Chapter 43
ARIANNA
Sipping my ‘tini, I look over at Mekhi with a huff. He is drunk and singing "Single Ladies" by Beyoncé, showing me he should have a spot at the club dancing.
I’m sober.
I’m not even a tiny bit tipsy, which fucking sucks.
I’m guessing it has something to do with the magic now running through my veins; maybe I should’ve brought a bottle of Gaelan’s Black with me, that would have gotten me drunk.
Mekhi spins around, then almost falls over trying to pour himself another drink.
He starts to sing again; I can’t help but laugh.
No matter what mood or what is going on in my life, I can always count on Mekhi to cheer me up.
I bring my glass to my lips to take a sip when warmth settles over me.
It feels like a hug wrapping around my body in a way that makes me want to close my eyes and drift off into a blissful state.
A smile creeps over my face, and my breathing comes out in short pants, making my heart beat faster as a dark and erotic need pools in my pussy, I shift on the sofa, trying to make it slow down, just a little.
A low growl reaches my ears, making me turn to look at the door.
Gaelan stands in the hall with a smirk, his chest heaving and his nostrils flaring like he can smell my need for him.
This bond is so strong that every fiber of my being is aware of him.
“Arianna? You’re meant to be naked right now.” Gaelan’s voice sounds in my head, caressing my senses; the husky tone of it almost makes me come.
My eyes close slowly, I pull in a slow breath, and whisper low. “I really wish I had been,” my head tilts from side to side slowly as I lick my lips. The sofa dips next to me seconds before his warm breath fans over my neck. Gaelan’s heady lemon scent filled my nose, making me moan.
“Get a room!” My eyes snap open, my cheeks heat up, and Gaelan kisses my neck, then leans back on the sofa and chuckles. Mekhi shouts again in glee before running his eyes over Gaelan and shooting a grin at me. “Gaelan! The sexiest man I have ever seen, and trust me. I have seen a lot!”
“Mekhi’s been drinking?” Gaelan asks. His question is directed at me, his voice twisted with his want.
“Yes, I have too. But no Black up here, so I’ve been watching my own personal concert.” I laugh, still trying to calm my building desire.
“When we get to your bedroom, I’m going to fuck you so hard, my Rose.” Gaelan’s voice is ricocheting in my head again.
“How are you doing that?” I ask him, trying to change the subject. We can’t leave Mekhi yet, and if Gaelan is not careful, I’m going to ride him in front of my best friend.
I look at him and can’t help but laugh at the smug look on his face; he knows precisely what he does to me.
“Do what, Ari?” he grins.
“You know ‘what.’ The mind thing.” My voice is a little shaky, so I smile to try and hide it.
“You like it?” I hear him in my head again.
“Yes. Can I do it, too?”
He nods. “It’s a mate thing; we can mind link with each other.”
“Like reading my mind?” I question him, worried,
He shakes his head. “No, my Rose, I can’t read your mind. Just talk to you with mine, you try.”
Closing my eyes, I try to feel for something—some kind of connection like I think with my powers. I reach for any connection, then open my eyes, wondering if it worked.
Gaelan and Mekhi are staring at me.
“What?”
“Hitch? You okay? You look like you’re in pain.” Mekhi says, faking concern with a cheeky grin.
Gaelan laughs. I roll my eyes at both and stand up, my cheeks burning. “No, I was… thinking about something…”
“Don’t worry, my Rose, you will get the hang of it. It can take time when you are not used to it.” Gaelan's lips twitch, trying not to laugh. I roll my eyes at him.
“You’re going to be in so much trouble when I get back.” I laugh.
Mekhi holds up his glass. “Get Mr. Hotty a drink, then we can all party!” He all but shouts at me. He starts to dance again. That man has so much energy, it blows my mind.
I dance a little in the kitchen, wiggling my hips. Gaelan's eyes are on my ass, a little payback for laughing at me.
I pour a glass of water as my gaze lifts to the window. It’s almost midnight; the moon is high in the sky, clear as day, with a scattering of stars around it. People walking around outside—some marching fast as if they have places to go, others meandering slowly, maybe out for an evening walk.
I stare at them, and a frown mars my face when they change direction, moving toward the front of my house as if they are looking for something.
A few of them sniff the air, snapping at each other like animals fighting over prey.
My eyes scan the immediate area, and slowly, each head turns, locking eyes with me.
