Beyond the Darkness (Dark Court 1) (8 page)

Luckily, they were headed down the side of the mountain now, instead of up the other side. Of course, so were the people hunting them. Still, it made the way easier. That fact didn’t ease Zack’s tension when he heard noises behind them.
“They’re coming,” Rocky said as he fell back. “I’m going to try to slow them down a little. You two get to the waterfall.”
“Oh hell, Rock, I don’t know where the damn waterfall is.”
“I do,” Gunny said as he stepped out of the shadows, making Zack’s heart jump with how abruptly he had appeared. “Rocky, you and Doc hold them off as long as you can and then hightail it down the hill about a mile then north for another two. The waterfall is at the base of the north facing cliff at the bottom of the hill.”
Doc and Rocky nodded and headed back up the way they’d just come. Gunny watched them for just a moment before turning to hurry down the hill, Zack following behind him as fast as he could move with Eljin in his arms.
Zack stumbled when they heard gunfire erupt just as they reached the bottom of the hill and turned north. He cast a worried look over his shoulder then started moving faster. He couldn’t risk Eljin’s safety, no matter how apprehensive he was about Doc and Rocky.
The next two miles seem to take forever, especially when the gunfire stopped. A heavy silence filled the air. Zack didn’t know if Rocky and Doc made it out safely and he didn’t have time to stop and check. Getting Eljin to the waterfall needed to be his top priority.
Zack breathed a big sigh of relief when the waterfall finally came into view. He was surprised by how big it was, falling down quite a ways from the cliff above. He walked to the edge of the water and set Eljin on his feet.
“Okay, Eljin, we’re here. Now what?”
Eljin pointed to the small cliff at the edge of the waterfall. “We need to go there. We have to go through the waterfall itself. That’s where the gate between our worlds is.”
“Okay, I want you and Gunny to go on through. I’m going to wait here a few minutes for Rocky and Doc, see if they made it.”
Eljin grabbed Zack’s arm. “No, Zack, you can’t—”
“Please, Eljin,” Zack said as he pushed Eljin toward Gunny. “I need to know that you and the baby are safe. I promise I’ll join you in just a few minutes.”
“But—”
Zack glanced beyond Eljin’s pale face to Gunny. “Please, Gunny?”
Gunny nodded and grabbed Eljin around the waist, lifting the man up in his arms and wading out into the water. Zack’s heart ached as Eljin fought Gunny the entire way, screaming and yelling.
Zack didn’t turn away until they disappeared into the waterfall. One second they were there, the next they were simply not. Zack blinked several times, positive he had something in his eyes then turned and scouted the area for the most secure location to sit and wait.
He spotted a small outcropping of rock off to one side. It wouldn’t have been his first choice of places to defend himself from but it seemed to be the only place that offered enough cover. It also kept him between the waterfall and whoever came in his direction.
Zack hurried over to the rocks and knelt on the ground. He pulled out his gun, checked the ammo level, and then laid it beside him. He also checked that each of his knives were where they should be then settled in to wait.
He didn’t have to wait long. Only a few minutes later he heard someone coming toward him at a quick pace. Zack looked over the rocks and watched, holding his breath until he saw Doc’s sandy-blond head come into view.
He had his arm wrapped around Rocky’s waist and seemed to be helping him hobble along. Zack did a visual inspection and noticed a piece of cloth tied around Rocky’s leg. Doc seemed to be fine but it was clear Rocky had been injured. Zack hoped it wasn’t life threatening. Rocky was a good man and he’d hate to lose him.
As soon as they were close enough, Zack leaned up and waved them over. Doc immediately changed direction and hurried toward him, Rocky in tow. When he reached the rocks, Doc lowered Rocky down to the ground then crouched next to him.
“How bad is it?” Zack asked, gesturing to the injury.
“It’s just a flesh wound,” Rocky said. “I’ll be fine.”
Doc snorted. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s lucky he’s not bleeding out. The bullet missed the artery by an inch. The bullet went all the way through, but he still needs medical attention.” Doc glanced around. “Where’s Eljin and Gunny?”
