Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3

by Regan Black

  He glanced at the blood pulsing from between his hands. "Finish me."

  Just as they'd predicted. Simon had been programmed with a depraved need to see what was inside. "Tell me what I want to know and you can have your blade to finish yourself."

  He shook his head.

  She gave the blade another twirl. The rising sun splashed across his tortured features. "Tell me now or you'll never know what you're made of."

  Simon glanced down at his hand, then back at her.

  She almost felt sorry for the distorted creature. "Redeem yourself."

  "Only suicide." He clutched at his gut. "Or twins. Twins can split his mind."

  She was mentally cursing the goddess. Wisdom indeed to install such safeguards. Too bad the bitch didn't realize she wielded the wisdom of the damned.

  "Calisto!" The queen's cry spun her around like a paperclip to a magnet.

  She dropped the rippled knife just out of Simon's reach and ran toward the queen. It was time to launch her final deception.

  Success or death. Hardly a wealth of options.

  "Work all things for good, Calisto."

  She stumbled at the sound of her father's voice. It was as clear as if he ran beside her. Suddenly, racing toward the most evil thing she'd never imagined seemed an easier task. Her uncertainty fell away, her heart burned with a pure fire and she cared no more for compromise or deception.

  * * *

  "You idiot!"

  Nathan landed with a thud next to his brother-in-law who was clearly unhappy to see him. "It's a trap. Nin has the maps –"

  "Kristoff was your only assignment and you're blowing it," Gideon declared, between rifle shots. "This isn't the time to mess with the plan."

  "But Petra –"

  Gideon cut him off again. "Petra relayed news from Simon. Kristoff has to take his own life to break the goddess's hold. Pet put a dent in the doctor months ago. Now get busy and finish what she started."

  Nathan opened his mouth again, but Gideon kicked his shin. "I'm done arguing with you. Do it or I'll have Danny-boy shoot you."

  Considering what he knew of the Gairden family values, he figured odds were good Daniel would happily take the shot.

  He applied himself to the doctor, using the back door the man had left wide open and followed the remnants of Petra's lead until Kristoff was a broken husk of what had once been a brilliant, if evil mind.

  * * *

  "Help me Calisto," the queen cried as Cali reached the summit where she watched over the battle.

  Cali skidded to a stop, trying to behave like a supplicant. The scene shocked her and warned her of the pending treachery like nothing else.

  She knew she was supposed to see Nathan holding a knife to the queen's throat, ready to behead her. But those images were a transparent veil over the truth. Kristoff was holding a short sword, much like her own, but it hung at his side, posing no threat to Nin.

  "Kill him. Quickly."

  The command brought Cali's attention to the horrific truth that was the evil queen goddess. She couldn't suppress the urge to cringe at the scuttling claws, the greed in the red eyes glowing from the depths of a skeletal face draped in ash colored parchment. No wonder she applied such a careful illusion for those she wanted to corrupt.

  "Calisto, your reward awaits."

  She went back to enticement. Still Cali didn't move.

  "Is there any other way?" she asked with the awkward wonder of a small child. It was her only chance to buy Nathan time to finish Kristoff. If he'd even gotten the message.

  "Your vow, guardian!" Nin snapped, her voice lashing out in a whip of fire across Cali's cheek. "Have you forgotten?"

  "Moody much?" Cali couldn't resist lashing back. She reached up, pressing fingers to her wounded cheek, smearing the blood Nin's voice had drawn. She nodded to the illusion of Nathan. "He saved me once. He got me here in one piece for you. Must he really die?"

  The images sifted, making Cali's stomach roll as the Queen moved closer, but she kept her eyes open, playing her part. She knew the blood made her the magnet, but vengeance filled her with a need to see the queen dance like the paperclip.

  "Child, remember what I have offered you. Will you withhold your gift to me?" The queen lifted a corner of her cloak to dab at Cali's blood and Cali recognized the opening.

  Cali dropped all pretense. Ducking out of the queen's reach, she dragged her short sword across her wounded arm and pressed her blood into the corner of Nin's cloak.

  "I offer the gift of my forefathers."

  The lining of the queen's cloak lit with white fire as Cali's blood illuminated the maps. Nin whipped it off to watch Solomon's mines, the Holy Grail, even location of the Ark of the Covenant come into view.

  Cali waited for her blood to reach the map key, hoping she'd got it right and not just offered an engraved invitation to the end of the world. Then it happened, the map compass glowed and the Gairden key came alive. Light burst from nowhere and everywhere as if a dozen flash-bangs had been tossed into an auditorium. For a moment, she thought maybe Gideon had interfered.

  Then the light fractured and moved into crystalline shapes of her father, brothers, and others who must surely be her antecedents. The shapes grew until they towered, surrounded, and swallowed the demon queen.

  As if she'd been shot with Paracuron, she was frozen in the onslaught, one dark lump of coal amongst so many diamonds.

