Edge Of Danger

by Cherry Adair

  It moved well, she thought with satisfaction, and its eye scans were excellent. Earlier she’d laid out seven pens on the table. Five black, two blue. “Pick up the blue pen on the left.”

  Mechanical fingers deftly lifted the correct pen from the table.

  “Shit. That’s amazing,” Gabriel said behind her.

  “So precise,” MacBain murmured admiringly. “What an exceptionally clever young woman.”

  “Hell,” Eden said absently, leaning over to tap out a series of numbers on the keyboard beside her. “No. No. No.” She sent the new data to the bot, who’d crushed the pen instead of just holding it. “Damn it. This needs more time. I want to—”

  “Eden?”

  She finished another sequence, glancing up at Gabriel almost absently as she considered adding one more feature.

  “We’re not going for perfect or even fully functioning,” he told her softly, feeling an empty ache opening inside him as he imagined the rest of his life without seeing her every day with just this look of intense concentration on her pretty face. The rest of his life remembering, but not seeing, the way her silky dark hair looked just-out-of-bed mussed all the time.

  He drank in the way her big brown eyes resumed focus as she looked at him.Ah, Eden. What the hell am I going to do without you? “We’re going for getting this done as quickly as possible so we can send it in. Remember?”

  She blinked. “Right. Yes. Got it.” She straightened from her uncomfortable half-kneeling position to stand beside her chair. Digging her fingers into the back of the seat, her knuckles showed white as she gave him a resolute nod. “We’re ready.”

  While she’d been testing the bot, Gabriel had discussed at length the best coordinates for the drop with Sebastian and the team he’d assembled at T-FLAC HQ. The topographical map of the Yellowstone area was up on the other computer, which he’d set beside her monitor so they were side by side for easy viewing.

  “That blinking red circle is the drop zone. Knowing how fast Rex can travel made it pretty easy for Sebastian to calculate his approximate location in Yellowstone. So, now it’s just a simple case of zapping this bot into the general area and letting him—it,lettingit do its thing.”

  Eden turned to look. “Teleport?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Now?”

  “Right…now.” A glowing green dot blinked in the middle of Gabriel’s monitor as the robot was teleported in the space of seconds from the castle to the location selected in Yellowstone Park. “Let’s see what he can see.”

  “The tour bus was here, in the lot outside the Old Faithful Visitors Center in the Upper Geyser Basin. Verdine could easily obtain the schedule of when each geyser erupts.”

  “Don’t you think it’s a little too coincidental that Jason picked Yellowstone Park for this?” Eden asked.

  “The Park has some ten thousand thermal features, according to our geologists. Yellowstone is where the majority of the world’s geysers are located. It’s not coincidental. It makes sense.”

  “He could have chosen to contaminate the water supply from the Arctic. Or the Alps, or any other place with substantial mountain runoff and/or glacier melt. But he’s practically inyour backyard.”

  “Or T-FLAC’s backyard. Our headquarters is almost next door.” Gabriel watched as the bot navigated a small grouping of bodies on the boardwalk near Old Faithful. Gabriel’s gut tightened as the robot weaved through the grim site. Many of the bodies were already bloated from the high concentration of the toxin. And that wasn’t the only side effect. Most of the faces showed signs of sudden death with unclotted blood from all orifices. It was a testament to their quick but painful deaths.

  If Verdine wanted a graphic and shocking display for his bidders, he’d done a hell of a job.

  “Oh God,” Eden whispered hoarsely, hand to her throat.

  Gabriel expelled a breath as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her close. “Verdine is a sick bastard.”

  Eyes fixed on the screen, she shivered. Gabriel ran his hand up and down her arm. Her skin felt like ice. “I agree,” she said quietly. “But I guess my biggest question iswhy? ”

  “Yeah. Mine, too,” he admitted. “The simple answer could be that when dealing with terrorists it doesn’t have tobe personal. But I’m with you on this one. As are my cohorts both at T-FLAC and in T-FLAC/psi—we have a dozen teams working on this one.”

  “Why Yellowstone?” she demanded, frowning. “Why now? Why would a wizard that nobody’s ever evenheard about, pick a locationthis close to not only Edridge Castle, but also T-FLAC’s top secret headquarters? And three hundred milesis close.”

  He put his arms around her waist. “We’re working on finding the answer.”

  She leaned back, and wrapped her cold fingers around his forearms. Her sweet-smelling hair tickled his nose. She tilted her head, resting it against his chest as she watched the horrific video. “I’d say Jason has more on his agenda than a splashy and gory freaking marketing push. He wantsyou to notice him. He wants you to…engagehim.”

  “Yeah. I agree.”

  CNN was now exclusively covering the massive deaths in Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area. Thousands of people had already been evacuated. They believed at least three hundred people were already dead. On the TV hanging on the wall above their monitors, Gabriel observed the joint forces gathering at an “undisclosed” location as they tried to figure out who, how, and what.

