“I’d like to, but it’s locked on my arm. That’s why I need your help.”
He grumbled and floated a little farther away.
“Get over here and stop floating around.”
“Don’t be yellin’ at me,” he snapped, but he did move close again.
She grabbed her head. “Sorry. I can’t help it. This stupid bone takes whatever I’m feeling and amplifies that emotion or desire.”
“Then you better stay away from that Injun. I seen the way you been lookin’ at him.”
She locked her jaw to keep from telling Grady, again, not to call Storm an Injun or remind him that her relationships were none of his nosy business. When she could talk without shouting, she asked, “Do you know anything about the Achilles Beast Championship?”
His eyes went to the bracelet around her arm. “Nah.”
This was a waste of time. “Guess you can’t help with the infection either.”
“That I can help with.”
“Really? How?”
The old coot just stared at her. Evalle waved the bottle in front of him.
He scowled. “Saw a Nightstalker fadin’ in and out. She was jerkin’ back and forth.”
A sick ghoul. “Where is she? Did you see anything else that was suspicious? Storm says the host that’s infecting the Nightstalkers is something called a Langau.”
“If a lawn-gal is a demon livin’ in a dead body, then I know where she is.”
Tzader was going to love this. He’d texted Evalle with a message that Storm had contacted him and Tzader had assigned Beladors to support Storm. All info had to be reported to Storm.
“ ’Bout two blocks over that way.” Grady pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the south. “Brunette walkin’ around all sexy lookin’ in a red dress and heels. You ain’t gonna miss her. She’s moseyin’ around, callin’ out for Nightstalkers.”
That was close by. How soon could Tzader get someone down here?
Grady wasn’t done. “Saw someone else sneakin’ around the same area.”
“Who?”
“Your Rambo buddy.”
Isak Nyght. She and Isak had an odd relationship. After she’d missed several commitments with Isak, his black ops team had kidnapped her to bring her to a cozy dinner with their boss. He’d kissed her a couple times, too. Once in view of Storm.
That hadn’t gone well at all.
Isak was the rare human who knew nonhumans existed, and he built weapons that killed nonhumans. He would blast the Langau into a million pieces with his demon blaster, and VIPER needed that antidote.
Evalle walked over to the wall along the right-of-way for the interstate and stuffed the bottle into a cubbyhole, telling Grady, “It should be safe until you can get to it.”
He grunted, clearly unhappy, but when he looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. “I don’t know what that Achilles Beast Championship is. You takin’ that Injun with you?”
No, but Grady was not a lie detector. “That’s the plan.”
“Good. He ain’t much, but he’s better than nothin’, I guess.”
She smiled. “Thanks for the intel. If I can’t come see you myself, I’ll ask Tzader to get word to you as soon as the infection threat is gone.” If she couldn’t get to Grady, it would be because she was dead—or in VIPER prison. Either was a distinct possibility, given the corner she was in. “In the meantime, don’t shake with anybody, okay?”
“I’ll be careful.”
On her way to hunt down the mystery woman in red, Evalle lifted her phone, then paused.
Text Tzader or not? The last time she’d seen Isak, he’d actually helped when VIPER had to battle Svart trolls, but Isak still hunted nonhumans, and there was no way for him to know the difference between VIPER agents and a nonhuman threat.
Isak might not understand VIPER trying to save a Langau. But he wouldn’t hurt Evalle.
She’d check it out first, then contact Tzader. Covering the two blocks quickly, she slipped through alleys, keeping her senses open for anything not human. When she came upon a flickering image of a Nightstalker hovering in the back of a closed-in alley, she saw what Grady had been talking about. Parts of a female ghoul—one shoulder, a leg and half of her head—floated into view and faded. She’d had frizzy brown hair and freckles at one time.
The ghoul moaned over and over.
Poor thing.
A noise at the entrance to the alley pinged Evalle into defense mode. She swung around and backed up to a brick wall, hoping whatever gushy stuff she’d just stepped in would come off her boots, because the smell would force her to burn them.
