Intuition: The Premonition Series (6 page)

“That is your secret weapon, Evie. If you come across an enemy, you run as far and as fast as you can, don’t look back just go. We will make sure you always have a cell phone on you. When it’s safe, I can call you, or you can contact me and we’ll meet up.” Reed says with authority.

“So, I’m supposed to run away—like a coward?” I ask, offended by this new plan.

“Evie, there is a difference between evasion and cowardice,” Reed says calmly.

“Yeah, one means avoidance and the other means spinelessness and neither one appeals to me,” I reply.

Reed counters, “How about obedience, how does that appeal to you?”

“Submission—hmm—not so much,” I reply stubbornly.

“Respect, not submission,” he says in a rational tone. “Deference that I know what I’m talking about where strategy is concerned.”

“I do respect you, you know that.” I say, wondering why we are arguing about tactics.

“Then, you’ll follow my orders,” he says placidly.

“What will you be doing, while I’m running away?” I ask in a dark tone.

“What I’m made to do. I can handle angels. What I can’t handle, is living without you, so we have to find a way to keep you safe,” he says.

“Why is my safety more important than yours?” I ask, testing his resolve for this new strategy.

“What do you hope to accomplish against a fully evolved Power, Evie?” Reed asks me pointedly. “You would be more of a liability for me in a fight, than you would be an asset. The moment a Power angel realizes how vital you are to me, then we’ll have some serious problems.”

“I’m a liability,” I say in a small voice, studying my hands so I won’t have to look at him. “I guess I would be, wouldn’t I?”

Reed groans when he sees that he has hurt my feelings by calling me a liability. “Only for now. You will be very powerful one day, if you keep evolving the way that you are and I will have to eat my words.”

“Do you promise to choke on them, just a little bit, when that day comes?” I ask, a little salty because I know he’s right. But it still reeks like I’ll be selling him out if I make a break for it while he stays behind to fight for his life.

“I promise,” he says, taking one of my hands and pulling it to his lips. He kisses my palm. I have to bite my lip from the sensual caress.

“Do you promise to listen to me, if I tell you to run?” he asks me, kissing my palm again as I squirm in my seat.

“Fine,” I sigh, watching him look at me with his eyes wide, and then a frown pulls his brows down, making his hair slip down over one eyebrow. I hadn’t actually said the words “I promise.” I think he’s catching on to that, so I unbuckle my seatbelt and brush his hair back from his brow. Turning, I rummage through the treat bag in the back seat. “Twinkie?” I question over my shoulder.

“Yes,” he says. I retrieve a twin pack from the bag and find a couple of waters for us. Unwrapping the Twinkies, I hand one to Reed.

“So, you were thinking of ways to tell other angels about me?” I ask conversationally, trying to change the subject to something else.

“Yes,” Reed replies.

“But, you haven’t committed to the idea yet?” I ask.

“No,” he replies.

“Are you worried that once you let that genie out of the bottle, there is no going back?” I ask, chewing my Twinkie thoughtfully.

He looks at me in suspicion, “Evie, you’re dangerously sharp.”

“Well, look at the bright side, we have a new weapon in our arsenal—
evasion,”
I say, enunciating the last word as if it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. My smile brightens, however, when I hear Reed laughing as if I had made the funniest joke he has ever heard.

CHAPTER 3

The Resort

The resort that Buns has chosen is magical, or at least it is to me. The angels are not very impressed by it, but since they have probably been in several palaces at different points in their vast lifespan, their opinions have to be put into perspective. The lobby of the hotel is massive and resembles a Bavarian hunting lodge with large picture windows that face the slopes. There are huge stone fireplaces at either end of the lobby that are stoked with enough wood each to burn all night without having to add to them. I wander over to the windows as Buns checks us in. The slopes aren’t that large by the standards of most ski resorts around the world, after all, this isn’t the Alps, but it is perfect for what I want—a distraction.

