by Rosalie Redd
Hannah withdrew her hand, her skin suddenly hypersensitive to touch. “What circumstances? Why me?”
Seth stopped his pacing and coiled his fingers around the handle of his whip. A green hue surrounded his eyes, contrasting with his baby blues. “He must’ve sensed the goodness and innocence in your soul. If I can sense it, so can he.”
“What does that have to do with my illness?”
“Everything.” Wynne stood and strode to the window. She gripped the edge of the curtain and peered outside. The corner of her mouth turned into a frown, and she let the curtain fall back in place. “He’s siphoning the goodness from you, drop by drop. That’s why he gave you his saliva, to track you. I didn’t understand it when Seth brought you to me last summer, but I do now. We celebrated your birthday last weekend, but you actually turned nineteen yesterday, right?”
Hannah nodded.
“That’s the age of majority in the Otherworld. The transition from youth to adult is when your energy is the strongest. Marco placed his tracking mark on you and bided his time until now. Good thing you didn’t give in to him willingly or he’d own your soul already.”
Unable to sit a moment longer, Hannah rose to her feet. Her headache returned, pounding at her temple. She pinched the bridge of her nose.
“How is he sucking the energy from me? How do I stop him? What happens to me if I can’t?” A sob ripped from her.
Seth was by her side in an instant. “Darlin’, you don’t need to—”
Meooooow.
Wynne’s familiar, Neira, strode into the room. She swished her tail, padded to Wynne, and rubbed her whiskers against the witch’s leggings.
From what Hannah had learned from Wynne, Neira served Rhiannon as much as the gargoyles. All gargoyles were male, and the goddess placed questionable female souls into familiars. Neira had been in the Becknell family for generations.
Wynne stroked her fingers along Neira’s back. The cat purred in response then changed into her human form. Wearing a pair of billowy red slacks with a matching top, she plopped onto the couch.
“I can’t stand listening to you all beat around the bush. Hannah, my dear,” Neira stared at her over dark eyebrows, “unless you can best Marco, he will suck all your pure, sweet innocence from you, leaving either a dry, hollowed-out husk or turn you into one of them, an evil fae. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”
“Always blunt, aren’t you, cat?” Seth seethed the words.
Neira shrugged. “At least she knows what to expect.”
Hannah’s mind spun. “What do I do?”
Seth reached out as if to touch her, but then curled his hand and placed it at his side. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Y…you promise?”
His jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I vow it.”
“Such drama.” Neira placed the back of her hand over her eyes. “I can’t watch.”
Wynne exhaled. “Neira, that’s enough. Why don’t you make yourself that catnip tea you so crave?”
Neira hopped off the couch and strode toward the hallway. A sly smile crept over her lips. “I can take a hint. Nice chatting with you, Hannah. Good luck, you’re going to need it.”
As she disappeared around the corner, her giggle echoed in her wake.
“Hannah, there is a bit of good news.” Wynne marched to the coffee table and grabbed a small green bottle. “Marco has a short window of time to complete his task, four nights to be exact. After that, your soul will no longer be vulnerable to him.”
“My birthday was yesterday. One night down, three more to go.” Hannah stifled a nervous laugh. “Is there anything I can do to fight this? Any place safe I can go?”
Wynne glanced at the floor before meeting Hannah’s gaze. “Unfortunately, once a fae targets a human, it’s nearly impossible to stop him. The safest place is at your home protected by the wards. Whatever you do, don’t invite him in.”
Hannah bunched her brows together. “I’m supposed to just sit and wait this out?”
A pained expression crossed Wynne’s features. “I’d come stay with you if I could, but I can’t, not tonight. It’s just not possible.”
Wynne wrapped her arms around Hannah’s shoulders and tugged her in for a big hug. “I wish there was more I could do.”
Hannah’s face warmed at the heartfelt words. She returned the embrace, thankful for her friend.
The witch drew away and placed the green vial in Hannah’s hand. “Drink two sips of this every four hours. It will block part of Marco’s hold on you and should relieve your symptoms. I’ll stop by tomorrow as soon as I can. Okay?”
