Infinity Chronicles Book Four: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Series

by Albany Walker

  Milo’s eyes widen, and he jerks his head and looks over at Ares. “Here, squeeze my arm.” He steps forward, offering his forearm.

  “Why?” I look at him skeptically but grab his arm. I squeeze as hard as I can, but he doesn’t even look like it registered. His brows drop down as he looks over his shoulder at Ares.

  “Someone else let her try. It just feels normal to me, but… just let her try on one of you,” Milo blurts standing back.

  Dante extends his arm to me, licking his lips as he gets unnecessarily close. Orange flares in his irises. I reach for him, hungry for him even though I just made love to Milo.

  My fingers brush against his mark on his wrist. I stroke my hand up his inner elbow, watching my nails drag up his arm. Looking up, I make eye contact with him and wrap my fingers around his bicep. I squeeze, but nothing happens, I don’t feel any stronger than I did an hour ago.

  “Her touch is powerful, but nothing like Milo’s.” Dante’s raspy voice fills my ears as he skims his hand over his chest, while his other arm is still locked in my grasp.

  “We need to focus.” Ares steps up to the side of the bed and pulls Dante’s arm from my grip. A sneer lifts my lips.

  “Mine,” I growl. Dante spins so his back is to me and my eyes jump up to Ares’s. There’s no challenge there, only his patient stare.

  “Sorry,” I apologize with a wince.

  “Are you experiencing anything else?” Ares queries, ignoring my comment. I don’t tell him that I was ready to jump Dante a few seconds ago. I’ve come to understand that his and my relationship is a little different than the others. Instead, I take a deep breath, really thinking about how I feel.

  After a long pause, I shake my head. “I feel fine, good. Still kind of heavy, but maybe I’m just a little tired?” I offer.

  Dante turns back around to face me, his eyes back to the beautiful amber I know. I give him a small smile.

  Ares looks over at Milo. “Any other ideas?”

  Milo’s eyes narrow and his lips are pursed. “Maybe, but I don’t know how we’d test it.” He looks over at Ares.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking.” Ares crosses his arms over his chest.

  Milo drags his hand through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead, his bicep bulges in response. “Instead of being physically stronger, maybe her body is stronger. That might explain why she feels heavy.” He widens his palms like he’s grasping for straws. Ares returns his gaze to me, his head tilting in contemplation.

  “Milo’s right, there’s no way to test that theory. It’s not like one of us could hit her.” Ollie walks around the bed before dropping himself on the opposite side.

  “Absolutely not!” Milo barks.

  “And not what I was suggesting,” Ollie retorts.

  Using my forearms to hold the sheet in place, I squeeze my wrist with my hand. I blink when I don’t feel the pressure. Wait, wait this isn’t good. I squeeze again as hard as I can. I see the indent my fingers are making, but I don’t feel a damn thing. What if I can’t feel anyone’s touch again? I’m being irrational, I just felt Dante only moments ago, but I’m frightened anyway. “Touch me!” I blurt, extending both arms out. The sheet falls to my lap and no one makes a move. I climb off the bed, almost frantic. I’ve barely had anyone touch me my entire life, please don’t take it away from me now.

  “Please, touch me.” I reach for Dante, since he’s the closest. He swallows before looking over at Ares, then back down at me. With one finger poised in the air, he gently traces the pad of his finger over the crest of my shoulder and down my arm. My head falls back in relief as gooseflesh grows in its wake. “Thank God,” I sigh.

  Looking behind me, I see Ares drop the sheet over my shoulders, but I can’t feel the fabric at all. Dread settles in my stomach until his fingers graze over my neck as he tucks it around me. I can’t feel anything but their touch.

  Dante pauses, his eyes widening with my own. “What’s wrong, Laura?”

  I shake my head, my lips rolling in. I don’t even want to say it.

  “Laura?” Milo takes a step closer. His face is drawn tight. Oh God, I cannot let Milo know, especially right now. He’s going to blame himself.

  I plaster a smile on my face. “Nothing, nothing. Just freaked myself out.” Milo doesn’t look convinced, as his eyes dart over to Ollie across the room.

