Burning Dawn

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

NO MATTER HOW many demons Thane and the others killed, the number of opponents only grew. There were simply too many of them. Big, little. Countless hordes of every type.

Without question, this was a planned attack, and all the prince’s doing. Ardeo had weakened him just before the army of demon minions attacked, all for the prince’s benefit. It was a strike meant to end him. And if that failed, a strike meant to disable him.

The more Thane fought, the more blood and strength he hemorrhaged. There wasn’t time or opportunity for one of his boys to feed him Water. A single moment of inactivity or distraction was certain death.

Claws swiped at him. Fangs snapped at him. Poisoned horns and antlers slashed in his direction. All he could do was swing the sword of fire back and forward, left and right, remaining in constant motion to keep the creatures from making contact.

We can’t continue this way, Xerxes projected.

I can lead them away from the club, Thane replied. You can get everyone to safety.

Some of the demons may follow you. But every single one of them? No.

True. If the numbers kept growing, he would be leaving his loved ones here to be slaughtered.

Zacharel, he said to his leader. I’m in trouble. He explained the situation.

I’m too far away to help. Zacharel’s unemotional tone was oddly comforting. But I’ll send the others.

Help is on the way, he told Xerxes and Bjorn. Thankfully, neither asked him if he believed that help would arrive in time.

With a flick of his wrist, Thane removed the head of the demon closest to him—and caught a glimpse of Elin in the hallway, fighting six monkeylike demons on her own.

Little details hit him like bullets. Her only weapon was a dagger. Crimson stained her hands. Blood. Hers? Cuts and abrasions littered her arms. Her clothing—a tank and shorts—was torn.

One of the demons grabbed her by the hair and jerked her to the floor. When she landed, she kicked him in the stomach, punting him across the room. Another creature dived on top of her, but she punched him in the face, preventing him from biting her.

Rage returned some of the strength he’d lost. Thane battled his way toward her with new fervor, mowing down everything in his path. Though she remained on her back, she continued to fight with surprising ferocity, grabbing a demon by the horn and holding him still while she whaled—and while the other demons gnawed on her stomach and legs.

No one hurts my woman.

Fury coursed through his veins, making him insane with bloodlust as he stomped over. Quick as lightning, he ripped an arm off one of the culprits—and stuffed it inside the mouth of another. He—

Froze. Right along with everyone else in the room.

A horrible quiet descended, the air thickening, as if boiling water was being poured throughout. His gaze met Elin’s. He saw pain. He saw confusion. He saw determination.

What’s happening? she asked.

Don’t know, he replied. Are you all right?

I will be.

Thane kicked a demon off her. The thickened air slowed his movements and tempered his strength, but he accomplished his goal. The rest of the creatures fell away from her, moving just as slowly as he had, as she struggled to sit up. With great effort he managed to crouch beside her and urge her back down before covering her with his wings.

I’ve never experienced anything like this. Until I know it’s safe, you will stay here.

I’m not sure I—

Her words were cut off.

The demons looked as if they were shrieking as they ran out of the hall, and maybe they reached the exit. Maybe they didn’t. A horrible darkness covered the entire expanse. A darkness devoid of even the smallest pinpricks of light. It brought helplessness. It brought emptiness. Thane’s senses were suddenly switched off. There was nothing, no one. Except absolute, utter aloneness.

His skin crawled, and his mind screamed—Elin, have to protect Elin. He attempted to drape his body across hers, but couldn’t move an inch. His muscles were like iron, his skin like stone.

Just when he thought he could take no more, that he would surely go insane, the darkness lifted. He blinked to focus. The first thing he noticed: the demons were dead. All of them. Motionless, mutilated bodies covered the blood-splattered floor.

What had just happened?

He was panting, he realized. And sweating. Blood leaked from his eyes and ears.

If he was this bad... “Elin!” He snapped his wings behind his back, and there she was, just as he’d left her. She had no new injuries, and she was still conscious.

His relief was so fervent he could taste it.

“Oh, baby,” she said, sitting up to wipe the blood from his face, showing no reaction to it, the carnage of the past few hours having been so much worse. “Are you okay? I tried to talk to you, tried to move, but couldn’t. It was awful.”

He loved when she called him “baby.” “I’m...” He couldn’t lie. He wasn’t well, wasn’t even sure how he was still upright.

“That was her,” Bjorn said, racing over. “The queen. My...wife.” He cringed as the last word left him. “She tried to take out one of my most trusted allies, to make me helpless against her. You received a mere taste of her darkness.”

What Bjorn experienced was worse?

“If that was your wife,” Elin said, with a shudder, “I don’t think marriage counseling is going to help.”

Bjorn cracked the barest hint of a smile.

Thane’s eyesight dimmed, and the room spun.

Crouched as he was, his weight became too much. He tried to tilt to his side and succeeded, but tilted too much. He fell, a sharp pain shooting through his side when he landed.

“Thane,” Elin said. She sounded concerned, but far away.

Want her near.

He reached for her but ended up thumping Bjorn on the chest. “Elin.”

“I’m here, baby. I’m here. Let Bjorn help you, okay?”

His arm flopped to the floor. Strong hands cupped his shoulder and pushed him to his back. His lips were pried open.

“Here,” a female voice he recognized said. “The other half of the bottle, for a hundred more heads.” Cool water dribbled down his throat. The pains sharpened further, agonizing him as the healing properties in the Water mended torn muscle and flesh.

“—you promise?” Elin was saying, what seemed an eternity later. “If you’re wrong and he doesn’t recover, I’ll find a way to go fire-creeper and burn you alive.”

