by Lizzy Ford
"C’mon, Rhyn, they’re getting closer!" she said, and shook him.
He sagged against her. She smelled his blood, felt the weakness of his body when their skin met. The sensations surprised her.
The creatures were coming. They’d kill her. They’d kill him. He wasn’t waking up.
She choked back a sob and saw the glint of starlight off a knife on the ground. She crawled over him and snatched it, wiping its blade on her clothes before she hesitated.
She’d never cut herself before. She looked at her wrist, where Lankha had bitten her, closed her eyes, and hacked. Pain made her gasp as blood welled and spilled. She placed her wrist to Rhyn’s mouth, willing him to awaken, to drink her. She’d never thought she’d find a reason to want some creature to suck her blood; if ever, now was the time.
At first, nothing happened, and she readied herself to run. He groaned softly, licked his lips. His body tensed so fast she didn't have time to blink.
His silver eyes opened, glowing almost crazed in the night. Uneasy, she started to move away, but he grabbed her arm to keep her wrist in place and tore into it. She screamed, the creatures came closer, and sheer will made her close her eyes to envision the hotel room.
The shadow world…she staggered and floated through it, hauling him with her toward a pulsing portal that grew blurry fast. She toppled through it into their hotel room. It was silent aside from her choked gasps. Rhyn was unconscious again, his face marred by her blood.
There was nothing left of her forearm but a mangled mess. Horrified, she stumbled into the bathroom for a towel, wrapped her arm in it, and collapsed, sobbing.
Rhyn stared at Katie’s still body, uncertain what to do. Her breathing was shallow, the scent of her blood making him shudder. He was weak but alive, his body covered with his blood and hers.
His little mortal had come after him. No one had ever come after him before.
The thought shocked him. He watched blood ooze from her arm. He wasn't a healer, and the only healer he knew was trapped in Hell. Humans had their own kinds of healers. Gazing at her, he doubted a human healer could help her.
He scooped her up, not knowing what else to do. He opened his senses to locate the immortal he wanted, and then willed himself there. It was the only place he knew where someone might help him.
He stood in the gently lit bedroom of his brother, Kiki. Kiki whirled from his position before the hearth, his oriental features set off by electric turquoise eyes.
"What the fu--Rhyn?"
The only brother not to declare outright war on him, Kiki was a distant second to Andre in his tepid support of their black sheep of a young brother.
"Gods, what'd you do to her?" Kiki demanded.
Rhyn ignored the accusation and pulled her away when Kiki tried to snatch her.
"Tell me where to take her before she bleeds out," he ordered.
Despite the animosity boiling at the back of his brother's gaze, Kiki's pragmatism snapped to the forefront. He whipped off his T-shirt and wrapped Katie's arm.
"No one told me you were out of prison," Kiki muttered as he worked. "You hear about Andre?"
"Why else do you think I'm here?"
Kiki glanced at him and whipped out a mobile phone. His conversation was short and curt before he tossed the mobile.
"I'll take her somewhere safe," he said, holding out his hand.
Rhyn pulled the scarf he hated from her neck. Kiki stared, even more stunned.
"Fool," he said, eyes narrowing. "What--"
"Kiki!" Rhyn growled.
His brother snapped his mouth closed and extended his hand, pulling Rhyn and Katie with him into the shadow world. They crossed through the fog to a destination Rhyn had never been before. They emerged from the shadow world and stood on a narrow, winding road. The fragrant ocean was too dark to see. The sound of waves rushing the shore and the firm sand beneath his feet indicated its location a few yards from them. A sprawling castle with thick walls, an old portcullis, and torches glowing along the walls rose up before them. The road leading to the castle was modern blacktop.
"What is this?" Rhyn asked suspiciously as Kiki started toward the arched door beside the portcullis.
"There are four immortal Sanctuaries on earth. This is one. Hurry."
Rhyn followed, painfully aware of the limp mortal body in his arms. Kiki didn't knock the door down as he could, instead beating loudly enough for the sound to drift down the road.
