Killian's Hope

by Elyzabeth M. VaLey

  “I agree.”

  Shafts of light began to show through the cracks in the stone.

  “We’re getting close,” he whispered. Though he didn’t know to what.

  He’d barely finished speaking when he stopped short. Light flooded the space in front of them, a red carpet extending to no end in sight and weapons glinting throughout like stars in a dark night. Killian set Pru on the floor. Threading their fingers together, Killian started down the hall. All manners of weapons were neatly displayed on the walls: knives, spears, swords, hammers, shields, scimitars. Every single one hung beneath its own light and a plaque explaining its history.

  “The sword of Charlemagne,” she read. “What is this place?”

  “I’m not sure if we’re in an armory or in a museum.”

  “If it’s an armory, you should take a weapon.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Pru pointed at a mean-looking double-edged sword. “If we’re attacked again, you’re going to need a weapon. Your fists won’t be enough.”

  Killian frowned, taken back by her sudden outburst.

  “I know, but this could be a trap.”

  She turned to face him, her hands on her waist. “We’re already trapped, Killian. What else is Greed going to do?”

  Killian threw his hands up. “Kill us. I don’t know, Prudence.”

  “Well, you promised to defend and protect me.”

  Killian’s jaw fell slack. “What do you think I have been doing?”

  “A poor job if you take into account where we are.”

  Killian’s eyes widened. “May I remind you who got us here in the first place? I warned you to stay back and you insisted.”

  Pru’s bottom lip trembled and tears sprang to her eyes. “I know and I’m sorry.”

  Covering her eyes, she crouched and started to weep. Killian rushed to her side. She fell into his arms with a sob.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Hey, hey, love. Stop it. It’s all right. I understand this isn’t easy for you. It’s the stress of the situation. It’s all new for you. Roll with me, okay? I’ve been to several Sins’ Lairs before and there’s always a way out, we just need to figure it out.”

  “Okay, but don’t you think a weapon would help?”

  Killian sighed. “Yes, you’re right.”

  “Thank you, Killian,” she murmured, kissing his jaw. Her hand splayed on his chest and he held it there, keeping her close. Inhaling her sweet strength and committing it to memory. Gods, he was still stealing time, wasn’t he? Still hoping for more time with her and glad to have it even if it was trapped in some mysterious cave. He shook his head. They had to get moving.

  “Let’s find a weapon, then.”

  “This one,” Pru said, walking up to a large hammer with cut channel decorations. Killian took it in. The handle was thick, but what caught his attention was the tiny gold fist holding the steel dagger at the top. The blade was sharp, the other hand thick enough to cave in a man’s skull. At the wrist of the hand, a single red jewel glistened.

  “I’m not sure, Pru. This seems—”

  “It’s a maul hammer, your weapon of choice.”

  “It’s gold and jewels.”

  Prudence laughed. “Haven’t you noticed? Everything here is golden or jeweled. We’re in Greed’s domain. He has a thing for the precious metal.”

  Killian cringed. He wished he could say otherwise, but she wasn’t wrong. He took one last look at the weapon.

  “Let’s hope this isn’t a trap.”

  “It won’t be,” she said with a confidence he lacked.

  Taking the weapon off the hook, he waited for something to happen. Silence stretched, broken by Prudence’s smothered giggles.

  “Sorry, I’m nervous.”

  Relief surged through him. Killian wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

  “I’ll get you to stop laughing,” he whispered, pressing his mouth against hers.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Killian shook his head. The sound of Prudence’s voice screaming his name in the throes of passion echoed in his ears. Yet, the woman he loved quietly hung on to his arm. The dire situation, no doubt, rendering her speechless for they’d been walking for hours in dim lighting, no food or water at their disposal. The only sound, their heavy breathing, the rustle of their clothes and their footsteps. Killian shuddered. He needed to hear Pru’s voice, his anchor to reality, or he’d go crazy. They both would.

