Edge Walkers

by Shannon Donnelly

  Her lab—the Walkers. Shoup falling, knocked into the doorway to Temple’s world by a Walker. Jakes had grabbed for him, had tried to pull him back, had been pulled across himself. Gideon had lunged for the explosives left behind. He’d thrown them into the Rift, and had turned to cover her. The Walker that had been Jill was still clawing at the crystal driven deep into its chest, still trying to free itself as the Rift imploded, tearing it apart with a blast that triggering more explosions.

  Carrie put a hand to her chest. She could still feel the echoing boom that had ripped through her lab. She remembered agony sweeping into her, bright as a sun. Gideon had staggered toward the only way out—the door to Temple’s world. He’d pulled Carrie with him, and Temple had found them, battered, bleeding. Dying.

  She could see the faces of the people who had sacrificed to save them. An exchange had been made—blood for blood. Temple’s people had given of themselves to try and save them. But it had taken too much from them. They’d had four lives to save—Shoup, Jakes, Gideon and her. And Temple’s people had spent two of their own to make that exchange. A good trade on this world—two in order to save four. The approval of the choice wrapped around her, certain and sure, and she knew she was welcome. Those who’d given their lives had done so willingly.

  They’d done it because the Walkers had left this world, too.

  The guilt dug into Carrie, and the grief stung her eyes. But, from the fire, Temple rose and came to her. His mouth curved and he touched one fingertip to the wound on her chest—the one that still ached. She breathed in sharp because of the image he’d just given her—the Walkers were gone.

  The Walkers had been dragged back into the Rift by the magnitude of the explosion—the Rift was sealed here.

  But she still wondered if her own world as safe as this one?

  She brushed a hand over Gideon’s hair, and for an instant the world sparked bright as it did for Walkers—she saw the magnetic lines around Gideon flare, the energy as it pulsed through him. She jerked her hand back and the image faded, and she turned her hand over, saw the scar on her palm from the crystal. And on the back of her hand, too.

  The crystal had done more than pierce her. It had changed her. So had the Walkers. She put a hand to her chest where the Walker had dug deep, had started to crawl into her and under her skin. She tried to feel if something alien and deadly lay dormant, waiting to claim her.

  Gideon’s voice, sleep-heavy and soft pulled her stare to where he sat next to her. “Hey.”

  She tried for a smile, managed something that didn’t last. “Hey, yourself.” He looked worn, his blue eyes faded and tired, although that could be from the firelight. He stretched and rose, and held out a hand to her.

  Her fingers twitched with the urge to reach for him and she checked the reaction from habit, had to think twice before she took his hand.

  He pulled her to her feet, kept his arm around her shoulder. He led her to the doorway that looked out and over Temple’s world. She pressed herself against him, wished she had his bare skin on hers—how long did this need to reconnect last? If she was lucky maybe it never would go away—she wanted to want Gideon forever. For now, she turned her stare to Temple’s world—her world now.

  Outside, lights glowed, steady ones from crystals hung inside buildings. Temple’s people were reclaiming their city.

  She looked at Gideon. “They’re really gone?”

  He kept his arms around her, pulled her closer. “Jakes and Shoup are out with some others—they’re checking, making sure. I don’t think they’ll believe it’s clear until they’ve been over every inch of this place.”

  “So I did hear them? Earlier?”

  “Yeah, Jakes was pretty damn pissed he’s stuck here, but I think the complaints are mostly out of habit. Shoup…well, he likes the food and not having to account to anyone. But you may have to figure out how to make some explosives to keep him happy.”

  She started to smile, but a twinge from her chest had her looking down and rubbing at the spot. Gideon took her hand and pulled it away. “Leave it. You’re healed, but it won’t feel like it for a long time.”

  “Am I?” Turning, she stepped back from Gideon. A wind had come up sharp and cold, but she dropped the blanket from her shoulders. She pressed her scarred hand on Gideon’s chest, under his shirt and on his skin. The lines burst bright from where she touched him, shining soft.

