Leaving Eden

by Kelly A Walker et al.

  “Any sign of her?” a deep voice asked.

  “Nothing yet. She’ll show.”

  Rocking rubies, even their voices were like honey.

  She listened as the two men made themselves a drink. As she eavesdropped on their conversation, she plotted her escape. Were they talking about her? Surely they had no idea she had been staking them out…

  “The Council has upped the bounty. If we don’t bring her in soon, every headhunter this side of the continent will be hitting these waters,” honey voice number one said, irritation in his tone.

  “She’ll show. We laid the bait perfectly. There’s no way she can resist. You worry too much,” velvet voice number two replied.

  Ava’s mind raced. The Council was the boogeyman of their kind. They policed the Affinities, ensuring that no one stepped out of line. Had she robbed one of them on accident? No. She vetted her marks thoroughly. Usually. Everyone except these three. How stupid could she have been? She had gone and gotten herself trapped on a boat with bounty hunters.

  “Come on. We don’t want to scare her away. We’ll wait in the pool room.”

  She listened as they made their way across the room, sighing in relief as the door shut behind them.

  Time to go. Ava stood, turning to head for the window. She paused as she got to it, that pulsing energy slamming into her again. Come, Ava… It seemed to purr. Your treasure is in here…

  Biting her lip, Ava debated her situation. She could feel the men in the other room and knew she could slip into the cellar and out again undetected. For whatever reason, she could feel the Griffins as if they themselves were treasure, their essence calling to her. That would help her to avoid them in her escape.

  Her eyes scanned the room she was in, taking in the opulence of it all. Then her gaze landed on a small picture frame hanging on the far wall. Walking over to it, Ava felt her bitterness twist in the depth of her soul. It morphed into something she was even more uncomfortable with.

  Longing.

  The three golden boys smiled back at her from the picture. They each held a fish out in front of them, as if offering them to her. They were shirtless, and the backdrop of the ocean only highlighted their gorgeous “otherness.”

  Her heart twisted. Before she could think better of it, Ava snatched the picture from the wall, carefully removing it from the frame, and tucked it into her fanny pack before putting the frame back in place.

  Then she went to find her treasure.

  The vault was your standard run-of-the-mill model. Apparently, these men were all beauty and no brain. Who had this type of wealth and didn’t properly secure it? They were practically begging to be robbed.

  Pulling out her supplies, Ava made quick work of breaking it open, silently working the combination until she heard the telltale clink. Holding her breath, she opened the small door, looking inside.

  Stacks of money and diamonds littered the vault. Ava pushed the loot aside, searching for the real treasure she could sense deeper within. Sliding her hand up the back wall of the vault, she felt a tiny ridge, barely noticeable. Pressing on the trapdoor softly, she heard it release with a snap. She reached into the hidden compartment, surprised as she withdrew a small burlap bag. Peeking at the contents, she felt a childish giggle bubble up inside her.

  The crimson bauble sparkled in the darkness. A ruby the size of an egg.

  Ignoring the other goodies, Ava slipped the prize inside her fanny pack, nestling it next to the stolen picture. Then, being careful to make sure everything else was exactly as it had been before, she shut the vault once more. One of the reasons she was such a successful pirate was that she knew when to say when. It was a lot easier to get away with stealing when it took weeks for her marks to realize anything was missing.

  Ava made her way back to the window, silently easing it open. It was just big enough for her to fit through, thankfully.

  “Well, hello.”

  Ava froze.

  As if in a horror movie, she slowly turned, feeling her heart skip a beat as she watched the golden god she had seen in the bed earlier unfurl from the chair on the opposite side of the bar. Her eyes trailed down his body, taking in all of that glorious, golden skin as he took a slow step towards her. His dark hair was thick and curled just above his shoulders. A rogue disguised as a gentleman. His black boxer briefs only seemed to highlight how gold his skin looked in the faint moonlight of the cabin.

  Ava swallowed, trying to seem nonchalant as she debated the logistics of getting out of the window before he could reach her. “Hello,” she replied back, hoping to avoid him simply rushing her.

