by Bonnie Vanak
Sympathy filled Gabriel. It was hard enough dealing with natural threats to his lands, but he’d never had to deal with pack politics.
“You find anything?”
When he pointed to the ground, Jake squatted down to examine the cloth. He picked it up and inhaled. “Molly again. Guess she was trying to throw Luke off her trail.”
With a snort of disgust, he stood and kicked sand over the cloth.
A scream cut through the stillness. Gabriel pivoted and stared in the direction of the creek. “Sienna,” he breathed.
Not waiting for Jake, he tore off through the brush, ignoring the saw palmetto scraping at his exposed arms. Heart pounding like a drum in his chest, Gabriel tasted real fear in his mouth.
At the shoreline, he ground to a halt and stared in horror.
Black, oily muck engulfed Sienna, who thrashed in the water. It covered her hair, her face, turning them to black oil until only the whites of her eyes showed. Finger-like appendages rose from the water and grabbed her, trying to pull her down.
She opened her mouth to scream again and more fingers of oily slickness slid past her lips. Sienna gagged and choked.
Gabriel searched frantically for something to pull her out. Behind him, Jake shouted, “Take this!”
The Lupine tossed him a thick branch.
Something inside him urged him not to use it. She needed skin contact with him. There was power inside Sienna, both light and dark. He must reach her and use that power to save her. Gabriel squatted by the creek, careful not to step in the water. Reaching out a hand, he called to her.
“Sienna, take my hand, now!”
She kept thrashing, the blackness sinking into her skin like sand absorbing rainfall.
“Sienna, do it!”
Struggling to reach the shoreline, she lifted her right hand. He must do this. It was a first for him, but Gabriel trusted his instincts. The pure, white light glowed within him, the light that had lain dormant until he’d made love with this Elf years ago. Sienna had awakened the power inside him but he had not felt it until she’d left and he finally reached inside himself for the Elven half he’d denied all his life.
I am the conduit, he chanted silently. I am the one who brings forth the white, cleansing light.
Gabriel drew a deep breath, thought of how passion had glazed her green eyes as he’d pleasured her, how sleepy and sexy she’d looked after climaxing. Focusing on that shared connection, he clasped her hand.
Blackness poured over his fingers, eating into the skin. It hurt. Gabriel bit back a curse. He had to concentrate or she was dead and no way in hell was he losing her to this dark enchantment.
With all his strength, he pushed past the pain and gathered all his inner light. Then he reached inside her, using the connection they’d shared during those moments of passion, and yanked at the power inside her. It channeled straight into him, fueling his magick.
The blackness retreated from his hand. He pulled at Sienna’s hand.
“Pixie, remember the good times we had. Remember how much pleasure I gave you, what we shared,” he called out softly. “Focus on that. Use your good energy and your willpower to fight the darkness. Feel the white light in my spirit reaching to yours, my energy touching your energy.”
It was working! Blackness fled her hand, and inched down her arm, retreating off her face. The oily fingers of the toxic dark ceased grasping at her.
And then the terror returned to her face. “Help me. Don’t let go.”
Her fear ate at him with vicious force. The blackness crept up his arm again, threatening to devour him as it did Sienna.
It would eat through him, covering him until he screamed, and then his screams would cut off as it choked him.
“Gabriel, please help me.”
Sienna came first. He must save her. Gabriel remembered the hot pleasure they’d shared while making love and concentrated on the flickering white light threading through her now-dark aura. “Focus on me. Only me, pixie. I won’t let go. I promise. Now focus!”
He gave a mighty yank and pulled her. She flew through the air like a Fairy, landing hard on the soil.
Gabriel crouched over her, touching her face. The blackness inched off her skin and then crept back into the water, joining the oily mass.
Finally all of it fled her body. She sat up and looked woozy. Then she bent over and retched onto the sand, moaning as she threw up great quantities of black tar, tinged with rainbow colors.
