Consumed

  I elbowed him, pointed at my chest, and then gave him a ‘what about me?’ look. He gestured for me to stay behind him. The bastard was protecting me, even during practice! I would have pressed him to involve me if Stuart and Max hadn’t chosen that moment to quietly advance toward the kitchen.

  This wasn’t the time to argue, I reminded myself. But I’d definitely give Salem a verbal rollicking when the session was over.

  In the kitchen, the boys attacked much the same as before: Max paralysed the guards’ senses, Salem gave one a psychic slap, and Stuart threatened to snap the neck of the other. Off the guards went to the ‘dead zone’. It might have all been very simple…if another guard hadn’t then began to creep up behind me. I heard him before I saw him; swiftly I twisted my upper body and rammed my elbow into his throat. Then I knocked him unconscious with a blow to the jaw. I caught him before he could hit the floor with a thud, carefully placing him on the ground.

  Standing, I found Salem glaring at me…like it was all my fault and I’d asked the guard to try to attack me. He made some kind of signal with his hands that I didn’t understand. So I gave him a signal of my own: I flipped him off. Max was shaking with silent laughter, but Salem wasn’t at all amused. Noting that Stuart was missing, I gathered he’d shredded to check for other guards. When he reappeared a moment later, he put his thumb up.

  Led by Stuart, we exited the kitchen and walked down a long hallway that I guessed would take us to the living room. We almost crashed into Paige, Imani, and Harvey when we reached a junction. I mouthed, ‘Reuben?’ Paige shook her head sadly, meaning he was in the ‘dead zone’. Crap. I then mouthed, ‘Guards?’ Paige slashed her throat with her hand, indicating the guards on her side had been taken care of. Good.

  Salem held a hand up for us all to remain in position and tapped his heart twice. I knew what he meant this time: if we went any further, the vampires in the living room would hear our heartbeats. He wanted us to wait there.

  I went to mouth, ‘For what?’ when I picked up movement in my peripheral vision. Jared, David, and Butch were coming down the stairs just as Chico and Maya rounded a corner and headed straight for us. If Alora and Denny were absent, that meant they were also in the ‘dead zone’. Just the thought that Alora might have been dead if this session was real made me shudder inwardly.

  The guys all began communicating in hand signals again, making me once again feel left out. Paige, Imani, and Maya looked at me questioningly, and – frustrated beyond belief – I gave the sign for ‘wankers’. The trio struggled to hold in a laugh. I looked back at the guys to find them all scowling at me. Yep, they’d seen me. I lifted my chin and sniffed haughtily.

  Sam, Damien, and Jude are in the lounge, Jared told me, and I knew he’d also informed the others. The room is up ahead and adjacent to the living area, but far enough away that no one has sensed them. Get ready to move.

  Jared then held up three fingers and pointed toward the living room. Understanding, I nodded. He put one finger down, another, and then finally the third finger. At that, we all dashed at vampire momentum into the living room just as Sam, Damien, and Jude raced inside and instantly attacked. A battle then began.

  It was absolute mayhem. Poisonous darts and energy balls were flying around; bolts of lightning were zapping people; psychic slaps were repeatedly rippling through the air; a black jaguar was launching itself at people, going for the jugular but not delivering a fatal bite. We all did our best to kick ass, but the opposition was good too. Strangling us with unseen hands, firing red-hot arrows, encasing people in a circle of flames, causing hallucinations, making skin feel feverish. No wonder these guys had earned spots in the legion.

  By the time it was over, more of our people were injured. Some of the injuries would have been fatal. The other squads suffered more injuries than ours, meaning we won. Still, though, if this had been real we would have been mourning Chico, Damien, Reuben, Cassie, Denny, Alora, and Jude now. It was a reminder that Sam was right: no matter how powerful you were, all it took to be killed was to be faced with someone whose gift could combat yours.

  “You all did good,” Sam told us once the other squads had left.

  “Did good? I would have been dead now.” Chico looked more embarrassed than upset.

