Darkness Binds

by Brandy L Rivers

  I’m here to prevent an evil entity from entering the world, not enter it myself.

  Good enough for now.

  Eamon moved closer, lifting her chin to peer into her eyes. “Yes, it was there. I could sense it when I tasted your blood, but it was locked away. I’m not sure why.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.

  “Don’t worry about that yet. Right now, are you okay?”

  A bitter laugh escaped. “How can you ask that? Wait, is it because you’ve known yourself all along? I haven’t. Keep in mind, I just remembered those past lives. I am not in the same place you are, and I’m not saying I can’t be. There’s a draw, but, Eamon, did you really believe it would be as simple as finding me?”

  He moved closer, pressing his hands to the wall on either side of her head. “Yes. You’re still my Oriana. I love you more now than I did then. You’ll remember and fall for me again.”

  “No, that’s where you’re wrong. I have pieces of those lives, but I’m someone very different now. You haven’t died. You haven’t found someone else to love, Eamon. I have. Time and time again. So, falling into your arms won’t happen here and now. That comes with trust. You’ve always been mostly about you. That was okay for me then. It’s not now.”

  Eamon grinned. “I can get used to the new confidence, your new strength.”

  “Doubtful. I think I’d surprise you now.”

  He shook his head. “You’ve always had a quiet strength. I think becoming a vampire gave you the courage to tap into it.”

  “Then you don’t know me that well. It didn’t take being bitten to tap into it this time. And I can recall a few lives I didn’t find you. Which reminds me of something. How well do you trust your people?”

  “I trust most of the ones I brought over. There is only one who is blood bound to a Fae sorceress who happens to be a vampire. It’s her I don’t trust. But I don’t know if Drummond would choose to go with her.”

  “He’s your most trusted.”

  Eamon nodded. “But he’s in love with her, and she doesn’t like you.”

  “I noticed. And she was born in my parents’ kingdom. She was friends with my mother. She always had her sights on someone with more power to take her in.”

  “You’re already embracing your memories. You may find yourself unable to resist me.”

  She laughed. “Attraction isn’t enough to make me fall back and let you have your way. Besides, I like my share of control.”

  He moved closer. “You can do anything you want to me.”

  And a part of her was tempted. Not enough to act. She couldn’t shake the need to get back to Brent, and she wasn’t sure how she was going to manage that without Eamon finding out. Still, she needed to do something.

  “Not yet. I need to know you will keep your word. With or without Brendan, I can’t have him dead. You or one of your people kill him, and I will tear everyone involved apart.”

  He nodded, a smile on his face. “You have my word.” Eamon held out his hand. “I’ll give my life to keep him safe as long as you get to know me, like you promised.”

  She shook his hand. And maybe, they could be friends. Never lovers. She put up with too much shit from him. Oh, he’d treated her well, but he was never faithful, and he didn’t think anything of it.

  “I need a kiss to believe you.”

  She nodded, willing to give the one concession. Sharing blood was far more intimate than sex anyway, and they had already done that. She couldn’t avoid the blood exchange. And the images, well, that was as close as Eamon was getting to her into bed.

  His mouth descended, and his tongue swept in. The fire was still there. She pressed tight, giving him the attention she promised, and the second his hand started to roam, she caught his wrist and moved away. “Told you, we aren’t going there.”

  His eyes burned bright before he closed them with a nod. “My longing has never died, Amelia. I know you’re different, and you love another, but I still feel the same.”

  “We need time. A kiss doesn’t mean love. Neither does sex in this day and age. Trust me on that.” The second after the words were out of her mouth, she regretted the statement. There was no way in hell Eamon would have more than a kiss in this lifetime.

  “Should I ask?”

  “No, better if you don’t. I imagine you’re fairly old-fashioned and you won’t like my answer. I won’t have any of the men I’ve been with die because you’re jealous about something that happened before I met you.”

  “Is it fair to be jealous of what you and Brendan did last night?”

  “No, because we aren’t discussing that, and he has been mine longer than I knew you and I were supposed to be together.”

  He sighed. “I’m trying to understand.”

  “Spend a few hours with me. Talking. Catch me up on everything I should know. Convince me not to wait but don’t expect me to change my mind tonight.”

  Taking her hand, he pulled her to the couch. “I could talk to you for hours.” Only, she couldn’t remember a time he spent more than twenty minutes talking. At least he seemed to be willing to try.

  * * * *

  Christian stayed near Tyrone, who was still a sobbing mess, and not because a dozen vampires were watching him like their new favorite meal. And if it hadn’t been for the oldest vampire in the place telling the others that he was a present for Eamon, he would have already been dead.

  He could glean enough information from the oldest vampire’s stray thoughts to know she suspected Amelia of having fed from Tyrone. Not a hard deduction considering she already knew Christian was mated to Amelia’s sister, and it was pretty obvious a vampire fucked with Tyrone’s head and memories.

  Delilah was no doubt pissed. He could get into her head if he wanted to, but he was avoiding the screaming she would start the second he popped in there. For the moment, he didn’t have a clue where they were. He only knew they weren’t exactly on Earth, and they weren’t exactly in another realm. They were somewhere between. He didn’t have any frame of reference to figure all that out.

