I nodded slowly, taking deep breaths to steady my nerves as I called on the aether contained in my surroundings, drinking it in.
I opened the passenger door and got out of the car, getting a faint sense of dozens of souls on the other side of the gate. It was as if I was hearing the song they broadcast into the astral plane through earmuffs, making it sound muffled and difficult to concentrate on. From earlier, when Cade and Killian had appeared at the compound, I knew what that meant. I was facing a large number of winged Tr’lirians, immortal and impervious to harm unless they lost their wings. But that wasn’t what I had in mind. I focused on the gate in front of me, straightened my shoulders and thrust my hands towards it, palms facing the ground. Beams of silver lightning shot out of my fingers, spearing into the gate.
It exploded with a huge whoosh, fragments of it raining down and bouncing off the barrier I had erected around Sam’s car and me.
Tr’lirians rushed through the gap, roaring in fury, swords held high. I sent out more lightning, waving my hands from side to side, shooting it into them. It wouldn’t kill them, but the impact sent them tumbling head over heels, unable to control their flight as they were flung back into the compound, landing with concussive thuds hundreds of metres away. They might be immortal, but not one of them bounced straight back up.
I didn’t let my success so far go to my head. I’d only bowled over a few dozen soldiers. Cade had thousands more. I had to get to the main house while I had the upper hand. I dived into the car and Sam accelerated the second I was in the seat.
I gripped the door and slammed it shut as he roared down the driveway.
‘You planning on blasting your way through the guard posts too, or is it my turn to have some fun?’ Sam asked.
‘They’re all yours. I need to conserve my energy for the main event,’ I said with a tight smile as I buckled my seatbelt and braced myself as best I could for the coming impact.
I hadn’t felt a drain on my abilities yet, but manipulating so much aether would inevitably take its toll on me. While the amount of aether I could draw on was infinite, my ability to control it was not. I had to concentrate, using everything I had to direct it where and how I wanted. It was my spirit, my body’s own form of aether, that gave me control over the energy existing in all living things. Far from being an infinite source, my body’s spirit would need time to replenish itself once I had used it all up.
Sam didn’t hesitate as we approached the first guard post, the BMW hurtling forward, ramming into the lowered barricade and ripping it off its supports. The car’s momentum slowed as it jolted from the impact. I gripped the dash with one hand and the armrest with the other, body rocking with each shudder of the big vehicle. When the shudders ceased we picked up speed as Sam prepared to ram the second barricade.
It fared no better than the first and soon Sam had the car screeching to a halt in front of the main house. We’d barely scrambled from the car before we were surrounded by hundreds of Tr’lirians. Many of this lot didn’t have wings and I could clearly hear the songs of their individual souls. I could reap them, but I wasn’t a murderer.
I formed a barrier around Sam and me as we marched towards the front door, using it to push anyone who got in our way aside. They pressed against the barrier, trying to force their way in or at least to stop us from going any further. The crush of bodies made it hard to see where we were headed, and it was getting difficult to make them shuffle back. At this rate I’d be exhausted before we made it to the top step, let alone got inside the building.
I pulled on Sam’s arm, getting him to stop as I closed my eyes and concentrated on sending out a continuous wave of aether. Instead of pushing at the Tr’lirians blocking our way, it ebbed and receded, picking up momentum as it went, until finally I sent it out in one huge whoosh that knocked everyone in the immediate vicinity to the ground. Sam and I swept through the fallen bodies and into the hall, coming face to face with Killian.
22
‘Stand down.’ Killian’s calm order sent a whirl of confusion through the Tr’lirians surrounding us, but they quickly obeyed and lowered their weapons.
I lifted my chin and glared at Killian, noting the empty hallway behind him. ‘Where are Chris and Rebecca?’
His top lip curled into a sneer. ‘They are no longer your concern. You and your detective need to leave, while you still can. Walk away now, and Cade will show you mercy. Remain, and your lives will be forfeit.’
