Absolute Surrender (49 page)

“I don’t understand.”

“I need you to be strong, Echo. This would be nothing like what you know about fighting. You must strengthen not only your body but your mind, too. You need to be prepared for anything. What you experienced in Demon Alley was just a sliver of what can occur after a healing. After a day, your strength was renewed, but at other times it will take longer and your body needs to be strong.” He picked up a towel from the floor and wiped his face, his expression serious. “You being mortal, I can’t take chances with you. You’re going to have to learn to fight with other weapons, too. So you’re always prepared. A tear in any veil can be dangerous. You never know what lurks on the other side.”

Like that would frighten her? Damon had taught her how to use a dagger. But fighting with swords was her dream. She smirked. “Bring it on.”

Eyes narrowing, he tossed the towel down. “Always,” he said, prowling closer, “be prepared for the unexpected.” He lunged.

Startled, Echo didn’t have a chance to evade when he grabbed her round the waist and brought her down. She gritted her teeth, anticipating for a hard landing, except he rolled at the last minute and she fell on top of him. Not that it was any softer than the darn floor.

Inhaling sharply, she scowled and pushed off him. “Again.”

He took her through the steps of the way the warriors fought. Echo knew he went easy on her. She didn’t care for that but realized, being so much smaller, she needed to be cunning in her strategy. So, pretending he was a
demonii
, she came in fast, avoided his counter-attack, and slid in low, her fist aimed for his crotch.

He froze. Then in a move so fast it took her breath away, he seized her then dropped her on her back. Apparently, he hadn’t cared for her surprise attack.

Winded, she laughed. “That was fun,” she said, staring at the ceiling. So she couldn’t defeat him, but then she hadn’t expected to. However, she’d learned a few things, she thought, as she lay, winded, on the exercise mat.

Her mate was a bloody good fighter. Heck, she already knew that, but to work with him was exhilarating. He had a body so finely tuned, it was like a well-oiled fighting machine.

He crouched by her side, a brow arching. “So that’s your attack strategy?”

“Yup.” She breathed heavily. “But it’s usually my knee. And it works...every time.”

He shook his head. “Want to go again?”

“In a moment. After I get my breath back.”

Aethan held out a hand to her. She ignored it, continuing to gaze at the ceiling. When he straightened and moved away, she sprang agilely to her feet and tackled him, diving for his knees. He went down fast. Just as quick, he turned and made a grab for her. She fell on him, then straddled his chest, and grinned in victory.

“As long as I bring my opponent down, that’s all that matters,” she informed him in a breathless voice. “See, I don’t always aim for the crotch.”

Gray eyes locked on hers. The next minute, he tugged her head to his and captured her lips in a breathtaking kiss. His hands stroked her waist, slid under her tank top to cup her breasts. “You’re wearing underwear?”

She rolled her eyes. “Always did and always will.”

“Take it off.”

“No.”

He flipped her on her back and instantly had her bra off. He gazed down at her exposed chest and had her hands pinned to her sides. His head bent. He licked her puckered nipple. “I could do this all day long—”

Then he growled in displeasure. The sound reverberated against her damp nub, causing her arousal to spike. He let go off her hands and pulled her top down. And just in time too, as the gym door opened and Blaéz entered.

Aethan rose to his feet and crossed over to the warrior who waited at the entrance. Echo jumped up, looked around for her bra. Finding it, she rolled it into a small ball, and headed for them.

She could read nothing off Blaéz’s blank-eyed stare as he spoke to Aethan. But she caught the tail end of Blaéz’s words. “...she’s not answering. She could be hurt.”

“Who’s hurt?” she asked him, coming up beside Aethan.

Aethan took her hand. “Blaéz had a vision. Lila’s not answering her phone. We’re heading there.”

Fear spread through her. “I’m coming—no, you’re not leaving me behind, Aethan,” she warned before he could speak.

“Echo, Týr’s already there. He would have called if it was bad.”

“I don’t care. I need to see for myself that she’s okay,” she said, her mood darkening with worry. “She’s my family.”

“We’re dematerializing,” he cautioned.

“Doesn’t matter. I can put up with it.”

***

Echo found Lila resting on the couch, looking frail. “Gran!” She rushed over to kneel in front of the older woman, searching for signs of injury.

A wry smile tugged Lila’s mouth. “Don’t fret, child. I’m fine. The warrior, Týr, healed me, though I would’ve liked my battle bruises,” she said, touching her forehead as if feeling for the lump. “But I don’t want to upset Kira.”

“Oh, Gran, I was so worried. What happened? And where’s Kira?”

“I sent her on an errand for me. Just as well or she would have been hurt, too. A young man came to the door asking for directions then suddenly attacked me instead.”

Echo glanced around the lounge, but everything looked to be in its place.

“No. I don’t think anything’s stolen,” Lila said.

Finishing their recon of the surrounding area, Aethan, Blaéz, and Týr came back into the room.

“All is well. No signs that a
demonii’s
been around,” Týr reassured Lila, but he couldn’t keep the fury from his toffee-brown eyes.

“Oh no, he wasn’t a demon, definitely human,” Gran said, frowning. “I’ve never seen him before.”

“What did he look like?” Týr asked.

“Fair skinned. Average Height. Red hair, cut very short.”

