Eternal Flame

by Valerie Twombly

  His heart ached, wanted desperately to comfort her, but realized she needed time. Perhaps if he gave this one thing, he could win her back. He would wait, give her time to become accustomed to the idea then come back for her. He would also have to try not to be so overbearing. It would be difficult because he only wanted to protect her, but he would work at it.

  His jaw set, and he made a decision. If he couldn’t be with his mate then he would set out to find Odage and stop the dragon’s reign of terror. He flashed back to where they were attacked, hoping to find some kind of evidence left behind. The sun would be setting in a few hours. Maybe he’d get lucky, and the bastard would show up himself.

  He arrived at the warehouse, and his senses flared out. Someone watched him. I’ll ignore them, make them think I’m unaware of their presence. Whoever it was lurked inside, that much he knew, but their identity remained a mystery, their signature cloaked.

  He searched the grounds where the minions attacked. Nothing. Next, he moved toward the abandoned warehouse, a dagger in his palm and a Glock tucked into the waistband of his jeans. His grip tightened on the dagger. Odage, you motherfucker, show your face.

  Marcus, where the hell are you?

  Aidyn. He certainly didn’t want to talk to him but realized he couldn’t ignore him either. I’m searching the area where the fight occurred. Someone is watching me, and I aim to find out who.

  I sense by your mood things didn’t go well with Cassie?

  No. Great, the last fucking thing he wanted to discuss.

  He entered the abandoned warehouse. Years ago a hub of activity, it was now a skeleton of its former self. There were two stories, the presence hid on the upper floor.

  The sun moved across the horizon, and he slipped into the shadows and remained out of sight but cautious since most immortals were adept at hiding.

  Marcus, I am sorry about Cassie, give her time. Is someone still watching you?

  Yes.

  Let me send you some backup.

  No! I do this alone. He reached the other side of the warehouse. Since the stairs were still intact, he didn’t dare flash to the upper level because he had no idea what surprise awaited.

  Fine, but keep in touch with me. I want to know the minute you find something. And Marcus?

  What?

  That’s an order.

  He furrowed a brow. Yes, my lord.

  He pulled the Glock from its resting place and sheathed the dagger. The bullet would slow down any immortal long enough for him to take their head. His boot hit the first step, testing to make sure it remained sturdy. He moved in catlike fashion, taking two steps at a time until he reached the top floor. The last of the remaining sunlight filtered through broken windows and cast dancing shadows on the wall. Sensing someone on the other side of the room, he raised the gun.

  “Come out where I can see you.”

  Slowly, the shadows moved, and a figure emerged from the darkness. “Step closer,” he demanded.

  The hooded figure stepped out of the shadows into the last of the flickering sunlight. He blinked, but the vision remained. “Holy Christ,” he whispered. Aidyn!

  * * * *

  The figure turned and moved back toward the shadows. He quickly followed, even though his head spun and his mind played tricks on him. There was simply no way.

  “Wait.” He heard a whimper then moved to stand in front of the dark stranger, grabbing both shoulders, he pulled the person into the last of the sunlight. “What kind of fucking game is this?”

  Tears streaked down a dirty face. Clothing tattered and covered in blood. Golden locks matted to their head. “No game, I swear.” The voice came as a mere whisper.

  He looked closer. Frail and thin, chocolate eyes once filled with life were now dull and filled with pain. “It’s impossible.” Now convinced the curse had overtaken him. The darkness on his soul showed his past sins and had sent him to hell.

  He looked around half expecting the prince of darkness to make some flashy entrance. “How is it you’re here?”

  The figure before him gazed at the floor. “I…I’m not sure.”

  “Wrong answer,” he snarled. “There’s no fucking way in hell.” The vision played out in his mind. Blinding pain stabbed at his brain. “What kind of illusion is this, and who’s behind it?”

