Chapter Eight

“Sherrod has used an ancient technique seldom practiced anymore,” Oberon said. The fairy witch’s voice was deep and smooth, commanding yet inspiring trust. He sat at the dining room table with Kesi, Caitlin and the special witch unit. Both he and Merlina, leader of the witch unit, had examined Zane and the bullet as well as listened to every detail of the women’s report of the battle with Sherrod. They had come to the same conclusion. From the trace of his magic left on the bullet, they learned that Sherrod was not a mortal practitioner of magic, but part of a demon race that was long ago driven into hiding by the fairy tribes of Scandinavia.

Oberon continued, “The only way to reverse the effects of his enhanced weapons, such as the bullet, is to destroy him.”

“How are we supposed to do that when our weapons, even our handcuffs, are useless against him?” Kesi demanded. One thing she hated was a creature she couldn’t fight with toe-to-toe.

“To create his protective shield and enforce his weapons, he’s invoked the magic of his ancestors. Like them, there is no way to combat it other than to end his life,” Merlina said. “Even our magically-enhanced weapons can’t penetrate his shields. Fortunately we can create protective shields of our own, rendering his weapons useless.”

“The only way to fight him is hand-to-hand combat. No outside weapons,” Oberon said.

Hope rose in Kesi. She was arguably the best hand-to-hand fighter in the Wakened Veils.

“Now that we have something with a residue of his magic--the bullet--we can track him,” Merlina said.

“That’s something we haven’t been able to get prior to this,” Caitlin added. “He either used spoken spells, which dissipate completely once they’ve worn off, or killed his victims with his bare hands, like an animal. No offence to Zane or any of the weres.”

“Let’s get this over with,” Kesi stated. The faster they killed Sherrod, the faster Zane would be out of danger.

“She’s right,” Oberon said. “Each hour brings Zane closer to death. I can perform a life sharing ritual that will prolong his life for a limited time, but you will have no longer than twenty-four hours to find and destroy Sherrod before it’s too late for Zane.”

Kesi’s stomach clenched. Twenty-four hours and a magnificent weretiger would succumb to the filthy magic of a demonic warlock.

Not on her watch.

* * * *

Zane struggled in a fiery pit of agony. Scarcely able to focus on anything but the pain, he almost wished to die. Anything was better than enduring life when his very blood had turned to molten lava and his flesh felt like it was on fire.

Then the pain and heat faded, replaced by a sensation of pure freedom, his soul unfettered by his tormented mortal body.

A man’s voice called to him. “Zane.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Oberon, teacher of Caitlin.”

The cool darkness brightened and Zane was once again in his room. He saw Oberon, a tall, slender man of the fairy race, seated on the edge of the bed. An unsettled feeling darted through Zane when he caught sight of himself lying on the bed. Oberon was holding his hand, yet Zane couldn’t feel it.

“What’s happening?” Zane asked, though deep inside he knew.

“You’re in the state between life and death. My magic is holding you here.”

“Then I’m dead?”

“Not yet.”

“But I will be. I know that.” Strangely, Zane felt ready to join his goddess, to take his place in the afterlife, except for one thing. He and Kesi hadn’t had nearly enough time together. Their love had only just begun to develop. To have it end so soon ….

“I wish I could see Kesi again,” Zane said. “Where is she?”

“She’s trying to save you.”

“How?”

“She and the witch unit have gone to kill Sherrod. It’s the only way to reverse his magic. You were infected by it when you took his bullets.”

Fear darted through Zane. Kesi would stop at nothing to do her duty. She would die fighting Sherrod, especially if his life hung in the balance, for he had never known anyone more loyal to those she cared about than Kesi.

“You want to see her, Zane?” Oberon asked.

“Yes.”

“Then find her. In this state you can go anywhere. Find anyone. Think of your love for her.

Imagine those moments when your souls became one and you will find her.”

Zane did as Oberon suggested and let his love for Kesi overwhelm him. He recalled what if felt like when they joined in body and mind. The pleasure and the joy. Part of their hearts and souls would always belong to each other no matter what happened.

