Fate's Kiss

by Elysabeth Grace

  Gabriel’s eyes grew thoughtful. “Are you saying the Fallen have changed their strategies? That increasing the number of undead no longer drives their actions?”

  “This is about more than an army of undead,” Anne stated. “I was tempted to slip into Asael’s mind but it was far too dangerous.”

  “Yet you wander into mine with nonchalance.”

  She waved a dismissive finger. “Very different circumstances. You’re neither Fallen nor a demon, despite all your antics to prove otherwise. Asael chose to become a demon in order to create a new species of supernaturals. He is also second to Uriel, which means his mind is that of a Fallen anchored in a demon’s body.”

  She scrunched her face. “You realize if you took the time to study demons and the undead you’d know a great deal more about them. How many demons have you killed?”

  Gabriel reached over and took her braid between his fingers. He toyed with it before he answered. “I have no idea. I don’t keep count. I did overhear a pair of demons in conversation once. If what they said is true, there can never be more than one thousand demons.”

  “Why is that?”

  From above the bed’s canopy Raphael’s voice answered. “Fate has struck something of a balance in our civil strife. The number of demons doesn’t exceed one thousand because of the havoc they can wreak on humankind. When the number is fewer than a thousand, a demon can only be conceived when both parents are angels or one is an angel-born female. Not even Satan can alter this fact.”

  “You do pick the oddest time to tender useful information about our enemies, Raphael,” Anne said, her voice coated with sarcasm. “How does this necessary balance explain the undead? They are the offspring of demons. Are there limits on the number of undead in the world?”

  “As long as there are witches, demons can conceive as many undead as will survive,” Gabriel intruded.

  “Is that true, Raphael?”

  “Yes, Tamahaq.”

  Anne rose and walked over to the window. “Is that why Asael wants me? Because I’m Lilith-descended and can be mated to an angel, even a Fallen one?”

  Like the slow unfolding of a chilled bloom exposed to sunlight, Asael’s words opened themselves to Anne. “The other two women Asael seeks are also Tamahaq. Are they like me, archangel?”

  “No one is like you, Anne. While all Tamahaq can claim descent from Lilith, only those with a maternal blood connection to Lilith’s first daughter, Saria is so burdened. You are that Tamahaq.”

  “You knew this and didn’t tell me? You allowed me to believe that my cousins and I were the only female descendants of Lilith? Why?”

  “Until now, there was no reason for you to know about the others.”

  “No reason?” Anne heard the screech in her voice and hated it. She was angry, and hurt. She had trusted Raphael, as her ancestress had. And he betrayed her.

  The archangel’s voice was harsh, coldly so when he spoke to her mind. There has been no betrayal, Tamahaq. My role is guardian, not confidant. For now, the two Tamahaq are safe, as long as you remain free from Satan’s control. Your freedom is paramount, even over the witches you protect.

  He left her mind and Anne hugged herself, as much to still the trembling as to rein in her rage. Gabriel came to her and pulled her into his arms. His mouth tenderly traced her jawline as her tears flowed. She glanced up at him. “The women who sought sanctuary here, the ones who continue to make their way to Holland’s League, are nothing more than sacrificial lambs. I did this to them. I put them in danger.”

  “No Anne, you are not to blame.”

  “I can’t let the Fallen take any of the women, witches or the unknown Tamahaq. I just can’t,” she muttered against his chest.

  Gabriel kissed the corners of her mouth. “Let me take you away. Let me protect you. Close Holland’s League.”

  “What will happen to the women who live and work here? I can’t abandon them.”

  His fingers gripped her shoulders. “The only woman whose life has meaning to me is the one in my arms. Let Fate take care of the others.”

  She pushed against his chest and jerked her body from his. “I am all that stands between them and the demon king. I won’t abandon the women who trust me. If you won’t help me, then leave. Go pursue your revenge and stay away from me.”

