Blood Beyond Darkness (16 page)

My hands smashed into his chest, and he stumbled back. Before he could respond, I pushed him again. This time he hit the glass and splintered the French doors. His eyes glinted as I stepped up to him. He licked his lips. A smear of my blood still clung to his bottom lip. My fingers hooked around the collar of his t-shirt and tore at it. The fabric ripped in half, falling from his body and showing his chiseled torso. His chest moved in and out rapidly.

His gaze linked on mine, steady and piercing. We both held our breath for a moment before we crashed into each other. His lips moved over mine ferociously. Heat zoomed below my stomach. The need to feel him deep inside me was unbearable. He ripped the shirt over my head, giving us only a little break before our mouths found their way back. My bra hit the floor as he backed me to the table. The noise of his button fly jeans being torn open sounded like a machine gun. He scooped me up and dropped me on the desk. Everything crashed to the floor as he forced me back. With one tug, he pulled my jeans off. Our desire for each other was not soft or delicate. There was no “let’s take our time” here. It was now and desperate. Violent. I clawed at his shoulders, drawing blood, bringing him down on top of me. He slipped off my underwear, which joined his jeans on the floor. I wanted him so badly it felt painful. My body shook.

“Brycin. Look at me,” he rasped.

My gaze turned to his. I could feel him hard against my leg. Then he slid into me. I gasped, my eyes shutting.

“No. Open your eyes and keep them open. I want you to watch me fuck you.”

I did.

He picked me up, and my legs wrapped tightly around him. He stayed inside me as he stood, pressed me against the office door. He went deep and rough, making me moan.

We never took our eyes off each other as the whole world vanished around us.

I curled into Eli’s side; our legs and arms intertwined. The dark bedroom was illuminated only by the hazy glow of the moon filtering through the thin curtain and softly crossing the floor up onto my enormous bed.

I sighed contentedly. The first time might have been intense and aggressive; the last time had been as passionate but gentler. We took our time rediscovering each other. Both ways had been amazing. I could never imagine getting enough of him.

His lips touched the space between my eyebrows. He made a sound like he was going to speak, but nothing came out.

“What?” I placed my chin on his chest and gazed up at him.

“What, what?”

“You were going to say something.”

“Was I?”

“Yes. So talk.”

“The bed is amazing. And sturdy.”

I frowned, my eyebrow going up.

His tightened his mouth and then sighed. “I am done
...”

“What?” My head shot up.

“Brycin.”

“Sorry, continue.”

He took another breath. “I was gonna say I am done with ever being without you again.”

“But if I am done with you?” I placed my hand under my chin.

“You won’t be.”

My eyes slightly widened, and my head tilted to the side. “Oh, really?”

He cupped the back of my head, rolling me underneath him. “If you do, you will find yourself with one unrelenting stalker. A shadow on your ass.”

“Oh, goodie. My own personal butt brigade.”

He smirked as he leaned in and kissed me. “I am serious. Never again.”

“You think you can handle me full time?”

“I hear there’s a great benefits package in it for you.” His lips slid across the skin between my breasts, while something else brushed my leg. The torture of knowing what lay ahead of us twisted my gut. I couldn’t think about it, not tonight. Most likely neither of us would live through the battle. I had to enjoy the time I did have with him.

I touched his face, turning it to mine. “Don’t say it unless you actually mean it. Will you feel this way when you get sick of sleeping with me or I annoy you one too many times?”

“You might tire of having sex with me first.” He kissed my neck softly, moving up slowly.
Doubtful
, I thought. “Let’s enjoy right now.” He nipped at my top lip. I could feel his smile tickling my mouth.

I forced my smile to match his. “All right, but if you ever even think about cheating on me, especially with Ms. Tits and Ass,” I paused dramatically, “fried bacon bits,
deep
-fried.”

“
Shhhh.” He peered under the blanket. “I told you they can hear you.”

I grabbed the blanket, yelling down there. “Then hear me ... you wander elsewhere and you will become a charred beef kebab with a side of meatballs.”

