by Amy Patrick
I wasn’t sure how long I went on like that, only that every time I glanced ahead to see the ship, it had pulled farther out of my reach. Fierce panic lacerated my insides. I could not—could not—lose sight of her.
Around me the waves picked up. My body began bobbing up and down as I swam, and the noise of another motor made me turn my head to the left.
A yacht—not as large as the one belonging to Culley’s mother but not too shabby itself—had pulled alongside me. There was a splash as a metallic ladder unfolded and hit the water.
“Care to come aboard?”
Nox stood on the deck just above the ladder, smiling. I turned and swam to the ladder, grateful beyond words to see him. I couldn’t have gone on much longer, though I’d have sunk to the bottom of the East River before stopping.
My muscles trembled as I reached the top of the ladder. Nox extended a hand to help me onto the deck.
“I’m guessing you borrowed this ride?” I asked him.
He grinned. “Not exactly. We, uh, persuaded the owners, Frank and Barb, to take an impromptu late-night cruise.”
Nox took a few steps and opened the door to the yacht’s main cabin. I peered inside, where a dazed-looking middle-aged couple sat on a sofa in their pajamas, staring blankly at a video screen. I’d bet when Frank and Barb settled in for an evening of streaming television they never expected to become part of an Elven high-speed yacht chase.
I closed the door again. “And the captain?”
“Asher’s on the bridge with him, laying on the Sway.”
“Good thinking. We’ll catch up to Falene in no time with this. And maybe she won’t suspect anything until the last minute. I think we still have the element of surprise.”
I sent another message to Ryann. We’re right behind you. Be there soon. You still okay?
I am, but I’m not alone anymore. There’s a healer with me—sounds Australian. She must have brought him along.
More likely he’d sailed here with the ship’s captain to meet his fearless leader and provide medical care for Ryann. Or deliver the baby.
Okay, well that’s got to be a good thing, right? You’re under medical care.
I guess so. He gave me something. I don’t know what it is.
That had me concerned, but we were almost there. I’d have Ryann back in my arms and under my care very soon.
It’s probably another sedative shot. Don’t worry. When we come aboard, I’ll find you. If you are still awake, just know there might be a bit of a ruckus. Stay in your room, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt.
Be careful Lad. I love you.
Love you, too, sweet girl. See you soon.
The captain of our yacht pulled up alongside Falene’s. I instructed Asher to hang back and keep an eye on the humans. Ideally there wouldn’t be a fight—we’d do this quietly, sneak onto Falene’s yacht, grab Ryann, and be back within minutes, using this boat as an escape vehicle.
One by one, Culley, Nox, and I dropped onto the Illusion’s stern pool deck. And there was no ruckus. Not at first.
It was quiet and dark as we crept toward the staircases leading up to the main cabin level. Then a tall figure rounded the corner from what looked like a gym room in the center of the deck and spotted us. Within moments, light flooded the pool deck. Another guard ran down the staircase nearest Culley, obviously alerted by the first one.
The first guard went for Nox, throwing a punch that connected with his jaw. Nox was still standing, though, and giving it right back to his attacker, so I moved toward Culley, intending to help him.
A third man came into sight, gripping the top of the stairs and swinging down, throwing himself into my chest, feet first.
I went flying backward into the pool, crashing through a thin layer of ice and going under for a second as I reeled from the painful blow. When I popped to the surface, he dived in after me.
We grappled in the water, exchanging jabs and taking turns being forced under the surface. He was big—obviously Elven—but I was stronger and good in the water. I knocked him out and dragged him to the side of the pool so he wouldn’t drown.
Looking up to check on my friends, I saw Nox depositing his opponent over the deck railing. Culley was holding his own as well. He had his guard pinned to the deck beneath him, and Nox was moving in his direction. Hopefully there were only those three on board, but just in case, I’d be wary as I made my way inside to find Ryann.
“I’m going in to search for her,” I told my companions. “She said she’s in one of the cabins.”
