Beneath A Sinister Moon, page 9
part #3 of Demon Hunter Series
After a quick meal and a promise to Jackson that I’d have a proper meal in a few hours, we returned to the Med Unit. Jackson began to push the doors open when I heard something I shouldn’t have.
“Cassidy is the key to unlocking all of Tyler’s demonic powers,” Killian said.
“Knock, knock,” Jackson announced as he walked hesitantly into the room.
Sean and Killian fell silent and looked at us, trying to hide the worry in their faces. Jackson pressed his lips together and he narrowed his eyes as he tried to read me.
It was obvious they all wondered if I had overheard their conversation.
Well, I had, but I didn’t want them to know about it—not yet. I needed time to process the words and figure out if they were keeping anything else from me.
I stood tall and walked toward Killian, “Did we interrupt something?”
“No, no.” Killian and Sean both answered, shaking their heads.
“How’s the patient?” I kissed Killian’s cheek.
“I’m okay. Did you get something to eat?” He asked.
“I did. Jackson insisted I eat before he brought me back here.”
“Good man.” Killian nodded at Jackson who still looked at me with a questioning stare. “Well, I think Cassidy can take it from here.” Killian urged his men to leave and they took the hint.
“Glad you’re on the mend, Killian.” Sean patted Killian’s shoulder.
“I’ll come check on you later,” Jackson said with a nod before leading Sean out.
“I’m lucky to have them. They are wise and loyal. I couldn’t ask for better men to be by my side.” Killian stared after their retreating forms.
“You are very lucky.”
I stayed with Killian the rest of the day. He managed to eat some light food and drink without any problems. Few words had been shared between us once I had returned from training. Killian seemed preoccupied with war and strategy while I passed the time pretended to read as I considered what would happen if I faced Tyler on the battlefield.
Lena checked on him a few more times before retiring for the night. She’d made me promise to come and get her if there were any changes.
With the lights turned off, I could only make out Killian’s silhouette in the dark. “Killian?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know what you, Jackson, and Sean came up with, but I know how to accelerate this plan and gain the upper hand.” I waited for him to ask me how or what.
“No.”
“But you heard Tehya today. You need to strike fast and hard. I can draw them out.”
I felt his weight shift next to me as he turned to face me. “You overheard us today?” It wasn’t so much a question as a realization.
“You know that Tyler needs me—it could be our best shot.”
“Cassidy stop. There is no reason to put you in harm’s way when we have so many capable warriors.”
I lay silent for a moment. He was shelving me…again. “But you do it every day.”
“Do what every day?”
“You love Lena, Jackson, Sean…everyone. The Clan is your family, yet every day you send them out with the risk that they may not return to you. You do it because you believe in them and trust they will fight hard and make smart choices to stay safe. Well,” I held up my arm and pointed to where the Clan tattoo had once been inked on me, linking Killian and I together. He looked away. I pressed, “I may have lost the Hunter mark, but I am still very much a Demon Hunter—and you know it!” I waited for him to protest but he said nothing. “Like it or not, I’m going to go out there and fight for the Clan and humanity.” I pushed away from his bed and headed for the door.
“You’re not. I’m not gonna let you—”
My palms warmed, but I didn’t stick around to hear any more; I just kept walking away.
Chapter Thirteen
Killian
Does Cass really think she can go against my command? After my brush with death, I had even less confidence in bringing Cass into the fray.
Lena and Sean walked into the Med Unit a moment later, catching me in the act of trying to figure out which wire or tube to remove first. “Unhook me!” I yelled at my sister.
“Stop! What the heck are you doing?” Lena hurried over. “You need more time to heal.”
“What I need is for you to unhook me, so I can go after her!”
Lena stared at me and crossed her arms over her chest. “I heard you and Cass arguing. Is that what this is about?”
“You know what? Never mind. I’ll do it myself.” I didn’t have time for an emotional rant from her, I wanted out…now. I pulled the leads from my chest and winced at the ripping sensation. As I reached for the IV, I noticed Lena nodded infinitesimally. I felt a prick in my neck followed by a numb sensation that started in my extremities and quickly spread all over my body. “What did you—” I couldn’t think; I couldn’t form my words.
“Sorry Killian, you need to rest. I promise I’ll have her watched.”
The heaviness of sleep quickly pulled me under.
***
I opened my eyes and sat up. Lena sat at her desk working on some sort of concoction. How long had I been out? It honestly felt as though I had just blinked. “Where is she?”
Lena turned toward me wearing a scowl on her face. “She’s safe.”
“How long have I been out?”
“The whole night.” She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest again. She was pissed. “We need to talk.”
I groaned, not wanting the lecture right this moment. I patted my neck. My necklace and ring no longer hung there. Shit! Had I even checked for it after the battle with Jace and Tyler? What if...? I made myself sound calm as I asked, “Where’s the ring?”
Lena opened a drawer at her desk and pulled it out to hand it over to me. “Here. I had to take it off to take care of your wound.” She frowned but didn’t share her opinion about my having had it during the fight with Jace and Tyler.
