Shadow's Edge

by Jami Gray

  “Quinn approached me with an offer.”

  That could be true since Quinn was an opportunistic bastard. “What kind of offer?”

  “He heard about some discreet inquiries we made about Kyn volunteers, and he informed me no Kyn would come forth willingly.” Eden seemed to calm a bit when Raine held the needle still and listened. “He said he could get me a couple of volunteers,” she continued. “Kyn who wouldn’t be missed.”

  “How?”

  Eden sucked in a shallow breath. “He indicated he had a source who could identify which of the Kyn hung on the fringes of society—where no one would raise an alarm about their sudden disappearance.”

  “Who was the source?”

  Eden licked her lips while her eyes flickered once. Raine applied pressure to the syringe, depressing it a fraction. “Okay, okay, stop!” Eden’s voice broke. “His girlfriend! She owns a bar, Zarana’s. Her name is Alexi Savriti!”

  Shock blasted Raine’s world off kilter. Everything inside her went still. Then like a black tidal wave, the pain and rage of betrayal swamped her. Alexi was the last name she suspected to emerge from Eden’s lips.

  Barely aware of her hands tightening on the syringe, she pushed the plunger a bit farther. Like a diver breaking the surface, she fought a silent, desperate battle for control. If she lost, the woman strapped to the table wouldn’t be answering any more questions, and the surrounding lab would be no more than a pile of rubble.

  Her first breath was shallow and shaky, but the second was stronger as Raine clamped down on her venomous emotions.

  Frantic sobs broke through her inner battle and snapped her attention back to Eden who was mesmerized by the needle in her arm. Raine moved her finger off the plunger. The level of the concoction in the syringe had dropped slightly. Raine shrugged.

  “Once Quinn was dead, did his girlfriend take over?”

  “Wh—what?” Eden sobbed.

  Raine coldly repeated her question.

  Eden’s sobs died down, broken by the occasional hiccup. “Yes, she helped him with bringing in the wizard.”

  Seething inside, Raine concentrated on getting her questions answered. “When Rimmick didn’t perform to your standards, you killed him.”

  Eden shook her head, her face pale. “I didn’t kill him, he was already dead. Alexi offered to get rid of the body for me.”

  “You killed him with your fucking experiments, Dr. Frankenstein,” Raine snarled. Eden whimpered. “At least Rimmick found release in death, unlike Mayson. Which leads to the question on how you got to him so quickly.”

  Eden’s eyes remained fearful but blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Raine put her finger back on the plunger, and Eden’s voice rose half an octave. “I swear I’ve never met Mayson. I just saw the reports my father had on him.”

  “I have one more question for you, doctor,” Raine sneered. “Who’s the freak who took out the other Kyn when you attacked Gavin and me? Where did he come from?”

  “Tarek,” disgust lightly undercoated Eden’s trembling voice. “He’s not sane, but he’s useful.”

  “Created another monster you couldn’t control, huh?” Raine shook her head. “See that’s the trouble with you, with your father, even with Talbot. What all the twisted, greedy scientists never considered.” She leaned closer and plunged the syringe half way down, her voice a sibilant hiss as Eden’s scream echoed through the room. “You made us, and now we’ll destroy you.”

  As the echoes of the shrill scream faded, a slight movement brought Raine spinning around.

  Xander stood in the doorway, her face an empty mask. “Anything left for Vidis to work with.”

  Raine straightened, shooting a disgusted look at Eden, now unconscious “Yeah, but it will be fun to see what her little poison does to her.” She dropped the half-empty syringe on the floor, crushing it underfoot, then headed back to the cooling unit. Pulling out three syringes containing the clear liquid, she found a small container for them and stuffed it in her pocket.

  “Grab her,” she said to Xander. “And let’s get out of here.”

  Xander let out a hiss as the restraints burned her fingers. Still, she released Eden without comment, bound her hands and feet, and heaved the limp form over her shoulder.

  Raine walked out and down the hall to Eden’s office. She called forth her magic and sent it out. Behind her, Xander paused. Flickering flames began to consume the contents of the room. Raine watched them dance over the desk and climb the walls. “Head for the elevator.”

