“Call it self-interest. I do not want to go back to Mithra. If Giselle dies, I’ll have to. So I’ll protect the place.”
“You didn’t have to promise.”
“It’s motivational. So I don’t forget myself and let everyone die out of spite. Plus, despite current appearances—” His gaze ran over her disparagingly. “You’ve been a decent bet so far.”
“Let’s hope your luck doesn’t run out, then.”
He smiled thinly. “Nor yours.”
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TUTRESIEL WAS GONE, AND MAX HAD JUST FINISHED BUS-ing the last of her dishes when Niko and Tyler returned. They limped in, both looking like they’d had a fight with a tank. Max examined them, her arms crossed.
“Did you win?” she asked, certain that they had gone after Alexander. They had disappeared when he left Giselle. It was too much of a coincidence not to draw the obvious conclusion.
Niko grimaced. He had black eyes, and his nose was swollen and crooked. His mouth was pulpy, and his exposed skin was black and blue with hints of healing yellow and green. Tyler looked much the same. They had washed away the blood, and both had damp hair. Tyler held Niko up, the other man’s leg dragging.
“Nope,” Niko said with surprising good humor. “Got our asses kicked.”
“A hell of a lot more than our asses.” Tyler groaned as he started them both toward the food tables. “I don’t think I’ve ever been hurt this bad.”
“Then apparently I have to work you harder,” she said sardonically. “What about Alexander?”
“Got some hits in on him. Shit, but he’s quick,” Niko said, stuffing a bread roll into his mouth. “And he has a lot of moves I’ve never seen. He’s been holding out on us.”
“He’s also not stupid,” Max said, torn between laughter and annoyance. “What brought this on?”
“We wanted to make sure he was going to have your six going to California,” Tyler explained, piling a plate up with one hand while trying to steady Niko. “Wanted to make him promise.”
Max boggled, fury spinning hot in her gut. “You were going to force him into a promise? For me?”
“For us. We want you back,” Niko said unrepentantly. “Seemed like a good idea. Next time, I’ll take more Blades to the party.”
“You’re lucky he didn’t kill you,” Max gritted. “I might still do it. When I get back from California, we’re going to have a serious talk about rules.”
“If you make it back.” His voice had turned to stone. He shook off Tyler’s help and limped to the table. “Were you going to tell us about it or just sneak off without a word? And are you going to tell us about that wave of magic a minute ago? You promised something. What? To whom?” He glared at her furiously, the humor of a few moments ago gone. His Blade had risen, and his lip curled in a snarl.
Tyler set his plate down with a sharp click and glared at her, his thumbs hooked in his waistband. “So are you going to tell us? Or are we mushrooms—kept in the dark and piled with shit?”
Max hesitated. Too many damned secrets. She blew out an annoyed breath. “All right. I didn’t promise anybody anything.”
Niko frowned. “Then who?”
“If you must know, Tutresiel promised to guard this place until I get back.”
Both their jaws dropped. Neither thought much of the angel.
“He did?” Tyler asked.
“He did.”
“Why?”
“Ask him.”
She glanced at the door. Thor stood outside, looking like he’d eaten a rotten egg. He caught her look and came in reluctantly. She looked past him.
“Where’s Alexander?”
He winced. “He’s in his apartment. Says you know where to find him if you want to see him.”
Max’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her Prime rising. Her fingers curled into claws. “He said what?”
“That you know where to find him if you want him.”
“I see.”
She glanced at Niko and Tyler. “Have Magpie put a cooler together for the trip, and prep a vehicle for me. Make sure it’s got a full weapons kit and emergency supplies.”
With that, she stalked away, her fury growing with every step. Before she’d gone ten feet, her Prime had gone into a complete rage.
MAX SLAMMED OPEN ALEXANDER’S DOOR WITHOUT BOTH-ering to knock. His wards flared and gave beneath her lock spells.
He was waiting inside, dressed in black and leaning back against the opposite wall, his arms and legs crossed. His eyes gleamed. His Prime was as roused as hers.
