Destiny Disrupted (13 page)

“So what? You were just showing off for me?”

He shrugged again. “Maybe.”

I handed Trent back his wrinkled T-shirt. “Somehow I doubt that, Trent. You were enjoying it way too much.”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it.” His fingers tensed on the fabric. “It helps me burn off steam.”

I took a step back. “Yeah, but you’re also feeding the
Darkness
.”

“No. I’m dominating it.” He slipped his shirt back on and his brows furrowed. “Why are you backing away from me?”

“There’s something really different about you…”

“Let’s not make an issue out of it, okay?” His voice grew deep, almost menacing. “It was just a fight. It wasn’t like I was shaking babies or drowning kittens!”

“I-I don’t understand. Why are you being like this?”

“Like what? Lighten up. You’re being a brat,” Trent snarled.

“And you’re being an asshat!”

I turned and stalked back to the front of the barn. But before I made it, Trent rushed past me and blocked my way.

He seized my upper arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I struggled against his hold, but his hand on mine was like steel. “Let me go!”

Trent yanked me toward him and I fell against his chest. “I’m sorry. I love you. You know that, right? I freakin’
love
you.” His face looked leaner, cheekbones more pronounced. “Everything’s just…so much better whenever you’re around.”

“I love you, too,” I said softly, and took a step away from him. “But you scared me tonight. And red flags are waving all over the place. It’s like…all this just isn’t you.”

He stared into my eyes with a frown. “It was
all
me. And I bet you liked watching me fight. Admit it. You want passion, adventure, and even a little danger in your life. Why else would you’ve become a demon hunter?”

Everything he said was true. But there was one huge difference. Even though a part of me enjoyed beating up demons and vanquishing evil, I didn’t like hurting innocent people for money or sport.

I gestured at the barn and the thinning spectators getting into their cars and driving off. “Is this the
only
place you’ve been sneaking off to?”

His eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth turned upward. “Where else would I go?” Trent stared at me for a moment, before saying, “Do you feel better now?”

I didn’t answer. Fresh tears burned my eyes. I had no idea why I was crying, but I couldn’t help it. I had an insatiable urge to grab his face and plant my mouth on his. To prove to myself that nothing had changed between us.

But in a way, everything had.

Trent reached out tentatively and touched each side of my face, pulling me to him, pressing his lips against mine. I closed my eyes; his kisses felt firm and passionate and amazing. His tongue slipped inside my mouth, and his hands settled on my hips, crushing me into him. He held me against the side of the barn, where no one could see us, and kissed the exposed skin at the base of my neck. Trent lifted his head, and pressed his solid body into mine, trapping me in his arms against the wall. Our eyes met, and the ache in his expression pinched my heart.

He rested his cheek against my temple. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try. I know somehow I’m going to screw this up. And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Shiloh.” He let out a shaky breath, stirring my hair. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

I tightened my arms around him. “You would never hurt me.”

“I’d rather cut off my left arm.”

We stood in silence just holding each other under the starry, moonlight sky. Everything in that single moment seemed perfect. Normal. Yet it was far from it. Life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

Later that night, I tried to sleep, but I only tossed and turned. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could visualize was Trent fighting that boy and almost killing him. The brutality and indifference of that twisted sport made me heartsick. But if it helped him with his rage issues—who was I to judge?

Unable to sleep, I went around the house, closing all the blinds. I paused at the window in the living room when I spotted a black limo pulling over and idling in the driveway.

I snuck onto the porch and rested a hip against the railing away from the gleam of the porch light. Out of the shadows, three dwarf-sized demons scampered over to me. I put a finger to my lips and pointed at the limo.

A chauffeur, who resembled a linebacker got out of the limousine, and opened the rear door. He assisted my aunt Darrah from the vehicle. She gathered the hem of her red dress and extended a bare leg. Real diamonds sparkled at her ears, wrists, and throat. Bleached blonde and petite with a creamy complexion and hazel eyes, she appeared fragile next to the huge chauffeur.

Another car door swung open and Maxwell Donovan emerged, wearing a silk shirt under an Italian suit. The chauffeur closed the doors and stood like an obedient bulldog, keeping a careful eye on his master.

Taking her hand, Maxwell escorted my aunt up the steep driveway and paused near the porch. He shifted closer and whispered something in Darrah’s ear. She laughed softly, the sound sensual and uninhibited.