“Want a deal, Nightstalker?” a female voice called softly, heading into the alley.
Evalle eased forward to peek. The owner of that voice was an attractive young woman, a brunette who wore a red dress. The Langau Grady had seen? Probably. The infected Nightstalker started moaning louder and floating toward the Langau, which meant the ghoul was getting close to Evalle. Could the sick ghoul infect her?
Screw it. Time to text Tzader and call in reinforcements, because Isak wasn’t . . .
Boom!
Light exploded all around the Langau as it jerked from being hit. Eyes sank into her head and her fingers sprouted three-inch claws that curled. Her body sucked into itself and vaporized.
The female Nightstalker floated back and up, disappearing into a broken window.
Evalle leaned back against the wall, anger bolting up her backbone. That had to be Isak. She wanted to rip his head off. Literally. Grab that thick skull and use it for a basketball.
True friends are hard to find and should be appreciated, a woman’s voice whispered through Evalle’s mind. Not telepathy. This voice had been popping in at all hours, day or night and at the most inconvenient times. Evalle would like to know who the voice belonged to and why she shared her sometimes unwelcome nuggets of wisdom.
Just build a fence around my life and call it a supernatural wildlife preserve. Evalle heard Isak’s last two steps before his weapon came into view. “It’s me. Evalle.”
He stepped in front of her and lowered his mega demon blaster, letting it swing from a nylon cord attached to his vest. Black cargo pants and long-sleeved black shirt beneath a loaded Molle vest. “Hey, sugar. Why were you hiding in here? You might have gotten hit by flying demon parts.” His blue eyes danced with mirth. He was big all over. Reminded her of a Mack truck dressed up to be a sexy man.
Evalle pushed off the wall. She flexed her hands, working to hold on to her control. “I wasn’t hiding. Did you have to do that? I needed those demon parts.”
“Why? Saw that thing shake hands with a ghoul, then the ghoul freaked out.”
“That thing in the red dress was a Langau. We don’t know how many are in the city, but they’re spreading an infection.”
“Then you should thank me, not complain.”
“I would, but VIPER needed that one. We have sick agents and need to capture at least one for the healers so they can create an antidote.”
“Oops. My bad.” He didn’t sound the least bit repentant, because he’d only recently decided to allow some nonhumans to live. There was a time when Isak hadn’t known VIPER existed and thought all nonhumans were a threat to humans.
He had pointed a weapon at her once with intent, but they’d gotten past that. She just wasn’t sure where they stood now because of that last kiss he’d given her.
Which reminded her . . . “Meant to get your demon blaster back to you.”
“No rush.” He smiled during the pause. “Bring it when you come to dinner.” He stepped up close and ran his knuckle over her cheek. His sandalwood cologne blended nicely with his natural male scent, especially when he was warmed up. Heat rushed into her cheeks and down her neck, into her body. Energy sizzled between them even though he was all human.
All male. But he wasn’t Storm, who would go all alpha right now if he saw how close Isak was to her. In fact, Storm had agreed not to harm Isak as lon
g as Isak kept his hands off her, which he wasn’t doing.
She opened her mouth to ask him to stop and Isak’s finger touched her lips, stalling the words. Evalle, queen of avoidance. She wasn’t sure what to say, but she could not let him think they were going anywhere with this strange chemistry between them.
He leaned down to kiss her.
She jumped back, bumping into the wall.
He propped his hands on his weapon in a casual pose. “Something you want to tell me?”
Yes, but you aren’t going to like it. “I’m involved . . . with someone.”
Isak said nothing for a moment. “How involved?”
She lived on edge every minute right now, waiting to meet Storm in the bedroom. Too much information. “Very.”
“What about our dinner?”
She’d given her word to his mom for dinner, which had morphed into a commitment to Isak when he’d helped out with fighting the Svart trolls and hadn’t killed any of her nonhuman friends. Plus Evalle owed Isak’s mother, Kit, for keeping Kardos and Kellman after they’d been saved from the Svarts. Kit had offered to care for them until Evalle could pick up the twins, so the boys didn’t have to live on the streets.
