The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  “Your half-sister, Cerra?” This time Cassia halted, her eyes wide and unbelieving. “Both kidnapped?”

  Cassia caught up to Alaia as she pressed ahead. “Once we fulfill our promises to the Alliance, we will rescue Geldian Princess and Cerra, along with all of the other pleasure-slaves.” Alaia’s eyes sparked with fury. “We have enough free Mystwalkers now, and a plan—”

  Still carrying Jake, Breacan disappeared in the forest ahead of them as Alaia shook her head. “It matters not at this time. Now is for the Earth Otherworld, and our brothers and sisters in the Alliance.”

  Cassia let the subject lie. But she bit the inside of her lip as concern for these people gripped her.

  In addition, would the Mystwalkers expect the Alliance to go to war with the Shanai in return for this assistance?

  Deep in her emerging Guardian’s instincts, Cassia knew that couldn’t happen. For a long, terrible moment, she could feel the balance of all the Otherworlds, delicate yet more powerful than any energy known, teetering across her shoulders.

  The Mystwalkers would have to fight the Shanai on their own for the balance to be protected. Cassia couldn’t explain how she knew that, beyond the firm sensation in her flesh and bones, and the weight of it.

  As a woman and a warrior, she’d definitely want to help the Mystwalkers.

  But as a Guardian?

  Oh, Mother, how have you born such responsibility all these years?

  In one long, terrible, and seemingly endless moment. Cassia felt the immensity of her own fate, of the responsibility of being the only daughter of the Great Guardian.

  Unless her mother bore another female child—which, given her age, seemed unlikely—Cassia would one day take her mother’s position, and regulate the ebb and flow of energies in all Otherworlds.

  She would be, essentially, the gatekeeper for all life everywhere, making certain the infinitely complex patterns needed to support that life remained firmly in place.

  Everyone would adore her.

  And hate her.

  She thought about Jake’s stubborn smile. His determination to be with her despite the odds, the dangers, and the forces aligned against them.

  Her heart swelled then faltered in the face of so much unwelcome reality.

  How could a human ever understand the magnitude of her duties?

  It wasn’t fair of her to even let him entertain the fantasy.

  It was a full day before they neared the veiled Mystwalker refuge. Few knew of its existence, and a mere handful had ever been taken to the hidden location.

  As the Elvin Princess and a future Guardian, Cassia was one of the privileged few who had ever been allowed entrance.

  Around bends and copses of trees they followed an invisible path until they reached a sheer rock wall. After a tight squeeze between a break in the wall and another wall was an indiscernible trail. It opened up to a beautiful flower-filled meadow.

  Beyond that a waterfall pounded into a pool and roared its welcome as crystal droplets winked in the air. The waterfall could not be heard on the outside of the enormous wall they had slipped around.

  Alaia and Cassia walked across the meadow and reached the waterfall. Its thrumming roar vibrated through Cassia and its misty spray chilled her skin.

  They caught up with Breacan, who still carried Jake, and followed the mist of the other five Mystwalkers.

  Cassia and Alaia remained close as they stepped behind the waterfall—and entered another world.

  The Mystwalker refuge never failed to take Cassia’s breath away. Towering walls of pure crystal, with veins of a golden metal, soared above the sanctuary. The crystal reflected the vivid greens of the trees, grass, and other greenery.

  Reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges glittered on the crystal from the amazing splashes of wildflowers throughout the expanse of the refuge. Gardens stretched out with all manner of fruits and vegetables, and Mystwalkers toiled by planting and checking the irrigation.

  A waterfall, different from the one they had just passed behind, flowed over one of the crystal cliffs and tumbled into a large pool. The Mystwalkers managed the water for irrigation as well as personal uses.

  Cassia paused and waved to some of the Mystwalkers she recognized. They smiled and returned her greeting with enthusiasm.

  For a moment, Cassia closed her eyes and drank in the sweet scents of angel blooms and lyria buds. The flowers gave off a perfume that combined to make a scent that was like roses, carnations, and orchids all swirled together on a teasing whirlwind of a breeze.

