Now there was a chance they could both live together again. However, the implications were massive. For one, he would be breaking the celestial edict and putting himself in danger of punishment. Not that he cared. As long as he had Tara next to him, he would survive the consequence of their reunion.
He lifted Tara and carried her to the bed, getting rid of his shoes on the way. Placing her on the bed, he then stripped off his trousers and left his body as bare as her own. The sound of her breath catching in her throat made him widen his lips in a smile. She stared at him with total admiration.
“Oh, I definitely scored lucky.” She gave him a sexy smiled filled with yearning. “Don’t keep this girl waiting, big boy.”
He chuckled at her teasing words and covered her body with his. They made love like lovers who’d been starved of each other’s company, trying to make up for a thousand years worth of loving. She opened herself up to him and he loved her with his body, his mind, and his soul. The room heated up with the fiery intensity of their joining, each of their movements stoking the fire until it exploded when they both climaxed. Their joined bodies lifted and floated off the bed.
In that moment, both their souls left the earth realm and returned to Celestia on the day they were bonded. Tara stood before him in her purest form, offering her heart, body, and soul up to be his eternally, just like he’d already offered his. Their love blazed around them with the intensity of the stars.
After a little while the energy arc subsided and their bodies floated back to the bed. He slipped out of her, but the connection between them remained unbroken. She opened her eyes and looked at him with a smile. Her eyes remained the caramel color of her super instead of turning back to their human dark brown.
“I know you,” she said, her smile widening. “I know you are mine as much as I’m yours forever.”
M’na’s heart swelled and he breathed out in relief. Leaning forward, he pushed back her wild tresses and kissed her forehead.
“I’m glad you know.”
He got off the bed and pulled his trousers on.
“Stay there. I’ll use the bathroom and then order some food. We won’t be going anywhere for the rest of the day.”
Flashing a teasing smile, he went into the bathroom.
While he was in there he heard a knock on the main hotel room door.
“I’ll get it,” Tara called out.
A dark pervasive energy hit him in the chest and he knew instantly something was wrong.
“Don’t,” he shouted before rushing out of the bathroom. He was too late to prevent her from opening the door. Standing in the middle of the room was Tara looking wide-eyed, wearing nothing except his T-shirt, which reached her mid-thighs. Next to her was the man she’d come to know as Paul with two other menacing looking men.
“Paul, what’s going on? What are you doing here?” Tara asked looking guiltily from Paul to M’na.
“I should ask you the same thing, my dear Tara. I didn’t send you to Scotland to do this,” Paul said with something close to a smirk on his face.
“I can explain,” Tara replied and her chin lifted up as if she wasn’t feeling guilty.
“I’m sure you can, but I know it all. It’s a tale of lovers reunited after a thousand years. Am I wrong?” Paul looked at her, lifting his hand to touch her face.
She flinched, moving out of reach. M’na growled and took a step forward. The two minions moved in his direction, but stopped when Paul shook his head.
“How do you know that?” Tara asked incredulously.
“Because he’s the reason you were banished in the first place,” M’na replied.
“Who? Paul?” She looked at M’na as if he was losing his mind.
“Okoni!” M’na spat out angrily, glaring at the rogue god in the human’s body. “He’s just possessed Paul’s body as he couldn’t show you his true self. He’s too ugly for human eyes.”
The flower vase on the table flew off and smashed on the ground. Tara jumped backward with fright.
“If you’re trying to raise my ire, gatekeeper, you’re on the right track.” Okoni’s eyes were blood-red for a moment before turning back to the blue color of the human’s he’d possessed. “Since we’re sharing truths, then I wonder if you’ve told her that you were the one who reported her to the council, causing her to be punished. Or have you been too busy getting reacquainted?”
“What?” Tara gasped, her eyes accusing him openly.
M’na nodded. “I did. At the time it was the only thing I could think of to curb you. I didn’t realize they would banish you. I’ve lived with the guilt all this while. I’ve never forgiven myself.”
He took a step toward her. She turned her stiffened back to him.
“Touching,” Okoni said as he clapped his hands. “However, we both know you wouldn’t hesitate to take her back in to the council. What does the council offer her aside from restrictions and punishment?”
“You, what have you got to offer me?” Tara asked Okoni.
M’na’s heart sank. Surely she wasn’t going to consider going back in league with the rogue god.
“I offer your heart’s desire—a successful career and your life back. No shame, nobody laughing at you.”
“That would be great. There’s only been one thing I’ve wanted more than anything else—to make partner at the law chambers and Queen’s Counsel.”
“You’ll have it and more. You can have your own chambers if you want. You will have a life without pain. You won’t even remember this weekend, if you wish. Nobody will accuse you of losing your mind.”
“And I presume you’re not going to give it all to me for nothing. What do you want from me?”
“Just one tiny little thing—your soul. Remember, you don’t have to serve me, or live your life with any restrictions or rules.”
“Fair enough. I just have one question for M’na. If I misbehave, will you report me to the council?”
