She nodded against his shoulder, kissing flesh already chilling from the freezing water. “We should probably get out of here.”
A pounding on the bathroom door startled them. “Kit and I are really glad you two finally got together. Sounds like it went well. But you’re scaring the werewolves, and I need to know where Liz is right now, so we need you to come on out of there. The sooner we get everyone home the sooner I can get back to my mates.”
They looked at each other and started to laugh, saying his name in unison. “Lux.” Hannah couldn’t find it in her heart to be embarrassed. She was too…happy. From the glow in Jasyn’s eyes as he turned off the shower and dried her off, he felt the same.
“This is delicious barbeque. Jesse will be sorry she missed it.” Kit bit into yet another large turkey leg, much to the fascination and delight of the Were children watching every move he made. Apparently, word of what he was had spread through the small community like wildfire. The younger kids had been peppering him with questions.
“You don’t look like a giant.”
“I get taller.”
“Taller? How tall? Can you get as tall as that tree over there?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
Jasyn smiled and shook his head, looking over at Lux. “I was the hero for about five minutes before he arrived. But kids are all the same. Who can compete with a giant?” He would never admit it, but he was glad Kit had come. He’d grown close to the Sariel guard over the last few years, considered him a friend.
Lux chuckled, licking the sauce off his fingers with obvious delight. “Too true. I could rain lightning down in the middle of this party, and they’d still want to see him grow.” He elbowed Jasyn, directing his gaze toward Hannah, her hands animated as she talked with the women of the compound, asking if anyone had seen Liz. Jasyn shouldn’t be surprised that he wanted her again. A part of him resented Lux, even though he’d come to heal him. Even Kit, though he knew the Igigi had come to help. He just wanted the world to stop so he could make up all the time he’d lost with Hannah.
“For a Were you are fond of your courtship, aren’t you? Arygon could learn a lesson or two in romance from his younger brother.”
Jasyn shook his head. “Arygon goes after what he wants. That’s why he was born to be an Alpha. He didn’t wait eighty years to claim his mate. Mates,” he corrected himself. “And I’m still waiting because of those damned Shadows. Think you can heal this?” He tapped his temple.
“Darling, you really shouldn’t beat yourself up about it. From what I saw, our Hannah isn’t holding any grudges.”
“She’s talking to you now, isn’t she?” At Jasyn’s nod Lux grimaced. “No offense, Nicolette, but I can’t imagine a worse fate for a man set on claiming his mate to have the equivalent of a mother-in-law privy to all his intimate thoughts.”
“Thanks for pointing that out, man.”
“Anytime, Dydarren. We’re family after all.” Lux glanced over at Hannah again. “She told you about my children’s part in this didn’t she? That Alexei, Pax and Rhys ganged up on her and led her right to you. Leave it to Zander’s heir to lead my innocent children astray.”
“Alexei? They must have exchanged blood with her. That child is too brilliant for his own good.”
Jasyn could only agree with Nicolette’s assessment. “Why did they put her in that kind of danger?”
Kit joined them, shooing the children away with the promise of showing them his ability tomorrow. “Jesse says even her father admits to being wary of Alexei. He’s powerful. And smart. He wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t believe Hannah could help. He loves Nicolette. And his cousins love their Uncle Jasyn. They wanted to help.”
Wyley loped over to them, cowboy hat firmly in place. “Don’t mean to eavesdrop.” He chuckled. “Actually that’s exactly what I meant to do, but you understand, I have to keep me and mine in mind first.”
“Understandable.” Jasyn’s nod welcomed him into the small group.
“He can spy on me anytime.”
“Great Mother, why do you hate me?”
“She doesn’t hate you, darling. If anything, I’m the one being punished. My body is rotting in England, when I could be bucking with my very own bronco right here.”
He rubbed his temples, and Kit’s expression was sympathetic. “We appreciate your hospitality. We didn’t mean to drag innocents into this.”
Wyley’s smile was broad. “It certainly seems more exhilarating in your neck of the woods. The most excitement we have is the occasional militant hunter. Or a sighting of the Cursed One. We know good folks when we see them…and bad. If you need any more help with those Shadow Wolves, we’re in.”