  She held out her arms, tipped her head back, and took another deep lungful of early evening air. Night trails serenaded and crickets started their songs, the birds and insects making beautiful music together.

  “Cassia.” Alaia’s voice held amusement as Cassia opened her eyes. “I believe if I allowed it you would stand in that very spot for the rest of the evening.”

  “You know me well.” Cassia smiled and relaxed her arms as she looked at Alaia. “I love it here.”

  Alaia returned her smile. “Come, Princess.” The Mystwalker leader turned away and headed toward one of the many wooden huts dispersed throughout the enclave.

  They reached the beautiful little hut Cassia had stayed in before, the place where most of their infrequent visitors stayed. Alaia’s people fashioned their huts from the glossy wood of siren trees.

  Cassia had always wondered what kind of bargain the Mystwalkers had to make with the Dryads to use wood from the rare trees, but had never questioned Alaia or her people.

  “How many free Mystwalkers have you gathered?” Cassia asked.

  Alaia didn’t answer as she slipped inside, Cassia behind her. Breacan stood in the large three-room hut alone. Cassia figured Breacan had settled Jake on the mattress in the bedroom, as she didn’t see him in the main room.

  “Breacan,” Alaia said to the large, blond Mystwalker. “You can wake the human now.”

  Cassia grimaced. This should be good.

  Breacan disappeared into the back room again, and the next thing Cassia heard was Jake growling, “What the hell is going on?”

  * * *

  Jake’s head spun like he’d turned into one of those funnel-bastards.

  He managed to sit on the edge of the mattress he’d been tossed on. The mattress was about two feet thick, but lay flat on the floor instead of on a bed frame.

  Jake looked up and really wanted to slug the amused expression off Breacan’s face. He would’ve, too, if his bones would grow back in his legs. Right now, Jell-O City.

  “Do you require anything?” the Mystwalker asked as he towered over Jake.

  “Yeah.” Jake rubbed his forehead with his fingers and squinted up at Breacan. “You. Me. Wrestling match. As soon as I don’t feel like I already got the crap beat out of me.”

  Breacan laughed. “Perhaps you will get your wish, human.”

  “Jake,” Cassia said from behind the man. “His name is Jake.”

  Breacan shrugged, the equivalent of a human saying “whatever.” Jake would have ground his teeth if his head didn’t hurt so friggin’ much. It hurt just to talk, and he’d done about all the talking he was going to for now.

  The Mystwalker left the room, leaving Cassia alone with Jake. She sat on the low mattress beside him, wrapped her arms around her knees, and said, “Sorry.”

  Jake grunted.

  “If the Shanai find this place…” Cassia trailed off before she added, “It would be bad. Really bad.”

  He grunted again.

  And wondered how he was getting out of here when it was time to go, because he sure didn’t plan on playing the part of a side of beef slung over some man’s shoulder.

  “Alaia and Breacan left for the night.” Cassia placed her palm on his thigh, warming his skin through his jeans with her touch. “They’ll send dinner, and then we’ll get some rest.”

  If he didn’t feel so bad, he’d have told Cassia food wasn’t what he wanted for dinner.

 
He wanted her.

  Maybe for dessert.

  “I know their delicacies will make you feel better.” She squeezed his thigh. “Their food is wonderful, and has a way of making a person feel revitalized.”

  Jake managed a third grunt.

  Delicacies. Yeah, right. He just needed some plain old grub and he’d be fine.

  Cassia patted his thigh then stood. Immediately he missed having her beside him, feeling her heat and smelling her soft vanilla-and-spices scent.

  The Tilt-A-Whirl in Jake’s head slowed enough that he didn’t feel like upchucking when Cassia returned with a large tray of food. Instead, his stomach growled, telling him he’d survive.

  “Thanks,” he mumbled as Cassia set the tray on the mattress. She eased onto the bed so that she was on the other side of the tray from him.

  He eyed the food with definite skepticism. Arranged on the tray were strange-looking orange and blue vegetable things, with some kind of itty-bitty croissant-wrapped meat pies. The smells were delicious despite the appearance of the food.

