Seared

by Bethany Adams

  With blood.

  She ran her hand reflexively over her neck. It didn’t matter that she’d never heard of the royal family killing anyone in this manner. The idea still creeped her out. Predator. It must be the energy of the hunt that brought those around him to uneasy awareness.

  “Are you okay?” Ralan asked.

  “I think so. I guess you were right about finding a lead.”

  “At least my gift was useful for something,” Ralan grumbled, though a slight smile curved his lips.

  “Well, let’s go.” She rubbed her suddenly damp palms along her pants. “By the time we get to Raccoon Mountain, it’ll be dark.”

  His brows lifted. “Won’t they close the trail access at night?”

  “Maybe.” Cora shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out.”

  Ralan studied her for a moment and then shook his head. “We can’t go hiking at night into certain danger. We aren’t scouts or warriors. Inona is, but by the time we meet up with her and Delbin, they’ll certainly have closed the trails. We’ll have to wait until morning.”

  Her stomach pitched with dread. How could she leave Maddy out there another night? But he was right. They wouldn’t be able to save her friend if they got lost or killed muddling their way into unknown conditions. Dammit. Too bad she wasn’t better at this sort of thing, but she’d never been the outdoorsy type.

  “There has to be something we can do.”

  Ralan placed his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll get with Inona on what we’ll need and gather supplies. We have a direction. Now we need a plan.”

  Cora nodded. The warmth of his touch settled her, easing the unconscious anxiety evoked by the blood elf. Ralan’s arms wrapped around her and drew her close, and her heartbeat drummed in her ears. Gathering her courage, she stared into his eyes for a moment before she brushed her lips across his.

  His surprised exhale mingled with her sigh. Then Ralan slid his fingers into her hair and tipped her head back as his mouth claimed hers. Cora groaned. His kiss was heaven. Home. She twined her arms around his neck and let herself feel.

  At a knock on the door, Cora jerked back. Color singed her cheeks, though she couldn’t say why. “Let’s go.”

  “I suppose we must.” He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “But rest assured we’ll revisit this later.”

  Her knees weakened at his soft words. “I certainly hope so.”

  Dammit, it would be so easy to fall in love with him.

  The one thing she couldn’t do.

  But I doubt you carry around each other’s blood.

  Ralan gazed out the passenger side window as Vek’s words floated through his mind. The run-down buildings on the outskirts of downtown flashed past as Cora drove, and the bleakness was fine match for his mood. Although Vek’s comment had been said in passing, it still felt like an admonishment.

  Should he have used Kien’s blood already? Ralan’s brother might not have rejoined his group yet, but he would. He and Cora could have spent the day scouting out the proper trail instead of floundering around town looking for clues. Maddy might be safe at home with her love.

  Kien and Kenaren had thought to use Ralan’s blood against him. Wouldn’t it be justified retribution for Ralan to do the same?

  “So how’d you get to know a blood elf?”

  He glanced back at Cora. Though she stared at the road ahead, her curiosity buzzed through the air like an electric current. “My father invited his father for a State visit when I was young. Maybe in my sixties? Vek was part of their entourage.”

  “He is…” Cora’s nose wrinkled. “Uncanny.”

  Ralan chuckled. “I suppose I find myself lucky that you weren’t drawn to him. Some people are.”

  Cora shot him a dubious look. “Seriously?”

  “They fly straight into the bug zapper.”

  She laughed, and some of the tension eased from her shoulders. As he’d intended. “Great mental image, there. I thought their kind didn’t actually kill.”

  “Oh, they don’t. Outside of battle.” Ralan grinned. “But I imagine there’s quite the sting.”

  Her lips pursed, but the glow of the carnival lights caught her attention. Ralan pulled up the text program on his phone and read Delbin’s directions again. “Cut down that street to get to the back entrance.”

  “Got it.” Cora navigated her way around a crowd of teenagers spilling across the street.

  Eventually, they reached the turn-off into the employee lot. The car bumped over the ruts in a bare, dirt path that ended at a chain-link fence with a gate. Cora pulled the car to a halt as a muscular man made his scowling way to her window. After a brief hesitation, she pushed the button to roll the glass down.

