Fatal Desire (20 page)

“You will let the goddess and child leave if I agree to stay?”

“Yes.”

“My mate as well. Send him back home unharmed.” Her jaw set. “I know you have the power to do so.”

“Agreed, and you will stay with me. I will train you. There is much power inside you yet to be harnessed.”

Then I will kill you myself.
There was one more thing she needed then her fate would be sealed. “I need you to break the bond between Caleb and me. I cannot concentrate with this attachment to him.”

The corners of his mouth curled into a playful grin. He rose from the desk and, in one step, was in front of her, his palm placed across her collarbone. Heat seared her skin then entered deep within, filling her entire body with liquid fire. She tried to expand her lungs but could pull in no air. Sharp pain radiated under her breastbone. He was killing her, pulling her insides apart.

A scream stuck in her throat. Tears rolled down her cheeks, more from her failure than the pain. He pulled away, and her knees buckled; she fell to the floor gasping for air.

“Tis done. The bond is broken, and your mate is free. He will come for you no more.” He waved a hand in the air. “Watch,” he commanded.

She peered through blurred vision. A window opened to show a foggy picture. Qadira and the child stood in the world above. They had been set free. Her lips moved, but her voice was uncooperative.

“Look again.”

She focused on the picture; a fuzzy image came into view. Caleb, he appeared next to the goddess, and from what she could tell, he was unharmed. The image snapped shut. Lowan bent down, his black gaze pinned her.

“Tomorrow, we begin your training.” He spun on his heel and left the room.

Lileta lay in a broken heap, the pain finally receding, but it left behind something even worse.

Emptiness.

The bond was severed. No longer could she feel Caleb in her soul. That piece of him had been ripped away and tossed aside like garbage. Instead, she was left with an ache in her chest and a broken heart. Their bond might be gone, but her love wasn’t.

“I’m so sorry, Caleb. Maybe now you can move on. Gods know I didn’t deserve you anyway.”

The tears came fast and heavy; the plush carpet absorbed her heart break. Tonight, she’d mourn her loss; tomorrow, she’d bury it deep and learn to embrace her dark side.

Chapter Nineteen

Caleb’s dragon screeched as intense pain shot through him. He fought for control, but his wings folded. His body began to shift midair and there was no way to stop it. He was going to hit and hard.

He somersaulted out of Hell’s copper sky, the blackened ground coming into his vision fast. He braced for impact with the full knowledge he was going to break several bones.

His body slammed onto the rocks. Air pushed from his lungs, bones snapped and muscle ripped when he landed flat on his back. Positive his neck had broken along with several vertebrae. He groaned. The pain racking his body was nothing compared to the vise around his heart.

Lileta was dead.

The piece of her soul he held so dear ripped away. Their bond broken. His body would heal, but his heart never would. He failed in so many ways. His older brother, dead because he couldn’t save him. His leader now wanted for murder and torture of humans because he couldn’t see what was happening right under his nose. Now, the most precious gift ever bestowed him. A mate. Not just any mate, but Lileta. Warm, soft and beautiful. All his until he fucking failed to protect her. He wanted nothing more than to lie there and perish, but he wouldn’t die. No, he’d continue to live with the worst pain of his life.

He sucked in a breath, bones moved into place and mended. He rolled to his knees and stood, flexing muscle. Without his connection to his mate, it would be difficult to find Lowan. Find him he would, if he had to roam Hell for an eternity.

“I will kill you, you son of a bitch.” He tried to summon his dragon, but nothing happened. The beast so heartbroken it refused to surface. He let out a sigh. “I know the feeling, but we must avenge her death.” The beast stirred in agreement, but before he could shift, he was pulled off his feet. Sucked backward into a black vortex. He tried to resist, but the force was strong.

He landed on his ass in a cloud of dust. “What the fu—”

“Don’t say it,” a feminine voice cut him off.

He coughed and spat sand from his mouth. When the dust finally settled, he saw Qadira staring down at him along with a young girl. “Oh.” Oops, he’d almost dropped the F-bomb in front of a teen. “What the hell—I mean what happened?” He stood and brushed his jeans off.

“Leria, why don’t you go look for some shells while Caleb and I talk?” Qadira smoothed a hand down the girl’s raven hair.

