Heart of Darkness

by Lauren Dane

  “Sorry? For what?”

  “You had to watch your mother die. For me. I’m sorry you had to choose.”

  “I chose you about ten minutes after I met you, Meriel. I didn’t even know her. She was part of my life for six months when I was a baby and she sucked at it then apparently. And when she came back into it she tried to kill my woman and opened me up to possession. It’s not like choosing between those two things is hard in any way. Certainly I wish she’d made other choices. I wonder if she could have been helped all those years ago. Would it have been easier though? To have known her and then watch all the horrible things she did? I can’t help but wonder about all the might-have-beens with my mother, but the woman she was in that warehouse was beyond redemption. You had nothing to do with that.”

  “Aren’t we a pair?” She let her gaze rove over his face. “Gosh, you’re pretty. Even when you’re sleep deprived and scruffy. Hell, because you’re scruffy. I like that beard. Anyway, I’m not responsible for her and neither are you. You were strong and you saved lives. We did it together.”

  He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Yeah. I love you Meriel. Therefore in the future, once this new hunter team gets all trained up and fierce, you will no longer be going out on missions of any kind.”

  “You got that right.”

  “Now, Shelley says you can’t take a shower until after the stitches come out. But that you could have sponge baths. I’m the man to deliver. What do you say?”

  Chapter 31

  DOMINIC paused outside the door. He’d had a very lovely late afternoon with the woman he loved. They’d both needed the time together to reassure each other they’d be all right.

  And they would. She was strong. He was strong and together they were unbeatable.

  He didn’t want any of that to touch what he was about to do, but they’d discussed it anyway. In the end, you were predator, or you were prey. Meriel understood that quite well and with these mages, they needed to be predator in the strongest of terms. He asserted, and she had agreed, that it was important for the leader to make this statement. Nell was fabulous at her job, but this was something Dominic was going to do because the point needed to be underlined in exactly the right way.

  He was no stranger to physical violence and his magick, having been underutilized for so long, was now tight and toned and very, very powerful. He could do this and he would.

  Nell opened the door and came out. They had been waiting to use any more severe methods of getting information from the mage until Dominic had spoken to them. “He’s ready. Do you want backup?”

  “No.” He moved past her and into the room, pausing until he heard the locks engage again.

  The mage they’d taken into custody two nights before sat on a bunk, head hung.

  “You tried to kill my woman.”

  “You need to turn me over to the cops. You can’t hold me here.”

  Dominic took four steps and drove his fist into the mage’s face. The force of it sent him sprawling to the floor.

  “I don’t have to do anything, as it happens. Human cops have nothing to do with this. We take care of our own.”

  “I don’t have to talk to you.”

  Dominic kicked him, hard. Twice, in case it needed to be underlined.

  “I don’t have to stop beating you down either. You see, we have a problem.” Dominic moved away and sat on the chair near the door. “Let’s go back to the beginning, all right? I’m Dominic Bright. My woman runs this clan. She’s the one your dead friend shot. And you are?”

  The mage glared through a swelling eye.

  Dominic kept looking until the mage broke eye contact. “Tim Ifill. You can’t hold me here! I demand to be turned over to the proper authorities.”

  “I don’t give a shiny fucking penny what you want, Tim. I’m in charge here, not you. I hear tell you were in Gloria’s little gang for at least seven months. Where you from originally?”

  When he didn’t get an answer, Dominic got up and cuffed Tim upside his head, leaving him on the floor again.

  “Don’t bother getting up. We’ll be playing this game until you’re ready to talk or until you have no ability to talk. I’ve had it. I’m happy to break other things if I have to. Two days we’ve been reasonably accommodating with you. Time’s up.”

  “Accommodating! You broke my nose!”

  “But I didn’t shoot you in the head, which is what I’d really like to do.”

  “The other one tried the tough act, too.” Tim sneered.

  “I have to hand it to you, I figured you’d be smarter. I’m amazed you got this far being so stupid. Until right now, we’ve been trying nonlethal methods to get you to talk. I’m bored with that. Meriel is bored with that. And she’s recovering from being shot so she’s extra grumpy.” He heaved a sigh.

  “As it happens, I don’t think I need to punch you anymore. Though it’d please me just because. So, you can tell me what I want to know, or I can get it myself.”

  “Go ahead and try,” the mage taunted, giving Dominic all the permission he needed.

  He used the spell Arel had shown him earlier. The hunter from Rodas had told him it might take some practice, but Meriel was sure he wouldn’t have any problem.

  And he didn’t. He walked right into the mage’s head and looked around.

  “You’re from Cleveland. Long way from home.” He shuffled through Tim’s mind and found what he needed and then disconnected.

  They weren’t as organized as Gloria had claimed. But there were other cells and they’d begun to network and divide up territory. That was the most frightening thing. Like a pack of hyenas. “You’re a lazy, lazy person.”

  “You’re not supposed to do that! You’re supposed to stay out of my head.”

