What the Heart Desires

  Quickly tapping on the number, he pulled up the text. In place of a written message, a picture populated his screen. He stared at it, unable to breathe, or think, or move…

  The crease in Heaven’s brow matched Layne’s to a tee. So did their parted lips. They were wrapped in each other’s arms, bodies pressed so close that nothing would fit between them. When air finally returned to his lungs, his legs began shaking, forcing him to lower himself to the cushioned bench at the bay window.

  “What’s wrong, Dylan? Is it Heaven?”

  He nodded, though he was powerless to speak. His mouth refused to move. So did the rest of his body. The only thing semi cooperating were his eyes. They were the source of his pain. He couldn’t tear them away from the picture, so he succumbed to the ache it evoked.

  Anna approached him. She eased down on the other cushion, peering at his hand. Her fingers wrapped around his as she brought the phone closer. “Who sent this?”

  “I don’t know. The number is blocked.”

  “You know this isn’t what it looks like, don’t you?”

  He nodded again, even though his insecurities fought to claim his mind. “Yeah, but that means whoever sent it wants me to think there’s something going on, and this person has my—”

  The stark reality proved bitter and cold. This was about so much more than it seemed, so much more than he could admit. There were too many things he had to make right, including what his mother told him while he was at the cabin.

  Only one person would want him to think Heaven was unfaithful. His father. But if this picture came from him, it meant two things—two things that sent a spine-curling shudder through his soul. His father was alive, just like his mom said, and he had what he wanted—Heaven’s life in his hands.

  “It’s Dad. I know it is. He’s blocking his number so I won’t know it’s him and that he’s alive.”

  Layla joined them near the window. She reached for the phone, flipping it over to view the screen. He didn’t see her reaction because she turned to Anna and then Dane, who came up behind her.

  “We have to find them. If my dad is behind this…” His daughter didn’t allow him to finish. Her cries pierced the room, cries that tore at his heart when her energy went into overdrive.

  His mother left the couch and hurried in his direction. He met her halfway, grabbing his daughter from her arms. Her wailing didn’t subside, even when he placed her head to his shoulder and patted her bottom.

  “She’s sensing Heaven. I can’t tell what’s happening because she’s blocking us.”

  The warmth of her skin met his lips as he kissed her head. He focused on pushing calming vibes through their bond. Maybe if he comforted her enough, she would unblock his connection with Heaven and allow him to sense her presence. Then he could find her and Layne. Yet no amount of soothing vibrations erased his daughter’s fear. Her cries lessened, but her whimpers didn’t cease.

  “She’s using her abilities.” The words came from Nicholas once he joined them. He reached his hand toward Adalyn, caressing the back of her head. “She’s seeing the future.”

  As if she were confirming what he said, Adalyn released another whimper. Dylan patted her back, keeping his attention on his father-in-law. “What’s happening? What is she seeing?”

  Nicholas closed his eyes. A crease formed between them the harder he concentrated on Adalyn’s thoughts. If she was seeing the future, then maybe she could see where Heaven and Layne were. Nicholas would read those thoughts and find clues that would help find them.

  It wasn’t long before Nicholas’s lids parted, but his eyes were twice their normal size. They locked on to Dylan as his hand fell back to his waist. “We have to go. Now.”

  “Go where? Did you find them?” A brief spark of hope flitted through him, until his father-in-law shook his head.

  “I’m not sure where they are, but we have to search for them.” He glanced around the room, meeting each face until he reached Anna’s. “If we don’t find them soon, we’ll never see them again. Not alive.”

  * * *

  Tingling formed at the back of Heaven’s head, drawing her from the darkness to which she’d surrendered. She couldn’t have dozed off but a few minutes. Layne’s body still radiated heat across her skin. It wouldn’t be long before it disappeared forever, like he would.

  It was as if someone had punched her. Worse. It felt like they’d punched a hole in her chest and ripped out her heart. She gave in to the pain as cries caught in her throat. There was no way to fight this, the ache of knowing the truth, the ugly truth that the man created to protect her was dead. Her Keeper—no—her best friend was dead.

