“I don’t know,” the Daywalker said. “I don’t think he’s lying.”
Alex, though, was the one who sealed it for me. “Smells honest, like Jack.”
“Jack, if we take you away from her …”
Doran was beside me, shaking his head. “Sunlight. We’d be better off to kill her now, get it done with.”
This time Jack shook his head. “Rylee, there is only one thing to be done. You won’t be able to kill her. I tell you this because I believe there is only one thing that would be able to kill her, to finally end her life. She must walk into the sun by her own choice.”
“Well, that ain’t going to fucking well happen, is it?” I growled, but I wondered if that was just what she’d told him? To make him believe she was unsinkable. It wouldn’t surprise me, but then again, she was carrying the blood and powers of two very old, very strong vampires. “And why aren’t you cussing up a storm?”
His lips twitched. “The Empress doesn’t like bad language, so I’m forbidden from using it.”
I couldn’t help laughing; it was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard. “Seriously?”
He shrugged. “I have no say in my life. Ask Doran, he was her pet too.”
“I was far enough away that she let me say whatever I wanted until she remembered I belonged to her and found a use for me.” Doran folded his arms over his chest. “Shit, what are we going to do, then?”
Jack smoothed his hands over his head. “She has commanded me to find the Blood. But she has not told me to take the most accurate route. I can slow her down, let you get there and get Faris on the throne. If what I understand is true, once the new Emperor has the blood of the old ones in him, she won’t stand a chance.”
I turned, lips tight, and looked at Doran. “Good plan if Faris hadn’t fucked it up.”
Jack sucked in a sharp breath. “He’s not with you?”
Doran filled him in. “He couldn’t hold out. He doesn’t have the control to finish the task.”
Jack’s whole face tightened, as if in pain. “She’s waking.”
I didn’t say goodbye, didn’t think of anything but getting to the ladder. Doran shoved me ahead of him, and I shoved Alex, praying Jack could hold her off long enough for us to reach the ladder and the relative safety.
No such luck. Doran’s hand on my shoulder disappeared, when we were just steps from the ladder. “Alex, up,” I screamed as I turned around and faced the gloom, my flashlight showing Jack holding Doran against his chest.
There was no choice now. I rushed them, and Jack held still, his eyes meeting mine one last time. In slow motion, I leapt into the air, my blades arcing forward.
But Jack jerked away and Doran dropped to the floor before I could contact anything. Doran caught me mid-air and all but threw me partway up the ladder. “CLIMB!”
Berget’s laughter floated from the depths. “Run away, sister. I will see you soon enough. Tell Faris I said hello.”
I scrambled through the trapdoor and flopped onto the dusty shop floor beside Alex, who stared into the hole. Doran climbed out and slammed the door shut behind him.
“We shouldn’t have survived,” he said, holding a hand out to me.
“Yeah, I kinda thought that myself.”
Though we didn’t run out of the store, it was close. Spooked, my body knew how just how close it had come to getting snacked on, even if my brain was trying to tell me everything was fine. Alex, like always, was already moving onto the next adventure.
“Car ride?”
I pointed at the truck and he leapt in, dancing in one spot, or maybe bucking would be a more accurate term. “Seat too hot?”
“Nope, just dancing.”
Shaking my head, I let the smile slip across my lips. We had to take the bright spots when we could, even just a werewolf doing his version of the chicken dance.
Again, I let Doran drive. “Do we have time for your pit stop?”
“We have to.” His face was closed off, zero emotions to read.
Maybe he’d been more spooked than I thought. So I left him to his own thoughts, and me to mine.
Mine, of course, were dark and less than pleasant. Jack hadn’t made the choice to become a vampire, yet I wasn’t sure there would be a way to save him. Or if we could even get past him to get to Berget. Shit on a stick. I couldn’t reach Liam, but I tried to Track him anyway. Of course, nothing but a big empty hole with all the oceans between us. A low sigh escaped me and I scrubbed a hand over my face.