“I may be in love.”
“Shut up!”
Lux laughed at Wyley’s offended expression. “He doesn’t mean you, Wyley. That mark on his temple is just giving him one hell of a headache. We’ll need to get to that as soon as we find Liz and make sure she’s well. Cursed One? My grathita mentioned something about another Trueblood with Shadow marks.”
Before Wyley could respond, a cry filled the night. A sound so terrifying that it stunned the large gathering into absolute silence. Again and again, the anguished screams traveled through the chilled night air.
“It’s him.” The Cursed One. It was his cry. And that could only mean one thing. Jasyn raced for the outer gate, Lux and Kit one step behind.
Kit took out his sword. “What’s going on, Dydarren?”
He shouted over his shoulder, already knowing they were too late. “He’s her mate…grathita. He must be. And I have a feeling no one told him about what happens during Trueblood Unity.”
Lux looked like he might be ill. “No. Sylvain didn’t tell me. We have to get to Liz. If she’s had three doses of his blood… I can’t believe she survived the first two. She’s Unborn. Even a Trueblood can be sickened, sometimes to death from Shadow-cursed blood.”
“Oh Goddess. Elizabeth.”
“We’ll find her, Nicolette. Don’t worry.”
Thank the Mother he hadn’t given in to his desire to bite his own mate. That she hadn’t had more than a taste of his blood. If he’d caused her any pain…
It didn’t take Jasyn long to find him. At the base of a large tree Midnight rocked her limp body. He was murmuring to her, trying to wake her, no doubt completely unaware of the tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Sweet Mother protect us, it can’t be.” At Lux’s whispered words the Wildman pushed the slumped body behind him, his fangs bared to the encroaching attackers. He barely looked human, and his eyes held not a trace of recognition.
“Careful, Lux. Remember how Zander reacted.” Kit put his sword away slowly. He knew not to antagonize a Trueblood protecting his vulnerable grathita during the change. Regina had lay still as the dead for two days after the Mediator’s third blood sharing and no one had been able to go near her for fear of sending Zander into a rage.
Jasyn was at a loss. He remembered what Liz had called him. “Midnight. Midnight, listen to me. You shared blood again, didn’t you? With Liz. She’s not dead, Midnight. She’s not hurt.”
The crazed vampire tilted his head, recognizing the name. Then he caught sight of the other men beside Jasyn and began his threatening growl again. Jasyn lowered his voice, never taking his eyes off the snarling man. “Lux, we may have a problem. Wildman was barely hanging on to his control before this happened. And he’s stronger than most Truebloods I’ve seen. Including you.” A Were transformation was painful, but it was nothing compared to the insane coma Truebloods experienced. Still, Jasyn thought about how he’d feel if strange men came upon Hannah when she was most vulnerable. He would kill the bastards.
“Kit, maybe we should go back—“
“Kit?” The voice was nearly indistinguishable. Midnight’s piercing blue gaze honed in on the tall Sariel guard with deadly intent. If he recognized him as one of Liz’s old lovers, there may be no way to avoid a confrontation.
Hannah’s scent wafted over him, and Jasyn swore under his breath. “Let’s just invite everyone to come and stare at him. That’ll calm him down.”
Hannah took a deep breath and stepped beyond the safety of the men, closer to Midnight. “Sleep!”
Nothing happened. His quiet growl intensified, and Jasyn’s heart began to race. “Honey, step back. Slowly.” His body tensed when instead of following his orders, she moved closer. If they got out of this intact, she was in for the spanking of her life.
Hannah’s eyes were wide and unblinking. Wildman wove on his feet, but didn’t collapse. Hannah wove with him, staring him down. His growling stopped, an expression of confusion crossing his features before he collapsed in a heap beside Liz.
“She’s like a snake charmer. A beautiful snake charmer.” Wyley, who’d obviously followed Hannah out into the woods, sounded impressed. Jasyn glared at the cowboy. Lux and Kit immediately went to the two unconscious bodies, Lux ensuring Liz was clothed before lifting her up in his arms.
