by Dianna Love
“What are you going to do?”
“It’ll be easier to show you.”
Chapter 36
Evalle couldn’t stand there and watch Storm face a swarm of attacking demons by himself.
She took a step and Tristan grabbed her. “You can’t get to him.”
“Let go so I can help my mate or I will hurt you.”
“Ah, shit. Let’s go.” He released her.
There was no time for convincing him not to join her, so they raced forward, slapping kinetic hits at Lorwerth’s few men in the camp, but Evalle’s strikes were falling as short as Tristan’s.
Lorwerth shouted at his four guards, “Give me an alley!”
Evalle swiveled her head at the same moment Tristan looked at the threat.
Lorwerth sent a ball of flame at them.
Tristan slapped at it with his kinetics and Evalle stepped in front of him to take the hit. Tristan couldn’t stand much more at this point. She shoved her hands in front of her and fire raced over the wimpy kinetic field she put up. The flash of heat seared her arms and burned half her shirt away.
Thankfully, it only singed her bra.
Evalle, I’m close.
She searched all around. Quinn? Is that you?
Yes. Where are you? Quinn shouted in her mind.
In the middle of the camp. Do you see it?
Yes. You and Tristan find somewhere out of the way.
Why?
An explosion of noise hit her at the same moment that Quinn said, We’ve got air support.
She grabbed her head to cover her ears. Tristan did the same. It was as if the sound barrier had been broken.
Fire rained down on the demons, yet managed to miss Storm, who was taking on three.
Evalle had her first taste of hope at the sight of a giant red dragon dive-bombing the camp. She called out telepathically, Good to see you, Daegan.
You as well, Evalle. Have you got your powers back?
She murmured, “My powers are getting stronger, Tristan. What about yours?”
Tristan nodded and answered Daegan. Yes. We could help if we have permission to shift.
Granted. Get your asses up here.
Tristan turned to her. “You first. I’ll cover you.”
Rather than argue that they were breaking a VIPER rule, Evalle backed up and forced the shift into her gryphon form as fast as she could. It hurt like hell, but the quicker she did this, the sooner Tristan could shift and give his healing a huge boost.
She stretched and stood as the wings took shape, towering over those puny Laochra Fola who didn’t look so tough now. She stretched her wings, showing off her aqua feathers. She raised her golden head and screeched out a war cry.
When Lorwerth and his personal guards turned to her, the shock riding their faces made her day.
When Lorwerth saw Tristan shifting, he shouted at his men to kill Tristan.
Evalle swatted the four guards with one kinetic hit of her lion-shaped paws and they went flying thirty feet, landing next to the line of soldiers still holding a wall between her and Storm.
With her, Tristan and Daegan on the same telepathic channel, Evalle said, Daegan, that line of men blocking Storm are linked. Take out one and they all fall.
The dragon had just made a fiery pass over the open area and flapped faster, rushing out then banking hard to come back in. He burned a wide path through the middle of everything, but every other guard in the line quickly lifted his field of energy like a shield to protect their heads.
Tristan finished fully shifting. He told Evalle and Daegan, Fire isn’t making a dent. Too many of them linked.
Isak stepped out of the woods at the top of a hill with his blaster in hand. He advanced toward Storm, plowing through the demons that were still rushing in.
Storm had killed ten, but he was bleeding all over.
Evalle had an idea and decided that dragon could multi-task the best right now. She told Daegan, We’ll handle this side. Adrianna has to be somewhere behind the human with the blaster. Don’t kill him. That’s Isak. Have Quinn find her and see if she can get under that wall of kinetics.
I’m going now.
Daegan scorched the ground, turning demon after demon to gray dust so quickly it sizzled before the rain washed it away.
Isak worked his way toward Storm, who ripped the head off of a demon, but three more took its place.
You got this, Tristan? Evalle asked.
Oh, yes, this bunch and Lorwerth are mine. Go get your tomcat.
Evalle took to the air as Tristan turned to Lorwerth, who was getting up off the ground.
Tristan used his kinetics to lift a steel rod that had been left heating in the fire. He sent it flying like a spear that hit Lorwerth, lifting him off the ground and staking him to a tree. He screamed.
Way to go, Tristan.
Evalle flapped her wings, gaining air. Isak had never seen any of them fly, but she hoped he’d seen her and Tristan shifting into gryphons just now. Surely by now, Isak had guessed that the red dragon providing air support was the man she’d told Isak had spent thousands of years cursed as a dragon throne.
She circled once and swept down, knocking demons every which way with her kinetics. With no immediate demons to fight, her jaguar turned right and left, looking for a target.
Then he lifted his head.
She’d never get over the awe and pride in Storm’s jaguar gaze. She’d seen the firelight glimmer across Tristan’s blue skin and translucent scales. Her own golden head and aqua feathers with blue skin would be just as spectacular. A glow of pleasure filled her.
Storm was finally seeing her gryphon form. He roared a sound of possession. She was his and he was hers.
The minute she shifted back to human, he would be furious at her for being in danger. She’d suffer his irritation as long as they both lived.
Adrianna ran out of the woods and stopped with her palm open. Witchlock power spun into a sphere the size of a basketball.
