Magick Marked (The DarqRealm Series)

by Baughman, Chauntelle

  She nodded and set her head on Eldon’s chest again. “Just leave us alone. Let me be with him as he dies.”

  As she’d watched the death magick flying through the air, she’d felt like the world had stopped turning. Funny how now it seemed to be spinning too quickly, time slipping away from her so fast that she felt dizzy. She pulled Eldon’s body closer to hers, as if holding on to him might keep him here a little longer.

  Nick lowered himself to his knees. “His sister might be able to help him. But I need to get him out of here. Now.”

  “The death magick. She threw death magick.” Rho shook her head. “It was my fault.”

  “I know what happened. I saw everything from where I was standing.” He reached a hand out and touched Rho’s shoulder. “Listen, I’m pretty sure the spell she used was unmethodical.”

  “What?” Rho murmured, irritated that the man was distracting her from what little time she had left.

  “Like a time bomb. We don’t know when he’ll die, but it may not be right this second. We have to get him to Jess to find out exactly—”

  Rho popped up. “Do it! Do it now!” They could save him? There was still a chance that he wouldn’t die? Relief swamped her senses, somehow leaving her dizzier than before.

  Nick nodded. “You need to move so I can jump him.”

  Without a word, she leaned to give him access.

  “I’ll be right back to come get you.” His eyes met hers. “Don’t move.”

  Rho couldn’t summon any response except a nod. With a flash of light, Nick and Eldon vanished into the night, leaving her as alone in this world as she felt.

  A whimper traveled from the trees. Rho lifted her head and focused on the sound.

  Vectra. Oh God, she’d forgotten all about that poor girl. She lay motionless on the ground beneath the tree. Rho couldn’t help Eldon. But she could help Preshea’s little sister.

  She shoved her tormented heart aside, pushing her thoughts of Eldon into a far corner of her mind to be handled later. Vectra needed her help right now. Shooting to her feet, Rho did a quick assessment of the area. The night was silent aside from the whisper of trees in the wind. No smells came across on the breeze. They were alone.

  Rho tore across the lawn and toward the tree line, falling to her knees in front of Vectra’s crumpled body. “Vectra!”

  The girl flinched as Rho brushed a hand against her shoulder.

  “Vectra?” She cursed under her breath. This didn’t look good. “I’m Rho. Your sister is my friend. I’m here to help you.”

  “Preshea?” the girl mumbled.

  “She’s coming.” Rho hoped she wasn’t far. “Tell me what hurts.”

  With a jagged breath, Vectra met Rho’s eyes—and passed out.

  Shit.

  Vectra had been hurt. Judging by the tinge of blood in the air, it had nothing to do with the magick. She tugged the girl’s shirt up to her bra, revealing a massive bruise over her entire stomach.

  Oh, God. Vectra was bleeding internally.

  Rho glanced back at the house in the distance, then back at the girl’s small, crumpled body. Vectra was far too young to die. She should be hanging out with girlfriends and talking about boys and trying to sneak out to a concert, not being kidnapped and mortally injured in the field.

  Tears sprang in Rho’s eyes and she fought to hold them back. The girl served as a stark reminder of her own past, an innocence lost much too early. A single droplet fell and she wiped it quickly from her cheek.

  The smell of blood was growing stronger, giving away Vectra’s condition. She was getting worse. No way could Rho let her die tonight. She’d been unknowingly tangled in a plot that didn’t have anything to do with her. Losing her now would be unacceptable.

  If Vectra died, the fallout they’d see with Preshea would be epic. The shifter was positively icy with her sister alive. She could only imagine what would happen if Vectra were dead. The girl also carried a gift the team could use. With the clock ticking, Vectra’s talent could help them locate the Kamens more quickly. She could be a vital weapon in their mission.

  A weapon the enemy wanted and had already stolen once.