Zack pointed past his shoulder. “I sent them through the waterfall.”
“And you decided to be a hero and wait here for us?” Doc snorted. “Dumbass.”
Zack ignored that statement. “What are we looking at?”
“There are four heavily armed men in black special ops fatigues left. They are well equipped and well armed. They are also very persistent, just as you said.”
“Black fatigues?” Zack didn’t like that statement. He knew what it meant. The men were military trained, mercenaries most likely. They would be dressed in black, which during the day made them stand out like a sore thumb. At night, as it was now, it was an entirely different story. They could hide in the shadows right next to a person.
“Ah hell, we took three of them out.” Rocky laughed. “They ain’t so bad.”
“They sure whooped your ass,” Doc replied.
Zack rolled his eyes. Doc and Rocky could argue over the color of the sky. “How soon until they reach us?”
“Three, maybe four minutes,” Doc replied. “It depends on whether they stop to check their dead or not.”
Zack nodded. The odds didn’t seem to be in their favor. He didn’t know if they could get to the waterfall before their guests arrived. “We can stay here and wait for them or make a run for the waterfall? Your choice.”
“I say we fight them,” Doc said. “If we go through the waterfall they are likely to just try to follow us. I don’t want to take this fight to Eljin’s side of the veil. We need to end it here.”
“And you, Rocky?”
“Hell, just get me my gun.”
Zack laughed. “Okay, ammo check, guys.” He couldn’t agree more. He didn’t want to take the battle to Eljin’s side of the veil either. From how Gunny described it to him, the Seelie Court was practically a utopia. Bringing guns and fighting to that type of world might destroy it and Zack wouldn’t allow that to happen.
Zack glanced up when a branch broke. There was movement just ahead. Strange. Their pursuers had obviously given up trying to move quietly. They were approaching like bulls charging through a china shop.
“Here they come,” he said as he picked up his gun. He closed his eyes briefly, hoping Eljin could hear him through the veil.
Love you, hummingbird.
Zack took aim. He started to pull the trigger when someone grabbed him from behind and ripped the gun from his hands. He opened his mouth to scream, but before he could make a sound, water filled his mouth as he was pulled back into the pool surrounding the waterfall.
Zack’s last thought was of Eljin and the baby he’d never see before the darkness of the water pulled him under.

Eljin paced back and forth before the large stone gate that led to the human world. His fingers twisted together anxiously as he waited for Zack to come through. The two large guards standing on either side of the veil watched him dispassionately.

He knew they would never let him back through the gate, not when there was a battle being fought on the other side. His father would have their heads. Sometimes it really sucked being the youngest son of the king.

Other times, his position truly paid off. He and Gunny encountered armed guards the moment they stepped through the gate. They’d recognized Eljin instantly. Instead of allowing them to take him to the castle as the guards wanted, Eljin ordered them to go back through the gate and retrieve Zack, Rocky and Doc.

He wouldn’t leave until they were here.
That was what he had been trying to explain when Zack had sent him and Gunny on ahead. No one could pass through the veil unless accompanied by an
Aes Sídhe
. When the guards wouldn’t let him go back to get Zack, he’d told them they had darn well better go themselves.
Eljin turned at a noise behind him. His heart caught in his throat when two guards carried Zack out through the gate, Rocky and Doc right behind them. Zack’s head sagged and his eyes were closed.
Eljin raced up the steps and knelt down on the cold stone flooring as the guards laid Zack down. He moved his hands over Zack’s body as he searched for an injury, a cut, a bullet wound, something to tell him why Zack wasn’t moving.
“Zack,
leannan
, please, open your eyes,” Eljin whispered as he shook his shoulders.
“Excuse me,
fayerye
,” one of the guards said as he stepped forward. “I believe he is just unconscious from being pulled through the gate. The battle you warned us about was just beginning to start when we grabbed him.”
