Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

By the time they made it out of the hotel room it was definitely dinner time, and Ebony was starving. She was also terrified of being scanned and immediately arrested. She wondered what was happening back in LA, and desperately wanted to call Taylor to demand all the details but knew it was a bad idea, so she just gripped Lark's arm and tried to breathe.

"What if they ask to scan me?" she asked as they stepped into the elevator.

"Why would they, if you're with me?"

Ebony wanted to roll her eyes at his male chauvinistic attitude, but she also really hoped he was right. And with that thought in mind she was ready to stay glued to his side to avoid any potential conflict.

"If anyone asks, you just say no, that you're with your husband and he does all the scanning. It's not unusual for married couples to keep all their resources together, no one will think it odd."

She supposed that made sense in a relationship where the husband worked and the wife stayed home. So she tried to stand a little straighter, look a little more wifey, whatever the hell that meant, and held his arm without gripping it like a lifeline.

"They'll know we're lying," she said as she looked at her own reflection in the door. Her eyes gave it away, even if she was dressed in nice clothes and had left her old purse behind.

"This is the city of sin, love. No one is going to blink at your little lie, especially when they scan me and realize I have more than enough to take care of any bills that might come up."

"I hope you're right," she whispered as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out into a bustling lobby. She was prepared to ignore curious and hateful looks as usual when she was somewhere outside of the halfling district, but none came. She walked next to Lark, hand on his arm, obviously a couple and him a fullsoul and her a halfling, yet no one was judging them. They got a few raised eyebrows but nothing more than curiosity. It was such a relief. "Why don't they care?" she finally asked.

"Why don't who care about what?"

"The people, no one's giving us dirty looks or whispering about us."

Lark gave a short laugh, "This isn't like other cities, Ebony. People come here to get away from all of that restriction. It's likely why Senator Buchanan is campaigning so hard here. He doesn't have much of a following in a city that really is built for sin," he gave her a wink and she blushed.

"Technically not a sin," she said as casually as she could. "Seeing as we're soulmates."

"Mmm, and that makes it all the more delicious," he agreed. "It doesn't mean they don't notice and there will always be people against it, it just means there is less of it. This city is an experiment that the people in charge like Buchanan would like to see shut down."

"And who is fighting against him?" she wondered aloud.

"There are people, full and halfsouls that feel people are generally smarter than the government gives them credit for; people who think that a city without all the regulations and separations can survive well and not result in massive numbers of nosouls threatening the population."

"What do you think?" Ebony asked as they stepped out onto the warm street, bathed in fading sunlight and neon.

"I think people as a whole are dumb, but part of that is because of all the things the government keeps from them. If they all knew the whole truth, I think they'd make smarter decisions."

"My mother must have agreed that this life wasn't the best way, or she never would have run to LA when she got pregnant."

Lark shrugged. "Perhaps, or maybe she was just too scared of what her daughter would grow up to be if she were surrounded by all this choice."

Choice , what a bullshit idea. She hadn't had much growing up and the cancer took away even more, and here she was, with her soulmate, on the path to finding her soulsister and the choice she'd made about how she was going to leave this world was suddenly something she didn't want… but still she didn't have a choice, not really.

"What does my lady want to eat? The options around here are nearly endless."

"Oh, well I don't know, I'm just starving honestly. Whatever you know is good should be fine."

"Well since we had steak last night, I think we should do seafood. You're not allergic to anything are you?"

She shrugged. "Not yet. I'm willing to risk it though," she said with a laugh.

Lark hated that she had experienced so little while at the same time, he loved to see the joy in her face over something as simple as eating seafood. He led her to a quiet restaurant that he knew served the best oysters and would give them space to talk; he wanted to know more about her mother.

The host was friendly and led them to a table after a quick scan of Lark. Once settled with food and wine ordered, Lark asked about Ebony's mother.

"I don't know a lot," she admitted. "She never liked to talk much about her life before she had me. I guess she just didn't want to compare what she had, or could have had, to what she was forced into with me. Our life was good," she said quickly. "Don't get me wrong. We had what we needed, nothing extra, but we were happy, and I was loved. I grew up with Taylor next door and so with my mother and my best friend I feel like I was pretty lucky." Tears glistened in her eyes but she was smiling so he knew they were at least partially happy tears.

