Letting her mind drift brought visions of the tall, dark stranger who’d disappeared once again. Had she imagined him?
Images of the second stranger intruded, ratcheted up the tension level, tightened her muscles,
Mia shifted.
The movement sent a bolt of pain through Ryleigh’s head. “Ugh.”
“You okay?”
Ryleigh caught the raw fear in Mia’s eyes.
“Of course, I’m okay.”
The tears spilled over and poured down Mia’s cheeks. She turned her face into Ryleigh’s chest and wept.
“It’s all right, baby. I’m fine.” She rubbed Mia’s back, smoothed her hair. Poor baby.
“I…was…” She sniffed, struggled to gain control. “I was so scared.”
“Baby, calm down. I’m here, everything’s all right now.”
“I thought you wouldn’t find me. Then I thought you were going to…” Sobs shook her tiny, fragile body.
“Oh, honey.” Ryleigh used her sleeve to wipe away her own tears. “I’m sorry. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
Mia lifted her head, her eyebrows drawn together, anger coloring her cheeks. “You can’t know that, and you can’t promise me that.”
Ryleigh grabbed a box of tissues from the counter, pulled out a couple, and handed the rest of the box to Mia. Her parents would have done anything to stay with their children. Her grandmother’s fight had been desperate, but futile, as she struggled to hold on until Ryleigh was old enough to be Mia’s guardian. She sighed. “Look. I can’t promise you nothing will ever happen to me, but I can promise I’ll be here for you as long as I live. Always. I’ll never leave you, baby, and there’s no way I would have left that building without finding you first. So no more worries. Deal? It’s just you and me now. We’ll always take care of each other. Right?”
A half smile almost reached Mia’s eyes. She nodded and threw herself back into Ryleigh’s arms.
Ryleigh kissed her head. “Love you, little sis.”
“Me too, big sis.”
* * * *
The sisters’ conversation touched Jackson in a way he couldn’t possibly comprehend, and raised protective instincts foreign to him. He had little experience with emotions, much less the barrage threatening to drown him. He leaned his head back against the wall and swallowed the lump blocking his throat. What was wrong with him? Perhaps his father had been right to banish him. He was weak.
A nurse hurried past.
He shoved away from the wall and pushed the wheelchair into the cubicle she had just left.
The two girls lay tangled together on the gurney, eyes closed, vulnerable.
Anger crushed the self-pity he’d allowed to take root. No one had the right to take either of these girls from the other. He had to get Ryleigh out of there and figure out how he could save her, if she would even go with him. She’d been in such a hurry to leave before, but now she’d found her sister, her urgency had probably lessened or disappeared completely.
He cleared his throat, loath to disturb them yet desperate to get them to safety.
Ryleigh’s eyes fluttered open. “Hi.” Her smile filled her eyes. “Nice outfit.”
His heart stuttered. He’d forgotten he’d snatched a set of scrubs from a utility closet and thrown them over his clothes. “Thanks.” He grinned and pushed the wheelchair to the side of the stretcher. “Is this your sister?”
Even in sleep, the young girl whimpered and stirred.
“Yes. This is Mia.” She studied the girl with affection, smoothed her tangled hair.
“Is she all right?” His level of concern for the child surprised him.
“Yes, thank you. She wasn’t hurt, just scared.”
Jackson wanted to reach out to the little girl and smooth her tousled hair as well. He ignored the instinct. “She’s had a hard day.”
Her soft, husky laughter filled the room, flowed through his body, teased his very soul. “You don’t know the half of it.”
He shook off the urge to climb onto the bed beside them and wrap them in his protective embrace. “Well, I guess I’m too late to help you make your escape?”
She scowled. “Well, actually…” She chewed on her lower lip.
A shiver coursed through him. He resisted the impulse to smooth her brow.
“I was still thinking of taking Mia home,” she whispered and looked past him.
