by Rush, Jaime
“Because I’m a Dragon?” she said, feeling Archer’s hand squeeze in warning.
“I don’t advocate the joining of Caido with any other being.”
“So you prefer they remain like monks?” she asked.
“Rather than being with a Dragon, yes.”
Archer took over the conversation. “I have heard that you are capable of changing the orientation of a fetus from, say, Dragon to Caido.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who told you this?”
“Jeremy Grant.”
Silva’s mouth twitched but otherwise he gave nothing away. “I must have a word with this Jeremy for spreading insinuations. I cannot change a fetus.” He shook his head. “Sad, that. So few of us, so many of them.” He deigned to glance at her.
“That’s not why we’re here,” Archer said. He tugged her closer. “Can you change an adult’s essence?”
His eyebrows rose at that. “Change her from Dragon to Caido?”
Archer nodded. “She doesn’t want to be Dragon anymore.”
Silva’s smile was acidic. “Because she’s in love with you. And you with her. How fucking romantic.” He speared her with a harsh look. “You would deny your Dragon? Give it up for love?”
She nodded, feeling her Dragon shake. She pulled her ache, her need to save Archer from his pain, to the surface for Silva to feel. He had obviously picked up her feelings for Archer. No, she would never give up her Dragon, even if it were possible. It was too much a part of her.
“Say the words, girl.”
“I…” She looked at Archer, afraid to trigger something she couldn’t stop. But no, Silva wouldn’t do anything without extracting a price first. “I want to become Caido.” Her hand went to her tattoo, assuring her Dragon with a stroke of her fingers.
“No, you don’t. I feel the falseness of your statement.” He looked at Archer. “She would not give up her essence for you. Do you see the folly of falling for someone other than Caido? Go, I am done with you.”
Silva walked out, and the minion stepped into the open doorway. “You will follow me.” He looked pleased, probably having heard everything. He wouldn’t look so pleased in about thirty seconds if they were following their plan.
Lyra leaned to the right so she could watch Silva. He walked farther back into the house, the echo of his shoes on the marble fading.
Archer paused in front of a garish painting, pretending to read the signature. “Isn’t this Palente? Looks like his work.”
He was buying time for Silva to get out of earshot.
“Sir,” the man said, impatience clear in the grit of his voice.
Archer did a great job of looking clueless. He started to follow but grabbed the guy’s hair and jerked him back into the parlor. He slammed his hand against the minion’s forehead, and a bright flash of Light seared his skin. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
Lyra watched the doorway to make sure no one came in. All clear. Archer dragged his body behind the sofa. Then he crept back out to the foyer. He must be headed toward where he’d sensed someone. The word ‘Pop’ wanted to burst out of her mouth.
He led them up the grand staircase, where a balcony stretched across the width of the foyer. A wide hallway down the center led to a veranda that opened to the Biscayne Bay. On either side of the hallway were doors.
“Hey, who are you?” A young, fresh-faced Caido stood by an open door he’d obviously just opened. Curiosity morphed to alarm. He started to yell something, but Archer was faster. He blasted him with Light that sent him flying backward into the room from which he’d come. Archer caught him before he hit the floor and eased him quietly down.
They looked around, clearly in a bedroom suite. She searched the bathroom and closet but found no sign of their missing people.
When they stepped out of the room, Silva stood at the top of the stairs, cold fury on his face. A beam of Light shot from Silva’s hand, aimed right at them. Archer grabbed her as he fell back into the room. They had no more landed on the thick carpet when he kicked the door closed.
They both jumped to their feet, and Archer locked the door. Lyra pointed to where shadows slid beneath the door. Wraiths! Her Dragon took over, whipping its tail at the wraith coming at her. With the oversized furniture here, there was no room to fight. Archer’s wings tore through his back, doubling him over. She swiped at the wraiths who would take advantage of those few seconds of vulnerability. One bit into her hand, and she clamped her claws over it, making it screech. She flung it against the dresser, then kicked another one after it.