A loud bang caused the three of us to duck. Looking around for the gunman, I spotted someone standing on the upper deck with a pistol raised in the air. It was Falene. She wasn’t alone.
She held Ryann by the upper arm and redirected the pistol’s muzzle to the side of Ryann’s head. There was a man with her as well—the Australian healer, I assumed.
“Her heart rate’s very elevated, my queen,” he warned Falene. “It could jeopardize the baby.”
“Well that’s not my fault,” she barked at him. Then she threw a stony glance down at us. “It’s theirs. You—” she jerked a nod at me. “I understand why you’re here, foolish as it may be. But you…”
Her gaze turned to Culley. It was filled with such scorn a chill ran down my spine.
“I did not expect to see you here—or anywhere ever again. I guess it wasn’t enough to betray your family for a human girl. Now you’re aligning yourself with the Light Court?”
“Not just the Light Court,” Nox interjected. “You’re tangling with the American Dark Court as well, Falene. We haven’t been introduced. I’m Nox Jerrick, the Dark King.”
“Oh my. Now I see the resemblance to your dear departed father. My condolences,” she snarled in an insincere tone through pouty lips.
“I haven’t betrayed anyone, Mother.” Culley wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I fell in love. And I’ve aligned myself with what’s right. You’ve taken the queen of the Light Court. You’re putting her unborn child at risk. You can’t possibly think you’re on the right side of this thing? What did you expect the reaction from the American courts to be?”
Her eyes narrowed to hateful slits. “And what did you expect my reaction to be when you left me without an heir? Without any possibility of passing my throne down to the next generation?”
“Well, not kidnapping, that’s for sure. And I’m not dead, you know,” he muttered.
“You may as well be. I don’t want your phone calls or your letters,” she spat. “What I wanted was a son who’d make me proud and make a helpful alliance with the other Dark leaders, who’d learn and listen and become a suitable leader himself someday. All of your potential, your gifts… utterly wasted.”
He didn’t respond. But I had something to say. “It’s over, Falene. Whatever your grievances are, you’re not going to take my wife and child. You’ll have to kill me first.”
Her sudden smile was as wide as it was cold. She pointed the gun at me. “I have no problem with that.”
“And me,” Nox said, stepping forward.
And me, Asher added, speaking mind-to-mind to me. I darted a glance to Nox to see if he’d been included in the message. He gave me a slight nod to show he had.
I’m on board, Asher continued. I’ll try to sneak up behind her and get the gun. Just keep the villain monologuing.
Falene rotated the gun toward Nox, then back to me, then back to Nox. Her confident expression wavered, but she kept up her verbal show of unconcern.
“Fine. If you both wish to make your final stand here and leave your kingdoms—and your own bond-mate, Nox—so be it. There are plenty of bullets in this gun.”
Culley stepped forward, moving in front of both of us and spreading his arms out wide to the sides, exposing his chest like a bullseye target.
“Got one for me, too, Mum? Because you’re gonna need it. None of us will leave here without the girl.”
<
br /> Falene’s eyes bulged. Her voice dripped revulsion. “You would give your life for this half-breed? For the Light Court? Then you truly are no son of mine.”
She looked wildly about then pointed the gun back at Ryann.
No. Adrenaline spiked in my veins, charging my pulse and spurring me to take action. My hands clenched into fists.
Asher, you just about ready to make a move here?
Almost there, he said.
“If the girl is the problem,” Falene said. “…you may have her—after I’ve gotten what I came for.”
Her crazed, vicious gaze moved from Culley to her healer, who stood to one side, his eyes wide with either shock or trepidation. Must have been his first kidnapping.
“How long will it take you to extract the baby?” she demanded.
He shook his head, obviously confused. “Extract… I… I’m not sure what you mean, my queen.”
She gestured with the gun, twirling it in an impatient circle near her own ear. “After I shoot the Light Queen. How many minutes will that give you to get the baby out?”
