Eclipsed by Midnight (8 page)

He nods again and I close out, withdrawing the power completely. Standing up, I hold out my hand. “Hey buddy, it’s getting cold. Let’s go inside.” He rapidly blinks as his eyes refocus and he shakes his head, trying to clear the fog.

“Yeah, those clouds rolling in sure cooled it off.” He takes my hand and stands with a smile as I fight back my own tears.

I have to remain the strong one for them. Christian is an amazing man who has treated my best friend like a queen their entire relationship. For that, he has always been high on my respected people list. I hate this so much. I hate everything about what is happening to them, but it is out of my control. I hate that part too. It is my nature to want to fix, to want to heal, and to make right. Learning to let go and roll with the punches, only helping where I can and having the knowledge to know the difference, has been my biggest and most difficult ongoing lesson. I am a control freak who wants to heal the world, so sue me. And this happens to be my best friend’s husband and the love of her life. I sure as hell don’t want her to lose that, but it doesn’t matter what I want. In some fucked-up way I can’t explain, this is part of a bigger plan and is something we don’t get a say in. Etienne follows us into the house, and Roman goes to fetch the lot from downstairs.

“I’m really tired all of a sudden.” Christian yawn and scrubs at his stubble.

“Yeah, that hundred-year-old crap Etienne had you drink will do that.” Etienne faintly gasps and narrows his eyes at me. Yup, he’s probably going to throw in the leg restraints now too, shit.

“Hey, guys, what’s up?” Ang questions as she comes up the stairs and takes us in.

“Babe, I’m spent. How about we go home and talk about that trip you’ve wanted us to take?”

Ang’s smile lights up the entire room as she runs up and wraps her arms around Christian, sending a pouting Roman to slowly back out from the reunion and into the kitchen. “Sasha has already been planning something special for us. Girls, guess we better pack!” Ang happily fetches everyone’s coats as they animatedly talk about what’s to come. Aiden and Ethan attempt to hold up their smiles and warm goodbyes, but it is obvious they are not happy about the timing of this trip. Ang hugs me one last time and whispers a thank you.

“No problem, love. Erik is working his magic as we speak and your account will soon support you all for the month of memories.” I will never forget how she looks at me just now, priceless, with complete love and gratitude. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.

As the front door clicks back into place after their departure, Etienne fastens the locks, and the boys begin to grumble as they stomp upstairs.

“Guys, please understand that they need this time with their dad before he gets any sicker,” I call after them, their forms nearing the top of the stairs.

“We know, Mom, it just sucks,” Ethan yells back before they quickly shut themselves away.

A warm hand slides up my back, coming to rest on my neck before I am suddenly swept up into my lover’s arms. “Now, that you have thoroughly pissed off half the house, it’s my turn.” His lips are on mine in an instant as he carries me down to our hideaway and locks us away for the rest of the day.

Chapter 5

“Not only did I love her, but I could tell that the universe loved her, too. More than others. She was different. After all; I would be a fool not to notice the way the sunshine played with her hair.” ~ Christopher Poindexter

Sasha

“There’s my astute and prized pupil!” Damien exclaims excitedly via video chat on my laptop. Sitting back on the sofa of my little personal den that Etienne made for me, I take in my teacher’s loving face as a pang of loneliness hits. Koray’s long, white hair passes by the corner of the camera, and I feel my throat tighten. Damn, I really miss them and all the support they offer.

“Hey guys, how are you?” Pushing past the lump in my throat, I focus on the task at hand. Today, I am being lectured in the origins on our medicine. Or more like verbally tested as I’ve been studying the pile he made me bring with me.

“We are quite well. Nothing new to report on this end. I take it that your intuition was right on all things back home?” Damien’s dark eyes crease in worry as he has already picked the truth up off me somehow.

“Yes.”

Within a few moments, he and now Koray, who is hovering in the back, are well caught up.

“My, my. That is quite a bit to swallow. What do you think are the chances of them surviving, my love?” Damien calmly asks Koray, who is now seated beside him.

“It is hard to say. We won’t know for sure.” Koray’s frown deepens in thought.

“Are there any herbs I could blend to help them?” It was going out on a limb, but worth the shot.

“Not that I am aware of, dear Priestess. A female’s blood of strong lineage will be the best and safest bet.”

“Shit, I haven’t even thought of that. Whose blood am I to use?” Goddess… and then there is the sex draw that happens with that whole bit. Picturing my kids in that position is simply too much. They need to wait until they find true love. I’m okay with not waiting until marriage, but I feel very strongly about having them save it for someone worth the sacred experience.

