A clatter sounded from nearby. Maybe they were finally bringing her something to eat? The noises came closer and closer. Luke continued to shout slurs at her, his language becoming more and more coarse, as footsteps came down the cellblock.
“I think you should apologize to the lady.” Adrian stepped into view outside the cell.
“The hell I will!”
Tessa sat straight up on the cot just in time to see Adrian plow his fist into Luke’s jaw. Luke crashed into the cell across the way. Came back at Adrian with a howl. In three moves, Adrian had Luke laid out on the floor and whimpering. He looked over at Tessa.
“Friend of yours?”
“Hardly.” She made a face. “That’s Luke.”
“This aging playboy? This is the Luke?”
“Yeah, well, he didn’t look like that when I knew him. He’s a Listener.”
“Ah, that explains it.” Adrian shoved Luke in an empty cell and slammed the door. “Stay away from Tessa, or I’ll be back for your ass.” Luke whimpered and scrambled to a corner. Adrian turned to Tessa’s cell. Dressed in his usual black, with a gun in his belt, an automatic weapon slung over his shoulder, and a dagger sheathed at his waist, he looked lethal—and wonderful—as he stopped on the other side of the bars. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She reached through the bars to caress his stubble-roughened cheek. “I’m so glad to see you.”
He grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, then activated the mike on his earpiece. “Tell the others we found two of them,” he said.
“Who are you talking to?”
“Mendez,” he said. “Stand away from the door.”
She ran to one side and pressed herself against the wall as Adrian pulled out his handgun and shot the lock. The door creaked open, and he jerked it the rest of the way. Tessa ran to him and threw herself into his arms. His familiar scent surrounded her, grounding her. She was home. How could she have ever thought she’d be able to walk away from him?
He shot out the lock on Cara’s cell, and moments later she was free, too.
“We’ve got to find everyone else,” Adrian said. “Cara, any idea where Rafe is?”
“None,” she said. “They were all unconscious when they were brought in.”
“We’ll find them. Let’s go.” Adrian took Tessa’s hand and led her back down the hall and through the door, which opened into a corridor that contained similar doors as far as the eye could see.
“How did you ever find us in this?” Tessa asked.
“Luck. We split into two teams, and mine started on this side. There’s another team starting on the other side. It would be helpful if you could talk to your family, tell them to let us know when they hear us.”
She relayed the message. “Okay, done.”
“That’s right. Now let’s move.” He started jogging, pulling her along with him, Cara following behind.
Adrian had no powers, but he’d come for her anyway. Because he’d promised he would. If she hadn’t already realized she was in love with him, this would have pushed her there.
They jogged along, different members of the Team darting through doorways to check the cells in each block. Cara was being led along by a tall Team member, when someone gave a shout from one of the corridors. Two gunshots.
“They found Rafe!” Cara cried, and jerked away from her escort and ran toward one of the doors.
The vision flared in Tessa’s mind. Cara busting through the door. Mendukati troops opening fire. Cara taking a hit. Falling. Blood soaking her evening gown. “No!” she screamed.
Adrian let go of her and snagged Cara around the waist just before she reached the door. “It’s a trap!” he shouted.
“Rafe,” Cara whispered, staring at the door with terrified eyes.
“Let’s go!” Adrian shouted. He shoved Cara at her tall escort, grabbed Tessa’s hand, and the entire squadron ran down the hall as Mendukati soldiers rushed through the door.
He’s not in there, Tessa said to Cara telepathically. It was a trap.
She didn’t know if Cara got the message or not. Another squadron came out of a door in front of them, sandwiching them between two groups of Mendukati soldiers. Leading the way was Azotay.
“Welcome home, brother,” Azotay said to Adrian. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”
“Brother?” Cara said.
“Bring these three”—Azotay pointed to Adrian, Cara, and Tessa—“to President Criten’s receiving room. And get the rest of them from the prison. He’d like to speak to them before the festivities begin. As for the rest, lock them up until His Excellency decides what to do with them.”
