Death of Darkness

by Dianne Duvall

  Hugging the buffalo to her chest, Adira smiled. “No.”

  He nodded and turned to Leah. “It’s cute. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a stuffed bison before.”

  She agreed. “I like that company. They make a lot of stuffed animals that you don’t normally see in the big stores and donate part of the proceeds to preserving those species.”

  “Excellent. Perhaps I can coax her into buying more the next time we’re here.”

  Leah shouldn’t be so happy to hear he intended to return but couldn’t help it. He was fun to be around. Fun to talk to. And a tease, as she’d accused him earlier. She also shouldn’t be disappointed about having to release his hand when she rang up their purchases, but silently admitted she was.

  “It was a pleasure to meet you, Leah,” Seth said as he tugged on his coat.

  “A pleasure to meet you, too.”

  Adira held her arms up for a hug. Once Leah complied and stepped back, the two headed out into the night.

  Watching them walk away—Seth carrying a multitude of bags with one hand and holding Adira’s little hand in the other—Leah sighed. What an adorable sight. Seth smiled down at Adira while she hopped along beside him, still clutching her beloved buffalo.

  When Leah could no longer see them, she turned back to face the interior of the store and found Brittney standing in the doorway to the back room.

  Brittney’s eyes were wide. “That was freaking awesome!” Her pink lips stretched in a huge grin. “I mean that was so cute! The way she made you guys hold hands the whole time he was here.”

  Leah smiled.

  “And he is so freaking gorgeous! Seriously, this has to be a sign. You totally have to hook up with him.”

  Shaking her head, Leah returned to the rack of clothing she had abandoned when Adira insisted she hold Seth’s hand. “Yes, he is gorgeous… and at least sixteen years younger than I am.”

  “So get your cougar on, girl, and go jump that!” Brittney challenged. “You look a lot younger than you are.”

  “Statements like that only make me feel older. Get back to work.”

  Brittney’s shoulders slumped. “Fine.”

  Leah smiled and, despite her assistant’s grumbling, continued to do so the rest of the night.

  Chapter Three

  Seth braced his hands against the tile and sighed as hot water pounded his tight shoulders. Steam rose around him as crimson liquid sluiced down his form and slithered into the drain. None of the blood was his. All of it was vampire. After twelve hours of teleporting all over the globe to aid his Immortal Guardians, he had once more stopped in at David’s for a shower.

  Never in his thousands of years of living had he seen vampires amass such numbers. Gershom had done a hell of a job mind-controlling every vamp he could find so the vampire would transform rather than kill its victims. And Immortal Guardians were paying the price.

  Fatigue pulled at him as he reached for the shampoo. He hadn’t managed to snag much sleep in the week since he had visited Little Gifts. Just a half hour here or an hour there. And he did so at David’s home, wanting to be close to Ami and Adira even if he wasn’t able to spend time with them.

  Until Zach had joined their ranks, David had been the second oldest and most powerful Immortal Guardian on the planet. Possessed of a warm and generous nature, David opened his homes throughout the world to all immortals and their Seconds or mortal guards, wanting them to have a place in which they could gather together and stave off the loneliness that often accompanied this existence. David was, in fact, largely responsible for the fact that Immortal Guardians considered each other family.

  Seth did the same, but was often kept so busy that he rarely visited his homes. And now that Ami and her family lived with David in North Carolina, Seth spent every moment he could there instead. He really did love Ami as deeply as he would a daughter, perhaps because she reminded him a great deal of his own… of the daughter he’d lost along with his wife and son so long ago.

  Though he would love to linger in the shower, Seth finished lathering up, rinsed off, then stepped out and grabbed a towel. A minute later, he ran a comb through his long, thick hair and tied it back with a strip of leather. Gershom had been spawning such chaos that even when he slept, Seth wore standard Immortal Guardian hunting garb: black cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and black boots. When he reached for his coat, he paused. Digging in one pocket, he pulled out the drawing he’d made of Leah and unfolded it.

