Dwellers of Darkness (17 page)

Twigs snapped. My gaze darted and roved over the brush. Swallowing, my heart thumped in my throat.
Who could get through the border?
My nose examined the air again. All Fae smelled different, but powerful magic had a particular odor. Humans also had a distinct scent I was starting to recognize. This didn’t smell like any of them.

Keeping low to the ground, I skulked closer. At one time I would have stayed in one spot shaking like a little girl. Those days were over. I pulled out the knife I kept in my boot. The blade glistened under the bright stars as I slipped soundlessly into the throng of shadows.

My focus centered on a darker silhouette under the trees. A figure stood looking at the boulder where I had been sitting. Gripping the knife tighter in my hand, I sprung at the form, dagger ready. The body whipped around sensing me. The face became unmistakable.

“Dammit!” I tried to pivot at the last moment, but still collided into the object. His arms grappled onto me as he slammed back into a tree.

“What the hell, Ember?”

I straightened up and got my balance. “Holy crap, Josh, you scared the shit out of me.” My hand clutched my chest.

“I scared you? You freakin’ had a knife going for my throat.”

“Well, what were you doing sneaking up on me? Not smart.”

He grumbled something and brushed himself off, standing upright.

“What are you doing out here, Josh? Alone.”

A snort came out him. “
You’re
out here alone.”

A frown pressed down my lips. Lately, I felt like he took everything I said the wrong way. Finally, having a moment to relax, my feelers picked up Josh’s scent. He smelled like himself. Teenage boy. But not the odor I had detected earlier.

“I came out to get you for dinner, but I got caught up in watching you jump the rocks and move the leaves around. Seriously impressive.” He jerked his head toward the boulders.

“Thanks.” I wiped my forehead, tidying back the loose stands of hair. “Many months of training.”

“With the Demons.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.” The thought of Lars launched shudders through my shoulders. Strangely, I missed him and the others who had trained me. A lot. Particularly Marguerite. I missed her warm hugs.

“So you haven’t contacted them yet?”

“No.” I fervently shook my head. “Lars is definitely someone I’m avoiding at present, for my own well-being.”

“Oh?” Josh’s eyebrow curved.

I smiled thinly. “Never make a pact with a Demon.” I grabbed Josh’s arm, tugging him toward the house. “Come on, I’m starved.”

When Josh and I reached the house, I heard a noise. It didn’t take long before Josh was looking around curiously for the source of it, too. It sounded like crackling, thick paper.

“He has insulted me for the last time, Cal.” I heard Simmons’ voice before I saw him.

“Stop moving, Simmons. You’re spilling it,” Cal exclaimed.

Following the voices, we walked around the wood stack on the side of the house. Cal and Simmons were on a large, white piece of paper, with leaves scattered over it and a bowl of liquid in the middle. The way Cal hugged and clutched the bowl, I was certain it contained juniper juice. Cal hiccupped and started humming happily.

“What’s going on here?” I put my hands on my hips and glared down at the two pixies.

Simmons’ chest was puffed up. He tried to pick up his bare feet, but the paper came with his foot and threatened to tip over the container.

“Hey.” Cal frowned at Simmons then turned back to his bowl, his face full of pure adoration. “He’s sorry, my love. He didn’t know what he was doing. He promises never to do it again.” He fondled the side with loving caresses.

“What happened?” A smile hinted at my lips. But I had learned when Simmons was offended not to make it worse.

“Your Dark Dweller set a trap for us, my lady. A cruel, evil trap. We’re stuck.”

I nudged Josh in the ribs when I heard him snicker. He squatted and touched the paper. “It’s fly paper. My grandma used to put it out in the summer to catch flies and mosquitoes.”

My hand flew up to my mouth, disguising my need to laugh. “Let me help you get off it.”

I got some water and, with a little force and some of Simmons’ skin, he pulled free of the paper. Cal had a death grip on the dish, so I tugged them off as a united pair. Cal didn’t even seem to notice or care he was free. He reclined next to the bowl and fell asleep cuddling the saucer.

“My lady, beware. The fight is on now. No one messes with a pixie,” Simmons declared before flying off.

“I’ll actually have to give Eli credit. That was pretty damn funny.” Josh chuckled as he headed for the house.

I rubbed at my temples as the snores from Cal fluttered over the breeze. Funny, yes, except I had heard pixies were known pranksters. This could get nasty.

“
Where are they?” A voice boomed. I jumped awake, searching the room for the threat. My blurry gaze settled on Eli filling the doorway of the cabin.

Being jolted awake by Eli tearing into the room like a mad-man was all too familiar. I dug my head back into my pillow with a groan, but Kennedy and Mom sprang up startled.

“Where are those little fuckers?”

Huffing, I pushed the blanket off and sat up, rubbing my face. “What are you yelling about?”

“The pixies... where are they hiding?”

“How should I know?” My eyes had finally cleared enough to see something was all over Eli’s shaved head. “What the hell is on your head?” Eli’s shoulders widened as he took in a breath. I could now see on his forehead and scalp were a dozen penned doodles.

