The Grey God

Why she'd been able to walk away from him when he knew he couldn't have walked away from her. Which was stronger: her fear of being close to anyone again or her sense of duty to protect a fellow Guardian from the Others?

Probably both, he told himself. She doesn't realize I have nine lives, like my cats. He buried the necklace again, satisfied the Others would have no overt reason to grab her. She'd be in danger no matter what, but he wasn't about to give them the rope they sought to hang her.

As much as he didn't know what to think about having a new mate after the disastrous relationship with his first, he knew one thing: her life was now his priority. He'd been content to play around with the Others and test his magic. If he wanted to protect Jenn, there would be no more playing. Hunting, extermination, as methodical and merciless as he knew himself capable of. He'd learned a few things about killing from the previous Black God, lessons that would now serve him well.

He trotted back towards the orchard, pensive. Of course, Jenn herself wasn't completely off the hook. They were overdue for a discussion, one she'd been unwilling to start but that he would see through. He'd have to figure out how to start a conversation she didn't want to have. She was strong and stubborn enough to walk away from him.

He had a mate.

Darian paused mid-step, not at all certain he was worthy of a mate. Her name was written on the obelisk. He'd admired her for so long, and their kiss in the basement made him feel as nothing ever had. Some part of him had known long before he saw her name written.

Darian ran to the wall of the orchard and vaulted over. He landed hard and looked around at the only remaining beauty in the immortal world. As mixed as his feelings were, he knew he couldn't let the Watchers and Others do the same thing to the mortal world.

He stepped through the portal through worlds and landed in the desert. It was afternoon in the mortal world. He sensed several Others and Watchers on earth. He needed more weapons before he began hunting them down. This time, the Watchers wouldn't get off easy. He'd rid the planet of both.

Resolved, Darian Traveled to Texas, his presence in his sister-in-law's room waking her.

"Darian?" Sofi asked, her blue-silver eyes glowing in the darkness of predawn.

"You can't tell me you're actually surprised to see me," he teased. "Your fortune cookies forget to tell you I'd figure out what you didn't tell me about Jenn?"