The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  Double standards, my—

  The Guardian studied Cassia. “Once you have received your powers, your transition will not be complete until you have lain with a male of pure Elvin blood.”

  Jake’s face, his muscular body, and everything honorable about him flashed behind Cassia’s eyes and she had to shove the thoughts aside.

  As if she had seen the images in Cassia’s mind, the Guardian narrowed her gaze. “An Elvin male of pure blood. Until you have mated, your powers will be strong, but the transition will not be complete.”

  “Yes, Mother,” Cassia whispered.

  “There is something important you must know, Cassiandra.” The Guardian’s eyes penetrated Cassia to her very magical core. “You have no choice but to complete the transition. The magic growing inside you shall become vast and uncontrollable—and you will not survive without a male to guide you through the transition.”

  Cassia nearly stopped breathing and heat rushed through her in a violent wave. She would die?

  The Guardian gripped Cassia’s upper arms tighter. “The fates of Otherworlds depend on your ascension, on you taking my place. You will train over the next six centuries before you will rule for millennia after millennia as I have. Until it is time for you to bear a daughter to take your place.”

  Cassia couldn’t find the words to respond as her world spun enough to make her dizzy enough to tip right off the stairs.

  Her mother’s eyes darkened so much the blue almost appeared black. “Prepare yourself for what will come now in your ascension ceremony,” the Guardian said. “You must not cry out, struggle, or lose consciousness. You must not show your pain in any way. If you do, you will not ascend. You will never have another opportunity.”

  Oh, goddess. Cassia hadn’t known about any of this. Why couldn’t she have at least been prepared beforehand? To be left in such darkness about things so important was beyond not right.

  But, then, the Guardian had not been known for giving anyone all of the information they required. Her and her damned mysteries.

  “Do you understand what you must do at this moment, Cassiandra?” the Guardian said in a harsher tone.

  “Yes, My Lady,” Cassia managed to squeeze out of her throat as her heart pounded hard enough to hurt.

  The Great Guardian didn’t smile. Her body began radiating a golden glow. Soft at first. The light soon grew so bright Cassia could barely keep from wincing or closing her eyes. In moments she could no longer see the Guardian.

  Cassia tried to relax by focusing on her calm center. She had almost succeeded when pain blasted her body and she was encompassed by pure white light.

  She barely held back a scream. The pain was so intense it felt like her flesh was being shredded from her bones.

  In her mind her skin and flesh peeled away, charring until only her skeleton remained.

  Dear Anu, help me!

  Surely it was the goddess who answered her prayers to help her find the inner strength to keep her face a mask of what she hoped looked like perfect calm.

  Still, she wanted to cry, to let tears flood her cheeks. She wanted to writhe on the wood floor and beg the Guardian to stop.

  In the back of her mind, she knew Kael felt her anguish and wanted to come to her, to lend her some magical comfort, but instinctively knew that he could not.

  Cassia focused on her own face, her cheeks, her eyes, her lips. As pain dug through her, tearing her inside out, she blocked as much of it as she could by continuing to concentrate on keeping her face a mask.

  Then, along with the pain, a burst of power rocketed through her. Power that fought against the agony.

  Power surging. Awakening.

  Like a Phoenix reborn from ashes. The magic within her grew from what now seemed inconsequential compared to the all-consuming power that rose so high inside her she knew she would rise as a Phoenix does.

  The pain left, swiftly and suddenly.

  In its place the magic, the power, healed her, made her whole again. Every nerve ending tingled and her hair prickled on her scalp.

  Right now it was as if she could fly if she tried. She felt high, ready to soar through the cloudless sky.

  Cassia’s mask remained and the Guardian let her hands drop away from Cassia’s upper arms.

  The Guardian’s smile was brilliant.

  Cassia managed to move her stiff lips enough to return her mother’s smile, but she didn’t feel it in her heart.

