“I'm not leaving you.”
Mr. Labeaux shook his head. “Cha, you don't have to be doin' this, now. Ya ain't ready.”
“Maybe not. But I'm not leaving.” She squared her shoulders.
She held the knife blade in her teeth and ripped off the gloves. Red light streamed from her fingertips. Her vision changed as it had before. The world came into sharp focus. Untamed, fiery, raging power heated her insides.
Makenna gave herself over, embracing the beasts, letting their need for blood, their thirst for battle, become hers.
If they really were a part of her, if she really was a wolf, a goddess, a queen, maybe even a raven, she'd use it all.
She'd make these guys wish they'd never seen her face.
Mr. Labeaux smiled. “Then I guess we be fightin'.” He took her left hand as she settled the knife in her right.
As soon as their palms touched, sparks. The yellow glow that surrounded him circled her. Warm. Safe. Strong. The red force in her reached out, joining the two with a jolt that threw her head back. The light around them morphed into a burnt orange.
When she regained her balance, he'd let go and settled in for the fight. She did the same, suddenly feeling surer about her chances.
Their opponents moved in, their own wavering green light gaining strength. They lunged.
Makenna leaped forward, taking the first to the ground with a furious battle cry. She buried her blade in his throat. Before she could twist, he kicked her off, using a blast of whatever power he commanded to throw her.
She landed hard in a puddle. Pain ripped up her spine, and the air punched out of her lungs as muddy water flew. She recovered quickly and jumped back to her feet. She ducked as a blade swung for her neck. Spinning, she dragged her knife across her opponent's gut. He hollered but came right back at her with a downward slash that took a chunk out of her right arm.
Her knife clattered to the ground. She growled. Then something happened that shocked the shit out of her.
Claws extended from both hands. Razor sharp claws, made for killing. She opened her mouth, and a beasts' roar poured out.
Her enemy's mouth dropped open.
Consumed by the animal, she didn't think. She only focused on gutting the man trying to kill her.
Gutting with pleasure.
Makenna let out another roar and leaped, locking her thighs around his neck and forcing him to the ground. One of his hands pulled at her leg while the other buried his knife deep in her thigh.
But she was beyond pain. She used those deadly claws like she'd had them all her life.
She slashed down, digging across his face. The skin flayed open to the bone, his eye popping out of the socket and flapping as he thrashed and screamed. Makenna took advantage as his hands flew to his face and yanked the knife from her leg. She spun it in her clawed hand and sank it deep into his throat.
This time, he couldn't fight her off as she slid the blade from left to right until his head rolled free.
She rose, blood dripping from her hands and splattered on her face and neck. She focused on the other two, throwing whatever magic they owned, trying to break through the shield Mr. Labeaux had created. When this was over, he needed to show her how to do that.
As she made her way to him, a shaft of light penetrated his shield, slicing into his arm. His knife clattered to the ground, and the cocoon of light around him wavered.
“No!”
She screamed and, purely on instinct, stretched out her hand, aiming for the one who'd hurt her friend. A beam of bright red light shot out and into the enemy. It slammed him into a brick wall. The street light above shattered, raining sparks.
All eyes turned to Makenna. Her hair flew around her head. Red pulsed from her skin.
Her only thought was the ones trying to hurt her friend had to die.
Running to the last enemy standing, she didn't give him time to respond. She dropped her knife, grabbing him much the same way she had Rhys last night. Only this time, those vicious claws dug in deep.
Blood poured as she lifted him, then twisted her hands. Not knowing where the strength came from and not caring, she twisted again, enjoying his scream of pain. She threw him into his friend who'd been slowly making his way to his feet. She moved to finish the job. A hand landed on her shoulder. She whirled, expecting another enemy.
Mr. Labeaux raised his hands. “It's me, chile. We need to be goin'. Now. We got to get you out o' here 'fore more come.” He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her to the car.
Fury growled in her stomach. She didn't want to go. She wanted to finish them.
