Burning Emerald

by Jaime Reed

  “You’re a ...” I strained to get out the word. “You’re an incubus. A full-blown incubus.”

  He turned and held me with a look just shy of antagonism. “That takes care of what I am. The question is who am I?”

  That answer was more terrifying than the first. It was a truth that had haunted me since I’d entered the room, but it couldn’t be denied. I fingered the bracelet on my wrist, thinking of Nadine, and understanding her reason for keeping this secret locked away. Memories within her hidden archives now made themselves available for my private viewing. Past and present mingled in a swirl of gibberish within the posterior lobe. Errors of another life, the regret of others weighed down my heart with unwarranted guilt.

  If I was honest with myself, it was the real reason I couldn’t seal the bond with Caleb and why I could not in good conscience ask this guy to leave.

  “You didn’t have a name, but Nadine called you Tobias,” I said with a crippling sense of defeat. “She gave you that name the night you gave Lilith hers. The same night she became your mate.”

  11

  This latest development was still too fresh to analyze, so I pushed my nervous breakdown to a later time slot.

  Suffering a numb, almost out-of-body detachment, I watched Caleb’s imposter wear down the carpet with aimless pacing. I quickly grew distracted by that noise grating my ears, that odd shrill of some tortured thing in need of a mercy kill. It then dawned on me that those whimpers came from my uninvited guest. His chest rose and fell in rapid speed with every shallow breath.

  “Why are you panting like that?” I asked finally.

  His body stilled. “This is how we cry, Samara.”

  “Like an injured dog?” I joked, but I was the only one amused. “Do you shed tears?”

  “Rarely. We grieve differently from humans. I don’t expect you to understand.”

  “I think I understand, despite everything else I don’t know. I’ve noticed Lilith has animal-like characteristics, the way she communicates with me.”

  “That barely scratches the surface. We’re primal creatures. We rely solely on instinct. Our senses are heightened beyond what any human mind could grasp, and we feel everything.” His voice broke. His entire body tightened on the brink of combustion. “Was he here, that demon mutt that killed her, the one who broke her and threw her away like trash?”

  Again, I didn’t need to ask who he was referring to, but his body language told me to tread lightly. “Tobias ...”

  “Was he?” he bellowed.

  “Yes. He killed her to get to me and my mother.”

  “Two offenses on his head.” His eyes rolled in my direction, heated with accusation and disgust. “And you let his spawn touch you after that, kiss you? How can you even look at him after what his father has done?”

  “It’s more the other way around. I killed Caleb’s father that night. How do you think he feels?” I had never confessed this aloud and the words sounded alien to me, almost vulgar. I had killed Caleb’s father, the first life I’d ever taken and consumed in its entirety. Caleb had forgiven me, understood that it had to be done, but it wasn’t his forgiveness I needed.

  Tobias scoffed, unimpressed. “They know the rules. They know to never kill a Cambion, and a mated one at that. This is punishable by death among your kind.”

  “On what grounds?” I argued. “Nathan Ross was insane, taken over by grief. You of all people should know what it’s like to lose someone you love, someone connected to you.”

  “I’m only aware of that feeling now, thanks to him.” He proceeded pacing, more agitated than before.

  I sympathized with his anger, really, but he didn’t know the whole story. It wasn’t black and white—a villain preying on helpless damsels, kicking puppies, and pushing old people down stairwells. The evil in Mr. Ross came from a good seed planted in tainted soil, the same earth used to bury his wife. Tobias didn’t know the private moments that man had shared with the woman he loved, the hours he’d cried and prayed when the doctors had diagnosed her with cancer, the deterioration of her health and his sanity. I would never excuse his actions, but I understood more than anyone else. After all, once seen, it can’t be unseen.

  “What about the other women he murdered, huh?” I asked. “You gonna shed a tear, or whimper for them?”

  He stopped midstride to look at me.

