by Casey Wyatt
Shit. I knew it.
“And who else?” Luca snapped.
“Radiance Ashworth.”
Yeah. When will I learn? The gut doesn’t lie.
Chapter 10
To exercise the body is to purify the soul.
“This ends now.” Luca held out his hand. “Time to find Allen Chen.”
“What? Not gonna make me stay behind and wait in the car?” Luca’s lack of manly possession was kind of nice. On the other hand, his seeming lack of concern for my safety irked me.
He sighed, probably sensing the impossible trap he was in. “No. I don’t believe for a minute that you would heed my advice to stay out of danger. As you are a Redeemer, my job is to protect you. I can do that better when we are together.”
I squinted at him for a moment, detecting sincerity in his expression. Okay, I’d give him this one small break. “Maybe it’s not too late to save Allen.”
“Wait!” Julian called. “If it’s any consolation, the last two names appear to have been written by another hand.” He pointed to the paper. “See. The pen strokes are thicker and more elegant. The ink is also blacker.”
“Good to know.” I jogged to the walk-in closet and shrugged on my leather jacket, checking the pockets for my stun gun. This time I wasn’t leaving unprepared. Without a word, I hooked arms with Luca and nodded.
I traveled the portal, eyes wide open. Instead of arriving sick, I felt pretty damn good. Until I saw the flashing blue and red lights of police vehicles and Allen’s employees loitering outside of his restaurant. Many of them were huddled under blankets, talking in rapid and highly agitated voices. Luca put his arms around me and walked us slowly past them.
When we reached the end of the block, I asked, “What were they saying?”
“The place was attacked by a demon.”
“Are we too late?” I glanced at the crowd. Policemen were herding everyone across the street.
Luca closed his eyes and scented the air. “I hope not.” He walked quickly to the next block, then stopped again and stooped to the ground. When he rose, he displayed a dark smear of blood on his fingertip. “He’s nearby.”
We followed the trail until it stopped in front of a battered brick building. The storefront had long been boarded up. Nearly every flat surface had copious amounts of graffiti and layers of ragged concert posters. The metal security screen had recently been opened, the padlock hastily discarded on the sidewalk.
“He was obviously in a hurry.” I moved to ease the door open.
“Wait.” He pointed to a line of white crystals spilled across the threshold.
“Salt?” I bent to touch it. His palm landed on my shoulder.
“Don’t disturb it.” He walked over it. “Ask me why, later.”
“Fine.” I followed him, careful to avoid contact with the line.
A dim row of florescent bulbs illuminated a path through the abandoned storefront. There was a vacant, dingy counter. Behind it, on the back wall, were remnants of a broken mirror. We stepped into the backroom. Only a few empty wire hangers dangled on metal rods. A mannequin lay broken on the floor. An old sewing machine was nestled in the far corner. By the looks of the place, it was possibly a dry cleaner’s or tailor’s shop.
Luca paused at the door and listened. “I hear crying.”
I didn’t need my power to feel the fear permeating the area. Allen was back there and scared shitless. I sure as hell wasn’t going to blame him. So far we’d met the Jiang Shi twice and it’d kicked our collective asses.
“Will the salt stop that thing?” I whispered.
He shook his head no. “Ready?”
Silly question. It’d managed to mess with my head in the Hereafter. Why would a little bit of salt slow it down?
“Wait! What’s our plan?” I hoped he had one.
“Kill it or capture it.”
That’s what I thought. I readied the stun gun. “Let’s go.”
We entered the vast space, some kind of storage area. A few metal racks lined the far wall. Empty wooden crates were heaped in piles in another corner. Several of the crates had been broken up and used for a makeshift fire in a metal can in the center of the room. It was a wonder the place hadn’t burned down. Probably junkies or homeless squatters using it as a crash pad.
Luca prowled soundlessly around the debris-strewn floor. I did my best not to give us away, by carefully following his path, avoiding scraps of wood, twisted metal, and rags crusted with mystery goo.
Sniffles broke the silence the closer we got to the crates. Allen had to be hidden behind them.
Luca crouched down, movements sinuous, like a cat ready to pounce. I carefully aimed the stun gun, feet moving forward.
Allen’s disheveled hair peeked over the top of the box. Rapid staccato breathing sped up as Luca rounded the crates.
“Please! Don’t hurt me!” Allen darted forward but Luca easily intercepted him.
“Allen,” I said calmly, tucking the stun gun in my waistband at the small of my back. “We’re here to help you.”
“It’s after me. I didn’t mean to—”
Two things happened at the same time. The corner side wall of the building crashed inward and Allen fainted.
“Leave him!” Luca yanked me away. When I opened my mouth to protest, he clamped his palm over my mouth. “Shh. I have a plan.”
The lights flickered overhead. Brick dust fogged the air.
“Here, little piggy. I’ve come for you.” The Jiang Shi’s oily presence permeated the air. Its power, dirty against my skin, made me want to take another shower. On sinuous coils, it traveled over the rubble with ease and headed straight toward Allen’s unconscious body. Poor guy. He was bait and didn’t even know it. Maybe that was a good thing.
