Aflame (Apotheosis)

by Daniels, Krissy

  Nikolas took a deep breath and let it out slow. “We can’t tell her, not yet.”

  “Tell her what?” Zander demanded.

  Chelsea handed over the printout. He read it. Looked at Nikolas. Read it again. “Impossible,” he whispered.

  “Listen, Zander.” Nikolas snatched the paper from him. “Not a word. I want to run more tests.”

  Zander scratched his head. “Yeah, you’re right. That’s a bomb we don’t need to drop on her right now.” Or ever. He roughed his hands through his hair. How would he break this new mind blowing, life altering revelation to her? Was she stable enough to hear it? Would she be happy, or freak and disappear? Would she reject a child? His heart seized for a fleeting moment then beat double-time. Nikolas was right. It was too soon to tell her. First things first.

  He kissed Chelsea on the cheek and made a beeline for the door.

  Zander strode through the hall anxious to get to Grayce. He was hesitant to update her about the latest reports on the morning news programs, but decided it would be worse if she heard it on her own. Shit, Carrie from the gym found dead in Grayce’s car. And Georgia, another employee of Jane’s bar, was missing. He hated to admit it, but if they were going to find and stop this maniac, they’d have to work together. The sick bastard was going to keep killing people until he found her. Zander trembled with rage. Grayce was his number one priority, but fuck, they had a responsibility to protect anyone else who might get in the monsters path, didn’t they?

  Zander had grown up hating the curse. That’s what he called his power. A curse. It frightened his parents and left him no choice but to hide from the world. People had a hard time accepting things they couldn’t control or explain. That was one lesson he learned early in life.

  After he met Nikolas, his feelings changed. He found a purpose. Grayce. Grayce became his focus, his new life mission. He never took time to consider what would happen after he found his mate. But maybe, just maybe, their new role as a couple was to wipe the psycho killer, Tyr, from the world.

  “Baby!” The door flew open and made a god awful racket as it crashed against the wall. Zander hadn’t intended to scare anyone, but he was just so damned happy to be near his lady. Grayce stood bedside, fluffing the boy’s pillow. The young child’s eyes burned blazing white and before Zander had a chance to react, Grayce was thrown to the floor and a blue streak of light had him pinned to the wall of the hallway outside. Stunned, he watched a blue bolt of electricity fizzle and fall in tiny sparks to the floor. The boy stood with brave form on the bed holding unsteady arms toward Zander, ready to shoot again.

  “Leave her alone. I won’t let you hurt her.” His threat was backed by a whole lot of attitude and absolutely no muscle.

  Stunned and more than a little embarrassed, Zander stood in the sterile hallway. Not what he’d expected. “Fuck.” He rubbed his shoulder. The kid packed a powerful punch.

  Grayce jumped to her feet and placed herself between Zander and the boy. “No. No. No. You’ve got it wrong Stephen.” She tried to coax the child to sit. Stephen wouldn’t budge and with noble resolve, refused to take his eyes off Zander.

  “Grayce, step away from him,” Zander commanded as his protective fury echoed through the room.

  He recognized the look in the boy’s eyes, the primal, uncontrollable emotions radiating from deep inside his tiny body. Zander had been there and knew exactly what was going through Stephen’s frightened little mind.

  “No fucking way,” Grayce barked her refusal. “Stephen, he isn’t going to hurt me, you can lie back down.”

  “Firecracker, it isn’t a request.” The instant Zander took a step forward, another bolt flew past her head and grazed his ear.

  Shit. That was close.

  “Very well, then.” Zander smirked.

  He stalked past Grayce, held up an arm to block another strike and pinned the boy’s deadly weapons to his sides. “You and me are gonna have a little talk. Somewhere safe.”

  The boy weighed less than a sack of potatoes. With one arm, Zander tucked him safe and secure against his chest. He gave Grayce a hard peck on the cheek. “Watch your language around the boy, baby.” He goosed her ass and gave his best Terminator impression. “I’ll be back.”

  “Zander!” Her scream echoed through the corridor as he made his exit. “I fuc—I had this, you mother fu—ooh!”