  “Yeah, I thought so. It’s one thing when it’s humans, but killing one of your own is another story, isn’t it? It’s all wrong, no matter who it is or why. Everyone is at fault. So if you’re gonna convict someone, convict me too.” When he didn’t reply, I continued, “Nadine died months ago and you’re just now showing up to pay your respects?”

  “You think this is my first visit here? I come here and watch the house every night. It’s a comfort to know you’re just feet away, so close and yet so far.” He saw me freeze up, then said, “I told you, I can’t force you. Lilith will protect her host no matter what, so I need your consent. Won’t be too long though. I sense her stirring in you, getting used to me, demanding her mate—”

  “See, I have to cut you off right there. I’m not your mate. In fact, I’m no one’s mate.”

  “Yet. But I plan to fix that,” he assured with unwavering confidence.

  “So do I—just as soon as Caleb wakes up.”

  His hard stare glued me to the spot. “It won’t do any good. In the end, he and his brothers will die. You buy them valuable time by keeping away.”

  I pushed off the wall and closed the distance between us, unconcerned by my state of dress. “You can’t do this! They didn’t do anything wrong!”

  “They knew what their father was capable of. They knew the insanity a broken link could cause. As far as I’m concerned, they had a hand in Nadine’s murder.”

  “They couldn’t do it. They couldn’t harm their father and their spirits’ source.”

  “You defend them, yet claim to care for Nadine. Why?” Hurt and betrayal flashed in his eyes before he concealed his emotions. “I have unfinished business, Samara. I strongly suggest that you don’t interfere and accept the inevitable.”

  I knew a threat when I heard one. My finger jabbed into his chest and rebounded against the solid surface. Using both hands, I tried to push him, but he didn’t move an inch. That didn’t stop me from getting my point across. “You lay one hand on Caleb, and I’ll kill you.”

  He smiled as one would at an adorable child. “Caleb’s already dead. You just need to let go.”

  It took me a minute to regroup after that acidic reply. It didn’t help that Tobias still held Caleb’s likeness, the same man he marked for death. I called on the four corners of my resolve and fought the tremor grating my voice. “He wouldn’t still be a threat to you if he were really dead, nor would I be standing here. You’re lying.”

  His eyebrows rose in a gesture of defiance. “Am I?”

  “That’s what you do. You manipulate everything around you to get what you want.” I swept a glance over his appearance. “Look at you. You can’t even get a woman on your own. You have to pretend to be someone else.”

  His lips curled as hooded eyes ran up and down my body. “I don’t need silly parlor tricks to get what I want.”

  He could have fooled me. I took a few steps back. “Then show yourself. Come as your true form. No disguises.”

  He flinched for a split second, then quickly recovered. “And you call me manipulative.”

  He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The surface of his skin began to swell and ripple until the image of Caleb dissolved and a new form appeared. His deep tan reinforced a distinct Mediterranean ancestry, with high cheekbones and sleek black hair tied in a ponytail. Thick muscles and a whole lot of “hot damn” tucked underneath a black shirt and slacks. The more I stared, the more difficult it was to stay on topic. I was mesmerized by his face, yet totally aware that I stood in the presence of something unearthly.

  Amused by my ogling, he said, “I told you, I don’t
need to trick a woman into wanting me. They just do.”

  I ignored his unbuttoned shirt and the muscles peeking underneath, I really did. “Look, I don’t care what kind of heated affair you had with Nadine, but it’s over. Please leave me out of it. You have to let this go.”

  Tobias crossed his arms and shook his head. “I disagree, but that is beside the point. I’m connected to Lilith, and there’s no getting around that. The only thing that’s standing in my way is you.” He stepped closer, controlled and soundless across the carpet.

  His slow advance made me painfully aware of his six and a half feet and the powerful body that could throw me across the room, or worse should the feeling move him. That knowledge forced me to retreat to the safety of the loveseat.

  He stopped in front of me, so close his legs brushed against mine. The heat of his skin filtered through his slacks to warm where our bodies touched. He lurched forward, invading my breathing room, and I offered not one token of protest.

