FALL (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

  “Genevieve.” He bowed his head in an amicable greeting, however his eyes didn’t match his address. They were stone cold. “Wonderful timing as usual.”

  “You know I hate to intrude.” Her smile was kind and soft. “Edan wanted to come.” Her attention turned to Delara. “However, I argued the…personal conflict of him coming.” Delara noticed Xamien flinch and then shake his head. “I came instead. It is bad news, I’m afraid.”

  Delara’s heart jumped. God, please let it have nothing to do with Waleron.

  Genevieve glided across the room to stand a few feet away from Delara. She could almost taste the moisture adhering to the Wraith of Water’s skin. It was refreshing and yet it still wasn’t enough to ease the panic that was setting in.

  “He is fine, Delara,” Genevieve whispered.

  Delara sighed and let go of her thighs where her nails were digging in.

  “But there is discourse in the Realm. One person in particular is attempting to get Waleron incarcerated.”

  Delara grabbed the door frame. Oh god, no. He’d never survive that.

  “Of course,” Genevieve continued, “that hasn’t been decided yet, but I think it best you leave the Talde immediately, Delara.”

  Xamien spoke up. “We had an incident yesterday. So we were delayed. I am taking her to Spain today.”

  Genevieve nodded then stepped closer so she could reach out and touch Delara’s cheek. “Tarek Rising is making him act irrational, even with his pills. The Wraiths see this and they wish to control the situation before it becomes an issue.” She shifted her feet and her long, pale-blue dress caught the sunlight making it glitter. “It has been brought to council that Waleron admits to wanting to kill Tarek, even if he never comes after you. That is murder. We can’t allow that to happen. You understand if we decide to incarcerate him. It is to protect him.”

  “It will kill him.” Delara met the Wraith’s eyes dead on. “Imprison him? Take his Taldeburu away? He has done nothing but give his loyalty and this is what he gets?” It had to be Edan causing the trouble in the Realm. The Fire Wraith had it out for Waleron for centuries, even before Delara slept with him.

  Xamien stepped forward and took her hand, giving a squeeze. “Careful Kitten, she is the kindest of Wraiths, but still a Wraith.”

  Genevieve spoke as if Delara hadn’t interrupted, “Waleron is one of the most powerful. We are here to see that all Senses abide by all our laws.”

  “He isn’t breaking any goddamn law.”

  “Damn it, Delara. Cool it.”

  “Ah, my dear, you protect him. That’s good. He needs someone to stand at his side.” Genevieve glanced at Xamien. “Go to Spain. I will do what I can to pacify those that wish to put Waleron away.” A cool mist dispersed around them and Genevieve was gone.

  Delara escaped, running down the hall and into the guest bathroom where she slammed and locked the door.

  It was an enormous bathroom with a marble counter and two sinks with towering taps that looked like arched swan necks. The shower was the most impressive. It had sleek and silver-gray marble walls which ran the length of the bathroom. Glass encased it on three sides, from the ceiling to the floor, with an almost indistinguishable glass sliding door on the far end.

  She undressed then stepped in the shower and turned on the water. The spray hitting her skin was like a punch in the gut. She collapsed to her knees. The hot spray trailed over her hair, her neck, her shoulders, and then down her back, soaking the material to her skin. She felt tears streaming down her cheeks and mixing with the water as she raised her head, letting the water strike her face. Sliding to the sidewall, she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them.

  Every morsel in her body shivered with anxiety. Genevieve appearing had thrown her. The thought of Waleron being imprisoned for…what? Because he was protecting her? Because he hated Tarek, a man that abused her for years? Because he was acting irrational? Wasn’t Delara acting irrational? She’d been on the rollercoaster of making thoughtless decisions for years.

  But Waleron was a Taldeburu and if he broke, bent, or even thought about going against any law, rule, or oath, the Wraiths had to take action.

  How could she leave his Talde? The reality was leaving Waleron behind was eviscerating. She was lying to herself when she thought she could live without him again.

