Dead After Dark (39 page)

“I don’t harm defenseless women.” Lucien swung around, arms crossed. “Not even witches.”

Time to go while Trey had optimum use of his power. At midnight he’d begin to weaken until the point of total vulnerability at the first rays of daylight tomorrow morning. His powers would fade in and out like a bad radio signal.

“Rowan isn’t entirely defenseless while she’s possessed,” Trey pointed out, just so they were clear.

Lucien shrugged. “I’m not worried.”

That still hadn’t been a straight answer so Trey told Lucien, “Just know that I won’t let a breath pass without coming after you if anything happens to either of those women.”

“Sooner you go, sooner you’ll be back,” Lucien quipped.

Trey sighed with the weight of responsibility balanced on his shoulders, but he’d been taught that his fate was set the
day he drew his first breath and had little control. He had to repay past sins committed by others. The end of the civil war between Beladors and the Kujoo had come on this same night eight hundred years ago. Their goddess Macha had cut a deal with the Hindu god Shiva to end the blood shed by her wiping out male Beladors and only allowing future generations to thrive if they upheld an oath of honor. Shiva in turn sent the Kujoo to live beneath Mount Meru because they had spit in his face by swearing allegiance to Ravana, a demon god Shiva believed he’d killed.

Now Trey faced breaking the truce.

“I’ll be back by midnight if I don’t find him,” Trey said, then strode to his Bronco where he traded his glasses for a set of goggles with the same unbreakable lenses. He climbed in and drove away, ready for the confrontation.

The sun had dropped out of sight hours before by the time Trey returned to the house having found no Vyan, no night-stalkers, and no other supernatural entity.

Something was definitely going down tonight.

When Trey stepped back on Sasha’s porch, Lucien pushed the front door open. “Any luck?”

“No.”

“Why do I get the feeling midnight means something significant to you?”

“It does, but I don’t want to discuss it.” Thunder pounded the heavens. Cool air filled with a dangerous scent washed across Trey’s skin in advance of the storm building. “I won’t be here long,” he told Lucien, then walked away to find Sasha curled up on the sofa staring at the blaze in the fireplace. The warm room smelled cozy and inviting after racing through the cold downtown streets.

Trey wanted to stay, but time wouldn’t let him.

Sasha jumped up when she saw him and dashed into his open arms, hugging him close. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I haven’t found him yet.” He hoped that came out as encouraging rather than the bad news it was.

She turned her face up to his for the kiss he needed, too. Trey broke the kiss and touched his forehead to hers, willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe from harm. Even take on the gods who might interpret his actions as starting a war.

“I’ve got to go back out . . . for a while.”

Lightning crackled outside and flashed against the windows. A boom followed close behind.

“I’ve waited a long time for you to come back.” She sounded angry, but he knew it was her way to hide her fear.

“I’m going to do everything within my power to come back tonight,” he whispered. “No matter what, please forgive me.”

A tear snaked along her cheek. She swatted it away. “I already did. I love you.”

He opened his mouth to tell her he loved her, too, but thunder echoed through the still air, making him rethink his words. How could he say he loved her then never return?

“There’s been no other woman to equal you,” he finally said, his voice rough from the knot in his throat. “Stay here and be safe until . . . this is over.” His watch beeped. Midnight.

Trey kissed her for all the yesterdays they missed out on and all the lost tomorrows. He deepened the embrace, silently giving his heart to her. An easy gift since she’d owned it from the day they’d first met.

He set her away from him, wishing things had worked out differently, but his destiny was set a long time ago. Turning, he took a step on the longest journey he’d ever faced, one that would likely lead to his death. He stopped to speak with Lucien.

“If I
don’t
make it back, take Sasha and Rowan to a VIPER safe house.” Trey cringed inside at the thought of his
free-spirited Sasha locked away in an underground vault, but she’d be safe until the war ended if he failed tonight.

Lucien gave a terse nod of agreement.

“I’ll contact you telepathically . . . if I can’t come back.” An aching tremor shook through Trey’s body, reminding him it was time to go. He strode to his Bronco. When he reached the door,
I’m waiting, Belador
, whispered past his ear.

