Possession (11 page)

Chapter 15

A soft snore startled her. Who slept in her bed? Tonia sat straight up and blinked, attempting to adjust her eyes. Fallon shifted in his sleep, turned away from the light streaming in from the window and faced her. The fact that so much light streamed into the room surprised her. Since he worked nights, she expected Fallon’s curtains to keep the room totally dark while he slept during the day. She studied his handsome face. Fallon was fast asleep, didn’t seem bothered by the brightness at all.

Relaxed in repose, he presented the picture of a sleeping prince. His long lashes fanned down on his cheekbones, his sensual mouth pursed as if ready for a kiss, an errant lock tumbled across his forehead finishing the gorgeous rendering.

She lay back, careful not to jostle the bed too much. Her gaze traveled down from his lips to the masculine planes of his chest, the light feathering of hair begging for her touch. Instead she trailed it with her eyes, following the path down the middle of his ripped stomach to his…

“Do you like what you see?”

Her face heated at his hoarse words and she erased any expression, ensuring her eyes were flat when they met his. Noting the sleepy smile and his drowsy barely open eyes, she lost any façade of toughness and leaned over to kiss his lips.

“You’re an incredibly beautiful man,” she told him, surprised to see him blush. A perplexing male, surely he'd been complimented many times.

He stretched and then wrapped his arms around her. “Men are not supposed to be beautiful. Women are that.  You are that."

"Okay then, you are incredibly handsome." she purred into his ear.

"Mmmm," his hand slid to her shoulders, but instead of pulling her to him, Fallon pushed her back. "We didn’t get to talk.” True. They’d done many things since the day before, made love, went down to the empty kitchen to forage for food before losing control and rushing back upstairs to the bed, to make love again and then finally falling asleep.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s early yet, we’ve got all day before you leave.”

He nodded, frowning pensively. “Tonia. You loved your late husband very much,” he began. At seeing her wide-eyed look, he explained, “I have strong sensory mind reading abilities.”

"You—you’ve been reading my thoughts, all this time?"

Pulling her face up to his, he kissed her on the lips. “Please listen, I will explain.” When she nodded, he exhaled. “I do not read thoughts regularly, as a matter of fact, I prefer not to. Too much like being a peeping Tom. So no, I have not been reading your thoughts.” His brows bunched. “People think some crazy things at times and it can make one have a bad opinion of someone just because of it."

"Okay, I believe you."

Fallon relaxed visibly. "What I started to say is that I don’t aspire to replace your deceased husband, but I do hope you will grow to care for me.”

Tonia swallowed. “I do have feelings for you Fallon. I care for you a great deal. But I’m still trying to digest all this. Tell me what did you want to talk about?

He looked up to the ceiling as if collecting his thoughts. “Today Julian will return. He’ll probably have to repeat what he did to me last time. It’s necessary. I’ve been targeted for possession."

“What?” He released her when she pushed farther away and sat up, anxiety coursing through her. “What’s going to happen to you?”

Meeting her gaze for a moment, his brow furrowed, his eyes reflected desperation. “I hope nothing. That Julian will block it until the Protectors and I find the demon and kill him. A Master demon.”

“What if you fail?”

“Then I will demand they kill me.”

A myriad of emotions tumbled through her head and Tonia wasn't sure which was the stronger, shock or anger. Not at him, but at the situation. Fallon watched her without speaking and then pulled her back into an embrace. She didn’t love him, but they’d bonded and she already felt protective of him. How long would it last? What about this whole mating thing?

“Surely there is something we can do,” Tonia told him, and took his face in her hands. “We can’t just lie around here, literally.”

Fallon went to wrap his arms around her again, but she wiggled out of his embrace. “We have to go and find this demon and kill him.”

The man had the nerve to smile. “So you want to keep me around huh?”

“This is serious.” She frowned. “You could die.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I can die any day, crossing the street, get hit by a bus or a cement truck.”

