“How did you get Daspar’s ring?” She grabbed Huron’s wrist, but he flung her back without touching her.
Huron tapped the back of his ring on the table; the red gem glinted. “You think I would let one of my daughters escape and then not retrieve her?” He shook his head. “I trained Natalie to kill Asair. I gave my life for the two of you. I spent years in the shadows, while your sister’s powers grew. Only to have you both betray me. She runs away and you join up with the light weavers. Where is the loyalty?” He turned toward Dax, the hard expression slipping from his face. “Dax, my boy, you have lost the most, but you will join your parents and Tarius will reward you.”
“I don’t want to die.” Dax’s words cracked in his throat.
“None of us do.” Huron stood in front of the stone. “I know you saw something in this blue stone, Halen. I’m sorry it has to be this way.”
She couldn’t believe this man was her father. He destroyed her when he faked his death; she wouldn’t allow him to shred her apart all over again. “I’ll kill you first.” Halen’s sparks flickered, but died before she could cast them. Stupid ash, she cursed the gray powder.
“I’m afraid our bonding time is over.” Huron clapped his hands. “Guards!” The two young men from the doorway entered the chamber, followed by four more guards. “Take them to their cells.”
Fallon’s gaze darted to his friend and Asair shrugged.
“He’s Asair, you fool!” Dax shouted.
“Sorry, mate.” Asair swung, hitting Dax square the jaw.
Halen thrust her fist outward when the first guard grabbed her arm. Her knuckles landed against his throat; she was aiming for his jaw, but still he let go.
A woman was at her back, and she yanked Halen’s arms behind her. She clasped her wrists and Halen tossed her head back with a hard jerk. The guard dropped to the ash. When Halen turned, she was pleased to see the guard’s nose gushing with blood.
Asair spun, kicking Fallon in the chest. He flew against the wall, but Fallon at once righted himself. “I’ll forgive the poker debt, mate, if you give up now.” Asair widened his stance.
Fallon lunged though he didn’t have a chance. With Quinn’s training, Asair was a weapon. He tore through Huron’s guard with a series of swift strikes, finishing him off with a blow to his head.
Halen struck out as another guard ran for her; she dodged him, rolling in the ash. Asair grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her up against his back. “Believe me now.” He kicked, turning her to avoid a blow. She leaned hard into him, using his back for support, as the next guard ran for her. But her gaze drifted past the guard’s shoulder to the doorway. Filing into the chamber with guns drawn were six more Tari soldiers. Halen’s confidence sank. The stone, the immortal soul, Natalie—all her plans slipped away. What was the point in fighting? And in that single second of doubt, the guards descended, taking them down to ash-coated ground.
HALEN STRUGGLED IN the guard’s grasp as he tossed her into a cell. She fell hard against Asair’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her as the guard slammed the heavy gate shut. The steel clanged noisily, mocking Halen’s inability to save them; if she weren’t standing ankle deep in ash, a simple wave of her hand would have set them free.
“Welcome to siren hell,” a girl said at their backs.
Halen broke free from Asair. Her breath hitched. Crouched in the corner of the dimly lit cell was the sister she had never known.
Natalie stood, swiping at the ash along her bare legs. Her dark hair was knotted on top of her head; her a midriff bore scratch marks from a recent fight.
“How did they find you?” Asair asked.
He wasn’t scared of her in Quinn’s skin. They had been friends after all.
Natalie kept her emerald-green gaze trained on Halen. If Natalie wanted to hurt her, the ash would prevent her magick from rising. At least they were on fair ground.
“Aurelia dragged me to London with Ezra. She dropped him off on your doorstep. We followed you to the tunnels. When Aurelia thought Ezra was ditching the plan, she came in after you. You’re lucky he loved that girl so much—he saved your lives.”
“Her name is Tage,” Halen said.
Natalie shrugged. “Anyway, when Aurelia was all kissy-face with Otho, I bolted for the river and headed toward the ocean. I knew where the guards patrolled. It only took a few minutes to be captured.”
