Aflame (Apotheosis) (8 page)

It saddens me deeply that I wasn’t reunited with you as planned on Saturday. It appears my efforts to reclaim you were thwarted. It won’t happen again. Mr. Houghton lies nearly dead in the hospital. What a shame, I toiled so to free him from prison.

Who is that beast of a man who so heroically came to your aid? I must know more about him.

You’ve no comprehension of the misery I’ve endured during your absence. Rest assured, I will have you, soon. That’s my vow to you.

Forever you are mine.

Tyr

A cry escaped her lips as the note became confetti. Zander wrapped himself around her and she was blown away by the raw emotion that pulsated through him. “Tyr sent that man to attack me.”

Zander’s solid form fit perfectly around her tiny frame, as if he’d been built for it. To hold, comfort and shield her from the horrors of her world. The protective space between his arms had become a haven, and damn if that wasn’t scarier than knowing the monster had found her. It felt too good, too right, and that could only be very bad. Feeling all sorts of smothered, Grayce wiggled and pushed herself from his overwhelming embrace.

“Grayce, I want to introduce you to my friend, Nikolas Compton. He’s a brilliant doctor. Taught me about our kind and helped me deal with my issues. He’s been eager to meet you.”

Oh, what the hell? She was about as low as she’d been on the “how fucked up can her life be” scale in a long time, there was nowhere to go but up, right? She rose from the bed and let him lead her down yet another long corridor. She should’ve been too tired or wigged out to notice, but she appreciated the way he carried himself—all sexy bad ass and don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. He palmed a decorative mirror that hung at the end of the hall. The glass lit up and beeped, then a wall panel slid open to reveal an elevator. Grayce shot him a quizzical glance which he reciprocated with a playful smile.

“Security.” He held the door open and gestured for her to enter. “You’ll be programmed in soon enough. This is your home too.”

* * * *

They entered a pristine, well lit room. Everything was white. Facing a leather couch in the center of the space were two matching leather armchairs with a wooden table nestled between. A panel door in the far corner slid open and out came a tall, handsome gentleman dressed in a black dress shirt, tie and fitted black slacks.

With his broad shoulders, slim waist and olive skin, he could’ve been mistaken for a fitness model. Sharp facial features were enhanced by his shaved head, but what dominated his handsome mug were a set of bright, almond shaped green eyes that, like Zander’s, glowed and were far too mesmerizing to be real.

“Z, my man.” He gave Zander a quick handshake and a firm pat on the shoulder. Zander pulled him into a hearty embrace.

“Nikolas. This is my...um…” Clearing his throat he shot a sideways glance at Grayce. “This is Grayce.” In an outright possessive gesture, he grabbed her elbow and pulled her close.

Grayce offered a trembling hand to shake but Nikolas laughed, threw his arms around her instead and squeezed too damn tight. “Grayce.” Holding her at arm’s length, he studied her face and shook his head. Disbelief flashed through his stunning green eyes.

“Oh my God, woman, you are gorgeous. You don’t know how happy we are to finally have you here.” His genuine smile put her at ease. Grayce was impressed at how she managed so far, considering she was trapped somewhere underground in a small space with two men. First instinct? Jump behind the couch and hide, or grab the small table and do her best to beat them away. She suppressed the urge. Yeah, she held it together pretty well, she supposed.

“I, um, thank you,” she sputtered.
 

Releasing her, not nearly as soon as she would’ve liked, Doctor Compton gestured for them to sit. With way too much grace for a man, he lowered himself into one of the armchairs. Zander claimed his spot on the couch nice and tight against her.

“I hope you don’t mind, but Z has told me about what’s been going on. He also told me he tried to explain his...” He scratched his head. “Attraction to you.” He looked her square in the eye. “And yours to him?” Raising his right brow, he waited for her response.

“Ah, yes, the soul mates bullshit.” Grayce huffed, folded her arms and slouched like a spoiled teenager. More of the sappy romance shit? Fucking awesome. Zander tensed next to her and squirmed in his seat. “He thinks we are connected somehow. Says we are meant to be together.”

 
Doctor Compton nodded at her, his expression unreadable. The man was so proper the way he sat in his chair; back straight, hands folded politely on his crossed leg, chin lifted, not arrogant but respectful in manner, giving her his full attention. Strikingly handsome, Grayce thought. But so was Tyr and look where that got her. Fuck. Tyr. She cringed with the thought. Bile rose in her throat.

“My dear, I’ve known this big lug for many—” A big sigh followed by a roll of his eyes hinted at a playful side that seemed at odds with his professional air. “Many years.” He smirked and tossed a quick glance to Zander, who reciprocated with a middle finger. “I can assure you with every fiber of my being the connection you share is very real.”

His large confident smile showed off perfect white teeth, five shades brighter than the walls and furniture. “And now you two have found each other, the bond will get stronger.”

Oh crap. Not him too.
Uncertain if it was the stark room and bright light or that she was in the presence of two males, but agitation swirled like a fog in her brain. Stifled, heated and angry, she shook her head in an attempt to clear it of some of the chaos. “I can’t do this right now!” She didn’t mean to scream the words, they just came out that way. Shocked at her own outburst, she jumped to her feet.

“Dammit.” Zander’s deep voice vibrated through her. “You need to hear this.” A heavy fist pounded the couch cushion. “This is my life. Our life.” Frustration thick in his voice, he pounded again.

Grayce jumped back, wild with fury. Something cracked inside her, opening a chasm deep, deep down in the darkest depths of her soul. An intense heat rose from the abyss and filled her insides.

“You fucking men are all alike.” Leaning forward, bringing herself nose to nose with Zander, she read the regret in his eyes.

Too late for regret.