Eljin rubbed his hand over his eyes then glanced around. Rocky was lying on the gate platform several feet away. Doc seemed to be caring for him. Eljin wasn’t sure why Rocky was down since he had just seen the guy walking. “Okay, let’s get them to my father. He’ll know what to do,” Eljin said.
“Yes,
fayerye
,” the guard replied. Several guards stepped forward and picked Zack up, carefully carrying him between them. A few more picked up Rocky. Eljin started to follow when an arm drop over his shoulders.
“He’ll be fine, Eljin,” Gunny said.
“I hope so,” Eljin whispered. “I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to him.”
Gunny patted his shoulder gently. “You just be there for him when he wakes up and he’ll be as happy as a clam.”
Eljin wrinkled his nose. “I don’t much like clams.”
“Bug in a rug?” Gunny chuckled.
Eljin shook his head. “Bugs give me the creeps.”
“Dog with a bone?”
“Gunny!”
“I’m just sayin’.”
Eljin rolled his eyes. He knew Gunny was just trying to cheer him up, but he didn’t think he would until Zack opened his eyes. Eljin hurried up a few steps to walk beside Zack, grabbing and holding on to his limp hand.
It wasn’t an easy feat as he had to walk between the guards carrying Zack. They had much longer legs and Eljin needed to run to keep up. The top spire of his father’s white stone castle had just come into view when Eljin’s stomach started churning. He broke away from the group quickly and ran to the bushes to throw up.
By the time he lifted his head, the captain of the guards squatted next to him. “
Fayerye
, you are ill?”
“No, I’m carrying.”
“Carrying.” The guard grinned, his gaze dropping to Eljin’s distended stomach. “Your father will be pleased. Who is the
fayer
?”
Eljin pointed past the guard to where the others stood holding Zack. “My
leannan
, Zack, is the father.”
“The human?”
Eljin wasn’t sure if it was shock or disgust he heard in the guard’s voice but he knew he didn’t like the tone. “Watch how you speak of my
leannan
, Captain. Not only have he and his friends saved my life several times over the last few days but we’re bonded.”
The guard flushed. “My apologies,
fayerye
. I was merely stunned by your news. We haven’t had humans at the Seelie Court in many years. I don’t believe I have ever seen one in my lifetime.”
“Then you couldn’t have three more perfect people to meet for the first time.” Eljin stood back up and began walking with the captain, keeping a close eye on Zack. “Gunny is their leader,” Eljin said as he pointed to the man who walked on the other side of Zack. “His other two friends are Doc and Rocky. Doc is a medicine man so he will be instrumental in the caring for the men. He might even be able to teach us a few things.”
“You don’t think our medicine is superior? I’ve seen the pictures of what these human doctors do. It’s barbaric.”
“The human world is barbaric by our standards. But no, I don’t necessarily believe our medicine is superior. I just think it’s different. Doc is a combat medic. He’s used to caring for people in combat situations while under pressure. We don’t have anything like that.”
“He cares for his comrades while in battle?” The captain glanced over his shoulder to where Doc walked beside Rocky. “How unusual.”
“But not necessarily a bad idea,” Eljin mused. “I know we don’t have that many battles here, but if we had a few soldiers trained to care for fallen men while in battle we might bring more of them home.”
“Things are getting tenser between us and the Unseelie Court,” the captain said. “There have been several recent raids on our side of the border. Your father believes an all-out assault is imminent.”
“Then maybe you should discuss it with my father,” Eljin suggested. “Any extra help we can get can only benefit us.”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” The captain pointed down the road. “Here he comes now.”
Eljin glanced up, his heart pounding as joy swept through him. He’d missed his family almost as much as he’d missed Zack when they were separated. He couldn’t believe he was back home again, and that he’d managed to bring Zack with him.
Eljin let out a cry and broke away from the slow procession to run ahead. His father stopped his horse several feet away and slid down. Eljin gratefully ran into the older man’s open arms.
“Mayer.”
“Eljin, my son,” his
mayer
said as he wrapped his arms around Eljin and hugged him tight. “I feared I would never see you again. No one knew what happened to you. You just disappeared.”
