Black Moon (Alpha Pack #3)(41)

Kalen recoiled in horror. "There is no f**king way I'm going to allow you to slaughter these people, much less help you do it."

"You will." Reaching out, the Unseelie placed his palm on Kalen's forehead. "What's more, you will enjoy every bloody second."

"No, I-"

"Abyssus abyssum invocat."

Hell calls hell.

Their bond opened and flooded every cell, the rush of inky blackness so strong, so painful, it nearly sent him to his knees. He fought against the rising tide of evil and knew instantly he couldn't fight this battle and win-not without the strength of his mate's love on his side. Not without her scent, her closeness, her belief in him. He had no footing.

He felt the change take place in his mind, felt the slide into depravity. He couldn't halt it completely. . . . But out of desperation, he snatched an image of Mackenzie's smile, the way she looked at him when she was happy. He seized that picture and tucked it close to his mind and heart, even as the corrupted part of his soul rejoiced in the prospect of inflicting his suffering on others.

"That's it, my boy," Malik's voice said in the maelstrom. "You've been hurt so much, haven't you? You want vengeance. Let it fill you."

Breathing hard, he struggled against giving in. It was almost easier before he'd claimed Mackenzie. At least then, without the strength of her bond to rival Malik's, there had been little sense of right and wrong to tear him apart. No light to battle the darkness . . .

Light and love. This is what Sariel had meant was his only savior. But the inner battle was killing him as surely as the real war would, when the time came.

"You will watch them suffer and die."

"Yes." No! He wouldn't do it.

"Excellent," he purred in praise, rubbing Kalen's shoulder in affection. Affection he knew the Sorcerer craved more than any alcohol or drug on the planet. "They'll be here shortly. You will remain by my side through it all. By the time your commander and his dogs learn of the attack, it will be much too late."

He stared at Malik, shaking his head to clear the fog. "No! I won't-"

"You heard me, boy." The Unseelie's face hardened. "You will not fail me."

The or else went unsaid, but it rang in Kalen's ears anyway as he glared back. There was just no way he could stand by while innocent people died. No matter how strong his tie was to Malik, no matter how badly his soul called out for blood. Ignoring Malik's shout of anger, Kalen vanished, teleporting back to the compound. In his own quarters, he paced the living room, fighting to strengthen his shields and push the evil back into a remote corner of his soul. He had to keep his wits about him. Combat this thing.

He'd tell Nick. Right now.

Pushing into the corridor, he hurried to the end and turned down the one leading to Nick's office. He rapped twice and heard Nick call out for him to come in. He stepped over the threshold, closing the door.

"You look pretty serious," the commander commented, pushing aside a stack of paperwork. "What's on your mind?"

Carefully erecting his shields, he met the other man's gaze. "I just saw Malik."

Nick bolted to his feet. "Here? How did-"

"No, he's not here," Kalen assured him. "He summoned me to a town not far from Cody to tell me his Sluagh are going to attack and kill everybody there."

Lowering himself into his chair again, Nick let out a vile curse. "When?"

"Any minute."

"Tonight?" At Kalen's nod, his expression darkened. "I've got reinforcements on the way, but they won't get here in time. We'll have to handle this on our own."

"What kind of reinforcements?"

"People I trust." He paused. "Now, where exactly is the attack taking place?"

"The-the east end of town." At that, pain lanced his temples and he gasped. Feeling dizzy, he sat in one of the guest chairs. "He ordered me not to tell you, but I couldn't just stand by and watch those poor people get murdered-oh, God."

Another blade seared his brain and the room spun. He barely registered Nick calling his name as he slumped to the floor, on his back. The commander's worried face appeared above his and he fought to make him understand.

"He . . ." A third spear of white-hot agony. Liquid ran from his nose. Blood. "Help them, Nick . . . Ahhh!"

The fourth time was too much. Writhing, he screamed as his brain was torn apart, molecule by molecule. In the distance, he heard Nick yelling.

And then there was nothing.

* * *

Mac was debating the wisdom of going to find Kalen, maybe breaking the ice, when a commotion exploded in the lobby of the infirmary.

"Get me some f**kin' help!"

Nick. Immediately she dropped the clipboard containing Sariel's chart and ran. In the hallway she almost collided with Melina, and the other woman took the lead. When they rounded the corner, her heart almost stopped.

Nick was moving toward them fast, Noah on his heels. But Mac's attention was focused on Kalen, limp in Nick's arms, head tilted back, eyes closed. Her mate's face was covered in blood. Christ, it had even run into his hair.

"First trauma room," Melina barked, gesturing them in. "What happened?"

"He collapsed in my office." Nick carefully laid his burden on the gurney and stepped back. "He was giving me some information about Malik, and this happened."