“Thank you.” Hannah took two swallows then shoved the small bottle in her jeans front pocket. The headache receded along with the burning fever. A quiver of relief swept down her arms.
Hannah’s life had gone from normal to crazy in two days. Her sister and Beaumont were out of the country on a cruise ship. Even if she did reach them, this would be over one way or another by the time they made it home.
A tingle of unease rippled over her shoulders. Hannah wasn’t sure she could do this on her own.
Seth placed his hat on his head and motioned toward the hallway. “Let me take you home.”
“Oh.” Hannah peered at Wynne. “You mentioned the wards, and I forgot to tell you. Beaumont said they need reinforcement.”
“I’ll take care of that tomorrow when I see you.” Wynne smiled.
“Thanks.” A wave of exhaustion settled over Hannah’s shoulders, and she shuffled to the front door. As she stepped outside, the cool night air caressed her skin like a lover.
On the doorstep, Seth turned to face Wynne. “Thank you for all you’ve done. I can never repay—”
Wynne held up her hand. “My service to Rhiannon and her soldiers is my greatest reward.”
Seth nodded once, peered at Hannah, and held out his hand. “You ready to go home?”
Hannah wasn’t sure what lay ahead, but she nodded and put her palm and her faith in Seth’s hand.
CHAPTER 9
Seth materialized on the old Victorian’s steps. As the aged wood accepted his weight, it creaked beneath his boots. Next to him, Hannah’s molecules reformed into the young beauty he worried about more than he should. She gripped the railing, her knuckles white with strain.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to materializing out of thin air like that.” She shook her head, and her luscious blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders.
The urge to brush away the few strands that clung to her eyelashes flicked along his nerves. Fortunately, she did the job for him, wiping at her cheek.
“Oh no. I don’t have my key.” Her brow furrowed over her pretty green eyes.
“Allow me.” Seth placed his finger on the antiquated knob and sent a tiny jolt of energy to the mechanism.
A loud click echoed in the space between them.
He gripped the handle, twisted the knob, and opened the door. “There you go.”
She smiled, her eyes widening. “What else can you do?”
Warmth at her amazement settled deep inside. Seth hadn’t seen that look in a woman’s eyes since Emily.
He returned her smile. “Lots of things, darlin’, but let’s get you inside.”
She nodded and stepped over the threshold. His guardian instincts kicking in, he scanned across the yard and along the street for any signs of danger.
Two teenagers sat in the front seat of an old Buick, the boy’s arm around the girl’s shoulder. The tender exchange tugged at the empty place in Seth’s heart. He rubbed the spot and followed Hannah inside.
She wandered ahead of him into the living room. Her jeans hugged her well-rounded behind, tempting him in more ways than one.
He shouldn’t want to place his dirty hands on her bottom and caress her sweet ass, but Christ, he did. Seth ground his teeth and adjusted his stance, his jeans suddenly tight and painful.
Hannah dug the bottle from her pants pocket and placed
it on the coffee table. Lips pursed and brow furrowed, she focused on the small container. “Do you think Marco will…”
Dammit. Seth rushed to Hannah’s side and fought the urge to comfort her with a touch. Instead, he lowered his head until he met her eye level. “Darlin’, Marco won’t get anywhere near you.”
She studied him for a moment then nodded. “With you here, I feel safe.”
He’d promised Hannah he’d protect her when he could never guarantee such an outcome. Why had he done that? He added foolish to unworthy, undeserving, and disgraceful to describe himself, and he could come up with a whole list of other appropriate adjectives.
Besides, his track record didn’t instill confidence. Emily and Finn had relied on him, too, and that hadn’t worked out well—one dead, the other a fae.
Self-loathing bit him in the ass harder than an angry rattler. He removed his Stetson, tossed it on the couch, and ran his hand through his short hair.
“You’re always around when I need you. But how did you happen to be here when Finn ran across the lawn toward me?” Hannah touched his cheek.
