What the Heart Desires

  His luck, Nate would show up with his men and catch them. Hell, he’d probably take a video and send it to Dylan. Hopefully he didn’t have any cameras hidden in the room…

  Shit.

  Growling at the thought, he used what little resolve he had and pulled away. Her heavy breaths drove him insane with want, but the thought of Nate was like a bucket of water snuffing out his flame of desire.

  “We have to stop. Believe me, I don’t want to, but I value your life more than my desire to make love to you. I’m here to protect you. Nothing can get in the way of that.”

  He hated saying the words, even as they came out of his mouth. The way her soul quaked with disappointment made her hard to resist. He wanted to press his lips back to hers and succumb to the passion.

  “I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” She glanced down. Then she did the one thing he didn’t want her to do. She pushed away from him.

  It took him a moment to realize what happened. When he did, he tried to grab her hand, but his delayed reaction cost him the opportunity. Nothing but air filled his grasp. His heartbeat resonated in his ears. The more he listened, the more he sensed its warning.

  He was in too deep.

  Panic spread through his body the further she moved away. The space between them was too much. He didn’t want anything coming between them ever again, not his stubbornness, or his pride, or his former best friend.

  So what if Nate might have hidden cameras. He didn’t care. Not when there was a chance Heaven thought he didn’t want her.

  It didn’t take long to make it to his feet or reach the spot where she stood. She didn’t acknowledge his presence, but instead, peered out the window. Had their connection not increased, he wouldn’t have sensed her anxiety.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you with what I said. All I’m trying to do is protect you.”

  “I know, Layne.” She remained focused on the sky as she spoke. “I’m fine.”

  “Bullshit, Heaven.” He spun her around and gripped her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “You’re upset. I can sense it. Please, don’t shut me out.”

  “I’m not shutting you out. I’m trying to clear my head.”

  The words pierced his heart. He knew this would happen—her regret. It’s why he dreaded the thought of ending their time together, why he tried his best not to make love to her in the first place.

  “I knew it.” He struggled to say the words as he released her shoulders. “I knew you would come to your senses. You’re trying to forget what happened between us. You regret it, don’t you?”

  Her eyes shut. Guess she didn’t want to face the truth any more than he did. Yet the part of her within him said he was wrong, especially when her hand warmed his chest, above his heart. She reopened her eyes and stared in his direction.

  “How could I regret saving your life?”

  “You don’t regret saving me, but be honest, Heaven. If you could have done it any other way, you would have.”

  As he crept back, a gust of air blew through the window, tousling her hair around her face. Her sweet scent filled his nose. It brought his next step to a halt, giving her the opportunity to press against him.

  “You’re wrong, Layne. What happened between us was inevitable. I know it in my soul.”

  “Why, because I’m your Keeper?”

  “No. It’s because of how I feel about you.”

  He wanted to call her bluff, wanted to call her a liar for saying things that weren’t true, but he couldn’t. Not this time. Now that his senses were in overdrive, he knew exactly what she felt. It didn’t make sense for her to feel this way about him. She had a soulmate, and he wasn’t it.

  Questions continued to form. He opened his mouth to ask one, but a vibration rumbled the floor. The concrete came into view. A slew of explanations raced through his mind on what could have caused the vibration. Worst-case scenario, Nate had returned and his vehicle caused the rumbling. Or perhaps it was Dylan. Could they possibly get that lucky?

  After a moment of silence, he rubbed the stress from his face. He was losing his mind. Between the frustrations of being stuck in this room to battling his feelings for Heaven, he’d finally lost it.

  Then the ground rumbled harder.

  “Did you feel that?” Her voice softened as she asked the question.

  “Yeah, and the one before it.” So maybe he hadn’t lost it, but knowing that brought him no relief. Someone had arrived. Heaven sensed their presence, causing him to do the same. “Is it Nate?”

  She grew quiet. Her eyes moved past his shoulder to the door behind them and then returned to his. “It’s not him. I thought maybe it was, but this energy is different.”

  “Is it his men?”

  She managed to shake her head again before more rumbling occurred. The intensity increased, along with the duration. Then a crack echoed through the room.

  He faced the wall, the same wall where the Benders began attacking him. Right in the middle, a huge line formed from ceiling to floor. Tiny pieces of drywall worked their way loose and fell as the ground continued trembling.

  “What the hell is happening?” He turned his attention back to her, hoping she had an answer, but her energy said otherwise.

  “I don’t know.”

  Her voice quaked like the ground beneath them. More cracks formed on the wall across the room. Each one branched out like lightning bolts on a dark, stormy night. Whatever source caused the chaos unfolding before them couldn’t be good. Even if it wasn’t Nate or his men, someone had enough power to destroy a building his fire could not penetrate.

  This wasn’t going to end well. It couldn’t.

  The original crack spread over the ceiling, where it branched out as well. More pieces of drywall crumbled to the floor. When he noticed a larger piece dangling above their heads, he drew her into his arms and spun them around. He didn’t stop until they were pressed to the wall opposite the cracked one.

  A second later, the chunk of ceiling crashed to the floor.