  “Is that what she told you? Or what Cyrus told you? It’s true, you know, that we’re supposed to not take over people’s will the way I just did.” He shrugged. “It’s also not all right to kidnap people and torture them by stealing their magick and then killing them. How many witches have you harmed? I’ll get over my breaking of our rules. You gave me permission anyway.”

  “I didn’t kill any of those witches! I can draw from them without killing. I never killed anyone.”

  “I was just in your head, Tim. It’s a silly thing to lie to someone who’s seen your memories.”

  “It was an accident the first time. The second one got away.”

  “She did. Her name is Kendra de La Vega. She’s been very helpful with the information about you. I’d love to chat with her ex-husband, but I get the feeling her present husband will find him first. And then he can’t talk to anyone.”

  He stood again and Tim winced. Good.

  “Here’s how it works. We’re done with being taken advantage of. We’ve declared a war on you and your kind. Only we don’t have to steal magick. We’re born with it. We are not victims and you made a mistake thinking we’d stand for this. They burned us. They drowned us. They stoned us and put us in mental institutions. We will never allow it again.”

  “What are you going to do with me? What have you done with the others?”

  “They’re dead. And if you don’t want to join them, you’ll help in our attempts to find your friend Cyrus. Maybe we’ll let you leave.”

  “You can’t do this!” He got up and rushed at Dominic, meaning to knock him down.

  Dominic stood aside, grabbing the back of the mage’s shirt and tossing him back to his bed.

  “I can do lots of things, Tim. If you want to find out just what that means, you keep pushing. I’d advise you not to test me anymore. I don’t like you. I don’t think you reserve to be alive. It’s up to you. I’m happy either way.”

  He rapped on the door and Nell let him out.

  “Do you want ice for your hand?” She motioned to his bloodied knuckles.

  “No, I’m going to wash up and go back to Meriel. Abe is in charge, but you know how Meriel is, she’s probably faxing and ordering people ar
ound already.”

  Nell grinned. “You can’t keep her down.”

  “No.” He sobered. “I know you heard what went on in there. We’ve got a problem. This Cyrus is powerful. He only turned a few years ago so he’s not as far gone. It was his idea to hook up with the human separatists. He’s the one who recruited the mages and created their little group.”

  She took notes while he explained what Tim had in his head. There were good dates and times. And sadly, a list of those witches they’d harmed.

  He wrote down several names. “These are the witches they’ve killed. We’ll need to find their people to tell them what’s happened. Meriel wants to call a meeting with the other clans and covens and whoever else wants to attend to fill them in on this issue. I made her promise to wait until tomorrow. If I’m around, I can help.”

  Nell nodded, taking the paper. “We hit the safe house the human told us about. I don’t think Cyrus went back there though. Gage is going through everything we took. I’ll report to Meriel when I get home.”

  “Don’t overdo.” He touched her belly briefly. “Meriel wanted me to remind you.”

  “She’s one to talk. I’m pregnant, not recovering from a gunshot.”

  “Tim is going to start jonesing for a fix very soon. Don’t take your attention from him.”

  “He can’t draw in here. Magic won’t work. Arel is giving me a primer on how to make these facilities more mage-proof.”

  “Thank you for letting us stay in your home. I keep meaning to say that and then something else happens and I forget.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Of course. Meriel is my sister in every way but biological. I’d do anything for her. And thank you for helping William.”

  Just a week before, he and Simon had come to an agreement with William Emery. William would run the human part of the club.

  “Helping him? He’s helped me. Just having him around has lessened my workload considerably. And he’s a smart man. He’s got great ideas and a lot of experience running nightclubs. I think this will work out well. Despite all the mage stuff, the rest is good.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Definitely.”

  He went outside, taking a deep breath of the evening air and pushing away all the ugliness. He had a woman to get home to.

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  Chapter 1

  LARK shouldered her duffel and headed down the Jetway, hoping to avoid the cute and nice-smelling hipster college student who’d been trying to pick her up since they took off.

  He was a pretty tall guy though, so by the time she caught sight of the escalators down to baggage claim, he’d caught up with her.

  “Hey, do you need a ride or anything?”

  “No, thanks. Someone’s meeting me here.”

  “Do you want to get together? You know, while you’re in town?”

  If she were just a regular old human woman, she’d be all over this cutie pie like icing on cake. But she wasn’t regular anything, and she’d only break him. It was inevitable with humans, which is why she never allowed herself to partake in anything they had to offer.

  Her life was filled with weapons and other not-human beings with weapons, or those she had to use her weapons on. Human men never understood it, the life she led. She had to hide her true nature from them, and that was never a good way to have a relationship.

  “I appreciate the offer. But I’m here for work, and my time is pretty much booked until I go back home.”

  He frowned, apparently unused to his charms failing.

  “Oh. Well.” He continued to walk alongside her as they approached their carousel. And that’s when she saw the giant, beautiful man holding the sign with her name on it.

  Mentally, she wiped her brow and fanned her face. So masculine the heat and power of him radiated outward in waves. His hair was thick and dark, cut perfectly. A tousle of hair that made her instantly think about what he’d look like right after a long, slow kiss. Denim covered unmistakably powerful thighs and long legs.

