Evalle gave him an incredulous look and huffed. "Now I understand why Adrianna said she can't be with someone who can't meet her halfway."
"That's no longer an issue."
Staring holes through him, Adrianna waited until Isak finally looked her in the eyes. She said, "Would have been nice if you'd just listened to me when I tried to tell you we wouldn't work. Would have been even nicer if you'd never come by my house last night. Just so we're clear, don't ever come near me again or send your men. I won't play the good witch next time."
Bitter? Yes. She'd opened her heart and her body to this man and he'd stomped on her trust.
Spewing curses under her breath, Evalle shoved her hands on her hips. "Your loss, Isak. Big loss."
For a moment, he looked at Adrianna as if he agreed with Evalle, but Adrianna forced herself to stand stoically. She'd learned to manage her facial reactions many years ago and right now she had stone-cold bitch face firmly in place.
Isak called to Kit, "You ready, Kit?"
Kit hugged each of the twins, whispering to them. Then she joined Isak. As he stepped away, he said over his shoulder, "The second Hummer will be waiting for you."
Evalle replied, "She doesn't need it and neither do the boys. We take care of our people."
Still, Adrianna said nothing so he continued on with his mother.
The twins walked over and Evalle asked them, "Did you power up your hearing and eavesdrop?"
They didn't even look embarrassed when they both said, "Yes."
"Shoot. I'm sorry."
Kardos shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We're not concerned. Kit said she'd have a talk with Isak."
Adrianna didn't have the heart to tell them that wasn't going to fix it. Isak was now firmly on the opposite side of the line drawn between humans and nonhumans.
She'd stay on her side, far away from the man who had mangled her heart. He'd never get that close to it again.
Chapter 39
Frogs were singing a chirping chorus, probably celebrating the end of the monsoon that had hit Atlanta.
A soft, chilly breeze stirred the night air as Quinn found Reese standing back, staring at the tomb with a face covered in worry.
"Thank you for staying, Reese."
She turned and the sadness in her eyes tore at him.
What was so awful in her world? He asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
He'd figured out that she had an interest in Kizira's body and was damned glad she hadn't done anything to make him regret letting her stay around. Not yet.
"Reese, I don't know who sent you here, but I don't think your interest in Kizira's body is personal. Am I right?"
"Yes."
He waited, hoping she'd give him more, but Reese was not someone who gave up anything without a fight. He actually admired that about her. "What did you want with Kizira's body?"
"Nothing really. Coming here was a means to an end. I was offered something significant for delivering her to another interested party," she explained, stepping carefully with her words. "But ... I now realize the only place Kizira belongs is wherever you place her."
After battling for this tomb, Quinn was humbled that this person who had no investment in him or his life would understand what this meant to him. He'd told Reese nothing about how he had to protect his daughter and that Kizira held the key to finding her, but this woman understood the emotional connection that he had anyhow.
She'd also seen what he hadn't been able to admit--that he'd have to let the body go at some point.
He'd come to terms with that today.
His friends were just as understanding, but this little pistol of a female had been the only one to force him out of the dark place where he'd been living for too long.
She'd made him take stock of what really mattered.
His daughter.
Now that he thought about it, maybe he could make good on what she was doing for him. He could replace Reese's loss by offering her a better deal. No matter what someone else had offered, Quinn would top that as a thank you and offer her more if she could help him find his daughter.
"It was nice meeting you, Quinn, and I wish you luck with all this." She was holding her medallion in a white-knuckled grip.
That sounded like goodbye. "I'm glad I met you, too, Reese, and I'll have someone give you a ride wherever you want to go, but first I have an idea--"
Evalle shouted, "Quinn!"
Shit. "I'll be right back." Quinn stepped over and looked around the corner of the tomb. "What?"
"You don't have much time left."
"I know. Give me a minute." He turned around and ... Reese wasn't there. He raced around the structure even though he knew this time she was really gone.
