Page 25 of Dead Air (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Seventeen

“ I think you might be trying to kill me.” Niall twisted away and pushed against Cenn’s head when he tried to lick his nipple.

“Nonsense. You’re so sweet and you make the most adorable sounds when you come. It’s my favorite thing in the world.” He went to bite Niall’s ribs, then popped up and yanked the curtains closed. “Stay down and…cover your ears!” Cenn whispered and threw the quilt over Niall’s head.

“What the heck?” Niall laughed as he yanked it down and got onto his knees so he could open the curtains.

Cenn’s hands slid around Niall’s chest as the back of his neck was licked and his earlobe was nipped. “Come back and let me do the orifices thing.”

“Now?” It was an overcast day and rain was in the forecast but Cenn had been extra clingy all morning.

Niall was about to say yes, then noticed movement and flashes of color in the trees.

“Someone’s here,” he said as he rushed to put on a T-shirt and hopped into a pair of cargo pants, sans boxers.

“They’re still a ways away but they’ll be here in a few minutes.

You should wish yourself into a shirt and some pants,” Niall suggested but Cenn caught his hand, giving it a gentle tug.

“Don’t answer it. Let’s lay low until they give up and go away,” he urged but Niall made a dismissive sound, yanking it free.

“What if Shelby’s with them? They might need my help,” he said and quickly finished dressing. “Weird that we didn’t get a call first.”

Cenn made himself presentable but stopped Niall when he bent to tie one of his boot’s laces. “They’re here about me,” he whispered, throwing a glare at the door when they heard voices.

“You don’t know that and I don’t care. I know you and all I care about is who and what you are now,” he said but Cenn took Niall’s other boot, shaking his head.

“You won’t when you hear what they have to say.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Niall pulled the boot out of his grasp and quickly put it on. “We’ve touched souls and?—”

“Soul,” Cenn corrected as he jumped in front of the door and spread his arms wide. “Only one of us has a soul and you really don’t want to know what I’ve done with it when you weren’t present.”

Niall shrugged. “Maybe I liked it. You’ve never hurt me, Cenn, and I know you never will.”

“Please don’t do this yet. We’re not ready.” Cenn made his eyes bigger and they trembled as he batted his lashes. His lip wobbled, making Niall laugh.

“That’s silly.” He braced his hands on Cenn’s chest and kissed his wobbly lip. “I trust what I feel when I’m with you. They won’t change that.”

“Niall, I…” Cenn sighed, resting his forehead on Niall’s. “There’s so much I haven’t told you and you know how I like to speak in riddles and weave around the truth.”

“We’re working on that.”

“Sure.” Cenn nodded. “We’re also working on being less naive, and by we, I mean you. You should never take anything I say at face value. We’ve talked about this,” he said and wagged a finger at Niall, then jumped when they heard the porch steps creak. “Tell them to come back later!” he whispered.

“Stop it.” Niall grabbed the front of Cenn’s T-shirt, intending to pull him off the door as someone knocked.

Cenn looked panicked and swore, then suddenly Niall saw nothing but black smoke and he couldn’t move or speak. Everything was muffled and he was cold as his body lurched back, swaying and tottering as he staggered away from the door, toward the sink and the back window.

No!

Niall’s will roared and thrashed, his entire being furious at the violation. He pushed with all his might and he felt a drop in pressure as Cenn reappeared, stumbling drunkenly into the sink as if he’d been pushed.

“How dare you!” Niall hissed angrily at Cenn, his eyes huge and his nostrils flaring.

Cenn covered his mouth, looking just as horrified as the knocking grew more insistent and Niall’s name was called. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!” His hands shook as he reached for Niall. “I shouldn’t have done it! I’m so sorry!”

“Don’t you ever do that again!” Niall said, growling as he shoved his finger into Cenn’s chest and punctuated each word with a hard jab.

“You can do whatever you want with my body and my soul at night, when we’re in here, and I’m asleep.

But you don’t flick with my free will when I’m awake and you do not speak for me. Ever! ”

“I understand completely and I am so, so, so sorry!”

“I trusted you, Cenn. Do you have any idea how…flicking awful that felt?”

Cenn nodded quickly and he looked as sick as Niall had felt. “It was awful and I could feel that I was hurting you, violating you.” His voice cracked and Cenn clawed at his own throat and face. “How could I do that?”

“Okay! Settle down,” Niall said with as much calm as he could muster. “You are going to stay in here and let me deal with this. I’ll hear them out and let them know I’m okay and then we’ll talk through this like sane, healthy adults.”

