Ignited Read online

  Without saying a word, we walk up to her house. Maddy’s emotions are just as quiet as the space around us. She’s buried them. I know I gave her some tips about what to do when her emotions affect the weather. But I never meant for her to use those tips to hide her emotions from me.

  We need to talk. So much has happened, and she can’t keep it all inside. But there isn’t time right now. Once we deal with the Shadowwalker, I’ll figure out a way to get her to open up—before it becomes too much for her.

  Right before I open the door, I take a breath—readying myself to face the Shadowwalker. As I exhale, we step inside. Laughter and a mouthwatering aroma of meat and spices greet us. My stomach rumbles, wanting to taste whatever it is, but I ignore it.

  I hear his voice in the living room speaking to Maddy’s father. We step into the room. He and five other FBI agents—three men and two women—are sitting with Maddy’s father.

  “Shouldn’t be long,” he’s saying to her father. “A few weeks at the—Maddy! I was wondering where you were.” He smiles, but it falls as he notices me beside her and her hand in mine.

  Her father blinks, looking momentarily confused. I glare at the Shadowwalker, knowing he just compelled Maddy’s father.

  “You remember MJ,” she says.

  “I thought he left,” he says through his clenched jaw.

  “I didn’t,” I reply.

  “They’re dating,” Maddy’s father says.

  Maddy leans into me, hiding her blushing cheeks. The Shadowwalker’s gaze deepens, and I move closer to her on instinct. He rises from the couch where he’s been reclining.

  But before he can say or do anything else, Maddy’s mother announces that dinner is ready.

  . . .

  Her mother cooked a pot roast. I can see why she teaches cooking classes and has written so many cookbooks. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so spectacular in my life. But as delicious as it is, it’s hard to enjoy it after the news we were told. The Shadowwalker and his FBI team are here in Mankato because they’re on a case—my case. They’ve asked Maddy’s parents if they can stay with them, using “budget cuts” as an excuse. Her parents “agreed.”

  So now he’s here, in her house, until the demon is caught.

  He’s sitting beside Maddy at the dinner table, reminiscing about all the fun they’ve had together. As great as it is to see her smiling again, I want to stab him with my fork and make it look like an accident.

  I look over and catch his eye.

  I’m surprised to see you here, MJ, he says in my mind.

  Likewise, I bite back. And if you’re planning to tell me to stay away from her, don’t waste your breath.

  I don’t like repeating myself, he says. Besides, you seem to be well on your own way out.

  Explain, I snap.

  I couldn’t help notice Maddy’s new accessory, he says. Specifically that she can’t stop fidgeting with it.

  I gaze at her wrist. Her left hand tugs and twists at the bracelet.

  What’s your point? I ask him.

  It means she hates it and you won’t be my problem for too much longer.

  I scoff, then grab Maddy’s hand. It’s partly to tick him off, but I admit it’s also to stop her from touching the bracelet. Just as before, my essence finds her emotions quiet.

  I understand his reasons for wanting to protect her. But after the time he spent with me in Immortal City, he should know I’m the best hope he’s got.

  I’m not the enemy here, I tell him.

  You’re risking her life every second you’re together, he says. So yes, you are.

  And you’re not?

  He glares at me. You have no idea what I’ve done to keep her safe.

  Enlighten me, then, I demand. Then I decide to push it even further. What have you, Ms. Morgan, and the other two members of your little group done for her?

  He stiffens. How do you know about that?

  I’m not saying another word until you prove that you and your little band of supernatural misfits aren’t a danger to her.

  He slams his glass on the table, causing everyone to look at him. He makes a pitiful excuse about it slipping out of his hand. I smirk. I may not be able to get rid of him yet, but at least I can piss him off.

  As everyone else returns to their dinner conversation, he lashes out at me. How many demons have you come in contact with since you’ve been here? Or entities or lost souls? You know as well as I do that this place should be swarming with the paranormal, thanks to the Trifecta. But there’s nothing.

  I’m unable to hide my surprise. You’re why this place is vacant?

  Every so often, someone shows up, but we send them packing before they learn about her.

  Regardless of how I feel toward him, I’m grateful to hear this. It may be the only reason she stayed hidden this long. Still, I can’t allow him to continue thinking he’s done a perfect job.

  Yeah, well, there’s one being you missed.

  We tried to keep you from—

  Not me! I shout in his mind. You missed an Influencer. Didn’t Ms. Morgan tell you?

  He shakes his head. You’re bluffing.

  Am I? Aren’t you curious about why the Perfugae was here yesterday? Or why Maddy’s ex, Ben, has gone missing? Or better yet, have you noticed the two Featherling markings on Maddy’s right arm?

  His gaze drops to her arm, and he grimaces. Guilt floods his face as he realizes he didn’t protect her.

  The Influencer tried to make her sign a Binding Agreement, I say.

  He snaps back into his chair. His guilt is instantly replaced by fury. With our connection, I can sense confusion and even betrayal.

  It’s becoming clear to me that he does truly care for Maddy. As for the motives driving the other members of his little group, it seems now I’m not the only one with doubts. This could work to my advantage. I could use Duane to find the other members of his group. When it comes to protecting Maddy, I will do whatever is necessary. Maybe he will too.

