Darkness Arisen (11 page)

She pulled her hand away, and folded her arms across her chest, hunching her shoulders, as if trying to ward off the taint of his emotions. The intimacy had made her uncomfortable, he could see that, and tension hummed through him. He needed to bond with her, and yet all she did was create distance.

"Every time you die, the curse comes back," he said. "Every time you shut me out, the curse gains strength. You can't do that to me if we have any chance of making it out of this thing alive."

"Shut you out? What does that mean?"

"It means exactly what you think it means." He moved closer, taking her wrist again. "I can deal with only so much loss when it comes to you," he said softly.

"Me? But I'm—"

"You're my soul mate, and the fact you don't carry my marks doesn't change that. From now on, you don't get to die."

She shook her head. "There's no way to stop it," she said. "Cardiff killed me with a black magic spell. I'm almost impossible to kill, so I keep coming back to life, but each time it gets harder. It's just a matter of time until death finally keeps me and I can't revive. I'm going to keep dying until I finally stay dead—"

"No!" He yanked her against him, and she tumbled into his chest, slamming against his hard body. "You can't die again," he said. "You won't have to come back from death again, because I won't let you die."

Hope flashed across her face for a split second, but was immediately shoved aside by grim reality. "There's nothing you can do, Ian. I'm already dead—"

"Hell, Alice," he interrupted, cutting her off. "All you have to do is talk like that, and it nearly does me in. You make me tread so fucking close to the edge." He lowered his voice, his words like daggers through her chest while his hand locked around her hips. "You scare the living hell out of me, Alice, and I can't let you destroy me."

She braced her hands against his chest, pushing against him, trying to put space between them, but he didn't give her even an inch. "I wouldn't destroy you."

"You would, and you will." He bent his head, until his mouth was only a breath from hers. "No more walls between us, Alice. I can't take it."

He felt her sudden understanding of what he wanted, and the cold chill of raw fear. "You want sex? Emotions? All that?" At his nod, she shook her head violently. "Dear God," she whispered. "Not that. I can't—"

"You can." And then, before she could stop him, before she could twist away from him, before she could fight her own desires, he claimed her with a kiss meant to sear her very soul.

Chapter Six

Alice didn't want to kiss Ian.

She didn't want to feel his emotions.

And most of all, she didn't want to feel her response to him.

But as Ian's mouth captured hers, all of Alice's resistance vanished, just like before. It wasn't simply the kiss. It wasn't simply the raw strength of his body against hers. It wasn't just the fact that he had pledged to keep her alive. It was the sheer force of his being as it filled her through his kisses, his touch, and his very breath.

His hands were firm and unyielding on her hips, pulling her against him. She loved the sensation of being trapped in his arms, as if his great strength could keep all the darkness at bay. The breadth of his shoulders made her feel tiny, as if it was no longer her job to make everything right, to be an independent entity who was incapable of connecting emotionally with anyone.

It was intoxicating the way his lips were soft and yet demanding at the same time, the shocking sensation of his tongue sliding against hers. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, making her nipples tingle with a desire that seemed to vibrate right through her to every level of her being. She'd been kissed before, but never had it been like this. Never had it reached inside her very soul and infused her with life.

She knew it was forbidden. An angel of life was not allowed to connect with anyone, or to develop loyalties to anything but her job. Even her friendship with Flynn had been superficial on some levels. But right now, with Ian kissing her, she didn't care. Though she knew he must be the catalyst sent to be her downfall, she couldn't resist him. It was just too much, this gift, this moment of feeling alive and human. This moment of feeling like there was another being on this planet who was a part of her.

Ian deepened the kiss, asking for more as his hands palmed her lower back, pressing her more tightly against him. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, her resistance shattered. She locked her hands behind his neck and kissed him back.

Yes, Alice. Just like this.
His guttural groan of capitulation filled her mind, and she felt his rising ardor, his need for her.

