Absolute Surrender (14 page)

Lila patted Kira’s arm as she passed her. Her dark face appeared ashen and faint lines marred her skin. She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and sat down in a green armchair, weariness seeping from her.

Aethan crossed to her. “Tell me what’s wrong, Lila.”

She sighed heavily, her dark eyes meeting his. “The bruises, the internal injuries, you’ve healed them. It’s the deep wounds on her arm that worries me. She’s been hurt by an old and powerful demon. He left his mark on her.”

His mouth tightened. There was only one reason for inflicting such a wound. So the bastard could track Echo while the lesions remained unhealed. Aethan would see about that.

“Then heal her.”

Lila shot him a surprised look. “I can’t. It’s unlike wounds from
demonii
-bolts. It will take time.”

“What if they come after her again?” he asked, his fear for Echo growing. He cared little his behavior was at odds with the person Lila knew him to be. Echo’s life was at risk and all that mattered.

“Then she must be kept safe until those lesions heal,” Lila told him.

Safe.
Aethan looked away to glower at a painting of a seascape on the wall. The demon had
tried to take her through the portal. If he’d appeared a second late—

His jaw compressed at the thought he could have lost her before he even recognized what she meant to him.

“Warrior, you got there in time to save her,” Lila said, drawing his attention back. A grateful smile lifted the exhaustion from her face. But it did little to reassure him.

“How long will it take for her arm to heal?”

“A day—two maybe. Don’t worry, all will be well. Echo will be safe here.”

Did she really think he would leave Echo here, knowing the wound acted like a damn beacon? That would put not only Echo at risk, but Lila and Kira as well. Time to put an end to that speculation.

“I’m taking her with me. The safest place is the castle. The
demoniis
won’t be able to track her there.”

Though Lila appeared calm, her wariness swamped him like a thick cloud.

“You know I’m right. With her at the castle, she’ll be safe and you can continue to treat her wounds without putting yourself or your granddaughter at risk.”

She continued to stare at him, not showing any sign of relenting. Didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to be dissuaded from his course of action. Echo would go with him.

He’d have done so right then but for the fact it hurt like a bitch to dematerialize while wounded. And he couldn’t put her through more pain again. With no choice but to cool his heels, he strolled over to the window and stared through the net curtains.

“Why would you take on the responsibility, warrior?”

He couldn’t fault Lila for asking, since she was one of the few humans who knew they were immortal Guardians. Not like they could’ve hidden that from a strong oracle like her.

“Warrior, I don’t know how long you’ve known Echo, but I’m guessing a few days. However, I must say this, since she is mine. You take her, it changes everything. Echo’s past has shaped who she is. Her life hasn’t been an easy one and I ask you to think carefully before doing anything.”

He turned slowly. “You believe I will hurt her?”

“No, not intentionally, but you know what I speak off.”

Her blunt words had his defense mechanism locking into place. So what if he was an immortal? Or for that matter a Guardian? Even if she picked up on his chaotic feelings for Echo, it made little difference to him.

“My duty is to keep her safe. More so, since I know she’s one of yours. You know the laws.”

Lila’s black eyes seemed to see right through the bullshit he was spouting. He didn’t care. He wanted Echo safe within the castle walls. It was Michael’s order, after all to safeguard the oracle’s family. But whatever. It suited his purpose.

“I understand your concern, but I still think it’s best to leave her with me. I will keep her safe until Damon gets back.”

“No.” His voice hardened, became layered in steel. He didn’t give a rat’s ass who Damon was. And he sure as hell wasn’t leaving Echo with him.

“What do I tell him?”

“The truth. She’s in danger and is under my protection.” If the bastard couldn’t do a better job of protecting her, then he’d see to it.

Lila sighed. “He won’t like this, but all right. Keep in mind, warrior, you cannot expect to keep her safe by caging her. She’s human. Free will is her right.”

Not if it meant keeping her alive. Then free will could take a back seat. Hell, he lived without free will. Being who they were, immortal and born with immense power, their lives were always governed by laws.

But there was something else he wanted to know. One thought which gnawed at him, dug its claws into his mind, and insisted on being answered.

“Tell me what happened to her, about her past.”

Lila looked into his eyes. Whatever she saw there, she nodded in agreement, which surprised him. He’d expected her to question his motives. Maybe she couldn’t see through to his blackened soul after all.

“Echo was young when her parents died. She ended up in foster-care. It’s not an easy life for any grieving child to adapt to, and worse when one has abilities like hers. It was the worst kind of persecution when the people chosen to look after her turned on her.”

The anger in Lila’s voice troubled him. Not once, in all the years he’d known her, had she shown this kind of emotion. She rose, appearing older, tired, and slowly made her way to the dining table where a tea service waited.

“Tea?” she offered.

He declined, preferring his caffeine strong enough to burn a hole in his gut. He waited while Lila poured the golden liquid into a thin china cup then stirred in a teaspoon of honey.

“What happened?” Aethan prompted.

“She wouldn’t talk about it. But I’ve seen it in her memories...” Lila’s gaze took on the same eerie swirling thing Blaéz’s did whenever a vision took hold of him.

