Trapped By Chaos: Haven Ansley Porter Book 2

By D. J. Humphries

After dealing with Zagreus, Haven thought things were finally going to settle down and return to normal - or, well, HER normal at least. When she finally goes off to do another ghost hunting gig with a seemingly perfect client, she thinks things really might be turning around! But when Ezekiel and Karis more or less move in and people start dying around her again, Haven has to admit that something weird is going on. Then Taylor starts going crazy, the angels seem to be out for blood, and somehow Haven finds herself indebted to the local wolf shifter pack - how did things go from settling down to utter chaos and how can she get out of this situation?

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. J. Humphries
• Release date: Apr 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463629321

D. J. Humphries

I have been writing fiction stories for about as long as I have been able to hold a pen/pencil. My story files grew as I got my own computers, and I have carried them with me from one computer to another throughout the years. Despite my best attempts, I am always drawn back to the fantasy genre and find that I best understand my characters for those stories; I enjoy their travels and seeing where they take me probably as much as my readers will.Born and raised in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area, I have been exposed to the Southern (U.S.) culture throughout my life. However, a recent move to Indiana has opened up my experiences even more and I have greatly loved the midwestern culture I have been experiencing! Writing (and reading) has always allowed me to explore other cultures, other worlds, and other lifestyles. My love of travel has not been fully realized, but I intend to use it to further my worldview and bring my readers even more fantastic stories!

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Haven Ansley Porter – Book 2

D. J. Humphries

©2020 D. J. Humphries

Table of Contents

Restart

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Letter to Readers

Sneak Peek – Book 3

Other Works

Restart

One month.

As I stood in the yard of the house that Taylor and I rented, looking up at the twinkling stars in the night sky, I couldn’t help but think about how much my life had changed in one short month. I used to think a month was a long time, but that was before I went from being just a sensitive who was working as a ghost hunter, to finding out that I was actually a descendant of the Titan, Themis; the only remaining descendant of her, actually, since my clan had been killed off and I’d been hidden in the human realm with parents who were still successfully under the spell that made them believe I was their biological daughter. At least, that’s what all the digging that Karis and Zeke were doing seemed to be saying.

I couldn’t help the reaction; it was instinctual since my powers had more or less settled. When the air shifted with magic, I had a sword in my hand pressed to Zeke’s neck before he had even completely appeared in the yard. I was starting to think he did it on purpose, the way his purple eyes shimmered in the dark like an amethyst catching and reflecting bits of light – his eyes were only gemstone-like in certain situations and my nearly killing him because he appeared out of nowhere shouldn’t be one of those situations.

Haven, he greeted with a grin on his face, We really should stop meeting this way.

I rolled my eyes while the sword disappeared from my hand and turned my back to him, staring up at the stars again. You know it’s instinct and yet you keep appearing from thin air out of my direct line of sight....

And you haven’t killed me yet, he countered playfully. When he stepped around in front of me, staring at me until I looked down from the stars to his equally sparkling eyes, he was in that extremely serious state that didn’t fully suit him. How’s the voice?

My arms crossed themselves over my chest while my gaze slid back up to the sky. Fine... I murmured dismissively. It had taken a full three days with Zeke and Karis both giving my healing powers a boost to get my crushed throat completely healed and for me to be able to speak again.

Haven Ansley Porter, he whispered as fingers brushed across my cheek, but there were tears stinging my eyes and I knew if I saw that caring look on his face that I was going to start crying again. Before the near-death experience, I almost never cried... since the near-death experience, it was like a switch had been flipped in my brain and the stupidest little things would start the waterworks.

Why are you here, Zeke? I’m all packed and ready to go... I just needed a minute....

He pressed the softest kiss to my cheek and out sprung the tears that he gently wiped away before pulling me up against him.

You’re upset, he whispered across the top of my head as a whimper escaped me and I wrapped my arms around him. Why are you this upset, Haven Ansley Porter? I shook my head, distantly noticing that whatever material his shirt was made of was really soft. You’re packed for your next job... is something about the job worrying you? You haven’t been on any the last two weeks... Only your Hunter has gone out hunting since you got back here....

He was right. I hadn’t taken any new ghost hunting gigs since.... I flinched and held him tighter. I had killed someone... granted the ‘someone’ was really a demigod who had been killing and trapping souls for centuries to live off of... but he was still a someone, and for a brief time, his human form had been my someone.... I was scared to go out on ghost hunting jobs anymore – scared that it wouldn’t be just a clean ‘move the spirit into the afterlife’ job, but would be something more, something worse, and I couldn’t face that. What happened if I couldn’t take out the next thing that was shoved in front of me to deal with? There’s no way Taylor could have killed a demigod, no matter how good of a demon Hunter he was... Zagreus, the demigod, would have killed all of us if I hadn’t beaten him to the punch and released all of the souls that had been trapped inside of him. That didn’t make me feel any better about it, though, not really.

Please talk to me, Haven, Zeke sighed and his breath shifted my hair.

I still don’t know how to deal with you when you’re all serious like this... I mumbled into his shirt and felt his silent laugh.

I would oblige if the situation didn’t call for being serious, he replied softly, Please tell me what has you so upset....

I flinched and curled my hands into fists in the ridiculously soft fabric of his shirt. Do you know how long it’s been since I actually had someone I would consider a boyfriend? Before Jonas... of course....

"I don’t know but I can guess… He trailed off for a minute, then added, Is this upset because of the demigod…?"

I flinched again and curled my fists tighter. "I… killed… him…."

