Dust of My Wings

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Dear Lord, that man was too sexy. Why had he been in the park that morning? Just going for a walk? She had almost left when Jamie texted saying she didn’t feel up to playing dominos that morning, but for some odd reason, Lily had stayed a bit longer. Oh, and she was so glad she had.

  Damn Glenn for calling her at the most inopportune time. The thought of being on a motorcycle scared her more than flying, but she had really wanted to be behind Shade with her body wrapped around him. She groaned and bit her lip. She shouldn’t be having so many dirty thoughts about a man she didn’t know; though he did look sort of like the stranger she had envisioned in her dreams…

  No, she didn’t want to think of that.

  Lily blew out a breath and shifted in her seat to take a look at the sample. For whatever reason, Glenn wanted these results like last week. She looked at the screen and frowned.

  What the hell?

  There was nothing. No peaks. No shifts. Nothing.

  Not a stitch.

  No carbon or hydrogen in the entire sample? Almost everything on earth had carbon and hydrogen, if not one, then the other. She couldn’t think of any mixture that had nothing in it.

  What the heck was it?

  ****

  Shade ducked as the tip of the sword flashed near his neck. He lifted his lips in a smile and pivoted, his wings catching a draft and bringing him higher than his opponent. He gripped the hilt tighter and flexed his arm, swinging his blade at his attacker in a firm stroke.

  Ambrose changed direction, the blade missing his torso by millimeters. Shade threw back his head and laughed.

  “You’re getting slow, old friend,” he called through the wind.

  Ambrose didn’t crack a smile, merely tilted his head. “I gave you that one, yet you still missed me. You are not paying attention.”

  Shade curled his lip. “I’m paying attention just fine. Don’t make excuses.” He knew Ambrose was right. Shade had too many things on his mind, and he wasn’t sparring up to his full potential.

  “Is it the woman?”

  Shade froze for just a second in the air, the wind blowing through his hair, before he sheathed his sword and lowered himself to the ground behind the house he rented. They were in the back yard and hidden in a copse of trees so the humans couldn’t see. He didn’t have any neighbors near him so it worked.

  “Shade?” Ambrose prompted.

  “I’m fine. I met with her in the park and learned a bit more about her.” Like the way she blew her bangs from her face when she got nervous. The way her eyes grew bright when she ran high on emotions.

  Ambrose landed beside him and quirked a brow, saying nothing. Damn him.

  “I don’t know what she knows about the dust, but I will find out. I’m going to meet her at her favorite bar, a place called Dante’s Circle, tomorrow night. I’ll see what I can get from her then.” And find out any other personal information he could.

  They folded their wings into their backs and walked into the house. Shade went to the kitchen to grab two beers from the fridge. His friend took their swords and placed them in their cases. They drank their beers in silence; Shade’s mind was chaotic, his thoughts convoluted with images of Lily’s green eyes, soft curves, blue dust, and the war that could come if he couldn’t find the answers they desired.

  Shade took another drink, the brew sliding down his throat, quenching his thirst. “Did you find anything out about the storm or that odd feeling you had about the origins of the dust?”

  Ambrose shook his head then took the last gulp of his beer. “I’m still searching on the lines of your dust issue. Something is not right about this. As for the storm, I don’t think it was a normal storm by any means. The electrical currents were too high and not the kind created in a normal weather storm. I believe a bolt of lightning struck, but I’m, as yet, unsure of where it originated, but I will find out, trust me.”

  Shade nodded. Of course he trusted Ambrose. His white-winged friend was about the only one he could trust.

  “Do you want to come with me tomorrow night to Dante’s Circle?” Shade asked.

  Ambrose nodded. “I think I will. I’d like to meet your Lily.”

  Shade’s pulse increased. “She’s not my Lily.”

  His friend lifted a brow. As usual, his friend saw right through him.

  No, Lily wasn’t his, but that didn’t mean he didn’t wish it.

