Wasteland (26 page)

Our fingers connected, and she smiled. The skin prickled on my arm. I grabbed her wrist and let my wings out slowly as to not jerk her too much. Beka zipped by and with a flick of her blade, the demon’s head rolled. The fingers clasped around Jessica’s ankle turned to ash and sifted away.

The sudden loss of weight slung us up higher, and I hefted her into my arms. She kicked her legs up and over my outstretched arm. We soared upward.

“That was close,” Beka said.

“I knew you’d find me.” Jessica winked in Beka’s direction. “Let’s go down to the bottom.”

Beka drifted closer. “To the river?”

Jessica nodded. “I need time to regenerate. And we are no longer safe in this area. Well, and the house went up in flames.”

“You are injured?” I asked.

She nodded and rested her head against my shoulder. 

Beka fluttered to me, hand outstretched toward the treasure lying in my arms. Her fingers brushed Jessica’s forehead. “What of Russell?”

“I didn’t see,” Jessica whispered. “Can’t see much now. So tired.”

Beka pinned me with a worried gaze. “Time to regroup.”

CHAPTER 38

“She is not immortal?” I asked as I lay the unconscious Jessica on the sandy shore next to the river.

“Not like you and me. She is not meant to live eternally so she still ages,” Beka said.

I brushed my fingers over her forehead, pushing strands of hair to the side. A tint of darkness dusted the corners of her mouth. “I noticed she was older than the last time I saw her.”

“Her aging is slower. Thirty-five years have passed since you last saw her. Her sister, Elizabeth, has moved on, married and has children, living a human’s life.” Beka peeled up Jessica’s shirt, revealing a gash across her side below the bottom rib. “But Jessica has only aged a few years.”

“Yes. The young looking fifteen-year-old I remember is gone. She is taller, has longer hair, and her face slimmer.” I brushed her hair off her forehead.

“She’s got quite a wound here.” Beka lowered the shirt. “We have no supplies here to clean this.”

“I will scout for some aloe vera. Clean it best you can with the stream water, then tear some of her shirt to make a bandage.”

Beka’s jaw gaped. “You know this?”

I cradled the nape of Beka’s neck. “I will hurry and see what I can discover.”

“It will be deep darkness soon, be quick.” Beka clasped her hand over mine while keeping the other on Jessica’s shoulder.

I pointed to my eyes. “Excellent sight, remember?”

She grinned. “But no more protection over your neck is what I’m more worried about.”

I dipped my head, conceding to her logic.

With one push, I was airborne. The cool wind rustled through my hair and tickled my bare chest. Centuries of restriction and control, the freedom my new wings allowed sent my blood soaring.

I hugged the riverbank, hoping the water would allow for the vegetation I needed. A handful of Aloe Vera would help facilitate healing. Hiding a day or two while Jessica recovered would provide a chance to talk with her, be with my wife, and learn more about what I’d become.

Lethal demonic nails, long,
black
wings and the mark of the Guardian. Connected to both worlds. But how did I function as part Light and part darkness? Let alone as a king?

The moon rose, filtering its rays through the trees. Like a beacon, its illumination revealed a patch of the treasure I sought. In aplenty. I banked right and swooped a circle, scanning the area. All clear.

I landed on steady feet, each time becoming more graceful and easier to navigate. Despite how natural flying had come, I still stumbled.

Two long strides brought me to the treasure. I squatted and plucked two handfuls of the healing leaves. Perched on the heel of my foot, I tilted my head back, took in the fresh air, and closed my eyes as the breeze cooled my face and ruffled my feathers.

Quiet, save the stream flowing behind me. Peaceful. No demon rioting with my human side deep within my chest. Nothing scratching at my heart. My entire existence I’d wanted to be rid of the demon within me, and it had finally happened.

Rustling beside me disturbed the calm that had settled over me and sent me to a crouch, ready to fight. Hairs prickled along my forearms and neck. My nails surfaced as I scanned the area. Tips of bushes and shrubbery swayed in the wind before me.

I squeezed the treasured aloe vera and inched toward the water. Probably an animal rustling for a midnight snack.

A cough resonated from the bushes to my left.

I froze. “Hello?”

“Here,” a weak voice I recognized as Russell’s trickled out of the darkness.

