Chapter Text
Rafayel
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she spat, the knife in her hand coming up and the tip pressing against the center of my chest.
A low growl of irritation escaped me, my fists clenching at my sides as I stared at her. She looked so much like Danger except for her eyes that it was throwing me off… the fact that she had some of the same traits, such as the same fierceness and stubbornness that were as natural to Danger as breathing… wasn’t helping either.
This was turning into a bad situation already, and I had a feeling it was only going to get worse. I could feel it in my gut; the same way I could feel the tension in the air around us.
My gaze lowered to the knife pressed against my chest, my instincts telling me to disarm her before she did any real damage, but I forced myself to meet her eyes calmly, my body tense and coiled like a snake ready to strike. "Put the knife down. Now."
“No way. You look like you’d rip my head off the second I let my guard down.”
I snorted, barely resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "And yet," I drawled, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're the one holding a knife to my chest, not the other way around."
"Yeah, well, you can't blame me for being cautious." She looked me up and down in a way that made my heart start racing. "I know a threat when I see one, pretty boy."
"Pretty boy?" I echoed, unable to stop the corners of my mouth from lifting in a smirk.
She seemed to realize what she had said, embarrassment flitting across her face as her cheeks turned red as she muttered, "Don't flatter yourself. I was being sarcastic."
I chuckled, a low sound in the back of my throat.
She certainly had spunk; I'd give her that. She was feisty and defiant, with a fire in her eyes that I couldn't help but find attractive. It was a dangerous combination, one that I found myself drawn to, but... I wouldn’t be acting on it.
I wasn’t here to get involved in some weird limbo where I was in love with one sister and attracted to the other. It wasn’t fair to Nyx; it wasn’t fair to me… and I was pretty sure Danger would kill me.
"Look," I said, forcing the attraction I felt away and focusing on the bigger picture… getting her out of here and somewhere safe. "Can you just put the knife down so we can talk?"
"I don't know you or trust you. Why should I listen to a word you say?"
I took a small step closer to her, wincing slightly as the knife nicked my flesh… "Because I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help you. But that's only going to work if you put the knife down and listen."
She hesitated, her eyes flitting to the dead creature then back to me. I could see the war going on inside her, the desire to fight me and the common sense telling her that if I wanted to hurt her, I would have done so already.
I wouldn't hurt her. I had no reason to…
After what felt like an eternity, she slowly lowered the knife but kept it in front of her. "Fine. But I'm warning you... the second you try anything; I'll gut you like a fish."
"Duly noted," I replied with a smirk, amused despite the situation.
"Okay... you wanted to talk… so talk. And make it fast, pretty boy."
"First of all," I started pointing a finger at her. "Can you stop calling me that?"
She snorted, a smirk tugging on her lips that made me want to grab her, pin her against the counter, and… I quickly pushed that thought away.
"Why? Does it bother you?"
I gritted my teeth, barely resisting the urge to growl in annoyance. Yes, it bothered me, but I wasn't about to tell her that because I had a feeling, she would keep calling me that just to get a rise out of me. "It's not exactly a compliment," I muttered.
"You're pretty, and you're a boy… so it fits."
Well, this was going to be fun… she was infuriatingly cheeky.
I wanted to kiss her, shake her, snap at her to stop calling me that because it was driving me insane, but I didn't. I couldn't. I needed to keep a tight leash on my emotions and my temper, to keep my hands off her and my mind off every impure thought running through it.
"Fine," I ground out, "It's fitting. Can we move on now?"
"Oh, I haven't even gotten started yet. But sure… we can move on. Starting with you telling me why in the hell you’re here, and how you know my sister."
Her question threw me off guard for just a moment before I quickly schooled my expression. How did she know about Danger when Danger had only found out she existed a few weeks ago? There was no way she could know unless someone had told her… someone like Kaelar. And if that was the case was she in league with her crazy ass brother?
But no… that couldn’t be it because Kaelar was looking for her to use her in his plan to take over … so how the fuck did she know? And why in the hell hadn’t she come looking for Danger if she knew about her?
"How do you know about Danger?"
She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze dropping to the floor as the hand holding the knife went limp, and her shoulders sagged. It was obvious that I had touched a nerve. She looked small and vulnerable suddenly, the wall of sarcasm and fire she was wielding earlier like a shield crumbling, like just the mention of her sister was enough to knock the breath out of her.
"Danger… that’s her name?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes."
"And you... you know her?"
"Yes. I do."
"How?"
I hesitated, not sure how much I should tell her, but her expression was so earnest, like... like she needed to know. Like it was important to her. "We grew up together."
It was a lame explanation, considering the history I had with her sister, but it was safer than confessing the truth. She didn’t need to know that I was in love with her sister… because Danger was in love with and now bound to Sylus, and nothing would ever come of my feelings. No one needed to know how I felt but me, and I kept that little secret close to my chest.
"You... grew up with her?"
I nodded, studying her, trying to decipher her reaction. She was clearly shocked by this revelation, but there was something else in her eyes I couldn't quite place. "Yes, we've known each other for a long time."
She was silent for a moment, as if trying to process this new information then, "What… what is she like?"
