In The Dark

by Sarah K. Jensen

  “She need not fear me,” a strong, masculine voice said as a man, unlike any Laif had ever seen before, materialized before him. His eyes, a rich, mossy green, looked Laif over with contempt. Black hair, pulled back with a leather thong, fell past broad, muscular shoulders. He was taller than Laif’s six-two by a few inches and exuded power. Authority. Laif’s stomach turned over and his mind rushed through drills to fight such a being.

  “Who are you?” Laif asked, not liking the slight tremor he heard in his voice.

  “My name is Ian, and I am a small, winged creature on steroids.” His bow and tone mocked Laif. “If you believe in such creatures.”

  His laugh taunted Laif, enraging him.

  “Ian,” Memphis gasped from behind Laif. He glanced back at her; she was sitting. He hadn’t realized she’d moved at all.

  The look Ian gave Memphis irked Laif. Love all but bled from his eyes and Laif didn’t like the connotations that implied. How in the world did they know each other? The man was too masculine. Too good looking. No, he didn’t like the way this man looked at his soulmate at all.

  “My darling,” Ian said stepping forward. “You look so much like your mother. Much like your grandmother.”

  Laif instinctually blocked the man from Memphis with his body. “And how do you know her mother?”

  Ian smiled at Laif. “You think to protect her from me?”

  “Yes.”

  After a moment of being stared down by the man, he nodded and said, “Good. I see the gods have chosen well with her lifemate. I have worried. It is rare one of the daughters of Caoimhe has a lifemate of this plane. Most are of my world, to keep the powers and magicks more pure. Her mother was my lifemate, and I waited centuries for her.”

  Laif felt Memphis’s shudder as she took his hand in hers. “Is it really you?” she asked with a weak voice.

  Ian stepped forward. “Sweetheart. I’ve waited so long to come to you.”

  Memphis’s head snapped up. “You waited? Waited for what? You walked away from us. Where were you?”

  Tears beaded in her eyes. Laif sat beside her and pulled her stiff body into his embrace. He hated the pain swimming in her eyes and hated even more that he didn’t know enough about her to truly offer comfort. He should know her better than anyone, especially better than this man before them.

  “It wasn’t my choice to go, my Memphis Bell,” Ian said, kneeling in front of her, ignoring Laif, which irked him more than he could say.

  She bristled beside Laif, puffing out her chest and seeming to become more…powerful. “Do not call me that. I would like to know, if Mom was your lifemate, as you call it, why was she married to Gary Fellows?”

  Ian shrank down; despair and hurt etched his sculptured features. “The Tuatha Dé Danann are forbidden to mingle and mate with mortals. Even those who have some fae blood. Our queen and king have, themselves, broken this law, but it is expected of all the rest to stay away from humans. Even if the human is our lifemate.”

  He stood and walked to the window, looking out into the night. “Your mother’s presence called for me. From the time she was a mere child, I would come to her. Protect her. Watch over her. She wasn’t the fighter her mother was. Didn’t want to hurt people just because they had let themselves become possessed. When she was eight, one of the Oíche Scáthanna realized she could see him. In broad daylight. He became obsessed.”

  Laif’s head shot up. “Daylight? That’s not possible.”

  Memphis squeezed his hand and nodded. “It’s a myth that you can’t. They can move at any time, but most can’t see them if they’re not in shadow. My mother could. I can.”

  Laif couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. His brain virtually screamed out in protest. Everything he knew about his world seemed to blow up in his face. Women were Guardians. Night Shadows were called to kill Druids, whose magic ran through his blood. The demons didn’t need the night. What else was his family wrong about?

  Ian continued as if Laif, or Memphis, hadn’t spoken. As if he were somewhere else. “This demon possessed people around her to hurt her. Often, I couldn’t get to her. But as soon as I could get away, I would go to her. She said many times that I was her only friend. When she grew older, we married and mated in an ancient ceremony.”

