Evans, Gabrielle - Firestorm [Fatefully Yours 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) (9 page)

Eyce came up off the sofa, flying over the back of it, and tackled Fiero to the ground. Fists flew, bones crunched, and loud growls emanated from the dueling pair as they rolled across the floor, kicking and punching as much of the other as they could reach.

“Stop it!” Echo hurried around the sofa and stood with his hands on his hips. “Stop right now!”

Neither man paid him any attention.

“You selfish asshole!” Fiero punctuated his insult with another blow to Eyce’s already battered nose. “Do you care about anyone but yourself?”

“You’re one to talk!” Eyce shouted back as he rolled them again until he was on top of Fiero. “Tell me one thing you’ve ever done that you didn’t expect payment for.” His huge fist plowed into Fiero’s mouth.

Echo couldn’t breathe. His stomach cramped painfully, and his heart felt like it was going to fall out of his butt. “Stop,” he whispered.

“Then maybe you should fucking leave!” Fiero jerked his head forward, catching Eyce in the chin and causing him to grunt in pain.

“Maybe you should leave. No one even wants you here anyway!” Eyce retaliated by driving his knee into Fiero’s gut.

Fear and panic ate at Echo’s insides at the mention of anyone leaving. They couldn’t leave him. They’d promised. “Please, stop.” His eyes filled with tears, and his throat burned with the effort to hold them back. Snapping his fingers again and again, he tried to pull up some of the waning power he’d syphoned from Fiero the day before. He hadn’t absorbed much, though, and no matter how he tried, he couldn’t call on it now.

“Fine!” Fiero jerked his head to the side to avoid another fist to the face. “If you hate me so much, maybe I should leave.”

“You stupid prick.” Eyce huffed and punched Fiero in the stomach. “I love you, dumbass. As much as I love Echo and all the others.”

Time seemed to stand still, and Echo held his breath, waiting for Fiero’s reaction. The demon stared up at Eyce for a long time, the effect ruined a little by his bruised and bleeding face. Then he slumped back to the floor with a groan and threw his arm over his eyes. “I love you, too, fucker,” he mumbled.

Not exactly sweet and charming, but at least they’d finally said the words. Echo wanted to pump his fist in the air and twirl around in a circle. Instead, he remained motionless, not saying a word, and continued to watch, eager to see how the scene would play out.

“Why are we fighting?” Eyce asked softly after a moment. Then he leaned down, pried Fiero’s arm from his face, and brushed their abused lips together gently. “I love you, Fiero. I always have.”

Fiero’s trembling fingers caressed down the side of Eyce’s cheek and pushed the hair back from his face. “Ditto,” he mumbled thickly. “Always loved you, Eyce.”

“Oh, my god!” Echo wailed as the dam opened, and tears began streaming down his face. He’d never witnessed a sweeter, more perfect moment.

Both men snapped around to look at him, concern covering both of their faces. Eyce scrambled off of Fiero and hurried over to kneel at Echo’s feet. Fiero followed quickly, kneeling just beside Eyce, and reached out to take Echo’s hand in both of his own.

“What’s wrong, baby? Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”

Eyce gasped and began running his hands over Echo as his eyes searched him frantically for signs of injury. “Did we hurt you? Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. Tell me where you’re hurt. I’ll go get ice, a bandage, something.”

“I’ll get Hex.” Fiero jumped to his feet and was halfway across the living room before Echo found his voice.

“Fiero, I’m fine.” He looked down at Eyce and smiled gently. “I’m not hurt. In fact, I’m very, very happy right now.” Fingering the swelling flesh around Eyce’s eye gently, he frowned. “You should still probably find Hex, though. You look like shit, love.”

“Sweet-talker.” Eyce grinned up at Echo and moved as though to stand. Before he could gain his feet, though, Vapre, Syx, and Onyx came running into the room, each looking mad enough to spit fire.

“You have some serious explaining to do,” Vapre spat.

Syx’s fingers wound in Eyce’s dark hair and jerked his head back on his shoulders. “Do you want to be with us or not?”

“It’s not right, what you did,” Onyx snarled.

“Get the fuck off him!” Fiero ran back over to the group, and just like that, the fight was on again.

Echo yelled and stumbled backward as a foot came flying toward his face, missing him by mere inches. What had gotten into everyone? They’d all been in the room the night before, and no one had tried to stop what had happened between Syn and Eyce. They hadn’t seemed concerned in the least.

Now, almost twenty-four hours later, they were ready to kill each other over it? It didn’t make a damn bit of sense. His lovers had lost their minds. It was the only explanation that fit.

Then Hex came thundering down the stairs, his hair flying out behind him, and his face mottled red with rage. He jumped right into the fray without a word, and Echo had seen enough. He spun around and headed toward the kitchen to find a frying pan. They’d stop this idiocy and listen to him, or he’d bash their fool heads in.

He’d taken no more than two steps when loud screams sounded from up the stairs, followed by an ear-piercing roar. Loud thuds, crashes, bangs, and more screams echoed around the house. Another vicious roar, though smaller, quieter, came from below, rising up from the basement.

Before Echo could figure out what to do, Myst came sprinting into the room, his eyes wide and his face pale. “What the fuck is going on?” He took one look at their lovers where they were rolling and fighting on the floor, then hurried across the room and snatched Echo up into his arms. “We’re getting out of there.”

“We can’t just leave them.” Echo kicked and flailed, beating against Myst’s shoulders. “Something’s wrong!” Then an idea struck him, and he froze in his struggles. “Freeze them.”

