The Barrier Between (Collector Series # 2)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  Ryker gave me a nod that suggested bull’s-eye.

  “What?” I exclaimed. “She eradicated this entire village?”

  “No. She exterminated the entire Druid race.”

  “What? Why?”

  “There are a number of rumors and theories. As far as I gather, she hated the fact the Druids were extremely formidable, and she couldn’t challenge some of their magic. As Queen, she doesn’t like anything more powerful than her.”

  “So she had them executed.” I stared out at the ruins. Another chill ran up my neck. The place held so much energy I felt I could see the ghosts of the past. Knowing the truth of what really happened to the people connected me even more to the land. The secret of Machu Picchu will never be known to humans. Always an unsolved mystery. There were probably many unsolved cases we could blame on the fae.

  “What?” Ryker stared at my profile.

  I scrunched my nose. “I don’t know, but it feels strange knowing the truth when no one else here does. Before I could feel magic, but now I sense their magic. Their blood saturates the earth, like they are still here.”

  “They probably are.” He continued to watch me till my skin tingled. Finally, I shifted my head, my gaze finding his. Neither of us looked away. The sun slowly dipped behind the peaked mountain. Orange and pink reflected off his white eyes, highlighting the rings around his irises. Nerves took hold, and I licked my bottom lip. His eyes dropped to my mouth.

  The memory of the way his fingers ran up my body, how his lips felt, trapped air in my lungs. I wanted him to kiss me.

  Badly.

  Ryker leaned forward, his breath gliding over my mouth. My lids drifted half closed, waiting to feel his lips on mine.

  He jerked back. His head darted away as his hand ran over the top of his head. “We should get going before it gets too dark.” He jutted his chin toward the path on the other side of the ruins.

  “Uh. Yeah. We should.” I nodded, shoving my hands in my pockets.

  Most tourists were on the last bus heading back to Aguas Calientes, leaving the heritage site empty. Deep reds like cabernet colored the sky, painting the light fog ringing the mountain.

  Ryker’s elbow nudged at my side. “I’ll race you.”

  A conspiratorial smile grew on my face. I might have little legs, especially compared to him, but I was fast.

  We both zoomed off at the same time. Three of my strides were one of his, but I pressed harder into the dirt, which moved me past him as we glided down the hill. We neared one of the stone structures and just as I reached out to touch it first, hands clapped on my hips, yanking me back. I yelped as we tumbled to the ground, rolling.

  My back landed in the dirt, my limbs spread out. Ryker lay a little away. I rolled to my side, smacking his leg. “Cheater.”

  He propped his elbows on his knees holding his chin in his hands and chuckled. His laugh halted me. It was rarely heard, and it stopped my heart. He winked. “Damn right.”

  I grinned back. “Just know, every night when you cry yourself to sleep because of the lack of your manhood... think of me and how I kicked your ass.”

  “I am sure I will.” He stared intently, his voice thick.

  His meaning went into an area that clouded my thoughts and restricted my airways. Jumping to my feet, I tried to break the nervous energy gliding through my veins. He sat up, his finger catching one of my belt loops, and tugged me back down. I fell on top of him. He rolled me over, pinning my arms above me, his form hovering over mine. He blinked, freezing, almost like he couldn’t believe what he had done. But instead of withdrawing, he pressed his body firmer into mine. My body absorbed his heat, and his erection pressed against my hip.

  One hand loosened from my wrist and trailed down my arm to my face. His thumb traced my bottom lip, tugging at it. I stayed motionless, afraid if I moved, he would realize what he was doing and stop.

  Two fingers snaked from my lips down the middle of my neck and followed the route to my breastbone. His gaze was fixed on mine as he drew a line down the middle of my chest, taking my tank top lower as he inched between my breasts. His touch was fire to my blood, boiling it to the point I couldn’t breathe.

  I bit down on my lip. His fingers followed the edge of my bra, the skin along the perimeter burned as he continued to explore both sides. I could no longer control my actions. Between him and the pounding magic in the earth, I trembled with energy. My leg snaked around him, pulling him into me. My free hand curled around the back of his head.

