The banshees soared and dove, and eventually a few of the damned spirits managed to break through, leaving blackened and bleeding gashes here and there on the men, but not the smoldering corpses that should have been left in the wake of such an attack.
I tried to shout a warning at Luke, “They have protection pouches. Banshees won’t work!” but he gave no sign that he’d heard me.
Both men were turning and twisting as they faced down the attacking spirits. Luke lunged forward, and when he was within arm’s length of John, John made a frantic swing toward Luke’s head with the sword. But John was not fast enough.
Luke grabbed John’s swinging arm with a flaming hand and held it effortlessly as the man thrashed about. With his other hand, Luke reached out and grabbed the pouch that hung around the man’s neck. It immediately burst into blue flame. Hellfire rolled over the screaming Redeemer, and Luke ripped the sword from his hand as the man fell to the ground.
The knife-wielding Bubba had given up on protecting himself from the banshees. Instead, he turned and dove at Luke. As Luke turned to face him, the man made a frantic swing, slicing across Luke’s outstretched forearm.
Luke didn’t seem to even notice the cut. He held the captured sword up in the air and hellfire slid up along it, turning it into a glowing blade of red-hot steel. Luke swung the sword. It left a trail of embers and ash as it swung, and when it met Bubbas’s neck it cut first the strap of the protection pouch. Then it continued forward, slicing through flesh and bone as if they were hot butter. Bubba’s head slid off his body and hit the ground. His full body slowly followed and fell to the ground in a mass of orange flames.
Kev had completely forgotten about groping me. I gathered my meager strength and shoved back against him. Wrapped around me as he was, he wasn’t able to maintain his balance, and he stumbled back against a tree, losing his hold and dropping me on my side. I hit the ground hard, and the breath was knocked out of me. I struggled to catch my breath and get moving before he could recover, but I needn’t have tried. When I rolled onto my knees and looked up, Luke was already there. The fight was over. Luke’s hand was wrapped around the sword, and it was buried to the hilt in the center of Kev’s chest. The end of the sword was embedded in the tree. Flames flowed from around the wound as the man burned alive. Kev opened his mouth as if to scream, but instead flames spewed from his mouth and eyes.
And then Luke stood there facing me, openly struggling against the anger that had taken him over. Was Luke lost to the hellfire? And would that fire now be turned on me?
I watched Luke struggle with the rage that filled him. Ever so slowly the anger eased from his face, and the flames faded from his hands. Luke knelt down next to me. He moved slowly, as if I were a skittish animal that might run at any moment.
He began to free me from my jacket. “What have I done?” he whispered, his voice full of anguish.
“You saved me.”
“I killed those men.” I looked at his arm. It wasn’t as bad as it had looked at first, and hellfire had almost immediately cauterized it.
“You had no choice. They would have killed us both.”
As soon as my arms were free, I threw them around his neck. He was stiff and unresponsive at first, but I just hugged harder until I felt him hug me back. We stayed there in a long embrace while all around us, bodies burned.
I’m not sure how long we sat huddled together in the woods, but when we parted I noticed Luke kept turning his face away from me.
I hadn’t felt the cold until I left his embrace, and I shivered as I took a step toward him. “Are you okay?” I asked.
He took a few steps back, and he only glanced at me briefly before he quickly looked away. “We need to get back to the house. There could be more Redeemers.”
“If there were, don’t you think they would have come running already?” I looked over at the piles of ashes that had once been men. “The banshees screaming, the flames. If anyone was close they would have seen the smoke, heard the noise.”
I hadn’t meant the words to sound accusatory, but I could tell by his expression that he had taken them that way.
“You can’t blame yourself for what happened,” I said.
His hands balled into fists. “I shouldn’t have lost control.”
“They were trying to kill us.”
“When I saw that slime ball’s hands on you…” As he spoke, flames started to flicker around his hands.
I wasn’t afraid of him. Not anymore. I reached out to touch him, but he flinched as if I’d struck him and raised his hands.
“Can’t you see I can’t control it?” he cried out. The flames danced across his fingers. “Stay away. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’d never hurt me.” He had killed to keep me safe. Every action he’d taken since taking over Caleb’s body was to protect me. As time went by, with me by his side, he’d gain control again. Like he had before. I now truly believed that. “I’m not scared of you.”
He watched me closely, as if trying to decide whether or not I meant what I’d said.
“I love you,” I whispered.
With those words his anger disappeared, and the flames extinguished.
I slowly put out my hand until it rested against his arm. “You aren’t in this alone. I’m here with you. I’ll help you any way I can.”
Luke looked around at the destruction his hellfire had caused. Trees were still smoldering. Long patches of earth were blackened and scorched. And the men that had accosted me were no more. Nothing remained of them but ash.
“I never meant to kill them,” he said.
I reached up and caressed his face with my fingers. “I know.”
We walked back to the house hand in hand. If Luke hadn’t found me when he did… I pushed the thoughts away. Those men were looking for any mage-born folk. They’d been after any mage they happened to cross paths with. “I can’t believe the Redeemers were wearing protection pouches.”
