Out of the Shadows: Shadow Warriors, Book 1 (7 page)

Fur and flesh melded and rippled over his body, bones snapped and reshaped. He fell to the floor on all fours. He raised his nose to the air, dragging in the acrid smell of smoldering death.

Tomás took one last look at Carolina. The wolf dragged his attention back to the desert. He howled and bounded off to the fiery hell ahead of him.

Cihuatl.
Woman. He hadn’t called her Carolina. She ran to her mare, Mariposa, and led her out of the corral. She swung herself atop the horse and, grabbing a handful of mane, took off bareback after Tomás.

The tears she’d dried up trickled down again. She’d stupidly let herself fall into the fantasy of having it all. She’d known from the start that she and Tomás came from different worlds. She’d made such a mess of things. She’d failed Chica and herself. How could she call herself a guardian when she couldn’t even guard her own heart?

Was Tomás right? Should she have trusted him despite her doubts, despite Chica’s warnings? She didn’t know anything anymore. Crying was useless. She wasn’t going to waste another precious drop of water. She would save Chica like she had always done, and then she would go back to being what she knew best—an ordinary woman.

His wolf charged across the hot desert sand. Buried within his beast, Tomás’s rage poured through him like boiling lava. In the distance through the wolf’s eyes, he spotted another woman of exquisite beauty standing tall and proud. Quetzal feathers caught in the long, dark hair flowing down her back. A jade skirt flowed like ripples of water around her legs. She wore a peasant blouse of blues and greens that made him think of the ocean. Gold armbands in the shapes of snakes coiled around her arms.

She was absolutely stunning, her beauty that of which ballads were written. He had seen her once from afar with her husband, his master. They had appeared glorious and filled with love and passion.

When the water goddess had disappeared without explanation, her husband had sent his warriors out to search to no avail. With each negative report that came back, the light seemed to dim in
Huitzilopochtli’s
eyes.

And to think
Chalchiuhtlicue
had been here, on this ranch, for all these centuries.

Carolina should have told him. Anger continued to fuel his mind and he channeled it into ever greater speed. He had to protect
Huitzilopochtli’s
wife.

Tomás was close enough that he could hear the demon Carolina had called Billy laugh wickedly as he blew rings of fire around the goddess, taunting her. She lashed out with whips of water, but her energy appeared to be ebbing and Tomás could see the water particles separating and falling uselessly on the ground.

“Pathetic. And you call yourself a goddess! You are nothing compared to my master
.
When I am finished with you, old woman, I will destroy that little bitch, Carolina, and once again be human.”

The mention of Carolina’s name drove Tomás forward. The wolf took a running leap and pounced on the demon. Rage, hot and scalding, drove his strength. He viciously tore his claws into the
tzitzimime
that dared put his foul hands on Carolina. The line between man and beast blurred. Blood and gore squirted over his pelt, soaking him in black ooze. He could feel the venom eating away at his fur, but he ignored the pain. Fury drove him on. He had hoped that Carolina would be his salvation, but nothing could save him. The wolf inside him pushed to the forefront, relishing the feel of raw flesh under its claws. He pushed his muzzle into the demon’s chest, cracking bone and tearing through muscle as the demon yowled. He dug his paws into the opening and ripped the chest wide open, breaking the man in half. He flung the rotted carcass aside.

Chalchiuhtlicue
regarded the demon’s smoldering, rotted corpse, before turning to him and bowing her head. “Great warrior. I thank you.” He had defeated the
tzitzimime,
but a greater threat crackled in the air.

His wolf snarled a warning. Tomás focused, aware of the black smoke rising from the dried cracks in the ground that lay below the dead body. Evil, greater than any he had ever experienced, spread like a disease.

Within the smoke, the enemy’s face appeared.
Xiuhcoatl.
The Aztec fire serpent rose up into the sky to hover over the goddess, looming large enough to swallow
Chalchiuhtlicue
in one gulp. The smoke coiled around the turquoise serpentine body. Large, venomous fangs sprouted from its gaping jaws.

“Chica!” The scream tore through the air. Carolina galloped across the desert. Her horse skidded to a stop in front of the goddess and she flung herself off.