  Xamien’s words ran across her mind, back and forth like a ping pong game. He owned her body. No. Her body belonged to only one man. Waleron. A man who desired her, yet refused to take her for his own. She could admit that now. Even after Trinity’s bargain with him—sex for one week in exchange for her visions—Delara belonged to him.

  But what she wanted—what she desired and what she prayed for—was for Waleron to hold her in his arms because he loved her. But Waleron wouldn’t let go and feel. Trapped behind his drug, he let her go a long time ago and she wasn’t getting him back. The Wraiths separating them was the final hatchet.

  Her finger slid over the faint scar on her thigh; her last cut. In New Orleans, the day he found her in the shower. She pressed hard into the flesh, the need to do it again strong, yet she knew it was wrong. A jagged, white line was visible on her shin. That happened after he slept with her and walked out. There were several more on her arms from that week of hell, then the moment she discovered she was pregnant. She felt such excitement, fear, anxiety. Losing her child at birth and not having Waleron to hold her as she wept herself to sleep every night for months almost killed her.

  Oh God, Waleron. She cradled her knees to her chest as the water continued to soak her. She had nothing left to survive him. Her own lies were killing her. She tried to believe that she wanted him out of her life, but that was a lie. To her. To him. Even to Xamien.

  Delara didn’t know how long she sat beneath the spray sobbing—feeling scared and lonelier than she’d ever been when the lock slid across on its own and the door opened. She froze. Xamien stood on the threshold, wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, and his hair was still damp from his shower. He closed the door behind him, never once losing eye contact.

  He strode towards the shower, opened the glass door and walked inside. Without a word he picked her up, grabbed a towel from the hook, and carried her from the bathroom into her bedroom. He toweled off her shivering body then dressed her. He urged her to sit on the bed, and she leaned up against the wall, bringing her knees up to hug her arms around them.

  He sat beside her and urged her head to lean against him. He never said a word and eventually she relaxed while he stroked her wet hair.

  They sat like that until, finally, she stopped shivering. No words passed between them. She didn’t think she could manage putting two words together with any sort of intellect. She realized that’s what Xamien was doing for her—lending her his strength. Something Jedrik may have done if she had asked it of him.

  Somehow knowing she could handle the rest on her own, Xamien kissed her forehead and left.

  ****

  When Delara finally managed to collect herself an hour later, she came out of the bedroom and went upstairs. She noticed Xamien first, looking out the kitchen window, and then Waleron by the island.

  Both men looked up at her appearance.

  The unavoidable comparison began as she looked from one to the other. Complete opposites in personality—Waleron intense and scowling with his power emanating from every pore while Xamien looked relaxed and at ease, but fearless, his power evident from his confident stature.

  Both were tall, although Xamien was an inch taller. Waleron was broader in the shoulders. Xamien looked like he could outrun a cheetah and Waleron was built like he could take down a rhino.

  “Delara,” Waleron nodded. All his attention was on her and she avoided his eyes, unable to stand up to his ice-cold intensity. “What’s wrong?”

  She made certain every single shield was in place then double-checked. The last thing she wanted was Waleron reading the images of her in bed with Xamien. It shouldn’t
matter, but it did.

  Xamien’s brows rose awaiting her answer.

  “Ah, nothing. All’s peachy.”

  “Peachy?” Waleron frowned.

  Shit, she never said peachy. Changing the subject was her best avoidance. “Anyone get a lead on Tarek? Was it him with the darts?”

  Waleron’s voice was harsh, as if he was having difficulty pushing the words through his tense throat. “The scents were masked. No leads. Ryker and I scoured the city last night. Nothing. But a veterinary clinic on the outskirts of the city was broken into. Dormitor was the only drug stolen. And lots of it. Safe was broken into as well.” Something was bothering him.

  As both the men she cared about stood before her, she contemplated what she was doing. Xamien was the Taldeburu of the European Senses. He was standing beside the man she loved all her life. The man who protected her. Who she was going to be torn away from—like she always said she wanted. Lies. All lies. She never thought they’d be broken apart. Now it was glaring them in the face and the only way she could save him, ‘cause he’d be destroyed without his Taldeburu, was to leave him.

