by Sariah Skye
“The storm is picking up.” Xander nodded toward the window. Sure enough, the sky was darkening overhead outside. A rumble of low thunder sounded, rattling the windows slightly. He rubbed at his arms with the opposite hands; you could tell he felt tense at the oncoming storm front.
I was about to inquire to his discomfort, when the front doors burst open; rain and wind howling as Mathias struggled to close them against the fury outside.
“Barely made it in time; it’s nasty out there!” Mathias exclaimed, running his hands through the mop of dark brown hair on his head, trying to rake out the leaves and grass that had accumulated. He brushed the rain splatters off his skin, and appeared to shake like a dog. I chuckled.
His brow quirked. “Ah, good to see you’re still with us, Avalon.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ava.”
“She’s really insistent on it. Only her friends can call her Avie,” Bash interjected with a playful smirk.
“And no one calls me Avalon,” I said defiantly. “Stupid name…”
Mathias looked questioningly at me, then his friends. “What did you all do to her?”
I snorted. “Oh, the usual. Spilled secrets of all this weird magic out there, and people. Trystan can talk to dogs—”
“—Animals.” He corrected.
I grumbled. “Animals. Oh and he could shift into an eagle at one time but not anymore. Xander is some sort of storm conjuring badass—did you do this thing by the way?” I asked, motioning out the window as the sky darkened further, rain pouring down in sheets now.
He held up his hands innocently. “I can’t conjure it, only draw from the weather around me.”
I gave him a stubborn look. “Hmmph. Semantics.” I motioned to Bash next. “Oh and this one is some sort of—I don’t know what the hell he is. Witch on a bike?”
Bash roared at my take on him. Mathias just stood in the entryway, crossing his massive arms over that broad chest of his, shaking his head and grinning.
“Doesn’t sound so bad,” Mathias said, through a chuckle.
I shrugged. “Pizza was good.”
“At least you had enough sense to feed her...” Mathias crossed the room and fingered the edge of one of the cardboard pizza boxes on the glass coffee table. “Though, I’m not sure you’d consider this food.”
Xander let out a sharp laugh. “So sorry, we don’t have quite the culinary skills of a Roman gladiator.”
“Watch it, Storm Ninja.” Mathias pointed a crooked finger at his friend, smiling impishly. I’d only seen him so far relatively serious—the grin lightened his already handsome face, and it was nearly impossible to look away. And almost impossible to gather that, in another life essentially, this man was a killer. Might not have been his fault, but…
Then again, they all were. But did evil incubi really matter? I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
Still their friendly banter with each other set me at ease, even though I probably should have been spooked, overwhelmed, or downright scared. But I just wasn’t.
I snorted, realizing something in my mind.
“What?” Xander asked, watching me keenly.
“I just realized that this is probably the most attention I’ve seen from men in a long time.” I let out a cackling laugh, before I frowned. “Pathetic, really. The most attention I’ve gotten is from potential kidnappers, sorta-murderers and…well just general freaks.”
Mathias shook his head, laughing. He perched himself on the arm of the chair I was sitting in; opposite of where Bash still sat. Trystan let out a cough, looking at him severely.
Mathias quickly stood on his feet, and took a couple steps away, looking guilty.
“What is that about?” I asked, motioning between the two of them.
Bash flung his phone at Mathias, catching him off guard, though he managed to catch it deftly. “Not a damn thing,” Bash said quickly, as Mathias eyed the screen. “That is a former date of Ava’s. Her shield protected her, somehow, but…”
Mathias’ left brow raised, the other lowered, resulting in the most smoldering, angry and suspicious look I’d ever seen. One side of his face said, “I want to kill you.” The other? “But only after I shower you with kisses and roses first.”
It was a little disconcerting. I shifted in my chair, feeling a sense of discomfort. No, not discomfort…but a tingle inside. And that made me uncomfortable. He was so damn hot, it was intimidating.
The corner of Mathias’ lips upturned; almost like he could feel me. We couldn’t have that, so I reached over and slapped him in the arm. “Don’t know what you’re grinning about, but stop it, Spartacus.”