She worried for him and obviously cared for him, if she was threatening lives. Could she even...love him?

He’d never wanted the emotion from a lover. The very thought of it had repulsed him. But he wanted hers, he realized. More than he’d ever wanted anything. If she loved him, she would never leave him.

“Yes. He will live,” Xerxes said.

Xerxes had survived the attack, too. Thank the Most High.

Thane blinked, trying to focus.

“See? He’s coming around now,” Bjorn said.

“Thane,” she croaked. She loomed over him. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

He met her gaze and noticed the tears wetting her lashes. As he reached up to brush them away, she leaned down to kiss him.

Though he wanted to stay where he was and savor this moment, he sat up. His boys stood in the hallway, watching him. Jamilla—the voice he’d recognized—was gone. Pulling Elin against him, he said, “We have to move everyone out of the club. It’s not safe for them here.... If we have any survivors?” His chest clenched at the thought of losing any of his employees.

They were his people.

He guarded what was his.

“Adrian was just here,” Xerxes said, his expression grim. “The other Sent Ones arrived just before Bjorn’s shadow woman. They’re all fine. Ricker, Kendra’s husband, must have hidden in the club when Ardeo came in, because he broke into the dungeon and escaped with her and the king.”

“Oh, Thane,” Elin said. “Your revenge...”

“I don’t care about that,” he said, and meant it.

Xerxes held up his hand, a request for quiet. “There’s something you both need to know. Chanel... She didn’t make it.”

“What!” Elin gasped out, trying to stand. “No. Not Chanel. She’s strong. She’ll pull through.”

“No. Not this time.” Xerxes shook his head. “The creatures devoured... They took... No.”

Thane tightened his hold on Elin. At first, she fought him. Then a sob left her and she sagged against him. Tears stung his eyes as she clung to him, pouring out her misery. The other girls must be overcome with sorrow, as well. The five had been as tight a unit as he, Xerxes and Bjorn.

“I’m sorry, kulta.”

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“I know,” he said softly. “I know.”

One way or another, the prince would pay for this.

ELIN CRIED SO MUCH and so hard her eyes swelled and her tear ducts clogged. Her nose stuffed up, and her throat burned, the tissues raw. She wanted to comfort her friends, but everyone had been split up. Something about making it more difficult for the prince to get a lock. Whatever. She didn’t care.

Xerxes took Bellorie and McCadden. Bjorn took Octavia. Adrian took Savy.

Thane flew Elin to a home he kept on a deserted island. A true paradise, with palm trees, lush foliage and a white-sand beach. It was surely the Most High’s most beautiful handiwork. Crystal clear water lapped at the shore and frothed. The scent of coconut and orchids drifted on a gentle breeze. Birds soared overhead, the sun glowing bright orange and pink on the horizon.

She spent the first day at the shore, her toes deep in the sand as she sobbed. Thane spent the day sending mental orders to Axel and Elandra, helping to map out strategies for the Lords of the Underworld, as well as to other Sent Ones in a bid to find the prince. At least, that was what she thought she heard him say in the few moments she was calm.

Elin spent the second day at the shore, her toes deep in the sand as she sniffled. Thane spent it communicating with Zacharel, explaining what was going on, the reports that had come in, and gaining permission for every move he planned to make. Later, he told her that he would never again risk getting into trouble and losing his wings. His homes.

His woman.

Elin spent the third day at the shore, her toes deep in the sand as she watched the world continue on, as if nothing had happened. As if it hadn’t lost a precious gift. Thane watched her, silent.

On the fourth day, Thane sat beside her, waiting for her to speak.

“There’s so much death in the world,” she finally said.

“Yes. You’ve seen much in your short years. And the longer you live, the more you’ll see.”

And one day, if they stayed together, he would see hers. Or, in an ironic twist of fate, would she, the half human, see his? The thought shattered her. “Does it ever get easier?”

“I wish, but...no. No, it doesn’t.”

Brutal honesty. As always. A trait she loved, even when it hurt.

Still, her chin trembled as she fought the urge to scream. To scream and never stop. To rant and rail. To curse. This wasn’t fair. Chanel was—had been—a good person. A great person. Sweet, charming. Fun.

“Who killed her?” Elin croaked. “The demons or the Phoenix or the shadows?”

“The demons. Bellorie was with her and saw it happen.”

Poor Bellorie. She would have to live with the horrific images of her friend’s murder for the rest of her long life. And maybe she’d have to live with a dash of survivor’s guilt, too. Elin knew what that was like.

I want to hug her. I need to cry with her.

“I know we haven’t talked about the future,” she said. “I know I’ve told you again and again that I’m going back to the human world.”

He tensed.

“But I’m not. I’m staying with you. Now and always. I want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.” The violence... Well, she could obviously handle it now. She’d fought demons. She’d attacked Orson and survived. She’d watched his body be consumed without blinking. “And,” she added, “I want you. To be with you. Totally and completely.” He’d won her trust, and she refused to dish pretenses. Life could be cut short at any moment. Why live without her heart’s desire?

He breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t want you to go. I...never worked on your ID,” he admitted. “Elin, I’m sorry, but I wanted you with me, and put no effort into the task.”

Tricky Sent One. “I should be mad. Later, when things have calmed down, I’ll probably punish you.”

“And I will accept it as my due.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “Perhaps I shouldn’t admit this, but if it’s anything like the last punishment, I’ll enjoy it.”

“You might be the first male in this world or any other to say that—and mean it. But I’m glad you do.” Chest aching, she leaned against him. “What happens now?”

He sighed. “Now, we recover.” His expression darkened before he said, “Then we go to war.”