Bittersweet Darkness (33 page)

“At a guess to sabotage the committee. They don’t want the new alliances.”

“Will she be all right?” Tara asked nodding at where Faith still lay in his arms unmoving.

“I don’t know. She’s alive, but the damage is already done to her brain. I’m hoping she’ll come around.”

“Roz will help her,” Tara said.

Christian nodded. “As soon as Piers makes contact we’ll get him to bring her back here.”

“Thank you.”

He wanted away. He needed to be alone with her. “I’ll…” He shrugged but no one seemed to expect more from him, so he flexed his wings and flew to his rooms in the tower.

He stripped back the furs and laid her on the soft sheets. She appeared well now. But he shook her shoulder and got no response. Finally, he stretched out beside her and pulled her against him. She felt warm and alive and unmoving.

He’d broken the laws of heaven. Stolen the elixir of life.

And he didn’t give a toss.

If she would wake up and give him the chance to tell her he loved her, then he would take anything they could throw his way.

Chapter Twenty-five

It was two weeks before Piers made contact, and he and Roz arrived later that same day. Ash had hardly left Faith’s side. And sometimes Tara would join him. He would tell her stories about her mother, how they had met. What she’d been like.

Faith remained unchanged.

There was no sign of retribution as yet, though Lucifer had sent a message that he’d been ordered to hand Ash over.

“Since when did those bastards think they can give me orders?”

It was probably only a matter of time. But Ash couldn’t get worked up about it. He’d deal with the problem when it occurred.

He did leave her to go down to the courtyard when Piers and Roz arrived.

Roz was glowing; the break had done her good. Piers looked the same. “I hear we missed some fun.”

Roz stepped up to him, rested her hand on his arm. “Thank you. I heard what you did.”

“You’ll try and save her?”

“Of course.”

“Now.”

She nodded. Ash didn’t wait for anything else, just picked her up, and flew her to his rooms. She sat on the edge of the bed and studied Faith for a long time. “She looks so well.”

“She’s been the same since I brought her back.”

Roz glanced at him. “On the other hand, you look like shit. You know, I always wanted you brought down, but not like this.”

“Just help her.”

She shifted so she could rest both her hands against Faith’s forehead. A white light glowed from within, moving down her arms, pulsating with life. It left the tips of her fingers and transferred into Faith.

They remained unmoving for long minutes. Ash glanced at Roz, her face was rigid with tension.

Finally, the light faded. She shook her head and sat back.

“I’ve healed the damage from the broken blood vessel, but I can’t reach her. She’s far away. Maybe it’s been too long. I don’t know.” She shrugged helplessly. “I’ll try again later. Don’t give up hope.”

But he’d put all his hopes on this and now despair gripped him in its tight hold. He nodded and waited until she let herself out.

Then he sank onto the bed and dragged Faith into his arms, pressing a kiss to her closed lips. “Faith, wake up. Just wake up, and I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”

Roz came the next day and the one after that, but there was no change. She paused at the door as she was leaving. “Ash…?”

He glanced up from the bed, where he sat with Faith held tight against his side, her hand curled limply on his chest.

“Maybe you need to get out of here for a while. I’m not saying give up but…”

“You think she won’t wake?” he growled. “You’re wrong.”

He hated the look she gave him; he didn’t need pity. When the door closed behind her, he sat staring out through the window into the twilight. Absently, he picked up a brush from the table and stroked it through the long, silky strands of her hair.

She stirred in his arms, and his heart stopped beating.

…

A light flickered in the darkness. Faith was warm, comfortable. Part of her didn’t want to move, but something was drawing her upward. She tried to concentrate, think where she was. She’d been in the room with Ryan, and she’d been dying.

But she wasn’t dead, at least she didn’t think so. In fact she was hungry, her insides hollow. She’d hardly be hungry if she were dead.

Someone was stroking her hair, and for a few seconds she reveled in the sensation. Only one person’s touch had the ability to make her feel that good.

Ash.

Slowly she became aware of her surroundings; she was lying in bed, held tight in a man’s arms, her hand splayed on his silk shirt, her leg pressed against smooth leather of his pants. Breathing in, she recognized the sharp, spicy scent of her favorite demon.