A small, older woman in severe grey opened the door. Kiki clasped his hands and offered a small bow.
"We seek your assistance, good guardian of the Sanctuary," he said.
The woman curtseyed deeply in response and stepped aside. Rhyn shoved past Kiki into a small courtyard. The woman motioned them to follow, her quick steps echoing across the cobblestones. Another woman in grey emerged from a hallway. She bobbed her head and darted off at the murmured instructions of the first woman.
They stopped at a wooden door, which the woman flung open. The room was tiny, but Rhyn didn't care. He carefully lowered Katie to the small bed. Immediately, the second woman reappeared with a small basket full of medicinal wares.
"You must leave. You cannot be here," the first woman said, pushing Rhyn toward the door.
He ignored her order with a glare.
"Rhyn, come on. Ancients aren't welcome in Sanctuaries," Kiki said.
Rhyn resisted for a moment longer, watching the woman expertly slice Katie's shirt open. Kiki gave him a shove, and the older woman closed the door behind them.
"This is the best you can do," Kiki said. "Don't piss these people off by breaking their rules, not when they’re probably the only ones who can help her."
For once, Rhyn agreed. He trailed Kiki out of the castle to the boulders a short distance from the walls.
"What the fuck are you doing, Rhyn?" Kiki turned on him at last. "You are the last person in the entire fucking universe that should take a mate!"
"Back off, Kiki," Rhyn replied, knowing the words were true.
"No, Rhyn, I won't. I've never been as strong of an advocate for you as Andre, but I always thought you decent somewhere on the inside."
"Thanks for your faith, brother!"
"But you, Rhyn, have somehow managed to kill every mortal you run across! How the fuck did you--"
"Enough!" Rhyn roared.
Kiki fell silent, but his gaze was accusing.
"I don't know, Kiki!" Rhyn snapped. "Leave me the fuck alone."
"You don't know what?"
"I don't know why I did it. I wanted to piss off Sasha at first. Now…" He stopped, not sure how to explain the fact he now wanted something he shouldn't.
"This isn't…is it Katie?" Kiki asked, gaze sharpening.
"Yeah. And?"
"We lost her the same night Andre died. She was with you?"
"Sasha dragged her down to Hell. He wanted to make her his mate," Rhyn said.
"So you did before he could," Kiki finished. "Real smart, Rhyn."
Rhyn ignored his brother as the lean man paced and pulled at his hair in frustrated silence. Rhyn looked toward the walls, unable to quell the flutter of worry within him.
She'd almost died to save him. He'd almost died many times, and in many cases, for the sake of his brothers. He never thought twice about walking into danger and rarely cared if he survived or not.
But no immortal--let alone human--had ever risked his or her life for him. For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do.
"What do we do?" Kiki demanded at last. "You can't keep her."
"What do you mean I can't keep her?" he returned, facing his brother.
"I mean, you don't have what it takes to keep a mate alive, let alone safe. You're your own worst enemy, as Andre always tried to warn you."
Rhyn clenched his jaw, hearing the truth in Kiki's words.
"Do you have any idea how fucking pissed Kris will be?" Kiki muttered.
"Like I give a fuck what he thinks."
Rhyn said nothing, giving his brother a bitter smile. Part of him felt triumphant to know he'd piss off Kris as well as Sasha. Kiki ceased pacing and stared at the walls.
"You can't keep her," Kiki said again.
"Yes, I can. And I will, Kiki," Rhyn said through clenched teeth. "She's mine. I've claimed her under Immortal Code. Why the fuck does everyone want her anyway? She's just a little human."
"Yes, but she's…" Kiki's retort drifted off.
Rhyn met his gaze, as Kiki became suddenly considering.
"You haven't blown anything up yet," Kiki said. "Hell tame you?"
"Nope."
"Something did."
Rhyn shrugged. He hadn't noticed until Kiki's words. Nothing had blown up or gone wrong since he'd returned from Hell. His power felt the same, but maybe his time in Hell had mellowed it out, made it more responsive to his command.
