Dark Warrior Unleashed

by Alexis Morgan

  He closed his eyes to whisper a prayer to his gods that they keep this woman safe from harm. She held his heart in her hands, and if she was to die, he would surely follow her footsteps right to Valhalla. Then he sent her flying over the edge, capturing her cry of release with one last kiss.

  When he could again think coherently, he helped her up off the table and waited while she straightened her clothes. He wasn’t sure what to say but couldn’t regret telling her the truth of his heart.

  It wouldn’t change anything. Bradan still needed to die. Judith needed to be rescued. And once the dust settled, Kerry would need to find her place among the Kyth.

  As for him, he would return to his mountain—but it would no longer be his refuge, but his prison.

  * * *

  If anyone else had been driving, Sandor would have insisted that they have the headlights on as they wound up the mountain on the narrow forest service road. But either Ranulf had superior night vision or he knew the road so well that he didn’t need to see more than the few feet ahead of the car. The way he was slamming around the curves, you’d have thought it had been high noon instead of pitch-black outside.

  “The turnoff to my place is just ahead. We’ll stop there to pick up a few weapons and park Kerry inside my wards. They’ll keep Bradan out.” He added that last part under his breath, obviously hoping the silence in the backseat meant she was asleep.

  No such luck. “We’ve already had this discussion, Ranulf. Leave me if you want to, but I’ll just follow.”

  The Viking snorted. “And you’ll be lost within ten yards of the house.”

  “No, I won’t. I’m betting I can follow your energy signatures right up to Bradan’s front door.”

  Now that was a handy talent to have, Sandor thought. Maybe she was bluffing, but he’d bet Ranulf wouldn’t take that risk. Better to keep her close than worry about what she’d stumble into alone.

  “Fine, but you’ll take orders without question. If either of us tells you to duck or run like hell, you’ll do it. Got that?”

  The soft glow of the dashboard illuminated her face enough that Sandor could see her smile. She laid her head on Ranulf’s shoulder briefly, telling him without words that she knew how hard it was for him to let her put herself in danger.

  “I’ll be the fleetest of the fleet.”

  The car lurched off the road, following a path that only Ranulf could see. Sandor could feel the grasping fingers of the Viking’s wards. They tested him, trying to determine if he was friend or foe. He could understand their confusion, since he wasn’t sure which side he belonged on.

  The sticky pressure of Ranulf’s magic increased as they neared the house, to the point he wasn’t sure he could get out of the car.

  “Uh, Ranulf?”

  “What? Oh, sorry.” The other man cursed and returned to the car as soon as he recognized the problem. He murmured under his breath for a few seconds until the threads holding Sandor prisoner gradually faded away.

  Kerry had climbed out of the driver’s door. “What was that all about?”

  Sandor followed Ranulf into the house. “It’s his protective wards. They’re designed to keep people off his property and out of his house. He forgot to release them before we got this close.”

  “I never felt anything.”

  “I suspect he feels differently about you than he does me, and his wards recognize that.” He shouldn’t have been surprised, considering his own serious doubts about Ranulf.

  Ranulf came back into the room. “I know you brought your gun, but do you need knives or explosives?”

  “Yes, I’ll take these.” Sandor reached for the matched set of knives Ranulf offered him. There was no faulting the Viking for his choice of weapons, all first class and lethal.

  “I’ll lead the way. I’ve passed by the house a few times in my wanderings. It’s a one-story frame house, probably two bedrooms, kitchen, living room and not much else. There’s a door on the back side, as well. The house has been vacant for years, but I obviously haven’t noticed any activity over there. If he’s made modifications, I wouldn’t know about it.”

  “There’s no time like the present to find out.” Sandor checked his gun, then slipped the knives through his belt.

  Ranulf turned the lights off. “Once we get within sight of the house, we can decide how to make our approach.”

  Out on the porch, he placed Kerry’s hand on the back of his belt. “Once we get moving I want you to hold on to me, and no unnecessary talking.”