Major ick factor. If they started groping each other, I was gonna spew chunks.

“Thanks again for a wonderful evening, Maxwell.” Darrah tilted her pretty face toward his, and kissed him. “I had a fantastic time.” She leaned into him suggestively, caressing his arm.

Tuned into my emotions, Kasha wrapped her arms around my calf. Her head almost reached my thigh. The other two shades peeked through the railing.

“You shouldn’t have let me go on all night about my problems,” Darrah said with a sheepish smile. “I hope I didn’t bore you to death.”

Her flirty act made me want to stick my finger down my throat. I’d rather deal with demons than these two.

Maxwell’s hands rested on her tiny waist. “Not at all. We’ve been through a lot together, and even with all the tears and struggles, I always knew we’d find a way to be together again.” His voice was smooth, his words smoother.

Gag. Puke. Gag.

“Oh, Maxwell,” she purred, then kissed his cheek. “Do you want to come inside for a drink?”

Please say no. Please say no. Please say no—

“Hmm, while your offer is tempting, I really must go,” he said.

Good. Now, get your butt out of here, Mr. Maxwell Donovan, homewrecker extraordinaire.

I didn’t trust Maxwell. After all, he’d had an affair with Darrah—the woman who’d raised me and had played “mom” as I was growing up—while she was still married to my dad,
and
knocked her up. Then Maxwell offered his wife, Catarina, to a horny demon in exchange for wealth and power. Not a guy who would win any popularity contests.

“It’s still early.” Darrah stroked his arm. “Where do you have to rush off to?”

Maxwell hesitated.

I closed my eyes and bit my lip.
Leave. Now. Please.
Zrekam squeezed my sweaty hand as though he sensed my discomfort.

“I always hoped someday you and I would get a second chance, and now we’re finally free.” He kissed her long and slow, cradling her head in his hands. He pulled away and lowered his voice. “But I have a vast enterprise to run, darling. I’m sorry, but there are things that need my attention tonight.” Maxwell smiled, softening his aristocratic features. “We’ll see each other again soon.” He spun on his Armani wingtips and marched back to the limo.

My aunt stayed on the sloping lawn until he drove away. The shades took off into the night. Must be dinnertime.

I walked down the steps and stood on the path. “Even
I
almost believed that you cared about someone other than yourself.”

Darrah turned and glared at me. “How long have you been watching? Enjoy the show?”

I clapped. “Yeah, it was Oscar-worthy.”

She shouldered past me, swinging her purse at my head with an evil glint in her eye.

“Hey!” Dodging the bag, I grabbed her arm and forced her to stop. “Are you and Maxwell getting serious now?”

“That’s none of your business.” She fluffed her bleached hair with her free hand. “But you could say things are heating up.”

Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. My dad’s funeral hadn’t been that long ago. And now she was hooking up with Maxwell Donovan? This just felt like all kinds of wrong.

I let go of her arm. “So you’re not worried about our family’s rep anymore?”

Darrah shrugged. “I don’t give a damn what people think.”

“You should. Witches need to stay under the radar, Darrah. That’s what my mom wants until we figure out who’s killing witches in the BRC.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Is that so?” Something dark and resentful crossed her face. “Well, that’s too damn bad because I take orders from no one.”

I jerked my chin from her grasp. “Why are you so hateful?”

She folded her arms. “Me? Why do
you
have to make everything so difficult? You’re becoming more and more insolent, young lady, and I won’t tolerate it.” Sputtering threads of
Darkness
surrounded every line and curve of Darrah’s body, like a rolling obsidian aura.

“Whatever,” I mumbled, my heart pinching. “Ariana moved into the spare room. I didn’t think you’d care since you’re never around anyway.”

Darrah sighed. “It’s fine. Her aunt was one of the few people I liked in this town. And it’s not like the poor girl has anywhere else to go.”

“Thank you,” I said and meant it. Since she was being somewhat civil, it was a good time to question her. “Do you know anything about these demons called the Triad in Fallen Oaks?”

“You mean, the Demon Majesty? Not much, but someone is tampering with black magicks.” She peered down her nose at me. “And I had
nothing
to do with it.”

“Well, someone let the Evil Triad slip through a crack in the Sheol. Only dark sorceresses have that kind of power, and if it wasn’t the BRC, then who?”

