Hunt the Darkness (Order of the Blade Book 11)

by Stephanie Rowe

  They had no time to be quiet. No time to be careful. No time to do anything but move as fast as they possibly could. Please stay safe, Sophie. We’re coming. She sent the message out, but she knew her friend would never hear it.

  Gabe’s arms tightened around her, and sudden tears threatened. Maria bit her lip, fighting off the tears. Don’t be nice, she snapped. I can’t be weak. I have to focus.

  Loving her doesn’t make you weak.

  Tears spilled out. If I’m so upset I can’t focus, then, yes, it does. She scrunched her eyes shut. God, Gabe, I’m so scared for her. She’s not just my best friend. She’s my sister, a part of my heart. What if—

  No. Gabe’s fingers tightened around her hips. No what if’s. Focus on solutions. The Order is unstoppable, and Kane can teleport. Once they’re across, Kane can get us there in a split second—

  But what if they won’t help? What if you’re right?

  They’ll help. Gabe’s voice was low and hard, so steady that some of Maria’s panic eased.

  She twisted around to look at him, keeping low so her head didn’t crack against the ceiling of the tunnel. How can you be so sure? You said before that they wouldn’t.

  Gabe’s face was determined. Because I won’t let you down.

  Maria’s heart seemed to come to life at the absolute conviction in his tone and on his face. She knew he meant it. His commitment to her was absolute. Not because of sex. Not because of the sheva bond. But because he had the purest, most beautiful heart in the world, and he’d given it to her. Tension left her body, replaced by hope. Thank you.

  He smiled. You’re welcome. I think you’ll like them. They’re a bunch of arrogant badasses that are too focused to be sucked into your sex demon lure. You’ll be able to be yourself around them.

  She stared at him, stunned by his comment, both that he’d even thought of the fact she’d already been preparing to deal with the lust issue, and also by the hope that it might be true. Really?

  Really.

  “Two minutes,” Damon said, interrupting them. “But I can sense demons approaching. We won’t have much time.”

  Gabe squeezed Maria’s waist. “You ready, sweetheart?”

  Sweetheart. He’d called her sweetheart? I’m so not a sweetheart type, Gabe. I’m too…me…to be sweet anything.

  He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck just behind her ear. You’re wrong, Maria. So wrong. He kissed her again, a tender, gentle kiss that made her believe that he meant it. This time, when the tears filled her eyes, it wasn’t grief or sadness. It was the softening of a heart that had worked so diligently and so long to be hard.

  Lucien dropped Sophie on the edge of the cliff. She gasped and grabbed a rock outcropping, trying to keep herself from falling. The moment she grabbed the rock, she felt it calling to her. For a split second, she considered dissolving into the rock, but the pull was so great she knew she’d never get out. It would trap her forever…and she would never have a chance to be with Vlad or see Maria.

  She had to stay alive for them, because she knew they were coming for her.

  Lucien landed next to her and grabbed her wrist, dragging her away from the rock as he shifted into his human form. “You fucking lied to me. All this time, you fucking lied.”

  She scrambled to her feet, trying to stay up as he yanked her along the precipice. Above them, the sky was bright orange, and lava flowed past them. She realized they were on the top of the volcano that housed the Temple of the Sun.

  They were too close.

  She pulled back, trying to get free, but he jerked her against him.

  Her body slammed into his naked chest, and she gasped at the shock that flooded her. He was pure energy, almost crackling with it. “You can’t escape,” he snarled. “Look behind you.”

  He jerked her around so she was facing down the mountain. Below them, as far as she could see, were demons, pacing in the shadows. As her eyes adjusted, she realized that they were all around them, just outside the circle of Lucien’s energy, as if they’d parted just enough to allow their king to land. Her heart stuttered with fear as she realized they were completely surrounded, that the mountain was literally coated with demons.

  Not the demons she knew, like Rikker and Damon. These were mindless automatons, barely evolved beasts whose only job was to fight and protect. These demons didn’t trap women and take lovers. They weren’t even capable of hunting for jewels. They were the lowest, basest form of demon existence, deformed, mindless beasts whose only job was to protect the light that warmed their kingdom.

