by Amber Kallyn
“I have tortured people before. It is never easy, but sometimes must be done. Yet, it lingers on one’s conscience.”
“But, what happened to that little girl wasn’t ‘something that needed done’,” Dalia replied.
“True. But if you were forced, you cannot claim full guilt.”
She shrugged beneath the weight of his arm.
He turned to her, brushing hair from her face. “This truly worries you?”
“How could it not?”
Jordan leaned closer. His lips brushed over hers as he whispered, “We will figure this out. Together.”
Hope flared in her heart, not just for a resolution to all the confusing things in her life, but from the proof that maybe, there might be something more to look forward to when all this was resolved.
He took her hand and led her to the bathroom, pushing her toward the shower. “There are many plans to make today. Get ready.”
She stopped by the shower as he closed the door behind him, wanting to call him back, to join her, but still uncertain about where they stood. Staying silent, she got ready to face the day alone.
* * *
After showering, Jordan dressed in his room. He could no longer deny what Dalia meant to him, but he didn’t know how to handle it.
She was his life mate, sent to him. Shane was always going on and on about how the Fates controlled such things, but it was up to those involved to embrace or deny love when they found it.
Jordan could never deny Dalia.
He wanted her in his life. She brought him a light he’d never felt before in all his millennium of being alive. And he wanted her love.
Yet, he knew nothing of courting a woman, of capturing her heart. When he’d been betrothed as a lad, it had been to a neighboring clan’s daughter. Such things were arranged then.
What he’d thought had been love didn’t compare to now. Before Dalia, Jordan had been certain he was lacking, could not feel such things.
She had certainly turned his entire world upside down.
His door burst open and Dalia rushed in, her hair still wet, the flashes of hot pink filling him with a tender amusement. They’d grown on him.
“I remembered more,” she gasped.
Jordan straightened, concentrating on business. “Tell me.”
She tugged a pink lock. “There was this place. I don’t know where. It smelled like the hog farms I grew up around.”
There was a hog farm on the north side of town, but it encompassed a wide area.
“We walked through a cave with paintings. The one I remember best was a herd of white buffalo.”
Jordan grabbed his cell and dialed the sheriff. “Shane?”
“What’s up?” the man asked.
“Do you know of a cave near Jeremiah’s hog ranch that has cave paintings?”
The line was silent for a moment. Jordan met Dalia’s expectant gaze.
“A couple.”
“Dalia remembers a painting of white buffalo.”
Shane inhaled sharply. “I know it. We can go now, if you’ve rested.”
Jordan took Dalia’s hand. “I’m ready.”
“You can’t go,” Dalia said, tugging from his grasp. “It was a maze, and Thomas set up a bunch of traps.”
“Traps?” Shane asked, overhearing.
“We’ll be fine,” Jordan began.
Dalia shook her head, pacing. “No. I remember one of the prisoners. I don’t know who or what the guy was, but Thomas made him walk ahead of our group. A trap sprung and literally tore the guy apart.” She raised her gaze to him. “Thomas did it for fun. He knew the trap was there. But they were all hidden. Not even supernatural creatures could see them.”
On the phone, Shane cursed. “Maybe I can magic them...”
Dalia straightened. “But I know where they all are.”
Jordan was shaking his head when Shane said, “She’ll come with us.”
“I’ll call you back.” He snapped the phone closed. “You’re not going. It will be dangerous, especially if Thomas’ crew is hiding there.”
Dalia lifted her chin and her eyes narrowed, blue-green irises encircled by an angry red. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Jordan scowled. “I damn well will when it’s risking your life.”
“Fine. Then you can’t go either.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Stunned, Jordan could only gape at her. A woman telling him what to do?
“Turnabouts fair play,” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I’m a warrior, trained for hundreds of years. I fight, and I win.”
“And the traps?” She raised a brow.
“Shane is a shaman, he can find the traps.”
Dalia nodded. “Then that settles it. Shane and I will find the traps and you’ll protect little ol’ me.”
Jordan gaped at her. “You’re not—”
“If you try telling me what to do one more time, I’ll be touching your balls again, but this time you won’t enjoy it.” Her eyes flashed, pure red and her lips spread in a snarl, revealing her fangs.
Jordan quickly discarded the idea of tying her up. She’d probably end up figuring out a way to escape, the stubborn woman.
“Besides, it might help me remember more.” Her tone was so soft and full of worry he couldn’t stop from going to her side and pulling her into his arms.
Maybe it would be good for her to go. He hated the idea, but if it helped her remember...
He would protect her, keep her safe. “Fine. But you do what I say, when I say it.”
Her knee eased between his legs and he tensed, but she only rose up and kissed his jaw.
He scowled at her, a look which had made some of the most powerful vampires quake in fear. The pixie woman in front of him merely grinned.
“When do we leave?”
Chapter Thirteen
The tunnel was dark and dusty. But with Jordan at her back, Dalia lifted her chin and stepped inside. She shivered as the cool air hit, bringing with it the stench of decay.
Behind her, Jordan and Connor whispered with the sheriff and Brandon.