  Ignoring the debris, he refocused on Heaven. The warmth of her skin met his palms as he cupped her face. He searched every inch of her for any sign of injury. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, parting her lips to say more, but the ground rumbled again. Everything shook—the walls, the ceiling, even their bodies. If she hadn’t sensed another person, he would have sworn it was an earthquake causing the mayhem.

  Crumbling and creaking resonated around them as he refaced the opposite wall. Something would give at any second. What parts of the inner structure hadn’t crashed to the floor shook with such force, the room had a hazy blur. And then everything went silent, everything but the sound of their breaths.

  Cool air rushed through the room. It bit at his skin, but a wave of heat pulsed around them. Her teeth no longer chattered, nor did her body shudder. Thank God for the latter. It distracted him past the point of—

  The floor shifted beneath them. His energy burned hotter, the flame within waiting to unleash on whatever threatened their lives. Part of him still believed it was Nate. Either way, he was ready for this game to end.

  And so the end began.

  The center section of the wall exploded inward, knocking them back. Various sized chunks of concrete sailed through the air. A few flew in their direction, but he blocked her body with his. As their chests pressed together, those same pieces slammed into his back.

  He clenched his teeth, unable to stifle the groan vibrating from his chest. Jagged edges scraped his skin, piercing a few spots, before falling to the floor. He cursed himself for tearing off his shirt. Blood soaked or not, it would have helped soften the blow from the rocks.

  Dust filled his lungs. He tried not to cough in Heaven’s face, but the tickling sensation proved too much. He refaced the cracked wall and gave into a round of coughing. She did the same. As much as he wanted to check on her, the newly formed hole in the wall held his attention. So did the cloaked figure standing inside it.

  W
hat was only a matter of seconds seemed like a lifetime. The longer he glared at the figure, the more he remembered his battle with the Benders, the same ones that took him to death’s door. Heaven kept him from entering that door, and he’d be damned if he went back. Not this time, not with the inferno raging inside him.

  Unlike the Benders from earlier, the man before him had enough sense to wear a mask. Even so, he was either extremely dumb or overly confident because so far, it appeared to be a solo mission. What a disappointment. As feverish as Layne’s body grew, it wouldn’t matter how many Fallen stood before him. They would all meet his wrath.

  A flame burst to life in his palm. He kept it behind him, near Heaven’s waist, ready to attack. Just as his muscles flinched to move forward, her hand curled around his arm.

  “Layne, wait. Please.”

  Had she lost it?

  “No way, Heaven.”

  She was too trusting of other people. It would end up getting her killed…but only if he were dead, because he’d protect her until he took his last breath.

  Glaring at the cloaked man, he brought his hand forward. Before he could hurl the flame toward the intruder, the man fell to his knees and blocked his face.

  “Please, don’t. I’m here to help. I swear it.”

  Something about his voice struck a nerve in Layne. Maybe it was because he’d hidden his real voice behind a digital variation. Why would he need to disguise his voice if he was an ally?

  Though he didn’t sense it was Nate, it didn’t mean it wasn’t someone working for him. Who else would wear the creepy getup if not for a member of The Fallen?

  As the flame continued dancing in his hand, he stepped forward, not the least bit surprised when Heaven moved with him. She remained behind him, caring little about the lack of space between them. He did his best to ignore it, even when her breasts brushed against his back. Curiosity pulsed through her energy, making him just as curious.

  “Why should we trust you?” Her voice had a firmness to it that spoke of her power. She wasn’t as weak as people thought. Reckless? Yeah, maybe a little, especially when it came to dealing with him. But she wasn’t the delicate flower Dylan made her out to be.

  Despite what his friend thought, Layne sensed her power. She saved him from death. If he did his part, and returned the favor, she would be the most powerful Seeker to exist.

  And she would be his Seeker.

  The man before them lowered his hands from his face. His head remained bowed, almost in a respectful manner, but his voice was clear and cut.

  “You should trust me for one simple reason. I helped your husband escape his father after their last confrontation.”

  Layne clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to accuse the man of lying. Yet Heaven believed his answer. No matter how suspicious he wanted to be, Layne couldn’t deny he sensed the man’s honesty as well. It didn’t mean he would let down his guard. Not when Heaven’s life was at stake.

  “I understand your hesitation, but we must hurry. Your captor will be returning soon. There are others en route as we speak.”

  It wasn’t the words Layne wanted to hear, but honesty still vibrated from the stranger. Like it or not, they had to accept his help. The alternative was less favorable. Guess they were getting what they wanted—a way out.

  “So what’s the plan?”

  His words brought a wave of relief to Heaven. She laced her fingers through his, turning his flame into their flame, the one with a magenta hue. He loved that his fire couldn’t hurt her, and the fact that they had a special flame, one that could wipe out a room full of Benders.

  Lowering the flame to a flicker, he kept his attention on the cloaked man, who pointed toward the hole in the wall. “We must go this way. There is a passage less than fifty yards from this building. It will lead you to safety, but we have to leave now.”

  “Fine.” Layne extended his hand in front of him, motioning toward the stranger. “Lead the way.”

