Firebinders: Marek (The Firebinders Book 1)

by Isobelle Cate

  Oh yes, because they came from the same genetic pool.

  “Just enjoy yourselves, boys. I’ve had enough for one night.” She pivoted away but this time the man clamped a hand on her shoulder, and squeezed.

  She cried out at the pain when he pinched a nerve. That’s it! Fury spurred Gwen to grab the man’s hand. She whirled around twisting his arm in the process. The man grunted in surprise more than pain before Gwen slammed him against the wall. She heard the gasps of people passing, stopping to watch the scene unfolding.

  “Stay away.” She bit out. She didn’t wait to admire her handiwork as she sprinted towards the safer confines of the hotel. But she screamed when someone pulled her hair.

  “No one slams my friend and gets away with it.” The other man raged.

  She watched in horrified stupefaction at the fist making its way towards her face. Her eyes widened even more when a hand interrupted the fist’s trajectory. Her eyes slowly took in the presence of another stranger who didn’t even break a sweat or struggle with the fist he covered with his hand.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself, mate,” the new stranger drawled, his British accent prominent. “No real man hits a woman.”

  “Mind your own business,” the drunk snarled.

  “It is my business,” the stranger continued softly. He stepped forward so that the drunk let go of Gwen. “I’m a Brit and she’s one too. More importantly, she’s a woman. I’m in the business of putting bastards like you away…for good.”

  A scuffle ensued. When the drunk swung at the stranger, his fist was easily held back, as though they were shaking hands. Gwen’s eyes widened when she saw what was happening.

  “Yeow! You’re breaking my hand,” the man squealed in pain.

  “Let’s not cause a scene, shall we?” the stranger said, like he was discussing the Big Easy’s weather. He smiled at the passersby who watched the scene with interest before moving on. Gwen was mystified. Not one of the passersby stayed long enough to look at them.

  “Zac, that’s enough.” A gentle but firm voice flitted through the grunts of pain.

  Gwen reluctantly moved her gaze to the dark haired woman she hadn’t noticed was standing beside her. She looked back at her saviour who was gazing at the men intently before whispering something to them. Her accosters’ eyes turned glassy before their mouths widened to toothy grins. The man named Zac stepped away from them. The men didn’t even bother to look at Gwen before they staggered towards the opposite end of St. Louis.

  “Are you all right?” the woman beside her asked, her face creased in concern.

  “Yes, thank you.” Gwen’s adrenalin rush suddenly depleting making her weary as if she hadn’t slept a wink. “Look I don’t want to be rude, but I’m just about to fall on my face I really need to get to the hotel before I seriously decide to make the pavement my cot.”

  Zac looked at her, his forest green eyes filled with curiosity. “Are you lost?”

  Gwen couldn’t stop staring. His hair was like spun dark gold under the streetlights. It was slightly wavy which he flicked often away from his eyes that reminded her of deep forests after the rain. He was fit and muscular under the dark shirt, his black jeans skimming his muscled thighs. He was devastatingly handsome, almost beautiful.

  “Not exactly,” she managed.

  “Gwen.” The rumbled of a motorbike made her groan out loud even as excitement did the Irish jig in the pit of her belly. It always happened when Marek was near. It was like she had this personal homing device that could pick up his presence.

  When did that happen?

  Rogue strode towards her, the tense lines on his face relaxing the closer he got to her. But he frowned when Zac stepped in front of her and the woman. Zac assessed Rogue and Marek, his eyes not missing anything.

  “Friends of yours?” the woman spoke up.

  Gwen nodded. “They were having a pissing contest earlier. I didn’t want to get wet.”

  Zac’s face cleared, his lips twitching.

  “I see,” the woman said amused, her face clearing. “I’m Faith, by the way. This is my mate, Zac.”

  “Gwen Fraser.” She shook hands with them. She did wonder why Faith had used the word ‘mate’ instead of partner or boyfriend or husband. She only associated the word to mean good friends but the way Faith said it, it sounded…supernatural? She cleared her mind of that notion. She knew that the paranormal and anything supernatural was often accepted as part and parcel of the city. But Zac and Faith were Brits. Maybe they just wanted to call each other that way.

