chapter 9
I don’t think it’s a good idea, Kay.”
Nikki noticed the nickname and Raven’s tone of voice as he said it. It raked against her spine.
“Raven, it might buy you more time. We’re leaving within the hour, and I can drop the bottle out in the desert. The seeker likely won’t pick up the scent until the blood touches the ground.” Kaylyn placed her slender hand on Raven’s arm. “Nikki needs time.”
That seemed to be enough motivation for him. His eyes caught Nikki’s as she began to say no.
“Nikki, I’m not going to argue about it.” Raven’s voice rose a little.
“I’m not giving her blood. No way. Too dangerous.”
Kaylyn and Raven shared a sort of conspiratorial look, then the blonde singer was back at the table.
Nikki started to move away, but Raven’s arms surrounded her. When Kaylyn swung around with a cheese knife in her hand, Nikki screamed and tried to wriggle free.
Cold first, then a burning sting as the blade sliced her arm. It didn’t hurt that bad, but emotion welled in her. Maybe because these two were putting their lives on the line while she tried to stop them—just like a bratty kid would stop her mom from pouring peroxide on a wound to clean out the infection. Tears stung her eyes and her nose tingled. Ugh. She hated that. She looked away, off to the left, as if courage was hiding in the corner and she only had to make eye contact to possess it. But no courage came, so she bit her bottom lip while Kaylyn held the bottle to the edge of the cut, where a fine line of blood flowed.
Kaylyn’s voice was annoyingly soothing. “I’m sorry we held you down, Nikki. But if you’re anything like the girls Raven usually goes for, it was the only way.”
Just when I figured I couldn’t possibly feel any worse …
Kaylyn pressed her shimmery lips into a straight line. “I appreciate that you’re worried about my safety. But believe me, I can handle myself, and I won’t take any stupid risks.”
Not trusting her voice, Nikki gave a quick nod and uttered a thank you.
“Okay, you guys need to go.”
Raven bent and kissed Kaylyn on the cheek. The whole exchange made Nikki’s world tilt. Kaylyn was trying to help, but again, Nikki’d been bullied into doing what she didn’t want to do. Was she ever again going to have control over her life?
Yes. One day she would. Deep in her soul a promise bloomed, and she knew with absolute certainty that one day she’d choose her own destiny. Awareness filled her. She didn’t deserve the people she’d been given, and yet here they were.
She didn’t deserve the unmerited favor that surrounded her on every turn. And yet, it sought her like flowers seek the sun.
The sensation overwhelmed her. Something deep within her was changing. Her gaze trailed to Raven first, then to Kaylyn. It gurgled in her stomach and rose to settle in her chest.
A bit confused by it, she stood statue still as waves seemed to flow both outward and inward at the same time, washing over her flesh and splashing through her system.
The green room looked a little brighter. Had someone turned up the light?
“What is it?” Raven’s voice reached her through the veil.
She whispered, “Faith.”
Kaylyn clapped her hands. “Raven, she’s tapping in.”
By the time they made it to the church in Philadelphia, Kaylyn had contacted her friend Pastor Layton. The forty-something man ushered them in and closed a massive door behind them. Nikki recognized his face, especially the dark hair and green eyes, from TV, although she hadn’t known his name. He was probably on some church show she’d flicked past a thousand times on Sunday mornings.
A gargantuan sanctuary swallowed them, lit only by some dim overhead lights, and she took it in as they walked. At the edge of the chair-filled room a door was propped open, spilling bright light into the space.
Nikki chewed on the inside of her cheek. Guess they didn’t have such a great turnout for the prayer meeting. But as they moved to the door, a low rumble of voices grew louder. Pastor Layton turned and addressed Nikki with a smile. “I’d like you to meet your intercessors.”
“My intercessors?”
Pastor Layton grinned. “Yes, they’ve been praying for you for months. But yesterday I felt an unction from the Throne to call them together. I also called Kaylyn. Can’t say why, just felt like I needed to talk to her. I mentioned we’d be having the prayer meeting.”
“Kaylyn knew we would come here?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Sometimes with the Throne, we’re on a need-to-know basis. You just pray and listen and do what you see yourself doing. Often, you don’t know the details. I had no way of knowing Raven would take you to her. But the prayer warriors here have been keeping you covered with prayer for some time.”
