“It’s been quiet.”
“Your life is dull without me, babe.”
We make our way through the maze of hallways, our boots screeching when we slide around corners. That Daniel hasn’t called the angel cavalry on us is something. Guess he wants to tear me apart with his bare hands and with the mood he’s in he wouldn’t stop at me.
“If we can get someplace a little calmer, I can use the stargate,” Gem shouts. “This whole place is one big node, we can travel from just about anywhere.”
Fuck yeah, that’s gonna be handy.
Fresh air hits my face when we reach open fields, and I suck in as much as I can just in case these are my last breaths. I’m not normally so pessimistic, but I have a crazy angel dad on my tail, and not just any angel, a fucking Seraph. Go big or go home, I say.
My dark angel is in front, and my red-headed star is behind me. Could we work, just like this? The three of us. I’m a lot of trouble. Too much for one man. The two of them might stand a chance at keeping me in line if they can find a way to get along.
The sky darkens. Black wings shadow the strange orange sun.
“Now! Can you activate the stargate now, Gemini?” Merrick shouts over the scraping sounds of our feet against rock and hardened mud.
“I’m trying. I can’t concentrate.”
“You need to. Get it together or he’s going rip Treyu to pieces. I’ll only be able to hold him off for so long.”
My feet come to a sharp halt. “You’re not coming with us.” It’s not a question.
“He won’t kill me. I can buy you time.”
“Are you sure he won’t kill you? Fuck, Mair. This is bullshit.” I’ve spent every moment that I’ve been with him trying to convince him—and myself—that I don’t want him anymore, but I do. Classic Treyu. Wanting what I can’t have.
Thunder rumbles around us and a spontaneous rainstorm erupts out of nowhere. Lightning bolts crack across the sky, seeking the enraged seraph, keeping him occupied for the moment and preventing him from landing. Merrick smiles.
“Your brother?” I ask.
“Mhm. He’s with us on this one.”
Zhang’s ogre-sized body crowds me while rain drenches us. It plasters his amber hair across his handsome face, the heavy drops pelt loud enough to break my eardrums. The pure rage oozing from him is hot as fuck. Yep. Calmest star in the galaxy at his melting point. Over me. I bring it out in the guy.
“I’ll take it from here,” Zhang says.
“You wouldn’t be taking him anywhere if it wasn’t for me, Centaurus. Remember that. I’m better for him than you are.”
“He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you in the first place.”
“If you knew what was going on, you would have left well enough alone. He’s not safe outside the Garrison.”
Zhang points to the winged figure who’s still contending with the jagged bolts of lightning overhead. “Yeah, real safe.”
“Guys? Normally, I love jealous displays of alpha male brutality, but now’s not the time,” I say. My attention is on Gemini who’s struggling with the stargate. “Any closer, Gem?”
“Not if you keep asking me,” he snaps.
Merrick shakes his head. “Forget the stargate.Run.”
He pauses for a heartbeat, long enough that the wheels of decision are clear on his face. I know what he’s thinking. This could be the last time we ever see each other. He yanks me to him by the lapels of the jacket he had made specially for me.
“For the love of a star.” He kisses my cheek. It’s a pause with plush lips, gentle and significant. Then they’re gone.
“You’d better take good care of him, Centaurus.”
“Merrick, wait!” I cry.
