by Jami Gray
Hell yes, they would.
In the months she had spent under Cheveyo’s tutoring, she got the impression even he was uncertain of how deep their “little” connection really went. Sprinkle in her unpredictable magic, and the witch had created a volatile stew. Now that it had been altered with the addition of Gavin’s magic, she’d bet good money Cheveyo would start considering his options.
If their positions were reversed, and it was her in the witch’s position, she’d be seriously contemplating how to use her new tools to increase her power base. ‘Use your tools, don’t let them use you.’ Her uncle had said that more than once.
You can remove the threat, cold practicality whispered. It was just her, the weakened witch, and the dark shadows. She wasn’t a fool. Embracing the unemotional assessment, she recognized the valid point. Getting rid of Cheveyo would ensure she and Gavin would remain safe from the other Kyn. Letting him live meant he could turn this link around on her and Gavin.
She looked at the man lying on the ground. He could be a threat. She lifted her hand to his face, letting her palm cup gently over his mouth and nose. The soft brush of his breath against her skin gave her pause.
‘Use your tools.’ Her uncle’s voice echoed through her mind. Killing was not always the answer. Tied as he was to her and Gavin, he could become a very powerful ally, especially since his existence hinged on theirs. She took her hand away.
Besides, there was a time when their positions had been reversed, and she was the one dying at his feet. Instead of removing a possible threat, he bound them together, pulling her back to the land of the living. Could she return the favor with a blade to the heart? More importantly, after the soul-shredding light the Soul Stealer had shed on her blackest aspects, could she afford the cost?
The answer was a quiet but resounding, No.
For the first time in forever she held something precious in her clumsy grasp—her burgeoning relationship with Gavin. It was something she thought she’d never find. Granted, she already made so many mistakes, but compared to what she was considering, those were fixable. If she took this step, she would lose not just Gavin, but the last remaining aspect of the woman she fought so hard to save.
Light danced in the shadows and the sound of wood dragging against dirt preceded Gavin’s approach. Getting to her feet, she met him at the stone archway. He carried two sturdy branches and the ratty blanket from the cabin. She was happy to see his face was a little less pale. They worked in companionable silence, constructing the travois. Once both the blanket and jacket were tied between the wooden branches, they loaded Cheveyo.
“Ready?” Gavin grasped the wooden handles.
Nodding, she led the way back through the tunnel with the light bobbing along. It was slow going. The narrow passageway and rough dirt floor made it nearly impossible not to jar the injured man. Lugging the deadweight took its toll on Gavin as well, and she insisted on stopping a few times, ignoring his protests.
One benefit of the tight tunnel was her ability to stand in front of him. Short of bowling her over, he didn’t have much of a choice on whether or not to stop. The second time she did that, he growled at her. Frustrated with his pigheadedness, she growled back. Then the silliness of their actions struck them both and they shared a smile.
Reaching the trapdoor, they found a new challenge.
She pushed her tangled hair out of her face. “Well, damn.”
Gavin stopped, laid the travois down, and joined her as she frowned at the square pale opening sitting above them.
Hands on her hips, she transferred her glare from the opening to the prone form of Cheveyo. “How are we supposed to get him up there?”
“We need to get him on his feet.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, and how do you propose we accomplish that? If bouncing along the dirt for the last twenty minutes hasn’t even produced a moan, how do we get him upright?”
He shot her a wicked grin. “I got it covered.”
She so didn’t want to know. “Fine. Once he’s up then what?”
“I’ll go up first, while you keep him upright. I pull and you push.”
Since the upcoming trip through the forest was daunting enough, she thought he was being overly optimistic. But they really didn’t have any other choice. “If he falls, I’m blaming you,” she muttered.
His only answer was a low chuckle. He crouched over the witch and placed his hands on either side of Cheveyo’s temples. She wasn’t sure what he was doing until his magic sent ants crawling over her skin.
When the first faint moan surfaced, she thought she imagined it. But it was quickly followed by another and then Cheveyo’s eyes snapped open.
