The Darkest Warrior

by Gena Showalter

  William zeroed in on Puck, but spoke to Gillian. "This must be done, poppet."

  "No," she said, and stomped her foot. "Please, no."

  She was frightened. Frightened the end of the bond would mean the end of their relationship, which meant a part of her did, in fact, believe her love for Puck would be diminished. But love wasn't just a feeling, he realized. Feelings fluctuated, changing because of circumstances and a million other factors. Love was a choice. A commitment to put someone else first, to give rather than take, to protect and never harm.

  By keeping the bond in place, he would be choosing Gillian's future for her. To have that happy ending, she had to choose her own path.

  So, Puck planted his heels in the sand, ready to face the future. "Do it, William."

  "No!" Gillian tried to stop the male, but he flashed beyond her.

  When he reappeared in front of Puck, he paused only a moment before placing the crown where it belonged. Gillian whimpered, nearly undoing Puck. In the next instant, however, he lost sight of everything but the power flowing through him. A cache of Sin's magic. Magic from every Connacht king ever to live.

  Each of his abilities returned, and then some. The things he could do...the power he could wield...

  Amazing. Magnificent.

  Heart-wrenching.

  "It's done," William said. "I've given you the Connacht crown."

  "Yes." Puck opened his eyes and nodded.

  "Now you will free Gillian."

  "William, please," she said, dropping to her knees. "Free him from his vow." Looking panicked, she said, "I can't have a happy ending without him."

  "You can. You will. I insist on it." The Ever Randy reached out, ghosted his fingertips along her jawline. For once, Puck didn't begrudge the man such a touch--for it was his last.

  "No! You know there's a catch with the shears," she said. "Over the centuries I've learned there's always a catch with ancient artifacts."

  Puck had once had the same thought himself.

  "The shears can be used only once every hundred years. Mortal years," William said. "Unless the shears aren't used for a hundred years. Then they can be used twice in a hundred years. Think roll-over minutes for cell phones. If the shears aren't used in three hundred years, they can then be used three times. So on and so forth."

  "I've had them three hundred mortal years." Thousands of Amaranthian years. "Which means I have one more use." For Gillian. In a hundred mortal years, he could help Winter. Another hundred years, and he could help Cameron. Then, finally, a hundred years after that, he could help Sin.

  He wouldn't reverse the order, either, even if Sin returned tomorrow. His friends had helped him for centuries, so he would help them first.

  "Are you doing this to hurt me?" Gillian asked William. "Because I hurt you?"

  William, usually the roughest, toughest male on the block, softened. "No. Believe it or not, I'm doing this to aid you."

  Looking defeated, she sat back on her haunches. "Too much has changed already. Just...give us fifty mortal years. Or better yet, a hundred. Then we can revisit this."

  So badly Puck wanted to gather her close and assure her all would be well. He hated seeing her afraid. Hated wounding her. He would rather die. But he would rather suffer for eternity than deny her a right to choose.

  William gave her a chiding tsk-tsk. "This isn't like you, poppet. You should want this."

  "Want it?" she screeched. "My life is finally perfect! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this? Why would I want to change anything?"

  "I'm going to guess you've been waiting, oh...five hundred and nineteen years?" William said. "But sweetling, you are wrong. This isn't perfect. But it will be when we're done."

  "No!" she repeated. "I want to keep Puck. And I want his horns returned. And his fur. I'm negotiable on the hooves. I just... I need more time with him before we take any risks, okay? I sense that breaking the bond is what causes my unhappy ending. Let's prove this prophecy wrong."

  Puck's heart shattered, his resolve weakening. But he sensed the truth, too. This was the right thing to do. "Without the demon, I have the ability to shapeshift. And I will, anytime you desire." To demonstrate, he shifted into his beastly form. "I love you, Gillian. I love you, and there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. This, I vow to you. Now let me prove it." He reached out, smoothed a strand of hair from her cheek. "Let me do this for you. And us."

  "No." She radiated all kinds of violence. "I told you, there's too much at risk."

