The Dream Crafter(79)

Merc gave a small groan of protest, but Nemesis’s dark eyes in that mirror made Amana understand this was not easy chatter, this was an interrogation. Whatever label they would put on their relationship, the fact was, this woman was who Merc went to when hope was running in the opposite direction and everyone else scattered. She stood before necromancers and the Guild and got the information Merc needed. They might not be blood, but they fit her definition of family.

“It’s not like I can’t say the same about him.” It was more personal, more revealing, than Amana was comfortable with, but the flash of approval from Nemesis – as well as the shy grin that streaked across Merc’s face – made the revelation worth it.

“Does that mean after all this is over I’m going to see Merc settle down and get to play Auntie to a bunch of rugrats?”

Merc blushed like a schoolboy, a “Hey!” escaping, but Amana held his gaze, willing everything she believed into her eyes. “I don’t think any man on this world would be a finer father than Merc.”

His answering gaze was hot on her, and her throat went thick with images of what awaited them, together, after this was over.

“Break it up you two, I don’t allow eye fucking in my car,” and Amana’s embarrassment was totally worth it to see how red Merc could get.

Easy chatter dominated until they were within a handful of miles. Then it got quieter, and the mercenary came to the fore as Merc readied himself for the next mission. “Amana, you should stay–”

Nope, he wasn’t finishing that sentence. “I’m coming with you. We need to stay together.”

“No, we really don’t.”

Nemesis interjected. “And that statement right there is how you can tell Merc hasn’t had many relationships. You might as well give it up. That face,” she said, pointing to Amana, “Is the face of a woman who will hurt you if she doesn’t go with you.”

“We’ve been over this,” Amana added. “Too many things can go wrong if you leave me somewhere far away with the Guild still after us. If we’re doing this your way, then the one thing I demand is to stay by you.”

Merc’s face was clear in how he really didn’t like this, but it was also clear in how he was resigned to her being right.

The Tower was located near the heart of the city, a section that was a mix of rapid development while still showing signs of the devastation the Great Collision caused. A lot of broken buildings and taped off wreckages still dominated the landscape.

Not many families or upstanding types around, and that made the location perfect for the Blackguard.

Nemesis couldn’t get very close, not with the spies that undoubtedly lurked in the shadows. “You got everything?”

Merc smiled, held out his forearm with a smile, and Nemesis returned both the smile and the gesture, complete affection in both. “We’ll make it.”

“Better. I need some future nieces to spoil.”

Merc graced her with a quelling look and got out of the car, holding his hand out to help Amana.

Nemesis peeled away, leaving them alone, and Merc took Amana’s hand and squeezed. “You’ll listen to me?”

“Yes, master.”

And here his grin turned more naughty than anyone’s ever should if they were going on a life and death mission. “Remember those words for later.”

Amana held Merc’s hand as they made their way through the city, Merc now at full alert and Amana following every silent command he gave.

As they passed an old dilapidated building, a fist punched through the rock and into the middle of Merc’s chest, sending Merc flying into the adjoining wall.

From the crumbling door burst forth the beloved face of her brother, his brown eyes lit from within.

No, not her brother. This was the berserker. He was bigger than Nakoa, his face twisted and savage, his eyes unholy in the low light of the street lamps. This was the thing everyone so feared when they sent him to jail, the rabid animal many wanted to put down, full of power and destruction.

“Nakoa!” she cried out, anything to get that ferocious focus away from Merc, who was struggling to get up. It didn’t work, as Nakoa headed straight for him in a bull rush, slamming Merc before he had his feet under him into the nearest wall, the combined weight of the two men reverberating through the alleyway.

Merc recovered from the daze and flung out his arm, striking Nakoa across the face. Nakoa absorbed the strike with little effect and brought his head down to hit Merc in the nose, Merc’s head jerking back at the impact against the brick wall.

“Nakoa, stop!” There was no time to marvel here was her brother outside prison walls, safe and sound and with her. No, only horror climbed through her body as her brother attacked Merc, driving the mercenary into walls and coating him with his own blood.