by Lizzy Ford
“Rhyn,” Gabriel said quietly. “I don’t think our friendship will survive what comes.”
“We are both bound to our destinies, Gabriel, something you taught me. Whatever that brings, you’ve been my only brother and friend,” Rhyn replied in the same tone.
When the assassin turned away, Rhyn stepped into the living forest. He opened the portal and stepped into the shadow world, envisioning the place Gabriel had passed to him. One of the portals glowed in response, and he strode through it, stepping into a world as sunny as Gabriel’s was dark. He smelled the ocean and stood on a beach of red sand edged with small shrubs. He walked up the beach and into the shrubs, finding a path that led to a small village of red cottages. Far across the sea, he saw the black walls of Hell stretching from water to sky.
The healers’ village consisted of several dozen cottages around a central square, in which many of the village’s people gathered and talked or cooked meals over red flames. They grew silent when he appeared, and those nearest him scattered. He’d thought Lankha skittish when he met the healer but soon found all the healers quaking and hiding.
“Lankha!” he belted, unable to distinguish one healer from the other. They all had Lankha’s flat face, no nose, bug eyes, and scrawny little bodies with feathery hands. The healers scattered like roaches in daylight. Rhyn snagged the clothing of one, and the healer yelped. “Come out, Lankha, or I eat everyone in your village, starting with this one!”
He heard whispers traded behind doors and cottages and waited.
“I’ll count to three. One!”
“I’m heeeeere,” one timid voice said. “What bringsss a demon to my hoooooome?”
He recognized the healer by the amount of bands winding around his arm. Each one represented a millennium, and this creature had been around longer than Rhyn’s deceased brother, Andre. He released the healer whose arm he held.
“Come with me,” Rhyn ordered, opening a portal. Lankha hesitated but moved forward with a look over his shoulder at the village. Rhyn waited until the healer passed him and then stepped into the shadow world behind him.
Lankha’s head hung, as if he walked to his death. He trailed as Rhyn led him toward the brightest portal, and Rhyn took the healer’s arm to hurry him along. They stepped into the snowy yard outside the castle. He all but dragged the healer to Kris’s room, found it empty, then went to Katie’s chamber. He flung the door open and shoved the healer into the room, ignoring the two surprised occupants of the chamber as he closed the door without entering.
The whiff of Katie’s blood nearly undid him. He hadn’t eaten in too long, and to have his mate so close … Rhyn took the stairs two at a time until he reached the roof. He launched himself off the rooftop, hungry and determined to find a demon to bleed dry. He flew to the forest and shape shifted into a jaguar as he dropped to the ground, taking off through the forest. The exercise felt good, and he ran and leapt and clambered up trees until he was panting. It was after his adrenaline tapered off that he smelled blood, and he trotted down a path in the direction of the scent.
What he found didn’t surprise him. Jared, wounded and vulnerable, had been cornered by another demon in its monster shape with drool dripping off its teeth. Jared was pale and propped against a rock. Happy the demon could draw his lunch out of the forest, Rhyn pounced on the demon, cracking its neck before it could fight. He tossed the creature to the side for later and shifted into his human form.
“Nature’s not so kind to the weak,” Jared said with a grimace as he pushed himself up.
“You’re not of any use to me like this.”
“Here’s where you’re wrong, half-breed. The reason I’m lying here in pain has to do with my accidental ambush of Darkyn’s demons,” the demon replied. “Are you going to eat all of him?” He motioned to the demon’s carcass a short distance from them.
“Depends on if what you have to say is worthwhile.”
“Fair enough. In any case, Darkyn’s demons are planning to invade the castle, where your sweet little morsel is, so they can slaughter every last annoying Immortal.”
“Demons can’t cross the sacred grounds.”
“They have an insider. And apparently, he alone knows how to render the grounds no longer sacred.”
Rhyn’s thoughts went to Katie. “Did they say when?”
“They noticed me then, so no. Help a brother out, Rhyn. I’m no good to you here in this shape. I need to go to Hell for a demon healer. I’ll promise to return.”
