by Dora Blume
Mike stood. “I’m going with you.”
Sloane’s eyes widened. “Why? I’m just going to get my phone.”
“We should talk,” he said.
Erik looked between the two, “Yes, you should.”
Sloane glared at him. “You promised you wouldn’t read our thoughts, Erik.” She spat out his name.
“It’s obvious you two are having issues. It’d be good if you resolved them before we left.”
“Ugh, fine.” Sloane stomped up the stairs. Mike shook his head and followed her.
Sloane went right for her phone and messaged Chloe. Mike watched her. Then she put the phone down on the desk and met his eyes. He strode toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. He captured her lips with his. She gasped in surprise, and he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She savored his soft lips on hers. The hunger in his kiss. His hands tightened around her, she felt safe, and dare she say it, loved. He pushed her against the desk. He dropped his hands, skimming her thighs before gripping them and lifting her onto the desk. His lips moved from her mouth to her neck. She ran her hand through his dark curls. He drew in a quick breath.
He stopped and rose to look her in the eyes. “Sloane, love is it such a bad thing to be loved by me?” he asked. His eyes searched hers. She took a deep breath.
“No,” she breathed.
“So, what are you so worried about?” he brushed his hands along the lines forming on the side of her eyes. He caressed her cheek with his fingers.
“I’m not ready. I can’t say it back to you.” She looked down and gripped her pointer finger with her other hand.
“Sloane love, you don’t have to say it back. I still love you regardless.” His eyes were soft, patient as they looked at her. He took her hands in his. “Love, I just wanted you to know. I don’t want to lose you again. Please, just talk to me. Don’t close up on me.” He kissed her hands, then her lips. He was so gentle in his kisses. His lips caressing hers with feather-light pecks. He kissed her lips, her jawline, savoring every touch. He brushed his fingertips from the back of her neck down her spine. Sloane felt tingles go down her entire body as he savored her.
She ran her hands through his curls again. “You’re amazing, Mike.”
He smiled and met her lips with his. “Glad to hear it, love.” He breathed the words against her mouth. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell him, yet. She knew she didn’t want to lose him, either. She wanted to stay with him. To keep him with her like this. Was that enough? His thumb flicked over her nipple, and her breath caught. For now, it would have to be. He wasn’t asking for her to tell him, right now. He tugged at her shirt. She raised her arms as he pulled it over her head. He took her nipple in his mouth, and she’d forgotten her train of thought.
She wasn’t sure how long they’d been in the bedroom, but no one had come looking for them. Mike gazed at her. His head propped on his hand as he lay on his side on the bed. He ran his hand down her face, and she stared back at him. She could stay in this bed with him forever. “This is enough,” he said.
She closed her eyes. She wanted to say she loved him, she did. She tried to pull the words out. She took a deep breath. Instead, she said, “Are you sure?”
His laugh rang out, “Yes, love. I’m sure.” He caressed the lines on the side of her eyes again. “If you’re not careful, these worry line will stick.” He kissed the side of each eye. “Stop worrying, love. I’m a very patient man. I know you. When you’re ready, you’ll say what you mean. You always do.” He kissed her. “Now, come on. There’s a fight happening, and I know you’re not skipping it.” He held his hand out to her. She took it, and he pulled her into his arms for a kiss. She giggled at his eagerness. “Oh, how I love the sound of your laugh.” He kissed her again. He let her go, and she felt his absence immediately. She grabbed up her phone. She had messages from Chloe.
I don’t know anyone with the power to freeze, but I’ll ask around. Brb.
Nope, no one can freeze time. Super cool power. We’ll be ready to help when you get here. We’re spreading around campus, so we’re not suspicious. We can dispossess while you guys go after Mr. Hall. lmk when you’re here.
“Chloe says there’s no one there that can freeze time. What powers do your friends have that are so secret?” She pulled her shirt back over her head. Mike had his jeans back on and was pulling his belt tight. She licked her lips at the sight. She wanted to jump him all over again. The muscles in his arms tightened. She wanted to run her fingers over his abdomen. Feel each curve of muscle under her fingertips. She bit her lip and walked over to him. She splayed her hands over his chest, rubbing. He smiled down at her.