The sticky black residue clung to the soil. Without thought, Gabriel flung out a stream of pure white light at the mess.
It squealed as the light hit it, burning it into gray ash.
He stared at his fingertips. The power within him had grown much stronger since Sienna’s arrival.
It would grow stronger still once they shared their bodies — his instincts knew this.
And then she’ll leave you like she left you before. How could he trust she would not?
But for now he must concentrate on reaching her, connecting with her and convincing her he meant no harm.
A pounding drummed in Sienna’s temples. Eyelids feeling like glue, she slowly struggled to open them.
Sienna blinked, and sat up, assessing her surroundings. She lay upon a bed inside a room with powder blue walls. Sunlight dappled the white dresser in front of her. Statues of wolves sat upon the dresser, along with a man’s watch and a gray ball cap. Jake’s hat.
She pressed a hand to one pounding temple. The toxic dark had engulfed her, risen up to meet the darkness inside her. It had felt like being eaten alive by thousands of gnawing red ants, and yet, beneath it was a glow of pleasure at the pain, knowing the power would turn her invincible. Nothing could stop her.
Not even Cael himself.
The evil inside her was spreading. If she did not cleanse it soon, it would take over her body and she’d have to destroy herself, before she destroyed others. How could she risk helping Gabriel cleanse away this toxic darkness when it recognized the power inside her, and wanted it badly?
The bedroom door opened and Gabriel stepped inside. “Good, you’re awake. And breathing. Breathing is good.” The bed dipped under his muscled weight as he sat beside her. Gabriel felt her forehead. “Back to normal. Normal is good.”
“Normal?” She flipped back the covers, and realized she was dressed only in her panties. Sienna jerked the covers back. “Where are my clothes?”
He handed her the jeans and her shirt. “They were soaked. I dried them.”
Gabriel turned his back as she pulled on her jeans. “And my bra?”
His husky chuckle filled the air. Gabriel pulled it out of his waistband and tossed it to her. “Now you’ll have my scent all over your breasts. Though I’d rather have my hands there instead.”
She finished dressing. “You may look now.”
Worry shaded his eyes as he turned and studied her. “How do you feel?”
She flexed her fingers. “With my hands.”
The leering look made him laugh. It was an old joke between them.
“Thank you for pulling me from that muck and rescuing me,” she told him.
“You saved yourself.” Gabriel picked up her hand and brushed a tender kiss against her knuckles. His mouth felt warm and comforting, his touch chasing away the earlier horrors. “I was able to channel the power inside you and make my own magick stronger. I couldn’t have done it alone.”
He gave her an intent look. “The power inside you proved your salvation. I was only the conduit.”
“The conduit? How?”
“The sexual energy we shared earlier. Remember how the shifters in the campground were healed? I drew out your power the same way, using my white light.”
She didn’t want to explore that thought, lest she find he was right and the evil inside her had somehow aided her by providing power. An even more disturbing thought flickered. What if Gabriel wanted to have sex with her only to strengthen his own power?
She pressed a
finger against her temple. “Where is this place?”
“Jake’s trailer. We brought you here. Jake and Molly are in the living room talking.”
A violent cramp seized her stomach. She doubled over, wincing. “Ouch. It still hurts.”
He smoothed back her hair. “I know, sweetheart. It’s the dark and the light powers inside you struggling for control. Let me help you. You can’t go this alone anymore.”
“How do you know about this?” Sienna took a deep breath, the pain easing at his gentle touch.
“I told you, I know more about the Elven than you realize. And I know more about feeling divided in half.” He cupped her cheek. “Let me in, pixie. Don’t shut me out.”
She’d walked alone for so many years, knowing solitude was best. No one wanted to make friends with a Shadow Guard who could be fun and joyous one moment, and then turn dark the next. Her duty was to cleanse the land. She’d accepted it, but it weighted her shoulders.
“I’ve always gone it alone. No choice.” She grimaced and wiped her sweating forehead.
