Darkness Rises(38)

“Has Étienne seen her dreams, too?” Zach asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know my brother?”
“I know all of you.” Not really. He knew their names and some of their backstories. Bits and pieces he had overheard during his visits and while listening to the Others grumble.
“Étienne has seen the same dreams I have,” she answered finally and looked at Roland. “That’s why he has softened toward Bastien, by the way. Something else the dreams revealed to us is how gentle Bastien was with Ami right after her rescue. How much he helped her overcome the paralyzing fear those monsters instilled in her.”
“He killed Ewen,” Roland reminded her.
“I know. But, if you could see how he is with her when no one else is around . . .”
“That’s all?” Zach persisted. “You saw nothing else in her dreams?”
She shrugged. “They weren’t all memory-based. Some were the usual whimsical variety in which she looked up at the night sky and saw three moons instead of one. That sort of thing.”
Which were likely just as memory-based as the others. Fortunately, neither Lisette nor her brother seemed to have figured that out.
“Anyway, when I saw you with her, I asked Roland who you were.”
“And I didn’t know,” Roland said, “so I began watching over Ami, too.”
“Me, too,” Sarah added.
“Does her husband know you’re spying on her?”
“No,” Roland admitted, “and we want to keep it that way.”
“Why?” Zach couldn’t resist asking, “because you’re afraid Marcus might think you are sniffing after her?”
Roland lashed out with his fist again, the force of the blow snapping Zach’s head back.
And there went the fun.
His own ire rising, Zach used a combination of telekinesis and brute strength increased by adrenaline to burst from his restraints. Restraints no one else in this room could have broken.
The others ducked as broken lengths of chain went flying.
The women’s eyes widened as he spread his wings, the tips brushing the walls on either side of the room.
Roland drew swords and stepped in front of the women.
“I’ve indulged you enough,” Zach said. “Hit me again and you will not survive my retaliation.”
“Who are you?” Lisette asked, her eyes straying to his wings as they had so often.
Did he have her to thank for the bedding that had protected them from the damaging chain links? He would peek into her thoughts, but generally disliked doing so. Most people were unaware of the ugly things that could reside in the darkest corners of their minds and he always seemed to find it.
“Call Marcus,” Roland ordered Sarah over his shoulder.
When she reached for her cell phone, Zach raised a hand to stop her. “Don’t. Marcus has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need the added worry of this, and it truly isn’t necessary. I mean Ami no harm.”
She hesitated.
As did Roland. He even straightened from his fighting stance and lowered his weapons. “Added worry? What’s going on with Marcus?”
Sarah nodded, brow furrowed. “What do you mean he has a lot on his plate? Is he worried about Ami, too?”
That was an understatement. And not his story to tell.
“If Marcus wants you to know what’s going on with them, he’ll tell you.”
That didn’t improve Roland’s mood. “You expect me to believe he told you?”
“No. Because he didn’t.” Zach shrugged. “I hear things.”
Sarah bit her lip. “Has Ami refused to let Marcus transform her?”
All those in the Immortal Guardian community who weren’t in the loop thought Ami was a gifted one.
He shook his head. “It isn’t my place to say.” Before anyone could speak again, he turned to Lisette. “Don’t pry into their thoughts, seeking answers. I know the temptation is great but—as I said—if Marcus and Ami want you to know, they will tell you.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she said, face troubled.
All three of them looked troubled. More troubled now than they had when he had escaped his bonds.
Zach folded his wings in and tucked them against his back. His curiosity had been appeased. He’d been entertained. Now it was over. “I believe we’ve said all there is to say.” He headed for the front door.
No one moved to stop him.
He paused, one hand on the knob. “I wouldn’t mention this to Seth, if I were you. He has a lot on his plate, too, and this will just piss him off.”
Opening the door, he stepped outside and leaped into the sky.
 

 

Krysta started to konk out around noon. Étienne watched her yawn, then released a jaw-cracking yawn himself.