Heaven's Trumpet - 8. Soul Mates

[Chapter 8]

People react different ways when surprised by a kiss. Some forget themselves, automatically responding. Others tense up before giving in to the pressure upon their lips, and they sink into the kiss.

I was neither of those people.

Ian's lips touched mine all for a millisecond before my arms lifted up and shoved. Hard. The redhead was lifted off his feet as the force knocked him back. His legs clipped the bed and he fell on the carpet with a loud thud and a groan, limbs laying at weird angles. I dragged my hand across my lips.Ew. Magic buzzed underneath my skin, feeding off my emotions. Flexing my fingers I fought down the power, pushing it back toward the depths of my being.

Disgust shot through my body. "I can't believe you thought I was going to fall for your sleazy charm!"

Ian picked himself up with pain written across his face and muttered, "I can't believe that didn't work."

I made a face, my lip curling in a sneer. "Gross. As if!"

"You're the first person to ever say no to me," Ian said with honest surprise, rubbing his shoulder that I hoped hurt like hell.

I shook my head. Who did this guy think he was Chris Hemsworth? "Look Ian, I'm sure under that hard, angry, bitter shell is a slightly less angry, bitter person, but I'm so not interested."

"I'm not interested either."

Uh, what? I gave him a sympathetic smile. Aw, wasn't his denial cute? "Don't try and save face now, since I went and laid the smackdown on your little crush. It's no big."

Ian's lip curled into his signature sneer like he was auditioning for Draco Malfoy. "My plan was to seduce you and fuck up your relationship with your boyfriend." His sneer turned into a nasty smile. "Adam can do way better than you, and I for one want to take a ride on that."

Son of a bitch. My mouth fell open as I responded incredulous, "You psychopathic little bastard." I shook my head, as pity and sudden fear filled me. "...Adam's going to be pissed."

My eyes darted around the room wondering if Adam was going to pop out of nowhere. This was so not good. I hadn't seen Adam angry, well not really. If my foggy memories from Atlantis were to be believed then I didn't want to see him truly angry either. I swallowed heavily and stared at the grin that morphed Ian's face.

"Scared about your little infidelity, huh?" he asked, grinning. "You afraid the boyfriend is going to drop you?"

A humorless laugh bubbled from my throat. He had no idea. "I'm not worried about me, you moron. I'm scared for you!"

He was going to die.

The smile on Ian's face fell and he frowned in confusion. "What?"

"Kissing me is going to have consequences alright," I replied ominously. "Only not for me. When Adam finds out..." I trailed off and then looked at him, my gaze deadly serious. "He will kill you."

Ian busted into laughter at my solemn tone. "What, like snap my neck or something?"

Poor, poor boy. He really had to go and play the evil bitch schemer from every teen drama. He was no Blair Waldorf. Hell, he wasn't even Veronica Lodge. His expression turned contemplative once he saw I was dead serious.

"He just might" I shrugged. "I'm thinking more Never Back Down than anything else."

"No way," Ian snapped, still not believing. "Adam's too sweet for that."

Right then I decided that incredibly dense would be a great way to describe Ian Graison. Lois Lane dumb ass probably had more of a clue than he did. And she was intergalactically stupid for being fooled by a pair of glasses. I patted him on the arm.

"Adam is the sweetest thing on two legs," I agreed. "But you dug your own grave with that kiss. I wouldn't try talking to him at school for a while until he gets over it. Otherwise, he's just going to go all Beatrix Kiddo on your ass."

"So if I say hi to him, I might get a punch to the face?" he asked, one eyebrow raised like Spock.

I crossed my arms. "What I'm saying is he might just show up here ready to fight, but I'm going to do my best to make sure you live to see the rest of the day."

"Well aren't you, Johnny Be Good," Ian said caustically.

I rolled my eyes. Here I was trying to let him make it, and he was still being a jerk. I guess this just proves that asshole qualities were written into his DNA. If I knew that I could get away with turning him into a ferret I would. He was on my last nerve.

"I'm going to go ahead and beat it," I said slowly, watching him closely. "You're such a skank, and I think I might punch you."

I escaped before he could get a word in or before I gave in to the urge to liquefy his ass. I took the stairs two at a time and almost knocked over Mr. Graison in my hasty retreat. He steadied me as I rocked back on my heels after colliding with his rock hard chest. Damn it was like I had run into a wall. Someone worked out.

"Whoa, there!" Mr. Graison was half smiling. "Where are you going in such a rush?"

The hell away from here. "An emergency came up. I have to go."

I managed to lie without my eye twitching or a hitch in my voice. Was I getting good at lying? That kind of worried me. He accepted it and I passed by without any further interrogation.

Isabella looked up curiously when I sprinted into the room. I smiled hesitantly and must have looked shell shocked, I was sure of it and felt like it well enough. My hands moved rapidly as I signed a flimsy excuse to leave. She seemed to understand and it made me feel a little less guilty as I beat it out of there. I couldn't help it. There was no way I could stay in that whacked out place with the redheaded psycho.

Ten minutes later I was driving down 121 doing eighty five. I used the voice command on the phone to call Ryan. Come on. Pick up, man, I chanted endlessly. The phone rang half a dozen times before Ryan picked up, suspiciously breathy.

"Hey, it's me," I said before he could say hello.

Ryan chuckled. "I know. My phone does have caller ID, Chad."

I paused and then continued on like I didn't hear that tidbit. "So how are you, buddy?"

"I'm fine..." Ryan said cautiously. "Is something the matter?"

"I was at Isabella's house working on a project and Ian kissed me," I blurted out all in one breath.

He made a noise in his throat that sounded like a screech. "Run that by me one more time. Slowly this time."

I took a deep breath. "Long story short: Ian kissed me."

"Did you kiss him back?" Ryan asked.

"Hell to the no!" I spat, nearly crushing the phone. "Are you insane?"

