by Dianna Love
“The Fae woman.”
Quinn didn’t sound too happy about a Fae powerhouse training Lanna, but to argue that point after what Caron and Mother Mattie had done for Lanna would be digging a deeper hole than the one he already had going.
Nodding, Lanna said, “Yes. Caron and Mother Mattie have worked very hard. You should wait to see the results before assuming you know what is best for me. Caron does not know if I am mage or sorceress or ... something else. Caron says I am like witch with much power since they are all from same family of beings.”
Quinn’s gaze went to Evalle, who gave him a be-patient look and angled her head toward Lanna, subtlety suggesting that Quinn should listen to the girl.
Lanna continued. “Caron says I am very powerful. I knew this, but I did not realize how dangerous it was for me to use these powers without more knowledge. I am taking time to develop all that she has shown me about myself and I need people I can trust when I draw on this power. I am going to join with Mother Mattie and Adrianna to find your daughter. You must do your part when I ask and not interfere with me.”
Well, damn. Evalle exchanged a look with Storm, whose expression said this was a far more mature Lanna than he’d last seen, too.
She’d put Quinn in his place, but she was fooling herself if she thought Quinn couldn’t see the shadows in her eyes that Evalle had observed.
Adrianna walked in, saving Quinn from having to figure out how to respond to Lanna’s set down. The Sterling witch called out, “Do we just have three witches for this?”
“Make that five,” Kardos said in a deep voice as the first of two male witches entered. “Evalle told us you were having a séance.”
Adrianna made a derogatory noise.
On the heels of Kardos, Kellman walked in. All similarity between the tall, fair-haired twins stopped at physical appearance. Both were attractive young men, but Kellman had a quiet reserve about him, unlike his boisterous sibling.
“Hello, Kardos and Kellman,” Lanna said.
As Lanna spoke, Kellman lifted his head and stared at her with an unabashed adoration that had Quinn frowning.
Evalle knew that overprotective look. She sent a message to Quinn telepathically. Stop giving Kellman the you’ll-die-if-you-touch-her stink eye.
Quinn glanced around at Evalle.
She crooked an eyebrow in challenge.
Quinn answered in the same silent communication, I was not giving anyone a stink eye.
Oh, yes you were. Kellman and Lanna like each other. We can all see it and Kellman would lay down his life for her, so she’s not at any risk staying here with the boys. If anything, I think it will help her come out of her quiet shell.
She waited for him to argue, but he couldn’t.
Quinn knew, just as Evalle did, that Kellman had proven himself to be the sane and upstanding one of the twins.
Worry scrawled across Kellman’s face when he took in Lanna. Quinn might want to lock her away somewhere safe, but that wouldn’t help as much as Lanna being around peers she trusted.
One more thing, Quinn, Evalle added just for him. I believe Lanna is ready to begin moving past what happened to her with Grendal and tonight will actually help her. I wouldn’t have gone along with this if I didn’t believe it. We’re all ready to watch out for her, but are you okay with the boys knowing about Phoedra? Lanna told me she’d like as much witch power as possible.
He just nodded, ending their private chat.
“Thanks for joining us, guys,” Evalle said out loud. “If you’ll all grab a seat, Lanna can tell us what she has in mind.”
“One thing first,” Adrianna said as they all found places on sofas and chairs. Storm sank onto the soft cushions beside Evalle.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Did you tell anyone about what happened when you and I left Mattie’s house?”
Storm came to attention. “What happened?”
Oh, boy. Evalle said, “Nope. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to share it so I didn’t.” She whispered out the side of her mouth. “I was going to tell you later.”
Storm squeezed her leg. All was good.
“Thanks for that,” Adrianna said with appreciation in her voice. “But I think Quinn and I may need to go back to see Veronika.”
Quinn jerked at that. “Why?”
Adrianna proceeded to describe what had happened while she was out with Evalle visiting Lanna. The Sterling witch still sounded shaken by that second incident when she’d fought to control Witchlock.
She had been talking to the room, but as she finished, Adrianna asked Quinn, “What do you think?”
“I think I’ll check with Trey and have him find out if any of the guards working VIPER’s high security area have reported something going on with Veronika. I heard yesterday that she’s singing crazy songs.” Quinn’s face had gone from serious to concerned in a blink.
“Good luck with that,” Evalle grumbled.
“Why would you say that?”
She told Quinn about asking Trey to check earlier to see if anything had happened with Veronika and how Sen dismissed any request from a Belador.
“That bloody liaison. I’ll give him an option to give me a report or give it to Daegan in person. This is too important to be screwing around.”
“Nice to finally have a hammer to hold over Sen,” Evalle said as she inched toward the edge of her seat, waiting on Quinn to contact Trey telepathically.
She studied his face, which normally showed little, but his hands curled into fists before he drew a deep breath and unfurled his fingers as he exhaled anger.
Before Quinn could say a word, Evalle and Adrianna both asked, “Did Veronika escape?”
“Yes.”
Mother Mattie lifted her phone and started typing. “We have to alert all the witches.”
“Wait a minute. Sen can find anyone who runs so he can find her, right?” Evalle asked.
