by Anne Hope
She sat on the corner of his desk. “What now?”
“Eddie is following up on another lead.” He and the cop had spoken earlier today. Tension still loomed between them, but Eddie had thankfully kept his opinion to himself this time. “After the fight, he and William searched the bodies. One of the Kleptopsychs had an order form in his pocket. It was from some kind of lab.”
Emma’s expression brightened. He didn’t have to read her mind to know how desperate she was for the smallest scrap of hope.
“It might be another dead end,” he cautioned, reluctant to see her spirit crash again, “but he’s looking into it.”
“What was the order for?”
“Medical equipment mostly, but there were a few drugs as well.”
A thin groove formed between her brows. “I thought you guys didn’t get sick.”
“We don’t.” His hand glided up her leg to settle at her knee. Touching her was so natural, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from doing it. He needed that physical connection more than he needed air. It strengthened him, brought him immeasurable comfort and heightened all his senses.
“Then why the medicine?”
“That’s what Eddie’s trying to find out, but I’ve got a theory. About a year and a half ago, my father uncovered a covert operation run by my uncle.”
“The same uncle who killed you?”
“Yes.” And tried to kill her, but that was a story for another day. “The way I understand it, Kyros had taken it upon himself to farm humans.”
Confusion clouded her gaze. “How?”
“I don’t have all the sordid details. I only know what Marcus told me. But it’s no stretch of the imagination to assume one of his followers decided to pick up where dear Uncle Kyros left off.”
A shiver coursed through Emma, one he might’ve missed had he not been touching her. He stood and positioned himself between her knees, gathering her close. His fingers flirted with the tips of her hair, sliding beneath the thick mane to stroke the nape of her neck.
She melted into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder, her birthmark almost aligning with his—two hearts, identical in shape and size. “I have to stop them,” she whispered. “That’s what I was born to do.” For the first time, he heard acceptance in her voice. Acceptance and determination.
He pulled back far enough so he could glance down at her face, and once more he saw Angie staring up at him through Emma’s eyes. Emma might not be ready to admit it, but her past self was still in there somewhere, buried beneath the fear and the insecurity and the heartache.
“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?”
Adrian tightened his grip on her, forced himself to focus on the here and now. If he as much as hinted that he saw Angie in her, she would withdraw from him again and he’d lose her.
She watched him expectantly, waiting for his answer. An answer he never gave. He bent down and kissed her instead. When their mouths fused, the line between the past and the present faded, and it made no difference what name she went by. All that mattered was that she was his.
With an eagerness he’d come to anticipate, she wrapped her arms around his neck, mashing her body to his, tasting him as he tasted her. His heart clamored in response, and he deepened the kiss, exploring every corner of her mouth as his hands traced the curve of her back. She felt like heaven beneath his roaming palms, soft and solid, warm and alive. The walls of his throat thickened as he inhaled her familiar scent. That scent invaded his lungs and reduced him to an aching pile of weakness and need.
He, whose name had once been synonymous with death. He, who’d bested both the Kleptopsychs and the Watchers for decades upon decades. Adrian nearly smiled at the irony. When all was said and done, it had taken but one tiny woman to bring him to his knees.
What surprised him most was how little he cared. He didn’t need to be that man anymore. Perhaps he never had. What he needed—what he’d always needed—was her.
Her hands drifted over his pecs, and she gripped a handful of his T-shirt in her fists, holding on to him as if she feared he’d bolt. The truth was, nothing could pry him away from her right now.
Nothing but a familiar wave of dark energy. He ended the kiss abruptly. “Shit.” Grabbing Emma by the arm, he guided her to the stairwell. “Upstairs. Now.”
She shot him a curious glance, her cheeks flushed. “You know, I’m starting to like this whole caveman routine. It’s kinda sexy.”
“I’m not kidding. Lock yourself in my room and don’t come out. No matter what.”
Emma stiffened, pausing at the foot of the stairs. “Adrian, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
He sighed, frustration and dread surging through him. “It’s Marcus. He’s found me.”
No sooner had he uttered the words than the doorbell rang.
A few minutes later, Adrian sat across the kitchen table from Marcus, trying his damnedest not to let his anxiety show. “Why are you here?”
Marcus leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on his thighs. “You really have to work on your greetings.”
“Answer the question.” He didn’t mean to be curt, but his father’s unexpected visit unsettled him. Besides the fact that he didn’t want the man to know about Emma, there was the very real possibility that the Watcher had tracked him here. And if he had, then there was a chance the Kleptopsychs could, too.
“I sensed your energy in Maryvale. I have to hand it to you. You did a real good job covering your trail.”
Adrian gripped the nape of his neck, where tension pooled. “Obviously not good enough.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t track you.” Relief swept through Adrian, only to be replaced by surprise when Marcus added, “I’ve known about this place for a while now.”
“How?”
His father released a sharp sigh. “I came looking for you after the raid in Spokane. I felt responsible for what the Watchers did to your community.” Regret pinched his features. “I guess I just wanted to look you in the eyes and tell you I was sorry.”
