by Cecy Robson
Speckles of light flicker in my line of vision and blood pours from my nose. I roll away, trying to distance myself from my attacker. I don’t make it far.
Thick fingers tangle into my hair and yank my head back, the force craning my neck and threatening to break it.
“Olivia!”
My vision abruptly clears when Ryker calls to me. I can’t think the way my head spins, that doesn’t mean I don’t react.
My body takes over, responding with force. I shoot my arm out, connecting with muscle and releasing bursts of my magic. My legs join the action, kicking into bone. I’m angry, furious, and every part of me reacts in turn.
Clanking metal rings out as Dugan and Philip swing their swords and I fight for my life. Roars ricochet from all directions. Through it all, I hear Ryker, his furious baritone swearing as he fights his way to me.
My mind remains clouded. Still, I feel his desperation. I can’t allow us to perish. I kick and jerk, breaking free. My knees crash onto a path of rocks. I crawl forward, managing a few feet when my attacker hauls me back by my waist and hair.
My magic powers outward, the pink color radiating and clashing into Ryker’s vicious azure light. He and his warriors are battling it out with the encroaching hounds. Except they’re not enough.
I scream, using my strength and magic against the strong arms wrenching me further away from Ryker. A fist strikes the side of my head, jostling any cognizant thought but driving my will to survive.
I buckle, trying to break free, my body electrified and sizzling with power. It’s not until I feel it explode from me that I realize it has no effect against my captor.
Shock claims my form. I’m not fighting Death. I’m fighting someone who is very much alive.
Rage replaces all emotion. Alive or dead, this male is my enemy. And I’m not done fighting.
My heel connects to a shin. Fire singes my cheeks as my captor roars and releases his flame. The burn to my flesh makes me lash out harder. I won’t die. Not like this and not by his hands.
Another blow punches my head, dulling the escalating chaos surrounding me: the swing of Ryker’s scythe, the grunts of his warriors, the howling of souls, and the barks of the feasting Cù-Sìth.
“I’ll kill you,” my attacker’s familiar voice spits behind me. “I’ll fucking kill you myself!”
Walter Sebastian wrenches my hair back and grips my throat, subduing me. He drags me up the crumbling steps of the mausoleum. My arms fall to my side as he squeezes my windpipe, and something pops.
My breath leaves me, and the world gently fades away. Shadows creep around my eyes like tendrils from a web that crisscross and thicken. The last thing I remember is the sun rising and the entire pack of Cù-Sìth swarming Ryker.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I wake to the sound of slurping. Never a good sign. I scramble away blindly and smack into a wall of dirt.
My hands slap my hair away from my face. Pebbles and bits of mud pepper my scalp. I swat at the crumbling debris as if it could hurt me, my heart accelerating faster than I’m prepared for.
The confusion takes a moment to clear. Dirt can’t hurt me. It’s not a threat. Cathasach standing mere feet from where I lay? He’s a different story.
He rises in his human form, abandoning the dead dragon at his feet. Two other hounds circled the remains, searching for a bite despite that Cathasach stripped him clean of his soul.
The dragon isn’t Walter Sebastian. Pity. If ever someone deserved to suffer a Cù-Sìth death, it’s that bastard.
Cathasach’s eyes fire red. I reach for my talisman out of instinct. My fingertips graze over my filthy jacket and not much more. My talisman is gone. It doesn’t matter. It’s clear I’m done hiding
A wrought iron gate held close with a chain and padlock is the only thing separating me from Cathasach. I’m not stupid enough to think it offers any protection. I’m also not stupid enough to believe I stand a chance against him the way things are.
Cathasach widens his arms and grasps the bars, exposing the length of his naked form. “You’re awake, little pixie,” he murmurs, rocking his hips. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
I avert my gaze, taking in my surroundings. Wall to wall packed earth makes up the underground labyrinth. Boulders and tree roots poke through the ceiling. I’m deep beneath the surface and very far from a way out.
There’s no way I’m still in Harsimus. This place feels different. “Where am I?” I rasp, my throat achingly raw.
