Darkness Unmasked

There was never any doubt about that. “I’ll report back the minute I talk to her.”



“If she is the one—report sooner.”



Or else, her tone implied. I was suddenly grateful I’d had the foresight not to use the vid-phone. “Fine.”



“Make sure you talk to the owner, not the manager. He is next to useless.”



I frowned at the odd edge of amusement in her voice. There was something going on that I didn’t understand. But I didn’t bother questioning her because she had already hung up.



I tossed the phone onto the vanity, then had a quick shower. Once dressed, I headed into Tao’s room. And noted, with some annoyance, that Azriel had yet to make his appearance. Apparently, when reapers were in a snit, they did it properly.



Ilianna was asleep on the chair next to Tao’s bed, but started awake when I walked in. I grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”



She waved the apology away, then rubbed at her neck as she sat upright. “I’ve got to be up, anyway. I promised I’d ring Carwyn to confirm tonight’s date.”



I raised my eyebrows. “You’re actually going?”



She frowned. “I told you I was.”



“Yeah, but I figured last-minute nerves might step in and stop you.”



She shook her head. “There’s no avoiding it. Mirri’s right.” She hesitated. “Besides, he and I are destined to be, so I have to be honest with him.”



“Destined?”



She wrinkled her nose. “It’s just something I saw a long time ago.”



I frowned. “Just because you foresaw this union happening doesn’t mean you should let it override your own feelings for Mirri—”



She smiled. “It won’t. You should know me better than that.”



“Then why all this ‘destined to be’ shit? How much pressure is your dad putting on you?”



“Lots, but I can understand his reasons—a union with Carwyn has financial advantages for both families.”



“So what? What you and Mirri have is more important than anything else.”



“We may be in love, but we are also mares. It is a fact of life that mares end up in the herd of a stallion, whether we like it or not.”



“Well, that sucks.”



“Yeah, totally.” She gave me a somewhat wan smile. “Trust me, I’ve done my best to avoid the whole situation, but the reality is, I have little choice. If I reject Carwyn, it’ll be some other stallion—and maybe someone far less understanding and patient than he seems to be.”



I sat on the arm of the chair and gave her a quick hug. “I’m sure you will work something out.”



“And hopefully that something will be artificial insemination,” she muttered. “I am not going to bed with the man if I can at all avoid it.”



“So why not suggest that? What have you got to lose?”



She snorted. “Um, have I mentioned he’s a stallion?”



“I’m sure even stallions are sometimes capable of thinking with their brain rather than their dicks.”



“I wouldn’t be betting on that,” Tao muttered, his voice hoarse but nevertheless music to my ears. He opened bloodshot eyes and glared at us. “And don’t you two know it’s not polite to be talking about sex when a man is trying to get some sleep?”



I grinned. “A werewolf complaining about people talking about sex. I think the world just ended.”



“I think it did for a while there.” He closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand across his bristly jaw. “I’m sorry—”



Ilianna caught his free hand and squeezed it lightly. “Don’t be sorry. Just be damn sure it doesn’t happen again.”



“And how the fuck am I supposed to do that?” His voice was a rich mix of anger, frustration, and fear. “This damn thing inside me is strong—”



“And so are you,” she snapped back. “Or you would be, if you damn well stopped feeling so sorry for yourself and started taking the offense.”



He glared at her. “It’s not like I’m fucking sitting back, issuing the elemental an open invitation—”



“Isn’t it?” she snapped. “Then why the hell aren’t you looking after yourself? Why aren’t you eating? You were told at the Brindle that you must keep strong both physically and mentally if you wanted to keep this thing contained.”



“I’m trying—”



“But not fucking hard enough. You have to get serious about it, Tao, or this thing will win.”



He snorted. “So you’ve seen that? Then what the hell is the point?”



“The point,” she said, jumping to her feet and clenching her fists, “is that nothing is set in stone just yet, and I don’t want you lost for eternity to flame. So, damn it, fight!”



My breath caught at the anger and desperation in her voice. Whatever she’d foreseen had been bad, and fear again stepped through me. I half reached out to her, but Tao beat me to it. He sat up abruptly, caught her hands, and tugged her into a hug that was as fierce as his expression was alarmed.



