Song of Midnight Embers

by Dana Marie Bell

  It wasn’t one of his finer moments, he had to admit that. But he’d been desperate to get at least some acknowledgement from his mate, some display of concern, and he’d gotten it.

  “Jesus wept, look at all these books!”

  Greer burst into laughter at Mollie’s curse. “I think she found your stash, Rock.”

  “I got some of them out when you called. Figured it would help with our research if I already had them laid out on my coffee table.”

  “Thanks, man. We really appreciate this.” Greer followed Rock into the living room, whistling softly at the sight of so many books, so many good memories. “Do you remember the time you set up that trap, the one that stuck the person’s hands to the wall?”

  Rock chuckled softly. “And Zander got stuck in it?”

  Mollie was watching them, a cute little smile on her face. God, she was adorable. Greer could barely keep his hands off her, but he traded smiles with Rock instead. “Yup. He put his hand on the wall, got stuck and tried to use his other hand to get free. When he realized what he’d done, he looks around the table and says, ‘I did that. I actually did that.’”

  “It took the mage, the fighter and the thief to break him free.” Rock sighed happily. “Good times, man. Good times.”

  Mollie leaned forward, one of Rock’s books clutched in her hands. “So did Greer tell you our theory, that we can use these to narrow down the type of demon or demons we’re dealing with?”

  Rock nodded slowly. “I think it’s a great idea, but the others might not be so...enthusiastic. Zander and Frisco will get it, of course, but Dragos or Noah? No fucking way. And Gideon will probably think it’s a waste of our time.”

  “A number of the monsters in these books are based on mythology and legends. They’re just grouped together by type, which makes our lives easier.” Greer clutched a book in his hands like a greedy child. “The level of research they did when the game originally came out way surpasses our own.”

  “And in the really early books, you’ll find that they even tell you the origin of the myth.” Rock opened a book with a broken spine, wincing slightly. “I used the hell out of this one.” He pointed toward an Abyssinian creature Greer had found in one of his research books earlier that day. “See what I mean?”

  “Yeah.” Mollie rubbed her hands together. “Let’s get cracking, then.”

  * * *

  An hour later, Mollie was rubbing her forehead. “Some of these things would be a horror to face in real life.”

  “Thank God most of them are just myths.” Rock grunted and picked up another book.

  Mollie bit her lip, wondering if she was the only one thinking what she had in mind. What if it wasn’t a demon after all? There was more than one type of creature who could command fire, such as the djinn, the salamanders and the phoenix. “What if we’re wrong?”

  The others turned toward her. “What do you mean?” Greer leaned forward, and something in his gaze told her she had his full attention.

  “I want you guys to follow me on this.” She stood and began to pace, her thoughts whirling. “After looking at all of this stuff, and remembering some of the stuff Blake Truillo told us when he first got here, what if...” Ugh. This theory was so wild she couldn’t believe she was throwing it out there. “Blake’s a witch, right?” The boy had been found by Mina in a group of Van Helsings intent on capturing a dryad. He’d protested, saving his own life. Ever since then he’d lived in Dragos’s mansion with some other boys his age, learning all about Maggie’s Grove. They’d settled in nicely, much to Dragos’s relief.

  The two men exchanged a confused glance. “Right,” Rock replied, drawling the word as if he was wondering where the hell her little mental side-trip was taking them.

  “And that means that his dad was probably also a witch, right?” The evil, soul-sucking bastard.

  She waited for them to acknowledge that statement.

  “Blake said his dad was a psychic.” Greer held up his hand when she tried to speak. “But Blake believed he was psychic as well, so it’s possible Nelson Rhodes is actually a witch.”

  Mollie nodded. The commander of the Van Helsings was ruthless and cold. “What if he knew that all along? What if he’s been using his powers for whatever reason to get in good with the Van Helsings, make them even more powerful?”

  “You think he’s the one behind the demonic attacks?” Rock sat forward eagerly. “That would explain so fucking much.”