I clasped it back into place as my heart still pounded painfully. She couldn’t be thinking anything worse than I was. Even though we hadn’t expected to run into Jace, we had. If he had known, I’d had Rya’s ring on me…”
“Killian, this is important.” Lena used her listen to me voice that she only used in the most important situations. I gave her my attention. “I know you are the head of this Clan, but within this unit...” She used her finger to draw an invisible line around the room. “I decide what happens in here. If you are a patient under my care, I get to determine when you can be discharged. Got it?”
I let out a frustrated huff but nodded. “I’m sorry—I-I just didn’t want her to leave mad.”
“I get that, but my priority is getting you back on your feet.”
“Speaking of that…when can I get out of here?”
“Oh, you are maddening!” Lena unhooked me from the machines and brought me some clean clothes.
I wandered the halls looking for Cass as my mind was occupied with our demon situation.
Tyler, son of Vygad and promised mate of Rya, had become an important pawn in the Demon Realm. Getting Tyler back on our side before he completed his transformation was a top priority. But if we brought him here, and he was truly lost—and then got his hands-on Cass!
The pain of that thought hurt more than the thought of losing everything. What the hell kind of leader was I becoming? I had to focus on the Big Picture.
I let out a big breath. The tides of war are changing but sadly, not in our favor. As I headed toward the Center, I saw Cass walking with her dad, Hank, talking about something in quiet voices. Hank had trimmed down and gained more muscle in the short time he’d reenlisted as a Hunter. His calm and wise demeanor earned him a lot of respect within the Clan, especially mine.
“Cass?” They both froze at the sound of my voice. Her expression shifted from neutral to resentful. I didn’t miss Hank nudge her forward.
I gave a nod in appreciation, but Hank shot me a cautionary glance.
Cass came over and crossed her arms across her chest. “Lena let you out?”
“Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Everything. You’re right. We need every advantage we can get to win this war and fast. So yes, we could use your help.” My voice deceived my heart, and to punish me, it covered me in a sea of sadness and worry.
“Really?” She seemed cautiously surprised.
She could die. I nodded; it was the best she’d get from me as I refused to say the words again.
Cassidy took a step closer. “Killian, are you okay?”
“Me? Yeah. I just wanted to come find you and apologize.” I couldn’t spill all of my emotions out to Cassidy. “Well, I’ll see you later.” I turned and headed back toward my quarters, trying to ignore the voice in my head telling me I was unworthy of leading my Clan and protecting this girl.
Chapter Fourteen
Killian
I had called for my team leads and the Elders to gather in the Elder meeting room. Most battle plans were shared at the Center before crossing or on our way to the confrontation, but I needed to work this out with my team ahead of time.
“What’s goin’ on?” Jackson whispered to me.
I held up my finger; I wanted to tell them all at once. When the last person took their chair, I began. “I called you all here because I want your input. The balance between good and evil has been tipped out of our favor. We need to act swift and forcefully to restore the balance and protect humanity.”
The room fell silent as the gathered group exchanged glances.
“Tyler is at the heart of this. We don’t need him on our side; we just need him to not be on their side. My worry is that Vygad is teaming up with Rya and trying to gain a footing in our quadrant. I’ve sent word to the Hunters of the southern quadrant and asked what they’ve noticed. They reported less demonic activity in their region but nothing unusual. But if Vygad and Rya are partnering, then we have no time to spare. Cassidy’s our best bet to draw Tyler out.” This got their attention. Murmurs sprouted like spring crops. “It’s our best chance to gain the upper hand.” My teeth clenched in between the words I spoke, and I could feel Jackson’s eyes boring holes into my head. “Now, I have a plan, but I want your input on the details.”
The team had spent over two hours in the room working out our ideas. We finally dismissed with the plan to attack the following night using Cassidy as bait to lure the demons to our chosen and prepared battlefield.
The Hunters left the room, but Jackson remained in his seat and waited for the last person to clear the room. “You sure you wanna do this?”
“What? Put Cassidy in?” I instinctively touched the ring. “No, I’m not sure, but I’ve run out of time and options.”
“Well, for the record, I’m all for it. She’s a big girl and can handle herself. Whatever you need me to do to help, I’ll do it.” He stood and clapped his hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks, buddy.”
Jackson shut the door behind him.
I sat in the quiet room staring at the empty chairs around me, alone. Have I made the right decision?
Chapter Fifteen
Tyler
“That’s a lot of weapons.” I picked up something that looked like an axe with ten blades instead of one large blade. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this before.”
Jace snorted in amusement and held up an impressive dagger that’s blade was both twisted and serrated. “This one is my favorite. Lots of blood and a guaranteed kill.”
The walls of Rya’s armory were lined with everything from slingshots, spears, bow and arrows, to maces and other barbaric instruments of death. “Quite the collection. Where’d they get all of these?”
“Some were forged, but many came from enemies that were slain.” He set the menacing dagger down. “We’ll have a team of guards with us—all will be armed.”
I studied Jace as he walked about the room selecting various weapons and setting them on a wood table in the center. He looked younger and slightly taller than me, but I had more muscle, probably from my years of Krav Maga. If we went toe to toe without any magic powers or weapons, I could take him.