  The three of them turned to Marek who parked his bike before dismounting.

  “You didn’t have to leave.” Marek scowled at her.

  “You think?” Gwen gave him a withering glare. Heat crept up her cheeks when Zac and Faith stepped aside. She frowned at Rogue who looked at her with disquiet. She was so tempted to give Marek a piece of her mind but she couldn’t lash out at him in front of strangers. Her lips flattened in annoyance, feeling antsy because she couldn’t blow off steam.

  A man sauntered towards their group from the direction of the hotel, his hand extended to Gwen. He wore an army surplus jacket that reminded Gwen of her time in Afghanistan.

  “Hank Heaton, P.I.” He grinned, his warm brown eyes friendly. His head was shorn almost bald making him look like a man not to be messed with.

  “Gwen.” She wondered why there was a private investigator in their midst. She didn’t miss the way his face lit up in recognition before darting a glance at Marek and Rogue.

  “I see you caught up with each other,” Hank said. “There’s no need for me to hide anything from you any longer.”

  Marek frowned. “Spill it out, Hank. You’re not making any sense.”

  Even Zac and Faith looked at the P.I.

  “You two…know each other?” Gwen asked feeling like Alice in Wonderland who was finding difficulty in putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

  “Hank is an old friend,” Rogue volunteered.

  “What I’m saying is that.” Hank’s finger moved like a pendulum from Rogue and Marek to Zac and Faith. “You’re all here. Marek, Rogue, meet Faith Hannah and Zac McBain. Cynn Cruors.”

  Even in the dim light, Gwen saw Marek inhale sharply. Faith and Zac looked at each other. Growing elation filled their faces as though they had won the lottery.

  What was going on?

  “Faith, Zac,” Hank continued. “Meet Marek Bannach and Rogue MacRuadh. Firebinders.”

  Marek stared at the house on the corner of Coliseum and Philip Streets that was lit up like Jay Gatsby’s house while he stayed outside to make a call. He was going at this badly with Gwen. He prided himself of being cock sure, his arrogance often rubbing off on Rogue or Hank and he didn’t give a shit. With Gwen… He ran his hand through his hair before running it down his face. His hand rubbed the stubble on his jaw. The same hand that clenched and relaxed while he waited for Jarred to pick up the phone. The churning of his gut was like having not eaten anything the whole day. If he paced any further, he’d have made a worn out path in the garden. Faith and Zac’s house—one belonging to the Cynn Cruors—was not dissimilar to his family home. It was about five blocks from where he lived and had he known that this place belonged to the Cynn Cruors… His life was filling up with so many what ifs.

  A black iron grille fence bordered the house of arched filigree architecture. Two sets of wicker chairs decorated both sides of the porch that had a frontal view for people watching on a lazy afternoon. But where Marek’s family home had a garage separated by driveway at the side of the house, Faith and Zac’s house had none. Neither did it have an enclosed courtyard.

  Hank’s bombshell earlier that evening sounded like someone talking underwater to Marek. Marek’s brain couldn’t decipher the words as if it had suddenly stopped and was trying to keep up. He had stared at Faith. After all this time, the years of finding people like him, the person he planned on looking for was right in front of him. Incredulity
brought his fireblood rushing through his veins so fast, he thought he’d pass out. That had never happened to him. Faith looked at him and Rogue with the same level of shock and she would have crumpled to the ground if Zac hadn’t been holding her to his side.

  Pain lanced Marek’s heart when Rogue brushed past him and placed an arm around Gwen. He should be the one to comfort her, to soothe her bewildered look, but he didn’t know how.

  Fuck.

  They left in a group. Marek no longer stopped Gwen from joining Zac and Faith in their car. He followed them on his bike, his mind reeling with the knowledge of Faith and the loss of Gwen. Hank said he’d follow while Rogue went to get Lia. Gwen had looked back at him before climbing into Zac’s Dodge Challenger. She still had that disconcerted look but there was also strength in her gaze. She wanted to get to the bottom of this and maybe Faith and Zac could help him show her.

  The phone engaged and Marek stopped pacing.

