FALL (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

  Waleron ignored the question. “Are her cravings under control?”

  “Yes. Glunk provides blood from the local blood bank and she manages well on it. She’s bound to the house. A spell my mother taught me. However, she’ll soon discover how to unweave it.”

  “Will she come for Damien?”

  Xamien shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Abby never mentions him. I think she chooses to forget.”

  “That is good.”

  “Damien still grieves. He deserves to know. ”

  “No. Abby requested that Damien believe she is dead. And have you thought of the consequences if the Wraiths and witches know she lives?”

  “You could convince the council otherwise. Abby cannot remain locked under my spells.”

  “Abby is of little concern right now. I have a Senses with powerful friends on the loose and they wish to harm Delara. And I have the Wraiths breathing down my back, watching my every move.”

  Silence. Neither looked at the other, but the unspoken words were there between them.

  “You’re being an ass,” Xamien said.

  “Yes.” Waleron respected Xamien. Even though the Taldeburu requested to be removed from council over a century ago, Xamien was still valued for his skills as a warrior—his strength, composed nature, and fairness. It was the reason Waleron trusted Xamien to keep Delara safe. They’d sat on council together twice before, unexpectedly, Xamien rejected the duty. Surprisingly, the Wraiths had agreed. “I need her safe, Xamien. And I need her gone.” He’d Trace her there, but his wounds from the steel room were not healed and he had no intention of letting Anstice heal him.

  Xamien came up beside him, so they were standing shoulder to shoulder. “What does she need?”

  Waleron stiffened. The tension in his neck coiled like a spring. “She isn’t thinking clearly.” He hoped Xamien understood the double meaning.

  “Perhaps you’re not either.”

  Waleron curled his hands into fists and turned to look at Xamien. “Do not think that you can even begin to understand what is between Delara and me.”

  Xamien’s brows rose. “But I do. I was the one who brought her mind back from the depths of despair when she thought you were dead.” Xamien paused. “I’m the one who was there for her when she thought she lost her child. And again when you made that bargain with Trinity. Where were you?”

  Waleron’s snake Scar awakened and its movement seared his skin. What was Xamien saying? Delara was with him back then? After Trinity? Because of Trinity? Christ, after their child was lost?

  “I didn’t know, Waleron. But I get it now. I see it. You still love her. And I know her love for you was immeasurable.”

  Xamien said was. No, Delara still loved him. Waleron saw it in her eyes, felt it in her kiss, her touch. That would never fade. Did Xamien think he could walk into her life and erase everything Delara and he had been through? Expunge their love? “She has been using men for years to hurt me, Xamien.”

  Silence.

  A cool gust of air swept across the yard and a swirling dusting of snow danced across their clothes. Waleron waited for Xamien’s response. Waleron knew his words were hurtful, yet Waleron had never been one to worry about hurt feelings. He’d lost that ability the day he escaped Jasmine to save Delara and started taking the pills.

  “And is that not reason enough to stop what you’re doing?”

  Xamien’s words blasted into Waleron like a cold bucket of water. His instinct was to slam his fist right through Xamien’s chest, but he had lived a long time by not reacting spontaneously. Instead, he opened his Pez dispenser and popped another pill. Already over his daily limit.

  Xamien met his glare. “Do not think I will stand by and watch you hurt her. I protect those I share my bed with. Delara is also my friend. Best you remember that.”

  Waleron’s Scar hissed. It took him several seconds to control the roar of fury that wanted to escape his throat. The thought of Delara lying in Xamien’s arms was debilitating. “I don’t take threats lightly Xamien.”

  Xamien’s brows rose. “I know. That’s why I’m making myself clear. You let her go twenty years ago. I’m not.”

  Both men stared at one another, daring the other to make a move. The standoff broke as a scream sounded and they ran for the house.

  ****

  Delara reached the living room just as Waleron and Xamien came barging in the front door. Grim growled low and menacing at a box near their feet. He let out a deep bark and then a whine as he looked up at Anstice.

  Keir ran down the stairs and went straight for Anstice. “Babe, fuck. Behind me.” Keir grabbed her arm and shoved himself in front of her.

  Delara went to grab the box when Waleron pulled her away. “Not happening.”

  “The box was delivered a few days ago,” Anstice said. “I put it in the closet since I was in a rush to meet with Danielle. I forgot about it until Grim started sniffing and pawing at the door.”

  Xamien touched her shoulder then slipped past her, urging Grim away from the box. He picked it up and lifted the lid. “Christ,” Xamien muttered.

  Delara pulled free of Waleron’s grasp and pulled the box towards her.

  She inhaled sharply.

  Settled in red tissue paper was a gold frame with a four by eight sized photo of…her. Bold red marks were placed across the picture—on her wrists, her legs, her thighs, then one across her throat. They mimicked Delara’s cutting marks, except the throat. That was another statement.

  Keir turned to Anstice. “Library. Now.”

  Waleron took the box and looked inside. He met Delara’s eyes and she felt the power of the rage he fought hard to control. She sensed it all. His fear, his rage. She even sensed guilt in him, if that were possible.

  “I don’t like it, Kitten. Something feels off.” Xamien caught her eye and she saw the seriousness in his expression. “My mother is a witch and she has visions of the future. I don’t share the gift, but I do feel the emotions linked to visions when it is strong enough. ”

  “What do you mean?” Delara’s thoughts were on Waleron, of what it had been like the day she’d found out he was gone. Her despair. Falling into an abyss of darkness only to be drawn out by Xamien. She couldn’t lose Waleron. Despite hating him for his overprotectiveness, his stubbornness, his obstinate nature, she knew she couldn’t walk this earth again without him somewhere in it.

  “Kitten, I feel his pain. His torture. It’s… Jesus it’s all around him.”

  Her body froze. “What?” No, not him. Not Waleron. He’d been tortured already. Maybe Xamien was picking up on the past? Please God.

  She was about to go to Waleron when he picked up the framed photo. His eyes widened as a loud, long hissing noise sounded, high-pitched like an oxygen tank releasing air.

  “Move. Now!” Waleron shouted.

  Delara smelled the acid the second it was released into the air.

  Waleron bolted for the front door holding the box out in front of him. Xamien grabbed Delara’s arm and dragged her into the library. The door slammed shut. She screamed Waleron’s name while yanking on Xamien’s relentless grip. Oh God, he’d burn. If he inhaled the acid, his lungs would corrode. His skin melting away. Blindness. A Healer wouldn’t get to him in time.

  “No. Waleron. Anstice, please. We have to go to him. If he burns, you have to stop the damage before it’s too late.”

  Anstice went for the door.

  “So not happening, babe.” Keir said. Anstice stopped dead.

  Delara pulled harder and when Xamien’s hold refused to budge she swooped her leg out behind his knee and sent him off balance. It was enough to loosen his grip and she ran for the door.

  Keir blocked her path.

  “Waleron? Damn it, answer me.” She felt tears streak her cheeks, Xamien’s words echoing. The torture. Could he have been referring to the acid?

  She shoved against Keir’s chest, but he refused to budge.

  Xamien rubbed his knee. “Dam
n, Kitten. That hurt.”

  “Step back, Delara,” Keir said and when her eyes focused in on him, she backed away.

  Delara ran to the window and saw the box lying on the ground in the middle of the yard. There was no sign of Waleron. She frantically searched the yard, heart slamming against her chest. “Waleron? Please. God, please.”

  “It’s fine, Delara,” Waleron said.

  Xamien came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist just as Waleron’s voice sunk into her. She sagged with relief against him. It was a reaction to Waleron’s words, but the timing was off and Xamien placed a kiss on top of her head as the door flung open.

  Waleron’s eyes went straight to them. Locked in an embrace. Xamien’s lips in her hair. She pushed away, but it was too late.

  When Waleron spoke his voice was completely emotionless. “Lifting the photo triggered a spray of acid.” He looked at Keir. “Nothing gets past the gates. Nothing. No Senses, no mailman, no one.”

  The moment he looked back at Delara, she felt his coldness. “Downstairs.” He turned and strode out.

  She went to follow when Xamien grabbed her hand. “Kitten?”

  “Xamien I…” She sighed shaking her head and slipped her fingers free, following Waleron to the privacy of her bedroom. He was waiting for her in the doorway and she slipped past him. He quietly shut the door.

  Silence. It was as if he wanted her anxiety to build, wondering what he was going to say. The uncomfortable silence was worse than the screeching of a tortured human.

  “Tarek has friends. This was the second warning in twenty-four hours, Delara.”

  She walked over to her dresser and fiddled with a chain necklace. “I know. We’re leaving for Spain within the hour.”

  He came up behind her and placed his arms around her waist. “Not anymore. I’m taking you somewhere safer. You cannot stay here and I need the jet thoroughly checked before you or any other Senses get on it. Staying here is not an option. Twice you’ve been attacked here. Tonight you stay with me.”

  That caught her attention. She stiffened and turned in his arms, resting her hands on his cheeks. “What? No. I have to go.” The longer she stayed the more chance the Wraiths would retaliate against him. If she hid away with Waleron, he would for certain be breaking the council’s order for her to leave his Talde. She had to go. Genevieve warned her.

  He dropped his arms and strode to the small basement window, pushing the curtain aside. His voice was barely audible and she was uncertain if he was speaking to her or to himself. “I do not like you being alone with him.”

  They were talking about going somewhere and now he was talking about her being alone with Xamien? “Excuse me?”

  “You will come to my house.” He added after a few seconds. “I need you safe, Delara.”

  She remained speechless. She didn’t even know where Waleron lived. None of them did. In the twenty years he’d been back no one had ever seen his home.

  Regardless, staying at Waleron’s would be a huge mistake. It may be because he wanted her safe, but he also was doing this for another reason—Xamien. Waleron felt threatened by him. He thought one night of sex might cure that. God, he could piss her off.

  “So you can what? Show me a good time? Have me fall in your arms, make me remember what we had just so you throw me away as soon as you know Xamien is no longer a threat to you?”

  Waleron spun around on his heel. “You mean Tarek. He is the threat, Delara.”

  “No. I mean Xamien.”

  “I repeat; you are mine. Xamien won’t be an issue. You are coming to my house.”

  “Then stop acting like he is. I’m going with Xamien today. Like you wanted.” She saw her book on the nightstand. The paper she kept inside peaked out the top. She stopped breathing as he glanced down at it then back at her again. She never wanted him to know she still kept it after all this time. Especially now.

  He strode towards her. When he stopped inches away, he grabbed her hand and pushed up the sleeve of her shirt. She tried to fight him, but he had always been far stronger. It was a useless battle. The faint scars on her arm felt like they were blazing neon signs. She tried to push her sleeve back down but he held tight, refusing to let go.

  “This,” his thumb caressed her newest scar. “is no longer an option for you. These will never happen again. Do you understand me?” She guessed the photo freaked him out, big time. Well, it was her body that was on display. “And I will make certain they don’t. You need to understand something about me, Delara. I need you to see why I’m like this.”

  “It’s none of your business what I do with my body.”

  “You are my business. All of you.”

  “Once maybe. Not anymore.”

  “Baby.” Oh God, it had been years since he called her that and a part of her melted into a pool at his feet. He took a long, haggard breath, something he rarely did. “I should have taken you there before now. But I thought…to see that part of me would...” Waleron’s hand travelled up her arm to her shoulder then slid across to her neck. “It would destroy us.”

  Her throat constricted and she swallowed several times before she could speak. “Waleron. There is no us.” Now more than ever. Why was he doing this today? Why was he taking the chance on the Wraiths finding out she’s still here? By him taking her to his house, a place no one ever went, it made him appear even more irrational.

  He nodded and then his hand cupped her head, just below her ear. “Give me tonight.” His fingers caressed her ear and he stepped closer so her breasts barely touched his chest. If she breathed any deeper, they would make contact. Her nipples stood erect. “I need.” He stopped abruptly and his hand tightened. “I want an us.”

  “Waleron—”

  “You will no longer sleep with other men.”

  “Waleron you can’t—”

  “It is not an arguable point.”

  Frustration poured through her. He was acting peculiar, one minute almost sane and caring and then the next angry and obstinate. Were the Wraiths right? He was all over the place. There was indecision within him that was making his usual perfect control and resoluteness to waver.

  She took a deep breath and her erect nipples brushed against his white shirt. She couldn’t control the sharp inhale that escaped. “Are you giving me a choice?”

  “No.”

  Pushing out of his arms, she went and slipped the book on her nightstand into her drawer. She knew his eyes were drilling into her back. He had trouble with being denied anything. Actually, it was rare anyone denied him a single thing.

  He strode to the door. “I will wait for you upstairs. We leave now.”

  She collapsed into the lounge chair, head in her hands. She must have stayed there a good ten minutes, all her shields in place. Blocking Xamien and Waleron from her head.

  Even though she’d waited all her life to see where Waleron resided, it was a moot point now. The risk he was taking was great and it was scaring her to think that the Wraiths could come after him. Take him away. She could live with another Talde. Survive it maybe. But that was only if she knew Waleron was here doing what he was born to do. What he lived for.

  ****

  Fear coursed through Delara’s body and her stomach tossed with nausea threatening to break her facade as she met Waleron’s unflinching expression. He waited in the foyer just like he said he would. Alarm would appropriately explain the emotions setting in on her. Going to Waleron’s home was terrifying, plain and simple. He was a man no one, even herself, really knew, at least not any longer. She didn’t necessarily fear him, just what she’d find. Whether it was fear she’d lose this undying love for him or fear of it strengthening she didn’t know.

  “Xamien, I have to leave.” She closed her eyes, hating Waleron for denying her choices. Everything inside her said to get to Spain, make certain Waleron remained protected another day, but he wouldn’t let her.

  “What? Christ, I have shaving cream all over my face.”
<
br />   “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “What? Delara, what the hell is going on? I thought we were leaving for Spain. Genevieve said we have to get you away from Waleron ASAP.”

  “He isn’t giving me a choice.”

  “Damn it Delara. What are you talking about? Where is he taking you?”

  “I can’t say exactly.”

  “The hell you can’t.” She heard him swear then his tone softened. “Kitten, I’m worried about you. Wait a second and I’ll talk to Waleron and see what’s up. Maybe if we tell him about the imprisoning and—”

  “No. He’ll lose it. I know him. He’ll go to council and confront them. It will look bad. No, Xamien. Please.”

  “I don’t like you alone with him.”

  Oh Xamien. The words out of her mind felt as if she had cotton stuck to them. “Xamien, we use one another. That’s what I’ve always done and I suspect you have too. Except I use men to get back at Waleron.” But for once, that wasn’t true. She kept Xamien a secret all these years because he was different. He was her escape and comfort. She trusted him. He had become her friend. She heard a loud bang downstairs, then a crash.

  “Jesus.” He sounded like he was struggling with something. “You never used me. I’d never allow any woman to use me, Kitten. We are more than that. Do not leave this house. We need to talk this out.”

  “Hey Xamien…” Her voice was soft. “You need to know that…what you’ve done for me means a lot. You’ve became my friend and I trust you with my life. Thank you Xamien, for being there for me.”

  “Kitten, I told you eighty-seven years ago, I will always bring you back safely.”

  Waleron flicked his hand towards the front door and it opened.

  “We’re not Tracing?”

  “No. I am unable at the moment.”

  That meant he was hurt somewhere. The only place he could Trace would be the Realm. She glanced over him, there were no visible signs, and it wasn’t like he’d been out hunting vamps or CWOs. Had he been hurt last night while hunting for Tarek? Why hadn’t Anstice healed him? He could Trace if Anstice healed his wounds. But Delara knew why, Waleron rarely allowed the Healers to touch him, and then only if he really required it and if it was quick.