Beyond Everlight: an Urban Fantasy Novel (Fearless Destiny Book 1) Page 23

  He smiled wryly. “I’m glad you approve.”

  He ran his eyes over the collar and once again and I tensed. I hated being reminded of it, of what it meant.

  “What you did was very courageous Kenna, and I’m sorry my negligence put you in that position in the first place. It seems that senior management has been making decisions without consulting my office. Your name should not have gone on that list—spying on Erebus was a stupid idea, and one I would never have approved.”

  Well that was rich coming from him. I raised a brow.

  He arched one back. “What? My personal spying doesn’t count, but you shouldn’t have been forced to get involved.”

  I averted my gaze to stare out at the tinted streets as they whizzed by. “What I did was allow myself to be manipulated.”

  There was a long beat of silence. “No.”

  “No?” I turned away from the tinted glass and locked gazes with him.

  He leaned forward, scanning my face with those penetrating eyes. “I saw you the day you confronted Samson. Yes, you were bruised and swollen, but I barely noticed your wounds. I noticed the defiance in your eyes, the determined set to your jaw, and I knew this was a woman who would fight for what she believed in. And you did. You fought for humanity by accepting that collar. Erebus’s . . . attentions simply made the decision easier.” He sat back, his lips lifting in a half smile.

  “So I guess you are here to take me back.”

  He inclined his head. “Erebus was very specific.”

  “And do you always do what Erebus wants?”

  He laughed—a rolling sound that made my stomach quiver. “Only when it suits my own purposes, and right now, as Erebus so eloquently put it, your soul is a battery we can’t afford to lose. We can’t risk your untimely death.”

  Erebus had said that? My chest ached. The tiny hope I’d been harbouring that maybe I’d been wrong about him flickered and died. I didn’t want these feelings anymore. I didn’t want to yearn for his silver-eyed regard, or his thunderstorm scent. I didn’t want to think about the touch of his fingers on my face, or the heat of his hands wrapped around my waist.

  I wanted it all gone.

  But there was no running from destiny, and mum had been insistent that I speak to Lauren before I returned to the flame. Lauren had answers, and I was more than ready for them.

  I sat up straight. “I need to speak to someone before we leave for Evernight.”

  A buzzing filled the back of the limo.

  Baal flicked a switch by his armrest. “What is it Finley?”

  “Sir I believe we have a tail.”

  Baal rolled his eyes. “It looks like we’re being followed by government suits. Some smart overly cautious idiot obviously thought a security detail might be useful. There may be some dissention in the ranks in need of my personal brand of intervention. In the meantime, we’re going to have to get creative.” He tapped his chin and then his eyes lit up. “You’re going to have to escape.”

  “Escape?” I glanced about. “What do you want me to do? Jump out of a moving motor vehicle?”

  His eyes narrowed. “No. That would be foolish. You can jump out at the next intersection.” He flashed me his even, white teeth.

  “And if they follow me?”

  “You evade.” He held out a business card. “Call me in a few hours and I’ll come for you.”

  Great! “Fine. Get me to Market Borough. I know a place I can hide out.” And get some answers.

  Baal pressed tin intercom button. “Finley, take us through Market Borough.”

  “Yes sir.”

  We rode in silence for the next ten minutes and then a thought occurred to me. “What’s your excuse for going via Market Borough?”

  “I’ll think of something. Besides, when they see the state I’m in they’ll have other things to worry about.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He held out his empty glass. “You’re going to attack me with this.”

  I plucked it from his fingers and turned it over in my hands. It was quality cut crystal, if I thwacked him with it I’d definitely make a dent.

  “Don’t worry about hurting me. I can handle it, and it’s perfectly plausible that an old man such as the colonel could have been overpowered by a girl.”

  “They won’t buy it. They’ll ask questions”

  His eyes blazed. “They’ll ask no such thing.”

  My throat tightened and my next words dried up in my mouth.