She couldn't have walked out of here that quickly.
That medallion. Had she teleported away?
He trudged back to where Daegan and Storm had returned most of the ravine to its natural state.
Tristan asked Daegan, "If Queen Maeve isn't behind this, then who is?"
"I don't know, but Lorwerth ..."
"Who was that guy?" Quinn asked.
"He comes from my time. He was my uncle, but he wasn't born with powers. I have no idea who gave him Laochra Fola warriors."
"Good thing they're all dead," Quinn pointed out.
"These may be dead, but the god who created them has more. Rumors flowed about them years ago." Daegan scratched his head and seemed to catch himself. "When we're back on Treoir we'll talk more. I need time to think on what he was saying and what he didn't say."
All of that was clear as mud.
Evalle gave Quinn a worried glance.
Yes, it was almost time for the Tribunal. Quinn told Daegan, "You should probably teleport out of here pretty soon."
"And why is that?"
"The time draws near for me to go to the Tribunal. I apologize again for putting us all in a difficult situation. If I had it to do over, I would have handled her body differently. I had never heard of the Blood Law until Queen Maeve called it into force and demanded the Tribunal act upon it."
"I didn't get the whole run down on the Blood Law," Tristan said. "What is it exactly?"
Daegan stood silently with his arms crossed over his chest as Quinn explained it with specifics.
He wrapped it up by saying, "I did have an honorable reason, but that's not important now." He paused to look at the tomb.
Tristan said, "Daegan hasn't met Sen."
"No big loss there," Evalle offered. "Sen's a boil on the ass of humanity."
Daegan tossed an eyebrow up at that. "Friendly, are you?"
"No. He hates me. He's tried every way possible to have me locked away forever. He came close more than once. That I'm still walking around free is something he probably considers a personal failure."
Quinn noted that Daegan was taking it all in.
Tristan said, "Basically Sen is VIPER's and the Tribunal's messenger boy and enforcer."
"True," Quinn confirmed. "That's why he can find me anywhere in this realm. The minute they realize we are no longer loyal to Macha, they'll expect you to come and meet the Tribunal. The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because none of us have said a word about you taking over Treoir, but no point in putting you in that situation today. If being in the human realm is not a safe place for you, then I seriously doubt going to a realm with three non-ally entities would be any better an idea."
Daegan asked, "What will happen at this Tribunal?"
"They'll demand Kizira's body and for me to hand it over to Queen Maeve. I can open the tomb, but it's a slow process. I had wanted you to teleport it away, but at this point the only safe place for me, or the tomb, would be Treoir. Sending me there would put the Beladors in conflict with VIPER. The Tribunal would lash out. Our people would die."
Daegan listened as if he weighed every word Quinn spoke. The dragon king said, "What other options are there?"
"Not many. I will not open the tomb, so they'll want to hand
me over to Queen Maeve as compensation. If I create a disturbance first, they may decide to lock me up instead. That's my best option right now."
"What kind of disturbance?"
Quinn rubbed his chin. "I might try to dive into Sen's head and see if there's anything in there besides hate."
Evalle said, "Quinn! You're kidding, right? Sen would kill you on the spot."
Exactly what he was thinking. "Of course, I'm joking."
Storm had walked up at that moment and his mouth dropped open with shock. He knew Quinn was lying. Quinn held his gaze, hoping Storm understood what Quinn was doing.
Storm's face darkened with anger, but he held Quinn's confidence. Good man.
"I see," Daegan announced. "And you think to rush me off so I'm not harmed when this Sen shows up?" Daegan's words held a touch of amusement.
"To be honest, yes. The Beladors need you. They need your leadership, and in particular, they need you because you care about them as more than an army to feed your power. We can't afford for anything to happen to you."
Tristan let out a long sigh. "Trust me when I say Daegan's not going to listen to you."
Evalle put in her two cents worth. "What's the deal, Daegan? If you have a vulnerability, you should let us know so we can watch your back."
