Awakening Kiss (Watcher's Kiss Book 4) (35 page)

She gave a half laugh. “Me? I’d like to kick their sorry asses across the realm. But I have a hunch you’ll tell me to get in line.”

“Yup.” Rhys eyed Antonio, who got to his feet slowly. “But uh…Enza will probably need your expertise when she gets back.”

“Of course,” Miranda murmured. “Anything she needs.”

“Thanks. That means a lot. Gotta go.” Rhys ended the call.

The front door handle jiggled, then crunched, then the thing swung open and Jude walked in. “At least you discharged the ward.” He scanned the room. “Heat blast?”

“Yep.” Rhys said.

“I had just gotten here when Tor called and gave me the speed-date version of things.” Jude sized up Antonio. “So what now?”

“We go to Splinter,” Rhys said. “Antonio can act like he’s handing us over. The same way he treated the rest.” Rhys’s voice dissolved to a snarl at the end, thinking of Enza being treated like property and used for her skill.

Antonio frowned. “The others all have some kind of special ability. Magic that goes beyond what a species can normally do. Splinter will want to know what your skills are.”

“My skill will be not setting them all on fire.” Brenin glared. “That’s your problem if you need to explain yourself. Say whatever the hell you want. We’re getting Enza out of there.”

“You may not believe me but I want that too,” Antonio said.

“Fuck you!” Rhys lunged, locking his hands around Antonio’s neck. “After your performance today I don’t believe a word of the bullshit that comes out of your mouth. And the only reason you’re still alive is that you will serve a purpose. After today, it’s Enza’s call whether you live or die. Because I’d be happy to see your head roll.”

Brenin stepped closer. “We still need him, Rhys. At least for the next hour.”

Rhys released Antonio, disgusted. “I fucking know that. Goddamn it.”

“Rilan talked to Arawn. He’s sending in Aleksai’s team. They’ve infiltrated Splinter before,” Tor said. “They’re about to leave HQ right now.” Tor inspected each transportation amulet, handing one to Rhys and one to Jude.

“Thank fuck. Let’s go.” Rhys grabbed the small pewter sphere and met Brenin’s eyes. “Grab him. I don’t trust myself not to strangle him in the portal.”

Brenin grabbed Antonio’s arm and wrenched it behind his back as Rhys spoke the words that would open a portal. Beside him, Tor did the same, and the Watchers, plus their prisoner, jumped into the shimmering rings.

C
HAPTER
35

E
NZA SCREAMED AS SHE FELL
from the sky, clutched by Soren in a death grip. Blinding rain lashed them, soaking her to the skin. But she barely had time to process that before the ground loomed up at them.

Thud!

Like before, her breath left her lungs with the shocking impact. And Soren had done zilch to cushion the blow of the landing like Rhys had done back at The Arboretum. God that seemed like years ago…

“Get up!” Soren’s boot shoved into her ribs as she lay on dirty sloping ground.

She coughed and struggled to her feet. “You could have made that easier.”

“Aw, did you break a rib?” he sneered. “You’re a tough demoness. Stop whining.”

Enza pushed a lock of sopping hair out of her face. Did he not know she was half human? He must assume Antonio slept with other female Deseratis. Well maybe he did, and she definitely didn’t want to think about that. But the more important thing was keeping her mother out of it. If Soren never knew she existed, that would be ideal. Enza shuddered to think of him going after her.

She glanced around, but it was hard to see through the sheets of water streaming down. Shielding her eyes, she could make out a few pine trees and…mountains. Oh no.

“Where are we?” she asked, though her stomach sank with creeping knowledge.

“The Bloodspire Mountains.” He grabbed her hand and yanked her up the slope. “Shitty and isolated. And your new home.”

She shivered and goosebumps broke out on her soaked arms. He had said he was taking her to Splinter, those awful ugly red creatures.

Would Rhys be able to find her? How badly was he hurt? Soren had stabbed him right there in the alley. In front of her mother. Was her mother okay?

“What did you do with Rhys?” The words cascaded out in a need-to-know rush, even if it betrayed her feelings for him. Soren already thought they were mates.

“Your male?” Soren shrugged. “I left him. Who cares? The venom on the blade should have immobilized him soon enough.”

Oh god. Sick dread washed through her. Would that kill him? Rhys said predatory demons healed fast, but Antonio had looked incapacitated on the apartment floor after being stabbed. Sudden tears sprang to her eyes and she was grateful the rain would disguise them. Rhys… she never meant for him to get caught up in this mess.

