Deep breath in. Bane eyed his ankle. Goodbye, foot. As he inhaled, he lifted the sword. As he exhaled, he swung.
CHAPTER FOUR
Go ahead, strike out on your own!
CRADLED AGAINST SOME giant’s chest, peering over his broad shoulder, Nola had a startling view of the cavern’s collapse and Vale’s abduction. The glow of northern lights illuminated both horrors. A different giant held her sister in a fireman’s carry, whisking her away in the opposite direction.
In the cavern, the scary-looking brute holding Vale had introduced himself. I am Knox of Iviland. He possessed the coldest blue eyes Nola had ever seen. Her own captor—the guy she’d claimed had impregnated her with a glance—had the coldest dark eyes. But the truly terrifying thing? Neither man frightened her as much as her golden god.
Like an angel of death, he’d ripped off limbs, clawed out organs, chewed through throats and yanked out spines. And he’d done it all while blood-splattered and staring possessively at Nola, as if he owned her, body and soul.
Why had she ever decided to come to Russia? Seriously, a delusion would have had a much better outcome.
What had happened to GG, anyway? And why had he summoned her of all people?
“St-stop. Please,” she told the dark-haired brute carrying her away. Her teeth chattered as she extended her arm, reaching for her sister. “I d-don’t want to go with you.”
He tightened his grip, bellowing, “Be quiet, girl. You’ll give our position away.”
Uh... “You just gave our position away.”
In the distance, Vale hurled herself to the ground. She whimpered and scrambled to her feet. Chasing after Nola with a backpack in hand, she screamed at Nola’s captor. “Stop! Please! You don’t understand. She’s sick. She needs medicine. Come get Knox. I’ll help you kill him, if that’s what you want. Honest! Or take me instead.”
White-hot tears streamed down Nola’s cheeks, only to freeze. Stop crying. You’re a grown woman, dang it. Well, in her haste to exit the cavern, this grown woman had left the other backpack and all of her survival gear behind. Without goggles, a mask, a hat or gloves, the blood in her veins would soon thicken like a slushie.
Must act now!
Gathering what little energy she had, Nola beat her fists against her captor’s face and chest. He evinced zero reaction, her punches not even a blip.
Hysteria seethed in the tangle of her thoughts. Where was he taking her? What did he plan to do to her—with her? “Please, let me go. Let me save my sister.” If anything happened to Vale... I would rather die.
You just might.
Tone dry, he said, “Why would I let the mother of my twins go?”
Oh, crap. He’d heard her silly comment. “Will you kill the mother of your twins?”
“That depends, I suppose.”
Terror seized her, paralyzing her muscles. She lost the ability to move, which only worsened her terror. Her stomach began to churn, as if she’d swallowed razor blades. “I think I might vomit.”
He picked up speed, saying, “Aim away from me.” He had a deep voice and a heavy accent she couldn’t place. “If we stop, a combatant will attack us.”
Combatant?
Focus. Last year, Nola and Vale had taken a self-defense class. Now, a warning clanged inside her mind. If someone attempts to take you to a secondary location, fight. Whatever pain you endure before transfer will pale in comparison to what you’ll endure if you end up trapped and alone.
“I’m coming for you, Nola,” Vale called from the darkness. “Right behind...won’t let anything—umph.”
What just happened? Nothing good, that much Nola knew.
Blistering fury unlocked her limbs from paralysis. Instead of flailing wildly, she put her lessons to good use, poking her captor in the eye. As he grunted in pain, she slammed the heel of her palm into his nose. Cartilage snapped, and blood dribbled down his chin. He stutter-stepped, but dang it, he maintained his hold.
“I am Zion of Tavery.” He raced around an ice-glazed tree. “Do not worry, little dreki. I will protect you.”
Dreki? Another of her instructor’s warnings clanged. Never trust a stranger. Assume they speak Lies, the universal language of murderers and rapists. “Wh-why would you want to protect me?” she asked, teeth chattering with more force.
“Before you arrived,” he said, “I...saw you. In my dreams.”
The way she’d dreamed of her golden god?
