Betrayed: Necromancer's Blight: Book 3 Read online

  I was also kind of used to looking at chins and necks now. It was still weird though.

  “Tom, things feel a bit unsettled, I assume you’re here to explain that?”

  I nodded, “It’s a long story…” I went on to tell him all of it. He paid attention as I spilled supernatural ancient history, and the recent events and how things stood now. The humans were all around us, but no one was listening. They were far too focused on their own lives and on getting home for their Wednesday night.

  He was silent for a while as he absorbed it, I’d been expecting a bigger reaction to be honest. Shifters aren’t really that expressive though, unless they’re angry. I wondered what life would be like, when the need to constantly suppress instincts and explosive emotions was necessary. I imagined the lack of expression was related to that. Of course, they were probably a lot more open with their own people, and when no humans were around to incite their animal sides by being stupid and accidentally challenging them.

  James asked, “So what do you want or expect of us?”

  I said, “Well, if you could report necromancer sightings instead of killing any sane ones you or your pack run across, that would be good enough. Until the council, Blood, and Witches are all on the same page, perhaps anything you find could be passed on to me? The only other thing is to be wary of the Fae when you pass along the information.”

  James replied sardonically, “We’re already wary of the Fae,” then went on in a normal tone, “This doesn’t sit well with me, but it explains much, and rings true. I will inform the pack, and pass it on to other alphas. We’ve been ill used for far too long, though to a much lesser extent than the Blood and Witches. Our part in the war against the necromancers has been relatively small in comparison.”

  James nodded, and left with his wife. Well, at least something seemed to go right tonight...

  We headed back to the campus to patrol. The silence between us was comfortable enough, but felt a little unnatural as well. We were usually in a much better mood when together, and Serena was a joy to be around, usually passionate about life. We were walking hand and hand, our cover as a couple being out and around campus was far more than a cover now, but we were also alert.

  I assumed her mind was on the same things mine was however, and right now the betrayal of her sister and brother-in-law was effecting our usual moods.

  I’d accepted it, it had really happened. I was angry about it, but I still didn’t fully understand it. Even if Matt’s reason had been about his hatred of necromancers, and him not wanting to save any of them, he could have expressed that sentiment short of betrayal. Christina… I just wasn’t sure what her deal was, or why she’d gone along with it. I was sure frustration and hurt feelings, perhaps regret for not fighting for what she really wanted was a part of it, but in that case her betrayal made even less sense than Matt’s.

  I just didn’t know.

  I also wasn’t sure what to do next, or what would come next. Yes, we were going to try and get the word out. The word was already spreading among the shifters, and Leda was going to get the word around to the other Blood locations, if they could figure out how, but what then? The witches were most likely keeping the secret within the Chicago coven and the council, though I wasn’t sure what their motivations for that would be. Except maybe pride.

  So, while we patrolled I mulled it all over. Which way would each race go, and the joint council itself by extension. How would we even start helping necromancers. Eventually, after some success stories and time, word would get out and the necromancers may even turn themselves in out of hope for the future. But… how did we get that ball rolling in the first place?

  Was it even up to me? Was my job done once the word had gone out, and the secrecy that would allow the Fae to manipulate things was in the past? The fourth and last line of the prophecy talked about defending the last chance for peace, so something told me I wouldn’t be quite done yet. Whistleblower was just one of my jobs, but that didn’t mean I had to do everything did it? Plus, there was a part of me that wondered if the betrayal was done now. I refused to believe Serena would turn on me, was there anyone even close enough other than her who could betray me?

  I didn’t think so. The spirits were firmly on my side, and Timothy was solid.

  The third line said, one will be betrayed, the truth denied, and the shadow of war will come.

  We’d just seen part one and two of that sentence come to life just hours ago. I hoped we could live with the first and that betrayal was truly done with, and that we’d overcome the second part by getting word out to those that wouldn’t deny the truth. The third part, the shadow of war, was still off on the horizon, and I wasn’t quite sure what it meant either.

  Not yet. I’m sure it would be clear when it happened though, but I was sure it wouldn’t be what I’d expected either.

  We had our plans, the best we could do was focus on those, and be ready for the unexpected and hope we had enough resources on our side.

  It was still early, just after nine, and most everyone was already inside due to the chilly evening October air. There were a few groups of stragglers out on the grounds, and a few groups moving with a purpose from place to place, but nothing like there’d been just a few weeks ago in the warmer September weather.

  Hopefully nothing would happen, Serena and I were it right now. All the new stuff didn’t change the fact that insane necromancers, or rogue Witches and Shifters were still a danger that had to be dealt with. It seemed, odd without our senior team around.

  Serena said, “Go back? I don’t think anyone wants to play with us tonight.”

  I laughed, but my heart wasn’t in it. I squeezed her hand lightly.

  “Sounds like a plan, we can see what Leda and the others cooked up in our absence.”

  She nodded, “I could use a cup of hot cocoa. Remind me to wear a heavier shirt tomorrow.”

  She was in a pair of jeans, boots, and a red blouse that was probably far too light for this weather.

  “I will.”

