Page 11 of Commanding Flame and Shield
My eyes widened in time with Aren’s. “Woah there big guy,” I scoffed, “for the love of God, lock it up.”
Alec snickered. “Oh, loosen up, Ally.” He did his best to shield their more intimate moments, but anytime his guard was down in the heat of it, or his mind drifted to her without his shield in place, we’d all attempt to close our connection, or take a walk into the temple for silence. “You just need to get some action.”
Ansel slowed his piano playing just long enough to grant me a two fingered salute right as Aren choked on a laugh. I elbowed him between the ribs, scowling over at Ansel’s subtle smirk. “Hey!” I barked indignantly.
“What?” Aren chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “He’s not wrong.”
Human decades went by before Aren and I both gave up on our mates ever making an appearance in this existence. Aren was centuries older than me, and while the loneliness was inevitable, we had cheerily resigned ourselves to our quippy, sire-offspring dynamic as our care for each other grew. Soul mates weren’t alwaysmates, so much as an intricate soul group, bound together just the same. Companions, like magnets, drawn to each other from one life to the next. While Aren had stood in place, I’d always circled back to him over time.
“Tell you what, Ar, I’ll go get some once you do.”
The heavy door clicked shut behind us, and I followed Aren to the stove as he gave a resigned shrug.
“Don’t get too bent outta shape, Ally,” Ansel grumbled under his breath, fingers still flying. “This is Alec we’re talking about. Would’ve been over real quick.”
Aren barked a laugh as he grabbed two steel mesh tea balls, tossing back, “Honestly. Two minutes,max. Right Fae?” He filled them with his favorite assortment of herbs and poured us both mugs. Ansel began to play a notch louder, bringing a smile to Aren’s face as he slid our drinks around to the barstools that lined the island.
“Oh, now fuck off you two. Babe,” Alec nipped at Fae's ear, squeezing her hips between his thighs. “Gonna help me out here?”
“Not a chance,” she drawled nonchalantly, turning the page as though she couldn’t be bothered, and earning a chorus of laughter from the three of us.
I took the stool Aren pulled out for me, mindlessly dunking my tea strainer as he walked behind me to pick a game.
Mancala, an old favorite. He set it down on the wood counter in front of me, laid-back smirk on his face, as he placed the marbles in their spaces. It was as though nothing of significance had occurred this week. And I found myself relaxing into his calm, soaking up the confidence he always exuded. Aren had a way of setting the tone of the room he was in, his energy so demanding that it was hard not to blend into it.
We played half a dozen rounds before Fae and Alec peeled themselves apart and walked out of the room, hand in hand, to relieve Lana of her guard duties. She appeared a moment later, novel still clung tightly to her chest, gooney smile on her face as she made a b-line for Ansel, still at the piano, to smother him in kisses. He chuckled under his breath, closing his eyes and leaning into her touch as his fingers effortlessly continued their tune. I turned an amused glance to Aren, who grinned and made his next methodic move.
And then the world seemed to fade, colors losing their vibrancy, and noises withering away, like someone had shoved cotton into my ears. Music almost silent before Ansel’s fingers slowed and ceased playing as he leaned into the vision.
Running, sprinting, breathless. Long scarlet hair and blue eyes set in a fair, heart shaped face. A park not two blocks from where we had found James earlier today. And it was swarming with crawlers.It was a distress call from someone in the hierarchy who had lost their calling—another braid.
We all bolted into the temple to retrieve human clothes and our weapons, carefully dipping each of our blades and arrows in holy water before placing them in sheaths and quivers. In unison, our group swiftly made it to the hall to move into formation. A breath later, we jumped.
Untethered from the weight of my first calling, it felt like flying. My legs were free to sprint at full throttle, feet quietly thudding down the street as I all but took to the air under the streetlights. I skidded to a halt as we came to a large brick wall, gravel screeching out from under my boots as I lowered into a squat, slamming my hand into the pavement to ground myself there. No longer distracted by my missing calling, I reached deep into the energy of the asphalt to search for this one. Closing my eyes, full smile on my face as I sorted through the last few minutes of the timeline. A laugh escaped as I saw her—red hair like fire in her wake, crawlers on her heels.
Only moments ago, heading east back into the park.It had only taken seconds to get a read on her.
I could feel the anticipation as Lana and Ansel both bounced on their feet before entering back into a sprint. Aren skid to a halt by my side. He might be our muscle, but me? I was our speed.
Ansel was gaining ground, out ahead of Lana, who gritted her teeth in frustration, lengthening her strides. They could smell her now, scent left behind on branches she’d run through on her way into the dark park—shadows looming eerily everywhere. Where was she going? Why pull into the city and then back into the shadowed park?
Ansel sent a huge wave of energy out and could feel her in his grasp. Her terror palpable even from here. I leaned into my run, ignoring the stitch in my side, eager for an uncomplicated acquisition.
It had been too long.
Even as Ansel inhaled, I could tell they were close.
Crawlers, his voice was clear, but a growl rose in his chest, and Lana picked up her pace to catch him, just as shadows began to move under the trees, spindly limbs inching towards them.
Ansel unsheathed his blade, and Lana keenly yanked throwing knives from both hips simultaneously, crossing her arms for the briefest flash. She made her first throw—a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist—as one of the shadows materialized into a blood dripping, toothy smile. It struck true to her mark, and the crawler shrieked in agony, vessel hissing as it burned from within. Her second throw hit home too, striking the crawler in the throat before it could so much as utter the slightest growl.
Ansel had already sliced two, grinning as they burned, eyes glowing like the last of the coals as the fire within them died out.
Save some fun for us,Aren laughed aloud.
Move your asses, Lana countered sharply.
Just then, there was a huge flash of light not far ahead of them, the creatures of the shadows screeching as it reached them. My eyes widened.
