Mateo fought the hatred that flared toward Thanos as his gaze darted from Tiaki to the dagger and back.
“And how would I be doing that?” Thanos asked.
Mateo felt something inside stir when the dagger disappeared and reappeared in Thanos’s hand. He reached for the feeling to figure out what it was, but it vanished so quickly he thought he’d imagined it.
Atê laughed. “I’m sure you know exactly what I mean.”
She crossed the room to a person in the chair off to the side. He prayed it wasn’t who he thought it would be. Two hulking cyborgs lifted the chair and moved it so it sat directly across from him. The next thing he knew, he was staring into Kiana’s smudged and angry face. Shit! He jerked on the ropes holding his hands. He was vaguely aware of the others doing the same.
The goddess knelt behind Kiana and pushed the hair that had escaped from her braid away from her neck. Stroking a finger down the column of Kiana’s throat, Atê raised her eyes and met his gaze. She smiled.
“Hmm. I do believe we have something you care for a great deal.”
Kiana cried out as Atê twisted a hand in her hair and jerked her head back, exposing more of her throat.
Hatred burned inside Mateo, but he refused to make a sound. Without being able to fight back, he’d be helpless to assist her, much less attempt to heal her the way Tiaki had if Atê carried out her threat.
With a wave of her hand, another dagger appeared within Atê’s grasp. She lazily drew the tip along the length of Kiana’s neck. She watched him like a hawk. He wouldn’t let her see any weakness.
“Don’t give in to her, Lieutenant Castillo.” Kiana’s order was followed by a sharp intake of breath when Atê pricked her skin with the tip of the knife.
“Silence, anoiti thniti! I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
Mateo remained completely still. He didn’t need to be ordered to keep quiet. He’d long ago learned to focus on something else to keep his reactions in check. He held Kiana’s gaze, desperately wishing he could get their com link back up. He made the mistake of glancing down. At the sight of the drop of blood rolling down her neck, he felt the twinge he’d experienced earlier.
Not wanting to draw attention to whatever was happening inside him, he returned his gaze to Kiana’s. He turned his thoughts inward, seeking the source of the anomaly.
“Hmm. Maybe you have too much control when just one of your mates is at stake.” She gestured to the guards standing at the side of the room. “Come. Move the Hunter so he sits beside the woman.”
Mateo concentrated on Kiana and refused to look at Tiaki. He wouldn’t have a reaction anyway. The connection he’d allowed to form earlier to help locate Kiana had been severed. And he damn sure wasn’t going to search for a way to fix it. He’d never wanted the connection anyway.
“Thanos, hold the dagger to his throat.” When Thanos didn’t move immediately, she added, “Don’t make me call my sisters in. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to take you for the disciplining you rightfully deserve for the debacle with Ferran.”
“Thanos, don’t do this. He’s your brother,” Kiana cried.
Tiaki turned his head and gave Kiana a comforting look. “I don’t think it’s a matter of choice for him anymore, Kiana.” He looked at Thanos as he moved to his side. “Is it, brother?”
Thanos ignored Tiaki and pressed the blade to his neck.
“No!” Kiana cried.
Atê laughed. “I see you’re an easy one to taunt, my dear. I wonder what will happen if I threaten the one they say you’ve loved longer.” She motioned to one of the guards.
Mateo didn’t even flinch when a knife appeared at his neck. He didn’t fear death. Not for himself. For Kiana, yes. Unfortunately he couldn’t figure a way out of this situation. Maybe the Hunter can. The thought flittered into his mind, and he shifted his eyes to Tiaki and met his gaze.
As Mateo watched, he saw a subtle shift of something within the crystalline blue depths of Tiaki’s eyes. Warmth washed through his heart. The only thing he could compare it to was how he felt every moment he’d ever spent with Kiana. It was like coming home. He started to look away.
“Cut him, Thanos.”
Mateo saw the blade slice into Tiaki’s flesh in slow motion. The sharp edge pressed in, splitting through the top layer of skin.
The cut wasn’t enough to do any lasting damage. Just deep enough to draw a line of dark red blood to the surface.
