The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  Cassia closed her eyes for a moment, trying to picture the many places Alyssa could be sent to. She opened her eyes and sighed. “I’ll come up with something.”

  Everyone seemed too wrung out to talk about it anymore. Sydney, Copper, Silver, and Rhiannon left the kitchen with their D’Danann husbands. Hannah departed for the Drow realm to be with Garran, her own spouse.

  Jake and Cassia were left alone in the kitchen for a few moments. Neither of them spoke as he helped her to her feet. She still felt weak, but her growing powers lent her more strength by the minute.

  She gave a shuddering sigh as she slipped her arm around Jake’s waist and he brought her closer with his arm hugging her shoulders.

  They walked from the kitchen and continued to hold each other until they reached his room. Without a word, he brought her down to his mattress and held her tight. And she cried.

  The next day, regardless of how their lives had just been ripped into even more shreds, the witches knew they had to go on. Cassia mentally leaned on Jake, needing him for comfort and for his love.

  Hawk and the other D’Anu declared that Silver had to rest, and she agreed. Cassia knew the thought of losing her child was more than Silver could bear.

  Everyone had wanted Cassia to rest, too, but she managed to overcome their objections. What she’d gone through wasn’t as serious as Silver’s experience because Cassia hadn’t actually ingested the poison.

  She didn’t go into detail, but told them that her powers had increased and she would explain at another time.

  Cassia and the remaining five D’Anu witches began communicating, needing to be with one another, and without their PSF officer teammates. The witches planned to scry together after Silver had a chance to rest a little more.

  Now it wasn’t uncommon for them to hug one another in passing. It was as if they were assuring themselves that each one of them was still alive, and that what was left of the Coven was whole.

  Cassia wasn’t sure the Coven would ever be whole again. When the war was over, would they go their separate ways?

  She didn’t want to think about her own choices, what the future held for her and Jake. That was one of those so-called bridges they would have to cross when they came to it.

  37

  Darkwolf trembled with the power of his anger as he clenched his fists and looked down at his traitor, formerly of the D’Anu.

  Alyssa had dropped to her knees and bowed her head, visibly shaking after he’d threatened to behead her when she appeared with her news.

  Thoughts of Silver dying sent waves of pain through Darkwolf’s chest. From the first time he’d invaded Silver’s mind, he’d been fascinated with her. He’d thought he’d finally pushed that obsession aside—but his anger now…

  He glanced at Elizabeth, who stood across the presidential suite they now occupied at one of the finest hotels.

  She crossed her arms over her chest and studied him with a chill in her blue eyes, her features an icy mask. She’d known about his fascination and desire for Silver Ashcroft.

  Darkwolf took a deep breath as he held Elizabeth’s gaze. It was then he knew he was no longer obsessed with the D’Anu witch.

  But he didn’t want to see her die.

  “Did I instruct you to kill Silver Ashcroft?” Darkwolf flung his words with a harsh bite as he stared down at Alyssa.

  “No,” she whispered without looking up. “I thought—I thought you’d be pleased to have another witch eliminated.”

  Darkwolf growled, intensely aware that Elizabeth was judging his reactions to the news of Silver’s near murder. He chose his words carefully. “It was far too risky to try to kill any of the witches. You’ve just proven that. So now you’ve destroyed my one link into the Alliance because of your idiotic attempt and failure.”

  The tension in the air between Darkwolf and Elizabeth lessened, and from the corner of his eye he saw her features relax.

  “What am I supposed to do with you now?” Darkwolf grabbed Alyssa by her hair and jerked her to her feet. Pain flashed across her face, which was blotchy from crying. His hand still fisted in her hair, he yanked her head back so that she could meet his gaze and see the fury in his expression. “You’re useless.”

  “I can still fight.” Panic edged her words, and her eyes were wide and glassy. “You’ve given me a lot of power,” she said in a rush. “During the next battle I can use that power to fight.”