  The woman’s head snapped up to look at him. Her face twisted with pain, but eyes blazed with anger. Her fists clenched. “Of course, you watched me die. It was your blade that killed me!” Her body trembled as she ran toward him, fists pummeled his chest as the rage seeped from her voice. “I loved you, but you took my life from me. Look at me! Three hundred years I have wandered not knowing what to do, barely existing because of you!”

  He grabbed her wrists to stop the assault. She no longer looked at him but sobbed. Her body convulsed with every tear that spilled. “If you are indeed who you claim, then why not contact me or your brother? What about your mother?”

  Her eyes lifted to meet his, long lashes moist with tears. “How could I when I knew you didn’t love me.”

  Gods, her scent. It was true, but how he had no idea. He fell to his knees, unable to stand it any longer. “Eliza, please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. I thought you were lost to me.”

  She knelt in front of him. “Tell me, mate. Do you love her?”

  She spoke of Cassie. Gods, how fucked up his life had become. Did he love Cassie? The answer was buried deep. He hardly knew her, yet their connection was strong. He could love her easily if given a chance. “No.”

  Eliza peered at him through slits. “I think you’re lying. Perhaps I will take her head just as you did mine.”

  Cold metal snapped. His eyes looked down in disbelief at the silver bands shining on each wrist. How the hell had he allowed this to happen? His strength ebbed and weakness surrounded him. Only seconds remained before he'd become as fragile as a mortal. Aidyn! Watch over Cassie. The connection broke. “What are you doing?”

  Eliza stood and beckoned someone from the corner. Demons appeared and dragged him to his feet. Too weak to fight. “Why, Marcus darling, I am repaying you for all those years of love and kindness you showered on me.” She flashed from the room.

  * * * *

  A week had gone by since Cassie last saw Marcus. One long, lonely week. On several occasions, she stopped herself from calling out for him, knew he would respond and come back. She tried to go on with life, but that had proved easier said than done. Her mind wandered, which wasn't such a good thing since she worked in a hospital. People counted on her, their lives put at risk by her inability to concentrate so she requested a temporary leave of absence, stating personal problems. Mental problems would have been more accurate.

  A knock sounded at the door. It was five in the afternoon, and she wasn’t expecting any visitors. Cautious, she approached and looked out the peep hole. Damn. The vampire king lurked outside. Knowing she couldn’t avoid him, she slowly opened the door.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “I only wish to speak with you.”

  She stepped back and waved him in. “I don’t suppose I have much choice anyway. If I refuse, you’ll just poof your way in.” Her voice was filled with sarcasm.

  Aidyn threw his head back and laughed. “Poof? I don’t poof.”

  A delicate brow raised, and her hand pushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Excuse me. I’m afraid I’m not up on the current vampire lingo.”

  He chuckled as he sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to him. “Cassie, come sit next to me so we can talk.”

  Deciding it might be better to keep her distance, she chose the chair directly across from him. “I think I’ll sit here.”

  He let out a breath as if annoyed. Maybe she shouldn’t push him. After all, a vampire could pretty much do whatever he wanted. Still, she couldn’t help it. She'd woken up in a foul mood earlier in the day, and nothing she did seemed to help. Actually not true, she had been in a foul mood s
ince Marcus had brought her home.

  “So, I can assume you’re here to talk about Marcus?”

  His features softened. “First, tell me, how is your sister?”

  Feelings of guilt washed over her for being such a snit. “Jill is doing very well.” She lowered her gaze to the floor. “Of course, she is mad at me over the deal with Marcus.”

  “I can’t say that I blame her. You didn’t truly give him much of a chance.”

  She looked up and met his chocolate eyes. Perfection. Chestnut locks framed his youthful face in tousled waves. A tight fitting black T-shirt molded itself to every muscle. When he moved, the shirt actually rippled. Odd, she felt no attraction. Was this how she would feel with all men now? Empty?

  “Cassie, I want to be extremely honest with you. I am here to ask for your help.”

  She tucked her legs under her and curled up in the chair, certain this would be good. “What kind of help?”

  “Marcus is missing. We have lost all contact with him. I am not even able to connect with him telepathically.”

