Witchlock

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  "Right. Quinn has a narrow braid the size of a bracelet that Kizira made from his hair. She wove in strands of Phoedra's hair later. When Quinn handed the bracelet to Lanna it burned her hands severely."

  "Is she okay?"

  "I took her to Garwyli and left her there until I can go back and smooth the way with Macha to allow Lanna to stay with Brina. I think that will help her since Lanna was with Brina during the time she was gone and her memories corrupted."

  All that sparked a thought. Evalle considered everything and decided maybe it was time she took care of her two best friends. "You bring up a good point about Quinn. I think he needs something to keep him from withdrawing and pulling inside himself. Hunting his daughter will do that if he doesn't lose hope."

  Tzader's eyebrows drew tight in thought. "You're right. I hadn't wanted to bother him, but giving him more to do and keeping him close by so we can help him find Phoedra might be good for him."

  "Right," Evalle agreed as if this was Tzader's idea. "Handing him some of your duties would be a good start, plus he'd have constant access to resources for hunting his daughter. Why don't you give him a push of motivation by telling him you need this time with Brina, which is the truth?"

  Storm watched her with an assessing look. What was going on in his mind?

  Evalle had never been much for touching, not even with Tzader and Quinn, but since Storm had changed all that, now she could offer her friend more than just words. She walked over and hugged Tzader, who put his arms around her, holding her close like the brother she never had. When she stepped back, she got a glimpse of the haunted soul Tzader kept stowed away from others.

  She asked, "If I talk Quinn into taking over now, will you go to Treoir instead of waiting on the outcome of my trial?"

  "No. Don't even start that."

  "Then I won't help Quinn." She crossed her arms, letting her defiance fly in his face.

  Storm looked at her as if she'd turned into a frog. "Why?"

  She explained, "If Tzader thinks Quinn is capable of being Maistir, then he should trust him now. All of you are so damned determined to protect me. Let's give Quinn that job, too, if you think he needs something to do."

  Tzader opened his mouth to argue and stopped.

  "Right," Evalle said, pleased with herself. For once, she was giving directions. "You don't have an argument, Z. If you really believe Quinn can be the Maistir then give him all your trust.

  Grumbling and pacing for a moment, Tzader said, "I don't like this."

  "Welcome to my world." She smiled to soften her chiding. "You tell Quinn you're going to Treoir and you need him to take your place as Maistir. In all the time I've known you, you've asked nothing of me and I'll bet you've rarely asked anything of Quinn. It's your turn to let us do our part as friends. I have no problem trusting Quinn to stand by me with the Tribunal. If he calls to ask my opinion, I'll tell him that we need him now. And we do. This is me helping you on my terms the way you help me on yours. Get used to it."

  Tzader gave her a sharp look but softened with amusement. "You do realize I'm still Maistir?"

  "Yes and you're also one of my best friends. Do this for Quinn and Brina. Do something for yourself for once. Storm has the best chance of delivering the evidence we need. Let Quinn be a hero and help Storm."

  "Damn," he said in a rush of exhale. "If Quinn's okay with it, then I'll go to Brina."

  Evalle would make sure of it, because Quinn needed his friends now, too.

  She swiped her hands over her hair. "Done." Now she had to go home to keep peace with Storm in an apartment that was starting to feel like a dungeon. Once this Tribunal trial was dealt with, she'd have to fulfill her new duties as liaison, but she was going to have that talk with Storm come hell or high water.

  If she didn't end up in a real dungeon.

  Chapter 29

  Evalle watched Storm open the door of her apartment with his duffel in hand. He shrugged. "I'm sorry about this. My fault. I shouldn't have made you my mate without asking you first."

  "It's okay. I love being bonded to you. I can make this work, but you're just walking away."

  "You're not happy and it's my fault." Her chest hurt, but it couldn't be from her heart beating too hard, because she had nothing but an empty hole where her heart should be.

  He stepped out and closed the door as a loud chiming started.

  Nooo!

  Evalle sat straight up, suddenly awake. The chiming was her phone ringing. Quinn's ringtone. Still trying to get back to the present, she reached for her phone and checked the clock.