Wow. That was larger than anything Evalle had witnessed to date. Adrianna had said she was still learning to control the power. Evalle hoped she knew enough to not turn them all into dust.
The Sterling witch sent a comet-shaped blast of energy airborne. It flew high above, so high it crossed over the top of the trees around the camp. Using the same hand that wielded Witchlock, Adrianna directed the flight path of the fiery comet.
It landed behind the guards.
When the energy struck the ground, the earth opened and swallowed it.
Heads turned from the linked line.
Evalle held her breath.
Tristan murmured telepathically, Come on, witch.
In the next second, a sizzle of power shot up at the guard in the middle of the pack. He screamed and jumped around, then arched his back. His body shook viciously as if he were being electrocuted.
The entire line of men started screaming in pain, then the first one went limp and fell, his back hitting the ground.
Quinn came racing in behind Adrianna with Reese at his side.
Five demons were still alive, because their corporeal forms remained on the ground. Two struggled to lift their heads, both turning in Reese’s direction.
Evalle sent a quick message to Quinn. Those demons are still alive, Quinn.
I can handle them.
If Evalle could see them, so could everyone else, including Storm who had a ground-level view.
Three demons pushed to their feet and headed toward Quinn and Reese. Quinn pushed Reese behind him and took out three with his kinetic power.
Huh. That was interesting.
Storm made quick work of the fourth, ripping off its head even before the dust released.
Daegan came soaring in over the top of the ravine that was now drenched everywhere with rain. Evalle couldn’t see any remnant of fog left, which meant the buzzing field had to be gone.
The fire pit had
continued to burn through all of it. That would take more than dirt to douse at some point.
Cold air swept over her wings. Evalle looked up at the skies where the storm was diminishing. No lightning or thunder. The clouds had thinned and were no longer spewing rain.
Daegan slowed and landed in the clearing right in front of a demon that clawed the ground, scrambling on all fours. It was crawling toward Quinn and Reese.
The scary dragon stared at the demon as if he studied a bug, then Daegan punted the body forty feet into the air.
The demon burst into dust mid-flight.
Daegan’s face twisted into what Evalle took to be a toothy dragon grin, enjoying his soccer goal moment. Did he even know what soccer was? Doubtful.
Evalle landed next to Daegan, dwarfed by his huge, red body, and she was no small potatoes.
Isak and Adrianna walked toward her and Daegan.
Evalle felt a rough tongue lick her leg.
She looked down to find Storm rubbing against her and giving her a look she easily read as “I love you, but you’re in deep trouble.”
She sighed, which came out sounding like a snort in her gryphon form. Oops. She hoped Storm didn’t take it as a challenge.
Swiping his tail slowly back and forth, Daegan stomped into the camp with Evalle and Storm following. He sent a telepathic order to Evalle and Tristan. Shift back into your human forms.
Uh, Daegan, Evalle started. My mate will lose his mind if I shift into a nude woman.
The dragon swung his massive body around. His tail whacked Lorwerth’s drooped body. The man groaned.
Storm stood in front of Evalle as if he intended to protect her from Lorwerth, even though she was a giant gryphon.
Go ahead and shift, Evalle. I will take care of clothing.
At that, Evalle called up the change, noticing that Tristan was doing the same. As her legs and arms formed, she felt cloth drape over her body. He’d put her in ... a shift-type dress.
Really?
She never wore dresses.
That choice probably made sense for a man who had lived two thousand years ago and didn’t know enough about modern clothes to majik up the right thing, but a dress?
Tristan, however, ended up in jeans and a T-shirt.
She looked up at Daegan and snapped, “Sexist much?”
Storm shifted. When he stood behind her, put his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t give a damn as long as you’re covered.”
The dragon grinned again.
Men.
Tristan complained, “Can’t you cover him up?”
A puff of smoke blew out of Daegan’s nostrils. He was getting impatient, but he put Storm in a pair of jeans.
Quinn and Reese joined them as Isak and Adrianna walked up to stand beside Evalle and Storm. Quinn asked, “Are you okay, Evalle?”
“I’m fine. Tristan’s the one they tortured.”
Storm muttered, “Those are love taps compared to what I’m going to do to him for dragging you into this.”
Evalle spun around in his arms and whispered in his ear, “I need to feel you as soon as we get out of here. Can we skip the argument and go right to makeup sex?”
He answered her by pulling her around and giving her a kiss that ranked right up there with sex against the wall.
Tristan grumbled, “Give me a break.”
That drew everyone’s attention to him. Evalle turned in Storm’s arms again, but this time he wrapped his around her front where she’d wanted them.
Daegan whipped his big dragon head down to face Tristan.
Evalle caught their telepathic discussion since Daegan must have decided to keep her privy.
Daegan asked, Why didn’t you come to me, Tristan?
Tristan, probably not realizing Evalle was listening said, You trusted me with the knowledge that they can kill you in another realm. We need you to lead. I was trying to handle this without putting you at risk.
When Daegan replied, his tone was soft. I do trust you without question, but that does not mean I expect you to battle our enemies without me. I will continue to share things with you, but you cannot decide to protect me without my knowledge. We must always show a strong front by joining together against any enemy. Understood?
