Beyond (34 page)

Michael didn
’
t answer her. He didn ’
t want her to think he was a stalker , so he changed the subject.
“
The forbidden apple is the property of the Twelve. It would be like s t ealing from them. There would be consequences not to your liking.
”

“
Why do you care what happens to me?
”

With a swift graceful jump, Michael was now standing behind her with his body so close, he could almost feel her heartbeat.
H
is fist s cl e nched tightly, he f ou ght the urge to pull her into his hold, because if he did, he would never let go.
“
I ’
ve always cared.
”
His hot breath brushed her neck, sending weak chills all over her. How he made her feel this way was very unnerving. She wanted to break away from his spell, but all she could do was stand still and hope she could control the temptation she was feeling right at th at moment.

Slowly she turned
, her eyes still pe e led to the ground, moving upward to his jeans, then to his waist , and then she saw the same trinket that she had t aken from her backpack. Staggered that he would have one too, she flashed her eyes to his. As their eyes lock ed in place, she knew she cared about him , even though she could not remember. Strangely , at the same time, she felt heartbroken and could not fathom the reason.

“
Why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me you had gone rogue?
”

“
I ’
m sorry. I didn ’
t mean to lie to you. It ’
s complicated. Since you suggested it and I needed to leave, it was the best explanation at that time. We are on the same side. I have other duties to fulfill, but I needed to know you were safe.
”

Claudia was touched by his words. He cared enough to be there for her. H
e was always there. Eyeing the trinket on his pant loop she asked, “
We meant something to each other, didn ’
t we?
”

He couldn
’
t give her an answer. Michael ’
s chest r ose and fell quickly. His breathi ng erratic, he suddenly became nervous , like a schoolboy. He didn ’
t know what to say or do. A ll he could do was look at his love that he missed so much , hoping she would forgive him when the time came.

When he didn
’
t say a word, she guessed it was true. Claudia knew he was hiding something, but why?
“
I need to leave, ”
she finally said, breaking away.

“
Where do you need to go?
”
His tone was soft and caring.

“
I...I…
.
”
she started to say, but stopped her words, for fear of breaking down. Her eyes filled with tears that were threatening to fall. She couldn ’
t shed a tear, not right now, not in front of him, but she felt so lost and confused. Uncontrollably a tear drop trickled down her cheek, and Michael raised his right hand to catch it before it fell. He was hurting just as much as her, but for different reasons. He understood her pain and wanted to make it go away.
“
You ’
re too beautiful to shed tears.
”

Claudia blushed and closed her eyes, only to have more stream down. Wanting to comfort her, he embraced her in his arms. She gra tefull y welcomed his hold. It gave her tremendous comfo rt, like the feeling of being home, but the closeness was unbearable. Feeling s of wanting and needing him in w ays she never knew possible confused her deeply .

Michael
’
s hand s laced through her long silky hair. It felt so natural to hold her and touc h her the way he had so many times before . Inhaling her scent, his cheek affectionately brushed against the side of hers, moving closer and closer to her supple lips. Heat swept through both of them, trying desp erately to avoid the temptation , but neither pushed away.

To Claudia
’
s surprise, Michael ’
s lips pressed lightly against hers, waiting for her permission to continue. When the kiss was not returned, he pulled back with disappointment and regret he had made such a rash decision.
“
I ’
m sorry.
”
His tone was low , filled with apo logy, then he raked his hair back in anger and frustration , recalling Claudia ’
s lips on Austin ’s …
perhaps the reason for the kiss that was not returned.

When he kissed her, she wanted more, but she held back. She wasn ’
t going to let him do this to her again without answering her questions. How dare he do this to her? She hardly knew him , and yet he made her feel safe, he made her feel alive.

“
Tell me why I have these butterflies fluttering in my stomach every time I see you?
”

“
You do?
”
His brow creased with shock and happiness.

“
That ’
s not an answer. Why do I feel like we belong together?
Why can ’
t I remember?
”
She knew the reason. She had selective amnesia, but she wanted his side of the story.
When there was no answer, she spoke again.
“
Austin told me I have selective amnesia. If I can remember them, why can ’
t I remember you?
”

Michael was silent
, contemplating whether to tell her the truth, but the more questions she asked, the more he held back, afraid she would never forgive him.

Feeling frustrated by Michael
’
s lack of words, she started pouring her heart out.
“
I see you in my dreams…and…I get these flash backs of us. We ’
re so happy. Why can ’
t I remember us? Why can ’
t I remember you?
”
She pounded lightly on his chest and drew herself close to him, so close she started to feel dizzy again.

