I was covered in sweat when Phillip suggested we take a short breather.
“You’re doing well for your first true go at this,” Draco commented and Phillip agreed. It probably wasn’t easy to purposely think bad things for my training, but they did it. I wished I could snap my fingers and suddenly be able to completely control my powers. They had just been evolving and I was still getting used to that.
“Thanks,” I told them, and went to get some water.
Five minutes later, we were back at it again.
“Imagine yourself lying on the beach. As the waves crash over you, they cleanse your emotions, and take the bad back out to sea. Everything that enters your mind is released back out with the tide.” Draco’s words had resonated with me, and the next time they tried to overwhelm me with the bad emotions, I did as he suggested.
I was on the beach, wave after wave was crashing into me. It didn’t feel good, but every time they would hit, the unwanted emotions would go back out to sea with the wave.
“I think I did it!” I got excited that maybe we had figured out a way to help me gain control.
“Good job. We knew you could. Now try and influence Phillip.” Draco smiled but didn’t give me a moment to celebrate; it was on to the next task. Always the hard ass when it came to training, he wasn’t going to take things easy on me just because we were together. I guess technically that was a good thing.
I gripped onto Phillip’s hand tighter and tried to make him feel serious elation.
“Keep pushing, I can tell you are trying to get me to be happy but you’re forcing it. Let whatever you have holding yourself go and make me feel it,” Phillip pushed.
I tried harder.
“You can do better than this, Rose, I’ve seen it. You’ve got this.” He kept going but all he was really doing was pissing me off. I was trying. I was literally putting all my energy into it. He was just throwing gasoline on my fire.
“Come on, Rose. Don’t make me start using embarrassing stories of our childhood against you.” He pushed me further, and I didn’t just push back. I released something inside of me, like a barrier of some sort, and felt my power dig into his skin and meld itself into his veins. My very essence was running through his system, and I knew I could make him feel anything. Do anything.
“Sing ‘Let it Go’ from that Disney movie.”
“Snow glows…” He bit back his response to my powers, not wanting to sing, but I was totally using this moment to my sisterly advantage. He pushed me too far. More of my power went into him, and I made him feel like all he needed to do in his life was sing.
And he did.
Draco smiled as he watched my powers do what I wanted them to do, and Phillip sang a children’s song. I was doing it! It felt like I was one with my power, and while I knew I needed more practice at least I could hold my own for a few minutes without being overwhelmed. I could actually help in the offense department as a last resort if needed.
I let go of Phillip and heard him let out a sigh of relief. I was so excited to have made this milestone that I was literally speechless.
“Good job, but now that we know you can, how about you never make me do embarrassing things again, okay?” Phillip was smiling, his words full of play. Now the field was slightly more even between us. He’d see it coming and could either accept it, or try to avoid me. Most likely he would just accept the torture. I laughed at him, and then he pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m really proud of you, Rose. You’ve come so far,” he whispered into my hair and I gave him the tightest return on the hug I could. He was the best big brother I could ever ask for.
I looked over at Draco and saw admiration and pride written over his beautiful features.
“So I think you guys are going to want to see this.” AJ came storming out of the elevator toward us. He handed Draco some papers and Phillip and I separated, waiting to see what they’d found.
“Shit,” Draco cursed and I knew that our happy moment of my little triumph was over.
AJ was practically vibrating next to us as he waited for Draco to finish.
I felt Phillip’s body tense next to mine; he was seeing a particular future that was not a good one. Something was happening.
“Okay, someone needs to open their mouths right now. What is going on?” I was getting slightly freaked out with everyone’s behavior. My eyes darted to each one of them, waiting.
“I was woken up this morning by a memory of a man from a while back. He was a good man, and had the power to borrow others’ gifts for a short time. He ended up dying while saving a boy’s life. I thought his family had died, since that’s what he told me, but apparently my hunch was right.” He handed the papers over to me and I read through them.
Alan Tombs’s family wasn’t dead. He left them to protect them; he was too afraid that he would hurt his son. That son, named Emanuel Tombs, ended up losing the mother at a young age to sickness and only grew in resentment that his father left them for the greater good. He went dark for a few years. Crime. Prison. But always managed to escape. Then all of a sudden the trail on Emanuel stopped. Like he vanished about five years ago. Last known sighting, just before the blackout of his name, was in Seahill.
There was a picture of him from before then and I recognized the face immediately.
The Raven was Alan Tombs’s son, and his power was borrowing the gifts from others.
“But for what purpose?” That was the only question ringing in my head.
“I can’t tell when. But I see something that shouldn’t be happening. Emanuel is trying to implant the gods’ genes into others,” Phillip answered, his voice was low. This was not good news.
“An impossible task.” Draco shook his head.
“The gene would consume them and they wouldn’t be able to sustain a power they weren’t chosen for,” he added and I remember him saying that before, so why attempt it?
Phillip’s phone rang, and he answered it right away.
“Got it,” was all he said before hanging up.