“You need to find a strong pair of females who are not mated,” Damien reminds me. I haven’t contemplated the actual components of their transition yet. It’s been all that I can do to not think about the possibility of death.

“Great. Cause with all the eren around here, that will be easy.” My shoulders slump.

“Marguerite is not mated; she would be a good choice,” Damien suggests as Koray continues on in his journey through his vast knowledge bank.

“Erik would never let that happen. Isn’t it true whomever you choose, you end up being linked to?” Erik is too selfish to share anyhow.

“In a sense, just as anyone who has had your blood, you can track. But not always in the intimate manner.”

“Are you sure it can’t be a male’s blood?”

The two exchange thoughtful glances before turning back to me.

“No, even we need the help of an occasional female for strength. Sharing blood amongst ourselves is simply for pleasure, but it does not aid as much as we need.”

“I don’t want to just hit the streets and find a few girls for them. That feels so wrong—cheap.”

“Blood along the royal side would give them the best chance possible,” Koray adds.

“Oh god, that is not a can of worms I want to open.”

“You might not have a choice.”

“Oh yeah. Hey, royal families… lowly half-breed needs your young females for my quarter-breed sons. That will go over swimmingly.” They both chuckle at my attempt in humor.

“How about Inessa’s young nieces? They are unbound and about the same age.” Koray strokes his long beard and his eyes get that damn twinkle that tells of more plans strung to that one.

“Hilarious. She’d never go for it.”

“Would it hurt to ask?” Damien joins his mate in consensus on this topic.

“I suppose not. She always verges on pissed off anyhow, and I have become accustomed to that.” She may try to kick my ass for even bringing it up, but that could be fun too.

“Very well, before we move on, there is someone I’d like you to meet there in Denver,” Damien excitedly moves forward.

“Oh?” Picking up my tea, I sip in anticipation. Why is Koray studying me like that through the video chat now?

“Yes, Dominic. He’s the local healer there. He is already familiar with your work. He mentioned a rogue Scot as well as Dagan.”

Tunnel vision sweeps in as memories and fear flood back. “Uh—that was a while ago,” I stammer, fighting my reaction.

“Well, you made an impression and greatly aided in their recovery. The two are quite functioning now.”

“Really?” For some reason, I pictured them to have been swept away to some underground prison, shackled to stone, awaiting impending demise.

“Absolutely, I am surprised your mate hasn’t updated you on their profound recovery.” Damien’s dark brow arches.

“You’d be surprised on the amount of things he fails to update me on.” I grumble. Perhaps a bit of light being spread on these developments might have helped me in my confidence with all that I am learning.

“He fails to keep you abreast of most things?” Koray leans forward.

“Unless he is forced to tell me, that has been his trend. Why, what else are you not telling me?” Damien and Koray exchange an odd look before turning their attention back to me.

“Ina su-alal u sandu, their search for that continues,” Damien breathes, still holding back, but I don’t want to push.

“Etienne likes to protect. If he feels like me having knowledge over a silly cup might do more harm than good—that is why he didn’t say anything.” That’s how the king of omission works.

“Dear, has he told you much about his past? The years he spent rogue?” Koray inquires.

“No, not much. We all have skeletons in the closet; I don’t need to know everything.” My mind wanders to the last time I attempted to help him by using my power, and I shudder at the thought. A side of him I never thought possible creeped through in that moment. I didn’t like it one bit.

“But you’ve spied with your gift and saw something?” Koray calls me out; the male never misses a damn thing.

“Yes, things I don’t care to explore further at the moment.” No one wants to delve deeper into their soul mate’s dark past.

“There is going to come a time where you won’t have a choice but to. Bonded pairs are intended for balancing each other’s shortcomings.”

“Guess we will cross that bridge when we need to.” I really hope we don’t need to. If what I sensed was correct, Etienne’s got some shit—shit I am not sure I can understand and love him through. If I learned the truth, would it distort my view of him and our intimate relationship in a reprehensible manner?

“Very well, back to the relic—” Damien attempts, but I cut him off.

“What is so important about this silly myth? Surely, no one can rule two species with a decrepit artifact.”

“And surely you’ve had your mind blown enough in this world to know that it could be true,” Koray jumps in.

“Touché.”

“Your mate is after it because it pertains directly to you. Their search has led them to the states.”

“Here?”

“Yes, native land up north. The eren are preparing to depart in a week’s time to begin their hunt.”