A low tittered rumbled about the room. Xander let out a high-pitched laugh, Bash choked on his pop, and Trystan whistled lowly. He stood on his feet and stepped away from the former Roman, choosing to sit with the other two on the sofa.
Mathias slowly raised his head. He gazed at me expectantly. “I see my friends divulged my story.”
I shrugged, leaning back into the chair with nonchalance. “Yes. Just a little though.”
“Uh-huh. Let me just say now…I could have kicked his ass if I had met him.” His face was stone, but the sparkle in his eye was playful. He winked an eye at me quickly, and stalked away towards the kitchen.
Bash, Trystan, and Xander all stared at me in amazement.
I stared blankly at them. “What?” I finally asked, after a few more moments of stunning silence.
“He—didn’t kill you.” Xander stated, amazed.
Bash just stared, open-mouthed at me.
Trystan shook his head. “You really are magic, Miss Ava.”
I squinted my eyes together in a stupefied glare, but I couldn’t deny the heat that tickled my cheeks. “Oh, whatever,” I said, waving them off dismissively. “It was just a joke; it’s a thing I do.”
A rumble of thunder shook the house once again. Sierra lifted her head, sniffing the air around her.
“I hope you weren’t planning on going anywhere for a while, Ava. I don’t think that this storm is going to let up anytime soon.” Xander crossed the room, and stared out one large window. The wind had gained speed, blowing the very tops of the pines and elms outside sideways.
I rose from the chair and joined him at the window. A strike of lightning lit up the late afternoon sky outside, and Xander shook violently for a split second.
I peered at him over the side of my shoulder. His breath had quickened and he bit his lip; the knuckles of his light tan skin turning white as he clutched his forearms.
“Are you…anxious?” I asked quietly. You could feel the nervous energy pour off him in waves. The idea was odd to me; he could channel the weather, and here, it clearly was making him nervous.
He reached around the back of his neck and rubbed at the tension. His cheeks flushed gently as he admitted, “A little. I can feel the energy outside; my body acts as somewhat of a conduit. When I can’t release it just…feels weird.”
I gave him a sympathetic smile. I placed my palms out and up. “Put your hands in mine.” Xander paused to look at me with apprehension. I clicked my tongue and pushed my hands at him again. “Just do it.”
A wash of a smirk across his nervous mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”
I frowned momentarily. “Stop it, I’m not a ma’am. Ma’ams are old. I’m a Miss.”
He snickered, and reluctantly placed his hands in mine. “Okay.”
I almost pulled away, feeling his electric touch, but I fought the urge. After a second or so, his touch was comforting. The corner of his mouth quirked into a lazy, sexy grin and I almost lost my composure. Instead I slammed my eyes shut and remembered a relaxation exercise my mother told me. “I don’t have the objects so the words will have to do.”
“Objects?” He asked.
I huffed. “Hush. Just do as I say. Close your eyes.”
I peeked one eye open to make sure he did as he was asked—err, told. I shut my own again and squeezed his hands.
With my r
ight hand, I let go of his, and placed it over his other hand. “My touch is a feather, light as air, freeing of tension, imbuing with peace.” I traced my pointer fingertip over the top of his hand lightly. It was supposed to resemble a feather; but since I had none I had to make do.
Xander’s breath hitched lightly.
I blew on his hands gently, still grazing my finger over his knuckles. “My air is like fire, heating the pain, easing the ill…away…away. Just breathe slowly…imagine the sun on your shoulders,” I whispered; that wasn’t part of the ritual; normally at this point I’d place a cool rock in his hand to represent water.
I took one hand between mine, and gripped tightly. “My pulse is the beat of a drum, linking you to the earth and the steady ground. Its solidity will grant you comfort.” I tapped my fingers against his palm gently, to mimic a steady beat. “Together, they will chase away the pain, and the fear; the elements guide you to peace and harmony. So, mote it be.”
