Dwellers of Darkness (Darkness Series #3)

by Brown, Stacey Marie

  “I know, but...”

  “No buts. We have to make money.”

  What did I expect? They were Dark Fae. Even worse, they were Dark Dwellers. Was I hoping they would act like good little human citizens? No, that wasn’t their nature, but it still bothered me. I couldn’t change them any more than they could change me. For better or worse, this was my family, and I would stick by them. I held my head, suddenly really tired.

  “I need some water to wash this nasty taste out of my mouth.” I slid off the rail and headed inside the house. Cooper nodded and watched me walk off.

  The coolness of the indoors eased a bit of the tension, but suddenly I wanted to lie down. Even though I was technically sleeping in the infirmary cabin, I didn’t want to go there. Mom would probably be nearby with an unhappy expression and biting comments about Dark Dwellers. I didn’t need that right now, especially after my talk with Cooper. Without much thought, I slunk down the hallway toward Eli’s room.

  Knowing he was out, I slipped through the door unnoticed. I struggled to pull off my jeans since they clung to my skin, crusted with sweat and dirt. When I had grabbed clothes from my house awhile back, it had been cold. I hadn’t packed summer items. Feeling like I had dropped ten degrees by being in my underwear and tank, I lay back on Eli’s bed. His enticing smell had me curling deep into his pillow. I leaned across and switched on a fan. The cool air fluttered over my skin. My lids closed, and my muscles coveted the relaxation. It didn’t take long before I fell into a deep sleep.

  Bodies were lumped in piles across the burnt meadow. Ash and smoke hung heavily in the air. Blood soaked into the grass, dyeing it a rich shade of burgundy. The sight of carnage and the smell of charred flesh bore down on my stomach, making me retch. I had been here before. I had stood in this spot. This time there were more bodies and more blood. Death hung in the air, drenching it. The sky was spotted with burning fireballs, the line between the worlds melted into one. Soon there would be none.

  “Ember, you have to stop this from happening.” A voice spoke into my head. I whipped around, searching for the speaker. I recognized the hooded figure standing deep in the shadows. It was my mother. Even though she never showed her face, I knew. I could feel the unconditional love and connection between us.

  “Mom?” I moved closer.

  The nearer I got to her, the darkness seemed to close more tightly around us and shielded her even more from view. Her hand stretched out and gripped my hand painfully. “Find the sword, Ember.” Her tone sounded desperate and pleading. “Don’t let it fall into her control or all will be lost. This will be your future.”

  I knew she meant Aneira. It was the only thing I was sure of. The figure turned and walked away.

  “Wait!” I reached out to stop her. My fingers grasped for the fabric of her robe. “No, Mom, wait. How do I find the sword?”

  “The answer is with you,” she said before dissipating, leaving me alone.

  Only the wails of people dying and distant sounds of battle could be heard.

  A light knock on the door brought me out of my slumber. My head jerked up. I looked at the door, then over my shoulder. The early dawn light filtered over Eli sleeping next to me. He was sprawled on his back, and one hand lay protectively on my bare thigh. I hadn’t heard him come in or felt him climb in next to me. I must have been tired if I slept through the rest of the day and night. The dream left a knot in my stomach. The more I reached to remember it, the more it evaded me.

  Another set of taps rattled the door; the memory of the dream disappeared completely. Not wanting him to wake, I slipped out from under Eli’s hand. He shifted and turned his head the other way but remained asleep. Adjusting my tank, I tiptoed for the door and cracked it open.

  Cole stood on the other side, his expression impatient. “Ember, you need to come outside.”

  “Why? What’s going on? What time is it?”

  “Please, come.” His tone conveyed this was not the time to argue or ask questions.

  I looked over my shoulder at Eli. “Only you,” he interjected. “I’ll wait for you outside. Please hurry.” Cole turned away briskly.

  The pants I had been wearing were in a dirty ball on the floor; heat and time kept me from putting them back on. Instead, I reached for a pair of boxer shorts folded on top of Eli’s dresser and hopped into them. They were big on me, but I didn’t have time to worry about my fashion style. I slipped on my boots and ran outside to where Cole was anxiously waiting for me.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll see.” He motioned for me to follow him.