Myst stumbled to a stop and looked into Echo’s eyes. “I can’t, baby. I don’t have enough power to freeze all of them.” He jumped and snapped his head around toward the stairs when another loud roar came from the second floor. “I’m getting you out of here, and then I’ll figure out what to do.”

“No!” Echo flicked his lover in the forehead with his fingers. “Let me help. I’m stronger than you, Myst. Just let me help!”

Myst sighed and dipped his head curtly. “But if you get hurt, I’m kicking your ass.”

Echo rolled his eyes. “That makes no sense, but I promise I won’t get into trouble. Now, shut up and let me concentrate.” Cupping the warrior’s face in both hands, he closed his eyes and cleared his mind, letting Myst’s power flow into him. Then his eyes popped open, and he grinned. “Let’s do this.”

“I’ll handle Gage.” Myst kissed the tip of Echo’s nose and set him on his feet. “You go kick our men’s asses. Gods know they deserve it.”

Echo shook his head. “I’m going for Gage. I might look weak and helpless, but we both know my powers are stronger.”

Myst just grunted like the testosterone-driven male he was and shrugged. “Fine. What about the leeches in the basement?”

Echo patted Myst’s shoulder as he eased past him and headed toward the stairs. “You’ll figure it out,” he called over his shoulder, sidestepping the grappling men on the floor. “I have faith in you, honey.” Then he hurried up the stairs before Myst could argue, snickering under his breath the entire way.

Following the sounds of the continued crashes and roars, Echo took a deep breath to calm his nerves. “Guys, I’m coming in,” he yelled. Then he pushed his hands out in front of him and watched in amazement as the heavy wooden door burst open, swinging back to bang against the wall.

Echo looked down at his hands, turning them one way, then the other. “Wicked cool.”

Snapping out of his awe, he turned his attention to the room beyond, and gasped. The place was completely destroyed—furniture ripped and torn, sheets shredded, holes in the wall. Mac huddled on the floor in the corner, sobbing into his hands. Sony had shifted into his gigantic form and stood in front of Mac protectively, shielding him from the beast that was tearing the room apart.

Gage lifted the nightstand and held his over his head as he threw his head back and howled. Then his head dropped, and his eyes landed on Echo a heartbeat before he sent the little table sailing across the room.

Echo tensed and threw his hands up to protect himself as best he could, but nothing happened. The nightstand hung suspended in midair, just feet from his face. Sighing in relief, he snapped his wrist, sending the piece of furniture to the floor. Then he waved his hand at Gage, freezing the werewolf in place.

“What happened?” he asked Sony as calmly as he could muster considering his heart was trying to crawl up his throat.

“I don’t know. We were sleeping, then all of the sudden Gage flew out of bed and started destroying the room.”

“Are you hurt?”

Sony shook his head as he moved out of the corner and held a hand out to help Mac to his feet. “No. He didn’t come anywhere near us. It was just scary as hell.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his body shrinking back to its normal size. “Thank you,” he panted when he could speak again.

“Well, my men are downstairs beating the shit out of each other. Something is going on, and I damn sure intend to find out what it is.”

“I’ll help.” Sony began digging through the scraps of fabric on the floor, searching for something to wear. Once he’d found clothes for him and Mac, they dressed quickly and crossed the room to stand beside Echo.

Mac still hadn’t said a word.

“Can we just leave him? Will he still be frozen if you leave the room?”

Echo looked at Sony and shrugged. “I have no idea. If Myst had been the one to do it, I’d say no. Otherwise, they’d have frozen him for the night to begin with.” Smirking, he winked at his friend. “I’m way cooler than that, though.”

“And I bet it drives your demons crazy.” Sony covered his mouth to muffle his chuckle.

Echo laughed with him, not bothering to hide his amusement in the situation. The smallest man in the house, and he could kick all their asses at the same time if he wanted. “Oh yeah. They hate it.” The thought made him laugh even harder.

Backing out of the room, he kept his eyes on Gage, making sure the man stayed in place as Echo moved. Keeping one part of his mind firmly locked on demobilizing the beast, he set the other part of his brain to work, trying to figure out what was going on with everyone.

“Maybe I should stay with him,” Sony said quietly when they reached the top of the stairs.

Echo looked over to see Mac clinging to Sony, his arms locked around the man’s waist in a death grip. “No.” He motioned toward Mac. “He needs you more right now.”

They descended to the first floor, and Echo burst out laughing at the scene that met his gaze. Myst stood to the side of the scuffle, his hands on his hips as he glared down at their lovers. The other demons were locked in various positions of struggle and looked so utterly absurd, Echo couldn’t contain his mirth.

“Well, I’m glad you find it funny.” Myst growled and sent him a scathing look, which only served to make Echo laugh harder as he gasped for air. “I got them frozen, but it took a lot more to get their mouths to stop moving. I’m exhausted.”

Echo sauntered over to his pouty lover and placed his palms flat against Myst’s chest. “I’m sorry. Do you need me to kiss it and make it better?”

Myst’s bottom lips slid out further, and he nodded, giving Echo the biggest puppy dog eyes.

Smiling at his mate, Echo stretched up on his toes and offered his mouth for a kiss. Myst snorted, but bent and pressed their lips together in a short, but sweet, kiss. “So, what do we do now?”

“We find out what’s going on.” Echo crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at his frozen mates. “And we get everyone to pull their heads out of their asses and stop acting like a bunch of hyenas.” He glanced around the living room and frowned. “Where’s Syn and Jinx?”