Eljin tilted his head back to look into his father’s strong face. “It’s a long story and I’d be happy to tell you all about it, but first we need to get my
leannan
back to the castle. He lost consciousness coming through the gate.”
“Your l
eannan
?”
“His name is Zack Banning, he’s a Marine from the human world.”
“The human world?”
Eljin frowned. His father didn’t sound pleased. “Yes, he’s human. He’s also the most wonderful man I have ever met. Besides… ” Eljin smirked as he bumped against his father. “You have to like him. He’s the father of my baby and he saved both our lives.”
Eljin’s father’s pale-blond eyebrows shot up. “You’re carrying?” His hand moved down to cover Eljin’s stomach. A slow, easy grin began to move across his face. “Your
fayer
will be so very happy.”
“Well, except for the morning sickness I’m not really upset about it. I’m at the end of my second trimester. I thought I’d be done with this by now.”
“Ah, my son, do not despair.” His
mayer
chuckled. “It is a family trait to have morning sickness until you begin your third trimester. It should stop soon and then you will just grow as you should.”
Eljin looked over his shoulder when he heard the procession catch up to him. He grabbed his father’s hand and pulled him forward until he stood next to Gunny. “
Mayer
, this is Gunny Montgomery Barnes. He was Zack’s commander when he was in the military.” Eljin pointed to Doc and Rocky. “This is Doc and Rocky. They are also soldiers like Zack. Rocky has been injured though.”
“Injured?”
“I told you, it’s a long story but there are some men after us. They want to take my baby from me and kill my
leannan
. Gunny, Rocky, and Doc protected us while we made our way to a gate.” He frowned. “They burned Gunny’s house down and shot Rocky.”
“By all means then, let’s get your friends to the castle where they can receive proper care. And then you, little one,” the king said as he pointed a finger at Eljin, “can tell me why someone from the human world is after you.”
The procession began moving again, Eljin walking between Zack and his father. Gunny was walking on the other side of Zack. “Mayer, is Uncle Roland in court?” Eljin hid his grin when Gunny jerked his head up to look at him.
“Yes, he’s been here for several weeks.”
“Could you have one of your men ride ahead and ask Uncle Roland to meet us in the courtyard?”
The king seemed puzzled, his forehead wrinkling in confusion but he nodded and waved a soldier over, giving him instructions to tell Roland to be waiting, then he turned back to Eljin. “I suppose this is another thing I’ll have to wait to hear about?”
“All in good time,
Mayer
, I promise.”
Eljin was on pins and needles as they approached the castle, not only because he would be able to see his family after months of being gone, but because he wanted to see if his Uncle Roland was Gunny’s Roland.
When he spotted his uncle standing near the castle entrance he could barely keep himself from running forward and grabbing the man.
“Gunny, that’s my Uncle Roland standing by the two big doors.”
Gunny’s head snapped up as his gaze searched out the figure by the door. Gut instinct told Eljin something profound was about to happen when he saw tears form in Gunny’s eyes.
Gunny gave a small cry and ran forward. He dropped to his knees the moment he reached Roland and wrapped his arms around the man. Roland looked stunned for a moment, staring down at Gunny with a look of complete shock on his face, and then his hands slowly lowered to cradle Gunny’s face.
Eljin couldn’t hear what was being said between the two men but the image of them together said more than any words. His Uncle Roland
was
Gunny’s Roland. He could see it in the joy expressed on each man’s face.
“Eljin, what is occurring here?”
Eljin laughed, happiness for Roland and Gunny flowing through him. “Gunny and Roland met twenty years ago in Ireland. They bonded then. When Uncle Roland was taken by the Unseelie Court, they were separated. Gunny’s been searching for him ever since.” He smiled at the two men when Gunny stood and they embraced. “He doesn’t even know about Monte yet.”
The king stopped and grabbed Eljin by the arm. “You know where Monte is?”
Eljin frowned. “I thought he was here.”