"Sorry," Ryan apologized. "I had to ask."

I rolled my eyes. Did he really think so little of me? I, of course, didn't kiss that asshole back. Ian was below the lowest level of low. If evil had a face...

"Sucks to be him." There was a long pause and then Ryan whispered, "Adam’s going to kill him."

Who are you telling? "I know," I sighed. "I'm going to try and calm him down after he flips out and goes medieval all over Ian."

"Good luck," Ryan said. "Call me later."

"Alright, tell Killian I said to go to hell."

Ryan made a noise of surprise. "How did you know Killian was with me?"

"Oh, please," I snorted. "You guys are always together. You were probably humping like dogs before I called."

"Bye, Chad!" Ryan said mortified.

I noticed he didn't deny it. Laughing, I threw the phone on the passenger seat. At least they were having a good time. Ryan told me in confidence last month that he and Killian had taken their relationship to the next level. They’ve been together a shorter time than Adam and I, and already were having sex. And kind of a lot.

Not that it was a race, but damn it my libido couldn't take anymore. There's only so much a teenage boy could take and Adam was sex on legs. Even touching me for too long usually had my pants tightening. That's what happened when your boyfriend was the high priest of Bowflex.

I made it home in less than twenty minutes. No surprise. I was doing eighty the majority of the drive. Mom's car was missing in the driveway. That was unusual. On weekends she normally spent the time resting at home, relaxing from her work week. I entered the house and dropped my backpack by the front door. Morgan looked up from the television as I stepped into the living room.

"Oh, it's just you," she muttered, staring at me with obvious disinterest.

I frowned, turning a suspicious look on her. "Who let you in the house?"

"I have a key, fag," Morgan sneered, rolling her eyes.

I turned around toward the front door. Fuckitall. I thought Kevin had changed the locks. Note to self: Remember to hire a real locksmith next time. To think I had paid that donut munching tool good money for one simple task.

I looked at her and finally took in the outfit she was wearing. It was a uniform, a Centennial High cheerleader uniform matter of fact. Self consciously, Morgan folded her arms across her chest, as I gaped at her wardrobe.

"Since when did you become a cheerleader?"

She actually flushed, her cheeks turning pink. "I tried out for the JV squad the other day, and I made it. I just came from a meeting."

They must have given her the uniform there. "They're usually not big on letting freshman on even the JV team...How did you make it?"

The cheerleading squad was really good, nationally good, and freshman just weren't up to par, even for the Junior Varsity squad. And you had to be top dog to make it onto Varsity.

If possible she got redder as she sulkily admitted, "Ashley Kline and Kim Hartwell asked me if I was your little sister when I got done auditioning..."

Ashley and Kim were friends of mine. We went way back, like before even middle school. Ashley and Kim while both my friends, were two of the most popular girls in school, and cheerleaders as well. Kim was in fact head cheerleader. How she weaseled that in her junior year was a sordid tale of backstabbing, accidents, and a team vote that would make a great sequel to the Bring It On franchise. I smiled as the dots connected in my mind.

"So you got in when they realized you were my sister," I stated rather than asked.

"I guess you are popular," Morgan muttered, sounding as if it made her sick to her stomach to even admit. Probably did. Sweet.

I blew on my nails and buffed them against my shirt. "Finally, she gets a clue," I replied smugly.

Morgan had nothing to say. I had her number. She blew out an exasperated breath and sank back down on the couch all but ignoring me. I was perfectly fine with that arrangement. I looked past her to the glow of the television and frowned at the images flashing across the screen. I lunged forward to scoop up the remote control. The volume increased with an abrupt blast of sound.

"Eyewitnesses claim the heroes who have made headlines in Centennial, California have taken their heroics global," announced the news anchors voice over a shaky recording from our fight on the Australian beach. "This footage taken by one of the witnesses shows the four men, famously known as Centennial's Heroic Quartet, fight a number of unidentified men. What you're seeing has been confirmed to be real and free of any digital altering."

The clip showed the end of the fight, which was mainly a bright light as Solaris unleashed his Eye of Ra attack on the Black Pope. Then the camera zoomed in on us four. For the first time, I realized what everyone must see when they look at us in our Chosen forms.

We looked taller, stronger and older. More like men than teenage boys. The glamour magic that warded us when transformed was flawless. If I didn't know who we were I wouldn't even have recognized myself as the soldier on the screen. Solaris' bubble took us away, and the clip ended. The newsroom appeared again and the news anchor faced the screen.

"Despite the evidence that keeps coming up people remain skeptical of these so called superheroes. Now we take you to Wendy Nakamura who will get viewers opinions."

I flipped the channel. The thought of hearing people deny the fact that we were out there was not something I wanted to hear. We risked our lives and it hurt that people refused to believe in us. I wasn't naïve. I knew it was difficult to accept the truth of superheroes but it still stung. Especially, since we were working our asses off attempting to stop Armageddon. Go us.

"Hey!" Morgan glared. "Why did you turn it?"

I threw my nose up haughtily. "TV will rot your brain. Where's, Mom?"

"The Heroic Quartet is all the media is talking about," Morgan snatched the remote from my hands. "So she's out doing her April O’Neil thing."

That meant she wouldn't be home until late. Mom was one of the best investigative journalists the paper had. She, more than any of her coworkers, was dead set on figuring out the mystery behind the Chosen. I tugged on Morgan's hair and dodged the punch was aimed for my nose. It pays to have mystically enhanced reflexes. I flicked her ear and raced upstairs, chuckling at the swearing following at my back. She was quite the angry little rugrat.

I closed my bedroom door behind me and glanced at the clock. I had a little while until Adam showed up for our date. Collapsing on the bed my thoughts ran toward Adam, and what would surely happen when I told him about Ian. I was no fan of the redhead, but I didn't want Adam to get in trouble for assault. The both of us had a narrow view when it came to the other. We had a bond that transcended time, and when that connection was messed with it invoked uncontrollable feelings.

