Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) (26 page)

Sounds filtered in. The memories receded, like the tide going out to sea and slowly, she came back to the present. Great, just freaking great. Another day before her birthday and Ned almost kills her, before a talking monster shows up and saves her. Was she cursed? What was with the catastrophe’s happening on the day before her birthday all the ever-loving time?

Cracking an eye open she looked into worried, deep blue eyes. Safety.

Her heart fluttered. Robert. Where did he come from?

Movement made her look to the left. The beast sat, all three heads watching her. Was she dead or dreaming?

“You rang?” With a puff of air Fury dematerialized from Gwrych Castle to the Day Walker Realm where Mr. Annoying, otherwise known as Dayne resided. He spared a thought for the girl, Maggie. From what Robert had filled him in on, she’d been betrayed by Ned. Made him happy he’d eaten the bugger. The human woman had faced tragedy yet come through the other side. He respected that. Didn’t know why he’d helped her find a way on Robert’s ship. At the time he wasn’t aware it was the pirate’s ship. Fate was in play with those two.

Seven hells, Dayne was in a snit.

“Where in the hell realms have
you
been?” The angry god snarled, kicking the chained fae at his feet. “One simple task. Find and take care of the woman. Well? It’s taken long enough. Tell me she’s no longer a problem.”

Fury sat on his haunches. “Yes, Ned shot her. She’s no longer our problem. I’ve taken care of her.” He failed to mention the shot never made it to Maggie as he ate the bullet, gun, and Ned. And then he’d tended to her. Dayne didn’t ask the right question. Omission fit the parameters of the agreement. Wisely, the other two heads kept quiet.

“Excellent. I will not have dissension amongst the ranks. Breeds problems. Where is this human boy? Perhaps I shall thank him.”

Right. Because the god was sooo generous. “Alas, the human died when he turned on me. Though even with extra wasabi sauce, he was rather tasteless.”

The red-eyed head chimed in. “We’re still picking the stringy bits out of our teeth.”

Dayne waved them away. “No matter. There are plenty of other humans. The last thing I need is for Thorne to get wind of my plans and go crying to mommy.”

Fury nodded each head. “I’ll be going if there’s nothing else.”

“Wait, hound.” Fury tensed. Hated it when someone called him ‘hound’. How insulting. Yes, he was a three-headed beast but ‘hound’ implied a Lab or Dalmatian or some other menial dog. He was so much more. Dayne stood and walked down the dais steps to stand in front of Fury. “I have another errand for you.”

Huffing in annoyance, Fury sat and waited while the god laid out what he wanted. He’d kiss the door of each of the seven hells when this agreement was over. This task needed to be dealt with quickly. His gut told him to return and keep an eye on the lovely Maggie.

After dropping Monroe off, Robert jogged up the steps and took a guess he’d find Maggie in the library. The scene was not at all what he expected. Calling out, walking through the doors, he swore in every language he knew. Maggie was lying on the floor. There was blood on his aubusson rug, seeping onto the stone floor. Was she injured? Dead?

What was worse, Fury was there. The demon hound worked for the enemy, had he come to kill her? Reaching down, he pulled a gun from one boot and dagger from another. “What the bloody hell have you done?” The roar clawed its way out of his chest.

The beast was licking the remnants of a meal off his fur. “Put your weapons away, pirate. Maggie is fine. Though poor Ned made a rather unsatisfying meal.”

Not sheathing his daggers but placing them on the floor within easy reach, he sat with Maggie cradled in his lap waiting for her to wake. It gave him plenty of time to get the story from Fury. Thank the gods the beast was there to save her not eat her. If he’d lost her… “You’re fighting for the enemy. Why did you aid Maggie?”

All three heads turned to look at him. The head with red eyes spoke. “We’re not aligned with either side. Lost a bet with Dayne and have a year remaining to play errand boy for Mr. Bossypants.”

The head with brown eyes answered next. “We like Maggie. You should be thanking us.”

At Robert’s quizzical look, the main head continued. “Has dear Maggie told you how she came to be on your ship?”

“What of it?”

“While we didn’t know at the time it was your ship, we were in raven form and showed her the opening to gain access. We thinks you should thank us or who knows what could have befallen her—the nasty human, Bruce or Ned might have found and dispatched her before you located her. Then where would you be?”

Robert was stunned. Like a bludgeon to the head, he blinked a couple of times to make sure he’d heard correctly. Damn. The truth was evident in the beast’s voice. How would he ever repay the debt? He inclined his head. “Fury, you have my gratitude. Maggie is…different. I would be vexed if anything happened to her. I owe you a boon—”

“Whoo-hoo, we’re going to have fun with this.” The three heads looked at each other and Robert swore they were smirking at him.

“As I was saying, I owe you a boon. However. Nothing that would have me betray my brethren or my cause. Do we have an accord?”

All three heads nodded. The middle head, which was slightly larger, answered him. “We have an accord. We’ve not had feelings in eons. ‘Tis rather nice to care for a change. There is something about your lady…she understands suffering. Maybe that’s why we’re drawn to her. Take care, Shadow Walker.” Fury paused and the heads spoke in unison. “Should harm befall Maggie by your hand, Thorne himself won’t be able to save you from our wrath. Are we clear?”

