The Darkest Touch

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Angelique walked behind Mandy, still shaken by what she’d witnessed in the library.

Michael had some serious skills. She had underestimated him, and the amount of power he held. She’d felt the heat emanating from him, the force he’d projected at Mandy when she’d irritated him.

And even then, she guessed he had barely let any of it loose.

She had a lot to learn about these Realm of Light people.

Speaking of warmth, she felt Ryder’s presence behind her, knew he was watching her, but couldn’t bring herself to turn around, to speak to him.

What would she say? Hey, you hurt me. What do you have to say for yourself?

Yeah. That would be pointless. Best to forget it and move on. There were more important things to worry about.

Like this whole Queen of Darkness thing. And Isabelle.

Michael led the way through the foyer and toward the left down a rich, darkly paneled hallway gently lit by wall sconces. This place was like a maze. Turn left, go straight for a while, turn right, more going straight.

She was going to be utterly lost without a map or a GPS to guide her around the castle. They finally reached a stairwell, and Michael directed them down several flights.

Now the décor was all old castle, nothing modern as they traversed ancient gray stone steps with no handrails, only the rocky wall on their right to hang on to.

“Be careful. It’s dark down here,” Michael said.

A little late for that warning, since they’d long ago been plunged into pitch blackness.

She felt Ryder’s hand on her hip as he moved beside her and hooked his fingers in her belt loops. He didn’t say anything to her, nor did she to him as they made their way down the twisting stairs. At this point she was grateful for the hand. She couldn’t see anything.

“I’ve got my shades on that help me see in the dark,” he finally said. “I figured you could use a hand.”

“Thanks.”

It felt good to have his body beside her. She hated that he had this effect on her, hated the way her body responded to his touch. Why couldn’t she be immune?

“We’re reaching the bottom now.” He whispered against her cheek, his breath warm and ruffling her hair.

She was melting, and despising her lack of resolve even more.

So when had she gone weak where men were concerned? She’d worked shoulder to shoulder with them for years and they never affected her.

She already knew the answer: It wasn’t men in general-it was Ryder. Why did the one man who had the power to stir her with a simple touch also have the power to eviscerate her with his words?

“Where the hell are we going?” Isabelle asked from behind her. “The freakin’ dungeon?”

Angelique was beginning to wonder that herself. It was cold, dark, and dank down here, but at least they’d reached the bottom of the stairs now.

“Yes, it’s a long way,” Michael said. “Sorry.”

There was more light down here, and at least she could see. They stood in front of a thick metal door wider than normal. A flat pad was mounted on a stand to the right of the door. It looked a lot like a computer monitor, but it was surrounded by blinking red lights. Michael laid his right palm on the pad, and it scanned his hand.

Several loud and heavy clicks later, the door swung to the inside. Light blinded Angelique as they stepped from ancient stone into a sterile-looking lablike atmosphere, all modern and high-tech.

“So it’s a dungeon and Fort Knox,” Isabelle mumbled over her shoulder.

“Seems that way.”

“Trust me. Security is essential,” Michael said, standing by the door and motioning them inside. “This is one of the Realm of Light operations centers. We create weaponry, do research, and generally do what we can to assist the field personnel, the hunters.”

It was extremely bright in the room from overhead fluorescent lighting. The place was like one huge cave-the size of a football field. And within it, people. A lot of them.

Desks were interspersed around the room, along with large tables where God only knows what was going on, but it was obviously tech oriented. There was weaponry of all kinds spread across tables and stored in locked cabinets, as well as ammunition, and beakers of bubbling liquid that put a chemistry lab to shame. A section in the back was filled ten feet high with books, almost like a minilibrary, and computers within a U-shaped desk area with over a dozen people tapping furiously at the keys.

The staff glanced up at all of them as they walked by, smiled and nodded, then resumed working.

Angelique had no clue what was on those screens, since it looked all sci-fi to her. Everywhere in the room there was something fascinating going on. And things beyond her ability to understand.

“Who works here?” Isabelle asked.

“Scientists, weapons experts, former military personnel, religious and other researchers. You name it, they work for the Realm of Light,” Michael explained.

“How many compounds like this are there?” Ryder asked, his attention focused on the weapons tables.

“Throughout the world we have about. . twenty right now.”

“And how do you fund all this?” Angelique couldn’t begin to fathom the cost of maintaining compounds that housed this much staff, as well as the research they did. Especially creating the futuristic weaponry she’d seen in action. Not to mention sending demon hunters all over the world to fight.

“The Realm is well funded. Always has been. Money is never an issue.”

Well, that was a vague answer. But she supposed she didn’t need to know where the money came from.

“Trust me, Angelique, our resources come from legal means,” Michael assured her.