“I know you said there would be no rest for me, when you Read me. But really, did it mean I would feel like I was wrung out, completely done in, exhausted with every breath I took?” I glanced at Doran, watched as a smile slid over his lips. Ah, so I could still get him to respond.
“Dramatic much?”
“I was trying out my ‘Milly.’ Did you feel any sympathy at all?”
He snorted. “Sorry, none. She’s much better at laying the guilt and begging for sympathy. You just sound irritated.”
A few minutes later, we were at his pit stop, which turned out to be a hokey looking crystal shop on the far edge of town.
“You’re kidding, right?” I couldn’t help the way my eyes widened. This was supposed to be what, some sort of Shaman’s place?
“Sometimes the best defense to the world is showing them who you really are and letting others believe you’re fucking crazy.” He jumped out, jogged inside, and within two minutes was back in the truck, no bag in hand, nothing I saw brought back with him.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Care to share, fang boy?”
“Not really.”
There he went, gone again, deep into himself. I slumped in my seat. Fine by me and I would try to sleep a little. I dozed as he drove, wishing I’d been joking about the fatigue dragging at my limbs.
When we hit the edge of the true desert, Doran slowed the Willy and then stopped. “Do you see that?”
I sat up and squinted as something moved along the horizon.
Something big and sinuous, scales catching the bright, hot sun and reflecting it across the desert.
“Blaz!” I shouted—hell fucking yeah, we had back up! But how had he gotten here so fast?
And why wasn’t he answering me?
I stared at the shape humping toward us, the size and velocity of it far bigger than any ‘native’ fauna I knew. A niggling memory, the smell of snake musk and the fear of my first real battle swam in my head. I’d faced a giant snake before, but how could I have forgotten until now? Of course, if my spotty memory served me at all, the last time I’d faced a snake this size, I’d almost died. Not a good omen.
“Oh, shit.”
Doran let out a low whistle. “You can say that again.”
From the back of the truck Alex thumped the cab, his words screamed out in a high-pitched cry. “Ohhhhhhhhhh, shiiiiiiiiiiiit.”
From the mouths of babes and werewolves. We were in trouble.
Surprise, surprise.
Chapter 16
As they drove, Tara filled them in on the details of the firing squad. When Trolls raped humans, which happened more often than anyone liked to believe, the product were children like Tara. Children who were more human in mind set, more Troll in body. A rough combination even on a good day.
The half-breeds had started their own secret colony, using what little magic they had to blend in with the human world.
“The pure bloods, they’ve never paid us any heed, but then they started coming around. Acting like they were worried about us. My own sire, he showed up to check on me.” She took a slow breath and then went on. “It was all a ruse. They were working with Ingers to bring in targets. They rounded us up, said if we helped them, they would help protect us. From others. Most supernaturals kill us on site.”
Liam met her eyes in the mirror. “Seems rather hypocritical.”
Tara dropped her eyes. “Survival of the fittest. We are weak like humans, yet look like a supernatural. Only a very few have
any sort of magic, usually those gotten by a Lighteater.”
Pamela spoke up. “How many of you are there?”
“A few hundred.”
Milly sucked in a sharp breath. “How could so many go unseen for so long?”
Tara met Liam’s eyes again. “People see what they want to see, not what is truly there. You understand, don’t you?”
He of all people did.
They were almost at their destination. A warehouse situated in the industrial part of town. About what he expected of a supposed ‘secret’ hideout.
“I’ll subdue Ingers. Milly, Tara, take out anything that moves. Pamela, you make sure no one slips out.”
They drove to the warehouse’s main door and it slid open to let them in. Milly let out a gasp.
“Bad, this is very, very bad, Liam. You have to trust me on this.”
People moved in and surrounded the vehicle. Liam threw the gear into reverse and hit the gas. But the sedan didn’t move.
Words spilled out of Milly. “Liam, I can get us out of this, but you have to go along with me. Do you understand? You have to trust me.”
Fuck it all, the last thing he wanted was to trust her. “Black Coven?”
