From Burning Ashes (Collector Series #4) (15 page)

I gripped her to me, hoping if I held on
tight enough, she wouldn’t slip through my fingers again.

Screams tore me out of sleep, jolting my eyes
open to the muted light. My heart crawled up my throat as another
terror-filled cry came from the figure next to me. I sat up and
turned to face her. Her eyes were closed. Tears and sweat coated
her face. A strangled, pained wail arose from her, her arms lashing
out at an invisible attacker.

“Lexie.” Terror filled my chest. I reached
down, touching her shoulder. “Wake up.”

She batted at my hand, screaming in
terror.

“Lexie! Wake up.”

Ryker was suddenly beside me, grabbing her
hands and holding them down. Croygen came to Lexie’s head. He
pressed his fingers in the space between her brows and then rubbed
his hand soothingly over her temples in an arch motion.

“Shhh,” he whispered softly. Lexie’s cries
died in her throat, her body stilling as her breathing slowed. A
peaceful expression lightened her face.

My mouth cracked open, staring first at the
sleeping girl then at the pirate. “How did you do that?”

Croygen looked at me through his lashes. “You
learn a lot in the Orient.” He winked, his hands continued to trace
from the bridge of her nose to her temples. “The pressure point
they call the third eye helps calm a person.”

Ryker’s awed expression matched mine. We both
stared at Croygen. Every day these men surprised me.

“Well, thank you.”

“Welcome.” Croygen’s brow furrowed. “The kid
has been through a lot. I can’t imagine the horrors she’s endured.
She might not remember right now, but her subconscious does.”

“Yeah.” Guilt climbed on my back. I tried so
hard to provide a better life. Make the best of the crappy hand she
was dealt. She appeared strong, but I knew too well that fine line
between tough and brittle.

I reached out, feathering my fingers over
Lexie’s face. Heat rolled off her skin like a scorching desert. Her
fever had gone up.

“When the sun sets we need to move. We can’t
stay at any location for more than a night or two.” Ryker stood,
moving away from me. “I know of a place owned by dark fae. We
should be safe there.”

“Where?” Croygen rose.

“Across town. An old car garage.”

“Joey’s place?” Croygen’s eyebrow hitched up.
“Sure we’d be safe?”

Ryker folded his arms.

“Why?” I glanced between them.

“Joey, from what I heard, is not too happy
with our boy here.”

“Shocker.” I got to my feet, careful not to
disturb Lexie. “Ryker doesn’t have a lot of male fans, fae or
human.”

Croygen snorted.

“Just be ready to go in two hours.” Ryker
turned around and left the room. I hated he couldn’t be near me for
more than a few minutes. Every time he walked away a piece of my
soul followed.

Croygen stared at me with a knowing grin.

“What?”

He chuckled under his breath, walking away.
“Joey’s a woman.”

Ah.
Croygen didn’t need to say any
more. Here was another one of Ryker’s forsaken lovers, probably
another passionately pissed-off woman. Speaking of those, I noticed
Amara was nowhere to be found. Hopefully she’d run away.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else.”

Croygen only laughed harder, purposely
nudging the desk where Sprig passed out.

“Bears! They’re coming for me,” Sprig
squeaked in his sleep, his legs and arms twitching. “No. No, don’t
eat me!”

“All those honey bears he’s eaten are finally
retaliating.” Croygen hit the desk again. “Get him, bears. Suck out
the mush he calls brains.”

“Croygen. Stop.” I moved over to the table.
“We have enough people in here who need therapy.”

“Too late for this one.”

“Sprig?” I touched the soft fur by his
ear.

“Ahhhhh! Zombie honey bears. Eating. My.
Brains!” He jerked and jumped up, fists forward. “Get back, Teddy!”
He blinked at Croygen and me. When he realized where he was, Sprig
dropped his arms, the grimace smoothed away. “Hey. Is it breakfast
time? Oh look, a granola bar.” He pointed down the desk at the loot
we took. “Is Izel’s close? I really want some of her pancakes.
Damn, that woman can cook. Pam? Oh gods, did she leave me
again?”

