An hour later, as they lay together, sweaty and sated, Harrison’s cell phone rang. He grabbed it.
“I have the stones,” Findris said. “King Rith is now following the scent of the others. We’ve not much time.”
“How far are you from the gate?”
“A couple of blocks.”
“Good. Stay there until I call you. We’ll pick you up.” He didn’t want the others thinking Findris was one of the bad guys. He hung up and speed-dialed Charlie. As he waited for his brother to pick up, his gaze caressed the beautiful woman now lying on the bed beside him, her skin glowing in the moonlight like marble, a shadow of a smile curving her full mouth.
“Yo.”
“Findris has the three stones King Rith stole. Get the other four and meet us in Dupont Circle. ASAP.”
“Roger that. We’ll meet you in twenty. Oh, and Harrison, grab the two Hokie ball caps out of my closet and give them to Ilaria and her friend to wear. I’ve issued orders that Esri wearing Virginia Tech hats are allies, not enemies.”
Harrison snorted. “Good thinking, little bro. Bizarre. But good.”
Charlie echoed the snort. “What about this situation isn’t bizarre?”
“Good point. VT hats it is.”
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Ilaria stepped out of the warm taxi and into the cold wind, Harrison’s hand tight around hers. Findris climbed out behind her wearing the maroon ball cap with the orange VT.
Snow whipped and swirled about her like a white cloak, stinging her cheeks and tangling in her eyelashes. Ahead, in what appeared to be a small grassy park rimmed by a road, chaos reigned. No, not chaos, but a frantic frenzy of effort by dozens of humans. Some set up spotlights, others directed and drove a line of large trucks, parking them end to end in a perfect circle around the huge marble chalice rising from the center of the park.
Tension twisted into a hard coil beneath her sternum, dragonflies darting about inside her stomach. But it was the sight of the humans in police uniforms, humans holding flamethrowers, that sent a stark chill through her.
Harrison’s hand squeezed hers. “The cops will guard the perimeter outside the wall of trucks and try to keep the Esri from coming through.”
“They wear holly?” If not they would be all too easily enchanted.
“Absolutely. It’s always a risk letting the Esri near enchantable humans, but we need the manpower and there aren’t enough of us who can’t be enchanted. The Sitheen and Kade will be inside the wall of trucks, protecting you two.”
The wind flipped up Findris’s ball cap and he slammed it back down on his head before it flew off. Her own hat—the same dark red with the word HOKIES across the front—was protected by the hood of the poncho Harrison had convinced her to don again. Beside her, Harrison wore gloves and a parka he’d found in one of Charlie’s closets, the fur-trimmed hood nearly obscuring his face. He slid his arm around her shoulders, holding her close as he steered her toward the thick gathering of humans.
Rith would come. Too soon, he’d come. And she felt that threat like ghostly fingers playing along her spine, lifting the hair at the nape of her neck.
“Where’s the gate?” Ilaria asked.
“I’ll show you.” Harrison led them through a narrow gap between two trucks and into the open area at the center of the park—a wide cement circle rimmed by a low ring of hedges and wooden park benches from the center of which rose the magnificent marble fountain. Hastily erected spotlights lit the area as bright as day, illuminating the life-size statues carved into the pedestal.
Harrison pointed to the marble chalice. “The gate lies there—smack-dab in the middle of the Dupont Circle fountain.”
A gate that she’d likely soon be going through, leaving Harrison behind to fight her enemies. And all too probably to die. The thought tore a hole in her heart and she pushed it aside. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things. Taking a shaky breath, she fought back the emotions that threatened to derail her. There would be time later, an eternity, to think about him. To miss him. To mourn him. Right now, she had to concentrate on her mission or all their lives were forfeit.
Her muscles quivered with the need to move, to run. To fly through the gate, stones in hand, before Rith caught her. Before all was lost.
Harrison’s phone rang. “We’re just driving up,” Charlie said through the receiver. “We have the four.”
