“Did you find me an oracle?” Andras demanded.
Bael shifted on his feet. “No, my lord. If there are any in the human city, they’ve covered their tracks—”
A blast from Andras’s hand and Bael hit the wall behind him. The acrid smell of burning hair and bubbling skin filled the chambers. The blisters erupted. Slimy yellow pus trailed down Bael’s face.
“See what you made me do,” Andras reprimanded him. He stalked to his armchair and sprawled on it, his face tight in annoyance. “You’re a bunch of incompetent fools. If I weren’t bound here, I’d have found both the oracle and the psychic female already. Get me an oracle, now!”
Bael stepped back, the sores on his face oozing faster.
“I need a damn soul first. Then find Lazaar.” Andras eyed Bael’s ruined face in distaste and waved him away. “Go, clean yourself. You’re a mess.”
Andras drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair in contemplation. When he had dominion over all, the Ancients would bow to him. A’Damiel could go burn in Hellfire. And all the fuckers who guarded the mortal realm would cower in fear of him!
CHAPTER 10
Aethan materialized in front of the oracle’s house. His body may have taken form, but his mind was in complete chaos, struggling to accept the truth. The horror of the reality staggered him, as he tried to fit in pieces of a conversation that had faded over the three millennia.
After his violent initiation into a Guardian’s life, Gaia had held out several obsidian daggers with a swirling pattern on the hilts. They could never be stolen, taken, or lost, she’d told him. They’d always return to their rightful owner. Then she’d asked him to choose one.
One look and he’d hated them on sight. Something eerie had skated across his skin just looking at them.
He’d refused.
She’d insisted. ‘Your dagger is an embodiment of your one weakness and your ultimate strength. When it fails to return to you, you have found your salvation.’
He hadn’t understood her meaning at the time, but Gaia’s last words haunted him now.
Only with Echo had he experienced fear, and he damn well knew she was his weakness.
His destiny.
His mate.
The one person who mattered to him for the first time in over three thousand years and she could very well die by his hands—
Aethan broke free of his paralysis and paced down the sidewalk, pinching the bridge of his nose. Then he strode back again. Shit, he didn’t do headaches!
‘Where are you?’
At the mind-link connection, Aethan growled. ‘Can’t talk—later.’
‘Make the time,’ Blaéz ordered.
Dammit! ‘I’m at the oracle’s.’
He shut down the connection, promptly dismissing Blaéz. Hands planted on his hip, he glared up at the brownstone.
What the hell was he supposed to do?
He’d waited centuries for his mate. But after his banishment to Earth, he no longer cared. Why should he? This fragile race of humans was the last species he would have thought to find her.
But to discover his mate was the tempestuous female he desired...blood rushed to his crotch. At the thought of sliding into her silky heat, he hardened further.
Gods, he’d give his life to make love to her, but the fact was, she’d be the one to pay the ultimate price.
Already his power prowled in him, a dark reminder of what he was. The females from the pantheons chased him for the same reason, the rush of power that surged through them when sex was involved. They were immortal, their bodies repairable. But Echo, dying the way Hannah did—
His brain disconnected on the thought, unable to handle it.
The breeze picked up and snagged at his unbound hair. Reaching into his leathers for another thong, he tied the loose strands back into a ponytail.
Even if, by some miracle, there was a way to overcome his cursed affliction, he had so little to offer her. A dead heart and a soul stained black with his many sins. All those innocents he’d killed in the name of eliminating demonii infestation. What female in her right mind would want a mate like him?
He exhaled roughly. No, he would do the right thing. Once he killed the demon responsible for hurting Echo, he’d walk away.
Like Týr pointed out, they were warriors and their lives solitary ones.
Aethan glanced around. Where the hell was Blaéz?
He cast his mind out into the night, scanning. His senses alerted him that he wasn’t alone. A few seconds later, the Celt materialized like a ghost several feet from him.
