“Luc, don’t start. Come on, now. Help me get her to the bedroom.”
“You know, if he is coming here, maybe there is a way to end him once and far all,” Luc said as a plot twisted in his mind.
“The last time anyone went up against Nathanael, he slaughtered everyone in a five hundred-mile radius. Do you really want to put other humans at risk for her?” Ty glanced at Luc as he pulled Abby’s arm over his shoulder and hoisted her up into his arms.
“You know the answer to that question.”
“Yeah,” Ty said glancing down at Abby. “And she is worth a thousand more.”
“Then we need to be ready for him.” Luc squared his shoulders and sucked in a deep breath. His eyes lingered on Abby in his brother’s arms as they walked out of the room and down the hall.
“What do you have in mind?” Ty asked glancing to his brother.
“I’m not sure, but I promise you this much brother. Nathanael isn’t going to get her.”
“Agreed.”
Chapter 7
The dreams swam around her like fog. But no matter which one she reached out for, each one slipped through her fingers. Abby groaned and tossed until the light of the sun broke through the mist. She jolted up poised to strike. The fear still raw and fresh in her mind. With wild eyes she searched until she spotted Ty resting in a chair by her bedside.
“Ty?”
He stirred at the sound of his name and with heavy eyelids he blinked the sleep away. Abby scooted back closer to the headboard and pulled her knees up to her chest.
“Hey,” Ty spoke gently as he reached out his hand to her. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“Where’s Luc?”
“Right here doll,” Luc’s voice was just as soft and tender as Ty’s. Abby’s eyes darted to him sitting in the corner of the room with a book in his hands. Luc quickly put the book aside and smiled at her before rising and joining her on the bed.
“You’re safe love,” Luc said stroking his hand through her hair.
“I had the strangest dream.”
Ty and Luc exchanged a quick glance before shifting their attention back to Abby. She shook her head and rubbed the sleep from her eyes trying to make sense of what she saw.
“You both were there in my dream telling me he is coming. Then this darkness appeared, and it blocked out the light. Everything vanished, and I was all alone again.”
“Shh,” Ty said rubbing his hand over her leg to calm her. “It was just a dream.”
“No, it was more than that. It was,” Abby shook her head trying to pull the dream back into her mind, but the more she tried the more it faded.
“It’s gone, you’re here, we are here,” Luc said scooting closer to her as he draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
“Luc, what happened to you?” Abby glanced up to find Luc’s nose crusted with blood. Luc chuckled and brushed his hand over his lip to wipe away the remnants of his scuff with Ty.
“It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Did you two get into it?” Abby’s eyes darted to Ty who didn’t flinch as she stared him down.
“It wasn’t anything major,” Ty said as the corner of his lip curled up mischievously.
“No one lost a limb,” Luc concurred trying to ease Abby’s concern.
“Has it always been like this?” Abby asked shifting her attention from Ty and then to Luc. The brothers glanced at one another and shrugged.
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you two always fought over me? Because in my dream we were happy. There was nothing that could stop us. Nothing that got between us. Both of you were by my side loving me unconditionally. And it seems that maybe it could have been real at some point in time.”
“Sorry love,” Luc said shaking his head. “It was just a dream.”
“So you have been at each other’s throats.”
“Abby it wasn’t always like this. Luc and I have been around for eons. We have had our good times and our bad times.”
“And it all depended on who I ended up with didn’t it?”
“No,” Luc interjected. “It was only bad after…”
“After you killed me,” Abby glanced to Ty. Her eyes pleaded with him for the answers hoping that one of them would at least be completely honest with her.
“You and I made a pact a long time ago,” Ty explained. “And I promised you that when your father ever got too close, I would take you out. But that was before when we knew Luc’s heart would bring you back. But this time, you are whole and your father is at our door. We have to do something else. We have to fight him off.”
“You can’t do that,” Abby nearly squealed as her fear squeezed her throat cutting off her voice box.
“We have to do something,” Luc insisted.
“Why? Why not just let him have me? What is so wrong with that?”
“You don’t understand, Nathanael is the stuff of nightmares. He will stop at nothing to claim you and then, he will use you.”
“How? I’m not special. I’m like you,” Abby’s eyes drifted back and forth between the brothers.
“You are not exactly like us. You are more.”
“So much more,” Luc added. “And he will use that to conquer everything and everyone.”
“If he is as powerful as you say, then what else can we do? I won’t lose you,” Abby reached out and cupped her hand over Ty’s face holding his gaze.
“Or you,” Abby said turning her attention to Luc. “I love you both so much. My protector,” her eyes drifted to Ty and held him in her gaze as tears formed in her eyes ready to spill over. “And my heart,” Abby said allowing the tears to fall as she glanced to Luc.
“Both of you have done everything for me, and I won’t let you do something stupid that will get you both killed.”
“There is no other way. We won’t let him have you.”
“Then I want to be by your side and fight too.”
“Abby no, it’s too dangerous.”
