Sin of Fury

Chapter 10





Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Auro dropped his case and almost fell against one of the stalls. His heart raced in his ears as he met the confused eyes of the accountant.

“Must go,” he said, almost choking.

Lyne, his mind shouted. It was Lyne.

Everything was a blur from them on. He ran to his car, telling his driver to get to the house as soon as he could. Horns honked, people cursed, red lights were ran, and all he could think of was the pain in his chest that was slowly seeping throughout his body.

His eyes watered as he shot from the car. It had taken only minutes to get to the house, but already the torment he was feeling was so dangerously high that it felt like knives were shredding his heart.

The door opened sluggishly. It felt like his feet wouldn’t pick up fast enough as he ran through the house, calling for Lyne. Why couldn’t he feel him? It had always come so naturally to him, so why couldn’t he now?

Auro knew what was wrong a second before he entered the hall. The door was open. A fire poker lay on the floor.

A pile of his brother’s clothing lay in a heap, nothing but a speck of dust to account for the body he had had.

Auro stared, steps slowing as he came before the remains.

Auro could have sworn later on that he had never felt such fury in his life. Rage and grief overcame him, filled his heart and soul as he fell to his knees. The howl of pain that came shortly after rang through the room. He would never forget the feeling that he felt this day.

Tears dripped down his cheeks as his hands fisted in the clothing that his brother had worn. Life, without him, was empty. How was Auro to live? His mind rejected the thought that Lyne was gone, that he had been killed...

His watery gaze snapped to the fire poker. Who had done it? He stood unsteadily to his feet. “Who did this?” Auro cried, the sound of utter rage bringing forth the stomp of feet. Power swirled around him, spurred on by fury. A group of weary men stood before him, one pushing another in front of them.

“Who has killed my brother?” No one answered, a couple of coughs and then flinches when he screamed, “Tell me now!”

An almost demonic wrath overcame him at the lack of response. He surged forward, maniacal hand latching onto the neck of a man with a scar running along his cheek. “Tell me,” he roared.

“We didn’t see it,” he growled, pulling against Auro’s hold on his neck. He tightened his hand, watching with mild pleasure as the veins started to pop on the man’s face. He saw movement from behind him and turned deadly eyes on the man. He stopped moving.

“How could you not have seen?” he spat, throwing the man against the wall. Rationality left him then. He stormed forward, his cloak billowing out behind him as he grasped onto the man closest to him.

The bloodshed that spilled around him was not enough to stop the torment of his brother’s death.

No one in that house left alive.





It was several hours later before Jamie could even breathe normally. They had gone to a store, but he hadn’t been allowed in. With nothing but a towel around his hips, she was sure he made a site. Jamie had him wait outside while she went into the outlet.

She had been thankfully numb when handing the cashier a fifty to pay for the dark jeans, black shirt, a pair of Reeboks and socks, and an overcoat that would at least keep him partially warm. Now, as she sat on the bed in a hotel, feeling like a dead weight, she recalled everything that had happened.

The hundred that she had withdrawn from the ATM earlier had come in handy on their way back to the hotel. A bus ride, meal and outfit for Talon, and she was almost broke. At least he had had enough sense, despite his obvious astonishment at being free, to lead her to a bank.

He had stood behind her like a dark enforcer, arms over his chest and legs braced apart as he watched her talk to the banker. It had been a short and uncomplicated exchange. She took out five hundred, enough for a ride back and a little extra in case anything else happened on their way.

Jamie couldn’t understand Talon, though. Much of what had happened was a blur, but she could recall his expression the second they had set foot out of the house. He had shivered, looked around... and turned completely stony. She hadn’t been strong enough to ask him anything besides where they should go.

He had roughly said, “To where you were before. I would rather not stay here any longer.” Jamie had blindly led them away.

The plane was most likely gone by now, and the more she thought about it, the more she realized how...unsociable Talon was. He stayed out of site as much as he could. She hadn’t bothered to get any information about his past from him, had already decided in her mind that he didn’t know much of the modern world — or at least didn’t remember it.

He had been through a nightmare with her. She could look at him and remember, clear as day, what it had been like to kill Lyne. It had been so simple, almost serene to her. If he was so easily killed, why hadn’t he been dead before? Talon would not have gone through such torture if it hadn’t been for an opposing force — either Auro or the collar, she didn’t know.

Now, as she turned her head to look at him, she forced the tears to stay inside and not pour down her cheeks as they desperately wanted to. His scars and wounds were covered, but not yet healed. He might get better fast — hell, she had seen it happen before her own eyes — but after what he had endured... he would also have to heal mentally.

