Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

The trip through the portal revived Lani as nothing else could. She barely had time to wonder who was holding her before they were dumped into a strange house.

Chaos reigned for the moment, as shouts came from those in the group she was with, and loud questions from the people they’d appeared before. Lani pushed out of the hold on her, surprising a grunt out of the female holding her.

A female. Puzzled, Shade looked up. “Who are you?”

The female raised an eyebrow. “Definitely not your knight in shining armor. Can you stand?”

Probably not, but Lani nodded anyway. She’d be damned if she was going to sit in some strange woman’s arms like a child. Without delay, the woman put her on her feet, taking a step back as though she didn’t want to touch Lani any more than Lani wanted her touch. Wobbly knees nearly had her falling to the floor, but habit had her bracing them to hold her.

She shot a quick look around her. The portal had deposited them in someone’s living room. The room was large and filled with comfortable furniture. It was also packed with people. She spied no less than twenty large females who were no doubt Amazons, at least three vampires, and one fairy. The fairy caught her attention and held it.

She stared with fascination at the female, knowing in her heart that this was Shikoba. The other fairy stared back, her green eyes wide and uncertain. It was like looking into a mirror, she thought with some shock. Wikolia had said Shikoba looked like her, but she hadn’t said how much. Her sister was a reminder to Lani just how much she’d changed in the last century.

“Shikoba,” she mouthed, not sure how to approach her.

A small, shy smile pulled at her sister’s mouth.

“Why do I feel like I’m watching This is Your Life?” one of the tall women, no a man dressed like a woman, said in a loud voice. Someone tried to shush her, but she frowned. “What? They’re just standing there. Hell, if that was my sister, I’d be jumping for joy or something.” Someone murmured something else. “So what? Koba’s a cool kid, if she’s too stuck up to at least tell her ‘hello’, then that’s her loss.”

There was the sound of a scuffle, but Lani refused to look away from Shikoba. She took a step forward, yearning filling her heart. Her sister looked innocent, untouched by cruelty. Yes, there were shadows in her green eyes, but they were light as though she’d only had a glancing encounter with the darkness Lani had expected to see. She whispered a prayer of thanks to the heavens.

It was getting awkward, she thought uneasily. She should say something. She wished Malachi was at her side. She’d have some support if he were here. She frowned, looking around.

“Where’s Malachi?” she asked into the tense silence.

One of the vampires, a tall male she recognized as the Oculum, and Malachi’s brother, Lucian, shifted. His green eyes speared her in place. “We were wondering the same thing.”

“He had something to do,” the woman who’d held Lani said in an easy voice. “He and Izzy will be coming soon, I’m sure.” She turned a serious look on Lani, her blue eyes surveying her with something that looked like compassion. “Would you like an introduction?” she asked Lani with a tilt of her head to Shikoba.

Something eased in Lani’s chest. “It would help if I knew who you were as well,” she said somewhat wryly.

Humor sparked in the blue eyes. “Saga of the Blood Maiden Tribe,” she said with some humor. “The offensive woman we just tossed out is Rosetta.”

Saga and Rosetta. Vaguely she remembered hearing Malachi speak of them. She inclined her head. “I’m Noelani Fayard, or Shade.”

“Shade, eh?” Saga said with a small smile. “Well this is your sister, Shikoba Fayard.” She took a step back. “Now you two make nice.”

She jerked her head in a silent command. There was a mass exodus from the room with the exception of Lucian and his mate, Ruby. They stood to the side, eyeing her curiously.

Once everyone was gone, Lani didn’t know what to do.

“Um,” she began, blushing when her voice came out louder than she intended. Gods, this was excruciating! Give her a target to kill and she was cold as ice, put her in a room with a sister she never knew she had, and she was at a complete loss.

Shikoba suddenly grinned. “I think we’re both unsure how to start,” she said in a low, musical voice.

Lani nodded. “I never knew…”

“Me neither. Not until I overheard mom and dad talking about you,” she admitted with a small smile. She took a step forward.

Surprise blanked Lani’s mind. “How did you get here?”

“When I heard them talking about what had happened to you with…Luther? I snuck out. Two of those Amazons found me and brought me here.”

“What were you planning to do?” Lani asked, curious and hopeful.

Shikoba shrugged, a blush cresting her cheekbones. “I was hoping to go to King Leofric, or one of the Veilerian Councilors to let them know what was going on. I mean,” she cleared her throat. “Our parents weren’t only planning to kill you, they were going to kill King Leofric, too.”

