Ryker snapped the padlock and chain off the door. “I haven’t had to break a lock since I was a child,” he mumbled to himself. I was aware he could jump in and out of places, but it was time I really understood his powers and what I was holding.
As he slid the door closed, the relentless rain finally halted its assault. The space was dry, but the metal siding and cement floor produced an even colder chill in the room.
“We need to be careful, but I’ll make us a fire in one of those metal drums.”
He found some newspaper and old rags still saturated in oil from the boat engines. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and flames engulfed the material at the bottom of the barrel. I hovered so far into the container I almost fell in. My bones creaked as they thawed, muscles throbbing, unwinding their tight grasp on each other.
Ryker made his way around the building, checking for any threats. “People are definitely staying here. There’s food and bedding upstairs.”
“Really?” The thought of leaving the warmth of the fire to go back in the rain almost incited me to chain myself to the drum in protest. Whatever expression was on my face must have conveyed my reluctance.
“As soon as you are warm and have eaten, we take off. I do not feel like dealing with whomever is staying here.”
I frowned but nodded.
Instead of using the food he was carrying, Ryker stole cans of raviolis and fruit from the current guests and passed them to me. He dragged two crates from against the wall and set them close to the fire. I plopped down and popped the tops of the rations and dug in, not bothering with heating them. All the work of getting the food from the gas station, and most of it didn’t make it. Only a few granola bars survived the explosion and journey to Elthia’s. I got impaled for nothing.
“How long were you and Elthia together?” I popped the top of a can of peaches, struggling to picture them together.
Ryker stared at me from under his lashes. His jaw gnashed in warning.
“We are going to be stuck together for who knows how long. Tell me something about yourself.”
Ryker finished his pasta and set the can to the side. Silence.
“Come on. I’m not going to relent till you tell me something. Tell me more about these powers I’m carrying... or why Garrett is after you?”
Ryker ripped off the top of his peaches, drinking the sugary juice before he started on the fruit.
“I think I have the right to know what is going on since I am holding these powers of yours.”
He tensed. “You have no rights to anything.”
“Because I’m human?”
“And annoying as hell.” He ran his hands over the top of his hair. It made me curious what he would look like with the braids undone and his hair down. Would it give a softer illusion to him? Although that was all it would be—an illusion. “I get it. You’re the stoic, silent type.”
“And you’re the obnoxious, gabby type.”
A rankle of irritation bumped along my spine. I took a deep breath, turning back to my meal. A few minutes of us eating in a strained muteness passed before Ryker set his second tin down. “All you need to know is Garrett is after me, and he will not stop until he finds me. He has taken Amara, and he will go after you next if he can’t get to me. He has no idea I no longer have my powers, and I plan on keeping this information from him.”
“What is this stone he wants? Is it worth a lot?”
“It’s not a stone like you think. It’s not a diamond or any kind of gem. It’s what this stone can do which makes it desired.” Ryker leaned his elbows on his legs. “Garrett is not the one I’m running from. It is the man he works for. No one has met him in person; Garrett is his face and hired muscle. They call this man Vadik, and he is wealthy, extremely dangerous, and powerful. He hired me for a job. It wasn’t till I had the object in my hands I realized what he was having me steal, and I ran. Let’s say this man is not too happy I reneged on our deal. He will do everything in his ability to get it back, and I will do everything in mine to keep it from him.”
“Even let him have Amara?”
Ryker clenched his fists. “The stone cannot get into this man’s hands, no matter what. Amara understands.”
“So you sacrificed her? You can simply let someone you love be thrown to the wolves?”
“You know nothing about the situation or her, human.” Ryker’s tattoo kindled with energy. “I will get her back.”
“I know nothing because you won’t tell me anything,” I challenged. “What does this stone do? Why is it dangerous for Vadik to possess it?”
Ryker rubbed a hand across his mouth, contemplating. “Have you ever heard of the Stone of Destiny?” I shook my head. “In fae mythology there are four magical artifacts: a sword, spear, cauldron, and the stone, Lia Fáil, Stone of Destiny. Most think because no one has seen any of these objects for centuries, they are merely legends. Legends often stem from truth. These items are so powerful they can destroy the world, if put in the wrong hands.”
“You’re actually being the good guy here?”
“Good and bad are only a matter of degrees. My interest in the object is not your concern.”
“Really? Not my concern? So you can destroy the Earth instead of this man, Vadik?”
“I do not wish to destroy Earth or take over. My interest in the stone is a lot less diabolical.”
“Money.”
“Partially.”
“And now you have this guy by the balls while you are marketing the stone to others?” I inclined forward.
“I won’t let it fall into anyone’s hands. It’s far too powerful. But my ultimate goal is money.” He shifted on the crate. “No matter the amount of money, I will not give it to Vadik. It has to be the right person, for the right price.”
“Your version of ethics?” I snorted. “Glad you are choosey about who gets to destroy us.”
“Believe what you want about me.” He slipped off the box and rested against it. “The stone is capable of destroying, but it is also able to create. It depends on the holder’s intentions. And I didn’t say it was Earth it would destroy. You assumed I was speaking of Earth. It can cripple the Otherworld as well.” His lids drifted close.