“Are those... ?” I trailed off as my hand went to my mouth.

“Penises, yeah.”

I burst out laughing but quickly tried to stop when Eli’s eyes flashed red. I did a horrible job; my mouth twitched as a giggle clawed up my throat to get out. I had to fight it even more as I continued to look at the crude sketches of penis shapes on Eli’s head.

“You think this is funny?” Eli demanded. “They wrote in permanent marker.”

The giggles took over, shaking my body, and I howled with laughter. Finally, when I could talk, I added, “You
were
acting like a dick. You insulted two pixies, and they retaliated. You know pixies are tricksters. You only got what you deserved.” I shrugged, trying to hold back my snigger. “Actually, it suits you.”

His eyes ran over me, taking me in. For the briefest moment I could have sworn I saw amusement flicker in his eyes, but he turned and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

A hoot of laughter came out of my mouth.

“Now that was funny,” Mom said from her bed. “Think Cal and Simmons are my new favorite people.”

My stomach ached from laughing, and tension slid off my shoulders. It was exactly what I needed at the moment. Wiping my eyes, I got up out of bed.

“Where are you going?” Kennedy asked.

“I’m going to go warn Cal and Simmons... after I thank them.”

I pulled my tangled hair back into a ponytail as I stepped outside. I was still wearing Eli’s boxers to bed. I kept telling myself it was because it was so warm outside, but it was a lie.

“Cal? Simmons?” I ventured off the porch. “You guys better hide for a day or two,” I spoke to the trees. I knew they were there and could hear me. In case other people were listening, I kept my tone a little chastising. There was a slight movement in the trees. I winked and gave them two thumbs up. A tiny snicker was my only response.

I guess I should go check on Eli and see how pissed he really is
.

The house was empty when I entered. I thought I heard motorcycles revving this morning while still half asleep. Lucky them. They could leave when they wanted and get away for the day. Someone was always around; they never all left, so I moved quietly into the house and down the hallway to Eli’s room.

“Eli?” I knocked while opening the bedroom door. I popped my head in, quickly assessing the area. It was empty. His room and his belongings called to me, wanting me to discover their hidden secrets. My curiosity suddenly took over any rational thought. I wanted to know what he had as treasures or keepsakes. I glanced behind me. When I was sure he was nowhere around, I continued in. I had been here only a week earlier, but my attention had not been on the objects in his room. It had been on other items he had. The door clicked behind me as I shut it.

Eli was such a perplexing, ambiguous person. I knew he kept secrets from me, and there was so much about him I didn’t know. He had a history with my mom no one would talk about. The Dark Dwellers were exiled, and he had something to do with it. Why was he the reason they had been banned? What had caused those scars on his face or his limp? There was a story there, but he was too defensive and guarded when it came to his past.

Hell, I didn’t even know what books he liked to read. And, okay, if I were being honest, I wondered what kind of porn, if any, he had in his sock drawer.

One wall was lined with windows, one had closets, and the other held the door. His bed occupied the only blank wall. There were no posters or art on the walls, but there was a shelf with books and a dresser with money, loose paper, and a locked wooden box. I tiptoed to it. I could open it; I had opened locked doors before. The only problem was I couldn’t relock it. If I forced it open with my mind, it would shatter the lock inside, and Eli would know. I couldn’t break into someone’s private stuff so blatantly. I forced myself to turn away and look at his bookshelf instead. That was innocent enough if caught.

The books ranged from
Lord of the Rings
and
Motorcycle Diaries
to
Animal Farm
and
Hunger Games
. The last two kind of worried me.
Animal Farm
Meets
Hunger Games
was hitting a little too close to home in this place. I moved to his dresser. The top drawer held his socks and other things. Only a few boxers were in there. He didn’t seem to put on underwear often. No porn. Maybe it was under the bed.

The second drawer was full of t-shirts. I was about to close it when one caught my attention. The paint stain on it was something I recognized. The familiar t-shirt was one of my favorites. It had been Mark’s before I stole it, and even though I got paint on it, I couldn’t give it up. It was not one I had brought to the ranch last time. It had been in the dirty pile in my closet. I hadn’t had time to get it before the Strighoul attacked me when Eli and Cole had let me go back to my house to get some of my belongings. So why was the shirt here?

I left the dresser behind and went to his closet. Clothes draped from hangers, his boots and shoes below. But something big and bulky sat in the back of the closet. Dropping to my knees, I crawled to the back and dragged it into the light. The box was heavy and large. I lifted the lid and peered in. My hands dug through the objects, not believing what I was seeing. It was like someone punched me in my stomach.

The chest was full of my stuff: my baby books, my art, Mom and Mark’s wedding album, and many other things I thought were lost forever. I grabbed my baby book, my fingers glided over the small tear in the inseam, pulling a piece of fabric from its binding. The cut of material was supple in my hand—my baby blanket. Needlepoint silk thread was sewn around the edge. My tattoo symbol. Torin told me my mom had been a powerful
Dreamwalker. Had the dreams of my mom actually been dreams, or had she dreamwalked with me? It was another thing on my ever-growing list to ask her. She had been tight-lipped since she had gotten back. Because of what she went through, I tried to let it go until she was ready. I think the time was up; I wanted answers now.

