Breathe Into Me

by Nikki Drost

  “When you left me and don’t worry, angel, it’s not like I’ll get cancer.”

  Well that must be nice. I’ll deal with his unhealthy habits later.

  “We need to get Lincoln out of jail and hunt that bastard down. He’s probably behind all of the murders,” Cass says.

  “Yeah, but it’s not like we have a fucking clue where to start. We don’t even have a fucking name,” Jamie adds.

  “I’m going to the station to check on, Lincoln. I want everyone at the house. We’ll figure out what to do when I get back.” Micah turns and jogs toward his bike.

  “Go pack a bag, angel, you’re coming home with me.”

  Chapter 14

  “What a fucking mess.” I stare at the lake and the inky black water seems to reflect my mood. I light up a smoke and try to make sense of the cluster fuck of a situation we’re in now. I should be inside with Andy, but at this moment, I don’t know how to feel about her. When Gary had called me and told me to get to her house, I was sure that I was walking into my worst nightmare. Instead, it was Lincoln’s.

  If Andy had told us sooner this might have been prevented. I’m incredibly thankful that she’s safe, but I’m so pissed at myself. I never should have left her unprotected. Not only did that coyote know where she worked, but he had also been outside of her home. Any number of things could have happened to her, all because of me.

  “Hey.”

  I take a drag off my smoke and let the nicotine do its job. “Hey, angel.” I force myself to stay where I am, if I hold her, I’ll lose focus and my head needs to be in the game. Her nearness causes my body to stiffen to a painful degree. Now is definitely not the time, my hard on will have to wait.

  “I’m so sorry, Adam, not just for tonight, but for everything.”

  I close my eyes and let her words sink in. “I’m sorry I yelled. I never should have disrespected you like that.”

  She wraps her arms around my waist as her head rests against my back. She’ll never know how sorry I am, not just for losing my temper, or the death of her friend, but for putting her in the cross hairs of that psychopath.

  “Thank you for letting me stay here, I could have stayed with Gary, but...”

  I quickly cut her off. “You belong here, Andy, you’re my mate remember?”

  She begins to pull away from me. “You still want to be with me after the way I treated you?”

  I turn around and face her. “Andy I love you, yes it hurt me when you left, but it wasn’t’ entirely your fault. I’ve always known what I am. I grew up knowing what evils lurked in the shadows. I should’ve taken into account how scary this whole thing would be for you. I dumped this entire mess in your lap all at once when I should have eased you into it.” I tuck a strand of her silky hair behind her ear and begin caressing her cheek. God her skin is so soft, memories of how her skin felt against mine sends chills over my body.

  “I have to be honest with you. Most of what you told me still freaks me out and I have a lot of questions, but I’m not scared of you, Adam. I think it’s kind of amazing what you can do.”

  I shake my head. “You say that now, angel, but you have no idea what I’m really capable of.”

  God if she knew half the things I’ve done to protect mankind, she’d be horrified.

  “So tell me, I want to know everything about you and your world.”

  I begin to argue, but she covers my mouth with her fingers.

  “If we are going to make this work I deserve to know it all.”

  I move away from her and begin to pace. “The last time I revealed things you left me. Do you honestly think that you can handle anymore right now?”

  “Adam, I just found my friend’s dead body in front of my house, my asshole ex-boyfriend is in town, and there is a killer on the loose and that’s just the stuff that’s happened in the last few hours. If anything, I need a distraction. I promise I won’t go anywhere.”

  God I know I’m going to regret this, but she’s right. She deserves to know everything.

  “I was born in Worcestershire, England on October 14, 1761. While my mother was giving birth to me, a tornado destroyed most of the city and a neighboring town. When my parents saw my brand they believed it to be a sign from god.” They were almost right.

  “Jeez, so are your parents still alive?”

  I take a drag off my smoke and continue my story, “My father is, but my mother died while giving birth to my brother, Landon, I was two at the time so I don’t really remember her. After she died, my father brought us to America along with my uncle Zach. My other two uncles stayed behind. I also have a younger sister named Izabella, my father remarried in 1877.” I leave out the part about having a bitch for a stepmother and sadistic half-brother. It’s not as if she’ll be meeting my family anyways.