Two more slipped beneath the door. How many did Silva have? How many lost souls had become his ghostly slaves? Archer cut across them with a beam of Light like a sword. The top halves of their “bodies” toppled over. He kept cutting, slicing them to bits until they disintegrated.
Something grabbed her from behind, sharp talons tearing into her throat. Another one yanked her tail and pulled her off balance. Her fall dislodged the wraith at her throat.
Archer lunged for the wraith attached to her tail. It skittered up her back, and she curled her tail to jab it with her stinger.
The wraith was fast, though. It screeched as the tip touched it and dropped to the floor, only to jump at her again. Archer fought three of them at once, turning constantly to block and cut at them.
She saw him checking on her. “I’m fine.”
The last thing he needed was to worry about her. She spun around and whacked a wraith with her tail, sending it tumbling. Her tail struck, injecting the wraith with magick poison. The wraith burst into a ball of sparks and disappeared. But her tail had taken a hit, stinging with slashes inflicted by her opponents.
Archer grabbed a wraith by the throat and shook it violently while thrusting a beam of Light into its chest. It shuddered and turned to black dust. She smacked down the last wraith with her tail, nailing it with her stinger. It went poof.
Before they could even catch their breath, something thick wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. The snake! Archer’s face tensed with fury as he lunged toward it with his sword. Her body tingled, as though a million fire ants covered her, and then a blinding light obliterated everything.
“This is where you wanted to go—isn’t that right? You almost found this room on your own, if you’d gone right instead of left.”
Silva’s voice, the only thing she sensed in a void. Slowly, her surroundings came into focus, a dark cavern. First Silva, his wings huge and dark silver, standing…lower than she? She looked down to the floor several feet below. Then from side to side. She was pinned to the wall by the snake. Anika was in the same predicament next to her.
Where was Archer?
The walls were covered with the kind of baffling she’d seen in a radio DJ’s booth, dark and wavy. Soundproofing. This room resembled an efficiency apartment, with a small table and living area. A man was hunched in a recliner.
“Pop?”
Her father lifted his head, and he didn’t look happy to see her. “Oh, Lyra.”
She could barely sense his Dragon or recognize his haggard face. Beside him a baby slept in a crib, blissfully unaware of the horror around it. A baby?
Anika’s cheeks were wet with tears as she looked at Silva. “Please, let me see Jeremy. He’s in a lot of pain.”
Silva regarded her with cold curiosity. “How do you know that, exactly? How did you supposedly see where he was?” He must have been spying on her at Jeremy’s apartment.
Anika’s voice was filled with venom. “I’ll tell you nothing!”
Lyra’s gaze went back to the baby. She felt its essence, its…Dragon-ness. And she knew—Tara’s baby. But no sign of Tara.
Archer crashed through the doorway, his eyes frantic with worry. It eased a fraction when he saw her. He staggered as Silva extended his hand and hit him with what looked like a whip, only he’d created it with the same energy as the snake. She screamed as it cut into the skin on Archer’s chest. Silva hit him again, and
Archer charged at him with his sword. It cut Silva’s arm, leaving a swath of burned flesh and blood.
Silva’s eyes flashed black in fury, looking demonic. He hurled a beam of blinding Light at Archer, throwing him hard against the wall. Silva moved so fast that he was a dark blur. No, he’d changed into something that didn’t look human or angel, but a large black creature that had her Dragon thrashing. Silva crushed Archer against the wall, flattening his wings. Silva’s hands were larger, with claws that gripped Archer’s shoulders and dug into his skin.
“What are you?” Archer gritted out, thrashing futilely against him.
Silva’s long, angular face leaned close to Archer’s. “Your nightmare.” He laughed, deep and rich. “And you could be my delicious morsel.” His tongue lapped Archer’s throat. “But I think you’d be better suited as one of my wraiths, since you have killed mine.”
No! She had to get out, to help. She whipped her tail up to sting at the thick body of the snake. It didn’t budge, didn’t seem affected at all. Because it wasn’t alive, only some insane magick she’d never seen before.
A smash jerked her attention back to the two Caidos. Except there was only Silva, standing in front of a huge hole in the wall. She could see a soundproofed room on the other side, too, but not Archer. Panic seized her. What had happened during the seconds she’d looked away?
