Grams needed to heal, first and foremost. Emma sighed. She really should delay her return flight in order to lend a hand for a while.
Unable to shake melancholy feelings, she settled her gaze on the tree. A welcoming spark ignited inside her, followed by a warmth that proclaimed everything was going to be all right. A longing for more reassurance called her forward, and she went to a polished granite bench protected by the arched oak branches, and sat.
She glanced about to see if Venn was around as he’d promised, but she couldn’t find him. Disappointed—and anxious on so many levels—she turned to Jacob.
“What is my part in this? You already have the artwork.” She figured that once he gave her instructions he could leave, and the sooner the better.
His brow pinched into an ugly frown, then held. He trotted over and hopped up onto an empty granite slab that coordinated nicely with the benches. “The statue will be placed here. These holes accept the support anchors. Eight long spikes. You will set them in place and ceremonially drive them home. Not all the way, of course; the work crew can finish the job.”
“And the crowd will cheer or something?”
“Louder than you realize.” His tone suggested an inside joke.
She narrowed her eyes, confused.
Come to think of it, she really didn’t much like Jacob. The only positive aspect in recent events was Venn, except he was an Immortal Guardian. She stared at the tree and calmed her escalating pulse with a deep breath.
This was their picnic spot.
An invisible current whirled around her. The electric vibes sizzled and crackled, her internal chemistry changing. It reminded her of when she knew she was coming down with the flu. That expectant moment when she didn’t know what awaited her. She reflected on the origin of the exposure.
From behind another ancient oak halfway across the park, a wolf edged toward them in menacing steps.
Venn.
With a revolted wince, Jacob straightened. Emma heard a throaty growl but wasn’t certain from where it came. But she was certain the air crackled with hostility.
She was a spectator on a battlefield. She ping-ponged her gaze between the two beings. Apprehension sent a tingling warning over her neck and along her spine. And a flash of her horrific vision came to mind.
That arrow striking her chest and ruining what she and Venn had. This time she saw everything as if an omniscient story, allowing her to discover some missing details, like Venn changing into a wolf in his grief.
That same wolf kept advancing now, like a proud warrior, and Jacob fisted his hands, his face reddening. In that moment, Emma witnessed the danger Venn had warned her about.
She caught the strong, woodsy odor of the tree, and her body went limp as everything turned black.
* * *
The desire to kill Venn clawed at Io. He was a breath away from changing into his barghest and ripping the Guardian to shreds. But that would just be like playing video games, nothing permanent. Venn was the link to the Divine Tree’s destruction. And vise versa.
Control. The surest way to destroy Venn was by killing the Divine Tree. Not only would the protector be dead but he would have failed. And Venn’s failure would be the greatest satisfaction of all.
But his archenemy abandoned all discipline, launching an attack as huge paws rammed into Io’s chest, sending him to his back with a snap and thud. His vision filled with vicious fangs.
A wicked laugh bubbled up from deep in Io’s belly. “She’s your Achilles’ heel.”
“She’s mine. A love and passion you’ll never have.”
Hot rage filled Io. But before he could act, movement by the Divine Tree caught his attention. Seth stepped out from behind it. Damn his brother’s interference. Io’s anger rose to volcanic proportions as he burst into flames and disappeared, leaving behind a whirl of smoke.
“Coward,” Venn snarled as Io’s invisible form vanished beyond reach.
Live to fight another day. Io muttered his mantra. He had learned the finest means to make a person suffer was to go after someone they loved.
Two would experience the agony of loss this time.
* * *
Venn rushed to Emma, slipping into his human form mid-stride. He knelt alongside the bench and swept her fiery hair back from where it had veiled her face. Her cheeks were rosy, a good sign. “Emma?”
She was out cold. What had Io done?
Impulsively, his hand went to his hip and the carved hilt of a knife.
She is fine. The voice of the Divine Tree curled around them.
Venn snapped his head up, confused at first until his anger settled enough for reasonable thought. No, this wasn’t Io’s style. Too peaceful, for one thing. He frowned. “Who?”
“Not me. Not this time.” Seth’s golden rasp dripped with humor as he appeared beside the tree.
It infuriated the hell out of Venn that anyone would send Emma to la-la land. He overlooked the fact that he had used the technique a few days earlier, but really, it wasn’t the same at all when he was the one in control. He was not using it to harm her.
Venn frowned. Then who?
Seth stretched his massive wings, then folded them behind him like a packed accordion and hitched his thumb toward the Divine Tree.
The tree? Custos put her to sleep? Venn was not in the mood for games. “Go home. I don’t need complications.”
“Is that any way to treat a friend?”
Friend. Ha. There was something else going on with Seth these days. But he didn’t have time to figure out what.
Ignoring Seth, he gently scooped Emma into his arms. He’d take her to his place. It was a fortress, after all.
Her throaty moan made his heart squeeze. His sleeping beauty rested her head against his chest. With a quick flip of his wrist for the anointing ritual, the tree allowed them entrance. Her breathing whispered the sweet rhythm of slumber, and her dark lashes fanned across petal-soft cheeks. She looked so vulnerable.
And she was his to protect.
