Seared

by Bethany Adams

  Lyr’s brows rose. “Or kill him.”

  “I’ll make sure he’s prepared. Can you spare Inona for longer? She could stay with him.”

  “I’ll find a way,” Lyr answered. “She’s of better use there. Now go get some sleep.”

  “I’d say the same to you, but…”

  Lyr merely grinned before he cut off the link.

  With his own smile, Ralan set the mirror aside. It was good to see his friend happy. After he’d been captured by Allafon and almost killed, Lyr had been a shadow of himself for some time. Meli was good for him.

  Ralan tucked the mirror back in his bag. After a glance at the clock, he realized he still had an hour before he needed to get ready for dinner. He dropped face-first onto the bed without bothering to change clothes.

  He wouldn’t see Cora again until tomorrow, but he’d given her his room number. If something happened, she’d know how to get in touch with him. Maybe I should dig out my cell phone, he thought as his mind began to drift toward sleep. If he was going to be here for a while, he’d like to be able to call her.

  If…

  Kai stared out the window, barely noting the dim, silver-glazed garden below the observation tower. Arlyn had started calling it the brooding tower, since Lyr often came here to think, and it was apt enough that Kai thought he’d give it a try. A little distance from the world was great for introspection.

  Fuck it all, how was he supposed to leave for Lord Naomh’s estate tomorrow morning? Kai hated—hated—the thought of dragging Arlyn back there, and the place wasn’t exactly full of fond memories for him, either. His own father had bound them into a stone wall and almost killed him in a duel. Fun times.

  Kai spun from the window and began to pace. Was it really so important for him to learn about any Sidhe powers he might have? He might have felt more connected to earth magic since he’d visited his father’s home, but it wasn’t something that popped up unexpectedly to cause him trouble. He was fine being a guide and diplomat for Lyr. So why had Ralan insisted? The bastard had refused to give any details.

  “He’s too cautious.”

  Kai jumped at the sound of Eri’s voice. “Gods! I didn’t even sense you.”

  “You’re busy brooding.” The little girl grinned. “Great name for this place.”

  He let out a laugh. “Maybe we should ask Lyr to make it official.”

  Eri’s head tilted, and her expression grew serious. For a long, uncomfortable moment, she studied him. “Do you really want to know why you must go?”

  “I don’t know,” Kai admitted, his shoulders tensing. “Is it worse if I do? And aren’t you supposed to be behaving yourself?”

  “I promised to keep out of trouble, obey adults, and not use my powers carelessly.” Her chin lifted, and he could almost see the woman she would grow to be. “This isn’t careless, and no one told me I had to stay in my room.”

  Kai added be very specific to his mental list of parenting rules. “Fair enough. So what do you want to tell me?”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know.” A hint of worry and maybe fear entered her eyes. “A lot no one knows. I wish…I wish I didn’t know.”

  Her whispered words hung between them. “Eri—”

  “I’m fine,” she interrupted. “The Goddess guides and comforts me. That’s not why I’m here. See, you have two choices right now. Go as planned or stay here. Don’t stay. Arlyn and I will need your mastery of earth magic, and it doesn’t matter why right now. Suck it up and do what needs to be done.”

  Kai blinked, taken aback by the stern tone of her young voice. “You can’t be only six.”

  A grin broke across her face. “Megelien says I’m feisty.”

  “You seem…close to her.”

  “My daddy is a good father, but I’ve never had a mother.” Eri shrugged. “Lady Megelien is the closest I’ve come.”

  He frowned. “But you were born on Earth. Raised there until a couple of months ago. You couldn’t have known Her for long.”

  “Couldn’t I? The Lady goes where she wants.” Kai wanted to ask more, but Eri shook her head before he could form the words. “You don’t need to know. Just stop brooding and go to bed. That’s where I’m heading.”

  She spun away and started down the stairs without another word. Kai stared after her. Had he just been bossed around by a child? He let out a laugh. Yeah. Yeah, he had. Thank all the gods Ralan had put Lyr in charge of her instead of him and Arlyn.

