The Forbidden

by Cheyenne McCray

After they sent the beasts back to Underworld tomorrow night, he would be returning to Otherworld, to face the council for his actions or be forever banished.

  Shayla. Gods, he could never bear it if he was forced to be separated from her.

  Why did the thought of leaving Silver tear at him, too?

  Keir’s loud voice, and Hawk’s name being spoken, brought him back to the argument at hand.

  “Hawk is right to choose Samhain as the night to face the demons and return them to Underworld,” Keir was saying.

  To hear his nemesis supporting him nearly shocked Hawk out of his boots.

  “I’ve scouted the area Hawk and Silver chose for the reckoning with the bastards,” Keir continued. “It is ideal.”

  The other D’Danann in the room went quiet, as if just as surprised Keir had taken Hawk’s side. It was no secret the two never saw eye to eye. A few D’Danann scowled, some nodded, others simply listened and observed.

  Sher propped her hands on her slim hips and came up to Hawk. “Keir is correct. This is the logical choice. We must move tomorrow night.”

  As she crossed her arms across her chest, Aideen’s posture relayed her obvious displeasure. “We haven’t had time to train. No time to adapt to this world.”

  “You are correct,” Hawk said, and the room went silent again.

  Tiernan cocked an eyebrow. “Are you vacillating now, Hawk? What happened to rushing headlong into every fight?”

  Hawk clenched and unclenched the hand of his broken arm, the pain shooting through him a reminder of what was at stake.

  If he didn’t stand behind his original decision, and if he didn’t back Keir and Sher, he would bring doubt to the group and the plans they made. He would cause more dissension among the D’Danann.

  Even though doubt clouded his mind at his own ability to make a sound judgment, he knew in his heart what was right. This was no impulsive decision, but a well-thought-out plan.

  Hawk’s gaze moved again to each member of the group. “This one night, what the witches call Samhain, is when all the worlds are most accessible.” He pushed away from the wall and raked his fingers through his hair. “I have little doubt we will be able to return the Fomorii to Underworld.”

  With a wave of her hand, Aideen brushed off Hawk’s words. “The note the witch sent takes away any opportunity for the element of surprise.”

  “We’re counting on that.” Keir’s voice was gruff as he scowled at Aideen. “The Fomorii will believe they have us trapped, but we will turn the tables on them.”

  Aideen perched on the edge of a vacant chair at the table, braced her forearms and her palms flat on the wood surface. “How?”

  “Elementals,” came Silver’s voice from the doorway, and Hawk cut his gaze to meet hers. “They’ve given us their blessings. They’ll do what they can to assist us. I know they will.”

  Cael rolled his eyes. “Faeries and Gnomes. What good are these creatures against such powerful beings as the Fomorii?”

  “Don’t discount them.” Mackenzie moved beside Silver, an irritated glint in her eyes. “Elementals are very powerful beings when they choose to be.”

  “Did they promise assistance?” Aideen asked, her eyes focused on Silver.

  Silver slipped one hand into the front pocket of her black pants. Hawk imagined her fingering the charm bag filled with gifts from the Elementals, as she often did since that day at the park.

  “No,” Silver finally said. “No promises, but we received their blessings, and their gifts.”

  Cael tipped back in his chair so that it rested on two legs. “What gifts?”

  Silver bit her lower lip as she pulled her hand from her pocket. In it she held the white charm bag. While the D’Danann, Cassia, Eric, and Mackenzie watched, Silver withdrew the black feather, the water-smoothed hag stone, and the emerald, setting each on the table. Lastly she brought out the bright red flame, and kept it on her outstretched palm where it danced and flickered.

  A few looked on in amazement at the flame. Tiernan snorted, and another D’Danann outright laughed.

  Cael chuckled and gestured to the gifts of the Elementals. “These bits of nothing will aid us in our battle? I think not.”

  Silver’s jaw tightened as she carefully slipped the flame into the bag, followed by each item. When she raised her head, fire glowed in her eyes.