  Gabriel’s pupils began to change color, becoming a bright blue. Anne felt her mind slowly relax, her fears ease and her body lean toward him. Resist. She had no idea who spoke the word in her mind but she heeded the warning. “Stop. If you continue I will fight until one of us is dead.”

  “Either way, we both die,” he drawled.

  “Get out, Demon,” she hissed. “Just go.”

  He stared at her long and hard. His voice whisper-soft, he said, “You are willing to put yourself at risk, even die for these women? What about your life mate? Do I not have the same value? If I leave, I will not return. Are you certain this is what you want, Anne?”

  Quiet circled the pair like a famished hawk. Anne refused to enter Gabriel’s mind or allow him into hers. Nothing good would come of it. Her life mate cared for no one and she was tired of carrying the burden. Self-preservation drove him, not love. Her life meant something to him only because it furthered his revenge. If she wasn’t his life mate, he’d dismiss her as easily as he did the women of Holland’s League.

  You know that isn’t true, Tamahaq. Anne ignored the words her mind and her heart flung at her.

  “Leave if you’re not willing to help me keep the women safe. I will not abandon them.”

  His anger scorched her, and waves of heat singed the edges of her courage. Shaken but resolute, Anne turned her back to him. An enraged howl burst from his lungs and the sound of shattering glass preceded the familiar displacement of air that came with Gabriel’s departures.

  The door flew open and Bella rushed in, her face flushed with concern. She spied the broken glass strewn across the floor near the fireplace. “Tamahaq, what happened? Are you all right?”

  She turned to face Bella. “My life mate did not care for a decision I made. Will you send Cassie to clean? I’m in need of one of Emile’s desserts.”

  With that, she walked out of the room.

  20

  “Do you have a notion where the earl is and what made him wreak havoc on this room, Jonas?” Martin asked, moving about the sitting room adjacent to the library in Alenesby House. The servant picked up an unbroken chair and set it right.

  Jonas flicked a quick glance about the room. Shattered glass lay everywhere. Chairs had been overturned and cushions had been shredded. He shook his head. “He came to his bedchamber then tore out of here like a fox from the coop. He was in a right state. Hadn’t fed and I could see the blood madness in his eyes. I think I know where to find him but it might be too late.”

  Martin scratched his beard. “Go get him, Jonas. He’s better off with us taking care of him.”

  Jonas’s gaze surveyed the damage. This was madness unlike any he’d seen in Demon Gabriel. His employer was out of control and it didn’t bode well for Anne Holland, or whoever the bawd was. With a sigh, he left Alenesby House on foot and made his way to Temple Stairs. Hailing a waterman to ferry him across the Thames, he couldn’t bury the fear triggered by his employer’s rampage. The entire staff had quickly sought shelter from the storm.

  The river boat rocked and Jonas gripped the sides of skiff as it bounced on the waves toward Southwark. He prayed he wasn’t too late. Since the night that woman snuck into his employer’s coach, Demon hadn’t been right. She’d bewitched the man, and that’s all there was to it.

  The waterman’s lamp cast an eerie shadow on the black surface of the Thames. The air seemed thicker and the stench was especially foul. Something wasn’t right about the night. When the boatman pulled to the landing, Jonas paid the man, got out, and climbed up the stairs. Cold shivers raced up his spine. It was a short walk to the brothel but the feel of evil surrounded him. It was in the air, thick as mud
. It didn’t help his courage to see that Holland’s League was unlit. His gut twisted, a combination of dread and relief since the brothel remained standing. With his powers, Gabriel Elstone could level the building and there was no one to stop him.

  Jonas started up the stairs to the brothel’s front door. Each step felt as if he tread in thick rain-soaked muck, struggling against an invisible force determined to stop him. Something or someone didn’t want him there. What he couldn’t fathom was whether it was Demon or some malevolent supernatural. Whatever it was, it didn’t want him to enter the brothel. Pushing against the weight, he reached the door and banged the clapper. Seconds and then minutes passed before a creak sounded. The door cracked open just enough for him to make out Malcolm’s large body.

