Hold Me If You Can (15 page)

“It’s not a lie,” Mari protested. “Pascal is here for you. I want you to get his love, Danielle. That’s why we’re here.”

Danielle looked over at Pascal, who was glaring at the women with a combination of quiet stealth and a hint of amusement, as if he knew something the women didn’t know. “You want to set me up with Pascal?” Danielle asked. “But he’s… I hardly know him.”

“You don’t think he’s sexy?”

The maiden’s cheeks turned pink as Pascal cocked an assessing look at her. Yes, yes, the warrior definitely had some sort of plan. “Well, yes, I guess,” Danielle stammered. “But that’s not how it works. You can’t lobotomize him into loving someone—”

“Stop!” Oh, for all that was a waste of good time. People not living in the vortex of his vision were just a drain on his brilliance. Charles had no time for the emotional bickering of those with fragile personal auras. He was a man on a mission, and he needed to hone his skills.

Mari was studying him as if he’d gone insane. “I need to take more smut off you, don’t I?”

“Nonsense. I am fit and amazing and fantastic.” He flexed his palms. “Just aggravated by non- visionary peons.”

Mari touched him with her wand anyway, and his whole body lurched as sunlight, excitement, and freedom surged through him. He did a backflip and landed sprawled on his back on the ground, twitching uncontrollably. “Wow. That’s more of a rush than peeing on an electric fence.”

She smiled down at him and tucked the baton back under her arm. “I’m just helping you out, big guy.”

“I appreciate it!” He bounced to his feet, feeling a thousand years lighter. There was less of the thick, dark hair on his arm, and his fingers were straighter. But most importantly, his soul felt different. Lighter. Like he owned it. “Let’s do it, Mari!”

“You got it.” Mari strode across the room, fired up the computer, and turned on the PowerPoint. “Okay, Danielle and Pascal. I want you to sit back and watch the show.”

Charles reclined his La-Z-Boy, grabbed a beer from his minifridge, helped himself to the bag of chips, and put on his fuzzy slippers. “Yes, yes, let’s begin.” How delicious did he feel? Hardly any smut holding him back. Life was so grand! He was the man!

Mari set a tray on Pascal’s lap and handed one to Danielle. “Hold it in front of you.”

“What are we doing?” Danielle asked, standing in front of the warrior, as if she could protect him.

So very cute. And naive, but cute.

“Just watch.” The lights went out, and the presentation began. First up,” Mari said. “We have an image of a double chocolate fudge brownie with chips. It is warm out of the oven and smells like the decadent warmth of cocoa. It will melt in your mouth—”

The image of a fudge brownie flared in Danielle’s mind. It glowed bright and powerful. Pure unfettered longing without any baggage.

Bingo.

Charles tapped it a split second before guilt about the fit of her new jeans dimmed it. A gooey chocolate chip cookie appeared on the tray in front of Danielle.

Shit. A fucking cookie? Where was the brownie?

Danielle jumped back. “Where did that come from?”

“Your mind,” Mari said. “Charlie’s not very good, but he’ll get there. Next.”

Charles took another swing of beer and settled more deeply into his chair. “Don’t be frustrated,” he muttered to himself. “It always takes a little while to warm up.” Yeah, sure his pappy had always told him that any halfway decent genie didn’t need to warm up and could get it right from the start, but his pappy was a conniving bastard who thrived on squashing his son, so screw that.

The next slide was of a harsh, penetrating sun in a brazen blue sky above a parched desert. The next slide was one of high noon on the Sahara Desert. There were pictures of bones scattered across the sand, and a man reaching out with an empty cup.

Charles could almost feel the sweat dripping off the audience. The desire was being created.

The image of a frosted pitcher of lemonade flashed on the screen.

Mirror images of lemonade flared in the minds of both viewers, raw and desperate longing.

Charles gritted his teeth and tapped both of them.

Beer for the warrior and a pitcher of sangria for Danielle.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Mari snapped. “It’s not that hard, Chuck! They were both thinking of lemonade!”

“Shut up.” Charles chugged the last of the beer. “Stop pressuring me, woman. You have no idea how the complexities of my power work.” Shit, shit, shit! How was he going to save the world if he couldn’t pull his shit together? “Next!”

The next slide was of a climber on Mt. Everest sitting on an ice floe, with blackened and frostbitten fingers. And then a shot of dumbasses leaping off an iceberg into frozen waters wearing nothing but bathing suits.

He shut out Mari droning on about frigid and cold things, ignored the picture of Russians huddled against the bitter cold. He focused on preparing for the moment. For the slide of the fuzzy, warm, fleece boots.

