Chapter 1
Tainted Gifts
The Perils of the Scorned Woman
"Aria?" Simone asks while walking in with a cup of tea.
She sighs when she sees me fully dressed, hair fixed, but makeup destroyed as I lie there still crying heavily into the soft folds of the pillow on the seventh day after my breakup.
"Aria," she sighs. "They're expecting us to all be at this meeting. Are you going to be able to do this? You'll have to see him."
"I know," I whimper. "I have to though. Seminole was my home, and I want to know how we're going after whatever that thing is. I'll just have to bring a pile of contacts."
She frowns, but then she pulls out several cases full of false hybrid blues while sitting down on the bed and brushing my hair with her fingers in a comforting motion.
"I've been working on these for a while. They're still not perfect, but they'll stand up against the acid in your tears for up to an hour instead of dissolving instantly."
I smile appreciatively while grabbing her in a violently jolting embrace, and I feel her worried breaths warming my hair.
"The United members are downstairs in the hotel lobby. They decided to meet here because of the added soundproofing. Only United personnel will be allowed on the premises today."
I just nod, and then I climb free from the bed that has been burned over and over from my acidic drips. I check my secret phone, but there's still no message or call from my masked crusader.
"He's okay. I'm sure he's okay," she soothes while tugging at my hand.
I reluctantly follow her to the mirror, and I wipe my eyes before slipping in the new contacts. I smile as the lingering bits of tears don't dissolve the special blues, and then I nod in approval before following her out the door.
Very solemnly, I make the journey downstairs with the same enthusiasm someone exhibits while carrying a casket to the grave. My hand tightens on Simone's and my tears threaten to emerge the second I smell sex and candy over all the other scents around us.
Damn it.
I try to clear my mind, and then I lean over to whisper to Simone.
"Don't forget what I said about keeping your mind blank."
"Already done. I'm thinking about cats and puppies… and puppy breath, which is so disgusting."
That actually forces a small laugh through my trembling lips, and she smiles while we walk through the doors. My heart sputters, stops, and then plummets to the pit of my stomach when I see the man I've avoided for seven long days.
His black suit is tailored to him the way a commander's pristine attire should be. His blood red tie stands out against the black shirt, and his pale blues shine as he stares at his phone.
Oh damn. He looks so fucking good.
His eyes dart up immediately upon hearing my stupid slip of the mind, and he puts his phone away while making it his mission to get to me. I almost hold my breath as he blurs through the crowd, and I hear Simone release a slight squeal when I squeeze her hand too tightly.
"Aria," his silky, perfectly beautiful voice murmurs so sweetly. "I'm glad you came."
I try to release my held breath, but it just clings to the insides of my lungs as Simone pries her hand from my death grip and dips away, abandoning me with my lying ex. I finally manage to exhale, and then his heavenly scent consumes me with its intoxicating power.
"It was my home, Commander. I wouldn't miss this meeting," I murmur very formally, so proud my voice sounded steady instead of broken.
He purses his lips, and then he pulls my shaky hand in his.
"Baby, I'm sorry. I can't say that enough. I love you, Aria."
The center of my chest becomes pained by the sickening breaths I'm forced to take out of panic. The heat of the breath trapped surpasses my hybrid scorch, and it actually burns inside me as my dreaded headache pounds mercilessly once again.
"You have a headache?" he asks worriedly while taking a step closer, and I look away to steer free from the hold of those incredible eyes.
Considering I've done nothing but cry for seven straight days, yes… I have a fucking headache.
He winces, and then he jerks me into his arms before I can protest. His lips devour mine, and his delicious taste pours into my mouth, gathering a few chuckles from onlookers. I grip him too tightly as the desire inside me takes over my will to stay away, and I feel the wall against my back. The burn from the eyes watching us doesn't faze me or him.
All I want is him right now. I need him.
"I'm yours, baby. That hasn't changed," he almost whispers against my lips before returning to our incredible, breath-stealing kiss.
Then I finally push back, my whole body folding forward as I grip my aching side.
"What?" he prompts, panic stinging his tone.
"Nothing. Just go, Jase. I can't do this," I murmur while keeping my doubled over position.
The pain is almost unbearable, and I'm grateful for the acid-resistant contacts Simone gave me, when a few tears slip free.
"Aria, what's going on? Where are you hurting?" he murmurs softly while his eyes inspect me, his mind listening in.
Everywhere.
"It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Damn it, Aria. Tell me what's going on," he adamantly insists, urgency lacing his tone.
Stupid ass.
He takes a step back, and then he shakes his head as if in disbelief.