“Who’s Luther?” Lucian asked, entering the conversation for the first time.

Having the undivided attention of the Oculum made Lani break out into a cold sweat. This vampire had a lot of power. He could toss her in prison with just a snap of his fingers. She swallowed, forcing away the fear. She’d been an assassin for nearly a hundred years, she could handle him in spite of the little voice inside her mind whispering that this wasn’t just a male, this was Malachi’s brother.

“He is- was, one of the Eturi’s top generals,” she told him in a mild voice.

“Was?” the word shot out of Lucian’s mate’s mouth. She was a fierce looking female with the tattoos on her face.

Lani cleared her throat. “Mala- ah, Master Cromwell killed him,” she said. Something told her formality was the way to go right now, so she fell back on her court upbringing. “Master Cromwell discovered me fighting Luther, and killed him. He, um, saved my life,” she admitted with a feeling of awe and wonder. Malachi had saved her life!

“Why were you fighting this Luther?” Ruby asked in a suspicious voice. “Aren’t you an Eturian assassin?”

The question hovered in the air, bold and pointed. Shade wanted to look at Shikoba to see how she’d taken the news, but felt her attention was better focused on the Chieftain. This was it, she thought with dismay. She wouldn’t lie to them, and they’d see her slapped in shackles.

She straightened her shoulders, tilting her chin upward to stare directly into the Chieftain’s face. “Yes, I am – was an Eturian assassin. I’ve been one for nearly a hundred years.”

“Why?” Lucian asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He studied her with sharp focus.

“Ah, what?” Lani asked feeling her false bravado leaking away.

“Why are – were you an Eturian assassin?” he asked in a voice cold enough to give her frostbite.

This time she did glance at Shikoba who watched the three of them with unabashed curiosity. She hadn’t even had a chance to talk with Shikoba, yet two of the Veil’s most influential people were waiting for an answer.

Giving a mental shrug, and wondering if she shouldn’t just go back to her assassin’s lifestyle, she turned to them again. “My parents gave me to Luther shortly after my transition. Instead of killing me, he decided to train me as an assassin. I have been…compelled to follow his orders ever since.”

Silence stole over the room, heavy with unspoken questions. She could see Lucian and Ruby wanted to know more, but it was Shikoba’s painful stillness that had Lani looking towards her. Her breath caught. Tears flooded her sister’s green eyes.

Those tears firmed Lani’s resolve. She turned back to Lucian and Ruby, hands fisted at her sides. “I’ve done horrible things, milord, and milady. I’ve killed…I don’t know how many people. I don’t ask for leniency, or even understanding.” She paused, her breath hitching in her chest. She wanted Malachi here. She didn’t want to say what she was about to, but if it came down to her turning herself in to protect her sister, she would. “I only ask that you grant my sister sanctuary within the Veil. I don’t want our parents to ever have her in their power because I fear they would pass her off to someone for their own means.”

Silence greeted her request.

Lucian frowned at her from his great height. “And what should we do with you?” he asked in an off-hand manner as though it didn’t matter to him one way or the other.

She opened her mouth to reply, but was surprised by a hand slipping into hers. Looking to her left, she saw Shikoba had crossed the great distance between them to stand at her side. Lani stared at Shikoba in a dazed manner. Why would Shikoba come to her side? Her hand was squeezed gently, reassuringly. Warmth flooded Lani’s heart. Support. Shikoba was offering her support.

A gasp escaped her when her right hand was taken in a bigger, hotter hand. Looking to that side, she saw Malachi. His face was blackened, some of his hair was singed, and he was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen. He squeezed her hand, giving her a pained smile. Love filled her body, lighting up her soul. She wanted to talk with him about what happened back at Luther’s home, but first she had to deal with the Councilor and Chieftain.

She turned back to them. “I’m willing to turn myself in to the Council for my crimes against the Veil,” she stated simply.

Malachi squeezed her hand hard, his heart pounding in his chest. When he’d taken her hand, he’d thought she would ask for clemency, but not his little fairy. No, she offered to put herself in Council’s hands. He wanted to spank her, kiss her, sweep her into his arms and take her away.

Didn’t she realize what could happen if Council got their hands on her? Did she think they’d let her go on her merry way? He wanted to howl at his brother to ignore the crazed female, but he held back.

