Synergy (See #3)(25)

Even though he respected my nature to bring balance and peace, he didn’t agree with it. “Britain may be your friend, but he isn’t mine. I have no idea why you trust him. It’s his nature to be seductive and blind light.”

“I thought he was making Madison happy…”

“Now what do you think?” he asked, raising his eyebrows knowing that pushing ideas on me was a fruitless act. I never let anyone tell me how to feel about a situation. I went with my gut. So far it had not failed me.

I knew he was referring to the Prince, to how Madison connected to Willow. “I’ll let you know when I see the Prince and Madison side by side.”

His dominance and protective soul emerged in his stare as he flatly stated: “Well, that’s not going to happen anytime soon because you and Madison, along with Monroe, are going to Chara.”

I stood up as rage came over me. “No! Let Austin take Monroe if that’s what you’re worried about. Fine. You know what? I’m sick of this. When you wanted to go to Chara, I didn’t, and now that I want to go, you don’t. Seriously. This is old. I’m over it. Obviously, I’m fighting this on my own, and I’ll be damned if you close a door on me. If you’re locked behind a door I can’t open and we’re buried alive in ash and ...” Angry tears stopped my words. I was trembling with trepidation. I wasn’t going to let my nightmare come to life, to be symbolic of a future death or separation.

Draven was on his feet and had pulled me into his arms before one tear could fall. He rocked me from side to side. “I’m not going to let that happen,” he whispered. “No closed doors.”

I looked up at him. “In my dream, I can’t breathe, and when you leave me, when you walk away because you think you’re going to hurt me, I can’t breathe. You are my air. I’m not leaving without you – that would be my death.”

Compassion filled his eyes.

“I love you, Draven Michaels. More than I can tell you.”

A gaping smile came across his face as his eyes glistened.

“Why do you act so surprised when I say those words?” I whispered.

“Because I say them more than you do. Sometimes I think you’re going to wake up and realize that I’m the kiss of death and Silas is the breath of life. The less I give to you, the more you give back, and I don’t understand why.”

“Love. That’s love. You don’t love to get something back; you love because your soul has recognized its counterpart in another. You are me. You are the breath of life – do you understand me?” I said as my eyes searched his beautiful face.

He reached down and picked me up, wrapping my legs around him. As my lips found his, I found the passion, love, and security that gave me reason to fight, to fight for him. To fight for all that was innocent.

I heard someone clear their throat and knock on the wall. Our lips froze as Draven gently let my legs fall to the ground. My skin was beet red as I glanced at my bedroom door. Austin, dressed in black and looking like a guardian angel, was standing there.

“Bad time, guys?” he asked, grinning.

“No,” I said, looking at Draven, noticing the blush on his skin as well.

Austin cleared his throat. “Well, from what Wesley had to say, I was expecting you guys to be a bit unraveled, but I didn’t expect to find pentagrams chalked out on your floor. I really didn’t expect to see that,” he said, nodding toward us. “But, I guess, maybe it’s not as bad as I thought?”

“It’s worse,” I said, regaining my composure.

Austin grinned slightly at Draven and questioned him with his eyes.

“Making the best of peaceful moments,” Draven said as his skin blushed to a new shade of red.

Austin nodded once as he tried to hold back his grin. “What’s worse?” he asked, looking back at me.

I nodded for him to sit down.

“That bad, huh?” Austin said as he crossed the room and sat down on the leather couch.

Draven stared at me, wanting me to explain. I took in a deep breath and walked to where Austin was. I couldn’t make myself sit down. I didn’t know where to start.

“Man, this would be easier if I could just show you. I don’t know where to start,” I said to Austin, taking in the peace I always felt around him.

“I can’t see, but I got nothing but time,” Austin promised.

Draven walked to the window and looked toward his house. I’m sure he was trying to see if he could see Aden or the others over there. He reached for his phone and sent a text, then walked over and picked up one of my father’s guitars. It was a nervous habit of his; if a guitar was in his hand, he could explain or think through almost anything.

“Austin,” I said to get his attention, which Draven had stolen without knowing it. “Is Landen OK?”

He looked at me like I was insane. “He was three days ago. Why?”

“You talked to him? About us?”

He nodded once as his eyes grew curious and he leaned forward. Draven sat on the other end of the couch with his guitar in hand.

“What did you tell him?” I asked.

“I didn’t really have a lot of time. They were heading out to another dimension.”

“Esterious?”

“Um...yeah,” Austin said, looking to his side at Draven, then to me. “How did you know that?”