minds. Light the path so you can see, just the men you’re
meant to be.
Christian knew that Charm had just dreamed that
Michael was the one. In her dreams she knew everything
would be alright now. When he heard her think of how her
angel had found his soul and how soon Michael would lead
him to his heart he felt like a peeping tom. Pressing his
hands against the side of his head, he wished he didn’t
hear the rest of her thoughts He hated how she just knew
that once he had moved on, Michael would be free to find
his other great loves. She was saddened by what Michael
would have to go through — so much pain and heartache
before he could find his own peace and happiness.
Desperately Christian tried to break the connection as
Charm woke up. He didn’t want to know that she was a little
scared at how their dreams where becoming more and
more a reality. Oh God, if this was the case would the rest
of their dreams fol ow suit? Doyle was not the only one who
had dreamed of the other Michael, the one who seduced
Kerr in her dreams. What the Fuck? Christian yanked his
mind back not wanting to hear any more. Oh God. Was
Kerr gay?
§ § § §
Sebastian’s powers were growing. He had always
thought that by coming to this place the amount of power
the ring held would increase. Rickard had told him the
improvements they had made in the woman were starting
to take effect. What woman? He didn’t know nor did he
real y care. Al he did care about was now that Michael had
joined the family, it had triggered the dormant future
memories the Eldren had planted in the woman. Things
they needed Michael to hear once he was reunited with the
woman they had changed. The only women he could ever
see Michael reuniting with would be his mother or his sister.
It was now his job to manipulate things enough to get the
next stage of the plan underway.
The woman the Eldren changed would help lead
everyone to the Eldren’s final goal and he couldn’t wait.
Though he didn’t understand why they wouldn’t reveal who
this woman was. And again he could only think that it was
someone in Michael’s human family. It would bear watching
to see if he could work it out.
Shaking his head he smirked. Now it was time to play
with Michael some more. Oh and how he enjoyed playing
with Michael. He had so many fine things set in place which
would destroy them al and Michael was the key to
everything. He would let him get comfortable in his new life
before he struck.
§ § § §
As he walked through the fog, Michael could almost
taste the dampness surrounding him. With no clear view
he didn’t know where he was, but somehow he knew
exactly where he had to go. His footsteps echoed
endlessly. If he didn’t know any better he would swear his
heart had restarted and was beating rapidly within his
chest. He knew he was searching for somebody. It was
someone he couldn’t quite find. He just knew it was a
person he desperately needed.
Strangely he also knew this person, whoever he was,
wasn’t alone. Somebody else was waiting for him to make
a mistake. His body was tense, alert to the thought of what
might be.
Then he heard it. To one side Christian was crying out
in pain and devastation, and to the other side laughter,
cynical
and
menacing.
Standing
still,
Michael
concentrated and listened before he found the courage to
speak. “If you want me, come and get me. I am the
solution. You are the problem — I don’t fear you,
arsehole!” His courage strengthened as the laughter
ceased. That one action gave him the determination to
continue. “He is mine and I want him back.”
“ No! ” The one word rang out like thunder. Michael
could feel the hatred pouring over him.
“Christian belongs to me. He’s mine.” Michael’s voice
was calm. “I want him back.”
“He is not yours! He will never be yours until you give
yourselves to each other willingly, and that will never
happen,” the voice sneered.
“We will — Christian is mine! He will always be mine.”
“The choice is death,” the voice stated. “Your life for
his.”
“Agreed,” Michael answered immediately. He didn’t
need time to think. If he had to die for Christian to live
then so be it. Michael cried out in pain as a white light
surrounded his body, tearing at his very soul.
Michael woke up in searing pain. Groaning, he clutched
at his stomach. What the fuck was happening to him? His
stomach somersaulted end over end. God! What was hel
was wrong with him? With a whimper, he let Christian
gather him into his arms.
“It’s okay, you’re awake now. Shh, it’s okay.” Michael
heard Christian’s soothing voice as he was held and felt
Christian tenderly kiss his face as he murmured words of
comfort. Michael tried to get himself under control, yet he
found himself pressing further into Christian’s arms. He
couldn’t seem to answer any of Christian’s questions about
what was wrong. Al that mattered was getting as close as
he could. This was what he needed and he breathed easier
as Christian tightened his arms around him.
“I’m al right now.” Michael slowly extracted himself from
Christian’s embrace. He felt embarrassed by the way he
had acted. “I’m okay. Real y, I’m fine.”