  He leaned toward me, eyes still glowing eerily. “They won’t say a thing.”

  I couldn’t speak. Wait . . . what had I been going to ask? My head was filled with cotton wool.

  He blinked, releasing me from his hypnotic gaze. The glow ebbed and my tongue loosened.

  “What just happened?”

  “Different djinn have different abilities, and one of mine is the power of suggestion.”

  “Hypnotism?”

  “Oh, Kenna, it’s so much more than that.” He glanced out the window. “We’re here. You can jump out when we hit the market. Now hit me.”

  I stared at the glass and then at his beautiful face.

  His lips curved in a smug smile. “What’s wrong? I know you’re short one leg, but did Erebus steal your backbone too?”

  I lifted the glass and swung it as hard as I could.

  CHAPTER41

  T he screech of a vehicle coming to a sharp stop and the clanging of car doors was followed by several voices raised in alarm. Someone called for an ambulance, but I was already diving into the sea of bodies that made up the heart of Market Borough.

  I’d given Baal a good thwack; there’d even been some blood. But he’d taken it without flinching.

  The guy was made of steel.

  The limo had slid to a halt, and Baal had practically shoved me out of the vehicle. I lost myself in the crowd as best as I could; staying in the eye of the hubbub as I wound my way toward Clovers. The smell of spices, barbequed meat, and roasting peppers was heavy in the air. The weight of magick settled on my shoulders; it was thick in the atmosphere today, almost tangible. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that it had been almost twelve hours since my last meal, maybe more. How long had I remained passed out after the binding?

  Here, in the centre of the Market, amidst the hustle and loud hum of conversation as buyers bartered with stall owners, I was just another body. No one looked twice at the girl with the wild hair, distinctive scar, and strange silver collar. I cut a left through the people soup and slipped down the alley that opened up on the same street as Clovers. The alley glowed with everlight posts and I moved fast, past trash cans and stairwells, keeping my head down, afraid that any moment someone would shout my name.

  I stepped out on the other side and took a left. The street here wasn’t as busy as the market. There were sit-down eateries, a few quaint coffee shops, and the odd knick-knack store. People milled about at a leisurely pace, stopping to look through windows or buy a cup of steaming coffee. The atmosphere was chilled, and I matched it with my stride. Even though all I wanted to do was run up the street and barrel into Clovers, the last thing I needed was to call attention to myself—the suits would be canvassing the area soon, and the less memorable I was the better. So I stopped outside an antique store and pretended to study the pretty cuckoo clock in the window display, loitered for a moment by an old book store and feigned interest in a pristine leather bound copy of the Velveteen Rabbit, before heading straight into the glowing light of Clovers’ business sign. Pretty confident I hadn’t been spotted, I ducked into the bar.

  Valla’s mouth dropped open when she saw me. Her gold sequinned dress winked in the bar lights and her heavily made-up eyes grew round with shock. I made a beeline for the bar and she blinked rapidly before raising the barrier to let me through.

  “Kenna, my god!” Valla followed me into the kitchens and pulled me into her arms for tight hug. “Oh, babe, I thought you were a goner.”

  Breathe, just .
. . breathe. Extricating myself I gripped her shoulders. “I need to see Lauren.”

  Valla’s lips turned down in a disgruntled frown. “Yeah. So do I.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Her hands went to her hips. “It means I’ve been running this place by myself for the past month. Oh he checks in now and then—fly-by visits—but I can see it in his eyes, he’s not all here you know.” She tapped the side of her head and then flicked her sleek hair back over her shoulders. “Losing you really took a toll on him, but now you’re back maybe things can return to normal.” She paused and raked me over. “Wait . . . How are you back?”

  “I don’t have the time to explain. I need to find Lauren and then I need to get back to Evernight.”

  “Are you crazy? Why in the world would you want to go back to that cesspit?”

  “Long story. If it all works out I might tell you over one of your awesome cocktails one day.”