M’na’s heart felt as if someone was twisting it wickedly. There was no way he could hide the truth from her even knowing it might push her over to the other side. He could only hope the love he felt for her would be enough.
“It is my duty to report all rogue gatekeepers to the council,” he said calmly.
For a little while, there was sadness in her eyes. Then she nodded, turning away again. Could he trust that she would make the right decision this time? The last time, she’d made the wrong choice and damned both of them. This time he didn’t want to be the one left behind. If they were going to be doomed, he’d rather it was with her.
“Wait. I will give up my soul in her place. You give her what she wants, but take my soul instead,” M’na said to Okoni.
Tara’s eyes snapped up and she looked at him with a puzzled expression. He kept his gaze fixed on hers, letting her see how serious he was about it. He would damn his soul for her. It couldn’t be any worse than what he’d already suffered for her sake. It was the ultimate sacrifice. His soul for hers. Protecting her was his life, after all.
“You know it doesn’t work that way,” Okoni smirked. “But I’m happy to come to a separate agreement with you.”
M’na shook his head. “No. It’s a one-package deal. Take it or leave it. After all, you’re the one who breaks rules all the time. There’s no reason you can’t break this one,” M’na said to Okoni, his stare still on Tara.
M’na sensed the presence of Lami before he saw him appear on his right-hand side.
“M’na, I can’t let you do it,” the assassin said.
“This is turning into one hell of a party. Welcome, Lami. I could do with more souls,” Okoni said.
The gatekeeper glared at him in return but said nothing.
“Lami, stay out of this,” M’na growled.
“No can do. Your time is up.”
“Blast!” M’na muttered from the corner of his mouth.
“Lami?” Tara asked, her eyes blazing with anger.
“Sorry, Tara, but you m
ade the right choice in going with M’na last night. When he said I was bad for you, he wasn’t joking. I’m here to take you back to the council, dead or alive.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
“Damn you, Lami. Let me deal with this myself,” M’na said, turning his anger at Lami.
“And let you sell your soul to him for her? When we can solve this problem easily right now by sending her soul into the next millennium?” Lami said, and looked at him as if he was mad. M’na knew the other gatekeeper wouldn’t understand. He’d never been bonded with anyone, let alone live with the agony of being without his mate for a thousand years. M’na didn’t think he could live another thousand years of the same torture. He’d rather damn his own soul now and he done with it.
“As much as I’m enjoying watching all this display of affection, I have other places to be. Come on, Tara; let’s go so you can start enjoying your great life without fear of the council.” Okoni stretched out his hand to Tara.
The tension in the room became oppressive. Both M’na and Lami’s bodies froze in expectation, Lami ready to kill Tara on the spot and send her soul into limbo again, M’na ready to step in to stop him.
“No!” Tara shouted. “I’m not going with you, Okoni. What you asked me was what I wanted. Twenty-four hours ago, it was all those things I listed. What you didn’t ask me was what I needed. In the past day, I’ve come to realize that what I need more than anything else is M’na. I’ve been alone for so long. Finally I have someone who completes me. Every other desire pales in comparison.”
“He got you punished,” Okoni said belligerently.
“And I deserved it for falling for your sugar-coated words in the first place. Nothing you can ever offer me could match what we had. What I hope we could have again. I’m only sad we wasted millennia because of my foolishness. So I reject you and your offer, Okoni.”
And before M’na could blink, Okoni was gone with his minions.
“I’ll be back again,” Okoni’s voice echoed in the room as his aura dissipated.
M’na let out the breath he was holding. Free will in action again. Okoni couldn’t force Tara to go with him, any more than M’na could make her love him. It didn’t mean the rogue god had given up. M’na knew he’d try again when he saw an opportunity to gain another rogue gatekeeper.
For a brief moment, he stood still watching Tara while she watched him. The next moment, she was in his arms, kissing him and clinging to him like she was drowning. He kissed her back with everything he was, relief flooding him.
The sound of someone coughing broke them apart and M’na realized Lami was still in the room.
“I’ve got to go,” Lami said when they both turned to look at him.
“Can you give us a little time? I promise I’ll go see the council of my own volition,” Tara said.
M’na looked as her, lifting his brow in a query. Are you sure?
I’m sure. I want to do this, she replied to M’na directly.
“M’na?” Lami asked, his eyes questioning.
“We’ll be right behind you. Just give us a moment,” M’na replied.
“Good. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to kick your behind,” Lami said jovially.
“As if you could,” M’na replied, the corner of his lips lifting in dry amusement.
“And I’ll put in a good word for her, since she rejected Okoni this time and I was a witness. She’ll probably get time off for good behavior.”
“Thank you,” Tara said.
“I hope so,” M’na replied. “And thank you for watching my back.”
“It’s not a problem. What are brothers for,” Lami said before vanishing into thin air.
Tara turned to look at M’na, her eyes filled with amusement. “Lami is your brother?” Her voice filled with laughter. M’na nodded.
“I should’ve realized you guys looked alike, though he pulls off the whole bad-ass leather biker image much better.” She winked at him.