  One of them wandered close, and she caught a glimpse of its deformed, ghastly face before it slid back into the darkness. Revulsion made her shudder, and she realized suddenly the true impact of severing the barrier between the worlds. It wouldn’t just free Lucien and Rikker. It would also unleash this army into the earth realm, to prey upon every innocent they found. How long could the earth realm survive the barrier being down? Weeks? Days? Hours? Dear God. No matter what the cost, that magical barrier had to remain intact.

  And how on earth could Maria and Vlad possibly rescue her from this throng of demons?

  They had no chance. They’d be killed.

  She couldn’t let them take the risk…but how could she stop them? Even if she dissolved into a rock, they wouldn’t know that, and they would still come for her…and they would die.

  Damn. The die had been cast. They would come, which meant she had to do something to give them all a chance to survive.

  Chapter 37

  Damon hadn’t even completely landed in the cavern when Vlad launched himself off him and sprinted across the rocks toward the wall he and Gabe had originally come through. Gabe swore, leaping off Damon as he followed Vlad. Now that he’d committed, he was in full battle mode, wasting no time.

  Vlad slammed his hands against the rock, and Gabe felt the rush of energy as Vlad reached out in search of living matter. Almost instantly, Vlad swore. “They’re not there. We’re too late. They’ve left. It’s just fish and plant life in that pond now.”

  The anguish in Vlad’s voice made Gabe tense, and he took a deep breath, forcing the emotions out of him. He might have told Maria that loving Sophie didn’t make her weak, but she was right that panic got them nowhere. “Let me check.”

  Gabe pressed his hands against the rock wall and closed his eyes, reaching out across the barrier telepathically, searching for his team. Gideon. Quinn. Elijah. Are any of you there?

  For a long, agonizing moment, there was silence.

  Quinn! I need your help! Come on! He shoved every last bit of energy into his communication, but he knew he wasn’t breaching the barrier, even psychically. “Shit! I can’t penetrate the barrier that separates the worlds.”

  “I can.” Vlad stood up. “Let’s do it together. Use your psychic connection to your team, and I’ll use my energy to cross the barrier.”

  Rightness poured through Gabe at the suggestion. It was natural and right to be working as a team. Vlad’s power was different than a Calydon’s, but just as penetrating. He immediately connected with Vlad telepathically. Okay, so, I’m going to reach out telepathically, and you’re going to use your energy to cross the border?

  Yep.

  Gabe closed his eyes and opened his mind, pouring his energy into his mental bond with his team, and drawing Vlad into the connection at the same moment. The men’s minds merged, and Gabe felt a rush of massive power flooding him. For a split second, he lost focus, stunned by the sheer force of Vlad’s power, but, he regrouped almost instantly, tightening the bond between them. He wove layers of connection between them, like a thousand invisible filaments threaded into a brilliant tapestry of power. Do it.

  Vlad immediately shifted their focus toward the wall. Gabe felt the rush of power as Vlad thrust his energy into the barrier. It held for a moment, resisting Gabe’s demon energy. Gabe renewed his push, joining his power with Vlad’s. The barrier resisted, blocking Gabe’s demon heritage, but Vlad’s po
wer was surreal, shoving past the barrier and taking Gabe’s psychic energy with him. With a loud pop that nearly shattered his eardrums, suddenly, they were through.

  Gabe thrust his telepathic energy outward, racing through the water toward the shore above, Vlad’s consciousness still wrapped tightly around his. His telepathic energy shot out of the surface and he flooded it in all directions. Quinn! Gideon!

  Where the hell have you been? Zach’s voice filled his mind. What the fuck is going on?

  Astonishment flooded Gabe at the sound of his longtime teammate, the one he’d grown up with, who had abandoned the Order to guard a South American jungle. Zach? What are you doing here?

  You were trapped in the demon world. What the hell was I going to do? Get a Brazilian suntan while you were rotting away?

  A Brazilian suntan might have been out of the question, but I still think you should give the Brazilian wax a try and spare all of us, Thano chimed in.

  Thano! Elation rushed through Gabe. Son of a bitch. They had the whole team. You’re back.

  Just to save your ass. These other old guys can’t figure out how to cross the barrier. They needed someone who has the ability to problem-solve and look at life from a new perspective. So, yeah, we all know that’s me.