Daegan bristled. "You expect me to admit a weakness? We already went over that."
"Good grief. You men just kill me." She crossed her arms, looking just as deadly as the dragon king. "We have to build a cohesive army. If we know where someone will attack, we can defend against it, but if you don't tell us, then we're of no use to you, the Treoir family or the Beladors."
Storm watched with a grin that said, my woman.
"You've made a valid point," Daegan admitted. "I don't wish to speak of this further outside of Treoir, but I'll admit it's the truth that I'm at greater risk from a god or goddess if I'm in a realm other than Treoir or my mother's."
Before Quinn could ask just who his mother was, power flooded the area and Sen appeared between their group and the tomb.
The liaison took one look around and asked, "What happened here?"
"It does not involve you," Daegan answered.
Sen arched an arrogant eyebrow at Daegan. "Who are you?"
"I might ask the same of you."
Tension crept higher. Any minute now the air would combust from it.
Since there was no way to hide their new leader, Quinn nodded at Daegan and said, "This is Daegan Treoir, the new ruler of the Beladors." He didn't want to share the part about Daegan being a dragon since less was always better in these situations. "And this is Sen, the VIPER liaison I told you about."
Both of Sen's eyebrows lifted. "What happened to Macha?"
Tristan replied, "She didn't work out. We had to let her go."
Daegan found that amusing.
Quinn gave up all hope of saving their dragon king.
"How long has she been gone?" Sen asked, now sounding like he was the goddess police.
That was a question Quinn might have to answer in the Tribunal, which meant he couldn't lie or he'd light up like a red beacon. "Five days."
"And VIPER is just now being informed?"
"No," Daegan said. "You're being informed. Anyone else will be informed as I get around to it. If you have an issue with a Belador, you bring it to me."
Sen's chuckle had an evil kick. "No. If I have an issue with anyone, I take it to the Tribunal. I don't answer to anyone else. I've heard nothing about you taking over the Beladors, which means you've failed to inform VIPER and the Tribunal. They aren't going to be happy to find out the Beladors aren't under a pantheon."
Shrugging, Daegan said, "I don't care what they think."
Quinn silently groaned.
Evalle chewed on her lip and Storm now stood with his hand on her shoulder.
Tristan frowned, flipping his gaze from Daegan to Sen and back.
Sen laughed out loud. "You aren't going to be around for long." Then Sen addressed Quinn, "Time for you to open that tomb and pull out Kizira's body." He'd pointed his thumb over his shoulder.
When Evalle sucked in a breath, Quinn leaned over to look at what caused her reaction.
Sen finally turned. "What happened to the tomb?"
Quinn told him, "I have no idea." But if Tristan or Daegan had teleported it away, Kizira was still not safe from Queen Maeve.
Angry now, Sen said, "Let's go."
Daegan said, "I believe I'll join you."
Quinn sent Daegan a telepathic message. You can't go there, Daegan. Those three entities in the Tribunal can do whatever they want. You'd be facing triple a god's power.
Daegan replied in the same silent way. I will not have my people standing alone to face any threat.
Quinn had to tell Evalle how to open the tomb and what to do with Kizira's body. He said to Sen for everyone's benefit, "I have two minutes before I'm due at the meeting. I'd like to talk with my team--"
The bastard smiled and waved his hands, sending them teleporting.
Chapter 40
Tuatha De Danann
Dakkar found Macha stretched out on a lounger covered in white and gold fur. She stared out into an endless dimension that appeared to be an infinite sky.
In reality, the view was whatever she dreamed up in her home realm of Tuatha De Danann.
He'd spent years running a bounty operation, even cutting a deal with VIPER to allow him space to function in North America of the human world as long as his people performed the occasional operation for the coalition. He'd built quite an empire and most of the preternaturals had no idea just how large it was or how far his reach extended.
But Macha knew.
She and Dakkar went back, way back.
One day, he would have almost as much power as she did. Almost.
