Piercing the Darkness

by Angela Dennis

  “What about Carina?”

  “She’s in bad shape. I did what I could, but I don’t know if it’s enough. We’ll have to wait and see. But she’s powerful, and that’ll work in her favor. I accidently triggered a latent protection spell when I healed her, and it set me back a few paces. What’s her story?”

  “No idea. We’ll find out when she wakes up.”

  Seraph grabbed Cade as he started to stumble. “Go. Rest. There’s no shame in asking for help.”

  “I know.” Cade sighed. “Didn’t think I needed it.”

  “Looks like you do.” Seraph wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him out into the hall. “Where to?”

  “A bed. I was going to go see Hilda, but I don’t want her to see me like this.”

  Seraph raised a brow, but Cade ignored him. No way in hell was Hilda going to find out how much he’d suffered to bring her back. He didn’t do guilt.

  “We’ve got some hunters out on assignment, Brenna said you can use one of their beds until she can find you something more permanent.” Seraph stopped beside an empty room and Cade peered inside. It was sparsely furnished. A full-sized bed had been pressed against the far wall, covered by a mismatched quilt and sheet, and a dresser and armoire rested against the other wall. It was more than he’d had at the camp.

  Stepping inside, Cade turned to grasp Seraph’s arm. “You didn’t have to come find me. You’re powerful enough, you could have done this on your own. You would have found Hilda eventually.”

  Seraph shrugged. “It’s better this way.”

  Cade agreed, and he was grateful. “Thanks. I owe you.”

  Grinning, Seraph stepped into the hall. “I’ll remember that.”

  Cade barely made it to the bed. Once he did, he collapsed on top of it, staring at the ceiling. When had his life gone to hell? Before, he’d thought it had been when the Guardians had banished him from his home. But then he’d lost Hilda, a blow from which he almost hadn’t recovered. And now she was back. He’d risked everything to pull her from the Void, but what else could he have done? He loved her.

  He sat up. It was true. She’d ripped his heart out, but he still loved her. He was a special kind of idiot. But there was no way he was playing second fiddle this time. Either she made him a priority and committed to him, or he was walking. And she better have a damn good reason for leaving him in the dark for the past fifty years.

  But right now, none of that mattered. Hilda had been through hell and back. She’d need time to heal. He shifted on the bed, hoping to get at least a few moments of sleep, but just as he closed his eyes, a familiar scream tore through the room.

  Hilda. Damn it.

  He raced down the hall, heart pounding. Seraph, Keegan and Gray stood beside an open door, watching, their bodies poised to intervene.

  “What happened?” Cade demanded.

  Gray stepped back, but kept an eye on the room. “Hilda woke up when Brenna went in to check on her. She’s having…issues.”

  Cade took a deep breath. He’d been afraid something like this would happen. “It’s my problem, I’ll take care of it.”

  “No. Hilda’s one of ours. It’s all our problem. If you need us, we’re here.” Gray stepped back from the door to give Cade room. “You better get in there. Brenna’s been patient, but that’s not going to last long.”

  When Cade stepped inside Hilda was pressed against the wall in the corner of the room, Brenna’s athame clenched in one hand. Her blond hair fell lank against her cheeks, and her eyes were sharp with panic. Brenna was trying to reason with her, but her words were getting shorter and sharper. She was getting fed up.

  He laid a hand on Brenna’s shoulder to get her attention, then motioned her back. “Has she said anything?”

  “No. But she doesn’t know me, or where she is. Is that normal?”

  “She’s human. Her kind can’t handle the same amount of magic we can, even the witches. And we shoved a hell of a lot through her when we pulled her from the Void. Her mind shut down to heal. She’s been through hell. Give her time. She’ll come back.”

  “Don’t talk like I’m not here.” Hilda stepped forward, knuckles white against the hilt of the blade.

  He moved toward Hilda. “What do you remember?”

  She stepped back, grunting when she hit the wall. “Pain. Lots and lots of pain. And creatures.” She shuddered. “Their magic was tainted, dirty.” A tear trailed down her cheek. “It hurt bad.”

