by Cassi Carver
“Wonderful. I’m so relieved.” She let out a long breath. “Couldn’t you have taught me these things after the lessons in how to resist soothing? I don’t know crap about these people.”
“I’ve done as much as I could in one week. Not much time was left after your lessons to me each night on the various flavors of Ben and Jerry.”
She sighed and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jaxon. I figured we’d have more time than this. Brakken could have killed you tonight…I thought he had. I thought I’d lost you and Abbey forever. I feel like scum for dragging you into this…but I can’t lose Abbey again.”
He rested his hand on hers. “I’d give my life for you. You plucked me from the pit of disgrace and helped me rise again. If I die, I die as a warrior defending his lady. There is no greater honor.”
Kara’s eyes welled again. She was no wimp, but the night had been too much for her. Everyone she cared about she thought she’d lost. Maybe even Gavin.
“Promise me this—if you can get to Abbey, use the last of your strength to flash her somewhere Brakken can’t find you. When things calm down, take her to Grammy D. She can help build a ward strong enough to give even Brakken a run for his money.”
“Of course.” He smiled softly, then held out the brass circle and a tiny knife with a hilt made of lumpy, carved bone. “Take this compass. Follow it southeast. If you walk quickly, you should make it to camp in an hour—sooner if the patrol finds you. And this dagger is for luck. I made it from the antlers of my first kill as a child and I want you to have it.”
She took the small dagger and stuck it in her waistband but left the compass dangling from his grip. “Thank you, Jaxy. But you do understand I’m going with you, right?”
The gentle smile melted off his face.
She quickly tested more blades from the pile until she found two that warmed to her touch. She strapped the sword on her back, fit the larger dagger in her boot, then unclasped the necklace Jaxon had given her. “Take this. I don’t want anything on me that could lead someone back to you or Abbey.”
When he wouldn’t take it, she unclenched his fingers and laid it in his palm. “It’s gonna be okay. I have a plan.”
Julian lay against the satin comforter and propped another pillow behind his head, staring out the balcony window at the palm trees whipping in the wind. A storm was coming, but he’d be gone soon, back to his pseudo-human life. It was hard living in a hovel in the city when he had a palace like this to come home to, but being close to Kara made up for the inconvenience.
He should have been there with her now, but after her time with him and Gavin, she’d run like the building was on fire. She was beginning to sense his presence now and he doubted she’d appreciate him following her around like a stray dog when she’d made it clear she needed her space.
He almost wished Ailexon would leave the Shadowland again so he’d have an excuse to glue himself to Kara’s side and not let her out of his sight. But she was too damn independent. A woman like her didn’t respond well to being pushed into something she wasn’t ready for.
He should have known better than to argue over her with Gavin as if she were a scrap of meat. He thought she might have been accepting him in her life, but then he’d fucked it up with his jealousy again.
Maybe he’d been wrong to ask for Gavin’s help. Maybe if Gavin hadn’t been there, he and Kara would have coupled together with no obstacles or lies between them. Only her giving her body and her love to him alone.
He closed his eyes and imagined it. Her tight sheath clenching the length of his shaft from root to tip as his milky fluid fed her womb. Her soft brown eyes staring up at him with adoration as he held her hips in his hands. Her pliant body resting against his thighs, accepting, trusting. Knowingly taking his seed into her depths as her body created life from their love.
Was it wrong to leave Kara with a child when Julian could be approaching the end of his lifespan? Hellfire, it probably was. But the idea filled him with hope. Hope that something more than the tree in the garden would mark his thousand years on this Earth. He wanted a legacy almost as much as he wanted Kara.
When he thought of a life with her, one part of his mind argued that no one could really say how many years he had left.
But the other part of him was more honest. Yes, he had wings—as Gavin was always quick to point out. But those wings didn’t truly symbolize the immortality of the highborn. He was already beginning to see the changes in his body that would one day lead to his true death. The slowly healing marks on his chest that Kara had made their first night together and his embarrassing lift off from the square were only two signs of many.