Zane soared, seeing the world through the eyes of the wind. Then he saw Kesi. She and Sherrod were locked in a basement room. Two witches lay unconscious on the floor and outside three others tried to break the magically-enhanced lock on the door.

Kesi and Sherrod circled each other, their eyes filled with hatred, their faces and clothes bloody.

To Zane watching her trade blows with the demon warlock was unbearable. He should be there, fighting beside her, protecting his mate. At the same time he felt incredibly grateful knowing she loved him enough to fight for his life.

Every strike of Sherrod’s fist or foot on Kesi’s beloved face and body seemed connected to Zane’s soul. Kesi finally managed to leap onto his back, one forearm tight on the front of his neck while her other applied steady pressure to the back. Frantic in her chokehold, Sherrod clawed at her arm. He ran backward, slamming her into the wall, but her hold remained unbreakable. A fierce expression in her eyes, her nostrils flaring and sweat beaded on her brow, Kesi refused to let go. Finally Sherrod dropped to the floor, unconscious. Kesi snapped his neck and sat back on her heels, panting, her eyes closed.

At that moment the door burst open and the witches rushed in.

Zane was suddenly jerked back into his mortal body. The intense pain faded quickly and he felt his regenerative powers coursing through him.

A hand squeezed his and he opened his eyes and met Oberon’s steady gaze. A faint yet reassuring smile touched the fairy witch’s lips.

* * * *

While Merlina’s unit disposed of Sherrod’s body, Kesi used her cell to call home, desperate to see if Zane’s condition had improved. Relief washed over her when Caitlin reported that he was regenerating quickly and would soon be fully recovered.

She wasted no time before rushing home. Caitlin met her in the foyer.

Staring at Kesi’s bloodied face and clothes, she said, “Are you all right? You look like hell.”

“I’m fine. Is he still in his room?” Kesi asked, but before Caitlin could reply, she hurried up the stairs. She was halfway up when the weretiger appeared at the top.

“Zane,” she breathed, took two steps at a time and flung her arms around him.

He lifted her off her feet, holding her tightly.

“Stop, stop,” she said and he put her down, his eyes filled with concern.

“Have I hurt you?” he asked, caressing her face. “You’re wounded ….”

“Vampires regenerate, too, you know. I’m fine,” she said, placing a hand to the back of his neck.

“I was worried about you. You’re still recovering.”

“I’m fine. Thanks to you. I saw you fighting for me. I watched you kill Sherrod.”

Her brow furrowed. “How?”

“My spirit left my body and I was floating. I was ready to join my goddess, but not without seeing you one last time. There you were battling Sherrod. You were fighting for me. I felt that and I felt your love. I knew I had to wait. That our life together wasn’t meant to end now.”

“I love you, Zane. I do love you.” She clung to him, her eyes closed as she relished his warmth and scent, the sensation of his hard body so close to hers.

“Spend the rest of your life with me, Kesi.”

Her heart pounded, and she was torn between overwhelming joy and sheer terror. Could she once again bind herself to a man in marriage? Not that Zane was anything like the bastard she’d married. He was a good man. Courageous. Loving. Dedicated.

“The rest of our lives,” she breathed and slipped from his arms.

He followed her down the hall to her room where he closed the door behind them.

She continued, “For us that could be thousands of years. Even longer.”

“I know,” he said. “And even that won’t be long enough.”

Drawing a sharp breath, she turned to meet his gaze. That was the most beautiful compliment she had ever been given. Looking far into the future, she could imagine it with Zane, but she didn’t want to consider it without him.

“What about your clan and job with the architectural firm?” she said, knowing any arguments sounded weak when compared to the depth of their love. “I’m a Wakened Veil and …,” her voice faded as he began kissing her neck. His lips caressed hers tenderly, his tongue tickling her.

Weaving her fingers through her hair, she murmured, “We’ll work it out.”

He lifted his head so his lips hovered over hers. “Yes. We will.”

His mouth covered hers in a breath-stealing kiss, and she knew that no matter what she and her weretiger would be forever bound.

The End

CAGED WITH THE TIGER

© copyright December 2006, Kate Hill