  With no better idea, Christian reached out to Robert, who he’d been practicing with. Between his ability to hop into people’s minds and his newfound talents as a mystic, he was starting to branch out into reaching further than his fingertips.

  Christian closed his eyes and made contact.

  Robert, you there?

  Robert made an internal huffing sound. Did you really think it was wise to let the vampires take you and Tyrone? And why the hell did you leave a message for us not to worry?

  Didn’t really have a choice, Christian answered. I got Delilah out of there, but they were going to find a way to take several of us, and they want me because they don’t know what I am. They wanted Gina because she’s missing some piece of herself. The old vampire has plans to push a god into her body. And Dominique just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  His uncle’s sigh echoed in his head. Have they harmed any of you?

  Nope, but there are a couple people here who are in bad shape. I think they fought back against the vampires. The worst isn’t human, and she’s not a caster. Don’t believe she’s Fae either, but I don’t know what she is.

  Red hair? Reddish eyes? Curvy?

  Don’t know about eyes, but yeah, that’s her. Seems to ooze sex, even comatose on the floor.

  Robert made a sound. She’s a succubus. Her name is Leanan. Think you can help her without drawing attention?

  I’ll try, Christian answered. I don’t know what’s coming, but find us. If they succeed at putting this god thing into Gina, we’re all fucked.

  We won’t let that happen. And don’t get yourself hurt. Your mother will kill me. And maybe you for letting them take you.

  Christian stifled a laugh. Mom will forgive me. Just find us, because I didn’t wake up until I got here.

  We’re looking, just hold out and do what you can without getting yourself in more trouble.


  That’s the plan. He only hoped he could make good on it. Christian slipped out of Robert’s mind and watched the vampires for a long moment. One particular brute was hovering around the redhead Robert had called Leanan. She was bruised, had definitely struggled against someone. The handprints around her wrists were big enough to fit the giant’s hands.

  Christian needed to find a way to keep him from her. A succubus fighting against someone? A creature who lived for sex? The one who hurt her would pay.

  He just needed to get a grip on his new abilities and how best to use them.

  * * * *

  Drummond caught Inuala’s arm as she stepped into tunnel leading from the cavern into the Old House’s basement. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

  “Ensuring Crom Cruach’s return. With Amelia having her memories back, it’s only a matter of time before she tries to remove Crom’s essence from your beloved leader,” she snarled.

  “I’ve never understood your fear of the girl. He loves her, and Crom keeps putting them back together. If Crom wants them together, can you really argue?”

  “A piece of Crom is sensing what Eamon feels for the girl. That’s the only reason he is allowing them to be together. Crom doesn’t see her manipulations. He’s looking through blinded eyes of one in love.”

  “As did I when I sought your reincarnation out. And perhaps, she can see through Eamon’s eyes to see why she needs to support him and his current situation.”

  “We may not need Eamon to summon Crom Cruach.” Rather, they needed him dead in order to fully summon Crom into the world. The essence that changed Eamon needed to go back to the source before he could materialize.

  Drummond backed away, slowly shaking his head. “What are you saying, Inuala?”

  “Nothing to concern yourself with.”

  “We need Eamon,” he stated.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Who do you worship, Drummond? Is it Eamon or Crom? Choose your next words carefully.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “I worship you, first and foremost.” Closing the distance, he took her into his arms. “But please, give Eamon and Amelia a chance. Now that she’s a vampire, allow him time to convince her to work with us.”

  “And if she refuses?”

  “Better we know before we move. Losing you was hell. I don’t want to go through that again, and if you go anywhere near her, he will kill you.”

  Inuala nodded. “True. I hope you’re right, and she won’t break his heart again.” No, she’d rather ensure that herself.

  Drummond pulled Inuala into his arms. “I love you. You know that, don’t you?”

  “I do.” Didn’t mean she wouldn’t go straight to Eamon. No, this needed to be timed correctly. She needed the pieces to fall into place on their own.

  “Next we see Amelia, I will be on my best behavior. I want our king happy.”

  He smiled. “Come home with me, my love. We have much to celebrate. Perhaps Amelia can find it in herself to help bring Crom fully into Eamon. I suppose we’ll see if he can convince her to join us completely.”

  “I need to check the captives. I’ll meet you there soon.”

  He dipped his head. “Of course.”

  Chapter 18

  Brent moved through the forest without sound. He couldn’t find a damned thing in all the vegetation. It seemed like the forest itself had grown denser in the months since he’d last visited. Now he followed Preston and Toryn. Robert was a few paces over. Lonny and Scotty, trusted friends of Toryn were in the woods too. Not to mention several mages and a couple casters, part of the DSF.

  They should have come to the Old House by then, but no, they were still searching, going in circles. Strange magic had cropped up. Things he hadn’t sensed in ages.

  The fact they couldn’t find the old building sent a chill through Brent.

  The Fae couldn’t even find it. Neither could Mike, who happened to be a druid, who should have sensed the shift in locale. Unless the damned thing was sucked out of this plane, into the realm between?

