Wasteland (24 page)

“You killed them. Didn’t you?”

“I—”

She pounced, planting her palms against my chest with such force I flew back several feet. The gravel pierced my back as I skidded across the ground. I hopped to my feet, crouched, ready to defend.

“You killed my father. It was you. You!” Tears streamed. “My brother.”

She bent her knees, and I thought it was to fall to the ground. Instead, she leapt into the air with one powerful movement of her radiant wings. She hovered inches from my reach.

“Beka—”

“Russell. Get him in the car and to Jessica.” She pinned me with a glare. “I will not ride with the demon.”

CHAPTER 35

I curled into myself in the back seat as Russell drove. Without Beka near, the inferno seared through me like a raging fire. I deserved it. I wasn’t worthy of Beka’s love or Jessica’s redemption. Russell and Abraham talked up front, but the pulse drumming in my ear drowned out their words.

I heard Beka’s name a few times and prophecy once. Master had planned this, too. I knew it to my core. Predicted to join with Beka, he assigned me the task of getting the demon he knew was under Samuel and Jonathan’s protection.

Beka’s family. The hurt in her eyes sliced my heart worse than the demon.

“David?” Russell asked. “Just hold on. We’re nearly there.”

“It no longer matters,” I said through clenched teeth. “She will not have me now.”

“She does not get to choose, my friend.”

I ordered my clamped eyelids open and saw the back of Russell’s head. “What?”

“Can’t change prophecy. It’s a done deal. We just need to get you there.”

“I will not do it.”

Russell craned his neck and looked into the backseat. “What?”

“Will. Not. Force. Her.” I sucked in a breath. Talons mangled my intestines. “To marry me.” I bit back the bile. “I killed her family.”

Gravity tugged me along the seat, but the leather clung to my skin, holding me in place.

“There. See it?” Abraham said.

“Yeah,” Russell said. “Hurry.”

Squealing tires. Burning rubber. Sizzling pain. My senses overloaded.

The car jolted to a stop and pitched me onto the floorboard. Doors clicking open and slamming shut rang in my ears. A hand clamped my arm, I lashed out with my nails and hissed through my fangs.

“David. Hold on.” Russell dodged my assault. “Come on, buddy. Hang in there.”

Two strong hands gripped me by the arms and lugged me out of the back seat.

“I haven’t gotten you this far for you to give up. You are my King, David, whether you accept that or not. I am to deliver you to Jessica and I will or die trying.”

I chomped my mouth in his direction.

“Your long teeth do not scare me,” Abraham said.

Russell laughed. “Abraham run ahead. Scout the area and check in with the other Guardians. Make sure we’re safe out here.”

“You saw her, Russell. She no longer wants me. She called me demon.”

“The contract made you do it.”

“Still.”

“She knows that. She was just hurt. The flight to this place surely cleared her mind.” Russell tugged. “Come on. This is what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it? Humanity is only one hundred feet away. Man up.”

Despite my fear I straightened. Maybe Jessica would still expunge my demon. And maybe someday, Beka could learn to forgive me. Yes. I would work to win her favor again.

Abraham approached the door of a quaint log cabin. Tall pine trees surrounded the structure, shading it from the penetrating sun. It resembled an old oil painting, hanging in the Louvre with a stream of smoke coming from a stone chimney.

The door whipped open and a hulking man filled the space, dagger drawn. He bowed and stepped to the side. Through the open door, I saw Beka kneeling before Jessica. Her hands rested on Beka’s shoulders, and she leaned forward.

Beka sagged to the ground, hands over her face, shoulders shaking. Her head shook side-to-side. Beka’s sobs cut through my soul.

I’d caused the woman I loved such sorrow.

Fire stung my eyes. I had my answer. A roar thundered through my stomach so fierce I was sure it diced my intestines. I twisted from Russell’s grasp and burst to my feet. He reached for me. I batted him away, spun and kicked my foot against his chest, sending him through the air.

“David,” Russell yelled.

My demon burst forth, and I darted to the trees. I had no idea where I was, but I wouldn’t stand by and witness Beka cry over the fact that she had to marry me. I would rather be demon. I refused to sentence her to anything. Not after I’d been forced to do horrible things against my will for so long.

I busted through the first line of trees, shredding anything I could scrape my talons against. Twigs snapped, tree trunks cracked. The branches carved into my bare chest, but I welcomed the pain.