  “I’m not the same, I…Gideon. I’m not…I’m not sure I’m safe. Has anyone had a Walker in them, in her, and come out of it still human? Zeigler didn’t. Not fully. And…I’m not sure I am. I can see things—magnetic lines. Things a Walker sees.”

  Gideon put his hand over hers to keep her touch on his chest. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over hers, touched his mouth to her cheek, to her temple. He kept the kisses light, and she let out a long, long breath. She ached to pull him down, take his mouth, strip his clothes so she could press her body to his. But what if she wasn’t herself?

  His mouth crooked as he brushed his thumb over her jaw. “I know. I had a Walker in me. But…they’re gone. I know it. Temple would know, too, if you were a danger. Besides, any urge to…I don’t know…devour me, and I don’t mean in a good way?”

  She shook her head. “Not funny.”

  “I know, but...” He put his arms around her. “I don’t have all the answers. The Rift—it’s probably still there in some form. Maybe it’s only damaged. Maybe the Walkers will push through again. But it’s closed for now. I saw it, Carrie. It’s gone. And, Jill…there’s no longer any Walkers using her skin, Carrie. That’s done—all done.”

  “For now. What if—?”

  He put a finger over her lips.

  The images slipped in slow and easy this time—teasing flashes of Gideon stripping her clothes away, kissing every scar, ever cluster of lines that last crossing had put on her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. He planned to lead her back to his bed and keep her there for a long, long time. Leaning back, she tried to show him her worries instead—how she could see energy fields.

  He shook his head, kissed her long and deep and hard. Kissed her until her head spun and she had to wind her arms around him to stay upright and she couldn’t think of anything else other than the pleasure of his mouth.

  You’re here—I’m here.

  And I can touch you.

  “We’ll worry about the rest later,” he said. For now, welcome home.

  “It’s that easy?”

  “Don’t know I’d say any of this was easy. But it’s whatever you make it now. If you—I’ll understand if you don’t want…” He let go of her, stepped back. “I know what it’s like to come back from the edge of oblivion. To come back from the dead. You want…your body needs to come back to life. And I want to be the one to do that for you—I want my hands on you. I want to give you more good things than you think you can take. But you haven’t had much choice in what’s happened. You should have a choice in what happens next. I didn’t have a future before. I didn’t want one. I do now.”

  Leaning into him, she closed her eyes to the glow of lines she could see, to the energy she could feel dancing through her veins. Instead, she pictured what she’d wanted with Gideon—waking up next to him, time to strip him slowly and explore his body, time to get to know what he liked, and to do nothing more than walk down a street, hand-in-hand. Time and some place where they weren’t being hunted.

  She had that now. She had that here. She didn’t want to leave it.

  Pulling back, she touched her fingers to his. “I’m going to say this because I want it clear. I want you to know it with words, not just images. Temple’s made me like you, Gideon. Someone who belongs here. And I want this—I want to build something good with you. I didn’t expect this, but it feels like coming home to wake up and have you here. And to have a world to help rebuild? That’s pretty heady stuff. But I’m not taking this on without you. And I know just how much I’m willing to fight for this. For you. I’ve ha
d to make that fight, so I do know. I…I think I’m going to be okay. But if I’m not…can I trust you?”

  “Carrie?”

  “Can I trust you to do right by me, like you did with Jill? Because you love me like that, too? Because I love you—but if I am a Walker…I’ll end it myself if I have to. My dad—” she broke off, swallowed hard. When she spoke again, she fought her voice to steady. “My dad watched my mom die of cancer. He saw what it did to us…to the family. He wouldn’t let it happen again. I didn’t understand, but I do now. He took his life rather than put us through that again, and I hated him for it, for taking that...for not… Gideon, I’m not doing this right, but I’m trying to say I understand him now. And I don’t want to end up in the same place as that again.”

