Shards: Book One of the Anderian Series

Chapter 30: An Old Friend

"How the hell did you find me?" I demanded, keeping a tight grip on June's arms as I stepped back to drink in the welcome sight of my friend. A few days of healing, which no doubt included many orgies—had done a world of good for the succubus. Besides a few lingering shadows under her eyes, she looked good as new.

"What do you mean?" Luminous brown eyes searched my face. "You told me to get to Jac, and that's what I did. He didn't believe me when I told him you were alive, but he called me the moment they brought you in. I expected to find you still in bed. Maybe naked. With him."

A shiver went down my spine, and the always observant June didn't miss it. She nudged me aside and looked in the room. A slew of curse words fell from her lips, and I forcefully pulled her into the hallway and closed the door.

"What did he do?" She shouted, following me without protest. I wasn't sure why she was following me, considering I didn't have a clue where I was going, but it beat standing in front of the bedroom door and waiting for Jac to wake up. Please, god let him wake up.

"Nothing happened. I stopped it."

"Bria, what the actual hell? I'm so confused. Why would you tell me to go to him if he was dangerous?"

"He's not dangerous," I insisted. Coming to a stop, I peered around the corner and relaxed when I found a small kitchen. No one was there, and as I entered it, I got the strange sense no one else was in the house but June, Jac, and me. It was like all the life forces in the house were tethered to me. Whatever I'd done to fend off Jac had flipped a switch.

"Do you make a habit of rendering not dangerous men unconscious and throwing them across the room?"

"It's the bond."

"The bond?"

"He's my Amouri."

"Holy shit, Bria. That's awesome. Those are super rare."

June's enthusiasm reminded me how different my life would have been if I'd grown up in the supernatural world. Maybe Jac and I wouldn't be in this mess because I would've recognized what was happening.

"The problem is we didn't know he was an Amouri, and the bond between us has turned toxic."

"Oh... shit." June fiddled with a beaded braid. "My cousin's best friend's brother's Amouri bond went bad like that. He ended up in the hospital after his Amouri strangled him. Of course, it might have just been good old-fashioned jealousy since he found Jamal in flagrant delicto, and they had established a life bond."

Cool air washed over my face as I opened the refrigerator. Good gods, I was starving. Someone's Chinese leftovers sat on the top shelf, but besides a twelve pack of soda, there was nothing else inside. Snatching up the noodles, I shut the door and turned back to my friend.

"Yeah, well, Jac and I didn't have an agreement. We dated while I was on the force, and he ended things because he thought I was crazy."

"That's been well over a year," June said. She stole a bite of noodles and chewed with a thoughtful expression. "Plenty long enough for a bond to fade if you didn't make it permanent. Unless..."

Her wiggling eyebrows said everything. "Yes, we had sex a couple of times after breaking up. Recently, in fact, but we didn't know! As soon as I found out, I planned on putting some distance between us. Jac didn't seem this bad off before the fire, but I guess it pushed him over the edge."

"He'll be okay," she promised. "But we need to get you out of here. I know a witch who can put a masking spell on you, and we can get you into hiding before that big Andarien brute finds you."

"No witches." I swallowed the last bite and peered into the empty container with disappointment. "And I need to get back to Cian."

He had to be okay. But why hadn't he already showed up? Was the house warded? That had to be it.

June clapped. "I knew there was something between you two. God, the sexual tension between the two of you was enough for a full meal. Still, are you sure you going back to him is wise? You were pretty terrified when I left you alone."

"Sorry I wasted your time with the rescue mission. I honestly thought it was necessary then, but things are different now."

"Girl, you know I trust you, but as soon as we get somewhere safe, you're going to explain to me what the hell is going on."

"Absolute—" The chopsticks slid from my hand and clattered on the floor. "Someone is here."

Confusion colored the succubus' face, but then the squeal of door springs echoed through the nearly empty house. We crouched below the counter to avoid being seen over the island, which opened into the living area. I put my finger to my lips, and when June nodded, I inched toward the end of the cabinets and looked around, praying it was Cian.

Flinging myself backward, I gripped June with trembling hands, my eyes wide with fear and apologies. "I'm sorry."

"It's Kohl, isn't it?" She asked. Her brown eyes grew watery, and her skin turned ashen.

"He won't hurt you again. He's here for me."

"You are not surrendering. We're going to get out of here. That asshole caught me off guard last time, but we can put up a fight. Together, we can get out of this."

I didn't have her faith. My attack on Jac, coupled with the pain in my skull, which had returned in full force now that the adrenaline of escape had worn off, made me too weak to be of much help. But for June, I would fight. She deserved that much from me after everything she'd been through, and no matter what, she would leave her whole and safe.

"I'm sorry, Cian," I whispered, gathering energy inside of me as I stood to face Kohl. If I survived this, he might kill me for being so stupid.