Dark Angel's Ward Read Free

"Bring him back! Make him come back..."
    I drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience. "I will, sweetie, but you have to calm down first. All right?" I glanced over my shoulder. "Sara? You okay?"
    "Nooooo," she moaned, bursting into tears. Cara followed suit, slumping against me and bawling.
    Perfect. Just fucking perfect.
    *****
    It took a full ten minutes to deposit both girls somewhat safely behind the counter with promises that the pretty man would come back soon. Still, they clung to each other and sniffled, mascara running down their faces in dark rivulets. Not quite a full thermonuclear meltdown, but way too damn close.
    Though the mall wouldn't close for another half hour, I took a moment before leaving them to pull the grate across the entrance and lock it. It was all too evident something funny was going on in here, and the chance of a few late shoppers just wouldn't be worth the hassle of questions. Sighing, I gathered my resolve and made my way back to the office, belatedly noticing the music still played on. Hell.
    Zeph had left the door open, the idiot, and had perched on the edge of my desk. His long legs easily reached the floor, crossed at the ankles in a parody of nonchalance, but I could feel his agitation like static electricity on my skin. His mouth drew tight as he regarded me. "Dark angel. I hate that term."
    "Well, it got the point across. I doubt the word 'nephilim' is on the SATs."
    "I don't much care for that one, either."
    I threw up my hands in frustration. "So, what? You're not mad at me for outing you, just that I didn't do it right?"
    "I'm hardly in a position to judge anyone's adherence to the rules, am I?" His voice held an edge of bitterness as he pushed off the desk and rose to his full height with fluid grace.
    "Well, at least you realize that now." In spite of myself, I fell back a step as he loomed over me. "You must not be indulging in much arrogance these days."
    His brows lowered in a scowl. "I repeat, I haven't siphoned anything from anyone."
    "Oh, no? Then why so animated? Whose emotions are those, Zeph?"
    "I don't know." His dark eyes flashed bright for an instant, revealing their true color--not black or brown, but a deep, deep amethyst. "It would seem they're my own, but I don't understand how or why. That's what I need you to tell me."
    "What?" I turned away from him, slamming my fists against my thighs. "How can you even ask me that?"
    "Because no one has ever known me the way you do--Jade, is it now?" His hand landed on my shoulder, making me flinch. "You're the only one who can help me."
    I sniffled, horrified by the prickle of tears in my eyes. "Sell it to someone else."
    "I can't. I need you." He stepped close enough I felt his warmth against my back--and damn it all, I stood there and let him do it. "I realize I handled things badly between us," he murmured, his voice deep and resonant, compelling. "But don't you care about me anymore?"
    "Stop it!" I spoke through clenched teeth. "If you force me into anything, I'll hate you even more than I already do."
    He sighed heavily. "You were right, you know. I was assigned another Warden, not long after you left me."
    "And?" I prompted into the long silence that followed.
    His grip tightened on my shoulder. "And I nearly killed her within a month."
    "You what ?" I whipped my head around to goggle at him.
    "I've been alone ever since," he went on, as if he hadn't even heard me. "I think I have, anyway. I can't remember much of what I've been doing lately. Until one day last week, after I woke from a nightmare."
    "You were dreaming?" I looked askance at him, intrigued in spite of myself. "About what?"
    "I can't recall." He drew a harsh breath, stirring the hair beside my ear with his exhalation. "Something awful."
    A spasm twisted my chest at the note of despair in his voice. Damn it, he was getting to me, too, and he wasn't even trying hard. I pulled away and rounded on him, struggling for anger to clear my head.