  Mollie nodded. “And like Kate, he has some sort of bond with the demon.”

  “That doesn’t explain Lily, though.” Greer shook his head. “I’m sorry, I’m not following this.”

  Mollie held up one of the books. “What if Nelson Rhodes has found a way to bind a djinn?”

  Greer’s mouth fell open, and Mollie almost laughed. He looked like a gaping fish.

  “Fuck me sideways,” Rock whispered. “That would explain Lily’s death. They’re the masters of smokeless fire, fire that would only touch their target.”

  Greer cursed. “We have another captive to rescue?” He fell back against his chair with a groan. “Man, this sucks.”

  “Not necessarily. The djinn could be working for him voluntarily.” Rock began gathering the books together. “We’ll have to figure out a way to find out for sure.”

  Mollie nodded. “I need to see Lily’s body. If it’s a djinn, I might pick up on it because of their links to fire. There will be a different feel to it than if we’ve got a rogue fire elemental. It will have a darker taste to it.”

  “I’ll arrange it.” Greer glanced out the window and frowned.

  Mollie followed his gaze. It was already dark out, and suddenly she was overcome with weariness. Sitting for so long, poring over those books, had taken more out of her than she thought. Her eyes ached and her head had begun to pound. “I didn’t realize it was that late.”

  “Let’s head home.” Greer put his arm around Mollie’s waist and led her toward the front door. “Rock, thanks a lot, man.”

  “No problemo.” Rock grinned at them sheepishly. “Almost makes me want to run a game again.”

  Greer laughed. “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

  Rock glanced at Mollie. “Better tell Dragos your theory. He’s gonna want to know.”

  “I will.” Mollie hugged Rock good-bye. “We’ll have another meeting soon to go over what we’ve found out. I’ll need you and Greer to back my theory up.”

  “You can count on me.” Rock leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest. “Your theory makes sense.”

  “Except for the demon-blood part.”

  Greer just had to rain on her parade, didn’t he? “I never said he isn’t also in cahoots with a demon. I’m just saying a djinn makes sense for the fire that took Lily Wulfenbach’s life.”

  “And would also explain how they’re getting through the wards so easily.” Rock pushed away from the doorjamb and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Djinn travel across shadows. There’s no way the wards can account for that.”

  Mollie nodded. “It’s like digging under a wall to get into the house through the basement.”

  “Or a bad guy digging a tunnel under the fence to get out of jail, only our bad guy takes mere seconds instead of years.” Rock shrugged. “If we figured out a way to block all the shadows, we’d be this glowing ball of light twenty-four seven. No way could the town hide then.”

  “So we block what we can, set up wards for magical attacks and deal with the fallout when something does get through that shouldn’t.”

  Mollie didn’t know if the dryads took part in making the wards, but she doubted it. Their powers lay in different areas than the witches who took care of the wards.

  “Like the rakshasa that went after Dragos.” Rock scowled. That tale had been told mo
re than once, how a tiger shifter had come looking for Dragos and had gotten his ass kicked by Rock. “I’m still not sure how he managed that, but he’ll never show up here again.”

  “I have one question for you both.” Greer tugged Mollie closer. “How do we find out if it’s a djinn or not?”

  Mollie blew out a frustrated breath. “Research?”

  Both Rock and Greer groaned.

  Chapter Nine

  Greer stared at his tree as Mollie began the descent into his home. Soon. Soon he would tie himself to his tree, offer himself to his mate in the way of the dryads, and she’d accept that bond.

  But first things first. There were other parts of the bonding process a dryad had to go through, and one of them was finding out if his tree was ready to accept Mollie.

  “Mollie?”

  “Yeah?” Her voice echoed up the stairway, making him wonder just how long he’d stood there.

  He blew out a nervous breath and tried to calm his racing thoughts. “Can you come back up here for a moment?”

