Chapter 11
SUMMER
My earlier tequila buzz has almost completely burned off, and while I know I should be freaking out, I’m oddly calm.
Kissing Mal was … Fuck. It was far better than all the times I imagined it would be. And then he flew us here. To his house. Flew. With his wings. His real wings.
I’m pretty sure he’s an angel, but I’m afraid to ask. Angels are supposed to be scary, deadly, the worst of the monsters. But Mal is so …
My face is still in his warm hands, and I feel my cheeks getting hotter as my blush deepens. He’s so close as he whispers, “Summer?”
I nod as much as his touch will allow me. The next second, his lips are back on mine. It’s a rush that makes my head spin and my pussy throb. He must be an angel to be able to kiss this well. This is expert level. My whole body is tingling. I’m about to come from a kiss.
Slowly, Mal pulls back, and I know I’m breathing hard, but I can’t seem to slow my pounding heart. His eyes fall to my heaving chest, then he drops his hands from my face only to interlace our fingers. Leading me to the mid-century modern house before us, he opens one of the double front doors.
I take in the small, bright foyer, my brows furrowing. “How do you have a house in the human realm?”
Mal chuckles, taking me farther into his house. “I created it earlier this week.”
I stop in the wide hall, and he turns to face me as I ask, “You created this house?”
He nods. “With magic. Monsters, like me, use magic for everything. It’s our currency, energy, light … it’s the only thing worth anything in our realm.”
His eyes search my face, for what? Fear? Does he think I’m going to run screaming into the night? I mean, I guess that would be a logical reaction, but again, there’s an odd calmness within me that feels soul deep.
With his eyes glued to me, I walk past Mal, doing my best to keep my gaze from his pants that I now know conceals his … impressive equipment. I saunter down the hall like I know where I’m going, and his soft footfalls sound behind me. I turn into the first room I come to. A living space. Modest but cozy. Large sliding glass doors look onto a manicured garden with the shimmering lake beyond. I take a second to appreciate the view as I take a seat on the soft sofa. Crossing my legs, I bounce my foot as I look up at Mal. In this position, he towers over me. It should be intimidating, but it turns me on.
My imagination wanders as I picture Mal leaning over me, bracing his hand on the back of the sofa as he presses his knee between my thighs. Swallowing, I say, “I have questions.”
Pulling my bag over my head, I toss the crossbody on the floor at my feet, just now realizing my groceries are still on the sidewalk outside my house. Oh well.
Mal smiles with a little shake of his head. Coming over, he sits next to me. I think about scooting closer to press my thigh against his, but I stay put. Instead, I shift sideways so I’m facing him. He does the same, his deep voice caressing every inch of my exposed skin as if it is a physical touch.
“Where would you like to start?”
Your hands on my naked breasts.
I hold out my hand. “Can I please have my phone back?”
With a frown, he places my phone in my waiting palm. I’m proud that my fingers only tremble a little as I reopen the email that I only got to read a part of before Mal took it. Max found my stalker, but that’s not all. Max has attached a social media post to the message. When I open it, I stare at a woman’s account I don’t recognize. And there, her most recent post is a picture of me from a few days ago.
I’m in the park I’ve frequented several times this week. My gaze slides to the view out the patio doors. It’s dark, but I know that park sits on the far side of the lake. Looking back down, I stare at the post. In the picture, I’m walking, my gaze turned towards the water. The woman tagged me with the caption: I can’t believe Summer is in my town. How cool! I wanted to say hi but chickened out. Maybe if I see her again, I’ll find the courage to ask her for a photo of us together.
I sigh with relief. The location isn’t tagged. But when I look closer at the image, my breath catches in my throat. There in the background is the park sign. It’s blurry, but … yeah, if I zoom in, I can make out the name of the park, and worse, the name of the town.
I close my eyes for a moment. It’s okay. It was bound to happen eventually. I’m an ocean away from him. My eyes dart to Mal who’s sitting silently, waiting. Some of my panic ebbs. Yes, it’s okay. I’m with … an angel. At least I think he’s an angel. I’d say I’m pretty damn safe … from my stalker at least. But am I safe with the monster sitting on this sofa with me?
My inner voice shouts, Yes! Being around Mal feels like … like the gentle lapping of waves glistening with moonlight.
I sigh, looking back at the email. I close the attachment and scroll down until I come to the image of a man from the chest up. He’s wearing a plaid shirt, his brown shaggy hair falling around his ears. He’s good looking, a small smile on his lips, a dusting of a beard covering his lower face.
So, this is him. My stalker. Henry Shillings. He looks so … normal.
I read through Max’s email.
