Chapter 18

Brooklyn

Thrilled from the opportunity to take all of my frustrations out on the scum in the ranks of the Guardians for the syndicate, I moved like water around them, ripping limbs and throats out as if they were made out of paper.

This

This is what I was born to do.

I was a killer.

The sooner I came to terms with it, the sooner I can accept it and stop fighting my nature.

A scream pierced the night from below, and hearing Alice"s voice speared a sharp pain through my chest. I wanted to rush to her to protect her, but there was just so many of them around us that even if I tried, if anyone was going to hurt Alice, I would"ve been too late to stop it. Taking a page from Alice's book, I started praying to whoever listens to protect her to keep her safe.

We just got her back this can't be how we lost her.

Tonight, can't be the night I will lose a best friend.

The panther plowing through Guardians like they were nothing, craned his head to look at me down the length of his body. Those green eyes were asking me if I wanted to go help my friend. I had no doubt he would do everything in his power to make the way for me. I shook my head no, surprising not just Dominic, but myself as well. Alice had potions the witch had made for her, and she had the demon magic at her disposal. I had to trust that she could take care of herself.

‘And what if she can't?' A tiny voice whispered in the back of my mind, but I pushed it away.

A sword flew in my direction, swiping the air right above my head as I ducked, turned and twisted to avoid being cleaved in half. The Guardians were getting more inventive. They were doing combinations of weapons and pure strength, throwing their bodies at us. They were losing regardless of the fact that their numbers were much greater than ours. From the side of my eye. I can see the two demons fighting back-to-back, their style almost like modern dancing, where they lifted and helped each other out turning the bloodbath around them into a work of art. Both Echo and Chester had big smiles on their faces, although, blood was dripping from multiple wounds they had acquired in the last hour or so that we"ve been fighting.

It took me a second to realize what was happening when I found Rowan standing to the side, bent over with his hands on his knees, panting, and looking around him while Guardians were throwing themselves at the invisible barrier he erected around himself.

"Why didn"t he tell us he can do those bubbles?" I asked Samir, jerking my head in the direction of the witch. "I could use one of those protections."

"The witch is full of surprises." The ancient Atua said just as he grabbed a head of a Guardian with both hands, twisting and pulling until he separated it from the body. He glanced at it in disgust and tossed it away from him.

"Did you hear the scream?" My panted question made Samir stiffen his shoulders just as an explosion rocked the building.

"She will be fine." The ancient Atua said with so much conviction, I had to look at him despite my opponent trying to separate my head from my body with a large sword.

"We should"ve taken the wolf with us." My offhanded comment only made him angry.

"Yes, well it"s too late now for what if's, Brooklyn." Re-doubling his effort, he ripped into the Guardians with vigor. "I doubt that they brought explosives with them. I have to trust she can take care of herself." Flattening his body on the ground, he rolled away to avoid two blades aiming at his middle. He quickly popped up, grabbed each of their arms and tore their appendages off of them.

Cries of pain echoed across the rooftop, and I had to return Samir's smile as we continued to fight.

Bright light blinded me for a second, and I had to take cover, particularly, at the wide portion of the roof. My hiss of pain when the bright light blitz blinded me was answered by Dominic with a feral growl. He jumped on a Guardian and shook his head until he ripped the body apart and took a running start from across the roof to reach me. On a good note, taking a break for a second gave me the opportunity to realize we were almost at the end of our fight. There was a handful of Guardians, and I hope that maybe one of them was down in the yard tormenting Alice.

My friend was resourceful. She"ll figure out a way to the Phantom herself.

The second scream that came much later put me more at ease. Normal friends could recognize each other"s voices from afar. Sadly, I knew Alice's scream whether it was one of panic or one of anger and triumph. Whatever was happening down in the yard, Alice was coming out on top of it. The burst of bright red magic that illuminated the night confirmed my suspicions.

"Smart girl." One glance at Samir confirmed he was paying very close attention to my best friend as well. Returning his nod, I joined back in the fray so we could finish this ridiculous fight.

"What was the Council thinking anyway?" Punching and kicking, I was talking more to myself than anyone else. "They think they can send Guardians and we are just going to tuck tail and run? We should pack some of these body parts and heads in boxes and express mail them to the Council members with a big fat bow."

"I have better use for these body parts." Rowen spoke from next to me making me jerk away from him. I didn"t even hear him coming. The witch was proving to be a good ally. Sneaky as hell, too.

"You didn"t develop ghoulish tendencies, did you?" Samir looked at the witch with a grimace.

"What? No." Ruffling through his robes, he pulled out a vial just like the ones he had given Alice. He threw it at the three Guardians left on the roof and they flew off of it along with chunks of the tiles. Rowan gave Samir an apologetic smile, I guess, for destroying his home; not that anyone would be upset with him.

