“And?” Rydere asked. It was the first he’d said since Nalik had started speaking. “Are you?”
“I chose not to. There are things she does not know about me.” Grief was in the other man’s eyes now, and it puzzled Nalik. “I am not human. Not anymore. I am not aging; not that I can tell. I do not know what I am.”
“Why didn’t you say something, Mitchell? I could have had Barlaam help you.” Rydere clapped a hand on the man’s shoulder.
“And admit that my father did something to me, when I was a full grown adult? A man in my thirties? And say what? I have been searching for answers for a year now, ever since I found out that he’d done things to the girls. To Mitch and Royce and some of my other nephews. Ever since I realized that old bastard had fathered on average two children per year for the last forty? I have siblings out there, some probably still in diapers, who he has mutated for his own sick purposes. I need to find them. I can’t go with you permanently until all of those kids are found. My bother Randall searches, as well.”
“But you can go for a little while,” Nalik said, putting a hand on his father-in-law’s opposite shoulder. “Build your life with your daughters in whatever worlds they end up in. I can help you search for your siblings from the demon world. Come, be with your children when they need you most and bring these innocent victims of your father to a world where they can be safe. We will offer them haven, safety. And even family.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Why do the girls need me so badly now? What is going on?”
“War. It comes for us all. And to keep them safe we are keeping them out of this world.”
Taniss finally agreed to accompany them; Aodhan’s father-in-law agreed as well. Two of his three daughters were in the demon realm—and one of his grandchildren. He and his two brothers stepped outside the ruined hotel to make some phone calls.
Rydere led the men toward the center of the main hall. It had been engraved with Dardaptoan symbols centuries ago, and those symbols—though ash covered and scorched—still remained. And held power; power that most knew nothing about.
Only the dhar and the Equan of each House knew what lay beneath each of the eleven markings. Each House was represented under a design, plus the one for the dhar and all of their tribe. It was under these markings that the true relics of each House rested.
Nalik wasn’t entirely certain why they were there—or why the Taniss males were close enough to walk in on what they were doing at any moment. This was the very heart of the city, of the tribe. Of who they were; and it should be kept as private as it had been for the last four hundred years. What was Rydere thinking?
“I spoke with Theo and Cormac before we came.” Rydere dusted a pile of ash off the circle that symbolized his family crest. In the center was carved a stylized sun with sword. It could only be opened with the key that Rydere carried, plus two of the ten others. Ten keys possessed by the ten Equan. “We feel that taking these back to whatever worlds we end up in will best preserve our people.”
“And the rest?” There were six others who needed a say in this, though those six were not considered part of Rydere’s ruling council. Nalik wasn’t even certain he still was. “What say they?”
“They have given us leave to act in their stead.” Rydere pulled the stone door of the city’s main crypt back. Inside was a small pouch filled with a perfect sphere, more fragile than glass, yet more durable than any stone on Gaia. And it burned—the eyes and hands would feel the sting of touching it for days.
It was a part of what the goddess had used to fashion the eighteen tribes of Dardaptoans. The Dardanos was just one of those tribes. To this day it stood as the largest, though it was the youngest.
The whole idea of seeing that ball of energy had Nalik edgy. Every Dardaptoan soul originated with a portion of that energy. Touching it was not something to be taken lightly. “What are you doing?”
“Kennera has asked that each dhar return these to her for safe keeping. I thought now should be the time ours was retrieved.” Rydere slipped the bag into his tunic and secured it against his chest. “Aodhan is my strongest warrior; Nalik, my oldest and closest friend, though we have lost a portion of that these last three decades. Two men I trust with everything I have. Even Theo and Cormac know not that this was what I needed to retrieve today.”
Nalik looked at the symbol over his own house vault. A vine wrapped around the Dardaptoan symbol for time. Around the outer edges of the circle, the vine turned into two snakes that represented light and dark.
