The lash cut through the air, then into his shoulder and chest. And it turned out this was one of the times when he welcomed the pain, baring his teeth and riding it out with a sick sort of relief, one that said, Yeah, old man. I’m getting what I deserve. Not that it made up for what he had done, but at least he was being paid back some.
By the tenth blow, the hot agony of each whip strike had turned cold and his body was shaking with chills. By the twentieth he was nearly numb, his eyes going unfocused as his consciousness threatened to take a hike.
And then the weirdest fucking thing happened. He saw his father.
It wasn’t like he’d been imagining, either. It was more like Red-Boar was really there, planted in the doorway, wearing brown fatigues and a camo green T-shirt, with a machine pistol on one hip and a ceremonial knife on the other. He didn’t register the blood or the beating, but instead scanned some distant horizon with a frustrated scowl on his battle-ax of a face. The vision was so real that even knowing his old man was dead and gone, Rabbit sucked in a ragged breath to call his name.
But then the image wavered and disappeared. Rabbit’s struggles brought new pain searing as the shackles bit into his wrists and ankles, giving only slightly against the pins that held them in place. He wanted to roar and threaten. That would only please her more, though, so he just hung there, panting, while the nausea-inducing agony of the beating flooded back through him.
“There’s no point. He’s useless.” The demoness waved away the lash. “Come. We’re going after the girlfriend.”
“No!” Rabbit bellowed, slamming to the end of his chains. “Don’t you fucking touch her!”
Eyes gleaming red with excitement, the demon bitch shot a vicious look in Rabbit’s direction. “Don’t worry; she won’t remember you by the time she gets back here. If she even makes it.”
He roared incoherently, crashing at the ends of his chains as she left the cell, with the camazotz tossing the blood-soaked whip to the ground as it passed. Hatred pounded through him, would have consumed him if it hadn’t been for the guilt and fear, the knowledge that they were going after Myrinne because of him. Even from there, he could still hurt her, it seemed. “No,” he groaned, rattling the syllable up from the depths of his chest. “Please, gods, no!” But the gods didn’t hear his prayers anymore, leaving it up to him to save her.
So, hooking his toes into the slimy stones for purchase and twining his numb, fumbling hands in his chains, he started climbing. He cursed when the rocks bit deep and then slid with blood, and again when pain made his stomach heave, but he kept going, pushing himself upward until he had a little slack in the chains. Before, he had found that it was just enough for him to get one hand near his face, and he had tried to tear the pin loose. Now he didn’t bother with the pin. Instead, heart hammering a frantic beat of Hur-ry, hur-ry, hur-ry, he jammed his thumb into a link of the chain as high up as he could get it… and jumped.
There wasn’t even enough free fall to register before the chains snapped tight and the full force of his body weight hit that thumb with a sickening crack that echoed inside his skull. He howled, jerked his mangled hand out of the chain and against its shackle. Pain hammered through him, hazing his vision, but by the gods his broken hand folded and went partway through the iron! His consciousness fought to waver, but he didn’t let it; he couldn’t—wouldn’t—fail now.
He pictured Myrinne—not as he had last seen her, but back when things had been good and right between them, and he’d known for damn sure he was the luckiest bastard on earth to have her. He imagined her dark hair falling loose to her waist, mismatched stones glittering at her ears, and her brown eyes laughing up at him in challenge.
He didn’t remember any smell or sound beyond those of his cell, didn’t remember what it felt like to be touched with love rather than punishment, but he remembered that look. And it gave him the strength for another wrenching pull, one that dragged his hand the rest of the way free.
Gasping curses, he fumbled, struggling to get the pin free from his other wrist, then from his ankles. He tumbled to the floor, landed hard, lay there dazed and disoriented by pain and weakened by captivity. Maybe there was some part of his warrior self left inside him, though, because he somehow found the strength to force himself to his feet. Grabbing the fallen whip and holding it in his good hand, he stumbled through the door and into an unfamiliar tunnel lit by a string of bare bulbs. An echo of sound told him which way the demon bitch had gone, and he set off after her with murder in his heart.
He didn’t have any magic, backup, or even a freaking clue where he was, but he knew one thing for damn sure: He was going to do whatever it took to reach Myrinne and protect her this time, or die trying.
