Their moans and cries were starting to fill the room, the slap of flesh against flesh sounding more painful than pleasurable. I’d lay down good money even if we weren’t so quiet, they’d never notice us.
Using hand gestures, I relayed to Alex what I wanted. I’d slip in and put my blades to their throats mid-hump. Carefully, I slid my second blade from its sheath, the bare whisper of steel on leather the only sound.
Alex nodded and we swept in, as fast as we could. Fucking hell, it worked.
I had my blade on the throat of the one on the bottom for a good three seconds before he felt the pressure of the blade. Pressing hard, I tucked my short blade against the throat of the green female, her breath hitching to a stop as her eyes rolled to mine. And it was definitely a her. She reminded me of Sas in the way her sensuality rolled off. Alex had his claws wrapped around the male’s legs, ready to hamstring him if necessary.
A shuffle of feet behind me made me freeze. Alex grunted, “Uncle here.”
So, Erik decided to creep in after us.
“Get over here and help me.”
Erik moved to my side and I tipped my head at the female. “Hold the knife tight against her.” Erik swallowed hard and I glared at him. “Don’t let it slip. We need them alive for the moment.”
The red ogre glared at me, then blinked a couple of times. “You’re Rylee.”
I nodded. “I am. And you are?”
“Raw.”
I couldn’t help the laugh. “I’ll bet you are. But what’s your name?”
His lips twitched. “My name is Raw. And not all of us hate you, Tracker. Ogres die all the time, but Sas can’t see that. Your words stirred those of us who knew she was fighting her grief.”
“Why are you here then?”
Footsteps came toward us and I pressed harder into his neck, drawing blood. “Tell me.”
“She struck a deal with someone, someone else who hates you.”
“Fuck. Let me guess, his name is Orion.”
Raw’s eyes went wide. “How do you know that?”
“He’s a demon. And he means to take over the world.” I stepped back and motioned for Erik to do the same. Raw sat up and gently pushed the green ogre off him. She slid down, all suppleness and sensuality, unashamed she was bare assed naked. But her eyes were hard and full of intelligence, and I didn’t discount her for a second.
“I knew she was going to get us killed. She is blind.” She spat on the ground. “I will not follow her if she is so stupid as to take orders from a demon.”
“Mer. This needs to be discussed,” Raw said, as the footsteps I’d been hearing stopped in the doorway. Three very large, very black ogres stared at us (though to be fair, they didn’t all fit in the doorway; I counted the legs and did the math) before launching into the room, weapons flailing. There wasn’t enough space to accommodate them. As the first ogre in line caught his sword in the iron hanging pot rack in a downward sweep that would have taken the green ogre’s head, I drove my sword toward the exposed, black belly.
“ENOUGH!” Raw bellowed, his voice rocking through the room. He lifted his hands and everyone literally froze, held with magic that affected them all. No one could move. Except me of course—score another one for being Immune. I pulled back from my sword thrust, sparing the ogre at the last second. I stood straight and let out a breath. That had been close. I walked toward Raw. “Can you convince them Sas is wrong?”
Raw shook his head slowly. “Some will believe you, some already do. You killed the Roc, you are the one our prophecies speak of, and for many, that is enough.” His dark, nearly black eyes searched mine. “Sas sent us here to kill your allies. To set them against you so you would lose the vampires at your back.”
Shit, I wasn’t surprised, just pissed I hadn’t thought this far ahead. “Where do you and your friends stand on the subject?”
Raw and Mer exchanged a glance and she blinked once. He turned to face me. “We are with you, Tracker.”
The three black-skinned ogres struggled, the one in the front finally speaking. “Traitor! Sas will kill your pansy asses for this, after she strings up the Tracker and peels her hide from her body.”
“Will they ever be convinced?” I walked toward them, but my question was for Raw.
He hesitated, then slowly said, “No. They will not.”