  He smiled wide. His lips sizzled with her lingering fury as he engaged super speed and headed for safer ground.

  8

  Growing restless, Tyr stretched on the bed next to his toy. While she was no doubt easy on the eyes, she was beginning to lack in the recharge department and didn’t come close to giving him the buzz he needed. Not like his little dove, anyway. Of course, there wasn’t a woman on earth who could fill the deep chasm her absence had created in his soul—if he had one.

  Thinking about his little dove made his erection stand proud. He hadn’t used it against his other playthings. No. He reserved that for Grayce. Funny, before meeting the woman who’d given birth to his power, who was responsible for his reign of terror, he’d fucked whomever he chose. Rarely had to do little more than fake interest and flash his net worth to get a woman in bed.

  After Grayce? His sex drive didn’t fizzle. He merely lost interest in sticking his member anywhere other than between her legs. That didn’t stop him from having fun with the other females. He simply changed tactics. Didn’t take long to figure out that he could feast on their fear, that it fed his dark energy. Wasn’t the same, but it would do, until he got his little dove back.

  From a young age, the darkness beckoned to him. Fuel to a starving soul, it guided his actions, encouraged his impulses, cloaked his spirit with confidence and a sense of omnipotent self worth. His wealth, social status and power; he owed it all to the darkness. After accepting who he was, everything came easy, especially the women. Simple, pathetic creatures. They weren’t even a challenge anymore.

  After a lazy stretch, he rolled over and bit his blond toy’s nipple, hard enough to draw blood and a scream that didn’t disappoint.

  “Wake up, toy.” With a shove, he forced his fingers between her teeth and pulled her face toward his. “I’m bored, let’s play.” With a long, slow stroke, he licked the hot tears that cascaded down her cheek. “There will be no more crying today, do you understand?”

  From under the blanket, he retrieved his large metal hook. Her eyes widened and she twitched and shook violently against the binds that tore her wrists and ankles. Fear pulsed through him as it rolled off her skin in vicious waves.

  Yes, that’s what he craved. Fear. It would do for the time being.

  “What?” Waving the hook over her face, he couldn’t hide his pleasure. “Does this frighten you?” Gray eyes rolled into her skull as she nodded.

  “Good.”

  * * * *

  Plopped down faster than he could protest, Stephen took in his surroundings. Oh, man. He was standing on the tip top of a mountain with nowhere to go but down. And to go down, he’d have to scale rock cliffs. He could see nothing but smaller mountains and tree tops for miles. Confused and cold he blinked and looked around again. Fear sent prickles across his scalp.

  Oh no. He screwed up. He scared them and they didn’t want him. Nobody would ever want him. What a freak.

  With all the courage he could muster, Stephen turned to face his punishment and bounced off a rock hard leg. Large hands grabbed his arms before he fell backward.

  “Sorry about that little man.” The giant squatted. “I couldn’t have my lady in the line of fire. I’m sure you can understand that.”

  Stephen looked into the giant’s blue eyes. Gulp. “But I saw you fighting with her by the lake.” Blinking, he looked down at his feet. “I thought you were going to hurt her.”

  The deep chuckle that rose from the giant’s throat made Stephen’s stomach feel a little less queasy.

  “I get it little man. I feel you.” He patted the ground, motioning for Stephen
to sit by him. Stephen sat and felt no bigger than a mouse.

  “You pack quite a punch. Let me feel those muscles.” The giant lifted Stephen’s arm and squeezed above his elbow. “Hmm...impressive. You work out much?”

  Stephen laughed. It came out too fast and sounded girlie.

  “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Stephen.” He didn’t like the way his voice trembled.

  “I’m Zander, but my friends call me Z.” He held out his massive hand but Stephen only stared. It was huge.

  “Little man, it appears we have something in common.” Z’s dark blue eyes had Stephen spellbound. “We both want to protect Grayce.”

  “Yes, I thought you were gonna hurt her.”

  “I would die before I let that happen.” Zander leaned toward him, and instinctively he leaned away. “What you saw by the lake, that was nothing. Grayce doesn’t know how to control her power yet. She needed practice. I was helping her.”