“I didn’t think otherwise.” Somebody, somewhere, was loaded. That much was certain. Because it took millions, possibly billions, to keep twenty operations like this running.

“So what kind of safety features do you have here? Are we protected from demon attacks?” Angelique asked, mainly for Isabelle’s benefit.

“Yes. This is hallowed ground because the castle contains the ruins of an ancient church. The facility down here actually houses religious, consecrated artifacts, though they’re underground and beneath this room in order to offer protection against a demon attack. The demons will not touch foot on sacred ground. In addition, our security here is massive.”

“I’ve seen demons materialize out of thin air, Michael,” Angelique said. “I don’t think deep underground tunnels or thick walls will keep them out.”

Michael smiled. “No, that’s true enough. But the sanctity of our grounds will. The damned don’t walk the holy places.”

Angelique had guessed that much, which was why she was hoping the black diamond remained safe.

“So in other words, this would be a safe place to test the power of the black diamond in close proximity to Angelique and Isabelle,” Mandy said with an I-told-you-so smirk on her face.

“You don’t realize the power within the black diamond,” Michael said.

“Are you saying the Realm can’t handle it?” she challenged.

“Honestly? I’m not sure.”

“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”

“Because I’m trying not to scare our guests who don’t work for the Realm,” Michael replied, his meaning obvious.

And that silenced Mandy. She didn’t say a word, just turned and walked away, wandering among the tables to talk to the weapons experts.

“You don’t know what might happen if we’re in contact with the black diamond?” Isabelle asked.

“No, I don’t. But I’m hoping nothing will happen.”

“Like with me in Australia,” Angelique said.

Michael nodded.

“So there’s a chance the same thing will happen with me. I’ll touch it and. . nothing.”

The look of hope on Izzy’s face squeezed Angelique’s heart. She wanted that to be the case, for her sister’s sake. She wanted there to be nothing in common between the black diamond and her sister.

But call it a sixth sense, or a weird case of foreboding, but Angelique felt that wasn’t what was going to happen. To have the black diamond here at the compound, in a controlled environment when Isabelle touched it, would give her some measure of comfort.

And at least they’d know then.

“Are we going to get it?” Mandy asked, rocking on the balls of her feet.

“You should learn patience,” Michael said.

“I’ve tried. It’s not in me. When are we going?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “We’ll leave in the morning.” He turned to Angelique. “Where is it?”

She shook her head. “I’m not giving you the location. I’m going with you.”

“That’s not a good idea. You’re safer here.”

“And the person who’s. . taking care of it for me won’t give it up to anyone but me. I guarantee it. You have no choice but to take me along.”

He nodded. “Fine. We’ll all go.”

“That includes me,” Isabelle said.

“No. Absolutely not,” Michael said. “It’s not necessary for you to be there, and most definitely dangerous.”

“I’m not going to be left behind.”

“You won’t be alone, Isabelle. There’s nothing to be afraid of. There are hundreds of Realm staff here to protect you.”

“That’s not the point. I need to be with my sister. I don’t want to be separated from her again, not even for a few hours.”

Angelique scratched her nose, contemplating this dilemma, when a thought occurred to her. “I have an idea. The location of the black diamond is also sacred ground. Couldn’t we conduct the experiment there? We’d be safe from demons.”

“Where is the location, Angelique?”

“A small church near the foot of Mount Etna.”

“So it’s not far from here,” Dalton said. “That might work.”

“Why don’t we just leave it there?” Ryder asked. “If it’s safe, why not just let it be?”

“Because the Sons of Darkness will eventually find it, or use Angelique and Isabelle to find it. They’ll send a nondemon in after it and get their hands on it one way or the other,” Michael said. “We need to have it in our possession. We need to figure out its power, then we need to destroy it. It’s the only way to guarantee the Sons of Darkness can’t use it against the Realm of Light. It’s the only way to protect Isabelle and Angelique.”

Destruction of the black diamond sounded like a really good idea. Angelique would be glad when it was gone for good. “So I’ll take everyone to it,” she said.

“Or we could just go get it and bring it back here and try the experiment in a safer environment. I don’t like the idea of taking either Angelique or Isabelle out of this location,” Ryder said.

Angelique whipped around and faced Ryder. “Why not?”

“Because I know the Sons of Darkness. They’re out there, just waiting. They want both you and your sister, and the black diamond. It would be easier to fetch the diamond, leave the two of you here, and then you can do your experiments when we get back.”

Exasperated, she said, “I already told you the caretaker of the diamond won’t release it to anyone but me.”

“Bet I could convince him.”

“You can’t use force on this person, Ryder. I have to be there.” She understood he was trying to protect Isabelle and her, but he wasn’t making this any easier. She knew what needed to be done.

“Ryder’s right. We can’t risk taking Isabelle with us,” Michael said. “It’s bad enough Angelique has to go.”

