by Lexi Ostrow
“I guess you didn’t abandon me after all. You were just waiting for the right person to come along.”
Walking toward the closet, he heard the distinct sound of Marie’s voice. Turning, he saw Luna wasn’t in the room, and he just assumed she was talking to the cat while she drank her coffee.
Until he heard a masculine voice right after. People didn’t just drop by his house, and he couldn’t imagine the brother in the trench coat would come visit Marie in his home. Cursing, he kicked the door frame when he realized his gun box was downstairs because he hadn’t put it away after he’d gone to the range last week.
“You don’t need a fucking gun. Just be quiet and get down there to her.” Reaching into the closet, he jerked a brown shirt off the hanger and pulled it over his head before doing the same with his pants. Racing down buck-naked wouldn’t do anything except piss his balls off.
Creeping down the hall, he noticed the voices were angry, which set his nerves on edge. He needed to prepare to take down whoever was in there with Marie, not get so pissed off he leaped out with no reason. The tension seizing hold of every muscle was making any movement far more challenging than it should be.
Breathe, Bender. You’ve rescued prisoners and oppressed children all over the world . . . two worlds. Marie can handle herself. You just need to be her backup.
“Really, Marie. The choice shouldn’t be difficult. You’ve had more than enough time to decide. Which will it be? What world gets you? What world suffers the ironic loss of a feisty Ice Demon?”
The Brother! Sean didn’t have a doubt in his mind that he would see Marie face-to-face with the man in leather when he came around the corner. Which meant he needed to take a beat and focus. He hadn’t ever successfully attacked the kind brother, and failing to properly take down the darker of the siblings would likely end in both his and Marie’s death. Thankfully, the conversation didn’t seem as if life hung in the balance, for the moment.
I don’t know what’s going on in there, but fucking stall him. He willed the thought to reach her mind, even though he knew all the magic in the world wouldn’t allow them the link a Word Speaker and Guardian team could share when one was in trouble.
“I don’t think there is a choice in this,” Marie spat back.
Sean was happy to hear the anger in her tone.
“Well, you see there is. You may stay here, or you may return to your book world. Honestly, with everything you’ve lost and all these delicious emotions swirling inside of you, I would think it would be a simple choice.” The brother sounded every bit the seductive snake he was rumored to be.
Marie was silent, and that silence froze Sean where he stood, mere feet from flying out from behind the wall to help her. Every chilling second she didn’t speak, his throat grew dry. He hadn’t heard the start of the conversation, but what if Marie hadn’t been honest about the brothers’ visit? What if she’d been more interested in leaving everything behind than she’d let on?
“My world is here. The book is nothing more than it ever was, a book.” Her words weren’t nearly as confident as the last time she’d spoken.
“Precisely. It is a prewritten, dare I say scripted, look at your life. Whatever had been planned for you would be again. Your memories of pain wouldn’t exist. All you would know is the planned out life that awaits you. One you’ve likely lived hundreds, no thousands, of times when a Word Speaker has read your book and not connected with you. You’re nothing special, Marie. You were simply chosen once, and the person who made that choice is gone from any world.”
There was no explosion of anger. No violent threats or screams as ice slammed into flesh. It was just quiet. Far too quiet.
The noiseless response sent the adrenaline he needed through him. Soundlessly, he flew from his place around the corner, his body slamming into the dead center of the leather coat. He’d succeeded in taking the man off-guard. As Sean’s weight dropped toward the floor, so did the brother’s. He felt the sharp crack as the man’s jaw hit the floor as Sean landed on top of him. Without wasting a beat, he wrapped his arm around the brother’s neck, locking his neck in a chokehold while Sean did his best to keep the man down.
Sharp pain slammed into his arm, and he jerked his gaze towards Marie just as she created another large ice chunk and lobbed it in his direction. Seconds later, a spray of ice pricked his cheeks and upper arms. The quick distraction was all the brother needed. Sean went from having the upper hand to sailing across the room, crashing into his refrigerator.
Blackness crept into his vision as the immense pain washed over him. His head throbbed even as his ass smacked into the floor.
“You’re out of time, Marie. And about to be out a partner for that little display.”
Sean heard the bitter words just as he felt his air supply cut off. The man wasn’t touching him, rather he was standing three feet away, eyes glowing gold and fangs peeking out just below his upper lip.
“That is more than enough!” a similar voice boomed through the kitchen.
Sean only knew it was loud by the way the ground shook because his hearing was failing. All at once, he was able to swallow a large mouthful of air. It burned as it traced a path down his damaged throat, but he didn’t care. Over and over, he swallowed, forcing his body to take in as much oxygen as he could and fearing the attack could start again. While sucking in lungfuls of air, he turned to look at Marie. Her expression was blank, but ice flurries still danced over her fingertips.
Sean forgot about both brothers as he feared he’d lost her to an emotionless void. Pushing up off the hardwood floor, he cringed but ignored the stab of pain racing from his head to his lower back. All that mattered was Marie.
