Unchained

Chapter Nineteen

Two weeks after Julian had basically handed her the truth, and his words still brought a smile to her lips. The kind of smile that didn’t fade even as she stared down at the minion she had just vanquished. Stepping away, she gazed out into the night sky.

Damn, she was tired.

Between monitoring Michael’s training and hunting at night, she was only getting four hours of sleep tops. Granted, she would get at least five and half hours of sleep if she’d stop sneaking off to spend time with Julian.

The soft breeze kicked up, stirring a few tendrils of hair around her face. She gave a little half smile. She’d gladly give up an hour or two of sleep before she was due back at the Sanctuary if it meant going to sleep well sated.

Julian was rather adept when it came to ways of entertaining her. He used his lips or his fingers, and she was never uninterested. They hadn’t done it yet, although they came close a few times. Just last night she begged him to take her. She hadn’t cared that they were on the rooftop of the Hilton. Right there, out in the open. She had wanted him that badly, and he had known it.

Julian had still refused her. Damn him.

Although Lily was reluctant to admit it, it wasn’t just his touch she looked forward to all day. Things had changed since that night they had fought and Julian had forced her to confront her feelings. She no longer thought of him as a Fallen—if she ever really did. As dangerous as that was.

They even exchanged phone numbers. When Julian had ordered her to enter his cell number and the numbers for all three clubs he owned into her phone, she had found it hilarious. He had looked at her strangely, and she’d tried to explain why she thought it was funny they were now just at the exchanging-phone-numbers stage. He didn’t get it, and she had given up on trying to explain.

Her smile spread.

The voice in the back of her head picked up, whispering, Remember Anna. This is what happened to Anna.

Swatting the voice to the side, she stepped to the ledge, and a shiver danced over her skin. Turning around, she was surprised as a giant of a man landed in the middle of the roof.

Gabe sauntered toward her, a cocky little grin on his lips. “Hey, babe, long time no see.”

Lily almost stepped back, but stopped before she toppled over the ledge. Other than passing each other at the Sanctuary, she hadn’t seen Gabe since the night in the laundry room. Heat tinged her cheeks. “Hey,” she said lamely.

He stopped in front of her. “Haven’t had any bad shifts recently. I’m kind of disappointed.”

Now the tips of her ears burned. “Yeah, well, things have been…good.”

His smile spread as he studied her. Gabe was good-looking—very much so. Any girl, Nephilim or not, would be throwing off their panties for him, but Lily didn’t feel the slightest urge to do so.

“Well, you know where to find me.” He hopped up on the ledge beside her. “Even if you’re having a good shift.” Then he bent, kissed her under her ear, and jumped.

She stood there, face flaming. “Sweet baby Jesus.” Spinning around, she waited a few minutes, then took off for the spot she’d been meeting Julian.

Five minutes later, she landed on the balls of her feet atop the Hilton Hotel, a little grin playing over her lips.

“You took long enough.”

She crouched, perched on the ledge. “I had to work, unlike some.”

“I don’t think work is what kept you.”

Lily frowned. “What do you mean…oh God, don’t tell me you heard Gabe and me? I didn’t feel you.”

He walked up to her. “The Nephilim wants to sleep with you.”

She busted out laughing. “Gabe? Gabe wants to sleep with a lot of people.”

“But you’ve—”

“Are you jealous?” She laughed again.

“Never,” he said, though not in an entirely convincing way.

Lily leaned forward, clasping his smooth cheeks in her hands. Bringing his lips to hers, she kissed him softly. “You have nothing to be jealous of.”

“Of course not.” Julian scowled. “Anyway, I do work.”

Not believing it for one second, she took a moment to appreciate the sensual tilt to his lips, the overtly male swagger, and how the shirt hugged his upper body. God, she could drink him up all in one gulp. “Convincing the young socialites of DC to do naughty things isn’t work.”

Julian looked offended. It wasn’t believable by any means. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Really?” she snickered.

“Well, there was this nun I convinced to leave the church to pursue a career in pole dancing.” He flashed a wicked grin. “That was fun.”

“Seriously, Julian, what do you do all day?”

He rested his hands on her bent knees. “I don’t think you want to know.”

They were back to the one topic Julian wouldn’t budge on. No matter how many times and how many ways she asked him, he refused to tell her what he did, as if doing so would be handing over his trade secrets. Lily was still curious, not thwarted. “Try me.”

