Darkness Undone (15 page)

The phantom of his careless words rang out in his head.

“Is that all you have?” he taunted Aethan. “You fight like a female.”

Aethan growled, looking pissed. His sword flashed, his deadly ability powering his weapon to a lethal white glow. He flew at Reynner, his blade swinging in a dangerous arc.

Laughing, Reynner evaded the attack. Whatever was troubling Aethan, a good fight would soon take care of that since neither one of them would accept defeat.

It was always about outdoing the other.

“
A’than!”
A childish voice swept through the arena.
“Here, for you.”

No, no, no!
Reynner’s heart slammed against his ribs in horror.

Aethan spun around, his sword slipping from his sweaty hand, went hurtling across the field in a blaze of his deadly power light.
“Ariana, no! No! Get back!”

Reynner tried frantically to shield her. Too late.

The sword struck the little girl, the power of the sword dragging her several meters before she fell.

Blood flowed profusely out of her small body to pool where she lay still on the ground.

“
No!
” Aethan’s anguished roar reverberated the arena.

Reynner stood there, unable to move, frozen in shock as they fought to save Ariana...

Breathing hard, Reynner struggled for calm. He waited for Aethan to grab his mate and storm out from the studio instead of looking into the face of the person responsible for his little sister’s death.

If he hadn’t taunted Aethan into a stupid fight, Ariana would still be alive.

The next minute, Aethan strode over. He grabbed Reynner in a hug he’d never expected. “
Urias
, I never thought I’d see you again!”

Reynner stood still, unable to move. He had no words.

Aethan pulled back. His expression held no recrimination, which made things worse. How could Aethan look so happy to see him?

“What are you doing here?” he asked, seizing Reynner’s biceps in a painful grip. Pleasure lit his gunmetal gray eyes. “When did you get here?”

It was then that Reynner realized Aethan had no idea of how bad things had gotten in their realm. Or the farce his life had turned out to be.

“I’ve been searching for the missing Stone of Light.” Yeah, that was safe to talk about since Aethan wouldn’t know that the scroll and Stone had disappeared.

Aethan froze. “What—
how
?”

Reynner shrugged. “War, strife—the usual political crap. It vanished two thousand years ago.”

Aethan lowered his gaze to the floor as if assimilating what he’d just heard. Then he glanced at Reynner and nodded. “You need my help, let me know. Look, come over to the castle, we can talk. There is so much to catch up on.”

He had to be joking. Go to Aethan’s home, when he could barely live with himself? Reynner shook his head. “I can’t. There’s much to do. Time’s essential.”

Finally, his cool, unresponsive attitude pierced through Aethan’s pleasure. He stared at Reynner for a long moment. “We were best friends once. I understand why you can’t see past the unforgivable sin I committed.”

When Reynner said nothing, Aethan nodded and stepped back. His jaw tight, he strode back to his mate. “Echo, I’ll wait for you in the car.”

The pain on his friend’s face was exactly like the one he’d seen eons ago when Ariana lay bleeding on the fields. It cracked through Reynner’s walls.

“You did nothing!” The words tore free. Rage, guilt, and self-loathing ate at Reynner like acid.

Eve stepped closer. But he couldn’t look at her. She’d seen enough of his hideous past, now she’d know more. Yet he couldn’t stop. “Did you not think if I hadn’t taunted you into a damn useless fight, that tragedy wouldn’t have occurred?”

Aethan dismissed his verbal deluge with a shake of his head. “How could you have known that I’d had an argument with my sire when I met you on the training fields? I needed an outlet, it’s why I accepted the challenge.”

Urias
, his friend was still so fucking honorable and godsdamn blind. “I started that fight,
I
should have been the one banished.”

“Why? Ariana died by my sword—”

“Because of me—
me!
” Reynner swallowed hard. Unable to look at Eve and see the condemnation in her eyes for being responsible for the death of a child, he said in a voice gone numb, “Eve, call me when you’re ready to leave.”

Then he stalked past his friend and left the studio.