Apparently, women have logged complaints against him before, but he’s never been violent, so … Max said he’d keep digging, and for me to try to put it out of my mind for now and keep enjoying my vacation.
With a sigh, I respond to Max’s email, thanking him for his hard work and for being in my corner. With a whooshing sound, the email sends, and I turn off my phone, setting it on the cushion next to me.
Mal’s voice startles me as he asks, “All done?”
I nod, and Mal runs his hand from my shoulder to my elbow, giving me a little squeeze. I can’t read the expression on his face. He seems angry, but there’s something else behind his eyes. Releasing me, he stands. “I promise, Summer, you are safe here, but do not leave my house. I’ll only be gone for a few seconds, a minute at most.”
“Wait. What?” I’m speaking to an empty room. Mal is gone. I bounce on the cushion, looking all around the room. Nothing. A thud sounds from where he was a second ago, and I yelp, my hand pressing over my racing heart as I spin around to see Mal has indeed returned. And he’s not alone.
A furious blond man with bulging muscles rips out of Mal’s hold. From the expression on the newcomer’s face, I fully expect him to punch Mal. I’m startled again when a loud banging comes from the front door. I think I’m going to have a heart attack.
The stranger smirks at Mal, crossing his arms. “You better let Vex in before they start destroying stuff.”
Mal rolls his eyes, waving his hand. A second later, a shimmery blue monster appears with a blur of movement. It stands between the blond man and Mal, and though it’s not much taller than me, it looks at Mal like it’s going to tear him apart as it snarls, “You dare take my mate from me?”
Mal tsks. “I needed to borrow him. I’m a nepha. I don’t ask. I take.”
Well, that answers that. Mal is indeed a Nephilim. An angel.
The purplely-blue monster growls. “How’d you get past my wards?”
Mal raises a brow, his expression clearly saying, Like your paltry magic would stop me.
The small monster turns to the blond man. “Are you okay, Max?”
My mouth drops open. Wait, Max? My Max?
Tired of being ignored, I stand, and everyone focuses on me. Mal comes to my side, standing so close I can feel the warmth of his skin.
Max steps around the shimmery monster, his eyes wide. “Summer?” I blink at him, my brain refusing to catch up. “This is where you ended up for your vacation? Had I known, I would have arranged a meetup in person. Did you receive my latest email?”
I swallow around my dry throat. “You’re Max?”
He nods, holding out his hand. I shake it as he says, “Nice to meet you.”
Max drops my hand, backing up, wrapping his arm around the little monster’s waist. “This is Vex, they are my mate.”
Mate.
I smile at Vex. “Nice to meet you.” Looking back at Max, I ask, “Are you human?”
He chuckles. “Yes.” His beautiful blue eyes snap to Mal before landing back on me. “I take it this nepha hasn’t told you anything?”
Mal growls, and I swear the sound reverberates through my pussy as he says, “This nepha will tell Summer everything she needs to know, but first, give me all the information you have on Henry Shillings.”
Vex growls back. “I don’t like your tone.”
Mal scowls. “I don’t like you.”
I hold up a hand, silencing the room. “Okay. Enough. Everyone, sit down.”
Surprisingly, everyone does; me and Mal back on the sofa, Max on a large chair with Vex perched on his lap. I already love the couple. A monster and a human. I glance at Mal before dropping my gaze. It’s nice to know a pairing like that works. I recall the wings and horns I’ve thought I’ve seen on Paine. Is he …? Is Mira dating a monster? Are they mates like Max and Vex?
I have so many questions, but it’s hard to organize my thoughts with the heat roiling through my core, my pulse thundering in my pussy, and my brain all fuzzy with the desire to kiss Mal again.
The delicious angel next to me leans back, crossing an ankle over his knee. His hand lands on my thigh, his thumb tracing little circles on my skin. It’s very distracting. I should shift out from under his touch, but I don’t.
Mal’s voice carries around the room with an implied command. “I’d like to get this settled, so I’ll quickly cover the basics.” He looks at me, his expression softening. “I’ll explain everything in more depth later, I promise.” Mal holds my gaze until I nod, then turns back to Max and Vex. “As I understand it, Summer has a stalker. She hired Max to help tighten her security as well as to uncover the identity of said stalker, and you have found him. Correct?”
Max and I nod.
Mal continues. “There is something, a gem, in this town that is drawing monsters and their mates together, and I believe that is why Summer inexplicably ended up here out of all the places she could have chosen.”
Wait. Me?
Vex opens their mouth, but Mal waves them off, continuing, “And that gem is what brought Max and Vex together as well as Paine and Mira.”
I straighten. Seems I was right. Still, I ask, “Paine is …?”
