Dark Flight (The Shadow Slayers)

by Cassi Carver

  “My instincts say you might be safer in the mountains than venturing with me onto Nefren’s land.”

  “Is he an enemy of yours?”

  “No. I’ve helped him a time or two when he had sensitive business on the surface. He should allow us safe passage. Still, you are an unknown female, and that is exceptionally rare here. It’s not in your best interest to ‘mingle’ with the natives.”

  Kara pushed to her feet. “I can handle it. Let’s go.” Facing Nefren had to beat slowing down and being trapped with her thoughts.

  “You’ve barely rested five minutes. I’m not taking you back this soon.”

  “I feel fine, and time isn’t something we have on our side right now. We need to keep moving.” I need to keep moving. “I will tell you if I start feeling weird. I mean, I’d know before I was gonna get sucked into the Abyss for staying too long, right?”

  Gavin laughed. “Yes. You would know.”

  “Fine, then. We’re all set.”

  “What if you were weakening and I wasn’t in a position to transport you to the surface?”

  Kara thought for a moment. Her first instinct had been to say she’d summon Julian, but that was doubly stupid, because number one, he couldn’t leave the Shadowland, and number two, he was done with her. Next, she’d almost said she’d call for Mazeki, but then Gavin wouldn’t take her for sure, thinking she’d owe the black-wing a debt if she called on him. “Jaxon. I’ll call Jaxon in an emergency.”

  Gavin’s gaze scoured Kara’s neck, and he seemed pleased when he confirmed that she had her friend’s charm there. “Fine. Of course, if you get him killed, Abbey may never forgive you.”

  She approached him, put her hands at his trim waist and met his eyes. “I’m not too worried about needing to resort to that. I’ve got myself a pretty top-notch escort.”

  Chapter Seven

  Still using the map to pinpoint the general location where they should be searching, Gavin flew Kara deeper in from where her drawing intersected Nefren’s kingdom.

  Though the land beyond Nefren’s border was bright and sunny, once they’d crossed into his territory, they were cocooned under a dark, star-filled sky. That was one of the things that blew Kara’s mind—here the Aniliáre even got to choose if it was night or day.

  Gavin swept through the low-lying clouds, gliding over a dusky landscape that was similar to what Kara had seen in pictures of Scotland or Ireland. Gently rolling hills, green and rocky, seemed to extend in every direction. If this was one of the smaller kingdoms as Gavin had said, she’d never find her way out of a big one.

  “What are we looking for this time?” she asked, then she felt Gavin’s growly sigh where her back pressed against his chest.

  “We’re not looking for anything quite yet. First, we need to say hello and get permission to be here.”

  Kara scanned her surroundings, but there didn’t seem to be anyone to ask. “I don’t think they care. Wouldn’t someone have approached us by now?”

  “They care,” he answered. “They’ve been following us since we crossed the border.”

  “Well, why not stop and get it over with?”

  “It’s not our land, princess. Not our rules. We’ll continue on to Nefren’s city until someone tells us otherwise.”

  And they flew, the warm, humid air making Kara’s skin feel slightly sticky. She would have liked to relax in Gavin’s arms, but knowing people were following them made it impossible to enjoy the moment.

  After what must have been another ten minutes at least, lights came into view in the distance. They looked like torches on the walls of a gray, medieval fortress, but a light fog shrouding the scene made it hard to tell for sure.

  As she was squinting in that direction, trying to better make it out, armed silver-wings snapped into existence in front of them, not more than ten feet from where they flew. Gavin came to an abrupt stop, and the strong backbeat of his wings made Kara’s legs fling out in front of her.

  Swords drawn, the men glared at Gavin and Kara. With their feral expressions, she expected dirty, gap-toothed pirates, but despite their demeanor, they were Demiáre, after all. As handsome and physically perfect as any other of their kind.

  “You’ve gone far enough,” the closest warrior said. His sword was so large, Kara wouldn’t have been able to heft it without help.

  “I seek an audience with Nefren,” Gavin replied.

  “And you are?”

  “Gavin Cross, Lord of the Mercury Clan.”

