Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

M ariah watched as the man she loved faced down his own father. The Darkness had found Kat too strong, but not Lord Howard. She could tell her mate was nothing like the wolf who had sired him. Simon was strong and brave, noble and wise. He was a great alpha and would lead their pack back to their rightful place in wolfen society.

Never taking his eyes off his father, he called to his friends over his shoulder. "Travis, if it comes to it, do you think you and Skylar could merge into the dire wolf?"

Mariah tried to piece together what Simon might be thinking but couldn't tell what his plan might be.

"No, it only works in moonlight."

So much for that idea.

"Come on, Darkness. Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?" Simon jeered.

What the hell was he doing, taunting that monster? As quickly as the thought entered her brain, the answer came. He meant for it to attack him; to invade his body so he could find a way to kill it from within. She was certain Simon believed he would be strong enough to hold it inside and die with it. Not on my watch!

Mariah knew Simon could hear her speaking. His love and concern for her caused him to take his eyes off his father for a single moment, and just then Lord Howard howled in rage and rushed his son, a lethal blade raised above his head. The silver derringer was in her hand before anyone else could react. Mariah fired once and saw the blood-red rose form on Lord Howard's chest as he crumpled to the ground.

In spite of all his father had done, her mate raced to be at his father's side. Not on my watch, the voice repeated. Mariah sprinted forward, time slowing to a snail's pace. She threw herself at Simon, body-blocking him and knocking him away from the Darkness and its host. Alistair Howard reared up on his knees, his knife poised overhead ready to plunge into her heart.

Mariah raised her arm and fired the second silver bullet, hitting him right between the eyes. The force of the shot knocked him backward. Before anyone could get to Lord Howard, the Darkness escaped—a large cloud-like mass was belched from his mouth and nostrils, swirling into a tornado-like shape. It turned the air around them black with the fetid stench of decomposing bodies and death.

The black gaseous mass spun in an ever-tightening spiral like a deranged whirligig, hissing and spitting until a distorted and grotesque face appeared in the center of the mist. It twisted its mouth into a snarling, monstrous grin just before it dissipated and vanished.

Simon was at her side immediately. "I wouldn't have let him kill me," he said, his voice full of emotion.

"Bullshit. You would die for me in a heartbeat."

"Maybe, but I'd never have let him kill you."

"I'm sorry about your father. If I could have…" Mariah started.

"Don't, love. You had no choice and I'd like to think it would have been intolerable for him to realize what he'd done."

She smiled at him and lowered her mouth to his in a deep, wet, sensual kiss. She slipped her tongue between his lips, sliding along his, coaxing it to dance and duel with hers. Simon took control and she knew they would be all right.

His hand fisted her hair, holding her in place. Where her kiss had been gentle and soothing, his was dominating and conquering. His tongue forced hers to retreat, thrusting and tangling with it in the same way she knew he would fuck her later. Simon pulled her down on top of him, crushing her softness to the hard planes of his body.

"Hey, newlyweds, either get up or get a room," said Micah.

"I don't know how to tell you this, Grainger, but my mate is the Alpha of London, and we own this whole damn castle," Mariah quipped. "So, we can do this anywhere we like,"

O nce more the wolves had interrupted its plan and its feeding. The old wolf had made a good host—compliant, obedient, and up for anything that allowed him to fuck and drink. It figured it was a fair trade; the host got his needs met in exchange for meeting its needs.

It had had hosts shot before, but never with silver bullets. It had tasted the bitter toxicity of the precious metal and felt the effects of the poisonous element. It had managed to flee before the host could expire. Though this last wolf host had been better, it needed to be someplace more isolated. It needed to gain strength and return to its place of origin.

The sound of the large vehicle rumbling down the drive caught its attention. Those things couldn't operate themselves. It approached the lumbering lorry and surrounded it. The driver put up his hands as if to ward off the doom that was about to befall him.

Taking its next host, the Darkness absorbed its knowledge. The destination seemed a good place to feed, to heal, to become invincible. Then it would return to the city across the sea. It had a score to settle with those descended from the one who had trapped it so long ago.

C urious as to where the Darkness will appear next? Click here to read Touch of Ice.

She's a sorceress shunned by her own. He's an alpha determined to protect her. Will they find each other in time to vanquish a rising evil before it engulfs their world?

Rejected all her life for being both a sorceress and a wolf-shifter, Renata has known only solitude. Rarely embracing her shifting abilities, she lives on unclaimed land in a remote village of the Outer Hebrides, far from the packs that ostracized her. She's built a quiet life, content to remain in the shadows.

Branson Norris, son of the Alpha of Ravenscar and the Madonna of the North, is celebrated for his lineage and achievements. When he discovers the enigmatic she-wolf, he realizes she's his fated mate. Determined to earn her trust, he's prepared to defy tradition and confront any challenge—even the Ruling Council—to stand by her side.

As the Darkness seeks a new host and threatens their world, Renata and Branson must face the malevolent force together. Their unlikely alliance could be the key to understanding and stopping the evil stalking the shifter realm.

Will their bond be strong enough to defeat the Darkness, or will they be consumed by the shadows threatening to tear them apart?

Touch of Ice is the mesmerizing fourth installment in the Fated Legacy paranormal romance series. If you revel in resilient heroines, steadfast alphas, and a battle against ancient evil, you'll be captivated by Delta James's enthralling tale.

T urn the page for a First Look into Touch of Ice.