“And I’m just now realizing how much restraint my brother has shown since he bonded with my girlfriend.” He moved to drape his arm around Naomi. “But something tells me Darius is going to be furious with me for bonding with you.” He laughed at the thought of his brother’s face when they broke the news. There were just too many feelings tied up in a snarled mess between the four of them.
“It’s not like any of us had a choice.”
“True. But … three Syntrophos pairs in one family?” Although Quinn and Sasha seemed to have mastered the bond already.
“It’s her,” Naomi said.
“It’s not Allie’s fault.” Aidan sighed. “Naomi.” He sat up and turned to face her. “I will never survive this relationship if you don’t stop blaming Allie for everything. It’s tearing me apart.”
“No, Aidan. I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.” She sat up on the edge of her seat beside him. “I don’t know what it is about Allie, but she’s … special.” Naomi said the word like a curse. “And don’t you ever tell her I said that. I know I have to learn to like her.”
“That’s asking a lot right now.” Aidan smirked. “I’d be thrilled if you guys just stopped actively hating each other. Allie is special.” Naomi didn’t know how right she was. “You’ve met her grandparents.” It was impossible to meet Alísun and not immediately know she was their rightful queen and her husband, Alexander, was the legendary scholar.
“Yeah, I know she’s some kind of princess we have to protect.” Naomi rolled her eyes.
“And there’s a lot more about that I’m not able to tell you.” Naomi didn’t need to know Allie was the fulfillment of prophecy. After she’d bonded with Darius, Allie said she was “gathering her equals,” just as the prophecy said she would. He laughed at the very idea of Allie gathering Naomi close for any reason.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m so screwed.” His shoulders shook with laughter, but it wasn’t funny. Not really. He had no idea how he would ever be enough for both Naomi and Allie. How could he navigate the dangerous waters between two such strong-willed women? They were like oil and water, his Complement and Syntrophos. Allie was the sun, and Naomi was the moon. And there he was, a lone star stuck in the middle, unable to give either of them up.
“I will learn to get along with her for your sake. As long as she can respect our connection.”
“She has her own bond with Darius. She’ll understand. Give her some time to … absorb the blow.”
“This is going to get messy, isn’t it? Three Syntrophos pairs and this weird overlap between ours and Allie’s? Are you sure you have to date her?” A flicker of irritation shone in her eyes.
“It’s not just dating, Naomi.” What he had with Allie was permanent, and he wanted to share that knowledge with Naomi, but he didn’t feel like he had the right to tell her. Not when Allie didn’t know and the two were at such odds. Aidan had no idea how this would ever work. Already the panic began to rise in his chest just thinking about it. Panic that would only escalate once they were home in a few short weeks.
A sense of dread hit him in the gut. We can’t go home. Not yet. The realization shattered Aidan’s heart all over again and he was caught up in the agony of those first few days after he’d recognized his Complement. He needed more time with Naomi, learning to understand their bond and what that might mean for their training. Allie and Darius deserved the same, and the ten months they’d had just wasn’t enough. No matter how much he and Allie wanted to be together now, it wasn’t what any of them needed. He had to think of what their Syntrophos needed. Allie and Aidan had the rest of their lives to be together. But right now, they needed to work on their relationships with their Syntrophos if they ever wanted a future where the four of them could get along.
“Hey.” Naomi took his hand. “You’re shaking, Aidan. Just breathe.” She rubbed a soothing hand across his back. “I’m so sorry. We’ll figure it out. I’ll do whatever I can to make this easier for you.”
Easier for me? Why was it her job to make it easier for him? When would it be her turn? Naomi already felt like second place, even before their bond. I have to show her how important she is. For once, she needs to come first.
Aidan held her hand, taking a deep, calming breath as an easy silence fell between them. His thoughts drifted to Allie and Darius. He remembered how torn Allie was between wanting to be with him, but also wanting to be with Darius to explore their strange bond. Aidan was only just now realizing how impossible that situation was for her.
