“Wait, what? They know I’m a what?”
“A Mage,” Luke repeated. “You’re a Caedes Mage.”
“That’s not possible,” she said.
Drake scoffed. Allai glanced over to him, and he just shrugged. There was no point in explaining how ignorant she was. She’d figure it out soon enough.
“This is possible, Allai,” Luke snapped. “It’s possible, because it’s happening.”
Allai closed her eyes, and some of the color drained from her cheeks. “There’s only three Caedes Mages left alive,” she murmured. “They’re the only ones, and I’m not one of them. I can’t be a Caedes, it’s not possible, it’s—”
“You have metallic-colored eyes,” Drake interrupted. He didn’t really feel like taking part in this conversation, but he’d do it just to make this all go faster. “Don’t you think silver eyes are just a little strange, little Nox?”
“Yes! They’re strange, okay? But there’s no way in hell they’re magical!” She pointed frantically at Drake. “You have metallic eyes, too. And it’s not like you’re a Mage, right?”
He raised his eyebrows and smirked at her. It took her a moment to get the message. But, when she did, her eyes grew impossibly wider, and her face lost even more color.
“Oh, shit,” she murmured. She blinked a couple times, and Drake guessed she was remembering the memories he’d transferred. “You are. You’re a Caedes.”
“No, he’s a Sano Mage.” Luke waved a dismissing hand in Drake��s general direction. “His magic is completely different and totally harmless. It’s constructive, not destructive. Mostly telepathic-type abilities.”
Drake eyed the viper curiously. How did he know so much about magic? He didn’t seem like the type, being an employee of the French government and someone who lived with the Sentinel. But then, maybe the French and the Sentinel knew more about magic than they let on.
Allai shook her head frantically. “That’s impossible. He can’t be a Mage, he’s a Demon! They don’t mix.”
“I’m a hybrid,” Drake said, and he left it at that. There was no time to explain how he’d ended up that way.
“He’s telling the truth,” Luke said. “He’s a Mage and a Demon. Apparently, Rhaize did something to make him like that.” Luke shot Drake a suspicious look, like that was somehow his own fault. Drake ignored it.
“Drake has connections to other Mages,” Luke continued. “And he’s taking you to them.”
Drake nodded. “The Chimeras. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.”
But the girl’s face remained blank. Drake wasn’t sure if he was supposed to laugh at that or pound his head against something. She was oblivious. Completely oblivious. Of course, it was mostly Shieldak’s fault; it wasn’t like he could be expected to properly raise a Caedes. But, still, Drake had expected Allai to know at least the basics about her kind.
“The Chimeras are a clan of Sano Mages,” he explained. “They negotiated a deal with Shieldak about a century ago. It gives them complete political immunity from the Sentinel and the French. I’m part of their clan.”
“Is that why you’re not dead?” Allai asked.
Drake nodded and smiled a little. She might be oblivious, but at least she was smart. Hopefully she’d catch on quick.
Luke cut in. “That’s exactly why. Shieldak had trouble getting permission to execute Drake. He broke a treaty by coming onto Sentinel land, but he’s still under the protection of the Chimeras.” He nodded to Allai. “We’re hoping the Chimeras will also accept you into their ranks. The political immunity they offer is strong, and it might be enough to ward off anyone who wants you dead.”
“But why don’t I just stay with the Sentinel?” Allai asked. “My dad will take care of me. He’ll protect me.”
She sounded so sure of it. Drake felt the urge to hug her. But he hated hugs, and she looked too shocked to even accept one, so he stayed seated and just bit at his lip.
Allai shuffled her feet a little when they didn’t answer her. “He would protect me… right?”
Luke sighed. “Allai, Shieldak didn’t know you were a Caedes.” He said it too softly, like he was being patronizing. “This is a surprise to him. And he’s not thinking clearly because of it.”
Allai swallowed hard. “So…” She trailed off and stared at the ground. A tear dripped to the tip of her nose, and then fell into the carpet.
