“Enough!” Tarek shouted. “Delara, get in the car.” Waleron noticed she never once met Tarek’s eyes. She was petrified. She refused to fight. This wasn’t the woman he knew.
“Delara. Do not get in that car. Help is nearly here. Call your Scar, baby.”
When she took a step towards the SUV, Waleron shouted. “Delara stop!” He turned to Tarek. “What do you gain by this?”
“I gain my maite!” Tarek words were spoken with venom.
“She is no longer your maite. You lost that the moment you broke our laws and lay your hands on her. She will never be yours. She is mine. Always has been,” Waleron proclaimed. Waleron had hesitated once before to send a ball of energy in the direction of a woman he loved. When the vamp Liam had his daughter Rayne in his grasp, Waleron been afraid of taking the risk at throwing a ball of energy at him with Rayne so close. He nearly lost her because of his hesitation, but never again. Delara was not leaving him.
“And I need you safe.” Delara’s words whispered across his mind.
What the hell was she saying? No. Never. “Delara, your Scar. Use it. Now.”
“I can’t.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“He killed it. A long time ago.”
“Fuck. Fuck! Jesus.” Walerron had never sworn so much in his life, but everything was caving in around him. His woman’s Scar was killed. The bastard had killed it. The thought was unbearable.
Delara took a step to the SUV. Just as she was getting in, Waleron sent a ball of energy at Delara’s legs. It sent her off her feet, into the door, and to the ground, loosening the rope.
“No!” Tarek yelled.
Waleron went for her, diving on top of her motionless body. She was stunned from the blast, but Waleron hadn’t put enough energy behind it to harm her. He placed his hands into the loop of the rope before Tarek had the chance to tighten it all the way. The rope burned through his hands, but Waleron held tight, refusing to give way as Tarek pulled harder.
Waleron smelled the burning of flesh—his own flesh. It did nothing to Delara, yet to him it was as if a hot poker was being held to his palms.
He felt Delara’s hands on top of his, the determination of her face as she tried to help him release the rope. It was to no avail. It refused to budge.
“Waleron, leave me.”
“Never ask me to do that!” Waleron said through gritted teeth. “I will never leave you. Ever.”
Waleron kept the rope from tightening around her neck, but soon his hands were so burnt he couldn’t hold on any longer.
Suddenly the rope’s noose gave way and they both yanked it off her neck.
Waleron fell back, taking Delara with him. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled so she was protected beneath him.
“Delara? Waleron?” Balen came charging into the alley, Damien on his heels.
The SUV was empty and Tarek was gone.
“Take her to the Talde house.” Waleron heard Delara call his name just as he Traced.
Chapter 9
Waleron Traced to the only place he was able when bleeding and injured—the Realm. The usual blue calm that settled over the Realm was discolored and he could taste the uneasiness in the air. The temperature here was nonexistent as it adjusted to what each person’s body was most comfortable at. It was the Wraith’s imaginary home, because what you saw was not always what it was. The four Elemental Wraiths had a particular favorite pastime, playing with the location of rooms. They also had rooms with no doors or windows, a marble box. He’d once been incarcerated in one. Not even he could escape a Wraith’s prison.
Waleron strode through the gardens, the one place he detested more than any other. They were a reminder of when Delara was with the Wraith of Fire, Edan. How Waleron had begged her to let him try. How he’d failed her again. Try was not good enough and he knew it. Trying had been a lie. There was no try with them. He’d been attempting to keep her away from Edan and she’d seen right through it.
With Delara, the only way to have her was to give himself completely. She wanted him to take away the valium, the numbness. She wanted him to feel, but he’d be a danger to all if he did that. She’d never be safe with his Scar. He’d wanted to show her that. To bring her to his house, to his steel room and let her see why he was so dangerous, why he couldn’t get off the pills.
If her emotional pain finally healed, would she stop the cutting? Would she understand why they’d never have a real relationship? Would she give up other men? Would she be willing to have him as he was—emotionless and on the pills? A man that she couldn’t have completely. A man that had become split in two, sharing a body with a Scar that was trying to take him over.
