I made the mistake of looking at Gretchen. Her face was a study in pain. Was she reliving the night she’d found the Lilitu killing her young husband Eric, Lucas’s older brother? Is that how she would see me, after tonight? Gretchen realized I was watching her. She did her best to control her features. She turned to help Cassie to her feet, and together, she, Cassie, and Karayan retreated down the entrance tunnel until they were out of sight.
Lucas took my hand, then lifted it to his face. He bent and kissed my fingers. Then, in a voice too soft to carry, he said, “turns out this is our night after all.”
Lucas was standing so close that the warmth of his skin radiated out to me. I took a deep breath, picking up the scent of him, both clean and musky.
Lucas took a step closer, bringing our bodies just inches apart. He reached up, catching me under the chin and tilting my face toward his. I met his eyes, and saw his naked desire. Something within me responded. The deep, powerful Lilitu storm rose up, as if it could sense willing prey.
I panicked, stepping back, but Lucas caught my hands.
“Not like this,” I whispered. “Lucas, I love you.”
“I know.” Lucas pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me in a fierce hug. For a moment, we just stood there, clinging to one another. “I love you, too. I’m not afraid.”
I took a shaky breath, almost unable to articulate my fear. “What if I go too far?”
Lucas cupped his hands on either side of my face and drew back, laying his forehead against mine. His eyes were closed. “This is our moment, Braedyn. Don’t think about what comes next.” He opened his eyes, regarding me with a calm intensity. “Just be here with me, now.”
I nodded.
Lucas kissed me. I felt my eyes flutter closed, lost in the sensation of the moment. His lips were warm and firm. He slid a hand through my hair, cradling the back of my neck. The gesture sent little fireworks cascading over my shoulders.
As our kiss grew more heated, I forced the Lilitu storm into the back corner of my mind. I ran my fingertips down Lucas’s chest. I felt him react, shuddering with longing. I curled my fingers under the edge of his T-shirt. Reading my mind, Lucas stepped back and slipped the shirt up and over his head. He let it drop to the floor beside him.
My eyes raked over Lucas’s chest—I felt my heart stutter. Lean muscles bunched and strained under his smooth skin with each breath he took. I could see the throbbing pulse of his heartbeat at the side of his neck. I reached toward him, hesitant. Lucas caught my hand and pressed it to his chest, over his heart. The heat of him, the sudden contact of my palm on his skin, added fuel to the Lilitu storm within me.
It raged, battering against the walls I’d thrown up around it—but still, I kept it contained. I looked up into Lucas’s eyes. He waited, a question unspoken between us. Nervously, I pulled my own T-shirt up and over my head. As it slid free, I shook my hair out. The glossy brown waves fell down over my bare shoulders. I’d worn a simple, blue-lace bra in anticipation of our evening together. Lucas swallowed, letting his eyes drop.
Gingerly, I caught his hand and guided him closer.
I kissed him again, but when his hands made contact with the skin of my back I gasped. His touch shot through me like a spray of gasoline, igniting the Lilitu storm in an explosion of power. It thrashed inside me, desperate to break free, focused on connecting with Lucas. I gritted my teeth, battling against it, unwilling to give it what it wanted—Lucas’s life energy.
Lucas’s brows knit together. “Don’t fight it.”
I looked up, unable to spare the concentration it would take to answer him. It took all my focus to cling to the Lilitu storm, to keep it from attacking him.
“Don’t fight it,” he said again. And then he caught my jaw in one hand and pulled me into another kiss. Our torsos connected, skin-to-skin, the only thing left between us my lacy bra. Lucas’s kiss was hungry, insistent. I couldn’t help but respond.
The Lilitu storm broke free.
Something wild and feral moved through me. I gripped Lucas’s arms, pushed him back into the bars of the gate with more force than I’d intended. My lips fastening to his, urgent, hungry. I heard Lucas moan with desire. His arms curled around me, pulling me closer. One of my hands slid down his chest while the other gripped a bar behind him, locking him in this embrace. As my free hand slid around his chest to his back, I felt the marks she’d left behind.
