by Lia Davis
“You’re joking, right?” Lex raised a brow at the male’s outburst. Ryn paled before answering his own question. “I guess not.”
“I need her help to find Khan, and I need to see what she knows about the Dark Sinew.” Lex studied Ryn for several long moments. “But I have to go alone. That means you must stay here with Desiree.”
Lex must have growled while voicing the latter because the corner of Ryn’s mouth lifted slightly as his crimson eyes flashed a little brighter. “Desiree isn’t my type. She doesn’t have the right equipment to spark my interests.”
Understanding dawned, but Lex still didn’t like leaving Desiree. Especially since he didn’t know how long he would be gone. The thought of being away from her made him edgy. However, he had no choice. He sure as hell wasn’t going to summon the dragon oracle there. No, Lex’s home was his, and he didn’t need Xara snooping around it, finding things she could use to bargain.
“Look, Hecate kicked my ass in training the last few days. I know it doesn’t seem like a long time, and I know I need far more training, but she sent me here to help. She must have some faith in me.” Ryn raised his brow, and a wide grin spread across his lips.
The ex-Lackey had a point. Although it wasn’t Ryn’s ability to protect Desiree that concerned Lex. The male had just gotten the power upgrade a few days ago. “How stable is your power?”
“Stable enough.”
Lex clenched his jaw and stared at the male, another low growl escaping him. “Now is not the time to get fucking cocky.”
Ryn’s gaze darkened, making his eyes look black. “My father was a Regal, my mother was a Lackey. When Khan took over, he tortured my parents, killing them and suppressing my Regal power before throwing me in with the rest of his slaves.”
If Lex had doubts about Ryn’s loyalty, he didn’t anymore. “Hecate unlocked them.”
Ryn simply nodded. Lex moved to the back window and narrowed his gaze at the line of trees on the edge of his yard. An iridescent rippling blurred one of the trunks. Opening his senses, Lex picked up on Mathew’s scent and magical signature. Curious, Lex stepped to the back door and opened it. Mathew didn’t leave.
Lex got right to the point. “Samoan lied to you. She stole you from your mother.”
After a few moments, Mathew disappeared without a word.
“I’ve seen that kid around the castle. He doesn’t talk to anyone but Samoan.”
At Ryn’s words, Lex glanced over his shoulder. “Then he’s loyal to her. Her spy?”
Ryn shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s like he knows he doesn’t belong. So I wouldn’t worry about him right now. Although, he most likely knows where Khan and Samoan are.”
Movement behind Ryn brought Lex’s attention to Desiree. He narrowed his eyes at her. Her hair was wet, indicating that she’d taken a quick shower, which explained why she hadn’t shown up when Ryn knocked on the door.
She glanced from Lex to Ryn then back again. “Who are you talking about?”
Ignoring her question, Lex crossed the living room to her. “I have to leave for a few days. Ryn will stay with you. I don’t expect Khan or Samoan to come here.”
When he raised his hand to caress her cheek, she blocked it, hardening her stare. “I’m going with you.”
He growled, “No, you’re not.”
Pursing her lips, she folded her arms. “Yes, I am.”
Lex stepped closer to her, his hands fisting at his sides. When he got within a few inches of her, she pressed the palm of her right hand to his chest. Her Porter gifts ran wild inside and around her, calling to his Porter side. He’d have to ask her about the power she hid from everyone.
Flicking a gaze to her forearm, he froze, his heart going still for a brief moment at the sight of her Divinity Rose.
Divinities—witches blessed by Hecate to possess god-like powers and strengths—were born with a single red rose with green leaves and a stem. When they found a mate, a second, faded rose appeared beside it. Once the mating bond was complete, the rose brightened to match the one they’d been born with. Desiree had that faded rose. She also had a smaller, dark red rose growing from the base of the stem, representing her son.
He wasn’t going to ask when the faded rose had appeared. He already knew it was around the time they’d first met. The same time the mating urge had risen up within him.
