Consume (The Devoured Series) (8 page)

"You can't really think that," he said incredulously. "Is this because of what Finn said?"

"No, it's because it's the truth."

He sighed and watched me. "This is where the leading lady tries to save the guy from himself. He is willing to give up everything for her and she, in her misguided attempt to save him, tells him that she's at fault for all of their troubles and he has to beg her to realize that's not true. That the guy wants to be bound to her more than he's ever wanted anything his whole life. That she saved him that day, not condemned him, and he has to convince her that his love is real and that he is sound of mind.”

I bit my lip to stop the smile as he spouted my speech back at me. I'd said that almost verbatim to him not a few days ago when he said he should never have let me stay with him. That he should leave or…something. He was right. Technically, Eli could leave, couldn't he? And he stayed…he stayed through all of my drama with Tate. He stayed for me.

I pulled him to me and hugged his midsection, which was quickly becoming my favorite part of him. It was strong, but gentle. Always right there within reach, protecting me, guarding me, warm, loving, open arms and comfort. He pressed his lips to my forehead and hugged me to him. "No more talk of leaving or regrets. Do you hear me, Clara Belle Hopkins?"

"Mmhmm. I hear you," I sighed. "I just…"

Gah!! 'I love you' was on the tip of my tongue every second! It was bursting to come out. I bit my lip again, locking it inside.

"I just…too," he said and smiled. "So much, Clara."

That was as close as we'd ever been to saying it and it made my heart beat hard in my chest. He picked up on my happiness immediately and groaned against my hair as he hugged me tighter. I smiled my secret smile. I was the only one who could ever give him this again. I was the only one who could give him what he needed, or make him feel. He really was mine.

"We better go," I said, but he held me tighter.

"Just wait another minute," he said gruffly. "I just need to feel you for another minute."

So I let everything go. I wished in that moment that I knew what love
felt
like. Eli was feeling my love for him right now, and I wondered what it actually felt like, to not just be told, but to know, without a shadow of doubt because you could literally feel it.

After a few minutes he took a deep breath and leaned my head back. He kissed my lips once and then got our bags, taking them to the living room upstairs.

The bird took that moment as we were passing to go into a fit. He squawked and screeched. I covered my ears it was so loud and Eli dropped our bags to the floor. He looked at the bird and tapped the cage with his finger. "What is wrong with you?"

The bird answered, "A Goblin's tooth is all you need."

We looked at each other. What? What did that mean?

"A Goblin's tooth?" Eli asked it.

"A Goblin's tooth is all you need," Cavuto repeated.

Eli sighed and lifted his hands in a 'whatever' motion. He opened the bird's cage and held out a smaller one with a handle. The bird went right into it. Crap. We had to take the bird with us.

When Eli walked passed his car, I stopped. "We aren't taking your car?"

He shook his head. "We can't. We need to be inconspicuous and my car is definitely not that."

"So what is inconspicuous then?"

He smirked and jerked his head for me to follow him. We walked a few blocks before I got the drift. "A train? We're taking the train? To where?"

He set the bird down and opened his wallet at the window. "Right now? We're just getting out of here. We'll figure it out later." He looked at the attendant. "Two and a bird for…Colorado."

"Actually," we heard behind us, "four and a bird for New Mexico."

We looked back to see Finn smiling and Enoch looking around with disdain.

"What are you doing?" Eli asked him.

"Saving you," Finn said sarcastically. "We're going to The Wall."

"I don't need to go to The Wall," Eli argued. "I already told you-"

"But you didn't consider that maybe there's something you could gain from The Wall yourself." He smiled and looked at me. "What do you say, human? Want to see if there's a way to live forever?"

"What?"

"You're human. You'll die one day. Maybe we can work together to get to The Wall and see if someone there can help you."

"So…" I thought. "You want to go to The Wall to see if you can have me unbound from Eli, but you want me to think I'm going to The Wall to see about turning myself immortal."

"Now you're getting it. A common journey, no matter the outcome."

"What's The Wall?" I asked Eli.

"It's a meeting place for supernaturals." He glared at Finn. "A dangerous place where very few humans go."

"Maybe there's some magical thing that can be done to stop the Horde?" I offered. "I don’t know, but Enoch has to keep me safe and Finn, whatever his ulterior motive, wants to keep
you
safe. So it might not be a bad idea to let them tag along. I do want to find out…some things."

Enoch scoffed, "As far as I'm concerned, you're tagging along with us."

"Whatever," I disregarded. I heard him snort from behind me. "What do you think, Eli?"

"I think Finn convinced you that going to The Wall is a good idea and that you can find a fairy who'll grant you forever-life in a bottle." He sighed and held my face in his hands. "It just doesn't work that way."

