Henri was still too blinded by his rage to notice that Sonya now stood behind him, wielding his abandoned sword.
Ivelisse had been cowering under a table but chose that single moment to open her eyes and let out a scream that pierced my already throbbing head.
Henri turned just in time to see his beloved wife as she swung the sword, sinking it halfway through his neck until it clanged to a halt when it met the bone of his spine.
Ian staggered into the cavern, his eyes quickly assessing the situation.
Sonya still clung to the handle of the sword, mindlessly trying to push the blade through the bone it was stuck in. Her corpse was doing what only a necromancer could command it to do. What I had told it to do.
Ian balled a jolt of energy into his hands and directed it toward Henri.
Henri and Sonya fell back like an invisible wind had tossed them into the stone wall behind them.
Sonya fervently continued her assault on Henri, raising the sword again and again and sinking it into his flesh.
“You have to order her to stop, My Love, put her to rest again.”
My heart hammered in my chest as I watched Sonya hack the hell out of her own husband. I had to fight back the bile rising in my throat, my stomach twisting not only at the carnage before me but because I had ordered her to do it.
Ian ran to me and lifted my head off the ground. “Now, My Love.”
I closed my eyes, leaning into Ian to let the mere feel of him calm me and prayed for Sonya to stop. Return to the dead. Rest.
I heard the sword clang to the ground. When I finally drew up the courage to open my eyes I found Sonya lying on the floor next to what was left of Henri.
“Took you long enough,” I croaked and didn’t even bother trying to conceal the smile tugging at my lips.
He helped me to stand and just being near him cleared some of the cobwebs from my head.
I stretched on tiptoes and captured his lips.
He swept me up and held me until Joaquín interrupted, “It’s not bad enough I’m bleeding here but you have to torture me too?”
“Ahem. If you two have a minute…” Cougar put in.
Ian set me down and I wobbled to the cells and starting ripping open the silver fences that confined Cougar and Chaos. Joaquín sat on the floor, his knees up supporting the weight of his head.
Cougar pounced on Maxwell; who had been cowering in a corner of the room; and unceremoniously snapped his neck.
Chaos moved toward Ivelisse like a predator stalking his prey. His body language was purposeful but his face held a touch of sorrow.
He had loved Ivelisse and she betrayed him.
I knew how he felt.
She begged for forgiveness and her life. As a SINS agent I knew I should stop him. I was sworn to protect humans.
I looked at Ivelisse and could see the wheels of her brain spinning another lie and couldn’t quite make myself believe that she was completely human. Perhaps she was more of a gray area.
Cougar, Joaquín and even Chaos looked at me as if waiting to see if I would intervene. I probably should have.
I jerked my head toward the door and turned away, leaning my head on Ian’s shoulder and leaving Chaos to clean up his own mess.
* * * *
“He was using newbies to kill humans and drain their blood for profit,” I said as we walked back out into the star-filled night. “He didn’t have to kill them.” My voice broke.
“It is the darkest side of my race, My Love.” He rubbed his hands down my arms, warming the sudden chill coming from inside me. “It is why the Marquis exists, to keep the evil at bay.”
“It’s an illusion of control, Ian.” The truth was bitter on my tongue.
“Yet still worth fighting for, yes?”
“Yes,” I nodded, “definitely worth fighting for.”
“I brought you a gift.” Ian held out the metal claw that Merc had worn.
“Are they dead?” I asked and the lack of emotion I felt over the loss of a life bothered me just a little.
“Merc is dead. Ozzi still lives. They are mercenaries, hired by Henri. Ozzi decided it was no longer worth risking his life once he found out what Henri was doing,” his brows raised, dark slashes highlighting his eyes, “and once Merc was dead.”
I snorted. “Honor among thieves?”
“He was truly unaware of Henri’s intentions. In his profession, one does not question the motives of those he works for.”
I flashed him a look of disbelief.
“I believe I have convinced him to look for a new occupation.”
“Really?” I stopped to look up at him.
“I assure you he will not bring further harm to anyone.” He inclined his head. “Trust me?”
“Without question.” And it warmed me to know that I did trust him completely. I would still bear the scars of betrayal, but they would be distant memories of mistakes that would not be repeated.
“So what do you think about Chaos’s offer?” I knew Ian wanted my blessing and I was glad he included me in the decision. It was another show of faith and trust and the meaning wasn’t lost on me.
“You should accept,” I said firmly. “The last thing I need is another testosterone-fueled vampire running around in my town.”
He laughed. “Let’s go home and show you the benefits of such testosterone.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
“I might just take you up on that, Marquis Ian Nightwalker.” I pulled him into a kiss.