“Auro will come after us,” he said from his place in the corner. He had dragged a chair near the window, the curtains pulled aside with window open.

She looked at him, taking in his appearance. He had looked so haggard, so thin and weak in the bright snow, so stark against the whiteness of the cold flakes that must have chilled him. Jamie herself hadn’t even had shoes to wear on her way to the store, and she had felt almost frozen to the bones by the time she entered the building...and he had had to wait out there while she guessed at his clothes size.

And she might have guessed a little too small, she thought, turning on her side. She had lain herself on the bed, splayed out. Room service was on the way — it had been too hard to watch Talon preciously bring fries to his lips. It had been a revelation to her, and now she wanted to spoil the daylights out of him. First, she would start with food.

Jamie jerked when she realized what he’d said. “That...won’t be good,” she said uneasily, sitting up slowly.

Talon turned his head from the window, looking at her. “No shit, Sherlock. If he found us, you do realize that I wouldn’t be able to do anything. He’s too furious.”

She swallowed, pushing her hair out of her face. “Do you know for sure? Can’t he have died with Lyne? I mean...”

“No, I get what you’re trying to say. But I don’t think they were that strongly connected. I know...” He rubbed his head, then dropped his hand. “I know something, I just can’t...remember.”

Jamie stared at him, thinking. “What did you do to get... put there?” she asked hesitantly.

For a second, she thought he wasn’t going to answer her. After all the crap that she had done for them, that he had done for her, one would think he might at least trust a little...

“I don’t remember.” His blunt statement drew her back.

“How can you not remember? Do you know what they could...do?” Jamie remembered feeling dizzy and like she was floating on cloud nine at one point, so they must have some sort of mind power. She shuddered, thinking of how pathetic she was to even believe something like that.

Jamie sat up more on the bed, watching him. He had turned his face back to the window, and the light caressed him almost lovingly. Her stomach turned as she thought of facing Chris. After meeting Talon and missing her flight...there was no way she was getting out now unless he decided to go with her.

He was so dark, so...unreadable. She loved it, was attracted by it. How could she have ever compared him to Chris? she thought, her eyes moving slowly over his form. He was so darkly handsome, almost like a rogue, something that would take her on the ride of her life. Of course, he had made no move to stay with her besides that he had followed her.

“You said you don’t remember anything, at all...” Jamie started slowly, a plan forming in her mind. “Maybe... I could help you. I have enough money to take you all over the world!” Her heart raced at the thought of traveling with him, learning with him.

It didn’t occur to her how foolish the thought was until he shook his head and said, “As soon as I get enough strength, I’m leaving. Alone.” Jamie didn’t know that he only planned on leaving her so that Auro wouldn’t come after her.

Talon leaned into the chair, staring out at the world beyond the window. Cars honked, the smell of gasoline and coldness tingling his nose. It was nothing new, he thought, yet it felt like it. Ever since his foot had touched the cold ground outside of Auro’s house, it had dawned on him that he might finally be free. Except for the threat of Auro, Talon was free — and so was Jamie.

He had his reserves for the surprisingly strong woman. She had done everything she could to get them out, even killed a man and — “What did you do with Lyne?” he asked, trying to hide the growl in his voice.

Jamie’s pale blue eyes blinked. “What do you mean?”

His arms crossed over his chest, a hot breath steaming out of his mouth. If they had done anything — the thought of the two together was sickening... “Oh! Auro walked in right when his hand...his hand was like... He walked in before Lyne could do anything serious,” she finished, eyes averted.

He raised a brow at her. “Didn’t like it?” he asked, keeping the satisfied tone out of his voice. It wouldn’t do to let her know that he already felt some sort of claim on her. Jamie already wanted him to stay with her — the offer to help him learn about himself attested enough to that fact.

Her shoulders shrugged wanly, a haunted look entering her eyes. “No,” she said quietly before scooting to the edge of the bed and standing. A knock at the door had her jumping, and she turned to look at him. “I’ll —”

“Sit down,” he growled, rising from the chair. “I’ll get the door.” In case it’s Auro.

Jamie shrugged, going to the bathroom.

He could feel his canines lengthening as possessiveness flashed through him. The door knob was cold under his hand as he twisted it open, nails sharpening. The change within him went unnoticed until the man wheeling a cart looked at him and gasped. The aroma of food floated into the room.

Talon stared at him, moving from the door slowly. Jamie was in the bathroom, and it would take barely a second to kill —

“Ms. Saxton ordered chicken, crackers, a pitcher of root beer and tea, and —”

His shoulders relaxed their guarded stance and he gestured for the man to put the cart in the corner of the room, realizing that the small man wasn’t a threat. Talon could sense no weaponry or malice coming from the man.