“Ha!” Cenn clapped a hand over his mouth again. “Now, who’s being ridiculous?”

“You know what I mean,” Niall whispered, turning to the door when he heard Shelby shouting his name.

Cenn held up his hands, backing away and into the shadows. “I honestly don’t. But if you’re sure you’re ready for this, go ahead. I won’t stand in your way.”

“That’s real big of you,” Niall muttered as he went to the door, smiling brightly as he opened it. “Hey, there! Welcome to the summit!” he said cheerfully, but Niall’s knees were shaking as he took in the rather striking group of men on his porch and spread out on the cabin’s small front lawn.

They were all appropriately dressed in flannels, long-sleeved T-shirts, cargo pants, and hiking boots, including the small, elderly bald man.

His flannel shirt and boots were accented with sequins and he leaned on a massive, black crystal-topped walking stick that resembled a fancy broom.

The man to his left was definitely a federal agent, his cautious, uptight bearing was identical to Shelby’s and he had a notepad open and ready.

Next to him, a gorgeous, heavily tattooed young man with inky black hair and a big, bright smile waved and watched Niall curiously.

Niall suspected that the fit, older man with the salt-and-pepper hair and thick-framed glasses was law enforcement as well but he didn’t know what to make of the beautiful twink.

He was extremely petite and his bright blond hair, fair skin, and brilliant smile made him luminous despite the gray, foggy day but he had giant black eyes.

The two larger men in the back made Niall antsy. They had dark, wavy hair and burning, feral glares as they prowled behind their party.

Shelby stepped forward to make the introductions.

“Niall, I’m glad to see you’re in one piece.

This is Agent Grady Nelson of the FBI,” he began and the man with the notepad waved it at Niall.

“That’s his partner, Professor Lennox MacIlwraith of Georgetown University and his…

assistant, Mr. Merlin Oglethorpe,” Shelby attempted with a dubious shrug but the young man with the tattoos and the bald man nodded in approval.

“Georgetown?” Niall verified and there was an ominous ache in his gut when they all smiled and nodded.

“This is Dr. Fletcher Bixby,” Shelby continued with a nod at the older gentleman with the glasses. “He’s the chief medical examiner with the Roanoke police department.”

There was another queasy ache. “Medical examiner?” Niall parroted, earning a tight nod from Shelby.

“He’s married to Dr. Arawn Cadwallader and that’s his brother, Bryn. This is Bryn’s husband, Everly Wells,” he said as he gestured at the twins and the glowing twink.

“Wow! Welcome to Shenandoah, everyone. What brings you up to my summit?” Niall asked enthusiastically, stepping out and setting his hands on his hips. He’d hoped to lighten the mood but received puzzled frowns and baffled blinks from everyone except Shelby.

Once again, he took the lead, catching Niall by the elbow and pulling him away from the door. “They’re here for you. They believe you’re in danger and I have reason to suspect you are as well.”

“Me?” Niall laughed and gave Shelby’s shoulder a playful punch. “You always worry but I’m fine. You should have called and I would have told you.”

“Your phone doesn’t seem to be working,” Shelby said with a hard look behind Niall, at the door.

The short, bald man, Mr. Oglethorpe, let out an impatient grunt, stabbing the ground with his staff.

“Let us cut to the chase, lads. I did not climb all this way, endure all manner of flying and biting insects, and this abominable humidity to make small talk. There’s a demon here.

We can smell him,” he announced, causing Shelby to flinch and mutter a curse.

“Look. I’m not sure about all of this,” he said as he pointed at the rest of his party. “I’ve seen and heard some things since we set out this morning, but I’m certain that Dr. Curn isn’t who he says he is,” he explained gently.

“I know,” Niall said simply, surprising Shelby and eliciting several loud gasps. “Chance told me the truth, that his name is really Cenn and he’s an…ancient being.”

“An ancient being?” Shelby said slowly, blinking rapidly. “So you believe this too.”

Mr. Oglethorpe let out a loud bark and stormed up to the porch. “An ancient being, you say? Come out here so we can have a look at you,” he challenged, giving the porch’s bottom step a demanding thud with his staff.

They all waited, trading wary, pregnant glances but nothing happened. Finally, Niall cleared his throat. “Come on out, Cenn. They know and I don’t think they’re leaving until we talk this out.”

Another sharp laugh erupted from Mr. Oglethorpe and there was an irritated sigh from Cenn as he stepped around the door and joined Niall in his strapping, hot lumberjack form.

“Morning, gentlemen,” he said, leaning against the door jamb and crossing his ankles.