  “You were not the thief we were expecting tonight.” He tilted his head, a predatory gesture that was not lost on her. He took another step closer to her…

  “Hate to disappoint.” She smirked, feeling her own predator rise within her. Wyverns fought to the death for their treasures. She certainly wasn’t going down without a fight.

  “Disappointed? Hardly,” he murmured, his gaze flicking down her body.

  The door opened to their left. It was the only chance she was going to get.

  Twisting her body, Ava used her Affinity’s grace to jump through the window, nearly flying as she plummeted into the murky ocean below.

  She heard the men curse as she swam to shore, knowing she would only have moments before they were on her.

  Fuck, the water was much colder without her wetsuit.

  She pulled herself up onto the beach, ignoring the shouts from the dock as the men raced after her. Reaching deep inside herself, she focused on her desire for the ruby in her possession, allowing that greed to push her legs harder as she darted down the nearest alleyway.

  The shouts became lost in the distance she’d put between them, her treasure fueling her escape.

  Who said greed couldn’t be useful?

  2

  RAMÉ

  “Who the hell was that?” Ramé asked as they walked back towards their yacht, their breathing ragged.

  Midas ran his hand through his rumpled hair in frustration. “Fuck if I know,” he grumbled. They had come to this bay to catch one pirate, only to be sideswiped by another.

  “More importantly, what did she take?” Odysseus murmured calmly. Ody was always the collected one. Cool, calm, efficient. He had been military since he could walk, it seemed.

  Midas cursed again, his temper getting the better of him. “How did she slip by us? I thought we were ready?” Since Midas was the intellectual one in their group of misfits, it irked him to no end to have a plan go awry. If it wasn’t such a risky bounty, Ramé would have laughed at the disgruntled look on his foster brother’s face.

  Once back on their boat, the three of them headed straight to the vault to assess the damage.

  “Why didn’t she take the loot?” Ody asked, his keen eyes taking in the wealth left behind.

  “Maybe we spooked her?” Ramé chuckled. He remembered how startled she seemed when she had seen him rise from the chair in the parlor. Her emerald eyes had widened, fascination and desire pouring from her. His Griffin had enjoyed that, wanting more, wanting to feast on her innocence…

  Focus, Ramé.

  Bending down, Ramé reached into the vault, searching for the documents they had put there as a trap for their target. Papers they had conveniently told the keeper at the market they needed to be kept a secret, knowing he would sell the information to the highest bidder. Curiously, they were still there.

  “Wait…”

  The ruby. Their mother’s ruby was missing.

  Irritation and rage flooded him, instantly traveling to his brothers, their connection soon throbbing with it. While they may not be bonded by blood, they were brothers all the same, and they were tied to one another. Perhaps it was the years they had served in the military together, fighting against the vast legions of powerful Affinities that hunted their kind. Maybe it was the fact that they shared such a rare Affinity. Or maybe it was simply being raised together in such a brut
al world. Whatever the case was, they now rose as one, their rage palpable in the small room.

  “We have to find her,” Midas said.

  And when they did, they would show her the consequences of stealing from a Griffin.

  3

  AVA

  Ava stretched, yawning as a smile crept across her face. She felt something sharp digging into her hip, but she didn’t mind. This was her happy place. Reaching down, she withdrew something pointy and shiny out from beneath her.

  And yes, she slept with shinies. Don’t judge her…

  Standing, Ava looked down at her modest bed, the lone mattress lying on the floor of her tiny houseboat. Who needed box springs, really? The bed was covered in trinkets, various watches, and pearls—her sleeping companions. She couldn’t explain why, exactly, but there was a comfort in sleeping close to her shinies. It gave her a sense of home.

  The ruby she had stolen the night before peeked out from beneath her pillow, glimmering in the sunlight that shone through the window.

  Ava picked it up, running her fingers over the smooth surface. It was beautiful, almost achingly so. Compared to her other treasures, there was something different about this piece. It was powerful, full of energy and warmth, but also incredibly sad. It made her want to weep as she held it to her breast, close to her heart. Perhaps she would put it on a necklace.

