Rise of the Gryphon (Belador)

by Kenyon, Sherrilyn

  Looking to Flaevynn, he asked, “Did ya take away her tongue?”

  “No, she did not,” Kizira answered. “What do you two want now?” She pushed to her feet, wobbly but proud, and swung back to Flaevynn. “Because you wouldn’t call me back unless you needed me for something.”

  Flaevynn’s face brightened, a sure indication of a cruel thought. “Cathbad claims you’re bright, although going against me undermines that claim.”

  Kizira didn’t respond, which only encouraged Flaevynn to fill the void. “We’ve come up with a way to locate Alterants quickly, something far more efficient and foolproof than your ideas. Cathbad can fill you in on the details. He pointed out a risk to me I hadn’t considered. A witch must link to the Alterants we’re capturing and take control of the beasts in order to compel them. Five will be extremely powerful, the kind of power that could rival ours, which means there’s a chance they could drive that energy back through the link to their master.”

  Kizira perked up. “Afraid of your new toys?”

  “Fear has nothing to do with it,” Flaevynn answered with chilling softness. “This is about winning. I will compel you, then you will form a link with the Alterants and compel them. As Cathbad pointed out, of the three of us I am the most valuable and you are the most expendable.”

  Turning slowly, Kizira faced Cathbad.

  He had expected hurt and accusation of betrayal to line her gaze, but a cold wash of anger swept aside any other emotion. That worked best for now. He would explain to Kizira later.

  “But be forewarned, Kizira,” Flaevynn said, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. “If I so much as suspect you trying to usurp me in any way, you will die slowly and painfully. Your value to me has run its course. Your choice. Do you return to the dungeon to finish out what time you have left, or will you perform your duty as a Medb priestess?”

  “Tough choice. I may have to phone a friend.”

  Tiny blue-and-yellow lightning bolts flashed with energy, snapping around Flaevynn. “Do you think I’m joking?”

  Cathbad shook his head. Spare him from sharp-tongued women in his next lifetime. “Stop it, you two. Ya want the same thing we do, Kizira. Freedom from this.” He hoped his last comment broke through his daughter’s haze of anger to remind her of their last conversation.

  Kizira’s condescension disappeared. Her shoulders softened. She nodded. “You’re right. I want to be free of this tower forever.” Directing her words at Flaevynn, she said, “For that, I’m willing to do anything you want.”

  “We shall see.” Flaevynn floated inches above the shining marble floor for several seconds. “This time, I will not be so careless in how I compel you.”

  What was the witch up to now?

  Cathbad frowned but didn’t question her on it. He was more interested in getting Kizira alone, and the quickest way to do that was by reminding Flaevynn she was the girl’s ma. “Now that we’re all together for once, let’s share a meal ta catch up and talk business later, shall we?”

  Disgust brought out the evil in Flaevynn’s eyes. “Indulge your revolting paternal needs on your own time. Had I known who you were the first time I lay with you, I would have been able to prevent the pregnancy.”

  And if he had not cast a spell of destiny on her during their mating, the witch would have aborted Kizira. “Ya ought ta be thankin’ me for makin’ sure ya continued ta fulfill the prophecy.”

  “Curse.” She huffed at him. Her hair started twisting and whipping around her, a sign of her rising impatience. “You can explain what we’re doing to your daughter. I need to finish what you interrupted. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.” With that, Flaevynn waved her hand in front of her and disappeared.

  Kizira rounded on Cathbad with threat in her voice. “So I’m expendable, am I?”

  “Keep your voice down.” He stepped toward her.

  She lifted a hand, finger opening to point at him.

  “Do no do that if ya want my help.”

  Her hand shook as she clearly battled to decide if she should strike at him or not.

  She had power, but not so much as his. “Ah, child. You’re no match for me.”

  “Don’t start acting like you care now.” Her finger shook with the indecision warring in her gaze. “And my powers might not equal yours, but I can do serious damage.”

  This was not going as well as he’d hoped.

  TWELVE

  Kizira didn’t want to die.

