by Tee, Marian
Awkward. That was the best way to describe our threesome.
“So…” He tossed me another grin. “What do you say? I can teach you basketball if you want.”
“Uhh, sure, when there’s time, but thanks for offering.”
Wesley was visibly disappointed but he smiled back at me anyway. What a really nice guy. If I hadn’t met Lucian before him, I’d no doubt fall for him.
After a few more minutes of small talk, Wesley was called away by his buddies, who were flirting with Melissa and her gang near the bleachers. I asked Audrey right away, “What’s up with you?”
She shrugged, grabbed the ball, dribbled, then took a shot. It fell through the hoop seamlessly. “What are you talking about?”
“Showoff,” I muttered and jogged to get the ball back.
When I was standing next to her again, I paused mid-dribble and frowned at her. “You’re usually antisocial and all, so what’s that about, acting like you’re suddenly Miss Sunshine with Wesley?”
“You’re talking crap—”
The brain cells kicked in, later than they should have as usual. “Oh, my God, Audrey, you like—”
Audrey’s hand slapped against my mouth and she looked around fearfully. “Will you keep it down?”
I started to laugh. “You do.”
She grumbled, “Even if I did, he obviously likes you so it makes no difference, you know.”
“He doesn’t.” I dribbled the ball one last time, aimed, and let it fly. It didn’t even reach the ring, darn it.
Audrey smothered a laugh and I scowled. “Laugh one more time, and I’m going to take Wesley up on his offer to teach me basketball.” My tone dropped a notch. “One on one.”
“I don’t care,” Audrey retorted.
“You don’t, really?” I turned away to look for Wesley and spotted him talking to the coach. “Wes—”
Audrey hastily covered my mouth once more. “All right, you blackmailing witch. You win.”
I curtsied with flourish. “Now repeat after me. Please, Deli, please help me with the boy I like.” I ended the plea with an exaggerated flutter of my lashes.
I expected her to snap at me, maybe even pretend to puke, but instead, she gave me a somber look and she said slowly, “Please, Deli, please help me with the boy I like.”
My grin vanished. “Hey, I was just—”
Audrey shook her head. “But even if you wanted to, you can’t. One thing you should learn about small towns is that people rarely forget.”
~~~
Dyvian was waiting for me when I stepped out of school with Audrey. Another thing we had agreed on was that it would be safer for me not to be alone on my way to or from school. It was a relief, honestly, but it also increased the guilt inside me for adding another burden to the Chevalier brothers.
In my current state, I was no match for any Zekan.
Yet.
“See you tomorrow then?” Audrey’s smile was a bit strained. She was no doubt uncomfortable at how much she had revealed to me during P.E.
“Yup.” And ignoring her rolling eyes, I insisted on giving her a quick hug before parting ways, wanting to make her smile. She did, and this time it reached her eyes.
“Cute friend you have there,” Dyvian remarked when I reached him. “You should’ve introduced me.”
I might not have known Dyvian long, but I knew enough about guys—human or not—to know when I was in the presence of a pro. I smiled up at him. “Never.”
His lower lip pushed forward, the male version of a pout and something he was extremely good at. “Aww, come on. I just want to get to know her.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Since Lucian will kill me before that happens, I guess it’s never then.”
When we got home, I rushed past him, heading straight to the kitchen. “Aah.” The flow of ice-cold lemonade over my tongue soothed my parched throat. “How long before I become like you guys?” I complained, envious at how Dyvian’s CK scent still clung to him as he walked past me, unmarred by sweat and all other undesirable elements—while I stank of hot salty air that was typical of Sanger and the rest of this side of Nevada.
“I honestly don’t know.”
I glanced around hopefully. “Where’s Lucian?”
“Up in Death Valley. He wants to talk to some Evren there about the attack.” His tone became sly. “You know, there are a lot of beautiful Evren girls up there. Most of them have a crush on Lucian.”
