Absolute Surrender

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  “Prophecies? I don’t understand.”

  It all sounded too much like a fairytale to her. Argh, she was in love with an Empyrean, of course there would be things like prophecies.

  “You’re psychic. And it doesn’t matter how light your abilities are, demoniis will snatch anyone with a drop of power, hoping to find the one human female tied to an ancient prophecy of the Curantii. The one who will be able to heal the rifts.”

  “What rifts?”

  “All realms are guarded by a mystic veil which keeps out supernatural intruders. But demoniis and other evil entities try to break through that veil. It’s not easy to do, but some manage and they create an invisible doorway.”

  “Like what’s happening right here in this city. Is there a rift here?”

  He nodded, his expression grim. “The fractures on this plane have begun. By guarding it, we give it a chance to heal, but it’s not enough. We must find this female before it’s too late. But I can’t go out and do my job if I’m worried about you. Demoniis will use anything to achieve their goal. And if one got you, I would come after you no matter the cost.”

  She knew what he meant. He would die for her.

  “You scare me more than my dreams do.” She sighed. “Aethan, you know I can look after myself, right?”

  “That is not the issue, Echo. You’re mortal. A slip of a sword, a dagger, a damn bolt from a demon and you can die—that, I will not risk. I won’t lose you.”

  “You’re not going to lose me.”

  His brow arched. “Yeah? All I know is the moment you’re out of my sight, I wonder what condition I’m going to find you in.”

  “Ha, ha. You’re a riot. What about you? You go out there risking your life and I know you can get hurt. You think it doesn’t worry me?”

  “I’m immortal. I’ve survived worse.”

  “Just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re invincible. There’s a difference.” Then her scowl turned to a frown. “Aethan, how do you die?”

  His silence had her anxiety growing. Slowly, she pushed to her feet and looked down at him. “Aethan?”

  He indicated the closet opposite his. “There’s some stuff for you in there.”

  All she saw were colors and a crap-load of shopping bags, but she refused to let him distract her with clothes. “Aethan, how do—”

  He rose. Taking his cell off the dresser, he pushed it into his pocket. Then he faced her. “All right, I’ll tell you this. As immortals, after we find our destined-mates, when one dies, the other follows. Once our souls join, they cannot be separated.”

  She stared at him for a long, silent moment. He didn’t answer her question, but she heard a far more painful revelation. “But ours aren’t.”

  “No.”

  An ache started in her chest at his quiet word. For their souls to join, he would have to make love to her.

  CHAPTER 20

  Týr pushed open the door to the rec room and found Blaéz lying on the couch, booted feet slung over the arm. A recorded hockey game played on the flat-screen TV.

  “You didn’t find her,” Blaéz said, his gaze not leaving the television.

  “No. I tracked Elytani to Park Avenue, then nothing. I looked all over the damned city. Where the hell can one lone female be? She doesn’t know this realm.”

  “Guess she wasn’t pleased Aethan refused her?”

  Týr had no idea if the female was or wasn’t. “Didn’t look like it. She seemed more in awe of him than anything else.” Týr dropped on the recliner, staring moodily at the screen.

  Blaéz sat up and propped his feet on the low table. “I can’t understand why you didn’t send her off with Michael like Aethan wanted. It’s dangerous for her to stay, you know that.”

  “Yeah.” An annoyed rumble left Týr. “But it’s been so long since I’ve been in the company of a female like her. She reminded me of another life.”

  And reinforced the fact that you couldn’t trust a damn female. Their beautiful façade was just a cover for a shitload of lies. She wanted to stay a few days and he’d agreed, as long as she remained at the castle. A fat lot of good that did him now.

  Blaéz glanced at him. “What about the ones from the pantheon that queue at your door?”

  Týr shrugged. “When they fall onto your plate, it loses its flavor.”

  “So you dance on a blade’s edge with mortals?”