  Then the world was silent but for the sound of her own breath puffing small clouds of dust where she'd fallen. The sun, now fully awake, seemed dim by comparison.

  Cali stared at the crumpled cloak, then her eyes moved, touching on the dust covered people surrounding her. She barely recognized them in the post battle exhaustion.

  Jaden stood across the circle, Brian and Gideon flanking her. But it was the man she felt at her back to whom she owed the most. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. She'd rather do anything than look at him. What if he resented what she was? What if he hated her for keeping the last secret from him? What if –

  "That's a lot of ifs." Nathan's steadiness was a balm to her battered senses and unsettled emotions. "Look at me, Calisto," he said aloud.

  She cringed at the sound of her real name. "I don't want to. Well, I want to. Sort of. I'm scared."

  He spun her around, but she kept her eyes on his chest, right on his heart. "You are a jewel among women. You are perfect."

  He couldn't mean it. She looked at the ground, scarred with blood and vengeance. She closed her eyes, but the images lingered.

  "Open up, love."

  She shook her head, but he was already inside. It wasn't intrusive. It felt…right. Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

  "That's my girl."

  "You can't still mean that."

  "I do."

  Brian and Gideon approached. "Those are some permanent words, man," Gideon warned.

  "The best words he can say," Brian countered, his arm around Jaden.

  "How close is Vegas?" Nathan's eyes were still locked with hers.

  Cali's stomach fluttered. He couldn't be thinking marriage. She couldn't be thinking marriage.

  "Oh, but I am. And where better to marry a woman who doesn't exist than Vegas?"

  Jaden nudged her shoulder. "Man's got a point, there. Petra can be here within twelve hours. And you wouldn't have to deal with the parents and all the trappings."

  Brian drew Jaden up flush against him. "Isn't she such a romantic?"

  The laughter, tinged with exhaustion, did more to restore Cali than hours of meditation on her best day.

  "It's the hope, baby," Nathan whispered in her ear.

  He was right. They'd won, vanquished the bad guy and his goddess and kept the world turning in safe oblivion.

  "I like hope."

  "Marry me?" He had a cocksure grin playing at his lips, but she caught a little fear in his eyes.

  She felt the smile spread across her face and chase away his worry. "Anytime, anyplace." She pushed up
on her toes to kiss him.

  Daniel groaned. "I'd rather fight than watch this mush."

  She could get even with him later.

  Nathan ended the kiss with a victory shout. "Wings up, boys, we've got a chapel to book!"

  Epilogue

  "Turn here," Cali said pointing to a dirt road that bisected green fields stretching out as far as he could see. He made the turn and the battered Mustang rolled along toward foothills. He felt several minutes tick by before a large rambling farm house came into view. Beside him, his wife Calisto – his heart kicked at the term – clamped her lips between her teeth. She was so tense, it'd be easy to sneak inside her head and apply a little calm –

  "Don't bother. It won't help." She turned in her seat, tugging at the seat belt. "What if they're mad? What if I'm shunned? What if –"

  "Those are a lot of ifs," he teased. "They can't be mad, you did your job and lived to do it another day."

  "But we're married."

  "True." For a whole week. While he couldn't be happier and knew she was thrilled, he was a little worried about her family's reaction. They were their own society from Cali's depiction. While he respected their ageless traditions, he had no intention of tolerating any behavior that might hurt her. They would eventually accept that she'd done what was necessary or they would suffer the regrets.

  "You're such a Neanderthal. And stop thinking so loud. Of course they'll be irritated that we didn't invite them to the ceremony."

  "You wanted the fast ceremony."

  "I wasn't the only one." She sighed, lips disappearing again. "Guess it's just my job to keep rocking the boat."

  Nathan slowed the car, put it in park and nodded toward the house. "It won't matter. They love you."

  Her head whipped to the group gathered on the porch and spilling down the steps. "Oh, God," she muttered. "Everyone's here. Brace yourself."

  He smiled, inside and out. He would've been disappointed to meet her clan a few at a time. From all she'd told him, they didn't do things halfway. He looked over the crowd, guessing which faces went with the names and personality quirks she'd shared. He could've picked her brain, there were no secrets between them anymore, but he wanted her to introduce him properly, out of respect for her and the family she'd come from.

  He took advantage of her bewilderment to get out of the car and open her door. He offered his hand, pleased that she only hesitated a moment before accepting the chivalrous gesture. They stood there, two facing too many and he squeezed her hand, trying to snap her out of it. "Cali?"

  She gaped, as if she'd forgotten how to speak and he knew she was appalled by the tear rolling slowly down her cheek. "It'll be fine, you'll see." He dashed away the tear and tried to move them toward the house.

  She didn't budge. He glanced up. It was as if the entire clan had frozen in time. If she didn't do something, he'd be forced to dive into her head.

  "Cali," he said with all the condescension she hated.

  "What?" The whisper was a distinct improvement over the silence.

  "Introductions?"