“Then we’re good to go,” Harrison replied. He disconnected the call, doubt shadowing his face.
Ilaria knew he wondered if he did the right thing handing the seven stones over to an Esri he barely knew. His gaze swung to her, his eyes confirming what she already knew. He did it for her. He’d laid his trust firmly in her hands and she would do everything in her power to ensure that trust wasn’t misplaced.
But so many things could go wrong.
Findris turned to her. “King Rith and most of his guards rode to the Banished Lands, Princess. Two slaves were left behind to care for the horses. Fifteen of them. We mustn’t leave any of the steeds behind or they’ll catch us too quickly.”
“That’s good.” Excellent, in fact. She’d been desperately worried about outrunning her pursuers if the Sitheen failed to keep them from coming through the gate, but it wouldn’t be a problem as long as they escaped with the horses in time.
A rush of power tripped over her skin, the draggon stone calling to her. A moment later, Charlie appeared in the gap between the trucks, followed closely by the other Sitheen. All were dressed in armor…riot gear they called it…and Charlie was carrying an extra set. He tossed it to Harrison, eyeing Findris with wariness.
But Kaderil, who accompanied Charlie, greeted Findris with unexpected warmth. “I’ve always believed you to be a man of courage and honor, Findris. I’m glad to see I wasn’t wrong.”
Findris dipped his head in thanks. “I long ago positioned myself to be of the utmost help to Princess Ilaria when the time came.” His gaze skimmed the others. “My undying gratitude to you for freeing her when we couldn’t find a way to reach her ourselves.”
Jack glanced at Kaderil then back at her. Tension lined his face as he slowly handed Findris a small bag. “Here are the rest of the stones. I think you’d better get started.”
Findris opened the pouch and poured the contents into his hand—the remaining three green stones of Orisis and the blue teardrop-shaped draggon stone on the silver chain.
The latter called to her. It was all she could do not to snatch it from Findris’s hand and place it around her neck. But he was the one who needed it now to open the gate.
Harrison, now dressed as the others, put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder as if he sensed the battle raging inside her. And maybe he did.
Findris lifted the draggon stone over his head, then moved away, laying the six pale green stones of Orisis on the cement, equally spaced around the base of the fountain. As he placed the last of the stones, Findris began to chant. In moments, if this worked, the gate would open. She’d be leaving. If things went poorly, she might never return.
She turned to Harrison at the same moment he turned to her. His hands caressed her shoulders, his eyes filling with the grief that tore at her heart.
“I’m going to miss you.” His words low and husky, he bent toward her even as she lifted her face for his kiss, hungry to taste him one last time. In the blowing snow he gave her a kiss of such tenderness, such sweetness, that she felt tears burn behind her eyes and it was all she could do to hold them back.
“Be careful, Harrison.” I love you. The words sang only in her head for they served no purpose but to strengthen a bond that should never have been created in the first place. Her heart might recognize him as her mate, but they were from two worlds, two different races. One immortal, one all too mortal. They’d never had a future and they both knew it.
Findris’s chanting carried low and steady over the odd stillness of the inner park. The promise of magic fluttered over her skin. Harris
on pulled her into his arms and she clung to him, feeling his warmth wrap around her.
A minute passed, then another as she waited for the blast of power that told her the gates had opened.
Another minute passed.
Ilaria straightened, pulling out of Harrison’s embrace to turn to Findris. Her old friend looked up at her, his mouth a thin line, misery in his eyes.
“It’s not working. I don’t have the power.”
Ilaria started toward him. “Perhaps if I—”
“Esri!” The shout sounded from outside the ring of trucks.
Her heart leaped into her throat, her pulse pounding. Not yet, not yet, not yet. She grabbed her skirts and ran toward Findris.
A crack of thunder exploded, the ground shaking violently beneath her as power rushed over her flesh, a foul energy that stung and stank of dark decay.
On the ground, lights began to glow like tiny suns. No, not lights…the stones of Orisis. As one, they shot into the air and began to chase one another in a circle high above the fountain. Faster and faster they flew until they appeared to be little more than a single ring of light.