Blisters covered Silva’s chest, and midnight fury darkened his eyes. Archer appeared on the other side of the hole, throwing Silva backward, where he landed on the hard floor. Archer stepped into the room, wielding his Light. He spared her only a glance before focusing his angry glare at Silva. Archer’s wings were rumpled. The backs of his legs were cut and red.
Silva, back on his feet, sent a net of Light at Archer. It shattered into tiny shards that flew at his wings and latched on to the feathers. That was probably how Jeremy had been Stripped! Archer pulled in his wings, and the shards began attacking his body like Alfred Hitchcock’s killer birds. Silva took advantage of Archer’s distraction, moving closer. The creepiest part was that he actually seemed to be enjoying the fight—and Archer’s pain.
Archer zapped the living shards with his Light, but there were so many of them stabbing and drawing blood.
“Archer! Watch out!” she screamed as Silva approached from the side.
Silva swung an arc of Light at Archer’s neck. He backed away in the nick of time, though the Light scorched a line across his throat.
If she could only get out. Lyra pushed and wriggled and sank her fangs into the flesh of the snake. It had the consistency of rubber and was just as tough. The thing had too tight of a hold on her.
Wait a minute.
She Catalyzed to human, which left a gap because she was now smaller. The snake began to tighten its hold, but she slipped to the floor before it could grasp her.
The cool air nipped at Lyra’s bare skin, but without clothing, she could move soundlessly. She stayed right behind Silva as he and Archer circled each other. Archer kept his gaze from giving her away, swiping at Silva and the shards. In his demonic form, Silva’s wings were huge, black, and jagged. She Catalyzed again and leaped onto Silva’s back, tearing at the base of his wings.
Silva spun at the sudden attack, wildly reaching back with flailing hands. She saw a deadly glow ignite on his palm. Archer stepped forward and lanced him in the chest. Silva stumbled back, knocking Archer aside. She sliced her claws across Silva’s neck. He twisted, burning her with a white-hot blast of heat. It hurt, pounding through her like a sonic blast. She grimaced and held on, sinking her talons deeper into his skin.
Archer jumped to his feet and nailed him with another slice of his sword, this time across his abdomen. Silva slid on a floor wet with his own blood. With an agonized scream and blinding flash, he disappeared, leaving her on the floor.
She Catalyzed to human again, letting Archer help her to her feet.
Archer surveyed her for injuries. “You were brilliant. You all right?”
“I’m fine.” She looked at the cuts all over his body and the sear across his throat. “But you…”
“I’ll heal. Go, go to your father. I need to find Jeremy.”
Anika was getting up from the floor. The snake was gone. She stumbled toward Archer, pointing at the hole. “The bastard has him next door.” The two went through.
Lyra ran to her father. “Pop!”
He looked at her with eyes so dim that she couldn’t see the flames in them. “Lyra, the baby. Get the baby out of here.”
“And you, Pop. We’re getting you out, too.”
She helped him to his feet, scared at how weak he was, and wrapped her arms around him. Her eyes closed as she soaked in the fact that he was alive. Alive. When she released him, he grabbed on to the top of the chair for support.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he began to unbutton his shirt with trembling fingers.
“Cover…”
Cover? Oh right, she was naked. Details. She slid the shirt on as Anika and Archer returned, helping a pale Jeremy walk between them.
“We didn’t see anyone else,” Archer said.
“Is Silva dead?” Lyra asked.
“Caidos can channel their Light inward to self-destruct. I’ve never seen it, but I think that’s what he did. Check the hall to see if anyone’s out there. We don’t know how many minions Silva has.”
Lyra peered around the open doorway. The house was silent. She went back down again. “I don’t even hear a sound. Maybe they were freed when Silva died. Or they ran off to save their butts.”
The baby started to cry, pumping her little fists. Lyra scooped up the infant, and her cries stilled as she likely sensed a kindred essence. She looked at her father. “Tara’s baby?” When he nodded, she asked, “Where is she?”
