The Gathering Read online

  “Don’t talk like you’re going to disappear again.”

  “Not yet.” Hunter’s voice gentled. “Not tonight.”

  His lips were warm in the cold air as he pulled Leda down to him and slid his hands under her shirt. His warm, callused palms moved across her bare abdomen and up to cup her breasts.

  They kissed for a long time while the wind tickled them with cold Leda barely felt. His night’s growth of whiskers brushed her cheek, his breath hot on her skin.

  She leaned her forehead against his, loving the warmth of him against her. She wanted to tell him she wished things could be different, but she knew he didn’t want to hear that. Hunter the man who would exist forever wanted to live for now, to take comfort against the emptiness he faced.

  Hunter resisted connecting even when he needed most to connect. He was right about one thing: If his wife and children hadn’t been killed that faraway day, they would have died a natural death sooner or later. A thousand years had passed and still Hunter grieved them. To him, the loss was as fresh as though they’d been killed yesterday.

  Such loneliness would drive an ordinary human crazy. Leda knew she could never have handled all Hunter had been through since the day Kali gave birth to him and handed him over to his father to raise. That man, his human father, had died long ago, leaving him as well.

  Leda couldn’t imagine such aloneness. Though Hunter had four brothers who shared the same kind of existence, they hadn’t exactly been coming together for a group hug every day. Likely they were each trying to get through the loneliness in their own way.

  Leda slid her hands down Hunter’s hard chest and the long white scars the demon had left. She traced the outline of the tattoo that showed over his waistband, and tugged open the button of his jeans.

  “What are you doing?” Hunter asked in a warm voice.

  “Giving you something else to remember me by.”

  She unzipped the jeans, and he made no move to stop her. She knew countless other women must have done this—how could they resist him? She also knew that Hunter, when he’d landed on her island, could easily have seduced her, made fantastic love to her, and left her with a wave and his cheerful grin over his shoulder.

  He’d decided to stay, protect her and Mukasa, and send her to Adrian to make sure she was safe. Leda had said a few foolish things to him, like I love you, which he fortunately didn’t seem to remember. Leda had a horror of being whiny or clingy, and she determined to make sure Hunter had the best time with her and never forget it.

  She unzipped his jeans all the way and scooted them down his hips. He helped her, rising a little and sitting his naked butt back on the swing. Leda pulled the jeans down his legs so they wadded at his ankles, then she sank to her knees and swiped her tongue across his very interested erection.

  “Goddess,” Hunter breathed. Leda swirled her tongue around his tip and sucked his cock quickly into her mouth. She felt his hands in her hair, heard his heartfelt groan. “You wonderful witch.”

  Leda raised her head. “You think this is witchcraft?”

  “I don’t give a damn what you call it, just keep doing it.”

  Leda pulled him into her mouth again, licking him, nibbling a little. She hadn’t had much experience at this kind of pleasuring, but Hunter didn’t seem to mind.

  His erection grew even harder and longer, filling her mouth. He rocked back so she could reach more of him, swallowing another groan. He tasted warm and salty, his skin hot and stretched.

  Leda felt his climax build, balls tightening under her fingers, his shaft smooth and tight. Right when she thought he’d come, he wrenched her up by the shoulders and pressed a hard kiss to her mouth.

  “No,” she said in disappointment.

  “I want to be in you,” Hunter said fiercely. “I want to feel your entire body.”

  Leda started to suggest they should go back upstairs, but Hunter had no intention of leaving the porch. He skimmed her nightshirt from her body then undid her pants with frantic hands, nearly tearing them and her underwear from her.

  Leda found herself on the board floor of the porch, cradled by his strong arms, his naked body on top of hers. He kicked his jeans away and without readying her, entered her in one swift stroke.

  Leda was never quite sure what happened after that. White magic swirled around her, and the house, the pungent-smelling pines, the sky, and its stars seemed to disappear. All that existed was Hunter and herself. Leda felt his weight on her and him stretching her, his lips on her face, his hands on her body.

