Before I could swing my leg over the top of the fence, he aided me further with a push to the rear.
No, Jonathan never changed—but I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.
As we entered through the veil, Jonathan shuddered when the protective shield dropped over him. He had only been physically inside the sanctuary one time. Darius stabbed him, just missing his heart, and Jonathan almost died. The Three allowed him entrance and slowed the bleeding, postponing his death until the Healers combined had enough power to heal.
It was an excruciating eight hours, but he survived—and then left the next day without saying goodbye.
I shivered at the memory and continued to avoid his gaze even though I could feel him boring a hole through the side of my head. Jonathan and I were connected. Some strange bond kept him safe from the calls and orders of the Destroyer.
The sky within the veil was clear despite England’s more gloomy perspective. A perfect spring night. A gentle breeze tickled against my skin. The air warmed my frigid bones. The sanctuary was our haven from the outside world—not of earth or of heaven. A latter-day Eden. When called upon by The Three, it was movable, and it was dissolvable if God commanded, although why he would want it to be destroyed, I couldn’t imagine.
As we walked to the compound truck, I caught up to Elisa. “So, just how did Jonathan know to connect with me? I didn’t call him.”
She huffed. “I figured you wouldn’t. The whole purpose of these exercises is to familiarize you with the types of hauntings typical mortals face from lesser demons. We wanted to put you in the field for some realistic training. You were supposed to stay with Laith and me—”
“But one of them was getting away—”
“You were set up, Ava. Don’t you see that? For some odd reason, you think you can face enemies like the Fallen or Nikolaos alone, when you can’t. Not yet. So, I called him.”
My brows lifted. “And just how did you call my demon?”
She shrugged, then pulled her blonde hair from the bun on top her head. It fell in messy waves to her waist. “I yelled. A lot.” Which explained the high-pitched whine of the microphone and the reason why she took it off. “I figured he wouldn’t be far.”
My face grew hot. “Why would you figure—”
“Because I’m never far from my Ava.” Jonathan brushed past me, climbing into the back of the white truck.
I narrowed my eyes but kept my comments to myself.
A noise grew upon the air, and as I followed the sound I caught sight of Darius flying through the orchard on his ATV. My breath collapsed from my lungs and anxiety squeezed at my throat. Darius hadn’t been allowed to come with us on our trainings in the field. Not until we could work out our problems, and those problems dealt with the demon waiting for me in the bed of the truck.
The vehicle slid to a stop and Darius jumped from the seat. The head of security and my temporary Guardian glared at Jonathan, then examined my appearance for any signs of injury. His hypnotic honey-colored eyes sent a wave of goosebumps over my body. He slid a hand through his locks of deep chestnut brown, taming the mess. As he stalked toward me, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart reacted to him. He was ruggedly beautiful—heart-wearingly attractive—but he was also stubborn to a fault and controlling as hell.
“I assume since you’re here, you helped protect Ava tonight, as I was not able to.” Darius extended a hand to my demon over the side of the truck and I froze. “Thank you, Jonathan.”
2
Cost of Living
Jonathan peered at the proffered appendage with brows raised. “What is this?”
Darius exhaled a heavy breath. “Oh, forget it.”
He jumped into the bed of the truck and took a seat opposite Jonathan. With a strange twist to my stomach I climbed behind.
Laith held his phone to his ear. “Ray, have Roman and Hector pick up Violet from her cell and then meet us in the library. Collect Noah and Logan as well.” He hung up and slid into the driver side of the truck.
Jonathan stared at Darius from across the way. “Forgive my rudeness, temporary Guardian. I guess I didn’t realize we were BFFs now.”
Darius never flinched. “Like sisters. I’ll braid your hair when we get home.”
Jonathan huffed a laugh as Laith started up the truck. Elisa moved to the abandoned ATV and drove off in a cloud of dust.
“What do we have here?” Fiona waited by the entryway into the compound. The breeze fanned her wild hair, kicking up strands and waving them through the air. “Did we pick up another stray demon?”