Eli cringed, making me snicker. He then turned back to me, his hands touched my face, and his expression grew intense. “Believe me. It is not going anywhere else. It’s got squatters’ rights now.” His lips met mine fervently. He found his way back inside of me, showing me exactly what he meant.

“Dammit, Ember!” Lars thundered, banging on the bedroom door the next morning.

My lids cracked open; blurrily, I looked around in confusion. People pounding on the door cursing us should be normal to me by now. “What the hell did you two do to my office?”

Crap.

Eli rolled over grumbling.

“I will not subject Marguerite to cleaning your mess, especially when your underwear is on the floor. I want you both up now. I won’t use my desk until I know it has been sanitized thoroughly.”

Marguerite picked up my underwear all the time, but I got his meaning. This was slightly different.

“Did you touch the door handle?” Eli yelled back at him.

“Yes ... why?” Lars asked skeptically.

“Uh, no reason.”

Lars groaned and muttered something incomprehensible and stomped off.

I looked over my shoulder at Eli. “Think we’re in trouble.”

Eli’s eyes were closed; his head snuggled back into the pillow. He didn’t look like he would move anytime soon. Only his hands reached out, pulling me back into him.

“I smashed his printer, didn’t I?” I laced my fingers through his, which were wrapped around my middle.

Eli snorted. “Yeah, you sure did. We kind of pulverized his office.”

“Damn. We are starting to be quite expensive.”

“You are.” He winked when I turned over to look at him. “Because of you I had to buy Cooper a new bike.”

“What did it have to do with me? I wasn’t even here when he lost it.”

“Exactly.”

I frowned.

“You don’t want to know.” He stuffed his arm beneath his pillow, rolling to his stomach.

“I’ll take your word for it.” I sat up, pushing the covers off.

“Uh-oh.” The sheets had fallen off him as I rose, showing off his entire sculpted body. Normally, I would have found the sight enormously pleasing to the eye, except for what I saw now—all over Eli’s backside.

Pixies held grudges and did not forgive so easily. The juniper juice lover had certainly not forgiven the Dark Dweller yet. I did not want to think about when he snuck in here to retaliate. Hopefully, it was well after Eli and I passed out from exhaustion.

“Oh, crap.” My hand went to my mouth, blocking the half groan, half laugh.

“What?” Eli’s lids splintered open.

Ink and glittery Tinker Bell stickers were stuck all across Eli’s ass and back. “Sprinkle Pixie dust” and “I believe in Pixie power.” were written across Eli’s back in glitter.

“What?” Eli followed my gaze and looked over his shoulder. “What the hell?”

I couldn’t stop myself. I curled forward with hysterical laughter. Eli scrambled out of bed, chasing his own tail as he tried to get a better view of his backside. His hand went to one of the
stickers and tried to tug it off.

“
Ow.” He flinched. “Damn, the li’l fucker super-glued them on!”

Tears spilled down my cheeks. “Oh, Cal, you are my hero.”

Eli shook his head and yelled into my room. “This is war, you winged girlie toy!”

“How did you sleep through that?” I wiped at my eyes. How did we both?

“Guess someone really wore me out.” Eli winked at me then returned to glued objects on his back.

As I watched him wincing while he struggled to tug off a sticker, a grip of sadness and guilt washed over me. This moment of happiness would end, and I would never have it back again. He would die, and if I decided I couldn’t do it, then the world would collapse. Millions would die. My shoulders curled in. I felt like I would crack under the pressure of the responsibility. Even against my will, I was keeping secrets from him. In a way I was thankful Lars had taken the choice from me. My tongue had been bound by him before. I couldn’t even tell Eli through our eye communication. Even if I could have told him, what would I say? How did one go about telling someone the only way to vanquish the Queen would kill him? There had to be a way around it. Could Kennedy be able to break it? Could a Druid end the Queen’s spell? I was desperate. I would try anything.

The thought of Kennedy brought more shame. I needed to find her. A shiver tiptoed across my heart at the thought of Lorcan having Kennedy. I hoped he hadn’t hurt her, though I wouldn’t put anything past him.