That was all the answer I needed, though I’d hoped it would not be this way. The more enemies dead before the final battle between us and Orion, the better. Three quick swipes and the black ogre’s heads rolled to the ground, blood bubbling up and spewing out their neck holes. Raw dropped everyone and he then stepped around the bodies. “You could have been an ogre.”
“I could have been a lot of things,” I said, trying not to feel sorrow for killing them. They were the enemy; they would have killed us.
Mer slid into a pale green dress that offset her darker skin. “We could not find the new vampire leader, or his young sidekick, though we searched the house several times.”
I let out a slow breath. That at least was good news. “Raw, you and Mer gather those ogres who would side with me against the demons. Do it quietly, do not draw attention to yourself.”
Raw nodded and took Mer’s hand. “We will do what we can. I do not think there will be many. Where should we meet you?”
This was as good a place as any with the farmhouse destroyed and the demons popping through doorways they were creating. “Here, bring them all here.”
“And the vampire?” Mer asked, fluffing her hair back, then tying it into a loose ponytail to one side. Doran wouldn’t be mad—at least, I didn’t think he would be.
“I will find him and talk to him. He will agree to this being the central command.” I thought of Frank and knew he would be happy there finally was a central command.
There were no goodbyes; I didn’t tell them where we were going. Nor did I think we had time to find Doran, though I felt him sleeping deep below the house. A hidden bunker no doubt. But I knew how to contact Berget and I was tired enough that a nap was in order.
Doran’s sleek, silver Mustang was parked in the garage, keys in the ignition. “Erik, you drive. I’m going to nap.”
Alex woofed. “Sleeping helps sick people.”
I froze mid stride and looked back at him. “I’m not sick, Alex. Just tired.” His big golden eyes went soft and serious as he grabbed me around the waist.
“Rylee goes, I goes.”
It was an echo of Giselle’s last words for him. That he would be with me to the end.
“I know. Come on. We’ve got to find Frank and his new friend.”
We piled into the car and I took the back seat with Alex, stretching out and lying my head against his back.
“Rylee, I thought you were joking.” Erik shot me a glance over his shoulder.
“Nope.” I cracked a yawn.
“I don’t know where we’re going.”
Good point. I gave him directions as I dozed off, calling Berget’s name in my mind.
She responded faster than ever.
“Rylee, do not come to Doran’s, there are ogres here. Doran was in a trance and saw them coming with the end of the night, but only just barely. We almost didn’t make it below ground before the sun kissed the Earth.” Her long blond hair was disheveled and her clothes were rumpled.
“Too late, we’ve been and gone. There are two ogres that will side with us. A red and a green, Raw and Mer. They are going to bring what help they can.”
Berget’s eyes widened. “You think some of the ogres will side with us?”
“Raw seems to think so. Tell Doran I’m sorry, but I think he will have to be headquarters from now on. The farmhouse is gone, Giselle’s home in the city is too small and I don’t know where else to set up.”
“He won’t mind.” Her voice softened and I saw it in a brief flash. She cared for him. And he was in love with me. Shit sticks that was not going to be fun.
She smiled, reading me easily, seeing m
y discomfort. “It is truly all right, Rylee. He keeps me close and it is more than I could have hoped for. But I have other news for you.”
“You do?”
She held my hand, seemingly crouched between the front and back seats, though I knew she wasn’t really there. “There is a way to close the veil to the deep levels if one is opened, like at the farmhouse. The blood of a guardian will do it.”
In my mind I saw Eagle spread out in the bathtub, drained of all his blood, killed when he should have still been alive. “How much blood?”
She swallowed hard. “As much of it as you can. It will kill the guardian; it is one of the only things that will do it. Their body has to be opened with a weapon that has been cursed, and then they must bleed out.”
Fucking hell, that was not the news I was hoping for. Though it explained a lot. The demons hadn’t wanted us to follow them, so they closed the gate. My heart ached for Eagle and chilled when I thought about who was next. There were only so many guardians around. If they were captured by the demons and used to close gates as they needed …
“There is a catch, Rylee.” Berget reached over and put her hand on my cheek. “But I am not sure my parents are telling me right. I think because the blood is forcibly taken from the guardian, the closure affects only the single doorway. There is more about closing off the veil with blood than they are telling me. I will keep trying.”