“We did, indeed, Lady Healer,” Jonathan said.
Despite the high tension of the situation from a month ago, Fiona had taken a liking to my demon—but of my immortal family she was the most accepting.
It’s curious to me that both Defenders would have their own demons, don’t you think? Nikolaos’s words rang in my ears.
My mother was Rachel Matthias, the first great Defender. She too had her own demon. Fiona was more willing to receive Violet as my mother’s demon and was the one Rachel confided in. The others were tolerant, but barely.
The Annihilator’s hatred of The Three was palpable. It was because of her created vendetta that my dad had made a bargain with the Destroyer himself to keep me hidden. A dually beneficial contract for both mankind’s Guardian and humanity’s devil.
Jonathan hesitated a yard before the complex double doors.
“What is wrong?” I asked him, but it was Fiona who answered.
“Even though he was brought into the sanctuary, an added blessing guards our physical home. A demon cannot enter without being welcomed.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Oh, really? Grayson? The shapeshifter?” Examples of two demons that had done exactly that.
“Grayson traded places with Charlotte and the invitation was transferred. As for the shapeshifter…” Sadness infused her words and I knew she was remembering her friend Payton and the demon that had killed him. “The shapeshifter possessed Zane, which gave him access as well. These are unfortunate loopholes, but we cannot be protected from everything.”
Fiona extended delicate fingers to my demon, a silent invitation, but Jonathan condemned the action with a soft tsk, offering his arm instead. “But your walls—”
Fiona approved with a smile. “Our walls are secure.”
My brows pulled together into a confused scowl. “What about our walls?”
She sighed. “I forget how little you know about our home.” She looked to me, her words soothing as if speaking to a child. I bristled but swallowed my pride as my aunt went on to explain. “There is a reason, Ava, that we insist on harmony within our sanctuary. Contention is a terrible evil that breaks bonds, destroys families, and diminishes the strength of the veil that protects us.”
“The people under our protection have a choice to stay or go,” Darius said, interjecting.
Confusion knitted my brow. “But—”
“Are you coming or not?” My temporary Guardian held out a hand to me, and after a frustrated breath I accepted his help down. When his skin connected with mine, butterflies fluttered within my chest.
In the past month, I had pulled away from Darius, and I had pulled away hard. The reason I gave him, as well as the others, was that I was having a hard time forgiving him. I was angry at him for being so impulsive, for jumping to conclusions rashly formed, and for stabbing a friend—but that wasn’t the truth. Most likely my friends realized that as well. I knew what Darius had seen, knew his response was justified, and knew I would have reacted the same, if not worse.
Darius took his usual place by my side as we moved down the dim hallways to the library. His fingers grazed mine. I peered up at him. His strong jaw line was coated in a trimmed beard. His amber eyes shifted to mine. Concern flickered within them.
Unabashed, I studied his features, reining in the desire to touch his rugged face and to smooth the lines in his forehead.
I sighed, focusing my gaze ahead.
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If I were brave, I would tell him that I had just wanted a little space. I understood the importance of selecting a mate, but I had spent all my life secluded and trained to be wary of anyone and everyone that got close. My father had taught me a life of mistrust and fear, and Darius scared me. My relationship with him scared me. What little experience I had in that department had been shallow and safe… but Darius was different.
And I wasn’t brave. I was a coward.
The Council awaited our arrival. Cedric lounged on the couch, his arm wrapping the back of the seat. He looked half asleep. Stubble covered his face, his shoulder-length blond hair tucked beneath a baseball cap that hid his tired blue eyes. He was picture-perfectly at ease. Tan like a surfer, one ankle crossed over his knee as he tapped an unknown tune on his All-Star Converse shoes.
He called to Fiona. “Hey ya, babe.”
Opposite in more than just looks, the Healers were different in almost every aspect, even in the way they healed, which could often lead to… tension between them.
