by Kira Stone
Gaia knows what is best. If my death serves her purpose, then I am willing to surrender it.
The voice was getting fainter. Sebastian had to struggle to hear him. Your life is in my hands, human. Not hers. Will you beg me to spare you? Will you offer me more of your empty promises in exchange for your worthless, pathetic life?
No. I ask…
Blood rushed into his mouth as the witch jerked through a different kind of spasm, tainting the life-sustaining fluid with a real dose of fear. Like the headiest liqueur, it went straight to Sebastian’s head. The world spun and his limbs went weak.
He lost his grip on his human anchor and slid under the deep surface with only a mild curiosity about when and how he might surface again…
* * *
Teake bled from more places than he could name. He had more aches and pains than he could count. Still, somehow, he was alive. He almost wished he wasn’t.
He clung to a rock with one hand and gripped a handful of the vampire’s blond mane in the other.
How stupid and arrogant he’d been. He knew Sebastian was susceptible to magic. Being unable to explain it didn’t grant him the right to ignore the odd detail. He should have been more cautious. Better prepared. Instead, he’d almost lost his life.
And perhaps turned his Guardian into the worst sort of animal imaginable. A beast that fed on fear and pain. Ah, Sebastian, I am so sorry.
There was no response. Teake hadn’t expected one. His brief exchange with Davina had warned him of what might happen if he were to let the full brunt of his emotions cascade over their mental link. Shattering the connection to his Guardian was a small, but necessary price to pay. Losing his connection to Mother Earth… that might kill him. How in the world was he going to survive without witchcraft?
He’d wrestle with that overwhelming issue later. First, Sebastian…
By slow, agonizing inches, Teake pulled both of them from the water. Sebastian hadn’t regained consciousness. Teake wasn’t sure what to make of that but he had to find a secure shelter for them soon, with or without the vampire’s help.
Dragging him over the hilly terrain to their underground nest was out of the question. He didn’t have the energy for that, even if he were willing to subject Sebastian to another day of terror. No matter, he’d find something suitable. He had to.
But what was that smell? An acrid odor burned his nasal passages as the stench became stronger. He glanced up, trying to find the source. It was then that he noticed the thick dark clouds hanging over the valley where Kassian’s house sat. Not storm clouds, but roiling black plumes from a substantial fire.
His mind kicked into high gear, trying to fathom what could have started such a blaze. More importantly, he assessed the factors of wind and terrain, and concluded that if they didn’t move out of the way soon, they’d be trapped in its destructive path.
With a prayer to the Earth Mother, Teake set about rousing his unconscious Guardian. Poking, pinching, a slap across the cheek. All to no effect. He tried a splash of water across his chest, a painful twist of his nipple rings. Still, nothing.
Vampires weren’t like humans. None of his healing arts would work on the undead, and he was reluctant to use magic on Sebastian again. Really reluctant. The possibility of burning to death didn’t thrill him either.
Teake nudged the unconscious vampire with his toe. “Wake up, would you?”
Unbelievably, Sebastian started to show signs of coming around. His eyelids fluttered, and he flexed his fingers.
And then he stopped.
“No, no, no,” Teake murmured, crouching beside him. “Come on, Sebastian. Wake up.”
“Nnnn…”
Sebastian tried to turn over, but Teake held him down by pressing his hands to his shoulders. Even in his dysfunctional state, Teake could feel the resilient energy that sustained the vampire flowing sluggishly through his body. Heavy lids slowly rose.
“What are ya…” Sebastian closed his eyes, and for a moment Teake feared the vampire had passed out again. Finally his lips parted. “Drug me?”
“No.”
“Then what… my head…” Both hands braced his skull.
Teake backed away. Sebastian didn’t sound or act the raving, crazed beast that almost took his life, but it was better to be cautious. “What is the last thing you remember?”