“I need to jump in the shower. Only way to get these things off.” He grinned, clearly a little impressed with Cal’s creativity.

My laughter dried up as my thoughts drifted to the dark realities ahead of me. I got out of bed and headed to my walk-in closet. Here I was enjoying the best sex of my life with the love of my life who would soon be dead, and Kennedy was possibly being tortured. I yanked open a drawer and grabbed one of my t-shirts. Eli sensed my change in mood and followed me. “We’ll find her.” He wrapped himself around me.

My eyes darted over my shoulder.

He smiled. “You are not hard to read, and I can still feel your emotions.” His arm looped my waist, twirling me to face him. His hands ran down my bare skin. “We’ll track Lorcan. We’ll get her back.”

I nodded.

He pulled me closer. I threw my arms around his neck and fell into his engulfing hug. I hoped he could only sense my anxiety for Kennedy and didn’t think he had something to do with the decline of my mood.

He squeezed tighter. These moments were rare with him. I had to enjoy them while I could. Our naked bodies melded together as we embraced.

He sighed deeply and gave my shoulder a kiss, then smacked my bare ass. “Now get dressed and go clean your mess, woman.”

“And we’re back,” I said dryly, shaking my head.

Later in the day I was startled by the movement at the top of the hill. The inundation of Dark Fae on the Unseelie King’s land was beginning. I seemed to be the only one in awe of all the strange looking Dark Fae flooding in. They came in all shapes and sizes, from tiny forest gnomes to large mountain trolls. I had no clue what many of them were, but most Dark Fae were human in appearance. No surprise since the Dark needed to blend in with humans more since the Dark needed them to live off of.

Lars had set up a field of tent-cabins, but many brought their own version of portable homes, and some even dug holes in the ground.

“Oh, no. Anyone want to poke my eyes out?” I was on my knees, peering through the curtains of the window behind the breakfast nook.

“Why?” Eli chomped on a huge bite of the sandwich Marguerite made for lunch.

“There is a goblin peeing on the lawn,” I said. “Guess six inches of man applies to all Fae creatures.”

Eli smacked my ass.

“Eating here,
darlin'.” West slapped the other side of my rear.

I flipped around and slipped down the curved booth, plopping into a sitting position. Eli, Cooper, West, and I all sat together.

Marguerite was making more sandwiches at the counter. Rez grabbed one and walked to the table, sliding the plate to me. “You are probably going to see worse than Fae peeing.” She pulled out a chair and sat across from me. “And a lot of it. There are going to be thousands of Fae heading here in the next couple of weeks.”

“How will the Queen not notice?” I squashed the ciabatta bread, trying to get it flatter to fit into my mouth.

“Lars made it clear they glamour themselves, use different doors, and space out their arrival.” Rez snatched a pickle from my plate. “Most Dark Fae are eager for the fight. They want Aneira destroyed. They do not want anything to screw it up either.”

Cooper mumbled through a mouthful of food. “Damn, this sandwich is amazing. I am already in love with you,
mamacita
.”

“No kidding. You want to move in with me?” West winked at Marguerite. She blushed and batted her hand at him but hummed happily.

The sound of someone tapping on glass flowed over to us. “Ummmm ... girlie? Help here?” A muffled voice spoke. “Come on, Marguerite, you won’t let them leave me in here will you?” Cal’s voice came from the middle of the island. Marguerite looked at the pixie then at Eli. She smiled at the two of them, and then turned back to her sandwiches.

“Sorry, Cal. This is between you and Eli.” I held up my hands.

Eli chuckled and took another bite of his sandwich, looking smug.

I tried to keep the smile off my face as I peeked at Cal. He sat at the bottom of a glass jar, tugging on his feet, apparently glued to the base. Eli had taken a jar and slathered the inside bottom and sides with honey. He poured an inch of juniper juice into the bottom. Cal, of course, could not resist the temptation. As soon as he entered, his wings and feet became trapped in the sweet confection. He had been stuck in there most of the morning. The juniper juice had long since been drunk. Left at the bottom stood a bitter, pissed off pixie.

