They were winding their way through similar corridors now, going to the entrance to the main building. Although they never wasted power, Zander could have transported them all to somewhere in the human realm. He didn’t though, choosing to save his magic for a time when they might need it. The front doors were looming ahead of them, and if Tyler hadn’t spent the majority of his long life looking at the changes it would take on, he’d be impressed. As it was, today the doors were solid granite with black and silver making stunning geometric shapes that appeared natural but could never be recreated in nature or by the most skilled artisans.
They made it out onto the grounds, and Zander turned to face his stepson. “Okay, you get to pick where we get spit out at. Choose wisely. I have no desire to sit in any backwater restaurant again while you learn how to eat frog legs.” While his words sounded harsh, there was nothing but the uninhibited emotion in Zander’s eyes. He loved Jackson more than anything, and although he looked like an adult, they would all remember that just a few short years ago they had been fighting to keep him from aging the way he had.
“Nah, I’ll surprise you this time.” With a wink, Jackson held out both hands and left his palms facing up. He didn’t need to say the words aloud to request the location they ended up at. The area around him started to shimmer, and they all followed suit. Each of them was holding their palms up, bidding the power of their home to send them with Jackson.
The magic that was used was a strange and compelling thing, coursing over and through them while it bent light and matter to envelope them. A vortex that promptly deposited their group onto the other side of the veil that separated the Blood Court from the human realm. The colors were muted, but the air tasted decent at least. Regardless of their need to breathe, all the pollution that man felt necessary was disgusting to their enhanced senses. Tyler looked around and was surprised to see they were surrounded by trees.
“Come on, Jackson. I literally said I did not want to go anywhere else that was in the backwater.” Zander didn’t really care where they were, but part of the good thing about advanced civilization was that they weren’t perpetually in the woods hunting for food.
“Don’t worry, I think it just sent us a few miles out of the way. I was shooting for New York, we might have just been shunted upstate.” He was doubtful, however, since he was new to using the court for transporting, something Tyler would have laughed at on any other day.
Today, he was filled with thoughts of a human woman. A woman that was no taller than five feet and who wasn’t slender in the modern sense of the word. She had birthing hips, and she would have been a warrior’s mate in his time. She was wearing pajamas when he had last seen her, but in his vision of her, she was wearing a dress. Something simple, white muslin in the simple style that was common when he cared what women wore. She would be the perfect woman, fire in her eyes and in her warrior’s bed, but enough emotion to fill a house of children. Shaking himself, Tyler knew that a human would be no mate for him. His life had ended a long time ago. He wasn’t paying attention to Jackson, who was going on about something. The other two were paying attention, so he should probably listen as well.
“I’m telling you when Anna touched her something happened. She saw something.”
“Why you didn’t just pick it out of her brain.” Jonathon was the one to encourage Jackson to use his power at every opportunity.
“I tried. As soon as she looked at mom and Winter, there was nothing but blank walls from all three of them. I’m telling you, there’s something wrong with that human. I don’t know; maybe she’s dying.” The look in his eyes was sad, and Tyler knew that Jackson couldn’t bear the idea of anyone dying. It was part of being a true empath. Emotion controlled his very existence and sometimes made it hard for him to function.
“She’s not dying. I felt no abnormality in her spirit or body.” He wouldn’t admit to being attracted to her, but Tyler could say with certainty that she was of sound body and mind.
“Well, I know what I saw, and by now I know that I need to trust my power more than anything.” Jackson was sure of himself, in a way that no juvenile or apprentice with magic would be.
“Honestly, who cares? She’s human. We don’t dabble in the world of humans for a reason. They are constantly fighting, dying, and procreating. We left that world behind a long time ago.” Tyler’s words were harsh, but they needed to be said.
“I have a feeling that this human is going to prove to be more than just a passing flight of fancy for the women in our lives.” Zander, quiet until now, spoke the words that would probably condemn them all.
“Correction–the women in your lives. I’m not tied to any of those batty women. I’ll remind you that I stay at court to assist you with whatever you need. But that does not include your wives’ attempts at helping a helpless human. I say let her wounds heal and then send her home.”
“What would you do if you were granted your wish, I wonder? Would you follow her and race to her side? Would you fight for a place with a mortal? Or would you stand by and let her live a life half–lived. Love someone with half of her heart, while she wonders what life would have been like if something else had happened.” Strangely poetic, Jackson chose that moment to voice the insecurities of every male in the world.
“I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t care about the human then, isn’t it? Can we go now? I’m tired of standing in the middle of the woods.”
“I suppose. Dad, you care to take us to a pizza place? I don’t care where but I need some deliciousness in my stomach because Anna was talking about eggplant lasagna earlier.” He made a face that told everyone what he thought of eating as a vegetarian.
“Yeah, yeah.” Instantly they were sucked back into their envelope and deposited in front of a pizza place in the middle of New York City. They went inside and were seated.