  “Great power is now yours.” Again the Guardian’s eyes darkened. “As long as you do as I have instructed and lie with an Elvin male of pure blood within fifteen days’ time.”

  Fifteen days, fifteen days, fifteen days, chanted Cassia’s mind.

  The Great Guardian turned and faced the crowd that Cassia had all but forgotten. Cassia maintained her mask, knowing that was what her mother wanted.

  “Cassiandra has completed the first phase of her transition.” The Guardian’s voice rang like bells breaking the silence. “Within fifteen days’ time, following one more great and dangerous trial, she will ascend to the position of Guardian within the House of Guardians.”

  Applause broke out, loud enough for Cassia to wish for human earmuffs. When the noise died down, she looked up at her mother, who gestured down the stairs. Cassia followed the motion of the Guardian’s hand and her gaze met Daire’s

  Heat flushed her entire body. Heat of embarrassment, of fear, of doubt, and even the heat of arousal.

  “Go. Now.” The Guardian’s voice was firm, as if she knew a strong resistance to going to Daire squeezed Cassia’s body.

  She cast a final look to her mother, then faced forward and took one shaky step after another toward Daire.

  Her destiny?

  It wasn’t right.

  Something isn’t right.

  Still, she let Daire take her hand when she reached him. His grip was large, warm, and comforting. Her eyes met his—eyes that seemed to hold more than desire, but love, too.

  Yes, she cared for Daire, as a mentor, a friend. But could she be his lover? His mate?

  The crowd parted as Daire led her out of the courtyard, down a path, and through the trees.

  Behind her Kael’s disapproval reached out to her, but thankfully he did not follow.

  Along the path orchids bloomed in the trees in brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. The very rare blue orchid was not to be seen. The colors blurred the farther they walked from the throng and the more nervous Cassia became.

  Daire squeezed her hand and she looked up at him. “Are you fearful, my sweet?”

  His term of endearment set her back a moment before she said, “I-I don’t know.” Was it fear she felt?

  As a future female Guardian awaiting her ascension, she had never been allowed to enter an unmated male’s house. Despite her centuries of existence, she only had a vague idea where he lived in the large City of the Light Elves and had never been to his home.

  Eventually they reached a fine residence. An Elvin servant opened the door, bowed, and closed it behind them once they walked inside.

  Everything within Cassia twisted and squirmed. For the second time that afternoon, she wanted to turn and run. Run far away. It didn’t matter where, just away from—from everything happening today.

  Daire led her through a beautiful home filled with fine Elvin paintings, sculptures, furniture, vines, and flowers. They stepped onto one of the incredibly beautiful floor rugs that felt so soft to her feet that she wanted to lie down and snuggle on it—by herself.

  But she continued allowing Daire to guide her through his home until they reached a door that swung silently open. It closed just as quietly when they were inside the room.

  Cassia’s heart pounded and everything twisted tighter inside her as Daire brought her around to face him at the foot of a large bed. Cool air stirred in the room, stroking the skin that was not covered by her dress. The material fluttered, just like the flutter in her belly.

  “You are so beautiful, C
assiandra.” Daire reached up and fingered a lock of hair on her forehead. His voice was firm, deep, unwavering. “I have waited for this moment for what seems an eternity.”

  No words would come to Cassia as Daire let his hand slip away from her face. He stepped back and unfastened the belt to his robe at the same time.

  He eased the robe from his shoulders and let it slide to the floor, exposing every naked inch of him.

  3

  San Francisco

  * * *

  When Jake woke, sun streamed in from overhead skylights, and he had to shield his eyes for a moment with the back of his hand. After his eyes adjusted to the light, he checked his watch and cursed. He’d slept till noon, a full six hours, instead of his usual four.

  His biceps ached from the double wounds from the Drow arrow a few weeks ago, and now the whatever-the-hell-it-was Stormcutter’s dagger. And his head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.

