Disavow: Web of Hearts and Souls (Rivulet Series Book 2)

  “Do what?” River asked leaning back.

  He laughed ever so subtly. “You know it’s only a drop.”

  “That’s not the part I’m confused about.”

  “Camlin’s shadowed souls are ones that were forsaken by fate and reclaimed. Those are the beings he takes. At one time, before he put a blinding spell over them, they could be freed, freed by a rush. You were forsaken by fate, and recently reclaimed.”

  In Dagen’s breed of souls ‘rush’ meant love. Reclaimed by a love….

  “What consequences are there in taking down Camlin?” River asked guardedly.

  “Apparently losing you to your fire boy,” he joked.

  “I’m serious.”

  “None that I’m clearly aware of.”

  “And these Shadowed Souls? What happens when they’re free? Do they die? Become human? What is the deal with that? And what about the souls he has, where do those dead go.”

  “Shadowed Souls, unless they have tampered with their line of fate, will have one moon to reclaim the life they were taken from. If that life is not connected, if those in their past do not want them or remember, then they move on. I don’t know about the life expectancy.”

  “And the dead?”

  “To The Reaper.”

  “He won’t be able to handle the overflow, someone will steal the souls.”

  “Camlin has more Shadowed than dead. Even so, the rule of any game is survival of the fittest.”

  He knew his statement wasn’t sitting well with her, but he also knew she respected him for calling it like it was.

  “You’re going to gamble those souls on a promise that a shadowed soul made you, to invade another Lord of Death that is not even on my radar at the moment.”

  “I am.”

  “Why?”

  “Camlin is the Lord of Trepidation. The Escort king of that line is all too close with the King Exaltation currently. I need to do whatever I can to weaken the King your sister must conquer. This move is so.”

  “How would those two have anything to do with each other? Worry and Joy?”

  He shrugged. “Seeking alliances is what all Kings are doing now. Besides, souls worry about getting their next fix of joy and worry about losing it, worry about not finding it. The Kings are in constant concert with one another.” Dagen looked deep into her eyes. “Taking down Camlin is going to help Raven, trust me.”

  River carefully weighed his explanation before she asked her next question. “And the risk behind Umbra?”

  “Is that what this is about?” he asked with a nod to the board.

  “Not my notes.”

  He glanced at the board one more time. “That’s a bad mother. If you were worried about anyone flooding The Reaper it would be him. Umbra has a massive amount of souls and makes sure they’re all batshit crazy by the time he’s done with them. It’s a risk to even consider facing off with Umbra at this point in the game.”

  “Awesome,” River said in a hollow tone knowing the Falcon’s were setting their aim in a dangerous direction.

  “Right, so for your boy’s sake, I’d find a protection spell or two.”

  River felt her stomach bottom out in fear. Not again. I will not lose him again.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Mason had listened to all of the pro’s and con’s of the path before Indie all morning. The overall risk. To him, it seemed as if Indie would be on the sidelines in some manifestation this go around. Draven was going to build the energy for the spell both him and Phoenix needed, Phoenix was going to cast the spell, only needing our energy added to it, and Indie would stake the claim to her reign. The souls they released would be pushed to an otherworldly holding pen until The Reaper could manage them, and they would move forward from there.

  Done. Simple. Next please.

  In the middle of the meeting Mason caught a new scent, one that reminded him of brisk fresh spring. The same scent that was all over River the night he first came face to face with her after years of not seeing other.

  He didn’t even make an excuse as he moved toward the library.

  Mason wasn’t sure how he did it, because he wasn’t even paying attention to him before Mason left, but Phoenix caught Mason. He jerked him to the dome room, and apparently thought it was best to give him the Phoenix version of manly yoga.

  “Mate, I need you to breathe right now.”

  Mason clenched his jaw. He hadn’t been breathing because he didn’t want to take in the scent, for his mind to play out images of what obviously happened when River wasn’t his.

  “You claimed her, and clearly she has now claimed you.”

  Mason didn’t get it, and his expression must have stated as much because Phoenix went on.

  “You feel at ease. A calm. An unambiguous peace and knowledge that no matter what, life or death, she’s yours and you are hers.”

  Mason’s stare told him he agreed.

  “I’m not in your business. I don’t want to be. I’m just telling you, claim or no claim, no girl wants a wild animal on her arm.”

  “I have control with her.” That was Mason’s biggest fear the night before. That he would not know his own self, but River taught him to trust his body, she eased his transition to the point where he wasn’t fighting to look normal anymore.

  Phoenix smirked. “But not with anyone that comes near her. You would have taken me down yesterday if given half the chance and you know damn well I was not after your girl.”

  “You scared her, that’s what that was about.”

  “Sure, tell yourself that. Though it really is a waste of time to lie to thine own soul for it knows the truth.”

  Mason cussed under his breath because Phoenix was right.

  “It’s not as bad today, is it,” Phoenix said as he crossed his arms, and a smug smile dared to whisper across his lips.

  Bad? No. I was just going to kill whoever was in her face.

