Sully weaved on her feet, her hand gripping Dave’s until they both fell to their knees. Sully dropped his hand, catching herself before she face-planted in the wet grass. Thunder roared, and lightning cracked, the blade of light spearing downward from the spinning clouds above.
The lightning hit Dave square in the chest, and he arched under the shock, his silver eyes glowing as the energy coursed through his body. Sully screamed as his lips pulled back, and for a brief moment his teeth glowed, his veins glowed, even his bones seemed to glow. And then the charge was gone, and Dave sagged to the ground.
“Oh, my God, Dave. Dave!” Sully hurried over to him, reaching for him carefully. She pressed her hand to his neck, her eyes closing when she felt his racing pulse, but even as she held her fingers against his skin, she could feel it start slow down.
“Dave, please be okay,” she whispered as she cupped his cheeks. His eyelids fluttered, and it took a few attempts before he was able to force his eyes open. His silver-gray gaze met hers, and he gave her an exhausted smile.
“Well, that was shocking.”
She laughed, her hands trembling, and she had to blink away tears of relief. “You are such a dick.”
He lifted his shoulders.
“No, no, lie—”
He brushed aside her attempts to make him lie down, and she helped him sit up. She glanced up. The lightning was no more, and the clouds were no longer a whirling mess. They drifted slowly across the sky, revealing the night stars and the harvest moon.
“What was that?” she asked. Where had that lightning come from? Marty was dead. Incinerated. She didn’t think it had been his hand that had called forth the spear of lightning.
Dave hissed, pulling at the neckline of his T-shirt and ripping it down the front.
Sully gaped. All of the markings on his body glowed on his skin, and then slowly faded, disappearing into smoke. All save one.
In the Old Language, emblazoned across his heart, was one name.
Sullivan Timmerman.
Dave gaped at his chest, then slowly raised his eyes to hers. “I—I think I just retired.”
“What?” Sully gasped. She stared at his bare chest. His glorious, smooth, muscled bare chest, adorned with just her name. She smiled. All of those names, the proof of the Ancestors’ hold over him, had disappeared.
Dave touched himself, then shrugged out of his jacket and the remnants of his T-shirt. He twisted about, turning his arms over. “They’re gone,” he breathed, stunned.
He looked up at her, and she smiled. “They’re gone,” he shouted, then clasped her head and brought her in for a kiss. She laughed against his lips, and collapsed against his magnificent chest. She smoothed her hands over him, testing for herself. The names were definitely gone.
Dave ended the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. His chest rose and fell with his pants, and she felt him shake his head gently against hers.
“You linked with me,” he breathed.
She nodded. “I wanted to help you.”
He closed his eyes in relief, in gratitude. “Thank you,” he whispered, and kissed her sweetly.
Shouts drifted across the cliff top, and they both turned to the source. Flashlights were cutting swathes in the darkness, and Sully smiled when she saw the familiar faces of Tyler and Jacob, and Noah being carried by his father.
“Oh, look. LB.” Dave slung his arm around her shoulders, and leaned in close to her ear. “I might be the king of badass, but you’re the queen of whoop ass.”
Chapter 24
Dave watched as the tall, dark-haired men emerged from the null council meeting. Both men had dark hair, both men had blue eyes, but both men were as different as night and day.
“Who are they?” Sully asked, curious. Dave slung his arm over her shoulders as the men approached, lazily inhaling her entrancing sent of rose, vanilla and...sunshine. She was wearing a pretty red summer dress, with buttons all the way from the V neckline to the hem. She looked so beautiful, so...feminine. He still marveled at the way she’d fought Mental Marty, and just how damn lethal she could be. She was smoking hot and fought like a ninja. He was in love.
“Friends,” he said, finally answering her question.
One of the men shuddered, shaking out his shoulders. “I want out of here. It’s weird,” he muttered.
Dave’s smile broadened. “Sully Timmerman, allow me to introduce Lucien Marchetta.”
