by Kate Pearce
“Leaving death and disaster behind you? You can’t escape your destiny.”
“Why now, Father?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why force a trial now? The deaths happened many years ago, when I was only just coming into awareness of my full powers.”
“Because your foul scheme to come back to Otherworld has to be stopped. You are mated now. You might believe your powers are enhanced by your association with the Soul Sucker.”
Holy cow. She hoped no one took him up on that. Ella met Vadim’s gaze and raised her eyebrows, but he didn’t respond.
“All you’ve done, Father, is exploit my desire to protect my mate. You’ve used her against me to force my return.”
“See how he shifts the blame so easily.” The Fae king shook his head. “Why would I want this monster back? It’s quite extraordinary.”
“If I am supposedly in league with Adam, why hasn’t he given Ella her face back? He had the opportunity when we were both at his castle. Why were we both imprisoned rather than treated as honored and welcomed allies?”
“I have no knowledge of this.”
“But you were there, Father.” Vadim insisted. “Ella has your mark on her.”
Spencer beckoned at the guard. “Bring Ms. Walsh here, will you?”
“He doesn’t need to bring me anywhere. I’m quite capable of walking by myself, you know.” Ella stalked over to the high table and shrugged out of her jacket. She unbuttoned her shirt sufficiently for the Fae to see the glowing wound on her shoulder.
“You did mark her.” The Fae queen glared at her husband. “Remove it immediately.”
“But he’s using it to keep Morosov in line.” Ella ignored the Fae king’s frown. “It’s the only reason my mate allowed himself to be captured.”
“Remove it, Fergal.”
“With respect, dear wife, I’ll remove it when she leaves Otherworld. It isn’t safe to let her wander around by herself.” He glared at Spencer. “Isn’t it time for you to make a decision about this matter? It’s fairly straightforward. Death Bringer admits he killed his brother, and by extension his twin sister. Now you must pass sentence.”
“If I might make a suggestion?”
Adam stepped up beside Ella. She gave him her best death glare.
“Of course,” Spencer said.
“If this court is unable to ascertain the guilt of the accused, there is another way he can be tested.”
“And how is that?”
“In a battle to the death with me.”
Silence greeted his calm statement. Spencer was the first to recover. “I don’t understand.”
“Death Bringer came back to Otherworld not to face his accusers in this court but to fight me for stealing his mate’s face. If you hadn’t interfered, that’s where he would be right now.”
“Are you suggesting your petty conflict with my son is more important than the deaths of his siblings?” the Fae king demanded.
“No, my king. I’m saying that death by combat would be a fitting end for a creature that considers itself the strongest power in Otherworld. Wouldn’t you like to see that, sire? Your son finally overthrown, his power stripped from him and his life ended?”
The king hesitated, his gaze going between Adam and Vadim. “It isn’t my decision. It is up to the court.”
“But would you be willing to consider it?” Adam turned to the others at the table.
“I would enjoy seeing a fight to the death.” Not surprisingly, the Dark Lord’s representative looked suitably excited by the prospect of blood and mayhem. “If the court permits.”
Spencer turned to the two Fae queens, who were quietly conferring. The older woman looked up.
“We have no objection to this fight, as long as it is clear that if Death Bringer wins, all charges against him, including those regarding Nia and Ciaran, are dropped completely.”
“Hold on.” Ella said. “What about what I think? He’s my mate. Don’t I get a say in anything?”
Spencer looked down his nose at her. “I hardly think you have anything of interest to add, Ms. Walsh. This is an Otherworld matter.”
“What about Vadim? He might not want to face Adam.”
“I am more than willing to face him, Soul Sucker.” Vadim’s voice carried clearly across the room to her. “I would only ask that if I lose, your face is returned to you, and you are allowed to leave this world unharmed.”
Adam nodded. “That is agreeable to me.”
“And you speak for the whole sect?”
“I do.”
“Like you think they’ll keep their word.” Ella scowled at the lot of them. “You’re all a bunch of idiots.”
Spencer gathered up his papers. “Then there is no need for any further deliberation on my part. If all parties are content with Death Bringer being held to account in a battle to the death, so am I. This case is adjourned.”
Even while he was speaking, Ella took the opportunity to edge as close to Vadim as she dared.
“Can you hear me?” His cool blue gaze flicked over her. “Do you want me to break you out of there?”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because there’s something fishy going on here, and I need to talk it through with you.”
There were sounds of movement behind her, but she didn’t dare look back. “Didn’t you get that bit about our combined powers? I bet we can do anything we want.” She held out her hand. “Are you game?”
“Of course I am, Soul Sucker.”
She focused her thoughts and reached through the thin web of power to take his waiting hand. Shouts echoed behind her, but they meant nothing, because as her power met Vadim’s, they were suddenly and impossibly free.
* * *
“That’s ridiculous.”