  “Make’s life interesting,” he said, glancing at the game on the flat-screen. “I hope to the gods Elytani doesn’t cause any incidents out there. Gaia would kick our ass into oblivion then—what the hell is he doing?” he yelled at the screen. “Keeping the puck for himself—no! The bastard can’t play for shit.”

  “You don’t even follow hockey,” Blaéz drawled, rubbing the tattoo on his biceps.

  Týr smirked. “Yeah, but it’s a good way to vent.” He got to his feet and headed for the foosball table. “I need a break from chasing after the female.”

  Blaéz followed. He picked up the small soccer ball from the table and said, “I can’t imagine that...changing.”

  Týr stared at him, then his eyes narrowed. “Oh no, you don’t, you Celtic bastard. Go torment the Empyrean with that precognition shit, and stay the hell away from me. And that’s a warning.”

  Blaéz arched a brow. “It’s all about rainbows. They scare you?”

  Týr shook his head in wry amusement. “You poor, insane bastard. Let’s put that mind to good use and play foosball. I win, your katana is mine.”

  “I do, then when you find your rainbow, you thank me. And you will do me a favor.”

  “Sure. Whatever, man.”

  “Good. And I also want an elaborate gesture of appreciation.”

  Týr snorted and spun the rod of the yellow figures, starting the game.

  ***

  As they left the kitchen after breakfast, Aethan stopped in the corridor, his expression grim. Echo knew why—because breakfast had been tense. She’d pushed her food around her plate and he’d barely touched his. After that realization in the bedroom, she knew he’d have to make love to her for their souls to join. But she didn’t see that happening anytime soon. He’d warned her it wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn't realized waiting would be so hard.

  “Echo...” he began.

  She took a deep breath. “It’s okay. I understand.”

  In a strange way she did, understood how hard this was for him. And she didn’t want him hurting emotionally, too, not when his powers did a good job of it. She changed the subject.

  “Could we leave a little early? I left my car in Chinatown, I need to get it.”

  “I’ll see to your car.”

  “Thank you. Leave it at Gran’s. Tell Kira it’s hers.”

  He reached out and skimmed the shallow dimple in her chin with his thumb, his gray eyes tender. “All right. I have some business to take care of first, so I’ll see you in a little while.”

  “Business?” she repeated. His gaze caressed her face and amusement tugged at his mouth.

  “Did you think that’s all we did? Killed demoniis and kept mortals safe?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I guess not then. Okay, what is it you do?”

  “Being a Guardian is first priority, but we need hobbies. So we act human, have other interests, too. It keeps ennui at bay.”

  “Like what?” she asked, her curiosity aroused.

  “Nothing exciting. I acquire properties, vineyards, rare books, and play the stock market.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and cursed.

  “What is it?”

  “Damn thing died on me.”

  “You want mine?”

  A smile. He shook his head. “I, er–have others.”

  He pulled her to him and took her mouth in a quick, heated kiss, before heading off to the study.

  Echo stared at the empty hallway, her hands on her still-tingling lips. Sighing, she called Kira and winced at the barrage of words that assaulted her ears. After reassuring
her friend she was fine and promising to be careful, she ended the call.

  Sounds drifted to her from down the corridor and she followed them to the rec room.

  The scent of leather, male, and cherry tobacco permeated the air. French doors opened onto a terrace, which led to a sprawling garden. At one end of the room, leather recliners faced an enormous flat-screen TV that showed a hockey game. On the other side stood a pool table and a few arcade games.

  The slamming of metal rods, the crack of something hitting a wooden surface, along with grunts and curses drew her attention. Týr and the dark-haired man she saw fighting the demonii horde were attacking a foosball table. Týr looked her way and his dimples winked to life. “Mornin’, gorgeous, where’s your shadow?”

  “He’ll be here soon,” she said, and thought if anyone should be called gorgeous it was he. She shut the door behind her and wandered over.

  Her gaze settled on the other man, Blaéz. That’s what Hedori called him. It must be an immortal thing, she decided, to look this attractive. Hell, even those nasty soul-suckers looked good.

