Mark shrugged. "Old age?" he said.
"He didn't just vanish when things balanced out again?"
Mark's pale blue eyes came up to mine, understanding and pain etched there. "I don't know, Case. I just don't know."
I nodded. There was no point trying to think past the immediate problem anyway. First we had to reconnect with our Stoicheio, then we had to balance the Elements out and right the world.
But still, the threat of the Alchemists hung over my head and here I had an Alchemist to hound.
"What's their end game?" I asked.
Mark whistled. "You go right for the kill shot, don't you sis?"
"Is it a secret?" I demanded. "The kind that if you tell me you'd have to kill me?"
He laughed, it sounded a bit too harsh. "No, it's the kind that if I tell you I die."
"Oh, come on, Mark!" I exclaimed, unfortunately garnering the attention of the two other Athanatos in the room. Hazel eyes lifted and locked directly on us. "Be a man," I hissed. "Do the right thing and help us out."
"Who says," Mark replied, enunciating each word carefully to make his point, "that you are the good guys?"
"You can't mean that," I breathed, sitting back in my seat, putting some space between us.
"Well, not you, Case," Mark hurried to correct. "You're just a pawn."
Oh, and that was better?
I shook my head at him, feeling disappointed all over again.
"So, you just want us to sit here and wait for them to arrive and wipe us out?" I asked numbly.
"I'm here, aren't I?" he said, with one of his signature charming smiles. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."
My eyes found Theo's, his and Aktor's attention was completely on us. Both looked exhausted. Feeding their human sides was keeping them going, but strain and weariness was evident around their still hazel eyes.
"This isn't over," I said to Mark, but my gaze was locked on Theo's. Drawn there, despite the lack of gold. Needing to ease the strain.
"Of course it's not," Mark replied sarcastically. "You could never just do what you were told without causing a bloody fuss."
My hand shot out and wrapped around his shirt, then I hauled him to his feet as I rose to mine. I may not have been able to singe him with Fire, or wrap a vine around his neck to make my point. But I was an immortal with superior strength than a human, and I'd hazard a guess greater brawn than an Alchemist at a push. Even an Alchemist that was a foot taller and a hell of a lot broader than me.
"Watch yourself," I advised, my nose almost pressing into his. "I am not the girl you left behind four years ago. I am not even the human you left behind. And right now I am amping to pay you back for that desertion. Give me one good reason not to kick your duplicitous arse."
His gaze held mine and he slowly lifted his hands, palms facing out, in surrender.
"OK," he whispered. "You win."
I let his shirt go with a small shove that sent him back a foot and no more.
"No, Mark," I said with a shake of my head. "If we don't start working together we all lose. Haven't you heard a freaking word I've said?"
I turned, met Theo's eyes and then walked out of the room, knowing he'd follow.
Chapter 14
You Are Fire Itself
He found me in one of the makeshift bedrooms. It had clearly been an office at one stage. The desk pressed back against the shattered window, plastic wrap covering the opening and letting light in, but the inclement weather out. A king sized mattress lay on the floor against one wall, an empty hearth on the other, set, ready to be lit. Matches sat on top of the mantle. I walked over and lit one, crouching down and lighting the staged wood on fire.
When I stood Theo was right there, desire blazing from those eyes, hunger almost overshadowing the fact that they weren't flaring gold.
"You are magnificent," he declared, his breath coming a little too quickly. "Absolutely magnificent."
He reached out and wrapped a hand around my nape, heat infusing my body from just his touch and the ravenous look on his face. I could see his intention, written clearly over that regal, powerful and lust-filled façade. And my body was right on board with his plans.
But my mind was not. It was currently back in our living area staring into tired hazel, missing the omnipotent gold. I wanted it back.
"Can you feel Pyrkagia?" I asked hopefully, noting my voice was as breathless as his.
"I feel all kinds of hot right now, but no," he husked, "not my Stoicheio."
I was surprised he'd even answered, because the second he was finished his lips were on my skin, licking, kissing, nipping down my neck, biting into my shoulder in an imitation of a Thisavros mark.
