Darkness Undone

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  “Eve?”

  Just her name. A soft command. One she couldn’t ignore.

  “Why did North have to bring that thing along?” She rounded on him. “I thought you needed me to find the Stone, not the scroll. Tell him to take it away.”

  She pivoted for her walk-a-thon again. He grabbed her arms, holding her still. “We didn’t bring the scroll. It’s at Exilum.”

  “Well, you brought something. One of you did.”

  The iridescent spray of water falling into the fountain beckoned her. Eve pushed away from him and walked straight into the man-made rain. Cool and soothing, it flowed over her heated body to wash away the sweat and sloshed into her sneakers, drenching her sore feet. She sighed in pleasure.

  But the humming grew louder. She stared up at the statue of Christopher Columbus then walked around it and stopped in front of the angel on the lower base. A sudden buzz whined through her, coalescing. The circle of water she stood in started to spin—or was that her?

  “Eve!” Reynner’s yell came from a great distance. A sudden burst of power—a light erupted from somewhere deep inside her and sent her flying backward into the shallow water.

  A loud noise. Something shattered. Debris rained over her as she fell, her head hitting the mosaic tiles in the fountain. Dark spots danced in front of her vision. Pain rippled in her skull as the water and darkness cascaded over her…

  ***

  With inhuman speed, Reynner appeared at Eve’s side, the water from the burst pipe drenching him. What the hell happened? One minute he’d been watching her, and the next, she was flying backwards as a powerful light exploded from her.

  He kneeled beside her and scanned for injuries. North and Aerén appeared beside him as he examined the back of her head with his hands. But there was no bump or any other damages.

  Dripping wet, Reynner carried her out of the fountain, circled the smattering of curious onlookers, and sat on the low wall, cradling her on his lap. He inhaled a sharp breath at the scorching pain inside his chest. And tightened his psychic shields so it had no chance of seeping through their mating bond and hurting Eve.

  North and Aerén flanked him, their clothes equally soaked. They scanned the place, keeping inquisitive humans away and clearing their minds of Eve glowing like a lightbulb. And maintained vigilant guard while the crowds gathered to stare at the ruined fountain.

  “I haven't found any reason for this,” North murmured, eyes narrowing.

  “No,” Aerén agreed, looking equally concerned. “Or any unexplained Others here.”

  Reynner carefully touched Eve’s mind with his. Now that her shields weren’t up, he saw images…mostly of him, but he saw the past, too. A different time…her parents in a vehicle, a white, oval rock hurtling toward them. A burst of light. Splintering glass as the windshield shattered…

  Dread grabbed him in a chokehold. Fuck, no!

  The Stone had caused the accident?

  Oh, shit, this was so fucking bad.

  More worrying, the artifact was no longer whole, but in fragments. And Eve, he realized in shock, was part of that equation.

  Feeling like he’d been run over by a tanker, he rasped, “There is no Stone—Eve is the source.”

  “What in Urias’s name are you talking about?” Aerén snapped in irritation. “We’ve been hunting for that relic for centuries, and now you say there’s nothing.”

  “What do you mean she’s the source?” North asked, his attention sliding back to Eve.

  His attention fixed on his mate who lay so still in his arms; Reynner brushed her damp hair away from her face. “Eve is the one. I should have known, suspected, since she possesses magic in her blood.”

  “Reyn, for Urias’s sake, just spit it out,” Aerén barked.

  In a daze, he explained, “After Eve made contact with the scroll, she had to come back to this precise place where the crash occurred for the Stone’s power to resurrect.” Then he told them about what he’d seen in her memories, about the accident that had killed Eve’s parents, the Stone crashing into their vehicle—the reason for the tragedy. “It seems residue of the magic attached itself to the monument, which would explain why Eve reacted the way she did. The power recognized her and probably linked to her.”

  “Hell’s shit,” Aerén muttered. “Once Eve knows, we’re so screwed.”

  Reynner pressed a troubled kiss to her brow. “Not a word to her,” he warned. “I have to be the one to tell her—to explain.”

