Dark Alpha's Fury, page 25
Balladyn clapped Cael on the shoulder. “I will.”
Cael’s head swung to him. “Do you think anything in your extensive library could tell us what Xaneth has become?”
“Already ahead of you on that.”
After Balladyn left, Cael made his way through the flower garden to the tower. When he entered the chamber, Erith sat on the edge of the bed, holding Aisling’s hand. Erith glanced at him, hope in her eyes. Cael shook his head. Her face fell as she turned back to Aisling.
“Balladyn said he needs time,” Cael told her.
Erith gently released Aisling’s hand and moved to the chair next to the bed. “We shouldn’t have left without him.”
“We weren’t leaving him out.”
Her lavender eyes met his. “We didn’t exactly include him either, did we?”
“He knows he’s welcome here.”
“I’m not sure he does.”
Cael walked to the side of the chair and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Balladyn is going to search his library to see if he can find anything that can tell us what Xaneth is.”
“In my very long life, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He squeezed her shoulder. She reached up and took his hand in hers. They sat in silence for a time, each lost in their thoughts.
Erith shook her head slightly. “I feared we’d lose someone in this battle. We had injuries, but nothing serious. Because Xaneth took Lena away to fight her. Then, after all of that, he searched for Aisling.”
“He wasn’t alone in that.”
She snorted. “He only suffered us because he knew we wouldn’t leave. I don’t know what happened in that place he found Aisling. The look on his face when he returned…”
“Aye,” Cael said, recalling the determination and resolve in Xaneth’s expression. It had made all of them take a step back.
“He should be with her. They’re meant to be together.”
“They will be.”
Erith looked up at him, doubt lining her face. “Will they? I have a bad feeling that I made a mistake coming here without Xaneth.”
“He needs time, remember?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to let Aisling be the bait for Lena.”
Cael tightened his fingers on hers. “Aisling knew what she was doing. So did you. You know her better than any of us. Her abilities caught your attention, and you watched her for years.”
Erith leaned her head against the chair. “Everyone has a breaking point, my love. Even me.”
“Aisling is still alive. Don’t give up on her yet.”
“Then why isn’t she healing?”
Cael wished he had that answer.
“We all stuck our heads through the door after Xaneth. You and I are the only ones who saw the specters besides him.”
Cael frowned as he squatted next to her so he could see her face. “You think he’s a god?”
“What I know is that he’s powerful enough to take on Lena by himself.”
“You could’ve.”
“Possibly. But her power had grown immensely. Besides,” she said with a grin, “you wouldn’t have let me fight her alone.”
Cael cut her a look. “Nay, I wouldn’t have.”
“And she would’ve used you against me. Xaneth knew that from the beginning. It was why he kept saying that he had to do it alone. He didn’t hesitate to battle her himself. There was a time I wouldn’t have either. Now, however, I know the strength of having you and the Reapers at my side.”
“That doesn’t make you weak, sweetheart. Neither does it make Xaneth strong because he fought alone. You know the benefits of battling with your family.”
“And he knew the danger that put everyone in. Which is why he separated himself from us,” Erith replied. “Xaneth thinks he doesn’t have anyone. And that isn’t true. He has us. All of us.”
“If he wants us.”
Erith looked at Aisling. “He wants her. That will lead him back to us.”
Cael hoped she was right.
If Xaneth thought Lena’s death would end the Fae Others, he was wrong. He focused on hunting each of them down. Some, he gave a choice to forget the organization or die. Others drenched in evil were eradicated immediately.
He didn’t stop, barely rested, and never slept. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw Aisling lying on that dirty floor, unmoving as the spirits dove at her, taking who knew what. Her soul? Her essence?
Xaneth crouched on the roof of a building in Cork as rain fell hard, coming down in sheets. He blinked the water from his lashes and searched the night for his target. He’d known the Fae Others had built up a sizable group, but he hadn’t recognized the full scope of it until now. Word spread quickly that Lena was gone and the Six were no more.
Every time he thought he’d stamped out the worst of the evil, more sprang up. Any hint of power up for grabs brought the worst out of the woodwork. But he was making headway in dealing with it. Though he had to admit, he was surprised that he hadn’t seen the Reapers.
His heart clenched agonizingly as his thoughts drifted to Aisling. He’d half-hoped she would come looking for him again. Then he was grateful that she hadn’t. He still didn’t know what he was or if he was a danger to her—or anyone. Maybe he’d spent his life alone because that was what he was meant to do—for however long he remained alive.
The only way he got through each day was by sinking into his memories of Aisling. He’d had the chance for so much more time with her. If only he hadn’t kept pushing her away at the beginning. They could’ve had weeks. Instead, they’d only had days. But that time was more precious to him than anything else.
Xaneth turned his head to the right as the smell of evil greeted him. He caught sight of his quarry. The Dark and her three female associates sought to create another group of Six to re-form the organization. Xaneth hadn’t nearly lost Aisling and become what he was now to sit back and let history repeat itself.
He straightened and trailed the group around the side of a building to the back. Xaneth dropped down in front of the lead female. She was much taller than her companions, nearly his height. Her red eyes blazed with displeasure.
