Finn kicked at a carton box and stalked to the other end of the terrace. He hadn’t even drawn a weapon. He walked back toward her.
No sign of a dragon.
Ella frowned. “What the hell is Dave playing at? He said he had a verified sighting.”
“You’re angry,” Finn said, his voice low and even.
No shit, Sherlock. “No law against it.” Wait. The phone call had come from Dave’s phone, but who the hell was Agent Niels? Could it be a trap?
“Not with Dave,” Finn said. He was giving her a quizzical stare, head tilted to the side. “You’re angry with me.”
“Yes, because you’re keeping me in the dark.” Dammit. Now was not the time. “We need to get off this roof, now.”
Finn opened his mouth, then closed it. He turned toward the open door and the elevator, his back rigid.
Something flashed on the roof across the street.
Shit. Did Finn wear his Kevlar vest — did she have time to—
She threw herself in front of Finn, opening her arms as if that would serve any purpose — and an impact in her chest stopped her breath.
The darkness rushed in.
***
“Ella. Ella!” Finn’s voice, from somewhere above her. “Can you hear me?”
“Damn, yes.” Why was he yelling like that? She blinked, and ow, her head hurt. “Not deaf.”
Her jacket was open, her shirt — torn? The strap of her Kevlar jacket was undone. It was damn cold. “What are you doing?”
Finn’s face came into focus. His eyes looked dark in his ashen face. “Just checking. How do you feel?”
“I feel...” She shifted and the flare of white-hot pain in her chest took her breath away. She brought her hand up and Finn caught it. “What...?”
Finn glanced at the side — the elevator. They were indoors, the door behind them closed. “You were shot.”
Shot. Damn, yes, that was right. She recalled a flash on top of a nearby building and moving to shield Finn. “So that’s why,” she muttered. She tried to look down at herself, going cross-eyed. “Hurts like hell. I’ll have a pretty bruise.”
Finn’s hand hovered over her collarbone. He gripped her arm instead. “Nothing broken?”
She let him pull her up and sat, considering this. It hurt, yeah, but when she felt the area with her fingertips she didn’t scream. That had to count for something, right? “I don’t think so.”
That was the thing. Stay cool and calm. She gritted her teeth and repeated the mantra in her head as Finn pulled her to her feet. Steady. Everything’s okay. Yeah.
Now, if the bullet had struck a couple inches higher, she’d be dead.
Jeez, that was the wrong thought. Shakes started in her legs and her knees felt like rubber. Oh crap.
“Ella.” Finn wrapped an arm around her and bent to grab her under her knees.
He was going to carry her.
Hell, no. “I can walk.”
“You’re shaking.”
“Still can walk.” You thought you were the only stubborn one, huh? “Just let me lean on you.” Small concessions were the spice of life.
Still frowning, Finn grabbed her around the waist and half-pulled half-carried her to the elevator.
“Dave must be here by now,” he said as the elevator doors closed and the ride down began. “You can ask him—”
“Dave has no clue where we are. This was a trap.”
“I’m telling you, he’ll be here.”
Whatever. Who was after them? And how had she not seen it coming? Too pissed and frustrated with Finn, she’d let herself lose focus.
Stupid, Ella.
They walked out into the lobby to find Dave and a group of agents waiting at the elevator doors. Huh. Look at that, Finn had been right.
Dave’s mouth opened and closed. “Ella?”
“How did you find us?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Dave shook his head irritably. Then his eyes zeroed on her open shirt. “You got shot?”
“I’m fine, boss. Kevlar did its job.”
Dave stepped closer, cast Finn a glance and halted. “Are you okay, Ella?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure?”
Ella struggled not to roll her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. You might wanna check who’s hacked into your lines, though. I had a call from your number — a certain agent Niels telling me to come here. Said it was per your instructions.”
“Next time you get instructions only from me,” Dave grated.
“I figured as much.” She sighed. “I think I’ll just head home.”
“Put some ice on that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You take care of her, son, you hear?” Dave nailed Finn with his gaze, as if this was Finn’s fault.
Finn’s hold on Ella tightened. His heart boomed against her side. “Back off,” he bit out.
“Only saying you—”
“Save it.” Finn hauled Ella through the lobby, past Dave and his agents, out into the night.
Whoa, looked like it was Finn’s turn to be angry — but why? She pushed off him. “Finn?”
His scowl darkened. He shrugged and strode to the car.
“Finn, wait. Why are you so mad at Dave?”
“He knew.” Finn’s hands clenched. Then he slammed his fist on to the car roof. The bang reverberated in the empty street.
Ella approached cautiously. There was a fist-sized dent in the metal. “Knew what?”
“Nothing.” Finn let out a long breath. He flexed his fingers. “You can’t drive. We should take a taxi.”
“I feel fine.” Less shaky. The pain radiating, burning hot, from her chest, served to clear her head. “Will you please explain what Dave did?”
“He did... nothing.” Finn sighed and opened the car door. “Maybe a shower,” he whispered. “Can’t do this any longer.”
Ella blinked. Right, that... made perfect sense. Maybe she’d hit her head on the rooftop?