  ****

  Striker paced in his atrium, his drab brown wings trailing on the floor. Fury coursed through his veins.

  He hadn’t liked the intensity of that storm. Something was wrong.

  He’d been down to earth, hiding in the clouds and checking on the lab tech’s progress with Shade’s dust, when that lightning storm had come out of nowhere. The rain had drenched his wings, almost sending him crashing to the ground. He curled his lip at the thought. He’d almost had to walk on the earth like a mere human.

  Striker shuddered.

  He wasn’t a pathetic human; he was an angel. Practically a god. Oh, and once war came, he’d be their ruler, their god. His plans would come to fruition, and he’d own the council. Striker’s body shook with anticipation.

  That damn storm could prove annoying. There was something in the air that didn’t feel right. It was almost a sense of foreboding. The way that lightning had struck that building felt off. The place had brightened for all eyes to see, yet no one seemed to have had noticed for they hadn’t come from their homes to see the problem.

  Something else was at play.

  But what?

  Damn it. He didn’t have time for the unknown. All these questions were not in his plans. Whatever it was would have to move out of his way because he needed the lab tech to find something and Shade to take the fall. Without that, Shade and his dear friend, Ambrose, would still be in his way.

  Something that could not be allowed to happen.

  Striker stretched his wings, the dull brown fading behind the sunlight. He would have to take matters into his own hands and make sure the woman did what she was told. After all, he couldn’t trust the humans as far as he could throw them, and due to his strength, that was far. It would still be fun to test that theory. The human woman would do what he wanted, or she’d learn the hard way. Striker smiled. Yes, that would be nice.

  Chapter 7

  Lily eyes drifted shut, and she let her head fall against the headrest. The day seemed to be dragging, never ending. Her body felt like someone had dragged it behind a bus. She’d spent most of the day sitting in her lab trying to figure out just what the heck it was Glenn had given her. None of the readouts made any sense. It was nothing like she’d ever seen, and the computers couldn’t figure it out. She’d left it running with another scan overnight to see if she’d made a mistake, but she doubted it. She was OCD enough that things like that didn’t happen often, if at all.

  A knock on her window brought her out of her thoughts.

  “Lily?” Jamie asked through the window. “Are you okay?”

  Lily sighed. Was she? She hadn’t felt the same since the lightning strike, but she didn’t want to say anything else to anyone. What if she were the only one? What would that mean? Frankly, her work issues seemed to be the cause of some of the aches in her body. Her friends didn’t need to hear it. It wasn’t that they couldn’t understand what it was she was experiencing. Well, maybe they could understand, but not really. She’d never could go into details with them about her chemistry theories because their eyes always seemed to glaze over. That seemed true about most people.

  She wasn’t commenting on her friends’ intelligence. No way. Her friends were some of the most brilliant women she’d ever met. Lily just had a different skill set than they did. It wasn’t like Jamie would ask her to help her shelve books at the store. Lily might love to read romance novels, just not as much as Jamie, and she couldn’t run a business like the quiet woman. They were all so different; it was a wonder that they were all such close friends.

  “Lily? What’s
wrong?” Jamie rapped on the window again, and Lily shook her head.

  “Sorry, I’m fine.” Lily grabbed her purse, checked her faint makeup in the rearview mirror, and opened the door.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Jamie frowned, brushed her hand against Lily’s arm and squeezed.

  Sometimes Jamie was more like a sister than a best friend. Lily didn’t know what she’d do without her.

  “I’m just tired. It was a long day, but I’m better now that I’m here and ready to get a drink.”

  Jamie gave a small smile. “If you’re sure.” They walked down the sidewalk toward Dante’s Circle’s front door. “You look nice tonight. Any special reason?” She smiled knowingly.

  “Oh, shut up. You know the reason, but really, do I look okay?”

