Tethered Wings (Hidden Wings Series) (15 page)

“Jeremy, step away from the rope and get your geeky butt back over here where it’s safe,” Lia scolded.

Jeremy didn’t even give a retort; he just stumbled away from the tree. Alaine finally reached him, and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, assisting him back to the bank. 

I slumped back into the boat.

“He was pretty lucky,” Kade said.

“Yeah,” I breathed.

“I take it your friend hasn’t swung from a rope before.”

“Nope, and I don’t think he ever will again,” I sighed.

Dominic suddenly popped up and grabbed hold of the side of the boat, scaring the crap out of me.

“Dom, you can’t do that,” I exasperated, reaching out and lightly smacking the top of his head.

“Emma, our orders were to guard and protect from any Fallen or Darkling. Protecting your friends from themselves wasn’t part of the deal. I’m just letting you know, that’ll be extra.”

“Well, you’d better start a tab…but if we happen to encounter any Hellhounds in the near future, I’ll be sure to save your ass, and we can call it even,” I winked.

“
Burn
! She got you good man,” Kade laughed.

“Touché,” Dominic nodded, with a huge smile on his face. “You’re pretty witty, Emma. I think I might be rubbing off on you.”

“Yeah, and that’s not necessarily a good thing,” Kade said, pushing him away.

“Don’t be jealous, dude. Green’s not your color,” Dominic teased, as he sunk under the water and disappeared.

“I wonder if we’ll ever get a moment of peace today,” I said. I could still feel the heavy beating of my heart.

“That’s highly doubtful. It was only what…five minutes before we encountered our first mishap? I think we all need to be on full alert today,” Kade answered.

“I think you’re right,” I admitted.

Turning around, I watched Lia laugh as she talked with Courtney and Caleb. Jeremy soon joined them, and before long, they started a game of shoulder wrestling. Lia jumped onto Caleb’s shoulders, and Courtney was on Jeremy’s. They wrestled, laughed, and screamed. In no time, Jeremy and Courtney were in the water.

Caleb and Lia cheered, rubbing it in. Lia might have had a small frame, but she was freakishly strong for her size.  

“Don’t you want to be with your friends?” Kade asked.

“By the looks of it, I’d be the odd girl out. Unless you’d like to join me?” I glanced at him.

“For you, yes. But no physical contact games…unless they’re with you.”

“That could be arranged,” I teased.

He turned the boat around and as he rowed toward the others, Thomas and Alexander showed up. They must have parked down the road to avoid the same-car-confusion.

This was still going to be hard to explain.

I knew Jeremy and Lia would, sooner or later, know something was up. How could they not when there were perfect guys, with perfect bodies, and gorgeous faces, who seemed to pop up all around us.

Jeremy would definitely question it, but Lia…she would cancel her flight and live with me. I glanced over and watched her mouth gape as she noticed them. Alexander looked our age. He had short, raven hair, and dark eyes. Thomas had blond hair and baby blue eyes. The Guardians were strikingly masculine, with angular, angelic features and magnetic personalities. 

“Oh my God. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven” Lia said, doe-eyed, fanning herself.

“Well, you’re close,” Courtney giggled. Caleb gave her a shooting glance, which she shrugged off. 

I laughed and turned to Kade who even cracked a smile.

“I think she’s a bit overwhelmed, and I have a feeling she’ll be begging me to stay.”

“You can always assure her there will be future visits.”

“That’s true. But the one I’m really worried about is Jeremy. I know him. He’s probably speculating and forming a hypothesis. I just hope it concludes with an indecisive answer.”

I turned to Jeremy and watched his eyes sweep over each of the Guardians, studying and scrutinizing. Samuel and James never showed, and I was glad. I knew they were out there, just choosing to remain hidden with Ethon and the goons.  

“Hey friends,” Thomas called, waving to us.

“Hello!” Dominic chided. “You are welcome to come and swim in our lake, but to enter you must use the rope.”

“I assume you have?” Alexander yelled.

“Yes. Five spins,” he answered.

Both Thomas and Alexander smiled widely. The everlasting competition continued, and looks of determination and impending victory were embedded on each face. Dropping their things on the grass, they sprinted toward the tree.

Thomas climbed up first. His surfer-boy, beach-body flexed as he grabbed the rope. He started from the middle of the branch, ran, and jumped. His body shot out like a rocket, the rope thrusting him out and up. He let go, spreading his arms like a bird, and then as he started to drop, he tucked in and spun. He moved so fast, I couldn’t keep track.

Dominic cursed, and as soon as Thomas hit the water, everyone was silent.

“
O.M.G.
Are these guys for real?” Lia exhaled loudly.

“They must be divers,” Caleb said. Jeremy looked at him, with his eyes narrowed.

“Yeah, freaking world-class Olympic divers,” Lia added.

“Seven,” Thomas yelled, as his head broke the water.

“Seven? That’s it?” Alexander teased.

“Mortals over here!” I shouted, glaring up at him. I had to remind them that there were humans present.

“What was that, Emma?” Lia asked.

“Sorry. I was just reminding them that we are but mere mortals over here, so they should stop showing off,” I babbled.

“You’re so strange,” she laughed.

“I’m sure you can do a bunch of flips, but let’s keep it safe. I don’t want to be liable for injuries,” Alaine added.

“Fine,” Alexander sighed. He grabbed the rope and jumped, swinging out over the lake and did a one flip and then bombed Thomas and Dominic.

“Do you know them?” Jeremy asked.

“Neighbors,” Alaine answered. “I’ve given them permission to use the lake as long as they are safe and keep it in good condition.

“That’s nice of you,” Jeremy noted.

