Dance With Darkness

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  “What, you think I was too stupid to be able to save our brother?”

  Enyowas knew Ky was trying to push his buttons so that they’d fight, giving him an excuse to take off. “No, I never thought you were stupid. I thought you were just trying to survive the best you could, like the rest of us.”

  A flicker of surprise lit Ky’s eyes and he relaxed a slight bit. “Father”—he snarled the word—“used to keep vials of something he called a miracle in his desk. He liked to talk a lot when I was around, and saw to it that I was too scared to open my mouth and tell anyone. Anyway, it was some sort of mixture of nightwalker blood that was supposed to have been altered by the US government.”

  Nightwalker blood altered by the US government. Rage clouded Enyowas’s vision at the events of that day, and how he’d fucked up. “And that’s what you gave to Amit? How’d you know it wouldn’t kill him, or turn him into a bloodsucking vamp?”

  “Enyo—” Amit started to cut in.

  “I didn’t know,” Ky said, glaring at him once again. “But like you said, he was pretty much dead, so it was a chance I was willing to take. As you can see, it worked.”

  Enyowas swallowed his anger and nodded. “You’re right. You saved our brother, while I left him for dead.”

  “Enough,” Amit snapped.

  “Sorry,” Enyowas said, knowing he’d never forgive himself for leaving his brother for dead when he was still alive.

  “I thought Amit was dead as well,” Ky said. “But after you left, I realized his heart was still beating, though very faintly, and it came to me. Father was using the stuff to try and regain his shifting ability. He had said that it was supposed to rejuvenate his cells. I figured I had nothing to lose, and a brother to gain if it worked.”

  “And it worked, thank God.” Enyowas clapped him on the back. “I’m sorry I jumped all over you, I’m just fucking pissed at myself. Good thinking, little brother.”

  “What’s happening?” Veldi asked as he joined them.

  “Ky told me how he saved Amit,” Enyowas said, knowing he definitely had a lot to make up for.

  “That’s a story I want to hear, but later,” Veldi said.

  “What’s up?” Enyowas asked, suddenly all business.

  “Deidra is still in the wind. Probably met up with Denale by now. It’s also confirmed that he was the one who set all of today’s crazy events in motion. He’s been supplying supes with a drug that enables them to get high.”

  “Shit, that’s the last thing we need,” Enyowas said.

  “That’s not all. We matched that partial print from ones at the estate, and believe it was Denale who ransacked headquarters here.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” Enyowas asked. Veldi didn’t bother to answer. “I want everyone on this. Finding Denale and my mother is priority.” There was no telling what either of them might do, and while his mother wasn’t exactly dangerous, Denale definitely was. Then he thought of something else. “What about that female wolf that was found in the factory?”

  “She’s packless,” Veldi said. “Been living on the streets for a while, going from city to city.”

  “Our shelters are all full at the moment,” Enyowas said, trying to figure out what to do with the female. “We need to find her somewhere she’ll feel safe and want to stay.”

  “Yeah, about that—” Veldi said. “I figured with the Spokane wolf pack home having just been razed to the ground—not that I’d want to send her to those assholes—that Sami and Jax might be able to help.”

  “Good idea. Give them a call,” Enyowas said.

  “Did that earlier,” Veldi said. “They should be pulling up any second.”

  “I’m impressed,” Amit said, looking at Enyowas and Veldi. “You’ve got quite the operation here. How can I help?”

  “I’m sure we can put you to work,” Enyowas said and looked at Ky. “What about you, we can always use good fighters.”

  “I guess I can see how it goes for now,” Ky said guardedly.

  “Good, it’s settled then, but it’s been a long day so we can talk more tomorrow about this,” Enyowas said as Elianna joined them, followed by his sisters.

  “Sary?” Enyowas asked, tucking Elianna into his side.

  “We told her we’d be back in the morning,” Kayta said.

