by Lizzy Ford
Jule gathered the woman in his arms. He couldn’t yet understand the magic in his veins, unleashed by the vamp without any explanation of its depths.
“Damian,” Jule said, standing with his mate cradled in his arms. The White God’s power pulsed around him, and he looked ready to blast the vamp before him.
“I know, I know. Tell Dusty not to blow everything up, and leave the vamp alone,” Damian said. “Go on. We’re just going to chat.”
If not for Yully’s fading energy, Jule would’ve stayed to make sure Damian’s version of chat resembled his and not Dusty’s, who was more likely to shoot first and discuss later. Instead, he closed his eyes and Transported to the ranch.
“You’d think if you’re a god, people wouldn’t keep secrets from you,” Damian started. “Jonny, to answer your question, Xander is an Original Being, one of the handful of the oldest immortals in existence.”
“Wow,” Jonny breathed.
Damian looked at him, irritated at the Black God’s youth. While he would never claim to miss Jonny’s crazy predecessor, Czerno, at least the former Black God was capable of a poker face. The kid beside him was openly gaping in awe at the massive vamp.
“As is Jule,” Xander added. “Seems he kept that secret from you as well, ikir.”
“I knew I could trust him to tell me when he needed to,” Damian replied. “You, on the other hand, I don’t trust.”
“I’m the Black God’s most trusted servant,” Xander said.
“Damian, he’s my most trusted servant,” Jonny echoed, turning to him.
Xander smiled at the demonstration of his power. Damian wasn’t amused.
“Jonny, step aside,” he ordered.
The Black God hesitated and then moved away, leaving Damian with the Original Vamp.
“You here for very long?” Damian asked.
“Looks that way. All the Originals have been freed and expelled. I landed here,” Xander replied.
Damian studied him, not sure what to think of the oldest vamp in the universe. Xander was too powerful to care what went on around him. Nothing on this world-- with the exception of the combined power of the awestruck Black God and Damian-- were threats to him. Xander seemed like nothing more than a bored guest. One of Sofi’s peculiar predictions returned to Damian, and he thought of the Guardian he’d assigned to Jonny. Sofi claimed Jenn would have a protector, and there was no need to worry about what Jonny might do. There was only one vamp in Jonny’s camp more powerful than the Black God.
Damian never imagined her protector might be the towering vamp before him. There was more to Xander than Damian could pinpoint. He didn’t have the need to kill like a normal vamp, and he hadn’t landed here by accident.
“I take it you’re not a fan of the Others,” Damian said.
Xander’s lip curled with a growl. He looked at the body beneath him and kicked it. Damian almost smiled.
“I have about three weeks left in my truce with Jonny,” Damian started. “The gateway between realms is cracked, and I have a slight Watcher infestation problem. Jonny isn’t quite ready yet to deal with the Others who have been stirring up trouble within the vamp ranks.”
Xander crossed his arms, his head tilted in interest as he listened.
“I don’t want either the Watchers or Others on my planet,” Damian finished. “And I can’t wait for Jonny to figure out how to do his job. With Jule-- and you-- I think we have a chance of ridding the planet of the immortal interference and returning to our day-to-day battle between good and evil.”
“Jonny is not the only God who doesn’t know his job,” Xander pointed out. “The Gatekeeper has yet to step up.”
“Leave that to me,” Damian replied. “He’ll be ready when the time comes. I want the immortals to fight in their realm and leave us to fight here.”
“And after the truce?”
“Business as usual. I’ll have Jule, and Jonny will have you. The balance will be maintained.”
“What’s in it for me?” Xander asked.
“Nothing,” Damian said and crossed his arms. “Your choice.”
“You Guardians don’t understand how to bargain.”
“I don’t have a need to bargain.”
The vamp said nothing. Damian turned to walk away. Xander was there for a reason, and Damian suspected it had something to do with the immortals plaguing both gods. Damian made it halfway to the grass, where the Black God paced beside a calm Jenn, when Xander’s low voice stopped him.
