Leaving him to sputter, she executed an about-turn and walked with dignity out of the office. Without a word, the Guardian Berk and his Blade fell in beside her, silently escorting her back to her cell.
When the door swung shut she slumped back against the wall, letting its cold strength support her. She’d put on a good show for the Guildmaster and the Guardian and his Blade, but now there was nothing left to do but make peace with her gods and wait.
“Lusahn!”
She ignored the harsh whisper, turning her back to the noise and tugging her threadbare blanket up higher over her shoulders.
“By the gods, Lusahn, will you wake up!”
Her eyes were slow to open, feeling gritty and dry. She sat up, trying to make sense out of the shadows outside of the cell. A male form stood at her cell door, one that looked vaguely familiar.
“I was asleep.” Finally, after hours of tossing and turning and listening to Larem berate her from his cell next door.
“Obviously, but now is not the time.” The male’s voice was threaded with impatience and some humor. She recognized him now; it was the same Guardian who had come for her earlier.
Was it time for her execution? The Guildmaster hadn’t mentioned a time. The middle of the night would be the perfect time if he wished to keep her death a secret from those who had known and respected her. So be it. She reached for her cloak and gathered her dignity.
“I am ready to die, Guardian Berk.”
“Don’t use my name! And as far as dying goes, I’m not here to execute you. We need to talk before the drugs I slipped your roommate wear off and he wakes up.” The sound of a key turning in the lock sounded unnaturally loud in the darkness.
She backed away from the door as Berk stepped into the cell. Her hand automatically reached for her weapon, forgetting for a heartbeat that she no longer carried it strapped to her waist. She remained poised to fight, but Berk made no move to attack. Instead he lit a small candle, its flickering light barely dispelling the shadows.
What was he up to? He motioned for her to sit, and then sat on the opposite end of her narrow cot.
“I’m risking a lot just by being here, Guardian q’Arc. I hope that you will understand when I ask that you not tell anyone about this visit.”
She shrugged. “Who would I tell? Larem is no longer a member of my Blade, and the Guildmaster is not interested in anything I have to say.”
Berk cocked his head to one side. “Does that surprise you? About the Guildmaster, I mean.”
As sad as it made her feel, she had to admit it didn’t. “Not really. Either he’s involved with the thefts of the blue stones, or he’s afraid to investigate for some reason.”
“He’s more interested in keeping his job than he is in finding the truth.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because I’m tired of seeing our people robbed by those who should be protecting them. I knew about Joq’s greed, but I hadn’t been able to catch him in the act. You evidently had better luck.”
She blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the surge of pain at the mention of her friend. “I don’t know that I would call it luck. I trusted him.”
His betrayal had hurt even more than Barak’s. Her brother had been an outspoken critic of the Guild’s policies, so it hadn’t come as a complete surprise that he would eventually turn his back on them. But Joq had been more than just her friend and mentor. He’d been her hero, his honor and loyalty to the Guild beyond question.
She’d been a fool to trust him, and her entire Blade had paid the price for her mistake.
“He was a Sworn Guardian. He should have lived his life above reproach. It is hardly your fault that he didn’t.”
Berk’s words offered only cold comfort, and this was getting them nowhere.
“What do you want of me?” Her days of blind loyalty were behind her.
He accepted the change of subject. “Do you have any information that will help us put a stop to the thefts?”
“Us? Who are you talking about?”
“I will not reveal the identity of my associates. We cannot risk your trying to buy back your own life at the cost of ours.” He faced her more directly. “Had we known that you would be willing to assist in uncovering the culprits, we would have approached you sooner. I regret that we found out too late.”
“Because I’m to be executed?”
He turned away abruptly. “That isn’t what I meant. We would have liked to have met your human, to see what we could do to help.”
She had nothing to lose by being honest. “My brother is working with the Paladins, trying to slow the theft of the blue stones. Because of the rumors that the stones can be used to purchase safety in the human world, more and more of our people are trying to cross the barrier. It’s a lie, but desperation drives people to accept the risk. The Paladins will continue to protect their world, but even they tire of killing so many of our kind.”
“Did they have any information that would help identify those involved on this side?”
“No, but Joq led us to a cave in the hills above his home that humans have been using as a base. If you have someone good at tracking, he should be able to follow the trail from Joq’s home right up to the cave. There were items there from the human world, and tracks from their shoes.”
“Is there anything else?”
“No. Before we could investigate further, Joq lured my Blade to my house and killed all but Larem. We barely got my children across the barrier before I was captured.”
“I would like to speak with your human.”
“You can’t. He’s gone.” The pain almost crippled her.
“But he’ll be back.” Berk smiled, his teeth gleaming whitely in the dim light.
“Why would you say that? What have you heard?” She didn’t want to cling to false hope.
“This human was a warrior, was he not? A male worthy of the title?”
She nodded.
“Then he will be back for you. His honor will accept no less than that.”
Chapter 12
L arem stirred, causing both of them to go silent. Her Blademate moved around a bit before settling down. When he snored loudly, Lusahn couldn’t help but giggle. Berk chuckled softly and stood up.
