The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  “Kael!” she cried in her mind. “I can’t see you.”

  Jake! Where is Jake? Dear Anu, she’d been completely cut off from him. They were supposed to stay together to get to Darkwolf, but now—

  “I can scent and sense you, Princess,” Kael said. “I will find you.”

  Cassia spun in a circle. She released another blast of fire, eliminating all of the Stormcutters within range.

  More Stormcutters closed in on her.

  No sign of Jake.

  Her throat ached with the desire to scream for him. But with the noise of thunder, the shrieks, cries, and roar of battle, she knew she’d never be heard.

  As the next throng of Stormcutters rushed her, she flung out more fire. The flames blazed in the night as they evaporated funnels and caught men on fire, destroying them. The Stormcutters’ sour-laundry smell changed to hissing steam and incinerated flesh.

  Firm ground gave way to wet sand that still shifted beneath her feet. She’d been driven down to the beach.

  The sudden change in footing caused Cassia to stumble and wrench her knee. She cried out as she landed hard on her back. The impact jarred her teeth again, and the body armor chafed her back.

  Stormcutters dove for her with their ice daggers. Their expressions held nothing but death.

  “Take this!” she shouted, still on her back. She managed to let off enough fire to eliminate most of the Stormcutters. They popped and sizzled into nothingness.

  Two Stormcutters remained as Cassia took a breath to summon more magic.

  The pale, tattooed men aimed their daggers at her belly and chest.

  Cassia screamed and flung herself to the side, barely missing being stabbed. She rammed her shoulder into one of the men’s shins and drove him to the ground.

  Even though her wrenched knee sent pain shooting up her leg, her magic came easily to her as she rolled onto her back again, and she blasted the next two men into ash.

  Another Stormcutter came at her, but a white blur hurtled through the air and Kael took down the Stormcutter.

  Before Cassia could scramble to her feet, a wave slammed over her head in a crushing blow. Seawater covered her entire body. Her eyes blurred, and she coughed and spit out saltwater as she resurfaced. The iciness of the water caused her to shiver before she used her magic to warm herself.

  As she came up for air, she spit more water and shoved her sopping hair out of her face. Her clothing clung to her body with the kind of stickiness she always felt in seawater. Her body armor felt even heavier than it had before, and pain shot through her knee.

  Kael had taken a protective stance next to her on the beach. “Are you all right, Princess?” At the same time he bared his teeth and growled at the Stormcutters.

  Cassia managed to stand, her knee trembling. She scanned the shoreline as she did her best to block the pain from her knee with her internal magic.

  “I’ll live,” she muttered as she flung her sopping hair out of her face.

  A long line of Stormcutters waited on the beach, several feet away from her, staring at her with determination in their expressions.

  Another wave slammed into Cassia from behind and she stumbled forward. She almost lost her footing again, but kept her ground.

  Cassia glanced at Kael. “Why aren’t the men coming after me?”

  ‘‘My wicked bite?” the wolf responded in a wry tone.

  She would have rolled her eyes if it wasn’t for the madness, the horror going on seemingly everywhere.

  Then it occurred to her. Like Mystwalkers, Stormcutters probably had to stay away from seawater. Maybe for different reasons, but they couldn’t get any closer to her.

  Cassia backed a little more into the water, bracing herself for the next wave as she let her magic build inside her.

  She flung out one of the most powerful streams of fire yet and incinerated the long line of Stormcutters. She only had a moment to feel any kind of triumph because, right behind them, was another line of Stormcutters.

  What in Anu’s name?

  “Of course.” Cassia stared at the men as Kael moved close enough that his coat brushed her jean-clad thigh. “I am certain Darkwolf ordered them to gang up on me, and drive me away from the battle.”

  “It is as I sensed earlier.” Kael continued baring his teeth at the men. “Darkwolf is targeting you. I believe he fears you.”

  “Yeah, right.” Cassia spit out more saltwater as she looked up and down the beach to assess the situation. “He’s the duo-god.”