“That”—he pointed to the Divinity Roses—“is the reason you stay here.”
Narrowing her crystal blue gaze on him, she pushed him, throwing him off balance a little. “Just because the Fates believe we are mates, doesn’t mean you have the right to boss me around. I’m going. I’m helping to end this war because I feel responsible.”
The last statement was spoken softer, and her voice cracked.
He dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers. What he’d meant to be a quick kiss turned into a passionate, raw need to possess Desiree. She wrapped her arms around him, scoring his shoulders with her nails. A growl rumbled from him, and his body hummed as desire raced through his veins.
He licked the seam of her lips and moaned as she opened and twined her tongue with his. Magic enveloped them, but he couldn’t tell if it was his or hers. A combination of both, maybe. Grabbing her ass, he lifted so she could wrap her legs around his waist. When she started to grind against him, he almost lost it and stripped her bare.
The clearing of a throat brought him back to reality. Breaking the kiss, he glared at Ryn and snarled. The demon raised a brow.
Just then, Desiree wiggled out of his arms, sliding her feet to the ground. “I, um…” She sighed and moved a few feet away from Lex. It was all he could do to keep from grabbing her and hauling her to his room. Desiree seemed to recover faster than he when she folded her arms and said, “When are we leaving?”
“If you don’t let her go, she’ll follow anyway. Even sneak past me,” Ryn stated matter-of-factly. “It’s better that the three of us go together. I’m sure the residents of the Underworld aren’t happy with either of you. Since you are trapped here until you find the Dark Sinew, the buddy system would be best.”
Ryn had a point. Lex worked his jaw and locked gazes with Desiree. “We work together, and I need you by my side. It’s not a command. It’s a request.”
She smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. “Deal. Mathew can’t be harmed.”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears, breaking his heart and bringing back memories. If he could have done something to save his family, he would have. Closing the gap between them, he caressed Desiree’s cheek with his knuckles. “I promise. We’ll bring Mathew back with us.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him tightly for a long moment before lifting her gaze back to his. “Let’s go see the dragon oracle.”
Chapter Three
Noah sat in his recliner in the family room of the Daniels house at the Maxville Coven. His family surrounded him, reading over archives to find a way to get Lex and Desiree out of the Underworld. “I’m afraid we just have to hope they will find a way out.”
“Lex knows the Underworld. Remember, Ryn is there, too. Between the three of them, they will make it out,” Jagger added.
Noah nodded. Right after the portals had been locked down, Hecate briefed them on some rules, so to speak. She’d told them about Ryn and his new Regal status thanks to the goddess and his genetics.
“I hate not knowing how to break a curse. I fear the hold on the portals will only last for a short time despite using the Sinew and the power of three to close them.” Noah continued to flip through the pages of the old texts and shuffle through the ancient scrolls.
The sound of the doorbell made him raise his head. He caught the equally curious gaze of his wife. Vanessa stood. “I’ll get it.”
A hint of dark power brushed against Noah’s awareness. When he glanced to Zach to motion him to accompany Vanessa, his grandson was already following Ma out of the room.
“Papa, co
uld we ask the Dark Divine to help us search for Khan?” Lydia asked.
Shaking his head slowly, he thought about it while studying his new granddaughter-in-law—well, soon-to-be. She and Zach hadn’t gone through with their handfastening yet. Although the two were bound by magic and blood, which was stronger than any ceremony Noah could perform. “We would need a lot more power than the covens would be willing to hand over. Even if it meant ending Khan’s reign in Hell.”
Lydia stiffened and jerked her gaze to the family room entrance. Curious, Noah followed her gaze. A moment later, Zach entered, carrying an unconscious Sindee Donnelly—Dark Divine and lawyer for most of the U.S. covens.
Kalissa gasped and rose to her feet. “What happened?”
When she released a sob, Ayden hugged her and gently steered her from the sofa. By that time, Lydia was in full healer mode. “Lay her on the couch.”