  William expelled a heavy breath. "Enough. This has to be done. The effects should be immediate, but we'll give it the rest of the day, just in case. If you still want him by the time the sun sets, your new marriage will have my blessing. But one way or another, you will know your true heart--and his. This is a gift I'm giving you."

  She leaped to her feet and slapped him. Hard. The crack probably echoed for miles. "Why are you doing this? To win me? Even without the bond, I'm not going to--"

  Puck flashed in front of her, just in case William decided to attack.

  I can flash now? Apparently.

  The other man rubbed his cheek and rolled his eyes at Puck. "Perhaps this is a gift to you, Pucker. If you don't want her, you won't have to deal with her temper."

  Puck realized the truth then: William had fully bowed out. Had no claim, and wanted none.

  With a grin, Puck stepped aside to let the two friends speak.

  Tone gentle, William said to Gillian, "I allowed a need to protect a scared, abused creature to confuse me. And while I love the warrior woman you've become, your feelings for another man are a deal breaker, and your strength a hard no. I cannot be with a woman who might or might not have the power to defeat me. Unless, of course, I find that code breaker." His eyes narrowed. "And I will."

  Puck kept his attention on Gillian, looking away impossible. She was strong, had faced so much with her head high. And yet, here and now she dropped to her knees a second time, willingly placing herself in a position of vulnerability and supplication. But this time, she didn't beg. She bowed her head and sobbed.

  The sight of her broke what remained of Puck's resolve, and if he'd loved her any less, even just a fraction, he would have begged William to end this. But just as much as she needed to know she'd chosen Puck freely, she needed to know he'd chosen her freely.

  "Trust me, lass. Please." He dropped to his knees in front of her, took her hands, kissed her knuckles. "Let me prove my love for you is real and lasting, bond or no bond."

  Tears streamed down her cheeks, but finally she nodded.

  Not wanting to hesitate and risk changing his mind, Puck lifted the shears from his chest...and cut.

  45

  Gillian knew the exact moment her bond with Puck broke, because what remained of her heart broke with it. Wave after wave of sorrow eroded the contentment she'd managed to obtain. Grief replaced exhilaration.

  Every cell in her body mourned the connection with her husband.

  Once, she'd gone five hundred years without him, and she'd (mostly) thrived. Now, she couldn't go five seconds?

  The metal band around Puck's wrist unclicked and fell to the ground. Like the final gong meant to call warriors home from battle.

  She gazed at her husband--her ex--who watched her with a blank expression, and she wanted to vomit. Had he reverted to the Ice Man? No, no. He no longer hosted Indifference, so he had no need of the ice. Unless he just didn't want to deal with his emotions?

  No! He wouldn't summon the ice, not around her. He'd promised.

  Had he fallen out of love with her, then? Had her unhappy ending arrived?

  Had she fallen out of love with him?

  She looked from Puck to William, who watched her expectantly. As she peered into his ice-blue eyes, love overshadowed mourning but...that love was still seeded in friendship. She had zero romantic interest in William.

  Her attention zoomed back to Puck, and her heart began to race, spurred into action by
love and lust, an unfathomable amount of each, and fully romantic.

  Her gaze searched Puck's unreadable face. "Have your feelings for me changed?" If they had, she would...what?

  You are a warrior. You will fight for what you want, that's what.

  That was right. Gillian raised her chin. If necessary, she would woo him. She would fight for him and win him back. This wasn't the end.

  Why had she feared this, anyway? When she didn't like something, she changed it.

  "I don't want what I feel for you to influence your decision, but..." The mask fell away from his features, revealing adoration, affection, tenderness--love. "You aren't just the love of my life, lass. You are my life. I've told this, have I not?"

  Throwing her arms around him, Gillian cried, "I love you, too." So much. All that worry--for nothing. Absolutely nothing! She could have saved herself, and Puck, a ton of angst if she'd just trusted their connection.

  Love never failed.

  "This is boring." Winter winced, all I'm embarrassed for you both. "And kind of gross. Love sucks."

  "For once, I agree with you, Winnie." As Winter sputtered about her hatred for the new nickname, William pulled Gillian to her feet. He couldn't force her to let go of Puck, however. Perhaps he understood he'd lose a hand if he tried. "You two aren't going to spend the bulk of your single hours in a staring contest. If you do, in fact, decide to get together again--"

  "We do," Gillian and Puck said in unison.