He heard the water in the bathroom turn on and shoved the man out. “Thanks.”

“Jamie?” he asked, calling through the bathroom door. The rushing water turned off quickly and the door was opened within a second. He looked down at her, taking in her messy hair and clouded eyes. “Foods here,” he said softly before turning on his heel.

“Oh... Talon, I got that for you,” she said, coming up behind him. Bed springs creaked as she sat down on the bed, and he turned around to see her sitting with her legs crossed, a smile on her face.

He frowned, ignoring his growling stomach. The chicken was calling for him, he wasn’t going to lie. “You need to eat,” he said, grabbed the crackers off of the steal cart. He handed them to her, ignoring how much he liked the act of giving her food.

Talon growled when her head shook. “No. See, I’m not hungry.” A teasing light entered her eyes. “But you, on the other hand, are starving. Listen to the talking tummy,” she said, laughing.

He stared at her. Not once, in all of their short time together, had he heard her laugh. It was a sound of pure joy, and lit her face. It made her seem like more of an angel than anything else could have. Talon felt his knees go weak and turned from her, sneaking a cracker. The woman could do bad, horrible things to him.

“I saw that,” she chirped from behind him. He felt her stand and her hand brushed against his as she came around to the cart. She pulled back the lid that covered the chicken, but it wasn’t the food that he was staring at — no, it was the beautiful woman that stood before him.

Something rose in his chest, then. Sadness, maybe. Or acceptance. Jamie had killed someone because of him — how was it not bothering her? The shadows were clear in her pale eyes, but it wasn’t because of Lyne, or at least not fully. She was careful to keep her distance from him, and she hadn’t liked talking about Lyne.

Talon didn’t know what to think, so he pushed the thoughts away for later and focused on her. Might as well enjoy the time with her that he had; he planned on leaving early in the morning.

“You saw nothing,” he said gruffly, eyes flickering to the steaming chicken leg that was just screaming at him to be eaten. He crossed his arms over his chest, forcing his ravenous stomach to stay quiet.

“C’mon,” she coaxed, grabbing the pitcher and waving it in his face. Fizzy bubbles sprang to the top as the liquid moved and splashed enthrallingly. He grabbed the thing from her and set it down, then grabbed her hand and held it still. The need that overcame him at the small touch surprised him, but he didn’t fight it. It was nearing night time, the sun dropping.

The day had been long and they were both tired.

“What if I’m not hungry for food?” he asked, stepping closer to her. He watched as awareness flared in her eyes, the pale blue orbs latching onto his. Her hair fell behind her shoulder as her head tilted back. Their eyes met and held.

Everything seemed to slow. Her dark hair was illuminated by the light that came from the window, the glowing light that surrounded her making her seem almost ethereal. He remembered what she had looked like with her shirt off, pale breasts arching under his mouth. A ragged groan tore from his chest before he leaned down and captured her lips with his.

The danger surrounding them was nonexistent, the reasons of why they shouldn’t do this ignored. Her lips were warm and willing beneath his. Delicate, greedy arms twined around his neck, causing him to growl. He picked her up and her legs wrapped around his waist tightly. Talon pushed her down on the bed, covering her completely. It was just as it had been at Auro’s house, but this time he had no intentions on stopping. Lust swirled within him as her body began to undulate against his, her hips cradling his. A shudder of pleasure coursed through him as her small hands began to caress his back.

He pushed his tongue into her mouth, tangling it with hers. She made a soft sound and began kissing him as if she had been waiting for it her whole life. By the way it felt so right, he could only guess that she had been waiting for him.

Talon’s hands began working on her jacket, stripping it from her shoulders. Her shirt was off just as quickly, and she was left in her bra, sweats, and panties — they were off in less than a second. He growled, pulling back from their kiss to stare down at her. Her skin was so pale it was glowing. Her breasts were high and full, peaked with a pink nipple that he wanted in his mouth. The swell of her breasts were graceful, just waiting to be bit and nipped at. He wrapped his hands around her waist, drawing her flush against him. Her skin was soft, and his eyes closed as he relished the feel of her. Jamie’s back arched gentle against his, a soft plead for him to continue. He looked down into her face, looking at the spread of her hair as it flowed over the pillow and under her shoulders. Her eyes glowed with...need, desperate and hot. All for him.

He gave a soft growl before ducking his head and nuzzling her breast. Her hands threaded in his hair, pulling him tighter against her. Jamie sighed softly, back arching to guide him to her breast. He chuckled before running his tongue along the side of her breast, just barely grazing her nipple.

