“I remember.” He led her to a shiny, black-and-chrome motorcycle. “She’s new.” Pride and anticipation lit his voice. Then he lifted her on as if she weighed nothing and handed her a helmet. “It’s the right size for your head. I figured we’d be riding together.” He waited until she’d settled on and held the helmet. “Is Dessie okay?”
“I think so. She has powers even beyond mine when it comes to Ulric and his hell world. At least right now.” Hope frowned. “There’s something odd about the way she took out Yvonne.”
“Odd?” Pax’s shoulders went back. “How so?”
“Dessie said Yvonne seemed faded and then went bright before she went into the water. I don’t know. It’s bugging me.”
Pax smoothly swung his leg over the bike, careful not to jostle her. “We’ll figure it out. Helmet. Hold on.”
She yanked the new helmet over her head and slid her arms around his tight waist, feeling like a girl on a date. A rare feeling. What would she do if she wasn’t tasked with fulfilling the destiny laid out for her? Probably fall head over heels for Paxton Phoenix. He was strong and good with a deadly edge, and sometimes her dreams about him turned steamy.
But she knew better. Wouldn’t let herself go there. So she threw her head back and enjoyed the ride, knowing he’d keep them both safe. Too soon, she arrived at her parents’ house, which was already dark. Though her father would know the second she arrived. He always did. She removed the helmet and balanced herself with her hands on Pax’s flanks as she swung her leg over the bike. She handed him the helmet. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” He turned his head, studying her. “Promise me you’re not going after Ulric.”
She hesitated a second too long. In a surprisingly fast move, he grasped the front of her jacket and yanked her toward him, turning at the same time. Then his mouth was on hers.
Hot and fast, deep and wild, Paxton kissed her until her ears rang. Desire poured through her, and her legs grew weak.
Then he released her. “I’m being patient with you, Kyllwood. Don’t make me regret it.” He restarted the motorcycle and swung away from the curb, a dark shadow in the moonlit night.
She touched her tingling lips, her body rioting. What had gotten into Pax? Stumbling, she turned and made it to the front door and inside the house, tiptoeing to her bedroom. The space was comfortable and all her, and she was going to miss it when she moved.
Paxton had kissed her. Really kissed her. And she’d kissed him back, wholeheartedly. Confusion blanketed her, along with a too-strong need to chase after him. He wasn’t to be hers. It was too much of a risk, and even if she survived the ritual, she was born to bridge the gap between enemy factions.
Hopefully. Peace was a good goal, and sacrifice was part of her heritage.
She shut her door, kicked off her boots, and changed into yoga clothes. After midnight was her best time to meditate. Now that she was stronger, and now that the portals had finally begun to reopen, it was time to get back to work.
Her position perfect on the floor, she let this world spin away.
Shockingly fast, she found herself on midnight-blue sand with a lazy ocean rolling in. It was nighttime, and a full moon shone down, glinting off diamonds in the sand. The green book was now up on a ledge in a mountain outcropping, way out of her reach. As usual.
A figure was already standing near an outcropping of rocks, watching the water splash against the sand.
She walked toward him, and he watched her approach.
“You’re getting more powerful,” Drake murmured, eyeing the area around them. “Just us tonight?”
It was surprising how easily she’d drawn him into this world. “Yes. I hope I didn’t take you from a good sleep.”
“No.” He stood so tall he cast a wide shadow toward the rocks. His hair was all black but now had a hint of red at the tips, and his eyes were still that intriguing green. Like Paxton, he’d filled out through the years and looked all male. His face was still pale and his bone structure sharp. Handsome. “I was staring at a computer screen, and now I’m here. That’s impressive, Hope.”
She felt the compliment to her toes, even though her mouth was still tingling from Pax’s kiss. “Yvonne is dead. Did you know?”
His eyebrows rose. “No. How?”
“In Ulric’s world. She died, and I think her body was really there.” Though that didn’t make sense. “He’s dangerous, Drake.”
“No, he isn’t. If your people would stop attacking him and going after us, this war would end.” He reached into his pocket and drew out a black box. “For your birthday.”
Her breath caught, and she accepted the box, opening it to find a lovely gold ring with delicate lines. She slipped it onto her right thumb, and it looked perfect. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He brushed her hair back and leaned down to kiss her, his lips cool and his mouth hot.
She shivered and kissed him back, her mind going blank. His mouth was cooler than Pax’s and his lips just as firm. Tingles set up throughout her body. He released her and stepped away, smiling. “I’ll find out more about Yvonne, but I need to go.”
“What do you know about the Kurjans conducting mind-control experiments on enhanced women and creating assassins to kill the Seven?” Even though her mind was mulling over the fact that she’d kissed two warriors in one night, she still had a job to do. He’d denied it last time. Would he do so again?