“She’s right here.” I picked her up and
placed the goat into his outstretched arms.

“Pammy.” He hugged her tight. “What?” He put
his ear to her mouth. “She wants to go to Izel’s too.”

“We are nowhere near Izel’s.” My mind flashed
back to the previous night when I had jumped. Again it was purely
out of self-protection and not by choice, but I hoped that meant
someday Ryker and I would be able to control them again. Izel’s for
breakfast would be a possibility.

The sun dipped below the horizon. Our
situation had turned us into night crawlers.

Amara sauntered in the room, her hands
wrapped around a coffee cup. My mouth watered as the strong, rich
aroma wafted into my nose, and I had to bite my lip to keep from
snatching the cup out of her hands.

“Did you get us any?” Croygen sat on the edge
of the desk.

“I got it for the people who needed it, who
were actually on guard all night.” She smiled, taking a gulp of
coffee.

“Bitch,” Croygen snarled.

“Wow. It’s like you can read my mind.” I
tapped his arm.

We shared a smile. Amara’s gaze darted back
and forth between us, smugness glinting in her eyes. I knew what
she was hoping, what she wanted to happen—that the bond between
Croygen and me would push Ryker and me apart.

“You two are really adorable.” She
smiled.

“Back off,” Sprig huffed, coming to my side
on the desk, glaring at Amara. “Your desperation is making me want
to fling poo at you.”

“You are disgusting.”

“And you are a carton full of bat-shitting
bananas.”

“Hmmm. I like that one.” Croygen gave Sprig
an approving nod.

Amara glared at both, her mouth open as
though to speak, but at Ryker’s entrance, she shut it.

A coffee cup in hand, he strolled in. In an
instant she pulled a flirty smile on her lips and flicked her
ponytail over her shoulder. He walked by her, not even giving her a
look. He took a sip then placed the coffee in my hand as he passed,
going to the bags and wordlessly packing the stuff on the
table.

I couldn’t fight back my smile for the fact
that he knew me so well and my love for coffee…or more accurately,
for caffeine.

Even with the oath in place, we were still a
team. I was so freaking in love with this man. Seeing Amara’s
bitter expression didn’t hurt either.

I took a swallow, letting the strong acrid
flavor coat my tongue. It wasn’t great coffee, but I missed it too
much to care. Black, cheap, lukewarm, I’d take it. A small sigh
came from my throat.

“Do we need to leave you alone,
Bhean
?” Sprig patted my arm. “I totally get it. Honey—”

A liquid-filled cough cut off Sprig’s words.
I spun instantly. Setting down the coffee, I ran for Lexie. She
leaned over and began retching on the floor. Everything she had
eaten or drunk in the last day came out in violent waves, until
there was nothing but bile.

I held her hair with one hand, rubbed her
back with the other. It reminded me of the many times I’d done just
this after a treatment or when she dealt with the side effects of a
new medication. It didn’t even faze me anymore, especially when I
looked into her face and saw the pain and exhaustion streaking her
features.

Her arms shook as she held herself up. Vomit
covered the floor and left splatter on her top. “I’m sorry.” A
tiny, childlike whimper came from her.

“Don’t be sorry. Never be sorry.” I softly
massaged her shoulders. She always got extremely emotional after
she was sick. “Remember what I used to tell you.”

She nodded. “Just my body filtering out the
bad to make room for good.” Lexie took in a shaky breath and
glanced at her audience. A fever flushed her cheeks, but I could
also see embarrassment in her eyes.

Luckily no one seemed horrified. Croygen
ventured over first.

“Oh god. Don’t look at me like this.” Lexie
squeezed her lids closed, turning her head away from him.

“Are you kidding, little card shark?” He
squatted down next to her. “You know how many times I’ve hurled? I
didn’t look half as graceful as you. You have style.”

She snorted and wiped her mouth.

