Eryx was right. What threat could Serena possibly pose that Brenna hadn’t already endured and overcome? If the roles were reversed, Ludan wouldn’t hesitate. Histus, he’d already be halfway there and unleashing an unholy wrath on those who’d dared to hurt her. He wanted her to hope? She’d give him hope and then some. She’d fight. “If she wants me, she can have me.”
The voices ceased, and all heads turned to her.
Lifting her chin, she squared her shoulders and looked Eryx dead in the eye. “I don’t care what we have to do or how we have to do it, but I’m not leaving Ludan there.”
Eryx glanced at Graylin, then Lexi before settling back on Brenna. “Aside from the fact that Ludan would gut me for even considering Serena’s trade, this is way more than just one person for another. This is the wall we’re talking about and all the powers that go with it. It’s one thing for you to make the choice on our future based on what you deem best. It’s something else for you to be forced into a choice.”
“She can’t force me into a choice any more than you can stop me from going. Both are my decisions. My fate.”
“You’re telling me that if she threatens to kill Ludan if you don’t make the call she wants, you’re willing to watch him die? I don’t buy it.”
Brenna shook her head, a dizzying determination mushrooming up that made her feel three feet taller. “No, I’m saying I’m ready to go head-to-head with her. If she wants a battle, we’ll give her one.” She held out her hand, drew from Graylin’s power beside her, and yanked the letter from between Eryx’s fingers with the slightest thought.
It sailed toward her and settled in her outstretched palm.
Eryx gaped, and more than one shocked inhalation sounded behind her.
Lexi moved in close. “When the hell did you learn how to do that?”
“Ludan taught me. And how to use fire and electricity, too.” She refocused on Eryx. “I might be human, but I’m not an ordinary one. If Serena wants a fight, then I’ll bring her one.”
Years Ludan had trained, every moment preparing him for torture or death. Yet here he was alone. Powerless with nothing to do but pray Serena didn’t get her hooks in Brenna. It was brutal. The worst torment the Great One could give him.
Surely Brenna would be smart and keep her distance.
As soon as he thought it, the proud, stubborn lift of her chin when she’d stood up to him yesterday morning flashed bold and beautiful in his head. Right behind it came the obstinate heat in her dark gaze as she’d sucked his cock between her lips hours later.
Shit.
She wouldn’t hide. Weeks ago she might have been content to do so, but not anymore. She’d grown. Slain both their demons and done it with a steady, unwavering confidence found only in the most seasoned rulers.
Oh yeah. She’d fight, but she’d do it honorably.
Serena wouldn’t.
Straining his arms, he wrenched against the rough hemp binding his wrists, pouring his strength into the act even as his shoulders demanded he stop. Wetness trickled across the back of his fists. Blood or sweat. Probably the former given how slow it seeped against his skin.
Fucking zeolite. Though, at least with just the torque around his neck it didn’t drain the rest of his energy.
Darkness pooled at either end of the cave. The only furniture distinguishable was the table across the room and a few wooden chairs around it. Too bad the chair his feet were bound to was metal. Otherwise, he’d have smashed it.
He closed his eyes and reached for his link to Eryx. To Ramsay or his father. Anyone who’d stand a chance in histus of keeping Brenna away.
Nothing happened.
The slow grate of stone on stone echoed from the far end of the cavern, and the candles wavered on a draft. Serena couldn’t have been gone more than a few hours. An awfully short trip for rounding up reinforcements.
Heavy boot heels rapped against the stone floor, growing closer with each second. A man strode from the darkness, the same build as the person he’d seen before he’d blacked out.
So this was Uther Rontal. One way or another, he’d return the whack he’d served the back of Ludan’s head, but he’d make damned sure the son of a bitch didn’t wake up.
Uther paused just inside the pool of light. Short dark hair, shrewd eyes, and a perma-scowl. He dressed like a farmer in sturdy wool pants and a loose dark shirt, neither of which were high quality. An empty burlap sack dangled from his fingers. “I can’t decide if I’m glad you proved the Spiritu right or pissed you made it so easy.”