  Jamie pulled her to a halt and looked her over, biting her lip. “Let me see…skinny jeans? Check. Cute flowing top that shows off your curves without making you look skanky? Check. Hot ankle books with that clasp I love? Check. Hair flowing and make up done? Check. Yep, you look incredible. I can’t wait to meet this dominos player of yours. Shade.” She sighed the last word and fluttered her lashes.

  “I knew I never should have told you.” Lily fake-scowled.

  The night before, Jamie and Becca had come over to watch their weekly airing of Grey’s Anatomy so they could stare at the sexy blue-eyed doctor, Avery. Forget “McDreamy” and “McSteamy,” they wanted “McBlue-Eyes.” They hadn’t watched most of the show. As soon as Lily had told them of her last-minute replacement dominos partner, Jamie had hit mute and demanded in her quiet way every detail of Mr. Shade.

  Lily had described every detail she could. From the way he’d smile and crinkle his eyes to the way the wind touched his hair just right.

  And his eyes.

  Oh, his eyes.

  His crystal-blue eyes put Avery’s to shame.

  “You’re my best friend,” Jamie continued. “If you meet Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome, then you have to tell me. It’s written in the friend code. I’m sure of it.”

  Lily wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Sure, but you’ll have to do the same.”

  Jamie rolled her eyes. “Like that would ever happen. I like lighter hair anyway.”

  They reached the door and walked in. Lily stopped and looked around the place.

  Everything looked like it had before the storm.

  What the hell?

  How had Dante cleaned everything so fast? They tables and chairs were set where they should have been, the pool table was fixed, and a group of men were racking up the balls. The wood paneling gleamed in the lighting, with not a nick in sight. The pictures were back on the walls set in new frames.

  Dante stood behind the bar filling a drink order, but his attention lay solely on Nadie as she frowned at him. Why was she frowning again? Something was going on between the two of them, but Lily didn’t know what.

  Lily walked toward the two and put her hands on her hips.

  “Dante,” she called.

  He turned his head, grinned, and topped off the beer.

  “Good to see you, ladies,” he crooned.

  Nadie rolled her eyes and took a sip of her club soda.

  Jamie went to sit at their normal table, and Lily shook her head and joined her.

  “Dante,” she started again, “how on earth did you clean up everything so fast?”

  He shrugged and brought over their drinks before they even ordered them. “I couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t that big a deal.”

  “It was. I mean, look at the place. I don’t know how you did it. How did you do it this fast? I thought I was supposed to help.” For some reason she felt put out. It wasn’t rational.

  Dante leaned over and kissed her forehead, and she blushed at the brotherly feel. “I know, sweets. I’ll make sure to make a mess later that you can clean up.”

  “Stop patronizing her,” normally calm Nadie ordered.

  Dante raised his hands in surrender and backed off. “Let me know if the three of you need anything. Are the rest of your girls coming in?”

  Lily shook her head. “No, just the three of us tonight.”

  He smiled and went back to the bar.

  “He’s such a jerk sometimes.” Nadie scowled.

  Lily raised a brow and looked at Jaime, who had an equally confused expression. What the hell? Nadie was the quiet and reserved one. What had Dante done?

  “Is there something we should know?” Jamie asked tentatively.

  Nadie froze then blushed, a red that flamed out straight to her ears. “No.” She coughed. “No, not at all. I just didn’t like the way he teased you about your OCD.”

  Yeah. Sure.

  “Okay, if that’s all.” Lily didn’t believe her one bit, but she didn’t want to step on any toes. Nadie would let her know what was going on when she felt comfortable. She wouldn’t push. It would only further alienate her friend.

  “How is everyone feeling?” Lily asked. She’d been feeling slightly off since the lightning strike or whatever the hell that was. Were the others feeling the same?

  Nadie shrugged. “Fine, I guess. I don’t really know what I’m expecting to feel. I don’t feel any different, but I think the fact that I don’t feel bad makes me feel like something’s wrong, you know?”

  Lily nodded. “Exactly.”

  “It was just a freak storm,” Jamie added. “We’re fine.”

  The three looked at each other as unease settled in Lily.

