Redeemed In Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  “So what about you? How come Jes is showing but you’re not. You both look to be about the same in weeks.”

  The Phoenix’s eyes were huge as she stood with her mouth open.

  “Bells isn’t pregnant.”

  “She has three lights, you only have two. I’m a Host, so not only can I see you for who you truly are, I’m also able to see souls. You have one and she has four. I know one of those souls belong to Bena. The other two are the babies she’s carrying.”

  “Bells?” Jes whispered.

  “You’re wrong, there’s only Bena.”

  As if to prove her point, she lifted her shirt and the tattoo that was now on her belly, peeled from her skin and the beautiful majestic bird now stood next to Belinda. The bird shook its head rustling its fiery feathers and made its way over to Xee where she climbed the chair to perch on her shoulder.

  Animals always seemed attracted to her.

  “Belinda Raine Ignis, you’re preggers!” Jes shrieked running over to hug her friend.

  “Shut up! I don’t need this broadcasted far and wide!”

  “Do the twins know?”

  “No, waiting for my first trimester to pass before I go and alert hulk one and hulk two.”

  Xee laughed. Both women turned in her direction giving her an odd look.

  “Sorry…sorry,” she said grabbing her stomach. “I thought I was the only one to refer to the twins as hulks.”

  “You shouldn’t go on the mission.” Jes said, placing a hand on Belinda’s belly.

  “I’m pregnant, not on my deathbed. I can still contribute to the team.”

  “Still, you need to be careful.”

  Xee watched as Jes fretted over Belinda and a small part of her wished she knew what it was like to have people care about her like that.

  Belinda glared at her. “Nice subject change Hale. Now spill it. What’s going on with you and Gabe? You realize he’s out of here at the end of next week.

  She’d remembered something about him leaving, but it was nice to know Bells was a fountain of information. The other woman was right. She didn’t need to start anything new with the Angel. Sighing she said, “It was just me being curious. I’ve never kissed a guy before. He was willing, I was willing. We worked it out. Although what’s up with the smell, it’s like witchcraft. It lures you right in.”

  “He smells funny?”

  Xee shook her head. “No he doesn’t smell funny, he smells like,” she thought about it for a moment and then gave up. “Oh hell, I don’t know, he just smells.”

  “So you’ve never gotten down and dirty with a dude before? What about penetration?” Bells asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

  All she could do was shake her head no. She’d never gotten anything on, with any guy, clean or dirty. Things were complicated enough for her.

  “Hold up,” Jes turned, narrowing eyes on her. “You’re telling us you’ve never had sex with a man? That’s like a heterosexual woman saying she’ll never suck dick. Either you’re lying or girl, you’re missing out.”

  Xee shook her head again.

  “She did just say she never kissed a guy,” Bells threw in.

  Xee acknowledged with a head nod.

  “Well, did you at least like it?”

  How was she supposed to answer that? It wasn’t like kissing a woman. Women were softer, men, well Gabe was hard. His lips, commanding and his taste, she couldn’t accurately describe the effect of his taste, but it was potent. Magic. Recalling their kiss made her stomach pitch and flutter as a slow heat settled below her waist making her moist.

  Yeah. She liked the kiss.

  A lot.

  She stared at both women and for the first time noticed how happy they were with their men. She could have that as well, but it didn’t have to be with a man, did it?

  “You sure know how to pick them girl. You’re first time with a seven foot tall Angel with blonde hair, and eyes that are just wow and a body made for banging. I say rock on!” Jes beamed.

  “Wait…What, no. I didn’t say anything about the two of us getting together.” She was sputtering like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

  “Yeah Jes, she’s right. Gabe’s leaving at the end of next week. He won’t be back unless he’s coming to take us for that forever kind of sleep. Let’s not start planning mating ceremonies.”

  “I’m not interested in him like that anyway.” Xee reiterated more for her benefit and not theirs. She wasn’t going to open that up for exposure. Starting a fling with Gabe had all kinds of troubled stapled to it.

  “Sure you are, you just kissed a boy, and you liked it!” Draven’s mate laughed clapping her hands with glee.

  These broads were all kinds of crazy.

  “No, he’s training me and that would just be awkward.” It’s already awkward.

  “No one says your job is on the line Xee.”

  “Well, I like girls.”

  “You sure about that?” Draven’s mate asked again.

  Hell yeah she was sure. She’d just banged two chicks last night.

  “Correction there ace, I banged two chicks last night, you barely did anything. You don’t even remember it happening.”

  Now he wanted to chime in at the last hour.

  Soft on soft felt nice. It was familiar. It was all she knew, what was comfortable for her. She didn’t want to know what it would feel like to have his hard body crushing her soft one. There was just so much of him. Everywhere she looked, he was big. Hands, legs, shoulders. Other places she wasn’t going to picture in her mind because it would only serve to irritate her.

  “Please don’t think about his dick. Just gross Xee. Gross!” Micah scolded. Well now she was, because her para-house had brought it up.

  “It would be weird.”

  “What’s weird about being with a man?” Jes would not drop the subject.

  “I’m really tired and I need to shower. It’s not going to happen again.”

