Darkness Undone

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  Upstate, near the Hudson, Reynner eyed the two-story building opposite him as he waited for the others. The rich scent of soil and trees filled his lungs as he drew in another harsh breath.

  His fists clenched. Pain tore through him. He wasn’t in the least bit surprised at Inanna’s retaliation after his attack on her. Usually, he didn't give a fuck what she did, except the damn agony prevented him from completely opening his mind to Eve.

  He concentrated on the house and found several Darkreans scattered throughout the building. North was right, the Darkreans had called in reinforcements, and Eve was in there. Thank the heavens he’d soul-joined with her, or he’d never have been able to track her.

  He cast an impatient glance at the moon, which seemed determined to pinpoint to his enemy exactly where he was, bathing the area in silvery light. He summoned a bank of thick rain clouds that sailed across the velvet night sky and shielded the eerie brightness. Darkness cloaked the forest and its surroundings once more. The cacophony of night insects quietened as if sensing danger. Even the gentle whispers of the foliage stilled.

  Reynner detected North and Aerén not far behind him.

  Needing the contact, he opened his mind again to Eve and hoped she didn’t experience his penance. But she seemed to have thrown a wall over her thoughts. Frustration and worry prowled through him.

  He, an immortal who’d endured a century in Hell then destroyed the shithole and killed the demoness who’d tortured him, and he couldn’t even keep his mate safe.

  North appeared beside him like a shadow. “The place is guarded tighter than a fortress.”

  “Matters little, I’m going in through that balcony.” He nodded to the small one with rambling vines on the railings.

  “You can’t. It’s surrounded by magic,” Lucan informed him, stepping out from the trees.

  “You think I can't feel it? How the fuck can they do that? They have a mage in there with them?”

  “With their limitation of power once off Dregarus, they will always be prepared,” Lucan said, his attention fixed on the house. “I need to find a weakness in the incantation.” He raised his hands as he worked.

  Reynner prowled to the edges of the trees then came back again. “What’s taking you so bloody long?”

  “Give me a damn minute,” Lucan muttered, his hand weaving in a series of complicated movements. “Unraveling this spell is not child’s play.”

  “I don’t have time for this shit.” Reynner headed in the direction of the house. North blocked him.

  “Get outta my way,” he snarled, power rolling through him. The winds picked up. More clouds gathered.

  “Dammit, Reyn.” Aerén strode out of the darkness, back from his recon. “Keep the weather constant. Those degenerates will disappear with her if they know we’re here. They could very well take her back to Dregarus.”

  That stopped him cold. In that barren ice land, Eve wouldn’t survive.

  She was probably terrified out of her mind, trapped with those emotionless fuckers.

  “We have to get her out. I have to get her—I can't—” he broke off, unable to think past his terror of her being hurt.

  North remained silent. Aerén glared at the house.

  “I sense her,” Lucan said then he cursed. “They know we’re here.”

  Darkreans swarmed the grounds like bees escaping a hive.

  Hell, yeah, perfect. Finally able to vent the fear and fury raging within him, Reynner summoned his sword and dematerialized.

  ***

  Go where? Eve wondered irritably. She wiped the blood trailing down her forehead with the back of her hand and stumbled after the Darkrean leader as he headed outside.

  He’d been so intent on getting answers, and then, suddenly, he’d changed his mind? She had no idea why.

  And her ruse at falling so she could touch him? What a waste of time. She’d picked up wisps of thoughts, a bad snowstorm someplace, but most baffling of all, no emotions.

  Uneasy now, she rubbed her arms. It was as if she’d been sucked into a void and spat out again. How could a person feel nothing?

  She followed Sebris onto a softly lit portico. Ignoring the pain shooting up her hips, she limped down the stairs leading onto the lawn. Cool night air surrounded her, rich with the mossy-green smell of wood.

  Garden lights highlighted the riotously growing wild roses. Weeds appeared to have won the fight and taken over the grass. Tall looming trees surrounded the boundaries of the two-story mansion, making her feel cut off from the rest of the world. More dark clouds rolled across the sky, obscuring what was left of the moonlight.

  She trampled through the ankle-length grass when sounds of clanging reached her ears.

