Onyx Eclipse (The Raven Queen's Harem Book 5)(21)

I take a step closer to Bunny. He doesn’t budge and his hand coils into a fist. “Understand something, former Guardian. I’m going to save my mates. I am bound to them, I will heal them, and I will not allow them to be used by the Darkness as long as I am alive.”

“You’ll find nothing but shells,” he tells me. “There is nothing to bring back.”

“No. They are stronger than that. Dylan survived at the hands of the sadistic soldier, Casteel. They can too.”

He flinches at the name of the soldier. “Do you really think so? Do you think Dylan came back whole?”

“Yes.” It’s a lie. A bold lie about my lover and guardian. My sentinel. Everything in Bunny’s comment makes complete sense. Why Dylan’s so guarded. Why it’s taken so long to tear down his walls. Why his passion is so intense, much more than the others. Every moment with Dylan is a struggle, but we’re making progress. We’ve made progress. “I will heal them. Each of them.”

Something in Bunny’s eyes falter. He looks like a man searching for a lifeline—a string of hope. I know what he wants, but I can’t give it to him. The fear and rage built up inside takes over and I use his brief distraction against him, pushing him with one hand and dragging Anita with another.

Together we fall into the cold, heartless, dark.





Chapter 21


Morgan


Ice fills my veins, chilling me in a way I never knew was possible. It’s not like the air is cold—the world is cold and bleak. I feel it in every inch of my body, my brain, and my heart. The stone floors do not give and Bunny’s head cracks when we land. My sword clangs and skitters across the floor, buried beneath a pile of unused canvas. I’d go for it but I’m sprawled across Bunny’s body and trapped beneath Anita. She jabs me with a bony elbow.

“What have you done?” Bunny asks, his voice a hiss.

“Fixing what you messed up.”

His good hand wraps around my arm and he squeezes just as the sound of footsteps echo across the room.

“No, no, no, no, no,” he mumbles. His eyes are more frantic than I’ve ever seen. I turn to see what scares him and see the dark leather boots and the black uniform. It’s not the first time I’ve laid eyes on the man or the uniform, but it is the first time awake.

Casteel. I know him before he utters a word and there’s little doubt he’s aware of who I am too. His jaw is square, his shoulders massive. I eye the jagged scar under his jaw. I have a suspicion who gave him that scar.

I’ve no doubt there’s demon blood running through his veins. Something inhuman, despite his good looks and expressive eyes. He looks over my shoulder and Bunny tosses me and Anita on the floor with a one-handed heave.

“Two for the price of one,” Casteel says, looking us over. Anita quakes with excitement, like she’s won the lottery. “Well done, Guardian. You’ve sped things up considerably.”

I won’t deny that I have no idea what to do from here. How could I? I didn’t expect Bunny to try to stop me. I didn’t anticipate anything about this situation. I’m off-kilter—not something you want entering a battle, so I do the only thing I can: pick a fight.

Bunny is close enough that from the ground I shift to my hip, swiping my legs to knock him off balance. He falls, allowing his useless arm to take the brunt of the landing. Without remorse, I punch above the cheekbone before lunging for the hidden sword. My fingers graze the hilt but massive hands pull me back. My entire body slides across the floor. I use the momentum and skirt between Casteel’s legs, then kick the commander in the back of the knees, forcing him to buckle. I take two paintbrushes from the worktable and stab both into his neck.

Anita watches the fight happily and Bunny looks stunned. Too stunned, and I pick up a jar of turpentine and toss it at his face. He ducks and it hits the smoldering fire, glass shattering on impact. The combustion behind his back is furious and hot. I use the distraction to dart for the door. The stairwell I dreamed about is on the other side. If I follow it down, it will take me to my men. To my mates.

Even I know that’s not going to happen.

Not now.

Casteel roars like a lion, pulling the shards of broken wood from his neck. I raise my hands to call on the magic I’ve used twice before, but he flicks his wrist and my vocal cords squeeze shut.

I grasp my throat with both hands. Within moments I’m deprived of air and fall to my knees. Casteel walks over, blood dripping down his black tunic. He yanks me to my feet and narrows his eyes.

Black spots fill my vision. Suffocation is close. Through the haze, I see Bunny’s expression. It’s made of stone.

I blink and smell the reek of his demon breath against my cheek. “Looks like you need a time out.”

And then the world turns black.





Chapter 22


Dylan


The apartment smells of the final stage of sickness that soon will cross over into death. Hildi sits on the edge of the bed, holding her lover’s hand. The Valkyrie doesn’t look much better, but her heartbeat is strong, even if her emotions are weak.

“Do you know? Can you tell?” I ask, trying not to be insensitive.

“She’s got a little time. The goddess hasn’t asked me to bring her home. Not yet.”

It’s an odd position to be placed in—working between life and fate. Before Morgan knew her true destiny, I felt torn between the two; preserving her innocence while championing her future. From the look of Andi’s translucent skin and gray lips, I don’t see much of a future here.