Authors: Gabrielle Evans
He didn’t understand it, but instinctively knew his little slip of the tongue had just changed everything.
Chapter Seven
The day of the new moon dawned bright and sunny—a complete contrast to the mood within the house. Everyone seemed sober and solemn when Echo entered the kitchen that morning. They waved and mumbled their greetings, but it lacked the usual warmth Echo had become accustomed to.
He didn’t take it personally, though. Even he felt so tense that the slightest touch might shatter him into a million pieces. Eyce and Myst had done more research on the internet, but still insisted that none of the information they found fit with the prophecy.
Vapre and Syx, though the brains of the group, were little help considering they’d been suspiciously absent over the last several days. Even during the snowstorm, when everyone had been confined to the indoors, Syx and Vapre were often hiding out in one of their rooms—and usually together, huddled over Syx’s laptop.
Scanning the room, Echo sighed when he noticed the two empty seats at the kitchen table. “Gone again?”
No one needed to question what he meant. They all nodded their heads as their eyes drifted to the empty seats as well. “They were gone when we woke up this morning,” Hex said quietly. “It’s beginning to worry me.”
“You mean they left the house?” Echo didn’t like this. The closer the danger came, it seemed the more their little family drifted apart. “Where did they go? Did they leave a note?”
“Nope.” Hex shook his head slowly. “They won’t tell anyone anything. I’ve asked. Hell, I’ve even demanded. I’m worried about them.”
Echo shuffled over to stand between Hex’s spread thighs and bent to place a soft kiss on his lips. “We’ll figure it out, okay?”
Hex’s hands came up to rest lightly on Echo’s hips, and he smiled crookedly. “I have no doubts, baby. You’re the glue that keeps us together. If they tell anyone what they’re up to, it’ll be you.”
Echo didn’t know about all that, but he decided it best to keep his mouth closed for the time being. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked instead.
Hex chuckled and pushed him away gently. “What would you like? I don’t think anyone else has much of an appetite, but I’ll make whatever you want.”
“Toast is fine.” Echo moved to take a seat beside Myst, but stopped when he heard a soft knock at the front door. “I guess they got the roads cleared.”
“Most of the snow has already melted,” Onyx informed him. “It’s damn strange. The weather said to expect temperatures in the mid-seventies today.”
“In northwestern Montana in December?” Echo’s mouth dropped open in shock. “It’s gotta be a record.”
Myst snorted. “Not hardly, babe. It’s still unusual, especially since the temperatures were hovering in the lower teens yesterday.”
The knock sounded again, a little louder this time, and Echo jumped. “Who do you suppose that is?”
“I’ll check.” Eyce stood and walked around the table, dropping a quick kiss on the top of Echo’s head as he passed. “Please, stay here, okay?”
“Fine,” Echo sighed. It wasn’t like the men from the lab were just going to waltz up and knock on the door…again. Still, if it made his men feel better, he’d sit back and let them play the protectors.
Eyce jogged out of the room, and Echo turned to Fiero, a question on the tip of his tongue, when he froze. A picture of a tall, muscled man with curly blond hair flashed inside his mind then quickly flashed to the image of Eyce, snarling and growling as he unleashed his demon on the man.
“Save him,”
a voice whispered to him.
Whirling around, Echo sprinted for the front door. “Eyce! No!” He heard his lovers call his name as chairs scraped against the kitchen floor and footsteps thundered behind him. Echo didn’t stop.
Bursting into the living room just as Eyce eased open the door, bone-numbing fear settled over Echo, threatening to overwhelm him. He didn’t know why the guard had come, but he couldn’t let Eyce kill him.
“No!” he screamed again as he flew across the room and plowed into Eyce’s solid back. He locked his arms around the warrior’s waist and tugged with everything he had. “Move!”
“What the hell?” Eyce pried Echo’s arms off of him effortlessly and pulled open the door. A feral snarl escaped his lips, and he shoved Echo back roughly, stepping in front of him to block the entirety of the doorway. His muscles bunched and flexed beneath his thin cotton shirt, his arm lifting as his fingernails lengthened into vicious look talons.
Someone grabbed Echo around the waist, hauling him off of his feet and pulling him back toward the kitchen. Several angry snarls filled the living room as Echo watched his men advanced toward the door and the unwelcomed visitor.
Jerking his head around, he looked up at Hex in desperation. “They can’t kill him.”
“He’s from the lab, and he’s armed. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him.”
“Yes, he’s a guard at the facility in the mountains, but he’s here to help.” Echo struggled in Hex’s arms. “The Oracle said to save him. He’s important.”
“The Oracle?”
“Yes! Now, put me down and stop them!”
Hex didn’t release him, but Echo felt him sigh heavily. “You better be right about this,” he grumbled. Then louder, “Guys, let him in.”
“He’s one of them,” Fiero said coldly. “We’ve been too lenient. Maybe we should make an example out of this one.”
“Normally, I would agree,” Hex answered calmly. “Echo says he’s important, though. Let him in.”