"If this is because of our breakup, then come back. You know how much I love you. Don't do this to yourself for no good reason."
I slowly stand up, my mind forcing the pain aside as my eyes meet his again.
"No good reason? Jase, I trusted you. Over and over you told me I could trust you, but you never trusted me with something as ridiculously mundane as this," I scoff while barging past him.
"Aria," he grumbles while grabbing my arm and turning me back around. "If it's so mundane, then why not just drop it? Why make this so fucking colossal when it's not necessary? You know I love you, and obviously you love me. So why do this?"
My eyes narrow and teem with fury for his complete oblivion.
"The detail was mundane. The fact you chose to include so many from my family while excluding me, that's colossal. The fact you told me you loved me while refusing to trust me as much as I trusted you… that's pretty fucking colossal. Yes, I love you, but I'm hoping that will fade."
Soon.
He winces as my mind's prompted plead finds his ears, and then he looks away just as a guy awkwardly comes to join us - his eyes careful not to meet ours.
"Commander Ericson, I'm sorry, but it's time to start the meeting."
Jase sighs while gripping his head, and then he nods to the man with a begrudged motion before returning his gaze to me.
"We'll return to this conversation later," he almost whispers, and I just roll my eyes while walking away.
No need. My mind isn't changing.
His breath comes out hard enough to find my ears from across the room, but I don't turn around. I just quietly take the seat beside Simone who laces her fingers with mine the second I sit down.
She gives me an encouraging smile, but her eyes pour out pity.
I hate pity.
Jase straightens his tie as he takes his place behind the podium in the enormous hotel banquet room. I feel sick as I stare at the spellbinding man who broke my heart.
He lips thin as I try to think of something else, anything at all to keep from distracting him right now. I'm sure his head is already killing him, considering it isn't just my mind he's overhearing.
He looks so different than the cocky, cool, confident guy I fell in love with. He looks so prominent and commanding right now. I don't know how I missed all of this. How did I not see it?
"As most of you have learned, I'm Commander Jason Ericson. I'm sorry for having kept my identity a secret for so long, but I was trying to fight alongside you in this war. Obviously, I'll have to choose more secure missions to attend because we don't want to risk the Unaligned capturing me and using me as a token of bargain.
"With that said, I am by no means going to sit on the sidelines. I didn't take the Commander position to cower behind a well fortified compound. Given the fact our greatest facility just fell, I feel I'll be just as safe in the field. I can assure you you're in good hands.
"Now, to the matter of Seminole, we have learned something incredibly strong did this. If any of you have been ranked high enough to study the Kellan Maverick file, you'll see there are similarities. The most common misconception with this case is that people believe Maverick did this. If we had suspected him of being able to demolish cities as we saw them, we would have never let him live. That being said, we did and do believe he has knowledge of who is behind this. Pictures of him were caught near these scenes, and that can't be a coincidence.
"We are currently tracking him, and we're hoping we'll catch a break so we can interrogate him once again."
They don't think he did it? I thought that was why he was arrested and sent to Stringham.
"Commander, with all due respect, Kellan Maverick is a threat to our nation just as much as the Unaligned. He should be killed on sight, not interrogated," a man's gruff voice interjects.
Jase's lips tighten as he loosens his tie and leans over the podium to look the man in the eyes.
"I know better than anyone here that Kellan Maverick is a threat. I worked diligently on that case. I also know he didn't have the capabilities of destroying those cities. We need his Intel, not his blood… at least not until he has given us a trail to follow."
Damn he's sexy when he's assertive.
Jase's smug grin cocks up while flashing his mesmerizing eyes in my direction, and I almost hold my breath.
Stupid big mouth mind.
"He didn't crack under interrogation the last time, what makes you think he'll crack this time?" another man asks.
Jase starts to answer when the doors to the back blow open, and everyone gasps in unison while snapping their necks around to see who the hell just barged in. I get sicker than I already am the second I see the duo stalking down the middle of the aisle on their way to the center of the room.
Oh fuck my life.
"Because this time I'll be the one to interrogate him," my mother declares while glaring at Jase like she wants to rip his head off.
Why the hell is she mad at him? She fucking knew his secret.
Jase grips his head, and his eyes flash to me as if he's trying to silently clue me in on his turmoil. Unfortunately, unlike him, I'm no mind reader.
"Araya, we've already been through this. You're on leave to enjoy the end of your span. You can't interrogate him even if we do find him," he exasperates.
Ah. I get it now. He's been arguing with her. That'll give anyone that tormented, agonizing turmoil.
