Eternal Rider

Nineteen

“One last push.” Eidolon, Kynan’s brother-in-law and head doctor at Underworld General Hospital, spoke in a comforting voice that joined the sound of Gem’s panting breaths in the hospital’s delivery room. His dark head was partially hidden beneath the drape of the sheet over Gem’s legs, but when he looked up, his black eyes were bright with both confidence and exhilaration. He didn’t normally deliver babies, but Gem wouldn’t allow any other doctor to touch her. Kynan had been on board with that. He wanted only the best for his wife and child.

“I hate you all,” Gem moaned, and Kynan smiled… then grimaced when she squeezed his hand so hard he heard joints crack.

Shade, Eidolon’s brother, looked over from across Gem’s swollen body, where he was gripping her wrist, the sleeve of glyphs on his arm glowing as he channeled his pain-killing Seminus demon gift into her. “E can heal your hand,” he said, amusement threading into his voice. Shade’s mate—Arik’s sister—Runa, had given birth to triplets, so yeah, Shade had been through this.

Tayla was at Gem’s knee, looking a little green. The Aegis warrior was six months pregnant with Eidolon’s baby, and watching her twin sister give birth wasn’t doing much for her bravery. He thought it was funny that she could hack a bloodthirsty demon to death, but something as natural as having a baby made her quake.

Not that Kynan blamed her. He’d happily choose taking a bullet to the gut over squeezing a bowling ball out of his ass. Women were amazing.

Gem’s body jackknifed up as she bore down. A mixed shout and scream tore from her throat, and then the most beautiful sound in the world, the cry of a newborn baby, filled the room.

“It’s a girl,” Tayla breathed. “Gem, you have a girl!”

Gem fell backward, her hair matted to her face, but her green eyes glowed.

“Baby, you did it.” Ky kissed his wife, and the next ten minutes were a blur as he cut the cord and watched Shade clean up the baby as Eidolon used his gift on Gem to heal tearing that normally would have required stitches.

Finally Shade brought over the squirming infant, bundled in a green blanket, and put her in Gem’s arms. “She’s beautiful,” Gem whispered.

“Like her mom,” he whispered back, a humiliating hitch in his voice. “So special.”

“Extra special,” Tayla murmured, and yeah, that was true. His daughter was the first person ever to be born a Marked Sentinel, a human charmed by angels so nothing save an angel could harm her. Kynan had been charmed nearly a year ago in order to be the keeper of Heofon, the necklace around his throat, and he’d been assured that his children would all be born with the same charm.

Cool.

“Did you guys finally decide on a name?” Eidolon asked.

Ky shook his head. “We wanted to see her first.”

Tayla bent over, her burgundy hair obscuring her face as she kissed her sister on the forehead. “We’ll leave you alone for a few minutes. And then you’re going to get overrun. Wraith, Serena, Runa, Sin, Conall, Luc, Kar, and the kids are all in the waiting room.”

“You called everyone?”

Tay grinned. “Well, duh. Making people wait in agony while someone is in labor is a hell of a lot more fun than a surprise. I’m so going to make you guys pace.” She winced and grabbed her belly. “Probably for hours. I can already tell this kid has Eidolon’s stubborn genes.”

“Yes,” Eidolon said flatly, “I’m the stubborn one of the two of us.”

Tayla blinked innocently. “I’m sweet and malleable.”

Shade coughed into his hand. “Bullshit.”

The gaggle of demons argued as they shuffled out the door, leaving Kynan alone with Gem. “Well,” she said, “what kind of name would fit her?”

Kynan brushed the back of his knuckle over the infant’s cheek. She had his dark hair, his eyes, and Gem’s perky nose and full lips.

“And remember, no demon names.” Gem didn’t want to honor the demon half of her at all, and Kynan didn’t blame her. Time would tell what being a quarter Soulshredder would mean for their daughter.

His little girl smiled… at least, he was going to take that grimace as a smile, and man, the entire room lit up. He lit up. Warmth filled him, which seemed impossible, because he’d been whole and happy for so long and had no idea how his life could get any better. But it just had.

“You’re my little angel,” he murmured. “Your mom is my sunset, and you’re my dawn.”

