by Evi Asher
It was Josephine who asked the question this time. “Meaning?”
“He’s decided to make a gift of Athera and Grave to Nexanthon. He’s going to chuck the two of them in the deepest hole he can find, and when Nexanthon shows up, the king plans on getting in his good books by handing them over.”
“Aw, hell no.” Josephine sat forward in her chair. “We have to get out of here now.”
“Yes, they do. You, on the other hand, can’t go anywhere. I told Ryder you’d be here when he got back.”
Athera watched Josephine pale. “Not happening. I’m leaving with them. I have to lead them to the Librarian.”
“The who—now?” Wyatt frowned.
“The human who has the information they need. He’s been on the run from eternals his whole life, so to keep himself safe, he started to collect information. He’ll have the facts they need to take Nexanthon out.” She spoke in a breathless rush, then stood up. “We have to leave now. Once the king has you in a pit, I can’t do much to get you out.”
Athera stood a moment after Grave. “Let’s go,” she said, walking to the door.
Wyatt shook his head, but he got up. “I’ll take point. Josephine, you can’t leave.”
She walked past him to the door and turned to give him a killing look. “You should learn not to make promises you can’t keep.”
She tugged the door open.
With a low growl of frustration, Wyatt was past her in a blur and into the passage. “Keep up,” he called out quietly.
“Why is Ryder so interested in you?” Athera asked as she followed Josephine out the door.
“He thinks I belong to him,” Josephine answered.
“You said you’d never met him,” Grave pointed out.
“I haven’t, but he saw me in the court and decided that I was his.”
Josephine’s jaw clenched, and Athera decided it wasn’t a good idea to ask her any more questions right then.
“Move, people.” Wyatt’s command came from the turn in the passage.
Josephine took the lead. Athera followed, and Grave took up the rear.
Wyatt stopped at every turn in the passage, checking ahead for danger. They seemed to be moving down, and then they were moving up.
“Where are you taking us?” Grave asked in a low voice
“Through the most unused tunnels to a back entrance that only a few know about. I’ve arranged to have a vehicle waiting there for you with supplies.” He stopped and turned to look at them. “Put as much distance between yourselves and the vampire court as possible.”
Grave nodded.
That’s was when Athera’s keen ears picked up on the sound of running feet. “Someone is coming.”
“It’s the guards,” Josephine said and started to dig around in the hidden pockets of her robe.
“Move, Josy!” Wyatt tugged at her, only to be pinned by a look that was almost feral. Her lips were moving, but she was making no sound.
“She’s doing a spell,” Athera guessed and Wyatt let go of her arm.
“Do it fast, witch,” he commanded as he drew a gun from the holster at his hip. He checked its slide, then turned to face the way they’d come.
Grave followed his lead. Flicking the scythes into existence, he moved to position himself in front of Athera.
“I can take care of myself,” she hissed at the reaper.
“Not while I’m here to guard you,” he muttered.
Athera wanted to hit him for his attitude. She wasn’t a baby. She could take out a few guards.
Her hands started to burn, and she looked down and noticed flames dancing on her fingers. No one else could piss Athera off to the point of spontaneous combustion the way Grave could. It was a good thing he didn’t get burned from her. Athera’s flame died out when the shock of that thought hit her.
He didn’t burn up from my flames.
In the fight when Josephine had boosted her power, Grave should have turned to ash, too, but he hadn’t. She’d buried that thought, and now it bit her on the backside.
No, it’s not possible. He can’t be my mate.
She shook her head as her internal dialog wanted to suggest the unthinkable. Sure, she’d wished he was her mate when she’d first met him, even tried to convince herself of the fact, but she’d never believed it.
Vampire guards came around the corner in the tunnel before she could think further, and Grave and Wyatt attacked.
Athera’s ears ached with the rapid pounding of gunfire in the enclosed tunnel. Grave darted forward, somehow not being hit by Wyatt’s shots, and attacked the nearest guard. He was fighting to wound, not kill, and Athera realized it was because he was trying to keep the repercussions down. Wyatt, too was wounding not killing. It made their job more difficult.
Behind Athera, Josephine yelled out one word. Somnus
The remaining guards all collapsed to the ground, none of them moving.
Wyatt spun to face Josephine as he holstered his gun. “Did you kill them?”
“They are having a little nap. It won’t last very long, so let’s get going.”
Athera had to grin at the little nap part, but she was quick to follow behind Wyatt and Josephine as they started moving.
She was shocked when she felt Grave’s hand spread over her lower back as he dipped his head and spoke close to her ear.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice, because his touch was doing all kinds of strange and interesting things to her body.
“Good.”
He let go, and Athera wanted to yell at him to put his hand back.
She swallowed the words and moved faster instead. She was still being haunted by the fact that the man she wanted so badly—the man who didn’t want her in return—might be her mate. The one male she was supposed to spend the rest of her eternal life with.
Well, shit. The situation sucked. How was she going to deal with this new development?