Relief flooded him. “Do you want a hand?” Goose bumps prickled along the back of his neck, and he glanced over his shoulder. He had to get them out of there, now. Why, though? There should be no immediate danger, yet…
She shrugged, searching his gaze, and pulled her sister closer.
He hadn’t even told her his name, didn’t know her name. How could he expect her to trust him? “I’m sorry, I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Jackson Maynard, and you are?” He extended his hand.
“Ryleigh Donnovan.” She placed her hand in his, and it sizzled. A small shower of sparks ignited. She flinched back. “What the…”
A pleasant warmth spread through his palm and up his arm. What the hell was going on? He forced a laugh and answered with a shrug. “Static electricity? Weird, huh?”
She stared at him, searched his eyes, probed deeply, and then shrugged. “Yeah, weird.” This time her laughter was more nervous than genuine.
“Anyway, why do you want to get out of here so badly?” It didn’t matter to him either way, as long as she wanted to go, but he wanted her a little more at ease with him so she wouldn’t bolt the minute she got the chance. He also hoped she’d ignore the whole sparking incident.
She looked past him again, put a shaky hand to her mouth, and chewed on a fingernail. “I’m exhausted, and I just want to go home.”
“Will the doctor release you?” He moved the wheelchair aside to study the IV set up.
“Probably not. He said I still need x-rays.”
He gestured to the IV. “I’m going to have to remove this if you want to get out of here.”
She nodded and held her arm out, her eyes continuously scanning the emergency room. What was she looking for?
He angled to allow himself a view of the doorway as he pulled the tape from her arm, slid the needle free, and grabbed a fresh gauze pad from the tray. “Here press this against your arm. We’re going to have to hurry.”
Her gaze shot to the doorway as she straightened. “Mia, you have to wake up now.” Ryleigh shook her sister’s shoulder.
Mia jumped, startled.
“We have to go now. Stay quiet.”
“What’s wrong?” She rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
“Nothing, it’s just time to go.”
“So why do I have to be quiet?” She tilted her head and glanced at Jackson.
“Mia.” Ryleigh whispered fiercely as she guided Mia off the bed. Her attention briefly flickered to Jackson, and she lowered her voice even more. “The lady with the questions is going to come back.”
Understanding dawned in the younger girl’s eyes. She clamped her mouth shut and stared at Jackson, fear deepening her scowl.
“It’s okay. This is Jackson. He’s a friend.”
A friend? Jackson’s heart stuttered and warmed. He smiled. “Hi, Mia. It’s nice to meet you.”
She nodded and glanced at Ryleigh for approval then extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Jackson hesitated for only a fraction of a second before he took her hand. Her tiny hand appeared even smaller when swallowed up by his larger one, but at least there were no sparks to explain.
Ryleigh huffed.
So, she’d been worried as well. He grinned at her, grabbed the wheelchair, and pushed it to the side of the gurney. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.” He bowed, with an over-exaggerated flourish.
A small giggle escaped Mia, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
“What?” Jackson laughed. There was something about this kid. �
��Too much?”
“Too corny.” Laughter danced in Mia’s eyes.
“You think?”
“Yup.” She nodded. “Ryleigh’s too grounded in reality to fall for such an obvious line.”
Jackson laughed harder. Thoughts of Cymmera filled his mind. Elijah, the prophecy, the constant threat to his people. Unfortunately, Ryleigh’s firm grip on reality did not lie in the same direction as her destiny. Oh, man was she in for a surprise.
A cramp tightened his side. What the hell? He rubbed it but still couldn’t control the laughter. Tears ran from his eyes. He had never laughed so hard.
“Are you all right?” Ryleigh raised an eyebrow.
He struggled to gain control of his runaway emotions.
“I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath, filled his lungs, and tried to subdue the joy that filled him. “She’s blunt, I like that.”
Mia’s face reddened, but she smiled.
Ryleigh tousled her sister’s hair. “Yes she is, and honest to a fault.”
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” He grasped Ryleigh’s arm and guided her into the wheelchair. “Do you have anything with you?”