A swell of irrational rage tore through me. How dare she?! He was mine. The thought coursed through me—followed by the urgent need to claim him. I felt the tips of my fingers tingling. I drew my nails across Lucas’s back. He arched into me, this time his gasp was a mixture of pleasure and pain.
I surged closer to him, pressing him against the bars of the gate—my every thought fixed on joining with him. The storm within me surged toward him, forcing a connection our bodies were too slow to make—
Like a catastrophic dam failure, I felt something crack within Lucas—and then a glorious, brilliant wash of energy was flowing into me. I pressed myself closer to him, our kiss growing in intensity until I had to break free to breathe—
Once the connection was broken, the wild tempest within me started to recede. Not because I was pushing it out. Because it was sated.
Before me, Lucas’s eyes were heavily lidded. His head lolled back against the bars of the gate. He managed to meet my gaze.
“Did you get what you need?”
Before I could answer him, he collapsed in my arms.
I caught Lucas, easing him to the cold stone floor. His eyes fluttered closed. His breath sounded shallow, raspy. I moved to pick up his shirt, only noticing as I reached for it that my fingers were covered with blood. A sick horror took root in my stomach.
“Lucas?” I leaned over him, suddenly afraid to touch him. “Lucas?!”
Lucas did not respond.
“Braedyn! Easy. He’s just unconscious.” Karayan pulled me off of Lucas. I fought her, but she hauled me away, pushing me against the bars of the metal gate. “Give him a minute.”
I tore my gaze off of Lucas. Karayan was studying me, concern etched into every contour of her beautiful face. Dimly, I realized I’d been clinging to Lucas, screaming his name over and over, trying to get a response.
Gretchen dropped to her knees beside Lucas. She covered his bare chest with the shirt he’d tossed aside just minutes ago. Her head was bowed. Her shoulders shook with grief. But then she looked up, her gaze spearing directly into me.
“I tried,” I said numbly. “I tried to hold back—”
Gretchen shook her head, cutting my apology short. But it wasn’t rage I was reading in her eyes. It was something else. “I know,” she said, her voice coming out harsh and low. “You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”
I stared at Gretchen, unsure I’d heard her correctly. She bent to look at Lucas, stroking the side of his face with maternal care. Then she sat back, turning to me once more.
“Go. Stop Seth. You’re our last line of defense, Braedyn.”
Numb, I felt my eyes shift to Karayan, who still held me, pinned against the gate. She growled softly, “Damn right you can do this. Go get that son of a bitch.”
Cassie edged into the cavern, her eyes picking me out against the golden sunset beyond the mouth of the cavern. I saw a desperate belief in her eyes. She had to believe; I was the only hope Royal had of surviving the night.
I nodded, putting a hand over Karayan’s. Karayan released me. I stepped away from the gate, aware of the blood still coating my hand, the ache in my back from the gate, the cold air on my bare stomach. Karayan bent and retrieved my shirt off the floor. I took it from her wordlessly and pulled it over my head. When I straightened, Gretchen stood before me, offering up Hale’s sword. I took it from her wordlessly.
Then I turned away from my friends, closed my eyes, and sought out Royal. I could feel the energy I’d taken from Lucas snapping just under the surface of my skin.
It was the fastest connection I’
d ever made.
Terror. Pain. An awful understanding of what lay ahead—
Royal writhed under Seth’s hand.
The Incubus had him pinned down on some kind of table. Almost casually, Seth laid the edge of the ancient sword against Royal’s side and sliced, adding one more thin wound to the dozen or so he’d already cut into Royal’s vulnerable flesh. Royal choked back a growl of agony.
“Such a waste,” Seth muttered. “I like you, Royal. You were a lot of fun. If things had been different, you would have made a very nice pet.”
“That’s funny. I kind of hate you.” Despite the fear roaring in his ears, Royal managed to summon up an anger that made Seth smile.
