The rest of the lunch was enjoyable, with Lukas being such good company, though Ashallia couldn't help but miss Jason's presence. Even as scary as he could be sometimes, she realised she couldn't help but feel connected to him, and it was clearly true in reverse. She was also beginning to feel that even as intimidating as they could be, she was safe with them. Lukas' presence was particularly calming, and she was grateful for the afternoon together, though their waitress had begun giving her glares as Lukas completely ignored her flirtations. It was amusing to watch, but Lukas seemed to tire of the attention quickly, and they headed back to the hotel soon after they finished eating. Kicking her shoes off and laying back across the large bed, she sighed softly, and Lukas smiled. "Missing him already?" he asked, starting to unpack some of his shopping, and she turned her head to him, frowning. He laughed softly, "It's written all over you, Ash," he grinned, "but I'm glad. He needs yo
Mikael sensed it, the moment Jason suddenly disappeared from the shadows, and he knew Cameron and Nate would have too. He hesitated, close on his own man's tail, but as they turned around looking over their shoulder again, he abandoned it. They clearly knew they were coming, and something wasn't right. Jason had felt it too, he knew. As he wound his way from shadow to shadow, towards where Jason had stepped out, his phone suddenly buzzed, and he paused. No one should be messaging him now, but it was a group chat notification from Lukas, requesting they check in. He immediately felt on edge, and responded quickly. Jason, however, didn't. After waiting a long few minutes, he pulled an earpiece from one of his many pockets, and connected it to his phone, just as Lukas' name appeared again, calling him. Cameron and Nate were on the call too, he realised, as he answered. "What's going on?!" Mikael asked impatiently, wondering why their work was being interrupted, and Lukas' voice came th
Ashallia frowned at Alex as he shushed her, but feel silent. She wanted to know more, still stunned at how far they'd travelled so quickly, but he was right. Finding Jason was all that mattered now. She sighed softly, closing her eyes and trying to calm herself. After a moment, she realised she could sense him, but only just."He's that way, but.. it's weak, I can barely feel it," she said, her worry for him rising, "Does that mean..?" Lukas shook his head, squeezing her hand gently, "No, we don't know anything yet. Try not to think the worst." She gave him a weak smile, but Alex frowned at her, "You can sense which direction he's in?" he asked, and she nodded. "That was how he first knew," Lukas explained, his voice soft, "He said it was like a strange pulling sensation, drawing him to her." Alex looked thoughtful at that, then grabbed her other hand, "Can you tell how far?" he asked, and she thought a moment, shaking her head. "Usually it's stronger the closer we are, and it's weak
Lukas eyed Ashallia warily as she followed the other two. He could sense her weariness now, after she'd drawn it from Nate, and it made him feel concerned. It seemed she was similar to him, feeling the need to help others, but he knew all too well that there was only so much that one person could bear.She was already looking more pale, but seemed determined to keep up with Alex and Nate, as they moved through the shadows silently, along another corridor. They paused at the end, where two doorways stood opposite each other, one on either side. The right had a small shadow mark beside it, marking it as clear. They turned to the other, and Alex summoned a singular small orb this time, sending it forward to check for a reaction as it crossed the threshold. The air was thick with apprehension, that stayed after it crossed with no response from within. Alex changed the orb then, duplicating it into many, and shoving them forward, hard. Still nothing, and Nate stepped forward carefully, m
Ash frowned at Lukas, sensing his unease, and hesitation, as he sent the message. It was echoed in Alex and Mikael behind her, and she couldn't help feeling some herself, wondering what their other cousins were like to cause them to feel like this, assuming that's who 'Vik' was. She heard Mikael moving some stuff around behind her, then dragging a large, sturdy metal barrel over. Alex noticed, and helped him, and they began picking up and put the oddly shaped guns inside, barrel down. When all but three were inside, Alex raised an eyebrow at Mikael, "We can't blow it, we don't know how it will react. It could just spread it." Mikael nodded, putting the lid on firmly, "We can seal it," he said, pulling something small from his pocket, and cutting it open with a knife. Alex nodded, helping him carefully spread the substance around the rim, before they lit it and stepped back. It went up in sudden flames, with an enormous heat that she felt even as far back as she was from it. Alex che
Jason pulled her hips close as he kissed her deeply, letting his need for her overwhelm him. She embraced it fully, returning his kiss as she wrapped her arms around him, and he felt her need for him too. Yet there was something else there too, something.. deeper. He looked down into her beautiful green eyes as he tried to place the feeling, and she smiled up at him, blushing. He smiled back, and she lifted his shirt until he pulled it over his head, letting it drop to the floor, before lifting hers. She raised her arms, letting him remove it, and he pushed her back towards the bed, removing the rest of his clothes before joining her. Hooking his thumbs in the sides of her underwear, he trailed soft kisses along the soft skin of her legs as he removed them slowly. As he positioned himself over her, she smiled at him again, that feeling only growing stronger. He felt it too, he realised suddenly, as he looked into her eyes once more. It was only small, like a tiny spark of something