“Couldn’t resist me, aye?” He placed a hand over hers on his chest.
“You’re so beautiful.” She breathed and bent to lick his chest. She couldn’t help herself she wanted to taste him. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm.
“So are you, love.” He smiled as she met his eyes. “We have some pressing matters to attend.” His smirk was playful. She could tell he enjoyed her preoccupation with his body.
She jutted out her lip in a pout, “Fine.” She turned and went back to the desk and plopped down in the chair. He shook his head and laughed at her. He reached down and picked up his shirt. He pulled it over his head.
“You ready to go battle some demons?” he asked.
“I guess.” She pouted.
“You love battling demons.” He walked over and brushed his hand down her cheek.
“I love being with you, more.” She looked up at him through his lashes.
“Good to know.” He held his hand out to her. She slipped her hand in his and followed him out of the room.
Erik and Jessie had moved into the Kitchen. Caroline and Nick were there, along with about seven other people. Sloane looked around at each of them. Her eyes stopped at one guy, leaning against the counter, popping a grape into his mouth. His dark hair was swept back out of his face. One piece rebelled and hung down the side, next to his eye. He had the beginning scruff of a dark beard around his mouth. Sloane could tell he’d trimmed it all but around his mouth in a sexy goatee. Mike walked up to him.
“Hey Ely, it’s good to see you, brother.” Mike took his hand and pulled him into a quick hug with a single pat on the back.
“Yeah, you called, I came.” He glanced over at Sloane. He raked his apprehensive gaze over Sloane. “This your girl?” He asked.
Mike looked over to Sloane. “Yeah, Sloane meet Ely.” He held out a hand. She placed her hand in his. He turned it and placed a kiss on her knuckles, looking deep into her eyes.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sloane.” Her name sounded like velvet coming from his mouth.
Mike wrapped his arm around Sloane. Ely smiled up to Mike. “She’s a beauty, Mike.” He looked Sloane up and down again. Mike tightened his hand around her shoulders. Sloane looked to him, was he jealous? She narrowed her eyes on the tightness of his face. She’d never seen him jealous; her heart swelled at the thought.
“She is.” Mike gazed into Sloane’s eyes. She caressed his cheek with her hand. When he smiled, she could see the brightness of it in his eyes. They were about to go into a huge battle, and Mike’s smile meant everything.
“Ahem,” Erik stood next to the two. “Nice of you to finally join us. You know we have to leave in ten minutes, and you don’t know what’s going on.” He looked at them with annoyance.
“Okay Erik, what’s going on?” Sloane turned on her brother.
Mike wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. “Erik can you fill us in. We’re all getting in the truck, right? Anything else we need to know.” Sloane placed her arm over Mike’s.
Erik looked down at Sloane, then up to Mike. “Yes, we’re all going in the truck. Then we’ll go through the offices as we discussed. A few groups are breaking off to go after the teachers in other buildings. Caroline is staying in the offices since her daughter is with Mr. Hall. Jessie will be going with
her. I’m going to another team to the West. I can hear the thoughts of everyone, so I’m going to help distinguish between demons and Shikari.” He paused to look at Sloane. “What’s the status on Chloe?”
“There will be students spread around campus to assist. They know we’re coming and can help identify those who are demons. She said they were still working on dispossessing as many students as possible. I need to text her when we’re on campus.” She explained.
“Good, they’ll be a big help.” Erik looked over to Caroline, and she nodded. “Looks like it’s time to head to the truck.” He walked over and took Jessie’s hand.
Sloane looked to Mike, “You ready?”
“Always,” He bent and kissed her lips quickly before following everyone outside.
Chapter 22
Erik bent to Jessie’s ear. “I thought there would be more people here. What did Caroline say to you?”
