Chapter 38 #2
I hold Crew’s arms and gently rub my hand up and down to calm him. I send a vibration down the channel and push with all my strength to assure him that it’s fine. I can handle myself.
“It’s just Damien,” I whisper.
“I don’t care.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, you do.”
“No, Mara. I do not.”
A shiver runs up my spine.
“Let’s go,” Crew says, squeezing my hand.
Without another word, he glances at me, and I unfold my wings, letting the brightness of my white feathers shine into the night sky. He smiles, and we shoot into the air, heading back to Halcyon City.
Back to Lowell and Shaw.
Where everything will change.
Halcyon City comes into view. The bright lights of the towering city are blinding compared to those of Hilna City, and I can’t help but miss the simplicity of the place we’ve been for a few days. Halcyon is loud and bustling, evoking nothing but chaos and bad memories for me.
Unease churns in my stomach as we fly forward.
Crew flies close beneath me while Damien flies higher, keeping an eye on our surroundings as we approach.
We continue through the busy part of the city and turn toward the Ashmeed District, where the lights fade, and a smog hangs over the smaller buildings.
A darkness surrounds us, reminding me of what we are stepping into. The Jade Order comes into view, and I see someone standing on the roof waiting for us.
Locke waits in the shadows with his arms crossed, and I can see his blonde hair shining in the moonlight.
Crew lands first with a thud, waiting for me to do the same.
My feet hit the ground, and I’m immediately met with Crew’s hand wrapping around mine.
I feel the channel between us slam shut, and although I knew it was coming, I hate the loneliness I feel.
Damien lands last and walks toward Locke with a smile on his face.
“Welcome back, you two,” Locke says as we approach. “Holding hands?”
“It’s none of your concern what I do, Calloway,” Crew responds, and I squeeze his hand hard in response.
“Watch it,” Damien says. “He may kill you for opening your mouth. He’s…sensitive right now.”
“Damien,” Crew shouts. “I swear I’m going to beat your goddamn ass.”
“See?” Damien mouths to Locke.
Locke’s brows tense as he glances between us and shrugs. “I dig it.”
Crew doesn’t smile but pulls me closer as his large black wing almost wraps around me. My stomach churns, and I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart. Crew is nervous too, and from his overprotectiveness, I can tell it’s driving him nearly insane.
“Are they here?” Crew asks.
Locke nods. “Yeah, in Carver’s office, waiting.”
Crew turns to me and places both hands on my shoulders. He stares into my eyes, and although I know what’s between us, I can’t necessarily feel it, and the space in my chest hurts.
“I’m going to be cold to you, Mara,” Crew says. “And I need you to do the same. We can’t act like everything is fine.”
I nod in agreement. “No, we can’t.”
“Don't let anything I say in there bother you. It's not true, and even if we act like we hate each other, know that it is far from the truth.”
“I know,” I respond, but can’t shake the concerns.
“Do not react to them.” Crew’s gaze turns hard as stone. “Do not make any unplanned moves. Do not give them anything to suspect, and do not hesitate if they ask you to do something.” Crew nearly flinches from his own words. “Should things go wrong, run. Don’t look back.”
“I can’t do that,” I protest.
“Do what I say, Mara," he spits, his tone cold and uncompromising. “I’m not joking."
“Don’t fucking speak to me that way because you are stressed.” I step toward him, challenging his words. “I’ve been dealing with these people for over a decade.”
His gaze softens, but only for a second. “Don’t make me die trying to protect you, because I will.”
“Then trust me.” I move closer. “Do you?”
“Entirely.”
“We are in this together,” I continue, dropping his hand, and he glances at the emptiness. “But starting now, I hate you, Bannermin. This is a game I excel in.”
I allow anger, fury, and disgust to move through the bond, slamming against the desire and need I feel to have him close. My head immediately begins to throb from the distance, but I send another jolt straight to his chest.
He blinks, and my gaze stiffens as I let the familiar numbness spread through my legs and arms, taking over my feelings for Crew. His eyes begin to darken to reflect his true form, but I hold my ground.
“Ready to play?” I say, coldly.
Crew’s arm flies forward, and he grips my chin hard, squeezing my cheeks and guiding my mouth to his. He breathes heavily, fighting the urge to transform, with his lips hovering inches from mine.
“Let’s play, little angel,” he whispers, holding my jaw. “And I’ll make sure to fuck all that hatred out of you later.” Crew pulls me closer as our lips nearly touch. “And when I’m finished, that fake hate will drip down your goddamn thighs.”
I narrow my eyes, hiding my emotions, and jerk my chin out of his hold. “If I let you.”
“Oh, you will, baby.” A sly smile curls his lips. “This may be fun after all.”
Oh, good God.
We stand apart from one another and walk forward with Damien and Locke leading the way. We enter the Jade Order through the rooftop door and into the elevator. Although I may appear fine on the outside, my nerves are buzzing, and my palms start to sweat.
We enter the elevator with Damien and Locke standing near the exit, while Crew and I tuck ourselves into the back. We stand shoulder to shoulder, neither of us looking at the other, and I focus my gaze forward.
My body goes rigid when I feel Crew’s hand touch my lower back, sliding into my pants, his touch torturously slow until he reaches my ass.
His fingers slide between my legs from behind, and my heart flips as he pushes two fingers into my pussy.
I suck in a breath, and my legs nearly buckle as he pulls me closer to him.
I hear him huff a laugh as I fight the urge to arch my back, and he removes his fingers, sliding his hands out of my pants.
Crew squeezes my ass hard before removing his touch from me completely, and I gasp.
I glance at Crew, but his gaze remains unfazed and fixed on the two men just inches from us. My heart pounds against my ribs, and I notice a sly smile curling his lips.
“Should I continue?” Crew mouths as he turns his head to face me.
I open my mouth to speak.
“They seem to be in okay moods,” Locke says, breaking the silence, and I jump. “For Elders.”
I nod, and Crew does the same, but neither of us responds.
“They have an assignment for you,” Locke continues. “I’m not sure what the details are, but they want you to start as soon as tomorrow night. They seem desperate for this one.”
“Because they are,” Crew says.
“Well, for the sake of staying alive, do as they say for now,” Locke says. “I’ve been watching everything since you left, and they don’t suspect anything to my knowledge, but we’re prepped.”
“Thanks,” Crew says as the elevator doors open.
“We are going to stay close should you need anything, boss,” Damien says, heading toward the staircases that split the room.
Crew wastes no time walking in front of me, creating distance between us, but he glances over his shoulder to give me one last look.
No kindness shows in his eyes as our gazes meet, and a thrill mixed with nerves hits my stomach.
Crew steps forward without me, forcing me behind him to make sure he enters first—another protection tactic of his—and I’m grateful.
The large office door comes into view, and I fight the urge to vomit all over the beautiful marble floors. I pause behind Crew as he lifts his hand to knock. He drives his fist into the dark wooden door, and everything moves in slow motion.
I lean forward, place my hands on his hips, and whisper, “Hate you.”
He glances over his shoulder toward me. “Loathe you too, baby.”
I quickly double-check the bond, swallowing down any sparks one last time, before a deep voice calls from inside.
“Come in.”