She peered over Gavin’s shoulder. Tension crawled up her spine as she caught the cloudy confusion in the Cheveyo’s dark eyes. The disturbing vagueness only added to Gavin’s earlier warning of how much may have survived the rejoining.
Gavin worked an arm under Cheveyo’s shoulders. “Come on, man. On your feet.”
With none of his usual grace, Cheveyo pushed to his feet. Instead, each movement seemed to belong to a painfully old man. There was nothing for Raine to do but stand to the side until Gavin propped him against the wall near the opening. Taking Gavin’s place at Cheveyo’s side, she shouldered his weight.
Gavin jumped and grabbed the edge of the trapdoor. His shoulders and arms coiled and bunched, as he dragged his body up. He reappeared and leaned most of his upper body through the hole.
Raine strained under Cheveyo’s full weight. Somehow, she stayed on her feet and got the witch positioned under Gavin’s outstretched arms. “Cheveyo.” She sharpened her voice into a command. “Arms up!”
He blinked vacantly and his weight settled more firmly against her. Frustration spiked as she adjusted her hold.
“Damn it,” she hissed.
Staring angrily into his slack face, her volatile emotions had her cat padding closer to the surface. It was a bit of shock to feel her nails alter into the thicker, curved points of her cat’s claws. She flexed her hands, digging the sharp points into his ribs. Finally, she got a spark of the man buried deep inside. Arrogant anger suffused his face. Before any scathing remark could be made, she snapped, “Raise your damn arms and help Gavin get you up, or I’m leaving your sorry ass here.”
When he did exactly what she asked, she didn’t dare let her relief show. Silently, she thanked the gods for the height of both men as Gavin grasped Cheveyo’s forearms and pulled. Squatting, she did what she could to help by wrapping her arms around Cheveyo’s legs and lifting. Together she and Gavin got him out of the thrice-damned tunnel.
Bent over, Raine rested her arms on the top of her thighs. Her head hung low and her hair was a matted, sweaty mess.
“You ready?” Gavin’s voice brought her head up.
Straightening, she passed the folded travois to him. When he reappeared a few minutes later, she leapt and grabbed his wrists. He pulled her out. Lying next to each other on the wooden floor of the cabin, they took a moment to catch their breath. Cheveyo was once again unconscious in the travois.
“I’ve got a suggestion,” she croaked.
Gavin didn’t even turn his head. “I’m listening.”
“You dragging that thing is going to take forever.” She began laying her blades between them.
He turned toward her. “And?”
Instead of answering, she reached for her cat and let her magic shift body and bones. Gavin rolled over into a low crouch, one of her blades in his fist as he faced the black leopard. His eyes narrowed. “A little warning next time.”
Deep in the cat, she smiled at the disgruntled comment. The cat twitched its tail. Uncertain if their bond would still work with the cat in charge, she sent, “Tie the travois to the cat. We’ll make better time.”
“Fine.” He lifted a hand then paused with it in midair, eyeing her. She held still until he finally stroked over her head and down her back. She and the cat purred at his touch. “If it
gets too much, change back and we’ll continue on foot.” He collected the rest of her weapons.
The leopard huffed at him. Shaking his head, he began cutting strips off the blanket to create a primitive harness. Soon they were heading into the night.
The trip back was draining but uneventful. Inside the big cat, Raine almost cried in relief when they stumbled upon the car. Her shoulders were burning and exhaustion wore at both her and Gavin.
Stopping, the cat swayed, limbs trembling as abused muscles spasmed. Even Gavin’s approach couldn’t raise a reaction. At least not until he lifted the makeshift litter from its shoulders. Then it gave a low mewl. It walked to the far side of the car, stopped, and then arched its spine.
Tugging on her waning magic, Raine felt her heart skip a beat when the power didn’t immediately respond. She and the cat both stilled before trying again. Her magic sluggishly answered. The shift from cat to woman left her a shaking mess—a cold, naked shivering mess, actually. One day she would figure out the whole shift-with-clothes-on process.