Ryker handed me a towel, wipes, and a shirt I
had picked out for Lexie. I took the items.

“I didn’t think we could get that blanket
filthier. Good job.” Croygen patted her back. His humor had relaxed
her shoulders, helped her embarrassment fall away.

“All right. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Afterward I hoped I could get more liquids, painkillers,
antibiotics, and eventually food down her.

Without a word, Croygen scooped her up,
lifting her away from the mess on the floor. Ryker hooked the
blanket with his foot and covered the puddle. It was simple, but
for Lexie, it would make a difference not having to see it. I gave
his wrist a squeeze as I passed, his body going rigid at my touch.
I ignored it and headed for my sister. Croygen set her down on the
table.

“Impressive projection.” Sprig held up his
hand.

“Thanks.” Lexie high-fived him.

“All you boys, out.” I pointed to the door. I
wanted to give Lexie some privacy as I cleaned her up.

Sprig grabbed Pam and walked back to Lexie.
“This is Pam. We got back together last night. She’s had some work
done, but we don’t talk about it.”

Lexie looked at me. I gave her a smile. She
turned back to Sprig and the goat. “Nice to meet you, Pam.”

“She told me she’d like to hang out with you.
Girl bonding stuff, you know.” He held Pam up to Lexie. My heart
fluttered. I knew what he was doing. Pam was his security when he
felt scared. He wanted Lexie to have the same.

“Cool. I’d love to hang out with Pam.” Lexie
took her.

“Don’t let her have a drink, no matter how
much she begs. She gets soggy. Then I hear all day how fat and
bloated she feels. Ugh. Women.”

“Tell me about it.” Ryker grabbed Sprig by
the scruff, plopping him on his shoulder, and headed out of the
room.

“And don’t touch my honey. Wait, shouldn’t I
have some to go? Takeaway honey tits?” His voice faded away as
everyone left the room.

Lexie stared after the vanished group.

“You’ll get used to this crazy group.” I
carefully took off her soiled scrub top.

“This is all…”

“Overwhelming? Scary? Screwed up?”

“All of the above.” She giggled softly, but
with little energy. “What’s strange is I don’t find it weird that
you have a talking monkey and are hanging out with fae.”

“After what you’ve seen, I’m sure this is
nothing.” I handed her a wipe for her face as I started on her
arms.

“I wished I remembered more. I don’t recall
being told about fae, but I know about them. It’s in there.” She
tapped at her head and then wiped off her face.

“Are you all right with them? Do they scare
you?”

“Bad-boy version of Thor is terrifying, but
no…I’m not scared. I feel protected.” She wiped at her hands, then
leaned over. “I don’t like her though, the one with the purple
hair. She looks like one of those bitches I wanted to hit in
school.”

I tugged Lexie’s head forward and kissed the
top with a laugh.

“You always had good instincts, kiddo.”

She grinned faintly, her gaze rolling over
me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” I responded quickly. She
narrowed her stare on me. “Why do you ask?”

“Because. You’ve lost weight and I’ve noticed
your hands shake a lot. You look really tired.”

“Wow, thanks.” My shoulders stiffened. My
eyes dropping to my fingers. They vibrated with a slight tremor.
Lexie could see through me. She knew something was wrong. I
couldn’t tell her about the stone, what it was doing to me, but I
couldn’t lie to her either. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Don’t
worry about me. We need to concentrate on you getting better.”

She nodded, letting the topic drop. I
continued to wash her, several minutes passing in silence.

“Is Jo dead?” Lexie blurted.

I bit my lip and nodded. “Yes. She is.”

“I should feel sad or something, shouldn’t
I?” She held up her arms as I slipped her new shirt over her
scrawny body. “I mean, I do. But not really for her. More for our
home, the room you and I shared.”

“You feel how you feel.” I understood her
fear of losing empathy. When you were so used to loss, you put up
walls to protect yourself. One day those walls became so thick, you
stopped feeling completely.

“I am really sorry about Daniel. I know how
much you cared about him.”

“I did.” I nodded.