Azotay exited the corridor, leaving his men to follow his orders.
* * *
I should have killed him when I had the chance. The thought drifted through Adrian’s mind as he was disarmed and the three of them were marched out of the prison wing and across a courtyard. He caught Tessa’s quick glance at him, and realized she must have caught the thought.
As horrible as it was to kill his own brother, his twin, even worse was that his failure to do so had resulted in the people he cared about being threatened. If only he had his powers. He’d correct that mistake with pleasure. Instead, he and the woman he loved were going to be murdered by maniacs.
Tessa stumbled and shot him another glance. You love me?
He gave her a little smile. Of course I love you, he thought. What did you think this mating thing was all about? Though this wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to tell you.
Definitely not romantic, she sent back.
He chuckled. Even in the face of death, his Tessa maintained a sense of humor.
Sometimes it’s either laugh or cry, Adrian, and I’ve done way too much crying over the years. I’d rather spend one day laughing with you, even if it’s our last day.
I wish there was some way to get the Council’s binding off, he thought. We’d have a better chance of getting out of here.
Maybe there is. She looked at Cara, who jerked her head up as if called. Cara nodded, apparently in response to something Tessa asked her. He chafed at missing the conversation, but the tiny smile playing about Tessa’s lips as she looked over at him, gave him hope. I think I can remove the binding.
What! How the heck did she expect to do that?
Cara passed energy to Rafe through the mating bond when he was bound by Criten, allowing him to break free. I think I can do something similar.
That sounded great, but they’d have to wait for the right time. He focused the thought at her. Wait until we’re all together.
She gave a little nod and kept her eyes forward as they marched through a portcullis and into the president’s courtyard.
The receiving room was actually a throne room where Criten received visitors. The man himself sat behind an elaborate desk, a huge grin on his face. A blond woman in a blue silk dress stood just beside his chair.
“Welcome to Santutegi,” Criten said. “I trust your accommodations were sufficient?” He chuckled.
Adrian glared. For all that Criten had fractured his neck a couple of months ago in a battle with the Montanas, the president was looking fit and healthy. With his mane of blond hair, green eyes, and tanned skin, he looked like he’d just stepped off a California beach.
“Where’s my family?” Tessa demanded.
“They’re on their way. I wanted all of you to witness tonight’s events.” Criten sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “This day has been coming for centuries. Be glad I will allow you to see it … as it is the last thing you will ever see.”
The blond woman glanced at him, then cast her eyes down when he frowned at her. “Did you have something to say, Nilara?”
She shook her head and kept her eyes on the floor. “No, Your Excellency.”
“I thought not.” Criten droned on about the importance of the day, the glory of the Mendukati, the exciting prospect of the truth being revealed to all.
&n
bsp; Tessa tuned him out. Nilara. This was Adrian’s mother. Tessa studied her face, looking for some hint of Adrian. She saw some resemblance in the cheekbones and sensual mouth, though his coloring had definitely come from his father. This was the woman who had let his father take him away, who aligned herself with the most powerful men she could find. And, if memory served, Nilara was human.
Tessa dropped her defenses a little and opened herself up to the other woman’s thoughts.
My sweet Atlas. Look at him. How handsome he turned out to be! He must hate me, hate what I’ve become. But what choice did I have? I had to let him go with his father. Ezares would have killed me otherwise. At least I was there for Gadeiros.
Tessa concealed her surprise. Given what Adrian had told her, she’d expected a selfish, manipulating bitch. But this woman sounded more scared than anything else. Scared and trapped.
I had no idea. The thought came from Adrian.
Are you getting this? Are you still able to share my powers through the link?
From Adrian again, I saw your vision about Cara and grabbed her before she could go through that door.
I’m going to try and release the binding, she sent to him. With her hands tied, she couldn’t get her focus stone out of her pocket, but hopefully she could connect to it without touching it.