“They could have killed you,” Asair said.
She laughed under her breath. “Huron’s saving me for our family reunion.” Her full lips turned with a wicked grin. “I think we should give him what he wants. What do you think?”
Halen kicked the ash. She hadn’t forgotten the poisonous smoke spell Natalie had aimed her way. “I would like to know why you tried to kill me first.”
“Well, that’s pretty blunt of you. No hello?” She placed her hands on her hips.
Halen crossed her arms.
Natalie sighed. “I was aiming for Dax, but you got in the way when you protected that moron. That was my lame attempt at saving you, and as you can see, it didn’t go so well.” She waved her hand in an arc around the concrete cell. “Look, I know you don’t trust me, and hell, I don’t know if I can trust you either, but we’re sisters, Halen. The Tari effed up both our lives. If we work together, we can make them pay. You did bring him out—didn’t you?” Her long, thin eyebrows arched high. “Corinne picked you to fetch Asair.”
Even though they couldn’t use magick, Halen still feared her sister. Natalie had spent her life training to kill Asair. She was not only good with spells, but she had prepared physically as well. Natalie wouldn’t need magick to overpower her.
Asair stepped forward. “I’m right here.”
Natalie’s head cocked to the side. The bun on her head fell loose as she studied him. “Quinn was braver than I gave him credit for.” Natalie ran her fingers through her dark hair, tousling it so it loosened and fell to her waist. “I never should have cursed his sister. That was a crappy thing to do. Is she all right?”
“She was going to be,” Asair said, “until the fire rings burned London.”
Natalie stepped back, mumbling a string of curse words under her breath. She pumped her fists by her sides. “Does Dax know about the purge?”
“Why do you think I’m in a cell with you lovely ladies?”
“What’s the plan?” she asked Asair.
“Unless you fancy hell on Earth, we need to rebind the spell.”
“We’re going to rebind the spell with our three souls,” Halen said. “But first we need the water stone.”
“No can do.” She pressed her palms flat against the air in front of Halen’s face. They were speckled with white, brown and pink flesh, scars from a severe burn. “Our daddy dearest had me try that one a long time ago.”
“He did this to you?” Halen gasped.
“Not the worst thing he’s done.” Natalie shrugged and tucked her hands behind her back.
Though she had so many questions for her sister, they needed to come up with another plan and quick. Halen turned to Asair. “You said we could take the stone.”
“You can walk it out. You’re the one who brought Galadia’s wand here,” he said.
“What?” Halen gasped, though she already knew this to be true.
“Stop it.” Natalie waved. “Don’t stuff her head with Tari lies.”
“They’re not lies. Jae’s seen into her soul. She was Galadia.” Asair stepped next to Halen. “Why do you think Huron wants you to give Tarius the water stone? There’s nothing Tarius wants more than to be reunited with his love.”
“You’re not making any sense.” Halen was growing more frustrated.
“I think I am and you know it.”
Halen crouched, propping her elbows on her knees, and folded her head in her hands. “This is insane. I’m not Galadia.” Her palm tickled with the memory of the cool stone in her hand.
“The power of the stone is yours. So far, you have only expresse
d Earth magick, but with the water stone, you can learn to harness your Elosian powers—all that you are of the water realm. You can end this war, but you need help. It’s one thing to have the power, but you must be able to use it wisely.”
“And you know how to do this?” She glanced up at him.
“No, but Jae does and there are others. So, if we take the water stone and rebind the spell, then you will have time to learn its powers.”
“We don’t need the stone to rebind the spell?” Halen stood, her head swimming. “Why didn’t Jae tell me?”
“Once we rebind the spell, the Tari will hunt us down. We’ll never get in here again,” Asair said.
“This is all the more reason to go into Etlis now and stop him,” Halen said.
Natalie peered between the bars. “No way, the Hunters will capture you before you get to the portal. Unless you plan on rebinding it, then your souls will remain in their arrows and the portal will never open. Emil would help us, but the others love their immortality.” She craned her neck to see down the corridor. “The only way out of this is to rebind the spell.”
