“Enough. I am tired of you, Valefor.” Lars clenched his hand tighter. Vadik’s legs kicked wildly where he hung, his back ramming against the wall.
I hated Vadik. I wanted him to die. But it was hard to watch his eyes bug out, vessels popping, saliva trickling down his chin, his tongue darting out. I gripped Ryker’s hand and turned my head slightly to the side.
Ryker’s body rocked next to me. “Wait!” he called, letting go of my hand and stepping closer to Lars.
The Unseelie King’s eyebrows shot up.
“He is my father, my responsibility.”
Lars stared at Ryker for a couple of beats, then Vadik fell to the floor. Vadik grabbed for his neck, hacking and grappling for air.
“I will honor your request, Wanderer.” Lars bobbed his head. “You may deal with him in whatever way you see fit by the dark laws, but I can’t leave without him being punished. He has gone too far. And I do not go soft on those who disrespect or challenge me.”
Ryker nodded in agreement.
Lars turned back to the man on the floor. Gone was the imposing man, the feared, cruel, ruthless demon. In his place stood a bully, pathetic and stripped of his dominance.
Vadik’s eyes were wide with fear as realization of his situation set in. He held up his hands in plea, as if he were waving the white flag. “No, my King. I promise. I will not do anything against you. I will be your faithful servant.”
Lars shook his head with disgust. “I would have had more respect if you defied me to the end. No one likes a coward.”
Glancing around the room at Vadik’s men, most wore frowns of disdain at their pitiless leader, who was nothing more than a sniveling child when roles were reversed.
“You open your mouth one more time, and I will forgo your son’s request.” Lars leaned over him. “And I swear to you, you will much rather him kill you than me.”
Vadik stupidly opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Lars crumpled his hand into a fist. Vadik put his hands up to his neck, his legs jerking out. It unnerved me to watch someone fighting against nothing. I had experienced it, so I knew something was there or at least in the mind of the victim. But Vadik only clawed at air.
“As a trader of the dark, you are hereby banned from Earth and the Dark side of the Otherworld, if your son does not sympathetically end your life for you.” Lars spoke low, but the words still boomed through the room. “You have challenged the Unseelie King and lost. Your title has been stripped and everything you own is now mine. Enjoy your fate with the Seelie, old friend. See how accommodating the Queen can be to demons.”
In my studies of the fae, I remembered reading something about how the Light and Dark couldn’t live on each other’s sides without massive consequences. They would grow weak and eventually die an especially painful death.
Lars straightened. Vadik’s struggle relented, and he slumped over, his head slid to the floor, and he passed out from the weight of Lars’s creed.
“To the rest of you,” Lars circled around, speaking to Vadik’s minions, ignoring the monster on the floor. Garrett and Cadoc were both back on their feet, dried blood coating their heads and necks. “As law states, your fate would be the same as the one you pledged your obedience to.”
I watched as Garrett swallowed, his forehead wrinkling as if he tried to fight back the fear. Almost all the men bore wide-eyed expressions of terror. Except Cadoc. He was the picture of indifference. He held his chin high, accepting his fate.
“However, situations are currently changing, and I am in need of men willing to go into battle.”
Garrett’s head lifted, his green eyes sparking with hope.
“I warn you. You will commit to me completely. An oath bond. Your loyalty will be the only thing that keeps you alive. If you break it, death will be more painful than you ever imagined. For saving you, I own you and you are mine to rule. Death is likely but not immediate, but if you choose not to go with this option, you die here.” Lars stared at each man, each of whom wiggled beneath his penetrating gaze. “I am being quite generous. What do you choose?”
“My life is yours, sir.” Garrett licked his lips, leaning forward.
Ryker snorted behind me. We both knew Garrett would jump at this. His life was far more important than any belief he had, if he actually had any. He went where the money and power might trickle down to him.
One by one each of Garrett’s men pledged themselves to the Unseelie King, except Cadoc.
Lars walked up to the burly man. Even though he looked puny next to Rimmon, he was still big. “Will you follow me?”