"You were," Lark agreed. Having grown up in an orphanage he knew the alternative very well, and it wasn't pleasant. "She came from here you said, did she grow up here? Did she have any family?"

"No living family. I don't know if she was born here, but I know that I was conceived here and before you ask, I have no idea who my father was, or is, or whatever."

Lark nodded. He knew that much from her file and although he hadn't pulled up her mother's file yet, he was anxious to do just that as soon as he could. He had a funny feeling about it all and his instincts were almost always right on. It was something he should have already done, something he would have done in a normal searching situation but this one was anything but normal.

The oysters and wine arrived then, and Lark concentrated on the looks of pure pleasure and erotic sounds of enjoyment that Ebony made as she tasted everything. He'd ordered for her again, and she giggled with delight when she was presented with a full lobster on a bed of rice and asparagus.

"I've never seen so much food on one plate," she whispered when the waitress had left.

"Well, let's see how much you can eat," he said with a wink, then instructed her on how to go about doing just that. Her early efforts to break the shell and find the meat were a bit comical but she quickly got the hang of it, and soon she'd eaten more than he expected, and it made him feel so good to know he was taking care of his wife properly, that she was not going to go to bed with an empty belly ever again. Not under his watch.

"There's a doctor I want to take you to in Texas," he blurted, not having intended to bring it up before they'd gotten the soul, but he wanted her to know that he was actively trying to get things in order to take care of her. Wanted to give her hope.

Ebony picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth, not meeting his gaze. "Oh, yeah sure."

Lark reached across the table and grabbed her hands, squeezing gently until she looked up and met his gaze. "Ebony, I won't let you give up."

"I know," she whispered and pulled her hands away. "I need to go to the ladies, no dessert tonight, okay? I'm stuffed beyond chocolate cake," she said with a weak smile, then walked away from the table.

Lark watched her go with a frown; he shouldn't have brought it up. He'd ruined the mood, and now he was pissed at himself. His glare was enough to make the waitress hesitate as she brought the check. She hurried away as soon as she'd gotten his payment.

Lark pulled out his cell and opened a message from a familiar number.

Greg was a searcher based in LA, one of the ones he'd warned not to take Ebony's case if she'd shown up on his doorstep.

People are looking for that chick you warned me off of. Not just the locals.

"Fuck," Lark hissed and slammed the phone back in his pocket. This was a complication they couldn't afford. And what others are searching for his woman? Why?

His mood was not improved when Ebony rejoined him, but he did his best to keep his worry from her. He could tell she was doing her best to keep hers back as well.

"Where to now?" she asked as they left the restaurant.

"I say we do a little sightseeing, a bit of people-watching and all the while I want you to keep your awareness primed, ready to catch even the smallest hint of your soulsister."

Ebony nodded and her face took on a serious set as they moved through crowded streets. They walked the city, in and out of casinos and shops, anywhere that large crowds were gathered, but Ebony continued to shake her head when he asked if she felt anything.

"Not even a hint, but my feet are starting to hurt," she admitted after the fifth large casino had been thoroughly walked through.

"Well then, let's head back to the hotel and in the morning, we'll figure out our next move." He had a feeling it wasn't going to be the move she thought it was going to be. Something told him they were in the right city for the information they needed, but it might not be her soulsister they were going to uncover.

They were stepping out onto a busy street when a shout brought his head up and he grabbed Ebony, pulling her behind him. His head swiveled and he felt her hands on his back, gripping his shirt.

"You!" a voice shouted and a large man barreled through the crowd. It took Lark a moment to realize the man wasn't after him or Ebony, but after the small man beside them with glasses and khaki shorts, a T-shirt that said I heart Las Vegas and a bucket of casino coins. The smaller man was obviously here on vacation and if Lark was reading the situation correctly, he was about to die at the hands of his soulbrother.

"We need to get out of here," Lark said as the large man reached the smaller man and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"What is it?" Ebony said, still gripping him.

"Soulbattle," Lark said as the big man pulled a knife.

