Blood Before Sunrise

phone. This time, Tyler had to be escorted off Xander’s property after he’d nearly knocked the door down because he’d thought I was somewhere inside the house. The Grim Reaper couldn’t have sounded bleaker than Raif as he’d given me the play-by-play of Ty’s extraction from the mansion. And apparently, the cut on his upper arm was a scratch compared to what Xander’s guards had wanted to give him.

I barreled through the entryway to my apartment, forgoing the pleasantries. I still wasn’t completely unwound from my meeting with Fallon, and the news of yet another outburst wasn’t doing much for my nerves. “Does this have something to do with our bond?” I demanded as I walked in. “Ty, this jealousy routine is getting old-fast. You’re acting crazy, for Christ’s sake!”

“He wants you to stay close.” A sound not unlike a snarl tore from Tyler’s throat. “To him.”

“I’m not going to get into this with you again.”

“You’re mine,” he said, low.

The apartment was dimly lit, the glow from the television illuminating Tyler’s features, making them look sharper, less like the man I loved. I curled up next to him on the couch, taking note of his bandaged arm before I rested my head on his shoulder, sighing. “What’s wrong, Tyler? This is not you. I mean, if you’re going to be jealous of someone, Xander’s armed you with plenty of ammo. Why Raif?”

“You smell of him,” he said as he stroked my hair absently. “I can’t stand it. It’s driving me crazy.” He pulled away and studied my face. “You’ve been a busy girl tonight. I sense your fear too. And all kinds of other nastiness. Where’ve you been?”

“Working for Xander.” Sort of. A vision of Fallon stroking a bed full of lovers invaded my thoughts, and I ran my fingers through the silky strands of Tyler’s hair to keep them from trembling. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Strange. Xander didn’t seem to have a clue where you were. I couldn’t feel you wherever you were tonight. It was like something was blocking our connection again.”

“I’m…” God, I so didn’t want to drag him into this. “I’m following a lead on Brakae. Xander doesn’t exactly know about it. I’m just using my royal connection as an in.”

Tyler tried to seem light and laughed. A weak attempt, the sound barely carried from his chest. “I should’ve known you’d never be a low-maintenance girl. I don’t care. You’re worth all the trouble and then some.”

And he was getting that “and then some” in spades with me.

“I don’t think I can handle being around Raif, though, He shouldn’t come here for a while either, Darian. It’s for his own good.”

I pictured what it must have looked like when Tyler burst through the door and threw Raif against the wall, his forearm pressed tight against my mentor’s windpipe while he demanded to know where I was. Distance sounded like a damned good thing-at least, for a while. “Fine. I’ll tell him.”

“Darian, I know I’m being an asshole. Don’t think I can’t tell something’s wrong here. But until I can figure out why I’m feeling this way, it’s going to be better for him to keep his distance. I know you can’t do the same, and I’ll deal the best I can. This has never happened before. I feel like-I don’t know-like he’s what’s interfering with the bond.”

“You know that’s not true, though.” There was no way Raif could accomplish it even if he’d wanted to. I knew the rules. No one could break our bond but me.

“I know, but until I can sort it all out, best to tread carefully.”

“What about the friend you went to see? Couldn’t he help you?”

Tyler stiffened. His voice dropped to almost a whisper. “I’m afraid we’ve gone farther than a simple fix will allow.” I’d never heard him sound so pessimistic, and my heart raced at his words. “Don’t worry, Darian,” he said, stroking my cheek. “Nothing is going to touch you.”

I wanted to scream. The kind of soul-cleansing sound that rips through your chest, scalding all the way up. But I couldn’t muster the anger to bring forth my voice. Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, and I held them back. I forbade myself from filling up with sorrow. All he cared about was me and not one bit about the fact that he seemed to be losing his mind, his health, his grip or that we had no idea who was causing this trouble. That aspect of the bond drove me to the brink. I couldn’t stand the way he disregarded his own safety to protect me.

