Page 47 of Sidhe
“My claim is just,” Malak said. “Nathan is as much mine as yours. I haven’t done anything I haven’t a right to. And soon I will have even more discretion. I can feel the fear in you,once-mortal man; fear that your precious charge will turn to me instead.”
Hearing Malak say that filled Nathan with fire. He would still grieve, even though Sasha would never blame him for what happened. But to be so obviously weak made Nathan angry most of all with himself. So it pleased him greatly when Walter gave a small subtle smile and looked to Nathan with pride.
“You speak lofty words,” Walter said, “but at great risk Nathan called for me rather than accept your offer.”
“This is not my last chance to claim him,” Malak quickly countered. “The time for that is still ahead. This was merely an…experiment. He’ll be mine soon enough.” If Nathan didn’t know any better, he would swear Malak was pouting. It seemed the dark sidhe couldn’t do anything to Walter. If he could, surely he would have done so by now.
Walter returned his attention to Malak, his expression hardening. He made no move to approach the dark sidhe, but his tone was ice. “You will leave now. Nathan is safe from you in my presence.”
Malak huffed, his black suit-clad arms crossing indignantly over his chest as he looked down his nose at the Spirit Guide before him. “To think some low-ranking grunt is assigned to so important a quarry. I suppose there is no accounting for intelligence. The powers that be could have reassigned someone more fitting when Nathan’s identity became known. But no, that would bewrong,” he said mockingly, “taking from Nathan the one who has watched over him all his life. Hn. Believe me, when Nathan is mine, I won’t even break a sweat over you.” Malak’s eyes flashed with his threat, brighter and more menacing with their red on black.
For the first time, Nathan saw something like fear waver across Walter’s face, but it was quickly replaced with stern resolve. “You—”
“Nathan,” Malak turned, walking toward the stairs and ignoring Walter entirely, “you feel it now, how I’m still very much a part of you. And Solrin will be a great asset, a deserving General that I will have waiting as a gift for you when you make your final decision. His abilities are even greater than he knows.”
“What are they?” Nathan found himself asking, surprised to hear his voice gravelly and hoarse, like he had been sobbing. “What is it about this guy that draws in fae?”
Of course Nathan never expected a straight answer from the dark sidhe king. Malak merely smirked, looked down at Sasha with something between annoyance and desire, and then turned with a glare back to Walter. “Do be careful when you choose to go against me,” he said. “I am sure I will deal with you again.”
“You will,” Walter promised.
Then, with another huff, Malak faded and was gone.
Nathan’s eyes immediately drifted back to Sasha in his arms. The incubus was shivering, his skin hot like he had the worst fever. This would leave a more lasting effect than when Gabriel had caught Sasha square in the heart with iron alloy. Nathan’s knife was pure iron, and if his aim had been even a fraction more to the left, Sasha would be dead. The only difference was that this time it didn’t appear to have left a scar.
“Thanks, Walt,” Nathan said, even though his eyes were on Sasha, on dim blue that peered up at him filled with love and understanding.
“I am so sorry, Nathan,” Walter said, walking up to them. “Had I known you were in such danger, I would have come straight away, but Malak’s powers prevented it. I did not know you needed me until you called.”
Sasha blinked at Nathan, his brow furrowing as if to say he hadn’t heard Nathan call for anyone. Nathan had to smirk at that. “So I prayed,” he told the incubus, “so sue me. It saved you, didn’t it?”
An answering smile, albeit weak, replied. “You…prayed for me?”
Walter crouched beside them and reached out a hand to touch Sasha’s forehead. “I am afraid that I do not have much ability toheal you. But this may…” he trailed, glancing at Nathan with a slight twitch of his lips, “take the edge off.”
Nathan expected glowing light, radiating heat, sparkles,something, but Walter’s hand didn’t change, just stayed on Sasha’s forehead for a moment and then he took it away. Sasha sighed in contentment, visibly relieved and grateful for whatever it was that simple touch had done.
“Thank you for calling me, Nathan,” Walter looked over at him. “In the future, please try and do so earlier. I can always protect you if Malak goes beyond what is allowed. Unfortunately, I could not have stepped in to dismiss the visions that caused this to begin with. He was able to pull you in because you allowed it.” Walter frowned, his words coming slow, knowing it would upset Nathan to hear them.
“I kinda figured that,” Nathan said. “I just…hadn’t seen him since that night, and I…” He squeezed his eyes shut to stay the tears threatening to fall. He was weak. He knew that.
“You are not weak, Nathan. Far from it. Lesser men would have given into him. You called for me.” Walter smiled, perhaps a little wider than usual, but still subtle, a fleeting thing as he stepped unashamed into Nathan’s mind and out again.
Nathan helped Sasha sit up so they weren’t lying uncomfortably on the steps anymore, but he held Sasha close against him, tucked into his side. “I just called for help. Nice to know there’s someone on the other end of the line for a change.”
Walter immediately frowned.
“Okay, okay, so you’re always on the other line, always have been, whatever,” Nathan said. “I guess these are special circumstances so it’s a little different to have you…ya know…actually charging in to the rescue in person. So thanks. I don’t think I could…” he trailed, choked on his words as he looked to Sasha, “I just…couldn’t.”
Walter was still frowning when Nathan looked up again. The Spirit Guide seemed as though he wanted to say something more, but suddenly his head jerked up the stairs and Nathan realized they were no longer alone.
Nathan turned, looking up the stairs as well.
“What are you doing?” asked a rigid, deep voice from the dark as a flashlight struck Nathan and Sasha on the stairs. A moment later, the light moved away from them and Nathan saw that the owner of the voice was their elusive quarry, half-dressed and carrying a gun in his other hand—pointed at them.
It was Solrin.
Chapter 17