“Your ass is mine, Dark Dweller.” Cal smacked the glass.

“Bring it, Princess,” Eli muttered through bites.

The situation was going to get bad. Pixies were not sweet, forgiving creatures. They were little, but mighty. Eli really was asking for it.

“Should you be calling him a princess when you still have glitter covering your ass?” Cooper smirked, causing
West to laugh.

I tried to hold mine back, but a smile lit up my face. Eli had taken several showers since the morning and shimmer still clung to his skin.

Eli shot a warning at his brothers. “Better watch it. I have pixie power now.”

We all burst out laughing; even Rez and Marguerite couldn’t hide their amusement. When we quieted, Rez pointed at my plate. “Ember, eat. You are still weak.”

My gaze stayed glued to my plate, but I could feel Eli stare at me before he turned away, shifting in his seat. He knew he was one of the reasons I stopped eating.

“Eat,
darlin'.” West’s shoulder knocked into me “So your boobs will get bigger.”

Cooper snorted into his plate. “I second that.”

Eli sat back, his hand stroking my thigh. “Wish all you want ... still not going to be touching them.”

“Eating won’t help. They’re a lost cause now.” I shrugged.

“Ember needs to eat. And you need to behave.” Rez pointed at West.

“Good luck with that.” I shoved part of the sandwich into my mouth. I munched for a few bites. “How is our property going to hold thousands of Fae? Two hundred acres is not enough to hold so many.”

“Glamour and lots of it.” Rez munched on the chips. “We’re extending our property line and glamouring it from humans, as well, to dissuade them from hiking or coming through our area.
If
by chance someone still does, they will not be able to see anything out of the ordinary.”

The reality of the impending war was becoming real. We had talked about it, but seeing the invasion of Dark Fae coming onto the land made it tangible. And I knew a lot of these Fae standing in our field would not be alive in a matter of weeks.

My stomach knotted. I pushed my plate away.

“You better finish your food.” Rez stood, grabbed another plate off the counter loaded with a large sandwich and chips, and headed for Lars’ office.

“If you don’t, I’ll eat it.” Cooper licked his fingers, getting every last crumb.

Eli huffed. “I get priority, right?” He squeezed my knee.

Silently, I slid my plate across to West. He chuckled as we both fist bumped each other.

“I see how it is.” Eli stood. “Watch out there, Brycin. I know where Marguerite stores the peanut butter. You might find yourself out of it soon.” A conspiratorial grin edged his lips as he looked at the small force of nature. Marguerite tried to hide the smile, but her face flushed with it. She loved me, but I had no doubt Eli would win every time when it came to her.

“Those are fightin' words, Dragen.” I slithered out from the booth, standing in front of him.

Eli hands clutched my waist, and I went into the air. My body slumped as he placed me over his shoulder.

“Oh, no, not again.” I fought against his hold.

“
No. Sin payasadas en la cocina
.” Marguerite flailed her knife in the air at me and Eli.

“If you would only learn your place, woman, I wouldn’t have to do this. You know, you should be docile, sweet, and subservient.”

Cooper and West exploded in laughter.

“Speaking of submissive. Take me to the training field, boy.” I let my arms and head dangle freely down his back. “Straightaway.”

Lars had mentioned several times after I cleaned his office that he better find my behind on the training field after lunch. He meant partly to punish me, but I sensed he was as nervous as me about my fighting Aneira without powers.

Eli turned us toward the door. “Are you lifting my wallet again?”

“Shush, boy. You do not address the future Queen in such a manner.” My fingers tugged at the leather case. I picked my head up and winked at West and Cooper, as I sifted through Eli’s wallet and pulled out the cash, stuffing it into the back of my jeans. Cooper and West shook their heads, chuckling.

“Wait!” Cal’s arms flailed around his holding pen. “Girlie, you better get me out of here, or I’ll pee on your head tonight, as well,”

Pixies were not known to make empty threats.

“Guys?” I looked at the boys and motioned to Cal.

“Yeah, we’ll get him. I endorse anyone who wants to urinate on Eli.” West winked at me.