  How did he inform his mate his world was responsible for the pain she’d suffered, for the loss of her parents?

  A hand stroking his face brought him back. He found her watching him with those beautiful dark green eyes. Relief flowed through him and he pushed his worries aside for now. Smiled. “Eve.”

  “Why are you all wet?” She brushed the water dripping from his hair onto his face.

  “I decided to join you in the fountain. It’s far too humid tonight.”

  She glanced around at the noisy crowd. “What happened?”

  “A burst water pipe,” he evaded. “Can you stand?”

  She nodded. He set her on her feet and rose, but kept an arm around her waist. A frown marred her brow. “Wait, I remember. I felt dizzy, a bright light or whatever that was disorientated me for a moment and… I fell?”

  “Yeah. You knocked your head on the fountain floor.” He scanned her again, found no bumps, which surprised him. She seemed to be checking herself as well, then she snorted. “I'm fine, I'm not that fragile.”

  “I'm just glad you weren't hurt.”

  The noise level around them escalated. Reynner eyed the growing crowd. “Why don’t you sit down while we handle this confusion? Then we’ll leave.”

  Making sure she was seated where he could keep an eye on her, Reynner glanced at North. “Let’s do this, before anything else goes wrong.”

  “Reynner?”

  He pivoted to find her behind him, raking back a tangle of wet hair. “Eve, I told you—”

  She stopped him, a hand on his chest. “Did you find the Stone? I felt a humming, the Stone should be here, right?”

  He shook his head. This wasn’t the place to talk about something this monumental, or for Eve to find out the truth about her parents’ deaths.

  “Later.” He brushed a quick kiss on her lips and left to go deal with the cleanup and memory wipes.

  ***

  Eve watched Reynner as he walked slowly through the noisy crowd. He nodded at whatever North said. With no idea how a mind sweep worked, she went back to the steps and surveyed the chaos around her.

  Naturally, everyone would think the underground water pipe feeding the fountain had burst. But deep down, Eve knew she’d caused that. Something had happened when that light—power, whatever it was, exploded from her.

  A sudden wave of pain swept through her. Oh, Christ, she gasped, unable to breathe. Doesn’t that bitch ever take a break?

  Panting to ease the torturous onslaught, she searched for Reynner, her anxiety increasing. She found him alone, moving unhurriedly through the gaping crowd. He appeared calm, focused, but her heart knew differently.

  That Inanna would punish him like this for spurning her clawed at Eve’s gut. She had to find a way to stop this, if that malicious witch ever found out the truth about their relationship, she’d hurt him more. Or worse, have him back in her bed.

  Eve knew, to keep her safe, Reynner would do anything.

  Inhaling another harsh breath, unable to bear that thought, she hurried to him and grasped his arm.

  “Eve,” he began then his expression tensed. “What’s wrong?”

  Jesus, how could he be this brave, this strong, for so many centuries?

  “Nothing.” She smiled. Tried to be strong for him. “I-I didn’t want to be alone.”

  He drew her close and studied her face in the lights surrounding the fountain. Eve ducked her head, hiding in his chest. She didn't want him to see her pain. “Please, let’s go home.”r />
  ***

  Reynner bit down on his molars as another wave of pure agony rode him. Eve gasped, a hand flying to her left breast, ending in a clenched fist, and then he knew. “You’re in pain.”

  She shook her head. “I'm fine—I'm fine. It will pass.”

  The fuck it would. He knew just how long this shit could ride, days before Inanna got bored and found something else to occupy her. And now every time she wanted to hurt him, Eve would suffer because of their strengthening bond.

  He had to leave before that damn demented female took it into her head to come after him.

  “Aerén,” he growled, the lines of pain bracketing Eve's mouth eating at him. While he could stand this torture, he couldn’t bear for her to suffer.

  His prince jogged over. “What’s up?”

  “Take Eve back to the apartment.”

  “No—no!” She clutched his shirt in panic. “Reynner, wait—”

  “Take her.” He didn't want Eve witnessing what he’d been reduced to do.

  ***

  “No.” Eve fisted his damp tee. “Where are you going?”

