Leaving Eden

by Kelly A Walker et al.

  “Our mother,” Ramé said, grabbing her hand where she held him.

  “I heard you speaking of her. So, the ruby really was hers?” Ava recalled Midas’s words, remembering how mournful he sounded as he told her who the ruby belonged to.

  “The ruby is her, wild cat.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Ramé took a deep breath, then let it out harshly. “It’s complicated. When we were children, Mitera took us in. She was a Sphinx and had lost her children in the purge of Eden. They stormed her village, seeking any rare Affinities so that they could destroy them. She barely escaped with her life. After that, she began fostering others, taking in orphans from other purges. That’s how we all met. We owe her our lives.”

  Ava listened intently, then kissed his shoulder as he paused, comforting him.

  “She used to tell us stories of another place. A realm where we weren’t hunted like animals. Where we could flourish and grow, with entire cities full of our kind. She said she had come from such a place as a child and hoped one day to make it back there.”

  “Another realm? Really?” Ava tried to hide the skepticism she felt, but these were things of myths and legends. There were no places safe for their kind. That’s why she had never settled in one place for too long. It was also why she had lost her mother at such a young age.

  Safety was a kind lie sold to naive children.

  “Really. The men we are meeting tonight are travelers. They can jump realms.”

  Ava snorted. “Someone has been selling you fool’s gold, Ramé.”

  “I’ve seen it,” he whispered.

  Pausing, Ava considered that. “Seen the other realm?”

  Ramé ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve seen them come through a portal of sorts. The magic they wield... It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They aren’t normal, Ava.”

  Ava rolled over this new information, her eyes scouring the distant docks. She could see Ody and Midas walking towards their yacht, and a ball of tension tightened her stomach. “How do you know it’s safe to meet these men?”

  Ramé shrugged. “It’s not, probably. But they’re businessmen. They need something we have. We’ll give it to them, and then they can take the ruby to their world.”

  Scrunching her eyebrows, Ava asked, “What is the ruby exactly?”

  “It’s her soul, Ava. When Sphinx pass, they transform, becoming gemstones. It’s our way of burying her. Of saying goodbye.”

  Ava could hear the thickness in his voice and held him a bit tighter. She felt like such an asshole. She had stolen their mother’s soul. Who does that? Was that why she had felt so connected to it? Even then, was she feeling the mating bond’s effects?

  “You should be there. To say goodbye,” she whispered.

  Ramé shook his head. “It’s okay. I said my goodbyes a long time ago.”

  Ava chewed on her lip, guilt making her heart ache. Not only had she stolen the ruby, but now she was basically ruining the funeral.

  Shadows flickered down the side of the boat, catching Ava’s attention.

  “What is that?” she asked, pointing towards the sea.

  “What’s what?” Ramé looked to where she was pointing, but the shadows had disappeared.

  “Something’s not right,” she murmured.

  Ramé patted her hand. “It’s their magic. It makes me unsettled, too.”

  “Wait. They’re already here?” Ava asked, her voice about five times higher than usual.

  Ramé chuckled, patting her hand. “They don’t linger long. It’ll be over soon, and then we can head back to your place.” He turned slightly, running his nose across her cheek, then nipping her ear gently.

  Ava shuddered.

  And then she noticed another shadow. This one seemed to be crawling up the side of the boat, disappearing over the ledge.

  “Ramé, someone is on the boat.” She jumped off the bike, sprinting towards the yacht, even as more shadows formed, popping up from the water and silently climbing onto the deck.

  Ramé cursed, taking off after her.

  Ody and Midas would be too preoccupied with the magic businessmen. They wouldn’t notice the pirates ambushing them until it was too late.

  Over her dead body.

  13

  ODY

  Ody and Midas entered the cabin of their yacht, tension burning between them. It felt wrong to be away from Ava.

  It would have felt even worse to have her here, or anywhere near these two outsiders.

  The two businessmen were in the cabin’s lounge at the bar; one was behind it flipping bottles, while the other sat at on a bar stool as if he owned the place.

