“They will do as they are told, or they will suffer the consequences,” Alston said through clenched teeth.
“Perfect.” Ludcarab’s slick grin made Myanin feel as if she’d just signed up to work for the devil himself.
“The time difference from here to Romania is ten hours.” Alston glanced at his watch. “It’s 8:00 p.m. which means it’s six in the morning there.”
“So we attack tomorrow at midnight their time, which would be 2:00 p.m. here,” Ludcarab said. “Sincaro”—he looked at the vampire king—“would you and Cain take care of getting all the supernaturals, other than the fae, ready?”
Sincaro nodded. “Of course.”
Apparently, once they were all on the same page, they suddenly could get along.Fascinating. When they no longer had a common enemy to focus their attention on, they would be at each other’s throats. She and her cotton candy would be long gone by then.
“I will choose the fae who will be joining the battle,” Alston said. “And make them aware of the spell to be used.”
Myanin’s gut twisted at the mention of the use of blood magic. There wasn’t a supernatural alive who didn’t know that blood magic was dark, very dark. Once you've crossed that line, you’ve passed the point of no return.
“Very well.” Ludcarab looked at her. “I will show you to your private sleeping quarters, and then if you would be so inclined, you can spar with some of our warriors. From what I understand, you are an accomplished warrior.” He didn’t sound impressed. It was more like he wanted her to prove what he’d apparently been told, no doubt by the vampire who’d showed up at Thadrick’s home.
“I’d love to,” she said, her lips turning up slightly. She’d have to remember to restrain herself or she’d wind up killing their army, and Myanin had a feeling that would probably not go over well.Don’t picture Thadrick’s face on any of my opponents.She followed Ludcarab from the room, not bothering to say anything more to the others. She wasn’t there to make friends. She was there for one reason and one reason only: find Thadrick and end him. He was a history keeper, which meant he was well aware of what was going on. Typically, the djinn did not get involved, no matter what they recorded, but Thadrick, as eccentric and selfish as he could be, had a few soft spots. Like Vasile, Thadrick didn’t like innocent people getting hurt in the crossfire of supernatural feuds. And considering the Order was wanting to enslave the human race, that was a lot of innocent people being put straight in the line of fire. He would be fighting with Vasile’s warriors. Her best chance of encountering him would be to work with the Order. Once it was done, she could move on. To what? She had no idea. Maybe she’d go find Wendy and see how she was handling the whole “supernaturals coming out” thing. That might be fun.Okay, it will definitely be fun.She smiled.
* * *
Alston flashedinto the room where Sally was still sitting in the syphoning chair. She’d been there four days and somehow she’d managed to hold on to every single drop of her magic. That or his theory was completely wrong, which it wasn’t. He’d never met a female with such an iron will. If he could recruit her she would be a powerful ally simply because she seemed unbreakable. Even after what he’d done to her mind, she was strong.
Her eyes were closed tight, her lips drawn in a thin line across her pale face. There was sweat running down the sides of her face, and her neck glistened as well. He could see her body visibly shaking as she fought against the spell he’d put on the syphoning machine attached to her hands. Alston had actually gotten the idea from a witch’s book. Stealing the powers of gypsy healers was not a new business. There were some things in the world that were just so pure that even evil things gravitated toward them. Or perhaps it wasbecausethey were so pure that evil things gravitated toward them. Whatever the reason, healer magic was unique in a world full of unique beings. But even as special as it was, the Order needed more than just Sally’s magic. She was simply a piece to the puzzle that they needed to solve. But it was a piece that was going to have to be put on pause. They had a battle to prepare for.
“Lucky you, little healer.” Alston walked over to her and began to remove the machine. “We’ve got important plans to make, and you’re going to get a break. Perhaps spending some time with your mate and child will remind you what is at stake if you continue to defy me.” The restraints fell away at his command, and he’d been ready to catch her, figuring she would be too exhausted to even stand. But instead, Alston found himself fending off a screaming banshee as she lunged for him.
“I’m going to kill you!” she roared as she clawed at his face.
He was so caught off guard that she managed to push him all the way against the back wall where she continued to slap, scratch, and even attempt to bite him when he pushed her arms away. Apparently, gypsy healer wasn’t the only thing she was. Hellcat needed to be added to her title. Once he’d finally regained his faculties, Alston spoke in his language, binding her immediately, and she froze with her arms reaching out toward him, her eyes wild with fury and her lips pulled back in a furious growl. “And here I thought you would be weak from all the fighting you were doing against my will.” He tsked her and then smiled. “I guess I’ll have to turn the power up a bit once we get back to it.”
He grabbed her arm and flashed them to the corridor just outside the door to the room where her mate and child were waiting. “I’m going to unbind you. If you do not want any harm to come to that mut of a child then I suggest you behave.” Alston released the binding spell and could see the visible restraint in Sally’s eyes. She really did want to kill him.
“I will be back. You need to think about what is most important to you. The human race or that man and child in there.” He pointed to the door. Then he used his power to unlock it. Without a word, she clutched the handle, pushed it open, then closed it quickly behind her. Alston immediately locked it and checked the wards that were around all of the rooms holding their prisoners.
Satisfied that things were as they should be, he headed for the building the fae warriorshad claimed as their own. Now he would find out who was really loyal to him. Blood magic was not for the weak, and it left a mark on your soul that could never be washed clean.
Chapter 10
“When I think there is nothing left they could possibly take from me, I realize they can have absolutely anything they want. If they want my light, then I am damn well going to give it to them.” ~Sally
Sally was on her knees. The second the door closed behind her, all the strength she’d managed to muster fled. A heartbeat later, little arms wrapped around her and then larger arms wrapped around them. She was completely surrounded by love, and slowly it began to warm the cold that had filled her body. For a while, they simply knelt there on the floor as a family, soaking up the fact that they were back together. Four days had felt like four months. Sally hadn’t had any idea how much time had passed until Alston had told her. She’d kept the bond locked down tight for fear of what Costin might do if he realized what was happening to her. She knew he was going to be hurt by that action, but he was going to feel pain regardless. She had to choose what pain she let him experience at this point. Enduring her suffering along with her wasn’t something she was going to allow him.
Finally, his voice broke the silence. “I’m going to ask a dumb question, but I have no idea what else to say. Are you alright?”
Sally could feel his breath on her neck where he’d tucked his head. Then his lips pressed against her skin in a gentle, reverent kiss. She opened the bond enough so they could feel one another, but she kept the memories completely shielded.
“I’m better,” she said honestly. “I won’t lie. I’m in pain. But I’m here now, and that makes everything better.”
Ten minutes passed before Costin finally released her. Then Titus let go and sat down on his bottom, legs crossed, and looked up at her. His little face was so innocent, but his eyes were filled with knowledge that no child should have.
“Are you okay, little man?” she asked him as she reached out a hand and brushed his hair back from his forehead.
“I was worried about you,” Titus said. “But I knew you would be back. The angel said she’s not done with you yet and that you have much to do in this world.”
Sally wasn’t sure she felt happy about that. She was tired. Costin must have caught that thought because his head snapped up, and his glowing eyes bored into hers.
“I’m just tired,”she said, hoping to reassure him.“And yes, I will tell you what happened, but you have to understand that as much as you want to protect me, I want to protect you just as much.”