  “Pru, love, you’re awfully quiet, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m just a bit lost.”

  Killian nodded. He understood being lost. They were in a Sin’s lair, trying to find a way out and so far, they’d just been walking through a long hall of weapons. Fortunately, the end seemed to be in sight.

  “I think we’re close to getting somewhere.”

  They hurried the last few steps. Killian stared at the sight before him. It was a pine forest and in the middle, a log cabin. He shook his head. This couldn’t be right. It was too perfect. He took in a deep breath. The air smelled like dirt and a fresh resinous aroma. This was it. His dream. He and Pru alone in a cabin in the woods where no one would ever find them or bother them. It was the place where he’d fantasized they’d be someday together. It was nothing more than a dream.

  “We’re out,” Prudence shrieked. She clapped her hands excitedly. Killian frowned. He’d never seen her act so erratically.

  “Yes,” he said slowly. “But where are we? How did we end up here?”

  “Does it matter? Let’s go to the cabin. Maybe we can find out where we are.”

  Dazed, Killian followed Pru as she led him across the forest. She was determined. Her head held high, her steps guiding him as if she knew exactly how to get there. As if she’d been there hundreds of times.

  “Pru?” he whispered.

  “Almost there,” she replied in a singsong voice.

  Killian planted his feet on the ground. Pru never sang. She was always serious. Worried. Gods, even when they’d danced the first night, he’d sung and she’d shaken her head and told him she would sing the days the Sins were destroyed. Today was not that day.

  “Stop,” Killian said.

  Prudence turned to face him and at that moment, he saw it. It was barely there. A glimmer of golden dust over otherwise perfect skin.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Her voice was the same. Her body. Her hair. Gods, even her eyes. A tremble coursed through him and he fisted his hands to hide it. How was this possible?

  “Where are you taking us?”

  “To the cabin,” she replied. “To safety.”

  Killian laughed. The sound hollow in his own ears. The pieces started to fall into place. The silly argument over choosing a weapon. Her sobbing and fear. Her unnatural excitement.

  “Safety? You don’t believe in safety, Prudence.”

  “Well,” she stammered. “As safe as it can be considering the circumstances.”

  “There is no such thing as safety as long as the Sins are roaming loose, Greed.”

  Prudence’s face distorted into a mask so ugly it made his skin crawl.

  “You caught on faster than I thought you would, Guardian.” The voice he heard no longer belonged to his mate. It was neither female nor male, distorted with a metal chagrin. Taking a step back, Killian spread his legs into a battle stance.

  “You can’t fool me, Greed. Not when it comes to the woman I love. Where’s the real Prudence?”

  Greed laughed, the sound resembling a metal rod scraping against a chalkboard.

  “Shame that your love seems to be unrequited. The real Prudence is in a much happier place, living the life she’s always wanted to live with your mirage. It’s what the tunnel of dreams does. It gives you the chance to choose between reality or fiction. Most greedy souls choose their dreams over what they already have.”

  Killian sucked in his cheeks. His pulse accelerated.

&
nbsp; “You’re lying. Where is she?”

  “I thought Guardians were supposed to be bright. Guess you missed the calling. She chose an imaginary world over you, Killian. All these years hoping for a different outcome. All this wasted time, pining for a woman who chose everything else over you.”

  “No,” he gasped hoarsely.

  “You are a fool for hoping and not greedy enough to remain here. I have no use for you.”

  Suddenly, everything turned dark. An invisible force began to jerk at him. Killian dug the hammer into the ground and held onto the nearest tree. A howling wind picked up around him, tugging at him to let go. No. He gritted his teeth. Not without Prudence.

  “Greed,” he yelled. “I will find her.”

  His weapon vanished into nothingness. The cabin disintegrated, along with the ground on which it stood.

  “No,” he screamed. “Prudence.”

  Everything around him became a black void. His fingers ached from the strength with which he held on. He shut his eyes.