“You mean I’m not bad-ass enough for you,” he teased, leaning forward to nip her lip.
“Oh, you’re more than enough bad-ass for this Surrey girl,” she said before she kissed him fully.
“I love you,” he whispered against her lips.
“And I love you too.”
Suddenly the energy in the room surged, the bulbs all burning brightly before cracking.
“Wow! What’s with all the energy surges? Is that you doing it?”
“No, it’s not me. It’s you, Tara. You have your powers back.”
“What?”
“You have. Try and focus and you can do whatever you want to do. You can control energy. The first night being in my presence amplified your latent powers when you were angry. Tonight it’s all your doing. Focus.”
The lamp on the table lifted clear off and rose into the air.
“Look!” Tara squealed with joy. The lamp returned to the table as well as the reconstructed vase with its flowers. “How come? I thought you said the council members were the only ones who could restore my powers.”
“Yes, I also said there was another option.” He grinned at her.
“Which is?” She looked expectantly at him.
“Two bonded lovers can unleash each other’s latent power if their love is strong and pure enough.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes, our love for each other restored your powers. But...”
“What?”
“There’s a possibility the council will still strip them off you again. Are you willing to take that chance?”
“My love, I don’t mind as long as they allow me to live out the rest of my life with you,” she replied, holding him tight.
“Then let’s go face them so we can get on with the rest of our lives. First, clothes.”
When they both projected out of the room, they were both holding onto each other, looking forward to the future together, regardless of what it held in store for them.
Epilogue
Tara stood outside the Blood Bar watching the dark building with a mixed sense of melancholy and bliss. The last time, or rather, the first time she stood outside on this very same spot she’d been expecting a fun night out with her friends in a stylish night spot. A few drinks, a nice chat, and maybe later some gorgeous man in her hotel room for the night. It had been the first time she’d had a weekend of not working in months. She’d been expecting to go back to work after the weekend feeling refreshed and less stressed from the time off her usual busy work schedule.
Instead, M’na had walked into her life and changed it forever. She glanced to her right where he stood beside her, looking as gorgeously edible as he had that first night. He smiled down at her, pulling her into the crook of his arm. As always, his smile lit up his features and her heart stopped for a moment. It never failed.
“You feel odd being here again,” he said.
He could read her so easily. It was one of the advantages of being bonded. Sometimes words were not needed because they could sense each other at levels no one else could.
“I do. The last time I was here as an ignorant human. An unbeliever. Now I know differently.” She smiled up at him in return. “I guess I’m kind of worried about what the other ladies will think.”
Occasionally, the thought of being considered a madwoman still left her feeling edgy.
“I promise it’ll all be fine.” M’na pulled her even closer, lifting her chin up so she got lost in the depths of his amber eyes. “Physically you look no different. Since you’re still on probation, you can’t use your powers anyway. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
She nodded her head. He brushed her lips lightly with his, sending tingles down her spine.
“Come on. Let’s find out what Noah wants so we can get out of here. There are some things I want to do to you before this weekend is over,” M’na said with a twinkle in his eyes as he tugged her towards the bar entrance.
Excitedly, Tara followed him. The future was going to be fan
tastic.
In the Shadows
by
Caledonia St. James
Dedication
To the ladies of the UCW.
Chapter One
The power converging over the Blood Bar was of apocalyptic proportions, and like a signal from Gotham, Noah felt the pull. The colors swirling and clashing in the heavens above him acted like a homing beacon not only to him, but would also call to all supes in a 300-mile radius. Breath left his lungs in what most would consider a sigh, but Noah did not sigh, he growled, hissed, or sternly stared...he never sighed. Yet, even to him this felt incredibly close to a sigh. It was going to be a long night.
He hadn’t chosen this path, but he couldn’t seem to find a way off it either. Since the beginning of time he’d been charged with maintaining the balance of power. He was judge, jury, and executioner to any who chose to use their God-given talent against his prize pets, the humans. The last time this much power needed corralling he’d had to build a bloody ark to save humanity and stop the fallen from re-entering Heaven.
The hairs on his neck bristled—this was going to take some investigative talents. No way was a bloody ark going to do it this time, not the way humanity had spread itself, infesting every spare inch and crevice. Although, humanity could use a good clear-out to in his opinion, but it wasn’t his opinion that mattered. Nope, he was just the sword they used to control the uncontrollable. Another breath left his lungs slowly, not a sigh. Pulling on his power, he cloaked himself from everything and everyone, and strolled into the bar. Reconnaissance was not usually in his vocabulary, but this time there was too much going on to decipher the evil from the innocent. As much as it pained him to sit and do nothing, he wanted his soul clean, and spilling innocent blood would taint it so bad not even the angelic choir would be able to reverse the damage.
Noah walked to the back of the bar where he’d have an unobstructed view of the comings and goings, already having to buffer and deflect the probing sensations of the other supernaturals. They knew something was here, and they were all immediately on high alert, but none of them had ever come across him before. If they had, they would be in violation of their parole just by being here, and would be screaming for death as they writhed with pain.
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