  "Umm." She looked at the woman who had to be her mother, raised that fine-boned hand. "Mom...this is Nathan."

  With that small acknowledgement, the family moved as one to surround her, them. Nathan caught snips of welcoming words mixed with disbelief, laughter and emotional tears.

  "You're alive," Cali's mother exclaimed, cradling her daughter's face. "Praise God." Her gaze dropped from the sky to latch on to Nathan. "I am Sondra and I surely owe you many thanks as well?"

  "Your daughter is the hero," he said, stating the simple truth.

  Suddenly he was enveloped in Sondra's warm embrace. "You are always welcome in my house." Sondra shouted at the crowd pressing in on them. "Let them breathe, let them in so they can tell us everything."

  She planted herself between Nathan and Cali, her arms hooked around their waists. "It is done?"

  "Yes, Mother," Cali replied softly. "All is safe."

  "Even you, Calisto? You are safe?"

  Nathan caught Cali's glance, relieved to see the sparkle returning to her eyes. To him, she'd always be as radiant as she'd been in that epic battle.

  "Yes, Mother."

  "Then all has worked for the good."

  To Nathan's surprise, Cali laughed aloud, the sound making the others turn and stare some more.

  "Hi, Mr. Burkhardt. I'm Daniel," the tall young man said, as if they'd never met. He reached out to hold open the squeaky screen door.

  Nathan thought he was playing the role a little too well, but he extended his hand in greeting, ready for the punishing grip. Ornery kid. But he looked relaxed for the first time. "It's Nathan. Glad to know you."

  "So you're married, huh?" Daniel asked, letting the screen door slap closed behind them. "Saw the ring."

  There was a collective gasp and the woman who must be Daniel's mother shook her head slowly, glaring as only a mother can.

  Nathan used his power to shuffle Daniel's feet. When Daniel realized the trick, Nathan smiled benignly and started to explain, but Cali filled the void.

  "Umm. Yes, we're married." She reached for her mother's hand. "But we'll do it all over if you want," she blurted out.

  "Do you need to do it over?" Sondra stared hard at her only daughter. Nathan felt as if the woman could read Cali as well as he could. Probably better.

  "No, but you missed my wedding."

  "And the honeymoon, I hope," Sondra said with a gleam in her eye.

  Nathan sputtered as Cali and her relatives laughed. "You're really okay with it?"

  "Only if you let us help you celebrate."

  "It's a deal." Cali beamed, sidling up beside him.

  He felt a happy glow all over, knew it was from just being close to her. "I told you it would be fine."

  She just sparkled, refusing to admit her prior doubts. "Can we stay just a few days before…"

  She referred to the caves where they would deposit the maps to their rightful place and she would resume the Guardianship as she'd always dreamed.

  "The maps are safe enough. We can stay as long as you like."

  She hugged him and he felt like he could conquer the world as long as she stood with him.

  * * *

  Calisto stood outside the entrance to the new cave, once more watching the sun sink, the fading light casting a blue shadow at the foot of the mountain. She didn't feel the cool air, only the warmth from Nathan's hand radiating through her body. She glanced down and smiled at the way his hand enveloped hers.

  In a week Daniel would join them and eventually more of her nephews. For now they were alone.

  "We're back at the beginning," she said.

  "You're whispering."

  She glanced up into his smiling eyes. "No one, no spouse," would she ever get used to that, "has ever been inside the sacred caves."

  Suddenly all the plans, the compromises seemed one sided. He'd given up his career, nearly his life, to be here – with her. "Nathan, are you sure?"

  He cupped her cheek, his gaze and his touch holding her steady. "Forever."

  "There's no rewind on this." Her view blurred, her eyes awash with tears. She'd come so far, they'd come so far. "My father would –"

  "Your father would be proud of a daughter who upheld the family commitment and saved the world as we know it." He bent his head, brushing her lips with his. "Now are you going to show me around or what?"

  She squeezed his hand, knowing he was right. Right for her and right for the secrets they would always keep. They stepped into the cave, parents of the next generation of Guardians.

  The End

  About the author:

  Regan Black is dedicated to providing action-packed stories with a paranormal twist to readers of all ages so you can savor a fantastic escape from your daily routine. If you’re looking for an author who delivers stories from the heart, full of unforgettable characters willing to risk it all to reach the goal, you’ve come to the right place!


  Discover other titles by Regan Black at ReganBlack.com:

  The Shadows of Justice Series:

  Justice Incarnate

  Invasion of Justice

  Veil of Justice

  From the Ashes novella

  Dream Works novella

  The Hobbitville Saga:

  The Pixie Chicks

  Hot Spots

  Breaking New Ground

  The Shadow Stone

  Snow Covered Resolutions

  Non-fiction:

  Adopt A Greyhound Guide

  http://www.adoptagreyhoundguide.com

  Connect with Regan online:

  Visit ReganBlack.com for excerpts, writing tips, giveaways and more!

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