I gave Garrett a slow sneer.
I was ready for the hit and about to jump a couple feet back. I wasn’t going to leave Sprig, but I also wasn’t going to make it easy for Garrett. He was a slight man, and only a few inches taller than me. The other fae were his muscle, but Garrett was the brains, the leader. Before I could move, his hand cracked across my face. His speed shocked me and so did the intensity of the blow.
I flew into Cadoc, the barrel of his gun slipping and ramming into my eye. Cadoc pushed me off him with disgust and clubbed the back of my head with the pistol, taking me to my knees with a grunt. I could feel warm blood seep along the back of my neck.
My brain scrambled as I tried to get myself to concentrate. “Keep a hand on her at all times in case she tries to jump,” Garrett said to Cadoc. One hand landed on my neck as a fist collided with my face with such force I went flying again. I could tell this time the punches were packed with magic. The impact seeped into my skin, slicing through my muscles, creating a burning pain deep in my tissues, causing every nerve to spasm. Logic and focus dashed away under the dizziness of the agony. My head was yanked by my hair. My eyesight went spotty.
“I don’t like hitting girls, Zoey, but I’ve seen you fight. I know your kind. This is the only way you know how to communicate, to understand I mean business.” Garrett’s green eyes flamed with anger. His voice sounded like he was in a well... or I was. “I am tired of playing these games with you and Ryker. I am getting what I came for this time.”
I didn’t feel him hit me again, but I felt the back of my head hit the pavement before I blacked out.
TWENTY-SEVEN
“Ryker! Come out. We got your human.”
I lifted my aching neck as consciousness slowly seeped back to me. I felt two pairs of hands clutching my sides, holding me upright. Throbbing pain in my face and the back of my head cracked my lids open. We now stood in the middle of the unlit main drag. The glow from the moon from behind the clouds casted a silvery gleam. Garrett’s arms were out as he circled, his thick Irish accent rolled out into the wind. I struggled trying to understand what was going on. Garrett’s dozen men filled the street, all armed with swords and knives. I shifted my gaze to my left then right. Cadoc was on one side of me, and another huge fae on the other. Maxen and Sprig were not in my line of sight. My worry for Sprig overrode my desire to getaway. Not that I really could. With fae hands on me, there was no point in jumping, they would only come with me.
“Come on, Wanderer. You spineless motherfucker!” Garrett yelled. “You want your human to take your punishment for you? I shouldn’t be surprised. You did with Amara. What kind of man does that make you?”
Not one person looked out of their windows at the commotion occurring in the street. Either they were extremely afraid, or Garrett was glamouring us from human eyes, the latter being the most likely. It seemed strange this could be happening right in front of humans and they would have no idea.
“I know you hear me,” Garrett bellowed, walking backward to me. “If you don’t come out now, I will start cutting.” Garrett drew out a long, scary-ass dagger. The metal had a greenish tinge, which made my belly tighten. Seers could tell the difference between an earth-made weapon and a fae one. Their weapons had auras. The green tint told me it was the highest of fae-metal. Goblin made. Goblin metal was the most powerful and the most poisonous if it got into your system. The pointy end would kill a human, but the toxic metal was what destroyed fae. I was both. “I’ll start with little slices along her wrists, next her neck, then maybe I’ll take an ear or finger.”
“If. You. Touch. Her. I will gut you and hang you by your intestines.” A deep voice came out of the dark, and the enormous outline of a man stepped from the shadows with a battle axe in hand.
Even I sucked in a breath seeing Ryker standing there. I had seen him angry before, even livid. Here he was way beyond both. His form seemed double the size, wrath swelling his chest and shoulders. His white-blue eyes were so bright, the blaze reflected on his cheeks. He took a step, vibrating the ground.
“Ever hear of the Nordic Blood Eagle, Garrett? If you lay a hand on her, I will rip out your lungs and throw them over your shoulder. You can watch your lungs take their last breath.”
