I just drank. Another wave of heat slammed into me again. I clenched my jaw, but couldn’t stop the groan that sounded from my throat. Wave after delicious wave of heat pulsed through my body.
I felt myself moving, but I couldn’t make sense of what or where or even how too distracted by what was happening inside.
A cool, smooth surface pressed against my back and I hissed through my teeth. I focused on the cold seeping into my skin and let it chase away the heat. My chest heaved into steady pants as the fire slowly cooled and I could breathe again.
I opened my eyes and came face to face with a worried Kreed. His eyes were sharp and focused on me, the copper in his eyes the exact color of the Phoria I had drank. What did that mean?
Looking around I realized we were in the dining room just off the kitchen. Huge floor to ceiling windows ran the length of the room and my back was pressed against one of the panes. Which explained the coolness.
“I… sorry, I don’t know what happened,” I muttered, reaching up to grip his wrists as his hands gripped my shoulder.
“I’ve never seen anyone have a reaction to Phoria like that,” Kreed said, searching my face.
“Me either. It was weird. Do you think it’s because of what happened with the dragon?”
“It must be. But why would Fae wine react to it?”
I shook my head because I had no idea why I would have such a reaction.
“Did it hurt?” Kreed asked, his hands absentmindedly rubbing my upper arms.
“No, it felt good, euphoric even. I lost myself in it. It’s not a strong wine, it shouldn’t be that potent.”
“I wasn’t affected the same way you were, and we drank from the same bottle.” His jaw tightened as he thought it through.
My hand was suddenly on his strong jaw, wanting to smooth away the tension there. The contact surprised him, and it made me smile. His unique scent filled my nose and it sparked a heat down into my core, a smidge lesser degree than the Phoria had ignited. This heat was controlled, and contained him, while the other blaze had been wild and disorienting.
“Nik.”
My name; it sounded so good coming from his lips. “Kreed,” I replied, noting how breathy I sounded even to my own ears.
I pulled him closer while his hands moved down and settled on my hips. He hesitated, then pressed closer, his coolness reacting to the spark he had ignited earlier.
Angling my head, I looked up at him, letting all the heat and longing shine through my eyes. I wanted him. I wanted him to kiss me, touch me, stoke the fire until I couldn’t take it anymore and let him shatter me.
His blue eyes held a question that I was all too eager to answer.
I’m not sure who moved first but our lips collided. Need hammered deep in my belly and I arched, needing to get closer. He bent suddenly and I felt his hands on my butt, lifting me. I wrapped my legs around his slim waist as he settled between them pressing me harder against the window.
I sucked his lip then bit lightly on the tender flesh before kissing it away. His breathing hitched and I loved seeing how I affected him. His lips traveled down my jaw, then to my throat. His teeth scraped against the pulse in the neck. I moaned something incoherent that might have been his name. Threading my fingers into his hair, I pulled his head back my lips finding his again. I deepened the kiss using my tongue and lips and teeth. He matched my urgency and returned it enthusiastically.
Rough hands slid under my shirt. I paused our fevered kiss to enjoy the feeling of his touch. My skin felt hot and wherever Kreed touched me, the skin cooled, then heated again. It was pure sin. The contrast was so much but not nearly enough at the same time.
Kreed tore his face away from mine, his chest heaving as he tilted his head like he was listening. I groaned, frustrated that he stopped. He turned back to me and I covered his lips with mine again, scraping my nails lightly on his scalp as punishment. He quivered under me and I felt his fingers travel upward, until they cupped my breasts.
I tilted my head back, strange noises escaping me that I had never heard or made before. I was lost in his touch, in the sensations, that I nearly cried when I was wrenched away from the window. Expecting Kreed to make his way to my room, I was confused when I was lowered quickly onto my back. I looked around trying to make sense of what was happening. Were we doing this here, on the dining room floor? I wasn’t complaining but I did expect a little class from him.
All sexy thoughts flew out the window, literally, when the gunshots started.
Kreed covered my body with his, tucking my head into his chest. I screamed when I heard the first window break, then a blood-curdling shriek when glass rained down on us, followed by a sucking sound as the air in the penthouse met the air outside.