Xander breathed deeply; I could feel his own pulse in his wrist slow; his chest heaving lessened. “Just breathe…” I whispered, listening for the sound of his own breath, and breathing in time. We respired in tandem, until I felt the potency of the storm ease from his body. I opened my eyes, and slowly dropped my hands.
Reluctantly, after a few deep breaths, he opened his eyes too, looking somewhat dizzy and sated. I had to clamp my teeth down on my lip so hard, I nearly drew blood. All my mind could think of was, I bet that’s the look he has on his face after a long session of love-making.
Wait—what? Stop it, Avie!
“Ava—what was that?” Mathias finally asked, after a few moments’ silence.
“That? Oh my mother used to belong to a coven, many years ago. Before I was born. She said that was a spell they used to use to help relax each other. I have anxiety pretty bad; it was the first—and only one, really—she taught me.” I shrugged with indifference.
“How do you feel, Xan?” Bash asked softly.
Xander threw up his arms in a moment of triumph. With a half-smile, he chuckled, “I feel good! Thanks Ava.”
I scoffed. “Eh, nothing.”
“That was not nothing Ava. What kind of coven was this?” Bash questioned.
“I don’t know. I mean—I always just figured it was her version of religion. Normally she’d use feathers and certain stones, but it always made me feel better. It’s the only one she taught me because it was the only one of use to me. It helps, I was able to stop taking anxiety medication years ago,” I explained.
The four men took turns giving each other mystified stares. “Normally, when a storm this strong moves in, Xander has to take to the treadmill or the gym downstairs to work off the nervous energy it gives him.”
Xander nodded in agreement, quickly. “Yes. That’s why I learned the martial arts; it helped channel the power into something useful.”
“And…now you don’t need to punch anything?” I asked.
“No. I don’t!” He said gleefully.
“Well good. I’ll teach it to you before I leave,” I said, taking one more glance out the window. “Which clearly won’t be any time soon…”
“Quite right. It’s dangerous to be driving in this. We may be immortal, but I advise you to hang out for the night. We have empty bedrooms, and while the clothes we have probably won’t fit you, they should still be comfortable to sleep in.” Mathias motioned down the nearby hallway. “I can show you to your room, and you can freshen up. After I’ll get dinner started—a real dinner—and we can just…chat. Okay?”
I sighed. The thunder outside roared, and the wind trembled the windows. I clearly wasn’t going anywhere.
“I can show her…” Bash spoke up, a little too excitedly.
“Fine then. But hurry, I assume she’ll want time to freshen up, and rest before dinner. It’s been a tough day I imagine.” Mathias’ voice was stern as he regarded the blond man.
“Yeah, yeah…” And with a motion of his hand, I followed him down the hall, passed an empty bedroom and closed doors to a large room at the end of the hallway.
CHAPTER 11
The bedroom was simple, though completely not my style. Probably decorated by a professional designer, or copied from a magazine. The bed was covered in a blue flower printed bedspread, blue and white wicker chairs lined the walls, and a fluffy white rug lay on the light-colored hardwood floor. Not that it mattered; this was only temporary. It seemed a bit too girly for the gentlemen, and I felt somewhat nauseous thinking of the women they may have brought in here before. It wasn’t like they had sisters or mothers that would come by for a visit.
I dismissed the thought; it was none of my business. Even though, secretly, I wished it was.
“There are other rooms if you don’t like this one,” Bash said, leaning against the doorframe. “I just thought you’d like this one best because of the bathroom.”
He was right about that. The attached bathroom was impressive. Natural stone floors and walls accentuated an open shower; cabinets full of toiletries (again, girly in nature), styling products, and fluffy sky-blue towels. But the most impressive part was the bath. A large, jacuzzi style tub, set in an alcove with frosted privacy windows that overlooked the woods outside. With one step on the stones, you could step into the raised tub and be completely submerged.
“I won’t lie, I’d love to get a good soak in that tub,” I said almost under my breath.