“To what? Find it, and then what? I know everyone wants to find it before the bad guys in these sort of things, but what do you do when you actually do? That’s when the bad guys always find out you have it, then someone snitches on the location, everyone battles, and on and on and on.” Every movie I can think of with similar plots plays through my head.

“The witches are said to have united five covens to yield this artifact back when they still had power and wished to use it to wipe out vampires, their teachers. They feared us and what we were capable of. They felt the failsafe was necessary should the balance be tipped too far into darkness. A very powerful healer infiltrated the ceremony, posed as a fellow member, and added his own vibrations into the ceremony.
One who wields all the elements shall be the only one to wield the power.
He knew that only vampire blood would ever be gifted with such talent. It was his mission to see the alteration in the relic, though as it has been our privilege and honor to protect Nannau, and such power should only fall to us.”

“How do you know so much, Koray?”

“Because that healer was my grandfather.”

Wow. Mind—blown. “So it is true then—the myth?”

“Yes, but there is a catch that your mate does not know.”

Of course there is. “Which is?”

“The veil between worlds you seem to be able to so easily slip between is where it hides. A veil that is thinnest on Samhain.” Koray grimaces and shifts back.

“That is the best time to find it?” And how safe is that really?

“Yes.”

“Not many can cross that barrier; why not let it safely lay there? Keep watch on it where it is?”

“There is a shift happening here between the priests and elders, as well as court. The Mastagia who captured you were working with someone within the court to divide the houses and take over. There are many powerful vampires within said community who are also hunting for it. The possibility of one of them having the power to slip between worlds is very high.”

“So Lil will find it before they do. Why are you telling me this? I need to focus on my sons.” Now is not the time. This conversation alone makes me sweat and become uncomfortable.

“You have a better chance of tracking it down with your power. Cedric has reached out to us and asked that you go after it.” His head softly shakes.

“I cannot leave my boys!” My instincts come raging forward in a split second as my spine goes rod straight.

“This is also the reason for your need to meet Dominic, young Priestess. He can watch over them and should the change happen in your absence, he can aid them.” Damien attempts to rationalize, seeing I am on edge.

“I have failed them so many ways as a mother; I will not leave them now. I will not be absent from their sides should they turn.” My conviction leaves no room for negotiation.

“Your mate says the change still feels quite a ways off. Samhain is just a few days away. The chances of them changing before you get back are very small. Your mate has a nose for these things.” Koray taught Etienne. He was his prized pupil. Naturally, I should trust his instincts.

“What you are asking?” My voice quivers.

“That you protect your family and this species from utter and total chaos.” Koray plays at my guilt-ridden emotions.

“So this is it then? This is the inescapable,” I breathe.

“Yes, this is your purpose. What you choose to do with it is up to you.” And I have the gall to wonder who taught Etienne to manipulate on the level that he does.

“I will talk to Lil—” My chest sinks as my body and mind give way to the inevitable.

“No, he cannot know.”

“Why not? He is my mate; I tell him everything.” I try to at least.

“You will not be permitted to pass through the veil if you are not alone.”

“When I pass through, he will not be able to sense me. It causes him a lot of pain. He will know.”

“And he will come for you, but you will have already gained access to the realm,” Koray assures me.

“If this mission is as dangerous as it seems, shouldn’t I have protection?” Duh. This lady is a walking shit magnet.

“You won’t need it,” Damien adds.

“What do you mean?”

“Look, we cannot go into all of that right now. You have to trust us,” Damien implores with one of his “older than time” wise grins.

“I suppose I can manage that, but I’m still worried about how vulnerable I am when I transition. What if someone finds me in that state?” It’s only ever happened around the presence of Etienne and his eren, warriors who would stop at nothing to protect me. I can’t leave my body frozen in the middle of nowhere with assholes who want to use me about.

“If you find it, you won’t need to worry about such things. It is they who should be afraid.” Koray’s tone turns ominous yet tinged with satisfaction.

“You are so sure about this?” The sarcasm in my tone isn’t missed. Damien scoffs at my questioning of Koray, the almighty.

Koray doesn’t even respond, simply inclines his head forward and raises a brow.

“Sweet baby, Jesus. What the hell are we going to do about Lil? You know he will go apeshit. I don’t want him taking it out on the eren the minute he can’t sense me near.” Something deep within sets off the warning bells of danger in regards to what my mate is capable of under such circumstances.

“We’ve already begun to put a plan in place.” Damien’s dark features begin to dance with mischief.

“Oh, really? Like?” These two, I swear.

“All will unfold in its own time,” Koray reminds

“So you just knew I would go along with this?”

“We knew you were ready to follow your destiny.” Damien winks at me.

Great
.