Vadim paced back and forth in front of his mate, who was regarding him with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
“No, it makes perfect sense. Adam steals my face, you come back in a rage, threatening to wipe out your entire family—either way he wins.”
“You think this was all set up to destroy me?”
“Why else would the sect be so desperate to get hold of you? Think about it. Think about their obsession with patterns!”
“And killing me would be Adam’s ultimate triumph.”
“Yes!”
He considered the spectacular view over the forest. The sun was setting and he sensed their pursuers were not far behind. Ella still bore his father’s mark. They would be easy to track.
“We have to go back.”
“I know.”
He walked over to her and cupped her cheek. “I have to go back, you do not. If you wish, I can help you find your way home.”
“But I’d have this face, and at some point, if Adam is still alive, he’ll come after me to reclaim his prize and end the contest.”
“I will do my best to kill him for you before I succumb.”
She attempted a grin, but it was a pitiful sight. “You’re so freaking noble.”
“No, I simply want you to survive more than life itself.”
She grabbed his wrist. “Do you want me to go?”
“I don’t want you to see me die.”
“That’s hardly an answer.”
“Ella, I want to live out my life with you for all eternity.” She made as if to break free, but he covered her hand with his own. “I need you.” It was so much easier to express himself in his true form, so much simpler when he didn’t have to worry about exposing his dark side. Ella knew all about him now, and she still hadn’t walked away.
“And I don’t want to leave. I can’t do that to you. Whatever happens, we should face this together.”
He let out a slow breath. “In their supreme arrogance, that’s one thing they haven’t thought about, isn’t it? Your power added to mine brings a whole new dimension to their ability to bring me down.”
“I can help you.”
“I know that.” He kissed h
er hand. “It’s going to be difficult to prove what you suspect.”
“I suppose it doesn’t matter, if you kill them all anyway.”
“But it does. It matters to my family. I’d rather obtain a confession first.”
“Why should you care? None of them have exactly stood up for you, have they?”
“My mother and grandmother have supported me to the best of their ability, but the charges of killing Nia and Ciaran were enough to shake even their faith. They believed I’d become a danger to everyone.” He sighed. “If what you suspect is true, my death will simply enhance the power of the sect.”
“If Adam really has delusions of ruling Otherworld.”
“We can’t allow that to happen.” He glanced over at the hills, where an ominous cloud was forming. “They are coming. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
“Absolutely. If anyone is going to kick your ass, Morosov, it’s going to be me, not a bunch of crazy old Fae.”
“I love you, Soul Sucker.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Dude, don’t say that. Wait until the end of the movie. If you start getting all emotional now, it means you’ll never make it.”
“But what if I never have the opportunity to say it again?” He hesitated. “What if they succeed in killing me?”
“They will, if you go in with such a defeatist attitude. What’s wrong with you?” She smacked his upper arm. “You’re the most powerful being in Otherworld! Get a grip!”
Her ability to simultaneously see through his doubts and make him feel like a complete dork made him want to smile. She was maddening, but God help him, he couldn’t imagine a world without her. If only she would say the words to him. He would carry them into battle like a medieval lady’s favor and become invincible.
He stepped away from her and swept an elaborate bow. “As my lady wishes.”
Guards appeared all around the small clearing. Adam materialized and nodded complacently at them both.
“I assume you are ready now, Death Bringer?”
“Damn right, he is.” Ella strolled up to Adam and smiled at him. “There’s something else you should know.”
“And what is that. Soul Sucker?”
Ella flicked a glance over her shoulder at Vadim. “He’s not as smart as he thinks he is, and neither are you.”
Adam’s expression hardened. “I don’t like your tone.”
She laughed, and behind her, Vadim growled a warning. “Having seen what he’s like in this world, do you think I want him back in mine? He’s a fricking psycho.” She blew him a kiss. “I’m sorry, darling, but I really think I’m siding with Adam on this one. You need to be put out of your misery for all our sakes.”
Vadim’s face whitened. He gathered himself and came after her, his roar echoing through the valley as the sun finally set behind the trees. She didn’t move, just watched the guards hold him down and contain him within some kind of magical net.
Adam smirked triumphantly and patted Ella on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Soul Sucker. I’ll make sure he never comes near you again.”
“No!” Vadim roared. He fought against his captors, his claws raking at the net, and almost found a way free.
“Stop it, Morosov.” She was standing right over him, her expression bored. “You’ll hurt someone and just prove what an animal you really are.”
He bared his fangs at her and hissed an obscenity in Fae.
She nudged his torso with her booted toe. “You’re way too scary. How could you expect anyone to live with that? I’m sorry, dude, but I have to protect myself.”
Adam ordered Vadim’s removal and turned back to her.
“Are you coming, Soul Sucker?”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ella shaded her eyes and looked around the vast hall, which was the length of a football field. They were back in the sect’s palace, waiting for the Fae court to arrive so the ‘battle,’ whatever that meant, could start. At least Drew Spencer had gone back to Washington to prance around in his other role as head of the SBLE. She would hate to see his smirk at this point. She still wasn’t convinced that his so-called judgment had been fair and unbiased. But that was a fight for another day—if she and Vadim survived this one.