  “Do not underestimate your abilities, Princess.”

  “Let’s hope he does.” Cassia added out loud.

  “I am sorry to say,” Kael growled in her thoughts, “that Alyssa likely informed Darkwolf of what you explained to the witches of your increased powers.”

  “Bless it. You’re probably right.” Protected by the seawater, Cassia had the opportunity to see the massive battle of what had probably been thirty thousand humans and Otherworldly beings—but now a far smaller number with all the dead and injured.

  Behind the battle rose the glittering San Francisco skyline.

  Everything suddenly felt so surreal she was almost lightheaded from it.

  Such an odd contrast, the city and the battle.

  Like “Postcard Row,” the Victorian homes on Alamo Square with the modern city of San Francisco rising up behind them.

  Only this was fire and rain and lightning and ice daggers and swords and blood and death. Along with a few streetlights and moving trees.

  She looked toward the expansive bay. The lighthouse on Alcatraz Island flashed its glow eerily over the water, barely visible in the brilliance of the lightning from Darkwolf’s storm.

  Cassia tried to shake off the distracting feeling that none of this was real. The last several months could have been a nightmare, starting with Darkwolf as a powerful warlock, summoning demons and gods beyond his understanding or his control.

  Every bit of this had been a nightmare come to life. A nightmare the Alliance, the city, the world wanted to wake up from.

  As she stared at the line of Stormcutters again, and the battle going on behind them, Cassia grew more light-headed and dizzy. Was the strange way she was feeling due to the sense of absurdity of it all?

  A magical pull snarled in her mind and she widened her eyes.

  Power so dark it made her shudder.

  Dark sorcery.

  It drew her attention in the direction of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was like something forced her to turn her head to look west.

  Darkwolf.

  He was calling to her.

  He wanted her, or something from her. More likely to destroy her.

  Well, one warlock-duo-god was about to get something he wanted.

  Only what he wanted was going to be delivered with a big surprise.

  42

  Torpedo Wharf jutted out into the San Francisco Bay in an L shape on the northern shore, near the westernmost side of Crissy Field. Darkwolf’s muscles were so tight he thought he might split his T-shirt.

  He, Elizabeth, and Alyssa stood on the wharf at the very end of the L as he controlled the storm and watched the battle.

  Using his enhanced god-vision, he easily saw through the darkness without aid from the storm’s lightning. The clash of swords against ice daggers was loud in his ears—not to mention the sounds of gunfire, the cries and shouts that made up the barrage of noises coming from the field that he could hear even over the rolling thunder.

  He smelled blood and the stench of death along with the smell of his Stormcutters. Unfortunately, he had not been able to produce Stormcutters that did not have that sickening sour smell, but that was inconsequential.

  His gaze roved over the scene where his bubble of protection had been. The Elvin witch might have shattered the barrier that had shielded his men from sight, but the power of his defenses around himself and the two females could not be breached.

  Darkwolf had only set up a circular wall of protection
over them, rather than a bubble. He needed to be free of the shield overhead to control the storm.

  Unfortunately, having the barrier surrounding them kept him from using his other powers, but he preferred not to be noticed by the Marines flowing from the ships to the shore. He could easily incinerate them with his magic, but he didn’t want to let anyone know his location.

  Not yet.

  He would not reveal himself until he had the bitch, Cassia, close enough to destroy.

  She was the key. According to his scrying and what information he had gained from the little twit, Alyssa, he had a good idea of how powerful the Elvin witch was.

  Rid himself of her, and the battle would be won more easily.

  “I think it’s time you joined the fray.” Darkwolf turned to Alyssa. “You can take care of the witches like you’ve been promising.”

  Alyssa faced him. Her wet hair stuck to her neck and raindrops rolled down her pale face like tears. “It might be better to wait and see if they survive the Stormcutters.”

  She trembled beneath his stare. “With so many cutters, I could be in danger. In the past they haven’t always known I’m on your side, and I’ve had to kill a few to protect myself.”