  They needed to get her out of here before anyone came back to find her. The ShiftMaster was detained, but still alive, and she had no idea whether or not Rhyannon had survived all that green fire. She’d straight up disappeared. Whether she’d been vaporized or managed to escape, Rho hadn’t a clue, but she couldn’t risk Vectra’s life for too many reasons.

  Rho traced a finger gently along Vectra’s stomach, knowing without a shadow of doubt that there was blood pooling just beneath the surface. They didn’t have much time. With Nick still gone, and Jess no doubt frantically trying to save her brother, they probably wouldn’t have time or resources back at the house to fix this.

  There was only one thing Rho could think of to do. And it was illegal as hell.

  Vampire blood had healing properties. Sharing blood with non-vampires had been strictly prohibited by the king, an intimate exchange to be reserved for mated vampires only. Part of Rho’s job was taking out anyone who dared to sell it on the black market. Blood business belonged to the vampires. Anyone who sold it—even a non-vampire—was subject to the king’s rule. Giving it away would meet the same end. And the punishment was so brutal, the subject rarely came up.

  Rho had always thought the rule was stupid. She should be able to give her blood to whomever she damn well pleased. But rules were rules, and she was about to break one she’d been charged with enforcing.

  A knot twisted in her stomach as she realized what she was seriously considering. Giving her blood to Vectra would be a violation of vampire law. If word about this got out, she’d be at the top of some new executioner’s kill list. And if he or she was as effective as she’d been at the job, she was as good as dead.

  Still, vamp blood couldn’t save Vectra from death, but it may give them more time. The girl’s heart fluttered as Rho vacillated between what she knew to be the law and what she knew to be right.

  Damn Rhyannon. She’d nearly killed Eldon, a person Rho’d cared about more than she’d been prepared to admit. But to hit a child with that kind of power? This was unforgiveable.

  Screw the rules. Rho’s fangs extended in her jaw and she swiped her wrist with the tips. She had to get the blood into Vectra’s mouth. If she could just get it into her mouth, she’d have to swallow it and they’d get just a little more time. With a careful push, Rho tilted the girl’s chin up and edged her wrist to her lips.

  “What are you doing?” Preshea landed on the ground to Rho’s right.

  “Saving her life.” Rho cracked Vectra’s lips open.

  Preshea tugged Rho’s arm, but Rho didn’t move. “You can’t do that.”

  “She’s not stable enough to transport. Look at her stomach. She’s bleeding from the inside.” Rho shook her head as she lifted Vectra’s shirt. “Nick can’t jump her to the house like this. He just took Eldon. He’ll be right back.”

  As the shirt rose, Preshea hissed, then shook her head. “That’s illegal.”

  Rho snapped her head up and met Preshea’s eyes. “I won’t say anything if you don’t.”

  Preshea’s brows lifted in surprise.

  “I know what I’m doing. I’m giving her my blood willingly. I accept the consequences in their entirety.” Rho searched Preshea’s eyes and waited for her answer. If she didn’t want Rho to do it, she wouldn’t. Vectra was Preshea’s blood and her responsibility.

  With a tiny nod, Preshea glanced at her sister. “Do it. Save her.”

  Rho’s wrist had already begun to heal. She scored it again with her fangs. Holding her wrist out over Vectra’s lips, she let her blood pour into the girl’s mouth.

  A stream of crimson tricked from th
e corner of Vectra’s open lips and fell to the ground. When the girl’s mouth was full, Rho pulled her wrist away and licked the wound, healing it instantly. Preshea pushed her sister’s jaw closed, clamping her hand across the girl’s lips and forcing her mouth shut.

  “Come on, Vectra,” Preshea pleaded as she stared down at her sister’s face. “You have to take it.”

  Rho brushed her thumb along the column of Vectra’s throat, encouraging the girl to swallow. Vectra’s eyes flashed open. Shifting her weight, Rho pinned the girl to the ground and tried to still her flailing arms.

  Preshea centered her face over her sister’s, staring directly into her panic-stricken eyes. “Stop moving.” The words were a command, and Vectra stilled at once. “Swallow.”