My brain and heart balked. I didn’t want to go down that route. Something about it scared me, so I just nodded. “Be safe. Orion is hunting my allies and friends. Trolls, witches, and now ogres are working for him.”
“Frank left for Dox’s yesterday while the sun was high.”
My brain ached trying to deal with the time difference between here and England.
“How did you know?”
She smiled. “He is rather loud and talks to himself, not realizing he can be easily heard. My memories of necromancers are not good, Rylee. I do not think it wise to bring Frank here again.”
I let out a sigh. “Fuck, I really wish everyone could just get along.”
With a nod she stood. “Yes, that would be easier, wouldn’t it?” And then she was gone and I sat up.
Alex yawned, leaned over and put his nose to mine. “Hungry.” I pushed him away.
“Yeah, I know. That isn’t anything new.” In fact, he seemed to be hungry more and more. Was there a tie between his appetite and his becoming less submissive? I rubbed my face. Something to think about another time, perhaps, but not now.
He flopped onto the seat, rolling his eyes up to mine, begging in the most pitiful way possible. I shook my head and yawned.
Rubbing my face, I let out a low groan. Power nap my ass. Sometimes talking to Berget did nothing but tire me out more.
“I think this is the place,” Erik said, “but it looks pretty shitty and burnt out. Are you sure?”
Ahead of us was a charred and blackened shell of a building that had only a few timbers left standing, blasted from the fire Doran had set. The broken and abandoned pieces of the Landing Pad hurt my heart as I thought of Dox and his pride in his home and business. Of his unwavering friendship for me even when I was being difficult. I gritted my teeth against the emotions welling up in me. No time. There was never time for the grief that circled me like vultures waiting for me to finally let them at my heart.
“Yes. This is it.” I rolled down the window, crisp air circling in with only a whisper of the burnt building tainting it. I leaned out and peered into the clear blue sky. High above us was a rather large bird floating on the drafts. So high, I was pretty sure it would be Eve. I Tracked her and sure enough, it was her.
Eve and Frank were here, but where was necromancer number two? Would she show up based on Frank’s word?
Only one way to find out.
“Erik, wait in the car in case we need a quick getaway,” I said, expecting him to listen.
“You got it.” He tapped the wheel and I gave him a smile. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t the brave, all-knowing mentor who could guide me through anything, but for now he fit in my life. Kinda. I couldn’t take anyone bossing me around, and Erik didn’t try.
The car rolled to a stop and I stepped out, Alex bounding behind me. He took one look into the sky and let out a long, deep howl. That was a lot easier than trying to call her down myself.
“Stick close, buddy. We’re about to meet someone new.” At least I hoped. I made my way toward what was left of the building, stared at the tattered yellow tape that fluttered in the wind around it. If I closed my eyes I could see the Landing Pad as it should have been, whole and full of laughter. Full of Dox and all his cooking, brownies and ogre beer. A tear snuck out and trickled down my cheek. I let it go; he deserved more than one tear, but that was all I could afford at the moment.
“Rylee sad for Dox. I is sad,” Alex said, sitting beside me. “No more brownies.”
I dropped a hand to his head and roughed it up a bit. “Maybe you can talk Pamela into baking you brownies when she’s back.” Normally that would have cheered him. But not now, not this new Alex.
“Not the same,” he said, then let out a heavy sigh.
Above us several beats of wings battering the air and then a soft thump.
“Rylee!”
I turned to see Eve, Frank and our newcomer. The girl behind Frank had bright red curly hair that was wind tossed, making it even bigger. She peered around Frank’s back, deep hazel eyes taking me in, her heart-shaped face uncertain. Shit, she was young, maybe as young as Pamela.
“Frank. Introduce me to your friend and tell me how the hell you think kidnapping a minor is good idea?” I wanted to save Milly and Pamela, but not by stooping to Orion’s methods of kidnapping and coercing.
