Something must have happened. The leaden realization squeezed around my heart, pinning my emotions into a small box, as I struggled to grasp them all at once. I opened my mouth to ask another question only for Mathias to shove me to the ground. “Down!”
I heard Marie scream.
Mathias hissed in a voice so cold it sent involuntary shivers through me, freezing me in place. “Stay down!”
* * *
Chapter Fourteen
Mathias
I leapt forward, drawing my daggers, as five hunters charged into the light. For only a heartbeat I worried about Lauren, then came the cold and with it focus. One of the hunters lunged in an attempt to get past me. I hooked my arm through his and at the same time I slid my foot around his ankle using his own momentum against him as I brought my free dagger up to catch him in the ribs. I threw him to the floor, and he landed without a sound as his body relaxed.
The threat eliminated, I turned my attention to the next hunter. The one who had learned from his companion’s mistake. He swung a club, and I ducked low to avoid being clobbered in the head. Lashing out, I earned a cry as my dagger cut through his dark jeans to the flesh beneath. The cry quickly morphed into a bellowing roar.
I looked up to see him transforming into a bear. Shifters.
Baring my teeth at him, I charged and ducked low before he could drop to all fours. My hand brushed against his thick pelt as I fought to sink the dagger through layers of fur and fat. The bear bellowed, but I knew the wound wasn’t mortal.
He bellowed again and swung his massive head around, nose snuffling. Lauren. The name pierced my icy focus even as it sharpened it to a point. I abandoned my previous strategy. The Bear was trying to get to Lauren as she dragged the female Lore keeper beneath the relative protection of the table.
I gave a hoarse wordless shout as I charged him. My daggers weren’t long enough to cut through his pelt so it left only his head, his face as a feasible weak point. The Bear swung his head back toward me and then a massive paw crashed into my left side lifting me off my feet and tossing me across the room.
I rolled across the floor and then crashed to a halt against one of the ancient shelves. My ribs burned even through the ice. They hadn’t finished healing from the last fight with a shifter. Lauren screamed, the sound driving me to my feet.
The other two hunters leapt over the table, blood staining their hands and short swords. The guilt of innocent blood seemed to drip off them as I studied them through an icy film. They charged me.
I slipped under one hunter’s blade, burying my own between his ribs. I grabbed his sword as he dropped and immediately blocked the second hunter’s strike. He was fast. I was faster.
Moving before his body even finished dropping to the floor, I jumped onto the Bear’s back. Still holding the short sword, I plunged it into the meat of his shoulder hump. He roared and turned away from the table. I slipped off his back and slashed at his face, earning another bellow as the sword cut across his right eye and down his snout.
I drew my sword back to deliver a fatal blow. A hand wrapped around my ankle as a voice cried, “Mathias, wait!”
My attention jerked down to Lauren’s wide eyes. The Bear snorted and rushed toward the darkened shadows. I watched him vanish into them, realizing it was the same direction Daniel had led us when we left through the back tunnel. And the fifth hunter had vanished already, no doubt running in the same direction.
Pursuit was useless now, however, and I turned back to Lauren. My gaze fell on the Lore keeper beside her. Open staring eyes confirmed what the blood now covering her chest already hinted. She was long past protection. I crouched beside Lauren and leaned into her touch as her hand came up to cradle my cheek, clearing away the rest of the iciness covering the world. Beyond her, on the other side of the table, I spied the limp body of the second Lore keeper. Mere confirmation of what I already knew. More victims of Weard’s unscrupulous hunt.
I forced myself upright once more as the echo of running feet and harsh shouts in Italian filled the chamber. Men wearing the same drab grey uniforms as the dragon prince’s watchers flooding into the circle of light. Their eyes glowed with dragon fire as they looked from the bodies to me. Realizing I still held the bloodied short sword, I tossed it to the side and raised my hands.
Lauren’s hand wrapped around my arm as she broke the tense silence. “Please, do not attack. He was defending us. And, he is injured.”