  The girl squirmed a little, and Preshea gave her sister a firm glare.

  “Swallow the blood or you’re going to die.” Preshea’s brows were drawn tight, the combination of fear and anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Do it now. You have to.”

  Vectra’s eyes were wide as a single tear streaked along her face and into her hair. Then she did as she was told. When the last of the blood churned down her throat, she opened her mouth and made a spitting sound.

  “Don’t move.” Preshea spoke softly as she stroked her sister’s hair. “Just stay right here.”

  A blue light flashed across the darkened sky, and Rho sighed in relief. Nick was back. He could take Vectra back to the house, where Jess could keep an eye on her. Her coloring had already started to improve.

  “Is she okay?” Nick rushed to Rho’s side, kneeling beside Vectra.

  “She will be now.” Rho met his anxious stare. “You need to get her back to the safe house.”

  “I told you I’d take you back—”

  “She’s been injured,” Rho cut him off. “I’m fine. Get her out of here.”

  He didn’t argue, just wrapped his arms beneath her body.

  “Be careful!” Preshea curled a hand beneath her sister’s head. “Her stomach. She has massive internal bleeding.”

  Nick froze. “Should I be moving her?”

  Rho clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Go. I gave her my blood. She’ll be all right.”

  “That’s illegal.” His tone was flat.

  “Like I give a shit about that right now.” Rho leaned in and whispered, “This girl is important to Preshea and to all of us. I will not let her die here tonight. We have to get her out of here before the enemy takes her again.”

  He opened his mouth as if he wanted to argue, then gave Rho a short nod and vanished in a pop of blue light.

  With Eldon and Vectra under Jess’s care at the safe house, Rho drew a deep breath and sank to the ground. Preshea stomped toward the tree line, but Rho didn’t bother going after her. She’d nearly lost her sister tonight. She needed a little time to herself.

  The grass beneath Rho was soft as she settled back and lay flat on the ground, staring up at the stars. The moon was brighter than usual, the night’s version of the sun simply brilliant as she gazed up at it with hope.

  As her thoughts turned back to Eldon, she stifled a shudder. He’d told her that maybe one day he’d show her how to walk in the daylight. She’d never realized how much she clung to that idea or how much she’d actually believed him. With Eldon gone, she’d never see the sun. And a part of her would die inside if she lost him.

  No, she couldn’t think like that.

  Jess had successfully saved Rho from silver poisoning, and Jess didn’t even like her. She could only imagine the stops that mover would pull to save her brother from death. They might disagree at times, but Eldon’s family was close. They wouldn’t take losing their brother lightly.

  Rho wouldn’t take it lightly, either.

  God, she hoped Vectra would be okay. She’d never given her blood to anyone before, but she’d heard what it could do. She prayed the rumors would prove true.

  They’d retrieved the green fae Kamen from Alexander. Why he held the green one instead of his own yellow shifter Kamen, she didn’t know. But that wasn’t important. The werewolf Kamen had never been lost and still resided with Tim’s pack, so this would bring their total up from one to two. Costel would be pleased. He’d let her live.

  Even if she didn’t want to.

  Her mind was numb and her heart hollow as she stared into the night sky. There were so many things that she’d do differently if she could get another chance. Just one more chance. Life was short. Way too short to fill it with missed opportunities.

  As her heart twisted in her chest, she realized that she’d never allowed herself to admit to being soul struck. Was this what it felt like to be bound to someone? A connection so deep, losing the person would be torture?

  No wonder Eldon had stayed by her bedside. In the few moments since Nick had taken him from her, she felt terribly alone and helpless. This must be why the Lamia King never wanted his queen far from his side. It was torture.

  She wished she knew whether or not he was alive. Although, with the way she reacted to him now, she’d probably experience some physical reaction to his death. They weren’t mated, so his passing shouldn’t kill her outright, but there would be consequences. Of the not-getting-out-of-bed-for-weeks variety.