"Commander, I was lead interrogator for longer than you've been alive. I dedicated so many years of my life to the United. I believe the United owes me this. Seminole was my late husband's pride. He changed that facility, and it's where he left a legacy that shaped the world we live in. The United owes this to him as well."
Damn she's good.
Uncle Brazen takes her hand in his, and she leans against him while all eyes stare expectantly at our commander.
"She's right, Sir. Araya is our strongest gifted hybrid, and she's owed this. She is by far the best interrogator anyone has ever seen. We owe it to our late commander to do all we can to seek justice," a hybrid male interjects.
Jase looks to me as if he's expecting me to tell him what to do. I hate this. The only reason he's denying her is because he knows she'll get too close and figure out the truth. Then she'll go after the scorpions and this thing alone.
She'll just be more suspicious if you say no, Commander.
He sighs out, and then he turns his attention back to my mother.
"Very well, but given the special circumstances, I expect you to stay behind the walls of the United. You'll only be interrogating Kellan Maverick, and then you'll go back on leave. Understood?" he prompts, and she smirks at his ceding.
"Yes, Sir," she smugly releases, and then she walks over to take a seat toward the front, her eyes averting mine the whole time.
She knows I'm pissed. By now she has heard all about the drama. She also knows why I've fucking ignored her numerous calls, texts, and emails. What sort of mother keeps the commander's secret when he's dating and lying to her damn daughter?
Jase frowns a little while looking at a remote in his hand, and then his eyes look up to catch mine for a brief second before looking to a screen that is dropping from the ceiling.
I have to stop thinking. Puppies, cats, puppy breath… ew.
Jase lets a small smile free, and I huff while slinking down in my chair. How is it he is hearing my every thought when there are thousands of other minds in overdrive right now? If he's that good, then why didn't he just read Kellan's mind in the interrogation room when we had him?
"This is the most recent picture we have of Kellan Maverick, and unfortunately, it's the only one we have on file. Our server crashed a few years ago, and we lost numerous photos and files," Jase murmurs while pointing to the enormous screen.
I stare at the picture I've already seen. I block out the other photo of this man I've seen, and Jase's head turns curiously to me. I ignore him as I analyze the scruffy, dirty man who is stained with dried blood.
His unkempt beard strays across his face, and his hybrid blues hold secrets I know. His lips are almost covered completely by the facial hair that was never groomed while he was in Stringham. His dirty, grungy, dark hair falls to almost touch his shoulders in a shaggy, clumpy sort of way.
This photo is damn near useless. A simple bath would change his appearance immensely.
"I know it's not much to go on, but it's all we have for the time being," Jase murmurs as though he's answering my inner thoughts, and with that, everyone is dismissed to get to work.
I dart out, leaving Simone behind in my attempt to escape Jase before he tries to continue our conversation as he promised. My head is pounding so hard that it's difficult to keep my guard up with my thoughts.
Suddenly, my retreat is halted as dark brown hair and false blue eyes stand in front of me. I glare at the woman I rarely see falter, but today, her eyes show the guilt she deserves to feel.
"I don't want to talk to you right now. I sure as hell don't want to do it here," I grumble while barging by her hands-on-hips stance.
"Aralia, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't think you'd get this mad. He's just the commander. It's not like I kept something harmful from you," she whispers while following me up the stairs.
"Just the commander?" I scoff too loudly, and I tighten my lips when I see all the eyes of the adjourned meeting staring at me after my little outburst.
I sprint up the stairs to escape the curious assholes, and I hear the swishing wind as my mother follows my vicious pace.
"I don't see why you're so mad," she huffs, condescension in her tone.
"Of course you don't. You never do," I grumble, my eyes deliberately steering away from her penetrating ones.
"Damn it, Aralia, just tell me why you're so mad."
I stop retreating and turn to face her, my tears finally burning through the resistant contacts.
"Because I fell in love with a man willing to lie to me just to keep his secret. He trusted you more than he did me. Obviously, I was a fool to think he ever gave a damn, and I hate you for not telling me before I fell so hard. It hurts - physically hurts, - to get up and walk around right now."
She exhales loudly, her eyes cloaking with tears and her contacts dissolving. Uncle Brazen comes up to usher us into my room before everyone sees our exposed violet eyes.
As soon as the door shuts, my mother sighs out. "I do understand not wanting to be lied to by someone who says they love you."
Uncle Brazen grumbles under his breath, and then he flops down in a chair while scolding my mother with his eyes. He goes on the defense, speaking to me, but seeming to be focusing his words on my mother.
"He might have been lying to spare you the burden of his position. He has a lot going on at all times. He might have liked how carefree he could feel with you," he adds insightfully, and we both turn to scowl at him. He slumps down in his chair before mumbling, "Just pretend I'm not here."
