by Trina M. Lee
I was ready this time and deflected it with the Midnight Star. It ricocheted back to him, momentarily knocking him off balance. I didn’t waste time with any more banter. Instead I rushed forward and swung the sword, sending a shot of fire down the blade. The flame found its target. It caught the arm of his jacket. He whirled around a few times trying to wave it out.
Clutching the sword tight, I prepared to ram it into his torso. He ducked the first swing and dodged the next. Each time I came at him, the blade just missed its mark. As I continued to use the sword to deflect his magic blows right back to him, he went full on physical and threw a punch that caught me in the side of the face.
Jett jumped in then to slash claws viciously across his throat. He healed immediately and took her down with a sudden leg sweep. I got the feeling he wasn’t using a lot of power because he didn’t want me to know what all he had in his arsenal. It led me to wonder just how dangerous he thought me to be as a thief.
“Look, asshole, I really don’t need this shit today. It’s starting to look like you took a random shot and now you’re not sure what the hell you’re really doing here. So why don’t you save us both some trouble and just take off?” Frustrated and needing to unleash some pent-up emotion, I slammed the heel of my hand into his nose. Because the idiot had picked the wrong time to mess with me, I followed that with a kick to his balls.
Demons might recover quickly but that tended to slow down just about anyone. The impact doubled him over, but when I came at him with the sword, he threw up an energy wall between us. I’d hacked my way through one of these walls before, and I was willing to do it again. It took just three swings for the Midnight Star to take it down.
He began to throw psi balls at me, one after the other, in an attempt to push me back. Most of them I deflected with my blade. One slammed into my shoulder, knocking me breathless and spinning me around.
“You can’t escape us, thief. We’ll just keep coming. If Wren doesn’t kill you, we’ll make sure you wish he had.” He wasn’t the first shithead demon to tell me that being a thief would get me killed. But he also wasn’t going to be the one to do it.
“Yeah, yeah, so I’ve been told.” When the demon grunted, I was pretty sure the second crotch hit had been successful. “I don’t have time to waste on bottom feeders like you. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be on my way.” I reached to touch the feather tied into my hair.
Taking a chance and hoping he didn’t have the ice element, I tried to take him by surprise by sending ice down the blade of my sword. A weapon all its own, the ice formed a dagger-like shard. It flew from the blade and plunged into his chest.
He shrieked. Naturally he reached to jerk it free.
I took the opportunity to slide the sword between his ribs. The Midnight Star tasted the demon’s blood. That was all it took. Then he was gone, back to the other side.
I would have preferred a dramatic decapitation but making this quick and easy was vital. We were in a public place after all, and the last thing I needed was Nova and his Circle breathing down my neck for stepping out of line.
Jett and I hurried to load the groceries into the car and get out of there before anyone else could accost us. Especially Wren. I wasn’t ready to face him yet. But he had Cinder, so I knew I would have to soon.
The throb in my face and shoulder were minimal as far as damage went. And yet the pain was a reminder that Wren was far from my only threat. He might not even be the greatest one I had yet to face.
Because I was a constant target. A thief. One who could steal the power from both angels and demons.
It wasn’t the demons that scared me the most. Not by a long shot.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Again I found myself with a poor appetite, picking at my food. There was nothing wrong with it. Rotisserie chicken had to be one of the finest aromas on the planet. However, I just couldn’t stomach it.
The five of us sat clustered around my kitchen table. Jett and I on one side across from Arrow and Sam with Rowen on the end. The guys had gone home during the afternoon to shower and gather a few things.
We all knew that we couldn’t hide out in my apartment forever. We had to take action.
Jett raised a glass of red wine and swirled it like she was some kind of connoisseur. We all knew she was more of a whiskey-on-the-rocks girl. “So I think it’s pretty evident that Cinder is missing, and we need to do something about that. This is the part where we come up with a plan, preferably without argument, although I’m cool with that too if you guys want to make it sexy and at least arm wrestle or something.” Raising a brow as if imagining such an event, Jett perused the three of them with a leer.
