FALL (The Senses) (25 page)

“Someone
is helping him,” Waleron continued, ignoring Zurina’s pleading look. She was
always the rational one. “He had a shield around him. Around his car. The men
with him were human, but they know about us. How did he rise from Rest and
immediately have help? Who else is capable of shields? Who were his contacts?
He had to have many as a hit man.”

“I don’t
know the answers Waleron,” Tor said as he walked up to him. He looked as if he
was about to put his hand on Waleron’s shoulder, but then changed his mind and
lowered it.

“We
cannot do much except keep our senses open to feel for Tarek and try and locate
him.” Tor’s voice grew deeper and the floor trembled. “Tarek has signed his
death warrant. If he dies by your hand or another it is what must be done. But
Waleron the issue still remains, you have sworn to protect all Senses. What is
happening here is that one Senses is becoming your only purpose and, be warned,
if she doesn’t leave—you will lose your Taldeburu.”

“We
could bring her here?” Zurina suggested. “Until you find him.”

Waleron
paused. The Realm could be safe, but with the Wraiths wanted her separated from
him. He was leery of who he trusted. Until he had a lead on who was assisting
Tarek, he could only trust the one Senses that could take her away from
him—because Waleron knew that man would protect Delara better than anyone. “No.”

****

Delara
arrived back at the house with Damien and Balen. Waleron Traced to the Realm
after smashing his fist into the SUV’s side window when they realized Tarek and
his men had disappeared.

Balen
put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll find him.”

He
started to walk away when she stopped him. “Green eyes?” He turned. “You’d
protect Danielle with your life, right?”

The
corner of his lips slowly curved upwards. “Yeah, of course. When she lets me.”

“And if
you had to let her go in order for her to keep something that…defined who she
was?”

Balen
walked back and grabbed her hands. “Nothing is going to happen to you or any of
us. Tarek’s ass is history. Everyone is staying safe.”

She
nodded. But he didn’t answer her question.

Balen
stiffened and dropped her hands. She immediately smelled Waleron’s scent
swirling into the room.

“Hey
Delara? I’d never let her go.” Balen walked away.

No,
Balen wouldn’t. Danielle and him had been through so much together—torture, a
fight for their lives, and being torn apart. No, Balen would redefine them.
Their love was who they were.

But
Waleron’s oath to his mother and to the Goddess was who he was, what defined
him. It prevailed over all else. It had also tainted their love. Did he protect
her because he loved her still? Or because he never failed his oath?

“What
are you standing here contemplating?” Waleron asked coming up behind her.

“Can’t
you just open a door like everyone else?” She needed flippant while she
collected her thoughts.

He
turned her around and enfolded her into his arms. “No.”

She
tried to move out of Waleron’s embrace, but he tightened them and lowered his
mouth to hers. His lips took hers in a whirlwind, tasting, touching, sweeping
her up into a heated abyss of tantalizing shivers. Her stomach bottomed out as
he groaned beneath the ravage kiss, one hand in her hair, making certain she
stayed just where she was.

Oh God,
Waleron. This hurt more than ever. Knowing they had to be apart. She’d always
thought if they separated it would heal her, but she hadn’t considered it
actually happening. Not really. They’d been together, and yet apart, for years.
When he kissed her like he did now, she melted in him. Whether she wanted it or
not—he defined her.

“Things
can change.” He trailed kisses along the side of her neck. “I want you, Maitagarri.”

The
front door opened and slammed shut with a loud bang. She felt her face heat up
and knew it was tomato-red as soon as she smelled Xamien’s scent. Why was she
so mortified that Xamien caught her locking lips with Waleron? Because Xamien
was her friend and a lover. Because, despite not loving Xamien, she cared about
him and never wanted to hurt him.

“Xamien,”
Waleron said, seemingly unsurprised that he had walked in. She tried to move
from Waleron’s arms but he held tight
. Oh my god, he knew, damn it.
He
knew damn well Xamien was coming. He’d kissed her on purpose.

“Waleron.”
Xamien turned his attention to her, but remained by the door. “I Traced home
then came back when I heard you had some trouble. Kill any bad guys, Kitten?”

“I
handled the situation,” Waleron interrupted with an air of authority.

Xamien
met it. “I’m certain you did, but that wasn’t what I was asking or who I was
asking.”

Oh crap.
Delara couldn’t move. Her feet locked in place.

Waleron
put his hand protectively and possessively on her waist. She loved when he did
that, shielding her, claiming her as his own, but he also refused to give her
himself. It was a vicious circle of hatred and love.

“I
know.” Waleron tightened his grip.

Xamien’s
brows rose and the corners of his lips followed suit. Double crap. He turned to
meet her eyes. “Kitten, you okay?” Xamien frowned, his brows lowering.

Waleron
answered before she had the chance. “Of course she is.” Waleron’s fingers
stroked her back with long, gentle caresses.

 “Again,
wasn’t speaking to you.” Xamien’s gaze never left hers.

“Yeah,
I’m good Xamien.”
“Thanks.”
She was so grateful to have someone like
Xamien in her life. He wasn’t all sex and flirting; he really cared. She’d seen
him with Max too, offering protective warmth to the timid girl when she made a
rare appearance.

Waleron
drew Delara closer and the tension in his body increased. Waleron had known her
for nearly a century and a half; he sensed her uneasiness the moment Xamien
appeared. He would have felt her body’s reaction to him. And right now, her
pores were leaking a strong affection for Xamien. Xamien was a good, kind man. Despite
his tastes in the bedroom.

“Okay
then.”
“Glad you’re good, Kitten.
“I’ll be back in a minute, then we leave.”
He glanced at Waleron. “Balen got word the jet checked clear.”

“I will
Trace her there.”

