Lizzy Ford (33 page)

Xander understood that some part of Jessi was stuck in hard core denial, the kind that needed irrefutable proof that she had no other alternatives. She surrendered to him last night in a way that made his body crave her, something that never happened with the other girls. He was right when he suspected sex with the intriguing woman was going to be unlike sex with anyone else. The emotional connection was even more powerful when he was inside her. It left him wanting her even worse, now that he knew what it was like to fuck her.

He didn’t expect the sight of his necklace dangling in the center of her chest to fill him with anything other than regret or dread. He was surprised that he felt neither. She glowed from their lovemaking, her gray eyes sparkling with life.

Still she defied him. He was torn again between frustration and the kind of interest that came from trying to capture a ghost. Jenn texted him earlier to let him know his condo no longer existed. It was likely why Jessi changed her mind so many times about last night.

She’d chosen him, and then blown up his apartment. Or at least, not warned him. He loved how complicated it was while suspecting she dug herself a grave, one he wasn’t going to be able to help her avoid without her telling him what was going on.

He rested a hand on her thigh. She smiled at him, troubled yet gazing at him in a way that explained why she didn’t just throw the necklace away. He’d taken a gamble by entrusting it to her. For the first time in his life, he really wasn’t certain his choice was a smart one. He wanted
her
, but he wasn’t going to settle for a woman unable to pass the ultimate test. There was no room in his life for betrayal.

The cops were at his condo building when they arrived, and he sensed Guardians nearby as well. Xander felt her grow tenser as they were waved down the long driveway, towards the oceanfront building. What happened soon became apparent; there was a neat hole in the top story of the building where Xander’s condo used to be.

All residents were being directed to the lawn to park, and Xander remained calm. He shut off the ignition.

“How ‘bout now?” he asked casually. “Anything to share?”

Jessi was pale. She shook her head.

Xander said nothing. He exited and closed the door. He gazed towards his nonexistent condo and crossed his arms, leaning back against the car. The place was swarming with police and displaced residents. He imagined the ocean breeze zipping straight through where his living room used to be.

“How’s life?”

Xander glanced at the man the same size as him. The White God, Damian, was cool and wary, his white-blonde hair, golden eyes and subtle white glow the opposite of Xander’s darker presence. He was accompanied by his brother, the Grey God, Darian, whose unusual power bent the air around him in a mix of light and shadows. Older by ten years, Darian’s hair was dark and his body whip like, compared to his brother’s thicker frame. Behind them was Charles, the newly re-vamped Tracker.

Darian had Xander’s cat tucked against his body.

“Talk about ocean view,” Darian said with a half-smile.

Xander snorted.

“You found the cat!” Jessi sounded relieved.

“My condo is gone, and you’re worried about the fucking cat?” Xander asked, watching Jessi hurry to claim the small black creature from Darian.

“The cat doesn’t treat women like toilet paper,” Jessi snapped.

“Wanna tell me who blew up my condo, Ms. Thursday?”

Her mouth dropped open.

“Nice necklace,” Darian said, before she recovered enough to respond. He smiled at the small woman who reached for the cat and handed it over. “I hope it didn’t cost you too much.”

“Only what remained of my self-respect,” she replied.

Darian laughed. Damian, however, was watching Xander with familiar caution.

“Jessi, have you ever seen Xander tear out anyone’s throat?” Damian asked.

Xander didn’t flinch.

“No.” Jessi’s voice was hushed. “I know he can. I saw him kill three people.”

“He can level a city and walk away without caring about anyone who got hurt. He’s done it before. He creates the parasites that are vamps, which then kill humans. There is no mercy or compassion in this creature.”

Xander felt Jessi’s gaze on him.

“You don’t know exactly what he’s capable of, of how deep that evil runs,” Damian added.

There was a tense pause. Xander wasn’t certain what Jessi might be thinking. Darian was watching her hard while Damian held Xander’s gaze.

“If he’s so bad, why haven’t you killed him?” Jessi asked at last.

Xander smiled. Damian raised an eyebrow and turned to gaze down at the woman.

“I’m not defending him, by any means,” she continued. “But really, if someone isn’t salvageable, I don’t think your … people would tolerate him or warn him or help me when I’m associated with him.”

“You’re a different matter,” Damian replied, gaze flickering to his brother. “The smaller they are, the feistier.”

“No, I’m pretty sure they’re all feisty,” Darian said.

She rolled her eyes at them. By the long, considering look she then gave Xander, she was trying to figure out what to do. The Gods now knew Xander’s intention of claiming her; what they couldn’t know was that he was also prepared to walk away, if she made the wrong decision.

If she made the wrong choice, there would be nothing standing between him and the will of those who wanted to cause irreparable harm to the human world. The Others wouldn’t spare the realm in their attempt to destroy their enemies, and Jonny wasn’t yet able to grasp his role in the mess.

Xander understood how dangerous of a weapon he was; Eden exploited it once before. He hadn’t told Jessi the entire truth about the gem. It wasn’t a weapon; it was a key.
He
was the weapon. He was entrusting her with more than his only treasure.

No part of him regretted it. He didn’t understand why, when she was so torn about what to do.

Xander’s gaze dropped to the red bauble at her chest. As much as he hated the idea of being cornered, he began to think there was no walking away.

“Others did this,
ikir,
” Charles reported.

“Not surprised,” Damian said. “They’ve been at your heels for a few weeks, Xander.”

“What are Others?” Jessi asked.

“Really bad guys. Ones even Xander can’t face alone,” Damian replied. “They’re almost untraceable and have even showed up at our compound in Texas. Charles and I can track them, and I can fight them.”

“I thought Xander could battle anything.”