  Mollie’s blond head appeared quickly, her face flushed as she panted slightly. “What’s wrong?”

  He grabbed her hand and began backing slowly into the center of the Throne. “Nothing’s wrong.” He had to do this in such a way that she didn’t fight him. If she fought, his birch might turn her away.

  Greer wasn’t going to accept that. He’d waited far too long to have Mollie Ferguson in his arms. Hell, he’d waited half his life. He’d fallen for her in high school, but time and circumstances had kept them apart. First he’d thought she wanted Mina, his queen, the one person he’d let Mollie go for. Even now he couldn’t explain why he’d thought it. Some forgotten glance, or a giggle between them, had kept him away. He’d been wrong and lost years because of it, years they’d never get back. Years that made her back away from him still.

  If he had to, he’d keep forcing the issue until his tree bowed to his will.

  “Greer?” The uncertainty in her voice was killing him.

  Man, he was totally fucking this up. “I just wanted to dance with you.”

  “Dance with me.” She eyed him warily. “Now?”

  He nodded. “Yup.” He pulled her into his arms and began slow dancing around the Throne. He hummed under his breath, singing away the sore feet and tired eyes his mate hadn’t told him about, asking the Throne to lend him the strength to do what came next.

  Mollie laid her head on his shoulder with a quiet sigh, closing her eyes as she sank against him.

  Greer danced his mate closer and closer to his birch, spinning her around faster and faster until she was laughing and hugging him tight.

  He stopped, his back against his tree, his mate in his arms, and hugged her tight. “Mollie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Can I get you to do something for me?”

  She lifted her head, her eyes bright with happiness. “Sure.”

  He took hold of her wrists. “Forgive me.”

  Greer pressed both of her palms against his birch and held his breath. This was it. One of the most defining moments of his life. If this went wrong, he didn’t know what he’d do.

  For a moment her eyes were wide with fear, but within seconds the power of the birch flowed into her, testing her as was their way. It questioned her actions, her resolve, read her deepest secrets and darkest desires. Greer could sense it flowing through her, the strength of it hard to deny.

  Mollie’s skin flickered with fire as the tree assessed her, gave her the gift of itself...and Greer.

  His heart raced with joy as he felt the connection snap into place, the acceptance of one powerful being for another. His birch had embraced her, chosen to hold her safe beneath its branches, and Greer nearly wept for joy.

  Mollie’s hands fell off the bark and her body swayed. Greer caught her, lifting her carefully into his arms. “Careful. The bond can be overwhelming at first.”

  “Jesus balls, Greer. What the fuck was that?” Mollie’s words were slurred, her limbs jerking erratically. If he hadn’t felt that unimaginable joy, he would have been afraid.

  “My tree likes you.”

  She stared at him in astonished horror. “I’d hate to think what would happen if it didn’t.”

  Greer carried Mollie down the stairs and into his home, kicking the door shut behind them. He could barely contain the joy racing through him. “You’re mine.”

  Mollie blinked, her expression going from confusion and fear to hurt in a split second. “You bonded me?”

  Greer sat on the sofa, refusing to allow Mollie to stand. He kept her on his lap, shushing her quietly, whispering soft words until she began to calm. There was no reason for her to be afraid or hurt, but it still stung. “We’re not bonded. Not yet. That was just the first step.” And the second step, tying himself to his tree and offering himself up helplessly, scared the crap out of him. It wasn’t something done lightly, not by any dryad. They were giving not only themselves, but their trees as well, heart and soul bound together as one and presented to the mate they’d chosen. If denied for any reason, there was the chance that the dryad would slip into his or her tree, never to be seen again.

  But for Mollie, to have her forever and ever amen?

  Hell, he’d do it now if he thought for one moment she’d let him.

  She put her head down on his chest. “What’s the second step?”

  He gulped. “I make myself vulnerable to you.”

  Her head lifted immediately, her concern easing some of his fears. “How?”