  Hunter needed this coupling, Leda realized. It was more than desire, more than physical longing. He needed her. She saw through his mind’s eye the terror and pain he’d tried to forget—what he was using this frenzied sex to forget.

  She cried out, and the white light vanished. She was on the wooden floor, her nightshirt cushioning her back, while Hunter made love to her like a wild thing.

  He threw back his head when he came, and an instant later dark climax jerked through Leda. She felt an ache where they joined, the heat of his seed and her own moisture. Then he was kissing her—mouth, throat, breasts.

  Leda pulled him closer. “How can you stand it? Feeling that way? How can you take it?”

  “I have you,” Hunter whispered against her cheek. “I have you, love.”

  “I can’t possibly protect you.”

  “I don’t expect you to, sweetheart.”

  Leda balled her fists. “I won’t let that demon bitch torture you again.”

  Hunter chuckled and nuzzled her cheek. “Oh, my fierce little witch.”

  “I’m not joking.”

  “I know, love.” Hunter kissed her, mouth heavy. “You’re sweet, but you’re not going anywhere near her.”

  Hunter stopped further comment by kissing Leda again, slowly this time, his mouth a warm point in the darkness. Leda thought she could lie underneath him all night, savoring the weight of his body, the wonderful way he felt inside her.

  Hunter slid out of her suddenly, still slick and erect, and pulled her onto the swing with him. He positioned her facing him on his lap, her legs wrapped around him while he sat on the edge of the swing.

  “Want a ride?” he asked, smile wicked.

  Leda took a sharp breath. “What if someone sees us?”

  “Their own fault for spying.”

  Hunter was inside her already, hard and wanting. He moved his hips so the swing rocked forward then backward again. Back and forth, back and forth they swayed, Hunter making slow, sweet love to her as the swing moved.

  Leda held on to him and kissed him, feeling him huge and hard inside her. His hair was like rough silk under her fingers, his lips hot.

  He slid his hand between them, as tightly together as they were, and brushed his thumb over her. Leda started to scream, and Hunter caught the sound in his mouth. “Shhhh, love.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  His laughter was low and sultry, the sound of a man who had a woman right where he wanted her. “But the others will hear.”

  Leda stifled a moan, writhing against him, unable to feel anything but Hunter inside her, his hand between her legs, the cool night air on her bare skin.

  “You’re mine, Leda. No one else gets to have you but me.”

  Leda barely focused on what he was saying. Her coming went on and on, her skin hot to the touch, his cock hard inside her. His fingers continued to stroke her, taking her to heights she’d never achieved, while he cradled her safely.

  “My Leda. My witch.” Hunter’s kisses turned frenzied as his seed shot into her. She felt his teeth in her neck as he moaned his climax, then he gently licked where he’d bitten.

  As Leda’s awareness returned, she realized she was on Amber’s back porch, stark naked, making love to Hunter on the swing. But for this moment, she didn’t care. Hunter had protected her with his body and his Immortal magic, and instead of simply easing his fears by taking her, he’d given her plenty of pleasure in return.
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br />   Leda loved him. She also knew that whatever the outcome of this battle with the demon, it would hurt in ways she’d never experienced in her life.

  In the small hours of the morning, Hunter walked again onto the back porch alone, Leda back upstairs in bed.

  Adrian was there to watch the sunrise, his broad hands resting on the rail. Hunter joined him, gazing with him across the green, barely visible in the dawn light, to the grove of trees and its glasslike ripple in reality. Hunter’s mood had lightened, making love to Leda restoring not only his strength but his sanity.

  “Have you reached Darius, yet?” Hunter asked Adrian in a quiet voice.

  Adrian shook his head. He’d been trying to call Darius all week, redoubling the effort now that they knew Kalen had disappeared. “Haven’t heard a word.”

  “What about this witch who’s following him?”

  “Her either. They’re not answering. If Kalen were here he could portal himself to Manhattan and find out what’s going on, but . . .”

  “You think we should consider Darius MIA too?”