When Christian reached out to brush the hair out of his
eyes Michael flinched and pul ed away.
“What happened?” Christian asked as he let his hand
drop back to the bed.
“I don’t know it was just a bad dream I guess.” Michael
couldn’t bring himself to look at Christian, not wanting any
fresh reminders of why he had been and stil was riddled
with pain. If his nightmare had been a premonition, then the
way things were going it was a sure thing everyone’s
dreams were real, and the little nagging voice in his head
was tel ing the truth. He stared at the bed trying to work
through the jumble in his mind. Why didn’t he feel disturbed
finding so much comfort in being near Christian? If he was
truly straight then shouldn’t he be freaking out right about
now?
“Do you want to try and get a bit more sleep?”
Michael replied a little too quickly and a little too loudly.
“No!” There was no way he was going to so readily subject
himself to the tortures of his dreaming state.
“I need a drink.” Michael stood up and had to grab the
end of the bed to steady himself. Nausea rose up inside
him and nearly dropped him to his knees.
“I’m fine,” he snapped as Christian reached toward him.
“I don’t need your help.” Michael knew his words had hurt
Christian and he realised just how wrong his denial for
assistance was when he reached the top of the attic stairs.
Losing consciousness, he tumbled to the landing below.
Jumping up off the bed, Christian flew down the stairs to
be at Michael’s side. He had just lifted Michael into his
arms when the others came from their rooms to investigate
what the commotion was about. As Christian carried
Michael to their room, he fil ed the others in on what had
happened. For some reason he omitted the part about the
photo, the book of runes, and the fact he had cradled
Michael in his arms while he cried. Why, he wasn’t quite
sure. At the moment it just felt right. He carried Michael into
their room as the others fol owed behind him. As he laid
Michael on the bed he kinda wished they hadn’t. He didn’t
want them there in case Michael woke up and pushed him
away again.
“Drack,” Christian said as Charm bent down to study the
tiny bundle of feathers perched atop the step ladder. “New
pet,” he added when she turned to grace him with a
breathtakingly beautiful smile.
“Wow!” Doyle also bent down to inspect the newest
resident, “He’s a cutie.”
No one real y took any notice as Kerr started backing
slowly toward the door, while Christian tended to Michael’s
needs. Nobody said anything about why Kerr was now
standing nervously in the doorway and as far away from the
baby bird as possible. Though, Christian did wonder about
it.
Honestly Christian couldn’t believe any of this was
happening. Everything was normal around here until
Michael turned up, now everything was in utter chaos. Not
that he wanted Michael to leave — Michael was the best
thing now about living in this house. Now suddenly Charm
was acting weirder than usual, more forceful. It was as if
because of the dreams, she thought she knew everything
about Michael. For some reason it irritated Christian. The
dreams had told them al Michael would love him, so she
needed to back the fuck off – they al did.
Another thing which was pissing Christian off — and he
wondered if the others had noticed — was just how often
Michael watched Doyle, especial y when he thought no was
looking. What the hel was up with that? After the shared
dreams by al the inhabitants of the house, everyone’s
friendships were strained, and he hated it. His own feelings
were getting him nowhere with Michael, because Michael
seemed to be so fricken clueless. He couldn’t even
understand why he had such strong feelings for Michael. He
just knew he did, and knew he wanted to explore them
further, so Michael-bloody-Marsden would just have to get
with the damn program.
Christian’s gaze drifted toward the door as Kerr
nervously stared at the bird and casual y said, “You can’t
keep the owl in the house.”
“I can do whatever the hel I want,” Christian said cool y.
He could feel his pent up anger beginning to bubble over.
“You can’t keep it in the house,” Kerr growled.
“Who died and made you God?” Christian snapped as
he pul ed the sheet across Michael, covering his body from
prying eyes.
“I did.” Anger seethed in his every word. “I fucking died
— three years ago to be exact.”
“Stop it!” Doyle said as he turned to face them both.
“Kerr, it’s just a baby.”
Clearly not listening, Kerr’s voice only rose higher. “That
baby wil soon grow into a huge fucking bird.”
“ W h a t is your problem?” Christian snapped
incredulously. Advancing toward Kerr he poked him in the
chest. “It’s not as if it’s going to try and eat you. It’s just a
fucking bird. Right now he is probably more scared of you
then you are of him.”
Taking a step back from Christian, Kerr mumbled
something which sounded close to “I doubt it” before saying
out loud, “I just don’t like them.”