  The one behind the bar grabbed several tumbler glasses, juggling them before setting them down on the countertop. “Welcome, boys! What are you having?” he asked merrily, his deep voice accented slightly.

  Ody watched him carefully, taking in the large body behind the immaculate attire. He wore a pinstriped suit, the jacket removed, and the sleeves of his white button-down were rolled up over massive forearms. All topped off with a fedora tilted on his head. His golden-brown skin contrasted harshly with his emerald green eyes, which sparkled with amusement at Ody’s assessing gaze.

  Despite the friendly disposition of the man, Ody knew just how deadly Mattheus could be.

  “I bet you’re a Scotch man,” Mattheus said, chuckling as he grabbed a bottle and began to pour them all drinks.

  The other man didn’t speak yet, which Ody was okay with. Ody wasn’t one to be scared easily. Hell, he had seen more bloodshed and carnage than most men. He had been on the frontlines of battle after battle and had never hesitated.

  And yet now, in his own cabin, Ody paused, debating on taking the seat next to this… creature.

  As if sensing his hesitation, the man turned, giving Ody his full attention.

  Ody swallowed, the hair standing up on his arms.

  The man was pale as the moon, with raven hair that curled past his ears. His eyes were such a dark blue they looked black, and his body was long and muscled, just enough to be intimidating. The type of soldier who was both graceful and powerful. The perfect predator.

  Dolor Comedenti raised a brow, gesturing towards the seat next to him.

  Ody took his assessments of both men, as any general would. It did no good to walk into battle without knowing your enemies. While both of these men weren’t exactly their enemies, they were dangerous. It was better to err on the side of caution when it came to dangerous beings of unknown origin.

  Taking the seat, Ody kept his posture casual, his eyes flicking between the two men.

  “Relax, man. Did you bring the goods?” Mattheus asked, sliding the tumblers to the four of them with ease, not a drop spilling from the full glasses.

  Midas stepped up beside him, placing the case on the countertop. Releasing the latches, he opened it and displayed its contents to the men.

  It was full of dirt.

  Mattheus nodded, clapping his hands. “Excellent.”

  The dirt was from a cave on the island the brothers had settled on. It was an old cave, and had been a bitch to get to, but it was what the pair had wanted. They were very specific about which cave and just how deeply they needed to dig to retrieve the soil. Ody knew better than to ask what they needed it for. They were an odd sort, and their requests were never conventional.

  “Why the dirt?” Midas asked.

  Fuck. His curiosity was going to get them both killed one day.

  Mattheus grinned, wagging his brows. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “Do you have your ruby?” Dolor asked, sipping his drink. His voice was as smooth as the liquor he drank, one more weapon in his predatory arsenal.

  Ody withdrew the small package, feeling the faint hum of his foster mother’s spirit. His brows furrowed as he held the ruby, his thoughts oddly empty.

  “We’ll take good care of her,” Mattheus said, his eyes compassionate. While intimidating, there was an unde
rlying kindness in Mattheus that was lacking in Dolor. In some ways, it made Ody more hesitant. It was harder to read a man that could be your friend just as easily as he could slit your throat.

  Ody nodded, handing it over, a small weight lifting inside him as it slipped from his hand.

  “We have company,” Dolor murmured, taking a long pull from his glass.

  Mattheus sighed, then refilled their drinks with a grin. “Well, at least we can’t say our job is boring.”

  Ody stood, withdrawing a blade at the same time as Midas, their backs pressing together in their usual fighting stance as they searched for the intruder. Fuck. He shouldn’t have let Ramé bring Ava. They needed his muscle, damnit. Hopefully, they were far enough away that they wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire.

  A man walked through the door of the cabin, a cliche eyepatch telling Ody all he needed to know.

  Fucking pirates.

  “I’ll take that ruby, mate,” the pirate said, nodding towards Dolor.

  Dolor snorted, not even glancing up from his glass.

  “Consider it a life insurance policy. You killed a friend of mine,” Eyepatch said, withdrawing a blade from a sheath on his hip and pointing it at Ody.