He gazed at Naomi, thinking he’d need a lifetime with her to truly understand what lay between them. A few months was not the answer. He prayed Allie would understand the rash decision he was about to make and hoped she could forgive him for making it for them.
“Let’s stay,” Aidan said, squeezing Naomi’s hand.
“What? I thought we already decided to stay in tonight,” Naomi said. “I ordered take out. It should be here soon.”
“No, I mean Germany. Let’s stay.”
She titled her head. “How long?”
“Three more years should do it. I’ll get my degree from the Cologne Conservatory of Music, just like I always wanted, and you and I will have that time together to explore our bond. We’ll go home at Christmas and explain the situation to our families in person. And to Allie.”
“She’ll think you’re choosing me over her. Are you prepared for that?”
“I want you to come first this time, Naomi. Allie knows how much I love her.” They would make it work. More visits. More time together in the dreamworld. They had more options at their disposal than most people in long distance relationships had.
“Are … are you sure?” She turned toward him with a hesitant smile.
“No.” He returned her smile. “Not at all. But all four of us deserve a chance to explore these bonds before we venture into other relationships. We can visit Allie and Darius and take our time testing the waters with all of us together. And eventually, we’ll figure it out.”
Aidan wasn’t sure about his quick decision. The thought of three more years without Allie tore him up inside. But Allie was in a good place. She had Darius, all the training she needed and she was busy with schoolwork she loved. Allie was strong and independent; she would be okay without him for a little while longer. Right now, Naomi needed him, and he’d do anything in the world to keep that incredible smile on her face. Happiness shone in her eyes, transforming her face. Seeing Naomi with such joy lighting her up … it breathed new life into him, like her happiness was also his.
And maybe … after a few years apart, Allie would be ready to truly see him and they could be together for the rest of their lives.
“How do we hide this?” Naomi asked, settling on the mat in front of the floor to ceiling windows of their home gym. “Fitzy’s going to know the second he sees us.”
“We have to suppress the bond,” Aidan said. “I was there when Allie and Darius had to learn. It’s simple enough, and they managed it on the first try, but we have to be careful to maintain focus on masking our bond at all times.”
“And why do we have to hide it?”
Aidan sat on the floor opposite her. “People fear the Syntrophos bond. They either believe we’re a myth or we’ve died out, and it’s best to let them think that since the bond makes us more powerful.” Aidan reached for her hands, relaxing into their shared meditation pose. Fitzy would be home soon, so they had to master this quickly.
“Okay, let’s do this.” Naomi took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
“We need to reach a meditative state together, focusing all our energies on our shared bond.” Aidan shut his eyes, clearing his mind of all distractions. They sat together, perfectly in sync. As Aidan took a breath in, Naomi exhaled. With their minds clear, they focused on the link binding their lives together forever.
Aidan reached inside himself, searching for Naomi’s bond residing within. He found it easily. She was like a brig
ht flame of fierce loyalty burning hot within his core. An intense desire to protect that flame washed over him. Like it was his responsibility to nurture that spark, coaxing it into a blazing hot inferno only he had the privilege of seeing.
With a trembling realization, Aidan understood this flame was a piece of Naomi’s soul inside him, bared to him and only him. Guarding their bond was his most sacred duty. To fail her wasn’t an option.
“We’ve got this,” Naomi whispered, opening her eyes.
“We need to split our concentration so a portion of our consciousness remains focused on our bond at all times. An easy thing for almost any Immortal to do, but an essential tool for Syntrophos pairs to protect each other so other Immortals can’t sense the Syntrophos bond.”
“I won’t fail you,” Naomi said, her blue eyes blazing into his brown ones.
“Nor I you.” Aidan gave her hands a gentle squeeze. Nothing would stop him from protecting his Syntrophos. But they needed guidance. They would have to tell Fitzy soon, but he wanted to keep Naomi to himself for just a little longer. Long enough to break the news to Allie in person.