As I gaze out the window, I see a group of teenagers snowboard down the hill and meet up at the bottom. Their carefree laughter, as they congratulate each other on the run, is almost shocking to me. I’ve forgotten that such things exist; that there are people whose only concern is learning a new trick to impress their buddies. I press forward near the glass; I can just make out one of them saying something about the wicked air he caught while freestyling in the pipe. They unstrap their boards and begin walking away toward the lights near the lifts. I follow their progression, my fingers running over the cold glass of the window as I walk across the back of the lobby, trailing them until I run out of window and can no longer see them.

Disappointment hits me when they are gone. They were probably about my age, but I don’t feel that young. I want to follow them, to beg them to teach me how to be young again because I’ve forgotten. I’ve let that part of me slip through my fingers and I don’t know how to get it back. Or, maybe that isn’t it at all—maybe it’s that I’ve forgotten what it is to be human—just human. I even call them “the humans” now, like I’m not a part of them. But I’m not, not now, and maybe never again. I’m surprised to acknowledge the sorrow that I feel for the loss of some of my humanity, even as I am grateful to be evolving so that I can keep up with Reed, now that I’ve found him.

Arms snake around me from behind, and seeing Reed’s reflection in the window, I lean back against him securely. “What were you thinking?” Reed asks me as he nuzzles my neck.

“When?” I ask evasively.

“Just now. You looked—lost,” Reed replies in a gentle tone.

“I’m not lost. You found me, remember? I was just thinking about how badly I’m going to smoke you out there on the slopes. It could get ugly for you, you really should prepare yourself for the worst.” I say, trash talking to cover up for my earlier thoughts.

“Evie, you cannot be serious,” he says, smiling.

“Oh, but I am. You don’t stand a chance,” I reply, resting my head against his chest.

“Against you, you’re right—I never stood a chance,” he replies, and his words make me smile.

“See,” I say and hear him laugh.

“Okay, it’s all set,” Buns says behind us. I lift my head from Reed’s chest as we both turn toward her. “The cottage is ready. We just have to follow this map.”

“We’re not staying in the lodge?” I ask in confusion.

“No. We thought something more private would be better,” Buns explains as we head out to get back in the cars. We follow the map to a private drive that winds in a serpentine pattern through the woods, leading to an incredible cottage in a secluded area. Located just off the backside of one of the more impressive hills, the cottage is like something out of a fairytale. The cedar shake roof is covered in newly fallen snow. All of the doors and windows are rounded at the tops and contain shutters with wrought iron hardware. Each bedroom has its own private deck and there is a central deck in the back of the cottage, complete with an outdoor fireplace.

Reed cuts the engine to the car and I just sit in the passenger seat for a second, unable to move. “It’s so beautiful,” I breathe, because this cottage is perfect. I couldn’t imagine a more romantic setting.

“Evie, you make me want to show you the world. If I get this reaction from you by just taking you to a little cabin in the woods, what will you say when you see the Palace of Versailles?” he asks with affection in his tone.

“I don’t know, Reed, but this is pretty sweet,” I say, smiling.

The door of the black Range Rover parked ahead of us opens and Zephyr exits the driver’s side. He bolts around to the passenger side, and reaching in, Zee pulls Buns out of the car. Kissing her passionately, he then hoists her over his shoulder. My eyes widen in shock as Zephyr carries Buns to the door of the cottage and disappears inside.

“Did you see that coming?” I ask Reed.

“Yes,” he replies.

“Oh. Where have I been?” I ask him.

“You have had a lot on your mind,” he responds as he picks up my hand, holding it to his lips.

“I thought that Powers don’t really mix well with Reapers,” I say, still trying to figure it out.

“Well, we usually have a hard time being around each other, you see, because most divine Reapers are annoying.” I start laughing after he says this and he smiles while continuing. “It’s true. Reapers want to talk about rainbows and sunshine and shiny, happy feelings. Powers usually don’t have shiny happy feelings. We wind up wanting to tear them apart, if left in close proximity to them for extended periods of time. But Buns, she’s not like that at all. She can hang with us, talk strategy and tactics and never once mention rainbows,” Reed says.

