Light Beyond the Darkness

by Tami Lund

  Had she seen Miguel? Carley wanted to ask, but with Reid by her side, she didn’t dare. Besides, wouldn’t the young cook be more put out if she’d just seen a wild man run through her kitchen? Wouldn’t she have mentioned it to Tanner when he went running through?

  * * * *

  They caught up to the women and pup in the parking lot of the nearest human hospital. As Tanner leaped out of his truck and made a beeline for his mate, Alexa stepped into his path.

  “Don’t you dare stop us, Tanner. We have to figure out what’s wrong with your pup. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Magic,” he snapped, jabbing his finger at her chest. “He needs magic. Not healing. Lightbearer magic.”

  Alexa’s eyes widened with comprehension at his words. “Of course,” she breathed. “That makes perfect sense. Almost like a jump-start. Like—like the mates used to give their magic to the soldiers when they went off to battle.” She grew excited as she said the words, and turned to Olivia, who was still in the backseat with the sleeping pup.

  “Give him your magic,” she commanded.

  Olivia blinked rapidly. “How?”

  Tanner leaned over Alexa’s shoulder. “You gave me your magic,” he said. “Just do the same thing.”

  Olivia’s face heated and she shook her head. “That happened during—when—I mean—” She came to a stuttering halt, took a deep breath and said, “I have no idea how I gave you my magic. I didn’t even realize I did, at first.”

  Tanner turned an impatient look onto Cecilia, who had walked around the side of the truck and stood next to Finn.

  “Don’t look at me,” she said. “It happened purely by accident for us too. I have no idea how to force it to happen.”

  Tanner’s look went from impatient to furious when he shifted it to Carley. She hesitated. This was not a part of her life she wanted to relive.

  * * * *

  “Where are we going?”

  “To a meeting.” Miguel’s tone was gruff, but that was normal for her mate, at least when he spoke to Carley. She’d witnessed him being nice to other lightbearers—his family, the young, pretty lightbearers who hung in his social circles—but never to her. To her, he was always short, impatient. Gruff.

  “Why?”

  “What? Are you five? What’s with all the damn questions?”

  She stumbled as she all but ran to keep up with his longer strides. “Sorry. It just seems weird to go to a meeting at dusk. Normally, we do things like this during daylight hours.”

  “This is a special meeting,” was Miguel’s only explanation.

  They went to a nondescript cottage located in the woods, near the edge of the wards protecting the coterie. Carley recognized it as her distant cousin Cecilia’s parent’s home.

  “I thought you said we were going to a meeting?” she commented as they walked past a wooden trellis interwoven with sweet smelling rambling rose vines. A light fixture above the door poured a circle of pale yellow light onto the concrete front step. There was no movement, no indication that others were about.

  She hesitated on the doorstep. This place did not feel right. Magic was heavy in the air, but it wasn’t typical lightbearer magic. There was something…wrong about it. Carley could not put her finger on it, but it made her uncomfortable.

  “Shut up,” Miguel muttered as he pulled open the screen door.

  “I don’t want to go inside,” Carley blurted as she started to back away from the house.

  Miguel grabbed her arm. “Too damn bad,” he snapped, and he dragged her through the door and into the house.

  They walked briskly through a small, unimpressive living room that contained what looked like cast-off furniture and had little decor on the walls, and headed into a small, square kitchen with almost no counter space to speak of. Miguel pulled open a door and then dragged her along behind him as he trudged down a flight of stairs to the basement.

  Carley hated basements. The idea of residing in a room located underground, where sunlight could not penetrate, made her shiver with dislike.

  This particular basement was the type with no windows, no outside access save the flight of stairs they’d just come down. The walls and floor were concrete, giving it a cold, damp feeling.

  “Is that everyone?”

  Carley turned toward the sound of the voice. There were low lights in all four corners, lamps that sent a dim circle of light up to the ceiling, but that was it. She could feel her magic already leaching away. She wanted nothing more than to hurry back up the stairs into what little was left of daylight.