  A rumble came from his chest, and he crawled between my legs, his hands running up my sides, taking my tank top with them.

  A single spark and we were lost in the flames.

  My tank top went over my head, and his erection rubbed against me when he moved, spinning my head. My hands went for his pants, wanting him so much a few seconds felt like a lifetime. He grabbed my face, turning it to him, a growl of desire emanated out his throat. My fingers continued to work on his buttons as his lips came down for mine.

  “Park’s clos—” A man’s voice spoke in Spanish behind us. Both Ryker and I stilled. “Hey! What are you doing?”

  It was a rhetorical question. With a man between my legs and my shirt disregarded several feet away, it was clear what we were doing.

  “You can’t do that here. You need to leave now.” I looked around Ryker to see a man in a park service shirt.

  “You’re fuckin’ kidding me,” Ryker mumbled. The absurdity and embarrassment of being caught like two teenagers made me laugh. Ryker sat back on his heels, pulling me up while he stood. He reached over and grabbed my top, handing it to me before he turned to the ranger.

  “Walk away. You never saw us,” Ryker said.

  The ranger blinked, a frown cresting his forehead. He absently rubbed at his head. “You... you need to leave. Now.”

  Ryker stiffened, a scowl forming on his forehead.

  “Walk away. You. Never. Saw. Us,” Ryker repeated.

  The man shifted, his brows furrowing deeper, but kept his stance. My stomach sank, understanding what was happening.

  Ryker’s magic was dwindling, taking his power of glamour away from him.

  I pulled on my tank, but guilt coated me thicker than any clothing. It might not be my fault, but I was still responsible. I was gaining while he was losing... dying. And it was the last thing I wanted to do to him.

  “Leave. We were never here.” I came round Ryker, squinting at the park ranger.

  He shuffled his feet again, lines folding on his forehead. “This is the last time I tell you. Leave now.”

  What the hell? I could no longer glamour either? Ryker’s magic was dwindling, I understood that, but mine should be growing.

  Ryker’s lids narrowed on me, then back to the man.

  “We’re going.” I pulled on Ryker’s arm, leading us to the trail. Ryker followed but his eyes still watched the guard. When we could no longer see the ranger, Ryker turned fully around, tugging free of my hand.

  Anger simmered under every breath he took. Not pointed directly at me but at everything. At the moment I was the last person he probably wanted to talk to about it. He wasn’t exactly someone who talked to anyone about his problems. He was losing control of himself, and he could do nothing but watch it happen.

  But what about me? Why did they fail me? I couldn’t remember the last time I used glamour. The knowledge that my usage only solidified them more to me kept me from utilizing them unless I had to. Jumping was never in my control, and I only glamoured when I went shopping by myself. Still it should have worked.

  We followed the trail back to the village, both lost in our thoughts. The dense forest darkened with each step, the trees and mountains shielding us from the last rays of sun. The unspoken moment earlier congested the space between us. All the tension I let go over the day reassembled back up my spine. I wasn’t one for small talk and knew it was better to stay silent.

  We were halfway back when my skin began to tingle. Warning me.


  Simultaneously, Ryker and I halted our steps.

  “You sense it too?” he muttered while scanning every inch of space.

  “Yeah.” The word wasn’t even out of my mouth when another wave of magic plunged down on us. My nerves and skin jumped with the overload of energy. I swallowed and slowly circled the area, my heart picking up pace.

  Ryker grabbed the axe attached to his back, gripping it between his hands.

  A low growl reverberated from the forest. We swung around in the direction of the noise. A shimmering glow from the dense brush confirmed fae were coming for us. Then like fireflies, dozens of yellow lights gleamed from the foliage. It took me a moment to realize they were in pairs... eyes... wildcat eyes.

  Wordlessly, Ryker ripped a dagger from his halter and tossed it to me.

  The leaves rustled and a paw stepped out from the shrubs but was hidden in the shadows. All I could see was black outline with yellow glowing eyes.

  “Fuck,” Ryker uttered.