  They didn’t waste any time working their bodies through the hole. After helping Heaven through, Layne did a quick survey of the grounds. While the man’s intent to help may be sincere, he did mention others were on their way. For all they knew, they were walking into a trap.

  They had to take the chance, either way. Staying wasn’t an option. As long as they could run, he knew he could get Heaven to safety. If this cloaked stranger were an ally, he could help him battle Nate’s men should they encounter any along the way.

  The decision was final. He grabbed Heaven’s hand and ran. She was holding her own, taking each body-jarring step in perfect stride. Had it not been for the floodlights attached to a nearby shed, he would have lost sight of their rescuer. The man crossed into the woods twenty yards ahead.

  Once he and Heaven did the same, he spotted the man another fifteen yards ahead of them, near what appeared to be a cave entrance. Two lanterns sat on the ground until the man picked up one. He offered Layne the other when he and Heaven joined him.

  “I don’t need your lantern.” Layne panted. “I have my fire.”

  A flame formed in his hand at will, but the stranger didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he offered the lantern to Heaven then moved inside. “The exit is about a quarter mile away. Follow me.”

  Heaven peered over her shoulder. Her energy, much like her breathing, came in rapid waves. Though the latter hinted to her exhaustion from running, the former spoke of her concern. Like him, she knew they had no other choice but to follow the stranger. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the man. She worried over what they would encounter when they reached the exit.

  He touched the curve of her hip and whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. I’m just a step away.”

  Her profile revealed a hint of a smile before she nodded and moved inside.

  One quick glance behind him brought their prison back into sight. No wonder he couldn’t penetrate the walls with his fire. They’d been trapped in an abandoned stone quarry. The leftover piles of rock and sand were proof. Maybe Nate had planned to dispose of their bodies in one of those piles. Then Dylan would never have found them, nor would anyone else.

  If Heaven hadn’t made her sacrifice…

  The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he swallowed it down and proceeded into the opening where she waited. Much to his surprise, the tunnel looked nothing like a cave. Though the musky scent was similar, rock walls didn’t surround them. Dirt walls did. The passage was narrower than what he’d expected, but the terrain was smooth, making it easier to cover more ground.

  They continued deeper into the passage, rushing through the earthy chamber like rats in an underground maze. The temperature shifted lower as they approached a downgrade. When Heaven’s teeth began to chatter, he touched her shoulder. Fire filled their connection, sending waves of heat from his body to hers. He kept his other hand near his side, decreasing the fire surrounding it.

  Twenty feet ahead, he caught a glimpse of the other man. The light from his lantern faded in and out as his cloak swung side to side. There was no sign of the exit, but without daylight, it would be hard to see. They had to be at least a few hundred yards from where they’d entered.

  He tried not to focus on how much further they had to go or the fact that Heaven’s body was warming under his touch. He had to quit thinking about her body, period. Those thoughts muddled his mind, and he needed a clear head, especially if there were people waiting on the other side.

  Now was the time to think of an attack plan in case they faced opposition. Even if he didn’t know where the passage ended, he could count on surrounding her with the same heated shield he used during their earlier attack. He was stronger now. There was a lot he could do.

  Lost in thought, he didn’t realize how much he’d zoned out until honeysuckle rushed through his nose. The outline of the exit glowed orange and red from the lantern the cloaked man held. He stood facing them, lighting the rest of the way.

  Layne tugged Heaven’s shoulder, urging her to stop. On
ce she did, her eyes shot in his direction.

  “Let me go first.”

  She nodded in response and remained in the confinement of the passage. A quick scan of the area showed little more than an open field, a dirt road, and an old ’79 Chevy truck.

  Motioning for Heaven to join him, she moved to his side. He wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her as close as possible. The fire within lay in wait, and God help the man who provoked its wrath.

  They continued through the field, drawing closer to the road and the truck. It wasn’t until they reached it when the cloaked man turned to face them. His head remained lowered as he moved out of the way and pointed toward the vehicle.

  “The keys are in the ignition. Follow this road for a mile. When it ends, take a left. In twenty miles, you’ll run into Interstate 77. Go north.”

  “Aren’t you coming with us?”

  Heaven’s question lingered in his mind as the man shook his head. “I have to make sure no one followed us. The sooner you get out of here, the better.”

  “Where are we?” Layne looked at her when they asked the question at the same time. It was official. They were truly in sync.

  The mysterious man took a few steps back. “You’re north of Marietta.”

  Nothing else was said. Nothing could be. He gave Heaven a respectful bow then darted back to the underground passage. After he disappeared, Layne opened the passenger door.

  “We better go.”

  “Do you feel up to driving?”

  “Hell yeah. I’m your protector, not the other way around. If we’re being followed, I can lose them easier than you. I have years of experience outrunning the press.”

  She snickered at his response and slipped onto the bench-style seat. Once he closed her door, he ran to the other side. The driver’s door clicked shut as he turned the key, enjoying the sound of the engine revving to life.

  Heaven extended her hand toward him, holding what appeared to be a shirt. “It was hanging over my seat. See if it fits.”

  He didn’t want to wear someone else’s clothes but needed something to replace his blood-drenched shirt. Might as well be this one.