  Two ten.

  In the afternoon?

  "Hello?" She sounded drugged to her own ears. Or ... put into a deep majik sleep. Had Storm...?

  He'd wakened her early this morning because she'd been crying in her sleep. The same dream she'd had again just now. He'd kissed her tears away, they'd ended up making love, and that's the last thing she remembered.

  "Evalle? I tried calling you telepathically and didn't get an answer."

  She sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to focus on what Quinn was saying. "Sorry. I was ... up late."

  "I can let you go."

  "No, I'm good. What's going on?"

  "I take it Tzader mentioned about passing off his Maistir position."

  Hallelujah. Tzader had actually done what she'd asked. "Yes. I know he doesn't want to impose on you but--"

  "Frankly, I'm glad to have him not walking on eggshells around me."

  Her heart whimpered every time she thought about what Quinn had suffered with losing Kizira. "I wish I could do something to take away your pain, Quinn."

  "I know, but you can't. It's done and I'll have to live with it."

  Guilt hung heavy in his words, but arguing right now would not change his mind. Evalle asked, "What did you do with ... Kizira?"

  "She's in a mausoleum in Oakland Park Cemetery secured with one my triquetras." He paused, but his voice had gotten gruff sounding. He cleared his throat. "I doubt Macha knows or she'd have cardiac arrest if she found out that I didn't follow procedure for dealing with a deceased witch of Kizira's caliber."

  "Macha wouldn't die, but she'd probably have a bad hair day."

  "If that ever happens, I hope someone has a smart phone handy."

  Evalle smiled, hearing the amusement in Quinn's voice. Might as well plow ahead. "Tzader told me about Phoedra."

  That problem bombed Quinn's happy moment, but Evalle wanted to help him focus on something positive to do with Kizira. He admitted, "I couldn't talk about Phoedra before I left to go away."

  "You didn't have to tell us then, but now that we know we'll all help you find her."

  "I don't want anyone outside my closest circle to know about her. I have no idea if the Medb can find her, but you can bet if they could they'd try to take her."

  "Good point. Let's hope they don't have a clue."

  "The person who makes the mistake of touching Phoedra will find out just how powerful my mind is," he said in such a dark voice it raised the hair on Evalle's arms.

  There was the grim Quinn that Tzader had been talking about.

  Evalle said, "Agreed. We tell no one about this without clearing it through you first. Now, we need a plan."

  "My plan burned the palms of Lanna's hands. Kizira must have placed a spell on it to protect someone with Lanna's gifts from finding Phoedra easily."

  "I know that hurt Lanna, but Tzader told me Garwyli healed her hands immediately, and knowing Lanna she'd do it all over again if there was a chance to find Phoedra," Evalle said to soothe his remorse. "Adrianna might be able to help."

  He asked with a hint of surprise, "The Sterling witch? I thought you didn't like her."

  "She's okay. I've gotten to know her and she helped me find Storm. In fact, she's helped me several times now in one way or another. Traveling to Mitnal was freaky and Storm might complain about Adrianna sending me through the spirit world again, but I'm willing if she is and if you'll let her be
in on finding Phoedra."

  "I'm not interested in having you travel astrally, but I would be open to discussing this with Adrianna if you're sure we can trust her."

  It hit Evalle hard that she did trust the witch. Funny how things changed. "We can trust her, which brings me to something I need to tell you now that you're Maistir. I didn't want to tell Tzader or he wouldn't have gone to Treoir."

  "Oh?"

  Adrianna might strangle Evalle, because she'd see any interference as putting Ragan at risk. But Adrianna was the one who said all would be lost anyhow if Veronika ended up with Witchlock. "Before I tell you, I need your promise not to do anything without telling me first, Quinn."

  "That's a very broad promise."

  "But you trust me," Evalle said quietly, not asking. Just reminding him.

  "Of course."

  She told him about traveling to Jafnan Mir and brought him up to speed about Veronika and Witchlock.

  He murmured, "Holy hell."