I wasn't expecting that question, and once again I was caught off guard. This whole entire conversation was… strange… I didn’t know what to think, or how to respond.
What was I supposed to say? That Danger was the most dangerous, most frustrating, most stubborn, most beautiful woman I had ever met? That her smile made my heart race and her laugh was like music to my ears? That she was in love with another man, and it killed me to think about her with him? No… I couldn’t say all that…
"She's…" I started, my voice a little huskier than I would've liked, "… stubborn. Wild. Headstrong. She does what she wants, damn the consequences, and she doesn't take crap from anybody. She's tough as nails, but she's also fiercely loyal and caring."
"Is she... is she okay?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to answer because the events a week ago clearly pointed towards the answer being no, but… she was obviously concerned about her sister, and the way she was looking at me, her eyes pleading like she was desperate for reassurance from me, it made my chest ache, so I told her a half truth. "She's... she's okay."
She let out a huge breath, like she had been holding it in for years, her shoulders sagging with relief. "Thank Gods."
For a moment, I wanted to close the distance between us, to take her into my arms and hold her and reassure her that everything was alright, but I couldn't. It wasn't my place to offer her comfort… she wasn't mine, and I had to keep reminding myself of that.
I cleared my throat and leaned back against the counter. "You still haven't told me how you know about her."
"I… I dream about her."
"You dream about her?"
"Yes. Ever since I was young, I've had these... dreams of her. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like I'm right there with her, experiencing things with her."
I leaned forward, my interest piqued. "What do you see, in these dreams?"
She let out a shaky breath. "It's like… I live her life. I see what she sees, feel what she feels… like I'm in her body. I've seen her life through her eyes, felt her pain and her joy, her anger and her sadness… I’ve seen a red eyed man… I’ve seen… you."
"Me?"
"I saw you in a dream I had this morning… you were comforting her… talking about her feelings for the red eyed man."
It was strange, hearing her describe a private conversation with Danger. No one else had been there… until Sylus had appeared and threatened me for touching her, but he hadn’t heard what had been said so… how did Nyx know about it? Unless she was telling the truth?
Dreams, visions… it seemed farfetched, but this world was full of strange things. "Have you always had these dreams? Since you were a child, you said?"
"Yes. They started when I was very young, and they've become more frequent as I've gotten older, more so in the last week or so," she paused and looked up at me with a hopeful expression, "Will you take me to her? Please?"
Taking her to Danger wasn't something I'd planned on doing, not with Kaelar on her heels, but the urgency in her voice, the pleading in her eyes… I found I couldn't say no. Not to her. I wouldn’t be able to take her directly to N019, but I could call and let them talk.
I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone, dialing Danger's number then putting it on speaker. It rang a few times before she picked up, "Hello."
"Danger."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear her moving around, probably trying to find somewhere private to talk, "Raf… Did you find her?"
"Yeah," I said, my eyes flitting to Nyx, who was watching me expectantly. "I did."
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. "You did? Where?"
"She's right here, with me."
"With you? Is she alright?"
"Yeah," I said, running a hand over my face. "Yeah, she's fine. A little shaken up, but otherwise unharmed."
I heard Danger let out a shaky breath. "Put her on. Please. I need to talk to her."
I handed the phone to Nyx, and she took it hesitantly, "H-Hello...?"
"Nyx... is it really you? Are you okay?"
Nyx's expression softened at the sound of Danger's voice, and her grip on the phone tightened. "Danger... it’s you… you’re... yeah, I'm okay. I'm alright."
"Thank gods. I sent Raf to find you… I… Gods, it’s good to finally hear your voice."
Nyx took a shaky breath. "Where are you? Are you safe? Are you… coming for me?"
"Yes, I'm safe, and I promise we'll be together soon, but I need you to listen to me, okay?"
Nyx swallowed. "Okay…"
"I asked Raf to find you because you’re in danger… our brother…" she paused and took a deep breath before continuing, "… our brother is trying to find you so he can use you… use your Evol to take over the world. You need to go with Raf. He’s going to take you somewhere safe. Do not go anywhere, do not under any circumstances leave without Raf. You can trust him."
"I… I don't understand," Nyx said, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean use my Evol."
"I don’t completely understand why or how… but Kaelar has killed a lot of people trying to find you. I can't explain it all right now, but you have to trust me… trust Raf."
I watched Nyx silently as she stared at the wall. It was a lot, especially for someone who had just learned that their world was much more complicated than they had ever imagined, but she was holding herself together surprisingly well considering the situation, and… I was impressed, probably more than I should have been.
After a long moment, she spoke, "I… I trust you, and if you trust Raf, then I'll go with him." She turned her gaze to me, her eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge if I was trustworthy just by the look on my face.
I nodded, hoping I looked reassuring as I smiled at her. "I’ll keep you safe, I promise."
I saw doubt in her eyes but also… tentative trust.
It was obvious she was torn between wanting to get away from me and the unknown and wanting to trust that I would do what I said, and who could blame her? She'd just learned that the brother she had never even met had turned psycho and was hunting her to use her in some bizarre plan to take over the world. And now she had to believe two people she had never even met, one being a total stranger while the other she had only ever seen in her dreams, were looking out for her best interests.