  Who else is there? Gabe asked.

  Everyone, Thano answered. I brought Rohan and his team, because they can’t live without my wit and charm now. Even Dante’s son is here, but honestly, that kid’s a problem. Not going to lie.

  Gabe grinned. We’ve got a situation. I need your help.

  Of course you do. Everyone needs a piece of Thano. What’s up?

  Not just your help. Everyone’s. I need you guys to come across the barrier and take down a demon king.

  There was silence from his team.

  Cross the barrier? Quinn Masters, their interim leader, finally asked.

  Take down a demon king? Gideon sounded cautious. Why?

  Gabe swore under his breath. I’ll explain when you get here.

  Again, silence, and he knew they were discussing his request.

  Just out of curiosity, Thano asked. If we cross, are we going to be trapped there?

  Gabe looked at Vlad. Maybe.

  Our mission is to protect the earth realm, Quinn said. To protect innocents from rogue Calydons. Crossing the barrier to attack a demon king who can’t even get to the earth realm isn’t our problem.

  It needs to be. Gabe glanced at Maria, whose face was pale. He realized she was listening to the conversation.

  Why? That was Kane Santiago.

  His entire damned team was there. If they agreed to help, they could do it. Gabe looked around the cavern, at Vlad’s anguished face, at Maria’s stricken one, and at Damon, whose wings were bloodied and damaged from flying through the narrow tunnels. There was no rogue Calydon to defend against. There was no greater good to preserve and protect. There was simply one woman who they all loved. One woman who had spent her life saving others. How did he make his team understand? He has kidnapped a woman. My sheva’s sister. She’s… He paused, trying to think of a way that would make his team value Sophie’s safety on behalf of the greater good.

  Your sheva? When did that happen? Ian asked. Ian Fitzgerald, who’d lost his sheva multiple times. If anyone would understand the bond Gabe had with Maria, his need to help her, Ian would.

  Gabe glanced at Maria. She was pacing behind him, daggers clenched in her fists, her body lean and muscular. But her face was pale, almost ashen, and he could feel the fear emanating from her. She was both a warrior and a woman, strong and vulnerable. She was everything. It just happened, he said, even as he wondered how on earth it had happened. He’d done everything in his life to resist his sheva, and yet Maria had broken through his barriers almost instantly. You’ll like her.

  Maria glanced at him, and a small smile curved the corner of her mouth.

  I’m sure I will. Ian sounded pleased. Congrats, Gabe. Glad to hear you’ve come over to the dark side.

  Gabe focused on Ian. Her sister Sophie has been kidnapped, Ian. We need to help her.

  I’m in. Ian didn’t hesitate. How do we get across?

  Gabe grinned. Come to the bottom of the pool, and my partner, Vlad, will pull you across the barrier. But we need everyone else, too.

  Fuck, Gabe. That was Quinn. We’re all that’s left of the Order. If we get trapped there, fighting a battle that’s not ours, then the entire earth realm is unprotected. You’re asking us to risk our oath for a single innocent.

  Hey. Maria interrupted. She has the most beautiful, purest, kindest heart, and the world will be a darker place without her.

  I’m sorry for your pain. Quinn’s voice softened. As Gabe’s soulmate, we honor you, but you ask us for more than we can give.

  Fuck that! Maria snapped. You can give it! You’re just afraid.

  And blind as to what really matters, Vlad added. Do you guys really think that running around taking out the occasional rogue is the way to save the world? How’s that been working out for you?

  Ryland Samuels, the most dangerous and deadly Order member responded instantly. Who the fuck are you?

  Vladimir Hawkings. I fucked up one of your missions with Dante a few years back. Sorry and all that shit, but this is important.

  Gabe suddenly felt Ian’s presence on the other side of the wall. His teammate had swum to the bottom of the pool, and was directly across the barrier from them. Hope shot through him. “Vlad? You feel that?”

  “Yep.” Vlad focused his energy on Ian, and Gabe felt a shocking, violent tear as Ian’s body was pulled toward them. For a split second, there was a massive resistance, and then suddenly Ian was dragged through the wall, landing on his knees in the cavern.

