From Burning Ashes (Collector Series #4)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Zoey?” he muttered.

  “Viking.” I took another stride toward him.

  “Don’t.” He jerked back with a growl. “It’s still there.”

  “What?” I stopped so suddenly I rocked back on my feet.

  “I can feel it.” He pushed himself against the wall. “Less now but still there.”

  “I…no. It broke. I felt it,” I exclaimed.

  “I have a plan.” Croygen held up his palm. “How about we get out of here first? Then we can get drunk and converse about all our crazy, hysterical theories.”

  Croygen was right. All this could wait. Now wasn’t the time.

  “Where are my sister and Sprig?” I twisted toward Croygen.

  Croygen motioned through the window. Sprig sat on top of a blanket wrapped around my unconscious sister. Sprig held his tail, stroking it nervously.

  “We have to go.”

  “Like I said.” He rolled his eyes.

  “My axe.” Ryker’s voice sounded deep and unemotional.

  “Good luck finding it.” Croygen headed for the door.

  “My axe,” Ryker rumbled, pushing off the wall, following us. “I’m not leaving without it.”

  “Viking!” Sprig’s voice squeaked as Ryker stepped into the outer room. He ran up to Ryker’s feet. The Wanderer didn’t say anything but leaned down and picked him up, giving his head a rub before putting him on his shoulder. “I know you’ve missed me.” Sprig snuggled into Ryker, happiness widening his smile.

  “I actually did,” Ryker mumbled and shot me a look again. The instant his eyes settled on me, his pupils flickered with a cold, angry expression. His chest puffed, and he turned his head away. He sucked in a strangled breath, putting more distance between us. A battle waged inside him.

  “Keep her away from me,” Ryker growled at Croygen.

  “No.” I stepped to him, causing him to backpedal.

  “Stay back, Zoey!” He held up his hand. “The oath is still there.”

  “Zoey.” Croygen motioned me over to him. “Get behind me.”

  “No!” I exclaimed. “I am not afraid of you, Ryker.”

  “I still might kill you, Zoey.”

  “No. You won’t.” I shook my head.

  “How are you so sure?” he seethed.

  “Because you already did.” My eyes narrowed.

  Ryker turned away from me. “Escape while you can. I’ll cause a distraction.”

  “What? No!” I cried. Sprig straightened, his smile dropping.

  “No way. We didn’t come all the way down here to leave you.” Croygen shook his head.

  “I don’t give a shit. I am not safe. It’s better if I stay locked up here.”

  “Are you pooping out your brain again, Viking?” Sprig peered into the Wanderer’s ear. “Did it turn to mush in there?”

  “Absolutely not, Ryker.” Croygen and I spoke at the same time. There was no way I would leave without him again.

  “Oh, mush…with sugar and honey.”

  “I don’t trust myself. What I’ve already done…” Ryker rubbed at his head.

  “Or honey with a little mush on top?” Sprig chattered.

  Croygen glanced over at me. I could feel his questioning stare, but my focus locked on Ryker’s back.

  “Fuck you,” I spat. Ryker jerked his head over his shoulder.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Fuck. You.”

  He turned to fully face me.

  “You think you’re being noble? That sacrificing yourself for me is the right thing?”

  Irritation and confusion flickered over Ryker’s face. “I am not going to fight about this with you. You’re going.”

  Fury slammed into me, pushing my legs forward until I stood in front of him. “You selfish bastard. If you think you are taking the high road here, let me tell you…You. Are. Not.”

  Ryker’s bewilderment only deepened, his eyes pinching in the corners. He glanced over at Croygen for help who only offered a shrug in return.

  I shoved at his chest, bringing his attention back to me. “You are not going to do this to me. Not after what we’ve done to get you.”

  Ryker’s face flushed scarlet. “To you? I am doing this for you.”

  “No, you’re not!” I clenched my palms into fists.

  “What the hell? I’m trying to save your life, Zoey.” He gritted his teeth.

  “Well, stop.”

  “Okay, human. You are not making any sense.” He leaned in, getting into my face. “I still feel the oath. It’s not as strong, but it’s there. I could hurt you again. Do you realize that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want to die?”

