The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  The gentle wind caressing her face as she concentrated on Jake seemed warm compared to the cold of Darkwolf’s storms.

  A lump rose in her throat as she thought about Darkwolf.

  Yes, he’d committed horrors and brought about the forces that sought to destroy San Francisco and whatever stood in their way. But Darkwolf had been possessed from the beginning of every atrocity he’d been associated with.

  Cassia stared down at Jake as she let more healing magic flow into him, and a second lump in her throat crowded the first. She could have lost Jake tonight.

  Like Darkwolf had lost Elizabeth-Junga. How ironic that the warlock would fall in love with one of the demons that had been sent to control him all those months ago.

  Memories of the pain in Darkwolf’s eyes, in his cries to the heavens after Elizabeth’s death, caused the backs of her eyes to burn.

  The pain, the suffering brought to thousands and thousands and thousands of people—

  All due to the wills of two ancient gods who had sought to return to the Earth Otherworld and gain control over what they once ruled—the Old World.

  But Alyssa. Where had she gone wrong? What happened to make her choose darkness and death over light and life?

  Cassia’s gaze strayed to the spot where Darkwolf had killed Alyssa, had caused her body to evaporate.

  Can the lump in my throat get any bigger? she thought as her eyes watered and burned more.

  Cassia finished repairing and knitting up Jake’s injuries with her magic. The worst of what he’d been through had been the hypothermia, his broken ribs, his punctured lung, and where he’d been stabbed in his thigh.

  Fortunately the stab wound hadn’t been a little more to the left or it would have severed the femoral artery.

  But now he was completely healed.

  When she was finished with Jake, she focused her magic internally and healed her own wounds, including her wrenched knee. Before, she’d had to make sure she had enough power to fight Darkwolf, contain him, and send him away.

  Jake stirred, coughed, and let out a low groan. Cassia stroked one of his stubbled jaws as he opened his eyes. “Took your time, Jake Macgregor,” she said with a smile as she moved her face close to his.

  “Hi, Princess.” He returned her smile as he reached for her and drew her into his embrace.

  He gave her the sweetest kiss of her life.

  A mixture of relief, anger, pain, and concern anchored itself in Jake’s chest. The feeling grew heavier and heavier as he squeezed Cassia’s hand.

  * * *

  The power of her transference took them to the beach. Now they trudged through the sand, back toward Crissy Field where men and women were picking up the pieces of their lives.

  Countless other lives.

  Kael strode alongside, his head high and proud as always.

  Now that the storm was over, helicopters could safely monitor the skies and carry in volunteers and medical personnel. Many people would be working hard to save the lives of the injured, and many others would start the process of caring for the bodies of those people they hadn’t been able to save.

  Massive spotlights flooded the grim and grisly scene. Emergency vehicles’ red and blue strobes flashed on pale, dead faces.

  So much death.

  Jake’s stomach churned.

  The fact that Darkwolf was gone—the demons and the dark god and goddess were gone—that didn’t mean things were going to be fine and dandy. The city and its people would take a long time to heal. What had happened over a period of weeks had taken its toll on the entire country.

  One thing about Americans, though. As a people they persevered. They never gave up.

  Jake knew in his heart that even if the Alliance had lost tonight, Americans would eventually have found a way to bring about Darkwolf’s downfall.

  That was how the United States was built. Millions of men and women had given and continued to give their lives to gain and protect America’s freedom, for over two centuries.

  A nation indivisible.

  Liberty and justice for all.

  No matter what the toll, no matter how long it took, America would have persevered.

  Jake swallowed and kept a firm, grounding grip on Cassia’s hand as they walked.

  After dealing with gods and goddesses and beings from Otherworlds and Underworlds, Jake didn’t know what to think. He’d never been totally sure he believed in a God, much less multiple gods.

  And now?

  Jake looked up at the heavens, at the stars that so clearly sparkled like they never had before.