A very short kiss interrupted when Sam strode up to us, followed by Donovan and Shia. “You throw one hell of a party, Leah!” His clothes were torn and rumbled from the fight they’d obviously had.
“Looks like you saw some action out here too,” I commented.
“They scattered like rats fleeing a sinking ship,” Donovan put in, his face flushed yet satisfied. He flashed a glance at Shia, currently in human form and shook his head. “I never fought alongside a mountain lion before,” he said with awe. “Wow.”
Sam closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, fending off a headache and seeking patience. He drew a deep breath then let it out slowly before opening his eyes again. “Are you all right?”
I nodded wearily. “Yeah, we’re all good.”
The SINS cleanup crew and a couple of ambulances pulled up to the front of the ranch house.
“Cougar? Make sure Joaquín gets checked out by a medic.” I put up my hand before Joaquín could protest. “I’m too tired to argue,” I met his gaze with mine, “please, just do it.”
“Fine,” he acceded. “You should get looked at too.” He nodded toward my side where blood still covered my already healing gunshot wound.
Sam followed his eyes, concern registering within them.
“It’ll heal.” But you’ll find a lot more blood inside.” I jerked my head toward the door.
“Where are the Maxwell’s?” he asked solemnly.
I gave him directions to navigate through the underground maze, then started walking toward my car.
“Where can I reach you?” he called out just as Ian was opening my door.
I looked at Ian, and then turned to Sam. “We’ll both be at my place.”
Sam pursed his lips and nodded before turning away to bark instructions at the waiting cleanup crew.
Epilogue
Maxwell Palmer’s death was ruled a murder/suicide after Susan Palmer’s body was found with his in the abandoned ranch house. Apparently, Maxwell had found her shortly after she went into hiding and killed her. I was sorry I hadn’t protected her. She hadn’t deserved to die.
Chaos fell off the radar for about a week after that night. Sam never found him or Ivelisse’s body inside the ranch and I never felt a need to tell him about their involvement.
Some dark things should remain in the shadows.
He stopped to say goodbye before he went back to his post with The Marquis. I apologized and Chaos treated me with a new
kind of respect and promised to return the favor of saving his life someday.
I hoped I never needed to take him up on it.
He remained stoic, but the betrayal and hurt still showed in his eyes. Maybe he really had loved Ivelisse?
Justice still stopped by from time to time. It turned out that Ian had helped her through the transformation decades ago. She wanted to return the favor. I don’t know where she is when she isn’t here but she seems lighter now, as if some burden has been lifted from her shoulders.
One day I’ll have to get Ian to tell me her story.
The only explanation Ian and I could come up with for my increased ability to see, and now, frighteningly, feel, the souls of the dead was that perhaps I gained more power from taking his blood. It was a problem we’d work on and in the meantime, I planned on staying far away from hospitals.
Joaquín stayed with Cougar at his suite at Dark Nights of the Desert Casino until Ian pulled some strings and got the Alpha of a pack of shapeshifting wolves to agree to take Joaquín under his wing until he could control his own beast.
Surprising me, he resigned from the Reservation Police Department and willingly went. The inability to shift into wolf for his own protection scared the hell out of him.
The day he left was cloudy with the promise of an afternoon storm. The sky was bleak and foreboding which seemed appropriate for my final goodbye to Joaquín.
“Louis and Ian go way back. He’ll teach you what you need to learn now.” I stood outside my house while Louis Deaveraux, Pack Alpha, waited in a car. “I’m sorry you have to go through this,” I added.
He placed his finger to my lips. “Don’t, Leah. You’re right, I did this to myself. I do—did want you to be what I needed.” He grinned. “You always thought I was a bit of a dog anyway,” he teased.
“Yeah well, be a good little puppy in obedience school.”
Joaquín pulled me into a hug. “You gonna be okay?”
I nodded against his shoulder then stepped away to look at him.
“I’m going to be great.”
Joaquín pulled me to him and covered my mouth with his. I stood still, not kissing back and even my body no longer responded to his touch. He gave up and took a step back. “You really love him, don’t you?” he said huskily.
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. “Yeah, I do.”
He took a step back, pursed his lips in thought then let out a breath in a whoosh. “See you around, Leah.”
I smiled. “Yes, I’m sure you will.”
The car pulled away as the first drops of rain bounced off the desert floor.
I watched until it disappeared then walked back into my house and snuggled in next to Ian as he slept in my bed, our bed.
I’m sure our relationship would prove challenging.
I don’t care.
I love him.
Some things are worth fighting for.
The End
About the Author:
Rhonda Print and her lifelong love of reading were inspired by the beauty of the desert southwest to write Nightwalker, the first book in the series. She is diligently working on the second book. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three children. You can visit her at rhondaprint.blogspot.com
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