Jessie clutched Erik’s hand. “Nothing, just that more people were coming, but they were driving. I thought there would be more, too. She said we’d have twenty-five at least. I only count thirteen of us total. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go in with only thirteen of us.” Jessie’s eyes were creased in worry.
“Magnus and Bryant are meeting us at the truck. He has people with him. We should be up to twenty with them. I’m still worried. I don’t like the idea of being away from you in the fight.” He slid into the driver’s seat of the car. Sloane and Mike slid in the seats behind them.
“What do you guys think? Do we have enough people?” Erik looked back at Mike. He was the more reasonable of the two.
“I was wondering about that, myself. I thought you said we’d have twenty-five. I only counted thirteen people including us. Caroline wouldn’t send us in without enough people, would she?” Mike grasped Sloane’s hand in his.
“Yes, when it comes to her daughter, she’d do anything. We have to save the school. Besides, Chloe and the other students will be helping us. There’s no way they outnumber us if we have most of the students dispossessed.” Sloane squared her shoulders in confidence.
“I’m just worried. We’ll see how many people show up at the truck. I think one group of us needs to arrive in a separate car, in case anything goes wrong. I hate the idea of us all sitting in one truck.” Erik drove to the warehouse. He parked next to the procession of cars. “It looks like Magnus brought a few people. I just wish we had someone with the power to freeze time besides Jessie.” He gave Jessie a concerned look.
“Erik, I’ll be fine. We can do this.” She gripped his hand tighter.
“Let’s get a count on how many people we have and their abilities, so we are sending everyone to the place best suited to them,” Mike suggested.
“Sounds good. Hey, what does your friend Ely do?” Erik asked.
“Astral projection.” He answered. “That’s why he hides out. I only came across him when I was looking for someone else in Southern Colorado. He keeps himself pretty hidden away. When I sensed his ability, I was curious, so I found him. We’ve been friends ever since. He’s from New York City originally, but he came out here to hide in the mountains.”
“Wow, that’s a pretty cool ability.” Sloane peeked out the window to see Ely, lounged against his black Chevy Impala. Mike rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.
“Okay Mike, can sense them? What are we working with here? It’d be nice to know who we have on our side. We need to be quick though. They’ll be expecting us to join them soon.” Erik darted a glance out the window. Magnus was talking with Caroline. They were probably talking logistics before loading up.
“Okay,” Mike closed his eyes to concentrate. “So, Caroline can read minds like you can, Erik. Nick can manipulate the element of water. He can freeze people, but in a very different way.” He chuckled. “Magnus is copying Jessie’s power, right now. That should come in handy.” He continued.
“I’ll listen to what I can while you do your thing.” Erik began scanning the surrounding minds. Usually, he wouldn’t do this to people he knew, but he needed to know who was here.
“Whoa, one girl here can overload another’s mind with voices. That could come in handy to distract others while we dispossess them.” Mike looked from Sloane to Jessie. “She could go with one group while Jessie goes with another. You freeze, and she distracts. Another guy has the power of augmentation, his being here boosts all our powers. He’s probably the reason I’m getting such a clear picture of what everyone can do. I have to say; Caroline and Magnus have a powerful group of friends.” Mike felt pleased with the prospective fight, knowing they would have some serious help to go into it.
“Um, Rachel can do fear projection. It’s freaky. She just blasted me with it when I tried to listen in on her thoughts. She let me know what she thought of the intrusion. I think I’ll stop. We have a pretty good idea of how we should split up. Magnus and Caroline are going to be the ones making the decisions, anyway.” He shook his head to clear it. The image Rachel sent him sent shivers down his spine. He drew in a few deep breaths. Jessie cupped his cheek in her hand.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, just remind me not to piss her off. She’s got some serious talent. She sent me an image of my worst fear. It looked so real. It felt real. It was only there for a split second, but it was long enough.” Erik shook again. He didn’t want to see that ever again. He’d seen Jessie lying dead, blood soaking the floor. He didn’t want to think about her being hurt, especially after the last fight. He gripped her hand in his. “Promise me; you’ll be careful.” He whispered to Jessie, half-frantic.