He hit Danielle’s mind at the exact second the image appeared in her head. He threw all his force into it, then slammed her with power so extreme he felt his own head burn.

Danielle screamed and flew back off her chair into the wall behind her.

“Dear God! What did you do to her?” Mari raced across the room and knelt beside the girl. “Danielle? Are you okay?”

Charles didn’t even have to look. He felt it. He’d aced it. He just sat back. Ate a chip. And waited.

It took almost two minutes before he heard Mari gasp. “She’s wearing the boots!”

He grinned. “And they’re her size, too.”

“Wow.” Mari looked up. “You’ve never gotten it that right before.”

Pascal didn’t move, but dark energy was pulsing off him with a force that made Charles just a wee bit happy the man was under lockdown. Charles rubbed his hands together, basking in the sensation of his power pulsing through him. He was back. Better than before. His power was surging, and it was time. “Fantastic. Bring the warrior forward. It’s time to work on him.”

And it was.

One mind, one soul, one heart…
prepare
to
be
stripped.

Nigel glided the Mercedes up next to the pine trees caressing the entrance to the cave. He was pleased to see Christian was already there waiting for them. He parked the car and turned to Natalie. Her face was tense and her hands were fidgeting restlessly in her lap.

He set his hand over hers and was rewarded with a brief flash of a smile. “Ready, Natalie?”

“I’d rather be making virility balls and polishing the crystal for the inspection.” She peered out the window at the black opening of the cave. “You know, cleaning the toilets would probably be preferable as well.”

Nigel grinned. “Cleaning toilets? I don’t believe you.” He squeezed her hand. “Fighting for your freedom and possibly having to seduce a manly warrior is much more fun.”

Her cheeks flushed as she looked back at him. “I’m way too tense for seduction.”

“I could take care of that in a heartbeat.”

Her gaze flicked to his mouth, and suddenly the atmosphere in the car heated up several degrees. His hand tightened around hers and he bent forward and brushed his lips over hers. The spark was instant, and he grinned when she sucked in her breath.

Oh, yes, he could turn her on in a heartbeat.

“Hey!” Christian shouted and began walking toward the car.

“There goes our chance for a make-out session,” he said ruefully as he trailed his fingers through her hair.

“Good. I don’t like sex.”

He laughed then. “Even with me?”

She eyed him, but her eyes were sparkling again. “The correct answer would be yes, I don’t even like sex with you.”

He grinned. “Too bad you can’t say it, can you?”

She signed. “No.”

He laughed at her obvious chagrin and kissed her forehead. “It’s okay, I like kissing you, too. We’ll find a way to hate it, I promise.”

She laughed then. “I don’t know about that.”

“Neither do I, to be honest.” Christian was nearing, so Nigel forced himself to focus on the situation they were about to walk into. He’d managed to relax Natalie, and it was time to get into battle mode. He pointed past her at the opening in the hillside. “That’s our entrance point into the Den. It’s the Cavern of Murderous Poltergeists—”

“Seriously?” She looked over at the cave with a cute grimace. “That seems a little melodramatic—”

“Unfortunately, it’s not melodramatic. It’s highly accurate.” Nigel caught her arm, suddenly feeling apprehensive about taking Natalie into the Den. He already presented enough danger to her safety, and now he was adding more danger to her life? Shit. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. “Listen to me, sweetheart.”

She met his gaze, those huge green eyes staring into his with such trust. “Okay.”

He rubbed her arm, needing to touch her, to know she was safe. “Stay close so I can keep you safe. Your only job is to be near in case I snap and need to draw, okay? That’s it. Leave everything up to me and Christian, so we can protect you. Got it?”

She nodded. “I’m completely okay with leaving hand-to-hand combat up to you.”

“Thank you.” He grinned, relieved at the honesty in her voice. “We’re not going to engage in any extra battles. We’re going straight in to find Pascal and Blaine, to cut Mari’s ties to you, and then we’re out. Got it?”

Her forehead furrowed. “How do you know where they are?”

“We’ll find them.” Nigel kissed her hand once and then it was time. He shoved the car door open as Christian reached the vehicle. He climbed out of the car. “You good?”

Christian’s skin was shiny, as if he were already morphing into metal. He walked up and slammed his fist into Nigel’s jaw. “You drew Blaine, you son of a bitch.”

Nigel stumbled, caught his balance, and righted himself. But he didn’t raise a hand to Christian. “You spoke with Jarvis, I take it. He told you about Blaine and Trinity getting snatched.”

“Yeah.” Christian’s arm flared with metal and he pulled a sword out of his skin. “We can’t risk it, brother. I’m taking you out.”

