FALL (The Senses) (21 page)

Waleron
turned her around in his arms. “Is there something between you and Xamien?”
Delara flinched. Christ, he probably scented Xamien all over her.

Delara
tried to keep her body from remaining tense at his question. She failed
miserably. She’d always been forthright about her men-capades with Waleron,
actually, with Liam she threw it in Waleron’s face. So what made her hesitate
telling him about Xamien?

For some
reason, Xamien was different. It wasn’t about making Waleron jealous or angry.
There was no emotional punishment associated with Xamien. It was sexual
freedom; Xamien controlled everything about them when she stayed in Spain. She
never had to think, just feel. He looked out for her needs whatever they
happened to be at the moment. And sometimes, all she required was to be held.
Xamien understood that.

Delara
clamped her mouth shut and turned her back on Waleron.

Waleron
pulled her against his chest. His next words whispered like a breeze across her
ear. “I will not tolerate any relationship with him.”

Delara
fell into a wilted piece of lettuce with his raspy words. “What?” she managed
to squeak.

Waleron
again turned her around so she was facing him and she stared wide-eyed and
gaping at the man she’d loved all her immortal life.

His
thumb stroked her bottom lip. There was no smile, no sparkle in his eyes, just
the familiar stern ice-blue. His other hand curled into the back of her neck
and, without pausing, he pulled her hard against him. He took her mouth with
something that could only be described as complete and utter possession.
Relentless. Demanding and insistent. His tongue took haven between her lips and
every memory of them exploded through her body. Wanting. Craving. Needing. His
groan was so deep that it echoed through his chest into hers. He swallowed her
every thought of denial and made her body his.

Just as
quick as it started, Waleron pulled away, but he didn’t let her go. “Make no
mistake. You will always belong to me. Do not forget that, Delara.”

Delara
pulled from his grasp, her hand covering her mouth as she stumbled from the
room.

Chapter
7

Waleron
stood waiting. The cool breeze tickled his exposed skin and the crunch of snow
sounded beneath his feet as he shifted his weight. The tattoo on his neck
slithered uneasily as the emotions he tried to bury with the drugs rallied to
come to the surface and ignite. He’d taken three pills since Delara ran from
him. There was something between Delara and Xamien and the thought brought with
it a fury rising to a dangerous level. It was always this way. If there was a
hint of emotion kindled inside him, Delara was the one who lit it. The valium
was now calming the fire to a slow-burning ember and Waleron hoped to keep it
that way, because his next meeting could cause it to explode into an inferno.

He
didn’t have to wait long as Xamien came strolling out of the house and walked
down the driveway carrying luggage. They barely knew one another, but Waleron
had brought Abby to Xamien last year due to his capabilities of spells. Waleron
also knew Xamien to be a fierce warrior.

Waleron had
asked Xamien to meet him outside. There was too much chance Damien would
overhear the mention of Abby’s name inside the house. Business first.
“Abigail?”

“Well
enough. Abby has taken to studying my mother’s spells. I believe one day she’ll
become a very powerful witch-vamp. Better to keep her on our side.” Xamien threw
the luggage in the car. “When do you plan on telling him?”

Waleron
ignored the question. “Are her cravings under control?”

“Yes.
Glunk provides blood from the local blood bank and she manages well on it.
She’s bound to the house. A spell my mother taught me. However, she’ll soon
discover how to unweave it.”

“Will
she come for Damien?”

Xamien
shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Abby never mentions him. I think she
chooses to forget.”

“That is
good.”

“Damien
still grieves. He deserves to know. ”

“No.
Abby requested that Damien believe she is dead. And have you thought of the
consequences if the Wraiths and witches know she lives?”

“You
could convince the council otherwise. Abby cannot remain locked under my
spells.”

“Abby is
of little concern right now. I have a Senses with powerful friends on the loose
and they wish to harm Delara. And I have the Wraiths breathing down my back,
watching my every move.”

Silence.
Neither looked at the other, but the unspoken words were there between them. 

“You’re
being an ass,” Xamien said.

“Yes.”
Waleron respected Xamien. Even though the Taldeburu requested to be removed from
council over a century ago, Xamien was still valued for his skills as a warrior—his
strength, composed nature, and fairness. It was the reason Waleron trusted
Xamien to keep Delara safe. They’d sat on council together twice before, unexpectedly,
Xamien rejected the duty. Surprisingly, the Wraiths had agreed. “I need her
safe, Xamien. And I need her gone.” He’d Trace her there, but his wounds from
the steel room were not healed and he had no intention of letting Anstice heal
him.

Xamien
came up beside him, so they were standing shoulder to shoulder. “What does she
need?”

Waleron
stiffened. The tension in his neck coiled like a spring. “She isn’t thinking
clearly.” He hoped Xamien understood the double meaning.

“Perhaps
you’re not either.”

Waleron
curled his hands into fists and turned to look at Xamien. “Do not think that
you can even begin to understand what is between Delara and me.”

Xamien’s
brows rose. “But I do. I was the one who brought her mind back from the depths
of despair when she thought you were dead.” Xamien paused. “I’m the one who was
there for her when she thought she lost her child. And again when you made that
bargain with Trinity. Where were you?”

Waleron’s
snake Scar awakened and its movement seared his skin. What was Xamien saying?
Delara was with him back then? After Trinity? Because of Trinity? Christ, after
their child was lost?

“I didn’t
know, Waleron. But I get it now. I see it. You still love her. And I know her
love for you was immeasurable.”

Xamien
said
was
. No, Delara still loved him. Waleron saw it in her eyes, felt
it in her kiss, her touch. That would never fade. Did Xamien think he could
walk into her life and erase everything Delara and he had been through? Expunge
their love? “She has been using men for years to hurt me, Xamien.”