“You’ve taken care of others, protected the land for years, Sienna. It’s about damn time you tended to your own needs.”
He left and then returned carrying a glass of clear liquid. “Drink this.”
He brought it to her lips and tipped the glass. The liquid felt cool and soothing in her mouth. Sienna clasped the glass and drank eagerly.
When she’d finished, Gabriel set the glass on the nightstand. He kept looking at her with his predatory gaze, as if waiting for her reaction.
And then her stomach clenched hard. It felt as if giant claws scratched her from the inside out. The pain made her double over and she screamed.
“What is this?”
He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry. It’s a special elixir that cleanses toxins from your body. Let it work, pixie. Don’t fight it.”
His deep, crooning tone reminded her of the times in his bed when he’d urged her to lose her inhibitions. But there was no pleasure this time, only clawing pain.
She bolted for the adjacent bathroom. Sienna leaned over the sink and retched again, this time vomiting great quantities of blackness, thick as tar, gritty as soil. She kept retching, her eyes watering, her body aching, needing to rid itself of the poison leeching through her blood.
Finally the spasms ended. Gabriel wet a washcloth and tenderly washed her face. Then he took another glass and filled it with tap water.
“Drink.”
Sienna blinked. “Hello? No damn way. What other firewater are you trying to dump down me?”
“It’s plain tap water. I promise. The first glass was my special mixture I use when I feel the dual sides of my nature struggling for control. It cleans out the bad stuff.”
“What dual sides of your nature?”
His expression shuttered. “Everyone has something they wrestle with inside, pixie. I’ll tell you later. Now drink this. It’s only water.”
Deeply suspicious, she sipped a little, only to quench the rawness of her throat and cleanse the terrible grittiness in her mouth.
The pounding at her temples finally eased, but she felt weak and unsteady. Sienna gripped the sink for support after setting down the glass. As she started for the door, he sighed and lifted her into his arms.
Gabriel set her gently onto the bed. He smoothed back her hair. “Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”
Dinner? “It’s just past breakfast.”
He arched a brow. “It’s nearly five o’clock. You’ve been out of it for seven hours. Your body needed the rest.”
Seven hours! She pushed back the covers. “I can’t stay here lounging around. Every minute I delay, is another minute away from home. I have to use the spring and get back.”
He gave her a gentle push back onto the bed. “Stay and stop fretting. You’ve had a traumatic experience and need to rest a while.”
Pulling the covers over her, he kissed her forehead. Sienna snuggled into the bed, the idea of sleep too tempting to resist.
When she awoke an hour later, feeling refreshed and invigorated, Sienna went into the living room. Jake’s trailer was comfortable, but small. A plush sofa and matching love seat were on one side of a large room, the kitchen opposite. At the stove, Molly glanced over her shoulder. The shifter’s expression eased into a smile. “I’m making vegetable stew. I don’t know what the Elven eat, but I thought you’d like vegetables.”
“The Elven eat whatever their host is gracious enough to cook. Thanks.”
Gabriel and Jake came inside. The Lupine studied her. “Feeling better?”
At her nod, he smiled. “Good. Picnic table’s all set up. I grilled chicken for Molly and myself, and Gabe.”
His expression softened as he looked at Molly. Ah, there’s an interesting pair.
But she left it alone, helping Gabriel carry a jug of iced tea to the table. Jake speared the chicken and slid the pieces onto a plate and set them on the table as Molly carried out a bowl of stew and a ladle.
They sat down to eat. The stew was delicious. She praised Molly’s cooking, watching her flush with pleasure. Jake’s expression shone with pride as he studied her.
There’s something between them.
Jake wrenched his attention away from Molly. “Gabe, Blood Moon’s tomorrow night. You celebrating with your clan?”
“Yup. And Sienna too. You running with the moon?”
Jake nodded. “Few campers are staying at the park, so I’ll be safe enough and won’t be spotted.”
“I’m not celebrating the full moon,” Sienna said.