He pressed her firmly against his body. The urge to keep her there outweighed logic and responsibility and loyalty. Which meant he didn’t care why a certain angel had showed up. Or why Custos had interfered and put Emma to sleep. At the moment he was angry with everyone, including himself for putting Emma in any kind of danger whatsoever.
He carried her through the main room and headed for the tunnel since it was the quickest route to his home. Still, the trek seemed to take forever as his anxiety climbed with every step he descended. Not to mention that Seth silently padded along at his back. The angel could have transported himself in ahead of them if he’d wanted to, but no, he had some inclination to live on the wild side.
Venn was ready to deck the angel.
“Hey, where’s the attitude of gratitude, man. You’ve got your mate, right?”
For that, he was grateful. “Get over it. You’re too cocky as it is.”
He’d thank Seth one of these days, he knew, but at the moment, his world centered on Emma. He’d figure out the rest later. When they got to his house, Venn kicked the door closed behind him with his heel. “I liked it better when you thee-ed and thou-ed everything.”
Seth shrugged. “Times change.”
No shit.
Venn marched upstairs to his chambers. Carefully easing Emma onto the sofa, he slipped a throw over her shapely legs, wondering how long it would be before she came to.
“Your room? Really,” Seth said.
“It’s the best place for me to keep my eye on her. Besides, we were already lovers. If you recall.”
“Ah, yes.”
As Venn took his usual place at the window, Henry miraculously appeared with what smelled to be a stiff drink. Not long after they’d entered the house, Henry had joined the procession, but for once, he’d wisely remained silent. Venn accepted the glass, then clapped a palm on the assistant’s shoulder. “Well done. I believe we’ll need a tray of food.”
“Of course.�
�
As Henry left, Venn drank and paced toward Seth who had fired up the TV and stretched out in the recliner. Hell. Booze was one thing that hadn’t changed much since that tree-splitting day eons past. Venn frowned and looked at Seth. “So why are you here?”
“Awesome. The Falcons against the Chargers.”
“Like you don’t know who’ll win.” Venn dropped into a matching recliner.
“Can’t foretell the future, man.”
Venn still didn’t believe that, but no harm in testing. “Fine, back to our problem at hand.”
“You asked me to hang around, right? I’m just checking on you. I mean, Io has been known to play dirty. There are some things that even I am not privy to.”
“What are you not saying?”
The angel’s gaze settled on Emma, and Venn’s chest constricted with uncertainty. Why Seth’s sudden interest in his mate? In their past life, the archangel had given them little notice.
“Two concerns. One, she is connected in some way to the tree, now. I sensed it when the tree initiated the spell to protect her by rendering her unconscious. I don’t know how Custos did it, but the Divine Tree knows more than it’s telling us.”
Venn scoffed. “Imagine that, the keeper of the universe has secrets.”
“Don’t be snide. I’m just laying out the facts. Plus, Io is getting stronger.”
“Which means I shouldn’t let her out of my sight,” Venn said.
“She was destined for you before; that may not be the case today.”
Venn leaped to his feet. “Fuck off. I won’t let her go. Or let Io kill her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Go. I can fix this.”
“Not quite.” Seth turned to Venn and raised both arms in the universal touchdown gesture. "Yes." He sighed dramatically, recovering his composure. “Io has an agenda. We need to figure out specifically what it is.”
“I will die before I let him harm her.” He drained the last of his drink with a virulent survey of the sofa. He’d make her stay if he had to.
Emma moaned.
“That’s my cue.” Seth’s form faded to nothing.
Glass clinked against wood as Venn set his empty tumbler on the side table. It would have felt so damn good to pitch the thing in the fireplace. God knew he longed to hit something.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Emma came awake in an oddly familiar, enormous living area. A shiver of déjà vu caused her breath to hitch as she gazed at the magnificent wall of windows and the moon cresting the treetops. She slowly grew aware of several things. Fine, cool leather cradled her exhausted body. A soft fleece throw covered her bare feet. Two male voices rumbled in conversation beyond her visual field. The temptation to retreat again into the cocoon of darkness beckoned.
What had happened? Her lids dragged downward.
Amid her muddled thoughts, she noted an abrupt silence.
The park… That was the last thing she recalled. Venn, Jacob, the power of the oak. She pushed up on one elbow.
Ten-pound sandbags had to be attached to her eyelids. She forced them open several times before they held.
Venn walked over, his footsteps resounding on the wood floor. “Welcome back.”
“Where am I?”
“My home. I live near the park.”
“The park!” She bolted upright until his touch on her shoulder stopped her. It sent a delicious sizzling jolt along her nerve endings, despite the dizziness that overcame her.
“Take it easy.” His weight settled on the edge of the sofa where her feet tucked back. She drew her legs up to allow him more room, taking comfort in his concern for her well-being. His knees brushed against her. No, not comfort. Warmth.
“What happened?” she asked.
He cleared his throat softly. “Jacob and I had a meeting of the minds, shall we say. Evidently, this time our little clash produced an energy wave that caused you to pass out.” His gaze broke from hers the way the guilty avoided authority.
“This time?”