“What’s going on?” Aethan demanded. Right then he didn’t care if the city had been invaded by demoniis.
Blaéz didn’t answer, his eyes cool but searching. If he had a vision or premonition or whatever the hell got his jones going, he gave no sign of it. But those winter pale eyes, almost pearlescent in the night, trailed over him.
“You aren’t hurt,” Blaéz finally spoke.
“No shit.” Why else would he be tracking feet outside the oracle’s house?
“Makes sense now,” Blaéz said. “I saw something. Demoniis—a concealed place. They will take a mortal and you are a part of it. I called you but you’d shut down your telepathic link and didn’t answer your cell.”
Aethan pulled out his cell phone. He stared at the melted lump of plastic and metal in his hand. Another dark reminder of why it could never be. Phones, he could replace, but not Echo.
“Guess that explains why my call went unanswered,” Blaéz said.
“I eliminated the bastards. That’s why you were unable to reach me.” He dropped the melted phone back in his pocket. “But she got hurt. I brought her here.”
Aethan glanced up at the house. Lights shone from the brownstone’s windows despite the late hour.
“She’s strong. Must have incredible shields if they couldn’t bend her mind to theirs and get her to enter the portal.”
Aethan’s eyes narrowed at Blaéz’s comment. For the first time he saw something other than apathy on the Celt’s face. Interest.
The expression wasn’t one he cared for.
“What?” he growled. He might as well have taken out a billboard ad. He couldn’t even control his own possessive responses.
“They will try again,” Blaéz said, still staring at the house.
“Then they’ll have to go through me.”
“She confuses them with her resilient mind.”
“Why are you concerned?”
Blaéz turned. His eyes seemed to smirk in the moonlight. His voice, however, remained cool like the wind snagging their coats. “She’s different. Intriguing. Her destiny entwines with yours, but you’ve already made your decision.”
“Meaning?”
“You weren’t ready to listen yesterday,” Blaéz reminded him. “This path you’ve chosen to travel? Be prepared for the consequences. Later.” Blaéz sauntered off down the street, like a damn apparition.
Aethan should have known better than to ask the Celt anything. His obscure reference was a damn pain in the ass. He took the stairs to the oracle’s house.
At his knock, the door opened to reveal a tall, curvy brunette with hair woven into multiple braids, dressed in jeans and pale green sweater. She had to be the oracle’s granddaughter, Kira. And Echo’s friend.
Her latte-colored skin was blotchy from crying, her red-rimmed hazel eyes widened in surprise when she saw him.
“Lila?” he asked her.
“Gran’s busy,” she sniffed. “You’re gonna have to wait a while.” She brushed at her eyes and stepped aside, letting him into the house.
The strong odor of roots and other musty smelling herbal mixtures wafted to him. “Hold on, what’s wrong—Echo?” His gut clenched in panic and he anxiously scanned upstairs for her. Finding the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, his fear eased.
Surprise flashed in the brunette’s wet gaze. “You know Echo?”
“I brought her here. She got hurt in the su
bway.”
At his words, her hazel eyes flooded with more tears. “I was with her when the demoniis attacked. Then the portal opened. She made me leave. It’s my fault.”
Aethan wasn’t surprised she knew about demoniis, considering who her grandmother was, but he cut off her self-recriminations. “You did the right thing. Or there could have been two casualties.”
“I didn’t want her going into the subway. It’s a horrid, horrid place. But Echo, she won’t leave when someone’s in trouble...” She scrubbed her wet face with the sleeve of her sweater. “I–I’ve to go help Gran.”
Halfway up the stairs, she stopped and turned to him. “Who are you, anyway? And how do you know Echo?”
“I’m Aethan. I’ve known her for a while.”
Her stare filled with suspicion. “How come she didn’t mention you? I know all her male friends. She tells me everything.”
“You’ll have to ask her about that.”
Why hadn’t Echo mentioned him? Maybe she didn’t care enough to bother? The thought pissed him off. The sound of footsteps on the stairs interrupted his spark of irritation.