He looked down at her, arching one eyebrow. “I slept till noon, if you must know.”

She curled her lip. “Lucky.”

He grinned. “Then I observed a young man who was following this little girl far too closely.”

Ugh. She didn’t like where this was going. “Um, what do you mean?”

Julian slid his hands over her hips. “What do you think I mean? I believe his name was Larry. Anyway, Larry likes little girls.”

“You didn’t…I mean, you didn’t put that in him did you?” She was afraid of his answer. It wouldn’t be unheard of. The Fallen made humans do things they normally wouldn’t conceive of doing. It was a way they sought to cure their boredom.

He made a face at her. “Give me some credit, Lily. No. I could sense his…tastes. So I watched as he followed her to this alley where she waits for the bus to take her to her grandmother’s. I simply suggested the urge to leave.”

“To the girl or the man?” she asked.

“The man,” he said, lifting her off the ledge and placing her on her feet.

She eyed him. “Where did he go?”

Julian shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, out in front of one of those big trucks that pick up garbage,” he explained blandly. “I figured that was fitting.”

She winced. “I don’t really know how to feel about that.”

He took her hand, guiding her across the rooftop, and led her into the shadows, far away from prying eyes. “You did say you probably wouldn’t want to know. After that, I simply people-watched.”

People-watching after urging a man to walk in front of truck? How utterly…what? How could she really sum that up? She glanced over at him. He was watching her curiously, waiting for her reaction. She sighed. “Okay, I probably shouldn’t have asked.”

Julian chuckled. “Do you want me to tell you I told you so?”

“Well, it could have been worse.” She decided tentatively. “At least it was a wannabe pedophile.”

“Oh no, he was a pedophile. He just hadn’t been caught yet.”

She swallowed, sickened by how some people could be so evil all on their own. “Okay, well, I can’t say I am totally displeased with what you did.”

“Aren’t you bloodthirsty?”

She grinned. “It kind of comes with the job. What about the little girl?”

“She made it to her grandmother’s house safe and sound.” Julian reached down, catching a piece of hair in his fingers. He twirled it around his index finger. “What did you do today, my Lily?”

She untangled her hair from his finger. “Training and more training,” she told him. He reached for the hair again, but she slapped his hand away. “I’ve never had to train someone before. It’s a cross between extraordinary boredom and complete lack of patience.” She paused, adding thoughtfully, “On my part, that is.”

“You impatient?” he teased. His hand closed around her much smaller one, bringing it to his lips. He kissed her palm. The touch sent shivers all the way to her toes. “So how is he coming along training-wise?”

She shrugged, deciding a truthful answer couldn’t hurt. “He picks up things remarkably fast.”

“And you are still impatient?” he asked. “You’re very hard to please.”

She observed the hand wrapped around hers. Pressing against him, she gazed up into his striking blue eyes. “Not really. Not when it comes to you.”

“Oh really?” he murmured. Julian slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her up to the tips of her toes. He brushed his lips over hers once, then twice. Lily immediately softened against him. “I’m thinking that perhaps you wish to put that to the test?”

“Perhaps,” she agreed. No longer exhausted, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Maybe we should try that out?”

Julian’s lips curved into an indulgent smile. “Insatiable.” He lifted her up like she weighed nothing, holding her at eye level.

His strength always gave her pause. She was strong, but he was supercharged. It reminded her of how fragile she truly was compared to him. The girl in her loved it—that girl was foolish and easily wooed. The Nephilim side of her was uneasy, knowing that power could end her life in an instant. It was like being split in two when she was with him.

He placed his lips against hers, and those thoughts simply vanished. It didn’t matter how many times Julian kissed her; she could never quite prepare herself for the onslaught of feelings. It was like every nerve in her body fired at once, overwhelming her senses and leaving her breathless.

“Lily. Step back.”

She froze against Julian, her eyes snapping open. So lost in him, she hadn’t sensed another Nephilim.

Oh…oh crap, this was going to be bad.

“Step back now.”

She would’ve done so because of the sheer malice in the voice, but Julian’s arm tightened around her, making it nearly impossible for her to move. He slowly lifted his head to look over her shoulder. What she saw in Julian’s face filled her with dread. From the tight line of his mouth to the dangerously narrowed eyes, Lily recognized how hazardous this situation was about to get.

“Julian,” she whispered. “Put me down.”

He inclined his head toward her. “Who is this Nephilim that you would allow to order you so?”

