by Sarah Fine
Nothing happened.
He grimaced and forced himself to picture her as she had appeared to him just now, pale and bleeding and torn. Her chest laid open, her arms splayed. Her eyes wide, blood dripping from her mouth. The pressure rose within him like lava, shooting through his veins and singeing every cell, dragging his strength up from a well deep inside him, from the place where he kept it hidden and caged. It snapped and crackled like electricity, painting his world red, leaving him with only one need. One thought.
Take me to Cacy.
A blast of cold hit him, but the heat rolling off him burned it away instantly. He opened his eyes. Cacy was feebly trying to crawl away from Mandy, but her arms and legs were too weak and un-coordinated to get any traction. Eli didn’t know where they were, but he knew it wasn’t in Boston or Pittsburgh. It seemed like they were in some barren desert plain, with no buildings or people for miles.
“Enjoy your stay in Kansas,” Mandy taunted as she raised her arm, claws flashing under the white sun.
Eli’s crimson world narrowed to a point, focused completely on Mandy. His fangs cut at his lips; his claws drew his fingers wide. And he attacked.
Mandy spun, her eyes widening until Eli could see his own horrifying reflection in them. He landed heavily, crushing her to the ground, slashing her neck and chest, piercing and tearing her flesh. Eli’s head buzzed with the savage need to destroy the Ker who’d hurt Cacy.
Mandy slashed and bit at him, but it didn’t slow him down. With one brutal twist, he wrenched Mandy’s head from her neck. He dropped it to the squishy dirt and turned to Cacy, who was facedown and unmoving.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered as he turned her over, tears burning his eyes as he saw her ravaged chest, ribs exposed and raw. Her skin was gray. Her eyes were closed. Eli folded her limp body against his chest. Her head lolled in the crook of his neck. “We’re going home now. I’m going to take you home.”
Cacy moaned softly, swamping Eli with the sweetest relief. He kissed the top of her head then pictured his apartment and focused on getting back to Galena. The warm air of his bedroom greeted them a second later. He laid Cacy on his bed, brushing off the sheet that still hung over the side, and reached for his med kit. If this was anything like the last time she’d been injured, she would heal. But even if her skin knit back together, she had lost so much blood. Her lips were tinged blue, and her breaths were shallow and fast. Brain damage might be a possibility if he didn’t act quickly.
Her uniform peeled away easily, shredded as it was. Eli grabbed his last vials of self-perpetuating saline and plasma and injected them into her arm. He brushed his fingers along her temple and gently kissed her. Then he ran his lips along the light-blue vein pulsing beneath the skin of her neck.
“Come back, Cacy. I miss you already,” he whispered in her ear.
She drew a shivery breath. Eli closed his eyes and bowed his head, touching his forehead to hers. He reached down and took her hand, and she squeezed his fingers. For all her weak grasp, the power of his relief nearly carried him away again.
Galena’s scream pierced the quiet. Eli bolted from the bed, crashing through his bedroom door so hard it came off its hinges. Aislin lay sprawled on the floor at the threshold of Galena’s bedroom, clutching at her head. And Rylan was opening Dec’s Scope to step into the Veil—with Galena.
Eli caught the edge of the Scope just as Rylan lifted it over his head. Rylan’s eyes sparked with madness as he tried to keep his grip on the Scope and on Galena. As Eli reached for his sister, Mandy appeared at his elbow, her head oddly tilted, the bones of her neck poking through skin just barely knitted together, the whites of her eyes stained red. Her hand shot out to touch Galena, but Eli kicked her away. He and Rylan fell over a chair and hit the floor, each scrambling for the Scope.
“Galena?” Eli shouted. He had to focus all his strength on fighting Rylan, whose determination had made him strong, but he needed to know where his sister was.
Out of the corner of his eye, Eli saw Mandy get up and lurch toward Galena, who was backing down the hall. “Keep away from her, G! Don’t let her touch you!”
Eli tried to get up, but Rylan slipped the open Scope over Eli’s forearm and snapped it shut, using it like a pair of handcuffs. “It’s better this way, Eli,” said Rylan, eerily calm. “She would have cost us too much.”
