Killian stared at Fyodor and nodded. Fyodor laid his hand against the side of her face as he continued to speak. “Lupo sensed it but before he could get what it was, Lennox sent him away from Eve.” Fyodor glanced at her. “Nice to see you again, Eve. Your temper almost cost you both your lives.”
“Lupo left A’rm Ageddon aware. He had no ri—”
“He had every right. As a Shadower, by our code he should have killed her for what she did. But because of you he did not. His leaving her aware was all he took for his retribution for her killing his wife.”
“My mother. If it was me, I would have killed her, showing no mercy for what she did.” Lennox strode in, coming to Killian. “I’m sorry, Killian, I didn’t sense anything amiss. I’ve been busy and haven’t been around Storm since your battle with Blagden.”
“None of us knew.” Killian held Storm’s lifeless body, wondering if she would be okay.
“Lennox would have known if he had got near her.” Fyodor ran his fingers along her temple. “Hmmm… This is where he hitched. She is a seer and when she linked with him, he saw his chance to enact his plan. Until then, he didn’t know how to get A’rm Ageddon near Eve.” Fyodor glanced up at those in the room. “He expected it would be Harmony he would hitch on. He knows about Harmony and has been watching her and Lennox for a while. Storm was a surprise and convenient to his plan. He needed a hitch to get himself and A’rm Ageddon near Eve.” Fyodor studied Eve intently. “You are one of the keys to what their ultimate plan is. My father has been silent all these weeks because he has been channeling his energy into the shadow hitcher that was in Storm. It is why she was having headaches. She sensed something amiss but not what.” Fyodor stroked his hand on Storm’s face.
Killian growled. Fyodor smiled at him then chuckled. “I’d be possessive if I had a woman like her too.” He pressed his finger on her temple and Killian felt the power along his skin. “She’ll be fine until I get here. When I do, I’ll get rid of the rest of the hitcher.”
“Let Lennox do it.” Killian trusted him to not be lusting after Storm.
“He can’t. I took the hitcher as part of me so I have to erase the rest of it,” Fyodor said.
Killian looked at Lennox and he nodded. Killian frowned, turning his attention back to Fyodor, who was still working on Storm.
“What would the shadow hitcher have done to Eve? Why is she the key?” Christos demanded.
“It would have weakened her enough to wake A’rm Ageddon. She is the reason A’rm Ageddon cannot wake fully.” Fyodor patted Storm’s cheek. “Eve is one of the keys. Niya is the other.”
“What? What does she have to do with it?”
Killian glanced at Christos. Fury was on his face and his body was rigid.
“Eve is tied to humanity but Niya is tied to earth. You need both to demolish this realm.” Fyodor shrugged. “I’m going to leave it up to you to keep Niya safe. Lupo has Eve.”
“I do—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re going to say. You don’t need anyone to protect you. But, Eve, you always had a soft spot for your sister. She’s tried to kill you too many times to even count. Yet she still lives.” Fyodor waved his hand at the glass cell. “Your blind loyalty to her is a weakness she will exploit if she wakes. She will gut you and not even mourn you. But if you were to kill her, it would destroy you.” Fyodor lifted his head and Killian’s breath caught at the rage burning in his eyes. “I already know my father must die for all of us to live. I will mourn him but do as I must. Eve, someday soon you will have to answer the question—will you do what must be done or lie down and let yourself be killed?” Fyodor clenched his fist. “I hope you make a decision that you can live with.”
“Death upon death, blood of blood will change the destinies of many,” Storm’s voice intoned in a sing-song cadence. “Each must fulfill their task that will unfold for many centuries to come. Life is dependent on each movement to compile the whole.”
Killian stared at her hazel-green eyes, so glad to see her awake. Storm reached up and cupped Fyodor’s cheek. “Fire will bathe you and make you reborn but you will suffer and need it to survive.” She lowered her voice. “You have such pretty eyes.”
“Thank you, Seer.” Fyodor cupped her cheek in return. “People underestimate you, Storm Davis, but you saw what no one else did. There was something deeper in the works. Trust those instincts and share them.” Fyodor rose then rolled his shoulders. “Storm will be okay until I arrive then I will make sure to get rid of all the hitcher. I’ll take my leave. But first—” Fyodor turned and ran through the glass into the cell.
“No!” Eve roared.