  All T-FLAC operatives had been called in yesterday. Wizards from around the world were standing by to offer assistance.

  And Gabriel was waiting for Verdine to return to the castle. It was his logical next move.

  “Got you, you bastard!”

  “Thank God,” Eden whispered as the backpack came into view. They’d watched the bot’s progress for the past twenty minutes as it maneuvered past Rex’s victims. She wanted to look away from the shocking visuals, but she couldn’t, no matter how much the sight sickened her.

  Her penance for inventing Rex in the first place.

  These graphic images would stay with her forever.

  “Where is it?” Eden asked hoarsely as the second bot closed the distance to the little red backpack that was innocently leaning against a rocky outcrop inside a railing separating the wooden boardwalk from the geyser.

  “Fifty yards to the left. Verdine must be doing a visual feed as well. He’s waiting for the geyser to erupt; when it does the boiling water will hit the chemicals in the bag and disperse them, as well as drawing them back deep beneath the earth to contaminate the aquifer.”

  “Let’s ruin Jason’s day,” she said determinedly, opening the mic to talk to Bot 2.

  “Absorb backpack.”

  Nothing happened.

  She tried again. “Eliminate target.”

  Thanks to the GPS read on the monitor to her left, she was able to give the bot exact coordinates for the backpack. “Damn it. It’s not working! I’m not getting any error messages; why has it stopped responding?”

  “Verdine’s controlling it. Keep the bot moving, like he’s still trying.” Gabriel stood directly behind her.

  “Heis still trying, damn it.” She closed her eyes briefly in gratitude when she felt the brush of Gabriel’s fingers on her nape, and the cool strength of his hand as he left it there in a strangely comforting gesture. She’d desperately needed the human contact. His contact. With him there she could handle anything.

  He massaged the knots in her neck as he spoke. “Keep it going a little longer. Jesus,” he said roughly. “Verdine is strong. I can feel the son of a bitch pushing at our little guy. Okay, ease off a little. That’s it.”

  He stopped kneading. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve too…Watch this—”

  The little red backpack imploded. As soon as the bits of canvas and a murky yellow liquid started to drop to the ground they were vaporized and disappeared as if they’d never been. It took seconds. And then there was nothing there.

  Eden
snapped her mouth closed, and turned to look up at him. “How did—how did you do that from here?”

  “Channeled my powers through our bot’s eyes. That was the easy part. Now let’s issue an invitation. Send good bot over to say howdy to Rex.”

  “Go to within”—she glanced up at Gabriel. He held up five fingers—“to within five feet of Rx793,” Eden instructed. The monitor showed the closing gap as the new bot approached Rex.

  Suddenly the screen jumped and blurred to black. “Wait! No. Damn it!” She frantically started a number sequence to get the bot back online so they could see what was happening.

  Gabriel clamped his fingers over her wrist. “I have them.”

  She spun around to look at him. “What do you meanyou have them? I hadn’t finished yet! I haven’t instructed—”

  “You’ve done a great job, sweetheart. There’s nothing more we can do right now. Verdine’s magic is just too powerful to counteract. We’ll take care of Rex’s destruction later. For now, both bots are safe in suspended animation where Verdine can’t find them. He’s going to come for a little visit as soon as he realizes—”

  Eden, feeling a little sizzle pass through her, shot out of her chair, and grabbed Gabriel by the front of his T-shirt. “Oh, no you don’t, Gabriel Edge! Don’t you eventhink about zapping me back to Tempe now. I’m here for the duration.”

  “How the hell did you kn—”

  “Do you think I don’t know how that devious, wizardly brain of yours works by now? Do something so that I’m safe from whatever’s going to happen. But don’t send me away. Please,don’t make me leave you.”

  “Christ, Eden. Verdine has become one of the most powerful wizards around. There’s a good chance—”

  She brushed her lips across his. “Don’t say it. You do what you have to do, because I’m not done with you.”

  She hopped on one foot as she bent down to slide her Grandma Rose’s lucky ring from her toe. “Here. Put this in your pocket. I know it’s silly, but this ring has brought me luck, and kept me safe for twenty-seven years. And it kept me safe fromJason Verdine. It’ll do the same for you. Take it.”

  Gabriel took the small ring and stuck it in the front pocket of his jeans. “I’d rather send you back home where I kn—”

  “Are you going to meet him here?” Eden cut him off. Even though she wanted to cling to him and not let him go anywherenear Jason Verdine, she took a step back. “I’d think one of the bigger rooms downstairs would be better for this meeting, don’t you?”

  Gabriel touched her cheek and her heartbeat spiked as it always did. No matter what happened after tonight, they would always be hungry for each other.

  “Size does matter.” He bent to kiss her lightly on the mouth.

  When Eden opened her eyes they were in the dining room.

  Puzzled by the odd perspective she had of the room, she glanced around, but found that only her eyes could move. If she looked to the side all she saw was a heavy gilded frame. Odd.

