Ebony Slumbers Read online

  EBONY SLUMBERS

  The Envy of All

  Book 1

  Nova Blake

  Ebony Slumbers © 2018 Nova Blake

  Cover by Jacqueline Sweet Design

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without express written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This one is dedicated to Kim Faulks, because I never would have had the courage to write this without you – thank you for being so awesome!

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  CHAPTER ONE

  I folded another tee and stacked it on the pile. With eight of us in the house the washing was a never ending chore, and I was the dumb-ass in charge of it. At least it got me out of cooking. Rafe was so much better at that than me anyway.

  I looked into the kitchen where he was stirring the pasta sauce, his focus purely on the food. He had bread baking in the oven and the yeasty smell made my mouth water. Rafe wasn't so bad himself either, he had an apron on over his shirt and jeans, and his blond hair slicked back. I could see his arm muscles twitch as he stirred and stirred.

  I loved watching him cook - which was why I folded the washing at the dining table. He wasn't much for conversation but the view helped me get through the mundane task.

  Sheehan was next door watching the news with the sound turned off.

  It was an unspoken rule. Don't let Ebony watch the news. Don't expose Ebony to things that might trigger flashbacks.

  Except that I didn't really know what the trauma was. Didn't know what to expect if something was triggered. There was a cone of silence around me, a bubble that kept out the real world, and it was built of men.

  Hot, kind, loving men. But it was still a bubble and all bubbles had to pop eventually, right?

  And if they didn't pop it soon, I was going to. I couldn't stand the not knowing. I looked out the window longingly to the world I couldn't remember, the world I'd never know until this was all over.

  "Earth to Ebony..." Rafe said.

  "Huh?" I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to him. "What's up?"

  "Can you go and pick some parsley from the garden? You know which one that is right?" He gave me a mock serious look, but I could see the grin beneath it.

  I finished folding the towel and put it on the right pile, then poked my tongue out at him as I headed to the kitchen door. He flicked the tea towel in my direction, catching me on the hip, my squeal forcing a laugh out of him.

  That man...

  Actually, all of those men.

  I pushed through the door, wondering how I got so lucky. Whoever was after me almost killed me once before, and these guys were doing everything in their power to make sure that didn't happen again.

  I just wished they'd tell me more, or catch the bastard so I could have some semblance of a normal life.

  The sun was going down over the trees in the distance, and the crickets chirped their evening song. It was so peaceful outside that I stood there for a few minutes, basking in the radiant sunset. Reds and oranges reflecting on the back of the clouds that dotted the sky. A light wind swept through the garden making me shiver. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms to make them warmer and then turned my gaze to the ground, searching for the parsley before it got too dark to tell the difference.

  I picked a sprig, lifting it to inhale, closing my eyes as the sharp tang hit my nostrils. It tickled my senses, trying to call back some memory that was behind the wall in my mind. One day I'd breach it. I had to.

  The mournful call of an owl made me snap my eyes open and look out to the treetops again. We were close to the edge of town and the woods weren't far away. I walked towards the edge of the yard, placing one hand on the fence and peering through the gaps at the wilds. Oh how I longed to step through the gate, to go out there and explore the woods, to hear the birds singing in the tree canopy - who knew what other animals I might find?

  "Ebony!"

  Rafe...

  "Coming," I called as I bent to pick some more parsley and headed back inside. I washed it off in the sink then left it on the chopping board for him to work his magic.

  I leaned against the bench, watching him until the door burst open and Felix swanned into the room, a big smile on his handsome face, green eyes sparkling. He plonked a bottle in a brown paper bag down on the bench and started pulling his coat off.

  "Have I got a story for you, Princess!" he declared.

  I grinned and leaned over it to grab the bottle. "You talk, I'll pour. And stop calling me Princess."

  Felix always had a story for me. It was like he went out for the day looking for something that he knew would tickle my fancy, and I loved him for it.

  I unscrewed the top on the wine, not even bothering to look at the label. Felix's other hidden talent was buying things I liked to drink. I lifted the bottle to my nose and inhaled notes of plum and pepper.

  "How many tonight?" I asked as I put the bottle down and turned for the glasses shelf.

  "Colton, Brax, and Arien are all out, and you know Rafe is too uptight to drink," Felix said with a grin.

  Rafe threw a scowl over his shoulder, but didn't reply, just focused on the food. He was dishing up now, spaghetti bolognaise, probably one of my favorite dishes - and perfect with a nice red.

  I set out four glasses and poured the wine, making sure Felix had more, seeing as he did buy it. A single bottle never went far in this house, but that was the policy... Again, couldn't get drunk in case someone found us and attacked.

  It was getting old. I didn't know what my life had consisted of before the attack, but I was positive there was more freedom in it. The occasional drunken night, parties, dancing... I longed to dance somewhere other than the living room, to eat a meal cooked in a restaurant, to see a movie at the theater...