A harsh burst he didn’t realize he’d been holding escaped on a hiss of breath. The beast liked Maggie, was willing to protect her. It was always good to have another at your back. “Crystal.” Bowing slightly to Fury, he met the gaze of each head.

“If Maggie requires aid, all she needs do is call out.” Robert felt the air crackle, a lavender shimmer swirled around the room before settling over Maggie and when he looked up, Fury had vanished.

“I had the strangest dream. There was a three-headed talking dog…” Maggie’s voice trailed off about the time realization set in that she was prone on the floor of the library, head cradled in his lap.

“Darlin’, you weren’t dreaming. I should have been here. From now on, I’m not leaving you alone. If Fury hadn’t shown up…”

She coughed and sat up, holding her head. He called for Stephan. “Could you bring Maggie a cold beverage, some cherries and a bottle of Ravensmore for me?”

“Anything else, milord?” Stephan stood there wringing his hands, a look of horror and failure on his face.

“That will be all.”

Helping Maggie to her feet, he settled her on the sofa. Stephan had cleaned up the mess. The only evidence was a wet spot on the carpet. Her eyes went to the priceless audbusson. “Did I ruin it? It must be horribly expensive.”

“Who cares about the bloody rug?” Smiling at her, he felt the warmth of the sun in his chest. This woman had managed to find a way in. When he thought of something happening to her, the breath left his body, paralyzing him.

Soon, he needed to tell her about the curse. But not today.

“Wait a minute. ‘Fury’. That was real? I wasn’t hallucinating?” Her eyes filled but didn’t spill over. “I thought Ned was going to kill me. I heard the click of the gun and then the beast, er, Fury, ate the gun, the arm, and—the rest of Ned.” A hardness settled over her features turning her to an ancient fiery goddess, ready to destroy. “I’m glad. He would have killed me. If it makes me a bad person, so be it. All I feel is relief.” She shot him a tentative look like she wasn’t sure what he’d think.

Leaning forward, he ran a finger down the side of her face. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. I would have ripped him to shreds for daring to point a gun at you. You are not a bad person, don’t ever think differently.” A growl rumbled out of his body.

She was his. He needed to mark her, to let the world know if they laid a finger on her, they would incur the full import of his wrath.

Reaching out to pull her close, the library door opened. Damn Stephan for his timing. Sighing, he leaned back into the cushions.

“Milady.” Stephan served her. She favored him with a tremulous smile. “I’ve come to love Pepsi, thank you. Sorry for the mess earlier.”

“Not at all, Miss. Gareth and I should have known something was amiss. Please forgive us.” Stephan trembled picking up the tray still upset over what happened to Maggie.

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

“Anything else, Milord?”

He shook his head in the negative and his throat closed up. Maggie’d charmed his household, him, and even that beast.

Taking a long drink, she curled her legs under her and faced him. “I feel, I don’t know, different somehow. Like my skin is tingling.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d notice anything or not. I think I’ll start calling you Beauty.” At her confused look, he chuckled. “Beauty and the Beast. You charmed Fury and he gave you the ability, if you are ever in danger, to simply call his name and he will aid you.” The look of disbelief was almost funny except he’d witnessed it first-hand and knew how she felt. “’Tis true, milady. I think he’s quite smitten with you.” He put his hand on her thigh. “Do you remember when you stowed away on my ship?” She nodded. “And the raven that flew near the open hatch?” Eyes wide, she shook her head yes. “The raven was Fury. He can shapeshift. And he’s not just a big-ass dog but something more. Some say demon, some say demi-god, some say very powerful being. Whatever he is, his aid is a great honor.”

“But I thought he was working with Dayne and the others? Isn’t he our enemy?”

Robert knocked back a hefty swig of whisky. “He owes a debt of service to Dayne but nothing more. Says he’s not taken a side. I think he finds the god as annoying as I do. Do you know what he calls him?” The humor filled his voice. She raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Bossypants.” At that a laugh broke free from her, sounding like tinkling crystal. Pure and clear.

“No way. Fury must be powerful to not be afraid of Dayne.” She looked thoughtful eating her beloved cherries. “Where did he go? I didn’t even thank him.”

“Your beast said something about an errand to run and vanished. You can thank him when you see him next. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him.”

She scooted over and leaned into his side. His arm naturally encircled her, playing with her hair before he leaned down and kissed her, softly. Grateful she was unharmed.

“Maggie. You are a grown woman and fully capable of making your own decisions. It wasn’t my place to say whether or not you could work with Monroe. I know I sounded like a chauvinist pig.” Robert continued before he lost his nerve. “Monroe would be lucky to have you work with him. The school is a marvelous idea even as much as I despise children, for you I’m willing. Whatever you need to make it happen is yours. Don’t worry about the money.” He paused. “Promise me one thing?”

Kissing him, she looked at him with those emerald eyes. “Anything.”

A crushing weight lifted. “Working with him. Be careful. If I’d lost you…” For the first time, words failed him. He stood, bent over and swept her up into his arms, carrying her up the stairs to his, make that their, bedroom.