  Is she safe? he asks.

  For now, I reply. Her blood didn’t touch it. But the only way she’ll remain safe is if you all stay the hell out of the way. As I said, I’m not going anywhere. Now you know a fraction of why.

  . . .

  After dinner, I help clear the table, along with two ex-military FBI agents. They didn’t identify themselves as such, but it’s in their constantly roaming eyes and crew-cut hairstyles. Plus, their minds are very organized. Brian, the taller of the two, even has his drill sergeant’s voice still in his mind, barking out his thoughts.

  I search the minds of the three agents who are still in the dining room chatting with Maddy’s parents. The male is the computer specialist. The brunette female is highly intelligent. The blonde female has a knack for reading people. She was with the Shadowwalker Sunday night while the other agents were out searching for Maddy.

  As I’m loading the last plate into the dishwasher, Maddy comes up behind me. She’s frowning, which makes her bottom lip stick out.

  My essence pulses inside me, begging for me to touch her so it can ease whatever is troubling her. I take her hand in mine. Instantly my essence rushes in, finding fear and anxiousness. I’m not pleased to find them again so soon, but at least I found something this time.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “Nothing,” she says, rubbing the bracelet again. She opens her mouth, and words spill out in a jumble. “Duane wants to talk with me downstairs. I know how you feel about him, and I don’t want to upset you . . . But at the same time, he’s my uncle. It feels really strange to think I’d have to check with someone just to talk to him. I just wanted—”

  I pull her to me, hugging her as I send more of my essence to calm her nerves. She shouldn’t have to deal with this—she has too much on her plate as it is. The Shadowwalker is my problem. To her, he’s family. She can’t handle knowing the truth about him yet.

  Somehow I’ll have to make a truce with the Shadowwalker. Just un
til things settle down with Maddy. Then I’ll tell her the truth and let her decide what to do about it.

  “If you’re asking my permission to talk to your uncle,” I begin, “you don’t need it.”

  “No. That wasn’t what I was trying to say.” She pauses, chewing her lip for a moment. Then she stares up at me. She presses her lips firmly together. Her emerald eyes are darker—fiery. Whatever she’s going to say next, she’s set her mind on it.

  “I’m asking you not to listen.”

  I step back, speechless by her request. She’s right—I planned on listening from the Veil of Shadows. It’s not that I don’t trust her or that I want to invade her privacy. It’s that I’ve nearly lost her three times now and I’m not sure if either of us would survive a fourth.

  As greatly as I want to protect her, I can’t bring myself to tell her no—not when she’s looking at me like that. And I can’t lie to her either—I can’t go into the Veil if I say I won’t. The only option is to honor her wishes.

  I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You have my word. I won’t listen.”

  The Shadowwalker comes into the kitchen and looks expectantly at Maddy. She kisses my cheek, then follows him over to the basement door.

  I link to him. Don’t tell her what you are. She isn’t ready for that. I’m trusting you here. Break that, and I will end you.

  He opens the door. The guilt is back in his eyes. After a moment, he gives me a curt nod. They head downstairs together.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Maddy

  The basement is mostly Dad’s area for his music—other than when Mom does laundry. Autographed memorabilia from acts the band opened for cover the walls. His bass guitar sits in a stand beside the theater system, which houses all his music equipment for practicing.

  Duane and I sit at opposite ends of the plaid couch. He’s a germophobe. Although it’s never bothered me before, right now I wish I could hug him to let him know just how much I care for him.

  Suitcases and boxes belonging to Duane and his agents are scattered everywhere. When Mom and Dad said he and the team would be staying here, I hoped it would be just for the night. But now I doubt it.

  “So why are you really here?” I ask. It comes out harsher than I want, but after today, I just don’t have the patience to tiptoe.

  He smirks. It’s the first time he’s shown any expression other than sadness since midway through dinner.

  “Didn’t buy the budget cuts story?”

  I chuckle. “Not a chance. So . . .”

  His smirk vanishes. His intelligent brown eyes rake me over.

  “All right,” he says. “Tell me the difference between a mass murder and a serial killer.”

  The words flow off my tongue, having memorized them. “A mass murder kills a lot of people, usually at one time. A serial killer kills at least three people, but with some time in between the victims.”

  He’s drilled the definitions into my head so often, I remember it better than my locker combination. Each camping trip, he brings along several files and makes me profile them. The better I do, the easier he will go on me the next day during training. After all the years, I’ve gotten the hang of it now.

  “Good,” he says. “When we talked on Saturday, do you remember me mentioning my current case?”

  I sit up straighter. His case is MJ’s case. When we talked that morning, he warned me to be cautious of strangers.

  “I remember. What about it?”

  “I think in this situation, it would be easier if I showed you.” He stands and waits for me to do the same. “There’s something in the guest room you need to see.”

  He heads for the room, but I don’t follow.

  “Wait,” I say.

  He stills, his back to me. “What?”

  “There’s something I need to ask. You know things—things about MJ. How?”