“Makenna Rianne! Get yo'self together! We got to go!”
The words shook her back to reality. The battle rage receded. Her claws retracted. Her hands dripped blood. She turned to Mr. Labeaux and opened her mouth, but words wouldn't come.
She’d killed. Again.
“It's all right, chile. It's all right.” He wrapped an arm around her and rushed her to the car, eying their recovering opponents. “Hurry!”
“You're too late, old man.”
A raspy female voice came from the darkness down the alley.
Makenna and Mr. Labeaux turned. His face said he knew who he'd find. The two men made it to their feet and closed in.
Mr. Labeaux squeezed Makenna's arm.
“Run, cha,” he whispered. “Run!”
“I don't think so.”
Makenna's body froze without her permission. She could see and feel everything around her, but couldn't move. She fought the invisible bonds, but they wouldn't give. Panic clawed at her throat.
Mr. Labeaux spread his hands out, the glow now brighter. “Leave now, Brianna.”
The woman laughed as she emerged from the shadows. Tall, as tall as Makenna. Long black hair flowed down her back. Piercing blue eyes took Makenna in. Delicate, porcelain features were marred by the pallor of evil. Still, she was beautiful. And something about her was familiar.
Makenna didn't have time to dissect it. They had bigger problems. Like getting out of the fucking mess they were in.
Brianna laughed. “Funny. I could erase you from existence with a blink.” She turned her eyes on Makenna. “I came for her and I’m not leaving empty handed.” She flicked her wrist. Mr. Labeaux went stiff, his light snuffing out. As she lowered her hand, he went to his knees.
Makenna tried to move, tried to get to him, tried to scream, but she couldn't.
Brianna smiled and motioned to her men. “Bring her.”
Without another word, she slipped back into the darkness.
The two men stood in front of Makenna. One waved a hand. “Faodaidh tu a─nis a bhith a 'cadal, a' ghaisgeach.”
Makenna's eyes grew heavy. Mr. Labeaux's terrified face was all she saw on her way to the ground.
Then everything went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY─ONE
Paint It Black
Rhys sat high in a cypress tree. Waiting.
He hated waiting.
Especially when all he wanted to do was get to Makenna before her shift. Before all that power exploded and overwhelmed her. He had to be there to help her.
He had a feeling in that moment, she wouldn't care about secrets or lies or anything that'd happened between them. She'd be terrified, and she'd need someone familiar. Someone who cared. Someone who knew what she was going through and how to get her out the other side of it intact.
She'd want her mate.
He eyed the moon, getting closer and closer to its apex. He didn't have long, two hours at most. Hopefully, these assassins would make their move soon.
Earlier when he'd been getting into position, a charge of power had shocked through his system like a lightning bolt. Makenna. It was starting. He hoped Bowen, who he'd sent to watch over her, could contain the shift until he got there.
Worry tickled his senses. There’d been a strange edge to the power from her. It could be because of the distance, or because everything was off due to the spell stil
l having a hold. Whatever it was, it wasn’t sitting well.
In fact, there was something off with the whole night. The air itself was heavy. Wrong. A foul whisper rode the breeze. A blackness seemed to coat everything.
His ear piece crackled. He tapped it once. Once again, he was thankful for technology. It took a lot of power to communicate through the pack link. This was easier.
“Rhys, it's Bowen.”
“Yeah?” Rhys's entire body went on alert. Bowen shouldn't be contacting him. He should be focused on Makenna.
“She's gone. Before I even arrived. I followed her signature. It mixed with several others and then disappeared. I'm sorry, Alpha.”
Rhys’ world screeched to a halt.
“Are you sure?” His heart clenched in his chest, then stopped beating as he waited. Praying he’d heard wrong.
“I’m certain. She was taken. I cannot decipher by whom, but I'm working on it. I will find her.”
“Stay there and keep working. I'll be there soon.”
“I can’t track her from here. I have to use the glass.” The latter was more of a question than a statement. The use of such a tool required the permission of the Alpha.