***

Eve had no idea what had happened. It was obvious Reynner and Echo’s husband knew each other. But the pain from both men, their emotions, overwhelmed her.

She had to go find Reynner, see if he was all right. How much more could one person take? Being captured by a vicious demoness and tortured. Then meeting a friend after so many millennia, who, by all she’d seen, mattered very much to Reynner. And she’d seen, too, the gut-churning anguish beneath the guilt. He’d looked as if his heart were being ripped apart.

“I’m so sorry,” she told Echo. “Can we do this another day?”

The younger woman nodded, her bicolored eyes clouded with anxiety. “I think it’s best. Aethan, let’s go.”

When he didn’t respond, she stroked his arm and said softly, “He’ll come around. He just needs time after seeing you again.”

The tall man pulled his gaze from the empty doorway through which Reynner had vanished. He reached out, brushed a hand in a tender gesture over Echo’s hair. “He blames himself,” he said. “I didn’t expect that. I know better than anyone what self-hatred can do to one’s soul.”

Echo stroked his chest as if easing old pains then she hugged him.

A pang of envy struck Eve, a longing for what the couple had. She pushed her yearning aside and walked out into the stifling heat. Stopping on the sidewalk near the sleek, black Lamborghini parked there, she searched for Reynner. Up the street, few people were about. She glanced down, and there in the shadows of a narrow thoroughfare she saw him standing, head lowered.

She sprinted across. “Reynner?”

His looked up, his hunted expression shutting off. “Not now, Eve. Go back inside.”

As if she’d let that stop her. She was coming to understand this complicated man. He was hurting, he could hide it all he wanted, but she knew. He needed her.

“No. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m not worth it.”

She didn't agree. He’d walled up his emotions—retreated again, showing the world the cold, hard man she’d first met.

Well, she refused to stand by and watch him further destroy himself.

“You may be all big and strong, terrify demoniis and Darkreans, but you need someone right now. Let me be there for you.”

Reynner shut his eyes at her words, then with unerring accuracy, he reached out and hauled her to him and held on tight, as if afraid she’d disappear. He buried his face in her hair. “You know what I am—what I’m responsible for. Why aren’t you running?”

“How could I when you’re hurting?” she whispered. “Besides, from what I’ve heard, it was an accident.” Eve pressed her face into his neck and hugged him back, breathing in his intoxicating scent and soaking in the sheer wonder of being in his arms.

After a short blissful moment, she asked, “Who is he?”

His hands stroked her back. “Can you not see the similarity?”

Eve stilled. Her heart nearly kicked out of her chest at the truth. She thought the man had tinted his hair in that varied blue. She pulled back, eyes wide. “Is he related to Aerén?”

“His brother.” Exhaling roughly, he let her go. “Aethan was banished eons ago for the death of their little sister. It would have never happened had I not dared him into a useless fight. Ariana died. He was exiled. And I…”

“You did what? Did your family disown you?”

Derisive laughter left him, haunted blue eyes met hers. “No. The blame wasn’t mine, or so my sire insisted. I was to carry on like nothing happened…”

“But you couldn’t,” she said in understanding.

“No. I couldn’t live with that. I left.” He glanced at the studio. The pain in his eyes was like a clamp around her heart. The man in there meant a lot to Reynner.

“You left Empyrea to search for him, didn’t you?”

His lack of response told her what she wanted to know. And right then, Eve decided she would do what she could to help him.

“Reynner, you can tell me it’s not my business, but give him a chance—”

“Eve, stop.”

She pinned him with a firm look, determined to knock some sense into his rock-hard male skull. “No, you listen. Not often in life do we get second chances.
Some people are afraid of what they might find if they delve too deep into themselves, so they build walls. But Reynner, you have to open old wounds to discover the truth. Once the bleeding stops, the healing begins.”

For a length of a breath, he simply stared at her. “Not for me, Eve. There can never be absolution for me.”

“
I don’t believe that. But, you have to forgive yourself first.
And I know you’re not a coward,” she said softly, accepting his scowl. “You will do the right thing. Or else you’ll leave another scar on your friend. He’s lived with the memory of killing his sister, but he’s made peace with himself. You’ve blamed yourself for something no one could have foreseen.”