  “I don’t want to.” Adrian said heavily. Moonlight glittered on his armband, which could become either a deadly sword or a snarky snake called Ferrin. “But he might be.”

  They stood in silence a while, two men who’d known each other so long they didn’t have to keep up a conversation. Adrian looked almost exactly the same as he had when they’d fought the Unseelies back in Scotland around 1300 or so, except for a slight softening around his eyes. Hunter put the softening down to Amber’s influence.

  “Tain’s gone, Adrian.”

  Adrian turned his head, black eyes glittering. “He’s a captive, and his mind has been messed with.”

  “I know. I talked to him. There’s still some sanity in there behind the mess, but I couldn’t reach it.”

  “When we get rid of the demon, we’ll find Tain again, and restore him.”

  “It might not be that easy.”

  Adrian rested his hip on the rail, folding his arms. “This from Hunter, the kill-it-and-move-on warrior?”

  “Tain’s pretty far under the spell or whatever—the demon hasn’t had to use magic on him in years, I’m willing to bet.”

  Adrian looked across at the grove again. “The others—Valerian, and even Amber—believe we’ll have to kill Tain in the long run. They think I don’t know, but that’s what they want to do.”

  “Maybe they’re right.” Hunter shrugged. “Maybe it’s the only way we can help him. I got a good look into his eyes, big brother. Tain’s screaming to get out, but if he can’t, I for one am happy to help end his misery. He can’t stand much more of it. I wouldn’t want him to.”

  “And I refuse to give up on him.”

  Hunter made an impatient noise. “I never said I was giving up. I have some ideas on how to reach him if we can. But I agree we need to get rid of the demon. I’m sick of her.” He thought of the illusionary dungeon and curled his lip in disgust. “The big bad she-demon of annoying clichés.”

  “That’s how Kehksut struck you?”

  Hunter shot him a glance. “What do you mean?”

  “To me, he was a suave smooth-talker who became the woman you saw only when she was busy brainwashing Tain. Darius sees him as a demon called Amadja, who’s building up a demon following in Manhattan. He was playing a different game with you.”

  “A stupid game. She kept trying to take Leda’s shape, like I’d go all drooly if I could have a Leda look-alike do anything I wanted.” Hunter shook his head. “What she didn’t understand was I’d rather have ten minutes with the real Leda than a lifetime with a substitute. That’s why she couldn’t break me.”

  Adrian’s face was in shadow so Hunter couldn’t read his expression. “That’s how she tried to snare you?”

  “Yep. Like I said, it didn’t work.” Hunter pointed at his own chest. “Clever Immortal, see through ploy.”

  Adrian didn’t laugh. “With me, he threatened to torture Amber. Made me choose between having to watch Tain be tortured or Amber.” He shrugged. “I figured Tain was used to it so I picked him. That surprised the demon—he thought I’d agonize over the choice and beat myself up about it. But I knew he was going to hurt Tain anyway, no matter what I decided, so I chose to save Amber.”

  “Hmm. Seems like the demon doesn’t know much about relationships.”

  “Seems like,” Adrian agreed. “I’m trying to figure out how to use that against him.”

  “If Kehksut keeps making mistakes like that, she’ll never trap us.”

  Adrian looked away again. “If we can band against him, Kehksut will be one dead demon. He must know that.”

  “Exactly. So why does he want us to be so strong?” Hunter asked. “That’s what’s been rolling through my mind with no answer. What does Kehksut want to do that will take five Immortals to do it?”

  “We can always ask him when we confront him,” Adrian said. “Side by side.”

  “Four sane Immortals and one who’s loony. I don’t like those odds.”

  Adrian gazed across the green, studying the thick ripple. “You think Kalen is behind a ripple in reality like that one, don’t you? That the demon has trapped him there, and possibly Darius as well?”

  Hunter nodded. “If you want my opinion, and I’m pretty sure you’re asking for it, what I’ve been thinking is this—Tain’s demon wants five Immortals together, so I say we give her five Immortals together. If you want to save Tain, this is the way.”