  “You have friends?” Dolor slowly spun in his seat until he was facing the pirate, a grin on his face.

  The pirate smirked. “More than you know.”

  And then the pirates came pouring in. A dozen of them came through the door, surrounding the four of them.

  Ody tightened his grip on his blade, calculating the odds. Not good…

  “We have no quarrel with you,” Ody said, thinking of his next move.

  Eye-patch stepped forward, with all the swagger of a man who knows he has won. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. We pirates are a tight lot. A family, you could say. What precedence would it set if I didn’t get some sort of compensation for your insult?”

  Ody’s gaze flicked to the man flanking him. He was the closest. Take him out and move on to the rest. The war plan formulated in his head, the soldier in him stretching excitedly.

  “Alright then,” Ody whispered. Then he swung to his right, Midas gracefully swinging to the left.

  They moved in a blur of blood and bourbon, faintly hearing the eerie laughter of a monster echoing in the background.

  “Ody!”

  A familiar cry made Ody turn, terror pounding through him. No. Not Ava. Please don’t let it be Ava.

  But of course, it was Ava.

  Any fear he had for her quickly evaporated. His Ava didn’t need his concern. She stormed into the yacht’s cabin like an angel of death, her green eyes blazing. Golden claws shimmering at her fingertips. She tilted her head back and screamed, an unearthly roar pouring from her throat.

  “My my. This just keeps getting better and better. Mattheus, is there any popcorn back there?” Dolor chuckled, still sitting on that damn barstool.

  Ramé burst in behind her, his broad body filling the doorway.

  Seeing the odds worsening, Eye-patch used the distraction, sweeping in from the side and sticking his blade into Ody’s ribs.

  Ody grunted and looked down, surprised to see the knife hilt sticking out of his body.

  Ava screamed, and his brothers screamed with her.

  Looking up, Ody was shocked to see wings surrounding him. Beautiful, iridescent golden wings, as well as wings of golden feathers. He dropped to his knees, the pain in his side shooting across his back in an agonizing arch. All of those wings seemed to slow his descent to the floor, easing him to his back. It felt… strange to lay on his back. As if he were laying on one of the fallen pirates. The last thing he needed was more blood on his good leather jacket…

  Ody stared into Ava’s worried eyes.

  “Let it happen, Ody. It will heal you,” Ava whispered.

  “Let what happen?” he whispered back, confused.

  Midas crouched down beside him, filling his vision. “Your body is trying to shift. Let it. Stop being such a control freak, damnit!”

  “I... don’t know how.”

  Ava leaned down, kissing him softly. The kiss grew until she was all there was, the chaos around them fading into the distance. Then someone ripped the blade from his side. He cried out, but Ava ate the sound, only kissing him deeper.

  Ody’s wings burst free.

  They pushed him off the ground, and he continued his kiss, wrapping his healed body around Ava. His hands stumbled on the wings sprouting from her back.

  Ava had wings. Glorious gold leather-like Wyvern wings draped down her back, ending just above her knees in sharp points. She wasn’t the only one with wings now, though. Ramé and Midas had wings as well, golden feathers that fell in a smooth arc down their backs. Ody ached to reach back and discover his own, but there would be time for that later.

  “You have wings,” Ody said, dumbly.

  Ava laughed, sobbing into their kiss until Ody finally came to his senses. Swiftly he stood, yanking Ava behind him and taking in their surroundings.

  He searched around them, surprised to find many of the pirates collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain. Screams began to erupt, as if being ripped from the pirates one by one.

  “Dolor…” Mattheus said, sitting on the bar, tumbler still in hand. “Not our battle, remember?”

  Dolor sat exactly where he had been, staring out over the pirates. Dark shadows swirled around him, his eyes as black as midnight. Ody swore he could see stars in those eyes.

  The Eyepatch fucker who had blindsided Ody lay in a crumpled heap beside the bar, groaning and whimpering, sweat covering his face.

  What was Dolor doing to them all?

