Fading Light: Shadow Born, Book 2 Page 5

  The dirt roads flew by as they traveled to the house they shared on the outskirts of the city. Gray parked beneath the enormous cottonwood tree on the far side of the property and switched off the ignition.

  Together they walked the shattered concrete path to the house. An enormous structure, it tilted to one side, vines wrapping around the faded white siding. The light from the street lamp danced across the aged windows and light blue shutters.

  The house made her smile. It was home. The only place she belonged.

  She picked her way across the rotting wooden porch to the massive stained glass door. The purple, orange and yellow monstrosity cast macabre shadows across the front yard. An antique from before the Fall, it was their pride and joy.

  She could hear Sam and Hilda fighting in the dining room as she walked inside. Brenna took a long breath. She didn’t want to deal with their drama. For the most part, the housemates tolerated each other, but the house was filled with criminal miscreants. Making them hunters hadn’t changed their nature.

  “It could be hours before Keegan gets here. Let’s go over the evidence and make sure we didn’t miss something.” Gray walked inside, tossing Seraph’s file on the end table. “We can do it here or in my room. Your choice.”

  The noise from the dining room began to escalate.

  “Your room.” She picked up the file and put it under her arm. “I’ll get us something to drink.” Giving him her back, she walked inside the kitchen.

  The wooden floor creaked beneath her weight as she moved across the small room to the pantry in the far corner. With a quick swipe of her key, the locked door swung open. On the bottom shelf, inside a locked mahogany box, laid her stash. She cast a release spell and slipped the box free. The lid swung open to reveal a burgundy wine bottle. A small amount of liquid swirled against the glass.

  Her magic was powered by her blood, which functioned like a magical battery, but if it wasn’t replenished regularly it would lose its charge. Unlike a vampire, for her blood wasn’t food, it was power. And only pure Shadow Bearer blood would work. Without it her blood could regenerate itself, but it was painful and time-consuming. Bottled blood was nowhere near as effective as fresh, but if she went to Gray without an alternative, she may not have the self-control to resist him. One taste of his blood could strip away the distance she had pushed between them.

  The bottle clasped in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other, she left the kitchen and climbed the staircase to the upper floor. The wooden rails shook precariously. No one had time to fix them, and there weren’t enough funds to pay a repairman.

  When she reached Gray’s bedroom, she stepped inside, not bothering to knock. He was stretched across the king size bed. His hair hung free, splayed across the ragged blue and yellow quilt. He hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights, and the candlelight played across his features.

  Brenna bit her lip. No matter how angry she got, or how much they fought, one thing never changed. She wanted him. Badly. He was like the last bite of dessert that pushed you from full to uncomfortable. But you took it anyway because the temptation was impossible to resist.

  Determined not to succumb, she moved across the room and grabbed two wine glasses from the top of his dresser. The oak atrocity shifted tenuously. “You should get rid of this thing. One day it’s going to fall.”

  “I like it. It’s unique.” Gray shifted to his side to watch her. “Are we done fighting?”

  “Are you done lying?”

  “I said I was sorry.” He sat up. “Where’s the folder?”

  Brenna handed him a small glass of blood then poured another for herself. Normally she wouldn’t have bothered replenishing her magic, but times were dire. Adare was dangerous and could strike at any time, so they had to remain at full strength. Once she had taken a long drink, she handed him the folder. “The more I study this, the more I think I’m missing something. I feel like the answer is right in front of me, but I can’t see it.”

  Gray drained the glass, then placed it on the floor and flipped through the papers. “I feel the same way. Neither of us is at our best.” He glanced up, his violet eyes bright in the dim room.

  Brenna stepped away from him. “That’s why I brought this.” She lifted the wine bottle.

  He shook his head and his hair fell across his face. “We both know that’s not good enough.” He tossed the folder onto the bed and stood.