“No mage capable of combat magic can wear them,” he said. “They blunt our magic too much. I’ve known readers and healers who have used them to stay safe. But never a Redeemer. “
When the house came into view, I stopped, and Luke stopped next to me.
I leaned against him. “Maybe I should go in first. I can distract Mrs. Olsen while you go in through the front door, get up to your room, and change into something that hides this.” I reached out and touched his wounded arm. The sleeve of his shirt had been slashed. The cut across his forearm wasn’t bleeding, but it looked painful.
He reached up and touched the nape of my neck. His fingers caressed my skin, and I felt a shiver run down my body.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“They didn’t hurt me.” The men hadn’t done any true damage, but I still felt battered. I moved until I stood in front of him. “Do I have any bruises on my face?”
“No,” he answered. He lifted his hand and slowly reached out to touch me again. His expression was one of caution. How many times had he reached for me since we’d escaped from Gage’s prison? And how many times had I turned away?
I stood completely still. I would not run from him any longer.
His fingers brushed against my cheek and then slid across my lips. “You look beautiful.”
I gave him a smile.
He smiled back.
It had been such a long time since I’d seen him smile. When I looked into those eyes, I didn’t see Caleb anymore, I only saw Luke. I only saw the need and love he had for me shining from his eyes.
“I’m sorry…” I started to say, but he put his fingers to my lips, stopping my words.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. This is not an easy situation for anyone. It’s taken me time to get used to being inside this…” His words petered off. His fingers dropped and then he looked away. He looked back at me. “It’s an adjustment. I understand you needed time. You have nothing to be sorry about.”
I took a step closer until we were o
nly inches apart. “I should have trusted you. I should have known your heart, your mind, your spirit had not changed.”
His face darkened at my words. In a tortured voice, he said, “I have changed.”
“So have I. How could we not change with everything we’ve been through? But one thing hasn’t changed: I still love you.”
He leaned in, his hand coming up to brush the bangs from my face. “I honestly believe anything is possible as long as you’re by my side.”
And then he kissed me, and all the destruction, all the chaos that had happened moments before no longer existed. My whole world narrowed until there was nothing but him. Nothing but his lips on mine. His hands caressed my face and, for that one delicious moment, he became my whole world.
* * *
Once back in the house, I tried my best to act nonchalant. As far as Mrs. Olsen was concerned, I’d just been out for a walk. I watched her moving around the kitchen, chatting to Jamie, who sat silent and still in the corner. What would Mrs. Olsen think if I told her the truth? Would she throw us out into the streets? Or worse, would she call the Redeemers and demand they kill us on the spot?
Death dealers had always been feared and hated, and now they were being hunted, but those Redeemers hadn’t been looking for death dealers—they’d been searching for any mage-born. Had the world become a place where Redeemers no longer had to hide? Were they using the hatred toward death dealers as an excuse to kill any mage-born they came across? How long would we survive once we left Mrs. Olsen’s house? Were there more Redeemers out there in packs, stalking the countryside?
“Did you have a nice walk?” It was Mrs. Olsen. By the look on her face, it wasn’t the first time she’d asked me the question.
I yawned. “Sorry, I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
“Just like your poor sister,” she said.
Jamie was sitting in a chair in the corner. She still hadn’t said a word, but her eyes had followed my every move since I walked in the door.
“Why don’t you go up and take a nap?” Mrs. Olsen gave me a smile. “I’m going to make sandwiches for lunch, but you can eat whenever you get up.”
“That’s very kind of you.” And it was. Mrs. Olsen had been nothing but kind since we’d stumbled onto her doorstep. She showed no sign of wanting us to leave. How long would we be welcome in her house? A part of me wondered if we could stay here forever. It was warm, there was food, and we could hide away from all the people trying to kill us.
I shuddered as I thought about the Redeemers in the woods. It had been a close call. If Luke hadn’t found me when he did…
A hand reached out and touched my shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts?”
I jumped, whipping around to see Dean, whose eyes widened.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just a little jumpy today I guess.”
I could tell by his expression that he didn’t believe me. He reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the living room. “You look as pale as a ghost. Are you feeling worse?”
I allowed him to lead me. “I’m feeling the same. A little tired, but okay.”
“He’s right; you do look pale.” Luke stood by the fireplace. He’d changed into a black-and-white flannel shirt. The long sleeves covered the cut on his arm.
I pulled my arm out of Dean’s grip and took a step back. “I’m okay. You don’t need to fuss over me.” My eyes met Luke’s.
Dean looked from me to Luke and then asked in a quiet voice, “Did you have a good walk?”
Luke answered, “We did.”
Luke’s words surprised Dean. Dean turned to me. “I’m going to the barn to feed and water the horses. Colina, do you want to come along?”
Luke answered before I could. “No, she doesn’t.”
Dean’s face filled with anger. “Colina can speak for herself.”
“Of course she can,” Luke answered.
Dean turned back to me. “Come with me out to the barn.”
“I can’t,” I said. I glared at Luke and then gave Dean an apologetic smile. “I’m beat after that walk. I have to go lie down for a bit.”