Garrett didn’t flinch as Ryker approached, though some of Garrett’s men did. I’d grown accustomed to Ryker. But this fae, the true Wanderer who stood in front of us? Holy. Shit. He was frightening. Even when he hated me, he never showed this side. I would have peed my pants, huddled in a ball, and cried. If I’d known he could be like this, I wouldn’t have taunted and messed with him as much as I did.
“Back down, Wanderer. You might be able to kill us, but not before I could slice her head off. So let’s keep your temper in check.” Garrett inched the blade up my neck.
Ryker blinked, his eyes locked on the knife. Then slowly his gaze moved to me, taking in my bruised and puffy face. His jaw twitched as his teeth ground together.
“I’m fine,” I said softly. I didn’t know if it was the truth, but in my gut I knew he needed to hear me say it. He was only seeing red, and the bloodshed would be bad if he made a move. I didn’t doubt Garrett would make a point and take my head off if Ryker made a move.
“Throw your axe down.” Garrett nodded to Ryker’s hands. Ryker rolled his jaw, gripping the handle harder.
“Do it, Ryker.” Amara stepped out, touching Ryker’s arm. He jerked, almost like he was going to swing it at her but caught himself.
Garrett shook his head and snorted at seeing Amara walk up. “Oh, Amara, I’ve missed you. Been lonely at the house without you.”
She glared at Garrett. “No one else to harass?”
His green eyes sparked. “Not one I enjoyed as much as you.” There was a strange tone to his words, like there was a hidden meaning only they understood.
A low growl emanated from Ryker.
Amara pushed at Ryker’s hand, lowering the axe. “Just do what he says.” Amara directed her head to me, implying without words whose life was being threatened.
“Let me give you some motivation.” Garrett moved the tip of the blade over my chest. Blood gathered along the thin line he cut. Goblin metal felt like a thousand hot coals being shoved inside your wound. I groaned in pain and sucked in at the sharp sting, my eyes watering as I held my tongue.
Ryker’s axe hit the ground, ringing on the brick-lined road.
“That’s better. Now I feel we can have a civilized conversation.” Garrett’s knife moved to my neck.
“You don’t think I couldn’t kill you with my bare hands?” Ryker rolled his fingers into balls.
“You’re right.” Garrett nodded and men from all directions lunged at Ryker. He reacted, his fist knocking back the first two men.
“Ryker, stop!” Amara screamed as a few fae grabbed her, pulling her back. Ryker ignored her, continuing to fight the throng of men. A few got close enough to carve at his arms with their knives. He roared as the goblin knives sliced his skin.
Pain exploded at the side of my neck, and I screamed out involuntarily.
Ryker froze.
“I will cut the artery next if you don’t behave. Your actions will be what kills her.”
Ryker snarled but didn’t move. Eight men with fae-welded blades surrounded him, pushing him to his knees.
“Good work, Garrett,” a low voice cut through the air, stopping everyone. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped from the darkness. Every inch of him screamed cold, powerful, and commanding. There was something about him I instantly feared, but it was the man’s aura that iced the blood in my veins.
He was a demon.
There were as many types of demons as there were fae, most exceedingly unpleasant. The most dangerous types of demons were the ones with yellow eyes. He was not one of those. Thank goodness. From his aura I couldn’t tell what type he was.
He was striking. Handsome, intriguing, and intimidating with his sharp, chiseled features. He appeared to be in his early
forties, but was probably centuries old. Dressed in a dark suit, the man’s hair was so blond it almost was white. The sides were cut short and the top was smoothed back. His eyes were so dark navy blue they almost appeared black, blending in with his pupils.
Vadik. I somehow knew it without needing any confirmation. When he glanced at me chills ran up my arms. I could sense the ruthlessness in him. There was something cruel and calculating in his eyes.
Ryker stared at him, his fury replaced with apprehension. This was bad. Very, very bad.
“Sir.” Garrett gave Vadik a nod. Vadik strolled casually by Ryker, Amara, and me.
“What is that?” Vadik pointed behind me. Maxen walked into my peripheral, a sleeping monkey hanging from his hands. Sprig. Seeing his chest rising and falling sent relief through me. He was still alive.
“It’s their pet.” Maxen snarled at the unconscious monkey.