He stopped beside Hannah, who looked a little shaken. “Glynn and Mysha said the connection between you and the children will continue to weaken. We need to do this now. This is far worse than anyone told me, and we only have a few hours before sunrise.” She nodded and watched them walk back toward the Were compound, hugging herself as though she just realized she was cold.
Jasyn strode to her side and wrapped his arms around her, warming her with the heat from his body. He’d been a fool, thinking she couldn’t handle everything he was. That she was too fragile to be his equal in every way.
“Yet another sin we share, Beta. She was born to our world with a broken heart. All I knew was I needed to protect her. From you. From pain. From everything. After all these years, that never changed. I didn’t see she was capable of more.”
“You scared me, honey. I was afraid your bravery might lose me my mate.”
Hannah’s wet laugh was muffled as she buried her face in his neck. “I’m not brave, Jasyn. Those kids are brave. Once their power is gone I’ll be back to being just plain Hannah.”
He lifted her chin to look into her stormy blue-grey eyes. “You’ve never been just plain anything, love. You’re my Sheba. My mate. And as soon as this is over I’m going to spend the next eighty years showing you just how special you are.” He rubbed a tear off her cheek and tried to smile. “Now what is it Lux wants you to do?”
She pulled away from him and starting walking back to the compound. “Nothing much. I think I have to go into Wildman’s head and untangle the knots the Shadow’s mark has made of his mind.”
“What?”
“What?” Jasyn echoed Nicolette’s voice in his mind. Anger at Lux for putting Hannah in that kind of position replaced every other emotion. He whipped Hannah around, stopping her from entering the compound.
She groaned. “I don’t know why he’s like that or who did it to him, but what I do know—and please Goddess don’t ask me how I know this—is that those marks are a danger to Liz now too. Unity is too complete. Too intimate a joining. She’ll be lost in his darkness, and there may not be a way to bring her back.” She jerked out of his grasp. “We can’t let that happen, Jasyn. If I can help, I’m going to.”
“What can I do?”
Her shoulders drooped in relief, and she took his hand in hers. “Pray to the Goddess. That’s all any of us can do right now. And cross your fingers that those kids knew what they were doing when they put their faith in me to save the day.”
Chapter Six
“I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. I knew Alexei was capable of doing something like this, but I had no idea my twins would get involved as well. They obviously didn’t think their parents were capable of handling the situation without their interference. You shouldn’t have been put in the middle.”
Hannah patted Lux’s hand. “They were only trying to help. And believe me, they have. You have wonderful children, Lux. You and Arygon and Sylvain are very lucky.”
He smiled through his worry, unable to completely hide his paternal pride. “They obviously take after their mother more than we thought. But this? That’s all me I’m afraid.” Hannah laughed softly, knowing it was true. Lux had always bucked the rules. Choosing to be a Healer instead of towing the political line of the Sariel family. Not one but two grathitas, male and female, and both werewolves. She didn’t doubt that some of his rebelliousness rubbed off on his offspring.
Her smile faded when she looked down at the two bodies on the bed. Liz had been through so much, she deserved the happiness that came from Unity. But with him? He was barely civilized, borderline insane and an unrepentant killer. She’d watched the cold, emotionless way he’d torn the Shadow Wolves apart. She held no love for the Shadow, but Liz’s grathita scared her. Why would the Goddess choose such a man?
She thought about Jasyn. Irritating, bossy, old-fashioned Were. Always underestimating her. Always keeping secrets. Yet, she loved him. She would die for him. Who was she to judge another’s heart? “You reacted when you first saw him. Do you know him?”
Lux sobered as well. “I can hardly believe it myself, but I do. When Alexei first described the man he’d seen through your eyes, Sylvain told me Mysha almost fell over. He was a well-guarded secret of the Shadow. And someone my people believed to have died right before the Great War. Initially, I think he was the reason Malcolm joined the fight in the first place. And, like always, everyone followed Malcolm’s lead.”
“Liz’s husband?”