“You wouldn’t die if a bus hit you,” she told him, giving him a sharp look.

“That’s true.” He kissed the soft skin at her shoulder, and got up from the bed heading towards the bathroom. Turning to her he held out a hand. “Care to join me? We should shower before speaking with Julian. He’s downstairs.”

“How do you ...? Um, never mind.” She got up and followed him.

The scene at the library was a déjà vu moment. Julian, standing beside the desk, stopped talking and looked up when they walked in. Tonia suppressed the urge to move in front of Fallon, to protect him from the Roman’s attack. She didn’t, only because she knew Fallon would not appreciate it.

The room was full, five other men present. Kieran, Logan and Roderick as well as a newcomer, a dark man who studied her with distaste, by the curl of his lip aimed in her direction.
Great, another barbarian.
Next to him stood a blond, who had to be Kieran’s brother Cynden, by the resemblance.

She met the Roman’s gaze head on, not looking away until Fallon pulled her to his side. “Stop it,” he whispered to her.

Moving slowly, she cut her eyes back to Julian, who raised his eyebrows at her when she sat slightly forward on the couch, partially blocking Fallon from him.

“I won’t hurt your mate,” the Roman told her, a slight curve to his lips.

Fallon touched her arm, getting her attention, he motioned to the large blond. “This is Cynden Fraser, Kieran’s brother.”

The Protector smiled at her. “Hey Tonia, nice to meet you,” Cyn said, obviously the friendlier of the two brothers.

“The angry guy over there,” Fallon motioned to the dark male, “is Rowe.” She met the dark male’s gaze again, his acknowledgement this time less threatening, the cock of a brow.

The doorbell rang and she heard Wendy greet someone at the door. The tension level in the room heightened, Rowe’s hand went to his sword. Tonia tensed, looking to Fallon for an explanation. “It’s all right,” he told her, standing and moving to the doorway.

Sebastian walked in, and Fallon held his hand out to the incubus. They shook hands. With a cursory nod, Sebastian acknowledged the others and went to sit next to Roderick.

“Now that everyone’s here, we will proceed with the plans for tonight.” Julian began without preamble. “Tonight is the cusp of the full moon which will be in full effect tomorrow night.” He paused and completed a sweep of the room. An electric current–like sensation tingled her skin. Tonia wondered if he was scanning their minds. He locked gazes with her for a split second. “Partners tonight will be Cynden and Roderick, Logan and Rowe, and Kieran will partner with Sebastian. Ignore all low-levels, unless it’s a life or death situation. Your main objective is to scan the city for the Master demon. Remember, although he’s weaker, Gerard is still a lethal threat. Sebastian has agreed to assist in finding the Master, but will not engage in fighting.”

“What is my role?” Fallon asked scowling.

“You will remain here,” Julian replied, his flat eyes implying he expected not to be questioned.

Fallon did not comply. “Like hell! I will not stay here while you guys go out there and put your lives on the line.”

“You would rather be out there?” Julian shouted, “making it easier for him to possess you?”

“I won’t stay behind.” The Brit stood, not backing down
. Stubborn man.
The room was silent, everyone’s eyes darting between Julian and Fallon.

Kieran spoke, breaking the standoff. “Can’t the demon get to Fallon here as easily as he can out there?”

Julian stared up at the ceiling for a moment as if trying to control his temper. “I am patrolling this area.” His dark gaze went back to Fallon. “This goes against my better judgment, fine, go with Kieran. Sebastian, you’re with me.” The Roman moved closer to Fallon. Tonia felt him tense. “Let this be the only time you disregard my orders.” Julian turned to the others. “Report to your sectors at sundown.” Everyone stood, and before leaving all but Kieran neared Fallon, and sniffed him.

“What are they doing?” Tonia asked him, giving Rowe a back off glare when he neared Fallon.

“Getting the demon’s scent, it’s very strong now,” he replied stilling while Rowe completed his turn.

