Blood Chained (Dark Siren Book 3) (11 page)

The rogue let out a snarl. In a flurry of movement, it was gone. Orrin was calling her name frantically. Kali fell back against the wall. Relief pooled through her body, taking with it the last of her fear. He helped her regain her feet, and together they walked down the corridor. Her legs got stronger with each step, and suddenly she was steadying Orrin as he staggered. His stumble was enough to shake loose the smog of shock clouding her head.

“Orrin, what’s wrong?”

Gritting his teeth, he tried to pull away. “I am fine.”

“No, you’re not.” She supported him again as he took another misstep. One of her hands came away moist and slick. “I think you’re bleeding.”

“Yes. The rogue, he shot me.”

“Oh god, Orrin.”

“It is fine,” he said again, but his pained grimace said otherwise.  “We need to get out of here.”

“Shen…I don’t know which way he went.”

“That’s alright.” He smiled, reverting his speech to “Owen’s” southern drawl. “I can smell ‘em. Turn left.”

Kali obeyed, but without the same display of confidence Orrin had. “We still need Shen. This place is locked down with all sorts of protocols.”

“These upper floors have fewer layers of security.” In a painstaking motion, he removed a rectangular card from the inside pocket of his jacket. He handed it to Kali. “And we have this.”

She took the clear plastic card. A simple blue circle pulsed at its center, dimming and brightening in a slow cycle. When tilted toward the light, an iridescent barcode became faintly visible. “How did you get this?”

“The big rogue dropped it when we fought. I’m sure it will be all we need.”

“Alright, then.” She managed a tired smile. “Let’s get you out of here.”

Chapter 17

Orrin rested on the large sofa in Kali’s suite with one arm folded behind his head and the other dangling over the edge of the cushions. Though both eyes were open, he looked pretty exhausted. The reassurances he’d made to Kali were wildly overstated, considering the trio of gunshot wounds that had impacted his chest. Luckily, no vital organs or major arteries were hit. Three lead bullets, each went through and through. He’d be fine tomorrow or the next day. It was a miracle.

Kali was still on two feet, but barely. The girl was pretty banged up. Tender ribs, a bruised throat, and a concussion that left her pupils wider and darker than usual were, by far, less severe injuries than the ones Orrin was dealing with. But her body would take much longer to heal. She was quieter than normal, probably in a lot of pain. Worry pinched every corner of her face, drawing her full lips into a thin line. York couldn’t help feeling sorry for her…and rotten for the way he’d treated her. She loved and wanted the best for all of them. It was clear that she’d nearly given her life to help save Orrin’s. Kali was a good kid. Somewhere along the way, York had lost sight of that. Somehow he would make it up to her. He just hoped she could forgive him, and things could go back to how they were.

Crossing the room in a few strides, York didn’t miss the way Kali stiffened at his approach. She nearly flinched away when he reached for her. It was a kick in the balls.
How big of a jerk have I been?
He hoped a bit of gentleness would soothe her. “Kali, you and Orrin did a really good job back there. You’re both safe now. It’s okay to rest. You need to.” Taking her arm, he guided her toward a plush club chair situated next to Orrin. She relented and for a moment even leaned into him as they walked. Then her shoulders and chin lifted as her spine pulled impossibly straighter. But that split second of trust was enough to make York hopeful. He wanted Kali’s confidence again and was willing to do anything to earn it back. As she sat down in the chair, he kneeled in front of her and felt Dmiri’s approving gaze light on him from a dark corner in the room.

“I’m incredibly sorry, Kali. I’ve been acting pretty lousy toward you lately. That stops now. And I’m going to make it up to you…no matter how long it takes.”

She squeezed his hand and nodded silently. She even smiled a little.

Shit.

York understood then exactly how one-sided the breach between them had been. Kali never wanted this fight. Looking back, he realized she’d been trying extra hard to play nice and smooth things over. He was just too busy being a hard ass to appreciate it.

Remembering what he was hiding back in the other suite, York took a deep, preparing breath. “That being said, in the next five minutes, you’re probably going to be angry with me. What I’ve done is not to hurt you intentionally. But most likely it will. It was a split decision, probably a bad one. But we can’t go back from it. So please bear with me.”

“Okay,” she obliged, though her posture was uncertain.

York stood up. Everyone watched him, waiting. “Alright,” he said. “The easy part is behind us.”