  “We’ll have to figure out what changed, but it seems like you’re moving around okay.” Ares examines me. If anyone knows I’m lying, it’s the Dark Lord I look down at the sheet, pretending to fold it around me tighter.

  “Okay, yeah. I feel fine. Probably just tired after the connection.” I try to make my voice light and airy, but it comes off more breathless.

  “Dante, will you take a look around since we’ve been up here for a while?” Ares settles his hand on my shoulder, his thumb lightly stroking behind my ear. Every nerve ending in my body is centered on his hand.

  “Got it.” Dante is out the door quickly, taking the job seriously.

  Once I hear him clomp down the stairs, Ares addresses the rest of us. “Why don’t you guys get some sleep? It’s pretty late.”

  Reluctantly, I begin to move so I can climb back in the bed, but Ares’s grip on my shoulder tightens. I look up, questioning him with my eyes, but then I see it. He didn’t buy my story for a second. He does a minuscule nod toward the door.

  “I have to go to the bathroom?” It comes out like a question.

  “I’ll take you,” Ares responds before I’m even done speaking. “Grab something to sleep in.”

  I make my way over to the bed and snag Milo’s abandoned t-shirt. He smiles at me when I bend down, already having climbed back in bed. I don’t have to fake the grin I send back in his direction.

  Ares is on my heels as I push into the bathroom door. He snaps it closed behind us and crowds in close to me—the bathroom is small, but not this small.

  I can’t meet his stare. “Did you need something?” I play dumb.

  His fingertip lands under my chin and lifts. “I need to know what’s really wrong. I can’t fix it, Cara, if you don’t tell me what it is.”

  I wish it were that easy. I make a scoffing sound and look away. Now that I’ve had a second to think about it, it’s really not that bad. So what if I can’t feel anything else besides their touch? Feeling everything but their touch would be so much worse. But Milo. Milo will blame himself.

  “Please?” Ares whispers.

  Swallowing, I take a steadying breath. His plea for the truth is enough to convince me to tell him. “I think Milo was right, something about me has changed.”

  “What is it?” Ares actually sounds hesitant.

  I look at him now, studying his dark eyes. “You have to promise not to tell him, not yet. He’s always so afraid he’s going to hurt someone.” I flick the tear that dared to fall from my treacherous eye off my cheek. I wouldn’t have even known it was there if my vision weren’t so blurry.

  “Just tell me,” Ares orders, avoiding my promise.

  I shake my head in denial. It would hurt me not to tell him, but I won’t, not if he won’t promise. It would kill him to lie to me, so I know he won’t tell if he promises not to.

  “I promise,” he grits through his teeth. He’s angry I made him promise.

  My eyes are blurry again. I don’t want him to be mad at me. I sniff a few times in case my nose is running. “I can’t feel—”

  “What?” He doesn’t let me finish.

  “Anything, but you guys,” I continue.

  “What?” Ares repeats.

  Slowly, this time I tell him, “I can’t feel anything but you, my Infinity.”

  “I don’t understand.” He shakes his head like what I’m telling him is unbelievable. I’m right there too. It is crazy.

  I lift my hands from the sheet, and it slides off my shoulders and pools behind me. I rub my thumb over my fingers right in front of my eyes. Nothing. It’s like my brain isn’t sending the right
signals.

  “I can’t feel this.” Frustrated, I reach out and slap my palm against the wall, hoping to feel the sting on my hand, but again, nothing happens.

  Ares grabs my wrist when I go to do it again. My nerve endings come alive. I close my eyes, taking in every facet of his touch. I can feel the flex of his fingers as his hand tightens, the heat from his palm gathering over the back of my arm. Opening my blurry eyes, I whisper, “I can feel you.”

  Ares grabs the back of my neck and drags my head to his chest. His other hand goes to the small of my back. “Don’t tell him, Ares, please.” My back shakes as I sob against his chest.

  Ares clears his throat. “We won’t be able to keep it from him forever, sweetheart. He’ll have to know eventually.” The words rumble up his chest.

  “Not yet, not yet,” I repeat over and over. This is going to kill Milo.

