Rylee Adamson: Shadowed Threads Part 8

Thirty minutes to do what? Liam wasnat responding, was maybe gone completely. I lifted my head and looked at the sky. The sun had set and the final glow of the day was fading. Berget was still alive, though I felt a sudden confusion off her, she wasnat afraid. Faris had lied to me, though I wasnat sure any of it mattered. With a deep sigh, I pulled myself to my feet and slid my swords from their sheaths. We, I, would have to make a stand here against the Beast and hope to all that was holy that I could maim him bad enough. f.u.c.k, just thinking about how I was going to have to lop off each limb while somehow keeping my own body intacta"

The shattering inside my head, the burst of pain and the threads of Bergetas life untangling in a flurry of emotions froze me in place. Stunned, I felt her heart slow as her life slipped away, felt her breathing ease a sudden shard of fear piercing her as the last of her life faded. I tried to hang onto her threads, as if my will alone would keep her alive.

aNOOOOOOOO!a I grabbed my head, fell to the ground, could barely connect the animal noises I was making with the person I knew myself to be.

This was not happening.

I couldnat have lost her, not like this, not without even trying. Not when Faris had tried to warn me, had tried to get me to help her.

What had I done?

The wolf stood on the edge of the clearing, feeling the womanas pain as if it was his own. Why should he care that a human was hurting? She wasnat a witch, so he wouldnat kill her, but her pain should be of no concern of his.

Her screams echoed through the air as if shead been wounded, as if her life blood leaked out onto the snow. He paused, smelling the air again, trying to discern who she was, what she was.

Mate. Rylee.

He didnat question the voice, only knew that it was right, and so he obeyed it. Stepping back into the clearing, he moved toward the woman, his heart thumping with antic.i.p.ation. How could a human be his mate?

On her knees, she was bent forward, rocking with whatever pain it was that clung to her. The wolf sniffed the air, didnat smell her blood. That didnat make any sense. The scent of another wolf snapped his head around and he glared at the half creature in front of him.

aAlex no hurt,a the half creature said, and the words made sense, which disturbed the wolf even more. He snarled at the creature, and the submissive fell to his belly, putting his paws over his head. That would do; he would prove no fight for the wolf. His eyes flickered over the clearing and the bodies strewn about. More witches would come. But for now he couldnat leave, not with the woman, his mate, inconsolable.

There was nothing the wolf could do for the woman but stay by her side until the pain pa.s.sed, until the hurt was gone. With a heavy sigh, he felt something twist inside of him at the sight of her tears, her strange eyes clouded with whatever wounded her.

He carefully curled his body around her, sheltering her from the biting wind that coursed through the trees as night fell.

And for the first time since head been freed from the witch, he felt at peace.

This was his mate, his heart.

She was his home.

Warmth surrounded me, and the world went black with dark fur. A heavy head lay across the back of my shoulders and a low-pitched whine broke through my own keening. Distantly, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I knew that OaShea had come back, had somehow known who I was. But a part of me had almost hoped it was the Beast. Let him have me, let him tear me apart.

For the second time in my life, Iad failed Berget, failed her completely. In the instant of her death, I was thrown back to losing her the first time, the guilt compounded by years of blaming myself and now a now to know that Iad had a chance to go and find her. To bring her home. Iad known she was alive for weeks, but Iad avoided going after her because Iad been afraid that what I could offer her wouldnat be good enough. That she would be in danger if I brought her into my life.

And now she was dead. I couldnat stop the tears, couldnat stop the sobs that erupted out of me. There was no reason, no way to take back what Iad done. No way to make it right. Her death lay squarely on my shoulders; Faris was wrong, I didnat blame him. I blamed me.

Bergetas death was my fault.

OaShea let out a low warning growl, one I could feel through my bones. I lifted my head to see a man standing on the edge of the clearing. He limped toward us, his one arm at a bad angle, his face swollen and cut. His blue eyes pierced me through to my heart. I let out a groan and buried my face. Faris had tried to tell me, to help me save her.

aI tried, on my own, to stay her death.a His voice reached me, but I could tell head stopped moving.

aDid you come to gloat?a I could barely muster up the strength to speak, to lift my head and look at him.

aNo. But there is more now to this story than a simple death. Far more. Come, we must be gone from here, the Beast is close.a Faris held his hand out to me, and OaShea snarled, leaping to his feet, stalking toward the vampire.

Faris chuckled. aI see that he does remember some things.a I sat there, staring at them, knowing that I should do something. Anything. I struggled to my feet, swayed once, and then I was up.