  Not yet.

  But frustration and anger balled in her gut, demanding an outlet, and Cathbad presented an easy target. A deserving target.

  Just not an easy kill.

  Her attractive father had changed not at all since reaching thirty-five. Same wavy black hair and firm physical build that didn’t quite reach six feet. Same powerful presence Kizira had benefited by on occasion. Same piercing green eyes that reflected more knowledge than anyone else in this tower.

  Including Flaevynn.

  Truth was Kizira couldn’t bring herself to strike Cathbad down even after all the things he’d done to her.

  Even if she’d held that much power.

  He’d been her only true parent at times, and he had granted the request she’d made at the age of nineteen for one year to herself before she had to accept her role as priestess. A year spent . . .

  Never think about that while inside this place.

  Pathetic for a Medb priestess to hunger for a parent’s love, but there it was in cold reality. Her whole body shook, as much from her painful time in the dungeon as from fury. Every part of her body hurt.

  Cathbad implored her, “Put your hand down, child, and let me heal ya.”

  She lowered her arm, neither accepting his offer nor refusing him. Just standing there took all the effort she could expend.

  He raised a hand over her head, fingers spread wide, and chanted, “Blood of my blood, I share my strength, to heal . . .” He continued in a soothing voice, one that also drew out her bitterness along with her pain while healing her injuries.

  Did he think she’d give up her resentment and overlook her time in the dungeon just because he’d quieted her inner turmoil for the moment?

  She wouldn’t thank him.

  He’d paved part of Kizira’s hard road himself.

  “May Flaevynn burn someday for how she treats her own child,” he said as he lowered his hand.

  Kizira’s body glowed with renewed health.

  He smiled at her. “I hope those are the clothes you were wantin’.”

  She took in her attire. He’d outfitted her in her favorite mortal wear of jeans and a pullover sweater, aqua blue. His favorite color. So he’d been thoughtful in his choice.

  That didn’t mean she’d trust him. To do so would be foolish.

  A platter of fresh fruit, her favorite yogurt and granola appeared, plus a polished wood table and two comfortable chairs.

  Now he made her feel like a shrew in the face of this consideration and his healing.

  He sat down and opened his hands out like What are ya waitin’ for?

  That brought on a wave of guilt no one else in this place seemed afflicted with, but she ended up muttering, “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure. Eat while we talk.”

  Now with their father-daughter moment out of the way, she took a seat and demanded, “What did Flaevynn want you to fill me in on?”

  “The Medb are financin’ a special event where Alterants will battle.”

  Her eyebrows drew tight. “Why would we do that?”

  While she ate a banana and stirred granola into her yogurt, he explained a plan for something called the Achilles Beast Championship and how it would function, adding that the Medb had offered trades for all Alterants entered to battle and their sponsors. Rubbing his hands together, Cathbad got to the key point. “But the most important element will be gainin’ the five Alterants that win the final Elite matches.”

  “What of the ones who don’t win their last ma
tch?”

  He shrugged. “The matches are ta the death unless someone is allowed to beg for relief and granted such, which means many will likely no survive. The curse calls for the five most powerful Alterants.”

  “Thought it was a prophecy.” Flaevynn refused to call it anything but a curse, which was all the more reason for Kizira to use prophecy.

  He lowered his voice. “ ’Tis not the time ta be aggravatin’ the queen.” It was his raised eyebrows that gave his comment a conspiratorial flare.

  Kizira nodded to let him know she understood that she should be careful what she said in this tower whether Flaevynn was present or not.

  Accepting her nod, Cathbad went on. “As I was sayin’, we will also offer trades prior ta the first match for those sponsors who doubt their beasts will survive. We have uses for the lesser Alterants, but our goal is ta gain those final most powerful five.”

  She pondered on what he said. “Alterants are hard to find and capturing one would take pretty powerful majik. Why would anyone risk losing their Alterant in a death match?”

  “Because we are offering a trade to the sponsors of the final five for their Alterants. We anticipate having to trade Noirre majik for the beasts.”