  “I’m sorry, Adam. I can’t imagine what it’s like not knowing one of your parents.”

  I nod at her words. Personally, I think it would’ve been worse if I had known my mother and then lost her.

  “I grew up here in Westhaven our home was actually on this property. My dad gave me the land so we could build a safe place for Enforcers to live and train.”

  “How did you learn you had powers?”

  I point toward a spot near the shoreline. “It was my tenth birthday, and my brother and I were playing right over there. I don’t remember what happened, but he started to cry, and wouldn’t stop. I panicked and tried to come up with ways to cheer him up. I tried everything, but nothing worked. So I brought him over to those trees over there so I could make him a pile of leaves to play in, but there were hardly any on the ground and I remember wishing for a huge gust of wind and that’s when it happened. The wind picked up and leaves began to fall all around us like rain. Landon was so happy he started to laugh and dance around. I on the other hand was scared to death. I thought I had been cursed by a witch or something.” I shake my head at the memory.

  “After I had brought my brother back into the house I came back outside and tried it again and that’s when Raphael appeared.” I glance toward Andy. She’s been awfully quite during my story. She has a look of awe on her face.

  “What?” I ask as she begins to chuckle.

  “You are too cute. When I was that age, if Kelsey started crying, I’d call her a name and pull her hair.”

  I roll my eyes at her. “That’s what you got from my story? Not that I thought I had been cursed or that I was terrified?” Women, I’ll never understand them.

  “I’m sorry, you’re right that must have been scary. Tell me about him, I mean I can’t imagine what it’s like to know an honest to god Angel.”

  “I was never scared of him. I think I was more in awe than anything else. Raphael seemed larger than life, strong, wise, and powerful. He would show up once a week and teach me how to control my powers, and about my new world. The Archangel was like a second father to me.” Raphael had even given me advice on women. I can still hear his voice in my head.

  “One day my son you will fall in love and start a family, you must remember to cherish what you have been given. Never take them for granted, always show them your love and devotion. Love, joy, and laughter, my son, those are the keys to a happy life.”

  “You love him.”

  I nod my head even though it wasn’t a question. “I miss him to, especially at times like this. He always gave the best advice. Although I think if he saw the mess that I’ve made of things he’d probably smite my ass into next week. He always used to say how special I was and how I’d become this great man, I bet he’s rethinking that now.”

  Andy suddenly jumps out of her seat and stands before me. “Adam Stone you are a great man, even before I knew about your gifts I thought that you were too good to be true. None of this is your fault, you have to believe that.”

  I wish I could have the same faith in myself that Andy does, but the guilt of the situation is eating me alive. “You said you had questions, ask away.” I need to focus on something else
before I start to drown in guilt.

  “Nice change of subject, I’ll let it go this time. Okay first question what can you do with your powers?”

  Well that’s an easy one to answer. “Besides summoning the wind I can manifest and control tornados, cyclones, and hurricanes.” I’ll leave out the fact that I can remove air from someone’s lungs or enclosed spaces.

  “That’s impressive, Okay next question you said that you are immortal does that mean you can’t die?”

  I suddenly realize that this must have been how Raphael felt when I would ask him tons of questions. I’m actually happy with her enthusiasm. “What I’m about to tell you isn’t common knowledge, we don’t usually share our weaknesses with humans. If you wanted to kill a shifter, you would have two options, beheading, or a silver knife to the heart. Piercing the heart won’t do it. You’d have to shred the heart for it to take effect. Silver bullets would work, but you would need a lot of them and we aren’t going to stand there and allow you to shoot us.”

  She seems to be contemplating what I’ve said when her scent changes. “This is the type of danger you face every day isn’t it?”

  I nod my head. “Yes, and someday my enemies will succeed in taking my life. It’s inevitable, Andy. You also need to know that as long as you’re with me you’ll be in danger and so will our children.” I might as well warn her now.