  “Good,” Enyowas said. “Would you mind showing our brothers to clan home, find them rooms? I have one more person to look after, then I’ll be there.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” Kayta said, linking her arm through Amit’s. “We’ll take the tunnel. It’s safer.”

  “I can help,” Sima said, and did the same to Ky, startling him. But he didn’t push her away.

  “Actually,” Amit said, and patted Kayta on the arm as Genevevia hesitantly joined them. “I promised Genevevia that I’d give her a ride home, so I’ll see you all later.”

  “Oh, sure,” Kayta said.

  Elianna looked up at Enyowas. “Unless you need me here, I think I’ll go with them. I’m pretty tired.”

  “I don’t mind, so long as you don’t mind warming my bed up for me,” Enyowas said.

  Heat filled her eyes as she pulled his mouth down to hers. “I think I can manage to do that.”

  “Okay, enough of that,” Veldi said, making gagging sounds until they released each other.

  With a twinkle in her eyes, Elianna hurried to catch up to the others.

  “I think Ky’s in for a shock with our family,” Veldi said after everyone had left.

  “Yup, it should be fun to watch,” Enyowas said.

  Ferno hurried down the hall. “Cap, there’s someone pulling up outside. A big, old black car. Looks like it should be in a museum or something.”

  “That would be Jax,” Enyowas said with a chuckle.

  “He has the place north of the city where Elianna was staying?” Ferno asked.

  “Yes, Veldi called Sami regarding the female wolf your team found. His brother Jax said he’d bring Mark—a friend who is also a wolf—with him. Mark used to be part of Spokane’s wolf pack until his pack mates sold him to the Ilyium. Jax and his family rescued the guy, and now he lives out there with them.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Except as they met Jax and Mark outside, Ferno immediately tensed up.

  “Good to see you both again,” Enyowas said, wondering what that was all about. “How is Thaniel?”

  “Good to see you, and he’s doing good,” Jax said, then they were all shaking hands as Enyowas introduced everyone.

  “Veldi told us what was going on. That’s some crazy shit,” Jax said.

  “It is, and until we find my uncle, it’s not going to end.” Enyowas led them inside. “Veldi explained about the female we found and that she needs a place to stay?”

  “He did,” Mark said.

  Enyowas had met the male before and had noted that he seemed to be a quiet guy. With his brown hair cropped very short, Mark had swirling tattoos, almost like tribal markings that came up his arms and around his neck. He’d always wondered what they were or meant, but Mark didn’t offer, and he didn’t ask.

  “She’s welcome to stay with us,” Jax said.

  “Good,” Enyowas said, and led them to where the female waited.

  After everyone left, Enyowas turned to Ferno. “What’s up?”

  “Remember that crime scene, the dead Ilyium in the alley that I told you about?”

  “I do, what of it?” he asked.

  “I caught a scent I couldn’t place that night. A scent I’ve never come across before. It’s Jax,” Ferno said.

  That was interesting. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. What is he?” Ferno asked.

  “I’m not sure, but from the bit of time I’ve spent around the guy, I don’t think he’d hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it,” Enyowas said. “You did say you thought the Ilyium had been trying to kidnap someone else, right?”

  “I did.”

  “So he probably helped us out.” They didn’t
have much mercy for the bloodthirsty Ilyium, since no supe was ever shown any in return.

  “I agree, I just …” Ferno dragged a hand through his blond hair. “I’ve never come across a species of supe that I didn’t recognize, and it’s driving me crazy trying to figure out what he is.”

  Enyowas smiled. “I’m sure in time we will figure it out. But right now, I’m heading home to bed. You should do the same.”

  Chapter 31

  Back at clan home, Enyowas inspected the front of the building, glad to see it was repaired and looked just like it did before the fire. The repairs would cost him, but it was worth it to have everyone safe once again. He checked on his sisters, but they’d both gone to bed. He quickly hurried up to his room and silently opened the door, not wanting to wake Elianna if she were asleep.