“Jason is dead. His body was vaporized inside his cell. He was one of the mutated creations. A test run, and he failed.” Phillip stood and we all followed. I was unsure of what we would do now. This was way over my head, over all of ours in my opinion but we couldn’t just stand by and wait for this to get worse.
“We find Emanuel, and stop this. Tonight,” Draco announced without any room for discussion.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Rose
Now that AJ had more information on Emanuel, and real pictures, he went into the deep dark web.
Phillip left to do whatever Phillip does whenever he isn’t ruling the city behind the scenes.
Draco also disappeared, saying he wanted to run a few errands, and then he’d be back. So I just went back to my apartment, and took a hot bath. I had no idea what was going to happen tonight. There were so many variables. Someone could get hurt, someone could die, or nothing. We might not even be able to find Emanuel tonight. There was so much that was still unanswered.
I rested my head against the tub and closed my eyes.
My life had changed so much in the past few weeks.
I felt stronger, and more confident. Not just in myself and my powers. But in those around me. Draco was a man of passion, determination, and immense strength. Phillip cared like no one else I knew, he was completely set to making the world a better place for everyone, and he would fight to the death to make it happen. AJ was smart, and courageous. He spent every moment he could, working to find those with gifts that needed our help, delving into the tech world to keep us safe, and finding the bad men who would hurt innocents.
I heard a knock on my door and got up, dried myself off, and put on a long robe before walking to the door.
After seeing who it was I opened the door.
“Didn’t like the burned hair after all?” I let Draco into the apartment and looked him over.
His hair had been cut shorter. It looked like it was just enou
gh that I could run my fingers through it. No long waves any more, but I still find him seriously attractive.
The rest of him looked just as fine, but nothing had changed besides the hair. He set down a large bag on the floor, and turned to face me.
“Time for a change.” He shrugged while his eyes moved down my robe, and suddenly I felt very naked. Which I totally was beneath the terrycloth.
“Anything new to report?” I asked and watched his eyes gloss over with hunger.
“Phillip’s working on it, he’s pretty sure he knows how we will get the audience with Emanuel.” He took a step for me, but I had to get more information out of him before letting him unwrap me.
“What’s in the bag?” I asked and that seemed to snap him out of his fog of lust. He leaned down to open the bag and pulled out a few items I was sort of surprised to see.
Guns, knives, a bulletproof vest, and a few other interesting goodies.
“You’re not going near danger without protection. We’ll get you geared up before we leave, and I’ll show you the basics on the weapons.” He showed me everything then stood back up, his eyes on mine. Question time was over. It was time for my show and tell.
Feeling his unspoken demand, I reached up to the knot holding my robe together and untied it.
The soft material falling down my body made little goose bumps rise on my skin.
“Are you sore?” he asked genuinely and I shook my head no. I was before. Yesterday kinda felt like I got kicked in the crotch, but today was fine.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” He muttered, and I didn’t know if his statement was for me, or him just saying his thoughts out loud. Either way I felt beautiful and stood slightly taller. Owning my body. Every flaw, every blessing.
He walked over to me and pressed a kiss to the birthmark on my cheek before moving his lips everywhere. My jaw, my chin, my neck, and my chest. I kept my hands at my side even though I wanted to test out my theory of running my fingers through his brown hair.
My breaths hitched as he made it down to a nipple. He breathed warm against my hard bud, sending more chills down my body. But his lips never touched me; he just teased me with the possibility of his mouth latching onto me.
His body abruptly stood upright and then he scooped me up into his arms, walking us over to the bed. I smiled wide as he laid me down gently and took his time taking off every article of his clothing.
“You should throw in some dance moves while you’re at it.”
He looked at me with his eyebrow arched. I mean I thought it would be a good idea.
“But then again, at your age I guess you wouldn’t want to throw out a hip or something,” I teased, hoping it would help him lose a bit of his control that I loved him to teeter.
“At least I don’t need a little blue pill yet.” He smiled and then I watched as he unbuttoned his pants and his sexy cock sprang free. Nope, he was good in the erection category.
“Sit against your headboard, Rose.” He gave me a demand and I followed. Curious as to what he was going to do.
Once fully unclothed he climbed over me, kissing every bit of skin he could touch. Straddling my body, he rose to his knees, which brought his cock right in front of my face. I’d only gotten a chance to play with him like this once and it was only for a minute because he couldn’t handle not being inside my sex for that long.
I looked up at him like a child that was allowed to play freely in a toy store.
“Suck my cock, Rose.” His voice echoed in the room and I didn’t need to be told twice. I leaned in a kissed the tip of him gently before reaching out with my tongue to taste him. When his body tensed, confidence surged in me. I licked him, and wrapped my lips around his length. His hands gripped the top of the headboard, holding on while I took him for a ride in my mouth. I’d used every move I’d seen in porn and every time he groaned I knew I did something right.
Feelings of euphoria were drifted through my touch. Draco was in heaven right now. Deciding to try something different, as I sucked him, I pushed my powers into his skin. Reaching deep until I was saturated in his blood. As my power of influence moved throughout his body I felt him shudder from the feeling.