  Tucking the gem into the pocket of her silky turquoise pajama bottoms, Ava headed to the bathroom and went through her morning routine. It was Sunday. The last day for the weekend-only marketplace. Maybe she would sneak down for a walkthrough. It wasn’t the smartest idea, with those men still out there, but Ava needed to work the crowd. A girl had to eat, didn’t she?

  Besides, they hadn’t seen her in her Sundays’ best.

  After her shower, Ava took care in picking her finest clothing. A white sundress with bright yellow sunflowers hugged her torso to perfection, flowing out at the hips in a romantic wave. It complimented her hair, which she had curled delicately, letting it flow down her shoulders.

  “The trick with make-up, Ava, is you want it to enhance your natural beauty, while making it seem as if you aren’t wearing anything at all,” her mother used to tell her. Her mother had been a gentle soul, but cunning. She knew how to get her way and how to make her mark smile while she took them for all they were worth. Some of Ava’s best tricks had been taught by her mother. Before she had lost her.

  Frowning, Ava concentrated on her lipstick, the soft pink highlighting the blush in her cheeks. It did no good to dwell in the past. It was what it was. When you survived day to day, you had to focus on the now.

  Staring at her reflection, Ava felt a smirk tug on her lips. She looked like an angel. An innocent young woman, her bright green eyes sparkling behind her thick lashes.

  It was perfect for making men underestimate her.

  Ava went to her closet, opening the door and grinning at the elaborate spread of jewelry on display. Rows and rows of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and broaches cluttered the tiny closet, purring at her. “Pick me, pick me…” they crooned. How Ava wished she could layer the entire lot of them, wearing nothing but the shiny jewels. It would be a tad too conspicuous, though. Sighing, she chose a delicate set of pearls, adding the matching earrings. Running her fingers over them, she closed her eyes and simply enjoyed the moment. Nothing could compare to the rightness it conjured inside of her, like a click. Her soul settled the minute something fancy ran across her fingertips.

  Slipping on her tan flats—never heels, Ava. Men hate feeling as if they are being looked down on—Ava was ready to meet the day head on. She wondered what new toy she would be able to swindle today.

  4

  ODY

  Ody surveyed the crowds bustling back and forth between the different displays of goods. Everyone was always so carefree at a marketplace. No calculation. No deception or cruelty. Just… contentment. What was it about these places that caused such a reaction?

  He didn’t get it. Then again, Odysseus didn’t get a lot of things. His mind was always calculating. After spending ten years in special forces, it simply was the way his brain operated. He had to be prepared for the unexpected. In their world, the unprepared didn’t last long.

  So how the fuck did he allow his mother’s ruby to be stolen? The ruby she had entrusted them with on her deathbed. The ruby that held her very soul.

  Ody ground his teeth together. What a cluster fuck. Never in a million years would he have anticipated having anyone other than the one they had been hunting come on board. They’d had eyes on their mark at every moment, waiting for her to make her move.

  And then came that little thief instead.

  Closing his eyes, he rested his head back against the cool brick wall behind him. She had smelled like sunshine. He rolled the smell around on the back of his tongue, tasting it. Griffins had a superior sense of smell, and much like the lion in them, they seemed to taste scent as well as smell it.

  Who was she, and why had she chosen their boat to rob? Why the ruby? Questions without answers irked Ody like nothing else.

  He would find Ms. Sunshine, and he would get his answers.

  “You think she’ll show?” Ramé asked, tilting his face towards the sun. His thick hair was braided back today, making the angles of his jawline prominent.

  “She’ll show.” Ody smoothed a hand over his close-cropped hair self-consciously. It was a habit he had gained in the military. Long hair was a liability. It didn’t make sense to give yourself a weakness for vanity’s sake alone.

  “You okay, man?” Midas asked, leaning on the wall next to him.

