by Anne, Meg
He practically threw the box, sending it skidding across the countertop. He didn’t need to look inside again. The image of what sat there would haunt him for the rest of his life.
A bloody ear rested on top of a piece of what had once been white fabric. He didn’t need the shooting star earring to tell him who it belonged to. The pain he’d felt while trying to reach for Skye made sense now. He’d experienced the exact moment the fucker mutilated her.
Hands clenched into fists, Lucas reached for the power that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. With rage unlike anything he’d ever felt before, Lucas pulled his magic up to the surface.
“Where are you, you son of a bitch?” he yelled, focusing on the source of that rage.
The Druid appeared in his mind, as clear as if he stood in the same room, with his trademark smug smile on full display. The empty warehouse he stood in was covered in runes Lucas didn’t recognize, but none of that mattered.
“I guess you got my present.” The Druid’s smile grew as the deep voice reverberated in Lucas’ mind. “Glad I finally got your attention. See you soon, Grandson.”
Lucas opened his eyes, knowing exactly where to find the bastard who’d once been family, and more importantly, where to find Skye.
“I go in first. You two look for the room where Skye is being held. It’s in the same building, but not the same room the Druid was in when I saw him,” Lucas briefed Giles, Lizzie, and Matthews. “Get her and get the fuck out. You do not come back for me, am I clear?”
“Lucas, you can’t expect us to just leave you there!” Lizzie insisted, the stubborn set of her jaw so like his own.
“Yes, I can,” he snapped. “You get Skye and get the fuck out. I can’t focus if I’m constantly worried about the rest of you.”
“I will use Lucas’ blood to rune the door so the Druid can’t come in, just in case things go sideways.”
“Are we seriously planning for you to lose?” Lizzie asked angrily, her eyes blazing as she looked between the three men. “Are you planning on dying tonight, Lucas?”
Matthews reached down and squeezed Lizzie’s hand. His time as Lucas’ partner meant he knew exactly what Lucas was doing and why. When going after a perp this dangerous, they had to have a backup plan. When things went south—because they most assuredly would—his team had to get as far away from the Druid as possible.
“No, I’m not planning on dying,” Lucas replied, folding his arms, “but it would be stupid to go in unprepared. We need to plan for every outcome, Lizzie.”
She sniffled, but shed no tears. “Fine. So, we rune the door, and get Skye. How do you expect us to get out without you?”
“We run like hell, Liz,” Matthews said, brushing his thumb along the back of her hand. “Get out of that building as quickly as we can and hope Giles’ rune holds. That’s all we can do.”
“I will do what I can with Lucas’ blood,” Giles explained. “Here’s hoping it works.”
They hadn’t been able to test their theory that his blood would work with runes he didn’t paint, but it was the best idea they had. If Lucas lost, he had to believe his blood would be enough to get them to safety.
“Skye’s in bad shape. She’s going to need help. I’m counting on you guys to take care of her.” Lucas stepped forward and pulled his sister in for a hug. “I love you, Lizzie. Please have faith in me.”
“I do,” she whispered against his chest. “Just don’t die.”
Chapter 12
Lizzie
Giles parked his car in front of an old warehouse building not even thirty minutes from the cabin. Skye had been so close to them this entire time, and they hadn’t even known it. The red brick structure loomed in the darkness, and even from her spot in the car, Lizzie could feel the evil rolling off it in waves. The feeling made her nauseous, and if it hadn't been for James’ hand in hers, she would have lost her nerve. Every instinct screamed for her to run.
They were walking into a trap that they may not survive, and each of them knew it. What if they didn’t make it back out?
“It will be okay, Liz,” James whispered into her ear. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she answered, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Lucas turned to face them, and Lizzie memorized her brother’s face. Out of all of them, his chances were the worst.
“You ready?” He searched her gaze.
She shook her head. How could she ever be ready to lose the last remaining member of her family?
“It will be okay, Lizzie,” he assured her. “You’ll be back to kicking my ass at Candy Land in no time.” He smiled.
Lizzie choked out a sob. “I love you, Lucas.”
“I love you, too, Lizzie.” He shifted his focus to Giles. “Wait five minutes, then come in after me.”
“Will do.”
Lucas turned back to Lizzie and James. “Do not come after me, no matter what. I will find you.”
“You got it, partner,” James answered for both of them. “Be careful in there.”
“You too. Keep my sister safe.”
“With my life.”
The men shared a long look before Lucas nodded.
Unable to speak, Lizzie watched her brother climb from the car and disappear inside the dark building. She tried like hell to muffle the voice telling her it was the last time she’d ever see him alive. He will be fine. Her brother was the strongest, most determined man she knew, and if there was any hope of winning this battle, it was with him.
Minutes ticked by like hours, but the building remained silent. If there was a war going on inside, no evidence made it out to them.
“Ready?” James squeezed her hand.
Lizzie forced herself to look away from the warehouse and back to him. Nodding, she answered, “Let’s do this.”
