Wicked Legends: A Dystopian Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by hamilton, rebecca

  Linda turned on him; the anger flared in her eyes. “Just because you’re seventeen, doesn’t mean you can talk that way in our house.”

  André looked down at the floor, his face heating with shame for pushing her to the point of anger. “I’m sorry.”

  “Do you understand why your father is saying no?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “—I didn’t ask for excuses. Do you understand why?”

  “Yeah,” he said, still staring at the floor, unable to meet her angry gaze. “I wanted to win and I didn’t care how I did it.”

  “Precisely.” She turned on her heels and left the kitchen.

  Matthew paced and cursed under his breath. Only André could push him over the edge like this. Up until the boy turned sixteen, the house had been calm and quiet and fun to live in, but at sixteen it was like a switch had been flipped, and he and André were constantly at each other’s throats. He just didn’t understand it.

  Linda interrupted his thoughts, closing the door to his study behind her.

  “What am I doing wrong?” he snapped.

  “You’re not doing anything wrong,” she replied, validating his approach. “He is just a teenager, Matthew. They all act like that.”

  “He can make me so angry.” Matthew looked out the window.

  “Yeah, well, it goes both ways.”

  Matthew spun toward the voice and his gaze landed on André standing in the doorway. “Your mother and I are talking.”

  “I know,” André began. “I screwed up, all right?” He stepped into the room and flopped down on the leather couch.

  Matthew bit the response that was begging to let loose and the fact that he didn’t say what popped in his mind didn’t matter. He knew André heard it anyway.

  “I know it isn’t all right, Dad,” he answered the unspoken dig. “I fuh...,” he started and checked himself before he continued. “I screwed up royally. But don’t you think I can learn from my mistakes?”

  “André, you take competition to a level that’s hard to overlook. It’s like you constantly feel you have something to prove. I don’t doubt that a part of you regrets hurting that kid, but as you just so eloquently articulated, so what, your team won the championship. What the hell would you do if you were in my shoes?”

  André looked at his mother and then back to his father. “Okay, I get it.” He stood and walked out of the study, leaving Matthew and Linda alone. André’s door slammed and music followed, loud enough for Matthew to feel the vibrations in the floor. He clamped his teeth together, trading a glance with Linda before he marched down the hall.

  The bass beat shook the portraits on the wall in the hallway and Matthew reached for the doorknob. It didn’t budge. The fact the boy locked the door, disobeying one of his first rules, sent a fire of irritation through his muscles and he tensed against the adrenaline rush of anger.

  He pounded on the wood grain. “Open this door right now, young man!”

  André ignored the pounding and tried to shut out the angry, ranting thoughts. He clamped his eyes tight and willed the stereo louder, drowning out even his own thoughts.

  The door splintered as it sailed wide from Matthew’s booted kick and André tensed at the fury radiating from his father. He hadn’t been subjected to that kind of wrath since they sealed him in that tin can of a pod, and fear layered on top of his anger, freezing his muscles in place.

  Matthew stormed across the room and ripped the power cord out of the wall, turning on André. “Look at me!”

  André couldn’t move. Tonight was the first time he disobeyed outright and he lay in terror of retribution. A hand grabbed his arm, flipping him on his back, and he stared into his father’s furious eyes. Fueled by his fear, a small burst of power escaped and Matthew sailed into the far wall.

  Horror freed his paralysis and his hand flew to his mouth. “I’m, I’m, I’m sorry,” he stuttered.

  Matthew stood and glared at André. He walked out of the room without a word, his silence more deafening than the bellowing anger coming out of his mouth when he was pounding on his door.

  André couldn’t take the silence. Silence reminded him of being locked in space. It spread a suffocating layer over him and he had to get out, to run. André bolted out of his room, past Linda and down the stairs.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked before he reached the front door.

  “Out,” he said and looked at her through a red haze. Hot tears streaked his cheeks and he closed the front door behind him. André ran, with no idea where he was going and when he passed the lakeside beach a few miles from his house, he stopped.

  The lake looked inviting and a glance up and down the street confirmed no one was around. André scaled the fence, ignoring the sign stating trespassers would be prosecuted. He crossed the soft sand and crouched down at the water’s edge, splashing the cool liquid on his face, washing away the hot tear streaks. He sat back on the sand, wiping his palms on his pants, still in a state of panic and self-loathing.

  “I never figured you for a troublemaker.”

  He jumped and turned his head toward the familiar voice, offering a small smile. “What are you doing here?” he said, shifting his weight against the shock of seeing Katrina Lawrence on the same beach.

  “I sneak in here all the time, especially when my dad is in one of his moods.”

  André took a deep breath. “I’m sorry about your mom,” he said. “I was gonna call, but…” He trailed off and shrugged.

  “But your dad wouldn’t let you,” she said and he nodded. “Still, it meant a lot to me that you came to her funeral.”

  André sighed and looked out at the water, feeling the sorrow in Katrina’s heart and wished he could wipe it away. The last three years had been hard on her, and he didn’t know which was worse, watching your mother waste away with cancer or having her executed before your eyes.