  Chapter 4

  “You’re clumsy today. Looks like you need a few more hours of sleep,” Ollie teases.

  I pretend to hold my toe and give him a little grimace It’s hard to be aware of your body when you aren’t aware of your body. I thought I was doing a pretty good job until I slammed my hand in the door. At least I realized why I can’t feel anything. It’s like my skin has changed. I didn’t even have a mark on my hand after, and I’m sure it should have left some damage behind.

  “It would be hard to sleep through all of this anyway.” I wave my hand around, encompassing the four men moving around the house installing motion sensors and camera equipment.

  “True,” he admits. Closing the distance between us, he wraps his arms around me, settling his hands over the small of my back. “Do you need me to kiss it better?”

  Lightness fills my soul. Ollie can always bring me joy. I furrow my brow and give him a stern face. “I got something you can kiss.”

  Taking the bait, he leans down so his face is right in mine. “Anytime, anyplace,” he whispers.

  I shove his shoulder and laugh. “I was talking about my butt.”

  Pulling back, he opens his mouth in mock outrage, then winks at me while biting his lip. “Me, too!” He runs off cackling before I can muster a response.

  I wave my fist and yell, “You say that now, but what about in twenty years when my butt is fat and saggy?”

  His head pokes out from behind the doorframe. “I’m down for it.” He disappears again. I just shake my head, the smile still on my lips.

  Milo comes into the kitchen. He walks right over to me and places a kiss on the top of my head. I savor his touch. Would he do this if he knew?

  “Are you hungry?” I feel guilty that I’m keeping it from him, but I would feel worse if he blamed himself.

  “Nah, just bored.”

  “What’s the matter? Ollie doesn’t have any more hard labor for you?” I tease him.

  “It seems like the renovations are going to be put on hold. No use tearing everything up if it might be a while before we can get anyone in here to fix it.”

  I pull away from him. “Why are they on hold?”

  “Well, we can’t have strangers coming in and out of the house right now, not with Leon. That would be foolish.”

  I look out the window, seeing the trees swaying in the slight breeze. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that.”

  Milo settles his palm on my shoulder. “It’s okay. We have plenty of time, and this place really isn’t that bad.” He pauses, looking up at the ceiling. “I just thought of something I can do.”

  “Oh, yeah? What is that?”

  “I can build some walls in the basement, install a proper door.” The light ring around his dark-blue eyes shimmers with excitement. He drops a kiss to my lips. As soon as he steps away, he shouts, “Ares, I need the SUV. I want to go get some supplies.”

  I tuck my arms over my stomach and look out the window. That will keep him busy for a while, but now I need something to do. Heavy footsteps alert me to someone coming into the kitchen. I know it’s not one of the guys. I turn around to make sure I’m not in the way.

  “Hey, Laura, right?” The man stops several feet away from me.

  “Hi, yes. Did you need something?” He’s fairly tall, with sandy brown hair and light blue eyes. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s Ares’s age.

  “Nah, just thought I’d introduce myself. I’m Elliot.” He takes a few steps closer but maintains a healthy distance before extending his hand for me to shake.

  “Oh, sorry.” I reach forward and clasp his hand. I don’t clutch his palm too hard, afraid I might squeeze too much. I loosen my grip quickly. I still haven’t gotten used to seeing myself touch something and not feel it.

  Elliot’s head tilts to the side as I wiggle my fingers and silence falls over us. “So, do you have a Synergist?” I ask, the question popping out of my mouth, when the awkwardness gets to be too much.

  A genuine smile lifts his lips, and he nods, pointing over his shoulder. “Manny and I are bound to Marissa.”

  “Oh, is she here?” I peer past his shoulder into the living room.

  “No, just Manny. He’s working upstairs right now.”

  I nod, feeling a little foolish since I knew there weren’t any other women here. “Can I get you a drink or anything?” I grab the handle of the old fridge.

  “Sure. I’ll take a soda or a water; whatever you have is fine.”

  I open the door and look inside. Thanks to Ollie’s frequent trips to the store, we have a variety of drinks and take-out containers stacked up. I stand back and let him see the contents. “Take your pick.”

