Page 42 of Darius

Darius wrapped his arms around her in a reassuring embrace as she continued to look around at the scene. “I call this the shadow realm. Others say the borderland. Traveling through this plane is my special gift. I can go anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice by stepping into the smallest of shadows and passing through this forsaken area. I whisked you out of the truck’s path by transporting you here.”

Mara’s jaw dropped as she processed his words. “How do you not get lost? Do you have a map or something?”

Darius gave a chuckle and smiled. “Well, I used to, but I’ve had a few decades to figure this place out.”

She thought about that information for a moment. “Why borderland? A border for what, exactly?”

Darius nodded and explained, “This place exists between our world and others. Beyond this are lands ruled by wizards, fae and the like. We don’t have many dealings with them. The dominant beings there have their own concerns, and we have ours.”

Before Mara could ask another question, a bloodcurdling screech from some unknown animal came from a distance, making her jump. Darius turned his head toward the sound and listened to the call. “Let’s get you to our world now. We don’t want to overstay our welcome.” With that, he took her into his arms. Once again, the shadows gathered around them.

As suddenly as before, she was back on the street outside the alley. The swift change from near-total darkness to the blazing brightness of the nearby streetlamps assaulted her vision once again. A blaring horn made Mara peek past Darius’s broad shoulders to spot the massive box truck buried in the building behind her. Alarms filled the brick-scattered lobby of the destroyed storefront. Thankfully, that business closed before the bank, so no one should have been inside.

“That truck. The driver would have run me down. Do you hear a dog crying?”

Darius scanned the scene. A thin trail of smoke came from the engine compartment of the truck, indicating a fire building inside. He glared at the man slumped over the steering wheel, regretting that his head hung at an unnatural angle. His demise robbed Darius of revenge for targeting his mate.

“Wait here. You don’t need to see any more of this.” Darius stepped through the hole in the crumbling wall and to the ruined cab, quickly relieving the driver of his wallet and phone. The latter he unlocked by turning the screen toward the man’s battered face. With a few keystrokes, he changed the password before dropping the device into his pocket. Another piece of the puzzle to give to Bram.

The fire flared hotter as he made his way back to Mara. “Time to go.” Wrapping himself around her, Darius steered Mara into the shadows as he struggled for control. His rage burned brighter than the fire consuming the truck as he considered what would have happened to Mara if he hadn’t acted immediately.

He forced himself to concentrate as he navigated through the danger zone. He patted her shoulder to reassure Mara when they emerged once again. “You’re safe.”

“Did your car break down?” Mara asked, staring at Darius’s car where he’d abandoned the vehicle on the side of the highway. His tires rested at the end of deep ruts in the shoulder’s gravel. Several cars honked to complain about his parking ability as they edged over into the middle lane to give themselves more room.

“No, Zoí mou. I had to park rather quickly when my Little girl didn’t follow instructions and remain inside the bank where everything was safe.” Darius helped her inside the car and leaned forward to lock the buckle of her seatbelt in place.

Guilt flashed across her face before she straightened her back, looking stiff. “You were late. I needed to get out of the bank to get some fresh air.”

Darius kissed her resistant lips softly before shutting the door quietly and rounding the hood to slide behind the steering wheel. He merged safely back into the traffic and reached over to take his mate’s hand. “Thank you for calling for me. I’m glad you’re okay.”

The tension ebbed from her muscles. Mara gripped his hand tightly as she shook, reacting to the danger and close call. When he heard her sob, Darius pulled off at the next exit and parked in the shadows of a fast-food restaurant. He turned off the motor and locked the door before carrying her back into the shadow realm.

His activity there that evening had awakened many creatures. Darius skipped across the border until he reached his mansion. Each entrance and exit zapped energy. By the time he carried Mara up the stairs to his front door, his mate had passed out against his chest. Thankfully, his reserves had propelled them home quickly.

He tossed his keys to the security guard, who met him at the door. “Take another guard and go grab my car.” After sharing the details, Darius carried Mara into their home and to his study. He sat down in an oversized leather chair and cradled his mate on his lap.

Rest, Zoí mou. We are home safe. I am watching over you.

Darius reached out to Bram. There’s been another incident. Please search and scrub the cameras in the area of Mara’s bank branch for the past hour. I have a phone and ID for your review once I return.

Understood. Bram responded. Is everyone all right?

Darius’ lips pressed tightly together. His anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Everyone that matters.

Mara suddenly jerked up in her seat and grabbed Darius’s arm. “Wait! The dog!”

“What dog?”

“The dog I heard crying in that alleyway. The poor creature yelped in pain. That man had to have been hurting someone’s pet or a stray. When I went across the street to help, he must have jumped in his truck to get away. We have to go back and rescue that poor animal!”

Darius looked at Mara incredulously. Then a thought occurred to him. He reached into his pocket to remove the truck driver’s phone. His fingers pressed the first folder he found highlighted on the screen and opened the sound file. A dog’s pitiful yelping filled the room.

Mara’s eyes widened in realization. Tears welled up, clouding her vision. “It wasn’t real?”

Darius smoothed the hair from her face. “No love. The dog wasn’t in the alley. Rest now.”

She nodded and nestled her head on his powerful shoulder. His shirt grew wet under her cheek.