Mortal Defiance (Dark Betrayal Trilogy)

by Nichole Chase

  “Ree, step back please.” Sophie moved quickly so she was between the darkling and the Alastriana. “That is not a normal infection. The Dark One that left those holes meant for you to die, Scott Chaney. If you aren’t turned in the next few days, her venom will finish destroying your soul and move on to the rest of your body.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re saying I have to become a Dark One after all?” His eyes lit up a little, as if he was being offered a second chance. “You have to let me go.”

  “No, darkling, that wasn’t our agreement. I’m saying that no matter what we do for you, death will be calling your name soon.”

  Chapter 13

  “No!” Scott launched himself off the floor with superhuman speed. Obviously there was still enough Dark One blood in his system to give him an edge. Ree almost fell over trying to get out of the way. Sophie whipped a dagger loose from her boot and let the darkling rush her. Faster than Ree could comprehend, the tall woman slid her blade under his ribs until the hilt was the only thing sticking out.

  An inhuman wail slid through the room, and Ree wanted to cover her ears. With a sickening sound of suction, Sophie pulled her dagger back out of his ribs. Immediately he fell to his knees, his eyes rolling back into his head, but his eyes were still open. His flesh began to blacken and fine cracks ran along his exposed skin. A fine ash drifted to the ground around him, but unlike the Dark Ones she had seen disintegrate, his body seemed to be only halfway to that point.

  Turning her head, Ree tried to breathe through her mouth so the stench wouldn’t overwhelm her, but it was too much. For the second time that day, she bolted out the door. Only this time, she ran smack into someone’s chest. She shoved and pushed, but strong hands held her steady. She caught a brief glance of green eyes before she turned her head and heaved. Through it all, she could smell the stench of the rotting corpse that was inside the shop.

  Paden’s strong hands shifted her so she was standing in front of him, but never left her arms, offering her support while her body revolted. Once she was finished, someone handed her a cold washcloth. Wiping her face with it, she moved to sit on the curb under a giant oak tree. Her body flashed from hot to cold, and the ground felt unsteady under her feet. Gravel crunched under her Mary Janes as Paden sat next to her and offered her a bottle of water.

  “Thanks.” She uncapped the bottle and rinsed her mouth out with the first sip she took.

  “What on earth happened this afternoon?” Worry and confusion laced his words, but there was also an underlying tone of anger. “I can smell the death all the way over here. Who died in the shop, and how does it already smell like something has been decaying in the hot sun?”

  “Oh, you know us. Brought home some roadkill for kicks.” Ree swished some more water in her mouth before spitting it out.

  “You didn’t wait for me? You know how much I love roadkill.” Stretching out his long legs next to her he leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. “I mean, roadkill is the gift that keeps on giving. Roadkill stew. Possum jerky. Fur blankets and rugs. Raccoon-skin hats. Imagine all of the wonderful homemade Christmas presents we could make.”

  Ree snorted, and some of the tension left her shoulders. Paden had a way of always making her feel better, even after watching someone die.

  “Where did you get the water and rag from? Carrying them in your pocket just in case?” Ree gave him a small smile.

  “Well, I learned very early on it’s best to be prepared.” He gave her a Boy Scout salute before relaxing back again. “Actually, Melanie was right behind you when you barreled out the door. She brought them back once she knew someone else was with you.”

  Sighing, Ree mimicked his posture and turned her face upward so she could feel some of the wind that was moving through the tiny parking lot. “Am I the only one that gets sick? Twice now, I’ve thrown up for everyone to see.”

  “Well, the first time you had a nasty concussion. Head trauma can really mess with a person, so I don’t think that counts. And even sitting out here, the smell is making me gag.” He sat up and looked at her. “So, tell me what really happened.”

  Sighing, Ree got up off the curb and paced in front of her friend. “Melanie and I caught a darkling that was following us.”

  Paden moved to his feet slowly, as if trying to keep himself calm. “You caught a darkling?”