“Okay. Weird,” Tonia told him, noting Julian didn’t do the smelling thing. “What about him?”

“I need to have a word with Julian,” he told her guiding her toward the doorway, “I won’t be long.”

With one last warning glance to Julian, she walked out.

“Did you choose a successor?” Julian asked Fallon. The question made his stomach churn. He’d finally mated, and already he was forced to make arrangements for a replacement. A Protector’s mate could not be left without a mate. If he died, Tonia would feel a never-ending urgent need to find a new mate to replace her lost partner, making her an easy target for a demon as they also mated.

He stared at the floor between his feet for a long time, having a hard time articulating the word. “Logan.”

Julian gave him a long look. “I know this is difficult.”

“Has this happened before? The possession?” He stalled his leader from going forward with what had to be done.

“Yes, but it’s rare,” Julian replied. “Protectors are usually not targeted for possession, because of the length of time it takes for preparation of our body to host. This Master must have planned to use you if another plan failed.”

“He hoped to get the key,” Fallon stated, referring to the powerful Fae artifact that Wendy guarded. The key was safe underground in Ireland, a group of Fae warriors protecting it. Wendy traveled back to her homeland monthly to ensure its safekeeping.

“Yes,” Julian agreed. “Because he failed to procure the Key of Peace, he now needs to find another way to regain his powers."  Julian took a breath, his brow in a straight line.  "I will do my best to ensure you are not taken. Prepare yourself. I will do a fortification treatment today and tomorrow.”

Not quite sure how he was expected to prepare for the painful process, he shrugged. “I’m ready.”

What felt like an eternity later, he lay on the floor panting and drenched in sweat. Through a haze he heard the door burst open and Tonia rushed in, Roderick behind her. Barely able to lift his head, he rested his forehead on the floor and squeezed his eyes shut. The pounding in his head barely lessened.

Roderick waited until Tonia assured herself he was breathing, then picked him up and laid him on the couch.

His mate pushed his hair away from his forehead and pressed a kiss to it. "Oh Fallon."

“Call Logan,” Julian told Roderick. Fallon forced his eyes open. “Now?”

“Yes,” Julian replied, concern evident in his eyes when they met his.

“What?” Tonia asked him, her hand on his cheek. She turned to Julian, “What are you doing now?”

The closer Julian came to Tonia, the harder it became for Fallon not to react. “Stop.” he told Julian, finally losing the ability to remain quiet. “I rescind my choice.”

Julian took a deep breath, clenching his fists. “Fallon be reasonable. You can’t condemn her to be without a mate if something happens to you. You must choose a successor.”

“Condemn me? What the fuck are you two talking about?” Tonia jumped to her feet, standing almost nose-to-nose with Julian. “I am not some cow that gets passed from one bull to another.”

“I assure you there’s a very good reason for this.” Julian told her, his gaze flicking to Fallon. “I will explain and allow you to make the decision.”

Tonia sat beside him again, he could sense her mind racing, she suspected exactly what Julian was about to describe. Fallon glanced at Julian, who’d obviously also read her thoughts.

The Roman exhaled.

“As you ascertain, once a Protector bonds, it’s for life. In the unfortunate event that the Protector would cease to be, arrangements must be made swiftly for a successor. Otherwise, the surviving female will be in a frantic need of sexual fulfillment, in a desperate search for a mate, making her very susceptible to being taken by a demon. What makes your situation worse is that Fallon is marked for possession by a demon.”

Tonia slumped—she closed her eyes for a moment, her mind eerily quiet. “Any minute now I expect to wake from this shitty dream.”

Julian and Fallon exchanged looks waiting for her to say something else. When she looked at Fallon, for the first time, he saw true caring in her eyes.

“You are trying to protect me aren’t you? But you can’t do it, release me to another.” The emotion in her gaze caused his heartbeat to quicken. He nodded, not sure he could actually speak.