Sebastian scraped a wet hank of hair from his face. “Playing. In the water. Trying to get you to…” He groaned. “I felt a tickle in my chest. Like butterflies, only up here.” He tapped his breastbone. “That’s it. That’s all I remember.”
“You sure?” Teake wanted to believe that was true. That his mistake had been erased and Sebastian would suffer no lasting harm.
“Yeah. Why?” Sebastian pulled himself into a sitting position while Teake searched for his belongings, found them and got dressed.
“Later there will be time for explanations.” And, Teake hoped, forgiveness. “Can you stand?”
“Yeah, I can stand.” But when he did, he swayed like an inexperienced drunk. He sagged against a boulder, then met Teake’s eyes. “I’m not going to like the explanation, am I?”
“Probably not.” Teake tossed him the cloak. “Put this on. We need to get moving.”
Sebastian caught the ball of cloth and simply hugged it to his chest. “Why?”
“That,” he replied, pointing to the unnaturally dark sky.
The black smoke had gotten much closer. Wind was pushing it their way. Teake knew of spells to clear a path, but he doubted he’d be able to perform them or that they’d have much impact if he did. They had to rely on each other this time, not on witchcraft.
“So, snap your fingers and put it out.”
“That is not an option.”
“What then? Have a fireproof deer stand picked out for us today?” Seb asked as he settled the cloak around his shoulders.
Teake shook his head. Davina had stressed the importance of obeying her final command, even if he chose to ignore her other recommendations. “Which way does Lord Allen’s house lie?”
Sebastian growled, “Oh, so now that your ass is on the line, Rani’s house is suddenly good enough for you?”
Anger boiled up inside him. Hadn’t the vampire learned anything about him? “If it were only my own hide I cared for, Sebastian, I would have left you to rot at the bottom of the lake.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because, blood-drinker, I do not break my vows when they become inconvenient.” He picked up his satchel and slung it over his shoulder. “Now… which way?”
Sebastian capitulated, but with little grace. “There.”
The valley was a good distance away. Plenty of time for Teake to worry about what would happen when he had to ask Forrest’s murderer for help. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 8
Forrest
Sebastian heard the human stumbling around behind him as they clambered over the last rise. Teake acted so strong, so invincible. Superhuman. It made Seb feel a little bit better to know the guy had some vulnerable points.
Not that Sebastian was doing much better himself. There was a black hole his mind couldn’t fill. Everything up to the point of trying to tempt Teake into fucking him at the quarry he could clearly recall. Then only patches of color and sound came through, like imperfect playback from a damaged CD. Beyond that, he had nothing until he woke up with Teake hunkered over him and his head aching in ways it never had before.
Bloody hell. What had the witch done to him?
At least the maddening man had finally seen reason. They’d get to Rainer’s house and settle this Guardian business for good. Then he’d --
Teake crashed into his back. Sebastian pitched forward but managed to save himself from falling. “What’d you do that for?”
“Stumbled. Sorry.”
Sebastian noted that Teake looked totally exhausted. Suddenly he felt guilty that he’d set such a brisk pace. The best thing he could do for the witch now was to get him into Rainer�
��s care.
But as he turned to lead the way down the last hillside, Sebastian realized there was more activity around the house than there should be. “They’ve got company. Look.”
Together they watched the drama unfolding on Rainer and Steven’s porch. Marta, for once decently dressed, gestured as she spoke. Several lackeys occasionally chimed in. Rainer had his lord face on, giving her his full attention.
“Can you hear what they are saying?” Teake asked him quietly.
“Nothing that makes sense.” The slope of the hill put him and the shorter man on equal footing. He could look Teake square in the eye. Far from the calm, cool green he’d grown accustomed to seeing, Sebastian now saw only pain. Deep pain. He didn’t think its source was entirely physical. “Look, there are other places we can go --”
“No, we had to come here. I see that now.”
Seb wanted to offer him comfort, but didn’t know how. Or if Teake would accept it from him. Something had changed between them during the time he couldn’t recall. It was maddening to not remember what that something was. “If you’re okay with it, then what are we waiting for?”