Where
? Trey asked and stuck the key in the ignition.

Your ride will bring you to me
.

The truck engine cranked without Trey touching the key. The gearshift moved into place and the Bronco accelerated.

“Why won’t you wake up, Rowan?” Sasha sat on the edge of the bed, holding her sister’s hand. She could not lose Trey or Rowan when both had just come back into her life.

Lucien strode into the room and placed the palm of his hand over Rowan’s forehead. “Something holds her unconscious.”

“What can I do?”

“Nothing. In fact, it’s probably best that you stay away until we see what state she’ll be in when she awakes.”

“I’m not leaving her alone.” Sasha crossed her arms.

“Go downstairs and rest. I’ll stay with her.”

Sasha tapped her foot, debating the merits of leaving her sister in the care of a man who Rowan believed hated witches.

“
I
never said I hated witches,” he said with a sexy smile.

“You never said you didn’t.”

“Point taken, but your sister is safe with me.”

His gentle assurance swayed Sasha’s decision to relinquish guard over her sister. “Please call me if she needs me.”

Downstairs, Sasha paced the house from one end to the other. She stalked off to her bedroom where she dropped to the bed and laid back. Sleep would be impossible tonight, but she’d conserve her strength in case her powers were needed.

Sasha
.

She scanned the room. Was that Trey? He sounded far away.

Sasha, I need to tell you something
.

She sat up quickly and glanced around. Was he reaching her telepathically? If so, shouldn’t she hear it
inside
her head and not whispering through the room? “Trey, is that you?”

Yes. I’m hurt. I just wanted to say good-bye before I die
.

Her heart jumped in her chest. She didn’t waste another second debating telepathic properties and ran to her closet to change into nylon pants and a sweatshirt. She yanked her hair into a ponytail and donned boots then paused. Could she trust Rowan to a man Trey clearly did not trust? But Rowan did trust Lucien and Sasha put a lot of stock in her sister’s intuitive ability. She prayed she was making the right decision then realized she didn’t know where she was going.

“Trey, where are you?” she whispered.

Lying on the steps where we first encountered Vyan
.

Piedmont Park. Her throat constricted at the image of Trey dying. She cloaked herself and slipped from the house, then let her Subaru roll down to the street before cranking the engine.

When she reached Piedmont Park fat raindrops pelted the windshield, but she couldn’t waste a minute hunting an umbrella.

Sasha raced against sheets of water, sloshing through puddles in the park. She crossed the footbridge over the lake and wrenched to a stop when invisible hands grabbed her arms, lifting her a couple inches off the ground. She began to float forward until she saw Trey facing the Hindu warrior. She opened her mouth to shout but the words vanished from her mind.

Where was that Kujoo warrior hiding? The park was empty. Weariness bled through Trey’s soaked body. His muscles
ached with the astronomical pull that ruled a Belador’s life from controlling a warrior’s powers to when the females were fertile.

“I’m waiting for you, Belador.”

Trey swiveled around to find Vyan standing at the top of the steps, his long jacket billowing in the wind. A sword the length of Trey’s arm hung at Vyan’s side.

“Too much blood has been shed in the past by both of our ancestors,” Trey started, wishing he had a better argument. “Beladors today are repaying the debt in this lifetime. I have no other way to make up for the sins my ancestors committed.”

“Oh, but you do. You have the witch.”

“Sasha had nothing to do with the wars between our people.”

“A witch is the key to freeing my people.” Vyan reached into his pocket and produced the stone. The rock glowed and lightning bolts spiked around them. “Words will not end this conflict. Only one of us will leave victoriously from here.”

“Then fight me like a true warrior.” Trey opened his arms wide. “I’ve brought no weapons. Have you no honor?”

Vyan scowled and moved as fast as a flash of light to stand ten feet from Trey. “Do not question my honor. Unlike
your
people, I never raped and murdered innocent women and children.”

“Neither have I. Leave Sasha out of this and I’ll give you what you want.”

“She will not go with you, Belador.” Vyan turned to his left. “Is that not true, witch?”

Trey twisted to his right. Sasha moved toward where they stood, her boots not touching the ground. Her eyes were unfocused as if she didn’t recognize him. Water ran down her pasty complexion and plastered her hair to her shoulders and face. Her soaked sweatshirt clung to her trembling body.