Ludan’s gut clenched on reflex, the barb striking home as strong as any fist. “Shouldn’t you be off with your boss pulling together reinforcements? Or has she already relegated you to grunt duty?”
Uther frowned, a blip of confusion quickly smoothed away with indifference. “She’s not my boss. No one is.”
“Strategos implies second in command. Not first. Last I heard, that’s the only title you’ve ever had.”
“I couldn’t give a shit about the Rebellion. They were a means to an end. Serena’s no different.”
Interesting. Usually Serena had men whipped and put in their place in no time. Understandable now that he knew her gifts ran to influencing, but Uther seemed indifferent. No, not just indifferent. Disgusted.
With one last dismissive once-over, Uther strode to the opposite end of the cave, moving a few candles through the air with his mind as he went.
Crude shelves lined the farthest wall, and a small pile of tattered animal furs filled one corner.
Uther pulled items from the shelves and stashed them in the bag.
Weird how he’d responded to the bit on reinforcements. Like he didn’t understand what Ludan meant. But that couldn’t be right. If they were in this shit together, he’d know what Serena was up to.
Unless Serena was using him like she used everyone else.
“You sure you can trust her?” Ludan said.
Uther paused, then resumed his packing. It was a small tell. Hardly anything to hang his hopes on, but it beat the shit out of sitting here dress-rehearsing worst-case scenarios.
“She killed her own mate,” Ludan said. “That’s gotta give you at least a little doubt.”
Uther glared at Ludan over one shoulder. In his hand was Trinity’s journal. Given the size and shape of the now weighted bag, he’d bet his life the translations were in there, too. “The Spiritu took her free will. She’s too weak to kill anyone on her own.”
“Physically weak, maybe. But smart enough to find someone like you to do the heavy lifting. If you think for a second that she wouldn’t do the same to you, you’re wrong.”
Uther went back to his task.
Damn it. There had to be more he could use. “You know she’s an influencer. That she pushes people to do her bidding with her gifts.”
A low chuckle filled the room. “Oh, she’s tried it. I’m immune.” He cinched the bag, sent the candles floating back to their perch, and headed back toward Ludan. “I’m immune from a lot of things.”
He should have been focused, digging for something else to needle Uther on, but Ludan couldn’t look away from the bag. Why the fuck did he need the journals? If Serena had all the answers, then Uther should, too.
“You don’t trust her.” Ludan zeroed in on Uther’s face. The flinch was there. Barely, but still there. “You believe the Spiritu are the ones giving her the paint-by-number instructions, but you’re not so sure she’s passed it all on to you.”
Uther held stock-still. Almost. Except for his fingers around the neck of the bag.
Oh yeah. Definitely a raw nerve there. One he could exploit if he dared to try. Of course, it could screw Brenna if he spilled something neither Uther nor Serena knew, but if he tipped the scales of distrust on Serena, it might be worth it.
“Tell you what.” Ludan sat up as tall as his binds would allow. “How about I share what we know of the prophecy. You compare my story to Serena’s, and we’ll see just how forthcoming th
e little snake’s been this time.”
Chapter 36
Darkness, quiet, and the Great One only knew how many hours had passed. Without his gifts, Ludan couldn’t gauge the sun’s location, but his hands and feet were numb. He wasn’t sure he could even straighten his back at this point if he needed to.
For the umpteenth time, his thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Uther. He still couldn’t get a bead on how his gamble went. He’d spilled his guts like some chatty Cathy drunk on cheap wine, and not once had Uther so much as flinched. No narrowed eyes. No furrowed brows. Nothing. The son of a bitch had to be the best damned poker player in history.
Ludan rolled his head and stretched his neck. The zeolite torque pressed heavy on his collarbone, the links jingling with the subtle movement. From what little he’d glimpsed of the one Serena had lifted off the table, they were crudely made. Nowhere near as fine as his warrior marks, but unfortunately efficient.
The same scrape of stone on stone he’d heard before sounded at the far end of the cavern. Uther strode into view only moments later, his steps slowing as his gaze swept the room.