  Glowing amber eyes held me captive when he said, “You were not part of the deal. When Nadine died, I was supposed to ascend with Lilith. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only was I still alive, but that my mate was hiding in someone else’s body.”

  “And this is my fault because ...” I guided.

  “It’s no one’s fault but Nadine’s.” The hand on my knee almost scorched my flesh, and I pushed it away before it traveled any higher.

  “I’m sure this is a lot to take in, but after what happened today, I had to see you, to let you know who I was. Next time, we’ll have a chance to talk and answer your questions.”

  I leaned back and sized him up. “Next time?”

  Humor touched his eyes, which shimmered like polished brass. “You thought that I would give up that easily? Lilith and I may not be bonded anymore, but we’re still linked. I’ve come to get my mate back, and I finish what I start.”

  “But you’re a free agent now. You don’t have to be tied down by one person.”

  “Who said anything about being free? I’m more obligated now than I ever was while bonded with Nadine. I sacrificed a lot to be with her, and I intend to get back what I lost. In order to do that, I need a mate, my mate. I’m sorry, Flower, but it looks like you’re it.” He stood up to move to the window again with a balled-up piece of cloth trapped in his fist.

  Shaking the fog from my brain, I called after him. “Where are you going?”

  With his back facing me, he shoved the fabric in his pocket. “I’m hungry. I’m going to feed and probably get laid.” He paused and looked at me over his shoulder. “Why? Do you care to join me?”

  “Uh, n-no,” I stammered. “If you wanted me so bad, then why are you so quick to sleep with someone else?”

  “Are you judging me now? I’m an incubus, or did you miss that part? Sex is not a primary source of energy for you Cambions, but we heathens need it to survive. You’re linked to more than one male, yet I’m not condemning you,” he replied in a tone dripping with disdain. “I’m not going to force your hand. I’m not a monster.”

  “And you seemed like such a nice guy,” I returned with a snarl.

  “As far as my kind goes, I am a very nice guy. But I’m selfish, and according to you, manipulative. Don’t mistake patience for concession. In the end, I always get what I want, damn the consequences.” And with that, he disappeared from sight in a plume of vapor, leaving no trace of his presence.

  When he left, everything went with him: the air, the warmth, and my last thread of reason. A chill swept up my leg, causing a peculiar draft under my T-shirt. Lifting the hem, I learned never to underestimate his power. If Tobias managed to steal underwear off a girl without her knowing, what else could he do right under her nose?

  Then, and only then, did the panic attack take effect, bringing everything to a head with astronomical force. The long-awaited meltdown began at its newly scheduled time, without further interruptions, even as my scream echoed the walls of the house.

  12

  “Angie, I need to talk to you. Please call me as soon as you get this—no matter the time. It’s an emergency.”

  I ended the call, climbed out of my car, and steered through the student parking lot.

  For some reason, Angie had gone AWOL and I was beginning to worry, especially with everything going on. She needed to know what was happening and maybe shed some insight about Tobias.

  His little visit last night wrecked my world up, making sleep a comedic impossibility. After crying, screaming, pacing the floor, and slipping a sleep aid in a mug of warm milk, I caught three hours of rest before school.

  I dragged my feet to class, dreading first period. Malik, Tobias, or whatever he was calling himself today, would be there, and I had half the mind to ditch. How was I expected to carry on with life knowing what I knew? How long did he plan to walk around impersonating a dead guy? Someone was bound to suspect.

  Shouldering through the crowded hall, I did a quick recap of the past month, listing all my encounters with Malik, his sudden interest in me, and the female hostility that had followed. The obsessive vibe made perfect sense now, and yet, it confused me even more.

  Of all the people in the world, why did I get stuck with an incubus, a demon intent on making me his boo? How was I going to explain this to Caleb? What would his brothers think? And I wasn’t going to whisper a word of this to my mother, not until I’d collected all the facts.

