Forbidden Lovers Boxed Set

by Jennifer Blake

  Their access point in the roof was close now. She really hoped this man Ian knew what he was doing.

  She started to ask a question, then bit back the words. They didn’t need any distractions.

  “Climbing.” Izzy’s voice was hushed. “Keep your head down out there.”

  The purple lights continued to move, and Maddie slid the interior shots of the museum along too, following their progress. They appeared to be moving up some kind of a fire ladder that led to the roof. She listened intently, but there was no sound at all, not even the click of a pebble dropping.

  Didn’t surprise her. These two were pros.

  Suddenly a green triangle began to flash in the lower left of the screen. Maddie looked for a key or a code to the grid, but couldn’t find one. “Teague,” she said with soft urgently. “Green triangle in sector four. I’m repeating that. Green triangle. Sector four.”

  Another green triangle appeared, this time at the exact opposite corner of the grid layout. “Another one. Sector nine.”

  “Random alarm checks. No problems. They’ll be done before we hit the ventilation unit.” As he finished, the green triangles vanished. “Bingo,” Izzy whispered.

  There was no hint of his exertion or stress in his voice.

  Yeah, those two were good.

  Maddie’s senses grew more focused, hyper alert. She scanned the darkness beyond the wall and along both neighboring streets. Why didn’t they hurry up? What if they—

  “We’re in. I’ll call you in five.”

  Maddie leaned uneasily against the wall, blowing out a breath of relief. Not that his safety mattered to her. The man would land on his feet regardless. But she definitely didn’t want to go back to jail because of some screw up that he made.

  She turned out at the wind and leaned one arm against the stone fence, rubbing a knot in her shoulder. Then, she leaned over the laptop and checked the rooms near their access point. What collections were located beneath that area of roof, she wondered. She expanded one of the windows.

  Now that was interesting. Roman Britain. Medieval Britain. Anglo-Saxon collections. Was one of those their target? If so, why was it so damn important to keep it a secret?

  History, Izzy had said. The Crusades. Well, she would know where they were headed soon enough. Once she had the exhibit in question, she could run a search of her own and find out what Teague wasn’t telling her.

  “We’re moving. The guard just went on break. We’ll contact you once we’re clear. Out.”

  Sure. Fine. Great.

  Out, just like that. As if he hadn’t screwed up her life all over again, Maddie thought angrily. Why was she standing here helping him anyway? Why didn’t she just leave him cold? He deserved it.

  But… she couldn’t. Like it or not, she believed his promises. And she had to keep her own.

  Wind stirred across her face. She pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt, shivering.

  Something moved at the top of the fence. A figure dropped over the bushes and down onto the ground beside Maddie.

  Hard fingers gripped her shoulder. By reflex, she started to scream, but stopped herself thinking of Izzy inside.

  Another hand opened, covering her mouth.

  “Quiet. There are two guards smoking just around the corner. If you scream, they will be alerted to your friends inside the museum.”

  Maddie blinked, stunned by the familiarity of that rough voice. She tried to move, squirming wildly.

  “No noise. Your friends are not safe.”

  She nodded hard, watching the chiseled plains of the hard face shift in the dim light. He pulled her along the fence stopping behind a red phone booth. His hands slid away from her mouth.

  “You…” she breathed.

  “Of course. Did you think I would let you walk away from me without following?”

  “I don’t know what you thought.” Maddie hunched her shoulders and drove an elbow into his ribs. “I’m not listening to this. You’re a psycho. Get away from me.”

  His fingers opened on her shoulder, holding her against the wall of the phone booth. “You will listen to me. Your life—and far more than that—depends on it.”

  9

  Maddie kicked him hard in the tender spot behind the knee and was rewarded by a nice grunt of pain. When he shifted slightly, she aimed a quick, furious blow to his collarbone.

  Tough street experience had taught her that a good collarbone fracture ended most fights.

  She heard a small grunt, but he did not take his hands from her shoulders.

