Darkness Awakened

by Stephanie Rowe

  Their minds touched, and the true depths of her need for him hit him so hard his world shattered around him, sucking Madison with him into the vortex as it spun him ruthlessly, ripping his foundation, until all he could do was anchor his mind to Madison's and hold her body to his, hoping they'd both still be there when it finally took mercy and let them go.

  Madison snuggled against Ajax, her heart pounding as the aftershocks vibrated through her. He was holding her securely, his arms protecting her back from the rough bark of the tree.

  She lifted her head to look at Ajax and found him staring off into the distance, a grim expression on his face. It was the look of anger she'd expected initially, not the seduction she'd gotten. She stiffened, and he looked down at her as if he'd sensed her withdrawal. "You okay?"

  "Why did you just make love to me? Punishment for lying to you?"

  "No." He gently lifted her off him, and she shuddered as he slid out of her body.

  Her legs were shaky as he lowered her to the ground. "Then why?"

  He tangled his fingers in her hair, rubbing the back of her neck. "Because you're a warrior with a beautiful, pure soul." The way he spoke was deep with emotion, a huskiness in his voice that made her heart tighten.

  She knew it was the ultimate compliment he could offer her. His words made her heart tighten, because she wanted to be worthy of the emotion in his voice, but she knew she wasn't. There was so much he didn't know about her, things that would change his opinion if he knew. "Ajax—"

  "You were willing to do whatever it took to protect your sister. You carried the burden by yourself, stood alone because it was all you knew." He lightly brushed his knuckles over her heart. "In here, you have honor, and not many people do." His gaze darkened. "I'd trust you with my back."

  She wanted to cry at his words. He didn't know she'd lied to him about her Illusions and her ability to detect them, and he didn't know the truth about her. "Don't say that. I'm not—"

  "You are." He picked her jeans up off the ground and shook them off before handing them to her. "And for that reason, you deserve my honesty." He pulled his own jeans back on. "Bezoar nearly destroyed an entire civilization, as you know."

  She had to tell him the truth, the whole truth. Now. He deserved it, and she couldn't stand lying to him any longer. Not after what they'd just shared. It hadn't been sex, it had been intimacy. He'd made her feel treasured and beautiful, and she didn't deserve it.

  She didn't deserve him, and she wouldn't be able to keep him once he knew who she was. Better to tell him the truth now, and have him reject her before she lost herself to him entirely…if she hadn't already. "Ajax, I—"

  He put his finger to her lips. "Nothing more needs to be said, my beautiful warrior. You didn't betray me. You acted with honor." He brushed the pad of his fingers over her mouth before dropping his hand, the tender gesture making her heart tighten.

  Dear God, she wasn't worth him. "But—"

  "Bezoar's army was made of Illusionists." He handed her shirt to her, transforming back into a warrior. She could practically feel him withdrawing from the intimate moment, his mind already analyzing the information she'd given him and applying it to their situation. "He used malachite to strengthen their powers and be his enforcers. I think you and your sister, but especially you, are being prepped for that role when Bezoar is released."

  His words got her attention in a hurry, and confessing her dark past no longer seemed like the most important thing on her agenda. "Are you serious?" She yanked the shirt over her head, suddenly feeling vulnerable without her clothes on. "But why us?"

  "I suspect that the Illusionist we are dealing with is your parents' family friend, and your skills are well known to him."

  She closed her eyes in dismay, horrified by the thought she'd been targeted since she was a child. How many of her dark Illusions had been manipulated? Had she not been as much of a failure at controlling herself as she'd believed? What if she'd had malachite in her shampoo since she was a child? "That does make sense, doesn't it? Dammit! Why can't I remember who he is—"

  Ajax slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, as if he needed to touch her one last time. "Give yourself a break, little warrior. We'll figure it out. You're doing a great job."

  Her throat tightened at the respect evident in his voice, at the realization that he really did think she was okay. Instinctively, her hand went to his wrist, not to pull him away, but to hold onto him as long as she could.

