Shadow Rising

by Cassi Carver

  If Kara had fangs, she would have bitten the look of pity right off Gavin’s face. “Who the hell do you think you are? I haven’t heard from you in two months, and you think you somehow have the right to show up in my apartment and tell me I’m wrong? I know Julian better than he does right now. He’s back.”

  Gavin just stared ahead like he didn’t have any fight left in him. “No one wants that to be truer than I, princess.”

  The utter look of defeat in his eyes drained the fury out of Kara. She opened the balcony door and went to stand at the railing. Gavin followed her out. “Where did you go, Gavin?”

  He gazed out over the ocean, but the reflection of the rising moon off of the thin swath of water in the distance was barely visible from where they stood. “I was away on business. I would have been here for you if I could have.”

  “That’s it? That’s your whole excuse? You might’ve at least put a little more effort into a convincing story.”

  “I’m sorry if my leaving hurt you. That wasn’t my intent.”

  “No, your intent was to promise me your friendship and then hightail it at the first sign of trouble. You only wanted me when you were competing with Julian. Once he was out of the picture, you didn’t last a week.”

  Gavin’s head bowed. “I can see how it must look that way to you.”

  “Are you saying that’s not how it is?”

  “I offered you my friendship regardless of what became of Julian.”

  It was hard to tell Gavin what was on her mind when she couldn’t trust him anymore, but letting things go unresolved seemed worse. “You offered me more than your friendship.”

  He’d offered her his love. Not that she needed it. Not that she’d ever needed it, she assured herself. But the promise had been a sweet consolation at the time.

  His hands tightened on the railing. “Things have changed, Kara.”

  Her breath left her lungs in a soft hush. “Okay. Well, at least I know where we stand.”

  He turned to her and put his hand over hers. “You still have my friendship. That will never change.”

  She pulled away to put some space between them. She couldn’t let the past slow her down, not when Julian was depending on her. “Julian’s weak, and he’s having trouble flashing.”

  “The black-wing you saw seemed weak?” Gavin frowned and shook his head. “That must be part of his ploy to gain your sympathy.”

  “Gavin! Listen to me.” She wanted to shake him. “Julian comes back when the sun goes down, then he vanishes before it’s up, and every time, he’s in worse shape. He says he’s waking up under a tree, and since it’s not his tree on Mercury Island, I can only assume he’s talking about his mother’s tree. He was trying to eat raw meat at first, but when it stopped working, he needed my blood. Pretend—just pretend—it could really be our Julian. What’s the matter with him?”

  “You must be mistaken. Aniliáre don’t remain on the surface indefinitely. Even after sundown, they can’t abide the feeling of being bound by a reality outside of their own will. He must be returning to the Shadowland when the sun comes up.”

  She wrapped her hands around her upper arms to fend off the cool breeze. “Not that I can tell. He just sort of disappears until nightfall.”

  “How long has this been going on?”

  “He says it’s been weeks. But tonight, he didn’t even have the strength to last the night.”

  “By Hexa’s hairy ass. It makes no sense. No Aniliáre in his right mind would stay on the surface when the sun comes up for that long.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they’re vulnerable here. In the Shadowland, they live as gods. But in the land of the mortal, their spirit form slowly begins the Fade. Yes, female blood can extend their stay, but by days, not weeks. If the black-wing really is trapped in this realm and isn’t able to renew in the Shadowland, we may be able to send him to the Abyss.”

  Kara grasped the railing and almost choked on her saliva. “Send him to the Abyss? Are you insane? We’re talking about Julian!”

  “No, you’re talking about Julian. I’m talking about an almost omnipotent creature who could bring down our entire clan if the mood strikes him. Kiss the Maker, Kara, there’s a reason those…abominations don’t dwell in our realm.”

  “So if Julian stays here too long, he’ll die?”

  “Please, stop calling it Julian. Even if a Shadow Rising occurred—and I’m not saying it did—if Julian doesn’t remember who he is, and he has the power of the Aniliáre, we must destroy him if we can. He would want us to.”

