Shards: Book One of the Anderian Series

Chapter 17: Trapped

 "Get up."

Cian's voice boomed in my ear, yanking me from a quite enjoyable dream. Involving syrup and whip cream. Two things I believed belonged only on ice cream in the waking world, but I was pretty much a yes woman in my dreams. All food, feathers, and chains were welcome, though come to think of it, the last two were on my list of things to try while awake.

"Now."

I swatted around my head and made contact with his jaw. He grunted when I shoved him away, but I ignored him and burrowed into my pillow with a sigh that turned to a scream when the covers flew off and long fingers wrapped around my ankles, pulling me to the end of the bed. Hands grasping for purchase, I failed to stop myself before I pitched over the edge and landed hard on my ass, right between his wide legged stance.

"That was totally unnecessary," I rasped in a voice thick with sleep. Looking up only to jerk my eyes back at once when they were met with the delicious sight of bulging thighs and... other bulging things, I added, "And a complete violation of the no touching rule."

"That is a rule I never agreed to."

He stepped over me and checked on June. She stirred and opened her eyes, cringing immediately when she saw Cian. A bit of his cool, cruel mask slipped, and he was gentle as he touched the visible bruises.

"I am sorry for what Kohl did to you. I will not harm you, and you are free to leave."

"Really?" She asked as she sat up.

"Really."

June flicked her eyes back and forth between Cian and me, reluctance visible in every line of her body. An ache spread through my heart. Not once in all the years I'd known her had I ever seen her anything but confident, and it was my fault she'd been broken.

"Really," I repeated, sitting on the foot of the bed. "He's not my favorite person or anything, but he doesn't seem to be needlessly cruel."

"You're coming with me, right?" June asked.

Cian tensed, but I cut him off. I couldn't be sure what Kohl had told her, but I prayed it wasn't the truth. If she knew I was going to die, she would refuse to leave my side, putting herself in more danger, and I wasn't going to all that.

"I can't. Apparently, he needs my help for some reason."

"An Andarien needs your help."

The incredulous emphasis on your was almost insulting. "I'm special, remember?"

"I will take good care of her," Cian, the man who claimed to not like lying, lied right through his perfectly shaped teeth without so much as flinching. "But it is a time sensitive issue, so I would ask that you leave at once."

Three days. That's all the time left on this earth I was guaranteed. The moment Cian delivered me to the Synod, this Shard inside of me would be ripped out, and with it my life. No more cases to solve or people to help or partners to fight with. Suddenly, this life that had always felt so empty seemed so full of possibility.

"Bria, I can go with you."

"No, it's not necessary." I scooted across the bed and took her hands in mine. "I want you to know I'm very sorry about what Kohl did to you. I wouldn't have invited you to Indulgence if I'd known it would put a target on your back."

"And I would have been pissed if you went without me. I consider it a fair trade." June's voice lowered. "Tell me you're going to be okay. Tell me you're not in over your head."

Aware of Cian's brooding presence, I threw my arms around her neck and squeezed tight while whispering in her ear. "Find Jac Grisham. But be discreet." Pulling back, I wiped tears off my cheek. "Get out of here and find some hot piece—or two—to feed off of and get back to your old self."