My thoughts veered to our current enemy. This Order of the Dying Star was performing a dangerous gambit. They wanted power and they sought it from the strongest source in the universe. All they needed was the Key of Power in our possession, and the Key of Time and Space that was still hidden. Hidden in plain sight, whatever that meant.

I wish I had all my memories from Atlantis. In my dreams, Prince Emrys hinted that I should know where it was since he obviously knew, once upon a time. But I didn't. But if I surely didn't know its location the Unrelenting shouldn't either. I hope. Unfortunately, they have been on point so far. Whatever methods they used to divine the location of the Keys worked with pinpoint accuracy.

They had to know that Heaven's Trumpet was the ultimate weapon and its activation would annihilate everything. The power of the weapon was immense. It could kill time, implode whole galaxies, and extinguish an entire universe. What on earth could they need with that kind of power? The Black Pope kept going on about his master, so who did him and the Unrelenting worship?

Their cult was called the Order of the Dying Star...Dying Star... Something about that name-

"Fev'o'R..." A name formed on my lips, and as I spoke, a feeling of deadly mortal danger grew around me.

My mouth snapped shut as the part of me that was Prince Emrys rose forth, searing the name from my active thoughts. I clenched my eyes as a blank spot filled my mind where the name once lingered. Knowledge replaced the blank zone, like half fogged dreams and déjà vu feelings.

That name was never to be spoken of out loud. I knew that now. I knew it with finality.

It shouldn't even be thought. Whatever the Order worshipped was a being of unparalleled evil and perversion. My soul held the knowledge of the entity from me as protection. If I had spoken the creature's name aloud it would form a sort of resonance in my mind, and with the right focus, something could see. It would have power over me, marking me as one of its possessions. Just as the Unrelenting were its acolytes, I too would have joined their ranks.

The Order was playing with fire. But why Heaven's Trumpet? What could they possibly do with that unimaginable power? It was connected to the entity. It all leads back to it. I was sure of it.

They needed its strength that was a given. After all, they and their master haven't made a play for the world yet...

"Because their master isn't here," I breathed out in sudden realization.

My mind raced as another piece from my dream abruptly clicked. From the void it rests, it comes, it conquers. All shall taste fear. All shall despair... Clarity radiated in my head, and like a light bulb being turned on, the dots suddenly connected. The Order of the Dying Star's master was `it that rested in the void'. That's why they needed Heaven's Trumpet!

The Void was a place that was between nothing and everything. It was an abysmal pit that was home to maddening darkness. It was also the resting place of those that truly couldn’t be killed, no matter if their bodies were destroyed. Their essence existed within the Void. Entities so powerful in their might slumbered in the Void, dead but dreaming. To fully wake one of the dead dreamers and summon them forth to give them new life would take power. Lots of it

"So that's what they plan to do with Heaven's Trumpet," I whispered to the empty air.

This mystery was finally starting to make sense. I should apply for my Scooby Doo card. I was a better Hardy Boy than I thought. I was still missing other pieces to the puzzle, however.

There were also the cryptic words that kept appearing in my dreams. I was warned to choose between saving the universe or love. What kind of decision was that? Was one of my loved ones in danger? Adam, Morgan, Mom, Kevin? My hands balled into fists. I refused to sacrifice someone I know for the greater good if it came to it. There was nothing I could do about it now. I had to wait until the decision came and prayed that I would make the right one.

Then there was the next bit. The words heard in both the dreaming and waking world, the same mysterious words that haunted my every thought.

I closed my eyes, reciting the words from memory, "Blood, blood, blood, blood. My blood. Your blood. His blood. One, two, four, all into two, back into one."

I recognized a prophecy when I saw it. An important prophecy too, if its words lingered in both my dreams and the world of the waking. The sad thing is I had no idea what it meant.

"Could it be any vaguer," I muttered sourly, frowning up at the ceiling.

At least I managed to figure out part of this mystery. I was confident of my theory about the Order's master, and their purpose. I knew it like I knew leopard print was the most garish fabric in the world.

My phone vibrated on my bed and I picked up on the third ring. "Hey, Kevin."

"Dude, can you come over tonight?"

I shook my head and then realized he couldn't see it. "Uh, I can come later. It will be late. I have a date with Adam tonight."

"Oh... well that's okay if you can't make it tonight," Kevin said disappointedly.

I frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"I... nothing... I'm not sure."

I sat up in bed, leaning back against the headboard. "Kevin... are you sure nothing’s the matter?"

He sighed tiredly. "I need help."

"Tell me what's wrong?" My heart pounded in my chest.

There was a pause and then Kevin said, "I need you to play goalie for me."

I fell off the bed, shocked. I scrambled to pick up the phone from where it dropped when I fell.

"I thought this was important!" I all but yelled into the phone. "I was worried about you!"

"It is important," Kevin said defiantly. "Our first scrimmage is next month! I have to keep my game tight!"

My eye twitched. "Why don't you just ask one your teammates?"

"I tried calling Killian, but his phone kept going to voicemail," Kevin whined. He sounded like a baby whale. "I think him and Ryan are doing the nasty."

I laughed. "Yeah, I called Ryan earlier. Killian was with him. So they're probably having the sex by now."

"Who do you think is on the bottom?" Kevin asked in a small voice.

"I so don't even want to think about that. Why do you even want to know!"

Kevin laughed so loudly I had to take the phone away from my ear. "I was joking. If you had answered it means that you think about it!"

"I hate you.”

He laughed again and we joked around on the phone for a half hour. I glanced at the clock and had to tell him I would call him back. If I didn't start getting ready for my date then I wouldn't be ready by the time Adam came to pick me up. I jumped in the shower and ran the water extra hot.