  No? Now for the money shot.

  She kneed him hard in the groin, but this time he caught her knee and swung it away so the movement had no effect.

  “Stop fighting,” he ordered in a voice of gravel and steel.

  Yeah right. She wasn’t getting suckered into his psycho nightmare for a second time.

  Abruptly he turned. Motionless, he listened to the night’s quiet. “An alarm across the street and four buildings down. I smell smoke.”

  An alarm? Maddie wasn’t picking up anything at all. Only the silky velvet silence of the night. Certainly no smell of smoke.

  In a quick movement he pushed her against his chest.

  Maddie’s protest died away as two police cars rounded the corner and raced past. Now she heard the whine of a distant alarm—and with it she caught the faint smell of smoke.

  “How did you know that?” she hissed.

  “It is of no importance. You must go. There will be many others here shortly. The fire is…” He stopped and his head tilted, as if he was reaching out to read the air. “The fire is on the third floor, but it is spreading. We must go,” he said flatly. “Unfortunate accident.”

  “I can’t go. My friends are inside. They need—”

  “We’re clear. Rendezvous at the car in five minutes. Out.” Izzy’s voice was calm and cool. Weird. Maddie had totally forgotten she was still wearing her headset.

  The dark eyes measured Maddie’s face. “Your friends are safe now, it would appear. But you are not.”

  Another police car rounded the corner; this one stopped directly outside the museum steps.

  “These men have not come about the fire. They are here to check the safety of the museum. They are from a different unit altogether, and they take their job very, very seriously.”

  Maddie hesitated. The man might be nuts, but he had been right about everything so far. He had also saved her life more than once. Maybe…it was time to trust him. Just until she could get away from the fire and whatever else was going on here.

  “Okay, fine.” She gripped Izzy’s laptop tightly. But another car growled up a service alley and stopped less than ten feet away from her. Two men in suits jumped out, silent and focused. At any moment they were going to see her.

  One of the men in a suit stopped walking. His hands slid into his pocket as he looked across at Maddie and the man beside her. “Hold it right there,” he said flatly.

  Maddie tensed and she prepared to run. But the man called Lyon held her exactly where she was, whispering a phrase in a language that sounded old and fiercely beautiful. And then the sky overhead filled with shadows that crossed the roofs and blurred for a moment in the streetlights.

  Maddie saw shapes that she seemed to remember from her dreams. All wing and sinew, they swooped low, triggering a deep memory of respect and awe. One dropped before her. A gray limb unfolded, delicate in its strength as it curled around her shoulders.

  The man in the suit cursed. “What the hell? Did you see that, Harris? Where did they go?”

  The officer trotted right past them, barely eight inches away, running up toward the side entrance to the museum, with his partner in close pursuit.

  “Well met.” Lyon looked up at the shadow. “Your help is given freely?”

  “Given freely and with whole heart. It is an honor, as ever, Lyon of Greyhaven and Gwynned.” There was another ripple of movement, another drifting of sinewy limbs, and Maddie could have swo
rn—no, it was impossible—yes, it was a head with deep eyes and a hooked, craggy nose. She had seen faces like that in books. The same faces appeared on ancient churches.

  “Your bidding, Crusader?” The stone mouth moved, intent on Lyon’s face.

  Maddie watched in amazement as a great wing opened.

  “I think we will leave this place. And perhaps my Rose would like a different view of London.” There was a hint of humor in Lyon’s voice as he raised a hand, pointing up to the velvet sky. “Up there.”

  But the gray shape caught a hissing breath. “A Rose? You have found her in this time?”

  The gentle hiss seemed to be carried through the air around them, echoed by a dozen more creatures of sinew and shadows. The figure beside Maddie drew up very straight and then bowed low with infinite dignity—in front of Maddie.

  As if she was—well, some kind of royalty. It was all getting to be too much.

  “This honor is great indeed.” The shadows seemed to ripple off the nearly transparent figure. Two great wings opened, unfurling slowly so that Maddie could almost see the rim of cartilage and bones and fierce, gleaming claws.