Would he now even have that chance? The Wraiths could take it away.
But his real fear was whether Delara would run from him if she saw what he was like when chained and raging. Would she walk away from him and be with Xamien?
The thought was so painful that he stumbled. All of it wouldn’t matter if Delara was taken from him.
He stopped on the threshold of the council room. Only Genevieve, the Wraith of Water, and Urtiz, Wraith of Air, were present. Good, he didn’t want to deal with Edan’s jealousy. Despite Delara only using Edan to get to the Realm and the council to speak on Balen’s behalf, the fire Wraith still wanted her. When Delara used Edan, Balen was being sentenced for drinking vamp blood. He’d been the first Senses to drink the blood and not Transition. He’d resisted and won where Damien’s witch Abby had failed.
Genevieve and Urtiz looked at him expectantly. They both stood up from their seated position on the lip of the pool around the fountain. Genevieve held a lily pad in the palm of her hand and Urtiz had what looked like a handful of the pebbles from the bottom of the pool.
Genevieve let the lily pad go on the surface of the water and Urtiz dropped the pebbles making a splash. Then they both moved towards him
“Tarek should’ve been sent to Rest for eternity. I knew this would happen. I told you.” Waleron stepped back before they got too close to him. “Do you know what he did to her? For years? Years he subjected her to fear. How did you not see this? Explain to me, Urtiz. You are the Wraith of Air. You should have sensed something in that house. Her fuckin’ Scar was killed. Killed. He did that to her. Do you realize what he had to have done to her to kill it? Do you?”
Genevieve clasped her hands, her eyes widened in shock. “Waleron. No. You have to stay calm. Please. You shouldn’t be here.”
He ignored her. “We protect one another, yet one of our own was being tortured right under your noses.” Waleron stared at Urtiz. “How?”
“Waleron,” Tor said as he entered the room. The Wraith of Earth smelled like cinnamon today. He changed scents often, but cinnamon was his favorite. “Calm. The water.” Beside Tor was Zurina looking rather frazzled with her hair tangled and her clothes wrinkled.
Waleron nodded to her in acknowledgment. She returned the gesture.
Waleron glanced at the fountain and saw it boiling over. Genevieve was trembling, her face ashen. She was the keeper of the fountain and when she was distressed so was the water.
“We were unaware, just as you, of Delara’s ongoing situation. It wasn’t mentioned at council.” Tor nodded to the other Wraiths. “She never mentioned her Scar.”
Waleron paced back and forth in front of the marble table. “Of course she didn’t. She was terrified of him.” He stopped for a second then resumed pacing. “Who is helping him?”
The Wraiths all looked bemused. Zurina walked around the marble table and reached for his hands. He pulled back, but she waited patiently, her palms up.
She closed her eyes. “Please Waleron. Let me. Your hands are burned and you’re bleeding.”
He reluctantly placed his hands in hers and instantly felt her healing. Zurina let his hands rest lightly, never once closing her fingers, knowing he’d instantly withdraw. It took mere minutes to heal the wounds.
He pulled his hands away, n
odding his thanks. She bit her lower lip and gave a single nod. He wasn’t used to seeing her so out of sorts. He’d felt her mind when she’d touched him, little sparks flaring instead of her usual calm. Was she just as upset as he was over Tarek’s attempt to take Delara? After all, she’d been there, seen the devastation that Tarek had done twenty years ago.
Waleron addressed the council. “It was Tarek. He attacked us. I told you he would do this when he rose. He won’t ever let her go. I warned all of you and look where it got us. I have led the Senses for centuries. I know them. I know what they will do before they even know themselves. Damn it, I warned you he should be executed.”
“Some have changed after experiencing Rest. Tarek was once a well-respected Senses.” Tor spoke in his usual calm manner.
“He was a hit man,” Waleron said.
Tor nodded. “Yes. But he never broke our laws.”