Tomás cursed himself for his inattentiveness. Nails digging into the dirt, he sprang, lunging past Carolina and shoving her aside. She might not have been his spirit mate, but it was still his duty to protect humans and
Huitzilopochtli’s
wife. He leapt into the air, sank his teeth into the fire serpent’s neck and held on.

The fire serpent roared in anger and twisted and turned. Its head came down to snap at Tomás. Those sharp, glistening teeth came closer, ever closer, and drops of acid hit his body, burning down to the bone. He refused to let go.

Without his spirit mate, he would be lost to the world in his animal form. If one of them had to die this day, let it be him.

Carolina scrambled up to her feet in time to see Tomás launch himself at
Xiuhcoatl
. Heart in her throat, she saw his powerful jaws lock on the fire serpent’s long body.

The dragon-like head snapped at the wolf clinging to its neck, but couldn’t seem to get the right angle to wrap its jaws around the animal. Acid drops hit Tomás’s skin, scorching the fur.

She called up her power and felt it fizzle. Instead of falling into bed with the shadow warrior, she should have replenished herself. She was foolish and surely Chica considered her unfit to be a guardian, but Carolina would remain to fight. Desperately she scanned for water. The river bed mocked her with its sandy bottom.

The smell of burning flesh made her sick to her stomach.

Carolina spun, looking for the tiniest drop of water, anything. Sunlight glinted off her goddess. Chica smiled gently, then melted into a puddle, quickly drying up in the blazing desert heat. Carolina dropped to her knees and stared at the pale reflection of Chica in the small concentration of water.

“I’m sorry, Chica. I failed you.”

“You are the only one who can save us, daughter. You are the strongest guardian to be born. You bear my husband’s mark. Use it.”

Carolina didn’t understand, but she didn’t have time. She dipped her fingers into the circle of water and stood. Power flooded through her.

Her body vibrated as she flung every ounce of her power at the fiery serpent. Water slammed into the creature’s eyes, temporarily blinding it. The serpent roared its displeasure and shook its body, streams of smoke billowing around its head. Still it was not enough.

She wiped the sweat on her forehead with her forearm, needing every drop of liquid at her disposal. Her veins thrummed with the power of Chica, building to a crescendo. She could do this. She had been destined for this.

She raised her hands once more and focused on the area below the serpent’s jaw. The creature ignored her, completely intent on dislodging Tomás, who stubbornly refused to release his grip. She felt her power heighten to a level she had never before achieved. She let loose a narrow stream of water, shaping it until it was the width of a spear and just as lethal. It stabbed the serpent in the neck.

Blood spurted. The serpent hissed.

She quickly moved several feet away and aimed another blast, constantly moving after each one, creating a bloody ring around the serpent’s neck. Every shot had to count. She had only so much water in her arsenal. The serpent attempted to spit fire at her, but the barrage went wild and singed a patch of sand instead.

The serpent swayed in the air, head bent, black ooze creating trails down its long neck.

It appeared they had a momentary reprieve.

The wolf released its prey and dropped to the ground. Burned patches of skin marked its body and blood streamed down its torso. Ears back and tail tucked between its legs, the wolf growled and bared its teeth at her.

She searched the golden eyes for signs of Tomás and found none. She dropped to her knees and reached out her hand. The animal snapped at her. Frightened, yet determined to get him back, she extended her hand once again with her palm up. The wolf eyed her warily.

“Tomás, I know you’re in there. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. If your soul truly calls to mine, hear my cries of sorrow. Please forgive me for not trusting in you, for not believing in the possibility of us.” Tears spilled down the sides of her cheek and fell into her open palm. “Come back to me, Tomás. Your spirit mate needs you.”

The scent of water tickled his nose. Its purity flooded his body and mind. Deep within, Tomás awakened.

Poison from the fire serpent attacked his organs, the toxin more potent than any he had ever suffered before. His wolf struggled to stay in control. But above it all, Tomás breathed in Carolina. Her words left him shaken and aware of his own culpability. He had given his spirit mate no time to understand.

And there was no time now as
Xiuhcoatl
, recovering,
reared back to attack.