  “Kitten, stop. Whatever is going through your head is a roar of emotions and they are swarming me,” Xamien said. “We’ll deal with it, okay?”

  It was the perfect moment for Jedrik to stroll in and wrap his arm around her waist and place a kiss on her cheek. “Hey Sass. Why did you use all the hot water? Frig Sass, an hour?”

  Waleron’s scowl deepened.

  She lowered her head and hid her face from all the men.

  Xamien came to her rescue. “We will assume it was Tarek,” Xamien said to Waleron. “His aim was directed at Delara. That amount of Dormitor may have killed her.”

  The muscles in Waleron’s arms flexed. “I suspect Tarek does not want Delara going anywhere or it was a warning.” “Delara, what is wrong? Something is off with you.”

  Off? Damn right it was off. A Wraith just came and told her he might be imprisoned. Waleron told her she had to go to another Talde temporarily, but it could be permanently. So yeah, Delara was disintegrating. Even if she wanted, she couldn’t crumble in his arms and beg him to take her back, because then he’d be ripped of his Taldeburu.

  “So we hunt Tarek tonight?” Jedrik asked with excitement in his voice. “Delara and I will take the West end of the city. With Xamien, of course.”

  “She will be on the jet,” Waleron stated.

  “Sorry, I tried, Sass.” Jedrik shrugged.

  “Thanks Jedrik, but, I have to go.”

  “He’s just worried about you. It would kill him if anything ever happened to you.” Jedrik had no idea that it was much more than that. “Sass, Tarek is a direct threat to you. It’s different. If Tarek killed you, what do you think Waleron would do? Tarek knows how to kill us, he knows about Healers, knows our weaknesses. And now we find out he has help.”

  “Xamien, you good to fly home with her?” Waleron asked.

  Xamien glanced at her and she saw a hint of unease. “Yes. It’s best we leave immediately.” “I think Waleron will lose it if we mention Genevieve’s visit. Best we leave that alone. Agreed?”

  “Yeah.” If Waleron knew they were considering imprisoning him, it would make matters worse.

  Waleron glanced sharply between her and Xamien and Delara knew he sensed them using mind to mind. Jedrik was oblivious as he sauntered over to the fridge and helped himself to a swig of orange juice. She held her breath, her eyes wide with apprehension at the thought of Waleron knowing she’d been kissing Xamien right under his nose. It bothered her. A lot.

  She was fully aware that this was very different from when he had found out about Edan and then Liam. It had not mattered then. It mattered now. Why? God, why did it matter? Because her own lies were beginning to eat away at her. She was beginning to see that Waleron needed her. That maybe it was her turn to protect him and if that meant leaving him then she’d do it. Waleron had been tortured enough in his life.

  “Delara, a minute,” Waleron said and respectfully gave a nod to Xamien and Jedrik.

  She jerked, her eyes tearing away from Xamien. Jedrik kicked the fridge closed and, with a shrug, sauntered out of the kitchen. Xamien wasn’t so forthcoming. He hesitated for a good thirty seconds, his eyes never once leaving Delara’s face as she stared at the floor as if it had the most fascinating pattern.

  Xamien pushed away from the counter, sliding past her without touching. “You need me, just ask,” Xamien said.

  Delara didn’t respond.

  As soon as Xamien left, Waleron approached, his hand cupping her chin so he could raise her head and meet her eyes. “You communicate with Xamien mind to mind.” It was a statement of fact, not a question. “Have you sensed any of his powers?”

  “Excuse me?” Okay, that was not the question she’d expected.

  “His mother is half witch and excels at spells, his father was a Reflection. Xamien is said to have both inside him, however he speaks nothing of his abilities and uses them cautiously.”

  “Oh well, I... Well he hasn’t told me anything. I mean all I know is...” he likes to be in control. She quickly abolished the thought. “Well, he can get past my shields.”