  Without a word, Xander hauled Eden away. Raine followed behind, white flames dripping from her hands, leaving a burning path of destruction in her wake. When she came to the examination room, she gathered her magic, checked to make sure Xander was in the elevator, and sent a ball of energy spinning into the room. Darting to the elevator, she leapt over Ethan’s crumpled form. Safe inside the metal container, she watched the room ignite then flash into an inferno. The flames hurtled toward the elevator, just as the doors slid shut. As they exited the elevator on the top floor, the muted explosion shook the floor.

  Raine smiled.

  Maneuvering through the twisted wreckage of the lab, she stepped lightly around the blond’s wide-eyed corpse, with its surrounding puddle of blood, and held the doors open for Xander. Once outside the final door, she took a deep breath of the biting night air.

  Xander shifted Eden’s unconscious body more securely on her shoulder.

  “Take her back to the car,” Raine whispered. “I’ll do clean up. Let them know we’re on our way back.”

  Xander nodded and melted into the darkness. Raine waited a few moments until the shifter was clear, then heaved the bodies of the dead guards into the building. Satisfied all the evidence was inside, she sent a burst of magic into every computer, every camera she could find, frying the circuits and guaranteeing no information could be salvaged.

  Back at the double doors, she tapped the roiling rage to fuel her magic. A ball of flame blazed to life between her outstretched hands. The flames were white, ghostly, and silent. With a soft word, she sent it rushing into the building. Every available surface that could burn, would. The rest would melt beyond recognition.

  She whirled around and raced for the tree line, reaching the edge as the explosion rocked the air. Stripped of her civilized veneer and socially imposed restraints, the true Wraith was revealed. Her sense of satisfaction was cold, feral, and she knew the gleam that in her silver eyes would strike fear into the stoutest of hearts.

  The remains of the lab burned to ash as she strode into the night, merging with the shadows of the surrounding forest, and disappeared.

  Chapter Thirty

  It was just past one in the morning when Raine pulled her SUV to a stop in a natural clearing, miles from civilization. Other than Xander’s terse directions, the drive was made in silence. Eden remained an unconscious lump in the back seat even when the SUV bumped over the barely there paths threading through the forest.

  Dual urges battled inside Raine. Her aching heart needed to see Gavin, while a darker part wanted to drive back to Portland and confront Alexi. But she had to follow her chief’s orders. Mulcahy’s instructions were clear, the two Wraiths were to bring Eden before a tribunal of shifters, including Warrick Vidis, to answer for Chet’s death.

  Cheveyo and Ryder were on their way to the small home of Cassandra Miwa, the old witch healer who helped bring Raine back after her captivity. Cheveyo told Raine he would call and let her know what was happening. He cautioned her not to expect an update for a few hours, as Cassandra would need time to get through the drugs before she could reach Gavin.

  Raine sent a fervent prayer to the Lord and Lady for Gavin’s recovery.

  Cutting off the headlights, she got out of the car. Before Xander finished shutting the passenger door, Raine dragged Eden out of the back seat. Throwing the limp body over her shoulder like a sack of wheat, she followed Xander down a winding deer tra
il. Within a few minutes, they stepped into another clearing. This one surrounded by a ring of small, lichen-encrusted boulders hidden among the foliage. There was an unnaturally silent, blue fire glowing in the center of the circle. The azure flames cast shifting shadows over the four figures on the opposite side.

  Mulcahy’s rangy form was easily discernable, as was Vidis’s slight figure. There was also a great shaggy wolf sitting quietly next to what looked like a very lumpy boulder. The boulder rose and straightened. Raine braced as the figure unfolded to a height of about six-foot-eight. Gold eyes gleamed in the firelight.

  Mulcahy motioned for Xander and Raine to move farther inside the ring and, as they did so, he gave a soft command. Magic rushed over her skin as the circle closed with a snap. Realizing her boss had trapped them inside the judgment circle, she almost snarled in frustration. She wouldn’t be able to leave until the tribunal was complete, which meant going after Alexi would have to be put on hold.

  Sensing her impatience, Mulcahy shot her a sharp look. “Put the doctor down, McCord.”

  Raine shrugged her shoulder. Eden landed with a resounding thump on the hard ground. It brought a small wince from Xander and a soft groan from Eden.