  Prudence.

  The tree vanished and he with it.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Prudence woke up with a start. Darkness surrounded her. Her heartbeat raced and a tremble coursed through her, making her teeth chatter. She curled into a ball, trying to piece together what had occurred. Everything had happened so fast. She had been trying to use her magic when she noticed the pile of coins beneath Killian quiver. She’d called his name and watched in horror as two dark eyes glowed from within the mound. Somehow, she’d managed to create a ball of fire. She launched it and fell.

  Killian. Prudence pressed her fist to her mouth to keep from sobbing. It was no use. Tears streamed down her face. Was he okay? Had he made it past the monster? She’d finally told him she loved him and now they’d been thrown apart. Prudence whimpered. She had to find him, but how? She was not a warrior. She was merely a Spell Caster. He hadn’t been wrong when he’d said she only saw one side of the equation. Their work was inconsequential compared to the Guardians’. Politics, portals, healing. She gasped for air.

  Breathe. Don’t panic.

  Killian’s order echoed in her mind as if it were a distant memory. Still, it calmed her. She inhaled deeply and wiped her eyes.

  “Everything will pass,” she muttered.

  Sitting up, she winced. Her ankle was surprisingly sore. Slowly, she got to her feet and tested her weight on it. It hurt but was nothing she wouldn’t be able to endure. She had to focus and get out of here somehow. What was the first thing they were supposed to do in a situation like this?

  Remain calm and listen to your surroundings. She held her breath, searching for any out of place sounds in the dark. There was nothing except her own agitated breathing.

  “That’s good,” she said. “Now, all we need is light.”

  She rubbed her hands together and whispered the incantation. With a snap of her thumbs, a small ball of sizzling white light hung over her head. It wavered unsteadily, but it was enough for her to catch a good look at her surroundings. She was in a tunnel of sorts and ten feet away from her lay Killian’s forlorn body. She ran to his side, quickly scanning him for blood or deadly injuries. There was nothing.

  “Killian.” She grasped his face. “Wake up, love.” She sniffed back tears. The light grew dimmer and faded.

  “Dear virtues,” she mumbled.

  “Pru?”

  “Killian.” She let out a long sigh of relief, tasting the salty tang of her tears on her lips. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

  “I’m sore but nothing else. I can’t seem to remember what happened. Are you all right?” He sat up and wiped her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m okay. I was just worried about you. You had been trying to find a way out when the pile of gold you were standing on transformed. I tried to help and fell down here. I suppose you followed me.”

  “I did.” He got to his feet and helped her up.

  “I can’t see anything.”

  “Don’t worry. I can.”

  “Which way is the exit?”

  “Do you feel the cool air?”

  “Air? No.”

  “It comes from our right, so that’s the way we go.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  They walked through the tunnel, emerging onto the top of a hill overlooking the greenest pasture she’d ever seen. Animals lived in harmony, happily grazing, resting. It was a menagerie of peace. Sunlight streamed from a blue sky and the air smelled like flowers in bloom.

  “What is this place?” Prudence asked. She glanced at Killian, who seemed to be just as baffled as she was.

  “I have no idea,” he admitted.

  “Are we outside, do you think?” she asked.

  Killian shook his head.

  “A lion and a tiger lying side by side in real life?” Killian snorted. “I highly doubt it. Besides, there’s something funny about this place. Everything is too quiet, too relaxing. Too perfect.”

  Prudence pressed her lips together.

  “I suppose you’re right.” She placed her hand over her eyes. “Is that a house?”

  Killian looked in the direction she pointed. “It looks like it.”

  “That’s good,” she said, excitement running through her. “Houses have doors which could potentially be portals. We must go there.”

  “Are you sure?” Killian asked. “I don’t like the looks of this, Pru.”

  “Yes, let’s do it.”