  With me lagging behind, he headed toward the back end of their property. The sun was scarcely peeking over the mountains. We came to an open field, and in the distance I could see the tiny silhouettes of Simmons and Cal weaving through the air. It took me a moment to realize they weren’t alone. Three human forms trailed slowly behind them: two men and a woman. One of the men was being held up by the other two. His arms were around their shoulders as he struggled to hobble forward.

  My gaze narrowed on one. All the other worries on my mind instantly dissolved. “Torin,” I screamed. My feet struck the dirt as I ran to him. He looked up, his face bloody and swollen. When he saw me, his legs gave out, and he crumbled to the ground.

  I skidded to a stop in front of him, and the soil and rocks tore into my knees as I dropped. My hands automatically went to his face, picking up his head.

  “Found you.” Torin smiled dreamily. He was struggling to stay conscious. His body and face were battered so badly he could barely move or speak, and I could hardly make out his features. One eye was swollen completely shut, and the other only opened halfway.

  My gaze flashed and took in the others.

  “Oh, my god, Josh. Are you okay?” He was not someone I expected to see again, but I felt so happy I had been wrong. His familiar, sweet face peered down at me with sadness in his eyes. Josh had a split lip, a black eye, and a deep cut on his cheek. Fortunately, nothing that wouldn’t heal.

  “Yeah. I’m okay.”

  I recognized the woman on the other side of Torin. She was from the castle dungeon. The one who came up to me, confirming I was part Dark Dweller. It was the only reason the Queen had not killed me on the spot.

  “I remember you.”

  “Yes. I am Thara.” She spoke formally, her voice elegant and regal. “Do not fear. I am no longer with the Queen. I helped Torin escape. She would have killed him.”

  “Thank you.” My hands still held Torin’s head. He continued to slump further. He had been placed in this predicament and had been tortured by the Queen because of his attachment to me. Even though he was badly hurt, I felt overpowering relief he was away from her. Turning my attention back on Torin, my eyes really took in his condition.

  “Dammit...” He was in bad shape.

  “Mo chuisle,” he mumbled. I could tell he had no sense of reality and was fluttering on the edge of consciousness and dreamland.

  “What the fuck?” A deep voice spoke behind me. Turning, I saw Eli walking to us wearing only a pair of raggedy jeans.

  “Simmons and Cal led them here,” Cole said.

  “We were on guard duty when we spotted them coming out of a door from the Otherworld. We came straight away to tell you, my lady. He stopped us,” Simmons declared, pointing at Cole.

  “Thank you, Simmons. You did the right thing. Cole was only doing his job as well.” Simmons frowned but nodded to me.

  There were so many things needing to be answered, but those could all wait. “Guys, we need to get him to the clinic now. Where is Owen?”

  “I’ve already contacted him through our link. He will be waiting for us,” Cole replied, grabbing Eli’s shoulder and pulling him toward Torin.

  Dark Dwellers and Fay were not friends. The term “adversaries” was putting it mildly. This showed even more so between Eli and Torin since they had more dislike for each other than the average Fay/Dark Dweller foes. This demonstration o
f concern between them was radical. Without question, Eli moved over to him, backing me out of the way. Torin’s entire body had gone limp. With help from Cole, Eli flung Torin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Torin groaned in pain, but stayed unconscious. I didn’t care how he carried Torin since he wouldn’t remember anything anyway. Eli paused in front of me, his eyes moving over my body, a smirk hooked up his lip. “Nice shorts. Think I’ll want those back later.” Eli turned and headed for the compound.

  Already burning on the outside with the oncoming heat, my insides joined in. This was so not the appropriate time, but my hormones didn’t seem to give a crap lately what was proper or not. I kept it to myself seeing him pick up and haul Torin to the cabin completely turned me on.

  I act like such a girl sometimes.

  Cal buzzed down to my ear, a bemused smile on his face and his gaze on Torin and Eli. “Oh, yeah, girlie, things suddenly got fun.” He laughed and flew off. Simmons followed, both returning to their posts.