"I'm bound to tell Kris you're here," Kiki reminded him. "And the others."
"I don't give a shit."
"As for your mating…maybe you can find a way to undo what you did."
"Fuck you, Kiki," Rhyn said.
"You're welcome, Rhyn."
And Kiki was gone. Rhyn took a deep breath before perching on a boulder outside the walls. He'd never been to a Sanctuary. He was glad Kiki brought him and just as troubled by his brother's doubt.
Katie had proved herself to him by doing what even his blood-brothers never would. No, Katie was his. He wasn't going to undo anything, especially not if it was something his brothers wanted!
Chapter Seven
Katie awoke in a mental institution. At least, that was her first impression of the eight-by-eight room with its steel-framed bed, simple mattress, and no furniture. The wooden door and whitewashed walls--along with the open window above the bed allowing in balmy air--soon brought to mind a more tropical place. She rose and flinched, expecting agony as she moved her arm. It was bandaged and stiff, but there was no pain.
She tugged the heavy door open by its old iron handle and gazed into a large square of grass, a courtyard, around which many similar rooms with heavy doors were arranged. Airy hallways led through the hacienda style structure on either side of her. There were more buildings past the hallway to her right. The hallway led into an open area with one car in the large parking lot and a medieval stone wall and turrets surrounding the entire hacienda. The heavy wooden gates marking the entrance to the compound were closed.
Stairs traced the inside of the thick wall, and she walked up them to figure out where exactly she might be. The effort made her dizzy. She leaned against a wall, overlooking a stretch of rocky terrain punctuated with patches of yellow-green grass. In the distance, she saw the blue of an ocean meet the horizon.
And one dark form seated on the rocks, staring at the walls like an angry puppy thrown out of its master’s house. She touched the tattoo at her throat.
Serves you right, she thought darkly then said outloud, "I’ve saved your life twice now, jackass."
He flipped her off, confirming he heard her.
"Vile creature," a cool, crisp voice said.
She turned, surprised to see the middle-aged woman in grey robes and sharp brown eyes.
"But he did save you," she allowed. "There’s something in that."
By the austere clothing and stern features, Katie assessed she was in some kind of religious convent.
"Come. We’ll feed you real food. You needn’t worry about him," the woman said in her crisp voice, leading her down the stairs. "He can’t come in the walls."
"Is this a holy place?"
"It is."
"Will he burst into flames or something?" she asked.
The woman chuckled. "No, we’ll just kick him out again."
Katie trailed the fit woman through the hallway, past her room, and down a second corridor. The scents of fresh bread and some sort of meat cooking nearly nailed her to the ground as she rounded the corner. The woman led her straight into a small cafeteria with rustic tables and benches, an open fireplace, and a sagging buffet table along one wall. The windows were open with no glass, and heavy iron chandeliers hung from thick wooden rafters and were burning real candles.
"What is this place?" she asked.
"Have a seat. This is a Sanctuary, one of four remaining in the human world."
As soon as she sat, another woman in similar robes with a flushed face appeared, serving tray in hand. She placed warm rustic bread, whipped honey butter, and water before her. Katie bit into the bread, determined not to eat like a heathen that would shame her sister. At the first taste, she wolfed it and three more pieces down until the edge of her hunger disappeared.
"Wow," she murmured, and gulped her water. "What exactly is a Sanctuary?"
"We're like the Switzerland of the immortal world. All four Sanctuaries are neutral territory, governed by Death," the woman said with a small smile. "Any immortal who comes must check their weapons--and their talents--at the door, or be rendered dead-dead by Death. Only the Ancient Ones and Death may pass with their powers intact. We normally expel the Ancient Ones. They disturb the order here."
Katie sat back with a contented sigh, gaze dropping to her arm. She frowned. Rhyn had never hurt her until then. Granted, he wasn’t exactly himself at the time, near dead, starved, weak.