“We catch this thing like any other soul,” Luca whispered in my ear. “I’ll occupy it, you zap it.”
I nodded, trying not to think about having to touch that thing again. But if it meant I’d never have to deal with him again, I’d danced the tango as his partner.
The Jiang Shi halted its advance, forked tongue flicking, tasting. It swayed back and forth, the dim lighting sporadically casting light and shadow on its face. Underneath the serpentine features, were those disturbing milky corpse eyes combined with a human forehead and ears. The nose was flattened as was the chin, which I already knew could unhinge with frightening results. He was a strange, grotesque combination of man and reptile.
“Oh, today is a special day for me,” he purred. “Three for the price of one.”
Ahh geez. Could this thing be any more corny? Luca and I remained silent and motionless. Being snake-like, I could only assume it felt vibrations in the ground. When no response was forthcoming, the Jiang Shi resumed its forward trek.
My body tensed for action, I waited and watched, hoping Luca would distract the damn thing soon because every muscle in my body strained from the combined effort of remaining still and being prepared to strike at the same time.
Allen moaned. The Jiang Shi quickened its pace.
Faster than I could track him, Luca lobbed a heavy object across the room. It smashed against the ground behind the Jiang Shi.
The creature whipped around. Luca jumped, landing on its narrow back.
I didn’t wait for my golden invitation to join the party. I rushed into the fray. The tail whipped around and smacked me into the ground, knocking the wind out of me. No doubt hoping to hit me again, the tail aimed for my prone body. I rolled sideways narrowly avoiding it.
The males fought with snarls and grunts. The Jiang Shi attempted to dislodge Luca by slamming him first into the wall, then the ceiling. After two large gulps of air, I raced to meet them again, stun gun ready.
They rolled over the debris in a tangle of coil
s and limbs. I adjusted my aim repeatedly. Problem was they were moving too fast and I could accidentally hit Luca. As I got closer, I understood why the monster couldn’t dislodge Luca. He’d driven his fingers into the Jiang Shi’s back good and deep.
Luca wasn’t coming off anytime soon. But it also meant he couldn’t let go quickly. The wily beast must have figured out the same thing because it changed direction and picked up speed, headed straight for a jagged column of exposed rebar.
No way was that thing skewering my guy. I aimed. The prongs shot forward.
Luca cried out. Shit. One dart hit him, the other the Jiang Shi.
The skin on the monster’s back sizzled and smoked. Instead of being immobilized, it only taunted me. “That tickles, little girl.” To my horror it continued toward the rebar. Luca’s head lolled back. After a moment, he came around, sluggish but awake.
I raced to catch them, scrambling over bricks, barely registering the sharp cuts and abrasions. “Luca! Let go!”
Instead of listening to my sensible advice, his muscles bunched and he dug in deeper. The Jiang Shi shrieked, bucking like a demented bronco. The stun gun beeped, signaling full charge. I’d have to zap in close quarters since the wires were already discharged. I made it to the top of the pile and jumped the distance, landing against Luca.
“Get back!”
His voice was ragged and feral, and I didn’t like the gray pallor of his skin.
The Jiang Shi reared, tail crashing heavily into the nearest wall. Bricks rained down on my head and neck. Luca roared, yanking his left arm free. A large chunk of wet flesh dripped through his fingers.
“I’ve got this.” I shoved the gun’s tip into the wound and unleashed the charge.
Agonized howls pierced my eardrums. Yeah, I bet that hurt.
The monster tilted backward, aiming straight for the jagged wall. The rebar punctured my back, hitting my spine and lungs, stealing my breath and the ability to scream. The lower half of my body went numb with paralysis.
Black spots blanketed my vision. I watched as if a puppet master had taken over. The brands on my hands burned, the Jiang Shi igniting my power. Even through the agony, judgment began.
I didn’t care. I let the power take its course. The skin of the beast glowed black around the edges. I was dimly aware that the portal had been opened. Blood poured from Luca’s palm into the vortex. He was edged in white light. My avenging angel. But something wasn’t right with the passageway to the other side. It wavered before fully opening. Tremors shook Luca’s hands.
“No! You can’t take me!” The portal sucked in the Jiang Shi, disbelief and all.
The dull beat of my heart thudded in my ears. Luca bent over me, his face pale. Too pale. I didn’t have the energy to speak. When he lifted me off the metal, excruciating pain was replaced with shock. Chills wracked my body. Numbness took hold and my vision blackened.
Later, maybe minutes, maybe hours, had passed when I regained consciousness. Gentle motion rocked me. Strong arms held me close.
“Where am I?” I mumbled through parched lips. The wounds had healed substantially. Breathing was easier and a quick wiggle of my toes assured me that my spine had mended too.
“In a car,” came Luca’s soft response. “You were too weak to travel in a portal.”
Gentle fingers caressed my temple and smoothed away my damp hair. “You scared the shit out of me.” Strain cracked his voice. “You should never have taken that blow.”
“I’ll live.” Weakness permeated my limbs and I flopped my hand around until it landed on his arm. His palm covered mine, warming my cool skin. “We won, right?”
“Yes.” Tender kisses rained down on my forehead. I relaxed and ready to sleep in his arms. The monster was gone. We could rest.