“Took you long enough,” he said, straightening.
She shut the door hard. “What the fuck makes you think you don’t have to answer to me?” she demanded.
“What makes you think I do?”
“Because Giselle claimed you, and that makes you one of my Blades. Unless you want to challenge me for Prime? Is that what you want, Slick?” Her voice dropped to a low singsong. She was ready to explode, though whether she wanted to hit or kiss him more, she didn’t know.
“I am not bound here. I am nothing here.” He spat the words with equal fury. “Neither one of you will give me the time of day. So I might as well act the part you have given me. So no, I do not think I have to answer to you. I am tired of this limbo.”
That caught her up. She’d told him once to leave, that he could have his freedom—he was unbound. There was nothing keeping him here. But he’d been determined to stay, and she’d begun to get used to that. Now, the thought of him going made her heart ache. And that pissed her off.
“So you have decided to leave?” she said, her throat tight.
“No, dammit.” He lunged forward and grabbed her arms in a bone-crushing grip. “I want to belong here. What is it going to take? Do I need to promise never to take Prime? I will, if that will put things to rest. But I am done with this half-life. Choose whether you want me here or not.”
He stared at her, waiting. Her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth, and her heart pounded painfully against her ribs.
“Not my choice. It’s Giselle’s. Take it up with her.”
“The hell with that.” He shook her hard, then slid his hands down to hold her hips. He pulled her against him, his lips inches from hers. “I want to know what you choose. That is all that matters.”
Crap crap crap. Being this close to him made her stupid. Heat pooled in her stomach, and want tingled through every single one of her cells. Tutresiel was pretty, but Alexander made her want to rub herself all over him.
“I told you. I don’t fool around with the men in my covenstead,” she said hoarsely.
“I am not of your covenstead,” he said, his mouth inching closer. “You have made that all too clear. So that must mean there is nothing to hold us back. Unless you do not want me. For the record, I want you, and I want to do a lot more with you than just fool around.”
With that, he closed the distance between them. His lips pressed hard against hers. His tongue slipped into her mouth and tasted her with strong, determined sweeps. She gripped his shoulders, her fingers digging hard into him, and kissed him back. She tipped her head and pressed herself closer. He groaned, and his hands came up to grip her head as he deepened the kiss.
Heat and pleasure rocketed through Max. Her body ached for his touch, and she ground her hips against his with hungry eagerness.
Suddenly she pulled back, pressing the back of her hand against her throbbing lips. She was breathing hard, and so was he. His fingers were tense against the back of her neck. He looked down at her, a hard, cold look.
“Are you saying no? Should I be leaving here?”
Her eyes narrowed. “If I say I don’t want to screw you, then you’ll walk out? Is that the deal, Slick?”
She shoved against his chest, and he fell back a step, his arms dropping to his sides. Her stomach knotted, and the euphoria she’d been feeling turned sickening. She’d stopped the kiss to catch her balance. His touch dro
ve her out of control, like she was being tossed around in a tornado. She wasn’t sure how she liked it. But now, anger warred with contempt and disappointment.
“Good luck with that. Giselle will send you out of here with a toe tag. She doesn’t want you spilling our secrets.”
He gave a harsh laugh. “I am not worried. I will leave when I want, and she will not send anybody to hunt me. She cannot spare anyone from guarding Horngate.”
He stepped closer until he was barely an inch away. Max bristled, standing firm.
His breath brushed her face, his eyes hot with a churn of emotion. “I want you. More than I can say. But I am done waiting for you and Giselle to figure out what to do with me. I will go with you and help you get your family. I will watch your back. But if you have not chosen me before we return, then I will disappear, and you will not see me again.”
“I don’t like ultimatums, Slick.”
He spun around and picked up his duffel, sliding the strap over his shoulder. “And I do not like swinging in the wind. It is almost dark. Are you ready to go?”