“I have no idea.”

“The demons want Trent. Is there any way to protect him?” I asked, hating the pleading note that crept into my voice.

“No,” she said flatly. “He’s a lost cause, Shiloh.”

“Gee, that’s comforting.”

“Look, I know you love him…and a part of me wishes I could save you from this pain, but you’re choosing to date someone who’ll eventually try to kill you and your loved ones.”

“Why do I even bother trying to talk to you?” I balled up my fists. “Trent isn’t a full-fledged demon! He was born with
Darkness
, so it isn’t his fault. Just like it wasn’t mine when Esael dripped his blood into my wrist. I never knew you were such a bigot!”

Her forced laugh sounded like tortured squirrels slowly being impaled on a spit, and my skin crawled. “I could make this easier for you. I have a potion that will rid you of your love for him. Make you forget everything.”

“I
don’t
want to forget him, I’m just worried that he’ll go all black-eyed baddy and hurt someone or himself,” I said. “Do you have
any
helpful advice?”

“I wouldn’t worry. Evil beings don’t want the world to know what they’re up to. They have a system for covering their tracks, protecting their true identities. That’s why demons simply disappear when you vanquish them. And if your honey is up to no good, he’ll make sure you never find out.”

“I said
helpful.
” I clenched my hands. “There’s got to be something we can do! A spell or…”

Darrah’s cell chimed in her purse. She pulled it out and checked the screen. Whatever the text said made her hands tremble. “We’ll have to continue this conversation later. Another witch has been killed.” She hurried to the sedan parked in the driveway. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

“Hey!” I yelled. “Who was it? And where are you going? More secret coven meetings?”

She slammed the door and started the engine, then drove off in a screech of burning rubber.

I didn’t understand why everyone wanted to give up on Trent. The autumn breeze grazed my back, like an encouraging nudge. I wiped a lone tear from my eye. Seemed I was Trent’s only hope.

I spent a lazy, quiet weekend just hanging with my best friend and watching episodes of
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
on Netflix. I worked out in the mornings, but Trent had canceled our training sessions by text without explaining why, which left me kinda bummed.

Soft thumps came from outside my window. I glanced up from the book I’d been reading. The blinds were raised and the magickal blue lines protecting the house trembled.

A shadow appeared, then a tapping noise at the glass. I stood, pulling my PJ tank down, and padded across the room on bare feet. I slid the window upward and the chill night air lifted the fine hairs on my arms.

“Hi.” Trent was perched on the roof near my window. He must’ve climbed up the ivy clinging to the trellis. His hair curled around his ears, and his rumpled polo had a few grass stains.

“How did you get through the wards this time without getting fried?” I asked.

He winked at me. “Oh, I have my ways.”

“How?”

An uneven smile lifted his mouth. “It’s a secret.”

“What are you
doing
here?” I whispered. “Seriously, how did you get past the barrier?”

“I had to see you. Wanted to make sure you were okay.” He seemed lost and sad and haunted. “I couldn’t sleep. Get your shoes.”

“My shoes? I’m in my
PJs
.” But I slipped on my flip-flops, then reached through the window, and he grabbed my hand. He squeezed my fingers, his skin warm.

Trent sat on the roof and pulled me down next to him. Our legs dangled over the edge of the rusted gutter.

“I guess taking you to the fights was a bad idea,” he said.

“It was kinda unnerving to see all the violence, but I’m glad you did.”

He tilted his head, and gazed into my eyes. “Really?”

I licked my lips. “Yup. You trusted me with your secret and that’s huge. I’m not saying that I wasn’t freaked, or that I am okay with you fighting, but if it helps you control your temper, than that might be a good thing.”

“It is, but I still need
you
. You’re my best friend,” he said, his voice breaking. “Come with me.”

I swung my feet and glanced at the stars. “Where to now?”

“Away from Fallen Oaks.” He cleared his throat. “A demon uprising is going to happen soon or later, and the Triad isn’t going to stop looking for me.”

My head snapped in his direction and my body stilled. “We won’t let that happen. Right?”

A shrug. That cocky smile fading a little. “It might be the end of the world, Shiloh. The magick securing the Sheol is vulnerable now, and I’m afraid if I stay something horrible will go down. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

An invisible fist constricted round my heart. “Then don’t.”