  She sighed. “Well, good luck. You know where to look for Lauren, and if you find him you tell him to either get his ass back here and help me, or give me permission to hire some more staff because—”

  “Hey! Is anyone back there?”

  Valla broke off and rolled her eyes. “Coming!” She took my hand. “I have no idea what the fuck is going on, but good luck.”

  And then she was gone, and I was moving as fast as I could down the spiral staircase into the basement below.

  ***

  He didn’t come when I called him—no surprise there considering what Valla had said. I’d just assumed he would come when I called. Yeah. Arrogant much? My weary reflection stared back at me from the smooth surface of the mirror, and my eyes pricked with the dawn of a new understanding.

  I needed him.

  Not just the answers that mum had promised he would have for me, but him: his serenity, his assurance, his tenderness. I sniffed back tears and swallowed the lump in my throat.

  Dammit Carter, this is no time to get all weepy. Shake it off! Where there was a will, there had to be a way. I glared at the unresponsive mirror and a conviction began to blossom in my chest. If Lauren wouldn’t come to me then I’d go to Lauren.

  I wasn’t human anymore.

  The collar had changed me.

  Maybe, if I willed it. Maybe if I wanted it enough . . . Closing my eyes I visualised his perfect face: his high cheekbones, warm hazel eyes flecked with sunshine, and the exact timbre of his voice. My fingers made contact with the mirror and began to tingle. Yes. This was it. A strange buzzing sensation moved over my fingers, travelled up my hand and across my wrist. Another step and my whole body was covered in tiny vibrations that made my teeth ache and my hair stand up on end. One more step and the tingle was gone.

  I opened my eyes to a small, sparsely furnished room. The desk and bookcases identified it as a study. Behind me the mirror sat innocuous and unassuming.

  So this was Lauren’s place. “Lauren?”

  Light streamed in from a window on the other side of the desk. I moved around it and peered outside. There was nothing but rolling emerald plains and clear mauve skies. If not for the vivid colours I’d have assumed we were in one of the country boroughs of Lindrealm, but there was no hiding from the fact that this was Twilight. Something on the desk caught my attention—a small oval photo frame containing a painted portrait. A face stared back at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes—eyes that I saw every time I looked in the mirror. It was me, my face. Except in this portrait there was no birthmark to mar the creamy perfection of my skin.

  In this portrait I was beautiful.

  Had Lauren painted this? Was this how he saw me? A warm flush crawled up my neck. Placing the portrait back on the desk I let myself out into the rest of the house.

  ***

  It didn’t take me long to search for Lauren and come up empty—there weren’t that many rooms to search. Aside from the study on the first floor, there was one small bedroom containing a neatly made bed and a wardrobe. Next door was a washroom comprised of a tub and sink. The ground floor was made up of a kitchen diner and a small sitting room which contained an easy chair, a small two-seater sofa, a fireplace, a coffee table, and a low bookcase.

  This was where Lauren lived.

  This was his home.

  It was a male space, minimal, efficient and unlived in. My heart ached as the pieces of his life fell together in my mind . . . This was the living space of someone who was very much alone. Aside from the portrait of me on his desk there were no other pictures or knick-knacks to suggest family or friends. Guilt clawed at my insides. Why hadn’t I once stopped to ask Lauren how he lived or what made him happy? Why hadn’t I made more of an effort to push past the barrier and force him to talk about his personal life? I’d come to visit him, sure, but only when I needed something—the mark re-inked, information on a case, and most recently, a place to stay. Each time he’d been there for me, ready to shoulder whatever burden I was carrying. What kind of friend was I?

  No friend at all.

  But there was time to make that right, to be a true friend.

  My stomach rumbled, so I wandered into the kitchen in search of food. The larder was pretty bare. Just a few stale rolls and some butter. It would have to do. The bread worked its magick and my tummy finally shut up. There was no way of knowing when he’d be back or even if he was coming back, but I was exhausted. A nap would help me think straight. Curling up on the sofa I switched off.