  “Oh.” Stephen scooted his butt toward the edge of the mountain and strained his neck to see over the side. “Why did you bring me here? Are you going to kill me?”

  “No. I’m not going to kill you. We just need to get a few things straight. You were trying to protect her, I get that, but you could have killed her. That’s why I brought you here. Where nobody could get hurt.” Zander grabbed Stephen’s waist and pulled him away from the edge. “That’s quite a skill you’ve got.”

  “My lightning. I’m sorry if I burned you.” He didn’t want to cause pain. He wanted to use his power to save people. To save his mom.

  “Have you hurt people with your lightning?” Zander rubbed his shoulder.

  Until that point, Stephen hadn’t realized that his lightning hadn’t damaged Z. “Yes.”

  “Was it an accident?” Zander wrapped a large arm around Stephen. It felt better than the warm blankets he woke under. Safe and strong.

  “Yes. My mom. He was yelling at her. I tried to stop him, and the lightning came out. It hit them both. She told me to run. She told me to run away and never come back.” Memories of her frightened face caused him to cringe. He’d seen his mom scared before, but never as bad as that day.

  “Listen, I know what you’re going through. That’s way too much power for a boy your age. How would you like to stay with us for a while?”

  “Really?” He was so tired of camping.

  “Really. Besides, we need another man around the house. You know, to help out.”

  “Cool.” He turned toward Zander. “Help with what?”

  Zander curled his arms. “You see this? You know how I got these big guns?” He flexed and posed, showing off his unreal size. “Chelsea’s cooking. That woman makes way too much food. I can’t let things go to waste, you know. It would be awesome to have someone help me eat it all.”

  Too much food? How was that even possible? “Will I get big muscles?” he asked.

  “Yeah, little man. You will.” Zander smacked his back.

  It hurt, but he tried not to show it. A loud gurgle came from somewhere in the lower region of his body. “I’m hungry, can we go back?”

  “Sounds good. But you have to promise me something.”

  “What?” Another loud grumble. Stephen wrapped his arms around himself.

  Zander stood, lifted Stephen, and held him at eye level. “There are some very special ladies in the house. As men, it’s our job to protect them. So, you can never, ever use your lightning indoors.”

  Stephen sagged like a rag doll in Zander’s big hands as he was lowered back to the ground.

  Zander bent at the waist and held a palm out. “Deal?”

  “Deal.” Stephen grabbed his hand and shook it up and down with zeal.

  “It’s pretty fuc—I mean, it’s pretty cool though, your lightning. Maybe we could practice using it outside. Would you like that?”

  “Oh yeah.” Stephen’s smile stretched so wide he felt a cut open on his cracked lip.

  Zander scooped him off the ground and tossed him over a shoulder. “Let’s go eat.”

  A couple of blinks later, they were seated at a kitchen table stacked with turkey sandwiches, grilled cheese, tomato soup, a tray of vegetables and all kinds of crackers and cheese.

  Zander chuckled and handed Stephen a plate. “See what I mean?”

  Stephen couldn’t remember ever seeing so much food on a table. “I think I love this lady!”

  * * * *

  The boil now a slow simmer, Grayce attempted to join the others for lunch. Her temper had lost most of its steam. They were safe, for now.

  Hip against the door jam, she crossed her arms and watched. Zander and Stephen devoured their lunches together. They laughed. Joked. Shoved unnatural amounts of food in their mouths. Zander was a completely different character around the boy. Playful. Young. Wow, she didn’t even know how old he was. Didn’t know much of anything about this man she was bound to for eternity.

  She should’ve pulled up a chair. But that damned mouth of his hypnotized her. It didn’t matter if he chewed, smiled or talked, her gaze settled on those lips and she was helpless to do anything but stare. She craved them now, wet and warm against her skin. She shivered with wanton desire as warmth settled between her thighs. Oh fuck, seriously? Now?

  Hatred and fear had been the driving force in her life for so long. What compelled her now? A fucking desire she couldn’t explain or resist, and a lust that overshadowed the repulsion toward physical contact she’d harbored for years.

