Darkness Unknown

by Alexis Morgan

  Jake lifted his water bottle and chugged down half of it. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he nodded in Chase’s direction. “What’s up with him?”

  Jarvis kept his eyes on Jake, trying to make it less obvious that they were talking about the boy. “I suspect he found out that I spent a lot of time with his sister while he was gone. He’d warned me once about not messing with her, so I’d guess he’s working himself up to another lecture.”

  “She told him that you were doing the horizontal tango?”

  Jake sounded incredulous, right up until Jarvis’s fist connected with his stomach. Then he sounded like a whole lot of pain. He hit the floor hard, holding his gut with a moan.

  Chase’s eyes were the size of plates when he worked up his courage to approach. Noting the boy stayed on the far side of Jake, Jarvis gave him points for good sense. A smart man avoided getting in the middle of a fight until he found out which side he was on.

  Staring down at Jake, Chase asked, “Is he okay?”

  “I’m fuckin’ fine.” Jake pushed himself up to his feet, glaring at Jarvis. “I didn’t think—”

  Jarvis cut him off. “That’s exactly right: you didn’t think. Now shut your damn mouth before I give you a second lesson in manners.”

  Chase backed away a step. “Do you two have these lessons often?”

  “Too damn often,” Jake complained. “Don’t worry, kid—he only uses his fists when he thinks somebody hasn’t been listening close enough.”

  “O-kay.” Chase put his hands behind his ears as if trying to hear better. “What do you want me to do next, Mr. Donahue, sir? I’m all ears.”

  Jarvis laughed. The kid had gumption. “I want you to go open that red gear bag by the door and bring back what’s in it. Carefully.”

  He and Jake waited to see Chase’s reaction to the three swords. Hopefully Gwen wouldn’t poke her pretty nose in anytime soon. Even if Jarvis could convince her that swords were a normal part of martial arts practice, he wanted to put the discussion off as long as possible.

  “Cool!” Chase sounded reverent as he lifted the first sword out of the bag.

  “Take a few practice swings with it and then do the same with the others. When you’re done, I want to know which you like best and why.”

  Jake moved up beside him, a silent apology, which only made Jarvis feel more like a shit.

  “It’s different this time.” There’d never been another time that even came close.

  His friend managed a small smile. “Tell me something I don’t know.” After a few seconds, he said, “Hey, Chase has some good moves already. I think he’s a natural. He’ll take to the job like a duck to water.”

  Normally that would have pleased Jarvis because God knows they needed any additional manpower they could get. But prying Chase out of his sister’s fingers was going to be tough. If they could tell her the truth about the very real threat the constant invasions from Kalithia posed, not only to this country but also in other spots scattered around the world, she might understand.

  “Might” being the operative word. It was easy to flag-wave when it wasn’t your ass on the line or that of someone you loved. But no matter how Gwen felt about it, Chase would man up to do the job, just as Jarvis and Jake had when they were his age. It was hardwired into his genetic makeup.

  Which reminded him—Chase had never said a word about his father, not since Jarvis had given Gwen the picture to pass along to her brother. Apparently, she hadn’t done so. He’d respect her decision for now, but would ask her about it later. Eventually they’d have to tell Chase more about Harvey, to help the boy understand who and what he was. And sooner would be better, because Jarvis was already planning a field trip for Chase.

  The time to introduce him to others of his own kind was coming. Chase would probably get a kick out of working out with some of the younger Paladins. It was just another step in the process of bringing him into the fold.

  Chase was on the last sword now. He hefted it and then waved it around a couple of times before doing a couple of quick lunges. It wasn’t hard to tell that he’d found his favorite. His bright blue eyes gleamed as he carefully put the other two back.

  Jarvis crossed his arms over his chest and gave Chase his best drill sergeant stare. “Why that one?”

  “I don’t know, except that it feels better. Right, somehow.”

  “How so?”