  “Yeah, and that would have been right after Jude was ‘killed’. That distracted you and made you pissed. Am I right? This is part of why I wanted you all to train together. You can’t afford to let yourselves be distracted or fight in anger. If something bad happens to any of you – even if it’s to someone you care about – you take that rage and you use it as fuel. Then later, after the battle is over, you can cry and rant and break shit. Until then, you shelve it all. If you don’t, you risk not only your life, but the lives of those who are relying on you to watch their backs.”

  “Consider it a learning experience,” Jared suggested.

  Just as Sam was about to signal for us to leave, I said, “I don’t think I should be partnered with Salem for the battle.”

  Salem rounded on me. “What?”

  Ignoring him, I continued. “This was only a practice session, and yet he wanted to hold me back. He even kept me at the rear at one point, trying to keep me safe, which almost caused me to be attacked from behind.”

  He growled. “I let you go ahead with Max and Stuart to get rid of the guards, didn’t I?”

  “Two things about that statement proves my point. Not only did you use the word ‘let’ – which suggests you don’t see us as a partnership at all – but I was only forty feet in front of you at the time with Max and Stuart as back up. If I remember rightly, you still hesitated to ‘let’ me do that, even though this was only practice.”

  He growled again, holding my gaze as if he was trying to stare me down.

  Sam cleared her throat. “Maybe we should partner you with someone else, Ava.”

  His head whipped round to face Sam. “Don’t even think it, Coach.”

  “Salem, every single person here is important to this battle. If you’re acting in ways that stop Ava from being the asset that she is – which will also distract you and piss her off – then you’re better off apart.”

  “Try it,” he snarled.

  She just rolled her eyes, sighing. “Salem, don’t be bloody awkward.”

  “And watch your tone,” warned Jared.

  There was a short silence. “Me and Ava need to talk.” Salem fisted his hand in my t-shirt and lifted me.

  “Put me down!” But he didn’t. He moved at vampire momentum, stopping halfway through the rainforest. When he released me, I snarled at him. “That really has to stop.”

  “Do you really want to be partnered with someone else, Ava? Or did you just say that to make me as pissed off as you are?”

  “I truly want it. The fact that it pisses you off is just a bonus.”

  “You want to be away from me during the battle, not knowing where I am or if I’m alive?” That seemed to actually hurt him, which wasn’t my intention, even though he had agitated the shit out of me.

  “Don’t you get it? If we’re distracted by each other, we will get hurt.”

  “It doesn’t work that way for Coach and Jared.”

  “Because they work as a team. Oh, I’m sure it galls him that they have to, and I’m sure there have been plenty of occasions when he’s tried to protect her even though she doesn’t need him to. But they still consider themselves a team. They trust each other to watch the other’s back. You see me as someone you need to protect. You don’t see me as someone who can kick ass as good as you, who can defend myself or protect you if necessary.”

  “I know you’re deadly. I’ve seen you fight.”

  “Yet you insist on treating me like I can’t protect myself.” I sounded sad even to me.

  He was still and silent, but he wasn’t calming. “I couldn’t protect them, Ava.”

  He meant his family and Sandra, I knew.

  “I couldn’t even save myself, in the end w
hich is why I’m here now. But I’ll be damned if I ever let anything happen to you.”

  So much freaking guilt. “You didn’t fail them, Salem. That’s how you feel, and I can even understand why. Grief isn’t logical. It makes us feel things we don’t need to feel. We punish ourselves because the idea of letting it go and moving on makes us feel guilty. I get it. But you didn’t let them down. What happened to them was not your fault. And if something ever happened to me –”

  “It fucking won’t.”

  “– it wouldn’t be your fault either. It’s just the way of the world.”

  “So you want another partner?” It was a total dismissal of everything I’d just said. He simply wasn’t listening.

  “Unless you can see us as a team, I don’t see any other option.”

  He said nothing, just looked at me blankly. Then he turned and walked away. I got my answer.