As silent as he was, I felt Eli enter the room. His presence filled the space, but he did not speak. I shoved the piece of fabric into my waistband.

“What is this?” I waved to the box containing my stuff.

He stayed quiet and stared at me, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Why do you have my stuff? My baby book, photo albums, my old t-shirt.”

“You and Mark have been gone for three years. Did you think your house would sit there?” He moved farther into the room. “The bank put it on the market.”

I turned and looked at Eli. He was fresh from a shower. His only clothing was a pair of jeans that hung low on his hips. Drops of water ran in trails down his chest. He wiped his head with a towel. They had faded a little, but the markings were still there. I looked back down at the things in my hands. “You have my photo albums and sketch pads.”

Silence.

“But you thought I died... so why would you get my stuff?”

Eli glanced out the window.

Looking back down in the chest, I picked up a DVD. “The Twilight Zone?” I recalled embarrassing myself when I had first met him and invited him over to watch the series.

“Yeah, someone told me it was a cult classic, and I should probably see it.”

A twinge of emotion flickered through me. Eli would probably never admit it, but he thought I died and still retrieved these items from my house. He had wanted something of mine. This meant more to me than if he had actually said
I love you
. I was certain nobody knew he had done this. Showing emotions would be a weakness he wouldn’t want anybody to know, including me. More tears ebbed at my lids—tears I had been keeping at bay all week. I bit down hard on my lip.

“Well, thanks.” I tried to sound unemotional.

He sighed heavily.

“What?” I stood, facing him. He propped his shoulder against the wall, leaning as he studied me. “What?” I demanded again, infuriated with his muteness. “You don’t have a biting retaliation? Seriously? You?”

He folded his arms over his taut chest. His muscles cut in ridged lines across his abs.

Not that I noticed or anything.

“Dammit! Say something. Anything. Yell at me for sneaking into your room, for going through your stuff.” My arms flailed, like a dysfunctional windmill. “Speak, bark, meow... I don’t care. Just have one frickin’ emotion or thought. Don’t simply stand there.”

His green eyes sparked, and he stepped forward. I countered his step and moved back. His emotions were unreadable. He had the same look when he ordered takeout or was about to snap someone’s neck. Nervousness made my heart beat faster, but I stood tall.

“There she is.” He lifted his eyebrows and gave me a steady look.

“There who is?”

“The passionate, opinionated, pain-in-the-ass girl I have come to know.” He stepped even closer, aligning our bodies. “She disappeared this week. Became distant and detached. Cruel even.”

I blinked. “Wait. You’re calling me out for being mean, distant, and detached? That’s comical.”

“Yes, but those things are my charming personality. Not yours.”

My throat tightened. I bowed my head.

“I know you feel guilt and pain. You’ve been through a lot, but you without your emotions, isn’t you. Those feelings make you who you are. Why you love so passionately, protect your loved ones so fiercely, and act like a stubborn mule. It’s why people are drawn to you, even against their will.”

I snorted.

He pulled my face up to look into his. I could feel the wall, which I had put up to guard me from the latest wave of unbearable pain, start to crumble.

“But I can’t take it. It’s too much,” I hung my head.

“You can because you have to.” Even trying to be nice, Eli still didn’t sugar coat things. “You have people counting on you. You’re the only one who can stop her.”

I tilted my head into his chest, letting out a breath. We stood for a moment before I felt his arms wrap tightly around me. We drove each other crazy, but he was always the one who could pull me back from a ledge or let me do what I needed to do to get something out of my system. He seemed to understand how I worked even better than I did. He could get me riled up and calm me down. I knew what I felt for him. I was in love with him, and it was terrifying.

Without a word, I pushed up on my toes. My lips met his, and instantly fire rushed through my veins. I sighed; I was home. He kissed me slowly and thoroughly, but the spark between us heated swiftly. His hand gripped the back of my head, crushing me into him. His tongue and lips were enticing and inviting.

Finally, I pulled away, both of us breathing heavily. My eyes burned into his. “I’ve come to recognize this week that you are a serious pain in the ass. I will probably come to regret telling you this, but I’ve realized I
can
live without you, Dragen. I just don’t
want
to.”

A grin hinted at his mouth. “Ditto, Brycin.”

He went to kiss me again. I knew how things would turn out if I let it. And this is where the vicious cycle lay. Eli and I never talked about or solved the problems between us.

I drew away. “We need to talk.” Even I cringed as the words came out of my mouth. Eli’s eyebrows went up. “Yeah, I can’t believe I uttered those words either. But we do.” My teeth tugged at my bottom lip, gathering my words. “I never wanted a normal guy or a typical relationship. It’s not who I am. I wouldn’t be happy with a ‘nice’ guy.” I made quotes in the air.