I held her gaze, trying to convey as much sincerity and reassurance as possible by the look on my face. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I'll get you to safety, and then everything can be explained. Just trust me, okay?"
There was a long pause, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes, but then she squared her shoulders, and I saw the determination settle in as she nodded and handed the phone back to me.
I took it and pressed the button to take it off speaker before bringing it to my ear just as Danger spoke again, "Thank you, Raf. Thank you for finding her. I… I don't know what to say."
"Don't mention it," I said, my voice coming out a little gruffer than I wanted it to be. "She's safe and unharmed. I've got her, and I’ll keep her safe."
"I know you will. I never doubted that. Just... bring her back to me in one piece, okay? That's all I ask."
I chuckled quietly. "Have a little faith, Danger. When have I ever let you down?"
"I know, I know. I just... I feel like I should be there, you know? To make sure she's alright."
"I understand," I said sympathetically. "But you know that you can't be here right now, not without putting yourself in danger also. I have the situation under control, and she'll be fine."
"I trust you, Raf. I always have… I'm just worried. I don't want anything to happen to her."
There was a moment of silence, and I knew there was probably a lot more she wanted to say, things that she probably needed to say to Nyx, to me…
I heard a rustling sound then muffled voices as if she had put her hand over the mouthpiece then more rustling before Danger said, "Sylus wants to speak with you."
"What for?" I muttered.
"I have a safehouse set up with everything you will need to keep her safe," Sylus' deep, commanding voice came on the line. "All you need to do is get there and the rest will be handled."
I bit back a sarcastic comment about being able to handle things myself, knowing that this wasn't the time for our usual biting remarks and sarcastic banter. "Alright. Where is the safehouse?"
Sylus gave me the coordinates to a remote area in the mountains along with a code to get inside, and I quickly committed them to memory, "Got it. Anything else I should know?"
"Keep her close. And do not let her out of your sight. Not for anything."
I frowned, disliking his tone, but the line went dead before I could say anything.
I glanced at Nyx, who was still watching me silently, clearly wanting to ask questions but unsure how to start. I could see the curiosity in her eyes, the multitude of questions she wanted to ask. After what seemed like eternity of us staring at each other, she finally spoke, her words tentative and hesitant, "What… what's going on?"
I took a deep breath, struggling with how to explain the situation to her in a way that wouldn't make her panic, but before I could say anything, she continued, "And… who was that?"
"That was Sylus," I said simply, slipping my phone into my pocket.
"I could hear him. He sounded…." She trailed off, seeming to be searching for the right word.
"Scary?" I offered dryly. "Stern? Domineering? Like a pain in the ass?"
She nodded, clearly agreeing with my description. "Yeah… all those things."
I let out a humorless chuckle. "You've got him pegged without even meeting him. Interesting."
She studied me intently before saying, "You don't like him."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
I leaned back against the wall and crossed my arms. "What makes you say that?"
She lifted an eyebrow at me before answering, "The way you talk about him, the way you talk to him. There's… tension between you two. And not the good kind."
She was more perceptive than I'd given her credit for. Not many people could pick up on the tension between Sylus and me… though to be fair, we weren't exactly subtle. "That's one way of putting it. We don't exactly see eye to eye on… things."
"Are you… are you his friend?"
"His friend?" I scoffed. "Gods no, but your sister is in love with him, so I… tolerate him."
"My sister is… in love with him?"
I nodded, my jaw tensing automatically at the thought of Sylus and Danger together. That same gut-wrenching reaction I got every single time I thought about him having what… who I wanted making my stomach churn with bitterness and regret.
"How do you feel about that?"
I froze, staring at her blankly.
What did she expect me to say? That I was happy about it? That I was thrilled about the fact that the woman I was in love with loved someone else? No… I was not having this conversation with a woman I had known for all of five minutes.
She opened her mouth to speak again, but I cut her off before she could ask another question I didn't want to answer, "This is not something I want to talk about," I said gruffly, pushing away from the wall and moving towards the door. "Come on, we need to go."
She hesitated for a moment, her expression a little crestfallen, like she was unhappy with my brush off, but she pushed herself off the counter and nodded as she stepped over the dead creature like it was an everyday occurrence for a corpse to be laying on her kitchen floor and fell into step beside me then she shouted, "Wait!"
I stopped with my hand on the knob and turned back in time to see her take off into the living room like her ass was on fire. "What the hell are you doing?"
She ignored me, moving around the room like a woman on a mission, opening drawers, pushing over furniture, moving things aside, seemingly looking for something.
"Nyx," I said through gritted teeth. "What are you looking for?"
She didn't respond, instead continuing to rifle through her things, opening drawers and cabinets repeatedly before moving down the hallway with an intensity that was almost frantic.
I followed her, trying to figure out what she was doing. "You don't have time to pack."
She entered the bedroom and kept searching, ignoring my insistence as well as my attempt to grab her arm. "I’m not packing… I just… I'm not leaving without…"
I sighed, exasperated. "Without what?"