“
Macuahuitl!
” Tomás shouted to the skies above as he simultaneously shifted. His sword manifested in his hand. He half stumbled, half ran towards the large beast, and with two hands, gripped the heavy sword and swung it at the base of the serpent. The sword cut through nerves and bone, but he didn’t have the strength to carry the blow across to slice the creature in two.

The fiery serpent reared back, a scream rising up from its throat, and let loose a torrent of fire that blackened the ground. Tomás dove out of the way, landing with a jolt, the sandy ground jarring his already battered body. He struggled to his feet and observed Carolina respond with a flood of water aimed straight for
Xiuhcoatl’s
mouth. She didn’t let up until the fire was doused. The fiery serpent staggered, wheezing puffs of smoke from its nose and mouth.

“Now, Tomás!”

Tomás brought his sword up, only to fall to his knees. He felt his strength waning and railed at the timing. He had to protect his spirit mate. “Carolina,” he choked. His vision swam. He couldn’t maintain a grip on his weapon, and then the sand was rising up to meet his face.

Carolina ran to Tomás. She reached for the weapon, only to find its heft more than she could lift. “Chica, help me, please.” Energy flowed through her veins, and with both hands she picked up the weapon.

When she turned, she saw the serpent bearing down on her, the wounds on its neck still oozing blood. Her heart pounded, but she refused to give in to fear, and so she held position. Timing was everything. And what she planned was risky.

When she judged the distance close enough, she hauled back and threw the sword at the creature. As soon as it left her hand, she called up her power over water and let loose a stream that carried the blade straight up and buried it in the serpent’s throat.

The serpent reared and hissed, shaking itself from side to side.

The
macuahuitl
fell to the ground. Black smoke surrounded the serpent, spreading outward until it was impossible to see.

Carolina coughed and her eyes watered. What was the serpent up to now? Her water was nearly depleted and she was out of ideas.

The smoke swirled and then began to slither into a crack in the ground. It moved with reptilian speed until the last tendril disappeared beneath the earth.

They had defeated the enemy—for now.

She glanced over at Tomás and a cry escaped her lips.

She dropped to the ground, rolled him over and pulled his head into her lap, cradling him. She had no tears to cry. Every ounce of water was gone. Only a few drops remained of her goddess.

They had defeated the serpent, but at what cost?

“Tomás, you must hang on. Tell me how to help you.”

His eyes fluttered open. The color shifted from amber to gold and back. His body shuddered and a sheen of sweat coated his skin. “Poison in the blood. It is too late for me.” His breath came out shallow and pain creased his features. His hand reached up, shaking, and touched her cheek.

“Tell me what to do. I can get a healer. I can call for help.”

Tomás smiled. “My warrior. My spirit mate. I was wrong before. You are everything I have ever dreamed of. You gave me back my humanity. You showed me love. I can go to the upperworld in peace now.”

“No, you can’t go. I need you. And I love you too” She did. Already she felt a hole growing inside her, as if his spirit was slowly retreating from hers.

Tomás’s eyes closed and his arm fell limp to his side.

“Tomás! Tomás!” She shook him. He lay motionless in her arms. Chica, a few feet away, was nearly dried up in the sun.

She’d lost them both.

She didn’t have the power to save them. She didn’t know how.

Her tattoo warmed against her shoulder, calling her attention to it. Her head came up and her breath hitched. There was someone who could save them.

She would be breaking her vow to Chica. But if she did nothing, they would both die.

Carolina thrust her hand inside her shirt to touch the hummingbird gracing her shoulder.

She threw her head back and screamed, “
Huitzilopochtli!
”

Chapter Eight

He materialized through the shimmery rays of the sun, walking towards her, tall and striking, all muscle and bronze skin. He wore feathers in his hair, carried a spear and shield, and radiated power with every step.

A blinding light burst forth and she threw up her arm to block it.

The heat warmed her, reached inside, spreading through her body as if reading her every thought and action. She didn’t try to prevent it. She couldn’t if she wanted.

The light retreated and she blinked, letting her eyes adjust. Standing before her was the sun god. She should have shown more respect, but her fear of losing Tomás overrode her sense of humility. She needed
Huitzilopochtli’s
help.