  His stomach rumbled again as smells like roast chicken, vegetables, and cornbread rolled over him. Damned if he didn’t catch the scent of magic, too.

  “I’m not eating anything with magic in it,” Jake said, despite the desperate growl in his stomach as he met Cassia’s blue eyes.

  She tilted her head. “It’s food, Jake, grown fresh, cooked or baked. Just like home only”—she glanced at the plates—“weird-looking, at least to you.”

  “I smell magic,” he said, finally dropping his hand from his temples and straightening. He felt like his bones were whole and his head wasn’t spinning.

  She looked at him with some confusion in her expression. “You smell magic?”

  “Yeah.” Jake gestured to her. “You, the other Elves, Drow, Fae, witches—you all have a scent that’s hard to pinpoint.” He frowned. “Like some kind of exotic but earthy perfume mixed with sunshine, and it’s light, like air.”

  He frowned more. “That doesn’t really describe it, but hell if I know how to. It’s barely noticeable, but I’ve always caught the scent when I’m around anyone with magic. Elves. D’Danann. D’Anu, and now Mystwalkers. The Drow, too, but theirs is a little different. Kind of darker, but not sickening like dark sorcery.”

  “First time I’ve ever heard anyone say that.” Cassia wore a “that’s interesting, but odd” expression. “The food is naturally grown, though, and prepared in the cookhouse.”

  Jake’s appetite got the better of him. He grabbed one of the tiny croissant-looking things, eyed it with suspicion but popped it into his mouth anyway.

  He didn’t think he’d eaten anything so incredibly delicious in his life. “Definitely magic,” he grumbled in between bites of the vegetables, fruits, and pastries. “Nothing normal could taste this great,” he added, and Cassia laughed.

  He couldn’t begin to explain the tastes. It was like eating food from another country, with exotic spices. Like Thai food with its liberal use of peanut sauce and coconut milk. Or Chinese potstickers and the assortment of dumplings at dim sum. Just different. Unusual. Unexpected.

  The drink was like blackberry wine, with a hint of some kind of unusual spice.

  When they finished eating, Jake helped Cassia take everything to the small kitchen part of the front room and they washed the wooden plates in water pumped from a spout. The water from that pump was actually warm. The other hand pump released cold water. Interesting.

  He’d been feeling pretty exhausted after a long day of arguing with a “Great Guardian,” getting in a fight with Daire, and trekking through the forest. And especially after being knocked out by some kind of magic that had made him feel loopy, like he’d had a major hangover.

  But now he felt energized.

  He hardened as he watched Cassia from behind. The gentle sway of her ass as she moved, all that golden-blonde hair that tumbled almost to her small waist. He could just drag her jeans down and over her hips, bend her over, slide into her…

  Hold on Macgregor. Jake ground his teeth. Virgin. Guardian ascending. Transition. Instant death. No sex.

  Not yet.

  His cock wouldn’t listen to a thing that shot through his mind.

  Cassia turned, and he sucked in his breath when her gaze met his. She stood maybe five feet away, but a couple of steps in her direction and he’d have her in his arms.

  His little head spoke and his big head took a vacation.

  Cassia’s eyes widened as he went to her, his gaze never breaking from hers. He caught her face in his hands and kissed her so hard it made his own mind spin like it had been earlier, and his knees wanted to give out again.

  Damn, he’d never tasted anything as good as Cassia. Never felt anything as powerfully as he did with her.

  To hell with instant death.

  She was his.

  20

  The entire world vanished.

  Cassia fell under Jake’s spell as he kissed her. His was a different kind of magic. A magic of seduction and desire that made her heart pound and her body vibrate with a need she had never experienced before.

  Jake’s palms rested on her backside and he drew her to him, molding her body to his so that he was rigid against her belly.

  Cassia slid her palms up his chest, every flex of his muscles causing more intense feelings to wash over her. She linked her fingers behind his neck and clung to him, and he took control of her mind, body, and soul.

  He already had her heart.

