Black Flames, page 9
“You okay?” he asks, and Adam turns his head to look at me curiously.
“Yeah, it’s colder than I expected. The mountains are gorgeous! Do you see them?” I gesture away from us toward the snow-covered mountains. It pulls their focus away from me, and we continue our way down the steps.
“They are pretty, almost as beautiful as you are,” Adam says, and I swear a melted cheese scent fills the air.
“Quit trying to flatter me. You know the rules for this trip. No funny business.” I shrug.
Corey groans behind me, and Adam frowns as he says, “Will he know if we do anything?”
“We aren’t going to test it, plus, you know I’m not ready.” I cross my arms across my chest, and we fan out where we can see each other better.
“Not even if it’s just sex for pleasure? I bet if Corey offered, you would jump right on it.” Adam growls in frustration.
“Don’t bring me into this, bro,” Corey adds, lifting his hands in mock surrender.
I roll my eyes. “What you want from me, Adam, is different, and you know it is. It’s not the same.”
“Are you sure about that? Do you even know how I really feel?” he asks, giving me a serious look.
“Can we not have this conversation now? We need to look for Alpha Turner’s men and set a good example for the pack, remember?”
“Fine, but we’ll finish this later,” he says with a grunt, and I roll my eyes once again. Adam is going to make me lose my shit on this trip.
“How long is this trip again?” I ask, trying to switch gears and lighten the mood.
“Two weeks unless otherwise told to stay longer by Alpha Turner,” Corey says.
“It shouldn’t be more than that. With us providing extra help with the Kushtaka issue, things should return to normal quickly. Then, when we get back, I’m taking you on a real date, outside pack territory, with the freedom to do whatever we want.” Adam smiles.
I frown, but I also can’t fight the excitement of going off pack land. It may be my last taste of freedom unless Zeke finds another way out.
“If Alpha Gale lets you. He doesn’t want you two far from our protectors while so many demons are roaming.” Corey ruins my train of thought with his negativity.
“I thought there weren’t many attacks. Did he tell you two something different?”
Adam and Corey share a look. Their silence and their stare-off ends with Adam shrugging.
“There have been others in the area, yes, but I’m sure we can get cleared to go out.”
“How many more attacks have there been?” I stop moving and force them to stop and look at me.
Corey frowns and looks troubled while running a hand through his hair. Adam seems confused about my concern.
“The Beta teams and boundary Sentinels have taken them out easily.” Adam shrugs again.
I turn my gaze solely on Corey, and the air warms around us. He cringes, feeling the change, knowing it’s coming from me. “How many?”
“There have been thirty different attacks since our first encounter,” he answers quietly.
“Why is it important? You’re safe with us, Ember. There isn’t a need for you to worry,” Adam says, pushing me gently to move forward.
“Because it matters to me,” I respond and look over at Corey.
“You are safe. They can’t get you, know that.” He nods, trying to encourage me. His underlying meaning should be reassuring, but it’s not.
I turn my gaze ahead of us and move with determined strides through the airport. We remain silent as we locate a man holding a sign bearing Adam’s last name. Courser and Group. He leads our group out to waiting vehicles.
As we load our bags into the SUVs, he informs us that our luggage will be taken to our rooms while we are debriefed at the pack house. We will be given our designated patrol areas and any necessary information needed to perform our tasks. I nod, knowing that because I’m the future Luna, we will have more details of things than the rest of the group.
I toss my bags into the pile at the back of the SUV and climb in. The three of us have our own vehicle, but it doesn’t keep the guys from sandwiching me between them. You would have thought one of them would have wanted to stretch out in their own seat, but no. The three of us sit squished together on the bench seat.
Thankfully, we ride in silence, giving me time to process what Corey revealed minutes earlier. There have been more attacks, and that can’t be a coincidence, can it? Did the demons and Imps we have encountered somehow relay a message to their higher-ups, letting them know I exist? Do they know that I’m something special?
I try to push the worry from my mind and take in the scenery around me as we drive. Alaska is beautiful, and I wish I had more time to explore it. Juneau has gorgeous buildings that seem to take me back to a simpler time. The snow-capped mountains in the distance make it feel like a dream. I sigh sadly as we turn away from the shops to cross a bridge.
The water is dark beneath it as we move across but reflects the scenery around it. There are marinas filled with boats on either side of the waterway. I smile as I watch a few people move around on a fishing boat and ignore the few bumps as we make our way toward Douglas Island.
It’s truly a wonderful sight to behold, but as we near the shore, something in me pulses. The sensation is strange, and I hold my breath, unsure of what will happen next. My magic swirls and tries to burst out of me, but I push it down and grab Corey’s hand to anchor me.
He yelps and jerks his hand away before saying, “Jeez, Ember, you’re on fire!”
I blink and take a deep breath, holding my magic down as best I can.
“Are you okay? You’re a shifter, so you shouldn’t be sick. Is it a fever from your wolf trying to come out?” Adam asks hopefully but concerned.
“I’m okay. It’s probably just hormones or something. Maybe I’m a little car sick.” I shrug and continue to take deep breaths.