  Brenna backed away. The blood in her glass sloshed, staining the sides. He was right. It was like ground round compared to filet mignon. Nothing was as sweet as drinking blood from the source. Gray moved closer, his intentions clear. Shoving the bottle toward him, she asked, “Do you want it or not?”

  “In a few days there won’t be any left. All you’ll have is me.” He smiled and moved closer, his breath hot against her forehead. “Why wait?”

  Brenna tried to step back, but his arm slid around her waist and held her still. He held out his free hand and murmured an incantation. A silver dagger appeared on his palm. She took a long swallow and licked her lips. “Don’t you dare,” she warned as she pushed against his chest.

  He gave her a wicked smile and released her. But she didn’t move. Her attention was riveted on the powerful forearm he had exposed. He shifted it in the candlelight, playing the blade across it.

  Her mouth went dry.

  “That’s not fair.” She closed her eyes, but the image was seared into her memory. His blood was her drug of choice. If he slid the blade across the smooth taut skin, blood would well in the wound. Once the smell of it hit the air, her control would be lost. And he knew it. Damn obstinate man.

  But even as she cursed him, she opened her eyes and stepped closer. The plastic wine glass shook as he took it, drained it, and tossed it onto the floor. His arms circled her waist. He was hard against her, the heat of his body distracting.

  When his lips pressed against hers, she didn’t push him away. Her desire overwhelmed her good sense. She slid her hands across his thick biceps, wrapped them around his neck, and pulled him closer. His breath tickled her skin as he kissed her cheek, his day-old beard stubble scraping her tender flesh. He stepped back, raising his forearm to brush it across her lips. The taste of his skin reminded her of the rich coppery flavor of his blood. Cradling her hand in his, he placed the dagger in her open palm.

  It was her choice.

  Brenna’s fingers closed around the blade. It was a mistake. It would put them another step down the path to eternity. But she wanted it. She didn’t care about the consequences.

  The dagger sliced the tender skin of his arm. It wasn’t the most ideal way to share blood. She would prefer to sink her teeth into him, to taste him in the most intimate way. But she wasn’t ready. Not yet.

  His essence streamed through her as she drank. It danced in her blood, cleansing and renewing her magic. The bedroom faded until it was only the two of them, inexorably tangled in their need.

  After a time she released him, licking the wound closed. He pressed his body against her, pushing her against the armoire. Sliding his fingers into her hair, he tilted her head back to expose her neck, his breath hot against her skin. His teeth sank into her flesh, tearing a moan from her lips. Her magic sang, reveling in the glorious, renewing sensation. In that moment she would have done anything he asked.

  Which meant they had to stop.

  She pushed him away, and, with a sigh, he released her. She tried to steady her breath and pull herself together. Gray wasn’t much better off. His racing pulse echoed in her ears.

  “What’s wrong?” He stared at her, his breathing heavy.

  “I’m not ready.”

  Frustration filled his violet eyes as he studied her, lips pursed. “We need fresh blood to stay strong and fight Adare. But we’re not doing this again. Not unless you’re willing to give me more.” He gestured to the blood-stained glasses strewn acr
oss the floor. “Until then, that’s all you get.”

  “But—”

  “I can’t do this anymore.” He stripped off his t-shirt, then opened the closet and threw it inside. “Get out.”

  For a moment she stood, dumbfounded. Then she moved toward him. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Get out, Brenna.” He moved across the room toward the bed.

  Not willing to argue, she did as he asked. The bedroom door slammed as she stepped into the hall, knocking a picture off the wall. The frame hit the wooden floor and shattered. Brenna closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. With trembling hands she pulled the broom and dust pan from the closet.

  The methodical motion of cleaning up the glass helped Brenna calm her emotions. For a hundred years she had believed Gray was dead, and she had stayed true to his memory. No other man had touched her mind or her body. She had guarded her heart for so long, it had become hardened, and it was difficult to let him back in.

