by Aliyah Burke
* * * *
When she woke, the flames had nearly become embers. So warm and cozy, she’d no wish to depart.
“Ready?”
His whispered question made her wish even more that they weren’t in the middle of a hunt. For she wanted nothing more than to explore the hard body beneath her.
Duty first.
“Yes. Let’s get going.” They climbed out and she shrugged into her coat quickly. “Are you staying warm enough?”
“Surprisingly so.” He zipped up his parka.
In the fading light, she rolled up their bedding and tossed them to him. Luc headed out to secure everything on the snowmobiles. She turned on a flat light while she doused the embers in the fireplace.
“I topped off the tanks as well,” Luc announced as he walked back in.
She gave him a thumbs-up then unfolded the map. “We should be there in a few hours.”
“I don’t know if you had the radio on moments ago, but they found another chamber.”
She didn’t waste time putting in her own radio, just took the earbud from him and listened.
“I think this may be the one. I see more gold in this one. We’ll set up a perimeter and keep an eye on the gold. If and when it changes amount, will let you know.”
The voice was gone. She looked at Luc. “Tell me you got the coordinates.”
His grin was pure sex. “Of course.” He pointed at the map. “There.”
“On the other side. I still have to check this one out. Then we go there.”
“Agreed. Unless you want to split up? I take this one and you head for the other one.”
“You don’t know what you’re looking for.”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “And you do?”
He had a point.
Luc stared at her, waiting for a response. He loved pushing her, getting past the shell she’d erected for herself. They’d gotten on their rides, engines idling.
“No. We stick together. Seems a bit coincidental that they just now found another one. I think they know we’re here. Let’s stick to the plan.”
“Agreed.”
He winked and blew her a kiss before giving his sled more gas, leaving her to follow.
As expected, moments later she drew even to him. He thought back to the battle before they’d arrived at the cabin. He was in complete awe of her abilities. If this was just one Guardian, the six of them together must be a sight to behold.
The miles slid by as the sun rose. He slipped on his sunglasses, noting that she had hers on as well. At the top of a small crest, he stopped when she did. She killed the motor and he followed suit.
“What’s up?”
“It’s just over that ridge there. I think we should go on foot. They’re already going to be on alert, if we come in on the stolen snowmobiles, I think we’re overplaying our hand.”
“Sounds good. Let’s hide them. We may need them later.”
They hid and covered them before striking out on foot, keeping to the trees and moving at a good pace.
He held up his fist, pleased when she froze beside him. Luc noticed the long blade slide down, this time with a matte coating on it so it didn’t gleam in the sunlight. He tingled when the wing of her sign passed over him—he knew she was searching.
She met his gaze and he directed her with signals. With a sharp nod, she melted back into the trees. It never ceased to amaze him how she did that. In all this bright snow, she wore black and blended like they were in the shadows.
Two men walked into view, muttering about the cold and armed to the teeth.
Don’t kill them, babe.
As they moved by, part of him expected to see them fall to the ground void of life. But they walked on fine and continued on their way. After they’d gone, she reappeared beside him.
“You didn’t kill them.”
“Nope. You wanted them alive for a reason, otherwise you would have eliminated them. So, let’s go. You can tell me on the way.”
“We walk in their tracks.”
“Okay.”
They walked in silence and followed the tracks then came on a small encampment. In the middle he could identify a hole with ladders poking out of the top. All around the camp were armed guards.
“Ideas on how to get down the hole?”
She didn’t speak and he slanted a look to her. Her expression was one he couldn’t make out. It worried him however.
“Dracen?”
“You should go back and head to the other area.”
“What?” This was a complete one-eighty from what they’d planned.
She tipped her head and looked at him. There was a cold acceptance in her gaze and he wasn’t sure why.
“Go.”
“What happened to what we—”
“You need to find a phone that works and get a call off to your father, see if you can track down who’s supplying this expedition.”
“After we see if the artifact is there.”
Something flashed in her eyes, and he knew she longed to argue with him but had tabled it. “Deal. As soon as we learn one way or the other, you get going.”
“Fine.”
He didn’t want to leave her, but if that’s what she needed him to do, then he would do it. “So, that brings us back to how we get there.”
She wrapped her arm around him. “Hold on.”
Everything moved in a blur, and when he blinked away the sting from the rushing wind, they were down in the hole. He shook his head and looked at the woman beside him, weapons ready even as she took everything in.
The itch between his shoulder blades didn’t sit well with him but he focused on the task before him. She indicated she was going to go left to search and the right was his. He slipped off in that direction, impressed by the large chamber.
There was a small side room that, once he cleared, he pulled out his light and shone it around to search for something small, hidden. Wish I knew what I was looking for.
A flash hit him in his mind and he swore he was looking at a masher—like people used to grind up small items in a dish. Rounded on both ends, larger on one than the other. Luc paused for a moment, unsure of what had just happened.