  “Gavin Cross?” another called, sheathing his sword. “Ha!” He approached with a wide smile and slapped Gavin on the back so hard, Kara could feel the jolt.

  Gavin hesitated for only a moment, then he laughed. “Declan?”

  The man he’d called Declan grasped Gavin’s shoulder and regarded his comrades. “It’s Gavin Cross! The one who helped us by leading the raid on Yeba’s nest! All of our best ladies can be attributed to this man!”

  Kara frowned as the men made a loud show of sheathing their swords and coming to greet Gavin, offering their admiration and gratitude for what Kara could only imagine was helping them obtain pieces of ass.

  “Oh, the ladies are going to be so happy to see you!” Declan said. “But then, look…” His enthusiastic gaze darted over Kara for the first time. “You’ve brought another female! Is she yours, or is she seeking a safe place to stay?”

  The men fell silent, as if waiting on pins and needles for Gavin’s answer. “She’s most definitely mine,” Gavin all but growled. “I need to speak with your king. I won’t take much of his time.”

  The men seemed much less eager now that Gavin had made his claim on Kara, but she didn’t mind. Eager Demiáre weren’t always a good thing.

  “What is the lady’s name? What is her parentage?” Declan asked. “Just so I can relay the information to my sire, of course.”

  “That is not something I can discuss here. I’m sorry, my friend.”

  Kara had known Gavin long enough to hear the ice freezing the edges of his warm, friendly tone. He wanted Declan to feel at ease, but Gavin himself wasn’t feelin’ it. Not by a long shot.

  “One moment.” Declan flashed, leaving Gavin and Kara to wade through an awkward moment as the men darted glances at Kara’s cleavage. Note to self: no more tank tops in the Shadowland.

  Not more than a minute later, Declan returned, all smiles. “The king is overjoyed to welcome you, Gavin Cross! He is summoning his ladies and preparing a great feast in your honor! Follow me!”

  The men beat wings toward the citadel, and Gavin followed, his grip tightening on Kara until she had to pull at his forearms to take a deep breath. “Easy, there, big guy. We don’t want to crack a rib.”

  “Sorry.” He loosened his hold and gave her upper arm a comforting squeeze.

  They flew over the wall to Nefren’s city and landed in the middle of a large courtyard. By the time they touched down, there were already long tables set all around that were practically sagging under the weight of the food and drinks piled upon them. Kara was surprised for a moment at how quickly they’d prepared everything, but then it occurred to her that when a black-wing wanted a feast, he simply willed one into existence.

  Nefren wasn’t hard to spot—he was the only man in attendance with wide, ebony wings. He wore a red velvet tabard over a long-sleeved white shirt with ruffled sleeves and belted it with gold braid over a pair of black pants. Clearly, he was going for a theme here.

  “Gavine!” Nefren bellowed. “It’s been too long!”

  Kara stepped to the side as the black-wing clapped Gavin on the back and pulled him in for a fierce hug. Kara had never seen a black-wing quite as exuberant as this one.

  As she watched, ladies dressed in low-cut brocade dresses of every color flooded into the courtyard. Some were still hastily tucking their bits away, as if they’d been busy with activities that had required less clothing.

  “Gavin!” one squealed and rushed toward him. She had rich, dark skin an
d shiny brown hair pulled up in the most beautiful nest of braids, and white daisies adorned her head. Her wide smile was so joy-filled, Kara liked her instantly—right up until she threw her arms around Gavin’s neck and kissed him square on the lips.

  Kara’s eyes widened, simply watching as the kiss seemed to go on and on. Oh, that bitch was gonna get it.

  “Isabelle…” Gavin murmured through moist lips as he took the woman’s hips and gently set her from him. “Praise the Maker. It does me good to see you happy and whole.”

  “And who is this beauty you bring to us?” With a greedy gaze, Nefren took in Kara from top to bottom. “How have I not seen her before?”

  Gavin took Kara’s hand and brought her to stand at his side. “This is Kara Reed. She is a young female recently able to travel to the Shadowland.” When Nefren looked as though he might speak, Gavin continued, “She belongs to me and the Mercury Clan.”