  She looked like she was struggling to find something to say. “I could cloak myself with a hooded robe. Find my way through the battlefield, and attack them from behind.”

  Darkwolf almost laughed. “You think you could do better than my Stormcutters?”

  Alyssa tried to nod, but his grip on her hair kept her from moving more than a fraction. “I can bind them with my magic too fast for them to react. The Stormcutters will take care of the rest.”

  He released his grip on her hair and she dropped to her knees again, this time staring up at him. “Maybe you can be an ‘ace in the hole.’” He gestured to one of the doors. “Stay in that room until I call for you.”

  She scrambled to her feet and headed for the door, but he held out his hand and caught her around her neck with an invisible rope of his magic. He jerked her and she clawed at her throat.

  “Can’t have you using the transference to escape if you change your mind.” He raised his other hand and with ease used his power to suck her magic completely out of her. Alyssa’s entire body went slack and terror crossed her face. “I’ll give you back your magic, and then some, when I’m ready for you.”

  When he released her from his rope of magic, she dropped to her ass on the carpet. For a moment he saw what looked like rage in her eyes before she hurried to her feet and then to the door.

  She came up short as he added, “It will remain locked, so don’t bother trying to get out.”

  Alyssa gave a jerky nod before opening the door and slamming it shut behind her.

  Darkwolf locked it with a thought. Since he’d taken all of her magic, she had none to even attempt to escape. He tossed thoughts of her aside. She wasn’t worth thinking about until he needed her.

  He turned his attention to Elizabeth, and her smile turned sultry as she unfolded her arms and walked to him. His body vibrated with need—and more. Much, much, more.

  Hunger burned deep inside as he watched her. Not only in his groin, but in his soul. And that other place he’d been fighting against admitting for so long.

  The way her perfect breasts pressed against her T-shirt made his palms ache to hold them. Her curves begged him to touch her, hold her, as her hips swayed while she moved toward him.

  When she reached him, he couldn’t wait. He had to take her. He grasped her hips and jerked her to him, digging his enormous length into her belly. She moaned as he took her mouth, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled herself up, and hooked her thighs on his hips.

  Still kissing her, he carried her out of the suite’s sitting room and through the door to their bedroom. He brought her down to the bed, broke their kiss, and tugged her shirt over her head in an easy movement.

  Darkwolf couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t know why, but he had to take her now. He’d taken her in any number of positions, barely pulling his pants down or throwing her skirt up before burying himself inside her.

  He slid inside her and it was like he’d come home. He moved in and out of her while his gaze locked with hers. They’d never done that before—watched each other during sex.

  Somehow they couldn’t tear their gazes apart, as if doing that would break a spell that wrapped around them.

  “You belong to me,” he said over and over again.

  “Yes, yes, yes!” she answered every one of his demands.

  And then the words escaped that he never thought he’d say. “I love you, Elizabeth,” he said softly while his gaze continued to hold hers.

  Her lips parted and her eyes widened, but with one more powerful thrust
he sent her over the edge, and she screamed and writhed beneath him.

  Darkwolf shouted and pressed his hips tight between her thighs. She continued to convulse around him and he pulsed inside her.

  He groaned and slid partially off her so that his weight wasn’t on her, but he still had her pinned down. She stared at him with wonder and even confusion in her eyes.

  Darkwolf kissed her, long and slow, putting everything he felt into that kiss. When he drew away, he smiled. “I love you,” he repeated.

  She looked at him with something like wonder in her gaze. “I’ve never felt that emotion—love. At least, I don’t think so.”

  Her throat worked as she swallowed. “I’m not sure what it is. Even this human’s body and soul that I own never understood that word.”

  Darkwolf sighed and held her close. “Trust me on this one.”

  Elizabeth snuggled into him. “Okay.”

  38

  Darkwolf and Elizabeth-Junga shout and scream as they fuck. Mind-boggling. He’s screwing a demon! A damned demon! I can’t stop shaking. Each sound digs, tortures.

  I’ll kill him.