“Fine.” He no longer felt hungry despite the scent of blood. While he didn’t care what happened to Kris, he did care about Katie and when the demons would choose to attack. He’d suspected Sasha was there for more than one reason and didn’t doubt his brother had a plan.
Kris would never listen to him. The only other brother ever to extend a hand to help him was Kiki, the pragmatic half-brother who protected Asia. Rumor had it the Council hadn’t agreed on anything in a few hundred years, and Rhyn began to think the brothers he hated might be the solution to the demons.
Or he could take Katie, disappear, and leave Kris and the Immortals to their fate. He preferred this idea, except that it would mean he’d be defending her from Dark One’s minions and demons every minute of the rest of their lives together. Reluctantly, he accepted the fact that he needed the protection of the Immortals to keep Katie safe. If Kris didn’t call the Council together, Rhyn would drag his bastard brothers kicking and screaming to the castle, dangle them over the forest of demons, and offer them a choice: him or the demons. Cynically, he suspected all but Kiki would choose the demons.
*
“Lankha?” Katie asked, startled to see the cowering healer in her room. She’d last seen him in Hell, where they shared a cell together. “Are you okay?”
The healer was huddled against the door, looking around with visible horror. His gaze settled on her, and he ventured forward.
“What is it?” Ully whispered.
“He’s the oldest of the healers,” she replied. She stood and crossed to the scared creature and took one of his soft hands. He went without resistance. She led him to the bed. “Rhyn brought you here to help our friend, Lankha.”
The healer sank next to her on the bed, large eyes darting around the room as if he expected the furniture to grow fangs and chase him. His gaze finally fell to Toby, and he inched forward. Ully watched with alarm as the healer unwrapped the angel’s bandage. She felt like petting the healer to calm him as she might Toby’s cat but suspected it wouldn’t be welcome. She grimaced when he peeled back the final layer of bandages to reveal the gouge and broken bones beneath.
The healer clucked to himself, growing more comfortable as he concentrated on his trade. Katie moved out of his way. A tap at the door made Lankha pause, and she hurried to answer it to keep the healer from being distracted.
“Madame, your sister’s car has just entered the property,” Kris’s personal secretary said. “I thought you might wish to greet her.”
Katie could think of nothing she wanted less, but she nodded. She changed quickly into dry clothing before hurrying down the back stairwell. With her arm bleeding, she couldn’t risk drawing the attention of the Immortals by taking the front stairwell even to meet her sister. She went the back way— the servant’s route, as Kris had so kindly informed her— to the front door.
The white Hummer limo made it up the snowy slope and slowed as it crossed the cleared cobblestone drive in front of the castle. It stopped, and two footmen went to the doors while two others opened the trunk.
Appearing refreshed and thrilled, beautiful, blond Hannah stepped from the Hummer and looked up, awe crossing her features. She was dressed in a long, white fur coat that Katie had no doubt cost more than a small house. Hannah’s boots were white, her cream slacks and camel turtleneck completing her flawless look.
As usual, Katie felt a twinge of jealousy at the sight of her sister that only grew when Giovanni— Hannah’s handsome fiancé— circled
the car to take her arm and lead her to the stairs to the castle. Rhyn was about as uncivilized as Gio was civilized. Katie despised Gio most days, but sometimes, she wondered what a normal relationship was like. She didn’t hear Kris draw abreast until the man stood at her side, staring at the gorgeous woman approaching.
“That’s your sister?” he asked in clear astonishment. “What’s this guy’s name?”
“Giovanni de Medici, descendent of the Italian de Medici,” his secretary answered from behind them.
“Oh. I think I’ve heard his name before. How did he get an invite here?” Both of them looked at Katie, and Kris pursed his lips.
“I was going to ask you the same about Hannah,” she said with a glare. “Another of your tricks, Kris?”
“It’s customary,” Henri said. “Social propriety states that the immediate family of an Ancient’s mate or high level Immortal— ”
“You can’t tell me this was an accident!”
The smallest of smiles crossed Kris’s face, but he refused to answer.
