CHAPTER 17
Frankie
W e came close to having sex more times than I can count last night, but somehow Zarreth found the willpower to stop us every single time. He wants to give me time to adjust to being half demon without having to adjust to being mated as well.
I don’t know how much longer we can resist one another, though, and to be honest, the thought of being his mate makes me feel content. He feels like home to me.
Zarreth is laying in my bed, watching me read. “Come here.” He reaches his hand out toward me.
Thankfully, the chair I’m sitting in is beyond his reach. I’m wearing nothing but his t-shirt and a pair of fuzzy socks. “No way,” I giggle. “I need a break. I didn’t know a person could come so many times.”
“Oh, little one. Just wait until I fuck you,” he says, making me blush again.
You would think I’d be used to him by now, but he still catches me off guard when he says stuff like that. I’m not used to people being so attracted to me.
I nibble on my bottom lip, imagining how it would feel to have him inside me.
“Okay, you’re right.” He crawls out of bed. “We have to get out of this room, or we’ll quickly find out if we’re mates or not.”
Thanks to Ms. Anderson, I was able to take the week off from work. I’m not ready to act like everything is normal around my coworkers. I need time to process everything. That’s what I told myself anyway. I really took the week off because I can’t get enough of Zarreth.
I set my book down. “Good idea. I’m starving anyway.”
“Let’s get you fed and start training.”
“It’s not working!” I gently caress the broken stem of the flower I’m trying to mend. My powers are tied to emotion. I know anger evokes a darkness within me. Chad number one can attest to that. But I need to see if I can use my powers for good. I don’t know if I can live with myself if all I do is cause destruction.
I’m sitting cross-legged, in the middle of a field, not too far from Beauty Lake. The wilted flower shows no interest in mending itself, no matter how many happy thoughts I think.
“You’re overthinking it. I have watched Grandpa G’s leaves perk up just by being close to you. I know you can do it. We just need to get your mind off it.”
“That’s easier said than done,” I huff.
Zarreth moves so he’s sitting behind me. “Close your eyes.”
I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes. I relax my arms beside me while still holding the flower in one hand. He begins massaging my scalp with his fingers.
“I didn’t know a head massage could feel so nice.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Shh.”
His hands travel down the side of my neck to my shoulders, kneading my muscle, instantly making me more relaxed.
“You should do this more often.” I lean forward, looking over my shoulder at him.
“ Melita , close your pretty mouth and relax.”
I smile to myself before closing my eyes, leaning back against his chest once more.
His hands roam over my collar bone; his fingers grazing the tops of my breasts. He slides his hands up and down my ribcage.
It amazes me how much comfort Zarreth brings despite the craziness happening in my life. He’s like an anchor, tethering me to safety, making sure I don’t float away. I feel secure with him. He gives me the stability and reassurance I so desperately need right now.
I feel his breath against my ear. “Open your eyes,” he whispers, pulling me from my thoughts.
I open my eyes, looking at the flower in my hand. It not only mended itself, but it grew an inch taller.
“Oh my God!” I squeal. “I did it!” Relief rushes through me as I realize my powers are not only dark and evil, but I can use them for good as well.
Now all I have to do is be happy for the rest of my life. That should be easy enough, right?
“I knew you could do it.” Zarreth squeezes me tightly, pride bursting through my chest at his words. “You’ll be practicing on small animals in no time. Imagine all the little critters you’ll save.” He chuckles.
I turn my body around, so I’m facing him. “I wish Nate were here. One time when we were kids, we found a dead squirrel. I was convinced I could bring it back to life. I did little chest compressions and everything.” I pause, reflecting on how sweet Nate was. He knew the squirrel was dead, but he was patient, letting me try to revive him until I was convinced the squirrel wasn’t coming back.
“When I eventually accepted the fact that the squirrel was dead, Nate helped me put on a funeral for it. He even made me a little coffin out of scrap wood and old rusty nails. If only he could see me now.”
“I have no doubt he would be proud of you,” Zarreth says.