"I have no idea how it works, but I'm in your life now, right? It wouldn't hurt to show me the ins and outs of your world. If for no other reason that I know who and what to trust."

"Trust no one, Clara. Trust no one or nothing but me." He sighed and looked back to the attendant. "Four and a bird for New Mexico, please."

Seven

"Gloating doesn't look good on you, Finn," Eli said from our seats.

"I have it on good authority that it does," he said with a smirk.

We were sitting across from a smug Finn and a pissed Enoch who couldn't be pleased no matter what you did. The train seats were two by two facing each other so we had some semblance of privacy.

Our bags were snuggly pressed into the overhead bin. I say ours as in Eli's and mine because Finn or Enoch brought nothing with them. I never saw Enoch with anything anyway. The bird was in another car with our other bag.

"Hungry?" Eli asked me as he turned from Finn. "You didn't eat much lunch today."

"I am actually. I brought," I reached up and grabbed my bag down, "cereal."

"Of all the food in my cabinets you brought cereal to eat dry?" he said amusedly.

"Yep," I grinned as I opened the seal. A waft of fresh cinnamon hit me and I groaned as I popped a few in my mouth.

Eli laughed and reached into the box to get a few himself. Our crunching couldn't be heard over the train's loud screeching and rumbling as it blared down the tracks. It had only been about twenty minutes since we left the station and we had a butt load of miles left to go.

I texted Ariel and told her I'd be out of town with Eli for a few days. She balked as much as one can through text and told me I was crazy. Missing school and going on strange, sporadic vacations with my boyfriend was out of character for me. Yeah, didn't I know it? But she kind of refuted all the maternal advice when she asked for details as soon as I returned. I smiled as I agreed.

After a while, I began to drift off. Eli pulled the armrest up from between us and leaned me to lay my head on his lap. He stretched out, crossing his ankles, and I didn't fight him as he leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Go to sleep, love."

With one of his hands in my hair and the other on my back, I plummeted into sleep.

~ ~ ~

I woke to voices. Heated, straining, upset voices. I didn't open my eyes, I just waited to see what was happening.

"Yes, that's the only reason I'm helping you. I'm hoping that once we get there, and the bond is removed, that you'll be your old self again and the girl can be sent packing."

"And I told you," Eli argued back to Finn in a hiss, "that I'm not some ensnared animal. I chose her as my mate first. I'm not the same person I was forty five years ago when we plundered the clubs of Los Angeles!" He sighed. "I never understood why you were a little different from other Devourers, I still don't, but I accepted you as you were. You don't have to like it, but I'm asking you to do the same for me right now. I am not the same person anymore and won't be ever again, no matter what scheme you come up with. I changed before I even met this girl. You just weren't around to see it."

"But I heard all about it," Finn rebutted and then stayed strangely quiet.

"Angelina," Eli guessed and laughed under his breath. "So are you going to finally admit it?"

Finn hesitated before saying, "You never wanted her."

"Absolutely right, I didn’t. I still don't and never will. Have at it."

"That's such bullcrap, Elijah! You were set to take over everything. Why did you have to be so stupid?"

"I didn't want it," Eli growled, his grip on my arm tightening just a tad. "I didn't want any of it. And the only reason Angelina ever wanted me was so she could claim my family's fortune."

"You never wanted her? Really? The most perfectly proportioned woman made on this earth and below it wants you to be her one and only, and you want nothing to do with it?"

"You've got it. It had nothing to do with my parents. They didn't betray me until I ran. And I was running away from her, so shut up, Finn. I’m not joking. If you came to just talk me into going to Angelina you can just jump off now. As far as I know Angelina is in Resting Place with the Goblins anyway. Besides, I never was one for your sloppy seconds."

"You're such a bastard." I heard a scuffle of feet as he stood from his seat. "She only came to me because she missed you."

"Missed me?" Eli laughed humorlessly. "She never
had me
to miss me. And this is one of those times when you being soft really pisses me off, Finn. She used you and you know it. You need to just admit it to yourself so you can stop being obsessed with her."

"I knew she was using me to get to you, I just didn't care. She was a hot piece-"

"Don't. Care."

"Whatever. I can't wait until we get there and some grimy Witch lets us know that you can take that bond off of your wrist. Then you'll stop being such a pansy and start being the Elijah I always knew."

"That Elijah is gone," Eli said sternly. "Eli is all that's left."

I heard steps leaving. I kept my eyes shut, feeling Eli's hands smoothing and soothing me. He didn't seem upset by his talk with Finn. In fact, he seemed completely at ease. He even started to hum the words softly to Coldplay again,
Green Eyes
this time, as he ran his fingers through my hair.

Honey, you should know,

that I could never go on without you.

Green eyes

Honey, you are the sea

upon which I flow.

And I came here to talk

I think you should know.

Green eyes

you're the one that I wanted to find.