  The most powerful non-Medb witches would kill to obtain Noirre majik. Kizira put down a strawberry and interrupted. “That will bring VIPER down on our heads. Even our forces can’t hold if two or more pantheons attack us.”

  “VIPER would first ha’ ta convince two or more coalition pantheons to start a war. Be that as it may, with death starin’ Flaevynn in the face, she does no care. The way she sees it, she’ll either be immortal or dead very soon. Either way, she will ha the final say in all this.”

  Selfish bitch had always had the final say. Kizira was counting the minutes until Flaevynn’s death. “What motivation do Alterants have for fighting in this event?”

  “The Medb will offer the five who survived the Elite matches a chance to become warriors who can conquer death.”

  “And how does Flaevynn intend to make good on an offer of immortality?”

  “We have no called it immortality.” Cathbad lifted a hand again. “Once ya see what the Alterants can do, you will understand this offer. I can no tell ya more yet.”

  He and Flaevynn really believed this would work? “Why would anyone believe the Medb? That’s a bold offer.”

  “A Medb representative will be required ta satisfy a truth test at the beast championship.”

  She put down the linen napkin that had appeared with the food and leaned forward, arms crossed, mouth set hard. “Let me get this straight. The Medb are making an offer that will bring out every powerful being imaginable, all of whom will expect the offer to be proven bona fide in public, which means I’ll be the one sent to do that truth test. The only test that group would accept was one of death as a penalty. You let Flaevynn put me in the dungeon and torture me, then expect me to trust you on this?”

  He moved toward her, and Kizira backed up until her shoulders hit the chair. “Give me a chance ta explain, child.”

  “Why?”

  Cathbad’s gaze slid sideways to Flaevynn’s throne. When Kizira followed the direction of his gaze, she noticed the dragon’s eyes watching them, so she whispered, “Should we leave?”

  “No necessary.” Cathbad raised his hands, then chanted terse words. A purple fog curled around their feet, then smoked out to wind around and around the two of them.

  When it stopped, she and Cathbad were in a cocoon that resembled the lavender cotton candy she’d once seen at a festival in the mortal world.

  When Cathbad finished the spell, he said, “That should protect our words so we’ll no both end up in the dungeon.”

  “Won’t she notice?”

  “The dragon sees us still talking at the table, discussing what you will need in order ta do Flaevynn’s bidding. She may be powerful, but she ha never known all that I can do.” He grinned, reminding Kizira of the man who used to dote on her as a child when Flaevynn was not around. “Now I’ll explain why ya must trust me. We ha less than three days ta break the curse, and now that you are free we must be busy.”

  “What makes you think I care about that curse anymore?” Kizira challenged, tired of being used in a game that was no-win for her. “If Flaevynn is successful and takes control of Treoir, she’ll probably also figure out how to get the water brought to her and become immortal, at which time she’ll kill me, and you, too.”

  “True, but—”

  “If she doesn’t take the castle, Flaevynn will die and so will I, since she refuses to pass on any legacy to another queen. Every scenario ends with me dead. Can’t say I’m feeling the love.”

  Cathbad clucked his tongue. “If ya would settle down and listen ta me, you would know what’s goin’ ta happen. Ya must have more faith.”

  Was he serious? “Faith is in short supply for me right now.”

  “Give me one chance ta convince ya.”

  She muttered to herself until she lifted her eyes to his. “Don’t waste it.”

  “I would no help Flaevynn if I thought you and I would no both survive. All you ha ta do is follow her instructions and I will make sure she never gets out of my sight and does no get there ahead of me.”

  “As if I have a choice in doing her bidding when I’m compelled?” She’d snapped the words at him but kept her voice hushed.

  “Ya ha outmaneuvered Flaevynn’s compulsion spell more than once.”

  Kizira grudgingly admitted, “Yes, but I’ve never been able to disregard a direct order.” Some secrets had to be shielded at all costs. Kizira refused to even think about what was dear to her while inside this place.

