Fallen Darkness (The Trihune Series Book 2) (23 page)

“No.”

She remembered the conversation she overheard. “You don’t seem that upset about it.”

“What are you talking about? I’m angry. Super angry.”

“Well, yeah, you’re pissed about that, but it seems something more is bugging you than just the man you love wanting to keep you safe.”

Emma dropped her head into her hands.

Kate prayed she wasn’t crying. If she saw a single tear she was outta here. “I mean I could be wrong. I—”

“No, you’re right,” Emma said, voice muffled.

“So you’re going to get old and wrinkly and Cade will stay young and thirty-something forever.” Hmm. Something she hadn’t thought about. Not that it mattered. Kate was getting old with Stacy. Far away from Lucas.

“As Cade’s
bahshrett
, I can become a Behn.”

“Seriously? You can become like them? So why don’t you stay young with Cade forever.”

“Cade doesn’t want me to become a Behn.”

Kate blinked. “What?”

“He wants to become like me. Change back into a Follower.”

“Can he do that?”

She shrugged. “He can stop taking Elias’s blood and he’ll turn back into a Follower. That’s the theory any way. No one’s ever done it. And Cade doesn’t want to do it until the war’s over. Doesn’t want to leave his brothers alone. But they’ve been fighting for over three centuries. Is it really logical to assume it’ll be finished in five, ten years? No,” she said, answering her own question. “I’ll be dead by natural causes before this war is over.”

“So change into a Behn.”

Emma swiped at the tear rolling down her cheek. “Cade is so against being a Behn. He hates it. Not as much as he used to, but what if I go through the change and he starts to hate me, too?”

Was the woman blind? Could she not see the way he looked at her? “I don’t think that’ll happen. He loves you.”

Another shrug. “Plus I think I want children. I know Cade does, but, again, not until the war’s over.” Scoff. “It’s not like I have an infinite number of child bearing years. Elias doesn’t know if I’d be able to have them as a Behn. He’s only changed males before. Another reason why Cade doesn’t want me to go through the change. He’s worried something will go wrong. So I’m stuck. Being human. Growing old. Waiting around in this huge house. For what? My life to start?”

“So why don’t you move out? Find someone else? Someone human.”

Emma jerked back. “No! I couldn’t—I wouldn’t be able—I love him.” Her breath came in little gasps.

Kate studied her. “So you knew after one month that you wanted to be with Cade. Forever. If he let you.”

“Oh, yes.”

“What’s the problem?” she asked again quietly.

Emma barked out a laugh. “You’re right. I made my choice. I don’t want a re-do.” She leaned forward and threw her arms around Kate.

Kate stiffened, tilting back.

The woman let go at once, contrition on her face. “I’m so sorry, Kate. I forgot.”

She stepped back. Once. Twice. Well out of Emma’s reach. “It’s okay.”

“Really. I didn’t think. It won’t happen again.”

Kate shook her head. “It’s fine. I have to get back to work anyway.”

Tears pooled in Emma’s eyes. “I scared you away. How about I sit against this wall and you sit against the other one. We can have the bed between us.”

“It’s fine, Emma. Really. I just have to go. Martha’s on a schedule. I should’ve checked in already.”

The woman sighed, rubbed her eyes. “God, I don’t know why I’m so emotional and needy lately.”

Kate shrugged. “I get that way before my period, too.”

Emma stilled, a strange expression crossing her face.

“You okay?”

“Uh, yeah, I think so,” she said slowly. She shook her head, focused back on Kate. “Maybe we can hang out again?”

“Sure,” Kate was surprised she actually meant it. She paused at the doorway. “You know, there are plenty of walls around here that could use some paint, and with all the people coming you could have your own showing. Who says you have to leave the HQ to have your art shown? Although, I’ve seen art hanging in galleries with the artist nowhere around.”

“I never thought of that.” Pause. “Do you think Martha would mind if I started painting the walls?”

Kate snorted. “Please, she thinks you walk on water right next to Cade.” At Emma’s expression, she laughed. “That’s not entirely a bad thing.”

Lucas popped into Kate’s head as soon as she left the room. She pushed him firmly away. Talking with Emma had gone okay. Maybe if they spoke again, she’d ask some of her own questions.

Chapter 48

Lucas strode down a quiet street. He’d been given the warehouse section of the city. Cade was a few blocks to the west in the downtown club area. Gabe to the east with the houses closer to town.

Both Cade and Gabe had spotted and killed Fallen tonight. Lucas was itching for some action. His hands had been shaking nonstop for the past two hours. Shirt was practically soaked with sweat. Blood seemed to be zipping through his veins like his cells were competing in NASCAR. Sometimes it felt like his whole body was trembling.

A good fight would get rid of the adrenaline. He knew what else would take care of it, too.

We should be using I statements.

Lucas held in a snarl.
Fucking intervention
. He wasn’t an addict. He could quit at any time. They just didn’t understand. He was stronger with the darkness inside him.

Besides, what did it matter if he took what he needed before the kill?

“I see another one.” Gabe’s voice came through Lucas’s earpiece.

“Need a hand,
ach
?” Maybe he could chase it into a building? Or a secluded alley?

“Nah.” Gabe’s breath labored as if he was running. “Piece of cake.”

“Cade? What about you? I’ve been getting nothing over here.”

“Stay where you are, Lucas. Continue to search your area. I’ll let you know if I need assistance.” Cade’s tone was brusque.

The boss must still be pissed at him. Well, fuck them all. They were the ones with the problem.

Why hadn’t Kate sought him out during her break? Had she just been too tired?