I stumble back and drop my glass on the floor; it smashes with a loud crash.
Daemons.
A shiver runs down my body, a tingle over my skin, making me look down at my arms; my markings flash bright gold. The burn of them crashes over me, like I’m a little too close to a fire.
Like a warning.
Lifting my head, I look back out the window. Hating the feeling that is running through me. Something bad is about to happen; I feel it, just as my heart beats in my chest. They won’t be able to come into the front gate because of the wards, but that doesn’t stop the streets from filling with evil.
“Rose? What is it?” Gaelan’s panicked voice hits me just as he comes to stand by my side; he must have felt my fear.
“Daemons,” I whisper, unable to say anymore. I stare, unable to tear my eyes away as each daemon pulls out a weapon.
Gaelan fists his hand on the counter, his markings darkening like his mood. “Fuck,” he says, exasperated.
He strides to the main door and pulls it open hard, almost ripping it off the hinges. It smashes against the wall as he walks past it. I rush out after him, not wanting him to have to face whatever nightmare this is going to be alone.
Gaelan pauses his steps, making me almost crash into his back.
“Rose,” he says in warning, making me look at where his murderous eyes are staring.
I knew Gaelan could be dangerous, the way he looks right now, and the dark energy that flows out of his body hits me like a bolt of lightning, striking me in the heart and making me lose my breath.
Slowly, each pair of eyes turns in our direction. It’s the first time I've noticed that each set of eyes is a different color.
Gaelan seems to grow as he shimmers into his body armor. The black leather wraps around him like a second skin, complementing his toned muscles.
If there wasn’t a threat, I would be climbing all over him.
“More people to party with, Hitch?” Mekhi’s drunken, playful voice makes me snap my head to him.
He sways a little and holds up his glass with a massive smile on his face.
He'll freak out if he finds out all these people are daemons. I also don’t want him to get hurt.
I rush over to the door and push him back into the house. “Let’s get more drinks.” I urge.
“It’s party time, Hitchy, plus,” He looks past me and raises one eyebrow, flirting with lord only knows who. “I see a hottie,” he sings the last word, then blows a few kisses at whoever that is.
I pull in a frustrated breath then whisper, “Somnum.” Sleep.
His eyes roll back in his head before he slowly falls to the floor in the hallway, his ‘tini slipping from his hand.
“Sorry, Mekhi,” I kiss my finger, then place it on his cheek. “You will be safe here,” I whisper, even though he won’t be able to hear me. Standing back up, I rush through the door, letting it close behind me. No matter what happens, they won’t be able to get into the house.
I hurry over to Gaelan, pulling in a breath.
“I’ve never been in a fight before.” My voice is fearful but full of purpose as I survey the daemons gathering around.
This will be my first fight since killing those daemons after getting my book back.
I’ve never used my powers for anything other than a few practice spells since then. This is going to be scary.
They say no time like the present, right?
Rolling my shoulders, a tingle of magic moves over my skin.
“And you are not about to be. Go in the house, Ari.” Gaelan commands in an unmoving tone—a tone telling me not to argue with him. He steps forward, trying to block their view of me.
My eyes narrow at his back before stepping around him.
Determination in my voice, “Gaelan, I know you are trying to look after me, but you don’t need to.
Please, let me help.” I have no idea how to fight, I’m just hoping that my powers will help me.
I can freeze stuff, and I have been practicing my elemental powers, so I hope that will be enough.
Gaelan opens his mouth, and I can see from the stern look on his face that he wants to fight me on this, but he says nothing before growling.
The sound of weapons smashing together echoes around us.
I spin around and watch as the daemons in the street try to open the gate and climb over the fence.
They don’t get anywhere close; the wards are pushing them back for now.
Worry coils in my stomach when more daemons start to shimmer into the vicinity. There must be about a hundred of them now scattered in the streets.
“Ari, go inside. Now,” Gaelan growls, I shake my head.
“No, I can fight, let me help you,” I plead. He stares into my eyes for a moment, his jaw ticking.
“Fine,” he barks, pointing to the tree to the left of the house.
“You can fight from over there. If it gets too much, go inside,” he says, reaching for my chin and gripping it firmly, making me look up at him.
He leans down and kisses my lips hard. “I don’t want you to get hurt, my Rose.
” I open my mouth to speak, but close it fast when one of the daemons yells out.