  “So, did Lily tell you about the real reason she’s here tonight?” Jamie asked, a sly smile on her face, breaking the tension.

  Lily scowled and threw a pretzel from a bowl that had been on the table when she got there, which the black-haired beauty promptly ducked.

  “Hey!” Dante called out. “This isn’t the lunchroom cafeteria. No throwing food.”

  Lily blushed and refrained from throwing one at him. If Becca or Faith had been there, they would have done something, but she didn’t have it in her.

  “Tell me, Lily.” Nadie smiled. “Why are you here?”

  “Can’t I just come here to talk with my friends?”

  “She met a man!” Jamie giggled.

  “Ooohhh.” Nadie joined in the laugher.

  Lily covered her heated face with her hands. It was as if they were twelve. Dear Lord. It wasn’t like she never dated. She was old enough to have some experience. Okay, very, very, little experience, but geez.

  “Shut up, both of you. It’s not like that.”

  “Oh, really?” Nadie raised a brow, a knowing smile on her face. “Then set us straight. How exactly was it?”

  Lily let her head fall back and she closed her eyes. What did she expect? These were her best friends, and Shade would be there any minute. She could at least warn them.

  “Fine. I met a man named Shade…”

  Both women oohed and ahhed at his name, and she threw another pretzel.

  “Act like adults!”

  “You’re the one who just threw food!” Jamie laughed.

  “Fine. I won’t say anything else.”

  Nadie’s eyes widened, and she failed at hiding her smile. “I’ll be good. I promise. Tell me more about Shade.”

  “I met him in the park. He’s just a guy who played dominos with me.”

  “He was going to take our Lily on a motorcycle ride,” Jamie added.

  “Our Lily on a motorcycle? He must be amazing,” Nadie said

  Lily let a sigh slip. “Oh, he was, no is. I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know him. He offered to take me for coffee, but then I got called into work. Now he’s coming here soon so everything worked out I guess.”

  “He’s coming here?” Nadie asked.

  “Yep, any minute now.”

  “Hence the cute clothes.” Nadie nodded.

  “Are you saying I look like crap most days?”

  “No, it’s just that you look all datey.”

  “Datey is not a word,” Jamie, their loving bookst
ore owner, corrected.

  Nadie rolled her eyes, very reminiscent of the kindergarten students she taught. “I know that, I was just in the mood to make one up. You do look nice, Lily.”

  “Thank you, Nadie.” She just hoped Shade thought so too. He was so handsome she felt sort of unworthy. A stupid thing to think of since she was an independent, modern woman. Still…

  Nadie scrunched her brows. “Wait, why did you have to go into work? I thought it was your day off.”

  Anger rose through her at the thought. “Yes, but Glenn called me in to work on this special project of his.”

  “What an ass,” Nadie said, and blushed. The woman never cursed.

  “Yeah, but there’s nothing I can do about it. He’s my boss, and I need the job.”

  “So, what was so special about this project?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just this odd sample that’s not showing up clearly on any of the scans I’ve run. I’m doing them again to make sure I didn’t make a mistake.”

  Jamie sat forward. “You don’t make mistakes like that, Lily. Maybe it was something else.” Her eyes brightened with anticipation.

  “This isn’t one of your mystery novels, Jamie.”

  She waved a hand around. “It could be. Shade can be your mystery man that will help you solve the case.” She sat back and sighed. “Isn’t it romantic?”

  “You really need to get your head out of your books.” Lily smiled at the thought of being side-by-side with Shade as they solved the case of the mysterious blue dust. Then when they figured out what it was, they could celebrate…

  Images of his tanned skin brushing against hers, his hands tangling in her hair as he crushed his mouth to hers, the way he would thrust into her…

  Lily choked on her soda, and Jamie stood to slap her on the back.

  “Sexy thoughts?” Nadie asked.

  “Shut up,” Lily rasped out.

  “I can’t wait to meet this Shade of yours,” Jamie said.