A high, keening moan came from her. He felt his body harden as he came back and took her into his mouth, large hands working at her sweats. As he pushed them down slowly, letting his calloused hands chafe against her soft skin, she shuddered and tightened her hands in his hair.

He wanted her. So badly. It was a raging need inside of him, and he wanted to tear her clothes off and have her right then. But she deserved to be cherished. As his lips moved against her nipple, he knew that he could get the greatest amount of pleasure just from kissing her, touching her, having her say his name over and over again — just as she was now. He smiled against her breast before bathing her with his tongue and taking the hem of her panties, pulling down.

Her hips lifted to help him. Moans, so desperate and sweet, came from her throat. Just listening to her had him almost coming. Talon groaned as her naked thighs pushed against his hips, urging his shirt up. He sat back, tagging his shirt over his head and throwing it on the ground.

Fire curled in her gut as she stared at him. He was so dangerous, so dark — so completely hers. Jamie whimpered, reaching for him. Her nails brushed lightly along his chest, the small touch sending tingles up her arms. She swore, nothing had ever been as good as touching him. Excitement coursed through her as he came back down to her, but she pushed at his chest and got on her knees.

The pants needed to get off. Jamie worked his zipper, pushing them down. He wore no boxers, but she had known that. She met his eyes, watching as they darkened, became even more heated than before. Possessiveness entered them. Jamie revealed in the sensation of his eyes on her, of his hands reaching for her, both naked. His fingers pleasured her, feathered over her most delicate and womanly places. When she finally found release, he moved up her body once again and paused.

Something changed, then. Something monumental and dangerous, but...it felt completely right. His large hand caressed her cheek, and his eyes bore into hers. They were so dark, like coals on fire. Jamie felt her eyes water as he spread her legs, pushing a knee between her thighs.

Shudders wracked her body as he took a deep breath, slowly bringing his lips to hers. The moment they kissed, he pushed into her. Fire consumed her, like waves of heat and love and rightness. Everything was perfect —

“Talon.”

Later, Jamie wouldn’t know how to be able to describe the emotions that she felt. He was so soft and gentle, like she was the only one for him, like this was the last time they were going to have each other this way. There was no danger, no fear, no pain. It was everything she could have ever hoped for, and more. She could feel him inside of her, pleasuring her. Tears fell down her cheeks when she finally cried out his name, both of them hitting their climax at the same time, ecstasy making her blind to anything but him.

She felt his ragged breaths at her ear, mirroring her own. Her body went limp, lax as he turned her to her side and came behind her, arms wrapping around her from behind. She could feel him at her hip, hard and ready for more. His hand, so large and gentle, came around to wipe her cheeks. Jamie blinked slowly, wrapping her hand around his wrist so she could keep it to her face.

Jamie fell asleep cradled in his arms.





Talon didn’t sleep — he didn’t think he could have, even if he tried. Her body was so warm against his, welcoming his touch. He started to smile, couldn’t have stopped if he’d wanted to. Nothing could ever amount to this, he thought as her even breath fell on his hand.

Not even the pain he would feel when he left her.

The thought dropped his smile. Slowly and carefully, he turned her onto her back. Her skin was raised by the cold, and her hand reached for him automatically as he pulled away slightly. A frown covered her innocent face and he returned reluctantly. He knew that he should leave, that he should start forgetting about her as soon as possible.

But then he thought of having to go through a day without her, her smile and her caring eyes, and knew that it was going to be close to impossible. Nothing would be the same — hell, without her, he wouldn’t be anything. He would end up killing himself in a fight with Auro to avenge all the pain that he had endured because of them, and what would she do?

Mourn him? Weep for him? Sob with those too-beautiful-to-cry eyes of hers? The thought left him numb. He wouldn’t be able to leave her — but he had too. He had to keep her safe, and if making her forget him and never seeing her again was the way to do it, then so be it. She had a life, she had family — she had something more than a f*cked-up man who wanted nothing from her but the affection she gave him. Hell, who was he kidding? Two days ago, he would have said, “f*ck love, and f*ck you.” But now, after knowing her, after her risking her life for him... He clenched his jaw. If they could only have had more time together, he would have been able to give himself to her. However damaged he was, he would have done anything to be worthy of being with her.

Jamie let out a whimper, and he jerked his eyes to her before loosening his hold. Talon had to physically and mentally force himself to hold her more gently while everything inside of him screamed to stay with her and take care of her, to keep her with him.

He told himself that it was a hero-worship that had him so attached to her, but he knew it was a lie. She was no more of a hero than he was a saint. But then, how did he know what he was if —

Flash.