  Now, there was a boy and some crazy connection to him. A few weeks ago, she would’ve left him to die, feeling justified that she’d prevented another male from staining the earth with his putrid soul.

  Nikolas entered across the room. He swung Chelsea in a wide circle, kissed her with unbridled passion and didn’t give a shit who watched. Their love billowed around them like a pink haze—hearts, cupids and all. It would’ve been nauseating if it weren’t so pure and unfeigned.

  She’d never be able to love like that. Wasn’t capable. Love didn’t live in her heart.

  No room.

  With Zander, it would always be about need. Her body needed his. It wasn’t enough to carry her into a bright happy future, but damn if it wasn’t the one thing keeping her going.

  Zander glanced over his shoulder, his dimples deepened by the wicked smile he wore. With one bite, his third sandwich disappeared. He whispered something to Stephen and excused himself from the table.

  In two strides he was at her side, and much to her chagrin, she was breathless.

  “Walk?” Tucking his arm under her elbow, he led her to the back door. Her shoes squeaked across the tile as she dug in to hold her ground.

  “No,” she whispered, and made a pathetic attempt to free her arm from his grasp. “I’m really fucking mad at you.”

  “Really fucking mad?” He let her go. Emptiness replaced the heated flow of energy. “Firecracker, you know how it turns me on when you talk like that.” He raised an eyebrow and gestured to the erection that threatened to make confetti out of his jeans. Male pride shifted the features on his face. His eyes sparkled like marbles set in a windowsill on a sunny day.

  Damn. She was helpless to do anything but wipe the drool from her face and nod.

  “Can you be really fucking mad later?” Zander lifted Grayce’s chin. She was spellbound, caught in his heated gaze, completely at his mercy.

  “You fucker. That’s not fair.” Heat wafted through the air. Her heat, her desire, her hunger for him. “I had things under control with Stephen. You had no right to—”

  With a gust of air and a dizzying whirl of color, Grayce was back in bed, pinned beneath hard, heated muscle. His erection pressed against her groin with enough pressure she felt his blood flow in sync with hers.

  “You were saying.” Soft lips tickled her ear.

  “I don’t need rescuing.” Gulp. “Get off me. I don’t want this right now.” She did want him, in every pathetic, girlie way.

  Zander remo
ved himself from the bed and stood by the window. His body cast an eerie shadow across the room. “What do you want?”

  “How old are you?” Grayce sat up and scooted herself against the headboard.

  Zander smiled and crossed his arms, mimicking her. “I’m thirty-eight, almost thirty-nine. How old are you?”

  “I’m twenty-eight and I’m asking the questions.”

  “All right. Fire away.” He gestured for her to continue, then resumed standing like a statue, his erection still putting up a fight against the bind of his clothing.

  She strained to keep her gaze above his waistline. “What do you do for a living?”

  “I’m your man. That’s my only reason for being,” he answered, expression unwavering.

  “Be serious, Zander. Do you have a job? You have to make money somehow. This is quite a spread you have here. It didn’t come cheap.”

  “First of all, this is our spread, not mine.” Arms still folded, he crossed the vast gap to the bed and sat on the edge. “Nikolas and I have made wise investments. Nikolas is a brilliant businessman. We’ve been partners for years. My parents were well off, so I received a hefty inheritance after they died. I didn’t squander the money.”

  “So what you’re telling me is that you don’t have an actual job.” She rolled her eyes.

  “No, I don’t. You’ll never have to work either, not if you don’t want to.”

  Tyr had spoken almost those exact words to her right before she’d been caught hook, line and sinker into his net woven of lies and deceit, greed and domination. Only difference was, she hadn’t been offered a choice. She was told. “You’ll never work.” Period. End of discussion.

  Zander stretched and lay across the end of the bed. “Why all the questions, Firecracker?”

  The anticipatory throb, in that most private of places, beat rampant. There wasn’t much time. She’d have to pounce soon or explode.

  “I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you.” With a sigh, she leaned forward and crawled to him. “Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Get to know each other. You say we’re stuck together, but what if we don’t like each other? How does it work then?”