Page 14 of Darkness Colliding
Chapter Eight
The Bond We Share
Linkin
A heavy darkness rolls in, shadowing over every inch of this place. It blacks out the skies, the hills, our very existence. Fire strikes against blackness, and Tantra’s sharp and eerie features are illuminated. She begins lighting lanterns and setting them on the floor at our feet, lighting up every speck of dust that lines the old floor boards. Graying walls are lined with deep, slashing scratches. Claw marks really, and the severe lines hold my attention, piquing my interest with unsettling curiosity.
“There’s a few rooms upstairs. Sev, Rark,” she looks to the two men who linger a bit too closely around Cameron, “I want you two to keep watch downstairs at the kitchen window.” Her brows rise, waiting for them to test her.
The two men pass each other a look before each taking a lantern and stalking into a shadowy room to the right. When Cameron and I did our search, we didn’t find anything. The light of my blade showed us very little of this house, but the old rooms were all vacant.
Tantra’s attention lifts to Violence’s and Vi holds a hard glare in her golden eyes.
“Sleep well, my love.” Tantra’s words hum with a happy sound that sets me on edge.
I can’t tell if she’s attracted to Violence, or if she wants to … torture her slowly.
My fingers slip into hers, pulling the Huntress after me as I take a lantern and lead her upstairs. Heavy boots follow after us, and warm lighting shines behind us as Nollix and Cameron trail through the house. When we reach the second floor, Nollix plants himself on the top step. His legs are spread wide as he looks down at the empty stairs like he’s waiting for them to challenge him.
“What are you doing?” Vi turns, and Cameron lingers at her side. My palm presses to the doorknob of the nearest door, but I wait for him.
“I’m making sure the Demon fucks stay where they’re supposed to stay tonight.” The tension of his shoulders only stiffens further as he pulls his blade from his belt, holding it loosely in his hand.
“You’re so sweet to care,” Cameron gives him a wink that only makes Nollix’s features become more somber.
“Yeah, I don’t care too much about your virtue, Warlock.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” A wide smile presses to Cameron’s lips and his gaze pauses on Violence, his attention skimming down her frame before he slowly walks into the room next to mine.
Violence takes a slow step toward the door as it closes, hesitating in the space between my room and his. Her lips pull low as she stares hard at the closed door.
I want nothing more than a few moments alone with her. I want to kiss her. I want to fuck her. I want her pressed beneath me.
But I want her happy more than anything. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.
“Do you want to go check on him?” My fingers skim back and forth against her knuckles.
I don’t hate Cameron. I don’t like him either, I suppose.
But she does.
I see it in her eyes. I see the confused way she looks at all of us. She’s balancing between us, and I hate the tension she’s always carrying because of us. She doesn’t have to. She doesn’t have to hold that weight within her when she’s with me. I want her. Just the way she is. Even if she’s not just mine.
“I’ll just be a minute.” She nods, her fingers slipping slowly from my hand. She turns around before turning right back, pressing her lips slow enough to mine to make me weak against her. She pulls back as soon as my hands skim over the curve of her hips. “Stay up for me.” There’s a shining promise in her gaze, and I’m nodding hard as thoughts of her beneath me slam through my mind.
And then she’s gone. The door clicking closed behind her.
I stand there staring at the wooden panes of the door for a several seconds before his voice tears me away from my thoughts.
“Are we stupid for sharing her?” Nollix’s voice is quiet and it presses along the thin walls of the dark hall.
On tired steps I walk toward him, lowering myself down to the top step at his side.
“I don’t think we’re stupid.” I peer at him from the corner of my eye.
Nollix and I have been friends for years. But I’ve never felt as close to him as I have recently. I feel like we’re more than friends. Like we’re family in a way. All it took was Violence to make us the family we were missing in our lives.
“My parents tried to raise me when I was little. My mom was Fae, and my dad was the furthest thing from it, but they gave the relationship a try anyway.” He pauses, his gaze held on the wall ahead of us as he speaks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen love. Not really.”