  “Yeah, fun,” I mumbled to myself and turned to locate Josh.

  He stood in the same exact spot, his eyebrows crunched together. He looked vulnerable and preoccupied.

  “Hey, Josh. Are you okay?” I moved to him. His gaze lifted. His soft hazel eyes searched mine. The light breeze rumpled his already messy, sandy-blond hair. It was several moments before he nodded and opened his arms. I engulfed him in a hug. “You scared me. I thought I lost you. I am so happy you are here. That you came back.”

  “Yeah. Me, too,” he replied and pulled away. “I think you need to tell me what’s going on, and I mean everything.”

  “I know. I will explain it all. Later. Right now let’s focus on you and Torin getting checked out. Make sure you’re all right.”

  By the time Josh and I got to the cabin, Torin was already confined to a bed, still out cold. Owen was bent over him. Mom and Kennedy sat together on a bed still in their pajamas having been woken up by the entourage inundating their room. Cole stood at the end of the bed. Thara, on the other side of him, gripped his hand tightly. Eli leaned against the wall closest to the door; his attention was upon me as we entered.

  “Josh.” Eli nodded to him.

  “Eli.” Josh retorted and moved to the farthest wall away from him. Josh had never been a fan of Eli, out of fear or genuine dislike I didn’t know. It looked like nothing had changed. Strange. With Josh’s love of World of War Craft and the fantasy world, you’d think finding out Eli was one of the most feared and ruthless beasts in the Fae world he’d be in awe of him.

  Shouldering my way through the crowd, I bee-lined it for the occupied bed. “Oh, Torin.” It was still a shock to look at him. The swollen, misshaped face was not one I recognized. His torture was on my hands. “I am so sorry,” I whispered hoarsely.

  “He will heal.” Owen patted my hand. “Slowly, but he will mend.”

  “You mean the visual wounds will heal.” The knot in my throat made it hard to swallow. The room grew hot and constricting.

  Owen tilted his head, remaining silent. He didn’t want to say it. He was trying to be kind, but the truth was a boulder on my heart. I didn’t know what the Queen had done to Torin. Knowing about his past with her and what she was capable of, it had to be awful, degrading, abusive, and painful. Both mentally and physically, she would be sure he felt the betrayal and transgression he caused her. How could he get over all this?

  “He needs to rest.” Owen hinted at everyone to leave. Only Owen, Thara, Eli, and I remained. My need to stay with him was overpowering. My muscles locked, pinning me in place. My heart and body could not leave his side.

  “I will stay, too.” Thara’s words sounded like a challenge.

  My eyes leveled at her, and I growled.

  “Thara, I think you need rest and something to eat. He will be all right while you are gone.” Owen motioned for her to follow him. She held my stare for a few seconds more and then nodded but watched me the entire time she walked to the door.

  Eli still leaned against the wall. His expression held no sentiment, but his presence was loud and consuming. His eyes delved into mine, his jaw set. He thrust himself off the wall, turned and left the room without a word. He didn’t need to. His cold, aloof expression told me everything. I ached to follow, but something kept me in place. Sliding a chair over, I sat down next to Torin. I placed his bruised, broken hand in mine. He let out a sigh, and his body relaxed further into the pillows.

  EIGHT

  Over the next twenty hours, I didn’t leave Torin’s side, even when they moved him into Dax’s old room for more privacy. The infirmary cabin was getting full with Thara, Mom, Kennedy, and me sleeping there. Torin was placed in the room furthest from the other Dark Dwellers, which seemed the best idea. It was built to hold eleven Dark Dwellers. Now only six inhabited it.

  Thara’s dedication almost rivaled my own. Owen would get her to take breaks, to eat or rest, but he never could sway me. I would not leave him. The thought made something in me ache.

  She had gone to take a quick nap an hour earlier, leaving me to sit vigil by his bedside. His swelling had gone down, but the cuts and bruises were slower to heal. For a Fay, his sluggish recovery was not normal, which only added to my concerns. How damaged was he on the inside that made it so slow for him to mend on the outside?

  A figure moved beside me, reaching for Torin’s wrist. Blurry-eyed, I glanced up at Owen.