Gem propped her head on his shoulder. “You always surprise me with how wonderful you are. You know, when you aren’t being a jerk.” At his chuckle, she smiled, and then her eyes flew open. “Dawn. That’s it! It’s perfect.”

“Dawn.” He looked down at the little bundle of calm, of sunshine, and yes, that was perfect. “Dawn it is.”

His phone chirped, and as much as he didn’t want to answer it right now… shit. He wasn’t going to get it. Wasn’t.

“Answer,” Gem said.

“I can’t.”

“Ky, you’re dealing with the potential end of the world. If you have to answer the phone to keep our daughter safe, do it.”

“Man, I love you,” he murmured.

“I know.”

He grinned. They had gone through a lot to be together, and sometimes it still floored him to remember their journey.

An almost physical ache throbbed through him when he left Gem to step out into the hall. He’d make this quick. Regan’s number popped up on the Caller ID, and he dialed. She answered on the first ring.

“Ky. We found it.”

His breath caught in his throat. “The dagger?”

“Yep. The weird thing is that it wasn’t in our chambers.”

“We knew that. Every item at HQ has been numbered and catalogued, and there was no mystical Horseman killer.”

She sighed. “I still figured we had to have it somewhere, maybe mislabeled or intentionally vague in its description.”

Regan was an obsessive-compulsive control freak in an almost clinical sense, and he had a feeling she’d gone through every single item in their inventory. A couple of times. “Okay, so where is it?”

“A monastery in Spain. We need you to pick it up.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Why me?”

“Because our sneaky past colleagues hid it in a box that can only be opened by someone with angel blood.”

And Kynan had an angel perched in his family tree. “This doesn’t make sense, Regan. Why would The Aegis make the dagger inaccessible to most of its own people?”

“No idea. I’m lucky enough to have found it, let alone get an explanation for it.”

Fuck. “Okay, but it’s going to have to wait. Gem just had our baby.”

“Boy or girl?”

“Girl. Her name is Dawn.”

“Very pretty. The sooner you pick up the dagger, the sooner you can get back to her.” Yeah, Regan was all heart.

“I’ll get to it. Anything else going on?”

“We’ve intercepted more chatter that Arik has translated. It’s not good. They’re talking about how the human is dying, but then in the same breath, they’re talking about Satan’s bride.”

“Do you think they’re talking about Cara?”

“Maybe. I know if she dies, War’s Seal will break, but I wonder if being handed over to Satan will do the same thing?”

“Dammit. I don’t know. Just give me some time to be with my family, and I’ll get on it.”

“Okay. But Kynan, don’t take too much. We’re not looking at weeks or even days until War’s Seal breaks. The way the underworld is buzzing, we might be talking hours.”

Cara and Ares showered quickly. Well, it might have been quicker if Ares hadn’t insisted on washing her, which led to another couple of orgasms for both of them. There had been a desperate, intense quality to what they’d done, as if Ares had been starving and was trying to fill up.

Or as if he’d been gorging because he didn’t know if they’d ever do it again.

The thought niggled at her as she tugged on the jeans and blouse Ares had brought from her place. This transfer couldn’t be anything but good, right? She would no longer be dying, so she and Ares could… could what? He wouldn’t need to protect her, and they’d both admitted they didn’t do “close,” so why would she be around?

Despite the depressing thoughts, she watched Ares dress, admiring his body, the way his muscles rippled under tan, taut skin. Her own muscles ached, but in that lovely, well-used way that would remind her with every step that she’d had the best sex of her life.

He turned to her, his black tee stretching over shoulders so wide that with his armor on he had a hard time getting through doorways. He walked over to her, his gait purposeful but unhurried, and she felt her own body loosen in response, as if anticipating his touch. Sensuality oozed from him even when he wasn’t trying—he was living, breathing, sex.

His smile was tense as he reached for her blouse and began to button it. “I’ll help.”

“I think I can manage,” she said, but she let him.

He worked his way up, his nimble fingers brushing her skin—intentionally, she was sure, and despite all the sex they’d had, the thrum of desire began to buzz through her veins. He paused about halfway to trace the tip of his finger over the agimortus, which had faded again. They’d both noticed in the shower, and although she didn’t feel any different, the mirror had told another story.