  All the horrifying details replayed in her mind. The way the Benders attacked him, using their kinetic abilities to inflict him with so much pain, it vibrated their connection. Nate knew killing him would weaken her.

  She fought the urge to look at him. Seeing his bruised and bloody face would cause the ache to heighten. It debilitated her enough as it was.

  No matter how much she resisted, the pull became too much to ignore. He had that effect on her. Death wouldn’t change things. As long as she lived, part of him would too, because he would remain in her heart until she took her last breath. If Nate had his way, her last one would be in the morning.

  Bracing herself for the pain that would follow, she lowered her gaze to Layne. Her heart seized when the gash on his cheek came into view. Most of the blood had dried, but it served as a horrible reminder of the pain he’d endured. The swelling receded around his eyes. She couldn’t say the same for the bruises. They’d multiplied. Their bluish tint switched to deep purple. Minus the cut near his bottom lip, the scrapes caused by the glass were minimal. Only a few shards remained near his brow and temple. She picked them out, tossing the glass across the room.

  He looked as horrific as she remembered, yet nothing like she expected. She’d never been around a dead body, short of her Great Aunt Alice. Perhaps it was the amount of time that passed between her death and funeral, but no color stained her aunt’s cheeks. No heat emitted from her skin. No energy thrummed from her soul…

  Energy?

  Her heart skipped at the thought. Layne’s energy was there, buried deep inside him. Its weak pulse had just enough emotion to gain her attention. The emotion spoke of the unbridled passion he felt for her, the passion that drove him to protect her. That same passion fueled the kink in his heart, the kink that loving her put there.

  Once she slipped off her sandals, cool air greeted the bottom of her feet. The floor was even colder, but she pressed her heels against it and straightened herself from a slumping position. Then she drew her arms to her chest, as well as Layne’s face. A closer inspection confirmed the results of her first inspection. His face hadn’t healed, but the fact that he was alive meant more than anything. The rest would return to normal with time.

  Her fingers grazed his cheekbone just below the gash. It was too soon to tell if it would scar, but even if it did, it only added a level of mystery about him. As if women didn’t want him enough…

  Those women didn’t matter. He’d proven that before when they were in Cleveland. After what he’d confessed this evening, she no longer had any doubts. Each time his words replayed in her mind, her lips tugged upward. She felt the same. Right or wrong, she loved him too. The thought made her chest swell with a range of emotions. She chose not to focus on the negative ones, only the positive. Layne needed her to be positive if she was going to find a way to save him.

  She hated the thought of waking him. After what he went through to protect her, he deserved all the rest he needed. But if they didn’t find a way out of this place, Nate would return with more Benders. Three times as many Benders, according to his threats.

  Layne couldn’t withstand another attack, even with her help. Escaping was their best option if they wanted to survive. She had to survive, had to get back to her family, to her baby girl.

  The thought of Adalyn sent her heart into
a faster rhythm. It vibrated with so much force, she swore it would burst through her chest. She had to get back to her daughter, had to be there to watch her grow up, to protect her from her evil grandfather. If Nate wanted Dylan to join The Fallen, he’d want the same for their daughter.

  Hell had a better chance of freezing over.

  As she peeked at the small opening at the top of the door, Layne’s chest expanded. The movement drew her attention back to her lap. His body stiffened, as if he were stretching. Another deep breath caused his energy to spike. Then warm waves surrounded her.

  She stared at him, biting her bottom lip. Anticipation built in her belly. Any second, he would open his eyes, those beautiful eyes she thought she’d never see again. Though she wasn’t sure how he’d survived the battle, the how and why didn’t matter. He had survived, and she wouldn’t have to face the world without him.

  A moment later, his muscles relaxed. His lashes began to flutter, and then he gazed at her. She caressed the side of his face. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” He cleared the grogginess from his voice and scanned the room. As he took in their surroundings, she sensed his disappointment. “I thought it was all a dream, a really bad dream.”

