Primal Heat 05 - Darkness Reborn

encroaching on the village had to be stopped, and falling into ecstasy with Kane wasn't going to do it.
    "Mason's eyes were clear," Kane said quietly. "He knew what he was doing when he attacked you and Abigail. He wasn't rogue." He glanced over at her. "Is it always that way? Do they always know?"
    His words plunged straight through her shields, and suddenly Sarah was back in that moment, staring into the face of the man she'd known her whole life. Into his eyes. Glowing. Red. And aware. Shock rippled through her, icy cold shock, as she realized Kane was telling the truth, and that she had known it all along.
    Betrayal bit deep, even deeper than ever before, and she bowed her head, fighting against the swell of despair trying to take her. It was one thing for someone she loved to go insane and try to kill her. It was worse, so much worse, for him to turn on her and know what he was doing. Like Jacob. They both had known, and she knew it. She took a deep breath, fighting to steel herself to the emotions that would never serve her. "Yes."
    Kane swore and shifted position, moving closer to her until his hip was against hers. "Then they're not rogue. They're something else."
    "Evil." God, it hurt just to say the word, to acknowledge that two men she'd loved dearly for her whole life were evil, but it was true. She knew it was. There was no other word for someone who would kill those they loved in ruthless, cold blood.
    Kane looked at her in surprise. "That's a strong word."
    "I know." She looked out into the dusk, at the yellows and oranges lighting up the sky, beginning to sink the woods into darkness. "But can't you feel it? The woods change at night. The air becomes stagnant. It smells like sulfur and rot. It hurts to breathe. It's as if there is a layer of death on the earth, and each night it gets stronger, encroaching upon the village." She looked down at the old fountain, at the river that Kane had opened earlier today. "It will be closed up in the morning," she said. "We won't be able to get to the water. We'll have to hunt for it again. Each time it gets harder."
    Kane touched her shoulder. "We'll find it."
    "Someday we won't." She stretched out next to him on her belly, resting her shoulder against his. For some reason she couldn't understand, touching him seemed to ward off the fear haunting her. If anyone should scare her, it was Kane, with his scars, his darkness and the fact she carried his mark on her arm. But right now, as she looked into his eyes and felt his strength, she knew he was not going to hurt her. He would protect her, and that was a gift.
    Kane made her feel safe, and it was incredible. She couldn't remember ever feeling safe. Even as a child, her parents had told her stories about the forest at night, trying to terrify her into never daring to sneak out. It had worked. She hadn't. Ever.
    Until tonight. Until Kane and his team had given her the freedom to stand outside while the sun went down and look directly into the demon's mouth. "That's why we have to find out what happens at night." It was thrilling being out here, not being afraid. She knew that as long as she stayed close to Kane, he would teleport her out of danger and kill everyone who needed to be stopped.
    Kane gave her the power to be the person she wanted to be.
    They fell silent for a moment, watching the woods. Sarah felt content. Safe. In control. Kane gave her that luxury. It was heady and amazing. Brilliant. A gift. As long as she didn't think about Mason or Jacob, or the scars on her belly, she was good.
    "I talked to the guys at the mansion," Kane said. "Jacob's still out, but they're going to try waking him up at dawn, since that's when he's most likely to be somewhat sane."
    Sarah clenched her fists against the sudden fear in her belly, an emotion that shouldn't be associated with her brother. What kind of man would he be when he woke up? Would he have a moment of being her brother, or would the evil consume him right way? Would he vanish from their hold even in the light of day and track Sarah right to their home? She couldn't lie to herself anymore. The time for false hope was over. She had to accept that Jacob would come after her instantly. "So, tonight is our last chance," she said. "Once Jacob's out, he'll be hunting me ruthlessly."
    "Yeah." There was an undercurrent of blackness in Kane's voice, and she looked sharply at him. There was a black stain across his shoulders, spreading slowly through his scars, like a