The lean vampire nodded at her, his smile quick and almost nonexistent. “Sully.”
Dave gestured to the other man strolling toward him. He had a slightly more muscular build, particularly across his shoulders and in his arms. “And this is Ryder Galen. Ryder, this is Sully.”
Ryder smiled and held out his hand. “Hi, Sully.”
Sully shook his hand out of politeness. Cheers erupted inside the town hall, and her eyebrows rose. “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?”
A blond-haired woman skipped out of the hall, a wide smile on her face, and she caught up with the men, sliding her hand into Lucien’s.
“And this lovely lady is Natalie Segova,” Dave said, gesturing at the woman by Lucien’s side.
“Marchetta,” Lucien corrected, frowning. He glanced down at the woman by his side, and his frown disappeared, replaced by a genuine smile. “Her name’s Natalie Marchetta, now.”
“Hi,” Natalie said, extending her hand. Dave’s smile broadened. Natalie was a sweetheart, and her warm smile was contagious.
Sully shook the woman’s hand, smiling back at her. “Hi, I’m Sully.” His gaze stayed on Sully. She looked so relaxed, so...happy. He couldn’t stop looking at her, and he could see out of the corner of his eye that Ryder was smirking at him. He would have frowned at the guy, but that would mean looking away from Sully, and well...he preferred this view.
There were more cheers inside, and Sully’s brow dipped in confusion. “Okay, now I’m really curious. What’s going on?”
Lucien shuddered again. “I’m paying my debt.” He arched an eyebrow at Dave. “We’re even.”
Dave nodded. “Yes, we are.”
Lucien strolled over to a dark car and opened the passenger door for his wife. Natalie slid inside, and waved at them as Lucien climbed in, started the engine and drove off.
“Wait—did you say Marchetta?” Sully gasped as she finally recognized the name. “The vampires?”
“Well, technically Lucien and Natalie are hybrids. Ryder here is a light warrior.”
“But, why are they all here? I would have thought vampires—sorry, hybrids—and light warriors would want to avoid Serenity Cove.”
Dave shrugged. “I think Lucien Marchetta was overcome by a sudden desire to contribute to the community. The Marchetta Corporation has just established an investment program with the fishing co-op here.”
Sully gaped. “Why?”
He grinned. “Because Lucien Marchetta owes me one, as does his wife.”
“What did Natalie do?” Ryder queried calmly.
“She’s researched the requirements for a request of recognition of the nulls as a breed on their own, and will oversee the submission process.”
He enjoyed Sully’s stunned expression. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Seriously.”
Sully turned to Ryder. “So...why are you here, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Ryder smiled. “I’m also paying my debt. Dave mentioned that your closest medical clinic is over an hour away. My brother and I will help set up a clinic here for the nulls, and run the training programs for staff.”
Sully turned and gaped at him. “You did this?”
Dave frowned. She was looking at him weirdly. “Not by myself—I had help.”
“Dave, this will help them so much,” Sully exclaimed softly.
He shifted uncomfortably. Th
is is why he’d preferred to stay outside while the hybrids and the light warrior made their announcements. He didn’t need the thanks, he preferred just quietly getting on with things and then disappearing.
The town hall doors were flung open, and Mrs. Forsyth scanned the street. She squealed when she saw them standing across the road. Darn. Was it too late to disappear?
“I’m out of here,” Ryder said, and quickly jogged to his car.
Dave glanced about. His bike was down the block, and him running away would look fairly obvious to the little lady who was now hurrying across to them. He eyed Ryder’s car enviously as his friend drove away. Darn, he could move fast.
“David, thank you.”
He tried not to cringe outwardly as Mrs. Forsyth hurried up to him, her arms open wide. Only his mother called him Dav—
“David, you are so lovely,” she said softly as she hugged him, and he had to lean down, she was so short. He patted her shoulder awkwardly. This was sooo uncomfortable. But nice, in its weird little way.