  Brent stopped and closed his eyes, reaching, sensing for any type of spirit. Badb spoke up. You won’t find the place you seek without help from one within.

  “Are you within?” Brent asked out loud.

  Preston stopped to stare at him.

  He lifted a shoulder in response.

  Badb continued. Vampires are coming.

  Interesting that the only spirit speaking was that of a supposed goddess. Then again, when he was in the cavern with the vampires, she was the only one to speak up. The other spirits offered strength at times, but they certainly didn’t speak to him. Perhaps they were afraid of offending her?

  He didn’t have time to consider the possibility. He felt the darkness closing in. “They’re coming,” Brent whispered, letting a spell carry the warning to the entire search party.

  Two cloaked figures appeared out of the shadows in the brush. Brent rushed forward to send a jolt of power through each. The vampires fell to their backs, and Robert touched them and took them away from the area.

  Two down, how many to go?

  And he found himself wishing Eddie was with them. The boy’s senses were phenomenal, and he was faster than most vampires. But he was with Jackie at the moment, in Faery, visiting Brent’s current sister, the queen of the Water Realm.

  Brent stopped as shadows formed before him. He threw his hands out, calling on fire, something he’d never been great with, but he was able to pull leftover energy from those around him, and considering he’d never seen fire hotter than Toryn’s, augmenting his own magic was easy.

  The vampire screamed as he went up in flames.

  Another vampire stepped into the clearing, away from everyone, and glittering shields surrounded him. “The Old House no longer stands. Leave if that is your goal. If not, prepare for a battle you cannot win.”

  Robert zapped everyone away.

  Brent leaned against the wall in Robert’s office. “I had a message from someone. Amelia needs to get inside the house for us to find her.”

  “Message from who?” Robert asked.

  “A spirit, or something close enough. Look, she’s one we can trust, and I don’t say that lightly. If I had any doubt in my mind, I would ignore everything said. However, she was the one who helped me get through my ordeal at the same vampire’s hands two centuries ago, and she has never attempted to have me do anything for her.”

  Robert paced away, rubbing at his head.

  “Come on, Robert,” Preston insisted. “You know sometimes we get help from sources we don’t expect. And Brent is one of the handful of sorcerers I would trust with something like this.”

  Toryn spoke up, “A spirit can see a lot more than we can. And right now, if they are somehow increasing the flux in the area, we may not be able to get to them without help from the inside.”

  “Meaning Amelia.” Brent paced away. “I wish I knew how she was holding up with Eamon.”

  “Still worried she’s going to sleep with him?” Toryn asked.

  Brent nodded. He couldn’t get the images from her memory out of his head.

  “She hasn’t. There was a blood exchange and a kiss, but that was it. She’s alone now. Perhaps you could go to her, discuss what she can do to get us closer to the captives.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I had cameras installed when I set up the room. We’ve been keeping an eye on your girl.” Toryn walked over and took his shoulders. “I wanted to give you good news about what happened. She’s good. She’s setting boundaries and still gaining Eamon’s trust.”

  That was a relief. “Find out anything about a curse on her family?”

  “Don’t think that matters. Eamon found a way to unlock her magic. She could use your expertise to help guide her through figuring it out. Though, not in that room.”

  “Are the wards in place at my home?” Brent asked.

  “They are.”

  “I can open a portal to her from there to my house, as l
ong as she’ll trust me enough to step through.”

  “She will,” Toryn assured.

  “And what do we do in the meantime? There has to be something.” Brent asked, though he wanted time with Amelia more.

  “Let us worry about that. Go talk to Amelia, find out how we can get inside there. That’s what we need right now. We’ll see if we can find any other rumors,” Robert answered.

  Brent nodded. They knew where to go, but clearly that wasn’t enough. The vampires would move the blood slaves if search in the open continued.

  “Wait, what about the two in custody?” Brent asked.

  “We’ll question them. You go to Amelia,” Preston urged. “We need her help, more than ever. Now go.”

  Robert touched his shoulder and moved him to his home in a blink. “Honest, Brent, take care of Amelia. New magic, new senses, on top of being a vampire, and past life memories. I’m sure she needs you.”

  “If you need either of us, let me know.”

  “Will do.” Robert disappeared.

  Brent called Amelia. She answered in a ring. “Brent, I need out of this room. He has someone watching the door. And they’ll know if you’re here.”

  “Don’t worry about that. You only have to step through the portal I’m about to open to be here with me, and the place is warded in such a way no one will know you’re here, and no one will know you’ve left the room.”

  “That can be done?”

  “Sure can, and I expected them to watch over you. Toryn had cameras installed, and before you get upset, he just told me about the cameras.”

  A laugh escaped. “He was looking out for me. Open the damned portal already.”

  He cast the spell and stared through the glowing green light.

  Amelia stepped through and wrapped her arms around his neck. Brent closed the portal in time for her mouth to collide with his. Her tongue dueled with his as he caressed down her body.

  She gripped his flannel and ripped it open, sending buttons across the room, before she tore his pants down the center.