Love Knows No Bounds (19 page)

She was a perfect image of Cade’s dead wife.

It all made sense now. That first day in Afghanistan, he’d stared straight into her eyes as though he recognized her, but it hadn’t been Phoebe he’d seen. That was why he had reacted to her, probably why he had saved her. He had arranged this whole charade because she reminded him of his wife.

Did he have any feelings for her at all?

No.

It wasn’t Phoebe he wanted, but this Eleni. He had even said her name when he kissed her that first time.

Phoebe was nothing but a substitute for his dead wife.

Why was she so surprised? She had suspected something wasn’t right. His feelings had been too quick, too intense. Deep down she’d known there was something else going on.

Swiping away the tears, she allowed the anger to build inside her. Anger was better than the pain tearing at her heart. Suddenly, she was fiercely pleased that she hadn’t told him she loved him.

…

“I have to do this,” Bryce said. “I’ve tried, but I can’t stay here.”

“We can help you.” Cade wasn’t sure he spoke the truth. He’d known this was coming. The darkness had awoken when they had been torn from the women they loved and thrown into the Abyss. Lilith had shown them how to focus the power, how to use it for destruction and chaos.

And for many years, they had reveled in that madness, rampaging across the earth in their need for revenge. Only the revelation that perhaps there was a chance they could win back the women they loved had returned them to sanity.

Now the darkness slumbered in all of them, and they did what they could to gain some hope of redemption and the chance to be whole again.

But Bryce had failed his own testing, and his wife had been lost to him forever. Now he fought the darkness constantly. How could you fight the demons when they were inside you?

“I’m beyond your help and I won’t bring you down with me.” Bryce turned to Torr. “No mortal man can harm me. No mortal weapon can end my life. But you can.”

Sadness pulled at Cade—Bryce wanted to die. How bad the pain must have become. He glanced at Torr, saw the same sadness in his friend’s eyes, followed swiftly by resolve. Suddenly the humanity was gone and Torr stood before them in his real guise, a demon of the Abyss—The Destroyer. Black wings curved at his shoulders, his yellow eyes glowed feral. A huge sword hung at his back, and he drew it in one fluid move. He took a single step toward Bryce and pressed the tip of the sword to his throat. “You really want it all to end?”

Bryce nodded. The movement pressed the sword against his skin and a bead of crimson welled from the small wound. The sweet scent of blood tinged the air.

Cade held his breath.

Torr lowered the sword. “I won’t end your life now. But if you come back to me one year from today and you still wish me to do this…so be it.”

Torr stepped back and the demon was gone. He moved to the other man, clasped him close, then released him. “Go.”

As Bryce turned to leave, the door was flung open and Phoebe stood in the entrance. She was wearing his shirt, but had pulled on her skirt and boots, her blond hair hung loose about her shoulders, her legs were astride, her eyes flashing. Something had obviously happened since he had left her curled up sleepily in bed, and his mind searched for what it could be. Nothing could have harmed her in this building.

He was aware that the whole room was watching them, and he shifted uncomfortably. He’d have preferred this conversation alone, but could hardly ask Torr to leave his own office, and Phoebe didn’t look particularly amenable right now. “Phoebe, what is it? What’s happened?”

She seemed to become aware that they weren’t alone and she looked around the room, her eyes widening as they took in his brothers. Then she gritted her teeth, and he could see the resolve hardening in her expression.

“I saw the painting.”

For a moment, his mind didn’t make the connection. “Painting?”

“Of your wife. Of Eleni.”

Shock hit him in the gut. Why hadn’t he thought of that? The answer came almost immediately—because his mind had been on other things. There were no locked doors in this building. If you weren’t supposed to be there, you would never get in. He hadn’t even thought to hide the painting.

He stared at her, trying to see what was in her eyes. Behind the anger, he could detect a pain she was obviously trying her best to hide. He wanted to drag her into his arms, comfort her. He couldn’t say the words, but he could show her that he loved her. He turned to look at the others. Torr nodded, and they all filed out of the office. Torr rested his hand on his arm as he passed, and Cade felt the strength flowing through him from the contact.

“It’s not what you think,” he said as the door clicked shut behind them.

“How do you know what I think?” she snapped.

“It’s obvious you’re angry, but you’re also hurt, and there’s no need.”

“No need? You come on to me strong, and I’m thinking there’s something odd here. Now, I know what. I’ve just discovered that I’m the exact image of your dead wife. Is that a coincidence, Cade?”