  “Those were the Eversors. You were in the Void, but we pulled you out. Do you remember me coming for you?” He tried to get closer, but she slashed out with the knife.

  “I know who you are, Cade. But where the hell am I?” Eyes crazy, she glanced frantically around the room. “And where’s Carina?”

  “You’re on the Earthly plane, at the boarding house. And Carina’s in the next room, unconscious.” Brenna held out her hand. “I’ll take you to her, but you have to put down the athame.”

  Hilda furled her brow, glancing at the weapon in her hand. “Fine.” She slammed it into the wall at her side. “But neither of you get it either.”

  “Now that’s my Hilda.” Brenna gave her a slight smile. “Nice to know you’re still in there.”

  Hilda pushed past her, shoving her with her shoulder. “If we were so chummy, why the hell don’t I remember you?”

  “Good question.” Brenna glanced at Cade.

  He shrugged. How was he supposed to know?

  Brenna shot him a frustrated look. “You’re a lot of help.”

  “I’m not going to lie.” He wished she’d leave and let him handle things his way.

  Hilda stood before the door, waiting. “I want to remember. But right now, I want to see Carina more.

  “You will,” Brenna said as she moved toward her. “But after you’ve seen her, let me help you. I can put you in a healing sleep. I promise it will help.”

  Hilda shot Cade a questioning glance. He replied, “It couldn’t hurt.”

  “Fine. But Carina first.” She motioned to the door.

  Seraph, Gray and Keegan parted as Brenna swung the door open, Cade and Hilda close behind. They filed down the hallway until they were before Carina’s room.

  Brenna stopped at the doorway, turning back to Hilda. “She was pretty bad. I did everything I could to save her, but I don’t know if it was enough. If you go in that room, wake her up and interfere with my spells, she could die.”

  “Why do you care?” Hilda pushed past her, hand on the doorknob. “She’s nothing to you.”

  Quick as a snake, Brenna grabbed her arm. “I don’t care how screwed up you are, don’t you ever say that to me again. I’m a healer and she’s my patient. If you knew me at all, you’d understand what that means.”

  “Clearly I don’t.” Hilda yanked her arm back. “I just want to see her. I’m not going to screw with any of your spells.”

  “Then step back.” When she didn’t, Brenna used her body to move her before opening the door.

  The room was barren except for a single bed where Carina lay, unmoving. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent, every vein in her face visible. But she was breathing, her chest falling in a steady cadence. Hilda watched her for several moments, then, nodding, stepped back. Brenna closed the door and joined her in the hallway.

  “Thank you,” Hilda murmured as they moved down the hallway to her room. “I know it cost you a lot to heal her, and you,” she turned to Cade, “a lot to bring her out.”

  “What’s her story?” He wouldn’t have left her there, regardless. But they needed to know what they were dealing with.

  Hilda squared her shoulders as they stepped into her room. “Her story is her business. She helped me. That’s all I need to know. If you need more, ask her when she wakes up.”

  “She could be anyone. We’re in the middle
of a war, so we need to know what side she’s on,” Brenna said.

  “I understand that. But you know where she is. Ask her yourself. It’s her story to tell.” Hilda sat on the side of the bed, stretching her arms in front of her body. “I’m done talking. My mind is too fuzzy. I need some of that healing sleep you offered.” She stretched out on the bed and blew out a long breath.

  “Sure.” Brenna sat beside her, but she gave Cade a questioning glance.

  “Don’t look at him for permission. He’s not my keeper.”

  Cade had to turn around so she wouldn’t see his grin. The Void hadn’t taken away her bite. It was still sharp as a rattlesnake’s.

  Hilda glanced between them. “Healing sleep,” she repeated, pointing at her head. “Needed right here.”

  This time Cade didn’t try to hide his grin. “I’ll leave so Brenna can help you out.”

  Hilda nodded. “Sounds like a plan,” she said with a wave.