A roar ripped from my throat. Time was up. I had to make a move. I leapt for the railing of the upper deck, catching it with my fingertips then swinging myself onto the second deck and launching my body forward, attempting to put myself between Ryann and her captor.
Before I could reach them, Falene looped her arm around Ryann’s neck, backing away and dragging Ryann with her. I was too late, inches too short. She would shoot my bond-mate now at point blank range.
That was when Asher appeared, charging from the main cabin directly into Falene’s back. He wrapped his arms around her and yanked downward in a move reminiscent of a football tackle, meant to strip her of the pistol.
It worked. The gun clattered to the deck surface… but not before a single shot went off.
The deafening sound rang in my ears and knocked the breath out of me. At least I thought it was the noise. Looking down at my torso, I checked for blood, for a bullet hole. I’d been shot once before—I knew it could take a few seconds for the pain to register.
There was nothing. I hadn’t been shot. But there was blood on the deck. Which meant…
No!
I rushed toward Ryann, who lay on the deck in the fetal position, arms wrapped around her belly protectively.
“Ryann,” I yelled, dropping to my knees beside her, my eyes searching her body frantically for damage. Then to Asher, I yelled, “You’ve got to help her. She’s been shot.”
He put a hand on my shoulder. “No. She wasn’t.”
I looked up to see his grimace. His turquoise eyes were filled with dread. “But he was. Looks like the Australian healer is dead.”
Overcome with a strange combination of relief and horror, I twisted to see where Asher pointed. Sure enough, Falene’s healer lay in a pool of blood.
It was sad, to be sure. I didn’t want to see anyone die unnecessarily. But he had been a participant in this whole depraved plan. I wasn’t sure why Asher seemed so distraught. Did he know the man?
Apparently just spotting her healer’s lifeless body, Falene howled, “Nooooo.”
Asher still held her arms tightly behind her. At first, I thought she was mourning the healer, but then she said, “My baby. Isak was supposed to get my baby for me. I had it all planned. I had it planned. Now no one will have the heir.”
She sagged, her body going limp against Asher.
“Can you take her and lock her up in one of the cabins?” I asked him.
“You got it. I’ll be right back to check on Ryann.”
“I’ll go with him,” Culley said. “In case the whole wailing and gnashing of teeth thing is an act and she’s still got some fight in her—she’s a bloody strong woman. Come along, Mother.”
The two dragged Falene into the cabin, and Nox stepped close to me. I hadn’t even noticed him come onto the upper deck. He knelt beside me as I held Ryann cradled on my lap. She was unconscious, which worried me.
“She’s not hurt?” he asked softly.
“She wasn’t shot,” I said. “But she might have hit her head when Falene dropped her—or maybe the sedative kicked in. She said the healer gave her something.”
He nodded. “Asher can take a look in a minute. I’m going to call the pilot and tell him we’re on our way to the airport, and then I’ll have a word with the captain, get him to turn this thing around and go back to port.”
A minute after Nox stood and walked away, Ryann opened her eyes. Her pupils were wide and dark. She blinked a few times.
“Lad?”
A surge of joy flooded me. “Yes, sweet girl. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
“I knew you’d find me,” she said. She turned her head, searching the deck. “Where’s Falene?”
“Asher and Culley have her. They’re locking her up. We’ll call the police in a few minutes and report her for art theft and attempting to flee the country. The police will also find the healer’s body here, along with the gun and Falene’s fingerprints all over it. They won’t be able to hold her for long, but it’ll tie her up long enough for us to get far away from here.”
Ryann nodded, and her eyes came back to mine. “She wanted to take the baby, Lad.” Her voice was choked. “She was planning to raise our child as her own.”
Mine was a little hoarse when I answered. “I know. But we stopped her. She can’t hurt you or the baby now. You’re safe. How are you feeling? Did the fall hurt you?”
Ryann seemed to consider it for a moment. “No. I think I’m okay.”