Mom stifles a grin, but I turn to walk away from the both of them, heading to the bed just across from us in the tiny room. I don't feel like speaking to her right now, and I wish she'd just leave me alone.
"How long do you plan to stay mad at me?" she asks somewhat pitifully.
"I don't know. It's still fresh," I grouse while flopping down on my bed and covering my head with the pillow.
The door to my room opens without so much as a buzz, and I pull back the pillow, expecting to see Simone. My heart leaps into my throat when I see it's Jase, and I scramble up to sit up and pull my pillow to my chest while crossing my legs Indian style.
"Oh," he murmurs as his eyes fall on my mother and stepfather. "I'm sorry. I was hoping to speak to Aria alone."
My mother tightens her lips, and then her eyes shift back over to me.
"I'll see you after while," she reluctantly releases, and I just scowl at her back as she and Uncle Brazen leave me alone with the man who broke me.
You can leave too.
I release my hold on the pillow as he sighs out, and then I lie back down, face first in my clutched pillow, my back to the ceiling.
"Aria, I really want to talk to you. This can't be it. This can't really be the end of us. I mean… my title shouldn't bear this much weight."
Your title doesn't. Your lies do.
"Please speak to me… out loud," he grumbles.
"What's the point? You're simply reading my mind while I'm talking," I sardonically release, my voice muffled by the pillow.
I feel his cool hands sliding up my waist as he lies down beside me, and his face nestles into the crook of my neck to flood my body with those delicious chills his intoxicatingly cool breath still offers. Amazingly, it banishes my headache.
"I love you. I'm sorry."
I climb free from his ensnaring touch, and I shake my head vigorously while throwing my shit out of my drawers and into my bag.
"Just leave me alone. I really don't want to discuss this now or ever. Just move on. You're a full blood. It's not likely we would have lasted very long anyway."
He stands up, pain etching itself into his every intake of breath.
"You can't mean that," he strains out.
"You know I'm right. We were just delaying the inevitable."
My icy tone makes his chilled breath feel as hot as hell's fire in comparison. I keep my eyes down because I know I can't look at him right now, knowing I'll fall apart.
"I hate it when you say one thing and think another," he utters through tight lips.
"I'm not thinking anything any different. I just can't look at you right now. I'm tired, my head is killing me, and I'm about to go out on the road again."
"You need blood for a headache. I'll get you some."
I huff out, and then shake my head.
"I've already had ten packs today. Just go away."
My mind stays blank until I'm too exhausted to keep it up. Instead of showing him anything of any value, I think of the grass whipping in the wind, the flowers of spring blooming and finding the beauty winter forced them to abandon, and I think of water running down a stream as it tries to catch up with the waterfall ahead.
"Very well then. I'll see you when we go out."
My head pops up so quickly that I feel a forceful blow, almost like a three-hundred-pound weight crushing the front of my skull. I grip it tightly, and then I growl under my breath for that foolish move.
"Aria, you need to have that seen about. I don't like you having such a severe headache after consuming so much blood. That's almost too human, and you are full hybrid… well, you know what I mean."
I almost want to scream right now. I'm so fucking irritated, and he won't leave. My mother is here, on a damn mission for penance. Uncle Brazen is still defending Jase. I'm sure Uncle Grayson and Aunt Angelica are here as well, and I don't have the energy to blast them the way the fully deserve.
"Just go away!" I scream too loudly, glass shattering as my dormant gift decides to come out and play - destroying my hotel room.
There goes my damn deposit.
He wants to say something else as he dismisses the sarcastic remark made in my mind, but he refrains before walking out. He hesitates to close the door, and I hold my breath until I finally hear it click shut.
Fucking mind reader.
Then my secret phone rings, and I dive over my bed to grab it - juggling it several times while trying to answer the mystery man.
"Hey! Where the hell have you been for so long?" I bark, and that smug asshole starts laughing at me the moment my scolding unleashes.
"I'm sorry to worry you, but I've been on silent stalk."
I sigh out, my grin accidentally spreading. I suppose I'm taking out my anger for Jase on my mystery, masked stalker who is stalking my other stalkers. Now say that five times fast.
"Sorry. It has just been a long week. Did you find my blood?"
The humor in his breath falls flat as anxiety takes its place.
"No. I lost the trail up north. They found out I was tailing them, and they used an aerial lift and ditched the cars they were in. I could see the snow that had been fanned by the chopper blades. They're fearless if they're going by air in the middle of a war. We don't even travel by air during peace times."
I grunt as I flop to the bed, and the ceiling stares back at me with its insidious gaze.