It was a strange place for a fight. The walls were mirrored, and the floor-to-ceiling windows were hung with gold and silver banners. In contrast, the floor was like a stark black-and-white checkerboard that gave her a headache. Since her little alliance-forming experiment with Adam, apart from one Fae guard, she hadn’t been constrained at all. She loved being underestimated. From the look of it, she was going to have a grandstand view of the battle.
Adam stood just below the balcony, talking to three other men she assumed were his sect sidekicks. They all carried swords and wore tacky gold-and-cream clothing that matched the drapes. It reminded her all too vividly of a medieval show she’d once seen in Vegas. The major differences between the men were that one was bald, one fair and one a redhead, which at least made it relatively easy to keep them straight. She already recognized their magic from their encounter in the hospital over Ms. Phelps’s bed. Together their power had been formidable and definitely a match for Vadim’s. But they were in Otherworld now, not San Francisco, and his powers were growing stronger every hour. He also had a secret weapon.
Her.
Keeping her shields high, she attempted to penetrate the mind of the nearest sect member. The older, balding man was already frowning at something Adam had said. Her empath senses told her he was the weakest of the four, but taking down any of the men would be difficult. From what Vadim had revealed earlier, these particular Fae were thousands of years old and extremely difficult to control or destroy, even for him.
She concentrated for a moment on learning the way the man’s thoughts flowed and ebbed, identifying his signature, and then moved on to the redhead standing next to him. He was more dangerous, his mind sharper, and he was far less likely to compromise and more strategic in his thinking. The blond was the hardest to read. Something about his handsome features reminded her of Rossa and Vadim. She probed a little harder and then quickly withdrew as his barriers came up.
He glanced briefly in her direction, but she didn’t meet his gaze. Definitely Fae royalty, and the one most likely to disobey Adam’s orders and attempt to win glory for himself. Was he connected to the Fae king? Was he the male who had made sure the sect came after Vadim and his new mate? It seemed horribly likely, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
“Soul Sucker.”
Speaking of the king... She looked up into his treacherous smiling face. He’d changed into a loose white shirt, black leather pants and a golden cloak that matched his eyes. If you were looking for a little girl’s definition of the ideal prince, he’d do perfectly. Until you realized what a fucking psycho he was...
“Hey, what’s up?”
He regarded her closely. “I hear you repudiated your mate.”
“Re—what?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “What does that big word mean?”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be insolent. I know you are far smarter than you let on.”
“Really? Don’t tell Morosov. He likes his women blonde and dumb.”
“Did you mean it?” the king said abruptly.
“That Morosov likes them dumb, or that he’s a liability? Sure, I meant it.”
He chuckled. “Drew Spencer said that you are the one who is a liability.”
She hardened her voice. “I spent more than half my life in school and college being forcibly trained to become a tool for my government to use against Otherworld. That’s why Spencer doesn’t like me. I hate being told what to do.”
And come to think of it, that was basically why Vadim didn’t like his father too, but she wasn’t going to bring up that subject right now. It was surprising sometimes how much she and her mate did have in common,
“Isn’t it obvious? He’s too powerful. He wants to control me, and it’s infuriating. Ask anyone at the SBLE. Even when he’s in his human form, we fight like cats and dogs.”
“Spencer did mention that.” The king contemplated her expression. “But he is also your mate.”
She faced him. “As you pointed out, I had no idea what he was when that happened. I’m glad he saved my sanity, but I still hate being lied to, and I don’t want to be held in his magical thrall for the rest of my existence.”
He studied her for a long time. “I’m not sure I believe you, Soul Sucker. You certainly seemed quite taken with him when I came upon you in the glade.”
“Did you watch? You’re Fae. You of all people know that sex doesn’t make a relationship.”
He smiled, and his mind brushed against hers, seeking her true emotions. She let him see what he wanted. “You are so refreshingly direct. I almost admire you sometimes.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“So will you reconsider my offer?”
“To take Morosov back to San Francisco? I thought you wanted him dead.” She gestured at the hall behind them. “He’s pretty likely to die right here.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Then you’d better start saying your prayers.”
“I have a better suggestion. I’ll make sure you receive your face back, if you make sure he’s dead.”
“I’m already getting my face back, even if he does lose.”
“You believe Adam will honor his word? He’s hardly been reliable in the past.”
“That’s true. Damn.” Ella took a long slow breath and then let it out. “How can I help you? I don’t have the weapon you gave me anymore.”
He held up her battered backpack. “Yes, you do.”
She made herself look deep into his cold eyes. “And if I agree to this, you swear on your own blood to let me leave here alive and return home?”
“You are more Fae than I realized, Soul Sucker. You bargain like my queen.”
“To be brutally honest, I just don’t want to deal with any of you ever again.”