“He took some while you were unconscious. It didn't work. It has to be your finger touching it.”
“Well, why didn't he ask me to open it? We could've worked something out.”How ridiculous.
“That puts all the power in your corner. If he creates a race of mixed Sárkány and Leyak, we can open and close portals as we please.”
“Then wouldn't it be smarter to kidnap some female Sárkány and have babies with them?” Elias asked sarcastically.
“That's what I said,” Ross bristled, snarling. “I didn’t mean it. And I'm not totally sure he didn't already do just that. But he wants your baby because it's Peter's baby. Like I said. Golden child.”
Axoular strode forward. “You think he might have Sárkány women hidden somewhere?”
“Maybe. He talked about possibly trying.”
It was his turn to fight for control. Smoke wafted over his skin, and he grabbed Ross by his shirt. “You better be wrong.” He released him with a shove and Ross stumbled back a few feet, tugging his shirt down.
I heard a noise in the living room. “Did you hear that?”
“I did,” Elias said. He crept forward silently to check, disappearing through the door. He returned with one of the witches from Cindy's coven. “This is Leo Price. He's from Cindy's coven. She sent him to open a portal back to the council room if we need one.”
“Hello, Leo. Thank you for helping us,” I said.
The tall witch nodded his head. “I'm happy to help.”
“Shall we?” I said.
“I've already got a cab on the way,” Anthony said. “Two, actually.”
I couldn't stand any more speculation and maybes and what-should-we-dos. I walked outside to wait on our ride.
The view was breathtaking, I was pretty sure, but I focused on the road, waiting for the taxi to drive up the driveway. The sun normally gave me strength, but I just felt lost.
Anthony walked out and sat on the porch swing. I sat beside him to wait. “This has got to end. When this is over with Dumadi, we're going into hiding. I don't care. I need rest. I need calm. I need to raise my children and love my husbands.”
“And you'll have it, Coya. I'll make sure of it.” He put his arm around me, and I felt a hand on my back.
I looked up to find Elias and Axoular behind me. “We will find calm, Riles.” Elias bent over and kissed my head.
We sat together in silence until the taxi pulled up. Elias opened the door and called into the house. “Let's go.”
Leo and Ross came out, looking less than thrilled to be going on our mission. We divided up, Axoular and Elias going with Ross to make sure he didn't try to run. Anthony and Leo joined me.
Ross gave directions to the cab in front of us, and we were off to save my baby. And kill Dumadi.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
RILEY
The temple was over an hour away. We passed the hospital I'd woken up in. My nervousness was palpable, and I kept shifting in my seat, flexing my legs, and checking my weapon. Leo gave me a strange look the third time I checked the chamber, so I forced myself to put it away.
When we finally pulled up to the front of the temple, I opened the door and slid out, staring at the tourist trap in front of me. Humans milled everywhere, and I suddenly regretted the guns and knives displayed on my hip.
Leo stepped out beside me.
“I wish I'd worn something over this to hide my weapons,” I whispered. I was pretty sure no one had noticed us yet, but it was only a matter of time.
Leo pulled out a strange pencil with a very fat lead. “It's spelled.” He drew a rune—basically three squiggly lines on top of each other—on my hand. “It'll draw eyes away from you. You won't be hidden. If you jump up and down and shout, people will still see you. But if you're surreptitious, their eyes will glance over you, noting nothing important to see about you.”
“That's handy,” I said, peering at the lines on my skin.
