“Yeah,” Kerilyn said, leaning gratefully back against Arawn. “But the question is, why?” She tilted her head back to see him, waiting for her answers.
There was no forgetting the battle she’d fought. The wound in her side had been mortal. Not to mention the other injuries she’d received along the way. Without a doubt, she should be dead. Instead, all she felt was a little weak, and even that lingering complaint was fading with every breath. Her body was free of pain and when she glanced down at her left arm, she couldn’t see any of the scratches or bites she knew should be there. Even the blood and grit that should cover her body was gone, leaving her as fresh and whole as if she’d stepped from a shower.
“What did you do?” she demanded.
He looked grave. “Saved your life.”
“How?”
Reaching out he lifted the hem of her torn shirt. Kerilyn drew a sharp breath when she saw the black handprint now resting where her wound had once been.
“What the hell is that?” she said, touching the darkened skin.
“You were dying,” Arawn said. “So I let you, but only a little.”
“How can a person die a little?”
He touched her face, tilting her head up to him. “Do you think I cannot control death?”
A chill washed through her. With gritted teeth, she forced herself to crawl from the comforting warmth of his arms and turned to face him directly.
“Not human death,” she denied. “It doesn’t work that way.”
He nodded sharply. “Therefore I had to make you a little less human.”
Kerilyn gaped at him. Surely she’d misheard. He couldn’t have said what she thought he had. It was ludicrous. It was impossible. It was...terrifying.
“The mark on your flesh is not just any mark,” Arawn continued. “The black area is now spirit, not human. Since I control spirits, I could heal you once you had one foot in my realm.”
Kerilyn stared at the black flesh in horror. Gingerly she reached down to touch her side, hesitating only a second before she pressed her fingertips to the darkness tattooing her skin. It felt the same as it ever had. But if she truly was part spirit, then nothing was the same. She was one of the beings she’d feared her whole life. Where did that leave her? She breathed shallowly, trying not to let panic overtake her. How could she live as part spirit?
“I can explain everything to you,” Arawn told her, no doubt reading the expressions flying across her face. “But your niece has had enough trauma tonight. You should take her home.”
Kerilyn sucked in a sharp breath, looking at Sarah. He was right. She still had responsibilities. This was no time to let her fears take over.
Crawling to the circle’s edge, she held out her hand. “Sarah,” she said, trying to summon a reassuring smile. “Everything is ok. Want to go home?”
“Y-you said not to leave the circle,” Sarah protested.
“I know, honey, but things are different now. I’m here to make sure you stay safe.”
Sarah looked past her to Arawn.
“Don’t worry,” Kerilyn said. “He won’t hurt you. He’s a...friend.”
“Trust your aunt, child,” Arawn agreed.
Slowly Sarah unwound her arms from around her knees and shifted closer to Kerilyn.
“Good girl,” Kerilyn encouraged, pulling the child into her arms and hugging her tight. The little girl wrapped her arms around Kerilyn, holding on for dear life.
“I’m sorry,” Kerilyn said to her. “I’m so sorry we pulled you into this.”
“I want to go home,” Sarah whispered.
Kerilyn nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
She pushed herself to her feet, wobbling only slightly. Taking her niece’s hand, she turned to Arawn.
“Coming with us?” she asked.
“Always,” he replied as he moved to her side.
“Then let’s go.”
He bowed elegantly, motioning her to lead the way.
As they left the warehouse where she had technically died, Kerilyn tried not to wonder how she’d changed and what it meant for her future.
Chapter Six
A dark jack-o’-lantern sat on the porch of Sarah’s house. The candle that should have been flickering away in protection had been snuffed out.
“Stupid,” she couldn’t help muttering to herself as they walked by.
The trio pushed through the open front door and strode into the dark house. Kerilyn flipped the hall switch to give them some light. The house looked as it always had. Nothing was broken or out of place. There were no signs of a struggle.
“Stay with your niece,” Arawn said, scanning the hall. “I will search.”
