When Sadie raised the sword to plunge it into his back, something inside Annora snapped. She ghosted the small distance between them just as Edgar appeared a few feet away.
His eyes widened in alarm, and he reached for her. “Don’t.”
Annora gritted her teeth against Edgar’s plea.
Sadie’s head snapped up, and Annora used her hesitation against her and clamped her hand over Sadie’s arm.
She had no choice.
While Camden was a trained warrior, he couldn’t win against someone he couldn’t see.
She glanced at the guys, then allowed the darkness around her and Sadie to swallow them whole.
Camden shouted in denial, while Edgar lunged toward them.
She dragged Sadie into the afterworld, releasing the girl when she whirled and swung her blade. Annora allowed the darkness to take her form, leaving her a ghost. The blade sliced harmlessly through her, the metal tugging at her chest, trying to drag her back, but she gritted her teeth and resisted.
Only when the blade passed through her did Sadie stop moving and glance around them.
There wasn’t really a transition period. One second they were in the human realm, then next the world around them had gone dark with decay. The pathway was crumbling cement. The trees were just giant skeletons poised to snatch up the unwary. She’d swear that she could see emaciated corpses tangled in the tall branches. Tiny specks floated in the air on a current that tugged at her clothes, asking her to come out and play.
Sadie stumbled away, bringing up her sword, staring at the world around them with fear and awe. “What did you do?”
Black fog whirled next to them as Edgar took shape out of the darkness. He arrived whole, like stepping through a doorway. He glanced at her with a scowl, his fathomless blue eyes whirling with the afterworld. “Get to Camden and go home.”
Annora bit her lip, every part of her objecting at leaving him alone with Sadie, alone in the afterworld that held him prisoner for so many years. “No.”
“Alcott, what the fuck is going on here?” Sadie stormed toward him.
Annora ghosted through the darkness and appeared next to Edgar, grabbed another of her blades, and stood between them.
Sadie halted, bringing up her weapon, glancing between the two of them, her eyes narrowing. “Alcott?”
Annora snorted, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “What the hell do you think is happening? We’re in the banished lands where you left Edgar to rot all those years ago.”
“Impossible.” Sadie blanched, her sword wavering and she shook her head. “No one escapes the banished lands once they claim you.”
But she glanced around them nervously, as if expecting the boogeyman to appear at any second. She tried to jump, use her powers to escape, only to reappear a second later like she’d smacked into a brick wall. She staggered for balance, her eyes widening in terror. “You stupid girl. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? We’re trapped.”
Annora released a sigh and lowered her weapons. “No, only you are trapped. Now you can’t hurt anyone else.”
Edgar rested his hand on her shoulder, then gave a squeeze. “Annora.”
It wasn’t a reprimand.
He was leaving it up to her to decide what to do with Sadie.
She glanced at him over her shoulder with a frown. “She really was your friend?”
Edgar ran a hand over his hair and gave a shrug, suddenly looking tired. “At one time.”
Sadie flinched, defeat bowing her shoulders for a second before she straightened and lifted her chin. “I’m trying to save your life, you stupid ass. Don’t you see that she’s dangerous? She—”
“She rescued me from the banished land,” Edgar snapped, a fierce scowl crossing his face. “She’s my mate.”
Sadie gave a bitter laugh. “She put some sort of spell on you. Called you forth and bound you to her. She—”
“Dammit, Sadie.” Edgar marched forward and yanked the sword out her hand. “She’s Daxion’s daughter. I didn’t bring you here. She did.”
Sadie’s skin took on a green tint, and she staggered back as if struck, glancing back and forth between them. “Impossible. He would never break the laws. He—”
“Annora.” Edgar turned away from his former friend, walking toward Annora, his concerned gaze coming to rest on the wound at her hip. “How badly are you hurt?”
Annora touched her wound, her fingers coming away with blood, but the pain barely registered. “Minor.”
“You need to heal.” Edgar studied the injury, ignoring the way Sadie watched them with narrowed eyes.
“It’s not a big deal—”
“There are things in the banished lands that hunger for a taste of someone like you.”
Annora glanced around the afterworld, convinced he was shitting her. “I—
“Not to mention if you go back to the house injured, the guys will never let you leave again and your rescue mission will fail.” He spoke bluntly, but his eyes were glued to the blood soaking into her pant leg, as if seeing her wounded hurt him in some way.
But he did have a point. If the guys saw she was hurt, they’d never let her leave.
Giving him a nod, she swirled her hand in the air and the dark particles spun at her feet. It twisted up her legs like a snake, weaving around her, before skating up to her hip and licked along the injury, gathering into the wound.
Flesh stitched together in a painful wave, and she sucked in a sharp breath, letting it out as adrenaline surged through her veins. Pleasure and pain twisted together as the wound sealed shut, then even the bruise gradually faded.
“That’s not possible.” Sadie looked like she’d seen a ghost, staring at Annora like she was a freak.
Edgar inspected the rip in her clothing where the sword cut through, running the tip of his finger gently along the newly healed flesh, the touch on her sensitive skin making her shiver.
Only when he was satisfied did he grunt and straighten. “We need to head back before your men call in the cavalry.”