“Don’t you ever fucking raise your voice to me. I’m not some pussy ass little bitch you can bully around.” Her breath caught in her throat as the internal heat fueled her anger, boosted her nerve. Urged her on. “I’ve been a pathetic victim for too damn long. I’ll be damned if I let you walk into my life and stake your claim. What did you think I would do? Swoon and fall into your arms? Are you fucking serious? Soul mates? What the fuck does that even mean?”

Grayce shot a glance over her shoulder to make sure the other asshole was paying attention. Doctor Compton had a death grip on the armrests.

“I gave my life to a man. Once. I will not do it again. Do you understand?” Zander leaned back as she stabbed at his chest with her index finger. Both heartbreak and remorse were evident on his face. Tears stung her eyes. She let them fall. Wiping them away would be useless.

“Where were you when I was still worth saving?” she asked, knowing it would cut deeper than if she’d stabbed him with a sword. As the heated rage swelled, spreading from belly to limbs, her confidence grew. “He took everything. He ate me alive, and I let him.” An unwelcome memory of Tyr’s playroom sent violent shivers through the churning heat straight to her bones.

“I hate all of you! Soul mates my ass. I’m holding on tight to the little piece of my soul that’s left.” Salty tears blurred her vision, but not so much that she couldn’t read the confusion in Zander’s eyes. “My soul. Not yours.”

His own baby blues puddled as she fisted his shirt. “You fucking men should be thrown into the deepest pits of hell for what you did to me.” The anger was so intense, she saw nothing but red. Mind, body and soul, she was nothing but fire and fury.

Zander’s shirt shredded like tissue under her grip. Tears poured down his face while Grayce threw all of her pain, all the rage and every prick of fear at him. God, it felt so good. Zander tried to place his hands on her wrists and she threw them off, taking a piece of his shirt with her.

“Don’t. Ever. Touch. Me!” she shouted. Her own voice was frightening, like she’d been possessed and a demon spoke through her. She wanted them to feel every horror that’d been bottled up inside of her, wanted to punish them for what Tyr did to her. And more than anything, she tried to will her anguish into their souls and free her own from the burden she’d carried for too damned long. She tore her shirt over her head. “Look at me. Look at what he did to me,” she screamed, throwing her arms out wide.

* * * *

Mouth agape, Zander stared at his woman, his future, his life. His lungs ceased to perform their duty. He fell on trembling knees at her feet. “Holy Christ.” It pained him to look, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. Scars riddled her torso. Some were small and round, a few were jagged and raised, most were long and thin. Not a damned one of them should’ve been there.

“Who would want to be with this?” Her fury manifested itself as a red fog charged with electrical currents. In seconds, they were engulfed in a swirling gust of heated energy that crackled and buzzed in his ears, churned around the room, swirled and billowed between them.

Aching to hold her and offer comfort, he raised his hands. She backed away and tore the thin cotton bra from her body. Round firm breasts, perfect in proportion to her narrow waist and full hips, bore as many, if not more, of the same sickening marks as her stomach.

He glanced at Nikolas. A sheen of moisture coated his head and face, his eyes wild, not with fear like they should’ve been, but anticipation.

“Z! Are you seeing this? You’ve got to calm her. Fuck. This is unbelievable.” Nikolas jumped from his chair, ran to the corner of the room and disappeared through the door panel.

“How can I ever be whole? I hate you. I hate you!” Grayce screamed. A loud, guttural, soul-cleansing release.

The deepest sadness filled Zander. A terrible ache permeated his bones. How could he let this happen? Why didn’t he find her years ago? Try harder? She could’ve been spared this anguish, this endless torment to her spirit. As she purged herself in front of him, he tried to absorb it, take it away from her. The physical pain was bad, but the emotional blow was downright devastating. He couldn’t fathom the amount of strength required to carry that much baggage around for so long.

“Grayce, baby.” His voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for scaring you. You have to stop. Look, look what you’re doing.” He gestured to the burning couch. Hair whipped around his face. The red energy consumed the entire room. He rose from the floor and locked gazes with her.

“Look at me. You can’t hurt me. I won’t hurt you.” With caution, he stepped forward. She didn’t back away. Good. Her eyes reflected unspeakable pain. “I won’t hurt you,” he murmured softly. “I will never hurt you. I can’t.” Slow and gentle, Zander grasped her hands.

Her chest heaved with heavy jagged breaths. “I’m hot. Oh shit. It’s so hot in here.” A layer of moisture coated her body. It bubbled and danced across her heated skin.

“Keep looking at me,” he whispered warily. “Breathe. That’s it. Breathe, baby.” Her breasts rose and fell as she slowly calmed. He inched his arms around her, never breaking eye contact. Grayce stared up at him, utterly lost.

“What have I done? Help me.” Pleading eyes begged him. “What’s happening?” His tears still fell but he wiped hers away with his fingers. The temperature of the room dropped almost immediately.

“That’s a potent temper you have,” he breathed against her ear. His lips brushed her cheek. “We’ll have to work on getting that under control.” Drawing a deep breath, he dropped his arms. “Nikolas,” he shouted over the panel. “You got an extra shirt back there?”

Grayce looked down at her naked body, then snapped back to Zander. She swayed, her eyes rolled into her skull and he caught her, just before she hit the floor.

“Not again.”

* * * *

Grayce woke in a sweat, heart racing, legs tangled in the sheets. Zander burst through the door practically freeing the hinges from the jam. “What is it? What happened?” Two strides and he’d settled her in his lap, twisted bedding and all.

Her first urge was to curl into a ball and protect herself, but he cupped her chin with a strong hand and lifted her face. There they were again, those eyes. It really wasn’t fair, the power his gaze held. She wondered what would’ve happened if she’d made eye contact with him weeks ago when he first made his magnificent appearance at the gym.