  “Cola’s fine, thanks.”

  I grab a can of soda and hand it over to him, thinking I should probably ask the others if they want anything too.

  He looks down at the can without opening it and continues to stand there. I shuffle my feet. It seems as if there’s something he wants, or at the very least something he wants to say. Otherwise, he would have left by now.

  He meets my eyes. “So, I’ve worked for Ares for years, known him longer,” he begins, and I smooth my shirt down and swallow. “He’s different,” Elliot tells me.

  I’m not sure what he expects me to say. Sorry? I’m not. I fold my arms under my chest and wait.

  “He’s been struggling for the last few years.” Elliot looks down at the ground, like he’s betraying Ares by saying the words out loud. “I’ve hated watching him pretend that everything was okay—that he was okay—while the rest of us got paired up.” He switches the can to his other hand.

  I stand a little straighter when his light blue eyes land on me again. “I guess I just wanted to thank you.”

  My eyes widen, that isn’t what I thought he was going to say. “Um…” I can’t even form words right now.

  “Seeing him happy, seeing him even now with this Leon stuff going on,” Elliot nods his head, “I’m just happy for him. Happy that he finally got what he deserves.” He shuffles his feet now with a slight blush staining his cheeks.

  “I’m happy he’s happy, too,” I tell Elliot just above a whisper. This is so awkward, but I know it’s coming from a good place.

  Elliot clears his throat. “Well, thanks for the soda, Laura.” He turns and is out of the kitchen in a rush.

  A small giggle escapes me. “Don’t laugh at him, Cara, that was painful for both of us,” Ares groans. I look over my shoulder and see Ares leaning against the wall, with one ankle crossed over the other.

  There’s no way Elliot knew he was there. Placing my hands on my hips, I admonish him, “You shouldn’t be eavesdropping.”

  Ares smiles smugly, completely unrepentant. Pushing off the wall, he comes over to me, his hand going behind my neck. His grin fades as he searches my eyes. “How are you feeling?”

  I lay my hand over his chest. “The same.” I make my words light. It’s not something I want to dwell on, especially when there’s nothing I can do about it.

  “I think we should talk to Milo.” He places his finger over my lips when I start to argue. “Let
me finish. I think you could learn to control it, and we need his help.”

  I pull back a few inches. “You think I could control it?”

  Ares’s eyes widen a fraction. “I’m not positive, but all our abilities, even mine, can be dulled or turned off.” Ares runs his fingers down my hair, which is lying over my chest. “That’s why Milo played football. So he could learn control, among other things.”

  A kernel of hope blossoms in my chest, but it dies when I think about having to tell Milo. “I don’t want to tell him yet.”

  “Tell who, what?” Dante sets a box on the kitchen counter, and I jump at his voice. The sneaky bugger.

  “I’m going to get you a damn bell,” I threaten, leaning around Ares to see him.

  Dante chuckles in response. He leans his butt against the counter and glances between Ares and me, his brow furrowing. “What are you not telling us?”

  Ares blows out a breath and tilts his head, telling me it’s my job to decide whether I tell him or not. He won’t outright lie to his brother, or any of them, for that matter.

  I bite the inside of my lip, debating. After a few long seconds, I beckon Dante over with a crook of my finger. He steps immediately closer, huddling in beside us.

  “You have to promise not to tell anyone until I’m ready.” I raise my brows, examining him. Dante looks at Ares, then back at me, before he swallows then nods.

  “Since last night, after I bonded with Milo…” I pause and lower my voice even more. “I can’t feel anything besides you guys.”

  Dante’s brow tightens his face closing off. “Explain,” he demands.

  It raises my hackles, and a rumble flows up my chest. Dante tips his chin up, exposing his throat to me. “I mean, tell me what you mean, please,” he corrects.

  Satisfied with his response, I brush my hand over his chest. The tips of my fingers are more sensitive than ever, tingling with the touch. “Like this, I can’t feel anything that touches me, or that I touch, unless it’s one of you.” Dante’s mouth drops open. “I slammed my hand in the door, and I didn’t feel anything, there wasn’t even a mark.”