Strength (Mark of Nexus #1)

by Carrie Butler

  “Oh, hey.”

  “Hey,” he echoed, eyeing me as I gave the door a hard shove with my hip. “Car trouble?”

  “It won’t start.” I glowered at the sky. Honestly, what had I done to piss off the universe this weekend? Could one thing go right? Just one?

  “Looks like you picked up some new dents, too.”

  “Huh?”

  “The hood.”

  I followed his gaze, and lo and behold, there were a few dents marring the silver finish. My feet moved of their own volition, carrying me to the front of the car. Those hadn’t been there before. I would’ve noticed them. Though currently in my possession, The Beast was still bound to Drew in spirit. If anything happened to it, he’d have my head on a platter.

  I ran my fingertips over the surface. “What the hell…?”

  “What?” Aiden asked, starting to come closer.

  “Nothing,” I said in a rush. “Hey, do me a favor and pop the hood.” At some point, there had to have been something pressed into the underside. There was a bump between every dip in the metal, and they were evenly placed. Had something snapped off while I was driving?

  He gave me a puzzled look, but complied anyway. Seconds later, the hood sprang up, and I slid my fingers underneath. That was when it hit me.

  The dents were a handprint—a big, stupid-ass handprint. I tightened my grip as I raised the hood. Wallace...

  “See anything?”

  I nearly jumped out of my skin when Aiden came around the side, inspecting the mess of boxes and wires and other things I didn’t understand. “What?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “I thought you were trying to figure out why your car won’t start.”

  “Oh, yeah, that.” I scanned what I assumed to be the engine and shrugged, slamming the hood back down. “No clue.” Aside from the missing battery.

  “Valiant effort, anyway.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed, locking up. “You leaving?”

  “Nah, just have to grab a book I left behind. Why? You need to go somewhere?”

  His words triggered an idea, like a flash of lightning in the miserable, pewter sky. I would find my way to Wallace, one way or another. “Yeah, actually, I was about to leave town. You see, a…friend of mine is about to lose someone close to him, and I don’t think he’ll be able to handle it on his own.”

  It was the truth. If I didn’t get to wherever the hell Wallace was racing toward, he was going to lose what was left of his humanity. A gentle guy like him, in a situation where he might have to take another life? There was no way he’d recover from that. Not this time.

  Aiden’s mouth pulled down in sympathy. “Aww, man. That’s awful. You know you’re more than welcome to borrow my car, if you need to.”

  I crossed my arms over my stomach, trying to contain the guilt gnawing at my insides. Why did I feel bad when I wasn’t even lying about the situation? Not technically. I tucked the useless keys into my jacket pocket and gave him a sheepish smile. It was something I’d have to worry about later. “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Of course not,” he said. “It’s you.” He gave me a crooked grin, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “I trust you.”

  “And I appreciate it.” Tears welled up in my eyes, filthy with shame and regret. I took a few steps forward and threw my arms around his neck. “You’re a good friend, Aiden.”

  He stiffened and patted my back with a nervous chuckle. “It’s just a car.”

  I laughed, wiping at my eyes as I pulled away. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  “Just let me grab my book.” He shook his head and made for the second row of the lot. Oblivious to everything, as usual.

  I followed close behind, hating myself for what I was about to do. What could I say to soften the blow? “Hey, you should wear your green shirt for that date on Wednesday.”

  He turned around and quirked an eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Yeah, you look good in it.”

  “You know it’s just a tutoring session, right?” He looked down and shuffled toward his Jetta. “I mean, I’m sure Gabby told you.”

  “Pfft.” I dismissed his explanation with a wave of my hand. “When is a tutoring session ever just a tutoring session? Anything could happen.”

  He snickered and threw a glance at me over his shoulder. “Now you sound like Gabby.”

  I cringed. “Oh, great. I better get out of town before she shows up to gloat.”