She finally stopped and looked at me, her expression almost… pleading. "Rika."
I stared at her for a moment, my annoyance giving way to confusion. "Rika?" I repeated, my brow furrowing. "Who the hell is Rika?"
She swallowed visibly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "My cat. I’m not leaving her behind."
I felt the air leave my lungs, a mixture of surprise and annoyance flooding through me at the reason she was willing to waste time over this.
I hated cats… always had. They were vicious creatures who would attack you for no reason, and she wanted to waste precious time finding one? No… no, no, no. "You have got to be kidding me. We tell you someone is trying to kill you, and you want to waste time finding a cat?"
"I'm not leaving without her. Rika is my pet, and I'm not abandoning her."
I pinched the bridge of my nose with one hand and took a deep breath, counting to ten before I said something I would regret… like telling her turning her pet into a shish cabob would be a better option than taking it with us. "Fine. Where's the damn cat?"
She let out a sigh of relief, looking suddenly a little sheepish as though she had half expected me to start arguing with her about it. "Probably under the bed."
I grumbled under my breath about cats and their tendency to hide in tight spaces before crossing the room and dropping to my knees to peer under the bed. Sure enough, a small, grey blob of fur was in the corner… staring at me with bright green eyes that screamed ‘stay away from me or I will eat your face.’
"Great," I muttered as I laid down flat on my stomach and wedged my shoulder under the bed, reaching out with one hand to try to coax the cat out. "C'mere, you little demon," I called, holding my hand out towards the cat, who hissed and bared her sharp teeth at me.
"Don't mind her, she's just being her usual grumpy self," Nyx said, crouching down and straddling my waist so she could lean down and look under the bed. "Here, let me try."
I felt the heat creeping up my face as she straddled my ass and leaned down so her body was pressed into mine in an intimate way that was probably completely unintentional but was doing things to my body that I didn’t need. Her scent filled my nose, a mixture of honey and... was that lavender?
My brain went blank for a split second, and I almost forgot what we were doing as I fought the urge to turn over, reach up and—nope, nada, no, hell no… not happening. I was not going to go there. I was not some hormonal teenager with no self-control. I was an adult, and... I should get my brain back on track before my pants became a problem.
"Hurry up," I grumbled, my arm starting to ache from being crammed underneath the bed.
She reached out, her fingertips brushing against my hand. "Here, girl. Come on out."
The cat's eyes flicked to Nyx's face, its small ears perking up as its head tilted to the side as if considering its options before slowly slinking towards Nyx's outstretched hand.
I watched in begrudging fascination, the cat's behavior changing completely with her, going from hissing and spitting to purring softly as Nyx picked it up and cradled it in her arms while still straddling me.
I was acutely aware of the intimate position we were in as well as the heat from her body, the scent of her, the heat of her pussy against my lower back, her thighs against my hips… it was all too much. I could feel my body reacting, despite my best efforts to control it, and I silently cursed myself for my lack of restraint.
"Can you... can you get off me?"
She seemed to realize the position we were in a beat too late, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she hastily scrambled to her feet with her cat clutched to her chest.
I pulled myself out from under the bed and got to my feet, rubbing at the ache in my shoulder with one hand. "We got the damn cat. Let’s go."
She nodded, her expression sheepish as she looked anywhere but at me. "Right, sorry."
I felt my eye twitch at her apology, the fact that she felt the need to making me feel like an even bigger jerk than I already was. "You have no reason to apologize. Just… let's go."
She nodded again, adjusting the cat as she fell into step beside me. "Thank you."
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard, and I shot her a sidelong glance, feeling the strangest… pang, deep in my chest. "For what?"
"For not arguing about Rika. For not leaving her behind."
"Don't mention it," I grumbled, trying to brush off the strange feeling in my stomach as I opened her front door and waited for her to step through before following her. "I just didn't want to waste time arguing over a damn cat."
"Rika means a lot to me."
I grunted, shutting the door and leading her towards the elevator. "Yeah, I can see that."
She laughed softly, her hand stroking over Rika's fur. "You don't like cats, do you?"
I shook my head, my jaw clenching at the thought of the furry creatures. "Not particularly. My thoughts on cats boil down to 'they're the spawn of the Devil incarnate.'"
"You're not the first person I've heard say that."
"That's because it's a scientific fact… cats are the most insufferable beings on this planet," I muttered as we stepped into the elevator, and I hit the button for the lobby.
She seemed more amused than offended, her gaze flickering over to me as we waited for the elevator to descend. "I take it you're more of a dog person then."
"Damn straight. Dogs are a hundred times better than cats. They're loyal, they actually show affection, and they're not constantly plotting your death."
"You make cats sound like sociopaths."
I rolled my eyes, folding my arms over my chest. "Because they are. I swear, they only keep humans around because we feed them."
"You know, some people say the same thing about dogs."
I shrugged but didn’t respond as the elevator arrived at the lobby, the doors swooshing open with barely a sound. As we stepped out and headed towards the front doors, she continued to argue her case for cats, "They're not all bad, you know. Cats can be just as loyal as dogs. They just have a different way of showing it."