  Nefren folded his black wings away and smiled, coming to take Kara’s hand. “Music!” he shouted and snapped his fingers, and an entire band misted into existence, complete with flutes, harp and some ornate guitars. A couple of the musicians even looked like…no. That couldn’t be.

  A horned creature with the body of a man and the lower half of a goat winked at Kara then drew the flute to his lips and began to play. She didn’t even have time to ponder if she should go willingly with the black-wing or try to pull away. Practically slack-jawed, she let Nefren lead her to a long banquet table.

  “Kara will be my guest and she will sit with me. Come, my lovely woman.” He pulled a stool out for Kara and then seated himself at the head of the table.

  When Kara turned her head, Gavin was right behind her with Isabelle hanging on his arm. He sat directly across from Kara, to Nefren’s other side, and Isabelle scooted her stool closer to him.

  With the festive music and the dark, twinkly sky, Kara felt as though she’d been transported back in time. Warriors and ladies alike dressed the part, and Kara wondered whether Nefren had always liked this period, or if he changed the theme every now and then.

  Nefren smiled and inclined his chin toward Gavin. “So tell me, to what do we owe the honor of this visit?”

  “Kara and I are seeking…an artifact, and we have reason to believe the next piece to the map may be on your land. I humbly ask that we be allowed passage through your territory.”

  “Ah.” The black-wing nodded, not seeming terribly interested. “And your father? How is the crazy old bastard?”

  Gavin’s jaw tensed. “Still crazy and still a bastard.”

  Nefren chuckled. “The constancy of this realm warms my heart. I would have bet Brakken would have tired of himself after a few thousand years, but he has not.”

  “No,” Gavin agreed. “He very much enjoys the same old games.”

  “Engus!” Nefren hollered, setting his goblet down hard as he cast a glance over his shoulder.

  A moment later, a red-haired man strolled out of one of the nearby hallways, tying the strings on his green velvet breeches. He wore no shirt, which was normal on Mercury Island, but something unseen here on Nefren’s land.

  “Father.” Engus nodded. As he walked closer, Kara almost gasped at the bright green color of the man’s eyes. It was like the highest quality emerald, and it looked almost backlit, bright and shining. He was gorgeous. As in, the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

  Before she knew what she was doing, she was pushing from her stool and standing to offer him her hand. She was planning to shake, but he kissed her fingers instead. When she looked into those eyes again, she could have sworn time stopped.

  “Kara,” Gavin said, his voice a rough command.

  And at the same time, Nefren laughed. “Don’t be cross, Gavin.” He looked down the table. “Get it? Cross, Gavin?” Artificial laughter broke out all around, and, seeming pleased, Nefren turned back to Gavin. “Engus can’t help his gifts. Come, my son. Sit beside me and meet Kara Reed.”

  Engus guided Kara back to her seat and with a gesture from Nefren’s hand, another stool appeared and wedged between Nefren’s and Kara’s.

  Kara sat, but she literally couldn’t take her eyes off the red-haired man. As the other people gathered around the table began to eat and joke, Kara simply stared. She raised her hand and brought it to Engus’s cheek. He smiled and kissed her fingers once more, slower this time, where her nails met her skin.

  Gavin pushed from his stool and stood to his full height, his hands fisted at his sides. The angry gesture finally pulled Kara’s attention away from Nefren’s son.

  “Are we guests here?” Gavin demanded. “If we are guests here, then I ask that you kindly rein in your son and his ‘gifts’. That woman belongs to me and my clan.”

  “Huh?” Kara muttered, still feeling woozy and wanting to get back to mapping Engus’s every eyelash.

  “Don’t look in his eyes, Kara.” At Gavin’s pronouncement, Engus released an indignant huff of air. “No doubt his gifts are a credit to the strength of his sire,” Gavin continued, seeming to moderate his voice now, “but I’m sure you want to go home tonight, where you belong, and not reside here for the next thousand years.”

  Nefren turned to Kara. “Is that true, young woman? Do you not want to stay with us?”

  “I…uh…” Kara massaged her temples. “I have to work tomorrow night. I don’t think I can get anyone to cover my shift.”