  We both laughed, and I did my best to ignore the weight sinking into my chest. What was I giving up to rush into some battle that wasn’t even mine to fight? My steps slowed, and I stared at the cracks in the pavement beneath my feet. This wasn’t a game. It was a matter of life and death, and there’d be no turning back after this.

  Was it worth it?

  “Got it,” Aiden announced, and jogged past me, book in hand. “Be careful, okay?”

  He tossed me the keys, and I nodded, forcing myself to smile. “Thanks.”

  That was it. All I could take. I turned away, letting everything I held dear and familiar fade into the background. This—standing at Wallace’s side—was what I’d said I wanted.

  It was time to prove it.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  “Where am I going?” I muttered, watching my knuckles turn white as I gripped the wheel. If I were Wallace, the damn thing would’ve cracked by now. Cold weather, my ass.

  I’d been driving for hours, playing hot and cold with the Mark of Nexus, and it was starting to get to me. I’d already turned around twice, trying to follow its weak pulse. Now I was driving around the boonies, and for what? To save my knight in distress?

  Maybe I was delusional.

  Considering the fact that I’d freaked out and called home a while ago, it was likely. My family was one of the only aspects of my life left grounded in reality. Before I rushed into some supernatural battlefield, I’d needed to hear their voices again.

  Of course, I’d kept it brief. The only thing I shared about my current situation was the fact that I’d met someone and was on my way to visit him. My mom was ecstatic—my dad, not so much. I didn’t even consider telling Drew. When I called him, it went straight to voicemail. Thank God. I didn’t have a story prepared, and the last thing I wanted was for him to get all huffy about my new boyfriend. I’d mentioned something about getting a new tire and hung up.

  I glanced over my shoulder to check my blind spot and changed lanes. Was I getting closer? It felt like it, but there was no way to be sure. What if I ended up driving around in circles all nigh—

  My phone blasted a song from the passenger seat. Oh, great. Drew had probably gotten my message. I sighed and reached over, snatching the phone to turn the speaker on. “Hello?”

  “Whatever you’re doing, I don’t like it.”

  Wallace’s voice hung in the air, and I dropped the phone in my lap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Oops, reflex lie.

  “Rena, so help me, if you’re following us…” he trailed off.

  “You’ll do what?” I countered, frowning at the road. “Tie me up again? Leave me somewhere? You know, for someone who knows what I’m feeling, you never seem to care.”

  There was a sigh on the other end of the line. “You know it’s not like that.”

  “Do I?”

  “Look, I know you’re worried and frustrated and…hell-bent on getting here, but you’ve got to stop.”

  My spine cracked into alignment as I straightened in my seat. “Why? I thought we were in this together.”

  “We are, but this is out of your league. You know that. I’ve got enough to deal with tonight, without having to worry about you.”

  I pressed my lips together and took a drag of piña colada air freshener through my nose. Out of my league…right. “Wallace.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

  The Jetta hummed in our silence, content to spend its evening on
the interstate.

  I flicked my brights off as I came up behind a van and swallowed the lump in my throat. “Anyway, I’m going to go now. I shouldn’t talk while I’m driving.”

  “Re—”

  “Don’t worry.” I punched the end button and tossed my phone at the passenger seat. “Worrying is my job.”

  It rang again two seconds later, but I ignored it. He and Cole were going to need all the help they could get tonight and, aside from Clara, I was the only other person who knew about it. If showing up made him mad, he’d just have to get over it. I wasn’t going back without him.

  ~

  Streetlights cast wide, glowing circles on the pavement. I had no idea where I’d ended up, other than it was some state park in the middle of nowhere. I’d been in a trance-like state for the past hour, concentrating on the Nexus’ pulse, and it’d led me straight to them.

  Or their vehicles, at least. I spotted Wallace’s F-150 and Cole’s Grand Cherokee near the darkest edge of the lot. Unattended. That was a bad sign.

  Without giving myself a chance to back down, I got out of the car and locked up. “Ready or not,” I whispered, sucking in a mouthful of cold, winter air, “here I come.”

