Gifted Curse (Curse Trilogy) (23 page)

I’m officially psychotic all over again because of him.

The gates to the Metropolis
are incredibly intimidating, and the wild scene behind them holds a whole different world.  It’s not the rigid, militant air I’ve grown accustomed to.  It’s how the carefree members of the world outside the United live.  The streets are using far more energy to light them than necessary, and it reminds me of old world books I’ve read when lights, dazzle, glamour, and fun was the way of life.

There’s a gallant hotel that looks straight out of one of the old magazines I found once.  It stretches tall into the sky, and the balconies overlook the chaotic laughter and dancing all around as each person guzzles their intoxicating drinks.

“They do a lot of drinking here,” I speculate.

“Very much so.  Besides blood, alcohol is the only thing a full blood can appreciate.  It’s their way of letting loose, and they do a hell of a lot of it in places like this.  Until we have made our presence known, stay close.”

“I will.  Don’t worry,” I grumble, and then I see Brazen has already gotten here when we pull into the hotel parking lot that is actually paved.  “How the fuck did he beat us, old man,” I grouse.

“I drove like Hale for part of the way,” he chuckles out.

“You drove like Hale for three minutes, and then you about shit yourself,” I tease, and he gives me a smirk complemented by a shrug.

As soon as he puts it in park, Brazen is opening my door for me.

“You could have ridden with me,” he sizzles out, and then his arms wrap around me, pulling in the scowling eyes of the full bloods around us taking notice.

“I think you’re drawing unwanted attention,” I grumble.  “Your kind frowns upon species mingling… remember?”

“I don’t give a damn what they think,” he sighs, and then his lips threaten to envelope mine before I pull away.

“You should.  We’re in a city full of nothing but your kind, and I’m on the most hated list.  I just want to find my room,” I mumble, and then he takes my hand in his before I walk away completely.

His touch has been so comforting for so long.  He has always made all of my pain, anxiety, and fear subside with something as meaningless as holding my hand.

“I don’t fucking care about anyone here, and I dare them to say something.  Stay with me tonight, please.  I promise I won’t do anything.  I just want to see you, and I’d feel better if you were with me in this place.  It can get vicious even for my own kind,” he murmurs, and I feel his lips on my forehead.

I look up into the genuine pale eyes staring into mine, and I huff out my own frustration.  I feel so terrible for not telling him, and I feel even worse for still wondering if I’m making the right decision by choosing Hale.

I’ve always felt drawn to Hale in so many ways, but Brazen loves me so differently.  I’ve never had to worry about lies, deceit, or betrayal.  The first time he hurt me was directly after I had fucked up, and I used it as an excuse to break free.  If he ever said anything like that again, I could seriously or fatally hurt him, and I couldn’t bear that burden.
“I think it would be best if I slept in my own room with my own space.  You keep forgetting we’re broken up,” I grumble, and then I dart by him to find where to obtain my room number.

I expect to see Hale in the lobby, but he’s nowhere to be found.  I suppose I pissed him off with my earlier rejection.  Clay follows me in, and then he interrupts Brazen’s second attempt to corner me when he brings me a key.

“If you have any problems, dial someone right away.  I’m not crazy about you staying alone.  You’re welcome to bunk with me,” Clay suggests.

“I don’t want to stay with anyone.  I need a minute to unwind, and I want to breathe in fresh air before the stale breaths suffocate me,” I exasperate.  “Besides, if anyone tries anything, I’ll fucking rip them to shreds,” I menace.

“I don’t doubt that.  Just try not to rip the rest of the place to shreds with them.  Have you got emergency olophine?”

I pucker my lips in distaste for the need I could have later, and I nod.

“More than enough - at least ten vials or more.”

“Good,” Clay says with a smirk, and then he follows me onto the elevator along with Brazen.

“You’re still struggling with whatever this thing inside you is?” he asks softly.

“This
thing
isn’t inside me,” I growl.  “It’s me, just a part of me I don’t care to talk about… especially not right now,” I scold, and my eyes point to the elevator full of snarling full bloods in disgusted disbelief for my presence.

Clay turns to face the encroaching crowd, and he displays his commander’s symbol for the United.

“If anyone fucks with us, you’ll deal with the wrath of the United.  Your city will also lose our protection,” he asserts, and everyone instantly takes a step back.

Their vicious eyes simmer down, and they begin acting as if we’re no longer on the elevator with them.

“See,” Clay says with a shrug.  “Nothing to fear.”

“As long as you have a chance to announce your rank,” I grumble, and Brazen takes my hand in his again.

“If you just stay with me, you won’t have to worry at all.  I’m one of them, and they know who the fuck I am.  No one will even come close to you as long as you’re with me,” he assures.

“I thought you just had a couple of friends here,” I say suspiciously.

“I do, the rest are too fucking scared to speak to me,” he boasts with a smug twinkle in his eyes.

“I wasn’t aware you were such a bad boy,” I chuckle out, and he gives me a sexy-as-fuck smile and wink.

“I’d be glad to show you how fucking bad I am.  You never knew everything, baby,” he smolders out, and my knees tremble slightly as he pins me against the wall between the scattering full bloods with gaping mouths.

“See,” he seduces.  “Not a fucking word,” he boasts again, and his lips brush against mine.

When the fuck did he get so damn ridiculously hot?  He’s always been sexy, but not this kind of sexy. 
Fuck my life.

“Stop, Brazen.  Please don’t do this,” I plead, and I can see Clay squirming uncomfortably with uncertainty of what to do plaguing him.

Suddenly his lips are firmly gripping mine, and his hands begin burning against my sides as he pushes me harder against the wall.  I struggle uselessly against his powerful hold, and then I finally find the leverage I need to push him off.