  She remembered them from before; when Reynner had fought the demoniis in the alley. Her heart pitched to her throat as they rounded to the front of the house and confronted the fracas on the lawn. Swords flashed, grunts and growls of the fighting figures filled the air. And in the horde of fighting men, she saw a flash of pale hair.

  Reynner.

  She darted forward, but Sebris grabbed her by the arm and hauled her back.

  “Let me go, damn you!” She fought to free herself, then elbowed him in the belly. He merely tightened his grip, making her wince.

  Unable to free herself, Eve pressed a hand to her heaving stomach. Oh, God. So many men! Where had they come from? Wild-eyed with fear, she watched.

  Reynner fought with a blond man. As if sensing her, he turned, their eyes locked.

  Then someone killed all the garden lights.

  A brick wall rammed into her. She hit the ground hard, landing on her side, unable to breathe as pain fired through her hurt limbs once again.

  “Eve!”

  Amidst the chaos, she heard Reynner’s terrified yell. Enormous boots leaped over her as swords swung, clashing over her head. Trapped in a sea of lethal, fighting men, Eve pushed into a crouch and looked for a way out.

  A sword winged toward her, the tinny sound of the blade’s whisper stopping her heart. Eve squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to see the blow that would end her life—a hand yanked her against a hard body, knocking out what little breath she had.

  A vortex of colors surrounded her in the space of a heartbeat, and then she was dumped on the outskirts of the battle.

  Lucan gave her an annoyed look and flashed back into the fray, his sword swinging.

  The man was as vicious in a fight as he was with his words. He nailed several Darkreans with the precision of a paid killer.

  Her gaze darted around and she spotted Aerén fighting Sebris. Aerén’s sword swung in a deadly arc to decapitate. Sebris leaped back and vanished...only to reappear behind her.

  He yanked her to him, just as Reynner materialized in front of them, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from a gash on his arm. His eyes glowed with intense rage. “Let. Her. Go.”

  Eve tugged at her arm, but Sebris merely readjusted his grip like he was holding a pesky fly. Then he caressed her neck with a rough finger. Eve jerked her head back.

  Reynner snarled. Power rolled off him, lightning streaked across the sky, and a bolt diverted, hitting the mansion with a violent display of sizzling sparks.

  “Careful, Empyrean, you wouldn’t want to strike her now, would you?” Sebris murmured. The next second, the winds died down and the black clouds disappeared. “I could so easily end her life, but why bother? Mortals and their firefly lifespan,” he mused, his voice filled with pity before it hardened. “Call them off.”

  “North,” Reynner yelled. North and Aerén flashed to flank him, their faces grim, swords braced for another attack. Aerén eyed Sebris with utter hatred. She remembered that he blamed the Darkreans for his parents’ disappearance. But the power coming off Aerén hurt her, like pinpricks of electrical surges. She swayed, and Sebris tightened his hold.

  “So frail,” he murmured. “She won't be able to withstand your anger much longer before something in her gives out. Her heart perhaps? I
t does beat quite fast. Unnaturally so.”

  “Dammit, Aerén, shield!” Reynner snapped. The next instant, the power surrounding her switched off like a light bulb.

  “Thanks for the er- training,” Sebris drawled like this vicious fight mattered little to him. He let her go.

  ***

  Bruised and battered, her face streaked with blood, Eve stumbled across the overgrown grass. Reynner flashed to her side and gathered her close, pressing his lips to her head. A sob escaped her, her arms tightened around his waist.

  But her pain cut through him as if it were his own. He had to stomp down the urge to destroy the bastard in front of him, he had to get Eve to safety. Sweeping her into his arms, he nailed Sebris with a deadly look. “I will find you again, Darkrean, make no mistake.”

  “I'm sure you will. Be thankful I saved the female,” Sebris said, glancing at his shirt where a dark, wet stain was spreading.

  “Saved her? You fucking abducted her!”

  “Make no mistake, Empyrean, when it comes to the Stone, I will do—and risk—anything.” His gaze settled on Eve again, his meaning clear. The asshole had made his point. Then Sebris added, “She has a powerful enemy in the goddess.”