  “What?”

  “It’s a balam,” Ryker said to me, his eyes never leaving the animal.

  “Balam?” The name rang in my memory, remembering it was a type of fae, but I couldn’t place what it was. “What is it?”

  “Every country and region has their own mythology and names for a certain fae. Here a jaguar shape-shifter is a balam, and unlike the real animal, they run in large packs. Real jaguars are dangerous and can easily take down a human, but most are solitary animals and fear humans more than wanting to attack them.”

  I nodded. I’d heard that in my studies. Balam were known hunters, fully taking on the cat’s predatory nature. They usually left humans alone unless the human ventured too far into the jungle and saw something they shouldn’t. I never had to deal with one before. Jaguars would be a little out of place in Seattle.

  I gulped and gripped Ryker’s wrist, my other hand squeezing the handle of the knife as several of them stalked slowly out from the bushes.

  Oh hell, that is a big kitty.

  These jaguars were three times the size of a normal wildcat. One ordinary wildcat was scary. Fifteen huge yellow-eyed fae beasts were pee-your-pants worthy.

  “I don’t know what they want. They usually stick to themselves. Leave other fae alone.”

  A growl erupted from the biggest cat, and a claw the size of my head dipped into the soft dirt. His muscles rippled, displaying the soft brown spots dotting his black fur.

  “Usually?”

  “Generally.”

  “Generally?” I exclaimed.

  “Mostly.” Ryker shrugged, drawing me into him. “This doesn’t look like one of those times.”

  Dark fur glinted in the dying light. Their long claws drove into the earth as the pack moved slowly toward us. The front cat snarled, displaying long white fangs.

  The back of my neck prickled as more fae surrounded us from behind.

  “We have no dispute with you. Let us pass. I don’t want to spill fae blood tonight,” Ryker called out to the shape-shifters. They couldn’t talk back in this form, but they could understand us.

  The cats hissed, the exhibition of sharp incisors reflected the twilight.

  “Yeah, they seem terrified of you.”

  Ryker cast me a look.

  “It will be your blood spilled tonight, Wanderer. You and your human’s,” a heavily accented voice came out of the darkness. A tall willowy man appeared wearing a long white cotton abaya, customary to the men in Turkey or the Middle East. His dark skin only highlighted his white, wiry hair and beard. The man stepped in front of the pack. His eyes glowed with the same unnerving yellow as the jaguars behind him. The aura around him confirmed he was also a shape-shifter.

  “Kanaima.” Ryker shoulders tensed at the sight of the man.

  Again the word Kanaima struck a familiar chord with me, but I struggled to place it. There were many fae to learn, along with their names and powers.

  “I have no quarrel with you, shaman. I already found the one I need.”

  Right! Kanaima was a South American shaman, and if I remembered correctly, leader of the jaguar shape-shifters and not a nice guy. Evil. Goody for us.

  “Unfortunately, Wanderer, we have a dispute with you.”

  “What did you do now?” I demanded.

  “Nothing.” Ryker shook his head. “I swear.”

  “He seems to think you did.” I waved at the man. “Is there anyone you haven’t pissed off?”

  “Only the ones you haven’t yet.”

  “Then your list should be a hell of a lot shorter!”

  Kanaima cleared his throat, his staff striking the ground with force. “Enough!”

  I drew back, but Ryker tensed like he wanted to rush the man and tackle him.

  “What is it you want? My patience is running thin, old man, and we have enough people after us.”

  “We want the same thing as the others... the stone.”

  Ryker’s brows furrowed. “How would you learn of the stone’s whereabouts? You live in the middle of the jungle.”

  A slow, frightening smile crept upon the Kanaima’s mouth. “We have our sources.”

  “Why would you even want it?” I couldn’t help but ask. They didn’t seem like the take-over-the-world type. Their intent might be simpler, but the stone had different plans. It wanted power and dominance and would twist, corrupt, and suck you dry till it got it.