  Ody turned towards him, nodding slightly. Not only was Midas the brains of their operation, but he was an empath of sorts. He was studious and seemed to be able to read people better than even Ody could, which was saying something. Midas was in charge of managing their finances, but he also seemed to manage them as a team. While Ody might have been the tactical leader, Midas was the glue that helped smooth over the emotional things Ody simply couldn’t wade through.

  “I’m fine,” Ody said, in his customary to-the-point manner. He could bark orders all day long, but ask him to chit chat, especially about feelings? Not happening.

  Midas nodded, his own dark hair curling forward and getting into his eyes. Both Midas and Rame had the type of hair that either needed to be cut short, or deal with the thick, untamable mess naturally. Ramé, pretty boy that he was, grew his out long enough to manage. Midas seemed as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted it short or long, resulting in it forever being in his eyes. Liabilities…

  “Alright. It’s high noon now. If she’s showing, now’s the time.” Midas turned back towards the crowds, his golden eyes narrowing as he searched them. His nostrils flared, and Ody knew he was seeking that sunshine scent.

  This little thief had made one fatal mistake last night. She had forgotten her wetsuit. The brothers had taken turns smelling it, saturating their memory in her scent. If she was here, they would find her.

  “Maybe we should split up?” Ramé asked, his gaze tracking a pretty brunette as she sauntered past.

  Ody narrowed his eyes.

  Before he could reprimand him, Midas put a hand on Ody’s shoulder. “Good idea. Send out a text if we spot her.” He leaned into Ody, lowering his voice. “Ramé hunts better when he’s horny.” Midas chuckled, before heading off towards the rear entrance.

  Ody snorted, shaking his head. Ramé did hunt better horny. The brothers had demanded Ramé’s celibacy during a hunt for exactly that reason.

  Nodding, he moved through the crowd, brushing past happy merchants. What was it like to be so carefree? To not have the demons of your past rule your present? He pushed back at the bitterness threatening to swallow him. If it weren’t for his brothers, who knew where he would have ended up when he had returned from the bloodshed of war? Being together, hunting marks, and being at sea, it gave him purpose. Purpose he desperately needed.

  A g
lint of gold caught his attention, and he stopped at a nearby stand, casually looking at the display of jams. His main focus was on the golden hair glistening to his right. Ramé had mentioned noticing their little thief was a blonde the night before. Turning his body slightly, Ody watched the young woman who was staring up at the sun with abandon. Didn’t she realize how bad that was for her eyes? Ody treated his body like a weapon, one that, if damaged, could be deadly. How people could so easily disregard necessary skills such as eyesight was beyond him.

  She wore a white sundress with yellow flowers on it that matched her hair. It wasn’t the pretty dress that had his attention, though. It was her smell. It was seawater and sunshine. He inhaled deeply, feeling that scent settle into his bones. It was… comforting for some reason. Perhaps it was the satisfaction of finding their mark.

  Ody pulled out his phone, careful to keep her in his sight.

  Mark found. Eastern entrance.

  As he debated on whether or not to approach her now or simply bide his time until he could corner her without causing a scene, someone else decided to move in on his mark.

  A tall, greasy-looking fellow stepped to the thief’s side, roughly gripping her wrist.

  Ody watched as her lip curled, anger radiating off of her as she exchanged words with the man.

  Nonchalantly, Ody moved closer, rage coursing through him. It wasn’t right to hurt a woman. Even though he was livid with her for stealing from him, he didn’t like the way this lady, who tasted like sunshine, cringed away from the imposing man. He tried to get a feel for the asshole’s Affinity, but Ody just wasn’t as skilled in that area as Midas was.

  “I’ve warned you about coming here. Are you looking for trouble?” the man hissed, jerking her closer.

  Ody feigned interest in a table of homemade wind chimes, focusing on keeping his body relaxed despite his ire.

  “This isn’t your turf, Saltos. Uncle Sal owns this street.”

  Ody’s breath left him as he heard her voice for the first time. If her scent was sunshine, her voice was lightning. She was both sunny days and thunderstorms wrapped up in a pretty package.