  “No.”

  He threw back his head, his arms flailing at his side. “Then why are you arguing with me?”

  “Because…” I shifted awkwardly. I took a deep breath and looked into his face. “We are survivors. We fight. We live. No matter what it takes, it’s who we are. We don’t let things beat us: DMG, an oath, Vadik. You and I are a team, and we will fight against whatever comes our way. Good or bad, we claw, bite, and battle our way out.” I moved to him, and he went rigid. “And don’t assume I will be so easy to kill, Viking. I came back this last time. Remember I’m the Avenging Angel,” I whispered hoarsely. “Okay?”

  He waited a beat before nodding. He remained distant, keeping a wall between us, but at least he agreed.

  “Wow. This is better than a Spanish soap opera.” Sprig peered down from Ryker’s shoulder. “Does this make anyone else hungry for a snack?”

  Ryker actually snorted. “Some things never change.”

  “Can we get out of here now?” Croygen started toward my sister. “Seriously, we’ve wasted too much time.”

  “Still need to find my axe.”

  “Really? I think getting out of here is the first priority.”

  “I agree. We have no idea where they put it.” I reached for Sprig. He leaped to my shoulder, crawling under my hair.

  “I can feel it call to me.” Ryker grabbed the blood-coated scrub shirt on the table, slipping it on. “Just need to be close enough to know its exact location.”

  “Come on.” Croygen bent over and lifted Lexie into his arms, pressing her to his chest.

  “You need to be silent, okay?” I whispered to Sprig. He nodded in agreement, holding on to chunks of my loose strands.

  Ryker and I followed Croygen out. Nerves flittered all over me.

  “Okay. Let’s do this.” Croygen winked at me. Ahead of us lay the impossible, and we had no choice but to bulldoze straight into it.

  Sink or swim.

  Into a tank full of sharks and other deadly predators.

  TWO

  The hallway was quiet other than the chirping of computer noises and a low hum of electricity. It had only been fifteen minutes since I came down this hall for Ryker, but it felt like hours. The stillness unnerved me more than if a wall of men awaited us.

  Rapava had always been a step ahead. Even when Croygen and I snuck down here the first time, somehow I sensed that he’d missed none of my movements. I shoved down my anxiety as we slunk through the passage, the elevator in sight. We were only halfway when a chill latched on to my ankle and walked itself up to my neck, plopping itself down next to Sprig.

  I twisted to look behind me. No one except for Ryker and Croygen in the shadows. Apprehension wrapped itself around my throat like a scarf, strangling me till my skin prickled. Then a crackling sound came overhead. My insides ran icy with terror.

  “Oh, Zoey. You have disappointed me greatly. Although I can’t say I’m surprised.” Rapava’s accented voice filtered down from a speaker in the ceiling, stopping all of us in our tracks. “I am impressed with how far you have gotten on your own. Daniel taught you well.”

  My heart bucked against my ribs as I whirled around, my gaze searching. He could see me. Where was he? Finally my eyes landed on the camera by the elevator. It pointed straight at me, a tiny red light on below i
t.

  Oh hell. The cameras did work—when he wanted them to. At the time we came down here it had not been on, but it was operating now. How many times did I pass one with no knowledge that it was on? Watching. Spying.

  “You are my test case for security. Every move you make only renders this place more of a fortress.”

  His words made me feel dirty. Used. What if this whole time he let me get away crawling in the rafters and vents only to point out their weaknesses?

  All I could do was fight fire with fire. Fearful he could hear as well as see me, I kept my voice to a whisper. “Sprig, I need you to do your thing.”

  “Put the camera to sleep?” He stroked my earlobe like he was soothing it into slumber.

  “Permanently,” I murmured. “Stick to the darkness and move slowly. Rapava will be looking for you. Take the key card from my hip and have the elevator ready. And please be careful.”

  His arms stretched around my neck and hugged me before he used my ponytail to descend my back like a rock climber. He hit my waist, the plastic card scratching against my skin as he tugged it out, then he dropped to the ground.