  He pressed his forehead to hers. Rubbed a thumb over her cheek. “Carrie, you’re the strongest damn person I know. And you’re not—you’re not Jill. You’re not your dad.”

  She managed a small smile. “Yeah, I know. I’m me—warts and all.”

  “It’s all good. I love you. More than enough to look after you no matter what. That is a promise.”

  “No matter what,” she said, repeating his words.

  Throat tight, she put her hands on his waist and pulled him close. She tried to send him images of spending a long time loving him. She had no idea if she was just imagining hot sex, and she said, “Don’t give up saying that, will you? I mean, showing it—I’d like that. But I need…”

  He pulled her close, kissed her. “Words. I know. I’d like a chance, and time, to actually seduce you with words.”

  She nodded and tightened her hands on him, “This is not just from Temple’s healing, you know. But I need to get you naked soon or I am going to explode.”

  “Jakes is going to want to see that you’re doing better. So will Shoup. They’ve been holding off on any kind of celebration waiting for you to be on your feet. But…that could wait for a little bit.”

  He took her hand, but she turned, stopped at the door to the church, glanced back at the city and the world waiting for her.

  For tonight, let it wait.

  She heard Gideon in her head, and this time she could turn and smile at him. The lines around Gideon glowed bright and golden. He was what she had reached for when she’d been teetering on the brink of the Rift—when she’d almost been pulled in with the Walkers. He was what had dragged her back from the edge of nothing.

  He was what she’d hung onto, and she knew she could keep doing that. Taking his hand, she held tight and walked with him back inside.

  Other books by Shannon Donnelly

  URBAN FANTASY

  Demons & Warders Series

  Burn Baby Burn, Book 1

  When a half-demon baby puts Mackenzie Solomon’s life—and her job as a demon hunter—on the line, she can’t turn her back on the half-pint of evil. But ‘Junior’ is actually part of a trap to turn Mackenzie’s partner, Josh, and his extraordinary charming skills to the dark uses of the ancient, fallen Grigori, the angels once assigned to be Watchers over humanity. Is she going to have to make a choice about the men in her life?

  Riding in on a Burning Tire, Book 2

  Mackenzie Solomon is on the edge of going “dark” and losing her warder license if she gets any more evil on her. She is also, however, the only one who can stop an early Armageddon. While she’s given up front line work for a desk job, paperwork hasn’t stopped the bad ideas or the itch for action. It’s starting to cause a rift with her former charming partner, Josh, who is also her lover. Josh has also been tainted by demon blood, so is he now one of the bad things she now needs to avoid? Because Josh may be responsible for the Magi going Houdini on everyone.

  REGENCY ROMANCE

  Lady Scandal – Romantic Times Nominated Best Regency 2004

  Under the Kissing Bough – RWA RITA Finalist, Best Regency Romance

  The Compromise Series

  A Compromising Situation – Golden Heart Winner, Best Regency

  A Dangerous Compromise – Finalist: Holt Medallion, Laurel Wreath

  A Much Compromised Lady – Romantic Times Top Pick: 4½ Stars

  The Proper Series

  Proper Conduct – Winner Winter Rose, Best Historical

  A Proper Mistress – Romantic Times Top Pick - 4½ Stars

  Barely Proper

  Regency Novellas:

  Cat’s Cradle

  Stolen Away

  Border Bride

  Silver Links

  For other stories by Shannon Donnelly visit www.sd-writer.com

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  “When did you stop trying?” she asked. She willed him to answer, but he shook his head and his mouth pulled down into a stubborn frown. Letting out a breath, she pressed her lips tight, thought about letting her frustration boil free. She had to find out what had happened to the others, even if it was her worst fears and those nightmares realized. “Please, Gideon. Take me back to where you found me. Maybe if I can piece enough together, I can get us all out of here. Please—help me?”CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  She saw a flicker of something. A light that reached for her—not Walkers, but something warm and steady. She grabbed for it and held on as the Rift took her. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX