Primal Pleasure: Pendragon Gargoyles, Book 3
Page 15
“Is that one of Constantine’s?”
“I think so.” He reached a hand out, but she stopped him inches from touching it.
“Maybe you shouldn’t. Maybe it’s some kind of catacombs booby trap and if you touch it spikes come out of the walls before they close in on us, or the ceiling starts to lower.”
“It’s not a trap.” Without waiting, he pulled it from the wall, much the same way he imagined Arthur had once drawn Excalibur from the stone. “Incredible.” The glow of the dagger was bright enough to hurt his eyes. He turned back the way they’d come, anxious to examine it in better lighting.
The ground underneath his feet shook, slamming him into the wall. Rocks rained down on them.
“Cian!”
Above them, the ceiling caved in, and he pitched forward, pushed from behind. He whipped around as the passageway collapsed behind him, sealing Emma inside.
Emma staggered back, the earth shaking so hard beneath her feet she went down hard. Her head struck the cavern wall, and nausea gripped her stomach and wrenched hard.
Fighting the urge to empty her stomach, she glanced at the light slipping away with the slide of rocks and earth until the tunnel sucked up every last bit of it, plunging her into darkness. In a heartbeat she was a child again, terror thick in her throat as the dark came alive around her.
“No!” Her heart slammed against her ribs, and she sprang forward, clawing at the barrier.
“Emma!” Muffled by the earth separating them, she could barely hear him.
The stranglehold fear had on her lungs eased up just a bit. She wasn’t a child anymore, wasn’t alone. Vibrations carried across the barrier, and relief made it a little easier not to give into the panic tearing through her bloodstream. He was trying to dig her out.
“Hang on.”
“Hurry!”
She must have sounded worse than she thought, because he quickly came back with, “Talk to me, Em.”
“About what?”
“Who taught you to count cards?”
“Leah.”
“The one who painted the mural?”
“Yeah. She’s probably half out of her mind with worry by now. Not that she’d ever admit it.” Leah was far too good at masking her emotions. Right now Emma wouldn’t mind possessing a little more of that particular gift.
Light speared through the darkness, and hope flared in her chest. She scrambled up, pulling rocks out of the way until she caught a glimpse of his face.
“Just a little longer, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He continued to dig, and more earth slid down to replace what he’d cleared away. The light was instantly extinguished, and she coughed from the dust released into the air.
“How long have you known her? What’s she like?” She heard him start again, but refrained from trying to dig on this side, afraid she’d cause it to cave in again.
“Twenty years.” Though sometimes it felt like forever. “She makes me laugh all the time and she loves Karaoke as much as she does gambling. And her favorite thing for breakfast is cold pizza.” She shuddered. “I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life and I prefer burgers to pizza any day of the week.”
He groaned. “Let’s not talk about burgers.” She smiled at the longing in his voice.
“Move back!” He barely got the warning out before more of the ceiling started to come down.
Again, she heard him digging, but he didn’t get far before the earth above them trembled.
“You don’t need me to save you, Emma.”
“And who will? The catacombs fairy?” He didn’t laugh at her joke, which she took as a very bad sign.
“Every time I try to dig, it collapses. You have to do this.”
“I’m not strong enough.” She hadn’t been strong enough as a child either, had needed her mother to find her.
“Yes, you are.”
The conviction in his voice, a warrior that wouldn’t let anyone admit defeat, almost made her grin. “You don’t understand. My magic—”
“Is more than enough.” He shoved more earth and rocks out of the way, and she blinked at the light that cut through the darkness “Here.”
It took her a second to recognize the feel of the dagger as she withdrew it from the small opening, then memories assailed her. She staggered under the overwhelming flashes as she felt the heat from the flames Constantine used to forge the weapon, her heart breaking at the knight’s regret for failing his king. Then the brush of powerful magic as the Lady of the Lake enchanted the dagger…
“Emma? Emma!”
She finally got her voice working, the memories fading as she concentrated on the sound of Cian’s voice. “I’m okay.”
“What happened? You weren’t answering me.”
“I think I forgot to mention that I can relive the memories tied to an object when I touch it.”
“Interesting trick.”
Not interesting enough to get herself out of the tunnel. “Cian, I can’t use this. There’s no way to predict what will happen.”
“You’ll be fine.”
His confidence in her, while insanely misplaced, nevertheless touched her. He almost made her feel like she could actually do it. “And what about you?”
“I’ll get out of the way.”
She shook her head. There had to be another option, one that didn’t involve using a powerful weapon to channel her hit-or-miss magic. “Cian—”
“Do it, Em.” That trademark arrogance was back in full force.
“Go back down the tunnel. You need to be clear just in case.” The other side of Avalon probably wasn’t even far enough away. This was Elena’s thing, not hers.
She closed her eyes, tightening her grip on the weapon. The power of the dagger crackled across her skin. It would be crazy to try something she’d never attempted. Better to use it to strengthen something she’d done before.
Holding the dagger in her left hand, she pulled energy into her right palm, let it burn hotter and hotter—and threw it at the rock barrier.
The purple flames dispersed on impact, the force of the blast knocking her backward. Not waiting to see if it would trigger another cave in, she scrambled to her feet and lunged through the opening.
She ran straight into another barricade, pushing it over as she toppled forward. Breathless, she raised her head and found herself looking down at Cian.
Her mouth fell open. “You didn’t go farther down the tunnel?”
“I stood to the side.”
“Are you out of your mind?” She didn’t even know why she asked when he clearly was. “I could have blown you sky high.”
Cian shrugged as though being reduced to kitty pulp wasn’t a big deal. “I trusted you.”
“You stupid, arrogant—”
He caught the back of her head and crushed her mouth to his. Only when her anger retreated and she softened against him did he loosen his hold on her.
“I trusted you,” he said again, but with him continuing to sweep his mouth across hers, she could only come up with one response.
“Why?”
“Because you use your brain and not magic to win at cards. Because you put other people’s needs ahead of your own, helping strangers on crutches and listening to your friend’s problems, even when it’s not always convenient for you. Because you’re loyal and protective of your human friend and the sister you would do anything to save.”
“And you thought all those reasons were good enough to trust me with something as powerful as the dagger?” The one she’d nearly unmanned him with, but if he noticed how close the blade had come to his groin when they’d collided, he didn’t let on.
Wait. Something he’d said tugged at her memory. “Something you said about strangers on crutches—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Someone is coming.” He pulled her to her feet.
She glanced down at the dagger, feeling nothing from the weapon. “Something’s wrong with it.”
He pulled her behind him just as four men came in to view. She recognized Urien immediately, his eyes—one green, one white—as creepy as ever.
How could they have tracked her through the catacombs? No one knew where they were… An oracle. Cian’s family had used one to track her, even deep in Korrigan territory.
Two of the men parted and Elena was jerked to the front of the group by a chain fastened to very familiar restraints.
Shit.
Urien twirled the end of the chain. “Nice, huh? I really do appreciate you leaving these in a bag at your pet human’s place. They’ve come in pretty handy.”
Ignoring him, Emma focused on her sister. “You okay?”
Elena cocked her head, her gaze darting from Emma’s throat to Cian. “And here I was about to ask you the same thing.” A sly grin curved her lips. “I’m thinking you got the better end of the deal this time, Em. Except for Gareth.”
At the mention of the sorcerer’s name, Cian growled. She touched his shoulder, needing to soothe the cat she glimpsed in his eyes.
Urien pointed his sword at Elena’s back, a reminder of who had the advantage.
Elena glanced over her shoulder. “Is that it? So the saying is true. Little sword, little package.”
“I don’t need much of a reason to take your head,” Urien snapped.
“Why don’t you take these cuffs off and we’ll see if your balls are really made of brass or just pussy willows?”
He dug the tip of the sword into her nape, and Elena hissed.
“I’m surprised Gareth trusted you to bring me in.”
Urien’s attention predictably shifted to Emma. “You give yourself too much credit, love.” He cocked his head. “So this is the gargoyle who caught two arrows mid-air? Intriguing.”
“He has nothing to do with any of this.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded. “Wrong time and place.”
Urien gestured to the fierce grip Cian had on her. “I get the impression your pet thinks otherwise.” He tsked. “I had thought you of all people had higher standards, Emma.”
“Happy to have disappointed you.”
He jerked his head at the guy closest to Emma. “Bring her.”
Her. Not them. However, her momentary relief that Cian was going to be left out of it evaporated the second Elena stepped forward.
“You really don’t want to leave him behind.”
Emma braced herself, recognizing her sister’s tone, positive she wasn’t going to like whatever came next.
“The gargoyle was cursed by one of Constantine’s daggers.”
Chapter Eleven
Cian glanced back and forth between the two women glowering at each other from opposite sides of their cell.
Twins. Identical twins. Being trapped with two beautiful women might be a fantasy come true for some men, but for Cian, it just made his head hurt.
Twins.
It had only taken one look at Elena’s numerous tracings to figure out which of them had actually cursed him. What he hadn’t been able to figure out was why Emma hadn’t told him the truth, and where all of that left him—aside from trapped in a sorcerer’s dungeon.
Emma pivoted from the iron door that had slammed shut only moments ago. “Why in the hell did you tell them about Cian being cursed?”
Elena shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Really? The way you thought castrating a dragon was a good idea?”
If Cian didn’t know better, he’d swear Emma was about to unleash her animal half.
“He had it coming, and besides, it was just temporary.” Elena rolled her eyes, and he got the impression this wasn’t the first time they’d had this kind of conversation.
“Or the time you cast an enchantment spell and made a wraith fall in love with one of Morgana’s trolls?”
“You have to admit, they were a damn cute couple.” She glanced at Cian. “In that so-ugly-it’s-cute kind of way.”
Emma wasn’t amused, her cheeks flushed with an angry color he’d been on the receiving end of more than once. “And what about this time?”
“I would have kept my mouth shut if I’d known you were in love with the gargoyle.”
“I…” Emma seemed to remember he was in the room. She’d been preoccupied with her sister ever since they’d followed Urien’s markings out of the catacombs and were transported—by dragon no less—to the sorcerer’s castle and locked up. “It would just be really nice if you could behave for a decade or two.”
“And how much fun would you have then?”
Emma’s eyes nearly popped right out of here head. “Fun? Seriously?”
Elena crossed her arms. “So you two haven’t had any fun? ’Cause I’m guessing there must have been at least a little fun going down for that to happen.” She pointed at the nearly healed mark he’d put on Emma.
“It’s not what you think.”
Elena snorted. “What? You tripped and fell on his teeth?”
He fought a grin before remembering that Emma’s twin was right at the top of his list of least favorite people.
“It’s not like that.”
“So that’s not a mate’s mark on your shoulder?”
“It’s complicated.”
When Elena glanced at him, he only shrugged, staying out of it for now. He knew from experience that it was better to let siblings get it out of their system. Half the time Cale had come away more scratched up than he or Briana when he broke up one of their arguments.
She turned back to Emma. “And I suppose that’s my fault too?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
Looking annoyed, Elena stalked toward his mate. “Is there anything you don’t blame me for?”
“Is there something here that isn’t your fault?”
Elena threw her hands up in the air. “God, maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
Taking that as his cue, he straightened from the wall he’d been leaning against since the two had started with each other.
“Why did you do it?” He’d been wondering for weeks, had given up on getting an answer out of Emma. At least now he understood why she had never offered an explanation.
Emma, who’d paced in his direction a moment ago, stopped in her tracks. He hadn’t let on that he’d figured out which twin was really to blame for his imprisonment. He could tell by the expression on Elena’s face when she turned toward him that she’d been anticipating the question for a while.
“I overestimated my control.”
“So why not undo it then?” Emma asked.
“I was a little freaked out at the time, and his brother nearly took a chunk out of my hide, so I bailed.”
“Leaving him like that permanently.”
“Not intentionally.” Elena sighed. “Come on, Em. You know I’m not that heartless. Most of the time,” she tacked on at the end.
For the first time he saw regret flash in Elena’s eyes. “I did try to undo it and nothing worked. So I went with a counter spell, but I just assumed it never took since I thought he was still doing his masonry impression until a few days ago.”
She frowned and glanced again at the mark on Emma. “Ah.” Satisfaction gleamed in her eyes, and he realized her counter spell must have been tied to his mate.
If Elena had tried to make it so that his mate could break the spell with her proximity, then when Emma ended up on the roof with him…
He was such as ass. All this time he’d believed their bond was related to some kind of enchantment spell, had fought his instincts, and the cat had been right all along.
“Ah?” Emma snapped. “That’s all you have to say?”
“So I should apologize for getting you two together?”
This time Emma’s voice actu
ally cracked with anger. “You want credit for making him think I’m his mate, all thanks to your enchantment spell?”
Elena shook her head. “Enchantment spell?”
Cian whirled on Emma before her sister said anything more. He knew the lengths his mate went for the people she cared about. She’d let herself be held prisoner for days to protect her sister. If she knew his feelings for her were genuine, she’d feel even more responsible for him. She spent enough time worrying about other people. He refused to burden her with his real feelings while they were locked up.
“When were you planning on telling me you weren’t the one who trapped me in stone?”
She blinked. “I did try to tell you a couple times.”
He crossed his arms.
She blew out a breath. “Look, I didn’t think you’d be all that quick to help me find Elena if you knew the truth.”
“You would have been right.” He was still angry with her twin, but not as much as he was himself. At the same time he knew if not for the curse, if not for his family tracking the wrong sorceress, it might have been centuries before their paths crossed.
Seeming to read his mind as easily as her sister, Elena gave him a smug look. “I like red. Rubies, designer clothes, sports cars. Just something to keep in mind when you’re shopping for an appropriate thank you gift.”
“Unbelievable,” Emma muttered.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I am starving.” Elena wandered over to the door. “Who does a girl have to curse around her to get some food?”
When Emma took a step toward her twin, Cian snagged her wrist, coaxing her in the opposite direction. Fully embracing their bond and accepting that Emma was truly his, left him calmer than he’d felt in weeks. Now that both man and cat were at peace with each other, he could focus entirely on getting his mate as far from the sorcerer as he could.
Emma dropped onto the bench beneath the cell’s only window, the bars over it fortified by Fae magic. She stared at their joined hands and carefully slid hers free. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything. If I had, you might not have followed me out of the casino that day.”
“I would have followed you through the catacombs.”