The doctor glanced at the clock on the wall of the clinic and his jaw hardened. Stacey looked to her sister sitting in a chair under the clock, and her husband, Dasan, who stood next to her. They all knew what time it was. They all knew that something had happened. Hugh should have been back by now.
“I never should’ve left him.”
“Don’t say that, Stacey. You were hardly functioning. It’s a miracle you traveled here through Shadow like you did.” Nadezhda walked over as Stacey swung her legs over the side of the hospital bed.
“Hugh wouldn’t have left me. I didn’t know there was only one parachute. Dammit, I should have waited. We could have parachuted together.”
“Would’ve, should’ve, could’ve won’t change the fact that Hugh isn’t here. We need to find him,” Nadezhda said.
“Hugh could be dead. He might not have made it out of the plane before it blew up.” Dasan said what they all feared, but Stacey wasn’t going to accept it. She shook her head.
“Hugh is still alive. I’d know if he died. I’d feel it.” Stacey looked to her sister for confirmation.
“Raven can’t connect with him. If Hugh is alive, he’s unconscious. We have men scouting the wreckage. There is no sign of survivors.” Dasan sighed.
“So if he’s not in the wreckage, perhaps he made it into Shadow,” Nadezhda said.
“Then he is lost. He cannot visualize where he wants to be if he’s unconscious.” Dasan squeezed Stacey’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Stacey.”
“How do you find someone lost in Shadow?” Stacey asked.
Dasan looked away. “You don’t.”
“I won’t believe that. Hugh is alive. We need to find him.”
A soft knock at the door made them all turn to find Isanti Quiet Thunder, the old tribal shaman. “You must follow your love to find Hugh. It’s a shame you’re not a lycan. They can follow their mating bond even through Shadow. During the ceremony, you bonded with Hugh. Use your magic, Anastacia. It will lead you to your love.”
“My magic. What do I need to do?” Stacey asked.
Quiet Thunder smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “You will need to consult with your elders. I am not learned in your ways. When you find him, he will need to drink this healing potion. Take it with you on your journey.” The old man handed the small glass bottle to Dasan and then left the room.
“We can ask Alyona,” Nadezhda said. “She might know what to do. She and Radu are upstairs in their room.” Nadezhda helped steady Stacey as she jumped from the bed.
“Let’s go then. I’m not losing Hugh.” Stacey wanted to run.
“You might want to get dressed first,” Nadezhda said, motioning at the hospital gown Stacey wore and handing over her pants.
Stacey sighed. “Close your eyes, Dasan.” She smiled when he was quick to turn around.
She pulled at the straps on the gown and slipped into her pants, going commando instead of taking the time to find underwear. In moments, she dressed and strode from the room.
Down the hall, she punched the button to call the elevator and began to pace as she waited for it to arrive. Dasan and Nadezhda followed her and stood back to give her room. When the door opened she flung herself inside.
“Hurry up,” she snarled. Dasan and Nadezhda stepped inside.
“Honey, you need to calm down. You can’t do magic in this frame of mind. It would backfire on you. Find your balance.” Nadezhda gazed at her with concern.
Stacey nodded as guilt crept inside her belly. She didn’t want to be this way. Taking a long, deep breath, she counted to five, then held it, and slowly exhaled. She did one more repetition before the elevator doors opened on the fourth floor. Holding the feeling of the air filling her lungs, she walked to Alyona’s room and knocked.
Radu opened the door and immediately stepped back to let them enter. Alyona sat at the table.
“I need a magical way to track Hugh and I need it now.”
§
Stacey tried again to bring the golden string of light into focus. It attached to her heart and led eastward. Hopefully, the other end would be attached to Hugh’s heart. During the ceremony they had been linked psychically and the golden trail of light was the physical manifestation of that bond.
Lycans used it to find their destined mates. Stacey wanted it to find Hugh. Her aunt helped create a spell that brought the cord of light into her sight. They had just finished the ceremony and the scent of incense still filled the air.
“Can you see it clearly?” Nadezhda asked from the chair next to the window.
