The Council (Darkness #5) (19 page)

I slept for a long time. My fingers entwined within Stefan’s, I slept as he healed. His injuries weren’t enough to kill him, and his concussion wouldn’t have any lasting damage. Dominicous assumed that he’d tried to break free, but was one man against a great many—he never had a chance, but he never stopped fighting.

The first time he woke up, his eyes trained on my face for a long moment before he said, “You shouldn’t have come for me.”

He got a good slap for that comment.
Literally. I
slapped him in the face. I didn’t even care that he was hurt; it was that stupid of a thing to say.

His answer was a smile and, “I love you.”

Laughing, I scooched forward and kissed him softly. “I love you, too.”

***

Two nights later—because really, a hurt arm and being tired were my only issues—I found myself striding through the hall with a sulking Charles behind me.

“Charles, aren’t you a little old for the silent treatment?” I waited for a response. I didn’t get one. “I had to do that. Otherwise, everyone would’ve died.”

Empty space where words should go.

“Mage.” One of the warriors in the hall saluted me. Another person nodded as I passed.

The hall in front of me parted of people as I strode through. Like it always did for Stefan. More so than it did for Jameson. The way I handled myself, and how I’d tried to sacrifice myself, secured me a great many votes of confidence. It obviously wasn’t why I did it, but I loved it all the same.

I fit in, now. I had a position, and the respect to go with it.

I could barely contain my elated smile.

“Hey!”

I stopped as I turned a corner in time to see Ann limping up the hall. She still had three bandages, despite the fact that shifters healed at a pretty fast rate. She’d been separated from us early, not being able to hold on to us with paws. She wound up with that smaller demon. Even at a low power level, it gave them plenty of problems.

“Hey, Ann, they let you out?” I asked.

Ann shook her head as she stepped around me. “Hey, loser.”

“I know you like me, so you can quit calling me loser.” Charles didn’t crack a smile.

Ann’s brow furrowed. She looked back at me. “What’s up with him?”

“He’s mad at me for almost dying.”

“Ah. No gratitude.”

“Exactly.” I matched Ann’s laughter. And then laughed harder at Charles’ glower.

“Where we headed?” Ann asked with a chipper voice.

I motioned her on without saying a word. A moment later we turned into a room down the hall. A woman’s still form lay on a bed, arms on her chest, eyes closed. A white sheet covered her from head to toe.

“She killed herself,” I said quietly, looking at the second myth reincarnate. I had every reason to believe there were more of us out there; we just had to find them.

“What?” Ann stared, aghast. “Who?”

“That other lady. The black power. We held her without problem, but when she found out Andris was dead, she shot herself in the head.”

Ann shifted to stare at me incredulously. “Where’d she get the gun?”

“They didn’t frisk her. Zeke didn’t think to tell anyone to—he was worried about assigning magical coverage—and the guards… are idiots.”

A grunt sounded off near the door.

“Sorry Paul, but seriously. She could’ve had anything on her. Like a
gun.”
To Ann I said, “She took down two people and then offed herself.”

“Because Andris was dead?”

“Because Andris told her we’d rape and murder her anyway,” Charles said disgustedly. “She didn’t want to be defiled. She went on her own terms.”

“Well, you do rape,” Ann shot at Charles.

“They ask for it!” Charles snapped.

Ann held out her hands in a ‘
See?
’ sort of way. “They
ask
for it? That’s exactly what every rapist says.”

“I mean…” Charles huffed. “They go for us. If I just stand still, humans will make use of my body. I don’t force anything—they come to me.”

“You use the date rape drug,” Ann scoffed. “How is that okay?”

Charles was about to retort when I said, “It isn’t. And it stops. I’m a human, I’m a co-leader, and that practice stops. Contrary to what I’ve heard, they don’t do it
everywhere
else—Harry can vouche that. It’s a shit practice, and it stops.”

“I haven’t even done that since I tried it on Sasha, anyway.” Charles wandered away toward the window with his arms crossed.

“Whatever happened to Harry?” Ann asked.