“You are the biggest jackass in the world,” she hissed. “You drag my sister here? Why, to keep me here?”
“You forced me to bring Rhyn here,” he reminded her. “I say we’re even.”
“Aren’t you sworn not to interfere with mortals?”
“I’m not interfering,” he said with a sharp look. “Even if I don’t need your blood, I’d be a fool to let you go.”
“You swore an oath!”
“I take my oaths seriously, but I can’t let you go for the demons to get you. They developed immunity blood the last time they had you. Consider your sister— ”
“A hostage!”
“— a guest for an indefinite period of time. Besides, she’s an Immortal’s mate. She belongs to me anyway.”
Before she could respond, Kris strode from the doorway down the path, stopping in front of the two approaching. Gio bowed deeply, but Hannah gazed up at Kris with a look of such admiration that Katie suddenly realized Hannah wasn’t likely to object to staying in such a place. Kris greeted Gio, stepping aside to walk them up the path. Hannah’s gaze strayed beyond Kris to catch sight of Katie. She gave an excited wave and quickened her step. For her sake, Katie tried not to look as pissed as she felt and trotted down the stairs to meet her sister. Hannah enveloped her in a warm hug that smelled of expensive perfume.
“Is this your home now?” Hannah asked, her glowing gaze going to the castle again. Well aware of Hannah’s social ladder climbing aspirations, Katie couldn’t help her retort.
“Don’t act so surprised your little sis did something right for once.”
“Who is that handsome man with Gio?” Hannah asked, gaze on Kris once again.
“The world’s biggest dick,” Katie replied.
“Katherine!” Hannah exclaimed. “You don’t want him to hear you. Come, show me around.”
Katie hesitated, then strode through the main hallways, suspecting Hannah would be too star struck to notice the looks they’d certainly receive from others.
“Where’s that wonderful man of yours?” Hannah asked.
“Wonderful?” she repeated. “You mean Rhyn?”
Hannah chuckled, soon distracted as her gaze took in the entertaining parlor Katie led her to. She vaguely remembered it from her tour of the castle and was relieved to see several small groups congregated around all but one of the five fireplaces in the room. She went to the unoccupied fireplace and sat with her back to the wall, afraid of any Immortal who felt her draw enough to approach. Hannah removed her fur coat with a graceful flourish to reveal her snug clothing and perfect body. One of the servants darted forward to take her coat, and she gave a large smile before seating herself.
“So, tell me about this place,” Hannah said, eyes bright.
“Where should I start?” Katie asked, uncertain what her sister knew.
“Gio told me about the Immortals. I’m still puzzling through that part. Who was the man who greeted us?”
“His name is Kris. He’s sort of the leader of the Immortals. He’s a manipulative, lying jackass.”
“He seemed nice to me,” Hannah said. Her familiar way of dismissing her opinion made Katie bite her tongue to keep from saying what she wanted.
“You staying here long?” she asked instead.
“Through the winter. I planned on going to Seychelles to escape the east coast cold, but Gio said being invited here was an honor. Then he told me about the Immortals. You landed yourself a good one, Katherine.”
“I didn’t land anything,” Katie said impatiently. “We’re destined to be Immortals’ mates, and it’s been as far from a pleasant experience as I could imagine. You just wait to see what Kris has in store for you. He’ll make your life a living hell.”
“You’ve always been a little melodramatic, Katherine. How can you still seem so negative when you’re surrounded by all this!”
Katie clenched her jaw, realizing just how sugar-coated the Immortals’ world around her would look to her sister. Gio appeared in the doorway. He caught sight of them and crossed to Hannah. He appeared more unsettled than Katie had ever seen him. His gaze was roving, and his air distracted even as he bent to give Hannah a kiss on the cheek.
“I’ll catch up with you later, love,” he said. “I’ve got some business to attend to with the other Immortals.”
“Of course, my Gio,” Hannah said sweetly. “I’ll be with Katherine, if you need to find me.”
Gio’s tight smile was fleeting. Katie wondered what had called him away— news of the demons in the forest or some other awful plan by Kris? She watched him go, frowning when he turned left down the hall toward the front door rather than right to the stairwell or interior of the castle.