“It’s not a coincidence.”

“Then tell me what it is, because I can’t come up with any other reason than you’re fixated on a dead woman.”

He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides while his mind worked furiously. He couldn’t tell her the truth because it would break the Covenant. And not only would he lose her forever, but all of his brothers would be banished back to the Abyss and Lilith.

She watched him, and he saw the sadness fill her eyes. “There is no other reason, is there?”

“It’s not like that. I can’t explain right now, but just stay with me, just for one more day, and I’ll show you what you mean to me.” He took a step toward her, and she backed away from him until she came up against the closed door. She held up her hand, and he forced himself to come to a halt a foot away from her, when everything inside him wanted to take hold of her and refuse to let her go. “Just one day, Phoebe.”

She bit her lower lip and stared over his shoulder. Finally, her gaze returned to his face. “Tell me one thing.”

Cade took a deep breath and nodded. But inside he knew the question she was about to ask and the answer he had to give and fear knotted in his gut.

“Do you still love her?”

The question pierced him. He couldn’t lie, not about this. “Yes.”

“Then there’s nothing more to say.”

He stepped toward her, reached out a hand on her arm. “Please, Phoebe, one day, then if you still want to go, I won’t stop you.”

She shook off his hand. “I can’t. I can’t risk it. What happens when you realize that I’m not her? Because you will. Then where will I be?” She licked her lips. “I’ve spoken to my editor. I’ve told him you’re clean, that there’s no story here. I’m flying back to Afghanistan tomorrow. I need to get some things sorted, so…” She shrugged. “Good-bye, Cade.”

Chapter Seven

Day Five

Phoebe bolted upright in the hard plastic chair. She searched frantically around her. She was in the departure lounge at Heathrow airport. Everything appeared normal—no one had screamed her name. It was just a dream.

She must have dozed off—it would be the first time she had slept since she’d left Cade. She rubbed her gritty eyes and glanced at her watch. Not long now, and she would be boarding. At the thought, the grief she had been holding at bay rose up inside her, engulfing her, squeezing her heart in a vise-like grip.

She closed her eyes and she was back in her dream. This time when she opened her mouth, it was Cade’s name she cried out. It was Cade who was torn from her arms, and her soul ripped from her body because he was gone.

She blinked, and she was back in the airport, but it had seemed so real, and in that moment, she knew there was no point in running. It was already too late.

Go back.

The words whispered through her tortured mind.

The feeling was so familiar; the same pain had haunted her all her life. Except this was different. In her dream, she’d had no choice—she’d been bound to a stake, and unable to go to the one she loved. Now there was nothing binding her except her own fear. But what was the point in running away if she carried the pain within her? What was the point in denying her love? It didn’t diminish that love in any way.

And she did love him.

Maybe he had only come after her because she looked like his wife. That didn’t mean that was all he saw. She would make him see
her
. Make him love
her
. And if she failed, she could hardly feel worse than she did now.

Her cell phone rang. Her heart leapt. Was it Cade? She fumbled as she pulled the phone from her bag. But the caller ID showed her sister and disappointment washed over her.

“Susie?”

“It’s Dad, Phoebe—he’s had a heart attack—they’ve taken him to hospital. He’s asking for you.”

Susie wouldn’t give her the details over the phone, just told her to come. Phoebe raced out of the airport and got a taxi to the hospital. She sat in the back, gnawing on her lower lip, silently urging the driver to go faster. She’d messed up her whole life with her cowardice. If her father died before she got there, before she told him she loved him, she would never forgive herself.

Susie met her at the door and led her to a private room. “He’s going to be fine. He’s sleepy now, but he won’t settle until he’s seen you.”

Some of the tension drained from her. Phoebe crossed the room to where her father lay on the hospital bed. He appeared frail, but he turned his head and smiled as she came to a halt beside him.

She gripped his hand. “I love you.”

And she knew the words were true. She’d always loved him. She’d believed herself incapable of love but it had been there all the time. Fear couldn’t stop you from loving; it could only stop you admitting that love to yourself and to the people in your life.

“I know. I’ve always known.”

She held his hand until his grip loosened and he slept. Then she sat beside him and watched him sleep. She closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer of thanks.

Behind her closed lids, she saw a vision of Cade. He stood on a rooftop and called her name. Her eyes flew open.