Lucian shot Malachi an inscrutable look. He pulled a familiar book out of his back pocket. It was the logbook he and Lani hadn’t gotten around to translating. Lucian hefted it in his hand, his expression mild. “Do you recognize this book?” he asked Lani.

Malachi glared at his brother, ignoring the sudden amusement on Ruby’s face. He knew damned well that with the exception of Shikoba, they all knew what the book was.

“Yes, milord, I do,” Lani answered calmly, although he could feel her pulse racing in the wrist pressed against his own.

She was scared, but it didn’t show on her face. Pride filled him. It didn’t matter what Lucian decided, he thought. If he had to, he’d spring Lani from prison, and they’d hide. He wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

“I found this book in the pile of paperwork Malachi brought with him from his house. There were several portions of this book that eluded all of our best code breakers, so it was with some surprise that I discovered it had been translated.” He stopped, looking Lani over carefully. “Did you translate this book?”

Stunned surprise had Malachi staring at Lucian unblinkingly. His brother nodded. She’d translated the book? He turned his head to stare at his female who stood proud with a slight blush staining her cheeks.

“Ah,” she began. She cleared her throat. “Yes.”

“Why?” Lucian shot out in his hardest voice.

Malachi felt her flinch and he shot a glare filled with the promise of retribution at his brother. Lucian was scaring her on purpose! A growl formed in his throat.

Lani’s voice cut the growl short. “Because I wanted to make sure Mala- Master Cromwell was cleared on all charges. He’s not a monster, not like the rest of us. He deserves to have his reputation restored, to be welcome within The Veil again.”

His mouth dropped open in shock. She’d done it for him? An almost giddy delight spread upwards through his body. He laced his fingers with hers, putting their hands closer together.

“I also wanted to stop Steele from winning this war,” she added in a stronger voice. “There will always be those who don’t want to live in secrecy, who want to oust the humans, milord, but Steele will destroy everything if he isn’t stopped.”

Lucian nodded. “I just have one last question for you,” he said cordially. He put his arm around Ruby’s waist with easy familiarity. “Do you love my brother?”

Malachi, who’d just turned to Lani, almost gave himself whiplash to look at his brother. Lucian was grinning unabashedly, his eyes twinkling with amusement and happiness. Dammit, he thought in terror. He didn’t want Lani to admit her feelings, if she had any, not in front of his family, not until she was ready. A cold sweat formed on his forehead. His stomach twisted into knots. He knew she could feel his trepidation in the sudden dampness of his palm. How could she answer? he thought in dismay. She didn’t-

“I-I love him.

The admission was made in the barest whisper, yet it echoed throughout Malachi’s body.

“You do?” he asked in a near shout, his heart thumping so hard, he knew Lucian could hear it. He turned to meet her warm, green eyes. “You love me?” he asked with a stupid grin on his face.

Lani felt another blush swimming up her face, but didn’t back down from the warmth in Malachi’s eyes. Of course she loved him, she thought hopelessly. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She couldn’t deny him the words that filled her heart any longer. If she had to face an eternity without him, she wanted him to know he was forever in her heart.

“Shade, Lani,” he breathed, fire kindling in his eyes. “Gods, woman, I love you, too.”

She barely felt Shikoba release her hand as Malachi pulled her into his arms. There before his brother and sister-in-law, he kissed her as though he never planned to let her go. Lani lost herself in the touch of his lips against hers, the feel of his body pressing close to hers. It seemed like an eternity since they’d been together, and so much had happened since then, she felt like she’d been released from prison.

For the moment, she allowed the weight of her worries go, reveling in the taste of her male. Her hands rose of their own accord, sinking into the silken warmth of his hair to hold him closer. His tongue dipped into her mouth, heralding a wave of desire so strong, she felt dizzy from it.

“Ahem.”

They ignored the sound, their mouths fused, and their hands urgently holding each other close.

“Ahem!”

Malachi’s arms tightened around her.

“Ten bucks says they both pass out from lack of air,” a female voice said from somewhere behind them.

“Twenty.”

“A hundred says they’ll be pregnant within the year,” another voice said.

“Two hundred on that one!”

“Day-um! This is almost as good as Skinimax!”

Malachi finally paid attention to what was going on around them, pulling away from Lani. Looking down at her, he almost went under again, but some sense forced him to survey his surroundings.

He bit back a groan. Lucian and Ruby were eyeing him in surprise, the Amazons were critiquing Malachi’s kissing technique, while Shikoba smiled shyly.