“Your partner in crime’s not here.” Ludan pumped his fists, willing the blood to move. “I told you she’s not trustworthy. Be smart and—”
“Shut it.” Uther paced the length of the cave. He paused at the table, one hand resting on the back of a chair as though he meant to pull it from underneath.
The soft pat of light, rushing feet sounded from the entrance.
Serena hurried from the darkness, her near-white hair mussed and her cheeks a mottled red. If the shadows weren’t jacking with his eyesight, there was even a hint of sweat near her temple. She smiled at Uther. “It’s time.”
Uther stomped toward her, herding her to the farthest corner of the room. His face was pinched and inches from hers.
Ludan strained to make out the conversation, but only managed a few broken words amidst Uther’s grumbles. Whatever the conversation was about, Uther wasn’t as happy as she was.
A bonus for Ludan. He’d work that angle until the Great One gave him something else to use. One way or another, he was getting out of here. And, if the Fates played along, he’d take that bitch out along the way.
Serena stroked Uther’s arm, her face soft and comforting.
Uther’s frown smoothed, and he stepped away.
So much for Uther being immune. Serena might not be able to influence him with her gifts, but she obviously had something else to keep him in line.
Uther stalked toward Ludan.
Serena trailed more slowly, a snide, pleased-with-herself grin stretching ear to ear.
Behind Ludan, metal zringed against metal, and the cold, sharp tip of Uther’s dagger pressed against his carotid.
“Ready to see your lover?” Serena crooned.
Ludan eased his head back, trying to gain distance from the blade. “Whatever your Spiritu told you about Brenna and me is way off base.”
“Please.” She tsked and folded her hands in front of her. “I saw the way you responded to her name. It’s cute, really. The fearsome somo enchanted by a lowly human.”
“Even if Brenna comes for me, do you really think you can hold Eryx at bay with only me as a hostage?”
Her smile deepened, pure evil and confidence glowing in her otherwise pretty blue eyes. “No. I don’t.” She sauntered closer and trailed her fingertips along his jaw, her head tilted, considering. “But I’m ready if he tries anything.” She stepped back, lifted her gaze to Uther, and nodded. “Bring him.”
Never easing the dagger away from Ludan’s neck, Uther unwound the ropes binding his legs with his mind, then yanked him upright.
Ludan’s knees buckled, but Uther’s powers jerked him upright and held him steady.
Fuck. He couldn’t feel anything. It was like his legs didn’t even exist.
“Oh, this is priceless.” Serena stood back and waited. “If I’d have known I’d get a sideshow to go with this, I’d have done this years ago.”
“Enough.” Uther shoved Ludan forward. “I want this done.”
Ludan staggered behind Serena, relying more on Uther’s unseen hold than he cared to admit, but grateful for its presence. Part of him wanted to analyze it. To gauge whether or not Uther had nursed a few of Ludan’s warnings. Most of him just struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
As he stepped from the cave, the late-afternoon sun slanted across his face, blinding him for three painful steps. He blinked, grinding his jaw through the stabbing pain at his temples and the growing pinpricks in his feet and legs.
The red sun inched toward the horizon, no more than an hour away from sunset. In the east, silver swirls of Eden’s surplus energy dipped and streamed at a more frenzied pace than normal. Black clouds marked the western sky, the most sinister Eden sunset he’d ever seen.
Goose bumps lifted across his skin, and a weird foreboding pitched his stomach. Despite the aches and cramps in his muscles, his mind lasered to a fine point, poised for any break in Uther’s focus.
The standing stones waited straight ahead, the flat rock in the center sparking with gold flecks in the sunlight. The space was roughly fifty feet wide and twenty deep and formed a natural dais. Countless times he’d seen it, joining Ramsay for naxtu or just escaping for quiet, but never had he felt this awareness. This bone-deep dread.
A square structure covered in a black tarp sat at one corner of the dais. No, not just one. Four of them, one at each corner. Serena had to have added them, though why still remained to be seen. Wind whipped at the heavy fabric and odd sounds issued from underneath, something he couldn’t quite identify.