Cedric was clinical about his work, studying the wounds of the victims to understand—visualizing them within the body. He took his time if he was allowed, working the procedure out in his mind before mending. The process was slower, but just as effective as his mate’s.
Fiona’s healings were a show of darkened rooms and candles, humming, swaying, vibrations and unnerving energy that pulsed alarming and powerful. Her gift involved identifying with the person, physically feeling their pain, infiltrating their essence, then restoring them. The original white witch.
A shiver moved down my spine as I remembered the last time she healed me. Sometimes my aunt terrified me.
She leaned over and kissed her mate. Her fingers cascaded down the side of his face. “Amore.”
Jonathan entered the room. His eyes surveyed the area, falling upon the large opened window that covered most of the space on the back wall. No doubt he was ensuring a quick exit if necessary. I squelched the desire to comfort him.
Elisa cleared her throat from behind. “Darius, could you give Ava and me a moment?”
My gaze narrowed. Elisa had been upset to discover the connection to Jonathan, and since that time, our friendship had been… strained. She had refused to accept Violet as my mother’s demon when Rachel was alive and was furious to discover that I had one as well. After Darius stabbed Jonathan, she hadn’t been unkind about my personal demon, but neither did she talk about him. A part of me felt guilty: it was my fault she no longer voiced her opinion, especially after I threatened to leave if they didn’t heal Jonathan. The other part of me felt no guilt at all.
I shrugged past her and out into the corridor. “What is this about?”
“Ava.” Her voice pleaded. Her storm-strewn blue eyes projected an unspoken pain within, halting my steps. “He took you from me,” she breathed. Her face turned a shade of pink “Your father took you. I know you weren’t mine, but in my head, I had already determined to take care of you, to raise you up the way I knew Rachel would want. I loved you like my own. I would have done anything to protect you.”
“Elisa—”
“When you disappeared—when Alexander disappeared with you, I felt the loss as acutely as I had my own children. I searched for you. I prayed for you. And then I mourned you.”
A tear slipped down her cheek before she dashed it away. “When we found you in Arizona, before I knew who you were, we became friends. I admired your strength and your will. I thought of you as lovely, intelligent, and brave, but then when Laith discovered who you were… I reverted back to becoming more that mother that I imagined I would become all those years ago.”
“I don’t need a mother anymore. I need a friend.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” She reached out, grabbing my face between her hands. “And you are lovely, intelligent, and brave. If you say we can trust Jonathan, then I will trust him. Can you forgive me?”
My voice bubbled within my throat, so instead I nodded my response. Emotion glistened in her eyes. She kissed my cheek.
“Alright, alright,” I said, gently waving off her affections.
Laith called to us from the end of the hallway and Elisa put her arm around my shoulders guiding me toward the library.
“Are you okay?” Darius whispered as I passed. I nodded, squeezing his hand.
I took the couch opposite of The Healers. Darius and Jonathan sat on either side of me and my face exploded into embarrassing splotches of heat. Fiona’s lips quirked up at the corners. I made a face at her and looked away.
Ray hovered over his desk, picking through a pile of papers he had been studying, transfixed by whatever he was searching for. A professor of history and chosen record-keeper, Ray was our modern-day librarian. He continued the age-old oral tradition, spinning stories to the human population as an understudy to The Three until they selected another.
“I’ll be leaving in the morning for a lecture,” he said, pulling a thick volume from the shelf behind him. “I should be back before nightfall.”
Laith cleared his throat when he entered the library with Elisa. “Yep, we remember, old man. If you have time for a quick meeting, we’d love you to join.”
“Of course.”
“And we’d like to welcome Jonathan back into the compound.”
Ray grunted, dropping the files he held onto the desk. His eyes grew large. “Please—please excuse me for a moment,” he said, eyeing the door. “I’ll return promptly, but don’t wait for me to start the meeting.”
Laith nodded.
Ray slinked from the library, disappearing down the hallway. I knew what he worried about, because it was the same thing I worried about.