  He turned back around and looked at Memphis with such love. “We were so happy when we realized she was pregnant. I knew you would be a powerful Caomhnóirí. We thought you’d be the one to fulfill the legend. To stop the Oíche Scáthanna once and for all. The one to kill the earthbound leader and break the spell that keeps them here.”

  Ian pushed his hands through his hair, the leather thong holding it back falling, seemingly unnoticed, to the floor. “My sister, Caoimhe, and her husband had tried but failed. She gave up her earthy life for Áinle to fashion the swords that you have. Caoimhe waited a long time for him to leave this earth and reside with her in paradise.”

  But Kyrell had told Laif that he’d been there when Memphis was born. Had Ian been possessed? “How was Kyrell there when Memphis was conceived? If you loved her like you claim, why was he there?”

  Ian glared at Laif; his lips twisted in an angry line. “You believe those spawns of Satan? You trust in what they tell you? What kind of Caomhnóirí na Oíche listens to the lies of the damned?”

  It angered Laif that Ian was right. What had made Laif think those two would have told him the truth? He’d just wanted to know something about Memphis so badly, that he’d listened to them. He offered Ian a nod of apology, adding, “You’re right. I shouldn’t have let them egg me into buying anything they spewed out. Won’t happen again.”

  Ian seemed to accept Laif’s moment of stupidity, but Memphis didn’t seem prone to let Ian off the hook. Her eyes showed a wave of blistering anger that caused Laif physical pain in his chest. She shouldn’t have to hurt this way. Certainly, there was some way for him to rid her of the pain she experienced at this man’s hands.

  “Tell me how it was then, that when I was so little, you left? How was it that my mother had to work two, sometimes three jobs to support me and Grams? How was it that Gary Fellows came to live with us, running Grams off? How he was able to nearly force himself on me when I was a little girl? Tell me how, if you loved her, her life and mine was a living hell for so many years?”

  Tears choked Laif. He fought to keep them inside. He fought to keep from jumping to his feet and beating the living daylights out of this man. Her father. He fought to keep Memphis in his arms as she struggled to free herself of his hold.

  Ian’s head fell and Laif watched as a single tear fell from his cheek to the floor. “I was imprisoned for the past twenty-two of earth’s years. It is against our laws to mate with mortals. I was stupid and told a man I thought of as a friend of my joy at being a father. He went to our queen, claiming he feared for me and our kind by exposure. He betrayed me. I could hear Ruth’s pleas, know her pain, yet not touch her. Never to help her. A part of me died each passing minute that she ached because of my absence.”

  Memphis silently cried as Ian told of his time away. Her pain seemed to grow more intense. She moved away from Laif, closer to her father, and reached for him, but before she touched him, her hand dropped back to her side. “You didn’t abandon us?”

  “Not of my own free will,” he whispered, looking at her.

  Memphis threw her arms around his neck and cried.

  The need to comfort her, to protect her, was so strong that it nearly undid Laif. Yet there was nothing he could do for her now. She had to work this out with her father, and he was in the way. He knew it as well as he knew she was his. His lifemate. His soulmate. He ached for them both as he slipped off the bed and left the room.

  Memphis held the father she hadn’t seen in nearly a quarter of a century and cried with him. She couldn’t believe he was really here.

  “Tell me about her, about you,” Ian said, pulling back from Memphis and searching her eyes. His own were etched in pain.

&nb
sp; She wiped her cheeks, determined to get through this part without any more tears. There had been enough already. She’d learned to distance herself from her past and mentally did so now in order to tell her father her story. Or at least part of it.

  “I don’t remember too much of the good times. The time before you left. But I do remember being happy back then. Mom turned into herself after you were gone. Grams said that part of her died when you left, and she didn’t have much left to give to anyone else.” Memphis sighed and looked away from Ian. From eyes too much like her own. From eyes full of suffering.

  “Mom cried at night when she thought no one knew, and then she’d get up early and go to work. She worked a couple of jobs and wouldn’t get home until late. One day, a couple of years after you left, Grams convinced Mom to go out with a friend. Grams thought it would do her good to get out, meet people.

