As if he could read my mind, Xavier calmly peeled off his sweater and tossed it aside. He pulled off his shoes and left them lying in the sand so he was standing in just his shorts and white T-shirt. He looked down the deserted beach and took a deep breath before breaking into a run. In my spectral form I ran beside him, exhilarated by his accelerated breathing and pumping heart. It was the closest I’d felt to him since our separation. Xavier’s movements were graceful, those of a trained athlete. Sports had always been his release and I could feel his tension ebbing. Suddenly his brain had something to focus on other than losing me. The exercise was helping. The expression on his face was less drawn and his body moved with its own rhythm now. I was aware of the muscle definition in his calves and broad shoulders. I could almost feel his agile movements and his weight hitting the sand. I lost track of how long he ran, but when Byron was just a speck in the distance, Xavier finally came to a halt. He bent over, bracing his hands on his thighs. The sun was already setting and tingeing the ocean red. Xavier’s chest heaved as he waited for his breathing to slow. I could tell he wasn’t thinking about anything right now — for what was probably the first time in weeks his mind was completely clear. I realized there was no time to lose. I had to seize this opportunity. The Crags were behind us, not far from the spot where I’d first revealed my identity to him by releasing my wings and throwing myself from the cliff. I had to wonder now whether I’d done the right thing. From that moment I had complicated his life irrevocably. I had tied his existence to mine and burdened him with problems he should never have had to deal with.
I studied Xavier’s face, only inches away from where my own would have been. I could already see his expression clouding as his body resumed normal temperature. The physical exertion had offered him a temporary reprieve; soon he would be agonizing again about what he could have done differently. I was running out of time. I backed up so that I was drifting several meters away from him. I shut my eyes tight and focused on channeling my energy into the spot where my heart would be had my physical form been present. I imagined concentrating this energy into one swirling, powerful ball. The ball held all of my love, all of my thoughts, all of my being. And then I ran. I ran straight toward Xavier, who was staring out at the ocean, his feet half buried in the sand. When I reached him I hit him like a trajectory, the ball of energy breaking over him like a cosmic tidal wave. It was as if his body became liquid and I was able to pass right through him. For a split second, I could feel his very being inside of me, my essence and his fused together. For that one brief moment we shared one heart, one body. Then the moment was gone. Xavier looked stunned as he tried to make sense of what had just happened and instinctively brought his hand up to his heart. I could almost track his thought processes on his face. I hoped I’d gotten it right and hadn’t alarmed him into thinking he’d had a heart attack. It took a few minutes for him to process what had happened, but then his expression shifted from confusion to one of pure bliss. When I saw him looking around for me, I knew I’d got it right. I was proud of myself to have broken through on the first attempt! I’d only taken baby steps, but I’d done it — I’d made contact.
Xavier looked straight ahead where I hovered, physically invisible, but spiritually more present than ever. His clear, turquoise eyes seemed to meet mine and the beginning of a smile played around the corners of his mouth.
“Beth,” he murmured. “What took you so long?”
17
Accomplice
THINGS changed for me after my encounter with Xavier on the beach. What had happened between us was better than kissing him, better than having him sleep in my bed. I had wrapped myself around his beating heart, flowed in his bloodstream, felt the electrical impulses charging to his brain. I knew now what true connection was. And I knew I had to fight for it.
Up until now I had been happy to sit around waiting patiently for my rescue party to arrive. I didn’t feel there was much else I could do. Now, like Xavier, I couldn’t just wait. I needed to take matters into my own hands. My determination to be reunited with him burned like a flame. I was through with playing the victim. I was through with feeling helpless. Jake scared me; there was no doubt about that, but there was one thing that scared me more and that was being separated from Xavier forever.
A small part of me felt like I’d let Xavier down. Here I was idling in my penthouse suite for the better part of each day, communicating only with Hanna and Tuck and feigning illness to minimize contact with Jake while Xavier did all the work. He was frantically thinking, planning, and putting all else aside while I waited like a damsel in distress. I was better than that. I was capable of pulling my weight and that was just what I’d do. But I couldn’t do it alone.
“Tuck, change of plans,” I said the moment he walked through my door. “I need your help.”
Tucker shuffled his feet uncomfortably. “I don’t like the sound of this …,” he said.
I wasn’t entirely sure I should trust him so soon, but I didn’t have much choice. “I want to try and find a portal.”
Tucker sighed. “I guess I knew this was comin’,” he said. “But, Beth, they’re near impossible to find. Only a few highrankin’ demons know where they are.”
“I’m an angel, Tuck,” I pressed. “I might have a built-in detector or something that could help us. You never know.”
“Gotta admire your confidence,” Tucker said and paused before adding, “but just so you know, I’ve been out lookin’ for portals a thousand times and I never found jack.”
“We might get lucky this time,” I said with a smile.
“I’d like to help you.” Tucker squirmed. “But if we get caught it ain’t you they’re gonna string up on the rack.”
“So we won’t get caught.”
“It ain’t that simple.”
“Yeah, it is,” I pressed. “And if we get busted I’ll say it was all my idea, I forced you into it.”
Tucker sighed. “I s’pose it could be worth a shot.”
“Great. Now, where do these high-ranking demons hang out?”
“I know I’m gonna get my butt kicked listenin’ to you,” Tuck said. “But all right, let’s do it. Only how are we gonna sneak out? Every inch of this hotel’s patroled and they’re watchin’ you like a hawk.”
“I have an idea.” I flopped belly down on my bed and reached for the service phone on the bedside table. I’d never had occasion to use it before so the voice on the other end sounded mildly surprised.
“Good evening, ma’am,” said the woman at reception. “How may I assist you?”
“Could you put me through to Mr. Thorn’s room?” I asked politely. “I need to speak with him.”
I heard a brief rustling of papers. “I’m afraid Mr. Thorn is in a meeting,” the woman said tonelessly. “He’s requested not to be disturbed.”
“Could you tell him it’s Bethany Church calling,” I said.
“Please hold.”
Her tone changed dramatically once she returned. This time she addressed me like a VIP. “My apologies, Miss Church,” she said in a breathless, fawning voice. “I’ll connect you straightaway.”
The phone rang twice before I heard Jake’s silky voice purring into the receiver. “Hello, sweetheart. Miss me already?”
“Maybe,” I said playfully. “But that’s not the reason for my call. I’d like to ask your permission for something.” Jake wasn’t the only one who could turn on the charm.
“Is this a joke, Beth? Since when have you asked my permission for anything? Last time I checked you had quite a will of your own.”
I tried to make my voice sound sweet and imploring. “I just figure there’s enough bad blood between us,” I said. “I don’t want to make things any worse.”
“Uh-huh.” Jake sounded skeptical. “What do you need?”
“I was wondering if I could maybe visit the clubs,” I said in my most unassuming tone. “You know, hang out with the club rats and get to know the place.”
“You want to go clubbing?” Jake was taken aback. I knew I’d caught him completely off guard.