  Waleron raised his brows at that and then she felt his finger gently caressing the cleft on her chin. “Does he interfere, Delara?”

  Meaning does Xamien intrude on her thoughts. “No. He respects my privacy.” She needed to get away before she jumped into his arms. “Think I’ll go shower before we leave.” She turned away, and Waleron’s hand dropped from her chin.

  “You already did. For an hour according to Jedrik,” he said, his voice quiet. “Delara?”

  She closed her eyes biting her lower lip, wishing she had a cut on her body she could sink her fingers into and stop the emotional upheaval that was making her stomach toss. But the cuts were an excuse; they made the hurt physical, but the emotional pain was still there. She was beginning to realize that she had to heal herself on the inside in order to stop the cutting. Learn how to deal with her emotional hurt instead of trying to escape it.

  He came up behind her; she felt his body inches from hers as he put his hands on her shoulders. The familiar gesture sent her head spiraling. Now...now she wanted to just be able to keep her heart intact. She had to leave. Maybe forever. Fate was often cruel.

  Waleron turned her around in his arms. “Is there something between you and Xamien?” Delara flinched. Christ, he probably scented Xamien all over her.

  Delara tried to keep her body from remaining tense at his question. She failed miserably. She’d always been forthright about her men-capades with Waleron, actually, with Liam she threw it in Waleron’s face. So what made her hesitate telling him about Xamien?

  For some reason, Xamien was different. It wasn’t about making Waleron jealous or angry. There was no emotional punishment associated with Xamien. It was sexual freedom; Xamien controlled everything about them when she stayed in Spain. She never had to think, just feel. He looked out for her needs whatever they happened to be at the moment. And sometimes, all she required was to be held. Xamien understood that.

  Delara clamped her mouth shut and turned her back on Waleron.

  Waleron pulled her against his chest. His next words whispered like a breeze across her ear. “I will not tolerate any relationship with him.”

  Delara fell into a wilted piece of lettuce with his raspy words. “What?” she managed to squeak.

  Waleron again turned her around so she was facing him and she stared wide-eyed and gaping at the man she’d loved all her immortal life.

  His thumb stroked her bottom lip. There was no smile, no sparkle in his eyes, just the familiar stern ice-blue. His other hand curled into the back of her neck and, without pausing, he pulled her hard against him. He took her mouth with something that could only be described as complete and utter possession. Relentless. Demanding and insistent. His tongue took haven between her lips and every memory of them exploded through her body. Wanting
. Craving. Needing. His groan was so deep that it echoed through his chest into hers. He swallowed her every thought of denial and made her body his.

  Just as quick as it started, Waleron pulled away, but he didn’t let her go. “Make no mistake. You will always belong to me. Do not forget that, Delara.”

  Delara pulled from his grasp, her hand covering her mouth as she stumbled from the room.

  Chapter 7

  Waleron stood waiting. The cool breeze tickled his exposed skin and the crunch of snow sounded beneath his feet as he shifted his weight. The tattoo on his neck slithered uneasily as the emotions he tried to bury with the drugs rallied to come to the surface and ignite. He’d taken three pills since Delara ran from him. There was something between Delara and Xamien and the thought brought with it a fury rising to a dangerous level. It was always this way. If there was a hint of emotion kindled inside him, Delara was the one who lit it. The valium was now calming the fire to a slow-burning ember and Waleron hoped to keep it that way, because his next meeting could cause it to explode into an inferno.

  He didn’t have to wait long as Xamien came strolling out of the house and walked down the driveway carrying luggage. They barely knew one another, but Waleron had brought Abby to Xamien last year due to his capabilities of spells. Waleron also knew Xamien to be a fierce warrior.

  Waleron had asked Xamien to meet him outside. There was too much chance Damien would overhear the mention of Abby’s name inside the house. Business first. “Abigail?”

  “Well enough. Abby has taken to studying my mother’s spells. I believe one day she’ll become a very powerful witch-vamp. Better to keep her on our side.” Xamien threw the luggage in the car. “When do you plan on telling him?”