"When will you be back? I'm about to head out on detail, and I'm ready to see the man behind the mask."
He lets out a breath of laughter, but it's short lived. "Soon. I have some other matters to work on. The United is stirred up right now, or so I hear."
"Yeah, we're about to go full throttle on the search for Kellan Maverick. I don't suppose you have any Intel you could share?"
He chuckles lightly, "Now I'm your information box?"
I smile foolishly, although I shouldn't, and then I shrug even though he can't see me.
"No. I was just hoping. All of his trails are so damn cold. They're asking for miracles from the trackers… that includes me."
"I'll keep my ear to the ground. You need to be careful. They're still out there, and there aren't too many people who know about what they're after. I still don't know what the hell they needed with such a small dose of blood."
"I'm tired of worrying about it. Whatever it is, that vial shouldn't be enough to do it. I'm sure they weren't counting on Simone's paranoia with my blood."
"I'm thankful for it. I need to get off here. I'll see you when I can. Until then, you know where the panic button is."
I nod before I realize he can't see me, and I let a small grin crack for the foolish mistake.
"I do. I'll see you when I see you, or at least the parts of you that you'll let me see. You be careful too."
I hang up before he says anything else, and I grab my bag while walking over to the balcony. I don't feel like walking down several flights of stairs. I don't feel like mingling in the hallways and making idle conversation with small-talking, uninteresting people.
Instead, I hop up on the railing and stroll across the thin strip of metal with the prowess and finesse of a feline before dropping through the air.
I smile as the wind rushes me. It almost feels as though gravity is trying to catch the misery that is tying me to the world, and then my feet smack the ground, my troubles rejoining me the moment they catch up.
A group of shirtless hybrid men are standing in front of a jeep, and my nose wrinkles up when I see them flexing their muscles for the giggling female officers who are showing no dignity in their gawking eyes and drooling mouths.
"Aroused?" Simone asks while joining me.
"Appalled," I mumble in distaste, and she lets out a bit of a laugh before rolling her eyes.
"You know that's not natural, right?"
"What? Having standards?" I scoff. "Then I choose to be unnatural."
She lets another laugh free while looping her arm through mine, and we stroll linked together to the front of the convoy where my car is waiting.
"I meant being hybrid and not feeling hybrid. Those guys are hot, and yet you act as though they're the bottom feeders of our breed. I don't understand how you can be so indifferent."
I sigh out, and then I glance briefly at Jase who is standing in the middle of a flock of high ranked officials before returning my attention to her.
Because I'm in love.
"It could just be my headache," I grumble while removing my linked arm from hers and massaging my temple.
"That's not natural either. How long have you had this headache?"
"Longer than I should have."
"Why not hang back and stay with me? They can send another tracker, and I'd like to run some tests on this headache of yours."
"No. This is too important. I told you what Kellan was. I need to be there to keep anyone else from finding out. You know what that means," I whisper softly.
"I know what it means, and I agree he has to die. He's not like you just because he has eyes to match. He's a monster, but it doesn't mean you have to go stalk him down. Uncle Grayson and Aunt Angelica can do that," she says while frowning.
"They can't track though. If another tracker catches the trail, they will let the commander know before they let our aunt and uncle know. He has made this top priority."
"True," she huffs out while frowning. "Fine, then I'm going with you."
I smirk as she brushes by me, and then I turn to see Jase's eyes burning into mine as he takes advantage of my solo stance.
Crap.
He lets a small grin free, and in a blink, he's at my side.
"Crap?" he muses, acting as though he's forgotten he and I aren't on speaking terms.
"Please just let me do my job and leave me alone," I mumble under my breath while heading to my car.
I wish I was an ungifted. Then I could leave the United and not have to see him again.
"Aria, I'm not giving up… ever. I know you love me, and I know eventually we'll move past this," he murmurs from too close behind me.
The chill of his breath burns through the skin on my shoulder when he intentionally lets it linger there for too long. I can see him smirking in the reflection of my car window.
I don't speak, and I keep my mind as blank as possible as I climb into the front seat. When it fails, I begin thinking randomly.
Crazy striped socks. Microwaveable cocoa. Chocolate… Mmm, chocolate.
He laughs to himself before walking away to go to his own vehicle, and I roll my eyes as Simone comes to join me in the passenger seat.
"You don't have to ask to go?" I ask curiously.
"I've got clearance to go on any mission I choose. I sent in my notice of field detail. The rest is just paperwork I can fill out when I get back. It comes in handy to be the lead scientist on occasion."
I wish I could just go wherever whenever. I wish I could forgive Jase. Maybe then this headache would go away.