“No!” Natalie scrambled out of the car and threw herself in front of Nigel. “Don’t—”

“Hey!” Nigel yanked her behind him and pinned her up against the car. “Never,
ever,
put yourself in front of a blade again. Do you understand? That’s not acceptable!” His heart was pounding and blades were prickling beneath his skin, on his shoulders and back at the thought of her putting herself in danger. He couldn’t believe she’d done that. Hadn’t she seen the instability in Christian’s eyes? The man wasn’t thinking clearly, and he very well might have staked her. Nigel went cold at the thought and his grip tightened on her. “Don’t you get it? You need to stay safe. You’re important.”

Her face softened and she laid her hand on his cheek. “I’m okay, Nigel. I’m not hurt.”

She
wasn’t hurt.
He bowed his head and felt the blades recede. “Don’t do that again.”

She smiled. “I won’t—” Her attention went past his shoulder, and she tensed. “Nigel—”

He spun around and blocked Christian’s sword as it came down toward his chest. “Christian. You’re not going back.”

“Damn right.” Christian ripped his sword free. “There’s no chance—”

“Hey!” Natalie shoved off the car, but she didn’t move into the line of battle.
Good
girl.
“I worked on Nigel. He doesn’t need to draw now. You’re safe, Christian. It’s over.”

Christian didn’t even look at her. “Nigel betrayed us.” He whipped out his sword, and Nigel pulled one out and met him halfway, playing defense only. The clang of blades was ominous and dangerous, especially given that they were friends.

Nigel swore as Christian lunged again, at the betrayal on his friend’s face. “Yeah, I blew it. I know I did. But it won’t happen again. I’ve taken measures, and we’re going to get them out.” He sandwiched the blade up against Christian’s chest. “I’m not the enemy, big guy. You know I’m not!”

“You drew them,” Christian growled. “You got them sucked back in—”

“I know! Mother of hell, I know!” Nigel didn’t back down. “You don’t think Mari did that on purpose? She intentionally used my talents as a trap. She wanted to split us up. Come on, man! I don’t know what the hell happened to you in there, but don’t let them mess with you. We’re on the same team!” He shoved hard and sent Christian flying backwards into a tree.

Christian stared at him in fury, then lunged for Nigel with a killing blow in his eyes.

“You know who I am, brother.” Nigel let his own sword drop out of his hand and raised his palms in surrender. Natalie gasped behind him, but he willed her to trust him. She placed her hand on his back, but she didn’t interfere or get in the way. “If I was the enemy, I wouldn’t trust you, would I?”

Christian’s blade plunged toward his heart, and still Nigel didn’t move. Natalie’s fingers dug into his back, but she didn’t interfere.
Come
on, Christian. Find your place again, big guy. You can do it.

The tip of his sword pierced Nigel’s chest, then Christian stopped, watching the small drips of blood trickle down Nigel’s chest. He frowned at the sword and then at Nigel. He looked confused and shocked.

“You’re good,” Nigel said quietly. “You’re good, big guy.”

Christian slowly lowered the sword and Natalie’s sigh of relief was so powerful that Nigel felt it in his soul.

“I’m toast,” Christian said.

“No.” Nigel strode forward and slammed his hand down on his shoulder. “We’re out of the Den. We’re free. We’re in control now. You’ll shake the residual aspects of whatever they did to you.”

Christian raised his gaze to Nigel. “We’re not in control, Nigel. Not any of us. They’re still ruling us. For hell’s sake, I was ready to kill you.” He wiped his forearm over his brow, and it came away streaked with sweat. “That wasn’t me.”

“I know.” Nigel flexed his hands and noticed the grayish tint was spreading over Natalie’s skin. The smut was hitting harder. “It ends now for all of us.”

Christian looked past him at the opening in the cave. “I’m not going to go in and get taken,” he said quietly. “If I get caught, kill me.”

“Kill you?” Nigel shook his head. “I won’t leave you behind—”

“Not good enough.” Christian shoved off him and began to walk back toward the street. He didn’t look back. Didn’t hesitate. He was leaving.

What in God’s name could have happened to Christian to make him walk away from battle? From a chance to rescue his friends? To ask for death instead of torture?

“Give him death,” Natalie said, moving up beside him as she tucked her hand around his arm. “Give it to him.”

“No chance.” Nigel shook his head. “I won’t kill him—”

She squeezed his forearm, her touch gentle and reassuring. A moment of beauty and gentleness in the whirling inferno of hell brewing around him. He took her hand and held it tight. “You won’t leave him behind, either, but he doesn’t believe you. He knows it’s possible you won’t get out. But he knows you’ll be able to kill him, even if you guys get trapped there. Give him that relief. Tell him you’ll kill him.”