  "So, I was on my way home," Felix began. He pulled a seat out at the table for me and served my glass of wine with a grin. Then he moved the folded clothes into piles in the washing basket so there was enough room at the table for dinner as he talked. "And I saw this guy running down the street with a chicken under his arm. The chicken was squawking something awful, clearly unhappy, and then this old woman comes up in a red mini. She winds down the window and she's leaning out, yelling at him 'Put my chicken down!' I can hardly believe it, so I stop and watch. She just about drives into him and then she leaps out of the car with an umbrella and bashes him over the head with it!"

  "What did he do?" I asked, equally astounded. I had no idea what I'd do in that situation.

  "He drops the chicken and curls up in a ball. The old lady gives him another whack and then she picks up the chicken, hops in her car and drives off."

  "What the hell kind of story is that," Rafe said. He put a plate in front of me, set one down for Felix. "Sheehan, dinners up!" he called towards the lounge, then, “Where the hell is Zephyr?” under his breath.

  "It's a true story, but you don't have to believe me. Too weird not to be true, right, Princess?" Felix sat down next to me, and nudged my elbow.

  "I believe it," I said. "Though it's pretty out there."

  "That's what they say though, reality is stranger than fiction."
Felix winked and then dug into his dinner. He chewed hard, swallowed, and then pointed at the food with his fork. "This is epic, man. Thanks."

  "Yeah, thank you," I added, tucking into my own.

  Sheehan slid into his seat and started eating, making sounds of pleasure as he did. He didn't speak - couldn't as far as I knew - but that didn't stop him from communicating loud and clear. He sipped his wine and sighed in appreciation, and we shared a grin.

  I liked Sheehan for his quiet. I had a feeling that even if he could speak he wouldn't, not much anyway. He had this calmness about him. His long blond hair was almost always loose and made me think of the pictures of Jesus I’d seen.

  Felix and Rafe talked as we ate, and I tuned out, enjoying my food and the companionship around the table. Until I heard the word 'lead'.

  "You found a lead?" I asked, interrupting Rafe, my eyes darting between the men.

  Felix swallowed his mouthful. "Maybe."

  "Why didn't you say that the second you walked in the door? I spend all day stuck here and all I want is for things to be over."

  "I said maybe, Princess. We won't know until we follow up, which we can't do until morning. Colton is keeping tabs on things." He took a sip of wine. "Besides, I thought it might be nice to eat my dinner before the interrogation started."

  Sheehan rolled his eyes, but I couldn't tell whether it was meant for me or Felix.

  I didn't care.

  "I need to know," I pressed. Then I sighed, forcing myself to relax my shoulders. "Please?"

  Rafe and Felix exchanged a glance and then Rafe shrugged.

  "The person who tried to kill you is quite high ranking, like, crazy powerful. They have eyes and ears everywhere - you know that's why you have to stay inside." He locked his eyes on mine, making sure I took heed at the extra warning.

  As if I didn't hear it every single day...

  "I know, I know. Hurry it up and get to the new information." He was enjoying this, stringing it out. Making me wait.

  I sipped my wine, clutching the glass so hard I thought it might snap. As much as I appreciated how dedicated these guys were, it grated me something awful to be locked inside. Me, the prisoner, when I hadn't done anything wrong.

  "I think we found someone who might provide evidence of their crimes. We haven't been able to pin anything on her-"

  "Her?" My spine stiffened and a wisp of memory flitted through my brain. She had dark hair, I was sure of it, and vibrant green eyes that would bore into me. I shuddered at the memory. A hand grabbed my arm and I flinched, spinning to look at Sheehan who was frowning, his deep brown eyes full of concern. I smiled softly, then turned back to Felix. "You're telling me it's a woman who wants me dead?"

  "What? Don't think it's possible? You should see some of the death glares you give, Princess. It's only a miracle you haven't struck one of us dead before now."

  I leveled said death glare at him and then punched his arm for good measure. "I didn't mean it like that, I just... I didn't know." I looked down at my plate, frowning. There was so much I didn't know. "Why won't you tell me?" I asked, for possibly the tenth time that week. I looked up, catching and holding each of their gazes. Sheehan's jaw tightened, and he cast his eyes to the other two. He'd tell me if he could, I just knew it. Felix, for all his sunshine and laughter deferred to Rafe, who focused solely on me.

  "We only want you to be safe. If you died..." He coughed, attempting to hide the roughness of his voice.

  Felix finished the sentence for him, the gravity in his voice weighing me down. "If you die, we've failed, and we could never live with that. Our sole purpose in life is to protect you, Princess. We want your freedom too, you have no idea how badly, but the timing has to be right."

  "Okay. I get it." I shrugged. "I just..."

  Felix reached for my hand and squeezed it. "Us too." Then he grinned, that devilish smile turning my heart. "Now eat up. I hear there's dessert tonight, right Rafe?"

  "Actually, there is."

  "How did you manage to hide that from me?" I asked, frowning again, but less seriously now. I had to let the tension in my chest go, and dessert was the perfect bridge between Rafe and I.

  "Well, I haven't cooked it yet." He smiled, his features relaxing. "I've got a few tricks of my own. But it's a quick make, don't worry."

