Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) (38 page)

Leaning against the tree, holding on to Monroe’s arm she waited. The stubborn man wouldn’t let her look at his injuries, said they were just scratches but he could sure use a drink. He drank a lot. She’d seen enough alcoholics in her time to know he was a highly functioning drunk. A great guy who obviously had some serious issues to need booze to cope with life on a regular basis. Who was she to judge based on her past? She’d be there to help whenever he was ready.

The wind ruffled her dirty, matted hair and she swore she smelled the ocean. Looking to the sky, she didn’t see anything yet but her gut told her the cavalry had arrived.

“They’re here.” Maggie pointed to the speck, growing larger and stood, moving out from under the tree, waving her arms to draw attention.

Fury landed first. One moment he was a raven, the next his usual form of hellhound. She ran to him, hugging each head, kissing the muzzle. “It worked. You found us.”

The heads licked her face. The middle one speaking. “Maggie. They found your purse and mobile next to a woman’s body. There was a man as well. Both bodies were badly burnt. We thought it was you and Monroe. We thought you were dead.”

Draken landed at that moment and her heart flipped over when Robert leapt from his back, running to her. He swung her up in his arms, kissing her. “I thought I’d lost you.” He murmured into her ear. “I know you’re terribly angry with me. Give me another chance and I’ll spend eternity making it up to you…or however much time I have left. Please, Maggie.”

Tears streamed down her face, she hugged him harder. “Yes.” It was all she could get out without bawling like a baby and she refused to breakdown in front of an audience.

A throat clearing had Robert gently depositing her to the ground, his arm around her shoulders.

“About time. Pretty Maggie, we’re so joyful you’re alive.” Draken rubbed his snout on her shoulder, chuffing into her hair. She hugged him back.

“Thank you, Draken. And thank you for bringing Robert to me.”

They told the story of their ordeal and how Rawlins was the one who set off the bomb. There were no people there, they’d checked.

“The two of them must have been hiding or were already dead when the blast hit.” Robert spoke softly, aware of what might have been. Monroe was standing, talking to Fury and Robert called out. “You said you couldn’t sense her, what happened?”

Brown eyes studied him. “The blast of energy from the Day Walker temporarily severed my connection to her. I didn’t want to make it too strong as other things can happen…though based on what I’m sensing, it’s too late. Maggie is changed. Oops.”

“Oops?” Maggie and Robert spoke at the same time. Draken and Monroe were looking on with interest at what Fury would say.

Red eyes looked into her soul. “It’s only ‘oops’ if you are unhappy with the outcome. Maggie…did you wonder why you bear not a single scratch upon your body after being thrown from the blast into a field?” He went on without waiting for an answer. She couldn’t have formed a word at that very moment if she had to. “You are human, and humans have a weak life-force. We boosted it so to speak.”

The middle head with gold eyes finished the sentence. “What he means to say is, welcome to the club, you’re immortal.”

She blinked, mouth open. “What?”

A grin broke out across Robert’s face, and Maggie thought she saw naked envy on Monroe’s before he hid it and smiled as well.

“I don’t understand.”

Fury rumbled. “Don’t try. Accept and enjoy the long life ahead of you.” Stunned, her knees gave out. Robert caught her, chuckling.

“’Tis a great deal to take in. Give it time, milady.”

Worry filled her. Time. Weren’t they running out?

The last few days had been full of surprises. A car arrived to take Monroe back to Edinburgh. He’d scarfed down a late lunch on the way. Maggie was going to Gwrych with Robert for a long overdue chat. Her words, not his. She assured him she was still working with him and would be by to pick up her things. Fury and Draken left, bickering like two old biddies.

“Oy! Colin.” The hard-headed Highlander ignored him turning the corner down a narrow street, walking arm-in-arm with his wife, Emily. Carrying a case of beer, Monroe cursed and moved faster. He might have been killed, should have been in all reality but he’d cheated death and was gloriously alive. What better way to celebrate life than to watch the Celtic match with Shamus. Better hurry, he didn’t want to be late.

Catching up, he rounded the corner and spied Colin. He was leaning against the wall in the alley talking to Emily. Only it wasn’t his wife.
What the hell?
Colin worshipped the ground his wife walked on. He’d never step out on her. Ducking into a dark entryway across the street, Monroe watched and waited.

Staring hard at Colin, Monroe’s eyebrows shot up. He’d only had six beers today, wasn’t close to being drunk and didn’t even have a good buzz going. He shook his head and looked again. It wasn’t Colin.

This guy was the spitting image of Colin but not. The man was a few inches shorter and his hair was cut short. A dark gray suit showed under his trench coat and Monroe swore he caught the outline of a shoulder holster. Who was he? Colin didn’t have any family that Monroe knew of.

Pulling out his mobile, he dialed Robert. Before he could tell him, Robert jumped in. “Monroe. Everything OK?” The concern in his friend’s voice caused him to tense up. Robert knew how much immortality meant to him. Had to know he was pissed at Fury for not giving it to him. The bloody hound had the nerve to spout some bollocks about destiny and finding one’s own path. So not going there right now.

He took a swig from his flask and gritted out the words. “Fine. Look, I’m standing here in the city looking at a guy who could pass for Colin’s twin. What gives, mate?” Monroe stole a look, yep, the guy was still there. Getting it on with the woman in the alley if their movements were any indication of what they were doing.

