by Love, Dianna
She dropped to her knees, gasping for air, and closed her hand. The orb disappeared.
Released from the tension, Daegan’s body shot backwards. He groaned and hurried to sit up, gripping his chest where it felt as if an animal still tried to chew its way out.
“Adrianna?” he rasped. “Are ya hurt?”
“No. I just need a minute.” Her normally musical voice had come out hoarse. “I’m sorry, Daegan. I didn’t get it all.”
“I do not care as long as ya are not harmed. Are ya sure it did not go inside ya?”
Huffing out a tired laugh, she said, “No. Witchlock may be one power not vulnerable to that yellow venom, but I don’t want to test it on me. If that thing took over my body ... you might have the equivalent of a nuclear explosion.”
Daegan shuddered at that idea, then recalled the flame. “When it burned this time, the flame was blue.”
She frowned. “Isn’t sulfur supposed to burn blue?”
He nodded. “But the glowin’ creatures I burned a day ago had a yellow flame in spite of the sulfur smell.”
“Hmm ... maybe a pure Imortik burns blue and those two had not been entirely taken over,” she suggested.
“’Tis a thought. Not sure if I have a use for that information, but ’tis one more thing we may have learned.”
“We have to stop that Imortik master, Daegan.” She got to her feet, dusting her pants with delicate movements for one so deadly. “I might be able to kill one or maybe even several if I dare power up Witchlock that much, but I have my doubts about an army of those things. If they take you over, the Beladors and many nonhumans will fall along with the humans. If they take over my body ... ” She gave a shudder. “The world would have no chance.”
She hadn’t boasted. Her words were honest and heartfelt.
“I believe ya have the truth of it,” he agreed. After a few minutes the ragged pain in his chest dulled. He asked Ruadh, What do you feel?
His dragon replied, Half of the venom is gone. You are better.
Daegan told Adrianna, “Ya did remove half. That shall definitely help.”
“How do you know?” She wiped both hands over her hair, smoothing the windblown strands back from her face.
“My dragon told me. He would know.”
“He is quite impressive.” She began packing up her items.
Ruadh made a happy rumbling.
Daegan rarely heard that sound. His dragon appreciated the compliment from one so powerful. “Is there an order to picking up the stones and such? Can I help ya?”
“Yes, there is an order, and no thank you. I prefer to handle my possessions.” She smiled, letting him see that she meant no insult. When she had everything in hand, he took the backpack from her and held it for her to slip her arms through the loops.
She stopped and dug into her back pocket, pulling out her mobile phone.
Daegan called to Tristan telepathically. We have finished.
Tristan appeared next to him, teleporting immediately. “How’d it go?”
“She managed to withdraw half.” Daegan tried to make that sound as if she’d cured him.
“Good deal, boss.”
Adrianna stared at her phone the way Tristan did when he read a message. Closing her phone, she shifted her backpack and announced, “Isak has information on the phone calls made from the centre. He did more digging than that and thinks he may have an idea where the Luigsech woman went.”
Chapter 11
Quinn covered the last two city blocks to Reese’s apartment in midtown Atlanta at nonhuman speed, something he cautioned his Beladors from doing around humans. A torrential downpour had citizens racing for any cover and the few humans he’d passed paid him no attention. Hard to tell when the sun had set with everything already dark as night.
Edward, the Belador functioning as a doorman, snapped around as Quinn came racing up to dive under the wide canopy shielding the entrance. With the noise of rain pounding every hard surface, their words would be shielded.
“Reese is not here,” Edward announced before Quinn spoke. At almost six feet and with unremarkable features of brown hair and a kind smile, Edward had the ability to blend into any setting. In the doorman uniform, he presented a nonthreatening image. But when it came to guarding family, Quinn had chosen Edward for his keen skill with wielding kinetics and human weapons, plus unmatched protective instincts.
“Where is she?”
