by Trina M. Lee
We gathered at the table in the small dining area off the living room. While Cinder munched on a strip of bacon, he listened to the two of us relay everything involving Storm.
“All things considered, I think you handled it pretty well. Although I’d like to talk to Rowen about his role in all this. It sounds like he’s struggling with his transition back to our side.” Friendly violet eyes studied me as I chewed a piece of pancake. I suspected there was more he would have said regarding Rowen if Arrow hadn’t been present.
“I think it’s more than that.” Arrow shoved the eggs around his plate with his fork. “I think he’s having a hard time getting over Spike.”
Because I wasn’t sure how to address that I only added, “He’s been drinking a lot. Partying harder than usual. None of my business really but of course I’m worried about him. I don’t want to see him self-destruct.”
Cinder nodded his short trendily cut head of hair. “I’ll talk with him. You two look like you could use some sleep. Get some rest and I’ll see you soon.”
Something about being so close to my bed made the exhaustion hit that much harder. Arrow and I dragged ourselves through the shower before flopping into bed.
“Damn, does this feel good. I missed it.” Pulling me into his arms, Arrow snuggled up close behind me and was very quickly snoring softly.
We slept the rest of the night and the following day away. Not once did we see the sun.
“Should we go to Spirit tonight?” Arrow asked when we finally dragged ourselves from the bedroom. He wore an expression that said he very much did not want to go to The Spirit Room.
I understood his reluctance. A lot of people knew us in the city, and surely they would have many questions regarding the fight with Blue followed by his unfortunate disappearance. I wasn’t too keen on facing that tonight either.
“Let’s just stay in tonight. All of that can wait. It will still be there when we finally show up.” I moved about the kitchen, refilling the coffee maker with fresh water. “I’ll just pop around the corner to the grocery store and grab a few things. I’m out of pretty much everything good.”
“Want me to come with you?” Arrow lay sprawled on the couch with the TV remote in one hand. It was going take us a few days to bounce back.
I gave my head a shake and selected the largest mug from the cupboard. I needed all the caffeine I could get. “No, it’s cool. I’ve got it. Why don’t you give Rowen a call and check in with him? I worry about him being alone so much in that apartment.”
After finishing my coffee, I slipped on a hoodie and a pair of running shoes. Grabbing the keys to Arrow’s BMW, which sat parked in the underground parking lot, I headed out for a few supplies.
The closest grocery store was in my neighborhood, easy and convenient to stop in as needed. With a basket in hand, I made my way through the store, grabbing enough food items to get me through a few days of much needed rest.
In the deli a delicious-looking deluxe pizza caught my eye. I angled in to check out the price. In the metal border on the front of the shelf, I caught the distorted reflection of a man with black and white hair behind me. I whirled around to find the Dragon King himself standing close enough to touch.
The basket in my hands fell, dumping its contents all over the floor at my feet. I knew that I should react like a normal person and start picking things up, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Flint.
“Did I catch you off guard, firefly? Sorry about that. Let me help you.” Acting like the gentleman that I knew he was not, Flint bent down to retrieve my groceries.
A tremble shook me. Appearing nothing but human, Flint wore a dark suit of fine material. And much to my horror and dismay, he also wore an eye patch.
“What are you doing here?” I stammered, taking the basket carefully when he passed it back to me.
“Why, I just wanted to congratulate you, of course.” The smile he wore was both friendly and vicious. Everything about it felt like a lie. Nothing about him could be trusted.
Taking the bait, because it seemed like the safest way, I countered with, “Congratulate me on what?”
Flint let his one good eye roam over me. From my toes, he worked his way up to my face. It was a tactic meant to put me on edge, but I wasn’t sure how much closer to the edge I could safely get.
“On your spectacular failure at playing human. Did you really think that would work?” With those words Flint confirmed what I’d suspected. He had been watching me while I was away from home.
Being in the grocery store at this time of night meant that nobody was close enough to overhear our conversation. Although it was a public place with cameras, that small sense of safety would end the second I walked out the door.
“I knew that was you I saw lurking about. Why do you care so much, Flint? Don’t you have a hoard of treasure to be protecting?” It was a sassy remark but I didn’t care. Just because the Dragon King scared the crap out of me didn’t mean I was going to act like a frightened mouse.
“Don’t you have a great rebellion to be forming?” He stunned me speechless with that one.
Wide eyed like a deer in the headlights, I responded with a foolish, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Flint’s chuckle felt like ice in my bones, threatening to break me apart from the inside out. “Come on now, firefly; don’t play with me. You came into my home and got my attention. Naturally, after the way you so rightly kicked my ass, I had to look into you a little further. I must say, I’m impressed with what I’ve learned. There are a lot of people running scared of you. Angels and demons both. I can’t help but be curious about a nephilim with that kind of power.”
Adrenaline pumped steadily through me. There was no stopping it, and demons had a nose for that kind of thing. Shifting the basket from one arm to the other, I darted around him and continued on my way through the store.
Undeterred, Flint kept up with me. He hovered unnervingly close while I checked the expiration dates on the bread and then he made a show of selecting the juiciest, ripest red apple from the produce section.