Ash sighed softly as he curled his body around her, and she snuggled back into him, entwining her fingers with his as he wrapped an arm around her. He pulled her tight against him then, whispering softly in her ear, "Mine." She couldn't help but smile, nodding her head gently as she felt waves of fierce possessiveness coming from him, intertwined with those warmth threads of affection. "Yes," she whispered back, and he sighed with the same contentment she always felt now, when wrapped safely in his arms. It surprised her, the way she'd started to feel for him, but she knew she wouldn't change it for the world. The world had certainly never made her feel so safe, and wanted, and loved, like he did. His brothers too, who'd shown more care for her in the past week, than most people had in her whole life.There were rare exceptions, of course, who she missed dearly, but overall, it was increasingly seeming like leaving had truly been the best thing for her. Even with the scary parts. She
Mikael sighed as he started to explain everything to Viktor. He mostly focused on the weapons, but there was some background information he needed to know too, about who these men were, and the kind of power and influence they had. Or once had, given that at least three of the key members of the network had been killed when they went for Jason, plus Henrik. He left out Ashallia's presence during it all, and the abilities she'd begun showing. Not just because he was wary and distrustful of Vik and his brothers, but also because she wasn't exactly aware that those deaths were mostly caused by her. He didn't think she'd react particularly well to finding out she'd killed someone - or many someones, all at once, with the huge burst of power she'd unleashed at the end. They still weren't entirely sure whether it was her power that had escalated rapidly, or simply that the first wounds she'd transferred were much less severe, but at least the first ones she'd hit with it had been alive en
One year and six months later:The bunker had provided exactly what they'd sought, though its origins were still shrouded in mystery.They'd been able to set up something of a home here, secure and well defended. Lukas had been able to reverse engineer the phone they'd taken from Craig, and not only been able to use its new technology, but also trace the last few members that posed a significant threat, along with the last of their munitions.He'd also been able to send lengthy transcripts and history to several other news networks not yet taken over by Newscience, who were more than eager to break the story of his other, shadier organisation, and its links to his other businesses and donation recipients. The story had rocked the country, with many politicians' and business' involvement being publicly exposed. Newscience had collapsed, along with many underground smuggling networks, with enough of an impact to make any who might fill the void feel more than a little wary. They heard
He felt her rush of emotion as she uttered the word, and he smiled wide, taking her hand and placing the ring on her finger. She blushed brightly, and he could feel his own cheeks flushing a little, and pulled her down beside him, wrapping her in his arms as he kissed her deeply. His own rush of emotion only got stronger, and he let it overwhelm him, knowing she'd feel just how deep his love was for her. And he felt hers too, overwhelming her as she returned his kiss, softly and tenderly, and for a long moment it was as though only the two of them existed, wrapped up in each other's deep feeling of love. When they finally moved apart, she was smiling wide at him, still blushing, but happy. So happy. He felt that too, within himself, despite everything, and he never wanted to be without it again. Or without her. "I love you," she whispered softly, and he touched his nose gently to hers, "I love you," he responded, and her face brightened even more. He kissed her again, and they lost
Ash returned his kiss with a sense of wonder, feeling that incredible rush of darkness, and now everything from him. Only that everything from him was everything from her, too, and the arousal they both felt was spiralled upwards again, more intense than ever. She suddenly felt an all encompassing need for him, and clamped her muscles tight around him, drawing her hips back slowly. He gasped, breaking their kiss, and she moved her hands, placing them on the tree trunk behind her to support herself as she began moving her hips back and forth, using her muscles in time with them. He swore under his breath and began thrusting in time with her, burying his head in the curve of her neck again as he moaned in intense pleasure. She did the same, feeling her own pleasure being heightened by his, as his was by her own, climbing higher and higher. His thrusts grew harder and rougher, as his gaze turned more intense, and she moved her hands to around his neck, holding herself up and letting hi