Thank you
, I mouthed to him. I waved and blew Marguerite a kiss as Eli stuffed us through the kitchen door. Stepping outside, the cool air brushed at my exposed skin, invigorating me out of my food coma. Eli carried me for a few steps before he stopped and glided my body down his, standing me back on my feet. “You know what I do to willful future Queens?”

My fingers wrapped around his belt loops, pulling him against me. “Do tell.”

“I tie them up and use my mouth to torture them.” His stubble brushed against my cheek, his lips skimming my neck.

I rose on my tiptoes, taking his head in my hands. “I think I will need a preview to see how I will respond in situations like those you mention.” My mouth just met Eli’s when a voice spoke behind me.

“Hey, little Dae.” Nic trotted to us, his brown eyes glinting as he stared at me and Eli. “Alki sent me to retrieve you. He says you need to be on the field right now.”

“Yeah. Thank. You.” Eli’s teeth ground together as he glared at the Incubus.

Nic’s eyes drifted slowly along the length of Eli, with an expression of challenge and interest. Nic did not discriminate between gender, race, or status. Sex was sex to him.

Eli caught
Nic’s look. “See something you like?”

“More like what I want.” His lip hooked up. “Now I see why my little Dae is so content. The sex vibes coming off you
...” Nic breathed in.

A lot of human men would have felt threatened or uncomfortable by his statement, but Fae did not grow up with the same sexual biases. Even as “manly” as Eli was, another male’s attraction didn’t faze him.

“Sorry. Spoken for.” Eli shrugged.

“Oh, I want her, too. I say we make it a party.” Nic winked at me.

Eli’s shoulders bristled. “Yeah, you’re not going to be touching her or crawling into bed with her ever again. You got it?”

That
’s what Eli found offensive—Nic hitting on
me
.

“Got it.” Nic held up his hands. “I won’t deny I will miss it. I’ve enjoyed the time with you, little Dae.” Nic turned to leave. “If you ever get bored, you know where to find me.” He winked and headed back for the field.

Eli’s lids lowered, glaring after Nic. “She won’t.”

My fingers twined with Eli’s. “I think he was talking to you.” I teased and hauled him
toward the field. We both needed to work off some extra energy, but with Alki it would not be fun. Hours of pain and agony lay stretched ahead.

Alki’s torture session extended for four hours. My legs barely worked to climb the stairs to my room. Eli turned on the shower and shoved me in. The hot water loosened my muscles and stopped them from shaking. Eli joined me, washing my hair and holding me upright. Times like now I missed my Dae powers with such a fierce passion it hollowed out my heart. My Dark Dweller part kept me standing and would get me moving faster than any human but nothing like my Dae magic used to. The lack of healing instantly and having abundant energy and strength buzzing from my magic left a chasm in my soul.

“I hate this.” I pressed my head against the tile wall. Water plummeted on me from above. “Without my powers, I am weak. I feel like I am missing a part of me.”

Eli grabbed my hips and turned me around. His hands curled at my jaw, tilting my head back. “You may not have your magic, but you are anything but weak.” Water coursed down his shoulders and face. “Believe me. With or without your powers, you are still the same stubborn, pain-in-the-ass girl I met at Silverwood.” He smiled and licked the excess water off his lip. “They don’t define you. You define you.”

My gaze lowered, watching the pelts of water slip off his arm. He grabbed my chin, turning my face to his. “You got what I’m saying?”

“Yeah. I got it.” A soft grin tugged at my mouth. “And you’re right. Even if you weren’t a Dark Dweller, you’d still be a dick.”

A smirk pulled up his mouth. “Absolutely.” His fingers seized my hips. “How about I show you how much of one I can be.”

Fresh from a shower and in the middle of getting dressed, a piercing wail filled my ears and vibrated the ground. Eli clapped both hands on his ears, wincing. I knew exactly what caused the sound, having experienced something similar at the Dweller’s ranch. The property spell had been crossed without permission. Before I could even react, Eli ran out of my room. I pulled on a pair of sweats and ran after him, my aching body not carrying me as fast.