“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I promise, I’ll try harder.”



“You fucking better.” She returned his hug for a moment, then pulled back and punched his shoulder. “Now I’m going to prepare you the world’s biggest steak sandwich, and you will consume every fucking inch of it.”



“Promise.”



“Good.” She turned, gave me a weak smile, then headed out.



I waited until she’d left, then met Tao’s gaze. “How did the elemental get loose?”



He half shrugged. “One minute I was heading outside to cool down; the next I’m in some random field staring at you and realizing just how close I’d come to cindering my best friend.”



“But you didn’t.” I dropped down into the seat, then raised my hand. “See, not even the smallest of blisters to show for my ordeal.”



He eyed my fingers for a moment, then said, “I could hear you, you know, but I couldn’t do anything. Not until you caught my hand and drew me out.”



So I’d been right—touch was the key to breaking the elemental’s control. “I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, Tao.”



“But I did, and we both know it.” He took a deep, somewhat unsteady breath and released it slowly. “I think I’ll remember your scream for the rest of my life. And it’s because of that, more than anything, that I’ll fight this thing.” His gaze met mine. “It hates you, Ris. A witch created it to kill you, and the minute you spoke to it out there in the field, that’s all it wanted to do.”



“What it wanted was to return to the fire that created it.”



“Primarily, yes. But if it regains control again, don’t confront it. Because next time, I may not be able to stop it.”



“Then, as Ilianna so politely put it, make sure there isn’t a next time.” I rose to my feet, then leaned over and dropped a kiss on his cheek. “Get better. I have to go hunt a dark spirit.”



“Hunter’s still on your case, huh?”



“Yeah. You rest up, and maybe I’ll regale you with the whole sordid tale when I get back.”



“I’ll look forward to it.”



I wouldn’t—if only because in order to tell a story about hunting a dark spirit, I’d actually have to do it. I headed out to the kitchen. The smell of frying steak filled the air, and I took a deep breath, savoring the delicious aroma. My stomach rumbled happily. “Don’t suppose you’re cooking one of those for me?”



She glanced pointedly at the two waiting plates of buttered toast. “I’m vegetarian, remember?”



I grinned as I plopped my butt on the kitchen counter. “Hey, you’re going on a date with a stallion tonight, so miracles can definitely happen.”



She snorted. “Not twice in one day, they won’t.” She studied me for a minute. “Did you sort out your shit with Azriel?”



“No, because he isn’t around.”



“He’s always around, and you know it.”



“That’s not the point.”



“Then what is? The fact that you’re scared of your own feelings?”



“Ilianna, stop, okay?”



She sighed. “Between you and Tao, I’m going to end up gray before my time.”



I frowned. “Why? What have you seen?”



She hesitated. “Nothing.”



“Yeah, like that sounded so convincing.” I studied her for a minute. “So what, exactly, did you see in Tao’s future?”



“Nothing. Nothing but flames.” She stared at me, and all I saw was her fear. “I think we’re going to lose him, Ris.”



No, we’re fucking not. I forced a smile. “As I’ve said before, fate is a bitch who enjoys her games. She’s just as likely to do the opposite of what you fear.”



“God, I hope you’re right.” She poked the steak with a stiffened finger, then picked it up on a fork, slapped it onto a piece of toast, and handed it to me. “What are you up to today?”



“I’ve got to check out a few museums, and then I’m off hunting a dark spirit.”



Ilianna’s eyebrows rose. “Museums? You?”



I waved a hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not on a culture kick or anything. We’re looking for the next key.”



“Do you want help?”



“No.” Especially given what had happened last time I’d found one of the keys. I was already in danger of losing Tao. I wasn’t about to risk losing Ilianna as well. I slapped the second piece of toast over the steak, then grabbed the sandwich one-handed and got off the counter. “If I don’t see you before tonight, enjoy your date.”



She snorted. “The only way that’ll happen is if I get totally plastered first. And I’ve promised Mirri I wouldn’t.”