Darkness Wanes (10 page)

Now she stared at him with complete adoration as he leaned down to unlace his boots. It didn’t take a sensor to figure out she was attracted to him. She might technically be a hundred and fifty years older than him, but she’d been sheltered for her entire life in Purgatory. It gave all the nerou more innocence than they would have had growing up on Earth. Watching her was similar to watching a young woman become aware of the male gender for the first time. According to Kerbasi, the guardians preached purity in Purgatory and kept a close watch over them. They’d never had a chance to explore the sexual sides of themselves.

Derrick finished stripping off his clothes and set the folded garments aside. He rolled his shoulders, comfortable in his nude form. Not an uncommon trait among any of the supernatural races. He stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone. His muscles bulged and stretched as he began to shift. Most werewolves needed at least a few minutes from beginning to end, but not the alpha. From prior experience, Lucas knew he’d complete the process in thirty seconds. Derrick’s torso contorted and expanded into the wolf form without any of the painful bone crunching that occurred with others of his kind. His expression remained blank until fur sprouted from his skin, obscuring his face and nose. Then his mouth extended into a muzzle much like a real wolf’s. His legs were the last to finish their transition. Each limb popped in succession as they bent into the proper shape and forced him lower to the ground.

Several of the nerou gasped when the wolf landed on four legs in front of them. He was about the same shape as his wild cousins, but he probably had about seventy or eighty more pounds on them. His fur was glossy and black. If not for the moon shining down, he could have blended into the night.

Derrick padded his way to Rebecca and lowered his head almost to the ground. She lifted a tentative hand and ran her fingers through his fur. The wolf closed his eyes, letting out a low snort. As far as Lucas knew, werewolves didn’t have predestined mates. They could choose who they wanted for themselves, but since Derrick had met Rebecca, they’d been captivated by each other. Zoe once revealed to Melena that she had plans for the two of them. Had she truly intended for her daughter and the alpha to be drawn to each other? Could she have found a spell to make that happen?

Derrick certainly appeared restless whenever he was away from Rebecca. The alpha could hardly sit still these days, and he had difficulty staying focused during the times Lucas met him away from the training facility. Not a good thing for a man who led hundreds of supernaturals. It was a job that required his full attention, especially with the troubles his territory faced. Yet that didn’t change the fact they both seemed calmer and happier when they were together.

Rebecca experienced similar problems as the alpha and had difficulty concentrating in her classes. She stared off into space with despair in her eyes. The other nerou reported she kept to herself and rarely socialized during her free time. Lucas recognized that type of behavior.

He faced his own struggles whenever he was away from Melena. Their bond required them to be together as much as possible and long periods apart fractured them. Rebecca and Derrick acted as if something similar was happening to them, though it didn’t seem possible. They’d only spent a few days getting to know each other before she moved to the training facility. It was possible he and Rebecca formed some sort of relationship in that time, but they’d claimed they weren’t intimate. Could they have bonded without a physical joining?

The rumble of an engine rose through the nearby woods. Lucas turned toward the compound entrance and waited for it to appear. A few moments later, a white van broke through the trees and pulled up to the gate. It belonged to the local shaman, Ajax, who visited the facility often enough, but had no reason to be here today. He had his own gate opener and used it to get inside. As the van pulled closer, Lucas caught sight of the man in the passenger seat.

“Derrick,” he called toward the wolf, “shift back.”

The alpha broke eye contact with Rebecca and moved away from her. Most of the nerou didn’t pay attention to him as he returned to his human form. They must have sensed the tension coming from Lucas and became curious about the visitors.

“Class is dismissed,” he announced. The nerou rose to their feet, but many of them lingered and whispered to each other. Lucas snapped. “Get inside—now!”

One look at his stern expression and they began to move. He waited until they were well on their way to their living quarters before heading for the parking area. The new arrivals, aside from the shaman, were three nephilim who Lucas recognized. Two of them—Sabelle and Udo—were acquaintances he’d met a few times over the centuries, but didn’t know well. The third, Eli, was a man he would have preferred never to see again.

Eli was a psychologist who knew far too much about Lucas’ past. During his last confinement in Purgatory, the archangel court assigned the younger nephilim to assist him in resolving his issues about his long-dead father. They claimed it was why Lucas had been overly violent in his life. He’d hated being forced to dredge up long-buried memories and didn’t believe it helped him at all. If not for the fact Lucas had to cooperate to protect Melena, he wouldn’t have done it. Now every time he saw Eli it reminded him of those painful confessions. To make matters worse, the psychologist couldn’t hide the damning knowledge that showed so clearly in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Lucas asked, stalking toward Eli.

He took stock of the nephilim and noted he appeared thinner than the last time they met and his dark skin had turned a few shades lighter. The other two standing behind him weren’t in any better shape. What had happened to them?

“We’ve come from Purgatory,” Eli explained, folding his hands in front of him. “Our sentences are finished, but we are required to help you train the nerou until they’re ready. It’s a form of community service to keep us busy, I suppose.”

Lucas frowned. He hadn’t known Eli was part of the plot to bring supernaturals out into the world. Those involved had kept the details of the plan from him. After Melena was taken away, word filtered to him that many of the supernaturals who’d participated in the big event were punished, but Lucas wouldn’t have guessed the archangel’s favorite nephilim would receive the same harsh treatment. They must have been angry he’d dared to betray them.

“Will you also be bound to Alaska?” Lucas asked, glancing down at his ankle band. He did not want to think about being trapped in the same state as them. It was bad enough he had to deal with Kerbasi.

Eli shook his head. “No. We are free to travel wherever we want on our off time, but we are here to help.”

“We all are.” Udo stepped forward and held out a hand.