  No. We can’t do this, can’t.

  It was only a kiss. Just a kiss.

  What a kiss.

  Jake dipped his tongue into her mouth and explored her so thoroughly she thought he would discover every secret she possessed. He tasted of blackberry wine, exotic spices, and male.

  He alternately nipped at her lower lip and searched her mouth with the mysteries of the magic they could make together.

  Cassia’s liquid gold and stars sparkled around them before her magic wrapped them in an embrace as firm as Jake’s arms around her. She felt caressed everywhere. Her skin hot, the place between her thighs wet, her body tingling with the twining sensations of Jake’s kiss and her power.

  Something shattered in the kitchen, but she couldn’t get herself to drag her attention away from the moment.

  This could go no farther than a kiss. But she felt as if she’d had too much wine. Dizzy and relaxed, yet tense and charged.

  The wonder of the feelings Jake stirred within her made her want more. She had never experienced anything so precious as what they shared at this very moment.

  Jake groaned and gripped her impossibly tighter as he moved his mouth from hers. He trailed kisses along her jawline to the curve of her neck, just below her ear. He inhaled audibly, as if drawing her scent into him, filling himself with her.

  Catching her by complete surprise, Jake pushed her T-shirt up over her bare breasts. She’d never been able to get used to human bras, and without her shirt there was nothing to hide behind.

  “God you’re sweet, Cassia.” Jake lowered his head, and she shivered and gasped when he skimmed his lips over first one, then the other nipple. “Like kissing silk.” His warm breath flowed over one of the hard nubs as he spoke.

  “Jake,” she said in a pleading tone, but didn’t really know what she was begging for. This couldn’t go far.

  She wouldn’t let it get out of control. Just a little more touching, feeling, kissing.

  A loud crack echoed through the room and a part of Cassia hoped she hadn’t broken another table. The other part of her didn’t care.

  Cassia gripped Jake’s shoulders and whimpered as he flicked his tongue over one nipple. Firecracker sensations sparked straight between her thighs.

  Her magic continued to whirl around them, intensifying everything they were feeling. She tried to rein it in a little but she had no control over it, like she had no control over her body’s reactions to Jake’s touch—his mouth, his hands.


  Something hit the floor with a loud thump as her magic grew hotter.

  A chair?

  When he sucked her other nipple, she cried out and almost dropped straight to the floor.

  This time a louder crack bit the air—a cupboard door?—and Cassia knew she should stop Jake.

  Yes. She would stop him. Now.

  In a minute.

  Or two.

  Jake scooped her up in his arms and held her tight to him as he strode from the main room to the bedroom. She placed her palm on his chest and looked up at him, her lips moist, the area around her mouth a little roughened from his stubble.

  Her mind grew dizzy and her thoughts scattered as golden magic surrounded them as he carried her. The glow kept the darkness outside from pressing in.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” he said as he set her on her feet in the bedroom.

  “What?” Her foggy, confused mind couldn’t process what he was saying as her gaze was drawn to what surrounded them.

  Look at all the pretty sparkles.

  Ooh, they’re so gold and glittery.

  Pretty, pretty sparkles.

  Drunk. She had to be drunk.

  On love and lust.

  She dragged her attention from the glittery magic to Jake.

  Forget the sparkles. Look at the gorgeous man in front of you with the dark blue eyes.

  Such beautiful eyes.

  Cassia sighed and smiled. Yes, definitely intoxicated with love for him.

  Should she tell him now?

  A tiny bit of reality tried to push its way into her mind.

  If she allowed any of this to continue, it would only make it harder to leave him.

  But couldn’t they enjoy what time they could until she had to face her destiny?

  “Jake.” Her voice came out a breathless whisper on her lips. “I don’t want to hurt you.” Or your heart.

  “We won’t go too far.” His voice was low, husky as he pulled her T-shirt over her head and let it drop on the floor. Her magical glow made it easy to see in the otherwise darkened room. “I promise.”

  She shivered as he bared the top half of her body. Her nipples turned into hard nubs and more desire rushed through her.