  “You’re right,” she said. “We can’t rely on these gifts alone. We have to help ourselves and do what we can. But we have aid—we only have to ask.”

  “And you have us.” Mackenzie stepped forward, a determined look in her green gaze.

  “Mere witches? With spells and potions, no doubt.” Tiernan gave a condescending look. “And humans. What good can they do?”

  Hawk ground his teeth. “Do not speak against what you know nothing of. It is with the witches’ aid we will return the Fomorii to Underworld. The humans—they will help in their own way.”

  Jake stared down Tiernan while the other PSF officers glared at the D’Danann warrior. “Now that we know what we’re up against,” Jake said, “we’ll be better prepared. We have firepower that can blow their heads off.”

  No one spoke for a moment, then Kirra, the redheaded green-eyed captain, pushed herself up from her seat beside the table. She looked around the room as she studied each person—witch, D’Danann, and human.

  “It is time for us to make a decision as a group,” Kirra said in a calm tone. “We either go into the night with all our hearts and souls, or we vote to put our attack off until what we believe is a better time.”

  The D’Danann, PSF team, and the witches studied one another for a long moment. Keir stepped forward, his dark brows narrowed, a fierce expression upon his features. “I say we take on the bastards tomorrow night.”

  Sher moved beside Keir. Raised her chin high. “My vote is the same. If we wait much longer, it could be too late. The Fomorii could possibly summon thousands of their kind on Samhain, and then there would be far too many to battle. We need to take them now, while there are fewer of them.”

  Hawk’s gaze moved to his comrades who sat at the table, and those who stood around the room. Braeden with his expression of deep contemplation. Fallon with her head cocked, her intelligent eyes assessing the situation. Each of the D’Danann would make their decision according to what they felt was right. As it should be.

  Kirra cleared her throat. “I am with them. We should take advantage of this Samhain and clear out the demons now.”

  The knot in Hawk’s gut lessened as Braeden, Cael, Fallon, and Aideen nodded and each murmured their assent. The rest of the D’Danann followed their lead and all PSF officers nodded.

  Tiernan was last. He studied Hawk and said nothing while silence reigned.

  “Yes,” Tiernan finally said. “Come this witching hour, we will fight.”

  * * *

  After plans had been formally made, Hawk turned from the conversation and watched Silver slip away, down the stairs to the bottom level of the boat. His tough little warrior woman looked uncommonly pale and fragile, and he hoped she had sufficiently recovered from the ordeal at the park.

  Silver had been through so much in the week since she had first summoned him that he wondered how she continued seemingly as strong and vibrant as before.

  Right now she didn’t look strong at all.

  While he strode across the crowded room to follow Silver, Hawk crammed the rest of his chocolate chip cookie into his mouth and swallowed, then wiped crumbs from his fingers onto his breeches. He’d been trying to keep an emotional distance from her the past couple of days, and it was tearing him apart. Gods, how he needed her.

  His boot steps rang against the metal stairs as he walked down until he reached the lower deck with a solid thump. The room was shadowed, most of the light coming from the doorway he had just come through.

  Silver stood with her back to him, staring out a porthole at the near darkness, illuminated only by the pier lights. Emotion tugged at his heart, p
ulling him closer to her. He could no more have stopped himself than he could have taken to the skies with a broken wing.

  When he reached her, the tension in her shoulders was obvious. He reached up with his good hand and massaged her neck with his fingers. She leaned back against him. Her skin was soft beneath his touch, but her shoulders knotted.

  “That feels soooo good.” She tipped her head and loose strands of her hair tickled his hand.

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head as he continued massaging her neck and shoulders, first one side, then the other. She smelled of ocean breezes and her own sweet womanly scent. How could just the smell of her make him desire her so much he could hardly bear it?

  She sighed and leaned back fully, moulding her body to his. He let out a low groan as his body reacted.

  “Why have you been so distant the past couple of days?” she asked softly, surprising him again with her direct question. “I thought we resolved this at the park. Our time together is short, but...”