“Remiel said nothing of this,” Lucas said, ignoring the man and crossing his arms. The last thing he needed was help from the psychologist or the other two nephilim he didn’t know that well. They’d only get in his way or think they had a say in the way he ran things.

A brilliant flash of light appeared to the left, blinding everyone.

“I’m telling you now,” a commanding voice said. It belonged to Remiel.

Lucas blinked several times until his vision returned to normal. He found the archangel standing there, wearing his usual white robe. His wings were tucked away, but he couldn’t hide the soft glow coming from him. Remiel had short auburn hair, golden skin, and stood a couple of inches taller than Lucas. Normally, he could be quite the imposing figure, but today he could only be described as haggardly. Remiel’s robe had wrinkles in it—something he’d never have allowed before. His hair was mussed, and there was a haunted look in his golden eyes. If the archangel thought his emotional distress would get sympathy from Lucas, he better think again.

“It’s about time you showed your face. Where is my mate?” Lucas demanded, taking a menacing step forward.

Remiel gave him a fathomless look. “She came to Purgatory several days after the others. Her time is not yet finished.”

“She is suffering there. You should allow her to return immediately.”

“It is Purgatory,” Remiel said, his voice sounding fatigued. “It is not known for its pleasantness.”

Lucas took another step closer. “They have whipped and beaten her. You assured me she would not be tortured.”

“Your mate is every bit as defiant as you. I have restricted her punishments to the lightest options, but as long as she continues to misbehave the guardians have a right to correct her as they see fit. We both know it could be far worse.” Remiel looked beyond Lucas to where Kerbasi had just walked up.

“Did I just hear they are whipping the sensor?” the guardian asked, his silver eyes swirling more than usual. “Only I should be allowed to give her that sort of punishment.”

“I’ll show you punishment.” Lucas started to flash over to Kerbasi, planning to throttle his neck, but Remiel froze him in place. His voice caught in his throat. There was no way for him to move or speak until the archangel lifted the spell. All he could do was seethe in rage and wait to be freed.

“You two have been getting along well and should not ruin it now,” Remiel said, shaking his head. “And, Lucas, you should know better than to believe Kerbasi’s lies. If you paid closer attention, you’d know he is every bit as angry as you about Melena’s treatment. He simply doesn’t want
you
to know that.”

The guardian gave Remiel a nasty look. “Stay out of my head, archangel.”

“I don’t need to peer into your mind. Your body language tells me everything—and I’d note that you do not refute me.” Remiel lifted his brows.

The freezing spell lifted from Lucas. He still had an urge to attack Kerbasi, but that could wait. Obtaining news about Melena was more important. Lucas turned to Eli, who might be a traitor, but would tell him the truth. “How is she doing?”

“She is…surviving,” Eli replied. “Melena has a very strong will that keeps her going no matter her circumstances, but there is a guardian there who she defies at every chance. It has gotten her into some trouble.”

Lucas suspected as much based on what he saw in his dreams, but a part of him had hoped the dreams were false. He should have known better. It killed him to know he couldn’t be there to protect her and keep her safe. “She’s been punished several times.”

Remiel stiffened. “As I said already, I commanded the guardians to refrain from severe physical punishments.”

“It hasn’t been nearly as bad for her as it was for you,” Eli said, attempting to placate him. “She’ll make it through the next few days, I’m sure, but I’d suggest easing her back into things when she returns. Transitioning from Purgatory after your first stay isn’t easy.”

The psychologist would know since this latest imprisonment wasn’t his first. Lucas had dared him to stay there once before and the idiot had agreed to it. Kerbasi had been in charge back then. The guardian had made certain Eli’s voluntary confinement was memorable—and not in the best way.

His chest tightened at the thought of how Melena would handle returning from that revolting place. For those who didn’t know better, they would think the easy part was leaving Purgatory, but returning to Earth could be quite a shock. One’s senses were bombarded with sights, sounds, and smells they hadn’t experienced in a long time. With her extra senses, it could be even worse. It also took time to adjust to gravity differences and the higher oxygen levels. The list went on from there. He’d been confined in Purgatory dozens of times in his life and he still needed a few days to recuperate when he returned.

“I will take care of her,” Lucas vowed. He would make certain her transition back was as smooth as possible.

“She is lucky to have you,” Eli said, his eyes a little too knowing.

Lucas decided his conversation with the psychologist was getting rather personal. The man was far too sentimental. Eli was only a little over four hundred years old and hadn’t become jaded yet, but he’d get over that eventually. Time tended to dull the emotions in immortals, and once they hardened, not many people could break past their defenses.

He turned toward Remiel. “Why have you assigned three more nephilim here? We don’t need anyone else.”

“Eli, Sabelle, and Udo each have a different perspective of life on Earth. It will be good for the nerou to have a greater variety of instructors. It will also give you more time to focus on your responsibilities outside the facility. In particular—Emily.” Remiel gave Lucas a pointed look.

The archangel enjoyed watching over him like a stalking bird of prey. As emotionally strangled as he appeared, Lucas wouldn’t have guessed he was still doing it. Perhaps one day Remiel would find something more entertaining to do, such as get a real hobby.

Lucas ran his gaze over the new arrivals, pushing aside his biases. If he couldn’t get rid of them, he could at least make the most of them. They could take over some of the classes and perhaps offer a few more they hadn’t had the time to provide. He also couldn’t argue that Emily did need more supervision, and he’d need a break to help Melena once she returned.

“It will take some time to get them integrated into the routine,” he said reluctantly. It wouldn’t do to let the archangel think he’d won too easily.

The glint in Remiel’s eyes told Lucas he wasn’t fooled at all. “Then I suggest you get started right away. Your mate will be returning three nights from now.”