“Even if I hadn’t, I’d want to protect you,” he added. “Where I’m from, females are rare. A precious treasure. Harming one is a crime.” He adjusted Nola against his chest, freeing one of his hands, wiped the blood from his face and pressed his fingers against the diamonds embedded in his shoulder.
What was he doing? “Wh-what did I do in your dreams?”
“That, I won’t tell you.”
Between one step and the next, they exited the wasteland and entered a sunlit jungle. As she scanned their new surroundings, warmth poured over her, as cozy as a fur blanket. Ripples flowed over the surface of a crystal clear pond. A patch of wildflowers perfumed the air with sugary sweetness, teasing her nostrils. Bees buzzed past, and birds sang. Fruit and nut trees swayed in a gentle breeze, and her mouth watered. Coconuts. Bananas. Pecans. Gimme!
“Where are we?” And how did she continue to go from one season to another in a matter of seconds?
“My home. While I’m on Terra, at least.”
“Terra,” she echoed.
Nod. “Every world and realm has multiple dimensions and planes, hidden pockets of land inaccessible by traditional means. I found and claimed this one centuries ago.”
“Multiple dimensions? Planes? World and realm. There’s a difference?” Had he used the word centuries?
After everything she’d witnessed, everything she’d experienced... Keep an open mind.
“Planes are stacked, one on top of the other, but they do not intersect,” he said, setting her on her feet. “Dimensions exist within a world, and are accessible through some sort of doorway. Worlds are the planets as a whole, and realms are kingdoms within the world.”
Her knees buckled, unable to hold her weight. Zion caught her before she hit the ground. He carried her to a bed of moss, where he gently laid her on her back.
Too vulnerable! She flattened her palms on his chest and pushed. When he refused to budge, she started punching. Her knuckles brushed the hilt of a dagger, and she froze. Her instructor’s third tip? If you find a weapon, use it.
But...stab Zion? Kill him?
He gripped the hem of her shirt, as if he intended to rip the garment from her body, and Nola thought, Yes. Kill him. Though she trembled, she yanked the dagger free of its sheath and thrust the blade into his gut.
The ease with which the metal cut through flesh and muscle sickened her. What have I done?
Frowning, he plucked the weapon from his intestines. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, so she had an unobstructed view as blood gushed from the wound.
She braced, expecting a swift and violent retaliation.
He merely sheathed the blade and said, “I only meant to check you for injuries, little dreki. Are you all right?”
Was “little dreki” some kind of an endearment or curse? And had he really accepted blame for her actions then asked about her well-being? “I’m sorry I hurt you. Well, not so much sorry as worried about your reaction.”
“I’m fine. The wound is healing already.”
Really? As she watched, wide-eyed, his torn flesh wove back together, his wound becoming invisible. But, but... “How is that possible?” Confusion welcomed a tide of dizziness, the world spinning faster and faster.
“How else? I’m not human,” he said with a shrug. “Now I must inspect my territory for traps. I’ll return with food.”
Leave her in an unfamiliar terrain? N
o! Bring her food? Yes! “Aren’t you afraid I’ll set traps?”
The corners of his mouth lifted in a patronizing half grin. “If someone like you manages to trap me, I deserve my fate.”
Oh, that burned! “Someone like me?”
“Tiny. Fragile. Sickly.” He offered the descriptors without hesitation, happy to help her discover her faults. And he didn’t wait for her reply, either, just stalked off, disappearing in the foliage.
Stand up. Run! Search for Vale. Yes, yes. But even if she could walk, she had, like, a zero point nil chance of doing her sister any good. She was too weak and too slow. And what if she stumbled upon a “combatant?” Her chance of dying would jack up to 100 percent.
Must do something. Think! What did she know? Well, for starters, opioid withdrawal would knock her flat soon.
Nola had two pills in her pocket; she always had two pills in her pocket. A “just in case of an emergency” stash. If she took one now—half her usual four-hour dose—she would head off any major withdrawal symptoms for about six hours. Then, she could take the other pill, and buy herself another six hours. After that...