“You won’t be able to stop me,” she said as her voice cracked. She had already made up her mind and knew exactly what she had to do. And as the plan formed in her mind, she flashed a weak smile at the brothers.
“I want you to do something for me,” she said holding out her arm to Ty. Ty moved quickly to her side and sat next to her on the bed.
“Anything,” Ty answered obediently.
“Be with me tonight.”
Ty glanced at Luc and smirked as his eyes narrowed with pride. Abby twisted her head and glanced at Luc. Luc’s eyes glossed over as he dropped his head.
“You too. I want you both tonight. I want us to be like it was in my dream, together and happy.”
“Abby I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Luc said pulling away from her. Abby released Ty’s face and wrapped her arms around Luc keeping him beside her. She glanced up at him with pleading eyes begging for him to stay.
“Please, just this one thing. I want you both to have me tonight. If we are going to die tomorrow, then grant me this one last request.”
“Anything for you, you know that,” Ty said as he leaned down and pressed his lips to her shoulder.
“Luc please, you can’t make me pick between the two of you. And you can’t be so selfish that you would keep me bound to you forever. Now that I am whole, I don’t want to choose. I want you both. I need you both.”
With each word that spilled from Abby’s lips Luc’s determination wavered. She could see the war raging within him and she dropped her hand to his thigh. Slowly she let her hand roam over his leg until it reached his crotch.
“Please,” she begged once more as Ty pulled back her hair and continued to cover her skin with his kisses.
“Abby,” Luc moaned as her fingers peeled back the layer of fabric to expose the zipper of his pants.
“For me, do this for me.”
With her final plea, Luc caved. He reached out and pressed his lips to
hers, parting her mouth with his tongue. Abby moaned with pleasure as their hands traced over her body and pushed back the layers of fabric until the sound of ripping cotton filled the room.
Abby smiled as she pressed her lips to Luc’s neck kissing him before turning to Ty. She wrapped her fingers into his hair and jerked his head back. His wicked smile taunted her, and she crushed her lips to his as Luc’s hands roamed freely over her body.
“Just this once,” she thought as she concocted her own scheme to take down Nathanael. “Let me save you.”
Chapter 8
Abby closed her eyes and exhaled as the brothers laid on each side of her. She turned her head to Ty. His eyes were closed as a smile stretched over his rugged face. Everything about him in that moment filled her with passion and security. She knew no matter what, the two men by her side would never betray her, or let her down.
“How do you feel?” She asked turning her attention to Luc. Luc chuckled with his eyes locked on her. He lifted his hand up and cupped her face to lean in and kiss her. Abby pressed her lips to his as she traced her fingernails over his bare chest.
“Better question is how are you doing?” he asked. Images of Ty behind her filling her up as she swallowed the length of Luc flashed in her mind. She had never once thought of becoming a Chinese finger cuff before, yet the experience was exhilarating. She smiled shyly and twisted her body to face him.
“Never better. I only wish it could be like this forever.”
“It can you know. We could be happy like this.”
“You’re forgetting who is coming,” Ty said in a hushed tone trying to hold on to the moment.
“There has to be something that we can do to stop him,” Abby said rolling on to her back. She stared up at the ceiling trying to push out all bad thoughts. She wanted to feel Ty penetrating her again. She wanted Luc to push her over the edge only so he could bring her back again. But the darkness was approaching too fast.
She sat up and stretched as the brothers made room for her to climb off the bed. The moment her bare feet touched the ground she jumped back onto the bed to escape the frosty floor.
“You okay?” Ty asked jerking up to check on her.
“Fine, wasn’t expecting the floor to be so cold,” she said giggling. Luc shook his head and rolled on to his side. Abby watched as Luc tucked the pillow under his head and closed his eyes.
“Where are you going?” Ty asked as Abby carefully sat her feet down and started gathering her clothes. She reached down for her shirt and tossed it back down before snagging Ty’s shirt. She glanced over her shoulder at him and slipped on his large shirt with a smile.
“Need some water.”
“You know, I think I could get a bite to eat.” Ty glanced over to Luc and shook his head before climbing off the bed. Abby smiled and reached out her hand to him. Ty didn’t hesitate to take it and walk with her out of the room.
“I don’t think I’ve been in this part of the house,” Abby said turning to stare at all the vintage artifacts on the walls.
“You were knocked out when I brought you down this way.”
“Thank you by the way,” Abby said squeezing Ty’s hand.
“For what?”
“Everything. You are the one person that always seems to surprise me. And although your journals explained our relationship in the past, you still seem to hold a candle for me.”
“Abby, it doesn’t matter what has happened in your past lives. I have always loved you. And I always will.”
“I know. You’re the one who does the dirty work that no one else wants to do. And for that I thank you.”
Ty paused and jerked at her hand forcing her to stop. Abby turned her head as Ty closed the gap between them and leaned into her pressing his lips to hers.
“You know,” Abby huffed as she pulled away. “I can remember every first kiss we ever had.”
“Can you now?” Abby nodded as her face turned a darker shade of red.
“What?” Ty asked mimicking her smile.
“Not every girl gets to relive their first kiss with the man they love.”
