by Smith, HD
A new tear ran down his cheek as he finally realized the fate I’d had at his hands. In a gut-wrenching turn of events, we jumped to his past, to moments in his memory where his mother lied to him and bent him to her will with hatred for a girl that didn’t exist yet. She poisoned him with information that would let him do the things he’d done to me. Gizelle told lies about The Boss and turned Mace against his father, subtly making statements and comments that were perceived as truth, but were well-disguised lies.
Mace’s anger and fear turned to pain as he saw the depth of her subterfuge. She’d manipulated him his whole life only to sacrifice him when he was no longer useful. Gizelle used the quads as pawns, Mace especially, and now he knew it.
I wiped away a tear and looked away from him, breaking our connection.
Falling to the floor, I rested my head in my hands. My heart broke a little when I thought of Jack and the baby—a life I’d never have. A life he already had with someone else.
“He’s still breathing,” Cinnamon said.
Mace’s presence watched as the others moved his body. They left mine crumpled on the floor. I turned to Mace, but he refused to make eye contact. Was he really that heartless now that he knew the truth? That wasn’t acceptable anymore.
“You’ve always hated me for something I can’t control,” I said, but he didn’t look at me. “You’re petty, self-centered, arrogant, egotistical, spoiled, shallow, and a coward. And now you know the truth about your mother’s manipulation. She made you this way.”
He kept his head turned away.
“But I don’t understand why you were so inclined to believe her. Why you were willing to hate one powerless girl so much that you almost destroyed her. You’re five hundred years old, did you not once think that maybe you were being played?”
Mace rounded on me, which was when I saw the tears in his eyes. “No. Not. Once.”
Oh, my. She’d truly had him fooled.
“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t you dare have pity for me.”
I laughed. “Pity? Considering I don’t want to kill you now, maybe you should take the olive branch. But don’t worry: we aren’t ever going to be BFF’s. I just don’t have an uncontrollable desire to kill you now. The curse is over.”
He brushed the last tear from his cheek. “She always had the right thing to say. The thing that would make me do what she wanted me to do. The thing that would make me hate you. Make me not care what I did to you. But you’re right. I should have known.” Mace’s somber tone was unnerving. He was seeing the truth for the first time and the pain of Gizelle’s betrayal cut deep. Dejected, he turned and walked away.
I hated Gizelle more each day. She was willing to ruin all of our lives to save her first son. None of us deserved that, not even Mace.
“I forgive you,” I said.
Mace just shook his head. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
Before I could say anything, he disappeared.
A second later, Mace pushed through his siblings to reach my body.
“Don’t wake her,” Cinnamon said.
“She’ll try to kill you again,” Sage warned.
“No,” Mace said. “She’s not the enemy.”
Pushing the hair out of my eyes, he studied my unconscious face. “I owe you my freedom,” he said. “I am with you until the end of days and beyond. I swear it on my life.”
“I accept,” I said.
A deep warmth settled within me as our fates bonded.
“Is that a joke?” Cinnamon asked.
“No.” Mace stood. “Sage, you and Sorrel bring the sofa from the office.”
The twins glanced at each other and then at Cinnamon. She waved her hand as if they needed her permission.
“What is your game, Brother?” she asked.
Mace’s gaze locked with hers. “I’m tired of being a puppet. You should wake up and see what’s in front of you, Sister.”
Cinnamon rolled her eyes, dismissing him. Mace grabbed her arm, pointing at her new scar.
“Look at this mark,” he said, squeezing Cinnamon’s arm. “This is Gizelle’s mark, permanently burned into our flesh.”
“She didn’t know it would affect us all—”
“She didn’t care. Her precious Thanos is all she has ever cared about. We have merely been pawns in her quest to save him.” He laughed. “Now, we’re irrelevant.”
Cinnamon pushed him off and pulled her arm away.
Sage and Sorrel returned with the sofa.
“Put it there and help me move her,” Mace said.