“I don’t think there’s room to argue,” Arrow spoke up. “We’re going to have to lure Wren out. No matter what we do, he’s going to come for Spike. So we make it easy for him, and then we turn the tables.”
“How?” Rowen regarded his brother with stern contemplation. “How do you think we’re going to just turn the tables on him?”
I held a cold glass of vodka and cranberry juice to the side of my face. It had bruised nicely after the hit I took from the demon in the grocery store parking lot. Rowen had taken one look at it and shook his head regretfully. He seemed to forget that this was what we were called to do. Taking a punch or two was nothing.
“Well, I don’t know, Rowen. That’s what we’re gathered here to figure out.” Arrow shoved his empty plate aside and pulled a bag of weed out of his pocket. Ignoring the glare Rowen shot his way, he set about rolling a joint.
“We just need to find a way to keep Wren on his toes. If he comes for Spike, he’ll take her to Cinder. And we all go with.” Jett shrugged like it was simple enough. She glanced from brother to brother as if expecting someone to argue.
Waiting wasn’t an option. “Tomorrow night,” I said. “After we play the Valentine’s Day show, I’ll make myself conveniently available somewhere that puts me in a vulnerable position. An empty parking lot or even our jam space. Somewhere he’ll feel more than confident coming for me. As long as I’m stuck inside this apartment, he doesn’t have a chance, and we don’t find Cinder.”
A gentle touch on the inside of my ankle drew my gaze to Arrow. He never looked up from rolling his joint, but there was no doubt that his foot lightly bumped against mine.
He was playing footsies with me? Cute, and entirely unexpected from a guy like him.
I kept my expression neutral, waiting for a response from the table.
Sam sat back, drinking a beer, observing since he wouldn’t be part of this. It was too dangerous for him.
Rowen popped a cherry tomato in his mouth and shrugged. “I guess that’s that then.”
I met Rowen’s fiery eyes. Would it ever get any easier to look at him? “I don’t see any other way. There’s just no time to come up with anything else. Confronting Wren is our only option.”
We shared a look, he and I. Something unspoken passed between us. Something that felt like a bridge burned. A door closed. A lock turned and the key lost forever. Why did endings have to be so damn hard? Goodbye was loaded with so much promise. A promise I didn’t want to have to keep.
Having feelings for more than one person was one thing. Having feelings for brothers, well, that was another. Jett said it was ok, that shit happened. But it didn’t feel ok.
Again I had to remind myself that wanting someone didn’t mean needing them. Fuck, that harsh reality stung.
Jett raised her wine glass in a dramatic toast. “Tomorrow night then. We rock the faces off a bunch of Valentine’s Day-hating singles, and then we kick some demon ass.”
“Right.” Rowen rolled his eyes and reached for the wine bottle in the middle of the table. “I’m sure it’ll go down just like that.”
“Christ, Rowen,” Arrow muttered, “lighten up.”
“Don’t bust my ass because I don’t want to rush a senseless plan and see Spike get her ass kicked. Or worse. Someone has to be the rational o
ne around here.” Rowen refilled his glass to the brim with wine and drank back a large gulp.
Arrow twisted the end of the perfectly shaped joint he’d rolled and slid a scowl Rowen’s way. “This is you being rational? My bad. Looked more like you being unable to remove that stick from your ass.”
Sam let out a low whistle. A hush fell over the table. Arrow and Rowen stared intently at one another.
“Can’t possibly imagine what caused that,” Rowen seethed.
Arrow sat up straighter, shoulders squared, ready for a confrontation. “That’s what happens when you take yourself too seriously. You need to chill, bro.”
“I think you’re chill enough for all of us.” Rowen sniped back.
I raised my fist to pound the table.
Jett reacted first. She stood up and snatched Arrow’s joint. “And on that note, I say we spark this baby up and all chill the fuck out for a while. There’ll be enough opportunity to tighten up tomorrow night.” She pulled a lighter from her pocket and flicked the flame.
I stopped her with a hand on her arm. “On the balcony please. I don’t want to smoke out my neighbors.”
She sighed. “Ugh, fine. Who’s coming to smoke this?”
