Authors: Cindy Paterson
“Yes. Would you like to know how old I am?”
She clucked her tongue. “Will I be totally turned off? Because I never date men more than ten years older. Not happening, rule.”
“Then it is left unsaid,” Balen replied.
She laughed. “Just tell me.”
He hesitated. “One hundred and ninety-six.”
“Holy shit.” Danielle sat up and stared at him with mouth gaping. His face was dead serious and the realization that he was immortal, that his kind lived for centuries, came barreling into her like a load of cement. When she saw his face, she knew her outburst had hurt him. “I didn’t mean it’s a bad thing. It just freaked me out for a sec. It’s hard to imagine someone living that long and looking . . . as delectable as you.” That did it. Okay, he was grinning. “So when we do this thing, this transformation, will I stay this young-looking for the rest of my life?”
“How old are you?” Balen asked.
“Twenty-nine.”
“We stop aging at thirty-two.” He pulled the car off a side street and
turned down a dark dirt road.
“Sweet,” she said. “No more anti-aging creams and worrying about varicose veins and sagging boobs.”
He said with all seriousness, “I’d still want you.”
She ignored the comment because it scared her. She disliked how he always spoke as if they’d be together forever. “So, we stopping soon?”
“We are near Ryker’s place. We’ll stay there until Waleron calls to let us know that the plane has arrived. I’m hoping it’s already here, but getting it off the ground in T.O. without the Wraiths knowing will be tricky.”
She crossed her legs. “Okay
, all that aside, can you give me a timeline here, because I drank a lot of water and my bladder is bursting.”
Balen
raised his brows. “Do you ever not say it like it is? No, don’t answer that. I think I already know.” He slowed the car. “I could pull over?”
She made a disgusted noise. “You concentrate on finding me a washroom fast. One with four walls and a toilet.”
He put his foot back down on the gas and the car skidded forward. “How long?”
“Before what?” Danielle asked confused.
“Before it bursts?” Balen was grinning.
Danielle laughed. She liked that she could feel so comfortable talking to him. Usually, guys were taken back by her forwardness, but Balen adapted to her nature and it made her feel like she’d known him for ages. “Five minutes.”
“Arrival in two. One minute introductions and then I will scurry you to the closest washroom.”
“Deal,” Danielle said.
****
Delara had no place to run. He’d already sensed her behind him. Christ, this was the worst possible scenario. She never intended him to find out she was here. It was her haven away from him, away from the constant torture of his memory invading her mind. Was she ready? Had she healed enough to finally close the door on him? Every time she saw
him, she became stronger. Maybe this time it wouldn’t hurt as much.
Yeah
, right.
“What the hell are you doing here, Delara?” His voice was cruel, low and
husky. She knew that voice and it made her want to run, leg muscles twitching to take the familiar road and escape. It wasn’t because she feared him, but because it brought back memories.
No, she had come here to face her fears. She’d learn
ed to control the urge. Edan had taught her that.
His hands were curled into fists at his sides. “Answer me,” Waleron shouted.
She jerked. It was rare he shouted unless provoked. He had control, steady and stable, but it was different today. His rage was at the surface and it scared the shit out of her. He’d never harm her, she reminded herself. He wasn’t Tarek.
Her eyes drifted to his fists. When she looked back up at
him, she saw the flicker of . . . unease. That was impossible. But as he strode towards her, she noticed his hands uncurl. Three steps, two steps, one step. The air left her lungs as his scent barreled into her.
His voice softened a touch. “Delara, answer me.”
She licked her dry lips and straightened her back as she faced the one man who had broken her heart. No, she was strong now. Her heart had repaired. He meant nothing to her. Before she could say one word to explain to her Taldeburu how she had come to be with the Wraiths, a ball of fire appeared and Edan flashed into human form beside her. His arm went around her waist and he pulled her against his side.
It was the first time she’d ever seen Waleron surprised, but it was quick like a lightning strike. Brows raised
, eyes wide and mouth open. The tattoo on his neck twitched. Then the stunned look disappeared and was replaced with the familiar resolve of a man with power and control.
“Edan.” Waleron bowed his head with respect and Edan returned the gesture.
Edan half smiled. “So, it appears that you’ve discovered our little secret.” He shrugged as if he didn’t care that anyone knew Delara was living in the realm.
“She is
a warrior, Edan,” Waleron reminded him.
Delara stiffened. “I can go wherever I please.”
Waleron hesitated, his eyes delving into hers like a dagger. “Yes. But not here.”
“She is mine now,” Edan stated.
Delara stepped from his embrace and glared at both men. “I belong to no one. Got that, boys?” Edan should know better. He knew she hated being referred to as a possession. But when men’s testosterone rose, it became a war of who owned the woman. God, men were such imbeciles.
“You are right, my dear,” Edan quickly rectified. “I deeply apologize.” He bowed his head respectfully.
Delara laid her hand on his forearm. “Can you give us a minute?”
Edan
hesitated, and she knew he was thinking of refusing the request by the way his eyes flashed to Waleron with disgust. He gave a slight nod and then he disappeared in the same fashion that he’d appeared.
“You cannot stay here,” Waleron s
aid as soon as Edan had disappeared.
“I—”
“No.” Waleron raised his voice.
She noticed the uncertainty as
he looked at her, eyes roaming over her body and then up to meet her eyes. She saw pain. His pain. It was there in the red glint of his gaze, and she had to step back to keep from throwing herself into his arms. Arms that had refused to hold her, to believe in what they had.