  If there was just one God watching over Earth, Jake hoped He heard Jake’s prayer of thanks.

  Thanks that this Otherworldly war had finally ended tonight.

  Thanks that the life of the woman he loved had been spared.

  49

  Daire walked among the living and dead, searching, searching. Blood dried on his sword as he gripped it while he looked for Cassia and Kat.

  He’d have known if either one of them had died.

  He gripped his sword tighter. Yes, he would have.

  Wouldn’t he?

  But Kat was human.

  And Cassia—not.

  He glanced again toward the dark pier that had been lit up with Cassia’s magic, what seemed like an Otherworld lifetime ago. The rain had stopped, the warlock-god’s funnel men had vanished—but everything now remained dark and quiet at the end of that wharf. For too long, far too long.

  The ache in his side where he’d taken a Stormcutter dagger increased, but he simply pushed the pain away. It was a mere irritation. He would deal with the injury later, once he found Cassia and Kat.

  Flashing blue and red lights from human emergency vehicles were somewhat bothersome. Hundreds of humans were working to save the lives of injured Marines and Alliance members. Some humans carried wounded persons from the battlefield to waiting vehicles with more flashing lights.

  Daire frowned. Magic would save lives faster than human means. However, it was true that not enough magical beings were present to save everyone.

  Most of the magical beings couldn’t stay, though. The Fae had left, all but the D’Danann warriors.

  The Drow had vanished—probably because the battle had raged so long that it neared dawn.

  Mystwalkers hovered around trees in their mist form. Probably waiting to be sent back to Otherworld. They needed to get to freshwater, no doubt.

  Daire strode toward the mist and Alaia rose from it. “Your people fought with such bravery,” he said.

  “As did yours.” Alaia glanced down to the mist. “We must return home, and soon.”

  “The Great Guardian granted me the temporary power to move large numbers of peoples through the veil.” Daire held out his hand, and he and Alaia clasped each other’s arms in the traditional warrior’s hand-to-elbow grip. “Travel well.”

  Alaia gave a deep nod as she released him and he bowed in return. She faded into the mist swirling around the trees. The Dryads had moved the trees, marching them across the field while fighting Stormcutters.

  Daire closed his eyes and reached out to every Mystwalker who remained alive. Thank Anu most of them had survived.

  With little effort, thanks to the Guardian, Daire sent them to their home with a mental command. When he opened his eyes he no longer saw mist, only mud, grass, and trees where the Mystwalkers had been.

  Daire straightened his shoulders and continued looking for Cassia and Kat.

  He had been introduced to the Coven of white magic D’Anu witches after the last battle. Those witches now rushed alongside Light Elves and D’Danann, moving from one downed person to another. Sparks and glowing healing magic mingled with the annoying red and blue flashes of the human emergency transports.

  Daire had come to greatly respect the five D’Anu gray magic witches and was pleased to see all of them alive. Silver, Copper, Hannah, Sydney, and Rhiannon had their mates at their sides as they healed and saved lives.
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  On the hint of a breeze, Daire caught the same exotic perfume that had captured his attention in the last battle.

  Kat.

  He snapped his attention to the left, and started jogging away from the shore and toward Kat. His heart beat a little faster. Smells of blood, death, and the Stormcutters’ stench almost obscured the scent of Kat’s perfume. But she was there. Somewhere.

  Daire slowed his steps as he saw her. Kat’s dark head was lowered as she bent over an injured woman. Blood covered Kat’s fingers as she applied pressure to a wound in the woman’s side.

  Something akin to a boulder formed in his chest, and another one in his throat. He hadn’t realized just how much he had come to care for the human woman.

  Kat had agreed to stay with the emergency vehicles until the fighting was over as she had no fighting skills. Although she had stated she could bring a man down with a kick to his bollocks, and Daire believed her.

  But he was pleased she had the sense not to fool herself into thinking she would have had a chance against the Stormcutters.