He turned to Isabelle. “I’m sorry. I know this has all been traumatic for you, but you need to stay here. It’s not safe taking you with us.”

Angelique felt awful seeing the look of fear and anguish on her sister’s face, but in this, she agreed with Michael. Her sister had to remain safe. She reached for Isabelle’s hands. “Where we’re going isn’t far. We won’t be gone long, I promise. This will be over soon.”

Isabelle nodded. “If you think I should stay here, then I will.”

The group left the research area and went back upstairs to the main part of the house. They had dinner, discussed their trip, then relocated to the library.

“We’ll leave early in the morning,” Michael said, then excused himself to prepare for the trip.

Mandy, Dalton, and Trace left, too, claiming they were going to check weaponry for the morning, leaving Angelique with Isabelle and Ryder.

They sat in silence for a while, no doubt each pondering the situation. Angelique didn’t have to wonder what Ryder was thinking-she already knew.

“No, I shouldn’t have taken the black diamond from the cave in Australia. We wouldn’t have to go through this if I hadn’t.”

He looked at her. “Huh?”

“I know that’s what you were thinking.”

“Actually, I was thinking I’d pack two lasers tomorrow, and that I hoped the weapons team had the silver weaponry ready just in case we ran up against some of those new demons. I was also thinking that I wish some of the other hunters were here so you could be better protected while we’re out there tomorrow. That’s what I was thinking.”

“Oh.”

“What’s done is done, Angie. You can never go back and undo. You can only go forward. Quit beating yourself up over what you did in Australia. I get why you took the black diamond. Given the situation, I might have done the same thing.”

“Thanks.” She looked down at her hands, feeling guilty for always thinking the worst of him.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” Isabelle stood.

“Want me to go up with you?” Angelique asked.

Izzy shook her head. “No. I need to be alone. But I’ll be up early in the morning so I’ll see you before you leave.”

“Okay. ’Night, Izzy.”

Isabelle left the room. Angelique figured she should, too. There was no reason to linger in here with Ryder. She stood.

“Stay.”

His one-word command both bristled and intrigued. “Why?”

“I want to talk to you.”

He was sitting in one of the reading chairs by the fireplace. She walked over and took a seat on the sofa across from him.

“I said something to upset you in your room. Tell me what it was.”

She wasn’t prepared to have this conversation with him. Besides, what would be the point? She couldn’t make him accept what she was. Then again, she wasn’t the coy type-never had been.

“You hurt me, but it’s really not your fault.”

He frowned. “Okay, I don’t get that. Could you be more specific?”

“I know. It’s hard to explain. I guess I needed you to still want me, even though you know I have this demon blood in me. I needed you to accept me anyway, and you didn’t. But I understand why you wouldn’t, so it’s okay.”

He stared at her for the longest time without saying a word. She shifted, growing uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

“You think I don’t want you.”

“Yes.” No. I think you don’t love me. God, why were they having this conversation? She couldn’t tell him that.

He stood and came over to her, knelt in front of her.

“It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

She paused, held her breath, then let it out. “Yes.”

“Then tell me.”

“You talked about Nic and Derek, about how they were loved. .”

“Oh. And I didn’t say I cared about you.”

She felt the smile curve her lips. “You’re perceptive.”

“Not perceptive enough, apparently. I’m a jackass. I’m sorry. It probably came across that they could find someone to care about, but you couldn’t. That’s not what I meant, Angie.”

“I know. I should know better, it’s just-”

“Don’t make excuses for me. I’m the one who fucked this all up.” He took her hands in his. “Look. I’ll be as honest as I can be. I do care about you. A lot. But I can’t love anyone. Love scares the shit out of me. It did a number on my mother and I run like hell from it. I always have.”

That was one hell of an admission, and whether he realized it or not, he’d just told her plenty. Her heart swelled. “You’re not your father, Ryder.” She swept a lock of dark hair away from his face. “I really don’t believe you’re anything like him, even though you fear you are. Would your father have put himself in the position you’re in right now, spilling his feelings to a woman?”

He smirked. “Hell, no.”

“Revealing your emotions makes you vulnerable. I can’t see your father-at least, not the man you’ve described to me-doing that. I think there’s a lot more of your mother in you than your father.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “She was always open and honest. And he hurt her because of it; used it against her.”

“Not everyone who says how they feel gets hurt. At some point, if you want to live a normal life-if you want that chance at happiness-you have to learn to trust. It’s who you trust that’s the key.”

“Can I trust you, Angie?”

His voice had lowered, causing a trembling in her lower belly, especially since his hands had started moving from her knees up to her thighs. Heat rose to her chest, her breasts swelling and her nipples tightening against her thin tank top. Her shorts offered no protection against his questing fingers, which crawled their way ever nearer her quickly melting core.