His was the most sinister looking of the family symbols. His was one of the oldest Dardaptoan lines, and with that came a great responsibility. The Dhar wasn’t the only one who had pieces of thousands of souls. Should his be returned, as well? As Equan of the House of Black it was his ultimate duty to guard what lay in that vault at that very moment. He was not ready for it to be returned. Not yet.
Returned, and then his responsibility to those souls would return to the goddess, as well. That sat ill with him, feeling as he did about her.
He reached down and made doubly certain his lock was secured. Made certain that he still had the key around his neck. He had never lost it, save for those days in Taniss’s lab, and he’d retrieved it as soon as he’d been able. “Shall these remain here, during this war?” He slipped his key into the intricate lock. It would require Rydere’s in addition to open. He would check, just see for himself if it was safe.
As soon as the words left his mouth he was thrown to the stone floor. Rydere and Aodhan were tossed even harder than he.
Nalik could not move, a great force pushing him down to the ground. And sucking the very air from his lungs.
Chapter 49
A booted foot kicked the cheek that still bore Taniss’s scars. Nalik felt the pain, but could not respond. Could not turn his head.
But he recognized the scent and the voice. Uruses. First brother to the Equan of the Woald House. “Nalik Black, as I live and breathe. Helping Rydere steal the dharanlji of souls.”
Nalik gathered every ounce of the power he possessed. He forced himself to sit up despite his muscles screaming as he broke the force hold the male had hit him with. It was a plant-based magic and one he’d encountered before. In the demon lands. “Uruses, what does you now?”
“Followed you back from Relaklonos. Think you not I do not know what you are doing? I have been waiting months for Dhar Rydere to seek the dharanlji.”
“And now he has. What do you plan to do with it?” Surely Uruses realized that there was nothing a Dardaptoan could do with it? They were just caretakers.
“Sell it to the highest bidder. There’s a human scientist out there willing to pay a great deal for anything of Dardaptoan power. Told him about this, and he’s been waiting for it.”
A human wanted the dharanlji? For what purpose?
It didn’t matter. This male was not leaving this chamber alive. Nalik knew that Aodhan and Rydere felt the same.
Nalik stood, though he could feel the hold still upon him. Rydere and Aodhan were still completely immobile.
“What are you doing? I was guaranteed that mix would work on Dardaptoans.”
“I’m not a Dardaptoan any longer, Uruses. Haven’t you heard the rumors? I am no longer Dardaptoan.” Nalik grabbed the bag from Uruses’ hands. “You are not to have this. Only the dhar can touch the dharanlji. To even think you were worthy is the ultimate betrayal of your people. And for what? A few coin?”
Nalik wasn’t worthy of holding the bag, either. He could feel the weight of hundreds of thousands of souls in his hands, and the responsibility was crushing him. He placed the bag in Rydere’s hands and immediately began breathing again. The other male was starting to throw off the hold on him. Nalik nodded at the question in Rydere’s eyes.
He would handle Uruses. Rydere would protect the souls. “You betrayed our people, Uruses. Was this the first time?”
“I betrayed no one who didn’t deserve it.” Uruses wasn’t a fo
ol; arrogant, but not a fool. He saw Nalik’s intent and he ran out of the main lobby.
Nalik followed. He doubted Uruses was the sorcerer responsible for the fire—the symbols burned in ash were too ancient for a male of less than three hundred years like Uruses—but the male was capable of massive destruction if left loose. Nalik jumped, landing directly in the man’s path. “You cannot run. You’ll face Sebastos, as soon as I return you to the demon world.” Theo’s family was charged with ensuring justice to all Dardanos Dardaptoans, and Theo ruled his court well. “For this and any other crimes you have wrought.”
It took little time to subdue Uruses and Nalik dragged him back to the main lobby. They met the Taniss males on the way. Jason threw Nalik a questioning look. “Who’s this?”
“Head gardener. Found him trying to loot the dhar’s valuables.” Nalik shook Uruses when he balked. Many Dardaptoans were leery in the Taniss Lupoiux’s presence. Even though he was smaller than many of them. “Taking him back to Theo.”
