“This is awkward.”
It was the same boyish voice. The sardonic twist to his lips. Heath.
“Stop playing games. We know how well you mimic, you fucking bastard,” Romano argued.
Kieran pulled a slender phone out of his pocket and dialed. Romano’s phone rang, and the wolf growled.
“Can’t mimic knowledge. Tell them, Silva.”
The Fae, pale and disbelief written all over her features, nodded. “Fae glamour only works on appearance. He wouldn’t have known what Heath knew.”
“He has his phone. That’s easy to figure out,” Romano argued.
“Your favorite gun is the Beretta you keep under your pillow. You pointed it at me one time when Dominic made me come get you to teach me a lesson,” Kieran said to Romano.
Romano tensed and growled, long and deep. “We came not only for Kalinda but to avenge you.”
For a moment, Kieran looked sad. “I know. I thought … Silva would come looking for me. But she didn’t.”
The night Giuliana and Pasquale found the clearing, the trap had been set to confuse a scenter and force them to use a stronger person to map. Maybe even mages to search, and that would have meant Kalinda and Silva.
“You didn’t expect Pasquale.”
Kieran turned his attention to Giuliana and Pasquale standing together. “I don’t think anyone would have planned for him.” He looked back to Romano. “I didn’t hurt her, like I promised, because of who you all were to me. Give me Silva, and Kalinda is free.”
“You know better than to ask for that.”
Kieran nodded. “Yes. I see that now. The Osaltirhiem is the only way. Step into the circle, Silva, and Kalinda goes free. I swear on my blood.”
“Like we’d believe you!”
Putting a staying hand on Romano’s arm, Silva stepped forward. “As a Fae, he’s bound to the rules of the Blood Duel. Swear to free Kalinda and leave the others unharmed, and I will accept.”
“I swear it.”
The rune-filled circle on the stone floor of the arena glowed brightly.
“Kalinda will kill me if you die,” Romano argued.
“Damn right,” Kalinda added.
“It’s a good thing I won’t die then, isn’t it?”
Chapter Sixteen
Silva stepped over the binding runes, and the magic in the ancient runes slapped around her. No getting out, no retreat. But for Kalinda, she’d do anything. The minute she was in the circle, the golden holding orb around Kalinda faded, dropping the Ales to her feet.
Crazy woman she was, Kalinda ran right at the circle. “You get out here right now!”
It wouldn’t work. “Don’t touch the circle.”
“Screw you.”
Silva wouldn’t reach her in time. Kieran blocked that side of the ring, once more showing his true side and not the glamoured image of Heath. Kalinda slammed into the invisible barrier, and sparks rained down as she screamed.
“Kalinda!”
Romano’s roar was a call to battle as he leapt into motion. He raced to his mate’s side, Pasquale and Giuliana right there with him. The Fae readied their spears, prepared to battle. A bullet whizzed right by Romano’s head and slammed into a Fae’s chest.