  “I wish I could say it was.”

  Guess there wasn’t any need to ask if he remembered what happened…

  She’d love nothing more than to awaken from the madness and find herself in her bed, nestled against Dylan. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about waking in the morning. She would be with her husband, would cradle her daughter in her arms and hold her tiny hand as she nursed.

  Thank goodness Adalyn’s eating habits had changed in the last week. Otherwise, she’d be starving. While the thought provided her with temporary relief, she knew it wouldn’t last forever. Come morning, her daughter would be hungry.

  Layne shifted his body so that he balanced his weight on one arm. It wasn’t long before it began to shake. As tough as he tried to be, he couldn’t hide the fact that he was still weak from the assault. He relaxed his elbow and looked out the window.

  “I wonder what time it is.”

  She spotted the moon in the distance. It hadn’t reached its zenith, but she didn’t know if it was shimmering from the east or west. There was no way to decipher the time without knowing.

  “I’m not sure what time it is. I know it’s late.”

  He scanned the room again, studying every corner, window, and wall. “We have to get out of here.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know.” He refaced her. “But we’re not going to accomplish anything with me flat on my ass. Can you help me up?”

  “Are you sure you should be standing this soon? You’ve been through hell, Layne. Take some time to rebuild your strength. I’ll search the room.”

  She made it to her feet, but before she stepped away, he grabbed her hand. “Time isn’t on our side, Heaven. I have to help you. I’ll be fine.”

  His words held truth. Time wasn’t on their side. Neither could ignore that fact. Maybe moving around would help him heal. She owed it to him to try anything.

  Gripping his outstretched hand, she pulled against his weight as he eased off the floor. He didn’t hurry to move once he was on his feet, but at least he was standing. The longer she stared at his blood-drenched shirt, the more she remembered how much damage he’d taken from the Benders.

  “Are you still bleeding?” She kneeled in front of him, reaching for his side, where the shirt curled apart. With the amount of injuries he had, she didn’t have time to check each one, only those posing a threat to his life. She’d start with his side, where the shard of glass cut him.

  As she pushed the material higher, she lifted it from her view. More bruises covered his side in patches of purple. Further up, a crimson line ran parallel with his ribs and measured around three to four inches long. It consisted of torn skin and dried blood. She didn’t doubt the wound was deep, but it had closed, just like the one on his cheek.

  “This shirt is disgusting.” He yanked it out of her hand. “It’s so stiff, it feels like sandpaper.”

  Before she could respond, he ripped the shirt apart where the glass had torn it. What was left of the bloody material fell to the floor. Her eyes trailed up his bare skin, over the grooves of his abs, until they locked with his. It was rude to stare so hard, but she couldn’t resist. Not when she sensed his soul tugging hers. She tried to respond again, but the sweet scent of his skin made her mind go blank.

  A moment later, he curled his fingers around her arm. She straightened her body until they were face-to-face. His lips parted to speak, but he pressed them back together and swayed.

  “Are you okay?” She reached for him just as he fell into her. The weight of his body pinned her to the wall. She wrapped her arms around him, supporting him the best she could.

  “I’m okay.”

  He pushed himself away from her, but his strength hadn’t returned. Each beat of his heart amplified the weakness within him. Why did he feel the need to be tough every second of every day? Everyone had weaknesses, as well as breaking points. He crossed his during the battle. In fact, he should be dead. He couldn’t expect his body to function like normal.

  “Just relax,” she whispered.

  He didn’t listen, tried to push himself away again, but his arms wouldn’t cooperate. Neither would his legs. He finally gave up.

  “Do you realize what you’ve been through?” She waited for his face to soften, but it didn’t. “You took on a room full of Benders. They did a severe amount of damage to you, and you’ve lost a lot of blood.”

  “You don’t have to convince me how useless I am right now. I get it.” His eyes fell to the floor. He wanted to walk away but didn’t.

