The Barrier Between (Collector Series # 2)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Through where?” My head darted between Croygen and the spot he pointed at. I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

  “Otherworld door,” Croygen sniped.

  Ryker leaned into my ear. “Look closer. You should be able to see through the glamour.”

  I squinted at the area where Ryker was pointing. I didn’t know how I missed it. The air vibrated and pulsed like sound waves. I’d never seen one, but Seattle had continuously been a hotspot for these doors connecting our world with the Otherworld. It was how the fae traveled between realms.

  “Do you even know how to use these anymore?” Croygen snapped at Ryker.

  Ryker tilted his head and glared back. “Until recently, I didn’t have to use these fuckin’ things, but it doesn’t mean I forgot how. Not really all that difficult.” Ryker crossed his arms. “Oh sorry, I meant for me.”

  Croygen’s fists clenched.

  Ryker said Croygen was an old friend, right? If this was his friend, I’d hate to see his enemies.

  “If your little human toy knew how to work your powers, we could have been there by now.”

  Ryker disappeared from my side and in an instant was in front of Croygen, grabbing his throat. “Tell me again why I saved your life?”

  Saved his life?

  “Don’t think it hasn’t been a thorn in my side,” Croygen seethed.

  “Why are you helping us?”

  “I already told you. Because I want to be clear of my debt.”

  Ryker’s grip constricted around the pirate’s neck. “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Because you’re an untrusting, cocky son of a bitch!” Croygen hissed, saliva spraying from his mouth.

  “If you betray me or Zoey, I will hunt you down to my last dying breath. That is my oath to you.” Ryker shook him, his eyes burning.

  Croygen licked his lips as if to say “bring it.” These two were on the verge of tearing each other apart.

  “Ryker, stop.” I touched the arm holding Croygen dangling from the ground. “We don’t have time for this crap. Kill or make out with each other later. Right now we need to go.”

  “Ahhh, come on, Bhean. Some popcorn and a soda and this would have been like watching gladiators.”

  “Real gladiators or the movie?”

  “The one with obstacles and spandex.”

  “Of course.”

  Ryker let Croygen go, his neck imprinted with Ryker’s fingerprints. Croygen straightened his shirt out, his glare still on Ryker.

  “If you only knew what is ahead of you.” He smirked, shook his head, and walked away. Only a few feet into his steps he vanished.

  My stomach gurgled with his words. Was it too late to run? What were we getting into? I took a few steps backward then stopped. Ryker looked over his shoulder and held out his hand. He didn’t say anything, but I understood the gesture. We would do this together. Whatever was ahead of us, we would deal with it. It’s what we did.

  “I’m going home!” Sprig chirped excitedly as he held on to the flap of my bag and hopped up and down.

  “We’re not actually going to stay in the Otherworld,” Ryker said to Sprig.

  “I know, but even to feel its magic again when we pass through the doors will be enough.”

  Ryker tugged me forward and we stepped through together. Immediately a bustling energy sizzled through me. The air was thick as it brushed against my skin, sending my hair on end. The magic rushed through the space; my lungs struggled to breathe. Ryker kept his fingers securely through mine, never letting go. He escorted me in and out of doors so fast my head spun. We exited briefly into cities, like Paris and Sydney, to rural areas I didn’t have time to recognize. Finally, we caught up with Croygen, and together we all stepped through another door.

  My flip-flops crunched down on a bed of white powder. My skin prickled as cold snowy air circled around us. I clutched myself to hold any warmth to my body. “Shit! You could have told us we were going to the snow,” I exclaimed.

  Croygen smiled, his eyes glinting with delight.

  Now his outfit made more sense. I glared at him, but he was loving my discomfort too much. Sprig, in his excitement at our field trip, had passed out. He was warm and snug, curled in my bag. Lucky monkey.

  Croygen pointed ahead to a yurt.

  “Where are we?” My teeth were already chattering.

  “High in the mountains of Mongolia.”

  Ryker’s forehead furrowed, but he put his hand on my lower back and urged me forward. A tent would at least block some of the icy wind.

