Death of Darkness
Page 54
Ami gasped suddenly. Face paling, she gripped her chest as though a knife had just pierced her.
Marcus dropped to his knees and reached for her, his brow furrowing with alarm. “Ami? Sweetling?”
For a moment, she looked as though she couldn’t breathe. Then air whooshed out through her lips and sucked in again. Tears welled in her eyes.
Frowning, Seth took a step toward her. “Ami?”
Marcus rested a hand on her knee. “Talk to me, sweetling. What is it? What’s happening? Are you in pain?” He looked up at Seth. “I think she’s in pain.”
She did seem to be having trouble breathing. And she kept gripping her chest.
Was this a response to whoever came? Could it be someone who had worked at the facility in which she had been held captive? Ami could feel individuals’ energy signatures. If this man and woman had been at that facility, Ami would recognize them. And while she had been at that facility, she had suffered dreadful torture. When Seth and David had found her, Ami’s chest had been cut open, her ribs spread, and the bastard scientists had been shocking her heart while she was still awake.
Now she clutched her chest as though she were enduring the same torture again.
Though his concern rose, Seth spoke gently. “Ami. What is it, sweetheart? Do you know them?”
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Marcus. “It can’t be,” she whispered, her face full of torment.
The car’s engine grew louder as it pulled up in front of the house.
Adira pressed her nose to the glass again, peering outside. Seth thought it odd that the child seemed unperturbed while her mother experienced such distress. “Baba, look.”
Two car doors opened. Footsteps sounded.
“Ami,” Marcus said, lips tightening, “did this man—whoever he is—hurt you?”
Anger rising at the thought, at the pain the man’s presence now caused her, Seth rounded the sofa and strode toward the front door.
Ami jumped to her feet and rushed past him.
Marcus caught her as she reached for the doorknob. “Ami, wait! We don’t know who’s out there.”
She shook her head. “Let me go. I have to see.”
Marcus cast Seth a helpless look.
Frowning, Seth tried to piece it together. Now that the visitors were closer, he discerned that one of the three heartbeats was that of an infant. Surely the man and woman wouldn’t have brought a baby if they intended to engage in battle.
“Let her go,” he commanded softly.
Marcus shook his head. “Seth…”
“I’ll keep her safe,” he vowed. “Let her go, Marcus.”
A muscle leaping in his jaw, Marcus released his wife and stepped back. But his hand fisted around the hilt of the sword he still carried.
Ami stumbled the final few feet to the door and flung it open.
Seth stared at the two adults who stood outside. A little jolt of surprise shot through him.
He recognized them. The night he had defeated Gershom, he had seen them both at the base in Texas. David had just left to spirit the children away to safety, and an odd feeling had coursed through Seth. He had spun around, half-expecting to see Ami and Adira. Instead, he had seen a network soldier helping a pregnant woman in a lab coat stumble down a hallway. The two had leaned heavily on each other. The woman had been clutching her stomach and the man had gripped his chest much like he was now—much like Ami was now—the same pain creasing his face.
But he wore no uniform tonight. Yet another puzzle. Network soldiers tended to live in their black fatigues. And his auburn hair was longer than it had been that night. Longer than it could’ve grown in the brief amount of time that had passed since Seth had last seen him.
Who was he?
Seth glanced at the woman. Who was she? The tiny heartbeat he had detected was that of the babe still in her belly.
Were they Gershom’s plan B, mind-controlled into carrying out whatever orders he had implanted? Or were they more innocent victims?
A cry escaped Ami.
Seth’s head snapped around.
Cupping her hands over her mouth as though to hold back more, she stared up at the man with wide eyes. Tears spilled over her lashes and coursed down her cheeks. Then she lunged forward, threw her arms around the man, and began to sob.
Marcus reached for her.
Seth shot a hand out to hold him back. “Wait.”
The man released the pregnant woman and wrapped his arms around Ami. Ducking his head, he buried his face in her hair and began to sob, too.
Seth glanced at the woman.
Pain rippled across her features, mostly hidden by a curtain of hair. Hissing in a ragged breath, she reached out and braced a hand against the doorjamb as she gripped her big belly. But her eyes remained focused on the man.
Seth leaned to one side and caught her gaze. “Are you all right?”
Her heartbeat increased. Fear filled her expression as she glanced at him and the big men behind him. Swallowing hard, she gave him an abrupt nod and released her tummy long enough to draw her hair back from her face and tuck it behind her ear.
More surprise coursed through Seth. She was the missing gifted one. At the base, her hair had concealed her features enough for him not to see it, but with the long locks drawn back…
“Ami?” Marcus said quietly, his brow furrowed with concern.
Drawing in a shaky breath, Ami leaned back and looked up at the man who held her. “How is this possible?” she whispered.
He cupped her face in one hand and shook his head, seemingly too overcome by emotion to speak.
“Ami,” Marcus repeated, keeping his voice low, “who is this?”
Turning to face him, she kept an arm around the stranger and gave her husband a watery smile. “He’s my brother.”
Seth stared at the man, stunned speechless. Ami came from another planet. She believed her family didn’t know where she was and—since she had no way of contacting them—had never thought to see any of them again.