“The Nephilim that will kill you,” answered Micah coldly.

Her heart jumped. “Julian, please put me down.”

He stared at her for a moment before he released her. “Of course,” he murmured.

She straightened her halter top with quick motions before facing Micah. Her cheeks burned and her heart beat so fast nausea rolled through her. How was she going to explain this?

Micah stood several feet in front of them, his legs spread wide and a wicked blade ready in his fist.

“Micah,” she began awkwardly. “I’m not sure…”

“Shut up, Lily,” Micah ordered.

“Excuse me?” she sputtered as Julian stiffened beside her.

Micah’s eyes danced over her before returning to the seething Fallen behind her. “I’ve followed you.”

She wasn’t sure she heard him correctly. “What?”

“I followed you,” he said again, louder. “I’ve been following you, but the last couple of nights I lost you. Now I see why you run off so quickly.”

Rage swamped her as she stared at him. “Who in the hell do you think you are to be following me?”

He sneered. “Who in the hell do you think you are? I’m not the one screwing the enemy. Come on, Lily, I used to respect you.” Micah clenched his fists. “You have given yourself to him like some street whore—worse than any minion.”

Before she could utter a word, Julian had the Nephilim by his throat, dangling him over the edge of the hotel. Below was a dark alley. The drop wouldn’t kill Micah, but it would do massive damage.

“Julian!” Lily screamed, rushing after them. “Stop it!”

“What did you say to her?” Julian demanded in a low, deadly voice.

“You heard what I said, you damn freak!” Micah raised his arm, intent on stabbing him.

Julian caught Micah’s arm and twisted until the blade slipped out of his hand. Micah yelped as the dagger fell into the darkness. “I think you need to apologize right now.”

Micah gripped Julian’s forearm. “Over my dead body.”

Julian’s smile was cold. “That can be easily arranged.” He moved Micah farther away from the safety of the ledge.

She grabbed Julian’s arm, but he didn’t budge an inch. “Knock it off. Both of you need to stop!”

Neither of them listened. Julian thrust Micah out farther while the Nephilim struggled against him. The situation was quickly spiraling out of control, and Lily didn’t doubt that if Micah called her a name one more time Julian would indeed drop him.

She pulled on Julian’s arm again, desperate. When that didn’t work, she slugged him in the stomach. “Julian, listen to me. Let him go. Now,” she begged. “Let go of him for me. Please.”

Julian peered down at her. “For you?”

“Yes!” She forced a smile. “Put him back down—on the ground, gently.” She felt the need to clarify her request.

He stepped away so that Micah no longer hung over the edge. Lily nodded reassuringly, praying Micah would remain quiet. The last thing she needed was him to say something antagonizing. But then Julian tossed Micah to the roof. “He still needs to apologize,” he grumbled.

She nearly laughed with relief. Julian would destroy the Nephilim if push came to shove. She glanced at Micah.

Julian exhaled heavily, seeming to collect himself. “He should apologize.”

She kept a wary eye on him just in case he had a change of heart. “Why were you following me?”

Micah straightened his shirt. “Someone is feeding info to the Fallen. My guess is the one who is sleeping with them.”

She immediately threw her arm up, blocking Julian. It didn’t stop his response. “Keep it up, you little shit. I will fucking break you.”

“I’d like to see you try!”

“Are you accusing me of betraying the Sanctuary?” The irony of the situation didn’t pass her, not even in her anger. She suspected Micah, and he suspected her. It would be comical if she didn’t feel like letting Julian drop him off the building.

Micah gave her a dismissive look. “Honestly? You act all offended, but you don’t deny what you are doing. The circle knows, Lily. The circle suspects you.”

It was like being smacked in the face. Granted, she knew her relationship with Julian didn’t shine a favorable light upon her, but for them to think she would actually betray them? She wanted to kick them all in the face.

“What your circle suspects is what they are led to believe,” Julian sneered.

Lily frowned at the cryptic sentence, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Micah’s left hand slip behind him. He was fast—they were trained that way. If she hadn’t been Nephilim, she wouldn’t have even caught the darting movement.

Without thinking twice, she pushed Julian back and spun into a roundhouse kick. Julian stumbled backward, stunned by her unexpected move. Her kick connected with the fleshy part of Micah’s arm, and the dagger clanged against the roof.