“Until he beat the hell out of my woman.”
“She isn’t your woman, Waleron. You’ve never maited her.” Tor answered, his eyes unwavering. “Where is she?”
“The Talde house. I will Trace her to Spain and then I will hunt him. And this time he will not be shown mercy.”
“Waleron, please be cautious with your words,” Genevieve said.
Tor slammed his fist down on the table. “You should’ve Traced with her two weeks ago. Before Tarek rose.”
“Waleron, defending her is not your only reason you walk this earth.”
He flinched. “What are you saying, Zurina?”
“I’m saying to remember why you’re here. Delara has made you think unclearly for years.”
“This wouldn’t be an issue if you hadn’t voted against me when I wanted Tarek executed. Now look where it has led us.”
“I am a Healer, Waleron. And everyone has the right to a second chance,” Zurina replied in a soft, calm voice. “And she is not the only Senses.”
Waleron knew what Zurina was trying to do—make him release the promise he made to Delara when she lay dying on the side of the road. Zurina thought it was ruining him, making him careless. She also begged him to give up on saving Delara the same night he made that promise.
“Someone is helping him,” Waleron continued, ignoring Zurina’s pleading look. She was always the rational one. “He had a shield around him. Around his car. The men with him were human, but they know about us. How did he rise from Rest and immediately have help? Who else is capable of shields? Who were his contacts? He had to have many as a hit man.”
“I don’t know the answers Waleron,” Tor said as he walked up to him. He looked as if he was about to put his hand on Waleron’s shoulder, but then changed his mind and lowered it.
“We cannot do much except keep our senses open to feel for Tarek and try and locate him.” Tor’s voice grew deeper and the floor trembled. “Tarek has signed his death warrant. If he dies by your hand or another it is what must be done. But Waleron the issue still remains, you have sworn to protect all Senses. What is happening here is that one Senses is becoming your only purpose and, be warned, if she doesn’t leave—you will lose your Taldeburu.”
“We could bring her here?” Zurina suggested. “Until you find him.”
Waleron paused. The Realm could be safe, but with the Wraiths wanted her separated from him. He was leery of who he trusted. Until he had a lead on who was assisting Tarek, he could only trust the one Senses that could take her away from him—because Waleron knew that man would protect Delara better than anyone. “No.”
****
Delara arrived back at the house with Damien and Balen. Waleron Traced to the Realm after smashing his fist into the SUV’s side window when they realized Tarek and his men had disappeared.
Balen put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll find him.”
He started to walk away when she stopped him. “Green eyes?” He turned. “You’d protect Danielle with your life, right?”
The corner of his lips slowly curved upwards. “Yeah, of course. When she lets me.”
“And if you had to let her go in order for her to keep something that…defined who she was?”
Balen walked back and grabbed her hands. “Nothing is going to happen to you or any of us. Tarek’s ass is history. Everyone is staying safe.”
She nodded. But he didn’t answer her question.
Balen stiffened and dropped her hands. She immediately smelled Waleron’s scent swirling into the room.
“Hey Delara? I’d never let her go.” Balen walked away.
No, Balen wouldn’t. Danielle and him had been through so much together—torture, a fight for their lives, and being torn apart. No, Balen would redefine them. Their love was who they were.
But Waleron’s oath to his mother and to the Goddess was who he was, what defined him. It prevailed over all else. It had also tainted their love. Did he protect her because he loved her still? Or because he never failed his oath?
“What are you standing here contemplating?” Waleron asked coming up behind her.
“Can’t you just open a door like everyone else?” She needed flippant while she collected her thoughts.
He turned her around and enfolded her into his arms. “No.”
She tried to move out of Waleron’s embrace, but he tightened them and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips took hers in a whirlwind, tasting, touching, sweeping her up into a heated abyss of tantalizing shivers. Her stomach bottomed out as he groaned beneath the ravage kiss, one hand in her hair, making certain she stayed just where she was.