Excitement tore through her, a heady feeling of power that she could have that kind of effect on him. It was intoxicating, empowering. His emotions were stark and raw, exposed to her, filling her with feelings so intense she barely understood them. It was a gift, this moment, this feeling of being alive. She wanted more. So much more.

His hands slipped beneath her shirt, and she gasped at the feel of his palms against her bare skin. Electricity seemed to leap between them, searing her skin, plummeting through her. She felt like she was on fire, burning for this man who carried so much torment that even she could feel it.
Ian—

Alice. I can't tell you how amazing it feels to hear your voice in my mind. You belong there. Doesn't it feel right?
His hands slid over the curve of her bottom, cupping her, lifting her against him.

The hard length of him pressed into her belly, sending desire shooting through her. And now she remembered. She recalled every detail of when they'd made love before. How she'd given herself over to him on purpose, how they'd tried to use their kisses and physical connection to break the barriers between them so he could learn the secrets she wasn't allowed to share. She remembered the intoxicating sensation of the hard wall against her back, the warm heat of his skin on the inside of her thighs, the feel of him sliding into her—

"Hells fire, Ian. That woman deserves more than a tumble on a fucking rock in the middle of the ocean with an audience. She's an angel, for hell's sake." Ry's voice broke through the sensual haze consuming them, and Alice pulled back, horrified by what she'd done.

But Ian didn't release her or even give the slightest acknowledgement of Ry. He kept his hands locked around her waist, his dark eyes seeming to swallow her up.

Her heart began to race, and suddenly she seemed to have trouble breathing. "I can't do that again," she whispered.

"I need it," he answered. "I need you, or I will die."

A sudden chill broke through her, a sudden panic. "I can't keep people alive," she blurted out. "Please don't count on me for that. I can't—"

"Hey." His voice softened, and he touched his finger to her lips. "It's okay," he said softly, his voice low as if it was just for her. "I didn't mean it that way. I'll keep myself alive." He trailed his fingers through her hair, a gesture so tender that her throat tightened. "I just meant that I need a little loving from you." He flashed her a cocky grin that belied all the strain he'd been fighting so hard before. "Just welcome my kisses like that, and we'll be on the right path."

"I can't—"

"You can." He kissed her forehead once, an endearing tenderness that made her want to cry for what she'd never had.

Ry made a grunt of impatience, and Alice finally looked over at him. The warrior was standing on the edge of the rock, water streaming from his body. He flashed her a hooded smile that seemed like an unbalanced compromise between lethal violence, dark anger, and deferential respect.

Once he had her attention, Ry went down on one knee and bowed his head. "My name is Ryland Samuels," he said. "I'm here to serve you, my lady. Accept my protection, I beseech you."

"You're beseeching her? What happened to 'kill first and regret never?'" Ian dropped his arm around her shoulders, a proprietary gesture that felt both good and threatening. "Hell," he said. "You okay, man? I've never seen you like this."

Ryland slowly raised his head, but his eyes were on Alice alone. The black depths were glittering with something so dark and so evil that it made her skin crawl. "What are you?" she asked.

"Order of the Blade," Ryland said. "One of the elite Calydon warriors sworn to protect the innocents of the world from rogue Calydons."

"No." Memories fluttered in the back of her mind. There was something familiar about his eyes, about the shadows moving in them. "You're not. What are you?"

He met her gaze, and this time there was no mistaking the flint in them. "Order of the Blade," he repeated firmly. "And my mission is to take you back to our leader's mansion where we can keep you safe."

She glanced at Ian, who was still relaxed beside her. He had the aura of a man who'd just been well sated from a three day lovemaking marathon, a man who was king of his world and would not be dethroned. Had her kiss done that to him?

Wow. She must be pretty good.

"She's not going anywhere with you," Ian said. "We're going to find Warwick."

"No." Ryland rose to his feet. "If she's who we think she is, the entire future of the Order depends on her safety."

"She's not—"

Alice held up her hand to silence Ian, curious as to what Ryland knew about her. "Who do you think I am?"