  Her pretty face was somber in the drawing, as it had been in the dream. He had not seen that expression once while he had spoken with her. Instead, she had laughed and teased and winked at him while her hazel eyes sparkled.

  He liked her… and hoped like hell Gershom had no plans to use her in whatever new scheme his madness birthed.

  Giving in to impulse, Seth strode into the bedroom and grabbed the paper and pencil Darnell had left on the bedside table. It only took him a moment to sketch Leah again. This time she tilted her head back as if she were looking up at him. Her lips formed an enchanting smile. Her pretty eyes danced with amusement.

  Once he finished, Seth smiled, too. Much better. Folding both drawings, he donned his coat and slipped them into the pocket, refusing to explore why he wanted to keep the sketches with him.

  The sun had risen. The other immortals staying at David’s home would have retired for the day and succumbed to slumber. Unfortunately for Seth, it was always night somewhere. Even now, Immortal Guardians on the other side of the globe embarked upon their nightly hunts and engaged in fierce battles. And some of them would inevitably call, requiring his assistance.

  Perhaps he could sneak in a nap before his phone rang again. Maybe snag something to eat first. Leaving the soundproof bedroom David reserved for him, Seth strode down the hallway toward the front of the large one-story home. The living room it opened onto was huge, boasting numerous sofas, love seats, wingback chairs, and coffee tables to accommodate the powerful warriors who gathered together each night as their hunts wound down and dawn approached. Most of those stationed in the area had been spending their days here at David’s. All were very protective of Ami, the first mortal woman to conceive and give birth to an Immortal Guardian’s baby. All adored Adira. And all obsessed over their safety nearly as much as Seth and David did.

  Marcus exited the kitchen as Seth approached it. “Hi, Seth.” He tucked a colorful stainless steel water bottle into a Doc McStuffins backpack. A pink stuffed unicorn dangled on a clip from one of the straps.

  Seth nodded. “Marcus.” He’d known the British immortal for 850 years, give or take, ever since a vampire had transformed Marcus against his will. When Seth had assigned Ami to serve as Marcus’s Second, he hadn’t expected the two to fall in love. “What are you up to?”

  “Ami wants to take Adira to storytime at Little Gifts.”

  Seth perked up a bit at the mention of the store, his mind going straight to Leah. “Oh?”

  Nodding, Marcus adjusted the strap of the backpack on his shoulder. “I just tanked up on blood to ensure the sun won’t harm me. Wouldn’t want to walk in looking like a lobster.” He smiled. And damned if he didn’t appear more relaxed than Seth had seen him in weeks. “Hey, thank you, by the way, for the other night.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Seth responded and held up a hand when Marcus started to speak again. “I mean it. Don’t mention it. Ami really is like a daughter to me.”

  Marcus laughed. “I know.”

  Seth couldn’t help but frown though. “I didn’t realize Adira was still insisting on sleeping with the two of you.”

  A shadow passed over Marcus’s features as he sobered. “She’s reluctant to let Ami stray too far. I was actually surprised she left her mother long enough to go shopping with you. I think that’s the first time she’s let Ami out of her sight since it happened. Did she really do as well as you said?”

  “Yes.” Seth had mentioned nothing about Adira wanting him to hold hands with Leah after David
had left. He hadn’t told David either and wondered absently if David had read it in Adira’s thoughts. “She seemed to have a nice time.” He sure as hell had. “What did you mean by mostly? Is she still dreaming of her mother being harmed?”

  “No. Those nightmares finally faded away. But the others—the ones about the mystery man being tortured—still return every once in a while.”

  Seth’s frown deepened. Adira had been having those nightmares ever since she was in the womb. They still had no idea who they were about because the dreams were always from the man’s point of view, so none of them ever saw his face.

  “Do you think it’s one of Gershom’s immortals?” Marcus asked hesitantly. “She’s displayed some precognitive abilities. That would explain her having dreamed about him before Gershom kidnapped him.”

  “I don’t know,” Seth replied honestly. “Where is Ami now?”

  “Getting Adira ready to go.”