  “Probably the same reason as you, human. To change the fates. We want to return to a better time when our land wasn’t being ripped from us and destroyed by humans. We were the alphas of this land once upon a time. We should be the rightful leaders again.” He tilted his head, examining me. “Fascinating. There is becoming less and less of you that can still be called human.” He licked his thin lips and took a step toward me. Ryker growled, triggering the pack of jaguars to recoil, though they were still ready to pounce.

  Kanaima put his hand out, indicating the shape-shifters to stay put. He didn’t advance toward me again.

  “You are extremely intriguing. I have never seen this before—a human procuring fae powers in this way—stealing them away from their master.” His yellow eyes scanned my body. “The more you gain, the more he loses. Bit by bit you are stripping him. Forever.”

  Ryker bristled and subtly shifted his weight closer to me.

  “I have seen many humans become fae by eating Otherworld food, but this is not what I observe here. I see electricity. Fire. Light. Boom!” His excited voice rang into the evening sky, raising goose bumps along my flesh. The moon peeked behind the mountains, shining an eerie light around us. “You are strong, human, hindering and pushing against all that wants to be claimed.”

  Huh?

  “I think it’s time we were going.” Ryker’s hand went around my hip. “It is better for both if we walk away peacefully.”

  Kanaima chuckled, his eyes wild.

  Ryker took a step back and those same eyes narrowed into a pinpoint focus.

  “I want the stone, Wanderer, and you cannot speak falsehoods to me. I see its power on you.”

  “Zoey,” Ryker said.

  “What?”

  He shoved me behind him, lunging at the shape-shifters. They reacted instantly to his threat and leaped for him.

  Seeing Ryker threatened inflicted anger in me I could not control. The mass of objects coming at him from all different angles reminded me of the night Marcello and his men used me as bait. Even though each swing Ryker executed had been lethal, there were too many of them at once. I think it was that night, thinking he was dead, when my feelings for him started to take root.

  I kicked, hitting a big cat in the side and toppled it to the ground, swinging around to the threat behind me. My dagger nicked at the new danger, ducking out of the way of the searing claws swiping at my head. Ryker fought next to me, trying to keep close, but the cats came from all angles, creating a wedge between us.

  “Zoey!” Ryker bellowed, fear struck his face as he looked past me. />
  The instant I heard my name I knew I was in trouble. My neck and back prickled. I whipped around. All I saw were claws, a large pink tongue, and enormous white daggered teeth barreling toward my face.

  Oh hell. This is it.

  I shut my eyes, anticipating the moment the teeth and claws would find their target. A force knocked me off my feet, my head smacking on the rocky trail. The dagger flew out of my hand, resonating across the rocks as it tumbled into the bushes. My head spun from the impact. My lids squeezed even tighter and waited for the jaguar to sink its teeth into me... and waited.

  Then I sensed cold stone rigid underneath me, my skin instantly suffering the harsh chill of the air. Cement? Cold? I blinked, opening my lids. Only gray metal was in my line of sight. Blood leaked from my nose and I sat up, wiping it away. My head tumbled around from the sudden trip and the hit it took on the ground. When the room halted, my eyes fixed on the space around me.

  Oh God, no.

  I rubbed my red fingers on my pants as I clambered to my feet, circling around in utter astonishment and fear. I had gotten used to returning to our room, a place of safety. It never seemed like it was a big jump when I was still in the same town. Almost like it didn’t count.

  This was a big jump. Of all the places in the world—what brought me back here? Why this place?

  “Hey,” a woman’s voice bellowed from the top of the stairs. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

  I whirled around to face the girl. Both her eyes and mine widened into saucers.

  No. This can’t be real.

  Her shock quickly fell from her face, replaced by a smirk. “I knew you’d come back someday.”

  Jump, Zoey. Jump now!

  Nothing.

  “You’d miss the excitement too much. Money, drugs, security. It will always be a stronger pull than freedom.” The woman took a step down. “Not that I won’t punish you first for what you did to my brother and to me, but you bring in far too much money to do too much damage.”

  Brother. Marcello.

  Maria’s lips curled in a malevolent grin. “The Avenging Angel has come home.”