“You’d do well to leave, Light,” she stated with a cruel smile. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
A rush of heat flashed through Xaneth before the flames erupted over him. “Your time is up, Dark.” He looked at her three friends. “All of you.”
“What the fek are you?” one of them asked.
Xaneth smiled. “Vengeance.”
He held the leader’s gaze, waiting for them to make the first move. That was what he did now. He didn’t attack first, he let them come at him, and then he unleashed everything he had on them. It gave him a small measure of satisfaction when he saw their fear right before they died.
The leader glanced to the right. The Dark beside her rushed Xaneth, delivering what she, no doubt, thought was a volatile attack. He knocked aside the orbs and took her life by turning one of her balls of magic on her. The leader’s eyes narrowed on him. She yelled, and then she and the remaining two attacked at once.
It was over quickly. Too quickly. The rain turned the ash into nothing. Xaneth banked his flames and teleported to the roof once more. He gazed over the wet city and waited. He no longer experienced the blinding headaches, nor did he pass out. He had more strength and power than ever before.
He felt it running through him at all times, but especially when he called to the flames. That was something he could control now. Though not completely. Sometimes, when he was near any evil—even humans—the fire began on its own. But he was working on it.
The drone of the rain soothed him. Despite the torrential precipitation, people were still out and about. Most were Fae, but he spotted some humans in the mix. They were tourists, eager to see everything despite the weather.
He raked his hair away from his face and teleported to Waterford. He would search the city for any Fae Others before moving on to the next. He did it every day. Mostly, he stayed in Ireland, but the scent of evil had led him to England and even Scotland a few times. Still, he was always drawn back to Ireland.
The days ran together. He didn’t know how long it had been since he’d carried Aisling through the doorway. It felt like an eternity. He had thought to call for Erith or Cael several times so they could take him to Aisling. Then he remembered who and what he was when next he tracked a Fae Other.
It wasn’t that he didn’t think Aisling would accept him. He knew she would. That was what kept him from going to her. Because he didn’t know his limits. He didn’t know yet what he was capable of. Or if he would completely lose himself to the beast within.
And if he were the cause of anything that may happen to Aisling, he’d never forgive himself.
Xaneth spent the remainder of the night moving from city to city. As dawn broke, he found himself standing on a familiar cliff, looking out over the Atlantic. He watched the orange ball of light crest the horizon and give off a dazzling start to the day as the sky turned shades of deep red, vibrant orange, and stunning yellow.
It was a sunrise to be shared. The ache in his heart doubled as he wished Aisling were with him. Unable to look any longer, Xaneth stepped off the cliff and dropped to the rock-lined shore below. He bent his legs as he landed. A wave rolled in and covered him from the knees down, but he didn’t notice.
He turned and looked at the arched entrance to the cave. He stood there for several minutes before slowly making his way to it. Xaneth paused at the entry, remembering the fire, the blankets, but most of all, Aisling in his arms.
There was a reason he hadn’t returned here. And he regretted doing it now. The memories were too strong. The longing too raw.
“Aisling,” he murmured as he dropped to his knees.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Aisling opened her eyes to sunlight filtering through a sheer white curtain, billowing in the breeze from the open window. A chirp caught her attention, and she lowered her eyes to a tiny yellow bird on the sill. It tilted its head to the side and regarded her, chirping again. Suddenly, the bird ruffled its feathers, gave her one last look, and flew away.
She looked at the ceiling and noticed that she was in a comfortable bed. The more she looked around, the more familiar things seemed. Then it hit her, she was in Erith’s tower. Aisling sat and stretched. Almost immediately, memories of a ruined city and merciless heat filled her, along with a ravenous hunger and exhaustion she wished she could forget.
Aisling shoved aside the covers and rose from the bed. The scent of flowers on the wind drew her to the window. She spotted Erith’s lush garden among the trees, and beyond and to the side, she saw the lake and mountains. They had found her. She had no memory of it, or who had come for her. Had it been Xaneth?
She glanced down at herself and found that she was clothed in a black tank and sleep shorts. How long had she been here? It didn’t matter how hard she searched her memories, she had no recollection of departing the city and coming to the tower. She felt fine. Normal, even. Which was a far cry from how she’d been at the ruins.
Her thoughts returned to Xaneth. Surely, if he had come for her, she would’ve remembered. She turned back to the room and spotted the chair near her bed. It hurt to find that Xaneth didn’t occupy it. Then, she chastised herself for such thoughts. It was as if she were in danger here. Maybe he was exploring the tower or the realm. He was on Death’s Realm. He had to be. Because to think anything else meant he either didn’t want to be with her, or…
“You’re awake.”
Aisling jerked at the voice and swung her gaze to the door to find Erith.
Death wore a big smile as she hurried to Aisling and took her hands. “We’ve been so worried. How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I think.”
“Cael!” Erith shouted as she glanced through the door. Then she returned her attention to Aisling. Her smile slipped a little. “What do you remember?”
Aisling swallowed, trying to find the words as Cael appeared in the doorway. He grinned at her and came to stand next to Erith. The two shared an excited look, their joy obvious. If there had been any doubts about her being a part of a family, they were dispelled immediately.