Faint surprise filtered through me at her words. My ribs ached with dull throbs, but it was not bad if I did not breathe too deeply. Then, I became aware of the way the left side of my shirt felt damp and clung to my skin. I looked down. Dark blood covered the front of my shirt where my jacket had been shoved back. It spread across my side. I tugged the jacket back into place, covering most of the bloodstain.
* * *
Lauren
The dragons had all been 8s when they took us into custody. They separated me from Mathias and placed a cloth bag over my head. When they took it off again, I was in a small stone room with no windows and only a single door. They handcuffed me to a chair and left me.
I couldn’t see my watch so I had no idea how much time passed. It felt as though hours crept by before the door opened and a clean cut Italian man dressed in a business suit strolled into the room. A suffocating sense of power struck me even before I looked up to see an 8 blazing over his head. His dark hair curled wildly, and his dragon-orange eyes studied my face closely. “Good morning, Signora, I am Paolo, chief guardian of Herculaneum by decree of the Dragon Prince of Naples. My men said you and your mate killed two of the docents at the Villa of Papyri along with three others.”
“No. That is not true.”
He raised a thick dark brow. “You accuse my men of lying.”
I closed my eyes for half a breath, reminding myself that the scene had been chaotic and confusing. Opening them again, I met Paolo’s gaze steadily. “No. But they arrived after the fight occurred, and so they leapt to a conclusion. Perhaps it made sense in their limited context, but it is not what happened. We were there to consult the Lore keepers, Marie and Daniel. During the conversation, we were attacked by hunters from Weard Enterprises. They attacked without warning or provocation even though none of us were prepared for a fight.”
“Your mate was more than prepared.”
My lips twitched into an unbidden smile. “He is always prepared. He is a warrior.” Clearing my throat, I continued before he could press me on Mathias’ species or other details I couldn’t give. “He defended us to the best of his ability, but the hunters cheated. They fought like cowards. I watched them slaughter both Marie and Daniel. They were coming for me next when my mate stopped them.”
The dragon studied me with unblinking eyes, and I struggled to breathe normally as I watched his number flicker briefly, showing a 9 before settling back into an 8. I hated when the numbers danced higher like that. “What were you seeking?”
I blinked at him. “I beg your pardon?”
He leaned forward, his gaze intent and glowing with fiery orangish yellow, pinning me in place even without the handcuffs. My mouth went dry, and my heart started beating frantically against my ribcage. The dragon’s expression remained intent and focused even as his nostrils widened. “What were you seeking that you needed to consult the docents at an hour so early no one was around? Avoiding witnesses?”
“It was a private quest,” I mumbled. Clearing my parched throat, I ignored the growing need for water as I clarified, “It was personal. And, no I did not want there to be a lot of listeners when I asked. Besides, my mate and I were supposed to leave today. We could not wait too late into the day before seeking out the Lore keepers.”
“A personal question for two Lore keepers who specialize in the history of the Spotters?”
I barely kept from wincing at the dragon’s dry remark. So much for my hope that he didn’t know what Marie and Daniel had focused their work on, and now . . . I was going to be r
aked across the coals, then roasted alive for this one.
Deciding there was no other hope for it, I slowly nodded. “Yes. Marie specialized in unlocking knowledge via memories. She helped me with that, and then said she knew more about . . . about my parents. So we came back because I needed to ask more questions about them.” I paused, studying his face. Dragons had exceptionally long lives, and it was hard to tell the age of those who were adults, but not yet elders. There was a chance that he was old enough to know them . . .
I took a steadying breath and said, “My parents were . . . associated with Natalia and Elam Serkan, a Seer and Jinn. They came here on an artifact quest about twenty-six years ago. Marie didn’t know what happened to them after she helped them with information, though.”
The dragon’s nostrils flared again, and a hint of sulfur entered the air as he blew his breath out. “A Seer and a Jinn?” He closed his eyes halfway then murmured, “I remember finding them.”
