Page 86 of Only You, No One Else

Pierce nodded, but his non-verbal reply was unconvincing.

“It would have been better to burn her body, but yes. She is dead,” Amara said, and they all turned to her. She nodded toward the still smoldering dress. “Burning her body ensures she can’t return.”

“There is a chance she could come back?” Cy asked.

Pierce stopped his frantic pacing. “Not if I can help it.” Then he was gone, his considerable power retreating with him.

Caster leveled Amara with his best stare. “Answer the question.” What he sought was reassurance of Mark’s safety.

“There is always the chance the dead can return. But it will take more power than she has access to.”

“Mark is safe.”

“Yes.” She seemed sure, but Caster still resolved to have Riley reinforce the protection spell he had on Mark. Guarantees in their world were scarce, but in Amara’s reassurance, he found the courage to return to Mark’s side, beg him to come back to him. The possibility of Ethel’s return meant a lifetime of looking over their shoulder, but he would be ready. He would do whatever it took to keep Mark safe.

CHAPTER 59

Caster rubbed at his tired eyes. The sixth day of his vigilance was beginning to take its toll on even his considerable vampire strength. But he refused to move, refused to succumb to the rest, calling on every cell of his body. Riley had assured him that unless Mark unlocked the door to the Underworld or tore at the fabric of the Veil as he had before, Ethel could not find a way back. But why had she seemed so happy to embrace death? Had it just been the satisfaction of denying him an outlet for his fury?

But like every time his worry that they were not free of her yet reared its threat, Caster shook his head. There would be time to worry about that witch later. Now, he refocused his attention on what mattered. Mark’s beating heart had increased in strength, its rhythm a salve on the pain he’d lived through the last few days.

The last of his fury was gone, and even if he had the energy to summon it again, the remaining contingent of Uncle Lucien’s army was hiding very well. Was he working with another witch? Adella and Edie had left to meet with the Grand Coven to find out just how many witches had chosen Ethel over the Grand Priestess. The rebellion in the Coven’s ranks had been clear the moment Ethel and a considerable number of Water Witches attacked them.

He reached for Mark’s hand, the warmth seeping through their connection a comfort that still failed to reach the pain burdening him. “Please wake up, baby. I need you. We all need you.” He glanced at Mark’s immobile form. The large gash across his chest had long healed, and he’d gained some color, but that healing had come much slower, like his wolf was gone again.

He squeezed the hand in his and looked up, calling up every ounce of his will to keep his tears from falling. Why would the Goddess give him the perfect mate, make him love him beyond reason, only to take him away?

If only there was something he could do. But Riley had assured him that everything that could be done was complete. It was up to Mark to return to them. Caster reminded himself that Mark had no concept of time where he was. Six days for him may be no more than a few minutes for Mark. Still, his name echoed in his mind, hoping he could reach into wherever he was and drag him out.

Footsteps alerted him to the other person who had spent every waking moment with him on this vigil. His mother’s presence, the anguish she did her best to hide for his benefit only tore away another piece of his heart.

As she did every day, she remained silent, taking her seat on the other side of the bed and taking Mark’s other hand. It didn’t take long for Caster to see the extra determination she carried today. He dared to look at her, started to shake his head to warn her against filling the silence with words, but in her presence, it was sometimes impossible to overcome the child in him, the child who would always need her comfort.

“He was so brave the last time.”

Caster looked away from the limp hand in his grip, certain he would have been able to make sense of her words if he wasn’t so tired.

“When you were stuck in that void with that demon, he wouldn’t leave you.” She said, a smile hidden in the darkness of her mood.

Caster had tried to bury the memories of his time in that darkness. “Why, Mother?”

His mother frowned, and he took a breath, rearranging his words to make sense. “Why are we being tested so? Why would the Goddess give him to me, make me love him and then rip him away?”

“He’s still here. He will come back to you.”

Caster shook his head to deny her words and the hope they promised, certain that he would wait an eternity for Mark if he got to see him smile just one more time, but equally as certain that he didn’t have the strength to hold on.

“What do you know of those swords Pierce and Riley used to rescue him?”

He shook his head, seeing this for the distraction it was, but welcoming it nonetheless. “Father and Uncle Lucien won’t talk about them.”

She patted Mark’s hand with an extra dose of care and then settled further into her chair. “I’ve heard the story numerous times, but your grandfather made us promise not to repeat it. To this day I don’t know why; it is one of the most wonderful things to have happened.” She smiled at him, indicating his chair. “You can relax, honey. There are no threats here.”

Until she’d said it, he hadn’t realized how alert every muscle was. He sighed and followed her lead, leaning into the chair, but he refused to release his hold on Mark.

“Your grandparents had real difficulty conceiving, so much that the throne was under threat, and at the time, that was a real problem. If they couldn’t secure the succession, the throne would fall to your grandfather’s brother. He was a lot like your Uncle Lucien. A similar lust for power that borders on obsession and the willingness to do anything to get it.”

Caster didn’t remember much of either of his grandparents; too much time had passed. A smattering of stories from his father and Uncle Lucien made up much of his memory.