  For a moment, Ian didn’t move, and then he looked up. His blond hair was short, and his muscles were cut and lean. He stood up quickly, his gaze landing first on Damon, who was still standing in beast form. Ian instantly called out his weapons with a crack and a flash of black light, but Maria and Gabe simultaneously leapt in front of him. “No!” Gabe held up his hands. “He’s on our side.”

  Ian’s mouth dropped open. “He’s a demon.”

  “Yeah, and a good guy, so back off.” Gabe decided now might not be the most appropriate moment to mention that Damon had almost killed him upon his arrival. He held out his hand, and Ian grabbed it, then they thudded their fists on each other’s backs. “Thanks for coming,” Gabe said.

  Ian shrugged. “It’s automatic.” He then turned to face Maria, and went down on one knee. He bowed his head. “My name is Ian Fitzgerald, and I welcome you to our world.”

  Gabe’s chest tightened at the show of loyalty, and he glanced at Maria. Shock was etched on her face, and there were tears glistening in her eyes. She glanced at Gabe, then back at Ian. “I’m half demon,” she said. “Lust demon.”

  Ian nodded. “I can tell.” He grinned. “Good thing your mate is a Calydon, huh? Gabe can handle the lust and the demon.”

  She stared at him. “That’s it? You don’t care?”

  Ian rose to his feet. “Care about what? That you carry the same heritage and lust that every Calydon I work with deals with? Just makes you one of us.” He saluted her. “I’m just glad you’re strong enough to handle an Order member as a mate. Not every female would be.” He winked at her, and then held out his hand to Vlad. “Ian Fitzgerald. You’re Gabe’s new teammate?”

  Vlad shook his hand. “Vladimir Hawkings. We need to get the others across now.”

  “Two minutes,” Damon said. “There’s a team of demons less than two minutes from here, and they aren’t as charming as I am…” He paused and cocked his head, then he swore. “It’s the warrior demons. They’re fiends. Shit.”

  Gabe swore and reached out with his mind again to his team. Vlad was still holding the bridge across the barrier. A team of demons is headed this way. Get the fuck down here, and we’ll figure out the details later.

  Quinn swore. Shit, Gabe.

&
nbsp; I’m calling in my blood oath as an Order member. I need you guys. Now. Gabe had never called in his oath. He’d never invoked his right as an Order member to ask for help. No one ever had, in the history of the Order, at least that he knew of. But it was always there, always an option, one that no one ever took, because to invoke that oath, meant that the Order had to come to their aid, no matter what the risk, no matter what the consequences. The Order wasn’t about blind risks. The Order was about strategic strikes, planned threat management, and efficient use of resources, none of which applied here.

  There was silence from the team.

  A silence that stretched out.

  “What are they doing?” Vlad asked. “What the hell?”

  “They’re discussing.” Gabe looked back at Ian. “We’re fucked if they don’t come.”

  Ian shrugged, twirling his double spiked flail in circles. “They’ll come.”

  Gabe felt the ground beneath his feet begin to tremble, and the acrid smell of sulfur began to drift into the room. Swearing, he called out his weapons and faced the door. They’re coming. I need you guys. We can’t do this alone.

  More silence, then Vlad came to stand next to him. Ian moved up beside him, and so did Maria. The five of them facing down the open door. Gabe tried one last time. The kidnapped woman is Vlad’s soulmate. He’s my partner. We’ve blood bonded. I owe him, and you guys do too. What would you do if your shevas were kidnapped? It wasn’t an argument he’d ever thought he’d use on the Order of the Blade, who used to kill shevas to protect the Order. But now, it was different. Now, he understood, and so did they.

  A loud rumble began to echo down the hall, the sounds of boots hitting the ground.

  “Five seconds.” Damon said.

  Five seconds, Gabe told his team.

  There was a low curse from someone, Gabe couldn’t tell who, and then Quinn replied. We’re in. Bring us over.

  At that second, demons burst through the door of the cavern, howling like creatures of the darkest night, striking fast and furious. They were more like deformed beasts than men. They were massive, lethal instruments of death. He’d seen beasts like this before, creatures designed only to kill, to fight until death. Jesus. What the hell were they? Gabe swore and leapt forward into the fray. “Bring my team across, Vlad!”