Dalia continued into the darkness, worried about losing her nerve if she stopped.
The tunnel stretched endlessly. The further they walked, the more she smelled rotting flesh and old blood. She’d expected the men to bring flashlights, but they continued in the dark.
She could see clearly. It disturbed her, but not as much as before.
Jordan grasped her hand and the lingering sense of loss disappeared. She might be a vampire now, but she was coming to realize it didn’t necessarily affect her humanity.
The tunnel widened and she continued on. The walls stopped abruptly as they stepped into a small cavern. The roof dripped low with wickedly pointed stalactites.
Dalia was brought up short when faced with three tunnels leading into more darkness.
“Which way?” Jordan’s words were a whispered breath on the back of her neck.
“Let me think.” She glanced around, gaze locking on a painting above the middle tunnel. It was black and grey, a mountain lion crouching on a charred tree branch, as if searching for prey on the ground below.
Her vision wavered. Dalia blinked furiously as the past unfolded in front of her. Thomas strode into the cavern. Behind him, other vampires dragged people on chains, most delirious from blood loss, hunger or beatings.
A cold band wrapped around her throat, icy and burning.
A chain tugged her forward, making her stumble. Dalia stared at the child holding the end. She was a girl, maybe ten or so. She looked so innocent, her blonde hair in curling pigtails, held back with pink ribbons. Her face was angelic. Yet the cruelty in her red eyes spoke of volumes of age and an enjoyment of the pain she could wield.
“Jessica,” Dalia whispered.
Jordan jerked her against him. She met his bright blue gaze, staring into the endless depths as if holding tight to a lifeline.
“W
hat did you see?” he asked.
Connor, Brandon and Shane stepped closer, surrounding her with the warmth of their presence. She told them, from the collar at her throat to the child pulling her into the middle tunnel.
Shane drew back, his expression blank. “The collar. What was it made from?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I just remember how it seemed to burn my skin.”
Shane stared at Jordan. “You tasted her blood?”
“Aye.”
“Tell me what happened.”
Jordan glanced at her, his eyes flashing an emotion she couldn’t name. “It felt like I was pulled into this place I couldn’t escape, yet I didn’t want to.”
Shane shook his head. “That’s not like you.”
“Not at all.”
“The collar may have been iron, with rune symbols carved into it.”
Jordan’s eyes widened and his jaw clenched. “You think Dalia’s some sort of Fey.”
Shane met her gaze. She tried to shake her head, but it was long past the point of useless, continued, denial. “I do,” he said with sympathy.
“If I’m Fey,” she swallowed and took a deep breath, “What does it mean?”
“We can discuss it later. Right now, we have places to go.”
Dalia nodded as relief flushed through her. She might not be able to deny much of anything right now, but at least some of it could be put off for a little while longer. Let it sink in, let her think it through, before they bombarded her with more craziness.
Shane headed for the middle tunnel. “We’ll finish this conversation later.”
“Wait. There’s a trap,” Dalia called.
He glanced back. “I know.” He stood before the tunnel and waved his hands in the air.
She didn’t see anything, but the air filled with an electrical charge. The hair on the back of her neck rose and goosebumps spread over her arms. She rubbed her hands together, wishing for the courage to grab Jordan. She wanted his comfort.
But she didn’t know if he would let her.
The energy Shane was somehow producing dimmed. Jordan brushed against her back and slid his hands down her arms. He clasped her hand in his.
She glanced at him, grateful, but the heat in his eyes turned her emotions upside down.
“All will be well,” he whispered against her ear.
Shivers raced down her spine, dispelling the lingering apprehension from Shane’s magic.
A minute later, a few feet down the dark tunnel, something clicked.
“It’s safe now,” Shane said.
They followed him in. Now that he was no longer casting strange spells, Dalia’s need to lead—to protect them all from other dangers—rushed back. Jordan kept her hand clamped tightly in his, keeping her at his side.
After a few useless tugs, she settled for allowing him to keep her there. Her mind replayed the memory she’d seen and she glanced at Jordan, then away, as she asked, “That’s good right? That I was chained?”
“Aye.” Though his eyes burned with anger.
She flushed warmly, knowing he wasn’t mad at her, but because of what had been done to her.
After long, silent moments broken only by their breathing and the occasional heavy footstep, they came to another branch. This time, they faced only two tunnels.
No matter how hard she strained, Dalia couldn’t remember anything about them. Neither were marked, so she couldn’t even guess.
“I just don’t know.”
Connor nodded. “Shane and I will take the right. Brandon, come with us. Jordan, you and Dalia take the left.”
She felt hesitant splitting up, but Jordan squeezed her hand, silencing her concerns. Side-by-side, they entered the tunnel.
Dalia struggled to remember. Her heart thundered at the thought of running into a trap unprepared. Her mind was blank and her lost memories silent.
The tunnel stretched on endlessly. The dark became so absolute, even with her new vampire vision she could barely see ahead. The dusty air made it hard to breathe, not that she wanted to with the horrible stench growing stronger.