Cathasach smiles through crooked and slimy teeth. “Does it matter? You’re with me.”
My eyes sting. Cathasach laughs, his speech garbled. “Your tears won’t spare you, my pet. I have much planned for us.”
His arousal disgusts me. I can sense it. I can taste it, its vice tugging on my tattered and blood-stained clothes with lecherous hands.
“Little pixie,” he coos. I don’t have to see him to know he’s stroking himself. His vile moans tell me more than I want to know.
My fingers dig into the moist earth, burrowing until they clench a few small pebbles.
“Do you want me?” Cathasach asks, his growls commanding me to answer.
He laughs between grunts, his voice drawing closer. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll have you anyway I want.”
His transparent silhouette trails through the gate, his eyes blood red, and his smile lustful.
“Dom a chosaint,” I grind out. Protect me.
Power burns its way from the center of my chest and into my hands. I fling the pebbles clutched in my grip. The small stones and crumbling soil connect with Cathasach as his translucent body solidifies. He roars, bounding back through the bars in a conduit of green smoke and slamming into to his lurking hounds.
My crude bullets spray their fur and scald them with pink magic strong enough to tunnel through their thick and matted coats. Cathasach and his hounds are fast, but I caught them unprepared.
I lift handfuls of dirt and pitch them in rapid succession. There’s no grace, my movements more akin to a toddler throwing a fit. Still, it’s effective. With each toss, I inflict more damage, widening the holes eating through dense hides and bone. I don’t stop, continuing to fling fistfuls of soil, pebbles, anything within my reach.
My attack causes a frenzy among the Cù-Sìth. Those lingering close by charge the hounds caught in my onslaught, guzzling down the escaping souls.
It’s madness. Cathasach roars, drawing energy from the injured to seal his wounds and lock in the souls tearing through the damaged muscle. He doesn’t care that his actions will kill off the afflicted hounds. He’s greedy and selfish, wanting only to keep himself sated and regenerate the parts of his body damaged by my magic.
I back into a pocket of dirt in the corner, watching the hounds turn on each other and struggling to catch my breath. I’m terrified and hurt, and I’m alone. At best, I’m on borrowed time.
That doesn’t mean I’m done fighting.
With a chorus of malicious howls, the hounds shoot upward in streams of white and green mist, clambering after the fleeing spirits. Only Cathasach briefly hangs back. His vicious gaze meets mine. In it, I see his pledge to punish me and make me scream.
It takes all my strength to lift my hand and extend my middle finger.
He sees it and smiles. Smiles. No, he’s not done with me yet.
It’s only after Cathasach jets away to join the hunt that I allow my tears to escape. They fall in streams. I let them. Alone, I don’t have to pretend to be brave. I can cower like I deserve to.
My self-pity doesn’t last. I mean it when I say, I’m not done fighting. I cover my mouth, coughing through my last choked sob only to coat my mouth with dirt. I spit out as much as I can. Every inch of me is filthy and caked with blood.
I drag my hands down my jeans, jumping when a little green hand pokes through the wall and offers me a handkerchief. The tiny green hand waves it when all I do is gape. It’s a gremlin, and possibly the same one who stole my talisman at th
e club. I take a chance and lift it from his grasp.
“Thank you,” I say.
He pokes his large and balding head through the wall, blinking at me with large eyes before pushing his skeletal body the remainder of the way. His small frame remains bare except for the little brown pants he’s wearing. I wipe my face and wait for him to speak.
My lingering tears are enough to loosen some of the blood and dirt coating my face. I smear the handkerchief with all sorts of gross body fluids. Still, I don’t need a mirror to know there’s plenty more left.
Walter Sebastian struck me hard, not bothering to hold back because I’m a female or half his size. He wants me to die and made a damn good attempt.
“No,” the little gremlin says. “He just wants his boy to live.”
The little gremlin read my mind. It’s a rare trait among their kind, but one they’re known for.
“All this was about keeping Stevie alive?” I rest my head against the cavern wall and shake my head. “Sebastian betrayed us all for his son.”
“Stevie is a good boy,” the gremlin insists.
