Hades (27 page)

physical exertion had offered him a temporary reprieve;

soon he would be agonizing again about what he could

have done differently. I was running out of time. I backed up

so that I was drifting several meters away from him. I shut

my eyes tight and focused on channeling my energy into the

spot where my heart would be had my physical form been

present. I imagined concentrating this energy into one

swirling, powerful bal . The bal held al of my love, al of my

thoughts, al of my being. And then I ran. I ran straight

toward Xavier, who was staring out at the ocean, his feet

half buried in the sand. When I reached him I hit him like a

trajectory, the bal of energy breaking over him like a

cosmic tidal wave. It was as if his body became liquid and I

was able to pass right through him. For a split second, I

could feel his very being inside of me, my essence and his

fused together. For that one brief moment we shared one

heart, one body. Then the moment was gone. Xavier

looked stunned as he tried to make sense of what had just

happened and instinctively brought his hand up to his heart.

I could almost track his thought processes on his face. I

hoped I’d gotten it right and hadn’t alarmed him into

thinking he’d had a heart attack. It took a few minutes for

him to process what had happened, but then his expression

shifted from confusion to one of pure bliss. When I saw him

looking around for me, I knew I’d got it right. I was proud of

myself to have broken through on the first attempt! I’d only

taken baby steps, but I’d done it—I’d made contact.

Xavier looked straight ahead where I hovered, physical y

invisible, but spiritual y more present than ever. His clear,

turquoise eyes seemed to meet mine and the beginning of

a smile played around the corners of his mouth.

“Beth,” he murmured. “What took you so long?”

17

Accomplice

THINGS changed for me after my encounter with Xavier on

the beach. What had happened between us was better than

kissing him, better than having him sleep in my bed. I had

wrapped myself around his beating heart, flowed in his

bloodstream, felt the electrical impulses charging to his

brain. I knew now what true connection was. And I knew I

had to fight for it.

Up until now I had been happy to sit around waiting

patiently for my rescue party to arrive. I didn’t feel there was

much else I could do. Now, like Xavier, I couldn’t just wait. I

needed to take matters into my own hands. My

determination to be reunited with him burned like a flame. I

was through with playing the victim. I was through with

feeling helpless. Jake scared me; there was no doubt

about that, but there was one thing that scared me more

and that was being separated from Xavier forever.

A smal part of me felt like I’d let Xavier down. Here I was

idling in my penthouse suite for the better part of each day,

communicating only with Hanna and Tuck and feigning

il ness to minimize contact with Jake while Xavier did al the

work. He was frantical y thinking, planning, and putting al

else aside while I waited like a damsel in distress. I was

better than that. I was capable of pul ing my weight and that

was just what I’d do. But I couldn’t do it alone.

“Tuck, change of plans,” I said the moment he walked

through my door. “I need your help.”

Tucker shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “I don’t like the

sound of this … ,” he said.

I wasn’t entirely sure I should trust him so soon, but I

didn’t have much choice. “I want to try and find a portal.”

Tucker sighed. “I guess I knew this was comin’,” he said.

“But, Beth, they’re near impossible to find. Only a few

highrankin’ demons know where they are.”

“I’m an angel, Tuck,” I pressed. “I might have a built-in

detector or something that could help us. You never know.”

“Gotta admire your confidence,” Tucker said and paused

before adding, “but just so you know, I’ve been out lookin’

for portals a thousand times and I never found jack.”

“We might get lucky this time,” I said with a smile.

“I’d like to help you.” Tucker squirmed. “But if we get

caught it ain’t you they’re gonna string up on the rack.”

“So we won’t get caught.”

“It ain’t that simple.”

“Yeah, it is,” I pressed. “And if we get busted I’l say it was

al my idea, I forced you into it.”

Tucker sighed. “I s’pose it could be worth a shot.”

“Great. Now, where do these high-ranking demons hang

out?”

“I know I’m gonna get my butt kicked listenin’ to you,”

Tuck said. “But al right, let’s do it. Only how are we gonna

sneak out? Every inch of this hotel’s patroled and they’re

watchin’ you like a hawk.”

“I have an idea.” I flopped bel y down on my bed and

reached for the service phone on the bedside table. I’d

never had occasion to use it before so the voice on the

other end sounded mildly surprised.

“Good evening, ma’am,” said the woman at reception.

“How may I assist you?”

“Could you put me through to Mr. Thorn’s room?” I asked

politely. “I need to speak with him.”

I heard a brief rustling of papers. “I’m afraid Mr. Thorn is

in a meeting,” the woman said tonelessly. “He’s requested

not to be disturbed.”

“Could you tel him it’s Bethany Church cal ing,” I said.

“Please hold.”

Her tone changed dramatical y once she returned. This

time she addressed me like a VIP. “My apologies, Miss

Church,” she said in a breathless, fawning voice. “I’l

connect you straightaway.”

The phone rang twice before I heard Jake’s silky voice

purring into the receiver. “Hel o, sweetheart. Miss me

already?”

“Maybe,” I said playful y. “But that’s not the reason for my

cal . I’d like to ask your permission for something.” Jake

wasn’t the only one who could turn on the charm.