  The familiar words exhaled into vapor, and I couldn’t help but realize how far Wallace and I had come in the past month. I’d gone from fearing everything he wasn’t, to loving everything he was, in a matter of weeks. It was a beautiful one-eighty.

  But despite that supposed love, I was still standing around the parking lot, trying to get my nerve up. Why couldn’t I be as brave as I felt an hour ago? The clock was ticking. I could freak out later.

  With hastened steps, I made for the shadows skirting the lot. Like other parks in the dead of winter, this place was deserted. There wasn’t a soul to be seen or heard in any direction, only remnants of food wrappers left littering the ground. Another bad sign.

  The trees were ghastly black silhouettes, reaching out from the forest. I could almost feel their pull as I edged around them, trying to squint for sight of something—anything—in the darkness.

  Where are they? I stepped off the pavement and onto the tough, winter-hardened grass. Determined or not, walking into the dark was unnerving. Everything shifted around, engulfing me as I abandoned the streetlights’ safety. I could almost see the headline now: YOUNG COED WANDERS INTO FOREST, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

  Ugh.

  My hands scraped over the bark as I felt my way through, straining to adjust to the filtered moonlight. It seemed like the deeper I went, the stronger nature’s crisp, earthy aroma became. The scent stirred each time I tromped over a bed of decomposing leaves or brushed past a stubborn shrub. In a place like this, no one would ever hear me scream.

  I blew on my hands for warmth as I maneuvered around a massive oak, my breath painting clouds in the nighttime air. It was colder than I’d thought it’d be when I set out without gloves earlier. Not that it mattered now.

  My weary gaze settled on the horizon and the tiniest pinprick of light in the distance. What is that? I crept toward it, weaving through trees, until I came across more—an uneven circle of torches set up in a clearing. Weird…

  A lone figure stood off to the side, outlined in the darkness. I ventured closer, skulking in the shadows that laid just out of the light’s reach. The figure had to be a man; it was way too big to be a woman.

  I ducked behind the nearest tree and pressed my cheek against the coarse, scratchy grooves. Now what? The brand on my arm burned, pulsating with an alarm I didn’t understand. Had I stumbled upon a bad guy before anyone else did? Maybe the woman’s accomplice?

  This is bad. I drew a shaky breath and peered around the massive trunk. Maybe I could just slink back into the—wait.

  “Wallace?” I stepped out from behind the tree. “Oh, thank God.” My legs carried me the short distance between us, and I nearly collapsed against him with relief. “I’m so glad it’s you. Are you okay?”

  He didn’t answer.

  My insides twisted as I looked up into his stony features. “Okay, look, I’m sorry about earlier, but”—I wrung my hands—“I was really worried about you. You can’t just run off, whenever something comes up. If we’re going to be together, you’re going to have to have a little faith in me.”

  When he didn’t respond, I ran my hand up his chest. “Are you really that mad?”

  “Don’t,” he ground out. “Don’t touch me.”

  I flinched and pulled my hand back. “What?”

  “Get out of here.” He tensed up, his eyes sparking a dangerous blue. “Now.”

  “Why?”

  “Now!” he demanded.

  “Why are you being like this?” I stumbled backward as he took a menacing step toward me, and then another. “I-I came all this way and—”

  My back slammed against something hard. I eyed him as he grew larger in my line of vision, approaching with slow, measured strides.

  “Rena,” he warned, squeezing his eyes shut tight.

  “What are y—”

  No sooner had the words passed my lips than he twisted back, thrusting his fist overhead with a thunderous crack. I dove to the side on pure instinct, covering my face as a shower of splinters rained down.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I groaned and rolled to my side. Was he really that upset with me? I didn’t know whether to be fascinated or horrified. My boyfriend had just punched through a tree. A freakin’ tree!

  He turned and fixed me with a stare so cold, it shot ice into my veins. “Please.” There was a predatory grace to his movements as he stalked toward me, fist still clenched at his side.