  “Will Michael be going, too?”

  “No. Not today. He didn’t sleep well last night.”

  The toddler Roland and Sarah had adopted after Gershom killed his mother was settling in well but still had rough days now and then.

  “Why don’t I take Adira to storytime for you?” Seth asked, then wondered what the hell he was doing.

  Wouldn’t hurt to check the place out one more time, would it? a voice in his head argued. Just because Gershom didn’t interfere with Leah’s life before you met her doesn’t mean he won’t in the future. What if the dream wasn’t simply Adira’s infiltrating your own? Wouldn’t it be wise to keep an eye on Leah? Check in? Ascertain how she’s doing? Ensure nothing has changed?

  It seemed a weak premise, but damn it, he wanted to see her again.

  Marcus stared at him. “Really? You would do that? You don’t mind?”

  The blatant hope that lit the younger man’s face filled him with guilt. Seth had been so furious at himself for not protecting Ami better and so concerned about Adira that he hadn’t devoted much thought to how Marcus was coping. Adira wasn’t the only one who had almost lost Ami. Marcus had nearly lost her, too. And he had been subverting his own need to touch her and hold her close all this time in order to ensure his daughter’s needs were fulfilled.

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Seth said, glad now that he’d offered. “What do you say?”

  His lips stretching in a wide grin, Marcus leaned forward, hugged Seth tight, and exclaimed in a boyish voice, “I say you’re the best dad ever!”

  Smiling, Seth shook his head and gave him a shove. “Oh, fuck off.”

  Marcus laughed.

  “I’m not even going to ask,” a deep voice said dryly behind them.

  Seth turned as Zach strolled out of the hallway. “Perfect timing. I need you to field my calls for a couple of hours.”

  “Okay.” Zach stopped beside them. “What’s up?” As usual, he wore black leather pants and boots but no shirt that would constrict his large dark wings.

  “Nothing,” Seth said, taking the bag from Marcus and looping it over his shoulder. “I’m just going to take Adira on an outing.” Marcus and Ami need time alone, he told Zach telepathically.

  Zach arched a brow. Again?

  Yes. And don’t make any smart-ass remarks. Do you remember how you felt when you nearly lost Lisette? The way you refused to let go of her and—once you did—needed to touch her as often as you could to convince yourself she was okay?

  He tilted his head to one side. Yes. I wouldn’t even let go of her long enough to let her brothers hug her at first.

  Well, Marcus hasn’t been able to do that since nearly losing Ami, because he’s been putting Adira’s need to be close to her mother first.

  Oh. Zach looked at Marcus. Poor bastard. Yes. Let’s give them some time alone together then.

  The quick capitulation surprised Seth. Zach had changed a lot since he’d fallen in love with Lisette.

  Ami entered the hallway from the basement stairwell, Adira perched on her hip. “Okay,” she told them as she approached. “We’re ready to go.”

  Marcus smiled and rested a hand on her back when she stopped beside him. “Change of plans. Seth is going to take her.”

  Ami’s eyebrows rose as she looked up at Seth. “Really?”

  Seth smiled. “As you said last week, I could use some downtime.” He held his arms out to Adira. “What do you think, poppet? Would you like me to take you to storytime today?”

  Adira hugged Ami tightly, then nodded and leaned toward him.

  “That’s my girl,” he said, feeling lighter already. “Zach, tell Darnell to redirect my calls, will you?”

  “All right.”

  Marcus leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Adira’s cheek. “Have fun.”

  Grinning, she bounced on Seth’s hip. “Okay, Daddy.”

  And Seth thought there might have been a little bounce to his step as he strode through the front door, as happy as Adira.

  He was really looking forward to seeing Leah.

  Upon hearing the bell on the front door ding again, Leah glanced over the many bodies milling around her shop and felt her heart do a funny little skip. Seth entered, Adira in his arms, a Doc McStuffins backpack looped over one shoulder.

  Every female in the store glanced over, went still, and stared.