“I kill Others. It’s my specialty,” Darian replied. “Xander probably could, but it might destroy mankind.” He laughed again.

Jessi appeared horrified. Xander winked at her. She definitely seemed to be thinking twice about sleeping with him.

“I’m not feeling so well,” she said.

Xander saw the subtle signal Damian gave his brother. Darian glanced at Xander, a look of warning or challenge in his gaze. Xander didn’t move as the Grey God took Jessi’s arm.

“Wanna see my cat?” Darian asked. “She’s in Texas, with your cousins.”

Jessi appeared ready to refuse, until her cousins were mentioned. She accompanied Darian. Damian waited for the two to Travel before turning his attention back to Xander.

“Are you turning her over to us?” Damian asked, crossing his arms.

“Depends on her,” Xander replied.

“Always a gentleman.”

“I didn’t survive this long by letting people fuck me over.”

“I’d believe you, if Sofi hadn’t told me to look beyond the obvious with you,” Damian continued.

“Damn oracle.” Xander’s menacing growl came from low in his chest.

“On that point, we agree,” Damian said. “Of course, she said nothing else, which leaves me in a position I don’t like. I can assume you’ll do what you need to and contact me if needed, or I can interfere now and take something I’m not sure I should.”

Xander listened, unaccustomed to being told what to do in a world where he did what he wanted.

“I won’t put three Naturals at risk of dealing with Jonny on their own. We figured out the girl can Travel, and I have a feeling I know where she’s headed, if she gets the chance,” Damian added.

“She’d make a shitty vamp,” Xander said with a shrug. Silently, he acknowledged that he was a fool to lower his guard around the teens and their cousin, to the point he recognized Ashley the first time he saw her but didn’t check her mind. He knew there was a connection between Ashley and Jonny. He assumed it extended no farther than the Black God using Ashley to get to Jessi. That the godling with the hormones of a teen might have more of an interest in the girl never crossed Xander’s mind.

“You’re a fan of choices.” Damian gave a trace of a smile. “Choose. We deal with this together, or I tell Darian not to bring your woman back from Texas.”

“You can keep the woman. Just send back the necklace,” Xander said, chuckling.

Damian cocked his head to the side. Rather than piss off the White God, Xander sensed he’d walked into a trap of some sort. Damian appeared pensive. He wrestled with himself silently for a moment – or maybe with the Oracle, who no doubt was able to talk to him mentally – then stepped back and threw open his arms.

“You’re welcome to visit whenever you’d like,” the White God said, smiling in a way that made Xander wary.

The Oracle had to have told her husband something. The White God didn’t invite the Original Vamp into his home out of a sense of kindness or moral obligation.

“There will come a day when standing back to watch someone else fuck up won’t work out for you,” Damian added. “You might have to leave that safe corner where you’ve spent your life.”

His piece said, the White God left.

Xander’s gaze remained where the White God had been. Charles was a short distance away, alert.

Xander stayed in place for awhile, gaze on the scene at the building. The Others had managed to disintegrate his condo without a hint of damage elsewhere. There was a slim chance they might’ve succeeded in making him disappear as well, had he been there. He lived through his fair share of encounters with the creatures over his lifetime. They’d have to confront him at some point, especially if they hoped to use the necklace.

No, obliterating the apartment was a message. They tracked him quietly and now were making it clear they meant business. Jessi had the necklace and was safe with the Guardians, which left Xander free to hunt Others with Charles.

Everything was as it should be. Except that he wasn’t happy with the way things were. The idea of spending the day with a vamp instead of Jessi was unappealing. He was edgy already. More than that, he felt … off. He would never admit that the White God was right aloud, but he began to think he already left his safe corner by placing his fate in Jessi’s hands.

“Ready to kill some Others?” Darian asked, reappearing.

Xander studied the wily Grey God, aware of Darian’s reputation for having a wild streak that bordered on suicidal.

“Fair warning. I won’t save your ass, just because your woman is pregnant,” Xander said.

“I won’t save
your
ass, just because your woman likes cats.”

Xander laughed. He respected the Grey God, even if he didn’t always like him. If Darian was surprised Xander knew about the baby, he didn’t show it.

“Let’s go,” Xander said. “I’m in a mood to kill everything I see.”

“Want me to disable them for you or do you plan on letting them tear you apart?”

“Grab ‘em and toss ‘em back.”

“Charles! Find us some Others,” Darian called to the vamp.

The immortal Tracker went still for a long moment. Xander watched him. Darian was armed with knives and a short sword for the hunt; Xander used nothing but his hands and fangs.

Facing the ocean, Charles waved them over. He held out a hand to Darian, who in turn held his fist out to Xander. Xander bumped fists with him. He was swept away by the magic of Charles, who guided them to where the Others were.

They were somewhere close; Xander smelled the ocean without seeing it. An abandoned factory was before them, the gates on it locked while the surrounding buildings reflected the same rundown condition.

“Two,” Charles said, pointing to the factory.

“Did Jenn tell you, or did you pry it out of her head?” Darian asked finally.

“Pried it out, same as you.”

Xander smiled to himself. The vicious strike of Darian’s sword against the rusted chain of the fence was enough to show Xander he was right about the Grey God not taking Jenn’s deception well. Of course, Xander now understood the frustration of knowing something was wrong without knowing exactly what.

He trailed the Grey God into the building. Darian proceeded without apparent caution while Xander’s sensitive gaze took in their surroundings. His senses were at their max. Only a mistake would give the Others away and might be all that stood between life and death.

“What’s up with the vamp-cat?” Darian asked, hacking a lock off another door and flinging it open.

“Long story.”

“I’m listening.”

“My assistant decided she wanted to turn a cat into a vampire. She couldn’t do it, so I did.”