  We started back to headquarters. We were still on the outskirts of campus, and completely alone when I felt the magic of two half-demons headed for us extremely fast. I didn’t even think.

  My power rose and I wrapped us both up in a tight necromantic shield as I said, “Half demon company, two.”

  We let go of each other’s hands, and pulled the daggers from our boots just in time to get nailed by lightning. It coruscated around our shielded bodies, but didn’t do more than make our hair stand on end. Half-Demons were mercenaries, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the Fae had sent them. After all, if the council knew, the Fae knew, which meant they’d want to silence me. I should have thought of this possibility earlier, but I guess I wasn’t thinking straight enough right in that moment.

  My eyes narrowed at the unbalanced laugh, and I knew this was the same idiot who kidnapped me for Macy, but this time I’d been ready for him, and had my shields firmed up and far stronger. He was lurking about sixty feet away, in the shadows of one of the buildings. His buddy was circling, probably to catch us in a crossfire.

  Serena asked, “Can you shield me from a distance?”

  I frowned in thought, and tried to use the bond. The bond was there to exchange energies, and filter the blight’s taint from it, so maybe it could also allow me to shield her, the same way I had with Leda. It worked, and I allowed my large shield to shrink and split. Magic was all about intent and will, so I shouldn’t have been that surprised, but I was.

  “Got it, you should be good for quite a distance, as long as we can feel the bond, I can shield you.”

  Serena nodded and we slightly separated and stalked forward, trying to surround the lightning half-demon. We still weren’t sure what the second half-demon was capable of.

  More lightning shot out and it was stronger this time, I felt my whole body tingling and pushed more energy into our shields as we gave up stalking and darted toward him at full speed. His partner was on
the right of us, and he started to circle left in a burst of speed that was impressive.

  Serena said in a sharp voice, “I got this asshole, I owe him for what he did to you. Get the other one.”

  I wasn’t all that excited about Serena being in danger, or splitting up, but she was who she was, a warrior, which was one more thing that I loved about her, so I had to learn to live with the results of that fact. She was tough, strong, and quite fierce and capable. She was as deadly as she was stunningly beautiful and mischievous, it wouldn’t do to forget that fact. I was falling for a warrior, not a woman that needed my protection, although we would always protect each other, but as equals and partners, which had no room for certain male instincts.

  I pushed down the overprotective feelings and turned to meet the other half-demon, just in time to get a blast of fire in my face. The necromantic shield blocked the magical fire, but it was still hot as hell, forgive the pun, burning just an inch or two from my face. I dove forward and under the blast of fire, coming back up to my feet slightly to the side of the lancing fire, and I rushed the half-demon who was still a good twenty feet away.

  He had a nasty looking machete in his right hand, shot fire that tracked my movement with his left hand, and he had a shit eating grin on his face. I dodged the best I could as I closed the distance, and trusted in my shield to handle the rest. I feinted forward with a knife slash I didn’t deliver, and then followed up with a snap kick to his knee. A loud pop sounded and he cried out as he went down, and he burst into flames as he rolled, forcing me to jump back and abort my follow up attack. The explosion of flames died down and his body was covered in dancing fire, but it didn’t burn him as he regained his feet.

  I should have brought a gun, but policy was only when hunting rogue shifters. I wasn’t sure if assassins sent from the Fae would be a valid exception to that or not, but it sure as hell should be.

  He rushed me and swung the machete, which was on fire as well. He was fast, but the attack was brutal and simplistic, and I easily dodged and kicked him in the side which sent him to his knees. I gave thought to trying to overcome his magic with my own, and simply killing him that way, but it would weaken my shield against his fire, not to mention Serena’s shield against the lightning half-demon.

  Screw it, I dove at his back and shoved the silvered dagger through the fire and right at his kidney, but he half dodged in time and screamed in pain as the silver of the dagger sliced through his side. It started to bleed, but it wasn’t all that deep of a strike, and hardly mortal.

  He parried my next strike as he twisted back to his feet, and sent a billowing exploding fire right in my face that made me dodge back again, and abort my attack. This wasn’t working, every time I got close to killing him he let out a small explosion of fire to push me back.

  Then I felt my half-demon kidnapper die, his magic disappeared from my senses. Serena wouldn’t need a shield anymore.

  I struck forward with my magic, a lance of energy left me as I back pedaled to keep my distance, since I’d stolen a good amount of the energy I was using in the shield, a little space seemed prudent. He screamed in pain as the energy cut through his, and I killed his heart, necrotized it, and his magic started to unravel. I lunged forward, and stabbed him with the dagger to take care of his body, in ten minutes there’d be nothing left of him.

  Serena teased, “Magic? Dagger not good enough?”

  I smiled, figures that it would take a fight to the death to snap her out of her bad mood.

  I turned and walked closer, into her personal space, “Not everyone can be as deadly as you.”

  She smirked, her cerulean eyes danced, and she put her hands on my chest and closed the distance between us even further. It was insane, but between the relief of both of us being alive, the adrenaline, and the feel of her hands caressing my chest, I was feeling a lot of heat between us in that moment. Based on the way she looked up at me, I’d say I wasn’t the only one.