  “If that’s the price I have to pay to be with you, than I accept.”

  I can hear the sincerity in her voice and it only makes me love her more.

  “I love you, Andy, and I will give my own life to keep you safe and happy.” I pull her close and breathe in her scent.

  “I love you too, and I hope it never comes to that. Our time together is going to be short as it is.”

  I immediately start to panic at her words. “Why, are you planning on leaving me again?” Dear god, I don’t think I could live through that again.

  “No, but you’re immortal and I’m not. I’ll grow old while you stay the same.”

  I throw my head back in laughter. “I can make you immortal, angel.” God I’m an idiot for not mentioning that tid bit sooner. “I can’t make you a shifter, but you could spend eternity with me just as you are.” God I hope she wants that as much as I do.

  “So I’d never age, or get sick, but your mom…”

  I cut her off before she begins to panic. “My mother was human and also sixteen when she met my father. She wanted to age a bit before she became immortal.” My dad thought he would have an eternity with his mate and only received six years. I never understood his pain until now. I couldn’t imagine only having that short amount of time with Andy.

  “God that’s so sad.”

  I have to agree with her. “Come on, angel, let’s get you something to eat.” I lead her inside and find Grace busy in the kitchen. Poor woman has been upset since she heard the news about Lincoln and, by the looks of it, she’s cooked enough food to feed an entire army.

  “Evening, Grace.”

  She nods her head refusing to look at me and that’s when I’m hit with her emotions. I pull the woman into my arms.

  “It’ll be Okay Grace, Lincoln will be home soon.”

  She quickly wipes the tears from her eyes. “I know, I just feel awful for what he’s going through and the thought of my baby sitting in jail, it just breaks my heart.”

  I don’t like the thought of him being there either. Shifters, just like humans, have regular jobs, for all we know some of the guards could be our enemies.

  “Grace, the man is fifty-nine years old. I think he can take care of himself.” I need to get her to focus on something else or she’ll worry herself to death.

  “It doesn’t matter how old he is, what if the Feds figure out what he is? He’d end up in some government facility being poked and prodded or dissected like some sort of an experiment.” Unfortunately, that is one of our fears. It’s a major reason why we don’t go to hospitals.

  “Micah is with him, Grace, if anything like that happened he would call in back up and memories would be erased.”

  Thank god, that man knows some friendly vampires. Their mind control comes in handy from time to time.

  “You guys can erase minds?”

  I shake my head at my mate. “No, luv, but vampires can.” At least with the humans anyways. Shifters can only be controlled by magic, which is why witches are so dangerous.

  “I know you’re right, but I won’t be able to relax until I see that boy walk through the front door.”

  I pull out my phone and try to call Micah, but it goes straight to voicemail. That's never happened before he always answers his phone.

  “Have you heard from my brother?” Jamie asks as he and Cass enter the kitchen.

  “I just tried calling him, but the call went to voicemail.” I watch my best friend as he begins to pace.

  “Fuck, what the hell is going on down there? Micah should’ve been back hours ago.”

  Jamie’s right it’s been hours since Linc was taken into custody, we should’ve heard something by now. Jamie places a cigarette between his lips just as a flame appears in the palm of his hand.

  “Oh my god,” Andy gasps.

  “Damn it, James,” I could wring his neck for that.

  “What? It’s not like she doesn’t know we have powers.” He lights his smoke then makes a fist and the flame is extinguished.

  “Doesn’t that hurt?”

  Jamie rolls his eyes. “I could jump naked into a volcano and waltz out of there without so much as a blister.”

  Andy stares at my friend in awe. “That’s so cool.”

  Cass looks more annoyed than impressed. “Yes he’s very impressive you should see him on the Fourth of July, now can we focus here? We can’t sit on our asses and do nothing. I say we go to the crime scene and see if we can pick up that coyotes scent.”

  I shake my head at my brother. “Micah said to stay here and that’s what we’re going to do.” I understand Cass’s restlessness, but Micah would kill us if we disobeyed an order.