  Was he serious? Confliction tore a rift inside me as I pushed myself to my feet, mouth agape with shock. This wasn’t right. Angry or not, Wallace would never abuse his power to scare me. He wasn’t like that. He—

  Soft laughter interrupted my musings, and I jerked my head to the side.

  There, only a few feet away, stood a tall woman with a mess of dark curls pinned atop her crown. “We thought you might show up.” She peered over her glasses, pinning me with the beady-eyed scrutiny of a hawk. “You did not disappoint.”

  I glanced between them, confusion tugging my brows. “We?”

  “Come, Wallace.” She crooked her finger in a beckoning gesture, never looking away from me.

  He lumbered over without a word of protest, obediently flanking her side.

  My nostrils flared as I dropped my leg back into a readied stance. “What is this?”

  Her lips twisted into a cruel smile, and I noticed a subtle glow ignite behind her lenses. “Isn’t it obvious? A family reunion.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  The woman rubbed a possessive hand across Wallace’s chest and splayed her fingers wide. “I’m his cousin, Gail.”

  He shuddered, but didn’t protest.

  “Don’t,” I warned, darting another look between them. Why didn’t he say anything?

  She raised a thin eyebrow and looked down her nose at me. “What?” Her nails dragged down the front of his shirt as she stared. “Does this bother you?”

  I tightened my fist. “Where’s Clara? And Cole. What did you do to them?”

  “Pushy little thing, aren’t you?” Her voice was painfully cordial. “Yes, it was I who summoned them.”

  “Yeah, I got that. Where are they?”

  She pulled away from Wallace to place a hand at her hip. “Do you really think yourself in a position to ask such questions?”

  I tilted my chin back as a familiar defiance began to boil in my blood. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re alone in the wilderness, standing before the heiress of a powerful bloodline—a bloodline, I might add, that your boyfriend and I share.”

  Don’t back down. “So?”

  Gail laughed and took a step forward. “So, what are you?”

  My lips curled back at the implication. She expected me to be ashamed of my humanity. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m…their backup.�
�

  Without giving myself another chance to change my mind, I shot my fist toward her temple in a stiff hook. If I could catch her off guard—

  Wallace caught my wrist mid-motion, his grip so tight the bones shattered on impact.

  What the fu—ugh!

  Every nerve felt frozen, tingling with an ache so unnatural I couldn’t think straight. There was no time to gasp, no time to scream, before I was thrown back—the scenery nothing more than a twisted blur around me. He…

  I let out a cry when I landed, clutching my wrist as I tumbled and skidded across the uneven earth. Rocks jutted into my back and I rolled over, coughing to regain the breath knocked from my lungs. “…The hell?” I panted, glaring up at him.

  My wrist was limp, swelling with inconceivable pain, and I couldn’t even process what’d happened. He’d hurt me. Wallace had actually freakin’ hurt me.

  I wasn’t sure what I was doing as I pushed myself to my feet, angry tears distorting my vision, but I knew I couldn’t stay down. “You bastard,” I grit out, stumbling toward him. “How could you?”

  Guilt, shame, and sorrow…

  Anger, outrage, and fear…

  My brows knit in confusion until I realized where the foreign influx of emotion was pouring from—Wallace.

  When I looked up, he met my gaze with the most tortured expression I’d ever seen. Tears spilled from his glowing orbs in silent protest as he stood there, tall and imposing amidst the fiery backdrop. “I…” He looked up at the sky, caged behind a canopy of twisted branches, and his chest heaved with labored breaths. “I…”

  “Wallace,” I whispered, daring a step closer. “Why?”

  “Wallace.” Gail’s clipped voice rang over mine. “Restrain her.”

  Shit. My eyes flashed to hers, finally making the connection. She was manipulating him. This whole time, he’d been under her power. That frizzy-haired, horse-faced bitch. I was going to kill her.

  The band around my arm tightened, and I darted a glance back at Wallace. No, as long as he was under her control, he’d be forced to intervene—so, what could I do? There was no time to think. I had to find a way around this. Now.