Do you question that it was the right thing to do? I instantly shook my head because I knew that no matter how upset it made me, that ridding the world of Zagreus was the right thing to do. But you still killed someone… someone, that in an odd way, you had grown to care about enough to consider him your boyfriend…. It wasn’t a question, but I still nodded. You don’t truly believe that situation will ever happen again… do you?

I don’t know… I murmured, I didn’t expect it to happen the first time….

What if we promise to let you know if you even give a second look to someone that isn’t one-hundred percent human?

I felt a smile trying to tug on my lips while I muttered, I really don’t think I’ll be dating again any time soon....

That got me a quiet ‘hmm’ before he added, So it’s the killing something part, then... You could claim your Hunter.

I darted back away from him so quickly that I actually caught the flicker of surprise in his eyes. Why would you even suggest that? You and... I paused and shifted my eyes around the yard, You guys said if I claimed him that we’d like... become obsessed with each other... or something....

Zeke reached out and trailed his fingers across my cheek then down a strand of my hair. You’re too powerful for a Hunter claim to affect you like that. We told you that before we knew who exactly you were and exactly how powerful you were going to become. He was watching his hand until it fell back to his side, then he shifted amethyst eyes back up to me. Your Hunter isn’t as powerful... He would most likely become fully claimed by you; however, he would also gain enough power to protect you, enough power that he could have handled the demigod on his own.

That brought a painful thump in my chest – Taylor could protect me... Taylor, the demon Hunter who was trained to fight and kill things... he could do the killing... But he would become essentially enthralled by me in the process. I mean, yes, I had to acknowledge now that I knew he liked me, but the claim being one-sided sounded cruel....

I can’t, I finally whispered, refocusing on Zeke while he tilted his head into a nod.

I suspected as much, but I thought you should know. He was staring at me again, that way that I caught all three of them doing, like they were memorizing my face or something. "Does your... king know how upset you are about what you did?"

I shook my head furiously – Karis did not know and he didn’t need to know – and that got me another quiet ‘hmm’ that I really didn’t understand.

His eyes suddenly flashed like someone had flicked a light on inside of them for a split second then turned it back off. Your Hunter is coming to get you. If you’re all right now, I’ll get out of the way.

I found myself returning the favor of staring at him, trying to figure him out, because Zeke didn’t make sense to me.... Thank you for checking on me. I’ll be fine.

I was rewarded with his carefree smile before he pulled me in for another hug. If you need me, just call. Otherwise, I’ll check up on you later; without warning, of course.

He kissed my cheek and disappeared in the same moment so I couldn’t fuss at him for stepping over the line, again. At least he had returned to his normal flamboyant self, I knew how to deal with that Zeke better than serious-Zeke.

Are you ready, Haven? Taylor, my best friend for so many years that I had lost count, asked as he rounded the house to where I was standing in the yard. I took in his shaggy black hair – I swear he was growing it out – the swirls of his blue-green eyes, like a peppermint – that he wasn’t hiding behind his sunglasses so often anymore – and the loose jeans and blue t-shirt he was wearing, then I inhaled a deep breath and nodded.

Chapter 1

I’m not really sure why we had to leave during the middle of the night, but I trusted Taylor. So as we drove down the road in the black of night in his Rover, his baby, I curled up and felt myself nodding off. It was nice to be able to sleep at night like a normal person, finally. For two weeks, or at least since Karis and Zeke had finished helping me heal, my powers had settled enough that my barrier actually did its job and kept the surrounding energies from harassing me so much. I could still tell they were there, I could even think about them and be able to instantly feel them more, but unless I invited them in, they pretty much stayed out.

I forget you can sleep at night now, luv, Taylor chuckled softly from the driver’s seat, slipping into his original British accent that he kept concealed by his completely American accent most of the time. Do you mind if I turn on music if you’re going to be sleeping?

I mumbled a barely decipherable ‘no’ and he chuckled again before he turned on one of his music mixes.

When I actually nodded off, I found my dream-self engulfed in nothingness. No part of me was touching anything else, like I was just floating there, though even the thought of floating seemed to imply something should be holding me up, and yet it felt like nothing. I groaned under my breath because the nothingness was Karis, the King of Hell’s, energy.

"What are you doing in my dreams, Karis?" I asked and knew he would hear me, which was confirmed when the nothingness wrapped around me like arms and I could almost feel him standing behind me.

"Zeke suggested that I get in touch with you... though, quite annoyingly, he wouldn’t tell me why I should be getting in touch with you..." Karis’ voice wasn’t exactly solid, because he wasn’t exactly in my dream – it was really just his energy reaching out to me in the darkness of my mind between sleep and awake. He claimed he did it not just because it was easier for him, but also because it kept Taylor from really knowing he was there... Apparently, he could enter my dreams a little more solidly than he did most of the time.

I was downright going to kill that stupid archangel! I didn’t want Karis to know! But then the thought of actually killing Ezekiel crossed my mind and the nearly instant anger was washed away so quickly that a chill ran down my spine.

"Haven Ansley... what is the emotional roller coaster about...?"

Roller coaster? Did he even actually know what a roller coaster was?!

"He knows I didn’t want to talk to you about it," I grumbled and felt the nothingness wrap tighter around me, still like arms that weren’t in any way trying to hurt me.

"If you truly don’t want to discuss it with me, I’ll let it go for now, if you can honestly assure me that you’re okay," he reasoned and I found myself leaning a bit into the nothingness at my back.

"I don’t like that I trust you as much as I do..." I murmured, You’re the King of Hell... I shouldn’t trust you at all.... I sighed, shook my head, and ‘stepped’ away from the embrace of the nothingness. I’m okay right now, really.

I felt his sigh across the back of my neck and rolled my shoulders to try to shake off the sensation. Will you allow Zeke to tell me?

