by Lisa Kumar
Though tender initially, she’d quickly shown him that their relationship was all about power — hers over him. He couldn’t naysay her unless he wanted it taken out of his hide. Serrina loved to inflict violence on unmarred skin. No one seemed to notice his suffering or his further withdrawal, except for Andrian. The elf had started his affair with Serrina soon after she’d taken Eamon under her “tutelage.”
When Andrian had voiced concerns to the queen and Eamon about the time the young elf spent alone with Serrina, Eamon had acted with hostility while the queen staunchly shrugged off any wrongdoing. Though Eamon knew that her attentions were wrong and he lived in fear of her more vicious moments, he’d also dreaded losing those crumbs of attention. He’d seen Andrian as an interloper, first with Serrina and then with the darkindred.
Although Eamon had made the outcast group into the fearsome darkindred, Andrian had always remained their beloved leader. Initially, Eamon had attempted to supplant him, but after meeting with dismaying failure, he’d quickly learned not to even bother with overtures of friendship and camaraderie. Up until now, he’d lived by this tenet. It’d simplified his existence if he expected nothing but obedience from people.
Then Caralyn stumbled into his life and bungled it all up with her soft heart and caring words that shined through even when she was trying to be cold. Cold. It was cold outside, and Caralyn wasn’t back yet. Worry for her rose through the dread that the past could still inflict.
He glanced out the nearest window. The blinds were mostly closed, but through the slight gaps, he could see the glow of streetlights and Christmas decorations in the distance. If she didn’t come back soon, he’d go search her out, no matter how annoyed that made her. He remembered all too well the trouble she’d found that evening when they’d first met. Just the thought of someone touching her soft skin without permission and frightening her sent waves of fury slamming through his veins.
Far too early and much too late, the door opened. His already parched mouth became drier than any desert. In rushed Archie with a much more subdued Caralyn behind him.
She removed her coat and gloves, all the while not glancing in his direction. The tension in her shoulders gave her awareness of him away, though. After she took off Archie’s leash, she beckoned to the dog. “Let’s go feed you, big guy.”
Impatience bubbled up through Eamon’s anxiety. He wasn’t used to many people keeping him waiting, and it seemed as if Caralyn could find plenty to do while he stewed.
She returned after a few minutes and finally looked at him. The pain in her eyes obliterated his annoyance.
“Why?” she asked, her voice quiet.
Her stark, plaintive word cut him deeper than any sword could. He didn’t pretend to misunderstand or act confused. All he had was the truth, even as poor as it was. Would it be enough? He didn’t know, because nothing ever seemed like it was. “Maggie and Cal largely were a means to an end. My father” — his words tasted bitter on his tongue — “and I had always intended to gain more power. At some point that likely meant overthrowing Talion. The arrival of Cal and Maggie moved our plans forward more quickly than I would’ve liked.”
He paused, and when she remained quiet, he shrugged with a bitterness he couldn’t hide. “My father insisted we act as soon as possible because of the likelihood of half-human heirs being born to Relian and Talion.”
“How did you feel about that possibility?”
Now he wasn’t sure how he felt. He still hated Talion, but some of his hatred toward humans seemed to have lost its bite, and he didn’t know what to make of that. Though he’d probably never love humanity, his time on modern-day Earth was changing him — Caralyn was changing him. If he were wise, he’d try to mitigate their effects on him, but he could no more willingly leave Caralyn than he could leave Earth at all.
That realization threatened to rock him to the core, so he quickly changed his line of thought and said, “That possibility is happening.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Talion and Maggie are having a child.”
Shock still shone on her face. “She never wanted kids or to even be married.”
“Be that as it may, she’s wedded and now spawning.”
A deeper frown developed between her brows, and her stare turned into a glower. So she didn’t like his blunt words? He wouldn’t retract them. It was his nature to speak cynically of most things, and that would never change.