“I know he is. He’s my friend,” I reply. “That doesn’t make him more deserving than anyone else. Look at how many died in his place.”
The gremlin’s sad dark eyes glimmer. “My clan and I never wanted to hurt anyone.”
Anger heats my cold cheeks. “Except that you did. You robbed the Fae at the club and the dragons who worked for Sebastian of their protection.”
“No. We didn’t, Miss,” he insists earnestly.
I gasp. “I saw you. You were there, grabbing as many talismans as you could. You ignored the screaming and the crying, and left, fucking left when the hounds arrived to kill them ―”
My words lodge in my throat as the shame wrinkling his features slumps his bony shoulders. “You’re bound to serve Walter Sebastian, aren’t you?” I say slowly.
It’s illegal to enslave lesser Fae. The law was passed centuries ago.
The little gremlin glances around before speaking quietly. “The law was passed, yes, Miss. But some of the higher classes, dragons, gargoyles, and fairies with royal blood refuse to relinquish their hold.” He swallows hard. “The few of us who are left cannot speak or rise against our masters. The magic that binds us is too strong and we are not enough.”
Given the tufts of gray hair sprouting from thin arms, he must have been bound to Sebastian’s family for centuries. Well, and here I thought I couldn’t hate the little prick more.
I lean in and reach for the gremlin’s little hands. He stares down, keeping his fingers clenched into fists as if unsure how to return the gesture. When he looks up at me, he seems close to tears. “I can free you and anyone Sebastian has bound,” I promise. “But I need you to alert my friends and tell them where I am. Will you do that for me?”
“It’s impossible,” he whimpers. “I’m bound to him and must remain close.”
I slowly withdraw my hands. “Sebastian is here?”
“Yes.” The gremlin looks around again as if fearing he might be heard. “If Cathasach fails to take you alive, my master is to kill you and hand over your corpse.”
I swallow, feeling sick. “I’m surprised Cathasach didn’t already try.”
“To take you?” the gremlin asks. “Oh, yes, Miss. He tried while you slept.”
My head jerks up. “What?”
“He sought you while you lay sleeping. Your magic protected you like a shield. Death couldn’t approach you.”
Okay. That’s new. Too bad I haven’t mastered that little skill awake.
I rub my head, sore from Sebastian pummeling me. “What’s your name?” I ask when it’s clear he’s done speaking.
“Tobias.”
I smile faintly. “I’m Olivia.”
He nods. “I know. Everyone knows. You’re the one who can save us.”
“Not without help,” I admit.
“But you’re Life,” Tobias insists.
My small smile fades. “Life alone isn’t enough.”
The ceiling above us trembles and dirt rains down. Tobias wrinkles his brow, focusing hard. Gremlins can see through earth. It’s how they hunted in Fae for rabbits and rodents. Tobias is old though and appears to struggle. “The Alpha is hurt,” he says. He squints. “A challenge was made and accepted.”
“The beta challenged Cathasach?”
“No. It’s a younger hound eager to take his place.” He blinks several times, straining to see. “They’re all circling, watching, waiting. Another appears ready as well. If they harm Cathasach enough, the beta will use it to his advantage and attack.” He rubs his eyes, now red and swollen. “None of them will be enough to defeat Cathasach.”
No. But they’re enough to keep him occupied.
Tobias latches on to my thoughts and leaps away in fear, disappearing when I reach for him. I scramble to my feet and search my enclosure, calling to him. “Please don’t leave me, Tobias. I’m not going to hurt you.”
He doesn’t appear.
“Please, Tobias,” I beg. “If you can’t tell my friends my whereabouts, at least help me show them where I am.”
Tobias reappears with an audible pop. “But Death will come.”
I meet him with a hard stare. “I’m counting on it.”
* * *
Tobias works fast, drawing the outline of Cathasach’s lair into the dirt with a sharp rock. I was dragged all the way to Calvary Cemetery in Queens. We’re far from Jersey, but not too far from Ryker’s reach. At least, that’s what I’m counting on.