  “You really need to at least eat something, Ember.” He frowned at me.

  Refusing once again, I gripped Torin’s hand tighter. A small groan floated from his lips. My head turned to him and back to Torin.

  “Torin?” I jumped to my feet and reached to touch his face.

  “Mo chuisle.” The words barely made it to my ear. “Are you really here?” His lids fluttered but didn’t open.

  “Yes. I’m here,” I squeaked.

  A smile came to his lips, splitting the cuts on them. “I found you. I can now die fulfilled.”

  My heart clenched so hard it became hard to breathe. The thought of him dying sent daggers into my core. “You are not going to die.” It was more to myself than to him. It was an idea I refused to accept. He did not respond, his head falling heavier onto the pillow. Tears burned, choking my throat.

  Owen touched my shoulder. “This will probably happen for a bit. While he is healing, his body will only be able to stay awake for tiny increments before it needs to replenish.”

  It was like a tsunami. Every moment of pain I caused him and the others careened into me all at once. The room began to teeter, and the floor moved under my feet. My knuckles turned white as I seized the bed sheets. My back arched forward, curling into itself. The walls closed in on me.

  “Breathe, Ember. You are starting to hyperventilate.” Owen pressed his hand gently onto my back.

  “She needs some air and food.” Another set of hands gripped my hips and pulled me toward the door. Eli escorted me into the morning air. When did he come into the room? I hadn’t even noticed. How long had he been standing behind me? Listening?

  The ranch was silent and in the deep hours of night. Dawn was still a couple hours away, but during summer this far north it always looked as if daybreak was right there waiting for its turn. Eli moved in front of me. His hands clutched the sides of my face. “Hey, look at me. Calm down.”

  “Oh, God. I did this to him. Me... . I only destroy and hurt people. . .” Another wave of panic swept me along a long river of guilt. I gulped for air. So many things hit at the same time: emotions of my mom, of Mark and West being stuck in the Otherworld, of Ryan never able to leave, of all the people I killed in Seattle. Torin was simply another on the ever-growing list. It was all too much. Hot, blinding tears pushed past my defensive boundaries and spilled over the walls. I hated crying in front of people and, at one time, Eli would have been top of the list. Things had changed. He now seemed the only one I could show my true feelings to. I pressed my face into him and felt his arms surround me, holding me tig
htly against him.

  “It will be okay.” His voice vibrated through his chest against my ear.

  “No, it won’t.” I shook my head, smearing my tears and runny nose over his chest. “Torin’s been tortured. Mark and Ryan are still stuck there and along with West.”

  “Kennedy and Josh are back safe, Torin will heal, and Lily is with you again. We will get West, Mark, and Ryan out.” He held me out to look at my face. “I promise.”

  Wiping at my nose, I shook my head. “Ryan will never be able to come back.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  I hiccupped. “I was in a dreamwalk... Ryan was dying... and Castien gave him Fae food to save him.” I didn’t need to say more; Eli frowned. He knew what this meant.

  He cupped my face and brushed the tears away with his thumbs. “Have you told anybody about this?”

  “No.” My head moved in concurrence. “Kennedy has been through so much, and she says saving Ryan keeps her going during the really hard moments. I can’t take this away from her.”

  “You’re going to have to tell her.”

  Sighing, I leaned into him. “I know. But not yet.”

  He lifted my head and kissed me deeply. At first his lips were comforting and sweet, but swiftly yearning soared through my veins. He took away all the pain. Some might say this was not the best time. I disagreed. I needed him—all of him—a shred of happiness in the darkness. His hands slid up the back of my head, and his fingers tangled in my hair. He pressed his lips harder into mine, and his tongue discovered every inch of mine. This time the lack of air into my lungs was purposeful. The need to be closer to him was crushing. He nipped at my lip, which undid me. I grabbed his hand, and with determination of a bull, dragged him to the house and down the hallway to his room.

  With the door closed and locked, we turned and faced each other. Our breaths faltered as we moved in closer. My heart thudded against my ribs. He leaned in, and I could feel his proximity encompassing my skin. Desire became so thick I stopped breathing.