by Aubrie Nixon
Daegan snorted. “What was it you were daydreaming about? Zadkiel and cake?”
“You’re mocking me, aren’t you?” she replied, hands on her hips.
“For someone so proud, you seem to let me slide under that tough skin of yours quite easily,” he smirked.
She glared at him, “You’re just jealous that you can’t be inside of this skin,” she said, turning on her heel and leaving him behind.
She heard a growl behind her, and then suddenly she was twisted around and down on the ground, pinned under Daegan’s powerful legs. His hands were like iron bands as they held her arms against the earth. She sucked in a breath, scowling up at him. He brought his face down to hers, so close they were almost touching. She parted her lips and stared up into his eyes. They were light and playful.
“You and that filthy little mind of yours ought to control your tongue.” He brought one finger to her chin and pushed her mouth closed. He stared at her for a moment longer before releasing her. Standing up, he ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s going to get you into trouble one day,” he said, before offering her a hand.
She smacked it away. “I hate you,” she spat.
“No you don’t. You want to, but you can’t. I intrigue you, Sephera. Admit it.”
“Shove off, prick,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him. “I need to eat. Let's get off this blasted mountain.”
“After you, my lady,” he said with a flourish and a bow.
She threw a petulant smile at him as she stomped past, which he returned with a rude gesture.
“My mouth has gotten me into trouble many times. It's never ended in anything but pleasure for me,” she sneered as she made her way down the rocky escarpment.
Daegan followed behind her carefully. “I would imagine you either gutted some poor sod, or . . .” His voice trailed off as he made a crude gesture with his hips.
Sephera laughed so hard she almost slipped on the steep trail.
“You would be correct on both accounts, sir,” she said through her laughter. “We are quite the pair of perverted fools. Don’t we have anything better to talk about?
“We can speak of anything you like, Sephera.” Daegan said, his tone softening.
“All right.” She pursed her lips, allowing the playfulness of their banter to fade away. She knew what Daegan was doing, inviting her to speak her mind, while at the same time asking her to trust him with her thoughts. Finally she spoke, choosing her words carefully in case he wasn’t done teasing her.
“Why do you think I am immune to the effects of the plague? I understand your immunity, but what of mine?”
Daegan didn’t answer for a few minutes. She allowed him his silence, unsure of what to expect. When he answered his voice was guarded. “I do not know, Sephera. Baleem only told me that you were immune, but I think he knows more than he is saying.” Cautiously, he added, “But I would like to find out.”
She didn’t know how to respond. She knew that her master had not told her everything. That was why he’d given her the letter. Her stomach tightened. She should have opened that letter when they first got to camp. She should have never gone to clean herself up and change first, leaving it unread and unprotected. And then her stupid pride had kept her from confiding in Zad about the letter when it had first gone missing. If she’d just told him, he could have helped her search the area. Perhaps she’d have that letter in her hands now, along with all the answers she needed.
Baal would be furious with her when he found out. He was always nagging at her to focus on the mission above all else. Even on solo missions, she struggled to keep her emotions under control. But this time, she had been forced to work with a team of irritating people who continually got in her way. She had to check her temper constantly. It was taxing and distracting, and she wished she could leave them all behind and find the cure for the plague herself.
But then she remembered Brenner teaching her to communicate with her mind; Zad’s familiar, reassuring presence calming her; Daegan’s fingers tracing the stone pillar and interpreting the symbols; and Chantry—she wasn’t sure what Chantry did, but Sephera had formed a kind of begrudging bond with her. Where would she be now if they hadn’t come with her?
Baal had tried so many times to get her to place nicely with others. Over time she had gotten used to working with Zad on missions, though for some odd reason, his presence had never seemed to bother her anyway. But she ended up almost murdering anyone else she was assigned to work with. She had threatened so many of her fellow assassins that everyone refused to work with her, except Zad. For this failure, however, she had no one to blame but herself.
Perhaps she was immune because she was the plague itself. The darkness inside her consumed everyone she touched. That’s why she kept others away, why she wouldn’t let them get close to her. The light inside her battled to repulse the darkness. But the darkness was winning.
* * *
Daegan watched Sephera closely, taking note of her reserved quietness in the wake of his reply. He knew that she often withdrew into herself when her thoughts took her away. He wondered what the world was like inside her mind. What a fascinating place it must be, he thought.
He let his own thoughts wander to the mission, giving Sephera the space she needed. He couldn’t risk anything this time. Five hundred years ago, he had run at the first sign of danger. He’d been the worst of cowards and had let his people down. It had taken him five hundred years to gather the training and knowledge needed to stop the cycle. This time he wouldn’t let anything get in his way—not fear and certainly not Sephera. He would redeem himself. He would honor the sacrifice his family had made. The death of his brother would not be in vain. He would vanquish this constant, mocking weakness that resided within his psyche and stop the cursed blight on the world.
He needed Sephera, needed the power she did not know was locked away inside her. Like pulling a sword from its sheath, he would draw that power out of her and wield it as he needed. He only hoped that he wouldn’t break her in the process.
