Heart of Stone (27 page)

“I guess I am getting ahead of myself.” His sigh breezed over her cheek, and he pulled her closer. “Sorry.”

She should push him away, set some boundaries, but she just couldn't. They lay quietly, wrapped together and listening to each other's heartbeats.

“This place is safer than it used to be,” he said several minutes later. “Criten got in here a few weeks back. We didn't even know he existed, much less to set up security to keep him out. That was a close call.”

She seized on the change of subject. “I heard about that. Fractured neck?”

“Yeah. They took him out of here on a stretcher.”

“So Cara told me. He's back in Santutegi, nursing his wounds. Word on the street is that the Seers ambushed him and stole the stone.”

“That's the word, huh?”

“Obviously that story is incorrect, like everything else to come out of Santutegi. Still, at least Criten is temporarily benched. That's probably why he sent Azotay after me.”

He rolled her onto her back, his brow furrowed. “Who's Azotay?”

“You've never heard of him?” When he shook his head, she went on, “He's Criten's hit man. His fixer. If he sends Azotay after you, you're pretty much toast.”

“And this Azotay is chasing you?”

“Yes, he's here. Well, in New Mexico, anyway. He's the one who sent Corinne and Erok to get me. If you hadn't come, I don't know if I could have held them off.”

He sat up. “Why didn't you say anything about this before?”

“About Azotay? You knew the Mendukati were after me.”

“The Mendukati, not this hit man. You say he's in New Mexico?” Darius reached for his cell phone on the nightstand.

She sat up. “Who are you calling?”

“Adrian. He called this morning to tell me he and Ben had been attacked by a bunch of Warriors.” He opened his contacts and selected one.

“What! Is Ben okay?”

“Yes, he's fine. The show is over tomorrow, and I've sent the jet to bring them here afterward.” Darius turned to sit on the edge of the bed, his back to her. “Gray. What do you know about a guy named Azotay?”

Faith frowned at Darius as he listened to Adrian. Why hadn't he told her about Ben being attacked? He had to know she'd want to know the instant he did. She crushed the sheets beneath her fingers. Though Ben was in the company of a very capable Warrior, she knew Adrian wasn't invincible, and the Mendukati—Azotay—could very well capture Ben and use him to try to force her over to their side.

Was that why Darius hadn't told her? Did he think she might defect before she was done analyzing the stone? Was that the real reason he'd suggested she stay?

“Faith.” She jerked her head up and realized he was handing her his phone. “It's Adrian. He wants to talk to you.”

She took it and brought it to her ear as Darius got up and headed for the bathroom. “Hello?”

“Hey, Faith. I don't want to leave Ben for long, so I'll keep this short. Have you ever seen Azotay? Can you describe him?”

“No, just heard about him. Dark hair and dark eyes. They say he has a scar across his throat where someone tried to kill him. That's all I know.”

“I've heard the same, but I'd hoped you'd actually seen him yourself.”

“Sorry, no.”

“Okay. Listen, don't worry about Ben. He's my number-one priority. We'll see you tomorrow night.”

“Yes.” She tightened her fingers on the phone. “Be careful, Adrian. These guys are ruthless.”

“I know. See you tomorrow.” He hung up.

She stared at the phone for a moment before setting it down on the nightstand. Darius came out of the bathroom. “What did he say?”

“He wanted to know if I've ever seen Azotay.” She sat back against the headboard and hugged a pillow against her body. “I'm so worried about Ben. If anything happens to him—”

“Hey, now.” He sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch her hair, his dazzling blue eyes soft. “Adrian Gray is a badass. You know that, right?”

“He's a Warrior, which is good, but Azotay has a band of Warriors with him, which is bad.” She rested her chin on top of the pillow. “Why didn't you tell me, Darius?”

“I forgot.”

Her eyes bugged. “How could you forget something so important? Didn't you want me to know?” She flung the pillow aside. “Or were you worried it might distract me too much to finish the work with the stone?”

