Death of Darkness

by Dianne Duvall

  Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands and met his alluring golden gaze. “Yes.”

  His handsome faced creasing with a big grin, he wrapped his arms around her, swept her off her feet, and spun her in a tight circle. She said yes! he shouted mentally.

  Whoops and shouts immediately bombarded her mind. “What is that?” she yelled over the noise even though she knew it was in her head.

  “The telepaths, expressing their happiness for us.”

  Leah laughed.

  As exuberant as a boy who had just gotten the present he really wanted for his birthday, Seth set her on her feet and proceeded to kiss the stuffing out of her.

  The floor beneath them began to rumble and vibrate.

  Pulling back, she chuckled. “An earthquake? Already? We’ve barely gotten started.”

  Seth laughed and shook his head. “I’m not doing it this time.”

  “Then what—?”

  The bedroom door burst open and crashed against the wall, startling Leah so badly she jumped.

  Men and women garbed in black rushed inside, vying for position as they surged toward the two of them.

  David reached them first and drew Seth into a bear hug.

  Ami slammed into Leah, damned near taking her to the floor as she squeezed her tight and offered congratulations.

  Then bodies crushed in around them, pressing close.

  Leah laughed as she was passed from one immortal to the next. First the women embraced her, then the men. All overflowed with happiness. All were heartwarmingly thrilled that the man who had watched over them for hundreds and thousands of years had finally found love and happiness.

  And all were now her family, too.

  Seth found Leah again amid the crush of revelers. Bending, he wrapped his arms around her, then straightened, lifting her feet off the floor.

  Grinning, happier than she had ever thought she could be, Leah pressed her lips to his. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Pressing her lips to his ear, she whispered, “You know I’m just marrying you because your boys all make me feel small, right?”

  He laughed and tightened his hold. “I don’t care why you do it as long as you marry me.” Then he kissed her, longer and deeper, firing her blood.

  “I get to plan the wedding!” Lisette called behind them.

  “I get to help!” Sarah said quickly.

  “Me, too!” Ami cried.

  Then all the women present were volunteering.

  “I want to help,” Sheldon tossed in.

  “No way,” Tracy objected. “You’d line the aisle with creepy blow-up dolls.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Seth smiled at Leah. “Are you okay with that?”

  “With Sheldon lining the aisle with creepy blow-up dolls?” she asked with a grin.

  Chuckling, he shook his head. “With Lisette and the others planning the wedding.”

  Shifting, Leah drew her legs up, locked them around his waist, and settled her core against the hard length constrained by his cargo pants. “I’m fine with that.” She nipped his earlobe. “We have better things to do.”

  “Everybody out!” he called, his gaze holding hers as he slid one hand down to cup her ass.

  Protests arose.

  “You heard him,” Leah added with a grin. “Daddy wants to get his kink on.”

  Several men hooted.

  Beside them, David groaned. “Do you know how weird it is to hear someone say that about my grandfather?”

  She laughed and reached out to squeeze his shoulder. “Sorry about that, David. I forgot.”

  Leaning closer with a smile, he kissed her cheek. “Congratulations again. And welcome to the family, Leah.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Okay, children!” David called over the din. “Let’s go. It’s time to begin the night’s hunt.”

  Though some grumbled, all immediately began to file out of the room.

  “You’d best hurry,” David advised them with a wink at Leah, “and leave before the rain begins.”

  Now Seth groaned and pressed his forehead to hers.

  The door closed, leaving them alone.

  She laughed. “You’re lucky I’m not the shy type or I’d make you take me someplace remote every time we make love so no one will know.”

  He raised his head. “Now there’s an idea.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she ordered with mock severity. “The farmers of North Carolina need you.”

  Laughing, Seth tossed her onto the bed. “Well, let it never be said that I shirked my duties.”

  Leah grinned as their clothes fell away.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Seth swayed on his feet.

  The hand on his shoulder tightened. “Are you all right?” Felix asked, his deep voice full of concern.