  Lark had always tended toward men who were of the cute, college hipster type. Scruffy beards, lanky, sexy glasses. The kind of men who not only wore scarves, but looked totally adorable in them.

  Sign Guy was not one of those men. At all. He was one of those capital M Men. The kind she enjoyed working with because they were smart, strong, independent and yet controlled. She imagined though, a man like him would be a hell of a lot of work to have a relationship with.

  His eyes were of the slow, sexy type. Though, she noted, he looked around the room just like she did. An Other. Her heart kicked and her attention honed in on him.

  “Well, have a great quarter. Nice chatting with you.” She said it offhand as she wandered toward Sign Guy.

  A shifter. She paused, cocking her head. Not quite. The same, but slightly different. Not Fae, though his magickal signature was similar.

  His attention had been snagged as she approached. The man was a predator after all; he was sure to notice anyone who got near. His nostrils flared as she knew he took her scent in.

  “I’m Lark.” She held her hand out for him to shake.

  He smiled, a slow, sexy smile designed to part women from their underpants. The hand that took hers easily engulfed her fingers.

  “Simon Leviathan. Meriel sent me.”

  Lark nodded. “She said she was sending a friend of the clan. Thanks. I appreciate the ride.” Her suitcase hit the conveyor belt. “Can I leave this with you while I grab my bag?”

  “Which one is it?” He took the bag she’d been holding.

  “The red one.”

  But before she could move, he’d already taken three steps to the carousel and had grabbed her bag.

  “That all?”

  “Yes, thanks. I can get those.” She reached for the duffel, but he just sent her a raised eyebrow and turned slightly to continue holding the bag.

  “I’m sure you can.” He squeezed her upper arm with his free hand and then paused. “I’m really sure now. But I can hold them just as easily. We need to go upstairs to head to the parking garage.”

  And then he sort of ushered her just exactly where he wanted to go.

  She was still mildly annoyed at how he just sort of took over. Interesting that she let him get away with it, she thought to herself as she got her seat belt snapped. While she remembered, she sent a quick text to Meriel letting her know Simon had met her and was taking her to her hotel.

  He slid in on the driver’s side, and though the car was pretty large—she hadn’t been surprised by the big black Cadillac—he seemed to fill every inch. Tinted windows. Swank interior. Smelled good too.

  He paused before he turned the engine over. “You look tired. Would you like to go to Meriel’s? Or straight to sleep? I know you’ve got the meeting with Clan Owen’s governance council tomorrow.”

  Surprising how easily she found herself responding to him, a near stranger. She’d heard Meriel refer to Simon, knew he co-owned a nightclub with Meriel’s man, Dominic. That Meriel had trusted him to pick Lark up told her that he was to be trusted, even if her gut hadn’t already told her the same thing.

  “It’s already nine. I’ve gone over my presentation several times.” Including once with her sister and father, and, really, she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to talk about less right then than mages and death magic. “I’ve eaten and slept this stuff for the last few months. I’m as prepared as I’m going to be. I think.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Um. I figured I’d get room service when I got to the hotel.” She’d been in such a hurry after her last meeting with her sister, Helena, that she’d missed dinner, though she did eat a giant bag of M&M’S on the plane.

  “Do you like steak or are you a vegetarian?”

  He said vegetarian as if it were a suspect class.


  “I like steak. Vegetables too.”

  He hmmed, but it was laced with suspicion. “You’ll be staying in Meriel and Dominic’s old apartment.”

  “I don’t want to intrude on them.” She liked Meriel, but that didn’t mean she wanted to stay with her. A hotel meant she could walk around in her underwear and eat ice cream from the carton. She had to be nice and polite and make small talk if she stayed with people.

  “They don’t live there. They recently bought a house and had two months left on the lease.”

  Well that was nice, actually. An apartment meant she’d have a kitchen and some room. Of course that meant she’d have to go grocery shopping. Though if she knew Meriel as well as she thought, that fridge was most likely well stocked already.

  “Cool. Thanks for the ride. You’re not a shifter.”

  He continued to look at the road but one of his brows rose.

  “I’m sorry. I have a hard time telling the difference between blunt and rude.”

  His mouth twitched.

  “I’m Lycian.”

  She leaned closer and breathed him in. “Oh! I’ve never met anyone from the other side of the Veil but a Fae warrior.”

  Simon had no idea what to make of this woman. His wolf liked the way she smelled. Sharp like he did. Like a warrior did. But she had blue streaks in her hair. Hair she most likely cut herself. Maybe not even in front of a mirror.

  She most likely listened to bands no one ever heard of and went to shows in clubs with sticky floors. Clearly she liked shopping in thrift stores and probably had gloves that were once someone’s sweater.

  The smudge of her energy was bright and clear blue. Blue like her eyes. Earnest eyes, but the shadow of a warrior lived there. Even as she rattled on at random, her gaze roamed, keeping track of where they were and who was near.

  “How long have you been here? And by the way, if I, you know, fall over the line into rude, please just poke me and say so. That’s what my family does.”