  Mulcahy moved toward Eden. “Expedio.” His command was soft, but the binding holding Eden’s hands and feet dropped to the ground. “Conscius.”

  Raine’s reluctant admiration for her uncle rose as Eden’s eyes fluttered open. The scientist sat up and glanced around, shakily rubbing her head. It seemed to take a moment for her surroundings to register. Then her eyes widened, her breath hitched, and she scrambled backwards from the silent quartet facing her across the wicked blue flames.

  Panicked noises escaped her white lips, until her wildly spinning eyes caught on Mulcahy crouched by the fire. Apparently, the sight of someone she recognized reassured her. The mewling noises shut off as if she’d flicked a switch, and her scrambling movements ceased.

  Her gaze locked onto Mulcahy as if he was the only sane thing in the universe. “Mr. Mulcahy, thank God! You have to get me out of here.” She reached out her hands in supplication. “Your employee is insane.”

  Raine snorted. The foolish human actually thought Ryan Mulcahy was her savior. Either that, or she figured he was stupid enough to fall for her helpless female routine.

  Mulcahy’s smile was icy, his brown eyes dark, as he completely ignored her imploring hands. “We need you to answer a few questions for us, Dr. Lawson. I’m sure your cooperation will help in determining your sentence.”

  Eden’s mouth dropped open. She lowered her hands and pushed herself shakily to her feet.

  Mulcahy straightened and stepped back. Turning, he addressed the waiting judges. “Honored tribunal, breithimh, Dr. Eden Lawson is being brought before you to answer for the death of Chet Hilliard.” His voice was oddly formal. “She is our deontas bais, our payment, in the event of death, to you, to our fallen brother, and his family. Do as you will.” Finished he stepped back to the edge of the circle, leaving Eden to face the three Lycos standing in judgment.

  Eden’s eyes darted from place to place as if something kept winking in and out of sight. She began to sway a bit on her feet and sweat beaded across her forehead. Her hands clenched and unclenched. Whatever was in that syringe was definitely having an impact on her and Raine wasn’t the only who noticed her strange behavior.

  “Raine,” Vidis’s baritone rode smoothly on the night air. “Is the woman going to be able to answer our questions?”

  Raine kept her tone bland, empty, “I’m sure she’ll be able to—for a while.”

  “She doesn’t look sane enough to have planned Chet’s death,” the golden-eyed giant muttered. His voice gave the impression of tumbling rocks.

  The large wolf next to him stalked around the fire and advanced on Eden. The scientist let out a shrill scream of terror and stumbled backward. Xander sprang forward, with disconcerting speed, and prevented Eden’s retreat. The wolf sniffed a few times then a low growl passed its lips. As it turned away, a light mist enveloped its form. When the haze dissipated, the wolf was gone and in its place stood a tall, naked, dark haired woman.

  She stormed back to the giant’s side. “She doesn’t smell right.” Her voice was a growl. Her eyes were almost black as she shot a considering glance at Raine.

  Feeling her own hackles rise, Raine fought to leash her temper. Without a doubt, the woman was an alpha. Her carriage was too straight, too arrogant and noble, to be anything but a leader.

  Seeing a wolf shift into a nude female was apparently too much for Eden. She screwed her eyes tightly shut and muttered, “This isn’t real. None of this is real.”

  Everyone ignored her.

  Raine faced the three judges. “In the interest of getting some straight answers, I used a form of encouragement.”

  “Such as?” Vidis asked.

  “I let her try out some of her own medicine.” She caught the flash of satisfaction sparking in Vidis’s gaze.

  “Do you know what this medicine does?” the giant asked.

  Raine shook her head. “I don’t, but I can give a few guesses.” She noticed the alpha woman arch a brow. “I think the drug is designed to remove the inner barrier a Kyn holds between the mundane world and the magic world,” she continued. “It causes a Kyn to be bombarded with magics not their own. It can also amplify the Kyn’s natural magic to a very uncomfortable level.”

  “Have you had the substance analyzed already?” the woman asked.

  “No.” Raine’s shoulders tightened but her voice remain detached. “However from personal experience, I can say it is one very twisted ride.”

