Shades of Blood (33 page)

“This is where I come to pay my respects to all the people I have lost that meant something to me over the years.” He spun around slowly, eyeing the names. “Warriors, friends…” he strode forward and pressed his palm to the largest stone on the far wall. The name
Merrit MacDouglas
was carved onto a gold nameplate. “Your mother.”

Eden felt tears prick her eyes as she stepped towards it, her footsteps echoing into the beautiful silence. She pressed her own hand flat against the stone and gazed up at Cyrus.

He nodded past her shoulder. “I thought you might like to come here to remember him.”

Her breath caught as she twisted around to follow his gaze. Two spaces down from her mother, the single name
Stellan
was scrawled elegantly across a nameplate. Tears spilled over Eden
’
s lids at the sight.

“It was never that I didn
’
t understand your grief or love for him, Eden,” Cyrus told her quietly. “I just never wanted that grief to change you.”

She nodded, a lightness suffusing her body at her guardian
’
s understanding. Her muscles felt loose, warm, and an ache she hadn
’
t even known existed rolled out of bed and departed from its place where it had slept upon her chest.

His understanding… it was more than she could ever have asked for.

“Thank you.”

The Life of a Warrior

Leaving Noah snoozing on her bed, worn out from their sleepless but satisfying night, Eden pulled on a sweater and some jeans. She was feeling restless already and it had only been two weeks since Tobe and the Douglas
’
had gone home. Cyrus had wanted her to rest up before going on patrol again but Eden could really do with getting back to work. She whistled happily as she took the main staircase, no longer afraid to bump into Alain. OK, so their relationship was still a little strained (she had called him an asshole after all) but they were getting there. She was pretty sure in fifty years
’
time they
’
d be braiding each other
’
s hair and gossiping together. Eden snorted at the visual and landed in the foyer with a little jump off the fifth stair up.

“Someone
’
s in a good mood.”

She turned sharply, watching Jack come in from the garage, his hair a little disheveled. Wasn
’
t that the clothes he
’
d been wearing the night before?

Eden raised an eyebrow. “Out all night? Hot date?”

He grinned and winked at her. “Wouldn
’
t you like to know?”

“Ugh, not really.”

He grunted and shoved her playfully as he passed her. “Gotta run. I have work to do. 

“Oh yeah,” she called after him, hands braced on her hips. “We can all rest easy knowing the hung-over, sleep-deprived, energy-depleted Neith is on security!”

“I know right?”

She rolled her eyes and headed towards Cyrus
’
office. It had taken a lot of persuading on Eden
’
s part for Jack to keep his job. Cyrus had wanted to demote him but Eden had talked him around. Not that Jack showed any appreciation, she winced, rubbing the spot on her shoulder where she
’
d hit the railings when he
’
d pushed her. Just because they were friends he thought he could push her around. She
’
d so get him later for that.

“Cyrus, you in?” Eden knocked on his office.

“Come in.”

Stepping in, Eden glanced around, looking for him when she didn
’
t see him behind his desk. Her eyes dropped and the narrowed in consternation. He was kneeling down by the desk, his hand reaching underneath it, his cheek pressed against the wood as he strained to find whatever it was he was searching for. He made a triumphant noise and pulled out a pen. It was such a normal and less than graceful thing to see him do (she was surprised by the fact that he
’
d actually dropped an item - his coordination was unbelievable) and when he straightened, Eden frowned, noting the worry lines around his eyes.

“You OK? You look… concerned?”

Cyrus sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Just… exasperated.  Some of the Texas Neith loyal to Adam is causing some problems. And it turns out there is a detective on Boston PD investigating his own department. About… unreported disturbances throughout the city.”

“Unreported disturbances? You mean soul eaters. And us.”

“Yes.”

“Is this something we should be worried about? The detective and the Texas Neith, I mean?”

“No.” He shook his head. “It is just an annoyance. It has happened before, it will happen again.”

“So…” Eden shifted, suddenly feeling disappointed. “I guess this means no patrolling tonight then, huh?”

Cyrus chuckled, having noted the childish glint of dismay in her eyes. “I would not say that, no.”

Hope blossomed. Eden was wired and ready to get back to what she did best. “What
would
you say?”

He glanced down at some papers on his desk and pulled a note out. “I would say you and Noah better pack.”

“Oh?”

“Anezka Nováková, the Councilwoman of Prague has put in a request for assistance. A den of soul eaters keep shifting around the city. Two of them are strong, and her Neith have not been able to take them down.”

Eden
’
s heart began to pound with excitement. Prague?! “So you want me and Noah on point on this one?”

He grinned. “I do. Your first real assignment. Pack light. Oh and separate hotel rooms.” Ignoring that last part Eden rushed her guardian and threw her arms around him. He gave a huff of bemusement but pulled her close. She felt him kiss her hair. “Be careful.”

Eden pulled back. “Aren
’
t I always?”

“Hmmph. Well… I suppose you had better tell your partner in crime to pack.”

Leaving him with a quick, affectionate peck on the cheek, Eden bolted out of his office, adrenaline already flying through her body at the anticipation of going to another country with the boy she loved. “NOAH!” she yelled, taking the steps up into the foyer three at a time. “PACK YOUR BAGS! WE
’
RE GOING TO KICK SOME ASS!”

The sound of Cyrus
’
chuckle from his office widened Eden
’
s grin.

“What?”

She turned and craned her neck back, watching Noah descend the stairs. “We have a job. We
’
re going to Prague.”

“Really?” he gave her a wicked half-smile, taking the news with more cool excitement than she herself had done. “I love Prague.
You
’
ll
love Prague,” he promised.

He stopped at the bottom of the staircase and Eden reached for him, sliding her arms up and around his neck. “And Prague is going to love us,” she replied in a low, husky voice, treasuring their new found contentment.

“Oh yeah.” He pressed a smiling kiss against her lips. “And why
’
s that?” he murmured, his mind clearly on nothing but Eden
’
s mouth.

She cocked her head and imitated the arrogant arching of the eyebrow he was so good at. “Dude...we
’
re Ankh. What
’
s not to love?”

The End

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Stirlingshire, Scotland, Samantha Young has been dreaming of other worlds and realms since she first picked up a certain classic novel by C.S. Lewis when she was seven years old. It was only after graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2009 that Samantha decided to pursue her writing career. Currently, she is the author of eight novels and one novella.

To enter Samantha
’
s world of paranormal and fantasy adventure visit her blog/website at http://samyoungyafantasyauthor.blogspot.com