  “Using that sly phrasin’ and your clever mind is all ya need ta do what you must. You may be angry with the way I did no stand up for ya earlier, but it ha taken me all this time ta get you released. That would no ha happened if I ha no convinced Flaevynn I was more interested in savin’ her than anyone.”

  Distrust moved through Kizira’s chest, but she couldn’t argue that she was free, so she didn’t berate him again. “Okay, I’m here. Now what?”

  “For us ta succeed and Flaevynn ta fail, you must do two things.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Ya must show Flaevynn that ya are following her orders exactly while capturing the Alterants, and no interfere with their trainin’.”

  “Why would I interfere?”

  “Because we both know ya are protectin’ someone.”

  The blush of warmth that had returned with her healing rushed out of her face when she was reminded that Cathbad knew a secret Kizira would shield from Flaevynn at all costs.

  Cathbad must have taken her silence as denial. He sighed. “Ah, child, we’ve already been through this. No need to be remindin’ you how I know of the soft spot in your heart for one particular Belador. The beasts we capture will be compelled to kill all they encounter.” His gaze filled with something she’d almost call regret, but Cathbad was not a man to suffer such a feeling when immortality was on the line.

  Kizira shut her mind to keep from thinking about Quinn, or about anything else that mattered to her. This might be a trick to uncover all her secrets. Speaking with an icy calm she didn’t feel, she asked, “What are you getting at?”

  Cathbad’s smile came from a sad thought. He sighed and shook his head slightly. “I will no let you be duped into thinkin’ anyone is safe in this game. Once Flaevynn compels you, then you will compel the Alterants we capture at the beast battle. When you do, they will have ta execute your orders. Even Evalle will no be able ta disobey. Give Flaevynn any reason ta doubt your commitment ta this plan by protecting one Belador, and all is lost.”

  No, all would never be lost.

  Cathbad was a fool if he thought she’d just stand by and let Flaevynn destroy everything that Kizira held dear.

  Kizira would do Flaevynn’s bidding for one reason.

  To be the first one inside Treoir Castle and
swim in that river so that she would become powerful enough to kill a Medb queen.

  THIRTEEN

  At nine on the dot, Evalle rode her gold Suzuki GSX-R through an opening in the face of the mountain that housed VIPER headquarters in North Georgia. She slowed her bike and parked near where Tzader Burke stood inside with a group of agents.

  By the time she peeled out of her riding gear, most of the Beladors had dispersed, probably headed to the meeting room.

  She strode across the stone floor, her boot heels tapping a straight line to Tzader. Just over six feet tall and cut with muscle from head to toe, he was one of her two best friends. He exuded power, leadership and confidence. Beautiful coffee-brown skin covered all that muscle hidden inside a navy-blue collared shirt, jeans and a black leather jacket. The honed cut of his nose and cheeks shaped his face with lethal perfection, but you couldn’t call him pretty.

  Or maybe you could. But it would only happen once.

  Maistir over the North American Beladors, Tzader commanded attention just by entering a room, and he took in everything at once with the eyes of a hawk.

  She trusted this man more than she would’ve trusted a brother if she’d ever had a sibling. “What’s up with no telepathy?”

  “An infection. One of our Beladors was brought in with severe disorientation and erratic behavior. By the time a Belador healer got a look at him, he couldn’t communicate, so the healer tried reaching him telepathically to find out what was going on.”

  “It had to be bad for the healer to do that.” Because Sen allowed no telepathy inside the mountain and no majik beyond what he wielded.

  “Yes, but that’s how the healer caught the infection.”

  Now the telepathic silence made sense. “Where’d it come from?”

  “Before the healer lost his ability to talk, he shouted Nightstalker.” A grave look crossed Tzader’s face. “We think the ghouls are passing it somehow in the handshake. This shuts down our best line of intel.”

  Evalle couldn’t help that her first thought was for her favorite Nightstalker, Grady, a grouchy old ghoul she considered a friend. Nightstalkers traded intel for a brief handshake with a powerful being, thus gaining ten minutes of corporeal form. Most spent that ten minutes chugging any liquor they could find.