The crowd had all backed off, some were standing around to watch, others moved on as if it were no big deal. No one was trying to stop it, no one was calling the police. Nothing illegal was happening. When it was over the victor would register the death and reap the benefits of fullsoul status. It was a sickening reality of this world.

The small man closed his eyes and went limp in the bigger man's hold, not bothering to fight, he was scrawny, and the big man had a knife, there was no doubt about who the victor would be here. Lark's gaze drifted to the crowd and saw a woman in a matching tshirt and clutching a bucket of casino chips, tears streaming down her face. That was the trouble with dating outside of your soulmate, and one reason that Lark had avoided entering into any relationship that wasn't purely based on sex. He felt for the woman who was about to lose someone she obviously cared for. But there was nothing Lark could do about it, this was the fucked up world they all lived in.

Ebony buried her face against Lark's back. "I don't want to see," she said. "Please, Lark get me out of here," she pleaded.

Lark scooped her up and pushed through the crowd. Ebony pushed her face into his neck and gripped his shirt as he moved, and the crowd whooped over the lethal end of the very quick battle.

Battle, it was no battle. Lark was thankful that his own soulbrother had put up a fight and there'd been a moment or two he had thought he might actually lose. It hadn't felt like murder, not like what he'd just witnessed.

But just because your soulsibling wasn't prepared to fight did that make it wrong? Any more wrong than if your soulsibling was in good health and prepared to fight back or sought you out first?

They were questions he'd asked himself a million times and he had no answer. Somehow this was what the gods wanted from them, this horrible, brutal existence.

Lark didn't put Ebony down on her feet until a block later. He stepped onto a side street and set her down gently, putting his hands on her face and meeting her eyes.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded but her eyes were wet, and she was shaking.

"Ebony, love, was that the first soulbattle you've seen?"

She nodded and bit her lip, looking like the most innocent of souls. He couldn't imagine her in battle, and he wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. How was he going to make sure he didn't lose her?

He pulled her into a hug and held her until her shivers turned from fear to something else, sparks flowing between their bodies.

He couldn't wait to get his hands on her in private, to feel her alive and beneath him. To reassure himself that she was real and here and all his.

He pulled back, kissed her sweetly then offered her his arm and led her back to the street and toward their hotel.

Neither of them spoke, but the reality of what they were doing hung heavy between them, the sirens of cops and an ambulance heading to clean up the scene were an all-too-loud reminder.

As soon as they were alone in the elevator he pushed her against the wall and slammed his mouth to hers. She answered enthusiastically, her body melding to his, her lips just as hungry for him as his were for her. He wanted to rip her clothes off, wanted to take her immediately, but the ding of the door opening and shocked apology from whoever stood there had Ebony pushing on his chest for space. The man didn't get on the elevator to join their ride up, but it was enough to cool things for her at least.

"I need privacy for that," Ebony said, her cheeks turning a delightful shade of red.

"So you'll have it," Lark agreed and when the doors opened on their floor he swung her up into his arms and carried her like a new bride to the door. He didn't let her down, just shuffled her slightly as he grabbed out the keycard and swiped them in. He walked to the bed and set her down.

She looked up at him with such desire he nearly exploded in his pants. He stripped as quickly as he could, then shoved her skirt up and pushed inside of her. She was ready and willing and arched her hips to meet him as a cry of pleasure tore from her lips.

"Mine," he growled in her ear as he slid over her body.

"Oh, Lark," she moaned, clutching him to her tightly. She was just as desperate as he was, and their bodies continued the fast pace until they were both gasping, clinging to each other while their bodies spun, their minds fuzzed, and for one perfect moment, all was right with the world. All other thoughts were pushed away while they rolled around in bliss.

Lark kissed her when he could once again move his satisfied body, then undressed her properly and tucked her into the bed. He held her close and stroked her hair as she drifted to sleep.

"Thank you for everything," she whispered. "This has been the best day of my life."

"I'll give you so many more," he promised, kissing the top of her head.

She didn't answer, just sighed heavily and soon she was asleep.

When she was snoring in deep sleep, Lark moved away from her and pulled his phone out. Stone had messaged to say they were on their way to Vegas with a surprise, that worried him. Lark didn't bother responding, they'd be in the air by now with phones off.