“Oh?”
“Feeling jealous?”
I lifted my chin. “Noooo.”
“Liar.”
This was a subject-changing moment if ever there was one. “Are we going to start on the lessons tonight?” I didn’t want Dyvian to know how irritated I was. Lucian had again stuck his brother with babysitting and now he was off in DV flirting with dragonettes.
“Yes. He put me in charge of training you on the basics.”
“Great.” But worry gnawed on my thoughts. What could Lucian be doing right this very minute? Again, without thinking, I sought support from The Voice. “Do you know who’s with Lucian—”
“Deli, no.”
I jumped. “What?”
He shook his head. “Don’t make it a habit, talking to The Voice like that.”
His unerring guess made me gasp. “How did you know I was talking to it? You hear it, too?”
Dyvian rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t, and I doubt I ever will. But really, your face is an open book. It’s easy to know when you’re talking to it.”
“It is?”
“Yes, Deli, and I told you, you can’t trust it completely. Okay?”
“It’s not as bad as you think it is, Dyv. It’s actually helped me—”
“I know.” He held up a hand. “But we still don’t know that much about it. In emergencies, yes, I think it’s better to trust The Voice. In fact, it’s absolutely imperative. But as for relying on it even for the smallest things—” Dyvian paused.
“It’s like a sleeping pill, okay, Deli? You have to take it only when absolutely necessary. If you take it when you don’t need to, it’s going to be an addiction, and it could lose its effectiveness.”
I understood the analogy but wasn’t there also something a little off with his logic? Nevertheless, I decided to let it go. Dyvian had my best interests at heart and I respected his judgment. If he thought it was wrong to rely too much on the Voice, then I’d have to believe that until I learned otherwise.
~~~
Two hours later, I was wishing Dyvian had never been born.
When I said I wanted to work on having full control of my Evren powers, I was sort of envisioning wearing a cool karate uniform—custom-made, of course, to show off my figure—while practicing some fancy kicks. But never in my wildest imaginations did “practicing” include doing a headstand for hours in the middle of the Mojave.
Oh, and did I mention that Dyvian had also tied a rope around my ankles and hung me from a branch fifteen feet off the ground so I couldn’t escape? Sure, he had lowered the rope enough so I could touch the hot dry soil, but still.
Dyvian checked his watch. “A couple more minutes, Deli.” He was sitting nice and comfy in a folding chair he had brought with us and browsing through People magazine. Angelina Jolie’s face pouted back at me from its cover. It was yet another area where the Chevalier brothers differed. Lucian devoured the business papers while Dyvian—okay, I was guilty of this, too—gobbled up gossip rags.
“I swear, Dyvian,” I gritted out. “You are one dead lizard the moment you release me.”
“Name calling? That warrants another hour hanging upside down, don’t you think?”
“Dyvian.”
“I was just kidding. Relax. Two more minutes.”
“I’m going to tell Lucian about this,” I threatened.
He snorted. “Who do you think taught me how to let my dragon out? And how do you think he taught me?”
I could only stare at him in horror. B
arbarians. I was living with two drop dead gorgeous barbarians.
His watch buzzed and Dyvian stood up. “We’re done,” he announced in such a cheerful voice that if looks could kill, I’d have murdered him ten times in the last five seconds.
He flew up in the air and took me with him, hoisting me onto the branch while I leaned against the trunk, grateful to have something to support me. He untied the rope around my ankles and grinned. “How do you feel?”
“Come here and I’ll show you.”
He flew a step back, still grinning. “Now, now. You were the one who wanted to practice, Deli.”
“But to do it like that?” I sputtered, glaring at him. “Surely there’s an easier way—”
“No, there isn’t,” a voice below countered just as Lucian materialized out of thin air.
His presence automatically made me smile. “Lucian.” Just seeing him filled me with pleasure. There was something about him… “Catch me!” I jumped off the branch.
