Heart of Stone

by Debra Mullins

  She sang of loneliness and forgotten times. Of bittersweet promises left unfulfilled. Of betrayal and love and the things that should have happened and didn’t. Of what did happen, and shouldn’t have. She sang the song the stone needed to hear, until with a nearly audible sob, the blackness melted away, releasing them.

  Faith snapped back to herself in the real world. With a groan, she sat up, Darius steadying her as she stretched out her arms and legs with slow, easy movements. She heard the stone whispering, lamenting, trying to coax her back in, but she wasn’t biting. As long as she didn’t respond to it, it couldn’t trap her again.

  Trying to get the kinks out, she twisted at the waist and found her mouth inches away from Darius’s. Reality hit her with a crash: his hair-roughened legs beneath her, his hands on her hips, the mouthwatering scent of his shampoo. And those eyes, those insanely beautiful eyes, soft with concern yet intent as he studied her face. “You okay?” he asked.

  “I seem to be. How about you?” She eased off his lap to sit beside him on the mattress. The burning of her tattoos was starting to subside.

  “I’m okay. What happened?”

  She shook her head. “One minute I was dreaming, and the next the stone had linked with me. Swallowed me.” She swept a hand over her hair. “I’ve never known a stone to be able to do that unless I was either holding it or in close proximity.”

  “As far as I know, the thing is still locked up tight,” Darius said.

  “Well, it has a far reach, like a black muck smothering me. But I don’t think it meant to hurt me.”

  “I don’t know about its intentions, but I’ve never encountered anything like that before.”

  “Strange that we were trapped together. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before.” She pursed her lips in thought. “Why you?”

  “Beats me. That was some trip. I swear I have more gray hair now.”

  “What gray hair?” she scoffed. “You’re not even thirty yet, are you?”

  “Thirty-one in June.”

  “Methuselah.”

  “And don’t you forget it.” He stroked the back of his hand along her cheek. “You going to tell me how this happened? Because if you don’t, I’ll make up my own version, and that will be far worse.”

  She grabbed his hand, but rather than shoving it away, she just held it. “The stone is lonely. It’s been eons since the last Stone Singer balanced it, and it’s absorbed countless emotions from countless humans over countless centuries. Think of it as your crazy great-uncle who recites bad poetry when he’s had too much to drink.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Exactly. Ever since the first contact yesterday it’s been whispering to me, trying to get my attention.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  She shrugged. “I have stones whispering to me all the time. It’s a white noise that I can ignore if I need to.”

  “Guess this one didn’t like being ignored.”

  “No, it really didn’t. It’s going to take a lot of work to make it healthy again.”

  Darius frowned. “I don’t want you taking any risks. As important as this thing is, it’s not worth your safety.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She smiled. “As long as you keep doing your lighthouse imitation whenever I get stuck.”

  “What do you mean, lighthouse imitation?”

  “Twice I’ve gotten lost in that stone, and twice you’ve led me out. I see you as a glowing blue light in my mind, and that shows me the way.”

  “I still don’t like you taking these chances.” He lifted their clasped hands to his lips. Goose bumps prickled along her flesh, and she had to make herself focus on his words. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I’m being as careful as I can.” Her voice came out huskier than she’d intended, and she cleared her throat. “How’d you know I was in trouble?”

  “You called me. I woke out of a sound sleep because I heard you whisper my name.”

  “I’m glad you did, but you could have been trapped in there. I almost didn’t get you free in time.”

  “But you did. Thank you.”

  She rubbed her face. “Man, I’m tired. Why can’t these things happen in daylight? Why always in the middle of the night?”

  “Maybe because when you’re asleep, it’s easier for the stone to tap into your subconscious?”

  “You may be right about that.” She yawned. “And now I’m beat.”

  “You need to get some sleep.” He reached for his cane, which had fallen to the floor. “Do you want me to stay?”

  Soft words in a quiet night should not have made her heart race, but they did. She’d only started to level out from the incident with the stone, and now her adrenaline streaked back to maximum again. He sat there on the bed next to her, white T-shirt stretched over that powerful upper body, long hair mussed from sleep, and watched her with calm eyes as he awaited her response.

  Such patience. She wondered how patient he was in other areas.…

  “Faith?”

  “Sorry.” She managed a smile.

  “Do you want me to stay? You know, in case it happens again?” He tapped his knee. “These old bones probably couldn’t take another dash from the guesthouse.”

  “I’m too big to be afraid of the dark.”

  “The dark can’t hurt you. It’s what lives in the dark that you have to watch out for.” He gave her that charming grin that always made her pulse zing.

  She should tell him to go.

  “Or I can crash in the other guest room down the hall.”

  “No.” The word escaped her lips before her brain could talk her out of the decision. “This sounds silly, but I really don’t want to be alone right now.”

  “Not silly at all.”

  “Said the spider to the fly.”

  “Hey, hey.” He put up his palms in surrender. “Just offering bodyguard services.”

  “Uh-huh.” She let out a long sigh. “I would appreciate not being alone, but I’m not ready for more than that, no matter what happened earlier.”

  “You mean the kiss.”

  “Yes, I mean the kiss.”