Or Finn had hit his?
And she should still be furious with him, shouldn’t she?
“A shower,” she muttered as she lowered herself gingerly behind the wheel. “Sure, take a shower.”
If only everything in the world was fixed so easily.
***
Ella sat in their living-room with a cold pack pressed to her chest, right over her right breast. The pack was a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. Since Finn had moved in with her, the freezer was full of stuff. Made her wonder if Finn found the concept fascinating or if he was used to storing food in ice.
It wouldn’t surprise her.
There was so much she wanted to ask, to learn about him and Aelfheim, but now...
Shaking her head, she leaned back and blinked at the ceiling. She didn’t know how to do this. How to accept things with Finn would be different from now on.
Didn’t know if she could.
See, falling in love so soon was a bad idea, and you knew it, Ella.
God. Would she ever learn?
Something rattled in front of her and she started.
Finn was standing not five feet away, looking at her. Damn elf, making no sound when he walked about.
He’d placed a steaming cup on the table in front of her. The aroma of freshly-brewed tea reached her, soothing.
“Thanks,” she whispered, putting down the cold pack and wrapping her fingers around the cup, realizing how cold she was.
Finn observed her, his chest was rising and falling rapidly, his eyes uncertain.
Good. Let him be uncertain for once. She was done flailing about, not knowing what to do. She blew on the tea, her throat tight.
“Ella...” He swallowed. “Take a shower with me.”
Ella gaped. God, she really was going to punch him. “I’m not in the mood, okay? Just got shot and all that.”
Finn flinched. He took a step back. “Please.”
“No.” Dammit, Finn. “Take your shower. I want to be alone.”
He waited for
a few heartbeats, his mouth a thin line. Then he nodded, a jerky dip of his chin, turned on his heel and strode out of the room.
Shit. Why did she feel like the bad guy now? He was the one who’d shut her out and wouldn’t even explain why.
She put the tea back on the table, amazed she hadn’t spilled it. All this made no sense. Finn had opened up with her, even with Mike. He’d shared every terrible detail of his childhood with her, and although he’d probably had no say in the matter, he’d seemed relieved to find her in his dream-memories. Had drawn strength from it and then—
A crash came from the bathroom. She was pretty sure it was the bathroom.
Heart in her throat, she shot to her feet.
Now it was too quiet.
Sweat slicked her palms as she stepped out of the living-room, listening for any other sound, and pushed the bathroom door open.
The mirror was cracked, shards glinting on the sink. Golden lines filled the room, criss-crossing space. They flickered and dimmed as she watched.
The Veil, she thought, blinking her watering eyes. She reached for her knives. Goddammit, the Veil was tearing right in front of her.
Where was Finn? She was as good as blind in the brilliance. She took another step, cursing. The threads quavered, screeching like electric wires, sending an ache through her teeth.
The sound rose higher and higher, a gale, a cacophony that pressed into her eardrums. She kept her hands on the handles of her daggers, not sure which way to turn — caught in the golden web.
She lifted a hand to shade her eyes and squinted into the radiance, her heart pounding madly. “Finn?”
The light dwindled. One by one the lines faded with a final sparkle that left white afterimages branded on the back of her eyelids.
When she could see again, she found Finn kneeling in the middle of the floor, blood dripping from his nose, coating his chin in crimson, soaking his white t-shirt. Light danced on his skin, lines flickering and flashing.
Oh god. She dropped to her knees next to him, put her arm around his back.
“It’s closed,” he said, panting. “It’s done.”
“But it almost opened and you could have been—”
“I won’t let it open,” he hissed.
“But Finn, you—”
He grabbed her neck and crashed their lips together. Stunned, she let him, feeling the heat of his skin, inhaling his spicy-sweet scent.
He pulled back, pressed his forehead to hers. His skin was hot, feverish. His skin glowed.
“Shower,” he whispered.
He was covered in blood and shaking. This time she didn’t hesitate. She helped him get rid of the bloodied shirt and hauled him to his feet, then leaned over to start the shower running. Waiting for the water to warm up, she helped him out of his pants, a cold pit in her stomach.
The Veil had almost torn, right there, in their apartment. He’d barely held it shut, and would that mean he couldn’t close the Gates anymore? And why was he bleeding?
Finn fisted a hand in her blouse. “Shower. With me.”
Might be a good idea, the way he weaved on his feet. Swallowing hard, she shed her clothes quickly, pushed him under the spray and followed.
The warm water drenched her instantly. She’d barely pushed her soaking hair out of her eyes when Finn turned and slid her arms around her, pressing their bodies together.
Caught by surprise, she struggled to free herself. “Finn, what are you doing?”
His hold tightened. “Sh.” His lips brushed her ear, velvet soft, and she trembled. “Listen to me.”
Oh that was rich. “I’ve been doing that all along, Finn, you’re the one who’s not talking.”
“I know.” His low, rough voice sent tingles down her spine. “I’m sorry. I hope here it’s safe.”
She stilled. “Safe?”
His hand rubbed down her back. He nuzzled her neck. “The water’s loud. It may cover the sound of my voice.”
What. The. Hell. “I’m listening.”