  “I thought you were dead, Layne. I couldn’t feel your energy. Quit pushing yourself so hard.”

  “I have to, Heaven.” The warmth of his palm met her neck as he stroked her jaw with his thumb. “I have to protect you. Nate will be back. If we don’t get out of here, I have to be prepared to fight.”

  “Did you hear what he said before he left? When he comes back, he’s bringing three times as many Benders. You won’t survive another attack.”

  “Which is why I have to push myself. We won’t be safe until we’re miles away from here. I have to help you.”

  He moved away from her, determined to find a way to escape their makeshift prison. Instead of moving, he sucked in a deep breath. His muscles bunched, body rocked, and an ashen color returned to his face.

  She didn’t give him another chance to argue and drew him back into an embrace. “You won’t be any help to me if you keep weakening yourself. You might be healing on the outside, but I still sense a lot of damage in you.”

  Pulling his chest from hers, he raised a brow. “How can I be healing? You said you thought I died.”

  “I don’t know, Layne. I tried healing you, like I did in the woods. You were able to breathe better, so I thought I was helping. Then your energy weakened to the point I thought you had died.”

  Curiosity faded from his face, followed by guilt that consumed him. “You’d be better off if I had died. You shouldn’t have saved me, Heaven.”

  She scoffed at the words as her nostrils flared. “How can you say that?”

  “Because it’s true.”

  “No, it isn’t.” The words came out in a whisper. Disbelief stole the anger from her voice. “Are you regretting what you told me? Was it a deathbed confession you want to take back?”

  Silence fell between them. The ache in her chest returned. She refused to believe he’d lied. His emotions said he didn’t. Still, she sensed him pushing her away.

  Fate was playing a cruel joke. She shouldn’t love him. She’d found her soulmate, had started a family with him. They shared a beautiful baby girl. Loving Layne complicated that. Why did she have to feel this way? Why did he have such a grip on her heart? She had everything to lose by admitting her feelings. But Layne had nothing…except her.
He deserved the truth.

  “I don’t regret what I told you, Layne, because it’s true.”

  His eyes flashed to hers as his jaw flinched. “And where does that leave us, Heaven? Nothing’s changed. Nothing will.”

  “Everything has changed. We’re closer. You feel it as much as I do. Don’t push me away, Layne.”

  “I can’t do this.”

  He used what little strength he had to separate their bodies. As he backed toward the chair, desperation vibrated within him, desperation to get away. Yet the same emotion fueled the fire awakening in his soul. That desperation spoke of his insistent need to be close to her.

  When he was inches from the chair, his body slowed. He wobbled with the next step, finally falling against the wall. His shoulder smacked against it, adding to his pain.

  Like it or not, he needed her help. They needed each other’s help if they wanted to escape this place and go home.

  The moment she touched his shoulder, he closed his eyes. His need to be near her outweighed his need for distance. It didn’t mean he fought it any less. He was too weak to walk away.

  “Will you listen to me now? You need to let your strength build. Sit down in the chair and rest while I look around.”

  “No.” His eyes opened and narrowed. Then he pressed his back to the wall. “Just give me a minute. I’ll be okay. I can help.”

  “Quit being so stubborn. Don’t you realize that’s why we’re here? If you hadn’t been pissed over what happened with Faith and Jerry, you wouldn’t have left the house. I wouldn’t have chased you into the woods. Raphe wouldn’t have found us.”

  “I’m sorry, okay?” He shouted the words as he glared at her. “I know I fucked things up. I know I’m the reason your life is in danger. Do you know how much that hurts me? I hate myself for putting you through this.”

  “Layne—”

  “Don’t try to justify this, Heaven. I told you that you’d be better off without me. Isn’t this proof enough?” He spread his arms wide and motioned to the room. “I endangered your life, my life, my parents, friends, even your daughter. The world will be destroyed because I couldn’t deal with my feelings. I’m worse than Nate McBride ever thought he could be.”