“She left half an hour ago, Maistir. I tried to encourage her to stay in a bit and let the storm pass, but she told me she wouldn’t melt.”
Sounded like Reese. Quinn asked, “Which direction did she take?”
Edward pointed north. “I called in one of ours to follow her. He’s to intervene if she has any trouble and report immediately to Trey.”
Quinn patted him on the shoulder. “Good man. Phoedra is not here, correct?”
“No, sir. I asked Reese if Phoedra and her dog would need anything while she was out. Reese made a point of saying they would be gone visiting friends for a while longer.”
Reese should be in Treoir with her mutt and Quinn’s daughter. At least with Phoedra safe, Quinn could put all his attention on Reese.
He sent a telepathic message to the Belador who had been assigned to follow Reese. Approach Reese and explain you were sent by me. Ask her to call me.
Yes, Maistir.
A moment later, Quinn heard, Reese said her phone is not working. She’ll get in touch later.
Quinn muttered a curse. What’s your location?
We’re at Ansley Mall. She seems to be window shopping.
That did not sound like Reese. What was she doing?
Quinn didn’t have time to wait for her to return. She wouldn’t like it when he showed up, but of all the issues going on between them that would be the least of his worries. He ended the telepathic connection and sent a text to call in one of his drivers.
While he waited, Quinn asked Edward, “How much trouble have you had with demons or Imortiks in this area?”
“I had the patrols in this area beefed up. They were encountering one at a time, but at a steady rate, up until half an hour ago.”
“When Reese left,” Quinn replied flatly.
“Yes, Maistir.”
“Do you think she heard anything about the demons?”
“I think she did. I had two patrols come by in person. When the second one left, she stepped outside with her rain jacket on, but I think she had been hiding just inside the entrance.”
Anxiety stirred in his gut. Quinn asked, “How much was discussed?”
Edward’s eyebrows drew together as he thought. “We talked about demons showing up from outside the northern perimeter of metro Atlanta to midtown. There was a consensus that the team believes the demons are originating in the Marietta area.”
Quinn grimaced. Interstate 285 circled Atlanta, creating a perimeter with Marietta beyond that in the northwest quadrant. He hoped she wasn’t intentionally heading out to engage demons.
A dark sedan pulled up to the curb.
“Call me if you need anything, Edward, or if you happen to see Reese before you hear from me.” Quinn intended to find her first.
“Will do, sir.”
Quinn climbed into the rear area of the sedan where two towels and bottles of water waited for him. “Thank you for thinking ahead, Alekki.” He gave his driver directions then dried his face and hair. He ran his hands over his damp locks, unconcerned about style.
The car tires plowed through low spots in the pavement turned into small lakes as his driver headed for Ansley Mall. At least she was not in Marietta.
Quinn drilled his fingers on the console and called to Trey, who coordinated Belador teams. What’s going on with the demons?
Been crazy how many are entering the city, Quinn. I checked other regions across North America. Something is up here.
Had the problem started after Reese returned to Atlanta? Quinn grasped his jaw in a tight grip. He could not allow his person
al life to put Beladors in unnecessary danger.
He asked, Do we have any intel on this situation?
Trey confirmed, We’re working on it. The demons have been popping up in different places within five miles of midtown. I started pinning a map of the Atlanta area and outlying suburbs to see if I could detect any pattern. We don’t have enough information to know for sure if this is a pattern or not, but it appears many of the sightings and attacks have been in the northern half of that circle. Actually, the majority seem to be coming from the northwest section.
Could this demon invasion have nothing to do with Reese?
More like wishful thinking on his part. He didn’t want to point at her just because she was a walking demon magnet.
Damn his soul for this conflict. He couldn’t put his interests first, but he wanted her safe.
Quinn thanked Trey and texted Reese.
No reply.