“For the one you call Marta to leave.”
“What’s your problem with her?” It certainly wouldn’t be the same as his own.
“Call it a… hunch.”
“What about the fire?”
“It burns still.”
No shit, Sherlock. Sebastian expected to hear a derisive snort, or at the very least an admonishment. But their one-to-one connection seemed to have shorted out along with his memories.
Seb reverted to the verbal method of communication. “Kassian’s house is in its path, and I’d like to make sure he’s not roasting in it.”
“He is not.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“We are still bound. If he had… expired, there would be no need for it.”
Sebastian pondered that as he turned his attention back to the action below. Marta seemed to be getting little satisfaction from Rainer. Her voice rose, shrill and sharp on the night air. Why was Rainer arguing with this woman when his people were in danger?
There were too many things he didn’t know. Frustrated, Seb said, “I’m going down there.”
Sebastian broke away from their hiding spot. Teake reached out to stop him. “There are forces at work here that you do not understand. Wait another moment more, until the way is clear.”
“You wait if it’s so important to you. I’m done.”
Seb headed down the hill. Marta and her cohorts disappeared in a rugged SUV before he got as far as the tree line. As soon as he broke into the clearing, the vampire lord’s head snapped around. “Hurry, we must get you inside.”
Okay, not quite the greeting he was expecting, but it was better than sending him away. “What’s going on, Rani? The fire. Has it --”
Rainer was already nodding. “Kass is fine. His place has burned to the ground, along with your garden, but I’m told the danger has passed.”
“What happened?”
“That’s something we must discuss. Where’s the witch, Teake? He’s with you, isn’t he?”
“Right behind me.” Except when Sebastian turned to look, the clearing was empty. “He was right behind me.”
Rainer scanned the darkness. “Houseboy, do you know the location of our other guest?”
“In the shadows at the edge of the woods, Master.”
Sebastian spotted their wayward witch and jogged over to him. “What are you waiting for? An engraved invite? Sorry, but I’m all out of gold leaf.”
Teake hung his head. “I cannot. Gaia help me, I cannot do what is asked of me.”
“Why the hell not? You’re the one who suggested we come here.”
“I am not strong enough to do this alone.”
Sebastian put his arm around Teake’s shoulders and was surprised to find the witch was shaking. “Are you sick or something?”
“Or something,” Teake admitted.
Sebastian tended to forget that not everyone healed as fast as he did. At least that was something he could do something about. He scooped Teake up in his arms and carried him the rest of the way, the witch cradled gently against his chest.
Rainer waited for them on the porch. “Ah, I see you made it.”
Sebastian darted a glance at his friend as he set Teake down. There was an odd quality to Rainer’s voice, as if he were unsure this was a good thing. “Rani, is there something going on I should know about?”
A wry smile curved the vampire lord’s thin lips. “Probably.”
“Well then?”
“Patience. You’ll see soon enough.”
“Patience? I have none, not for you, not for anyone. I’m tired of being treated like a mushroom. Tell me what the fuck is going on!”
It had to be a trick of the starlight, because there was no reason Seb could see for there to be tears shimmering in Rani’s eyes. “I think it would be best if you waited inside, with Steven.”
“Hell, no. I want answers. This isn’t just about Kassian’s Blood Oath, is it?”
“There’s always more than one side to a story, Seb.” Rainer seemed to gather his inner strength before he continued. “I won’t insist that you go, but I do insist that you don’t interfere.”
“Interfere? In what?”
“Heed your friend, please,” Teake said quietly. His face was drawn, as if resigned to a fate worse than death, but he squared his broad shoulders before speaking to Rainer. “Greetings, Lord Allen. On behalf of myself and my Guardian, I request sanctuary inside your walls.”