  Greer cupped her chin and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, sighing happily when she leaned into him and returned it. He kept it light, not wanting to tax her after her interaction with his birch, but Mollie had other ideas. She deepened the kiss, moaning softly and wriggling in his lap until he was ready to put her over the arm of the sofa and take her just like that.

  “No.” He pulled back, banging his head repeatedly on the back of the sofa. “Not yet.”

  “Why not yet? Now is good. I like now.” Mollie moved until she was sitting in his lap, her hands on either side of his head. She’d effectively caged him in, and he found he really didn’t give a fuck about that.

  “Because I didn’t tell you about the second part.” Greer put his hands on Mollie’s hips, stalling her movements. “I’ll partially enter my tree. You’ll have to take me, prove that—”

  “That I’ll never hurt you.” Mollie leaned back, her gaze going from heated to sorrowful. “I’m so sorry, Greer.”

  His heart stopped.

  How...but, why now? Now, when his tree had accepted her fully?

  “No!” Mollie embraced him, this time truly trapping him on the sofa. Even as his heart broke, he couldn’t find it in himself to throw her off him. “No, Greer, I meant I’m sorry I hurt you before.”

  “What?” His hands tightened on her hips, and she gasped, this time not in a good way. He lightened up, but he was trembling, desperate to hear something, anything, that would get his heart back together.

  “I’m so sorry I hurt you with Carter.” Mollie kissed his neck, the tip of his ear, anything she could reach that didn’t involve moving one single inch off his lap. “Forgive me, please?”

  “That’s my line, isn’t it?” Greer wrapped her in his arms. He took a deep breath as his heart started beating once more. “And the other thing?”

  “Other thing?” She sounded confused, but since he couldn’t see her face he wasn’t certain. All he knew was that she was trembling, either from fear, exhaustion or just plain emotional overload.

  “What I really am.” He held his breath. His tree had accepted her, but Greer needed to hear the words, know that she’d seen everything there was to see.

  “Oh.” She shrugged. “That’s no biggie.”

 
; Uh.

  No biggie?

  Despite the fact that he knew he should just accept it for what it was and run with it, Greer opened his mouth one last time. “I’m an assassin.”

  “I know.” She patted him on the head. “But you’re not a very good one.”

  “Excuse me?” He didn’t need to act often, but the fact that no one even suspected what he was said he was pretty damn good at it.

  She giggled. “I mean, really. ‘Ooh, I’m a big, bad assassin, yet I can’t feed soup to one naked woman.’”

  Greer rolled his eyes. Shit, she would bring that up.

  “You spilled it all over me.”

  “I was scared, damn it. You were cold!” Greer remembered that time vividly. It was the first time he’d managed to get Mollie alone, and she’d been cold, so utterly cold, that he’d been terrified he’d lose her before he could claim her. So he’d made her some soup and insisted on feeding it to her himself, dropping half of it in his eagerness to take care of her.

  Worse, she wouldn’t let him heal her, insisting on having him take her to the emergency room. He’d had to explain to several amused doctors how he’d managed to burn his mate.

  “At least we know what your best weapon is.” She was giggling uncontrollably.

  “What would that be?”

  “B-beef barley!” She fell over, letting him go, her legs still on his but her head on the arm of the sofa as she laughed uncontrollably.

  “Very funny, Mollie.” But Greer smiled as his mate continued to howl with laughter.

  “Oh, noes, watch out! He’s got a spoon!”

  When she laughed her ass off the sofa, he didn’t bother catching her. He stood and headed for the bedroom, refusing to let her see how amused he was, or how relieved.

  “Aw, c’mon. We can call you the Tick and dress you in a blue—”

  He slammed the door shut. Even he had some pride, after all.

  * * *

  Mollie picked herself up off the floor, still giggling at the mental image of Greer in a Tick costume. She could just picture his expression as he flew through the forest, bringing a weird brand of justice to Maggie’s Grove.