I burst out laughing. “You’re kidding, right?” I ask. “Buns would never talk about rainbows and Brownie… there is no way,” I say, thinking of Brownie wasting her breath like that.

“No, I’m not kidding. Buns and Brownie are the strangest Reapers I have ever met. They don’t seem to be cast in the mold of a Reaper. They aren’t annoyingly happy and bubbly all of the time. It makes me wonder about them,” he says, as if he is mulling over a particular problem.

“You mean you think there is more to them than they’re showing us?” I ask in alarm.

“Evie, Zee would normally rather pluck the wings off of a Reaper than sit with one in the car for a minute. But that’s not the case with Buns. He can’t get enough of her. She and Brownie are special,” he says. “But then, we all behave strangely around you. So, maybe it’s a reaction to you.”

“We’re a very interesting crowd, huh?” I ask him, seeing his brow rise in question. “Let’s see…we have a couple of Reapers who don’t particularly act like Reapers. There is the Power, Zee, whose forte is strategy and warfare. Russell and I are half-breeds with the high rank of Seraphim and the low rank of human, and then there is you—the most perfect angel ever created that can control humans by suggestion.”

“Evie, I’m not perfect,” Reed says, frowning. “But you are right, it’s a strange crowd,” he agrees in a quiet tone. He gets out of the car and comes around to open my door. Before I can get out, he reaches in and cradles me in his arms, carrying me to the door of the cottage and over the threshold.

Reed kisses me passionately before letting go of my legs so that my body slides down his as my feet reach the floor. It’s exquisite torture, being held in his arms like this, knowing it is all there can be between us for now. His immense strength could crush me if he is not extremely careful with me. Tearing myself away from him, I notice we are just inside the doorway.

It’s so cozy inside the three-bedroom cottage. The hardwood floors are not highly polished, but dull and rough, giving a rustic impression to the pale maple wood. The fireplace in the main room is fieldstone in soft gray tones, cobbling its way up to the exposed beams of the ceiling. The mantle is made from the same rough wood as the floors and it holds several glass bowls with floating candles all lit to illuminate the small space. There is also a small, open kitchen. The kitchen has maple wood cabinetry with wrought iron hardware, tumbled stone tiled countertops, and a porcelain sink.

I walk over to the fireplace and watch the flames of the fire licking at the wood in the grate. For just a moment, I would’ve given anything to live here with Reed for the rest of my life. I would be satisfied to stay here, safe and protected. We could pretend that we aren’t angels and that no one wants to hurt me. We could forget about Alfred and revenge; he would never find us here. I doubt many Fallen would hang here either; they would be after a more exciting venue. But we can’t stay here forever, even if it would be perfect. Eventually, someone would notice our inability to age and we would have to leave. No place can be permanent. I sigh as my brief fantasy is shattered by reality.

“What’s wrong?” Reed asks.

“Nothing, I was just wishing we could stay here forever,” I reply.

“I was thinking the exact same thing,” Reed says with a small smile. “I don’t think I would need more than this, if you were here with me.”

I smile back at him and would’ve said more, but a crashing sound comes from one of the bedrooms in the back of the cottage. I am startled for a second until I hear Bun’s muffled laughter and realize they’re okay. I blush a little when I look at Reed.

“Are you hungry, Evie?” Reed asks me quickly.

“Starved,” I say, because it is a good excuse to get out of the house and away from the bedrooms.

“There is a restaurant on top of the slope that I think is fairly casual. We just need to head over to a gondola and ride it up to the summit,” he says as more noises come from the bedroom furthest away. Zee and Buns are talking to each other in Angel, and by the look on Reed’s face, I’m fairly sure that for once, I’m grateful I can’t speak their language. “I’ll go get the luggage,” Reed says, and runs out of the house in an instant.