Her stomach rumbled as her eyes flicked open. She was back in the room high in the tower, and beneath her cheek, she could feel the solid thump of his heart. Ash shifted her in his arms, so she lay across him and could look up into his hard handsome face. With a trembling hand, she stroked the roughness of his cheek, just as her stomach grumbled again.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I don’t suppose there’s a bacon sandwich anywhere close. Maybe two.”

For a few seconds his head rested back against the wall, his eyes closed. Then a chuckle resounded through his chest. “As many as you want.” He raised his head slightly and kissed her palm. “I love you.”

Maybe she shouldn’t feel this happy. Perhaps this was just a brief reprieve, and she was still going to die and she had no right to anyone’s love. All the same, she couldn’t prevent the smile curving her lips. “Good. Because I’ve decided I quite like the monsters.”

“Quite like?” He sounded offended.

“Well, one monster.” She struggled to sit up. “I thought I was dead, and it was too late, and I hadn’t told you I loved you. I’m glad you came back.”

“Of course I came back. So tell me.” He echoed her earlier words.

She took a deep breath, stared into his dark eyes, eyes filled with love. “I love you. I think I’ve always loved you, and that I’ll love you forever.”

“Forever is good, because there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“There is?” Why did he look so worried? “What’s been happening? Where’s Ryan? That’s the last I remember. I was with Ryan. I was dying and I wasn’t going to see you again. But now I feel…” She peered inside herself; the headache was gone, vanished as if it had never been. “I feel wonderful.”

Ash put her from him and lowered her gently onto the furs covering the bed. He rolled to his feet and paced the room a couple of time. Came back to stand over her, his brows drawn together, hands shoved in his pockets. He was building himself up to tell her something, and he wasn’t sure she’d be pleased.

“I’m not dead am I? Some sort of ghost and I’ve really gone to Hell?”

A smile flickered a across his face. “No. You’re not dead.”

“Did Roz come back and save me?”

“Not quite.”

“How ‘not quite’? What did you do? Why don’t you want to tell me?”

He sat beside her and took her hand. “You were in a coma. I couldn’t ask you. I had to make a decision.”

“Jesus, Ash, just spit it out. What did you do?”

“I gave you angel’s blood.”

The words didn’t make much sense. “Why?”

“The elixir of life. That’s what it is—angel’s blood. Or rather Archangel’s blood. You were dying and I just happened to know where there was an Archangel and…”

“And he donated some blood?”

“I…persuaded him to part with a little.”

“You didn’t kill an angel?”

“Unfortunately not. They’re not that easy to kill. He’s still around.”

“And are you in trouble?”

“Big trouble. But it was worth it. Or will be as long as you’re happy.”

She searched his face trying to work out what she was missing. “Why shouldn’t I be happy? I’m alive. What aren’t you telling me?”

He took a deep breath. “You’re immortal.”

Again, although she heard them, the words didn’t make a lot of sense. “As in I’ll-live-forever immortal?”

He nodded.

“I’m not going to die. Like not ever?”

“You can still be killed, but you won’t grow old and you won’t get sick.”

She thought about that for a minute. So far so good. Was there a catch? “Hey, I’m not going to turn into an angel or anything?”

A shudder ran through him. “I certainly hope not.”

Faith was finding it hard to take in. She’d been dying, and now she was going to live forever, and Ash loved her. “You’d better make sure those angels don’t kill you. I don’t want to spend eternity on my own.”

“I’ll make sure.” Lowering his head, his lips brushed hers. “After all, I’ve got something to live for now.”

“And so have I.”

Epilogue

“So it’s safe here, then?” Tara asked.

Roz nodded. “I presume so. But Piers was being very mysterious.”

Another two weeks had passed. Faith had spent most of them in Ash’s bed making love and coming to terms with her change in circumstances. Every morning she’d stand in front of the mirror and say, “I am immortal,” ten times. It still hadn’t sunk in.

She hadn’t attended any of the many meetings, but she was aware that the others had not returned to the Order and were still residing in Ash’s house. Ash claimed they had heard nothing from Raphael but were being cautious. And with good reason; she’d come to understand just what Ash had risked when he’d saved her life. If Lucifer—and she was impressed she could think that name without screaming—hadn’t freed him from his debt, he would have been in serious trouble. And all for her.