Echo stiffened as a shiver raced down her spine. The only one she knew who remotely fit that description was that idiot, Neal. But even he wouldn’t resort to assaulting old ladies. He was all threats and no action. All he wanted was to score with women.

“I need a favor, please,” Gran said, drawing her attention back.

“What is it?” Echo asked, stroking Lila’s hand.

“Do not tell Kira.”

“You have our word,” Týr reassured her.

Blaéz nodded, as did Aethan.

Echo sighed. She didn’t like it, but she understood Gran’s wish not to worry Kira. “All right. Let me make you some tea.”

Gran shook her head and swung her feet to the floor. “No dear, you go on home. I’ll be fine. If Kira sees you all here, she’ll get worked up—I don’t care to be treated as an invalid.” She smiled, a little twinkle in her eye.

Echo nodded. She knew far too well, her friend could be an impossible nurse.

***

Aethan finished his shower and headed for the dressing room. It took everything in him not to check on Echo telepathically or call her cell. So he rattled Týr, instead, until the male snarled that he’d bring Echo back now, and Aethan could explain to her why she had to cut short her stay.

He understood Echo’s need to visit Lila after her attack, but every time she was out of his sight, he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Groaning, he squeezed his eyes shut. She’d given up so much for him, her job, her entire life, and she’d lost that loser, her guardian, too. He had to ease up, but it was damned hard to do, and the reason he didn’t go with her in the first place.

He pulled out his cell and looked at the time. Still another hour to go. He refused to wait around any longer.

Aethan dematerialized, took form by a grove of trees at the end of the narrow street, and headed for the oracle’s house. Týr had parked the Range Rover opposite the brownstone, but Aethan could sense him close by.

Hurrying up the steps, he willed the vines, trailing over the trellised entrance, out of his way and knocked on the door.

The moment it opened and he saw Echo, his heart settled into place once more.

She went up on her toes, grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and kissed him. “See, that wasn’t so bad.”

He stroked her face. “Not from my point of view. Why did you not call me?”

“I’ve only been gone for the afternoon. You worry too much and that’s why I asked Kira to spend a few days with us. There, better now?” she asked with a teasing look. Then she dropped her voice. “Since Gran’s going to Seattle, which is good, Kira will be safe with us.”

Hell, he was damn grateful. At least Echo would be safe, but he knew better than to say that aloud.

***

“Echo, you have the candles, right?” Kira asked from the back of the Range Rover, as they left Greenwich Village.

“Uh huh,” Echo mumbled, trying to focus on what Kira said and not the erotic suggestions Aethan made through their mind-link that had her cheeks heating up.

Candles—right. She rummaged through her backpack and found them. Check. “Aethan, can we make a detour to the cathedral?”

His expression tensed, the teasing light in his eyes flattened. “Echo, that place is out of bounds for now, you know that.”

“Please? It will only take a few minutes. It’s taken me five years, I need to do this.” And a long time in coming, she realized. Gran was right. She needed to let Tamsyn go.

He nodded, even though he didn't look happy with the change in plans. He’d probably already sent out telepathic messages for the others to meet him at the cathedral. Aethan had told her they’d found a
demonii’s
hidey-hole nearby, which they figured had to be Andras’s.

Echo walked into the cathedral with Kira. The fragrance of burning incense, candle wax, and wood polish scented the air. A tall, gleaming, wooden crucifix stood to the left of the pulpit. The echoes of their footsteps were the only sounds in the silent place, and it added to the building’s eeriness.

She inhaled a deep breath and tried to calm her unease, reminding herself that
demoniis
couldn’t enter a place of worship. But if one of the suckers did, she’d just kill the fiend.

“Shan’t be long,” Kira told her and hurried off to the altar.

She turned and saw the hard set to Aethan’s jaw. His gaze softened when he looked at her. He brushed the shallow dimple in her chin with his thumb. “Okay. It’s safe enough. I’ll wait outside.”

Smiling, she watched him go and knew she’d never tire of looking at him. A tall, gorgeous man. A predator of the most dangerous kind, and he was all hers. Her mate.

The sooner she got all this out of the way, the sooner she could go home and drag him off for some alone time.

Echo turned back to the altar with the multitude of burning candles. The flames brightened the dim interior. A little unnerved, she decided to wait until Kira finished then find out the ritual to lighting a candle. She wanted to do it right, so Tamsyn would have peace in her afterlife.

She sat down on the wooden pew, and glanced around the interior, her attention drawn to the elegant stained-glass window. She got up for a closer look, craning her neck to study the exquisite craftsmanship. The images made in glass depicted biblical scenes, and while they were beautiful, they couldn’t compare to the ones at the castle. She preferred the warrior knights, angels, and ladies of the stained glass windows at home.

Footsteps. Then Kira poked her in the back.

“That was quick,” she said, turning. “Can you show me how—”

A hand clapped over her mouth. Echo stared into bright green eyes, glowing in triumph. “Told you I’d get you.”

Pain exploded in her head and all went dark.

CHAPTER 33

Aethan surveyed the back of the cathedral where the stone angel stood. With no hint of any
demoniis
around
,
his tattoo remained silent. He checked in with Blaéz who patrolled the cemetery. Nothing. Heading for Týr, Aethan found him leaning against the wall near the entrance to the cathedral.