Rowen and Sam declined, opting to drink and play video games. Sam had brought over his XBOX, and there’d been nothing but gunshot noises and shouting since.
As soon as the three of us gathered on the balcony, Jett promptly lit up. I plucked the joint from between her fingers. Other than a little vodka, it was my only vice these days. Unless dark nephilim counted. I sucked the smooth smoke into my lungs, savoring the sensation. Then I passed it to Arrow who made sure our hands touched. The slightest contact. A sly caress.
“Rowen’s in a real mood, huh?” Jett nodded toward the balcony door. “He must know how close you two came to bumping uglies in the laundry room.”
Arrow’s brows lifted and he chuckled. “No secrets between you two is there?”
“Nope,” Jett confirmed. “I’m always in the know. Never expect otherwise.”
“Actually,” I piped up. “I don’t think he does know. But he kind of caught us together afterward. Nothing was going on, but it was enough to upset him.”
Jett accepted the joint from Arrow as he passed it. She seemed oblivious to the cold that bit at my nose and face. “Too bad the three of you can’t just have some sister-wife arrangement but, you know, in reverse.” When Arrow and I stared at her like she’d grown a second head, she scoffed. “What? It’s a thing. I’m sure it can go both ways.”
“Fuck that shit,” Arrow muttered, dragging on his cigarette.
“Um, no,” I agreed. “That is most definitely not an option, nor do I ever want it to be.”
Leave it to Jett to embarrass me by saying something so ridiculous. Society had come a long way in accepting various types of relationships. That might work for some people, but I was not one of them. My heart and my body could only belong to one man at a time.
I shivered from the bitter chill, and Arrow moved closer to shield me from the wind. I leaned into him, knowing that Rowen’s attention was dominated by the videogame but wary just the same. I didn’t want any more drama tonight.
“Ok, so no sister-wife-with-brothers deal.” Jett passed the joint my way. “Well, I’d suggest the two of you keep any naughty behavior on the down low until this all blows over. Rowen is good in a fight, and we need him to stay that way.”
Arrow and I exchanged a look. Feeling awkward and wishing my best friend wasn’t always so blunt, I said, “I doubt there’ll be any time for naughty behavior, Jett. Demons and whatnot.”
Lips pursed, Jett shook her head with judgmental derision. “Don’t be stupid. That’s the best time to fuck your brains out. Before a fight. I know in sports they think the athletes should hold off on sex until after a game, but they’re all wrong. Fuck first. Then fight. It loosens you up, calms the brain, and helps you focus. All good things.”
Some of that actually made sense. But I wasn’t about to say so.
We finished up and were about to head inside when Arrow caught my arm. Holding me back as Jett went ahead, he whispered naughtily into my ear, “I’m all for doing whatever it takes to ensure success.”
The warmth of his lips on my ear sent a shockwave down my spine. I gave him a playful jab with my elbow. Before following Jett inside, I replied with a hushed, “I’ll be sure to let you know if I need you to take one for the team.”
Arrow’s mischievous chuckle drew Rowen’s gaze. He glanced between us in wonder, like he wasn’t sure how the hell his dirtbag brother had gotten so close to me. And then he remembered it was because he’d abandoned me when I needed him most. Looking resigned, Rowen turned back to the game.
It was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“There’s an impressive amount of people here. Nice to see that the hatred for V Day is alive and well.” Poking her head out of the dressing room door, Jett appraised the crowd gathered in front of the stage. “You know, Sam got me a bottle of my favorite whiskey. The good shit. I might love that man.”
The opening band was halfway through their set. We played next. Try as I might to get my head in the zone, I couldn’t stop thinking about what we were going to attempt tonight.
I did a brief makeup check. Red lips, smoky eyes. Everything as it should be. My black hair lay in soft curls down my back, at Jett’s insistence. She’d forced me to do more than brush it and leave it, so I’d threatened to shave it all off again into the spiky mohawk that had earned me my nickname.
“Do it. I dare you.” She promptly called my bluff, knowing I’d never do it. My spiky hair days were over.
