by Dianna Love
When they reached the group of weary teleporters, Grady asked, “You don’t know where Evalle is yet?” His voice broke.
“We’re working on it and got a lead,” Storm said, patting the old guy on the shoulder. The Skinwalker looked as if he couldn’t believe he was comforting a ghoul.
Adrianna smiled inside. That was life with Evalle’s surrogate family.
Grady said, “I been pushin’ every ghoul I know for anything. One thing I found out is that the guy who took Evalle shielded his face whenever he was seen walkin’ around the city.”
Reese asked, “Anything else, Grady?”
“Hold on,” Grady said and faded.
“What have you got, Grady?” Storm asked when the ghoul became visible again.
“That hooded guy ain’t been teleportin’.”
Tristan held his hands out in confusion. “He had to teleport to move Evalle out of here without leaving a trail. Otherwise, Storm could track him or Reese could find him with her gift.”
“You callin’ me a liar, Alterant?”
“No, Grady,” Tristan groused. “I’m just pointing out facts so we can figure this out.”
“Grady might be on to something,” Reese said, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I’ve been working under the impression that we knew for sure Evalle was teleported away.”
Adrianna kept her eyes on Daegan, whom she considered a barometer of whether they were getting close with a lead. He was locked on Reese’s words as if he could tell she was on to something.
Storm brought up a point. “The little spirit in the cave actually said La Cuchilla had not teleported in to see them.”
“La who?” Grady asked.
“The kidnapper related to the spirits,” Daegan provided.
“Oh.”
Reese said, “If everyone will let me finish, I’ll explain where I was going with this.” Once they all quieted, Reese asked Quinn, “Do you remember when we had to go to New Orleans to find Phoedra?”
“Yes.”
“The kidnappers didn’t teleport when they vanished. They opened a bolthole. The only way I knew that at the time was because both in Seattle and in Oklahoma, I actually saw the bolthole open and swallow them.”
“That’s right. In fact, the van dragged you into that bloody hole at one point.”
Reese waved her hands. “Forget about that. I’m saying that if the kidnapper is using a bolthole and I can’t see that, he could be using something to shield his action each time. Maybe that’s why he went after the pure Noirre. If that’s the case, the reason I could follow the kidnapper’s path in Atlanta and Kilkenny had to be due to him walking. Though why would he have walked away after murdering those guys?” She shook her head, “Maybe he was saving energy for some reason. Anyway, bottom line is he could very well be using a bolthole, but if that’s his trick, he’s got some extra juice to cloak his bolthole departures.”
Daegan’s eyes widened briefly, just enough to support Adrianna’s suspicion that Reese might have hit on the key to tracking the kidnapper.
Storm cursed. “That only expands the possibilities of who could have taken Evalle. We still don’t know why she was kidnapped, either.”
“That reminds me. That ain’t all I found out,” Grady said, jumping in. He gave Daegan the evil eye. “Word on the street is this all started ’cause you huntin’ your hoard. You put my baby girl in danger for money?” Grady balled his bony fists, ready to take on the dragon king.
Daegan immediately said, “I assure you I am not searching for any treasure, and if I ever did, I would not put one of my people at risk to do so. Never one of my circle of seven advisors.”
Adrianna’s gaze went from the dragon king to Grady. “Who in the world put out that rumor?” And how was that information connected?
Storm jumped in and told Grady, “Daegan speaks the truth. But someone is lying. Not you or your Nightstalker friends, but the kidnapper probably planted that lie.”
Grady crossed his arms and got a stubborn look that Evalle had told Adrianna about more than once. “I’m gonna go back and dig around some more. That better be the truth. But you all need to know that VIPER is losin’ it over the humans now seeing trolls on top of disappearin’ hooded guys.”
Tristan wondered aloud, “Why would trolls expose their existence unnecessarily? That makes no sense. It puts them on VIPER’s radar.”
“I don’t know,” Grady said. “But VIPER been lookin’ for all of you to pull into a Tribunal for answers. You best be usin’ that cloakin’ stuff and stay free so you can find Evalle.”
Had that Nightstalker threatened the dragon king yet again?
Adrianna could understand Evalle’s affection for the old guy. Good thing Daegan had a high level of tolerance for someone sincerely worried about Evalle.
A Hummer rolled up to the curb near them and parked. Isak stepped out alone, which was odd for him.
Adrianna thought he traveled with a full black ops team at all times. She noticed Grady fading and sent him a wink before he blinked out. That Nightstalker probably avoided humans when they might be able to see him.
Isak let his gaze dance over Adrianna prior to addressing everyone. “I wasn’t able to identify La Cuchilla.”
Storm grabbed his head and walked off cursing. He turned around and came back, but his eyes were that of a man fighting for his last breath.
Adrianna’s heart thumped a sad beat. “Thanks for trying, Isak.”
The soldier frowned at her then passed his irritation around to everyone else. “Don’t sound so disappointed. I did get some intel. La Cuchilla has popped up as a code name for someone gathering intel, but he has not exposed his face. If I had a day, I could hand you an identity.”