“This is over,” his leader snarled. “Huracan has been made aware of your targeting. Come after this pair again, and he will strike you down, balance or not.”
Sean would’ve expected a decisive happy note in those words, but instead, the brother sounded as defeated as if death wasn’t the desired goal after all.
Still disregarding them, he reached Marie and put his hands on her shoulders, shaking her. “Marie, Marie are you okay?”
“Looks like she’ll get to remain as she is. While I want to win, I have no desire to die before I can. Consider this a free pass, but don’t think I won’t send people later. Because I will.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he vanished, leaving Sean and Marie with just their leader.
“What the fuck was that? And who the fuck is Huracan?” Sean growled harshly, his eyes never leaving Marie’s despite not speaking to her.
“It doesn’t matter.” The brother flashed behind Marie and locked eyes with Sean.
Like his brother, he had fangs and glowing eyes—though his were glittering like melted silver.
“All that matters is that you two are safe. You’ve done what you were asked to do. My brother will not bother you for some time. However, I do not doubt his promise. Be prepared for other pairs to come at you. Never let your guard down, and never forget who you were before you found each other. That is integral for staying grounded.”
Marie spoke for the first time since the assault had begun. “You didn’t answer his questions.”
“Correct. And I will not. Notice Sean was not the one who questioned me a second time?” The words dripped with anger. “He understands the chain of command. My word is law as far as you are concerned. If there is something you need to know, then I will make certain you know it.”
“She’s not wrong for asking,” Sean stated, releasing his hands from Marie’s shoulders now she was with it again and crossing them over his chest. “I might understand that, in a war, not all facts are needed for little peons, but she’s not the same type of soldier. You will not talk to her like that again.”
A small smile twitched at the corner of the other man’s mouth. “I should not find amusement in that, but it is hard to not be happy that my once broken warriors have found themselves whole.” He nodded once. “Be mindful of w
hat I’ve said. My brother is relentless, and while the threat of punishment looms over him for now, it will not last forever. As with all my pairs, this is not the last you will see of me. In fact, I promise I will call upon you both many times in the future to help repair others who are as lost as you once were. Be proud of yourselves. Neither of you wanted to see where this would lead, and it is apparent you have both found what was missing from your lives.”
He vanished as quickly as he brother did. Which left Sean alone with Marie. He felt his anger toward her bubble and rise to the surface. She’d paused for far too long when the man in leather had offered her the ability to leave a second time.
“What the fuck was that, Marie?”
18
Marie recoiled, the smile on her face faltering. Sean’s eyes had darkened with anger as his arms crossed over his chest. His muscles were so taught, not only could she see the veins in his arms, but in his neck as well. Angry, thick lines cut through his perfect skin.
“What are you asking me?” She narrowed her eyes, uncertain if what she was feeling was annoyance or confusion.
“I’m asking you what the fuck was happening with the man in leather. I heard bits and pieces, but I’m thinking I didn’t get the whole story about what happened the last time he showed up.”
A flash of heat raced through Marie at the insinuation. “I told you everything.”
“After the fact, and only because I demanded it. So what did I miss? Did you reach out to the other side, wanting to work as a double agent and kill the ones who killed Zach? Or maybe you really did want to cease to be but didn’t have the courage to end your life, so you were going to return to your book?” His chest heaved with every harsh suggestion he threw. “Well, Marie? Anything you want to let me know about?”
Fury raced through her, touching every inch of her being as the one person she’d allowed in after so much time, accused her of horrible things. She felt the ice awakening within her, ready to be her weapon. However, she wasn’t going to attack him, which would only make him think he was right. Forcing herself to take calming breaths, she closed her eyes for a moment and opened them when she felt her ice slowly recede.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice was as steady and level as she could make it, trying her damnedest not to let anything ruin the happiness she’d just found.
“You’re right. I don’t. And you’re not my commanding officer, so I want answers. There has to be trust between us for this to work, Marie.” His eyes flashed.
“Are you implying you don’t trust me?” Haughtiness rose up in her tone.
His eyes narrowed while his lips straightened into a pursed line. “Maybe that is what I’m saying.”
Silence hung like a death shroud in the surrounding air.
The chill of her ice was creeping closer to the surface, daring her to do what she did best—defend herself. But Marie two-point-oh was trying to handle things differently. She had acted out of emotions ten months ago and had nearly missed out on something wonderful with Sean. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“What is it you truly think I’m hiding?” She felt as if she’d swallowed a stone as she asked the question, not sure if she could handle what Sean truthfully thought of her when he wasn’t praising her as if she were someone to put on a pedestal.
He stared at her, eyes unwavering in their ire. “I think you more than considered leaving and returning to your book. Not because the brother showed up, but because when he spoke of your loss and how you’d be better off there, you froze. You weren’t the hot-headed woman I’ve been with. I obviously couldn’t see your reaction, but it sure as hell sounded like you were considering it.”
“And if I was?” She hadn’t meant to ask it, but the words tumbled out.