Her brother tightened his hold on her and studied them with suspicion. He staggered a step to the side, nearly losing his balance. Then his green eyes abruptly rolled back in his head as he sank toward the floor.
Thank you for reading Death of Darkness. I hope you enjoyed Seth and Leah’s story!
If you liked this book, please consider rating or reviewing it at an online retailer of your choice. I appreciate your support so much and am always thrilled when I see that one of my books made a reader happy. Ratings and reviews are also an excellent way to recommend an author’s books, create word of mouth, and help other readers find new favorites.
Thank you again!
Dianne Duvall
www.DianneDuvall.com
Dianne Duvall Books Group
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to thank everyone who requested this book. I absolutely loved writing it. I would also like to once more thank Crystal and my fabulous Street Team for your continued support and for holding down the fort when I’m working hard to meet a deadline. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you all rock!
Many thanks also go to the members of my Dianne Duvall Books Group on Facebook. I’ve been having so much fun with you. You’ve made it my favorite place to visit on the internet. Any readers who enjoy my Immortal Guardians and/or The Gifted Ones series are welcome to join. We’d love to see you there.
Special thanks go to Anne Victory, who is always a joy to work with. I’d also like to thank the proofreader, formatter, and other behind-the-scenes individuals who helped me bring you Death of Darkness.
I also thank all of the bloggers and reviewers who help spread the word about my books, introducing them to new readers. I thank the readers who recommend them to friends, family, and even virtual strangers. I appreciate you all so much. And, of course, I’d like to thank my Facebook and Twitter friends and blog followers who share in my excitement with every release and make me laugh and smi
le even when I’m stressing over deadlines. You’re the best!
About the Author
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians series and The Gifted Ones series. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romances of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne’s books “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly), “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary” (Long and Short Reviews), and “wonderfully imaginative” (The Romance Reviews). Her audiobooks have received three AudioFile Earphones Awards. One was nominated for a prestigious Audie Award. Her books have also twice been nominated for RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews.
Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she loves to create in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, connect with Dianne online:
Website — www.DianneDuvall.com
Books Group — www.facebook.com/groups/128617511148830/
Blog — www.dianneduvall.blogspot.com
Facebook — www.facebook.com/DianneDuvallAuthor
Twitter — twitter.com/DianneDuvall
YouTube — www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcJ9xnm_i2ZKV7jM8dqAgA?feature=mhee
Pinterest — www.pinterest.com/dianneduvall
Goodreads — www.goodreads.com/Dianne_Duvall
Google Plus — plus.google.com/106122556514705041683
Books by Dianne Duvall
THE GIFTED ONES
Historical and Time-Travel Series
A Sorceress of His Own
Book 1
"Full of danger, intrigue and passion. Dianne Duvall brought the characters to life and delivered an addicting and exciting new series. I'm hooked!"
—Reading in Pajamas
Rendezvous With Yesterday
Book 2
Top Pick
“I loved this book! It had pretty much all of my favorite things—medieval times, a kick-ass heroine, a protective hero, magic, and a dash of mayhem.”
—The Romance Reviews
IMMORTAL GUARDIANS
Paranormal Romance Series
Darkness Dawns
Book 1
An RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee
“This is a strong start in what looks to be a thrilling and chilling new paranormal series.
Fantastic!”
—RT Book Reviews
Night Reigns
Book 2
Top Pick
“This blend of kick-butt action, intriguing plot twists and heartfelt passion is utterly addictive! Talented Duvall has carved out a solid place for herself in the paranormal genre.”
—RT Book Reviews
Phantom Shadows
Book 3
Top Pick
“With a deeply emotional love story, two beautiful, complex main characters and a pulse-pounding adventure that won't let up, this book was haunting and addictive and I loved every page.”
—The Romance Reviews
In Still Darkness
Book 3.5
“Readers will appreciate the rich characterizations and the kick-butt action of Duvall's In Still Darkness”
— Publishers Weekly
Darkness Rises
Book 4
An RT Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee
Featuring a fascinating take on vampires, Darkness Rises is a thrilling, action-packed, suspenseful, funny, steamy paranormal romance readers won't be able to put down until the last page.”
—Affaire de Coeur
Night Unbound
Book 5
“Fans of paranormal romance who haven't discovered this series yet are really missing out on something extraordinary”
— Long & Short Reviews
Phantom Embrace
Book 5.5
"Duvall's hauntingly beautiful novella, set in the world of the Immortal Guardians, portrays the deep love between two people who can never touch, with a wonderfully unexpected ending."
—Publishers Weekly
Shadows Strike
Book 6
“Fans of terrific paranormal romance have hit the jackpot with Duvall and her electrifying series.”
—RT Book Reviews
Blade of Darkness
Book 7
“Dianne Duvall has given us another electrifying page-turner filled with romance, non-stop action, and suspense.”
—Heroes & Heartbreakers
Awaken the Darkness
Book 8
“Awaken the Darkness is the latest mesmerizing installment in Dianne Duvall’s fabulous Immortal Guardians series. This series is earth-shattering awesome and Dianne has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Each of the stories… has been heart-stopping, intense, humorous and powerfully romantic.”
—Reading Between the Wines Book Club