Once Zach did as Lydia asked, Vanessa came into the room with a man Noah hadn’t met before but had heard a great deal about. Leland Donnelly.
“Leland.” Noah addressed the priest of the Charlotte Coven, the man who was also Sindee’s brother.
Leland gave a short nod and frowned. “I apologize for my unannounced visit, but I didn’t know where else to bring her. The elf in the gatehouse sent us through.”
Nodding, Noah faced Sindee, watching Lydia assess her injuries. “Jordon must have recognized Sindee.”
Lydia hovered her hands over Sindee, starting at her head and moving down to her booted feet. Lydia removed the other female’s footwear. Noah guessed to make her feel more comfortable. Frowning, Lydia glanced up to Leland. “What is her gift?”
“She’s telepathic.”
Lydia closed her eyes briefly but nodded and went back to work. Noah moved in closer. “Why does it matter?”
Lydia pulled the coffee table closer to the sofa and sat on it. “Because many telepaths will kind of shut down their minds when badly injured. From what I can tell…umm, she seems drained of her magic.”
Leland fisted his hands at his sides. “Khan.”
The demon’s name was spoken with the venom of a thousand vipers. Noah agreed with Leland’s anger. However, channeling the rage wasn’t going to help them. “The last we heard, which was a few days ago, Sindee had gone missing. None of us could contact her, and you apparently didn’t get my messages.”
Leland avoided eye contact and instead focused on his sister as he spoke. “I haven’t checked email since she was taken.” He paused and took a deep breath, then exhaled. “The demons waited for her to get off work, then took her. I found her about an hour ago at our cabin in the Rockies, drained of all but a small amount of her power. Will she be okay?”
The latter was asked of Lydia, who responded quietly. “I will need your permission to share my and Zach’s power with her to wake her. Then it will be up to her to rest and restore her energy.”
When Leland didn’t answer right away, Lydia stood and walked to him, stopping a half a foot from him. Leland’s gaze narrowed, then a bright flash of his magic rippled through his irises. “You’re a vampire.”
Lydia shrugged. “I’m a Divinity with the healer’s touch, who was cursed to be a vamp. Zach is my bonded mate and a dark elf. You did the right thing by bringing her here.”
Understanding lit up Leland’s features, and he faced Noah. “I didn’t believe the rumors that the Divinities were as powerful as they appeared. But I was wrong. Everyone is wrong. You are all even more formidable.” He turned back to Lydia. “You have my permission to heal my sister. I will be forever in your debt.”
Noah clasped a hand on Leland’s shoulder. “We may need to collect on it soon.” He motioned to the entryway. “Let’s give my grandson and his mate some space.”
Ayden, Kalissa, Khloe, and Jagger gathered up their tablets and laptops and moved to the library, while Noah led Leland and Vanessa to his basement study that Zach liked to call “Papa’s Man Cave.”
Once in the study, Noah grabbed two beers from the small fridge. Sitting in his recliner, he handed Leland one of the longnecks. “We have two of our own trapped in the Underworld.”
“Trapped, how?”
Noah sighed. “Right. You haven’t checked messages. I understand why. Khan has somehow created a dark version of the Sinew. Our guess is that he used Dark Divine magic to create it. Which would explain what happened to Sindee. He used the dark power to open all the gates to the Underworld. Hecate, Lydia, and Zach locked them down, but we aren’t sure how long that will last. A Divinity from the Oceanway Coven and one of the Death Demons Hecate sent to the Divinities as guardians didn’t make it out when the portals closed.”
Leland glanced from Noah to Vanessa. “I’m so far out of the loop, and not because I don’t check my messages as often as I should. I thought I could shield my coven from the war. Sindee’s abduction showed me that we’re not untouchable.”
Vanessa covered Leland’s hand. “Many of the Dark Divine are afraid to come out of hiding. Since you have the largest number of Dark Divine in your coven, it’s understandable that you want to keep them safe.”
“No. I could have asked for volunteers to join the Divinities in the fight.” Leland leaned back on the sofa and took a drink of his beer.