“She’s right.” Asair met her gaze. “We need more time.”
“But if Tarius loved Galadia, maybe he would surrender to me?” The memory of his love pressed her thoughts. Was she recalling the story once more or an actual memory? She couldn’t tell what was real.
“If he had any love in his soul, then I wouldn’t have had to seal Etlis. We have to keep him caged, and then when you’re ready, we’ll strike,” Asair said.
“What if the Hunters kill us first?” Halen asked. “The spell weakened because you were in another dimension. If our souls are in their arrows, the fires may burn right through the realms. I say we go in and end this.” She turned to Natalie.
Asair brushed her cheek, his hands so warm even though the air was freezing. “Your emotions are with your mother and stirring with revenge. You're too open to Tarius right now. He will work your grief into a power he can use. I know, because he did it to me.”
“Plus, you're still addicted to coral and bone,” Natalie said. “You gotta kick that nasty habit if you ever want to face Tarius.”
“She’s right. You need the elixir,” Asair said. “We need Dax.”
“What a drag.” Natalie rolled her eyes.
“But you found a way.” Halen glanced at her sister’s empty wrist. “You took the bracelet off and you were free. I’ve seen how powerful your magick is.”
“I think it would be easier to kick heroin,” Natalie said. “You don’t know what I went through, the endless shaking, the vomiting, the nightmares…” She hugged herself.
“How did you do it?” Halen didn’t care how hard it was; being bound to Dax twisted her gut more than any withdrawal ever would.
“I’ve been weaning myself off for months, but I still have a stash. I used to get Catch to make me double and I would hide half.”
Halen frowned. “Catch is Tari?”
“Catch? No way! Not Pepper either. Those two are solid.” Natalie thumped her chest with the flat of her hand.
Halen stepped back, a lump swelling in her throat.
“What?” Natalie asked.
She didn’t see the point in hiding the truth. Eventually Natalie would find out; at least telling her while standing ankle-deep in ash was better than facing her when she could use her powers. “I killed Pepper,” her voice but a whisper.
“You what?” Natalie’s hand balled to a fist once more.
Asair raised his hand. “Save your anger for Dax. Halen did everything she could to save her—Dax let Pepper go.”
“Figures.” Her jaw was tight.
“He did it to save me,” Halen said. “You blocked my magick.”
“You did what?” Natalie butted against him. “How dare you!”
“Dax wasn’t there at first. I did it to protect her. If Halen died, all would have been lost.”
“Enough,” Halen shouted. “I’m sick of everyone treating me like glass. I’m fed up to here with you and Dax manipulating my magick. Back off.”
“Well, at least I know it wasn’t you who killed Pepper,” she said to Halen as her cool gaze skimmed Asair. “When this over we part ways. I’m going back to Emil.”
“We only need you for the spell,” Asair said.
“And Catch? Where was he in all of this?” she asked, Halen.
“I don’t know,” Halen said. “After I cast the sand spear, Elosia broke out in chaos. Dax asked me to leave with Pepper, but when he caught up with us, Dax said Catch took off.”
“He wouldn’t do that.” Natalie ran her fingers over the lock on the gate. “I bet Dax did something him. When I get my hands on him—”
“You’ll do nothing,” Asair said. “He’s no use to us dead.”
“Yeah, I know. We need to get out of here.” She kicked the ash and then sneezed. “I would do anything for a hose.”
Asair sighed. “Three of the most powerful sirens in the realms and we can’t even generate a spark. A fine mess we’re in.”
“I miss my magick.” Natalie wriggled her fingers in the air. “Nothing—I feel absolutely nothing!”
“I say we play a game.” Halen stepped in front of her.
“You’re kidding, right?” Natalie looked at her as if she might strangle her for making the suggestion.
