Feet above the treetops, they raced toward their destination. Sparks ignited in their wake, and lightning flashed within the clouds around them, brightening the world below them. Yet from past experience, nothing unusual would be seen from the ground except a few extra clouds in the night sky.
Calan cut a quick glance at Harley. No fear showed on her face. Euphoria did. He opened his mind to hers. “A ride on Death’s back can’t compare to the wonder of a dragon, but—”
She grinned. “But nothing. This is amazing. A dream come true.” Her smile faltered. “I only wish we were riding under better circumstances.”
He tucked Harley closer to his chest and scanned the countryside looking for anything unusual. “We have eternity ahead of us. We will make time to ride.”
“Good. I can’t wait.”
Neither could he.
“We’re close.” Ian motioned ahead of them.
The storage building near Cynthia’s house came into view. Calan directed them to an open area in the woods near the abandoned factory. The moment they landed, the winds died down, and their cloak dissipated.
Death pranced uneasily. Neither Calan nor his hounds could sense Raul or any of the unfortunate humans he’d lured into the ring. Harley could, though. Like called to like, as much as Calan hated to admit it, and Raul partially belonged to her.
Calan glanced at her. Eyes widened, she stared off in the direction of the building.
“Harley?” She didn’t respond. He grasped her chin and turned her head to face him. Terror showed in her widened eyes. “Speak to me.”
She took a couple of deep breaths. Her heart rate slowed. So did his. “I feel them.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Here. Their taint calls to me.”
“Where?”
She extended her arm and pointed in the direction of the storage building.
“Is Raul with—”
A screech pierced the night, stopping his words. Calan pivoted and cursed. The door to the storage building skittered across the pavement. His hounds picked up the threat first and raced toward the sluaghs spilling out of the opening.
Glamour.
Raul had tricked them again. The ring hadn’t been burned; that was the only explanation. Calan berated himself. He should’ve sent a hound inside the building to confirm the humans’ words. No matter. The sluaghs would die.
Calan leapt from his horse and pressed a hand to Harley’s leg to stop her from joining him. He flicked his gaze to the dagger she held in her hands. Respect for his mate rose. It comforted him to know she would want to fight at his side, but he never wanted her in danger again. The years without him able to protect her was enough. Nor did he want her to accidentally slip into a rage and kill out of anger. He’d lose her to her Unseelie side.
“Stay here. Death will protect you.” He grasped her hand, the one with their incomplete bond. Uneasiness settled over him with the turn of events. So much had happened since they’d last made love while in his prison. They hadn’t had a chance to complete their union. “I fear this is a trap to lure you from me.”
Harley gave him a small push, gaze frantically darting between him and Ian, who ran forward with his flaming obsidian sword. Guilt added to his anxiety. He hadn’t explained what he’d planned for her brother. That decision had been between him and Ian, but she’d deserved the knowledge, at the very least.
“Go. I’m fine.”
“Reach for me if you feel in any way threatened.” He turned away from her and invited the rage to consume him.
The change swept over him. His Huntsman form emerged in the blink of an eye. Sword raised, he charged into the throng of hunched and rotting bodies. Death had arrived to finally give them peace.
And a second chance at life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Harley pressed her hand to her chest. Each sluagh cut down by Calan’s and Ian’s flaming swords jerked on her heart, sending a piercing pain through her body. She hated to admit it, but she could no longer deny it.
The sluaghs belonged to her.
Three quick jabs to her chest stole her breath. She tumbled off Death’s back and hit the ground. A jolt raced up from her tailbone to her neck. Tingles spread. She shook it off and pushed to her feet.
Three more sluaghs killed. Their bodies turned to ash. Their souls freed.
Harley glanced at the mass of lighted balls hovering in the night sky above the warehouse. From pure white to dark gray, the orbs pulsed and swirled in the breeze.
Calan’s horse shifted restlessly beside her. It raised its head, and one of the closest unbound souls raced toward them. Death’s fathomless eyes drew it in. She stumbled back, a hand over her mouth to muffle her gasp.
The Huntsmen collected the souls and offered them a resting place. Calan had told her that. She hadn’t understood what that meant. Seeing was believing, though.
The sound of police sirens carried over the roars of the sluaghs. Curses fell from her mouth. She wished she knew how to use glamour. The Huntsmen might be cloaked when they rode, but otherwise they drew attention. That couldn’t happen.
She slapped the horse’s rear. “Go, collect the others before the cops arrive.”
Death raced toward the last of the battle.
She wrapped her arms around her chest as the tugs yanked on her. The sluaghs weren’t even fighting. One slipped around Ian, who still looked human, except for his reddened eyes. The female sluagh stretched an arm toward Harley and groaned.
Harley stepped back as realization dawned. The sluaghs were trying to get to her.
Another pulse raced through her body, stronger than the ones the sluaghs had caused. A familiar one. She pivoted. Raul walked toward her. He held his hands up in a placating manner. She didn’t buy it for