The grim look on Findris’s face told her this wasn’t his doing. “King Rith has commandeered the power.”
Maybe not all of it. Her hand shot out as she reached him. “Give me the draggon stone.”
Findris yanked the stone from around his neck and placed it over hers. The moment the weight of the stone settled against her chest, the royal energy rushed through her, sinking deep into her blood. Then just as suddenly, the power turned on her, seizing her mind in a painful grip.
A grip she knew to be Rith’s.
“Ilaria!” Harrison’s voice came at her from an unnatural distance.
A roaring filled her ears, then rushed away, sweeping her feet out from under her and pulling her into its dangerous current. She struggled to hold on, to fight the pull, but the power aligned against her was too strong. Rith’s power. In a blazing rush of pain, she tumbled into darkness.
Chapter 14
Harrison fell to his knees in the snow beside Ilaria. Frantically, he searched for her pulse and found it strong and steady. His own heart started to beat again.
“Ilaria?” He patted her face, looking up at Findris. “What happened?”
The Esri looked as confused as Harrison felt. “I don’t know. The draggon stone should never turn against its queen. This has to be Rith’s doing.”
The hair on Harrison’s nape rose, the taste in his mouth turning odd. “What…?”
An invisible hand lifted him off his feet and flung him backward to crash onto the hard, snowy ground. The wind slammed out of his lungs on a whoosh and for a startled moment he couldn’t breathe. When he could, he pushed to his feet to find the others rising as well, even Findris, as if they’d all been thrown, tossed in different directions. No, in the same direction—away from the fountain.
All but Ilaria, who remained exactly as he’d left her, prone and unconscious.
Startled gasps and groans sounded across the park.
“What the hell was that?” Charlie demanded.
Harrison pushed to his feet and lunged toward Ilaria, crashing, suddenly and painfully, into nothing. A wall. A solid, invisible wall. His eyes stung as if his nose were broken. Hell, maybe it was.
He had to reach her!
Like a blind man feeling his way, he palmed the invisible surface, seeking a hole or a door or an end. He had to get through.
“Ilaria!” She didn’t stir.
Charlie joined him, reaching out a hand, slamming against the same barrier. “What is this thing? It’s like a force field.”
Around them, the others tried to find a way through, reaching high and low, circling the fountain.
Harrison turned to Findris. “How is Rith doing this?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.” His gaze flicked behind Harrison and he went stock-still, his face paling, if a man with skin as white as snow could turn pale. “King Rith.”
“Hell,” Jack muttered.
Harrison whirled, his stomach sinking, hatred choking him as he looked upon the evil king for the first time, watching as Rith stepped between two of the trucks, leading a small procession of armed Esri guards.
Oddly, Rith’s appearance was the least impressive of the lot. Like most Esri, he stood close to six feet tall, his skin the pasty white of toothpaste, his face ethereal, almost effeminate, framed by long, straw-blond curls dotted with emerald beads. Around his slender shoulders, he wore a cloak of gold.
Five guards in silver tunics marched behind him in perfect formation, their eyes trained straight ahead. As if they had nothing to fear from the lowly humans watching their betters pass.
Harrison lifted his flamethrower and fired. A few yards away, Charlie did the same. But instead of flying forward, attacking the enemy, the fire spread as if hitting a wall. Two walls—one on Harrison’s side, one on Charlie’s, forming an impenetrable path down the center. A path straight to the fountain.
And Ilaria.
Raw panic had him clawing at the barrier as he fought to protect the woman he loved. Would King Rith harm her? Or would he simply take her with him and deposit her back into that forest, where she’d never be free again? His teeth ground together as he beat at the wall, his heart nearly stopping altogether as Rith reached her.
But the Esri king barely gave her a passing glance.
All around him, Sitheen fought to break through that barrier, to reach Rith and his army. As one, Charlie and Jack ran to break through from behind, but the barrier enclosed the army on all sides, moving as they marched.
