Chapter Ten #4
Ronen spun toward the healer, who still cradled Tanner in his arms. The darkness beneath his mate’s skin pulsed more rapidly now, spreading like ink through water. Tanner’s face was contorted in agony, silent screams twisting his features.
“What do I do?” Ronen rushed to them, dropping to his knees beside Ezekiel.
“Touch him,” Ezekiel instructed, his hands still glowing with healing energy. “The mate bond is his anchor to the light. The darkness is trying to sever it, trying to corrupt him from within. Place your hands on him, let him feel your presence.”
Ronen shifted back to human form instantly, his hands trembling as he reached for Tanner. Behind him, the sounds of battle continued as Geordie and Victor crashed through furniture, stone breaking against stone. Marianne Walker was nowhere to be seen, having either fled or been neutralized.
“Tanner,” Ronen whispered, placing his palms against his mate’s cold cheeks. “I’m here. Come back to me, sweetheart.”
Tanner’s skin was like ice, black veins spreading visibly beneath the surface. His eyes remained closed, but his body jerked and twisted in Ezekiel’s arms, fighting an internal battle Ronen couldn’t see.
“Focus on your bond,” Ezekiel murmured. “Your love, your connection, your determination. All of it. The mate bond is stronger than any corruption they can conjure."
Ronen pressed his forehead against Tanner’s, their breaths mingling. He poured everything he had into that connection—every moment of joy since finding his mate, every promise of their future together, every fiber of his being that refused to let Tanner go.
Ronen pressed a kiss against Tanner’s cold lips. “Our story isn’t over yet, my love. Fight this darkness, Tanner. Fight for us, for our child.”
Ronen blocked out everything but Tanner, his entire world narrowing to his beautiful mate, the faint flutter of his pulse beneath Ronen’s fingertips.
“It’s working,” Ezekiel whispered, his hands still glowing as they pressed against Tanner’s ribs. “Keep going.”
A tremendous crash broke his concentration. Victor had thrown Geordie across the room, the Slayer now lying crumpled on the floor. Victor turned toward them, his crimson eyes fixed on Tanner, his mouth hanging open.
“No!” Victor roared, lunging toward them.
Before he reached them, another crash sounded as Cassiel and several members of their team rushed in. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Victor.
“You are so done, dick wad.”
She launched herself at him with one of their fellow Slayers assisting. Two others went to Geordie’s aid, while the fourth stood watch over him, Tanner and Ezekiel.
“Focus!” Ezekiel barked. “I need him stable enough to move to the healing chamber.”
Ronen nodded, his hands never leaving Tanner’s face. The darkness beneath his mate’s skin seemed to pulse more slowly now, retreating from where Ronen’s fingers touched him. A faint glow began to emanate from the connection point between them, as warmth spread through Ronen’s palms.
“That’s it.” Ezekiel smiled. “The light is fighting back.”
The battle behind them intensified, the sounds of stone striking stone punctuated by Cassiel's fierce battle cries. Ronen didn’t dare look away from Tanner, not even for a second. His mate's face remained twisted in pain, but the black veins had stopped their advance.
Tanner’s eyelids fluttered, a faint gasp escaping his lips. Ronen’s heart leaped.
“Tanner?” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Come back to me, sweetheart. Follow my voice.”
Tanner's breathing steadied, his chest rising and falling with a more regular rhythm.
“The bond is winning,” Ezekiel said, his hands still glowing with healing energy. “His Nephilim essence is fighting harder now.”
A strangled roar of rage cut through the chaos of battle. Ronen glanced over his shoulder to see Victor pinned against the wall by Cassiel and another Slayer, his stone form broken in several places as he thrashed against their hold.
“You can’t win!” Victor rasped as he flailed helplessly against the two Slayers. “You’re all pathetic, useless, weak!”
Cassiel let out a throaty growl, “How’s this for weak?”
She raised her blade and plunged it into Victor’s heart with a swift blow. His eyes bugged out, his mouth opening wide, shock blooming across his features. With a howl, he twisted and mutated, his stone skin breaking away to reveal a barely recognizable black form.
The thing that had once been Victor hissed and snarled, smoke billowing from the unnatural lifeform as it diminished in size.
The spectacle was similar to when they dispatched shadow gargoyles.
However, this was the first time he’d seen the clear line between what was once a blessed creature that had become a depraved monster.
Ezekiel lifted Tanner in his arms. “Healing chamber. Now. We can celebrate the destruction of Victor later.”
It was then that Ronen noticed a pile of ashes on the floor, burnt remnants of Marianne Walker’s clothing scattered around them. He glanced in Geordie’s direction, noting that Cassiel and the others were helping him to his feet.
Was the war with the rogue demons finally over for good?