He couldn't travel here unless she teleported him.
For now.
She'd been sullen since leaving Treoir Island. Let's not sugarcoat it. She was tossed out.
Without moving a muscle to face him, she asked, "Do you bring good news, Dakkar?"
"Yes, and no."
She moved a muscle this time and changed locations faster than he could blink. She had him up in the air with his throat gripped so tightly in one hand, he gasped for air. The goddess could not be harmed here.
He wouldn't dare use power against her in this realm, not if he wanted to live another day.
Energy flashed around her in golden sparks.
He stroked her arm with his hand, trying to calm her.
After several long seconds of watching stars fly through his gaze, she released him. His feet hit the ground, but he had preternatural agility that he'd been born with, just another perk for a mage of his power.
He straightened his suit jacket and smoothed back his hair. Macha had once enjoyed running her hands through his black hair. He'd have her back in his bed again, but not until she saw him as an equal. His muscular body had served him well under the rule of Genghis Khan, but the majik he'd been born with and a keen intelligence had made the difference between dying in that era or becoming immortal.
All he had to do was hand Macha what she wanted and she would give him what he wanted, with a smile. He cleared his throat and explained, "I was successful in my campaign with Lorwerth."
"Oh?"
Now he had her attention. "Yes, the Laochra Fola performed as expected. We even had Kizira's body in hand at one time."
"At one time is the same as saying you failed to gain possession of it. I had a purpose for that body." She floated away, ignoring him.
Actually, he wanted to thrash Lorwerth for costing him Kizira's body and the gryphons, but all of them were expendable in view of the greater goal. "I understand my dove, but that body has too many people vying for it. Besides, that's hardly the good news."
Turning on a loud sigh, she said, "Then enlighten me."
"We had Evalle and Tristan captive along with the tomb."
She flew back to
him. "And?"
"Daegan came for them himself."
Now he had her attention. Her eyes glowed with excitement. "Did you kill that dragon?"
"Not yet."
She flew away, screaming in rage.
Gorgeous female minions came running in. "What do you require of us, goddess?"
"Nothing. Go away."
They were gone just as quickly.
Macha swept around in a flurry of sparkling gold and red. Her entire gown moved as a light display. "How is any of this good news?"
"Because now I know for sure I can bring Daegan out of Treoir. He's arrogant in thinking he's safe."
She didn't praise him, but neither did she blast him. "How many of my Beladors did you kill?"
"None actually. When you take control of Treoir again, you'll still have an army."
"If I take control again," she said, floating down to settle on the lounger again with an exquisite but glum face.
Now that the atmosphere had improved, Dakkar strolled over. "Not if, but when. I told you. We both have goals. I'm here to help with yours, then you can help with mine."
"I want that dragon dead. The minute he's dead that island is mine again."
"Soon, but not yet. You need the Beladors to want to follow you again. That isn't going to happen right now and definitely not if you are blamed for killing their new pet dragon. Everything will happen in its own time. At the right time. I would have preferred to deliver the body and gryphons to you as well as kill Daegan. Were that within my power, it would have happened," he pointed out to remind her she could have given him additional juice for facing Daegan. "I was not in a position to kill the dragon, but the additional good news is that he now thinks Maeve was behind all of this."
The energy that had been firing around her calmed.
She smiled, which was the same as high praise from this goddess.
Finally, the time Dakkar had spent dealing with that miserable Lorwerth and his heinous Laochra Fola was going to pay dividends.
He eased down next to her, taking Macha's slender hand in his. He kissed the soft skin, looking forward to gaining more than her good graces. "You are too beautiful to be kept tucked away in this realm. You are too powerful to be denied. You are too intelligent to allow anyone to outplay you. I am your servant in all things."
"Very well. What do you have in mind, Dakkar?"
Here was the woman he could play like a finely-tuned instrument.
Chapter 41
Tribunal meeting, Nether Realm
Dragon King of Treoir Page 29