  While the upstairs felt as though no one was around, the basement was crowded with lightbearers. Carley recognized some of them from her job as a chef at the king’s home, and others from school or just walking around the coterie. There were plenty of others she did not recognize at all. Lightbearers tended to keep to themselves, even in the small confines of the coterie.

  Only one lightbearer was seated, on an old, brown, plaid easy chair that looked as if it had been produced in the 1970s. The lightbearer seated in the chair was covered with a long red cape. The hood draped over his head, obscuring most of his face. All she could see was his clean-shaven chin and his lips. She could not even see his shoes, as the cape pooled on the floor at his feet, effectively covering them.

  Miguel had dragged her to these meetings before, although usually they were held aboveground, during the day, sometimes out in the woods, sometimes in various people’s houses. Luckily, she worked so often at the beach house that she was able to avoid attending on a regular basis. She disliked the propaganda they spewed at these meetings, and she hated the way Miguel grew even more cocky and superior than he already was on a daily basis.

  She had no idea the meetings had been moved to a basement. Although, when the man seated on the chair, the one who called himself the Chosen One, began reiterating his beliefs that lightbearers should live free of shifters, and it was time to do something about the abomination occurring within the king’s own home, Carley supposed she could understand. There were plenty who were loyal to the king and Tanner, who had helped to bring the coterie back from the brink of bankruptcy. They would surely tell one of the guards if they overheard this propaganda.

  Although she noticed there were a few guards present tonight. She wondered if she should tell Tanner what was happening. Fear of what her mate would do to her squelched that thought almost before she could form it.

  On and on the Chosen One went, weaving a web of hatred around his followers, until each and every one was nodding enthusiastically, hanging on his every word. Carley spotted her own parents on the other side of the room. Her mother gave her a blinding smile. Carley scowled in return.

  How could all these lightbearers really believe what this man said? Had they never met Tanner? Did they not understand that not only did he save both Olivia and Cecilia from evil shifters, but he also managed to bring their hidden little world back to financial security, whereas before he joined the family, Carley never knew whether the king’s credit would be good enough when it came time to purchase ingredients for his mate’s parties?

  That was all in addition to the fact that he loved Olivia quite possibly more than he loved life itself. Considering she had never experienced that sort of love, Carley was both a little jealous and bemused by Tanner’s obvious adoration of his new mate.

  When the Chosen One finally ended his sermon, the room erupted into appreciative applause, and Carley felt relief that the meeting was almost over. But then she watched as one by one, lightbearers stepped up to the hooded man, placed a hand onto his hooded head and then light flared for several seconds before each lightbearer dropped his or her hand and staggered away. Some collapsed and had to be carried away. Others acted as if they were drunk or very, very tired. She had clearly missed something during the sermon.

  “What’s happening?” she whispered to Miguel, who, she noticed, was making eyes at a young, perky lightbearer on the other side of the room. Carley was
tempted to tell him to go for it. Maybe their relationship would be more bearable if he was forcing himself on someone else, instead of her, night after night.

  “He needs magic. Because he’s been in hiding, he’s had to use artificial means to stay alive. Now that we’re ready to act on his plans, he needs to be replenished with real lightbearer magic.”

  Artificial means? Real lightbearer magic? What did Miguel mean? How could a lightbearer survive without light? None of what her mate said made any sense.

  “Come on,” he said, wrapping his hand around her arm and dragging her toward the seated, hooded figure. “It’s our turn.”

  “Our turn for what?” Carley asked in alarm. She could hardly stand being in the same room with that covered man; she did not want to get any closer to him. Unfortunately, Miguel was much stronger than she, and managed to deposit her directly in front of the Chosen One.

  “Ah. I do not see you often at my gatherings,” the seated figure commented in a low, raspy voice. He never spoke above a whisper, at least not that Carley had ever heard.