“A reminder that time is passing, and I must be gone. I will investigate the cave in the next few days.” He stared at the wall for a bit before turning to face Lusahn. “I regret that I cannot take you out of here with me, but that would have dire consequences for too many others.”
She couldn’t argue that. “I will draw comfort from knowing that someone will put a stop to the thefts.”
“I hope your human friends don’t delay too long in coming for you.” He reached inside his cloak and pulled out a dagger. “In case they do not make it in time, I offer you this. If it were me, I would take pleasure in denying the Guildmaster his spectacle.”
She accepted the weapon, though it was doubtful that she would use it. Suicide held no honor in her mind, and her honor was all that she had left, but the gesture touched her heart.
“Thank you for this, and for the conversation as well. I wish you success with your investigation.”
He turned the key, locking the door behind him. “Try to get some sleep, Guardian. All is not lost—not yet.”
When Berk was gone, she stretched out on her cot and stared into the darkness. Along with the knife, Berk had given her hope, a fragile but precious gift. She filled her mind with the image of Cullen’s smile and drifted off to sleep.
Each minute lost was one less Cullen had left to rescue Lusahn. If he possessed the gift to bring down the barrier, he would have done so hours ago, and to hell with the consequences. That thought brought him up short. No matter how strong his feelings for Lusahn were, he couldn’t forsake his duty. To destroy the barrier would endanger his friends and those he was sworn to protect.
But not knowing if Lusahn was alive and unharmed was slowly killing him. Devlin had insisted on t
aking Cullen home with him to settle Bavi and Shiri in with Laurel, Lacey, and Brenna, who had volunteered to watch the children. Cullen wondered if they had any idea where some of their menfolk were headed sometime in the next couple of hours, but he doubted it.
He kept his eyes on the Seattle skyline. “Do they know?”
Devlin didn’t have to ask who Cullen was talking about. “Not for certain, although they’d have to suspect—especially since Barak is going with you. They all know he’s never helped defend the barrier from our side.”
“Maybe I should go alone.” He had to offer, although a solo mission would stand a greater chance of failure.
“Like we’d let that happen. We were lucky you got back at all.” Devlin gunned the engine and passed a slow truck. “Besides, Lusahn risked a lot for you and for us. She doesn’t deserve to die.” He reached out and put his hand on Cullen’s shoulder. “You’ll get her back.”
Cullen appreciated the comfort. “You’ll like her, you know. She’s loyal and fights to protect those she cares about. Beautiful, too. There’s this special way she smiles when—” Cullen suddenly realized where that train of thought was taking him and stopped mid-sentence.
Devlin let out a bark of laughter. “Man, oh, man, you’ve got it bad.”
“Look who’s talking! You get moony-eyed whenever Laurel walks in.” The teasing eased the knot in his stomach.
“Welcome to the club, then.” Devlin chuckled and shook his head in wonder. “You, me, Trahern, and Barak—who would have guessed we’d ever find women who’d put up with us?”
“Feels good, though, doesn’t it?”
Devlin turned serious. “Sure does.”
As soon as Devlin pulled up in his driveway, the front door flew open. Bavi and Shiri came barreling out, running straight for Cullen. He knelt down, arms open, and gathered them in. Shiri buried her face against Cullen’s chest while Bavi stepped back after only a brief embrace. This all had to be overwhelming, especially without Lusahn to anchor them.
“Are you two all right? I’m sorry to have left you for so long.”
“We are fine. The women”—Bavi jerked his head in the direction of the house—“fuss over us like Lusahn.”
Cullen stood up, holding Shiri in one arm while he reached out to ruffle Bavi’s hair with the other. “Let them. It will give them something to do while we’re gone.”
Bavi nodded in that too-adult way of his, his shoulders back. “I would go with you if Shiri did not need me.”
“I know, but your duty is to protect your sister, Bavi. I can concentrate on returning to Lusahn, knowing that you are here for Shiri.”
Before he could say more, a car and a small pickup pulled up. Lonzo parked on the street and joined the group, his duffel slung over his shoulder. Lacey Sebastian climbed out of the truck, followed by Barak. Bavi stiffened at the sight of the Other male. As Barak approached, the boy looked to Cullen for guidance.
“Bavi, I’d like you to meet Lusahn’s brother, Barak q’Arc. I’m proud to consider him a friend.”
If Barak was surprised by Cullen’s declaration, he gave no sign of it. Instead, he stopped in front of Bavi and bowed slightly. “I would be honored if you would accept me as an uncle.”
Bavi studied the older Kalith for some time before answering. “If Lusahn says yes.”
Barak smiled gently. “Then that will be one of the first questions I will ask my sister when I see her.”
Laurel and Brenna had followed the children out of the house, and stood next to Devlin and Trahern while Lacey hovered behind Barak’s shoulder. All three were smiling, but their expressions looked brittle as they tried not to show how worried they were.
The men weren’t unaffected, either. Devlin was holding his lover’s hand. Trahern casually draped his arm around Brenna’s shoulders and pulled her in close to his side. Cullen felt like hell for dragging his friends into this mess, but he stood a better chance of freeing Lusahn with their help than he would have alone.