Then today, Piers had called a meeting and insisted everyone attend and it was to take place at the Order. So here they all were, back on Earth and in Piers’s office. Waiting for Piers.

Tara and Christian sat side by side on the black leather sofa. Roz perched on the arm, one leg swinging and beside her stood a tall “man” who Faith had never seen before. Dressed in tight black pants, long boots, and a sword at his side, he would have stood out even if he hadn’t been the most beautiful being she had ever seen.

“Who’s that?” she whispered to Ash.

“Total asshole,” Ash replied. “Actually, that’s the Walker. He’s Roz’s father and the fae representative on the committee.”

“A fairy?”

He smirked. “Yeah. Say it a little louder.”

There was no love lost there. Ryan sat behind the desk, reading something on the monitor. He glanced up as though sensing her regard. “Hi there, angel.”

“Piss off, Ryan.”

“Not an option, but it’s good to have you back on form. Let’s hope this means we can get back to work and reschedule these meetings. I’m going crazy doing nothing.”

“You need to get yourself a woman,” Ash suggested, pulling her against his side. But she knew he was also eager to get back to work. And she’d accepted the job with the Order as well, though she wasn’t sure in what capacity yet. She was going to take some time and feel her way around the place, but she looked forward to it.

Also present was Carl, the werewolf, Graham, and a young man Tara had introduced her to as Jamie. Who apparently could turn into a cat just like Shera. She’d got to the point where she’d believe anything.

A shiver ran over her skin, a tingle running along her nerve endings, and she rubbed her arms.

“What’s wrong?” Ash asked.

“I don’t know.”

The tingling grew stronger. A second later, the door was flung open and Piers stepped into the room. A man followed close behind, and Faith felt Ash stiffen beside her.

“What the fuck is he doing here?”

Piers grinned. “Meet the brand-new member of the Committee for the Integration of blah, blah, blah.”

“You are fucking kidding me?”

“Afraid not.”

Faith studied the second man. She was guessing this was Raphael, though he didn’t look in the least angelic. Tall and stunning, with pale blond hair brushed back revealing a face of mesmerizing beauty.

“Holy shit,” Roz muttered.

“You’ve got that fucking right,” Ash snarled. “He’s holy, and he’s a complete piece of shit.”

“Well, for the time being, he’s our piece of shit,” Piers said. “It seems Raphael has been a bad boy in giving information about us to the humans. This is his punishment.”

“Fuck off, Lamont,” Raphael murmured. His dark gaze searched the room settling on Roz. “Ah, the abomination.”

The Walker placed himself between Roz and the angel, and Piers took a step toward her. “Yeah, the abomination you’ve taken an oath not to touch.”

“She’s safe from me.” Raphael’s gaze continued on, until it reached Faith. His eyes narrowed. “Is this the one?”

Ash gave a curt nod.

Raphael moved closer. A low growl trickled from Ash’s throat but the angel ignored him and reached out a hand to her, stroking down her cheek. The touch felt like fire.

“Blood of my blood,” he murmured. “We must talk sometime—prepare you for the changes to come.”

Without waiting for an answer, he strolled away. Perching on the edge of the desk, one long leg swinging, he surveyed the room. “So, can we get a move on? Some of us have more important things to do.”

“Pompous git,” Ash muttered.

“Changes?” she murmured as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him. “What changes?”

“I have no clue, but it will be an interesting journey of discovery.”

Hmmm. She’d definitely be having that chat with Raphael at some point. But it could wait, now that it didn’t look like he was going to try and kill Ash or her or Roz. “So are we all safe now?”

“For the moment.”

That was enough.

All her life, she’d gone after the bad guys, and now she was in love with a demon. She’d been alone and now she had found a place to belong. She’d thought she was dying and she was going to live forever.

Best not to think about it too much and just take one day at a time…for eternity.

Acknowledgements

To my fabulous editors at Entangled Publishing, Liz Pelletier, and her assistant Robin Haseltine, for all their wonderful comments, edits and encouragement. To all the great women at Passionate Critters for reading my stories and letting me know what they really think. And finally, to my husband Rob, who puts up with me, and encourages me, and does a great job of hiding it when he’s totally fed up with me vanishing into my imaginary worlds and filling the house with vampires and werewolves.