“So you’re coming with me,” Drake said quickly. “We’re going to visit the Chimeras. Once they see you’re a Caedes, they’ll accept you into their ranks, and you’ll have the immunity of their organization. You’ll be safe.”
She looked to him, her head still turned to the ground, but her gaze wandering up to examine him. “How do I know I can trust you?”
The question hurt. It made sense: She’d lived in fear of him for years. Even if she’d been happy to see him alive, that didn’t necessarily mean she completely trusted him. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore how much her words stung.
“I guess you there’s no way you can know,” Drake said. He kept his tone even. “But look.”
He tugged at the silver chain around his neck. What he wanted to do was break the thing, scream at it, and attack the person who’d put the chain around his neck. That’d be the damn viper, of course. Instead, he pulled at the chain until the stone attached to it appeared from under his shirt collar.
Allai pressed a hand to her mouth and whirled toward Luke. “Did you do this?” Before Luke had time to ask what she was talking about, Allai said, “The lockgem. You put a lockgem on him?”
Luke nodded. He didn’t even flinch at the accusatory tone she used. “You need protection from him. A lockgem is the best way to make sure he behaves.”
Drake let out his humming growl. Did the viper think he was some dog that could be trained? He thought back to when Luke had put the lockgem on him earlier, how the guard had roughly pinned him to the ground while the viper jerked the chain over his neck. Then there’d been a jolt of pain as the lockgem touched his skin, and numbness that was only now starting to fade. He should kill Luke for that.
Drake fingered the lockgem. It was ugly. Just a small, murky gray stone with dark blue veins spreading out from the center. He was going to hate wearing this thing. He already did. But he wouldn’t kill Luke. Because, for some strange reason, Allai seemed to like him. And if she liked him, he wasn’t going to take the viper away from her.
Allai wiped at her eye with the back of her hand. She was crying harder. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she said to Luke.
Luke didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled another lockgem from his pocket. It was nearly identical to Drake’s, except it had red veins instead of blue. Luke handed it to Allai. “Keep this. Wear it around your neck, and if he gets unruly, then crush the stone. It’ll kill him instantly.”
The lockgem rested in Allai’s hand for a long moment, all of them staring at it. Even Luke. Then Allai quietly whispered, “No.”
Luke snarled and took a step toward her. “Damn it, Allai, wear it! It’ll protect you from him.”
Drake felt a slight pang of guilt as he realized that wasn’t true. The lockgem wouldn’t really protect her. Allai wouldn’t be able to easily crush the stone like most Demons could. If something happened, and she wanted to kill him, he could probably get the stone away from her before—
No. He wasn’t even going to consider that. Because he’d never do anything to harm the girl, and she’d never have a reason to want him dead.
Allai stared at him, completely still now. She silently evaluated him, her fingers slowly clutching around the lockgem. She looked torn by the decision—lockgem or no lockgem, safety or trust. He hated seeing her so uncertain, so scared.
“Just wear it, little Nox,” Drake said quietly. “It’s okay.”
Her eyes widened. Then she unclutched her hand and slipped the chain over her neck. The lockgem didn’t look right on her, an ugly mass of gray against the perfect paleness of her s
kin.
Guilt was clear in her expression. He thought about smiling at her to tell her it was all going to be okay. But he wasn’t even sure if that was true, and he’d never been one for false assurances. They were as good as straight-out lies.
“You’re sure this is necessary?” Allai asked Luke in a whisper. “You’re sure…” Again, she trailed off.
“You’re not safe here,” Luke said. “The Sentinel can’t take care of you anymore.”
“Can’t you take care of me?” Allai couldn’t even meet Luke’s gaze.
The viper shook his head. “You know the French have control over me. It’d be useless for me to even try to get you to the Chimeras. I’d probably be dead before we left the state.” He paused, and then grudgingly added, “And Drake is the only one who knows how to get to the Chimera’s headquarters.”
Drake shot Allai a small smirk. Because he could help her. Not the viper, or her father, or any other stuck-up Warrior in this mansion. Only him.
