Desire: #4 Brightest Kind of Darkness (14 page)

Hope fills my heart. I quickly fire off an email to Madeline to confirm his theory. “If it’s there, maybe its secret isn’t lost.”

Ethan holds my gaze with serious eyes. “You’re worried you won’t remember, aren’t you?”

I hate to admit it out loud, so I close my eyes and whisper, “I’m worried I’ve screwed up. That I won’t remember what was on that scroll I found before it disintegrated in my hand.”

My eyes flutter open when Ethan’s hand touches the back of my head. I never even heard him move; he’s so stealthy. He squats next to me and runs his fingers down the blonde strands. “I have every faith you will remember when you need to, but if it gives you peace of mind to consider the possibility there’s another book, then yeah, let’s go with that theory.”

“I’ve sent an email to Madeline asking if she created another book. If she did and it’s there in the library like the system says, then we need to get it.” Offering a half smile, I say, “Drystan invited me to London this summer. He wants to show me around the Order’s sanctuary. While I’m there I could visit the library and retrieve it then.”

“Show you around? More like he’s inviting you so his uncle can try to convince you to become a Paladin.”

I tilt my head, tensing in frustration. “What do you have against me being a Paladin? Do you think I’d suck at it? That I’m not tough enough?”

Ethan shakes his head. “Why would you think that? You’d make an awesome Paladin. Their mission might be to help the Corvus, but I just can’t bring myself to trust the Order.”

“Why? Are you worried I’ll fall in love with another equally stubborn Corvus?” I tease.

“Not until you
mentioned
it,” he growls, disgruntled, then his scowl morphs into a dark, sensual smile. “No, it’s an entirely selfish reason; I want you all to myself, Sunshine.”

He’s so unrepentant, I can only chuckle. “Well, I doubt you have to worry about Drystan trying to help his uncle recruit me. He hasn’t said anything about becoming a Paladin. I told you he doesn’t trust anyone right now. Seems you have more in common than you thought.”

Ethan frowns at my suggestion. “Here’s a better plan. Remember that ‘trip through history’ coming up next semester that Mr. Hallstead mentioned?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

He gives me a knowing smile. “He’s taking the class to London.”

“Really?” I smile and grab his arm. “That’s perfect! But he said he wasn’t announcing what the trip is until we got back from Christmas break. How do you know already?”

“He told me while I stayed after school to go over the stuff I’d missed while I was in the hospital.”

“This is going to be great. I can’t wait to go with you.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t go. I want to, but it’ll cost almost two grand. I can’t make that kind of money in a couple of months.”

Tension flows through me. “Maybe Samson can loan you the money?”

Ethan’s face sets in stubborn lines. “He could, but I won’t ask him to. He bought me my car. That’s already above and beyond. I couldn’t ask for more from him.”

“I understand,” I say, my shoulders slumping. I hate that he won’t be able to experience London with me.

He folds his hand over mine on his arm. “But at least you’ll be with a group, Nara. I’m sure you’ll get some breakout time, and you can slip off to the library. Just…keep your eyes open.”

I snort. “Yeah, libraries and I don’t seem to mix well.”

“I want to be there.” His fingers tighten on my hand. “You know I do.”

I nod and kiss his jaw. “I know. I’ll be extra careful.”

He frowns. “Promise you’ll convince someone to go with you. Just have the person wait around the corner or something while you check to see if the book is there.”

“I’ll find someone to go with me.”

“Good.” Ethan stands and kisses the top of my head. “I have to go. Since I’m having dinner here tomorrow night, Samson will probably want to go out to eat tonight.”

I raise my eyebrows. “You usually eat out on Christmas Eve?”

He laughs. “Yeah. It’s our tradition and one of the few nice meals we splurge on each year.”

I quickly stand and grip his hand. “If you’d rather spend tomorrow night with Samson, I understand. I don’t want to change your plans.”

“No worries. Our parents invited us over to their house earlier in the day tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll have food, so he probably won’t be hungry for dinner anyway.”

I notice the change in his tone and squeeze his hand. “You never know, it might turn out to be a great day with your parents. Give it a chance, okay?”

“It’s not like I have a choice.” He shrugs, unconvinced. “Samson insisted that we accept their invitation, so—”

My phone rings, cutting him off. Ethan raises an eyebrow at the “Death of a Shopaholic” ring tone. “Lainey’s calling already? She just left.”

I click answer and put my phone to my ear. “Hey, Laniey. What’s up?”

“You’re going to a rave tonight.”

I laugh and glance at Ethan. “I am?”

“Yep. It starts at eleven. Matt’s in a mood. He has been ever since Drystan left. He needs to blow off some steam, so he and one of his teammates have decided to host a rave in honor of the snow storm about to hit.”

When Ethan mouths, “What?” I say, “There’s a rave tonight at eleven. Can you go?” Covering the phone, I whisper, “It might be your chance to talk to Matt.”

“Make sure Ethan comes,” Lainey says loud enough for Ethan to hear.

When Ethan nods, I ask Lainey, “Where are they holding it?”

“In the ElectroMart building.”

“Didn’t they close that store last year?”

“Yep, it’s empty, which makes it the perfect place for a rave. Be sure to park around the side or back. The building has tons of sound proofing due to the stereo equipment they used to sell. Matt’s calling it the Snow Rave. Ha! Maybe all the crazed dancing will bring a boatload of snow. Okay, gotta go. Matt’s in super plan mode now.”

Once I hang up, Ethan pulls me into his arms. “I finally get to take you to a dance.”

I snicker and drape my arms over his shoulders. “Yeah, a totally illegal one.”