Arrow and Rowen were supposed to be here soon. Jett had made Sam promise to stay away tonight. To stay safe. She really did care about him. I’d taken the opportunity to tease her relentlessly until she’d threatened me with claws.
“I can feel how tense you are.” Jett stuck both hands in her hair and fluffed up her purple curls. “You so didn’t get laid. Why don’t you take my advice? I’m rarely wrong.”
“When did you have time to get laid?” I stared at her, aghast. We’d all been in my apartment together up until a few hours ago. “You know what? Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
She snickered but saved me the gory details. “It’s not too late. Call Arrow. Tell him to meet you in here. We’ll leave.”
Tash and Rubi both responded with eye rolls and laughter. Jett could be such a pain in the ass. And she knew it too.
“Arrow will get here when he gets here. And until then, I have a show to prepare for.” I dug around in my bag for the clothes I’d brought. Having come to the venue in yoga pants and a hoodie, I slipped into tight leather pants and a cropped Molly’s Chamber t-shirt.
“That’s some risky attire, Spike.” Rubi looked me over with a teasing grin. “For a girl that claims she’s not looking for action, you pretty much scream the opposite.”
Tash joined in with a nod and slapped my ass. “Damn, that’s tight. You could bounce a quarter off that thing.”
“You guys suck.” My attempt to glower at them was thwarted by laughter. Letting the girls lighten the mood was needed. There was no telling how the night would end, but I had control over how it started.
Forty-five minutes later we were on stage. In a venue we didn’t play often, with a crowd of singles looking to party and probably hook up, the music sang especially loud in my veins tonight. The Gibson guitar that had worn my makeup stains, fingerprints, and tears responded to my touch like it had been made for me. I lost myself in the instrument. My fingers flew over the strings. Jett’s raspy voice reverberated in my ears. Rubi maintained a steady beat that held us all together while Tash brought that ever essential bass groove. My hair fell in my face, and I lost myself in the moment. The cacophony of voices faded. I didn’t just play the music. I became it. Deep within me it was born, pouring out through my fingers. It brought me to life like nothin
g else could.
By the time we played our last song, I was running on pure adrenaline. Perspiration marked my brow. A solo screamed from my guitar. The power of the instrument nearly brought me to my knees. I tossed my hair from my face and looked up to find Arrow watching me from the side of the stage. Hazel eyes locked on grey blue. Raw desire burned in Arrow’s gaze. With something more. Admiration.
I slipped him a sly smile before moving to the other side of the stage. When I glanced back in that direction, he was gone.
Thankful for top-quality, sweat-resistant makeup, I exited the stage to find Arrow waiting in the dressing room. He lounged on the small sofa in the tiny room. The Spirit Room had a much nicer dressing area.
Right away I noticed the size of his pupils. “Killed it, ladies. As always.” He greeted us with a lazy drawl to his tone. Black hair fell into his face, like he tried to hide behind it.
“How long have you been back here?” I asked, putting my guitar in its case.
“I don’t know. I came back about halfway through your set. I thought Rowen would be here by now. Not sure what’s taking him so long.” Arrow peered up at me, wary as I stood over him.
Several red flags waved as I looked him over. His pupils were so wide his eyes were almost black. Again his hands shook. His face was flushed. This was all a bad sign.
I ran a hand over the table in front of him, not at all surprised when a thin film of white powder clung to my palm. “How much of this shit did you do, Arrow?”
Jett paused next to him, studying him close enough to make him lean away as if he could escape her. “His heartbeat is too fast. It’s abnormal.”
Arrow blinked at me, totally wired. “Um, I’m not sure. Probably shouldn’t have had that last line. It’s cool. I’m fine. We should go find Rowen.”
“Are you ok?” I glanced toward Jett, feeling uneasy. I’d seen Arrow do a lot of coke. He always seemed to know where to draw the line. No pun intended. What had brought on this lapse in judgment? “Seriously. I think you overdid it. Why the hell would you do that? Doesn’t seem like you to go so far.” I sat on the couch beside him and grabbed his face, forcing him to meet my gaze.