  As we got to the entrance of the tent, Croygen’s voice wafted over to us in a taunting jibe. “Good luck. I’m going to stay out here for a bit.”

  Ryker ignored him but took a deep breath.

  “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.” I looked at him. “Together.” He nodded; his lips were compressed into a thin line. Then we walked through the canvas flap.

  It was dark, lit only by a fire in the middle of the room and decorated simply with two cots on one side layered with furs and blankets. The other side held a table with maps and stacks of books. Four chairs, also adorned with soft pelts, circled the firebox.

  There were no herbs hanging or concoctions boiling in a cauldron as I’d imagined. Okay, maybe my idea of a shaman’s place was skewed from TV, but this seemed too minimal for even a hermit to live in.

  “Ryker?” A woman’s accented voice broke through the dimness. Our heads jerked in unison to the dark figure in the corner. A tall but thin silhouette emerged from of the shadows. A gasp tore from my lips.

  Ryker stiffened next to me. There was a pause before he muttered, “Amara?”

  FOURTEEN

  Amara?

  Here?

  Her waist-length plum hair sparkled under the firelight as she ran for the man next to me. Her small face and perfect lips were set in utter joy. She jumped into his arms, her mouth crashing against his, kissing him with a passion of two lovers who had been separated.

  Ryker didn’t counter with the same zeal, but it didn’t matter, he did respond. And seeing them together was like stepping into a frozen lake. Ice poured down my spine, waking me out of a dream. They looked ideal together. She was exquisite with her long elegant nose, perfectly symmetric face, dark eyes, and olive skin. She was clad in black military-style pants. She wore brown ankle boots and a long army green winter parka lined with brown faux fur. She was taller than me but small boned, and possessed the regal posture you only see in women who know they are stunningly beautiful. Amara’s beauty would be celebrated, remembered in history.

  The only blemish to her magnificence was a huge bruise near her eye and cheek and scabbed cuts over her face. She had been beaten.

  Ryker pushed her back from his lips, his mouth still ajar. “Amara, what are you doing here? How did you get away?”

  She glanced over me; from the top of my head to my shoes, she took me in. A frown creased her forehead. Her accented voice sounded snobby when she spoke. “This is the human Croygen told me about?” Her nose crinkled, as though I smelled bad.

  My shoulders naturally went back in defensive pride. “My name is Zoey.”

  “Zoey.” She repeated it like she’d said a bad word. Her eyes caught at my hair. “Why is this human trying to look like me?”

  I clenched a fist and felt my legs tense as though to spring at her. My inclination when insulted was still to fight. It had taken years for me to get this in check. Now with one look, one word, I was ready to throw her down.

  Ryker brushed past her questions and continued. “Tell me how and why you are here.”

  “It’s a long story. We can talk of those things later. I have missed you.” Her voice was deep and still inflected by her Romanian accent. She stood on her toes, kissing him again. This time he did not kiss her back. His eyes darted to me then away.

  I felt another stab, directly into my heart.

  “No. Now, Amara.” Ryker cupped her shoulders and pressed her back down on her
heels.

  She frowned but nodded. “Fine, but let us have a drink first.” She motioned to the fur-lined chairs around the fireplace and the kettle cooking on top of a metal box. The steam from the pot found its way to my nose, the smell of herbal tea seeped in.

  “Mara!” Ryker exclaimed. “What is going on? How did you get free? Where is the shaman?”

  She walked over to a boiling tea kettle; it hissed angrily. She grabbed a mitt before picking it up and pouring out two cups. The slight was not lost on me. I was human. She would not acknowledge me.

  “There was no shaman,” she finally replied as she added a splash of milk to both cups.

  “What?” Ryker’s brows furrowed. “What are you talking about? There is a shaman. I’ve met him... through you.”

  Her purple locks danced as she shook her head. “No. I mean I arranged this. He knows nothing.” Her dark eyes darted to me. “It was always me.”