“How many games have the Tari played with us?” Halen asked. When Natalie’s eyebrow rose on one side, Halen saw her mom’s quizzical stare. The expression pinched at her heart, but it also reassured her. This was the right move. This was her sister—flesh and blood—that had to mean something. She hoped Natalie would feel the same way too.
“Too many games,” Natalie said.
“And they always strike us where it counts—in our hearts. So, we'll use it back on them.”
“Brilliant.” Asair’s sly smile filled Quinn’s lips.
“We might be twins, but you two seem to know what the other is thinking,” Natalie said.
Halen wasn’t so sure he was on the same page, but then he said almost exactly what she had been thinking. “Dax is quite captivated by the charms of the Windspeare ladies and that’s one spell we don’t need magick for.”
“I say we bring Dax out to play.” Halen’s gaze narrowed on her sister. “Are you ready for some sibling rivalry?”
Natalie didn’t need an invitation. She didn’t even hesitate. A coy smile worked to her lips as she lunged for Halen, clawing the side of her neck.
“What are you doing?” Halen swung back, but Natalie ducked.
“Making it believable.” Natalie rammed her into the concrete wall.
Halen kneed her in the gut. “Get off me!”
A guard rounded the corner, and Asair yelled, “We need their Guardian or they’ll destroy each other.”
“Fine by me.” The guard stepped back.
Natalie swung with a side kick, but Halen dropped to her knees before she made contact. What the…? Halen scooped a handful of ash and hurled it at her.
“Oh, come on.” Natalie rubbed the soot from her eyes.
“Huron needs her alive.” Asair leaned against the bars. “Think of what he would do if this one killed her.” He sneezed.
When the guard took off, Natalie pounced on top of Halen, pinning her to the ground. She smiled, her white teeth gleaming through the dark ash. “You’re tougher than you look, but I’m just getting started.”
“What are you two doing?” Dax was at the cell. Natalie let go and Halen was almost glad to see him. She was beginning to feel Natalie was as unhinged as everyone had suggested.
“They’re fighting over you, mate.” Asair leaned with his back against the wall.
“Stop!” Dax clutched the bars.
“You told her—you told her about us!” Natalie raised her fist over Halen’s head.
“Who cares?” Dax’s gaze darted to Halen and then back to Natalie. “What does it matter?”
Natalie’s eyes were wild, like a
tiger that had lost its prey. “Did you sleep with her?”
“What? No!” Dax’s face flushed.
“Liar!” Natalie slammed her fist into the ash.
Halen rolled to her side, freeing herself.
Natalie stood. “You said I was the only one; that you would love me forever.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, running pink lines through the gray ash.
Asair grabbed Halen’s hand, guiding her to her feet, and then pulled her to his side.
Dax’s attention was glued to Natalie. “You left me.”
“Because of the lies.” She ran to the gate and pawed his chest through the bars. “You lied about the plan. If you had just told me the truth, we could have sorted it out—together. Please take me out of here. I don’t belong with them—I’m Tari. We journeyed to the dark places of the seam together. You know I’m not like them. Please let’s talk.” She stroked his cheek. “I need you.”
“I can’t.” His voice cracked.
“They said my father has plans to kill us. After all we’ve done. Is it true?”
He leaned into her hand. “It is.”
“Only Asair and Halen have to die. If I take you back, then you’ll be bound to me. My father will understand. Let me out and we can talk to him.”
Suspicion crept into Halen’s thoughts. Was Natalie this good, or was she telling Dax the truth? She clutched the bracelet.
“You know my father will listen to us. He loves me. He loves you too. He just doesn’t see another way.” Natalie wrapped her hand around the back of Dax’s neck, luring him closer to the steel bars.
“Guard!” Dax shouted over his shoulder. “Let her out.”
The guard shook his head. “Huron said—”
“I don’t care.” Dax slammed his fist against the bars. “Let. Her. Out.”
“Dax.” Halen stepped toward the bars. “Are you seriously going to go with her?” Halen wasn’t playing around now. She couldn’t believe he would so willingly let her go.
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