Quinn’s Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow. “Evidently not this time.” He told Mattie, “As to alerting the witches, that will be wise, especially Rowan, but I believe we probably have some time. Veronika will most likely target Adrianna first, but Veronika knows Adrianna has the Beladors as allies so she will need time to organize a support team and to come up with a plan for gaining Witchlock without Adrianna destroying her.”
“Understood,” Mattie said.
Showing the kind of backbone that kept Witchlock from Veronika’s claws, Adrianna said, “I’ll go with Mother Mattie after we finish here so we can meet with Rowan in person and explain what we’re up against.”
“That’s what I told Rowan in my text,” Mother Mattie said, putting her phone away.
Shaking his head, Quinn stood and said, “I’m sorry, Lanna, but we’re not doing this tonight.”
Lanna started to speak, but Adrianna stood and told Quinn, “Veronika knows about Phoedra. She said as much when we saw her in VIPER. With that witch at large, I may be of no help to any of you after tonight. If Lanna doesn’t locate Phoedra, then you, the Beladors and that dragon will have to find Veronika, Quinn, because I believe she will find your daughter. If you don’t get to Phoedra first, you may not have a second chance if Veronika realizes what she can do with Phoedra’s potential power. Every second counts right now.”
Chapter 12
Quinn wanted to choke Sen.
How was it that Sen could find anyone, but not Veronika? Worse than that, Sen had sat on vital information when he should have been broadcasting that she was loose.
Based on what Trey related, Sen would say only that her escape was unusual circumstances. Quinn would have to find out more on that later.
Right now, he had to bring himself to allow Lanna to put herself at risk again. No matter what everyone said, this was not a normal search for a missing person.
Not when his daughter carried his genes plus that of a Medb priestess.
Everything about this search would be extremely dangerous.
“Cousin, p
lease sit so I can explain what we need to do,” Lanna called out.
Resigned to at least give Lanna a chance to try, Quinn ignored the headache that still nagged him since diving into that troll’s head last night, and took a seat.
Lanna sat across the room from him with Kellman and Kardos on each side of her.
Sitting a little too stiffly to look at ease, Lanna said, “Cousin, am I correct to think it is okay to talk freely about what we’re doing and who we are looking for?” At his nod, she said, “I will tell you that Mother Mattie knows, but I did not tell her intentionally. It came out during our ... healing sessions.”
Guilt hammered him over not keeping Lanna safe from Grendal. “I understand and trust Mother Mattie to hold a confidence.”
The elderly witch tilted her head at him.
He added, “I am in your debt for anything you need in the future and I’d offer the same to Caron, but I understand she does not wish to be thanked.”
“You’re correct. I’ll pass along your appreciation to Caron.” The elder witch sent a look to Lanna, giving her the floor again.
With her hands tucked in her lap, Lanna continued. “I have always been able to find those in our family. Is that not right, Cousin?”
“That is correct. You showed an uncanny ability to do that early on.”
She awarded him with the hint of a smile. “I find it easier to draw on that ability when I hold something connected to the missing person.” She no doubt caught the worry Quinn failed to hide from his face and rushed on to say, “I am not touching the bracelet, Cousin. But your daughter Phoedra is now my family, too.”
Leaning forward, he studied on where she was going with this line of thought. “That’s true.”
“I believe if I hold your hand while I call upon my powers, that I can find Phoedra, because she is connected to you.”
That sounded so logical, but majik was rarely logical.
He asked, “I accept that it is your decision to do this, but I want the truth. Is there a risk to you?” He glanced at Storm, but the Skinwalker appeared determined to stay out of this exchange, so Quinn was on his own.
“There is always a risk with majik, Cousin. I will be safe, especially with four witches to share their power with me.”
Quinn thought she might be overestimating what the two boys brought to the witch table, but he could live with an unsuccessful outcome as long as Mother Mattie and Adrianna kept Lanna safe.
He cursed himself for the hope racing through his heart when his job was to protect Lanna from harm. There was nothing he could do, though, about the fast beating of the savaged organ after weeks of hitting dead ends everywhere he’d gone.
Even Garwyli had come up empty, though the druid continued to try.
Quinn couldn’t deny his anticipation at even a tiny lead.
Lanna stood up, sounding in control of the event. “I will tell you where to sit on the rug when we are ready to start. When I do, please make yourself as comfortable as you can. I have not tried this for many years. I apologize now if it takes much time.”
Mother Mattie said, “This is not something to be rushed. Work at your own pace.” She rose and handed the heavy tote bag to Lanna.
“Thank you.” Lanna withdrew a large object wrapped in black felt. She placed it in the middle of the rug and opened the circle of soft cloth to reveal a polished black bowl almost two feet across, but shallow. The black cloth extended another six inches all the way around and had silver designs drawn on it. Next she pulled out three sturdy candles, one indigo, one purple, and one white. Once she had them arranged in the center of the bowl, she withdrew a velvet bag of crystals.
She placed the crystals in specific locations in the bowl before filling the dish with water from a small jug.
Did that tote hold anything else?
Nope. Lanna carefully folded the bag and placed it on her chair.