  Ajax was studying her intently, his jaw tight. "I believe that you being sent to kill me was a test of your skills." He kissed her forehead, between her eyebrows. "Without you on his team, Bezoar's leverage is significantly decreased. According to traditional Order logic, you need to be killed before he can recruit you," he whispered, his lips brushing against her forehead. "Goddamn it, Madison, you need to die."

  "What?" She pushed back, but he tightened his grip.

  "I won't let them hurt you," he said. "But I want to be honest with you about what you're facing."

  "But your promise to Zion—"

  "—requires me to go back up there and deal with my team. But you don't need to go with me." He finally let go of her to button his jeans. "The very first thing the Order will want to do is kill you and your sister. And technically, they're correct."

  Her stomach tightened. "Oh—

  He smiled gently. "I'm not going to take you there without making sure you understand what you're facing." He trailed his fingers over her collarbone. "The Order doesn't trust me, and I don't trust them. If you go back up there and wait for the rest of them to arrive, you could die."

  "No, I wouldn't. You wouldn't let them."

  He wrapped his hand around her shoulder, pouring strength and reassurance into his touch. "The people I promise to protect get killed. It's dangerous to have that kind of faith in me." His eyes were blazing. "If you weren't a warrior, I wouldn't even give you a choice. I'd toss you in my truck and make you hide out until this was over."

  "I'd come back." For her sister, she would. Again and again.

  "I know, and then I wouldn't be in control of the situation. If it's our decision, then I can do my best to manage it." He laid his hand over her heart. "Because you're a warrior, I'll treat you like one. I will tell you what you're facing and let you make the choice. Know that I am going after Ashley and her captors either way. And if Ashley hasn't gone over the edge yet, I'll bring her back, even if you choose to stay behind."

  She looked into his face and saw the fierceness glittering in his eyes. "I'm coming with you. No matter what."

  He nodded once, and she saw fierce pride in his eyes. Little did he know that it wasn't courage. It was fear. Fear of herself, of failing Ashley, of being ashamed of who she was for the rest of her life.

  He kissed her again. If I wasn't already stuck with you, I just might have picked you myself.

  Her throat tightened. "You don't know me," she whispered. "Don't say that—"

  "Go back to the campfire," he said, his hands gentle as he stroked her hair. "Get some sleep before the rest of the Order arrives. I have some ideas about how to make the Order allow you to live, and I'll be up there before they arrive."

  "Why would they let me live?"

  "Your skills in detecting Illusions. Your sister isn't the only Illusionist at work, and we need your skills in order to survive. Head up to the campfire and tell Xander what you've told me. I'll be back in a minute with the phone." He kissed her hard, and then released her. "We're going to battle, sheva. Arm yourself."

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  It took Ajax several minutes to find the phone. It was buried in the dirt under the car, and he found it only by following Madison's scent and tracking her beneath the truck. She'd hidden it there to protect herself from Luke.

  As if going under a car would save her from a Calydon? Why wasn't she using Illusions to protect herself? It made no sense—

  He sensed a presence behind him and turned. "Xander.
I just sent Madison up to the campfire to tell you—"

  Xander walked out of the shadows. "How bonded are you with her?"

  Ajax shoved the phone into his pocket, not surprised by the question, knowing the respite Xander had given him earlier was only temporary. "Not all the way." But he knew the bond was getting stronger. Just walking away from her in the woods had been difficult. "As long as we're not fully bonded, I won't go rogue. We're okay."

  "Are you?" Xander leaned closer, studying him. "How certain are you that your need to keep her alive is a strategic choice, versus being driven by the bond?"

  Ajax met his gaze. "I'm dead certain."

  Xander inspected him for a long minute, then finally nodded. "I accept that, but the team's going to have trouble buying into it."

  Ajax started walking toward the campfire, needing to find Madison and check on her. He touched her mind, found her calm. He relaxed slightly, and then retreated so he could focus on the woods around them, searching for the approach of the rest of the Order.