“Very well, Guardian. I will work with Jule.”
“Good. He’ll find you in a day or so,” Damian said without turning. His gaze went to Jenn. “You okay?”
“Yes, ikir,” she replied, though her eyes strayed to Xander. Damian heard the uneasy note in her voice and looked her over, his gaze lingering at her hips, where her weapons should’ve been.
“I told you she’d be fine, Damian,” the Black God said, irritated.
“When Jule goes to see Xander, he’ll stop by to have a chat with her,” Damian replied. “Maybe she can explain to him why you stripped her of weapons.”
Jonny glanced at Jenn, as if noticing for the first time that she wasn’t armed. The Black God frowned and looked towards Xander. His hunch confirmed that Jonny wasn’t running the show, and Damian pinned the youth with a heated look.
“I’ll have them returned,” Jonny said. “And Charles? Where is he?”
“He can track Others. He led us here.” Damian lifted his head, indicating the three forms standing at the top of the hill. Charles’ eyes glowed red in the night. He stood next to Dusty and another of Dusty’s Guardians.
“Useful ability,” Xander said. “Unfortunate I didn’t know that before you traded him, Jonny.”
Jonny flushed at his tone.
“Just part of the game, kid,” Damian said to the Black God. “That’s what happens when you have an Oracle for a mate.”
“Damn Oracles,” Jonny muttered.
“You have no idea,” Damian replied then turned his attention to the figures on the hill. “Disarm and go home, Dusty!”
The assassin nodded. Damian glanced around Ballynoe once more, satisfied they’d resolved this mess without blowing up an international landmark. He closed his eyes to Transport home, well aware he had to figure out what to do when the Watchers came for Jule’s woman, which they certainly would.
* * *
Jenn pounded into the punching bag. Being surrounded by vamps all day and night made her crazy with the need to kill a few. Pissing off Jonny wasn’t part of her plan, so she took her anger out on punching bags every evening. Jonny had begun disappearing in the evenings with most of the vamps, and she knew he was out hunting humans.
She hit the punching bag harder, sweat dripping down her body and soaking her leggings and sports bra. She waited until the vamps were gone before going to the gym, not wanting to tempt any of them to attack her while she was half-naked and distracted. Jonny had given orders that no one touched her, but she’d seen firsthand how well the vamps followed the Black God’s directives. The mess in Ireland earlier made her body crawl in memory of the dangerous power.
“Good form and energy.”
“Leave me alone, Xander. This is me time,” she warned.
He came into view and moved around the punching bag. He was taller than it by a head. He braced it for her, watching. She ignored him, until it was clear he wasn’t going anywhere.
“What?” she demanded, dropping her arms.
“You’re not fully twisting your wrist when you punch with the right hand.”
She stared at him then shook her head and punched again. While she wanted to ignore his advice, she found herself double-checking. He was right. She punched slowly a few times until she was certain she’d corrected her punch.
“Are you so bored you have nothing better to do?” she asked between punches.
“You do amuse me.”
“Great!”
“Twist your hip more when
you hit with the left.”
She glared at him but adjusted her form. A few more punches, and she grew too uncomfortable with him to continue. Jenn lowered her hands and strode to the small collection of her things: a towel for the gym, a bottle of water, and a backpack filled with the weapons Jonny had given her when they returned a couple hours ago from Ireland. The Black God had mumbled an apology before leaving her alone to join the vamps on a hunt. She didn’t have to ask him to know he didn’t dare confront Xander about it.
“I can’t imagine you came here to watch me beat the shit out of a punching bag,” she said and took a long swig of water. “Did you take down the door to my room this time?”
“Brave,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my interactions with the Guardians.”
Curious, she paused with the water bottle halfway to her mouth then set it down and flung the towel over her shoulder. The vamp was quiet.
“And?” she asked.
“The Oracle didn’t tell you you’re intended for … greatness?”