  He made quite an impression. While the other adults present wore clothing in a variety of colors and the children raced about in pretty pastels, Seth wore a black T-shirt and black cargo pants that did little to hide his muscular physique. His long obsidian hair was drawn back from his face and tied at the nape of his neck. Though it was only eleven in the morning, his strong jaw bore a five-o’clock shadow that, coupled with the dark shades that hid his eyes, only enhanced his rugged beauty.

  Hell, even a couple of the dads present stopped and stared.

  Reaching up, he removed the sunglasses and glanced around the store.

  Adira spotted Leah first and waved with a big grin.

  When Seth followed the toddler’s gaze and found Leah, his friendly smile filled her stomach with butterflies.

  She waved back.

  “Holy crap,” someone whispered in her ear.

  Leah glanced over her shoulder at Mandy, another of her employees.

  “Is that the guy Brittney told me about? The one whose little girl made you hold hands for like an hour?”

  “Yes.”

  “I am so freaking jealous.”

  Leah rolled her eyes. “You’re married, Mandy.”

  “Yes, I am… and dearly wish Paul was built like that. If he was, I would never let the man out of bed and would weigh twenty pounds less from all the extra calories I’d burn ravaging his hot body every chance I could get.”

  Laughing, Leah wound her way through the crowd. Some of those present were regular customers. Some were new. She stopped short when two preschoolers darted in front of her, then continued on to greet Seth. “Hi.” She waggled her fingers at Adira. “Hi, cutie.”

  Adira lunged toward her again with a giggle.

  Leah hastily grabbed her and held her close. “Whoa!” she said on a laugh. “I thought you were going to give me a little warning next time.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Seth said as he gently extricated his arm. “She usually only does that with family.”

  Leah caught her breath when the back of his hand brushed against her breast. She could tell he hadn’t done it on purpose, but that didn’t stop her body from tingling in the wake of his touch. “That’s okay. It just caught me off guard.” She smiled. “Again.”

  Adira bounced in her arms.

  Leah grinned. “She really likes storytime.”

  Seth smiled. “So I see.”

  “Ami isn’t coming today?”

  He shook his head. “I volunteered to bring Adira.”

  He did? To see her again maybe? Leah wondered, then mentally shook her head. Of course not. “We’re about to begin. Do you want her to stay with me while I read? I don’t mind if s
he does.”

  Seth looked at Adira. “What do you say, poppet? Do you want to stay with Miss Leah, or do you want to sit with Baba?”

  Adira rested her head on Leah’s chest.

  His smile widened. “Looks like she’s made her choice.”

  Leah chuckled. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all. I’ll just find a quiet corner to lean in and stay out of everyone’s way.”

  Everyone being the women who surreptitiously edged closer, hoping to sit beside him. Leah shook her head. “There are chairs over there for parents who don’t want to sit on the floor with the kids.”

  “Thank you.” Offering her a brief bow, he started to walk away.

  Adira reached out and grabbed his arm. “No, Baba.”

  He turned back. “Did you change your mind?” Unperturbed, he reached for the toddler with a smile full of affection.

  Even that made butterflies flutter in Leah’s belly. The man was just too damned handsome. And she loved that he was good with children.

  Adira shook her head. “Come read, Baba.”

  His eyebrows flew up. “Oh. No, sweetheart. This is Miss Leah’s storytime. Remember? We’re here to listen to her read today.”

  “Both,” Adira responded and looked at Leah with a hopeful smile. “Both?”

  Leah glanced at Seth.

  He cast her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been spending as much time with her as I usually do and she probably just—”

  Leah waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. If you’d like to give it a try and don’t mind an audience, we can both read the story. You can be the raccoon and I’ll be the rabbit.”

  He looked uncertain. “I don’t want to interfere with your routine.”

  “You wouldn’t be. Mandy reads with me sometimes. The kids get a kick out of hearing us do different voices.” Although Leah suspected the moms would be the ones who got a kick out of today’s reading if Seth joined her. “And every once in a while I ask the parents if any of them would like to read with me.”

  Still he hesitated. “You really don’t mind?”