At least he could feel his feet again. One bad move on Uther’s part and he’d make his move, hopefully before Brenna came into play.
In front of him, Serena glanced over one shoulder and smirked. “Good to know your lover’s punctual at least.” She stepped aside so he could see.
Brenna’s small, delicate form drifted forward in the distance. Her chin was lifted, proud and sure, and her stride was slow but purposeful. Damn, but she’d grown. So much different than the fearful waif who’d tried to slip through the castle unnoticed. Under other circumstances he’d have pushed his shoulders back with pride, but right now all he wanted was to command she turn around and go the other direction.
And where the fuck was Eryx? Ramsay? His father?
Brenna halted at the base of the raised ledge.
Uther’s fist tightened on the dagger held to his neck. “We’ve got company.”
Eryx and Ramsay shimmered into view on either side of Brenna. Graylin and Reese were positioned directly behind her, as were Lexi, Trinity, and Galena. Around the standing stones were at least two hundred Myren warriors, all poised and ready for action.
Serena and Uther were screwed. Even if they tried to run, they’d be caught in seconds.
For the first time since he’d woken in the cave, Ludan sucked in a decent breath. Though he’d like it a fuck of a lot better if Brenna was behind the line of warriors instead of in front.
Eryx took two steps forward. “Stand down, Serena. You can’t win this.”
Serena’s chuckle echoed off the monoliths. “You’re so predictable, Eryx. Do you really think I’d be so foolish as to think you’d let me just waltz in and take what I want?”
She waved her hand, lifting the tarps from the squares at either corner of the dais with a dramatic mental flourish.
Humans huddled inside the tight space, bound together and gagged so they could hardly move. There had to be at least thirty to each pen, crammed so close they couldn’t have moved even without the binds.
Whimpering. That was the sound he’d heard. The reinforcements.
Uther growled beside him. “Where did they come from?”
Serena jerked her head in a terse, nearly imperceptible shake to silence him. She faced her audience and opened one hand. A small remote rested against her palm. “I really should give humans more
credit. What they lack in powers they make up for with technology. One little button and I can end their paltry lives.” Her head cocked to one side, taunting. “You might be willing to sacrifice your somo, but I can’t imagine you’d be so tolerant at the loss of innocent lives.”
She’d nailed that one. His own life or warriors he’d sacrifice in a heartbeat if it meant the safety of his race, but innocents? Never.
Eryx stayed rooted in place, no response whatsoever. If anything he looked bored. “You’re right. I wouldn’t.”
Brenna inched forward.
Ludan jolted toward her, but Uther jerked him back, the tip of the dagger digging into his flesh. Blood trickled down his neck, and Uther’s fingers dug into Ludan’s strained shoulders.
Closer and closer Brenna drifted, her moves slow and calculated, her mouth tight and her eyes on the device in Serena’s hand.
Concentrating on the device.
No surprise from Eryx.
Shit. They’d anticipated Serena would make a dirty play and came with their own game plan. Brenna was the key. That had to be it. Serena wouldn’t know what Brenna was capable of. How she could draw from the powers around her. She’d try for the device. Or the key. But one misstep and she’d have the lives of innocent humans on her hands.
He couldn’t let that happen. Not if he could help. She needed leverage. Anything. Something.
“The powers won’t be yours,” he murmured to Uther. “No matter what Serena told you, the powers will go where Brenna directs them. Do you really think she’ll give them to someone like Serena? Someone willing to put innocent lives at risk?”
Brenna was only fifteen feet away, close enough that she could draw from Serena’s powers.
Ludan’s heart lurched. He needed more time. “Damn it, man, think. Serena won’t let the humans go. She can’t. She’s set herself up to be some benevolent God. If she lets them live, they’ll get the truth out and ruin it for her. Whatever you’re in this for, Serena is in it for something else. You’ll never control her.”
Brenna took another step closer.
Eden's Deliverance (The Eden Series Book 4) Page 30