  He had to prove that being bonded wouldn't prevent him from being able to fight. He had to survive their bonding. "You think Rajak and Kerrick realized I've marked her?"

  Xander fell into step beside him. "Not yet, but they were only focused on killing you. Once the threat of battle is no longer so imminent, they'll realize it immediately. She emanates your scent."

  Ajax couldn't suppress the feeling of satisfaction of knowing that all other Calydons would know she belonged to him... Hell. He was a mess to be thinking like that, and yet, a part of him didn't care. He was feeling possessive as hell about her, and he wasn't in the mood to try to change. "The team will follow your lead, Xander. If you accept her, they will, too."

  Xander nodded. "I'll talk to them before they meet her." He paused. "When it's over, and you don't need Madison anymore, what then?"

  Ajax knew only one answer would convince Xander to help him. "Then you can kill her."

  Xander slanted a look at him. "I can smell your lie."

  Shit. "You're right." He shrugged. "I'll kill you before I let you harm her, and that's the truth."

  They fell silent, walking side by side in the night. Ajax had to concentrate to keep his weapon from leaping into his hand on its own, to deflect the threat Xander presented to Madison before it could manifest.

  Xander finally spoke. "Bezoar is too big of a threat, and I believe Madison can help us. You have my support until this is over."

  Ajax felt the truth of Xander's words, and he knew Xander would protect Madison with his life for the duration of this mission. He felt an enormous weight lift off his shoulders. His blood brother had chosen him over his Order oath. "Thank you."

  "I made an oath," Xander said quietly. "When this is over, I have to kill her. It's you or her. I don't want another Viktor. I don't want to lose you to the insanity of the bond."

  Ajax ground his jaw. "It won't come down to that."

  "The sheva bond always does. Always. Destiny always wins."

  "Not this time—" Ajax lifted his head, caught the scent of Isaac... "Shit, they're here already—" Ajax was cut off by a yelp from Madison, and the loud crack of a Calydon's weapon snapping into the air.

  Ajax was in a full sprint before the sound faded, Xander right behind him.

  Madison stumbled backward as a double-spiked flail exploded from Rajak's scarred forearm. The spiked metal balls flashed in his hand as he whirled on her, his eyes black with lethal determination.

  "You’re his sheva." He hurled the flail toward her heart, and she threw up her arm to block it. A loud crack split the night, and then Ajax's sword appeared in her hand and thrust deep into Rajak's gut.

  The flail fell from the warrior's hand as he dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach, blood pouring from between his fingers.

  "Oh, God." She kneeled beside him, holding his heavy shoulders as he crumpled to the earth. "No! Don't die! I didn't mean—"

  "Isaac! Don't!" Ajax's voice broke through the night, and she looked up in time to see another warrior standing above her, throwing spikes clenched between his fingers as he brought them down toward her.

  She froze, realizing she had no time to get away.

  There was another crack, and then a throwing axe careened past Madison's head. The flat of the handle bludgeoned Isaac's hand with a bone-crushing thud, less than an inch from Madison's head. She jerked back as his hand shattered under the blow and his throwing spikes went flying.

  Madison scrambled away as Isaac called out more throwing spikes.

  Ajax grabbed her and flung her to the side as he threw his shoulder into Isaac's stomach. Xander dropped to his knees beside Rajak and yanked Ajax's sword out of his gut as Ajax flung Isaac onto his back and wrapped his hands around his throat. Isaac fought back, but he was helpless under Ajax's furious assault.

  "Ajax! Stop!" Madison heard the crack of more warriors calling out their weapons, and she knew they were coming for her and for Ajax.

  She ran across the clearing and grabbed his shoulder, trying to pull him off Isaac, but he didn't even notice her, intent only on strangling Isaac. Was this the rage of the bond? Because she knew this wasn't him.

  "Ajax!" She pounded at his arm, her fingernails clawing at his wrists as she fought to get his hands off Isaac, but his fingers kept tightening, and trickles of blood began to slide down Isaac's neck.

