Celestra Forever After (48 page)

“Liam and Michelle Miller?” I’m momentarily lost imagining the coupling—not to mention the fact Marshall just equated her to refuse.

The creature unfurls its fruit-by-the-foot tongue, and I give another shrill scream.

“Get that thing away from me.” I hop to the other side of Marshall.

“Now, now—it’s no bigger than a garden snake.”

“It’s prehensile and wants to touch me in delicate places.” I shudder at the thought because it so almost did. “It’s officially my enemy.”

Marshall leers at me. A dirty smile plays on his lips, but he won’t give it.

“I’ve something prehensile that wants to touch you in delicate places.”

“Yes, well, according to your inter-dimensional jaunts—and my dreams—you already have.”

The front door blows open, and I jump at the sight of Gage. There’s a fire in his eyes, and I can tell he’s about to cure Marshall of ever wanting to touch me in delicate places again.

“Never mind. I’ve got bigger creatures to deal with.” I latch onto Marshall as if we’re a unified front.

“Skyla, we need to talk.” Gage stains the doorway like a shadow imprinted against the brilliant white fog seeping in behind him. He’s so beautiful, so perfect and it’s all I can do not to drop to my knees and weep.

My phone goes off, and I fish it out of my pocket. It’s a text from Coop.

Have you seen Laken? Her roommate says she never came home last night.

“Laken is missing,” I say, looking up at Gage and all I see are his glowing blue eyes. “It looks like it’s time to visit your brother.”

Gage

“Skyla,” her name escapes my lips like the saddest song—nothing but regret, laced with all of my affection.

Her hair splays out with strands of gold. Her cheeks radiate as if she’s just seen the face of God. My eyes can’t help but trail down her perfect little body and wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to touch it again.

“Marshall”—she turns to Dudley—“take me to Host to pick up Coop, and then get us to the Transfer as quick as possible.”

His features contort in a look of mild amusement. “I do believe you’ve mistaken me for the mass transit system. There’s a bench just outside the gates.”

“Let me,” I whisper, taking a bold step forward in the process. “I’ll teleport us to Host, and I think I can get us to the Transfer.” Hell, I know I can.

“Marshall.” Skyla glares at him without acknowledging my offer. “You
will
take me to Host, and you
will
help Cooper and me find Laken—or all future barn action is off the table. Got it?”

His cheek cinches to the side. “Sounds like we’ve places to go.” He picks up Skyla’s hand without hesitating.

“Wait.” Logan steps inside. “Skyla, please.” Her entire body rotates into him. Skyla and Logan have a bond that has wrenched my heart on more than one occasion. Deep down I wonder if the situation were reversed if she’d cut him off the way she’s cutting me off. “Let me help you.” He glances in my direction. “Let the both of us help you. I know you’re in a lot of pain right now, but, please, understand so is Gage. No one expected this. Nobody saw this coming, least of all him.”

Skyla swallows hard, her gaze falling to the floor. “All right, but Marshall still comes.”

Dudley scoffs. “As much as I’d love to see the Olivers bumble their way through the Transfer, or, God forbid, Tenebrous, I believe I’ve a barnyard dalliance to tend to.”

“
Marshall
.” Skyla tugs at his hand. “Laken is in trouble, and I have a gut feeling only you can help get her out of this mess.”

He leans into her, one inch too close to those perfect lips of hers. “I am rather handy in a bind, aren’t I?” He’s quick to caress her cheek, and it takes everything in me not to dropkick him in the nuts.

Handy in a bind. I shake my head. He’s Skyla’s spirit husband for whatever that’s worth, and apparently she views him as her personal savior. Dudley’s no savior. He’s all out for himself.

I’d do anything for Skyla—do anything to save her, help her, love her. And now that she realizes who I am, a part of me wants to keep the hell away from her, but the illogical part of me, the part of me that is uncontrollably, flat out in love with her, says to hell with logic and reason. I’m in this. I love Skyla so damn much, I need to have her near me just to breathe. She might have been Logan’s wife once, and Dudley’s in the spiritual sense, but she’s my wife now, and I damn well plan on keeping it that way.

