Dalir's Salvation (5 page)

“I have a chance at a good life, and I won’t let you ruin it.” Her mother’s gaze hardened. “I don’t care what my mother said. What you have isn’t a gift, it’s a curse.”

Brooke grasped her hand. “Hey, you’re pale. What’s wrong?”

Ari jumped up. “My head hurts.” Why did she keep remembering awful things today? She rushed to the drawer in the corner of the kitchen. Pawing through it, she found the bottle of extra strength pain reliever. Damn it. Why wouldn’t it open?

The cap popped off. Pills bounced on the counter and the tile floor.

Brooke gave her a sympathetic smile. “Leave it. I’ll clean them up. You’ve had a rough day. Go lie down. I’ll check on you in a bit.”

“Thanks.” Ari grabbed a pill from the counter and took it with lemonade.

Dalir’s gaze tracked her as she left the kitchen.

It didn’t matter what he thought. What did he know? He wasn’t living everyday life in the real world. Her mother was right. Once she’d stopped bringing attention to herself, she didn’t get picked on anymore. She’d made friends. Maybe getting her bell rung when she fell off the stepladder, and remembering awful things from her childhood, served a purpose. A reminder of why she shouldn’t have helped Jessica. She couldn’t forget the truth. Her ability was a curse not a blessing.

Dalir appeared in her bedroom. “What was that about?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She tossed purple accent pillows off the bed into a cream side chair.

“That vision you just had, is it connected to the one you had at the hospital?”

Heat scalded Ari’s cheeks. He’d viewed her memories? Of course, he had. He could read her mind. She wrenched back the comforter. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You called that woman in the vision your mother. Why was she so cruel to you?”

“Stop calling them visions. They’re memories.”

Dalir grabbed her arm. “What happened?”

She should explain. The truth worked like man repellant. She’d tried to tell a guy once about her secret. He’d claimed to care about her so she’d confided in him. After that, he’d refused her phone calls. She never saw him again. “You want to know.”

“Yes.”

The confession stuck in her throat. She’d never told anyone the full story about her childhood, not even Lauren and Celine. Ari yanked from his grasp. “It’s none of your business. I want you to leave. Now.”

As if he were a djinn obeying a command, Dalir vanished.

Ari’s wrist flowed out of his grasp leaving nothing but air.

What the hell? Just like in the hospital, she’d demanded he disappear, and then she could no longer see him. Not only that, she’d completely shut him out of her thoughts. He’d spent months training Thane and the team in protecting their minds in the same way. She accomplished it on a whim.

Unshed tears brightened her eyes.

Shit. He’d made her cry, and he couldn’t apologize to her. “Little One, please let me back in. I need to understand why you can see me and how you can send me way.” He reached for her cheek, but his hand passed right through her.

Ari’s expression grew resolute. “Damn him. I hope he never comes back.” She whipped off her shirt revealing a satin and lace bra the same deep blue as the Alandian royal coat of arms. As she shimmied out of her jeans, her breasts jiggled.

His mouth watered with the desire to suck her beaded nipples. He needed to turn the fuck around. She didn’t know he was there. As an honorable warrior, he couldn’t stare at her like some perverted ass.

Ari worked the jeans down her legs. Sheer, matching bikinis rode low on her hips. A dark shadow outlined the seam of her sex. She reached back and unsnapped her bra.

Blood rushed below his waist fueling a massive erection. He grew lightheaded. Fighting the heaviness weighing down his feet, he faced the wall. If only he could punch it down. Hell, he could probably ram through the plaster with his dick.

The covers on the bed rustled.

Finally, he could turn around.

A skimpy, blue sleep shirt clung to Ari’s tantalizing curves.

Want rammed into him. He couldn’t breathe. That view would alone would taunt him during the day and haunt him in his dreams. And he couldn’t touch her. Dalir thumped his fist against the wall.

Ari snuggled deeper under the sheets.

To her, he no longer existed. Dalir phased to the basement gym at his home in The Drift. Silence greeted him.

Even though the guys weren’t playing gigs at The Song as Thane’s Redemption at the moment, they liked to keep their music skills sharp. When they weren’t on a mission, they usually worked out or rehearsed at night. Apparently, they were taking a break from both. At least something was working in his favor.

Dalir stripped off his boots, socks, and T-shirt. He left them in a pile near one of the weight benches in the center of the room. Ari wanted him gone. Fine. Done. For now. He’d find a way to get answers out of her.