  “So what, we’re supposed to sit on our hands and just wait? Fuck that, I’m going with or without you two.” Cass turns to leave, but Jamie grabs him and slams him face first into the wall.

  “You are fucking staying here whether you like it or not. My brother has enough shit to deal with and you are not going to add to it. When he gets back we will find that coyote and kill him. Until then we wait.” He releases Cass and steps away from him.

  Cass’s eyes change from turquoise to bright cobalt. Shit, I grab Andy and pull her behind the island.

  “Put your hands on me again, James, and we’ll see whose powers are more impressive,” he growls.

  “Bring it on, aqua man,” Jamie fires back.

  I’ve had enough of this, I throw my hands out, and both males slam into opposite walls.

  “Are you two done?”

  They struggle to break free, but the air around them keeps them immobile. “You know I can hold you here all night, I suggest you two go to your separate corners and behave.” In this moment, I pity Micah for having to deal with this on a constant basis.

  “Fine now let us down,” Cass sighs. I release them and they drop to their feet.

  “Jesus, remind me never to piss any of you off.”

  I pull Andy into my arms. “We’d never use our powers on you, angel, you have nothing to worry about.”

  ***

  Several hours later Micah still isn’t back and he’s been unreachable. After I fed my mate and dealt with my idiot brothers, Andy and I curled up on the couch together, it didn’t take her long to pass out in my arms. I opted for the couch instead of my bed. I knew if I took her upstairs, I’d end up making love to her all night and she’s in no shape for that. The poor girl is exhausted. I glance at the clock on the mantle it’s almost midnight.

  Where the hell is Micah? If he isn’t home soon we’ll have no choice, but to go out and look for him. I try not to panic, Micah is s
trong, and with his powers, he’s unstoppable, I’m sure he’s fine. I hold Andy close and relish in the fact that she’s here and has fully accepted what I am. We still have so much to work out, but it should be a lot simpler now that she knows the truth. Just as I start to close my eyes, the front door crashes open. Micah slams the door shut and makes his way into the kitchen. Andy awakens in my arms as Micah takes a seat in his favorite chair.

  “Sorry, Andy, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  She rubs the sleep from her eyes. “It’s okay.”

  Jamie and Cass join us from upstairs. “Where’s Linc?” Cass asks.

  “Jail, the Feds haven’t charged him yet. I’m guessing their going to wait for the autopsy report.” Curses begin to fill the room.

  “Liv couldn’t get him out?”

  Micah takes a swig from his bottle of scotch before answering Andy’s question. “She’s a good attorney, but your ex seems to be well versed in the law. Our boy is staying put until the report either clears him or he’s charged and we bail him out.”

  Great, how can this situation get any worse?

  “How good is your ex at his job?” Micah asks.

  “Keith sucks as a human being, but unfortunately he’s a good cop.”

  Micah runs his hand over his goatee.

  “That’s what I was afraid of, if he digs too far into our past he’ll have to be dealt with.”

  Andy stiffens beside me. “You’re not going to kill him are you?”

  I try to calm the jealousy I instantly feel. Her concern for her ex has nothing to do with left over feelings for him. She just doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt.

  “Of course not, but his mind will have to be erased. You have to understand, Andy. We have to protect our secret. If Agent Spencer starts to connect the dots, he’ll be able to tie us all too multiple murders and disappearances, we could all end up behind bars.”

  Jamie begins to laugh. “That’ll be real fucking fun on a full moon.”

  He’s right we’d be stuck in a cage with nowhere to hide.

  “It gets worse we have a couple of new shadows.” Micah lights a smoke and begins to explain. “When I left the station I went to the bar, I wanted to ask Finn if he knew the name of that coyote. Two seconds out of the parking lot, I spotted Agent Spencer and his partner trailing me. So I went into the bar, snuck out the back, shifted, and made my way to the crime scene. It was too contaminated to get a definite hit so I went back to The Boonies, got a name, and came home. Do you want to guess who’s parked outside?”