Faris and OaShea squared off, but it was Faris that took the first swing, smas.h.i.+ng OaShea on the side of the head, sending his body flying through the air.

I didnat even think, I just let my training take over. I pulled a sword and rushed Faris. His eyes widened first, and then narrowed into a glare.

aRylee, this is not a wise move.a I slashed at him, cutting into his s.h.i.+rt, but not actually hitting him. Not that I wasnat trying.

af.u.c.k you, you did something to OaShea.a Faris kept a few feet ahead of me. aWhy would you say that?a aBecause the only other people heas attacked are witches. Milly held him. You did something to make him hate you.a He shrugged, and then he was just behind me, like I had closed my eyes and let him sneak up on me, but that wasnat the case. Faris was just that d.a.m.n fast.

He pinned my arms to my sides, and then called over his shoulder. aWeare going to have a little chat. Wait for us like a couple of good doggies. Weall be back in a minute.a OaShea let out a snarl, Alex howled, and then I heard nothing.

With a gut wrenching twist, the world s.h.i.+fted, bending around us, and my only thought was that this was how he travelled, how he showed up wherever the f.u.c.k he wanted to, not unlike a Necromancer; he cut his way through the Veil, using it to travel wherever he needed to go.

He stepped out of the Veil, still holding me against his chest. Faris lowered his mouth to my ear. aIam going to let you go; you need to put your sword away or I will take it from you and you wonat like that.a What did I care if he killed me or if I had to lower my weapons? I nodded, numb from the onslaught of emotions. I scrabbled at the threads that were Berget, at her life that was gone. I could still pinpoint her body, of course, but what made her Berget was gone.

Dust in the wind. I closed my eyes as Faris let go of me, not really caring where we were a I blinked and looked again. We were on the other side of the Veil in a place I knew all too well. The castle OaShea and I had found India in.

Maybe he saw the recognition in my eyes. aThis place is a turning point on this side of the Veil. It opens into a myriad of places and allows me to move freely to where I need to be.a So not quite like a Necromancer. But still handy, useful. I knew that I was focusing on the stupid things to avoid thinking about Berget. Knew it and didnat care.

aRylee.a He let out a heavy sigh, dropping into a chair against the wall. He slid a hand over his face, a very human gesture that seemed odd on him.

aWhat? You want to say you told me so? Neener, neener, neener?a aNo.a aThen why the f.u.c.k am I here?a Again, he scrubbed his hand over his face before answering. aBecause you do not understand the situation, and while I am somewhat loathe to tell you all our secrets, I realize now that I must tell you some if I am to gain your help. You remember the memory I showed you? Where I knelt before the Emperor and Empress?a aYes.a I trembled where I stood, but knew if I sat down I might not get back up. So I stayed where I was, hoping that what Faris had to tell me was actually of importance. And for the moment, it kept me focused on something other than Bergetas death.

aThere are two factions of vampires. Those of us who wish to remain in the shadows. To control the humans as we do, puppeteers with tasty little puppets jumping with our every wish. And then there are the others, those like the Emperor and Empress.a aWho you killed.a aWho I killed quite happily and would have killed their child, who they have raised to believe as they do. That the vampire nation should be unafraid of the world and should show themselves.a I stared at him, forcing the words out. aWhat has this got to do with Berget?a aIam getting there.a He stood and started to pace, his hands clasped behind his back. His blond hair was blood crusted, but otherwise the wounds head carried when head first entered the clearing had healed. Vampire perks at their best.

aThe Child Empress is a jealous creature, and not p.r.o.ne to realizing the ramifications of coming out to the world. Not just for us, but for the entire supernatural community.a I closed my eyes and did my best to follow. aI get it and I agree. The humans arenat ready to know what theyave been living next to. Maybe one day, but not yet. There is too much violence in them.a aThe Child Empress is not the only one who feels that way. There are factions of witches, Druids, and s.h.i.+fters who would agree with the Child.a aStill not seeing how this affects me, Berget, any of it.a I looked up at him, felt the hollow emptiness of everything in my heart spill into my eyes.

aRylee.a He stepped closer, lifting his hands to place them on my shoulders. aWe all lose the ones we love. You are no different than any other supernatural.a The hollowness continued through me, cooling the pain of my grief, making me hard. aThat supposed to be a f.u.c.king pick me up?a aNo. It is the truth. The Child Empress will take everything we love in an attempt to break us, to make us fear. That is the goal.a I pushed his hands off my shoulders and backed up, feeling strength sweep through me with the emptiness. I would feel nothing and that would get me through. If I felt nothing there could be no grief, no pain, no guilt and hurt.

aWhat are you saying?a His perfectly sculpted face saddened. aThe Child Empress brought about the death of Berget. With her death, the Child Empress sealed the throne and took control of the vampire nation and is preparing to announce to the world that the supernatural exists. If wead stopped her death a .a aDonat lay the f.u.c.king guilt trip on me,a I said, my words icy. I stared over his shoulder at the darkened hallway, remembering too clearly being here for India, wrestling a demon, OaShea helping me.