  “I’m pretty sure Mom didn’t want to go, but Grams insisted. So, Mom went and met a man that was, according to Mom, handsome and sweet. Gary bought her a drink and asked her to dance. They’d danced most of the night, and Mom didn’t come home until early the next morning. Grams and Mom got into a fight and Mom said that Grams was the one who’d insisted that she go out in the first place, but Grams said that she hadn’t sent her out to give herself to the first man to come around.”

  Memphis took a breath that was a little shaky and wiped sweaty palms on her hospital gown. She remembered the scene like it was yesterday. It had been the beginning of the end for them as a family. She wondered if she should tell Ian anything more. It would only hurt him. Maybe she should skip ahead.

  Before she could, Ian touched her shoulder. “Go on. I need to know.”

  Memphis nodded. “Mom slapped Grams. It was so loud, that slap. I’d never seen her act that way before. Grams told her that if she was going to see that man again, then she wouldn’t stay and watch her only child ruin her life. Mom told Grams that she was welcome to leave. Two days later, Grams was on a flight to Ireland and Gary Fellows moved into our little house.”

  Ian sat beside Memphis, tears glistening in his eyes. “This was my fault. I should have known to keep you and your mother a secret, but you were such a joy to us and so beautiful. I was so overcome by love, that when I returned to Eire, I shared that love with Lalan, a childhood friend, one I thought was faithful to me.”

  Tightening his fists and this voice tight, Ian continued. “He told me that I had lost my mind and that I should abandon you both. Reminded me that I wasn’t allowed to mate with a human.

  “He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know, but I didn’t care either. Your mother belonged to me. The two of you were my everything, and I couldn’t spend a life without you.

  “Lalan seemed to relent and smiled, acted again like my friend, and gave me a hardy congratulation. After I had finished a mandatory meeting dealing with some problems of Eire, I was preparing to return to you and your mother. Lalan strode into my room with two guards, demanding my presence before the queen.”

  Ian’s fists were white now, but Memphis didn’t dare stop him with a touch.

  “He’d told her of my confession. The queen said I could stay on our isle for the next twenty or so years or that she would have the two of you killed. What choice did I have?”

  Shimmers of color played in his eyes, a reflection of unshed tears. Memphis knew what she would have done if the life of Callan were in question. She leaned forward, kissed his soft cheek, and smiled gently. “There was no other option. I would have done the same.”

  “Oh, lass.” He reached for Memphis, taking her face in his large palms. “I’ve missed you and your mother so. I have many years left before I can leave this plane and be with Ruth, but I look forward to seeing her again. You cannot understand my joy that you forgive me. I want to be a part of your life.”

  Memphis leaned into his hand, overwhelmed with all that had happened in the last couple of weeks.

  “Tell me about you. What have you been doing since your mother…” Ian swallowed hard. “Since she was killed?”

  Memphis told him some of the important things. She spoke of moving to Ireland to live with her grandmother. Told him of the boy who she thought she’d loved and of her son. She realized that if Laif were going to be a part of her life, and she knew he would, that she’d have to tell him soon about Callan. She feared that he’d not want to take on another man’s son and that he’d think poorly of her, knowing that she had allowed herself to be seduced.

  Well, if he were the man for her, he’d have to find a way to be okay with it.

  Chapter 14

  Thinking back on his date, Bryson was astonished at how the night had ended. He was engaged. To be married.

  Yes, it was to his soulmate, but he’d known her for roughly eight hours. If he wasn’t so sure that it was the right thing, he’d be scared beyond belief right now.

  He was scared beyond belief right now. Dropping his keys on the black granite kitchen countertop, he tugged off his tie, slinging it beside his keys. He was getting married in a little over a week.

  Holy cow.

  What had he been thinking? He couldn’t get married next Saturday. He didn’t even know a church that would let them get married that quickly. What religion was Alannah? He tried to draw up the images of her at church, but only got pews and singing. Catholic. She was Catholic. He wasn’t. Was she allowed to marry a protestant?