I took shots of mouthwash, chugging it back like it was Tequila. I apparently wasn't over Ian kissing me. Toothpaste splattered against the shower walls, as I hastily applied the paste to the toothbrush. I took the brush to my teeth and practically tried to scrub the memory away. I hope I didn't catch mono! I slapped myself. Was I having a delayed reaction to Ian's kiss? Apparently! I hobbled over as my body shook with dry heaves. Would my lips ever be clean again?

I was feeling a little upset that I didn't turn Ian into dog food or a toad. I shook my head and took a deep breath. I could do the mature thing. Cutting the water I stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I padded across the tiled floor and across the hall to my room.

My clothes were laid out on the bed. The skinny fit brown corduroy pants complimented the rib knit white sweater laid on top. A pair of faux leather shoes with chunky soles finished off the look. It was fashionable yet very nice. I fixed my hair as much as I could, but I wasn’t used to it being this long. It looked like Thor’s pre Ragnarok. I needed a cut. Bad.

I struck a B boy pose at my reflection in the mirror. This was a look. I needed to upload this to Instagram. Clapping filled the room and I dropped the pose, shifting my feet to glance behind me.

Adam leaned against the doorframe of my bedroom, smiling. "I see you got some moves."

I winked. "I could show you a thing or two."

"Please do."

He grinned and stepped forward, wrapping me in his arms. I took a breath, inhaling his cologne. I stepped back and looked him over. He had on dark slacks and a silk midnight dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. It was unbuttoned to mid chest, showing a glimpse of smooth skin. He looked me up and down appreciatively.

"You look great, darling."

I returned the smile. "Right back at you. Morgan let you in?"

"Yeah.” He playfully rolling his eyes. "I only earned one insult from her on my way up." He grinned happily, looking extremely proud of himself. "I think she's starting to like me."

"You know she's just biding her time, waiting until you overcome your gayness so she can steal you from me."

Adam snorted. "Too bad I've been gay since before humans thought the world was round."

"Try telling her that," I chuckled, shaking my head. "Do you mind if we skip the movie and just go straight to dinner? I don't think I can concentrate fully on a movie right now."

He touched my face, gently, sliding his fingers over the curve where my cheek and temple met. "Heavy thoughts?"

"I keep thinking about the Unrelenting and Heaven's Trumpet."

I told him everything. He listened intently as we walked down to his car. For some reason, I didn't tell him about the part of my dream where I was urged to choose. I kept that bit to myself. Not because I had chosen, but it was the opposite. How could I tell him about it when I didn't even want to think or let alone even talk about the subject?

"Your power is growing," Adam said softly, exiting the highway and turning onto restaurant road. "You're the same age as Prince Emrys when he started having prophetic dreams."

A memory flashed across my vision. Prince Emrys jerked awake in a huge bed, sweat dripping from his brow, words of prophecy trailing under his breath as he slowly gained awareness. I blinked and the vision faded. At least I wasn't just a wuss. The dreams even broke my former incarnation's armor of calm.

I looked out the window and murmured, "I remember."

Adam squeezed my hand. "Hey, now it's alright. We're going to win."

"I just wish I had your confidence.”

I couldn't help feeling mopey. They didn't see what I could. The Chosen had a right to be optimistic. Their confidence hadn't been shaken by glimpsing the possible future. The destruction was on two fronts. The Order's master, if it rose, would devastate the world, and Heaven's Trumpet in the face of such evil will do what it was programmed.

Adam parked the car in front of K Thai and killed the engine. He turned to face me and I averted my eyes as the full weight of his gaze pressed on me. All that love and compassion was so much that it made me feel guilty. Here he was trying to be this great boyfriend, and I was putting a damper on the whole evening. I was such a downer.

"Sorry, babe..."

He placed his finger against my lips, silencing the rest of my words. "That's enough of that. There's no need to apologize. How does that saying go? Love means never having to say you're sorry."

I cracked a smile. "You know that chick died at the end."

"And you balled like a baby I remember," Adam said slyly.

"All they had was each other!" I all but yelled, glaring at him.

Adam smiled so suddenly, big and bright, that I found myself blinking. Trickery! I rolled my eyes, a tiny smile playing across my face. I fell right into his trap.

"Way to take my mind off things," I conceded grudgingly.

Adam smirked and then kissed the tip of my nose. "I try, darling."

"Confidence will get you far, Adam Caine."

K Thai served the best Thai food in the city. Or at least I thought so. It was the only Thai restaurant I had ever been to since after trying it once three years ago I had vowed to be its bitch for the rest of my life. Going to another restaurant would be like I was cheating, the ultimate betrayal.

The hostess escorted us to a booth in the back corner that was big enough for six people. We sat across from each other and ordered sweet Thai tea when the waitress came to get our drink order. I loved the stuff. It was the best drink I ever had in my entire life. No joke. I always had at least three refills.

"You have that look in your eyes." Adam was watching at me over the top of his menu. "Are you thinking about the tea?"

I grinned, almost bouncing in my seat. "How'd you know?"

"You're all bouncy. You do that when you're anticipating something. And since we just ordered drinks... two plus two."

"Well aren't you just a regular Encyclopedia Brown," I laughed.

He slowly smiled. "You know you love me."

"XOXO," I countered with a wink.

Adam's laughter was light and had the effect of making me smile that much wider. "You know you're obsessed with that show," he pointed out, a fond smile tugging at his lips.

I shrugged, mirroring his expression. "It has Kristen Bell doing voice overs! You know I'm her number one fanboy."

"And I'm number two of course." He jerked a thumb at his chest proudly.

I raised my hand and we high fived. "I knew I loved you for a reason."

Adam pouted cutely ."Not because of my killer good looks?"

"Good looks?" I deadpanned.

He gasped and kicked my foot under the table. "Bitch!"

"Spousal abuse!" I yelled, laughter rising above my undignified yelp.

I was thankful we were in the back because I was sure no one wanted to see him leap across the table and soundly kiss me. I melted under the kiss, surrendering to the feeling of vertigo that swept from my head to toes. Someone cleared their throat. We broke apart and I blushed as the waitress sat our drinks on the table.