I’m also hoping I’m not too far for Jane to hear me, too. She came to Bill’s home when I was in trouble, except she knew where I was and her magic encompassed the dwelling, allowing her to sense the attack. That’s not the case now. Ryker remains my speck of hope.
My eyes carefully scan each section Tobias draws, focusing on the entries leading into the lair and what resembles an open arena. Every pathway continues to the arena if staying toward the right on the way in and leads out if keeping left. One wrong turn and you can spend a lifetime down here.
The area where I’m being held leads directly to the arena. There are no other passages or dead ends in this section. Good. I won’t get lost. Bad because there’s no nowhere to hide. I pause when it occurs to me it shouldn’t matter. I’m done hiding.
I rub my hands and bounce in place, trying to shake off my excess energy before returning my full attention to the drawing. The way in seems simple enough and I ingrain the outline into my memory, allowing my emotions to take over as I do so.
My thoughts shift to Ryker, investing fully in him and our time together. I focus on the way my hands always disappeared within his grasp, how his body tightened when we held each other, and how his ice blue gaze softened when I stirred his “almost” smiles. I take every moment of him in, allowing the last to linger and claim me.
His hands branded me as his and his luscious mouth hovered over mine, ready to taste. The image fills my mind, ignoring the chamber’s raw temperature and warming my body.
An impish smile spreads along my face as I wonder how it would feel to tug on that bottom lip with my teeth. Come here and I’ll kiss more than just your lips, big boy.
Tobias glances up from his work, looking hopeful. I clear my throat, but not my blush. “Not you, Tobias.”
“Oh,” he says, sounding disappointed.
“How long has Cathasach been controlling Sebastian?” I ask. I’m not just trying to distract him from my wanton thoughts. I’m trying to gather more information.
Tobias resumes his work, his tone sad as he scratches the perimeter of the lair into the dirt. “Since he crossed into Earth’s realm. Death was close when my mistress opened the portal.”
“He allowed his wife to open the portal?” I ask.
“Her talisman had more power.”
Sure, it did.
Tobias blinks back at me. He heard my thoughts, not that he mentions it. “Death arrived with us. The alpha kil
led the mistress and the grand master. He was going for the boy when Mr. Sebastian struck a bargain.”
“Sebastian was who brought Cathasach through from Fae?”
It takes all I have not to scream when Tobias nods. “And three of his hounds following the bargain,” he adds.
My pulse continues to throb, and my thoughts remain on Ryker. I’m hoping he’s picking up this newfound knowledge and can use it to our advantage. “What was the bargain?” I ask.
Tobias circles his drawing, scrutinizing it closely, but also appearing hesitant to answer.
“Tobias, you have to tell me. It’s the only way I can help the Fae who remain, including your clan.”
Tobias’s voice quivers. He doesn’t glance up from his work. “My master will feed me and my clan to the Cù-Sìth if I tell you.”
“He’ll do it anyway if it’s what Cathasach wants. Look at what Sebastian did to his own dragons.” Tobias lifts his chin. “Please,” I urge. “Tell me what he bargained.”
“My master promised the Alpha unlimited souls in exchange for his life and that of his son’s.”
My mouth falls open as tears dribble down Tobias’s long nose. “The club wasn’t the first attack, was it?”
Tobias shakes his head. “The master has been sending us out for years. It started with elderly Fae living alone and wee ones left unattended. As the hounds grew in numbers, we travelled to small Fae villages in Europe and beyond.”
Sebastian isn’t a mere Fae. He’s a hired killer. No wonder there are so many hounds. He’d been feeding and allowing the Cù-Sìth to breed.
“Sebastian wasn’t marked for Death by Death, was he?”
“No. The night we were sent to the club, the smoke was enchanted. It dulled your senses and made it easier to take your talismans.” He paused. “All the talismans worn by the dragons save two were given to them by the master―”
Paws thunder above us, releasing more dirt from the ceiling. Tobias squints in the direction of the ceiling. “The beta attacks.”
Despite the urgency, I cling to his last admission. “You said those talismans weren’t fully equipped to protect the dragons,” I remind him.