He prayed to the Maker that he could spend his final years with Kara in his arms. He would never want another woman as he wanted her. He would never love another woman as he loved her. She was made for him.
Boots scuffed outside the door and Julian’s head shot up.
It wasn’t a good idea to flash into a lord’s room if a man was fond of his head remaining attached to his shoulders. Even before knuckles rapped on the door, Julian reached out with his mind and found Aiden. He let out a small sigh. “Enter, Aiden.”
The door pushed open and the pale lord walked in, his short white hair as spiky as his personality. “Am I interrupting?”
“No. Just thinking.”
Aiden laughed. “Let me guess. Forlorn expression. Haven’t touched the food your servant brought up. It’s Kara Reed again.”
He frowned. “Perhaps.”
“It seems to be catching. Gavin is stomping around in a fine temper, ordering the men to prepare for the storm. I wondered why he was taking the weather so seriously—until I smelled Kara on him. I thought time with her would have put him in a better mood.”
Julian sat up, barely containing a growl. “So that’s why you’re here? To tease? To gloat?”
Aiden’s smile turned cold. “Don’t cast your bitterness on me. It isn’t my fault you can’t keep a leash on your woman. What did you expect, Julian?”
Julian closed his eyes and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Well, it isn’t what you think, anyhow. I didn’t want to risk another coupling and asked for Gavin’s help.” Aiden simply nodded and Julian wasn’t sure if he believed him or not. “Why are you here?”
“Two reasons. The first is to let you know I’d like to do the ritual to unbind your powers tonight after dark—unless you’d rather me leave you this way.” He raised a brow in challenge.
Julian grimaced. Having his darker powers bound against his will may have been necessary while he dealt with his territorial instincts for Kara, but being unable to call the shadows left him feeling like a dog that’d had his balls on the block. “Do we have to wait until dark? With these skies, I can’t see that it makes any difference.”
Aiden shrugged. “It’ll be easier if I do it under the moon.”
“Fine.” He supposed a few more hours wouldn’t make a difference. “And the second thing?”
“A guard sensed Jaxon’s arrival at his old nesting ground. I’m not sure what it means. Maybe Kara tired of him and sent him packing. Either way, I thought you’d like to know.”
Julian nodded, a thousand thoughts worming through his brain. “Thank you, Aiden. I’m sorry for being such a bastard.”
Aiden snickered as he walked to the door. “Yes, you are a sorry bastard, aren’t you?” Before he left, he peeked his head back in. “I almost forgot. Two of our scouts are an hour behind in checking in. I was going to ask Gable to flash to the city and get the report, but the lazy ass has taken himself off to hide at the first sign of work. Let him know Gavin needs his help if you see him.”
Julian swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Track him.”
“The mottle-winged monstrosity has veiled himself again.”
“Don’t let Gavin hear you call him that. He loves the prodigal brother more than you and I combined.”
“I’m hoping if we send Gable on enough erran
ds, he may forget the way back.” Aiden laughed, and Julian smiled in agreement. “How Gavin thinks Gable will make a good lord when he can’t even be bothered to service a lady of the clan is beyond me. A duty is a duty,” Aiden said with a wink.
Julian snorted as Aiden strolled down the hall. He knew something about duty, but if asked, he’d be unable to service any other woman. Kara Reed owned him, body and soul.
“Stop.” Jaxon stepped in front of Kara. Even if he was trembling with exhaustion, she couldn’t ignore the massive body blocking her path.
She flipped her hair back and glared at him. “What?”
“Mistress, so help me, Og, I’ve followed you this far, but giving yourself to Brakken so I can take Abbey to safety is not a plan.” His scowl was darker than the clouds above them.
As Kara stared across the water at the small island, chills swept across her skin and sank into her bones. She tried not to shake. If Jaxon thought she was weak, he’d never listen to her. “Your wings aren’t strong enough yet. We’re going to have to swim.”