Turning my head, I saw three beings dressed in black with repelling gear strapped to their waists, rifles in hand. I gasped as they all pushed off from the building, aimed and fired at the remaining windows. Glass shattered inward and I wondered what sort of ammunition they used that could break windows on the twelth floor.
As the men swung back to the window, I realized they were aiming to enter directly into the dining room. We couldn’t let them in here. There were probably more goons entering in the lower floors of the penthouse and with these added assailants, we'd be trapped.
“Kreed,” I yelled over the roaring of the wind. “We can’t let them enter..”
He pushed himself off of me so he could get a better look while I searched for a weapon. The table and chairs were splintered but that wouldn’t work. I searched around with my hands and finally found a large piece of glass that I used to cut a piece of Kreed’s shirt and hurriedly wrapped the material around one end.
Kreed sat up further but hovered over me protectively. Two of the three repelling dudes stood in the room, while the third took another jump, hoping to swing himself in. I handed the shirt wrapped glass to Kreed hoping he had a plan. I had made a weapon which was as far as my helpfulness went.
Faster than my eyes could follow, Kreed was at the window, his glass blade cutting through the swinging guys rope. The scream echoed, as the guy plummeted to his death. One I’d never forget. Before the other two in the room could raise their weapons, Kreed leapt onto the first one, slicing then kicking him out the open window.
Pounding footsteps sounded from deep in the penthouse but were drawing closer. I sat, wincing as my palms were sliced open from the glass shards that littered the floor. I rose to my knees and scurried under what was left of the dining table, pushing aside broken chairs as I went. I couldn’t tell how many were coming but I knew that staying out of sight was a good idea.
I watched as Kreed tossed the last man out of the window and I noted that there was no screaming.
A hand wrapped around my ankle and pulled. I screamed as glass cut into arms, back, and legs. I tried to kick whoever had me but when I looked there was no one there. I could feel them. Witch.
I looked around for Kreed but couldn’t see him anywhere. Whoever had a hold of my ankle dragged me into the hallway. Another person grabbed me and lifted my body, my back pressed against a firm chest. I squirmed and kicked, which did absolutely nothing. New tatic. Before I could deploy a new tactic, a rag was pressed over my mouth and nose, I smelled something sweet on the cloth.
Holding my breath, panic took over and I went completely crazy. I scratched anything I could touch. I kicked, punched, elbowed, headbutted anything I could do until my lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. I needed a
breath soon. If that didn’t happen in the next few seconds, then I’d be lights out and who knows what came next.
Suddenly a howling, hissing creature jumped onto the form who held me. I dropped and collapsed to the floor, gasping for clean air. Zazu was scratching and biting something that was invisible to me, but judging by the cursing and grunts, my Chia had no problems seeing the stranger and quite possibly doling out the upper hand.
While I was distracted watching my badass, Zazu, beat the crap out of an invisible dude, another hand grabbed me by the throat and yanked me up. My back slammed against a wall so hard it knocked the wind out of my lungs. The wall buckled by the force. The fingers tightened and if I wanted to breathe again I couldn’t. I grasped the hand and tried to wrench it free or to loosen it somehow, but the hold was steady as iron. Spots started to dance on the edges of my vision and I knew I was seconds away from unconsciousness.
I blinked, each one getting longer and harder. I feared I wouldn’t be able to open them again. Before my eyes closed for the final time, a flash of red behind whoever held me flared. I knew that this would be the last time I closed my eyes.
The pressure from my neck lifted and I collapsed to the floor. Air rushed into my mouth, but I had momentarily forgotten how to breath. My fingers scrabbled at my throat but nothing was there. I was free to breathe but couldn’t.
A familiar weight crawled onto my chest and I looked to see the reflective eyes of Zazu. He stared at me while his ears tilted like he was listening to something. With one paw he reached forward and tapped my neck. I sucked in a gulp of oxygen, then coughed and despite that I continued to breathe.
The ringing in my ears dissipated when Kreed’s face came into view. His eyes were red, and he looked murderous. Blood coated his shirt. I couldn’t tell if it was his or someone else’s. I reached for him, beyond thankful that he was alive. He dropped to my side looking me over quickly before he touched my cheek, his forehead coming down to rest on mine for a brief moment.