Life had gone downhill fast since then. I had a moment of understanding. The problems had started when the black coven had called up the demon.

aRylee, will we stand together on this?a aWhen we first met, you tried to kill me.a I slid my gaze across to his. aWhat has changed? Now you want to be my ally, but you have never been a steady constant. Kill me or donat, you canat have it both ways.a I wasnat taunting him, I was being serious. I didnat understand him and his motives, which continually confused me.

aI have watched you for some time. Years. You side with the humans, finding their children. Keeping them safe. From what I know of Trackers, I a.s.sumed you would be on their side when the decision came down to this.a I snorted. aYou tried to kill me based on a f.u.c.king a.s.sumption?a He stared at me. aIave killed people for less. It was not so much of a stretch combined with the information I gained from your so-called best friend.a Ahh, now that made more sense. Before I could say anything, Faris went on.

aI want you to trust me; we need to trust one another to survive this.a His eyes were deadly serious. aI acted on my a.s.sumptions and information from Milly. It is obvious to me now that she was not being truthful. But I did what I did, based on my knowledge of Trackers and her a.s.sessment of you. She fed my a.s.sumptions with her lies, padding my already skewed understanding of who you are. I realize that I, too, bear guilt for Bergetas death. For if youad trusted me, we would not be here now. Wead be celebrating with your sister in Venice.a aAnd OaShea would be dead,a I whispered.

aWhich would you rather lose?a Fury lit through me, an anger so bright and intense I shook with it all the way to my fingertips. aI would lose neither! They are my heart!a Farisa icy blue eyes widened and he gave me a slow nod. aI see.a I took a deep breath, but didnat try to still the anger. Better than that empty hollowness that had been quickly consuming me. I glared at Faris, but he didnat seem bothered by my anger.

aThe Child Empress has done this. Will you stand with me against this threat?a He stood in front of me, his eyes searching my face. There was no question, not really.

No, that wasnat entirely true. There was one question I needed answered.

aAre we going to kill the Child Empress?a Faris gave a slow nod, his eyes full of sorrow that seemed out of place. aYes, that will be the plan. Kill the Child Empress; prove that I am the better leader. Take the throne and seal vampires and the supernatural away from the world.a aAnd the memory you showed me? What of that? You need me to prove you are the one to lead the vampire nation, right? I have to find something for you, donat I?a Again, he nodded. aYes, but once I take the throne, that will be the last step.a aSo doesnat this Child Empress need me too?a He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. aYou are not the only Tracker left alive, Rylee.a What was left of my strength slipped out of me and I dropped to my knees.

aJack.a

CHAPTER 15.

FARIS TOOK ME back to the clearing, but only after a huge argument. I needed to get my two wolves, regardless of what the vampire thought. He suggested going back to London via the Veil first, to start planning. I was still arguing that we should strike now, while the Child Empress might still consider herself safe because shead only just been set on the throne.

My argument won, at least the part about going back to the clearing where OaShea and Alex were frantically pacing. One wolf was f.u.c.king terrifying, the look on his face enough to scare the p.i.s.s out of anyone. The other, just a well, just looked like a lost little boy waiting for his mother to find him.

I stumbled out of Farisa hands and toward the two werewolves, catching OaShea around the neck and burying my face in his fur. Alex shuffled forward and I put a hand on him too, felt him sigh under my fingers. OaShea sniffed my hair and then stepped toward Faris, a low growl rumbling through his chest. I held him back, with difficulty. aNo, weare working together now. You have to play nice, Liam. You have to.a He snorted, stopped straining against my hold, and glared at the vampire, who just stood there, hands clasped behind his back.

aAre we quite done collecting your pets?a aReally, you think today is the day to p.i.s.s me off?a I spat over my shoulder.