  The woman cocked her head, studying Raine. “And for humans? What does it do?”

  Raine shrugged. “I’m not sure, since humans have very little to no magic. I’m guessing it creates very vivid hallucinations.” She stared at the still cowering scientist. “We could ask her.”

  “Not right now.” The sharp predatory smile crossing the raven-haired woman’s face sent shivers down Raine's back. “We have other, more important questions to ask.”

  The giant motioned to Xander to hold Eden. Xander used her grip on Eden’s arm to yank her upright. “Pay attention.”

  Eden shuddered.

  Raine listened as the three Lycos judges interrogated Eden. They got the same story she gave Raine in the lab, only with a few more details. Quinn had funneled information on the Kyn to Eden by utilizing a subtle illusion spell, which allowed him to listen into private conversations at Taliesin. When he ran across bits and pieces about the existence of the Wraiths, he made a point to share with Eden the benefits of such information falling into General Cawley’s hands. Using the promise of the ultimate solider, she was able to gain more funding for her research from Cawley.

  Being assigned to Erica Cawley’s security detail was a perfect cover for Quinn to act as a go between for Cawley and Eden. However, Quinn mentioned he would have to be careful with his communications because Chet was his supervisor on the assignment.

  After Quinn’s death, Alexi was out for blood, convinced he was killed by a Wraith. When she found Chet sniffing around who Quinn was involved with, she convinced Eden the nosy shifter was becoming too much of a threat. Alexi began pushing Eden to take Chet out, but initially Eden refused. She believed, rightly so, that taking out a Kyn like Chet was too dangerous.

  The final push came from Talbot’s gathering that Raine and Gavin attended. Cawley managed to corner Eden and demand visible results from her research. Not wanting the general to clue in on the fact she was far from developing the perfect solider, Eden went back to Alexi for help. Alexi gleefully provided three names, Raine McCord, Gavin Durand, and Chet Hilliard.

  Together, Alexi and Eden planned the simultaneous attacks, knowing they would have one chance to hit the top level of Taliesin. Once the three were removed, the Kyn community would close ranks and infiltration would be harder than ever. Eden felt even if two of the three hits were uns
uccessful, the results she gained from just one would be enough to set her research over the edge.

  Raine’s stomach roiled and her fists clenched as the story spewed from Eden’s mouth. The doctor’s voice remained clinical as she described the attack plan. Alexi brought in Tarek to spell a talisman to shield the five men sent to ambush Gavin. Eden brought along a palm size injector to knock Gavin out long enough to be overpowered.

  When Alexi found out Tarek could Shadow Walk, she kept him on standby. A good thing, since the spelled trap Alexi set at Chet’s home failed to work as intended. With Eden’s agreement, Alexi ordered Tarek to kill Chet before he could wipe out his attackers.

  Raine took a twisted kind of pleasure in hearing how Alexi threw a tantrum after Raine wiped out the attack team. Alexi’s consistent underestimation of Raine’s capabilities would come in handy.

  Once Eden ran dry, silence descended into the glen. Even after laying bare all of the twisted plans, her inability to see the three Kyn as anything more than minor lab experiments was glaringly obvious. She stood there in front of Xander, trying to pull her tattered pride together, unaware her actions had signed her death warrant.

  Eden ran her hand through her tangled hair, but stopped when Vidis’s voice made her jump. “We are the judges of Motoki Pack, and our punishment is final. This mortal must pay with the same coin she cost Chet Hilliard.”

  Eden raised a trembling chin. “You are not the police and—”

  “Actually,” Raine interrupted, happy to burst psycho-bitch’s bubble, “they are your judge, jury, and executioner.”

  Eden swiveled, her panicked gaze landing on Raine. “You can’t eradicate my research, even with my death.”

  Raine bared her teeth. “Already done. Your little chamber of horrors is nothing but a pile of rubble.” Anticipating Eden’s next thought, Raine shook her head. “Do you know what magic does to electronics, Dr. Lawson? There isn’t one recoverable byte.”

  The scientist began to shake in earnest. “You can’t just kill me. They’ll be questions. People will know, and they’ll come after you.” She turned to the tribunal, pleading, “You can’t do this! I didn’t kill anyone! It was all Alexi!”