"No."

The one word seemed to almost echo into the nothingness and only then did I hear how harsh it sounded and sighed. No... Karis... just... I sighed again and shook my head, I need to put it behind me and talking about it more isn’t going to help.

The nothingness felt cold all of a sudden, but Karis still said, As you wish... I’m only a thought away if you need me. It wasn’t until I nodded that the nothingness disappeared and I had a split second of not knowing what was going on before I fell into a deeper sleep and normal dreams.

Waking up was more like digging myself out of a pile of snow – I still had the lingering sensation of the cold from Karis’ visit, and, apparently, I didn’t want to actually get up. I could tell the Rover had stopped, that Taylor wasn’t in the vehicle anymore, and I pushed myself to sit up and open my eyes to find we were parked at a hotel and the sun was blindingly bright, which sent me scrambling for my bag with my sunglasses.

I had just gotten them on and could actually see to look around when Taylor opened the driver’s door with a laugh.

Good afternoon, Aurora, he greeted, and it took me a second to connect that Aurora was Sleeping Beauty’s real name.... I groaned, which got me another laugh, but he just moved to the back of the vehicle and started pulling out our stuff. We’re in room 119. Do you think you can at least make it inside?

Why do you make me think when I’m not actually awake…? I grumbled, Right or left…?

Straight in front of the vehicle, he chuckled while I managed to half-fall out of my seat and stumbled a step to right myself, Do you need a hand, luv?

Zeke and Arin keep pestering me… I uttered, taking another faltering step before inhaling a deep breath and focusing on centering myself, pushing my energy through my feet into the ground so I felt like I had roots growing out of the soles of my shoes.

Taylor rounded the vehicle, balancing all of our bags somehow, but he stopped beside me and I could feel him watching me when I looked up at his sunglasses.

What did you just do…? Who taught you grounding…? He sounded genuinely surprised, then his head tilted to one side, What do you mean those two are pestering you? I haven’t seen either of them since they left after helping you heal.

What’s grounding?

You centered your energy then focused it into the earth to help balance yourself. It’s a way to balance your powers, your emotions, even your physical body… Who taught you? And how have they been pestering you without my knowing?

Huh… No one taught me… I don’t know how they’ve managed to get by you. Zeke keeps showing up in person… Arin does tend to send his energy to my dreams, but he’s shown up in person a few times, too… Zeke was just at the house before we left and Arin visited my dream when we were first leaving…. I inhaled another deep breath and shifted my shoulders before I started toward the hotel to the door right in front of the Rover where I finally spotted the ‘119’ on the wall plaque.

Taylor set his suitcase on the ground only long enough to pass me the keycard that I slid into the lock to let us inside. Of course, the moment we were inside with the door closed and he was putting bags on the beds, he turned to me and slid his sunglasses up on his head, but I didn’t expect what came out of his mouth.

Ezekiel! Demonspawn! He called and after the burst of surprise, I had to bite back a laugh – I didn’t understand why he refused to call Karis by any of his given names, and he kept coming up with really ridiculous alternatives.

Zeke appeared in a flash; his soft white wings folded at his back were glistening from the strands of sunlight threading through them while his dark hair tumbled down his back and amethyst eyes glistened – he almost never pulled out the full archangel transformation anymore, so why did he then? I fought back the urge to attack him and saw him grinning at me like the cat that ate the canary. Clearly he knew I was fighting the instinct and he seemed to find that very entertaining.

The nothingness that was Karis’ energy brushed across my fingertips before he appeared in the room beside me looking like his human façade, Arin-the-intern, with his long black hair and crystal blue eyes. Whenever Karis visited in person, he sent his energy ahead of him, like a warning that he was going to appear, which again made me think that Zeke was trying to trigger my attack instinct intentionally.

The smile slipping onto my lips was unstoppable because I couldn’t decide what was more amusing, that Taylor had decided to call the archangel and the King of Hell, or that they’d both actually answered him. Hadn’t Zeke fussed at me the first time I’d called him like that, telling me that I was treating him like a pet?

That thought brought on a fit of giggles that there was no way to stop and when amethyst eyes met mine and a single dark eyebrow shot up his forehead, I giggled harder. Much better behaved these days, I managed through my giggles, watching the thoughts flicker across his eyes, eyes that narrowed for a split second before he chuckled dismissively and shook his head.

I am still not a pet, Haven Ansley Porter.

Then why did you answer Taylor’s call? But the giggles stopped when I clapped my hand over my mouth. They knew Taylor’s name, I knew they did, but I still tried not to say it around them because names held power.

Zeke was giving me a very pointed look when he said, "Your Hunter does not tend to call me lightly; he particularly does not call both of us at the same time without cause. And after last night…."

He had paused before the last, and he only stopped because I was glaring at him so hard that there should’ve been a hole between his eyes. I gasped when Karis’ hand lighted on my arm because he had done it at the same moment I flashed back to the thought of killing Zeke and all of my anger washed away again.

She grounded herself a minute ago, Taylor interjected into the awkwardness, She said no one taught her… She also said the two of you have been pestering her, but I haven’t sensed or seen either of you anywhere near her. I want to know how and why you’ve been pestering Haven without my knowing.

Haven Ansley has been grounding since her powers first started appearing… though never focused enough that anyone nearby would notice… Karis answered, watching me while I forced the image of killing Zeke out of my mind. He was still watching me when I finally managed to look up at him and I only then realized I still had my sunglasses on from being outside – how could I come inside to this darker room without realizing I had light-filtering glasses on my face? I saw the flicker of concern before he looked at Taylor. I haven’t wanted you to know I was around, Hunter. I’m sure Zeke has felt the same. You only assured you wouldn’t try to hunt us for the time we were helping heal Haven Ansley, and while I know you couldn’t actually kill me, I’d just as soon not put us in that very awkward situation.