Then again she wouldn’t have known anything about her supernatural half if he hadn’t intervened back in that alley.

But he might not know where she was. He might not be able to save her, as much as she wished he somehow could. No, now it was all up to her…and the brand new talent that simmered in her mind.

Rain trickled between her breasts and squelched in her shoes.
Rain.
The significance of the inclement weather clicked with a tiny hopeful spark. Maybe she didn’t have great control of her ability, but she could try. For Rhys’s sake, she wouldn’t give up. The thought of not seeing him again wasn’t an option. She didn’t know what they were, but her heart pulsed with the certainty that he was meant to be in her life, and she in his.

“Come on, move it!” Soren growled, pulling her harder. “I don’t want to be out here any longer than I have to.”

She stumbled on a rock, breaking her fall with a hand in the muddy ground. Soren yanked her arm hard and pain lanced through her shoulder joint. “Stop!” she yelled, glancing up. “I—”

Her words died. Three figures loomed in front of Soren, brandishing swords. Tall, with red skin and odd-shaped faces with pointed chins, they wore tattered clothing. One grabbed Soren and the other two swooped down on her, each grabbing an arm.

She screamed, and one clamped a grubby hand over her mouth. Soren and the red demon began a heated conversation in a language she didn’t understand.

Soren pointed to her. The red demon scrutinized her, not in a lecherous way but more of a shrewd, is—she—useful kind of way. He stalked close to her. “Unhide your horns and tail.” His voice was low and guttural with an accent she couldn’t place. Yellow eyes peered at her from beneath heavy brows, and a few wisps of black hair were plastered to his head.

Uh-oh.
She had no idea how he would take this news, but figured they’d find out soon enough. May as well tell the truth. “I-I don’t have them.”

The creature turned to Soren. “You said she was a Deserati!” His voice rose with anger.

“She is!” Soren glared at her. “What the fuck do you mean, you don’t have them? That’s not possible.”

“I don’t!” How should she spin this? Causing Soren to appear stupid in front of these fearsome creatures may not be the smartest idea. “I-I only know that Antonio is my father. I don’t know about my mother. I-I’m adopted.”

“Antonio is her father?” one of the demons holding her spoke incredulously. “He has a child? He’s been hiding her? Isrami will be angry.”

“What about you?” the first demon glowered at Soren. “You are his brother. Why did you not bring her to us?”

“I just found out about her. We’ve been tracking her through our current city, and all of a sudden today, Antonio drops this bomb. That she’s his brat. I had no idea before an hour ago.” Soren held up his hands.

“Hmm.” The first demon grunted. “We will let Isrami decide what to do with you both. Come.” He turned and walked farther up the mountain.

The demons holding Enza pulled her forward. She willed herself to stay calm enough to find a way out of this. The memory of her mom’s frightened face as Antonio clutched her in the alley made Enza sick. She had to get back home to her mom, and to Rhys—

Crack!
A peal of thunder split the sky, followed by a brilliant flash of lighting.

Enza tilted her head up to the roiling clouds, attempting to see through the endless deluge of rain. Unable to shield her eyes, thanks to the demons gripping her hands, she tried her best.

Inside the cloud, she saw them. Thousands of particles moving furiously, crashing—

A rough jerk on her arm brought her to a stop and a hood was yanked over her head. “No you don’t, female,” one of her captors grunted.

Enza coughed. The thing stank, and in seconds it was soaked and stuck to her face. And now, walking on this uneven ground was even more difficult. She caught a glimpse of dirt now and then, through a gap where the hood ended, but that was it. Panic started to take hold, but a new thought pushed it away.

Survive.
It was a command, a whisper, a prayer, a plea. She didn’t know where it came from, but it gave her strength.
Survive.

She stumbled and slipped the rest of the way up the slope to wherever they were going. No one spoke. The only sound was the rain and thunder. Occasionally lightning flashed, bright enough for her to see through the hood.

Her legs were starting to ache from the uphill climb when, finally, they reached level ground. Male voices shouted in that unfamiliar language and she was pushed forward. She registered a halt to the rain hitting her skin as well as warmer air. The low murmur of many rough male voices surrounded her, sending chills down her arms. Suddenly they ceased.