Raccoon circles framed her eyes, and her cheeks were gaunt, her skin pale. Even her ribs were showing, as if she were slowly starving to death.

“It’ll be gone in a few minutes,” Ares murmured.

“I can’t wait. I know it’s only been a few days, but it feels like I’ve been under a death watch for a year.” She hadn’t really admitted, even to herself, that she’d been terrified she’d never be rid of the mark, but now she could feel that pressure draining like a lanced blister. “It’s weird though, because I’m only realizing how afraid I was right now.”

“You’ve been in survival mode,” Ares said, his expression taking on a serious cast. “I’m sorry, Cara. You should never have been dragged into this.” He finished buttoning her up. “But it’s almost over. If we can keep the fallen angel contained and safe, we can keep my Seal from breaking. And you’re bonded to an immortal hellhound, so you should have several hundred years of life in you.” A flush worked its way up his throat from his collar to his forehead. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of and safe from Pestilence.”

“Wait.” Her fingers automatically went to the agimortus, which throbbed through the fabric of her shirt. “If I’m no longer branded with your mark, why would Pestilence be a danger?” And what did he mean by making sure she was taken care of?

“He might try to hurt me through you.”

“Oh, great. So I still won’t be safe.”

He hauled her roughly against him, knocking the breath from her lungs. “You will be safe, Cara. If I have to hide you on the other side of the world, I swear you’ll be safe.” He kissed her, a hot pledge to back up his words.

Before she could even catch her breath, he took her hand and led her out of the bedroom.

They entered the great room, and Cara’s optimistic mood faltered. The fallen angel sat on the floor, shoulders slumped, bloodied, his perfect skin bruised. Dark, stringy hair hung in his face. For all intents and purposes, he looked like a beaten dog. Except that his pewter eyes were molten with defiance.

On the television, explosions rocked the room through the stereo system. Every time someone screamed, the fallen angel jerked and bared his fangs.

Thanatos went down on his heels next to the angel. “Say hi to the nice lady, Zhreziel.”

“Fuck you, Death.”

Thanatos’s smile was grim. “That could very well happen if I turn evil, so take the agimortus like a good servant of Heaven.”

Cara put her hand to her belly, but that didn’t stop the churning. “Why doesn’t he want it?”

Zhreziel snarled. “Do you want it?”

“No, but—”

“But what? Are you completely stupid?”

In a flash, Ares had the fallen angel by the throat and was squeezing. “You do not speak to her that way.” Loathing burned in Zhreziel’s eyes, but he gave a reluctant nod, and Ares dropped him. “Cara, come here.”

“No!” Zhreziel scrambled backward, but Thanatos caught him. The angel began to pant, his skin paling. “I don’t want it. Don’t… want… it.”

Ares eyed the fallen angel with disgust. “You haven’t entered Sheoul, which means you’re redeemable. Taking the agimortus will be in service to humans. Don’t you think that will be a good thing?”

“Good? Pestilence and his demons will be after me!”

“We’ll protect you.”

“The way you protected Batarel and Sestiel? Forgive me if I’m dubious about the quality of your protection.”

“Idiot angel.” Limos, who had been licking a blue lollipop, wagged it at him. “Those two thought they’d be better off on their own. That won’t happen with you. We’ll keep you nice and safe. And busy. Ares has a great video collection. Ooh, and a wet bar.”

“What are you people not getting? I don’t want the damned thing! If I have it and Pestilence kills me, my soul will belong to Satan. If he doesn’t, and one of your other Seals breaks, then I will turn evil because I bear the agimortus. It’s a lose-lose for me.” He nodded to Cara. “She’s human. Not meant to bear the agimortus, so she won’t turn evil.”

“You selfish shit.” Ares’s voice pulsed with mounting anger. “She’s going to die if she doesn’t transfer it. Do you want the Final Battle to begin?”

“Of course not,” Zhreziel snapped. “But if I’m not carrying the agimortus, I can fight on the side of good and win my soul and wings back.”