Jenn clamped her mouth shut. Sofi had said similar before Dusty almost blew up Florida. Jenn thought little of it at the time.
“I think we’ll keep you past the thirty days, just to be sure a certain Grey God does what we want him to,” Xander continued.
“Darian?” Jenn asked. “What does this have to do with Darian?”
“She didn’t tell you.”
“Who didn’t tell me what?” she demanded, approaching him and glaring up at him. “Spill it, Xander.”
“You’re his intended.”
Jenn frowned. “His intended what?”
“His mate,” Xander said with his slow smile. “Powerful bargaining chip to have you here.”
“That’s crazy, Xander. She’d never tell you that! Besides, Darian isn’t …” … my type. The words died on her lips.
“Interesting,” he said. “The Grey God may not think the same.”
“No, you’re wrong,” she said and snatched her things from the floor. “Darian wants nothing to do with any woman after what he’s been through.” She strode towards the door, fed up with the vamp toying with her.
“What was the second lesson you taught Jonny? Everyone associated with your target is a weak point.”
Jenn paused in the doorway of the gym. For the first time since he began his sick games, Jenn felt genuine fear trickle through her. She didn’t know if he’d met with the Oracle or not, but his words sounded eerily like Sofi’s, who had claimed her destiny merged with Darian’s.
“Everyone fears something, Guardian,” Xander reminded her.
“And you? What do you fear, Xander?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Exactly what you fear, that what should happen, won’t.”
She turned to look at him. She didn’t expect the Original Being to admit to fear. He manipulated the Black God like a puppet and quietly ran the vamps Jonny wasn’t yet capable of managing. He’d let her live, knowing she was obligated to report everything to Damian and powerful enough to be dismissive of any threat she might cause. The idea he feared anything amazed her. In that moment, she almost felt a human connection to the creature with the red eyes.
“What should happen for you?” she ventured.
“Go and rest, Guardian. You’ll need it,” he said. “And yes, I took your door.”
Jenn bit back a retort and left, unable to shake the sense he’d told her something he didn’t mean for her to know. She strode to her room, irritated by another thought. She’d felt a connection to Darian early on, as soon as she met him, but she’d never allowed herself to dwell on it, even when he sought her out almost daily to spar.
After her conversation with Xander, she couldn’t help wondering if there was something more that made Darian seek her out or made her willing to humor him.
Chapter Nine
Yully awoke in a cozy bedroom that smelled of lavender. Light poured in from a large window, and a fan overhead made the curtains flutter.
“Hey.”
She twisted at the sound of Jule’s voice. He sat beside her bed, his large body awkward in the small chair. He wore a snug T-shirt that displayed the roped forearms covered in tattoos. Tattoos peeked from the V-neck of the T-shirt. His dark gaze was steady, his body rippling with the power she couldn’t quite pin down. The flow of energy between them, though, was open and warm. She was safe again.
“Hey,” she replied.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Tired but good.” She looked around again and drew her knees towards her chest. “Where are we?”
“Home,” he said with a slow smile. “Temporary home. Damian’s headquarters is in Texas for now. You’ll find home is wherever we are.” His words warmed her from the inside.
“I like that idea,” she said. She held out a hand to him, and he took it. “My father …”
“We sent his soul back to the immortal world.”
“Good, I think,” she whispered, chewing her lip. “I guess I should feel sad, but I don’t. I still feel angry.”
“You have every right to feel angry,” he replied. “You’re safe now. No one can ever hurt you again.” His gaze flared at his words, and the energy between them pulsed. This time, he wasn’t a fever-riddled man incapable of defending her.
“Something happened to you,” she said.
“I regained a couple things I thought I’d lost.” His look was too intense for her to doubt she was among what he’d discovered. “Do you feel well enough to take a walk?”
Yully cleared her throat and nodded, her face hot.
“I’ll come get you in a minute. Bianca brought you some clothes.” He indicated the neatly folded clothing on the table beside the bed. He kissed her hand and left her alone.