Dumbbells from lighter to heavier weights lined a rack on the wall. Two black punching bags hung from the ceiling on adjacent corners. The faint smells of metal, leather and sweat clung to the air.

A modern workout wouldn’t soothe him. The two swords hanging underneath the Alandian royal crest on the opposite wall called him.

The team had needed a symbol to unite them like the insignia they’d worn as Army Rangers. He’d allowed them to adopt his family crest as their own, under two conditions. First, he’d required them to understand its significance. Second, they had to learn the skill of fighting like warriors using a sword.

Light gleamed off of the gold symbols on the blue crest.

The crown at the top represented his family’s pledge of selfless duty to Alandia. Wisdom and bravery were portrayed by the key crossing the sword. Dalir traced the infinity symbol in the open section at the bottom of the crest. A little over two-hundred years ago, on his hundredth birthday, he’d received permission to adopt infinity as his personal symbol. It exemplified the endlessness of time and destiny. Back then, his life had appeared as bright as the sun depicted in the open section at the top. The circle surrounded by curved rays stood for looking ahead to a new day. It was also Kell’s personal insignia. Now it signified the futures his brother had ruined.

Dalir seized one of the polished blades. A familiar energy signature waved over him. “Grab the other sword or get the fuck out.”

Thane strolled in wearing sweat pants. His bare feet silent on the dark rubber mat. He dropped a towel on the nearest weight bench. “Kickboxing on the punching bag or kicking your ass, I can flex either way.”

Energy flew into Dalir’s fingertips. He suppressed the urge to fling it out. Talking shit. He still wasn’t used to viewing it as a part of the male bond he shared with Thane, and not a sign of disrespect. “Try not to cry too hard when I send you back to Celine bloody and bruised.” Dalir tossed him the other sword.

Thane caught the weapon with ease by the leather wrapped scabbard. He raked his brown hair from his face. “We’ll see.” Out of all the guys, Thane offered a challenge not only in strength but also skill.

They faced each other and circled the mat.

Thane attacked.

Dalir parried.

Strike. Parry. Block. Evade. The whistle and clang of metal echoed off of the walls.

Sweat beaded and cooled on Dalir’s skin. His heart pumped hard, fueled by the adrenaline of a good sparring session.

Thane spun and met his blade.

For a second, an image of Ronan, his second-in-command in Alandia replaced Thane. He and Ronan had sparred together often. Bitter-sweetness sunk deep. He longed to see his old friend and fight with his warriors again. He also missed debating strategy with his father and walking with his mother in the royal gardens. Some nights, he’d dreamed of Alandia. He felt the warmth of the sun and the breeze rushing over him as he rode his horse across the grassy field. Shield Breaker was a courser. At least he had been, his horse was long gone now. He’d left him in good hands with Ronan.

The sting of Thane’s blade grazing his bicep wrenched Dalir back into focus.

Thane cocked a brow. Triumph gleamed in his golden-brown eyes.

Time to end this or face the rest of the week listening to the team leader bragging about how he’d won their fight. Dalir attacked in a flurry of precise slashes and lightning-fast strikes.

Thane leaped back but not fast enough.

Taking advantage of Thane’s off balanced step, Dalir struck and knocked Thane to his back. The tip of Dalir’s sword hovered near Thane’s throat.

Thane growled in frustration and held up his hands in surrender.

“You did well.” Dalir offered Thane a hand. He pulled him to his feet. “Remember to keep your stance even or the weight of the blade will throw you off.”

“Got it. I’ll remember next time.” Thane grabbed two bottles of grape sports drink from the mini fridge against the wall. “Colby said you volunteered to check on Ari.” Thane tossed one of the bottles to Dalir.

“Colby needed to get on with his assignment and not waste his time babysitting.” Dalir opened his drink and took a gulp. Thirst-quenching, but not as refreshing as Alandian cider. Another comfort he missed from home.

Thane toweled off. “So how is she?”

Irritating. Enticing. “She’s fine. No one needs to be concerned about her.” Except him. How was he supposed to get to the bottom of why she could see him if all she had to do to was dismiss him with a thought or knock him off track by flashing her damn skimpy underwear?

