“I need to research if there are any residual effects of possession,” I said. A small chime rang as I pulled open the door. Holding it with one hand, I let her enter first, my eyes continuing to scan behind us. There were a lot of people, but any threat would swiftly meet their end. Dianna was on edge, so I was too. Perhaps we both needed more sleep after Gathrriel’s visit.
“Of course, but first things first,” she said, stepping through in front of me. “We need to find Miska.”
I nodded, knowing the memories were brutalizing her. She struggled with losing anyone she considered hers, but Miska sat too close to the spot in her heart where Gabby had existed. Add to that, it was Kaden who had taken her, and I knew this had been a nightmare for her.
Dianna stopped so suddenly that I nearly collided with her.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Dianna whispered, her eyes having gone wide.
My head snapped up, wondering what had put that touch of fear into her tone. Tables lined the small dining room. Some had groups sitting around them, others with only a single occupant, but it was the small girl with pink skin that my gaze snagged on. She was swinging her legs and sipping from a glass of water. Her clothing was dirty, and she looked tired, but she was alive and here.
Miska.
Disbelief washed over me, followed by happiness. “Yes.”
My voice must have carried because she was lost in her own world one second, and in the next, she was hopping out of her seat. It was as if her body had moved before her mind registered why. Her eyes widened before filling with tears. She sprinted toward us, and Dianna stepped forward, her arms wrapping around Miska as they collided.
“What are you doing here?” Dianna asked, her voice husky with relief, fear, and love. She held on to the young girl tightly, as if afraid she was not real and would disappear if she let go.
Miska sobbed, speaking so fast I barely caught her words. “I thought I’d never find you guys, and then I was lost, and they said they were going to sell me, and I—”
Dianna pulled back, gripping her shoulders. “What?”
I rested my hand on Miska’s head, offering her the comfort and assurance she needed, but the soothing words I’d intended turned into a low growl of rage. I’d never truly hated anyone, not even the monsters I’d slain to protect others. Sure, there had been animosity, but hate or loathing? No. It seemed that feeling was reserved for the two men who’d just walked out of the back room. Their mouths were clean, but I could smell the blood on their lips. They had fed recently.
Dianna straightened with a predator’s grace, pushing Miska behind us. Kaden and Isaiah crashed to a stop, their eyes bleeding to red. Their lips curled back, fangs extending. Low growls rumbled from their chests, and Dianna answered with a snarl. They had made a mistake. They had taken a child from her, rousing all her protective instincts, and she was prepared to make them pay.
I was used to seeing fear in others when they faced me. I knew what it looked like, and I saw it now in their eyes when they looked at me. It was just a flicker and quickly masked by disgust and pure hatred.
“Take Miska somewhere safe,” I said to Dianna.
“No,” she growled.
I’d fight her more on this, but truth be told, I could not fight the three of them. So instead, I chose the battle where she was on my side. I flicked my fingers, and Miska yelped as my power wrapped around her and dragged her toward the door.
“Go. Hide until we find you,” I commanded, my tone not welcoming any argument. We all stood staring at each other, frozen in a weird limbo as Miska ran. The door slammed shut behind her, and at the ringing of the bell, Kaden and Isaiah charged. Isaiah flew at Dianna, and Kaden at me.
People screamed and fled as Kaden barreled into me. We crashed with me on the bottom, breaking one of the tables. My back ached. I was still healing after the encounter with Gathrriel, and Kaden was not an easy opponent, even at my best.
Kaden took advantage of our position and pinned me beneath him. He pulled back his fist and punched me, leaving my jaw aching and my ears ringing. He got three solid hits in before I was able to block him. I caught his fist as it came at me and rose, headbutting him in the face, satisfied to hear the crunch of his nose. He toppled off me, and I jumped to my feet.
He stood, not bothering to fix his nose. I didn’t have time to process that the blood coming from his nostrils was black. Behind me, I heard Dianna grunt in pain, and my hand flexed. Kaden’s eyes narrowed on my fist, and his face went deathly pale.
I didn’t have my ring to help me summon it, but for some reason, it never mattered when Dianna was around or in danger. Oblivion heeded my call, answering by coiling around my wrist and pooling in my palm before solidifying into a dagger.
Kaden’s throat bobbed, and he trembled, sweat beading on his skin as he looked from it to me. I’d seen that exact look on the faces of men who pissed themselves before running away from the battlefield. Isaiah hissed when Dianna landed a hit, and Kaden’s gaze snapped to where they fought. I watched as protective determination contained his terror, and I realized that he was just like me in some twisted way. I wouldn’t leave Dianna, and he wouldn’t leave Isaiah.
Kaden moved first. I brought my blade down, but he leaned back, dodging. My first connected with his ribs, enough force behind the hit to break them. Kaden hissed and stumbled back, his hand gripping his side. He straightened and snarled at me, fangs gleaming and talons out, ready to rip into me. Broken ribs hurt, but I knew Kaden’s strength, and any damage I had inflicted should have healed almost instantly. But by the way he was angling his body, guarding that side, it seemed I wasn’t the only one with previous wounds. That was his weak spot. Good to know.
His foot struck out, aimed at my midsection. I blocked and bounced back. He used the momentum to spin, sweeping a kick toward my head. Kaden’s body was heavy with hard, bulky muscle, but it did not slow him down. He was fast and hit hard. He broke a leg off the table nearest to him and used it as a spear, sending it sailing. It sank deep into the wall behind me, and I realized any weapon in his hands would be deadly. Only an untrained warrior would be so over-confident that they would not see the threat he was.
I had to hand it to him. He avoided my blade with skill and a brutal grace. We came at each other in a savage dance. Some punches and kicks connected, but more missed. Regardless, he managed time and time again to dodge my blade. I needed an in, and when Isaiah screamed, I saw it.
Isaiah yelled, and something small and metal clattered to the floor. Kaden and I turned to see Isaiah wiping at his bleeding brow, and Dianna grinning, blood staining her teeth, lips, and chin. She had ripped his eyebrow piercing out with her teeth.
I didn’t hesitate, and it was far too late by the time Kaden looked at me. I charged, my blade aimed at his midsection. He moved to the side. Right where I wanted him. My other fist shot out, hitting him in the jaw. He stumbled, and I stepped in, grabbing his other arm and tossing him over my shoulder with enough force to knock the wind out of him. His eyes widened in horror as my Oblivion dagger slammed down into his chest.
“Let’s not meet again,” I sneered, giving the blade a fatal twist.