  "Not worried at all," I assured him, then focused on eating the rest of my dinner, saving the last of my wine to wash it down with. Rafe and Felix started chatting again, though this time it was about some sports team I couldn't care less about and I knew they'd chosen safe territory.

  Some days I felt like an idiot.

  Most women would kill to have the set up I did - seven hot, dedicated men whose sole purpose was to make me comfortable and keep me safe. And here I was being an insufferable child about it, stomping my feet because I couldn't get what I wanted.

  I had to do better. They didn't deserve my frustration.

  I just couldn't help but feel trapped though. I needed to get out of the house. Just once. Just to see something other than these four walls.

  What could it hurt?

  CHAPTER TWO

  I went to bed around ten, same as normal, closed the door and slid under the covers, though I had no intention of going to sleep. If I could just wait long enough I could slip out of the house and see the world. Just for a little bit.

  The clouds had covered the moon, making the night seem extra dark, but I looked out the window longingly all the same. I just needed to see something new.

  My stomach twisted and turned as I lay there waiting. The same old arguments in my mind.

  A) They were just trying to protect me, and I should trust them, respect that. I should want to be safe. Right?

  B) But if they trusted me they would just tell me everything, they'd let me in on all the little secrets and stop handling me with kid gloves.

  I wasn't going to break from the news - if anything all the not knowing was driving me crazy. I'd been having dreams for as long as I could tell, flashes of memory, so gauzy that I could barely remember them. Apart from the crushing feelings of sorrow, guilt.

  Terror.

  It meant getting to sleep was hard. Staying asleep, harder. I couldn’t always remember the nightmares but I woke in cold sweats, choking on screams I couldn’t release more nights than not.

  I tossed off the blankets and crossed to the window, throwing the curtains open to look at the moon. It was high in the sky now, at its peak, a warm yellow that called to me. I wanted to bask in that moon glow. I wanted to feel the magic of her trace across my skin, bared to the sky.

  Okay, that was a little weird... I wasn't particularly one for dancing under the moonlight naked. But then, maybe I was before someone had tried to kill me.

  Anything was possible.

  I pulled my eyes from the moon and scanned the street. All was silent. No cars moved and most of the lights along the road were off, just the occasional porch lamp dotting the darkness.

  It was time.

  Pulling my boots on, I headed for my bedroom door, unlocking it and poking my head into the hallway. All clear...

  I tiptoed down the stairs, careful to avoid the one that creaked, and headed to the laundry where I rummaged through the pile of clothes looking for a black hoodie. There would be at least one, more like five. I pulled the first one out that I found and slipped into it. Colton's. His scent made me feel just a little bit safer. Colton could be a grump, but he was big and fierce, and maybe I could channel a little bit of that for my expedition.

  I paused, my hand on the handle of the side door. This was so foolish, but I had to go out and see something different, with my eyes, in the real world, not through a screen. The urge was overwhelming, a palpable thing.

  Before I could think about it more I turned the handle and stepped outside.

  The air was cool as I inhaled, my nose searching for the slightest hint of the unknown. I hurried to the front, down the path, drawing the hood up and ducking my head so
that my features were obstructed.

  And then I was through the gate and onto the pavement, my feet touching virgin ground. A shiver went through my body. Everything tingled like there was magic in the air, magic coursing through my veins.

  I felt alive and full of anticipation. Anything was possible.

  I turned right, towards the lights of town. They drew me in like I was a moth and I'd walked the distance before I even realized it, missing all the sights along the way.

  Something was happening in the town. Music - live music I thought - and I headed towards it, letting it guide my feet, swaying my hips to the rhythm. I wanted nothing more than to cast off his hood and take everything in, but I kept my head bowed, glancing at the world from under the cover of it.

  Oh, it was so frustrating. To have my freedom, but only in secret. I'd never live it down if one of the guys caught me out here and the thought of the consequences made my gut clench.

  Home. I should go home. Now. Before I really did fuck up. My skin itched just thinking about it. I needed to go. Now.

  I spun, crashing into an old woman and her stall.

  "Oh my god, I'm so sorry," I said, bending down to pick up the stock that I'd knocked over. Thank goodness nothing had broken. My heart raced in my chest and I stood up so fast that my hood fell back.

  Everything stopped. My breath, my heart. The world.

  The full moon shone down like a spotlight pointing me out to the world and I dumped the objects back onto the stall, quickly drawing my hood over my hair, down over my eyes and ducking my chin.

  "Oh, it's quite alright, dear. Nothing broken." The old woman narrowed her eyes slightly, but then she smiled, and I thought I must have imagined it.

  She couldn't have recognized me. I wasn't important enough to be known to everyone. "I don't know why you're hiding such beauty under that hood though. You'll turn all the heads around here, men and women alike. Why, if I had half your looks I'd be strutting around like a peacock."

  I laughed. It was a little over the top, but her attempt to put me at ease was working. "Thank you for saying so." I bit my lip then exhaled, finally calming enough to actually look at her stall; an assortment of hand-carved wooden combs, painted all manner of colors. "You have beautiful combs. I hope they sell well for you. Again, I'm so sorry. You have a good night."