Saving Jace

by Rebecca Rivard

  Gods, the man was a sick fuck.

  If only Corban had a blade of iron, he’d end this for good. A knife straight to Tyrus’s black heart. Because Tyrus’s death would serve Corban’s purpose almost as well as Jace Jones’ death. Prince Langdon would never believe the clan wasn’t behind the attack, and he’d be on Adric in a flash.

  But without iron, Corban would only make Tyrus madder, and he needed Tyrus to get him to Jones and his pretty little human. Jones was the key to the smartphone tech. Remove him from the equation, and Adric would be back to the beginning. And then Corban would wait until Adric showed up—and kill him as well.

  With both Jones and Adric gone, Corban would be the strongest man in the clan. Nothing would stop him from taking over his rightful place as alpha. Some of the lieutenants might squawk, but they’d accept him—or die.

  Corban took a fighter’s crouch, the knife loose and easy in his right hand. He knew his eyes were pure gold now, his wolf running the show. And with the wolf came calm.

  The dark ropes of energy loosened. He sensed Tyrus’ confusion.

  “Enough,” Corban gritted. He might not be able to kill a fae with a steel blade, but he could hurt the man.

  The fire in Tyrus’s eyes faded. “You’re stronger than I believed.” He tilted his head, scrutinizing Corban as if he were an interesting problem.

  “So this was a fucking test?” Corban remained in the crouch.

  “A test?” The night fae lifted a brow. “No. But you’ve proved you can still be of use to me. Come here.” He beckoned with a single long, sharp-nailed finger.

  “Why?” he returned without moving.

  Tyrus pressed his lips together. “I can heal you. Then I’ll take you to the jaguar’s lair.”

  “Jones? He has a look-away spell concealing the entrance.” Corban knew approximately where Jones lived, but the spell kept him from determining its actual location.

  “A child could break that spell. Now come.”

  Corban stared at him for another moment, and then nodded. What did he have to lose?

  He crossed the few steps between them. The night fae set his hand on Corban’s chest, and muttered a few words in an arcane fae language.

  Corban’s entire thigh lit up with an eerie blue flame. Pain seared through him. A shriek escaped his lips. He cursed and shoved Tyrus away, and then fell to the dirt floor where he curled up in agony and waited to die.

  And then the blue flame was gone as abruptly as it had appeared.

  What the fuck? Corban dragged in a breath. Then another. When his body stopped quivering, he sat up, panting softly. His hand went to the back of his thigh. He froze, and then twisted so that he could see the back of his leg. The ugly gash was gone, the scar rapidly closing over.

  Tyrus was already moving up the ladder. “Come. Dawn is only a couple of hours away.”

  Corban took a cautious step. The pain was completely gone and he could move with ease. He released one last breath and then pulled himself up the ladder after Tyrus. At the surface, Tyrus strode into the woods without looking back, confident Corban would follow.

  Corban paused to tap his quartz. It was time to call in the only man he still trusted in Baltimore: his middle brother, Kane. Born a year apart, he and Kane had formed an alliance against their dad. When their youngest brother Nash came along four years later, they’d protected him as best they could. Maybe that had been a mistake, because Nash had grown up weaker because of it—he was firmly in Adric’s camp.

  But Kane had stuck by Corban, supporting his bid to be alpha until Adric had won the challenge and forced both brothers to swear allegiance to him or die. It wasn’t an easy thing for a fada to break such a vow, but it could be done if you were determined enough.

  Still, the effort had made Corban violently ill for a month, especially since he’d smashed his quartz at the same time. But he’d had a new quartz ready and he’d holed up in a cave in the Himalayas until he’d recovered.

  “What in Hades is going on?” Kane hissed into the phone now. “The alpha has everyone out looking for you.”

  “Fuck that. Are you still with me?”

  There was a fraught silence, and then his brother expelled a breath. “Of course. But—”

  Corban named an intersection near Jace Jones’s den. “Meet me there now.”

  His brother understood immediately. “You have a way to get past the look-away spell?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It still won’t work. He’s got a den full of soldiers.”