She frowned. Had they just entered some weird alternate reality? “How—How would they know me?”
“They didn’t know you in the flesh, but the Throne placed you on several of their hearts. It will be nice for them to have a face to put with the name.”
“My name?” she asked, which felt like the stupidest thing she’d ever uttered. But really, spiritual stalkers?
“Yes. Nikki Youngblood. They also sometimes refer to you as Freedom.”
Nikki’s gaze shot to Raven. “Did you put him up to this?”
Pastor Layton placed a hand on her shoulder. “Freedom is your Halfling name.”
It was also the nickname Raven had given her. She hated it, now more than ever before. Because of all the things she felt right now, free wasn’t one of them. She opened her mouth to speak, expecting words to form as she did, but none materialized.
“I’m sorry, Nikki. Perhaps I shouldn’t have revealed that to you.”
Raven tossed his hair from his face. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it. She’s so stubborn, she probably won’t believe you until she’s heard it about a dozen times.”
Pastor Layton threw his hands in the air. “In that case, no harm done.” He turned and led them into a room where about fifty men and women were praying. Warriors, Kaylyn had called them. Hearing the fervency of their prayers, Nikki agreed.
For the first time since the angel arrived and announced that a seeker had been sent for Nikki, Raven was able to rest. Nikki was safe here. Even if the seeker came, it couldn’t gain entrance to the church as long as the intercessors were praying. Raven leaned back on the dark leather couch in Pastor Layton’s office and was almost asleep before the next breath left his lungs. His eyes burned from too many hours awake and watching, refusing to wonder what would happen if he let his guard slip.
A gentle rapping at the door pulled his attention from the drowsy haze. “Come in,” he said, but the words were thick with sleep.
It was Nikki. She pushed the door open and slipped inside, then stood there for a moment, leaning her back against the door frame and giving him a smile that would fill his dreams. A blanket was hanging over her arm. “I need to apologize.”
Ahhh. That was nice. He closed his eyes, imprinting her image. “Then do it so I can get some sleep.”
“Raven, you’re not being very gracious. I’m trying to say I’m sorry.”
He tilted his head and peered at her through one open eye. “Trying. Not succeeding.”
She tossed the blanket at him hard. It landed in a heap on his gut and an unexpected oomph followed the thud. “Wow, you really need more practice at this apologizing thing.”
She crossed the room and he scooted just enough for her to sit on the edge of the couch. “I know you would never do anything to hurt me.”
Why hearing her say that caused the icy-hot sensation through his body, he didn’t know. He opened his eyes fully, because, seriously, with her so close, filling his nose with her scent, it wasn’t like he’d be able to sleep now. His hand reached to the soft skin on her face, fingertips memorizing every curve, every smooth line. He paused at the edge of her mouth. Soft lips, waiting to be touched. But he didn’t run his hand over their smoothness. Instead, he reached to either side and squeezed gently. His voice came out in sync with the motions of his hand, ventriloquist style. “I’m sorry, Raven. You are always right and I am always wrong.”
This elicited a true smile on the mouth he held, encouraging him to say more. “Raven, you’re awesome and amazing and the bravest guy I’ve ever met. And did I mention hot?”
Nikki giggled and grabbed his hand in hers. “Okay, that’s enough. Seriously, I’d hate to vomit on you after such an elaborate apology.”
Raven’s face slowly dropped the smile he’d worn as her fingers twined with his. And for a while the two of them stayed there, staring into each other’s eyes. They really didn’t need words. She had this kind of closeness with Mace too, of course, one they’d both built with her while facing the threat of death over and over, experiencing the effects together. But with Raven, it felt more like a mutual connection. He needed her as much as she needed him. Mace needed no one. By nature, Mace was the quintessential leader — the kind people followed, the kind that never wavered. Hadn’t she seen that so clearly at the train crash? The day she fell in love with him all over again. His very personality bred loyalty. Mace was whole. And Raven was damaged. Like a broken flower pot, still working to hold the flowers, trying to keep up, hoping to hold it together — at least until roots worked their way through the clay and caused it to crumble.
And weren’t people always drawn to help what’s broken? Nikki was. She’d proved it when they’d first connected in the art gallery, shown it through the painting she’d created. She needed Raven. He needed her.