“Finding them?”
He nodded. “Their bodies were found on the side of Vesuvius, just above this town. It was obvious they had been cut down, but we could not find the culprits.” He paused before adding slowly, “Theirs were the only bodies, however. If your parents were associated with them, they might have been killed or taken. But, Vesuvius was merely the place they had been left, not the site of their deaths, so it is impossible to say.”
I gave a curt nod. “Thank you. That information is . . . helpful.”
The dragon rose, and then he shocked me by unlocking my handcuffs. He kept his grip on my arm, however, as he led me out of the room. We walked down a series of equally bland halls before emerging into a room decked out like an infirmary. Mathias was sitting on one of the beds, shrugging back into his jacket. However, he wasn’t wearing a shirt anymore. Instead, bandages were wrapped around his lean torso, changing it to appear lumpy on his left side.
I hurried to him and he grasped my hand, but kept his attention fixed on the dragon. He tilted his head slightly. “Thank you for your hospitality. I appreciate not being left to bleed all over your floors.”
Squeezing his hand tighter, I turned an apologetic look on the dragon. “He truly is thankful. He’s just terrible at expressing gratitude when he’s wounded.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, actually you are,” I stated through clenched teeth. “Now, shush.”
Mathias’ mouth twitched with a crooked smile, and I wanted to smack him for it. Now was not the time to be poking at dragons. Lunatic Ten.
I quickly turned my attention back to the dragon. He nodded slowly. “My prince has given clear orders. The two of you are to be released. However, you are to leave Herculaneum and the rest of the territory of Naples, and never return. Your presence is no longer welcome in my prince’s territory.”
“We understand,” I said before Mathias could do anything. “Please offer our thanks to the dragon prince for his mercy.”
* * *
Chapter Fifteen
Mathias
Breathing was a mite more difficult than usual as I leaned against the lorry’s window. Feeling Lauren’s gaze on me, I opened my eyes and forced a faint smile. “I’m fine. Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
“You’re capsized in the passenger seat, Mathias. I am absolutely certain that I do not want you anywhere near the steering wheel. Especially when you look paler than milk.” Lauren’s hands tightened around the steering wheel until they turned white. “They’re dead.”
My brow furrowed as I attempted to keep up with her leap in conversation. Then, I noticed the tears shimmering in her eyes. “Your parents?”
She gave a short nod and sniffed. “It was probably the only outcome, right? I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s been decades. But, I was . . .”
“I understand.” Pausing to catch my breath, I bit back a groan since I did not want Lauren to pull off the road and stop. “What else did they tell you?”
“Their bodies were found on Vesuvius, but they weren’t killed there.”
“Dumping ground,” I murmured.
Lauren made a low noise, and I grimaced. Ignoring the pain the movement caused, I forced myself to sit up and reach over to touch her leg. “I’m sorry. That was a bit too blunt.”
She shook her head and wouldn’t look at me. “No. It . . . It is true, and it is in the past. There is absolutely nothing I can do for them now.”
“It’s a pity we weren’t invited to use the airport at Naples. It would have been fairly easy to get an airship to Egypt, Cairo most likely. Then, we would have made our way from Cairo to Jerusalem, and from there we would have taken a quick jaunt into Jordan. We would have been in Petra by the end of the week.”
“We can’t go to the Jinn yet.”
I eased back to lean against the passenger window once more. This time I stretched out my legs on the long bench, not quite touching Lauren, as I closed my eyes. “Yes, I know. We need to let Raz Yakov know about this Crown of Nimrod. Where did he say to meet him?”
“Tourist area of the Colosseum, during the day.”
“Seems reasonable,” I muttered. Absently touching my side, I added, “Wouldn’t want to run into any patrons when I’m in this sort of shape. It would no doubt lead to a ghastly display of hubris.”
