Fallen (15 page)

Lyon's face gleamed silver in the light of Maddie's drifting marks. His breath was rough as he gathered her against his chest. “You can feel the stones hum beneath us?"

"All of that and more. How old is this house anyway?"

“You wish a history lesson, my heart?
Now
? While your thighs grip my waist?"

Maddie laughed, dizzy with happiness. When had she ever felt so much peace as this?

When had she ever been happy?

Never.

"You've made me interested, that's all. Stop teasing me. I’m starting to have an interest in history. Besides, I can feel this is no ordinary house.”

"Its guardian ghost would swell with endless pride to hear you say so."

Maddie frowned. “Maybe he
is
listening. Being a ghost and all.”

“No. I sent him away. We are to be given our privacy this night.”

Maddie trembled, as Lyon ran one hand along the warm curve of her hip. The sudden force of her physical joy was almost more than she could bear. Everything was the same – the gatehouse, the old Persian rug, the drifting scent of roses.

And yet everything was forever different.

In Lyon's arms she felt strong, yet infinitely pliant. Wise with age, yet filled with innocence. Somehow Lyon had done this.

She sighed when his scarred fingers opened on her shoulder and he leaned to kiss the curve of each sensitive breast, whispering against her still aroused skin. Beside them the light of her purple stone glowed, and Maddie realized that it beat in time with her own racing heart.

Strange, strange world.

She pushed up onto one elbow. Her eyebrow rose. “Fine. No history lessons. But as I recall, you said there were
three
bindings to come between us tonight, Crusader."

Her smile gleamed, soon reflected in Lyon's keen eyes. "So I did." He ran his hands through her spiky hair. "Such an odd style of dress you have, my Rose. And yet I believe it begins to grow on me." He pulled her up, settled her against his thighs.

Then his humor faded. "Two more bindings must come before the dawn. That will seal the oldest vows. You are ready?"

Maddie raised their linked fingers and kissed the scars along his palm and wrist. “More than ready."

Lyon nodded. From his nearby clothes he pulled out a folded silver cloth. When he opened it into the air, it gleamed like hammered metal though it weighed no more than a feather. At its center a swan seemed to move, drifting against fast water.

It was a work of great skill – and greater magic, Maddie sensed.

Lyon tossed the silk up and watched it slowly drift down across their bodies. Wherever it touched, their skin seemed to hum and draw on its power. Maddie fingered the feather-light weave, amazed to see the design tremble with life. “Lyon, what is this thing?”

"I found it in the sands beyond Acre. It is finest imperial silk from the great country of Chin, I was told. But I think it is far older than anyone knows. It defects harm from whoever wears it, Maddie, and it is my gift to you. From this night on, keep it close.”

Maddie did not understand. She wasn't even sure if she believed. But because her Crusader believed, she nodded.

Their bodies rolled over the carpet, thigh against hard thigh. As they slid together, the swan seemed to dance, crossing silver waters.

Lyon’s eyes narrowed with sudden hunger. He kissed his way down her chest and settled his mouth against the dark curls at her thighs, showing her new pleasure until Maddie gasped beneath the stroke of his tongue and lips, stunned and half lost in a haze of desire.

Still trembling, she locked her hands on his shoulders and pulled him up. Quickly she straddled him, urgent and hot.

Before the dawn, three times I thee bind.

Before the dawn, three times am I bound in turn.

Once by stone and now by swan. Sword is yet to come.

Hand to hand, skin to burning skin, so it begins.

Lyon whispered the words as he entered her slowly, with maddening skill. Beneath them the silver cloth rustled, almost alive, agleam with old powers. Then for a second time they were bound, their bodies fierce and fearless and driven.

Blindly they fell.

It simply wasn’t
possible
.

How could you be bone tired and fiercely awake at the same time? Maddie shook her head, staring at the hard lines of Lyon’s chest.

Her body was stretched out against his, beautifully stated. She traced his chest and drifted, caught in images that might have been memories. O maybe they were dreams, part of a new future taking shape.

"There
is
a third joining yet to come, you said?”

Lyon’s lips brushed her hair. Maddie heard him chuckle. "So greedy you have become. But yes, there is yet a third." He would have pulled her against him, but Maddie wriggled free, catching the silk around her.

Lyon lunged and caught her leg so she tumbled down against him. While their laughter echoed, they rolled over and over across the old rug.

“Impossible creature. Once my strength returns, there will be a third joining.”

"I'd say your strength
has
returned. Or is that something else I feel, there against my hip? Your sword?”

His eyes raked her body as Maddie reached low, circling him with her hands. Desire raced back to life and she marveled at the beauty of his chiseled body. Would it always be this way between them?

Across the dark hills a bird called shrilly. Lightning branched through the sky, and a drop of rain struck the balcony doors.

Lyon pushed up onto one arm, glancing through the trees. His body tensed.

"What is it, Lyon?"

"Only lightning. So it seems,” he said thoughtfully.

Maddie frowned as he pushed to his feet. Naked and magnificent he walked to the balcony. Drawing back the French doors, he searched the stormy night, motionless and intent.

