“Either stop calling me dude or you and the lake are going to get pretty friendly.”
“No way!” she half-laughed, half-yelled, tucking her foot around his ankle. They both went down like a ton of bricks, the air whooshing out of Eden’s lungs as Noah landed on her. “Get off!” she giggled, pushing at him.
She felt the vibration of his body as he laughed, struggling to untangle them. The weight of him abruptly disappeared and Eden turned to see him towering over her, still choking on laughter. “You put up a good fight, Winslow.” He held his hand out to her. “But we better stop. The little old lady on that bench looks ready to call the cops and your goon looks ready to kill me.”
Ice immediately tightened around Eden at the thought and she gripped Noah’s hand, letting him haul her up off the grass. She was so dazed, worrying about the goon telling her father she was messing around with a human in public, she lost her footing and had to grab on to Noah for balance. His familiar citrusy scent dove inside her and her hunger latched onto it with a fierceness that debilitated her. Her chest squeezed tight with the need and she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, as her eyes landed on his mouth. Her fingernails curled into his forearms as she imagined tilting his head back and opening his mouth. All she’d have to do was breathe him in, reach deep inside him and take a little bit of pure, beautiful soul. Yes. Yes. She could do that. Her hunger needed it. She needed it. Do it, Eden, do it.
“Eden.”
She licked her lips, reaching her hands up to his face.
“Eden!” Noah shook her hard. Blinking fast, Eden looked up and saw his startled gaze.
Oh my God! Fear made her wrench back from him like he was poisonous. I almost… I almost…
“Eden?”
She felt sick. “I-I…”
“Eden, are you OK?” he asked quietly, his eyes serious. Hard.
Eden narrowed her own eyes now as he kept his distance. Had he sensed something?
You were staring at his mouth, Eden.
Right. Relief washed over her. Maybe he just thought I was making a move on him. Better that than the awful truth.
What… that you almost sucked his soul out in public?
“I gotta go, Noah.” She stumbled back.
“I thought we were going to get some coffee?” He nodded his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of town.
“Yeah, I can’t, I remembered something I have to do.” That would be not killing you.
Thank the gods, Noah sighed as he rounded the corner onto his street. It had taken him forever to get rid of the tail Ryan Winslow had put on him. Another one of the goons that followed Eden around. That was the sixth time one of them had followed Noah. Ryan was growing suspicious of his daughter’s friend. That wasn’t good. Neither was Eden’s increasing hunger. Clearly, it was getting worse. He shuddered, thinking about the look in her eye at the lake. It wasn’t the first time a soul eater had tried to take his soul. It was the first time one he liked and maybe even trusted had tried to. God, he never thought he’d hear himself think that sentence. He thought of the look of horror on Eden’s face when she realized what she had almost done. Noah exhaled, brushing his hair back off his forehead. He was worried. Cyrus had been right about Eden all along. There was part of Merrit inside her. She was a good kid but her soul eater nature was determined to destroy that part of her, as was her family. Not to mention that sleazy cousin of hers. Noah’s fists clenched just thinking about it.
His head was throbbing as he ascended the metal stairs up to his apartment. Perhaps there was still time. No, there is still time, dammit. He shook his head, fumbling for his keys. He’d never expected that he would need to save Eden as much as he did. But he had to.
Noah blinked as he opened the door, light filtering in behind him to illuminate the girl on his bed. He frowned, taken aback to see her there. Quickly, he stepped inside and locked the door.
“Hey, Noah.” She stood up, tall and lithe and completely mortal. She wound her arms around his neck, her long blonde hair brushing his arms as they encircled her waist.
“Romany.” He managed a smile just before she kissed him, long, slow and deep. When she finally allowed him up for air, he squeezed her a little closer. “What are you doing here?”
“Can’t a girl visit her boyfriend every now and then?”
Noah pulled back, throwing her a look as he dumped his keys on the sideboard and headed for the mini fridge for a Coke. “Not when he’s on assignment.”
Romany pouted at him, her hands sliding onto her hips. She wore a sleeveless tank with tight fitting jeans. Comfortable clothes that outlined her toned and strong physique. Under those jeans would be a dagger or two. Just in case. “It’s been a while, Noah. I wanted to see you. I’ve missed you.”
He smiled at her but didn’t say it back. Romany was a Warrior of Neith and one of many mortal warrior girls Noah had fooled around with over the years. Sure, he and Romany had been together a few years, since she was eighteen years old in fact, but he’d never bored of the relationship because she wasn’t clingy. Or so he’d thought.
She seemed to read his mind and snorted. “Oh get your head out of your ass, Noah. I’m here because Cyrus sent me to warn you.”
Instantly his body hardened and he froze with the can inches from his mouth. His eyes said, ‘well?’
Suddenly Romany grew serious and cool. “Word is out on you and Cyrus’ little half-blood. Despite our best efforts, there’s a faction out there who believe she’s an abomination.”
Noah’s heart began to pound. Abomination was never a good word to throw around. “They’re coming for her?”
Romany nodded. “They don’t know where she is yet… but you better watch your back, Noah. I happen to like it.”
