FALL (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

“Guess that’s where you get singing from.”

  “Hmmm.” He pulled away and began walking towards the arch. Her soft footfalls followed beside him. He sat under one of the trees and leaned up against the trunk. Delara followed suit, her shoulder inches away from him. The thin branches hung low over top, white petals occasionally floating to the ground as the wind blew across the land. One landed in her hair and he plucked it from the strands. Controlling his desire was becoming more than he could handle and right now he was afraid to touch her lest he take her right here in the grass.

  The crux of it was, he knew months ago she’d willingly fall into his arms. They’d been like two live wires, but it wasn’t enough. He’d known it from the beginning, just like she did. But neither of them were about to admit it—until now.

  When the bare flesh of her palm touched his cheek, he nearly lost it. He placed his hand over top of hers and closed his eyes briefly as he soaked in her heat. “Xamien?” Her voice was soft and hesitant. He met her eyes and what he saw took him back—fear. God, she was scared. Too much had happened with this woman, her trust of love was blown into fragments and scattered. She was desperate to grab hold, but anxiety kept her from capturing the pieces and putting them back together again. She feared that she’d plunge into despair and be destroyed by Waleron—again.

  “I want you, Kitten. You know that.” Xamien cupped her chin. He heard her sharp inhale and ran his thumb lightly over her lips. “But something’s changed. I feel him all around you. I’m a Reflection, in case you’ve forgotten. Despite mulling my abilities, I can still feel your mind working at warp speed. Best you get it out before you blow a fuse in that brilliant mind of yours.”

  “I’m not—”

  He grabbed her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. “Don’t lie to me, Kitten. If you wish to forgo speaking then say so, but don’t tell me lies. We’ve always had trust between us.”

  She hesitated. Her eyes wavered, the pounding of her heart growing louder as she contemplated. He dropped his hand from her chin and instead laced his fingers with hers and pulled her gently towards him until she was snug against his side. He kept his gaze locked on her, reading the uncertainty.

  “I…Xamien, you know I feel something between us but,” she hesitated, closing her eyes and tilting her head back so her uneven strands fell away from her face. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t. What we shared was just—”

  “Sex?” he said. “And that’s lying.” His jaw clenched and his muscles tensed as he tried to keep his anger and disappointment from coming through.

  “Sorry, you’re right. I just don’t want to hurt you. I do care about you. I do love you, but…”

  He waited.

  “I can’t give up on him,” she finally blurted.

  His push had worked. This woman was irresistible to him and yet…he knew somewhere all along that despite what they had, she’d never be his. This woman belonged to Waleron and now she admitted it. Now he admitted it.

  She turned when she said, “I can’t leave him.” Her strength faded somewhat and he saw her face shatter as if her facade had been a mirror that now lay in shards at his feet. “I can’t get him out of me. It’s like he’s a blanket covering me and it is so warm and protective and yet...” Her voice was a quiet, pain-filled tone. “My heart belongs to him whether I want it to or not. He is who I am.” Finally her eyes reached his and he saw the stricken remorse in them. “I can’t leave him even if he refuses to have me. Even if the Wraiths separate us. ”

  “Are you sure it’s him refusing you?” She needed the truth whether she wanted to hear it or not. If she loved Waleron, she had to throw away all her fears and take the chance on maybe losing him again. “He is trying to scare you. You know why, Kitten. Because he is scared shitless himself. Yes, the almighty Taldeburu is terrified of being unable to let you go once you let him in.” Xamien ran his hand through his haphazard hair.

  “He says he’ll hurt me.”

  “Do you believe that? Do you think he’d ever come near you if he honestly thought he was capable of harming you? That man lives and breathes you. He’d kill himself before he ever laid a hand on you.” Xamien added in a low voice. “So would I.”

  She met his eyes. “You’re an amazing man, Xamien.”

  “I know.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “You’re going to fight for him?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Good. The Wraiths are a problem. But I’ll do what I can to help.”

  She pulled back to look up at him. “He can’t lose his Taldeburu. That is the only thing important to him.”