Aodhan and Rydere were back on their feet, though Aodhan looked a little shaken. Anything that could knock an Adrastos down would leave the warrior a bit nauseated when recuperating. Nalik understood—even the strongest fighter had weaknesses. Aodhan was no exception to that.
It was a matter of checks and balances.
Nalik knocked Uruses to the ground with a simple blow. The male landed in the center of the etched symbols of each House. “Let us return. I have much to do this eve. Our females await.”
The building around them shook. The runes in ash along the far wall began to shift, to shake and distort. Fire flew from them, straight toward where the men stood. Toward Rydere.
Nalik grabbed the dhar and threw him to the ground. Then grabbed Cassandra’s father and put him behind his own body. He got a shield around them just in time. He held it, not knowing where the reserve of energy came from.
The sorcerer’s flames battered at the dome Nalik had somehow created, and he felt himself weakening. He looked at Rydere. “Portkeys. I cannot hold this off forever.”
Rydere nodded and pulled the key out of his pocket. It would take a few moments to grow the port; hopefully Nalik could hold back the flames until then.
Aodhan was the first through, and he grabbed his father-in-law and yanked him with him. Rydere went next, taking Cassandra’s father. Then it was Jason.
The wolf looked at him. “As soon as I am through. I will catch you on the other side if needed. The traitor?”
Nalik hadn’t given Uruses another thought once the flames started. He looked to where the male had last been. Uruses was still there, writhing from the flames that were eating at his hands and legs. “Go. I will bring him.”
“Don’t die trying. Bastard isn’t worth it.”
No, he wasn’t. But it would be wrong of Nalik if he didn’t at least try. “Go!”
He could feel the shield around him weakening. Cassandra’s uncle stepped into the ether and was gone in an instant.
Nalik lowered the shield and dove toward Uruses. He grabbed the male’s ankle then jumped toward the portkey as the flames burned through the last vestige of the shield.
Nalik rolled them both into the portkey just as the fire started eating the edges of the mist. An unnatural fire that as soon as it touched his skin had him freezing inside.
So cold he would never be warm again.
So cold he could not move.
Chapter 50
Nalik knew when he’d arrived back at the damned demon castle, but he still could not shake the paralysis that held him in its grip.
At least Aodhan and Rydere were gentle when they carted him in. His father-in-law walked at his side, and though Nalik’s eyes were closed, he had no difficulty sensing the man’s confusion.
He’d done a piss poor job of explaining things to the man, he had to admit that. But Rydere would stand in his stead. Especially if Nalik never awoke from this whatever he was in.
Rydere would care for Cassandra. Nalik would have to be content with that. The grief that filled him at the thought of her, and what she would be greeted with when news reached her of what had happened to him.
Damn the goddess for fucking him over once again. If this paralysis turned permanent, what would happen to her?
He tried to move his arm but couldn’t. He couldn’t even damned blink.
They lowered him to the floor, and Nalik could hear people running.
Something had happened, but were they running to them, or was something else going on?
Someone screamed and Rydere cursed next to him. Taniss yelled his daughter’s name. The dahn was the one screaming, wasn’t she? Nalik tried to force his eyes open. No matter what he tried, it was impossible. Was he damned to this darkness forever, now?
Just when he’d found his Rajni, had a hope for a future, this shit happened. He should have expected it.
“You will gain yourself when the time comes.”
The voice behind him was female and sounded like silk. Like a thousand such voices, equally as soft and luxuriant. He wanted to turn toward it.
It hurt so much.
“Do not try to join the world around you. There are more things under the sun that cannot be understood. Tell me, Nalik Arus Black, would you come with me? Or are you tied to this world?”
Tied to this world? Three hells, no. There was only one thing in all of the worlds that he was tied to, one being. Cassandra.
“Tell me, Nalik Arus Black, if I told you that she waited for you, would you come with me?”
