that pain was as familiar as his own reflection in a mirror. But his witch was daunted by the task at hand. So he talked. To calm her. To take both of their minds off what was happening.
“Dark zones can be found all over the world,” he said, pausing as she pulled a bullet from his back and dropped it unceremoniously to the floor. “They’re spots where magic is muted.”
She took a deep breath. “You mean I can’t use my powers while we’re here?”
“No, I mean that magic is hard to track in a dark zone. Those who are after you won’t be able to use their devices to home in on your position.”
She paused and he felt her surprise. “They have devices to track magic?”
Anger shot through him as he looked back at her and saw the expression on her face, the fear glittering in her eyes. Best she know now exactly what they were up against. Their enemies had come a long way from the Salem witch trials.
“They do. The international community has banded together,” he told her wryly. “Apparently the fear of witchcraft is enough to make friends of ancient enemies.”
“Great,” she murmured, digging into his back again. “Peace at last.”
He chuckled, despite the situation. “Scientists and engineers have been working together—along with a few captured, tortured witches—to build devices that pick up on a certain type of energy.”
“The magical kind.”
“Exactly.” He hissed when she dug deep, then forced himself to relax when she muttered, “Sorry.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he told her.
“Only a few more.” She worked for a moment longer, then asked, “What causes these dark zones?”
“No one’s sure,” he replied. “Here in Sedona it might be the red rocks—ancient energy formed by wind and sun and rain, trapped within the sandstone. Nature’s energy is stronger than any human knows.”
“That I believe,” she said. “My abuela taught me to respect the earth. To treat her with reverence—” She paused.
“What else did she teach you?” Rune asked, knowing that Teresa needed the distraction as she continued to pull jagged shards of white gold from his back.
“How to use crystals, herbs, potions,” she murmured. “Mostly, though, she taught me secrecy.”
“Wise woman,” Rune acknowledged.
“Yes, she is. So tell me how you know where these dark zones are.”
“When your power is stronger, you’ll be able to feel the difference. It’s …” He tried to come up with a way to describe it through the fog of pain muddying his thoughts. “It’s a little like a thick coating of syrup on the air. Makes things feel heavier to your senses. Once you’re in one, you’re safe from electronic tracking, but not from the old-fashioned hunter.”
“I’m guessing the feds still use plenty of those.”
“They do indeed.” Another bullet made a thunk as it hit the floor. As each piece of white gold left him, a portion of Rune’s strength returned. His powers were rejuvenating, though it would take either rest or sex with his mate to bring him back to full strength.
“Great. Okay, then, what do we do once you’re patched up?”
“We leave.”
“Yeah, I figured that part out. But to go where?”
Rune lifted his gaze to hers and saw the worry flashing behind the bravado she showed the world. Something in him shifted. For far too long he had carried around a taut knot of anger toward her. This soul that should have been his other half and wasn’t—because of unwise decisions made eight hundred years ago.
Now he looked at her and felt an easing of that old rage. This woman was not the one who had chosen so poorly. This soul had grown and learned over hundreds of incarnations. Perhaps this time she would be strong enough to right old wrongs. To end the surge of power streaming from the demon dimensions.
“You have the answer to that,” he told her flatly. “Our destination is locked in your memories. So tell me, Teresa. Where do we go?”
She blew out a breath and sat back on her heels, dropping the forceps into the medical bag. “That’s it. They’re all out.”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath and felt his body begin to regenerate. “Now, lay your hands flat on my back. Cover as many of the bullet holes as you can.”
To her credit, she didn’t ask questions, just moved to do what he asked. He felt her touch slide deeply into him and relished the blast of heat she brought. Amazing that a being created of fire torn from the heart of the sun could spend