“Tyler, the way you’ve been feeling lately, this is happening because you’re protecting me, isn’t it?”

He kissed my head, the gesture as good as a yes.

“I can’t let you do this. It’s killing me to see you this way.”

“You don’t have a choice, love.” His voice was like a soft caress. “My protection isn’t like a light switch, something to be flipped on or off. It’s uncompromising and something I can’t control.” Laughter rumbled in his chest again. “Whoever has it out for you-they’re powerful. Big mojo. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got big mojo too. And as long as I breathe, no one will harm you.”

Tyler relaxed beside me, his arms sliding away from me. “I’m tired.” He pushed himself up and moved to the bed, pulling me with him. “Just lie with me, for a while. Let me hold you, touch you.”

Hell if I know why, but I did as he asked. We should have been out searching every dark corner of Seattle for whoever was wreaking this havoc on our lives. I should have been out there, finding whoever had it out for me, no doubt the same person who’d been fucking with Tyler. He’d die to protect my life. Well, I’d kill to save his.

I curled up against him, listening to the sound of his slow and steady heartbeat against my cheek. He seemed weak-even his scent had lost its usual sweet potency, as if it were taking everything he had to protect me from whatever threatened my existence. He might as well have had a fucking target on his back. Murder attempts, magic bonds, theft, secrets, conspiracy all around, and I’d brought it to his door. I had managed to dig myself a damned big hole; if I didn’t get my ass in gear, I’d be buried alive and I’d take him with me.

Assuming my incorporeal form, I snuck out of bed with ease once I was sure Tyler was asleep. I sent Raif a text and waited until I saw him appear on the street below my apartment. Raif stood under a streetlamp, the fluorescent light casting the shadow of his corporeal body as a long black gash in the gray sidewalk. I stood next to him, watching my own shadow become one with his. I felt as close to him as our shadows, but my affection for Raif was nothing more than familial. What-or who-could be causing Ty to sense otherwise? I waited beside him and counted the seconds pounding away inside me until he was ready to speak.

“Please tell me this has nothing to do with my daughter.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

“Darian,” Raif said with exasperation, “what have you gotten yourself into?”

“Do you know what it’s like to be lonely, Raif? Truly alone? I do. I was an only child, ignored by my socialite parents, an abused wife, regarded as worthless. Azriel made me keep myself hidden from the world, and aside from the people I killed for, I had nothing. No one. Tyler made me feel like a woman again, made me feel loved. But you…Raif, you pulled me out of the dark. Not Azriel, not Xander, and not Delilah and her revenge. You. You’re my friend. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

Raif closed his eyes, and his head dropped. I was all about the heartfelt words tonight. Must have been Fallon’s lack of decency that spurred me to such emotion. But even I had a breaking point, and I wasn’t willing to let Raif reciprocate. Or maybe I was afraid he wouldn’t. Whatever my reason, I spoke up again before he could open his mouth. “Ty didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Raif’s brow rose in question, his blue eyes glowing in the dark. “He’s strong. Surprisingly strong. I think he broke a few of my ribs, but I’ll be fine. Don’t worry,” he said as I opened my mouth to speak. “I know this isn’t his fault. But if this threat to your Jinn’s sanity or the attempts on both your lives has anything to do with Brakae, maybe you should abandon this quest. I’ve come to terms with my loss. Looking for a ghost isn’t going to do any of us any good.”

“If any part of what’s going on has to do with her, then she’s not a ghost, is she?”

“Perhaps not.” The hope in his voice made him sound so much younger. Vulnerable. “But is it worth the risk?”

“I think you can answer that all on your own,” I said.

“Yes,” Raif said, “I suppose I can.”

We stood side by side, watching the traffic for a while in utter silence. “What do you know?” he asked. I had a feeling it had taken a huge leap of faith for him to make the transition from resignation to hope.

“Very little at this point. I’m going out. I have some things to take care of. Can I count on you if I need help?”