  "--you need to secure the Connacht fortress so I can make sure my Gillian has a forever home."

  "My Gillian." In a blur of motion, Puck was on his feet and punting William in the stomach. His grip on her never slipped. "Only ever mine. Never yours."

  William held up his hands, palms out, in a show of innocence. "Your Gillian. Fine. Whatever. Consider your claim staked. Anyway. Let's go tell your people there's a new douchebag in charge."

  Very well. Puck gave Gillian's knuckles another kiss before heading for the tree where they'd last made love, where William and company had tethered different chimeras. He glanced back once, twice, thrice to ensure Gillian hadn't ran off, and her heart soared.

  He still loves me. I still love him.

  This was going to work!

  Hopeful, she mounted Peanut. William rode at her left, and Puck rode at her right, making her the meat in a beefcake sandwich. Winter led the charge, and Cameron remained in the rear.

  One hour bled into another, conversation on hold. Was everyone else watching the suns as diligently as Gillian, waiting for them to set?

  Winter kept up a steady conversation--with herself. Cameron counted trees. His new obsession, apparently. Gillian felt sorry for whatever woman he ended up falling for. His pursuit would be relentless. Until it wasn't.

  Could the keeper of Obsession have a happily-ever-after?

  Could Gillian? No happy ending meant a life without Puck. He still loves me. I still love him.

  She would never tire of those words.

  When they reached a dense thicket of trees, Puck dismounted, and everyone else followed suit. One after the other, they led their chimeras through the foliage.

  "All right," William said, his voice drenched with exasperation. "I've been waiting forever for someone to question me about how I managed to pull off the greatest victory of all time. Since every member of my team is determined to be rude and freeze me out, I'll have to take my story to the grave. Not that I'll ever die."

  Gillian arched a brow, purposely remaining mute. He'd crack in five, four, three, two--

  "Fine. I'll tell you. Stop begging me with your eyes," he said. "The Red Queen had a premonition and, because she's a Curator, bound to the Earth, its seasons and even its other-realms, she was able to link with Amaranthia to create the portal below the clouds. Peanut and I fell through, along with Pandora and Galen, and we ended up in the underworld. Hades caught us with a stream of power and eased us down."

  "How did you return to Amaranthia?" Puck asked. "And with so little time passing for us."

  The timbre of his voice sent shivers of desire rushing through Gillian.

  "No one keeps me from my best friend," William said. "As soon as Sin used magic to trap Gillian with the Oracle and pin you in place, the barrier he'd placed around Amaranthia weakened. I busted through, contacted Rathbone, and ta-da. Here I am. As for defying time itself." Shrug. "Let's just say my magic is better than your magic."

  Friend. He'd called her friend. She reached over and patted his hand.

  They led their chimeras over a dune, and the Connacht fortress came into view. Breath snagged in her throat. The structure reminded her of a giant sandcastle. The most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Except for Puck, of course. The highest point disappeared in the clouds, and a tower loomed on each side, connected by a parapet where armed soldiers patrolled.

  The suns had lowered just enough to create a golden aura around--

  Wait. The suns were in the process of setting! William said he wouldn't protest if Gillian and Puck waited until sunset to bond a second time.

  Should she ask for a ceremony now? Or wait until Puck had settled in? Or wait until Puck asked her?

  "This is your home?" she asked Puck.

  "Our home," he replied, his tone fierce.

  She grinned. "Will the citizens put up a fight when you reveal your new, exalted status?"

  "No. The one who wears the crown rules. No questions asked. Though they might complain behind our backs."

  So. Her ex-husband was officially the Connacht king, and Gillian was going to be the Shawazon and Connacht queen, and help him unite all the clans.

  Their group marched onward. One of the guards spotted them, and a battle cry rang out. Next, a bell clanged.

  Someone shouted, "Wait! I think that is... Prince Neale?"

  Neale? Gillian's brow furrowed. Then she remembered. Neale was the name his people used.

  More shouts. "Prince Neale is prince no longer. He is king!" The shouters didn't sound overjoyed.