Taylor’s energy was trying to flood the room like a trapped beast, but I could literally feel him pull it back in. I give my solemn oath that I will hunt neither you, Narisk, current King of Hell, nor the archangel, Ezekiel, so long as you do not intentionally harm Haven, Taylor stated carefully while I shifted wide eyes to him and finally remembered to take off my sunglasses – did he seriously just swear to not hunt the King of Hell? If his Hunter buddies found out, they’d kick him out of the ‘club,’ I was sure of it.

You’ll be shunned... Karis uttered, pulling my attention back to him to find his eyes had bled to orange light.

When his words truly sank in, I spun back to Taylor who was looking only at me when he shrugged his shoulders.

You’re both important to Haven... just because I don’t get it, or agree with it, doesn’t make that not true... and she’s important to me, he stated seriously before his eyes flickered over my head, Don’t make me regret it.

You know the only way they won’t turn on you if they find out is if you’re claimed – you can’t do anything to defy the one who claimed you, Zeke added curiously, "You oathed yourself to not kill the King of Hell... they won’t just shun you if they find out."

Then I suggest we all keep our mouths shut, Taylor replied with his customer smile, the fake one that was obviously fake and just him being polite.

I could feel Zeke’s gaze on me and very slowly looked at him.

"They will torture him before they kill him if they find out... The only way he could be saved in that instance is if he was claimed." He was being way too serious again, his eyes actually sparkling even though there definitely wasn’t enough light in the room for them to be doing that.

I hear you.... I didn’t know what else to say – I wasn’t about to claim Taylor and tie him to me for eternity, especially not if it meant he was going to follow me around like a puppy and I wasn’t going to feel the same way; cruel didn’t even cover how I felt about what that would be.

"If you aren’t around, if it is the only thing that will save his life... I am capable of claiming your Hunter... would you forgive me if I did it to save his life, only if you weren’t around?"

My eyes widened – I hadn’t expected that. I mean, he had joked about claiming Taylor before, but this was serious-Zeke making a very serious offer and seriously asking my permission to do it.... My permission wasn’t really what he needed, though.

It isn’t my decision, it’s his, I countered, motioning toward Taylor with my head. We both looked over at my best friend who was flickering between furious and confused awe so quickly that I couldn’t figure out how he was actually feeling.

It would depend on the situation, Archangel... Taylor was growling, but he wasn’t saying no which meant he knew how bad things would be for him if the other Hunters found out what he’d done. I can withstand more than you probably think I can... there should be little-to-no reason that Haven wouldn’t be able to get to me in time... And if, somehow, she is dead, and that’s what’s keeping her from claiming me, I don’t want to be saved.

How did the conversation get so serious and so dark...? The very air was humming with the energy of words not normally spoken. Why were they even thinking about these types of things? Why was there so much talk of death recently? A shiver ran down my spine and I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that we were drawing some unwanted attention with all the talk.

I clapped my hands together, nervous, freaked out, only intending to break the tension in the air – I hadn’t intended for some of my own energy to leap out and engulf the room, but it had.

Enough of that... So... you won’t hunt them, and they’ll quit doing such efficient jobs of concealing themselves from you, and everyone will quit pestering me so much, right? I was using my own client smile at that point, even the client voice where my pitch was too high and cheerful.

I didn’t agree to that last part, Zeke rebutted with a smirk. His eyes that had started to return to normal were twinkling like little lights when he crossed the tiny space between us. I have no plans to stop pestering you. It’s far too entertaining.

Ezekiel, seriously... Karis groaned, "Don’t you have a setting between serious and flirt?"

Don’t you get sick of the stick up your... I slapped Zeke’s arm so hard that he blurted a startled ‘ow’ and shifted confused eyes to me. Over such a stupid remark... really, Haven Ansley Porter?

Why did that look in his eyes make a rock drop from my chest down to my stomach? The look that shifted to thoughtful inspection before I turned my back on him.

You can all behave, or you can leave... I have work to do.... I walked over to the bed that was apparently going to be mine since Taylor had set my things on it, and dug through my bags to pull out my laptop. I was blatantly ignoring them while I sat on my bed and got my computer started up so I could check on the business emails. I wanted to assure our new client that we had arrived and would meet her soon for the first walkthrough.

Amber Regoli was the type of client that this could either go really well, or really badly.... She was an investor looking to buy an apartment complex in town. At the moment, it was about 75% occupied and she had put in an offer contingent not only upon physical inspection, but also upon psychic inspection. Apparently, something about the place gave her chills, but not enough so that she felt the need to turn her back on it. I had never met anyone like her. On the one hand she was open-minded to the point that she thought the chills might be a ghost or other entity, on the other hand she was a shrewd enough businesswoman that she had managed to get an offer accepted with a psychic inspection contingency, something I’m not sure really existed.

When I mentally resurfaced from the situation and the email I was sending Amber, I was startled to find Zeke lounging across the bed at my feet – his wings still at his back – Karis in a chair between the beds, and Taylor stretched out on his bed, all of them staring at some random movie on the tv across the room.

I didn’t know I had moved until I was touching sunlit clouds, also known as the softest feathers warmed by threads of sunlight in Zeke’s wings, and he shifted to look over his shoulder at me. When those glittering amethyst eyes met mine, I curled my hand into a fist and felt my face flushing red.

You are always welcome to touch my wings, Haven Ansley Porter... you returned my blessings to me.... He was so serious again and it somehow managed to make my face even redder. In true Zeke fashion, he suddenly grinned at me, I like it when you touch me.

