Darkness Binds

by Brandy L Rivers

  Wait, he knew what to do. He wasn’t great at it yet, but hopefully it would work. He knelt beside the fridge and used his finger and a spell to cast runes on the side. Hopefully Preston or Robert would sense the magic and know how to call it forward. Most likely Robert. It was mystic magic, and they had learned the spell at the same time a few days ago because their mentor told them they’d need it.

  He moved to the couch in time for the door to be kicked open. Christian whispered, “Tyrone, we’ll get out of this. Try to stay calm.”

  Wasn’t going to happen, but he needed to say something to ease his conscience.

  Pain exploded in his head a second before everything went dark.

  * * * *

  An hour to spare before dawn and Inuala grinned as the mystic was loaded into the van. They brought a human male with them. Strong, dark, gorgeous. One corner of her mouth lifted as his eyes locked on hers and tears flowed down his face. Not tears of fear, tears of loss. She’d seen the same before when a vampire ripped apart the memory of themselves in a mortal’s mind.

  Who was the vampire who fucked with his head? Could it be Amelia? He was in her sister’s home. Though where was the werewolf? She would have loved to get her hands on a few of the powerful shifters.

  But then she caught the scent of one nearby and she focused in on the direction before disappearing to chase her new prey.

  A pretty woman with short golden blond hair and blue eyes walked down the street as if nothing was wrong. There was an emptiness within her, something missing. A perfect vessel for Crom Cruach to reside.

  Inuala reformed beside the woman and sank her fangs. Her blood was pure power, though she had no magic of her own.

  What was she? Definitely more than a werewolf.

  Inuala drank until the woman slipped into a deep sleep, then put the compulsion to stay asleep for days and brought her back to the van where the man still sobbed.

  She moved before him and leaned in, sniffing him. There was no smell of vampire. The broken heart was recent. Inuala struck and sipped at his blood, searching his memories of a vampire. There was nothing, but the last few months had giant holes.

  Definitely a vampire. Most likely young, powerful. Could she use this man against Amelia? She’d been reincarnated so many times, but Inuala usually found her before Eamon and put an end to her.

  However, maybe Amelia was the key to summoning Crom Cruach. She had more power in life than the rest of them. She’d been able to lock their god away, deep within.

  And the magic was there, buried under some kind of barricade.

  A new plan formed. Eamon needed to unlock Amelia’s magic. And if she didn’t fulfill her destiny, Inuala could use the man whose memories were torn from him. And if that failed, Brendan, who Inuala suspected may be Trenton, only he was better at hiding his nature than he had been in the past.

  Either way, Amelia would do what Inuala needed her to do. Force Crom Cruach into the pretty blond werewolf. She’d be strong enough to hold onto the god and was missing enough of her soul that he could remold her into his own form.

  It was time to appeal to Eamon and ensure he unlocked Amelia’s magic. And maybe now that she was a vampire, the girl would finally choose the right side.

  Inuala settled the blond werewolf next to the sobbing man.

  “Who is she?” one of the vampires asked.

  Smiling, Inuala looked him in the eye. “Crom Cruach’s new vessel.”

  Chapter 15

  Amelia woke with a start. She grabbed her phone and stared at the time, then shook her head. They weren’t exactly on Earth from what Brent explained, not to mention she was in Scotland and underground. There was no telling exactly what time it was there.

  She hit talk. “Delilah, everything okay?”

  “No. Some fucking vampires took Christian and Tyrone. And Christian fucking knew they were coming. Bastard sent me to get fucking sugar. He could have fought, and he didn’t. What the hell is going on?”

  Amelia’s heart raced in her chest. She tried to catch her breath. “Okay, slow down. When were they taken?”

  “Early this morning. They were gone before I got back. Damn it, Amelia, what the hell are you into now?”

  Amelia closed her eyes tight. “We’re investigating a vampire coven who is trying to bring back something people worshiped in Ireland as a god. They’re taking people to fuel the rituals. There is more to it than that, but I don’t know everything.”

  “And you’re investigating? You’re working with Robert and the enforcers?”

  “Yeah, Brent and I are doing the investigating. And it looks like I was involved when it all got started. I’m trying to figure out what I have to do to find everyone, free them, and make sure these vampires don’t succeed in bringing back Crom Cruach.”

  Delilah’s tone softened. “Wait a damned minute. That sounds familiar.”

  “Yeah, well, Grandma has a book that covers a lot of the old Irish and Celtic gods. I think that might be where I read it. If not, I don’t have a damned clue, but as soon as night falls out there I’ll be back in Seattle, and I’ll get to the bottom of this. I can get them back.”

  “Wait, you know you really fucked up Tyrone’s head?”

  Amelia closed her eyes, trying to let go of the new tension. “How?”

  “He can’t remember anything to do with you, nothing at all. He literally has no clue who you are when I show him pictures, but he starts sobbing. You broke his mind and his heart. It’s not Samantha he’s missing, it’s you. And he can’t remember why. All he does is sit around and cry all day. He’s worse than a chick.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, anyway, if these vampires are bringing you in, and I’m assuming that’s why you were worried about him, he can’t remember you at all.”