  Seth smiled at the Aussie immortal and those clustered around them. “Yes.”

  “You should have had someone else teleport us in.”

  “They’re all busy teleporting in the rest,” he said with a shake of his head. “Find a seat.”

  Felix patted his shoulder, then strode forward. The other immortals stationed in Australia followed, each offering Seth a pat or a slap on the back.

  As Seth surveyed the scene around him, a peace he hadn’t felt in thousands of years sifted through him. He stood in what resembled an enormous grassy bowl. Seth had often wondered over the millennia if the deep indentation in the earth might be the remnants of a crater blasted into the surface by a meteorite. The ground curved upward on all sides, no trees marring his view. The forest didn’t begin until you reached the rim. And there it proliferated, the foliage so dense that even Seth’s preternaturally sharp eyes couldn’t penetrate it.

  The grass at the base of the bowl had been neatly mown. Thanks to Seth and a handful of immortals whose gifts allowed them to alter nature, the sloping sides all overflowed with wildflowers. Hundreds of solar-powered lights and lanterns illuminated the clearing, twinkling like the stars above them.

  Chairs formed row after long row on the lawn, enough to seat every Immortal Guardian on the planet. Even those whom Gershom had transformed with the help of blood stolen from Aidan were present, each assigned to an elder Immortal Guardian.

  It was a remarkable experience, seeing his entire family in one place. The males wore sleek black suits. The women wore beautiful gowns. Some of the attire was modern, some vintage formal wear from their mortal days. All looked as happy and excited as Seth felt. This—the congregation of powerful men and women before him who spent their nights protecting humanity—this was his legacy.

  He could not have been more proud.

  Seth had never thought to see them all gathered together this way and had Chris Reordon and the other network heads around the globe to thank for making it possible.

  “Aren’t you tired?”

  Turning, he found Zach, Jared, David, Gideon, and Jaden approaching. He had been pleasantly surprised when the last two had asked if they could attend. “What?”

  “Aren’t you tired after teleporting so many immortals here?” Gideon repeated.

  Seth reached out and pressed a hand to Gideon’s chest. Energy flooded him.

  Gideon staggered.

  Grinning, Seth released him. “Not anymore.”

  The other men laughed.

  Zach clapped Seth on the back. “Are you nervous?”

  “Hell no. I’ve been waiting thousands of years for this.” He ran a hand down the smooth lapels of his suit. “How do I look?”

  “Butt-ugly,” Zach retorted. “I don’t know what the hell Leah sees in you.”

  While the other men laughed, David gave Zach a shove and moved forward to straighten Seth’s tie. “Ignore them. You look good.”

  “Thank you.” Seth drew a hand over his hair. He was used to pulling his long locks back from his face in a braid or with a tie, but his hair was too short for that now, so he’d opted to leave it loose. “Is her
family here?”

  David didn’t ask whose family. “Yes. They’re seated in the front row, everyone except her father, who will walk her down the aisle.”

  Seth frowned. “I’ve barely said more than hello, nice to meet you to her parents. I should’ve spent more time getting to know them.”

  David shook his head. “You’ve had your hands full with the new immortals. Leah explained everything to her mother and father. They understand.”

  Not all of the immortals Seth and the others had retrieved from Gershom had fallen into line as quickly as Tessa had. Some had balked, the mind games played on them making the transition to truth difficult. Seth hoped being here tonight would help.

  David’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Like Leah, her family is good with different.” He glanced at the multitude of immortals taking their seats. Some zipped around at preternatural speeds. “Although their eyes are pretty wide tonight.”

  Seth smiled. “I bet they are.”

  Lisette emerged from a white tent located not far away from them but some distance from the last row of chairs. She wore a lovely peach gown that hugged her figure to her hips, then flowed out into a skirt that trailed behind her in the grass.

  Zach sent her a besotted smile, his eyes acquiring a golden glow.