As Quinn watched Lanna, he realized he’d never seen her pay attention to detail the way she did now. Was there a reason the dark blue candle stood taller than the other two?
She began pointing out places on the rug for everyone. “Kellman there, then Mother Mattie, Kardos, Adrianna, Cousin, and I will be here.”
Like the others, Quinn slipped off his shoes and found his spot, where he sat cross-legged.
Adrianna took her spot, looking like a perfect blonde package of class and confidence. Quinn was thankful to have her as an ally to Beladors, as well as a friend.
He knew about Isak Nyght, a human black ops soldier, who had been getting deeply involved with her until the chump acted like an idiot, in Evalle’s words.
Lanna drew Quinn’s attention back to the moment when she asked Evalle to lower all the artificial lights, then explained, “This will not be a scrying exactly. My majik works in its own way. When we join hands, please open your power to me. I have learned how when we bring our power together, we form a stronger connection to the universe. I will open myself to what I can learn about Phoedra, but I will need all of you to remember whatever I say. I may recall what happens, but I may not.”
Taking her place next to Quinn, Lanna extended her hand, which he grasped, noting how small her fingers were against his huge hand. Lanna would rush into a burning building for those she cared about, but in spite of her inner strength, which humbled him, she was still a vulnerable young woman who had been through hell.
“Everyone please hold hands.” Lanna grasped Kellman’s hand, then squeezed Quinn’s and said, “Relax, Cousin. It will be fine.”
Lanna closed her eyes, silent for a moment, then she began speaking in an earnest tone. “We call to you, guardians of the innocent, to ask for your wisdom and your vision. We open our hearts to your counsel and our minds to your advice. We seek one of our blood who needs our prayers and our strength. We wish to wrap Phoedra, child of Quinn and Kizira, in our love and protection.”
The only sound Quinn heard next was soft breathing as Lanna sat perfectly still.
He forced himself not to fidget.
If she could put herself out to do this then he could do as she asked and open up to her power, but it was difficult to do so, knowing Veronika had escaped.
Lanna lifted her chin, eyes still shut, and moved her lips but no sound came out.
The flames of the candles began to grow, with the indigo one climbing the tallest, to eye level with him.
Opening her eyes, Lanna leaned forward slightly and stared down at the bowl.
Quinn couldn’t help leaning a little forward himself and gaped at the reflection of her eyes. He looked over to see if it was a trick of the lights on the water, but no.
Her blue eyes had turned bright as two diamonds with pinpoint pupils.
Looking up above the circle of bodies joined by hands, he saw a halo of white hovering over them.
When he checked Evalle and Storm, they both looked at the halo, then Evalle sent Quinn a reassuring smile.
Lanna moved her head as if studying something intently in the water. Then her face eased and she whispered, “Phoedra.”
Did that mean she saw something?
He didn’t dare say a word.
Adrianna had closed her eyes and her lips were moving with silent words, too. Was she sending Lanna power?
How the hell did this work?
Mother Mattie also sat with her eyes shut, but the boys were following Quinn’s actions by watching every move.
Actually, Kellman only had eyes for Lanna.
“Where are you going?” Lanna asked in a confidential tone. “Show me your world.”
Quinn held his breath.
Was Lanna actually seeing his daughter? He had no idea what Phoedra even looked like. His pulse climbed, but he maintained his calm. The last thing he wanted to do was distract her.
Lanna pulled back with an odd expression on her face then leaned forward again. “Who is that woman?”
What woman?
Damn, Quinn had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting out a qu
estion. Wouldn’t Lanna call out an alert if she saw Veronika? Could Veronika find his child this quickly when Quinn had been searching constantly for weeks?
Adrianna murmured, “Who is the woman?”
Without looking at Adrianna, Lanna said, “Pretty face. Brown or maybe reddish brown hair. Curls.”
“Macha?” Adrianna asked softly.
“Not Macha. Not a goddess.”
And neither did the description sound like Veronika. Quinn released a breath of relief for that much, but he still didn’t know who was with Phoedra.
Mother Mattie opened her eyes and focused on the murmured exchange between Adrianna and Lanna.
Should that worry him?
The elderly woman glanced at Quinn who gave her what he hoped conveyed a look of confusion.
She shook her head slightly, indicating he should not interfere, but she remained with her eyes open, watching closely.
“Where is Phoedra?” Adrianna asked in a quiet voice, sounding as if she were in a trance.
“Is near water. Maybe ocean.”
That didn’t narrow the location down much for Quinn, but it was a start.
Adrianna turned her head to the side, flinching as if in pain, then the moment was gone and her facial muscles relaxed. Still in a monotone, the Sterling witch asked, “What about ... the woman?”
Lanna frowned at the water. A ripple chased across the surface. “She has dark energy. Not human.”
Quinn’s heart dropped. Who was with his child?
“What ... town or street?” Adrianna breathed out.
Lanna studied whatever she saw in the bowl for a long couple of minutes and finally said, “Very warm. They are walking. Candles. Another woman.” She leaned forward sharply. “No ... no.”
“What?” Quinn uttered and Mother Mattie sent him a visual threat he interpreted as shut up or expect to be hurt.
“Watch out, Phoedra!”