The Grey God (War of Gods 4) (26 page)

“Finish what you started, Darian!” Jonny ordered.

“Take them somewhere safe,” Darian replied. He released Bianca. She looked to her brother uncertainly.

Darian saw the hard look on Jonny’s face as the Black God bent down to pick up the Oracle. Bianca rested her hand on her brother’s arm. With her other hand, she handed Yully a knife.

Purple lightning lit up the space around them. Jonny, Sofi, and Bianca disappeared. Darian held out his hand to Yully. Armed and dressed for a fight, the redhead looked determined, if scared.

“I hate my life,” Charles muttered. He planted his hand on the woman’s shoulder.

Darian Traveled to the portal then leapt through it, pulling them with him. The minute his feet touched the ground of the immortal world, he heard shouts. The air trembled with magic. He Traveled again. When he opened his eyes, the three of them stood in the middle of the city. It was quiet.

Yully moved away from him, holding out her arms as she drained the surrounding area of magic.

“Not too much yet,” Darian warned. “You don’t want to blow up before I need you.”

He surveyed the area around them, sensing Jenn without seeing her.

Jenn.

He didn’t expect a reply and started forward, trailed closely by Yully. He entered Jenn’s mind, aware she couldn’t talk to him with the cuff otherwise.

Stay away,
Jenn replied.
I got this.

Irritated at his mate’s rebuff, he whispered, “Where are you?”

She didn’t answer, but Darian could feel her distress. He apologized to her silently before he pushed deeper into her thoughts. Jenn resisted him, and he pried harder. Without her magic, her defenses were too limited to stop him. When he could see what she saw, Darian stopped in place.

Chapter Eleven

Bianca helped Sofi to the couch then turned to her brother, torn. Jonny watched her, his dark eyes holding none of the youth or friendliness she remembered. But he didn’t leave. She glanced at Sofi again before approaching the Black God.

“Thank you, Jonny,” she said.

“You’re welcome, B.”

“Can you take us to the hospital? Sofi needs a doctor.”

“The Oracle is on her own.” Jonny’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the healer.

“Please, Jonny.”

“You’re a Healer, sister. You can fix her.”

“I can’t deliver a baby!”

“Where the fuck is Damian? Dusty?” he demanded and paced away. “They leave you alone here to fend for yourself against Others?”

“No. They were taken.” Her voice shook as she admitted the words out loud for the first time. She’d lost contact with her mate before being taken to the immortal world. For all she knew, he was trapped down there as she had been.

“I will shred Dusty for not taking better care of you!”

“No, Jonny,” she chided. “I love Dusty. I love you both, no matter what happens. Right now, I need your help.”

Jonny met her gaze again, and she saw a flicker of familiar warmth in his dark eyes. Her heart still hurt for her brother, whose road was dark and lonely. She’d never forget he chose it to save her, just as she’d never forget how much she loved the little brother she’d all but raised.

“I’ll take her.”

Bianca turned at the newcomer’s voice and hesitated, staring at the seven-foot vamp standing next to the couch. After the exchange in the immortal world, she knew Sofi was on no good terms with Xander. Her gaze fell to Sofi’s still form. She’d knocked the Oracle out to make Traveling a little more comfortable. Their return to the mortal world seemed only to hasten the birth rather than slow it. Without touching her, Bianca could still feel Sofi’s body preparing to expel the child within, whether or not she went to a hospital.

“Very well,” she said.

“I do nothing for free,” Xander reminded her. His fangs grew before her eyes, nearly the size of her pinky. “Always wanted to taste a Healer. I hear your blood is the sweetest of all.”

Bianca swallowed hard, reminded of her time being bled near death by the former Black God and his son. Her throat was too tight to answer, so she nodded her agreement. Xander snatched her arm, and she closed her eyes.

“Wait, no.” Jonny’s voice held a note she couldn’t place but it sounded almost like fear. “No, Xander.”

“She agreed. She pays the price for my assistance.”

“Not my sister.”

“You’re the Black God. She’s no longer your sister, not when she serves the White God. You will let me do this.”

“Don’t try your mind tricks on me!” Jonny exploded. His magic filled the air, shoving between Bianca and Xander and pushing her away. “I felt it this time, Xander. Jenn was right. You’ve been manipulating me for weeks now.”

“I seem to be the only thing standing between you and an army of angry vamps you can’t control,” Xander pointed out.

Jonny took Bianca’s hand and pulled her behind him, stepping between the two of them. Her gaze returned to Sofi, whose body was under distress.

“Not anymore. I’m claiming my rightful place as the Black God, and I’ll do it without traitors like you and Jenn at my side.” Jonny’s voice took on a firm, cold note. “Get the fuck away from me and my sister.”

“Is this your final choice?” Xander asked.

“It is.”

“Very well.” The Original Vamp disappeared.

“What just happened, Jonny?” Bianca asked, looking up at her brother.

“I’m strong enough to do it alone. I don’t know what he wanted, but he must’ve been trying to use me,” he said. “I don’t need him or anyone.”

“Except your big sis.”

Jonny looked down at her. He smoothed her hair from her face. Her magic prodded him, and she saw the same trace of metamorphosis that had marked Darian the past few weeks. The Grey God had morphed quickly from someone confused by his world to someone in control of his world. Jonny was going through the same.

“You would be ashamed to know what I’ve done,” he said. “I will always protect you, B, no matter what you think of me.”

“I’m never ashamed of you, Jonny. I’ll love you no less because of what you are.”

“I’ll take her. But I can’t do this again. I hope you understand.”