She was as magnificent and dangerous as the Darkness itself. He wanted to tell her everything—who she was, her powerful potential. But he was afraid of what she would do with her power if she knew. She could destroy the world and everything in it if that was what she wished. He’d seen what could happen if she chose that path. It would bring nothing but destruction. But if she chose the other path, she could transform the world into a paradise. When the time came for her to make that choice, he could only hope she picked the path that would bring life. If she didn’t, he would be the one who would have to put her down. For now, he would bide his time, gain her trust. He would wait to act. He just hoped that when that moment came, he wouldn’t be too late.
CHAPTER 22
“Let me get this straight. You want me to do this alone?” Zad asked in surprise.
“No, I don’t want you to do it alone—I don’t want you to do it at all! Sephera is going to be furious if you go after the second item without her. I will not have any part in it,” Chantry muttered.
“Yes, but we don’t even know if it's a tangible lead, Chantry,” he argued. “It could turn out to be nothing. We don’t have time to wait. We need to check out every possible lead.”
“Zad, please?” she pleaded. “Just wait for Sephera and Daegan. They will be back soon. It won’t kill you to be patient, you know.”
“No, I am going. Sephera and Daegan are out there now, risking their lives for some damned item. I can’t sit idly by and do nothing. We are in the bloody village. It's safe here. She would understand,” Zad fumed.
“Well then, I will let you tell her about your stupid quest when she gets back. Just go, Zad, and be careful. I don’t fancy having to face her wrath if you disappear or die.” She waved at him dismissively.
“Glad to have your blessing, Chantry,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Tell Brenner where I’ve gone when he wakes up,” he commanded and left the room.
&nbs
p; The old flour mill was a few minutes’ walk south of the village. He’d just begun to explore the area around the mill when it started to rain. The sky blackened as a storm rolled in from the sea. He swore under his breath. He was about to turn back when a small ball of light caught his eye. It danced and swayed in the rain, illuminating the world around it. He watched as the orb moved slowly up into the churning sky just ahead of where he was standing. Mesmerized by its gentle movements, he followed it up a crumbling stone path to a small hill. The orb stopped and circled his head, as if asking him to dance with it. He reached out to touch it, but it bounced out of reach, making its way up the hill. He trotted up the incline with an almost childlike playfulness, unaware of the mud that caked his boots. When he arrived at the top of the hill, he glanced around, searching for the orb. It had come to a stop and was bobbing gently over the ruins of an old house, the foundation and a single crumbling wall the only evidence that a building had once stood there.
Zad entered the ruins and jerked as the light disappeared. Then he noticed something odd. He extended his hand out into the air. There was no rain. He stepped out of the ruins, and the rain started lashing against his skin again. When he stepped back inside the house, the rain stopped, as if an invisible roof hung protectively over the house. His brow furrowed. The place was filled with some kind of old magic. He hunted for anything out of the ordinary but found nothing. Sighing, he plopped down on the ground. The light returned and began circling him fervently. He watched in puzzlement as it accelerated. Suddenly, hundreds of balls of light appeared, illuminating the ruins and transforming them. Before his eyes, the fallen walls arose and fit together. A ceiling formed overhead. Doors and windows flew into place. His head spun at the dizzying display, and he lost consciousness. Before the darkness overcame him, he thought he saw the shadow of a woman looming over him.
* * *
“Wake up, boy,” said a harsh voice. Zad blinked, struggling to clear his blurry vision. He lay on the floor of a cobblestone cottage. A woman with black hair and cold eyes stood over him. “Up, up!” she called.
His body groaning with stiffness, he stood and looked at her curiously. “Where am I?”
The woman clucked her tongue. “Your location is not a matter of where, as you are nowhere, yet everywhere,” she said imperiously.
“What? That doesn't make any sense. Who are you?” he asked.
“I am no one. I am but a memory. You, however, are here for something important, boy. Do you know what it is?”
“Reina?” Zad gasped.
“I am Reina, or at least part of her. I am her mind—a piece of her consciousness left for only a certain kind of heart to find.”
Zad eyed the woman warily. “And my heart is a certain kind? What does that mean?“
She shrugged a shoulder. “It matters not.”
He scoffed. “What is the item I need?” he asked.
With a flourish of her fingers, she twisted her hand, and a small vial containing a mysterious dark liquid appeared.
“What am I supposed to do with that?” he asked.
She handed him the vial. “Take care, Zadkiel. The road ahead of you is grim. Goodbye.” The woman disappeared.
“Wait! No, come back! I don’t understand!” he called desperately.
The house began to shake, and a section of the ceiling fell. Zad dove out of the way before it could crush him. He got to his feet and ran to the door of the cottage just as the walls started to collapse. When he stepped outside, there was no ground for his feet to land on. He tumbled into an abyss, trying to grab onto something, anything, but there was nothing around him but darkness. He opened his mouth to scream, but before he could, the ground appeared. He hit it with a thud.