The scent of blood and rotting meat filled her nose, making her stomach churn in horror.
As if feeling her distress, Jordan drew her closer to his side.
In the distance, something boomed and the ground shook. Rocks rained down from the ceiling, one sharply crashing against her forehead.
Dalia cried out as warm blood ran down her face. Jordan grabbed her in his arms, covering her with his body as he pressed them against the wall.
Rocks continued to fall from the ceiling. Jordan grunted, his body jerking. His voice was strained, full of pain, as he said, “Quit wiggling. I will protect you, damn it.”
Another loud blast echoed through the tunnels. Screams followed. She couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like Shane and the others.
She tried to jerk from Jordan, to go to them and make sure they were okay, but he kept his hold tight.
“They will be all right,” he said, his voice strained even more.
The blast seemed to loosen the ceiling. Rocks of all shapes and sizes, and points, crashed around them. Every time Jordan grunted from pain, her heart squeezed tighter. Every time his body jerked, she fought the fear working to consume her.
Her fists clenched, trapped between them. She felt his heartbeat, thumping a full speed.
The scent of his blood filled the air.
She stared into his eyes. In that moment, she knew he would die for her. He would die to keep her safe.
Warmth bloomed in her heart at the thought.
Was that love?
One person willing to give up everything for the other?
Another rock crashed down on top of Jordan and his tense body went slack. He slumped against her, still covering her from the rocks falling. At least they were slowing.
Panic clawed at her throat. “Jordan?” Her voice came out a squeak.
He didn’t answer.
If the entire tunnel collapsed, they would be trapped beneath the rubble. She didn’t know if she could get Jordan out.
Slowly, she pushed at him, moving him to the wall and letting him slide down to the floor. She ran her hands over his face and chest.
“Jordan?”
He was a still as death.
The panic clawing at her struggled to take over. Her blood was cold, icy, and her heartbeat so fast she feared passing out. She could barely breathe the dust laden air.
Most of all, the thought of loosing Jordan, this strange man she still barely knew and yet felt so much for, filled her with resolve.
He couldn’t be dead. He was a Master vampire. A King.
And she wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t, because she feared losing him would be like losing an important, necessary, part of her very soul.
She tapped his cheek with her fingers.
“Jordan. Wake up.”
She tugged him upright, crying out as another small rock tumbled down and sliced into her back. Better her than him.
Slowly, she tugged him to a sitting position. She grabbed his arms and pulled them over her shoulder, then tried to lift him.
He didn’t budge.
The man was just too big and even with her newfound vampire strength, there was no way she could pick him up.
Dalia eased him back on the ground, then stood at his head, holding his hands tight. She pulled with all her might. He slid back a measly inch.
It didn’t matter.
She would drag him inch by inch if she had to. But she was going to get him out of there.
Laughter filled the darkness.
She spun, keeping Jordan behind her, and faced the tunnel.
“Those other three are deliciously incapacitated. Looks like your guy there is too.” The voice was a whisper, sweet and innocent, ringing like bells on the wind. “I’ve missed you.”
Light flared and Dalia glanced over the four burly vampires standing behind a little girl. The child from her memo
ry.
“Take them both.” The girl held out a collar, chain attached. “This one is for her.”
Dalia straightened. “You won’t take me without a fight.”
“Good.” The girl grinned. “Maybe you’ll be more fun this time.”
Dalia felt her teeth extend, her hands curve into claw-like fists. As the four vampires advanced, she stepped forward, putting more distance between them and Jordan.
She waited for the men to get close, then slashed her nails down one vampire’s face, clawing at his eyes. With a harsh cry he stumbled back.
Another reached for her, but she spun, slamming her boot in his groin. He screamed, dropping to his knees.
“Ah, so the pet has found her claws. How delightful,” the girl said, her voice silkily sweet.
The other two vampires slowed, glancing at one another, then rushed forward as one. Dalia ducked, but was too slow. A fist slammed into the side of her head and she flew through the air, crashing into the rocky wall.
Dazed, she struggled against their hands. The loud click and icy grip around her neck told her she’d been collared. Pain buzzed over her skin.
One vampire yanked the chain attached to her neck and she stumbled to her feet. He led her to the little girl, bowing as he handed over the chain.
“Bring the big one, too.” The girl headed down the tunnel, pulling Dalia behind her. “Ah, pet. What fun we’ll have once more.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jordan stumbled down the tunnel, trying to clear his head. There had been an explosion, rocks had slammed into him, but he’d protected Dalia.
As he glanced down at the chains on his wrists, he smirked. Not much of a restraint for the likes of him. His gaze fell on Dalia. The sight of the collar around her neck filled him with a rush of fury so intense he nearly broke free and attacked.
She caught his gaze and shook her head imperceptibly. She wasn’t hurt.
It helped him regain some semblance of calm. Let them think he was captured and helpless. They would lead him to his people, then he would decimate them all.
After a few more twists and turns, stopping three times to bypass different traps, they were led into a wide, tall cavern filled with light. On the far side was a fireplace with seating, right next to a bed larger than his own at home.