  "Yeah, but we have to stop Veronika, Quinn."

  "What does she look like?"

  "I don't know." Evalle sat up, thinking about that. "I hadn't planned on meeting up with Veronika, but I'll ask. Adrianna might be the only person in Atlanta who can recognize her at the moment, but we don't know for sure she'll follow us here, and Adrianna says Veronika will for sure be avoiding her until after the eclipse, so the chances of her showing up in the city before that are pretty much zero."

  "Get a description," he ordered, sounding every bit the Maistir in charge.

  "Will do."

  "What else do you have?"

  "We only know that she'll come to this hemisphere for the eclipse. I'm concerned about putting word out through VIPER, because they aren't going to believe anything that comes from me and we risk the Medb finding out and getting involved in a bad way."

  "I agree. Witchlock has been nothing more than a legend for so long I doubt anyone will take this threat seriously, especially with Adrianna having no support from her own coven. With this warlock mess hanging over your head, the Tribunal may think you're only trying to throw the attention off of yourself. On the other hand, the deities might believe you, and that would be bad."

  "Why? What would they do?" Evalle asked.

  "They would know the legend of Witchlock. Some of them would remember it of course. If they believed us, which would be a huge if, the deities would not stay to fight. They'd see this world as a lost cause and bail on VIPER and humans. They support the coalition for their own purposes. Those deities that are part of the coalition enjoy having the ability to keep an eye on other pantheons, preventing any single one from gaining an upper hand. Those who are not part of the coalition are fair game that no one will lift a finger to protect."

  "Silly me to think there might be an ounce of honor among them."

  Quinn said, "Some do possess honor, but the majority will always watch out for number one first. I see no value in telling the Tribunal until we have definitive proof of where Veronika is and what she's doing. That way, we can prevent any leaks to the Medb. Those bloody warmongers would find a way to use Witchlock against us."

  "I have no idea what we do now, Quinn."

  "You continue to stay safe."

  "Don't start on me," she warned.

  Quinn sounded as if he sat up straight and leaned forward when he spoke. "This is me speaking as your Maistir. And as such, I am ordering you to not put yourself in a position for the Medb to pile any new evidence against you."

  She pulled the phone away and looked at it, then brought it back to her ear. "Yes, sir."

  "Tzader and Storm are the overprotective ones. I know what you can do, Evalle. We will find a way to prove your innocence but it will do me no good to stand there with proof if you're dead or caught in one of their traps and forced to be under their control."

  She grinned at his confidence in her. "Thank you. I'm so freaking tired of everyone suddenly treating me like I'll break."

  "Not you." Quinn chuckled and it almost sounded like the man she'd known for a long time. "How's mated life?"

  "I have no idea to be honest, but I can tell you cohabitating isn't as simple as I'd thought it would be. Of course, we had all of six hours together here the first day before Storm had to leave to track a troll killer." She shrugged and finally admitted, "Feenix and Storm are not hitting it off."

  "What's the problem?"

  "He's possessive and territorial."

  "Which one?"

  "Huh," she murmured. "Both, I guess."

  Warmth came through when Quinn said, "They both love you."

  "Yes."

  "They have to learn to share."

  That was easier said than done. "But it's more than that. I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a mate."

  He laughed softly. "What do you think qualifies someone to be a mate?"

  "For starters, I should be able to cook one freakin' edible meal. Anybody should be able to do that. Me? Evidently not. For another thing, I can't go outside in the daylight, which pretty much means the only time we can leave is in the dark. That's not normal. Who wants to live that way?" She was getting worked up, but for the first time she was spilling her guts and when she said it out loud this sounded even more like a plan that had no chance to succeed.

  "Storm knew you were nocturnal when he met you, Evalle."

  "I know."

  "Has he ever asked if you could cook?"

  "Not really, but my lack of skill will be obvious soon."

  "I doubt it. I've spent enough time with Storm to have an idea of the type of man he is and I don't think any of that matters to him."

  She considered Quinn's take on everything, then recalled the buckle incident. "I hear you, but I can't fix the tension between them."