  She smiled at Seth. “Are we about ready? Leah is driving me crazy.”

  Unease crept in. “Is she having second thoughts?”

  Lisette laughed. “Just the opposite. She cannot wait to make you hers, you handsome devil.”

  Seth grinned, his heart swelling. “Then let’s do this.” Turning on his heel, he strode up the center aisle, Zach on his heels.

  Every Immortal Guardian still standing blurred and found a seat. Jared, Gideon, and Jaden followed suit.

  At the front of the masses, Seth scaled a few stone steps to the large granite dais Zach and David had driven into the side of the hill. Zach positioned himself in the center of the dais while Seth took his place as groom and turned to watch for his bride.

  Leah’s mother and brother sat in the front row, Ben’s wife and Aaron beside them. All looked happy, if a little overwhelmed by the other guests.

  Poor bastard, Zach murmured telepathically. You can’t stop smiling, can you?

  No, Seth replied unrepentantly.

  A group of Immortal Guardians seated off to one side of the gathering raised string instruments and began to play elegant music.

  Seth’s heartbeat picked up.

  David appeared at the far end of the long center aisle. Ami left the white tent and joined him, so lovely in a peach-colored gown like Lisette’s. David smiled down at her as she curled a hand around his arm. Ami’s red hair really stood out amid the sea of black around her as David escorted her forward. Her green eyes sparkled with joy.

  When they reached the dais, they scaled the steps. Ami stopped before Seth, rose onto her toes, and drew him down so she could kiss his cheek.

  “I’m so happy for you,” she whispered.

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”

  She moved to stand on the bride’s side. David moved to stand beside Seth.

  Darnell and Lisette appeared at the end of the aisle next, Darnell handsome in his suit, Lisette graceful and alluring in her gown, which matched Ami’s.

  “Damn, I love that woman,” Zach muttered.

  Lisette grinned and winked at her husband. She, too, gave Seth a kiss on the cheek upon reaching the dais. “Leah is lucky to have you.”

  “I’m luckier to have her,” he said with a smile.

  She moved to stand beside Ami.

  Darnell drew Seth into a hug, clapping him on the back, then took his place on David’s other side.

  The white fabric of the tent on the opposite side of the gathering moved and fluttered. Seth had to struggle not to laugh when he heard Sarah and Roland engage in hasty whispering every immortal present could nevertheless hear. Then little Adira and Michael burst from the tent, giggling as they ran forward.

  Sarah and Roland zipped after them, catching them before the toddlers could reach the aisle and charge down it.

  The audience chuckled.

  Sarah knelt, her gown pooling on the lawn, and whispered to the children, who listened carefully, then nodded.

  Turning to face Seth, Adira and Michael began to walk forward with large, slow steps. Adira looked like a little fairy princess, her peach skirt frothing out around her in fluffy layer after fluffy layer. One hand clutched the handle of a pretty white basket decorated with flowers and ribbons that matched the wreath balanced precariously on her fiery curls. Plunging her other hand inside the basket, she drew out a handful of flower petals and scattered them on the ground in front of her.

  Michael was equally adorable in a suit identical to his father’s. Holding a white satiny pillow in both hands, he marched forward with exaggeratedly somber steps like a little toy soldier.

  But there were a lot of immortals present. And the aisle the children had to walk down was a long one. The two soon grew bored and impatient with the slow, stately steps. Adira picked up her pace. Michael cut her a glance and started walking faster, too. Then, as if by some unspoken agreement, it abruptly turned into a contest to see who could reach Seth first.

  Both children burst into giggles and took off running up the aisle, Adira flinging flower petals every which way and Michael waving his pillow around like a balloon.

  When Roland and Sarah took a step forward to stop them, Seth grinned and held up a hand. “This is a day of celebration,” he told them. “Let them have their fun.”

  Chuckles rippled through the crowd as the little ones ran and giggled and giggled and ran.

