Demons (Darkness #4)(56)

After we said a few words to the sick people, and called in on the more mobile people that got to go back to their rooms, we headed toward the car. Stefan would be visiting the Mata with me, because he owed them that much.

As we walked down the hall, people around us cleared, as usual. Stefan got his usual nods of diffidence, with the occasional, “Boss,” thrown in. Not as usual, I had started getting noticed, too. Not by everyone, but at least half of those we saw connected eyes with me. They lowered their heads, and often said, “Mage.”

“Word is getting around. You played your part. You led the link and succeeded where a magical unit of five couldn’t,” Stefan said in a low voice, for my ears alone. “They’ve accepted you in this position, but now they are accepting you as one of their guardians.”

I couldn’t help the delighted smile.

“Next step, one of them. A human. What has the world come to?” Charles chuckled behind us.

“That was a private conversation,” Stefan growled back him.

“Sorry, Boss. My bad.”

We made our way to the Mata community, a sprawling set of houses tucked away on a lot of acreage. This wasn’t the place I had stayed to learn, it was normal houses removed from the city somewhat. We parked and made our way to the main house.

With my heart in my chest, I nodded to Ralph, the guy watching the door, and turned down a small hallway. At the end, the door was open. Barely breathing, I peeked my head inside.

Tim lay on the bed, pale and drawn, lacerations grooved down his chest. But his chest was still rising and falling. Shallow, but working.

“Hey,” Ann said as she hobbled over on crutches. Shifters healed extremely quickly, but some of these people sustained serious injuries. Just like with the clan members, it would take a while.

“How is he?” I asked softly.

Stefan shifted in the doorway.

Ann shrugged. “He’s okay. They say he’s out of harm’s way. He’ll make it.”

A huge breath rushed out of me. I sagged against Stefan. “Thank god. And how are you?”

She grimaced. “My. Leg. Itches! This cast is terrible!”

I laughed as she slowly led us outside. She’d felt the pricks of the demon’s claws, but because big cats had such thick fur around their necks, and because I’d cut out the spell when I did, she only sustained four deep grooves in her neck. They’d scar, but she was alive.

She led us outside and to the right, sitting down on a stone bench and closing her eyes. “Goddamned Andris. What the hell was he thinking summoning something like that?”

“He has always been ambitious,” Stefan offered noncommittally.

Ann rolled her eyes and leaned back. “Well, anyway, how are your troops? How’s Jonas? Still grumpy?”

I shrugged. “Yep, surly as ever. Still in bed.”

A haunted look passed over her face, but was gone in a flash. She wasn’t one to dwell—generally being a pretty happy person. The memories with the demon would take effort, but she was working on it. “And the witches?”

Stefan snorted and walked away some, taking himself for a walk. Charles, who was waiting by the car, walked over to join him. As he passed us, he pinned Ann with a stare. “Hi. I’m fine, too, by the way. In case you wanted to know.”

“I didn’t,” she shot back, watching him. Her mouth twisted up in a smile as she refocused on me.

“They’re demanding to be taught. Which they will be, of course. Birdie is an orange, which is huge for a human. Delilah can get better, too, if she learns. And one of the twins has a kid, so everyone loves when they visit,” I answered.

“So they’re going to start learning?”

I nodded, feeling the chill in the air as winter drifted closer. “I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll get really good. So I can have a bigger foothold.”

Ann laughed and sat up. “Just keep working at it. You’re not one to give up.”

“Hey, Ann?”

She glanced over.

“Thanks,” I gushed softly. “For trying to protect me. Again. Probably should’ve said it before now, but…I’m an ass, what can I say.”

She grinned and shrugged at the same time. “You were trying to save all our butts. Least I could do.”

Stefan and I did have our dinner that night. We ate at the table, like normal people, before we stripped na**d and jumped into the hot waters. I felt complete in a way I never had before. Grounded and loved. I had lost myself to that demon, but he did as he said, and shielded me. Protected me, and then brought me back to reality. I didn’t really care what happened with this job, or the house, or anything, as long as it was him and me. Us together, my new friends, and my father to back us up, meant I had somewhere solid to call home for the first time since I lost my parents. I had a family.

THE END