I was carried over to the sofa. Mace propped my head up on one of the cushions.
“Did you hit your head when you fell?” Cinnamon asked.
Mace scoffed. “Claire and I had a talk. It made me see things more clearly.”
“One heart-to-heart,” she said sarcastically, “and you go and pledge yourself to her. That is a bond that cannot be undone.”
Mace shrugged. “I’ve lived my entire life enslaved to someone that created me to save another. At least I know where I stand with Claire.”
I should have been more surprised, but Mace had always been an all or nothing kind of guy, which meant when he was with you, he was with you.
Cinnamon turned away, shaking her head. “Don’t expect me to pledge my allegiance.”
“I don’t.”
Sorrel’s eyes darted between Mace and Cinnamon. “We don’t have to pledge, do we?”
Sage narrowed his eyes at Sorrel and shook his head.
“What?” Sorrel said. “She saved our lives too—and this isn’t the first time,” Sorrel reminded him. “And Mace pledged.”
“No, Sorrel,” Cinnamon droned, “you don’t have to pledge your allegiance to Claire.”
Mace laughed. “You’re old enough to make your own decisions, Sorrel, but I recommend you make them wisely.”
Cinnamon shook her head again. “Technically, they’re both older than you, Mace. He knows he can make his own choice.”
Mace made eye contact with each of his siblings. When he had their attention, he said, “Claire has my full support and protection. You don’t have to join me, but I request that you respect my decision. It was not made lightly.”
Cinnamon cocked one of her eyebrows, but nodded. Sage and Sorrel both inclined their heads in brief nods to acknowledge his request.
Then a pop and a metallic ting-ting-ting sounded as a metal canister was lobbed into the room.
Chapter 26
“Look out,” Sorrel yelled, but too late for anyone to actually do anything.
The flash bang of the concussive punch was instant. It knocked them all out, pulling them into the in-between with my presence.
They were all outside of their bodies and their lifeless forms were crumpled where they fell.
“Bloody hell,” Mace cursed.
Cinnamon marched over to me, not caring that they’d just been attacked. “What did you say to Mace?” she hissed.
“We have bigger problems right now. That can wait,” I said.
“Leave her be,” Mace warned. “It was my choice.”
Moments later, a swarm of ninjas busted through the door of the Wild Hare and fanned out in all directions.
“All clear,” one of the men said into his walkie-talkie.
Ronin entered next. The ninjas lowered their guns and stood at parade rest waiting for instructions. Ronin walked the room, glancing at the bodies. He hesitated for a moment on my body, taking in the scene. Ronin’s brow furrowed. I wasn’t lying on the floor like the others. He would know I hadn’t been standing when the blast hit. Scanning the room again, he stopped where our eyes would have met if I were physically in the room.
Could he sense me?
Sorrell’s presence moved and Ronin’s eyes darted to his location. I half expected him to pop into the void with us to check things out, but he didn’t.
“Sir,” the ninja with the walkie-talkie said. “Should I check for the jewel?”
Ronin shook his head. “I’ll do it. Have your team secure the building.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ronin went to Sage’s body and started feeling in his pockets. Then he went to the others one by one, searching everyone but me.
“What is he looking for?” Cinnamon asked.
“The locket, I assume,” Sage answered.
I nodded, agreeing that it had to be what X wanted. Ronin must have been dispatched when Cinnamon didn’t return with Sage as expected.
“Why is the bounty hunter here?” Sorrel asked.
“He works for X,” I said. “You know, Cinnamon’s main squeeze.”
Cinnamon snorted. “He isn’t my anything anymore. Except dead once I get my hands on him.”
I glanced at her. “True, but you’re the reason the ninjas are here. You didn’t go back and if Ronin is looking for the pendant, that confirms X doesn’t know where it is. He must have expected Sage to bring it back to the apartment, which is why he let you go after him, but then you didn’t return.”
“But we don’t have the locket—Mab does,” Sage reminded.
“X doesn’t know that,” I offered.
