Chapter 1 #2
He’d probably been hiding in his void this entire time, watching and waiting for her brothers to leave her alone.
In fairness, she’d disclosed where she’d be tonight.
Leading him on was imperative when she required his time traveling skills.
Besides, using him and then breaking his heart was the best form of revenge she could think of.
Yay, but we have to be quick!
She sent the message, tucked her phone away, and finished up.
When she stepped to the sink and washed her hands, her reflection glared back at her.
There wasn’t enough concealer on this planet to make her eyes look alive.
Gripping the sides of the sink, she wished the night would end.
Pretending to love Kaden after what he’d done was exhausting.
She slicked back her flyaway hairs with wet fingers, smacked her red lips together, and headed for the door.
How long would he keep her in his void this time?
Forever? Hand on the handle, she took a deep breath before opening it.
Another sparkly mage entered in her place.
Winter’s gaze darted to the far corner. To him.
Kaden was leaning against the opposite wall with his ankles crossed. His sea-blue eyes gleamed in the shadows, reminding her of the predator he really was.
She stepped up to meet him. “Hi.”
He unfolded his arms and grabbed her by the elbow. “How long do we have?”
She swallowed her hate. “A minute, maybe.”
He’d cornered her like this so often it was a miracle Tarik hadn’t caught them yet.
Without hesitating, Kaden snapped his fingers. The Owl’s Nest faded away. His void was essentially a black hole, very much like his soul. He used to maintain the plants in here, but even those seemed to have chosen death over his company.
“How’d you scare your brothers off?”
“The same way I scare everyone off.” Because her words cut as sharp as her new teeth. Winter swiped her tongue over the pointed tips, still adjusting to them.
Kaden’s gaze softened. To his credit, he hadn’t treated her differently since learning she was a werewolf. “Have you told them yet?”
She tugged at his black t-shirt and stared up at him. “Only you.”
Confiding in him about her new immortality status had been an essential part of phase one: get back together with Kaden.
She’d used her confession as a bridge to mend their broken relationship.
He’d fallen for her ruse as quickly as she’d once fallen for his, and as far as he was concerned, they were back together.
But lying to Kaden and her brothers at the same time was a delicate dance. Everyone was on a need-to-know basis. Perhaps, she was more like her mother than she thought with all these secrets.
Kaden swooped her up, pulling her from her thoughts—his specialty. Her legs hooked around his waist of their own accord. He’d held her like this so many times that her muscles had foolish memories.
He tapped his nose to hers. “Let me sneak in tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Tarik has several baseball bats.” As much as she’d love to witness Kaden’s bludgeoning, she needed him alive to complete phase two: time travel back to the past.
“But it’s your birthday.”
“We only have to wait a couple more nights,” she reminded him, “then we can be together.”
She’d proposed starting a new life. Just the two of them, traveling across time for eternity. It was the perfect lie for someone delusional like him.
He pressed his mouth to hers, hot and eager. Her body pulsed for more. Her heart was confused; she was confused. She tried telling herself it was the liquor, but touching him reminded her of the love she’d once had.
All-consuming.
Then his mouth coaxed hers to open. The sweep of his tongue against hers set a fire inside her. Heat coursed through her—lust and hate-driven. Despising him didn’t make this kiss less intense. If she didn’t stomp out the flames, she’d burn alive.
Winter drew back, panting against his lips. “Tarik’s waiting for me. You shouldn’t have come here.”
Kaden dropped his head onto her shoulder and let out a long breath. “Please. I need more time.”
That was particularly rich coming from the wizard who traversed it. “We’ll have it soon.”
Tarik was leaving in a couple of days, effectively ending her vacation and forcing her second phase into action. Keeping Kaden away without his presence would be next to impossible.
He nuzzled her neck. “I love you, Winn.”
Her broken heart twitched. She steeled herself against the memories and said, “You have to snap us out.”
Black walls faded, giving way to The Owl’s Nest. Winter reappeared in the same spot, but this time, her legs were wrapped around Kaden’s waist.
“What. The. Fuck. Winter.” Tarik was storming down the thin hallway, his teeth bared.
“Oh, shit.” She hopped down and fixed her hair. This delicate dance had turned very dirty, and his baby sister was backed into a corner.
Tarik conjured two fireballs. Their swirling flames hovered atop his open palms. He’d been picked up by the league for one reason—with his combined strength and magic, he could throw at speeds upwards of two hundred miles per hour.
Winter held her arms out, pleading with him to stop. Patrons who hadn’t fled were murmuring. They’d love to see him throw that ball, but fighting with fire-magic was banned in here. He’d get into so much trouble. Worse, he’d get kicked off the team.
“Is that Tarik Leroux?”
“Oh, no way!”
“The pitcher?”
“Leroux, forty-two! Leroux, forty-two!”
Tarik ignored the onlookers and zeroed in on Kaden. Although she could picture her ex-fiancé with two gaping holes in his abdomen, she stepped in between them and faced her brother. “Please, Tarik, don’t do this. I’ll explain later.”
He blinked, diffusing his magic into smaller spheres. “Winter, move.”
“No. You’re not throwing away your career for me. Just leave him alone, okay?”
Tarik grimaced and glared at Kaden. The curl of his brown lashes met the furrow of his sharp brows as he scowled. “Touch her again, you little shit, and you’re dead.”
“Tarik! This is my life, not yours.” While she appreciated his threat, Kaden was her problem. The fate of Caldwell Archives depended on it.
Slowly, he retracted his fireballs. “We’re leaving, Winter. Now.”
“Fine,” she spat, rubbing her temples. Wearing two faces was giving her a headache.
Kaden reached for her, but she left with Tarik. Her brother didn’t say a word to her their entire way home.