“Of course, I’ll be careful.” She narrowed his eyes at him. “Who is she? I’ll gut her if she hurt you.” She said the words with such force, Erik believed that she would. His mouth turned up in a slight smile. He forgot she was just as protective of him. He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“It’s fine. It was just a warning. Trust me; I won’t do it again. Come on, let’s join the others. I’m ready to get this party started.” He reached for the handle of the door. Jessie pulled his arm toward her, and he turned to look at her. She leaned over and kissed him fiercely. He gasped when her mouth touched his. He met her fierceness with a desire all his own, and when she backed away from his mouth, they were breathless.
Erik and Jessie walked up to Magnus and Caroline, hands clasped. “Is everything set?” Erik asked.
“Yes, here are your coms. We will be communicating with each other through earpieces. Jessie, you will be with team red. We’re going into the offices, first. Our target is Mr. Hall and Nicole. Erik, you’re with Team Blue. You will focus on the West building. You are acting as the guide. You will listen to thoughts and direct the team to the existing demons in the building. You’ll have Rachel, Ely, Peyton, and Mya. Rachel can distract any demons as you go. She’s very effective. She’ll be your number two. You okay with that?” Caroline asked, almost as an afterthought.
“Sounds good. You’ll be with Jessie?” Erik asked.
“Yes, we’ll all be on the same frequency, so you’ll be able to hear what’s happening with our team,” Caroline explained. He knew she was trying to reassure him since they would be separated in the fight.
He nodded, “Okay.”
Caroline turned to Jessie. “You’ll be with me, Sloane, Nick, and Mike. We’re focusing on the offices. You’ll be my second. I will listen for the demons, and you freeze. Our priority will be to get to Mr. Hall and my daughter.”
“Sounds good, what about the other two buildings?” Jessie nodded.
Magnus stepped forward. “I’ll be leading team green. I have copied your ability to freeze, so I’ll be following Bella with my team. Kim will be leading the fourth team into the North building. They will be driving in separate cars. We wanted a few groups to be outside the truck to guard our entry. Carlos is on point to meet us there. I believe we’re all set.” Magnus looked around the group who began to gather around the small group. “Is everyone set?
Do you all know your teams and locations?” Magnus called out.
Many heads nodded or called out in agreement. “Alright, ear pieces in and let’s go.” Magnus walked to a Black Escalade. Erik watched in puzzlement.
“I thought he was heading up the green team? Are they taking separate vehicles?” Erik narrowed his eyes.
“I guess, Magnus said there were groups going separately.” She shrugged and walked to the loading dock with the others. Erik followed. He felt uncomfortable getting in the back of the trailer. He appreciated that benches had been lined up along the walls for them to sit for the drive to the school. There was something off-putting about not being in control. He sat next to Jessie and took her hand. He knew they could handle anything as long as they were together. Sloane and Mike sat in the seats across from them and had been oddly quiet during Magnus and Caroline’s explanation.
“Have you texted Chloe, yet?” He asked Sloane.
“No, I figured I’d wait until we were ready to go. I didn’t want to screw up any plans by informing them. I’m still weary of letting her know exactly what’s going on, but at the same time, I know we need her.” Sloane pulled her phone out from her pocket.
“Someday, you need to get over your trust issues.” Erik shook his head.
“What? I doubt I will ever get over my trust issues. By the way, did you see Bryant with Magnus? I thought they were coming together?” Sloane asked. She had begun typing a message into her phone. Mike was reading it next to her and smiling.
“No, come to think of it, I didn’t. Where would he have gone? He knows this is a big deal. We’re talking about kids and demons being able to possess Shikari. You’d think he’d be here.” Erik looked down the rows of people. Bryant was nowhere in sight.
Jessie squeezed Erik’s hand. “I’m sure he has a good reason for not being here.”
“Whatever, he’ll show up after all the fighting is over and declare a miraculous victory. He’ll make some grand gesture like it was all his doing, I’m sure.” Sloane rolled her eyes as she tucked her phone back in her pocket.