“Is this a joke, Beth? Since when have you asked my

permission for anything? Last time I checked you had quite

a wil of your own.”

I tried to make my voice sound sweet and imploring. “I

just figure there’s enough bad blood between us,” I said. “I

don’t want to make things any worse.”

“Uh-huh.” Jake sounded skeptical. “What do you need?”

“I was wondering if I could maybe visit the clubs,” I said in

my most unassuming tone. “You know, hang out with the

club rats and get to know the place.”

“You want to go clubbing?” Jake was taken aback. I knew

I’d caught him completely off guard.

“Wel , not real y,” I said. “I just feel like I haven’t been out

of this hotel room for so long. I think I need to do something

before I go stir-crazy.”

Jake was quiet while he weighed up my proposal. “Fine.

But you can’t go alone,” he said eventual y. “And I’m in the

middle of something important right now. Can I pick you up

in a few hours?”

“Actual y,” I said, “Tucker offered to tag along.”

“Tucker?” Jake laughed outright. “He won’t be much use

to you on the dance floor.”

“I know,” I said. “But he can play chaperone.” I lowered

my voice, suddenly fil ing it with disarming familiarity. “I just

want to know if you think I’l be … you know … safe with

him? I don’t know him al that wel , it’s not like we’re friends

or anything.” I shot Tuck a repentant look. “Do you think he’l

look after me? He won’t hurt me or anything?”

Jake gave a low, threatening chuckle. “You’l be perfectly

safe with Tucker. He won’t let anything happen to you

because he knows if he did, I’d skin him alive.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to disguise my disgust. “If you trust

him then so do I.”

A new thought crossed Jake’s mind. “I trust you’re not

planning to do anything stupid?”

“If I was, would I ask for permission first?” I let out a long

sigh of what I hoped sounded like disappointment. “Look,

don’t worry about it, I’l stay in. I don’t even feel like going

anymore.”

“No, you should go,” Jake urged, anxious not to dampen

my mood. “You need to get to know this place if you’re ever

going to cal it home. I’l let security know you’re going out.”

“Thanks. I won’t be back late.”

“That’s probably best. You don’t know who you might run

into.”

“I’l be fine,” I said breezily. “Everyone knows I’m yours by

now.”

“It’s nice to final y hear you say that.”

“There’s not much point denying it.”

“I’m glad you’re coming around. I knew you would in

time.” His voice was low and he sounded so genuinely

pleased. It was scary the way he’d built up our relationship

in his head—he was completely delusional. I almost wished

I could help him, but I knew it was too late for that.

“I’m not promising anything, Jake,” I clarified. “Just going

out for a while.”

“I understand. You have fun.”

“I’l try. Oh, and by the way, I’d like somewhere a little

more
upscale
than last time. Any suggestions?”

“Bethany, you never cease to amaze me … go to Hex. I’l

send word that you’re coming.”

I put the receiver down and flashed Tucker a satisfied

smile. I couldn’t have been more pleased with my

performance had I just climbed Everest.

“He bought it?” Tucker looked amazed.

“Hook, line, and sinker.”

“I’ve gotta hand it you, you’re a better liar than I gave you

credit for,” he said.

“I was good, wasn’t I?” I jumped off the bed and headed

straight for the door, eager to get out the stuffy hotel room.

“Uh … Beth.” Tucker stopped me and appraised my

outfit.

“You’re not gettin’ into any club dressed like that.”

I looked down at my floral dress and sighed. Tuck was

right. I needed to look the part. I rummaged through the

other items in my wardrobe. There was nothing that even

came close to what I needed.

I was beginning to get frustrated when someone rapped

curtly at the door. When Tucker opened it, there stood Asia

holding a garment bag in one hand and a designer

cosmetics kit in the other. She stepped into the room

flashing a savage grin and made no secret of the fact that

she was there under duress. She was wearing a leather

minidress with a lace-up bodice and red thigh-high boots.

Her skin was like milky coffee and she had coated it with

something that made it iridescent under the lights.

“Jake sent me,” she said in her husky voice. “He thought

you might need some help getting ready. Looks like he was

right.” She threw the garment bag over the nearest chair.

“This should be your size. Try it on, then we’l deal with the

rest.” She looked me over as though I were beyond help.

Before I could say anything Asia had fol owed me into my

bathroom. Turning away from her, I hurriedly pul ed on the

black-and-white bandage dress she handed me and slid

my feet into the crystal-studded pumps with bows on the

heel. I frowned as Asia resentful y lined up compacts and

giant brushes on the marble counter. I knew she wouldn’t be

wasting her time on me unless Jake had expressly asked

her.

“Oh, honey,” she drawled. “If you’re gonna hit the clubs

you gotta look the part. You can’t go turning up like some

Girl Scout.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” I grumbled.

“Fine by me.” Asia grinned and pointed an eyelash curler

at me as if it were a deadly weapon.

When I emerged from the bathroom, I was

unrecognizable. Every loop and natural kink in my hair had

been ironed out, my mouth was a sticky berry-colored pout

and silver-blue eye shadow glittered on my lids. Bronzing