“Yes.”
No choice, no fucking choice.
“Pamela, follow her lead. Tara, the same.” The women nodded and then the doors were yanked open.
Milly stepped out, her demeanor immediately that of one who was used to being in charge.
“Sven, fancy seeing you here, Liam, come, my pet.”
Ah, shit. His wolf curled up and he fought not to shift. Aching all over, he slid out of the car and stood, moving to her side.
Biting his tongue, he managed to keep it together. Milly waved her hand. “This is Pamela, my young protégé, and her companion, Tara.”
“Milly.” An average-looking man strode to her and held out his hands. “I knew you would see the light after we destroyed Terese’s coven. Where were you, we could have used your help?”
The tension in the air rose and Liam moved closer to Milly, looming over Sven. The man went very still, looking up into Liam’s eyes. All Liam saw was darkness around the man, like his very self was made of death and chaos.
Black Coven or not, the man was evil.
Milly waved her hand at Sven, very nearly smacking him in the face. The fury rolled off her, and Liam had no doubt if she had her abilities, she’d go on a rampage.
“I was out of the country, Sven. I told you before I left.”
“True, but one likes to be sure the story told and the story now given are one and the same.”
She stiffened. “Do not push me, Sven.”
“Or what?” His voice was low and the challenge obvious. Not good, this was not good when she couldn’t even—
“I won’t even bother, I’ll let my apprentice wrap you up,” Milly said, beckoning Pamela forward.
Pamela tipped her head toward Milly. “Of course, you have but to ask.”
Sven threw his head back, laughing like it was the best joke of the day. “Please.”
“As you wish,” Pamela said, a wicked grin slipping across her face. She barely moved her hand and Sven went flying, spinning in the air and then sticking face first to the far wall.
The room quieted and Milly put a hand on Pamela’s shoulder. “Leave him there, love. He needs to remember who is the strongest here, and it surely is not him.”
Liam did a quick count. Including Sven, there were ten witches. In that moment, the smell overpowered him, dropping him to his knees.
Pamela reached out and put her hands on his shoulders, whispering softly to him. “Liam, hang on. You can do this, you are strong.”
He focused on her voice, and tried to hang onto thoughts of Rylee. Being out of control was not a luxury he could afford.
“Nice pet, Milly. Looks like you’ll need to collar him to show him some true manners.”
The words seared through the last shreds of his control and he let out a roar, shifting at lighting speed. The witch who’d spoken was in his jaws, her neck snapped before anyone took a breath.
Kill them all.
Chaos erupted around them. Milly was using the crossbow, Tara picked up his guns, and of course, Pamela was laying waste, her power ripping through the warehouse like a forest fire.
But it was not enough; these were not inexperienced witches or Druids who didn’t like to fight.
Liam leapt toward another witch, a male. The spell that hit him rippled across his fur, pain flickering along his nerve endings. But the pain was gone almost as fast as it started and another neck was in his mouth, blood searing his tongue.
“Come on then, Guardian, let’s see what you have.” He turned to see a young man, eyes bright with the fever of battle, sword in hand.
This young pup seeks your life and knows how to end it.
Yes, Liam saw that. He circled the younger man, waiting for his opening. With the battle raging around them, there was not much time. What he didn’t expect was to be pinned down.
Another witch sidled up to the first, her magic swirling around his four legs, binding him tight. She curled a hand around the sword handle.
“Take his front right. We will piece him out and see if that slows these interlopers.”
He was unceremoniously flipped onto his side, his right leg held up as if in sacrifice. He let out a howl, long and rising in power. Pamela would hear him; she would come to his aid.
But it was not Pamela who answered his call.
It was Milly.
A crossbow bolt took the man in chest and he crumpled to the floor, his eyes rolling up in his head. “Let him go, Veronica,” Milly challenged.
Veronica laughed. “Why don’t you make me? Ah, yes, so it seems the great one has been brought low. How lovely.”
Liam could just see Milly, see her crumple to the floor, her face twisting in pain. Veronica stalked past him to stand over her.