I struggle to hold back the tears. He’s right. Nate would be proud of me. He was my biggest supporter. “I have to find him, Zarreth. I won’t move on with my life until I do. He is the only person who has ever been there for me through thick and thin no matter what. He is the most important thing in my life. I need to find him.”
Zarreth lifts my hand, bringing my palms to his lips. “We will, Melita .”
It occurs to me I know nothing about his family. I’ve been so busy thinking about myself that I haven’t even bothered to ask. “Do you have any siblings?”
“I was an only child, but Ronin and I grew up together. We’re practically brothers,” he says.
I bet they were a handful. “How did your parents keep their sanity with you and Ronin being together all the time? I can’t imagine the trouble you two caused.”
He gives me a devilish grin. “I don’t know what you mean. We were angels.”
“Tell me about your childhood. What’s it like where you’re from?”
He bends his knees, resting his elbows on them. His eyes grow distant before he speaks. “The Dark Realm is much different from here. The sky is so hazy you can’t make out the peaks of the black, ash-covered mountains. Fire burns all around, making the sky glow a fiery red. Rivers of molten lava snake throughout the land.
“The Recreants live in a small village surrounded by obsidian mountains. A spring of hot water resides in the middle of the village. Between the spring and a little magic, we have enough food to feed our young.
“The horde works together like a family. The children play together while the adults work together. At night, we gather around the spring to share stories and play music.
“It’s a simple life. It could almost be a good one if it wasn’t for Aradon and the Death Horde. Once a month they would raid our village, leaving behind dead demons and only the food we managed to hide.
“We finally rebelled, but our army was too small. After years of war, Aradon agreed to leave The Recreants in peace in exchange for the freedom of Ronin, myself, and three other demons. I know there’s a chance he didn’t keep his word, but it was the only choice we had.”
I couldn’t imagine sacrificing my freedom for the greater good. I like to think I would make the same decision, but I don’t know if I would. “I’m sorry, Zarreth. Your horde is so lucky to have you.”
He stands, letting me know the conversation is over. He reaches his hand out to me. “Alright, get up.”
“Does everyone do what you tell them to?” I grab his hand so he can pull me up.
“Everyone except you and Ronin.” Zarreth slaps my ass, making me giggle. “Are you ready to learn how to throw a punch?”
“Hell yeah!” I say with a big grin on my face.
“Stand with your left foot forward.” He shows me how to properly stand and make a fist.
I practice a simple one-two punch combo, secretly pretending I’m Ronda Rousey. Tomorrow, we start practicing with weapons.
It only takes about ten minutes for sweat to drip down my forehead. I have worked my way up to a jab, cross, hook, cross sequence. My shoulders are burning, but I love it. Every time my fist connects with Zarreth’s palm, a rush goes through my body.
Just as I’m about to give him the biggest hook I can muster, he grabs me, pushing me behind him. A second later a screech comes from the woods, making my skin crawl.
A startled rabbit dashes from the trees, followed closely by a naked man.
The man is foaming at the mouth. Dark veins spread throughout his pale body like a roadmap. He snarls, snapping at the bunny, fangs dripping with saliva.
I scream and clench Zarreth’s shirt, watching the hell-human tear into the bunny, turning its white fur a bright crimson red.
“Another hell-human? Fucking Dante,” Zarreth says. “Baby, I’m gonna need you to release your death grip so I can take care of this thing.”
As soon as he finishes his sentence the hell-human looks up, focusing his red beady eyes on us. He snarls and runs in our direction, leaving his prey behind.
I let go of Zarreth’s shirt and within a second, he’s in front of the hell-human. He quickly rips his head off, as if he were merely popping the head of a dandelion off its stem.
I run to the bunny and sink next to it. I place my hands over its bleeding throat, trying to summon my power, but nothing happens. No tingling sensation, no lightheadedness, nothing. I rub my bloody hands together, trying again but have no luck.
I think back to the squirrel I tried saving as a child. My heart hurts. I want my brother so badly right now. I want him to build a little casket for the bunny, making everything better like he did when we were kids.
Zarreth removes his shirt, using it to wipe the blood from my hands.
I look at him. “I need my brother. I can’t live without him.”
He gently brushes his lips against my temple. “I know, baby. I know.”