“You don’t fucking get to say my kind is beneath you and then tell me you love me,” I scold.  “You don’t get to accuse me of just fucking someone and not knowing love, and then try to fuck me.  Just leave me alone.  I want to be alone,” I scold, and then I rush off the elevator the moment it dings.

Hale is in the hallway, and I want to just launch myself in his arms.  I know it would obliterate Brazen though.  I honestly feel so fucking crazy right now.  They’re playing a game of tug of war, and I’m the damn rope.

“What the fuck?  Why are you crying?” he gasps, and he grabs me before I can pass.

“Araya, I’m sorry,” Brazen calls, and his eyes narrow when they meet Hale’s.

“What the hell did you do to her?” Hale barks.

“He didn’t do anything besides try to make amends,” Clay sighs.  “Let’s not fight again, or I’ll separate Araya from the both of you.  I’ll let her lead her own fucking brigade if that’s what it takes.”

Hale tightens his grip on me, but I softly start to pull away before Brazen catches on.

“I’m down the hall from you if you need me,” Hale almost whispers, and he’s fighting the urge to pull me into the room with him.

“I’m on the other end,” Brazen snarks to let Hale know he overheard his gesture.

“Don’t you have friends here to be contacting?” Hale retorts.

“I do, but I want to make sure Araya doesn’t have any problems,” he growls.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.  I’ll go tuck Araya into bed if it will shut the two of you up,” Clay admonishes, and he rips me away from the pissing match in play.

“You should have left me behind,” I huff.

“I couldn’t.  I need Hale, and he refused to come without you.  It’s been a difficult three years for him, and now that he has you, he’s not going to risk ever losing you again.  I owe it to him to give him what he wants,” Clay gripes, and I whip around to look at him as the door to my room closes.

“What the fuck?  So you only brought me to have Hale here?” I screech.

His face drops when he hears his accidental slip, and then he takes a deep breath before starting his climb out of the ridiculous hole he just dug.

“I brought you as a favor to him, but also because I’ve been far too overprotective of you.  You were always good in the field - great even.  You would have had your own platoon by now if it hadn’t been for the kidnapping.  Knowing what could have happened to you scares the hell out of me.  Not just because you could have leveled everything around you for who knows how long, but because we almost lost you.  You’re my oldest friend, and you’re the voice of reason in every insane conversation.  You helped me make commander, and you’re always on my side.”

I almost cry, and I hug him to hide the wavering tears.

“I wish they’d stop fucking fighting,” I mumble against his chest, and he starts laughing instantly.

“I really will separate you from them if I have to,” he jokes.

I pull back with a small smile and then I take a breath as I look around the huge room.  The couch is a crisp red, and the balcony doors have been opened to allow in the heat of the city.

“I need to get going.  I’ve got a pile of paperwork to sift through, and then I’ve got more phone calls to make than I care to think about.  This shit with Salan is pretty fucked up,” he sighs out.

“I’m going to shower, change, and then I’m going to bed to try and sleep off this massive headache.”

“I’ll see you in the morning,” he mumbles, and then he heads out to leave me alone.

This is the first time in a while that I’ve actually had my own space, and I know how desperately I need that space.  I pour a glass of tequila, and then I head to the balcony to sit and sip as I stare out at the city full of a species that hates me.

I’m part of them, but they only view me as an abomination.  A full blood father, and a human mother bore me into this world, neither wanting me.  It’s a sad story shared by almost all of us, so I shouldn’t feel as though I have the right to be any more upset than any other hybrid.

A knock at the door almost pisses me off, and I creep quietly to see through the peephole.  I almost smile when I see Hale propped up on the wall across from the door, and I creak it open to usher him in.

“I’m sorry,” he smolders while rushing in to kiss me.

The door shuts behind him, and I feel him lifting my legs to be around his waist.

“I’m sorry too,” I murmur against his incredible lips.

Hale.  Definitely Hale.

“I love you, baby,” he coos, and then I feel the bed I haven’t even seen yet.

“I love you, but you promised not to fight,” I lightly scold, and he draws back to lie on his side and face me.

“I only promised not to tell him about us or provoke him.  I did neither.  I refuse to let him attack me without defending myself though, and you shouldn’t ask that much of me.  I did everything I fucking could to save you, and he-”

My lips press against his to silence his angry rant.  He pulls me into his strong, immaculate body, and I barely draw back to speak.

“I know you did, and I’ve told him that before.  I saw you struggling to get to me, and you damn near lost control of your sound mind.  I couldn’t tell him the whole story without divulging our secrets.  He doesn’t know you went savage and ripped an army of men to shreds,” I soothe, and I caress his soft cheek as I try to calm him.

“The olophine burned through too quick.  If I hadn’t already been shot fifty fucking times, Clay wouldn’t have been able to get the meds in before I went invincible.  I swear I fucking tried,” he almost whimpers, and my lips console his once more.

“Hale, I know.  You don’t have to defend yourself to me.  The only thing I ever got mad about was the aftermath,” I murmur softly, and I almost see tears spreading in his eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” he breathes, and his lips now show a need for mine as they attack with a fervent desire.

I feel my pants sliding off, and then I flip over to straddle him while pulling my shirt over my head.  His lips find mine before it’s even completely gone, and then he jerks me to be on top of him as the bed creaks beneath us.

A knock at the door halts our wild tumble, and I quickly grab a robe to tie around me.

“Who the fuck is that?” he gripes in a whisper.

“I don’t know.  Stay in here,” I huff out, and he pulls me down to kiss him once more.

I smile as I remove myself from his intoxicating clutches, and then I shut the door behind me on my way to investigate the intruder.  In my erotic hazy frame of mind, I jerk open the door without looking to see who it is.  I’m floored when I see Brazen, and he doesn’t speak before his lips connect with mine.

Holy fucking shit.