  “If it were I wouldn’t have been able to catch you. It’s not as bad because she acknowledged your claim. Every male in the universe sees that claim. They sense it, it is a line that will not be crossed dismissively.”

  “Someone is down there with her,” Mason said through gritted teeth.

  “Right, mate, but you can also sense her emotions on some level, you’d know if she didn’t want them there. She’s fine. But if you charge down there and show your ass you’re going to tick her off even if you’re right.”

  “It’s not that easy. That scent was all over her when I first saw her. And you know what I mean by that.”

  “I do. News Flash your scent was all over Genevieve when I first saw her, so much so that I refused to even look you in the eye, acknowledge that you were real. If I had, I would have figured out you were family, someone I told to protect her before I left so long ago. And you know what, every time I pulled Indie into my arms when you were all in the fog of death there was always another scent on her. Yours, Gavin’s, even Wilders. And what did I do Mason?”

  “I wasn’t with you when you made your moves, man.”

  “No but we’re together because I was calm, because I decided it didn’t matter who watched over her, she was mine. I didn’t want to scare her, have her see me like some immortal animal that saw her as an object.”

  “River is not an object to me, she’s everything.”

  “Then show her that, by not charging in there and picking a fight with someone who stepped up when you didn’t.”

  All his statement did was tick Mason off.

  “There is no sense in me making this sunshine and butterflies for you, mate. We’re a result of actions, we all have to live by our consequences.”

  Phoenix glanced to the floors above where the others were, then to the stairs Mason was going to fly down at any second. “I don’t need you starting a war with a line of souls that are not our problem.” He stepped closer, so their eyes were but an inch apart. “Because in the end, you’ll lose her, and put Genevieve at risk because every one of us
will have to step up and have your back.” He raised his chin. “Keep your business nice and clean, don’t invite us into a drama we shouldn’t care to know about.”

  That was it right there, he knew. Phoenix knew like Mason did that River had Escorts in her family line, that a betting man would say this ‘immortal’ that River was ‘friends’ with was an Escort.

  If River were at risk, Phoenix Falcon would say as much, just because that’s the kind of guy he was. He was telling Mason to let it be. To not get his girl rallied up.

  “You breathe, nice and calm. That always makes you look more dangerous. Mad men full of rage can be taken down, calm ones make you question their next move. You breathe and in your mind you think of all the reasons she’s yours, see the last time you held her, plot out the next time. That will send out a subtle warning in your energy that you’re saying back away.” Phoenix stepped back. “You do that, and it still blows up, then you’re in the right for defending what’s yours.”

  Mason clenched his jaw and gave him one stiff nod.

  “You good?” Phoenix asked looking a little deeper in Mason’s eyes.

  “Yeah.”

  “All right, then. This deal we have lined up is not the end game. Your girl has the playbook down there. I know she does. Support her, help her find the answers to what is to come. You tell me if you need anything.” He punched Mason’s shoulder, “Even if it’s an ass kicking.”

  Mason tried to not smile, but he did anyway.

  Phoenix extended his arm telling Mason to go ahead.

  Just before the stairs started to appear he spoke again. “Mason, don’t insult her choice in men.” Mason looked at him like he was insane. He may be calm about this, but that didn’t mean he had to like this guy. “She chose you first, and last.”

  Mason shook his head as he vanished and appeared in the library, just in time to hear that Escort tell River for his sake to whip up a protection spell.

  ***

  “What about her boy?” River heard Mason say, right after feeling a fire whisk of air that suddenly produced him in front of her placing him face to face with Dagen.

  River closed her eyes briefly. She was a bit ticked. She knew Dagen had to have sensed Mason approaching and chose to stick around for a meet and greet.

  River had to give Mason credit, though. His tone, though it still had an edge, was not as threating as it had been the day before. Which made no sense. If anything he should be more up in arms about her talking to Dagen than he was when he found his sire or brother Phoenix talking to her about the job she was sent there to do.

  “Ah, the claimer,” Dagen said with a sly grin as he presented before Mason and extended his hand.

  One thing was obvious, River had a ‘type,’ they were built similarly. The glint in their eyes carried a lethal edge that was masked in a playful spirit. One was made of fire, the other had the cool charisma of an Escort.

  Mason shook his hand, holding a firm stare. “And you are?”

  Dagen glanced at River wondering how open she had been with Mason about them. Mason knew everything about him, except the fact that he was an Escort. River had carefully used the word ‘immortal’ instead.

  “You can just call me a friend of the family,” Dagen said meeting Mason’s stare once again.

  “An immortal friend,” Mason said raising his chin.

  “The Sabien’s tend to attract those, do they not?”

  Mason didn’t bother to answer.

  “I was just telling River how the heavens must have planned for your forsaken rush to be reclaimed. It gives me hope that everything will be right with the world once again.”

  Mason pulled his shoulders back. “You’re trying to stop these girls from raising the dead on their own by standing before them?”

  Dagen didn’t show it, but River knew he was a bit confused, one second it looked like Mason didn’t know a thing about him, the next it seemed like he had his number.