Lila patted Kira’s arm as she passed her. Her dark face appeared ashen and faint lines marred her skin. She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and sat down in a green armchair, weariness seeping from her.
Aethan crossed to her. “Tell me what’s wrong, Lila.”
She sighed heavily, her dark eyes meeting his. “The bruises, the internal injuries, you’ve healed them. It’s the deep wounds on her arm that worries me. She’s been hurt by an old and powerful demon. He left his mark on her.”
His mouth tightened. There was only one reason for inflicting such a wound. So the bastard could track Echo while the lesions remained unhealed. Aethan would see about that.
“Then heal her.”
Lila shot him a surprised look. “I can’t. It’s unlike wounds from demonii-bolts. It will take time.”
“What if they come after her again?” he asked, his fear for Echo growing. He cared little his behavior was at odds with the person Lila knew him to be. Echo’s life was at risk and all that mattered.
“Then she must be kept safe until those lesions heal,” Lila told him.
Safe. Aethan looked away to glower at a painting of a seascape on the wall. The demon had tried to take her through the portal. If he’d appeared a second late—
His jaw compressed at the thought he could have lost her before he even recognized what she meant to him.
“Warrior, you got there in time to save her,” Lila said, drawing his attention back. A grateful smile lifted the exhaustion from her face. But it did little to reassure him.
“How long will it take for her arm to heal?”
“A day—two maybe. Don’t worry, all will be well. Echo will be safe here.”
Did she really think he would leave Echo here, knowing the wound acted like a damn beacon? That would put not only Echo at risk, but Lila and Kira as well. Time to put an end to that speculation.
“I’m taking her with me. The safest place is the castle. The demoniis won’t be able to track her there.”
Though Lila appeared calm, her wariness swamped him like a thick cloud.
“You know I’m right. With her at the castle, she’ll be safe and you can continue to treat her wounds without putting yourself or your granddaughter at risk.”
She continued to stare at him, not showing any sign of relenting. Didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to be dissuaded from his course of action. Echo would go with him.
He’d have done so right then but for the fact it hurt like a bitch to dematerialize while wounded. And he couldn’t put her through more pain again. With no choice but to cool his heels, he strolled over to the window and stared through the net curtains.
“Why would you take on the responsibility, warrior?”
He couldn’t fault Lila for asking, since she was one of the few humans who knew they were immortal Guardians. Not like they could’ve hidden that from a strong oracle like her.
“Warrior, I don’t know how long you’ve known Echo, but I’m guessing a few days. However, I must say this, since she is mine. You take her, it changes everything. Echo’s past has shaped who she is. Her life hasn’t been an easy one and I ask you to think carefully before doing anything.”
He turned slowly. “You believe I will hurt her?”
“No, not intentionally, but you know what I speak off.”
Her blunt words had his defense mechanism locking into place. So what if he was an immortal? Or for that matter a Guardian? Even if she picked up on his chaotic feelings for Echo, it made little difference to him.
“My duty is to keep her safe. More so, since I know she’s one of yours. You know the laws.”
Lila’s black eyes seemed to see right through the bullshit he was spouting. He didn’t care. He wanted Echo safe within the castle walls. It was Michael’s order, after all to safeguard the oracle’s family. But whatever. It suited his purpose.
“I understand your concern, but I still think it’s best to leave her with me. I will keep her safe until Damon gets back.”
“No.” His voice hardened, became layered in steel. He didn’t give a rat’s ass who Damon was. And he sure as hell wasn’t leaving Echo with him.
“What do I tell him?”
“The truth. She’s in danger and is under my protection.” If the bastard couldn’t do a better job of protecting her, then he’d see to it.
Lila sighed. “He won’t like this, but all right. Keep in mind, warrior, you cannot expect to keep her safe by caging her. She’s human. Free will is her right.”