“See? This is exactly what I mean. The spirit of a fighter. Infinitely more interesting than most of your brethren.” Seth sighed with faux-regret. He drew the sword lightly across Royal’s arm, leaving another crimson line behind, and earning another hoarse scream of pain from Royal. “Unfortunately for us, the time has come for me to bring this little party to a close. I promised your friend I’d make you suffer before killing you. I think we’ve succeeded on that first front, wouldn’t you agree?”
I reeled, stunned by his off-handed cruelty.
Royal twisted in Seth’s grip. Beneath him, I spotted the distinctive carvings of the altar. I felt the hairs raise on the back of my neck. I had to move. Now.
Royal. I sent the thought into his mind. Hang on. I’m coming.
Everything faded to a dull hum, everything but the need to reach Royal. I felt little waves of static electricity traveling along my arms. I raised my hands, keeping my eyes closed and my thoughts focused.
In the back of my mind—that part of me still connected to Royal—I felt him smile.
The gesture caught Seth by surprise. “Something’s funny?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.” Royal’s voice was tight with grim satisfaction.
Seth’s eyebrows knitted together briefly, but then he shook the concern off. He hefted the ancient sword high in the air. The point gleamed wickedly in the flickering light of candles. “Goodbye, lover. I’m afraid you’re out of time.”
Seth plunged the dagger down, straight for Royal’s heart.
Chapter 20
It’s a strange feeling, using the dream world to travel from one place to another.
The cave before me seemed to shimmer, then change. Like a bubble popping, or a wine glass shattering into a thousand bits—each shard not merely glass, but a piece of reality, separating one from the other. I pushed forward, an effort of will more than body. Part of me was conscious of the dream world. I was moving through it, after all, even if it seemed like I was simply walking through a door from one room to another. The dream world was that liminal space between; it took almost no effort to simply step over the threshold—and yet it took every ounce of will-power I had to force open that breach in our world and hold it open as I moved across the city in one step. And then, in less time than it takes to blink, I was through.
I had no time to marvel at my success.
My fist shot out, catching Seth’s wrist a microsecond before the blade pierced Royal’s chest. The Incubus gave a startled growl, releasing Royal reflexively.
The last time I’d travelled this way, I’d been disoriented, weakened to the point of uselessness. But I was stronger now. I twisted Seth’s wrist cruelly. He fought to keep control of the knife. I didn’t have room to wield the sword properly, so I smashed the hilt into Seth’s throat hard and fast.
Seth choked, dropping the weapon. I grabbed Royal and hauled him off the altar.
“Excellent timing,” Royal wheezed, clinging to me with shaking hands.
I scanned the cramped cave looking for a way out. Intricate carvings, like the ones covering the altar, lined the floor. Grooves—the perfect width and depth for a glass marble to traverse—twisted across the cave in strange patterns.
But then I caught sight of something that made my blood freeze in my veins. A shimmering curtain of shadow, swirling in and out of view. Just like—
I glanced up. Overhead, I saw a large, round stone, braced in place by massive, ancient wooden beams. It was all the confirmation I needed. I’d never seen this side of it, but I knew instantly what it was.
The Seal.
Which means, all this time we’d been searching for it, the ancient Temple devoted to Lilith had literally been right under our noses at the mission.
I heard someone chuckle and turned. Ian strode into the cave from the tunnel. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
“Get behind me!” I pushed Royal back, then spun around to face Seth and Ian, holding Hale’s sword up before me like a shield.
Seth glanced at Ian, irritated. “You were supposed to keep her occupied, Archivist. She nearly ruined my ambush.”
“She’s more resourceful than I anticipated.” Ian glanced at me, sizing me up.
“I could have told you that.” Seth rubbed carefully at his throat.
“You.” I glared at Ian, pouring every ounce of rage and hatred into the word.
“You should be thanking me, Lilitu. I’m giving you the keys to this world.” Ian spread his hands, as if making a peace offering.
“You’re a Guardsman.” My eyes slid to Seth, then back to Ian. “How did he recruit you, Ian?”
“You’ve got it backwards, little girl.” Seth crossed his arms, grinning at my confusion.