Bash chuckled. “Yeah, Trystan appreciates a good bath—but don’t tell him I said that. We all have our own, yet he likes this one best. Probably because if you look out into the distance, the bear cave is at the edge of the property. Sometimes, Sammy comes out with her cub and walks the grounds; he likes to see that.”
“Sammy?”
“Yes, Sammy the three-legged bear,” Bash explained. “Trystan and Mathias rescued him from a trap in the woods.”
“Sammy, the bear?” I quirked a brow, and chuckled.
“Sammy Hay-bear is his name. After Sammy Hagar from Van Halen.” He rolled his eyes at his own absurd joke.
I snorted, and laughed peels of high pitched laughter. “Oh, that’s ridiculous!”
I shook my head. “It’s okay. It’s cute, really. But what does Sammy Hagar have to do with three-legged-bears?”
He chuckled. “Absolutely nothing. I just liked it,” he said, with a wink. Bash shifted himself against the doorframe again.
I sat down at the edge of the bed, carefully admiring the long lines of his body.
Sebastian wasn’t exactly stacked in the muscular department. He was broad shouldered, with thick arms, but not to the extent that Mathias was. The blond scruff on his face—just a shade darker than on his head—was beginning to grow. His waist dipped inward, accentuated by his leaning-position. Yes, it was an exquisite body, but it didn’t compare to his eyes. I referred to them as steely-blue, not because of the color, but the intensity in which he stared. The blue reminded me of sky before the storm; blue, with hints of gray. I was easily finding myself getting lost in their depths…
His face was always playful, his grin always taunting; especially because of his lower-lip that stuck out in a somewhat permanent pout.
I found my mouth had nearly gone slack, admiring him with his gray shirt and fitted blue jeans. I coughed uncomfortably. “Um, can you send my dog in here?”
“I can ask Trystan to. I love animals, but I’m not as good with them as he is.” Bash pulled away from the wall, clasping his hands together. “Well. Holler if you need anything. Hopefully we have everything you need, but if not…”
“Yeah, I know where you are.”
Bash turned, reluctantly to leave, pausing in the door frame slowly. He shot me one more slow, flirty grin before leaving, shutting the door behind him as he left.
I glanced around only momentarily, before deciding the luxurious tub required a bit of attention. My skin was still clammy from the humid air of the storm, and my hair was stringy and flat from the rain pelting down on me, c
onjured (or whatever) earlier by Xander. I was a bit stiff and sore from scrambling around on the ground, but nothing too terrible. Nothing a good shower couldn’t fix. Or bath…a nice luxurious bath. Really I had no need for the tub, but my own was small and its depth didn’t even cover my stomach—this I could sink into and forget everything, which sounded great. I might not be able to forget I was in the home of four gorgeous men, with supernatural secrets, but I was sure going to try.
Giddily, I practically skipped into the bathroom, taking care not to slip on the stone floor. I cranked the water on hot, pouring in some of the oils and salts I found in the linen cabinet. I wasn’t stingy with them either, and soon the tub was filled with about a foot of soft, lavender-scented bubbles.
I tiptoed to the door of the bedroom, double checking it was locked. There was no other entry into the bathroom, so I felt relatively secure being buck naked in a house full of men. I was about to step in when my cell—tucked into the front pocket of my pants—started to trill the theme from Charmed: my mother’s ringer.
I groaned out loud, stomping my feet lightly like a toddler. “Dammit!” I knew Mathias had been by to see her, and I knew she was probably freaking out. If I didn’t answer, she’d probably call the police and issue an APB for me.
I fumbled through the clothing pile for the phone, and swiped the screen to accept the call.
My mother’s face consumed the screen. Her eyes were immediately wide. “Oh my stars, Avie…are you naked?”
I looked down at myself quickly, grinning sheepishly. “Why, yes… yes I am.” I raised the phone to ensure she was only seeing my face and shoulders in the video call.
“I know you’re desperate, but come on, Avie! How long have you known him? You just jump into bed—” her face was red as she scolded me.
I narrowed my eyes, as I carefully walked backward towards the tub, my other hand searching behind me for a towel. “Mother, I love you, but that is not your business.”