  Dolor tilted his head, staring at the blubbering mess at his feet. “I know. But I skipped lunch.”

  Ody saw movement out of the corner of his eye, irked to be taken by surprise twice in one day. He was getting old, it would seem.

  A silver sword pressed up against Dolor’s throat.

  “Release them,” the woman commanded. She was short, with vivid green dreadlocks and tattoos creeping up her neck.

  “Loba!” Ava cried out, nearly running to the woman.

  “Loba? The girl with the bounty?” Ramé asked, eying the tiny woman.

  “One and the same, sexpot.” Loba grinned, winking at Ramé. “Now, how about we all just take a deep breath and live to steal another day, yeah?”

  Ody didn’t miss the low growl coming from Ava, the flare of her possessiveness singing through the bond. Ramé must have noticed it as well, because he stepped over to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

  Dolor tilted his head again, glancing down at Loba. “Why would I do that?” The screams increased in pitch.

  “Dolor!” Mattheus barked.

  The screaming stopped, moans replacing them.

  Loba licked her lips, her nerves obvious despite her swagger. “Because those might be mutinous bastards, but they’re my mutinous bastards, and me and mine will handle them.”

  “And what makes you think I give a fuck about what you want?” Dolor rumbled, his shadows thickening around them.

  Loba grinned. “Oh, I know you don’t. But I have something you want.”

  Dolor raised a brow, his soulless gaze oozing skepticism. “Do you now?”

  “Where’s your case?” Loba asked, her eyes twinkling.

  “Fuck,” Mattheus groaned, tipping back the rest of his drink. “Just back off, Dolor. We don’t have time to get more soil because you wanted a snack. The Elves get pissy when we’re late.”

  Dolor dipped his head respectfully towards the tiny pirate. Loba had to pull back her blade or risk cutting his neck. “As you wish, oh Dread Pirate Roberts.”

  Mattheus guffawed. “Alright, give Westley here our case so we can be off.”

  “Your word that you will leave in peace?” Loba asked, eyes moving back and forth between them.

  “You have our word,” Mattheus said.

  Loba nodded, then whistled. A monkey shot through th
e side window, barely able to fit the case through after it. It jumped up onto the counter, dropped the case, then jumped onto Loba’s shoulder.

  “That’s a bit bigger than a parrot, don’t you think?” Midas asked. It certainly was. The damn thing looked like it would make her tip over.

  “A bit smarter, too.” Loba grinned.

  “As fun as this was, we must be off. Thanks for an interesting evening,” Mattheus said, tipping the fedora on his head and grabbing his suit jacket off the table. He grabbed the ruby that was still sitting there and slipped it into his pocket, walking out without another word.

  Dolor grabbed the case full of dirt and followed, taking his shadows and screams with him.

  14

  AVA

  Well, that was an experience Ava never wanted to go through again. Thinking about Ody laying there, blood soaking through his leather jacket, his face pale… Ava shuddered and gripped his hand more tightly. She wasn’t sure how she had known the shift would save him, she just had. It was as if the bond was screaming for them to save one another. Once Midas, Ramé, and Ava had sprouted wings, the bond told her Ody needed to as well. It was scary to have some unknown force pushing her actions. But it had saved them, and Ava felt her hesitation in trusting that force dwindle. She owed it a life debt, after all.

  Loba kicked the asshole with the eyepatch, making him groan. “Get up, Simon. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day,” she barked.

  The pirate scrambled to his feet, pale as death. He sort of looked like he might throw up. “I’m sorry, Loba,” he muttered.

  “Save it for Sal. Get the fuck off this boat and take your trash with you,” Loba growled, the tiny woman seeming not so tiny in that moment.

  Simon stumbled to the others, picking up the ones still breathing and jerking them out the door.

  Once they had gone, Loba turned towards them, a bright smile on her pretty face. “Now, then. How about you pour me a drink?” She hopped up onto one of the barstools, the monkey jostling on her shoulder. “Chuckles, go loot,” she said, and the monkey jumped down, heading towards the bodies and rifling through their pockets.