“Whatever.” She folded her arms and began a trek across the sand toward the foaming waves crashing to shore.

“What is going on?” He suddenly realized where he was. “This is the same beach.”

“Yes, the one you and your mate crossed not long ago.”

He tipped his head and stared at his boots. His lids slid shut, and visions of golden eyes full of life and love for him filled his mind. Delicate fingers ran through his hair. He jerked away. While he was happy the goddess was safe, he didn’t want her touching him. He wanted no one to touch him ever again.

“Caleb, look at me.”

He raised his head. “Why? Do you find it amusing to give me love then tear it away? She’s dead, and had you never thought to interfere with my life…” He closed his eyes and took in a slow breath. “I wouldn’t be in such agony right now. The pain compares to none I’ve ever felt.” He opened his eyes and met Qadira’s emerald gaze. “Send me back to Hell so I can kill Lowan.” He balled his fists and tried to shove his anger deep inside before he killed his own goddess. Gods knew he walked a fine line at the moment.

“Lowan will kill you,” she shot back.

His lip curled into a snarl. “I’m counting on it.”

“Your mate lives.”

His brow knitted, and he pinned her with a stare. “Don’t even think to fuck with me right now.” He glanced around. “And where is your husband?” Zarek had threatened to destroy them all if his wife wasn’t found. It was one of the reasons Caleb had been sent to Hell.

“The second I remove this necklace he will be able to find me. I wanted to talk to you first.”

He noticed the glistening emerald around her neck and wondered what it had to do with all of this. “Then speak your mind so I can be on my way.”

She looked down the beach at the young girl then brought her attention back to him. “I don’t lie, Lileta is alive. Somehow, she has broken the bond. I surmise her bargain with her father is what set us free.”

“You’re sure?” Dare he hope?

“Of course. The two of you are destined to be together; you both have a very important job.” Her gaze moved toward the girl collecting shells. “Her name is Leria. She is to become your ward.”

“My ward? Where are her parents?” He’d sensed right away the child was a Draki but had been too distraught to worry about it further.

“Her mother is dead at the hand of Lowan, and her father is Odage.”

His jaw dropped open. “What the fuck? I thought his daughter died with her mother.”

“No, she has been held in the demon’s lair. Now you understand?”

“Shit.” Yes, he understood his leader had been trying to save his daughter. Caleb surmised the girl had been a prisoner for several years. The last time he had seen her she was maybe eight and now looked to be a teen. “How old is she now?”

“Sixteen. Odage’s mind is half consumed by Lowan. I’m afraid he is lost to us, but his daughter is very important.” She grabbed the gold chain around her neck. “Break it. I cannot be free until this thing is off me.”

He reached for it and snapped the soft metal.

She sighed. “Fling it into the air.”

He did as commanded, and she raised her palm to the sky, a bright flash of blue light incinerated the gem. Color flushed her cheeks and power enveloped him, her emerald eyes flashed silver, and her hair shone like spun copper as the goddess of fire became engulfed in flames.

“The war has begun. Find your mate, dragon, and bring her home.” She began to fade, the sand beneath her smoldered. “Remember the child, Leria. She may one day save humanity.”

She was gone.

He stood stunned. In one day, he’d lost a mate and gained a daughter. Qadira said Lileta lived, but their mating bond was broken, and now, it would prove more difficult to find her. She had wanted to be rid of him; knowing his softhearted mate, she thought to save him. He chuckled, imagining the look on her face when he came for her. This time there was no connection, only the raw emotions that set every nerve on fire. If this didn’t prove his love then gods help them, nothing would.

* * * *

Seth had been combing the city for several hours but had lost the strawberry scent of the redhead long ago. The sun shone high over the Chicago skyline; he needed to check in with Lucan.

Lucan, where the hell are you?

Seth, you need to come to me. Now.

He slipped into an alley, closed his eyes and grabbed the link he held with his brethren. Seconds later, he found himself standing in a dark room, the coppery scent of blood assaulted him.
Shit.

“Lucan!” The blood was not human, but that of his friend.

“Here,” a weak voice called out.