Oh, how he relished the light, sensitive stroke of her fingers along his jaw. He wanted to pull her to him, kiss her like he had before, and remind them both of his dangerous side. Instead, he grasped her fingers and drew them away. “I came to see you. Brought you a birthday present.”
In all the commotion, he’d forgotten about the gift. Did he still have the pencils? Had they fallen out during his fight with Finn?
He patted his coat pocket. The package’s slight bulge conformed to his palm. A relieved exhale escaped him.
With great care, he retrieved the packet of charcoal pencils from his inside pocket. Through the package, a few of the broken bits shifted in his hands. “I didn’t get a chance to wrap them, and it looks like some of them broke during…”
Hannah placed her hands over her mouth. Her wide-eyed gaze swept from the pencils to his eyes and back again. “You brought me a birthday gift?”
Warmth he had no business feeling crept around inside and latched on to his heart. He handed the packet to her. “Happy belated birthday, Hannah.”
She accepted his offering, and as her fingertips trailed over his, tingles of sensual energy flared along their connection.
“Thank you.” She blinked then a big smile bloomed on her face. “These are General’s charcoal pencils. I love this brand. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. As he inhaled, her fresh scent swept into his lungs. He stood there, stiff for a moment, his Adam’s apple stuck in his throat.
At long last, he slid his hands down her back, stopping just short of her bottom. All her luscious curves fit against him as if she belonged there. He wanted this moment to last a lifetime.
After a long few seconds, Hannah drew away. She brushed her fingers over his coat sleeve and onto his wrist. She focused on the twined cord then circled the infinity symbol with her fingertip.
“I’ve seen you touch this a few times. Did someone give this to you?” Her soft voice tickled his ear.
“I made it.” A sense of pride swelled his lungs.
“It’s beautiful. The cord is braided together so intricately into the infinity symbol.” Hannah tilted her head, and the tips of her blonde hair brushed over her shoulder. “Why do you wear it?”
“It’s a reminder of my infinite commitment to my goddess, Rhiannon. You know about the war she’s in with Gwawl, right?”
Hannah tapped her finger against her luscious bottom lip. “From what Sadie told me, Rhiannon was supposed to marry him but fell in love with a human and vowed to never wed the horrible god. As retribution, Gwawl killed her lover and built the fae army to kill humans. In return, she created the gargoyles to protect them.”
“You have the basics down. I’m thankful Rhiannon took a chance on me. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and if she hadn’t plucked my questionable soul as I entered the Otherworld, I’d report to Gwawl. The god is heartless. He likes things his way. As Rhiannon found out, don’t ever cross him for his revenge is legendary.” Seth met Hannah’s gaze.
Her eyes darted back and forth as she studied him. Damn, he could get lost in those beautiful emerald greens.
“Seth, do you think…”
“Seth! Where are you? There’s a glut of fae around Crown Fountain. We need your help.” Damian’s voice blared over the mind link.
The muscles in Seth’s entire body tensed.
Hannah narrowed her gaze at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Seth. Answer me!”
Indecision ripped a hole in Seth’s stomach, shredding him from the inside. He paced to the window and stared into the night. When it came down to it, there really wasn’t an option. He couldn’t leave Hannah. “Damian. I’m tied up with something. You and Grayson will have to handle it.”
“What? You don’t show, Drake’ll be pissed.”
Seth mentally turned off his internal tracker. He didn’t want his boss to locate him.
“Cover for me, would you?” Seth hated to ask this of his new friend, but given the circumstances, he had little choice.
“Damn, Seth, you better have a good excuse. Grayson and I’ll do what we can.”
“Thanks, Dame.”
“Seth?” Hannah placed her hand on Seth’s jacket. “Did I do something wrong?”
He gripped her fingers and squeezed before he drew her hand away. “Absolutely not, darlin’. It was Damian on the mind link. Business.”
“Oh.” She blinked. “Do you have to leave?”