  Daire slipped around humans and Otherworld warriors until he finally reached Kat. He knelt next to her and wanted to wrap his arms around her, hold her tight, and kiss her countless times to know that she was alive. But at this moment she was far too busy saving others’ lives.

  She looked at him, and her relief to see him was as obvious as his was to see her. “Thank God you’re okay, Daire,” Kat said as she continued to press a large bandage to the woman’s side.

  “Thank the gods and goddesses you are as well,” he replied in return, with the hint of a smile.

  “Can you help her?” Kat glanced from him to the woman, who moaned, her breath rattling in her chest.

  He raised his hands over the woman and fed her some of his healing magic while touching her essence. “Yes, this one can be saved.”

  When he was certain the woman would live, Daire brought Kat to her feet and kissed her, tender and slow. But not as long as he wished to, they had work to accomplish.

  Kat and Daire moved away from each other, then held hands for a moment until they reached the next person who needed to be saved. They continued on and on through the masses to find and heal injured human and Alliance warriors.

  Before they reached their third injured warrior, Daire’s breath stuck in his chest for the second time that night.

  At the foot of the wharf, with Kael beside them, Cassia stood with Jake Macgregor. The pair looked well despite their ragged clothing and battle-worn appearances.

  Daire smiled and worked with Kat to tend to the next person they came to.

  Preordained destinies were highly overrated.

  50

  The thump of Cassias heart grew louder in her ears. She and Jake waited in the palace in the trees for an audience with the Great Guardian.

  Oh, and how her mother was making them wait.

  “It’ll be okay, Princess.” Jake draped his strong arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to him.

  She hoped like crazy he was right.

  Cassia sighed. He smelled so good, all spicy and masculine and delicious. She laid her head against his muscular chest and settled into his embrace.

  After all they’d been through, he was like a cove sheltering her from a storm. He’d become her world and she couldn’t imagine one without him.

  She had completely dropped her glamour for the first time since she was twenty-five, and her ears were again pointed. Jake had enjoyed tracing them with his tongue when they made love that morning. It felt different completely revealing every part of her that was Elvin.

  Kael had remained in the San Francisco Otherworld with the witches while Cassia and Jake made the journey to meet with the Great Guardian.

  Cassia and Jake both wore clean jeans, T-shirts, and jogging shoes—funny how she’d come to be used to them since the war began.

  She had wondered if her mother would disapprove of her not wearing a dress or robe, but Cassia had decided she didn’t care. She was tired of doing everything in her power to please her mother. It was time to do something for herself.

  With all her heart, she hoped there wasn’t a condition that would destroy all of the Otherworlds if she chose Jake. If she was even given the opportunity to choose him. The Great Guardian had the power to wipe her memory of Jake, and his of her.

  The idea was too painful to bear and her body went numb. She did her best to push the thought away.

  She let her gaze drift from window to window in the great, magnificent, and incredibly bare chamber where they had last met with her mother. Despite her best efforts to not dwell on the future at this moment, a heaviness settled inside Cassia’s chest.

  How lonely it must be for her mother. To be an all-powerful being who had lived so long. Who had seen peoples, places, and things come and go, grow and evolve. Change. And die.

  While she stayed the same. All-knowing, all-powerful.

  Guarding.

  Guiding.

  Living.

  Forever.

  Alone.

  Cassia swallowed. She didn’t want that. Goddess, but she didn’t.

  Please, there has to be some other way.

  Yellow butterflies floated in and out of the arched windows of the orchid-scented room. The ivy climbing around the columns between windows gleamed deep green in the golden light. The brilliant reddish-orange fire orchid petals flickered in a light breeze, causing them to look like the flames that had given the orchids their name.

  Her mother had likely named them. She’d been around so long she’d probably named everything, even dirt.

  Cassia looked up into Jake’s eyes and found him studying her. “I keep worrying about those ‘consequences,’” she said.

