Darkness Wanes (18 page)

A heavy weight lifted from his chest as he realized his family was back together again. Lucas had never expected to care about two women as much as he did Melena and Emily, but he’d do anything to keep them safe. They gave his life meaning. Memories of his cold and violent past faded into dull black and white images lived by a different man. Who knew it would be two sensors—a race he’d once reviled—that would bring him peace and make him whole?

Micah poked his head into the doorway and beckoned him. Lucas took a final lingering look at the bed before walking out of the room. He suspected Melena and Emily would be asleep for some time yet. Though he would have preferred to stay by their side, it was best if he took care of business while they were unconscious. He would come back later to clean Melena’s wounds and put fresh dressings on them. No one else would care for her in this way except him.

Lucas waited until they moved down the hallway before speaking. “What is it?”

“Is Emily not going to school?” Micah asked.

“No. Under the circumstances, I believe it’s best to keep her home today.” It wasn’t only because of Melena’s return, but also due to the attack the previous evening. They had no way of knowing if the humans might target her at school, and they couldn’t watch her there until they took care of their home first.

“I suspected as much.” Micah gestured toward the stairs. “The mystics are here to put the protection spells around the house.”

“Good.”

They headed down and found Yvonne and her daughter, Dianne, waiting in the foyer. Lucas didn’t know them well, but Melena had befriended the elder of the two soon after she arrived in Fairbanks. Yvonne was in her early seventies with long silver hair. She was surprisingly spry and had a set of sharp eyes on her. Dianne was a middle-aged nurse with a hint of gray in her brown hair. According to Melena, she had nearly as much magical talent as her mother, but after she lost her husband ten years ago she preferred to focus on raising her sixteen-year-old son. Using her powers was more of a part-time job for her.

Each of the mystics had a tote bag hanging on their shoulder, filled with various supplies. They’d arrived faster than expected, considering the demand for their services had risen with all the recent upheaval. More than likely, they’d rushed over for the sake of Melena and Emily. The sensor had once saved Yvonne, Dianne and her son from being captured by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency had a facility where they studied the various supernatural races in the hopes of discovering their strengths and weaknesses. The mystics were grateful to avoid that fate and would do whatever they could to help Melena.

“Thank you for coming,” Lucas said, giving them a courteous nod.

Yvonne scrutinized him. He might be her elder by more than two millennia, but that didn’t stop her from judging him. He didn’t flinch under her gaze, though he speculated on whether she’d ever turned anyone into a toad or not. He wouldn’t put it past her.

“Is Melena doing well?” Yvonne asked, her voice dry and crackly.

“She’s weak, but resting.” Lucas glanced upstairs. “If we could keep noise to a minimum, I would appreciate it.”

“Do I look like I was born yesterday?” the elder mystic asked, putting her hands on her hips. “We heard what she’s been through and wouldn’t dream of disturbing her.”

Micah spoke up. “There are also two vampires sleeping in the basement. If you need to go down there, let one of us know first.”

Ajax hadn’t known there was a basement when he brought them the previous evening and Melena hadn’t been in any shape to mention it. Last night, Micah set up make-shift living quarters down there so they could rest comfortably for the day. It would have to do until they could transport them to another location.

“Which vampires?” Yvonne asked.

Lucas lifted his brows. “Does it matter?”

“Nikolas and his paramour, Josslyn,” Micah answered, shooting Lucas a censorious look. His brother was more diplomatic than him.

Yvonne pursed her lips. “Won’t the alpha have something to say about that?”

“He can try.” Lucas crossed his arms. Derrick had forbidden Nik or Josslyn from entering his territory ever again, but this was an emergency situation. The master of Fairbanks would have to get over it.

“It’s no trouble,” Dianne said reassuringly. “Where do you want the spell placed?”

Lucas gestured toward the woods. “Along the tree line. I don’t want anyone getting too close to our home again.”

He would have preferred the protection spell went farther out than that, but the two women could only cover so much ground before the spell became less effective. Using the trees as a demarcation line would give them a reasonable safe zone. Once Lucas and Micah recovered the strength they’d lost the evening before, they could add their power to it.

“I’ll explain the specifics,” Micah said, then drew Lucas’ attention toward the road leading to their house. A black truck was coming down it. “You can handle Derrick.”

Lucas cursed inwardly. He should have known the alpha would visit as soon as he heard about Melena’s return. The man had checked in regularly while she was gone. Couldn’t Derrick have given them a little more time before encroaching on their home?

“Remember, no magic on the house,” he reminded Micah before going out to meet the werewolf.

They’d chosen to have the mystics enact a spell that would prevent those with ill intent from crossing the designated border. He would have liked to put a secondary one on their home, but with two sensors living there—and a third visiting—it would only take one of them getting a paper cut and bleeding on the floor to nullify the magic. With the line drawn well away from the house, there was less risk of that.

“Derrick,” Lucas said, walking up to him.

The alpha nodded, then shot a concerned glance at the house. “How is she? I heard she had to go through a forest fire and got injured.”

No doubt the shaman had told him. “You heard correctly, but she’s resting and healing now.”

Derrick worked his jaw. “I’d like to see her.”

“She and Emily are resting together upstairs,” Lucas said, firmly. Even the alpha wouldn’t begrudge them time alone or wish to disturb their sleep.

Derrick sighed. “It’s just as well you let Emily miss school today. Several supernatural students were attacked before classes started. One boy was beat to death and two others barely managed to escape.”

Lucas glanced over his shoulder at the upstairs window. If Melena hadn’t come home last night, Emily could have been attacked at school today and Nik and Josslyn might not have escaped the forest fire. Once again, she’d suffered for the sake of others.