  Darkwolf studied her for a moment. “I’ll let you remain here. For now. Then it’ll be time for you to make good on the rest of your promises.”

  Alyssa nodded. “Absolutely, my lord.”

  Darkwolf smiled and faced the battle again. When Alyssa and his Blades called him “my lord,” it turned him on, making him hard and his blood to stir.

  He glanced at Elizabeth, and wanted to take her back to the penthouse and take her half a dozen more times.

  Or was it making love now?

  Yes. He’d given her his love.

  His gut twisted and he swallowed.

  The storm lessened, the rain becoming lighter and the lightning less frequent.

  Darkwolf shook his head, pushing all thoughts but those of battle from his head. Gritting his teeth, he sent a tremendous surge of power into the skies.

  He had to keep his focus on strengthening the storm. No distractions now. The storm and Stormcutters were the easiest way to eliminate the humans and the Alliance.

  But the energy it took to create a storm and manipulate the Stormcutters demanded a great portion of his magic, keeping him from using most of his other powers against their enemies.

  Darkwolf analyzed the battle. Many of his men were down, but his other Stormcutters had slaughtered just as many, if not more, Alliance members and Marines.

  What pissed him off, though, was how many of his Blades were down. Worst of all, he sensed Silver Ashcroft had done the most damage to his Blades. He really, deep in his soul, hadn’t wanted to kill her. But he’d have to, shortly.

  Despite the rain, the sand turned pink in areas along the beach where numerous men and women went down.

  Countless skirmishes erupted, almost the length of Crissy Field, from the East Beach to the West Bluff. The battle was moving west, coming a little too close for comfort, but still Darkwolf had no doubt he and Elizabeth were safe.

  He glanced at Alyssa again and saw her eyes dart from Elizabeth to him. Was she afraid of the demon that Elizabeth could become?

  Good. Fear in his “employees” was what he liked to see.

  When Darkwolf thought most of the Marines that had been on the closest ship had passed him, he dropped the shield around himself and the two women.

  He concentrated the fierceness of the storm over the battle, doing his best to keep the lightning from illuminating himself and the females.

  Their jeans and T-shirts clung to them from the rain, water running down their faces. Darkwolf hardened even more when he looked down at Elizabeth, who could have been in a wet T-shirt contest with her large breasts bare beneath her shirt, her nipples hard and prominent.

  While keeping a great portion of his power on the storm, Darkwolf searched the battle with his gaze.

  Fire. There. Tremendous magical fire and a presence so strong it was nearly staggering.

  Unless another being had joined the Alliance, that magical signature could only be the Elvin witch, according to Alyssa.

  He would search all of the battle to make sure there were no presences more powerful than the one he felt coming from the area where magical fire continually burst from the being.

  Darkwolf reached out with his senses, searching for the Elvin witch. Of course, her presence would be different than those of the other witches and any of the Elves.

  He’d always sensed something unusual about her, but after what Alyssa had told him, he expected an even greater signature—like the one where the magical fire was shooting. Although he hadn’t expected that much power from any being.

  Tendrils of his own powers snaked through the battle. He touched the essences of humans, D’Danann, Dark Elves, Light Elves, Fae, witches, even familiars—and something odd, beings similar to Elves that blinked in and out like fireflies.

  Ah, probably the Mystwalkers Alyssa had told him about.

  Darkwolf wished he could separate Jake Macgregor’s essence from the rest of the humans, but human lifeforces were too similar to one another.

  He couldn’t identify any separate being from any race, for that matter, except for the one in the ring of fire. He knew in his gut that particular being was the Elvin witch.

  Who else could it be, if she was as magically strong as Alyssa said she was now?

  “Definitely there,” he murmured, his eyes still closed. “She’s too far right now, but I’ll reel the bitch in.”

  “Cassia?” Alyssa said from where she stood behind him, and he scowled as she interrupted his concentration.