Silence.

A cool
gust of air swept across the yard and a swirling dusting of snow danced across
their clothes. Waleron waited for Xamien’s response. Waleron knew his words
were hurtful, yet Waleron had never been one to worry about hurt feelings. He’d
lost that ability the day he escaped Jasmine to save Delara and started taking
the pills.

“And is
that not reason enough to stop what you’re doing?”

Xamien’s
words blasted into Waleron like a cold bucket of water. His instinct was to
slam his fist right through Xamien’s chest, but he had lived a long time by not
reacting spontaneously. Instead, he opened his Pez dispenser and popped another
pill. Already over his daily limit.

Xamien
met his glare. “Do not think I will stand by and watch you hurt her. I protect
those I share my bed with.  Delara is also my friend. Best you remember that.”

Waleron’s
Scar hissed. It took him several seconds to control the roar of fury that
wanted to escape his throat. The thought of Delara lying in Xamien’s arms was
debilitating. “I don’t take threats lightly Xamien.”

Xamien’s
brows rose. “I know. That’s why I’m making myself clear. You let her go twenty
years ago. I’m not.”

Both men
stared at one another, daring the other to make a move. The standoff broke as a
scream sounded and they ran for the house.

****

Delara
reached the living room just as Waleron and Xamien came barging in the front
door. Grim growled low and menacing at a box near their feet. He let out a deep
bark and then a whine as he looked up at Anstice.

Keir ran down the stairs and went
straight for Anstice. “Babe, fuck. Behind me.” Keir grabbed her arm and shoved himself
in front of her.

Delara
went to grab the box when Waleron pulled her away. “Not happening.”

“The box
was delivered a few days ago,” Anstice said. “I put it in the closet since I
was in a rush to meet with Danielle. I forgot about it until Grim started
sniffing and pawing at the door.”

Xamien
touched her shoulder then slipped past her, urging Grim away from the box. He
picked it up and lifted the lid. “Christ,” Xamien muttered.

Delara
pulled free of Waleron’s grasp and pulled the box towards her.

She
inhaled sharply.

Settled
in red tissue paper was a gold frame with a four by eight sized photo of…her. Bold
red marks were placed across the picture—on her wrists, her legs, her thighs,
then one across her throat. They mimicked Delara’s cutting marks, except the
throat. That was another statement.

Keir
turned to Anstice. “Library. Now.”

Waleron
took the box and looked inside. He met Delara’s eyes and she felt the power of
the rage he fought hard to control. She sensed it all. His fear, his rage. She
even sensed guilt in him, if that were possible.

“I
don’t like it, Kitten. Something feels off.”
Xamien caught her eye and she saw the seriousness in
his expression.
“My mother is a witch and she has visions of the future. I
don’t share the gift, but I do feel the emotions linked to visions when it is
strong enough. ”

“What do you mean?”
Delara’s thoughts were on Waleron, of what it had been like the day
she’d found out he was gone. Her despair. Falling into an abyss of darkness
only to be drawn out by Xamien. She couldn’t lose Waleron. Despite hating him
for his overprotectiveness, his stubbornness, his obstinate nature, she knew
she couldn’t walk this earth again without him somewhere in it.

“Kitten, I feel his pain. His
torture. It’s… Jesus it’s all around him.”

Her body froze.
“What?”
No, not him. Not Waleron. He’d been tortured already. Maybe Xamien was picking
up on the past? Please God.

She was about to go to Waleron
when he picked up the framed photo. His eyes widened as a
loud, long hissing noise sounded, high-pitched
like an oxygen tank releasing air.

 “Move. Now!” Waleron shouted.

Delara smelled the acid the second
it was released into the air.

Waleron
bolted for the front door holding the box out in front of him. Xamien grabbed
Delara’s arm and dragged her into the library. The door slammed shut. She
screamed Waleron’s name while yanking on Xamien’s relentless grip. Oh God, he’d
burn. If he inhaled the acid, his lungs would corrode. His skin melting away.
Blindness. A Healer wouldn’t get to him in time.

“No.
Waleron. Anstice, please. We have to go to him. If he burns, you have to stop
the damage before it’s too late.”

Anstice
went for the door.

“So not
happening, babe.” Keir said. Anstice stopped dead.

Delara
pulled harder and when Xamien’s hold refused to budge she swooped her leg out
behind his knee and sent him off balance. It was enough to loosen his grip and
she ran for the door.

Keir
blocked her path.

“Waleron?
Damn it, answer me.”
She felt
tears streak her cheeks, Xamien’s words echoing. The torture. Could he have
been referring to the acid?

She shoved
against Keir’s chest, but he refused to budge.

Xamien
rubbed his knee.
“Damn, Kitten. That hurt.”

“Step
back, Delara,” Keir said and when her eyes focused in on him, she backed away.

Delara
ran to the window and saw the box lying on the ground in the middle of the
yard. There was no sign of Waleron. She frantically searched the yard, heart
slamming against her chest.
“Waleron? Please. God, please.”

“It’s
fine, Delara,”
Waleron
said.

Xamien
came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist just as Waleron’s
voice sunk into her. She sagged with relief against him. It was a reaction to
Waleron’s words, but the timing was off and Xamien placed a kiss on top of her
head as the door flung open.

Waleron’s
eyes went straight to them. Locked in an embrace. Xamien’s lips in her hair.
She pushed away, but it was too late.

When
Waleron spoke his voice was completely emotionless. “Lifting the photo
triggered a spray of acid.” He looked at Keir. “Nothing gets past the gates.
Nothing. No Senses, no mailman, no one.”