“I try and keep good relations with all of my neighbors. When you are so far from civilization, you have to rely on those around you for help. Everyone is willing to give a hand when needed. You learn to become very resourceful out here.”

“That’s a wise concept to have,” Jeremy added.

“It is. We have wonderful friends and neighbors surrounding us.”

“That’s a good thing,” Lia added.

“That’s a very good thing,” Alaine smiled.

“I really like it here,” Lia said. “Emma is really lucky to have you. I’m glad I won’t have to worry about her so much anymore.”

“Well, we have been blessed to have her here. She’s been a missing link for so long, and having her here has made my life complete,” Alaine said, placing her glasses back over her eyes. “And we are very happy that you came to visit her. She will definitely need your support tomorrow.”

“What’s tomorrow?” Courtney asked.

“The funeral,” Caleb whispered.

“Oh,” she whispered back.

I hadn’t realized I froze, until Kade grabbed my hand.

“Hey. You okay?”

“Yeah,” I blew a slow breath out. “I still can’t believe their gone.” I knew the day would come, but I wasn’t prepared for it.

“I’m here for you,” he said.

“I know.”

“Emma, get your bright-pink booty over here. We’re going to play beach volleyball.”

“Oh, I don’t know if you can handle our team,” I laughed.

“Alright, how about you and Kade against the rest of us?” she asked.

“That’s not fair,” Kade said, jumping out of the boat. He offered his hand to help me out, then pushed it to the shore. I went and grabbed the volleyball. 

“Well, we can hand you over, Courtney,” Caleb said. She shot him an evil glare.

“That’s not what he meant. He meant it’s not fair…for the rest of you,” I said.

“Oh, I see how it is. Just diss your BFF’s while they visit,” Lia rolled her eyes. “Well, for your information, my fabulous friend, we have brains
and
brawn,” she said flexing.

“Bring it,” I said. I pulled my shorts back on, and threw on my t-shirt. I didn’t want a wardrobe malfunction, or to see body parts flying about. That would have been embarrassing. Kade also put on his tank top, and I was glad. His abs would have been a major distraction, especially for Lia. 

The four of them set up on one side, and Kade and I on the other.

“We got this,” he winked. I nodded.

Caleb hit the ball over the net and it went right between us. I ran, he ran, and when he saw that I was coming, he stopped. I missed the ball and fell forward, landing on top of him.

“Yes! Our point,” Courtney squealed.

“I’m so sorry! Is your back okay?” I asked.

“Yeah right! You totally did that on purpose,” Lia yelled.

“I’m fine,” Kade laughed, placing his hands on either side of my waist.

“You guys can get up now,” Jeremy huffed.

I jumped up.

“I think I’ll let you get the next one,” I said. 

Caleb hit the ball and right as it came over the net, Kade jumped up and spiked it down, right between Caleb and Jeremy. Sand flew everywhere and they stood frozen, wide-eyed at the power.

“What just happened?” Lia said.

“Point!” I exclaimed, high-fiving Kade. “Take that!”

“Do all the people who live in Alaska play Olympic-style sports? I didn’t even
see
the ball after he touched it.”

“I need some water,” Jeremy said.

“I’ll go grab the cooler,” Kade said, running toward the cooler at the other end of the lake.

Caleb was teaching Jeremy how to serve, when he whacked the ball into the trees.

“Great, Jeremy!” Lia scolded.

“I’ll get it,” I laughed.

“No, I’ll get it, Emma,” Jeremy said.

“Jeremy, you’ve had enough adventure,” Lia blurted. “You’d get lost and we’d have to search for your lost butt.”

“I know where it landed. I’ll be right back.” I laughed. I watched it land about twenty feet back. As I made my way into the trees, I didn’t see it. I swear I saw it land in this spot.

Then, when I looked further back, it was another fifteen yards in.

“Dammit, Jeremy,” I breathed, pushing past some thick brush. When I was about ten feet away, a dark figure stepped out from the trees, his back facing me.

My heart dropped, and a cold shiver rushed through me.

Fallen.

How the hell did he get past the others? This place must have been too big to cover.

His back was still facing me as he bent over and picked up the ball. When he stood, he held the ball out to the side of him. “Are you looking for this?” His voice made every single hair on my body stand.  

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice shaking. I had nothing on, or around me, to defend myself.

“You know exactly what I want.” His head snapped around. My breath hitched. His eyes were completely black.

“No, I don’t,” I said, slowly backing up.

“Take one more step back, or scream, and I’ll take your head off,” he threatened. His words dripped with malice. He was tall and thinner than most Fallen I’d seen, and his features were angular and sharp. Stringy dark brown hair hung over half his face, and down past his shoulders. In one hand, he held the ball. In the other, a very sharp, long sword. 

“I haven’t done anything to you,” I said, trying to keep myself alive as long as possible.

“Not yet… Nephilim,” he hissed, spitting out the word like it tasted bad.

There was a rustling in the trees to the side of me, and when I turned, another dark figure stepped out of the brush. As I opened my mouth to scream, a large hand flew over my mouth, stifling my cries. His other arm wrapped around my chest. He was big, and brawny, but I was not going to die without a fight.

I kicked my legs, thrusting them against the trees and against the knees and thighs of my assailant, and dug my nails into his hands and face, struggling to free myself.

I tried to bite him, but his hand was locked so tight I couldn’t open my mouth.

He cursed and squeezed until my lungs ached and my ribs cracked. Pain shot through my chest.

I suddenly froze as he raised a dagger and placed it to my throat. He pressed hard enough for me to feel a sting, and then I felt a warm trickling drip down my neck.

Bastard.

I dared not move, because if I struggled, the blade would slice through even deeper. I felt my eyes water, but I held it back. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching me become weak.