  “Is Demon here, Malcolm?”

  The door’s opening widened and Jonas walked inside. The heaviness that tugged at his footsteps disappeared. Malcolm didn’t say a word, merely beckoned Jonas to follow. Silence dogged the two men as they walked down the hallway. Jonas wondered where the women were, and why there were no men lounging about. Wasn’t usual for Holland’s League to be somber like it was, especially at night. Must have something to do with Demon being there, he told himself.

  Malcolm led him away from the more public rooms and down a corridor. The closer they got to where Demon was, the more Jonas’ spine tingled. He slowed his pace a bit, wondering if his promise to the duke was going to cost him his life. He and Malcolm descended several stone steps until they came to a door. The Scot rapped once before he twisted the handle and pushed. “Don’t think you want to go in but it’s your arse.”

  Nothing stirred in the room. Not air, not heat, not cold, not even the faint whistle of clothing. Anne and Gabriel stood opposite each other. Their angry words not forgotten but the bond that held them in its thrall left them unable to bear the apartness. Of the two, Anne understood and her mouth curved slightly upward as she peered at him.

  “The nature of the bond that joins us, Gabriel, is something of a paradox. As much as you may want to stay away, you cannot.”

  Gabriel had attempted to feign indifference when he walked into Anne’s sitting room. Fool that he was. She saw through his mask is if it were transparent. Just being in her presence did something to him. The rage that had him mocking their union had lessen, though it wasn’t entirely gone. Their gazes locked and she smiled.

  Will you let me in, Gabriel?

  “You were attacked twice. One nearly killed you. You think nothing of shape-changing and entering a demon’s lair. These are distractions I don’t need.”

  Anne chuckled. “A distraction? Is that all I am to you, life mate? Here I thought there was so much more between us.”

  He heard the mockery in her voice. She tested him at every turn, and a part of him enjoyed the battle. “You thought wrongly.”

  “My mind is open to you, enter at your will,” Anne said. “See me as I truly am.”

  Gabriel frowned. “What game are you playing?”

  “None, my lord. See what is inside your life mate, see what compels her. I will not hinder you. I want you to understand why I am the way I am, Gabriel.”

  He hesitated. She reached out and took his hand. The moment of skin contact sent him spiraling into her awareness. The sensation was like stumbling among small boulders. Not enough to force a complete fall but enough to create keep him off balance. As much as he hated to seek her help, Gabriel did. I need a path.

  A way cleared, a smooth surface and he stepped on it. The mental imbalance faded. The chaos became familiar, an orderly disorder he’d experienced the first time he entered her consciousness. Follow me.

  Her likeness appeared before him, calling to mind the descriptive account when Dante first met Virgil at the gates of hell. Darkness shrouded Anne, her clothing slashed and bloody, her hair unbound and floating behind her. While the path they traveled was free of debris, along the edges was the detritus of her memories. Gabriel recoiled as he walked past shriveled bodies, limbs and organs torn or half-eaten. What am I seeing?

  My kills.

  He started, nearly tripped over her words as they floated past his feet. “It looks as if some wild animal got to them.”

  I’m a shifter, Demon. When I assume an animal’s form, I become that creature. I often hunt in the shape of a leopard or cheetah. That one there. Gabriel looked where Anne’s shade pointed. He was my first. He came for my family. That one over there was sent by Mephistopheles. My sword ended his life.

  They continued to walk along the path. Anne described each death, giving him the demon’s name and the manner of his death. Hundreds of bodies were strewn across her awareness. Anne’s usual compassion was missing from the dispassionate words, which left Gabriel stunned by the revulsion churning inside him. It wasn’t that she killed demons. He had slain his share. Had performed the ritual beheading and removal of the demon’s heart.

  Anne’s kills were nothing less than savagery. He was ruthless. She was barbaric.