  “I will end my existence before Raven, or her guardians fight this war. We aim to solve the issue before said time comes.”

  “And you have support behind you, or is this a suicide mission to you?”

  Dagen grinned menacingly. “I now have every component I need.”

  On a nod from Mason, he glanced at River. “I respect you for keeping her safe.”

  Dagen lifted his brow. “I truly hope you earn the respect she has always given your memory.”

  And with that Dagen vanished.

  Oddly, the room became very, very, very small all at once.

  The second Dagen left River looked at Mason with a cagey stare. She was waiting for a blow-up.

  Mason sent his energy through the room, the doors that lead to this library were sealed, a flame of energy encased the walls.

  “An Immortal Escort,” Mason said with a wry smile.

  She swallowed nervously. “I told you about him. You can’t pop in here and give me grief especially since I know whose meeting you were going to this morning.”

  Mason eased closer to her, not hearing the argument. He wasn’t mad. He wasn’t ready to justify what was right or wrong. He was too aware of the fact that it had been hours since he felt her body against his.

  “I don’t want to give you grief,” he said as he appeared just before her, and carefully pulled her against him.

  She glanced down at where their bodies met. “I’m not a fire hydrant for you to mark.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said as his eyes met hers. He watched as her gaze shifted over his stare. She was looking for flames, a mark of emotion. She was looking for anger or animalistic hunger. Mason was calm, if there were flames they had to be only echoes.

  “I just missed you,” he whispered.

  “You’re not mad?” she said in a tone that reflected her shock.

  “He’s kept you safe, still plans to keep you and the ones you love safe. Only a fool would turn that down.” Mason leaned his forehead to hers. “I never want you have a reason to feel prickles again, to have to face those nightmares.”

  “I can’t let anything happen to you either, Mason.”

  Mason was sure she was planning on telling him why Dagen told her to cast a protection spell, but he was safe right then, he was alone with her. He stole her lips right as the words started to fall out of them, she groaned into his kiss, and that was the only invitation he needed.

  He stopped holding back any and all urges and let his kiss ravish her, as his hands whispered across her body, pushing scorching energy into her soul. He pressed her body against his. He wanted a soft place to land, but that wasn’t going to happen. The table was full of ancient books, the floor—no, his River was not going to be laid out on some cold stone floor.

  The wall. The back wall is where he took her once he had her thighs wrapped around him.

  The board with all those carefully laid out notes crashed to the floor as they fought for a way to connect, a way to get their next fix of the passion they’d always had. This explosion of emotions snubbed all the reasons that said they shouldn’t be together and told them all to go to hell.

  They both sighed when their connection was made. Mason braced her body with his, as his hands slid up her arms pinning them above her head. Palm to palm, eye-to-eye they gripped each other as the rhythm took over, as the high came.

  Last night it felt like they had moved the world when they were together, so at first it didn’t strike him as odd when the room began to move, when it started to expand, when a vastness appeared.

  It wasn’t until he broke the stare they were locked in and closed his eyes that his mind became flooded with her. Not the River he knew. A girl in his past existence, an Allurest, a forbidden fruit that he had not tasted but devoured, a soul he claimed when the world itself told him he could not have her. Rapid-fire images absorbed Mason as their bodies took them past ecstasy.

  When Mason opened his eyes, he figured out they had unlocked something more than memories.

  Mason held he
r against him not wanting to let her down until he gauged what they were looking at was safe.

  There was no threat, only a mountain of confusing flashes from a past existence that this hidden expansion seemed to ignite.

  The wall they had used as a brace for their passion had literally swung open, like a massive door.

  Mason let River down gently, and as they pulled their clothes back together, they looked around the room where they were. Mason had thought the clocks outlined the base of the manor. If that was so, then this library outlined the entire grounds. For as far as he could see, which was far with his new senses, there were shelves and shelves, rows and rows of books.

  There was no case to hold them, nothing protecting air or time from harming the pages, yet they looked like they were just placed there that very day. Lights with a soft glow illuminated the room. A path of carefully laid stones with gems within them led the path through the tombs.

  She gasped and said, “The key to what is seen is within the breath of lovers. Two made of one, light and dark.”

  Mason broke his stare from the endless books and gazed down at her.

  “When I first got here, Jamison told me to look for a text, that was the first line I read. I thought for sure that meant Phoenix and Indie would know where the missing books were. I even told him he should spend time down here, that he might read something familiar.” She glanced at the wall they were on before. “It was us! Jamison knew it was us.”

  Jamison may have known it was them, but Mason knew more. He was grasping those images that had exploded in his mind. They were merging with everything he had connected when he was in the fog of death, everything that he could remember in his past existence.

  River was the missing piece. Mason could only reason that his mind hid her because in that life they had hidden their relationship. They had to.

  Mason knew without a doubt that River had written every single word in the texts in front of him, that they were recorded from her visions. The very end was still a haze to him, though. Someone was after her over there. They knew how powerful her visions were. They were plotting to end them all. Take down the Falcon name along with The Selected. The evil bastard told her that she had trespassed on fate, that all would fall, that her efforts were in vain.