“You have blood on your shirt.”

She glanced at the smears on her blue top, then back at him, refusing to let him distract her. “Reynner, to have a friend like him is rare. I have few, and I treasure them since…” She blew out a breath and pushed on, “Since not many like me because of my abilities.”

“Then it’s their loss—” He stopped when he realized what he’d said. “How is it that I’ve lived so long filled with self-hatred, and you make it all sound so simple?”

“Because you’ve been hurting for far too long. It’s time to let go and heal. Besides,” she added drily, “I’m sure most
are far too scared to try and talk to you with that aloofness you wear like armor.
”

He snorted, a rare smile tugging his mouth.

A low purr of an engine resounded in the alley. Reynner looked past her.

Eve turned to find the Lamborghini heading up the road. She shot a quick look at him to find the mask of remoteness back in place. She sighed.

Sebris eased off his shirt. Blood seeped from his wound and dripped down his abs. The lesion scored deep in his stomach ran parallel with the pain eating at him. His hands shook as he rested them on the countertop. He glanced at the enormous mirror above the porcelain sink in his bathroom and took in his injuries. If he hadn’t used the last bit of his ability to dematerialize, the Empyrean would have had his head as a trophy.

He hadn’t lived this long to die because of carelessness. Displeasure resurged when he thought about why he was in this state.

Taegér. Observe and report had been his orders. Not draw attention to them. But the warrior couldn’t resist getting closer when a female was involved, and the Empyrean had sniffed him out. If it weren’t for the fact that the warrior was one of his most trusted men, Taeg would meet Urias face-to-face sooner instead of later.

Sebris snagged a fresh towel and held it against his wound. It didn’t heal quickly like it would have if he were on Empyrea. Nor could he use his powers since his had all but flatlined. He wouldn’t die from his injuries, but it just hiked his pain levels. And ignoring the damages wouldn’t make them go away.

He dampened another towel in water and washed the blood seeping from the gash, but the thing just wouldn’t quit. He gushed like a slaughtered animal.

Sebris glared in annoyance at the disaster of his wound.

He yanked open more cupboards, found several rolls of bandages, a small skein of silk thread, and a stitching device. He threaded the needle, pinched the wound closed, and pushed it through his flesh. The sticky mess of plasma made the needle slippery. Teeth clamped, he sutured. Sweat beaded on his skin. Pain rose, adding more to the rioting deep within his bones.

One, two, three,
he continued sewing, his molars crushing down on the agony saturating him until the last stitch was in place. He knotted and snipped the ends.

Cotton pads, gauze, and three Band-Aids later, he covered the wound. He sucked in a deep breath and braced his hands on the counter.

Damn, too much pain—too much!
He needed to heal faster.

Sebris glanced up and encountered his reflection in the mirror. More black bled into his eyes, he could barely see their pale color anymore. Harsh lines creased his face, while his mouth held a cruel twist.

Well, he
was
in a shitload of agony.

One good thing had come out of this, though. Satisfaction spread through him. Reynner had sent the female away before he confronted them. That alone told him everything he needed to know. She was the foretold one.

A knock on the bathroom door distracted him. Xever walked inside, looking alert, his eyes back to their usual storm-gray. Good. His warriors were back and had powered up.

Xever glanced at Sebris’s wound. “What happened?”

“Had an encounter with the Empyrean. Call the others.”

Nodding, Xever left the bathroom.

Sebris headed for his dressing room, found a clean white shirt, and pulled it on. He snagged the vodka from the dresser, poured a shot, and took a draft of the drink, relishing in the fiery buzz the liquor gave him. Then he walked into the bedroom, straightening his shirt as Xever, Taegér, and Paxyn entered.

“I’ve seen the foretold one. Taegér will fill you in on her description. If you get a chance, bring her here. I’ll be back in a day.”

His powers needed to recharge.