“He tackled Trek. Literally tackled the guy. They rolled around for a while before one of our people ended the fight.”

“How’d they end the fight?”

“We don’t have Trek to worry about anymore.”

Ann’s eyebrows crawled up her forehead. “Ah.”

“And you know what else?” I asked with a smug smile, leading the way out of the room.

“What?” Ann asked dutifully.

“Harry’s lady love mistress, some clan leader in Arizona, is coming to personally collect him and take him home. With many thanks. I totally made an ally!”

Charles huffed. “We don’t have any opposition from any clans. Why would we need an ally?”

“Oh, you talk to me when you want to crap on my parade, is that it?” I fired back.

“Don’t you have knitting to do?” Ann asked with a mischievous grin.

“Yeah. I’m working on the key to your chastity belt.” Charles squinted at her.

“It’s going to take more than an ugly hat for that. In fact, you are quite possibly
making
my chastity belt.”

“Gods help me, you girls are a couple of bitches.” Charles crossed his arms again in sulking distaste. His eyebrows settled low over his eyes as we laughed.

We meandered out the back of the mansion and settled on the stone bench, letting the breeze ruffle our hair. “I heard from Cato.”

“Oh my God, really?” Ann said with wide eyes. “Did he call you?”

“Yes. Personally. He called to make sure Stefan and I were okay. I told him about the battle and everything, and the other black, and he wants me to start looking for more. He thinks I’m the herald to band the two halves of magic together again. So I have a mission.”

“That’s cool. I mean, you just earned people’s respect, and are still learning names in this mansion—not to mention still learning your job. Oh yeah, and
magic.
But, cool. Another job. Great idea.”

Charles huffed out a laugh.

“Yeah, right?” I smirked. “But it gives me a reason to meet more humans that do magic, so I’m up for it.”

“What happened with the Council?” Ann asked.

“Mass death. Like… cut down by a third. They’re still figuring out who’s good and who’s not. But Dominicous will probably be offered a position on the Council, so that’s good. And Toa will finally be in the Clutch where he belongs.”

“And Dominicous’ old position…” Ann’s eyebrows were up near her hairline.

“Vacant. Offered. Not sure.”

“That Council is a damn mess, so let’s hope the Boss sees reason and doesn’t step up,” Charles grumbled.

“Yes. That’s the discussion that’s coming.” I shook out my hair and relished the evening air.

“How is he? Speaking of Stefan?” Ann ventured.

“Healing. He’ll be okay, but they beat the hell out of him, so… it’ll be another week, probably.”

Ann let silence descend for a while, just taking in the night.

“So now what are we going to do?” she asked after a while. “I’m tired of healing, and I have a few hours until the nurse realizes I took off.”

“Then what happens?” I asked.

“Tim gives the command that I have to rest. And then I rest. Because I do not need to be pissing him off and then getting my arms ripped off.”

“Yeah. At least he was mostly unscathed this time. He was a rock star. Without him, we would’ve taken three times as many losses.”

“We worked well, all of us. Jonas even had to acknowledge that.” Ann laughed merrily.

“Yeah, he hated it. You could tell that acknowledgement tasted like dirt in his mouth.”

Even Charles cracked a smile at that, not able to help himself.

We sat there for a couple hours, talking and relaxing, until the call came for Ann to go back. After that, I waited a while and called the witches, checking in. They were all fine, of course, just a little tired, but they’d become important to me. I liked having them close. I needed that unity.

“When’s the Boss supposed to be up and about? A week you said?” Charles asked with tight lips. He’d never been very good at grudges.

“That’s what they think.”

“So, a couple days, then.”

“Yup.”

I clutched the note from Stefan and looked at Charles. “What’s this all about?”

Charles gave a big stretch and scratched his chest. He glanced at the note, then at the clock on the wall. Dawn was just around the corner. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s finally trying to get freaky. Anyway, I have to go. I need to get in some ‘me’ time before I hit the sack.”

That was Charles’ way of saying he was going to go find someone and get busy.

I glanced down at the note again.

Run directly to me
. –Stefan.