No. Something was off. She’d barely met his gaze in the kitchen. It was like she was pulling away from him.

And that scared him. More than anything else.

He turned down a street outside his patrolling area. It ran parallel to the river. Searching in circles wouldn’t make the Fallen appear.

Gabe had already dispatched his Fallen. Cade seemed to be getting in to it with another one. They wouldn’t be worrying about Lucas. Besides, that’s what the earpiece was for—letting him know when someone was coming to check up on him.

The streetlights in this section were practically non-existent. He blinked and his eyes shined blue, the area in front of him magnified. His gums tingled and he allowed his fangs to drop. The Behn masked helped ease the vibes running through his bloodstream.

His hand tightened around the sigma in his right hand. He pulled the dagger out of the holster at his back with his left. Better to be safe.

He walked two more blocks, passing the marina and heading into the thickest suburban area of Astoria, before he finally heard something. It was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard, apart from Kate’s voice, laughter, or moan when she was coming. He shook his head. Concentrate. Listen. The ring was coming from the left. Lucas eyed each house as he passed, walking in the street near the sidewalk.

A baby cried.

Food commercial played on a Follower’s TV.

Low conversation.

Dog barked.

The ring hadn’t diminished or increased with his steps. After he walked another block, Lucas stopped, turned around.

Where was it coming from? It was as if the Fallen were moving as he moved. A step for a step.

He tapped his foot, stilling when his sole hit a storm drain cover. He cocked his head. Could it be?

The ringing in his ears grew. Then increased to ear splitting levels. As if the Fallen were right in front of him. Lucas looked both ways down the darkened street, confirming he was still alone.

“Mother fucker,” he whispered.

He put a hand to his earpiece, ready to tell Cade and Gabe what he learned. What this could mean, but paused. Lowered his arm slowly.

The ring started to grow faint. Lucas walked forward. Followed the signal. Allowed it to lead him. The Fallen had to come up to ground eventually. Hopefully.

Over the decades, Lucas, as well as every member of Sept One, had memorized Astoria’s city grid, but not the underground system. Lucas had no idea where the one below him ran. If luck was with him, the Fallen would lead him. Lead him right to their death.

He lost track of how far he traveled. Of the turns he made, although he was now closer to the river. The cookie-cutter houses on postage-sized plots of land had started to spread out, grow bigger. A few of the homes were abandoned.

He paused when the ring, constant in his ears, changed. They were rising. He glanced at his surroundings. His gaze ran over the fenced area ahead. In seconds he was at the gate. He extinguished the light in his eyes. Retracted his fangs. Another look at the perimeter, then he climbed over the fence, avoiding the barb-wired on top.

The low hum of conversation, filtered through the ring. More than one.

Jackpot.

He, again, toyed with the idea of calling Cade and Gabe, but the Fallen came into view.

Lucas smiled.

Five.

Five Fallen.

He eased his dagger back into its holster and pulled out the star in his pocket.

The shaking in his hands eased along with the buzzing in his veins. As if his body knew it would soon get what it wanted.

This was going to be fun.

Chapter 49

Henry’s new cabin was only forty minutes out of town. It used to be a hunting cabin. And like his old one, was positioned deep in the woods.

He eased off the gas and turned onto the hidden driveway. The car’s headlights didn’t travel farther than a few feet in front of the bumper. If Henry were still human he wouldn’t be able to see well enough to maneuver down the path without hitting one of the overgrown trees. As it was, branches and brush scraped the top and sides of his car.

At first he’d thought the noises were particularly rough foliage, but when the path finally grew wider and the trees taller he still heard the thumps.

The female was awake. He hadn’t been able to get in contact with his supplier yet and had to make do with an inferior sleeping medication. One not to use again, apparently. He liked his victims to wake in the room that would be their salvation.

Henry drove slowly, whistling softly, smiling when the noises in the back grew louder, more frantic. Sobs turned into screams.

Pro
, his cabin was the only thing around for fifteen miles.

By the time they reached it, the female had quieted. Henry pulled underneath a set of low branches and turned off the engine. Headlights still on. He waited. Listened. Everything was already prepared inside.

His heart drummed in excitement. The tips of his fingers tingled, as if the warmth of anticipation was bringing his extremities back to life. Everything was already prepared inside. He slowly got out.

Should he fill another syringe? It’d make the next few minutes easier.

Father said real men didn’t run away from challenges, they found a way through them.

Henry unlocked the trunk. Yanked it open.

The female leapt out. He stepped back, moving so quickly she fell to the ground instead of on him. Before she could rise, he gripped the back of her neck.

“Don’t hurt me,” she sobbed. “Please let me go. I have a daughter.”

Henry smiled. Held her in front of him, facing the cabin. “You’ll thank me before this is finished. I’m saving you. Making you better for your daughter. She deserves the best, doesn’t she? Don’t you want to be the best parent?”

The female gave an unintelligible answer that was half-whimper. He watched her eyes dart around. Taking in the lone cabin. The woods. Then widening with sinking realization that she was far from civilization.

“Come.” Henry carted her forward. “Don’t worry. Soon you’ll understand why you need to be here.”

He unlocked the door. Pushed it open. Reached inside to flip the switch. His gaze ran over the furnishings he’d lovingly assembled.

Henry turned to the woman he was about to save. They were never grateful during this moment. Some took longer than others to get there.

The blood had left her cheeks. She resembled the victims Mark and Dean had sucked dry. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. Eyes so big they could easily be popped out.

“Welcome,” he said. “Welcome to my home, and yours, for the next few days.”

She opened her mouth again and screamed.