She smirked at us and pulled out her server book. "You guys ready to order, or did you need some more time... looking over the menu."

It was less of a question and more of a teasing suggestion. I blushed and damned this fair skin of mine. Adam, bless his heart, only cleared his throat and rattled off his order without a hint of embarrassment. I wish I had that kind of composure.

I fumbled my way through ordering when it was my turn. She scooped up the menus and skipped off to the kitchen up front. I watched her go and then turned back around to glare at Adam, who was staring up at the ceiling whistling like he was Huckleberry Finn.

He dragged his eyes down slowly and met my glare, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Do you think we should have charged her for the show?"

"She couldn't afford it," I countered, throwing my nose up. "I cost way too much."

Adam raised his eyebrows. "You mean we cost too much, right?"

I blinked. "Uh, sure."

"Humility and thy name is Chad." Adam chuckled and looked at me with a wide grin. "You never cease with the funny, Summers."

"I do my best."

The waitress returned with our plates balanced on a large tray. She served our dishes with great balancing skills that made me a little envious. I was trying, but I still wasn't graceful. Although I could do a great somersault once I was hopped up on sugar.

"This is really good!" Adam exclaimed, tucking into his meal.

"Mmhmm," I acknowledged, chewing on a piece of broccoli. I swallowed and grinned. "I love Asian food. I practically grew up on the stuff. Japanese food is my favorite though."

Adam tilted his head. "I didn't know that."

I nodded. "When I was a kid I used to spend every day at Kevin's house. His dad is head chef over at Kaze's, the Chinese restaurant downtown. He cooks all the time at their house."

"Is that where Kevin gets his off the wall personality from?"

Shaking my head, I chuckled a bit. "I have no idea. His mom is nice and his dad is kind of serious, but he's so outgoing and friendly. But you would think Kevin was raised in a circus."

"If he were anyone else he would be considered annoying," Adam said. “But he’s so damn funny. He’s such a great person.”

"Lots of people say that. It's the eyes and the smile. It makes him too pretty to be mad at."

Adam chuckled. "He’s really charismatic.”

“I do love the little psycho.” I couldn’t keep the fondness from my voice “He's like the best friend and brother I've never wanted."

"You're really lucky that you've had someone like that your whole life," Adam said, his eyes turning wistful. There was a longing there that made me sad. "I wish I had a best friend like that for me growing up."

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "You got me now."

My stomach fluttered as he smiled, slow and sweet. "I know."

We finished the rest of our meal and Adam paid for our check. I left the tip and made sure it was more than twenty percent. She did have to witness our making out more than twice, and to her credit, she took it okay. She could have been a bitch, but she only teased us a bit and continued her job so she was awesome in my eyes.

Adam put the key in the ignition and turned to me. "So where to now?"

I rolled my bottom hip between as a thought formed. He arched an eyebrow at me when I smiled at him mysteriously.

"I want to take you somewhere." I watched him carefully. "But I have to drive."

Adam looked at the steering wheel, at me, the steering wheel, and then again at me. He swallowed heavily, his eyes going impossibly wide. The car was his baby. I often wondered who he loved more, me or the car. He looked once more at me and I stuck my lip out in a pout. That’s when I knew I had him.

Triumph blossomed in my chest as he sighed dramatically, giving in. Adam could never directly refuse anything I asked him. I didn't pull that card often but I had to call in the chips. I was no better when it came to him. I was okay with that. I was loves bitch.

"Fine." Adam begrudgingly switched places with me.

I climbed over him, grinning as I wrapped the seatbelt around me. "Thanks, baby girl."

"You take care of her or I'm keying your car!" Adam threatened, pointing his finger at me with narrowed eyes.

I just grinned harder. "Gee, I can just feel the trust here."

It was his turn to pout as I drove us out of Centennial, refusing to tell him where we were going. He kept making guesses and shot him down every time. A secretive grin was fixed on my face as our destination came close. After driving forty minutes out of the city into the eastern mountains, I parked the car once the glow of the city lights presented a breathtaking backdrop below us.

I climbed out of the car and Adam followed me. He gasped once he caught sight of the city lines stretched out before us under the blanket of stars. He leaned back against the front of the car and grinned at me in wonderment.

"What is this place?"

I looked around, my lips quirking. "Kevin likes to take girls here. He calls it Makeout Madzone."

"You brought me to Kevin’s favorite make out spot?" Adam laughed madly and he took a step closer to the edge, getting a better look.

I shrugged, still smiling. "It has a great view."

"You're not lying about that," Adam agreed. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye slyly. "So, do you bring all the boys here?"

"Only you. I've never brought anyone here before."

"So I'm special," Adam teased, sliding next to me so his side pressed against mine.

"The only man I've ever loved," I admitted honestly, playfully nudging his side with my elbow.

He ducked his head, wavy brown hair falling forward to hide his face. I brushed my hand through his hair and caught the faintest blush along his cheeks. Adam looked at me with so much tenderness, his hazel eyes alive with emotion. I had never seen anything more beautiful.

"I love you," he said thickly. It was so heartfelt I could barely take it. "You're everything to me."

A tightening sensation grabbed at my stomach, low and tight. "For always."

Adam leaned into me and I pressed my face into his shoulder. His arm slipped around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer to his side. I sighed as my chest constricted. It was a good ache. Sometimes I wondered how I could love him so much. At times it seemed like too much like it was so much feeling that it physically hurt. But it felt good, this love for him. It was like longing, friendship, compassion, rainbows and sunshine, and the elation from a goal won, all wrapped into one powerful feeling.

I nuzzled my nose into Adam’s shirt and said, muffled, “Sing me a song.”

Adam bent over and placed a kiss on the top of my hair. He leaned in close so his breath blew across the tip of my ear. It sent tingles down my spine and I looked up at him, meeting and falling into those eyes that I loved so, so much.

