Drop Dead Demons (15 page)

His mouth never left mine. There was no relief, no holding back. His kiss was all-consuming, the only thing on his agenda. His lips bore down with a voracious intensity, demanding, unyielding. My chest tightened. Stomach constricted. My entire body was ready to burst, heart hammering through my ribs, veins unable to contain the torrent of blood. Heat filled my very core and pleasure raged, unstoppable, exhilarating, and rushing through every part of me. 

While his body pinned mine against the tree, he ran a wide palm down my side, over my hip, my thigh, and back up. The other hand cupped my neck, my cheek, twisted in my hair. His mouth took control of mine. Hungry and hot. My lips parted and his tongue—

He ripped my arms from around his neck and jumped away. Literally, jumped back and put up his hands. 

“Whoa! That is, ah…” He looked over his shoulder, breathing hard, face flushed. “You were right. I should go.”

“Go?” Was he kidding? I had to lean on the tree for support. “Now?”

“Yep, yeah, yes,” he nodded. “I told you I had that meeting thing.”

“What happened to everything can wait?”

“Not anymore. And I, uh, we’ve had enough of…” his hand waggled in the air, “of this.”

“Enough?” Great. Now I was repeating everything. “You’ve had enough?” And I couldn’t stop myself.

“Because I don’t want to— I can’t—” He tried to smile but couldn’t pull it off. “I’ll call you. Later.” He raked his hands through his hair, backing further and further away, looking lost and miserable, and leaving me with a cold and empty feeling.

“Call me?” I really needed to say something more effective, but I was so confused and hurt. Did I just get…played? He got me all hot and bothered only to
rebuff
me? Yes, that’s what he did and— Wait, why wasn’t I saying this out loud? Because I was a big wuss. No. Aurora you can do this.

I breathed in some courage and opened my mouth to speak just as a fire-breathing monster flew around the corner.

Eyes flashing a dark, cold, sharkskin gray, Matthias jabbed a hostile finger in my direction. “What the bloody hell was that in there!”

“Matthias,” Ayden groaned, “not a good time.”

“Like I care.” Matthias started to rant at me but then took a double-take at Ayden. “What’s wrong? You look like crap.” He glanced from me to Ayden then looked nauseated. “Oh. Well, no wonder. But better she’s kissing you than me.”

“Matthias, shut up!” Ayden glared.

Heat pricked my cheeks. How the heck did Matthias know? What did Ayden say about me?

“Hey, mate, don’t take your bad mood out on me. You signed up for this pretend boyfriend fiasco.” The Aussie glanced pointedly in my direction.

“Oh, for— That’s enough!” Ayden was furious.

I was toppling into the realm of humiliated.

“Whatever.” Matthias stalked my way and made a show of wiping his palm down the cheek I’d kissed. “Don’t you ever do that again. Disgusting. And don’t give me any crap about getting Selena in trouble.”

I glowered. “If you weren’t such jerk, I might actually thank you because as much as it pains me, when you help protect my sister, it’s hard to hate you.” 

His face screwed up. “Don’t go all gushy.”

“I said ‘hard’ to hate you.
Not
impossible.”

“Good. Because I have no problem hating you.” His eyes narrowed. “We’re just lucky it was some idiot kid.
You
bring demons knocking on your door.
You
put her in danger.
You
should give her tools to keep herself alive. It’s a wonder she’s not dead already thanks to
you
.” 

I stepped back. Felt the blood drain from my face. I’d been hot, now I was cold…and going numb. 

“Matthias!” Ayden shoved the Aussie hard enough to make him stumble. “That was a low blow.”

“But true,” Matthias said with satisfaction. “And she knows it.”

Ayden moved toward me. “Don’t listen to him.”

I held up a hand to stop him and chose to let my legs give out. My back slid down the tree, and I plopped on the grass. What a fun afternoon.

“And you.” Matthias flung a hand at Ayden. “Don’t get too attached, because if there is
ever
a time when she is too much of a danger to Selena, or any of us, traitor or not, I’ll drag her to the Mandatum myself.”

Ayden glared at the Aussie. “You are unbelievable. After I saved your butt in there.” A warm breeze swirled around Ayden bringing with it the luscious layers of fragrant scents from Mom’s garden. “Get the hell out before I—”

“What?” Matthias spread his arms wide. “Gonna hit me again? Take your best shot, mate.”

“Ayden, don’t.” I inhaled deep, but the garden’s sweet smells didn’t erase the sour coating on my tongue. “He’s right.”

“See,” Matthias smirked.