Vex answers me. “Paine is a dremar. If you were to see his real form, you’d probably call him a gargoyle.”
I nod. “Hm. That explains the wings and horns.”
Max leans forward, wrapping an arm around Vex, his fingers tracing over the waistband of their leather kilt as he says, “Wait, you can see Paine?”
All I can do is nod, my thoughts racing too fast from one question to another. Absently, my finger strokes along the barely-there line where I’d cut myself. The room is silent for a few seconds before Vex says, “Max and I weren’t here the other night, but I heard about the attack on your home. That must have been scary.”
My eyes flick to Mal before I drop my gaze to my healed hand. Vex’s voice is gentle as they ask, “What happened, Summer?”
I press my fingers into my palm. “I, um, I was keyed up. Wide awake. It was strange, like pure energy laced through my blood. I needed something to do. I … I was sharpening the kitchen knives when I cut my hand. It was really bad. I should have needed stitches.” Holding up my hand, I show the others. “But it was like this the next morning.”
Mal takes my hand, stroking my skin with his fingers. He might as well be stroking my clit as pleasure erupts through my core. I manage to keep my groan from escaping and barely hear his words. “You are special, Summer. Your blood contains old magic. I believe you are a descendant of a powerful line of witches, and that jewel I mentioned before may be drawing your magic to the surface. Not many witches remain in the human realm these days, and monsters will be drawn to the power inside you, especially when you bleed.”
My mouth drops open, but Mal is quick to add, “Your blood-carvings will hold, and I will always …”
He trails off, and my mind fills in the rest. I will always be here for you. I will always protect you. Is that what he was about to say, or is that just what I want him to say?
When I look up from our joined hands, the tightness in my chest loosens slightly, and I’m able to take a slow breath as I ask, “How are you, Max, and Paine able to be in our realm when The Divide is up?”
Max answers this time. “Apparently, it’s a big secret, but the bond of true, fated mates breaks the magic of The Divide that separates humans and monsters.”
I cock my head. “A true mate bond?” I look at Mal, anger curling my fingers into the cushion. “So, you can cross into the human realm because you …? But you kissed me! You … you made me feel … who is your mate? How could you do this to them?”
Vex turns into Max’s chest, and I swear I hear a little chuckle.
Mal’s lips pull into a sexy smile as his eyes bore into mine. He practically purrs, “I am powerful enough to come through The Divide without the mate bond. During a time of power, like the approaching summer solstice, it’s easier for someone as powerful as me.” He pauses, uncrossing his legs, leaning closer. “But to answer your original question. I would never betray my mate.” His voice dips even lower. “Because it’s you.”
The room is so silent, I can hear my heart beating.
Me?
Before I can process what Mal just said, he swivels, facing Max and Vex. “Max, were you able to find the stalker’s address?”
The blond man nods, leaning over without dislodging Vex from his lap. Pulling a phone from his back pocket, he unlocks the screen, taps it a few times then holds it up facing outwards.
My brain is still scrambling. Maybe I’m still drunk? I feel like I’ve been three steps behind since I arrived at Mal’s house.
Mal squeezes my thigh, stands, reads whatever is on Max’s phone, then … disappears. I stare at the empty space and Vex chuckles. “You look a little shell-shocked.”
Max wraps his other arm around Vex, resting his chin on their shoulder as he asks me, “Would a drink help or hurt?”
I shake my head. “Um, I did a little day drinking today. I’m half-convinced that I passed out on the roof hours ago, and this is all in my head.”
Max laughs. “I like you. You’ll be okay.”
I relax a little. Kicking off my flip flops, I tuck my legs under me to sit crisscross. After a short silence, I ask, “Mal said it was me, right? I didn’t imagine that?”
They both grin at me, and Max says, “You heard him right.”
I look between them. “What does that mean, exactly?”
They exchange a look, but before either answer, Mal reappears. I jump with a little scream. “Jesus, Mal. You gotta quit jack-in-the-boxing in and out of here. I’m going to have heart failure.”
Max laughs again, but my attention follows Mal’s movements. He lifts his arm, opens his hand, and something falls with a wet splat to the distressed wood of the coffee table in front of me. I stare at the object, not sure what I’m looking at. I uncross my legs, planting my feet to lean forward.
Max swears, “Oh, shit.”
I freeze. Is that …?
An eye. An eye with the nerve still attached. Clear, viscous liquid and blood smears the table. Mal takes his seat next to me, crossing his ankle back over his knee, looking all too pleased with himself. The first warning siren goes off as he says, “Henry Shillings will find it hard to stalk you or anyone else without his eyes.”
This might be one thing too much. I think I’m going to pass out.