  Silence is his only reply. My head swirls, trying to understand why he’s hesitating. He’s always told me the truth—never sheltered me from anything. Whatever it is, it must be huge.

  He finally turns, staring at the carpet.

  Dread pools in my stomach.

  Then he looks up, tears threatening to spill. “I’m dead, Maddy.”

  Suddenly I feel as if I’ve been transplanted to another country. I know he just said something to me, but his words won’t register. They’re foreign.

  “Shut up.” The words force out with my exhale. “Just . . . shut up. You’re not . . . you can’t be. I know you. I—”

  “I died during the Second World War,” he interrupts. “I was given the option to join the Protectors. I still had some fight left in me, so I agreed.”

  I back away, shaking my head and plugging my ears like a child. Duane waits, watching me. I know the look on his face. It’s the same look he wore when he told me I was adopted.

  He’s telling the truth.

  He’s the same as MJ. MJ knew, the whole time, and he kept it from me.

  I slowly remove my hands from my ears as tears slide down my cheeks.

  “Protecting people came naturally,” Duane continues. “It didn’t take long before I received my first solo assignment. My Charge was a few years older than you. She was being tormented by a Marer—a demon who communicates with its victims through nightmares. It tortured her with images of her family and friends dying. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them.”

  He frowns. “She was losing her grip on reality and considering taking her life. I banished the demon to the City of the Damned, but I couldn’t bring myself to return to Immortal City as I was ordered.

  “My mortal upbringing was still fresh in my mind, and I wanted to look after her. I could—and did—compel her mind to forget what happened to her. But you can’t compel a heart. The pain of continually watching her loved ones die, even if in dreams, left its mark on her. I feared what she would do in my absence. So I stayed until she was well. During that time, she fell in love with me.”

  Inside, I feel as if every memory, every experience, is being sliced into a million pieces. I’m too numb to feel the pain, but I know I’m bleeding.

  “She talked of marriage and having a family. Marriage is one thing, but a family—that was something I couldn’t fake, even if I wanted to.”

  He pauses long enough so I look at him. He meets my gaze.

  “Angels and demons can’t have families. We’re dead, and dead things can’t make life. Not anymore, at least.”

  Thunder rumbles and my legs wobble, threatening to give out. This goes beyond Duane. This is about me. I may be young and new to relationships, but I’ve always known I want to be a mother someday. I’ve known that I want to give my child the love my birth parents never gave me.

  But no matter what kind of future I may have with MJ, he can’t give me that.

  “Do you want me to stop?” Duane asks.

  I take a deep breath—burying my pain—then shake my head. As difficult as it is, I may not have another chance to hear the truth.

  “I left her—my Charge—and tried to return to Immortal City. I couldn’t. I had disobeyed my orders by staying here too long. I was an outcast, with an automatic sentence to the City of the Damned if caught. And they’re especially cruel to former angels down there.”

  I fight a shudder, remembering the screams of torture I’ve heard.

  “I went into hiding, drifting along for many years. Occasionally I came across others who were stuck here like me. They showed me how to stay hidden from both sides. I’ve been fairly successful . . . until this week. But I want you to know something, Maddy. I will gladly take on any risk, including challenging my former leader”—he glances up the stairs—“to protect you.”

  I turn, thinking it means someone is coming downstairs. The door is closed. I let out a relieved breath. I was worried it was MJ.

  My heart flinches as suddenly the pieces fall into place. Duane was a Protector.

  MJ was Duane’s leader.

  I thi
nk back to every interaction between them. MJ wasn’t uncomfortable or afraid of him because he was my uncle and an FBI agent. MJ hates him because he’s an outcast angel.

  After another minute of silence, Duane continues. “I tried to make the most of my life as an outcast. I eventually decided to date again as a way to blend in. I kept low-key jobs and moved every couple of years. That changed when I met you.”

  I turn away, not wanting to look at him.

  “I’d been dating your aunt Deb for a few months when you came into my life,” he says. “I heard your cries even before the doorbell rang. I got to the door first, but the street was empty. And there you were, crying in the rain on Dean and Marie’s steps. I picked you up, and instantly I knew you weren’t a normal baby. A flood of emotions rushed into me, nearly bringing me to my knees. Everything I’d forgotten, everything I’d lost, came back. I tried to figure out why, but none of my abilities worked—”

  “I know about my abilities,” I cut in.

  I hug myself, rubbing my arms, and I feel something cold on my wrist. I look down at the rainbow-gem bracelet. As upset as I am to learn—again—that MJ has kept information from me, I suddenly wish he were here. I don’t want to face this alone.

  “I had to keep you close,” Duane says. “I planted thoughts in Dean’s and Marie’s minds of adopting you. I actually didn’t need to do much—they loved you the moment they held you. I married Deb so I could stay close to you—watch over you. I even got a job with the FBI to make sure you stayed off everyone’s radar.”

  I keep my head turned, but I ask, “Whose radar?”

  “Mortals’ and immortals’. As I said, everyone’s.”

  “So am I supposed to thank you, then?”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Maddy. We only want to keep you safe.”

  At that, I turn. “Who’s ‘we’?”

  His eye twitches. “There are others.”

  “Who?” I press.