Her glare slowly faded, and she appeared to be in thought. “Yeah, but if you knew Maggie at all, you’d ...” She trailed off as she seemed to remember herself and then crossed her arms. “So you tried to kill Maggie and Cal in your bid for power?”
He hesitated, not sure if telling the whole truth would serve him well. “In part. At the time they were just human women who were in the way. I’ve never been fond of humanity, so it seemed an easy enough choice at the time. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve made attempts on Talion and Relian’s lives, too.”
She closed her eyes briefly. “At least you were an equal opportunist, but I can’t say that makes me feel a lot better. And just human, Eamon? You’ve been sleeping with a human!”
A brick of dread formed in his stomach, but he ignored it as much as he could. “I’ve never hidden who I am from you.”
“Except for telling me about Maggie and Cal. When we talked about my missing cousin and her friend last night, you had to know it was them.”
“I ... I didn’t know how to tell you. Some part of me was hoping I never would.”
“What are you even doing with me? You tried to kill my cousin and thought her so much lower than yourself.”
“If it’s any consolation, I find most people, elf or human, below me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can see that perfectly, but you still view humans lower than low.” Vulnerability shone on her face. “I thought that might’ve been changing during your time with me.”
“Unfortunately, it has.” He frowned, still not liking this newest development. “I find myself ... softening somewhat in my stance toward humans, in large part due to you.”
“Really?” she asked, her voice dubious and yet somewhat hopeful sounding.
“Well, I no longer want them all dead.”
She blew out a long breath as if she’d been holding it in for too long. “I guess that’s a start. Tell me — why do, or did, you hate humans so much?” She paused, indecision clear as she opened and closed her mouth. “Is it because of your mother?”
He waited for the familiar fury to well up, and while it was there, the potency of it had lessened. Another change due to Caralyn and his time on modern-day Earth? Funny that the Earth of old had never affected him this way, but then, he’d never been surrounded by humans as he was now. He couldn’t say he liked this effect, but he seemed powerless to stop it.
Finally turning his mind to Caralyn’s question, he cleared his throat. “A large part — I harbored most of my father’s sentiments toward humans, and my mother’s death set them in stone.”
She nodded, her serious face not revealing much. “That’s what I thought.”
“You know me too well.” He wished he were only teasing when he said that. Caralyn seemed to see straight into his corrupted soul, and it was a feeling he still loathed.
“Not well enough, it seems.”
He winced but wasn’t surprised at her words. At least she hadn’t asked him to leave, and he’d never make the offer.
She ran a hand down her face. “I don’t know where to go from here. I knew you’ve killed, but I —” She shook her head. “I just can’t wrap my mind around this right now.”
“What does that mean?” he asked, forcing his rising alarm away.
“You can stay for the time being, but you won’t share a bed with me — in any way. None of your funny business, either, or I will ask you to leave.”
He breathed a bit easier, hope kindling in his chest. Though not ideal, this was something he could still
work with. With a nod, he accepted her terms.
Chapter 30
Eamon scowled at the blanket, sleeping bag, and pillow Caralyn had given him. She hadn’t consented to let him set up in her bedroom, so it looked like he’d be sharing the living room with Andrian.
Caralyn had retired to bed alone, unless he counted her lucky mongrel of a dog. But he was stuck in a wide-awake mood that wanted to destroy something, namely a mongrel of a different kind — Andrian. But the bastard hadn’t made an appearance yet. He probably knew Eamon would be waiting for him. His hands itched to smash the graykindred’s face. He’d be careful to not get too much blood on the floor. Hopefully, he’d miss the rug altogether. If not, he’d buy her a new one, but he thought it better not to anger her too much right now.
The front door opened slowly, and Eamon’s gaze honed in on it. Andrian stepped in, apparently trying to be quiet and wearing the sappiest grin Eamon had ever seen. That smile pumped even more fury through Eamon’s veins. “You!”
Andrian froze, something like guilt flitting over his face before it faded. He raised a brow. “How kind of you to wait up for me. What it the occasion?”