“It’s my hard-ass boss, Drake, excuse my language.” He ran his hand through his hair. “If you don’t follow strict orders, he’ll ground you in your stone gargoyle for a few nights or longer. I’ve avoided that for over a century, but that’s irrelevant. I won’t leave you.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t want you in trouble because of me.”
He didn’t want to scare her, but he refused to lie to her. “You’re safe in the house because of the wards, but I don’t trust Marco or Finn. I can watch for fae and handle anything that comes up from outside the house. Don’t worry. I won’t be far away. Keep the curtains shut and stay clear of the windows. Okay?”
She nodded and tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. Seth swallowed hard at her unintentional sexiness. So tempting, so very tempting.
He picked his hat off the couch and strode to the door before he did something he’d regret later, like kiss her until she begged for more. His palm on the handle, he turned to face her. “You still have Wynne’s potion?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’ll take more and get some sleep.”
“Good plan. If you need me, just holler. I’ll hear you.” He opened the door then dematerialized.
A moment later, he landed on the Victorian’s gabled rooftop. From this vantage point, he had an excellent view of the surrounding neighborhood. No fae would bother Hannah tonight.
A cool breeze toyed with Seth’s hat, catching one edge. He gripped the brim and tugged the material tight against his head. His clothing and skin rippled, taking on the gray and black hue of the rooftop, camouflaging him.
On the ground below, a cat bolted from under a parked car across the street, and then up a tree. The feline’s nails clicked over the bark in quick succession. If Lady Luck shined on him, the cat would be Seth’s only companion tonight.
Footsteps from inside the house caught Seth’s attention. Under his gable, light flared through the window, sending a soft glow into the night. He must be over Hannah’s room.
The rustling of clothes slipped through the cracks in the window frame. Images of Hannah’s shirt falling from her shoulders flashed through Seth’s mind. He groaned. After a few long, agonizing seconds, the rustling stopped.
“Get some sleep, darlin’,” he whispered.
Beneath his coat, an ache built along his wings. They often cramped after a long night. That’s why he so often visited
the church before returning to his post. Not tonight. He’d stay here until the first rays of the sun chased him away, and the fae returned to the Otherworld.
The ache along his back intensified, stealing his breath. He whipped off his coat, and it landed on the rooftop and slid toward the gutter. Damn.
He caught the sleeve and hung the coat over the gable at his feet, took off his shirt, and unfurled his wings. The soft sound of his feathers brushing the air echoed in the stillness.
A shiver of relief spread from his shoulder blades, over the bones in his wings, and to the tip of each feather. He released a long sigh.
“Dear God. Listen up. Today was not one of my better days. Seems there’s a fae out to steal my soul.” Hannah’s soft voice filtered out the window cracks and tickled his sensitive ears. “I know you won’t let that happen, though. You sent Seth to watch over me, and I’m forever grateful. Would you look out for him, too? Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’s name, amen.”
Seth’s chest tightened so hard, he couldn’t breathe.
Hannah didn’t pray for herself, she prayed for him. No one had done something like that since his sweet Emily. Raw wonder competed with his self-loathing. After the things he’d done to others following his wife’s death, he didn’t deserve Hannah’s prayers.
The light in Hannah’s room clicked off, erasing the glow from her window.
Desire to protect Hannah flared deep inside. He touched the cord at his wrist, his index finger tracing the infinity symbol.
Whatever the consequences, he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe. No way would that sweet, innocent woman lose her soul, not while he was around.
He’d sacrifice himself first. If that’s what it took, so be it.
CHAPTER 10
M arco materialized in his room in the Otherworld, his cells coalescing into his physical form. His unmade bed remained nestled against the far wall between his dresser and the tall standalone mirror. He glanced at his reflection. Bits of flesh, bone, and a bucket load of blood coated his long cloak.
A flutter of pure delight rippled up his back. Tonight had been a night to remember. Little rivulets of power had seeped into him, courtesy of Hannah, but then it had dwindled to a trickle. Maybe proximity had something to do with it, but he’d also snagged a few hits off some good human souls he’d killed.