Go back.

This time the words screamed through her mind.

There was something important she needed to do. She had to see Cade.

Now.

Soon it would be too late.

Phoebe cast one last glance at her father. He was sleeping peacefully, and she leaned over, kissed him, then hurried from the room. She raced down the corridors, some inner voice driving her on.

She slammed into something. A solid wall of muscle. Looking up, she stared into crimson eyes. She opened her mouth to scream, and everything went black.

…

Cade stood poised on the edge of the rooftop, gazing down at the city far below trying to fight the despair that threatened to overwhelm him. Was it only two days ago that he had stood here with Phoebe? It seemed like a lifetime.

Time was nearly over.

He flexed his wings. Maybe he should take off, just head upward, and keep going. Or maybe he should go find her, force her to stay with him. At the thought, the dark powers that slumbered inside him stirred.

A door slammed, and he turned slowly. Torr stood facing him and Cade couldn’t bear to look into his face and see the pity. Instead, he spoke into the night. “I’m going to go get her. She’s mine, and I’ll make her remember.”

“You’ll damn your soul for eternity.”

“I don’t care about my soul.”

“You care about hers, though. Will you drag her down with you?”

Something broke inside him then, as he finally acknowledged the fact that he had lost her. He punched the concrete wall, then collapsed to his knees.

“You need to be strong,” Torr said.

Cade peered up and shook his head. How many times had they said those same words to Bryce? Had it done any good? But he could pretend. He rose to his feet. Torr held out a hand but he ignored it. He stood for a moment. “If things go wrong, you’ll kill me. Promise.”

“I’ll give you the same offer I made Bryce,” Torr said, then turned and walked away.

Cade knew he would continue—what choice did he have? He suspected redemption was beyond him, and he would never atone for the things he had done. But he could try, and one day maybe his soul would be released, and he would find her again.

Her beautiful face flashed before his eyes and pain rolled over him.

“Phoebe!” he screamed her name to the night.

In the deep corners of his mind, he heard her answer. Heard her panicked cry.

Torr had paused in the doorway to answer his phone. Now he turned back to Cade, his expression grim. “That was Finn. They’ve lost Phoebe. He thinks Lilith has her.”

It took a moment for the words to sink in. Then Cade roared with rage. Without thinking, he smashed open a portal and hurled himself into the Abyss. His wings formed as he fell, ripping his shirt, and he wrenched off the tattered remains.

Far below him, flames flickered in the darkness. Cade headed toward them, instinct telling him that was where he would find Lilith and Phoebe. He prayed he wouldn’t be too late.

He landed hard and rolled, coming up on his feet. At first, all he could see was fire, and panic and fury raged inside him. But he’d know if she were already dead, and for the first time since Torr had spoken, he forced his mind to function.

Lilith wouldn’t kill her, at least not before the time was up, and there were minutes remaining.

He stood on the sandy bank where he’d brought Phoebe that first time. To his right a huge bonfire blazed, blue and orange tongues of flames intertwined. The crackle and roar of the fire filled his ears, but when he breathed in the air was fresh.

No smoke. This was spell fire. Magic.

“Cade!”

The panicked scream came from inside the flames. He stepped closer, so the heat seared his skin, and looked beyond the conflagration. Phoebe stood very still at the center of a ring of fire. Her arms wrapped around her middle, her eyes wide with fear. He reached out to her, but some invisible barrier prevented him from getting nearer.

“You’re too late. You can’t save her.” Lilith spoke from behind him, and he spun around.

“Release her,” he growled.

Lilith pursed her lips. “Her own fear locks her in, not me. The circle is closing. When your time is done, she will burn. Again.”

Hatred poured through his veins like molten metal, but he couldn’t waste his last minutes on Lilith. One day, her time would come. He returned to the flames, fighting to get to Phoebe, but the magic held him back. “Phoebe!”

He couldn’t bear the thought of her dying alone.

Taking a small step toward him, she peered through the curtain of fire. When she caught sight of him, the panic cleared from her eyes. “Cade,” she whispered.

Despair clawed at his guts. Phoebe trusted him to save her, and he was about to fail her for a second time.

She took another step, then halted as the flames licked at her skin. Stretching out her hand, she reached for him.

“Remember me,” he urged, hearing the desperation in his voice.

She shook her head, the pain and fear smoothing from her face. “I don’t need to remember. I love you.”