“Well, with your heart restored, this will be the last life you get to have those experiences.”
Abby shrugged, “I can live with that.”
Abby spun on her heels and pulled Ty down the stairs hoping that she was leading them into the kitchen. But as they reached the bottom of the staircase, the room was so massive that she didn’t know which way to turn. Ty stopped by her side and watched her as she glanced one way then the other.
“Just so you know, you have been here before.”
“Not in this life.”
“Go with your gut, which way is the kitchen?” he teased wondering how much of her past lives she could tap into.
“Ninnie… Minnie… Minie… Go.” Abby said and turned left through the massive dinning hall as Ty started laughing at her.
“What?” Abby’s voice spiked in pitch as she glared at him.
“You do that every time.”
“So.”
“And it never fails to amaze me how many times you find your way through this castle by doing that.”
“Castle? You mean the one from the painting back at your place?” Abby’s mouth dropped as she recalled the large stone castle resting peacefully by the cliff. Ty nodded and looked around the room.
“It’s not what you expected is it?” Abby shook her head as her eyes grew wider.
“I don’t know what I expected. But I didn’t think I would ever come here.”
“And now that you are here?” Ty’s eyebrows rose with curiosity.
“Well, it’s not like I would move in or anything.”
“Why? There’s plenty of room for everyone.”
“Yeah, but it’s too far from school and my friends.”
“Actually it’s only an hours flight back to the city.”
“But I’m sure the ticket prices are insane.”
“I wasn’t talking about that kind of flight,” Ty’s smirked as Abby remembered she too has wings. She dropped her head and laughed at herself. In the corner of her eye she caught a ray of red light and flashed her eyes over to it. There, hanging over the fireplace was a shield of gold with two swords crossed over each other. Both inlaid with jewels. Abby pointed at the sword and turned to Ty.
“Luc has one of these,” Abby said. “In his apartment.”
“I know. The one he has is the real one though. When our parents died, the heirlooms were split between us. I got the castle, he got our crest.”
Abby’s head spun as she tried to remember what Luc said about the swords.
“Come on,” Ty said nodding to the other room. “The kitchen is right through that door. I think I still have some left overs in the frig.”
“You go on, I think I want to explore a bit first.” Abby stared at the sword and shield trying to shift through her thoughts until the answer screamed like a banshee at her. Her eyes widened, and she knew what she had to do. She glanced over her shoulder towards the open room then back to the sword.
“Maybe there is a way,” she mumbled. But getting away from Ty and Luc was going to be an issue. Plus, she wasn’t quiet familiar with the whole shifting thing, but she had to try.
“You know,” Abby shouted into the room. “I think I am going to go back up stairs and rest.”
“Sleep well my love,” Ty shouted back at her from the kitchen. Abby cocked her head and flashed a wicked smile. She moved quietly and quickly towards the front door pausing to steal a glimpse over her shoulder every so often. The last thing she wanted to do was cause the boys to panic. But she knew this would be her only chance to escape.
Abby pulled open the large wooden door. The warm summer breezed played with the hem of Ty’s shirt as she stepped outside. The door moaned just a bit as she closed it behind her.
With the open space reaching out before her, she glanced up to the night sky. Dark clouds were forming on the horizon and she knew they brought a grea
t evil. Abby raced out to the open courtyard and down the long driveway. She didn’t stop until she was on the other side of the wall and hidden in the shadows.
“Alright,” she said shaking to get the jitters out of her. She closed her eyes and tried to push out the dragon from within her. But no matter how hard she tried, the monster wouldn’t emerge. Abby glanced around her wondering if Ty had placed some kind of enchantment on the grounds when she noticed the bracelet still dangling from her wrist.
Abby kissed the silver band, and whispered, “I love you.” Suddenly the band slipped off her wrist freeing her from its enchantment. Abby’s heart filled with pride as she once again turned her attention to the sky.
With every ounce of concentration she had, she forced the dragon to emerge. Her body shimmered and soon became engulfed in the flames that would change her into the creature she was always meant to be. As her large wings pulled upward, Abby knew her time was running out. In a mighty burst of energy, she took to the sky.
Chapter 9:
Ty climbed the steps heading back up to the room. He smiled as he climbed wondering how hard it would be to pull Abby out of Luc’s arms and have her cuddle with him. His footsteps echoed and bounced off the walls the higher he climbed until he made it to the top and turned around. The house was still and quiet. The hair on the back of his neck prickled as he glanced around. Through the window he noticed the clouds rolling in.
“I thought I had more time,” he said watching the darkness smother the diamonds in the sky. A crack of lightening shot forth from the clouds and streaked down towards the ground causing Ty’s eyes to widen. He sucked in a deep breath and turned back towards the hallway making his way to the room.
As Ty pushed through the door, the hinge protested making the metal on metal moan louder than what he expected. Ty tiptoed into the room hoping he hadn’t disturbed Abby, but the closer he got to the bed, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he gasped.
Ty leaned down and cracked his hand against Luc’s slumbering body.
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