Annora nodded, crossing her arms and cocking her head to the side. “What do we do with her?”
The need to keep her men safe rode her hard and being in the afterworld affected her more than she wanted Edgar to know. It wasn’t a threat to her like he seemed to believe…it made her the threat. Breathing in the dark particles made her more volatile and vengeful.
She wanted to leave the bitch there to wander the banished lands the same way she’d left Edgar to suffer alone for all eternity.
As if catching the gleam of her intent in her eyes, Sadie lifted her arm in surrender and carefully crouched and set her sword on the ground. “You can’t leave me here.”
Sadie glanced at her, then turned to Edgar. “I’m not as strong as you. I won’t survive.”
Annora studied Edgar, only to see him wince, refusing to meet Sadie’s gaze.
The girl closed her eyes, then straightened and lifted her chin. Despite her moxie, fear lingered around her like a stench that would quickly attract predators.
And Edgar…he would leave his old friend here to rot.
To keep Annora safe.
She didn’t give a shit about herself, but she worried what it would do to him if he left Sadie to suffer. “Edgar—”
“No.” His head snapped up, and he glared at her. “She tried to kill you. She knows you’re my mate and went after you anyway. She doesn’t deserve your mercy.”
Shame tinged Sadie’s expression for the first time, and she spoke, her voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I thought I was saving you from a spell she cast over you. I didn’t know.”
Then her lips thinned, her face hardened and she turned toward Annora. “You need to know being mated is illegal. If they find out, they’ll do anything to destroy you both, heir to the dynasty or not.”
“But he left that life behind. He—”
“No one leaves…at least not alive. Edgar was the most powerful of us—before you. Because
he wants to protect you, he’s betrayed his own kind, and they won’t easily forgive him.” Sadie gave her a bitter smile. “Or you, for being born a half-breed. Daxion might excuse your existence, but never a rogue mating.”
“But you breed your people for more power.” Annora glanced between the two of them. “I don’t understand why this is different.”
Sadie gave her a pitying look. “The elders approve each union—a way to ensure they remain in power. They would never approve someone like you…someone they can’t control. That’s why Alcott was such a threat, why they needed to break him before he could take over. He didn’t believe in the old ways. He wanted change.” Sadie glanced at Edgar, but he refused to acknowledge her. “Instead of bowing down to them, he walked away, preferring to die in the banished lands than obeying your father.”
Guilt over what her father did to Edgar threatened to strangle her.
“Stop it, Sadie. Annora did nothing wrong. She saved me, pulling me out of the afterworld without even knowing what she was doing. She’s even stronger than her father…and you know as well as I do that he won’t allow her to live unless she’s completely under his control.”
At the ominous tone, Annora stared at them, waiting for them to elaborate.
Sadie was happy to oblige. “If your father got ahold of you, he could mold you into his image.” She turned to Edgar. “He’ll break her until she’s nothing more than a puppet, ready to dance for him whenever he pleases. If he has her, he will have no need of you.” She reached out Edgar pleadingly. When he made no move toward her, she curled her hand into a fist, her arm dropping to her side and a snarl curling her lips. “You know what will happen if he gets control of someone with powers like hers.”
Edgar snorted and shook his head. “If you think I’m stubborn, you haven’t seen anything yet. I’m a pushover compared to her.”
Calculation entered the phantom’s eyes. “You’ll need to challenge Daxion for his rule. It’s the only way if you want to keep each other alive.”
“Stop it, Sadie.” Edgar slashed his hand through the air. “Stop twisting things to get what you want. Neither one of us want to rule.”
Sadie marched up to him and poked him in the chest. “It doesn’t matter what you want. We have to do what’s best for our people, and our people need you.”
“That’s not my life anymore. It hasn’t been for years. You have to let it go.” Edgar pushed her away in disgust.
“Then help me do it.” Sadie trailed after him like a persistent pit bull. “You owe—”
“Stop.” Annora shoved her way between them, forcing Sadie back a step when she tried to get into his face. “He doesn’t owe any of you a damn thing. You tossed him away like trash and didn’t even bother to look for him. When he needed you most, you abandoned him.”
It was all she could do not to haul back her arm and slug the bitch.
Annora turned away, ready to leave her ass behind in the afterworld.
Sadie called out. “What if I help you get your man back?”
Annora stilled.
She didn’t trust Sadie an inch, and certainly not with the safety of her men. If it served her, that bitch would feed them all to the wolves and smile doing it. “You—”
“If she gives her word, she’s honor bound to keep it.” Edgar interrupted, then reached out, snagging her hand and pulling her close. “Though I don’t want her anywhere near you, she might be the key to getting your kitsune out alive.”
“But at what cost?” Annora was torn. As much as she wanted Logan back, she would not sacrifice Edgar to do it. She rested her head against his chest, and he pressed his hand against the back of her neck, pulling her fully against him.
“I won’t let her touch you,” he murmured into her hair.
That was the least of her worries.
“Sadie—”
“You have my word.” She answered promptly, a victorious smile breaking across her face.