Okay, then. She set an internal timer in her mind. Twelve hours to form and enact a plan. Ticktock.
Nola lumbered to her hands and knees, the dizziness worsening. When she tried to stand, she toppled. Dang it! She slammed a fist into the dirt.
Calm down. Don’t rage, act. Once again, she lumbered to her hands and knees. She crawled to the pond and popped a pill. Though she knew the dangers of drinking nonsanitized water, she sipped it from her hands. Bottoms up. If her digestive system revolted, her digestive system revolted.
Bonus: if she had raging diarrhea, Zion would be less inclined to touch her. Yay.
As the dizziness eased, she used a tree limb to clamber to her feet. Her legs wobbled, her knees threatening to buckle all over again, but she fought to gain her bearings.
An idea sparked, and she reeled. What if she convinced Zion to rescue Vale?
Could she trust him? So far, he’d exhibited pretty decent behavior. Nola hadn’t been hurt. At the very least, he had answers to her questions. Who was Knox, and where had he taken Vale? Who were the others, the ones who’d been frozen alongside him? For that matter, how had they survived being frozen? Did everyone heal as fast as Zion? Could Nola get in on the action? Why had all the sexcakes tried to murder each other when they’d gained their freedom? And who was GG and why was she drawn to him?
As sunlight filtered through a leafy canopy, stroking and warming her further, a twig snapped, footsteps reverberating. Zion marched past a thick tangle of gnarled tree limbs, holding a small satchel.
Without a battle raging around them, she was able to catalog previously missed details. Four tattoos etched his muscular chest, each image set inside a circle. In one, birds. In another, flames. Another, clouds. In the last, a tree of life. The diamonds embedded in his broad shoulders were arranged in some sort of starburst pattern. So sparkly! He was six and a half feet, the same height as GG, and exceptionally handsome, with that thick cap of dark hair, those dark eyes and skin a lovely shade of brown.
While GG had simmered with rage and brutality, every move he made an invitation to the chopping block, Zion exuded calm and determination.
“I brought a snack,” he said.
Twelve hours. For some reason, she heard “ticktock” in the back of her mind. “The other girl,” she blurted out, diving into the deep end. “Vale. She’s my sister, my best friend and business partner, and the only family I have left. A murderous warrior carted her away. He could be hurting her.”
His features softened. “I tried to save her, too.”
“You tried and failed, so you’re just giving up? I have to find her, Zion. She’s my reason for breathing.” Truth. A few times over the past year, Nola had come close to giving up on life, the future too bleak to contemplate. What did she have to look forward to? More flares. More pain. More medication. But, for another day with Vale, she would endure anything. “Will you help me?”
“No.” He sat across from her and placed the satchel between them. The material gaped open, revealing bananas, pecans and carrots. “From the moment Knox broke free, he did everything possible to protect her. I doubt he’ll hurt her.”
A barbed lump grew in her throat, even though he was right. Knox had focused on Vale the same way GG had focused on Nola.
Where was GG now? Was he all right? He hadn’t spoken telepathically since she’d exited the cavern. Though he’d been savage and disdainful, she didn’t want him hurt. Or worse! He was her freaking dream man, after all.
Zion cracked a bundle of pecans and peeled a banana, then offered both to her. She took a bite of the fruit and moaned with bliss. The sweetness! So much better than canned fish and chili. She all but shoveled the remaining banana into her mouth, then started on the nuts. Once she’d swallowed the last one, guilt set in. Here she was, enjoying a tasty snack. Meanwhile, she had no idea if her sister was in danger.
“Doubt isn’t good enough,” she finally said.
“Well, it’ll have to work for the time being. I’m part of the hundred and third All War. An immortal combatant fighting to rule your world.”
Immortal. All War. Rule the whole dang world. Forget having an open mind. Forget the wild things she’d seen. He was lying. He must be.
But...I kind of believe him. “What’s an All War?”
“A fight to the death.”
And? “Please expound.”
He thought for a moment, sighed. “There are thirty-nine worlds in the All War Alliance. Correction. There were thirty-nine worlds before a viking froze us in the arctic. I’m unsure how many new ones were found over the centuries. Anyway. To prevent other-world armies from invading and destroying newly discovered territories, one representative from each world is sent to battle the other representatives—to the death.”