  "Dammit, Ajax!" She grabbed his hair and yanked his head back so she could see into his face. His eyes were glowing red, contorted with a deadly rage.

  The bond. It was taking him. "Dammit! No!"

  "Get back!" Xander pulled her away, then slammed the handle of his axe into the side of Ajax's head.

  Ajax fell to the ground with a groan, his hand to a gash in the side of his head.

  "Don't hurt him!" She pulled free of Xander's arms and ran over to Ajax. "Ajax!" She kneeled beside him, her hand on his back, bending down beside him. "Are you okay—"

  He grabbed her suddenly and hauled her beneath him, dragging her across the pine needles. His eyes were still red, face contorted with fury, but she wasn't afraid of him.

  She knew he would never hurt her, that he was reaching out for her, because she was the only one who could bring him back.

  She reached for him at the same instant he slammed his mouth down onto hers. His kiss was violent and desperate, a dangerously sensual invasion that made her entire body turn to fire. She clung to him, kissing him back, taking all he gave her.

  The female inside her recognized her mate was in a dangerous place, that only she could bring him back. She felt herself revel in that strength and that power. That he needed her and only her to subdue the monster inside him.

  She opened herself to him, accepting his anger, offering herself to him, taking all he wanted to give her. His hands ripped at her shirt, and then his mouth was on her breast, his hand going beneath the waistband of her jeans.

  She gasped as he thrust his fingers inside her, vaguely aware of Xander ordering the rest of the Order away from them, to give them privacy. They were on display? Then Ajax's mouth was on hers again, his fingers kneading her breasts, and she didn't care anymore who could see them, who could hear them. All she knew was that she wanted him inside her, wanted that violence to be spent inside her—

  He growled suddenly, and then his hands were at her waistband, tearing at her pants with a force that should have terrified her, but it didn't. She just gazed up at him as he loomed over her, his eyes still red, his muscles huge and tense, blood still on his face.

  Her heart raced in anticipation, her body wet with desire for the warrior who could kill her with the snap of his fingers. For the warrior who needed her to save him.

  Ajax yanked his own jeans off, and then moved back over her, sweat glistening on his torso, the brands on his arms raised and black, his entire body vibrating as he held himself above her. The eyes that stared down at her weren't Ajax's. They were those of a deadly monster. But somewhere inside the monster, was th
e man she loved.

  "Yes," she whispered. She pulled him close as he plunged inside her, so deep her body convulsed, a delicious sensation that sent her catapulting into an instant orgasm.

  He thrust again, and again, his mouth on her breast, her mouth, kissing her, his tongue thrusting deep, until she was nothing but an explosion of fire and heat and unending orgasm.

  Then he shouted her name and he threw his head back, his entire body going rigid as he filled her with his seed, emptying himself into her, his hips convulsing against her until he finally collapsed against her with a heartrending groan.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Ajax pressed his face against the curve of Madison's neck, inhaling deeply, allowing her scent to fill his mind and his body, using it to calm the crazed fury still raging in his mind, still making his muscles scream with the need to kill.

  Her body was soft and warm. Delicate. His. He knew she'd brought him back from the edge, that it had been her touch, her body, her total acceptance of his monster that had penetrated the mindless rage consuming him.

  The realization staggered him, that this woman had that much power over him. That one threat to her had made him go rogue, and that her touch could bring him back from true insanity. No warrior should be able to tolerate anyone having that kind of power over him, but with Madison...it felt right. As if he knew in his soul that he could trust her.

  And that thought was the most uncomfortable of all. Trust her? With so much? It was wrong. Dangerous. And it felt right.

  Her hand went to the back of his head, her fingers tangling in his hair, and he knew it didn't matter whether he was right to trust her or not. He couldn't walk away from her. No matter the danger to both of them...

  Shit. The fact he was even thinking like this was proof he did need to walk away. That this was too dangerous.