Chapter Eight
Allie
Kelleys Island, November
Allie headed down to the crypt after another pointless training session with Chloe. As usual, Allie left her friend feeling like the biggest ass in the world for trying to help—and for being Livia’s sister. The compulsion to visit Livia was strong. Allie couldn’t seem to stay away, even though it never ended well. Her gift demanded these visits and wouldn’t let Allie rest until she did her sisterly duty.
But Allie had Liam to consider. Liam was Allie’s brother through their Immortal bond. And Livia was her sister through blood. Liam and Livia were Complements—Livia just didn’t know it yet.
Liam deserves so much better.
Two thousand years of waiting and Liam got the short end of the stick. Allie would never forget the look on his face the night he’d told her Livia was his Complement. He was equal parts overjoyed and devastated. Livia was not the woman he’d been waiting for all his life. But she was here now and on some level, Allie knew he wanted to find the good in her, buried under all that bad.
As much as Allie hated the things her sister had done, there was something strange simmering beneath Livia’s outward armor. The things Allie’s gift told her about Livia’s character didn’t match her behavior and Allie was determined to break through her sister’s barriers to find the real woman beneath the hard surface. Allie didn’t have to like her, but she wasn’t doing this for Livia or herself. She was doing this for Liam, and also for Navid. He was desperate for a chance to know his eldest daughter and he was convinced Allie and Livia would become friends eventually. Allie couldn’t see that happening, but she hoped they could at least be civil for Navid’s sake. That was the hope Allie carried with her during her often-tempestuous visits with her sister. A sister she didn’t think she could ever like, much less forgive.
Livia had been a prisoner of the McBriens’ since Quinn’s return nearly a year ago and they still didn’t know what to do with her. They couldn’t let her go back to her father, or to Soma, even though Livia showed no interest in returning to either. Allie wanted to let the Senate have her; if only to give Chloe and Jin some peace of mind. But true justice wasn’t always on the Senate’s agenda. Gregg and Navid believed that turning Livia over to their government would be like placing a weapon of mass destruction into the wrong hands.
Too bad they were probably right.
But they couldn’t keep Livia behind bars forever. Allie’s grandparents wanted Livia to earn their trust and eventually her freedom, but Allie wasn’t going to let that happen any time soon. She would never trust the woman who’d done such horrifying things to her friends.
For now, Livia spent her days inside her high-class prison cell in the underground. She had everything she could possibly need with every comfort and amenity at her disposal, including supervised visits with Navid in the Yard.
Their father was the only one who could really talk to Livia. Since learning he was her father—her real father—Livia had let her walls down with Navid more than with anyone else.
That thought sent a wave of jealousy through Allie, making her want to turn back and leave Livia to her solitude, but her gift wouldn’t let her rest until she visited. Allie slowed her pace as she reached the massive door leading to the underground prison cells where Livia resided. The green aura of her gift lit the way, pulling her reluctantly toward her sister.
“She’s coming, try to be nice this time,” Liam said, his voice carrying down the long hall.
“I don’t know why she tries so hard. I’m not worth it.” Allie could hear the self-loathing in her sister’s voice. She rarely saw Livia in a vulnerable moment. To hear such doubt coming from her gave Allie pause.
She almost sounds remorseful. Allie didn’t know what to do with that. She wanted to cling to her hate and just leave, but her gift wouldn’t allow it.
“Fine, I’m going, I’m going,” Allie muttered, fully aware how strange it was to talk to her gift.
“She cares about you in her own way,” Liam said.
Well, I wouldn’t say that. Allie vowed to have another conversation with her brother. She didn’t need him filling Livia’s head with blatant lies.
“You are her flesh and blood, and you’ve been through things she can’t understand,” he continued. “She’s trying to get to know the real you, and you need to let her.”