Eli punched Rylan in the face with his free hand, cutting his knuckles on Rylan’s teeth. Rylan grimaced and held on tight. Mandy was steps away from Galena, reaching out with lacquered nails extended.
“Stop.”
The voice thundered through the room, shaking Eli to the bone and stopping his heart. His body obeyed the voice with complete submission. Mandy seemed affected in the same way. She sank to one knee inches from Galena, clutching at her chest. “No,” she gasped, her eyes bulging. “This shouldn’t be happening.”
As Eli faltered, Rylan delivered a punishing kick to his ribs, knocking him to the floor. Rylan wrenched the Scope from his hand as Eli tried to breathe, paralyzed by that voice and its sweeping command.
Moros stepped out of the void right next to Galena, who barely seemed to notice his arrival. His eyes lit on Aislin, who was shaking her head and sitting up unsteadily. Then he bent down to scoop Mandy from the ground, cradling her in his arms. “My poor darling.”
Eli nearly choked on his dread as every cell in his body screamed. Moros was on Mandy’s side? He was standing right next to Galena, who could be Marked in an instant. And Eli couldn’t do anything about it—with one word, the Lord of the Kere had immobilized him.
Moros raised his head, as if he’d heard Eli’s thoughts. “Carry on,” he said.
Eli’s head buzzed as oxygen rushed to his brain and muscles, and his heart began to beat once more. Mandy also sucked in a desperate breath, her broken bones creaking.
“Who is responsible for this chaos?” Moros asked. “Who did this to Mandy?”
“I did,” said Eli, struggling to push himself up, his limbs tingling painfully.
“He attacked the Charon,” rasped Mandy, her voice distorted and thick. “He should be put down.”
“Is this true?” Moros asked, his eyes now glowing bright red.
Eli nodded as if his head were under the control of a puppeteer.
Moros opened his mouth to say something, but his attention was drawn to Rylan, who had suddenly pulled his Scope wide—seeking his escape hatch into the Veil.
“I can follow wherever you go, my friend,” the Lord of the Kere said softly. “So I suggest you stay and help us figure out what’s happened here.”
Rylan hesitated, but he didn’t close the Scope.
Moros let Mandy’s feet slide to the floor, still holding her against his chest. She snuggled in, shooting Eli a smug look. Moros used his teeth to tug the glove off his left hand. “Eli, come here.”
His heart hammering, his mind raging, Eli stepped forward, unable to stop his body from carrying him toward his new master.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Cacy was awakened by the raw protests of her lungs and limbs, which hurt almost as much when they were healing as they had when they were first torn open. She was back in Eli’s bed, and the spent saline and plasma vials next to her pillow filled her with hope. Eli had been here. Had he stopped Rylan and Mandy?
Voices in the hallway drew her unsteadily to her feet. She winced at the strain on her barely closed wounds. She wrapped the sheet around her body and walked to the doorway in time to hear Mandy accuse Eli of attacking Rylan. Cacy had to get out there. Mandy’s accusation would mean one thing: Moros would have to execute Eli. Attacking any Ferry was a punishable offense. Attacking the Charon was an automatic death sentence.
“Mandy is the rogue,” Cacy said as she emerged from the bedroom, leaning heavily against the wall. Galena was crumpled in a nearby corner, and Aislin was next to her looking
even paler than usual. Mandy was locked in Moros’s embrace at the end of the hallway. And Eli was a few feet away from Rylan but shuffling hesitantly toward the Lord of the Kere, as if he wanted to run in the other direction but couldn’t.
Mandy jerked in Moros’s arms like she was trying to escape into the Veil. “Be still,” Moros ordered, and she obeyed.
Cacy shifted her gaze back to Rylan. She had always looked up to her eldest brother, had always believed he was a good man, like their father had been. But the truth was that he’d hurt so many people. He’d killed so many people. People she loved. And so, as much as she hated the words, as much as they hurt to say, she said, “And Rylan is a traitor.”
“She’s lying,” said Rylan. “She’s only interested in protecting her lover.”