Chapter Twelve
Grave stayed behind Athera as they escaped through the tunnels. Wyatt was in the lead holding a torch, the flames almost motionless in the stagnant air. Josy was right behind him, as if she didn’t like the dark much. No one else tried to stop them, and he was grateful. Not because he was scared of a fight, but because the less fighting they had to do now, the more energy they could save for future battles, and he had a feeling there would be many future battles.
Athera seemed to be a flame that a trouble-hunting moth would be looking for. Hell, he was a moth to her flame, too. What was it about the phoenix female? Why did she make him want to forget his vow? He had made that oath because it kept her safe. Otherwise, he would be her personal death if he allowed himself to have what he wanted.
The tunnels were starting to incline up, and Grave was sure they were near the exit. The incline was getting steeper and the slick walls were holding less condensation as they moved up the passage toward the outside and freedom.
Grave felt a buzz in the small of his back along his spine. He frowned and tried to ignore the irritation.
It felt like there was a mild electric shock running up his back. His brows drew together. The buzzing was getting stronger the closer they were getting to the surface.
He absently rubbed his lower back, tilting his head. He could almost hear a whisper of some sort.
What was going on?
“Do you hear a whisper?” He spoke softly, keeping as quiet as he could. He didn’t want to make more noise and alert any more guards.
“Buzzing sound?” Athera stopped moving forward and tilted her head for a moment, then shook her head no and continued walking.
Grave cocked his head to the side again. He could have sworn he heard someone calling him. Could this day get any stranger? He smelled fresh air before he saw the tunnel open up. Wyatt stayed back. The first rays of dawn were lighting the sky, and Grave knew the vampire would want to avoid the sunlight.
“This is as far as I can go,” Wyatt stated and mov
ed out of the way so they could go past him.
“Head North East. There is a small cabin about three miles from here. I keep it stocked for emergencies.”
“Food?” Josy asked.
The vampire nodded. “And other supplies. There is a jeep in the barn. The keys are on the pegboard.”
“Why would you keep food in your cabin? You are a vampire,” Athera asked and Grave almost rolled his eyes.
“I might be a vampire, but not all my friends are vampires.” Wyatt chuckled softly, obviously amused by her question. “Get a move on, before more guards come.”
“What about you?” Grave didn’t like the idea of leaving Wyatt behind to face the king’s wrath.
“I have an airtight alibi, she’s a fine vampire the king trusts.” He grinned.
“But the guards we fought?” Josy pointed out.
Wyatt looked away from her, his pointed stare meeting Grave’s. They both realized that wounding the guards had been pointless. They had to die.
Those guards would never wake from their nap. Grave knew it, and Wyatt knew it.
“Let’s move, ladies,” he said as he held out his hand to Wyatt. “If you ever need anything from a reaper... ”
Wyatt’s grin was infectious as he took Grave’s hand in his and shook it. “You can bet I will call you on that.”
Grave gave him one final nod and followed the females out of the mouth of the tunnel.
The sun was rising, but it was still dark enough that he worried about the females and their dexterity. There was a lot of underbrush. They had to move carefully, or someone could break an ankle, so he took the lead.
“Try to step where I step, and move as fast as you can. We need to be as far away from the court as we can before the vampires find us missing.”
Neither Josy or Athera complained, and they kept pace with him. He would never admit it to them, but he was impressed. He never could stand anyone who whined when what had to be done had to be done.
By the time they reached the clearing that held the small log cabin, he could hear both females puffing behind him, and when he turned and looked, he saw Athera’s face was a pretty pink with exertion.
“You did well.”
Josy spat out a foul word and leaned forward, bracing her palms on her knees. “You must have been a drill sergeant in another life.” She wheezed out the complaint between gasps of air.
He couldn’t help but grin. “You need a better workout routine.”
“No. I need better friends.” She glared at him as she straightened.
Athera walked past her and Grave grabbed her arm before she could step out of the trees.
“Use your head, female. I need to go check it out.”
“Call me female in that tone again and I’ll set you on fire.” She was grinning, but it was more feral than engaging.
“Cranky when tired and over worked. Noted.” He nodded and walked out into the clearing, all his senses active as he looked for signs of danger or ambush.
The electric zing he’d felt earlier came back suddenly and with vengeance. His back bowed and he almost fell to his knees with the intensity of it.
That had never happened before, so he wasn’t sure, but it felt like the descriptions of being summoned. He never got summoned.
It didn’t matter. He didn’t have the time or the need to return to the reaper realm. He had to stay here with Athera, or the vampires would get her again. That wasn’t a guess—it was fact.
He reached the cabin and pushed the door open, which gave a rusty creak on a slow swing. He stayed back, pressing his body to the side of the door in case anyone inside opened fire.
No gunshots, so he peered into the dark cabin. He stuck his head and shoulders in. It was a one room cabin, nothing much, and no one inside. He turned his body and motioned for the females to come.
They moved across the clearing as if trusting that he’d made sure it was safe. The idea that Athera trusted him to keep her from harm made him want to smile. It was a good feeling.