“Would you let your world be destroyed?”
He grunted. “Like you care what happens to the Otherworld.”
My mouth opened, then closed. He was right. I was being a hypocrite. The fae world felt like this faraway dreamland that didn’t actually exist. If something happened to it, would I be upset? Most likely not, because it didn’t seem real to me or hold people I cared about. It held creatures I considered cruel and soulless.
“But don’t worry. Most fae would not want to destroy Earth. It’s like a buffet of sin, debauchery, and hate. All the things dark fae live off. They need humans.”
My nose wrinkled in disgust. “And you don’t? You’re dark fae.”
“I am special.”
“You’re a pig.”
“Oink.”
It was best I moved away before I punched him. It was colder the farther I moved from the fire, but I figured it was better than breaking my hand hitting his face. I found a pile of blankets by the stairs and curled into them. With my belly full and the pills Elthia gave me to lessen my pain, I quickly drifted to sleep.
A hand slipped over my mouth, jolting me from my slumber. A scream quaked in my chest as arms pulled me back into its form. Heat radiated off the body, pushing through my clothes into my back.
“Shhh...” Ryker whispered close to my ear, keeping his hand locked on my mouth.
My brain was trying to grasp what was going on when I heard the voices. The door rolled back before a clatter of feet moved across the stone.
“What the fuck? Someone broke the lock,” a male voice echoed off the walls. “Dart. Check every inch. If the asshole is still here, I want him found.”
Hell. We didn’t plan on falling asleep. Not for this long, anyway. Now we were going to get caught by th
e prior inhabitants.
“Yes, boss.” The small man hightailed it up the stairs, his feet inches from our faces. I sucked in a breath, pressing back into Ryker. The guy’s speed gave me no doubt as to why he was called Dart.
In the darkness I could make out the forms by the door, more than a dozen of them. Ryker pulled us into the darkest shadows under the stairs, but it wouldn’t be long till they found us.
“Do you think it’s the Scorpions?” another male voice asked.
“I’m in charge of this city now. If they don’t bow to me, they will fall. The government has no control here anymore. And I plan to keep it this way.”
A burly man walked in, his automatic weapon at his side. “All clear outside, Marcello.”
The leader, Marcello, folded his arms across his chest. Tension filled the air. He appeared to be in his thirties. Dark, wavy hair curled around his ears and neck accenting his olive skin. He wasn’t especially tall or good looking, but he held a power that drew you in, almost fooling you into thinking he was.
“Sorry, I meant Boss.” The man looked at the floor.
“I know the loss of my brother is an adjustment, but if you disrespect me again, you will be joining him. Six feet under. This goes for any of you,” Marcello threatened. “I have been lenient. But no more. The next person who disrespects me will be taken care of. Got it?”
He wasn’t the normal gang leader I pictured. He was dressed nicely, and he spoke like he had been educated. It wouldn’t be the run-of-the-mill gangbangers who would take over the city. It would be the smart, crafty ones—more like the mafia. Everything would be thought through and planned. It would not be based on random violence as much as who had the most power. Not to say there wouldn’t be a lot of carnage as he achieved it, but the leader would be methodical and smart about his decisions. He’d treat it like a business and not because he was an angry young punk looking for a fight. This made me fear them more.
“Marcello...” Another man entered from outside. “All the supplies we looted from the Red Cross are secure in the storage units.”
Marcello drew his pistol from his waistband and shot the guy between the eyes. Ryker’s hand pushed against my mouth tighter, keeping in the scream. Blood spilled from the hole in the man’s forehead, his body hitting the concrete.
I curled farther into Ryker’s strong torso and tried to swallow back the automatic panic. I had seen a lot of men die in my time, but you never got used to it and just got better at hiding your shock. It had been a while since I’d seen this kind of point-blank kill.
“This,” Marcello gestured with his arm as he continued, “is a warning to all of you. I am true to my word. The same fate will come to the next person who insults me. Let’s not forget it again.”
All the men bowed their heads in recognition of Marcello, doing a good job of not reacting to their comrade’s death. Using fear to control people was an excellent tool if you wanted to stay in charge.
Metal through the brain did not seem like a fun way to go. I frantically looked around for an escape.
“We’re trapped.” Ryker spoke softly. “I am going to have to do this the fae way.”
What did he mean by the fae way?
He gave me no time to ask before he spoke again. “Stay here.” Ryker’s lips grazed my earlobe as he talked. “Do. Not. Move.” The heat from him evaporated as he slipped from under the stairs, his arm reaching for his axe.
I hated sitting back. It was not something I was good at, but I also knew these men were armed with guns and probably knives. I was in trouble without a weapon. If I tried to take them on, the outlook for me was neither a bright one nor my life a long one.
Through the gap in the stairs, I saw Ryker silently slink behind one of the men, knocking him out. He lowered the torso without a sound. I was glad I never ran into him when I had been collecting. His movement and stealth for such a muscular guy was something I had never seen. Daniel trained me thoroughly, but we would have been no match for Ryker.