  Cora flipped the sign to closed and locked the door. Then she turned to face her friend at the counter. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Maddy let out a long sigh. “It sucks, but I’ll be fine. Just…try not to ask me to heal anyone again anytime soon.”

  “Here’s hoping,” Cora said as she approached. “Though I’m kind of worried that creep will come back. Did he threaten you? You looked really upset.”

  Maddy’s lips firmed into a line. “He said he could tell I’m just a wimpy healer.”

  “What?”

  “There’s something wrong with that guy,” her friend answered. “I could sense that he’s part-Sidhe, and he could tell the same about me. But there’s a darkness within him that reminds me of an Unseelie.”

  Cora thought the prejudice held by the Seelie for the so-called dark fae went a bit too far, but it wasn’t a debate she wanted to have right now. “We’ll just have to stay cautious. Jase will be here tomorrow for the weekend rush, so we’ll have an extra pair of eyes. In fact, why don’t we make sure we leave together today?”

  “Good plan.”

  By the time they headed down the side street toward the parking lot, Cora had begun to wonder if she was being paranoid. More than usual, anyway. The guy seemed to want her help finding Ralan’s brother, but there was no reason to hurt her. He had to know she wouldn’t help him then. And although he’d seen her with Ralan, he might not assume they were together.

  Or the guy would conclude the worst and come after her. It had happened before when she’d refused to take sides between factions. If he did, it wouldn’t be in view of any human. She’d shield her house extra strongly and sleep with an iron knife next to her bed. The metal didn’t give her any trouble, but it was hell on the Sidhe.

  The parking lot came into view. “There. Tomorrow—”

  “Hey, stop,” a voice called from an alley to her left.

  Cora slipped her arm through Maddy’s and picked up the pace. A man stepped from the alley, but she didn’t relax when she saw that it wasn’t Patrick. “I’m armed,” she warned him.

  Of course, she was armed with fire, not a gun, but he didn’t have to know that.

  “Just looking for directions, ladies.”

  The man tried for a non-threatening smile. Honestly, there was nothing about him that was strictly menacing. He had soft brown hair and an easy expression, and he wore a tourist T-shirt from the aquarium. His body language was relaxed, his hands shoved in his pockets. But none of that mattered when his energy washed over them like fetid water.

  “Yeah, right,” Cora answered.

  Maddy jerked against her hold. But when Cora looked to see what was wrong, her chest squeezed tight. Patrick had slipped up behind them and tugged Maddy against him. Sure enough, he held a blade against her stomach.

  Not obvious to anyone who happened to pass by.

  As a car turned down the side street, Patrick leaned down to kiss Maddy’s cheek, like a lover sneaking up as a surprise. But if the driver noticed the distress on Maddy’s face, he didn’t stop to find out what was wrong. Cora cursed under her breath and glanced at the other guy.

  His affable smile had turned to a smirk, and as he ambled over to Cora, he leered. “Good instincts. Well, except for detecting Patrick.”

  Cora’s teeth ground together, and her palms began to heat. “Let her go. We don’t know anything about your friend.”

  “Oh, we don’t care about that. We’ll figure out another way to find him,” the guy said in a mocking tone. “Pat
rick found us a little healer. A pretty one, too. If Kien’s hurt, he’ll thank us for bringing him this piece. Then maybe he’ll forgive Patrick for being an idiot.”

  Cora eased closer to her friend. If she could touch Patrick, he’d pay in fire. “An idiot?”

  Instead of answering, his hand darted out, and she reacted without thinking. Her own hand shot up to meet his, her power sparking into him the second they made contact. He squealed, a high-pitched cry, as she scorched his palm. The awful smell of burned skin wafted around them, mixing with the musty smell of the nearby river.

  The man dropped to his knees and jerked his arm from her hold. As he gathered his palm close and wailed, Cora whirled back to help Maddy. But now the knife was at her friend’s neck.

  “Come closer and she dies,” Patrick said, the blade wavering in his shaking hand.

  Cora was almost afraid to breathe. “Don’t do this.”