Mateo heard Kiana scream as though from far away. The outrage and love contained within her voice ignited something inside. He didn’t have to examine it to realize his magic had broken through whatever barrier the goddess bitch had been blocking it with.
He didn’t need the startled cries from the guards behind him to realize his bonds had been severed. He could feel the magical flames licking up his arms like a cool breeze. He rose to his full height and turned his attention to Atê. “Bet you didn’t count on this, did you?” He summoned his magic and fired an energy bolt at her. He didn’t care if it killed her as long as it got her out of his way.
Mateo started to move to Kiana to release her from her bonds but found her chair empty. He glanced around to find her and Tiaki releasing Ash and Grant from theirs. It dawned on him then that whatever had allowed him to regain control of his magic had also given them theirs.
Tiaki glanced behind him. “Let’s get out of here. There’s no telling how long the guards will be out. And I have no doubt the effects of the blast you hit Atê with won’t last much longer.”
Mateo watched as Tiaki glanced at Kiana. Awareness shivered along his spine, reaching out to Kiana and Tiaki. When it made contact, relief flooded him. He knew what it was but ignored it.
“I agree. I don’t want to be around when they get up,” Grant said as he headed for the door.
Mateo waited until everyone was near the door before rushing through it and racing down the corridor. He wanted to get as far away from here as possible. Unfortunately they needed to locate the rest of the team that had come with them.
They’d barely exited the massive doors marking the entrance of the palace when a low rumbling started beneath their feet, followed by an explosion.
The shock wave created by the blast sent Mateo flying through the air and slammed him into the stone wall behind him.
* * * *
Tiaki struggled to breathe, his mind scrambling to figure out what the hell had happened as his magic returned full force. When he finally managed to gulp in a breath, he sent his magic to heal the injuries caused by the blast. Sitting up, he glanced around to find branches and leaves littering what had been a grassy field only moments before. “Kiana? Mateo?”
“Over here.”
Tiaki breathed a sigh of relief when he heard both of them respond along the reestablished link of their magic. He decided not to worry about how the connection had returned so easily. Not now, anyway. Sending a pulse of magic, he was relieved to find both of his mates relatively unharmed. A further scan told him Ash and Grant were fine too.
After getting to his feet, he moved toward them when he felt another rumble from the earth, followed by an earsplitting screech. He covered his ears to block out the sound. What the fuck? The others approached him, covering their ears as well. The com links were still offline, so he gestured for them to head to the rendezvous point. They needed to get out of here now.
They raced to the grove of banyan trees behind the palace, dodging the fallen branches and, in some cases, whole palm trees. The closer they got to the meeting place, the more Tiaki sensed something wasn’t right. He paused at the corner of the building and closed his eyes. Concentrating his magic, he quickly scanned the area, trying to find the cause of his unease.
When he settled the churning of his magic enough, he realized it was Earth’s magic screaming in agony as it flowed into the cyborgs. They were consuming massive amounts of the energy nearby. Ripping it from the core.
His eyes flew open at the sound of
rich feminine laughter echoing in the eerie silence he hadn’t realized had descended as he’d been focused on finding the source of the disturbance. Glancing around, he found Atê flanked by Palioxis and Proioxis. Shit. Just what they needed.
“You honestly think you’re going to win, puny Hunters? Even with your new recruits, Tiaki?” Atê waved an elegant hand, signaling someone or something behind them. “You’re doomed to fail. Mother has big plans for this planet, and she’ll stop at nothing to see them brought to fruition.”
“Your mother, or the man who pulls her strings?”
Tiaki started at the sound of Mateo’s voice. What the hell did he mean by that? When he’d awoken in the throne room, it had been obvious something had been going on. The question was, what? “Once Zeus finds out what Eris is up to, Atê, he’ll bring her to heel. Just like he always does.” Tiaki shifted his gaze to Thanos, who stood behind the goddesses. Gods, how he wished he’d been able to get through to his brother the last time they’d spoken. “And Rift Master Cacus will take care of the rest of the riffraff.”