  (Salem)

  “You do realise you have fucked up big time, don’t you?”

  I didn’t look at Sam. Just kept my gaze on the ocean as I sprawled on the same lounger that I’d once rested on with Ava.

  Ava. I hated that we’d fought. Physical fights were nothing to me – something I’d engaged in on a regular basis for a very long time. But emotional fights…they were alien to me. I was in unfamiliar territory; I didn’t really know what to do now. I felt out of my element, unsure.

  Did I find her and try to talk things through?

  Did I give her time to herself?

  Did I give her the space to think?

  I didn’t like the latter idea. She had a habit of overthinking stuff. We’d be okay…right?

  Pulling me out of my thoughts, Sam sat on the lounger beside mine. “You know, I’d kind of understand you being such a knob if you hadn’t been helping me train Ava; if you thought she might be one of those people who runs off to be the heroine rather than sticking with the plan and being a team player. But you know how strong she is, you know she’s getting even stronger, and you know that she can be trusted to follow orders. So why the fuck would you behave like such a daft prick?”

  I could have explained the truth of why I was so overprotective, but I didn’t trust anyone with as much of my past as I’d told Ava. “It’s between me and Ava.”

  Sam snorted. “If you’re lucky.”

  That made me look at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Ava has always had people undervalue her. It’s what made her undervalue herself.”

  Yeah, I knew that. And it pissed me off.

  “You’ve just gone and done the same thing. Do you really think she’ll stick around for you to keep making her feel like shit?”

  That wasn’t what I’d done, and Ava would know that because she knew me better than anyone. Again, though, I wasn’t about to spill the truth to Sam or anyone else. “Like I said, it’s between me and Ava.”

  “Well…Clearly you know her better than me.” Every word rung with sarcasm. “Clearly I’m wrong and she’s not going to be absolutely heartbroken right now that someone she cares about doesn’t see her as his equal. And clearly I’m wrong and she’s not going to be exceptionally pissed that you made it clear to everyone that you don’t believe she’s capable of taking care of herself.”

  No wonder Sam was so pissed if that was how the situation looked to outsiders. Although her suppositions weren’t entirely accurate, three things could probably be true: Ava might be heartbroken, and she might be pissed, and she might genuinely believe I failed to see her strength. Which meant finding and talking to her soon was definitely important.

  “If you two are to be partners, you have to trust in her ability to –”

  “It’s easy for you. You have the Binding link.” She had the reassurance that she’d know instantly if Jared needed her.

  “I didn’t have it until after we shut down the baby snatching operation and took care of the Trent brothers. Before then, I was in the same position as you: going into danger with someone I care about – and don’t deny that you care about Ava or I will hurt you – knowing they could be killed and I wouldn’t even be aware of it until it was too late.”

  That right there was my biggest fear: failing to protect her.

  “Even now, Binding link or not, I have to trust Jared to take care of himself. It’s hard, but it’s the only way to make our working and personal relationship work. You have to do the same with Ava. If you don’t, you’ll keep on hurting her – which I truly believe you hate doing.” Sam got to her feet. “She’s in the Tiki Bar with the girls. Fix it, Salem.”

  (Ava)

  Stirring my cocktail with the straw, I wondered if I could sneak away without the others noticing. As much as I appreciated that they had brought me here in the hope of cheering me up, there was really no chance of that happening. The fact that Salem and I were at odds left a lead weight in the pit of my stomach. I felt sick and anxious, unsure what to do next, and wondering what was currently going on in Salem’s confusing head.

  Maya hopped onto a nearby stool. “You shouldn’t take what he did personally. He’s a guy. Guys are stupid.” She said it so simply that I had to smile.

  “I don’t think he meant to hurt you,” soothed Alora. “He cares about you, Ava. He really does. He’s just terrified of anything happening to you. That’s no excuse, I know that. Just like I know the overprotectiveness isn’t easy to deal with. Evan drives me insane sometimes.”

  “Chico can be just as bad,” said Jude.