  What on earth have you done to me, Gabriel Edge?

  Startled, Gabriel looked up.I can hear you. His lips weren’t moving.

  After everything that’s been going on around here, this comes as a surprise?

  You have no idea.“Hang in there, sweetheart. Until this is over, I’ve put you in a portrait where you can see, but not be seen.” He reached up and touched her face.

  Not that Eden could feel it. Or anything else for that matter. She was frozen in place. Hiding in plain sight inside one of the paintings hanging on the wall.

  His fingers trailed across what were, presumably, her lips and he looked into her eyes as he said softly, “Stay safe.”

  Clever man, but does it have to be quite this authentic? These stays are digging into me, and I think I have freaking bugs in my wig!

  “You look beautiful.” He grinned at her disgruntled tone, knowing it hid the nerves she was determined not to show him. She looked as prim and expressionless as all the other portraits, but her big, beautiful brown eyes shone out of the painting like a promise.

  Be careful.

  “Yeah. I will.” He patted his pocket. “I have my lucky charm.”

  Don’t mock it. Grandma Rose had very good karma.

  Since he knew he’d need every advantage, even the imaginary good fortune of Eden’s lucky ring, he simply nodded his agreement. “Gotta go to work.”

  Yes. Good plan. Concentrate on what you have to do. You’re better than he is. Stronger. More powerful. You’re going to do whatever you need to do to beat him, and then you’re going to make me…roundagain. Her tone was droll, and his heart expanded in his chest.Now go. Do whatever you need to do.

  The problem was, Gabriel thought as he rearranged the room to his satisfaction, and as Eden’s adorable, telepathic pep talk continued, hewasn’t stronger or more powerful than Verdine. But he was more determined, and hopefully smarter. It was going to have to be enough.

  He had a few tricks up his sleeve, but he suspected Verdine was capable of turning him into a grease spot on the carpet with only marginal effort.

  With nothing to do but wait, Gabriel poured himself a drink he didn’t want, and went to sit across from Eden’s portrait so he could watch her and the door at the same time.

  Slouching in an armchair, he swirled a few inches of amber whiskey in the bottom of a crystal glass as he waited. He surveyed the room. He’d shimmered the long table elsewhere, clearing a long, narrow space in the middle of the floor.

  Caleb had made arrangements to ensure Eden’s continued safety. When this was over, and it would be one way or another, she would go back to her life in Tempe, Arizona. His brothers and MacBain would make sure that she was safe and well cared for, for the rest of her life, if he didn’t make it.

  And in the event that he did make it, Eden would be safer far, far, far away from him. Once she left the castle he’d make sure she could never find it again. He knew she cared for him. Cared deeply. But she was a woman who deserved to love completely and be loved completely in return.

  She was so smart, so funny, so filled with the joy of life that it wouldn’t be long before she met a man who could, and would, give her everything she deserved.

  Gabriel’s chest ached as though someone had kicked him in the solar plexus. He rubbed the flat of his hand over the ache. Damn it to hell.

  He wanted everything for her.

  He wanted her future to be as filled with joy as his would be empty with loss. He wanted her to find a man to whom she could give her heart and soul. As he knew she would forever hold his. He wanted her to wake with sunlight on her face, while he would forever walk in shadows.

  He wanted her never to feel the ache of separation, never to feel a moment of loss, never to experience even a breath of pain.

  Because he was destined to live the rest of his life mired in those burdens. He would absorb the loss. The loneliness. The dearth of love.

  No matter how short a time he’d had with her, his love for her was going to have to warm him for the rest of his life. And she deserved to be ridiculously, blissfully happy. No matter how he felt.

  Jesus. He scrubbed his hand over his bristly jaw, wanting to scream at the fates for allowing this to happen. And yet, he thought morosely, staring into his untouched drink, how could he regret meeting Eden?

  God, this was hard. The hardest thing he’d ever done in his life.

  He wished that letting Eden go, doing the right thing, would make him at leastfeel like a victorious hero.

  He gave a short, mirthless laugh. Because the reality was he was already feeling like a victorious goddamnedmartyr. It wouldn’t be called a fucking curse if it was easy.

  There hadn’t been an Edge in five hundred years who’d managed to elude her powerful curse. No matter how hard they’d tried. No matter how desperately they’d wanted to.

  That witch Nairne sure as hell knew her stuff.

  Two sets of footsteps sounded in the hallway beyond the closed double doors. Years of
experience as a top T-FLAC operative helped him switch gears to focus on the immediate danger.

  Gabriel stayed where he was, stretching out his long legs, and resting the glass on his flat belly.

  Relaxed, at ease, preternaturally alert.

  One hundred percent focused on the now.

  The door swung open. “Master Duncan has arrived,” MacBain stated formally, and quite unnecessarily, since Duncan was standing right beside him.

  “So it would appear,” Gabriel gave his younger brother a lazy look. “Thanks, MacPain. Close the door behind you.”