He thought for a moment, cocking his head and then sang softly, "You see through, right to the heart of me..."

That strong tenor voice sent jolts directly to my spine. Adam licked his lips, and I stared at the tongue that darted out, distracted for a moment.

Sweet and earnestly, he tipped his head and took a breath. "You break down my walls with the strength of your love. I've never knew love, like I've known it with you..."

Adam's voice grew stronger with each breath, pouring emotion into the words and weaving in them his innermost feelings. I looked up at him breathlessly, feeling the words all the way to the tips of toes.

Adam winked at me, and finished off in a beautiful melody, "Your love I'll remember forever."

I raised my head and he met me halfway, as we fell into a kiss. His tongue ran across my lower lip and I sort of just felt my body give way. It was like we were crashing into each other, fusing together and every nerve felt on fire. We were burning together and it was the most electrifying feeling, almost addictive. We broke away once air became a factor.

I loved him. I opened my mouth to tell him that. "Ian kissed me."

We both stilled and I closed my eyes, hanging my head. Oh fuck. Thanks, mouth. I hadn't meant to tell him that. Well not yet. I was waiting until he stopped glowing. I cracked open one eye feeling his body against mine, still as a statue. He stared at me. His hazel eyes were dark brown like the color of his hair. I froze at the twisting emotions that warred on his face. Something pooled into his eyes or something went out.

"Explain," he said simply, his tone clipped.

I swallowed watching as those eyes pinned me on the spot. I quickly summarized the events from earlier. As the tale unfolded his body began to shake. Adam clenched his fists and his jaw locked tight, as he glared into the distance. I trailed off slowly, finishing the story with careful deliberation. He wasn't mad at me. That was easy enough to tell but Ian...

Adam faced me with narrowed eyes. "I'm going to kill him."

Uh oh.

"Hey now, think about the jail time..." I said cautiously.

I stuttered at the end of the sentence as pebbles rose from the ground, levitating straight up in the air. I looked around wildly as dirt, stone, and fallen debris lifted up to float around us. Adam breathed deeply, grinding his teeth together. He lifted up four inches off the ground. I gasped as I got a good look at his eyes. They were black like the night sky devoid of stars. No white appeared in either eye. Oh shit.

"He dares," Adam growled, his voice deeper and ringing with an accent that I recognized immediately. Admerion. "No one touches you, beloved! No one!"

I gulped when I realized the tree branches were shaking now, as they swayed and bent in an abrupt breeze sweeping through the area. I held up my hands placating.

"Adam, please!" My heart clenched tight. This was getting worrisome. "I don't want you to do this. I hate his guts, but..."

"No!" Adam was over twelve feet in the sky now. "Sorry, my love. But he has to know that he tread on dangerous grounds assaulting you. I cannot let his actions go unpunished."

He lifted higher in the air ready to fly toward the city. I closed my eyes and gave myself over to the part of my soul that was older than the city below. Inhaling deeply my eyes snapped open, and I was rocketing into the air after him a split second later. I slammed into the flying boy and we fell from the air like a comet. We crashed into the ground and skidded into the forest, throwing up dirt and stone in our path.

Adam snarled and flipped me over on my back. I twisted my arm, switched my grip, and flipped him back over. I climbed on top of him and straddled his waist.

"I will not allow you to harm that boy," I ordered, my voice ringing with the same accent like his. Prince Emrys was in the forefront of my conscious. "Calm yourself!"

Black eyes flashed as he glared up at me. "You would protect him?"

"I am protecting you!" I amended, pushing him down by his shoulders. "You will kill that human in your current state." I cocked my head and leaned in close, nose to nose. "We’re their protectors. All of them. Even the ones we wish ill on."

Adam’s hands came up, gripping my waist instinctively. "Princeling."

I could sense his control return as the anger drained from his eyes, returning to their normal hazel. Admerion and Emrys returned to their resting places, and we were wholly ourselves once more.

"Summers..." Adam started in a soft voice.

I half smiled at the affectionate use of my last name. Raising my hand, I stroked my thumb across his cheek and whispered, "Adam."

Adam's eyes fluttered closed as he turned his face into the touch. I brushed my fingertips across his neck and then tilted his chin up, reveling in the blissful expression on his face. He opened his eyes and I was struck with an overwhelming desire that exploded inside me like a raging inferno.

I crushed our lips together, feeling that soft and smooth mouth melt against mine. I grasped his arms as the desire abruptly became a consuming lust that sang through my veins. I pressed my body against his, chest to chest, wanting to feel as much of him as possible. Adam, Adam, I thought over and over, dragging my mouth over the side of his jaw, under his neck, putting my lips anywhere I could find skin.

Adam’s kisses becoming shorter and quicker as his hands went to work. He curled one hand at the back of my neck possessively, and the other hand settled under the hem of my shirt. Long fingers grazed down my back, inside my pants and dipping downward across the flesh of my ass.

"Baby..." I panted across his lips, staring at him dizzily.

He opened his eyes and his pupils were blown wide with want. "Maybe we should stop."

I wrapped my hand in his hair, pressing our faces together so our foreheads touched. I wanted him to see all the desire in my eyes.

"Not tonight," I whispered softly, running my tongue across his upper lip. "I want you. All of you."

"Are you saying?" Adam asked, his panting voice just as soft as mine. He looked absolutely wrecked, like he was blown apart and put back together and only I knew how the pieces fit.

I nodded and meant it. "Yeah. I'm ready. Are you?"

"I'm ready too,” he admitted, his eyes locked on mine.

We couldn't stop kissing on the way back to the car, stumbling over rocks as we made our way through the dark. We came upon the Camaro and I shivered with anxious anticipation. My heart was beating wildly watching as Adam spread a blanket across the backseat.

Adam stood up from his preparations and slipped his arms around my waist. "Is this okay?" he asked worriedly. "Our first time in my car..."