“You need to see for yourself, warrior.” She came over and touched his hand. Her psychic sight took over his, drawing him back to the past.

Into a shadowy night.

A dark basement.

A whimpering girl cowered in a corner. She appeared to be about six years old. A wealth of long black hair covered her face. Her pain evident in her stiff movements, but her fear was tangible, thickening the dank, musty air.

‘
Stay there, you little bitch. Open your nasty mouth about Clyde again—don’t you look at me with those eyes.
’

‘
I’m sor—
’

Her foster father backhanded her. The force of the blow sent her slamming into the wall. Pain crashed through her shoulder, her jaw. But she never cried in front of him. To do so meant more beatings. But Clyde, her foster brother, was bad. He always tried to put his hand up her dress. Her foster father wouldn’t believe her, called her a liar.

‘
You ever look at me again, I’ll cut out those cursed eyes.
’

Echo squeezed her eyes shut.
God, please make him go away. Please don’t let him take my eyes.

‘
Don’t even think to go crying to Social Services when they come over or you’ll regret it, you little freak.
’
He slammed the basement door closed on his warning and locked it.

Echo huddled against the wall as the tears finally trickled down her face. Hopelessness filled her. She looked up at the small basement window, her only source of light, which came from a lamppost across the street.

‘
Please—please, Daddy, Mama, come back. Take me with you.
’
More tears dripped down her face...

Aethan tore away from the visions, his breathing harsh. The unanswered prayers of the child Echo had been wrapped around his heart like barbed wire, dug in their claws, and slowly shredded it apart. He’d heard every thought she hadn’t yet learned to shield.

The pain, hurt, and sheer terror of his mate put him in an icy, murderous rage. The air became heavy with the promise of retribution.

“Where are they?”

CHAPTER 11

Aethan entered the darkened bedroom permeated with the strong smells of the potions recently used, anger crawling through him. Lila had to point out it served no purpose to seek vengeance now. But her logic made him feel helpless, which only fueled his ire more.

He struggled to calm down. But...shit! He’d have better luck stopping the next major earthquake. The images of Echo’s childhood haunted him. Too worked up to sit still, he paced the small room, the carpeted floor subduing his heavy footsteps.

The curtains, fluttering in the breeze coming through the half-opened window, caught his attention. Lila may have left it open to get rid of the overwhelming smells, but this obvious breach in security was exactly why he wanted Echo at the castle.

He strode over and closed the window, then willed the bedside lamp on. It cast a soft glow over the bed.

A large gray cat with a ginger ruff lay near Echo’s head, taking up most of her pillow. Unflinching amber eyes watched Aethan’s every move. Its heavy tail draped on her shoulder, flicking in warning when he drew too close.

“Tough luck, pal. I’m not leaving.” Aethan crossed his arms and eyed the feline, undaunted by the animal’s threat. “I’m her mate, get used to it.” For now.

The animal stilled. The hair on its back rose.

Aethan’s eyes narrowed. There was something about the feline that made his psychic senses twitch. He prowled closer.

A low rumble escaped the animal’s throat, before it went back to napping. His tail swished along Echo’s arm as if reassuring himself she was safe.

The stand-off over, Aethan shook his head. “I know how you feel,” he murmured.

A soft rap and the door opened.

“I’m sorry,” the brunette whispered, poking her head into the room. “Bob got away from me.” Her gaze shifted to the bed and she eyed the feline.

Then she turned to Aethan, hands planted on her hip. “Gran said you’re taking Echo with you when you leave and I’m to stay out of it. Normally, I wouldn’t question her. But for some reason she trusts you. However—” She gave him a gimlet look. “I am gonna say this: don’t let my friend anywhere near those horrible
demoniis
until Damon comes back. He’ll keep her safe.”

Damon.
The name was starting to irritate the hell out of him. “You would trust this person with Echo’s safety?”

The answer shouldn’t matter to him. He’d made his decision to let her go once he’d turned the demon fucker after her to ash. But as if under a compulsion, he had to know.

“With my life,” she said, her tone sharp. “He is her guardian, after all.”

Relief flooded him, one he didn’t know he sought.

“Come on kitty-cat. You’re sleeping with me tonight. Echo needs her rest.” She scooped the growling, chubby animal off the bed and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Aethan turned back to Echo. He examined the bruises on her face that appeared to get worse as they darkened. He’d have to wait another day before he could attempt more healing.

Her fragile body had already taken on more than it could handle for one night.
Demoniis
using her as a stomping ground, him healing the severe internal injuries, mending her fractured ribs, and the added pain of dematerializing—shit! He shut off the thoughts, knowing he’d lose his mind, if he continued down the path of how close he came to losing her.

But through it all, he couldn’t stop thinking of the child weeping in a basement. He’d only promised Lila not to seek vengeance. But if he ever came across that human, he’d kill him.

He hunkered near the bed and skimmed her uninjured cheek with a gentle finger. She didn’t stir. Lila had taped white gauze over the wounds on her arm. A loose T-shirt replaced her ruined and bloodied clothes.

Why the hell had she been in that subway? Taking on
demoniis
by herself? He’d warned her—well, no more. He’d make sure of that.