In a heartbeat. He’d leave everything in any world behind to go to her.
“Then come with me. I shall take you to her.”
Chapter 51
“Cassandra, come.”
There was a woman standing just behind the light. At first she thought it was Eaudne, but then she realized it was Aureliana.
But not the Aureliana Cass knew. This one was dressed far differently, in clothing that looked like golden cotton. Not just yellow in color, but actual gold metal threaded through the fabric. And the cut of the outfit was very simple, more so even then the Dardaptoan pardus and vestis Aureliana usually wore. This outfit was special for some reason.
Cass took the hand Aureliana held out to her. “Am I dead?”
“I do not think so.” Aureliana hugged her tightly. “At least, I know I am not. And you are here next to me.”
“Where is here? And where are Ren and Eaudne?”
Aureliana waved a hand. “I wasn’t sure at first, but then this occurred to me.” The area in front of Aureliana’s hands shimmered, the light shifting outward, to form an opening. Cass peered through. “Your spirit is here with me in this other world. The nineteenth layer no one talks about. Your body is with Eaudne. She is carrying you.”
Cass watched as exactly that happened. Eaudne held her like a child while Ren carried his wife. Neither seemed overly worried, but once they entered the main hall of Rathan’s castle, people came running.
Screaming. Her sister was screaming. Running toward Eaudne. Rydere caught Emily halfway to them. And another man ran past them.
Her father. What was he doing there? And who was behind him? There—that was Aodhan speaking quickly with Ren.
“They’re back? Where’s Nalik? Why isn’t he with Rydere and Aodhan?”
“He is. He was wounded.”
“How bad? Can Kindara help him? What about Jushua or Eaudne? Kennera.” Cass tried to wave the opening larger. She couldn’t. Why couldn’t she see him and why wasn’t anyone trying to help him instead of trying to take her from Eaudne?
“He will be well, I think.”
“So why are we here?” Cass finally took a look around that here. It wasn’t dark like she’d first thought. They were somewhere, and it was outside. She could smell the grass and the earth, even the wind.
“I’m not sure. I think we have to take a little walk to get to where we need to go.” She kept hold of Cass’s hand, and Cass appreciated the contact. The
comfort.
“Can I see Nalik, you think?” She needed to look at him, didn’t she? “We…”
“I know exactly what you did.” Aureliana laughed and squeezed Cass’s hand. “And I’m very pleased with my little-cousin-to-be you created.”
It took a moment for that to sink in. They couldn’t have…she was much too young to even think of that. “We were careful.”
“And he’s more powerful than a god. Careful will not work against that. Or the Fates. And this was.”
Cass used her free hand to cover her stomach. “Was it hurt?”
“He. And no, he’s fine.”
“If I die, he’ll die, too.”
“That’s generally how it works. But you’re not going to die today. At least, I don’t think.”
“So why am I here with you? And how do you know about this place?”
“I’ve been here a few times in the last several months. The first was when I got my babe. The second was when I died. Ren came here once, too. A few more of us will before these wars are done.”
Cass studied the small road they were suddenly on. It was obviously summer, wherever they were, and wildflowers grew along the cobbles. And they were definitely cobbles they were walking along. “It’s beautiful here.”
“I’ve thought so each time. This is a different place than I’ve been before, though. Watch your step.”
Cass’s fingers curled to touch the vines growing alongside the road. “Who lives here?”
“That’s a question I haven’t answered yet.”
“I really don’t understand why I am here.”
“I think, like Ren was a few months ago, you are here for your mate’s sake.”
“Why was Ren brought here?”
“For me. Ren still had a few lessons he needed to learn, before we could be truly happy together. Sweetie, do you know much about Laquazzeana?”
“Theo’s book had a legend about them, but it didn’t go into detail.” And she hadn’t paid close enough attention to remember much more than that. She’d been far more interested in the plants that Theo’s books talked about. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember anything else.”
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