The chilly night air ruffled over her exposed skin. Shivers blossomed—hardly surprising, considering how much was on display. Something heavy and warm settled over her back. As the supple leather hit her sore shoulders, she winced and pulled Gavin’s jacket closer letting his woodsy scent envelope her. A minute later, the man himself was back.
Kneeling next to her, he added a rough blanket around her shivering body as he drew her closer. “Where are your clothes?” His question was a vibrating rumble under her ear.
“Still trying to figure that part out,” she answered, burrowing into his tempting heat. “Are you complaining?” she teased weakly.
“Nope. I was about to suggest helping you practice, actually.”
With her head against his chest, she let the silly smile escape. “Practice makes perfect.”
His sexy chuckle did more to chase away the cold than the layers covering her. When the worst of the tremors calmed, he helped her to her feet. Wrapping the blanket around her sarong style, she zipped up his jacket to help hold it in place. Together they got Cheveyo into the back seat of the sedan.
Collapsing into the passenger seat, she caught sight of the clock in the dashboard. Lord and Lady, just after midnight? She would’ve sworn it was a hell of a lot later.
Warm air gusted from the vents, chasing the last of her chills away. Gavin pulled back on to the rutted road. As the miles passed under the crunch and snap of gravel, Raine sank into her mind-numbing exhaustion.
Frigid air snaked through Raine’s hazy awareness. The vibration of a door being closed was followed by the murmur of hushed voices—one deeply male, the other female—that teased her awareness. There were a few surreal moments of quiet, and then she was wrapped in familiar arms. One lone shiver managed to make itself known before she was pulled tight to a hard chest. Something warm fell over her blocking out the cold.
Burrowing closer, she tried to obey her body’s pleas for more rest, but her mind nudged her closer and closer to awareness. She fought her heavy lids to blink owlishly in the spill of light falling over Gavin’s shoulder.
When he straightened, she looped an arm around his neck. As the cold air snapped at her, she buried her face into his neck to avoid the chill. “Where are we?” she mumbled.
“Tala’s.” He bumped the car door closed with his hip before turning toward the house.
“She needs to set some protections in place.” No telling if the Stealer would be able to refocus on Cheveyo. Or her, for that matter.
“Already done,” he said. “I called ahead.”
The combination of skin-ruffling magic and the bittersweet musk of sage hit her as he crossed the threshold. The cloying scents left her nose wrinkling. As he set her on the couch, the sharp, biting scent of wintergreen cut through the barrage. Once again, the furniture had been pushed to the edges of the living room.
The familiar lines of a protection circle stood starkly against the wooden floor. Inside knelt Tala, Ash next to her. Her entire focus was on the bare-chested, battered body of Cheveyo lying on a pallet of blankets.
Gavin locked the front door then sprawled next to Raine on the couch. Slouching, he rested his head against the back of the couch, his hands laced over his stomach. The glint of jade under his half-closed eyelids meant he was watching Tala work.
Raine scooted over until she could rest her head against his shoulder and curl up next to him. A strange quiet fell over them as they studied the woman. Even though most of her power stayed within the circle, soft waves of her healing magic lapped at Raine’s shields.
“Gavin?”
“Yeah?’ Even his mental voice sounded tired.
“Do we trust her?”
She could actually feel him start at her question, then muddled confusion colored their connection. “What do you mean?”
She ignored the whispers of caution emanating from the merciless psychopath that dwelled inside her. “When you left me alone with Cheveyo in the cavern…”
Muscles tightened under her cheek, the only sign he was bracing himself for something unpleasant. “Yeah?”
“I noticed the changes you made to the tie with Cheveyo.”
He stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
“Did you mean to do that?”
“Do what?” he asked.
“Tie him to both of us?” She felt him pause, as if considering how to answer her. “Don’t.” She didn’t want him to hide. If he demanded unvarnished truth from her, she would accept no less from him.