“Your hubris is only ghastly when you decide to tweak a dragon’s nose, dear,” came the soft reply.
I opened my eyes to frown at her. “I don’t have hubris and if I did, it wouldn’t be found in ghastly displays. They would be . . . impressively noble.”
“Of course, they would be, dear,” she murmured as she reached out to pat my leg. Then she added in a lower voice, “Those dragons did not check him for a concussion.”
I chuckled breathlessly. “Cheeky little Spotter.”
* * *
Lauren
The Colosseum seemed far too peaceful by daylight. It seemed too untouched by the violence of its past, of the games it was built to hold. I tightened my hold on Mathias’ arm as we entered with a tour group filled with 5s and 6s. It seemed too easy compared to the last time. Far too easy when a protective glamour didn’t appear. Of course, the group we joined was led away from that section of the Colosseum.
I tuned out the guide’s thickly accented English as he recounted the stories of the Colosseum. I didn’t need to imagine the bloodthirsty cries of the audience or the sand being stirred up by gladiators. I had already lived through it. And, I never wanted to come near this place again.
The murmurs of the group faded as I focused on scanning the area of the only other low number I would likely find. Where was he?
Mathias leaned more heavily against me, and I knew I would need to get him to the safe house quickly. I studied the golden numbers once more. Mathias leaned his forehead against my hair and murmured, “See anything of interest?”
“Not yet,” I whispered. My gaze fell on a wooden bench in the shaded area of the Colosseum. “Come on. Over here.”
He grunted, but didn’t protest as I guided him over to the bench. I eased him down and kept a hand braced against his shoulder as a precaution. If he collapsed here, we would likely end up in a clinic again. Mathias raised his right arm and swiped away the perspiration dotting his forehead. “We need a better holiday, love.”
I laughed softly. “Yes, we do.” I looked around, then stiffened as I caught a glimpse of a three on the other side of the Colosseum. For a moment, I considered going to find Raz Yakov and then I glanced back down at Mathias. Despite his pretense that he was just fine, he probably should have been in bed. And, he definitely shouldn’t have gotten out of the truck to come up to the Colosseum with me. Of course, the stubborn fool refused to listen me when I suggested that he stay put so I could meet Raz Yakov.
Noticing he had somehow turned even paler, I quickly sank down on the bench beside him. Leaning in close to give the impression of a couple distracted by each other, I murmured, “Are you all right? Do I need to take you to a healer?”
> Mathias grimaced and forced a smile that I didn’t believe in the least. “No, no, don’t worry about me. I will be just fine. I just . . . I just need to catch my breath is all.” He closed his eyes as he muttered, “I’m having an absolutely smashing time in Italy. May we never have to come back.”
Torn between laughter and sympathy, I could only shake my head. “You poor thing.” I kissed his cheek and then whispered in his ear, “Two minutes and then we leave.”
“Without meeting your friend?” he murmured, eyes still closed. “I think not.”
I opened my mouth to argue with him, to tell him in no uncertain terms that his wellbeing was far more important than attempting to meet an elusive Spotter. Then, a gravelly voice interrupted me. “Lauren Hope, you came back.”
A mix of relief and anticipation coursed through me as I looked up to see a 3 glowing above short cropped grey hair. Light brown eyes peered out from beneath wild eyebrows as Raz Yakov looked from me to Mathias, his thin lips pursing. He wore the same simple garb of a long sleeve white shirt combined with dark pants and vest that complimented his dark olive complexion. His gnarled hands rested on a walking stick, but they trembled slightly as he looked at the space above Mathias’ head.
I nodded to him. “Raz Yakov. I was afraid you would no longer be waiting for us.”
“I had almost given up hope that you would return,” he stated, eyes still fixed on Mathias’ number. “Today was the last day I was coming up here. I expected you to find answers from the Lore keepers much sooner.”
“Unfortunately, we encountered some . . . delays on our way to Herculaneum.”
Rogue Spotter Collection Page 68