Cadoc’s eyes drifted to Vadik, then back to Lars. “No. I swore my loyalty previously, sir.”
Lars lips turned down. “That is too bad. Your size and skills would have been an asset. And your honor to duty is exactly what I want.”
“Cadoc, don’t be an idiot. You don’t owe Vadik anything. You follow me,” Garrett hissed at him. Cadoc’s chin lifted in defiance, ignoring Garrett.
“I could force you, you know?” Lars took one more step closer to Cadoc.
“I know, sir,” Cadoc replied.
“The one man here I actually want tells me no.” Lars contemplated him. “Normally, I would honor your wish, but I no longer have the luxury. I need every trained fighter I can get.”
Cadoc’s head jerked to really take in Lars. “You are going to force me, sir?”
“War is coming. I need soldiers.”
Cadoc shifted on his feet, turning his head forward, his eyes full of hate, but he gave Lars a curt nod.
“Rimmon.” Lars only said his name, and the large man gathered the new recruits and herded them toward the door, emptying the tiny office of Vadik’s old followers.
Rimmon had just left the room when another man entered, his sword against another man’s throat. “Sir, I found this one creeping around the side. He’s human.” The dark-haired fae stated, but his lip inched up at the last word. “What do you want me to do with him?”
The prisoner held up his chin, but his hands shook at his sides.
“Carlos!” His name flew out of my mouth. His eyes went to mine, relief softening them.
“Kill him.” Lars waved turning back to me.
“No.” I took a step to the Unseelie King, keeping Sprig close to my chest. “Please, he only came here to protect someone. He’s been under Vadik’s glamour.” Lars stared at me, making me feel like a piece of paper in a stove.
Lars clasped his hands together and whirled around, stepping up to Carlos till he leered over him. “Do you feel I should allow you to live?”
The only true human in the room lifted his chin, staring back in the demon’s eyes. “You can do what you want with my life. I only ask you save Maria’s.”
Even Lars appeared taken back. “You will die for this woman?”
“Yes.” Carlos didn’t even flinch.
Lars nodded, pressing his mouth, he wandered away. “Where is this Maria?”
“She was recaptured and locked in the cell below, in the hole.”
“The hole?” I repeated. “Are there more cells in this building? Is Annabeth down there?”
Carlos shook his head. “No. Men came here and took her away.”
I was in his face before I realized I moved. “What men?”
“I didn’t know them, but I had seen the black van here before.”
My throat wouldn’t let me swallow. “Black van?”
“One with no windows and a government license plate,” Carlos replied. “That’s all I know.”
Bile burned up my esophagus, and I stumbled back. I set Sprig down on the desk so I could grip it and keep my balance. My eyes drifted over to Vadik. His chin hung slack against his chest.
“Was it DMG?” I stomped up to him, but he didn’t move.
“Wake up! Answer me! Did you give her to DMG?” I kicked Vadik’s leg, which only bobbled his head. My foot dove into his shin over and over, but he never woke.
“Zoey.�
�� Ryker grabbed me, pulling me back. “Even unconscious he still can feed off your anger. It only gives him strength.”
My nose flared. Ryker forced me to turn around. Those in the room gaped at me. Lars was the only one who looked amused.
Lars curved around to the human man. “You understand what we are?” Lars asked, his voice icy.
“Yes.” Carlos nodded.
“You also understand why humans must not be aware of us?”
“Yes.” Carlos’s hands continued to shake, but his chin never wavered.
Lars watched Carlos intensely before a hint of a smile lifted his lips. “You humans really do surprise me sometimes.” He shifted his gaze to the fae holding him. “Take him down to this Maria. If she is anything like him, they might be helpful.”
The fae soldier nodded and led Carlos from the room.
“What are you going to do with him?”
The King slowly turned to me, his lids narrowed. “That is my business. Do not mistake our dealings as an invitation to know about any of my other affairs.”
I really needed to learn to shut up.
“But to ease your curiosity, I will not kill him.”
It shouldn’t have made me feel better because he could do a lot worse to him, but it did.