“No, she’s right,” Aislin said, slowly walking over to her sister. She laid a cool hand on Cacy’s bare shoulder, then gave Moros her ice-princess stare. “Besides, Rylan is no longer the Charon. I am.”
She touched the ornate Scope at her throat. Cacy’s mouth dropped open.
Moros also seemed caught by surprise. “You—”
Rylan pointed at Aislin. “You can’t become the Charon by stealing what’s mine.”
Aislin’s eyes narrowed. “While you have been conspiring with this Ker,” she said as she gestured at Mandy, “I have secured the confidence of our board. Declan is also supporting me. Cacia?”
Cacy looked up at her remote, beautiful sister. She was just as ruthless as Cacy had always believed, but apparently in the service of what was right. What was meant to be. She nodded. “I’ll support you.”
Aislin inclined her head toward Cacy and glared at Rylan. “All that is left is Moros’s consent to officially recognize me as the Charon.”
She turned to the Lord of the Kere. “Rylan abused his power and neglected his responsibility. He and Mandy conspired to murder our father. They murdered our employees, Debra Galloway and Peter Lambeau, as well as our family friend and lawyer, Albert Knickles. They also murdered Eli, using one of our young cousins, Shauna Ferry, as their pawn. And after forcing her to commit this abominable act, Rylan executed her.” Aislin’s voice shook as she spoke of Shauna. Then it became flinty again. “Rylan is clearly unfit to be the Charon. Do you accept me as his replacement, Jason?”
Moros’s eyes flashed. “Well played, my dear. I have no objection.” He turned to Rylan. “By the way, I have been called to appear before the Keepers of the Afterlife to answer the charges you have brought against me. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.”
Rylan went pale. “We can work something out. I can rescind the charges.”
Moros laughed. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t miss this summit for anything in the world. I’m sure the Charon will allow you to attend.” He looked down at Mandy, and his face shifted into real sadness. “You’ve been bad, darling, but so clever. I never thought it possible that you would betray me.”
“I was misled,” whispered Mandy, shaking now. “He manipulated me.”
Moros tsked and clutched her tighter. “Ah, but there are limits to your cleverness. I am sorry it ever had to come to this.”
Before Mandy had a chance to struggle or scream, Moros laid his bare hand on her cheek. Mandy’s eyes went wide, and so did her mouth, opening and closing like that of a hooked fish. Her smooth skin cratered and turned ashen, aging decades in seconds. Her emaciated hands, lacquered red nails long and sharp, scrabbled at Moros’s arm, trying to get him to release his grip, but he held her tight, gazing at her with his burning red eyes.
A moment later, he let her go, and she crumpled. Blonde hair scattered across the floor as her skull hit the tile and shattered, the ashes of her incinerated brain swirling on the air. Rylan stared at her remains with a stone face. He showed no emotion at all.
Moros brushed his hands together, clapping the dust of Mandy off. “Eli, come here.”
Cacy threw herself between Eli and Moros, shoving Eli back as hard as she could. “Don’t touch him,” she shouted, digging in her heels and wrapping her arms around his waist as Eli pushed against her. “Aislin, please. Say something.”
It was the first time in years she’d asked her sister for anything, but she was desperate. Eli looked down at her as he took another step toward Moros. “I’m sorry, Cacy. I have to obey him.”
“Jason,” said Aislin quietly. “The Ferrys have no quarrel with Eli.”
Moros turned to look at Aislin over his shoulder. “Are you certain? By rights he should be punished for his assault on your esteemed brother.”
Aislin stepped carefully over Mandy’s ashes and bones. She pointed at Rylan. “I no longer consider him my brother,” she said in a sorrowful voice. “Not after he murdered our father.”
Rylan pulled his stolen Scope wide again. “I won’t stand here and listen to—”
Dec snatched the Scope from his older brother’s hand, then slammed his fist into Rylan’s face. “That’s for shooting me,” he muttered as Rylan sank to the floor.
Pale and drawn, Dec swayed in place. It looked like the events of the last hour had sucked the life out of him. His gaze traveled right past Cacy and landed on Galena, whose slender arms were wrapped around her knees.
Moros chuckled. “Ferrys, your family politics are astounding. Very well. Eli, come with me.”