Fyodor paused in front of A’rm Ageddon. “I should kill you and end it here. Even though my body isn’t here and I’m just an astral projection, I can do that. But I won’t because if I did, it would make my father go and hide to plot even more. With you here and his failure in waking you, he will get careless. He will be desperate to get you back.” Fyodor turned his head and his violet eyes flashed. “Guard her well—she is our biggest asset in getting to my father.”
In the next moment, he was gone.
“Damn, that man knows how to make an entrance.” Storm chuckled. “If he is that powerful and wasn’t even here, I can’t wait to meet him in person.”
“You will keep far, far away from him,” Killian said.
“But he has to lay hands on me to get this shadow thing out of me.” Storm lifted her hand to her head. “That headache that always seemed to be lingering is gone.”
“He said it was because of the shadow hitcher.”
“The who?”
“It’s a part of another person’s shadow. It can be used as a way to infiltrate an enemy’s camp without them knowing.” Lennox squatted beside them. “It takes loads of power to maintain for so long. It is a weapon. If Fyodor hadn’t interfered, it would have done what it was supposed to, then eliminated Storm. It takes the host with them when it is done.”
Killian tightened his hold on Storm. He had almost lost her and hadn’t even sensed anything was wrong.
“I’m fine now.” Storm patted his hand.
“You are not fine!” Killian roared.
“No getting all overprotective again,” Storm warned, her expression becoming mulish.
“It isn’t being overprotective,” Killian protested. “It is my caring if you live or die.”
“I care if you do too.”
Killian met Christos’ gaze and he gestured for him to go.
“Eve, we need to protect you.”
“I’m no—”
Killian used his power to take them away. At his house, he materialized them in his bedroom, laid Storm on the bed and stared at her.
“You rest.”
“Only if you lie down with me.” Storm patted the mattress.
“I will, after I make sure that my wards are strengthened. I’m not letting Blagden get another crack at you.”
“Fine, but five minutes then I’m coming to get you.” Storm settled on the bed.
Killian stood and went out of the door before he strode down the hall. He could have checked his wards from the bedroom but he wanted a moment alone. Storm knew that too and had let him go. He rested his hand on the wall and breathed deep. A hand pressed against his back and Killian pushed into Storm’s touch.
“It hasn’t been five minutes.”
“It’s been long enough. I won’t have you out here blaming yourself and maybe even thinking you need to wrap me in cotton to protect me.” Storm leaned on him, hugging him.
“I blame Blagden for this. He is endangering people to bring down the world.” Killian touched her hands against his chest. “As for cotton, I wasn’t even thinking about it. Don’t want to give you a reason to yank me into the ground again.” He turned in her arms, smiling.
“I’m sure in the future you’ll give me reasons to.” Storm slid her hand down his arm and grabbed his hand. “But for now, bed for both of us.”
Killian let her lead him to the bedroom. When they were by the bed, Storm undressed him slowly, kissing various parts of his body as she unveiled it. She gestured for him to get in then undressed herself before sliding in to join him. Killian cuddled behind her back and held her. She was his and he would not let anyone hurt her.
* * * *
Killian focused on his paperwork, making notes. A familiar sensation filled him and he grinned. In a moment, he made himself flash out then appear again, coming to stand before Storm who was strolling down the sidewalk outside the agency.
“I thought you were through trying to escape from your partner.”
“Crap.” Storm glanced up then blew out a breath. “I wasn’t escaping. I was getting you a surprise. I forgot you have some sort of sense when I leave the building.”
“Not when you are leaving but when you are sneaking out,” Killian said. “You get this vibe to your power that lets me know you’re up to something.”
“Ah-ha. So that’s it.” Storm pursed her lips. “I need to make sure to keep my mind innocent so I can get away.”
“Umm… I could say something about you and a lack of innocence, but I’m going to resist.”
“I admire your restraint,” Storm said drily.
Killian laughed then stiffened as energy flared. Storm went still then lifted her hand and pushed out with power over his shoulder at the same time that Killian slid them out of the way from the surge. He glanced back in time to see the ground where they had stood blacken. Quickly, Killian evaluated the area. He was glad it was so early in the morning so the street was deserted.
“I don’t know how you rejected my hitcher but I’m killing you. You are useless to me now.”
Killian turned to face Blagden but Blagden’s attention was on Storm. He sneered then flicked his finger, sending black energy at her. Killian swiftly put out his hand and caught it. He held it, letting it crawl up his arm. Blagden watched him with a smug smile on his face.