  Xamien held her on either side of her cheeks. “Kitten, can’t you see it? I was in that house for ten seconds and I saw it. The only thing important to him is you.” Xamien whistled to the horses. “At least I lost you to a man that I know will protect you with his life.”

  He turned to Kos when Delara’s fingertips grazed his arm, his heart leaping at the unexpected touch. He yearned to spin around and devour her. But it wouldn’t be the same. Her passion was locked up in another man and she deserved to find that once-in-a-lifetime love. It was true, Waleron had always been in her bed. He had never left.

  “Xamien, I’m sorry.”

  “Me too, Kitten.”

  He helped her mount Xadea and then vaulted onto Kos. He was about to urge Kos into a walk when he felt the disturbance within his horse. Kos’s nostrils flared and he pawed the ground, his ears alert and eyes looking off to the right. His entire body was bunched up like a spring ready to burst into a galloping mass of hooves.

  Kos jerked forward and something flew past where they’d just been standing. Kos pranced around in a circle, snorting.

  Xadea whined, and then screamed out with pain. The horse reared and Delara tumbled from her back. Xamien leapt from Kos and ran to Delara. An arrow protruded from Xadea’s flank muscle.

  Jesus. Fuckin’ arrows. Silent and deadly and really hard to get a handle on where exactly they were coming from.

  “Move!” Xamien protected Delara with his body as another arrow went straight for them. It missed, but hit Xadea in the throat. Her silky white coat slowly turned red as the blood seeped from the wound. She began squealing a horrid sound as she pawed at the ground, swinging her head back and forth. She dropped to her knees.

  “Oh god, no!” Delara screamed. She pulled towards the horse, but Xamien held tight.

  “Delara. No.”

  “But—” Another arrow hit the beautiful Andalusion in the shoulder.

  “Christ.” Xamien hauled Delara up and threw her on top of Kos who had been prancing around Xadea snorting. Xamien leapt up behind Delara. “Kitten, stay down.” He pushed her forward so she blended into Kos’s neck. Xadea was now on her side, her breathing rapid.

  Xamien felt Delara’s tears land on his hands. It wasn’t for them, but for the massive beast that now lay dying in his orchard. The grief cut though him and he mourned the loss of his beloved horse.

  “Wrap your hands in the mane, Kitten. We ride hard.”

  He looped one arm around her waist and pulled her snug against him. “Kos, home boy.”

  The stallion took off in a made gallop for home—without Xadea.

  Chapter 14

  As soon as they galloped into the barnyard, Delara saw Glunk running towards them. But he didn’t stop, instead he hopped on a bay horse the stable boy held and took off.

  Xamien pulled her from Kos, then grabbed her hand and they ran to the house. “Xamien. Xamien, I’m sorry. Oh god, Xadea. ”

  Xamien had his hand on the door knob. “Me too.” He threw open the door and strode inside.

  Waleron and Jasper stood waiting in the kitchen. Xamien obviously had been speaking telepathically with them. Jasper leaned back against the counter, his hands resting on the edge while his ankles were crossed, appearing rather relaxed. But the scent in the kitchen was anything but.

  Waleron hovered near the marble island, his stance sti
ff, his hand resting on a piece of paper. It was crumpled as if read a dozen times, even the paper looked worn and yellow, like it was old. Delara walked closer. There was a tear in the top corner. She gasped feeling the color drain from her face. No. That was impossible. Why...how did he get that?

  Her eyes shot to Waleron.

  He looked different. Impassive mixed with a deadly glint in his eyes. When he spoke it was calmly, but she knew he was anything but. “He knows you’re here. Xamien said you were attacked in the orchard. And this arrived.” His finger slid over the edge of the paper. “It was sent in a package. How did he have this, Delara?”

  Xamien shifted to lean against the doorframe and Jasper stroked his stubble with his finger and thumb.

  “It was in my book in my nightstand.” She always had it with her and she had brought the book here, but the note hadn’t been inside. She’d put it in her drawer the day Waleron came to her room.

  Xamien straightened. “Jasper?”

  “Impossible. Been all over this place. No one has been in this house.”