  “Ha!” The black-wing laughed so hard that everyone at the table and the surrounding tables turned to look, and as though his laugh was infectious, soon everyone was joining in, mugs sloshing and feet stamping with the power of their guffaws.

  Gavin turned a different shade of pink than Kara had ever seen, but he sat once again on his stool. “There you have it. The lady has to work.”

  “I was just teasing you, anyhow, Cross,” Engus said to Gavin, then he picked up a piece of barbequed meat so large, it must have either belonged to a turkey on steroids or a chicken the size of a golden retriever.

  Although it niggled at Kara over the entire meal, she did her best to keep her eyes on Gavin and only rotate her head far enough to see Nefren when he addressed her.

  Having Engus sit to her side was actually a good thing. Yes, his very nice thigh was pressed to hers and her cleavage was sticky with sweat, but if that green-eyed hunk had sat across from her as Gavin was doing, where she could see his face, she would have been naked on the table and offering herself up for his next course.

  After dessert had been eaten and the servants began clearing away the plates and platters, the band kicked it up a notch. The men outnumbered the women probably twenty to one, so as they downed the last of their ale and took to the courtyard in a flurry of kicking boots, the ladies were right behind them.

  They danced in beautiful, well-practiced patterns, the men ringing the ladies and taking turns spinning them around the yard. It looked like fun, but Kara couldn’t even remember the moves to the Electric Slide. This was way beyond her.

  “Come, my lady.” Engus slid his hand seductively down her arm until he linked his fingers with hers.

  Despite Gavin’s deep look of concern, Kara smiled and allowed herself to be towed onto the dirt equivalent of a dance floor. Next thing she knew, Engus was spinning her around until she felt dizzy from the motion and the sheer delight of it all.

  “Having fun?” His words drew Kara’s attention back to those amazing eyes.

  “The time of my life,” she answered, surprised that she meant every word. Acting on an impulse, she took his face in her hands and kissed him. She’d intended it as a quick kiss, but once her lips met his they kind of…stuck. A moment later, she was perspiring from every pore, ready to claw his pants off. And when she realized that her claws had indeed come out, it was almost surprising enough to have her break the kiss. Almost.

  A second later, a growl preceded a horrible pulling away from Engus’s body. She felt the loss of him like the tear of Velcro, being yanked from her mated half. Her fangs pushed
through her gums and she bared them at…Gavin?

  Gavin took her hand. “Kara Reed is spoken for. You are insulting not only me but every member of my clan. I came here with peaceful intentions, Engus, son of Nefren, but if you touch her again, it will be the end of you.”

  It was then that Kara looked past her own claws and saw that Gavin’s were fully extended and his fangs protruded well past his bottom lip. Kara sucked in a breath when Nefren’s red smock came into view in her peripheral vision.

  “Come now, men,” he said. “There is no need to quarrel. If she belongs to Gavin and his clan, then we will say no more on it.” Then the black-wing turned more fully to Gavin. “Although I have to say…she certainly doesn’t seem to be yours, does she?”

  Gavin’s fangs retracted, but his eyes narrowed a fraction. “She’s mine. I brought her, and I will be taking her home.”

  “Engus.” Nefren looked to his son and shook his head. Engus stepped away from Kara and extended his hand, as though offering her to Gavin.

  Without another word, Gavin pulled her close and began moving with the music as the other Demiáre around them were doing. He turned her away and slowly moved her through the crowd as they danced until Nefren’s green-eyed son was completely out of her line of sight. After a moment, she started feeling more herself again.

  “What just happened?” she asked.

  Gavin leaned close to Kara’s ear and lowered his voice, which was probably a good idea considering the exceptional hearing of the people around them. “If it’s not already obvious, Engus’s strongest gift is mesmerizing the females around him. He’s a damn nuisance.”

  Kara sighed. She’d never been particularly attracted to red-haired men…but damn. Those eyes of his did a number on her already fragile control over her libido. She squeezed Gavin a little tighter as they moved. “Thank you. To say that screwing him on the dance floor would have been embarrassing doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

  “I apologize for claiming you were mine, but you are a member of my clan. I would have done the same even if I didn’t—” His words suddenly dropped off.