Lauren Dane - Heart of Darkness

It hurt her teeth and the backs of her eyes and her skin heated as she began to sweat. Of course Dominic looked cool as a cucumber.

The roar of it, so much electricity, energy, intent all tied up into one massive whoosh of white noise.

Her back bowed and her skin felt as if it would burst.

And then it eased back as the bond regulated itself. She opened her eyes to find Dominic looking at her.

“Wow.”

“No kidding. I feel like I feel every Thanksgiving when I have one too many pieces of pie.”

“Such a poet.” He laughed and pulled her in for a kiss.

“JUSTfor the record, superpowers aside, I do not like you being here.”

He knew in his heart and mind that Gloria Ochoa was a turned witch who meant to harm him and his woman. His clan and his family. And she was right there inside that building. Coiled like a snake.

Which is why he didn’t want Meriel anywhere near her. Something very bad might happen when they moved in to capture Gloria and he wanted Meriel away.

She leaned over and kissed him. “I love you. This’ll be over soon. And then we can get on with our lives.”

He let out a long sigh, reaching out and connecting his magick with hers. He surprised her. “I love you.”

She lit up, thrusting her magick back into him and they were suddenly so connected and strong. They’d fully opened their bond. “That never gets old,” she said lazily, pausing for a moment.

She charmed him with all her ferocity.

He held a hand out. “It’s time to go meet Nell.”

She took it and hugged him tight. “We’re stronger than she is and she can’t send anything into you. No matter what she says she can’t get past me.”

He grinned as they headed out. “Yeah, I know.”

MERIELrode beside him as they drove to Nell’s. She was now the leader of Clan Owen. Their lives would change again as they got used to that. She could do it, he was totally sure.

Her magick seemed to shimmer against her skin.

He knew he’d do anything to protect her.

THEdark was very quiet. Every single small shuffle or step felt as if it was deafeningly loud. They’d dropped off the cars a few blocks away and crept in behind the motel next door. Dominic’s blending spell would make sure no one saw them. And he was able to broadcast it in a new way courtesy of a spell Edwina had shown him at their last lesson.

They approached from the side and soon they’d split up to flank the warehouse. He shielded her from his body for as long as they could. Wishing, again, that she was home and very far away from this mess.

Meriel would go in as bait. They’d all agreed though Dominic had argued he was just as good. He’d been overruled and wanted to punch someone, but she’d talked him down.

He turned to her when they reached the spot where she’d split off from the rest of the group and approach the warehouse directly, in plain view.

“You will be careful. I mean it, Meriel. I love you.”

“I love you too. Watch your ass. I’m going to need rescuing soon.” She kissed him quickly and waited for the time they’d need to get into place before she came out into full view and began to approach the warehouse.

MERIELknew she should have been afraid. But she wasn’t. It would be over soon and she’d walk away the winner.

“Hold it there,” someone called out from the shadows. She could see the sickness in him from where she stood, though she wasn’t sure if it was so visible because he was so stuck, or because she was so much stronger now that she held the seat.

“I am Clan Owen, come to send you from our land.” Somewhere out there in the dark, she knew Nell was grinning at that one. She’d made up the line and dared Meriel to use it. It sounded good so she did. “You are outlaw and in violation of Owen rules. You have five minutes to vacate or your lives are forfeit. That means I get to kill you if you don’t leave, just in case I wasn’t clear.”

“Bring her in and let’s get this over with.”

Not Gloria. This had to be the other turned witch. He was stronger, not as far gone as his partner.

She walked forward and through the doors but they remained opened, though two humans at her back tried in vain to close them.

“Just close them for her!” Gloria’s shrill voice sounded as she stomped into view.

Meriel took a long look and was not impressed. She turned to the male who’d had her brought in to start with. “Let me guess, that shot-out bitch over there with the big bags under her eyes and three inches of roots must be Gloria. I feel as if I should say something witty. But I’m too pissed off.”

Someone tried to drain her; she felt the tendrils of that dark sludge getting closer, but she reflected it back. “You have really bad manners. Now, time’s a-tickin’. You all need to be scurrying away.”

“Says who? The woman who actually showed up alone to a meeting with someone like Gloria?” One of the mages sneered.

She raised her hand and the human who’d been running at her was blown backward against the wall. “And just so you know, I get to defend myself against humans who try to harm me.” He got up, limping a little. “Now we don’t have to worry about any misunderstandings.”

“She said you were strong. I can see that. I hope the knowledge that you’re going to be feeding me, and her, for some time will be of a comfort.”

She’d been so focused on the magickal attacks she hadn’t been ready for the physical one. The crack sounded and then she listed sideways a little and fell to her knees.

Meriel just looked at him for long moments. “Ouch! You shot me!”

And then a roar behind her as Dominic stormed in and the human who’d shot her crumpled to the ground.

“You all right?” Dominic called to her as he avoided a magical attack. Mages, any non-witch in general, could build up and use magic. Magic did not come from the person wielding it. It was often stolen or dark rites were used to gain more. It was easily used and spent just as quickly.

Witches had magick, an energy that was part of their compostion. It was power that came to the holder naturally through years of practice and time as well as natural gifts and talent level.

Blood, sticky and warm, flowed with each beat of her heart against the spot on her side where she pressed her hand. She realized he didn’t know she’d been shot, hadn’t heard what she’d said to the jackwagon who’d shot her. “I’ll be fine.” She felt her side and found the exit wound. Straight through.

A nearby mage went on the offensive and she grabbed hold of his spell and yanked. He fell to his knees as she bent it and turned it back on him using the spell Edwina had shown Dominic and that he’d further enhanced to create the feedback loop. Already unstable because it wasn’t his magic to use to start with, it broke easily, conforming to Meriel’s intent.

Nell stalked in and dragged him away by the back of his collar. She didn’t ask where. Didn’t want to know.

Fighting broke out in earnest. Dominic had told her to stay back and safe and she did it. Her vision was a little spotty as she continued to work her magick from where she’d leaned against a far wall, sheltered by an old metal desk.

ALSO,Nell told her that if she got into the middle of things she’d kick Meriel’s ass. She was the leader now, she had responsibilities to stay safe and let the others do their job.

That and she was bleeding. A lot. She remembered her first-aid training and focused inward. She found the wound, a bright, red spot of pain in her othersight. Best as she could, she knit what she could back together and built a sphere of protection around it. It wouldn’t cure her, but it would hopefully slow the bleeding.