He heard a sharp intake of breath. “Are you sure?” Robert asked. “It’s important.”

“Snapped and texting the guys mug to you now.” Monroe waited. Creative swearing answered him.

“Does he know you’re there? Has he seen you?”

He took another look see, “Nope he’s busy nailing some bird in the alley.”

“This is bad. It’s Colin’s younger brother, Hamish.”

It took a moment to sink in and another for his brain to catch up. “Wait a second. I thought he died like a million years ago. How is that even possible?”

“Blast if I know. Listen, don’t say anything to Colin yet. He’s got enough on his mind with the twins. I’ll see what I can find out. Thanks for the info.”

“Laters.” Monroe hung up. Leave it to Robert to bring up the one thing he could do nothing about…his life-span. Rolling his shoulders to ease the knot of tension, he shoved the thoughts away. Focused instead on this latest bit of information. He didn’t want to be part of that family reunion. Colin was cranky at the best of times, far be it for him to break the news his brother was back among the living after so many years.

Hamish sent the woman on her way as Monroe watched. The girl stumbled, looking a bit tipsy. Before he could step out of the darkened doorway, Hamish vanished.

Yep, some kind of Walker but Shadow or Day? Monroe was on the fringe of the Shadow Walkers thanks to Robert. The guy had saved his arse last year; Monroe would have died if Robert hadn’t been there. The guilt over his girlfriend ate at him, even after ten years. The closure Robert provided by letting Monroe strike the fatal blow helped. Though each morning he woke he blamed himself. There should have been a clue or something he could have done. The responsibility weighed on him like a vest weighted with concrete. Her death was on him for not being there to save her. Killing the Day Walker who’d been responsible for murdering Alice satisfied his need for justice…the emotional issues he couldn’t deal with. Made him squirm thinking about it.

After that day, Monroe’s world shifted. Now he knew beyond any doubt, there were all kinds of beings wandering around and thanks to briefly dying, he could see them. He’d vowed to become a part of the Shadow Walkers, however he could. He helped them investigate, putting the resources of his department behind him to find out what he could. Well at least until they’d canned his arse.

Hurrying down the deserted street, the denizens tucked in for the cold night, he caught up with the bird. “Miss. Miss, are you OK?” The woman stared up at him and Monroe sucked in a breath. From his earlier vantage point and the way she’d been dressed, he’d have pegged her at twenty. But she looked late forties, easily.

“Oh, just tired I guess. Long day of classes. Must have been daydreaming, don’t know how I ended up on this street.”

“You should be more careful. Can I walk you home?”

“Thank you but you don’t need to. My flat is two streets over. I’m fine now, really.”

He watched her go. Classes. Bloody bastard had taken some of her energy, he’d swear to it. That was against the code of the Shadow Walkers. He must be a Day Walker then. Wished there was an easy way to tell the difference.

Reaching into his pocket to shoot a text to Robert about the woman, Monroe realized his cash was gone. Had he lost it? He looked down the street after the girl. Did she take it? Cursing, he looked at the time on his mobile and swore. He’d have to jog to make it before the match started. Picking up the beer, he ran for Shamus’ flat, cursing the entire way.

Thursday, November 9
^th
The last day of the curse

Back at Gwrych castle, Robert stretched. It was early morning. Afraid he’d almost lost her, Robert made rough, passionate love to Maggie. Afterwards, they’d cleaned up and come down to the library. Standing by the mantle, he watched Maggie dig into a bowl of pomegranate seeds. Unaware of the ticking clock, she had a glass of wine and a blanket wrapped around her. Watching her sitting on the rug in front of the fire, his heart jumped erratically. She was his.

What would happen in the next hour? Would it be business as usual or was it true and he’d be dragged away from her to exist as a wraith for all time? It would be a cruel joke for the gods to take him and curse her to be alone for eternity, knowing she was now immortal. Unwilling to break the moment, he contented himself with searing her image onto his very soul. Capturing her smell. Small things to hold on to when he was gone. In more ways than one he’d failed miserably.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” She looked miffed and he stifled the urge to chuckle.

“No. I was thinking.” Always sure in battle and with his men, he was at a loss how to tell her what he was feeling. Best to get it out before he lost his nerve. Taking a sip of wine to steady his nerves, he shot a prayer to Terya, took a deep breath and began.

“I was wrong to keep the curse from you. At the time, I thought it would be easier to handle it myself and not give you something else to worry about. Instead, I created discord and mistrust between us. You had every right to be angry, to still be mad at me.” Robert stopped. Gripping the thick wood of the mantle, he let the corner bite into his hand. Pain would clear his vision. Draining the glass of wine, he walked to the sideboard to pour another, for if he continued speaking, he’d break down and bawl like a babe.

‘Twas too late and now he was going to lose her. Thorne would never bargain, he’d been a fool to think so, could see that now.

Turning back to her, he smiled seeing the pomegranate seeds forgotten, rolling across the rug. Maggie. His north star. Standing in front of him with a look of hope on her face. Gods, he was the worst scoundrel, about to crush the tiny light she still had within her. Not saying a word, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. A gentle kiss, light as the finest silk across his mouth.

The sun broke through the uncovered windows as Robert looked at the clock. Minutes left. Cruel time. It stretched endlessly when bad things were happening but hours vanished in seconds when everything was perfect. Like now. Would he vanish when it struck ten? Would Thorne take him away or would something else—wraiths? Maggie would be frantic.