  “If we can extract Tain first . . .”

  “Adrian,” Hunter said patiently. “Tain’s gone around the bend, and the choo choo’s still in the station. I know you two were close, but you have to wrap your mind around this. We scrag the demon, then we pull Tain back to the sane side of life.”

  “And your plan how to do that is . . . what?”

  Hunter clapped Adrian on the shoulder. “I have a few ideas, but mostly I’ll leave the planning to you, big brother. I fight, I drink, I get the girl. That’s Hunter.”

  Adrian actually smiled. “From the noise in your bedroom I’d say you did the last thing first.”

  “Why not? Leda’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I know I’ll lose her in the end, but I’m grabbing on to what I’ve got while I’ve got it. I notice you can’t look away from Amber, so don’t get superior on me.”

  “Isis fixed things so we can be together always,” Adrian said. “She’ll live my long life—Isis made that promise. I’ll have time to love her. You be careful.”

  Hunter lost his smile. “I learned all about grief and broken hearts a long time ago. I know the lay of the land.”

  Adrian regarded him for a long time, then he looked at the dark windows of the kitchen behind him. “If we go after the demon, we have to leave them here alone.”

  Hunter laced his fingers loosely together. “Not something I want to do, believe me. But the sooner we kill the demon, the sooner Amber and Leda are safe from it.”

  Adrian nodded. “What then? We might never be able to come back to this world, in this time, if you’re thinking of searching for the demon the way I’m thinking.”

  “I know. It’s a risk.”

  Adrian’s hard gaze softened, and Hunter knew that his big bad brother had finally fallen—for a sweet witch with amber-colored eyes.

  Hunter thought of Leda—her soft laughter, red lips, beautiful smile. His heart ached, and the selfish part of him cried out, Don’t let her go. Not even to save the world.

  Adrian let out a breath. “What I’ve found here, I can’t easily walk away from.”

  “You think I can?” Hunter asked with heat. “You think it doesn’t kill me even contemplating it? After I lost Kayla and my babies, I vowed I’d never feel grief like that again. I thought there’d be no more grief left in me. That I’d never be that torn up about anyone again.” He spread his hands. “Then I met Leda.”

  Adrian was silent for a time. Amber’s wooden wind chimes played in th
e faint breeze, even the air calm in this protected bubble of strong life magic.

  “This might sound strange,” Adrian said after the silence had stretched, “but I’m glad Leda got to you. I’m glad she made you feel again.”

  “I’m not.” Hunter gave Adrian a hard look. “I wish I’d never met her.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  Hunter blew out his breath. “I know. Of all the islands in all the world, why did I have to fall onto hers?”

  Adrian gave a short laugh. “I say we wait a little longer for Darius, then we figure out what happened to Kalen.”

  “I say we don’t have time.”

  The brothers shared a long look. Hunter didn’t want to leave Leda unprotected any more than Adrian wanted to leave Amber, but he had a feeling they didn’t have the luxury of choice.

  “The kid is powerful,” Hunter pointed out.

  “Mac? Do you trust him?”

  “I didn’t say I trusted him,” Hunter returned. “I said he was powerful. He’ll give Leda and Amber some protection and so will your dragon friend.”

  Adrian gave him a sharp look. “You know damn well that none of them, not even together, are a match for this demon. We are the strongest beings that walk the earth, and even we can’t best him.”

  “So we need to start figuring out how to take him down,” Hunter said with emphasis. “I refuse to watch Leda die, even if I know I can never have her.”

  They stood in silence again, the swing behind them creaking slightly in the touch of wind.

  “It’s a moot point what we want,” Adrian said. “We do what we have to. It’s always been like that.”

  “It used to be more fun,” Hunter rumbled. “Remember the time Darius got stuck inside the statue of Vesta after he drove a demon out of it, and had to watch the vestal virgins for three days before we could extract him?”

  “The poor guy.” Adrian turned from the railing. “We’re getting maudlin. Time to be warriors again and kick some demon ass. If we can return to our ladies afterward, so much the better.”