I should’ve expected the words from the shift in his demeanor, but I hadn’t, and it had me scrambling off the bed while his eyes tracked my every move. I was obviously frantic from the way that Taylor reached out to steady me, causing me to flinch because I hadn’t been expecting physical contact.

What time are we meeting the client? he questioned perfectly calmly – calmly to try to help soothe me, the question to get my mind off of Zeke’s behavior.

"Six... Can I... or I guess we... go get something to eat before we go over there?" I was asking Taylor, and I only meant Taylor, but....

Food sounds wonderful, Zeke commented while I spared him the briefest glance to find him standing at the foot of the bed, stretching his arms over his head. What kind of case is this that you’re working, anyway?

My heart was racing so fast that I could feel my pulse under my skin and Taylor actually had to stand up beside me and place both of his hands on my shoulders and lean down until his forehead was touching mine to get my attention again. "Calm down, luv... he’s just messing with you... I could still hurt him if you want, I just can’t hunt him, which means I can’t kill him.... Taylor’s voice shifted from perfectly calm to growling and his hands tightened just a bit more on my shoulders than necessary. They’ll leave if you tell them to...."

And therein lay the problem… As annoying as they could both be, I felt most comfortable when I had Taylor, Karis, and Zeke with me.

Ezekiel… come with me, we’re going to let our Haven eat and work. You and I can make sure there aren’t any threats in the area. Karis insisted as he rose gracefully from the cheap hotel chair and grabbed Zeke’s shoulder.

You two never let me have any fun… Zeke pouted, maintaining the actual pout for only a breath before he was grinning. Can we come back by later, Haven Ansley Porter?

Ye... The ‘yes’ was automatic, but I stopped it by clamping my mouth shut and found Zeke’s eyes sparkling again while he murmured another quiet ‘hmm’ and I wondered what he kept finding so interesting.

I’ll check in later, he decided. Somehow, he escaped Karis’ hold, kissed my cheek, and disappeared from the hotel room – I say ‘somehow’ because Karis looked more than a little annoyed.

Haven Ansley... Karis sighed and shook his head while his hair painted itself moonlight white, like someone was pouring the color over the top of his head, and his eyes flickered through all of their colors before settling on liquid gold. I’ll do what I can about Ezekiel... If you want either of us to come back, just call, all right?

I wasn’t proud to admit that a whimper slipped out of my lips, lips that I was biting while I tried to keep my feet still. His eyes flickered to midnight blue while his head tilted to one side.

Haven... what’s going on...? Taylor quietly asked, the hands that had gripped my shoulders sliding down my arms.

Karis righted his head and held his hand out toward me. I took it instantly, just as quickly jerking mine back because I hadn’t meant to take his hand, it just happened. His eyes were flickering through all of their colors again when I briefly met his gaze before staring down at my bare feet – when had I taken off my shoes...?

All right then... Call me, if you want me to come back, Karis reiterated. His voice had changed, though, something was different and I didn’t really understand what, but he didn’t leave until I nodded.

Haven...? Taylor eventually prodded since the room had gone eerily quiet after Karis had left and I still hadn’t moved.

Ca... I faltered, slowly shaking my head, Let me get changed... then we can eat and go meet Amber.

A moment later, the ceramic of the pedestal sink in the bathroom was digging into my skin from how hard I was gripping it while I tried to fill my lungs with heaps of air. I. Cannot. Deal. With. This. Each word in my mind was punctuated with a calming gulp of air. It wasn’t until I looked up into the mirror and found Taylor standing in the doorway that I realized I’d run off ‘to change’ without any of my clothes.

Why don’t I wash up while you change in the room? I could really use a rinse after that drive. The words were pleasant enough, the look in his eyes, however, spoke volumes, and that time I was certain the swirls were actually moving like pinwheels around his pupils.

A nod was all I could manage before I walked unsteadily back into the room. His energy pressed against me when we passed, and despite getting the definite impression that he wanted to, he didn’t stop me.

I heard him close the door to the bathroom, had enough sense to make sure the curtains were tightly closed, then pulled out my black slacks and a sky blue top that was somewhere between comfortable and professional – I didn’t like ‘professional office wear’ and since I didn’t work in an office, I was able to skirt the rules a little, but with a client like Amber Regoli, I figured I should pull out the higher quality clothes, at least for our first meeting. I was also doing my usual focusing on the small details so I could ignore the bigger issues.

Are you decent? Taylor called from the bathroom while I was running a brush through my hair in front of the mirror over the dresser.

Yeah, I called back. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he was in his same clothes, but his eyes scanned across me before he walked to his suitcase.

Am I bodyguard or partner today?

I paused with the brush about halfway down my long hair and darted my gaze to his back in the mirror.

I’m not sure what she’d respond best to, so I’ll leave it up to you.

Somewhere in between, then…. He pulled out his black jeans, the ones that fit him just right, a black t-shirt, and a dark gray button-up shirt. I knew with that outfit that he’d pull his hair back into one of the shortest ponytail nubs ever because it was shaggy, but not long enough for a full-on ponytail.

Maybe don’t pull the hair back, I said loud enough for him to hear and he poked his head out of the bathroom to give me a very confused look.

Why?

I’m not sure she’ll react too well to super-hot bodyguard Taylor.

And my hair being down makes me…? Less hot?

I was biting my lip when I darted my attention back to the brush in my hair. I’m just trying to make sure everything runs smoothly….

My breath hitched on a gasp when he was just suddenly standing behind me, his hair falling over my shoulder because he was leaning over me. And having my hair down helps… how…?