  “Employees only,” the man barked.

  “We’re here to see Delbin,” Cora answered calmly.

  The man’s scowl deepened. “Don’t care. Come back when the fair’s not open.”

  Ralan settled his hand on Cora’s thigh and gave a gentle squeeze. Even as lust speared through him and Cora turned a shocked look his way, he leaned over and focused on the carnival worker’s face. No shielding. Human. A slow smile stretched his lips as he took control of the man without resistance.

  In moments, they were through, complete with directions to Delbin’s tent.

  Cora squirmed in her seat, reminding Ralan of his hand’s blessed location. He longed to slide his fingers higher until they met her heat. Until he gave her a better reason to squirm. Her breathing hitched, and his body went hard. Gods, what he wouldn’t give to be alone with her at this moment.

  She stopped the car beside Delbin’s tent, and Cora’s wide eyes met his. “Ralan.”

  “I hadn’t intended to grope you,” he said quietly. “But I admit the idea has merit.”

  She let out a choked laugh. “Agreed. But maybe not here?”

  Had he been hard before? Ralan forced his hand from her thigh before he embarrassed them both. “Stay with me tonight.”

  “I don’t know.” Tension pooled around them like the lights spilling from the fairway. “I can’t…I can’t offer a relationship right now.”

  His heart thudded at the pain in her voice. “Nor can I.” He paused, and the silence stretched between them. “There’s a good chance I won’t survive the confrontation with my brother, Cora. This I have Seen.”

  She took in a sharp breath. “Well.”

  “I’ll fight it.” She made him want to fight it. “But I thought you should know before you decide.”

  Cora’s expression turned thoughtful, and her gaze dropped to his hand where it rested on his leg. Then she reached out and slowly wrapped her fingers around his. “Sounds like we need to make the most of our time.”

  He turned his palm to hers. “Is that a yes?”

  Though she smiled, her eyes were solemn when they met his. “It is. Yes.”

  Chapter 13

  Ralan took a moment to get himself under control before he followed Cora out of the car and joined her beside the tent. Lingering on the night to come wouldn’t help. If their earlier kiss was any preview… Cursing to himself, Ralan shoved those thoughts aside again and tried to focus. There weren’t many people near, but a few paces away, a woman leaned against a travel trailer. She frowned warily at them, but she didn’t speak. Instead of calling out, Ralan let his mind sweep out in a tentative scan.

  The woman was human, and within the trailer, he sensed a sleeping child. A protective mother, then. He scanned farther, finding few back here at during the carnival’s peak hours. A couple of minds were shielded, but he didn’t attempt to breach their protections to find out who they might be. Their energy didn’t match Delbin’s or Inona’s.

  “What do we do now?” Cora asked.

  “Wait a moment,” Ralan answered as he sensed the approach of one of the shielded people.

  It only took a few heartbeats for the old man to appear. His scraggly, gray hair and grease-smeared overalls were a stark contrast to the intense energy coalescing arou
nd him. Ralan might have been able to break through, but he had a feeling he would regret it.

  “You’d better have a damn good reason to be here,” the old man grumbled. His shrewd gaze swept over Ralan and Cora. “Delbin didn’t warn me you were stopping by.”

  Ralan returned the man’s stare. “I texted him about it.”

  “Eh, he’s been fixin’ the dunk tank. I haven’t been his way in a while.” The old man pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “Follow me, and I’ll take you to him. Name’s Grunge.”

  Ralan exchanged a bemused glance with Cora and trailed Grunge across the field. Ralan settled his hand low on Cora’s waist. The feel of her body shifting beneath his palm, even innocently, brought other thoughts to mind, and he nearly groaned. Later. They would have time alone later.

  He concentrated on the lights that flashed ever brighter from the fairway and the sweet scent of funnel cake that drifted on the breeze. The hum of conversations grew louder, punctuated here and there by shouts and squeals of excitement, but he detected no sense of danger.