  “I shall give you transport as you choose. All glory to the Rose. All praise to Lyon and to his returning.”

  Before Maddie could protest at this strange acknowledgement, the wind seemed to move beneath her feet and she was caught gently in gray, powerful wings, rising, rising, her heart in her throat and the fence and the roofs of the museum falling away beneath her.

  10

  One minute Maddie felt a quick wrench of nausea, and then—nothing. She was aloft—weightless. Wind rushed in her face and she blinked hard, gasping. She hated airplanes and she didn’t like heights. But this silent gray whooshing of wings was like nothing else she had ever known. She felt the wind and power beneath her, while the gray wings cut through the air. Even the lights of the city were muted, visible through a sheer veil of feather and skin.

  They turned sharply and dipped over a long row of park trees. Maddie gave a cry of surprised delight, reaching out to grip Lyon’s arm. He was right beside her, carried by the same powerful wings, a hand locked on her shoulder.

  She should have been frightened, trying to fight her way free, but the experience was upon her too quickly. And there was too much grace in the slow rise and fall of the gray wings.

  “This—I don’t believe this is happening,” she said hoarsely.

  “You will in time. But tonight, no questions. Simply enjoy your ride. Our old friend knows the city as no one else does, for he has watched over it through long centuries.”

  Another simple declaration that made no sense. But her questions fell away beneath a wave of wonder. They passed the bright lights of circular streets and flowing traffic. There were bright shops that gave way to the sudden darkness of a great park.

  Then Maddie saw what had to be the palace. She craned her neck, trying to be sure, aware of people moving on the roof. Men were positioned at each corner. Snipers for royal protection, she figured.

  She shook her head and realized she was still wearing the headset Izzy had given her at the museum. Better tell him she was okay.

  She pressed the transmit button with fingers that shook a little. “Izzy —I left. There was a fire. I’ll meet you back at the hotel. Be careful. There are police everywhere on the street.”

  “Copy. You sound odd.” Static growled. “—need assistance?”

  Maddie almost laughed. Assistance up here? Only if she got struck by air sickness or passing geese. The whole night felt surreal. She was enjoying the exhilarating feeling of freedom. Maybe the race of the wind served to cut her nausea. “No, I’m fine. I’ll see you at the hotel. Hope you have those documents for me to work on.”

  “I do. And we’re both going to be very busy for a few days, believe me.” His voice faded in a growl of static.

  Afterward Maddie was never sure how long they soared through that silent darkness, in an exaltation of wings and power. Each detail burned into the next, as she was wrapped in the cocoon of those strong wings. And always she felt the pressure of Lyon’s body beside her and the reassurance of his hard hands at her back. She should have questioned everything, but her mind had simply shut down, overloaded by an experience that could not be explained or understood. Somehow during that rushing hour of flight, a door opened in her life and she walked right through it. Without even realizing the change, Maddie crossed a threshold.

  She was different suddenly. Her world was different. She had seen too much and she could never get go back.

  She was as tough as she had always been. She was difficult and demanding and questioned all authority. But now…Maddie dared to dream. The world seemed full of surprises. So the questions that came from her lips were not sarcastic or angry, but filled with calm wonderment. “Some day you’re going to explain to me about these…friends of yours.”

  Her shoulder was pressed against his chest and she felt as much as heard his soft chuckle. “Some day. I promise you that.”

  “No one would ever believe this. I’d be carted off to the nearest psych facility if I mentioned it.”

  “We are often afraid of what we do not understand. And the truth is, most of life is what we do not understand.”

  “Nothing seems to frighten you.” Maddie studied the shadowed lines of his face. “You make me feel calm just being around you.”

  “That is deep praise. I thank you. Time…along the passage of centuries…does carry certain gifts.”

  “Centuries?” Maddie blinked at him. Surely she had heard that last part wrong.

  “Look below, down to your right. I believe that is your hotel.”