“Oh, right. The manufactured creature.” Vadik lip rose in disgust. “Kill it.”
“No!” I screamed, pulling against my capturer’s hold.
Vadik tilted his head, finally really taking me in. “I thought your kind hated fae. Wanted us all dead or a lab experiment like this thing.”
“Don’t hurt him.”
Vadik shoved one of his hands into his slacks, the other one rubbing at his chin. “Much has changed for you, hasn’t it, Collector?” He was letting me know he had done his research. He knew who I was.
“Clever to dye your hair. From afar, you’d confuse and dissuade your enemy from engaging you, believing the rumors they heard were false.” Vadik walked to me, taking the tips of my hair between his fingers. “Unfortunately, this disguise would only work on the incredibly inane.”
There was no doubt he was the most dangerous fae here. Power and magic oozed off him. I wanted to get us out of here, to jump to Ryker and Sprig, but the fae’s hands on my arms kept me in place.
The feel of Ryker’s gaze focused my sight on him. The nod of his head to the side was so slight I almost missed it, but I couldn’t mistake the way his eyes drilled into me, screaming, Don’t do anything stupid.
Vadik’s large frame moved gracefully toward Ryker. “Give me the stone.”
Ryker sneered while his eyes flashed. “I don’t have it.”
“You might fool others, but I know you. Better than you think. I’ve studied you for years. It was the reason I hired you.” Vadik’s studying gaze drifted over the Viking. “But I am far smarter than you, Wanderer. And there is a reason people fear me. I always get what I want. You can choose how this happens and how painfully.”
Ryker kept his face unreadable.
Vadik nodded to Garrett and his blade cut across my chest again. My legs gave out as the agony from the blade seared my skin. A cry sprang from my lips.
“Stop!” Ryker shouted. “Deal with me. Leave her out of this.”
“I will deal with you, but I never said the pain would be yours.” Vadik curved around, taking in the figure being held next to Ryker. He smirked and sauntered over to Amara, gripping her face between his fingers. “I will make those you care about pay for your obstinacy.” His words were meant for Ryker, but his attention was completely on Amara.
“Let me go,” Amara seethed at Vadik. There was no fear in her eyes, only irritation.
“Why?” Vadik pinched her chin firmer. “I am not pleased with you at all right now.”
Amara’s lids tapered with annoyance, but she didn’t pull from his grip.
“You kept a lot from me, Amara.” He pulled her face closer to him. “You really thought going against me was a wise decision?”
“I didn’t go against you.”
“You left. Destroyed my compound. Killed some of my men in the process.”
“So I’m being punished?” She tore her face from his hand.
“Yes. No one goes against me, including you.”
“You wouldn’t listen to me. I did what I had to do.” Indignation flamed her brown eyes. “If you let me do it the way I wanted from the beginning, you would have had it by now.”
Like fog rolling over a mountain, realization of the scene taking place crept over me, sinking to the pit of my stomach.
Vadik moved close to her. “I think we both should admit I sent in the wrong girl.” Amara flinched at his words. “I think this human would have done a better job in her sleep.”
“No! She wouldn’t have.” Amara pulled against the men holding her. “Taking me hostage last time was your mistake. You thought it would invoke him to act. I told you it wouldn’t, but you didn’t listen to me. Don’t turn this around on me now. By the time I came back, this human had burrowed in. It was going to take time to regain his trust again.”
“Well, I’ve grown impatient waiting.”
“You’ve been waiting for thousands of years. What were a few more months?”
“What. Is. Going. On. Amara?” Ryker’s voice was low and rough, his gaze slicing between them.
Her gaze fluttered over to Ryker, then reverted to Vadik. “Let. Me. Go. Now.”
Vadik sighed then nodded to the men behind her who released her arms from their hold. She rubbed at her biceps with irritation. “Was that necessary?”
Vadik seized her neck. “I thought you liked it rough?” He pulled her in, aligning their bodies, his gaze becoming primal. Amara’s lips frowned, but a glint of excitement and desire flickered in her eyes.