The Belador following her called to Quinn, speaking quickly. Maistir, she went into a grocery store here in Ansley Mall. I followed her in. She bought something from the feminine product area and went into the ladies room. I stepped outside to not crowd her. Gave her five minutes and went in, asked one of the ladies to check on her. She said the bathroom was empty. When I ran outside, she came racing past me on a blue Honda motorcycle and wearing a silver helmet.
Quinn slammed his hand down on the seat. Did you get the tag?
Yes, Maistir. I called it in first to our people and they’ve been working with Isak Nyght’s intel group. I told them to contact you the minute they located the bike. I’m sorry, sir.
You made no mistake. Fast thinking on your part to submit that information quickly. Return to a local patrol. I’ll deal with this myself.
Yes, Maistir.
Evalle’s voice interrupted his next thought. Quinn, we got word from Tristan’s troll friend there could be a demon nest near the city. As in someone actively calling them up around here.
Bloody hell. He asked, Where are you now?
I just got to Kennesaw Battlefield. Two were spotted leaving here in the last half hour. I called in patrols for Marietta and the surrounding areas. They found one demon already. We have to shut this down. You haven’t been around to see the news, but the humans are forming teams to hunt nonhumans. These demons may look like nasty creatures, but Reese told me about a pair she fought once on the West Coast that could hide their natural look and appear human so they could prey on the vulnerable.
Vulnerable like Reese even if she did possess power to kill a demon. She may not be able to kill a swarm of them. He had to stay on point. Are you alone, Evalle?
No. Storm is with me and we have two more Beladors. I sent another team to check out a possible sighting in Roswell. But it’s not like we can open a can of Belador whoopass out in public.
You’re right. Quinn gripped his head. What the hell was he going to do to keep Reese safe and support his people?
Trey’s voice broke into his mind, shoving Evalle aside. Found Reese. We’re tracking her motorcycle. She just got off I-285 and is headed north on I-75.
That would be the route he’d take to Marietta and Kennesaw. Was she headed for the national battlefield park where demons had been spotted or leaving town to draw them away?
Or was she leaving him?
He dismissed that possibility. She wouldn’t take his baby and not tell him. He thought back on what Edward had said. Knowing Reese, she had definitely found out about demons attacking the area around her apartment and where they were originating. He’d wager all his assets that she was headed in the direction of Evalle’s location.
Instead of solving his problem, her action only compounded his worry. He told Evalle, Reese may be heading your way.
Why?
Edward thinks she heard him talking to patrols around the apartment and one commented that demons were streaming in from the northwest.
Ah, hell. That’s ... not good, Evalle murmured. I know. Freaking understatement of the universe. I’ll watch for her, Quinn.
Thank you. He only hoped Reese made it all the way to Evalle. If a nest existed, Reese could be driving into a storm of teeth and claws.
His driver made record time, able to circumvent tangled traffic. Alekki had telepathic communication with Beladors working covertly in local law enforcement, who occasionally cleared the way for an emergency.
This qualified as one.
Once his driver had maneuvered from the interstate and through Marietta, Quinn’s car pulled off Dallas Highway onto a drive leading to one of the visitor parking lots for the national park. Two Beladors in uniform manning a law enforcement patrol car waved them on. By then, Quinn’s clothes had dried and the heavy downpour had passed. It didn’t matter.
Rain or not, the humidity during a Georgia summer would drown a wharf rat.
His driver parked quickly in an area often filled with hikers and runners, which his people were deterring for now. Quinn shoved the door open and leaped out, searching the lot for a blue motorcycle.
“Quinn!”
He jerked around at Evalle’s voice. She broke off from her group and jogged over to him asking, “Where’s Reese?”
Quinn unleashed a stream of curses.
Evalle’s eyes rounded. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you curse that much in one year.”
Grabbing a handful of his hair. “I swear I’m going to put her under lock and key so I can catch my breath.”
“I know you don’t need my advice, but I don’t think that’s going to work with her.” Evalle crossed her arms and gave him an assessing look. “When did you last sleep or eat? You look run hard and put up wet.”