  “You set this up?” Ryker strode to the fireplace, closer to her.

  I was locked in my spot. Shock, hurt, bewilderment, jealousy crashed inside my chest keeping me in place. I no longer felt the cold drifting in that had been wrapping around my legs and arms. The only outside sensation was Sprig’s rhythmic breathing inside my bag. It was the only thing grounding me, keeping my claws retracted. Pure jealousy worked its way through me like poison.

  “Please sit.” She picked up a cup, handing it to Ryker. “I will explain everything. I promise.”

  Ryker took the cup absently and sat in a chair, setting it on the ground next to his feet. He positioned himself on the rim of it, leaning his arms on his legs. The muscles in his shoulders curled up by his ears and the familiar tick at his jaw told me he was really on edge.

  Amara took a sip of her tea and sat across from him. Ryker peered over his shoulder, careful to not make full eye contact with me.

  “Zoey?” He nodded to a chair next to him.

  “Maybe I should go.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. It was a knee-jerk reaction. The long-lost lovers were reunited, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near them. If I had to see her kiss him once more, I was going to vomit on my shoes. And I was wearing flip-flops.

  Ryker’s white eyes fully sealed on mine. They were emotionless, except for a slight annoyance under the surface.

  “That might be better.” Amara reached her hand out for Ryker.

  He shook his head violently, his voice gruff. “Sit, Zoey.”

  My teeth ground together as I stepped around and sat down. I was normally good at hiding the anger and bitterness I felt, but I struggled to keep my resentment from broadcasting off my features like a TV screen. The wall I’d kept between us for so long was back in place.

  He must have seen the animosity in my face and turned away from me in a grumble. “Amara?”

  Amara shifted in her seat, taking another sip of tea. “After Garrett kidnapped me, he took me to Vadik.” Amara’s words reflected on Ryker’s jawline. “They hoped at first if they tortured me enough or starved me, I would talk and tell them where the stone is.”

  “But you don’t know,” he growled. It was true. Amara didn’t know. He told her the stone was somewhere in a cave near Mongolia. My gaze struggled not to look at his boot, the true location of the stone.

  She touched his hand again and despite myself, my eyes followed her fingers as they stroked his skin. “Vadik did not believe I knew nothing. After a while they discovered I would never tell, no matter how much they beat and tortured me.” She squeezed his hand. “We made a pact.”

  His face softened, his eyes taking her in.

  “I think they hoped you would come for me. Make a trade. I merely laughed at them and told them to kill me because they would never get anything from me.”

  What a martyr. Okay, I was being a bitch, but I didn’t trust her self-sacrificing story.

  “How did you get away?” Ryker asked.

  Amara’s head flicked toward the open door. “Croygen.”

  “Croygen?” Ryker stared at her with a guarded expression.

  “He heard I was taken.” Amara licked her lips, and Ryker shifted in the chair. Their body language conveyed to me there was more to this story than what she said. “He broke in and got me. He lost a lot of his men. But you know him. He wouldn’t stop until I was free.”

  Ryker stood up, the chair tipping over as his weight left the stool.

  “I knew with his connection to you, it was the only way I could find you.” Amara stood with him. “Croygen made sure I was safe here and went to find you.”

  Ryker folded his arm, staring at the ground. “I couldn’t come for you. I am sor—”

  “Stop.” Amara held up her hand, flattening herself to Ryker. “I know.” An intense moment passed between them; their eyes communicating an intimacy they had shared.

  I wanted to jump, to be kidnapped, anything to get me out of the room.

  Another man risking everything to save Ryker’s woman when he couldn’t had to rub Ryker’s pride wrong.

  “I heard what happened... with your powers.” Her hands glided up his arms. He jerked back. “Croygen told me. I didn’t believe it till he revealed that he’d seen it happen. Is this why you want to find Regnus?”

  “Do you know where he is?” Ryker came back at her with renewed interest. “I think he might be the only one who can possibly help us. Get my powers back to me.”

  “If anyone can, it will be him.” Amara nodded. “You are right to try and find him. He is probably the only one with enough magic to transfer them to you.”