“It comes and goes. I can see it leading off to the east.” Stacey continued to squint. Was Hugh still alive or would the cord lead her to his body. God, she must stop thinking like that or she’d never survive this mission.
“We should go. Put on the heavy coats I brought you. We don’t know how long we’ll be in Shadow,” Dasan said.
“Please be careful, girls. Your work as a Baba Yaga hasn’t even started. I can’t lose you.” Alyona gave them each a hug before returning to stand next to Radu.
Even as Stacey hugged her aunt, she knew losing Hugh would break her. So many emotions wanted to rise and take over —loss, grief, sorrow. Her stomach clenched and she was hard pressed not to keel over. She wrapped her arms around her middle. Hugh. He must be alive. She had to find him. She pushed the feelings back, calling on her training. Locating him was her mission. She needed to get her act together.
“Guard them well, Shadow Walker,” Radu said.
“I will,” Dasan answered. “When we find Hugh we will return to the clinic. Wait there for news.”
Radu nodded while Alyona wrung her hands.
“Come on, let’s get this done,” Stacey said, walking over to Dasan. Time was now her enemy. He handed her the vial from the shaman and she put it in her coat pocket.
He found a shadow near the door and pushed his hands in before pulling them apart to open a portal into the Shadow Dimension. He reached back for Stacey’s hand and she took Nadezhda’s before they walked into the writhing darkness.
Stacey held her breath, willing her body to adjust to the freezing cold. Her magic couldn’t hold her temperature steady and the cold began to seep into her bones. The black mist brushed against her skin. Dasan closed the portal.
“Can you see the cord of light?” he asked telepathically.
Stacey took a shallow breath. The golden light glowed in the darkness. She pointed to the east. Dasan started walking and they followed. Soon they were walking next to each other, holding hands, Stacey in the middle. She wanted to rush, but with the writhing mist flowing over the ground, wasn’t sure of her footing.
“Wait. Let me transport us to your house in Alexandria. That will make our journey shorter. I’m not sure how distance works in this dimension, but it might save us time.” Dasan’s voice flowed into their heads.
Stacey nodded. She’d do anything to find Hugh as quickly as possible. It had already been an hour since he should have arrived at the clinic. The darkness that made up Shadow seemed to move and her feet flowed over the ground, or whatever the surface of this dimension covered by the writhing black mist. The empty lot of her last residence came into view. It was hard to believe everything started just last night, her wedding night. Damn, Zenith and Knox. They couldn’t give her one night to enjoy wedded bliss.
Dasan turned to her. She found the cord of light still leading to the east and slightly south and pointed in that direction. They began to walk again, taking up the same positions. Stacey began to silently pray to whatever higher power resided in this dimension. Let Hugh be all right, let him be all right.
She picked up the pace, marching to the words in her mind. Let him be all right, let him be all right. Always following the cord of light. The darkness around them never seemed to change. Stacey soon realized there were tonal differences in the blackness, with some shades slightly lighter than others giving her a sense of distance. The black mist always covered their feet.
Occasionally a swirl of mist would rise from the ground and brush against their faces before dissipating into nothingness again.
Time slipped away and soon Stacey didn’t know if minutes or hours had passed. She began to shiver, her teeth making clicking sounds. She recognized the signs of hypothermia. They needed to hurry. She hunched her shoulders and pushed forward always keeping the golden cord of light in sight. On she trudged, pulling at the hands of her companions.
Stacey felt achy and stiff. She began to pant. Her nose ran while the skin felt tender. Follow the cord. Let him be all right. Walking forward she paused when Nadezhda tripped and fell to her knees.
“We need to go back to the clinic. The cold is becoming too much,” Dasan sent telepathically into her fuzzy mind.
“You go back. I’ve got to find Hugh,” Stacey said, uncaring of the black mist that wanted to slip inside her mouth when she spoke. She released their hands and started again. Dasan grabbed her arm and swung her around.
“Hugh would not want you to kill yourself.” Dasan pulled Nadezhda up and held her close to his side. “We must go back now.”
“No!” Stacey wrenched away. “Hugh! Where are you?”