“Then I’m not certain what the hell is between us, but it couldn’t be what I was thinking. I will wait for you, Marie, but I have no intention of being in a relationship with someone who isn’t interested at all.”
The words stung like a slap to the face. The tight hold on her control snapped. A shard of ice sailed through the air, sinking deep into Sean’s arm. His cry of pain didn’t even phase her, and neither did the small trickle of blood that flowed when he jerked the icicle out of his arm.
A spray of icy rocks burst from her fingertips, assaulting him further as he took a step forward. His eyes radiated rage with each step he took.
“I was a fool for thinking any man could be what Zach was. You believe in what you can see, despite that we are something no one could ever imagine!” With a final thrust outward, she launched a snowball the size of a small boulder and didn’t wait to see as it slammed into Sean’s chest. Her feet nearly slipped on the puddle her attack had created beneath her feet. She was through the front door after grabbing her purse off the counter and racing for her car as the tears slipped down, freezing before they reached the ground, despite the warm Vegas weather.
Throwing herself into the car, she put her head on the steering wheel for a single moment and let herself cry. Sobs wracked through her body as images of the night before played on a loop in her mind. Sensual images that damn near made her want to race back in and force herself to convince him he was wrong.
“But he claims to love you. Love means trust.” She barely gasped the words out through the abnormal sobs overrunning her.
“Marie, wait!”
Jerking her head up at her name, she saw Sean racing out the garage door she hadn’t even heard open. He looked different, pain had replaced the anger, but she was fairly certain it wasn’t physical. Allowing herself to hold his gaze for just a moment, she hastily pushed the button on her car and heard it roar to life.
There were no second mournings for her people. There would be no easy way to forget Sean and the mistake they had been. All she could do was go home to Duke and quit her job at the shelter to ensure she never laid eyes on him again.
The hurt she’d felt when Zach had slammed into the ground before the rocks reared its ugly head, different this time. Instead of the searing agony of loss, she felt as if she’d run full speed into a wall, damaging her senses and leaving her dizzy with pain. The car jerked along the road as her body tremored from the occasional anger passing through her.
She’d allowed herself to fall in love. Even if she hadn’t been willing to admit that was what had happened aloud, she knew that was the only way to shatter the encasement of ice around her heart. Even with her emotions off, love would have grown unbeknownst to her. Unfortunately, all she was left with were pieces of a broken heart.
No one could compare to Zach, and while Sean had indeed spoken to her heart, he wasn’t the man she thought he was. He was callous, judgmental and certainly not the All-American hero he thought he was written to be.
“You didn’t really think I’d believe Huracan had threatened to kill me, did you, Brother?” He sneered as he flashed into the mundane living room his brother spent so much of his time in.
“I have reason to lie to you.” His brother’s words were laced with anger, and his eyes sparked as he spun. “You’ve pushed the limits too far, and our God has had enough.”
Smirking, he pulled off his leather jacket, dropping it on the couch. “If our deity was done with me, I am fairly certain I would not be standing, let alone breathing. Really, Brother, do not lie, it doesn’t suit you.”
His brother gripped something against his legs, but he could not see what. He could, however, see the flickers of sadness passing intermediately amongst the outright hatred in his brother’s eyes.
“If you didn’t believe me, then why did you leave?”
“Because, if you were stupid enough to invoke Huracan’s name falsely, I did not wish to be present when he appeared to punish you.”
“Fool!” His brother’s shout echoed off the living room walls as his body shook with rage. “You think your actions do not have consequences? You think you are above this prophecy and can guide it to your will?”
A low growl passed between them. Tension danced in the air as poignant as any ballerina striving for applause. Neither moved, only the labored sounds of their breathing passed for minutes. Locked together in a stare that should have been ridiculous, he felt his ire growing. His brother had always been the pride and joy of the tribe. When he’d been gifted the perfect world order to lead, it had stung for many years. But then, he’d learned to embrace the evil lurking within him. Evil the Gods had surely seen when they’d assigned the teams. Laughter and love had no place in his heart. He wanted to rule, and he wanted those he ruled to revel in the same chaos he did.
Without warning, his brother sprang in the air, feet crashing into his chest and sending him spiraling to the floor. Annoyance grabbed hold of him as he shoved his hands into his brother’s chest, pushing him off. Scrambling to get to his feet, he dodged a ball of fire but felt a singe against his dark hair. Snarling, he lashed out with magic stolen from his magical Guardians. A dark purple, glowing orb formed in his hand and whizzed through the air seconds later. His brother dodged and threw a pocket knife that he easily dodged.
“Seriously, Brother? That was supposed to cause me harm?” With a maniacal laugh, he used energy to send his brother slamming into the far wall.
“I have my tricks, Demus.” He sneered the name.
“Too bad I don’t use that name any longer. It’s a shame really, not to mention your doing. I had such power then, but it is no matter. I’ve damaged your side, time after time. Others will be sent after Marie and Sean until they are no longer a threat to the disarray I caused with my brilliant murderous streak.”