I grumbled, pushing open the door for her. "Right. They show their love by knocking things off tables and sitting on your face while you're trying to sleep."
She shook her head with a smile as she stepped outside. "You're just a cat hater, admit it."
"Damn right, I am. Dogs are superior in every way."
We walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound the soft padding of our shoes on the sidewalk and the quiet purring of her cat.
Finally, after walking for a few more moments in silence, we turned onto a darker street, the buildings around us looming and foreboding in the moonlight. I scanned the shadows, feeling a familiar tension creeping up my spine as I kept a watchful eye on our surroundings.
A sound from the alley to our right caused me to stop, my instincts going on high alert. "Wait," I muttered, gripping her arm and pulling her closer to me. "Stay close and stay quiet."
She paused, her brows furrowing at the tone of my voice, but she did as I said, staying close to me and holding herself still as she pressed against my back.
We stood like that as I scanned the shadows, my muscles coiled and ready for action. Every sense was heightened, every sound amplified, as I searched for the source of the noise. And then… there it was again… the soft shuffling sound of something moving in the darkness.
I cursed silently, reaching back and putting my hand on her hip as I slowly turned towards the sound. "Stay behind me."
"Okay," she whispered.
I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore how good she felt pressed against me, and readying myself for whatever was coming our way, my thoughts racing a million miles a minute.
There was another shuffling noise, followed by a faint scraping sound, and I tensed even further, my heart pounding in my chest as something small and dark darted out of the shadows towards us… and stopped at my feet. A damn cat. A harmless, mangy, stray cat with black and white fur was the source of the noise.
I sighed, a mixture of incredulity and annoyance flooding me. I'd been ready for a damn fight, and the culprit was a stray cat. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Guess you just can’t escape cats, can you?" she teased.
I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth despite myself as I stared down at the cat, which was now rubbing against my leg and purring contentedly. "It's like they have a sixth sense for people who hate them..."
"… or you attract them," she said, a small smirk on her face. "I think we should—"
I shot her a sideways glance, my smile turning into a scowl when I realized the direction her thoughts were going. "No."
She pouted, her lower lip protruding as she protested, "But—"
I pinched the bridge of my nose, "We are not bringing a stray cat with us."
"Why not?"
"Because we're trying to keep a low profile, or have you forgotten?"
"But it's just a little cat. It won't be any trouble, I promise."
I gave her a deadpan stare, my expression not wavering, "No."
Her pout deepened, a look that was almost too cute for me to handle, "Please?"
I felt a strange tightness in my chest as I shook my head, feeling like the world's biggest bastard for denying her something she clearly wanted. "The cat stays here."
She frowned, her lower lip protruding even more as she nuzzled Rika like some sort of defense mechanism.
"Stop looking at me like that. It's not happening, so just stop it."
She sniffled, her lip trembling slightly, and I almost felt like cursing myself. It was completely unfair that she could use that damn pout against me when no one else had ever been able to soften my resolve with a simple look…
I clenched my jaw, trying to resist the urge to give in and find a damn cat carrier. "You…"
Her eyes met mine, her expression suddenly switching to a hopeful look as if sensing me weakening. "Please? It won't be any trouble, I promise…"
"Fine," I sighed, my frustration and resolve completely crumbling to dust.
Her face lit up, a blinding smile making an appearance. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I rolled my eyes, trying my best to appear indifferent even though I felt like a complete pushover for giving in so easily. "Come on," I grumbled. "Let's get moving."
"Ummm…"
I let out an exasperated sigh, feeling both annoyed and intrigued by the way she drew out the word. "What is it now?"
She gave me a sheepish look, biting her lip in a way that was entirely too distracting. "Umm… can you carry Ri—"
"Do not finish that sentence," I warned, knowing exactly what she was about to ask. "No. I'm not carrying the cat."
"Rafayel, pleaaaaseeee?"
I almost laughed at her audacity, shaking my head in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
She nodded, her big eyes wide and innocent looking. "Pretty please?"
I sighed, knowing that I was going to regret this and cursing myself for being such a sucker. "Godsdamnit…" I grumbled and reached out, taking the small bundle of fur from her arms.
Nyx smiled, her expression grateful as she watched me hold Rika awkwardly then she bent down, grabbed the stray and held it against her chest. "Thank you."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, looking away so she couldn't see my blush because what...? I never blushed… "Don't make a big deal out of it."
"But you look cute holding a cat."
"Shut up," I retorted, my voice gruff but lacking its usual irritation. "Let’s go."
She fell into step next to me, the stray cradled in her arms, and I felt a strange sense of envy at the cat's comfortable position, wishing I could be cradled against her chest like that.
I shook my head, mentally cursing myself for even having that thought. What the hell was wrong with me? This was the first damn day I had met her, and I was having thoughts about wanting to be curled up against her chest like a damn cat… Gods this was so bad.
We continued walking through the dark streets towards my car, the silence between us broken only by the soft sounds of her footsteps and the occasional meow from the cats. I could feel her eyes on me, studying me, but I kept staring straight ahead, refusing to look at her, refusing to show any hint of the emotions boiling inside me. I wasn't used to feeling so… damn flustered.