The glass hadn't been used since Rhys had been Alpha. Once the doorway it commanded was opened, anyone with the right amount of power could see those using it. See what or who they were searching for. It was one of the most dangerous tools in their world. But it was the only way to trace and decipher multiple signatures of magic.
Using it could make them vulnerable to Kylian. To Brianna and her dark magic.
But without Makenna, his world ended. Their people would perish.
“Do it.”
“There’s no undoing what the glass unleashes.”
Rhys snarled. He didn’t need the reminder. Gods forgive him, but he had no choice.
“Do it.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I find something.”
Rhys didn't have a chance to consider the decision he'd made. As soon as Bowen clicked off, everything happened at once.
Three clicks sounded in his ear. Their enemy had arrived.
At the same time, Makenna's essence slammed into his chest, nearly knocking him out of the tree. She was close.
He jumped to the ground, shifting as he did. Four massive paws hit the mud with barely a sound, intent on keeping the enemy from his mate.
She'd run to him. She'd run home. She'd listened to that voice inside her that pulled her to her mate.
Joy exploded in his heart alongside fear. He had to disable the enemy before they found Makenna. She'd be weak in her current state and might not be able to fight.
Urgency set him on fire as he skulked through the swamp. Movement to his left drew his attention. There they were. A figure in dark clothes, moving slowly, closing in on the camp.
He and the intruder both stopped still as two yells echoed through the trees. Two separate sets of clicks sounded in his ear. The wolf knew what that meant. Two of the four had already been dispatched.
Finally, good news. Two less enemies threatening his love.
The figure resumed their mission, sliding through the bog like a ghost. They were good. Even in human form, they were as stealthy as he in his wolf form. Something about that gave him pause, but he continued, letting them draw closer.
Another set of clicks. Another enemy down.
One left. One to capture, then he could find his mate. Save her and have a chance to plead his case, to persuade her to join him and her pack.
Rhys closed in, staying downwind so the intruder wouldn't catch his scent.
The figure stopped suddenly. He crouched low as they scanned the area. Shaking their head, the intruder continued.
A few more feet and they'd have to enter an open area with little cover. Rhys sensed Trystan, Talon, and Amanda's wolves flanking him.
His mate was close. His strength renewed the closer she got. Hers grew as well as the moon moved toward its apex. He had to hurry. She'd change soon.
The four wolves circled the intruder, closing down all avenues of escape.
Rhys lunged.
Landing on top of the enemy, the wolf took them to the ground from behind. He rolled to dodge a knife. The assassin was inordinately fast. He jumped to his feet, baring his teeth.
The intruder stood, seemingly unhampered by the deep claw marks down their back.
Magic swirled around the enemy. Red. They were powerful. Brianna must have enhanced their magic. Between that and Brianna’s dampening spell, he couldn’t sense anything about them. The flood of power scrambled his brain, knocking him off balance. Before he could right himself, the intruder burst forward, knife coming down.
The wolf dodged but caught a slice to the left flank. He growled and flipped around, clamping onto the enemy's arm. Locking his jaw, he shook hard. He didn't want to kill this one, only disarm and disable them.
Move faster. He had to finish the enemy and find Makenna.
Makenna. He could feel her deep in his soul. Felt her pain, her confusion. It was shielded and dulled behind some force he couldn’t break through. But she was hurting.
He had to get to his mate.
Trystan moved in, taking the other arm. One hard bite and a good shake and the knife fell.
The enemy refused to quit, lunging at them.
Who had Kylian sent? Had he sent Brianna herself? Rhys couldn’t tell because their face was covered in a black mask. Whoever it was, they weren't weakening. They were getting stronger.
He heard Makenna's soul crying for his.
Amanda and Talon joined the fray. He dove again, shifting to his human form.
Rhys landed on the intruder's chest. They impacted the ground hard, sending mud flying. Rhys landed one, two, three punches to their temple.
Finally, the enemy sagged, unconscious.