  ***

  Voices, garbled but urgent, woke me.

  A stranger glared down at me. I lashed out, knocking him upside the head, and tried to scramble off the sofa. He grabbed my arm and pinned me down.

  I screamed and footfalls echoed down the stairs.

  “Lauren you have an intruder,” my assailant said.

  “What?” Lauren appeared at the foot of the stairs.

  “Lauren!” I slapped at the strange Twilighter’s hands, but his grip was relentless.

  “Bran, let her go. That’s Kenna.”

  Bran’s brows shot up and he released me and moved back. “Aye. I see it now, ‘cept for the . . .” he held his index finger to his face and wagged it up and down by his eye.

  “It’s a birthmark. And it’s fine, you can say it, but if you stare I’ll poke out your eyes.”

  He chuckled. “Lot more feisty than I recall.”

  Recall? We’d never met.

  Lauren took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

  “Did you not see me when you came in?” I indicated the front door.

  Lauren looked to the stairs. “We came through the mirror.”

  So it wasn’t just a direct doorway from the bar to here. I guess I was lucky I’d ended up where I’d needed to be.

  “You found your way in.” His face was streaked with grime, but he smelled amazing.

  I leaned in and inhaled. “What is that?”

  Lauren stilled. “Just me.”

  I stared at him, wide eyed. “No. You’ve never smelled like that!”

  Lauren averted his gaze.

  Bran cleared his throat. “I’m gonna scavenge in your kitchen.” His steps receded.

  Had Lauren’s skin always been this smooth? Had his eyes always been this luminous? And his scent . . . It was intoxicating. A flicker of arousal licked at my belly. I reached up, desperate to caress his flawless skin.

  His eyes darkened, his lips parted, but then he pressed them together in a firm line and grasped my wrist before my fingers could make contact with his face. “We should talk.” He released me and stepped back, taking that awesome smell with him.

  Why was he taking it away from me?

  “Stop, just don’t come any closer.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck!”

  The crass curse falling from his lips was enough to smack some sense into me. I backed away.

  The scent dulled and my senses returned. “What’s happening?”

  A figure appeared behind Lauren. “You must be referring to Lauren’s mating call.�
��

  I recognised that heavy beard laced with grey, those stormy eyes and heavy brows—he was the Twilighter who’d used the black stone to send me to Erebus.

  “I know you!”

  He grinned. “Impudent human.” He offered me a mock bow. “Aaron at your service.”

  And then his previous words registered. “Mating call?” I looked from Lauren to Aaron, the former wouldn’t meet my eye, but the latter dropped me a wink before ambling off toward the kitchen. “Lauren?”

  “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Once every ten years, unmated Twilighter males let off pheromones that attract potential mates.”

  “So that smell?”

  “My pheromones.”

  “But then why can I . . . Oh!” My mixed DNA.

  The left corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s alright. Just don’t get too close.”

  I nodded. “So have you . . . found anyone yet?”

  “I haven’t been looking.” He kept his gaze averted. “But enough about that, we have much to discuss. The fact that you’re here tells me that you’re ready to know.” He walked toward the steps. “Go wait in the kitchen. I just need to fetch something.” He took the stairs two at a time.

  He hadn’t seemed surprised to see me here. Mum had said he would have answers, but suddenly I wasn’t so sure I wanted them.

  ***

  Bran and Aaron were at the table stuffing their faces with stale rolls.

  I hovered in the doorway. “So, what have you guys been up to?”

  Bran swallowed and took a huge glug of water. “Reconnaissance.” He winked and Aaron laughed.

  I noted for the first time how grubby their clothes were. Their beards hid the grime on their faces, but when I looked closer I could see it was there.

  “What kind of reconnaissance?”

  Bane opened his mouth to answer but Aaron cut him off. “No need for you to worry about that. You have your own destiny to untangle.”

  Before I could question them further, Lauren strode in. He moved past me quickly and came to stand by the door that led to the garden.