The icy gleam in his eyes chilled me, but I refused to let it show. ‘I’m not going anywhere until my friends are free, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.’
‘No, you won’t. I know you. Davilian though you might be, you would never deliberately harm another to get your way, unless they were trying to kill you.’ He turned to the Tr’lirians who stood watching us. ‘You may leave. The reaper is no threat to me.’
A number of grumbles and dark looks were sent my way, but his people did as ordered and left the building via the front door. Once they were gone Killian gave me a cool smile. I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what he was up to.
‘You have already proved your willingness to sacrifice yourself to save others, but you no longer have anything Cade or I need. You have nothing to bargain with. As I am unarmed, and pose no immediate threat to you, I know you will not harm me.’
I wanted to prove him wrong. To reach out and grab his soul, yanking it from his body and dangling it in front of him until he gave me what I wanted, like I’d once done to Almorthanos. But he was right. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to kill Almorthanos when he was helpless in front of me. I couldn’t carry through on a threat to kill Killian, not unless he attacked me or Sam. Even then, I wasn’t sure I could do it. But that did not mean I was backing down without a fight. I’d just have to come up with another way to free the others.
‘I’m not leaving until I’ve seen Chris and Rebecca. And I want to know where the Davilians are. You’ve got them stashed somewhere. That’s how you got Talaom on side, by threatening their safety or agreeing to tell him where they are.’
His expression gave nothing away, but I knew I was right. I moved closer to Killian, bringing Sam and the barrier I had created with me.
‘You’re right. I’m not a killer. I won’t hurt you to get you to free my friends or tell me what I want to know. But what I can do is bring this compound down around all of our ears. It’s important to you, to whatever schemes you and Cade have been cooking up ever since you were made mortal, and I’m going to take it all away.’ I crouched down, placing my hands on the floor, searching for the aether that existed in the ground below the compound’s foundations.
The building shook as the aether responded to my will, forming cracks in the foundation of the main house, spreading fast to include every building. The shaking became more violent as I pushed the cracks further, extending out into the surrounding estate.
I looked up at Killian, a fierce grin on my face. ‘I hear you’ve been buying up the properties in Greenlakes, and are all set to create a haven on Earth for your people. Well, looks like you might need to get back in touch with your real estate guys. Once I’m done here this estate will be nothing but rubble.’
He moved towards me, anger twisting his handsome features into an ugly mask. I sent out a ripple of aether in his direction, making the floor undulate beneath his feet. He lost his balance, tumbling to the ground. He tried to rise several times, and each time I dropped him back down.
Cracks appeared in the walls as the house shook with each movement and I heard cries of alarm from all around me. Dust and bits of plaster fell from the ceiling. Thanks to the barrier, Sam and I were protected from falling debris. Killian and his men were not so lucky. As the tremors grew more violent and the entire house shook, people rushed down stairs and out of doors, making for the front door.
Killian slipped into the astral plane, his form going hazy, narrowly avoiding getting squashed by a large section of ceiling.
Even blurred, there was no mistaking the fury in his icy blue gaze.
‘Enough.’ The shout came from behind Killian.
I looked past him to where Cade stood in the entrance to the main room of the compound. Chris and Rebecca were on either side of him, arms held by winged Tr’lirians. They were all in the astral plane and the worry I’d had about hurting Chris and Rebecca by creating a mini earthquake subsided. But while they were uninjured, they were far from free.
‘Let them go, Cade, or I will make sure everything you have built on this plane is destroyed.’ I no longer needed to touch the ground to control the aether. I stood and faced him straight on.
‘You don’t scare me, girl, and I would rather see it all gone than give in to the threats of a Davilian.’ He waved his hand and the men holding Chris and Rebecca stepped out of the astral plane, pushing their captives in front of them. They forced my friends to their knees and drew swords, glaring balefully at me while they placed their weapons against Chris and Rebecca’s necks.
‘You have three seconds,’ said Cade. ‘Stop whatever it is you’re doing, or they die.’