“Yes,” she whispered, nearly out of breath. “You can trust me. Can I trust you?”

“You’d be a fool to trust me,” he said with a wicked grin. “Do you have any idea what I want to do with you right now?”

Her heart pounded, picking up a ramming rate that slammed against her ribs. “Well, I’m no psychic but I have a pretty good idea. But Ryder, the door’s open. We’re in a place where anyone could walk in.”

“I don’t care. I want you. Right here.”

He drew her legs apart and crawled between them, giving her no time to protest. Not that she would have. Not when his body pressed down on her, pushing her back against the couch. Then his mouth was on hers and she moaned against his questing heat, opening her lips to invite his tongue inside.

Hot, wet, needy, she licked at him, whimpered, surprising herself at the flare of desire so strong she no longer cared where they were or who could walk in. Passion took control, and she tangled her fingers in his hair and held on tight as he worked magic with his mouth. With every velvet stroke he told her how desperately he needed her. And she answered, lifting her hips, melting inside, wanting him so badly the flames consumed her.

Ryder dragged his lips from hers, pulled back enough so she could see his face, the harsh lines near the corners of his eyes as he stared down at her. He reached for the waistband of her shorts and jerked them down.

Oh, my. He really was going to do this right here in the library, with the doors wide open. Excitement drilled through her veins. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth and lifted her hips. He dragged her shorts off, keeping his focus on her face.

“Hurry,” she whispered, not certain if she was more concerned about someone walking in or if she simply needed him inside her.

He unzipped his pants, pushed them down his hips and pulled her to the end of the sofa. With one thrust, he was buried inside, filling her, expanding inside her in a way that shocked her.

Sensation exploded as she pulsed around him. He paused, not moving, and she felt every nerve ending pulse.

She could barely breathe. Ryder stared down at her, his eyes dark, intense, and so compelling. It was at these moments that he revealed so much to her with his eyes. He rested his palm under her breast, not even bothering to lift her shirt, but dragged his thumb over one erect nipple. She shuddered, feeling the sensation all the way to her toes.

Then he moved against her, slow and easy, and it was maddening, as if he wanted to torment her with this rhythm.

She lifted, grinding against him in a shameless way. She didn’t care; she was that desperate for the contact.

“Please.”

His lips curled in a devastating smile. Did he have any idea what that did to her? Her belly did flip-flops when he looked at her that way. God, the man radiated heat. And when he moved inside her, cupping his hands under her butt to draw her closer-oh, yes, that’s exactly what she needed. She fluttered around him, swept away by the pleasure he gave her. He hit the sweet spot and rubbed against her, smiling as she started to pulse wildly around him.

“Come on,” he whispered.

She gripped his shoulders, lifted, gritted her teeth to fight back a scream. Her whole body tightened as she climaxed with an out-of-control shudder. Ryder’s fingers dug into the soft flesh of her buttocks, holding her in his taut grip as she trembled and panted, taking him with her as she rocketed into a wild orgasm that left her breathless.

Ryder lay on top of her-at least, the upper half of his body. She stroked his damp hair and smiled.

Wow. That had been intense. And utterly pleasurable.

And now she realized how vulnerable they were.

“Ryder. We should get dressed.”

He lifted, smiled at her. “I’m dressed.”

She rolled her eyes and pushed at him. He moved away and she jumped up, grabbed her shorts, and put them on, her gaze focused on the doorway.

“You’re safe, darlin’. No one came in.”

“We were lucky,” she said, smoothing back her hair.

“You enjoyed the danger.”

She leveled a grin at him. “You’re right. I did.”

He grabbed her, pulled her to him, and planted a long kiss on her lips that had her melting all over again. When he pulled away, she was shaking.

“We should go to bed and get some sleep,” he said.

She nodded and turned to follow him up the stairs toward the bedrooms, blissfully and ridiculously happy when he held her hand the entire way.

She wanted to ask him, but she wouldn’t. It made her heart hurt she wanted it so badly, but she still wouldn’t ask.

When he reached the door to her room, he turned the knob and pushed it open.

She pivoted to say something, but he pushed her inside, followed her in, and used the heel of his boot to kick the door shut behind him.

Angelique felt a thrill of happiness so intense it made her heart tumble. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m going to sleep with you. Do you have a problem with that?” He pulled his shirt off.

She reached for the hem of her tank top, realizing as she did that she was falling madly in love with Ryder.

Foolish. She knew it, but couldn’t help herself.

“No. No problem at all.” She let her shorts drop to the floor, backed up to the bed and held her arms out to him.

He followed, lifting his lips in that dangerous grin that melted her all over.

This was the worst possible time in her life to fall in love. Especially with a man who’d made it clear he couldn’t love her.

And she didn’t care. She’d love him anyway.

For as long as they had.