  Her heart skipped. “He’s probably spending some time alone and ignoring you.” It made sense too. If he felt anything like she did right now, then that’s exactly what he would do.

  Aidyn shook his head. “No, you misunderstand. Let me tell you some things about Marcus.”

  She leaned forward, unable to help herself, wanting to know everything about him. “Why was I chosen to be his mate?”

  He lifted his shoulders. “That is one answer I do not have. I am guessing it’s because you have some psychic abilities.”

  Her head tipped to the side. “How did you know?” True, sometimes she could read people. Not their minds, but knew things about them. It spooked the hell out of her.

  “I can read your mind.”

  She gasped. “What do you mean you can read my mind? Get out of my head!”

  He held up a hand. “Cassie, I am not intentionally reading your mind, but you have left it open to me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He leaned back on the couch and tapped his fingers on the cushion. “All guardians are telepathic. We often communicate with each other this way. However, we have to make a mental connection by touch or blood in order to read a human’s mind. I, on the other hand, can read any species. I would be happy to teach you how to put up mental blocks to prevent this.”

  “Oh, that might be a good thing to learn. Why is it you have these special powers and not the others?”

  “Because of who I am. Now on to Marcus…”

  She must have looked dumbfounded because he stopped mid-sentence and took a deep breath.

  “Cassie, I am a product of a god, meant to lead powerful warriors, protect the human race and keep peace among all immortals. I need strength and yes, on many days, an arrogant attitude. Now, let me finish.

  “I am going to start at the beginning. I know he told you that many of our women died in the Demonic war.” He paused, waiting for her to acknowledge. When she nodded in confirmation, he continued. “But he did not tell you about Eliza.”

  Her chin rested on her fist, waiting to hear more. “Who is Eliza?”

  His expression became slack. She sensed it difficult for him to talk about, but he focused his gaze on her. “She was my sister. Three hundred years ago when Drayos started the war, he took our women, used them like breeding stock. When we found them, they were nothing but soulless creatures. We beheaded them.”

  Her hand slapped her mouth, tears threatened to spill. “I’m so sorry.” She choked. It seemed cruel and barbaric, but sensed it was also necessary.

  He gave a nod of acceptance then continued. “Eliza was Marcus’s destined mate. He had not bound her to him yet because she was young and he wanted her to live her life first. He is the one that killed her.”

  She was no longer able to hold back the tears. Poor Marcus, how he must have suffered. She tried to imagine the pain but would never understand what it must have been like. Another piece of her heart shattered for him. That must be what he meant when he said he had already received a second chance. Now she had taken that away from him as well.

  “Yes, Cassie, he did suffer, greatly. His mother had been abducted. His father had to kill her. I was there when he begged Marcus to end his own life.”

  Her face dropped into her hands, sobs racking her body. Mind numb, Cassie was unable to comprehend the pain and loss he had suffered. And now she had caused him even more pain.

  She sniffled, eyes looking to the guardian who sat across from her. “Something tells me you’re not finished.”

  His gaze lowered to the floor. “No. Drayos cursed all the men. We were created from light and dark. The light is the guardian, the dark the warrior. The curse imbalances us, eventually taking away the light and leaving us in darkness. We become no better than the evil that attacked your sister.”

  Bile rose in her throat, it tasted of fear. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  “If Marcus becomes consumed by the dark, his soul will be lost. It means I will be forced to kill my friend.”

  Her lashes fluttered; she must have misunderstood. “Is this what’s happened to him? Why he is missing?”

  “No, not yet but I fear he is close. My last contact with him was disturbing, to say the least,” Aidyn said.

  She pulled her legs out from under her, planted her feet on the floor, and leaned forward. Fear licked her skin like an animal about to devour its prey. “What happened?”

  “He claimed Eliza was alive and they were together. His last words to me were to watch over you.”

  Shaky fingers ran through her hair. This made no sense. “Can you live if your head is removed? I mean. How does that work?”