  Carley turned her head every which way, looking around the room. There were significantly fewer lightbearers now than there had been when the meeting started. Apparently, after they stepped up to the Chosen One, they were dismissed and could leave.

  “Umm…I work a lot,” she said lamely.

  “I am aware. Your mate is an excellent follower. He tells me everything.” His inflection on the word everything made her wonder. Did Miguel tell him about aspects of their relationship that should be kept personal?

  “I look forward to tasting your magic for the first time,” the Chosen One said. He lifted his arm. Carley shrank away from him, but Miguel stood behind her, keeping her from moving too far away.

  “Wh-what do you mean?” Taste her magic? She didn’t understand, but she had no doubt it was not something she wanted to experience.

  The hooded figure reached out and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly for a moment, before frowning. “You are not giving me your magic,” he stated.

  “I—I don’t know what you mean,” Carley stuttered.

  “It is how my followers sustain me,” he explained. “I must live underground, so I am not discovered by our enemies. The only way I can do so is if my followers feed me with their magic.”

  Carley knew it was possible to share magic. The history books told of soldiers going off to war, back before they’d moved to the hidden coterie, and how their mates would give them magic to help sustain them and protect them. She had not heard of anyone deliberately sharing their magic outside of what the books claimed. She had no idea how to purposely give someone her magic, and frankly she had no desire to do so.

  “Just push your magic through our connection,” the Chosen One explained, holding up the hand he held in his own. “It’s the polar opposite of healing. Go on. Try it,” he urged.

  Carley tugged her hand free. “No,” she said, sounding far braver than she felt.

  Miguel grabbed her hand and held it out before her, inviting the hooded figure to hold it again, but he shook his head.

  “It will not work. If she does not wish to share her magic, it is actually quite difficult to do so. I have plenty for tonight. It was a pleasure to meet you, Carley Santiago.”

  * * * *

  “I—I’ve never done it,” Carley qualified. “Not on purpose, just like Olivia and Cecilia said.”

  “But?” Reid prompted.

  She wanted to help, she really did. But she did not want anyone to know how she knew a skill that had been lost five hundred years ago when the lightbearers went into hiding and no longer needed to share their magic. She did not want anyone to believe she supported the evil Chosen One in any way, shape, or form.

  “I…I understand how it is done.”

  “Really?” Alexa breathed the word, her eyes wide, her entire body rigid with excitement. Alexa was a healer who rarely came across a patient she could not fix, and Carley knew Olivia and Tanner’s pup had already become very dear to her.

  Carley’s breath came out as a white cloud as she expelled air and waved at the infant swaddled in blankets. “It’s—it’s the opposite of healing. You actually push your magic into his system, instead of pulling the pain and sickness away. There has to be some sort of physical connection. You—you have to want to do it, or else it won’t work. You cannot force lightbearers to share their magic.”

  “Of course,” Alexa murmured as her gaze shifted back to the pup and his mother. “Try it, Olivia,” she commanded. “I think Carley is on to something.”

  Olivia glanced at Tanner and then looked down at the sleeping infant. She touched her hand to his chest and said, “I just concentrate on my magic and push it through my hand?”

  “I think so,” Carley said dubiously. She’d seen it done at that meeting, but at the time had considered herself lucky that the Chosen One had not tried to force her to share. He was the one who told her it was nearly impossible to make a lightbearer share their magic.

  Olivia closed her eyes, and the small gathering watched as she concentrated all of her energy, all of her magic, on her son. Her hand began to glow, and they crowded around the cab of the truck, to hide the bright light from passing humans.

  As everyone watched, the glow slowly transferred from Olivia’s hand to the pup’s chest, where it flared for a moment before slowly dissipating. Not a being breathed as the infant stirred and then blinked open big blue eyes. He wheezed and sputtered for a few seconds…And then he began to breathe all on his own. Olivia slowly removed her hand and brought it to her mouth, as tears sprang to her eyes.