Tears ruined my vision, and my shoulder clashed with a tree, twisting me off balance. I stumbled back. Something cold pierced me between my shoulder blades. The silver tip of a sword stuck out from my chest.

Strong fingers clamped my neck. “Demon.”

The hand shoved me forward, the sword retracting from my chest cavity. I clasped my skin, working to slow the blood pouring out onto the ground. I faced the man.

He swung his massive weapon at my face, probably aiming for my neck to behead me. I put up my hand, shielding me from the metal. It clanked off my wrists. The Guardian stopped, eyeing me with elevated brows.

He reared back and swung the weapon again. I ducked and rolled, concentrating on the gaping hole in my chest so it could heal. The heat emerged, cauterizing the wound.

“Wait.” I showed him my palms.

He surged, swinging, his eyes wide. “Demon.” His booming voice reverberated off the trees surrounding us. Shuffling nearby alerted me to more Guardians approaching. My demon surged within me. He wanted to kill them all.

Violently.

I refused to hurt Beka and Russell that way, though.
I must stay in control
.

“Let me by. I am friend to the Queen.”

“Lies.” The Guardian huffed. “No demon is the friend of the Queen.”

Two more Guardians barreled through the woods. I rolled and darted to the side, deeper into the thicket, they followed. They wouldn’t stop until they had my head.

My demon demanded I kill these Guardians. That would hurt Beka. But the demon overpowered me. Separated from Beka so long weakened my control.

My toe caught a root and pitched me forward. I rolled down the side of the hill. So steep. Branches, rocks, thorns ribboned my skin like a thousand razors.

The Guardians still pursued. They didn’t roll down, they slid, coordinated on their feet. A boulder larger than the cabin broke my descent. Ribs cracked like dried twigs. I flopped onto my back, gasping.

Three cool blades pricked my skin. One in each bicep and one to the chest. Three mountainous Guardians loomed over me.

“Go on, try it. Take my head.”
Please
. If only they could.

The one on the left withdrew his blade and swung. The metal clashed with my neck, sending sparks showering over me.

“What kind of magic is this?”

Pricks to my shoulders followed. “He bleeds, yet he cannot be beheaded?”

I lay on my back listening to my ribs crack into place. Another clank to my neck from the other side rolled me onto my stomach. I pushed to my feet. “It does not detach my head, but it does hurt,” I said. “Just stand down, and I will leave this place.”

Three swords pointed at me, unwavering.

“Please. I do not want to hurt anyone, but I am having difficulty controlling the beast. Right now.” A growl ripped through my stomach. “I am friend to the Queen, Russell, and Abraham. Seek them out, you shall have your answers.”

“Lies.” The tallest of the three guards marched forward, weapon drawn. “Demon.”

Flapping above me drew my gaze. Beka descended between the tall trees with the grace of a swan, eyeing the Guardians poised to skewer me. “You dare point swords at your future King?”

“King?” Their eyes snapped wide. She landed softly next to me. The Guardians lowered their weapons. They didn’t go as far as to sheath them, but they backed off nonetheless.

She turned and regarded me with blood shot eyes. “David. What are you doing?” She inched forward, her cooling mist tingling against my skin. A slight breeze ruffled her expanded wings.

“I am nobody’s King, Beka.”

“I beg to differ, as does Jessica.” Beka eyed the Guardians. “Please, go secure the area. We still have Jessica to protect. I will walk David back to the cabin to Jessica.”

“My Queen, I—”

She showed them her palm. “It’s okay. His appearance is a bit distracting.” She turned toward me and nodded.

My human side resurfaced. The Guardians emitted a collective sigh. They must be new ones, not aware of demons and their human masks.

“Now you know him in both skins. Do not forget it, because soon, he will take his rightful place by my side.”

They bowed their heads and backed away. Once out of earshot, I turned to Beka. “But—”

She pressed a finger over my lips. “Please, allow me to speak first.” She grabbed my hand and guided me back the way I had come. “I am sorry, David.”

“You have nothing to be—”

“I called you demon.” She hung her head low. “I was wrong to do that.”

“No you weren’t. I am demon.”

“Not for long.”

“But—”

“I was hurt. To learn I have given my heart to the one who killed my family was quite a shock.” She cleared her throat. “I overreacted.”