I let the rumble of the ground beneath us subside, the merciless look in his eyes telling me this was no bluff. But even though I had let go of the aether, Cade did not order his men to stand down.
‘You got what you wanted. Let them go,’ I said, a tingle of apprehension sweeping over me.
Cade gave a nod and the Tr’lirian holding Chris moved his sword, but did not release him. The one with his sword pressed into the back of Rebecca’s neck did not move at all. He tightened his grip, preparing to strike.
Killian got to his feet. ‘Cade, what are you doing?’
Cade focused on him. ‘Those that defy me must die.’
‘She’s my daughter. You can’t–’
‘Silence.’ Cade’s wings unfurled, filling the hallway. ‘I am your clan leader. It will be as I command. If the girl does not submit to my rule she will die, along with anyone else who refuses to obey me.’ His fierce expression did not soften as he looked at Killian. ‘You can make more daughters, full Tr’lirian ones, who will be raised to know their place. This one is not worthy to marry my son. He, at least, has agreed to fulfil his duty, to uphold the deal he made in return for us retrieving the reaper’s body. Yet your daughter still refuses to submit to my will.’
‘She will do as she is told, I promise. My daughter will marry your son.’
The look on Rebecca’s face said she wanted to say something, but I was glad when she remained silent. With the mood Cade was in, all it would take was one wrong word for him to order her execution.
I tested the aether around me, tested my control of it to see if I could slide a barrier between Rebecca and the sword at her neck as well as cover Chris. It was hopeless. I couldn’t find a gap, and bludgeoning my way through was a sure-fire way to get Rebecca killed, and maybe Chris too. Even if I used aether to wrench them both out of their captors’ grasps, I couldn’t guarantee being able to do it quickly enough, get them far enough away, to stop them from being hurt.
I’d lost, defeated by Cade’s willingness to kill to maintain control.
Sam’s hand gripped mine. I shot him a reassuring smile and straightened my shoulders. Just because Cade had won this round did not mean I was ready to give up completely. I would find a way to get Chris and Rebecca out of here.
Cade indicated for the man holding his sword ready to execute Rebecca to step back. Chris instantly moved forward to help her to her feet. He put an arm around her waist and guided her to a short distance away from the Tr’lirians surrounding Cade and Killian. Meanwhile, dozens more of them crowded into the hallway. I didn’t need to look behind me to know they had blocked off any chance Sam and I had of retreating.
Chris shot me a look of warning, before addressing Cade. ‘Father, you’ve got what you wanted. Let Tyler and the detective go.’
Cade took his eyes off me to glare at Chris. ‘Do not presume to tell me what to do. You are not my only son. I can easily adjust my plans to make use of one of them instead.’
Chris’s eyes widened at the mention of potential brothers. He quickly smoothed his expression and gave Cade a slight bow. ‘Of course, I would never tell you what to do. I just wanted to avoid any potential scrutiny. Lockwood is a police detective, one with strong ties within the local community. If he were to disappear, it could bring unwanted attention to us.’
Cade stared at Chris for a long moment. ‘Very well, the detective may leave. But not the reaper.’
Sam stepped forward, fists clenched. ‘If you think I’m leaving here without Tyler, you need to think again.’
‘Relax, Detective. Despite everything she has done to annoy me, I have no intention of harming her.’ Cade wore a smile probably meant to be reassuring, but it fell far from the mark.
Sam obviously thought so too. ‘You really expect me to believe that? To trust you? She stays, I stay.’
‘You do not get to make demands. Besides, I’m sure Tyler will be the first to urge you to leave. After all, once you are gone I’m going to give her what she wants.’
I narrowed my eyes. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Killian tells me you want proof your fellow Davilians are alive and being cared for. Once your detective leaves I’ll take you to see them. You can judge their well-being for yourself.’
‘Tyler’s not going anywhere with you, not without me.’ Sam bristled, taking hold of my hand and gripping it tight.