  They rounded a small tent and wove their way along a line of food stands and games of chance, dodging the crowds as they went. Ralan’s stomach rumbled at the jumble of scents wafting from the vendors, although he knew he’d regret such rich fare. He’d grown accustomed to human food during his centuries on Earth, but some choices were wiser than others.

  Finally, they reached the dunk tank. Ralan spotted Inona leaning against a nearby stall. He followed her gaze to a soaked, shirtless Delbin perched above the water, his feet wedged between the tank wall and the cage that protected the worker. One hand wrapped around a cage bar as he leaned over the small seat with a wrench.

  “Damn latch,” Delbin cursed.

  Ralan stopped beside Inona. “How many times has he fallen in?”

  Inona chuckled. “Three.”

  At a soft sound from Cora, Ralan glanced her way. Her lips twitched as she stared at Delbin. “Think he’ll fall in again? Maybe I should start recording just in case.”

  Frowning, Inona straightened. “Recording?”

  “I bet the video would go viral.” At the scout’s blank stare, Cora smiled. “Sorry. You must be new here. A picture of him falling in would be quite amusing.”

  After a moment, Inona returned her smile. “Yes, I imagine it would.”

  Grunge halted beside the tank and rapped hard against the side. Delbin jumped, teetering for a moment before managing to catch himself. He scowled over his shoulder at Grunge. “Not cool.”

  The old man laughed. “Almost got you. You gonna have this thing up and running soon?”

  “Who knows?”

  “Well, your friends are here.” Grunge slapped the side of the tank. “Come on out. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Delbin let himself fall into the dunk tank, making Grunge curse as water sprayed over him. Then the old man chuckled again. “Guess I deserved that.”

  Grinning, Delbin swiped water off his face. “Yep.”

  Ralan’s jaw clenched as Delbin made a show of hefting himself out, pausing to let water dribble down his back. He might be well-muscled, but did he have to make a point of highlighting that fact in front of Ralan’s bonded? Inona drew in a sharp breath, and even Cora appeared to be riveted to the sight. Damned showoff. Ralan sent a mental nudge Delbin’s way and smiled as his student almost fell in the water again. Then he fumbled out and grabbed a towel from a hook on the back.

  When he finally joined them, Delbin gave an unrepentant smirk. “Let’s head back to the tent.”

  This time, they followed Delbin behind the booths. The sights and sounds of the carnival faded somewhat, and the shadows beneath the gleam became more obvious. The edge of a banner held up by tape. The dent in the side of the food cart. The exhausted worker slumped in a chair behind one of the games. All of the little details that went unnoticed by the fair-goers.

  Delbin rubbed the towel over his hair and glanced back at Ralan. “I hope you didn’t have any trouble. I gave my phone to Inona while I was in the tank, so if you texted, I didn’t get it.”

  “We managed,” Ralan answered.

  What Delbin didn’t know, the man at the employee entrance couldn’t get mad at him about. Not that the human would ever realize that he’d been controlled, but still. Caution was as integral to living on Earth as knowing the right shady contacts.

  When they reached the employee area, Delbin wasted little time changing into dry clothes. Then they sat in a circle of camp chairs outside of the tent. Ralan scanned the area again and discovered that the human woman from earlier was tending her child in the travel trailer. No others were close enough to hear.

  Ralan leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Cora and I need to check the Raccoon Mountain area.”

  “How difficult will the wildlife be?” Inona asked.

  Ralan looked to Cora, who shrugged. “There’s the rare bear sighting, but I’ve never heard of anyone being bothered.”

  A line formed between Inona’s brows. “What about the raccoons? There must be many to inspire the name.”

  “I…” Cora rubbed her hand across the back of her neck. “Honestly, I don’t know how to answer that. I’ve never heard anyone talk about the actual raccoons. They aren’t known to be dangerous animals, anyway. Pesky scavengers that like to climb into tents but not predators.”

  “There could be other hazards,” Inona said. “I should go with you.”

  “That was my thought,” Ralan said. “If you can get away. Weekends are busy, I know, and I’d rather not ruin your positioning here.”