After a moment of silence, he raised his proud chin, rubbed his neck. “At your grandmother’s, when you first met with Jacob, I put you to sleep. It seemed—”
“You what?” She struggled to rise, her hands slipping on the leather.
“I’m sorry.” He pressed his strong hand on her leg, effectively signaling her again to stay put.
She batted him away. “Let go of me.”
“Wait. Listen. It was the best solution at the time. I had to make Jacob leave. You were in danger! Plus, you didn’t know what was going on yet.”
“I still don’t!” She scooted as far from him as she could, crossing her legs beneath the blanket. “Tell me everything. What’s the deal with Jacob?”
With his jaw set firm, he rose and hauled a footstool in front of her. Then he sat, elbows propped on his knees, his strong hands casually clasped, and he leaned toward her.
She craned her neck, searching behind her. She’d heard someone else nearby.
“My personal assistant just left.”
“Henry?”
“Yes. He brought food.” Venn moved the tray within easy reach, but she shook her head. He snatched a slice of cheese and ate it.
“Back to Jacob.” She stared up into his darkening eyes. As before, something deep within her crackled to life. The feeling terrified her. What it could mean terrified her. She was used to going it alone, being independent. But to put her trust in this man, well—
Impressions flashed into her mind’s eye. Expertly stacked boulders created a solid barrier, a moat protecting its castle, a wolf guarding its lair. All impressions related to Venn. She dragged in a fortifying breath as his lips parted.
“First off, his name isn’t Jacob, it’s Io.”
“Io Price?”
“Yes. You, Io, and I have past history. Do you remember?”
“No. I… How would I recall it?”
“I need you to tell me that.”
She hesitated. “Since I was a child, I’ve had visions and dreams. The dreams appear to be delightful, the visions horrific.” She paused, thinking his eyes seemed to whisper, I understand. “But lately they seem to be all mixed up. And I recently discovered that you are in many of them. Although until yesterday, I never saw your face. You were always just a profile or cast in shadows.”
His irises changed, mesmerizing her, as flecks and ripples of gold and garnet swirled. Extraordinarily intriguing. He seemed so powerful, strong, and intense. She wet her lips. All of a sudden, there wasn’t enough air in the room, and when she finally gulped a breath, her head filled with the evocative aroma of Venn. A scent she recognized from another time. The idea freaked her out. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the distraction.
“What were the visions?”
* * *
Venn breathed in the confusion and panic emanating from her pores, and something else. Passion? He held himself in check, even though his desire to embrace her escalated into a physical yearning. The muscles along his arms, chest, and back tightened, his cock jutting upward. Completely aware of the rocky ground he treaded, he worked to keep control when all he wanted was to let loose.
What would make her remember? What would make her whole? What would make her his? “Emma. I know right now you’re trapped between Amelia in a previous life and who you are today. Trust me.”
She instantly seemed to recoil into herself. Clinging frantically to safe ground, he suspected. Her hands clutched the blanket, and her shoulders bunched at the neck. Her breathing turned irregular. She was caught in some sort of vortex between the past and present, and he wanted to release her. He wanted to cradle her in his lap and love her. He wanted to cover her and drive away everything else but the two of them.
“Yes, trapped,” she echoed. “You nailed it.”
Venn focused every bit of magic he possessed into his voice, wanting to make this easier for her. Accepting who and what you are sometimes hurt, especially when you grow up b
eing different than your peers. He knew this had always been an issue with her. “Let’s walk through this together, step by step.”
The room filled with deafening silence as he awaited her response. Seth had warned him about preparing for a new life together, releasing what was potentially destructive and embracing the journey. She needed to also.
If she didn’t accept him as a Guardian, she would never be his. It was not like he could change jobs the way humans could. Although, sometimes that’s all he wanted to do.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Together. The word flamed in her head as her heart thumped faster and faster and her palms blazed. Venn seemed so calm, so still.
Her gaze slid to his hands. If he touched her, she’d bolt. Truly.
God, he’d put her to sleep?
Off-kilter and confused, she closed her eyes, trying to sort through her feelings of attraction and distrust. A montage of images from another lifetime fired behind her eyelids as if she’d hit the “rewind” button.
His wolf…her fingers buried in that lush thick coat.
Her blood flowing into the ground.
An arrow. What of the archer?
Venn naked.
Shattering orgasms. Limbs entwined. Flesh warming flesh.
Gasping, she opened her eyes and met Venn’s hot gaze. Unable to stay put a moment longer, she rose to move around. When she stepped by his chair, heading toward the windows, he clasped her wrist.
“Stop. You can’t run from the connection we share.”
“I’m not,” she whispered, staring over his head, not daring to look into those golden eyes. She needed time to process it all. Her gaze landed on the statue of a wolf sitting on an end table—it was the one from his cottage that he’d brought home—she realized then the extent their lives were interwoven. He had always been part of her subconscious thoughts in some way, hadn’t he?
He released her, and she took a few more steps, then paused, hugging her arms to her while the puzzle pieces melded into one composition. “We made love right here. I…I remember. On the floor, on a huge fur rug with the moon washing over us.”
Awakening Fire: The Divine Tree Guardians (The Divine Tree Guardians Series Book 1) Page 14