He returned his attention to Derrick. “We’ve got more help at the compound now. I will rearrange my schedule so that I can watch over Emily and the other students on school days. If I can’t be there, Micah or someone else will take my place. There is only a week left until their summer vacation begins. I believe we can manage to keep them safe for that long.”

Relief flashed in the alpha’s eyes. “I’ve posted guys near the schools where my people have children, but they can’t get too close without drawin’ attention. It’ll help if you can be inside the high school without being seen. I suspect that’s where these attackers will focus their attention anyway since they ain’t gone after the younger ones yet.”

“Agreed.”

An old beat-up red car pulled up the road. Lucas had known this was going to be a busy morning, but he hadn’t realized Cori would also hear about Melena’s return this quickly.

“Is there anything else?” Lucas asked Derrick.

The alpha let out a heavy sigh. “Afraid so. I can smell those vamps you got hiding in there. Heard Melena was the one to bring them back.”

Lucas tensed. “You and I both know she would never leave them to burn in a forest fire.”

“That’s just it.” Derrick shook his head. “I can’t say nothin’ without her leapin’ out of her sick bed to argue with me about it.”

Lucas let out a rueful smile. “They won’t be here too long. I’ve arranged for them to fly to Juneau tonight.”

“Are they okay with that?” the alpha asked.

Lucas recalled the brief conversation he’d had with Nik the night before. “Not particularly, but I gave them no other choice. They’ll come to realize a fresh start is for the best.”

“Good thinkin’.” Derrick shifted on his feet. “When do you think Melena will be up for visitors?”

Lucas wanted to tell him never. “Give her a couple of days. I’ll call you once she’s feeling stronger.”

“You do that.” Derrick waved at Cori on the way to his truck.

She rushed up to Lucas, a worried expression on her face. “Emily called last night. She said Melena came back in bad shape.”

“She’s been through a lot, but I believe she’ll recover.”

“Is Melena still sleeping?” Cori asked, tucking a few loose strands of her black hair behind her ears.

One would never guess by looking at her smooth, unmarred skin and casual clothing that she was a tattoo artist. She had a dangerous edge to her that showed in her eyes occasionally, but most of the time she hid it well. Lucas had been trying to figure her out ever since he first met her. Cori had a rather murky past that didn’t sit well with him, but he’d learned to tolerate her due to her proven loyalty to Melena. She never hesitated to watch his mate’s back when the need arose.

Lucas guided her toward the house. “Melena will likely rest the entire day, but you’ll have to wait a while before you can leave.”

He pointed toward the mystics, who were starting to extend their spell across the road. Lucas was glad they’d waited until Derrick drove off before blocking the way out.

“Protection spell?” Cori lifted a brow. She’d come a long way since being introduced to supernaturals last year.

“Yes.”

They headed into the kitchen where Lucas smelled coffee brewing. He found Patrick standing next to the counter drinking a cup. The man appeared to have woken recently. His short brown hair stood on end and he still wore the same t-shirt and shorts from when he’d gone to bed.

“That strange cat came in here begging for food. She was rather persistent so I gave her some tuna,” Patrick said, letting out a shudder. “I’ve never seen an animal that could change shapes like that.”

“Sable belongs to Melena. If you do not wish to see her turn into a lion and eat you, I suggest you don’t upset her,” Lucas warned.

Cori snickered. “She came by my place a few weeks ago and scared the shit out of my neighbor’s dogs. It was the first quiet night I’d had in a long time.”

She lived outside of Fairbanks as well. Sable must have checked everywhere she thought Melena might have gone while out roaming. Lucas was thankful the shape-shifter could stop searching now and stay home more often.

“And you are?” Patrick narrowed his eyes at Cori.

“Your worst nightmare if you do anything to put Melena or Emily in danger,” she replied, glaring at him. Emily must have told her about Patrick as well. “Lucas might be willing to tolerate you, but the jury is still out with me.”

The mug the sensor held rattled as he set it down on the counter.

“Coffee?” Lucas asked Cori, reaching into a cabinet.

“Yes, please.” She pulled out a stool from the kitchen island and sat on it.

Patrick cleared his throat. “I’m here to protect my daughter, not harm her.”

Cori took the mug Lucas handed her. “All I hear are words. You’re going to have to prove it before I believe you.”

Lucas knew he’d allowed her into the house for a reason.

“So I’ve been told,” Patrick said, then looked between them. “Is everyone around here this confrontational?”

Cori turned to Lucas. “Is this really a good time for him to be here with Melena just getting back from Purgatory?”

“Purgatory? That’s where she was?” Patrick’s eyes rounded. “The woman who adopted my daughter went to
that
place?”

“Oh, sorry.” Cori covered her mouth and gave Lucas an apologetic look.

He sighed. It was bound to come out eventually now that Emily’s father was staying in the house, but he’d hoped to put it off as long as possible. “Yes. She was there.”

“Why?”

Kerbasi came ambling into the kitchen. He didn’t like coffee, so he went for the teapot on the stove instead. The guardian paused as he passed by Patrick. “We’d be here all morning if we tried to list the reasons the sensor was confined there. What it comes down to is she risks herself too much to save others.”

“Why would she be sent to Purgatory for that?” Patrick glanced between them in confusion.

“You would have to ask the archangels,” Lucas replied.

Cori downed her coffee and set the mug down. “I don’t want to disturb Melena, but is there anything else I can do?”

“There is one matter in which you could assist us.” Lucas hesitated at making the request. He normally didn’t like to involve humans in supernatural matters, but their resources were stretched thin and Cori had proven reliable.

She cocked her head. “What is it?”

“There are two vampires downstairs. They fed when they arrived last night, but they were rather malnourished. I suspect they’ll need to feed again this evening to fully restore their strength. It is a matter of finding the right candidates who can be compelled.”