“I’m afraid, Detective Lockwood, that even if I wished you to join us, it would be impossible. You need to be able to access the astral plane, to travel to where the Davilians are being housed. As you have no Tr’lirian blood in you whatsoever you are incapable of accompanying us.’
‘I’ll go with her,’ said Chris, letting go of Rebecca and stepping forward.
‘Your place is here, with your fiancée.’ Cade gave Chris a cool smile. ‘But as I understand your reluctance to leave Tyler in my care, I hereby vow she will come to no harm while we make this journey. This is my vow to you, father to son, I will carry her myself and neither I nor any of my clan will attempt to harm her in any way as she ascertains the wellbeing of her people.’
‘A vow to a son you threatened to kill just minutes ago, or replace if he doesn’t obey your every whim?’ I made no attempt to hide my scepticism. I could see from the looks on Sam and Chris’s faces that they felt the same way.
‘Do you want to see your people or not? I will not make this offer again.’
I hesitated, aware of the danger in trusting Cade’s vow. But what if Talaom was right and the rest of the Davilians were in danger? I had to take this chance. There was just one thing I had to take care of first.
‘Sam leaves, before I go anywhere with you.’
‘Very well.’ Cade turned to his men. ‘Escort the detective to his vehicle and see to it he leaves the compound and does not return.’
Before Sam had a chance to protest, four of the Tr’lirians grabbed hold of his arms and dragged him away from me. No matter how much he kicked and cursed, he couldn’t break their grip as they steadily carried him out the front door.
Though it hurt to have to block out Sam’s voice as he called my name, I turned to face Cade, conscious of the concern in Chris’s eyes as he watched on.
‘Let’s do this.’
23
Cade strode forward and took hold of my arm. With rough movements, he turned me around so my back rested against his chest. His arms shifted to my waist, wrapping around my torso as he pulled me even closer.
Uncomfortable being held so intimately by anyone other than Sam, I attempted to put some space between us. His grip tightened even more, and I could feel the rise and fall of his naked chest against my back.
‘Killian, make sure neither my son nor the detective do anything stupid while I’m gone,’ said Cade, the rumble of his deep voice vibrating through my body.
Before I could say anything, he laun
ched himself into the air.
I let out a startled squeak, sure we were going to ram into the ceiling. But he seamlessly slipped into the astral plane. I shuddered as I was pulled physically into a landscape usually reserved for souls. I’d travelled extensively in the astral plane in my astral form. This was nothing like that. Then I flew with ease. Now, it felt like I was being pulled through a swimming pool, my skin rippling as a dry wave passed over me. I had no time to process this strange sensation before being hit by another. We had reached the ceiling.
My head passed through the layers of timber and carpet as we emerged into the room above the hall, the drag so strong I thought it would pluck me out of Cade’s arms and leave me stuck halfway between floors. When the rest of my body made it through without incident I sucked in a breath, relieved to be back in open space.
My reprieve was short lived as we continued up and through the next two floors. I didn’t breathe easily until we reached the construction area. Not that I was feeling comfortable.
I was in Cade’s arms, the arms of a man who had shown no compunction in getting rid of anyone who stood in his way. Not the safest place to be at any time, let alone when he was flying and I was in my physical body.
Once we cleared the building Cade stopped, hovering in mid-air about ten metres above the metal framework for the extension.
‘Why have we stopped,’ I asked, craning my neck in a useless effort to see his face.
Cade didn’t respond to my question, but I got my answer when a dozen Tr’lirians appeared in the air around us. Once the escort had arranged themselves he set off again, the powerful sweeps of his wings carrying us high into the sky. The forms of the Tr’lirians flying in formation around us grew hazy as they also entered the astral plane.
I didn’t want to look down, to see how far from the ground I was, but couldn’t help myself. It was dizzying, seeing the compound so far below me. I closed my eyes until my head stopped spinning. This was nothing like the times I’d flown over Easton previously.
Silver Reaper (Reaper Series Book 3) Page 13