  “You followed me all the way back there from the cemetery?”

  “Of course.” It was a statement of simple logic—and steely resolve. Maddie understood a great deal about this man in that moment. He would not threaten or shout in arrogance or snap noisy orders. His strength came from deep within.

  She leaned back a little, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

  Just for a moment. And having him behind her felt as natural as breathing.

  Then she realized they were still moving south. “Wait. Aren’t you taking me to the hotel?”

  “There is one more thing I thought you would like to see. It is Aeryx’s favorite place, where the southern cliffs jut into the sea. It’s not far now.” Lyon raised an arm and pointed south, into the darkness. “Can you smell the water?”

  Maddie saw the vast network of lights pass away, vanishing into the satin darkness. There was only a dim trail of roads now and beneath her the race of great shadowy wings.

  None of it should have been possible. Even in her wildest dreams Maddie would have laughed at anything as tangled and strange as this night’s events. But all her senses could not lie.

  How could she accept what defied all logic? How could a world like this exist when she had never glimpsed it before?

  How…

  Muscles flexed. Lyon’s arm tightened beneath her shoulder. “You are worried?”

  “Of course I am. This is all totally off the charts for crazy.” Maddie glanced over his shoulder as the creature he called Aeryx looped southeast. “I just can’t process this. None of it. If I weren’t so confused I’d be terrified right now.”

  “But instead you are enjoying the flight.” His arm moved beneath her, and Maddie flushed. Sitting so close was…unnerving.

  “Very little frightens you, I think.” His arm rose. He slid a curve of hair from her face as the land grew darker beneath them. “You feel the power of these wings, but they are nothing compared to the power that you hold.”

  “Me?” Maddie gave a startled laugh. “I’m the last person in the world you could call powerful,” she said grimly.

  “You will understand more soon.”

  “You mean more surprises like this?” Maddie didn’t think she could take many more shocks right now. She closed her eyes and rubbed her face, suddenly tired and very
lost. Lyon’s fingers lightly brushed her hair.

  Even that small touch made her body stir with awareness. Maddie wondered if he had felt it too.

  “There is time to make everything clear,” he said quietly.

  She felt the sweep of the cold night air over her body. “Teague will be right behind me, you know. And the U.S. government will be one step behind him, waiting for their pound of flesh. I need to get back. I promised Izzy my help.”

  “Soon. We are almost to the sea. And Aeryx sometimes enjoys a chance to show his skill.”

  “I still don’t get why I’ve never seen these…creatures. How do they hide? Where—” Suddenly pain tore into Maddie’s throat like thrown acid. She cried out, feeling a violent weight press down on her chest. “H-elp. Lyon, I can’t—”

  “Maddie, what is it?”

  “I can’t breathe. Too much pain. What’s wrong—with me?”

  Lyon caught her arm and studied it intensely. “We must land, Aeryx. I see the marks. It has begun,” he called out harshly.

  “What has begun?” Maddie could barely force out the words.

  Lyon didn’t answer her as Aeryx looked back at them.

  “It is too soon,” the deep voice rumbled. “There are weeks yet before she must choose. It is her right by prophecy.”

  “Then something has changed prophecy,” Lyon said angrily. “Set us down wherever you can. There is only one way to stop this.”

  “And there is only one place safe to do that,” Aeryx boomed back. “Beyond the Witch’s Pool. Beyond the moat and the gray rooftops at Draycott Abbey.”

  Lyon’s eyes filled with fury. But his fingers were yet gentle on Maddie’s face as she fought for breath. “Do it then. I swore never to return, but no place is closer. The cursed abbey ghost shall help us, whether he chooses to or not. There is no other choice. She is dying, Aeryx. Take us to the abbey.”

  11

  There should have been weeks before them to plan, Lyon thought grimly. There should have been quiet days and slow nights to prepare while Maddie came to understand the responsibility of the decisions before her. By prophecy a Rose was always given free and clear choice to assume her power—or reject it.