Evalle’s debt just kept climbing. “I’ll come to dinner, but I need a little time. I’m . . . busy.”
Isak was giving her the silent treatment.
“Look, Isak, I appreciate everything you and Kit have done to help with the weapon and the twins. I do, but I would not be honest with you if I kissed you right now.” He nodded and she felt relief flood her muscles. “If you find another Langau, will you please call Tzader?”
She got another nod. This was going better than she’d have thought a moment ago.
Then Isak stepped close to her and sent her blood pressure soaring when he lowered his lips next to her ear. He whispered with total confidence, “I’m not afraid of competition. I’ll see you for dinner, and I’ll be around in the meantime.”
Then he sauntered out of the alley.
And she had to report this incident to Storm.
EIGHTEEN
I compel you to . . .”
Kizira’s stomach muscles clenched as she anticipated Flaevynn’s next words. Why was she dragging this out? Just say it. Then Kizira could start working on a way around the compulsion spell.
Cathbad had been right about one thing.
Kizira couldn’t protect anyone while sitting in a dungeon, but he was a fool to think she’d put her life on the line for him or Flaevynn. If Kizira led the Alterants, then she would be the first to reach the river of immortality flowing beneath Treoir.
Perched on her throne, Queen Flaevynn tapped a long, black-lacquered nail studded with diamonds against her cheek. Amusement danced in her kohl-outlined eyes. Thick tendrils of black hair shifted and curled slowly around her neck and bare shoulders, falling to the strapless gown of liquid silk that reminded Kizira of a burgundy wine.
Knowing Flaevynn, the dress had been created from a rare vintage.
“Kneel,” Flaevynn ordered, sending Kizira to her knees with no notice.
She went down so hard that her bones fractured, shooting pain through her kneecaps. She bit down on her back teeth, refusing to even wince at the sharp throbbing. Her body started healing the injury. Not as quickly as Cathbad could do it, but it wouldn’t take long.
Flaevynn chuckled.
Glad I could entertain you. Kizira stared straight ahead, having learned years ago that the less she said, the sooner she would be released.
“You said you’d do anything to get out of TÅμr Medb?” Flaevynn said, reminding Kizira of her words earlier.
Kizira realized she may have spoken too boldly, but she had to be careful how she handled this. “Yes. I like the mortal world, but I can’t spend as much time there when you and Cathbad are stuck here. If you gain your freedom, I gain mine.”
“We shall see.” Pointing one of her black fingernails at Kizira, Flaevynn murmured words too soft to hear, then said out loud, “Kizira, Medb priestess of my blood, I compel you to do as I order you over the next three days. If at any time you do not repeat my compelling orders to the Alterants exactly as you receive them, you are to take the life of the person you love the most.”
Kizira’s jaw dropped. If she took a risk and miscalculated how she circumvented the compulsion spell, it would be a deadly mistake.
Flaevynn had finally actually surprised her with unexpected cunning.
Smiling with satisfaction, Flaevynn said, “Now I don’t have to worry about you working behind my back.”
The ache in Kizira’s knees had dropped from a ten to a two. She forced her mask of indifference back into place. How could she risk trying to get around the queen’s orders now?
“I should give you the enchanted phrase that would allow you to live and be the next queen,” Flaevynn mused out loud.
Kizira’s pulse tripped over itself picking up speed. If Flaevynn passed those words along, Kizira would outlive Flaevynn and Cathbad. She’d never be able to leave TÅμr Medb again, but she could . . .
Flaevynn finished her thought, saying, “Then you’d know what it’s like to be trapped in this realm for hundreds of years, stuck depending on those who are inferior. But not even the idea of your suffering the way I have is enough for me to allow another queen to survive if I don’t.”
Of course not.
Pointing a deadly finger at Kizira, Flaevynn began her next compulsion spell, and purple energy swarmed Kizira. “Kizira, Medb priestess of my blood, I compel you to attend the Achilles Beast Championship in the mortal world during tonight’s full moon. You will bring to me every Alterant that is offered to the Medb prior to the battles or those gained through trade upon winning the final Elite matches.”