  “Understood. Which side of the bed do you want?”

  “Huh?”

  “My chivalry may be alive and well, Faith, but my body can’t handle bunking on the floor. It’s a king-size bed. We should be able to sleep without even touching, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Fine. Yes, okay.” She got to her feet. “I get the bathroom first.”

  “Sure. Gentleman, remember?” He stood as well. “Now, the bed. Right or left? I’d prefer the side closest to the door.” He shrugged, that crooked grin curving his lips. “Not that the stone will grow legs and attack us.”

  “At least not that we know of.” She waved a hand. “Whatever you want is fine. I need sleep.”

  She wandered into the bathroom, wondering if she was making a huge mistake in letting him stay. Not that she worried about Darius pouncing on her. She trusted him to keep his word to not force anything.

  It was herself she didn’t trust.

  * * *

  Darius sat down on the bed and listened to the water running behind the closed bathroom door. He leaned his cane against the wall between the bed and the nightstand, then looked down at his trembling hands. For all the cool exterior he’d presented to Faith, his heart still pounded. Sweat still coated his skin. He couldn’t close his eyes without seeing that wasteland of sludge and muck, centuries of human emotions broken down into pure, physical desolation.

  At least that’s what he thought it was. As soon as Faith had come into contact with the stone’s energy, his empathic abilities had winked out. Atlantean powers were always rendered neutral around the Stones of Ekhia except, apparently, for a Stone Singer. It made sense. The Stone Singer needed to balance the stones, and she wouldn’t be able to do that if her powers were cut off.

  The only exceptions seemed to be any form of empathic ability, l
ike his and his mother’s, or the ability to amplify another’s power, like Faith’s late husband had had. Since other Atlanteans were used to their abilities not working on one another, it wasn’t quite as disorienting for them when the stones rendered them temporarily powerless. But for him, whose powers always worked on everyone—he hated it.

  He didn’t know how to function in the world without his empathy.

  The water shut off. He didn’t want Faith to come out and find him sitting there as if he’d been waiting; she’d take it as pressure. Once she’d broken free of the stone’s hold, his abilities had come rushing back, and he knew that while she was attracted to him and was beginning to trust him, she still had reservations.

  And he had one or two himself, at least until he got the full story out of her about how her husband had died.

  He swung his legs up onto the bed and made himself comfortable on top of the covers. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she glanced at him, her titillated uncertainty like spiced honey on the tongue. He didn’t give any indication he was awake. She reached back into the bathroom, the light behind her silhouetting her breasts and erect nipples through her thin cotton T-shirt. She flicked the switch and the light went out.

  Darius lay as still as he could while she tiptoed around to the other side of the bed and got in with a quick dip of the mattress and a rustle of sheets. The mating bond between them stretched warm and sweet like old-fashioned taffy, and he wanted a taste more than anything. She did, too, but that barrier of wariness still lingered. Until she took it down, it was hands to himself on his own side of the bed.

  Besides, the remnants of her encounter with the stone still lingered, rippling through the currents of her drowsiness like jagged driftwood, leaving splinters in tender places. He reached out with his senses, captured those shards of negativity, smoothed them into soft, warm balls of reassurance and eased them back into her fading consciousness. She drifted into a peaceful sleep.

  He stared into the darkness. The oblivion of slumber beckoned just beyond his reach. Sunrise could not come soon enough.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Darius woke up at 6:30 the next morning, years of keeping a disciplined schedule rousing him without benefit of an alarm clock. He glanced at Faith. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully, and a quick empathic check confirmed it. No nightmares from the stone’s antics last night. He grabbed his cane from the floor and slipped from the bed, trying not to jostle her.

  He’d started toward the door when she made a sound. The sheets rustled, and he paused to appreciate the image of her in bed, her delicate features relaxed and her dark hair tousled. She’d kicked away the bedding, and he took a moment to enjoy her long legs revealed by the skimpy cotton sleep shorts, the inches of midriff uncovered by the cotton T-shirt that had ridden up. He imagined slipping back into bed beside her and pushing that shirt all the way up. She wasn’t particularly busty, but he couldn’t deny the affect her slender, athletic build had on him. The idea of nuzzling those sweet, small breasts in the early dawn hours had his body responding.

  She murmured in her sleep. Could she sense his thoughts? In his mind he stroked his hands along that fair skin, sliding under her top to grasp her breasts. She murmured again and arched her back. Her erect nipples poked against the pliable cotton.

  He gripped his cane. His morning erection had returned with a vengeance, and his mouth watered as he stared at those inviting peaks.

  She said no, dumb-ass. He made himself turn away. He had time for a swim, and the water would still be chilly from the evening’s dip in temperature. Seemed like the most prudent option right now. He went to the door and paused again with his hand on the knob. The gentleman in him knew he should probably leave a note or something, but the raging horn dog part knew that if he moved back toward that bed, all bets were off.

  He opened the door and stepped out, pulling it shut behind him with a quiet click, and headed down the hall, pondering tackling the stairs rather than the elevator. The physical challenge might help work out some of his sexual frustration. That and the pool should do the trick.