  “Okay.” She looked at both of them, her dark eyes huge in the night. “Both of you promise to be careful. I don’t want to lose either of you to that madman.”

  Ranulf immediately pulled her into his arms for a quick hug before starting off into the darkness with Kerry tagging along, taking two steps for each one of his.

  * * *

  The moon had risen overhead, lightening the shadows among the firs. Ranulf could feel Sandor moving off to his right. Judging from his energy reading, the younger Talion was stone-cold ready to fight and die for the cause. That was good, considering the monster who was waiting for them up ahead. Sandor usually did battle with words, not bullets and blades, but he’d stand his ground.

  Ranulf had never faced a renegade and doubted his ability to take the bastard out, but Bradan wasn’t the typical renegade. Not only was he a Talion with his own enhanced powers but he’d also been feeding deeply on the darkest energies imaginable. Bullets might slow him down, but they wouldn’t stop him. And he’d already had hours of time to work on Judith, the strongest of their kind. Guilt burned deep in Ranulf ’s gut.

  Kerry had been right to make them stop and replenish, though. They couldn’t afford the handicaps of exhaustion and low energy.

  The trees were thinning out. He slowed his steps and gave a low whistle to signal Sandor to wait. When Kerry and the Talion were right next to him, he whispered, “Wait here. I’ll scope the place out.”

  He took off at a ground-eating lope through the trees. Bradan’s house was only a short distance ahead, no more than a hundred yards. The forest had been clear-cut in a large circle around the building, but with luck they could get within sprinting distance before having to leave the cover of the trees.

  Hiding in the silence and shadows, Ranulf studied Bradan’s base of operations. The house had the same abandoned look as the last time Ranulf had seen it. The only difference was that right now it lit up the clearing like the beacon of a lighthouse, warning all who approached of danger.

  Did Bradan feel so secure that the labyrinth of false names and hidden payments would have insulated him from discovery? No, that didn’t feel right. He’d just wanted to make sure that only the right people found him. Knowing Bradan’s ego, he probably had a welcome mat with their names on it laying on the porch.

  It was time to end his games.

  Sending out tendrils of energy to study the house, Ranulf recoiled at the murky blackness that came rushing back at him. Death had its own flavor that hung in the night air. The brightness of the electric lights did little to dim the darkness of the soul that clung to the house in thick waves.

  Ranulf fought against the impulse to go charging in, his weapons drawn and ready to fight to the death with the evil inside. As much as he preferred the role of lone gunman, this time he would be risking far more than his own life. He had Kerry and even Sandor to consider, not to mention the hostage. Judith would most likely be the first to die at Bradan’s hands, but not the only one if the three of them didn’t attack in concert.

  So be it. He faded back into the trees to rejoin his team. Despite his orders, they’d followed his trail toward the house, but at least they’d stayed back far enough to remain hidden.

  “How bad is it?” Sandor asked.

  “Bad enough. We’ll have cover until the last twenty yards. We’ll split up and make a slow approach, then run like hell when we have to break cover.”

  “I’ll take the front.” Sandor had his g
un in one hand, a knife in the other.

  Ranulf measured the resolve in Sandor’s dark eyes. “Anxious to play hero?”

  The Talion sent a burst of disapproval in Ranulf’s direction. “No, but I figure you stand a better chance of protecting Kerry.”

  Ranulf rarely apologized, but he tried this time. “Good thinking. We’ll separate when we reach the edge of the trees.”

  He pulled a smaller version of the gun he carried and handed it to Kerry. “Do you know how to use one of these?”

  She nodded. “I took a self-defense class a couple of years ago, but I haven’t practiced in a while.”

  “At least that’s something.” He checked it over before showing her the safety and how to click it off.

  “Sandor, we’ll give you time to attract Bradan’s attention and then hit the back. Good luck.”

  He offered his hand to Sandor and was relieved when the Talion accepted the gesture. Kerry immediately hugged Sandor, kissing him on the cheek. The Talion grabbed her up in his arms for a quick hug and an even quicker kiss on the lips. When he set her down sputtering, Sandor grinned at Ranulf in the darkness.