  “I don’t care if we need a healer. I’ll slice her throat if you take a step my way.” Patrick’s throat bobbed with nerves. “Get off the ground, Victor. We’ll make this one fix it.”

  Eyes filled with hate, Victor shoved himself to his feet and sidled around Cora.

  What could she do? Everything within Cora wanted to blast them with a fireball and damn any humans who might see. But even without any passerby, she couldn’t do it. Not with Maddy solidly between her and Patrick.

  Her friend met Cora’s gaze. “Don’t.”

  “Better listen,” Patrick said. “We won’t hurt her. Not if she’s…cooperative.”

  Cora wanted to vomit at the insinuating lilt to his tone. “If you dare—”

  “Shut up, bitch,” Victor snarled.

  The two backed away a few more paces, then turned and jogged to a nearby car. Cora almost cried out at the sight of Maddy bouncing in Patrick’s hold, and she could only hope he’d shifted the knife from her friend’s throat. Helplessness boiled within her until she wanted to scream. But as Patrick rammed Maddy into the back seat, Cora shoved down her anger and examined her options.

  First things first? Find Ralan.

  With a groan, Ralan rolled onto his back. What the hell was that sound? Crack, crack, crack. Construction? He opened one bleary eye and tried to shake off sleep. The table next to his bed came into focus. Then the rest of his hotel room. Couldn’t be construction here, could it?

  Crack, crack, crack.

  The door! Ralan shot out of bed, running his hand through his hair as he headed toward the sound. He peeked through the peep hole even as he tried to pull a snarl from his long hair. But when he saw Cora’s face on the other side, all other thoughts fled.

  He turned the locks and jerked the door open. She froze, gaping at him with her hand still lifted to knock, and he considered that he had to be an amusing sight. He only hoped he didn’t have drool anywhere.

  “Cora.” He blinked against the sleep in his eyes and glanced along the hall. Empty. “What’s going on?”

  Her hand lowered. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Ralan stepped back and gestured for her to enter. Then he looked out again and frowned. If she’d been pounding on his door for a while, why hadn’t Delbin and Inona come out to see what was wrong? He checked the clock as he followed Cora in. Well, that explained it. He’d slept for over two hours. They must have gone for dinner without him.

  A vague memory filtered through. His bedside phone ringing. A mumbled conversation. Maybe he’d told them to bring something back? He tended to sleep deeply when he’d used his talents so much.

  He rubbed at his face and focused on Cora. “Our date is tomorrow, isn’t it? Not that I mind you coming to my room.”

  Her gaze took in the rumpled bed before returning to him. “Sorry to wake you, but this is important. Patrick and some guy named Victor… They took Maddy.”

  “Took Maddy?” His exhaustion fled at her words, and he pulled her into a hug as her composure crumpled and tears began to roll down her face. “Tell me.”

  Cora rested her forehead in the V between his neck and shoulder. Her tears wet his shirt, but he didn’t mind. “We were leaving the shop. They cornered us. I tried to use my fire on the one called Victor, but Patrick had Maddy at knife-point. I couldn’t…”

  “It’s okay,” Ralan soothed. His sigh ruffled her hair. “Well, not okay. But we’ll find her. I’ll search the futures and see if I can find a trail.”

  She leaned back to frown at him. “Isn’t there only one future?”

  His smile was gentle. “No. Each choice makes a new strand of possibilities. Some are more likely. Sometimes they merge with different choices. The first thing you learn as a seer is that nothing is set.”

  Cora took a deep breath and stepped out of his arms. “If you can find her…”

  “I’ll try.” Ralan pulled an elastic band from his pocket and tied his hair back. Then he dropped onto the overstuffed chair. “Everything about this situation is causing me trouble. I’m missing things I should have Seen. Letting people down. But I’ll do what I can.”

  Expression inscrutable, she studied him for a moment. “I’m surprised you admitted it. You’re always so arrogant on the runway, and rumor has it you’re a hard-ass in the workroom.”

  “Mostly part of the persona. And in this case, I can’t afford pride.” He thought back to Arlyn’s and Kai’s capture. He’d insisted the mission would be safe, never Seeing the danger. Just today, he’d missed the threat to Delbin. Now this. “I refuse to offer false hope.”