  Corban glanced after Tyrus, who had disappeared in the woods. “I have a night fae with me. Lord T.”

  “So it’s true. You’re working with the fae.” Kane’s tone was gruff with disapproval.

  “For now.” Sometimes you had to deal with the devil if you wanted to win. “You in?”

  Kane bit out a curse. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  27

  Jace curled his body around Evie’s and played with her breasts. Two nights with the woman, and already he couldn’t imagine waking up without her.

  She mumbled something in her sleep. Good, she wasn’t awake.

  He angled his head so he could bite her nape. A light, teasing cat-bite.

  Her breath sighed out. He slid his hand down the curve of her rib cage, stroked her stomach. His fingers were inching lower when his quartz buzzed. He swore under his breath but rolled onto his side and answered in a sub-vocal voice so as not to wake her.

  The news from Adric chilled him. Luc had reported in from France that he’d finally found Tyrus’s lair, but Tyrus had left for Paris soon after.

  “And he didn’t take a car,” Adric said. “He was running. The man’s a fucking wayfarer.”

  “No.” Jace’s stomach dropped. “But it makes sense—the way he pops out of nowhere…”

  Wayfaring was a Gift only the most powerful fae had. Some—like Queen Cleia of the sun fae—could ’port from place to place. Others could shadow your footsteps so that you never knew you were being followed, and still others could move freakishly fast. Dressed in his customary black, Tyrus would blend into the shadows. If he was a wayfarer, you’d never seen him rushing by. You’d just feel the chill as he passed.

  “Luc and Nash are on their way home.”

  Jace nodded. “You think he’s coming to Baltimore?”

  “Yep. But why—what the fuck does he want?”

  Jace raked a hand over his head. He didn’t like this, not at all. “He hasn’t tried anything for six years—and Merry’s still protected by her father’s ward. So what changed? Why go after me now?”

  “Hell if I know. But be on guard. Don’t let anyone in the den until we know more.”

  “Got it.”

  Adric cut the connection and Jace rolled onto his back. His cat was growling lowly, its tail twitching in agitation. Bloodthirsty visions rolled through Jace’s mind, the jaguar’s way of communication: Kill. Protect. Mine.

  The cat wanted to stalk and kill Tyrus—but the night fae lord was Prince Langdon’s only surviving son. If Jace killed him, Langdon would descend on the clan like a nuclear holocaust. It would be the Darktime all over again.

  No, Jace told the cat, and it snarled but retreated further into his mind.

  But that wasn’t all. Just as he was turning back to Evie, his phone buzzed again. This time it was Merry. Evie was stirring so he slipped out of the room to take the call.

  “What’s up, babe?”

  “Papa Rui wants to talk to you,” Merry said.

  “Okay, sure.” Something was up—Rui almost never asked to speak to him, letting Valeria do most of the communicating.

  Do Mar went straight to the point. “You know that female your alpha left on our territory—Nika? She’s gone.”

  “What do you mean, gone?”

  “That’s what’s fucking strange. Dion and I questioned her, but we couldn’t get much out of her other than that she’s from a Russian clan and that she came with Corban Savonett
to Grace Harbor—which I’m sure you already know. Dion told her we’d better never find her making trouble in Rock Run territory again, and then Cleia was going to ’port her back to Russia. But when the guard checked on her an hour ago, she was gone.”

  Jace scraped his fingers over his hair. “How is that possible? Your wards—” Queen Cleia herself had made sure that Rock Run’s wards were practically impregnable.

  “I assure you, the queen is looking into it. There’s no scent, no sign that anyone was inside. Only a powerful fae could’ve ’ported in and out of here without anyone knowing.”

  “Hell. I knew she wasn’t all she seemed.” He expelled a breath. “I’ll inform my alpha. Thanks for letting us know.”

  “De nada. You won’t be visiting next weekend.” It was a statement, not a question.

  “No. Not until we know what’s going on.”

  “I think that’s for the best. Here, Merry wants to say goodbye.”