Xamien’s
brows rose. “Healed then. Good. Let me know when you’re leaving.”

“Need
ten. Delara and I have something to discuss,” Waleron said.

Xamien
looked at her, eyes pensive. “I’ll find out from Balen what went down.” Xamien
strode out of the living room.
 

“Do you
love him?” Waleron’s voice was cold and his tone was harsh.

The
question had Delara’s mind flailing for an answer. It threw her off guard.
Love? She cared for Xamien more than she wanted to admit, but love? No, she
didn’t, not in the way Waleron wanted to know.

“Answer
me. Do you love him?”

“God,
Pez. You’ve no right to ask that question.” Her back bristled and she yanked
from his touch. Maybe it would be easier if she did love Xamien? No, she’d
never love another man, but she had to let go of the man she did love and the
only way to do that was push him.

Waleron
reached for her and she stepped back, but he persisted and grabbed her forearm.
“Do you love him?”

“Fuck
off.” She tried to yank from his grasp but he held steadfast.

He
wrapped his arms around her and touched the pad of his thumb to her chin.
“Language, please, Maitagarri.”

She
tilted her head to the side to avoid him. “Why? Why are you doing this now?
God, Pez.” He was making it harder. Harder to let him go.

“Look at
me.” When she didn’t, Waleron forced her to with his hand on her chin. “I don’t
want you with him.”

She
tried to jerk away.

“No. You
will listen. When this is over with Tarek, we will find a way.”

“What?
But the Wraiths. Waleron have you even considered that you’re too late?” A part
of her wanted to leap into his arms and hold him to her with the feeling of
elation wrapping around her soul. The other part of her wanted to crush his windpipe
with her bare hands. Why? Why now? Damn it, why?

His
words must have a motive. If she fell into Waleron’s arms again, he’d throw her
away as soon as Xamien was out of the picture. When he was concerned about her
and Edan, hadn’t he said he’d
try
? This was another ploy to keep her
from another man’s bed.

She
pulled out of his arms and this time he let her. She took several steps away
and heard his deep breathing as if he was about to say something more, but
stopped himself.

“And the
pills?” Her body was yearning to ravage him, pull him to her and make him swear
to never hurt her again. To make him love her as he once did with every part of
his heart and soul. But could she trust him?

“The
pills stay, Delara.”

Why was
her mind contemplating letting him back in? After all he’d done to her. The
denial. The hurt. The manipulation. The control. And now, her choice was being
taken away. She couldn’t let him back in.

Her debate
was the same; he’d already hurt her. Why didn’t she listen to her own argument?
Because Waleron was the first man she’d ever loved and letting go had been her
failure for a century and a half. She hurt when he died. She nearly died herself,
thinking he had left her behind to face the world without him. His return only
caused more destruction. He was like a parasite eating away at her insides. Why
did she torture herself this way? Why should she trust him to not hurt her this
time? Why was this time different?

He came
up behind her and drew her into his arms. Her knees trembled and she leaned
into his protective embrace. It was like he was her savior and ruin all wrapped
into one.

“We will
try to find a way, Maitagarri. I cannot…Maitagarri, I cannot lose you.”

Waleron’s
whispered words sent a warning beacon off in her head. That word
try
.
Could she trust him? What did her heart want? For so long she loved him, needed
him like her next breath…but it was too late.

Even if
the Wraiths weren’t involved she couldn’t risk the chance of trying and having Waleron
walk away again. It would crush her. There was no survival after try.

So she
did what she knew had to be done. She pulled from his arms and faced him. She
met his eyes, her trembling body, holding upright only by pure adrenaline as
sorrow drowned her soul. She barely whispered, “No, Waleron.”

His jaw
clenched. His eyes narrowed and the snake’s eyes began to glow a deep red.
Don’t
back down.
Whether this was right or not, she couldn’t fall down the same
path. Maybe the Wraiths were right. This was about ending the tortured love
between them. Their relationship was only words that always led to hurt.

“Delara.”

“No Pez.
I can’t do this.”

“Delara…please.”
He wore that wounded expression that made her want to run into his arms and
soothe it. But she knew as soon as she gave in to him, he’d end up leaving her
anyway. She realized that she no longer trusted him. He’d broken that when he’d
walked out on her the night Rayne was conceived.
It was reiterated when he made the bargain with Trinity and then again
when he`d asked Delara to leave the Talde after he found out she`d carried
their child and failed to tell him.

“I don`t
trust you Waleron.”

His body
jerked and she noticed his expression change to stone cold.

“And I
won’t beg, Delara.” He turned abruptly on his heel. “Five minutes then we Trace
to Spain. Get your shit together. Your bag’s still in the car. You’ll need
another one.”

She blinked
at his use of the swear word. That hurt, but this is what she wanted. To make
certain he kept his Taldeburu and to end their painful love. “Waleron—” He
hadn’t waited. He was gone.

It took
her a few minutes before she could move. She swore Waleron still loved her; the
way he touched her, how he protected her… That couldn’t be just from his oath,
could it?

She
walked out the front door, her head pounding with confusion as she sat on the
steps and breathed in the cool air. Waleron would be pissed to find her outside
unprotected, but right now she had to breathe. To feel the air on her skin. She
was wrapped up in so much grief that her stomach was rolling with uneasiness
and her hands were sweating.

Waleron
needed her to trust him. How could she after he broke her heart? How could she
fall back into his arms when he refused to share himself? How could she trust
him when he didn’t trust her? He refused to talk about the Lilac. All he told
her about his Scar was that it was filled with darkness, whatever that meant.

“You
okay, Kitten?”

She held
her head in her hands and her body was trembling, whether it was from the cold
or from the emotions, she didn’t know. Probably both.
“I...I think I just
need to be alone.”