  “Damn it. Maybe someone can help me fix that, but he really shouldn’t be missing me. He didn’t really love me. He couldn’t have.”

  “He did, Amelia. I tried to tell you. He’s crushed on you since you two were in school, but you always blew it off.”

  Amelia’s head dropped into her hand as she let out a sigh. Then she realized Brent wasn’t there with her. Hopefully he was getting some food. He certainly hadn’t eaten much since they’d been together, and that wasn’t good.

  “Let me find Brent. Maybe he can help me figure this out faster.”

  Delilah gasped. “Where are you? Why are you awake? The sun is up.”

  She laughed. “You called me, remember? And you should know where. We’re at Draecyn’s place.”

  “Oh, yeah, time doesn’t work right. Why are you out there?”

  “That’s where Robert brought us when I freaked out after having all the memories of my past lives unlocked.”

  “Unlocked? How many times have you lived?”

  She laughed. “A lot. One of these days, I can tell you. Right now, I need to find him and figure out a new plan. His sucked.”

  “What’s his plan?”

  A broken laugh escaped. “For me to fuck the answers out of the oldest vampire because we were married in my first life.”

  “That’s a story I want to hear.”

  “Yeah, well, let’s save your man first, because I know you’ll kill me if I don’t.”

  “I want to be there so I can rip apart the assholes who took him.”

  “And Christian may not want you there for a reason. If he knew, and he most likely did, then he knew you’d get them in more trouble.”

  “Ugh, I hate it when you’re right. Still, if everyone goes in, ready for a fight, I want to be there. I need to be there. I want to help him.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” She hung up before Delilah could say anything else, hurried into her clothes from the night before, and tapped into her senses to find Brent.

  * * * *

  Brent pushed the eggs around his plate. After being in Amelia’s memories and gaining his own, he started to wonder if Eamon was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Would that
mean Amelia would feel some sort of obligation to him?

  “Fucking abyss,” he muttered, his appetite lost.

  Draecyn walked in with a frown. “What’s going on, Brent?”

  “Everything. I thought killing Eamon might be enough to stop anyone from summoning Crom Cruach, but things keep getting more complicated with the memories of our past lives.”

  “Amelia’s too?”

  He nodded. “She was married to Eamon before meeting a past incarnation of me. My sister from that time is the one who orchestrated all of the mess. She doesn’t need Eamon, so killing her past lover doesn’t solve a damned thing, except my need to get him out of the equation.”

  “Amelia loves you, though, right?”

  He nodded.

  “And she doesn’t want him now, right?”

  “Right,” Brent growled.

  “What’s the problem? You don’t usually go straight to killing.”

  “No, but it was a damned easier solution. And he only killed her the first time because he couldn’t control himself when he was tainted by Crom’s essence. And the thing is, if he lives, doesn’t that leave a gateway open for Crom to be summoned at a later time? Like when Inuala is reborn? I already killed the bitch once.”

  “Harsh words from you,” Draecyn offered with a smile on his lips. “Eamon could go either way.”

  “I told Amelia to fuck him.”

  One of Draecyn’s brows shot to his hairline. “Why on Earth would you do that?”

  “Couldn’t see another way to convince him to stop Inuala and help us find the captives.”

  Draecyn rubbed his chin. “Amelia is smart. She may come up with a plan that surprises you.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure she will. There’s one problem. Everything I’ve seen leads me to believe I die before this is all over.”

  “Could be a past life you’re remembering or your fears. She’s going to fight for you, and you will fight for her. All you can do is try your damnedest.”

  “What if she winds up with Crom Cruach inside her this time?” Brent asked. “I’ve seen versions where I’m forced to kill her and banish the entity.”

  “Keep fighting for her. You know she needs to gain Eamon’s trust. There is a chance she can do that without being in his bed. I have a feeling she’ll manage to avoid that outcome.”

  “Why did they have to come here now?”

  “The vampires?” Draecyn asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Fate?” Draecyn pulled a seat over. “I’ll tell you something, and you need to keep this from her. There is a woman in Edenton who will help end the cycle. She won’t be an active participant, more like a victim, but Amelia will need your help to protect the werewolf from succumbing to Crom Cruach.”

  “How?” Brent asked.

  “You’ll know when the time comes.”

  Amelia stormed into the kitchen. “Hey, we got problems.”

  Brent looked up, utterly shocked. “You’re awake?”

  She nodded. “Different time zone? Realm? Whatever, Delilah called. The vampires took Christian and Tyrone. This is bad.”

  “And it begins,” Draecyn said as he left the room.

  Amelia tipped her head, watching him go.

  Brent’s phone went off. He hit speaker and answered, “Hey, Robert.”

  “Four people have been taken from Edenton. Christian, Tyrone, Gina, and Dominique.” A mystic, human, werewolf, and leprechaun.

  “Interesting combination. I’ll be there at sunset. We can figure it out then.” He hung up and turned to Amelia. “I thought you sent Tyrone back to Samantha.”

  Amelia’s face scrunched. “I tried. It didn’t work out that way. I guess I ripped all memory of me out.”