  She retreated to the other end of the railing, running her hand over the peeling paint. How could Gavin be so cold about a man he’d regarded as a brother? “You don’t know what you’re saying. He may not remember who he is, but there’s still goodness in him. And there must be such a thing as good Aniliáre. What about my father?”

  “Teras was no saint—trust me. But even so, your father didn’t cut the wings off my guards and stalk a female I’ve sworn to protect. This Julian lookalike is out of control. He’s taking your blood, Kara. How can I turn a blind eye to that?”

  “You’ve been turning a blind eye to all your responsibilities these past couple of months. It’s suddenly bothering you now?”

  Gavin raised his eyes to the sky and took a deep breath. “I can’t do this. Not with you.”

  “Do what?”

  “The arguing. The anger. Tell me what you want from me, princess.”

  “I want you to help Julian.”

  “What if I make you a deal? What if I agree to proceed as though this black-wing is my brother-lord and you agree to forgive me for leaving—no questions asked?”

  She could say she forgave him, but she wasn’t sure she could feel real forgiveness. Nevertheless, she steeled her jaw and visualized her heart, mentally packing cement in the Gavin-shaped hole he’d left there. Until Julian was safe in the Shadowland, everything else was insignificant.

  “Agreed.” She stepped forward and reached out to shake his hand, but when she felt his skin on hers, it was all she could do not to swipe her palm across her jeans to erase his touch.

  He nodded and held her hand in his grip. His soft wings were still folded against his back, and his words were the barest whisper. “Thank you.”

  She forced a tight smile, but she was trembling. “Sure. Now tell me how we’re going to save him.”

  Gavin’s gaze slowly traveled over Kara’s shaking hands. “How much blood did he take from you? When did you last eat?”

  “I’m highborn, right? I can’t die of blood loss.”

  “No, you can’t die of it, but you could wish you were dead. We need you strong, Kara, if we’re going to help him.” He held her hand even when she halfheartedly pulled away. “Let’s get you something to eat and drink. We may need all the blood we can get.”

  Kara slipped on her brown sandals by the front door and allowed Gavin to tow her out into the hall. When he stopped at the place next to hers, her brows shot up. It had been over two months since he’d stepped foot in his old apartment. “We’re eating at your place?”

  “You do realize that it looks as though you’re talking to yourself?”

  Kara glanced around the hall and finally pulled her hand from his. He was right. With his wings extended, nobody would notice him, but she’d look like she was having a conversation with his door. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

  He smiled. “I need a change of clothes, then I’d like to take you somewhere where we can sit and eat and discuss this.”

  “I don’t think you get the sense of urgency here. Julian’s in trouble. We don’t have time to sit in a restaurant and people-watch.”

  “If the black-wing is in limbo, he won’t materialize again until tomorrow night. We have all the time in the world. Wait here.” Gavin disappeared, and a moment later, his apartment door opened. His wings were gone, but he was still wearing his leather pants. “Would you like to come in while I change?”
/>
  Kara shrugged. “Whatever.”

  It was weird entering Gavin’s apartment, seeing the same table she’d eaten at with Julian months before—the same table they’d told her they smashed when they were trying to cover the sounds of their brawl. The wood of Julian’s bedroom door was still shattered where Gavin had punched it in. He’d told her he would fix it, but it seemed that was another thing he’d forgotten.

  Gavin’s door was ajar as he opened his dresser and pulled something out. Kara walked into Julian’s room and sat on the bed. It had the same goose down comforter where they’d lain months before, back when he was still just her neighbor. Kara bent and pressed her nose to the bedding, but all she got was a lungful of dust. Any trace of her old lover was gone. She curled up and pressed her cheek to the pillow. Was her Julian really gone, or could he remember? What if he never did?

  “Don’t do this to yourself, princess.”

  Kara shot up and rubbed her nose, embarrassed at being caught reminiscing. “Are you ready?”