A throat cleared near her and Soren spoke. “Isrami, I bring you another creature with special talent. Behold, a Deserati with lightning power.”

The hood was yanked off her head. Enza gasped as she took in a cavernous room filled with dozens of red-skinned demons, all staring at her.

C
HAPTER
36

R
HYS LANDED HARD ON UNFORGIVING
ground in a torrential downpour. It didn’t rain often in the Bloodspires, where Splinter lived, but when it did it was flood-worthy. The rest of his group came through the portals, righting themselves and leaping up.

Tor and Brenin grabbed hold of Antonio. “Don’t even think about running,” Tor snarled.

“I want to find her! We’re on the same side here.” Antonio’s expression was a mix of anger and concern.

Rhys’s fury flashed with the memory of Enza at knifepoint. “We are
not
on the same side. Not until you make serious amends, and only if Enza decides your life is worth anything.” He gritted his teeth against the urge to break Antonio’s jaw just like he’d broken Soren’s.
No.
He had to save Enza. Then, only then, could he dole out punishment. “Where do we go?”

Antonio scanned the area, squinting through the rain. “We’re east of their camp, and about a mile down-mountain. If we go up first, we may be able to find an alternate way in. It’s been a while since I came this way, but I think I remember it.”

“You
think.
Great.” Rhys turned to Jude, who was on his phone. Thankfully, Torth phones ran off the energy from ley lines underground. No worries about water shorting out batteries and components like on earth.

Jude caught his eye, gave a thumbs up. “Aleksai’s team landed. Wolfe has us all on camera back at HQ.”

Rhys’s heart stuttered. Thank gods for the drones Wolfe had circling overhead, disguised as birds. “Does Wolfe see Enza?”

He turned back to his phone. “Do you see Enza?” A frown darkened his face. “Hang on.” He focused on Rhys and Antonio. “Says the minute he flipped the feed on, there was some activity by an east entrance. A group went in, but he couldn’t see who. Couldn’t even tell if one was female.”

“East entrance?” Rhys snapped his gaze to Antonio. “That sound familiar?”

“Yes, that’s the one we’re closest to.”

Jude spoke to Wolfe again, relaying the information. “Got it.” He ended the call. “They’re one minute away.”

Rhys blew out a breath. There was no shelter, just a few lonely spindly trees and the harsh sloping ground. Waiting had always been easier when it was someone else’s woman they were charging after.

But Enza was his. The possessive thought settled deep. His life felt different, wildly out of control, but centered around her. He had to find her. Had to keep her safe.
Survive.
He willed the words out onto the ether.
Enza, I’m coming for you. Stay alive.

A twig snapped. Rhys whirled to see Aleksai leading his four men through a group of trees. A member of Arawn’s inner circle, Aleksai led a small team that took on very specific, precise jobs. With a tight smile, the blond warrior nodded at Rhys and the two grasped arms. “It’s been too long. Sucks to meet up like this, but we’ll get your girl.”

Rhys thumped his friend on the back and nodded in grim acknowledgement. “This male has been working with Splinter, turning over creatures with unusual abilities,” he growled the words and jerked his thumb toward Antonio. “They trust him, so he’s a good way to get close.”

Aleksai’s blue eyes turned icy. “That’s useful for now. Can’t say for later.”

“I’m going with him, posing as his latest capture,” Rhys said.

“If Soren’s in there, he’ll immediately know it’s a trick,” Antonio warned.

“Who’s Soren?” Aleksai asked.

“My partner. And brother.”

“Brother?” Rhys’s fist clenched. “Some fucked up family you got. I’m damn glad Enza grew up on Earth with her mother.”

“Okay.” Brenin stepped close. “Let’s think about this. Soren
will
know it’s a trick—but say any of us walk in with Antonio. Soren will still guess something’s up, even if it’s one of us he hasn’t seen before. He’s not stupid.”

“All we need is to get close.” Rage hammered in Rhys’s heart, accompanied by a sudden sharp sting of fear.
Enza
. It had to be. “We have to hurry.”

“We need time to access another entrance,” Aleksai said. “It’s not far. Wolfe can guide us, plus we’ve been here before. Rhys, you go with the Deserati. It will raise less suspicion if he shows up with one Lash rather than four. The rest of you come with us. Here.” He pulled an earpiece from a pocket on his tactical pants and handed it to Rhys. “Stay in touch. When we’re both close, we let these loose. Tanner?”