Micah exploded into a sea of curses, lunging for the blade. Lily’s knee connected with the broad side of his face, sending him flying. The kick would have snapped the neck of a man, but for a Nephilim it only stunned him.

Time seemed to stop as she stared down at Micah, breathing heavy. Lifting her head, she turned to Julian. What she had done hung between them.

“Go, Julian,” she gritted out.

Julian had a hand over his heart. “You defended me?”

There wasn’t time to discuss the ramifications of her actions. She could sense another Nephilim. She darted between Julian and Micah. “Go now. Another is coming.” In other words, what she pulled with Micah she may not be able to get away with again.

Micah slowly climbed to his feet, rubbing his jaw. Lily grabbed the blade, casting one last look over at Julian. “Please go,” she whispered urgently.

He hesitated. “Lily, I…” He stopped as she pleaded with her eyes. He gave a curt nod, and then he was gone.

Blood trickled from Micah’s split lip. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”

The soft thud of boots landing on the rooftop drew Lily’s attention. Not sure how to explain any of this, she kept her eyes on Micah.

Luke came to a halt beside her, surveying the damage. “What happened?”

Micah wobbled a bit on his feet. The kick had been powerful. She hadn’t restrained herself at all. “She’s betrayed us.”

She hadn’t betrayed them. She only…what? Bared arms against one of her kind. Did that technically mean she had betrayed them? Maybe not in the way Micah would insist, but she had turned against him in favor of Julian. She’d fought a Nephilim to protect a Fallen.

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “What in the hell is he talking about, Lily?”

She glanced away from Micah, clenching the blade in her hand. Up until this moment, she never had to question her actions. Not even when she accepted that she wanted more, wanted Julian. She was still a Nephilim, born and trained to fight the Fallen and their minions. The line between their kind was clearly drawn ages ago, and she’d always operated on the principal that the Fallen must be stopped no matter what. She’d been able to convince herself that her relationship with Julian didn’t affect her duty. She was still Lily, but with one single act against her brethren she had changed everything.

She dropped the blade. The sound was thunderous and final. “Micah has been following me. Apparently he suspects I’m working with the Fallen.”

“What?” Luke frowned at him. “He’s been following you because Nathaniel asked him to.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Why?”

“Because of Baal,” answered Micah. “But that has nothing to do with what happened tonight. Luke, it’s her. She’s been feeding info to the Fallen.”

Laughing, Luke clapped him on the shoulders. “You’re a good hunter, but you’re dumb as a bag of fucking rocks if you really think that’s true. Lily is loyal.”

His unwavering faith in her bruised her worse than Micah’s accusation. “He found me with Julian.”

Luke stiffened. The amused grin slowly slipped away. “What?” was all he asked, and in that one word was a world of meaning.

“What do you think?” hissed Micah.

“Shut up,” Luke snarled. He stepped away from him. “What were you doing?”

She lowered her eyes. “We were talking.”

“Didn’t look like talking to me,” said Micah. “I always lose her around this time, but tonight I kept up with her. They were all over each other.” Revulsion laced his words.

“Lily. I knew you were…friendly with him,” Luke whispered hoarsely. “But not like that. Not after what happened…”

She tore her gaze from the lightly stained cement. “We kissed.”

Luke stared at her, and the deep disappointment he wore nearly broke her heart. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. It was like standing in front of Nathaniel and being lectured, but far worse.

“That’s not all.” Micah shoved past Luke. He glared down at her. “I went after Julian, and she attacked me!”

He was right, and Lily was wrong on so many different levels, but she felt her temper rise nonetheless. “You tried to stab him in the back!”

“Is that true, Lily?” Luke demanded.

“Yeah, I kicked him in his arrogant face.”

“Do you even realize how serious this is?” Luke grabbed her arm, shaking her. “This isn’t a joke! What you’ve done is reprehensible. Attacking another Nephilim in defense of a Fallen? Charges could be brought against you, Lily!”

She tried to pull away, but his hold was bruising. If she had thought of that for a second before she attacked Micah, she wouldn’t be in the situation she was in. “I understand. It doesn’t change what I did.”

Luke shook her again before dropping her arm. “Micah, leave now,” he ordered. “Do not breathe a word of this.”

“Are you serious? You’ll protect her now?”

He whirled on the other Nephilim. “I will take care of this. Do not question that.” He turned back to Lily. “You can trust this will be addressed.”