  “Watch your backs, you two.”

  “Watch yourself, Sandor. Don’t do anything stupid.” Like try to be a hero, which would likely get him killed.

  “I won’t.” Sandor moved out, the night swallowing him up.

  As soon as he was gone, Kerry reached up to run her fingers along the side of Ranulf’s face, her touch a soothing balm.

  He smiled down at her, loving her fierce determination. “Let’s go. We don’t want Sandor to get all the glory.”

  She reached for Ranulf’s hand. If his touch comforted her, he wouldn’t argue. And truth be told, the warmth of her fingers entangled with his felt pretty damned good.

  * * *

  Judith’s lungs weren’t working without a great deal of effort, and pain had taken over her world. Bradan’s face was so twisted with evil that it would have been difficult to recognize him if she’d passed him on the street.

  Toward the end of the last bout of torment, he’d kept pausing every so often to listen. When he hadn’t heard whatever he’d been listening for, he’d cursed and then started in on her again with more fury and enthusiasm. If there had been a square inch on her body that hadn’t been bruised or bleeding, he hadn’t found it. Yet.

  Death was coming for her, and regrets filled her mind. She should have done better by Ranulf, but she’d tried at the end. She hoped he was smart enough to grab onto the love Kerry Logan had for him.

  Sandor would hate that, because he only saw the darkness in Ranulf, not the strength and the honor that went bone deep in her Viking warrior. That was her fault, too. If she’d used Sandor the same way she’d used Ranulf, he would have lost some of that slick polish, but he’d have been stronger for it.

  And she should have been up front with Kerry from the beginning. If they’d really talked while they’d had the chance, she could have better prepared Kerry to serve as Grand Dame. There was so much she needed to learn about the Kyth, but at least she’d bring a fresh eye to their problems. With both Ranulf and Sandor to support her, she’d do fine.

  Bradan’s laughter rang out in the living room overhead. She shuddered, fearing for whoever had caught his attention this time. He’d spent a long time telling her how he’d perfected his art with scalpels and probes by practicing on human victims. He practically vibrated with the energy he’d harvested.

  Maybe she could draw his attention back to her. If she succeeded, it would give the innocent human time to escape or give her Talions more of a fighting chance.

  Focus, Judith, focus. It took every bit of willpower to shove the pain and the fear to the back of her mind, keeping the last vestiges of her powers at the forefront. She’d never make it up the steps, but Bradan didn’t know that. All that was required was the appearance of an escape attempt.

  One after another, her restraints snapped. Being able to move again sent a new upsurge of pain ripping through her, but she felt it only at a distance. Death already had her in his grip, her fumbling steps only a short distance ahead of him. She stumbled toward the staircase and deliberately knocked over the metal instrument tray, sending it clattering across the floor.

  If Bradan heard it, he didn’t react. Desperately, she looked for something else. There were bottles of chemicals in a cabinet with glass doors. The gods only knew what was in them, but if they produced poisonous gases, so much the better. Holding on to the wall for support, she crossed to the cabinet and tried the doors.

  Locked. Closing her eyes, she sent one last energy burst to reinforce the strength of her unbroken left hand and slammed it through the glass. She unlatched the lock from the inside and let the doors swing open. One after another, she shattered the bottles, making as much noise as possible.

  This time Bradan came charging down the stairs, but only halfway. “You’ll pay for that, you stupid bitch, but so will both of your Talions. And when I’m done with them, I’ll start in on Kerry. I’m betting I can keep her alive for days, maybe even weeks. So know that your little tantrum is going to cost them.”

  She didn’t have enough breath left to talk, so she let another bottle fly in answer to his threats. They both knew that nothing she did would change his plans.

  He started down another step, then abruptly stopped, as if he’d been a puppet and someone had pulled his strings. He struggled briefly, then gave in and backed up the stairs.