My frustration began to outweigh my fear. In annoyance I turned to him and hissed, “If you’re going to follow me around, you could at least carry my things.” I thrust the basket at him. It was starting to get heavy.
Holding his prized apple in one hand, he took a bite, chewing slowly as he pondered me. With his free hand he accepted the basket and gestured for me to continue on about the store.
I could not believe this guy. The audacity of some demons.
Even though I hadn’t planned to grab anything else, I found myself adding things to the basket simply because I feared walking out the door and being alone with him in the parking lot. If I didn’t come back soon, Arrow would worry. I didn’t want him to come looking for me and become a target for Flint, although the Dragon King seemed to like him.
“Hey, I get it. You think I’m the bad guy. I understand why you would see it that way. But from my point of view, the bad guy might be you.” Flint flashed a toothy smile and gestured to his covered eye, enjoying my growing discomfort.
“You had that coming. You tried to hypnotize me. Does that little trick still work with only one eye?” As the words left my mouth another rush of adrenaline seared my veins. I didn’t care. Taking demon shit only led to bigger piles of shit, that whole give an inch and take a mile thing.
Flint’s laugh was as malicious as it was sexy. And it was damn sexy. “There’s that fighting spirit. Let’s see a little more of that. I’m not a fan of this trembling, nervous version of you.”
“And I’m not a fan of creepy demon stalkers who don’t know when to take a hint.” I lowered my voice when a woman at the end of the aisle glanced in our direction. “Leave me alone, Flint.”
“Not until you tell me about the rebellion. What is it?” His good humor vanished, and he blocked me against the cereal shelf with his body to prevent my easy escape.
Fear and anger warred to be i
n control. Anger won. “I don’t know, ok? If anything, you know more than I do. The only thing I know is that the Brotherhood wanted to kill me since the moment I was born. As for why? I couldn’t tell you. I wish I knew.”
Assessing me for any sign of a lie and finding none, Flint took a step back, giving me some breathing room. “Sounds like it’s time to have a talk with your guardian angel then, because from what I’m hearing, the underworld is bracing for impact.”
“What does that even mean? If there’s rebellion, I don’t know about it. And I’m sure as hell not starting it.”
The dragon seemed to second-guess himself before saying, “There’s a prophecy about a girl born of fire that will lead a rebellion. Sounds like you, firefly. But since nobody knows more than that, I suggest you watch your back. Because the angels won’t be the only ones gunning for you.”
“Thanks for the tip.” I snatched the basket from his hands, surprised by how heavy it had gotten. Then I marched off in the direction of the checkout.
I had heard about the prophecy. Cinder had said there were stories but that nobody knew for sure what it meant. I just wanted some quality time at home with my paramour before the immortals came banging down my door. Was that too much to ask?
Flint was just suddenly in front of me. I hadn’t seen him move. Holding both arms out to block me, he raised his hands in a plea. “Just hear me out. I’m still looking for a queen, and it sounds to me like you’re in need of protection. We can both get what we need here.”
My jaw dropped. “Seriously? You’re trying this again? Still not interested.”
“I can offer you everything you ever wanted. Protection. Power. I can make you a queen.” Flint’s sincerity was tainted by his arrogance and selfishness. He wanted me to be a possession, a trophy wife.
I’d never known a demon that didn’t have sinister intentions. Being a handsome dragon who ruled an alternate realm didn’t suddenly negate that.
“I’m not interested in being a political prop for you. Or some rare collectible to be hidden away in that nasty old castle with the rest of your treasure. Stay away from me, Flint, or the next time we meet, I’ll have your other eye.” Venom filled every word.
This time when I shoved past him, it was with the promise of violence. If Flint wanted another fight, he would get one.
He let me walk away.
I told myself not to look back, but I just couldn’t help it. The aisle where I had left him was empty.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A KISS TRIBUTE BAND rocked the stage at The Spirit Room. After a few much-needed nights of recovery at home, I’d decided it was time to venture back out into the world. My world.
It felt good to be back, even with the expected barrage of questions from friends and local fans. Jett and I sat at a table with the perfect view of the stage and a short walk to the bar. We were waiting on Sam and Arrow to arrive. Rowen, however, had been here since opening, if his level of intoxication was anything to go by.
So far he’d kept his distance but had slipped me a small two finger wave and a sly wink. Currently he entertained an excited local fangirl across the room, thankfully well out of earshot.
“This feels like home,” Jett said with a happy sigh. “I never thought I’d be so happy to be back. Kind of makes me want to punch myself in the face.”
Laughter peeled forth, and I lifted my glass to clink it against hers in cheers. “I hear you. I think I even missed Koda a little. But don’t tell him that.”
The demon in question was nowhere to be seen. That didn’t mean he wasn’t around.
After the incident with Flint the other night, I’d decided that no matter what, I had to keep my word. The promise that I’d made to myself. That neither angel nor demon would stand in my way of living my life the way I wanted. They could come for me. I would fight until I couldn’t fight anymore.
But if I wanted to be ready, I needed to know everything. That meant getting it all out of Cinder. Everything he’d refrained from telling me before the tour, it had to come out now.