“What? No, of course not.”

She shoved herself off the bed on the opposite side from where he sat. Why had she even allowed herself to hope, even for a second, that he was different from everyone else? “Maybe you thought I might give in to the Mendukati's demands if they got hold of Ben? Steal the stone or something?”

“Faith, where are you getting this?” He came around and took her by the upper arms. “Sweetheart, he called me at six thirty this morning. I had every intention of telling you.”

“Then why didn't you? Darius, we've been together all day.”

“I know, and I don't have any better response than it slipped my mind.”

“Slipped your mind!” She pulled away from him. “My only family is in mortal danger, and it slipped your mind?” She spun away from him and stalked the room, hunting her discarded clothing.

“Faith, wait. I said wait, damn it!” He took her arm as she rose from picking up her panties off the floor. “You're acting like I deliberately kept this from you.”

“Didn't you?”

“No, I didn't.”

She shook him loose and turned her back. Jerking on her underwear, she faced him again, hands on her hips and half naked. “Then explain. And I'd better believe it, pal.”

His face darkened. “You're not going to use this to push us apart, Faith.”

“Now what are you talking about?” She bent to scoop her jeans off the floor.

He folded his arms and watched her, his expression stony. “Gray called early this morning. I went for my swim, showered, got breakfast. I planned to tell you when you got down to the cabana.”

“Why didn't you?” To her horror, tears stung her eyes. She blinked furiously and tugged on her jeans, hoping she could stop the betrayal of emotion before he saw it.

“You were late.” His voice had softened.

“So? I overslept.” She turned, searching for more garments. Anything to keep him from seeing the angry-scared-embarrassed moisture welling up.

“You were late, and I was scared for you. I thought the stone had captured you again.”

“Oh, come on.”

“It's true. I thought it had sucked you in, that it was too late to save you. And then you came walking out, wearing those tight jeans and that cute pink shirt, all excited about the stuff Ben had sent you. You looked so beautiful, and I was so relieved that I completely forgot to tell you about Ben.”

She slowly faced him as he spoke. The catch in his voice, the genuine concern in his eyes, his posture, all indicated he was telling the truth.

“Then you started working with the stone,” he continued, “and you were gone so long, so deeply caught by its memories. I was afraid I wouldn't get you out. Then when you did come out…” He stopped.

She'd thrown herself into his arms, into his bed. Her shoulders relaxed.

“Honestly, Faith, I just got distracted by everything going on. Is one mistake really enough for you to write me off already?”

“No, it's not. I'm sorry. You're right. A lot happened today.” She swiped a hand over her face. “I've just gotten so accustomed to people trying to use me for their own goals that I guess I've gotten hair-triggered.”

He reached out a hand, and she took it, allowing him to pull her into his embrace. Part of her demanded she should stand firm, not be fooled by tender words and earnest apologies. But if she went through life trusting no one, suspicious of everyone, she'd end up a very hard, embittered, and lonely woman.

“You know you're still naked,” she said against his chest.

“You know you're overdressed.”

She pulled back and met that steady, blue-eyed gaze. “Let's do something about that, shall we?”

“Works for me.” He watched as she stripped off her jeans and panties. “By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, there's something else I need to tell you.”

She tossed her clothes aside, braced for bad news. “All right.”

“I want to tell you now so I don't forget and get in trouble again.” He waited for her smile to continue. “Tomorrow morning my family has a private ritual they're doing up in the temple. Entertain yourself, sleep in, go swimming or something until I come get you. Then we'll work with the stone.”

“Okay.” It seemed odd that he'd go out of his way to tell her about such a personal family thing. She was a guest here, not a permanent resident. But the fact that he'd felt the need to mention it only reminded her how much his family distrusted her. One more obstacle that proved a permanent relationship with him was just a fantasy.

“Hopefully the thing will be over fast.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Then we can take another whack at that stone.”

“Work, work, work.” She shook off the negative feelings and focused on the hot, naked man before her. “Let's play.”