  At the Darkrean’s words, Reynner’s gut churned. How the hell did he know about Inanna?

  “She told them,” Eve whispered.

  Her trembling body wrenched his mind back, and he regained control over his need for retribution.

  About to dematerialize, he cursed. The dissolving of their molecules would hurt her more. He tore off his tee. In a swish, his wings flared out. He swept Eve back into his arms and took to the skies. He held her close and out of the rush of wind created by his extremities. With his mind, he cast a haze around them to keep them undetected from human eyes. But he sensed North and Aerén following him.

  “I'm all right,” she whispered.

  “No, you're not,” he growled, knowing she’d said that to ease him.

  She sighed and rested her face against his chest. Her fingers stroked his nape along the line of tension that remained coiled in him.

  “These injuries aren’t from them—the Darkreans. When that horrible goddess struck me, I landed in a flower stall. Then people tried to help...”

  And she’d passed out from all the emotions flooding her, making it easy for the emotionless fucks to take her. The fact that Inanna had dared to attack Eve had his blood buzzing in rage. But deep down, Reynner knew the goddess would have done far worse than the Darkreans if she’d taken Eve.

  ***

  Reynner scowled at the closed bathroom door. Eve had shut him out—shut him out because he’d wanted to heal her first.

  Reining in his frustration, he willed the door open and a cloud of steam enclosed him. The noisy splattering of water filled the small space. Eve turned, and her wide green eyes met his through the misty shower glass.

  Did she really think she’d keep him out? Arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the basin and watched her soap her injured body. Felt every wince as she ran the sponge over herself.

  Finally, she shut off the water. As she stepped out from the shower, he held the towel open and gently wrapped it around her. Then he took another and dried her hair. The swelling on her forehead had darkened to an ugly purple. Several bruises marred her shoulder. His lips tight, he tossed the towel aside.

  “Reynner—” She pushed the tangled damp strands from her face. “I’m sorry, but I needed a bath first.” She stroked his chest, like that would pacify him. “I'm fine, really,” she murmured and limped from the bathroom to her room.

  “Fine?” He followed, temper flaring. He shut the door quietly behind them, resisting the urge to slam the thing. “Then why are you limping?”

  A red flush streaked across her cheeks. Casting him a wary look, she shuffled to her closet, opened a drawer, and took out underwear. Pulling on pink panties, she stiffened. Her loose, damp hair hid her expression, but her indrawn breath told him how bad it was.

  Jaw rigid, he stripped the towel from her, ignoring her gasp of indignation. Faced with the ugly contusions on her hips, the little insect bites on her arms and legs, his anger morphed into fear again. “Gods, Eve, look at you. You’re hurt so bad.”

  “I didn’t want to worry you,” she whispered, eyes mossy green with pain. “But I needed a bath more. Reynner, I slept on a flea-infested mattress.” A tremor of distaste crossed her face as if that justified waiting to be healed. “A few more minutes wouldn’t make my injuries life-threatening.”

  A low snarl rumbled from him. His mate had a way of pushing his buttons.

  “Please,” she said, coming closer. “It’s just a few bruises. You can heal me now.”

  She stood in front of him, so fragile and small. And frighteningly brave. Still, it was damn difficult to let go of his terror of what could have happened. He took the bra she held and tossed it on the bed.

  “What were you doing out on the street?” he asked while he examined the bruises.

  She eyed him warily, lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “We, er, went to buy flowers.”

  He’d almost lost her because she’d gone to buy goddamn flowers.

  Mouth clamped, he laid his hand on the swollen, dark flesh surrounding the split skin on her forehead, aware of her worried gaze on him. He summoned his healing abilities, but the weak flow of light drew his anger closer to the surface. He could heal a torn earlobe, but not a more severe injury. A mere trickle of it seeped into her body. This lame shit wasn't going to cut it.

  “Lucan!” Taking the towel he’d tossed on her bed, he wrapped it around her again.

  “No, no. Don’t call him,” she protested. “It’s okay, I’ll heal on my own, or see a doctor.”

  “Lucan—dammit!”