Christian saw Kerr was feeling a little embarrassed
about the big to-do he had made about the bird.
“Owls just freak me out, especial y the way they can turn
their heads al the way around.” Kerr shuddered as he
replied sheepishly, stil not able to walk into the room.
“I won’t let him anywhere near you, I promise.” Christian
relaxed, his voice returning to normal. “But I am keeping
him.” Christian grinned. “Who would have thought big bad
Kerr Rooney was freaked at a little cute bundle of
feathers?”
“Arsehole!” Kerr growled back. And Christian knew the
tension was gone.
CHAPTER FIVE
What are you thinking?
Michael opened his eyes careful y, afraid any sort of
sudden movement would send him crashing back into the
pit of utter darkness. As his surroundings came back into
focus he became aware there was a disturbance around
him, and he was once again lying in a bed, but this time it
was the bed he shared with Christian.
“He’s awake!” Charm exclaimed and Michael realised
he had been staring at Doyle. He quickly averted his eyes
before anyone else noticed what he was doing. More to the
point before Doyle realised what he was doing. He already
thought Michael was a freak.
had trouble swal owing to form the words. “When did we get
a bird? Just how long have I been out?” Michael asked in
confusion.
“Just a smal misunderstanding,” Kerr stated, glaring at
the others to contradict him. “It’s al sorted now. Christian
found his new pet on the way home tonight,” he smirked at
Michael. “Don’t worry, you have only been out for about
twenty minutes or so. Nothing major has happened in that
time.”
Michael winced as pain shot through his mind. “What
happened? I feel as if I have been smacked on the head by
a sledge hammer.”
Crooning softly, Charm gently caressed the lump which
was forming on his forehead. “You fel down the attic steps.”
She said before leaning over and gently placing a kiss in
the same spot, and ouch, didn’t that just send pain shooting
through his head.
Michael’s gaze went straight to Kerr’s face, as if to say.
“Seriously man, what the fuck is going on?” He sighed as
Kerr just shrugged.
In that instant, Kerr only seemed to be half watching him;
he was actual y watching Christian’s reaction. When Charm
and Doyle realised he was going to be okay, they both
drifted away, heading to their own rooms until only Kerr and
Christian remained. Though Michael noticed Kerr kept as
far away from the owlet as possible. What sort of damn owl
was it anyway? Because it kinda looked a little odd.
Silence reigned as Kerr eyed both Michael and
Christian. Frown lines formed on his forehead as he final y
spoke. “I suppose you two don’t feel in the mood to start
tel ing me what’s real y happening? And don’t tel me it’s
nothing. You’ve changed, both of you, especial y you!”
Pointing at Michael, Kerr then began pacing the room
nervously before starting to talk again.
“I thought I had things under control. Then those stupid
bloody dreams come back in force. At first I just dismiss it
as utter crap.” Kerr pointed at Michael again. “I told you how
Doyle was the first one who dreamt about you. How he
predicted you a ful year before you turned up as one of us.
His dreams are always more detailed than the rest.”
“He did?” Michael thought Christian seemed to be
dropping back into a childlike awe. “You never told me that
before,” he said to Kerr. “What else has Doyle told you?”
Kerr stared at Christian in disbelief. Michael knew he
had just missed something huge. “Nothing of importance,”
Kerr’s face cleared. He al owed a slow smile to be granted
in Michael’s direction.
“Charm told me something,” Christian said hesitantly.
Michael thought maybe he wasn’t sure whether to continue
or not for fear they would laugh at him. “You know, about our
dreams.”
“When? What did she say?” Michael sat up slowly, trying
not to pass out from the pain which stil tingled through his
body.
“Yesterday. When she decided it would be fun to watch
the sun rise.”
“What did she tel you?” Kerr had stopped pacing, and
was giving Christian his ful attention.
“It’s just, wel , I’d rather not say.” Christian began to
blush. Michael stopped himself from reaching out and
touching Christian’s arm.
Michael noticed how Christian avoided making eye
contact with either him or Kerr, and he had a sinking feeling
in the pit of his stomach. From the emotion on Christian’s
face he knew what he was going to say. “What did she
say?” Please God, let it be something different then what
Charm had been bombarding him with.
“Wel ,” Christian ran a hand through his hair, trying to
work out what to tel them. “She said… Wel …”
“Spit it out, Chris.”
“Wel she told me I would…”
“Chris! ” Michael and Kerr both said forceful y.
“Fine! She said you were going to die. You were fucking