Dasan reached for her. Stacey fell backwards and landed in the mist.
“I’m not going to let Hugh’s sacrifice end in your death.” Dasan leaned over her, a scowl on his face. He reached for her again.
Stacey scrambled backwards. She had to find Hugh, she had to! She visualized the golden cord attached to his heart marking him as her mate. Everything inside her reached for him. The man she loved, who made her laugh and want to live a normal life. She pictured his face, his eyes. Dasan disappeared as the ground moved beneath her.
Chapter Sixteen
Stacey’s world shifted and Dasan and Nadezhda disappeared. What did she do? She struggled to rise. Nothing but blackness surrounded her. Where was she? Terror cramped her stomach. She was lost in Shadow, like Hugh. Wait. Hugh. The golden cord. She squinted and blinked. It came into sight, lighting the area around her.
It flowed from her chest and fell to the ground no more than five feet away from where she stood. The mist seemed to boil up over something where the cord touched the darkness. She hurried forward. Could it be? She dropped to her knees.
§
“Hugh! Where are you?” bounced around in Hugh’s brain. He couldn’t think. The voice. He wanted to answer that voice. His mind was fuzzy. What happened?
He tried to take a breath. Pain slammed into him. He almost let it take him under again, but fought to hold to consciousness and the voice who called out to him. His back burned and felt sticky and stiff. The cold mist of Shadow relieved the fire. Shadow.
Everything poured into the emptiness of his mind, the plane, the bomb, Stacey. He tried to open his eyes, blinking, he couldn’t see with the black mist writhing around him. The bomb blew up the plane. He must have been thrown into Shadow. He lay face down upon the ground. His back felt on fire along with the top of his thighs. It hurt to breathe so several ribs might be broken. The hip he twisted felt mangled. He should be dead.
“Oh my god! Hugh.” Cold hands grabbed at his shoulders. He knew that voice.
He tried to answer. Only a moan came out.
§
He was alive! Stacey couldn’t see Hugh clearly between the darkness and the mist, but what she could see didn’t look good. His back was burned and one leg twisted strangely away from his body. She needed to get him help.
The potion! She reached into her pocket, thankful now that Dasan suggested she carry the bottle. She pulled out the cork and pressed the bottle to Hugh’s lips. Slowly, working together she got the contents in his mouth so he could swallow.
Now to get them back to the clinic, before they both froze. Afraid to move him, she gripped his shoulders, his head resting on her leg. His eyes were closed and she feared he’d slipped back into unconsciousness. She began to visualize the clinic. The long hall with doors that opened into treatment rooms. The bed and the equipment standing next to it, the counters and cabinets on one wall, then the tile floor and ceiling.
The ground shifted beneath them. The darkness moved and she looked out into the clinic through a wall of shadows. She didn’t want to release Hugh, but at least his head still touched her leg. She pressed her hands through the blackness and pulled them apart making a small opening. Then she leaned her head and shoulders out of Shadow and into the light.
“Help! Help me!” Stacey yelled.
Footsteps ran down the hall. Hands grabbed her. She blinked. Dasan and Dr. Rick stood over her. They began to pull on her.
“Wait. I have Hugh. He’s badly hurt.”
“Don’t move then. Let me see him,” Dr. Rick pulled the opening into Shadow wider and leaned in. He ran his hand down her body to Hugh. “I’ve got him. You can go through the portal.”
Stacey slid through into the clinic and quickly turned to help.
“We’ll get him. You’re in the way.” Dasan pushed her to the side and leaned into the entrance next to the doctor.
Stacey scrambled out of the way and sat with her back against the wall, her knees drawn up. She was so cold. Dasan’s words stung, but maybe he was right. She shivered. Nadezhda hurried over with a blanket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Thank goodness, you’re all right. We thought we’d lost both of you.”
Stacey clutched the blanket close, but when Dasan and the doctor appeared with Hugh carried between them, she stood forgetting its warmth. They carried him into one of the rooms. The old shaman rushed down the hall with two more bottles of healing potion in his hands. Alyona and Radu came from the waiting room. Nadezhda put the blanket back on her shoulders. Stacey tried to brush past her to get into the room, but her sister stopped her.