I’d overheard Rya raising her voice at Jace earlier. “Hey, I heard Rya hollerin’ at you earlier. What made her mad?”
Jace stopped and looked at me. “She expressed her disapproval of me killing Killian. But I assured her my plan to get Cassidy would still work, and she believed me.”
Was Killian really dead?
“So, what’s your deal, Jace? You and Cassidy were once a thing, yet here you are, helping to snatch her up. How does one go from boyfriend to captor?”
He looked up at me and laughed. “Well, not everyone has the good fortune to be born into a charmed life like you. My biological parents belonged to a cult and gave everything they had to it—even their lives, all in exchange for a promise that I would one day lead Rya’s armies.” He raised his arms out. “And here I am!” He lowered them and began filling a small leather sack with small purplish balls. “I had no idea about the Rya gig till I died.” He set the bag down and picked up a slingshot, pulling on the elastic band to test the weapon.
“What’s that? Barney excrement?”
“You a fan of the big purple dinosaur, are you?” Jace threw my joke right back at me. “It’s not a bad name for them, since they release a noxious smell that renders it’s victims temporarily blind.”
I shook my head at the thought of what that might smell like. “So, what about Cass?”
“Cass and I met by coincidence in high school. We dated, but things got cut short by that fatal accident.”
What did she ever see in him? “Of course, now Cass is part of this whole mystical Demon Realm world now.”
“Mhmm,” Jace agreed. “Who would have thought that Cassidy had her own ties to this realm? But why Cass? I mean out of all the girls at my high school, isn’t it odd that she and I ended up together? It almost makes you think that maybe someone or something pushed us together back then.”
I rubbed at the aching scar on my chest. “Yeah, sounds like you were meant to be together.” Because I sure as hell know you aren’t meant to be with Rya!
He shot me a suspicious look. Hopefully this asshole didn’t have mind-reading powers too.
“Anyway, after I died, I met Rya…Well, as you know, Cass pales in comparison to Rya. I’d never seen anyone that gorgeous in all of my life. Confidence, power, and beauty all wrapped up in black leather.” He raised his eyebrows at me.
Hearing him talk about her with adoration made me want to punch the smirk off his face.
“Boy, you don’t hide your jealousy well,” Jace teased as he pushed past me. “My queen has ordered me to find Cassidy, and you better bet that I’m gonna find her and bring her ass back here to win Rya’s favor.”
“Fat chance.”
He leveled me with his stare. “Fat chance?” He shook his head and chuckled. “Truth be told, I don’t care about you being promised to Rya. As far as I am concerned, she’s free game.”
The arrogance of this jerk! I bit my tongue hard enough that the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. Rya was mine, and when the time came for it, I’d fight for her. But for now, I knew better than to start an argument in a room full of weapons. Time to change the subject. “Do you remember it…your death?”
“Yeah. I drove down the road, not far from Blaylock Grove. The rain poured from the skies…and there, in the middle of the road…stood Rya.” He licked his lips and stared at me, “She stood there wearing her sexy dominatrix get up, hugging every delicious curve…Can you blame me for crashin’ my car?”
Fuck. I wanted to kill him.
Jace chortled, then shoved my shoulder hard. “I’m kidding, at least about the Rya part. I was driving in the rain and something flashed out of the corner of my eye. I took my eyes off the road for a second. I slid, lost control, and then it all went black.” He stuffed some wraps and medical looking instruments into a bag. “I woke up next to the Blaylock Gate with Rya standing over me. I didn’t know what the hell had happened or how I’d gotten there.”
“And after the initial shock wore off, you settled into your new role as Rya’s lap dog…willing and wanting to do anything she asked?”
“Watch it.” With the flick of his wrist, he forced my hand up with his invisible powers, twisting it uncomfortably backward, then flipped me off with my own middle finger!
“Dickhead, release me!”
Jace flicked his wrist again, releasing his hold. “Takes one to know one.”
What spell had Rya cast upon us to make us unable to resist her? Perhaps she gave off an intoxicating mix of pheromones and magic, snaring us in her trap. I’d fallen so fast and so deeply for her that it felt unnatural. Still, I couldn’t deny what my heart felt.
“What about you? How do you know Cass?” Jace asked as he handed me two throwing stars. “Put those in that pouch.”
“We met in Krav Maga class.”
“Were you…close?” He raised his eyebrow.
“We were friends. Not sure if we could have been anything more. We never had the chance to find out.”
“And now you’re about to hunt her down and kill her.” Jace chuckled as he set a loaded backpack into a pile by the door. “I think you and I are more alike than you realize.”
“Yep, except for one thing. I was created to be her mate, not you.”
Jace walked closer and poked his finger at my chest. “I don’t give a crap. She isn’t mated to you.”
“Yet. But when that day comes, you will mind your place and obey me.” I shoved his finger off me.
Jace shot me a look that launched a hundred nuclear bombs my way. “We’ll see about that. We’re done here.” He snarled as he stormed past me.
We would never be friends, that much was clear, and this reminded me to always watch my back. Jace wanted me out of the picture so he could step in next to Rya, but the only way that would ever happen was over my dead body.
