Dark Alpha's Fury, page 9
They walked the short distance to where the tunnel branched off in two directions. He was about to turn to his side when she stopped him. He glanced behind him before facing her.
She held his gaze and gave him a firm nod. “We can do this.”
“Aye.”
“Be safe.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than her lips pressed to his. It was the briefest of touches, but it went through him like wildfire. Before he knew what had happened, Aisling was gone to her corridor.
He blinked, struggling to come to terms with what had just occurred. She had kissed him. On the lips. Bloody hell. What had she done? Did she have any idea what a tailspin this sent him into? Especially when he had promised himself that he wouldn’t cross that line—a line she had walked over as if it didn’t matter.
As if she hadn’t known it was there.
Xaneth had been afraid to move, afraid he wouldn’t feel her mouth on his. He parted his lips and curled his bottom one now, his upper teeth holding it as his tongue swept across it. The taste of her filled him, exploded through him with enough force that he rocked back on his heels.
It was too much. She was too much. He’d had control of himself. He’d known the line he couldn’t—wouldn’t—cross, and he’d kept his focus on it. In one instant, she had obliterated his intention and thrashed his objective. With one kiss, she had ignited something within him that wouldn’t be denied. A fire that now raged out of control.
He wanted to go after her and demand she never do that again. But he knew if he did, if he got close to her, the blaze within him would take over. He barely held his monster in check. He feared he would let his guard down with Aisling, and the thing he desperately hid from everyone, including himself, would be freed.
Xaneth fisted his hands and backed into his opening. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Her touch had been agony enough. Now, he knew how soft her lips were. He knew her taste.
The howl sounded again. It was much closer. Xaneth looked through the darkness to where Aisling waited across the hall. The creature Lena had sent was after Aisling, but he wouldn’t let it get anywhere near her.
She kissed me.
Xaneth heard a growl and realized it came from him. The beast that he kept caged strained to get free. Because Aisling was in danger. Xaneth struggled to hold the monster back, because if it got loose, he wasn’t sure who or what he’d become. And he wasn’t ready for that. Not now. Not after Aisling just kissed him.
She kissed me.
The sound of something running toward them reached Xaneth. When he breathed in, he was overcome by the stink of evil. He fought to keep the monster within him leashed. He and Aisling had a plan, one that would work. Then he thought about the lengths Lena was going to in order to kill Aisling, and his control snapped. He couldn’t hold back the beast within him any longer. Nor did he want to.
There was another howl, one that loosened something dark and lethal within him. Xaneth stepped into the corridor and turned. His gaze locked on the enormous hound that barreled toward him, its teeth bared. The animal sniffed the air, sniffed him, and tried to alter its direction to go around him. But Xaneth wasn’t about to allow that. The hound was evil, which meant he had no choice but to kill it. The fact that he would be keeping it away from Aisling was a bonus.
Killing evil was what he did.
It was who he was. For better or worse.
The dog was quick and tried to slip past Xaneth. But he was quicker and grabbed the hound’s tail, flinging the animal back in the direction it’d come. The animal rolled a few times before coming to its feet and shaking itself. It slowly faced Xaneth and lowered its huge head. It peeled its lips back to show large teeth as it growled, drool dripping from its mouth.
Xaneth widened his stance and released his own growl. The two were locked onto each other. The hound’s muscles bunched as it readied to pounce. Xaneth steadied himself, but it didn’t prepare him for the force of the animal as it launched itself at him.
Chapter Thirteen
Aisling listened to the growls, snarls, and teeth gnashing with growing alarm. Surely…that couldn’t be Xaneth in the hall with whatever was after them. But she knew it was. She ran to the doorway and looked one way. As she swung her head in the other direction, she caught a blur of fur and teeth that came right at her face. She leaned back, but she wasn’t quick enough. A large paw swiped at her, striking her, and cutting her shirt. She flew backward and landed jarringly on her back.