I was too tired for this pissing match. Luke knew how I felt about him, I’d told him that I loved him in the woods and melted into his arms when he kissed me. He knew how I felt, but he also knew how Dean felt about me. I couldn’t help it if Dean cared for me. I hadn’t meant to encourage Dean, but I knew deep down I had. Dean had been an unknowing pawn in my scheme to bring Luke back. I’d never meant to hurt Dean, and I felt responsible for the dangerous situations he’d been dragged into ever since we came into his life.
A part of me wanted to make a public declaration at that moment that I was Luke’s and Luke’s alone, but I wouldn’t do it. Not here, not now. I would let Dean down easy. I wouldn’t publicly embarrass him. He didn’t deserve such treatment.
Luke gave me a hard stare. I lifted my chin, squared my shoulders, and stared back at him.
Dean spoke up. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the barn.” Without another word or glance my way he headed out the door.
“He needs to be told,” Luke said.
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Colina, it can’t be helped. Dean loves you. If anyone can understand that, I can. But you have to make a choice.”
I moved to his side. “I have. You know I love you.”
“But Dean doesn’t know. You’ve made it clear in the past that you want to be with me. But a lot has changed, and he thinks he has a chance.”
I looked away. “I know I have to talk to him.”
He reached up and lifted my chin so I was looking directly into his eyes. “Make it sooner rather than later.”
“I will. I promise.”
He leaned in and kissed me. The door leading to the kitchen began to open. Luke quickly moved away, but it was only Jamie.
I gave her a smile. “I’m going to go up and take a nap. Do you want to take one with me?”
She shook her head.
I looked back at Luke. “We’ll talk later.”
“Count on it,” he said.
* * *
I slept through lunch. At dinnertime, Mrs. Olsen brought a tray up for me, and I sat up and forced myself to take a few bites of baked chicken and mashed potatoes. I ate until she was satisfied and finally left the room. Once she was gone, I put the tray on the dresser and went back to bed. This time I slept a dreamless sleep.
When I woke again, it was dark out. The house was quiet, and someone had cleared the tray of food away. I looked at the clock on the dresser. It was eleven o’clock. I’d slept for twelve hours today. And yet even though I’d slept soundly, I still felt exhausted. I got up and brushed my teeth. I washed my face and brushed my hair. I got ready for bed properly by slipping out of my clothes and into the borrowed nightgown.
I opened the door and went down the hallway, stopping in front of the room Luke was staying in and knocking quietly on the door. When no one answered, I opened the door and went in. The light was on, but the room was empty. The bed looked as though it hadn’t been slept in. I walked over to the window and opened the drapes, staring out into the darkness. Was he out there doing magic to keep his guild from finding us? Or did he simply have too much on his mind to sleep? I opened the window and watched the clouds slide across the moon and felt the wind on my face. By the look of it, another storm was rolling in. Closing the window, I left Luke’s room.
I wandered down the hall feeling tired but restless. I knew if I went back to my room I wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep. I made my way quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mrs. Olsen had left a nightlight on. She had told us to help ourselves if we were ever hungry during the night. I opened the fridge and looked at its contents. I should eat something, I’d barely eaten any of my dinner. But I didn’t feel hungry. My appetite had been off ever since the poison had entered my system.
I closed the fridge and
went over to the back door. If I went out there, could I find him? Was he off somewhere in the woods?
I went and stood outside. The wind had picked up; my hair flew across my face. I felt light sprinkles of water splash against my cheeks. It was raining. If Luke were out here, how would I find him? I wanted so desperately to see him, to talk to him. I moved around the corner of the house, peering out into the darkness, beyond the lights shining from within the house. I could barely make out the shape of the barn and the trees in the partial moonlight.
The rain started to come down harder. My hair was plastered against my face and my nightgown was soaked. It was madness being out in the storm, in the dark, without a flashlight. But still I kept looking. Once I rounded the corner, I felt his presence before I saw him. Luke was only a few feet away from me, standing in the rain and looking up at my window.
The clouds shifted, and full moonlight spilled into the yard. The white cotton nightgown I wore was plastered against my skin. I realized the wet material had become transparent, and it was as though I stood naked before him. Suddenly I was no longer tired.
Luke’s eyes slowly traveled along my body. I should have felt chilled in the cold night air, but instead I felt hot, feverish. His eyes were looking at me in a way that made my heart pound.
I looked at him without fear. Really looked at him in a way I hadn’t before. The face of Luke when I first met him was burned into my mind. The face that looked at me now was broader, the chin more square. I knew there were a few small scars, one under his left eye and another along his nose. Blond hair fell to his shoulders, but it was a darker shade of blond and the hair was thicker. The face was not that of the guy I had fallen in love with, but he was in there. The body might be taller, more muscular, the arms and biceps thicker. But the way he stood, the way he cocked his head to one side as he watched me… It was Luke. He was in there. I could see him shining through.
When Luke finally moved, it was so quick that I gasped in surprise. His arms came around me and crushed me to him. His lips found mine. His kisses were urgent, demanding. His fingers fumbled with the buttons of my nightgown. The buttons came away, and I felt the cool breeze against my skin. His fingers slid along my wet exposed body. Everywhere he touched me, I burned.
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