  How so, life mate? Are we not about the same business? To put an end to the demon king and his minions? What distinguishes my method from yours? I kill while in animal form. There is nothing savage about the way I ended their lives. It is what a true predator does. It hunts to protect its own and to feed. When I fight a demon as Anne Willoughby I behead and remove the heart. Just as you do. What makes me barbaric and you civilized, my lord?

  Gabriel felt as if a crusted rag wrapped around a festering wound had been ripped away. He saw his arrogance exposed by her words and lack of resentment. She was not wrong, he admitted to himself. There was no difference between them.

  He followed Anne, studying ever memory or traces left behind. The more painful ones he avoided, unsure how to bridge the emotions that remained raw and unresolved. Abruptly, she turned to face him. We are at an end.

  He stared at the dark wall behind her. “What is behind that wall?”

  I cannot share that memory with you, Gabriel. Not yet.

  He sensed her anguish, felt it ripple across his mind. To his surprise, he inclined his head and said, “When you choose.”

  Anne’s relief swamped him as he withdrew from her awareness. “You are a complicated woman, Anne Willoughby.”

  “As you are a complicated man,” she returned. “Will you share your mind with me. Unfettered?”

  Gabriel opened his mind to his life mate. Since this is a life bond, why not?

  The door silently opened but Gabriel’s keen hearing alerted him to the intruder. He lifted his eyelids and slowly tilted his head toward the intrusion. Jonas. Gabriel’s gaze returned to Anne’s face. We have a visitor, life mate.

  Release me, Demon.

  We are not done here. I will send him away.

  “My lord, you can’t do this,” Jonas screeched as he crossed the threshold. “She’s one of Mistress Holland’s ladies. You’ll be found out.”

  “Why are you here, Jonas?” Gabriel looked at his friend and servant. “You’ve come to save me from myself, haven’t you?”

  Anne pulled herself from his arms and stepped away. He glared at her but she was watching Jonas. “Your servant grows more agitated, Demon. He clearly knows what kind of creature you are.”

  Gabriel reached for her and she shook her head. “I’ve learned enough about who you are. We are done here.”

  His lips tightened when she went to the door. She looked over her shoulder at him and then Jonas. “I will leave you to be his savior, Jonas. Although, I wonder if he’s worthy of your devotion.”

  21

  Gabriel leaned back against the high-back embroidered chair opposite his brother. Although to call James Elstone brother was a falsehood since they shared neither father nor mother. Yet, from the moment Jamie came screaming into the world, he had claimed and protected him. At the moment, he was trying very hard not to laugh at the smug satisfaction on his younger brother’s face.

  “It’s good you’re home, Gabriel. Father has missed you.” Jamie’s bl
ue eyes crinkled and a broad grin widened his face.

  “More likely you’ve missed me since I’m now here to draw Father’s attention away from your antics.” At Jamie’s faint blush, Gabriel laughed. “Don’t think my absence means I’m not aware of what you do and where you go, little brother.”

  Jamie shrugged. “With Father as he is and you always in London or Alenesby, there isn’t much to occupy my time.”

  Gabriel sensed his younger brother’s frustration. Jamie was managing the estate that rightfully belonged to the Duke’s heir while said heir was out slaughtering demons and the undead. He had left Jamie to the hard task of watching their father’s steady decline. To sit by helplessly while Robert Elstone willed himself to death.

  Once Gabriel’s mother Mirelle disappeared, Robert Elstone was no longer himself. He had taken a second wife when Gabriel was nearly eight years old. The new Duchess had immediately gotten pregnant and presented the duke with a second son. With the succession assured, the Duchess spent most of her time in London while the Duke remained at Seveham, seeing to his sons and patiently waiting for death to claim him. Once, while in his cups, he’d told Gabriel Mirelle would visit him while he slept.

  When Gabriel arrived at Seveham the previous week, the rapid decline in his father stunned him. Robert Elstone appeared much older than his fifty-one years. He was frail, his gait shuffling, and he spoke wistfully about death. His father’s voice, when they met earlier in the day, was joyful as he told Gabriel Mirelle had come to him the previous night and promised his time living without her was near an end.