  Dressed in black jeans and a short-sleeve T-shirt, Blaéz sported a similar tattoo to Aethan and Týr’s, except the design was different. His black hair, cut an inch from his skull, showcased a face that appeared as beautiful as marble. But it was his eyes that drew her attention. Cold, pale blue they made her feel as if she’d stumbled into a void.

  There was nothing in those eyes, as if every bit of light had been sucked out of him. And his aura was a mere flicker. The blue was so faded she wondered if he was ill.

  “Ah, right.” Týr’s dry tone cut across her thoughts. “Guess that look means you haven’t met Blaéz yet.”

  Her face heated at the amusement in Týr’s voice.

  “That’s Blaéz. Just make sure your other half doesn’t see you eyeing him. I happen to like his face the way it is.”

  Something slammed into Týr’s head and Echo realized it was Blaéz’s fist. Jesus, they all moved like the wind.

  Týr rubbed his head, laughing.

  “Echo,” Blaéz said by way of greeting and he went back to the game. A few swift moves of his hand, in that eerie fast way she was now familiar with, and he won. He looked at Týr. “Don’t forget our deal.”

  Týr snorted, rescuing the small ball from a side slot in the table. “Never gonna happen, man.”

  “Can I try?”

  Both the men looked at her.

  “You know how to play foosball?” Týr asked her.

  “They’re plastic men on sticks. How difficult can it be?”

  Týr grinned. “Actually, they’re wooden men on a metal rod.”

  “Same difference.”

  “Have a go, then. Take my place,” Blaéz said, stepping back.

  “What do I have to do?”

  Týr answered. “Your main objective is to pass the ball through your opponents—”

  “Just knock his ass out of the game,” Blaéz said. “Get the ball onto his side, pass his goalie, and into the slot here.” He pointed to the opening in the wooden structure.

  Echo looked over rows of black and yellow men. “Gotcha.”

  She took over the black team. Exhilaration filled her as she played, snarling when Týr dared to cut her off. She twisted the rod and smashed the ball into her opponent’s side. And it slid beautifully into the gap.

  Her fist punched the air. “Yes!”

  Blaéz nodded as if she’d done him proud. But she couldn’t be sure when he looked about as excited as the wooden men on the metal rods.

  Straightening her hoodie, Echo stopped. Wait. This had been way too easy. She pinned Týr with a gimlet stare. “You let me win, didn’t you?”

  “Who, me?” Toffee-brown eyes widened in innocence. “I love to win, but you knocked me right out of the game. Never stood a chance.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  A devilish grin settled on his face. “Another go?”

  “Rain-check. I’m leaving for work in a few minutes.”

  Blaéz left them, sauntered over to the flat-screen, picked up a remote control that had more buttons than a space shuttle, and channel surfed.

  “Can I ask you something?” she said to Týr. She hoped he’d be straight with her unlike Aethan.

  “Shoot.” He tossed the small, checkered ball back on the table.

  She leaned her hands on the ledge of the game. “You’re all Guardians, right? So you must be like Aethan, an immortal.” She bit her lip, wondered if she’d lost her mind pushing this. Just the thought of Aethan dying—

  “You need to ask the question, if you want an answer, gorgeous.”

  Right. She lowered her voice. “How do you die?”

  “Why? Plan on killing us?” Týr drawled, amusement replacing his surprise.

  “Aethan refuses to tell me. We humans can die in so many different ways. Heck, I just came from a breakfast that would guarantee heart disease and an early death for me.”

  He stared at her. “Oh, you’re serious. Okay then. The only way is by be-heading. But you have to catch us first.”

  Her mouth opened then snapped shut. Oh God! She backed away and rushed out of the room.

  “You had to tell her. I can’t imagine Aethan being pleased about that.” Blaéz’s voice drifted to her before the door closed.

  In the hallway, she braced a hand on the wall, the other on her stomach, and gulped in huge amounts of air. She’d seen death in its various forms, but that?