Why are all of you…. My heart was hammering against my chest while I tried to step away, but he had at some point pressed his hands on the dresser to either side of me, effectively blocking me in.

I don’t like how you’re reacting to them….

He pushed himself off the dresser and proceeded to walk back to the bathroom while I tried to slow my heart rate back down. What was going on with the three of them?!

I actually put on makeup, like professional going-out makeup, which I almost never did, focusing on each little piece to distract myself from the rest of my life. I was here to do a job, and I needed to do the job, not worry about whatever was going on with the men in my life – could I even actually call them men since none of them were actually human?

I physically shook my head, only after putting down the eyeliner, and looked up in the mirror to make sure I was actually put together. Huh… I actually looked sort of… pretty…? I shrugged and grabbed my stuff off the bed – purse for meeting the client, bag for my laptop in case I needed it, my version of Taylor’s hunting bag that had some random things that could help if things got a little weird.

When I went to toss the laptop bag and my work bag over my shoulders, though, they just disappeared from my hands. I darted startled eyes up to Taylor who was lifting the bags onto his own shoulders along with his hunting bag. He had left his hair down like I’d suggested, a suggestion I was starting to doubt, but I didn’t say anything, just followed him out of the hotel room to the Rover.

I don’t know when he had managed to do it, but somehow he knew his way around town already. In the two weeks since I had been healed enough to move around on my own, we had been trying different food places – something about the little mom-and-pop shops we had visited in that last town had made me want to explore more. So I wasn’t entirely surprised when he pulled up to a small, local Italian shop that, once we got inside, appeared to be run but an Italian family.

By the time we were through our salads, we were both laughing – the energy in the restaurant was so joyful and loving that you couldn’t help but be happy.

It was about the time that thought crossed my mind that I realized the literal energy inside the restaurant was seeping through my barrier and influencing my mood. The second I realized it, I felt my barrier lock into place, blocking out the invading energy and stopping my laughter. True to his nature, Taylor sobered up only a split-second after I did, though he couldn’t quite seem to shake the edge of a smile from his lips.

Our server, Matteo, appeared with a pitcher of tea to refill our already full glasses. His smile was almost blindingly bright amidst his tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. When I didn’t return his smile, his eventually faltered and those dark eyes darted toward the kitchen door where an older man was standing with the swinging door resting against his back.

The older man hesitated only one more moment before walking over to our table. He didn’t waste the smile, he just kept wiping down the bowl in his hands while his deep brown eyes inspected me.

We have done nothing wrong… we try only to bring happiness to our customers.

Happy customers don’t tend to complain and they tend to tip better… I calmly countered causing the older man to shrug his shoulders.

You were happy, and then you weren’t… We don’t get customers capable of doing something like that, not normally. Once you’re happy, you stay that way until something comes along that interferes with the happiness you took with you. It isn’t wrong, there are no rules or laws against it… we are hurting no one.

We were both managing to talk about the magic going on in the room without actually calling it that, without outright saying that the other of us was actually doing anything. I guess I could understand – I mean, people didn’t always react well when I called them out on things since sometimes they weren’t aware they were even doing anything….

Do we need to leave? I asked and his eyes actually widened.

Not if you wish to stay, he replied sincerely, The food is better when you don’t cut off the happiness, though.

I looked at him for a long breath then finally gave up. I don’t understand... are you really emitting this kind of energy in your restaurant just for good tips? You don’t get anything else from it...?

Our people thrive on happiness, joy, excitement... the emotions that tend to be considered positive... The more of them there are, the better off we are. He was still being a bit evasive, but could I really blame him? You are an odd mix of new and not... His gaze finally shifted briefly to Taylor before he actually sighed, Your Hunter is neither of those things... which should tell you that we aren’t a danger or he would not have been at ease here.

That was true, and also the bluntest he had been about anything during our odd conversation. If it’s okay, we’ll stay; but I’m not comfortable with energy that changes my mood.

The older man inclined his head into a small nod. That is your choice to make. Matteo will be back with your food momentarily.

The older man and our server waited only one more second then walked back to the kitchen. Taylor lifted an eyebrow over his sunglasses at me and I shrugged – they really did seem harmless enough, whatever they were, and even my own barrier hadn’t considered what they were doing a threat until I decided it bothered me. Still, I closed my eyes and concentrated ‘Karis... are you able to tell me just what the people are that own the restaurant I’m in right now, without coming here?’

His nothingness brushed across my hand and the entire restaurant seemed to take a breath before his energy disappeared and it returned to normal.

The chime of a text had my eyes opening to find the entire family looking at me from the kitchen.

They’re harmless, Haven Ansley. Idrialies that sustain themselves with excess positive human emotions. They’re harmless. The text from Karis soothed the remnants of my worries, though I wasn’t sure how I felt about creatures that fed off of any kind of human energy... but, if he said they were harmless....

They’re staring at me....

They’re in tune with energies, much like you, Haven Ansley, so they felt my energy visit you and since they’re positive energy creatures, they probably didn’t like my visiting. They really are harmless, though, so you should still be fine. Zeke visiting would calm them all down if they seem that upset.

I stared at the last text until Matteo was setting our food on the table. He seemed nervous, so completely different from earlier that I actually found myself feeling guilty. Guilty enough that I sighed, closed my eyes, and focused solely on the thought ‘Ezekiel, could you please come here and smooth things over for me...?’

I didn’t even get to take in another breath before the front door of the restaurant opened and Zeke walked in with his dark hair still long, but his eyes their less extravagant shade of non-shiny purple. He was wearing jeans and a deep purple t-shirt as he strolled across the restaurant and made a point of stopping beside my booth. I was clearly going to have to pay for my favor....