Mace studied Ronin, who’d pulled out his cell and started texting. Ronin stepped away when Mace moved closer to get a better look.
“Mace, he can probably sense you, or he thinks it’s me.”
Mace returned to my side. “So, why didn’t you get Ronin’s help to save Sydney?”
I thought of the museum and how we’d taken Harry’s blood, letting Mace see my thoughts as well, but maintaining the metal wall between the others and me. “He helped me with something else,” I said for the others’ benefit, “and he’s too loyal to betray his employer, which is an admirable quality, I suppose.”
“Yeah, until it gets us killed,” Mace added.
“We can still make the deal to trade Faith for Sydney.” All four of them eyed me as if I were crazy.
Cinnamon was the first to speak. “We’re unconscious and literally in the hands of the enemy, in case you haven’t noticed. Pray tell, how do we accomplish the impossible before they kill us?”
Smiling, I said, “I’m resourceful, remember?”
Cinnamon chuckled and shook her head. Before she could comment, activity in the room ceased. X had just entered the bar.
His dark red hair was brushed back, giving him the stern look of a dictator. He was dressed similar to Ronin, which I’d describe as military commando elite. His transition from suave billionaire to stealthy warrior hadn’t taken much more than a pair of cargo pants, but he wore the look like a second skin.
“Did you find it?” X asked.
“No, sir,” Ronin answered.
X glanced at our bodies. “Kill them.”
The ninjas raised their guns, but Ronin held up his left hand fist closed—the symbol to hold.
“No disrespect, sir,” Ronin said, “but that is the currently recognized Fall Queen. These four are a significant part of her power. I recommend you don’t kill them.”
X’s lip curled in a snarl, clear disgust on his face. “Do not address her as such. She is an interloper and an imposter, and she will not rule in my stead. I will find the locket and claim my birthright.” He paused and then made direct eye contact with Ronin. “Unless there is something else you’d like to tell me?”
“What was that?” Mace asked.
A flare of red energy had lapped out at Ronin as X asked his final question. “It’s something to do with his magic. It’s how he controls people.”
“Yes, sir, understood,” Ronin said, rubbing his head. “But I’d still advise against killing her. She owes me a favor and I’d like the chance to collect.” Ronin blinked his eyes, looking off to the side as if he hadn’t meant to say that.
“Crap,” I said. I hadn’t wanted X to know that.
Mace tapped my arm with his elbow. “We have to work on your discretion, my queen.”
No shit.
“A favor?” X asked, a little too interested. Then he held his hand out for Ronin to follow. “Might we have a word?”
Ronin stepped aside with him.
X’s fiery red glow consumed him as he and Ronin began to speak. The glow covered them both as it had in the basement with Sydney.
“Is that more of his power?” Mace asked.
I nodded. “Yes, it’s what happens when he uses his full power of persuasion.”
“What do you suppose he’s persuading Ronin to do?”
“I don’t know, but I seriously doubt it’s anything good.”
“True,” Mace agreed. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing at my shoulder.
I felt a tug where Ronin’s favor had attached to me. The line connecting us began to pulse with a pink glow. Flaring red, it snapped taunt and then landed on a new target. As the red glow around Ronin and X cleared, the line was now securely tied to X.
Fuck, I thought, shaking my head.
“What the hell is that?” Cinnamon asked, finally deciding to pay attention.
“The favor I promised Ronin.” How had Ronin transferred it?
“Are you joking?” Cinnamon asked, sounding incredulous. “You gave someone an open-ended favor with no limitations. Holy God, child, what were you thinking?”
“It’s complicated. I’ll handle it,” I said.
Ronin’s eyes were glassy. He stood there for a moment, not moving. X’s power had a trance-like effect. Ronin pressed the pads of his fingers to the side of his head as he appeared to regain his senses. I wonder if he even remembered he was owed a favor.
Cinnamon sighed. “My memories were hard to recover. He’d have to want to remember first, then break through Parker’s ability.”