Azotay arrived, along with her parents, Rafe, Darius, and Faith. A quick glance satisfied her that they were all okay, and then she turned her focus inward.
“Look, Nilara, your two sons united for the first time in twenty years,” Criten said. “Such a lovely family reunion.”
Tessa forced herself to ignore what was happening around her. She reached for the stone with her mind, tried to connect to it. But it was too new. Physical contact was necessary. She wanted to scream.
A thought drifted to her from Adrian. Mate link.
Tessa jumped into the river that was the energy of the mating bond, using their connection to see the binding around Adrian. It looked like a belt of energy wrapped around him, arms and all. She tried to pull it away from him, but it snapped back like a rubber band. How had Cara done it? Energy. She’d transferred energy to Rafe, so much that she’d ended up hospitalized. But Rafe had been dying, so hopefully with Adrian healthy, it wouldn’t take quite that much.
She aimed her energy at the binding, envisioning a laser. All that did was increase the power to the bonds.
She let go, exhausted. What would it take? They just absorbed whatever energy she sent to Adrian. Absorbed the energy. Maybe it worked like a heat-seeking missile? Maybe if she amped up her own energy, she could lift it off him?
But if it was like a heat-seeking missile, what if it was attracted to her greater energy instead?
She decided she had to take the chance. Adrian at full power could possibly get them out of here, whereas she at full power wasn’t much use in battle. She closed her eyes, concentrated, and poured as much energy as she could spare through their connection, making her own energy flare like a volcano erupting.
The binding flickered. She reached out a mental hand and touched it. The instant she made contact, it latched onto her, slipping off Adrian and settling around her, tightening like a rubber rope. She had a moment to watch Adrian’s energy fire up to full force, a brilliant gold-and-red flame, before her powers failed and she fell out of the vision.
And, literally, onto the floor.
Shouting exploded around her—her parents, her brothers, Azotay, Criten. A guard came over and jerked her to her feet. She swayed a little, drained from the energy she’d fed into the link. The voices of humanity that always haunted her were gone. Her mind was silent. Okay, it seemed like she’d succeeded in pulling the binding on herself. But had it released Adrian?
Don’t worry, princess, came that precious mind voice. I’ve got this.
He sprang into action, snapping the cuffs they’d put on him and taking out the nearest guard. Criten screamed orders. Azotay shouted commands. More guards flooded into the room.
She sent a thought Adrian’s way, hoped he caught it. Untie Rafe. He can help. She sank to her knees, her physical body drained from the amount of energy she’d sent Adrian. She prayed this gamble paid off. If it didn’t …
She’d be stuck in Santutegi at the hands of her enemy, without her powers. And most likely dead before morning.
* * *
Adrian took on the guards, the rush of power through his veins like liquid fire. He caught Tessa’s suggestion about Rafe—probably because of the link—and tried to get over to him. But the guards kept coming.
Darius, he sent, can you help?
I’ll try. But the only emotion these guys are feeling is rage and bloodlust.
Maybe they should self-destruct.
Maybe they should. The humor in Darius’s mind voice had Adrian grinning.
He could tell when Darius started amping up emotions. Some of the guards collapsed in convulsions of pure rage, others attacked one another. Criten screamed louder, his face reddening. Azotay pulled his knife and waded into the fray. Adrian tried to get to him, but those of the guards who hadn’t collapsed had escalated to berserker-level rage.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Criten pull a Glock out of his drawer and aim it at Darius. Adrian grabbed a baton off the guard he was fighting, broke the guy’s nose with a single strike, then spun and hurled the baton at Criten’s hand just as he fired. The bullet went wide. There was a cry, and then his mother sank to the floor, blood streaming from her shoulder.
“Mother!” The roar came from Azotay, who leaped across the room to kneel beside their mother. He glared up at Criten. “Look what you’ve done!”
“She’ll be fine. Now get control of this situation. The ceremony starts in less than an hour.”
Azotay stood. “She needs a doctor.”
