The immortal being smiled. “That’s it, Sharen.”
Alec is dead. There is no hope.
“Sharen!” A voice tore through the darkness.
She jerked her head from the being. There, at the bottom of the hill, was Ryder.
He would know what to do! He would know how to save Alec!
She felt warmth fill her body.
“No!” The creature screamed.
He jerked her head up to him. His eyes had turned to red. “I will not lose your powers! Not when I’m this close!”
The gold left the wind, tangling back into her like a spool of golden thread.
Her hands clenched.
He yanked her toward him, and suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.
She was dangling in his unyielding grasp. His fingers clenched around her throat.
Grasping her sword more tightly, she stabbed out, burying it in his chest.
The being dropped her with a tortured scream that filled the swirling magic.
And then, Ryder was standing above her, his soul-blade burning with orange flames. He struck out, burying his blade deep into its chest, before yanking it back out.
Sharen rose on trembling legs, and Ryder wrapped one arm around her shoulder, even while he held his sword out toward the creature.
The creature looked down at his body, where her blade still lay buried within him. But instead of blood seeping from his wounds, dark wisps like spiders crawled out. He looked from his wounds to them, his expression furious. Her sword exploded out of his chest and hit the ground.
“This isn’t over.”
Darkness like a cloak of shadows surrounded him, and then, he was gone. The winds and clouds slowly disappeared, and the day grew eerily calm.
It was... over.
Ryder’s blade vanished, and he pulled her into his arms. Which was exactly when everything hit her at once.
“Alec is dead,” she whispered into his shoulder with a sob.
“Dead?”
The words poured out of her. “They killed him. Severed his head with a guillotine on this hill. And I have no idea why. But they did.”
Ryder pulled back from her. “What are you talking about?”
“They—“
“Alec isn’t here. I overheard them talking. They have him in another location.”
She stared. “I saw him...” She spun, pointing toward the guillotine. But there was nothing there. “I don’t understand.”
How was that creature able to make me see something that never happened? And why would he do it?
Ryder’s voice came, harsh and cruel. “I think they wanted you to think Alec was dead.”
Of course!
They had said they planned to do something to her that was worse than death. They wanted something inside of her, but didn’t want to kill her. Somehow, making her believe Alec was dead was the only way to get her powers.
“Marval said my powers are tied to hope. Maybe the only way to take them from me is to make me feel hopeless.”
Ryder placed his hand gently on her back. “I’m so sorry they did that to you. But Alec is still alive. And I think Kade is too. We just have to find them.”
She hugged him tightly, her relief so overwhelming she couldn’t speak.
They remained that way for a long time. Until, at last, Ryder broke the silence. “Our enemies are still around us, and a lot of our people are being kept in cages in that barn over there.”
She took a shaky breath, drawing on her last reserves of strength. “Then we better hurry and save them.”
They walked down the hill together. She picked up her sword on the way, and he called his soul-blade back. Then, they linked hands, squeezing each other tightly. Taking that one moment to be grateful they were back together.
In her mind, she felt different. She might be facing another impossible fight ahead, but at least she wasn’t doing it alone.
Which was exactly the moment when the barn exploded into flames.
Chapter Ten
Sharen and Ryder ran toward the flames. She didn't know what she could do to help, but she had to do something. She and Ryder froze as shapes appeared in the doorway.
Tensing, she clutched her blade in front of her, ready for the next battle.
Which was when the demons in The Rebellion came rushing out of the fires, carrying other members of their team.
She looked to Ryder.
He shook his head, his expression as confused as her own.
Henry led her team, holding her assistant Riverly in his arms. “Sharen,” he greeted her.
She almost laughed. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you!”
He smiled back.
“Did everyone make it out okay?”
Her gaze ran over the others. Kade and Alec were not among them, but she didn’t expect them to be, even though her heart ached with the realization. There were only a few missing faces among them.
Riverly spoke, her face pale, and her glasses missing. “Kim, Renolds, and Jake were killed in the battle. Everyone else—other than Kade and Alec—is here.”
“Does anyone know where Kade and Alec are?”
Her question was met with silence. Damn it.
Sharen pushed back her sadness. “How did you get out?”
Riverly answered, her voice filled with amazement. “Henry came in. He’d stolen the keys and let us all out when no one was guarding us.”
Finally, something went right! She looked to Henry. “We owe you, big time.”
He nodded. “Don’t even think about it.”
Ryder squeezed her arm. “Our enemies are still around, and this fire will lead them straight to us. If it doesn't, my soul-blade will.”
She nodded. “Put your blade away for now, and let’s head for the woods.” Turning to the waiting crowd, she raised her voice. “Are you all able to run?”
Their voice came together. “Yes!”
Her people looked beaten, bloody, and exhausted, but their strength against such impossible odds amazed her. She felt relief and gratitude fill her heart, and strength pushed away her exhaustion.