“Let him try, tuakana. My master has learned some new ways for us to possess the powers wasted on you insignificant humans. Not to mention—”
“Thanos! Enough, ilithie! You speak out of turn, cyborg,” Atê snapped.
“Bring it,” Mateo growled.
Tiaki glanced over his shoulder to find Mateo’s hands engulfed in sapphire flames. “Not now, Mateo. It’s time to get out of here.”
“And just how do you plan on doing that, Hunter? They’re standing between us and the rest of our team. Don’t we need to be near each other when the portal is opened?”
Tiaki scanned the area where they’d planned on opening the rift back to the base. If his senses could be trusted, Monte, Cy, and Niki had secured the missing recon team. He noted the energy being drawn by the OS guards. He quickly calculated the possibilities of opening two portals. “Maybe not.”
“What do you mean?” Kiana asked.
“I mean, I’m going to attempt to open two rifts. Someone warn Monte and the others. Then I’ll need you both to help project the locations we want them to open at the base.”
Before anyone could stop him or alert the goddesses of his intentions, Tiaki closed his eyes and called his magic and sent a pulse to the core. He concentrated and split it, sending half toward the stand of banyan trees and the other team. When Mateo’s magic raced along the thread, he didn’t back away this time but allowed it to strengthen his connection with Earth’s.
Sensing Kiana joining her magic with his near the other team, Tiaki felt an upsurge from the core. It raced through his body along the ley lines he used to the locations he would open the portals, then back to Mateo and Kiana until it made a complete circuit. He sucked in a breath at the similarities he noted between this spike and the one that had brought him here.
To this point in time and space.
To Kiana and Mateo.
The love he felt for each of them blazed for a moment, then settled in his heart. It seeped into his magic and spread through his veins. He acknowledged it and refocused on the task at hand. His mates and fellow Rift Hunters were counting on him to get them home safely.
Tiaki pulled more energy from the core when his started to fluctuate. He’d never attempted to open more than one portal at a time. Opening his eyes, he saw the shock registering in Atê’s eyes as well as Thanos’s when a glowing ball of energy sprang to life between them. Apparently they’d thought he would be easier to kill. They began firing bolts of energy at them.
An intense need to run warred with an overwhelming urge to fight within Tiaki. Courtesy, of course, of Palioxis and Proioxis’s powers respectively. He glanced at his friends and mates. They all seemed to be suffering from the same desires. No doubt the Makhai had entered the fray. Tiaki shrugged the temptations off and focused on the portals.
The air rippled with electricity as the ball elongated, then stretched until it was large enough for them to pass through. The power of the spatial distortion pressed in on them as the twin portal struggled for dominance within the banyan grove. “Get your asses through. I won’t be able to hold it open for long. Tell Monte the same.” Tiaki screamed to be heard over the rush of air his magic stirred up.
He watched as Ash and Grant jumped through the portal, then waited for Mateo and Kiana to follow. “Go. Now!”
“Not without you.” Kiana practically shouted through their telepathic link.
Tiaki chanced a glance at Kiana, then Mateo. “Get her through the damn rift!”
“The other team is through.” Mateo pushed the thought through their link as he disconnected his magic from the portal. He grabbed Kiana’s hand and pulled her toward the opening.
Atê threw an energy bolt at the opening, making it fluctuate. “I don’t think so, Hunter. Both the kyrios and Mother will be most interested in studying the three of you.” She raised a hand and gestured to someone behind them. “Very interested, indeed. Bind them and take them to the gate.”
Tiaki struggled to keep the rift open when she threw another bolt at it. “Go now! Damn it! I’m right behind you,” he shouted. Sensing someone moving in behind him, Tiaki fought the urge to turn and see who it was. It didn’t matter anyway. He didn’t intend to allow anyone to harm either of his mates.
Atê laughed. “You really think you’re a match for me?” She flicked her eyes to the person behind him. “Now, Palioxis. Take him. Proioxis and I will get the other two.”
“No. You promised I could have the woman once the Hunter was captured,” Thanos said coldly.