“Now, for the last bit of our deal.” Lars eyed both Ryker and me. “It looks as if you might need some time to recuperate.”
“No.” I shook my head with desperation, thinking about Annabeth. “Lives are in danger. And now I’m afraid they have someone else I care about. We need to go as soon as possible.”
Lars steepled his fingers at the bridge of his nose, lowering his head in thought. He exhaled and drew up, staring at us. “You may have my men as we talked about, but by the end of the day, I will come for what is mine. No matter what.”
I gulped. That didn’t give us a lot of time to break into a well-guarded lab protected from fae magic, save Lexie, Croygen, and Annabeth, destroy the lab, take down Rapava, and get the stone back from Amara.
“We are grateful for your help,” Ryker replied, still struggling to talk without flinching. “But we might need a few things…”
TWENTY-THREE
After our plans with Lars were confirmed, he left with his newfound followers. Garrett’s men might come to regret their choice, but they would at least live a little longer.
Only a few of the King’s guards went with their ruler. The rest waited outside for Ryker and me to join them. We wanted to attack DMG with the least amount of people in the building, the least defense, which was now. The night was waning, and we needed to get there before dawn.
Our biggest battle still lay ahead of us. Ryker and I already looked and felt like utter shit. Our bodies demanded sleep to heal fully, but we couldn’t, which spread our energy thinner. Great start.
“Are you really ready for this?” Hands came down on my arms, twisting me to face the man I loved. He stood in front of me, one eye half-mast.
I laughed. “You’re asking me?”
His fingers roamed over my face, taking in all the wounds with his fingers like he needed to be sure they weren’t killing me.
“Are you?” I stared up into his swollen face.
“I’ll be fine. I can see a little out of this eye now.” He brushed the hair off my face. “I’m really asking.”
“Basic answer is yes. You and Sprig are alive.” I nibbled on my lip. With all the activity I had not told him the other bad news.
“What? Just tell me.”
“Amara. She set us up again.”
Ryker lifted one eyebrow.
“That’s not the bad thing.” I inhaled. “She knew. The stone. She took it.”
Ryker stared at me, his mouth opening to respond when another voice spoke instead.
“Can’t ever trust a con artist.” Vadik chuckled from where he sat against the wall. Ryker swiftly stepped in front of me. “Got to admire a girl like that. She even fooled me.”
Ryker didn’t respond, just pushed me farther back behind him.
“She has the stone now, huh? That is interesting.” A spark danced in Vadik’s eyes. Then he let his head fall toward us, his lids tapered. “At least she stays true to who she is.”
“Gee, I don’t have my father’s respect? I am so crushed,” Ryker sneered.
“Aligning with the Unseelie King.” Vadik spat like he swallowed something vile. “Why am I surprised? Too weak to fight your own battles, son?”
The muscles along Ryker’s back twisted. He stomped forward till his boots hit Vadik’s shoes. Anger pumped his shoulders like a hot-air balloon. Ryker leaned over, clutching Vadik’s neck. “I am not your son.”
“You can deny it, but my blood is in your veins. Demon blood.”
“Shut up.” Ryker hit Vadik’s head against the wall. “My father is the man who raised me. You were just a sperm donor. Probably by force.”
“I made a deal with her father. She belonged to me. So did you, until she hid you from me. I can do what I wish with my property.”
“Oh. Noooo...” I seethed. I wanted to kick the shit out of him, but Ryker blocked my path.
The “monster” as Ryker called it, now knowing it was his demon side inside, flourished, pressing under his skin, his eyes glowing with hate.
“There he is. My son. The demon.” Vadik grinned sardonically. “Come on, son, kill me. Go ahead.”
The tension in the room pulled like a strained violin string. I was ready for it to break, for Ryker’s fist to pummel into Vadik till he became puree on the ground. Ryker leaned farther over, his face inches from him. “It would be a favor to the world if I killed you. Death would be easy compared to what you will experience living in the Light.”
Vadik blinked; the smugness fell from his face.