Marcus leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table and steepling his fingers. “But when I got here and saw what you were building—” he shook his head, “—I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t reveal myself to you. It suddenly hit me that you wouldn’t feel safe if you realized I’d tracked you down, figured you might bolt again. So I left without speaking to you.”
Great. All this time, Marcus had known where to find him. Adrian wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “Does Cal know about this place?”
“No. I never told him.”
A sound issued from the bedroom overhead, and Marcus’s gaze shot to the ceiling. Adrian scraped his chair across the tiled floor to mask the noise. “So why show up now?”
Marcus didn’t respond right away, his attention focused on the area above their heads. Did he sense Emma? Could he feel her aura? If he did, he’d tunnel his vision and see her. “Are you going to answer my question?” The sooner Adrian pried the man’s attention away from the ceiling the better.
His father finally met his gaze. “Because I’m sick and tired of cleaning up after you, and I’ve got some information that might put an end to the trail of bodies you’re leaving behind again.”
Adrian fought to keep his expression neutral. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“In that case, I guess you’re not interested in hearing what I know about the woman you were searching for in Phoenix.”
This time, Adrian failed to hide his interest. “What do you know?”
“First you’re going to answer one question for me.” Marcus dissected him with his incisive blue stare. “What’s your stake in this?”
“My stake?”
“You’ve been out of commission for years. Saving the world is our business, not yours. So why are you suddenly so interested in the Kleptopsychs’ extracurricular activities?”
How could he possibly answer that without revealing who Emma was and what
she meant to him? “I’m bored,” he lied. “Needed to spice things up a bit.”
Marcus grunted in frustration. “Why did I ever think you’d give me a straight answer?” Realizing Adrian had no intention of cooperating, he decided to supply his own theory. “I think you know something you’re not telling me, and whatever it is, it has something to do with the Sacred Four. For all I know, you might be hiding one of them right here in this house.” He aimed a glance at the ceiling again, and Adrian’s muscles turned to stone.
“Don’t worry,” Marcus tagged on when he saw Adrian’s hackles rise. “I’m not going to search the place. I won’t even share my suspicions with Cal, because I trust you to do the right thing. But know this, the Sacred Four wield tremendous power. Make no mistake, they are a weapon. A deadly one, and if you’re not careful, you could easily end up like Athanatos and Kyros.” His father gave him a meaningful stare. “Unless you bear the mark.”
Adrian’s next breath congealed in his lungs, but he didn’t react.
He’s just fishing. He doesn’t know.
“Heaven’s mark is the only thing that can protect you from the power of the Sacred Four. It shields you, even as everything around you is reduced to ash.” Marcus watched him closely for a reaction. When he failed to get the response he was looking for, the man shook his head, exasperated. “I’ve been doing some thinking lately.”
“Only lately?”
The Watcher’s gaze narrowed menacingly, but he went on as if Adrian hadn’t spoken. “I’ve been thinking about these famous heart-shaped birthmarks. I’ve got one, Regan’s got one, her son Jace has one. And our newborn son, he’s got one, too.” He paused for emphasis. “Are you seeing a pattern yet?”
It took all of Adrian’s willpower not to shift his weight in his chair. Briefly, he was tempted to confide in his father, to ask the man for his help, but ugly memories of what had transpired in Spokane silenced him. He trusted Marcus, but the same couldn’t be said about the rest of the Watchers.
Marcus hunched his shoulders forward and held Adrian’s gaze. “Look, I know the Watchers haven’t done much to inspire your trust. But what happened in Washington, I swear, that was all Thomas’s doing. I told you he was the kind of guy who shot first and asked questions later. Cal didn’t order the attack. He feels terrible about it.”
“That may be true,” Adrian said, “but I still have six dead Rogues on my hands. People who trusted me. People I let down. I won’t take that risk again.”
“If you’re housing one of the Sacred Four here, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
Adrian averted his eyes, knowing Marcus was right but unwilling to admit it.
“Look,” Marcus continued, “we don’t want to see the Hybrids destroyed any more than you do. We are Hybrids. Believe me when I tell you, if there’s any way for us to survive this, we’ll find it. But if a flood comes, I can guarantee you this—none of us are coming out of it alive. And that’s what the prophecy predicts, another great flood. Unless the Sacred Four stop it. Each has a destiny to fulfill.”
“What kind of destiny?” If there was a way to prevent the Apocalypse, he wanted to know what it was.
“Jace, the first of the Sacred Four, killed Athanatos. Ben, the second, wiped out Kyros. The third is expected to inspire hope and eliminate an enduring threat. And the fourth is predicted to restore peace.”
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. “Could these prophecies be any more general? What do you mean by ‘an enduring threat’?”
“We haven’t figured that out yet,” Marcus admitted, his tone contrite. “But it stands to reason that whoever is now leading the Kleptopsychs is the next target.”
“And do you have any idea who that is?”
Marcus hesitated, staring at his interlaced fingers as though they held great interest. “Our bets are on Kora. She’s been spotted in Arizona, Washington and most recently in Nevada.”
Adrian still had his doubts. “Are you sure?”