  Chapter Seven

  Hilda rolled onto her stomach, her mouth dry as cotton. The more she moved, the more her body hurt, so for a few moments she lay still, gathering her strength. Thankfully, her mind was clear, her memories intact. After she found Cade, she needed to apologize to Brenna. She swung her legs off the bed, took a deep breath, and stood. Whatever Brenna had done to her had left her shaky as a Chihuahua. Aside from that, she did feel better.

  By some miracle she’d come back from the dead, and she had no idea how to deal with it. It was crazy. And all she could think about was Cade, which was stupidity at its finest. But there was a part of her that needed to touch him, to feel him against her, so she would know she was alive.

  There was a possibility he wouldn’t want her, but she needed him too much not to risk the rejection. Stepping quietly into the hall, she took a steadying breath and started the walk to his room. Her hand was hovering over the doorknob when the door swung open.

  “Need something?”

  Man, he was gorgeous. She couldn’t stop staring at his chest. Toned muscles covered by a dusting of light blond hair stared back at her. She swallowed hard, finding herself unable to form words. The trail of hair along his washboard abs was too distracting as she followed it down his body until it disappeared inside his low-slung jeans.

  Cade’s gaze was hot against her skin, and her face burned as she looked up. “I wanted to talk. You got a minute?”

  One eyebrow cocked, he stared down at her. “Sure you don’t want a better look?” He looped his thumbs in his waistband, pulling it down farther. “But I guess you’ve seen it all before, haven’t you?”

  As much as she wanted to play coy, she couldn’t pull it off. Instead she bared her teeth. “Honestly, it’s been so long I’d forgotten. Must not have been too memorable.”

  He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “Keep lying to yourself. You might even begin to believe it.” Stepping back, he motioned her inside.”

  “I remember everything now,” she started as she followed him across the room. “Thank you for saving me.”

  “You’re not safe yet.” He settled on the bed, leaning back against the pillows, head resting on his hands. “If the Guardians believe we messed up the balance between the planes by pulling you out, they may try to fix it.”

  “Fix it?” she managed, although her heart was pounding.

  “Send you back.” He grabbed her hand, pulling her onto the bed. “You need to be ready, just in case.”

  “Why? I can’t fight a Guardian.” She sat down beside him, pulling her hand free.

  He let her go. “No. But you can have a plan to survive.”

  She took a long breath. “No sense in borrowing trouble. We’ll deal with it if it happens. And, if it does, I don’t want to have wasted my time here worrying about it. Besides, why would they care about two witches? I’m sure somebody else will take our place.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” he replied. But he didn’t sound convinced. He shifted on the bed, shoving a hand in his jeans pocket. When he pulled it out, a silver chain hung from his clenched fingers. “There’s something I want you to have. Now that you’re back, I don’t feel right keeping it.”

  The weight felt strange on her palm. But then she realized what it was. She wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t show the weakness that was eating at her heart like a disease. “You kept it,” she whispered, holding the emerald engagement ring into the light. “It’s still beautiful.”

  “It’s yours.” He slung his legs over the bed, watching her. “What are you going to do with it?”

  Her palms began to sweat. “Any suggestions?”

  “You could hock it on the black market.” He shrugged. “Probably would fetch a decent price.”

  And, like that, he shattered her heart into pieces. But there was no way she’d let him know. “Sure thing. I’ll probably need some money to buy clothes and other stuff. Didn’t really need anything as a ghost.”

  He jumped to his feet. “Yeah, well. I’d get right on that if I were you. You can’t parade around here naked. Although I’m sure Keegan would appreciate it. He said the two of you are close.”

  “Keegan?” She snorted. “You’re jealous of Keegan?”

  Glaring, he walked to the door and threw it open. “I think we’re done. We’ll talk later.”

  She grinned. He’d finally played his hand. Taking his place on the bed, she patted the blanket at her side. “We haven’t even started. Sit.”

  “Get out.”

  “Nope.” She snuggled into the pillows.