Immediately, she got to her feet and approached the door more hesitantly. This time when she looked out, she spotted Xaneth as he fought what appeared to be the biggest dog she had ever seen. Whatever the animal was, it wasn’t natural. Its jaws clamped down on Xaneth’s left forearm. Xaneth yelled, the sound a mixture of anger and pain.
Aisling stepped out into the corridor to help. The instant she did, the dog locked on her with its yellow eyes. The animal released Xaneth and tried to get to her. Xaneth wound his arms around the animal’s chest and jerked back, causing Xaneth to land heavily on his back with the dog on top of him.
“Keep back!” Xaneth yelled at her.
Aisling immediately ducked out of sight. She wasn’t used to sitting out a battle, but the dangerous look in the animal’s eyes left her chilled to the bone. It wanted her dead. And she knew it wouldn’t stop until she was. How could she leave it up to Xaneth to fight it on his own, though? She couldn’t. They had a better chance of defeating it together.
With her decision made, Aisling crept to the doorway a third time. She had to be stealthy and join Xaneth when the dog couldn’t see her. Every time Xaneth grunted, she imagined what kind of wound the animal had inflicted. The dog yipped in pain a few times, but it never lasted long enough to suit her.
She peered around the corner to see Xaneth on his feet. The dog was on its hind legs, towering over him. Xaneth had one hand around the animal’s lower jaw, shoving the great head away. His other hand had a hold of one of the dog’s front paws. It was then she saw that the animal didn’t have the regular paws of a dog. These nails could retract like a cat’s, and like a feline, the talons were razor-sharp. Her gaze raked over Xaneth to see that his shirt was in tatters, and the cuts beneath looked as if the dog had both clawed and bitten him.
Even with Xaneth holding the animal, its gaze was locked in her direction. It would be so easy to subdue the creature if she could do magic. But if she did, it would mean her death. Still, she couldn’t just sit here. Not while Xaneth battled the animal—a creature that was after her.
Aisling took a breath and stepped out into the hall. The animal renewed its efforts to get to her. Xaneth bellowed as he struggled to keep his hold on the dog. She started walking toward the two of them.
“Let it go,” she told Xaneth.
He didn’t acknowledge her. She didn’t know if he couldn’t hear her over the dog’s growls and his shouts, or if he chose to ignore her. It didn’t change her mind. She kept walking, closing the distance. When only a few feet separated them, the dog managed to knock Xaneth away.
Aisling’s heart clutched when she saw how far Xaneth went flying. Then the animal’s glowing yellow eyes were on her. She lifted her chin. “You came for me, didn’t you? Well, here I am.”
The dog looked behind it at Xaneth, but he wasn’t moving. Aisling wanted to look at Xaneth herself, but she didn’t dare take her eyes off the animal. She had no intention of dying in the maze, either by Lena’s hand or via the dog’s. She was a Reaper, chosen by Erith because of her skills. Aisling could keep up with any Reaper. She didn’t need Xaneth to protect her.
“Hey,” she called to the animal. “Turn your attention back to me. I’m the one you want.”
The large head turned her way. She couldn’t make out the dog’s coloring in the dim light, but the fur looked dark. Spots on its body appeared wet. She hid her smile because she knew that Xaneth had done some damage to the creature.
The dog lowered its head. A long, rumbling growl filled the corridor as it slowly took a menacing step toward her. Her heart thudded in her chest, and blood rushed in her ears. She was more than accustomed to battle and the tension that filled the air before a clash. It was no different now.
Don’t use magic.
She repeated the mantra over and over in her head. It was second nature to her, but if she fell back on it, it would mean her death. She hadn’t survived Hell to be given a second chance with the Reapers only to blow it now.
“I’m not going to be an easy kill,” she told the animal. “Lena should’ve come herself. It proves what a coward she is.”