If only. Whoever said there was no sleep for the weary was right. When I woke again, this time I was in my bed with Brody firmly entrenched on my bladder. According to the morning news, I’d been asleep close to twenty-four hours. Damn. At the rate I was going, I’d sleep half my life away.
Meadows had thoughtfully left me a plate of lemon bars. I inhaled two of them before showering. Other than a few lingering aches, my body had recovered. Not even a scar. It was like it had never happened. Too bad my memory didn’t heal as well. The worry and fear in Luca’s voice haunted me.
I needed to see him. I had to know he was okay.
I exited my room and started down the hall until realization stopped my feet. I had no idea where Luca stayed when he wasn’t with me. Was he even in the mansion? Shame colored my cheeks. How could I not know something so basic? I’d acted like a rich, spoiled brat, taking what I needed and not bothering to learn anything substantial about him.
God, I sucked. I walked on, deep in my thoughts.
“Are you lost, Ms. Ashworth?” Meadows’ polite inquiry disturbed me. Somehow I’d landed in the library. My internal GPS automatically routed me there as my default location.
“Just in my head, Mr. Meadows. Is Luca here?” I studied the man before me as if seeing him for the first time too. If I had to peg an age on him, I’d say he was in his mid-fifties. Far too young to have been with Sebastian all his life as Luca and Julian asserted.
“Yes. His room is across the hall from yours. But he is currently away. He said he’d return in time for lunch.”
“How did he seem?”
“Right as rain. Same as always,” Meadows said with a cheerful smile. “Is there anything else?”
“No. Thank you. I’m good.” Damn. Could I be anymore swoony?
I hid myself in Sebastian’s inner sanctum. Well, it was really my secret lair now. I searched every drawer in the desk and even found a few hidden compartments. The most devious was actually opened by a series of switches. When I finally determined the correct order, I was rewarded with a concealed door that slid open on the front of the desk. Inside, I found a thin book that mirrored the size of the space it had occupied.
I closed the panel and placed the book on the desktop. The cover material, slick and shiny, radiated with power. When I reached over to open the book, my hand sunk into it like taffy. I tugged it free, shaking out the pins and needles.
“No. God. Not more weirdness.” At the sound of my voice, the cover solidified and an image appeared. A large winged beast. It looked a lot like the one that saved me from the Jiang Shi.
“What are you?” I muttered, flipping through the pages. The book had been handwritten, probably over decades or even centuries. The script changed from person to person. Sometimes I could read the words and other times, they were in some language other than English. Instead of trying to read it, I examined the pictures. Many of the images I recognized right away. The vortex. Redeemers and Advocates. The word Alkhari.
I stopped flipping, stopping when a peculiar phrase caught my attention. “Blood price?”
My eyes widened. The more I read, the more concerned I became. Holy, fucking hell. This explained so much.
I brought the tome to the outdoor veranda. Luca was already seated at the table, scanning paperwork. Even in the warm afternoon sun, he looked pale. Now I understood why.
He gave me a broad smile. It fell flat the moment he noticed what I held in my arms.
“Care to explain?” I dropped the book onto the table with a heavy thunk.
Luca’s mouth tightened into a thin line.
“What? Cat got your tongue?” I flicked the pages. “The chapter on blood was worth the price of admission. It was fascinating to learn that only Alkhari blood can open the passage. I was fascinated to learn that all escaped souls, after judgment, are sorted and parsed through the underworld.”
When he remained silent, my blood pressure skyrocketed. “You know which part was the most interesting?” I flipped a few more pages, then aimed the open book in his di
rection. “Replenishment. Let me read this out loud to you.”
“Radiance. Please—”
“No. No, you’ve had your chance to speak.” I stabbed the words as I read along. “All Alkhari must recharge their power. To be fully healed and effective, the mated Alkhari receives his energy from sex with his or her chosen. Alkhari are free to choose their bonded mates, but will only do so if their chosen accepts them. Unbonded Alkhari never fully reach the peak of their power and eventually their blood weakens. Unable to open portals, many die before their time.”
I closed the book, sat down, and folded my shaking hands. After several deep breaths, I stared at Luca. “When. Were. You. Going. To. Tell. ME!” I wrapped my arms around myself so I wouldn’t go ballistic and overturn the table.
To his credit, Luca never once flinched or tried to placate me. If he had, I would have launched over the table and throttled him.
“Annwyl . . .” he said. Slowly, deliberately, he came around my side of the table. When he reached my chair he crouched down next to me. “Look at me.”
“No.” My throat closed. The storm of anger blew away, replaced by something much more raw and naked. Fear. Loss. Love.
“I can’t do this, Luca.”
“Do what, my love?” The tenderness, the understanding, in his voice only agitated me more.
“Feel this way.” Out of control. His nearness only stoked my heightened emotions. All I wanted to do was sink into him. It would be easy to let him soothe me. To let someone else worry about everything. To be taken care of.
That was the ice water to the face that I needed. I didn’t need anyone to take care of me. All my life, I’d fought well-meaning attempts and controlling interventions to manage my best interests.
“Is it all true, Luca?” I asked in a small voice. “Will you die without me?”