  Chase brought the sword up into fighting position and held it there as he tried to formulate an answer. Finally, he brought the sword straight up in front of his face. “The other two felt heavier and sort of awkward. This one feels like an extension of my arm, as if the pommel was made for my hand.”

  Jake clapped him on the back. “See, I told you, Jarvis. The boy’s a natural, with fine taste in swords.” He stage-whispered to Chase, “That’s the one I picked out for you.”

  True enough. “Okay, smart-ass, you put him through his paces. I’m going to see what Gwen is up to. If we’re taking up Chase’s time, she might need help with the chores.”

  Chase’s excitement visibly dimmed. Time to nip this in the bud. “You got a problem with me helping your sister, Chase?”

  The boy rested the sword on the ground, his hands crossed on top of the pommel. “And if I do?”

  “Spit it out.”

  “I’ve already warned you once.” He handed the sword off to Jake and squared up his shoulders. “Right now she seems happy about the way things are between you. If that changes, we’ll have a discussion like the one you had with Jake—only I’ll be the one doing the talking.”

  Chase had to know he wouldn’t stand a chance against Jarvis in a fair fight, if there even was such a thing. He couldn’t fault the boy’s instincts and respected the loyalty that drove them.

  “Fine. We’ll talk.” Before he could go two steps, Jake caught him by the arm. “What do you want?”

  His friend’s eyes were flint hard. “She’s a nice lady. If Chase needs help explaining things to you, I might help him clarify a few points.”

  Jarvis shrugged off Jake’s hand and walked away. When he stepped out of the barn, he turned toward the woods rather than the house; his mood was too volatile to be around anyone. A quick hike might help.

  Then he saw Gwen standing at the corral fence. There was no way to avoid being seen, and if he ignored her, it would only cause more problems.

  He joined her at the fence. She was watching the alpacas so intently, he wasn’t sure she noticed him.

  “Something wrong?” He put his foot on the lowest railing and rested his arms on the top one.

  Gwen shook her head as if to clear it. “What? Oh, no. Everything is fine. I was just seeing sweaters.”

  He couldn’t resist the urge to tease her. “I would have thought their coats would keep them warm enough this winter. Knit hats and booties might help, though.”

  She laughed and poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “Very funny.”

  “Seriously, though, what do you see when you look at them?”

  “Colors, mostly. I prefer to work with the natural colors of their fiber. One of the other breeders in the state is selling some of his breeding females, and I’m trying to decide if there are any colors I’d like to add to my bunch.”

  “Are they expensive?”

  “Oh, yeah. If I want to buy one or two, I’d have to sell a couple of mine to swing the payment.” She lapsed into silence again, her eyebrows drawn together in a frown.

  “If it’s a matter of money, I’ve got some I’m not using.”

  Paladins were well paid for the duration of their fighting years. Of course, there were no retirement benefits, since they all left the job in the same way: at the wrong end of a lethal injection.

  “You’re sweet to offer, but no thanks. I don’t really need another animal; I just want one.”

  “The offer stands if you change your mind.”

  She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

  The sound
of a muffled shout, followed by raucous laughter, drifted from the barn. Gwen turned in that direction, a pleased smile on her face. “So how is the training going?”

  “He’s good, and will be really good before long. He and Jake are practicing some new moves.” Ones that would help Chase become a proficient killer.

  “It’s so nice of you and Jake to give up your free time to help him. Other than various sports coaches, he’s never had a man to show him the ropes. It means a lot to both of us.”

  Maybe now was the time to ask about the picture. “Chase has never mentioned the photo I gave you of his father. Did you decide not to tell him about Harvey?”

  “Not exactly. I told him his father’s name, but he didn’t seem very excited about learning even that. I could have pushed it more, but…”

  “But what, Gwen?”

  “This might sound silly, but it’s just been the two of us for so long. It’s hard to know whether telling Chase about his father will help him or hurt him. It’s not like he’ll ever have a chance to meet the man.”