"Well, that was fun while it lasted." Slapping his hands on his hips, Samir looked around the rooftop, assuring himself there was nobody else left he could fight. "Now if you would excuse me, I need to go and check on the human. It will make me a poor host if I have allowed my guests to be injured while they visit."

"I didn"t get any apologies for getting hurt while I"m here." Rowan chirped, which earned him a glare from the ancient Atua.

"That"s because no one invited you to stay." Samir sniffed and looked down his nose at the witch. "Do feel free to disappear at any time. No need to bother with goodbyes, I understand."

"I should go check on Alice." Halfway there as I said it, so I can jump off the roof and go find my friend. I froze when I heard what Samir said next.

"Your friend is the least of your worries." The ancient Atua smirked at my surprised face. "How about I take care of the human and you sort things out with your mate?" He slowly turned his gaze from my face to somewhere behind my shoulder, and I was too afraid to follow the direction of his sight because I knew that Dominic stood there. "I am no expert on mating bonds, but even I can tell you that nothing good comes out of it if you try to ignore it. The Fates made sure, avoiding it is not an option."

I held his gaze for a long moment, and as much as I wanted to argue with him, I saw the sadness there. Mate bonds were not something you come across often in our world. They were sacred and should be respected.

I knew that. And it"s a lot like I was avoiding it. I just needed time.

To come to terms with it maybe.

I had no clue.

But Samir was right. I had heard what he said to my friend before I stupidly left and got myself kidnapped by the demons. And I knew that she meant more to him than what he was ready to admit, even to himself. He will take a good care of Alice. I need to speak to Dominic alone. With that, I slowly turned to face my mate.

The Black Panther stood rigid, watching me warily, as if I was the wild animal on the roof.

"Hey."

I approached him slowly, lifting a hand so I can press it between his eyes.

Pushing his head firmly into my palm, he nudged me to the side, and I had no other option, but to plop on the low wall to keep my balance. It was either that or I had no doubt if he pushed little harder, he would"ve flung me off of the roof. On a sigh, I pulled him closer and started scratching around his neck and behind his ears. A soft purr came from the center of his chest and elicited a smile from me.

"As much as I hate to admit that Samir is right, we do need to talk." Pressing my forehead to his, I closed my eyes.

The panther growled something low under his breath and I giggled from the sound. "You sound like a grumpy old man, Dominic."

If I was not mistaken, the chuffing sound coming from the panther was a chuckle. It kept the smile on my face. And while I listen to my friends' allies, or whatever you want to call them, one by one abandoned the roof. I kept my eyes closed and just breathed the night in. Although, one might say the stench of blood, sweat and what not was disgusting. It smelt like freedom and victory; one more day to fight another battle, one more opportunity to destroy the Syndicate.

Nothing smells better than that.

"It"s just the two of us." Dominic spoke when the silence stretched too long around us.

I open my eyes and fid myself still pressed forehead to forehead with him, but instead of the panther, the male was kneeling at my feet. My heart picked up the beat when my eyes locked on his with the same depth of emotion I felt was reflected back at me. I could"ve rejected the bond but look at him now; I realized what kind of colossal mistake that would"ve been.

He was mine.

I was his as well.

As if he could read my mind, he moved closer, closing what little space was left between us. The scent, which was uniquely him, filled my nose and made me lightheaded with need. My body swayed where I sat on the side of the roof, and a muscular arm snaked around my waist pulling me ever closer like he couldn"t get enough.

I didn"t fight it. That need wanted me to wrap my arms around him and to claw his skin because no amount of closeness was close enough. I need to feel his heartbeat, to feel his breath on my skin, his arms around me, caging me, holding me down, keeping me safe.

These thoughts were something that would"ve pissed me off not that long ago, but whatever it was, that he was invoking inside of me, was stronger than my will. Was stronger even than my desire for revenge.

It was pure, undiluted lust.

It took my breath away.

Panic tried to settle in, but I breathed through it, holding Dominic"s gaze, which was the only anchor keeping me rooted to reality. I watched him, breathless, as he lifted his hand and grazed the back of his fingers over my cheekbone with a soft, secret smile playing on his lips. I returned the gesture with one of my own, copying his face and rubbing my thumb close to his eye.

"Do you know what you asked me earlier?" He kept his tone low, the baritone, vibrating deep in his chest.

"I can"t remember my name right now to tell you the truth." I snorted at my pathetic behavior.

"You asked me to trust you." He reminded me.

"Yes, I remember." Taking a deep breath, I turned my head and pressed my face to his chest. It was too raw and intense to look him in the eye. I felt too much. I didn"t know what to do with this much emotion.

"I will ask you to return the favor." Dominic pulled away from me so that I must look at him. "Will you trust me, Brooklyn?"

"Yes." I breathed.

"I am going to kiss you now." He said.

And I didn"t fight it. I closed my eyes, and I tilted my face up to give him better access.