Finally, we reached my car, a sleek and expensive black SUV with darkened windows in a deserted parking lot about a mile and a half from her apartment. I unlocked the doors, opened the back door and sat Rika on the seat, watching suspiciously as she started sniffing at the leather seats. I paused when I realized I was acting like some kind of helicopter parent over a cat and grumbled under my breath as I stepped aside so Nyx could set the stray in the back with Rika.
Once the stray was settled, we both climbed into the SUV, the leather seats creaking under our weight as we got comfortable for the long drive ahead. I started the engine and shifted into drive, the car gliding forward smoothly as I pulled out of the parking lot.
I tried to keep my eyes focused on the road, but I kept glancing over at her, watching the way the passing streetlamps cast shadows over her face. Every time she caught me looking, she would give me a small, secretive smile, almost as if she knew the effect she was having on me.
I looked away and gritted my teeth, irritated at both myself and her. This was quickly becoming a damn problem... because I wouldn’t… I couldn’t allow myself to touch her or kiss her or pin her against a wall and sink myself inside her like I craved to. It wouldn’t be fair to her… not with the way I felt about her sister.
The quietness between us was almost suffocating as I tried to calm my racing mind. This was going to be harder than I thought. How the hell was I supposed to keep my distance when I wanted her so badly… but I would. I would get her to the safehouse, make sure she was safe and then… then I would avoid her. Should be easy, right?
∞
It was well after two in the morning by the time we arrived at a large house tucked away in a secluded area in the middle of the mountains. The place was well maintained with a meticulously landscaped yard surrounded by thick trees, an eight-foot-tall iron fence and cameras.
I heard her suck in a sharp breath as I pulled the SUV up to the iron gates and punched the security code in. The gates opened slowly, allowing us to drive through before closing soundlessly behind us. As I drove down the gravel driveway my eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign of movement or any potential threats in the trees, but only silence and darkness greeted me, and I relaxed slightly. Sylus wouldn’t have sent us here if he didn’t believe we would be safe.
I parked the SUV in front of the house and shut off the engine, the silence in the car suddenly becoming so damn loud I could hear the crickets and other insects thrilling outside.
I let out a frustrated sigh and leaned my head back against the headrest as I stared out the windshield at the trees swaying gently in the breeze, feeling exhausted both physically and mentally.
I could feel her gaze on me, but I didn't look at her, not yet… I needed a few moments to get it together. When I felt like I could look at her without wanting to pull her across the console and into my lap, I turned my head, meeting her gaze for the first time in what felt like hours.
"We're here," I said gruffly then felt like an idiot for stating the obvious.
She nodded, her eyes looking around at the darkened surroundings. "It's... pretty out here."
I grunted in agreement, my eyes scanning the trees again. "Quiet, too," I muttered.
Her gaze flicked back to me, her expression amused. "Are you always this paranoid?"
"I'd be a poor excuse for an assassin if I wasn't."
"I'm starting to think you're always this grumpy."
I grunted, this time more out of annoyance than anything else, and changed the subject. "Let’s… go inside, get something to eat and get some rest."
"Yeah, a soft bed sounds really nice after the day we've had."
Her comment sent a bolt of heat straight to my groin and I found my eyes flicking down to her mouth, my mind instantly filled with thoughts of those plump lips wrapped around my hard cock. Fuck…
Gritting my teeth I averted my eyes, mentally yelling at my treacherous mind for thinking about her mouth on my body and how long it had been since I had touched a woman. I cleared my throat and looked away, trying to will away the thoughts that suddenly filled my mind, "Come on."
I threw open my door and stepped out of the car quickly, and slammed the door shut, harder than I had intended then stalked around to her side of the car intending to help her out but I heard her door open before I could reach her.
She stepped out of the car, the soft glow of the moon lighting up her skin and making her look… ethereal. The urge to grab her hips and press her against the car door and ravish her mouth to see if she tasted as sweet as she looked made my blood surge, but I forced myself to keep my hands to myself and opening the back door, grabbing the two cats and handing the stray off to her before turning towards the front porch.
I had hoped the fresh mountain air would help to cool my growing irritation at myself for wanting her so badly, but it had the opposite effect… being in this secluded place all alone with Danger’s sister made it worse.
Why the hell was I having these thoughts?
She was a stranger to me… a complete outsider, and I never trusted anyone easily. Why did she affect me so damn much? I had met thousands of women over the course of my life, and not one of them had ever gotten under my skin the way she did… and that made me feel weak because I couldn’t control my thoughts or feelings.
I could feel her behind me, the quiet sound of her footsteps on the gravel loud in my ears.
I reached the porch and typed in the security code to open the door, my hand pausing on the knob as images of what I wanted to do to her the moment we stepped inside assaulted my mind... I gritted my teeth, my jaw tensing... gods, I needed a damn drink, a canvas and some paints. Maybe that would take my mind off her and the things I couldn’t and wouldn’t take.
Shaking my head, I turned the knob and pushed the door open then stepped inside and turned on the light. The interior of the house was quiet and cool, the faint scent of dust and wood polish mixing with the crisp clean air of the mountains. The furniture was simple and comfortable, the kind of place that made it feel like a cozy home, and not just a safe house.
