Star Gods, стр. 29

“You don’t understand?” Ashe mocks. “What part of Assassin don’t you understand?”

I shrug and Ashe’s face turns redder.

“You stopped to grab a staff that nearly killed you.”

“Yeah, what’s the big deal? He can’t come after me if he doesn’t have it.”

Ashe’s eyes shoot daggers. Abby places her hand on his arm, and he turns and glares at her. “I’m going to kill him,” he sputters. “No need for an Assassin, I’m going to ring his neck with my bare hands!”

Abby forces him to turn away, speaking softly into his ear. I can’t help but think how nice they look together.

Sage lifts herself up onto her toes, blocking my view as she looks into my eyes. “Are you okay?”

I stare back into hers. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why is everyone having an issue with this?” I can’t keep my eyes on her for long, the blade on the staff calls me back, the colors seem to be intermixing inside of it, twisting like a curlicue.

“Tyce, step away from Zeke with that thing, will ya?” Sage suggests.

I open my hand and the staff flies into it. I glare at Tyce when he tries to take it back.

“Something’s wrong with that thing,” Ashe states moving Abby to the side so he can come closer. He holds out his hand. “Zeke, hand it over.”

“Why?” I remove the tip of the blade from my pocket.

“That thing has some kind of hold on you. Give it to me.”

I exam the blade and its missing piece in my hand.

“What’re you doing?” Tyce asks with concern.

I hold it up between two fingers. “This piece belongs right here.”

“Don’t let that reattach!”

I tip my head to the side. “Why, Abby?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea is all.” She hangs her thumbs from her front pockets, her eyes steadily on me.

“And how would you know that?” I feel a tug and find Ashe with one hand firmly grasping the staff and I arch a brow. “You’re not taking this,” I scoff. I lift a hand and send my brother flying back onto the couch.

“Knock it off, Zeke!” Tyce yells, going to Ashe and helping him to his feet. “Sage, extract that thing from him.”

My twin tries to use her ability, but I’m stronger. “It’s mine now.” I bring my hand up with the broken tip and I let it mend back into its original position.

“Dammit.” Abby rubs her forehead. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

I feel a pull on my barrier. Sage angrily extracts and cloaks the fixed blade inside of it. She yanks the staff from me, her face an angry red. “What the hell did you just do?”

Something shifts inside of me and I blink to clear my mind. I stare at her in confusion, then to my brothers who return it laced with venom. I stare at the staff with wide eyes, not really comprehending what just occurred. “I…ah…I…oh, my God.” I sit on the couch and hold my face in my hands.

“Did you know what you were doing?” Ashe asks sternly.

I shake my head and answer through my hands. “I don’t know what just happened. It was like I wasn’t in control.”

“I’d say,” Tyce replies. “Why was he reacting to it? It belongs to an Assassin, not a descendent of Star Gods.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

I remove my hands and stare at Abby in surprise.

Ashe moves toward her. “What?”

She stands her ground, her thumbs releasing from her pockets. “Do you know anything about the Assassins?”

Ashe stops in front of her, the toes of his shoes touching hers. “I’m a little more interested in the fact you’re not freaking out right now with everything that just occurred. Who are you and what do you know about us?”

“Do you know who Assassins are before they become one?” she asks instead.

Ashe’s eyes slit in question as he towers over her. “Same question, Abby.”

“Back up, Ashe,” she warns.

“Why?”

“Because I like you and I don’t want to hurt you.”

Ashe guffaws. He lifts his hands at his sides and glowing silver spreads laced with violet in the tiny area between them. “You don’t want to hurt me?” he challenges. “You need to tell me why you are completely at ease with what we’re discussing, and how you know about the Assassins from the Unknown Planet.”

Abby stands her ground, her eyes never leaving his.

“Answer me, Abby,” Ashe states with authority. “Now.”

“I’m going to get into so much trouble for this.” She blows out a quick breath of annoyance placing her hands onto her hips. “Are your wards secure?”

Ashe draws back. “Okay, now you really need to tell me who you really are.”

“Are you connecting the dots here at all?” She taps at her temple. “Are they secure or not? I don’t want to die the minute I step outside.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Listen,” she states, cocking a hip. “I meant it when I said I like you. I like you a lot actually. But, if anyone feels the shift I’m dead the minute I leave. So please, answer me, are your wards secure?”

“Yeah.”

“I need you to back up.” She rolls her eyes when he doesn’t move. “I’m not going to beg and you are really pissing me off. For your safety and mine, do as I ask.”

I stand as Tyce yanks Ashe back three steps, and then returns the glare our oldest brother gives him. I don’t have a good feeling about this.

“Remember what I represent, Ashe.”

I feel a shift, a compression of air, and watch as a violet haze spreads over Abby. Slowly, it disappears leaving her standing in a violet cotton outfit resembling the Assassins and holding a similar circular bladed staff in her grasp.

I hear the sharp inhale before Ashe’s ward streaks out of his hand and Abby easily blocks it with her staff.

“What the hell?” I say. “Are you what I think you are?”

“Ashe.” Abby points at him as he advances. “What does violet mean?”

His face shows annoyance and surprise all