  “You are only harming your sister, Zoey,” Rapava crooned. “She needs me. Needs to be here so she can continue to get better. And you are only inflicting more pain and torture for your accomplices.” He kept talking. I focused my eyes on the camera but watched Sprig in my peripheral. He stayed against the wall trying to stay undetected, traveling slow as the darkness moved around him. He was so good a few times I lost sight of him. Right when he reached the base of the elevator, it dinged.

  Oh. Hell. We had visitors.

  The doors peeled apart.

  Liam, Hugo, and Marv stood there, guns pointed at us. My old Collector family coming to capture their enemy. Me.

  “Put your hands up.” Liam took the lead, stepping out of the lift and heading for us.

  “Kind of hard for me to do that,” Croygen appeared from the shadows and replied derisively, tucking Lexie firmer against him.

  “Put the girl down.” Liam motioned with his gun to the ground.

  Croygen hesitated, but with three guns pointed right at us, fae guns no less, he bent over, setting her on the corner of the intersection of hallways, her back propped against the wall.

  “Take them to their new and much-improved holding cells,” Rapava ordered over the speakers. “But if they cause any trouble, including Zoey, kill them.”

  My entire body tensed rigidly. The moment he locked us up in these new digs, we were done. There would be no chance of escape.

  Ryker’s skin moved over his flexing muscles, his eyes narrowing on Liam.

  “Oh please, give me a reason to shoot you.” Liam directed his gun at Ryker. “I only need one.”

  Something showed in Liam’s crimped expression I had never seen before. Fear. Ryker was stronger, bigger, faster, and a better fighter than Liam could ever wish to be. Liam had always been insecure around Daniel, but with Ryker he was petrified.

  Marv and Hugo kept their weapons aimed at us, scouring us with hostile frowns. At one time their disgusted, hateful looks would have upset me. Not anymore.

  “Now, let’s be good little fae and head back to the room.” Liam pressed his barrel into the Wanderer. A deep threat ebbed out of Ryker’s throat. Liam clicked back the hammer, his chin shoving up high, trying to look tough. “Last warning, asshole. Now move!”

  With one quick stride, Marv grabbed my bicep and twisted me toward another hallway. I glanced over my shoulder to see Sprig crawl under the lens of the camera. His tiny, deft fingers clutched at the wires and pulled. A spark zapped the air. The camera’s light blinked out. With another shove the camera toppled to the tile with a crack.

  Everyone swung around. It was our only opportunity. Big Brother was no longer watching.

  My boys did not need any prompting. Croygen and Ryker struck out at their captors.

  My elbow went back into Marv’s ribs before my ankle curled around his and yanked. As he stumbled, I swung around, my fist meeting his ear when he twisted away. His hand dove into my gut. Biting back the pain, I gripped his wrist and rotated my body till he stood behind me, his arm bent the wrong way. I flipped him over on his back and kicked the gun out of his hand. It hit the floor and glided far down the hallway, skating over the tile, out of his reach, but out of mine too.

  Shit.

  “Zoey!” Croygen yelled. I spun, instantly following his voice. Even though the three Collectors lay on the ground, they were already scrambling back to their feet, reaching for their guns. Ryker, Croygen, and I just made it back to the hallway where we had left Lexie, diving behind the wall, when the gunshots rang out.

  The elevator was so close, but it was like walking a bridge with no cover. We might as well have been wearing shirts with huge neon targets on the backs. And they had guns. Ryker only managed to get the dart gun from Liam.

  “You are a fool. You just sealed your fate, bitch,” Liam snarled from around the corner.

  I ignored his taunts, my attention on Ryker. He stared across the gulf to where the hallway continued its path.

  “My axe…it’s down there.” He took a step, his bare feet set firmly, like nothing in the world could stop him.

  “Ryker.” I grabbed for him just as a bullet zigged past him, nicking a hole in his scrubs. I shrieked, yanking him back. “What are you doing?”

  “Getting it.” He jerked away.

  I tried to grab him again, but he shoved me to the side.