The house was large but not over the top extravagant which was something I was expecting from Sylus… instead of being cold and sterile it was warm and inviting, the soft moonlight streaming through the huge windows on the back wall making it feel comfortable and more like a vacation getaway.
"This place is beautiful," she murmured.
"It's secure," I said then cursed when Rika sank her claws into my arm through my coat.
"Damn it…" I grunted, gently withdrawing her claws from my skin before putting her down on the floor then shrugged my coat off and frowned down at the tiny puncture marks in my forearm.
"Looks like Rika wanted to leave her mark on you," Nyx chuckled softly.
I grumbled under my breath, throwing my jacket over the couch and turning away. Before I could even take a step, I felt her fingers wrap around my wrist, and I froze, my mind going blank as she brought my arm up, inspecting the little punctures in my skin, "Does it hurt?"
I was silent for a heartbeat as her fingers gently brushed against my skin, sending a bolt of conflicting emotions through me… need, want, lust. And fear… the fear of being touched… specifically on the raised scars on my forearms from a childhood of abuse and people touching me when I didn’t want it... but I was so damn used to shoving down my thoughts and emotions that I didn't respond at first and when I did my voice was harsher than I intended. "Stop."
I heard her sharp inhale as she stepped back, a look of hurt flashing across her face briefly, and I mentally cursed myself for being so damn cruel over something she didn’t know about. She had been trying to help, but I just... didn’t like anyone touching me, not unless I allowed it… and even then, I didn’t like people touching my arms or hands…
I looked away from her, feeling guilty and frustrated and like an absolute ass. "Umm… pick a room, I’ll take the other one," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck as I walked away.
"Wait…"
I stopped but didn't turn around, my hands clenching into fists as I fought the urge to look back at her. "What…" I bit out, my voice sharp.
"I’m…"
Her voice trailed away, and I swore silently to myself. I could feel her hesitation, her struggle to find the words to either call me out on my rudeness or apologize for something she didn’t need to apologize for.
Damnit, I was being an ass to her, and she didn't deserve it, but... I had to do something to make her keep her distance, so I didn’t do something stupid. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to calm the frustration that was growing inside me, and did something I would probably regret. "Spit it out," I gritted out, still refusing to turn around and face her.
"I..." Her voice wavered like she was trying to keep herself from crying. "... I’m sorry."
I froze, the apology from her making something inside me twist. "What..." I choked out, feeling my annoyance and anger slipping away as the guilt set in. I turned to face her; my brow furrowed in confusion. "Why…"
"You just... I... I shouldn't have touched you. I should have asked first, and..."
"You… there’s no reason to apologize..." I muttered, my voice gruff from trying to keep my damn emotions from showing.
"Then... why were you so angry?"
I let out a frustrated sigh and ran my hand through my hair, not even knowing what to say. How the hell was I supposed to explain that it wasn't her fault… it was mine for feeling things, wanting things I wasn't supposed to? For the memories that rose every time someone touched my arms or hands? "I… I didn't mean to snap at you like that… and I’m… I’m sorry."
"You're not mad at me?"
"Of course not I'm not mad… not at you.," I mumbled, hating the way my voice softened as I said it. I was quiet for a few moments while trying to find the right words to explain. "It's… not normal for me," I finally said, my throat feeling tight. "It's… not normal for people to touch me… unless I allow it, and… I…"
I paused, not quite sure how to explain, but also not knowing how to stop myself even as I avoided her gaze. "… I don't like people touching me without my permission. You… you didn't do anything wrong… I'm an asshole, okay."
"But... that doesn't explain why you got so angry. I know I shouldn't have just grabbed your arm but... your reaction was a little much, don't you think?"
I clenched my jaw, cursing myself for saying too much. "I-"
"You could have just told me you didn't like being touched and I would have stopped."
I wanted to take a step back as she came to stand in front of me, to put some distance between us again, but I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to move. "I know...," I bit out between gritted teeth. "But... I just... I don't…" My voice trailed off because I didn’t know how to explain the complex and jumbled mess of feelings that was me...
She was silent, studying my face and the mixed mess of emotions I knew were warring in my eyes. She could see everything I was struggling with… the anger, the guilt, the self-hatred, the desire, and most of all the fear. "But… why... why don't you want people to touch you?"
I couldn't answer that question. I wanted to… Gods, I wanted to explain everything. I wanted to unload all the past trauma that I kept buried so deep inside me no one would ever find it, but… I couldn't bring myself to open up to her like that. I didn't know her… I didn’t trust people easily, didn't trust how they would react to all the darkness and pain inside me, didn't trust them to not use it against me... didn't trust them not to laugh or treat me like a damn freak because of it.
I couldn't let her see the truth... not her, not Danger, not anybody. "It's... it's not important."
"Bullshit," she said, her voice gentle but firm, and I felt my jaw tighten... why couldn't she just leave it alone. "It is important. If it bothers you this much—"
"Please... don't," I snapped, feeling the anger rise again. "Stop asking questions, okay?"