Bile slithered up my esophagus. There was obviously more than employee/employer relationship here. I felt sick.
Ryker was like a statue as he watched the woman he thought cared about him flirting with his enemy. I couldn’t imagine the betrayal he felt. “How long?” he asked.
Vadik moved away from Amara, strolling over to Ryker. “From the beginning. She was always mine. I sent her to seduce you, to learn you... find where you hid the stone after you vanished with it. From the moment you met her in Romania, she was playing you.”
Did Vadik let his lover fuck someone else because his desire for the stone was greater than her? And she willingly did it? Something about the way Garrett shifted next to me with irritation also told me there was a lot more going on there. Was she with him too?
The relationship fae had toward sex was different from what humans thought of it, but still... It felt wrong in many ways. And mainly because she had messed with Ryker.
“It was all a lie? Your escape? Is Croygen in on this also?” Ryker’s asked.
Amara brushed her hair out of her face. “The best lies are rooted in truth. Everything I told you about my breakout was technically true. Two things made Croygen the perfect person: his unwavering love for me and his connection to you. I knew he was probably the only person in the world who would be able to find you because of his link to you.
“We made sure Croygen heard about my capture, and as I knew he would, he came running. I couldn’t make it too easy for him or his crew to get me out, but there was no question he was going to. He bought the lie as easily as you did.”
“So you told him our whereabouts?” Ryker’s said through his teeth. “Why did you wait till now?”
“Amara didn’t tell me.” Vadik shot her a look before his attention came over to me. “It was your human who led us here.”
“What?” Ryker and I said at the same time.
“Your appearance in Seattle. Face splashed all over town on underground fighting posters, gave us an exact date and time. You provided the perfect opportunity.”
Ryker’s eyes flashed to me.
“But I-I got away. You didn’t get anything from me.”
Maxen snickered.
Vadik faced me with a gratified grin. “You may have gotten away unscathed, but your clothes didn’t. Maxen was able to plant a tracking sticker on your top before you disappeared.”
“A what?” My stomach sank at the memory of Maxen’s hand pressing onto my shoulder before I slipped into the crowd and disappeared.
“A minuscule, clear sticker you would never notice
unless you were looking for it.” Vadik folded his arms over his barreled chest. The earlier scene clicked in my head: the two little girls conversing with someone I couldn’t see; one of Vadik’s men trying to find the true owner of the clothing. “And you also provided the truth to the rumors I heard but were not confirmed.” Vadik frowned at Amara. She looked at the ground, dodging his accusatory stares. As an employee and mistress, she still had kept a lot from him. “A human procuring a fae’s powers from them... instinct wants me to kill you right here.”
Ryker leaned forward, dragging some of his captors with him. Vadik’s hand halted the Viking, his attention still on me. “Your very existence is a threat to fae. Not only are you a seer who worked for DMG, but you should not be alive or able to contain a fae’s powers. It’s unnatural, and you should be terminated.” Vadik stepped within an inch of me, leaning into my face. “I would love for your blood to water the earth under my feet. But you are more valuable alive than dead. For the moment anyway.” His voice went to a low threatening whisper. “If you even think about jumping, I will slice both your lover’s and your pet’s throats before you can even close your eyes.”
Maxen held up Sprig. The monkey was awake, his claws scratching at Maxen’s fingers as the fae pinched down on Sprig’s neck.
“Stop it!” I jerked forward, feeling the knife dig into my skin. “Leave him alone.”
Maxen loosened his grip. The sound of Sprig choking and gasping for air tore me in half as a small whimper hummed from my chest.
“Then I would do the wise thing and keep still. Even with powers you are still a human to me and easily disregarded. Garrett is exceptionally quick with a blade.” For emphasis Garrett pressed the sharp metal into my throat. Blood slipped over the metal down to my top. My stomach already coiled with nausea. The toxins slowing down my system made me feel feverish and weak. The two men on either side of me gripped me tighter as the contaminants seeped into my blood stream. “I am curious to see how quickly the goblin magic will affect you and how slow and agonizing your death will be.”
The Barrier Between (Collector Series # 2) Page 28