“No, you didn’t.” I sucked in a deep breath of the pine-scented air. “I understand. You can’t be with the one who killed your family. I was trying to leave when these guys attacked me.”

“Thank you for not killing them.”

I flinched. “It did take some restraint, my demon is angry.”

“Because he knows he is about to die.”

We neared the clearing surrounding the cabin. I stopped and Beka faced me. Despite her cool hand in mine, my body flamed and fiery teeth chewed at my chest. “Let me leave, Beka.”

“I cannot do that.”

“Because of the Prophecy. I will not let you be forced into-”

“It’s not because of the prophecy.” A shade of pink dusted her cheeks. She pulled her shoulders back and stood straight. “I cannot let you go because I love you, David.”

“You couldn’t possibly…”

“I love you with my entire soul.” She skimmed her knuckles down my cheek. “I’m incomplete, half a person, without you by my side.”

“How are you okay with this? With me? You were crying at Jessica’s feet.”

“You saw that?” Her gaze deviated to the ground, but she drifted closer. “That’s why you ran?”

I paced.
Did I dare hope?

“I’m sorry you witnessed that. I went to her with my anger and hurt, she helped me see through it.” The grip on my hand tightened. Her gaze captured mine. “And all I saw was you. I respect you, David. All you’ve endured to make it to this point. Your strength is enviable.” Tears welled. “And I love you with my entire being. Please, join me and be my King.”

I secured a lock of hair behind her ear, and she leaned into my touch. No disgust. No hesitation. I nudged her chin with my finger and tilted her head back. A solitary tear streaked her face. My heart pounded, stuttering my breath.

I touched a kiss to her lips, and she held me close to her cool body by my shoulders. Her sweet, lilac scent washed over me. With her wings extended, I didn’t know how to hug her, and I wanted to feel her against me. I wove my arms around her waist, where I hoped was safe.

“I do not know what kind of king I will make, but I will love and protect you for as long as I have breath.” Her body shuddered against mine.

“Hurry. Let’s get you to Jessica.”

CHAPTER 36

Jessica’s slight frame stood in the open doorway as we approached the cabin. Russell and Abraham paced the room behind her. Her diamond-like eyes flickered, and a smile split her face. She bolted out the door and down the two steps.

“Go.” Beka released my hand. “No interruptions this time, please.”

I turned and ran toward Jessica. Long flowing red hair, slight figure, but she had the glow I remembered seeing the first time we tried to connect before I was taken into solitary. She’d grown into a radiant young woman.

Three feet left. The light in her chest intensified. My heart throbbed.

One foot left. I took one last stride and she leapt into my arms. Much like a child would a parent. Not that I would ever know the joy of having children, but I imagined it would feel this peaceful.

Her flaming hands flattened against my back as we twirled.

“David,” she sighed. “You finally made it.”

Her voice sounded like bells. Coolness washed over me, like it did with Beka. But Jessica’s chill was more intense, icy. A feral rumbling deep inside me quaked the walls of my stomach. I let go of her, fearful I would morph and hurt her. She was my contracted Mark, after all.

“Wait. Careful,” I said. “I am not in control.”

She slid from me but snatched my hand.

The ground yanked me to my knees with unseen ropes. Rocks slashed through my frayed jeans, piercing my skin. Jessica’s eyes flashed, and her skin brightened, rivaling the sun. She let go of my hand and placed hers on my chest, over my heart where the hideous mark of my Master was.

Her eyebrows puckered, and her jaw clamped shut. Her nails dug deep but never punctured my skin. Instead, her fingers dissolved into me. Every muscle in my body contracted, and I flopped onto my back, spasms rocketing up my spine. Jessica’s hand never left my chest.

Needles stabbed my heart like a pincushion. Black soot spewed from my mouth. The air expelled from my lungs until they blazed with a fire I thought was straight from Lucifer himself.

Shattering glass lured my focus back to Jessica. The glass surrounding my contract sprayed over my body. She palmed the scroll, and a milky flame erupted. Its intensity toppled over me like a tidal wave.

A biting pain sliced my chest as Jessica retracted her hand. Her creased forehead smoothed, her jaw muscles relaxed, and her lips quirked into a grin. Finally, her hand was completely out from my chest, and I felt only the thudding of my heart.