  I cupped her face with my hands, and leaned down for a kiss. It was tentative for a moment, but turned scorching in just moments. Her hands roamed up my chest and around my neck, as she stepped against me and conformed her body to mine. I played with her hair as we got lost in each other’s touch and kisses, the feeling of her toned supple yet soft body against mine was overwhelming. She was so… everything. I was overwhelmed as she filled my senses, and my body responded.

  She sighed in pleasure and satisfaction when she felt my body’s response to hers, and rubbed her body against mine, as I ran my hands slowly down her sides. She gasped and deepened the kiss as my palms teased her sides, and then ran along the deep valley of her waist, and around her hips and lower to her rear.

  I squeezed gently, and pulled her against me, drawing another needy gasp from between her silken soft lips. We were both lost in the moment, and I had no idea we’d both been banking and suppressing this much passion. I’d never wanted another woman as badly as I wanted her. And not just in bed, I wanted it all, to possess her in every way, body and soul, and I wanted to give her all of me as well. My heart was racing, and we were both out of breath when she lowered her hands from around my neck, and pushed me lightly away, our lips reluctantly parted.

  Her eyes stared into mine, part in shocked surprise at her reactions, and not a little bit of heated desire and yearning. Her cheeks were flushed, and our breaths were harsher than they were after the fight.

  She bit her lip, obviously torn about having stopped us, and I pulled her back against me and kissed her hair, this time we just existed together in a long moment, as I held her and we caressed each other lightly. It was… shockingly intimate for just a kiss and an embrace.

  She finally said, “Rules, because without rules…” she trailed off, and her meaning was quite clear. Without rules we might not stop next time. I was pretty sure if we hadn’t been outside next to two disintegrating half-demon bodies on the edge of the college campus, and had been in private, she wouldn’t have put on the breaks.

  I said, “Rules?”

  She looked up at me and blushed, “Don’t make me say why. Bad, bad, man,” she said in mock stern lecturing tone.

  I laughed. She was a bit too breathless and excited to pull it off. I also loved the blushing, the mixture of confidence and shyness she exhibited at times drew me like a fly to amber.

  “I know, we should wait until we’re sure,” I said softly, “And when we are we’ll mate and take up where we just left off.”

  She nodded reluctantly, “I know for humans that’s… helplessly old fashioned, and quite possibly naïve as well, but it’s tradition and how I was raised. I will only ever sleep with one man, my mate, and though I want that to be you… we aren’t mated yet. It’s… usually not a problem since most couples mate for duty, they don’t usually get a real choice, though they can request new partners in some cases. Not like this though, I never dreamed I’d feel… not like how badly I want you right now. But… I’m not ready. Usually new partners take a long time to get to know each other, and get used to the idea, but I had no idea it could be so… overwhelming.”

  She looked and sounded unsure, as if questioning her own statements, and I knew I could probably talk her into it if I really tried, I could see it on her face that she wanted me as much as I wanted her, but I rejected that thought as soon as it occurred to me. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted a woman, but I also wanted more than that, it would be worth the wait.

  Thought I was sure I’d be slapping myself later.

  I said, “I think we should do it right, and I quite like the idea of you being mine, and only mine.”

  She nodded in agreement and after a few moments quipped, “We’re so leaving this off the report.”

  I asked, only half joking, “So… when will we be ready?”

  She giggled, and hip checked me, but didn’t answer the question.

  I snickered, and took her hand as we started back to headquarters.

  Chapter Six

  Leda
and Timothy were in Carl’s office when we got back, I wasn’t sure what Isaac and Jared were up to, but figured I’d find out soon enough. We briefed the both of them on our meeting with the alpha couple, and our ambush fight after patrolling. As Serena said, we’d totally avoided the subject of our intensely sexual chemistry. I’d had less intense intimate moments with old girlfriends that I’d actually slept with.

  Leda nodded, “Most likely someone hired them to attack you both. If it was just the one you tangled with before that would be in doubt, but two of them? I want you to be very careful on patrol, assume more assassins will be sent.”

  I mentioned my idea about taking side arms.

  Leda shook her head, “We’re authorized with rogue shifters because they’re almost impossible to kill otherwise, short of decapitation. Otherwise no, because if we start doing it, everyone else that you face will start to use guns too.”

  I frowned as I considered that, and imagined the two half-demons from earlier with guns instead of machetes and magic. She was right, maybe not all traditions were bad, no guns. We could handle it. Although, if I could figure out how to carry a sword I would.

  “So, did you come up with anything?”

  Leda grinned, “We did. We’re going to use wights to deliver thumb drives. They may be able to block the network, but a thumb drive on one of the local computers will do the job. Gramp and gramps are buying out every small USB thumb drive they can get their hands on in Chicago, then well start copying the interview onto them and using the Wights to hand deliver them. They’ll have to wait outside until a blood leaves the facility, with the witch shields they can’t just waltz in, but it should work.”

  It should, the wights had no taint, which meant they might not even realize the delivery person was a ghost at all. They could also move extremely fast, even while carrying something. I smiled, hadn’t someone said the original necromancers used wights as messengers? I think that might have been Carl.