“Do you now,” Rainer said, once more the commanding lord. “I’ve met several of your kind, witch. All of them treated me with respect, yet you can barely look me in the eye. Why are you the exception?”
“I revere life,” Teake said quietly.
“And you think vampires don’t, is that it? Or is it my existence that upsets you?”
“I admit to some personal… rancor. However, I have chosen a peaceful path. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” So softly it reminded Sebastian of the sound of falling snow, Rainer said, “Forrest. He’s the reason, no?”
In contrast, Teake’s voice rumbled with all the fury of a thunderstorm. “You shame his memory by speaking his name. Do not do so in my presence again.”
“Ah, so you know of Forrest. Then presumably you also know I’m the one who killed him.”
“What?” Sebastian couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “Rani, you won’t even kill the mice living in your barn. You’d never prey on humans. Never!”
Without breaking eye contact with the witch, Rainer said, “Stay out of this, Seb.”
Sebastian looked between Teake and his friend. They both seemed to be under extreme strain. “I don’t know who this Forrest is, but --”
“Yes, you do,” Rainer interrupted him.
“Do what?”
“Know Forrest.” Rainer affectionately stroked the wood framing around the front door. “Isn’t that right, Houseboy?”
“Yes, Master,” the disembodied spirit replied.
Sebastian felt an icy finger of dread dance down his spine. He was staring at an emotional train wreck about to happen, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop it.
When Houseboy spoke again, his voice radiated love. “Hello, Teake. It’s so good to see you again.”
Tears streamed down Teake’s cheeks in a river of grief. “Hello, Forrest.”
Chapter 9
A New Perspective
Teake struggled for composure, but the emotions clogging his throat were overwhelming.
“Oh, no. Hell, no. This isn’t happening,” Sebastian said. “Houseboy is just a bit of magic. A perk of being a lord.”
“It’s all quite true, I assure you.” Rainer folded his arms over his chest. “Well, Teake? Can I trust you under my roof?”
“Yes.” Sebastian’s safety and Davina
’s order to remain in Rainer’s company until she arrived guaranteed he’d be a complacent guest. If things went as planned once they were inside, Teake would be magically defanged soon anyway. Unable to hurt so much as a fly.
Lord Allen seemed to accept his statement, for he moved away from the threshold so he was no longer blocking it. “In that case, welcome to our home.”
“Thank God that’s over,” Steven said, bolting out of the house and into his lover’s waiting arms.
Rainer dropped a kiss on top of Steven’s head and offered his free hand to Teake. “I apologize for being so rough on you. Davina said… well, never mind what she said. The matter is out in the open now.”
Teake briefly clasped hands and felt a trickle of the vampire lord’s natural power, enough to confirm that Lord Allen did indeed have a strong bond with the earth. That softened his animosity a bit, but couldn’t erase the enormous wrong of taking Forrest’s life.
However, he had no choice now but to remain a guest of Forrest’s killer. Davina’s instructions he gotten during the few seconds he linked with her at the quarry to get permission before stunning Sebastian had been explicit. He and Sebastian were to stay with Lord Allen until she could assess the situation for herself. That didn’t mean he had to spend every second of that wait in the vampire lord’s company.
“If you don’t mind, Lord Allen, I would like to rest. I assume there is no pressing urgency at the moment?”
Rainer nodded. “The rest can wait until you’re refreshed.”
“Don’t I get a say in this?” Sebastian demanded.
Forrest’s voice floated over them. “Teake’s vital signs indicate he requires nourishment and rest. Delay is not advisable.”
Teake had to smile at that. The man had always been something of a mother hen. “Thank you, Forrest, but I know my limitations.”
“Rainer makes a pretty good doctor if you need medical attention,” Steven offered.
“That will not be necessary. I can attend to my own needs.” He had some herbs in his bag that would keep him going until he had his final conversation with Sebastian.
Sebastian glared at all of them. “Fine. I’ll just go braid my fingers together then until someone decides I’m capable of doing something useful around here.”