Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  Instead of the familiar iron accessories, wood accents and bright southwestern colors of our decor making me feel warm and welcome tonight, I froze and gulped guiltily. Morpheus was pissed, like majorly. I’d only heard him use that deadly tone once before and it had been in front of an enemy whose head had ended up on the floor, no longer attached to his body.

  Morpheus’ obsidian tipped talons were not merely ornamental.

  He rose and slowly stalked toward me, his nostrils flaring as he scented the air.

  “Morpheus,” I began knowing what was coming next, but he didn’t let me finish.

  “I can smell him on you.” He cursed darkly under his breath.” But I would know even without that additional proof what you’ve been doing. Your frame says it all, slinking in here doing the morning after walk of shame.” Suddenly, he was right in front of me, the rustic elk horn chandelier overhead casting shadows over his furious face that moved to within inches of my own. “Did I not make it clear that you were to remain here?” he roared. “Safe and out of sight?”

  I nodded and dropped my chin. Now I had angering Morpheus to add to the edginess and frustration I was already feeling. Frustration I could have avoided. I had known even before I took Billy’s hand that what he had in mind wouldn’t work, no matter how much I had wanted it to. If I had any willpower where he was concerned, which I truly didn’t, I would’ve returned to the cabin after the movie. It wasn’t his fault that my hopes couldn’t be crafted into reality. I had nobody to blame but myself, and nothing but the distant rush of the waterfall and Morpheus’ measured breathing to counteract my morose thoughts.

  After several tense moment passed without him speaking, I risked a glance up at him. His fingers were opening and closing, his talons digging into his flesh so deep they were drawing blood.

  “Stop it.” I reached for his hands mustering the last of my reserve energy to make myself corporal, wedging my hands between his palms. I cried out from the excruciating pain as his talons pierced me.

  “Damn it, Thyme!”

  I hissed when he retracted his talons.

  He frowned as he took my hands and assessed the damage. “Those will never heal completely. You know that. What is wrong with you? Do you have a wish to end your existence? What you were doing with Blade…you know it’s forbidden. It’s nearly as grave of an infraction as a union between a dark and light immortal. If you were seen, if anyone found out, there is nothing I can do to stop the Council from meting out your punishment.”

  “I know,” I whispered peering up into him. I could feel the burn and knew my eyes were glowing brightly. “I’m sorry.”

  “That will be of little consolation to me when you are gone.”

  “I can’t help it.” I shook my head. “He is…”

  “I know what he is.” He came closer moving his hands up to my upper arms and carefully curling his fingers around them. “That’s why I returned so urgently.” The look on his face scared me. “He’s an immortal?”

  “Yes,” I confirmed nodding slowly while wondering how he had figured it out. “A Dark one.”

  “And you’re Fated, I suspect. You must be. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense.”

  “What?” Ice flooded my non-existent veins. “We can’t be.” A fated partnership was extremely rare. It could only happen if Billy’s mother and my own were immortals who had sung the secret language of creation over us at birth in the hope of binding us to a strong immortal once we came of age. Though the practice was taboo, it wasn’t strictly prohibited in the Code. It was rumored that the Heirs and their Progeny feared fated couples because when combined their power was extremely strong. They could heal each other when wounded. They could share each other’s gifts. Some could communicate telepathically. Their only weakness was that when one fated partner died supposedly so did the other one.

  That was the built in risk, and if true that’s the part that made the least sense to me. “But I’m dead. If Billy and I are fated, why didn’t he die ten years ago when I did?”

  “I don’t know. There is much about Fated Ones that is uncertain. I had to speak in broad generalities about your case with the Necromancer. I didn’t want him to discern that it was you. Apollyon already has eyes upon you at all times. If he thought you and Blade were a threat to his ambitions, he would eliminate you without a second thought.”

  “I think I need to lie down.” I swayed. “I don’t feel so good.”