“Just my purse.” She gestured toward the counter.
He grabbed her purse and handed it to her.
“Let’s go. Mia, I want you to walk on the left side of the wheelchair. Stay right beside it, all right?”
She nodded again and grabbed her sister’s hand. She chewed on her bottom lip, much the same as Ryleigh had done earlier. Tears pooled in her big, blue eyes.
What was she so scared of? To his knowledge, they knew nothing of the danger that awaited them, and yet they both exhibited the same fear. His tension level increased.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”
The plea in Mia’s eyes touched his heart. A small flicker of trust lit her eyes.
He braced himself and searched the crowded ER for any sign of danger.
The girls scanned the room as well.
He pushed Ryleigh through the crowd and into a fairly quiet corridor lined with doors. Some stood open, others closed, but darkness lay beyond most of them. He moved quickly. This was one of the most dangerous points in his escape plan.
Ryleigh gasped. She lowered her head and lifted a hand to her hair, effectively covering her face. She pulled Mia closer.
Jackson tensed, slowed, braced for the attack.
A woman walked toward them. The clicking of her high heels echoed through the hallway, covering any small sounds that might warn of impending trouble. Jackson released his grip on the wheelchair, freeing up his hands, ready for a fight. It had been centuries since he’d fought without using any of his powers, and the loss weighed heavily, but he still retained considerable skills in battle.
“Oh, hi. Are you feeling better?”
Ryleigh swallowed hard. “Yes, thank you.”
“I’ll be in right after you’re finished in x-ray.”
“Umm…sure.”
The woman nodded to Jackson and continued on her way.
Ryleigh laid her head back and closed her eyes.
Mia looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Even though the click, click, click followed the woman’s retreat, he glanced over his shoulder to be sure she’d gone. Relieved he’d avoided trouble, though unsure what that trouble might have been, he picked up his pace.
They reached the far end of the hall without incident. He’d already disabled the alarm on the fire door at the back of the hospital but held his breath as he shoved it open, hoping no one had found and repaired it. No alarm. Good. Breathe.
He stuck his head out. No one, which didn’t mean much since a soldier could appear from Cymmera or Argonas wherever he chose to open a gateway. A brick wall lined with a thick row of bushes surrounded a large courtyard. Three entrances opened up to the empty space, the door he now occupied, a walkway leading between the bushes and around the building, and the service alley, which led to the parking lot.
Jackson trusted his father to honor the three-month reprieve he’d agreed to, but what of their enemy? Daygan possessed his own seer. Would he know to send someone to retrieve the girl?
He returned to Ryleigh. “I’m going to carry you outside. Stay hidden in the shadows until I pull the car up.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“Do you want to get caught?” Urgency beat at him.
“I’m sure I can walk.”
“No time. It’ll be quicker if I carry you.”
“Can’t you just push me in the wheel chair?”
“No ramp.” Ignoring her protests, he lifted her from the chair. “Come on Mia, stay right with me.”
She practically glued herself to his side as they maneuvered through the doorway.
He lowered Ryleigh to the ground. “Stay here, don’t move and keep your heads down.” A small lamp shone on the opposite side of the door, and he reached for the well of energy within him. Concentrated. He searched for the ball of light in his core, desperate to extinguish the light with a burst of energy. Nothing. Damn. Fairly certain the girls remained concealed in the shadows, he abandoned his efforts. No sense wasting time. He ran down the alley, staying as close to the building as possible. Fear consumed him. He had to get back to Ryleigh and Mia.
He flattened his back against the wall and peered around the corner. It would only take a few seconds to reach the first row of cars before he’d have at least some cover again. He searched the empty parking lot. Quiet. Too quiet. He tried to reach out with his extra senses. Nothing. He had to get used to being stripped of his powers. He inhaled deeply and ran.
The impact came from his right side with no warning. He went down hard, dragging his attacker with him as he rolled. He circled his right arm around his opponent’s throat, threw his weight back and snapped the other man’s neck. In one fluid motion, he dumped the lifeless body to the ground and sprang to his feet.