“No,” Dyvian and Lucian objected at the same time.
I was laughing when Lucian caught me in his arms. His scowl could’ve frightened small animals. “You fool!”
It was weird but these days, I was beginning to think Lucian’s angry words were like an endearment. In my mind, his anger meant he cared. And because of that line of thinking, I found myself immune to his fury.
“I missed you, too,” I responded, delighted when his scowl melted into disconcertment.
“Can’t you think before you do something? Anything?” he almost begged.
I giggled. “Oh, come on. I knew you’d catch me.” Dyvian and I laughed as a familiar shade of red slowly stained Lucian’s cheekbones.
He lowered me to the ground. “The next time you do that, I won’t catch you.”
I made a face then, remembering that he had been gone for the day. I tried to sound very casual as I prodded, “So, where have you been?”
“I had to meet some Evren.”
My “Oh?” was loaded with meaning.
Lucian raised a brow, but his questioning glance was directed at Dyvian. “Is there something I should know?”
Dyvian was loading his stuff in the pickup, but he gave Lucian an innocent look and replied, “Beats me.” He opened the driver’s door. “How many times have you talked to The Voice today, Deli?”
Lucian stiffened. Their opinion when it came to The Voice still vastly differed. “Besides the time you stopped me from speaking to it?” I asked cautiously.
Lucian and Dyvian exchanged looks.
“Yeah, besides that.”
I almost looked at Lucian for guidance, but that was silly, right? The Voice was inside my head, not his. It had nothing to do with him. “Just once,” I admitted, not knowing why I was reluctant to answer Dyvian’s question. “And it was for my own good. It told me not to draw attention to myself in school because if I did, it would endanger all of us.”
Dyvian nodded. “I see. That’s good. Maybe it’s beginning to understand its boundaries. It should be rewarded somehow.”
Now, I was totally confused, especially when I saw Lucian looking annoyed. “Rewarded?” I repeated blankly.
But Dyvian was already inside the pickup. His window slid down just as I was about to open the door to the backseat.
“By the way, Deli?”
“Yes?”
“Your practice session isn’t over.”
All my muscles groaned in protest and my head started aching. “What?”
“You need to walk back home.”
I paled. “You have got to be—”
“But Lucian’s going to be with you.” Dyvian grinned wickedly. “That’s not too bad, right?”
Darn, but he was smart. While I debated choosing between comfort and love, Dyvian was already driving away.
Lucian sighed from behind. “It’s too late to think now, Deli. He’s gone.”
I searched for signs of disappointment in my heart and found only pleasure. I shrugged. “It’s okay.”
We started to walk home, and I took his hand, ignoring him when he sighed again. Well, we were a couple, weren’t we? Even if it was a sham, we still had to keep up appearances.
Lucian snorted.
I turned to him in surprise. “What?”
“Why are we holding hands?” he inquired in that clinical tone of his that I alternately loved and hated.
“Because I’m your girlfriend, and we have to keep up appearances.” Good thing I thought about this already. Geez, sometimes I could be so smart I even amazed myself.
“For the sake of what?” He pointed to the bunch of red-spotted toads croaking under a palm tree, the only living creatures close enough to see our clasped hands. “Toads?”
Sensing a losing argument, I changed the subject. “Who did you talk to when you were in Death Valley?”
“I told you, other Evren.”
“Male or female?”
Lucian stopped walking to look at me. “Does it matter?”
I gasped. “You have to ask?”
A smile was tugging at his lips. “Jealous?”
I gritted out, “No,” and stalked away.
He easily caught up to me but didn’t say anything.
Two can play this game. “You know, we had P.E. today.”
“Oh?”
“Basketball. I was thinking of using basketball practice to improve my aim.”
“That’s good.”
“And Wesley? You remember him? He offered to give me extra lessons,” I said sweetly and was satisfied when it took Lucian longer than usual to reply.
“Really?”