“Hugh!” She wanted to be with him.
“Stacey! You should let the doctor do his work. We’ve got to get you warmed up. You look as white as a ghost.” Nadezhda tried to hug her.
“I need him. Please, get out of my way.” Stacey brushed past her sister. “Please understand. I have to touch him.”
Nadezhda stepped back a look of hurt on her face. Stacey bit her lip. She’d have to apologize later. Right now, she needed Hugh. She rushed into the room.
“Let her go,” Radu said from the hallway. “They are linked. She can help him.”
The doctor carefully cut the material away from Hugh’s back and legs. On the far side of the bed the shaman helped Hugh drink the potions. Stacey grasped one of his hands, thankful when his fingers laced with hers. Slowly she sank into the chair Dasan put next to her.
“Connect with him telepathically through your link, Stacey. Hold him to the earth,” Dr. Rick said. The doctor shook his head. “How did he manage to keep his head from getting burned?”
Nadezhda squeezed Stacey’s shoulder when she winced at the doctor’s comment. “He’ll be all right.”
Stacey nodded. “I’m not telepathic, doctor. How do I link with him?”
“You are already linked with him through the golden cord of light,” Alyona said from the door. “Follow the golden light into his heart.”
Stacey nodded. She squinted to see the cord and pushed her awareness into the light, following it inside Hugh’s heart.
“Hello? Hugh?”
“Here, love. I’m still here.” Hugh’s mental voice sounded weak. She grabbed at his words.
“Don’t leave me! Hugh, please don’t leave me.” Stacey squeezed his hand, pouring all her love through the bond and into his heart.
There was a sudden flash of bright light. Even with her eyes closed, Stacey saw the flash. Everyone in the room gasped. Stacey opened her eyes to see what happened. Everyone stared at her. She looked at Hugh. His head turned toward her. He blinked and then a huge smile broke across his face. Their gazes locked. Stacey rose.
“Hey, beautiful.” Hugh brought her hand to his lips. “You’re amazing! Look.”
Hugh released her and pushed up to s
it on the edge of the bed.
“Your back and leg!” Stacey cried out.
“It’s fine. All healed. Whatever you did sped up the healing potions Isanti fed me. My ribs don’t hurt, and look my hip looks great. I think you healed some of the scar tissue from when I was shot. Before I strip out of the rest of these clothes, come here.” Hugh held out his arms.
Stacey didn’t think. She jumped into his arms. Holding him, she ran her hands up and down his back feeling the smooth skin under her fingers. He pulled her closer until she was nestled between his thighs. Tears poured from her eyes. Hugh kissed her. First her mouth and then her cheek, tasting her tears.
She held him tighter unable to let go after nearing losing him. Hugh held her, his arms like steel bands.
“I’ve got you, baby. It’s okay. We’re okay,” Hugh murmured to her.
Stacey could hear whispered comments from the people in the room. She didn’t care. She’d found Hugh and was never letting him go.
Hugh ran his hands up and down her back and then into her hair, pulling her head back so he could kiss her again. His mouth devoured hers and she wanted nothing less. She fought him for dominance, nipping at his lip, sucking on his tongue. She grabbed his face in her hands. Kissing and licking, she tilted her head, so she could push deeper into his mouth.
His hands traveled down her back to her butt and he palmed her cheeks before pulling her tighter against the bulge in his pants. Heat pooled between her legs.
Someone cleared their throat in the room. Stacey froze. She’d forgotten they had an audience.
“I’m sure between the potions, and whatever magic your wife used, you are healed. But as your doctor, I really need to take a look at you and verify that fact,” Dr. Rick said. Hugh slowly leaned back and kissed Stacey on the nose.
Stacey let her hands fall from his face and down his back. She rested her head on his shoulder. Hugh wrapped on arm around her waist and pulled her slightly to the side, so she could see the room. Everyone had left, except Dr. Rick.
Trapped In Shadow (Shadow Walker Romance Series Book 4) Page 15