He grins. “You and I have never done anything the normal way. Why start now?”

Chapter Nine

Nara

“You’d think people never get out,” Ethan says, quietly closing his car door. I shut my side with a quiet click and peer through the flurries coming down at a steady pace, my gaze following the very long line of parked cars that snakes from the side to the back of ElectroMart’s two story building.

“Wow, it’s so quiet. Lainey wasn’t kidding about the solid walls. I can’t hear a thing.”

When we turn the corner, someone in the shadows up ahead opens ElectroMart’s back door. Booming base thrums through the night air before it’s quickly swallowed by the metal click of the door closing.

Ethan chuckles and reaches for my hand. “That’s some excellent sound proofing.”

I left my coat in the car, and even though I’m wearing a silky cream scarf around my neck to cover the gauze, my thin light pink sweater and skinny jeans provide little warmth. Ethan sees me shivering and instantly pulls me close to his toasty warmth. I grip the back of his dark blue Henley and snuggle against his solid frame, inhaling his appealing masculine smell as we make our way to the building.

Two guys bundled in thick parkas, one on either side of the door, stiffen to attention with our approach.

“Password,” the taller of the two says in a gruff voice.

I blink at them, then shake my head and laugh. Lainey didn’t think to tell me the password. “Um, hi guys. We’re here for the snow rave. Lainey invited us.”

When Ethan starts to reach for the door handle, the shorter guy in a Russian style hat grabs his forearm and steps between him and the door. “Sorry, but if you don’t have the password, we can’t let you in.”

Tensing beside me, Ethan says in an eerily calm tone, “I’m going to give you one chance to let go of my arm.”

I press my hand against Ethan’s rock hard stomach to hold him back and quickly say to the taller guy who’d also stepped in front of Ethan. “It’s Lochlan.”

When both guys nod and let us enter, Ethan slides a surprised look my way and calls over the music filtering through the heavy door at the end of the hallway. “How’d you know the password?”

I chuckle as we stop just outside the door. “It’s Lainey’s dog’s name. She has used it before.”

Ethan snorts. “Does anyone pay attention to security tips? ‘Never use your pet’s name’ is like Password one-oh-one.”

I reach for the doorknob. “Lainey’s dad is a cop, remember? She uses it for things like the locker combination at the indoor pool, not to protect her computer or bank account info.” Smiling up at him, I turn the handle. “I can’t wait to see you dance to rave music.”

A wicked grin quickly replaces his serious expression. Clasping my free hand, he steps close and whispers in my ear, “Darkness and adrenaline are my specialty. Get ready for me to rock your world in the middle of mayhem.”

While a shudder of excitement slides across my skin, Ethan doesn’t give me a chance to comment as he folds his hand over mine and we turn the knob together.

The second we step inside the big room, colorful, flickering stobe lights engulf us. Black lights’ purple hue beams down from the ceiling as we’re showered with a spray of glitter. Two girls standing on either side of us grab up new handfuls of glitter from table-top buckets and shout over the heavy drum beats and synthesized sound, “Now you’ll sparkle like the snow. Get your drunk on and dance ’til you drop!”

While Axwell’s “In My Mind” blares from the speakers, Ethan and I glance at each other. We’re sparkling all over, the black light effect setting off the glitter. I pour a beer from the keg, but Ethan shakes his head when I offer him one. Squeezing my fingers, he tugs me into the crowded space full of a couple hundred people drinking and dancing frenetically to the up-tempo song.

As we dance to the music, I drink my beer and scan the crowd for Lainey. I’m just finishing my drink when my attention snags on my best friend standing on the raised stage in the far corner of the room. She’s next to Matt, whose blond head is bent close to talk to the DJ. Just when Matt straightens and grins, circling his finger in the air, a new song starts to play and “Wake Me Up” by Avicii pumps out of the speakers.

The beer is already going to my head, and mixed with the crowd going wild over the familiar song, amps my excitement while we match our dancing to the slower, opening rhythm. Just when the song speeds up during the first fast-paced chorus, Matt jumps off the stage and then grips Lainey by the waist, twirling her into the crowd to enjoy the music.

“I see Lainey and Matt,” I say to Ethan. “Let’s make our way over to them.”

Once I throw away the cup, Ethan helps me shoulder my way through the crush of people. As soon as Lainey sees me, she squeals and hugs me tight, yelling in my ear, “Isn’t this the best party ever? I think it rivals the Winter dance.”

Matt hasn’t even noticed us. His eyes are closed and he’s jumping and waving a beer cup in the air, totally lost in the music.

While Ethan taps Matt on the shoulder and speaks to him, I say to Lainey. “You weren’t kidding about Matt blowing off steam. He’s really into this, isn’t he?”

“I need another beer just to cool off.” Lainey pushes her sweaty red hair off her face. Fanning herself, she glances at Matt who’s still dancing as he speaks to Ethan. “Yeah, he’s definitely been edgier than usual lately. I think tonight will really be good for him.”

I take in her white tank top and Matt’s bare chest glistening with sweat and glitter and snicker. “I see you’re both dressed for snow weather.”

She laughs and waves her hand toward the stage. “My snow boots and sweater are back there. Matt stripped them off me the moment I walked in, and whew, I’m glad he did. It’s burning up in here with all this body heat. I’d tell you to strip down to your tank too, but I see you’re not wearing one. Nice bra, by the way.”

“Huh?” I glance down at myself and gulp. The black light is making my white lace bra glow like my sweater is made of a sheer material. Ethan and I had been in the crush of people earlier, but now that there’s a couple feet of space, everything’s on display. I might as well be shirtless.