I smiled up at him. “Jealous?”
Lucian blinked then shrugged. “What do you think?” But he was smiling and the smile said it all.
It was all I could do not to throw my arms around him. Would he push me away if I did? But he was just so darn gorgeous, and it felt like forever—well, okay, more like twenty-two hours and fifteen minutes—since we were alone with each other.
“Lucian?”
He gazed down at me with dark eyes that hid so much.
When was he going to tell me he cared for me? When could I be his girlfriend—his real girlfriend and not just some fake girlfriend from down under?
“What is it?”
“When do you think you’re going to be comfortable enough to tell me you like me?” Love me, I wanted to ask but it was too soon.
He choked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Never mind.”
He touched my cheek, startling me.
“Lucian?” This time, my voice filled with wary hope.
“I can’t say it.”
My shoulders sagged but I rallied valiantly. “It’s okay, I didn’t—”
“But I can do this.” And the next thing I knew his lips were touching mine and my feet were no longer touching the ground.
Chapter Ten
I’d kissed Lucian many times…in my dreams. But none of them could ever compare to the reality of having Lucian’s lips finally touch mine.
“Turn invisible,” Lucian whispered against my lips. I shifted to obey him, but his arms tightened around my waist.
“No, don’t move.” My entire body shuddered as his lips nibbled mine, shaping and molding mine to his. His skin turned icy cold, and I forced my mind to focus on doing the same. He laughed softly when I only succeeded after several failed attempts. His kisses were too much of a distraction.
Lucian is kissing me. The words played over and over in my mind.
His hands held my face, moving to dig through my hair, gripping to pull me closer to his.
I love you. The words jumped out of nowhere.
A slight tremor shot through Lucian’s body, and he pulled me even more tightly against him.
I love the way he makes me feel. I love his kisses. I love—
“Deli,” he groaned against my lips before kissing me so deeply he bent me completely backward. I gasped in fright, aware that we were a few hun
dred feet off the ground.
But he only chuckled. “Relax.”
My body responded by softening, instinctively trusting him.
He covered my face with light, sweet kisses, and every one of them made my skin sizzle. His lips traced my hair. He breathed against my neck, nuzzling the sensitive skin. It was weird having someone you couldn’t see kiss you. Weird but good, I thought dreamily as Lucian uncurled one arm from my waist to hold my nape and pull me forward, making the kiss more intense and mind-blowing.
Lucian steered for us both and—clasped in his arms, with his never-ending kisses—our flight back home was very much like dancing in air.
I was very, very close to fainting when he lowered me gently onto the ground. My knees wobbled. He chuckled, supporting me as he materialized into view.
The same transformation took me longer but only because I was still woozy over Lucian’s kiss, my head in the clouds even though we weren’t flying anymore.
He unlocked the door, leading me inside. I stared at our entwined hands, my mind still blanketed in a euphoric haze.
I bit back a protest when he gently unclasped his hand from mine and headed for the study.
“Dyvian?” I called but there was no answer. I ran to the kitchen and a note magnet-pinned on the fridge immediately drew my gaze.
I read the note with widening eyes. Dyvian was out? He didn’t want us to wait up? Lucian and I were alone—
A pair of hands settled on my waist, whirling me around. I opened my mouth to share the good news—sorry, Dyvian—but was unable to because I was too busy being kissed. By Lucian. Again.
~~~
“Do you know just how beautiful you are?”
Lucian simply rolled his eyes.
He was in my bed, and I was curled right next to him. Nothing happened and I hadn’t fooled myself into hoping that something would. Lucian just didn’t seem to be the type to do that on the first date. Or, technically speaking, right after the first kiss.
I giggled. “I’ve always wanted to ask you that.” The TV was on but neither of us had paid attention to it in the past two hours. We had simply been too occupied kissing and talking.
My fingers traced his face. I couldn’t get enough of him. I couldn’t even believe I was allowed to touch him.