  “Ouch, that would hurt. Especially with how hard he fell. He can’t correlate what he’s missing. It’s a huge void of pain.”

  “I need to save him before I can figure out how to fix that. Maybe then he’ll hate me and go after Samantha. I can hope.”

  Brent nodded. The more she said things like that, the better he felt. Still, a part of him wished she would prefer to kill Eamon, but maybe she was right. She never chose the vampire in all her incarnations.

  Amelia’s brow pinched. “Why do you look like that?”

  “What?”

  “Like you’ve already lost me. I don’t want Tyrone. And if you’re thinking about Eamon, those past lives are past lives. This is now. I don’t love him. I don’t know him. And I think the incarnations who loved him only got the part of my memory about Eamon, and every time you came along, I left for you. I’ve been in love with you since the moment we met, so stop.”

  “That can change, Amelia.”

  “Do you not love me?” she demanded.

  “I do, more than I can express.”

  “Then shut up and just love me. Right now, what we need to do is figure out how I find Eamon and talk to him. I know you think I can fuck him, but I can’t. I won’t.”

  “The second you have your fangs in him, that could change.”

  “Fine, whatever. I’m not arguing over this. Help me figure out how to save everyone I care about. I need a solution, not this piss-poor attitude where you think I’m going to choose another man. I made my decision and I’m sticking to it.”

  He nodded. His visions didn’t lie, but maybe those visions were memories.

  Amelia closed the distance and placed her hand on the side of his neck, looking into his eyes. “This bond is real, Brent. I waited too long to fuck it all up. And really, Eamon creeps me out. Doesn’t matter if we were once good, or that he was a good guy when we first met. He’s had forever to change. If I can find a way that doesn’t give him my body, I’ll take it over sleeping with him.”

  Brent pressed his forehead to hers. “I hope you’re right. The thought of you under him twists me up more than I thought it would.”

  She laughed bitterly. “You’re funny. I can’t imagine letting another woman touch you, not even for the greater good.”

  He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss that spoke of need and hunger. All things she felt. And if they didn’t need to discuss more shit, she would be all for taking him in someone else’s kitchen.

  “We’ll go back after dark. You’ll call him. And go without me.”

  “You want to let me out of your sight?”

  He closed his eyes. “No, but me being there means you’ll be more cautious. I told you, whatever you have to do, I’ll accept it, but I don’t think I can stand to watch you two drink from each other and manage to behave. I’m not that strong.”

  “I’m not fucking him.”

  “Didn’t say you would, but you get horny when blood is involved. He’s held you as a lover in several of your lifetimes. It’s going to be natural for him to want to touch you. Natural for you to feel desire. I don’t want to witness his hands on you, his mouth. Even if you don’t have sex, there will be passion there. I can’t see how you can avoid all of it.”

  She gulped, then blinked, her chest heaving in anger.

  “Amelia, relax. You’re going to have to drink from him before this is over. He’s going to insist you trade blood. And for you to gain his trust, you can’t refuse that. I believe you’ll stop before he has his way. I do. But even if you didn’t, I’d understand in this instance.”

  Her knuckles cracked when she squeezed her hands into fists. “You are infuriating, you know that!”

  He framed her face with his hands. “I’m preparing for the worst. And if he forces himself on you, you may deal with him, but I will slaughter him, no matter how much you think he could be redeemed.”

  She gripped his hands. “Have a little faith in me. He may try to take things there, but I’m not allowing it. I have what I’m going to say figured out, and the lines I will draw. He’ll either accept, or he won’t, but we already think they’re at the Old House, right? Maybe Preston and the rest of his team can find them before I have to resort to your shitty plan.”


  He loved her more than words. She laid out her choice, and she was pissed she had to explain. And maybe selfishly, he wanted her to fight for her choice.

  Chapter 16

  After a stop in the basement for his meal, Eamon reentered his room where his phone rang. He snatched it up and answered. “Yes?”

  “Thought you’d be happier to hear from me,” Amelia answered.

  “Still scared of your old lives?” he asked cautiously.

  “You killed me when you became what you are.”

  “You made me what I am,” he countered.

  “We need to talk. I’m not the same woman I was then, and you aren’t the same man. We need to take this slower than you want.”

  “You love Brendan, don’t you?”

  “You will not harm him,” she warned.

  A sigh escaped. “No, that would only earn your wrath. Don’t bring him tonight. Some of my followers would tear him apart if they believe you love him more than you love me. They want me happy.”

  “And I want to be happy, but I will never tolerate what I did back then. Things have changed, especially me. I need to know the man I choose will only ever be with me again.”

  “You knew about the women?”

  “You would come to bed smelling of them. And yes, it was while you were away from me, but that’s no excuse.”

  He blew out a breath. No, it wasn’t. His ways had changed. “You’re right. Drink from me. Let me drink from you. Let me show you how I’ve changed, and I can see how different you are. We can go from there.”

  “I won’t sleep with you tonight. This is only to see if we can be together in this age and time. I mean it, Eamon. Tonight, there are lines you cannot cross.”