He exhaled, his breath warm on her wet skin. “I think Dave’s listening, too.”
Shit. “A bug?” She frowned. “In the apartment?”
“On me.”
“You’re naked. We both are.” Heat licked her face. She was pressed against his hard chest and other parts of his anatomy, and it felt good. She’d missed him.
“He’s tracking me.”
She tried to follow his thinking. “Wait... Is that how he found you and the dragon?”
“Dragons ridden by the Boreals use camouflage,” Finn murmured. “Nobody should be able to see us. He found us then, and tonight again.”
It made sense. Too much sense. “Still, you can’t know...”
A fast learner. Finn was a fast learner. Dave had repeated Finn’s words to her in his car.
Ella groaned. What else had Dave told Finn to convince him there was a bug on him?
“I don’t know where the transmitter is,” Finn whispered, as if reading her thoughts, the words brushing her ear. “Can’t take the risk. And I have to tell you what’s going on.”
She nodded, the relief almost sending her back to her knees. “Yes.”
“The Veil was a barrier and a wasteland of spirits. Now it’s changing. A protective spell has broken, letting magic leak through.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means I may not be able to protect this world for much longer, not unless I become stronger.”
Fuck. “But then...?”
Finn pushed her gently up against the tiled wall and buried his face in the juncture of her shoulder and neck. The water splashed around them, lit up by the lines still shining on his skin and hair.
“I need the dragon alive. I need her in case the Veil tears and magical creatures fall through. In case the Gates open. In case I fail. Dave can’t know the reason. He can’t know I’m not that strong.”
Because he’d kill Finn. Or... “What do you think he’ll do?”
“He’s been waiting for me to start opening Gates on my own.” He pulled back, stared into her eyes as if willing her to reach her own conclusions.
“He wants to use you to... what? Invade other worlds?”
Finn placed his hands on either side of her head and leaned closer again. “I just know he’ll kill me if I can’t keep the Gates closed, and will use me if I can open them.”
Ella swallowed hard. “And do you think you can become that strong? Able to open Gates?”
He shrugged, the movement brief. “With your help.”
There it was, the crux of the matter. “Is this why you’re blocking me from your dreams? You don’t want to become stronger because you’re afraid Dave will use you?”
He snorted softly, the puff of air tickling her skin. “No, that’s not it.”
“Then, why?”
Finn drew back and touched two fingers to his chest. His eyes were clear and bright. “Ella...”
Her eyes burned. She caught his fingers, drew him against her once more. “What? Tell me.”
“I’m not blocking you from my dreams.”
She considered this. “Then tell me about them. These dreams are memories, right? What the hell happened when you were in the army back at Aelfheim?”
“Please, listen.” His jaw clenched. “My time in the army, the last months... are hazy. And I don’t remember my dreams these days, no matter how hard I try.” He sighed. “Ella, I swear it’s the truth.”
THE END of EPISODE ONE of BOREAL AND JOHN GREY (SEASON II)
The Snare
Episode 2
Nine worlds hang from the tree
Nine heavens above and countless more under the roots
deep beneath the ground.
Yggdrasil shakes, the ancient branches shiver up high
And I recall
A war.
I speak of giants from times forgotten.
Those I hunted in former days
I tell of battles and fiery spells
I
tell of blood
And death.
Dark grows the sun, the summer done
Mighty storms are coming
The walls will fall
Magic will break
The vanquished gods will waken
The giants will roam the earth.
Chapter One
Lokke
Fear.
It tightened Ella’s chest, making breathing difficult. Or maybe it was that she hung in the air, bent forward, face-down. Restraints held her spread-eagled over a stone table, tuning every joint into a mass of pain.
Lights flashed around her, disorienting, blinding. Water trickled down walls; a chill in the air and the scent of wet rock.
Someone loomed over her, a tall creature, chest encased in glittering armor. It drew back and she could see its face — long and white, the mouth lipless, the eyes slits of red.
Her heart jolted in her chest. Her stomach was a ball of nausea.
The creature lifted a narrow hand and gestured. Something huge moved behind, a giant shadow. There was a crackle, as if from fire.
No, not again.
The pain hit like white hot spears, slicing into her back, making her arch. Her scream was strangled in her throat, her breath cut off. Her body jerked in its restraints — wrapped around her arms, her hands, her legs, her feet. She stared down.
Something dark dripped, pooling on the table’s polished surface. Each drop echoed, formed widening circles.
Blood. Her blood.
Oh god.
Another blast of pain sizzled down her spine, burning like fire, bowing her back — cracking her bones, melting her flesh, and she jerked with a cry, blackness seeping into her vision.
Had to escape the pain. Couldn’t take it anymore. Please, no more.
“Asmodr!” a hoarse cry echoed in her ears. “No!”
Not her voice. A man’s voice.
Finn’s voice.
Ella came awake with a gasp, twitching on the bed, tangled in the quilt. Phantom pain burned in her back, making her grit her teeth. And she knew without a shade of a doubt, despite the taste of blood in her mouth and the black spots dancing in her vision, that this was not her dream.
Boreal and John Grey Season 2 Page 7