“Do you see anything that looks as if there is a hint of gold around it?” She was in his ear, her voice warm and unintentionally sultry.
“Not yet.” He moved the light to another portion of the wall. “You?”
“Nothing. I did find another room off the small one here so there may be another where you are as well.”
“Will keep an eye out. Dray?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful, will you?”
“Always am.” As suddenly as she’d been in his ear she was gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts and a job to do.
He did find another door and it slid silently open. He waited at the entrance, shining the light all along the framework, checking for any traps. How the hell’d they manage to put a place like this down here? He never would have pegged the Boundary Waters for having this kind of place.
With caution, he stepped into the room. In the moment he went over the threshold to the small space, he knew he would find what they were looking for. His entire body felt like electrodes had been placed upon him and were sending in waves of pulses. Trusting his gut, he snapped off the light, putting it back in his pocket. Allowing his eyes to adjust, he waited.
Sure enough, he picked up on a faint trail of gold.
“Dracen,” he muttered.
“What’d you find?”
“Gold.”
Her presence surrounded him before she ever said a word. One minute he was alone and the next she stood beside him. His nose filled with her subtle scent.
“What do you think?”
“I say we figure out what it’s touching, get the artifact and get the fuck out.”
He moved forward, she kept pace, and they went to the shelf where the trail ended. Small knick-knacks dotted the clay protrusion. She never aske
d to turn on a light nor did she just add any, but allowed them to remain in darkness.
Luc didn’t touch anything, instead stared to see if he could locate any more gold dust. He also searched for the shape he’d seen in his head. There. Behind a bowl that would probably fetch a pretty price for being so old, he found it. Reaching out, he took hold of it. The smooth material beneath his gloved fingers had him tightening his grip.
“Here,” he said.
She held out her hand and he placed it there. “Why this one? I don’t see gold.”
“I saw it in my mind. That I needed to find this shape.”
“Interesting,” she said. She tugged off her glove and rolled the solid object in her fingers. “Take off your gloves and touch it.”
He listened to her order and placed a finger on the other end. The room filled with silver mist, skimming along his skin and hers. The mist landed in her hair and on her lashes, adding an ethereal glow to her.
“The artifact, I take it?” He couldn’t bring himself to release it.
“We’re complete,” she murmured, awe lining her words.
The ground shifted beneath them and her expression went razor-sharp. She took the item from him and gripped the front of his jacket.
Something was going on. He touched her cheek, swiping his thumb along the silver mist that lingered on her skin.
“You need to go.”
“What?”
“You need to go. Like we discussed. Get that call placed. Shit is going to move fast.”
“You’re going to fight.”
“Yes. Get going.” She pushed him toward the ladder.
The ground shifted once more and they struggled to keep their feet. She was at his back as they dashed to the ladder. He climbed up and turned his head in time to see her landing on the ground beside him. She’d jumped out.
“I should stay.”
“No!” Her tone was sharp. “Get as far away from here as you can.”
Voices grew louder. No, this isn’t right. Something is wrong.
“Dracen.”
She kissed him and he cupped her cheeks, the mist cool on his gloveless hand. “Go.”
He nodded, stared at her a moment longer, then left. Running and leaving her to fight. He got to the snowmobile and ripped off the cover. Hopping on, he started the engine and shot away.
It took him close to fifteen minutes before it hit him. He braked hard and stood as the sled stopped.
“Fuck! That wasn’t mist on her face, those were tears. She was saying goodbye. She’s sacrificing herself.”
He revved the engine before whipping around and rushing back to her. Praying with each tree he blew by that he made it back to her in time.
Chapter Ten
She breathed easier when he vanished from sight. Dracen called forth her weapons and waited, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do. There had always been the possibility it would come to this, and she hadn’t minded—Guardians made sacrifices. She held weapons in both hands and she prayed he would get far enough away before the earth opened and Hell poured free.
Her blood burned as it pumped through her veins, and she knew what was inbound. It had done the same thing when she’d fought beside Tiarnán as they’d rescued Roz. This was more than just demons, this was a portal down to Hell and the beings that worked for Them.
The pungent odor of sulfur burned her nostrils as black steam shot up in the sky. They came in waves.
Forcing all thoughts of Luc from her mind, she ran to meet the first intruders head-on. Tall, ugly, muscular.
She sliced and diced through the first wave, leaving behind body parts. Demons flew up, screeching before swooping in to attack. She moved in a blur, doing her best to avoid being hit. It wasn’t foolproof, but she could handle smaller hits from them—her sign could assist with healing.
Once the smaller ones had erupted up from the depths, the larger beings slithered, crawled and flew up from the hole that now was engulfed in flames. Swords were exchanged for shuriken and she tossed them until she had no more to release. Then went her knives and she used up all of those but one. When she had nothing but her swords left, she jumped back in for close-quarters fighting and battled.