“I always hated you, did you know that? Did you know how long I have dreamed of this moment?”
Milly struggled to breathe, her words shocking him. “Let them go. Take me, and then let them go. You don’t need them.”
Veronica shrugged. “It is not up to me, pet.”
Milly’s eyes widened and a slow smile slid over her lips. Her eyes flicked to Liam’s but he couldn’t read her well. If he didn’t know better he’d have said she was happy. But that didn’t fit.
Slowly, she sat up, a fierce light in her green eyes making her seem, almost protective. Again, that seemed off to him, yet there was no other word to describe Milly in that moment. She was trying to protect him and Pamela at the cost of her own skin. “No, you’re right, Veronica,” Milly said, “it isn’t up to you. It’s up to me.”
She flung her hand at Veronica who sailed backward, into the wall with a solid crack, her body sliding down and crumpling onto the concrete. Freed, Liam scrambled to his feet.
Pamela was backed into a corner, squared off against four witches, sweat pouring off her face. He didn’t think, just sprinted toward them, leaping at the one on the left side, taking down the Black Coven member without a single whimper.
Milly dispatched two, and before Pamela could take the life of the last, Liam crushed the black witch’s neck with a single bite.
The teenager glared at him. “I had it, Liam.”
He snorted and shook his head. Milly stood beside him, breathing hard. “That was close. Where’s Tara?”
A groan whispered, “here.”
They found her under the body of one of the Black Coven members. She shot him, but not lethally and it looked like he retaliated. Milly crouched beside her, and laid a hand to her head. “Easy, it’ll be okay.”
Tara stiffened, let out a low moan, her body twitching like crazy. Slowly, her twitching eased, and then she blinked at them, her eyes free of pain. “You healed me. I didn’t know such a thing was possible. Thank you.” Tears glimmered in her eyes and he had no doubt she thought of her
children.
Milly stood and brushed her hands on her skirt. “Liam and Pamela, are you okay?”
He bobbed his head. Fuck, he owed his life to her. How the hell could he go on hating her when she’d been ready to sacrifice not only herself, but her child? Maybe he wouldn’t hate her as he had, but that didn’t mean he was suddenly on the Milly train.
Pamela reached out and touched Milly’s hand. “You have your magic back. So you know we’re all family now. That’s what Giselle said.”
“I suppose I do.” Milly looked at Liam as she spoke, then toward the interior of the building. “Do you think Ingers is still here?”
Only one way to find out. With a toss of his head, they headed out on a hunt together. The weirdest pack around, but one he knew without a doubt he could trust with his life.
Gods be damned, even Milly.
“Doran.” I shifted in my seat. “I don’t think we can outrun this.”
“Are you sure about that?”
My head snapped around and I was shocked to see a grin on his face. He winked. “I never knew just how much trouble you managed to find, Rylee. Let me say this now, if I never meet another Tracker, it will be too fucking soon.”
A giant snake was in front of us, with most likely our death on its mind, and I burst out laughing.
“Doran, I don’t think you will ever have the pleasure of meeting another Tracker. Besides Jack, that is.”
The snake stopped moving about four hundred yards in front of us. Still, too close for any sort of comfort.
“Let me guess.” Doran squeezed the steering wheel and pushed himself back in his seat. “No plan.”
“No plan, I don’t have a fucking clue.”
Really, the only upside I saw was the snake hadn’t moved any closer, just seemed to be watching. Doran’s eyes didn’t leave the creature. “I’d bet there is a territory she’s in, that she protects, that’s how it was with Seps. I’d also lay a bet she is one of the ‘challenges’ the supplicants have to face.”
Seps. Someone else had said that name and suddenly it rang in my ears, an entire memory cascading over me. Scales and the old mine shaft, Milly and Giselle. My head throbbed with the suddenness of the images assaulting me. Was this part of what Milly erased from my mind all those years ago? Fuck me.
Tracker: A Rylee Adamson Novel (Book 6) Page 16