Not if it meant keeping her alive. Then free will could take a back seat. Hell, he lived without free will. Being who they were, immortal and born with immense power, their lives were always governed by laws.
But there was something else he wanted to know. One thought which gnawed at him, dug its claws into his mind, and insisted on being answered.
“Tell me what happened to her, about her past.”
Lila looked into his eyes. Whatever she saw there, she nodded in agreement, which surprised him. He’d expected her to question his motives. Maybe she couldn’t see through to his blackened soul after all.
“Echo was young when her parents died. She ended up in foster-care. It’s not an easy life for any grieving child to adapt to, and worse when one has abilities like hers. It was the worst kind of persecution when the people chosen to look after her turned on her.”
The anger in Lila’s voice troubled him. Not once, in all the years he’d known her, had she shown this kind of emotion. She rose, appearing older, tired, and slowly made her way to the dining table where a tea service waited.
“Tea?” she offered.
He declined, preferring his caffeine strong enough to burn a hole in his gut. He waited while Lila poured the golden liquid into a thin china cup then stirred in a teaspoon of honey.
“What happened?” Aethan prompted.
“She wouldn’t talk about it. But I’ve seen it in her memories...” Lila’s gaze took on the same eerie swirling thing Blaéz’s did whenever a vision took hold of him.
“You need to see for yourself, warrior.” She came over and touched his hand. Her psychic sight took over his, drawing him back to the past.
Into a shadowy night.
A dark basement.
A whimpering girl cowered in a corner. She appeared to be about six years old. A wealth of long black hair covered her face. Her pain evident in her stiff movements, but her fear was tangible, thickening the dank, musty air.
‘Stay there, you little bitch. Open your nasty mouth about Clyde again—don’t you look at me with those eyes.’
‘I’m sor—’
Her foster father backhanded her. The force of the blow sent her slamming into the wall. Pain crashed through her shoulder, her jaw. But she never cried in front of him. To do so meant more beatings. But Clyde, her foster brother, was bad. He al
ways tried to put his hand up her dress. Her foster father wouldn’t believe her, called her a liar.
‘You ever look at me again, I’ll cut out those cursed eyes.’
Echo squeezed her eyes shut. God, please make him go away. Please don’t let him take my eyes.
‘Don’t even think to go crying to Social Services when they come over or you’ll regret it, you little freak.’ He slammed the basement door closed on his warning and locked it.
Echo huddled against the wall as the tears finally trickled down her face. Hopelessness filled her. She looked up at the small basement window, her only source of light, which came from a lamppost across the street.
‘Please—please, Daddy, Mama, come back. Take me with you.’ More tears dripped down her face...
Aethan tore away from the visions, his breathing harsh. The unanswered prayers of the child Echo had been wrapped around his heart like barbed wire, dug in their claws, and slowly shredded it apart. He’d heard every thought she hadn’t yet learned to shield.
The pain, hurt, and sheer terror of his mate put him in an icy, murderous rage. The air became heavy with the promise of retribution.
“Where are they?”
CHAPTER 11
Aethan entered the darkened bedroom permeated with the strong smells of the potions recently used, anger crawling through him. Lila had to point out it served no purpose to seek vengeance now. But her logic made him feel helpless, which only fueled his ire more.
He struggled to calm down. But...shit! He’d have better luck stopping the next major earthquake. The images of Echo’s childhood haunted him. Too worked up to sit still, he paced the small room, the carpeted floor subduing his heavy footsteps.
The curtains, fluttering in the breeze coming through the half-opened window, caught his attention. Lila may have left it open to get rid of the overwhelming smells, but this obvious breach in security was exactly why he wanted Echo at the castle.
He strode over and closed the window, then willed the bedside lamp on. It cast a soft glow over the bed.
A large gray cat with a ginger ruff lay near Echo’s head, taking up most of her pillow. Unflinching amber eyes watched Aethan’s every move. Its heavy tail draped on her shoulder, flicking in warning when he drew too close.
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