“I won’t be that kind to you, Father.” Ryker patted his cheek, then stood up, learning over the man. “I. Will. Not. Kill. You.” The moment Ryker said it Vadik howled gut-wrenching shrieks. The hair on my arms stood up. Vadik struggled to get to his feet, his arms clawing at his body, as though trying to get rid of an invisible force.
Ryker retreated, showing him he would not be there to help him.
The cry tearing from Vadik’s mouth filled me with anxiety. “What is happening to him?”
“Because I declared I’d let him live, the King’s curse is now taking over. He’s banned from Earth, so until he finds a door and gets to the Light side of the Otherworld, he will feel like his insides are being shredded. Which is like the demon equivalent of tearing out pumpkin guts.”
I glanced at Ryker. He shrugged. “Or so I’ve heard.”
“You will…” Vadik huffed, spit flying out of his mouth. “Regret this.”
“Probably. I wanted to be the one to kill you. But knowing you are still alive, slowly and painfully being tortured to death will help me sleep better at night.” Ryker’s expression and voice were stone cold and hard. “For what you did to my mother, to me…you deserve worse. I do not have time or energy for your pathetic self. You are nothing to me.”
Vadik frantically scratched at his neck and face, his eyes growing black. He looked like he was debating. He rocked back and forth on his feet as if he might come bowling for Ryker.
Ryker stared back. “Do it. I dare you.” His voice was low and harsh.
Vadik’s neck veins bulged. A piercing growl tore from him and then he bolted from the room. The door to the building slammed behind him, bringing silence.
Air I held in my lungs skated out in a quiet exhale. Ryker and I stood in a sort of daze. So much had happened in the last hour my brain struggled to keep up.
I ran my hand down Ryker’s bicep. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I am.” He pivoted to me, grabbing my hips. “I want to forget him.”
I nodded.
“Now about the stone...”
“Shit.” I blurted out. “Lars. What do we do about him? He will come for it later, and I don’t have it.” I would possibly die before he e
ven could claim it, which was better than what he would do to me when he found me empty handed. “Damn it! Why can’t we get a break?”
“Hey.” Ryker grabbed my flaying arms. “Calm down. Amara doesn’t have anything significant.”
“The stone is not significant?” My eyes darted to his. “One of the most powerful weapons in the world is in the hands of a lying, selfish bitch. That’s not important?”
Ryker had the audacity to grin at me.
“Why do you find this funny? She has the stone. Lars will kill us,” I screeched.
“Breathe, Zoey.” His unruffled demeanor only evoked another tirade from me. “Stop,” he said more firmly. “Haven’t you notice you’ve been even more cranky, not feeling well, and irritable the last couple of days.”
“If you say anything about me ‘being on the rag,’ I. Will. Kill. You.”
He smirked, shaking his head.
“The morning after our all-nighter in the garage, when you weren’t looking, I switched out the stone with a fake.”
“Wh-what?” My jaw dropped, anger igniting my brain .”Switched? Where is the real stone? What does Amara have?”
“Amara has a fake.” He rubbed my arms. “It’s been close so you wouldn’t feel the withdrawal too badly.”
Now I understood the reasons why I didn’t feel any magic from it when she stole it. Why it had been so quiet for the last couple of days. Why I had felt off and edgy.
“Wait. Is that the reason Lars didn’t sense it on me? Because I didn’t have it?”
Ryker nodded.
“Where is it? If you have it, how did he not sense it on you then?”
“I don’t have it either.”
“Where is it, Ryker?” A surge of possessive rage fueled me. “It’s mine.” I need it. I need it. My hands opened and closed desperate to have it back. “Tell me.”
Ryker frowned, folding his arms, his jaw rolling. I could sense his apprehension, his displeasure at my words, but knowing the stone was close fostered a frantic feeling in me. Where could he have hidden it if not on himself?
A snore broke the silence, and I turned to the sprite on the table—a monkey wearing a backpack. Neither had been in the warehouse with the King.
From Burning Ashes (Collector Series #4) Page 27