  “No,” Delara continued. “In Toronto. I left it in Toronto.”

  Jasper’s brows rose. “So this Tarek managed to get in a Talde house? Impressive. I understand Ryker lives there. Can’t see anyone getting past him.”

  “They can’t.” Waleron said. “It’s been on lockdown.”

  Jasper was right. After Ryker’s Talde in Newfoundland was attacked by Rayne’s husband and Ryker’s wife Hannah was killed, it was unlikely anyone could get past him. The guy had become a vigilante when it came to killing those that deserved it.

  “The importance of this letter?” Xamien asked. “And what do you mean package?”

  “Package arrived with a vase,” Jasper said. “Inside—a snake and that note. It was delivered half hour ago.” Jasper raised his chin and a slow underlying grin played at his lips. “Your little pet Max picked it up knowing damn well the thing could kill her.”

  “Sounds like Max.” Xamien lowered his voice and gave Jasper a fierce glare. “Hands off, Jasper.”

  Jasper shrugged.

  “What’s in the note?” Xamien asked again.

  Damn it, why was Tarek doing this? He had his freedom, why did he want to torture her with her past? But she knew why. He was warning her, playing with her. He wanted to unsettle her. And he had; she didn’t want to talk about Waleron’s once-upon-a-time love for her publically. “That letter is from...”

  “I wrote it to her.” Waleron flattened the paper, his palm smoothing over the creases. “It’s a letter I wrote to Delara. It allows me to Trace with her. A blood oath.”

  “What?” She stared at Waleron. The second half of the note, the words she didn’t understand. A drop of your blood within me—that day he’d given her the note, he cut her finger. He’d put it in his mouth and tasted her blood and then he’d read her the words from the note. She’d thought it was a romantic gesture. Wanting to bind them with the blood and proclaim his love for her. “But how?”

  Waleron answerd, “My mother was one of the most powerful witches before she was a Senses, as you know. The Goddess made her one of the first Senses. But she didn’t like the Goddess’s stipulations that came with Tracing, so she wrote this spell. I imagine it took her years to figure out. I found it after she died when I was burning her belongings. You may only cast the blood oath once and it will only work if you…” He stopped.

  “Have undying love for the person,” Xamien finished for him. “You must be willing to die for this person.”

  Waleron nodded. “My mother never knew if it worked. It said in her journal she tried with several different men. But my mother could never love another more than herself. Nor would she die for anyone.”

  Delara closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat. All this time, Waleron had been able to Trace with her because of a spell with her blood and those words. Because he loved her. She’d memorized the letter, knew every ink blot on the paper, but she never knew what those words meant until now. “I kept it in my book while living with Tarek.” She focused all her attention on Waleron. He stood cold and unmoving, his eyes glued to her. She hated how he remained stoic as if her words meant nothing. “He found it the day he nearly killed me.”

  The note crumpled between Waleron’s fingers then rolled into a ball on the counter. The urge to run and grab it from him was like stopping an addict from lunging for a hit. The muscles in her body quivered with the need. It was the last thing she had of him from their past. His words to her so long ago. But did they mean anything now?

  “He beat you because of my letter?”

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jasper slip out the back door. Delara fidgeted.

  “Answer me.”

  “Yes. It was stupid. I shouldn’t have left it there.” Tarek never looked at her books.

  Waleron’s complexion paled and he curled his fingers into fists. The snake eyes on his tattoo went a brilliant red and it started to move across his skin, slithering behind his neck, curling around his ear and back again.

  She waited for the usual routine—Pez dispenser to come out, Waleron swallowing several pills, but it didn’t. He must have taken too many already. God, why did he have to take so much responsibility for issues he had no control over? It wasn’t his fault Tarek beat her and it certainly wasn’t his fault that he was hunting her now. Pez took the blame for every damn thing that happened in her life.

  “Pez, don’t. This has nothing to do with you. If it wasn’t the letter it would’ve been something else.”

  His voice shouted in her mind, “He tried to kill you, Delara! This has everything to do with me.” “Zurina is at the Realm; she will protect you. I will take you there until I can decide what to do.”