  But the sight that met him warmed his heart like nothing else. He grinned. She’d lit a few candles, and was waiting for him in the middle of the bed, sheet pulled up to her chin.

  “You’re here,” she said and sat up just enough that the sheet slid down to reveal the top of her cleavage.

  Enyowas closed and locked his door, then quickly shed his own clothes. “Is my bed warm?”

  “I think we have a problem,” she said with a teasing light in her eyes.

  “And that would be?” he asked, crawling onto the bed from the bottom, his cat very much alive inside of him.

  “Well, the problem is this. You wanted me to warm your bed, but I decided I like it more than mine, so I’ve claimed your bed as my own.”

  “Then I’ll just have to warm your bed, won’t I?” he asked, watching as the sheet slowly fell lower and lower, until the rounded orbs of her breasts showed.

  “Maybe we should compromise, and it can be our bed?” she asked, watching him.

  The pulse in her neck fluttered in time to the beat of his own heart. “I really like that idea, but I have an addition to this deal.”

  “What?” she asked, voice suddenly breathless as she watched him climb up and over her.

  “I knew you were the one the moment I first saw you. My soul knew, my cat knew, and I tried to pretend it wasn’t so. But there’s no pretending anymore. I want you, and I love you. Will you agree to be my mate? To bond with me and share a life with me?”

  Elianna froze, then blinked as tears filled her eyes. “I’ve felt that you were my soul mate from that same moment, but are you sure you want to bond with me? It’s forever. What if you get tired of me?”

  “I will never tire of you,” he said, wiping the tears away. “You are the other half of my soul. I love you, and my cat loves you, and my soul wept when I thought you were lost to me. I don’t ever want to go through that again.”

  “I love you, Enyowas. You are handsome, and very sexy, and you saved my life without asking anything in return, knowing the price it could cost you. You made me believe in myself again, and showed me that there are good people out there. I’d be honored to spend the rest of my life with you, but only as long as you don’t mind having children.”

  “There was a time that thought would have sent me running, but no longer. I want it all with you, and I can’t wait to get started on making a family.”

  “That’s good,” she said, and taking his hand, led it down to her still flat belly. “Because I’d like you to meet Junior, or … Junette … or … it could be twins, Doc said. He wants to schedule an ultrasound.”

  Tears filled his eyes, and any lingering darkness that had been harboring inside of him drifted away, as he caressed the smooth expanse of her skin. Enyowas gently covered Elianna with his body and lowered his mouth to hers. “You are mine, now, forever, and for all time.”

  “And you are my lion, my mate, now, forever, and for all time,” she repeated, opening herself for him.

  Epilogue

  Enyowas took in the scene in front of him. Ferno’s team was standing guard, ready for any unexpected visitors that might pop out of the forest. Just southwest of Spokane, the little house was secluded—perfect if one wanted to make someone scream and not have anyone hear.

  Ferno stood at the door, face grim.

  Enyowas climbed from his truck and strode toward the other man.

  “You didn’t need to come,” Ferno said.

  As soon as he’d gotten the call, Enyowas started driving. “I did.” Emotions detached, he waited for his top sentinel to move and let him into the small house.

  After a brief hesitation, Ferno turned, opened the door, then stood back as Enyowas entered.

  The interior was destroyed as if a tornado had struck. In the middle of the floor, lying in a pool of his own blood, was his uncle.

  Enyowas skirted him and went over to the only bedroom and gazed inside.

  Ferno came up beside him. “She’s been dead at least two days,” he said quietly.

  Though he’d tried to stay detached from the whole thing, a deep sense of sadness still welled up. Not for the woman who’d been his mother, but for the one he’d always wanted. The one he and all his siblings had so desperately needed as children, but never had. And for the life of the dead female chained to the bed. “You think that if her life had been different that she’d have learned how to love and be a good person?”

  “I would hope so, but I honestly don’t know,” Ferno said.