Instead of stepping around him, she changed course and headed for the shore. He grabbed her arm. “Listen to me, you stubborn woman. Let me go alone. I can take Abigail to safety while you head back to the village for help. I doubt Brakken would take on the entire tribe in his pursuit of you.”
She shook off his strong grip. “Tell me the truth. Can you fly in and get Abbey without a distraction?”
He glanced away. “It’s not impossible.”
“Bullshit! You’re a horrible liar.”
“What if I’m wrong about the Mercury Lords? Lord Julian seems to truly care for you. At least allow me to try to summon him. Just because Gavin bears the symbol doesn’t necessarily mean Julian cannot be trusted.”
Kara shook her head. “I was never worried about Julian hurting me, Jaxon, but you said yourself they can’t defeat Brakken.”
“He could flash you away.”
“Not if he’s dead.”
His face was as hard as stone. “You’re really planning to give yourself to Brakken?”
“Once you have Abbey, I’ll see if this sword and I can change his mind about leaving me alone. If he wants to kill me, it sounds like there’s nothing I can do about it. If he wants to breed, I think he’ll find that quite a challenge with a knife in his balls.”
“Please don’t do this.”
She tamped down her regret and met his eyes, allowing her authority wash over him. “I’ve made my decision.”
She shucked her boots and put the larger blade in the waist of her jeans alongside Jaxon’s childhood knife. He murmured something behind her, a chant of sorts, and she felt the power rise up from him. She waded into the clear blue water and looked back at him. “Are you calling Julian?”
He shrugged, his lips pressed into a tight line. “I don’t have his charm. Anything with wings can hear my plea if their minds are searching. Let’s hope Brakken isn’t among them.” He walked into the surf and dove into the water.
Kara followed, sinking to her neck and diving under an incoming whitecap. The water was like a warm bath left to sit just a few minutes too long. At least she wouldn’t freeze on her swim to the island.
She paddled through the water and thought of Abbey. If San Diego had beaches like this, maybe Abbey would agree to lie in the sand and get some sun with Kara this summer. Abbey’s skin was pasty because she didn’t want to get wrinkled from the UV rays. She didn’t object, however, to watching the occasional game of beach volleyball when it included tan men in shorts.
Kara’s breath hitched and she almost sucked in a lungful of water as she stroked against the current. She wasn’t sure if she was crying—everything was wet and salty—but she couldn’t think about Abbey and stay strong.
The clear, shadowed depths beneath Kara suddenly lit up. Seconds later, she heard the crack of thunder over the water sloshing in her ears. She glanced up at Firebird Island and paddled harder as heavy drops began to fall from the sky, hitting the surface of the water and bouncing heavenward again before finally giving in and merging with the vast expanse of the ocean. Jaxon glanced back to make sure Kara was still behind him, then they both forged ahead.
It was farther than it looked to Firebird Island, and by the time she and Jaxon walked up the rocky shore, they were panting with exhaustion. Kara wiped the salt from her eyes and twisted the water out of her long brown hair as Jaxon slicked his hair back and spit again.
Kara frowned, almost angry with the bloody saliva caught at the corner of his lips. “Are you strong enough to get her home?”
He nodded, his expression miserable but resigned. “I am. I vow to you that if it’s in my power, I will take Abigail from this place.” He reached out a cold hand and wiped a trickle of water from Kara’s cheek. “You’re a treasure among women, and it has been my honor to serve you.”
Kara swallowed. “No goodbyes, Jaxon. We don’t have time for that.”
She marched up the beach, careful where she placed her bare feet in the rocky soil. As they got closer to the mountain, her stomach roiled. She felt the same dark energy she had the night she’d found the carved woman…the same energy she’d first felt at her bedroom window the night before she’d met Gavin. It was all she could do to keep moving forward as evil thickened the stifling air around her. “I think it’s this way. The base of that mountain looks familiar.”
They didn’t speak again as they walked. She could tell he thought this wasn’t going to end well, and she couldn’t mentally go there. She had to put one foot in front of the other and get to Abbey. She’d worry about Brakken once her friend and her warrior were safe.