It was klassy with a K, but I didn't care. Not at the moment. I doubt I ever would. I wasn't some nervous debutante on her prom night. I didn't need a hotel room, flowers or proposals. I had the man I loved. That was enough for me. I grabbed his hand and squeezed.

He stroked his thumb across my wrist. "Chad?"

I stared at our joined hands for a moment, slowly blinking. I swallowed hard remembering this feeling, this moment, committing it to memory.

My heart fluttering, I gazed up at his worried face. "This is perfect." I brought our joined hands to my heart and caught my breath, dizzy. "You’re perfect. You make this..." I trailed off, unable to finish my thought. I licked my lips and whispered, "I love you."

Adam blushed and then smiled with his whole body. "I love you, too, my princeling. My baby."

He took my face into hands and pulled me into a deep kiss. I swooned on the spot like a southern girl with the vapors. Sound the trumpets, strumpets. This boy was finally about to give up his V card. And I wouldn't have it any other way. My knight in shining Armani was here to sweep me off my feet.

I eased into the backseat stripping off our clothes as we went. I was scared and nervous. No, not nervous. Eager.

I laid on my back biting my lower lip between my teeth, staring at Adam's tanned chest. It was broad and hairless, his nipples pink and formed over round hard pecs. He looked like some lost Greek god of body cologne. I licked my lips and put my hand against his chest, feeling his heart beat just as wildly as mine. Adam drank me up with his eyes, mirroring my desire.

It was hard to fathom how Adam could want me this much, but it was real and it was raw and happening right under my hands. The proof was in Adam’s kicking pulse and jagged breath and all the heat from him pouring onto me.

From there it was all pure sensation. It was Adam kissing the line of my cheekbone, my tongue grazing his ear, Adam biting at the pulse point beating along my neck, fingers trailing down the ridges of his abs, and Adam’s fingers finding one of my palms and staying there, secret, tracing the lines. It was the feeling of Adam pressed on top of me, anchoring me to this or I would drown in it all. It was trembling kisses and stuttering heartbeats and goosebumps and warm breath against my ear saying Chad, Chad, Chad. It was heady intoxicating sensations, overwhelming, and I wanted to stay here for a lifetime and drank it all down if only to never lose this.

Then we were naked and it was skin on skin, shoulders to hips, which was incredible, addictive and sexy. The friction between us made me groan and Adam was making noises like he liked it and that by itself was sending my head into the clouds, like I would never come back down and all I could think was finally. Then it became hard to even think because my whole world was slow, deep movements and the low sounds in Adam’s throat and how good he felt, angling himself and pushing up against Adam’s body for more.

I have no idea what my face looked like, but there must be something that Adam saw that he liked, because he smiled and then reached down to touch my mouth with the edge of his finger, the barest brush of contact, and then sealed his mouth over the spot.

“You’re amazing,” Adam said. “The best thing in my life.”

A part of me wanted to run from everything I was feeling because it was so much, so enormous. The bigger part wanted to lie here under Adam and kiss him until the sun came up and forever after that, so I did, kissing him all over that absolutely gorgeous face until he groaned into my mouth.

Adam looked into my eyes again to confirm this was what I wanted. And it was. My entire was begging for this. The pain was expected but it wanted this so desperately that it was nothing next to that all consuming feeling. I gasped into Adam’s mouth as he moved against me. He kissed soft words into my ear, I love you, I’ve got you, never let go and I wasn’t prepared for the aching bliss that followed the pain as we joined together finally. My breath was ragged and Adam was kissing me everywhere his mouth could find, as he moved against me, breathing words into my skin that left me undone, you’re incredible, take care of you, promise, forever.

It was nearly a year’s worth of passion and longing and desire narrowed down into this moment. And they’re both sweating and pressing against the other. The car was fogging up as they moved and from the radio Hamilton Leithauser was singing, I had a dream that you were mine, I’ve had that dream a 1000 times, and Adam’s fingers against my hips felt branded there by their heat.

Adam rested his forehead on mine and his hair tickled my face. He kissed me once more, fiercely, loving and said into my mouth, "Mine."

I kissed him back with the same intensity, repeating his claim. "Yours."

Something opened inside of me, inside of him. I screamed feeling that tie in my chest, binding us together as soul mates, thrum and glow. It opened more like a door and what came out of it was a rush of staggering, scorching, and stellar light. We both threw back our heads and screamed as the force opened its mouth and swallowed us whole. It wrapped us tight, warm and familiar, like an old friend.

Not like an old friend, a lover. The tie between us grew tight and a presence settled in my heart next to the part of my soul that was Emrys. A part of Adam and a part of me moved between us, and the link shined like the light of the sun as our bond solidified and completed with the joining of our bodies. With the strengthened link his movements felt deeper, more amazing, more pleasurable. Adam's hands gripped my waist possessively, and his eyes watched me with unbridled heat.

"I'm so close," he panted.

I clenched his wrists, struggling to find my voice under the rolling pleasure. "Together."

Adam nodded jerkily, going faster and I whimpered as my body bucked and jerked under his. And suddenly there were no more words, only us. The climax tightened my body like a coiled spring. I rode that wave of pleasure with a scream. Adam’s cry mixed in with mine then he collapsed, his body falling full against mine. I wrapped my arms around his waist, shivering as the ghost of his breath whispered against my neck.

Adam picked himself up, propping himself up with his arms. His lazy smile was tired and sort of deliriously sweet. "I... That was amazing..." He grabbed my hand and pressed it against his chest, his face opening with wonder. "I can feel you...right here next to my heart."

"The Dragons Tie," My voice was filmy from it all. "Our souls are linked closer than ever. We were joined like this in our last lives too." I started to smile too, low and sweet. "Now we're complete again."

Adam beamed so warm and radiant it knocked the air right back out of me. "I remember... In the eyes of Atlantis, we would be considered just as good as married."