Dudley takes up Skyla’s hand, and Logan latches onto her wrist. I reach out to do the same, and Dudley is quick to push me off.

“Find your own mode of transportation. I don’t entertain Fems.”

Skyla’s eyes widen into mine as the three of them blink away, leaving me in the stillness of this overgrown estate, alone.

And, for the first time ever, I feel just that—alone.

It’s ironic how life gives you what you want most at the exact moment you can’t have it.

While the people around me dreamed of football scholarships and ivy-league schools, I dreamed of Skyla. Every breath, every heartbeat I’ve been gifted over the last few years has been fueled by that beautiful girl. She’s the reason I open my eyes in the morning—the reason I exist to begin with.

I hone in all my energy thinking of Skyla—imagine her tender skin searing over mine—her butter soft kisses gliding down my body. I miss her. I miss her as if she’s been out of my life for far longer than a day. This feels like a rejection that spans the ages, an eternity that stretches back through both our lineages—all the way back to the beginning of time when the earth was still a gleam in God’s eye.

A dark wooded area that smells like piss and dirt forms around me. The sky falls to the earth in a deep shade of navy. I gag on my next breath as I stagger toward the charred trees. This must be the tunnels—the Tenebrous Woods. I take a quick glance around, nothing but acres of burnt out trees, the smell of fresh blood saturating the air. My heart breaks for Skyla, for every Celestra that’s ever had to endure a moment in this living hell.

I spot Wesley standing in a clearing. He’s speaking to a man who’s lit up from the inside a dull, sickly yellow.

“
Wes
,” I shout, making my way over. “Where’s Skyla?” I’ve never used my teleportation powers quite like this before, and I know for a fact these aren’t just a few simple Levatio tricks coming into play. I know for a fact I could never have teleported myself into the tunnels. This place is covered with an army of binding spirits. Demetri let me in. And I’m guessing he’ll dictate whether or not I get to leave.

“I haven’t seen Skyla.” Wes leans forward, examining my features as if looking for any nuance of a difference outside of our eyes. “What do you want?”

“What do I want? Rumor has it Laken is missing, but I’m betting you know all about that, don’t you?”

His lips cinch just shy of a smile, the exact way I’ve done it a million times before. It turns my stomach looking at him.

“Laken doesn’t want anything to do with me.” His expression dims. That smile that’s been playing on his face glides right off. “I hope for your sake you don’t lose, Skyla. I know how great that heartbreak can be.” He takes a step toward me, his eyes drilling into mine. “It can make you desperate, make you forget all about reason. It could and will drive you insane—
brother
.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“How does it feel knowing you’re a monster?” His eyes steady over mine. “Because that’s what you are. I know because I’m one, too. Ask me anything. I bet you’re teeming with questions.” There’s a fine edge of sarcasm in his voice, and it gets my blood pumping in a silent rage.

“And I bet you’re teeming with false answers. Look, I’m not interested in your bullshit. I’m here to get Skyla
and
Laken. I’m taking them both home.” I step away and take the place in. A glowing blue fog permeates the woods, low to the ground, weaving in and out of the forest like a maze.

He steps in close. “You ever wonder why the hell we’re so identical?”

“What’s the matter?” I turn around, holding back a laugh. “A little offended he didn’t break the mold with you? It’s obvious he didn’t get it right the first time.” I stare back into the woods for signs of life. I’m not sure why I’m wasting time bantering out here with this idiot. And he is an idiot. Anybody who would team up with Demetri automatically qualifies.

“Gage, the Steel Barricade needs you. With the two of us leading this bold expedition, the future of our kind, of this
world
will greatly benefit.”

“I’m not your kind so you can take me out of the box right now. I’m not putting on some black cape and teaming up with you either, so you can let go of all the schoolgirl fantasies you’re hanging onto. And, speaking of fantasies, you can let go of the fact Laken is ever coming back to you.”