  “How did it go?” Jarred asked, his voice thick.

  “Did I wake you?” Marek countered staring at the shadows that the night created.

  “It’s nearly one in the morning. What do you think?” Jarred yawned. “Was Janka able to help you?”

  “Yes she did. She placed Lia and me in an altered state and I met people from England who were acquainted with a firebinder.” Marek nodded as if Jarred was physically with him. “I was supposed to leave for England but something cropped up.”

  “Oh? What was it?”

  “I came across a name during my altered state. Faith Hannah. She was the firebinder I planned to find in the UK.” Marek’s laugh came out in a huff. “I was not even so sure that she was real but it was the only thing I had to go on.”

  “And?”

  Marek heard the rustle of sheets in the background as though Jarred was making himself more comfortable.

  “And Faith Hannah is real. She and her mate Zac McBain came over here. To NOLA.”

  “Wow!” Jarred became more awake. “That’s great!”

  “Yeah.”

  Jarred chuckled. “Marek, why am I sensing that you’re not sure?”

  “Because, they were also looking for us.”

  “And that’s not good because?”

  “I still don’t know yet,” Marek admitted on a breath. “Maybe they need us for something?”

  “Could be.” Jarred mused. “Point is you’re well on your way to finding more firebinders. Faith might have something that may prove useful in your search. Until then, just get to know them.”

  “There is another thing,” Marek said carefully.

  “What’s that?”

  “I met a woman.”

  “No surprise there.”

  Marek chuckled in spite of himself. “I’m serious.”

  “I’m guessing that this woman is special.” When Marek kept silent, Jarred spoke, “Yeah, she is special.”

  “She worked for Sebastian Pharma, Jarred. There have been attempts on her life after she resigned and she suspects that Sebastian Highmore is behind it.”

  “Shit,” Jarred muttered.

  Marek heard Dani’s sleepy voice but Jarred must have cupped the receiver before it became muffled.

  “Are you serious?” Jarred spoke once more after Marek heard the distinct click of a door closing in the background. “Sebastian Highmore? Why?”

  “Gwen was studying a particular strain of blood…”

  Several minutes later, Marek had filled Jarred in on what had happened to Gwen. Jarred whistled.

  “You’re in really deep shit, man.”

  “Nothing that I can’t handle.” Marek exhaled. “But what I do need to know is how Highmore got hold of a firebinder’s blood.”

  “He might know someone who’s one?” Jarred suggested.

  Marek shook his head. “We keep the knowledge of our fireblood to ourselves knowing how dangerous it is if someone found out.”

  “Maybe Highmore is a firebinder himself?”

  “I’ve read the Firebinder’s Chronicles and there’s no one by that name,” Marek said. “And even if he was, why expose himself?”

  “I don’t know man,” Jarred replied tiredly. “At the moment I can’t think and in four hours’ time, I’ll be up with the ranch hands helping to fix the fence on the far side of the ranch.”

  Guilt gnawed at Marek. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Jarred assured him chortling. “I’m glad that Janka was able to help. Dani and I are going to New Orleans for a visit, maybe after the New Year. You can introduce me to your special woman.”

  Marek chuckled. “I might. Thanks, Jarred. Please let Dani also know that I appreciate her help and Janka’s.”

  He ended the call and stared down at his phone. Gwen, his special woman? The thought brought an unbidden smile on his lips and eased the heaviness inside his chest. Shit, he’d only known Gwen for a few days, left her alone for three, and she had this hold on him already? This was just lust talking. But no matter how much he convinced himself, deep down inside he knew that Gwen was different. He wanted more than lust with her.

  Ah fuck. He scowled. So not happening.

  Still, what he wanted to do right now was to find Gwen, hold her, and apologize. To let his body do the talking because his mouth could not form the words he wanted to say. Because words kept failing him whenever she was around, and he had the fucking knack of saying the wrong things.

  “Marek!” Lia jumped out of the Suburban and ran into her brother’s arms.

  “Whoa.” He grinned, love and indulgence for his sister filling his heart, making him temporarily forget his problem. Her hair smelled of cigarette smoke and her breath lightly of alcohol. Lia’s face was flushed. “What happened to you?”