  “All right.” Picking her up, Killian flew to the house. Nothing disturbed them and she relaxed in his arms. She had forgotten what it was like to be in his arms as if she didn’t have a care in the world. To have the wind caress her body, heightening every one of her pores, caressing them intimately like a lover’s kiss. Like Killian’s touch. Erotic desire raced through her veins. She glanced up at Killian, her heart pumping with force.

  “Killian, I—”

  “Almost there,” he said, interrupting her, as if he didn’t want to hear what she had to say. She closed her eyes. After this, she’d make it better, she promised herself. Perhaps they could find a new agreement, one in which they saw each other more often. She shook her head. Who was she kidding? Work would be tripled if they got out of this alive. They would each be focused on defeating the Sin, on writing reports regarding their time here, finding links to destroy the monster. No, what she really had to do was make the most of it. She bit her lip.

  Killian soared lower.

  “There’s a balcony,” he said.

  “Then land there.”

  He did as she asked him, easily coming to a stop atop the marble balustrade. Prudence stared. Gauze curtains swung backward with the breeze and she peeked into what she would only be able to describe as her dream bedroom.

  “Killian?”

  She stood on her toes and planted her lips against his. Hard, begging him to understand so she wouldn’t have to speak a word. She needn’t have worried. As he picked her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist. The ridges of his erection bumped her pussy and she moaned.

  “You’re ready.”

  “Always for you,” he replied.

  He brought her inside with quick steps. Her sweater was gone in seconds, followed by the rest of her clothes. She lay back against the silk sheets on the bed. Killian hovered above her. Her heart beat erratically. She loved him so much.

  “Prudence, are you sure?” he asked.

  “Sure?” Prudence frowned. She took him in. From the ink covering his torso to his black wings and blonde hair. He was perfect in every way. Had always been. Would always be.

  “Yes,” she replied. “Fuck me. Do it now before we have to leave this place and return to reality.”

  Killian’s jaw clenched.

  “Reality,” he muttered, lowering his gaze.

  “Later.”

  Prudence circled his neck and brought him down for a kiss. Killian groaned. Without any further preamble, he plunged into her. She arched in
to him, crying out in pleasure.

  “If it were up to me, I’d spend the rest of my life fucking you. I can never get enough of you.”

  “I love you, Killian,” she moaned, digging her nails into his shoulders.

  Without responding, he pumped faster. Prudence ground against him, her orgasm building.

  “Come for me, Pru. Let me hear you scream my name.”

  He plunged deep and she careened over the edge.

  “Killian.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Prudence stretched languidly. Every muscle in her body was sore, yet she felt good. She opened her eyes. Around her, white draperies swayed softly against a breeze. Killian must have left the window to the balcony open. Light flooded the room. Everything was perfect. All she needed was coffee. She sat up in bed. She couldn’t be smelling it, could she? Yes. The aroma reached her, warm and rich. Her grin grew when she heard him approach, the tinkling of cutlery on a tray. She parted the curtain and looked up at a man she didn’t quite recognize.

  “Hey, babe.”

  Babe.

  She wrinkled her nose. Killian never called her babe. He knew how much she abhorred the pet name. She took the coffee mug from him and stared. It was Killian, all right. Long blond hair, blue eyes, tall, same tattoos, rugged, muscled. The kind of guy who made you look twice if you saw him in the street. Yet, something was missing. She took a sip of the coffee, hoping for clarity.

  “How did you sleep?” he asked.

  Same low and pleasant tone of voice.

  “I think I slept well,” she replied. “I’m not sure.”

  She glanced at the porcelain cup in her hand. Half of the contents were missing. Had she drunk so much so quickly? Prudence set it aside.

  “Are you okay?” Killian asked, flopping down at her side.

  Prudence took him in. Everything seemed to fit the image of Killian, except she couldn’t shake off the unease curling in her belly.

  “Killian?”

  “Yes, babe?”

  “Where are we?”

  He chuckled. “Home.”

  “Home?”