Frank slid off, stuttering and stammering, but the girl stepped forward. Not bold, confident.
“My name is Megan. And Frank didn’t kidnap me.”
I kept my face carefully blank. “No? And what will your parents say when they see you are gone?”
She bit her lower lip. “I’m in a foster home. They won’t care much. And Frank said I could be trained, so I could be strong.”
Broken wings, broken hearts, broken homes. They fucking well flocked to me, no matter the place. Of course, this time I wouldn’t be keeping this broken-winged one for my own family.
No?
Teeth tightening, I tried not to listen to that voice in my head. Already Megan impressed me, and I could see her and Pamela getting along well, their personalities a good match.
Instead of that, I changed subjects. “Eve, I need you to go back to the mineshaft, tell Blaz and Ophelia to come here and wait for us at Doran’s. That is where we will meet. Can you do that?”
She swallowed and dropped her head to me. “The new dragon, I do not trust her not to try and eat me.”
“Blaz won’t let her.”
Erik cleared his throat. “I could go with her. I’m used to flying and Ophelia will calm if she sees at least one of us is intact.”
“And you would let me face the demons on my own?” I wasn’t really surprised he wasn’t trying to come with me. He hadn’t exactly shown himself to be all that into the actual fights.
“Not much left for me to tell you. You’ve memorized the symbols and runes you need, and if I am honest with myself, this is overwhelming me. Vampires, ogres, witches and werewolves. I’d much rather deal with two angry dragons. Them I know how to deal with.”
He walked over to me and pulled me into a quick embrace. “I’ve shared with you all I know. It isn’t much, but it’s all I have from your father.”
I stepped back. “I think I will need you yet, old man. Don’t think you can get out of your duties that easily.”
Laughing, he walked toward Eve. “Yeah, I believe that. I just think that right now you don’t need me at your side. In a while, perhaps. But not now.”
Eve, happy that Erik would fly with her, took off without hesitation, leaving Megan and Frank with me and Al
ex. Alex circled Megan and she stared at him, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Wow, I thought Frank was shitting me when he said he knew a werewolf.”
I glanced at Frank and he blushed and pushed his glasses up his nose but said nothing.
“Well, you’re about to meet a hell of a lot more than that, kid. Can you control zombies yet?”
She nodded. “Yup, it’s why my family booted me out. They didn’t like the dead relatives showing up for family meals.”
Again I looked at Frank. “And you too?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because we’re about to dive into the deep end. Alex, give Faris a call.”
He sat back on his haunches and yelled at the top of his lungs. “Faarrrrrrrriiiiiiiis.”
Megan slapped her hands over her ears, but when the slice of air opened and Faris stood far on the other side, deep in the protective shadows of his home, her jaw dropped along with her hands.
“Wow.”
I nodded. “Here we go, kiddos. Off to meet your new mentor.”
Chapter 17
FARIS DIDN’T TAKE us to Thomas’s land, not right away. He took us back to his hidey hole, the one with the shuttered and blackened windows. I was just glad it wasn’t his cement room. That I couldn’t have handled.
And while Frank and Megan were somewhat squeamish around him—I was guessing their inborn dislike of vampires was making them uncomfortable—he was calm and cool. Like he really didn’t care they were necromancers.
Which only intrigued me.
“Doran?” Faris asked the second we stepped through.
“He’s fine, so is Berget. If you need us from now on, go to Doran. Whether he likes it or not, his house is going to be central command until all this shit is dealt with.”
Frank gave a small smile and I winked at him. Yeah, I knew he’d be happy about that.
I waved my hands at Faris. “Come on, I don’t want to sit around here all day, Pamela and Milly are waiting.” Just saying their names, my Tracking kicked in and I felt the pulse of their lives. Pamela was awake and scared, but nothing was wrong with her; at least, she hadn’t been hurt. But how would I know if Orion had broken her? Would she even know? Fuck, we had to hurry. We’d left them too long as it was.
Veiled Threat Page 15