“Oh, but you must!” Molly exclaimed.
Molly flushed again as everyone turned toward her. “It’s just that the full moon, especially a Blood Moon, endows Others with a special dose of magick. After your ordeal, you need such an infusion.”
“Oh, she’ll get her share. And an extra special infusion from me as well.” Gabriel winked.
Sienna dug into her stew. We are not going to be lovers.
The sun had started sinking into the sky by the time they’d finished and washed up. Jake dried his hands on a towel as Molly went outside to toss leftovers to the raccoon family who’d taken up residence beneath Jake’s porch.
“I called Molly’s folks and explained that you needed her help to clean up a patch of park, Sienna. I hope that’s all right.” His jaw tensed. “Her people can be rather overprotective.”
“It’s fine. Does she need a ride home?”
“Her parents will be here shortly.” As a truck rattled on the gravel drive leading to Jake’s trailer, his expression tightened. He looked out the kitchen window. “Speak of the devils…”
The truck parked. A man and a woman, both short and red-headed, scurried to the porch. Bristling, Jake stood protectively before Molly, whose eyes turned to saucers. Even she could scent her fear.
Sienna knew she had to intervene before Jake caused trouble. She stepped forward with a bright smile. “Hi! You must be Molly’s parents. Thank you so much for allowing her to stay at the park and assist me. I couldn’t have done it without her. Even an Elf like me needs help from a good wolf shifter once in a while.”
The duo stopped short. The male’s scowl at Jake faded as he looked at Sienna. “Your help?”
“I told you Sienna needed Molly’s help,” Jake drawled.
Sienna stepped behind him and clasped Molly’s cold, clammy palm. “Your daughter has an extraordinary talent for sniffing out sickened and diseased plants. She found a whole section by the creek that was threatened. I was able to tell Jake and we cordoned off the area until I can heal the foliage.”
A little white lie. Well, a huge white lie, but it sufficed. “You’re welcome. Any Elven who needs our Molly’s help, just let us know next time,” her mother said.
“Certainly. I apologize for not asking before, but time was of the essence.”
“She’s our daughter and you should have asked permission.”
; Mr. Monroe was not as forgiving as his mate.
“Perhaps.” Sienna gave him a singularly sweet smile. “Or perhaps I don’t need permission from you. Or anyone who thinks they can interfere in my duties. Unless you care to be turned into a turnip? I have a fancy for turnips. Would you like a demonstration of my powers?”
“No,” Mr. Monroe said, growing pale.
Sienna dusted off her hands. “I may need her help in the future. You understand that if I do, I expect you will accommodate my request without hesitation.”
He nodded vigorously.
Gabriel sighed and squeezed her shoulder. “Enough pixie,” he murmured.
The Monroes hurried down the porch steps. “Molly, come now,” her father snapped.
The young Lupine turned to them. The hint of a smile played about her lips. There was mischief in that smile and life, and suddenly Sienna saw what attracted Jake. The Lupine had spirit, only it had been quashed by her overbearing parents.
“Thank you for everything.” She lowered her voice. “I like turnips, too.”
Sienna smiled and took her hands, glad to see they were no longer cold. “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”
Molly glanced at Jake. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
He gave a brusque nod, and turned, but not before Sienna caught the shadows in his eyes.
When the Monroes had driven away, Gabriel stuck out a palm to Jake. “We need to be taking off as well, Jake. Thanks for all your help, wolf.”
Jake shook his hand. “Same to you, cat.” He nodded at Sienna. “Thank you for covering for Molly. Her folks are protective.”
As they drove away, they left Jake standing on the porch, staring at the dying sunlight. Her heart pinched for the wolf shifter. So alone. He had no family, no pack.
That was the destiny of an Other who abandoned his people.
It would not be her destiny.
Ever.
By the time they reached Gabriel’s home, it was full dark. Sienna said nothing as they went inside, but headed for her bedroom. Gabriel went into the kitchen, found a bottle of water and drank deeply.