  He looked ready. Dressed in gray slacks and a black silk shirt, he was as handsome as ever. His golden hair still curled over his nape, hiding the brand of Brakken underneath. She’d hide the connection, too, if she were him.

  Kara frowned at her thin white tank. “I should grab a sweater.”

  Gavin held his hand out to Julian’s closet. “Help yourself to one of these if you like.”

  Anything of Julian’s would be way too big on her, but she couldn’t resist an offer to be wrapped in something that had belonged to him. “Did you guys really wear these clothes, or did you buy them just to blend in?”

  Gavin smiled. “We might have purchased a few new things when we planned to move in next to you, but the rest are worn. You’ve only seen the island side of us, but it’s a great burden of responsibility to lead a clan. Julian and I were frequently in the States, looking after our assets, our females and our people’s protection.”

  Kara nodded. How was there still so much she didn’t know about the Demiáre? Jaxon was a silver-wing, but Lace had kept him fairly isolated, so he didn’t always have the answers to Kara’s questions. And as for asking Gavin, she’d only had a week with him before they discovered that Julian was truly dead. And within a week after that, Gavin left Kara and his clan without a word. His promises of a lifetime together had amounted to two awkward, painful weeks.

  “What about Aiden?” she asked. “Doesn’t he help?”

  “He’s never been the most responsible of the lords. I suppose you could blame it on his upbringing.”

  “So he really is Ailexon’s son?”

  He crossed his arms and leaned back against the dresser. “Yes.”

  “Did he know my mother?”

  “A rift had already grown between him and his father by then. If he spent much time with Deanna, he’s never admitted it.”

  “He helped me, you know…while you were gone. Mostly, I think he’s an ass, but at least he’s been looking out for me.”

  Gavin sighed and smoothed his thick fingertips across his brows in a gesture that made him look worn out. “Maybe, but he hasn’t been looking out for himself. He’s back in the same boat as when we rescued him from Ailexon in the first place. He’s never been one to withstand the pressure when it came to ruling the clan.”

  “Back in the same boat? What do you mean?”

  “He’s been taking blood from our females.”

  Kara swallowed, feeling uncomfortable. “I, uh…didn’t know you guys did that. Julian was the first time I’d seen it.”

  “We don’t,” Gavin said a little too roughly. “For the Aniliáre, female blood can help connect them to the mortal world, but for the Demiáre, it’s addictive. Ailexon introduced Aiden to it at a young age, perhaps because he wanted more control over him, or perhaps in his own twisted way, he thought he was being a good father. I’m not sure why. In the twenty-six years since we brought Aiden to Mercury Island, he’s done fairly well avoiding all but the shallowest contact with our females. I think Julian’s failure to regenerate and subsequent death must have been harder on him than he was willing to admit.”

  “I didn’t know about the blood thing. I’m sorry to hear it. I noticed he was acting a little more moody, but I never figured he was self-medicating.”

  Gavin laughed. “Self-medicating? That’s an interesting way to look at it.”

  “Losing Julian was tough on the whole clan. I don’t have the monopoly on missing him.” But if she had anything to say about it, she would be seeing him again soon.

  Kara rose from the bed and slid the closet door open, eyeing the sparse collection of clothing there. She dragged her hand along the pants and shirts that still had the tags on them, until she came to a sweater that looked as if Julian had owned it for years.

  She lifted the sleeve of the worn brown sweater to her nose and inhaled deeply. Although months had passed, she still detected Julian on the fabric. It wasn’t like the new black-wing version of Julian but the man he’d been before he died.

  She couldn’t help it when her eyes closed and her face nuzzled into the soft cotton cable. “I’ll take this one.”

  Gavin was beside her when she opened her eyes. His hand brushed hers as he took the hanger from the closet and pulled off the sweater.

  “Here, let me help you.” He bunched the fabric in his palms, then slipped it over Kara’s head.

  The sleeves hung a full hand length past the tips of Kara’s fingers. She chuckled softly and rolled them up past her wrists, then stood back to look in the mirror. The thing was huge. “I look like an elderly homeless man.”