I slid further across the bench seat and dragged my food across the table while Zeke sat down and looked up at a very shocked Matteo.

Could I get a water and whatever it is that she’s having? He requested, motioning toward me with his head.

Matteo stammered an incoherent answer, but his nod was enough as he scurried off to the kitchen where the rest of his family was staring blatantly at Zeke.

I don’t get it... I murmured, only then realizing that he had flung his arm over the back of the booth so that his fingers could play across my shoulder.

Then why did you call me? He asked as his fingers wound into my hair. When I glanced up at him, he was staring across the table with a grin on his lips, so I looked over to find Taylor glaring at him.

Arin said it would appease the family if you came by since I upset them by getting him to tell me what they were....

Zeke laughed, finally removing his arm from the back of the booth only because Matteo returned with his water and food.

W... will y... you n... need anything else... s... sir? Matteo stuttered, winding his fingers into knots in his apron while I watched.

I believe we’re fine for now. Thank you, Matteo, Zeke calmly replied, flashing one of his brightest smiles at the young server who looked like he might faint, but somehow managed to make it back to the kitchen, to his family, to the voices that started up excitedly. The Idrialies are mine, too. Zeke eventually explained with a shrug while he dove into his food, Arin was right to suggest that you call me; they’re harmless, really, but they wouldn’t have reacted well to his energy messing around with their home and they would have blamed you for it.

"Did you father anything else I should know about...?" I grumbled and he grinned around his mouthful of food.

You should eat. They’re really some of the best cooks you’ll ever come across. And do tell your Hunter to calm down, would you? Or better yet, stop blocking the energy from reaching him and he’ll be happy, Zeke remarked nonchalantly, "And no others that you should know about."

I am not blocking the energy from him, I countered, which got me a very ‘are you kidding?’ look from Zeke before he laughed and resumed eating.

I looked over at Taylor, then closed my eyes to focus on my barrier and discovered that I had somehow thrown it out to reach him without meaning to. Should I really release him from it, though? Just because Karis and Zeke said the Idrialies were harmless.... I was biting my lip when I pulled my barrier back until it was only around me, tightly conformed to my body so I wouldn’t slip up again. Almost immediately, Taylor was laughing and chatting with Zeke like they were old friends and Zeke was actually smiling.

I finally took a bite of my pasta and it was so amazingly delicious that the bowl I thought I’d never be able to finish was empty a short time later.

I told you they were good cooks, Zeke whispered across my ear – when had he moved closer? How did he manage to wrap his arm around my shoulders again? He was searching my eyes when he laughed, kissed my cheek, and tucked his head so no one could possibly hear him when he nearly silently told me, Your barrier is in place against the external energies, but you ate their food which is prepared by hands that expel that same energy. Put simply, you ingested some of it which is why you’re still aware but letting me get away with more than you normally would.

And, of course, in true Ezekiel fashion, you take advantage, I murmured. He was so close that I actually felt his lips curl into their grin.

Were I taking advantage, I would be doing much more than wrapping my arm around your shoulders and whispering in your ear, Haven Ansley Porter. My heart jumped in my chest and started racing again – what was it with these guys?! I tried to scramble away from him, but there was nowhere to go. He chuckled under his breath, kissed my cheek again, then unfolded himself from sitting on the booth and stretched his arms over his head. The stretch pulled the bottom of his shirt up and I caught a flicker of color on his hip.

I didn’t realize I had moved until I found the hem of his shirt in my fingers. My eyes were wide when I jerked my hands away and scrambled back across the booth. Okay, what was with me around these guys? Something really weird was going on and the look in Zeke’s eyes as he watched me like a predator following its prey gave me the distinct impression that he knew more about what was going on than I did.

He mumbled yet another infuriatingly meaningless ‘hmm’ but just let his arms fall back to rest at his sides. I’ll see you later, Haven Ansley Porter. Unless you needed me for something else.

No... thanks.... I mumbled, which earned me his brightest smile and made my heart skip. Work first, then figure out what’s going on... I thought as I watched him stop to visit with the restaurant’s family before he disentangled himself from them and walked out the front door.

Matteo was practically bouncing on his feet like a little kid when he came back over to our table with a slice of tiramisu.

"To show our appreciation. It has been generations since last we saw our forefather in person! Please, your meal is gratis. Take your time." He set the plate on the table with two forks – it was a giant slice of tiramisu and I was rather full from the pasta, but that tiramisu.... Taylor had already started in on it by the time I decided I could make room for part of it and I couldn’t help but laugh softly. He seemed so relaxed and happy and I hadn’t seen him that way in a very long time....

We have to get to your client meeting, Taylor stated, the first mention of anything serious he had made since I’d stopped blocking him from the energies of the restaurant. Maybe we can stop by here again before we leave town... if there’s time...?

Taylor almost never asked to pick a restaurant, or revisit one, so I nodded instantly. If he was that happy here, I absolutely wanted to come back.

Did you need anything else? Matteo just appeared beside the table the second we finished the last bit of tiramisu and after a glance at Taylor to confirm, I shook my head. "Please come back to see us again. Grazie signora. Grazie mille."

It was the weirdest feeling to get up from the table without paying and leave the restaurant with Taylor while the family kept popping up to say ‘grazie’ and touch my hand or shoulder.

I sat in the passenger seat of the Rover in blatant shock – what in the world just happened? Really?

Chapter 2

We were driving toward the apartment complex where we were set to meet Amber when the air in the vehicle shifted and I chanced a glance at Taylor to find his hands tight on the steering wheel.