Ayden ground out, “No. He’s.
Not.
”

“You said it yourself.” I reminded him. “Fido’s on my side, and she could attack my family.”

“Not the same.” Ayden stood toe-to-toe with Matthias. “And the truth is he’s just trying to pass his own guilt off onto you. Ain’t that right,
mate?
”

The world darkened under the cloudless sky. Black spilled into the whites of Matthias’s eyes. 

“Guilt?” I glanced from one to the other, expecting the ground to crack from the tension rising off both. “About what?”

Matthias’s nostrils flared and his lips curled into a toxic smile. “I think, my
mate
is referring to the fact that I killed my mum and sister.”

I stood in our driveway. Ayden was in the street, eyes following Matthias’s BMW as it screeched around a corner and disappeared. Ayden was completely still for a moment, then his body spasmed, fists pummeling the air, body spinning, feet kicking. It was the fireball flying from his hand and sizzling in asphalt that finally gave him pause. He looked around, worried, and saw me watching.

“Sooo…” I ventured. “You were serious? Matthias killed his mom and sister?”

“I didn’t say that. He did. Because he’s such a…” Ayden punched one more fist through the air, “friggin’
idiot
.”

No argument here.

“Okay, but his mom and sister are dead, yes?” I knew his mom wasn’t around, and she was definitely a taboo topic, but I hadn’t heard any reasons why, and this was the first I’d heard about a sister.

“I can’t say.”

“Are you kidding? You can’t just leave me in the dark.”

Ayden rubbed his forehead. “It’s personal. I can’t talk about it. That’s the deal.”

“Like why Tristan lives with his grandparents and Blake with his Uncle Reece.”

“Right. Whatever their story, they get to tell it.” Ayden studied the empty street, face grim. “Even if they tell it in the
worst
possible way.”

“Great,” I muttered. “I love being on the outside of this wall of secrecy.”

“Secrecy?” His tone was absentminded. “You’re one to talk.”

“Excuse me?”

“What?” He dragged his eyes away from the road. “Forget it.” He glanced at his watch. “How about I take you for that coffee before I head off.”

“To your big important meeting thing? Yeah, I don’t think so, hot stuff.” My ego still smarted from the recent rejection.

He blinked. “What’s wrong now?”

“On our last outing there was a kidnapping on the menu with me as the main course.” Did that even make sense?

“That wasn’t my fault. It was Matthias trying to prove a point.”

“That I’m a useless piece of crap?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“No!” Ayden’s arms flailed. “You know what I mean.”

“Do I?” I kicked my high horse and let the reins loose on a full gallop. “Maybe I’m secretive because you’re secretive, keeping me in the dark, going off on ‘meetings,’” I used finger quotes, “that you won’t explain. And when you do finally show up you go all
hot-hottie-from-hottiesville
just before you give me the artic shaft, like some silly strumpet you mess with before you blow me off while you wait around for a real girlfriend instead of this pretend mumbo-jumbo we’ve,” I pointed back and forth between us, “got going. And for dinner with her, I’d bet you’d show up.” 

Silence followed, broken only by my heavy breathing. Trenches furrowed across Ayden’s brow. 

“What are you talking about? You think I’m…” He looked like he was trying to translate an alien language. “And that there’s another girl?”

“Yes!” I ground my teeth. “Okay, no. Not exactly. But there could be. I mean, you do this hot and cold thing. Just like
now
,” I shot a hand toward my backyard, “when I have to beg you to kiss me and then things are…happening and then you
rebuff
me.” There, I said it out loud.

“Rebuff you?”

“Quit repeating everything I say!”

“I’m sorry, but
rebuff
is what you took from that experience?” He choked a harsh laugh. “This is insane.”

“What’s insane is that you practically maul me,” not that I minded, “and then run for the hills. It’s like you don’t want to get too close or even be alone with me.”

Ayden raked a hand through his already-mussed hair. “Because I
don’t
.”

Oh.

I looked down at my chest, figuring there had to be a bullet hole. Or an arrow sticking out. Something to explain the pain. But then I realized it was just my heart. Breaking. Why did I ever think…

Idiot.

“That’s, uh,” I cleared my throat, “good to know.”

“Not…” Ayden slid both hands back through his hair, then laced his fingers together, cradling the back of his head like he was trying to keep his skull from exploding. “It’s… complicated. There’s so much happening. ” He dropped his hands and stepped toward me. “And to explain—”

“No, I get it.” I jerked back and held up my palm. “It makes sense to keep your distance. Especially for when I become too dangerous and you help Matthias drag me to the Mandatum to save yourselves.”