Together, the three of them climbed from the car and made their way inside. The sour stench of mildew hit her nose the second they were within the walls. The bottom floor was empty, except for some trash and a dusty old chair.
James took the lead. Still gripping her hand, he headed for the stairs. Each step they took echoed in her head, although they were nearly silent. Once reaching the landing for the second floor, they resumed their search. Lizzie took a door on the right hall, opening it to find nothing inside but a crumpled-up sheet.
James and Giles must’ve had the same luck with the rooms they chose because both shook their heads after making their way back to the stairs.
The trio ascended again, to the third and final floor in the building, only just reaching the top when faint voices reached them.
James rushed toward the door directly in front of them and peered through the glass. “Giles, rune this one!” he whispered loudly.
Without questioning him, Giles dipped his finger inside the plastic container holding Lucas’ blood and drew a symbol on the steel door.
James turned away and tried the only other door in the hall, cursing when it was locked. Pulling a small kit from his pocket, he went to work picking the lock.
Lizzie turned her attention to the door Giles had just finished working on and stepped up to the glass.
“Don’t, lass,” Giles said softly, grasping her arm. “He’s alive, but ye won’t do him any good by going in there now.”
Tears burning in her eyes, Lizzie stared helplessly at the door and nodded. He was right. She didn’t possess the strength to walk away if she saw her brother losing, and she sure as hell didn’t want to be the distraction that led to his death.
Turning her attention back to James, relief flooded her when the lock clicked and he pushed the door open.
“It’s her!” he called. Stepping inside, he froze for a moment, then muttered, “Shit.”
Abandoning the hall, Lizzie rushed in behind him. The room was small, more of a closet than anything. Skye was tied to a chair facing a darkened pane of glass, where they could see Lucas’ back as he faced off with the Druid.
Lizzie’s blood iced as she reme
mbered the way the Druid’s soulless eyes bore into hers as he told her she was going to die.
“Lizzie, I need your help.”
James’ voice pulled her from her thoughts, and Lizzie turned back to Skye. He worked on releasing Skye’s right hand, while Lizzie untied the rope on her left.
“Skye, can you hear me?” he said in a soothing voice. “Skye?”
Skye’s eyes fluttered open. She stared at him, confusion etched on her face. “James?” Her voice was weak and scratchy. “Am I dreaming again?”
“No, sweetheart. We’re here.”
Skye choked on a sob and leaned forward into James’ arms. Lizzie fought back tears of her own, relieved that they’d found her and no one had died yet.
“It’s okay, we’ve got you,” James murmured, rubbing his hand in a circular motion on Skye’s shaking back.
“Where’s Lucas?” she asked, leaning back to look up at his face.
“In there,” Giles answered, pointing to the other side of the glass.
“Oh no,” she moaned, sagging in James’ arms. “We have to warn him! It’s a trap!”
“He knows, and he can take care of himself,” James said. “We have to get you out of here. We promised him.” Without waiting for her response, James lifted her into his arms.
They couldn’t hear what was happening on the other side of the glass, but the Druid looked entirely too smug, which didn’t bode well for any of them.
Following the Druid’s pointing hand, Lucas turned to the glass, and Lizzie watched his eyes widen with terror. Can he see us? Her brother narrowed his eyes and turned back to the Druid.
“It’s one way,” James said, answering her unspoken question. “He can’t see in here.”
“Oh no,” Giles mumbled, almost tripping over his feet as he stepped back from the glass. “No, no, no…”
“What is it?” Lizzie asked, her heartbeat tripling in time as she looked at the old man. His mouth hung open in horror, and the blood had drained from his face.
“We have to get him out of there. I know what those symbols mean!” he shouted, already running to the door. Before he cleared the threshold, blinding light filled the room.
“What the hell is going on?” James asked, cradling Skye’s battered body as he turned away from the light.
“Lucas!” Skye screamed, reaching out a bloodied hand toward the glass.
Lizzie spun back to the glass, searching for any sign of Lucas, but he was gone. The only thing left in the room was the Druid smiling with sinister satisfaction.
Denial and grief spiraled within her. “No!” Lizzie cried as her heart stuttered. Agony ripped through her as she stared at the spot her brother had been only seconds before. “Lucas!”
“We have to go!” James yelled as the Druid made his way toward the glass.
“Hope you enjoyed the show, Seer!” he cried jubilantly.
“Run!” James insisted.
They sprinted out of the room and down the stairs, but Lizzie’s legs felt like lead as she ran. She was the worst kind of coward for leaving her brother behind. You didn’t leave him behind, he’s already gone. She stumbled at the reminder, but caught herself and forced her body forward.
“No! We have to go back!” Skye screamed, squirming weakly in James’ arms.
“Skye, stop! This is what Lucas wanted!” he yelled back at her.
“No, no, no, no,” Skye cried, shaking her head.
Roaring sounded behind them, and Lizzie pushed herself further. If they made it out, maybe they could find a way to save Lucas. But if they died here, he would be gone forever, no maybe about it. That knowledge alone was enough to keep her moving.