  She deserved nothing but honesty. He glanced at the glass of the porthole and her eyes met his in the reflection. He rested his palm on her shoulder. “It’s hard enough knowing I will have to return to Otherworld and leave you behind.”

  Silver remained still beneath his hand, her gaze focused on him in the reflection. “What if I want to spend every moment I can with you?” She raised her hand to her shoulder and interlocked her fingers with his. “What if I choose to be with you even though I know you can’t stay?”

  She squeezed his fingers, then released his hand and turned to him as she murmured, “I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

  Hawk couldn’t take his eyes from her, and still didn’t think he could breathe. Before he had a chance to try, Silver wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his head down so that their mouths nearly touched and her warm breath teased his lips.

  “I’m not kidding.” She kissed him in a hard, hot rush. Her mouth demanded more of him, took from him, gave to him.

  Hawk pressed her up against the wall by the porthole and took possession of her mouth, her body.

  She slipped her hands into his hair, her moans vibrating through him. He rubbed himself against her belly, wanting to be inside her now more than anything. He couldn’t think past Silver.

  He didn’t let anything hold him back as he tasted her. His broken arm was pressed between them, but he could feel her softness, her warmth, through the thick membrane of the cast

  His free hand roamed her body, from her shoulders to her waist, down her back and over her ass and up again. He couldn’t stop touching her, tasting her, being with her.

  “Gods, your taste, your scent...you’re driving me out of my mind.” He slipped his hand into her hair and pressed her tighter to him, drinking as much of her in as he possibly could. What he shared with her these remaining two days would have to last him a lifetime.

  When they finally broke the kiss, both breathed hard. In the light coming in through the porthole, her eyes glittered with passion, her face was flushed. Her lips were moist and she licked them, as if savoring his taste.

  “Now,” she said in a tone so demanding that it was as if she’d cast a spell that wouldn’t allow him to refuse her. “I want you now.”

  Not that he could have refused her anything.

  “Silver? Hawk?” came Mackenzie’s voice, jerking them out of the moment.

  Hawk and Silver both looked up toward the stairs to see the witch.

  “Just wanted to let you know we’re ready to head back to the store,” Mackenzie said before she turned and jogged back up the stairs.

  Silver returned her attention to Hawk. She reached up, linked her hands behind Hawk’s neck, and brought his face close to hers. Her senses filled with his smell of leather and musk, his scent of fresh air and mountain breezes. Could she ever get enough of him?

  There was something between them. Something sure and strong—but nothing that could last. She sighed and tipped her forehead against his so that their gazes were locked, their breathing as one.

  Hawk’s chest tightened, and for one long moment he could only look at her, his beautiful witch.

  Something stirred in his heart, something soul-deep. As if his attraction were more than lust, more than the need to have her. More than the need to be with her every waking moment.

  His heart pounded against his ribs at his next thought... Could he have fallen in love with Silver in mere days?

  No. He would never love another.

  Could never love another.

  Silver drew away and pressed her finger to his lips. “Nothing you could say could possibly mean more than the way you’re looking at me now.” Her smile brightened the dim room. “Like I am the most cherished woman in this world.”

  Hawk captured her chin with one hand and her fingertip slipped from his lips and trailed across his cheek. He brought his mouth to hers in a fierce, possessive kiss. By all the gods, she was his. Maybe for only a short time, but she was his.

  He raised his head and smiled a second before his skin started to crawl.

  A shot rang out.

  A scream split the air.

  31

  “The Fomorii!” Silver shouted, even as Hawk tore away from her and bolted for the stairs.

  He took them two at a time, damning the fates for his broken arm. Silver’s boot steps echoed after his, a rapid-fire sound as she hurried behind him.

  The boat’s lights and the illumination from the pier lit the horrifying sight.

  Jake’s and the PSF team’s gunshots, the sound of wings whumping in the night air, and the D’Danann battle cry met Hawk’s ears, mixing with Fomorii roars and shrieks. Fury burned Hawk’s blood while he ran through the now empty dining area, up the next set of stairs, and onto the deck.