  As she stepped inside her bedroom, she struggled to ignore the call of her bed. Instead she moved to the walk-in closet and changed her clothes. If she had to wait for Keegan, she would do it comfortably.

  She settled on the gold-braided rug in the middle of the room and began to stretch her aching muscles. As she moved through the series of yoga poses, it was impossible to ignore the feel of Gray’s blood running through her veins, stimulating her awareness. She sank into her body, testing its limits. His blood had served its purpose. Her power was not only renewed, it had increased.

  The phone jarred her back to reality. Seraph’s voice was strained. “Six more bodies were found in the woods.”

  “Who found them?”

  “A half-breed shifter.” He paused. “But there’s a problem.”

  “What?” Brenna sat on the bed.

  “He was infected.”

  “Did he survive?”

  “Hold on.” Seraph put his hand over the phone. She could hear him barking orders. “I don’t know. Go find out.”

  “Keegan is on his way here.”

  Seraph took a deep breath. “Keegan can wait. I need you.”

  “But—”

  “That’s an order, Brenna. Lucy will call you with the coordinates.”

  He ended the call.

  Chapter Five

  Yellow, red and orange hues from the fading sun decorated the skyline, highlighting the snow-covered trail head as Brenna and Gray stepped out of the vehicle. Brenna’s breath danced in the wind as she moved through the calf-deep snow toward the crowd of hunters. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she recognized a familiar figure leaning against the black van in the far corner of the field.

  Sam had a smug look on his face. His magic danced in the air, smelling of sex and power. “Took you long enough.” He handed her a flashlight then motioned for her to follow. “I put a magical barrier around the perimeter so no one would mess with the remains before you got here. I rigged it so you, Gray and Seraph are the only ones who can get through.” He gestured to the crowd of hunters who stood around the tree line. “They’re pissed. Said it wasn’t my call.”

  “Thanks.” She flipped on the flashlight. “Seraph said a shifter found the bodies.”

  He shrugged. “Looks that way.”

  As they reached the tree line, Gray broke away and disappeared into the woods. Brenna turned to Sam. “Keep everyone back until we’re done. If they give you crap, tell them it’s on my authority.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a mock salute

  Returning the gesture with a sedate smile, she followed Gray. This trail had once been a mountain pass. The name held, although the mountain was gone, destroyed by a tear in the Veil that had erupted during the Fall. Several of the remaining craters were now filled with forests of Aspens, but others remained barren, the soil scorched.

  Humans rarely traveled outside the city limits. And when they did, it wasn’t to the craters. Despite years of peaceful cohabitation with deviants, ingrained prejudice left many of them afraid. Most of them never left the human-only sectors of the city.

  Gray waited further down the trail. His black duster flowed behind him, the leather slapping at his legs. She moved to his side. “Let’s get this over with.” With both hands she pulled her copper curls into a tight ponytail and secured them with a broken rubber band.

  “Agreed.” He motioned to the trail “It’s ahead a few yards. The bodies are mostly intact. The only blood is the shifter’s.”

  Brenna followed Gray into the undergrowth, admiring the way his body moved through the tangled trees. Cat-like, he maneuvered through the overrun trail with lethal focus, every inch the warrior. His focus and power were a beautiful thing to behold. Cursing her own distraction, she tore her eyes away. Making goo-goo eyes at her husband on their way to a crime scene was probably grounds for termination.

  It was several minutes before they reached the campsite. In the center sat a smoldering fire. Smoke danced through the air, twisting and swirling through the breeze like a pixie. It wrapped around the makeshift enclosures haphazardly strewn along the clearing. Made of metal piping and tarps, the tents were barely standing.

  Gray walked to the first tent and unhooked the covering. The three humans had been in their sleeping bags when they died. They were unrecognizable, patches of dust smeared inside the thick lining. There were no signs of foul play. No magical stench drifted through the air. Brenna crouched beside the first victim and pulled on a pair of sterile gloves. She brushed a finger across the remains. “Same ashy substance as the bodies at the bar.”