Storm quietly said, “That would be nice, but we might not have a day. Before we teleported away from the building, Lanna told me she sensed Evalle’s energy was fading.”
From the surprise on every face, that was news to the entire group.
Isak repeated what they all believed. “They won’t kill her if they didn’t do it here, Storm. They need to keep her alive for something.”
“I realize that, but it doesn’t mean she isn’t suffering.” He raked his hand over his head as if trying to jar some brain cells. “We found out this guy La Cuchilla was related to someone killed in Ireland during Celtic Viking raids.”
Reese shook her head. “That’s confusing.”
Quinn asked, “Why?”
“I know people interbreed with different races, but remember how I told you I saw the vision of the hooded guy holding the plant outside that cave just now in Ireland?”
In an awestruck voice, Isak said, “All of you just zapped over to Ireland and back?”
“Yes,” Storm snapped. “Go ahead, Reese.”
“The hand I saw sticking out of that robe was a dark-toned skin color. He might be of Celtic descent, but I wouldn’t have guessed that. Do you think he lied to the spirits?”
“I doubt they would have allowed him to leave alive if they had not confirmed his blood relation,” Daegan said. “If he is using a bolthole, the question is how he came by that ability.” He asked Reese and Quinn, “Do you know the origin of the bolthole majik you encountered while hunting Phoedra?”
Reese angled her head in Quinn’s direction. “It was his friend.”
Quinn quickly clarified, “It was not a friend, but an associate. I know the family, but they would not share this gift with anyone. After our meeting in New Orleans and observing the punishment for using a bolthole to kidnap my daughter, I feel confident in saying no other family member has gone off the reservation since then.”
Giving a shudder, Reese muttered, “You’re right. Nobody would repeat that mistake.”
“Huh, okay, I have a little more,” Isak continued in his briefing voice. “What I did find out was a rumor that the kidnapper is under the protection of a powerful goddess. That’s why contacts were har
d to locate when I put my people on the street to get a name.”
Adrianna was astonished at how quickly he got what he did.
Daegan’s entire demeanor shifted to action mode. “That’s all the information we need. Thank you, Isak, for your help. It is greatly appreciated.” Turning to Reese, Daegan said, “Thank you, also, Reese. Figuring out it could be a bolthole is what I needed to pinpoint who is behind this.”
“Glad I could help in spite of being told to go home,” Reese said, sweeping her gaze from Daegan to Quinn at the end.
Storm crossed his arms. “How is that going to help, Daegan?”
“I now know it has to be Maeve or Macha.”
“We’ve suspected both of them since the beginning, but that’s when we thought the kidnapper could teleport or had someone else who could. If this guy has been opening boltholes, he could be working for anyone. What have you come up with that we aren’t seeing?”
“Boltholes are not easy to gain. They often come from a family with that gift, but some have been opened using a majikal instrument. To bestow that ability on someone requires significant power and there are particular requirements. I now have a way to pin down Macha and Maeve to get the truth. I’m going to a Tribunal.”
“We’re going to the Tribunal,” Storm announced.
Daegan said, “Agreed. I need a moment to contact Sen to have a Tribunal ready when we arrive.”
Tristan grumbled under his breath.
Daegan turned to him. “Problem?”
After a little hesitation, Tristan said, “Yes. I do have a problem with that. You already faced off with a Tribunal who did nothing to drag either goddess in, and you just heard that VIPER is on a tear about the humans witnessing paranormal activity. In fact, it sounds like someone made an announcement urging preternaturals to show off to humans. Going to a Tribunal right now is a risky idea. You’ll be walking into a new fight. Can I go to the Tribunal in your place?”
“No. While I respect your opinion, this is something only I can do with Storm’s help,” Daegan clarified for his second in command. “I need our team teleported to Treoir. Are you up for that?”
Sounding exhausted, Tristan said, “Yes. I just hope Sen doesn’t get an attitude from that first meeting and pull some crap.”
Daegan could sound so deadly when he spoke low. “Sen will know the minute we meet that to delay us even a second could be risky for him.”
“Ditto,” Storm added.
Quinn announced, “Reese is not going with us.”
She grabbed her head. “That is it! I’ve had it with you.”
“I feel pretty much the same since you refuse to tell me what is making you sick.”
Tristan sighed. “I’ll take Adrianna to Treoir. You two figure out your domestic issues by the time I come back. I’m only doing this twice.”
Quinn snarled, “It’s not a domestic issue.”
“What makes you think there’s anything domestic about him?” Reese asked with plenty of sarcasm.
Giving them both a glare that was short on patience, Tristan turned to Adrianna. “Ready?”
“Give me a moment, please.”
Muttering something about late night soap operas, Tristan headed over to stand with Storm and Daegan.
Isak’s gaze hadn’t moved from Adrianna since the last time those blue orbs had settled on her. With everyone stepped away, he asked her, “Do you have to go?”
Why did he sound as if losing her would matter?
He’d walked off in Blairsville without a look back. He did not get to play this card when he felt like it.
She answered, “Yes, I have to go. I don’t know what we’ll be up against, but they’ll probably need my Witchlock power, too.”