Rhys rolled off what he now knew to be a woman, breathing hard. It had to be Brianna. An odd move for Kylian. He usually kept her under tight wraps.
Makenna's soul still screamed for him, but it was quieter. Perhaps the adrenaline and rage of battle had heightened the sound in his heart.
“Take her to the shed.” He tossed Trystan the magical ropes he'd pulled from his pocket. “I have to find Makenna.”
Trystan growled as he rolled the enemy over and tied their hands, then feet. “We need to interrogate the prisoner.” A shadow passed over his eyes, but he didn't say more.
One day, Rhys would find out why Trys wasn't so crazy about him finding his mate. He shoved down his anger. There wasn’t time for it right now.
“We will. After I find Makenna. They’ll keep.”
Trystan shook his head and growled again, but moved to help Talon carry the female between them. Rhys didn't miss the odd looks Talon and Amanda were shooting the intruder, then each other, as they started for camp.
Rhys called after them. “Leave the mask and put a hood over them. I don't want them seeing where they are until Bowen is present and we're ready to begin.”
They nodded and continued on with their load.
“Rhys?” He stopped and turned when Amanda called for him. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No. I'll find her.”
He took off, cutting through the swamp at break neck speed. After a few minutes of running in the direction he thought he'd sensed her, he stopped. Her essence had faded. He closed his eyes and went deep, pulling on their bond.
He could hear her crying out. But it was faint. He glanced at the moon. So little time left. What if she couldn't handle it? What if she was falling to the power?
Shit.
He turned back the way he'd come, following the pull in his soul, until he arrived back at the edges of camp. Digging deep again, he came up empty. He could feel her, but there was no sense of direction. It was as if her signature was being scattered. Or maybe he'd wanted her to be close so badly he'd felt things that weren't there.
He rubbed his temples. He'd regroup, find Bowen,
then they'd open the glass together and find her. Fast.
The moon wasn't waiting, and neither would Makenna's wolf.
Rhys stomped straight for the interrogation shed. He sensed Bowen already there. Good. He could inform the others of the situation and collect Bowen in one swoop.
He slammed open the door, urgency riding him. His hands shook. Gods, he had to find her soon or they'd both be doomed.
Bowen stood in front of the prisoner, head tilted, murmuring something.
Rhys jerked his chin at Trystan. “What's he doing?”
Trystan shook his head. “No idea. He busted in the door and went straight to her. Then he started chanting.”
Rhys grabbed his mage, turning him by the shoulder. “Bowen? We can do this later. We need to find Makenna first.”
His voice was harsh. The fever in his blood to find his mate had reached critical levels.
Bowen turned with fire in his eyes. “I opened the glass and it brought me here.” He pointed at the prisoner. “Her signature is one of those mixed with Makenna’s. She knows where your mate is.”
Rhys slowly turned to the hooded female who was beginning to stir. A moan came from beneath the hood.
He growled low, now more than ever wanting to cause great pain to one of those who had dared harm his mate. “Then by all means, let's find out what she knows.”
“Wait.” Bowen grabbed Rhys' arm as he reached for the hood. “I must contain her first. We have no idea the power this one holds. She’s different. I haven’t seen this signature before.”
“Fine.” Rhys moved back, still growling. “Work quickly. Makenna is running out of time.”
The pain in Rhys’ gut intensified as Bowen nodded at Amanda. She lit four candles, one in each corner. Bowen started up his chant again, walking from corner to corner. A warm, orange light emitted from his hands, encircling the room. Sparks burst in the air, raising the hair on Rhys’ skin. When he was finished, he stood beside Rhys in front of the prisoner.
She tugged at the bonds confining her to the chair. Small moans, then a sharp cry sounded. She tried to raise her hands, then tilted her temple to her shoulder as if to shelter it.
Rhys growled again. He had no sympathy for the female. In fact, he was about to unleash a world of pain on her. He reached forward, grabbing both hoods and yanking none too gently.
Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1) Page 23