No. “Stay back, Sasha.”

“Yes,” she answered like a zombie before dropping down to stand on the grass. “I will stay with Vyan.”

Trey cut his eyes at the Hindu warrior who was obviously using the stone to control her,
and
going to die painfully if he didn’t let her go. He had to get that damn rock.

Vyan turned back to Trey. “You see? I may take her as my own unless Batuk chooses her as his new queen. A witch might better survive the demands of a mighty warrior than the women he’s had in the past.”

Trey’s heartbeat pounded into high gear. Not a smart move when it would only deplete his strength faster, but his control slipped farther away with every poisoned word from Vyan’s lips. Trey struggled to hold back in order to prevent a war.

“Watch, Belador. She wants me,” Vyan taunted then turned to Sasha who was still twenty feet away. He lifted the rock from his pocket. She began walking toward the Hindu, who raised his sword, pointing it at Sasha’s abdomen. “Better yet, watch as she walks into the sword and dies without me striking her. Then I will take her sister, the stronger witch who Ekkbar controls.”

When Sasha continued to move toward the sword, Trey lost the ability to think rationally. He lunged at Vyan who shoved the rock into his pocket and blocked Trey with a swing of his thick forearm. Trey stumbled, caught his balance, and shook his head, relieved to see her stop walking. He’d never wanted Sasha to see him in combat, because of what he turned into. But she wasn’t cognizant of anything at the moment and his powers were dwindling with each tick of the clock.

Vyan sprinted forward. When Trey would have hit him with a full body slam, the Hindu flipped up in the air, legs churning as he spun over Trey who swung to see the fighter land surefooted. Cramps hit Trey in his midsection. He gritted his teeth against the pain and roared, calling forth his warrior form.

Bones cracked, lengthening. Muscles flexed and pumped, growing his thick body even larger. His hands curved, fingers expanding into thick digits as hard as tempered steel, the sharp tips flashing with electricity.

Vyan shouted in his native tongue. Lightning struck around them, bursting craters the size of a sink in the ground. He tossed off his jacket and wielded his sword. Sparks crackled along the razor edge. He came at Trey, who spun, deflecting the sword. But the Hindu was quick and strong. He swung the weapon with blinding speed.

Trey charged forward. Vyan sliced the air with the sword, turning it flat as he brought the blade shoulder high . . . to take off a man’s head. Shoving a hand up, Trey caught the brunt of the attack with his steel fingers. The blade skipped off and sliced him across the chest.

The cut was not deep enough to damage muscle, but his increased heart rate pumped blood furiously through the wound.

“Noooo!” He turned at Sasha’s scream. Her eyes were clear and terrified. She struggled to move her legs as if her feet had been anchored to the ground.

“Get out of here, Sasha!”

“She can’t.”

Trey wheeled back around to the grinning warrior and lost any compassion he might have felt at one time for this man’s losses.

“Aid him and I will make his death very slow and painful,” Vyan warned her then turned to Trey. “And if you make a move toward her, she goes up in flames.”

Thunder vibrated the ground beneath Trey’s boots. Pain stabbed his thighs and neck. He was running out of time. Trey fisted his hands, the tips digging into his palms. He stretched his neck and rocked his shoulders back and forth, pumping his forearms. A guttural noise clawed up the inside of his chest and burst out, firing the air around him into a hot blast.

Vyan came at him, slicing that wicked blade with deft efficiency. He turned the blade sideways at the last minute and slammed Trey in the head, knocking him ten feet in the air, bouncing his head on the concrete. The goggles flew from his eyes, yanked away by an unseen force. He rolled face-first into a puddle of water. Mud splattered his eyes. Muscles kinked in his arms. His body began shrinking back to his normal size.

Death crooned to him, offering a quick end to the pain racking his muscles. His chest burned from the gash. Every breath became harder to draw.

Sasha screamed, “
Don’t you dare die!
”

Trey shook his head and opened his eyes to the rain that washed his vision clear. He shoved himself up to his knees, wet hair slapping his face when he lifted his eyes to the Hindu warrior.