  Maybe if he gained consciousness, just for a moment, she could get inside his mind. If she couldn’t wrap herself up in his arms, it would be nice to take up residence in his thoughts. Even if they were only his dreams.

  A blue light flashed and Nick’s face came into focus, taking the place of the moon.

  “Jess is working on them both.” He extended a hand. “Let’s go.”

  She reached her hand up to meet his without a word, and the world started to fade and warp once again.

  The safe house was absolute chaos. The moment they arrived, all Rho could hear were the clanking of cabinet doors and water rushing in the bathroom upstairs. Female voices shouted back and forth to one another, determination and focus in their sharp responses.

  Dropping her hands from Nick’s waist, Rho stepped back. Vertigo struck her once again, and strong hands gripped her arms to yank her upright.

  “You okay?” Nick asked.

  Rho focused on his concerned eyes as the world stopped spinning. “Yeah. Always get dizzy when we do that.”

  “It takes some getting used to.”

  She nodded and glanced around the safe house. Everything looked exactly as they’d left it earlier that night, but the scents of the emotions running through the house left her feeling raw.

  Fear. Sadness. Anger.

  They threatened to tear her apart, her own emotions already caught in a balancing act. She would not cry in front of these people. Well, Nick had seen her cry, but that was it. She planned on swearing him to secrecy later.

  “Where is he?” Rho asked.

  Nick jerked his head to the right. “Upstairs. Same room you’d stayed in.”

  She shot up the stairs, almost plowing Jess over as she threw the bedroom door open.

  Jess’s green eyes shot to hers. “Get out of here.”

  Yeah, like that was going to happen. “No.”

  “You see this?” Jess pointed to her brother, lying still in the bed. “You did this. You.”

  Adelle emerged from the connecting bathroom. “Jess, not now.”

  “No!” Tears brimmed in Jesss’ eyes. “My brother is dying because you didn’t protect him. Nick told us what happened. You broke his circle.”

  Guilt shot up Rho’s spine, making her instantly cold. There was nothing she could say to refute the accusation. She was guilty as charged.

  “That’s not the whole story,” Nick said from the doorway.

  “Shut up!” Rho threw her hands up. “Everyone just shut up!” She didn’t need Nick to defend
her because there was nothing to defend. She deserved Jess’s anger and would blame herself forever if Eldon died tonight. Tears threatened but she swallowed them back. “I’m not here to fight with you. I want to help.”

  Jess took a step forward, settling her hands on her hips. “You want to help? Stay away from my brother.”

  A heavy sigh came from the bed, and all four of them shot a glance at Eldon. He lay expressionless and perfectly still. False alarm.

  “We don’t have much time,” Adelle said softly.

  Rho clutched her chest, feeling the need to apologize though it wouldn’t do a damn bit of good. “I’m so sorry. I saw the girl and I lost focus. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry isn’t going to get me my brother back. He’s been death marked,” Jess snapped.

  “What do you mean?” Rho asked.

  Jess twisted around to glance at the bed. “It means the queen of the fae strapped a ticking bomb to his ass. It can blow at any second. I don’t know when he’s going to die.”

  Rho swallowed the panic rising in her throat. “Fix it.”

  “I can’t fix it.” Jess shook her head, sadness overwhelming her small features as she gazed at her brother. “I don’t know how.”

  She couldn’t give up, especially before they even tried. “You’re a healer. You’re supposed to know everything about curing people.”

  Jess’s eyes narrowed as she met Rho’s accusing stare. “This is death magick we’re talking about. I don’t deal in illegal magick. If I try to remove it without knowing what I’m doing, I could kill him instantly.”

  Rho’s brow pinched as she recalled what Jess had done earlier. “Throw it into the lines. That’s what Eldon said you did with me.”

  “That was different. You had a reaction to a metal, not magick.”

  “So?”

  Adelle drifted over to the bed and set a wet towel on Eldon’s forehead. “Magick is about yin and yang. Balance. You can’t destroy it, only displace it.”