The Darkest Craving (Lords of the Underworld #10)(82)
Author: Gena Showalter

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “There are two realms. Natural and spiritual. Between the realms are dimensions—pockets of life caught between the natural and the spiritual.”

Dread wrapped hard fingers around her heart. “What does that mean for us?”

His eyes were dead as he said, “We’ll never go home.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

New York

KANE’S FURY PROVED limitless. Tink’s abduction had been caught on a nearby security camera, allowing him to watch the way Red, Black and Green had cornered and grabbed her. She’d put up a fight, the way Kane had taught her, and she’d even managed to bust Red in the eye, but she’d been no match for the strength of the immortals, and they’d put her to sleep with pressure on her carotid and carried her away, soon disappearing from view. He’d hunted as if his life depended on success—worse, Tink’s life—but the three had covered their tracks too well.

I should have killed those hellhounds when I had the chance.

Kane tossed and turned on the lumpy motel bed. He needed to relax, and concentrate. He planned to summon Tink, somehow, through their link, and force her to project her image into his mind. They would talk. She would tell him where she was.

He forced himself to close his eyes. Lucien had refused to leave his side, and was now resting comfortably on the other bed, Anya draped across his body. “I’m a living tramp stamp,” she’d said laughingly before drifting off.

Lucien hadn’t wanted to spend the night without her. Actually, Lucien couldn’t function a few hours without her. It was disgusting. It was embarrassing.

That’s what I feel with Tink.

Disaster chuckled. Too bad you’ll never see her again.

The fiend was in the best mood of his existence. Though Kane had hoped to provide zero nourishment, he’d unwittingly prepared another feast—and was still serving seconds. The darkness of his emotions had become an internal IV for the demon, offering strength and contentedness, no matter what happened around him.

“Tink,” Kane inwardly shouted. “Tink, I need you. Need you so much.” Even when she’d been ticked at him, she’d never been able to resist aiding him.

There was no response.

Time for another tactic… “Tinker Bell. Josephina. Wife! You have five seconds to appear or the next time I see you I will put you over my knee.”

Still no response.

“One. Two. I’m serious, I mean it. Three. Four. Last chance to save yourself from the humiliation of my wrath. Fi—”

Fog rolled in, surrounding his bed. Then Tink was standing over him. “You will not put me over your knee, you…you…caveman!”

Every cell in his body cried out in relief. It had worked. “Are you okay?” he demanded. “Have the warriors hurt you?” There were no bruises on her skin, and the clothes Malcolm had given her were still intact, without a single tear.

If Lucien and Anya heard him, they ignored him.

“I’m good,” she said. “The guys have actually been kind of nice, doing their best to romance me so that I’ll decide to live with them forever and, I’m just guessing here, make them my brother husbands.” She looked Kane over, and what remained of the ambivalence left her in a snap. “What about you? You said you needed me. Is something wrong?”

“Of course something’s wrong. You’re not at my side. And what do you mean you heard me? Why didn’t you reply right away?” he demanded, but he already knew the answer. He was still in the doghouse.

Chin trembling, as if she were suddenly fighting tears, she said, “I’m not helpless. Not anymore. I’m handling things.”

“I know, Tinky Dink. I do. But I miss you. I want you with me for all the days of my life. I’m not complete without you. Let me come for you.”

* * *

JOSEPHINA PEERED AT Kane, his sweet words echoing in her mind. I’m not complete without you. She had to forgive him for the kiss, didn’t she? She had to torch the bitterness trying so diligently to grow roots deep in her heart, or she’d be trapped in this state for the rest of her life. He’d done what he’d done out of desperation and a desire to protect her. He’d promised never to do it again, and she believed him.

He wanted to make things right between them, but so far, she hadn’t given him a chance. He’d called for her, his voice whisking through a doorway they’d somehow opened between their minds—I need you—and though her heart had sped into a wild beat of excitement, she’d ignored the urge to respond to him. For a little while, at least.

She just…she hadn’t wanted him to see her like this. Defeated. Not again. Unlike the Fae, he prized strength in a female. So, she’d wanted to prove herself worthy and free herself, surprising him.

She would be all, Ta da! Here I am. Look at what I did all by myself. Aren’t I spectacular?

He would never again think to kiss another woman just to protect her.

But, at this rate, Josephina may not ever get free.

So, she had a few choices to make. Either she believed Kane would want her, no matter what, or she had to let him go. Either she forgave him completely, and stayed with him, or held on to her hurt and bitterness and remained alone. She couldn’t have both. If she couldn’t trust him, if she couldn’t forgive, but stayed with him anyway, she would continue to lash out at him, and she knew very well what such cruel treatment could do to a person.

“Kane,” she said.

He looked away from her. “Yes, Tink.”

He thought she meant to reject him, she realized. “Project to me.”

He knew what she meant, and a second later, he was standing before her, gazing at her with hope.

Her chest constricted as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. “I’m really glad you called me.”

He buried his face in the hollow of her neck. “You are?”

“I am.” The tears returned, but this time, they sprang from a well of joy. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything. Anytime. Always.” He straightened, brushed the corners of her eyes with his thumbs.

She gulped, almost unable to bear his tenderness. “Would you have picked me above all women? If you hadn’t been forced to marry me, I mean.”

“I would. I do. And I was never forced, Tinker Bell. I wanted you, and I would have found a way to have you. Your father just made things easier for me.”

Her mouth curved upward of its own accord. “So…you think I’m special.”