“Do you think fresh air would help?” Corey reaches for my hand hesitantly this time.
“That might help. I’ll take a short walk when we stop and see if it helps. I’m sure that’ll be fine before we go to the debriefing, right?” I lift my brow and let my gaze meet our driver’s.
“That should be acceptable. Just remember not to go too far and to meet in the main conference room,” he says with a slight nod.
I slump back in my seat. “Thanks.” I close my eyes as Corey begins to run his thumb in circles on my hand. It’s soothing. I feel Adam grab my other hand and start to do the same with it.
“Your hands are warm. Wow,” he murmurs and places a kiss on the hand he has.
I open my eyes and meet his gaze. He smiles at me, and I offer a small one in return before looking out the window behind him. The rocky shores pass by us in a blur, but I don’t miss the small group of creatures swimming near them. They looked like otters but were they part of the Kushtaka or regular animals?
We follow a road as it curves its way closer inland. Trees surround us, and I can’t help but admire how tall and beautiful they are. The sun shines high above them, casting dark shadows across the road, and it feels like I’m entering a new world. It’s so different from the terrain of Oklahoma.
Soon, we’re pulling to a stop in front of a large cabin with a wraparound porch. It looks more like a lodge than a simple cabin and has enormous skylight windows on its sloped roof. They look great for letting in natural light.
To the right of the lodge is a cluster of what looks like solar panels. They have their own area. I notice smaller tiny homes behind them tucked along the tree line. Everything else rests in the large clearing.
On the opposite side of the lodge is a large pond and training area. I can see a few individuals sparring and practicing there. Their movements are fluid, and I watch them as we begin climbing out of the SUV.
Corey lets me slide to the ground, catching me gracefully. I smile and quickly move toward the shade of the trees not far off from us. The open air does seem to calm me, and I feel my heart rate settle. I wish I knew what caused my magic to react as it did. What triggered it?
Suddenly, my magic stirs again, and my palms heat. My heart rate increases as a result, and I feel my flames trying to break free. I clench my eyes closed and kneel to the ground, pressing my hands into the dirt to ground myself.
“Em, you okay?” Corey’s voice is hesitant, and I feel his hand rest on my shoulder.
I whip my eyes open, and flames erupt up my arm. He moves to block me from anyone that may still be lingering around the vehicles. I can faintly hear people talking and moving around as roaring fills my ears. “No, I don’t think I am. I don’t know what’s going on. Something keeps triggering my magic, and I worry that it’s not something good.”
“Breathe. Focus on recalling your flames and slow your heart rate. Do you need to go for a run? Can you hold things at bay long enough to make it through the debriefing and get our orders? The run should help ease everything afterward.”
“I think that would be good. I can’t lose control here.”
“We’ll get this figured out. Call it back. You can do it. Zeke will be here in a few days, and maybe he can shed more light on things. He may be able to locate the trigger.”
“I hope so.” I close my eyes again and take deep breaths. My magic slowly recoils into a small ball as if it has been scolded. Then, finally, I feel my flames disappear and things cool around me.
“You two okay?” Adam’s voice startles me, and I open my eyes as my magic tries to surge to life again. I clamp down on it with an iron fist as he nears.
I let out a breath as it settles once again. “Yeah, just a little nauseous. The curves made me car sick. The altitude difference may be messing with me too. I’ll be fine in a bit.”
Adam looks curiously between Corey and me as I push up from my kneeling position. “I bet they have some ginger ale inside. That’s supposed to help with nausea and altitude issues from what I’ve heard.” Corey drops his hand from my shoulder as we move closer to Adam and the three of us walk toward the front door of the pack house.
We take the front steps to the porch, and a man steps from the shadows. The guys move in closer to me as we take in whether he’s a threat or not. Of course, he shouldn’t be, but one can never be too cautious. He has short, cropped black hair and dark brown eyes. He’s tall with broad shoulders and resembles Alpha Turner, somewhat.
“Hello, I’m James Turner. I wanted to introduce myself before you went to the debriefing. My father has told me great things about your pack, and I hope we can work together in the future.” He lifts a hand to Adam and nods at us.
Adam reaches out to shake it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, James. Shall we head inside?”
James doesn’t say anything to Corey and me as we all head into the pack house. I try not to let it bother me, but it does. It seems rude, and I get a feeling that I’m not going to like this guy.
We make our way down a hall lined with white shiplap and pictures of the pack. Many of the frames hold images of the Alpha and his family. It creates a homey feeling, and I feel myself relax. The hall leads us past several closed doors, and we take a few turns before we reach the room where the debriefing will occur.
We walk past one of the enforcers standing at the door offering him a nod and we take a seat at one of the tables in the front. James steers Adam to a seat for the two of them, forcing Corey and me to sit nearby. It’s strange how Adam didn’t protest, but I feel relieved. The only thing that bothers me is that we won’t hear anything they discuss regarding the pack. Adam has included both Corey and me on all things related as of late.