Not much wiggle room in that order. Kizira said, “I will.”
Flaevynn continued, “Once you return from the beast championship, you will link mentally with all the Alterants so that you have sole control over them, including Tristan and any others in my possession . . . even after they evolve.”
“Evolve? What do you mean?”
“Cathbad didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
Genuine happiness rushed across Flaevynn’s face as she whispered, but loud enough for Kizira to hear, “I wasn’t sure he could be compelled, not at this point in his life, but we now know who is the more powerful between us.” Returning her attention to her spell, Flaevynn swirled her pointed finger.
Dark purple energy suffocated Kizira until she had to squeeze out each breath. Get on with it, bitch.
“You will ensure that the Alterants follow your every order, just as you are to follow mine, Kizira. You will be bound to my life for the next three days and will die immediately if I do. However, I will not be bound to you if you should die. Once you return from the beast battle with the Alterants, you will be in charge of their evolution and compel them to execute my orders. If any one of them fails to do what I require, you will pay the penalty.”
And Cathbad thinks I can outmaneuver this spell?
Kizira held still, begging silently for this to end. Her knees were almost to the point that she could stand without crying out.
“The minute the Alterants invade Treoir and kill Brina, you will bring me water from the river beneath Treoir without touching or drinking that water. Once I gain immortality, I will unleash my Alterant army on the mortal world, along with my entire coven of Medb witches and warlocks. Macha will no longer have her powerful Belador warriors once I control Treoir, because the surviving Beladors will answer to me.”
Kizira’s blood turned to ice.
Had she and Cathbad underestimated Flaevynn? But the queen had overlooked something. “Macha will not just stand by while Treoir is attacked.”
“You think I’ve underestimated her? Think again. I’ve been prepared to deal with her all along.”
What could Flaevynn possibly have in mind to prevent Macha from interfering? Or was Flaevynn so in
sane she actually believed she would win no matter what?
Kizira had a sick feeling that Flaevynn had one trick up her sleeve that even Cathbad knew nothing about.
NINETEEN
Evalle parked in the underground level of Nicole’s apartment building in Avondale Estates on the east side of Atlanta. Nicole had been her only girlfriend since Evalle first came to Atlanta. She trusted Nicole as much as she trusted Tzader and Quinn.
And Storm.
Lanna climbed out of the passenger side. She’d been happy with the late dinner and chatty at the apartment, playing with Feenix for hours. But she wasn’t chatty or happy now.
She wouldn’t look at Evalle either.
Evalle opened the rear passenger door with her kinetics and Feenix leaped out, floating to the ground. Seeing a couple walking over to the access elevator, she cut her eyes back and forth. Keeping her voice down, she warned Feenix, “No flying until we get inside, okay?”
He sighed and turned big orange eyes on her. “Thorry.”
She smiled. “It’s okay, baby.”
His gap-toothed grin with a two-fang overbite tickled her heart. She loved her sweet gargoyle. He stood two feet tall and wore his favorite T-shirt that read EVL TOO right above his potbelly. Thankfully, with people either sleeping in or already gone to early morning activities like church, there was little traffic in the private parking space beneath Nicole’s building, a remodeled warehouse.
Lanna retrieved her suitcase from the rear of the SUV, and Evalle snagged a tote bag loaded with lug nuts. She grabbed Feenix’s pudgy three-fingered hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t forget to play robot if anyone sees you.”
“I know.” Feenix sounded exasperated over being reminded, but he did tend to have a short memory on some things.
One look at Lanna, and Evalle suffered a new wave of guilt. “You’re going to love Nicole, and it won’t be for more than a couple of days tops.”
Lanna gave her a weak smile. “I understand.”
No, she didn’t, but Evalle couldn’t tell anyone what she was going to do when she left. No one at VIPER could know, and Lanna talked too much, plus she had a bad habit of sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.
Rise of the Gryphon (Belador) Page 17