“I do, Jonny. I won’t ask any more favors,” she said, spirits rising.

“Tell Dusty, if this happens again …” Jonny warned.

“It won’t.”

Jonny strode to Sofi and lifted her again. Bianca took his arm, heart somersaulting. She wanted to tell her brother how proud of him she was. Black God or not, he’d never forgotten his sister. He took them to the nearby hospital and set Sofi carefully on a stretcher in the hallway leading to the emergency room.

Bianca bent over her, sending her soothing power into her.

“Good-bye, Bianca,” Jonny said.

“Thank you, Jonny.” She turned to face him.

He took in her features again then looked down the hall, where several people moved towards them. Jonny turned away from her and walked out of the hospital, waiting until he was out of view to Travel.

Bianca’s gaze lingered on where he’d been, sensing she wouldn’t see him again for a long time. Whatever the exchange between him and Xander meant, he’d showed how strong he’d grown. He wasn’t the conflicted boy anymore. He was a man who understood power. It made him dangerous, an enemy of her mate and his brothers.

I meant it, Jonny. I’ll always love you.
She didn’t know if he heard her or not.

She woke Sofi with a touch and tugged the gurney down to the emergency room.

“Where am I?” Sofi asked.

“Hospital.”

“Damian.”

Bianca heard her voice catch and couldn’t answer. She squeezed Sofi’s hand and was soon hustled out of the way by a nurse and his aide. Bianca watched Sofi being rolled away, unable to stop the tears that rose the moment Sofi was out of sight. Dusty, Sofi. If something happened to either, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. She paced then sat. Her phone vibrated and she pulled it out, heart soaring at the hope it was Dusty.

It wasn’t. The only of Damian’s family to be on any sort of speaking terms with the Watchers, she’d tried not to contact them after Damian’s edict about declaring war on the immortal creatures. Still, she’d texted once, soon after Dusty disappeared, asking her Watcher where her mate was.

Safe. Soon.
The answer from her Watcher was far briefer than its normal exchanges. Relief poured through her. As much as Dusty and his brothers distrusted the Watchers, she’d found them unlikely friends. They’d never lied to her.

Bianca sat back, hands shaking. She waited for news of Sofi and prayed for her mate, wherever he was.

Darian couldn’t believe what he’d seen through Jenn’s eyes. He’d altered their course to take them to the beach, where the obelisk was. Where Jenn was. Where
she
was.

“Darian, where are we going?” Yully asked.

“I’ve got some business to take care of.”

“And I want to kill some Others.”

Darian glanced at Charles. “Both of you, go to the obelisk. Stay behind it. No one will mess with you before I get there.” He held out his hand to Charles, pushing the location into his mind.

“I’ll start collecting its magic,” Yully said. “Don’t be long, Darian.”

“I won’t be far,” he promised.

Heart pounding, Darian waited until they were gone. He sheathed his weapons and Traveled to where the beach met the apple orchard. Xander materialized and leaned against a tree, watching. Darian moved forward as if in a dream, stopping within the shade of apple trees as he gazed at the scene before him.

“Sexy,” Xander purred. “Hope you don’t want them both to live through this.”

The two warriors were well matched physically. Darian took in Jenn’s body first. She’d been through a lot already today; her exposed midriff and leggings were red with dried blood, and cuts crisscrossed her arms and back. His necklace bounced against her chest as she struck and blocked with fluid, catlike movements.

His gaze moved to her opponent, a woman who looked as poised and rested as Jenn appeared battered. Claire’s auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail, her shapely body clad in a black cat-suit. Her blue eyes flashed with familiar fire, fire that used to make his blood hot for her.

Memories bombarded him, almost crippling him. Memories of a time when he’d been happy as the White God with his Oracle at his side. Memories of a time spent in a black hell while his mate helped the Black God keep him enslaved. She was still as beautiful as the day he met her, but she’d never have Jenn’s heart. Jenn fought for him. Claire fought for Claire.

“I thought she was dead,” he said at last. “Damian killed her.”

“Does it matter?” Xander said. “Whoever you don’t want is mine. Jenn would be a good addition to my … collection.”

“You’re not getting either of them.”

“You only get one mate. Pick one.”

“There’s no decision to make.” Darian looked at Xander, unable to determine what game the Original Being played. The Vamp watched, interest on his features as the two women fought.

“She’s not going to win with that cuff on,” Xander observed.

Darian watched for a moment longer. Jenn was holding her own, even without her magic. But as a mortal, she’d tire faster than Claire, whose magic would continue to feed off the surroundings to keep her energized. Claire just had to keep on her feet until Jenn’s strength gave out. A few close calls made it more of a challenge, as Claire bounced back to avoid Jenn’s strategic strikes.

Xander was right. Darian had to interfere before either was killed. He had unfinished business with both women, and he wasn’t about to let Jenn fight a battle she’d lose.

His surprise wore off, replaced by cold rage that rose from deep within him.

“I don’t have time for this.”

Darian strode forward, Xander forgotten as he focused on the two women. The tip of Claire’s sword sliced Jenn’s collarbone, freeing the necklace. Jenn ducked a second strike, and Claire snatched the necklace from the ground with a triumphant smile. Darian saw the fury cross Jenn’s face, and her next strikes were fast and hard enough they might’ve given her the upper hand she needed.

Darian snatched her sword arm to keep it from falling. Claire was in the surf, her own sword just out of her reach but the necklace clenched in her hand. She scrambled up, ever the actress, and smiled at him as if this was any other day before the Schism.