“It’s nothing, Mrs. Forsyth,” he said, embarrassed as Jacob walked out of the town hall, arms folded. The fisherman grinned when he saw Dave’s discomfort. Dave shot a pleading look at Sully, who shrugged, grinning.
Traitor, he mouthed.
“You have to come over for dinner,” Mrs. Forsyth exclaimed as she stepped back. Dave straightened and tried to make his disappointment look sincere.
“Oh, I wish we could, but Sully and I are on our way out today,” he told her.
Mrs. Forsyth blinked. “You’re leaving?”
He nodded, then grunted when Noah threw himself against Dave’s legs.
“Don’t leave, KB!” Noah cried, hugging him fiercely.
Damn it. He hadn’t bargained on the kid. Something warm flared in his heart, and he smiled tightly. He wasn’t going to get sucked in. He was the rolling stone that gathered no moss. The tattoo artist that could up and leave at the drop of a hat, the retired Witch Hunter who could disintegrate another, how could—
Noah looked up at him. “Please?” the boy begged. Those green eyes, that quivering bottom lip...those freckles. That warm spot turned into goop. Mushy, fluffy goop. Dave was touched, so touched that these people were welcoming him so warmly. He could understand how Sully viewed these people as family. He’d had more physical contact, more interaction with this community than he had any of the covens back in Irondell—including his mother’s.
“We’ll come back,” Dave promised.
“You swear?” Noah demanded.
Dave grinned. “I swear.”
A shadow fell over him, and he looked up. Aw, darn. The royal dick.
Jacob held out his hand. “Thanks,” the fisherman said. Dave accepted his shake, and winced as Jacob also thumped him on the shoulder. “For everything.” Jacob’s gaze slid to Sully, who was now talking to Mrs. Forsyth. “Take good care of her.”
Dave nodded. “I will.”
Then there was George, and Noah’s sister, the sheriff and a whole bunch of others who wanted to come shake his—oh, wow, a hug. He nodded at Cheryl, the waitress, then stepped back toward Sully. He didn’t miss the sheriff’s gaze narrowing as he eyed the farewell.
“We should get going,” Dave whispered in Sully’s ear.
“Where are you going?” Jacob asked, squinting against the sun.
“Holiday,” Dave informed them without giving too much information away, then waved as he and Sully managed to step away from the group. He handed her the helmet from his pannier, but hung on to it until she met his gaze.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, solemnly. It was a big move, for Sully. They’d decided to take a break—his first. Ever. Wherever they wanted to go, whatever they wanted to do...together.
She glanced down the street toward the small crowd gathered outside the town hall. She sighed. “You were right. I was hiding here. I love it here, but...you’re right. This was my bolt-hole. I think I’m ready to travel, see some sights. Maybe even visit my coven.” She nodded. “I want to do this.”
He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. “I’m looking forward to meeting your coven,” he murmured. Then he grinned. “I’m also looking forward to introducing you to my family.” He tilted his head. “Just don’t mention your books.”
She laughed as she slid the helmet on over her head. “I won’t.”
Her coven’s archives were in a very safe place, and she’d pointed out to him that she could set up her factory...anywhere. They were going to keep things casual, see which way the wind blew.
He grinned. “Come on, sweetness. Let’s go.”
* * *
Sully stretched as Dave drove onto the grassy shoulder. He kicked down the bike stand and she slid off the bike as he cut the engine. She removed her helmet.
“Wow,” she breathed, taking in the view. Chains of islands could be seen in the distance. “This is beautiful.”
Dave made a sound of agreement as he removed his own helmet and straightened, his legs still straddling the bike. He crossed his arms over the helmet and lifted his face to the sky.
She took the time to appreciate the view—of him. His short hair ruffled in the light breeze. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but his face—it was probably the most relaxed she’d ever seen him.
“How are you?” she asked him as she walked toward him.
