Accidentally…Over? (Accidentally Yours #5)(27)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

How can this be happening? How could she have such strong emotions for a bossy, strange, nonhuman male she’d just met?

Odd, to say the least. Especially when one took into consideration that she was an emotional iceberg—cold, hard, and drifting at sea all alone.

Okay, now you’re being a bit dramatic. Yeah, she was. Truthfully, though, she found it extremely difficult to feel attached to anyone or anything besides her memories after losing her parents. Even now, as she sat calmly in the truck gazing out the window at the thick, green foliage of the jungle, a tiny emotional tug-of-war had broken out inside her heart. She didn’t want to leave her home. It felt like being torn away from her parents all over again. God, what she wouldn’t do to see them just one last time. Perhaps if she’d had the chance to say good-bye she would’ve let go by now.

She sighed and then glanced in Máax’s direction. What she wouldn’t give to see his face. What emotions were in his eyes? Indifference? Concern? Lust?

Affection. That was the emotion radiating from the mysterious man to her side. But she couldn’t actually feel his emotions, could she?

She focused on the sensation once again. Yes, something was definitely there. She could almost touch it.

Fascinating. The man was like a supernatural force, pulling her in, taking over her mind. Maybe that’s how they’d gone from loathing each other to irritated to… well, she didn’t know what state they were in now, but it wasn’t loathing. It was somewhere in between irritated and wanting. Getting on a plane with him and going away together suddenly sounded pleasant.

Whoa. Am I really leaving? The anxiety returned. And I’m getting on a plane?

“Máax?” She turned her head toward him, wishing she could see him. Was he looking at her? Out the window? At the road? Would she ever get used to being with someone invisible?

His hand slipped onto her leg and rested there. “Yes?”

She couldn’t help but notice its warmth and how it instantly sent sensual tingles through her body. Don’t help the noticing! Send the noticing away!

Righto.

“If Death is hunting me, why are we getting on a plane?” she asked.

“It is currently the fastest mode of transportation,” he replied frankly. Then he mumbled something that sounded like “no alliance with vampires in 1993.”

“Sorry?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“But haven’t you seen any of those movies?” Because she had. She’d seen the ones where monsters wing surfed and ate the plane’s engines. She’d also seen the ones where the systems failed for no apparent reason.

“No. I do not watch movies,” Máax replied. “I find real life to be excitement enough; however, I believe our flight on the Sukhoi Su-80 will be free of any drama or movie grade action. It is the world’s safest turboprop, and furthermore, Death is not after the other passengers.”

“You’re looking right at me, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

God, this not being able to see him thing was getting on her nerves. “So you’re trying to say that he only wants me?”

“Death is an it, a cosmic force, a part of the Universe’s never-ending quest to seek balance, not a he. But yes. It only wants you.”

Yaaay. Thanks for the clarification. “Explain to me again why you think leaving would stop it.”

He patted her leg. “I do not believe it will stop until it finds another way to restore balance. Such is the way of the Universe. But as I already mentioned, my brother’s home is near a rather large encampment of Uchben, our human allies. I will have much better luck keeping you safe if I have unlimited support. In addition, staying here only increases the odds that I might overlap with myself, something that must be avoided. I prefer not to take the risk. But I assure you, you are safer on that plane than in your own—”

A loud beep sounded, and the man in the passenger seat dug a flip phone from his blazer. “Yeah?” He listened. “I see. Thank you.” He closed the phone. “Sir, we have a problem,” he said without turning around.

“What?” Máax said.

“Sir, the plane has blown up. We can call for another, but I know you wanted that specific model, and the nearest one is parked in Italy.”

“Stercore equum.” Máax blew out a long breath. “What happened?”

“Was anyone hurt?” Ashli asked. “And did you just swear in Latin again, Máax?”

“We don’t know, sir,” the driver replied to Máax. “But the pilots were having lunch. No one was hurt.”

“Maledicta in deos!” he snarled.

“Stop with the Latin! Okay?” She gripped the seat with her hands. “This is really starting to freak me out. The death thing, not the Latin. The Latin’s just really weird. Not helping.”

She felt his warm, strong hand cover hers, triggering a delicious shiver. An urge to bury her face in his chest and close her eyes enveloped her, but she resisted.

“Do not be alarmed, Ashli,” Máax said. “I am a deity. We are accustomed to such unfortunate turns of events.”

“Which means?”

“Timothy? Take us to the cabin.”

The driver nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Cabin?” Ashli asked.

“There is a small house two hours north of here. It is a remote location, and I’ve only learned of it today. There is no chance of a future version of me randomly showing up, and you will be safer than at your—”

A loud crack came from the engine, followed by smoke spewing from underneath the hood. “Cruentum stupri gehenna. What next?” Máax grumbled.

More wizard talk? Ugh!

“Sir, the engine is overheating. We’re only five minutes outside of town. I’m sure we can turn around and make it back.”

She couldn’t see Máax, but she imagined him making little circles over his temples.

“See?” she said. “This was exactly my point. If what you say about Death hunting me is true, I can’t hide. And if I’m going to die, I want to be in my home, in my café, surrounded by memories of the people I love. Oh. And if you swear in Latin one more time, I will scream.”

“You are a most peculiar woman.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Latin seems to have more of an impact on you than death. Exactly why is that?” he asked.