Allai glared back. Drake maintained the smirk, but inside he cringed. Because that fire in Allai’s eyes reminded him that her life was in his hands. Again. And he’d never been able to keep her safe before.
“Here,” Luke said, breaking the silence. He pulled something slim and black out of his pocket. A cell phone. He handed it to Allai, pressing it into her hand. “It’s prepaid and untraceable. You know my number. Just call me if you need something.” He didn’t let her speak before he pulled a wallet out of his other pocket, and slipped a credit card from one of the slots. “And you know what this is,” he said as he handed it to Allai. “Just don’t buy anything I wouldn’t buy. It’s the French’s money, and they monitor it.”
Allai collapsed. Drake tore his gaze from Luke just in time to see her hit the ground. Her eyes were closed, her body limp. Drake jumped up and rushed to her.
Luke lunged towards her at the same moment. Every instinct in Drake screamed to tear into the viper. Luke was too close to her. He could hurt the girl. But Drake was in his useless human form, without his claws or wings or strength. So he just kneeled down by the girl, hovering over her and doing his best to keep Luke from getting too close.
“What did you do?” Luke demanded. He also knelt next to Allai.
Drake gagged as the scent of Persequor invaded his nose, but he managed to shake his head. Then he realized Luke wouldn’t be able to see him and said, “Nothing.”
Luke gestured wildly at Allai. The only sign she was alive came from the shallow breaths she took. “Then how do you explain this?”
Drake shook his head again. And then realized again that Luke couldn’t see. But he didn’t care. The viper shouldn’t even be asking questions, he should just be getting out of the way. Drake focused on clenching and unclenching a fist to keep from lunging at Luke. “She did this the other day. When she was in the dungeon with me. She just fainted.”
Luke opened his mouth to snarl back some skeptical retort, but then Allai stirred a little. She opened her eyes, blinked a couple times, and mumbled, “Did I faint again?”
Luke sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, Allai,” he said, his voice tight. He didn’t say anything more, but just pressed the back of his hand against her cheek and gave her a weak smile. Drake wondered how hard it would be to rip the viper’s hand away. But Allai didn’t seem to mind it, and she closed her eyes again.
“We don’t have time for this,” Drake snapped. “She needs to get out of here. If the French start searching for her, they’ll look in here first.”
For a moment, Luke looked ready to growl back some kind of retort. But then he nodded. “Pack some things for her,” he commanded. “Clothes and stuff.”
There was no point in arguing. Drake grabbed the duffle bag off the bed, already half-filled with some of Luke’s clothing. The bag had been in there when Luke first shoved him into the room, and he’d told Drake the clothes were packed for him. How sweet. And totally, completely useless, since Luke’s clothes were about two sizes too small.
But at least he could get Allai some clothes that fit. Drake pulled open the dresser, the white one across from her bed, and examined the contents of the first drawer. T-shirts, folded jeans, a couple tank tops. He stuffed a little of everything into the duffle bag, hoping things matched and not paying much attention. Until he came to the bottom of the drawer. The girl really should have known better than to use a top drawer as a hiding place. Apparently, she didn’t, because a Hunter’s knife lay at the bottom of it.
He glanced over his shoulder at Luke. He was pretty sure the viper had some kind of sight, even if he claimed to be blind. Because he was staring right at Drake, his clouded eyes burrowing into him. Like he knew. Like he could see the knife.
But he couldn’t, and Drake quickly stashed the weapon into his pocket. He wouldn’t give it back to the girl. No, she was much too delicate and helpless to carry anything that dangerous. But she might appreciate knowing that it was close to her.
The air-conditioning felt a little cooler on his face, and Drake realized it was because of the sweat breaking out on his brow. If anyone caught them in here, if anyone found them…
He didn’t finish the thought. Instead, he whirled back toward Luke, slung the duffle bag over his shoulder, and said, “Let’s get her out of here.”