Low blow, I know. The result of a lethal combination of humiliation, pain, and paranoia. Ayden looked like I’d sucker-punched him. I suppose I did. I knew I should take it back, but my big mouth had yet to find an off switch let alone a rewind button.

Wondering how much of the something between us I’d just thrown away, I walked back into the house. Before he could see the tears. Before he could stop me.

Not that he tried.

Underneath the water just shy of scalding, the shower wasn’t melting away the afternoon’s manic misery like I’d hoped. Even the delicate floral scent of Jayden’s fancy French shampoo offered no relief. 

There was a knock and Mom opened the door.

“Special delivery,” she said with aggravating cheer. “The coffee shop delivered your favorite. White chocolate raspberry mocha. Mmm. Smells good.”

I moved the shower curtain and peeked out to see her set down the cardboard cup on the counter.

“Thanks. How’d you get them to deliver?”

“Wasn’t me,” she said. “According to the blond barista who brought it, Ayden got them to deliver by making it a condition for him buying a boatload — she used another term which I won’t repeat — worth of coffee beans and various merchandise, including a cappuccino machine, and tipping them all heavily.” 

Of
course
it was a girl. I
bet
he tipped her heavily.

“Just leave it.” I let the curtain fall and stuck my head under the water, half-hoping it would drown me into oblivion.

“Does this have something to do with you crying?” Mom said. “I noticed when you came in and raced up here. Want to talk about it?”  

“Not really.”

“Aurora—”

“Mom, please. Not now.”

How could she ever understand? The secrets, the lies, the layers and layers of crap piled on my life. And everyone I loved bore the brunt. I scrubbed my scalp to rinse the suds then worked in some conditioner. 

I heard Mom sigh. “Okay. For now. Look, I don’t know what happened, but I see how you two look at each other. All the love and passion.”

“Mom!” My warning tone was meant to stop further conversation. So why did she keep talking? 

“Very bad things happened which frightened you, still frighten you, and that’s understandable, but don’t be scared of love.” Her voice softened. “Love always beats fear, sweetie, but you have to let it in.”  

“Got it, Dr. Freud. Now, can I shower in peace?” I knew she meant well, but my pity party was best wallowed in alone.   

“Fine. I’m here when you want to talk. I love you.”

“Love you too,” I said quietly as she left.

That part was easy. Loving my family. They were predictable and solid as a rock. But this other stuff? Too many unknowns.

Maybe I should shut down the pretend boyfriend “fiasco.” Sure, it may be keeping me alive, but it was also killing me, because with each labored beat, my heart seemed to fissure a new crack, and eventually, it would shatter.

I tilted my head back into the shower’s pulsing flow, breathing the steam, tasting the heat, waiting for relief to arrive. 

“I require your assistance,” a male voice whispered.

My mouth fell open. “Ahhgaluhg!” I gagged — near
drowned
— on a slew of water and lost my balance. The pink shower curtain proved no leverage whatsoever, and I ripped it down with me, rod and all, slopping into the tub with a
splash
, irritated
squeal
, and shuddering
thud
.

“Jay—!” I stifled a scream and hissed the second syllable through clenched teeth, “—den!”

“Have you sustained injury?” Jayden’s face hovered over the tub.

“Not until you showed up!” I struggled to sit up. The plastic shower curtain crackled in protest as I pulled it to cover myself. “You can’t come into my bathroom!”

“I needed to speak privately and the odds were probable that you would be bathing alone. Additionally, no one would interrupt you.”

“And you didn’t think that should include you?” I shoved the hair out of my eyes.

He cocked his head with a blank look. “It was the most advantageous way for us to be alone.”

“That is stupid in so many ways,” I fumed. “Besides, my mom was just here, you idiot.”

“Then we must be expeditious in the event of her return. Come.”

He offered a hand. I slapped it away. Then slipped trying to get up.

“Grrrrr!” I pointed at the door. “Go! Wait in my room.” When he hesitated, I pointed harder. “Out! And close the door.”

He opened his mouth then closed it, gave a sharp nod, and retreated to my room, closing the door softly. 

My exit from the tub was anything but graceful. It didn’t help I was furious. I wrestled the curtain off and dumped it, along with the fallen curtain rod, into the tub with a decisive clatter. Great, Dad just fixed the one in my bedroom and now I’d have to explain this. I snapped a towel off the rack.

Jayden spoke through the door, “Might I inquire—”

“No!”

“Excellent. I’m right out here if you need anything.”

“You with a clue would be nice,” I muttered, scrubbing myself dry.

He knocked. “What was that?”