  Cora gave a sharp nod. “Just do your best.”

  Ralan settled back in the seat and let his eyes slip closed. For a long moment, he concentrated on his breathing, blocking out all else. Then he slipped into the maelstrom of the strands. His head throbbed at the breathless number of them, but he steadied himself out of long practice.

  Only then did he begin his search.

  Chapter 9

  Maddy winced against the pain in her head and struggled to open her eyes. Finally, she managed it, but she immediately wished she hadn’t. The grinning face of her captor was the first thing she saw. Then her hazy memory crystallized. The bastard had actually hit her.

  She shifted, and relief filled her when she realized nothing else hurt. Well, except for a spot on her hip where a rock stabbed her. Maddy gathered her strength and pushed herself to sitting. All around her, stalagmites rose, and when she glanced up, she saw stalactites spearing down, mage lights hovering between them. They’d brought her to a cave? A small one, but definitely a cave.

  “Thanks for joining us,” Patrick said.

  Maddy’s lips twisted. “Like I had a choice.”

  “Look, just cooperate. I meant what I told your friend.”

  “That you need a healer to help you?” A helpless chuckle slipped free. “Boy, did you kidnap the wrong chick.”

  Patrick scowled. “I can sense your power. Don’t bother lying.”

  “You’re the one who said I’m wimpy.”

  “Healers are weak. Easy to kidnap, for sure,” Patrick said with a smirk. “They only want to help people, not hurt them, and they have no idea how to fight.”

  Oh, he had no idea. Maddy almost laughed again. She was more likely to do damage than help. “Just know this. Try to rape me, and I’ll make sure you never have sex again.”

  His eyes widened, and a choked sound slipped from his lips. “You can’t.”

  “There are two sides to healing magic, you know,” Maddy told him.

  But she left it at that.

  “I’m not…” Patrick swallowed hard. “I wouldn’t do that. But try not to rile up Victor until Kien’s here to keep him in line.”

  “How can you bear it?” she asked. “Betraying your own kind?”

  His cheeks flushed red, and his nostrils flared. “I was abandoned by my kind.”

  Comprehension flooded her. He might be another half-blood, but his life had been in no way similar. “I’m sorry.”

  “Save it.” Patrick
glared at her. “Just behave, and you’ll get out of this alive. Probably.”

  He jerked to his feet and strode to the cave’s entrance, leaving her alone. But she had no illusions of escape, not at this point. Maddy pulled her legs up and settled her head on her knees. A shiver went through her as the coolness of the cave seeped through her thin dress.

  What had happened to Cora? Would she find help? Maddy fought back a sudden surge of tears. Would she ever see Anna again? Thank goodness she’d told her she loved her before leaving the house this morning. If she made it out of here, she would be sure to say the words a million times a day.

  For Anna, she would fight to survive.

  Gods, Ralan wished he could see the past. He’d found an image of Maddy inside a cave, but her journey there was a blank. Now even the futures were murky. Sometimes, she fought. In a few, she was badly hurt. Tortured once. Killed. In many, she escaped. She managed to injure Kien in one. But no matter how many strands he searched, he couldn’t find her location.

  “Dammit,” he cursed, finally opening his eyes.

  “That bad?” a pale Cora asked.

  Ralan’s breath hissed out. “She’s in a cave, but I couldn’t find where. There are many things that could happen, and I won’t lie. Some of them are bad. Most aren’t.”

  “Did you foresee us saving her?”

  “No.” Ralan’s hands clenched into fists. Another failure. “I didn’t See anything about us at all. Those strands are just…missing.”

  “Missing?” she demanded.

  His insides twisted at the anger and fear he saw in her eyes. “The goddess blocks me. If it involves me and Kien, the strands remain out of reach.”

  “What am I going to do?” Cora dropped onto the side of the bed. “Her mother’s human. Her father is Sidhe, but he’s a jeweler not a warrior. Maybe he can track her. I don’t know. And Maddy’s girlfriend. I need to tell her, too.”