Jason stared wide-eyed at the large concrete structure. This was a lot more than just a bunker, he realised, and wondered if it was truly abandoned. He squatted low, motioning for Ashallia to do the same, and crept closer slowly, keeping his eyes and ears alert for any kind of activity. Yet it all seemed still, and he wondered who would ever build something like this, and then just leave it. It looked advanced for the time it must have been here, too. Jack looked to have been in his 50s, at least, and he'd said it had been here at least that long. It was incredibly strange, but it could also be incredibly useful, especially with the tunnels he mentioned. He pulled out his phone, lifting it up to snap a picture, and sent it to the others. Even then there was no movement, and he exchanged a look with Ash, who looked as confused as he did. "Who do you think built it?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible, and he shrugged. "I have no idea," he said, feeling absolutely perplexed, "
Ash froze as she turned and saw the second man with a crossbow, and reached out for Jason. He turned, and she heard him sigh deeply as the stranger stepped closer, keeping his crossbow aimed at them. He seemed unable to decide who to focus it in though, shifting between them two of them, looking tense, and at least a little bit afraid. "Jack," he called out suddenly, with a thick northern accent, "I've got 'em over 'ere," he said, lowering his voice as he spoke to the two of them instead. "How many more o' ye are there?" he asked, and Jason sighed again. "Just the two of us, for now," he said, as he slowly moved in front of Ash, putting her between him and the large tree. "The fuck ye mean, 'for now'?" another voice asked, coming around from behind the tree, where the first shooter had been. Jason shrugged, looking far too casual, though she could sense his tension through their connection, and assumed it was deliberate. "More are coming," he said calmly, "but we mean no harm. Just
Jason pulled her into an embrace again, kissing her deeply, letting her feel all of his desire for her. It had been too long, he needed her, and he could feel her need for him too. It only made it even harder to control his own. He sighed deeply as he pulled away from her a moment later, feeling Lukas coming quickly towards them through the shadows. She could feel it too, he knew, though he still felt her mild disappointment as he broke the kiss. They needed to find somewhere alone, and soon. He gave her an affectionate smile, and she returned it, her cheeks looking flushed with arousal. Lukas moved into their shadow a moment later, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the two of them. "Hope I'm not interrupting," he said with a grin, only making her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. Jason smiled, shaking his head at his brother, amused, "Not yet," he said, making Ash's eyes widen. He took her hand then, and turned to Lukas, "We'll go further on foot, if you'll wait for the others h
Ash smiled, feeling an enormous sense of relief as each of them stepped out of the shadows in the small dining room of the old house, finally safe. Or safer, at least. "So, where to?" asked Alex, and Mikael sighed, "Almost anywhere but here, but first," he turned and gave Jason a look that made him nod, before taking another one of those tiny devices from the seam of his jeans. "You're going to blow it up?" Ash asked, her eyes wide, and Alex patted her shoulder, "Let's call it, 'helping it collapse'," he said, sounding apathetic. "You don't care? That it'll be gone?" she asked, a touch of sadness in her voice, and Jason shook his head, "It's just a building," he said softly, "Everything that has ever meant something to me, will still live on." He reached over to touch her cheek, and she blushed, knowing he included her as part of that. He kissed her forehead softly, and she smiled up at him, before realising that they were all looking at her, waiting. "What?" she asked, confused, an
Lukas headed back down, unable to contain a small smirk as he stepped out back in the room with the others, "They're fine," he said, "Just.. busy for a moment." Mikael sighed and Cameron rolled his eyes, "Now, of all times?" he asked, and Lukas shrugged. "They'll do what they need to," he said quietly, "and from the sound of that collapse, we may not get to the surface until Alex and Nate get here anyway." Cameron looked at Mikael then, tilting his head, "How long has it been? Maybe that was them starting to dig us out?" he said, sounding hopeful. Mikael frowned in thought for a moment, but shook his head gently, "I doubt the collapse will have reached the surface, given how far down we are, and Ash should have heard them if they tried the stairs." He looked questioningly at Lukas, who shrugged, "She didn't mention hearing them." Cameron sighed, crossing his arms and resting back against some crates, "So, we just wait? Until they're done being 'busy'?" he said, sounding impatient no
Jason pulled Ashallia under him more, covering her protectively as the room continued to shake, more dust and chunks of concrete falling around them. "Are you guys alright?" he asked, trying to see through the dust towards them. He heard Cameron coughing, which was certainly an improvement on him being unconscious just a few minutes before, and Mikael and Lukas groaned softly. "We're okay," Lukas said, his voice sounding strained, "Is that all of them?" he asked, and Ashallia coughed again, trying to cover her nose and mouth with her sleeve, "I could only sense him, I transferred what I could from you two.." she said weakly, and Cameron groaned a soft, "Thank you." As the room fell still and silent again, they waited a long moment, then began to slowly get up. Looking around the room, a sense of dismay filled them all. Large chunks of the ceiling had caved, and streams of dust stopped and started in various places, making the whole thing look unstable, and worse, he saw that the sta