  “Damn it.” He stalked toward her. “I’m exhausted. I don’t want to deal with you right now.”

  “We were happy once,” she said, ignoring him. “I miss us.”

  “Not enough to find me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Fifty years is a long time.”

  But he still loved her, or else he wouldn’t have risked everything to save her. Even if it wasn’t true, she’d recite it in her head until she convinced herself, and by extension, him, that it was.

  “You’re an immortal with an iron-clad sense of morality. You’d have been trapped. Stuck with me for eternity. What kind of relationship could we have had? I was a ghost.”

  “There’s more to life than sex.” He shook his head. “Companionship, friendship—I wanted all those things with you.”

  “Then get a dog. In a few years you would have resented me. I did the right thing.”

  He crossed his arms, his gaze boring holes in her own. “If you really believe that, then you’re right. We’re done.”

  “What the hell, Cade?” She jumped to her feet. “I did it for you. Do you think I wanted to be alone? I was terrified.”

  “Keep telling yourself that. It was easier to leave than face me. You were scared shitless of what would happen if you came back. You never chose me, Hilda. You didn’t when you were alive and you didn’t when you were dead. We can work together, even be friends. But until you decide I’m a priority, I don’t want you as a lover.”

  “Seriously?” She walked toward him until they stood nose to nose. “You’re still pissed I went after the dark mage the night I accepted your proposal. You think I should have stayed with you. I was on a job. I freakin’ died. Get over it.”

  “I am over it,” he replied. “That doesn’t mean I want to repeat it.”

  “Fine.” She tossed the ring at him, the emerald glittering beneath the lamp light. “Keep this. I don’t want it. I’m sure there’s a perfect woman out there who’ll treat you like a god. I’m not her.”

  Even as she said the words, she knew they were unfair. He had a right to be angry. She would be, if she were him. But that didn’t make his words hurt any less. And there was no way she’d give him the satisfaction of seeing her tears. She marched past him into the hall, slamming the door behind her. She didn’t stop until she made it to the kitchen. She hadn’t been a
ghost for so long she’d forgotten what it was like to drown her sorrows in sweets, and Keegan had ice cream.

  Sure enough, the dragon was sitting at the kitchen table. He was leaning back in a whitewashed chair, feet kicked up on the table. The beast could sense weakness a mile away. She forced down her pain, but it refused to stay put. It poured out of her mouth as hysterical laughter. Which was weird. But it was better than tears.

  “Nice to see you haven’t changed.” Keegan grinned. “You’re still batshit crazy. But you’re smokin’ hot, so that counts for something.”

  “Good to know.” She threw herself on one of the other chairs, flipped her hair out of her face and kicked her feet up beside his. “I want ice cream. Make that happen.”

  His eyes lit up, and she knew she’d scored. “I’ll get out the good stuff. I mean it is a special occasion.” Before going to the fridge, he opened the kitchen door and peered outside. “Don’t tell Brenna,” he said as he closed the door. “If I don’t hide it, she eats it all. I’ve been scooping it out and putting it in a different container.”

  They shared a conspiratorial grin. She’d missed Keegan. He never failed to make her smile. “I’ll take it to my grave,” she said. Then, realizing what she’d said, she burst out laughing.

  “Nice.” Keegan placed what looked to be a giant container of frozen tofu on the table.

  She gave him a puzzled glance.

  “Got it in the black market. They send it in from back East. Apparently, it’s a delicacy.” He shrugged. “I like it.”

  “And Brenna hates it.”

  He grinned. “Exactly.”

  He tore the lid off the container and she could smell the chocolate ice cream he had hidden inside. Her mouth watered when he shoved a huge spoon into the frozen goodness and pushed it toward her.

  “I don’t do this for everybody. This stays between us.” He leaned back in his chair. “Don’t want the others to think I’m a good guy.”

  “God forbid.” She let the chocolate melt on her tongue. It had been too long since she’d had something this good. She wanted to savor every second. “There are definitely perks to having a body.”