  “Fine.” The women both made their way to her door. Bena who was still perched on her shoulder flew over to Belinda and slowly melted into her shoulder. Xee hadn’t realized that the entire time they’d all been talking she’d been stroking the bird’s feathers.

  “Let’s not mention the other thing just yet okay. I don’t want to worry the twins.” Belinda said as she quietly closed the door behind her.

  “Belinda,” Xee called.

  The door opened again and Bells popped her head in.

  “Yeah?”

  “The souls you’re carrying are strong. They’re not going anywhere.

  “You can’t be sure.”

  “I’m a Host. It’s something I know without a doubt. Tell your men beautiful lady.”

  Bells turned away from the door, pulling Xee into a tight hug.

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  Chapter 9

  If he thought he was obsessed before, he was truly a goner now. After their kiss, it was all he could think about. His Blossom or bane of his existence, as he now addressed her, wouldn’t even look at him. She’d showed for training, even ran through the exercises with him, but they never once talked about the kiss they shared. She been tight lipped for the last two days and because she didn’t bring it up, neither did he.

  He’d tried sleeping. He’d tried working out, but as the days became nights and his time short, he couldn’t help but think of mistakes he’d not forgotten. Including their kiss. Dravaggio was right, he shouldn’t engage her. But after leaving the H.I.V.E early this morning all he’d wanted to do was sleep. Blessed sleep. Instead, his memories took him to a time when he felt he had no cares at all in the world.

  “You worry too much Jibrīl.”

  Mikhail, the oldest and wisest of his brothers stood tall atop the snow-capped mountains of their home. The Black Veil looked nothing like that of Earth’s realm. There was no darkness, or light. Just colors. Lush and vibrant colors ever
ywhere. Greens, blues, pinks, oranges and reds all blazen in their own rights.

  “You don’t worry enough brother. These demons are growing in number, over populating Earth’s realm.”

  His brother turned Caribbean green eyes on him, stretching his silver tipped wings high above his shoulders.

  “The Fate’s threads are not to be severed. Let them intertwine and weave as they were meant to do. We aren’t to interfere.”

  Again with the warning not to interfere. Why couldn’t they? Humans were so fragile. Their lives barely a section of a much larger canvas. Ending the life of one could give life to so many others. The Fates were cruel in their aspect of designing such short-lived beings. Their mortality blocked any chance to better themselves. How could they improve if they were never given the chance to truly live?

  All his brothers didn’t feel the same way Mikhail felt. Samil as always played both sides, and Abaddon and Azrael enjoyed toying with their subjects. But Azrael was the one to come forward with the information. His brother on his best days was at his worst, but he’d come to him with clear hurt in his voice and pain in his eyes. Jibrīl felt compelled to help him. He didn’t like to see any of his brothers suffer.

  “It is Isaiah and his brothers’ duty to see to those that thrive in the darkness.”

  The Seraph’s did their jobs and they did it quite well, but he could feel it in his bones, they hadn’t seen this particular brand of evil. The demon was building an army and had taken his brother’s lover captive so that he could breed her to replenish his ranks. The demon was trying to claim the Earth as his to kingdom. It was his way of showing The Elite his power.

  There was movement in the sky above and Jibrīl looked up to see his other brothers circling above.

  “Show offs!” Mikhail called up into the color-filled sky.

  Samil landed first shaking out his long-winded hair. His leathers perfectly in place and his daggers at the straps on his chest. Abaddon and Azrael landed at the same time. Abaddon in a long grey cloak, golden scythe at his side. He stood almost nine feet tall. The scar at his cheek ran white against his red skin. The youngest of them Azrael was dressed in his warrior regalia, his broadsword and hammer at this back. Mortal remains hung at his neck. These were his kin, his family, and no matter that their job was to kill indiscriminately; they tried to do so with a modicum of respect. Each of them charged with escorting souls to their rightful place. Whereas he collected souls, his brothers killed souls, started wars in the case of his eldest brother.

  “We came to report in.” Azrael said.

  Samil said nothing but folded his arms across his chest in dismay.

  “Jibrīl and I were discussing whether one should commit acts of wrong doing or stay on the path or righteousness.”

  “Cock it all. Who cares? Death, that’s all you need to worry about brother. If their times up, you deliver them.”

  “Don’t you remember what it used to be like? Your horn, the chariots? Those were days to remember.”

  “Let’s close this conversation down, report in and then back to work.” Mikhail instructed, trying to gather them all back into a semblance of order. Everyone reported in and everyone went to their appointed destinations. Everyone but him. Instead he took a different route, bypassed Earth’s realm altogether and went straight into the Daemonia realm, somewhere that was forbidden to him.

  Gabe woke starring around the dark room. It had been ages since he dreamt of that night. . He would see his brothers again, could already start to feel their presence as he came back into his powers. Because he was locked on Earth’s realm, his powers were subdued, but now that it was coming close to his ascension, his powers were strengthening. He began to feel things that could only be coming from his brothers. He wondered as he hit the shower if they would be receptive of his homecoming. Would they welcome him with open arms?

  The intercom in his room went off just as he was pulling off his boxers.

  “Gabe, the Captain requests your presence.”