“Silly Amazonian Warrior,” Blagden mocked as he came closer. “You’ll die then I will have her anyway.”
Killian glanced at Storm. “He likes to hear himself talk.”
“Must be hard not having anyone to listen to your lunatic ravings.” Storm shrugged then tapped her finger on the black energy. “This is just sloppy.” The magic disintegrated.
Blagden frowned. “How did you do that?”
“Blagden, Blagden, you keep forgetting something.” Storm patted Killian’s arm then strolled toward Blagden.
The roll of her hips and strut were all geared to make a person look at her. Blagden stared.
“Tsk, tsk. You might think you are the big bad but with each foray against us, we beat you. Time and again we make you run with your tail between your legs.” Storm shook her head. “It’s sad, really.”
Blagden smiled and it wasn’t pleasant. “You have a tongue that will look good above my mantle.”
“Your head would look better there.” Storm paused, bracing her legs apart. She stood like a proud warrior and tilted her head to the side. “You can try all you want but defeat comes to you because of one important thing.”
“What is that, oh Miss Know-It-All?” Blagden said mockingly.
“Your bloodline goes back a long way but so does all of ours whom you are up against.” Storm gestured behind her. “That man there is my mate and he doesn’t take kindly to anyone threatening me.”
“Your mate, huh?” Blagden looked him up and down. “He is weak.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “Then again, so are you.”
Blagden threw more power and Storm lifted her hand and caught it. She held it in her palm then lobbed it back at him. Blagden captured it then threw a volley at her and at him. Killian seized it before throwing it back and more. Blagden continued to spray them with power. Each was stronger than the last. Storm spun and threw
Maji Stars
. Killian brought up a sword with his power and ran toward Blagden. They attacked him from both sides. Killian sent a call for help but it slammed back into him when Blagden, whose power dampened the area, rebuked it.
Storm looked at him and Killian sent his sword away. Blagden laughed, loud and ugly.
“Uh-oh… You’re in trouble now.”
Killian held out his hand. Storm slid hers into his and he pulled her into his arms then he flamed. The fire swirled up his skin and outward, flowing from him. He embraced it and fortified it with his Amazonian Warrior power to strengthen it. Blagden roared then all was silent. Killian held Storm and withdrew his firebird—it hadn’t affected her since he’d set it to get Blagden. When the area cleared, Killian stared at where Blagden had been.
“You hurt him. But he’s not dead.”
“I know. It’ll take more than that to get him.” Killian glanced at her. “At least now one of Fyodor’s points was proven true. Blagden is desperate to get A’rm Ageddon. It made, and will continue to make, him careless.”
“Yes. To come after us this close to the agency he didn’t think. He is just reacting.” Storm glanced at him. “And that will make him even more dangerous.”
“We’ll just have to keep preparing.” Killian slid his arm around her waist. “At least we have A’rm Ageddon and until he gets her back, he won’t move forward with whatever he has planned. She is his weakness and blind spot.”
“Yes.” Storm touched his shoulder. “His injury will also make him want to get to you to hurt you.”
“That’s what I am counting on.” Killian led Storm back to the agency. They had to report what had happened and continue to plan.
* * * *
Storm tapped her finger on the arm of the couch. She frowned at the TV screen then turned to Killian.
“I can feel your overprotectiveness kicking in again.” Killian glanced at her. “If I can’t wrap you in cotton to protect you, you can’t do that to me either. Whatever happens with Blagden, we’ll face it together. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said reluctantly.
“Storm.”
“I know. Stop worrying, you’ll be fine.” Storm pursed her lips. “I don’t have to like it.” She shook her head. “Imagine a few weeks ago I was annoyed with you being overprotective and now I’m doing it. I blame you, Killian. You’re driving me daffy.”
“You don’t have far to go.” Killian grinned.
“Kiss my—”
He leaned over and kissed her. Storm opened, sucking his tongue. Killian moved her into his lap and she straddled him. He gripped her ass and Storm rocked back into his touch. Storm pushed at his shirt, pulling it apart and making the buttons fly. She ran her hands down his chest, enjoying the play of muscles under her hands. Killian lifted her, pulling up her house-dress. He pulled it off her head and Storm shook out her hair. Killian lowered his head and nipped at her breast. She gasped and arched into him as he took her nipple between his teeth.