Echo had to give the guard props. The guy stepped over the threshold and held his hands up in a peaceable gesture. Neither anger nor fear marred his handsome features. He just looked like someone who had something to say. Yep, the guy had guts. Echo would have probably pissed himself by this point. Then again, the guard probably didn’t realize he faced down five immortal demons either.
His lovers parted to let the man through, but they didn’t rise from their threatening crouches. Nor did they allow the guard too close to Echo. The minute their eyes locked, his men rushed to form a solid barricade between them.
Rolling his eyes, Echo squirmed again until Hex finally set him on his feet. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name,” he called to the guard as he tried to push through his protection detail. “Guys, move it. You’re being assholes.”
“Corrigan. Gage Corrigan.”
“What kind of stupid name is that?” Fiero demanded, his arm extended to hold Echo back.
Echo punched him in the ribs and ducked under his arm. “Why are you here?”
“The Collector is coming for you.”
* * * *
Eyce watched as Echo’s body began to tremble so violently, he was afraid the little man would fall apart. Wrapping his arm around his lover’s tiny waist, he pulled him back against his chest, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer. “Who the fuck is The Collector?”
“He’s like us, but a lot stronger,” Echo whispered shakily. “He has powers, and he’s evil.”
“Why do they call him that?” Myst asked with his head tilted to the side.
“He collects bodies,” Gage answered without a hint of sarcasm. “Your little man here has become a liability, and you a threat. The top guns have ordered your termination.”
“No!” Echo’s head whipped back and forth, his chest rising and falling rapidly beneath Eyce’s palm. He spun around, his small hands gripping Eyce’s shirt as he stared up at him pleadingly. “We’ll leave. Forget this damn war. We need to go now!”
Eyce hated the fear and desperation in his mate’s voice. Pulling him close, he cradled the back of Echo’s head, rocking him gently side to side. “We can’t leave, baby. Besides, he’s just one man. There are seven of us. No one’s going to hurt you.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Hex asked.
“They’re moving the residents to a secure facility on the Olympic Peninsula. The helicopters leave at midnight.”
“And?” Fiero asked frostily.
Eyce understood his anger. He didn’t approve of what was happening in that lab, but as long as his mate was safe, he didn’t see how it was any of his concern.
“Two of the residents…They’re my mates,” Gage said so softly, Eyce almost missed it.
“Mates?” He pushed Echo behind him and inhaled deeply as he took a step closer to the guard. “Fuck me sideways,” he groaned as the other men in the room began to snarl again. “Do they know?”
“No.” Gage shook his head. “I think they suspect, however. I was relieved of duty this morning.”
“What’s going on?” Echo demanded as he pushed under Eyce’s arm. “What do they suspect? Why were you fired? Why are they moving them? Did I hear something about mates?”
“One question at a time, Echo.” Eyce chuckled at his lover. “Maybe we should all sit down and talk about this.”
“Good idea,” Hex agreed. He led the way back to the kitchen and motioned for everyone to take their seats around the table while he took up pacing the tiled floor.
“First, why are they moving everyone? And why are they sending some douche bag to k—” Hex cast a quick look at Echo and cleared his throat, “some guy to hurt Echo? I thought they wanted him back.”
Gage sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “They did. Well, I guess they still do, but after your little stunt a couple of weeks ago, they’re questioning their ability to get him back.”
“Good.” Myst smirked as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“No, not good.” Gage looked at Myst sadly. “They’ve decided to cut their losses and eliminate the threat. The longer it takes for them to break through your defenses and retrieve…Echo, did you call him?” Gage waved a hand dismissively. “The longer it takes to get Echo back, the more risk they run of exposure. They can’t allow that to happen.”
“Wait.” Onyx held up his hand as he sat a little straighter in his chair. “We wiped their memories before we released them. How do they know what we can do?”
“They recovered the memories.” Gage looked at them all pityingly. “You have no idea what you’re up against.”
“So, are we correct in assuming that this is a government operation?” Eyce leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table as he eyed the guard. The more he listened, the more he didn’t like what the man had to say.
“Yes and no. It’s a top-secret facility. Not even the top ranking officials know about it.”
“So, why move the residents?” Eyce tilted his head to the side as his eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Even if Echo takes this to the media and blows the whole thing open, I’m guessing there is more than enough security to keep the reporters out. Then they release a statement about the ravings of a madman, and everyone blows it off like another UFO sighting or Area 51.”
“True, but they’re not willing to risk it. They’re cleaning out the facility and moving the residents tonight. All traces of the lab will be wiped clean by first light tomorrow morning.”
“What the hell is going on in that place?” Hex demanded. “This is a little over-the-top for some kind of research facility.”
“I don’t know all the facts. I don’t have a high enough security clearance. I’ve told you everything I know.”
“Okay, so who is this Collector guy?” Eyce growled the name, his hackles rising at the thought of someone hurting his mate.
“He’s evil,” Echo whispered. “He has enormous power. I’ve never met him. I saw him once, though, and I’ve heard stories about him from the other residents. Sometimes they send him out to bring back people that show signs of supernatural abilities. Sometimes, they send him out to bring back bodies.”