I wanted him to want to come so badly that he did.
And he did.
“Holy fuck!” he cursed and couldn’t help himself as he came into my waiting mouth. I felt like a goddess, and once he was finished spasming between my lips, I gave him a final kiss before pulling back and grinning like a fool.
“Well I think we can officially say you have more control over your powers now.” He looked down at me and scooted back so he was on his knees between my legs.
He looked so perfect sitting there, and I couldn’t help my eyes from roaming over him. He was man perfected. The gods chose their specimen for a reason; he was everything and so much more. Both physically and mentally.
I watched as his softening dick started to harden instead. I knew the look on my face said I was hungry for him, because his hands wrapped around my legs and pulled me back down to lie on the mattress before settling between them.
“Show me what you got, old man,” I teased and this time it worked. He pushed into my wet core and didn’t stop until I was screaming my release.
Truthfully, he only stopped so he could reposition my legs over his shoulders before palming my breasts and thrust inside me with a vengeance for making him come with my powers. It was a torture I would gladly accept any day.
When I finally felt the last of my third orgasm leave me I was at my end.
“Oh God, no more!” My body felt like Jell-O, and if I had another one I don’t think I would be able to move for at least twenty-four hours. It wasn’t fair how he could just regenerate and never truly grow tired. Tit for tat, I guess. I used my power, he used his. He used his very, very well.
Chapter Thirty
Rose
Shortly after we were finished, as I lay in a completely useless heap of sweat and rumpled sheets, came a knock on my door.
Draco put on some pants and walked over to the door.
I heard the familiar voice of Phillip and wrapped my comforter over myself and stayed in bed. The door closed and all I heard was silence, so they must be talking outside the door. I was just going to enjoy my post coital bliss while they chatted.
About five minutes later they both came back inside the apartment.
“Rose, time to come out now,” Phillip called and I groaned. I wasn’t ready to leave my snuggly warm spot that smelled like sex.
Draco came walking into the room and leaned over to kiss me hard, like he had been drowning without my lips and needed air.
“Mm. Can’t we tell him to go and just stay in bed?” I tried to wrap my arms around his back to pull him to the mattress with me. My fingers caressed his scars on his back and I felt deep emotions for the life he’d lived.
“Phillip and AJ found a warehouse under the last names Tombs. AJ’s pretty sure it’s where Emanuel is doing all his experiments. Medical supplies and other equipment could be seen in aerial images being pushed into the building.” He stood up and reached over to grab his shirt. As my arms fell back to my side, I got the sinking feeling that this moment was over. It was time for business, and I was suddenly filled with dread. What if something happened to someone I cared about?
“What’s going on in that head of yours? You look very pale.”
I pulled the comforter up with me as I sat up, covering myself.
“What if something happens to us? To Phillip or AJ or you?” I was starting to feel sick with the thoughts of their eyes glazed over like how Josie’s were.
“No concern for yourself?” He sat down beside me and pulled by body into his arms wrapped up like a burrito.
“I just don’t want anything to happen to anyone I care about.”
He leaned over to kiss my forehead before he spoke.
“Phillip can get us out of there if things take a turn we don’t like. AJ will not be on any f
ront line at all. I can’t die so you don’t need to worry about me. And I won’t let anything happen to you. You don’t need to worry.”
When he said everything like that I felt like I should believe him, but something inside me still held onto a sliver of fear that he was wrong.
I nodded, trying to make myself truly take in his words and feel confident in them.
“Let’s go talk to Phillip, then I want to go over everything in the bag with you some more.” He kissed my head one more time then set me back in the bed so I could get up at my own pace. He walked back out into the living room and I got dressed into a pair of yoga pants and a sweater.
Phillip had a cup of tea waiting for me when I ambled into the room.
I sat in my chair and wrapped my hands around the cozy cup.
“So Draco filled you in on the basics right?” Phillip asked me and I nodded.
“Good. So this is where we are going to set up shop, then Draco is going to scout this area first.”
He went on to tell me the game plan in great detail, and I absorbed as much as I could. Knowing that this information could mean life or death to us. Phillip wouldn’t steer us wrong.
Once I felt comfortable knowing the plan, Draco showed me how to use a gun, and simple offensive and defensive moves with a knife. Phillip already knew what he was doing, so he didn’t need instructions like I did. He searched through the bag and pulled out a five-inch knife with a solid black handle. He must have seen that was the weapon he would need.
Phillip left about two hours after he arrived and told us that he would be back in forty-five to pick us up. Draco went through my closet and picked out clothes for me to wear. Which was pretty much what I was already wearing but with the addition of my hiking boots. The bulletproof vest was secure underneath my sweater, against a thick strapped tank top. I was a comfy looking badass. He tucked a knife in its holster inside my right boot, and found a spot for a gun against my lower back in a holster as well.
He was loaded up with knives and guns, and I couldn’t imagine how he could move with so much on him, but he looked just as fluid and lethal as he did without them.
Dawn (Hero Society Book 1) Page 13