Shit. She was right. Christian honestly didn’t trust that Nigel wouldn’t leave him behind. Where was the faith? His heart twisted for the damage that had been done to his friend. Somehow, Angelica had stolen his heart. “I will kill you,” he said quietly.

Christian didn’t say a word. He just swung around and strode straight into the cave. He didn’t look back. Didn’t wait. Just walked into hell. All it had taken was one word from Nigel, and Christian had trusted it. So, that was something at least. Maybe Christian couldn’t trust him to pull him out, but he trusted him to kill him.

That was a good sign.

Nigel pulled out some blades of his own and kissed Natalie lightly. “Let’s do it, sweetheart.” He didn’t miss the look of apprehension as Natalie followed him inside, and he sure as hell didn’t miss the first hint of fear he’d ever experienced in his own soul. Not fear of getting caught, like Christian. A fear that he would let everyone down. A fear that he would let Natalie get hurt.

He’d already endangered Pascal and Blaine. He had betrayed his parents before that, when he was a kid. What if he blew it with the rest of them? What if Christian was right that he should be killed before they could take the rest of them down? He looked down at the blades in his hands, searched his mind, and found no answers. He might not need to draw right now, but he was unfocused and tense. If he had drawn, he could have settled his mind and gotten into battle mode. But he hadn’t, so he was scattered and on edge.

Now was not the time to be less than his best.

But now was the only chance they had.

***

It was third time Nigel had been back to the Den since the escape, and the prospect wasn’t any rosier this time. Even having Natalie beside him couldn’t penetrate the shadows and doom weighing down on them.

Nigel tightened his grip on Natalie’s elbow as they strode into the Cavern of Murderous Poltergeists. The sky grew cloudy, and the air became thick and acrid, burning his throat.

Natalie coughed, and Nigel pulled her against him and covered her face in the crook of his elbow. “Breathe through the jacket,” he ordered.

She nodded and buried her face against him. She didn’t complain, didn’t hesitate, didn’t pull back. He knew she was scared, but she was stepping up. For herself, for him, for his friends, for Maggie. She might not be a trained warrior, but she was one in her heart. He held her closer and fisted the dagger in his free hand. “We’re going to make it,” he told her.

“I know.” Her voice was shaky, but her words were strong. “I can’t miss my appointment with the Michelin-O team. They get cranky when you try to reschedule.”

He chuckled at her comment. “Yeah, well, we can’t have them getting cranky on us. Guess we better survive, eh?”

“Definitely.”

Christian led the way across the graveyard, carefully watching as the smoke drifted and the ghouls began to circle. The spirits were a dark gray and black, and weapons glinted in their hands.

“They’ve upgraded since we were here last,” Nigel commented. “Don’t remember them being armed.”

“No one’s been around to feed them,” Christian said. “You know how they liked Angelica’s cookies. Mari probably ignores them, so they’re going through sugar-detox.”

A banshee let out a high-pitched scream, but Nigel didn’t even bother to glance that way. He was focusing on the swirl of energies around them. Right now everything was cold and heavy, which meant the dead hadn’t started to go corporeal yet, so they couldn’t hurt their uninvited guests. Once the temperature of the cavern began to rise, that’s when things would get dicey.

A serpent-headed wolf dove at him teeth bared, but he went right through Nigel and crashed through the wall behind him. Natalie yelped and grabbed her chest. “Oh, God. That was weird.”

Nigel frowned at her. “You felt that?”

“Yeah. It was like someone knifed me with an icicle.” She eyed him, her face suddenly wary. “You didn’t feel it pass through us?”

“No.” He exchanged looks with Christian. “It was of demon blood.”

“Oh.” Natalie’s face paled and she managed a rueful smile. “A cousin of mine? I should have invited her to dinner.”

“Probably good old Aunt Edna.” Nigel squeezed her shoulder as they neared the portal where Mari had been standing. Natalie was running of time. He could feel the taint in her energy.
Shit.

Christian shimmered, and then he went into full chain-link mode. From flesh to chain mail in a heartbeat. The fact he was suiting up before even setting foot in the Den said exactly how much Christian respected the place they were entering.

Nigel walked up beside Christian, keeping Natalie between them. The portal was pulsing black light. “It’s open.”

Christian nodded. “The spirits make it hard to keep it closed. I heard Angelica talk about that before. That why she fed them, to keep their loyalty.”

Natalie looked up above them at the murderous spirits circling. “They’re not guarding it now.”

“No.” Nigel didn’t like that fact. “I don’t know what they’re waiting for.”

“Maybe they think we’re sexy and they’re hoping for a prom date.” Christian pulled a sword out his arm and readied it. “Ready?”