It was a dismissal. Max clenched her teeth. He was right. He did deserve better from Giselle. He’d proven himself loyal to Horngate. But this—
It was more than she was ready for.
“See you topside,” she said, and walked out without looking back.
Inside the door to her own apartment, she sagged back against the closed door, her eyes shutting. Her body still felt the rush of Alexander’s touch, and it was good. So damned good.
She pushed herself upright and went to her bedroom. She stripped off her clothes and headed to her bathroom. It was half the size of her bedroom. In the center was a ten-foot-wide tub cut into the stone floor. Hot spring water bubbled up from the bottom and spilled over a set of inch-wide notches around the top. Beside it was a teak basket of shampoo and soap. Beyond was a glassed-in shower with dual heads. Opposite was a towel cupboard and a granite sink with a broad mirror above it.
Steam rose to the ceiling and vanished into the spell set there to collect it. Max stepped down into the tub, grabbed the soap and scrubby, and began washing away the stink of the fire and her sweat from dealing with Scooter. She rubbed her arm where the magical sleeve felt cold against her skin. LoJacked. She’d been Lo-Jacked like a fucking car. He’d know where to find her no matter where she went. She clenched her fist. Her grip was strong enough. A prickle like an electric pulse ran from her elbow to her wrist. She grimaced. It was a small price to pay for the freedom to retrieve her family. She snorted. She wasn’t free. Scooter had put her on a leash. If she didn’t come home soon, he’d be dragging her back.
Her mind ran back over the images in the vision Scooter had showed her. Was her family still alive? Or had they become food for those creatures?
Fear screwed through her. It went deep, piercing through all of her armor to prod at her where she had no defenses. She curled her knees up to her chest, pressing her head against them, her mouth open in a silent cry. While her family was safe, she’d always felt like she could survive. But now she felt helpless, and the fear of what might be happening to them—what might have happened already—was more than she could bear. What if she lost them? She was supposed to be strong enough to protect them.
She thought of her sister, Tris, with her two girls and her brother, Kyle, with his stepsons and her parents—
They would have been like wheat under the thresher when the creatures overran the house.
Hard shudders ran through her. They were dead. They had to be. But then she remembered Jim. Had the witch made it to the house? If anyone could have, it would be him. He’d fought the blue goblins—these creatures couldn’t be any worse.
If he had made it, there was hope. Which meant she had to stop wallowing and get her shit together before they were all slaughtered.
Spurred by the thought, she climbed out and rinsed off in the shower, then dressed and combed her hair before tossing clothes and an emergency kit into her duffel. She added a bag of M&M’s and a couple of Gatorades.
She straightened and grabbed a pair of sunglasses from her top drawer. She shoved her cell phone into her pocket and hooked the glasses in the neck of her shirt before glancing in the mirror. Thanks to Scooter’s healing, she no longer looked like a refugee from a Nazi death camp. Which was something. After all, she’d been awake for all of a few hours and was already over the day’s quota on near-death experiences. She could hardly wait to see what happened next.
She did not have long to wait. When she got to the lobby inside the main entrance to Horngate, she found Oz waiting for her. He was about a mile past pissed off.
“You were leaving without saying a word to me?” he demanded, folding his arms across his broad chest in front of the door.
He was tall, with wide, muscular shoulders and sun-streaked dark blond hair. With his square jaw and dimpled cheeks, he looked like an all-American frat boy. He was, in a word, gorgeous, though not Max’s type. She liked her men wiry and dark like Alexander—
She yanked her mind away from that thought and scowled at Oz.
“I’m in a hurry,” she told him. “My family is in trouble. I don’t have time to waste. Or is there something specific you needed to talk about?”