He pulls me in by the shirt and pushes me back a good foot.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to kick your ass,” I say, glancing down at my wrinkled T-shirt—stunned as shit he went there.

His chest bucks with a silent laugh. “Wouldn’t that be a little like kicking your own ass?”

“No, it’ll be like kicking
your
ass, and I’ll make sure you appreciate it.”

“Let’s do it.” He flicks his fingers, inviting me into the endeavor. “But know I’ll fight back.” His jaw clenches as if he means business. “By the way, I’m not into bruising—I’m into disfiguring. I’d like nothing more than inverting your baby blues and pulling your vocal cords out through your nose, so think twice before you threaten me.” He pulls me in by the shirt again until we’re face to face. “Don’t you ever forget who I am and what I can do.” He gives me a violent shove before turning away.

I don’t waste a moment before kicking his feet out from under him.

Wes lets out a hard grunt as he falls to the ground and gags as if trying to catch his breath.

“You little shit.” He reaches over and pulls me down by the belt loops before pummeling my gut with a never-ending right hook.

I kick him in the chest, and he lands on top of me like a rabid tiger. Wes plants one fist after another into my face until I summon up the strength of an entire legion of demons and knock him to hell and back.

A dull applause breaks out from behind, and I jump to my feet to find Edinger standing there like the prince of darkness himself.

“So—are you going to let him in on a few things?” Wes comes up beside me, looking straight at the lunatic who brought us into the world.

“Do tell, Wesley.” Demetri squints out his signature scowl with the illusion of a smile. “I’m sure Gage would rather hear it from you.”

“How’s this? I don’t want to hear anything from either of you.” I start to head off and Wes pulls me back.

“Stay.” His chin drops. His eyes pull with an indescribable sadness. It’s as if he’s trapped in this misery, and he believes I’m the only one on the planet that just might be able to commiserate—and I might. “Know that no matter what happens, no matter who you side with in the end, you’ll always be family to me.”

“You don’t know me.” I pull free from his grasp. “And you don’t know this piece of shit”—I jab a finger in Demetri’s direction—“because if you did, you wouldn’t be running this hellhole, you’d be shutting it down. And for damn sure you wouldn’t be siding with Demetri Edinger on anything.”

“We have a role to fulfill,” Wes shouts. “Whether you like it or not we were set apart for this exact moment in history. The Nephilim’s days are numbered.” He swallows hard. “You can side with life or you can side with death. Live or die, it’s entirely up to you.”

“And you’ll be responsible for this carnage? You’re delusional. He’s playing you like a puppet!” I roar it out in his face so loud that my voice comes back to me in an echo. “No brother of mine would ever be so stupid, so selfish and greedy for
power
to embark on whatever journey he’s about to take you on.” I pause at the thought of Wesley being my anything, let alone a brother. That title is strictly reserved for Logan. “You think you’re taking down Celestra? All of the Nephilim? Let me be the first to laugh in your face.”

Wes smirks. “And when Skyla gets rid of you? When she runs back to her Elysian, what then?”

I close my eyes a moment and shake my head. Wes knows Logan as Skyla’s Elysian. I can’t believe even he is throwing Logan in my face.

“Skyla has the right to decide what’s right for her. And if she doesn’t choose to be with me, guess what?” I bark right at him. “I’m not going to turn into some giant pussy and threaten to extinguish an entire race of people. All of those innocent lives you plan on attacking? They have no power to make Laken love you. Nobody does! Shut this hellhole down—maybe she’ll invite you to dinner.”

His jaw cinches tight. “The only dinner invitation I’m holding out for is from you. We’re blood, Gage. We’re something deeper than that. Let’s not get off on the wrong foot.”

‘The wrong foot?” It roars from me. “We’re in the wrong fucking bodies!” I push him back a good five feet. “I was supposed to be a Levatio. I was supposed to be Barron Oliver’s son—not some bastard spawn of Satan.”