Dark Deceiver
Page 22
Jack moved toward him, his tension gone. “Apparently, when I shook your hand on the roof that first time, your father recognized you. He lied and told me you were Sitheen, fearing I’d kill you if I knew you were immortal.” His expression turned grave. “I would have.”
Kade shook his head, his mind reeling from this revelation. “He took a terrible risk. I was sent to kill you. To kill all of you.”
“He suspected that.” Jack laughed and shrugged. “He hoped we’d work it out.”
“And have we?”
“I think maybe we have.” Jack’s gaze went to Autumn. “You trust him?”
She slid her arms around Kade’s waist, filling him with overwhelming gratitude. Never in his life had he had someone stand beside him. Believe in him.
“I trust him. More than that, I know him. I’ve seen inside him, Jack. He’s as fine an ally as humans could ever hope to have.”
Jack pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “Your father says you’ve made him proud, Kaderil. He’s glad, after all this time, you’re finally home.”
“Home.” The word felt alien to his tongue and yet the hope that blossomed inside him was unbearably fragile. He was half human. As human as he was Esri.
“It’s up to you, of course,” Jack said. “But I’m thinking Autumn would be very happy if you stayed.”
“Hot damn,” Charlie said. “We’ve got us our very own Esri.”
Kade shook his head. “I would stay. There is nothing I wish more. But Ustanis took the draggon stone through the gate, and I must try to retrieve it before he gives it to King Rith. Rith will cause great destruction to your world with those stones.”
Autumn looked up at him, her eyes filling with misery. “But they’ll kill you. You said yourself it’s forbidden to kill another Esri.”
“Esri!” Larsen yelled. “They’re coming through again.”
Kade swung toward the gate as the Sitheen raised their flamethrowers. But standing ghostlike in the fountain was only one Esri, Ustanis’s young son. He stood half in this world and half in the other, out of danger from the Sitheen’s fire.
“It’s the kid,” Autumn gasped. Charlie started forward and Autumn yelled, “Charlie, no!” The youth’s image dimmed until Charlie stopped, then grew more solid again. The boy’s wary gaze slowly moved from the warrior to Autumn.
“My lady. I gave you my vow to repay your kindness. My father, Ustanis, gave me leave to give you this.” He threw something out of the fountain, a chain that glittered in the moonlight and landed on the pavement with a soft clatter. A moment later, he disappeared.
Charlie rushed forward. “It’s the draggon stone! The Esri gave back the draggon stone.”
Autumn whirled to Kade, laughing, her face a mask of surprised delight. Love for her welled to overflowing and he lifted her high and swung her around. When he set her on her feet, she hugged him tightly.
“I owe you an apology, Autumn.” Jack’s tone was full of wry appreciation. “I thought you’d made a mistake by letting that kid go. But I think you may have just saved us all.”
“Thanks, Jack.” Autumn’s joy shimmered over her in waves.
“Uh…that draggon stone went through the gate.” Charlie strolled back to join them. “Wasn’t that thing the key that was supposed to open all twelve gates if it ever again entered Esria?”
They all looked at one another with dismay.
“I guess we’ll know soon enough,” Jack said. His gaze swung to Kade and Autumn. “Are you two on board? We’re going to need you. Both of you.”
Autumn looked up, meeting Kade’s gaze with laughter in her eyes. “They need us.”
He nodded, love misting his vision. “No one will ever need you as much as I. Come.” He took her hand and pulled her a short distance from the others. “For the first time in my life, I have a place and a people. And a purpose I believe in. But none of that means anything without you. Will you be my mate, my wife, Autumn McGinn?”
Love shone from her eyes. “There’s nothing I want more. I would be honored, Kaderil, to be your wife.”
He smiled. “Kade. Kaderil was Esri. Kade is human. And while we both love you, Kade is the one who belongs here, in this world.” He kissed her. “By your side.”
Autumn grinned, tears overflowing her eyes. “I love you, Kade.”
And he knew he’d found his true place at last.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1825-7
DARK DECEIVER
Copyright © 2008 by Pamela Poulsen
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*The Esri
*The Esri