  “I’d wager you’ve used up a lot of energy.” Morpheus’ eyes narrowed as he honed in on me. Too much it seems.” He swept me off my feet without warning much the same way Billy had. He carried me straight back to my bedroom, laid me out on the iron framed bed that was the only furnishing inside it besides my bookshelves. If he even noticed, he didn’t comment on the lyrics from Billy’s song ‘Through It All’ that I’d painted above the headboard while he’d been gone.

  He sat down next to me, smoothed my hair back, making a low keening sound of concern when his fingers slid right through me. “You’re barely even here. Things went too far with him.” He shook his head. “Or maybe not far enough. He could heal you if you’ve consummated…”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but we didn’t,” I interjected. “It’s not possible.” The sharp stab of dissatisfaction made my voice dull. “We just fooled around.” I didn’t have enough energy to even imagine a blush so I just turned my head to avoid the further embarrassment of talking about the specifics with my best friend. “Why are you so certain about him being my Fated One?”

  “Because you’re usually so cautious, but with him you’re irrational and reckless.”

  “There could be another explanation for that,” I whispered looking back at him bleakly.

  “Possibly,” he allowed. “But that fails to account for the fact that your immortality is waxing. He is the source. You’re siphoning from him whenever you’re together. Fated mates do that. I think you’re becoming more substantial because his spirit is trying to restore you.”

  Oh my Creator.

  This made too much sense. But what to do about it if it were true?

  “Will I eventually drain him dry?”

  “Who can say for sure? I don’t think your shade body is a sufficient vessel to receive an infusion of that kind of power.” His feathers bristled. “There are many implications that require careful consideration.”

  I had just found Billy. I didn’t want to give him up, but I would have to, if I was hurting him.

  “Is there a fated couple we could ask?”

  He shook his head lowering his lids, hooding his eyes.

  “Are they all dead?” I squeaked.

  “No, Thyme. But the few who remain are in hiding for their own safety. You know how Apollyon is never satisfied with the territory he has, always wanting more power. He’d love to find fated immortals to manipulate. And he’s not unique. I think we both know that’s how all the Progeny operate. It’s just an eternal chess match for them. They don’t really care who gets hurt so long as they are entertained.”

  “Then how do we get more information? Who would know?” I mused out loud.

  “I pondered that all the way back home. I think our best hope is to contact both your mother and Blade’s. They must have had a reason to bind you to another immortal. Some threat real or imagined that made them feel the need to make you stronger.”

  “What could that be?”

  “I don’t know. But I must find out.”

  “How can you? My mother…” I trailed off shaking my head. “I don’t even know who she is or where she is or even if she’s still alive. This is an impossible task.” My lip trembled.

  “Take heart, Thyme Bellerose.” He framed my face, and I had been underground and recharged enough now that his hands didn’t pass through me. “I know the depths of your resolve. I watched as you sought out Shane that first year. You, a desecrated shade, despised and spit upon as you waited on your bench by the ferryman’s dock every si
ngle day undeterred.”

  “You were watching me?” He’d never told me that before.

  “Yes. I’ve never seen determination like that, such fierce loyalty and love.” His eyes glowed softly. “Even before you approached me I knew that I would help you, and I knew what a privilege it would be to call you my friend.”

  “Oh, Morpheus.” I let out a ghostly sigh. “You kept me sane. I love you.”

  “And I you, Thyme,” he returned gruffly as he stood. “But you must stay here while I do these things. No more running about. The stakes are even higher now. The risk is too great.”

  “What?” No.” When I tried to move I realized I couldn’t. I looked at my hands. Shit. He’d shackled me to the bedposts with obsidian laced cuffs. They rattled loudly when I moved. “Morpheus, let me loose. Billy won’t understand if I don’t come back.” I hadn’t intended to stay away all night. I was regretting the way I had responded when all he had wanted was to make it good for both of us. I needed to talk to him.