A hand reached through the weeds and flopped to the ground.

I hauled him to the stream. The moonlight exposed deep lacerations on his shoulder, arms, and face. None to the neck, he must have protected that fiercely. I waded into the water, holding him to my chest.

“Russell.”

He moaned. I splashed water onto his face. He cringed. I scooped some to his mouth, and he lapped it up.

“Russell, say something.”

His eyes went wide, then the lids hung heavy. “My King.”

“What happened?”

Russell’s hand navigated to his throat. “I saved my head, but lost my footing.” He coughed. “That is a long fall.”

I scooped a handful of liquid over his wounds. “You fell from the ledge?”

“I saw Jessica dive off. Two demons followed, one grabbed her. There was one more about to leap and take her from your grasp.” Another cough rocked his body. “I got him, but we tumbled, fighting for a bit.” He sat up, and I stood in knee-high water. “Those Elite Warriors you call them, they are very strong.”

“This I know.”

Russell, on his own volition, wiped his wounds clean and drank more water. “Another came. I dodged a sword to the neck, but fell over.” He winced. “I’ve never fallen so far and hope to never again. Are Jessica and the Queen safe?”

“Yes. I’m out gathering what I can to help Jessica’s wounds heal.”

“She was struck by the Venefir blade. I saw it happen.”

“Venefir blade? I do not know of this.”

Russell stood, water dripping from his tattered shirt and jeans. “It will kill her.”

My heart thundered within my chest. “But Beka said she can heal, just a little slower than us.”

“Us.” Russell smiled. “I still can’t believe you’re one of us. But no. I mean, yes, usually she would heal, this weapon is different.”

I waved him to me, then reached down and snatched my pile of aloe vera. “Come, we must get back. Explain to me on the way.”

“You can’t carry me, I’m too heavy. You go ahead. I must heal.”

“I am stronger than you think,
friend.
” I gripped his shoulder. “Unless you are ashamed to have me carry you to your Queen.”

“Give it your best shot,
King.
”

“Oh, and I do wish you to stop calling me King.”

“But that’s what you are.”

“Regardless, I wish you to call me David, and if I am your King, you should listen to what I ask, right?”

Russell nodded. I hopped into the air and hovered above him, hitched my arms beneath his armpits and lifted. He was heavy, but I gained enough altitude to move forward.

“Now, tell me of this blade.”

“Jessica is human, for the most part. She ages slower than humans, but she is still fragile, in need of great protection, hence the strong link you and Beka have with her.”

“Yes. I felt her pain.”

“She is vulnerable to magiked weapons.”

“Magiked?”

“Yes, you know magic? Spells?” Russell rolled his eyes. “It’s all just a mess. People get involved in it, some are brought to a dark place and Lucifer uses them as his personal magicians. They can throw hexes on things. Much like that hell they kept you in during confinement or solitary, whatever you called it.”

“Yes. I remember it all too well.” I didn’t mention the illusion Locien had played on me with the girl in his office to make her look like Beka. “Dark magic is very powerful.
And
seductive.”

“You can tell when the weapon is hexed because it gives off a soot-like aura. Only agents of Light, like us, can see it.” Russell coughed, and I lost some altitude with his movement. “Abraham called it out when he saw it. But I got the wonderful pleasure of witnessing it plunge into Jessica’s stomach.”

“She did not say anything.”

“I’m not surprised.”

The wind whistled through me, despite its warmth, it made me shiver. So young, yet so strong, Jessica had made me into what I was. Now it was up to me to save her. And no matter what, I would.

“How can we heal her?” I asked, scared to hear the answer.

“Find the demon who cursed the blade, kill him or her, and the magic dies with the demon.”

The glow of a campfire came into view. Beka sat next to Jessica, combing her hair with her fingers. Her radiant, white wing draped over Jessica like a blanket.

“Let me guess. The demon is with Locien.”

“Probably. No way to tell, really.”

“So you’re saying she is doomed to die?”

“Well…we could go back to Locien’s location, kill them all and hope we get the one who hexed the blade.”

“Not real fond of the shotgun approach.”

“I’m sure they’d love to get their hands back on you.” Russell peered at me. “Want to trade?”

CHAPTER 39

“Russell.” Beka darted from Jessica’s side. “What happened?”