Uneasy, Maddie gathered up the silver fabric and followed. Then she watched in turn beside him.

On the far side of the valley lightning flickered. Just lightning, she thought. No deadly fog here. They were safe.

She rested her head against his back, kissing the old scars, angry at the pain he must have endured. But now he would never be alone, she swore.

Something moved through the dark sky. Aeryx looped down to perch on the balcony railing. "A storm builds. There is lightning…and perhaps something more. Crusader, do you join me? Your eyes are strong."

Lyon's fingers tightened on Maddie's waist. For a moment she tasted the bitterness of his regret. "I will join you, my friend. Give me a moment. "

The dark head bowed. Wings furled, Aeryx rested on the railing, waiting impatiently.

Lyon found his clothes and dressed quickly. He sheathed his sword and then pulled Maddie close. "You are changed, my heart. We both are changed, but there is far more to come. I will be back once we have made our inspection of the grounds. Wait for me here.”

"Hurry." She managed a shaky smile. “I’ve discovered how very impatient I can be.” Maddie released his hand and took a step back. She gripped the gossamer silk as Lyon crossed the balcony and was caught up on Aeryx's powerful wings.

The room seemed empty and far too cold when he had gone.

More lightning cut the sky above the distant valley. Maddie sat on the old rug, his silk draped around her shoulders and one purple stone gleaming in her hand.

Minutes crawled past.

Thunder growled and rolled. And still he did not come.

Wings crossed the balcony.

As they passed, a cold wind gusted through the open window.

"Rose," a deep voice whispered. "Your Guardian calls to you from the far woods."

"I heard nothing." Maddie jumped her feet, scrambling for her clothes. "Is something wrong, Aeryx?"

“He is…weak, Rose. He bleeds most badly. His skin is torn, but he ordered me away, too proud for your help. So I come for you. Will you fly and join me? Or…are you afraid?”

“Of course I’ll go. Wait there. I’m coming.” Maddie jerked on her clothes and searched for the gleaming stones.

“Leave them, Rose. There is no time,” Aeryx murmured.

“I’m almost done.” Maddie stuffed the stones into her pockets and then knotted the silver web of silk tightly around her. “I’m ready. Take me to him now.”

“You are certain?” the voice probed.

“I’m certain. Hurry.” Maddie was furious with impatience. “Do it
now
.”

“As you will.”

A sound like wind through heavy grass filled the room. Maddie shivered and climbed onto the cold railing. When she reached out, stepping onto the dark wings, the powerful body swayed.

“
Hurry
, Aeryx.”

“We fly, Rose.”

Wind slashed at Maddie’s face as they shot upward in a dizzying sweep. She closed her eyes, caught by a wave of sudden nausea. The ground fell away beneath her, and Maddie leaned closer to the dark head. “Aeryx, what happened to him? Did the things—did those creatures—find him? I
have
to know.”

“Then I shall tell you, Rose. All that you wish to hear—and far more that you do not.” The voice changed, hardening in an angry laugh.

The air around Maddie’s head seemed to burn, charged with sudden electricity that made her flinch and draw back.

Too late she understood.

This was not Aeryx beneath her. This was no
friend
.

She was betrayed.

Fog swirled up beneath Maddie, piling over the ground, rising in cold waves.

Too late
.

She slid trembling fingers into her pocket, feeling something foul burn at her skin. “Who—are you?” she whispered.

“You have called us, Rose. You gave us free invitation. Fool,” the voice rumbled, eager and hungry. “Through your wish we have crossed the portal.” The voice grew, awful in its power. “You invited us to come. Now we will feed well. On you and on those you love.”

Maddie understood now that a fierce intelligence had been at work. But this disguise they made–how was it possible?

There was no time to think about it. A leathery arm stretched toward her and narrow claws emerged. Maddie battled terror and nausea. This was no flight as Aeryx had given. Now they rocketed straight up, then fell with dizzying force.

The only thing that kept her sane was the possibility that they had lied about Lyon. She had to believe that he was unharmed.

She sent out a fierce call of warning to Lyon, to Aeryx, and to the abbey ghost. Then she eased her fingers around the stones hidden in her pockets.

The leathery arm reached back and gripped her leg. With a gasp Maddie wrenched free. The creature swooped higher. Its claws slashed toward her in a vicious strike and then another.

The last drew blood.

Maddie looked up and saw the air around her full of writhing shapes. Wings pounded and hammered as they followed hungrily.

More claws slashed toward her. A smaller figure raced above her head, dropping to snap at her arm. Maddie threw a stone and drove the creature back.

“She is no Rose,” the deep voice beneath her mocked. “Her fear burns clear.” Laughter rumbled and more claws struck. Maddie was tossed sideways, falling free for long seconds, dangling from the edge of a leathery wing.

She forced her eyes away from the other forms around her and dug another stone from her pocket. With all her force she hurled it at the dense, circling center of wings. A vicious cry tore through the air. Two of the creatures plummeted downward.