He groaned and sat up, his head spinning. “Bloody hell! What was that?” Looking around, he saw that he was back in the ruins. There was no sign he had ever left. Clutching the vial of dark liquid, he got to his feet and walked slowly out into the rain. By the time he reached the old flour mill, he was soaked through. Mud covered his boots and leathers, and his head pounded from the fall. His world grew blurry. He needed to sit down for a moment and rest. He limped over to the wall of the flour mill, leaned his arms against it, and emptied the contents of his stomach. “Gods above,” he swore. Closing his eyes tightly and shaking his head, he tried to combat the nausea. It was useless. He felt himself start to sway. He needed to lie down. He closed his eyes. He was so tired. He would rest, just for a moment. He put the vial in his pocket, slumped down to the ground, and drifted off.
* * *
When he woke he was stripped bare, a fur blanket wrapped around him. He was back at the inn, and a fire roared beside him. He tried to sit up but noticed someone was lying next to him. Her dark hair was swept behind her ear. Sephera. She was safe. He watched as she slept, her pale skin glowing beneath the light of the fire. She was so beautiful. She was back, she was safe, she was his. As if feeling his stare, Sephera began to stir.
He placed his hand on shoulder. “Sephera . . .” he breathed.
She opened her dark eyes, gold and blue dancing through them like the night sky itself. “Hi,” she whispered, smiling sheepishly at him.
“You’re safe,” he mused, his face close to hers. She inched closer to him until their noses were almost touching. Zad stared at her, embarrassed by the intimacy. He tried to pull away.
“Don’t,” she whispered, drawing him close. She brought her mouth to his and kissed him hungrily, her tongue exploring every surface of his mouth.
“Sephera . . .” he moaned. She pressed her lips harder against his. He grabbed her head gently and entwined his legs with hers, feeling the heat of her nexus against his knee. His mind filled with her.
“I want to feel every inch of you,” he growled and pushed her onto her back.
His lips brushed against her neck, making a tantalizing journey down to her collarbone. He watched her chest rise and fall. She was a goddess, the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. And he loved her.
“I am going to make love to you now, Sephera,” he whispered.
She moaned, her body molding to his. His breath caught as she moved her hips against his. He slipped into her, and it was as if a hot summer night had embraced him, as if the gods had designed her only for him. She clenched herself around him, and his breath exploded. He pushed into her faster as they rushed to the peak together. He felt her pulsing around him as she released, and his body bucked as he found his own release. They lay together, panting, still joined. When their breath evened, he withdrew and collapsed down next to her.
“You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that, Sephera,” he murmured as he kissed her neck tenderly.
“Me, too,” she replied. She turned to face him and looked at him with her familiar, beloved eyes. “I love you, Zad,” she said sleepily.
“I love you too, Beasty,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. His arms wrapped around her, and they lay there, tangled between the sheets. They closed their eyes and were soon lost together to sleep.
* * *
He felt himself being shaken awake. “Zadkiel! Wake up, damn it! C’mon, Zad, please, wake up!” the voice called.
He opened his eyes. He wasn’t at the inn. He was back at the flour mill, the rain pouring down onto him. He looked up into the worried eyes of Chantry. “Chantry?” he gasped.
“Yes, you idiot. Who did you expect?” she yelled. “I can’t lift you, Zad. Can you sit up on your own?”
Blinking a few times to clear his vision, he sat up.
“What happened, Zad? You’ve been gone for hours. When you didn’t return, we came out to search for you.” She looked worried, and her brow was furrowed into a scowl.
“I must have passed out. I’m sorry, Chantry,” he said, standing.
She eyed him suspiciously as she hobbled to where Brenner was standing. His expression was inscrutable.
“Did you at least manage to find something out?” she barked at him.
<
br /> He nodded. “Yes, actually, I did.” He told them what had occurred at the ruins. They stared at him in disbelief. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial “This is what she gave me. I’m not sure about the rest of it. We will need to figure it out. Do either of you have any ideas?” he asked, pushing his hair back from his eyes.
Brenner only shook his head and motioned for them to follow him.
“We can talk about it more when we get back to the inn,” Chantry said. “We need a change of clothes. Hopefully Daegan and Sephera will be back by now.” She limped after Brenner.
Zad shook his head. How could he face Sephera after that incredibly forbidden dream? Sighing deeply, he followed after them, hoping he would have time to take a cold bath before Sephera and Daegan returned.
CHAPTER 23
Sephera almost cried with happiness when she saw the lights of the village below them. “Thank the gods! Look! We’re almost there!” she squealed.
Daegan looked at her like she’d sprouted horns. “Did you just squeal?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Food.” Then she turned a dazzling smile on him. “And I can’t wait to get out of these wet clothes.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but she held up a hand. “Don’t say it,” she warned.
Daegan tried his best to look surprised, “Don’t say what?” he asked innocently
Rolling her eyes, she continued trudging through the mud and rain. Her hair was soaked and matted to her forehead. “What you told me about yourself—about everything—do you want me to keep that to myself?” she asked.
Daegan clenched his jaw like he always did when he was deep in thought. “I trust you, Sephera, and I trust that you will do what you think is best. I have given you my secret. It is up to you to decide what you want to do with it.”
She felt the weight of his trust settle on her. She almost wished he’d forbidden her flat out, but she didn’t comment on his answer. Instead she said, “Can I ask you something, Daegan?”