  After a quick hot shower and changing into a pair of well-worn blue jeans and a blue T-shirt, Jake headed toward the kitchen. His stomach rumbled, probably ticked he hadn’t made it to breakfast. He walked out of the hallway into the central area of the warehouse.

  “Captain Macgregor.” PSF Officer Lorelei Kerns greeted Jake with a nod. Officer Kerns gave Jake a curious look. “A civilian is here to see you. She’s in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks.” Jake didn’t let his surprise show as he nodded in return and headed toward the warehouse’s kitchen.

  If the woman was in that room, she wasn’t military, law enforcement, or government. She would have to be a civilian like Kerns had said. Jake had a pretty good idea who the woman in the kitchen was even though he didn’t have a clue how she’d found him.

  The ever-present buzz of voices, along with sounds of sawing and hammering, pounded at his temples, and the familiar smells of sawdust and old crude-oil splatters made his headache worse. The once empty warehouse was still a work in progress as the Alliance converted it into a fully functioning HQ.

  When Jake reached the door to the kitchen, he pushed it open and delicious smells of fresh-baked cornbread immediately hit him, followed by what smelled like beef stew.

  As he’d expected, Kat DeLuca sat at the large table, along with five of the eight D’Anu witches. He was keenly aware of Cassia’s absence. She’d left mysteriously after the battle that ended up with a dark goddess destroyed and demons sent back to Underworld, a sort of hell in Otherworld.

  “Great investigating reporter’s instincts, Kat,” Jake said as the door swung shut behind him and he came to a stop next to her chair.

  “The best.” The beautiful woman only winced a little from her injuries, courtesy of a demon from the last battle, as she stood and reached up to brush her lips over Jake’s. Her familiar exotic scent, like green tea and ginger, swept over him. “You haven’t been to see me since I checked out of the hospital.”

  When she drew back, he noticed the looks of surprise on most of the witches’ faces.

  “Since when did you have a girlfriend?” Rhiannon said with a grin and her usual directness. “Mr. Too-aloof-for-words.”

  Kat arched an eyebrow, but Jake ignored the question. He’d never been inclined to discuss his personal life, and he wasn’t about to start. Hell, he’d never been inclined to have much of a personal life, come to think of it.

  But, yeah, he’d always had a woman waiting in the wings.

  And that was different. That was sex. Not personal at all.

  With Kat, they’d enjoyed each other’s company, but he’d never planned to take it beyond that, and he didn’t think she ever had, either.

  “While you’re here I’ll give you a little tour.” Very little. Jake gestured to the door. Whatever reason Kat was here, he wasn’t interested in discussing it in front of the other women.

  Kat gave the sexy smile that usually set his insides on fire, but didn’t even light a spark now. Maybe it was his irritation at her locating the HQ. He’d deliberately kept her in the dark as much as anyone else outside the Alliance.

  He held the door open for her, feeling the curious stares of the women they left behind in the kitchen. Kat wore looser clothing than she normally did, likely to keep pressure off the stitched-up furrows in her side where a demon had dug its claws into her once perfect olive skin.

  When they were alone—as much as they could be in the middle of a warehouse buzzing with activity—Kat studied him with a thoughtful expression. “You’re angry that I found you.”

  Jake pinched the bridge of his nose before he looked at Kat again. “How did you locate our HQ?”

  “Like you said, I’m a good investigative reporter.” She cocked her head and sunlight pouring in through the skylights gleamed on her short dark hair. “You should have told me everything, Jake.”

  “You know I couldn’t.” He ground his teeth. “I warned you to stay in your home.”

  “And you know there was no way I’d do that, regardless of the situation.” This time anger sparked in her gaze. “But I would have been better prepared.”

  “I’m sorry.” He took her by the shoulders. “I was under orders. And you’re the press, baby.”

  She jerked away and looked at his freshly bandaged arm. “What happened?”

  Jake shrugged. “Nothing.”

  “There’s more going on now that you’re not telling me.” Kat propped her hands on her hips. “This madness isn’t over yet, is it,” she said as a statement, not a question.