One of the larger creatures streamed toward her with his serpentine body. The hole in the earth wasn’t huge, so they were slowed a bit in leaving. And that gave her more of a chance to stop them.
The snow had turned red with blood. She watched the forked-tongued being slither closer, its heavy weight moving easily through the dead bodies. All the humans had been killed by the beings leaving their warm underground home.
Tanto in her right hand and katana in her left, she sized the creature up in seconds then struck. Utilizing its surprise of her forward offensive to her advantage, she blocked his fanged attack with her knife while she drove her katana deep—up through its jaw and into its brain. She leaped back, yanking the sword out, avoiding the large body crashing down.
Another and another took its place. She lost her final throwing knife in the eye of some behemoth and was down to swords only. Engaging two four-armed beings, she whimpered when the first cut struck from the back.
She stumbled then countered, thrusting behind her. They were faster than she gave them credit for. Dracen sank to her knees as a cut to her lower leg took it out from under her. One demonic creature swung a mace-like weapon into her chest. Her counter too slow to totally deflect it, she gasped at all the spikes embedding into her.
Poison on tips surged to life in her. Valiantly, her sign did its best to combat it and heal her. Even for her power, though, this was too much. It had grown weary as well. Her muscles refused to cooperate and she fell forward.
The lone creature before her took it as a sign of surrender. His mistake. Curving her hand around the spiked chain, ignoring the pain as the jagged metal pushed past her skin, she yanked it from her chest and sent the mace to his face using the fading reserves of her energy.
Then she fell to her side, completely drained. Blood streamed from her chest and spots flicked before her eyes. Dracen struggled with the simple act of breathing. Really? This is how I die? I thought it would be in a more spectacular fashion.
Through the wall of flames before her, she spied five more creatures moving in for the kill. They meant to finish her off and she was unable to do anything to stop them. She’d given all she had to fight the behemoths pouring from the hole, to give Luc and the artifact more time to get away.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The demon in the middle crumpled while the others hissed, increasing their speed.
“Don’t you fucking give up now, Dray.”
Luc’s raspy voice accompanied the touch on her shoulder. What’s he doing here? I sent him away. To be safe. She attempted to move. She was a Guardian, it was her job to protect. Protect him. Her limbs refused.
“Get out of here.” She forced the words past her lips.
“Not a chance. I should have known what you were going to do.” Raw fury lined his words.
“They’ll kill you.” Anger churned in her gut at the thought of Luc’s life ending because she wasn’t strong enough to save him.
“Not dead yet, babe. I need weapons. Come on, babe, give me something. Swords, knives, anything. No way we’re rolling over to take it up the ass from these fuckers.”
She groaned, flitting between light and dark. His lips caressed her ear.
“No giving up yet. I still have plans for you. Things for us to do together. Things for me to do to you. So buck up, Guardian, and get me a goddamnmotherfucking weapon.”
His grip was sure as he removed the katanas from her hands. He stepped over her, positioning himself between her and those approaching. Her last line of defense. His stance—protective yet ready. She understood now, if they were dying, they would go together.
He’d survived thus far because she’d taken the brunt of it by telling him to leave and had gone out alone. A new warmth surrounded her. It came w
ith a pressure on her side. Funny, it feels like talons sinking into me.
Her sign could do no more for her. It was keeping her barely alive now. They were both depleted of everything.
Call for your brethren!
She ignored her mind’s cry, unwilling to risk them, plus they would be too late. Her walls had been so shored for so long, to keep them up was second nature, even dying and despite her pain.
Instead she focused on the odd experience of sharp talons moving along her flesh. Part of her wanted to turn and lay eyes on whatever it was, yet, Dracen couldn’t tear her gaze from Luc, who battled the remaining demons and other creatures that had streamed from the hole. Not only for her life but his own.
He battles well, this man of yours.
Of course, she retorted to the voice in her mind. He is a warrior.
He’s determined.
He’s stubborn. Refused to leave and save himself.
Would you prefer to die alone?
If I must. No reason for him to die. I wanted to protect him. That’s my job. That wasn’t it, though, she loved him. Dracen had fallen in love. Before her, Luc beheaded a demon with both blades in an x-scissor motion.
From behind him, another demon rose from the frozen landscape. Dracen did her best to get to her feet. Her blood loss was too great. She couldn’t even draw enough breath to scream a warning. As she watched the demon prepare to attack, it disintegrated into a pile of ash.
Odd.
Her eyes rolled back. No hollow voice spoke to her in her head, but she did get to see the waxing moon once more. Looks like it’s made of fire. I can’t trust anything, though, for I swear there’s a dragon over me.
* * * *
The hushed voices woke her. Lifting her eyelids was akin to prying open a paint can with nothing more than a toothpick. The room’s dim light made it slightly less painful inside her skull once she accomplished her task.
“I’m not sure if I should kiss you or spank you, Dray.”
Luc’s voice, low and close, brushed along her ear.