  A door opened on his right. “Dar, what are you doing up here this early?” Tessa came out of her room, clad in a navy blue business suit and heels.

  “You’re all dressed up.” He dodged her question with one of his own. “Heading into the office?”

  Tessa fell into step beside him. “As a matter of fact, I have to interview someone for the part-time position we have open.” She leveled a look at him, which he pretended not to see. Her curiosity scratched like a stiff tag in a new shirt.

  “Going in with Dad?” he asked.

  “Yes, and you didn’t answer my question. You’re usually in the pool at this hour. We don’t see you in the main house until at least eight o’clock.”

  “Couldn’t sleep.”

  “Uh-huh. Again, that usually drives you to the pool.” She stopped at the top of the stairs and stared him down with those unique violet-colored eyes. Not for the first time, he took comfort in the fact that his sister’s powerful ability to see the future did not work on other Atlanteans.

  Didn’t take the creepy out of that stare, though.

  “If I didn’t know better, Dar, I’d think you were sneaking home with the sunrise after some romantic liaison.” She folded her arms. “But liaisons take two. Unless you’re trying to do Rafe dirty with Cara, there’s only one other person in this house that could possibly qualify as the other party. And I don’t think you’re that stupid.”

  “Butt out, Tess.” Darius reached for the banister.

  “Tell me I’m wrong, Dar. Tell me you’re not betraying this family with that … that person.”

  He stopped and narrowed his eyes at his sister. “You’ve been a bitch to her since she first showed up here. I’m not sure what’s eating you, Tessa, but I can take care of myself. If Faith had any bad feelings toward this family, I would know.”

  “Someone has to keep a cool head about her.” She glanced back at Faith’s door, then at him, eyebrows raised. “Clearly you’re not.”

  “Don’t pretend you know what’s going on, Runt.” He used the hated nickname on purpose. “Because you don’t.”

  She tried to hide her flare of anger, but it seared his senses with satisfying intensity. “Whatever.”

  “Leave Faith alone, Tess. She’s not here to hurt us. I’m sure of it.” He touched her arm, sent a pulse of reassurance to ease the fear she didn’t want to admit. “If you think any woman could come between me and my family, you’re wrong.”

  Slowly she unfolded her arms and twined her fingers with his. “Be careful, Dar. I see the way you look at her.”

  “It’ll be okay, Tess. You have to trust me.”

  She gave a little laugh. “I do trust you.”

  “That’s all that matters.” He grinned. “Race you down the stairs?”

  “Ha, I know a sucker bet when I hear one. If you kill yourself, Mom and Dad will kill me.”

  “Then you’d better make sure I don’t fall.”

  She rolled her eyes. “See? Sucker bet.” But she stayed beside him every step until they reached the first floor. “Okay, safe and sound.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Stay out of trouble.”

  “Don’t terrorize your interviewee.”

  “Would I do that?” Her normal confident smile in place, Tessa waved and headed toward the front door.

  Darius shook his head and made his way out the patio doors in the back of the house. He’d taken over the guesthouse when he’d been confined to the wheelchair. It was easier for him to get around if he didn’t have to deal with stairs, and he’d set up his private workroom in the cabana, where he could work his healing energy. Eventually his parents had installed the elevator in the house so he could get to the upper floors, especially the tenplu, but he’d never moved back into his old bedroom. He liked the privacy of the guesthouse.

  He heard his cell phone ringing as he reached his door. Shoving it open, he hu
rried as fast as he could to where the device sat plugged into the charger on his desk. He glanced at the display and answered the call. “It’s not even seven o’clock, Gray.”

  “Sorry, Darius. This was the best time for me, and I know you’re always up early, anyway.”

  Darius frowned at Gray’s somber tone. “What happened?”

  “Ben and I were attacked last night.”

  Darius sat down in his desk chair. “Mendukati.”

  “I didn’t stop for interrogations, but I assume so. Four Warriors jumped us in a restaurant parking lot, tried to grab Ben. One of them was a Whisperer.”

  “I’d say they know Ben is Faith’s weak point.” Darius rubbed a hand over his face. “Ben isn’t safe.”

  “I know, but he insists on finishing this show before he’ll even talk about protection.”

  “Stubborn.”

  “Don’t I know it. Listen, I’m sticking to him like glue, but as soon as his show is done, I want to bring him to Sedona.”

  “Absolutely. With the new modifications to security, this is probably the safest place. Even if you did eventually get in when Dad had you test them.”

  “Well, it took me awhile. That would buy us some time. And I know where the weaknesses are. It’s still the best option.”

  “Okay. When is the show over?”

  “It’s a two-day thing. We should be on the road tomorrow night, heading to your place.”

  “Maybe you should fly. I can have the jet waiting at Santa Fe airport. Should be safer than the road.”

  “Even better.” Adrian sighed. “Damn, I’m going to have to haul all Ben’s equipment onto the plane. Stuff’s heavy, and he won’t leave it.”

  “Come on, Gray. I think you can handle a few boxes.”

  “A few boxes of rocks and rock-carving equipment. Heavy as hell.”

  “Man up, buddy. You’ve got all that super strength working for you. Call me when you’re in the air.”

  “You got it. See you in a couple of days.”