  I’ll kill them. If Darkwolf hadn’t taken all of my magic, I would escape this room and head straight to where he’s in bed with that Fomorii queen.

  And slaughter them both before they even knew I was there.

  Strangulation like Mackenzie?

  No, better to just blast their heads from their bodies. The demon will turn to ash. With the power of two gods, who knows what would happen to Darkwolf. Maybe that bitch Cassia is right and it would upset the balance of all Otherworlds.

  Now wouldn’t that be rich after all the Alliance has fought for?

  It makes me ill to know that Darkwolf is with one of those beasts from Underworld. How could I have imagined myself with him inside of me? That filthy prick.

  Before he took my magic I noticed the look he gave her and sensed his feelings for her. How sweet. He cares about her. Deeply.

  Sickening, but interesting.

  Light stabs my eyes through the windows as I pace. Without my magic. I’m helpless. Ruined. I can’t even scry.

  Darkwolf will pay for treating me like this. After all I’ve done for him. Murdering the witch who thought I was her best friend, betraying my Coven—not that either was any big loss or sacrifice.

  The bed creaks as I throw myself across it. My jaw hurts from clenching. A plan. I’ve got to come up with some kind of plan to get my revenge on him.

  Hurt him in ways he’s never been hurt before.

  But wait.

  Ah, yes.

  So simple it’s laughable.

  I reach down and feel for the Mystwalker blade that is strapped to my ankle. I’ve hidden it there rather than using it as a collar.

  I’m going to get Darkwolf where it hurts.

  Yes, a way that will tear him to shreds.

  39

  In the Elvin way, Cassia drew thirteen rune stones from the soft bag. The stones clattered across the tabletop as she cast them, the click-clacking sounds loud in the empty kitchen.

  The star birthmark burned beneath her belly button as she studied the runes on the stones that landed faceup.

  A visitor.

  Discovery. Pain. Suffering.

  An end.

  The end to everything.

  She held her hand to her pitching stomach. Everything would end soon, but the stones gave no clue as to the outcome—who would triumph and who would suffer the loss.

  Her thoughts turned to Alyssa and more pain ate at her core.

  Echo, Alyssa’s former owl familiar, had stayed around the warehouse for a few days, looking mournful, every hoot sad and filled with pain.

  When Echo disappeared, Kael told Cassia the owl had left to find a new path and a new D’Anu witch to serve. Cassia hoped with all her heart he found someone good and pure.

  A strong magical presence startled Cassia from her concentration on her rune stones.

  When she realized who it was, Cassia gathered her stones into the bag and shoved them into her jeans pocket for the time being.

  The visitor her stones had told her of was almost on the Alliance’s doorstep.

  Cassia reached the front entrance and opened the door before Janis Arrowsmith of the white magic D’Anu had a chance to knock.

  The austere high priestess stood in the misty rain, her robe clinging to her bony frame. The normally overbearing, judgmental Janis Arrowsmith was wild-haired and wild-eyed, her expression frantic. She appeared to have thrown on a white robe after just having woken from sleep.

  Seeing the thin, now almost emaciated, woman so distraught caused Cassia’s stomach to pitch even more than it had when she had cast her rune stones.

  The high priestess had never looked like this—eyes wide and haunted, her lined face as pale and gray as fog, and her gray hair long, wet, and tangled about her face instead of being in its usual severe bun.

  Even Mortimer, Janis’s mouse familiar, squeaked and ran up and down one of Janis’s arms, obviously agitated.

  The high priestess seemed even worse now than when Sara, her favorite apprentice, had been taken over by the dark goddess.

  Janis had thought she could save Sara by protecting the goddess. And Janis succeeded, once, with beyond disastrous results. Even at the end of the dark goddess’s life, Janis had thought she could save the part of the goddess that was Sara.

  But the gray magic D’Anu knew that only Sara’s body had survived during the dark goddess’s possession, not the soul that had once been inside Sara.

  “What has happened, Janis?” Cassia said to her former high priestess, trying to keep her tone calm. “Would you like to come inside, out of the rain?”