By the time Jackson got his pizza, they had changed the subject to more pressing matters. Jessica, the rightful queen of the fae, had come into her full power with the death of her father a few months past. They needed to meet with her and hammer out the new treaties that would guarantee the alliance between the Blood and Malice Courts were continued. Much like the Blood Court, Jessica’s power would feed her people merely by her existence and acceptance of her throne. While she was born for this role, their kingdoms still needed to cement their alliance. The only problem in all of this being that before Zander found Sarah, Jessica had a few moments in his bed. And although Sarah claimed there were no issues, Tyler knew that Zander would not want them to spend much time together. He would not be seen alone with the fae queen. Not now, not when he finally had the woman he wanted to spend his eternity with. That meant that Tyler would be the one to meet with Jessica, and she hated him.
Many times in the past, Jessica had threatened to put his head on a pike and let him watch as she dismembered his body. He couldn’t even remember why exactly she hated him. He hadn’t slighted her advances; she wouldn’t trouble herself with a modest warrior when she could have a king. She had been offended by something about his nature, and he couldn’t be bothered to care enough to fix whatever it was.
“I know you don’t want to go, but I need you to. If Jessica comes here, it would be considered an offense, but you could easily go there and meet the requirements.” Zander wasn’t looking to Tyler, he was looking to Jonathon. Surprising, since the old man had sworn off political ties since he was resurrected.
“If Winter is going to join me, we’ll travel to Italy. It’ll be a good chance for a vacation.” Jonathon had a smile on his face, wanting to do anything with his wife. Winter was a spitfire, having broken Tyler’s neck in the past. He was afraid of her, but he also loved and respected her. She breathed power, but she never used it in a way that could be mistaken for abuse. For that reason alone, she was revered. On top of that, Jonathon loved her more than anything.
He watched Jonathon’s face light up as he was undoubtedly thinking of taking an extended vacation wi
th his love. Zander was talking to him about details, things that would typically concern him but at the moment he could think of nothing. His mind was blank–trying to replace the feeling of carrying a helpless woman in his arms.
Jackson was talking now, his face animated and his words fast. Their conversation must have turned from the fae queen and gone into familiar territory for him, so either food or his wife. Tyler really needed to pay attention to what they were talking about, but he just couldn’t drag himself out of the mood he was in. All he wanted was some peace and quiet and yet he had agreed to come with them. Feeling sorry for himself, he supposed. They all did once in a while, but he was finding himself in the hands of misery more often than not. Mentally shaking the cobwebs from his body, he decided to get involved in their conversation. With his decision, the noise of his surroundings began to filter in.
The electricity of the overhead lights was humming, the fire in the pizza oven was subtle and yet warm at the same time. They were talking about the human again, and he instantly cued in on their words.
“But you don’t know if it actually means anything, or if Anna and Winter are just crazy. They are known to have bouts of insanity after all.”
“Zander, you didn’t see the look on mom’s face. She was just as shocked. There’s something about her that they know. It happened as soon as Anna touched her.” Jackson turned to Jonathon. “Did you feel anything? I mean, you’re the oldest out there so if they were able to then you should have too.”
“Hey, don’t look at me.” Hands up in the air defensively, Jonathon had a smirk and couldn’t stop it from spreading into a full smile. “Tyler is the one who was holding her. I was across the room. Besides, I stopped paying attention to women a long time ago.” Tyler blanched as the former king turned and threw him under the bus.
“No, you stopped paying attention to any woman but me a long time ago.” Winter sat down without a fuss and grabbed a piece of the pizza. “Mmm, pepperoni. My favorite.” She started eating, groaning as she took her first bite.
Confused, Tyler looked around for the other women. They seemed to travel in packs, like hyenas, and it was strange for one to be separated from the others. Funny, none of them appeared with her. She must be up to something.
“Are the others taking care of the human?” He looked at her, eyes searching for an answer Winter may not give.
Was she in their home, pestering Anna and Sarah? He had no doubts that she could hold her own in any verbal battle, but something was tugging at him to make sure she was safe. He didn’t like the idea of having to make sure she was safe. The court had loved the human. Their home had welcomed the warmth and soul that she carried, and he was having a hard time putting her out of his mind. He looked up from the table and saw all of them staring at him. It was the first time since they had known him that he had shown any type of emotion for a human.
“Oh, come on.” He put his head in his hands, and forced them through his hair, pressing into his head as he went. This was giving him a headache. All he wanted was sleep. “Whatever, I’m out of here.” Sighing, he pushed back in the chair and stood up. As he was walking out of the restaurant, he heard Winter utter one word.
“Coward.”
He didn’t turn around; didn’t want to face what they would inevitably be talking about. Yet as he stepped onto the crowded street, he knew Winter would follow him. Her magic was pressing in on all directions, and he didn’t even try to fight it. She didn’t want him to walk away, and so he wouldn’t.
“I just want to be alone.” Why couldn’t any of them understand that? He screamed at her in his head. He just wanted to be left alone, and they were always there. Always pressing for something he couldn’t give them. He was a warrior. He fought, and he killed, and he didn’t know how to do anything else. That would never change.