Ryleigh.
Even without use of his powers, his speed surpassed that of any human. The alley sped past him in a blur, and seconds after he’d disposed of Daygan’s minion he stood at the back entrance to the hospital. Face to face with Kai.
“What are you doing here?” Jackson forced his strained breathing to slow.
Kai laughed. “Babysitting, of course. Someone has to keep an eye on you, so your father sent me.” He held Ryleigh’s back pressed against him, his arm draped across her neck, one hand gripping her shoulder as he stroked her hair.
“Let go of me!” Ryleigh gripped his arm, struggling to loosen his hold on her.
“Release her, Kai.” Jackson wanted to tell her to save her energy, wanted to scream for her to wait for his signal before moving. Instead, he remained silent, watched, waited, searched for an opening. He took one step closer.
Kai’s grip tightened. “And why would I release her, My Prince?” He spat the last out with bitterness and contempt. “Because you ordered me to? I trained you for hundreds of years to take my place. And how do you repay me? You fail. Did I teach you nothing? If my king demanded I retrieve the girl, I would have followed his orders.”
“I said, release her, Kai. Now. That’s a direct order.”
Kai laughed harder. A vicious laugh that held no humor, only hostility. The warrior could already have escaped to Cymmera. Could have easily snapped Ryleigh’s neck and taken her. But his arrogance wouldn’t allow it, nor would his respect for the king. He only wanted to torment Jackson, flaunt his superiority over his young protégé.
That would prove to be a critical mistake, if Jackson could just get Ryleigh out of harm’s way.
“I thought you might enjoy watching how it’s done, thought maybe I’d man you up a little.” He tightened his grip on Ryleigh’s shoulder, took her chin in his other hand. “Ah…but there’s no reason to toughen you up now, is there? You see, my young friend, your father might be too weak to impose th
e proper punishment on you, but be assured, I am not.” He forced Ryleigh’s head to the side, twisted her neck, slowly, drawing out the drama of the moment. Reveling in it. “I could escort the girl to Cymmera and properly enslave her then return for you.” A vicious grin lit Kai’s face. “What do you say, boy?”
A movement in his peripheral vision drew Jackson’s attention. He forced his gaze to remain fixed on his adversary. The weight of the dagger in his sleeve called to him. There would be no second chance. He inhaled deeply. Held his breath. Waited.
Mia sprang from the darkness, swinging a large, dead branch as she pounced. She couldn’t move quickly enough to land a damaging blow, but forced Kai to release Ryleigh’s chin to block the impact.
Ryleigh flung her body to the side, revealing just enough of Kai’s chest to make a target.
Jackson attacked. He plunged the knife deep, but avoided Kai’s heart. Maybe the crazy bastard didn’t have one. Jackson pulled back.
Kai swung his arm, flinging Ryleigh aside.
“You would dare attack me?” Spit flew from the warrior’s mouth as he screamed. Rage colored his face. “Over a girl? A human? Do you forget I taught you everything you know? This is how you repay me for all the years I’ve spent training you? For that I will see you tortured before you’re executed.”
Jackson let him rant. He tried to keep track of the girls from the corner of his eye as he and Kai circled one another.
Ryleigh grabbed Mia and dragged her beneath the cover of the bushes.
Kai and Jackson circled around.
With Ryleigh and Mia out of the way, Jackson turned his full attention on his mentor.
“Why would you kill me, Kai?” Jackson tilted his head, teased his tormentor. “As punishment for my sins? Or, perhaps…” His voice and expression hardened. “You are not willing to relinquish your position as second in command.”
“Don’t be a fool. I’ve been training you for that role since you were a child, but I should have realized your cowardice before now.” Kai appeared thoughtful, but Jackson knew him too well to be fooled. “Hmm…Perhaps your brother would be better suited to stand beside your father.”
Jackson stepped forward, dagger raised.
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