  Do Mar returned the quartz to Merry, who said, “I heard what Papa said.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jace told her. “I won’t be coming to visit, but we’ll talk. I promise.”

  “Is it because of that earth fada lady?”

  He hesitated, but Merry wasn’t stupid—she’d figure it out for herself. “Yeah. It’s for your own safety.” Because if he wasn’t careful, he could bring this right to her door.

  “Okay.”

  Jace grimaced. Damn, he hated that Merry was so accepting—so fucking adult. She was only thirteen. She should be whining like a normal teenager.

  “Love you, sweetheart.”

  “Love you too.” She cut the connection.

  Jace remained in the hall, hand wrapped around his quartz, still reeling from the bad news. First Tyrus, and now Nika had escaped. Who the hell was she, really?

  And why were his instincts screaming a trap was about to be sprung?

  He tapped his quartz. “Adric? There’s something you should know.” He relayed the news about Nika.

  Adric swore under his breath. “Fuck. The fae who can get past Cleia’s wards can probably be counted on one hand.”

  Jace nodded. “The prince,” he said, meaning Prince Langdon, “and the ice fae king.” Sindre, whose name was coming up too damn often these days. “Those are my best guesses. And possibly my Lord Prick, but if he could teleport, he wouldn’t be running to Paris.”

  “Agreed. Thoughts?”

  “That we need to increase security. Corban knows where I live, and if he’s working with the night fae, the look-away spell won’t keep him out of my den.” He glanced over his shoulder at the room where Evie was sleeping. Powerful fae or not, they’d have to step over his cold, dead body to get to her.

  “I’ll put the clan on high alert. No one goes anywhere alone, and the young and the old should be guarded twenty-four/seven. We’ll increase our patrols through the city, too. But it’s too damn large of an area to protect.”

  “We could gather the vulnerable in one place, but there’s something to be said for keeping the dens scattered around the city.”

  They’d had this conversation before. On one hand, the small, scattered dens that earth fada preferred made it easier to eliminate them one den at a time. On the other hand, there was strength in remaining spread out. It had saved the clan in the Darktime—even a crazed alpha like Leron Savonett hadn’t been able to wipe out all the pockets of dissent.

  “What do you suggest?”

  Jace was already running scenarios in his mind. “So far, Corban has focused on me, but it’s you he really wants. I’m just a means to get to you.”

  “So I’ll draw him out of hiding.”

  “No fucking way. That’s just what Corban wants. I’ll do it.”

  “No—I’ll be damned if I’ll cower in my den while that bastard attacks my best people. Besides, Evie and Kyler need you right there.”

  Jace grimaced. Adric was right. While he trusted that his den mates would guard Evie and her brother with their lives, neither he nor his cat was comfortable with leaving them for any length of time. “Then let Zuri do it.”

  “It’s not your decision,” Adric said. “Corban wants me, so let him try to take me. I beat him once.”

  “He wasn’t working with a night fae then,” Jace returned.

  “It’s almost dawn. The night fae will have to go underground. Corban will be forced to deal with me alone.”

  Jace blew out a breath. “You’re the alpha.”

  Something had been niggling at him ever since yesterday when he, Evie and the others had walked to the park. “Remember when we were teenagers and we tried to track your cousin in Druid Hill Park—but we never could?” Corban would disappear for hours, and he was so good at hiding his scent that even Adric couldn’t find him.

  “Hell. You think he has a lair in there somewhere?”

  “Makes sense.”

  “We went through the park once already, but it’s worth another pass. I’ll head up there at noon when that fucking night walker will be sleeping. If Corban’s somewhere nearby, just seeing me may draw him out. If not, I’ll go over every square foot. If he has a lair, I’ll find it.”

  “Don’t go alone.”

  “I won’t. So here’s the plan—Horace and Sam are to stick with you, Evie and Kyler. I’ll tell Beau to stay with Suha—she’s valuable enough that Corban may try to strike at her—and I’ll take Zuri and Marjani to the park.”

  “Marjani? You think that’s wise? She’s so close to going—”

  “Feral? I know. Believe me, I know. But then again, this might be what she needs—someone to protect. She’s been better ever since I asked for her help with this whole Corban mess. Maybe I made a mistake, coddling her this long.”