“Gone,” he said. “Silva said she died just before we were brought here.”
“Poor baby,” Lyra said, rocking her in her arms. “I know how hard it is to lose your mother when you’re young.” Golden flames flickered in her eyes as she stared at Lyra. “She’s still Dragon. Silva didn’t change her. What did he want with her?”
“Wanted her energy,” Jeremy said in a strained voice. “Like an Essex. Babies and children have the purest essence, and Silva didn’t need consent, as is required of adults.” He was leaning against Anika, his face pale.
Lyra looked at that innocent, chubby face. “That’s horrible. Just to, what, feel emotions safely?” It hit her then, and she took in her weak father. “You offered your energy in her place, didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “I was only buying time.”
She smiled. Her self-effacing pop.
Anika was staring at Jeremy’s back, her expression filled with pain. Lyra couldn’t resist taking a look. She wanted to hiss, too, seeing the torn and bloody design where the tattoo had once been.
Archer caught Lyra’s attention. “I need to take Jeremy to my condo. I can Leap us to the car, and then you’ll have to drive it over.”
In a flash, they were standing by the Aston Martin.
Anika said, “Take me with you. Please.” Her pained gaze went to Jeremy. “I need to be with him.”
Archer nodded, handing Lyra his keys. “I can manage two but that’s all. I’m shattered.”
“What about the baby?” Lyra asked. “We don’t have a car seat.”
Anika said, “I’ll hold her.” She took her from Lyra and gave Archer a pleading look. “Two and a half?”
Archer put his hand on Anika’s arm and Jeremy’s forehead, and they vanished.
Chapter 10
Archer got Anika and Jeremy settled into the guest room and, with great frustration, left them alone. He could do nothing to heal his brother’s stripped wings or his wounded soul. Archer found himself alone in the living room holding the baby. She gripped his finger, her eyes wide as she gazed up at him. Well, this was certainly not anything he imagined he’d be doing. It was odd but not unpleasant.
Despite that, and the fa
ct that his brother was home, he felt empty. Lyra had called to let him know that her twin brother would be meeting them there, so when the doorbell rang and he found two men and a woman there, he assumed the younger man was her twin.
Kirin rushed right past him, scanning the living room. “Where’s Lyra?”
“She should be here any minute.”
The sight of the baby obviously confused Kirin, but he focused on Archer. “All she told me was that everything was all right ‘but that it’s freaky.’ What does that mean? Who are you?”
The door opened, and the sight of Lyra filled the hollowness Archer had just been feeling. Though Kirin started pelting her with questions, she headed directly to Archer. “How is Jeremy?”
“I’ve never heard of anyone having their wings stripped. I don’t know what the repercussions are.” Worry pressed on Archer’s chest like a cement block.
Lyra relieved him of the baby, who was beginning to fuss. She instantly calmed in Lyra’s arms. Lyra took Archer’s hand as she walked to her twin brother, who was guiding their father to the sofa.
Once Kirin had him settled, he turned to Lyra. “Who’s the Caido? Where’d you get the baby? What happened to Pop?”
Lyra leaned closer to Archer. “Archer helped me find Pop.” Pain throbbed as she transmitted how much more there was to their relationship. “We don’t know what happened yet that caused the mess in Pop’s room.”
The man who was with Kirin lifted his hand, his guilt jabbing Archer. “That was my doing, I’m afraid.” When everyone looked at him, he said, “I’m Huff, Ellie’s father.” He nodded to the attractive brunette beside him.
“Ellie is Kirin’s”—Lyra assessed the way they were standing, his posture possessive and protective—“girlfriend.”
Huff pointed at Stein, anger rippling across his face. “When I found Tara’s diary and discovered she was pregnant with your child, I knew you killed her. I created a tulpa to scare you into confessing, but it broke out of my control.”
Stein clutched the arm of the sofa. “She was pregnant with your child, you idiot. We never so much as kissed!” He wheezed, catching his breath. “She was terrified of your reaction. Not only because of the surprise late-in-life pregnancy, but also because she’d found out the baby was Dragon.”