“All right then, I’m going to help you stand up. We’ll go over to one of the benches for the ride back. Unless you’d rather be in a bed.”
“I think I’ll be okay to sit.”
I supported her as she got to her feet, and we started moving slowly toward the nearest cushioned bench. Suddenly Ryann stopped and clasped her belly.
“What is it?”
“I think something’s wrong.” Her face was pale, her eyes wide and dark.
“Are you in pain?”
“Not exactly. I think… I think maybe the baby’s coming.”
15
Chapter Fifteen
RYANN
“I can’t have this baby on a boat.”
The panic was evident in my voice. But I remembered very well what Altum’s healer had told me. Wickthorne had said it was critical that I be in Altum for the delivery.
“Lad, we have to get home. Wickthorne said I couldn’t go to the hospital in Oxford or anything. Human doctors won’t know what to do, and it would expose the secret.”
“I don’t give a damn about the secret,” Lad said. “All I care about is you.”
He lifted his head and shouted. “Asher! Where are you?”
Asher must have already been on his way back to us because he emerged from the cabin and was at my side in seconds.
“Right here. What’s the situation?”
Before I could answer, pain gripped me. My fingers on Lad’s arm tightened, and I winced.
“Are you having a contraction?” Asher asked.
“I’ve never had one before.” I had to stop and pant before continuing. “But I think so.”
Asher looked up at Lad, holding eye contact with him for a few seconds.
“What did you say to him?” I demanded.
The young healer’s gaze came back to me, filled with uncertainty.
“Tell me, Asher. I’m the patient here. And I can handle it. Don’t hide anything from me. What’s going on with my baby?”
Lad nodded at him, and Asher answered. “This is not… ideal.”
“No kidding,” I said. “I’m on a boat hundreds of miles from home. And the healer Falene bragged was such an expert on Elven labor and delivery is dead. But it could be worse, right? You’re here. You’re a healer.”
“I am. But I’m far from an expert. I’m barely above apprentice level. I don’t have any experience with this. There were no pregnancies in Altum before
I left to train Alessia in Scotland. And I didn’t get to train with Wickthorne during yours because I was gone.”
Beside me, Lad flinched. His face was tense with an obvious sense of guilt. He’d forced Asher to leave Altum if he wanted to train Alessia. If Lad had allowed the Ancient Court princess in, both Asher and Alessia would have experience working with maternity patients. Lad was the reason Asher didn’t know how to help me.
“Well, I guess you’re about to get some experience then,” I said to Asher. “Every healer’s got to have a first baby delivery, right?”
He grimaced. “It’s not just that. It’s too early. When we were locking her up inside, Falene kept babbling about how we’d be sorry, how no one would have the baby now because both you and the infant would die. Her healer gave you something to induce labor.”
“And that’s dangerous?”
Asher nodded. “Early is definitely not good. There are risks to the baby—underdeveloped lungs, anemia, increased risk of brain hemorrhage, an immature digestive system, chance of blindness, that’s not even to mention all the risks to you.”
I barely heard his last few words regarding me over the pounding in my ears. The fact that Falene would risk hurting my baby had me caught up in a typhoon of fury and fright. “Why would she do that? Why would she take the chance of harming the baby?”
“She believed her experienced healer would be able to handle it, and… well there’s no nice way to say it… your health wasn’t her top concern. All she cared about was claiming that baby as soon as possible and slipping him out of the country.”
“So my baby could die?” I said, starting to hyperventilate.
Lad held a hand up to Asher. “That’s enough information for right now. What can we do?”
“There might be something that would stop the labor or at least slow it down, but I don’t know what. The best chance for Ryann and the baby is to get them back to Altum as soon as possible.”
“Ow. Ow ow ow.” I dug my fingernails into Lad’s hand. “Okay, I’m gonna say that was definitely a contraction. I felt squeezing that time, like my whole stomach tightened up.”