  What madness was this?

  Hideous Fomorii slithered onto the docked houseboat. More demons crawled from the water, oozing slime as they slopped across wood and metal.

  How had they missed this attack? They had posted guards. They had been cautious!

  The water. The bastard-demons had to have been hiding in the water to mask their stench. No other explanation.

  His broken arm bedamned. Hawk snarled as he used his left hand to rip his sword from its sheath that he’d fastened at his right. Wound or no wound, he would, by gods, do some damage.

  Lights from the boat and from the pier illuminated the battle scene.

  Swords thudded against leathery hides. Several D’Danann went sword to skin with the nasty beasts. Battle cries rang in the air as more D’Danann struck from the sky.

  Eyes wide, screaming like a schoolchild, the witch Iris ducked into the room where the food had been.

  Hawk whirled.

  Jake thundered across the deck, a dagger in one hand and a gun in the other. The human threw himself between a demon and Cassia and Mackenzie.

  “Move, you idiot!” Cassia’s screech was almost lost in a blast of grunts, curses, and battle shouts. She and Mackenzie shoved Jake, tried to move him out of their way and join the fight, but the human held his ground.

  Eric stood on top of the houseboat’s cabin, lobbing spell- fire from his vantage point, and stunning them with his white magic.

  Hawk’s eyes watered. His nostrils flared against the stink of demon and blood and fear. Hot blood rumbled in his ears. He lunged at the first Fomorii that crossed his path. The boat rocked beneath his feet and his sword slammed against the beast’s thick purple hide.

  The demon whirled and slashed with iron-tipped claws. Hawk dodged right, barely avoiding that fatal swipe.

  “Too slow!” he bellowed. He swung his weapon and shaved off one of the huge demon’s purple ears. The beast roared as Hawk fought to regain his balance from his offhand strike.

  Silver created a ball of purplish-blue fire between her palms. Her features tense with fury, she reared back then flung the fireball at the demon’s face.

  A direct hit. The Fomorii shrieked. Flung back
its head. Its face burst into flames!

  Hawk gave his own D’Danann cry and sliced the Fomorii’s head off with one smooth stroke. The beast went down as Hawk staggered, the demon’s fiery head still screaming as Hawk managed to keep on his feet and regain his grip on his bloodied weapon.

  The demon had barely turned to black dirt when Hawk spun to assess the situation.

  Jake fired his pistol. More shots rang into the night—Jake’s team, doing what fighting they could. D’Danann wings beat the air. Battle cries warred with bellows and more curses. Spellfire flashed.

  Hawk choked on the rotten-fish stench, trying to ignore the distinct coppery smell of human blood. No time for worries. No time for mourning.

  Hawk’s blood pounded harder in his head. Battle lust filled his soul while he and Silver squared off with the next growling, snarling demon. A green beast with three arms. Good. All the better to hack it to bits. His left hand felt more comfortable now, more familiar in the grip and swing. The power of his people hammered through him, giving him strength.

  He would kill them all.

  Silver stung the monster with a burst of flame.

  From the corner of his eye, Hawk saw Cassia and Mackenzie burst past Jake, both flinging spellfire balls. Stunned Fomorii staggered and fell. Jake pumped bullets into the beasts’ necks, yelling at the witches to get back. They ignored him.

  Gods. If only the PSF had the full firepower they planned to use on Samhain.

  But no matter. The D’Danann would slay each of the filthy beasts and—

  A human cry sliced into Hawk’s fiery certainty. He hacked an arm off the demon in front of him then glanced toward the sound.

  A PSF officer flailed on the bloody, dirty deck. Before anyone could save the human, a hulking red demon ripped out her throat.

  Silver’s rage swelled so fast she felt it like a hard ache between her eyes. McNulty. Down. Mangled. Dead.

  By the goddess, that red demon would pay.

  Dark sorcery rose up within her so fast, so strong, that her hair crackled with its ferocity.

  As if sensing her bloodlust, Hawk hacked the head off the monster they had been fighting. It turned to foul black dirt.