  He didn’t respond, his lips drawn tight. She saw the answer in his eyes.

  “No, Reynner. Please, don’t,” she cried. “I can endure this—I can.”

  “I won’t have you suffer a burden that was never yours.”

  “No, you can’t let her win—oh, God, please don’t go.” She shook him hard. “I won’t let you go.”

  “It’s the only way. I’m sorry, Eve. I won’t have you hurt.” The cold determination in his expression spoke volumes.

  Shaken, she stared at him, her entire being fracturing. “You-you’re leaving me, to save me?”

  His eyes gone impossibly cold, he peeled her fingers from his shirt and turned to Aerén. In a voice she’d never heard before, like he’d shut down every facet of emotion, he said, “Keep her safe.”

  Then he strode off, crossed the busy street, and headed into the park, the darkness swallowing him.

  Eve couldn’t breathe. The pain spilling through her gave way to a new one as her heart fractured.

  “Eve?” Aerén took her arm. She shrugged him off, prayed with everything in her soul that Reynner would come back.

  He didn’t.

  She swayed, didn’t protest the hands that swept her off her feet. Utter desolation stole through her. She had to live with the despair, the agony, knowing she had driven Reynner into Inanna’s arms. She’d ruined their lives, their momentary happiness because she’d been unable to block those flashes of pain.

  Chapter 28

  The scent of disinfectant and illness was an unpleasant smell to his heightened senses, but a small price to pay, Sebris decided, striding into the hospital.

  One of the females in white hurried over to them as they stalked down the quiet corridor, past the nurses’ station. With Paxyn left to deal with the nurse, knowing the warrior would do a good job with mind control, Sebris and Xever headed for the ward.

  Sebris had waited two days, paying heed to the fact that she had to remain there to heal. They could do little about that on this realm, and they needed her up and about as soon as possible. They had shut down the house and taken up residence in a nearby hotel so they could keep an eye on the female. He was well aware the Empyrean and Eve visited every day.

  If he could, he’d take the female and disappear. But while on this realm, and weakened, he refused to have the Empyreans coming after them until he had the Stone. Plans had to be put into action, false memories inserted and info added to the records humans kept.

  He wavered on his feet. Damn, he could barely stay upright much longer with agony eating through his bones. He ignored the looks Xever sent him and entered the ward. Stopping at the foot of the bed, Sebris studied the female lying there.

  Her caramel skin appeared ashy. A large bruise covered her left cheek. Black hair lay limp and lifeless like seaweed on the pillow. The vibration that hummed through him was muted now. It had to be because she was unconscious. But the essence of it remained exactly like what he’d experienced on the street.

  He frowned at the underlying floral scent taunting his senses. The fragrance a lot like the flowers that grew wildly at the house on the Hudson—damn thing hiked his problem. Pain spiked through his skull, his molars mowed together.

  A soft moan came from the bed. Confused, dulled, crystalline blue eyes flickered open and stared blankly at him.

  “You should go Equate, I’ll keep an eye on her,” Xever said quietly from beside him.

  Sebris ignored him.

  Digging deep into his psyche, he summoned the last bit of his waning power and sent her back to sleep. Unsheathing his dagger hidden beneath his tunic, he headed for her. He picked up her slender hand and sliced across the pad of her thumb. A ruby red line appeared.

  He licked the blood. A coppery taste flooded his mouth, and like a fist to his belly the air was knocked out of him. His body heated, his groin stirred. His heart rate sped up. Struggling to breathe, he dropped her hand.

  Yes, she was the foretold one.

  “Take her.”

  ***

  Eve stood by the window, unable to move. So sure her fractured heart would collapse if she did. Aerén had tried to convince her that Reynner had gone to Exilum, where he’d lock himself in the dungeon until the agony passed.

  But Eve knew the truth. He was with Inanna. She felt none of his pain in her now.

  Blurry-eyed, she stared at the stars wavering in the dark skies and blinked away her tears. Hours had past, she had no idea how many, since they’d gotten back to the apartment. Her clothes were damp and her skin itched.