“Cinnamon,” Sage said, getting her attention. “Looks like the boyfriend doesn’t like the new look.”
X was crouched near Cinnamon’s body, studying the mark on her arm. “Ronin,” he called.
Ronin was back to himself as he reached X. “Sir?”
“What does this mean?”
Ronin took hold of Cinnamon’s arm and inspected it. After a moment, he said, “They’re in her service. It may be how the girl keeps them in line.” Turning to Mace’s body, he reached down and lifted his shirtsleeve. “He has one, too. I suspect they all do.”
X pointed to the burn on Sorrel’s sleeve. “They’re recent.”
“Interesting,” Ronin said. “A punishment perhaps?”
Nodding, X stood. “Perhaps.”
Cinnamon snarled as X passed, striking out with her incorporeal hand. Of course, it went through the side of his head harmlessly. “I’m ready to kill him now.”
X stopped. He looked back to the left, the side that Cinnamon struck.
Silently, I said, Be quiet and don’t move.
What is it? Mace asked.
It may be nothing, but I think X felt Cinnamon’s slap.
“Sir, is there a problem?” Ronin asked, scanning the room as X had.
Running his hand through his hair, X said, “No, it was nothing.” X studied the bodies one last time, touching his shoulder where my connection was tied. “We’ll take them all back to base. They’re a significant source of her power. If my favor is to be worth anything, I shouldn’t cripple her too soon.”
“Excellent strategy, sir,” Ronin said. “Winchester, load ‘em up.”
The ninja with the walkie-talkie called out orders to the others. We stood there watching as our bodies were piled into a waiting van.
“Where are they taking us?” Sorrel asked.
“I suspect it’s where they’re keeping Sydney,” I said. “Unfortunately, according to Ronin, that place is very well protected.” I explained what Ronin had told me.
“If all that’s true, how will we get out?” Cinnamon asked.
I shrugged. “I have an idea.” I explained what happened to me before in the basement of Mace’s bungalow, how I’d been able to use the salt circle to escape the wards. I also told them about Harry�
��s basement and how my presence was able to remain above when my body was taken to the warded area because I hadn’t followed it down.
“You think we should stay outside of the wards?” Cinnamon asked.
“I think some of us will need to go with our bodies to make sure we know the way out and to find Sydney, but at least two of us should not follow.”
Sage narrowed his eyes. “Then how will we get back to our bodies?”
I explained that my presence set off alarms, but wasn’t trapped the last time. If they timed it right, they could slip the line to another location and just maybe take their body with them.
Cinnamon laughed. “I don’t possess that ability, not the way you describe it. I can teleport a short distance—we all can—but there is no in-between like we have here.”
The way Cinnamon described the in-between as a physical place hadn’t ever occurred to me. Of course, Ronin could disappear, but maybe he was just slipping inside the void. It sort of made sense that he might have that ability as the Prince of Time.
“You’re blocking us, Claire,” Mace said, interrupting my thoughts. “We don’t know what you’re thinking. If you’re trying to explain something, you’ll need to let us in.”
“Right, sorry,” I said, opening the connection between us so they could understand as I explained things. “I can teleport between realms and it’s fairly obvious we’re very tightly connected. You sense the names and you’re here in the in-between with me, so I can only assume you’ll be able to slip the line as I can. If you can figure out how to do it in time.”
“In time?” Cinnamon asked.
“Before you wake up, open your eyes, and suck your presence back into your body.” I didn’t mention the time travel aspects of the ability. They’d be dangerous enough if they mastered slipping.
“You believe it will work without you?” she said, her brows lowered in concentration. “Let me see.”
It took me a minute to understand what she meant. She wanted me to show her the different times I’d slipped the line. I selected the ones where time travel, which I thought of as a sideways pull, wasn’t a factor and let them see me in action. I thought of everything I knew about slipping, astral projection, and what a complete bitch Cinnamon was most days. That last part was just for fun. Mace laughed.