That caused the dog’s growl to grow louder, longer. One side of its lips peeled back. Aisling saw something behind the animal and realized it was Xaneth silently climbing to his feet. She was overjoyed that he wasn’t harmed, but she wanted to keep the dog’s attention on her. She felt Xaneth’s gaze on her, sensed the lethal danger that radiated from him.
The instant the animal launched itself at her, Aisling ran toward it. She dropped to her knees and slid when it leaped, raking her long nails across the dog’s stomach. Xaneth rushed the animal from behind, jumping over her and tackling it when it landed.
Aisling put a foot out to stop herself and turned on one knee to see Xaneth and the dog rolling around on the ground. She rose and started toward them when she noticed that Xaneth had his hands on the animal’s snout and lower jaw, pulling its mouth open. She halted in her tracks, transfixed, utterly gripped by the ferocious, savage sight before her.
Xaneth’s teeth were bared, the ropey sinew in his arms straining as the dog clawed at his chest and legs, growling and yelping to get away. Xaneth threw back his head and released a loud bellow. A moment later, there was a loud crack of bone. The animal went quiet and then limp. Xaneth released the dog to crumple to the ground and took a step back. His chest heaved as he stared down at it.
Then his gaze swung to her. Aisling had witnessed Xaneth fight the Six and their soldiers, but she had been fighting alongside everyone else and had missed exactly what Xaneth could do—the barely leashed violence, the narrowly restrained fury. The sight was beautiful and brutal. And it called to her like nothing ever had before.
His expression shuttered, and he turned away. He got two steps before grabbing his head and going down on one knee. Aisling rushed to him. She went to touch him but then thought better of it as pain contorted his face. She had never felt so helpless and unsure of what to do. His words from earlier suddenly came to her.
“Stop fighting it,” she told him. “Be who you are. Just as you were when you fought the beast during your torture and the dog just now. Don’t hide from it. Accept who you are. Accept all of yourself.”
The more she spoke, the more he relaxed. She had been grasping at straws, trying to think of something that could help him, but she hadn’t realized how true her words were. So, she kept going.
“You’re Xaneth. A royal Light who survived cruelty no one else could. You can find evil. Find the enemies we’re searching for. That’s nothing to hide from. It’s something to embrace and use to your advantage.”
His hands fell away from his head. His chest still heaved, but the pain disappeared from his features. She swallowed heavily and reached out to put her hand on his back. At the last moment, she let it drop to her side.
“Accept who you are,” she said. “Everything about you. It’s the only way to live. The only way you can live.”
Xaneth’s dark head lifted. His hair was wet with sweat and blood. A lock dropped over his forehead, and she fought the urge to smooth it away. His silver eyes met hers. He said nothing as he climbed to his feet. He had to steady himself against the wall, and then he took a deep breath.
“You’re going to regret all of that,” he said.
She stepped over the dead animal and faced him. The dim light kept most of his face in shadows. She wished she could see all of him. “Why? Because you think you’re a monster?”
“You saw what I did.” He motioned to the dog at his feet.
Aisling lifted her chin. “I saw a man who did what he had to do to survive without using magic. That isn’t a monster. You aren’t a villain. You’re a hero.”
“I’m far from that.”
“Not the way I see it.”
His jaw hardened. “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to keep that…other side of me locked away?”
“And that’s where you went wrong. Use it. Use the strength it gives you. It isn’t a beast or a monster. It’s you. You’re two sides of a coin.”
“Usaeil released something within me that no one could’ve foreseen.”
Aisling shrugged. “You say she released it. I say she set it free. Maybe instead of thinking that what happened is some atrocious mistake, look at it as a gift.”
“A gift?” he asked with a snort of skepticism.
Her eyes narrowed as she fought against the anger that threatened. “Look what you can do. Something not even a Reaper can. Stop hiding from who you are. Embrace it. You might find that your life becomes easier.”
“You act like you know what I’m going through.”
“In a way, I do. If you think coming back from the dead and becoming a Reaper was easy, you’re mistaken.”