The predatory stillness rippling through their connection was followed by a simple, “Yes.”
A small smile rose to her lips. “Good.”
It was reassuring to know the softer feelings she shared with this male weren’t impacting either of their abilities to assess the threats around them. Until tonight, she hadn’t even been aware of her deep worry that, by allowing Gavin into her heart, it would somehow negate her ability to be the warrior she needed to be.
“I almost killed him.” Her barely thought words were a deadly offering of understanding.
He pressed his lips against her hair. “So did I.”
She continued to watch the woman in front of them. “Will she?”
“No,” he answered decisively, “but it may not matter.”
Needing to see for herself, she dropped her shields. Tala’s magic burst into vivid, Technicolor life. The swirling white-edged gold energy was a clear indicator there was no malicious intent in the spells she was weaving over Cheveyo’s still form. Under the radiant glow of Tala’s magic, Raine could barely make out the paler earth tones of Cheveyo’s unique signature. Puzzled, she leaned forward. Why couldn’t she see the silver blue layer? She sent a wordless question to Gavin.
“Illusion.”
Nice to know she wasn’t the only one worried about how the reformed ties would be viewed by those more powerful. She gave him credit. It was brilliantly sneaky. She loved it.
Tala drew more and more magic to her and began weaving it tightly around Cheveyo. When he was wreathed from head to toe, she did something Raine couldn’t follow, but considering the sharpening of Gavin’s attention it had to be important. “What?”
“Tell me what’s different about her spell.”
It took a minute to finally see what caught his attention. What appeared to be a blanket of magic began to fray. The loose threads tried to latch on to Cheveyo’s body, but they stopped just short of actually touching the witch’s energy.
“Damn it.” Gavin snarled in frustration as the problem crystallized.
“We have to let it through,” she said. “If we don’t, he’s dead.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
She studied the struggling energy. The way the tendrils tried to burrow past the invisible barrier reminded her of something. The jumbled memory of how the Stealer had siphoned Cheveyo’s magic fell into place.
“I can.” Pushing away from him, she fell to her kne
es outside Tala’s circle. She ignored the warning growl from Ash as he rose to his feet.
“Tala.” Her voice seemed unnaturally loud.
Protected by the circle Tala raised her head. Raine fought not to flinch as she met the milky blind eyes staring back.
“What do you want?” Tala’s voice was deeper, as if a group of voices spoke in synchronicity. The unearthly sound sent shivers over Raine’s skin.
“Let me in.”
The witch’s head tilted, combined with the eerie blind look, the simple movement retained an alien quality. “There is no breaking the protection circle until the ritual is complete.”
She buried her impatience, answering the cold intelligence with logic. “The tie between Cheveyo and me is holding your magic back. If you don’t let me in, I can’t open it.”
“You can’t break the lines,” the strange multi-tonal voice responded.
“I won’t. I just need to reach the tie between us.”
“Raine, I can’t follow you.” Gavin’s voice was a soft murmur in her head.
“Will our bond hold?”
“I think so.”
“Then that will have to do.”
The swirling energy slowed and then settled. “Would you enter this circle of your own free will without intent to harm those held within?”
The ritualistic words were weighted with power, making even the air heavy with expectancy. There was no room for deception. Good thing at this point her sole purpose was to help save the man between them. “I so swear.”
“Enter, Raine McCord.”
Although her body stayed kneeling on the outside of Tala’s circle, her spirit stepped over and glided toward Cheveyo. Settling on her metaphysical heels, she reached out to the line they shared. Even as Raine slipped along the power, Tala and her pet watched every move she made. The knowledge added a layer of tension to her dangerous game of sleight of hand.
She was going to press her advantage at being the only one who could see the unique energy signatures of the amassing magic. The theory was familiar. Let your prey think you were a weaker target, while your backup lay hidden from sight. Problem was, she never attempted such delicate manipulation of magic. She would need to create openings to Cheveyo, while using her magic to provide a thin barrier between Gavin and Tala.