Yes. I’m sorry.
No, never be sorry for doing your duty. Be proud, because I am. I couldn’t ask for a better second.
Tristan nodded, clearly humbled.
Daegan shifted to his human form in the next instant. He must’ve had a reason for choosing leather boots this time, along with clothing that came right out of medieval times. He wore a huge sword strapped across his back in a sheath. She had no doubt a body that size could swing that sword with one hand.
He was one magnificent warrior, someone Evalle could follow into battle.
Evalle heard a low curse from her left. It was Isak. Evalle looked over her shoulder. “Thanks for the backup.”
“You’re welcome,” Isak said, but he never took his eyes off Daegan. Isak didn’t sound happy at all.
Adrianna gave Evalle a half smile. “Your turn to pick up lunch.”
“You got it.”
When Evalle turned back, Daegan was heading for Lorwerth.
She wanted to be there for that conversation, to find out who had been behind all of this and just who was Lorwerth.
Daegan called out to Quinn, “I may need your mind lock ability.”
Quinn walked past Evalle.
She caught his arm and when he turned she said, “Daegan may not have understood that it’s actually against your moral code to enter a mind without permission.”
“That’s not an issue this time. I would open up this enemy’s mind with a sword and dip out what I needed if I thought that would work.”
Whoa. That was more fire in Quinn’s eyes than she’d seen since Kizira had died. Evalle glanced at Reese, who had nothing to say to anyone.
She wore her medallion again.
Why hadn’t she left once she realized they’d found the tomb?
The small building was pretty damn obvious standing in the middle of the camp, still unopened.
Chapter 37
Quinn strode past the burned tents and into the center of the camp, sparing a brief glance for the silent tomb.
I’m sorry Kizira. I will find a way to keep you and our secret safe from our enemies.
When Reese left his side, wandering over to look at the tomb, he held his breath.
What powers, yet unseen, did she possess with that medallion?
She must have felt his eyes on her, because she turned around. She said, “Go. This is safe ... from everyone.”
He had to trust her.
If she could spirit it away, she would have, right?
“Quinn?” Daegan called sharply.
Quinn stepped over to where Tristan and Daegan hovered near the person Tristan had identified as Lorwerth, who was no longer stuck to the tree. Quinn stopped short at the sight of a steel rod sticking out his back.
The tip jutted from his chest. “Can he be saved?”
Daegan shook his head. “I tried once and the wound ripped open. That is his doing.”
Rain faded to a light drizzle as Daegan asked, “Where have you been since I last saw you, Lorwerth?”
Tristan looked as surprised as Quinn. Daegan knew Lorwerth?
The dying man snickered in a nasty way. “I can’t believe you’re still alive. I get sent to Anwynn and you end up living like a king. Literally. Again.” He coughed and blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
“You don’t deserve any life, not after what you did to help Maeve capture me. My sisters died because of you and Maeve. Did you kill my father, too?”
Again, Quinn exchanged a look with Tristan at this new information on Daegan’s past.
Lorwerth twisted up his face in disgust. “The three of you deserved what you got. I didn’t kill the king. Miserable brother that
he was, he left me nothing.”
Daegan lifted an eyebrow. “You weren’t even blood related. My father took you in as one of his father’s bastards, then treated you as a full brother, and we respected you as our uncle. You inherited the crown. Were you so greedy that not even that was enough?”
“A crown is nothing but decoration. Your father hid the fortunes he’d amassed. I was left with enough to feed the castle each month. Nothing more. It was his fault I made the deal that landed me in Anwynn to begin with and your fault your sisters died. Not mine.”
The man had to be insane to say such a thing to Daegan at this point.
Surprisingly, Daegan agreed. “Aye, it was as much my fault. My arrogance as much as your betrayal, but you acted in hate and I acted in love. I don’t care why you ended up in Anwynn, but who pulled you from that place and for what reason? Was it Macha?”
“That goddess still around? I have nothing to do with her.”
Storm had joined them and announced, “Truth.”
Daegan nodded his thanks and asked, “What about Queen Maeve?”
“I was to deliver the body to her.”
“Truth,” Storm confirmed then added, “but he’s holding something back.”
“Who else is involved?” Daegan pressed.
Lorwerth stared at him with bold defiance.
Daegan told the dying man, “This ends here and now. You tell me who is behind this.”
Lorwerth laughed hysterically, which turned into racking coughs.
Everyone looked to Daegan, who stared at Lorwerth with hate that was palpable.
Quinn asked, “Is he so far gone that he doesn’t realize he’s about to die?”
Lorwerth breathed in and out, his lungs gurgling. The smell of his blood tinged air left fresh by the rain. “I know exactly what will happen, but you don’t, Daegan. This is not the end. This is the tip of what’s coming. I’ve wanted to die for thousands of years. I’m ... I’m getting the best of the deal. I finally get to rest.”
Daegan turned a dark face on Quinn.
Quinn warned, “If the same person who shielded the minds of these guards protected his as well, his mind may disintegrate as soon as I break through that layer. I can try, but I’ll very likely just kill him when the shield implodes.”