  Dammit, she was over-reacting. Calm down, calm down, Aethan’s immortal...but still, he should have told her—

  “Echo?”

  At the sound of his voice, her head snapped up. “Beheading? You can die by beheading?”

  He sighed. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you. Echo, I’m not the one at risk. The many things that can take you away from me will not hurt me, so let’s worry about your safety, all right? Come on, let me take you to work.”

  ***

  Blaéz picked her up later that afternoon, since Aethan was on rift duty. One thing she knew, they didn’t budge from their schedule of guarding that place unless a dire emergency demanded their attention.

  “Blaéz, do you mind taking me to Greenwich Village? I’d like to see Kira.”

  As he headed toward her friend’s home, she realized Kira wasn’t the only one she needed to apologize to. “Blaéz, I’m sorry I worried you all last night.”

  Winter blue eyes glanced at her. “Don’t trouble yourself over that. Added some interest to the job. You’re important to Aethan,” he said, his gaze returning to the road. “It’s rare when ones like us are blessed with finding our mates. We will do all it takes to ensure your safety, even after the demon that wants you is destroyed.”

  Right. She’d already figured that out. Hard as it was for someone as independent as her, she accepted it because she loved Aethan. She glanced back at him. And realized she knew nothing about him, or Týr for that matter. If Aethan was an Empyrean...was he the same?

  “Blaéz, where do you come from?”

  His gaze shifted to hers again and when she saw the ice swirling in them, she hastily recanted. The man didn’t care for her personal questions.

  “It’s okay, I just wondered.”

  But he surprised her and answered. “I’m from the Celtic pantheon.”

  Irish? She stared at the stark lines of his handsome face. Wait, he said pantheon, which meant like a realm where the gods lived.

  “You’re a god?” she said, shocked. She never thought about where the other warriors came from. She’d been too wrapped up in her life.

  A long stretch of silence filled the vehicle. Stopping at a traffic light, Blaéz finally spoke. “I am a warrior. My allegiance is to Gaia.”

  No emotion, just facts. Which made her more curious, but she let it go. Aethan had sworn his allegiance to Gaia, after he’d been banished. Had something equally devastating happened to these warriors?

  Moments later Blaéz park
ed the Range Rover in front of the brownstone, and Echo saw Aethan waiting at the entrance.

  “I informed him of the change in plans,” Blaéz said from beside her.

  ***

  The day had been a long one and relief settled in Aethan when he saw Echo. He’d spent most of it in the gym, working through rigorous circuit training, surprised he could still walk after pounding the treadmill for several hours. Going on duty at the rift and just keeping watch hadn’t helped settle the restless energy growing within him.

  After Blaéz had sent him a telepathic message that he was heading to the oracle’s at Echo’s request, the warrior agreed to take his shift an hour early, leaving Aethan free to be with Echo.

  Opening the door of the Range Rover, he scanned the street as night crept in. The winds had picked up, sending debris and dust flying around him.

  “I thought you were on duty.”

  He turned to her. “I was, until a few minutes ago. Blaéz is taking over.”

  “I’m not going to be long. I just want to reassure Kira and Gran that I’m fine.”

  “Let’s get you inside, then.” He helped her down, trying not to rush her. He didn’t care for her to be out in the open when the demoniis could just flash in. Using his body as a shield, he followed her up the stairs.

  “You know what’s totally weird,” she said, glancing at him over her shoulder, “is that you’ve known Gran for so long, and I never once met you.”

  “We don’t usually go to mortal homes for safety reasons. Lila comes to the castle when we need her.”

  “So, she knows what you are?”

  “Yes.”

  She pushed aside the overhanging creepers and knocked on the door. Then, as she turned back to him, a stray vine swung into her face.

  “Darn it!” She brushed the creeper aside and rubbed her stinging eye.

  “Let me see.” Before Aethan could examine the damage from the attacking vine, the door opened. Kira grabbed Echo’s arm and pulled her inside. “I was so afraid.”

  “I’m fine, Ki.”