I looked down quickly as my heart skipped. "Are you okay with-"

"I love you, my husband." Adam cut me off, placing a hand against my cheek. He was looking at me like I was every good thing in the world.

"My husband." I couldn’t do anything but smile stupidly back.

It sounded right. We weren't official in the eyes of modern law, but under the stars of the sky and our ancient people, we were one. Those gentle hazel eyes watched me. Adam was practically glowing. I slid in front of him and his arm lifted to rest around my waist. I pressed my back to his chest, his fingers brushed against the smooth strip of skin below my navel. My fingers tightened around his forearm and we stayed like that, naked, fitting together, and it was absolutely perfect.

"Darling?" Adam asked softly, his words tickling my earlobe.

I placed a trail of kisses down the inside of his forearm whispered, "Yeah, baby?"

He moved and looked at me with through his eyelashes, shy and sweet. "Next time can I be on the bottom."

My heart swelled in my chest. He was so unboundedly beautiful. "Oh, yeah."

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard and it was nearing three in the morning. We had been going at it for almost four hours. It was a wonder we hadn't passed out by now. My baby, the energizer bunny. We laid down and got comfortable and I finally surrendered to sleep hovering just on the edges of thought.

I was dreaming again.

Voices filled the air, laughing and childishly light. I looked around. I was in a classroom. Windows lined the walls letting in warm sunshine onto the tables lined in two neat columns, one behind the other. I remembered this room. A few of the chubby, young faces looked familiar. Two were very familiar. A smile crossed my face as I stared at the younger version of Kevin and myself. We were about seven if I remembered right. We sure looked it.

"He-Man is not stupid!" The child version of myself, clutching a He-Man toy to his chest.

I smiled softly, remembering. This was one of my fondest memories.

Kevin looked up at his friend, stopping his coloring with childish concentration.

"He doesn't even wear real clothes," Kevin said, his young voice made me snicker. "So he's stupid..." He appeared to think hard and finished with a smug smirk, "Stupid!"

Child Chad glared at him, throwing up his nose. "Batman is stupid too then! He doesn't even have any real powers."

"Take that back!" Kevin pointed at his best friend. He pouted, crossing his arms. "You're a monster."

My younger self frowned, brow furrowed in confusion. "I am not."

I laughed quietly. I hadn't quite mastered the art of comebacks then. Give it a year and it would be a different story.

"Fine," Kevin huffed, still pouting. "You're not a monster. But He-Man is still stupid."

“I hate you!”

Younger Chad punched him in the arm and ran off with tears in his eyes. Kevin watched him go with his mouth open and eyes wide. I winced. Kevin didn't realize at the time, neither did I really, but I didn't just like He-Man. I really liked him, wanted to bear his children-like. Kevin closed his mouth and a contemplative frown marred his face, as he stared after me thoughtfully. I cocked my head at the scene. Impossible. Did he figure it out then?

Light bled from the room like the eclipsing of the sun. I looked around as the classroom faded about me. Only Kevin, me, and the table he sat at existed in the darkening environment. I stepped closer and the boy snapped his head up, staring at me for the first time. His brown eyes were dark and within them shone an unnatural wisdom.

I glanced down at the papers on the table. Kevin flipped over two of the sheets revealing his drawings from earlier. He gazed up at me and slid the papers to the edge of the table.

"Love," he intoned quietly, running his small finger along the top of the drawing. It was a large heart, colored in with bright red crayon. "is this what matters most?"

My mouth went dry and I felt the heartbeat in my chest in a distant echo. He watched me carefully, his heavy gaze weighing me. I swallowed and he pushed the other paper forward. Black lines zagged across the paper, dotted by yellow spots, and amongst the sea of space hung a crude depiction of the Earth as if drawn by a child. I suppose it was.

Kevin's eyes narrowed, judging. "The universe - all those lives. One against countless others. What matters most?"

"Why do I have to make this decision?" I spat, frustrated with all of it.

"Magic is the blood of the universe," Kevin said stoically. "You are its avatar, its champion. When the time comes you must make the choice. You must choose."

"Or what? From the void, it rests, it comes, it conquers," I snapped, glaring.

Little Kevin was unfazed by how much the situation was angering me. He only blinked and continued looking at me with that expressionless face that was totally unlike the Kevin I knew.

"It will come" Kevin stared hard into my eyes. "And it will eat you alive."

My shoulders slumped, anger draining from me as I said quietly, "It's too much. We have to stop them, and we have to prevent Heaven's Trumpet from activating."

Kevin stood and his arm whipped out and caught my wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. I tried to jerk away but he held tight, staring up at me with his penetrating brown eyes.

"Remember," he said sharply. "Blood, blood, blood, blood. One, two, four, all into two, back into one."

I found some hidden strength and jerked my hand away. "I don't know what that means!"

Darkness overcame my vision and the classroom faded from sight. I fell through a sea of black, and I heard Kevin's young yet wise voice penetrate the black, as it echoed in my mind.

"You will."

An odd ringing noise broke through the fog of sleep and I jolted awake. Adam made a sound of protest in his sleep as I moved over his body to grab the phone, laying almost under the passenger seat. My jostling awakened him fully and he yawned, moving around to give me room. I squinted at the rays of sunlight streaming in through the windows and answered the phone.

Nathaniel's face appeared in the screen, a cut on his forehead, and his face was full of panic.

"Thank goodness, I got through," Nathaniel said quickly. "I've already contacted the others."

Adam looked over my shoulder, gripping me tight with worry. "Nathaniel, what's going?"

The ground behind him rocked and he staggered back. He grabbed onto a console and stared at the screen, his mouth fixed into a grim frown.

"The outpost is being attacked," Nathaniel said. "They're swarming the grounds... They found us. The Unrelenting...they're here."

Adam and I shared a look before I nodded sharply. "We're on our way."

Here we go.