Page 14 of Frost and Fate
“What?”
“You’re doing that thing again.”
Nova tilted her head. “What thing?”
Aria rolled her eyes. “It’s pheromone city over here. Stop looking at him. Girls’ night, remember?”
This whole lycan-sense thing was very unnerving. Blushing, she glanced across the table at Leah who was looking at her curiously. This close, Nova could see that the stoically beautiful woman had eyes nearly as black as her hair. How unusual. The gaze made her feel uncomfortable and she quickly looked away.
The night went on and the wine continued to flow. Eventually Lance made his way to their table. “Time to go,” he muttered in his usual serious tone. Aria didn’t want to leave but the others agreed it was time to head back. The girls giggled and carried on as they headed back to the Ulric complex. The boys trailed behind while Laurie, Aria, and Nova all walked with their arms interlocked. Aria had tried to hook Leah in as well but had been quickly sidestepped.
As they neared the steps to the complex entrance, Leah froze. “Stop,” she commanded, and they obeyed. Nova’s heart leapt up her throat. Leah looked to Darren and Lance, an unspoken command passing between them. Lance stepped protectively in front of the girls as Leah and Darren headed up the stairs.
“What is it?” whispered Nova. “Why did we stop?”
“Blood,” said Aria, her beautiful face becoming pale. “I can smell it.”
Nova’s stomach churned. Laurie clung to Lance’s arm. Leah and Darren returned.
“We need to get you inside, now.” His eyes were luminous. Even Leah’s black eyes seemed to burn. As they hurried up the stairs she could feel Darren trying to put his body between her and whatever was on the steps. When Aria screamed, Nova couldn’t help but glance back. Near the bottom of the complex’s stairs lay a girl. Her limbs were strewn at unnatural angles. Blood covered her face and body. Curly red hair was the only real identifier left after the brutal beating she had endured. Nova didn’t need confirmation. She knew from the lifeless eyes that the girl was dead. There was a note pinned to her chest.
‘We will continue to search and Collect until our prize is returned. Hand over the Celestial, and spare them.’
It wasn’t signed. It didn’t need to be. They all knew who it was from.
“Leah, take Aria,” Darren instructed. She quickly grabbed the arm of the distraught woman. Lance had already moved Laurie into the building. Darren half pushed, half dragged Nova into the elevator and up to their floor. “Wait here,” he said as he searched the apartment. When he was satisfied the unit was secure, he pushed her inside. Nova sat on the couch, wrapping her arms around herself. She felt numb.
“I need to make a few calls,” Darren said, and retreated to the back room. Nova didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually he came back. “You should try and get some sleep,” he said. She didn’t move. “Nova?” Darren prompted again.
“They killed that girl because of me,” Nova whimpered.
Darren quieted. “It’s not your fault,” he said, his tone soft.
“Did you see what they did to her?” Nova stood up, anger boiling within. Ice began to creep up the walls of her small apartment. The air grew deadly cold. Icy-blue eyes locked with Darren’s. His own eyes had begun to glow, as if his wolf was sensing the power growing within Nova. “They destroyed her,” Nova choked out as tears began to flow down her cheeks. The teardrops crystallized, turning to ice where they landed.
Darren responded gently. “They must have thought she was a possible Celestial. They were trying to activate her powers.” He stopped. Tears fell freely as sobs began to tear from Nova’s chest.
“Like they did with me.” Her voice cracked as she spoke the words. She felt agony imagining what the girl had endured. Darren drew her thin, shaking frame into his arms. The icy tears clung to his shirt. He held her as she sobbed into his chest.
* * *
Eventually the crying subsided. Most everything in the apartment was covered in ice, including Darren’s shirt, hair, and eyelashes. It was a good thing lycans ran hot all the time. When Nova looked up at him again, he saw puffy grey-green eyes. The ice began to subside as her eyes studied his face. Nova stood on her toes and leaned up to reach him. When she touched his face, a spark lit. He melted into her kiss. Their lips moved fervently. She snaked her arms around his neck and he wrapped his hands around her waist. Their bodies pressed up against each other. He could scent her delicious smell in the air mixed with arousal. He kissed behind her ear and made his way down her neck. She moaned into his shoulder.
“Nova,” he murmured into her ear. He could feel her body responding to him. He wanted her, wanted her so badly. An image of Gideon surfaced in his mind. Gideon…her future mate and his Alpha. The one man to whom he’d sworn his life and allegiance.
He took a step backward, breaking free of Nova’s arms.
“I can’t.” Darren cut his gaze away but not before he saw the hurt in her eyes. She had been vulnerable and he rejected her. “I should go.” He moved to leave.
“Wait.” Her voice caused him to turn toward her. “Can you stay? Nothing has to happen, I just…” She covered her face with her hands. “I keep seeing her face.” She wrapped her arms around herself again, looking up at him. Darren nodded. It killed him to see her like this.
Nova headed back to the bedroom and crawled under the blankets. Darren stripped off his shoes and blazer and settled in on top of the comforter. They lay, side by side.
“Thank you,” she muttered in a sleepy voice. A few moments later, he could hear her breathing even out. Soon after, he let himself drift off to sleep.
ChapterNine
Nova woke from a dreamless sleep, alone. The memory of the girl from last night made her stomach turn. She showered, trying to wash off the feelings of rejection, sadness, and guilt. She changed into her training clothes, which actually fit thanks to Laurie, and sat on the couch until there came a knock at the door. She opened it, finding Leah.