Turning, she led them back through the woods even though she knew not everyone could fit into her car, or that they could make it back to town on foot. But a quick call, when it was safer, could bring them the help they needed. And that was enough to keep her going.
She knew the only way she was keeping up with the demons was that her powers fueled her movements yet again. Even calling Lily and giving a quick explanation didn’t slow her down. As they moved through the woods, she hoped like hell that their enemies wouldn’t find them too soon.
But even though she kept looking to the sky, there wasn’t a single angel to be found.
By the time they reached the road, the reds and oranges of the sunset had been entirely swallowed, and the moon rose slightly on the horizon. Lily was leaning against the side of a bus near her car, her stance that of a woman who did this every day.
“Mrs. Bran—“
“Sharen,” she corrected her student for the millionth time, then threw her arms around her. “I’m glad I can always count on you.”
The woman laughed. “Me too. And I’m glad you caught me before I started boozing.”
Sharen pulled back, laughed, and shook her head.
Her people gathered behind her, and she took a deep breath, turning toward them. “Lily will take you to the refuge. Stay there and try to stay alert. Our enemies likely know about the refuge.”
Riverly spoke, her voice nervous. “Are you sure?”
“We suspected they planted an old man name David there a while ago, but no one has seen him since.” The shapeshifter! No wonder we couldn’t find the old man, he must have shifted faces! The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. “In fact, we might not be looking for the old man at all. One of our enemies is a shapeshifter, so be aware of any unusual behavior in any of our people.”
A hundred questions rose at once.
S
he raised a hand, and slowly everyone descended into silence. “I know there’s a shapeshifter. Darla never betrayed us. He killed her and made himself look like her. I... I found her body.”
“I knew she wouldn’t have betrayed us,” Riverly whispered, and tears filled her eyes. “That bastard really killed her?”
Sharen nodded.
“Was her death at least quick?”
Sharen thought of the young woman’s body and shuddered. No, it hadn’t been.
“The bastard!” Riverly exclaimed, as if reading her mind. “Don’t worry. We won't stop until we catch him!”
Sharen was amazed by how brave the quiet woman had become. “Yes, we will. We’re a strong team, and now we know what to expect.”
She answered a few more questions from the group before, at last, everyone seemed more tired than curious. It was time to go.
As the people began to load onto the bus, she caught Henry’s sleeve. “Keep an eye out on them. Not everyone has the training that you do.”
“Of course.”
“No, ‘commander?’”
He looked confused for a moment. “Sorry.”
I don’t need to hear it, but usually he ends every sentence with it. “It’s okay. It’s been a long day for all of us.”
As Henry quickly climbed onto the bus, Ryder surprised her by hoisting her into his arms. A little cry escaped her lips, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck, grateful to hold him again.
“Ready?” He carried her to their car, just a short distance away, his expression far too satisfied.
His playfulness warmed her heart. God, had she missed him! “So, you’re going to carry me right over there? But not the whole trek through the woods?”
He laughed. “I’m a gentleman like that.”
She reached up and touched his face. “I’m glad to have you back.”
Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Me too.”
If only we were all back together.
Her heart gave a painful squeeze. “Now, to find Kade and Alec and kill the bastards who took them.”
Ryder’s brow rose. “Why does it turn me on when you go all badass Hunter?”
She shook her head. “Because you’re a freak.”
They both laughed, even while she could feel the tension singing between them. Yes, they were safely back together, but they could never be happy. Not when the other parts of them were still missing. Maybe even hurt. So they would need to keep going, keep searching for clues. They had no choice.
There’s no rest for the Hunters.
Chapter Eleven
The shapeshifter stood on the outskirts of the demon refuge. He kept his shape firmly in place as he called for an angel. Within moments, Renata teleported close to him. She was one of his father’s favorites, a blonde angel with unexpected powers.
Renata looked at him, her expression guarded. “You called.”
“Bring me to my father.”
She nodded. When she took his hand, he felt a tremble run through her body. Interesting. As powerful as his father thought she was, she still feared him.
The world shimmered around him, and then he was standing in the hall just outside of his father’s chambers. His brow rose at the closed doors.
“Why didn’t you bring me inside?”
“He’s meeting with someone,” she said, her gaze avoiding his. “I must return to my post.”
When she opened the massive doors, instead of allowing them to fully close, he slipped his booted foot between the doors, leaving a small space. Peering through them, he could barely make out his father’s throne room.
A man knelt before the massive, curling black cloud of power that concealed his father from sight. There was something... wrong about the man. Something that bothered even him.
“I thought the angels could handle her without my Hunters. I’ll do better next time,” the human said, his voice shaking.
His father’s anger seemed to swell the room. “Sorcerer, I gave you three days. Three days to walk the earth as an undead before your body falls to pieces. Just a short time to prove that you deserve to be given immortality among my angels. And yet, already, you fail me.”
“I didn’t expect her magic.”
“You should expect that Sharen is capable of absolutely anything.”