***

The woody scent of trees and moist earth drifted toward Eve, along with a heat that just wouldn’t quit. She rubbed nervous hands down the sides of her black yoga pants. Her short-sleeve black tee kept her cool, but she wondered if she was dressed right for this. Wearing black was so clichéd, but right now, standing in the fringes of the park opposite the museum, she blended into the shadows and that was good.

Reynner stood beside her, his body motionless. His expression bore the same stillness. She wondered if anything ever ruffled his cool composure because her heart thumped violently in her chest. Surely he could hear its terrified rhythm?

He glanced at her then slid his hand around the back of her neck, his warm, callused touch steadying her.

Oh, yeah, the man was no fool. He knew how uneasy she was about this. He didn’t say anything, but his thumb stroked the rapid beat of her pulse before sliding to her chin and tilting her face to his. “Trust me.”

She inhaled a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with so I can breathe again.”

Amusement tugging his mouth, he slid his arm around her waist then bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. Eve gasped. The air swished out of her lungs, and the world around her swirled and disappeared into a vortex.

Oh, crap, they were dematerializing. She clung to him despite her body having the consistency of air. His arms tightened around her. Before she could get her racing mind to understand that he’d actually kissed her, they took form again in a dimly lit corridor.

“Don’t ever do that again!” She shoved away from him and stumbled, the floor rushing to meet her. He steadied her and raised an eyebrow. “Did you think we’d knock on the front door?”

She scowled. “Very funny.”

Her lips still tingled from his too brief kiss, aware he’d only done that to distract her. Taking a deep breath, she glanced around. They were in a part of the museum never seen by visitors. Reynner must have done a thorough investigation if he knew this maze of passages so well.

“This way.” He led her down the eerily quiet corridor to a door at the end. A second later, a soft click sounded and it opened.

“Know your way around, do you?” she snipped.

“Made it a point to know. Always. On the off chance I found you.”

Eve scrunched her face at his words. But she’d never tell him how glad she was that he could cover their tracks. She dreaded what could happen if they got caught. Ugh! What a lame-head. They wouldn’t get caught, he’d probably just dematerialize them out of the place.

Reynner stepped into the darkened room, grabbed her arm, and held her back when she would have walked past him. The musty odor of ancient objects and wood remained suspended in the air. A shiver ran through her. “What is it?”

“We don’t want to set off any alarms.”

Edgy, Eve shifted on her feet and waited at his side while he scanned the place before letting her go. “We’re good.”

“What did you do?”

“I cast a haze around this room. It won’t interfere with the surveillance monitors as long as no one comes looking.

At the appearance of a glowing white light, Eve spun around, her heart in her throat, and saw the small orb leaving Reynner’s palm to hover above them. The ball immersed them in a circle of light. As they headed for the crates, the thing followed.

Of course, he’d be able to do things like this. First the sword he’d summoned in that alley, now this light. She still had to wrap her mind around the fact that he was an angel, one who was hell-bent on getting her in trouble.

She glanced about, taking in the enormous storeroom. Towers of crates of different sizes loomed above them. “Are you going to open everyone?”

Jeez, they’d be here the entire night—if not the week.

He passed several open crates, avoided the bubble wraps and polystyrene bags, and stopped to look around him. “No. It will take too long. Go—just touch the boxes.”

He had to have lost his ever-loving, ancient mind. “My abilities only work on living things.”

“Eve, there are dozens of crates here.
I
will have to open each one, but you just need to touch the lids. Even if I do find the scroll, I can’t touch the damn thing, it will disappear again and we don’t have the luxury of waiting centuries for it to reappear.”

When he put it like that… She touched the wooden box closest to her. Waited. Nothing. She tried another.

“Why did it disappear in the first place?” she asked him.

“It’s linked to the Stones. Seems it has to co-exist for harmony.”

“What if the scroll tears or burns?”

He cut her a terse look. “It’s mystical. It will disappear when it senses treachery or danger.”

Okay, then.

“You need to concentrate,” he said, hovering like a menacing shadow next to her, his attention on her hands while she stroked a lid. The brightness from the orb made all the flaws of her puckered skin visible. The urge to hide them grew. Instead, she headed for another crate and laid her palm on the covering.