Looking back at Lani, he saw the misty desire in her eyes slowly fade to comprehension before being replaced by horrified embarrassment. A dark flush flooded her face before she ducked her head against his chest. A helpless chuckle burst out of him. Who knew assassins were shy?

“Well…that was fun,” Ruby chuckled, grinning at Malachi unrepentantly.

“You have no idea,” he said in a heartfelt voice.

Catcalls flooded the room, sending a tide of heat up his neck. He squeezed Lani close. They needed to talk, but for now, he just wanted to hold her. She seemed to feel the same as she burrowed deeper into his body.

“Anyone hungry?” Saga said loudly when she caught Malachi’s pleading look.

The Amazons stampeded out the room followed by a giggling Shikoba, a smirking Ruby, and a grinning Lucian who winked and closed the door behind him. Alone for the first time in a long time, Malachi comforted himself by holding her close.

“What happened?” she asked in a soft voice. He looked down with a questioning expression. “At the house. How did you find me, how did you find Shikoba?”

“Ah, that.” He nodded. Of course she was curious, he was curious too. He wanted to know what had happened to her since the moment she’d left.

He led her to one of the deep, overstuffed sofas, pulling her into his lap as he sat down. With her curled up against his chest, he told her everything that had happened since the morning she left his bed. He stroked her hair as he ended his recount with the explosion.

 “I don’t know if I want to be caught in another fire with Izzy, but she saved my ass out there.” His mouth twisted. “I saw Steele myself, Lani. We’ll bring him down, I promise.” Nuzzling her temple, he whispered, “Tell me.”

So she did. It took everything Malachi had not to howl when he learned about her treatment at Luther’s hands in the past. Hearing the pain her voice as she told him about her parents’ plots, he wished he could tear them apart with his bare hands. Instead, he held her tighter, offering his silent support. Then, she said something surprising.

“I lived for over a century waiting for the time when I’d kill Luther,” she said, voice low and uneven. “I dreamed about it, how it would make me feel to know he was finally dead.” She paused, staring at her fists resting in her lap. “I thought I’d be free, but I’ll never be free.”

He jiggled her in his lap to get her attention, ignoring the pain of his wounds. Nothing was as important as Lani right now. Bruised green eyes rose to meet his. The desolation there was haunting. “How do you mean? You’re free now,” he told her in a soothing voice. “I don’t think Lucian will turn you over to Council. If anything, your actions have saved countless lives.”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand. What I am…Luther made me.”

She told him what Luther said to her before their brawl. His heart ached at the shame in her voice. He wanted to argue with her, explain she wasn’t a monster, but knew his protests would fall on deaf ears. His little fairy was stubborn and honorable. Once she got the idea in her head that she was nothing but a cold blooded killer, it would stay there until she discovered she wasn’t. He sighed deeply.

“…your redemption,” she was saying, her voice growing stronger. “I won’t stand in the way.”

“What?” he asked, startled.

She turned an earnest gaze up to him. “It will ruin you if word gets out about my past. Maybe it would be best if I went away, maybe I could go back to Skado.”

He frowned down at her. “What the hell do you mean? You want to leave me?” he asked in a harsh tone.

Lani’s breath hitched. “Of course I don’t want to leave you, but your place in The Veil, Malachi.” She was on the verge of tears, just thinking about not having him in her life. “You’ve worked so hard for it. I can’t stand in the way of that. You could finally become who you wanted to be, maybe-″ she paused, choking on the words. “Maybe even mate a debutante who has impeccable breeding.” She tried to sound cheerful, but by the look in his eyes, it wasn’t working.

“Lani,” he rasped. “How could you think I’d give you up for a future I don’t want?”

She felt her eyes widen in surprise. “I don’t understand,” she told him weakly.

He laughed. “And I will,” he promised. “By being happy, Shade. My mom was miserable and my father weak; they still are as far as I know. It took me a while to realize, but all this time, I wasn’t fighting for their acceptance, but my own.” He hugged her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I couldn’t forgive myself for being dumb enough to follow a foolish dream. I can do so much more working with the Veil, rather than against it, but I won’t throw my future away for it. You mean more to me than anything else.” He squeezed her tighter.

When he spoke again, his voice was thick, as though he was strangling on some strong emotion. “You’re my family, Lani. The family I’ve always wanted. Don’t ask me to give that up.”