“Good. I’m in the clear. Celine won’t let me sleep until I give her an update. Her and Lauren even demanded we do security checks on any guy she date.” Thane released a wry chuckle. “I honestly feel sorry for anyone who messes with Ari. Forget about me or Reid, Lauren and Celine will seriously kick their asses.”

Dalir took a sip. What would the two women say if they knew he’d kissed her and wanted more? It probably wouldn’t go over well.

Thane’s expression turned grim. “By the way, New Jersey was a bust. The police found the fucker responsible.” Thane finished his drink. “Colby saw the crime photos. He said what that guy did to his victims went beyond brutal. I won’t lie. I’m glad it wasn’t your brother. Don’t get me wrong, we all know what Kell’s capable of. It’s just hard to accept that he could be getting his rocks off hurting people, and we can’t find him. If he’s still out there.”

“What do you mean if?”

Thane sunk the empty bottle like a free throw into the trash. “He could be gone.”

“Gone where?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, but have you considered the possibility he may have had help escaping from prison? That someone from your dimension set him free? That he took his shot at you and lost and now Kell is back in Alandia?”

Anger burned into energy, expanding inside of Dalir. “No one would have the balls for that type of treason. It’s an automatic death sentence.”

Thane held up his hand. “Before you start lighting up shit, let me finish. You said things turned south after the failed coup. You and Kell got sentenced. The oracles and their guardian disappeared.” He shook his head. “It’s been eighty years, Dalir. You don’t know what’s going on. The retributionists could be in control now.”

“Never!” Weights rattled as the floor shook. “Kell is out there. He’s either hiding behind the anomaly in the time line or mocking us in plain sight. If you and Reid are too busy chasing after your fiancées to handle looking for him, just say it.”

“What I said isn’t a cop out or a complaint on our end. Celine and Lauren aren’t the problem. They knew from jump hunting for Kell might not be a short ride. They’re content to build you a fucking mansion and wait it out. We’re all with you. I’m just saying we have to take in all of the facts. We have no proof that Kell is still around. Look. When you saved the team five years ago, you tasked us to save the world. You also said that for us to save the future, we had to let go of the past or it would control us.” Thane stood in front of Dalir. “You have to start facing the prospect of not finding your brother. If you don’t, this hunt will keep ruling our lives. I’m not saying you have to do it now, but at some point, whether he’s out there or not, we’ll have to get back to the original mission.” Thane pointed at him. “And you’ll have to find a way to get over Kell.”

* * * *

Dalir threw back the covers. Forget about sleep. It wouldn’t happen tonight. Someone committing treason by letting Kell out? The retributionists in control? That would never happen. Unless his father was dead. He paced the bedroom. No. His parents were alive and still young by Alandian standards. Surely they’d produced more heirs to replace he and Kell. The royal house still thrived. A full moon cast shadows on the walls. Kell wasn’t gone. He was hiding from them. Waiting for them to let their guards down. They needed to take a different tact and look for the unusual clue or resource to find him. Like Ari.

Dalir dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and bound his hair at his nape. In some ways, she reminded him of the oracles. Her ability to see what other’s couldn’t. The power to shield her mind. And she could see him. Maybe she had deeper insight and just didn’t know it.

He materialized in the darkened living room of Ari’s apartment. It was two in the morning. He could wait. While he was there, he’d check out the place and make sure she was safe. He strode into the entryway. She should have an alarm system and not just rely on a deadbolt to keep intruders out. Just like at the store, she took her personal safety for granted. Thane and the guys knew better. They should have already handled the lapse in security. As far as, climbing on ladders in high heels, he’d discuss it with her. Like it or not she’d listen to what he had to say.

Light shone from the kitchen.

Brooke sat in the chair, head on her folded arms, asleep at the table.

He went down the hallway.

Ari’s door remained shut.

Dalir leaned against the wall.

It was better to approach her first thing in the morning. Sleep would relax the barriers in her mind and make her more receptive. She might want to punch him. He’d rather she hit him than put up a barrier. This time, no matter what, he’d do whatever it took to ensure she didn’t lock him out. Maybe he’d even kiss her again. Bad idea. He’d maintained control all these years, but one kiss with Ari had made him ache. No amount of jerking off would work. That’s why he’d bypassed doing it. But he couldn’t want Ari. Earlier in the gym, Thane had made it perfectly clear how protective Celine and Lauren were about her. All hell would break loose at The Drift if anything ever happened between he and Ari.