Cacy’s grip on Eli tightened, but she couldn’t stop him from taking another step. “But—”
“I’ll be all right.” Eli’s arms went around Cacy. He drew his fingers along the slope of her collarbone, over a streak of dried blood.
Cacy glared at Moros. “I want him back.”
Moros smirked. “Such a fierce little thing. Your father would be proud.”
Right before Moros disappeared from sight, that smirk softened, and Cacy realized he had sincerely meant every word.
Eli kissed her forehead. “Get some rest, and . . .” He threw a glance at Galena.
“I’ll take care of her,” Cacy promised.
Eli squeezed her hand. “I love you, Cacia Ferry.”
He disappeared.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Eli materialized in the hallway of his apartment, exhausted but relieved. After a brief meeting, Moros had released him. He must have known that Eli was desperate to get back to the two women he loved.
“She’s sleeping,” said a male voice from the living room. Dec was sitting on the couch, his tablet phone in his hand.
Eli moved quietly into the room to stand in front of the Chief. “Moros has assigned two of his personal guards to watch over her,” Eli told him. Protecting Galena now would be a few of the most intimidating-looking Kere that Eli had ever seen.
Eli was glad, because Galena wasn’t out of danger yet. She might never be. Not as long as she threatened the income of the Kere and the Ferrys. But Moros seemed determined to use his own guards to keep her safe, and Eli was now a part of that elite group. Eli had been told he would have more power to choose his own assignments as long as he consented to take care of personal business for Moros as well. It sounded like a fair trade.
Eli looked Dec over. The man had recovered from his wounds and changed his clothes, but he still looked thrashed. “You don’t have to be here, Chief.”
“Call me Dec,” the Chief said wearily, setting his tablet on the couch and rubbing a hand over his face. “I had a friend of mine—Dr. Romero—make a house call to evaluate Galena. Rylan didn’t hurt her.” He winced. “Not physically, at least.”
Eli’s chest ached as he glanced over his shoulder at Galena’s closed door. “Today probably brought everything from her past to the surface again.”
Eli turned back to find Dec’s ice-blue eyes steady on him. “She was barely responsive,” Dec said quietly. “Dr. Romero gave her a light sedative, just so she could sleep.” He sighed. “I don’t know much about what happened to you guys,
but she was so scared. I-I didn’t feel good, leaving her alone. Though I’m not sure she even knew I was here.”
Eli wondered if he was imagining the sadness in Dec’s eyes. “She’ll need time,” Eli blurted out, not completely sure why he’d said it.
The Chief didn’t look away. “Would you like to know the last thing my father ever said to me?” When Eli didn’t respond, Dec continued. “He said, ‘Protect her, and you protect the future.’ ”
“And you think he was talking about Galena?”
Dec picked up his tablet and got to his feet. “I had no idea what he was talking about until I heard Galena speak at the fund-raiser. But after that, I had no doubt.”
Eli stared at the Chief. He didn’t trust easily, but Dec had saved Galena earlier, nearly dying in the process. “She’s guarded by Kere,” Eli said, “but . . . I don’t want her to be alone if she wakes up.”
The corner of Dec’s mouth twitched. “And you want to go to Cacy.”
Eli bowed his head. Now that he knew his sister was safe, he didn’t just want to go to Cacy, he needed it.
“I could stay for a while,” offered Dec. “You guys are scheduled to work tonight. If you want to see my sister before your shift, you’d better get going.”
Their eyes met, and Eli had the sense there was a lot more to be said between them but that now wasn’t the time. “Thanks. I’ll see you later. If she wakes up—”
“I’ll call you immediately.”
“I’m grateful.” Eli closed his eyes and thought of Cacy. He appeared in her bedroom and inhaled deeply, drawing in her spicy scent.
The sound of the shower drew his attention. A strip of warm yellow light glowed from beneath the closed door of Cacy’s bathroom. Eli’s groin stiffened as he imagined her in the spray of the hot water, covered in soapy lather, her hands sliding—
Cacy shrieked, her feet slipping out from under her as Eli appeared behind her. He caught her around the waist, spluttering as the hot spray hit his face. “Eli?” She was already laughing.