“You used him. You had him send the Guardsmen into your trap, you made him steal that sword from our armory—”
“You think I need the help of a Son of Adam?” Seth’s sneer of disgust was so genuine I felt my conviction falter.
“But—the sword—? The sacrifice—?”
“Sure. I’ll admit, he was useful. But joining forces? Not my idea.”
I turned to Ian. “What is he saying? This was all your idea?”
Ian opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, Royal gripped my shoulder.
“Braedyn.” He was staring across the cavern at the tunnel’s narrow entrance. Idris entered the temple, emerging from the shadows. Her long white hair flowed behind her like a veil.
“No, child,” she said. “The idea was mine.”
“Mother.” Ian turned to Idris, opening his arms. She walked into his embrace, then planted a dry kiss on his cheek.
“Mother?!” My voice rang through the cave. I gawked at the two of them, suddenly picking out the tiny features they shared in common.
Seth gave Idris an arch smile. “Welcome to the party. I was starting to worry that you’d miss the big night.”
“A night I’ve been preparing for my entire adult life? No.” Idris beamed serenely at Seth. “Your Priestess is honored to be here, Grandson of Lilith.”
Seth shrugged, amused. “If we’re standing on formalities, it’s Son of Eadryth, Daughter of Lilith. Or you could just call me Seth.”
Idris glanced at me, then turned to Ian. “Is this the young Lilitu you told me about?”
“Yes.” Ian gave me a considering look, then sighed. “She still believes she’s protecting this world from her own kind.”
Idris shook her head, giving me a sad smile. “Oh, dear. How I wish we could spare the time to show you the truth. But we cannot allow you to interfere with our great work. Please stand aside, child. I truly do not want to harm you.”
My eyes cut to Seth, and I saw dark amusement brewing in his eyes. “Ian,” I turned to the archivist in desperation. “Why are you doing this? You’ve seen what the Lilitu are capable of!”
Ian met my desperate gaze. He was unapologetic. “They have been cast out of their home, made to watch from afar as the Sons of Adam have plundered their world—”
“But you’re a Son of Adam.”
Ian ignored my interruption. “How can we blame them for attacking us? It is a war we began.”
“You don’t honestly believe that?” I stared at Ian, stricken.
“It is the truth,” Idris sai
d simply. “I have devoted my life to researching the history of Lilith and her children. For years, I published books and articles on my findings, assuming her story was simply a myth—a subversive, feminist, alternate history that the women who came before us developed as a way of coping with the crimes against our gender. But then I was contacted by a Lilitu, and everything changed.” Idris beamed at me, her face alight with inner peace. “You cannot imagine the feelings that swept through me, discovering that this myth was based in real power. Suddenly, I realized why I was put on this earth.”
I felt my mouth go dry. “To reawaken Lilith.”
“Yes.” Idris smiled. “Lilith, the bringer of storms, the first mother nature, she is the fierce protector this world needs. She will save what remains from the ravaging hands of humanity.” Idris spread her hands wide, as though suggesting the conclusion was obvious. “The era of the Sons of Adam is coming to an end. It is time for Lilith and her Daughters to begin their work.”
I shook my head, too numb to speak.
“I know, it’s a lot to take in.” Seth bent, retrieving the ancient blade from where he’d dropped it just minutes ago. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’re on a tight schedule.” His eyes shifted to Royal.
Adrenaline surged into my system. I dropped into a fighting stance, holding the sword before me tightly. “Forget it, Seth. You can’t have Royal.”
Seth sighed, giving voice to his frustration. “You really are becoming the bane of my existence,” he muttered, half under his breath. “It’d be so much easier if I could just kill you.”
I stared at him, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.
But at that moment, a finger of sunlight speared through the center of the Seal—a finger of light so thin and precise, suddenly I knew it could only penetrate this darkness once a year, when the sun was in perfect alignment with the stone overhead. That was why they’d destroyed the mission’s roof. They needed the sun to pierce this darkness for the ritual. And that’s why it had to happen on the summer solstice.
Sacrifice Page 28