  “Is it true? What my visions tell me?” Janis snapped her gaze over Cassia’s shoulder to stare into the warehouse before looking at Cassia again. “Is Mackenzie dead? And Alyssa? She murdered Mackenzie?”

  Cassia’s chest hurt and she brought her hand up and clenched her T-shirt over her heart. “It’s true,” she whispered. “Alyssa is gone now. She left to join Darkwolf.”

  Janis sagged, and Cassia thought the older woman might collapse. Cassia reached out to catch Janis by the shoulders, but the high priestess went rigid and raised her chin as her eyes turned icy. Cassia dropped her hands to her sides.

  “You were completely aware of the fact that gray magic leads to black when you left our Coven.” Janis practically spat out the words. “This never would have happened if you and the rest hadn’t turned to using gray magic.”

  Cassia kept her gaze steady and gathered her calm. “I saw inside Alyssa before she left to join Darkwolf. She was black within her soul even when she was part of the white magic Coven. It had nothing to do with any of us practicing gray magic.”

  Janis’s eyes had become hard, flinty. “I do not believe that.”

  “She was tortured as a child in an orphanage by corrupt religious figures,” Cassia said quietly, “and she learned anger and hate and revenge. It’s not an excuse for the horrible acts she has committed, but it does give a reason as to why she chose the path she did.”

  “If she hadn’t been allowed to practice gray magic, she would never have used that hatred to go to dark sorcery,” Janis snapped.

  “We are all mourning the loss of Mackenzie and the woman we thought of as a Coven sister,” Cassia said with a heavy sigh she felt straight to her toes. “What brings you here?”

  The light rain soaking Janis’s robe had relaxed more of the wildness of her hair. “Darkwolf and his—his monsters.” She remained rigid and ignored water dripping from her hair, down her face, and into her eyes. “I know where they are. I know where they hide.”

  Hair on Cassia’s arms rose. “Where? Do you want to come in and tell the others?”

  Distaste crossed Janis’s expression as she glanced into the warehouse again. Despite the fact she had come to warn the gray magic witches in the past, she still held her prejudices over anyone who would ki
ll, demons or no, or aid those who did.

  She was a study in contradictions. It was obvious it tore her apart to have to give information such as this to Cassia and the others, yet she was smart enough to know the salvation of the city depended on it.

  “The Presidio.” Janis shuddered as if something slimy had crawled down her spine. “The northern end is where Darkwolf has shielded them from sight with his magic. Around Crissy Field.”

  Cassia felt the urge to turn and run to tell the others. “You’re sure?”

  Janis managed to look haughty even as she wilted from head to toe in the gentle rain. “My visions are never wrong.”

  The high priestess turned, but Cassia caught her by the arm and felt an almost skeletal forearm.

  Janis froze as her eyes met Cassia’s. “You are not human, are you,” Janis stated.

  “I am fully Elvin.” Cassia squeezed Janis’s arm as Mortimer scampered into one of Janis’s pockets. “Thank you, Janis. The Alliance is fighting for countless lives. You are doing the right thing.”

  “There are at least twenty-five thousand of those—things,” Janis said in a strained whisper.

  As Cassia stood there in shock, Janis drew free of Cassia’s hold. The high priestess walked away in the softly falling rain.

  “Got good news and bad news.” Jake ground his teeth as he braced his palms on the edges of the map table and glanced at those around him. “Good news is we know he’s got his Stormcutters at the Presidio.”

  Murmurs circulated the command center. With Alyssa gone, everything had returned to “business as usual,” as much as it could, and the planning sessions were no longer limited to one being per race. Three beings once again represented each faction of the Alliance. Now their numbers included Mystwalkers as well as Light Elves.

  “Because of its size,” Jake continued, “it’s been suspect as a potential hangout for Darkwolf’s Stormcutters. We’ve been doing our best to use what manpower we have to patrol that area since this whole mess with him began.”