Synergy (See #3)(45)

He began to run his fingers through my long, dark hair. “I hate the way all of you look at me.”

“We’re scared for you. We don’t want you to fight this alone.” I assured.

“You shouldn't have to live like that, though, afraid of me.”

“I’m afraid for you, not of you; so are the others.”

He leaned down and let his lips gently touch mine. I pulled away slightly. “Pack a bag, baby.”

He sighed. “I thought we were talking this out as a group?”

“Do you really think anyone besides you doesn’t want to go? What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t know; a push, I guess.”

“I’m pushing as hard as I can,” I whispered.

He pulled me to him and swayed me from side to side. “I heard your mom. I heard her tell you to find a comfortable place. I promise you, I will not make it hard on you. I think he’s good for you.”

I leaned back. “You think he’s better than you?”

His eyes told me yes.

“You’re wrong.” I glanced out the window, then back at him. “You win. We’ll stay.”

“Where did that come from?” he asked defensively.

“Look, I faced a demon twice today that wants Monroe, an innocent girl. My best friend’s world is about to come crashing down on her. Your brother is on edge, everyone is. I can’t leave here if you aren’t one hundred percent sure of yourself. I have to know that you love yourself enough to fight for us. That you’ll be there when everything blows up in our face. I have to know that when we leave here that we’re a solid team because if you have doubts, you’ll kill us all, and I’m not looking forward to dying a thousand deaths or losing anyone.”

He bit his bottom lip, then let a painful smile surface on his lips. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m not going to let anything or anyone hurt the ones we love.”

“So what’s our decision, Draven Michaels? Are we staying, or are we going?”

He arms tightened around me. “Whenever they get done talking to Winston, I want to try to go to The Realm again, try one more time to save them. If I can’t, and we all agree that leaving right now is the best thing to do, then we’ll go.”

“I’m going with you to The Realm.”

“Charlie, he said he would kill me if I was near you in that realm.”

“I’ll take care of Silas.”

“Charlie, he’s right. You have no business near me in that place.”

“You going to get over that mindset. I would bet you every guitar I own that if you get over how I tempt you in The Realm, you’ll have broken this curse. It’s better that we figure this out now, not when we’re forced to. Today you were tempted, we were pushed into the same part of that realm for a reason: because they knew I was your weakness. You are going to have find a way to fight that hunger, to pull the energy you see around me from a different source.”

“From someone else? Is that what you’re saying?” he asked as anger flooded his eyes.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying, and that someone else is you.”

Confusion took over the anger in his eyes.

“It’s in you. It’s in everyone. Light and love don’t vanish, but they’re forgotten; you know that. You have to find a way to pull your own light.”

I could see that my words were making sense to him, so I pushed on. “Promise me you’ll pull light from you, that you’ll find balance and never become what you fear the most.”

He leaned down and kissed me passionately. I pulled him as close as I could to me. “Promise,” he said over and over as his soft lips framed mine and his powerful hands searched my body.

In the middle of our embrace, I heard Winston scream, “I don’t want to talk about it!” I could tell he was still downstairs, but he had managed to ruin this moment.

Draven stole one more kiss, then leaned his forehead against mine.

“What does he not want to talk about?” I asked, not really wanting to know.

Draven leaned back against the window. “Whatever deal he was trying to make with Bianca. We can’t see what he said, and he’s not talking.” Draven started to say something else, but he hesitated and looked over my head. I followed his gaze and saw Monroe walking into the studio.

“What time is it?” I whispered.

Draven pulled out his phone. “Ten fifty-one.”

I let out a sigh. “Maybe you’re right, Draven; maybe we can save them from here.”

He looked at me like I was crazy, then I showed him once more the moment that Monroe had asked me to be in the studio at ten fifty-five.

“A time marked by your favorite number…change…is that what it means?” He asked squeezing my waist.

Nervously, I nodded once hating that I didn’t see that the first time she told me to meet her in here at that time. Anxiety began to ripple through me.

“Well,” Draven said as he reached for his guitar. “I guess I should get warmed up, then maybe those knuckleheads will stop fighting and come up here.”

“Right,” I mumbled as I turned and walked to Monroe, who had taken a seat on the couch. Aden came in at that moment, but he didn’t go to his drums; instead, he sat in the chair and looked at me hopefully.