“No, after the two of you went on your diplomatic mission, he never came back. He disappeared just like you did.”
“No, I was captured and never saw him again.” Eljin inhaled sharply, covering his mouth with his hand. “You don’t think they got Monte too, do you?”
“I don’t know,” King Tuathal replied. “I believe anything is possible. We thought you were being held by the Unseelie Court this entire time. We’ve been negotiating for your release for weeks.”
“No, I was taken by humans through the veil.”
The king stilled, his expression unnerving. “You were taken by humans through the veil or you were taken through the veil and handed over to humans? Be specific, Eljin. It’s very important.”
“It was definitely humans who took me through.”
“Humans here? On this side of the veil?” The king frowned. “I must talk to my security council right away. I’m sorry, Eljin, this can’t wait. I’ll send your
fayer
down to you as soon as I can.”
The king started to walk away then paused. He walked back to give Eljin a small kiss on his forehead. “I am glad you are home, my son. It does my heart good to see you and know you are safe. Your
leannan
and his friends will be welcomed here.”
“Thank you, Mayer,” Eljin said, returning his father’s hug then watching him hurry inside of the castle.
“Eljin?” Doc called from behind him. “What do ‘
mayer’
and ‘
fayer’
mean? I keep hear you using those words.”
Eljin smiled. “
Mayer
means birth father.
Fayer
is what we call the man who provided the seed for our creation, our other father. It literally means the father of our creation.”
“You have two fathers?”
“Yes, all of the direct line royals do. Only the men of my family give birth. As with human women, we need sperm to create a child.” He shrugged. “It just seems easier to have two fathers.”
“Do you have a mother?”
“Nope, just two fathers.”
Doc chuckled. “That is so going to blow Zack’s mind when he wakes up.”
That turned Eljin’s thoughts back to his unconscious
leannan
. He started to turn back to Zack when Roland and Gunny walked over to him. Both men looked like they had been crying but there were smiles on their faces now.
“Thank you, Eljin,” Roland said. His gaze was filled with tenderness as he looked at Gunny. “You’ve brought my heart back to me. How can I ever repay you?”
“No need, Uncle, I’m glad you two found each other again. I’m just sorry it has to be under these circumstances.
Mayer
told me that Monte is missing?”
A tremor touched Roland’s smooth, marble-like lips “He’s not with you?”
“I haven’t seen him since I was captured months ago.”
“Who’s Monte?” Gunny asked.
Roland shot a worried look at Gunny then glanced back at Eljin. “You didn’t tell him?”
Eljin shook his head. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew you were the Roland Gunny told me about.”
“Who’s Monte?” Gunny asked again, his voice growing rough. “Is this someone I need to be concerned about?”
Roland’s chuckle sounded strained. “Not the way you think, love. Monte is—Monte is our son.”
“Our son?” Gunny roared. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“I didn’t know until I was already being held by the Unseelie Court.” Roland grabbed Gunny’s shirt. “I swear, love. I would never hide that from you. I just never had the chance to tell you. Please believe me.”
“I have a son?” Gunny finally said. He looked stunned. Apparently, Roland’s words finally sank in. “We have a son?”
“Yes, Montgomery,” Roland whispered. “We have a son. I named him Monte after you and he looks just like you, my love, except for the eyes. Those are mine. I told him all about you and he’s tried so hard to live up to your image. He’s a good man.”
“He is,” Eljin said, adding his two cents. “My cousin has always been one of the best men I know. He fought very hard when I was taken. I’m just sorry he was taken too. All this time I thought he’d gotten away.”
“The same people who had you took Monte?” Gunny asked, looking at Eljin.
Eljin grimaced. “It looks that way. My
mayer
has gone to talk with his security council. All this time they believed that Monte and I were taken by the Unseelie Court and they were negotiating for our release. The Unseelie Court played along.”
“We have to go after him,” Gunny insisted.
“We have to figure out who has him first. The Unseelie Court might have him after all. Someone did turn us over to the people that had me. Humans took us from this side of the veil, not