Kerilyn understood what he meant. Neither of them were sure Abaddon had let Jessica live. If her mother was dead, Kerilyn didn’t want Sarah to see it.
Scooping the girl into her arms, Kerilyn waited by the door as Arawn climbed the stairs to the upper floor.
“Where’s Mommy?” Sarah asked.
“Arawn is going to get her for you,” Kerilyn replied. “Isn’t he a nice man?”
“He hurt the monsters who hurt you.”
Kerilyn smiled slightly. He had?
“The monsters were scary, weren’t they?” Kerilyn asked.
Sarah nodded shakily.
“I know this is hard, Sarah, but I want you to remember tonight,” she instructed, wishing she could have told the child to forget instead. “This is what happens on Halloween when you are in our family. Always stay inside and light a jack-o’-lantern. Promise?”
“Promise,” she whispered.
“Sarah!” Jessica shrieked.
Kerilyn whirled around, honestly surprised to see the woman still breathing.
Jessica ran down the stairs and grabbed her child from Kerilyn’s arms. Arawn followed at a more leisurely pace.
“Abaddon merely stunned her,” he explained, glancing at the sobbing mother. “It was simple enough to remove the spell.”
“Are you hurt, baby?” Jessica smoothed the hair away from Sarah’s face, inspecting every inch of her child.
“They didn’t hurt her,” Kerilyn said. “I made it in time.”
Jessica turned. The venom in her eyes made Kerilyn step back. “You,” she snarled. “My baby was taken because of you.”
“You let the jack-o’-lantern go out,” Kerilyn argued angrily. “I know Dave told you enough to know that is the best way to protect yourself on Halloween.”
Jessica choked back a laugh. “Protect myself? From ghosts and goblins? Normal people don’t even know those things exist, and yet because I was stupid enough to fall for a pair of beautiful blue eyes, now neither I nor my child will ever be able to leave our home on Halloween. We will have to fear for our lives every year because I had the misfortune of knowing people like you.” She hugged Sarah close, pressing a kiss to her tangled curls. “I had almost convinced myself all those stories Dave told me were nonsense. Then this happens.”
“Next year don’t make the same mistake,” Kerilyn retorted. “Monsters are real. My brother gave his life to protect people like you, people who were ignorant about the dangers they put themselves in every day. At least you know what’s out there now. You can take steps to protect your family from tragedy. I can help you learn.”
“No,” Jessica snarled. “You will never see my child again.”
Kerilyn jerked back in shock. “She’s my niece.”
“We are going to move as far away from you as possible. Say goodbye, Kerilyn, because I won’t ever let you come near us while I draw breath.”
“She saved your daughter,” Arawn said mildly.
“She endangered her. I’m not an idiot. I know you had to be the reason Sarah was taken. Something you did nearly cost me everything.”
“Jessica, she’s the only family I have left.”
“Say goodbye, Kerilyn,” Jessica replied, her eyes hard.
Pain slashed through Kerilyn. Tonight she’d lose the last tie to her fam
ily. She couldn’t even blame Jessica for this, not really. If she’d been a mother, she’d probably have made the same decision.
Truthfully, staying away from Sarah was probably the best thing Kerilyn would ever do for her. If she loved her niece, she had to make sure she escaped the dangerous world Kerilyn was trapped in. That way she’d never again be used as a pawn.
With leaden feet, Kerilyn crossed to Sarah and brushed the little girl’s cheek. “Honey, I’m going to have to go away for a bit,” she whispered.
Sarah watched her with luminous eyes.
“I want you to remember everything I told you, ok?” At Sarah’s nod, Kerilyn smiled. “Listen to your mom when it comes to Halloween. Promise?”
“Promise,” the little girl said.
“Good girl,” Kerilyn said, tears catching in her throat. She pressed a kiss to Sarah’s forehead, hugging her for the last time.
Clearing her throat, she stepped back and fished a silver dagger out of her duffle bag.