Chapter Five
The Monster Within
“What are you doing, Stellan?” Eden asked quietly, her eyes flitting between him and the pretty girl on his bed.
After she’d fled from Noah, Eden had wandered around for a while, trying to gain control over herself, trying not to cry in public. She couldn’t believe she’d almost hurt Noah. Noah. She’d taken her frustrations out on a guy who’d pulled out on her as she was trying to leave the parking lot. Her horn nearly broke under extreme use and the poor guy was bright red with embarrassment from the blasting she gave him. She told herself she didn’t feel guilty for being a bitch.
She thought about driving around for a while, despite the check engine light, and then she’d gotten a text message from Noah.
Things will work out. Promise. N.
Eden had just been about to smile in relief when her phone buzzed again.
Haul ur ass back to the house, Paradise. It’s show and tell time.
At Stellan’s text, her stomach had roiled with nerves, but she knew she wouldn’t ignore him. When she’d gotten home, Celine had been on her way out for one of her own ‘dates’ and had told Eden to stand by for Stellan who had something important to share with her.
“I think it’s a good idea, so would Ryan. While I’m out, listen to your brother.” The elegant blonde had nodded briskly at her as she passed, reeking of Chanel and evil. Eden watched the door close softly behind her, smirking. That could almost have passed for a normal conversation. I’m going out for a while, darling. Be a good girl and listen to your big brother while I’m gone.
The young girl on Stellan’s bed, probably a college freshman by the worshipping eyes she cast Stellan’s way, looked up in confusion at Eden standing in the doorway to his bedroom.
“Good, you’re here.” Stellan grinned up at her and then patted the freshman girl’s hand. “This is Lana.”
Lana frowned at him. “Why is your little sister here?”
Yeah, Stellan, why is your little sister here?
Eden had a feeling she already knew the answer to that. Great, it was like he had a sixth sense or something, cornering her when she was at her weakest.
In reply, Stellan gripped Lana’s chin lightly and held her gaze. Her body slackened immediately, entranced by him. “Eden’s going to hang out with us for a while, and you’re not going to talk.”
“Eden’s going to hang out with us for a while, and I’m not going to talk,” Lana repeated.
The sight of the girl completely defenseless made Eden slightly uncomfortable. This was the side of her brother she liked to pretend did not exist. “Stellan,” she said hesitantly, trembling against the doorframe as the hunger grinned from within.
He clucked at her wary tone and stood up from the bed. “Eden.” He gave her a patient smile. “You promised you’d let me try and convince you.”
She nodded numbly, glancing at the girl again, who sat frozen. She almost didn’t look real. Weirdly it made Eden feel a little better.
“I’m not asking you to feed.” Stellan shook his head reassuringly, and a little of her unease dissipated. “You know I can’t. But watching might change your mind… plus, you should know what to do for your Awakening Ceremony. I promise you’ll want this, Paradise. When I’m done, you’ll need this.” He sounded so reasonable. So loving.
She shivered, eyes locked on Lana who gazed up at Stellan like he was the second coming. Eden’s hunger scratched at her, like a dog at the door begging to be let in.
Stellan followed her gaze and smiled. “Watch and learn.” Slowly, he lowered himself back to the bed. “Come closer, Eden.” He threw out at her without taking his eyes off Lana.
The sickening, cowardly urge to turn and run back to her room fought with the need to please Stellan. To please the hunger. Shuffling forward, Eden obeyed them both.
Smiling softly, Stellan leaned forward to press what, in any other circumstances, would have been an incredibly romantic kiss on Lana’s lips. The girl sighed into him and reached up to clasp his head to kiss him harder. Eden felt her cheeks heat and lowered her gaze. A husky chuckle rumbled up from the back of Stellan’s throat. “Easy, Lana.” He pulled back. “Eden.”
Her gaze flew back up to meet his eyes. “I’m still here.”
“Keep watching,” he insisted. “You grab their head,” he instructed, clasping Lana’s head between his two hands. The girl buckled into him. “Now when I’m done, Eden, I’m going to have to compel her. To compel someone, you merely lock your eyes on theirs and command them. Easy as-”
“I know how to compel someone,” Eden interrupted.
He grinned at her in surprise. “Oh really?”
“French teacher,” she mumbled.
His eyebrow quirked and he threw her a dopey, knowing smile.
Eden shrugged. “OK, math teacher too.”
Laughing, Stellan nodded. “So you know how to compel. Good.” He turned back to the freshman. “Lana,” Stellan whispered like a lover. Eden felt a frisson of excitement rush through her as he tipped her chin and leaned over, his lips inches above the girl’s. At the hitch in his breath his grip tightened and his grey eyes bled of their color to a terrifying white. Only the disturbing black of his pupil remained. The temperature in the room dropped as Eden’s heartbeat increased; need, thrill and revulsion pulsing through her veins like cowardly confused worms. Her brother’s face grew taut, hardening over like marble, and as he began to suck Eden thought she would die with shame. Lana’s eyes flashed wide in terror and pain, her mouth falling open in silent screams as pieces of her soul were drawn out of her and into Stellan in tendrils of a blue smoke-like property. Veins popped up all over Lana’s face, her skin as transparent as tracing paper.