His movements swift and darkness his friend, he maneuvered down the corridor of an abandoned apartment building. Rats scurried across his boots. and he nudged them out of the way. He slipped into a tiny room, and his jaw dropped. Dark shadows danced across the walls and ceiling, creating eerie figures of death. Shadowy fingers reached out and tried to grab him.

Lucan had lost his ability to control the shadows. Soon, they would begin to envelope everything in their path.

Seth scanned the area. There, under a pile of old mattresses, his friend hid. In three steps, he was upon the scene and tossing the old bedding as if they were throw pillows. When his gaze finally landed on Lucan, his jaw dropped.

“What the hell happened?” The warrior had a knife wound at least seven inches long in his abdomen. Blood pooled under him and continued to seep from the gash. He knelt on the floor next to his friend.

Lucan coughed. “I thought it might be fun to spill my guts.”

He raised a brow. “I see your sense of humor is still dark as ever.”

“Yeah, well, you should be grateful I have one. Had you checked in sooner, I wouldn’t have had to hide under that pile of stench.” He indicated to the mattresses strewn about the room.

“You never called me.”

Blood trickled from Lucan’s lips. “You sound like a nagging female. I was unable to call. I can’t link to anyone.” His gaze moved down to the wound his bloody fingers covered. “I was stabbed four hours ago. I can’t fucking heal either.”

Urgency flooded him. Why had he not noticed how pale the warrior in front of him was? Four hours of blood loss, it was a miracle Lucan was still conscience. “Shit, I need to summon Marcus.”

His lids slid shut.
Marcus.

Seth, everything all right?

Thank the gods.
No, Lucan is in need of immediate assistance.

On my way.

“He will be here soon. Who stabbed you?”

“Fucking demon.” His lids closed, and his chest stopped rising.

“Oh no, you don’t. Marcus!” Seth pushed Lucan flat on his back.

“What the hell?” Marcus came up beside him. “Christ, we’ve lost him. Shit!”

“Oh dear gods!” A female voice cried out.

Seth turned to find Cassie running toward them. He knew immediately Marcus had called for his mate. A side benefit the guardians had gained when the human Cassie had mated with Marcus was not only another guardian but also a healer whose power, combined with her mate’s, could pull back the soul. At least, that is what they were told. He hoped the hell they could do it.

“Hurry, love,” Marcus urged.

“Don’t lose him.” Aidyn commanded.

Seth looked at their king. Aidyn was tied to each of them and would have felt the loss of one of the guardians. It struck him as odd that he didn’t know the warrior had laid there for several hours. None of them had known, and it gnawed at his gut.

Both healers placed their palms on Lucan’s abdomen, the light emitting from his body so bright Seth had to squint. He said a silent prayer. If anyone of them deserved to live, it was the warrior who lay in front of him. He would gladly switch places with his brethren. Lucan might be the darkness, but of all of them, he seemed least affected by the curse. At least, for the moment.

“Damn it, Lucan, where the hell are you?” Cassie whispered, her body tense.

“What do you see, Cassie?” Aidyn asked, kneeling beside her.

“Darkness. I can’t find his light.”

“Try looking for the darkest point you can find and grab hold of it.” Aidyn touched her arm. “He may not appear like the rest of us.”

“I have something.” Cassie gave a nervous laugh.

“Pull it back to you,” Marcus spoke softly.

“Dear gods.” Seth wondered what Cassie would come back with. Would it be their Lucan or some evil that lurked, waiting for an unsuspecting victim? No one here really knew what the between-realm held.

Lucan gasped, his back arched as he tried to bring air into his lungs, the wound now healed by Marcus. Cassie bit her wrist and pressed it against the dark vampire’s lips.

“Drink.”

Lucan obeyed, a little color returning to his cheeks, but he needed a human donor to bring him back to full strength.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Aidyn asked.

“Fucking demon stabbed me. I found myself unable to heal or connect to any of you.” He pushed himself into a sitting position, and his brows slashed downward. “As much as I bitch about you guys, it was most unpleasant being disconnected from everyone.”

The guardians glanced at Aidyn. Unease spread through the room, leaving them unsettled. In all the commotion, Seth hadn’t noticed the shadows leave the room. Everything had brightened, and sunlight filtered through a boarded up window.