The man’s voice shook. “I thought I was just to capture an ex-Hunter. I heard rumors she was your child... but I didn’t know to expect abilities like that.”
“Daughter?” His father repeated. “Interesting.”
He tensed. Sharen is my sister? Is such a thing really possible?
And if he wants her powers, will he want mine too?
“Please, just give me another chance.” The sorcerer whined, drawing him from his thoughts.
There was silence for too long. “I am not a man who gives chances, but since you are the only one with something to lose, I will let you live. But do not fail me again, sorcerer. My son will serve you her people on a silver platter. You and your Hunters need only to destroy them.”
The man on the ground rose. “I won’t disappoint you again.”
“Good.” His father’s voice was filled with mockery. “Because if you do...”
His father pointed to the black awning pit in the back of the room. A shiver ran through his body as he stared at the place his father seldom used. If a soul was thrown into the pit, it could never be reborn again. It could never have any kind of afterlife.
The Soul Destroyer was made to be used against people too dangerous to even become demons. There was no worse fate.
“My son has already earned himself a place in the pit. Will you?” Caine whispered.
He stiffened. My father intends to destroy my immortal soul?
That’s worse than I ever imagined.
Cautiously he allowed the door to close all the way. His father had a plan to finally take what he needed from Sharen. And once he did, he would be even more powerful than before.
And then, he won’t need me anymore. Is that when he’ll destroy my soul?
The plan his father had laid out was flawless, but without his shapeshifting abilities it would fall to pieces.
That’s one way I can stop him from becoming more powerful.
And yet, if he failed his father, it would end in his death. Either way he’ll destroy me. So what could he do?
He moved through the fortress, ignoring the angels he passed. The only way to ensure his survival was to destroy his father. But as far as he knew, such a thing was impossible.
Freezing, an answer hit him at once. The Fate.
He hurried through the fortress and down the many steps into the dungeons.
As he rounded a corner, he came to the guard. “Show me the Fate.”
The angel raised a brow. “The Fate?”
He struck the woman, and she smacked back into the wall, sliding to the floor. Waiting with annoyance, he allowed her to climb unsteadily to her feet.
“Let me say that again, bring me to the Fate.”
The angel hurried to obey, and he gritted his teeth. He was the son of Caine. He may have never visited the Fate before, but no one was to question his authority.
No one.
She led him past the demon’s cell, and her keys jangled as she pulled them from off her belt. With annoyingly slow movements, she unlocked the door and pushed it open.
The shapeshifter grabbed a torch from off a wall and held it out before him as he moved into the stinking darkness of the Fate’s cell. At first he didn’t see her, then spotted the dirt-covered creature cowering from the flames, beside her blanket, which was equally dirty and spread over the ground.
He strode into the room and stared down at her, then glanced back at the guard. “Close the door. I’ll rap when I’m done.”
The angel looked concerned, but closed the door without complaint.
“I have a question for you, Fate.”
The tiny woman raised her head from off her
knees and peered at him with hostile green eyes. “Anything for the disgusting son of Caine.”
He kicked her. Once. Twice. A third time, until she lay, little sounds of suffering coming from her like music to his ears.
“I have question for you, Fate,” he repeated.
Her breathing came in pants. “Ask away.”
“You told my father the answer that changed everything. That allowed him to finally get what he wants. Now, you’ll answer the same sort of question for me.” He took a deep breath, knowing that there would be no going back now. “How do I kill my father?”
Those eyes of her appeared again above her legs that she’d curled to shield herself from his blows. He saw pure hatred in her gaze, but knew she could do nothing. The Fate could not tell a lie.
“You cannot kill him.”
His rage flared to life, and he drew back his booted foot.
“But Sharen can,” she hurried out.
He froze, listening.
“At the battle, she can kill him. You need only to betray him to ensure his life is forfeited.”
The shapeshifter stared. “It can’t be so easy.”
She smiled. “All it takes is one death. Just not the person you imagine.”
He knelt down, clutching the torch more tightly. “Tell me everything.”
Chapter Twelve
Alec’s eyes opened as the sound of a tray clattering jerked him from his restless sleep. His soul-blade lay on the ground, the orange flames lighting the cell.
Clenching his teeth, he rose and moved to the tray. The food was disgusting. Moldy bread, a bowl full of God only knew, and a cup of water. But he picked it up and sat down, with his back against the wall and ate every last bite, and drank the disgusting stale water, because he had to. If he didn’t eat, he’d grow weak. And he refused to. Sharen and his brothers were out there somewhere. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see a way out of his situation, he’d figure one out, and he’d save them all.
Tossing his tray to the door, he felt only a little satisfied at the loud clatter. He wanted to break something. To destroy something. Especially the fucking shapeshifter and its master.
A strange sound came, like scratching. He tensed and looked around. He could see nothing to explain the sound. Where had it come from?
Mates of the Realms: The Complete Collection: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Box Set Page 28