A muscle flicked in his jaw, but he didn’t make some snide comment. “Okay. Be safe.”
Isak walked toward his truck, not looking like any of this was okay at all.
She must have been up too long and her mind had lost the ability to see her next move as a bad idea, but she followed him. “Isak.”
He paused in opening his door and turned back.
“Thank you. Everything you’ve done today has been a help and very much appreciated.”
Poor guy looked as if he wanted to make everyone disappear, but he just said, “You’re welcome.”
A thousand words raced around in her head. None of them made sense. She knew better than to make any decision right now. This was a time to pull her emotions in tight and prepare for whatever they were about to do, because sending them to Treoir meant Daegan had a plan.
Knowing this could be the last time she saw Isak, she struggled not to step into his arms and let him hold her.
After an extended gazing match, he said, “I’m going back to watch over Storm’s building. There’s a limit to how long I’m leaving Kit in there with preternaturals running wild around the city. Something is up with the nonhumans in Atlanta. Some of them definitely want to be seen. This city is going to erupt, and I want her safe before that happens.”
That was all Adrianna needed to pull up her emotional stakes and pack her heart away. She and Isak would always be of two different worlds.
Also, that meant as exposure to Adrianna’s world spread, they’d be on opposite sides of the battle.
Isak would never be happy with the strange and unusual anywhere around Kit.
Adrianna still wanted to reassure him. “The minute we know something specific, someone will come to inform you.”
“Someone?”
Don’t touch that, she warned herself. “If I can do it, I will be the one.”
Clearly her warnings worked on everyone but her.
Isak drove off.
When she returned to Tristan, Quinn and Reese were standing six feet apart, not speaking. Oh, boy.
Daegan said, “Sen knows we’re coming. Ready, Storm?”
The Skinwalker nodded. “We can’t get there fast enough if your idea means we can locate Evalle.”
“We’ll soon find out.”
With one look around, probably for humans, Daegan and Storm vanished.
Adrianna told Tristan, “Let’s go, if you’re ready.”
“I’m ready to take you. Not so much for dealing with those two when I get back.”
She took in Quinn’s grim face and glanced at Reese who had shifted even farther away from Quinn. That woman had a hand over her stomach again.
Adrianna said to Tristan, “They have things to work out, but I have a feeling you’ll only be teleporting Quinn to Treoir.”
Tristan said, “They need to get a room.”
Adrianna caught herself before she said it looked as though they already had.
CHAPTER 25
Storm marveled at Daegan, who hadn’t hesitated to enter a realm where he was at his most vulnerable for a woman he had only recently met. Storm had originally agreed to be one of Daegan’s circle of seven advisors for no other reason than it allowed him to be available to watch Evalle’s back.
But after this, Storm had a whole different sense of his role with Daegan.
He would stand with this dragon shifter in any battle. No other powerful being had ever gone to bat for Evalle. Most of them had misused her or treated her and the other gryphons as livestock.
Sen stood to one side, glowering as usual while they all waited.
Storm whispered to Daegan, “I just remembered one place I know I’ve smelled the kidnapper’s scent.”
“Oh? Where?”
“The night we battled Lorwerth and his bunch.”
“They all died.”
Storm said, “That’s right, which means the person behind that attack had been there, but was not present when we showed up.”
“Interesting.”
In dragon talk, that probably meant Daegan was even more anxious to find the kidnapper.
Justitia, Hermes and Loki took shape on the raised dais.
Evalle
had told Storm how every time she got stuck dealing with Loki he spent the entire time playing with some majikal gadget or poking fun at someone at his victim’s expense.
This wasn’t the jovial prankster god facing them now.
Loki spoke in a dark tone. “Interesting seeing you again, Daegan, and especially now. I thought the Beladors and Medb had figured out how to get along. Evidently not because I’ve been informed that humans have recorded evidence of preternatural activity in Atlanta. Media is having quite a time with it. Have you come up with a plan for fixing that?”
“I didn’t create that problem, so no, that is not why I am here. I want the Tribunal to mediate an issue.”
“Perhaps you haven’t realized that this is not a good time to joke.”
Daegan’s voice boomed. “Do I sound as though I’m joking?”
“Dare you raise your voice to me?” Loki said in a savage tone.
Shit. Storm hoped Daegan’s plan had some safety valves.
Daegan had a staring match with Loki, then said, “Oh, I do dare. I am furious. My people are being attacked. Part of the fault lies with you and the rest of the Tribunal deities.”
Storm managed to hold a blank face, but it was an effort when he wanted to yank Daegan aside to remind him they needed the Tribunal’s help ... right?
Wasn’t that why they were here?
The dragon king getting zapped by three deities would not further his goal.
In the tense silence that followed as Daegan and Loki did battle with their eyes, Justitia asked, “What is your grievance, dragon?”
When Daegan moved his gaze to her, he was more respectful. “When you allowed the Medb to join VIPER and to begin sending their warlocks to the human world, in spite of all the Belador deaths they have caused for centuries, our people had the additional duty of watching our own backs while still trying to protect humans. I’ve heard the stories, so I’m sure you know them.”