The food she’d consumed turned into lead in her stomach. So, Zion believed himself to be an extraterrestrial alien? Meaning, GG was an extraterrestrial alien. No way, no how. But...
Maybe? Nola doubted any other explanation would make sense, either. If Zion had told the truth, if the All War was real and a group of warriors truly hoped to win control of Earth 300 meets Highlander style, the future was bleak for all humans, not just her, and...and...
She couldn’t deal with this right now. Hysteria teased the edges of her mind.
Wrapping her arms around her middle, she said, “Do you know where Knox took Vale?”
“To his base camp, no doubt. Unfortunately, I have never glimpsed it, so I cannot escort you there.”
“I don’t understand.” What did seeing a camp have to do with anything?
Zion tapped the trio of crystal rings he wore. “These are Rifters. They open a portal anywhere I’ve preciously visited or seen in photographs.”
Rifters. Portals. Everything he said painted a very un-mortal-y picture. “Escort me somewhere I can get survival gear, then. Maybe a pharmacy, too. Definitely a pharmacy. Then return me to the arctic.”
He blinked rapidly. “You know you cannot find her, yes? You are too weak, and you lack the proper training and tools.” Cruel words—true words—spoken in a gentle tone. “What is your sickness?”
“None of your business.” She wasn’t physically strong, but so what? She had a heart of steel! “Is your planet medically advanced? Can you cure certain diseases?”
“Advanced, yes. Cure, no.” He slanted his head to the side. “How did you find the ice cave?”
“Went for a hike, got lost.” Why even try to explain her connection to GG, and the instinct to reach him? Selective mutism would stop her, guaranteed. “How long were you frozen?”
“Thirteen hundred years.”
Nola floundered. A statement so wild it had to be truth? “Do you happen to know the name of the golden warri
or?”
“I do.” Zion’s eyes brightened, as if he knew a secret she did not. “He is Bane of Adwaeweth.”
Bane. The bane of my existence. Add-way-with.
“Adwaewethian warriors are dangerous shape-shifters with an aversion to light.”
“Shape-shifters,” she gasped out.
“Long ago, I heard your people refer to Bane’s beast as a dreki. Or dragon,” he clarified.
What? An even wilder statement. Yet, she could easily imagine Bane transforming I Am Dragon style. But...why had Zion referred to Nola as “little dragon”? Unless he knew Bane and Nola shared a mental connection.
So, why did Bane and Nola share a connection?
Stop focusing on noncritical details. Ticktock. Ticktock. It was time to gain Zion’s cooperation, and make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “Help me find and save Vale,” she announced, “and I will...” What? What could she do, and what did he want? “I know the modern world, you don’t. I can help you win your war. So. What do you say?”
CHAPTER FIVE
Your fantasy man is back. Now what?
ZION ABANDONED HER. Without making any promises or explaining where he was going, what he’d be doing or when he’d return. All he said? “I have a war to win. Stay here, and you’ll stay safe.” Then, he used his Rifters to open a portal and vanished, leaving Nola gaping.
Ticktock. At least the opioid had kicked in, more easily digested thanks to the food. Warmth spilled over her body. She took an experimental step, then another...yes! Using a fallen tree branch as a cane, she trekked through the, uh, dimension, on the hunt for another person, shelter, a vehicle or an exit. What she found? A whole lot of jungle.
The trees were overgrown, the flowers oversize and the lichen plentiful. Birds chirped, frogs croaked and bees buzzed past, providing super fun background music. But, no matter what direction she traveled, she always ended up at the pond. Did the dimension loop?
All the while, the twelve-hour countdown ticked in her mind, every lost minute chiseling away at her calm. Desperate for a distraction, she reworked a mental list of must do’s. Convince Zion to find and save Vale. Stop hoping Bane will send another telepathic message. Escape. Save Vale before withdrawal sets in. Go home. Forget the war and its “combatants.” Forget my golden god’s potential alien status.
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