— “Talon, take them to the cell” — “This is my favorite blade...He’ll become yours, too” — Flash of steel in a darkly lit room — Tortured screams coming from a man — A sick, pleased smile —

— “”My lord, the traitor is waiting” — Hall lit with dim candle light — Statues of men — “Please, spare me!” — Slice of steel against flesh —

“I love you” — A soft smile, adoring eyes — “Forever and always” — The wail of a baby — “Let us get our young” — Soft touches, secretive smiles — Happiness

“You have wronged us, Talon” — Crimson eyes flash — “Take him from his palace of aptitude” — Streak of red — Dark abyss —





Talon jerked, jarring Jamie. He breathed heavily, his tormented mind reeling.

He remembered

Everything.

He could remember their past, their other lives, their —





“I’ll be gone for just a bit,” he informed his friend, grabbing his jacket. The call he had to make wasn’t for others’ ears, and he had no intention to let anyone else hear what he was about to say.

“Alright, but hurry up. You’re missing the commercials!” The complaint was accented with a drink of beer, the TV glaring with the M&M’s in the back. The Super Bowl commercials weren’t something that anyone wanted to miss, and Talon was just as ready to get back to watching them as the next guy was.

He nodded and closed the door, reaching for his phone. Searching through his contacts, he found Luc’s number and hit the “send” button, listening to Linkin Park’s Numb.

“Y’ello.” The sound of his old friends twang and bluntness had a smile on Talon’s face.

“How’s it going?” he asked, leaning against the rail and crossing his arms over his chest, pressing the phone to his face. The air was brisk, Autumn following the heels of Spring. Flowers were already drying out, and the trees were turning a deep red and orange. It was an appealing site, but it wasn’t for Talon. The scenery was too peaceful — kill a man for liking a busy setting, or at least something other than serene.

“It’s going good. Levi and I are going over some papers that the advertisement company we signed with sent us. Did you get the email that Jorel sent you? I tell that boy every day...”

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” he said, thinking of the flooded email he had waited to be answered. The droll look that came into his eyes was unseen by Lucian, who gave a sigh into the phone.

“You comin into work early?”

“That woman from corporate is going to be in. I have a conference that I need to attend, so yeah I’ll be —”

Bam.

Talon wasn’t prepared for the hit that came at him. It was like a gust of wind, but so much more stronger. The malicious stench that came from it wasn’t much better. He slammed against the wall in a burst of pain. “F*ck,” he grunted, bracing his hands against the wall. “The hell...”

A black loafer came into his view. A surprisingly strong kick was dealt to his ribs as the men above him talked in hushed whispers. Talon reached for his phone slowly, an emotion that he rarely felt boiling in his gut — fury.

“You think you can escape us, after all of these years? Fool,” one of them spat. “You are sadly mistaken.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said growling, surging to his feet. He felt his body pulse with strength, adrenaline coursing through him.

“You have wronged us, Talon,” the voice hissed, the sound of gravel crunching as he bent down to press his face to Talon’s. He stared up at him, momentarily shocked into silence. Crimson eyes flashed in the dim light of the porch, streetlights barely conveying how much hate was within them.

Another voice from above said in a sneer, “Take him from his palace of aptitude.”

That was the last thing before he saw a flash of silver, red and the undeniable pain that stilled his every movement. There was no time to jump away, no time to attack — before he knew it, everything was black.

He gasped, letting out a breath of air. It felt like he had been drowning. Memories rushed through him, pain accenting the pounding of his heart. Lucian — where was he? Did he know what had happened? The annual Super Bowl from last year had been set for the tenth of...shit...He started cursing, barely stopping himself from shouting with his anger. That long... He had missed the conference, Lucian had been left with to deal with the company alone —

F*ck. Just f*ck.

Now he knew why Auro and Lyne had wanted him, why he shouldn’t have had sex with Jamie.

Why he should have just killed the twins in the very beginning. He groaned, feeling another onslaught of something. His head started to pound —

Darkness — pain — ragged groans. Surging, pulsing. Hitting, tearing — shredding. Back bowing, a woman wakening beside him. Glaring white light hitting him — redness. So red, crimson like seeping blood. More convulsing, shudders. Helpless female begging —

Agony — like sharp ice — burning crystals of pure torture — Ragged screams. Frozen, gaping mouth — Pulsing light, flashing. A darkness, a hole. The ending — so much pain, so much torment — fear. What was happening? Death — when? The wait — how much?

It felt — like death. Light — turning dark. The woman — fading into the background. So much torture. The end — near.