Page 36 of Chained
Terry looked spent but his smile stretched wide. “Good. Just… wait a little.” His voice was fading. “I’ll be better soon.”
Edge looked into his eyes and saw no shallow mirror reflection. Terry’s usual glowing sparks of life were a little dim, but they were still there, along with all their usual warmth. Edge brought Terry’s hand to his lips and kissed the battered fingers. “Rest. Heal. Soon we’ll dance.”
“A deal.” Terry whispered as he fell asleep, still smiling, still held by Edge.
Chapter Fourteen
Lips curled in a dreamy smile, Edge leaned back against Terry, who leaned in turn against the trunk of a sequoia. It was amazing how soft and unguarded Edge could look in moments like this. Terry loved that about him, just as he loved when Edge looked strong and intense. Hell, he loved Edge however he looked—even when he was overtired and rumpled and sweaty.
Right now it was the grove of sequoias that seemed to be making Edge so happy. The trees towered over everything, unbelievably huge and so utterly alive. Edge had been going crazy over the scents since they’d first arrived, and he also loved the noisy birds and darting squirrels and the feel of the soft forest floor beneath his feet, which he generally kept bare.
Terry nuzzled the back of Edge’s neck where the collar had once hung. The unfettered skin tasted salty and delicious as Terry licked it. “Do you want to shift? I’ll carry your clothes for you.”
“Later. I want to do this with you as men. It’s better.”
Terry, who agreed, held him a little more tightly. Then he hummed a new favorite song in Edge’s ear. It was about breaking free of chains, which resonated with them both. He and Edge swayed together under the forest canopy. God, dancing with Edge—even when they weren’t moving their feet—was as amazing as making love together.
A raven croaked at them from overhead, maybe enjoying the little spectacle.
But then Edge tensed, and a moment later Townsend stepped out from behind a massive trunk. He wore his usual suit and hat and wasn’t even out of breath.
Not surprised, Terry continued to hold Edge.
“You boys haven’t been easy to track down,” Townsend said mildly. He glanced up at the raven and gave it a small wave. It called softly to him before flapping away.
“But yet you’ve managed,” Terry said.
Almost as soon as the doctors released Terry from the clinic, he and Edge had hopped into the IROC-Z and zoomed away. They’d spent the past eight months wandering the country, stopping anywhere that intrigued them, living off Terry’s savings. They called Edge’s brothers now and then to check in. The Bureau had given Holt and Duke enough of Whitaker’s money to get by. Holt was studying hard, hoping to earn a high school diploma and maybe even go to college. Duke had fallen for one of the nurses and moved in with her and her collection of rescued mutts. Both brothers sounded content. Terry and Edge had returned to California just a few days ago and planned to visit them.
“Have you been enjoying your adventures?” Townsend asked.
Terry squinted in annoyance. “What do you want?”
“Well, to begin with, I owe both of you a commendation. You eliminated a very nasty man—as well as the creature who gave him power.” He huffed. “My informants should have known better than to ignore her just because she was female.”
“Was she really the devil? Like… Satan? The Princess of Darkness?” Although Terry had a lot of questions about what had happened, he and Edge hadn’t stuck around long enough to ask them. Now seemed as good a time as any.
Townsend spread his hands. “In a matter of speaking. It’s complicated. Let’s just say she was an earthly manifestation of one aspect of the being you’re referring to.”
“But the devil can’t really be killed, can it? I mean, at least not so easily.”
“No, of course not. But the manifestation can be destroyed, and it was. Think of it… oh, think of it as a fast food outlet.”
Terry blinked. “The devil is McDonalds?”
“Of course not, my boy. This is an analogy. If someone were to set the local burger outlet on fire, the place would burn down. The corporation itself would still exist. You might be able to go to the next town over and get your burgers. Butthisone would be gone. And although it could be rebuilt, doing so would take time, effort, and expense, and chances are the new building wouldn’t be exactly like the old.”
Still in Terry’s arms, Edge barked a laugh. “My brothers burned down an evil McDonalds.”
“Precisely.”
“Good.”
Terry agreed. He didn’t mourn Ms. Stroman any more than he did Whitaker.
Townsend came slightly closer, then stopped to touch some lichen on a tree. “This is a good place. Old places have power.” He shrugged. “But I prefer the city myself. It hums in my veins.”
“Well, you can head there now, then.” Terry knew he was being rude. “You’ve commended us.”