“Kind of cryptic.” Charles snatched his sweatshirt off the couch and headed for the door. “See ya.”

I focused in on our link, feeling the tug of his body drawing me. I had just started walking toward the door when Charles said, “I found a clue. What a sap. Is this the sort of thing it takes to keep a female? Because if so, no way.
Way
too girlie for me.”

I glanced out through the door that he was holding open. A line of red rose petals led away from the door and down the hall.

Butterflies filled my stomach. Stefan had always been affectionate, but since he healed and was back in charge, he was much more so. Even in public, he was always touching me and kissing me, as if the veil had lifted and he didn’t give a damn what his people thought. I was his, and he wasn’t afraid to show how much he loved that fact.

I couldn’t help wearing a stupid grin as I followed that trail down the hall.

“Mage.” Someone bowed. “Mage.” A nod of the head. “Hey Sasha.” I got a high-five that time.

Down the stairs and through the next hall people stopped what they were doing and stared as I passed. I received more nods and bows, often smiles, and sometimes a salute. The only sound made was my footsteps and the word “Mage.”

What is going on?

Wide-eyed, I jogged down the last set of stairs and to the back of the house, following the petals the whole way. Feeling how close I was getting to Stefan.

Jameson stood at the back exit of the mansion with a stern face. He bent his head as I came closer. He said, “You led an excellent battle. I’d fight beside you any day.”

He stepped to the side so I could exit the mansion, my heart in my chest. Sure, they’d all said or done something to acknowledge our victory, but Jameson had never been so formal. He’d never finished with obviously lowered eyes and posture, showing my dominance.

What is going on?

I met Jonas just outside the mansion. Charles still lingered behind.

“Do you guys know what this is?” I asked.

“Just get going, human. I got shit to do,” Jonas said, putting a hand to my middle-back and gently steering me forward.

The rose petals led to the hidden bungalow where I’d spent the first few months of this new life. Charles and Jonas stopped at the entrance. Charles pulled me into a tight hug and kissed the top of my head. “You turned my position from something laughable, to the most coveted position in this place. Thanks, Sasha.”

I couldn’t help the moisture in my eyes.

Jonas pulled me in next, hugging me just as tight. “You’re a pain in the ass, but at least I constantly get to kill stuff.”

I huffed a laugh as a tear overflowed. “Sap.”

Jonas gave me a small push toward the door. “Off you get.”

Quietly, I walked through the concealment spell and through the front door.

I stopped dead.

Flower petals covered every inch of the ground, a swirl of beautiful, fragrant colors. Mouth dropping open, I turned into the bedroom I used to use, but didn’t see Stefan anywhere. I walked back out and peeked into the living room. Stefan sat patiently, gashes healing on his arms, a small smile curving upwards on his perfect face.

“Hi, baby.” His deep voice rumbled out of his muscular chest.

Champagne waited on the table with still more roses.

I sat next to him. My heart pounded. “Hi.”

His beautiful black eyes delved into mine. “We were made for each other, you and I. I loved you before I even met you. I wanted you since I first felt that tug on my heart—since the first time we connected eyes. You are the only one on this earth that can make me happy. That can fulfill me. I thank the gods every day for you.”

He held out his hand. In the palm of his hand, there was a small blue box. He cracked open the lid, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.

“Will you marry me and help lead my people?”

Tears dripped down my face. “But… can I? Can we?”

He took my hand and gently slid the ring onto my finger. “Yes. You have earned the trust of my clan and your place by my side. A unanimous agreement by the community means you have full support. We don’t have a formal mating ritual—my marking you was more permanent than anything we do, but I know that humans do it this way. I wanted to honor you in your own customs as I will continue to honor you in mine.”

Another tear fell. He leaned forward and kissed it off my cheek.

“Yes. Of course I will. Yes!” I hugged him, sobbing happily. He kissed me tenderly, wrapping me in his arms.

It had been a long road and a hard one, but I finally,
finally
ended up exactly where I was meant to be, with the person I was meant to be with.

The End

~*~*~*~