  Jake remained quiet for a long moment. “If I told you what to stay away from, you’d head straight for it. The best way I can protect you is to give you as little information as possible.”

  Kat clenched her jaw. “That’s not fair.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.” Jake heaved out a sigh. “Damnit, Kat. You need to stay in your home. Especially now.”

  “You’re not going to budge on this, are you,” she stated in a flat tone.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  She took a step back, but stopped just as she started to turn. “You never did answer the question I asked you before that—that insanity on the wharf. What kind of relationship do we have? We’ve been dating for a year—although the last six months I wouldn’t call dating.”

  Jake had been running on adrenaline and exhaustion for so long that he wasn’t clear on anything right now. It was definitely not the time to have this conversation. Feelings. Emotions.

  Where are we going? Do we have something special? Something real?

  He’d rather be beaten.

  But he knew Kat deserved something. He’d given her all he could—even if it wasn’t much. For that, he was sorry, and sorrier still he’d never find the words to explain the hollow, cold space inside him that just didn’t connect.

  Too much damage.

  He knew lots of guys like that from the service. He could be their Special Forces Recon squad leader.

  Only my squad got dead, didn’t they?

  Shoving away the bitter thoughts, Jake moved toward Kat, cupped her cheeks in his hands, leaned down, and gave her a soft but brief kiss. When he raised his head she looked at him with eyes that held questions he couldn’t answer.

  “A threat’s still out there that’s possibly even worse.” He rubbed her chin with his thumb. “Stay inside. Stay safe.”

  Kat looked at him a long moment before she backed away from his touch. “I’ll only wait so long, Jake.”

  Before he could respond, she turned and walked to a side door of the warehouse and let herself out.

  Why was he feeling so surprised?

  It always went like this, didn’t it? Real women, good women, normal women—they could only stick around so long, trying to love a straw man.

  Jake cursed under his breath and strode toward the kitchen to get something to eat. After that he’d head to the park for a little solitude and a hard workout to burn off some of the frustration gripping his mind and body.

  Air stirred blades of grass
in one of Golden Gate Park’s meadows as Jake went through his jujitsu exercises. He kept his breathing deep and even, his movements smooth and fluid.

  Rather than being in his whites, he had stayed in his T-shirt and jeans, and remained armed. These days he didn’t go anywhere without his gun and dagger. He probably should follow his own orders and have at least another officer with him, or stay and pump weights in the gym at HQ.

  But, damnit, he was sick of feeling hemmed in and he just needed fresh air, space, and time alone.

  A prickling sensation crept up the back of Jake’s neck.

  Blood pounded in his ears. His heart rate spiked.

  Someone or something was coming at him from behind.

  He dropped to the ground and rolled to the left. The warmth of the assailant’s body brushed Jake’s as the man attacked. Jake smelled the man’s sweat at the same time.

  The large man cursed as he missed and slammed his shoulder against the grass. But he never stopped his momentum. At the same time he rolled to Jake’s right, the man smoothly and effortlessly got to his feet.

  A man Jake recognized.

  What the hell?

  Jake didn’t have a second for any more thought. He already stood, one foot solidly on the ground, the knee of his other leg drawn to his side. The moment the man got to his feet, Jake put power into driving his leg out and ramming his foot into his attacker’s solar plexus.

  The man grunted as air whooshed from his lungs, but he’d brought his hands up in time to grab Jake’s foot. He twisted it hard to his right.

  Jake flipped in the same direction as the motion, keeping his body moving fluidly. He wrenched his foot from the man’s grasp. He again landed in the grass, his Glock digging into his hip as he hit the ground. Pain exploded in his injured biceps.

  The assailant dove for Jake. The man’s weight crushed against Jake’s sternum and he couldn’t breathe.

  Before the man pinned him to the ground, Jake whipped his dagger from the holster on his belt. The blade met the assailant’s throat. One movement and steel would bury itself in his jugular.