Ry met her gaze. "The Order of the Blade has a trinity of guardian angels. Someone was trying to murder one of them, Sarah Burns, the angel of hope. According to legend, there are two others. If they get killed, the Order is no longer protected. A race is on to find them before the man trying to destroy us brings them down." He gave her an appraising look. "I think you're one of them."

"A guardian angel for the Order?" She laughed softly. "It would be a sorry day for you all if I was. I'm one of those angels who can't quite get it right."

Ian raised his brows. "So you really are an angel?"

"Yes—" She stopped, startled that she'd been able to tell him that she was. The limits that bound her had been inflexible her whole life. No secrets could be shared. No revelations. Just isolation, and, for her, failure. But the rules seemed to be changing now. What was he doing to her? And what ramifications would it have? Sudden excitement rippled through her. Would Ian give her the chance to break free of her angel shackles? Or would he doom her forever?

Probably doom,
he said.
It's a
sheva
thing.

She looked at him. "Please get out of my head."

No.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're going to be a pain in the butt, aren't you?"

Ian grinned.
Yeah, probably. Is that so bad?

"Yes."

"Hey." Ryland rose to his feet. "I'll call Kane to come here and teleport us. We'll head back to the mansion—"

"No." Alice glanced over at the ocean. "I have to find my...sister." The lie she'd uttered so easily both to Ian and to herself for so long suddenly felt awkward. If her connection with Ian was such that he could enable her to break through her restraints... suddenly, lying to him felt wrong.

"Is she an angel, too?" Ryland asked, sudden fire gleaming in his eyes. "Your sister?"

Alice hesitated. How much revelation would save her and Catherine, and how much would endanger them? Every reveal of angel secrets to outsiders would thicken the taint on her soul.

Ryland swore, taking her silence as confirmation. "I knew it. She is, isn't she?" He slammed his fist into his palm. "She's the third part of the trinity, isn't she? That's it. She's the other one we need to find." He strode to the edge of the rock and surveyed the horizon, as if he could make her appear by sheer force of will. "What's her name?"

She glanced at Ian, uncertain how much to reveal to these warriors. Ian's jaw was strong and powerful, and there was a determined set to his shoulders. In the moonlight, his stance was unyielding, and he was watching her intently. He was so dangerous to her, but at the same time, there was no denying that there was a connection between them, which was more than she'd had with anyone else in so long. She'd felt his agony when she'd died, and she knew his response to her was genuine. Could she trust him?

Warwick killed my father,
Ian said.
I will not rest until the wrong is righted. You know that.
He let her feel the raw determination of his words, his commitment to his cause.

It felt exactly the same as her own need to track down Catherine, her own need to find the wizard. A commitment that would not die for either of them until it was over, no matter what else happened between them.

She could trust him, with that at least.
Can I trust your team?

Warwick might be the one targeting the Order. If it's him, they'll help.
Ian glanced over at Ryland.
We'll need their assistance against him.

Alice took a deep breath, fear warring with the need for help. Alone, she had no chance. With the Order of the Blade at her back? Maybe the nightmare could finally end.She took a deep breath and made her decision. Anything was worth the risk to help Catherine.
Okay.
She turned to Ryland as Ian locked her more securely beneath his arm. "My sister is Catherine Taylor," she said. "And yes, she's an angel."

Ryland spun around to face her, intensity burning in his eyes. "Is she part of the trinity? Are you?"

She hesitated, and then gave the only answer she could. "I don't know."

* * *

Ian studied Ryland's tense body language, and a rising sense of frustration filled him. What the hell did Ryland know? More than he'd been sharing. "Ry. You need to fill me in on this shit. I need the details."

His teammate ignored him, still focusing on Alice. "What kind of angel are you? What kind is Catherine?"

"Hey." Ian strode across the rock, stepping in front of Ryland and blocking his view of Alice. "What the hell is your problem? It's Cardiff who is after the Order, isn't it? You saw his horse, didn't you? That's why you're cutting me out, because you think I can't handle it."