  "They'll have to work it out. There are some things you can't do." Quinn paused and asked, "What's the worst that can happen?"

  "He'd leave me." She hated how vulnerable that sounded.

  "Do you really think Storm would do that?"

  "No, not walk away from me." She hated sounding so inflexible, but she admitted the truth, "I want Storm here. I want to live together."

  "If it comes to separate places, you could make it work, couldn't you?" Quinn asked gently.

  "Yes." But she'd been so happy at the idea of Storm being with her. Of being with him everyday. She loved Feenix, but she'd never realized how alone she'd been as a woman until Storm came into her life.

  But Storm hadn't even mentioned bringing anything from his house to make this place more his home.

  He probably didn't want to risk Feenix destroying his personal items.

  She didn't want Feenix damaging Storm's things, but neither did she want to see Feenix sad. No-win situation. She had bigger things to worry about and turned the subject back to something productive.

  "Storm is tracking every place I told him I'd seen the demon on Stone Mountain and around the base where the body of the warlock was found, but I haven't heard word from him yet."

  "He texted me that he was following leads."

  Storm hadn't texted her.

  Because he didn't want to wake you, her harpy of a conscience said.

  Determined to not make a mountain out of a molehill, she acted as if that was fine. "How do you want to handle this Veronika issue?"

  "You and Adrianna keep me in the loop if you find out anything. I shouldn't have to tell you to stay out of Veronika's reach."

  "Nope. I'm following my Maistir's orders," she said in a teasing tone, but meant every word. "If we can determine where Veronika is going to observe the eclipse and do her woo-woo when it happens, we may have to call in Sen to stop her. She's that powerful. I'd be concerned about having Beladors go up against her and especially if they linked."

  "Point taken. We keep this on a need to know basis and I'll deal with bringing in Sen if it comes to that. I don't trust that bastard any further than I could toss him."

  She didn't either, but for once, Evalle hoped Sen wa
s as deadly as he seemed.

  She hung up with Quinn and texted Adrianna: Have you heard or seen anything?

  Adrianna sent back: R u just now rolling, Sleeping Beauty?

  Evalle's face heated at the dig, but she texted: I told Quinn about V and the realm. He's the new Belador Maistir. Won't share what he knows on this. Text/call him if you find out anything before I do.

  The phone hummed with an incoming call. Adrianna

  Evalle answered, getting in the first shot. "Don't bitch at me about telling Quinn. I have a duty to protect the Beladors, too."

  "I understand and I'm trying to keep the greater good in perspective," Adrianna said. "But if Quinn or anyone else interferes and costs me my sister, they'll regret it."

  Evalle looked up, where no answers majikally appeared on the ceiling and said, "If you trust me, you trust Quinn. Just so you know, he isn't telling anyone at VIPER about this and he won't send out some blanket order to Beladors, because it would be suicidal to send them in with no idea what they were up against. But if Veronika shows up, we'll have every Belador we need stepping up to help."

  "I hear you, but I'm telling you the fewer people involved, the better, because I am the only one who can break that chain of power and that's only if I can open the bond with Ragan. She and I have to open the bond at the same time."

  "Do we have any reason to believe Veronika will be anywhere near Atlanta for the eclipse?"

  "No, and in fact I expect her to stay away because she knows I'm here," Adrianna explained. "If she's smart, she isn't going to risk me interfering again without the realm to drain my power. Even if she does come here, I don't expect her to show up until the last minute, so I'm guessing that we have until right before the eclipse tomorrow to find her."

  Not much time. Evalle asked, "Shouldn't we warn people?"

  "What would you tell them? Run for the hills?" Adrianna was silent for a moment, as if thinking. "No. There will be no hiding from her if she gains Witchlock. A deity might have a chance against her, but they aren't going to put their pantheons on the line for anyone."

  "That's what Quinn said."

  "He's right."

  Evalle started digging out fresh clothes. "Have you found out anything?"

  "No, and I consider that good news. I've been searching out Nightstalkers for hours, but coming up empty. What about your guy?"