I still couldn't look at her, couldn't look into her eyes and see the pity and the curiosity that was sure to be there. I didn't want her to look at me like that, like I was some damn wounded animal.
"Why are you so damn stubborn?"
"I just... I don't want to talk about it, alright? Can you just drop it?"
"But… what if… I told you I wanted to touch you again?"
I froze, the words sending a shock through me. The thought of her wanting to touch me again... the way she had just a few minutes ago when she had gently taken my arm, her fingertips running over my skin like silk... "Wh-what?" I choked out, finally looking at her and seeing the determination in her eyes.
She took another step closer, her body now pressed firmly against mine, her body heat so close and so damn tempting... "What if I wanted to touch you again? Would you stop me then?"
My breath caught in my chest, my mind going blank for a moment as her scent and the heat of her body enveloped me. "I..." I began, my voice sounding hoarse. "I… need a drink," I muttered and forced myself to take a step back, turning around so my back was to her.
I could practically feel her disappointment as I turned away from her, but I couldn't deal with her questions right now. I felt like the fragile control I kept over my emotions was slipping and if I saw that look in her eyes again, I was going to do something stupid.
I needed a drink... something to numb the emotions.
When I reached the kitchen, I went straight to the cabinets and started opening and closing them until I found a fully stocked liquor cabinet. Studying the contents, I let out a snort at the names of some of the most expensive liquors in the world before landing on a bottle of dark whiskey. I grabbed it and uncorked the cap, pouring a generous amount into a glass then brought it to my mouth and took a generous swallow.
The burn of the whiskey felt good as it slid down my throat, the familiar warmth spreading through my chest and immediately starting to make my mind feel fuzzy. I poured myself another glass, downing it in one swallow then poured another, starting to feel a little buzzed as the alcohol hit me and started soaking into my veins. Sylus had good taste in liquor…
I was starting to feel... good… my emotions starting to dull and the anger starting to fade.
"That's enough," her quiet voice suddenly came from behind me, and I nearly dropped the glass in my hand as I whirled around, my heart now beating faster for a completely different reason.
She was standing in the kitchen doorway, the golden light from behind her casting a soft glow around her as she watched me. "You've had too much."
"I can make that decision myself," I grumbled, raising my glass to my lips.
With two quick steps, she was in front of me, her hand reaching up and grabbing the glass from my hand before it reached my lips. "No, you can't," she replied firmly.
"Give it back."
"No."
With a huff, I spun around to leave and almost stumbled into the cabinet. "Damn it..." I muttered as I grabbed the edge of the counter to keep from falling. "I… I'm fine."
"You're drunk," she said bluntly.
"I'm not drunk," I grumbled, my words sounding a little off. "I'm just... a little buzzed."
"Uh huh."
I gritted my teeth, my eyes narrowing as I forced myself not to sway. "What do you want?"
"I need to call my friend and let him know I’m okay."
I felt a strange pang of irritation at her words, that damn feeling of possessiveness coming back as I thought about her talking to some random guy. "No."
"And why not?"
"Because... you don’t need to. The less contact you have with the outside world the better."
"And who are you to decide that?"
I let out a snort, taking a stumbling step closer to her, my body feeling like it was moving on instinct instead of brain cells. "I’m the one protecting you, so you don’t need to call anyone."
"I'm not some damsel in distress who needs saving."
"That's not what I meant, and you damn well know it," I snapped. "Your brother is looking for you because he wants to kill you. So… no… no calls, no emails, nothing until I say so."
I watched her expression shift from annoyance to anger to defiance and then... something else. She looked… amazing. The way the moonlight made her skin glow, the purple and golden flecks in her eyes, the way her hair fell over her shoulders and brushed against her cheeks...
The urge to reach out and brush the hair out of her face was so damn strong it was practically a physical ache, and I had to force myself to keep my hands clenched into fists.
No. No, dammit. This... this feeling, this... attraction I had towards her would only end in disaster because at the end of the day I loved her sister, not her. I might want to pin her the wall, pick her up and place her on the cabinet or just take her on the floor but… she was not for me. She was a sweet, innocent little thing, and I was twisted and dark. I would only end up hurting her.
"Just…" I let out a huff and reached up to run my fingers through my hair before looking at her. "No outside connections until we know it’s safe, okay?"
"Fine. No more contact until then. Happy now?"
I felt a surge of relief and satisfaction run through me at her words, that possessive feeling from earlier getting stronger even though I tried to push it down. "Good," I muttered then stepped around her and headed for where the bedrooms were. "I’m going to bed."
I felt her watching me as I walked away, my body tense as I tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, so I didn't end up on my face since every step made the room spin just a bit more.
I reached a bedroom and closed the door before locking the door with a click then leaning up against the cool wood and closing my eyes for a moment.
The alcohol was making me feel… fuzzy, my thoughts and emotions starting to get all twisted up like they usually did when I drank.
I should stop drinking. It always made me too goddamn emotional. I should… I needed to sleep. That was the only way I was going to stop thinking about her. Maybe I could even take a cold shower...
I took a few steps into the room, face planted on the bed, and was out like a light in seconds…