Luke nodded. He had helped Allai up, and she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked dazed, but she was rapidly blinking, and a little clarity returned to her expression every time her eyes opened. Luke grabbed Allai’s shoulders and whispered something in her ear. Drake couldn’t make it out in his human form. He thought about shifting forms, but then he remembered how Luke had threatened him about that. He couldn’t risk it, not with the lockgem around his neck. Damn that thing.
Seconds ticked by, and finally Luke lightly hugged Allai, and then pulled away from her. He helped her stand, but she leaned most of her weight on him. Her legs trembled, ready to collapse.
Drake bit his lip for a moment, and then rushed forward. “Let me take her. If the French see you helping to carry her out of here, they’ll kill you.”
Hesitation crossed Luke’s face. For a moment, he pulled Allai closer. Then he sighed, and stepped a little away from her, just enough so that Drake could replace his position by her side.
Being close to her suddenly didn’t seem like such a good idea. It’d been so long. So many years had gone by, and so many things had changed, and surely Allai had changed, too. He was probably an idiot to think that things could ever be like they’d used to be. That they could be more than natural enemies, and become… What? What had they been? It had been more than friends. But maybe it had just been the desperation of their situation that had created that close bond. Maybe, now that Dad wasn’t a threat, everything would be completely different.
Drake forced his uncertainty away and wrapped an arm around Allai’s shoulders. She blinked a couple times, still dazed, and then looked up to him. Her daze did nothing to obscure the fear and confusion in her eyes.
Should he smile at her? Or maybe give her a little reassuring hug, like he’d seen Luke do? Both seemed like ridiculous actions, considering the situation they were in. But he had to do something.
Luke didn’t give him time to make a decision. He snapped, “Don’t just stand there. Get her out of here.”
The viper had caught him just staring at the girl. Great. Drake clenched his teeth, but then unclenched them. Because that didn’t matter now. What mattered was getting the girl out of the Manor and away from her enemies.
He squeezed the girl’s shoulders a little—more to just wake her up from her daze, not really a hug—and guided her to the door. She stumbled along after him, every step more accurate than the last.
Drake shoved open the door and led her down the hallway. She looked over her shoulder, staring at Luke until he was out of sight. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. He couldn’t tell if they were from sadness, anger, or fear. Maybe all three. Whatever she felt, she staye
d quiet, her lips pursed and silent.
Allai’s steps faltered as they neared the corner of the hallway. She stumbled, but quickly righted herself and leaned more weight into Drake. Carrying her was the best option. He could move faster that way. But she’d probably freak out if he tried picking her up, and he didn’t need her drawing attention.
He rounded the corner. A Charger stood in his way, wings flared and fist clenched. It only took a moment for Drake to recognize him.
Shieldak.
Chapter Sixteen
It took Allai a moment to recognize the Charger. The world was still spinning a little, making the rage on his face disorientating. Who was he? And why was he so mad?
Then she recognized the freckles dotting the bridge of his nose and his flaming red hair. She let out a sigh of relief, but choked on it as his expression remained furious.
“Dad,” she whispered. Or at least she tried to whisper. It came out more of a half-croak, half-squeak.
“Allai,” Shieldak said smoothly.
Why did he always have to speak so calmly? Even when he was obviously pissed? It was unnerving.
A growl broke the awkward silence. It took Allai a moment to place it. Drake. He was still at her side, still supporting her, and still the guy who was supposed to be her worst enemy.
Not. Good.
Shieldak turned to Drake. A small smile tugged at his lips, as sarcastic as it was unsettling. “Drake Rhaize. I see you’re taking advantage of your freedom,” he said, nodding toward Drake’s arm wrapped around Allai. Shieldak didn’t even comment on the fact that Drake had escaped from his inescapable dungeon. Did he know Luke had set Drake free? Allai cringed at the thought.
“And you, Allai,” her father continued. “You’re also taking advantage of your freedom, aren’t you? That and so many other things.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came. She didn’t know how to respond. She couldn’t respond. Because he was right; she was taking advantage of her freedom. And there was no reason she shouldn’t; she deserved that freedom.
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