  The soldiers sank to their knees. "All hail King Pukinn!" Nope, definitely not overjoyed. The words were grumbled.

  "They expect me to be like Sin," Puck said, voice tight.

  The front gate opened, revealing more kneeling people.

  "You'll win them over," Gillian said. "We both will." Hint, hint. Ask me to marry you again, Pucky!

  "All right. Before we part ways, I need to do a little disclosing." William pushed out a heavy sigh. "I kissed your wife, Puck. Now, now. Don't go getting that vengeful look in your eyes--yes, that one. She didn't kiss me back. And I'm glad. I felt like I was kissing my great-aunt Trudy. If I had a great-aunt Trudy." He shuddered.

  "I know you kissed her," Puck replied through gritted teeth. "If you ever do it again, I'll kill you without a qualm."

  William laughed--until a thorn vine shot from the ground, and tripped him. He hacked at the vine, then stood and spit out a mouthful of dirt.

  Now Gillian laughed, a well of happiness springing up.

  Happiness...

  Realization struck with the force of a baseball bat. The prophecy was right! She wasn't getting a happy ending. Nope. Not her. She was getting a happy beginning. A bond forged because she and Puck had willingly chosen each other. And once they had their beginning, they would have their happily-ever-after.

  They would have an eternity together!

  "Don't worry, Lucky Pucky," she found herself teasing. "I won't let William kiss me again. I have better taste. I mean, I expected masterful skill from someone who spends the bulk of his time screwing anyone who breathes. Alas, William was..." In a stage whisper, she said, "Inept."

  William gave a mock growl. "How dare you, poppet? I'm amazing." One second he was on her left, the next he stood in front of Puck, cupping the back of his neck and jerking him forward to plant a wet one on his lips.

  Whooping and clapping, Winter danced around. Cameron hid a snicker behind his hand while Gillian didn't even try to mask hers.
/>   "Better than I imagined," Gillian called, fist pumping the sky.

  When William lifted his head, the corner of Puck's mouth twitched. Her ex-husband-soon-to-be-husband-again looked to her and said, "You were right, love. Inept."

  William brushed an invisible piece of lint from his shirt. "I'll be sure to tell everyone Puck kisses--never mind. I won't say anything. I don't kiss and tell. I only shag and brag."

  Gillian shoved William out of the way and launched herself against Puck. Forget waiting. "I love you, and I want to marry you in all ways."

  "I love you, too. But I want you to be sure, because I'll never let you go again."

  "I'm sure. I know I didn't get a happy ending because--"

  "I don't care what the Oracles say," he interjected. "I will--"

  "No, you didn't let me finish. I didn't get a happy ending because I got a happy beginning. We will bond again. Now. In front of everyone. We will be together forever. I thought about waiting for you to ask, but..."

  His smile was slow, but wicked and oh so bright. "You choose me of your own free will."

  "I choose you," she confirmed. "I will always choose you. And our people. And I agree to marry you in all ways, if I didn't make that clear. One day soon, I'd like to have a ceremony with the Connachts and the Shawazons together." Winter, Cameron, Johanna and Rosaleen would be bridesmaids. William would be her maid of honor. And yes, she would call him by the title for the rest of his life.

  Their entourage cheered.

  "I give you my heart, soul and body," Gillian said, remembering the vows they'd once spoken. "I tie my life to yours, and when you die, I die with you. This I say, this I do."

  After he repeated the words, she added, "I will help you unite the clans. I will be a help, not a hindrance. I will love you, and support you, and build you up, never tear you down."

  His grip on her tightened, an action she interpreted to mean I wasn't kidding; I will never let you go. "I will cherish you, all the days of my life. I will put your safety before my own and always welcome your wise counsel. I will love you forevermore and nothing--no one--will ever have the strength to rip me from your side."

  Her heart overflowed with love and joy. She rose to her tiptoes as he lowered his head, and they met in the middle, sealing their promises with a kiss.

  Long minutes passed before he lifted his head. Panting, he withdrew a dagger and made an incision in the center of his palm. Blood pooled. She accepted the dagger and made an incision of her own. Then they drank of each other.