  Seth descended the steps and caught the two up in his arms. Bussing their cheeks, he carted them safely up to the dais. Adira moved to stand with her mother. Michael moved to stand beside David and leaned into his side.

  Seth retook his place and returned his attention to the far side of the clearing.

  The tent flaps parted and Leah stepped outside, her hand tucked into the crook of her father’s arm.

  Seth lost the ability to breathe as he stared, arrested.

  She wore no veil as per his request. He had wanted nothing to shield Leah’s lovely face and impede his view tonight. Her brown hair was drawn back from her face in a crown of braids from which tiny flowers peeked here and there. The rest cascaded down her back in a sleek, shining curtain. A white gown hugged her figure from breasts to hips, left her soft alabaster shoulders bare, and covered her arms with delicate lace. The skirt flared out from her hips the way Lisette’s and Ami’s had and trailed behind her as she strode forward with those same strong, sensual steps that had captured his attention from the very beginning.

  She was stunningly, ravishingly beautiful.

  And she was his.

  He heard Leah’s mother suck in a breath and guessed his eyes had begun to glow with golden light. But he couldn’t help it.

  In her free hand, Leah carried a pretty bouquet of wildflowers Ami and the children had picked for her earlier. Even that—choosing something made for her by those he loved over a bouquet that had been carefully crafted by professional florists—made him love her more.

  Beside Leah, her father stood tall, perhaps six foot three. The medium brown skin of his head was clean-shaven like Darnell’s. His beard, cut in a Van Dyke, bore a mixture of black and gray hairs. His trim, muscular body was clad in a handsome suit. But Seth only saw that from the periphery, unable to drag his gaze away from the woman he loved.

  When Leah and her father reached the far end of the aisle, everyone present stood.

  Leah’s eyes rose and met Seth’s.

  A lump rose in his throat. Her exquisite face shone with love and happiness and no little excitement. He thought her steps might have even quickened when she saw him waiting for her.

  Seth descended the steps but forced himself to wait for her there instead of jogging up the aisle to meet her as he wanted
to. When at last she reached him, he managed to drag his gaze away long enough to meet her father’s. “Thank you.”

  Joseph Turner nodded and placed Leah’s hand in Seth’s. “Make her happy.”

  “I will.”

  After kissing his daughter’s cheek, Joe turned away and joined his family in the front row.

  Seth looked down at Leah.

  Her full pink lips stretched in a grin.

  Seth’s did, too. Ducking his head, he pulled her into his arms and kissed the hell out of her.

  Humming her approval, she wrapped her arms around him, parted her lips, and deepened the contact, teasing him with her tongue.

  A throat cleared. “I believe you’re supposed to wait until after the ceremony to do that,” Zach drawled.

  Leah laughed as Seth raised his head.

  The smile he bestowed upon her carried no remorse. “I couldn’t wait,” he admitted.

  “I couldn’t either.” The moment Leah had seen him standing up on the dais—so damned handsome in his suit, his face full of love for her—she had wanted to follow Adira and Michael’s example and take off running up the aisle, impatient to be at his side and make him hers.

  His irises glowed as though golden flames flickered behind them. Stepping back, he offered his arm.

  Leah curled her hand around it, her heart pounding as he tucked it against his side and strode up the stone steps with her.

  Ami moved forward with a sweet smile. Rising onto her toes, she kissed Leah’s cheek and took the bouquet. “Thank you for making him happy,” she whispered.

  Leah gave her a quick hug. “Thank you for helping me find him.” If Ami hadn’t frequented Leah’s store, she never would’ve met Seth.

  Ami grinned as she backed away.

  Seth and Leah faced each other in front of Zach, who would officiate the ceremony. Leah could think of no one more qualified to do so than the son of a Watcher who had lived since biblical times.

  Little Adira suddenly hurried over to them. Taking Leah’s hand in one of hers, she grabbed Seth’s with the other and held the two together until Leah twined her fingers through Seth’s. Then she wandered back over to her mother’s side.