  “And well you should, Daughter.” The Guardian’s voice came at the same time brilliant white light flashed in the room and the sweet smell of wildflowers flowed around them.

  She always had to make an entrance lately with Cassia and Jake.

  Cassia closed her eyes only briefly before turning to her mother, dread cramping her belly.

  As usual, the Great Guardian radiated beauty and power. Somewhere along the way, her mother had lost her ready, mysterious smile—at least for Cassia and Jake.

  Again, Cassia pulled him down with her and they each lowered onto one knee as they bowed before her.

  Hair at Cassia’s nape prickled as the Guardian made them wait. Seconds slipped by and Cassia darted her gaze to Jake, who was looking directly at the Guardian. She wanted to smile at this man who knew who he was and his place in the world.

  “Rise,” the Great Guardian said after an interminable amount of time that Cassia thought came close to unacceptable.

  Cassia and Jake eased up, and stood straight and tall before the Guardian. Cassia couldn’t help tilting her chin up, perhaps with a hint of defiance. Yes. Defiance.

  Her mother’s expression was cool and appraising. “Daire requested an audience with me earlier,” she said, and Cassia’s belly fluttered, wondering what he had come for. She saw Jake’s frown from the corner of her eye. “Daire asked for leniency, and asked that I accept the human into our fold.”

  Jake’s surprised expression mirrored the wonder within Cassia. Could Daire’s intervention somehow make this all work out?

  “However,” the Guardian said, dashing Cassia’s hopes as she continued, “I have been lenient in our past encounters, but in this I cannot and will not be.”

  Jake slipped his hand into Cassia’s and she clung to him, grateful for his support and for the love flowing through their connection.

  The Guardian didn’t acknowledge their show of unity. She looked from Cassia to Jake, letting her gaze rest on him long enough that Cassia would have had a hard time meeting her mother’s eyes for that length of time. Jake didn’t so much as blink.

  Finally the Guardian returned her gaze to Cassia. “You have three choices, and only three.”

  Jake squeezed Cassia’s hand tighter. Her
heart beat faster.

  “Your first choice, Cassiandra,” the Guardian said, “is to remain in Otherworld and take your permanent place as one of the Guardians. As you have been destined, you will become the next Great Guardian after six more centuries of training. Your powers will continue to grow far beyond your imagination.” Her gaze turned on Jake. “The human must return to the Earth Otherworld, and I will wipe your memories of each other.”

  Jake went completely still and his grip on her hand was so tight it was painful.

  Cassia wanted to shake her head. No, no, no. Instead, her body trembled as she waited for her other choices.

  The Guardian looked at Jake, whose jaw was tight, probably from holding back the urge to shout at the Guardian.

  “The second option is that your human stays in the realm of the Light Elves,” the Great Guardian said. “He will forsake everything in his San Francisco Otherworld. If he wishes I can bestow upon him magic and immortality. He will never return to his own Otherworld.”

  “What?” Cassia’s gut twisted. No, she couldn’t do that to Jake. “No. You can’t do that to him.”

  Jake looked stunned, like he was unable to process what the Guardian had just said. Cassia swore she heard his heartbeat slow to a crawl and the hairs rise on his skin. For once he remained speechless, like he couldn’t get a word out.

  Before either Cassia or Jake could speak, the Great Guardian continued with the conditions. “The third and final option is that you return to the Earth Otherworld with your human.”

  Cassia went limp with relief, and she leaned against Jake’s arm. This was an easy choice.

  “However,” her mother said then paused as her gaze hardened. Cassia immediately tensed again. “Should you choose this option, the consequence is that you shall be stripped of your magic and you shall not serve as a Guardian in any capacity.”

  Dear Anu.

  Intense heat burned in Cassia’s ears as she heard the words but didn’t want to accept them.

  No magic?

  Over four centuries of magic and then to have her powers taken away from her would be like losing a limb, a part of her that she couldn’t imagine living without.