“Jump!” he hissed at her.
Desperation seized her as she lunged forward, leaping for Chris’s hand. She fell forward; air and space rushed up to meet her as she tumbled toward the large chasm. A small scream of terror worked its way up her throat, but it lodged there as Chris’s hand grasped hold of her arm. His fingers dug into her skin, he held her tight, his grip painful and bruising, but greatly welcome. Cassie’s breath froze in her lungs, her body stiffened as she waited for the impending, painful contact of the wall of dirt and rocks. She lifted her other hand, preparing to use it to block as much of the blow as she could as she fell rapidly forward. Her legs kicked out, catching a glance blow off the wall. The impact of the wall threw her off balance, spinning her around in midair as Chris clung to her.
Arms suddenly wrapped around her, grasping her so tight that the air exploded from her lungs. A startled cry escaped her as Chris’s hand was ripped away, leaving long scratch marks down her arm. The crater rushed away from her, the arms encircled her tighter. She would have panicked against the sudden hold, but she recognized Devon’s smell and solid embrace instantly.
All of her terror disappeared, the tension eased from her body as she allowed herself a moment to melt against him, to savor in him, to take comfort in the strength and reassurance of his embrace. Then, they were on solid ground. His legs bowed as he took the impact of their landing, lifting her high so that her feet did not touch the ground.
He held her against his chest for a moment, his nose buried in her hair as he inhaled her scent deeply. A shiver of delight and desire raced down her spine. For a brief moment she allowed herself to forget everything as her fingers dug into his hard arm. His lips touched briefly against her ear, then her neck, before he gently lowered her to the ground.
He rose slowly, his hand encircling hers as he lifted her to her feet. His eyes were hard as they met hers, his jaw locked tight, and his shoulders stiff. For a moment love filled his gaze, and then resignation and anger blazed forth. Cassie’s eyes widened, her hand tightened around his as she clenched it tighter. This Devon was different than the one that had fled the store. That one had been terrified that he would hurt her, that he would take her against her will. This Devon looked prepared to do war as he released her.
He kept her behind him, his arm braced in front of her as he turned to face the strange man across the way. The strange man with the frightening power to make the earth split apart in order to swallow her whole. The man was grinning at them; his eyes alight with mischief and delight. “There you are!” he cried eagerly, clasping his hands before him. Cassie’s eyes widened in the face of his obvious, malicious delight at seeing Devon. “I was so hoping you would join us!”
“Here I am,” Devon growled.
Cassie wanted to reach for Devon, to cling to him, but she found herself unable to move as she watched the exchange in wide eyed fascination. Standing across from each other, the similarities between the two were even more noticeable, as was the immense hatred they had for one another. Devon stepped closer to her, blocking her even more from view as the strangers gaze darted quickly toward her, his smile widened to reveal his long fangs.
“She’s a fine little piece.”
A low hiss escaped Devon, his muscles rippled beneath his shirt. Cassie thought he was going to lunge forward, but instead he pushed her back a step. “I’ll destroy your mind and rip your throat out before I ever let you near her.”
The stranger’s amusement did not wane at the threat. Instead, he seemed even more intrigued by the notion as his head tilted to the side, trying to get a better look at her. Cassie stared in disbelief at the back of Devon. Even against Patrick he had not wanted to use his ability. But now, not only was he threatening to wield it, he was also threatening to destroy this stranger with it. She did not know how to process this strange turn of events. Cassie started in surprise, jumping slightly as Julian suddenly appeared beside her, his arm firm against hers as he boxed her in. She tilted her head to look up at him, her confusion evident as she met his electric eyes.
He gazed briefly down at her; the hatred in his gaze leaving her breathless. She knew that hatred was not for her, even when he had wanted to kill her he had never looked at her like that. There had always been an air of amusement, curiosity, and admiration about him when it came to her. There had never been hatred. In fact, even when he had claimed to hate Devon, she had never seen this look in his eyes. This was absolute abhorrence, and it was apparent that it was for the man standing across the street from them.
Who was he? She wondered again, her gaze darting back to the stranger. He had to be someone bad if they were both reacting to him in such a way.
“And if it isn’t the venerable sidekick,” the man purred, his eyes lighting upon Julian. “I thought you two parted ways when Devon went vegan on us. Imagine my surprise when Matthew informed us that you two had reunited, and for this girl no less. Our enemy.” Devon stiffened even more at the name Matthew, while Julian hissed a soft curse. Cassie glanced wildly between them, sensing that the name, and this man’s presence, was far worse than she had even begun to fathom.
“How are you not killing each other over her?” The man continued. “Or are you sharing her like you’ve shared so many others before?”
Cassie winced involuntarily; the words were a stabbing reminder of Devon’s past that she did not want to hear. A past that she had so recently come to terms with. “Enough!” Devon roared his hands fisting as he took a step forward, bracing for an attack.
“Easy,” Julian warned, grasping hold of Devon’s arm. “It’s what he wants Devon, and that cannot be good.”
Though Devon did not lunge forward, his tension did not ease. “Still a good sidekick, always sticking by your leader’s side,” the man commented lightly, pinning Julian with a disgusted look. “Always second best, especially now.”
Julian quirked an eyebrow, amusement flitted over his features. It was a look Cassie recognized well, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh Robert, even after all of these years your jealousy has not eased. You were never best, second best, or even third, how pathetic and sad.”
Cassie’s forehead furrowed, her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward the stranger.
Robert.
For the first time, he seemed aggravated by the situation, and not as in control. Julian’s words had affected him, rattled him, and annoyed him. But even more than that, the name rang a bell in Cassie’s memory. She had heard it before, she couldn’t recall where, but she was fairly certain that Devon had been the one to mention it.