“One day, you’ll learn better than to walk away from me.” Everyone else disappeared. They were alone in the middle of New York City, and utter silence enveloped them.
“Please, Winter. I just want to be left alone. Give me that if nothing else.”
“You know, I don’t know why you think I hate you. My horse was a long time ago. I’ve forgiven you a thousand times over. Even if I hadn’t, you’re Sarah’s favorite.” With that, the tension melted. Her magic still kept them enveloped in a private bubble, conveniently hidden from the rest of the world while they talked. Not even Jonathon would be able to find them if she didn’t want it.
“What, Winter? What do you want me to say? I shouldn’t have killed him? He deserved it.” He had killed a lot of men before, why they would make a big deal out of Dante was beyond him. Sarah hadn’t even really cared; sure she would have liked to spare him. In the end, however, she trusted his judgment to keep her safe. They all did.
“This isn’t about that. This is something else…” She looked hesitant and unsure of herself. Her bright eyes were guarded, shaded with doubt. Her hair was pitch black, lacking any of her natural luminescence. Instead of wearing bright or flowing clothes, she was wearing a black shirt and a pair of distressed jeans. Rather than her usual high heels or designer sandals, she was wearing a pair of converse. Something was going on.
“Well. Why have you turned into one of the fangirls following Jackson’s favorite bands around?”
“See. That is the warrior I’ve come to know and love. Always observant.” Still, she was hesitating, deliberately waiting and drawing out the inevitable.
“What is it? You don’t want to take care of Jackson at another concert? Send Anna. From what I heard it sounds like you and Jonathon are headed out soon anyway.” Shrugging his shoulders, he dismissed the idea that he could have anything to do with her being uncomfortable. Unfortunately, he was starting to feel slightly uneasy. She was usually very confident. This, it just didn’t feel right.
She was playing with her hair, winding the black strands around her fingers, looking at him but not making eye contact. If she were anyone else, he would be sure that she was afraid to tell him something.
“Look, Tyler. I want you to know that there isn’t anything I could have done differently. It sort of just happened and I can’t take it back.” There was hesitance in her voice, and he didn’t know what to do with it.
“What are you talking about?” Tyler looked at her. The witch was holding something back, and he could feel it. It had something to do with the human. “We should have just killed her when we had the chance.” It would have saved them a headache.
“I don’t think you could have, even if you wanted to.” A bemused smile overtook the witch’s face, and Tyler got caught in the moment.
He couldn’t help it. “Why?”
“I think the Blood Court has claimed her.” She observed him, waiting for his reaction and she wouldn’t be disappointed. He could feel his face contort in disbelief and the muscles in his neck twitch.
“What? The court doesn’t claim humans.” Still, even as he said the words, he remembered the way everything felt right when she was in his arms.
“I never said she was human.”
Chapter Three
Mykah didn’t want to roll out of bed the next morning. Every muscle in her body ached, and she felt like she had been hit by a truck. Was it morning? She opened one eye and shut it again, yep. It was bright, so she grabbed her blanket and pulled it over her head. All she wanted was to sleep all day, but it wasn’t going to happen. Already, her muscles ached and wanted to be stretched. Sighing, she threw off her blanket and started reaching toward the ceiling. She put her head in her hands and rubbed her face attempting to remove the last of the sleep from her eyes.
She needed to get up and run. She hadn’t gone in forever, and her body was starting to feel weak. It wasn’t like she was a hardened athlete or anything, but she liked the feeling of it. Nothing could touch her while she was running. Music in her ears, she could escape all of her problems. After last night, she had a lot of issues that she didn’t even know how to start dealing with.
Instead of thinking about the craziness that taken over, she got dressed. Running clothes replaced her pajamas, and as she laced up her shoes, she realized that she had no idea where her phone was. After twenty minutes she found it under the bed where it must have gotten thrown when Dante had taken her last night.
Anger coursed through her veins as she let herself get lost in the memory. That creepy bastard had gotten into her house without a struggle. He had stifled her screams with one punch to the side of the head. It was something horrific, but she had to get over it. She had to put it all behind her. As she left her apartment, she didn’t even bother to lock the door. She had seen the worst there was out there, and nothing frightened her anymore.
She ran with a smile on her face and anger in her heart. She ran against the wind and let the sun beat down on her skin. Thankful that whatever power there was had allowed her to live, she ran as hard as her body would be pushed. Minute by minute she felt her feet hit the pavement and she ran away from her troubles. Her breathing was harsh, her sides were cramping, and she knew she had run less than three miles in total. Yet, she still pushed herself to run faster, to go further.
She was running out of energy, beginning to feel the pain course through not only her legs but up into her lungs. She wanted to keep running, wanted to run until she had crossed an entire ocean and put what had happened behind her. She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t bring herself to run anymore. Crying, she came to a stop. Wheezing, she put her head between her knees and hoped that she would hyperventilate and pass out. After a few minutes of just sitting there in the middle of the road, she gave up with a sigh and started the walk back to her house. Thankfully she had run a pretty circular route and was only a few blocks away from her apartment.
Door in the Garden of Shadows Page 4