  Jarvis turned to stare out toward the woods. “I wouldn’t presume to interfere, but maybe even a small connection, especially knowing his father was a good guy, might help Chase learn his place in the world. It’s not easy for teenage boys at the best of times, and anything that sets them apart just makes it that much harder. Your brother has a lot in common with Harvey. Maybe it would help for him to know that.”

  Gwen turned to stare at her herd. After a bit, she said, “You’re right, of course. I guess I have a hard time sharing, which is stupid. It’s not like the man is going to swoop in and steal Chase away from me.”

  No, Jarvis was going to do that. “Look, I’m going to take a walk in the woods for a few minutes. When I get back, it will be time for Jake and me to head out.”

  “Mind if I come with you?”

  Yes. No. Maybe. Hell, he didn’t know. Chase wouldn’t like it, but maybe that was too damn bad. “Sure thing. I’ve been shut in too much. A walk along the river just sounded good.”

  She whistled for the dogs, who came charging around the corner. “Come on, boys, let’s see if there are any varmints in the woods for you to chase.”

  As they followed the excited dogs toward the path into the woods, Gwen slipped her hand into Jarvis’s. At first she wasn’t sure he was going to respond, but after a second’s hesitation he gave her hand a soft squeeze before letting go. Something was obviously bothering him, but she didn’t feel comfortable prying. Maybe he’d tell her if she was patient.

  After a bit, he draped his arm around her shoulder. She snuggled closer and cupped the side of his face with the palm of her hand. Seeing the sadness in his eyes, she raised herself up high enough to kiss him. His arms immediately tightened around her, holding her close and with such care. The brief embrace had a far different feel than any they’d shared before. This time, she offered him comfort and sweetness instead of heat and passion. She hoped it helped. The air in the woods was heavy with humidity, but a small breeze kept it from being unbearable. Other than the occasional rustling in the bushes or the call of a bird flitting around in the trees, the woods were quiet and peaceful. It always seemed as if she shed her worldly problems there.

  She wished she could say the same for Jarvis. Maybe she could get him to talk about whatever was weighing him down. “I know you can’t tell me what was wrong the other night, but I hope whatever Jake needed you for wasn’t too serious.”

  “Serious enough, but the, uh, situation is improving bit by bit.”

  “That’s good.” So much for that topic of conversation.

  She tried again. “Chase’s first game is this coming weekend. He’d love it if you could come—if you’re free.”

  “Sounds like fun. Tell me when and where, and I’ll try to be there. Things at work are a bit dicey right now, but if I can get free, I’ll meet you there.”

  She understood he had obligations, but they’d be easier to accept if she had a better idea of what they were. “That’ll work. I really hope you can come.”

  They’d reached the edge of the river. She sat on a boulder and tugged her shoes off to dangle her feet in the cool, clear water. Patting the space next to her, she said, “Come join me. The water is perfect.”

  He immediately pulled off his boots and rolled up his jeans. As soon as he stuck his feet in the water, he yelped and yanked them back out. “That’s not perfect! That’s damn cold!”

  She giggled and splashed the water with her feet. “Wuss. It feels great.”

  “If you say so.” Even as he groused, he eased his feet back into the water. Then he tugged on her braid. “You caused me a big problem the other night.”

  “Really? What did I do that was so terrible?”

  He leaned down to scoop up a handful of rocks to toss in the river. “Jake and another coworker kept sniffing the air around me and saying they could smell roses. I thought I was going to have to threaten one of them to make them stop.”

  “Would they think less of you for taking a bubble bath?”

  “Actually, I think they’d be green with envy. Any guy in his right mind would fight for the chance to take a bath, bubble or otherwise, with such a beautiful woman.” His fingers tangled with hers, and his voice grew rough with heat. “I get hard just thinking about wrapping myself around all your sweet-smelling skin. If I thought we could lock Jake and Chase in the barn, I’d suggest we pick up where we left off.”