  I entered my government class barely a second before the bell. Keeping my head down, I scurried to my desk, not sparing a glance to anyone, including Mia sitting in the row ahead of me. Not one to be ignored, she threw a ball of paper at me and mouthed the words, “You okay?”

  Nodding, I dove into my backpack and pulled out my binder. Halfway through class, I worked up the courage to lift my head and look around.

  No sign of Malik.

  I couldn’t believe my luck. I’d been spared forty minutes of tension and sideways glances. I sat back in my chair and eased into the lesson, which was marginally interesting. Anything was better than my own problems right now, even the untold corruption within the legislative branch.

  I made it all the way through fourth period without incident, and saw no sign of Tobias or his alias. Maybe he’d decided to end the charade? Maybe he wanted to give me space? No. It wouldn’t be that simple. Though out of sight, he remained a clear and ever-present danger, his aura weighing down my back worse than my book bag. I could feel his hot breath graze my neck as suggestive phrases infected my ears.

  When I didn’t see him at lunch, I enjoyed the peace among my table of outcasts. I’d barely taken a bite of my ham sandwich when I felt it, that telltale humming vibration. That zip across my spine quickly turned ominous, and I waited for the evil theme music to kick in. Not even a moment later, the vampire kid sitting across from me was shoved aside and Malik sat in his place. Spitting a catlike hiss, the boy scooted to the far end of the table.

  I gawked at the scene with my mouth open, the sandwich slipping from my hand. My mind stalled for a moment, then sputtered as the image before me stared me down. He didn’t carry a tray or a bagged lunch, just two hundred pounds of muscle and evident frustration.

  “Thought it would be that easy, huh?” A cocky grin tugged at his lips.

  “No. I know better than that.” I dropped my sandwich on my tray. “I take it your evening went well, Tobias.”

  If there was any doubt of the live-action Malik costume, the quick flash of gold in his eyes removed all suspicion.

  “Not as well as I hoped, but it was a decent substitute. Want to hear the details?”

  “Not really. How long have you been following me?”

  “Since you left your house this morning. I got bored and wanted to talk to you.”

  “You know that’s called stalking, which is illegal in all fifty states and all U.S. territories, right?”

  Grinning, he asked, “I’m aware, but who would convict me?”

  “Me an
d my mom’s loaded Beretta,” I replied. “So could you please leave me alone, and could you give me back my underwear?” I whispered the last part, wary of the ears around us.

  “Oh no. I have them framed and mounted on my wall. A motivational tool, if you will.”

  “You’re disgusting.” I slid my tray away, my appetite gone with the wind. “And you need to apologize to Midnight.”

  “Who’s Midnight?”

  I nudged my head toward my disgruntled lunchmate. “The guy whose seat you took. That was rude and I don’t appreciate it and neither does he. Apologize.”

  Tobias looked over to the pale kid in all black who glared behind his raised collar. “Sorry, man.”

  Displaying a row of prosthetic fangs, Midnight hissed again, then continued his meal.

  Tobias cringed away from him and returned his attention to me. “Nice circle of friends you got here.”

  “They’re good people. If you don’t like it, you can take your sorry butt back over to your end of the cafeteria,” I replied, doing everything to avoid making eye contact. His power source lay there, and I needed to keep my sanity. The large, dark hand that slid over mine shot that plan to hell.

  His gaze met mine with a blend of remorse and longing. “I’m sorry. I promise to behave myself.”

  “Too late.” Snatching my hand away, I peered around the cafeteria, noting over fifty pairs of eyes trying not to look our way. “You’re causing a scene, and you coming over here is making your stock plummet.”

  “Do you really think I care what any of these kids think about me? The only reason I’m in this school, this town, this hemisphere is because of you.”

  “Waste of time,” I sang.

  “Correction, it was a waste of time, but not anymore. I’ve hesitated for too long and now I’m taking the initiative. I need you, and if that means I have to walk around like this to achieve that, so be it.”