Endless

Connected | Ryan

Every single instinct told me to wake up. My strength grew by leaps and bounds. The rush was incredible. Nothing rivaled it. This euphoria could only come from claiming a protector.

No. What had I done? I groaned and fought to stop the draw. Ali lay on top of me. Limp. Could it be too late? I sobbed, finally managing to master myself.

My true nature snarled at me for interrupting, but I disregarded its urgings. Ali's life force sustained me, healing me, but I couldn't take it. I wouldn't.

I put my arms around her, sensing out the connection between us. Usually, the bond between me and a phoenix felt like a vacuum, tearing the life out of someone despite any resistance I might have found. This felt different, like a bridge joining me to her. Her life flowed over to me with no resistance. I could feel her emotions, the sensation of me holding her and how much she liked it when I did.

My heart hammered and I swallowed. This...this was unknown. No protector ever gave up their souls willingly. I knew that. God knew I'd stolen enough souls to know the difference. But this was one soul I didn't want. Well...actually I did. Just not at the cost of her. The thought of losing her filled me with dread.

My true nature shouted at me, telling me I was an idiot. I didn't care. I had to do something to save her, something that might return her to life. I kissed her forehead and focused on finding her inside me. It wasn't all that hard. Everything beautiful and warm was her. Anything feeling like an impending disaster was me.

I shoved her life force back across the bridge between us, into her, its rightful place. She let me.

Her heart rate picked up and her vibrancy returned. I did my best to shut down the connection between us-just in case either of us changed our mind. The ghost of a connection remained despite my best efforts. I felt her the same way I felt any griffon.

I shook myself and sat up, holding her close. It had to be some warped sort of wishful thinking from me. She'd practically lit up the apartment and had been in full command of her power. There was no way she could have hidden so much power. In fact, I'd felt her when battling Alick. Griffons could have felt her for miles. But right now she was too weak to project power. How could I still feel her?

I grew vaguely aware of Nick approaching. He was there when I turned my head.

"What happened?" he demanded, crouching down next to me. "I came as fast as I could."

Pain etched his features, but for some reason, his anger didn't seem to be focused at me. That was new.

"Alick must have been curious," I said. "I found him there," I nodded to where Alick was still pinned. He'd be there, forever dying until one of us freed him. "She was going to kill him."

"And you..."

"Almost died stopping her. And now-" I swallowed down the emotion threatening to drown me and looked at Aleria's serene face. "You feel her, don't you?"

"No."

I frowned at him. "But-" I still did. Like she was part of me. "She's alive."

Nick exhaled heavily, as if he'd held his breath. "Fuck, that's a relief. Okay, you take care of her. I'll get rid of him." He jerked his head in Alick's direction.

Vince came in and whistled. "Never a dull moment. I go hunt for an hour and I miss everything. I'll say this, though. Your lady sure kicks ass." He poked at Alick's chest. "Makes me think it'd have been kinder to shoot him in the eye."

Alick tried to growl, but it came out as a rattling sound. He coughed up blood. Drops of it rolled down his chin.

"Anyway," Vince said. "We better get going. I crossed paths with one badass looking phoenix on the way here. I think he's going to kill any griff he finds. Just waiting for his back-up to show up."

Nick winced. "Black hair, blue eyes, six foot four?"

"Yeah. You know him?"

"Davenport."

Shit. This definitely wouldn't look good. "We need to get out of range and fast."

Nick nodded. "Go. Call me when you're safe. I'll bring your supplies."

I picked Ali up and stumbled out of my apartment. Where the hell was I supposed to go? The protectors could be anywhere. A sudden flare of heat burned through my thoughts. I winced and checked on Ali, but she didn't cause it. She sensed the heat with tranquility. The protectors were letting her know they were near. Okay. Things were getting weird, but maybe I could locate them this way.

It wouldn't be comfortable for me. I focused on the intensifying heat as more protectors powered up. Now that I felt them, locating them wasn't different to me sensing out other beings. They weren't far at all, but they were only coming from one side. About twenty blocks away to the west.

I held Ali closer and shot into the sky. Luckily for us both, I had a place where no one would ask questions, and it was on the opposite side of the city.

Hotel Beaufort was one of the best hotels in existence. I'd always assumed someone from the Firm would eventually find me, so I kept a suite there, just in case. I landed us in the alley, then went in.

The concierge's eyebrows shot up at the sight of me carrying a prone woman. As if he didn't have a dirty little secret of his own. He needed to take off once a month so he could howl at the moon.

"My suite," I said, forgoing small talk in favor of speed. "I expect two more, so book two more rooms to my name."

"Y-yes sir," he said, exactly as soft-spoken as I remembered him. "Would you like something to eat?"

"Just someone to let me in."

"Of course." He summoned one of the bellhops and started typing.

Ali stirred softly, whimpering. I hushed her and kissed her brow. It felt like the right thing to do, even when my true nature snarled.

The bellhop beckoned me and I followed him into the elevator. When we reached the top floor, we exited and he opened the suite's door. He set the key down on the table and then stood waiting expectantly.

I sighed. "I have nothing on me right now. But I'll arrange for the tip later."

Maybe I wore a forbidding expression, or maybe it was the fact that I'd simply been given the key to the most expensive suite in the hotel, but the bellhop smiled.

"Of course, sir. Have a wonderful day."

He left us and I took Ali to the bedroom. She needed rest, but I just wasn't ready to let her go. So I lay down with her and held her tight.

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