Micah looked like he wanted to stay, or at least get in a good swing at Lily, but Luke had the authority. Lily did, too. Most likely she didn’t after tonight, but that was a moot point. With one last biting glance at Lily, Micah loped off the hotel.

The two remaining stood in silence. Lily wasn’t sure what to say. She knew she messed up and let what she felt for Julian get in the way. All she felt was guilt and not regret. Two very separate things. She didn’t regret stopping Micah but felt guilty because she had violated Luke’s trust.

“Lily,” he began softly. “What are you thinking?”

She closed her eyes. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t? Do you have any idea how much trouble you are going to be in?” he asked. “And I know you won’t ask me to not tell Nathaniel.”

She wouldn’t drag Luke down the path she had so willingly chosen.

“Has he coerced you somehow? Tricked you like what happened to Anna?”

Lily’s head shot up. “No,” she said firmly. “Julian has never made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

Her words didn’t help. He pulled back as if she’d slapped him. “After what happened to Anna?”

She snapped. “I’m not Anna! Damn it, I’m not her! And Julian’s not—”

“Not what, Lily? A Fallen? Because that’s what he is. Shit. I thought you knew better than this. I suspected there was more to it, more than what you were willing to admit to, but this?”

She ran a nervous hand over her hip. Maybe if she was honest with him, he would understand. Luke always listened to her in the past. She inhaled softly, meeting his gaze with her earnest one. “Julian isn’t like the others. He hasn’t fathered a Nephilim. He doesn’t corrupt innocents like the others do. He is different.”

Luke looked like he wanted to laugh. “That’s what he’s told you.”

“I believe him. He’s not bad. You have to see that. He’s saved my life twice, and God knows how many times I don’t know about.”

“So he did nothing to Micah?” Luke raised his brows.

Deciding that lying would likely come back and bite her in the ass later, she told him what happened and how Micah’s comments had provoked him. As she told the story, Luke grew angrier. “But he didn’t hurt him, Luke. I did.”

“Which makes it all the worse.” Luke stopped and sighed heavily. “I don’t think Nathaniel would take it as a breach of Contract, but you will be punished.”

She swallowed. A breached Contract was basically going rogue. She would be thrown out of the Sanctuary, left to fend solely for herself. It had been far before her time when the last Nephilim had breached their Contract.

Some of the steam behind Luke’s anger faded as he watched her. She felt terribly small now, lost and unsure. “I think its best that you come back to the Sanctuary immediately, admit fault, and stay as far away from Julian as possible.”

Pressing her lips together, she ran a hand through her windblown hair. “I need some time.”

Luke’s brows shot up. “What?”

“Time,” she repeated. “I need time away. I have to think about this.”

“You shouldn’t have to think about anything, Lily! You know this is wrong, and it’s gotten out of hand.”

A hundred different emotions bubbled up in her, spilling over. “I don’t know if this is wrong!” she yelled. “I’ve never done anything to earn any distrust. I have always put the Sanctuary and my duty first!” She turned away, trying to rein in some sort of control. “My whole life has been dedicated to this, and I didn’t ask for any of it.”

Luke stepped behind her. “None of us did, but this is our life.”

She stared out over the city—the night teeming with bright lights, streets filled with humans and minions. There were people out there living and dying. Some were even falling in love. Three things Lily couldn’t do so easily, and, damn it, she wanted to be like them instead of what she was. She wanted the freedom to choose.

“This isn’t you,” he whispered.

She paused for a moment, then murmured, “Maybe it is.” She smiled halfheartedly. “Thank you for running Micah off. I do owe him an apology, but if he follows me one more time…” She let the threat hang between them.

Luke leaned forward. “Don’t do this, Lily.”

He knew her so well. “Michael is doing very well.” She cleared her throat against the sudden tightening. “If you could check in on him later for me, I’d appreciate it. Rafe has been wonderful.”

“Lily,” he protested. “Please. It will be worse if you don’t come back with me. Please.”

“I just need some time. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but I’ll be back,” she told him. “Ready to face whatever Nathaniel deems fit.”

“Come on. We can go to him together. You know how Nate is. He’s not going to be too hard on you.” He forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You have him wrapped around your finger after all.”

She stepped up on the ledge and inhaled deeply. “Don’t follow me, Luke.”

“Lily!” He reached for her. “Don’t! Think about this for a second.”

Her decision was already made, her path chosen when she let Julian in. She launched herself off the rooftop, disappearing into the night sky.