“What is it?” Caden asked.
She flicked her thumb and light burst out of it, searing Fallon’s eyes and blinding him.
The light shut off and he regained his balance. He blinked away the spots in his vision and swayed on his feet. His men were in a similar state.
“Unfortunately, not before they managed to land a few blows of their own,” she said, gritting her teeth as she straightened in her seat.
“What in the abyss is that thing?” Zeph snapped furiously.
Fallon stepped closer, taking the sphere when Lainey handed it to him and peering at it closer. He couldn’t even begin to guess how it worked.
“It’s a remnant of our ancestors. Something they used when the world was a little less broken,” Lainey said in a tired voice.
“If that’s the type of weapon they used, it’s no wonder the world went the way it did,” Caden said, an expression of extreme dislike on his face as he stared at the weapon in Fallon’s hand.
“I won’t argue with that,” Lainey said, resting her head back against the couch and closing her eyes.
“Stay with me, my love,” Patrick said in a soft voice.
She patted his hand and gave him a gentle smile but didn’t respond. The two loved each other. Truly and completely, Fallon noted.
Somehow, despite their different personalities, the opposing needs and desires, they’d found a way to make it work, to thrive when all things pointed to the likelihood of failure.
Chirron arrived then, his chest heaving as he entered the room carrying a large cloth bag that housed his supplies. Bax was at his back, as well as Gawain and several of Ember’s warriors.
Chirron’s gaze went straight to the wounded woman and he started for her without prompting.
“Our healer will treat you,” Fallon said, the words more of an order than a request.
He needed Shea’s mother strong and healthy. First, because he needed the weapons and alliance she had promised him and he was unlikely to get either of those if another took her place. Second, because he didn’t want to have to explain to his telroi how her mother had died when it could have been prevented.
“I would prefer you lead me and a group of my men into the mist after Shea, but I will settle for one you trust,” Fallon said in a stiff voice, already wishing to be on his way.
“No, Patrick will go,” Lainey replied, her breath catching as Chirron poked and prodded.
“Lainey,” Patrick protested. His expression was torn, the conflict of staying by the woman he loved—wounded and unable to protect herself—competing with the need to come to his daughter’s rescue.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “Our daughter is out there, facing we don’t know what. We can’t fail her again. Do this for me?”
He held her gaze for a long moment. She slipped her hand into his, squeezing it in silent comfort. He nodded, dropping his head so it rested against hers for a long moment before standing and turning to Fallon.
“Let’s go,” Patrick said, his expression promising death for the ones who had threatened his family.
Fallon felt a moment of kinship with him, the feelings reciprocated perfectly. They were going to find the ones who’d done this. They were going to find them and crush them so completely none would ever think of following in their footsteps.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Griffin whistled as they walked, the sound irritating as it prodded at Shea’s nerves. Hers weren’t the only ones affected either.
“Quiet, before I rip out your tongue,” Trenton said, prodding Griffin in the back and making him stumble.
“Then how would you make me talk?” was the calm response.
“Trenton, enough,” Shea said, before her guard could do what he’d threatened. “He’s trying to get a reaction out of you. Don’t give him one.”
Trenton glanced back at her and nodded, his posture easing.
Their journey had been unremarkable so far, but they still had a fair distance to go. An attack could come at any moment. A fact that had everyone on edge.