“There’s no way in!” Jack shouted, confirming all of their fears.
“The draggon stone?” Luciar, marching behind his king, queried.
“Is precisely where I want it,” the king replied, confirming that whatever he’d done to Ilaria, he’d done through the draggon stone. His voice dripped with ice, sending a chill down Harrison’s spine. He’d faced Esri evil before—Baleris, those who’d raped the young women, those who’d murdered humans by the dozens. But all that paled in comparison to the darkness crawling over his skin, now.
At the base of the fountain, Rith stopped, his guards fanning out behind him as he lifted his hands into the air and began to chant.
Another burst of energy skated over Harrison’s skin, this one without the physical force of the last.
As Rith’s chant ended, the stones flew into his waiting palms.
“He’s opened the gate.” Findris’s words rang like a death knell.
All was silent as those who would stop him were forced to watch King Rith step into the fountain and disappear. One by one, his guards followed until all were gone.
“Dammit!” Charlie’s shout echoed over the park, shattering the sudden silence.
As one, Harrison and Findris called to the princess.
“Ilaria!”
“Princess, we have to go after them. We have to stop King Rith. Princess, wake up!”
Harrison took a running start and slammed against the wall, shoulder-first. Pain speared through his arm, neck and back. “There has to be a way to break through this thing.”
Findris stepped beside him, pressing his hand against what appeared to be nothing. “The energy is tied to the draggon stone. And to the princess. If we can separate the two, if Ilaria takes off the necklace, I think she’ll break the connection. The wall will come down.”
“Which is why he knocked her out and raised the wall between us. By the time she comes to on her own—if she comes to—the gate will have closed and he’ll be long gone. She won’t be able to stop him.” Harrison slammed his fists against the wall. “Ilaria!”
Findris turned to him. “You must reach her another way. You’re connected to her.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you love her.”
Harrison scowled. “That’s none of your damn business.”
“Ca
ll to her, human. Not with your voice, but with your mind.”
“I’m mortal, Esri. No telepathic abilities, remember?”
Findris’s expression hardened. “Do it anyway. If she’s not too deep, she’ll hear you.”
Do it anyway. “Right.” Hell. He didn’t have anything to lose by trying. Ilaria? He spoke her name in his head. Ilaria! “It’s not working.”
“You give up too easily. Keep trying!”
Harrison glared at the man, but did as he commanded. Ilaria! Ilaria, wake up. Rith has the six stones of Orisis. You must wake up!
Harrison?
His heart nearly stopped beating, then resumed at twice its previous pace. Ilaria, wake up, angel. Rith has already gone through the gate. You have to stop him.
But the thought of her going after that bastard with only Findris at her side cut like a blade. With sudden clarity he knew he couldn’t let her go without him. We have to stop him, Ilaria. I’m going with you.
No. Too dangerous.
Then wake up and stop me, Princess.
“Any luck?” Charlie’s voice broke his concentration.
He turned to find the others had joined him. “She’s hearing me, she’s answered a couple of times, but she’s not responding physically.” Turning to Findris, he asked, “What do I do?”
“Keep trying.” But the Esri’s shoulders sagged.
“What?” Harrison demanded.
“Once the king and his guard are mounted, we’ll never catch them. Even if she wakes now, we’ve lost.”
Harrison’s mind leaped. “What if we take horses, too?” He looked to Jack. “The D.C. cops have a stable.”
Charlie held out his hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean we?”
Harrison’s jaw hardened. “If I can get Ilaria conscious before the gate closes, I’m going with them.”
His brother stared at him, his eyes narrowing. Harrison knew Charlie was going to tell him he was out of his mind.
“I’m going, too,” he said instead.
Tarrys stepped forward. “As am I.”
Charlie pulled her against him. “It’s too dangerous with you still enslaved.”
“With the draggon stone, Ilaria can break her enslavement,” Findris told them.
Warrior Rising (Harlequin Nocturne) Page 17