  “No, Thyme. You need to rest. If he really cares for you, he’ll understand. I want you where I don’t have to worry about you. As soon as the sun goes down, I’ll go to your apartment and have a word with him. I won’t be gone for long.”

  Chapter 32

  Canst thou, thy pride forget. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Billy

  Tony went into the baggage claim to get my family while I waited restlessly in the limo.

  I ran an agitated hand through my hair. It was the afternoon but it felt like years had passed since Thyme had left me. I was a nervous wreck. I was worried about her. I knew it was mostly irrational. She was a ghost. Surely she would be safe in the underground, but with Leon and those Enforcers she had mentioned, I wasn’t so certain. Plus she had been so upset. I had been, too. I had remained awake all night replaying everything and missing her like crazy.

  So things hadn’t exactly ended the way I had planned. She underestimated me and my commitment to us if she thought I was going to give up that easily. I was determined to have her, to make her mine, to make certain that vision of us making love together became a reality.

  But I had a bad feeling churning in my gut, one I couldn’t seem to shake, and I just couldn’t tell how much of that bad feeling might be from some kind of supernatural premonition versus just the break in the strong connection that we shared.

  The limo door suddenly popped open sunlight streaming in to brighten the dark interior. I felt my heart twist. Sunlight. Thyme hadn’t seen or felt it in ten years. Sunlight was just one more thing in a long list that made me think of her today.

  When I looked at the indentation on the pillow where her head had been.

  When I smelled her scent on the sheets.

  When I ate the vanilla ice cream we had made together for my breakfast.

  I had gone from an empty and sad Walking Dead like existence to a life poised on the edge of possibility because of her.

  I had to find a way to make things work with her. I wouldn’t give up. It wasn’t in my nature. I was certain of her. I needed her. What was the point of being a part of this new supernatural world with immortality thrown into the mix if there wasn’t some way to have her share it with me fully?

  “Uncle Billy!” I heard her sweet voice and caught a glimpse of strawberry blonde ringlet curls before she launched herself into my arms.

  “Princess.” I closed my eyes and hugged her tight. I’d missed her so much. Why had I stayed away so long? I leaned back to look at her. “You’ve gotten so big.”

  “She’s grown two inches since the last time you saw her.” My sister ducked inside the vehicle and scooted to the far end of the bench near the driver partition. She tucked a shoulder length strand of hair the same color as her daughter’s behind her ear. “She started kindergarten. Learned how to ride a bike.”

  I couldn’t miss the bitterness in Cassidy’s tone. Bitterness toward me and her ex hardened her somehow, dousing the sparkle in her pretty grey eyes. I suppressed an irritated sigh with her as my parents moved into the limo taking a seat on the bench opposite me. Those things were true I was sure. And I could make excuses, but I remembered Ty’s regrets of not being able to touch those you love and be touched in return. It was time to put an end to all the animosity between me and my sister. Love even with family didn’t come with guarantees.

  “You’re right,” I told her quietly.

  Cassidy stilled the strap of the seat belt unbuckled in front of her chest.

  My parents’ jaws dropped.

  “I’ve made a ton of mistakes since the accident,” I continued. “Regrets are all I’ve had for company lately. Really. I’m sorry about that. Sorry I wasn’t more understanding. I know you’ve been hurting, too.” Out of the corner of my eye I noticed my pa’s eyes tearing up. My ma reached out her freckled arm, her stylishly arranged but faded strawberry blond curls brushing her shoulders as she squeezed my hand. Her warm expression and her gesture told me she was proud of me.

  My sister’s face was still hard but there was a softening around her eyes now. “She was my best friend. It was a double blow for me because of my divorce at the same time. But she was your wife. And losing little William, too…” She paused and pulled in a breath. “I’m sorry, too, Billy.”

  I swallowed hard, nodded once and looked back at my niece. “So tell me what have you been up to while I’ve been away?”

  “I shot one of Grandma’s hummingbirds with the BB Gun you got me.”