Oh God, Waleron. This hurt more than ever. Knowing they had to be apart. She’d always thought if they separated it would heal her, but she hadn’t considered it actually happening. Not really. They’d been together, and yet apart, for years. When he kissed her like he did now, she melted in him. Whether she wanted it or not—he defined her.
“Things can change.” He trailed kisses along the side of her neck. “I want you, Maitagarri.”
The front door opened and slammed shut with a loud bang. She felt her face heat up and knew it was tomato-red as soon as she smelled Xamien’s scent. Why was she so mortified that Xamien caught her locking lips with Waleron? Because Xamien was her friend and a lover. Because, despite not loving Xamien, she cared about him and never wanted to hurt him.
“Xamien,” Waleron said, seemingly unsurprised that he had walked in. She tried to move from Waleron’s arms but he held tight. Oh my god, he knew, damn it. He knew damn well Xamien was coming. He’d kissed her on purpose.
“Waleron.” Xamien turned his attention to her, but remained by the door. “I Traced home then came back when I heard you had some trouble. Kill any bad guys, Kitten?”
“I handled the situation,” Waleron interrupted with an air of authority.
Xamien met it. “I’m certain you did, but that wasn’t what I was asking or who I was asking.”
Oh crap. Delara couldn’t move. Her feet locked in place.
Waleron put his hand protectively and possessively on her waist. She loved when he did that, shielding her, claiming her as his own, but he also refused to give her himself. It was a vicious circle of hatred and love.
“I know.” Waleron tightened his grip.
Xamien’s brows rose and the corners of his lips followed suit. Double crap. He turned to meet her eyes. “Kitten, you okay?” Xamien frowned, his brows lowering.
Waleron answered before she had the chance. “Of course she is.” Waleron’s fingers stroked her back with long, gentle caresses.
“Again, wasn’t speaking to you.” Xamien’s gaze never left hers.
“Yeah, I’m good Xamien.” “Thanks.” She was so grateful to have someone like Xamien in her life. He wasn’t all sex and flirting; he really cared. She’d seen him with Max too, offering protective warmth to the timid girl when she made a rare appearance.
Waleron drew Delara closer and the tension in his body increased. Waleron had known her for nearly a century and a half; he sensed her uneasiness the
moment Xamien appeared. He would have felt her body’s reaction to him. And right now, her pores were leaking a strong affection for Xamien. Xamien was a good, kind man. Despite his tastes in the bedroom.
“Okay then.” “Glad you’re good, Kitten. “I’ll be back in a minute, then we leave.” He glanced at Waleron. “Balen got word the jet checked clear.”
“I will Trace her there.”
Xamien’s brows rose. “Healed then. Good. Let me know when you’re leaving.”
“Need ten. Delara and I have something to discuss,” Waleron said.
Xamien looked at her, eyes pensive. “I’ll find out from Balen what went down.” Xamien strode out of the living room.
“Do you love him?” Waleron’s voice was cold and his tone was harsh.
The question had Delara’s mind flailing for an answer. It threw her off guard. Love? She cared for Xamien more than she wanted to admit, but love? No, she didn’t, not in the way Waleron wanted to know.
“Answer me. Do you love him?”
“God, Pez. You’ve no right to ask that question.” Her back bristled and she yanked from his touch. Maybe it would be easier if she did love Xamien? No, she’d never love another man, but she had to let go of the man she did love and the only way to do that was push him.
Waleron reached for her and she stepped back, but he persisted and grabbed her forearm. “Do you love him?”
“Fuck off.” She tried to yank from his grasp but he held steadfast.
He wrapped his arms around her and touched the pad of his thumb to her chin. “Language, please, Maitagarri.”
She tilted her head to the side to avoid him. “Why? Why are you doing this now? God, Pez.” He was making it harder. Harder to let him go.
“Look at me.” When she didn’t, Waleron forced her to with his hand on her chin. “I don’t want you with him.”
She tried to jerk away.
“No. You will listen. When this is over with Tarek, we will find a way.”
FALL (The Senses) Page 17
