Page 19 of Unshaken
“Can you let them go?” She looks at me, amber eyes shining in the moonlight as she sheaths her knife, sliding it into her right holster. My dick twitches again.Down boy. I can almost feel Trys’s excitement as his thoughts usually mirror my own.
I tilt my head to the side to study her, her heart is not yet tainted, it’s pure and good. For now. Her morals swing so far right that I get a pang in my chest as her compassion for these assholes hits me hard. “Why would I do that?” I answer her with a question of my own. “They were going to kill you, kitten. You know that, right?”
Trys tsks. “Hiding behind a mask at that.” Trys shakes his head at his words. His fingers go to his lips, tapping out a rhythm as he walks behind me, looking up at my now silent prisoners. They shut right the fuck up at the mention of gargoyles. I smile, already knowing Trys’s thoughts.
“Would you like to know who’s behind mask number one and two, kitten?” I ask. Trys chuckles, his arms are spread upward, as if he’s a game show host eager to present the two cretins to her. His fingers wriggle eagerly as I start to pull the two of them down to the ground. “And to answer your question, because the cat has clearly claimed your tongue: If you deem them worthy of keeping their heads attached to their bodies, then I will do as you wish. They will be free to go.” I lift a brow in challenge, waiting for her next words like I need my next breath. Speak to me kitten. I just want to hear your voice. I don’t know if it’s the Soul Tether or not, but I am addicted to her. Watching her call on her magic only moments ago, seeing her strength and power, she was a vision.
“I don’t deem them worthy; I also don’t want you to kill them,” she finally answers. She looks at Trys then me and continues, “I will see their faces though, and I definitely want to know who wore the devil mask. He is mine!” she bites out in anger. If I was an amateur, I would have come in my pants from her proclamation of retribution.
Trys ungently yanks the masks off the two students who are now marked for death, the elastic snaps, causing the girl before us to yelp with pain. The guy next to her hisses a few curses under his breath, prompting Trys to draw his switchblade so fast that the asshole didn’t feel the cut down his face until the blood ran down his lips.
Trys gets in his face and sneers. “She saved your life, and you still try to curse her. I should kill you right the fuck now.” Trys brings the blade to his neck, and the stench of piss fills the air, causing me to step away from them and walk towards the fence closer to Micah. The poor woman has watched this play out in front of her, looking as if she is unsure what to make of Trys and I. Well, baby, you have a lifetime to get to know us. Every fucked-up inch.
“Trys,” Micah says his name, and my brother sighs at the sound. His body seems to visibly relax. He steps back and turns his eyes on our girl.
“I will give you this one, sunshine. Next time, I can’t promise you mercy. I don’t know the meaning of the word.” His eyes never leave her as he wipes his switchblade down his bare chest and flips it closed. I don’t even know where the blade came from, he’s barely wearing any clothes. I chuckle as I look down at those damn pink slippers.
“Give. Me. Your. Names,” I command the two cowards in front of me as they cry like fucking babies, pleading and begging. They definitely weren’t doing that a few moments ago when they were trying to hurt my kitten.
“Sara.” The petite brunette couldn’t look me in the eyes, but at least she is brave enough to tell me who she is. “Sara Whitfield.” Ah, one of my mother’s stooges' children. Shame. I will make it look like an accident and she will be written off easily enough. I look over to the guy, the smell of his piss offends my senses as he dares to try to look defiant.
“My brother asked a question.” Trys opens his blade, causing the asshole to shy away. I mean, if you are going to puff out your chest and be a man, be a fucking man. Ugh. Weak.
“Sean,” he whispers, knowing he’s been marked. He sighs. “Sean Cassidy.” I share a glance with Trys, knowing that Sean is one of Rodyn’s little henchmen, and I really hope that he didn’t put this mob up to this. For his sake. I am not above harming my own blood; I don’t care if we shared a womb.
“Sara and Sean, you two have ten seconds to remove yourselves from our sight before shit gets real,” I say menacingly to them both, my tone a low rumble in my chest, my inner beast pushing up to demand I finish them. I push down my darkness as the two of them run down the path to the sound of Trys counting down loud, his voice bouncing off the houses around us.
I lean against the fence, not attempting to cross her threshold tonight. I don’t think my kitten is ready for that yet. I hope that by our little display of protection that she understands her importance to us. Unlike Rodyn, my twin and I are all in. I can’t wait to get to know this beautiful specimen next to me. Trys turns, his shiny narwhal horns sparkle in the night as he dances towards us, head bumping to a beat only he can hear, making Micah laugh softly, she sighs, and I almost feel the tension of her situation drain away from her.
“Are you OK, sunshine?” he asks, the concern and sincerity in his voice has me rubbing at my chest. Affection is foreign yet familiar all at the same time. We don’t do nice. We are both navigating this need to protect her, this raw physical and emotional need, and it’s only been a few hours since we met her.
“We only met a few hours ago, and already you’ve picked out nicknames for me and everything.” She whistles, and it sends a thrill of delight through me. “You two have got it bad.” She smiles, and I swear Trys has heart eyes. We are so fucked. Rodyn won’t know what hit him. I can’t wait for her to meet him.
“Only for you, kitten,” I say in reply.
“Thank you both. I want to say that I could have handled it.” She shrugs, and continues, “Swallowing my pride is hard, but I am glad you showed up when you did.” She taps the fence post as if she wants to say more but instead turns and walks back towards her house.
“Anything for you, sunshine. Don’t you worry, no one else will bother you tonight.” Trys crosses his heart, and she chuckles. “Scouts honor.” He smiles wide as he joins me at the fence. Yep, those are heart eyes. I am going to give him so much shit about it. I am sure I look a bit manic with the toothy smile I am giving as well.
“Lock your doors and no more playing superhero tonight. Rest, kitten, we will meet you here tomorrow. Maybe walk you to class,” I say the last part almost like a question. I feel a tinge of worry that she might tell us we aren’t wanted, that she can get there on her own. I would respect the shit out of that, but I really want to walk beside her tomorrow. I don’t have to look at Trys to know that he shares my sentiment.
“Esme is meeting me as well. The more the merrier, I guess.” She loves a good shrug our girl does. She walks up the steps and turns back to us. “I would love to walk to class with the two of you as well,” she says, putting us both out of our misery. I step away, hitting Trys, I coax him away as we both turn to leave. I can feel her eyes on us. Trys stops and turns.
“Esme?” He turns back to Micah, questioning the name. I guess he is wondering who she is. The name sounds familiar. My eyes widen with recognition.
“The Blue Mountain Witch,” I say to him before Micah can answer.
“Yes. She was showing me around earlier, and I am 100 percent sure she is my Soul Tether as well,” she says matter-of-factly, and that makes the both of us turn back to the fence. We look at each other, our twin-nunication senses tingling as we silently promise to discuss this later.
“Well, well, kitten. Looks like you got it bad as well,” I say to her as I turn away, walking into the shadows without a second glance.
I hear Trys yelling goodnight to her and for her to dream of us.
Micah Jones, my new obsession and very intriguing enigma.
I’m in love.
Thirteen