  His lips pursed together. “No, we cannot reattach our heads. My sister is dead. This is an impostor. Someone means to harm Marcus.”

  “So how am I supposed to help exactly?” She chewed her bottom lip. What if Aidyn was wrong and Eliza lived somehow? She didn’t like to think of him with another woman, not that she held any claims. After all, she'd thrown him out.

  His fingers touched her arm. “You are now his mate; you have a connection to him. I hope to be able to use it to find him.”

  Her eyes searched his. “Did you tell me all of this to make me feel guilty?”

  “No. I thought you might want to know that the man you love is going to die if you don’t come to your senses.”

  Ouch, that stung. “Nothing like being blunt,” she retorted, turning her head away. She simply wanted to curl up and forget everything.

  Aidyn moved in front of her in a flash. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “Yes, I will use whatever means necessary to save him. Including your guilt. Be thankful I don’t bend your mind to my will.”

  “W-what do you mean by that?”

  He let out an arrogant laugh. “Cassie, I am an extremely powerful man, not even my brethren know half of what I am capable of. I could make you live an eternity of lies, remembering only what I want you to know.”

  If he meant to scare her, it wasn’t working. Her vision saw what was in his heart. A man who would do anything to save his friend. She couldn’t fault him for that. Hell, if only more people had this much dedication, maybe the world would be a little better place to live.

  “You may have the power, but you also have a heart. You would never do that to me.”

  He smiled. “We are going to get along just fine, little one.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cassie wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to find comfort. Waves crashed, the sea full of turmoil, the same as her. Had she been standing on the beach, she might have stepped into the waves and let them carry her away. Instead, she watched from her perch tucked high on a bluff in Aidyn’s home. After his recent visit, she'd agreed to come to Vandeldor and try to help find Marcus.

  Everyone here welcomed her with genuine warmth. Gwen tried to help her connect with Marcus, but so far, they had failed
. Lucan, a dark and mysterious vampire, had taught her how to fight. Guns, daggers, hand to hand. Aidyn wanted to make sure she was able to defend herself if needed.

  On this day, two weeks after Aidyn’s visit, she stood in his living room and waited for her escorts. Recon work done by a few demons indicated Draki activity in the Carpathian Mountains. Aidyn believed Odage was behind Marcus’s disappearance. Gwen was sure if Cassie got close enough she could break through whatever blocked their communications and connect with him. Either way, she wanted to help. If his friends were worried about him, then there was cause for her to worry as well.

  “Cassie, stop being so stubborn and admit you love him.” Aidyn’s voice caused her to jump.

  Arching a brow, she peered at the king. “You’re putting your own thoughts into my head. I don’t love him. Besides, who’s to say he’s not happy with his mate Eliza?” Just speaking the woman’s name made her want to run a stake through the bitch’s heart. She had been assured, however, that only worked in the movies.

  Aidyn snorted. “You’re a stubborn woman, Cassandra Jensen. It’s no wonder the gods chose you. Only problem is Marcus is even more difficult. Believe me, he would never have left you for this long. Something is wrong.”

  She started to make a rebuttal when another figure appeared next to the king. Tall, dark and handsome with much emphasis on the dark. The scowl upon his face made her wince.

  “Cassie, this is Seth. He will accompany you on this mission.” Aidyn’s lips curled into a grin.

  She regarded Seth with a wary eye. Cassie guessed him to be over six-foot tall. His dark hair was cut short, and his Mediterranean blue eyes stared deep into her soul.

  She turned to Aidyn with a shiver. “Are you sure he’s safe?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “The only thing you need to worry about is being bored to death. Seth is not much of a social butterfly.” He leveled his gaze and stared into her eyes. “I trust him with my life, and I trust him with yours.”

  Still, she wondered about the vampire. From where she stood, he looked like a cold, heartless killer. It didn’t help her demeanor any that they still waited for one more to join them. A shudder ran up her spine. She’d been told a demon would round out their team of misfits. God, I hope he doesn’t have red skin and horns.