  “What did you expect?” Gray gestured to the dust spread across the perimeter. “Those must be the other bodies.”

  Brenna stripped off her gloves. There was nothing here to contaminate. She took a long breath, sifted the dust in her bare hands, and released her magic. There had to be something, some clue as to what had done this. Whether it was magical or biological, as a healer she should be able to recognize the source of the taint. But the substance in her hands was empty, devoid of the things that had once made it human. All that remained were trace elements, no magic, no DNA, only dust. Even the residual stain that followed any type of magical use was notably absent. She allowed her magic to retreat then opened her eyes, more puzzled than before.

  Gray knelt by what was left of the bodies, filling a small plastic bag with samples. “They haven’t been here long. The dust is still warm.”

  “Only because of the fire.” Seraph stepped out of the tree line. “I’ll bet you a case of black market bourbon they died the same time as the others.” He paused as he took in the scene. “Same as before.”

  Brenna considered. “I don’t know a single spell that could do this. Or even one which could cloak a perpetrator’s magical signature. It has to be a disease or a toxin.”

  “Then why isn’t it showing up in the bodies?” Seraph stepped inside the glow of her flashlight, his features were strained.

  Brenna shrugged. “No idea. All I’ve got are guesses and none of them good.”

  “Whatever it is, it’s quick.” Gray stood.

  Brenna walked back to the tent. There had to be something. Some clue. “Where is the shifter who found them? Why was he out here?”

  “He’s a ranger. He didn’t see or hear anything. Said his eyes started to bleed when he got close.”

  Gray shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. There’s no blood at any of the other scenes and plenty of people were around the victims.”

  “Nothing about this makes sense,” Brenna said as she moved toward him. “His hybrid blood could have a byproduct which reacts differently. Ask Lucy. She’s the scientist.”

  “Agreed.” Seraph stepped over the discarded tarp. “I had him quarantined and took a sample of his blood. Hopefully we’ll have some answers soon. I want one of you to stay here and the other to go back and question
him. See if he’s telling the truth.”

  Brenna studied Seraph. His gait was tired, his eyes dull. “This is getting to you.”

  Seraph took a long breath. “All hell will break loose if the humans realize what’s going on. They’ll blame the deviants, and Adare will get a foothold.”

  And all their work would be for nothing. Brenna blew out a long breath. It turned to mist in the cold air and twirled around her frozen cheeks. She wrapped her duster tighter as she turned to Gray. “Are you good here? I want to talk to the shifter.”

  “Sure.” Gray replied. “But be gentle. You’re not known for your light touch.”

  She rolled her eyes. So she tended to be a little aggressive. That didn’t mean she couldn’t play nice when necessary. Gray was worse.

  When Brenna arrived at headquarters Lucy was manning the entrance. Feet propped up, potato chip crumbs stuck to her fuzzy pink sweater, she was playing cards with Hilda. The ghost was leaning against the side of the desk, a pile of moon pies in front of her.

  “So you’re the reason those things are getting harder to find.” Brenna gestured to the dessert. “Thanks a lot.”

  Hilda shrugged. “Lucy won’t play without them, and I need the practice. I always lose.”

  “That’s ’cause you suck.” Lucy slammed down her cards. “Full house. Hand them over.”

  Hilda tossed her three moon pies. “It shouldn’t be this hard to beat you. You’ve got to be cheating.”

  Lucy snorted, her ears pressed back. “Want to say that again?”

  Hilda laughed. “I’m dead. What are you going to do to me?”

  When Lucy started to lunge, Brenna decided to intervene. “As fun as this is, where is the hybrid?”

  After a few prolonged moments, Lucy met her gaze. Crumbs trailed the sides of her mouth. “In the infirmary.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  Lucy shrugged. “He was hemorrhaging when he got here. They stopped the blood loss, but he’s lucky to be alive.”