Free Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl Page A

the body and the next I was watching the last hours of his life. I thought it was real, that somehow I’d been thrown back in time to be a witness. I saw every moment he suffered, Lucan. I watched that kid crying and pleading with him. Max beat him, and he sodomized him, and then he strangled him. He took his time. He fucking enjoyed it. It’s his favorite part. Not even the money makes him feel that good. After he ran I had nightmares about Bobby. For years.” She struck her fist into his chest. “Are you happy now? Satisfied?”
    Lucan caught her hands and brought her scarred palm to his lips. “I did not realize.” He kissed her hand, and then her brow, her eyelids, and the bridge of her nose before enfolding her in his strong arms. “Forgive me.”
    Sam held on to him, standing docile and quiet as he stroked her hair. He knew the old wounds she still carried from her human life were as deep and painful as his own. Because of the suffering they had both seen and experienced, Lucan understood her as no one else could. Sometimes when she was angry, she forgot just how well he understood.
    “I’m a jerk,” she said into his shirt.
    “You are distraught.” He lifted her face, urging her to look at him. “I will allow you to go, Samantha, but not alone.”
    “He can’t do anything to me.” She sounded so tired, even to her own ears. “He’s only human.”
    “Fangs do not make the monster, my love.” Lucan tucked her head under his chin. “But while I am your lord and master, which will be until eternity comes to an end, I will not let you face such nightmares alone. Now stop sniveling. You promised me no more weeping.”
    Sam knew she was supposed to adhere to the customs and laws of the Darkyn, which dated back to the Dark Ages. Which also meant she had to do what Lucan told her. But her lover gave her more leeway than another Kyn lord might, mainly because he did understand her calling. For six centuries he had done the same for the Darkyn, although none of the killers he had pursued and captured ever lived long enough to be tried for their crimes.
    “How long will it take?” he asked her.
    “Two days,” she promised. “Three at the most, I swear.”
    She knew what she was asking of him. Aside from his possessiveness, there was a more pressing need for her to stay in Fort Lauderdale: their bond. Since Lucan had saved her life by changing her from human to Darkyn, they had never been apart from each other for more than eight hours. The bond between them, which had made them life companions, was enduring and demanding. Sam still wasn’t sure she understood everything about being his sygkenis, but over time she had come to understand that they physically needed to be with each other in order to survive, as much as normal humans needed warmth and shelter and food.
    Sam had also been warned by other Kyn women what would happen if she left Lucan. An extended separation would cause both of them to go through withdrawal, first spiritually and then physically. If they were kept apart too long, one or both of them would lose control and descend into madness. In that mindless state, they would kill anything that came near them.
    “I’ll be sure to make it back in two days,” she said. “I swear.”
    “There is no need to make a vow.” He went to the phone. “I will arrange it so that I can accompany you.”
    “Wait.” She went after him. “You’re the suzerain—the ruling lord here. You can’t leave your territory.”
    One of his golden brows arched. “Do you imagine anyone could stop me?”
    “No, but …” She paused, groping for an excuse. “It’s not standard departmental procedure.”
    He offered her a thin smile. “Neither is your being Kyn. When do you plan to reveal that to your police commissioner?”
    “You know what I mean—”
    “I do.” He stopped her from saying any more by resting a finger against her lips. “Rafael can see to the jardin while we are away, and as you say,