“Her husband…and her grathita’s twin brother. I was too young back then to fight or understand the turmoil going on around me, but I remember Malcolm weeping in my mother’s arms over the disappearance and presumed death of his twin. Zander and I had always thought him invincible, seeing him so heartbroken was something I could never forget.”
Kit, who’d been a silent shadow in the room, shook his head. “Too many secrets. And whoever’s keeping them thinks they are important enough to destroy families, start wars and kill to keep. I just don’t understand. Why this man? Why, if Nicolette and Jasyn were getting too close to the truth, wouldn’t they just kill them and be done with it?”
Hannah sighed and looked back toward the bed. “Maybe he’ll know. Lux, tell me what I need to do.”
Lux joined her, all business. “I’ve forced a few of Glynn Magriel’s concoctions down his throat, which should lower his guard enough to let us in. The most important thing you need to do is to get out of the way.” Her confusion must have shown on her face. “The old women believe that they can help through Alexei’s connection to you. Think of yourself as a conduit. Clear your mind and let the knowledge flow through you.”
“Is she in any danger?” Jasyn was leaning against the wall beside Kit, trying to appear calm, but she knew him better. He didn’t like feeling helpless. Didn’t like the idea that she would be facing an enemy that he couldn’t see, couldn’t fight.
Lux had no sympathy. “I won’t lie. The first time I had to deal with marks like these were Regina’s. They were nothing compared to these, and it took all my knowledge, and Zander’s blood to heal her. I have never seen anything this complicated.” He ran a hand through his hair. “From what you’ve told me, it seems to block him from thinking coherently. It obviously stops him from remembering who he is, or he would have returned home. Plus his own blood twin couldn’t sense that his brother was alive. Someone took his time with this spell. Wanted to ensure it would last for the rest of his life.”
Hannah couldn’t imagine that kind of darkness. To exist without any sense of self, in total isolation, seemed fate far worse than death. And this man had been like this since before the war with the Shadow Wolves. Her heart ached for him. Lux touched her shoulder. “Good. Compassion and a desire to heal are key components to healing. Let it flow through you. Let it guide you.”
She sensed Jasyn behind her before he turned her to face him. Her eyes closed at the tender touch of his lips on hers. “Stay sa
fe, Sheba.” Her lashes lifted to watch him walk away, rejoining Kit. Two guardians watching over them.
Hannah sat in a small chair beside the bed, with Lux walking over to the opposite side, sitting next to Liz. Lux rolled up his sleeve. “Damn it all, Lizzy. You certainly never do anything small.” He met Hannah’s gaze. “I’m even more concerned about her. Sariel blood is strong, the purest of the Truebloods, and it helped to save Regina, to strengthen her defenses and aid in healing.” He sighed. “She’s strong, but she was still an Unborn. An Unborn who drank the blood and had sex with a very sick man. The Shadow’s spells are like a sickness. An illness focused on a single task. And Liz has taken his illness into her own body. If we heal him, she may survive, but it’s still very dangerous. I’m going to give her some of my blood, to give her a fighting chance.”
Lux told her to rest her hands on Midnight. One beneath his neck, the other along his collarbone. “Now close your eyes, and open your mind. They are there, waiting to help.”
She could feel them. Priestess Magriel, Mysha—Sylvain’s guardian and a healer herself—the children and even Regina and Sylvain, sending their energy and love to the broken Trueblood through her.
Her mouth opened, words she didn’t understand leaving her lips. Her awareness followed the words into the body beneath her hands, into his mind. Chaos. Darkness. Pain. She wanted to scream out with the pain that was all around her.
A small hand slipped into hers, and she looked down. Alexei. His golden locks were a beacon of light in the darkness, and his touch separated her from the pain. He pointed into the blackness. “Look.”
The sharp, swirling darkness had turned into rooms sealed with heavy metal doors. A blue stream of light was prying open the closest door. She instinctively knew that the light had been created by the Healers. Hannah watched as the door cracked open, peering inside.
Midnight Falls: Children of the Goddess, Book 4 Page 8