I take a moment to glance around and notice the room is lined with whiteboards covered by different maps and other information. Tables are scattered throughout, covered with more paper, and a giant coffee pot rests at the front of the room next to a large sink. It’s strangely cozy for being such a large meeting room. I love how different it is from what our pack does.
Silence descends upon the room, and I turn my sight to the back of the room as Alpha Turner enters, followed by a small group of Betas and protectors. He moves to the front of the room, where he proceeds to jump right into what he expects of us. First, he lists the rules and points out on each map what group will patrol where. He then pulls down a screen, giving us a presentation on the Kushtaka, their abilities, habitats, and other necessary information.
He explains that the Kushtaka are evil shape-shifting demons that can turn into sea otters. They use this disguise to appear harmless so animals and people will be comfortable around them. They then bring them to their deaths in various ways. Some of the younger ones lure people deep into the woods before killing them. They are strong and use dark magic to fight. They can be taken down, but it isn’t very easy.
After the PowerPoint, we are handed packets with our information printed to avoid forgetting our orders, and we are dismissed. Alpha Turner makes sure to shake each of our hands as we leave, and I can’t fight the urge I get to run as I make it out into the fresh air again. My magic stirs once again, and I know that not only do I want to run, but I also need to, so my magic will settle.
“I think I’m going to go for a run. Does anyone want to join me?” I ask Corey, Adam, and James as we stop at the bottom of the stairs.
“A run sounds nice, but I was hoping to give your future Alpha a tour of our place. We will be working closely together in the future,” James says casually with a shrug.
Adam lifts a brow and looks at both Corey and me as if he’s weighing his words. He and Corey do that silent conversation thing again, which drives me crazy, before he nods and turns to me. “You guys go. I’ll see you at dinner. Stay close, though. Don’t go too far.”
I roll my eyes but nod as I say, “You got it, boss man.” He frowns as I go to turn away, and I’m stopped as he grabs my hand.
He spins me around and pulls me into him roughly. I blink, and then his lips are on mine. It’s demanding, and I know he’s marking his territory with his display of affection. I’m his, and no one is to touch me. He breaks the kiss after a minute and rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily as if he wants to do more. His eyes glow as his wolf hovers near the surface. “I need you to take this seriously, Ember. I need you safe. I want to be with you, but his tour will benefit our pack. Find me at dinner as soon as you return so that I know you’re okay.”
I stare at him, stunned by his intensity, and he turns to James with a smile. I miss what he says before the two walk away from us. I finally shake myself and turn to Corey. “Jeez, he can be so territorial.”
He laughs as he says, “That he can. Let’s go.”
* * *
Corey and I arrive back at the pack house three hours later, covered in dirt and sweat. Not only did we run, but we also did a bit of training. We sparred, and he helped me practice using my magic. I only did small things because it wanted to flair and explode at first, and I didn’t want to draw attention to us. At one point, we thought we heard someone in the woods nearby, but upon further inspection, we didn’t find a single track. It was weird. Everything we did, though, seemed to take the edge off. I feel much better.
“Wow, what happened to you two?” James quips as we sit down, and Adam growls.
“Chill, Adam, we only sparred and ran. Corey kicked my ass,” I say, grabbing the pitcher of water from the middle of the table and filling my empty glass.
“I wouldn’t say that. You bested me quite a bit. You can take her on tomorrow, Adam.” Corey smirks and begins shoveling food on a plate from the platters resting in front of us.
I smile as I take in the various dishes lined up in the center of the table. They look fantastic, and my mouth waters. I need to refuel after burning so many calories during our practice session. I gulp down some of my water before eagerly filling my plate.
“I like that idea. You have been progressing well, Ember.” Adam smiles mischievously.
“I’ll join you all tomorrow if you don’t mind? I would love to practice with someone new,” James adds.
“Great. So while you guys were out, I got our rooms squared away. We’re in one of the tiny houses, but it’s larger than the others.” Adam picks at his almost-empty plate of food while he talks, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s not telling us.
“Awesome,” I say between bites and continue shoveling food into my mouth. I’m starving.
We finish eating, listening to Adam and James discuss training tactics and weapons. They also discuss territory and trivial matters between some of the other packs. The way James describes sharing their land with other supernatural beings is fascinating, and I can’t help but wonder how they manage it without bloodshed. Wolves are naturally territorial.
I follow the guys out in a food haze as we make our way toward the tiny houses. The buildings are each unique and gorgeous. Ours has massive windows to let in natural light and a blue wooden exterior. A small porch wraps around it, and it has a slanted roof.
Adam pushes open the door, and I take in the small area. The room is toasty and smells of vanilla. There is a small kitchen area that opens up into the combined dining and living space. A cozy couch rests in the middle of the room with a small bookshelf across from it. A small bathroom is open down the hall, and a loft hangs above us. A bedroom rests across from the bathroom, and a small closet is open, revealing a washer and dryer.
“Are you and Corey taking the loft space?” I ask Adam, moving toward the bedroom.
“Corey is, but we’re sharing the room,” Adam says, and I turn, stopping to see Corey disappearing up the ladder to the loft.
“What?”