  “The axe is down here. I can feel it calling me.” He clenched his jaw, moving again. “I’m not leaving it here.”

  “Don’t be an idiot.” Croygen stepped around me and rammed him back against the wall. “You want to risk your life? Fine. But you know Zoey won’t leave here without you. Believe me, I’ve tried to get her to. No matter how much of an asshole you are, don’t risk her life, too. Not for an axe.” He rammed Ryker again.

  The clips of soles heading in our direction echoed down the hall. “We have to go now.” Croygen reached down for Lexie. For one second I saw her lids lift, a tiny smile ghosting on her features, before they fluttered closed.

  “You don’t understand. You don’t have a connection to your sword.”

  Croygen glared at him. “I understand being connected to things more than you know.”

  The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Sprig twittered excitedly for us, wiggling the key card in his hand. We only had a little ways to go before we would reach the lift. Our only way out.

  “Get that little freak,” Liam called to Marv and Hugo.

  A tranquilizer dart shot down the hall and burrowed into Sprig’s chest. He made a squeak and looked down at the object digging into his skin. “Whoa…that feels like I just stepped into a tub of warm honey. My butt tingles. So do my nuts...” He tipped over, crumpling onto the ground, the card falling out of his hands.

  “No!” I lurched forward, but hands grabbed me, holding me in place. I turned to see Ryker, his eyes closed as if he struggled being this close to me. He quickly let go at the sound of boots shuffling toward us.

  “You guys run for the elevator. I’ll cover you.” He gripped the dart gun. As they came around the corner for us, Ryker stepped out, elbowing Hugo in the face with a crack. Hugo’s body flew back into Marv, knocking them both down. Marv untangled himself and came barreling for Ryker.

  My shoe hit his face with a resounding crunch, and he fell back onto the ground.

  “Go!” Ryker ordered as his finger pulled back the trigger. It shot toward its intended. Liam roared with fury, tugging the dart quickly out of his arm. It gave us just enough time to run.

  With Lexie in his arms, Croygen took off for the elevator. I bolted for Sprig, scooping him up in my hands, tugging out the dart. His mouth opened, soft snores sluggishly coming from him.

  “Hurry!” Croygen pounded a finger into the door’s close button.

  I looked up to see Ryker standing in the middle of the hallway, stari
ng down the path.

  “Ryker, come on!” I screamed.

  Torment flashed across his face as he looked at me then the men blocking his way. The agony of leaving his axe tore at him. It was as much part of him as his arm, but I’d rather have him armless than dead.

  Bullets zipped past him as Hugo got back on his feet. It would only take one.

  “Ryker!” My soul slashed up out of my throat.

  He hesitated one more moment, blurted an anguished cry, and then turned, running for me. He slipped next to Croygen in the elevator.

  The doors shifted closed.

  I grabbed the key card, shoved it in my hip pocket, and bounded for them.

  I took one second too long.

  A form slammed into my back. In my forward lurch, Sprig flew from my grasp, his body rolling into the corner of the lift. I fell face-first halfway into the elevator, cracking my chin on the floor. Ryker quickly seized under my arms and slid me forward as Liam grabbed my boot, wrapping his hands around my leg. He yanked on my heel, pulling my leg out of the shutting doors.

  I normally would have kicked it off, leaving him with my shoe, like Cinderella, slipping away into the night with my faithful mice and hound. But I couldn’t. This boot was no ordinary glass slipper. It held the power of the world and destruction and death in it. I wouldn’t let it slide off my foot and let the Stone of Destiny fall into Rapava’s hands.

  I grunted, flipping over, and kicked at Liam’s fingers. Ryker kept tugging me, pulling me backward. The motion parting me with my shoe.

  “Let go.” I wiggled out of Ryker’s grasp. The doors banged against my knees, trying to seal. I shuffled forward and pushed my foot deeper into the boot. Liam’s lids were half-mast, the drug kicking in, but he held on with all he had left. I crossed my other leg over and slammed the heel of my boot into his face. Blood burst from his nose, and he loosened his grip on me. I yanked my foot back, scrambling back into the wall. The doors slid shut.