  The door opened and North stood at the entrance. “He’s not here yet. Can I be of help?”

  Reynner found it hard to talk through a jaw gone rigid. “Heal her.”

  Eve sat on the bed and eyed North uneasily, her hands gripping the edges of her towel. North crossed to her and lowered to his haunches, his leathers squeaking as he studied her injuries with a clinical expression. He laid his hand inches away from her head wound. A glow seeped out, sweeping over Eve’s entire body…

  Reynner watched, a sense of unworthiness crawling through him. He couldn’t do this simple feat for his mate, forced to rely on another. A curse he’d had to live with since his imprisonment in Hell. The blood Kalinin had force-fed him had messed with the purity of his healing gifts.

  After North had left, Reynner sat on the bed and pulled Eve onto his lap. He crushed her to him and buried his face in the warm hollow of her neck.

  She stroked his hair. “Are you all right?”

  Always it was about him, never her.

  “Yeah.” He captured her mouth in a desperate kiss, needing to accept that she was safe.

  She shifted and straddled him. The towel fell away. Warm, luscious breasts pressed against his bare chest, his groin hardened. A breathy moan escaped her, her center pressing against his painfully rigid cock when she gasped, broke free, and scrambled off him.

  “Oh, God. Brenna—Kat.” Horror filled her face. “I must call them. They’ll be so worried.”

  Reynner swallowed his groan. He rose, trying to ignore his throbbing dick. Damn, he hated this part, but she had to be told.

  “Eve…” He took her hands. Saying “don’t get upset” was guaranteed to do just that. So he just said it. “Brenna got hurt in the crossfire and is in the hospital.”

  Her eyes widened. The blood drained from her face. “How—how bad is she?”

  “She hurt her head. She’s in—”

  “A coma? Oh, no.” She pivoted away from him. “I have to go to her. She’s hurt because of me.”

  “Eve. It’s two A.M. You need to eat and rest. We’ll go in the morning.”

  “Kataya. I must speak to her. Tell her I’m all right.” She grabbed her cell off the dresser then tossed it
aside. “Dammit! Not charged.”

  “Eve, calm down. Here, use mine.” He handed her his phone. He cupped her chin and tilted her face to his. It pierced him in the heart, the fear and guilt clouding her eyes. “You can't fall apart now. It won't help Brenna. Make your call while I go get you something to eat. And Eve, if you’re to leave this room, put on some clothes first.”

  Reynner walked out of the room and rubbed a hand down his face. He was responsible for this mess, for his mate’s terror, her pain, and the hurt she’d endured because he’d failed to protect her from his enemies.

  Well, no more. She was never leaving his sight again.

  ***

  The rich aroma of scrambled eggs filled the kitchen as Reynner scooped up his attempt at cooking and piled them onto two slices of toast, and poured a glass of OJ.

  Then he leaned against the kitchen counter, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.

  Aerén, an unrestrained force of agitation, wore a path on wooden the floors, looping around the furniture. A faded bruise remained on his left cheek and his knuckles sported scabs.

  North slouched on a barstool and reached for the jellybean jar, helping himself to a colorful handful.

  “Why did the Darkreans let Eve go? They’re after the artifact, too,” he said, popping some of the candy into his mouth. “Could they not feel the magic in her?”

  “Right now, I care little as to why, just that Sebris let her go.” Reynner set his empty mug on the counter.

  Aerén stalked over, rested his fists on the granite top. “Lucan spoke of a spike, I found nothing. What was that about?”

  Reynner’s expression darkened. “Inanna. She attacked Eve. It’s what caused the power hike.”

  “Where’s Lucan?” North ate a yellow candy. “It’s not like him to disappear in the middle of the search for the artifact.”

  “Probably in Exilum,” Reynner said, glancing back at the corridor for Eve. “He must have gone there to Ground.”

  “No, I don’t think so, he was still at the Darkreans’ place when we left.” North headed for the door. “I’ll go find him.”

  Aerén made to follow, but Reynner stopped him with a hard stare. He remembered the pain on Eve’s face. Aerén’s power had hurt her. “Lucan can look after himself. You need to get that power Grounded. I can't have you around Eve riding the edge.”