Page 41 of Reine's Salvation

Chapter Seventeen

Reine stared at the painting of the tree. His headache had dissipated slightly after Max had left, but he couldn’t shake off the sensation of a certain doom. Something was amiss. Max’s visit still surprised him. He was more certain than ever the Academy was looking for a way to completely deprive him of being a Guardian. Why, if not, would they have sent him to Earth? Except to remind him of their duty as Guardians, as Max and Aslan had said. He closed his eyes. That had not worked out well. He had failed to help those people at the cinema and now he was unable to aid Mystique. Reine ran his fingers through his hair. His little perceptionist. The thought of her made a warm fuzzy feeling expand within him like a bubble filling with air. He didn’t believe Max. She could not be his mate. He would not be so lucky, but he couldn’t deny she made him happier than he’d been in a long time. She was someone worth fighting for.

“You need to find something that makes you strong again, something that makes you want to fight. As long as you continue feeling miserable and worthless, you won’t be able to get rid of them.”

The words she had spoken to him earlier rang in his ears as if she’d just whispered them to him. Reine stood and went to the bathroom. He turned on the light and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He was a mess. His hair was too long and disheveled. His beard needed a trim. Dark shadows lined his eyes. Reine glanced at his missing arm. The tissue was puckered and pink, disgusting. He sighed. How could Mystique have found him remotely attractive? His gaze darted toward the bathtub. Hours before he’d held her there. Naked and wet, cocooned in their own little world, she’d listened to his story. Reine felt the corner of his lips lift. She hadn’t questioned his tale for even a minute. She’d simply accepted it and offered him comfort. His heart picked up speed. He was a mess and still she liked him.

I like you as in really like you, beyond the attraction. I don’t know what it is, but it’s there.

Reine looked at himself in the mirror again. Mystique had suffered almost as much as him or perhaps more. She deserved happiness. He had to try. He had to keep her safe from the Sins, at least until Lance was safe again. Except Reine wanted more. His fingers curled around the bathroom sink.

Mystique was what made him want to be strong again. He didn’t know if he’d be able to do it, but he would battle to the death to keep her safe from danger.

Reine’s flesh prickled with goosebumps. He had to see her again. The bathroom light flickered and a shadow seemed to move behind him. Reine turned around sharply. His heart danced in his throat. There was nothing there.

He had to see Mystique tonight. Grabbing his keys, he ran out the door and toward her place. Nerves made him jittery as he stood in front of her house. What if she didn’t want to see him? He took in a deep breath. If that happened, he would stand guard outside. No Sin would get past him. Reine rang the doorbell. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, but no sound came from within the building. Could she be in bed? He hadn’t bothered to check the time, but he didn’t think it was too late. He rang the doorbell again and knocked. There was no answer. Worry gnawed at his gut.

“Mystique,” he whispered loudly, hoping he didn’t disturb the neighbors. Damn it, he should have brought his phone. He always forgot the stupid thing existed. Reine tried again. His heart hammered against his chest so hard he thought it would explode. Nerves had him in their iron grip. Clearly, she wasn’t home, or she would have opened the door even if only to send him away. Had she not returned from the restaurant? Focused on not losing hope, Reine jogged to Lance’s Bar and Barbeque. No sooner had he arrived then he knew she would not be there. The place was shut for the night, the lights all turned off.

Reine spun around. Despair threatened to overwhelm him. His head began to ache again. Where could she be? His gaze landed on the house on the hill. Moonlight illuminated its stone surface, giving it the appearance of a ghostly apparition in the dead of night. Of course. Her day had been long and emotional. She would have gone up the hill to think, to dream and to get away from everything.

He ran down the hill again. As he was crossing in front of the old Tower, he stopped. In the distance, he caught sight of the Inferum. Anger slammed into him. Damn beasts. They were the reason there was no peace. The creature walked unsteadily in the direction of Oak Road. Bile rose to the back of his throat.

“No,” he whispered.

His gut churned unpleasantly. Mystique wouldn’t wander through that street at night, would she? It was dangerous. She didn’t like walking through the place during the day, so why would she do so at night? Reine’s head swam. His breathing became labored. Cold sweat slid down his back. His hand felt clammy. No. He forced himself to swallow and breathe slowly. One. Two. Three. He couldn’t have a panic attack now.

Reine forced himself to move. He would have a quick look. That wouldn’t hurt. He was sure she was not there. She was probably up in the forest. Safe. As he walked across the pavement his feet barely made a noise. He caught sight of the green Oak Road sign. The street light nearby shone brightly. He glanced down the street. Darkness. Except for her. There, in the distance, sitting down atop a pile of debris, was Mystique. Reine’s hand began to shake. He forced himself to move forward. Inferums hissed and shrieked as he passed, scattering in all directions at the sight of a Guardian. Mystique didn’t hear him coming. She sat in front of a house, staring at its crumbled walls. Around her a group of Inferums argued, their bodies contorting in a wicked dance as they decided which one would take her.

“No.”

He would not allow it. Reine had no weapons, but he had something which he knew would momentarily scare the Inferums into fleeing. He threw off his shirt and silently chanted the words. He cried out in victory as he spread open his black wings. The demons shrieked in fear and ran.

The clouds which had been partially covering the moon, chose at that moment to drift away. Moonlight flooded the street. Reine’s gaze locked with Mystique’s. His heart skipped a beat. Nerves raced down his spine and he beat his wings, causing Mystique’s hair to flutter around her face. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open.

“Reine?” she said softly.

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