A growl rumbled in Eamon’s throat. “A beating.”
“I’m not really in the mood.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll administer one to you without you having to expend any energy.”
Andrian’s gaze slid away from him. “I think I’ll pass.”
The apparent dismissal ignited Eamon’s vengeance to new heights. He flew across the room and slammed Andrian against the wall. The graykindred didn’t struggle or give any sign that the impact had been painful. Instead, a small smile formed on his mouth that was so at odds with the situation that it gave Eamon a moment of pause. Was Andrian having another break with reality?
Eamon sighed and released him. Even he couldn’t beat someone who was experiencing a bout of insanity. It just wouldn’t be fair. He waved a hand in front of Andrian’s eyes. “Snap out of it, will you?”
The blond’s smile died, and he glared at Eamon. “I’m not having an episode.”
That was enough for Eamon. With a nasty grin, he cracked his knuckles. “That’s debatable, but I’ll accept your word on it.”
Andrian lifted an insolent brow. “Why so testy? Caralyn kick you out of the bed like the snake you are?”
The graykindred’s smirk told him in no uncertain terms that he knew exactly what his words to Caralyn had done. Eamon curled his hand into a fist and smashed it into Andrian’s maw. Pain radiated up his arm, but it was a small price to pay because it wiped that smirk off Andrian’s face. The graykindred’s split lips curled into a snarl, and any sanity in his eyes fled. In a swift motion, he tackled Eamon to the ground.
The hard ground knocked the breath from Eamon’s lungs in a whoosh. Before he could react, the other elf slammed his head against the floor. Agony exploded in Eamon’s skull. He gritted his teeth and forced the vice-like grip from him.
Both grappled, sometimes Eamon on top and then Andrian. Though he hated to admit it, their strength was evenly matched, though Andrian had the greater skill since he’d been a warrior most of his life.
Archie’s upset barking sounded next to him, making him and Andrian go still. “What in the world?” Caralyn’s voice asked from somewhere above them.
Eamon slowly angled his head to the side. Caralyn stood with her arms crossed, a look of disbelief glued to her tired face.
A need to defend himself hit. “I’m teaching this ingrate not to meddle.”
She shook her head, clearly not liking what she saw. “You’ve both pissed me off tonight.” She slashed a finger through the air to encompass both of them. “Are you so messed up that you think it’s okay to brawl in my apartment? You two are skating on razor-thin ice.”
Eamon pushed the other elf off and winced as he stood. He wouldn’t have this discussion while lying flat on his back. Maintaining some dignity was important.
Fortunately, Andrian fared no better physically and actually limped away a few feet. The manic gleam Eamon knew all too well — and was suitably wary of — remained in Andrian’s eyes. The graykindred laughed, a hysterical tinge to it. “He started it. He always starts it. First, Serrina then the darkindred. His hands are in everything but not this time.” His gaze swung to Eamon. “You won’t taint her.”
For a brief second, Eamon thought he was referring to Caralyn. Then the manager’s words from the night they met Kaiden and Ashlee at the diner came back to him. A wicked grin popped up on his lips, and he forgot any hesitation of pushing Andrian over the mental brink. “Oh, you mean that little waitress you saved at the Fried Apple Eatery?” As Andrian’s eyes widened, Eamon continued on. “Sadly, I haven’t met her yet, but I’m sure I could arrange a visit.”
Fury emanated from every line of the graykindred’s body. He lurched drunkenly toward Eamon. “If you so much as dare —”
Caralyn stepped between the two. “Stop.”
Eamon didn’t want her close to Andrian when he was unhinged, so he grabbed her wrist and hauled her to him.
She glared at him, her body rigid. “What are you doing?”
“It’s never wise to put yourself in the middle of two infuriated warriors.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear while checking on the graykindred, who made no move to come closer but watched them unblinkingly. “Watch Andrian. He’s having one of his episodes. I can handle him if he turns violent, but you can’t.”