“When she’s old enough, give her this,” Kerilyn said. She held the dagger out to Jessica. “It’s silver. If she ever comes across something intent on doing her harm, this might save her life.”
Jessica looked at the dagger with disgust.
“My mother gave it to me,” Kerilyn added, wanting to make sure Jessica wouldn’t throw it away. “And her mother to her. It’s passed through the females of our line.”
“Give it to your daughter,” Jessica snapped.
Kerilyn smiled painfully. “Do you honestly think I’ll live that long, Jess?”
For a moment the other woman’s eyes softened. Reluctantly she accepted the dagger.
Kerilyn inclined her head in thanks and took a last long look at the child she’d risked her life to save.
“Keep her safe,” she told Jessica. “And run as far, and as fast, as you can.”
Jessica nodded sharply.
Knowing there was nothing left to say, Kerilyn strode out of the house before she could beg Jessica to reconsider.
Arawn pulled the door shut behind them, standing beside her silently.
Kerilyn fished a lighter from her duffle bag and stooped to relight the jack-o’-lantern. As she stood, she saw Arawn back away from the pumpkin, eyeing it warily.
“Let’s go home,” Kerilyn said, feeling old and tired. “You have explaining to do.”
“As you wish,” Arawn agreed.
When his hand caught hers, Kerilyn didn’t have the heart to protest. Not when his touch gave her more comfort than it should.
* * *
When they reached her house, all the jack-o’-lanterns were still lit.
“At least they didn’t get smashed this year,” she said, glancing at them.
“Will you invite me in?” Arawn asked, his breath tickling the back of her neck.
She shivered in response. “Yeah,” she agreed. “Let me blow them out.”
He was silent for a moment before sighing. “If this is a night of truths, I have something you should see.”
Kerilyn arched a brow in question as he raised a hand to the closest jack-o’-lantern.
“What are you...” Her words trailed off as the flame in the pumpkin flickered and went out. She gasped in shock.
“There is another story about jacks, an older story which is seldom told,” Arawn imparted, lowering his hand. “It’s said they were first used not to keep spirits away but to alert humans when spirits were nearby. If a powerful spirit was close, the jack-o’-lantern would go out and the humans in the house would know to escape.”
Kerilyn whirled to face him, feeling sick. “All this time you could have come in whenever you wanted?”
Arawn smiled crookedly. “Not exactly. One jack is no problem for me to handle but I cannot extinguish all the pumpkins your family uses to protect your house.” He reached out and pulled Kerilyn closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. “But do you remember when you were nineteen?”
Kerilyn tried to think back to that particular Halloween. She’d snuck out to meet him as usual but since her parents were guarding the front of the house, she’d headed for the back corner of the yard. It was the darkest, with only one jack-o’-lantern to light the way.
“We spoke with one jack between us,” Arawn said. “One pitiful lantern.”
“You could have blown it out?” she whispered.
He nodded silently.
“Oh my god,” she breathed in horror. She’d never known how close she’d come to courting death. “Why didn’t you?” she demanded. “You could have killed me.”
“Even then, Keri,” he said, trailing his lips down her neck, “killing you was not what I had in mind.”
“We were enemies,” she tried to reason.
“From the first moment I met you, I’ve never been your enemy.” His fingers slipped under her shirt to lightly tease the skin of her waist. “Don’t you ever wonder why I was outside the gate that night you tried to run? I’ve pondered it for years. When you came flying out of your house I stopped to see if you would really cross the gate. Killing a hunter would make my night complete, I thought. And then you stumbled to a halt right before me and something...” He shook his head, as if searching for words. “You were a child yet there was something about you. A potential I’d never encountered before. So I came, year after year, to figure out what it was about you that had stopped me.”
“Did you ever figure it out?”
A gentle smile curved his lips. “I think we were supposed to end up here, like this. We crossed paths too early. You were too young. But now—” his lips brushed across hers, “—you’re not a child anymore.”