His mouth rimmed white as his lips pinched together. He looked up as if praying for patience and took a deep breath. He looked down at her again and spoke with a slow deliberation that told Max just how furious he was. “We’re friends. You haven’t seen your family in thirty years. They’re not only going to be a little surprised that you’re alive and haven’t been in contact for three decades, but the notion that you’re also a supernatural creature might startle them just a little bit. Add in the fact that they are under magical attack, and I thought I might wish you good luck. You might need it. And friendship aside, as Sunspear Prime, I thought I might check in with your plans for the Blades while you’re gone. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable, expecting you might take a minute to give me the time of day.”
She winced. “Sorry,” she said, rubbing a hand over the back of her neck. “The last few hours have been a little tougher than I expected, and I’m not thinking all that clearly. Thank you. I appreciate having all the luck I can get. As for my Blades, Niko’s in charge. Hopefully there won’t be any trouble before I get back, but you’ve got the angels. They’re worth a small army by themselves.”
He relaxed fractionally at her apology. “What about Alexander? He’s going with you? I don’t like it.”
“I’m not exactly jumping up and down either, but those are Giselle’s orders. She doesn’t want him here if I’m not here.”
“She’s got the angels to keep him in check.”
Max lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Yeah, well, she thinks he and I have some issues to work out. If we can’t, I’m supposed to make sure he doesn’t come back.”
He scowled. “Issues?”
Max suppressed a sigh. She and Oz had been flirting with each other for years, but it had never been more than a little fun for her. She doubted he had deep feelings for her, but men didn’t like other men peeing in their territory. She grimaced. In that metaphor, she was their handy fire hydrant.
“That’s right,” she said.
He stood there waiting for more. She wasn’t in the mood to give it.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon. Call me if you need me.”
She stepped adroitly around him. He spun and caught her arm. She stopped and looked up at him, her expression icy. He didn’t back down.
“I deserve better than that,” he said through gritted teeth. “You know I do.”
She sighed. “Look. I’ve had a bad time of it already today, and mostly I want to hit someone. You’re the one in front of me, so you’re getting it.”
Oz’s expression thawed slightly. “All right. Be careful. Call me if things go sideways.”
“Sure,” she said, but if—when—the shit hit the fan, she doubted there would be time for
help to arrive. He knew it as well as she did. “I’d better go.”
He nodded and stepped back. Max hesitated. She sucked at good-byes. She’d rather just make her escape without having to see anybody. “Take care of yourself,” she said lamely, and brushed her fingers across his shoulder before heading out into the night. He didn’t follow. Not that he would. Darkness poisoned Sunspears. They only ventured into the night for very good reasons, like the covenstead being under attack.
Outside, the mountain looked like a wasteland. The ground was rippled and charred black where Xaphan’s battle fire had struck. The stone had run and pooled, and what was left of the trees were ominous black skeletons. The moon was shining, and blisters instantly rose on Max’s exposed skin. Sunshine was deadly to Shadowblades. The less powerful ones would melt into goo; the more powerful would simply burst into flame. Even the reflected light of the moon was painful, the full moon particularly so. She slid on her sunglasses and felt a wave of itchiness spread across her eyes as they healed.
She jogged down the ridge to the valley. The grass here was parched and it crunched beneath her boots, but the ground had not burned. A dozen cars and trucks were parked in a flat dirt lot near the river. Across it were the greenhouses. They remained intact after the battle, but all the plants within had shriveled and died. Horngate had a reputation for growing some of the finest organic fruits and vegetables in the Pacific Northwest. It was the covenstead’s cover—no one thought of witches when they saw the place. Everyone saw hippie organic farmers, which fit perfectly with their location outside the granola city of Missoula.
She stopped when she saw the truck that was waiting for her. It was a red crew-cab Chevy. There were scratches in the hood from where blackberry brambles had scraped it. Hidden beneath the shell on the back was a light- and dark-sealed steel box. It was about four feet tall and five feet deep and as wide as the bed of the truck. It was a safety retreat for Shadowblades and Sunspears caught out at the wrong time of the day or night. Alexander was leaning against the driver’s side, flipping the keys around his forefinger. Niko and Tyler waited beside him. They were all watching her like they expected her to fall apart or blow up.
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