Caralyn shot him a look that pinned him in place more than any blade ever could and whispered back to him. “If you know he’s having a psychotic break, why did you just say what you did to him?”
“I admit it wasn’t one of my finer decisions.”
She pulled away from him and glowered. “Do you ever make any wise decisions?”
That stung, and if it’d been anyone else who’d said that, he’d be angry. Right now, though, he knew he deserved it. “I have on occasion.”
“Well, after our talk tonight, if you think this” — she swept from him to Andrian, who was watching them with much clearer eyes now — “impresses me, you’re dead wrong. And threatening a woman just because he knows her? I know you just did it to get to him, but did you even think about what you inferred? I’m standing right here!”
His proud stance slumped a little under the onslaught of her verbal hits. Though he didn’t like that she reprimanded him in front of Andrian, he couldn’t deny her words. “Point taken. It was poorly done of me.”
“You think?” She spun away from him and wrapped her arms around her middle. He stared at her back, dismay trickling through him. What more did she want from him? He’d humbled himself and agreed he’d been in the wrong. The more he thought about it, the more that annoyance crept through his puzzlement.
After apparently staring at the wall for a minute, she turned around and looked at him to Andrian. “You both look terrible. Go clean up, and if you want to beat each other up, save it for outside. Just don’t get caught.” She paused, and a fierce scowl crossed her face. A spot of color splashed across her cheeks. “On second thought, go ahead. You can be their problem for awhile until Aistiane bails you out.”
Eamon stood taller with as much pride as he could muster. He’d borne her words with as much grace as he could, but this attack was getting to be too much. “I’m retiring to bed. I tire of the graykindred’s presence.”
“How unfortunate you’ll be sleeping out here with him, then.” With that last parting shot, Caralyn turned and walked away.
A FLOCK OF TEENS ALMOST mowed Caralyn over. This latest act of rudeness at the crowded mall almost wrung a frustrated scream from her lips. She scowled back at the oblivious gaggle of hormones on legs as she hoisted the sacks hanging from her arms higher.
Look how she spent her day off. This was what happened when she put off Christmas shopping. Since it was already Tuesday and Christmas Eve was this coming Sunday, it was a necessary annoyance. Plus, the physical distance between herself a
nd Eamon helped her think more clearly. She cast a wry glance around her. Well, it usually helped her think better, but the mall was a poor choice if she wanted clarity of mind.
Still, she used this time to reflect back over the past few days. Eamon had mostly kept his hands to himself. In fact, he did a better job than she would’ve thought he could.
Now that she was of a calmer mind, she could look at the situation a little clearer. Nothing would ever make Eamon’s actions right. He’d been ... what? Misguided, corrupted? Most likely both and more. He was capable of great evil. She’d known that long before she discovered that he’d kidnapped Maggie and attacked Cal in an attempt to kill her. Still, she sensed much of Eamon’s behavior had come from him wanting to believe he was evil, especially after his father had pushed him into committing crimes that even Eamon found reprehensible.
Without much thought, Caralyn dodged a runaway kid and sidestepped the dad who gave chase. Even though she could reason away a lot of her initial anger and hurt, she still found it a tough realization to swallow. Sure, he was a self-proclaimed murderer, but she didn’t know those people, nor their culture. With Maggie and Cal, his actions hit home in a way they hadn’t before.
She remembered his face and how he’d said her cousin and Cal had merely been humans — something less. Those words conveyed so much about his mindset, some of which he claimed had changed because of her. Did she believe him? Could she dare to? With him, she stood not only to lose her heart but maybe her life if she weren’t careful. His father was on the loose, and with Eamon’s past, it sounded like he had no problems gaining enemies.
Why had she been so shaken up at Andrian’s revelation? She knew what Eamon was and who he had been. Was he that same person now, though? She’d love to think not, but dear God, she didn’t know. Sometimes, there was a light in him that made it easy to believe he’d left that past behind, but how long had it really been for him? A few months? After thoughts like these, it was all too easy to remember all the darkness he harbored.