“
I can almost remember the softness of your hair.
”
Claudia laced her fingers though his hair .
“
I can almost remember t he way I feel from your touch.
”
Her hands slid down to his chee k s .
“
I can almost remember the way I feel when you look at me with those beautiful soulful eyes.
”
She pierced her eyes on his.
“
I can almost remember, but not qui te . I want it back. I want to remember you, ”
she said with such sadness in her tone.
“
Please give me back my apple and let me go.
”

“
Then tell me what you will do with it.
”

“
I ’
m sorry, but I can ’
t. You ’
ll have to trust me.
”

Michael wanted more than anything in the world for her to remember, but was this the right way , with an apple? He wasn ’
t sure. He had this all mapped out, but it wasn ’
t happening according to his plan. He decided he had no choice. As stubborn as Claudia was, he knew she would find a way to get another apple. At least if he gave it to her here , he could trace her steps. Given that he had no choice , he pulled the forbidden apple from behind him like a magic trick and hesitantly g a ve it to her.

Claudia gazed into Michael
’
s loving eyes. She felt the warmth from his half smile, the smile he was trying so hard to give, to let her know he was giving her permission to go. As brave and strong as she appeared to be, she didn ’
t know where she was and needed his help. Claudia figured she had been here before but couldn ’
t recall , so she didn ’
t know how to get back to Paradi s us.
“
Hmmm…could you take me back to Paradi s us ?”
she mumbled, clearing her throat, feeling extremely embarrassed. What would he think? A venator who had no sense of direction.

Michael chuckled softly, trying not to undermine her intelligence and her capabilities, but he couldn ’
t help the question he wanted to ask.
“
What if I said no? Would you stay?
”

“
I already told you I needed to leave. If I have to find it myself then I ’
ll do it .
”

“
Okay…I ’
ll take you, but I ’
ll have to hold you in my arms , if that ’
s okay?
”

“
U
mmm…
you never asked for my permission before, ”
Claudia smirked .

“
That ’
s because y ou never asked me to take you anywhere before.
”

“
Fine…o kay.
”
Timidly, she took several steps to ward him . There was no room for her to breath e when his body pressed against hers and he enclosed her with his delicate yet strong wings. Rapidly, ecstasy spread through her, and she felt like she was in paradise , a place she wanted to be for eternity ; in the arms of an an gel, an angel she knew she cared for but couldn ’
t remember , and perhaps a love that was forbidden, just like the apple.

Chapter
21

The Twelve were seated at the Crossroads
’s meeting room.
They mingl ed in small conversations while waiting for Jeremiah . A s usual , h e was late.

Finally,
Jeremiah entered with an air of no concern and no expression of apologies for his late entrance.
“
So…
why the urgent meeting?
”

Katherine
st oo d up, feeling overwhelmed by the news she was about to share . It was n ’
t her fault that things had got ten out of hand with the dark shadow s , but she felt like it was. Clearing her throat and unable to look them in the ir eyes, she inhaled a deep breath.
“
I ’
ve delayed this meeting , hoping I wouldn ’
t have to bring us together, but the dark shadows have escaped and have taken countless human souls. They are multiplying , and I am unable to tell you how many there are.
”

Astounded, everyone
sp oke out at once. Unable to hear, Katherine raise d her voice.
“
Please…we need to calm down.
”

When the room
was quiet again , Elizab eth anxiously ask ed , “
What do you pro pose we do?
”

“
The C
urators are aware of it and they are informing the rest of the Earth angels.
”

“
What is Callum doing about this?
”
Emmanuel asked.

“
Callum actually came to me offering his hand to hide Claudia. He thinks that she would be safe r in their hands. And of course I told him t hat was impossible .
”

Agnes
raise d her brows.
“
Hmmm…what wo uld he want with Claudia? He mu st have some kind of motive to care that much for her and her safety.
”

“
I told him we needed her assistan ce . Hiding her would be wasting her powers.
”

“
Isn ’
t she the reason these dark shadows were summoned? But by whom is the question?
”
Jeremiah asked.

Katherine frowned.
“
We don ’
t know that for sure. We must keep in mind that Earth angels did once try to take over Crossroads and bring us down , and that alone is enough reason to believe it wasn ’
t just for Claudia. Maybe they think it is time again .”

“
If Claudia is on their side, that is possible, ”
Jonah added.