Cullen gave Shiri another hug. “You two will be safe here with the women and Devlin. I know he looks tough, but he’ll protect you with his life. If either of you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask him.” He winked at the boy.
Bavi mustered up a brave smile. “We will wait here.”
“Good. We’ll be back with Lusahn as fast as we can.”
Trahern gently pushed Brenna’s hair back from her face and brushed his lips across hers. Barak cupped Lacey’s cheek and stared down into her eyes before stepping away. Laurel immediately crossed the short distance to where Cullen stood and hugged him. “Be careful out there. We just got you back.”
“I will. We all will.” And if they didn’t hit the road soon, he was going to explode. “We need to go.”
The four men loaded the duffels with their weapons and cloaks before climbing into Trahern’s truck. The women and children huddled together as they waved at the men. As far as Cullen knew, it was the first time in recent memory that a group of battle-bound Paladins had received a send-off by those who loved them. He liked knowing that someone cared.
When they were out of sight of the house, he asked the hard question. “Are you all sure you want to do this?”
Trahern shot him a sardonic look. “Why the hell not? These days anyone can be an international traveler, but intergalactic? Now that’s something a man could brag about.”
Barak laughed, but Devlin protested. “You go shooting your mouth off, Trahern, and the place will be crawling with tourists. It will spoil it for the rest of us.”
“Sorry, boss. I wasn’t thinking.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes before Cullen asked, “Barak, where are we going to cross? I have a feeling the Guild will have guards posted at the usual spots.”
“I know, but I don’t think we have much choice. There are other places, but my people don’t use them because the barrier is too stable.”
Cullen turned to look at Barak in the backseat. “How about the place that Joq’s contacts from this side have been using? I don’t know where it leads to on this side, but in your world it opens into a cave in the hills above Joq’s house.”
Devlin interrupted. “We don’t have time to hunt for a new crossing unless that mojo Barak’s been hiding from us can feel where it is.”
Barak ignored the jibe. “When we get down in the tunnels, I’ll see what I can detect. Much will depend on the barrier itself.”
Collen nodded. “Fair enough.”
Trahern pulled up to the entrance of the underground parking lot and waited for the garage door to open. As they drove into the dark interior, Cullen looked back at the disappearing light and wondered if he would live to see it again.
“Why don’t you shut up, Larem, and save your strength? Nothing you say to me will change anything.”
Lusahn shut her eyes and wished she could shut off her hearing as easily as her sight. Whatever Berk had slipped into Larem’s food the night before had made him deathly ill as soon as he woke up. He’d spent the entire morning dividing his time between berating her and hovering over the foul-smelling bucket in the corner of the cell.
“I no longer have to take orders from you, former Sworn Guardian.” His remark might have stung more if he hadn’t immediately had to dive for the bucket again.
She tried not to laugh at his misery, but it was hard. When she looked at Larem now, it was like looking at a stranger. The handsome friend she’d always known had disappeared into the husk of bitter anger in the next cell.
Pretending Larem no longer existed, she thought about Bavi, Shiri, and Cullen. If she tried hard, the pain at their loss didn’t overshadow the good memories. After Barak first disappeared, she’d felt ungrounded and so alone. The two children had filled many of the empty places in her heart and in her life. And then Cullen came along with his Paladin swagger and dangerous smile. How had that man managed to capture her cautious heart so quickly?
Despite what Larem and the Guildmaster thought, i
t hadn’t been all about the great sex. She smiled. Maybe it had been, but the sex had only been one way to experience the wonderful connection that had snapped into place between them from their first meeting. None of her kind had made her melt with a simple touch or a smile.
What they had shared was strong and good and so perfect. As long as she concentrated on Cullen, she could hold off the despair that had Larem in its grip. Slowly she lost herself in the memory of loving Cullen—his touch, his taste, his scent.
The door at the end of the room slammed open, jarring her out of her hard-won peace. She waited until the intruders stopped outside her door before forcing her eyes open. Berk was back, his face impassive. If she didn’t have the knife he’d given her tucked away in her mattress, she would have thought she’d dreamed his midnight visit.
“The Guildmaster wishes to see you again.”
When Berk unlocked her door, she reluctantly followed him and his Blade back to the Guildmaster’s office. The silence seemed heavier this time, as if they already knew what fate awaited her on the other side of the Guildmaster’s door.
She didn’t bother to knock since she was expected. Once again, the Guildmaster was more interested in the paperwork on his desk than one former Sworn Guardian.
When he looked up, there was a definite chill in his expression. “So, Lusahn, are you ready to face the consequences of your actions?”
“What consequences are those, Guildmaster? Are you talking about the murder of my Blade by my former Sworn Guardian? Or the loss of two children I love as my own? Or the fact that the light in our world is dying, and someone is helping that along?”
The atmosphere in the room grew even colder. He held up a piece of paper. The print was too small to be read from across the desk, but the official seal at the bottom looked ominous. She’d never seen an order of execution before, but a cold wash of dread told her that she was looking at one now.
Redeemed in Darkness Page 18