  Her pup was going to live.

  Chapter 14

  When they returned to the beach house, Olivia, Tanner, Alexa, and the infant retired upstairs. Alexa insisted upon a thorough examination of the babe before she would leave the relieved family to their own devices. The king and queen and Tanner’s mother chattered excitedly amongst themselves as they hurried to check on their grandson.

  Carley clung to Reid’s side, still feeling on edge about running into Miguel earlier in the day. He did not seem to mind, and in fact, appeared perfectly content to keep his arm looped around her shoulder, even after they’d taken seats on the large, wraparound couch in the entertainment room, while Finn headed to the bar tucked into the corner and made drinks for everyone. Mica stepped through the hidden door leading to the kitchen, bearing a tray of snacks. Reid and Finn both stared at the food with such intensity, Carley snickered. She well remembered that look from her time as head chef in these kitchens.

  “You still won’t consider staying?” Cecilia asked as she accepted a glass of wine from Finn. He handed a second glass to Carley, and a bottle of beer to Reid.

  Mica offered the platter of food. Reid pulled his arm from around Carley’s shoulders and began piling bite-sized appetizers onto a small plate.

  Carley took advantage of the distraction to gather her thoughts. Now that she had confirmation Miguel was alive, she knew the right thing to do was tell Finn and Tanner that not only was he still alive, but he was still inside the coterie. She watched Reid devour food almost as quickly as he added it to his plate and mentally shook her head. Not now. Not in front of Reid.

  “I can’t,” she finally responded to Cecilia. “I have obligations. They’re counting on me, at the restaurant.”

  “You had obligations here, once, too,” Cecilia said, her voice gentle. “We would love for you to come back. Permanently.” Her gaze slid to Reid. “And Reid, too.”

  “There’s definitely a position for you, within the king’s guard,” Finn added, while he too filled a plate with food. “A pretty high-up position, I’d wager. We’ve already caught the kids who were behind the latest attacks,” he added for the benefit of the rest of the inhabitants of the room. “Reid figured it out, actually.”

  “It was Josh and I working together,” Reid qualified.

  Carley thought about her run-in with Miguel. She could not stay i
n the coterie.

  “I’m sorry, I just can’t.” She was about to open her mouth to suggest that Reid could stay, if he wanted, even though it would break her heart if he did.

  “We’re going back to Chicago,” he said, with a finality that left no room for argument.

  * * * *

  Later that evening, Carley and Reid retired to their bedchamber. Reid stripped out of his clothing and climbed into bed, while Carley went into the bath chamber to do her bedtime routine.

  “What’s the deal with your magic anyway?” he called out, his voice drifting through the partially opened door.

  “What do you mean?”

  “How come you were the only one who knew Olivia could share it with her pup? Even the healer didn’t know.”

  Carley hesitated. She was mildly surprised no one else had asked such a question. She spoke carefully when she responded.

  “It used to be common practice, hundreds of years ago. Back when we feared your kind, instead of slept with you,” she said with an impish grin, as she entered the bedchamber and tried to make light of the conversation.

  Reid’s hungry gaze watched her walk across the room, dressed in a short, silken robe. She tugged at the sash and the robe fell open, revealing that she was utterly naked underneath. His eyes blazed as he drank in the sight of her body. She could feel the anticipation, thick and heavy in the air. It was a heady feeling, knowing she affected him like this.

  When she was close enough, he snagged her around the waist and flipped her over onto her back on the bed. As he loomed over her, she sucked in her breath, but it wasn’t out of fear any longer. It was sexual tension, excitement. She wanted this man more than she’d ever wanted anything else in her life. A sliver of pain sliced through the excitement as she thought that she could never truly have him.

  Especially now that she knew without a doubt Miguel was still alive.

  *

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he frowned and sat back on his haunches, trying not to crowd her. He’d thought her issues had been eradicated, but the mix of feelings coursing through her system at the moment told him otherwise.