Yet it was how the two regarded her so expectantly that made Aisling want to back up a step. Only she couldn’t because the window was behind her. Aisling tried to connect where she had been to where she was now—and the space between that she couldn’t remember. Worse, was the longing she felt for Xaneth. The longer she went without seeing him, the more her concern grew.
Was he…dead? Had Lena…? Aisling couldn’t finish the thought. She gripped the sill behind her and fought to keep her breathing even, when all she wanted to do was curl into herself and demand answers. But first, she needed to get her emotions in check.
“I need a moment,” she said when she finally found her voice.
Erith eyed her for a moment, the goddess’s lavender gaze missing nothing. “Of course. We’ll be downstairs.”
Aisling remained where she was until the couple had left, Cael closing the door behind them. Once she was alone, Aisling sat on the edge of the bed and shoved her hands into her tresses, holding her head as her hair draped on either side of her face. She cleared her mind and focused on her breathing, inhaling deeply and then slowly releasing it to keep from hyperventilating.
She stared at the thick fibers of the pale blue rug beneath her bare feet. She could still remember how her soles had blistered on the cobblestones of the city, how her stomach had cramped from the hunger. Or had it all been a dream? No. She recalled her conversation with Lena and the hound’s howl. Aisling had also chosen a doorway.
It had all been very real. And she had survived it, somehow. She wanted answers. But to get them, she had to venture downstairs and talk, when all she wanted to do was go in search of Xaneth. Because he would be here.
“If he could be,” she whispered.
She sat as her gut churned with dread. Thoughts of his demise took hold of her once more. She struggled to draw air into her constricted lungs as different scenarios ran through her head, each worse than the last, until she was drowning in them.
Aisling surged to her feet and paced as she fought to get herself under control. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—go down like this. If something had happened to Xaneth, she wouldn’t hold in the emotions like before. She would go somewhere private. But she wouldn’t know anything if she didn’t leave the room.
With that realization, she halted. She called her clothes and boots to her and shoved her hair into a messy bun at the base of her neck. One more deep breath had her shoving aside her fears and containing them for the moment. Then she walked from the room and down the stairs that spiraled along the tower’s interior.
True to their word, Erith and Cael were on the main floor in the right front room they used for several purposes. Today, it was more of a salon. They weren’t the only ones there, however. Eoghan and the rest of her team, along with their mates, were present. As soon as she entered the room, each of them enveloped her in a hug. Though she considered them family, hugging wasn’t something they did regularly. But it felt damn good. She hadn’t realized how much she needed the embraces until then.
She fought back the tears that burned her throat, nose, and eyes. Good tears. Because she was loved and accepted completely. Regardless of her past, in spite of everything. She had called them her family, but in the back of her mind, she had always feared they didn’t feel the same. She knew now that those doubts had been created by her insecurities and nothing more.
“We were so worried,” Maeve said as she stepped back and released her.
Everyone started talking at once, each asking something different. Aisling looked from one to the other, trying to find a moment to answer. That was when she noticed Balladyn standing off to the side with Rhona, the Druid he had fallen in love with. Something in Balladyn’s eyes caught her attention.
“Enough!” Erith shouted with a laugh. “Give Aisling time to answer. As you can see, she’s hale and hearty.”
Was she, though? Aisling wasn’t so sure since half her heart was missing.
Xaneth.
Her eyes burned with more tears, these for the man she loved. The man she had thought to find here. Where was he?
“It’s been over a month since we found you. And worry doesn’t begin to describe what we went through,” Bradach said.
Her stomach flipped. “A month?”
“A little over,” Rordan confirmed with a nod.
Aisling felt another panic attack about to set in. She took in long, deep breaths to stave it off. Even though she knew Xaneth wasn’t there, she still looked for him, sought him to steady her and give her answers. Hold her.
It took her a minute to realize the room had gone silent. She looked up to find everyone staring at her with a mixture of expressions—sadness, distress, ire, and guilt. Had someone asked her a question? She shifted her feet, not liking the way they studied her as if everyone were waiting for her to break down. Truth be told, she was on the verge. She needed answers.
“What do you remember?”
Eoghan. Of course, he would be the one to speak now. She looked into his swirling, molten silver eyes as he studied her. She trusted him completely. He was her leader, her friend. A brother. He, like all the others, saw that she was teetering and on the verge of falling apart, but made sure she didn’t.
Aisling didn’t have to think too hard about his question. The memories of the city were there, waiting to assault her with every breath. She’d begun to fear it would always be like that. She swallowed. “Heat unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. Silence so deafening that it was unnatural. The sun was so bright I could barely see if I wasn’t in the shade. And no matter how far I went, I couldn’t reach the city wall.”
She glanced at her feet, which were long since healed, but she’d never forget the burns she’d endured from walking on the hot stones. “Because of the maze, I was terrified to use magic. I nearly fell when I first went through the door, but I managed to grab hold of the platform for a time. Eventually, I lost my grip and dropped, but my injuries weren’t severe, and I healed. After that, I did my best to stay in the shade so my feet didn’t burn as I explored buildings, looking for signs of life. Then came the hunger. And after…the exhaustion. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