“If only it were that simple…” He sighed. “Do you think you and Ariana can look after my cat while I’m gone? Charm gets lonely if she doesn’t have anyone around to play with her.”

Emotion clogged my throat. “Sure, but it’s not going to come to that.”

He turned away, his voice barely an echo in the night. “The
Darkness
will eventually take over my humanity—”

“No, it won’t.” I clutched his arm and tears filled my eyes. “I love you, and we can handle anything as long as we’re together.”

He stayed quiet a moment, a muscle spasmed along his jaw. “Do you actually believe that?”

“Of course, I do!” My voice came out as a croak. “Trent, you’re scaring me. You can’t leave.”

His stare was unwavering. “What if fate rips us apart?”

“What is it with everybody spouting crap about destinies?
We
decide our fate, Trent. No one else.”

The green hue of his eyes darkened. “Will you come with me?”

I blinked back tears. “You know, I can’t. Not with the Evil Triad stalking witches and trying to unlock the Sheol.”

A swirling fog slunk between the houses, painting everything a soft gray. The manicured lawns were covered with little jewels of water.

“Please?” Trent’s voice turned desperate.

“I’m sorry, but running away isn’t an option for me right now.” I was glad it was dark, because if he looked disappointed or frustrated, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t go with him. Leave Fallen Oaks for good and never look back. Be normal for a change.

At least until evil caught up with us again.

The roof shingles creaked as he leaned back. In the moonlight, a tear fell from his eye and rolled down his cheek. He put one arm around my shoulders, pressing our sides tightly together. “All right. We’ll just find a way to reseal the prison, and then we’ll take off. Go someplace warm, like Hawaii.”

“What about the—”

“Don’t worry about the other demons.” With his free hand, he intertwined his fingers with mine. “They’re not gonna be a problem.”

“Are you nuts?” I sat up like someone had poked me with a sharp stick and knocked his arm off. “They’re a
big
freakin’ problem, Trent—”

“I’ll take care of them….” His voice trailed off and he gazed at the wooded area beyond my house. “I have this really weird feeling that they’ll listen to me.” He sighed. “They’re not going to do a damn thing to me, or to you. Not now.”

I couldn’t make my voice work right. What came out was a breathy little gasp. “What are you saying? How can you be so sure?”

“Shiloh, do you think I’m evil?”

My pulse pounded. I stared at him. “Why would you ask me that?”

His brows wrinkled. “Because I’m half demon—”

“You are half human, too.”

“If I did, you know, become evil, I wonder if I’d get to see my mother again.”

“I bet she’s in Heaven now,” I said slowly. “And the last thing she’d want is for you to give in to your dark side.”

“But she joined Esael in the Underworld, became his bride. What if she’s been stuck down there this whole time? What if I could save her?”

“That’s crazy! Demons are
not
holding your mother hostage.”

Trent sighed. “We don’t know that for sure. She disappeared the same night my father was vanquished.”

“That doesn’t mean the demons took her. What made you think that, anyway?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He stiffened. “It feels like all the
Darkness
is doing lately, is suppressing my humanity. But what can I do about it? Nothing. I’m a freakin’ crossbreed, half demon and half human. And eventually, those darker powers will take over—”

“Just because your dad was the embodiment of evil doesn’t make you a bad person, Trent.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re a one of the good guys. Smart, sexy, amazing—”

“Okay, okay. Stop.” He faintly smiled.

Silence crept between us, broken only by the katydids singing and the rumble of an airplane flying overhead. Tiny daggers stabbed into my chest. My heart went out to him. I would never understand what it felt like to be him. To be half human and half demon, and be torn between the two sides battling within him.

While we sat on the roof gazing at the sky, a twisty feeling suddenly unfurled in the pit of my stomach.

“Wait…you didn’t make any kind of deal with the Triad, did you?” I asked in a breathless rush. “If you did—you have to tell me, so we can figure a way out of it. There’s got to be a loophole. Did you sign any contracts?”

“I can’t bear the thought of losing you.” Trent tenderly gazed into my eyes and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “You’re so compassionate and sweet. There’s not an evil bone in your body.”

Do all men evade questions as a first line of defense?

He leaned forward and kissed me hard—sending a rush of heat, sensation, and pleasure throughout my body.