  Marek looked at Rogue who climbed out of the car more sedately.

  “Nothing.” A blush tinged Lia’s cheeks. “Had some drinks and a bit tipsy. Anyway, is it true?” Hope lit up her own deep blue green eyes. “You found them?”

  “We found each other when Rogue and I went after Gwen.”

  Lia’s eyes clouded in confusion. “Gwen?”

  “Long story,” he said. “Let’s go inside so you can meet her and Faith who’s the firebinder.”

  “Do I have to?” Lia stayed in place.

  He looked at her flummoxed. “I thought you wanted to meet her.”

  “Who, Gwen?”

  “No, Faith,” Marek answered unable to stop his bemused laugh. “Gwen is the woman I rescued from Austin.”

  Two lines ploughed in the centre of Lia’s forehead. “You rescued Gwen from Austin? When you went there for Jarred Levinson’s charity dinner? Why?”

  Marek took a long drag of fresh air before exhaling slowly. “Because she was involved in a project that tested a firebinder’s blood.”

  “What?” Lia’s eyes rounded in shock.

  “Let’s talk about it inside.”

  Everyone was seated at the long dark wooden table in the dining room. Bare brick walls, a sideboard filled with cold cuts and an assortment of breads and cheeses, an iron chandelier overhead and double doors flung open to the garden, the atmosphere in the room was relaxed. The smell of strong coffee joined the cold air they breathed coming from outside. Hank handed out glasses of iced tea which Zac and Faith looked at oddly. Gwen, however, accepted it with gratitude.

  “You should try it,” Gwen said smiling. “After the initial taste, you’re both going to be converts.”

  She closed her eyes almost ecstatic and Marek groaned inwardly when his cock hardened at Gwen’s moan. He was glad for the distraction of tittering laughter around the table so he could adjust himself covertly, and forced his thoughts away from the woman he wanted in his bed. As he sat, Marek used his free hand to introduce his sister. To hell with good manners. It was bad manners even more to show he had an erection.

  “Faith, my sister, Lia.”

  Faith stood, a friendly smile curving her mouth, and embraced Lia.

  “I
’m so pleased to meet you,” she said before including Marek in her warm gaze. “It’s taking a lot of time deciphering my grandmother’s journals about the firebinders. Her entries were never forthcoming and when she spoke of those who had fire in their veins.” She gave a self-conscious laugh. “The journal read as though she was trying to hide something before the entry shifted to a different topic. But when Luke arrived with Adara and told us how they met you…”

  Lia made a sound at the back of her throat that even made Rogue arch an amused brow at her. She flushed.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to be rude,” she said her blue green eyes twinkling. “Meeting is not how I’d describe it when brother dear and Luke nearly came to blows.”

  “Lia,” Marek warned, his eyes flashing with irritation. Leave it to his baby sister to make mountains from nothing.

  “And did you?” Zac asked. He had tried the iced tea and he looked as though he still couldn’t decide whether he liked it or not but interest filled his visage. “Come to blows I mean?”

  “They didn’t,” Lia answered before Marek could reply. “Adara stopped them.”

  “Ah…” Zac nodded, his mouth curving to a smile. The more he took sips from his iced tea, the more his perplexed look cleared.

  Lia tilted her head. “Are you a firebinder also?”

  Zac shook his head. “A Cynn Cruor.”

  “Just like Luke and Adara.” Lia nodded in understanding. “Is it just the two of you? Or are Luke and Adara here too?”

  “Just us,” Zac said refilling his glass with iced tea much to everyone’s amusement, and Faith’s surprise. “Luke has been tasked with another mission.”

  “And Adara?” Lia pressed.

  Zac looked at Faith.

  “A separate assignment,” Faith answered before drinking from her glass. Marek heard the half-truth in the sudden inflection of her voice.

  “Must be hard.” Lia mused staring intently at a point behind Zac. “To be together and yet apart.” Then she shook herself away from her thoughts.

  Marek turned to his sister and frowned. What the hell was that about?

  “You must be Gwen.” Lia turned to her with a bright smile.