“How’s everything going with Sam?” I offered a sympathetic smile. Jett had been counting down the days until the next full moon with dread.
She took a large drink of her whiskey and mustered a half-hearted shrug. “He’s doing great. Totally taking it like a champ. Every day he tells me to stop worrying about it, but how can I not? It’s a shitty thing to do to somebody.”
If anyone would know, it would be Jett. Although I did understand having a life forced on me that I might not have chosen for myself.
“I think you should listen to your boyfriend. Stop worrying about it. You’ll be there when it happens for the first time. That’s what matters. Don’t blame yourself. If you want to blame anybody, blame Paul.”
Together we stared over at the bar where Paul held a table of people captivated with tour stories. Most likely embellished beyond all reason. He had bought us a round of drinks but had otherwise stayed on his side of the bar with his friends. Just like the old days. Couldn’t have him getting all chummy with us now.
When I’d brought up a memory alteration to Cinder, he’d said the timeframe for that kind of thing had already passed. So Paul would always know that Jett and Sam were werewolves. He still didn’t have a name for the rest of us aside from our witch claim. I hoped to keep it that way.
“Can you believe that trickle dick knows about us? Of all fucking people.” Jett was absolutely disgusted that her secret had been discovered by Paul.
“Trickle dick?” I repeated. “Well he doesn’t technically know about me. He just knows I can do things I shouldn’t be able to do. I actually don’t think he’s going to tell anybody.”
Producing a thick joint from somewhere in the depths of her cleavage, Jett finished her drink and raised a brow. “Care to join me outside?”
She didn’t have to ask me twice. After the whirlwind trip we’d had, I was going to take all the mellow I could get.
We slipped outside to the parking lot, rounding the corner to where the employees parked. There was less foot traffic back there. An extra charge to the summer night air promised a storm before morning. I loved standing on my balcony during a nighttime storm, watching the rain pour down.
I accepted the joint when she passed it my way and sucked in a deep drag. “Just between you and me, I’m having my doubts about all this. Living a human life. Chasing a human dream. I can’t even do that without it backfiring somehow. After what Flint said, I’m not sure I should even bother trying.”
“Yeah, it definitely didn’t go down the way I thought it all would either. We can’t even play human without it becoming about everything else that we are.” Jett twisted her hair into a thick purple braid that fell over one shoulder. “It was still fun though. I would do it again.”
“Me too. But maybe not for a while. There’s a few things around here I need to get to the bottom of.” I handed her the joint and checked my phone.
Arrow was late. Knowing him, he’d simply lost track of time. But it could also mean that he had a shady run-in either with a demon or someone in the city’s drug scene. Arrow’s method of making a living put him in danger every night, though not any more than being a dark nephilim did. Despite what most might assume, the majority of his clients were rich businessmen and politicians. Not exactly the gangbanger type.
Before I could call or text him, three demons stepped out of the shadows. They moved quickly, like they had planned their attack. One of them grabbed Jett and pinned her to the wall of the nightclub. The other two came for me, knocking my phone out of my hands. They were well coordinated, each of them grabbing an arm and twisting it behind my back before I could even think of manifesting a fireball.
Although I braced for a true attack, they surprised me. One demon held my arms in a tight grip behind my back. It wrenched my shoulders behind me painfully, and I clenched my teeth against a pained cry. The other demon started looking me over, most especially sifting through my hair,
examining my scalp.
“Excuse me? What in the fuck are you doing? Get off me.” I twisted and jerked, trying to free myself from the tight hold.
They didn’t try to hurt me though, which only added to the confusion. Jett too was simply being restrained.
“Looking for the mark. Where is it?” The demon picking through my hair spoke with a heavy immortal accent. He didn’t likely speak human tongues very often.
“What mark? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” This time that claim was true. I didn’t know what they were looking for. “Maybe you have the wrong person.”
The demon holding my arms behind me scoffed. “We most definitely have the correct person, Ember Evans. The replicant daughter of Kai.”
Ok, so they had the right person. But I didn’t know what they were looking for. As the demon picking through my hair drew closer to the feather tied within it, I struggled harder.
I brought my leg up behind me and, with the heel of my boot, nailed the one holding me right in the groin. A whoosh of breath escaped him, and he doubled over. It weakened his hold enough that I was able to jerk free. I followed up with a good old fireball right in the face of the one pawing at me. He recoiled with a shriek.
The demon that held Jett backed off without putting up a fight. This whole demons fearing me thing was starting to freak me out. Fear could drive people to do things far deadlier than any other emotion.
Wary of having a bar patron happen along, I didn’t throw anymore fire. But I was ready. Rather than engage, the demons backed away, looking at one another.
“Did you see anything?” asked the one who’d held Jett.
“No, nothing. I don’t think it’s there. Maybe it’s not her.”
“It’s definitely her.”
They were gone as fast as they’d come, slipping back into the shadows where they disappeared entirely. I exchanged a confused look with Jett who continued to puff away on the joint.
“You don’t know what they were looking for?” She waited for my headshake and then said, “It’s time to have a sit down with Cinder. He needs to tell you everything.”