They just reached the bottom floor, Giles leading the way. He was no longer concerned with stealth, and he burst through the doors, which clanged loudly against the outer walls of the warehouse. They raced across the street, Skye bouncing in James’ arms as she clung to him. Giles had already started the car when Lizzie slammed the door closed behind her.
“What the fuck just happened?” James demanded as soon as they were speeding down the street.
“Lucas is gone,” Giles answered, his voice shaking.
Skye let out a choked cry, and Lizzie looked back to where she lay in James’ lap.
“What do you mean gone?” Lizzie asked, her stomach twisting into knots.
“Is he dead?” James asked, saying the word she’d been actively avoiding.
Giles shook his head, and hope flared back to life within her. If he wasn’t dead, that meant they could save him.
“It’s worse,” Giles replied.
“What the hell is worse than death?”
“The Wasteland,” Skye answered, her voice weak and packed with pain.
Lizzie’s hope drained from her like a popped balloon.
“What do you mean, the Wasteland?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“The Druid escaped, can’t Lucas?” James asked.
They all knew the likelihood of that. It had taken the Druid nearly three decades to escape, and he’d been practiced at his craft beforehand. What were the odds Lucas could do the same?
Lights flew by them as Giles guided the car out of town. Lizzie drowned out the sound of Skye’s sobs and focused on the last time she’d seen her brother.
Life without him wasn’t an option, but how the hell were they supposed to get him back?
Chapter 13
Lucas
Lucas moved through the building without really seeing, drawn upstairs like a magnet pulled to its other half. Not bothering to question the pull, he followed the impulse, silently moving through the abandoned warehouse, his racing heart his only companion. Reaching the top of the stairs, he opened the first door and stepped inside.
At the far wall, the Druid turned away from a glass window to face him. “It’s about time.”
“Fuck you.”
The Druid laughed, true delight filling the sound. “My, what a passionate one you are. It truly is a shame I must destroy you. It could have been fun training you if it didn’t require sharing what is rightfully mine.”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “Listen, this whole ‘your power belongs to me’ thing is getting really old. You’re going to kill me, I get it. How about I turn myself over and you let the rest of them go.”
“Ah, but where’s the fun in that?”
Lucas’ hands balled into fists. He worked his jaw, trying to keep his anger in check. Needing to buy the others time to find Skye and get her out of here, he couldn’t afford to give in to his rage. At least not yet. “Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said with a shrug.
The Druid studied him with narrowed eyes. “You seem to be taking this all very casually for someone who’s threatened me with violence at every turn. Have you finally given up?”
Never, you sack of shit. “I just don’t see the point of drawing out the inevitable.”
“I can’t say I blame you, although it’s not going to change anything for your girlfriend.” The Druid cocked his head. “Is she still your girlfriend? When I found her, she was in the middle of leaving you.”
Lucas fought to keep his expression neutral, the reminder of Skye’s note still holding the power to gut him. “Couples fight. It was a misunderstanding.”
“That’s a hell of an overreaction to a lovers’ quarrel. What did you do?” he asked, moving closer.
Instinct made Lucas side-step, not wanting to allow him to get too close, although the move did pull Lucas away from the door. Not ideal.
With a flick of his wrist, the Druid sent the door slamming shut. “Not like you were getting out of here anyway. Might as well make ourselves comfortable.”
Lucas glanced around the empty room. “How do you propose we do that?”
“Nothing wrong with getting to know my grandson, is there?”
He snorted. “So, now I’m your grandson? I think that ship sailed the moment you decided to murder me and my sister.”
“It’s not my fault that the power demands your blood. The rules are clear. All living Druids hold equal shares of the power to keep the balance. The only way I can access more is to remove those that stand in my way.”
“What about the balance?”
“Balance is for the weak.”
Mentally counting the time in his head, Lucas assumed the others must have entered the building by now. That meant he needed to keep this going for another five or ten minutes at least, to ensure that they got back out again. Thankfully, this asshole liked to talk.
“What good is living forever when you have no one to share your life with?” Lucas asked.
A flicker of something crossed the Druid’s face, but it was gone before Lucas could identify it. “That was never the plan,” he admitted, “but if I must pay that price then I do so gladly.”
Thinking of Skye and the future they could have built if this bastard hadn’t interfered, Lucas couldn’t agree. Nothing in the world would be worth the price of losing the chance to spend his life loving her.
“Maybe you just didn’t deserve Nan…I mean, I know there are people out there that would lay down their lives to save me, but I don’t think they’d be as willing to do it as a way to get away from me.”
Scowling, the Druid advanced. Lucas shadowed each step with one of his own, until his back was facing the oddly placed interior window.
“Enough of this. I grow bored.”
“You were the one who wanted to get to know me.”
“A mistake I do not care to repeat.”
“Hit a nerve, did I?”
“I’ll be rid of you soon enough.”
The Druid pointed behind him, and an acrid heat licked at his back. Lucas glanced over his shoulder to find that a portal had opened behind him.
No! It was too soon. The others needed more time.
“You going somewhere?” Lucas asked, hoping his voice didn’t betray his nerves.