Untouchable Darkness (The Dark Ones Saga, #2)(33)

“Linked. Dark Ones linked creates a firestorm of darkness.”

“Why don’t we do this all the time?”

“Because two Dark Ones cannot co-exist in this state very long without one killing the other. And because once we use the light—our darkness also links—it could easily overtake us both if we stay this way.”

She recoiled.

“Thought you’d feel that way. Thank you for allowing me use of your powers.”

I pulled my hand away and succumbed to the darkness that I knew my human body would not be able to process or handle.

And as my eyes closed, all I saw was black.





Stephanie



CASSIUS HAD BEEN OUT for two hours. Ethan and Mason were hardly gentle with his human body as they carried him up the stairs, banging his head against the wall at least twice before finally managing to get him into my bed.

He seemed so foreign there.

So beautiful.

Dark and light mixed in one. Swirls of blue spread throughout his wrist and pushed against his fingertips as little icicles attached themselves to my bedspread. The Angel blood was leaving him.

I kind of hated it.

As a Dark One, I knew what to expect from him, complete indifference or on rare occasions pity, where he’d let me spend time in his arms for a brief second, only to push me away hours later in shame.

I swallowed my pride and moved to stand by the bed. He’d said not to touch him… but the temptation was too strong.

Ethan, Mason, and Alex were too busy going all medieval on John’s ass, stuffing him in a dungeon I didn’t even know existed until Alex skipped toward the kitchen pantry, pressed a button and gleefully clapped his hands chanting. “Dungeon, Dungeon, Dungeon.”

Clearly my brother needed a hobby if this was the highlight of his week, which he repeated over and over again while he carried the body downstairs, and then again as he attached the metal chains.

I’d nearly puked when I saw a rat.

Working out of fear, I froze it and then nearly burst into tears while Mason groaned out, “We used to eat those in the old days.”

“It amazes me you even remember eating meat,” Alex pointed out. “Don’t pinecones give you stomach troubles? How does one even process that?”

“Magic,” Mason barked. “I’m magic.”

“I had a girl tell me that once in bed…” Alex smirked off into the distance as if recalling the memory. “Rocked her world twice for the compliment then sadly had to wipe her memory so she wouldn’t commit suicide after discovering no man would ever compare.”

“As much as I love hearing you bicker like women,” Ethan said, his dark hair falling around his chin, “I’d really love to get back to my wife. Mason, secure the last chain, and Alex find a mirror.”

Alex flipped him off.

While I stared in horror. Is that really what our lives have come to? Chaining someone to a wall?

“You’re young.” Ethan was at my side instantly, his grip on my wrist was painful, but I think he meant it to be, to gain my attention. “You don’t know how we used to do things because you never had to see the ugly… we’ve lived through so many wars, so much death, plague, destruction. Believe me when I say, this is Disneyland.”

Alex moaned. “I would give at least six sexual favors for a turkey leg right now. After all those Disney movies Genesis made us watch I looked it up online.” His blues eyes widened. “Tons of turkey legs.”

“Just a guess.” Mason shoved past Alex and adjusted the metal casings around John’s legs. “But sex for turkey legs is probably frowned upon by King Disney.”

“King Lion!” Ethan grumbled. “Disney is no King. He’s a man.”

“Genesis says so,” Mason argued as if it was complete truth. That was just the type of relationship they had, and frankly I was getting a dizzying headache from all their arguing, not to mention I kept hearing screaming.

It was faint.

But it was there.

Gulping, I’d gone back upstairs to take a nap.

Only to find a giant of a man in my bed.

A perfect man.

The perfect blend of good and bad.

His lips twitched as he kicked his legs and then stilled again.

Just one touch. I promised myself before my fingertips grazed his strong jaw.

“Eva!” Cassius’s voice was thick with emotion as he held nothing but dust in his hands. Like diamonds, the glittery dust spread in a perfect circle around his body, his head was hung, his shoulders tense.

Sariel was standing behind him, looking just as menacing as ever. Then he disappeared, leaving Cassius alone.

I’d never seen a Dark One cry, didn’t know they were capable of it. Ever since my change I’d had trouble even conjuring up watery eyes. Although I felt sadness, I couldn’t express it.

Cassius, was wrapped in a red type of toga, a sword was laid at his side, he slowly pulled the sword from its silver casing and held it out in front of him.

“Don’t.” Ethan appeared in front of Cassius. “Put the sword down, brother.”

“She’s gone,” Cassius whispered. “I have nothing left.”

“You have Alex.” Ethan joked. “He’s like a two-year-old. He needs guidance, you know how new he is.”