  Every time he saw Katrina, he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her she was the only one who made his heart skip, the only one who could render him speechless, but he had respected his father’s wishes and kept his distance.

  Silence settled between them along with an undeniable electrical current.

  She sat down next to him on the sand. “So, what’s up with you?” she asked, flipping her thick blonde hair back over her shoulder in the same arrogant gesture he adored.

  He shook his head, glancing sideways at her. “I had a fight with my father,” he drawled in the deep Southern accent prevalent in the Texas dome.

  “About what?”

  “I want to try out for the football team and he said no.”

  “Well, that’s just stupid,” Katrina said.

  “I agree,” André said. “Speaking of our fathers, your dad wouldn’t be very happy with you, talking to me and all.”

  Katrina grinned. “Yeah, well, once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker.”

  “My dad would be pissed,” he replied and stretched out on the sand, looking up at the stars visible through the clear dome.

  “I thought you always listened to your father?”

  Before this evening, he would have said yes without hesitation but tonight he just smiled in return. He went to sit up and Katrina pushed him back onto the sand, positioning herself half over him, looking straight into his eyes. She leaned close.

  “You don’t want to do that,” André said just before her lips touched his. He put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her despite his racing heart.

  “Why not? You afraid Anna would find out?”

  Her breath caressed his face smelling like sweet licorice. “No. I couldn’t care less about Anna,” he answered, still conflicted and holding her above him. He wanted her from the moment she stepped into the infirmary six years before and this was just way too tempting.

  “Then why not?” She glanced at his lips and then back to his iridescent blue eyes sparkling in the dark.

  “Because I won’t stop,” he said and his lips curve
d in a slow easy smile. “And don’t you already have a boyfriend?”

  “Not anymore. Besides, maybe I don’t want you to stop.”

  His body reacted to her; heat pooled in his belly and lust lined his skin. It took everything he had to hold her at bay. “You shouldn’t tease me like this.”

  “I’m curious.” Katrina stared down at him. “Are you anatomically the same as men on Earth?”

  The glib question along with the mischievous sparkle in her eyes goaded him. “You already know the answer to that, don’t you?” he said, his voice husky with the need that filled his entire body.

  She grinned. “I’ve heard some rumors.”

  “And what? You thought you’d find out firsthand?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve always been curious about you but could never seem to pin you down.” She licked her lips and smiled down at him.

  That was all he could handle, and he gave in, pulling her to him, kissing her hard and rolling her over onto the sand under him. The sweetness of her lips drew air from his chest and for a moment, he lost himself in the exploration of her mouth and the kiss was everything he always imagined it would be. His hands slid down her sides to her waist before he regained control and pulled away, smiling as he stood up.

  Katrina stared up at him with wide eyes full of surprise. “Where are you going?” she asked, hopping to her feet and following him.

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. “If I stay, your curiosity will be satisfied and I’ll be up shit’s creek without a paddle,” he drawled and turned away again, reaching for the fence.

  “Come on, André. We’ve been playing this game for years and we’re finally somewhere alone without our parents. Please, don’t go.”

  He hesitated, still with his hand in the chain link. “I have to go,” he whispered and leaned on the fence, glancing at her feet as she walked up to him. His entire body fought for control over his senses and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before scaling the fence as quickly as he could. He walked away, leaving her silent and thoughtful on the other side. He didn’t glance back right away; her thoughts still clung to him and he snuck a peek just before he rounded the corner that would block the view of the beach.

  Katrina was less than ten feet behind him.

  André stumbled, fell and willed himself to stop just short of the pavement, stopping what would have been a nasty impact. He righted himself and turned to find her giggling at him. “What the hell are you doing?” he gaped.

  “Following you,” she answered.

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to play games anymore.”

  André continued in the direction he had been heading, and she resumed her stalking behind him. He slowed a little, allowing her to keep pace. He glanced over at her staring, probing eyes. “I’m not a fucking bug,” he snapped.

  Katrina blinked, but didn’t look away. “What was it like?”

  “What was what like?”

  “Space.” She glanced at the sky.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I only saw a little of it and that was from my father’s ship when he rescued me.”

  “Really?” she said, astonished. “But you were out there for so long.”

  He nodded. “Yeah.” He glanced over at her. “It wasn’t fun,” he said, not wanting to elaborate on the terror he felt each day, wondering if it would be his last one alive.

  Silence settled between them as they walked.

  “Five years?”

  André nodded. “Sealed in a tin can.”

  “How’d you not go crazy?”

  “Who said I didn’t?” he countered, giving her a hint of a smile.

  “Seriously,” she said. “How does someone get through that?”

  “Don’t you have somewhere to be right now?” he asked, slightly annoyed by her line of questioning and even more so by her train of thought. Her close proximity messed with his mind, setting his skin on fire and he knew if she continued to follow, there was no turning back for him. No staying away anymore, despite what either of their fathers said.

  “No.”

  André stopped walking and leaned on a nearby tree, crossing his arms. He sighed as his eyes grazed her. “I guess my will to live overpowered everything else and I was smart enough to not eat what was provided all at once.”