How would Cheryl react knowing the demon that killed her son stood in the sanctuary she now claimed as her own?
Roman and Hector entered with Violet between them. She sighed when she spotted me, then sat down near the exit in a single folding chair.
Noah and Logan shut the doors. I narrowed my gaze at Logan, still unused to his presence. He was prone to hot-headedness and an ill temper, and quicker to cast judgement, but over time I had learned to respect him. He now replaced Zane as the low man on the security team totem pole. Even still, I preferred Zane and his calm demeanor over Logan.
“Ava, report,” Laith said.
I gave them a full detailed report of our actions for the evening. Darius cussed at one point. Leaning over, he rested his elbows to his knees. Jonathan watched the whole meeting with barely suppressed boredom.
“I should’ve been there,” Darius said when I was finished.
Jonathan muttered beneath his breath. “Yes, you should have.”
Darius tensed beside me but did not respond.
Laith kicked the foot of the desk lightly with his combat boots. “Nikolaos is persistent, that’s for sure.”
“He always was,” Elisa added.
I toyed with the end of my long braid. “Well then, what do we do?”
Laith looked to my mother’s demon. “Violet, we called you to this meeting for a reason. Have you felt any connection, or call, from Nikolaos to Charlotte?”
She shook her head. “Things have been quiet. She remains yet alive, but her communication lessens as time goes by. She rarely fights me anymore.”
“Why do you let her live?” Jonathan interrupted, his voice barely suppressed rage.
“I have been asked not to terminate her.” Violet turned to him. “And I have not killed a mortal in over two hundred years. Rachel would be disappointed with me if—”
“The previous Defender is dead, and the mortal you inhabit tried to kill Ava.” Jonathan shot Violet a scathing glare. “Isn’t that what you do to protect what you love?”
Violet grinned, exposing her teeth.
“Jonathan, we’ve asked Violet not to harm Charlotte until we counsel with the compound members. This is a unique situation and we must tread carefully. Regardless of what she did, she was one of us. Allowing a demon to kill
her soul, even a reformed one such as Violet, has never been done. We need to figure out what to do.”
“What’s there to figure out?” Jonathan asked. He turned his attentions to the walls of bookshelves, allowing the subject to drop.
Laith pinched the bridge of his nose. “Violet, please try to get through to Charlotte. We need to know what Nikolaos wants with Ava.”
Violet paused, cocking her head to the side.
“She does not answer, but I will see what I can do when we are alone. She is less inclined to talk when there are others around.”
Laith nodded. “It worries me that Nikolaos knew where we were tonight.”
“Word spreads quickly within the demon community.” Jonathan pinned me with a sharp stare. “You’re in England, of all places. The supernatural realm here is incredibly strong. Your presence has been felt. You should leave.”
Fiona interrupted. “No. I feel we are needed here. We’ve left these areas unprotected for far too long to move away so quick. As long as Ava and Darius are still receiving their visions for this area, we need to stay.”
“You both receive visions?” Jonathan considered Darius then glanced away. “How cute. Nonetheless, it was foolish for you to allow Ava to go anywhere without her Guardian.”
Darius grumbled at my side. “For once I agree with you, but what were you doing so close to the activity tonight?”
Jonathan’s neck twitched. “I—”
When he didn’t answer, Cedric removed his hat, smoothing back his hair. “Do you know anything about what the Annihilator and Nikolaos are planning?”
Jonathan shifted in his seat, then stood and sauntered to the bookshelves. “No. I have attempted to solicit, but I am shunned every which way. My once loyal contacts are afraid to speak to me.” He selected a novel, grimacing at the title. “They know I am hunted by the Destroyer and the Annihilator both. While they’re not strong enough to take me, they won’t risk their lives to be seen with me.”
Fiona sat straight on the edge of her seat. “Are you safe on the outside?”
Jonathan peered at the Healer over his shoulder and almost smiled. “Your concern is heart-warming, but I’ll be fine. A cell within your sanctuary is the last thing I would want, thank you.”
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