He looked at her. “I’m feeling great.”
She gestured to his chest. “How do you feel about...the names?” They hadn’t really spoken about anything in great detail. Nothing concrete about the future. Nothing concrete about a commitment—although this was the first time she’d up and left with a man. She wasn’t quite sure how he felt about his change in circumstance, or what he wanted to do about his future...about them.
He shrugged out of his jacket, and then drew his T-shirt over his head. She looked about. They’d left the main highway about forty minutes ago, and hadn’t seen a car since. Nor were there any buildings within view. This place, watching out over the ocean, seeing land in the distance...it felt like they were the only two people left in the world.
Dave glanced down at his chest. “It’s...weird,” he admitted.
“Weird, how? Like you’ve lost an arm, or something?” She couldn’t begin to imagine what it would be like, having something that was such a part of you, that defined you, to a certain extent, suddenly disappear.
Dave shook his head. “No, not quite. More like an ache that you noticed you had, but only when it’s gone.”
She stepped close and ran her hand over his shoulder. “What do you think you’ll do, now that you’re not a Witch Hunter?”
His arm slid around her waist, and he tugged her close so that she was pressed along his side. Emotions fluttered at her. Attraction. Desire. Contentment. And something warmer, something deeper she was too afraid to identify. He removed his sunglasses, and his silver eyes stared at her intently. “I think I want to live a little, remind myself that life’s not all about death.” He leaned forward and kissed the corner of her mouth.
She sucked in a breath. “Oh?”
He nuzzled her ear. “Yeah. You taught me that.” His voice was so deep, it practically vibrated in his chest.
She swallowed. “I did?”
“Yeah. You taught me...not to piss off a chick with a knife,” he said, kissing along her jaw. Her nipples tightened in her bra, and she forced herself to focus on his kiss. No! Words. Focus on his words.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. You also taught me...that nulls are kind of nice. Even the ones called Jacob.” He ran his lips down her neck, and she trembled.
“Uh, okay...”
“But mostly you taught me that I don’t have to do this alone. Any of it.” He lifted her over the bike, so that she straddled it, facing him. The skirt of her dress hiked up with the moveme
nt, baring her thighs. He pulled her close, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. He cupped her cheek.
“Sully, I don’t care what I do, or where I go—as long as it’s with you.” His stare was so solemn, so full of promise. “Whatever my life holds, I want to share it with you.”
She blinked, overcome with the weight of his words... A weight that, if uttered by another man, at another time, would have felt crushing, but here, with this man, right now, it felt...right.
“You’ve taught me a few things, too,” she murmured shyly.
His eyebrow arched, and he gave her a wicked look that heated her from the inside out. “Oh, I’m listening.”
“You taught me that not all men in sunglasses are douchebags,” she said, and his lips curved. Amusement, light and teasing, tapped at her. He leaned forward and kissed her, long and slow. He pressed her back, and she found herself lying back against the bike. “Uh-huh,” he said, a soft, husky sound of encouragement.
“You taught me that leather can look good on, but much better off,” she said, trailing her hand over his bare chest.
Desire. Hot. Hard. Gripping. It flooded him, and it flooded her. Her fingers trailed over the tattoo above his heart, her nails lightly scraping his nipple. She smiled when he swallowed, and then closed her eyes as he kissed his way across her collarbone.
His fingers slid beneath the neckline of her dress, and she felt the top button pop out of its loop.
She opened her eyes, staring up at the blue, cloudless sky. “But mostly, you taught me that I had closed myself off, that I didn’t have anyone to truly share myself with, to talk with, to laugh with...”
He raised his head, his gaze meeting hers.
“You taught me that it was okay to trust again, Dave,” she told him earnestly. “You taught me that a man could be safe.” She smiled. “You taught me something that I hadn’t even realized about myself...that I’d become a shadow, closing myself off to everyone. You taught me to open up, again.”
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