  “Shut the fuck up.” His deep, godlike voice rumbled along with the storm. He opened his eyes and glared at her over his shoulder. “Don’t say a damned thing unless I speak to you.”

  For a flash he thought he saw defiance in her gaze, but she immediately lowered her head and said, “Yes, my lord.”

  He turned back to the battle and closed his eyes again, reaching for the Elvin witch with his senses.

  Gods, she was powerful. He smiled. All the better.

  Despite the number of humans, Darkwolf thought he might be sensing an extraordinarily strong human essence beside Cassia. Could that be Macgregor?

  If so, he had to separate the cop from Cassia.

  Darkwolf concentrated and sent a greater number of Stormcutters to the Elvin witch’s location. He opened his eyes and smiled again.

  Her fire blazed brighter and brighter as his Stormcutters formed a circle around her, and she alone stood in the center. By his mental order, the Stormcutters pressed her closer toward the shore, away from the worst of the battle.

  In that moment, he decided he didn’t want the Stormcutters to kill her. Perhaps maim her and bring her his way. Otherwise, his Stormcutters would herd her toward him.

  Or better yet, he’d call to her.

  If what Alyssa said was true, and the Elvin witch had ascended, becoming some powerful being, he could use her. When he killed Cassia, he would absorb her magical essence.

  Then he would be so powerful he could transform elite military men into Blades even easier. His Blades would be able to produce Stormcutters faster.

  With the larger numbers they would eventually increase to an army of millions, and spread as far and wide as Darkwolf decided he wanted to go.

  The thought of wielding such power was heady.

  He focused on the Elvin witch and touched her mind. He teased her by calling to her.

  Darkwolf almost grinned when he sensed her acceptance of his call and she started toward him.

  43

  My stomach burns constantly and heat flushes my body so much I’m surprised steam doesn’t rise from my skin. Darkwolf treats me like I’m a piece of crap. Even after all I’ve done for the bastard.

  All of his promises, his implying that he would reward me in special ways—it was all lies. I suppose that
I’ve been naïve, at best. What more could I have expected from someone as evil as Darkwolf?

  Damn him. Damn me!

  I’m so hot. My skin’s burning. I hate him. I hate everything about him and around him, and most of all I hate myself.

  But no more. It’s time for me to take what’s mine. It’s time for me to do what I have to do.

  Beneath my lashes I glance from Darkwolf to Elizabeth-Junga and back to Darkwolf. I know exactly how he’ll react, and his devastation will fill my soul with greater magic. Perhaps when I take my full revenge, his powers will become mine.

  Wouldn’t that be the ultimate payback to everyone who’s ever crossed me or treated me like I’m less?

  “Poor little Alyssa. We have to watch out for her because she’s so frail. Too weak to defend herself.”

  A smile curves my lips and I want to laugh, even as I lower my head again. Barely holding back a grin, I feel the blade strapped to my ankle and I stare at the splintered wooden wharf beneath my shoes. I don’t really see the worn planks, though.

  I see blood.

  I feel power.

  I feel victory.

  44

  Cassia! Her name roared through Jake’s mind, and fear for her raged in his heart like the storm as he fought off Stormcutter after Stormcutter.

  Yeah, Cassia could take care of herself, but she wasn’t immortal, and if too many Stormcutters pressed in on her.

  No, not happening. Not again. Never again. I won’t lose the people important to me another time.

  Jake realized then what it meant to fight like a man possessed. Long ago he had abandoned shooting his Glock in a two-handed grip.

  Instead, with his right hand he used his weapon to plug Stormcutters with bullets while using his left hand to slice others with his dagger.

  He utilized his martial arts skills like he never had before to fend off some of the Stormcutters so he had time to take down others with his Glock and his knife.

  The god-containing array gun bounced against his thigh, giving him renewed determination. It was not going to blow up in his face. It would do what they needed to capture Darkwolf. The gun was dark, made so that it couldn’t easily be seen.