“Stop beating yourself up. You were protecting your coven.” Noah studied the other man. Leland didn’t have a dark rose, or a Divine Rose on his arm. Although Noah shouldn’t be surprised. Not every magickin born to a Divinity parent is blessed with a Divine gift or marked by the Divine Rose. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
Leland locked gazes with him. “Sindee is my half-sister. We share the same mother. My father was human.” He chuckled and added, “Even though she’s five years older, I still protect her like an older brother. And she lets me.”
“Sindee has a kind heart.”
A smile widened Leland’s mouth. “That is true.” Then he sat up straight and listened. “She’s awake.”
“You two are welcome to stay in one of the guest cottages. Just ask Zach to show you which one.” Noah stood and followed the other witch up the stairs, Vanessa right behind him.
Before going to the family room, Leland turned and shook Noah’s hand. “Anything you need, just ask.”
“When Sindee is well enough, I’ll need you to ask your Dark Divine to volunteer. My visions are keeping me up at night. Opening the gates to Hell was only the beginning of Khan’s plan.” Noah frowned, fear burning in his gut.
Leland nodded. “Or it could have been a distraction for something bigger. Consider it done.”
Noah hugged his wife close as he watched Leland cross the foyer to the family room. “We’ll have to reach out to all the covens and build our own army.”
“And stop Khan. But first, we have to find him.” Vanessa hugged Noah back and trembled slightly.
He kissed her forehead and said, “You, Kalissa, and Angelica can hold down the fort here; keep the lines of communication open between the covens.”
Casting him a narrowed-eyed glare, she asked, “What about you?”
“I will fight if I am needed. Until then, I’ll make curses and potions to use as ammo.”
Vanessa cupped his cheek in her warm hand. He stared down into chocolate brown eyes with flecks of gold. Sadness mingled with concern and compassion in their depths. She was his world. And had been since they were teens—over three hundred years ago.
A gentle smile formed, but it was the one she used when scolding the children. “As much as I hate the thought of you fighting, risking your life, I want Khan stopped. Enough is enough.”
He kissed her mouth and then slid his lips down her jaw to her throat. “I’ve seen the end of this battle. It’s not pretty, but it will end soon.”
“No war is pretty.”
No, it wasn’t. Noah just hoped he could decipher his latest vision in time to stop Khan from destroying the humans.
Chapter Four
&nb
sp; Desiree filled her pack with the various items Lex had laid out for her. Things like water, power bars for nourishment, a gun, ammo, and a few jars of potion-filled paintballs. “What’s in these?”
Lex answered without looking at her. “Since elemental magic doesn’t work in the Underworld, I filled the paintballs with elemental potions. The red balls are fire bombs. Blue ones are ice spells to freeze an opponent long enough to cut their head off. Green are illusion spells meant to make them see their worst fears. They are to be used for distractions.”
“Good to know.” She carefully placed the containers in her pack. “How long of a trip is it? I mean, time here moves slower. Or is it faster? Anyway, are the rations we have enough?”
“Time moves slower here than the human realm. We can still conjure items here, but we can also hunt for food.” Lex swung his pack over his shoulder and faced her.
She scrunched her face, not sure she wanted to eat anything in the Underworld. Ignoring the heat of Lex’s stare, she shrugged on her pack and noted that Ryn was ready and waiting by the door. His renewed strength made him appear older in the sense of knowledge and power. However, there was still an aura of sadness and something else darker she couldn’t put a finger on around him.
“He doesn’t need you to fix him,” Lex whispered in her ear, making her jump.
Taking a step away from him, she shrugged. “I can’t fix him, but I might know someone who can help him heal.”
“You know he’s gay, right?”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “Of course, I do. My element is Spirit—the one element that does work in the Underworld.”
When they reached Ryn, the demon gave them a raised brow. “You do know I can hear you two, right?” He focused on Desiree and frowned. “I don’t need fixing or to be fixed up.”
She patted his arm as she exited the house. “You’ll thank me later.”