  “Your friends are here, Judith. I hope you live long enough to greet them properly.”

  Then he was gone. She wilted to the floor, knowing she’d done all she could. May the gods grant that it was enough.

  * * *

  Judith’s little tantrum was most vexing. Bradan charged back downstairs and hauled her body back up to the living room. She was barely breathing, but she’d served her purpose by drawing his enemies out into the open.

  He could feel them sneaking around, thinking they were camouflaged by the trees. He paused in the kitchen to reach out and taste the invaders’ energy. Sandor was alone, but there was a mixed signature coming from the back of the house. Ranulf, judging by the strength of the power, but he wasn’t alone. He’d brought Kerry right to Bradan’s doorstep.

  Which one would attack first? Sandor or Ranulf? Not that it mattered. Bradan could take on all of them at once. He was that strong, that deserving of the gods’ blessing. Who else had sacrificed so many for the glory of the Kyth? Ranulf, probably, but not within such a short time period.

  Ah, Sandor must have drawn the short straw, getting to play sacrificial lamb while Ranulf got to be the real hero.

  Bradan turned toward the living room and used a bit of his energy to unlock the door from across the room. A few seconds later, the doorknob started to turn.

  “I’m coming for you, Talion. Surrender now or die!”

  Bradan smiled. Sandor was so damn honorable that he actually followed the protocols of ritual combat among their people. How had he managed to live this long, if he’d always warned his enemies he was coming?

  Calling his dark energy to full power, Bradan widened his stance and waited.

  Chapter 15

  Sandor swallowed hard and braced his shoulders. The door lock clicked open, which meant Bradan was expecting him. They had known it was unlikely they’d get this close without alerting him to their presence.

  Pulling his gun, he called, “I’m coming for you, Talion. Surrender now or die!”

  Laughter was not what he expected as an answer, but then Bradan was crazy. There was no telling what he was capable of at this point. Sandor gave the doorknob a quick turn and shoved it open, bringing up his gun at the same time, his finger twitching on the trigger. The sight waiting for him was simply indescribable in its horror.

  Bradan stood over Judith, her face barely recognizable through the bruises and the blood. He spread his hand wide, ready to finish her off if Sandor made the wrong move.

  Check an
d stalemate. Sandor stood his ground and waited for Bradan to make the next move.

  * * *

  The next few minutes would decide who would live and who would die.

  Gripping the talisman at his throat, Ranulf sent a silent prayer upward. Please, Thor and Odin, keep the women safe and give your warriors courage in the face of death! The hammer burned hot in his hand, his prayer heard.

  “Stay behind me,” he warned Kerry, making it clear that his word was law now.

  The bright glow from the kitchen window cast her face in stark relief as they scurried past. Her eyes reflected her grim determination to do battle against one of the most dangerous foes he’d faced in his long, long life. No one would look at this petite woman and not see her fierce spirit burning bright. He wanted to kiss the hard slash of her sweet mouth and tell her how proud he was of her courage, but time was running out.

  He motioned for her to press herself against the back wall of the house. When she’d done so, he looked inside the window. The kitchen was empty, but in a house this small, Bradan couldn’t be far.

  “Stand back while I kick the door in. Give me a chance to clear the way before following me.”

  Kerry moved into position, her eyes burning with energy, her expression determined. “He won’t get past me.”

  Please, gods, don’t let it come to that. He kept his gun drawn but didn’t expect to use it for the kill. When a Talion killed his own kind, it was hands-on work, up close and very personal. Especially this time.

  On the second kick, the lock broke free of the jamb and the door slammed open, banging against the wall. Ranulf was through it with Kerry behind him out of the line of fire, leaving him free to go after their prey.

  A short hall led toward the back of the house in one direction and the front in the other. There was no question which way to go, because he could see Bradan as soon as he looked toward the living room.

  Sandor was holding the bastard at bay. But with Bradan’s fingers splayed on Judith’s face, he couldn’t do much more than glare at Bradan without further endangering her life.