  “Yeah. We were walking back from River Street and there was one in the alley. Melanie said it was following us, so we had to find out why.”

  “Uh huh.” Paden shoved his hands in his pockets. “Had to.”

  “Oh, c’mon, Paden. We had to know what he was looking for and if he had any dirt on us.” Ree looked at him, exasperated.

  “Yeah, I get it. I just don’t like it, okay?” He ran a hand through his hair, and Ree caught herself staring at him. Even when he was angry, she found him almost irresistible. Her hands itched to touch him, and she felt herself take a step in his direction.

  “So, what happened? I’m assuming the smell coming out of the shop is from the darkling?”

  That sentence brought her up short and she looked down at the broken concrete under her feet. The roots from the giant oak had burst through the cement and stone, causing the pavement to become uneven.

  “Yes. Sophie killed Scott after he told us what he knew.”

  Warm hands gently pulled Ree to Paden’s chest, where she rested her head and tried to decide what upset her the most. “It was awful, Pay. He was a darkling, but still human. And Sophie killed him.”

  “I’m sure she had a reason.” His breath warmed the top of her head, sending shivers down her spine. “Sophie wouldn’t have done that without good motivation.”

  “He was going to die anyways. There was no way around it. The only other thing we could have done would be let him become a Dark One.”

  “And she couldn’t have done that. He might have known things at that point that would have hurt you.”

  The door opened and Roland stepped out, his cocky grin firmly in place as he examined the couple with critical eyes. Briefly, Ree wondered where he had come from, but figured if school was out, he could have walked right past her while she was being sick. “As much as I hate to break up the smooch fest out here, the rest of us are getting ready to dispose of the nastiness inside. Not that I need your help or anything, but Sophie wants to talk to you first.”

  Stepping out of Paden’s arms, Ree could have sworn she heard him grind his teeth. The jealousy that was flowing through the air almost made her nauseated again. My life has become so incredibly weird, Ree thought as she walked past them to the shop door. Taking a deep breath before she opened the door, Ree did her best to ignore the eyes that followed her as she entered.

  The stench was much worse inside, even though someone had opened the windows to let in fresh air. Scott was no longer lying on the floor surrounded by a pile of ash. Instead, there was a distinctly human-shaped bundle, wrapped in a rug near the door. The broom and dustpan were leaning against the doorframe, and Ree wondered if Sophie was going to throw that away too. She really hoped that was the plan.

  “What the hell is that smell?” Juliette walked into the shop behind Ree, pinching her nose. Bryce was close behind her, holding the collar of his shirt over his nose.

  “Yeah, darklings don’t decompose very well.” Weylin walked into the room from the bathroom area and peeled off the latex gloves he was wearing. “On the other hand, if you ever want to get rid of unwanted guests, you now know how to do it.” He threw the gloves at the garbage can like he was throwing a basketball.

  “Where the hell did you go today, man? You basically disappeared after first period.” Bryce sniffed in his direction and almost retched. “Gah. Under all the funk in here, you smell like the floor of a bar.”

  “Hey. I resent that. I have lots of fond memories of bar floors. Or I will once I go to college, I’m sure.”

  Roland and Paden walked into the room, and the tension was almost unbearable. Paden�
��s face was red, and Roland was wearing a smug smile that didn’t bode well. Not sure what might have passed between them, Ree really hoped Sophie would tell everyone whatever it was she felt was so important.

  Thankfully, they didn’t have to wait much longer. Sophie entered from the front of the shop, carrying a wicked-looking shortsword. It was curved like a Middle Eastern sword Ree had seen on TV, but the blade was much sharper than the ancient one the history guy had shown.

  “Pack up, kids. We have some scouting to do.”

  Chapter 14

  Scott’s body was picked up by a couple of humans in a large jeep-type vehicle. They wore camouflaged clothes and grisly expressions. Ree saw the butt of a gun poking out from under a jacket and wondered why he needed it. It wouldn’t stop a Dark One if they set their eyes on him, and it was a definite possibility considering the quickly approaching night.