When they came over the crest of the hill, a small valley stretched before them. Green shrubs popped out of the black soil along the edges of an old trail of lava.
A man leaned against the trunk of a palm tree, his legs crossed and his hands playing with a small piece of auburn rope. The rain glued his blond hair to his head. Knives and other heinous torture devices hung from the dripping straps crossing his chest. Kara squinted to get a better look at his face and her heart lurched.
Gavin.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Gavin?” Kara called before she could think better of it.
“No,” Jaxon whispered, taking her by the shoulder.
But it was too late. Gavin glanced up at Kara and smiled. At the same time Kara looked to the scene at his feet. Abbey. Naked and stretched out, her hands and feet bound with rope to stakes in the ground. Her body was pale. Pink rain dribbled down her sides.
Pink?
A small cry burst from Kara’s throat as she stumbled forward, never taking her eyes off her friend. The closer she got, the clearer she could see the rain pooling on Abbey’s belly, filling in the gaping tracks left behind by Gavin’s blade.
The sign of Brakken.
Kara fell to her knees, unable to support her own weight. The black rocks dug painfully into her skin, helping to keep her mind from retreating in shock. She heard the metallic sound of Jaxon’s blade pulling free of the scabbard behind her.
Gavin pushed away from the tree, still smiling. “I thought you would get here sooner. She’s almost bled out, I’m afraid.”
Kara moved her lips, trying to speak several times before the words finally broke free. “Why, Gavin? Why would you do this?”
Jaxon came to Kara’s side. “Stand, mistress,” he commanded, pulling her roughly to her feet. Then more loudly he added, “This is not the Mercury Lord. This is his brother, Gable.”
Kara settled her feet firmly in the soil and pulled the dagger from her waist. “Gable.” If not for the reptilian look in his eyes, he’d be indistinguishable from his brother. “Yeah, we’ve met. I’m glad to see you, Gable.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Are you really? Even with the dreams we’ve shared, that is a warmer greeting than I expected.”
Kara squeezed Jaxon’s hand hard. Remember your promise, she wanted to say. “Oh, trust m
e. I was expecting a black-wing. To see you standing there, I’m delighted.”
“And why is that?” As Gable twisted the short rope in his hand, Kara realized it was Abbey’s hair—a beautiful red braid gathered at both ends with twine.
She glanced at Abbey’s still form. She couldn’t tell if she was breathing. Her hair looked as though it had been hacked away by a dull blade, different lengths stuck to her forehead and cheeks. Kara felt like she was looking down on the scene from above. Her whole body tingled. “Because now I can kill you.”
Without another thought, she launched herself down the path, running full speed at Gavin’s twin with her dagger extended. When she was only inches from him, arcing down to slice into his chest, he vanished.
A moment later, he appeared on the other side of the tree with his wings unfurled, laughing as if they were playing a child’s game. “Not a true black-wing perhaps. But you see these?” He bobbed one black and gray dappled wing in her direction, like a peacock fanning his tail. “I am the only one of my species who has both. I’m utterly unique. Hope you don’t mind I chose the black feathers for our courtship. It was more fun that way, don’t you think?”
Kara’s heart pounded like the surge of the heavy rain around them. She gripped the dagger tighter and lunged at him again, hitting nothing but air. “Get Abbey!” she bellowed, spinning in time to see Jaxon slice through the final binding around Abbey’s wrist.
Jaxon dropped the sword and gathered Abbey’s limp, bloody body in his arms, his gray wings stretching from his shoulders. “I’ll come back for you,” he said over the sound of the rain.
“No! Stay with her. Don’t you dare let her die!” Abbey couldn’t be dead already. She couldn’t be.
Jaxon nodded with a quick jerk of his head and pained concentration washed over his features as he began to flash. Then, like a scene from her worst nightmare, Gable materialized behind Jaxon and plunged a blade into his back, delivering the blow to his spine, between the base of his wings.