“Back to work now, Azotay.” Criten picked up a stapler from his desk. In his hand, it transformed into an identical Glock. He pointed the gun at Nilara’s head. “Or maybe I need to find a new whip.”
Adrian started toward Criten, but Azotay got there first, leaping toward the president with blood in his eye. Criten fired. Azotay landed on the floor with a thud, a hole in his chest. He struggled to get up, slumped back against the wall, breathing hard.
Tightness formed in Adrian’s chest. Was he sharing his twin’s pain? Or was this ache something more basic, like regret? Maybe nostalgia for the little brother who had grown into a murderer? Whatever it was, he tamped down on the emotion, focused. This was battle.
Sobbing, Nilara cried out Azotay’s real name—Gadeiros—and made her way over to him, tears streaming down her face.
“Stop your wailing, woman, or you’re next.” Criten swung the gun at Adrian. “Want to see how many of your friends I can take out in the time it takes you to get to me? Are you willing to risk it? Any of you?” He changed his aim, pointed the weapon at Tessa. “Well?”
Adrian stopped where he was and evaluated. He could tell from the look in Criten’s eyes that the other man would shoot Tessa in a heartbeat. He calculated speed and distance and determined he could not outrun a bullet. He put up his hands in surrender. Darius must have realized the same thing, because the guards suddenly got control of themselves.
“That’s better.” Criten raised his voice as he walked toward Tessa. “Guardsmen, collect the prisoners and transport them to the arena.” He jerked Tessa to her feet and pressed the gun beneath her jaw. “I’ll just hang on to this one. She seems to be your favorite, Mr. Gray.”
Two guards seized Adrian and bound him again, then pulled him away, shoving him out the door behind the rest of Tessa’s family. Criten brought up the rear with Tessa herself.
“This will be a night to remember,” Criten said. “The night when the truth is revealed to the Atlantean people. Unfortunately, none of you will be around very long to enjoy it.”
His laughter echoed throughout the corridor, as they were all marched to what promised to be certain death.
&nb
sp; CHAPTER NINETEEN
They were transported to an open arena and made to stand backstage as Criten was announced. He stepped out onto the stage with a microphone clipped to his jacket. The only thing on the stage was a table. A cloth draped over whatever was on the table.
It’s the stones, Faith said into Tessa’s mind. All of them.
A chill swept over her. Criten was clearly planning some kind of grand announcement. He had the Stones of Ekhia, and he had the Seers. Who knew what kind of demonstration his sick mind had come up with?
She looked at her family, wishing she could talk to them. Did they know she didn’t have her powers?
I told them. Adrian’s voice sounded bold and strong in her mind. Hang in there, princess. This isn’t over yet.
She wanted to believe him, wanted to hope that a way out still existed, but she couldn’t stop the churning of her stomach or the way her limbs trembled. She was in the enemy’s lair without any hint of her powers. Her abilities had always been her security blanket, and now she stood naked without them.
You’ve got me, Adrian reminded her, and our bond. Nothing can get in the way of that.
He was right. She sent him a look of gratitude.
Criten had finished getting the crowd worked up. To the cheers of thousands, he said, “And now, the greatest moment in Santutegi history, I present to you the Stones of Ehkia!” He whipped the cloth off the table, and a spotlight lit the stones, arranged in a metal, triangular frame that looked just like one hanging in the vault in Tessa’s home. Except this one wasn’t made of orichalcum, the bronze-gold metal found only in Atlantis, but some other silvery ore. A reproduction. The crowd went wild.
“You all know the history,” Criten continued. “Our founder Selak came to these shores with the refugees from our homeland and told us of the terrible betrayal by a segment of our own people—the Seers.” The crowd erupted in a cacophony of boos that rattled the stadium. “Well, I am here to demonstrate the truth for all of you today! The truth will come out, and I will debunk the myth that only the Seers can use the Stones of Ekhia. I will summon the Creators.”
Warrior of Fate Page 25