“Boss,” a voice rang from the second-story catwalk. The man called Dart was pointing at Ryker. In a blink of an eye, Ryker pulled out another dagger and flung it at Dart. The knife pierced the middle of his chest. Dart stilled before his body tipped forward and fell over the railing. His head hit first, exploding like a pumpkin. Blood and brain matter splashed on the floor.
I turned away, a retch gagging my throat.
Marcello’s men reacted instantly, drawing guns. Ryker leaped for them, his axe swinging. Gunshots boomed through the space, bouncing off walls and the sound assaulting my eardrums. I capped my ears and hunched, trying to make myself less of a target. Ryker sliced through one man and swung the end of the stick back, the wood handle meeting the middle of another man’s forehead. Two. Three. Four. Five. In a matter of seconds, half the men hit the floor, bleeding or out cold. The other gang members would not relent till all were down. Marcello raised his pistol and shot at Ryker, the bullets tearing through his clothes and boring deep into his body. It slowed him only a bit, but he kept a steady pace till he reached the leader. Marcello emptied the magazine, the ting of the casings hitting the floor. Ryker’s hand wrapped around the gang leader’s neck and lifted him off the cement.
“You humans never learn,” Ryker seethed and then tossed Marcello across the room. He collided with the cement wall and tumbled to the ground, motionless. Silence took hold of the large warehouse, except for Ryker’s deep breaths and the ringing in my ears. He bent, his hands on his knees, and grunted in pain.
I crept from under the stairs. “Are you okay?” I moved next to him. “That was insane. Seriously. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m impressed.” He grunted again in response. A tapping sound on the ground drew my attention to the blood leaking from him. “Oh my god, Ryker.”
“I’ll be fine,” he gritted through his teeth.
“Yeah, I know.” I shrugged. “But it still has to hurt like a bitch.”
He snorted, shaking his head. A slight smile hitched the side of his mouth. “Yes, it does but still less aggravating than you.”
“Sorry. If you were looking for sympathy from me, you’re not getting any. I know you can’t be killed by normal bullets.”
He struggled to straighten up. “I won’t die, but it doesn’t mean getting shot twenty times doesn’t do some damage. And hurt like hell.” He looked around at the scattered bodies on the floor. Most were living except the guy Marcello killed, one Ryker sliced into, and Dart who fell from above.
“We need to get out of here before they wake.” Ryker hobbled for the door. “I need to find a place to rest for the night.”
“Let me help.” I went to his side, pulling his arm across my shoulder.
He shuddered. “I don’t need your assistance, human.”
“Fine.” I stepped away. “Crawl for all I care.”
“I would rather,” he snarled.
“I’d prefer you did, too.” I stomped through the door, letting it slam in his face.
TWELVE
The one thing I learned from the night, besides seeing Ryker’s ninja talents in person, was Seattle was being taken over. And more than one gang was vying for control. Their fights never worked well for the rest of us.
Now Ryker and I had another worry. Not only were DMG and Garrett after us, but once Marcello woke up, he and his men would be pissed. They would not rest till they found us. Retaliation on someone who made you look like a weak fool would be dealt with.
We bedded for the night in an already ransacked café. All food and bottle liquids were gone, but there was one thing left which made me happy. I sucked contently on chocolate-covered espresso beans, trying to stay awake as I kept watch. Ryker fell asleep the moment his head hit the upholstered bench. He tried to stretch, but he could barely fit on it. He warily gave me an extra dagger he had strapped to his leg to defend myself. I was curious how many “extra” daggers the man had on him. Visually, I could count five. Who knew how many I couldn’t see?
Very tempting.
In an employee locker, I found some Advil and swallowed them along with the medication Elthia gave me. The stitches in my side weren’t bleeding but pulsed with forceful pain. I snuggled into the corner booth and held vigil, sucking away at my source of caffeine.
A clank of metal falling in the back room stilled me. My muscles and lungs froze mid-movement. My head tilted, listening, hoping it wouldn’t tell me it was something more than a rat trying to scavenge for food. Another knock and scuffle stirred on the other side of the door where the kitchen was.
“Ryker?” I whispered hoarsely at him. “Ryker!” I threw a spoon at his head. Nothing. Not even a twitch. He was dead to the world as he tried to heal. I hated thinking because he was out of commission, we were helpless. I could fight. Hell, I used to be very dangerous. Some even feared me. But I hadn’t been that person in a long time.
I scooted to the end of the bench. A loud crash of dishes falling to the tile floor had me jumping out of the seat. I gripped the knife and tiptoed to the kitchen, peeping through the circular window in the swinging door.
Neither the DMG nor Marcello’s gang would bother sneaking from behind. They would crash through the front door and take us. Fae were more devious. I would not put it past Garrett to play with us.
My shoulder pushed into the door, opening it as quietly as I could. It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the shadows. Broken dishes cluttered the tile, but the place had already been destroyed by looters, so it didn’t make much of a difference. I snuck farther into the room, the dagger ready to attack.
An object jumped on my shoulder, latching onto my neck. A furry substance brushed across my face, and I let out a piercing scream.
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