  Jace rubbed his lower lip. “She needed time to heal. But I agree, maybe it’s time to bring her back on duty.”

  Marjani had been one of the clan’s best soldiers. What had happened to her could’ve broken anyone—male or female—but it must have been a special hell for a woman who’d never taken any shit from anybody. To be violated in such an intimate way, made to feel so helpless. Like Takira. Jace swallowed harshly.

  Adric was speaking. “I’ll contact Zuri, tell him what’s up. You bring Horace and Sam up to date.”

  “I will. And Ric? Thanks—for Evie and Kyler.” Because he was wrapping the protection of the clan around the two humans.

  “Hey, you’d do the same for me. Besides, I like your Evie and the kid. They’re good people.”

  “They are.” He cut the connection.

  A moment later, he heard Zuri speaking to Adric. “On my way,” he said. Jace glanced in his room to see the other lieutenant was already up and pulling on jeans and a T-shirt.

  “I’m going to spread the word about Corban,” Zuri told Jace, “to those who don’t have a smartphone, and then I’ll head over to Adric’s.”

  Jace nodded. Not everyone could use the new technology—it was one of the glitches they still had to work out. “Watch his back. He thinks he’s fucking invincible.”

  “Don’t worry,” Zuri replied, “I will.”

  Jace nodded and continued down the hall to wake up Sam and Horace. He brought them up to date with a few terse sentences, before heading for the shower, his plans for making love to Evie tabled. He didn’t even want to get near her in this frame of mind.

  He knew Corban had to die, but it still left a bad taste in his mouth. It was so fucking senseless. The Darktime was supposed to be over. He was sick and tired of the infighting, of pointless deaths. He wanted to build things—not kill. To be free to explore this thing with Evie and maybe someday, have a cub of his own with her.

  His heart squeezed at the thought of a sassy little girl with Evie’s bright hair and dark brows.

  And if the clan had a problem with a mixed-blood, well, he’d make his own den with Evie and Kyler and any offspring the gods blessed them with. Adric would support him. Hell, Adric had accepted Merry, the only granddaughter of the night fae p
rince himself.

  But if Corban had his way, it wasn’t going to end until Adric and every last one of his lieutenants was dead.

  Jace slammed the heel of his hand against the tiled wall. Then he stood under the shower head and turned it to full.

  28

  It was the fae lights that woke Evie. She’d been on her side with Jace spooned around her, both of them naked. He’d been lazily caressing her, and she had a smile on her lips as she came awake. Then Jace had left the bed, and she’d rolled onto her back and dozed off again.

  The next thing she knew, something stung her arm. She swatted it away, but a moment later she felt another sting to her shoulder, and then another to her face. She jolted awake to find the fae lights swarming her—and a tall man dressed all in black staring down at her.

  Her heart kicked into high gear. She scrambled up against the headboard, the sheet clutched to her chest.

  “Who the fuck are you?” And how had he gotten in here? She opened her mouth to scream for Jace.

  The man raised a hand. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. Your brother…” He cut his eyes at a corner of the room.

  She whipped her head around. Kyler was sitting against the wall, knees hugged to his chest, staring unseeingly in front of him.

  His face twisted in horror. “No. No...”

  Her stomach bottomed out. “Kyler! What’s wrong?” But he didn’t seem to hear her.

  Her gaze swung back to the tall man. Dark eyes regarded her from a pale, incredibly beautiful face. Night fae.

  Kyler moaned again and she launched herself at the intruder. Nobody messed with her brother. “Stop it, damn you.” She clawed wildly at his face.

  He easily held her off. Those black eyes caught hers and she froze, fingers still curled into claws. The night fae slid a cool finger down her cheek. Fear sliced through her, but she steeled herself to remain calm and bear it. Anything to get his attention off Kyler.

  Kyler made an agonized sound. “Evie. I’m sorry. So sorry. I couldn’t help it.” He came to his knees and looked up at her, his gaze stark.