  “What are they going to do with him?”

  “Well, the great thing about living in South Georgia is the prevalence of swamps and alligators. I hear they’ll eat just about anything.” Roland moved closer to her, his eyes deep and unreadable. The only way she knew he was hurt was because of the emotion her power allowed her to feel. He didn’t always broadcast like this, but the last few times she had seen him she realized it was growing.

  “Oh.” Ree wrapped her arms around herself and watched as the deadly-looking men drove away. A heavy, warm weight wrapped around her shoulders, and from the smell of leather, mint, and eucalyptus, Ree knew that Roland had given her his jacket. “I’m fine, really.”

  “I don’t need it, Ree. I only wear it to fit in.” Smiling devilishly, he winked at her. “And because it looks good on me.”

  “That’s true.” Ree replied before turning ten shades of red.

  “Ah, so you have noticed.” Something warm swirled in the back of his eyes as he looked at her. “I was beginning to think the godling had managed to overshadow everything else.”

  “Um, what?” Wincing, Ree thought, Good God, how much lamer can I get? I’m bumbling around like a ten-year-old.

  Slowly, so she had time to resist, he reached out and touched her cheek. “I love it when you blush. Tria didn’t blush—she was much more forward than you. But I find that I love drawing out your response.” Moving closer, he leaned down so his lips were near her ear and her traitorous heart sped up. “I never expected that when Tria was reborn I would be able to fall for her new reincarnation even harder than I had the first time.”

  Something warm tumbled in the pit of Ree’s stomach as she breathed in his scent. The thought that he was interested in her for her, and not just because of Tria, made her heart pound. But at the same time, a discomfort warred in her heart.

  “I’m not Tria. I mean, I’m not the same as she was when she was alive. I’m me. Just Ree.” Fire slid through her veins as he placed a hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her forward. “You can’t be falling… I mean, you don’t even know who I am.”

  “I know enough, Ree. I know you are loyal, brave, and fierce when you are determined to do something. You have a sense of humor, an ease with your friends, and even though you think everyone at the school hates you, they don’t. They are intimidated by your beauty, your spunk, your intelligence.” When he slid his hand up the back of her neck, Ree felt her knees grow wobbly. Part of her wanted to melt into him, give into what he wanted, but another part of her chafed at the thought. Her heart screamed for someone else. She leaned back until he released her. His eyes were bright with desire and hurt, but she just shook her head.

  “I don’t know what it is that is floating between us, Roland. I’m not used to…”

  “Being wanted?” He looked over her shoulder, a frown creeping onto his face. “Rest assured, Ree McKenna. I want you. And that isn’t going to change.”

  “I thought we were supposed to be getting ready to go.” Angry, clipped words made Ree close her eyes in frustration. Turning around, she met Paden’s irate stare and tried to not wince.

  “I wanted to know what they were going to do with Scott.”

  Paden didn’t say anything else, just stalked toward her. His long, lean frame moved gracefully across the cracked pavement, and she realized his fangs were down. Something in his eyes reminded her of a lion hunting an antelope, and her heart picked up. Nearing her, he sniffed the air and grunted.

  “You smell like him.” Ree blushed and looked over her shoulder, but Roland was gone.

  “He left.” The quiet statement made her a little sad and guilty. Paden’s eyes flashed as he assessed her emotions and registered the sadness. Moving closer he slid his hands inside the jacket so he was holding her waist and pulled her against him. “You’re upset. Something in you really does remember him.”

  “I don’t…” Ree stuttered to a halt when he shook his head.

  “No, don’t deny it. I can’t imagine what it must feel like for you. Or for him. But I can imagine what it would be like to live forever without you, and I don’t want to miss the time we do have. I’ve wasted enough time over the years, denying what I felt for you. I thought I was doing the right thing. I really did.” He leaned down and gently nuzzled her neck. “I don’t know how I fought it for so long, but I’m not going to anymore. Maybe I needed a good kick in the ass, but I’m not going to let you get away.”