Atê dropped her hand and turned to look at Thanos. Her mouth was pressed in a hard line. “I promised you no such thing, ilithie. And I’m under no obligation to honor anything my sisters may have promised you. Especially if it conflicts with something that could further the cause.”
Thanos raised the fully charged plasma cannon attached to his hand and pointed it at Kiana. “Then I guess you’ll have to tell the kyrios and mommy dearest one of their playthings was killed during battle, because if I can’t have her, then no one can.” A massive energy blast exploded from the cannon and shattered the eerie stillness with a deafening boom.
Tiaki grabbed Mateo and pushed him and Kiana through the portal. He dove through behind them and spun to close it. A wave of fear crashed over him when he saw the flash of Thanos’s cannon firing. The blast was heading straight for Kiana and Mateo. He threw himself in front of it as it passed through the rapidly shrinking portal.
The impact of the plasma bolt hitting his chest made his whole body jerk. His magic abruptly disconnected from the rift, sending arcs of lightning around the clearing. As he fell backward, he saw twin sapphire and silver energy blasts disappear through the opening as it flashed to a pinpoint and vanished.
* * * *
Kiana grabbed for Mateo’s arm as they stumbled through the portal. Her mind was still whirling as she tried to understand what Atê had been talking about. She turned just in time to see Thanos fire through the opening. Tiaki threw himself into the path of the plasma bolt. She screamed as she raised her hand and threw an energy bolt at Thanos. She was surprised to see a sapphire twin to it pass through at the same time.
Her magic cried out and reached toward Tiaki with an urgency she didn’t understand as he fell to the ground with a sickening thud. She raced over and knelt beside him.
Kiana screamed at the sight of the gaping hole in his chest from the blast he’d shielded her and Mateo from. She looked up and met Mateo’s eyes in shock. The look on his face clearly said he hadn’t anticipated Tiaki sacrificing himself for them any more than she had. Tears stung her eyes at the sight of Tiaki lying so still on the ground. She drew a shaky hand along his jaw. His eyes fluttered open.
Tiaki grimaced, his face a mask of pain. He met her gaze, and a half smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before it faded as she saw him grimace again, telling her that the pain he was experiencing had to be intense.
&
nbsp; Kiana laid her hand on his chest to stop the flow of blood. “Ash! Niki! Help me!”
Tiaki shifted his eyes to where Mateo leaned in behind her. He reached out and took Mateo’s hand and pressed it to Kiana’s. His magic swirled faintly around them, bathing them in a soft golden light.
Kiana felt her magic quicken to life. She gasped in surprise when she sensed Mateo’s do the same. Their magic flowed toward their clasped hands, silver and sapphire caressing gold.
Tiaki met each of their gazes in turn and squeezed their hands to his chest. When their magic combined around their hands, warmth spread through Kiana’s heart.
Kiana inhaled sharply when Mateo’s magic spread through her, seeking to merge with her in a way she’d never imagined being bound to another person.
“Take care of each other. I’m…” Tiaki paused, struggling to take a breath. “I’m glad I got to meet my soul mates even…even if we didn’t complete the soul bond.” He closed his eyes and released their hands. “I love you both.” His hand fell to his side.
Kiana screamed, shattering the stillness enveloping them, and dropped her head to his chest as tears streamed down her cheeks. “No. You can’t leave me, Tiaki. I love you.”
* * * *
Mateo stiffened when he heard the words Kiana whispered against Tiaki’s cheek.
“You’re not, you know?”
Mateo stiffened at Ash’s words. Words so similar to what Remi had voiced what seemed like a lifetime ago. He turned his head to find Ash standing beside him. “What the hell are you talking about? Get over here and see if there’s something you can do.” He stood up and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck.
Ash knelt down beside Tiaki and Kiana as Niki and the others came to a stop behind him. “You know it’s already too late for either Niki or me to do any good.”
Mateo caught a glimpse of a tattoo along the back of Ash’s neck that he’d never seen before. A swirl of black and silver glittered, then disappeared.
Untamed Hawaiian Heat (Rift Hunters) Page 23