“The description matched. And I picked up traces of her energy wherever there was a sighting. She’s here.” A pregnant pause followed. “If we work together, we can stop her.”
Adrian’s resolve faltered. The Watchers made formidable enemies and even better allies. There was no doubt in his mind they could help him bring down Kora and save Emma from becoming his mother’s next pet project. Still, he hesitated, torn between duty and his selfish desire to keep Emma all to himself.
Marcus reached across the table and gripped Adrian’s arm. “Help us,” he implored. “Work with us.” Adrian might have been tempted to agree had it not been for the look Marcus gave him. A look brimming with affection and expectation. One a father would bestow upon his son.
It brought to the surface every negative thought he’d ever had about his father, reminded him of all the years Marcus had hunted him, determined to exterminate his own son like a sewer rat. Maybe they’d moved beyond that, but an undercurrent of tension and hostility still remained.
Was Adrian ready to believe his father had changed, to forgive him for choosing Cal over him? The answer was no. “I can’t. I’m not what you think I am,” he lied. “So either tell me what you came here to say or leave.”
Marcus pulled back, shocked by the curtness of Adrian’s reply. Disappointment briefly flickered across his face. Then he nodded, his shoulders deflating in defeat. “The woman who was abducted in Phoenix; she was found last night.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“She was found?” Emma’s heart cartwheeled in her chest. “Where is she? Is she okay?”
Adrian guided her to the bed and encouraged her to sit down. Why would he want her to sit, unless he had bad news to give her? Her knees began to wobble, and she lowered herself onto the bed. She was dying to hear what he had to say and terrified at the same time.
“She’s alive.”
Those two words acted like a pin, popping the anxiety building inside her and allowing the tension to flow from her limbs. “Thank God. Where is she?”
“At the hospital. She’s suffering from a bad case of pneumonia, but the doctors are confident she’s going to recover.”
Tears prickled her eyes. “I want to see her.”
He nodded. “I know.” A shadow flickered across his features. It only lasted a second, but she caught it.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
He folded his body on the corner of the bed next to hers, bending forward and propping his elbows on his knees. “Something doesn’t add up. Why would your mother turn up now? The Kleptopsychs don’t just let people go. Not unless they’ve got something to gain.”
“You think it’s a trap.”
His gaze cut to hers. “It’s a possibility.”
“I still have to see her. I need to see her.”
He touched her back, his palm lingering between her shoulder blades. “We’ll figure it out. Just be patient. At least now, you know she’s safe.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. It felt good to have him here beside her, carrying the burden with her, comforting and supporting her. She only wished she could do the same for him. “So how did things go with your dad? Does he suspect anything?”
Adrian and Marcus had been down there a long time. As Adrian had instructed, she’d stayed hidden in the master bedroom, but every now and then she’d strained to hear the bits and pieces of conversation drifting from below.
“You could say that.” He gripped the back of his neck in frustration, a gesture she’d come to recognize. “He accused me of hiding things from him, of harboring one of the Sacred Four. He even implied I bore the mark.”
Emma’s body tensed. “You’re not worried the Watchers will come after me?” She hated that she was a pawn in this game, but worst of all, she hated that she could be used as a weapon against Adrian.
“He said he wouldn’t tell the others about it, that he trusted me to do the right thing.”
As reassuring as the words were, she couldn’t bring herself t
o relax. “And you believe him?”
“Yes.” Certainty laced his voice. “Marcus may put duty above everything else, but he’s not a liar. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.”
If Adrian trusted this man, then so would she. She’d learned not to doubt his instincts.
“Did he say anything else?” He hesitated, and her anxiety began to build all over again. “What was it?”
“Something I’ve suspected all along. The Watchers believe Kora might be the one leading the Kleptopsychs, and that your destiny is to stop her.”
A slow slide of dread traveled through her. “How do you propose I do that? I’m not powerful enough.”
“You’re more powerful than you think.” He looked down at her face, ensnaring her with his gaze. “A weapon purposely designed to take out my kind.”
She didn’t want to hear this. “Even you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Marcus said the birthmark offered some type of protection.”
If that was true, if the birthmark was a shield of sorts, then there was a chance she could fulfill her destiny without hurting Adrian. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“Like I said, Marcus doesn’t lie.”
So maybe there was hope. Maybe she didn’t have to sacrifice humanity to be with the man she loved.
Emotion clogged her windpipe. The man she loved.
She’d never been able to admit those words before, even to herself. Now that she had, she was surprised at the sense of completeness that washed over her, the sense of rightness.
She loved him. Loved him from the depths of her soul. Loved him with every cell in her being.
The tears she’d been holding at bay misted in her eyes.
Adrian frowned, wiping them away with the pad of his thumb. “What’s the matter? Why are you sad?”
“I’m not sad. I’m happy.” She laughed through her tears. “I’m so frigging happy, it hurts.”
“Because we found your mother?”
“Yes.” She touched her palm to his face. “And because I just realized I love you.”
Adrian knew he should offer some kind of response, but he was too dumbstruck to speak. He’d waited so long to hear her voice those words, and now that she had, he was overcome with a hefty dose of cold, hard panic.