“Jayden!”

“Right. I’ll simply wait out here in your room.”

With no clean clothes in the bathroom, my only option was to wrap the towel around myself, take a deep breath, and open the door.

There was a scream.

From Logan.

He stood just inside my open window. At the sight of me — and after the scream — he spun around and tried to duck out. In his panic, he miscalculated and slammed his forehead into the edge of the frame. The impact reeled him back. He stumbled and landed on his backside, holding his hand to his head, moaning.

“Aurora?!” Mom’s voice shrilled from downstairs.

“I’m fine!” I yelled, then blew air between my lips and walked over to offer Logan a hand up. “Good thing you scream like a girl.”

Cowering like a mouse facing a pack of ravenous leopards, he covered his eyes, rolled onto his knees, and crawled away.

“What are you doing n-n-naked? With Jayden?”

“Get a grip.” I turned away to close the window and curtains. It was harder with one hand because the other had to make sure the towel stayed put. Otherwise, Logan might actually lose consciousness. “I’m not naked.”

“Is anyone else naked?”  Logan was sitting on the floor, back against my bed, shading his eyes with one hand and rubbing his forehead with the other. “Is naked a thing now that a girl’s on the team?”

Jeez, I hoped not.

I changed in my walk-in closet and reappeared wearing sweats to find both boys in my bathroom putting up the curtain and rod.

Good.

As I went about my hair care routine, Logan whacked Jayden on the shoulder. “It’s bad enough you do it to us. You can’t do it to girls.”

Apparently, Jayden pulled his “surprise” bathroom visits on all the guys. Which was supposed to make me feel better.

It didn’t.

“When I need to find each of you alone, the shower is the perfect location.” Jayden slipped rings on the rod, unperturbed by the scolding. I got the feeling he’d heard it before.

“No, the shower is
not
perfect,” Logan said with a rising level of frustration, “because—”

“I know.” Jayden flapped a dismissive hand through the air. “The naked issue. But naked is a natural state. I don’t possess lustful inclinations toward any of you. Your prime physical shapes should be a point of pride. And as for Aurora being a female, her status as a team member embodies her as an asexual presence.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“No kidding.” 

“More of an observation on the agamic perception I have of you.” He stood on the tub edge and jammed the rod into place

“Jayden!” Logan slid the curtain back and forth a few times. “No one cares.”

Jayden said evenly, “My point is, being naked in my presence should not invoke such a heightened level of anxiety. It makes no logical sense.”

“Well, it doesn’t have to,” I snapped. “So take your logic and shove it. And don’t let it happen again.
Capiche?
”

Jayden bristled. “I hear your unnecessarily hostile request, and will do my best to acquiesce.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Now, let’s grab some banana bread and do homework.”

“No.” Jayden grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the bathroom. “Since acquisition of Flint’s treasure has proved impossible for an advanced civilization of enhanced humans with unlimited resources for well over a century, I’ve contrived a scheme to give Rose what he so desires without the encumbrance and time constraint of uncovering the treasure, thus avoiding your demise.”

Homework could wait.

“Next time lead with that.” I stopped to grab my shoes and hurried downstairs. “Let me tell my mom.”

“Jayden already told her we’re going to Blake’s.” Logan rode the railing down and opened the front door.

“Am I bait?” Not my favorite strategy. Besides, last time we’d tried it, disaster had ensued.

Jayden gave me a steady look. “No, you’re the sine qua non.”

I paused in the doorway. “You know, I hate it when you say things like I already know what they are.”

“Noted,” Jayden said then nodded and urged me toward the driveway.

Logan spoke over his shoulder as he hopped in his sleek, low-slung sports car. “He means his whole plan hinges on you.”

“Great. No pressure. What do I need to do?”

“Use your ability.” Jayden held the passenger door open for me.

I ducked in the backseat. “We gave up last week on sparking my explody power.”

“I didn’t ‘give up.’” Jayden slid into the front seat and slammed the door just as Logan peeled out of my driveway. “I simply decided that we would wait for your ability to occur naturally rather than force it into a tumultuous state.”

Sounded a lot like giving up to me. “How does my explody power work into your plan?”

“It doesn’t.” Jayden turned in his seat to face me. “If we find the demons that hired Rose, we’ll use them to retrieve his sister then we’ll eradicate said demons, and Rose will depart satisfied, leaving you unharmed.”

I frowned. “I still don’t understand how I help.”

“Track the demons, Aurora.” Jayden gave me a look that clearly questioned my intelligence. “You
are
the Divinicus Nex. That’s what you do.”