Part 25 (1/2)

His grin grew deeper. His mouth brushed past my cheek to my ear, and he dropped his voice down to a level of potent, blatant l.u.s.t. ”You won't be needing the gown.”

I blinked as a wave of heat shuddered down my body. He slipped his hand in mine. So maybe the relations.h.i.+p part would progress slowly, but the intimate part was already blazing a trail across the sky. And I wasn't complaining.

We stood at an area of the rock where it began to slope gently downward. Emma held my left hand, Hank held my right. Rex stood next to Emma with his arm around her shoulder, Brim standing between them. The others had gathered around us. I felt Bryn behind me, squeezing my shoulder.

It was now or never.

I gazed at the ma.s.sive, tumbling waves of darkness, suddenly sad to see it go, which was weird enough for me to not delve into. Atlanta needed the sun back. The plants and animals, the people, needed the light. Hank and Emma squeezed my hand at the same time.

I grinned down at my daughter as she smiled up at me with a look of such belief and happiness.

Deep breath. Focus with intention. Command the darkness back to Charbydon.

Goose b.u.mps lifted the tiny hairs on my arms. The tingling feeling traveled, engulfing me. The once forty miles of darkness was now less than half its size, thanks to events at the henge. Still large by all accounts, though, so it was a slow start as the behemoth began to swirl in one direction.

As it moved it eventually began to thin, the outer edges of it thinning first and finally disappearing until it grew smaller and smaller and smaller, revealing blue sky until there was just a shadow left over the sun.

I held my breath, heart pounding.

And then . . . sunlight. Gorgeous, warm sunlight burst through the last of the shadows and blinded us.

He strode down the path leading to the Druid's temple in the Grove. The sun had already set, making the way dark and familiar-the usual. Ahead of him Charlie and Rex walked side by side. He could hear the soft murmurs of their voices as they drifted back to him. They didn't know he was behind them yet, but the closer he came, Charlie would know, would feel her mark warm. He was late, had meant to meet them at the gate. More evidence had been discovered along the lake and they needed Rex to take a look.

He was too far away to see Charlie clearly, but he saw enough. Dressed for work in cargos, light leather jacket, no doubt armed to the teeth . . . G.o.d, she was tough. And beautiful. And so f.u.c.king fragile of heart it made his chest hurt. The way she'd surprised him last night . . . He hadn't thought she'd actually show up. With the jewels. He loved those d.a.m.ned jewels.

He'd felt her shyness, though she'd die before admitting it. He'd felt her fear, too. Fear of getting her heart broken again. If only she knew the lengths he'd go to see that never happened . . .

She'd stood on his doorstep, a sparkling anklet dangling from her raised finger, those bow-shaped lips twisted into a brazen smile. And he'd been lost. Sucker punched.

Charlie. Bare skin. Jewels. Cavewoman talk.

His pulse leapt at the memory. Blood diverted. Down boy.

He was walking alone, in the dark, smiling like a G.o.dd.a.m.ned idiot. And it felt good.

Last night, he slept without dreams, without nightmares and reminders, and this morning, he woke with . . . hope.

Ashton Perry, ITF detective and champion d.i.c.khead, headed down the path toward Charlie and Rex. Hank could feel the guy's rage even from this distance. Charlie liked to fight her own battles, but this was one he'd love to fight for her, to end the racist comments and sneers. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d needed to get a f.u.c.king life and move on. The case had been officially moved back to their department and, as expected, ”a.s.ston” had had a hissy fit. He was probably here to brownnose the Druid and convince Pen that he was better off with a.s.ston on the case.

Hank's long stride covered ground and he'd gotten close enough to hear the exchange as a.s.ston approached Charlie with his hands clenched at his sides-no doubt Pen had sent him packing, which would explain the higher than usual anger. ”Druid's a f.u.c.king d.i.c.k, so I'm sure you two have lots in common, Madigan.”

”Bite me, a.s.ston,” Charlie shot back.

”They couldn't pay me enough to get that close to you.” a.s.ston slammed his shoulder against Charlie's as he pa.s.sed. Hank's fists clenched tightly. ”Where's your partner? Siren orgy at the Bath House?” he called over his shoulder.

Charlie turned. ”Why? Jealous?”

”Yeah, right. How's it been, Madigan, slumming with an off-worlder?” a.s.ston laughed and then turned back toward the path where his face plowed into the wall that was Hank's fist.

a.s.ston spun, already unconscious before he hit the ground.

Sweet f.u.c.king satisfaction flowed through Hank's body as he gazed unmercifully down and then stepped over the unconscious a.s.shole on the ground.

”Nicely done,” Rex said as Hank approached.

”Felt good, too,” he replied in a deep timbre that he knew would get under Charlie's skin. He stopped in front of her. She gazed up at him with humor glinting in her eyes and he couldn't help himself. ”So, how's it been?” His grin went lopsided. ”Slumming with an off-worlder?”

She tried to hide her smile, and again there was that punch to the gut. ”I wouldn't know,” she lied for Rex's benefit.