  Julz. They could get married at Julz and Tiegan’s. They had that large living room with the sweeping staircase that curved around one wall. That would be pretty. Or his parents’ house. Or maybe they should get married outside since they both loved the outdoors.

  Bryson opened the fridge and took out a Dr. Pepper, needing a caffeine jolt since he hadn’t had his coffee, and took it to the couch. Kicking off his shoes, he plopped down and switched on the TV, not that he watched it, his mind was too full of the wonder of Alannah. He was getting married.

  He couldn’t be happier. Or more terrified.

  The way she’d responded to his past had been a small miracle. One he wasn’t about to shrug off just because a part of his brain couldn’t wrap around the fact that she loved him, wanted him. She wanted him. How had that happened?

  Bryson open his eyes when he heard the garage door go up. He must have fallen asleep. Laif entered the kitchen looking as haggard as the poor homeless guy that Bryson often brought breakfast to near his office.

  “Rough night?” he asked, concerned for his little brother. He was having a hard time with Memphis. It would be hard finding your soulmate and having her being unconscious the majority of the time.

  But something about the crazed look in his eyes made Bryson pause. Something had happened. Something beyond the normal crap that had been happening all week. He knew better than to ask, so he waited for Laif to tell him what was up.

  They’d always been close, more close than any of the other kids in the family, and they always went to each other with their problems first.

  As Laif stared at him, his eyes stormy blue, he growled, “She’s half-fae.”

  Bryson snorted. “Get real.”

  Laif sunk to the sofa beside him. “He materialized right before my eyes in her room. He’s a freakin’ fae, man.”

  He was serious. “Her dad?” Bryson sat up. “You’re telling me that her father popped into her room in front of you like magic.”

  Eyes wild, Laif nodded.

  What could he say? “It’s all true?”

  Okay, dumb question. Obviously, if there were Oíche Scáthanna the rest could be true. But not necessarily. Night Shadows were demons. That had to do with God and Satan. Not fairies.

  “He shows, and Memphis is so mad. So hurt. And I want to kill him for doing that to her. Then they’re crying and I know I have to leave. That she needed time alone with him.” Laif swallowed hard and Bryson thought for a second he might cry himself. “I ran out of sand so I couldn’t even work off… whatever.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I just c
ame home.”

  “Do you want to work it off?” Bryson asked. Growing up, whenever they felt too much emotion, they’d wrestle. They were probably too old for something like that now, but what the heck, he had a bunch of pent-up energy he wouldn’t mind working off himself.

  Laif glanced at him. “What do you have in mind?”

  Bryson looked around the living room. “We could push furniture out of the way and wrestle like we did in high school?” Well, that sounded stupid out loud.

  With a quick assessment of the room and at Bryson, Laif shrugged again. “Why not? It’s not like I can sleep anyway.”

  Together, they pushed everything to the walls and with silent agreement, changed into shorts and t-shirts. Bryson felt kind of foolish, at least until Laif laid into him, taking him to the rug. He pinned him in about a second. Well, he couldn’t have that, so he swung his legs up, caught Laif around the chest, and flipped their positions. Within minutes, all pretense at a friendly match was gone.

  Sweat poured into Bryson’s eyes and he swore as Laif roared before trying to get him in a half-nelson. He felt like he was sixteen and realized that Laif was going wild. If he were to keep this from turning into an all-out fight, Bryson needed to calm it down, and fast.

  Flipping Laif up and away from him, Bryson stood and shook his head.

  Laif stood too, breathing hard. His eyes glossed over a little like he was on the edge, close to tears. They would both hate it if he started to cry, so Bryson tried to lighten the mood. “Man, she’s done a number on you, hasn’t she, little brother? Maybe Paulina wasn’t so bad after all?”

  The second it was out Bryson knew it had been the wrong thing to say. Laif’s fist connected with his jaw and he stumbled into the wall.

  “Sorry,” Bryson mumbled, working his jaw open. “Didn’t mean it.”