  “Eve, you should eat.” Aerén stopped next to her, tone roughened in concern.

  “Not hungry.”

  “He’ll be back,” he consoled.

  Yes, he would. The Stone had to be found, but they would never be the same again. She shuddered on a broken breath. Dammit, no—she refused to let that bitch win. She turned to Aerén. “Take me to Exilum.”

  “Eve, don’t. He wouldn’t want you to see him this way.”

  “Don’t you see? For two thousand years he resisted her, and now, because of me—” Her breath hitched. Tears crowded her eyes. “Please, just take me.”

  Whatever Aerén saw in her face, the desperation, the pain, or the tears that wouldn’t stop, he exhaled roughly and nodded.

  ***

  Eve stepped through the portal into Exilum and Reynner’s mountain home. The brilliant afternoon sunlight had her shading her eyes. She breathed in the fresh, moisture-laden air while the portal closed with a soft hiss. The roaring waterfall, the stark beauty of the meandering mountains gave her no comfort. All it did was remind her of Reynner.

  “Is he here?” she asked Aerén. He pushed back swathes of hair escaping its tie, his brow furrowed as he scanned the place. “No. I don’t sense him… I thought he’d be here.”

  She bit her lip and wondered if her heart could break anymore. “The Sumerian pantheon. He has to be there. Let’s go—”

  “Eve, no, you can’t,” he said horrified. “You’re mortal. Inanna would sense you the moment you step foot there. She will break you. She’ll use you to get Reynner back.”

  And I am his weakness.

  She sucked in a ragged breath, hating her mortality. “I have to help him. Please, would you go?”

  A pained expression crossed his face. “I can’t leave you alone. If anything happened here, there would be no way for you to leave, and Reynner would kick my ass. He still hasn’t forgiven me for kissing you.”

  It seemed so long ago when Reynner had turned on Aerén for touching her, and now she had to live with the thought of him with Inanna, probably touching her, kissing her…

  No—no! She wrapped her arms around her waist. He may not want to, but he’d do it to keep her safe.

  “Ah, hell.” Aerén rubbed his neck with a helpless look. “Very well. I’ll try to be back as fast as I can.” He opene
d a portal, stepped through it, and vanished from sight.

  Slowly, Eve walked indoors.

  “Mistress?” An agitated Izzeri confronted her as she entered the foyer. “Why are you here?”

  Usually, Reynner’s houseman appeared happy to see her. Now he looked harassed. Upset. “Izzeri, what’s wrong?”

  And just as quick his expression cleared. “Nothing.” A quick smile. “You took me by surprise, mistress. Where is sire Aerén?”

  “He had something to do. He’ll be back soon.” Truth was, she had no idea how long it would take for Aerén to go to the Sumerian pantheon and be back again. “Don’t worry, I won't get in your way.”

  “No, mistress. It’s always a pleasure when you are here. I shall prepare you a meal.”

  Eve nodded. She didn't have the heart to tell him she wasn’t hungry. Izzeri disappeared into the kitchen. She wandered to the living room and came to an abrupt halt.

  There through the windows, she saw the granite balustrades edging the balcony. Her breath caught in her throat. Reynner had finally put in railings to keep her safe. Unable to look at them, she rushed from the room, stopping only when she found herself on the lower level, a few feet from the gym entrance with nowhere else to go.

  God, she rubbed her burning eyes. How could she stay here, utterly helpless and unable to do anything?

  A cool breeze blew over her heated skin. Eve glanced around, searching for the source. Stepping closer to the granite wall on her left, she examined the rough surface. Not even a crack there. Where did the draft come from?

  Frowning, she ran her hand over the coarse surface and realized why she hadn’t noticed the passageway.

  Slabs of granite overlapped, giving the illusion of a continuous wall. She stepped behind it into a narrow, gloomy passage and found herself on the top stair. It led down a crudely cut stairwell in the rock face disappearing into darkness.

  Her stomach in a knot, Eve stepped into its gaping mouth. She wanted to see this dungeon Reynner’d used for so long to thwart Inanna.