“Hand her over, dream daemon, and we will go in peace.”
A dangerous growl rumbles in Gaelan’s chest. His eyes glowing a darker blue, he lifts his head and snarls at the daemon. “She is mine!” He hisses, his fangs long in his mouth, ready to attack. “My Rose, allow Leah and my guard through your wards. This fight is going to take more than me.”
Pulling in a steady breath to try and find a link to the wards, the house knows who a threat to me is; I just need to make sure.
The power of the ward’s sizzle over my skin, tugging on my heart, the magnetic forces swell as I open my eyes.
Gaelan moves past me toward the daemons.
As he gets closer, I see Leah and a couple of the others who came with us to Westery shimmer in and flank his sides.
The wards will now always allow them access to the house and the surrounding areas.
Weapons meet claws; cries and growls meet my ears as fighting breaks out in the street.
My hands twitch with the need to help. I want to call my book to me, but I know it will be dangerous.
I look down at my arms and see a vanishing spell as well as a darkness spell, one to blind anyone.
Moving toward the tree, I lift my hand and whisper, “Obcaecatus tenebris, obumbratus umbra.”
Blinded by darkness, shaded by shadow.
A daemon going after Gaelan is blinded by my words. I do the same to a few other daemons, making it easier for Gaelan and his guards to fight them. Gaelan throws his dagger, embedding it in a daemon with yellow hair.
“Well, isn’t this a nice little surprise?
” a voice sneers at me. I turn and see four daemons standing so close to the fence, the one with red eyes and green hair grins at me.
“We could smell you a block away, you smell so fucking sweet, Book Reader.” He sniffs the air before licking his lips, and the other around him snap their fangs at me.
I smile sweetly at them.
“You should leave.” The markings on my body flash and begin to glow a golden hue. In my mind’s eye, I see the pages of my book open, flutter. The power from it radiates over my body, sparking a level of bravery I didn’t know I had.
The daemons all chuckle. “Look at her trying to be all strong. Hiding by the tree while her daemon fights for her,” he spits.
I know he’s trying to bait me; I smirk at him and whisper, “Super ignes inferni, flammas numquam ardentis, te voco.”
I call upon the fire of Hell, the flames of the never-burning, I summon thee.
They all stagger backward; smoke flows over their skin before little bright orange burn marks appear, like welts. In seconds, the wounds grow bigger, setting on fire, the flames growing until the daemons are completely engulfed. Their screams are lost in the noise of the fight.
“I don’t need my mate to fight for me; I do fine just on my own,” I smirk at him with a raised eyebrow.
He laughs, his tone daring, “Yeah?” His hand flies out from his side quickly, holding a large, burning fireball in his palm that he sends shooting through the air toward me.
I dive to the left at the last moment, falling to the wet ground with a thud; it misses me by an inch.
He throws his head back laughing like it’s the funniest thing he has ever seen.
He winks at me, then turns and runs down the street.
Not thinking, I scramble up off the ground and take off running after him.
“Rose, no!” Gaelan shouts, but it’s too late.
I’m outside the safety of the wards and chasing after the daemon down the dark and windy street.
He turns left onto Wicked Avenue and continues toward the center of Darkville, arriving at the town square.
He skids to a stop, then turns to face me.
I slow my steps, my chest heaving with my labored breaths.
“Tell all of your friends that if they come to my house again, I will kill you all!” Hatred is thick in my voice as I try my hardest to add power behind my words.
“Is that so, witch?” his vile use of the word makes me want to rip his head off.
Taking a step forward, ready to make my wish of having his head in my hands come true. My vision is clouded by something shiny; my body is covered with something that stings and wraps around me tightly.
Looking down, I see a gold net has been thrown over me, pushing me down to the floor hard. I fight its hold, but each time I move, it tightens, cutting into my skin.
I look up and narrow my eyes at all of them. Feeling a slight shift in my mind, something pushes against me; a darkness surrounds me, one that feels like home.
A low, light growl echoes in my head just as Gaelan runs into the square. He freezes in place, a startled look coats his features.
“You do not hurt me.” My voice is mine, but not my own. I feel a sharp sting in my mouth as fangs break the skin, and lower, I look down as my arms fade in color and turn white. More gold markings start appearing on my skin as I am pushed back to a dark corner of my mind.
And she comes forward.