  Gavin’s gaze skimmed the curves of her breasts and hips under the brown fabric. “Not quite, princess.”

  She met his eyes. He might not love her anymore, but he wasn’t indifferent to her either. She heard it in his voice. “Gavin—” she began, but they both felt it when the ward around Kara’s apartment shook through the walls.

  “What the hell?” Gavin looked to Kara, as if to ask what was happening, but then the next thing she knew, his wings were splitting through his black silk shirt as he threw himself over her body.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The shockwave that rent the air could have been Kara’s imagination. It happened so fast, she wasn’t sure. One minute, the ward around her apartment was shaking, and the next, Gavin was crushing her and dragging her through the sludge.

  It was still dark when her back hit the ground, so she knew they weren’t on Mercury Island. Where in the world had he taken her? She blinked and looked past his bulky shoulders, trying to get a breath in with his massive weight pressing down on her.

  He scanned her face from just inches away. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine, except you weigh a flippin’ ton,” she grunted.

  He jumped to his feet, wings still extended. “Stay here,” he ordered and took off around the corner at a run.

  “Not likely,” she muttered, dragging her aching body up from the sidewalk.

  The streets were packed with people. Rising like a drunkard from a deserted storefront in Julian’s sweater wasn’t helping her image any. She smiled at the wide-eyed passersby and smoothed down her hair. She needed a pair of those damned wings. On a bad hair day, she could just stay incognito.

  Kara trotted down the sidewalk in the direction Gavin had gone. When she rounded the corner, she found him staring up at the top floor of her building. A kaleidoscope of colors lit her apartment, shining out through the windows.

  A woman stopped and followed Kara’s gaze up to the tenth floor. “Cool! Look at that,” she said to the man beside her, pointing to the apartment.

  “Wow. I wonder how they’re doing that,” he replied. Kara wondered the same thing.

  “I thought you said the black-wing was gone, Kara. That doesn’t look gone to me,” Gavin said.

  “It’s not Julian. If I had to guess, I’d say witches.”

  The man standing near Kara broke his gaze on the apartment to
turn to her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  Kara adjusted her saggy sweater. “I said maybe witches did it.”

  The woman smiled and nodded, as if to placate her. “Hmmm. Maybe it was.” She tugged the man’s arm hard. “We’re going to be late, honey.”

  Gavin turned to Kara with a chastising glare. Oh well, it wasn’t exactly giving away supernatural secrets if the people thought she was crazy. “Why would witches be interested in taking down your ward and attacking your apartment?” he asked.

  “It’s kind of a long story. Okay, not that long, but longer than I’m willing to stand here talking to a man only I can see. You don’t think they’re hurting my stuff, do you?”

  “I know one way to find out.”

  Before he could think of flashing, Kara grabbed his arm. “Gavin! No. Let’s just leave before we cause a bigger scene.” His forearm under her fingertips was like sun-warmed marble, smooth and hard.

  “You need to tell me what’s going on, princess.”

  “I will, just not here.”

  “Look,” he said.

  Most people weren’t concerned with what was happening ten stories up—even if it was a cool light show—but Kara followed Gavin’s pointer finger to a couple standing on the opposite side of the street. Instead of just being curious about what was happening up there, they seemed to be focused, maybe even chanting, with their gazes locked on Kara’s apartment and their lips moving.

  “Maybe we should introduce ourselves,” Gavin suggested.

  Having witches mess with her apartment made Kara furious, but she’d seen enough scary magic in the past few days to take a deep breath and pause. “We don’t exactly know what we’re dealing with here. The last witch I came up against used some sort of spell to paralyze me. It was like he had me on remote control, and I can’t risk that again until I know how to counter it.” It was one of the worst feelings she could remember, to be completely at his mercy, unable to even scream.

  “He did what?” The shadows cast by the streetlamps made Gavin’s scowl look scary as hell. “Let’s go meet his friends.”

  With a growl, he jerked forward, weaving through the cars stopped at the light, his long legs quickly eating up the distance. Kara bolted after him.