  “Yeah, neither do I.” In their work they’d seen those who had it all—money, love, everything—and sometimes they were content. But other times, they were unhappy and greedy for more.

  Enyowas walked out, glad Denale had been found and stopped before he could do any more harm.

  “What do you want us to do with him?” Ferno asked, looking over at where two team members were guarding a male in the back of their rig.

  Enyowas gazed at his cousin. “I’ll handle it.” When Ferno had called, he told Enyowas that they found Jager sitting on the front step when they pulled up.

  Enyowas went over to the back of Ferno’s rig where his cousin sat staring into the forest, then motioned his sentinels away.

  Jager looked up at him. “I’m sorry about your mother. I found her that way. My father was always such a beast.”

  “I’m not sorry. But you’re right, he was, and my mother should have known better than to hook up with him,” Enyowas said, and while part of him felt bad that he wasn’t upset, another part of him was relieved. Though he’d always mourn the loss of what he should have had but never did.

  “Am I free to go now?”

  Jager was covered in blood, cuts, and nasty bruises. As a shifter, none would leave any visible scars, though Enyowas could only imagine the ones his cousin carried inside on his soul.

  “Where will you go?” Enyowas asked.

  Jager shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “Come with me,” Enyowas said, and started toward his truck.

  His cousin didn’t move.

  Enyowas glanced back. “You have anywhere better to go?”

  Without a word, Jager got up.

  “Where you taking me?” Jager asked after they’d driven a few miles, almost like it was an afterthought and not something he really cared about knowing.

  “Home,” Enyowas replied.

  Jager was silent for a long moment. “I’m not some charity case. I’ll be fine on my own.”

  “I’m sure you will, and have been, but you’re my cousin. You’re family. For sixteen years I’ve regretted not taking you with us when we left,” Enyowas said.

  “Then I release you from any guilt or obligation you have.”

  “That’s not why I want you to come home with me,” Enyowas said.

  “Really? Because I understand. You were twelve. If I’d been in your shoes, I’d have done the same. You couldn’t chance that I’d rat you out to your father or mine, getting you all caught.”

  “Possibly. But you’re still my cousin, and I’d really like the chance to get to know you, if you’re willing.”

  Jager went quiet, and Enyowas could feel his cousin’s eyes on h
im, as if trying to figure out what his play was. Finally, he spoke. “You’ll probably regret it.”

  “Possibly, but that’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

  “Still,” Jager said. “You may not want me around your family, I … don’t know how to be a part of a functional one.”

  “We aren’t always very functional ourselves, so you should fit right in.” Enyowas met his gaze. “I’d like the chance to get to know you.”

  Jager blinked, then faced the road again. “Like I said, this is probably a bad idea, but … I’ll give it a try, though if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll be gone.”

  “That’s all I can ask. Thank you, cousin.”

  The End

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  Read Ch 1 of Saberthorn or get it HERE

  Saberthorn

  Chapter 1

  FenSavinor

  Will this fight never end? In his half-form, Saberthorn’s dark gaze swept his dragon brethren and fallen allies as they fought for the right to exist. After a thousand years, this never-ending battle with the Ilyium druids was one and the same. Hatred, disgust, and a deep-seated weariness burned in his soul. It might be different faces and different villages, but the result was always the same. Unnecessary death and bloodshed. Yet there was no negotiating with the druids—this was all a part of the curse saddled upon dragonkind.

  As an Ilyium soldier swept toward him, sword raised and bloodlust in his eyes, Saber ducked effortlessly, spun, and ended the male with his sharp talons. Then without missing a beat, he scanned the smoldering carnage for sight of his brother.

  Saber caught a blur of movement just past the largest group engaged in combat. His eyes narrowed. It was another enemy troop crouched behind the ruins of a building. Before he could utter a word of warning to his fellow warriors, the Ilyium scurried from their hiding spot and broke into two groups. One attempted to circle the fighters, while the other group rushed into the fray. Saber’s anger surged. It was past time to end this particular battle.