Oh, God. He was in a fight for his very soul. The nausea became a crashing wave that threatened to spill right out of Cara’s stomach.

“Say it with me.” Thanatos’s voice was wintry as he spoke into the angel’s ear. “Apocalypse. Armageddon. It will break in a matter of hours if Cara keeps the agimortus, because it’s killing her.”

“And if I take it,” Zhreziel shot back, “it’s only delayed. Either you or Limos will see the breaking of your Seal, and then you all turn evil. It’s coming, you stupid fucks. No matter what, it’s coming. And I’d rather fight against you than fight for you.”

A soft “pop” rang out as Limos pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. “You realize we don’t need your permission, right? So you should probably shut up now. We have to keep you safe, but we don’t have to be nice to you.” She gestured to the shelves of DVDs. “Ares has the complete collection of Miami Vice. We could torture you until you’re begging for Pestilence to kill you.”

“Release me!” Zhreziel brushed his hair away from his face, but it fell back, covering one eye as he swiveled around to Cara. “Please. Don’t do this.”

“Shut up.” Limos slammed her candy down on the bar top and wrapped her hand around the back of the fallen angel’s neck, forcing his gaze away from Cara. “Ares also has Starsky and Hutch.”

This was not at all how Cara had envisioned this going, and she swallowed sickly. “Can we hold off? Find another fallen angel who would be willing?”

“Even if some mythical willing creature existed at some point in time,” Limos said, “we’re running out of even unwilling options.”

Unable to bear looking at Zhreziel for one more second, Cara swung around to Ares. “So what are our other options?”

“There are none,” Ares said. “Do it.”

Stall. “I don’t know how.”

“Touch him with the intent of passing it. It should be automatic.”

She shivered, suddenly chilled to the bone. “I can’t.”

“You can.” Ares’s hands clamped down on her shoulders, and he dipped his head to look her straight in the eye. “You have to.”

“I won’t do to him what was done to me.” She took a bracing breath, steeling herself against what was probably a terrible decision. “I can’t do this against his will.”

Thanatos opened his mouth to say something—going by his thunderous expression, Cara could guess what—but Ares held up his hand to stay his brother. “Give us a minute.”

She allowed Ares to lead her to a quiet corner. “Listen to me, Cara,” he said slowly as if speaking to a child. “You’re dying.”

“Well aware of that.”

“If you give it to him, you’ll live. I can’t—” He cut himself off with a curse.

“You can’t what?” When he said nothing, she grabbed his chin and forced his eyes to meet hers. They were angry, but at the same time, sad.

“I can’t lose you,” he bit out. “I can’t be with you, not with Pestilence around, but I can’t lose you.”

She didn’t know what to say, but Ares did.

“Please.”

She knew how much it cost him to beg. “I wish I could,” she said softly, and he stepped back as if she’d slapped him.

“Dammit, Cara.” He thrust his fingers through his hair and paced for a dozen strides before returning to her. “We’re in a war where there are no rules, no room for pity or kindness. The loser forfeits not just life, but the entire fucking Earth. Transfer the agimortus. Now.”

“There is always room for kindness,” she said. “Forcing this on Zhreziel would be an epic violation. I know this for a fact. This would be as bad as killing him. If I did it, I’d feel stained, Ares. Ruined.”

Ares slammed his fist into the wall. “Do it, dammit!”

“No.”

Ares regarded her with shuttered eyes, his calm more frightening than his rage. “Fine. Die. Bring about the end of the world. What’s it matter to me? I’ll be evil and won’t give a shit.”

“There’s got to be another way.”

“There’s not,” he roared.

She jammed her finger into his chest. “Yelling at me isn’t going to do anything but make me dig my heels in deeper. You haven’t learned a lot about women in your thousands of years, have you?” In the background, Limos snorted, and Ares pegged his sister with a glare. Cara snapped her fingers, bringing his head back around. The stunned expression on his face, the you-dared-to-snap-at-me look, might have made her laugh if the situation wasn’t so we’re-all-going-to-die. “You said you were some sort of military commander or general or something, and you have a kind of innate strategic knowledge. Well, use it and find another way out of this. Because I’m not transferring the agimortus to that fallen angel.”