“And your promise you’ll do nothing to harm or bring danger to Annora.” Edgar stepped away to glare down at his former friend, nothing but icy disdain in his expression.
Sadie scowled and crossed her arms, looking Annora up and down before giving a defeated sigh. “Agreed.”
A silent for now echoed between them.
“I’ll take you with us when we leave in exchange for your help tonight—”
“Agreed,” Sadie snapped, clearly not happy.
“—but I won’t help you get us killed.” Annora marched toward the girl.
Sadie dropped her arms and tensed, clearly longing for her sword. But instead of backing down, she lifted her chin.
“If you harm Edgar, there is nowhere you can run or hide that I won’t find you. Understand?”
Sadie studied Annora, as if testing her resolve, then peered over her head at Edgar, an unreadable expression on her face before she nodded. “Understood.”
Annora retreated to stand near Edgar, slipping her hand around the crook of his elbow. “Ready?”
He gazed down at her, his face softening from the imperial lord expression he normally wore. He reached up, brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “I’ll follow you anywhere.”
When Sadie came near, sword in hand, he looked up, and any bit of warmth vanished from his expression, a clear warning to the other phantom.
Sadie gave a nod, then held out her hand imperiously, as if they were doing her a favor by bringing her back to the human realm.
Annora rolled her eyes, grabbed the girl’s sleeve and watched as the world around them shifted and the shadows retreated. Visibility became clearer as the dark particles slowly winked out of existence. The sun hovered on the horizon, light barely stretching across the land as it began to sink. The air felt heavier here, less charged, the world duller.
Just as she released Sadie, Camden came up behind the girl, pressing his bare hand on the back of her neck. The phantom tightened her grip on her sword, only for Camden to clamp his hand around her wrist. They struggled for dominance for a few seconds before Sadie’s eyelids fluttered and she dropped to the ground with a heavy thump.
Which left Annora staring at a very pissed-off Camden.
His hair shimmered in the darkness, the iridescent colors always more dominant when he was upset, but it was the scaly diamond pattern imprinted on his skin that gave him away.
He’d come to do war.
He scanned her from head to foot, and she barely stopped herself from fidgeting under his intense gaze. She waited for him to shout or vent his anger, but instead he strode to her side and inspected the now-unblemished skin where she’d been cut.
When she reached for him, he retreated, and a pit opened up in her stomach. He bent, then scooped up Sadie, tossing the girl over his shoulder like she weighed nothing, and laid his hand on her skin, the toxin in his touch keeping the girl from waking.
Annora frowned when he took off toward the house without a word, and she scrambled to catch up with him, not exactly sure what she could do or say to take his rage away. His anger made her anxious, and she hated the bitterly cold distance he was putting between them.
Edgar followed her, giving her a commiserating glance. “Give him time. He doesn’t like that you vanished and he was unable to follow. Men like him don’t understand a helplessness like that…they can’t bear it.”
Annora nodded, feeling dejected.
But Edgar was right. Being helpless destroyed something inside a person.
She gazed at Camden’s back, nearly distracted by the delicious flex and pull of muscles as he slipped in and out of the shadows. She winced at the hurt she’d unintentionally inflicted, determined to find a way to make it up to him.
As they entered the house, the guys were already waiting, fully decked out in their battle gear, every one of them looking lethal and intimidating as hell.
And fucking pissed.
She ducked her head and mutely followed Camden into the living room, where he dumped—or more
like tossed—Sadie’s unconscious body on the couch. When he made to head toward the kitchen, still refusing to acknowledge her, she scowled and stepped into his path.
“What was I supposed to do—let her kill you?” She plopped her hands on her hips, not about to be cowed. “I won’t apologize for trying to keep you safe.”
To her shock, Camden grabbed her and crushed her to her chest, burying his face in her hair. After a minute, he spoke. “You’re my grá. Mine to protect.” His grip tightened possessively, and she did the only thing she could…hugged him back. “I know what you did and why, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
He pulled back, staring down at her, his green eyes devastated at the lack of control he had over his own life since she’d crashed into it. She reached up and cupped his cheek, watching the battle patterns slowly fade away under her touch. “I’ve never cared enough about a person to worry about them getting their feelings hurt. While I can’t always keep myself from harm, I can promise I’ll always come back to you…if you promise the same.”
Breath exploded from Camden, like Mason just punched him the gut, and he gave her a crooked, broken smile. “Deal. I can’t say I’ll ever like seeing you in danger, but I know you’ll do everything possible to keep yourself safe for us.”
Annora placed her hands on his shoulders, dragging them down his chest, then smiled up at him. “We did learn one thing of interest tonight.”
He gave her a questioning look.
“Your touch works on phantoms.” She lightly scratched her fingernails across his chest, then stood up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “Logan is right…I was created for you guys.”
He let out a tortured groan, and she slipped out of his arms just as he grabbed for her, sauntering out of the room with a grin, loving that she had the ability to throw him a little out of whack. She was conscious of the way his heated eyes followed her and couldn’t stop the way her stomach fluttered in anticipation.
Camden needed surprise and love in his life or he was going to suffocate, and she was determined to give it to him.
Shackled to the World: A Phantom Touched Novel Page 18