  “We need to find him,” Ryker demanded. “Before it’s too late.”

  Amara’s head dropped, her hair covering her face from view. “It will be difficult.”

  “Why? What’s going on? Where is he?”

  She pressed her mouth together.

  “Where, Amara?” Ryker grabbed her shoulders. “Don’t fuck with me right now. Tell me.”

  My stomach dropped as she turned her face to him, anguish etching deep in her expression.

  “He has him,” she whispered.

  “Who has him?” Ryker gripped her harder.

  We all knew who she was referring to, but I needed to hear her say it. To confirm the wrenching sensation inside me.

  “Vadik.”

  The tattoos up Ryker’s neck flickered. He stared at her with strained tension. “What?”

  “Vadik took him to control me. He knew how close we are. He will do anything to get the stone, and he thought using Regnus would get me to finally confess.”

  “Vadik has him,” Ryker repeated.

  Pain shot up my arm. I looked at my hand and my nails dug deep into my palm, drawing blood. All our hopes had been on finding this one man.

  “It was hard for me to leave him. You know he’s like a father to me. The only kind man I knew growing up. I don’t think Vadik will hurt him. He will use him as leverage. We have to get the stone.”

  Ryker pushed away from Amara and ran his hand through his hair. “Fuck!” he yelled, making me jump.

  “If we get the stone, we can offer it to them as a bargaining tool for Regnus.”

  “What? We are not giving up the stone.” My voice found its way up my throat.

  Amara whipped around, her narrowed eyes stormy. “I never said we’d give it to him, but we need to have it. We need to get Regnus. I will not watch Ryker die because of you, and he seems to want you to live.”

  It was like a brick slammed into my chest. “What? What are you talking about?” My gaze drifted from Amara to Ryker. His skin pinched around his mouth, not combatting her words. What the hell was going on? What had he not told me? “Ryker?”

  He cleared his throat, and his white eyes turned to me. “If fae lose their powers, it will eventually kill them.”

  My eyes widened as the information sank in.

  “Not right away. It will be years, but from the moment you fully take the powers, I’m doomed.”

  The world c
ollapsed around my feet. “Wh-why didn’t you tell me?”

  Ryker shrugged his shoulders. “Because.”

  Ryker’s layers went deep, and I still had not reached the one where he felt he could completely trust me. The sting of it lashed me across the heart.

  “Why would he tell you?” Amara looked at both of us. Irritation flickered behind her eyes. “Your kind would only use it against us.”

  “I would never—”

  “Really? I know what you are. A Collector for DMG. Isn’t that entirely what you do? Find our weakness so you can hunt us down?”

  My mouth opened to retaliate, but no words fell out. It was exactly who I was, once, until Ryker and Sprig changed me. I was no longer a Collector.

  “I thought so.” She nodded and turned back to Ryker.

  “So what do we do?” I struggled with the idea that Ryker was dying. If I didn’t die, he would.

  “We get Regnus,” Ryker stated.

  “We get the stone,” Amara said at the same time.

  My words belted out at Amara before they had approval to do so. “We will not barter the stone, no matter what. I thought that was the pact.”

  Amara’s lids narrowed. “And what do you know of it, human? You think because you have been with him a few weeks you understand what is going on? You know nothing.”

  My feet moved toward her, but Ryker stepped between us before my fist could encounter her perfect face. “Whoa.” He grabbed for my wrists, holding me back. “Zoey, look at me.”

  My eyes were still locked on her. She wasn’t scared nor was she taunting me; she merely watched me with curiosity.

  “Look. At. Me.” He damn well knew with one look he could calm me, but I didn’t want to be soothed. I wanted to punch and kick, releasing the anger, frustration, and sadness building up. Ryker shook me. “Zoey?”

  Blowing out air, my gaze went to his, falling once again into the icy pools of his eyes. Damn him!

  He squeezed my hands and let go, turning back to Amara, his voice forceful. “Do not insult her again.”