Dianne Duvall - Darkness Rises

Sarah frowned. “What did you see?”

Lisette swallowed hard. Moisture welled in her eyes. “They tortured her,” she choked out. “I mean they really tortured her. They . . . dissected her . . . and experimented on her over and over again while she was conscious. She felt every incision. Every burn. Every electrical shock. And, because she heals even more swiftly than Roland, she didn’t die.”

Sarah touched a hand to her mouth, horror filling her features.

Roland’s face tightened with fury.

“Why?” Sarah whispered. “Why would they do that?”

Zach held his breath.

Lisette shook her head. “They must have found out she was a gifted one. ”

Relief rushed through him.

“Seth was right to protect us all this time,” she continued. “If you saw the things they did to her . . .” She wiped her tears away impatiently. “After only two or three days, I began to fear falling asleep.”

Zach had the oddest urge to comfort her.

“I had to start sleeping at home every few days just so I could get some rest without being locked into those nightmares.” She turned her attention to Zach. “There was no way in hell I was going to let mercenaries get their hands on her again. I guess I became a little obsessed with her safety. And, even though Emrys is dead and rotting in hell, his colleagues Donald and Nelson are not. I know they should pose no further threat because Seth and David wiped their memories, but”—she shrugged and offered them all a sad smile—“I can’t seem to shake my fear for her. So I followed Ami when she would go out alone at night and saw you with her.”

“Has Étienne seen her dreams, too?” Zach asked.

Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know my brother?”

“I know all of you.” Not really. He knew their names and some of their backstories. Bits and pieces he had overheard during his visits and while listening to the Others grumble.

“Étienne has seen the same dreams I have,” she answered finally and looked at Roland. “That’s why he has softened toward Bastien, by the way. Something else the dreams revealed to us is how gentle Bastien was with Ami right after her rescue. How much he helped her overcome the paralyzing fear those monsters instilled in her.”

“He killed Ewen,” Roland reminded her.

“I know. But, if you could see how he is with her when no one else is around . . .”

“That’s all?” Zach persisted. “You saw nothing else in her dreams?”

She shrugged. “They weren’t all memory-based. Some were the usual whimsical variety in which she looked up at the night sky and saw three moons instead of one. That sort of thing.”

Which were likely just as memory-based as the others. Fortunately, neither Lisette nor her brother seemed to have figured that out.

“Anyway, when I saw you with her, I asked Roland who you were.”

“And I didn’t know,” Roland said, “so I began watching over Ami, too.”

“Me, too,” Sarah added.

“Does her husband know you’re spying on her?”

“No,” Roland admitted, “and we want to keep it that way.”

“Why?” Zach couldn’t resist asking, “because you’re afraid Marcus might think you are sniffing after her?”

Roland lashed out with his fist again, the force of the blow snapping Zach’s head back.

And there went the fun.

His own ire rising, Zach used a combination of telekinesis and brute strength increased by adrenaline to burst from his restraints. Restraints no one else in this room could have broken.

The others ducked as broken lengths of chain went flying.

The women’s eyes widened as he spread his wings, the tips brushing the walls on either side of the room.

Roland drew swords and stepped in front of the women.

“I’ve indulged you enough,” Zach said. “Hit me again and you will not survive my retaliation.”

“Who are you?” Lisette asked, her eyes straying to his wings as they had so often.

Did he have her to thank for the bedding that had protected them from the damaging chain links? He would peek into her thoughts, but generally disliked doing so. Most people were unaware of the ugly things that could reside in the darkest corners of their minds and he always seemed to find it.

“Call Marcus,” Roland ordered Sarah over his shoulder.

When she reached for her cell phone, Zach raised a hand to stop her. “Don’t. Marcus has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need the added worry of this, and it truly isn’t necessary. I mean Ami no harm.”

She hesitated.

As did Roland. He even straightened from his fighting stance and lowered his weapons. “Added worry? What’s going on with Marcus?”

Sarah nodded, brow furrowed. “What do you mean he has a lot on his plate? Is he worried about Ami, too?”

That was an understatement. And not his story to tell.

“If Marcus wants you to know what’s going on with them, he’ll tell you.”

That didn’t improve Roland’s mood. “You expect me to believe he told you?”

“No. Because he didn’t.” Zach shrugged. “I hear things.”

Sarah bit her lip. “Has Ami refused to let Marcus transform her?”

All those in the Immortal Guardian community who weren’t in the loop thought Ami was a gifted one.

He shook his head. “It isn’t my place to say.” Before anyone could speak again, he turned to Lisette. “Don’t pry into their thoughts, seeking answers. I know the temptation is great but—as I said—if Marcus and Ami want you to know, they will tell you.”

“I wasn’t going to,” she said, face troubled.

All three of them looked troubled. More troubled now than they had when he had escaped his bonds.

Zach folded his wings in and tucked them against his back. His curiosity had been appeased. He’d been entertained. Now it was over. “I believe we’ve said all there is to say.” He headed for the front door.

No one moved to stop him.

He paused, one hand on the knob. “I wouldn’t mention this to Seth, if I were you. He has a lot on his plate, too, and this will just piss him off.”

Opening the door, he stepped outside and leaped into the sky.

Krysta started to konk out around noon. Étienne watched her yawn, then released a jaw-cracking yawn himself.

She gave him a sleepy grin. “Made you yawn.”

He laughed. “Yes, you did. Why don’t you go ahead and get some rest? You can’t have actually slept in that chair while watching over me.”

“I think I may have dozed off once or twice.”

“That’s not enough. You need rest. You were wounded tonight.” He frowned. His own wounds had healed for the most part. Only a deep sleep or more blood would finish the job at this point. But hers . . . “How are your wounds?”

“They hurt like hell, but I’m used to it. What about you?” She glanced at the bright sunlight outlining the faded window curtains. “You’re kind of stranded here, aren’t you, until sunset? Or will Richart be coming back for you?”

“If I haven’t worn out my welcome, I’d like to stay. I trust Richart not to give away your identity or location. But Chris is like a bloodhound. Once he has the scent . . .” He shrugged. “I want to be here to run interference should his men find you.”

She frowned. “Are you sure Sean is safe?”

“Yes. The first thing Chris will do once he learns your name is track down your home address.” And race to her doorstep. Hmm . “Perhaps I should have Richart teleport us to . . .” He thought for a moment. “Where would Chris not think to look? Our home in France?”

“You want to teleport me to France?”

“Yes.”

“Right now?”