Dizzy with pain, Maddie found another stone. Another leathery form attacked her legs, and she flung out the stone. Chattering in fury, the creature burned in a flare of silver light, slashing Maddie’s arm from shoulder to wrist as it fell. The air was thick with acrid smoke and more forms gathered, hissing in delight as blood oozed down her bruised arm.

Suddenly Maddie tipped sharply. Her captor sailed high, then closed its giant wings around her, forcing out light and breath, crushing her slowly.

She searched for another stone, only to feel it slip from her trembling fingers. Four gone. Only one was left.

Her own.

Lyon?

Here. Very close. Fight them!

Maddie felt his strength burn through her as Aeryx shot over the high trees, with Lyon on his wing.

But the creature beneath her reached out to grip her neck, forcing the air from her lungs. Blindly Maddie gripped her last, precious stone and drove it with all her might into the suffocating wings, up through leathery arms and into the looming face. A raw cry of fury filled her ears as the body tipped and rolled sideways, losing control.

Maddie plunged free and was surrounded by a dark fury of wings.

"
There!
Faster, Aeryx." Lyon clung to Aeryx with one hand, hacking at anything in their way. As his great sword flashed, another scream signaled his blow and another pursuer fell.

The fallen wore their true form now, with no hint of human face or limbs. Their speed could not be matched.

A claw raked Lyon’s chest and passed lower. Aeryx rumbled in pain. In a swift jab Lyon’s sword slashed out and severed the leathery body, which fell to join dozens more that steamed on the ground below.

They were almost close enough for Maddie to see them now. In a few more seconds….

Then Lyon’s heart squeezed to see her plunge wildly from the sky, while dozens of the horde followed, hungry and hissing in their eagerness.

Lyon called out her name and leaped from Aeryx’s back, using his sword to cut his way through the bodies that followed her as she fell.

She acted by the force of raw fury, kicking her booted feet and flinging her silver rosemarks out in dancing circles.

The circling bodies drew back in confusion and fear.

With each brush of her light another of their throng lost control and pitched blindly down to earth.

But there were too many to count now. Maddie's breath was labored and her strength was nearly gone.

So many of the hungry things....

Then she heard Lyon’s shout and looked up to see him falling down toward her, hacking a way with his sword. As two creatures hooked him with their claws, Maddie felt the shape of the fabric at her waist. She tore it free and cast it up toward Lyon,

The horde fell back. Maddie gave a mad laugh and called his name.

A wiry arm hooked her shoulder, nearly wrenching it from its socket, and she was dragged back into her captor’s wings. And all her weapons were gone now. Only her courage remained.

And her rosemarks.

Maddie waited as the steaming mouth opened. Foul air and the stench of blood brushed her face. When the teeth gaped widest, she threw out her spinning marks and ran them down, into the yawning throat.

The gagging creature screamed in pain and cast her out.

But the ground was hurtling up toward her.

It was Aeryx who raced below her, the true form and true friend, gathering her onto his wings and then swooping up to cut through the horde around Lyon. The Crusader grabbed for the passing wing and met Maddie’s outstretched hand instead.

His fingers slipped on the blood from her wound and Maddie scrambled forward to catch him. Her eyes were glazed with pain and exhaustion but she did not flinch as he gripped her hand. Inch by inch he dragged his body onto the soaring wings.

Aeryx raced high, toward the sun as it flashed across the horizon.

Maddie’s whirling silver marks raced after them.

Aeryx sank down in weary grandeur on the slope above the moat.

In the morning sunlight the abbey ghost stood triumphant above a pile of steaming bodies, calling out a welcome. Around them the abbey’s roof and lands looked like a battleground, with the dead creatures in the scores. Smoke curled from their bodies. Yet as Maddie watched, the skeletal limbs shimmered and vanished, carried back to the place where they came from.

Was this what the Crusader had seen in his long, weary battles? Had Acre and Culloden looked like this?

She shuddered and felt Lyon’s tired arm slide around her. Together they stumbled over the ground, past the dead, hearing Aeryx keen in pain as he hovered above one of his own dead.

Up the hill Maddie saw Izzy walk toward them, his face a tight mask of disbelief. She did not try to explain. There was no need. The truth lay everywhere around them.

She looked up with loving eyes at Lyon. “They told me you were dead,” she whispered. “They said you needed me. The form was so like Aeryx that I never guessed—“

“It is done. We fought them back. You were magnificent, my Rose.” Lyon stared at her arm, where blood still oozed. “We must clean this well. Their poison is fierce. It may kill even now.”

But Maddie settled against him with a sigh of exhaustion and relief. As she did the silver swan fell, silk rippling as it covered their bodies.

Maddie had to ask the question. “They will come back?”

“I have little doubt of it,” Lyon said grimly. “But you learn fast. We will start your training tomorrow. The sword will be first, I think. But not tonight….” His fingers brushed her hair and he caught her up in a fierce kiss. “Tonight is for us. Only us.”

Izzy ran toward them, his eyes hard. “You are both bleeding. Let me have a look. Damn it, Lyon, why didn’t you warn me?” He grabbed Maddie’s bloody arm and scowled.

Talk about bad timing, Maddie thought.

And then she began to laugh.