Yully looked around again, uncomfortable in the strange place without him. She wore a soft nightgown and changed into the clothing left for her. The window was open, assuring her it was neither cold nor raining. The jeans, T-shirt, and sandals would suffice. Whoever Bianca was, she’d thought of everything. Next to a small toiletry bag was a brush, hair clip, and scrunchie.
She wasn’t accustomed to anyone taking the time to think of her. Her father sent her to the store for her own things since she was adopted. While she could’ve bought anything and everything she wanted with the handful of money he’d give her, she found even the simple thoughtfulness of a scrunchie touching.
Yully finished readying herself and stepped outside the room. Jule waited patiently, a smile crossing his face as he took her in. He held out a hand, and she hugged him instead of taking it. The warmth of his body made her senses tingle with both need and happiness. While she didn’t quite know where she was, she felt a sense of belonging.
“You can have hugs whenever you want,” he said with a laugh. “And anything else.”
“Just you,” she replied. “Everything else terrifies me right about now.”
“You have nothing to fear, sweetheart,” he said and tilted her chin. Yully met his gaze, utterly relaxed and content with his heat and power moving through her. His thick arms squeezed her closer. “C’mon. Let’s meet your new family.”
Her chest tightened at his words, but she nodded. Jule took her hand and led her through the large log house with its earthy décor. They paused in the doorway of a large library, where a beautiful, petite blonde sat. Yully entered ahead of him and spotted the reclining Guardian dressed all in black in one corner.
“This is Sofi and her bodyguard, Pierre. Sofi is Damian’s mate. She’s also an Oracle, so she comes up with strange, random things sometimes,” Jule said, winking at the small woman.
“Random?” Sofi repeated with a smile. She rose. “Happy to meet you at last, Yully.”
“Welcome,” Pierre called from the other side of the library. “Irish and French share common ancestors. We’ll get along well.”
“I’m actually not Irish,” Yully said. “The accent says otherwise, but I was born in New York.”
“Never min
d. You’re on your own,” Pierre replied.
Yully looked at Jule.
“Ignore him. He amuses me,” Sofi said with a smile. “Welcome home. Bianca’s out back. You’ll have some time here with us to adjust before Jule yanks you to Europe.” The Oracle’s gaze sharpened as she looked at Jule.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jule said with a snort.
“Thanks,” Yully murmured, amused to see the tiny woman stand up to someone Jule’s size. He tugged her hand, and she followed him out of the library and through the sprawling house and a large kitchen to the back door.
A shapely woman with curly dark brown hair leaned against the railing of a paddock between the house and a large outer building. The Texas sun was gentle, and Yully enjoyed the light breeze and warmth after the Irish autumn. She shaded her eyes as they crossed to the paddock.
“Bianca!” Jule called. He turned to Yully. “She’s a Healer. She can bring people back from the dead.”
At Bianca’s sunny smile, Yully could see the woman cheerfully helping the injured. The Hispanic woman hopped down from the fence and shielded her eyes to see them as they approached.
“Did you get a horse?” Jule asked, looking at the animal in the paddock.
“Yeah,” Bianca said. “He’s a rescue from a local rancher. He was headed for the dog food factory. Fixed him up, and he’s good as new. We have dogs now, too.”
“I always wanted a dog,” Yully said. “You rescue them, too?”
“Yes.”
“What you’re saying is that you rescue pitiful animals like your mate,” Jule said.
“Jule!” Bianca gave him a disapproving look that quickly melted into a smile. “He was lost when I found him. I think all these Guardian-men are.”
Yully smiled, at ease with the two women she’d met so far. She hadn’t had friends since she was twelve. The idea of spending her days with the reserved Sofi and cheerful Bianca was surprisingly appealing, though she couldn’t help feeling intimidated by their happiness. She didn’t think she was capable of such an emotion after living in fear for so long. Her gaze went up to Jule.