Yes, I enjoyed our meal, but what in the name of the gods was going on in that restaurant? He was trying to be calm, except he looked a cross between seriously pissed off and extremely confused.

Do you know anything about Idrialies? I queried instead and the tension left his shoulders, I didn’t know what they were, so I asked Arin, and they kind of freaked out about his energy, so he suggested I have Zeke visit to calm them back down... since... they’re kind of descendants of his... like the Sirens....

It seems to me that your archangel has a tendency to create beings that have the ability to affect others in some way – altering their moods and such... It seems to me, that would mean he has the same ability... Taylor reasoned before he turned in his seat to face me, which made me notice we had stopped at the apartment complex. "It was nice... not to worry for a little while... So I would like to go back before we leave, if there’s time; but I’d prefer you not invite the archangel to join us again... Just because I wasn’t in my head enough to say anything at the time doesn’t mean I didn’t see how he was treating you, how you let him treat you."

My cheeks turned pink while I bit my lip and nodded. Movement outside of the Rover caught my eye and I saw a young woman, probably in her late 20’s or early 30’s, getting out of a stylish sports car. She had auburn hair that was perfectly smoothed and curled only at the bottom to rest neatly on her shoulders. The black dress she wore was sleek and fit her so perfectly I wondered how she’d actually gotten into it. This had to be Amber Regoli, though I honestly hadn’t expected her to be quite so young... I guess in a way that explained her open-mindedness a bit better.

I felt underdressed as I climbed out of the Rover and quickly ran my hands over my hair and down my outfit to smooth it all out and ensure I didn’t have any stray crumbs from our lunch. I hadn’t ever cared before what a client thought of my outfit, so why was I so self-conscious as we walked over to meet Amber who was shifting stylish sunglasses up onto the top of her head to reveal emerald green eyes while her lips curled into a genuinely happy smile?

Amber Regoli, she announced by way of greeting while she held a perfectly manicured hand out to me that was adorned with glittering rings and a chunky bracelet that appeared to be made of multiple strands of pearls woven together. You must be Haven Porter. I cannot thank you enough for coming out to look the place over!

She was gorgeous, and that tiny voice in the back of my head that liked to point out every one of my flaws couldn’t seem to stop pointing out how she didn’t have any of them. I wondered for the first time if men experienced the same thing... I’d spoken to other women about it before, so I knew I wasn’t the only one, but did men go through that? That immediate second where they’re comparing themselves to another guy they’re meeting for the first time?

I shook her hand and put on my nicest client smile. Yes, I’m Haven and this is my associate, Taylor, I motioned toward him but he just gave a curt nod – apparently he had opted to go more bodyguard, less partner. If we could get inside before dark, that would be best.

The nocturnal energies may not have the effect on me that they used to since I had a fancy barrier that more or less blocked them out, but they could still taint my findings. I needed to get a feel for what was frequently hanging around, not necessarily what was just visiting, or what might have been drawn to my energy in this new area....

Of course! I had my realtor come over and open the vacant apartments, so any door that’s open we’re free to enter; if you need to get into one of the occupied units, we’ll have to see if anyone’s home. Did you want me to come with or stay out of the way? she helpfully asked as we stepped inside the complex into the lobby. Part of me appreciated that she asked, part of me hated her more for being so perfect... I squashed down the hateful part because it was completely irrational and I didn’t like myself for it.

If you could stay here while I take a walkthrough. I might have questions for you when I get back. Taylor will be doing his own walkthrough, if that’s all right.

It’s fine, she dismissed with a smile and a wave of her hand while she fished her phone out of a clutch purse I hadn’t even noticed and started typing away at the screen. I’ll be here if you need me. She flashed me one more smile then became so absorbed in her phone I wasn’t sure she even knew we existed anymore.

I motioned with my head to the two hallways then gave Taylor a questioning look. The very corner of his lips curled up before he barely shook his head and started down the second hallway while I started down the first.

The problem with being alone, wandering mindlessly through the hallways and empty apartments of the building, was that I didn’t have to focus on anything, so my thoughts strayed back to how odd Taylor, Karis, and Zeke were all acting recently and how oddly I kept reacting to them.... I didn’t have to focus as I wandered because I knew the second we stepped in the front door that there were spirits living here, I was just trying to see if any of them pinged my barrier, which didn’t take the least bit of focus on my part.

So they were all making it relatively obvious that they liked me, or whatever... But I had just had to... well, had the worst breakup in the history of breakups if you asked me... Though I guess since Taylor had been forced to kill his only ever serious girlfriend because she’d been turned into a vampire and gone on a killing spree, his might have been worse. I hadn’t thought about Taylor and his ex... He actually probably understood what I was feeling better than either of the others.... The point here is that I’m not ready to be in a relationship! The thought actually made me giggle to myself. So I wasn’t ready for a relationship – then why did I keep reacting to Karis and Zeke like I did? It was almost like I had an impulse to touch them.... And neither of them seemed surprised by it; they both seemed like they expected it.

I let out a quiet eep when I entered the last apartment and found a very familiar spirit sitting at the vacant dining room table, flipping through a magazine. His light red hair was only long on the top, and blue-gray eyes seemed to sparkle over the scruffy facial hair that I wouldn’t quite call a beard just because of how short it was. He was even in different clothes that time – still the tighter black pants and barefoot, but he had on a black tank top underneath a green button-up short sleeve shirt. I shouldn’t be able to see his clothes clearly enough to determine the colors that well, I shouldn’t be able to see him that well.

He shifted his gaze up to me and I noticed that his right eye seemed to glisten more from the light coming in the window. Light. Daylight. My eyes shifted to the window and back to him and he just calmly closed the magazine and