Faris chuckled. aYes, yes I do. You need to be reminded that death is not the end. Not to mention that you fight better when youare angry.a I clenched my fingers into OaSheaas thick fur. His cold nose slipped under my chin and he pushed my head up. He was right. Chin up, we could do this.

I would avenge Berget, save Jack, and then a then I would grieve. Just like with losing Giselle, there wasnat time to breathe, never mind feel sorrow over the loss. I didnat have the f.u.c.king luxury.

I didnat realize that I was staring into OaSheaas eyes; he gave me a lick on the side of my face. At least I had him back in my life, even like this was better than nothing at all.

aLetas go.a Faris opened up the twist between this world and the Veil. Alex made a move as if to go first until OaShea growled at him.

aSorry, Boss. Alex forgets.a He settled in behind OaShea, letting the alpha wolf go first. Except that OaShea paused at the threshold, staring into the scene beyond him. Maybe he was remembering our time there? The demon wead fought?

No, that wasnat it at all. He made a move as if to go forward, but stopped again with a grunt.

He couldnat cross the threshold. s.h.i.+t, this was going to make things interesting.

aPerfect.a Faris muttered, and again I was struck by how very un-vampire-like he seemed.

aLooks like weare going the long way.a I turned away from the opening to face the other side of the clearing and saw what was waiting for me there. We were upwind, which explained why the two wolves hadnat smelled the Beast.

aOh. s.h.i.+t.a I pulled my sword out and the Beast roared, running toward me on three paws, its balance off. Thatas why it had taken so long to get here. Three legs left to go. That was the key, take his limbs and he could be killed, or at least maimed like any other creature.

But before I could reach him, OaShea leapt in front of me, tackling the Beast to the ground even though he was only half the size of the panther.

They tumbled through the snow, but the Beast wasnat interested in OaShea; he didnat even try to fight back. He just wanted to get to me.

Faris grabbed my arm. aWe have to go, we have to get you out of here.a aIam not a f.u.c.king China doll!a He shook me, hard enough that my teeth snapped together. aThat is a Guardian; you might be able to hurt it, but we canat kill it.a The vampire let me jerk out of his hands so I could see the battle raging behind us. Alex had stepped up, working with OaShea to keep the Beast at bay, yanking its legs out from under it repeatedly. Again, though, the Beast wasnat fighting them.

His silver eyes met mine, and I could see that this was not what he wanted. This was not his choice.

He was bound by oaths and a spell that even Deanna didnat know how to break.

Your blood is a catalyst, Jackas words floated through my brain. My blood, taken from my body, would break the spell that held the Beast. Maybe.

aFaris. If Iam wrong, please save Jack. Pamela needs someone.a Faris grabbed my wrist. aWhat are you talking about?a aLet me go. I know what Iam doing.a aThen why would I have to save Jack?a The vampireas eyes snared me, and I looked away, toward the battle. The Beast was still fighting to get to me, essentially allowing OaShea and Alex to pummel him.

aThis could stop him, you have to trust me.a There it was, that word again between the two of us. Faris let me go, his fingers sliding from my wrist. aI donat think this is a good idea.a I didnat answer him, just ran toward the Beast, knowing that Faris was fast enough to stop me, but he didnat. He didnat try to interfere. I drew close enough that the Beast couldnat help but catch me up with his remaining paw. OaShea snarled and leapt onto the Beastas back, Alex howled, his head thrown back. Confusion in his eyes, the Beast bit down into my side. My leather jacket was no protection from his four canines, which slid through the coat like it was just another layer of skin. I couldnat help the scream that pa.s.sed my lips; the pain of four enormous daggers being driven into my body at the same time was more than even I could handle.

My blood spilled out of the wounds, spread along his lips. The confusion in his eyes faded. We stared at one another, and I knew that even if I died from the wounds, Iad done the right thing. Pamela would be proud. Berget would be proud. Maybe Iad done it because I wanted to die, but even so, it was still the right thing.

Tears slipped from my eyes as the Beast lowered me to the ground. Alex and OaShea stumbled away from him, uncertainty written all over their faces as the Beast took great care to lay me down gently.

aAre you going to kill Daniels?a I whispered, struggling to breathe around the wounds, but I needed to know that my death wasnat in vain.