My legs weakened, moisture pooled between my thighs, I let out a whimper and moan that made Theo's chest rumble in a low growl.
"Mine," he rasped against my earlobe and then followed that up with his hand squeezing my breast through my t-shirt. "Mine," he repeated, his groin pressing into my body, the steel of his erection reaching halfway up my stomach and making me pant with want and desire. "Let me show you," he pleaded. "Oraia," he added. "There can be such beauty between lovers if you just open yourself up."
Oh, yes. I was on board. There was no denying that. My hands fisted in his hair, gripping tightly. My head tipped back exposing more flesh for his touch, arching my spine in the process and pressing my breast into his cupped palm. Yes, I was so on board.
"Cassandra," he breathed against my lips. His skin cast in a golden hue that was not from his eyes.
I blinked at it, then breathed back into his mouth, "Gold."
He groaned, licked my bottom lip, started to walk me backwards toward the bed, his purpose obvious. My capitulation imminent.
Gold still painting his skin as hazel intently blazed from his eyes.
"Gold," I said in a rush of escaped air as I landed on the mattress, Theo on top.
"What's gold?" he groaned against my throat, one hand twisted in my hair the other already down my pants and finding me waiting and wet.
I moaned, bucked my hips, forgot what I was thinking, closing my eyes through the sensations Theo was creating and silently begging for my oncoming release.
"Casey," Theo called. "Open those eyes. Let me see you come."
I couldn't refuse him. I couldn't deny myself. Theo. This Theo. Any Theo. I needed him right now.
A cry escaped me as he worked magic between my legs, delving in and out in a steady rhythm with his two thick fingers, his thumb rubbing in exactly the right spot.
"Magnificent," he said, hungry hazel staring right into my soul. "Gold," he added, his movements slowing until they stilled.
"Gold," I repeated on a pant and then a subsequent moan of post orgasmic bliss.
Theo closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, an understanding replacing some of the lust.
"Are my eyes gold, too?" he asked, voice a husky sexy rasp.
"No. And shouldn't they be? If mine are?" I asked, panting for breath.
"You were trying to tell me that," he confirmed. I nodded. He nodded back; one quick bob of his head. "Yours are gold," he confirmed.
"I guessed as much," I whispered.
"Hmm-mm," he murmured, sounding rueful if a hum could sound rueful that is. "Tell me?" he asked. "Is there ever going to be a time when I get to sample your wares without interruption or the world coming to an end?"
"My wares?" I asked, lips tipping up in amusement, eyebrows halfway up my brow.
Theo groaned, removing his hand from my pants, patting the waistband as though to ensure I was all presentable again. He stared at where his hand rested above my belly button.
"I want you so much it hurts," he admitted, his voice whisper quiet.
I knew that type of pain. But we weren't at luxury to relieve it. Not yet.
"Our Stoicheio are still there, if we just reach for them," I said instead, making Theo remove his hand from my body completely. He sat up and stared into the flames of th
e hearth. "You haven't reached yet."
"You want me to try," he said, almost sounding a little bitter.
"Theo Peters," I said with disbelief. "Are you actually pouting right now?"
His head turned towards me and he offered a small self-deprecating smile.
"Cassandra," he drawled. "Genesis is cock-blocking me, I have every right to feel put out."
We stared at each other for a moment and then I started to laugh. It took a beat or two before Theo finally joined in. But within seconds of him laughing I was leaning on his shoulder, holding my stomach with both hands as his body shook all over, rubbing comfortingly against mine.
"Magnificent," he whispered eventually into my ear, his arms having at some stage wrapped around me to hold me steady. "If you weren't my Thisavros already," he added, voice deliciously velvet and low, "I'd make you mine right now."
Oh, Theo. Just... Theo. I'd let you as well.
"Just one kiss," he pushed. "That's all. Then I promise we'll attack our Stoicheio with gusto and set the world to rights again. One kiss."
My lips were stretched in a wide smile.
"You think you can stop at one kiss?" I asked, playfully.