  Inona winced. “I fear I am not as useful as I could be. I give too many pointers at the games, and I—”

  The world faded into a haze and then refocused. Ralan’s head spun as he struggled to adapt to the switch. Faces swirled past, unremarkable. Then Delbin and Inona stood together outside a vending booth.

  “How could you burn corn dogs?” Delbin asked, humor lacing his tone.

  “I was arranging the others most carefully.” Inona tipped her chin up even as she dumped the ruined food into the trash can behind the stall. “Meg said I should include around twenty fries. After I finished counting and placing the cooked corn dogs with the proper amount, I’d forgotten about the ones cooking. At least those baskets have been completed properly.”

  “Yeah, but—” Delbin’s breath huffed out on a laugh. “Never mind. We’ll straighten it out.”

  A smooth voice broke through. “Just the two people I was looking for. Kien said I’d…”

  A whirl of color. Blackness. Ralan tried to grip at the strands, but they evaded him.

  The bite of his elbows digging into his knees brought him back to the present. Ralan blinked, taking in the world around him. The other three stared at him in varying degrees of surprise. With a sigh, he dragged his hand across his hair.

  “Sorry. You’re staying at the carnival.”

  Inona’s brows rose, and Cora gaped at him. But Delbin only grinned. “This is a real habit for you, isn’t it? Glad we weren’t connected this time.”

  Ralan’s lips thinned at the reminder. “As am I.”

  “I thought your Sight wasn’t working,” Cora said.

  “It isn’t. Wasn’t.” Ralan met her questioning gaze. “I caught only a snippet. I’m not sure when, but Delbin and Inona will be contacted here by someone connected to Kien. The vision faded before I could See more.”

  “Seems convenient,” Cora whispered.

  “Convenient would be clear strands to follow.” His hands clenched into fists. “If I could See effectively, Maddy would be home.”

  She looked down and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried.”

  “You have every right to doubt.” Ralan forced his fingers to go lax. “I can’t even tell how long it’ll be until the person shows up. I didn’t See them at all.”

  Delbin’s seat let out a soft squeak as he leaned forward. “So we’ll stay. Inona can tell you what you’ll want to pack.
I hope you’ll come get us before you charge into danger, though. Find the cave. Then we’ll make a plan.”

  Maddy huddled in her spot, shivering as night set in once again. The bread had long ago worn off, and her stomach rumbled in supplication. Weakness weighted her limbs. If she didn’t get more food soon, she would be sick. What a lovely contradiction. She swallowed, but her mouth had gone dry from lack of water. Too bad the cave water wasn’t drinkable. If she hadn’t picked up that tidbit on a cave tour, she would’ve already braved a sip from the pool a few paces away.

  At least she didn’t have to go to the bathroom as often. Having Patrick stand guard in the woods outside had been humiliation at its finest. Still, it would be the best chance to escape. If there was a weak link in this group, it was him. She could wait until the others were occupied and get him to take her outside. Her stomach turned at the thought of using her healing gift for ill—on purpose this time—but she didn’t have much choice. Even getting lost in the woods would be better than this slow death at the hands of evil bastards.

  It was too quiet in the cave. Patrick and Fen had both left a while back. Victor dozed against a stalagmite, his legs across the only trail out. But the true danger, the one called Kien, paced the small open space to her left. Maddy tried not to look at him, lest she catch his attention, but sometimes his maddened gaze would meet hers.

  A shudder traced through her at the memory, and she made sure her face remained averted. His shuffling steps echoed through the small space well enough that she didn’t need to look. That and his energy. It sputtered and leapt, tendrils sometimes seeming to reach for the cave around her. Was he trying to connect? His power had the smoky flavor of enchantment and illusion, not earth. But she wasn’t going to ask.

  His steps sounded closer, and she froze. Warily, she looked up just enough to see his legs drawing nearer. Bile rose in her throat as he paused and knelt beside her. Oh, no. He’d said it was foolish to force a healer. Had he changed his mind?