“Excuse me, sis,” she said, rising. “Just tell one of the waiters what you want to drink.”
Hannah was happy to marvel over her surroundings. Katie moved quickly through the room, refusing to meet the gaze of any of the Immortals. She emerged into the hallway in time to see a butler open the main door for Gio.
She trotted after him and stepped into the evening chill. The hidden sun was setting, and the white snow clouds glowed eerily, lit by the last rays of light. Hannah’s fiancé hurried to the waiting Hummer. Hannah’s Louis Vuitton luggage was lined up neatly along the path, and Katie skirted it.
“Gio!” she called. “Where are you going?”
“Katherine,” he replied, turning. “You will have to forgive me. Assure Hannah this was not my idea.”
“What wasn’t your idea?”
“Kris asked me to bring her here. He thought she might be an Ancient’s mate like you.”
“Okay, so why are you leaving her?”
Gio hesitated before sighing. “He asked me to. He granted me a position directly supporting the Council, if I walked away from her forever.”
“So you traded her for your ego,” Katie said and crossed her arms.
“The Immortal society is not like a human’s, Katherine,” he scolded. “You cannot marry into a higher rung on the ladder. You can only be granted special status by someone in a caste far above you.”
“Don’t you care about hurting her feelings?”
“Hannah used me to climb the social ladder, and I did not mind, because she is a beautiful, sweet girl,” he said. “I, in turn, used her to climb the Immortal ladder.”
Speechless, Katie couldn’t help thinking Gio was as shallow as her sister. That didn’t stop her from being angry at the man who would dump her sister off to deal with the hell she’d gone through.
“Leave this be, Katie.” Kris’s voice came from the doorway behind her. “Gio, go. Your service is eternally appreciated.”
Gio bowed and got into the Hummer. The door closed, and the long vehicle pulled away. Katie faced Kris with a glare.
“What the hell are you doing, Kris?” she demanded. “Isn’t it enough that I’m here?”
“I expected your sister to be as rough around the edges
as you are,” he said. “I’m glad she’s not, and she seems to understand trading personal happiness for a social status. She’s an Ancient’s mate, Katie, like you. How there were two of you born into one family, I don’t know.”
“You can’t make her stay.”
“From what Gio says, she’ll want to stay, and I doubt she’d consider mating with someone like me abhorrent.”
“If you’ll remember, I didn’t choose which Ancient to become my mate. What if she chooses one of your brothers?” she challenged.
“We’ll know soon who she chooses,” he said. His gaze went to her throat. “Two Ancients’ mates in the same family. Maybe you are more like Rhyn than I gave you credit for. Both of you are blemishes on your family.”
He walked back into the castle, leaving her with burning cheeks. She looked up at the glowing clouds, from which snow had begun to fall again. Tears stung her cheeks. As she thought of Toby, she wondered how much of what Kris said was true. He wouldn’t have been hurt if not for her, and Hannah may not have been dragged into the Immortal world if she hadn’t hit the radar of Kris.
She wiped her face, determined not to abandon her sister as Gio had. She walked the short distance into the house and down the hallway, stopping when she reached the doorway. Kris wore a rare, charming smile as he sat across from Hannah, talking. Hannah’s face glowed as she gazed at Kris’s handsome features. Kris caught Katie’s gaze and shook his head ever so slightly, warning her against coming in.
She watched for a long moment and then left, defeated and frustrated. She returned to her chamber, where Lankha still worked his magic on an unconscious Toby under Ully’s watchful gaze.
The sight of Toby’s blood made her feel sick, and her own blood loss made her dizzy. It was her fault he was hurt. She was an awful foster mom. Maybe Gabriel taking her to Death would make the lives of those around her easier.
Rather than join them, she paced the hall before following it to its end and ascending to the roof. The night was cold and the wind nonexistent. Snow soon covered her arms as she crossed the roof to gaze into the well-lit courtyard. Too tired to fight her tears anymore, she let them fall and stood shaking on the rooftop.