The Beast s.h.i.+fted, his man form crouching at my side. Blood trickled from his lips, my blood, but his blood also trickled from his back. Great gouge marks where OaShea had lit into him. How was that possible? Guardians didnat bleed a .

aYes, Daniels will die. Then I will go back to being nothing more than a ghost on the moors. Thank you, Tracker. Your wolf, he will be a Guardian of a sort, a Great Wolf, but there is very little left of the man he was. Do not hope too much for what cannot be.a He looked over his shoulder at OaShea, who stood there, seemingly confused by the Beastas sudden s.h.i.+ft into human form, and his suddenly gentle manner with me.

His words barely registered, but I managed to ask. aIs that why he could hurt you?a The Beast nodded. aYes.a He touched the spot over my heart, then his fingers drifted across to the demon mark I carried on my chest, the black snowflake that had almost killed me.

aYou have the heart that will save us all. When you have need of me, I will stand with you against the darkness.a He touched my throat, and then bent and kissed me softly. Standing, he turned and walked into the forest, disappearing as the old werewolf had done, as if head never even been there.

I wished in that moment that I could see the look on Danielsa face when he showed up for her. The thought made me smile despite the pain.

OaShea lay down beside me and I reached over, slid my hand over his face. It didnat feel the same as when head been human, yet it was still him, my fingers still recognized him. My heart was slowing down; the sluggish thump was that of a mortal wound leaking my life out. The Beast hadnat pierced my heart, but his fangs had gone through my lungs and, by the black blood creeping out of the lower wound, my liver. That was the bad one, all the toxins floating through my system and s.h.i.+t like that.

A pair of blue eyes hovered over me. aRylee, you need to be healed. I can think of only one person strong enough to do so, but you must trust me as I trusted you.a I groaned, knowing exactly who he meant. aI donat want her help; sheas a horrible person. b.i.t.c.h, I hate her.a aBut she can save you.a He was scooping me up in his arms and I couldnat stop him.

aNo, Iad rather die.a Faris snorted. aStop being a child. Sheall heal you, probably for some small favor.a aShe wants me to be the G.o.dmother to her demon sp.a.w.n.a The vampire held me tight against his chest. I could see his mouth moving, could sense something happening, but then there was nothing. Nothing but blessedly sweet darkness.

No, that wasnat true. There was something else, a soft voice I recalled, a sweet girl Iad held in my arms when shead had bad dreams, a child Iad pushed on the swings and had loved more than any other.

aRylee, what are you doing here?a Berget was there, but it wasnat the little girl I remembered. She was all grown up, her long blonde hair flowing around her face on a breeze I couldnat feel. Blue eyes sparkling as she saw me, reached for me. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, long limbed and softly curved. Her face had thinned, the baby fat gone and the lines of her cheekbones highlighted her eyes.

I pulled her to me; she felt so real and it occurred to me that perhaps it was because I was dead too, like her.

af.u.c.k, Berget, Iam so sorry, I should have come for you. I should have been there aa She pushed me away gently, her face a like that of the one I remembered, only now there was a sculpted perfection to it caused by the loss of her childhood.

aThis is as itas meant to be. Rylee, you are not to blame. Everything happens for a reason. You know that. I know you do.a G.o.ds, how could one so young be so wise?

aYou donat blame me for not saving you?a She threw back her head and laughed. aRylee, you are my sister, and you will save me yet. Of that, I have no doubt. Do not grieve me, for death is never the end, not with us. I know you will save me; you will save us all. Things are not as they seem, not in our world. Do not believe your eyes, believe your heart.a I held her hands, stared at her as if I could somehow soak her in. Keep her with me and take back her death.

aYou must go now, the wolf calls to you; I can feel his ties to you as strongly as if they were ropes tangled around your limbs. He will save you, I think. Save you with his love, as you will save him with yours.a She squeezed my hands and then let go, fading into the darkness.

Voices swirled around me. aRylee, you have to pull back your Immunity. I canat heal you if you donat.a Millyas voice. f.u.c.k, if that wasnat the worst way to come to.

But she was right, and she knew all my tricks. I pulled my Immunity off my hands, exposing myself to her. Her fingers were warm as they circled around mine, her magic rus.h.i.+ng through me. Iad been healed once before and this was the same. Not painless, but a reversal of the damage as my body st.i.tched itself back together, fueled by magic.

I groaned, my innards writhing as they came together, became whole again. And just like the last time Iad been healed, I lay there on the floor, drained of anything but the desire to sleep.

aRylee.a Millyas voice again. I kept my eyes closed. Maybe shead go away. I wanted to kill her, f.u.c.k and shead just saved my life. I settled for hurting her.

aYou know that itas your fault Giselle is dead?a I bit the words out, slowly opening my eyes to see her face pale.