“I’m fine. Or I will be if I could get my hands on Reese.” He covered his mouth, stared off into the woods, and tried to come up with what had happened to her. He hadn’t passed her on the highway.
Evalle put a hand on his arm, pulling him back to her. She whispered, “Reese will be okay. We have Beladors all over this area.”
“She’s on a bloody motorcycle. Anything could happen to her.” He normally kept his emotions hidden from the world, but he couldn’t function and do his job without knowing Reese was safe. He should hand over his position to Evalle permanently.
He should—
“Quinn?”
“What?” He’d said that so sharply at Evalle, Storm spun around from where he stood fifty yards away.
Waving at her mate, Evalle smiled and called out, “All good.”
Storm hesitated then nodded and returned to his conversation.
“I’m sorry, Evalle. I just need—”
“Reese?”
“Yes.”
“Count to five and I’ll make her appear.” Evalle smiled with compassion.
Quinn heard a soft puttering noise from a small engine. He swung around.
Reese rode into the parking area on a blue Honda.
Evalle whispered, “The guys at the entrance called to ask me if she should be allowed in. I told them you cleared it.”
Reese didn’t try to avoid him. She drove right up to where he and Evalle stood, cut off the bike’s engine, and dropped the side stand.
Her startling blue eyes watched Quinn defiantly as she pulled off her silver helmet and hung it on the handlebars, then shed her rain jacket.
His world came back into focus with gut-blasting relief. He could not live without her in his world. Somehow, he had to get that across to her without it ending in a bloody argument.
Walking over to her, Evalle said, “Hey! You never told me you rode motorcycles.”
Reese lifted her shoulders. “Been a while. I’ve heard about you and your Gixxer. I’m not at that level.”
“Me neither right now. My baby is still in parts in the garage.” Evalle glanced at Quinn. “Storm and I were talking with the team about how we should search these woods. When you’re ready, come over and we’ll catch you up.”
Quinn held Reese’s defiant gaze as he replied, “Thank you, Evalle.”
She trotted back to join her mate and team.
Heaving out a big sigh, Reese got off the motorcycle and used her fingers to shake out her wild curls. He could never decide the color because brunette failed to describe the reddish-brown. At least she’d worn short boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved yellow shirt to ride the bike.
That only meant she’d left her apartment with a specific plan to acquire a motorcycle. He asked, “Did you buy that with your groceries?”
Reese dropped her hands and hooked her thumbs in her jean pockets. “You’re so funny. Actually, you’re not. You had Daegan teleport me to Treoir without gaining my permission.”
“It was for—”
Her eyes flared and she shoved a finger up in his face. “Don’t you dare try to justify your action. You don’t rule the universe. At least, you don’t rule mine.”
She stood so close he could smell the warm scent of her from riding in the heat. More than that, he sensed the hurt, anger, and sadness pouring off her.
What the hell had he done to her?
This had to be his fault.
Swallowing down guilt that rolled around in his head, banging back and forth since the minute he’d realized she was pregnant, he said, “I am sorry. You’re right to be angry with me. I’ve been making missteps from the minute we saved Phoedra. I want to make this right, Reese, but I need some help. I need you to talk to me so I can stop running into walls with every frantic move I make when I think you’ll be in danger.”
She blew out two cheeks of breath and ran her hand over her mouth, then stepped back. Staring at the ground, she admitted, “No, I’m sorry. The friction between us is my fault.”
“No, it isn’t.” He would not allow her to fall on any sword in this relationship. Not alone.
Lifting shiny eyes to him, her lip trembled. “I haven’t been fair with you.”
She was finally going to tell him about the baby.
His heart did a backflip, but he held still. He did not want to screw this up. He’d let her tell him everything, then he would wrap her in a big hug and ... tell her how much he loved her.
And the baby. Their baby.
He couldn’t talk right now for the lump of emotion clogging his throat anyhow.