  “What? Why on earth would you do that?”

  “Because I could. I’m a good shot. Grandpa says.”

  Hmm. My princess might be a bit more of a handful that even I had anticipated. A spitfire for sure.

  “She reminds me of you when you were her age,” my ma said softly.

  Oh, no, I thought.

  “Grandma has a whole flock of them that fly around her feeder,” Phoebe explained, taking my face with both her small hands and turning my head so I had to look at her and pay attention. I guess she might be a chip off the old block even though we weren’t really related.

  It had been stupid and self-destructive of me to withdraw from her and the rest of my family. I’d missed all that time with them I could never get back. Instead of insulating myself from more loss I’d compounded it.

  “So I told her I bet I could hit one. Grandma said I could try if I stood off her porch. So I did. And I got it on the first shot. Right through the neck.”

  “She brought it into the house holding it up by the wings wanting to show me her prize,” my ma informed me her lip twitching from the memory.

  “Remind me never to make you angry, Princess,” I told her.

  She grinned, a wide two front teeth missing smile.

  *****

  “Thank you for dinner, Son.” My pa smoothed a hand through hair that was mostly grey now. He had wrinkles around his eyes that I hadn’t really noticed the last time I had visited.

  “How’s the business going?” I asked. He sold medical billing software to hospitals and doctors’ offices.

  “It’s a little slow this year. I told your ma not to count on me being the top salesman and getting the trip to Hawaii this year.”

  “Oh, Pa, you know I can pay for that. You don’t even really need to work anymore.”

  “No. I appreciate that. You’re a great boy. But I’ve told you before, a gift from the Lord above is…”

  “For a man to work hard and enjoy the fruit of his labor,” I finished for him.

  “You remember?”

  “Sure, Pa. I remember everything you taught me.”

  “So who’s this girl you called your sister about this week?” My ma asked as she shuffled back in the suite living room with water spots on the front of the smart sweater and pant set she was wearing. She’d obviously helped bathe Phoebe.

  I groaned, throwing my sister a look as she came back in, her fringed top and jean skirt even more water logged than my ma’s. “Cassidy, I told you to keep
it quiet about the date.”

  “I didn’t tell anyone in the media. But you didn’t specifically say I couldn’t talk to Ma and Pa. It’s been two years since you’ve gone out with anyone, Billy. Of course I’m going to mention that to them. They worry about you more than anyone. Even Arla.”

  “How is Arla doing?” my mom asked redirecting the conversation as the peacemaker in the family.

  “He’s good I guess. I haven’t seen him since I came down.” And he really hadn’t checked on me as much as he usually did. I wondered again about the mysterious errand he had gone off to take care of so suddenly.

  “He should be in tomorrow though. We’ve got a meeting with the Bacchus people.”

  “Good. I hope we get to visit before we have to fly back out.” Ma leaned forward. “Now tell us about this girl.”

  What could I say about Thyme that would be enough to satisfy my Ma’s curiosity, but still avoid the inevitable request to meet her?

  “She’s kind, thoughtful, understanding and beautiful.” And not alive anymore. “But we’ve only just started dating, Ma. So don’t get any ideas. It’s so new I need you to give me a little space with her and I promise I’ll let you meet her soon, ok?”

  My ma crossed the room and wrapped her arms around my shoulders from behind, hugging me, and whispering in my ear. “I’m happy for you.”

  My throat clogged with emotion that made my eyes burn but I was worried about the future, and not just about me and Thyme. What would happen with me and my family when they aged and I didn’t? What would I tell them? Would the Code Thyme talked about and those that enforced it allow me to tell them the truth? It seemed so restrictive. I doubted I could.

  And what about my real parents?

  Who were they and why had they given me up?

  I’d wondered about them a lot as a kid, but now the question loomed as even more critically important in my mind.

  I looked down at my wrist. Why would someone go to such great lengths to hide my lineage?