“Fell off a cliff. Luckily I can’t die, right?” He coughed as I sat him down on a rock near Jessica. “But it sure hurts like hell.”

I knew what hell felt like, literally, and he got off easily, but I said nothing. “Russell, are you well enough to get these leaves packed onto Jessica’s wound?”

Beka tilted her head to the side, eyeing me.

“Yes, my K—David, I can do that.” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth but quickly cupped his cheek. “Okay. No smiling yet.”

“Beka, come with me.” I offered her my hand.

She glanced from Jessica, to Russell, to me, jaw muscles twitching.

“I will take care of Jessica,” Russell said. “Go with your mate.”

She hurried toward me with wide eyes. “Is everything okay?”

I twined my fingers with hers and mustered a smile, knowing she’d never accept the idea of me going to Locien. But maybe she had a better plan. Something involving less pain on my part.

“Yes. Everything is fine. First, can you tell me how to pull my wings in as you do, so they do not show?”

We strolled along the riverbank. “Just bring them close and will them inside. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first, but you will get used to it.”

I stopped, sucked in a breath and with only a thought, my wings obeyed. Like they were extensions of my hand. They tucked close to my body, the tickling feathers flicking against my bare back. The dreaded zipper unhitching on each side of my spine followed. Then, the feathers were gone.

“Amazing. I’ve never seen that.” She ran her finger down my back. “The skin opens, slightly, and they dissolve into the slits. Unreal.”

I tensed at her touch. “Still very sensitive, though.”

“Always.” Hot breath skimmed my skin. “Only for us to enjoy.”

Her lips tickled along my spine, and it set me on fire more than her fingertips did. Her hands snaked around my waist from behind. One palmed my stomach the other massaged my pectorals. I was going to tell her something . . . .

“Beka,” I whispered.

She ducked beneath my arm and appeared before me, her body pressed against mine. She stared up into my eyes. “Yes.”

“Did you notice anything different about Jessica’s wound?”

“Very deep, bleeds dark.” She brought her fingers to her lips. “Magic.”

I touched her cheek. “Venifer Blade.”

Her hands rested on my hips, and she propped her forehead against my chest. “No. No. Not Jessica. I’ve seen Magiked blades before. I…I just thought her blood ran darker because of what she was.”

“I don’t know much about this, but Russell says if we kill the demon who cursed it, Jessica would survive.”

“How to find the one in such a vast sea of demons, though?” She lifted her head and met my eyes.

I pressed my thumb on her cheekbone, and grazed it to her temple. She closed her eyelids, and a tear escaped.

“Your heart pounds. What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Russell says they might be interested in me for a trade. The demon that cursed the blade for me,” I whispered.

“Russell has no right to say that of his King. How dare he?” She pushed off my chest. Rocks crackled beneath her. “Where is his loyalty?”

“To Jessica.” I stepped in front of her. “She can convert people close to damnation. I cannot do such a thing. She is more valuable than I.”

“No.” Beka shook her head. “No. I won’t let you. I only just found you. ”

“Beka—”

“We need our King. You can’t be taken from me just after becoming the prophecy. It can’t happen. I—” She showed me her palms. “There has to be another way.”

“I am completely open to finding alternative means of getting the demon. Believe me. I do not want to be near Locien again.” I palmed her neck and cradled her to me. “Not after I just found you. My mate.”

I covered her mouth with mine, and she eased her hands around me. Ripples of pleasure pulsed through me as her fingers grazed my spine. The spot only her touch could elicit such emotion.

“Either we figure out another way, or I’m going with you.”

“No.”

“I live with you, or I die with you, it’s that simple. I won’t go through time without you again. Thirty-five years was enough. It nearly drove me into madness, and you were still demon at the time. Now that we’re united, I won’t stand to be apart from you.” She nipped at the mark on my chest.

Its light pulsed, as did hers.

I toyed with strands of her silky hair. Slowly, I trailed her soft curves. “I should like to see your mark again,” I whispered.

She offered a sexy smile and tugged at her zipper. My heart stampeded harder within my chest each notch she lowered. When the last hitch of the zipper clicked, I ducked my fingers beneath the fabric and pushed it from her shoulders. Her skin sizzled beneath my touch.