Reynner followed.

She spun to him, her fingers curling into fists, and snapped, “I can’t do this with you hovering over me.”

He narrowed his eyes at her tight expression. “Very well. I will wait here.”

A half-hour later, she let out a rough breath. This entire venture had failure stamped on it. She felt nothing but rough wood, literally. Reynner would see soon enough that they were wasting time. Heck, he could have just opened the boxes with his mind, but no—

He startled all holy hell out of her, hauling her into a dark corner, her front plastered to his.

“What is it—” His palm shot over her mouth. The orb vanished. The room plunged into darkness. He held her tightly against him. Eve was too terrified to enjoy the contact. She could see nothing, then she heard the voices. Footsteps came closer.

Her grip tightened on his shirt, her heart thumping wildly while his continued its steady beat.

Flashlight zipped around the room and right across where they stood. Eve froze.

“All’s good here. Was so sure I heard a noise,” one of the security guards said.

“Nuh. Probably a rat or something.” Their steps receded, and the door closed behind them.

Christ!
Eve collapsed against Reynner.

His arms tightened around her. “You okay?” he murmured against her ear.

Eve pulled in a deep, shuddering breath, nodded, and pushed away from him for the sake of her sanity. A little unsteady from the shock of near discovery but more from being crushed against Reynner’s body.

He summoned the orb once more. She started on the boxes again.

Eve worked her way through several more crates. Except for adding to her collection of splinters, she sensed nothing. And she really, really wanted to get out of here.

“Anything?”

His voice, so close, startled her. How he walked in those heavy boots without a sound, she had no idea.

“Nothing. Not even a hum,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“Dammit, Eve, it’s here.” His tone held a harsh bite. “You’ve made up your mind it doesn’t exist, so it doesn’t. Do you think I don’t exist, too?”

“Oh, I know you exist, or else I wouldn’t be in here, committing a felony and nearly getting caught.”

“Don’t. My world being in peril is not something to take lightly.”

At his rebuke, she fell silent and bit her lip.

She was ashamed because a part of her didn’t want to believe in this scroll. Finding the Stone would make everything right in his world. Aerén had said it was the only way Empyrean couples could soul-join and have children again. And Reynner would find someone, too.

Her stomach hollowed at the thought. Not wanting to think about that, Eve forced herself to concentrate on her task. Slowly, she worked her way through the boxes, stroking them, once, twice—

“Dammit!” She snatched her hand back.

Reynner appeared at her side. “What is it?”

“Splinter—shh.” Ignoring his raised brow, she rested her palm on the lid again. A tingle darted through her hand, like a low-voltage electrical current. A sliver embedded in her finger wouldn’t do that. She ignored the sharp sting and ran her hand over the wooden surface of the small chest. The hum whizzed through her once more. “Something’s in here, if the buzzing in my hand is what you meant.”

Reynner stared at her, almost in disbelief. Then he moved and she hurriedly stepped aside, she didn't want to be railroaded by a huge Empyrean. He made quick work of unsealing the box. And nodded. “Take it.”

Eve picked up the old lead cylinder nestled inside the bubble wrap. She uncapped the tube and carefully eased out a yellowed, aged, parchment before dropping the tube back in the crate. The paper crackled between her fingers, and the humming whirred through her. Like flames, it spread through her blood and pooled between her thighs.

Whoa—what the heck?

Eve grabbed onto the nearest crate to steady herself, squirmed, and shifted on her feet. Unexplained arousal took her hard. No slow build-up. She sucked in air, tried to steady the rampant pounding of her heart. Clenching her aroused feminine parts just made it worse.

Nothing worked. Her gaze fell on Reynner as he substituted the replacement scroll and resealed the box. The man was dressed in leathers again and so damn hot. She wanted him. Heck, she had from the moment she’d first crashed into him. The scroll slipped from her limp fingers and fluttered to the floor.

Reynner turned and frowned. “Eve?”

She didn’t respond. She simply walked over, grabbed him by his shirt, and yanked him down, kissing him right there in the musty smelling room.