"Of course," he shot back. "I'm a prince. I can do anything."
My smile grew even bigger. How could I not love this Theo? Impossible.
"One kiss," I whispered.
"Just one," he murmured, lowering his lips to mine.
It was soft and slow and sweetly gentle. The kiss of a man who treasured his lover. Taking his time, Theo licked and nibbled, swept his tongue around mine, danced with me, lifted me, set me floating away on a cloud. He didn't heat it up so much that we pawed at each other, he just stoked the internal flames, building the fire leisurely, making me want it more and more. Softly, slowly, sweetly. Beautifully.
His head pulled back and heated hazel eyes stared down at me.
For a suspended moment he just soaked me up. It seemed monumental. It seemed significant. It lasted a very long time.
Then a knock sounded out on the door.
Theo closed his eyelids slowly and lowered his forehead to mine.
"Yes?" he said, voice slightly strained.
"Nico has returned," Mark announced. "Isadora is harmed."
Aktor was running a sponge over Dora's forehead, where she lay stretched out on a couch, when we rushed into the living area behind Mark. I couldn't see any blood. Her clothes looked in perfect Isadora order, no limbs sitting at odd angles. She did look pale, which for a Pyrkagia was saying something indeed, their natural tan usually preventing the ghostly appearance the rest of us often effect. But other than that, and the fact that her eyes were scrunched closed as though in pain, she looked whole.
"What happened?" Theo demanded as he crossed the room to look down on the woman over Aktor's shoulder.
"A fire burning out of control in Kilbirnie," Nico advised. "The Fire Service couldn't get through the rubble," he added. "The humans were using buckets of water in a chain to reach the building itself." He paused, sucked in a deep breath then added, "There were children trapped inside."
"What did she do?" Theo asked slowly, eyes still locked on Dora's face.
"Used Pyrkagia to control it," Nico whispered.
"She made contact?" Aktor asked, surprised.
"It almost killed her," Nico offered as answer.
"But it worked?" I pushed.
All eyes turned towards me. Sonya looked a little sick that I'd asked, considering the state Isadora was currently in. Mark looked slightly shocked and then contemplative. Aktor and Nico looked amused. And Theo looked angry.
"It might have worked," he said, voice hard, "but the consequences are not acceptable." And just like that, Theo had decided not to pursue reaching for his own Element.
I ignored him and my disappointment. It was hard with those anger-filled hazel eyes directed at me. I couldn't tell if he was indignant that I'd shown little compassion for Isadora's state. Or irate that I'd show such disregard for everyone's potential to become like her.
But right now, we couldn't afford to be sidetracked by such weaknesses, and I did consider not pursuing this as a weakness.
I turned to Nico. "Did it work?" I demanded, my voice just as hard as Theo's.
Nico held my steady gaze and nodded. "She kept the fire away from the children until they could be rescued. I believe she would have done more and snuffed the flames out completely, but I refused to let her try."
I looked down at Isadora, who still had her eyes closed and held her body stiff. I wondered if her eyes would blaze gold now. I wondered if she could hear us, or if she was too far gone in agony to comprehend the conversation around her. I didn't let myself acknowledge that she had done something for the humans she only barely tolerated. I couldn't afford to think of Isadora as anything less than a hardened Athanatos. Not right now. Not when the world was teetering on destruction.
"So we can reach them," I surmised.
"Cassandra!" Theo yelled, making Sonya jump but the rest of us were used to his outbursts and just cringed. "We cannot proceed with this."
"She's alive, isn't she?" I said evenly.
"In agony," he growled back.
"Are you saying she can't handle a little pain?"
"You think she's in a little pain?" he shot back. "This is not the Isadora I know. She would not allow anyone to see her like this if she was capable. She is compromised."
"Let's see how long it takes her to recover, and then assess our options from there." I had to hope she did recover, otherwise my argument was going to be shot to hell.
"You will not reach for any of your Stoicheio," he commanded. "Promise me!"