  “So can Butch.” Imani’s eyes widened when all our attention fixed on her. “Don’t ask me why, because I don’t have a clue.”

  Paige looked pensive. “Yeah, it’s hard to read sociopaths.”

  Imani seemed offended on Butch’s behalf. “He’s not a sociopath.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you prefer ‘deranged killer’?”

  I had to laugh at that.

  Smiling, Imani snorted at me. “Like Salem’s much better.”

  Just hearing his name was enough to make my amusement evaporate. Bleh.

  “Don’t let him get you down,” begged Cassie, patting my knee.

  Curling an arm around my shoulders, Alora sighed. “I hate him. He broke you.”

  “Can I stab him?” Jude looked totally serious.

  I giggled, but it was a sad sound. “No, you can’t. He has issues, and I want to be understanding but…I just don’t want to suffer for what his past has done to him.” I had no intention of elaborating on just what that past was, and thankfully nobody asked.

  “That’s reasonable,” said Alora. “Just explain that to him when you guys talk.”

  Cassie blinked. “Salem talks?”

  I rolled my eyes. “He’s not that bad.”

  “Only during training,” Cassie insisted.

  “I’ll bet he talks dirty.” Maya smiled devilishly, crossing one slim leg over the other. “The quiet ones are always the chattiest in bed.”

  “Oh, would you look at that blush!” chuckled Paige as my face heated. “You must be right, Maya.”

  I cast the chuckling group a disgusted look. “I hate you bitches.”

  “Stop teasing her!” Alora admonished, but she was still laughing. “We’re supposed to be cheering her up, which means not talking about the asshole and his insistence on being ridiculously overprotective.”

  “Well of course he’s overprotective of you,” laughed a very unwelcome voice. Gina kind of slinked her way into the group, making them all stiffen and gather closer to me, on guard. Later, I’d probably smile about it.

  Gina gave me a pitying look. “You’re no doubt in constant danger, since you probably annoy everyone you meet – which is a substantial talent, I have to say. And, well, you’re not exactly sturdy, are you, child?” The implication was that I was helpless and weak.

  I sighed. I didn’t have the energy or patience to deal with the demented heifer. “Is there a reason you’re tainting my air?”

  “Such anger. He really has upset you, hasn??
?t he? You should never let a man have this kind of power over you.” She sounded genuinely sympathetic, which was of course a total act. “Although I can understand why him being overprotective would get tedious after a while. But if it’s any consolation, it won’t last much longer. Salem will quickly get bored with a damsel.”

  “Hmm. Well, thanks for bringing that to my attention. Here.” I handed her my straw. “Go suck the joy out of your own evening and leave me to enjoy mine.”

  Gina flushed. “You think he’ll stay with you, don’t you? Why? Oh, you’re not going to say he loves you, are you?” She sneered, as if the concept of love was utterly ridiculous.

  The fact was that, no, I didn’t think he loved me. I wasn’t sure Salem – being as emotionally stunted and messed up as he was – would even be able to connect with someone on a level that deep. But I had no wish to share that with Gina, or any intention of letting her see how much she could get to me. No. I’d seriously had enough of this bitch. And I was going to have fun while I pissed her off.

  Knowing it grated on her nerves, I brought back the airhead tone as I clapped a little. “Ooh, is this another game of ‘trying to make Ava leave Salem’?” I let my shoulders sag. “But we play that one all the time. We need to think of another game. Hey, how about we play ‘Ava kicks Gina’s skanky ass’?”

  Gina’s flush deepened. Ooh, how special. “That particular game wouldn’t end well for you, child. Or for your little friends here, if they were thinking of playing with us.”

  Faking a Scottish accent, I spoke in a theatrical voice. “You may take our lives. But you’ll never take…our free –” Suddenly a mountain was wedged between us. “Ah, Salem, I was having fun.”

  A growl rumbled out of him as he faced Gina. “Didn’t I warn you to stay away from Ava?” The danger in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.