He couldn't sleep so he decided he didn't care that it was the middle of the night, he slipped out onto the balcony and called the doctor in Texas.

"Mr. Duport," came the doctor's sleepy voice.

"I'm sorry to wake you," he said in answer, not really sorry at all.

"No worries, I'm used to it. What can I do for you? Did you get my email?"

Lark gritted his teeth. "Yes."

"Then you know there's not much that can be hoped for." There was regret in the doctor's voice and it only made Lark's heart ache.

"I know, but you're the best."

"That might be true, but the best chance is if you can get her full soul. I know you're the best at that."

"I am," he agreed, but the best wasn't always fast enough.

"She's got a month, two tops, if you don't. I might be able to extend it to a year, but that would be a rough year, Lark. She's pretty far gone and her quality of life would be severely depleted within three months to the point she would probably just be begging for you to let her go." The doctor took a breath. "I've seen it before, it's not a pretty ending."

Lark gulped back the lump that had formed in his throat. In his mind he watched her wither away and die in his arms. He wasn't sure he'd want to go on if that happened. "Her mother died of cancer as well, not sure what kind. I'll get the files and send them your way, maybe it will help."

"Sure, it won't hurt to have the information to compare," the doctor said in a placating tone that made Lark grit his teeth.

Lark hung up and stared out at the city. Her mother had hidden something, Buchanan knew something, and Stone was coming with a surprise. He hoped that whatever it was helped because he was about to burn down the whole goddamn country if that's what it would take to keep her safe.

He walked back in to stare at his soulmate while she slept. His heart ached with the need to protect her, to save her.

He'd grown up in an orphanage, Stone and Granger had been his best friends and become like family. None of them had been adopted, no halfling orphans ever were. But they knew what they had to do when they were old enough. They planned and plotted and one by one found their soulsiblings, killed them in battle, as was done, and came out the winner three times. All with fullsouls, they embarked on a journey of helping others like themselves, both the orphans and those halflings seeking their chance at a full soul.

He'd thought that was enough, he had women to bed, and he had money to burn, power and notoriety, it was an orphan's dream.

But this, this was better, she was everything he'd still been missing and not even known he needed. But the universe didn't give without taking.

He touched the scar that ran over his own body, proof of the battle he'd endured to get his soul whole. He'd had to take a life and it hadn't been easy. He bore the scar on his body and mind. He'd watched the light leave his soulsibling's eyes and had felt the man's half soul join with his own as he'd taken one last breath. It wasn't something done easy, and so many people he'd helped didn't realize the toll it would take on them to know what they had done in order to live a little longer, live with a little more freedom, and have a little bigger ration.

It wasn't talked about how memories came with the soul. Memories and feelings that were so foreign and yet felt like they were a part of you. It was as if he'd lived two lives before the soul became whole. It added to the guilt of the killing for many. For most it was difficult to align the taking of a life with the praise that society doled out when they were finally whole.

The obituaries were littered with suicides of recent fullsouls who couldn't handle the guilt and realized that their soulmate wasn't waiting around the next corner, that there was no happy house waiting for them to fill with children. The reality of the dream the government propagated was riddled with falsity. Those like him were the ones who survived, those who took having children out of the equation, those who accepted the darkness and learned to use it, finding comfort where they could, and seeing that the dream was just a nightmare in disguise.

So what was she? He wondered as he looked down at her. No nightmare, she was a light in the darkness. Together they could navigate the rest of the hell they would endure in this life. Together they could continue to help others.

He couldn't stop himself from reaching down and touching a lock of her hair as she slept. He had to give her a reason to fight. He knew she'd accepted death, knew she'd never planned to survive this journey. Any doubt that her plan was one of sacrifice was lifted by her reaction to the fight they'd stumbled upon. No halfling ready to kill for the other half of their soul was that squeamish. She was selfless beyond compare, ready to sacrifice herself so that her soulsibling could have a real chance at happiness. He saw it in her eyes when they first met and now recognized it for what it was, a determination born of no hope.

There was hope though, there had to be.

Lark took his laptop to the couch and began a search. Whatever information was out there about Ebony's mother, he was determined to find it; a piece of the puzzle just waiting to slide into place.