  “I don’t know any six-year-old with that kind of willpower,” she said and stepped closer.

  “Please don’t,” he said softly as she reached out to touch him.

  Katrina smiled and ignored his plea.

  “Kat, I don’t have that kind of willpower where you’re concerned.”

  “Are you like this with all your girlfriends?” she asked as she moved closer, leaning her body against his.

  He shook his head. “No, only you can do this to me.” He swept her in his arms and kissed her, rolling his tongue gently in her mouth as his hands traced her back, stopping at her waist. One of his hands found its way back up into her hair and the other slid down her hip to the edge of the very short skirt she had on, grazing the skin of her thighs with his fingertips. He pulled her closer, kissing her deeper, searing his soul to hers.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Matthew yelled, stepping from the hovercraft a few feet away.

  André and Katrina jumped away from each other, both panting with the power that still coursed through their veins. Oh shit!

  Before he could say anything, Matthew’s hand grasped the scruff of his neck and hauled him to the hovercraft.

  André glanced sideways at Katrina and offered her a small shrug as they pulled away, watching her in the side mirror. She continued to watch the hovercraft until they pulled around the corner out of sight.

  “I have told you a thousand times to stay away from that girl,” Matthew growled.

  André didn’t say anything. He just slouched in the passenger seat with his hands in his pockets and looked out the window. He heard all the thoughts flying through his father’s head loud and clear. When the silent accusations flew, he spoke. “I went to the beach and she happened to be there.”

  “How did she know where to find you?”

  André willed the hovercraft to stop.

  “Stop that,” Matthew snapped.

  “I have followed the rules you laid down for the past six years, Dad. I know she’s off-limits, but...” He took a deep breath. “But she just happened to be at the place I ran to. I had no idea she would be at the beach and if I did, I wouldn’t have gone there.” He released his hold on the vehicle and it lurched forward again. “One thing led to another...” He trailed off. “I’m not staying away from her anymore,” he announced as they pulled into the driveway.

  “You are to stay away from that girl,” Matthew ordered as he stepped out of the hovercraft and slammed the door closed.

  “No, I am not staying away from Katrina.” André stood his ground. “I’ve been in love with her since the day I set foot on this planet.”

  Matthew stood at the front door with his hand on the doorknob, his back to André, struggling with the anger raging through him. He silently counted to ten. “She’s bad news, André,” he said. He had heard the commander bitching about the things she had done on a daily basis and Matthew didn’t want André exposed to such a rebellious child.

  “I know she has a reputation for being a little wild,” André said, “but I really don’t give a damn.”

  Matthew turned. “I do.”

  “You won’t let me play football; you won’t let me date Katrina. What next? What are you afraid of?”

  “That you’ll get in trouble and the government will take you away from us,” Matthew snapped.

  André took a half step back and blinked, hearing the truth in Matthew’s voice and in his mind. “They could take me away?”

  “If they find out what you can do, yes,” Matthew said.

  “Kat already knows what I am and she hasn’t said a thing for the last six years.”

&n
bsp; Matthew took a deep breath and exhaled.

  “Besides, I’m going to marry her,” André added.

  Matthew laughed. “You are only seventeen.”

  André shrugged. “I know what I want and she’s it.”

  “You want her because I said you couldn’t have her.”

  “No, Dad. I want her because she’s the one and I’ve dated plenty of girls since I came here but not one of them does what Katrina does to me, not even Anna.”

  “What I saw back there was moments away from getting into a world of trouble, André. If that’s what she does to you, it’s just another reason for me to put my foot down. You are too young for that.” Matthew pointed in the direction where they had come from.

  André tried to suppress a grin but didn’t do a very good job.

  “Wipe that grin off your face. Seventeen is too young.”

  “Too young for what?” André asked innocently, just to see his father’s reaction as he leaned on the porch banister, crossing his arms, the amused smile still on his face.

  Matthew glared at him. “Sex. You are too young for sex,” he clarified. “Now go to your room. I don’t want to see or hear you until the morning. Got it?”

  André nodded and walked through the door Matthew held open for him. His grin spread as he bounded up the stairs and closed his broken door. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him and if he ever finds out just how much I’ve screwed around, Jesus, he’d blow a gasket.

  He pulled his cell out of his pocket and stared at the half dozen texts he ignored for the past couple of hours and sighed. It was time to cut Anna loose, especially after what happened with Katrina. He shot over a message, knowing Anna wouldn’t take too kindly to him breaking up with her by text, so after he pressed Send, he shut his phone off, tossing it on the nightstand before flopping back on his bed.

  André stared at the ceiling in the dark room, his thoughts drifting to Katrina and all the things he’d like to do with her.

  A soft knock on his window interrupted his thoughts and his eyes flew open. He crossed to the window and slid it open, staring into her hypnotizing eyes.

  What are you doing here? He sent the thought into her mind. Surprise registered and she teetered on the tree branch but André reached out and caught her before she fell, hauling her in the window and putting his finger on his lips. Don’t speak; just think it and I’ll hear you.