Apparently, he didn’t want to keep discussing demons. And right now, neither did I. But kissing? Yeah, I was definitely in the mood for some of that. We could talk shop later.

Without a word, we went back inside my room and sat on the bed. I gripped his shirt, yanked him to me. He bent forward and I leaned back, pulling him with me onto the bed. He pressed his lips to mine. That kiss lasted and lasted, making everything seem unreal. Like always, the instant his lips touched mine, the fire between us blazed into a roaring inferno. Before either of us could come up for air, my fingers were on the buttons of his shirt, shakily but resolutely popping open each one.

As I pushed the shirt from his chest, I ran my hands over his ribcage and slid them down to his stomach. He groaned, a low growl of desire and need. Trent kissed my neck, his lips nibbling at my skin. My whole body tingled with sensual sensations—almost earth-shattering. I was scarcely aware that he’d stripped off my top until his muscled chest pressed against my breasts. His mouth found mine again. Lord have mercy.

My body prickled with flashes of fire and ice. He kissed me fiercely, his tongue urging past my lips to explore my mouth. The world detonated into a scorching wave of fervor and passion. He drew me closer, his fingers lost in the thick swirl of my hair. Those kisses were more like a stake of claim, as my body squashed tight against his, and it felt like my heart exploded. A touch of desperateness had built between us, increasing with every touch and kiss. It was frighteningly intense.

Finally, we stopped all the swoony kissing, still panting hard, and took a breather. He wrapped an arm around my waist and held me still. I kissed his neck and nuzzled into his warmth.

Trent leaned up on one elbow, his eyes heavy. “If you keep this up, I’m staying the night,” he warned, and his gaze scanned over my bare torso, my chest rising and falling.

My face heated and a twinge of shyness hit me. I went to cover my breasts with my hands, but he gripped my wrists to stop me. “No, don’t. You’re so freaking’ beautiful, Shiloh.”

Trent gently touched my face with his fingers before leaning over to kiss me hard again. Taking his time, he let his fingers travel along my throat and tickle my collarbone. His hand glided lower over my shoulder, then down to my left breast. We were going too far now. We couldn’t do
it
with Ariana in the house.

“Trent,” I whispered, pulling back slightly.

“Hmmm,” he murmured, kissing the beating pulse in my neck.

“Trent,” I repeated a little more forcefully and put my hand on his chest. “We have to stop.” I pulled my PJ top back on and shifted my position on the bed.

He sighed and leaned away from me. “Why? I could claim you tonight.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Claim me? Trent, are you hearing yourself?”

Except he wasn’t laughing or smiling. His eyes—
oh, god
—those black, black eyes staring deeply into mine almost had me recoiling.

“Trent?” I bumped his shoulder. “
Hello?
”

He blinked. “I meant, I wanted to make love to you.”

“Uh, yeah, well, I kinda knew that’s what you meant. But I’m not sure I’m ready for
that
.”

He nodded. “I’m trying to be patient.”

“And I do appreciate it.”

“Shiloh, will you promise to come with me?” His voice was a hoarse whisper.

“Why? What’s going on? You haven’t answered any of my questions. Have you spoken to the demons or not? They can’t be trusted—”

“At least they don’t lie to me.”

“Who’s been lying to you? About what?” I asked. “You’re not making sense.”

The blare of sirens threading through the streets ruptured the quietness of night. The evil in Fallen Oaks never slept. Nighttime was playtime.

“Answer me, Shiloh. I need to know.”

“All right. Yes, I’ll go with you.”

“Anywhere?”

The way he said it made me hesitant to respond. But this was my boyfriend. The boy I loved and fought beside. “Yes. Anywhere.”

What exactly was I agreeing to?

The mattress groaned sharply under his weight. “Good. I’ll make sure it’s somewhere hot and not foggy.”

A vacay in some tropical paradise with Trent? Sign me up.

“That sounds great.” I kissed his cheek. “You should go home and get some rest.”

“I still owe you a date.” Trent lifted my hand and lightly kissed my knuckles. “I love you,” he whispered. “Forever.”

Trent let go of my hand, slipped through the open window, and climbed down the trellis with unnatural grace, vanishing into the darkness.

I closed the window and crawled into bed. My brain was chewing on itself in the worst possible way. Something was
very
wrong. Something Trent wasn’t telling me.