“Cabin is empty. We can rest and collect what we need, but we can’t stay here too long.”
Josy pushed past him and went straight to the narrow cot in the corner. She collapsed and lay back, blessing the uncomfortable bed with flowery words.
Athera found a chair and sank into it as if she had no bones. She was muttering about army drill sergeants and stupid vampires.
Grave hid his grin behind his hand and turned toward the kitchen area of the cabin. He’d look at what was stored in the cupboards while the females rested.
He opened the first to find all kinds of dry provisions. There were tin foods as well as and snack bars.
Impressed, he looked into the second. It contained packets of dehydrated foods.
Wyatt was well stocked. Grave didn’t know where they were going next. He’d have to ask Josy, since she was the one with all the information.
“Where are we heading? So I know what we have to take with us.” He turned his body to look over at the witch, and that was when the zing hit him so hard his knees folded under him.
His weight crashed onto his knees and he winced at the sound it made on the wooden floors. Grimacing in pain, he used the flat of his palm on the counter top to try to lift his body off his knees while unmitigated agony danced over his spine.
He looked over at the females to see why they hadn’t offered to help him, and it took him a second to realize they were frozen in place. Not in shock, but as if time had stopped.
Only one person he knew had the power to do that. He grimaced and hauled his body back onto his feet, ignoring the electric pain in his spine.
“Oracle, I thought I was free from you.”
A warm chuckle floated through the air before Cerise became visible.
“It would be good for your health if you remembered to treat me with respect, reaper.”
Grave bowed his head in deference. “You look lovely, Lady Cerise.”
“Mm, that’s better.” She smiled and walked around the island in the kitchen part of the cabin. Her gossamer gown floated around her as if she was standing in a summer breeze.
“To what do I owe this honor?” Grave asked.
“Yes.” She paused, her eyes taking him in, seeming to miss nothing. “It is an honor,” she said.
Cerise glanced over at Athera and Josephine. “I see you are doing the task you were given.”
“As you bid me, I am protecting the phoenix.” It never failed to amaze Grave how everyone around Cerise ended up speaking formally, as if anything less would be offensive to the oracle.
“I’m here with an offer, Grave.” She met his gaze, and her eyes flashed with something he couldn’t describe. His body became more alert. There was danger in her stare.
“Offer?” He let the question in his tone do the work.
“Yes.”
She gave him a smile that made him start to worry.
“The powers that be have decided that you can have your curse lifted... ” She left the rest hanging.
Hope, treacherous clawing hope, spread through his body. The curse that meant he would kill any female he had sex with. Any woman who allowed his body into hers would die before the act was completed. Was Cerise telling him that he could once again be with a woman without fearing he’d kill her? What was the catch?
“What do they want in return?” He was weary. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the sacrifice he would have to make to get the curse lifted. He turned and leaned his back against the kitchen cupboard, crossing his arms over his chest. Waiting.
“It’s simple. All you have to do to have the curse lifted... ” She gave him a smile that made her seem angelic—she was anything but.
“Is stop helping the phoenix.” Cerise glanced over at Athera before she looked back at him.
Grave looked at Athera, really looked at her, and felt his stomach clench with the chaos of conflicting emotions.
If he left her, she would die. He knew that without
having the oracle confirm his suspicions. There was no way she was going to dodge Nexanthon long enough to get the information she needed without his help. Even if she got help from the Outsiders, the creature chasing Athera was a death deity—and who better to help against death than a reaper?
However, what about him? He was cursed to an immortality of never touching a woman in the most intimate way—and he liked sex, damn it.
Rock, meet hard place.
“Are you deciding, or just day dreaming?” Cerise asked.
He shot her a glare. “I’m thinking, so give me a minute.”
“Tick-tock, reaper. This is a limited time offer.”
“Why would you bring me the offer in the first place?” he growled at her. “You are the one who told me to guard her to start with. If I choose the curse, then you’ll kill me for not doing your bidding.”
She shrugged. “Yes, normally that would be the case, but I’ve been outvoted on this matter.”
“What am I going to do? Tell me. You can see the future.” He stalled for time, his mind working furiously.
“You worked for me long enough to know that’s not how it works,” she said. “Time is fluid, quicksilver through space. Choices are the rocks in the quicksilver river. Every choice can change the flow.”
He looked over at Athera. She’d been in the middle of saying something, her large eyes wide, her mouth parted to speak, her hand raised, finger pointing in his direction. Could he guarantee her death and have his curse lifted?
Grave let a string of foul words escape his lips.
“You’ve made a choice.” Cerise wasn’t asking a question. She was stating fact.
“I choose to stay with the phoenix.” Grave dropped his head. An eternity of never having sex to save one stubborn, irritating, annoying, beautiful, brave, strong, phoenix.
“Done.” Cerise’s words were like a clap of thunder. She vanished, and in the same instant, the world started moving again.
“Yes, where do we have to go?” Athera said, as if she didn’t realize she’d spent the last ten minutes paused in time.
He wasn’t going to tell her any different.