She’d never thought a creature like him weak. Yet she’d felt it when their bodies touched. His guard was down, and she’d felt just how weak he was despite taking her blood. She knew he could’ve taken so much more, made himself stronger by bleeding her dry. He didn't, instead taking only what he needed to survive.
"He brought you here," the woman said, her eyes on Katie’s bandaged arm. "We have a member of the healing guild on staff, but her skill wasn't old enough for you. We did what we could. You’ll have full use of your arm, even if it's scarred."
"I’ve gotten so many…marks…the past couple of weeks. Don’t think another really matters at this point," Katie said.
The woman’s gaze dropped to her neck, and Katie caught the troubled look in her eyes before she hid it. There was reason to fear the Ancients, especially this Ancient, who seemed to have no alliance to anything good or bad and was so unpredictable. At least he’d thought enough of his blood monkey to bring her here, if only to keep her healthy so he had a food source.
She frowned, troubled by her thoughts. Rhyn was weak but drew only what he needed to survive; he was both hunter and hunted. He’d claimed her, whether in a fit of jealous fury after hearing Kris’s name or for some other purpose. In her mind, dragging a human around seemed like a pretty serious liability.
She didn’t understand him. Or this world. Or why she couldn’t just go back to her life and be normal again. Her throat tightened. Willing herself not to cry, she pointed to her neck and said instead, "Do you know what this means?"
The woman hesitated and took a slice of bread, toying with it.
"You’re his mate," she said at last, as if this should mean more than it did.
"I know. So?"
"You’re his mate."
"Assume I never knew this underworld existed before a little over a week ago," Katie said dryly.
The woman studied her for a long moment. The second woman with the flushed face returned with a plate heaped with half a cooked chicken smelling of garlic and spices, rice, and fried plantains. Katie dug in, unconcerned with the woman’s silence while there was food in front of her.
"If it helps, I’m allegedly special somehow," she prodded around a mouth full of food.
"Of course. You were born an immortal's mate,” the woman replied. “Still, you'd have to be something more to attract an Ancient."
"Why?"
"It’s just the way things are." She paused then shook her head. "I’m Daniela."
"Katie."
"Welcome, Katie. Your mate dumped you on me in the middle of the night. I knew he was an An
cient--a powerful one--but he wasn’t much for talking."
"Yeah, he’s like that. Drags me around the world without telling me where or why we go anywhere," Katie said.
"You said you’ve known him a week?"
"I’ve known him a few days. I was introduced to this world a few days before that. I don’t know anything about either."
"Very, very unusual. No Ancient would…" Daniela drifted off, thoughtful.
Katie held her breath, awaiting the awful news. Daniela shook her head again and smiled.
"What’s so significant about being his mate?" Katie asked.
"It’s hard to explain to an Outsider. There are only so many immortal mates born into the human race, far fewer than there are immortals. It was believed that no Ancient would ever take a mate, because none ever have. For all other immortals, they get only one shot at a mate in its life cycle. One mate. That’s it. Many immortals go extinct without taking a mate at all. They wait so long, they forget they can have one, or they choose not to have one, or they simply just don’t."
"Why would any Ancient creature choose me?"
"I don’t know. I’m sure he knows."
"I’m not so sure about that," Katie said with a shake of her head.
"There is the theory that the mates of Ancients are predestined like those of other immortals, that if the Ancients don’t find their mates during the mates’ life cycle, they never will," Daniela said.
"That’s kind of sad."
"Yeah, it is."
"I buy into this preordained theory. Rhyn wouldn’t saddle himself with a blood monkey he had to actually take care of voluntarily. Doesn’t seem like the type who wants to be slowed down by a liability like that," Katie mused.
Daniela shrugged.
"Or he wants to use me for my talent," Katie added. "I could see that."
"Unlikely, since he only gets one, unless he planned on dying dead soon. If he doesn’t die-dead, he’d have to spend eternity with you. Maybe it is predestined. He’s the least friendly Ancient I’ve ever met."
"He’s been in Hell for a long time," she replied. "Wait, did you say eternity?"