“She doesn’t need to know the real me. She’s better off thinking of me as an enemy like everyone else.”
“Just try to have an actual conversation with your little sister. Just this once.”
Allie peeked around the corner of her sister’s cell, not wanting to interrupt them. It would kill Liam to know she’d heard their hushed conversation.
“Hey, Livia,” Allie said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. Allie tried to present a cheery front when visiting her sister, hiding the fact that she really hated these visits.
But maybe Liam was right, and they both needed to give each other a real chance. Allie thought she could do that much for her brother. The animosity between them was eating at him, but as her gaze landed on her sister’s hateful face, anger and betrayal gnawed at Allie’s insides.
“You’re like clockwork,” Livia said with a sneer, taking a step away from Liam. “You show up every other day no matter how many times I tell you to leave me alone.” She crossed to the far side of her cell to pour herself a drink.
“That’s right. Go ahead, booze it up.” Allie was used to seeing her sister with a glass of whisky in hand. But Allie did a double take when she saw Livia furiously dunking a tea bag instead.
“Retract the claws, both of you,” Liam said, leaning against the kitchen counter and crossing his arms. “I’m sick of playing referee. Now sit down, do yourselves a favor and actually talk to each other. You might be surprised how much you two have in common.”
Allie glared at her brother, curling her fists at her side.
“That’s right, you two even give me the same look when you’re pissed.”
Allie glanced at her sister to see her relax her fists as well.
“Whatever.” Allie flopped onto the suede sofa at the center of the room. She really couldn’t call it a cell, except for the bars blocking her sister from leaving. Everything else was beautiful. And white. So much white, right down to the silk rug at her feet. The walls and floor were rough-cut stone, but Livia had transformed the cave-like room into something out of a design magazine. There was even a crystal chandelier hanging overhead.
“I’ll just leave you two to your visit.” Liam shoved off the counter with a sigh. “I’ll come back this evening.”
“Bring some Scotch with you when you come. My tea is rather weak without it.”
“We talked about not drinking for a while, Liv.” Liam stepped behind her. “Just try it for a few days at least.”
�
��Fine.” Livia relented. “Bring chocolate instead.” She set the teapot back on the bar cart with a thud.
Allie didn’t miss the smile on Liam’s face, or the way his hand lingered at the small of Livia’s back before he turned to leave, dropping a quick kiss on Allie’s forehead. She knew they were Complements, but Allie had not expected the surge of anger and betrayal she felt at the sight of this small affection. Liam was supposed to be on her side. It was ridiculous: they were Complements, she should be happy for him. As much as she struggled to picture it, at some point they would be a complete family, with Liam’s daughter, Kahlynn. Allie was fiercely protective of her niece and couldn’t imagine a world where Livia became her mother.
Allie swallowed hard, her throat tightening as she saw Liam’s future with his little family—a future without her in it.
Allie had two choices: she could continue hating her sister, and then watch Livia and Liam create a life together without her, or she could stop doing this just for Liam and Navid, and do it for herself as well. She’d seen a version of that future during her Awakening. Although she didn’t understand it at the time, she’d seen a world where Allie and her sister loved each other. But could she really make the effort, knowing what Livia had done to Chloe and her family? Did she really want a future where the three of them, and Kahlynn, could be a real family?
“Want some tea?” Livia offered with a sigh. “It’s Chamomile with citrus. It’s supposed to be calming.”
“Sure, thanks,” Allie said, smoothing her hand over the soft suede cushion beside her. “How do you keep all this white stuff clean down here in the dungeon?”
“I’m a stickler for cleanliness.” Livia stood with her back to Allie, making a second cup of tea.
“We’re definitely different there, I can’t keep a white shirt clean.”
“When I was a child, my father would punish me for the slightest speck of dust or dirt on my clothes or belongings. I suppose that’s where I get it. I like white because it shows everything and I can be sure my things are clean at a glance.”
Emerge- The Betrayal Page 6