She closed her eyes, enjoying his soft touch. Kerilyn liked the idea that they were meant to be, even though she knew it was romantic nonsense. But whatever had led them here, at least they had tonight. It was a memory she would always treasure.
“I would have saved your sisters if I could have.”
His quiet whisper cut through her joy. She opened her eyes, stepping back enough to meet his eyes.
“I didn’t know you were out there waiting to be found or what you’d come to mean to me,” he confessed. “Forgive me, Keri. In this, I failed you grievously.”
Her breath caught at his words.
“I never wanted to cause you pain.”
“They knew the risks. They were hunters, after all,” she reasoned, old pain clawing at her. “Just like me.”
“My hunter,” he murmured. “Invite me in, Kerilyn, and I’ll show you exactly what I feel for you.”
She looked up into his eyes, torn between what she wanted and what she knew she should do. There were questions needing answers. Explanations needing to be given. But she was on borrowed time tonight. In only a few hours, Arawn would be gone. Would she value her answers more than the memory of a real night in his arms? Right now, standing so close to him, she didn’t know. But for once in her life, she wanted to leap without thinking of the consequences. Just this once, she wanted to take something for herself before everything vanished.
Questions could wait. She stepped from his arms in order to make her way down the row of pumpkins to blow out the harmful flames. When the front of her home was dark, Arawn reached for the white gate. He pushed it open and stepped into her yard for the first time. Her heart pounded as she followed him.
Arawn took in everything as she led the way up the steps to her porch. Fishing out her keys, she opened the door and turned to him breathlessly.
He glanced at the door that had been denied to him for years. With a half smile he crossed the threshold into her home and glanced around the entrance hall. “Where’s your room?” he asked.
Kerilyn inhaled sharply. The Lord of the Spirits stood in her hall, looking at her as if he wanted to devour her.
“Keri,” he urged.
Exhaling slowly, Kerilyn smiled. She’d wanted to be in his arms since she was a teenager. His personal brand of danger and desire was too addicting to resist. And this time, it
wouldn’t be dream flesh she touched.
“Follow me.”
She took his hand and led him up the dark stairs to her room. Every cell in her body tingled in awareness of his closeness.
When he closed her bedroom door behind him, she jumped.
“Relax,” Arawn said with a wicked smile. “I promise to be good.”
Kerilyn shivered at his words. She bet he did.
His eyes flickered in the near darkness. Kerilyn bit her lip when she realized it wasn’t a reflection of the streetlight outside but instead an inner fire shining through his gaze, just like in her dream. For a moment she hesitated at the blatant reminder of how different they were.
“Don’t.” His hands slid over her hips as he pulled her closer. “You never need to fear me.”
“Says the Lord of Spirits,” she taunted.
Arawn laughed almost painfully. “Haven’t you realized yet?” He bent his head until his lips almost brushed hers. “You’ve brought this lord to his knees. No one has ever had the power over me that you hold.”
Kerilyn closed her eyes as she offered up her mouth to his. Was he telling the truth? she couldn’t help wondering. Or was it perfect pillow talk shared with a lover, meant to be forgotten when morning dawned?
When his lips closed over hers, she didn’t care. She kissed him fiercely. Kerilyn wanted nothing more than for him to drive the memories of this night from her mind. His tongue invaded her mouth as his hand tangled in her short hair. Kerilyn gripped his shoulders, her fingers gliding over the foreign material of his clothes. She rose to her tiptoes to press her lips more firmly to his. She smiled against his mouth when his hands slipped under her shirt to explore the skin beneath.
Slowly he waltzed her backward toward the bed, never breaking from his heated kisses. Kerilyn followed his lead, trusting him to guide her.
When her legs hit the edge of the bed she drew back enough to look up into his eyes.
Arawn watched her with undisguised lust, but though his gaze flicked to the bed behind her, his hands on her body stilled.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Surely he wasn’t having second thoughts.
Resting his forehead against hers, he confessed, “I was terrified when I saw what my brother had done. I’ve never been terrified.”
Seducing the Demon Huntress Page 7