“Race you to the bed.”

*   *   *

Sometime after midnight, Faith left Darius's place and headed back to her own room. She swung by the cabana and picked up her ring, which she'd forgotten earlier. She slipped it on her finger. Though it had been the wedding ring from her doomed marriage, she still cherished it because Ben had made it for her. And its protective powers had shielded her from the Stone of Igarle's consciousness until she was ready to deal with that tricky hunk of rock.

She only wished the ring could protect her from the complications of her relationship with Darius.

Okay, so she'd flung caution to the winds and slept with the man. Was it the smart thing to do? Probably not. She was fairly certain she was risking heartache by following her emotions rather than exercising caution. If she were smart, she would have kept things purely professional with Darius so she could leave at the end of the job with her bank account full and her heart whole.

But the revelations today had shaken the very foundations of what she thought she knew, and he'd been right there, steady Darius. Always sympathetic. Always extending a hand to help. Always so darned attractive. Going into his arms had seemed a natural thing, and making love with him had felt like coming home.

She had to dig deep and find some objectivity, some way to seal up her emotions in a safe place so that she could keep control of their relationship. Enjoy the affair, the sex, the closeness, not mourn for a permanent romance that probably wouldn't work out anyway. She wasn't going to stay, no matter the sweet fantasies she'd conjured. She lived in the real world, and eventually she would have to leave the bubble of the Montana mansion and return to it.

But as she slipped through the sliding doors to the kitchen, she wondered if she would depart this place whole, or if she would leave her shattered heart behind.

*   *   *

Darius knew when Faith slipped out of the guesthouse to return to her room, though she clearly thought he was asleep. He'd followed her empathically until suddenly the connection cut off. He jumped out of bed and went to the window. She came out of the cabana and headed for the house. The motion lights around the pool flicked on as she walked, gleaming off something on her hand.

That ring again, the one that blocked her from his powers.

He watched her until she disappeared into the house, then turned back to his solitary bed. It would be so much easier once he was able to tell her the truth about his abilities, especially that his empathy worked on other Atlanteans. That was something he had in common with her late husband, so she might not take that news well. She might even see their sexual encounters as some kind of attempt at manipulation, but he was convinced he could make her understand his side and the promise he'd made to his family for everyone's safety.

Tomorrow was Rafe's Soul Circle, and Darius would need all his energy to aid his brother in getting through the ritual intact. Once Rafe was safe, Darius could approach the family about telling Faith the truth. Maybe then, once he'd come clean about his empathy, he could start coaxing Faith toward a more permanent relationship. Because that's what he realized he wanted.

He'd fooled himself into believing he could have a brief, casual thing with his destined mate, even justified it with the idea about solidifying the mate link as another defense against the Mendukati. But the more time they spent together, the more he came to understand that temporary wasn't enough. He wanted Faith in his life permanently.

He loved how she tried to be so tough all the time, to handle everything on her own. How she accepted him and his damaged body as they were. She'd been used and manipulated her entire life, orphaned young and betrayed by her husband. Everyone wanted a piece of the Stone Singer. Only Ben had shown her the love she so deserved. It was no wonder she had such trouble trusting people.

He wanted to earn her trust. To laugh with her, to share her burdens. To look at him with love.

He was an empath, and his power was to see into the heart. Now when he looked into his own, all he saw was Faith.

*   *   *

The Mendukati had been suspiciously absent over the past twenty-four hours. Adrian didn't trust it. Another man might relax his guard, thinking they'd abandoned their mission. If creating that assumption was their intent, it had backfired. He remained even more vigilant because of their absence. Because he knew the Mendukati did not just go away.

Von was monitoring the Mendukati's movements, ready to send in the cavalry at the first sign of trouble. If Adrian and Ben weren't leaving tomorrow, Adrian would have already abandoned their “under the radar” strategy and given Von the go-ahead to send some more Warriors. As it was, in a few short hours they'd be safe in Sedona.