Praise for the
Nightkeepers Series
“This series goes right to your heart! Jessica Andersen is a must read for me!”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward
Storm Kissed
“A superb thriller… fast-paced and character-driven.… Fans will relish this exhilarating tale.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Thrilling.… With this tale of prophecy and curses, Andersen really shakes up her series. Love, loss, passion, and drama are all here. You won’t be able to put this one down.”
—Romantic Times
Blood Spells
“For readers with a hankering for a fascinating and intricate foray into the Mayan world, the Nightkeeper series is just perfect.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“Andersen has created a compelling cast of characters whose personal travails add richness to these highly entertaining novels. Another excellent job.”
—Romantic Times
Demonkeepers
“Andersen ramps up the danger… mix[ing] action and elements of Mayan myth—from a voyage to the underworld to a fantastic high-stakes ball game—with soul-searching, lust, and romance. Jade’s inner journey is particularly engaging, and while the background makes more sense to returning fans, even new readers will find plenty to latch onto.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Intense… thrilling… a world that fans of any genre will enjoy.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“Fabulous… will have the audience appreciating the skills of master magician Jessica Andersen.”
—Midwest Book Review
Skykeepers
“An exciting, romantic, and imaginative tale, Skykeepers is guaranteed to keep readers entertained and turning the pages.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Will knock your off your feet, keep you on the edge of your seat and totally captivated from beginning to end.”
—Romance Junkies
“A gripping story that pulled this reader right into her Final Prophecy series.”
—Romance Reader at Heart (top pick)
“The Final Prophecy is a well-written series that is as intricate as it is entertaining.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“The world of Nightkeepers is wonderful, and I love visiting it. It is intricate, magical, and absolutely fascinating.… Step inside the Nightkeeper world and prepare to be swept away!”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“If you’re looking for a book to read, one that has an intricate, inventive, and well-researched world with characters that are fully realized, might I suggest Skykeepers?”
—Romance Novel TV
Dawnkeepers
“Prophecy, passion, and powerful emotions—Dawnkeepers will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more!”
—Wild on Books
“This strong new series will appeal to fantasy and paranormal fans with its refreshing blend of Mayan and Egyptian mythologies plus a suitably complex story line and plenty of antagonists.”
—Monsters and Critics
“This exhilarating urban romantic fantasy saga is constructed around modernizing Mayan mythology.… Th
e story line is fast-paced and filled with action as the overarching Andersen mythology is wonderfully embellished with this engaging entry.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“Using the Mayan doomsday prophecy, Andersen continues to add complexity to her characters and her increasingly dense mythos. This intense brand of storytelling is a most welcome addition to the genre.”
—Romantic Times
“Action-packed with skillfully written and astounding fight scenes… will keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more.”
—Romance Junkies
Nightkeepers
“Raw passion, dark romance, and seat-of-your-pants suspense all set in an astounding paranormal world—I swear ancient Mayan gods and demons walk the modern earth!”
—New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward
“Andersen’s got game when it comes to style and voice. I loved the kick-ass series… a fun mix of humor, suspense, mythology, and fantasy… a series that’s sure to be an instant reader favorite, and will put Andersen’s books on keeper shelves around the world.”
—New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann
“I deeply enjoyed the story. It really hooked me!”
—New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight
“Part romance, mystery, and fairy tale… a captivating book with wide appeal.”
—Booklist
“[A] nonstop, action-intensive plot.… Ms. Andersen delivers a story that is both solid romance and adventure novel. If you enjoy movies like Lara Croft… or just want something truly new, you will definitely want this.”
—Huntress Book Reviews
“Intense action, sensuality, and danger abound.”
—Romantic Times
“If Nightkeepers is any indication of her talent, then [Jessica Andersen] will become one of my favorites.… [The book] brought tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart. I read each word with bated breath.”
—Romance Junkies
“[A] terrific romantic fantasy… an excellent thriller. Jessica Andersen provides a strong story that… fans will cherish.”
—Midwest Book Review
FB2 document info
Document ID: 989f701e-8538-4920-bb54-f38d4d77986b
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 29.10.2013
Created using: calibre 1.7.0, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6 software
Document authors :
About
This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.
(This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)
Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.
(Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)
http://www.fb2epub.net
https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/
Magic Unchained n-7 Page 37