  Then he pulled her close for a long kiss, the kind that had her curling her toes and actually considering nailing the barn door shut for a while. She ran her hand up under Jarvis’s shirt, loving the feel of all that warm skin and smooth muscle.

  He broke off the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. “If I could bottle the taste of your kisses, I’d put all the candy companies out of business.”

  “Your kisses ought to come with a warning label, because they melt my bones.” She brushed her lips across his. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  He immediately took control of the kiss, his tongue plunging in and out of her mouth, reminding her of how it had felt when he’d used the same rhythm to bring her to a shattering climax the other night. She just couldn’t get enough of this man.

  He laid her down on the boulder, then unbuttoned her shirt far enough to reveal the top of her breasts. He whispered hot words of approval as he teased her with his lips and tongue, tasting her skin and leaving heat in their wake.

  She pushed him away just long enough to release the front catch of her bra, and his eyes turned the color of melted chocolate as he tongued her nipples into hard peaks. His callused hand palmed one side as he suckled hard on the other. If he kept that up, she was going to come right there. She was half naked right where anyone walking through the woods could see them, but she wouldn’t miss it for the world.

  Then he found the damp heat between her legs. No other man had ever stoked her fires to such an inferno before.

  He reached for the snap of her cutoffs, when all of a sudden the dogs came bounding back, barking their fool heads off. She snarled at them to shut up, but stopped when she realized that their attention was focused on the ridge above them, the fur on their necks standing up. Their low growls doused the rest of her passion completely.

  “Jarvis?”

  He shushed her with his fingers over her lips. “Straighten your clothing and go back to the barn and stay there. Tell Jake to come running with my gear bag. He’ll know which one. Hurry.”

  Her sweet-smiling lover was gone. In his place stood a warrior, his face harsh and fierce, his entire body rigid with tension. Without taking his eyes off the ridge, he gave her a hand up off the boulder and picked up her shoes.

  “Go now, Gwen, and don’t come back with Jake. We’ll be fine, but I can’t afford to have any distractions.”

  She put on her shoes but didn’t wait to tie them. The faster she got to Jake, the faster Jarvis wouldn’t be alone in the woods with whatever had both him and th
e dogs so spooked. And he seemed to know exactly what the threat was.

  As she ran back toward her farm she struggled to button her blouse, hoping Jake and Chase would assume her bedraggled appearance was because she’d been running.

  “Jake!”

  She hollered his name again when she came even with the pasture gate, and then repeated it until she turned the corner toward the front of the barn. He was already charging out of the door with Chase right behind him.

  “Gwen! What’s wrong?”

  “Jarvis wants you to bring his equipment bag and come running. He’s waiting a short distance down the path. Hurry, because something’s got him and the dogs really spooked.”

  “Son of a bitch!”

  Jake disappeared back into the barn and reappeared immediately with a bright red duffle that clinked like metal inside. He took off at a dead run and Chase started after him, but Gwen blocked his way.

  “He said only Jake, Chase. He didn’t want any distractions.”

  Her brother tried to step around her, but she managed to keep herself planted in front of him.

  He grabbed her waist and set her out of his way. “Damn it, Gwen, those are my friends and my dogs out there. I’m not going to stay here like some helpless child.”

  She didn’t bother trying to catch him, knowing that he’d easily outdistance her. All she could do was wait and pray for all three of them, and hope that whatever was out there didn’t hurt any of her menfolk.

  Jarvis was clearly not happy to see him, but too bad. He wasn’t some child to be left out of the action.

  “What’s up?”

  The two men ignored him as they unzipped the red bag and pulled out a pair of swords and a couple of handguns. They checked the two automatics over with deadly-looking efficiency.

  Did they know what was out there? No one in their right mind went hunting with swords, for God’s sake. At least no one he’d ever heard of.

  Jake held out a smaller version of the gun he’d just stuck in the back of his waist. “Do you know how to use one of these?”

  “I’m more familiar with a twenty-two rifle, but I’ve shot something similar to this a few times at a firing range with my friend and his dad.”