I looked into his steely eyes and realised the anger he'd displayed was not for Isadora's painful predicament, but for the potential agony that could befall me. Theo didn't want me on that couch, compromised, suffering, helpless. And he was furious that I still wanted to try something so reckless, despite witnessing the harrowing results.
With each moment that passed, he made me fall in love with him further. Made me open my heart a fraction more to this Theo. To the man he now was.
I still wanted my old Theo back, but I was quickly losing the desire to hold out for him. Theo in any form was too much for my heart to resist.
"I'll wait until she can communicate," I agreed, and saw the tension slowly seep from his body.
"Promise," he whispered.
I nodded back, my chest feeling tight, my throat constricting, all because he was desperate to protect me.
"I promise," I whispered.
"She may be like this a while," Aktor announced. "We should take turns sitting with her."
"Do you wish to move her to one of the bedrooms?" Mark asked, stepping forward as though he would offer to carry her.
"It might be best," Aktor conceded, standing up from his crouch beside her sofa and looking toward Theo for guidance.
"Let him take her to the one closest to here," Theo instructed. "That way we can hear if anything changes." I think he might have meant, if anything gets worse. But I couldn't see that happening. I was quite sure Isadora was not using her Stoicheio right now.
I was praying that she could, though, as soon as she awoke.
"I'll sit with her first," Mark offered, lifting her rigid body up with the utmost care.
Silence stretched between the men. I'd withdrawn when the argument had finished, making my way over to where Sonya stood, wide eyed, watching the saga unfold.
"Do you think they'll let your brother sit with her?" she whispered.
I shrugged my shoulders, checking out my best friend to make sure she was still in one piece. Not that she'd braved the streets, but nowhere seemed safe right now.
"What's he going to do?" I offered. "Three Pyrkagia in the next room willing to lay down their lives for her."
"Three Pyrkagia without access to their Elements," she very astutely pointed out.
"Neither has he access," I countered.<
br />
Her big doe eyes came up to my face and she whispered, so quietly I was sure no one else could hear, "Are you sure?"
The shock of her suggestion immediately made me scowl and then the lies that my brother, along with my grandfather, had told me settled over that visceral anger and made it fizzle out.
"You've been spending too much time with Aktor," I said instead of the myriad of other disjointed thoughts pouring through my head.
In the end the men must have decided along the same lines as Sonya, because Nico accompanied Mark as he left the room with a still unconscious Isadora cradled in his big arms.
"Tea perhaps," Aktor announced, almost to himself, but clearly desperate to be doing something.
"I'll get the biscuits," Sonya advised, jumping to do a task that she was capable of. I was well aware my best friend was determined to make herself useful. Unable to wield a Stoicheio or to see one being used left her feeling the odd man out.
Ironic right now, because she wasn't that different from the rest of us. No Stoicheio wielding going on anywhere.
I leaned back against the table where we'd been standing and stared off across the room into the flames in the hearth. The Alchemists who'd been in CERN could still access the Elements, did that have something to do with the way they accessed them, not being born Ekmetalleftis? Or was it to do with the place itself?
Theo strode over, his eyes wary, his body held in check as though expecting me to throw a wild punch or kick him in the shins. I wasn't that aggressive, was I?
"Are you all right?" he asked, rather formally.
I nodded, a half smile on my face. Better to keep him on his toes.
"What do know about CERN?" I asked, making those eyebrows rise up his forehead again.
"Only what the popular public impression is; one I am sure the Alchemists have manufactured. It could all be a ruse," he offered, recovering swiftly from his surprise. "You don't trust him either, do you?" he asked, softly.
I let a long breath of air out, eyes back on the fire.
"I've learned the hard way how trust can be misplaced."
Aktor dropped a cup, shattering the relative quiet in the room. I noticed his hand shook when he bent to pick up the pieces. I closed my eyes and hung my head. It was clear the butler still carried enormous guilt over what he'd done. But how could he? Sonya stood next to him helping clean up the mess. I have no doubt she wouldn't have been if Aktor hadn't done what needed to be done.
The Chilling Change Of Air (Elemental Awakening, Book 3) Page 14