  Her breath shuddered in her chest and her mind swirled with the emotion he was exuding. It was powerful, and it called to part of her that she couldn’t deny. She leaned into him and let him hold her until someone came barging through the back door.

  “Oh ho! What have we here? Well, don’t let me interrupt. Just pretend like I’m not here.” Whistling, Weylin walked to Melanie’s car and put a bag in the trunk. Covered in the descending shadows, his face looked haggard. As if sensing her thoughts, Paden nodded his head and let go of her waist. She walked over to her friend and leaned against the trunk, pretending to check out the stars that were beginning to peek out.

  “I was kind of hoping to put this talk off a little longer.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Weylin grimaced and looked down at the ground.

  “I think that’s a luxury we can’t afford, buddy.” Ree turned so she was looking at him and thought about her friend and his odd behavior. The hair on that side of his head wasn’t covering the missing ear as well as it would in a few weeks. He had taken that hit so she wouldn’t have to when he blocked the Dark One at the cemetery, and he had suffered for it. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek and squeezed his arm.

  “What was that for? Are you trying to get me killed?” Ree couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her mouth when Weylin looked over his shoulder in mock fear.

  “Thank you. What you did for me I won’t ever be able to repay. I’m so sorry you got dragged into this.” Ree swallowed, her throat sore with repressed emotion. “I owe you my life, Weylin. That Dark One would have killed me.”

  “It’s no big deal, Ree. Really. If you want to apologize for something, apologize for almost throwing up on me that night. I think that’s the only thing I remember, and it haunts my nightmares.” He placed a hand to his chest as if he was wounded.

  Ree dug her elbow into his side and groaned. “I couldn’t help it, okay? Cut me some slack!”

  “I will if you will.” Weylin turned to look at her, his face contrite. “I freaked out today. I don’t know why it bothered me so much. And, really, Mel has already talked my ear off about the drinking. That was really stupid. Something could have happened, and I wouldn’t have been able to help.” Sighing heavily, Weylin slumped back against the trunk and looked away from Ree. “I just didn’t want to deal with all of it, you know? I wanted a break. Our whole lives changed almost overnight. Monsters are trying to kill us, I have fangs, and then, Claire…” Trailing off, he blew a big gush of air out of his mouth before looking back at Ree. “And then when Sheila said something about my ear, it was like I just snapped. I wanted to not think about it all. But ditching school just made it worse,
because I had nothing to think about except all of this. So I thought maybe if I was drunk enough, I wouldn’t think about anything, period.”

  Ree threaded her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I totally get it, Wey. I do.” Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he hugged her back. “All of this sucks, big time.”

  “Yeah, but at least Paden seems to have finally come around. God, I was tired of watching him stare at you with puppy eyes and then deny it.” Weylin shook her shoulders, making her laugh.

  “Yeah, yeah. Not everyone can be as suave as you are.”

  “But they all dream of it.”

  Ree squeezed his waist before stepping back. “Well, we all need unattainable goals. Gives us something to strive for.”

  “I’m sorry I let you down today, Ree.”

  “You didn’t let me down. I was just worried about you.”

  “You won’t have to again.”

  Ree smiled and jerked her head toward the door. “Let’s go in and find out what it is Sophie wants. Then I have to call my parents.”

  Chapter 15

  Ree’s father answered the phone, which was a relief and a nuisance. He had a lot more questions about what Ree was doing and when she would be home than her mother would have asked. Of course, he also didn’t burst into tears when Ree announced she wouldn’t be home for a few more hours, which was a definite plus.

  “Juliette wants to make banners for the winter ball, and I promised I’d help her a long time ago.” Staring at the ceiling, Ree almost wished she could tell him the truth, but quickly rejected the thought. She didn’t know if her parents could handle what was really going on. Most people couldn’t handle what was going on. I don’t know if I can handle what’s going on. God, I saw a man die and watched his skin fall apart on an antique rug just a couple of hours ago.