  “Alright Ellie, I’ll be down in twenty.”

  A temporary reprieve from his thoughts, Gabe quickly showered and dressed. He made his way down to the conference room where the others were gathered, Xee included.

  “Just in time Angel boy,” Jes said in a mocking tone.

  “Thought we were meeting in another hour?”

  Royce stood up, a large smile on his face. It was heartfelt and happy.

  Ronin sat with Belinda in his lap, his hand possessively grabbing her belly while she too smiled big.

  “Going away party?” Gabe asked.

  “Hell no man. My baby is having our babies.” Royce said pride strong in his tone.

  “Congrats to you guys.” He was really happy for them. Truly.

  “Thank you.” Belinda responded shyly. Ronin hadn’t said a word. He just cradled Belinda in his arms.

  “This my friend is a fucking celebration and we need to get some shit straight.” Royce pinned him with a menacing glare. Not two seconds ago the twin was smiling wide, clearly happy. Now he just looked pissed. The room went silent. All around, he was able to feel what wasn’t being said. The twins were worried about going on the mission with Belinda. Gabe was about to have his ass handed to him.

  “One fuck up, one wrong turn, and I swear, Death Angel or not, I’ll fuck you up in ways that make what Ronin did to Oliver look like a wild ride at Disneyland.”

  “Handsome, I told you I would stay behind.” Belinda protested soothingly.

  “No deal Deva,” Ronin said turning her in his arms and pulling her face close to his. Their moment intimate as he whispered against her lips about keeping her safe and that the only way to do so was to keep her with them.

  Xee spoke up, surprising the hell out of everyone.

  “Gabe and I scouted the entire layout, Royce. I personally coordinated with the Unit in Egypt. All precautions are being considered. Dietrich will have a four-man team on you at all times.

  Royce turned his attention to Xee.

  “And when did you have time to do all this?”

  “I work long hours. D and I went out for drinks and tail two nights ago and worked out air and ground support.

  “Dietrich,” Ronin growled. Clearly, the other twin didn’t like the Walker. There was definitely bad blood there and it all had to do with the woman sitting in his lap.

  “Yeah, shit for brains. My girl is crème of the crop like that. She knew you’d be concerned about Belinda.”

  His girl?

  The fuck did he mean his girl? Xee was definitely not Dietrich’s girl. They’d kissed. She wouldn’t kiss him if she were with Dietrich. Would she? Maybe that’s why she hadn’t said a word to him when he was training her. She was feeling guilty.

  “Well, now that that’s settled let’s celebrate and kick rocks, we got a relic to find and then I want to get back here and pick out cribs for my babies.”

  There were cheers all around from the team members.

  It was a heartfelt moment while at the same time somber. He knew the outcome of this mission and like a train going too fast on the tracks, he was unable to prevent the head on collision that was fast approaching.

  Gabe caught Xee in the elevator on the way up to their rooms. The others were gearing up to go.

  “Thanks for putting Royce at ease.”

  Her only response was a slight nod of her head. She had on a pair of sweats and a half t-shirt that bared way too much of her midsection for his peace of mind. Her hair was up in a ball atop her head, the pink strands in obvious disarray. It gave her a warm sleepy look and all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and do very vile things to her body.

  Fuck it.

  He was just going to come right out and say what was on his mind. He’d been stewing on it since the kiss they shared two days ago. The kiss that was burned into his brain and not ever leaving. One night. That’s all he needed and then it was business as usual. They could bot
h go back to work and carry on in a totally platonic and professional relationship. It was his only solution, selfish as he was, if he didn’t work her out of his system, he was going to bust open at the seams. Talking a deep breath, he reached across the elevator and pushed the stop button. He turned to face her, to approach their situation in a way that she would have no choice but to agree to the terms he was going to put forth.

  “Obviously we like each other.” He cleared his throat.

  She scrunched her brows while chewing on her bottom lip. As if the idea was unappealing to her. He wrestled with his emotions. This should have been easy, not hard.

  “Fine, we don’t like each other, but we’re definitely attracted to each other.”

  That didn’t exactly rest well with her either. He could see it in the way her eyes got wide for a second before narrowing. He noticed everything about her, and although her facial expressions blatantly denied the obvious. Her eyes said something totally different. There was genuine curiosity. She wanted to explore things with him just as bad as he did.

  Gabe stepped closer as if to prove, not only to himself but also to her that something was brewing between them. She didn’t move but dared him to step closer. So he did. She was such a tiny thing, barely coming to mid-chest. She was perfect for all the things he had in mind.

  “I’m asking for one night Blossom, one night of pleasure. I’m not asking for your heart little one, just your body.”

  She lifted her head, her bright hazel eyes scanning his face, searching for an answer.

  “My body, one night?”

  He gave a tight nod of his head. He couldn’t get the words out because he was far too gone. She’d agreed that was all the answer he needed. Well at least he hoped she was agreeing.

  “Give me the word.” He bit out, the lust in his veins seething to be set free.

  “What word?”

  He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger. His breathing erratic as he tried to clear his mind so that when she said the words he could lock down his primal emotions and not attack her like a fucking caveman.