  Delara glared at Waleron, her hands on her hips, fingernails digging into her flesh. He remained unflinching as usual. “He’s playing with us, damn it. He’ll remain hidden until I stop running. Let me fight. I’m a trained Senses, you goddamn trained me. We can use me to draw him out.” Ending this was too important. The longer it took to find Tarek the more chance Waleron would act irrationally and the Wraiths would take action.

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  “Waleron.” Xamien moved towards Waleron, his eyes unwavering as he glared at him. The lowering of the brows and his confident stride was magnetic and Delara was uncertain who she’d be afraid of more. Xamien had a quiet, deadly calm about him that was unsettling. “When have any of us run and hidden with the Wraiths?”

  “No!” Waleron pounded his fist down on the counter and his face flushed red.

  Xamien never took his eyes from Waleron as power pulsated from both of them.

  Delara backed up at the same time as Xamien stepped forward, his hands curled into fists. His intent was obvious. He and Waleron were going to have it out and she was the only one to break them apart.

  A body came swirling through the air and dove on top of Xamien. The sound of muscled frames smacking the floor echoed off the hardwood.

  Damien punched his brother in the jaw and then in the gut. Xamien groaned, but didn’t hit him back, merely held him off as best he could without throwing any punches. There was this sadness in Xamien’s eyes though, as if he was disappointed with Damien.

  Delara jerked when Damien managed to crack a good hit into Xamien’s neck and she could see Xamien had lost his breath for a few seconds. “Stop! Damien, Stop it.” She ran into the fray and pulled on Damien’s arm that was being held off by Xamien and now her.

  It was as if Damien didn’t even realize she was there. There was a mad fury raging through his body, urging him on with each and every punch. Xamien dislodged him and Damien fell backwards. Delara touched Damien’s arm and he spun around and took a swing for her.

  Waleron intercepted the punch. He grabbed Damien’s fist and pushed it back, then squeezed. Damien’s face contorted and he fell to his knees. Waleron was furious, his eyes the coldest blue she’d ever seen while his jaw was tight
and his lips were pursed together. He remained controlled, but the power behind him was unyielding. As soon as Waleron let go, Xamien hauled off and punched Damien in the jaw.

  “You ever hit her or any other women and I will kill you, brother or not,” Xamien’s voice was unrecognizable. She’d never seen him this fierce.

  “Delara, my apologies. It was an accident.” Damien appeared stunned at what he’d nearly done.

  “I know, Damien. I’m glad you’re here for Abby.”

  Damien stared at her for a moment, took a hitched breath then he climbed to his feet.

  Waleron picked up the paper, still crumbled in a ball on the counter, and shoved it in his front cargo pant pocket. “You’re on a flight to Toronto when I return from the Realm. And call your Scar, he is too attached to Abigail and should not be alone with her.”

  Damien’s Scar Simian had grown as devoted to Abby as Damien had in the months they’d been together. The Scar protected Abby as if he loved her, but an emotional bond between a Scar and someone outside of the wearer of the tattoo was unheard of.

  Damien’s chest heaved in and out. His fingers curled then uncurled as he glowered at Waleron. “You lied to me. You said she was dead. I begged her, damn it I begged you to take me with her and you refused. Why? Why, did you make me believe you’d killed her?”

  “She asked it of me.” Waleron’s answer was unfeeling and calm.

  Damien’s eyes were unbelieving as he backed away to the stairs. “No. No. She’d never do that to me.” He was shouting now. “Abby loves me! She wouldn’t have left me.”

  Delara saw his devastation. His pain. It leaked from his pores like blood. “Damien your brother—”

  “He’s not my fuckin’ brother.”

  Xamien scoffed. Delara saw the hurt on Xamien’s face, it was just a flicker, but it revealed enough for Delara to know that he was stung by Damien’s words.

  “Damien,” Waleron said. “You attacked a Taldeburu, brother or not—”

  “He’s keeping the woman I love a prisoner. Yes, I fuckin’ attacked him and I’ll do it again.” Damien’s eyes kept shifting to Waleron and then to Xamien, untrusting, as if he feared they’d take him right now.