He swallowed and stared at her for a long moment. Then he ripped off what was left of his tattered shirt and wiped the blood from his face and chest with it. “Next time I tell you to stay away, stay away.”
“Need I remind you of who I am? Because I’m not some damsel in need of saving.” She turned on her heel and started walking.
Behind her, she heard, “Obviously.”
They walked in silence with her leading the way. She had no idea where she was going, but she wanted to get as far from the carnage as she could. Earlier, they had stumbled into a small room where they had to retrace their steps. She was looking for something similar so they could rest. Despite Xaneth’s bold words, she could tell the fight had taken a lot out of him. Truth be told, she was finding it more and more difficult to put one foot in front of the other. She was hungry, but more than that, she was thirsty.
Finally, after several attempts, she found the nook she was searching for. She walked in and went to a far corner, sliding down the wall to sit on the ground. She no longer cared that everything was damp and it seeped into her clothes. It felt good to be off her feet.
Xaneth stood in the doorway. “We should keep going.”
“We need to rest.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Anywhere else, I’d say it wasn’t. But this room allows only one way for something to come at us.”
Xaneth glanced behind him. “It only leaves us one way out, as well.”
“I need to shut my eyes, and my feet are throbbing. If you want to stay awake, be my guest, but I’m going to take a break.” She closed her eyes.
A few moments later, she heard the scrape of his boots as he walked into the room and sat. She peeked to find him in the corner to her left. Aisling hid her smile and let herself relax as she hadn’t in hours—or days. It was hard to determine how much time had passed while they had been in the maze.
“Thank you.”
His softly spoken words jarred her. She blinked open her eyes and looked at him, but he had his head leaned back, and his eyes were closed. She studied him. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t know that fighting the…thing within me caused the headaches. They would always make me pass out afterward.”
Leaving him vulnerable.
He cleared his throat. “I still think you’re going to regret it.”
“I don’t,” she replied and closed her eyes again.
Chapter Fourteen
Xaneth closed his eyes, but he couldn’t rest. His mind was going nonstop. All because of Aisling.
He’d been ashamed and mortified that she had seen him at his worst while killing the hound. He had given into his beast, the absolute fury within him, and had torn the animal apart. A Fae would never have done that. That begged the question: Was he Fae?
When Xaneth had looked into Aisling’s eyes, he had wanted to hide. He’d turned away, and in that instant, the pain in his head had exploded with more force than ever. Just like all the times before, he knew that he was about to fall unconscious, and that was the last thing he could allow to happen.
While he fought against it, her voice had reached him through the panic and fog of pain. He latched on to the sound of her voice as if she were a lifeline. Her words had been soft but firm. Almost immediately, the agony in his skull slowly started to ebb. At first, he didn’t hear what she said, but once he did, he reacted without thinking. Did exactly as she bade—even as he realized it was what he had been struggling against from the very beginning.
Yet she had been right. By accepting that other side of him, the monster within, the pain had not only retreated but disappeared entirely. How many times had he staggered to some place to hide as the pain washed over him before he became unconscious? Too damn many. And all he’d had to do to stop it was embrace the other part of himself.
The monster.
He’d thought he would feel differently, but he didn’t. Not now, at least. He turned his head to the side and opened his eyes to look at Aisling. In his time as the Seeker, he’d had many acquaintances. None he’d ever considered a friend, though. To trust was to put himself in someone else’s hands. Someone who could betray him to his aunt.
He’d spent so many decades among others but ultimately alone, separate. He had accepted his fate while plotting to kill Usaeil to take back the life he had been denied. Then, he’d come across the Reapers. He wouldn’t call them friends, exactly, but he trusted them. Possibly because of Aisling.
He trusted her completely.
He suspected that he always had but was only now admitting it. He wouldn’t allow himself to hurt Aisling or harm any of the Reapers. If he turned into what he feared, he wasn’t sure how he could hold to that promise, but he would do his best.