“You are a warrior, a Tracker
,” Waleron said. “You belong.” He hesitated, and then he made a gesture that she had never seen before. He ran his hand over his shaved head. Frustration. That steady, cold reserve had escaped him. “With us.”
Not with
me.
Not in his arms or in his bed, by his side. It was with
us,
the warriors. The same old thing. She knew this. This was why she had escaped. She promised herself that it was over. She was stronger now.
She tilted her chin up and met his stare. This was finished. She would end this now for her sake, for her heart, for her sanity. “You’ve ripped my heart out for the last time, Waleron.” She saw him jerk at the sound of his name, instead of his nickname. “You destroyed my heart. You took it and then threw it away like garbage. I deserve better than you can ever give me.” She hesitated for a second, collecting herself. “Know this, Waleron. I am taking my heart back. It will never in all eternity belong to you again. Never.”
“Delara, I . . .” Waleron for once in his life stumbled on his words. “I want . . . I need . . .” And then he said a word that she had never heard pass his lips. “Please, I need . . . time.”
One measly word wasn’t going to do it. “You had time. It’s too late. I have nothing left,” Delara said. “Unlike you, I believe
in love.” She raised her voice, “Love, Waleron. Something you will never know. Or rather . . . want to know.”
“Give me . . . Delara
, just . . .” He closed his eyes for several seconds. “I need . . .”
“Need.
You
need. It’s always what you need. Leave me the hell alone.” She turned. For once she felt relief. Free from the pain that kept her locked in Waleron’s web.
She walked away and the hope that he would call out to her had vanished. That part of her heart was gone. He was too late. She didn’t want him. His cold
, calculating ways, that dark side that kept him from getting close to anyone. Why had it taken so long? Why had she kept this small part of herself locked on to him? It had released like freeing a shackle from her leg. She said good-bye. Good-bye was forever.
But this time he did call out. This time he came after her and she had no desire to turn back.
“Delara,” Waleron said, his voice cracking.
No words could stop her this time. Not even . . .
“I . . . still love . . .” His voice was unfamiliar. Haunted and soft, like a feather sweeping across her body.
But she kept walking. They were words. Only words
, and nothing he said would ever make her go back to what she’d suffered. The trust had been blown into oblivion and dispersed across the earth like tiny molecules unable to bind together again.
As she turned the corner out
of sight, she felt the wind drift across her body, his scent carried on the breeze to surround her. She knew he had done it, maybe hoping she’d stop, hoping that the words he spoke years too late would make her hesitate. But words were not enough anymore.
She stopped dead as Waleron materialized in front of her. She felt Edan in her mind, offering strength and yet keeping his distance, knowing after hours of talking that she needed to do this on her own.
Waleron grabbed her hand. “I will try,” he said. His fingers curled around hers and she felt him attempt to draw her closer. She stood her ground, keeping her heart steady and rhythmic.
“That’s not good enough,” Delara said, taking her hand back.
A flash of panic swept across his face. “It is not too late. Delara, understand I was . . . I . . .”
She laughed. “What
, Waleron? How can you try when you can’t even talk to anyone about what she did to you? What you suffered for years. Try? Try to what . . . love?” She huffed. “You don’t know how to love anymore.”
“I can . . . learn again.”
“Did you listen to me at all? My words? I said you ripped out my heart. You don’t know what that feels like. You have no clue and yet you say you want to . . . try. Try to love? Honestly, I don’t think you have it in you. You are numb. You keep yourself numb with those bloody pills. Are you willing to feel again? To stop hiding behind those little white pills?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You were right, you know. You can’t love because you don’t believe in it any longer. She destroyed that in you.” She saw him reach for her and stepped back. “No, Waleron. That part of me is dead.”
The hurt and pain she glimpsed in his eyes vanished and in its place the familiar cold resolve came like a steel shield over his face. “The Talde needs you.”
“I will be there for them when it’s required,” Delara said. She swept past him and immediately felt Edan’s presence. Without a word, Edan wrapped his arm around her waist and she walked away.
****
Balen took her hand and they walked up to the massive house that sat on top of a hill a half mile back from the road. It appeared desolate and cold, snow blanketing the bare limbs of trees’ that were sprawled in no pattern across the expansive property.
Balen was uneasy approaching the house, his instincts at full capacity as he smelled for any emotions that could do Danielle harm. Warriors were lethal and unpredictable at times. Most of the time
, they protected one another, but when it came to defying the Wraiths—knowing the repercussions—it could be dangerous. They might be turned away or, worse, killed. But when Keir had called with the directions, he had made it clear that Ryker and his Talde would welcome them.
The door opened before they reached the stone steps. A man with shoulder
-length black hair stood on the threshold. He was tall and lean, with eyes that identified him as an ancient—strong, powerful, and a dangerous adversary if it came to that.
The guy grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “Welcome
, Balen.” He gave a respectful bow, gallant and with ease. “Mademoiselle.” He stepped forward and took Danielle’s hand and brought it to his lips. “A pleasure,” he said.
Balen tensed, not liking the way this
warrior’s eyes swept over Danielle appreciatively.
The man chuckled as he dropped her hand. “Come.” He stepped back from the doo
r. Balen hesitated. “Please, I wish not to see you caught by those bastard Wraiths just because of mere jealousy.”
Danielle poked him in the ribs with her elbow. Balen followed Danielle’s urging and stepped into the Visionary’s domain.
“I am Ryker. I apologize for the others, they have already taken to sleep.” He glanced at Danielle and pointed to the left. “Through the living room on the right.”