Rion’s hand immediately shot up. He cleared his throat. “Um…Orrin’s shot. Kali has a concussion and bruised ribs. How is that easy?”

“Well, kiddo, wait until you hear the next act.” Pulling a cell phone from his front pocket, he punched a speed dial. The call was answered on the first ring. “River, bring in our guest.”

#

Gratitude. Kali was feeling a lot of it. Orrin was healing and was going to be okay. They’d made it out of the bank alive. York seemed genuinely committed to calling a truce in the ongoing quarrel between them. He’d apologized, handled her with a kindness she hadn’t realized she’d missed so severely until now. If he was willing to put it all behind them, then Kali was determined to meet him at least halfway. Although York had admitted preemptively to actions that might upset her, she resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt. The divide between them needed to be filled. The infighting had to stop.

But then River half-dragged, half-escorted a gorgeous red-head with equally stunning almond shaped, honey-colored eyes and a silhouette that could have graced any runway. The strange woman fixed on her the cool, appraising gaze of a rival—a look Kali had received many times from girls in high school—and her resolved faltered. This woman was bad news.

Bailen made a soft noise at her feet. While Rion’s eyes widened with appreciation for the lovely creature introduced into their midst, Orrin’s expression remained largely unchanged. Somewhere behind her, and hidden in shadow, was Dmiri. Possessing unparalleled acuity in all things, Kali would have liked to have seen the old kindred’s reaction to the woman.

York didn’t waste much time on introductions. “Kali, Cixi. Cixi, Kali,” he said with a flourish of one hand. “Cixi claims to have information that can help us find The Siren’s Heart. She said Ian ordered her to seek us out and offer her services.” He took a breath. “I believe her. But if this is going to work, we’ve got to put a few things out in the open and on the table.” He paused, his eyes drilling into Kali’s. Her stomach did a small flip. “There’s something everyone needs to understand. And by everyone, I really mean Kali and Cixi.”

“Get on with it, Yorkshire. Your suspense isn’t wholly lost on the little one.” The woman’s painted lips stretched into a smile that wasn’t entirely humorless. “And you risk boring me to tears.”

“Alright.” York’s gaze hardened as he considered the stranger whom he was obviously acquainted with. When he continued, his words were addressed to Kali. “Rhane and Cixi once shared a thing. It happened a long time ago. Just sex really, but Cixi never quite moved on.”

There. He’d said it. Confirmed her suspicions. Though she’d expected it, the truth stabbed through Kali’s heart like a thousand needles. Hot tears pricked the backs of her eyes, demanding a release that could not be granted. Of course Rhane had bedded other women. They’d been separated for four centuries. He wasn’t some celibate priest. He was a guy with needs. Needs that were filled by entangling himself in the arms of another woman, naked and sweaty beneath him, writhing in ecstasy as he—
stop
. Kali clenched her teeth together. Beating back jealousy was difficult enough when confronted with a woman who so obviously still had strong feelings for Rhane—her Rhane. Forcing images of raw intimacy from her mind, she concentrated on York, who was still speaking.

“And you need to understand that what you and Rhane had was over long ago. Kalista is his past. She is also his present and future. As his second, I am required to protect what belongs to my alpha…no matter the cost.” He moved closer to Cixi. “Ian may have sent you, but whether you stay or go depends on a whole lot more. Are we understood?”

“My grasp of English is perfect, Yorkshire.” Though the woman had answered York, her eyes never left Kali’s.

York didn’t seem to like that. “I didn’t ask about your fucking aptitude in English. I asked if you understood me.”

Taking in his angry countenance, the woman’s golden eyes brightened and seemed to evolve with new understanding. Her face softened as she lowered her gaze to the floor. “I understand.”

“Perfect.” For a few tense moments, no one moved. Cixi’s gaze remained downward as she finally seemed to submit to York’s authority. Eventually, he stepped away from the beautiful woman of mixed Asian descent and nodded toward Kali. “Now, tell Rhane’s mate what you told me.”

She stretched her arms out before her, bound at the wrists with thin wire. “Your hospitality is questionable. I am a guest. Are these blood silver restraints truly necessary?”

“No. But it’s too much of a hassle to bother with taking them off right now. Say what you have to say.”

“Very well. You failed to procure what you seek for the same reason the rogues have failed. The treasure of the Heart does not lie within the bank’s secure walls, but beneath them in an underground realm hidden for many centuries.”

Kali discreetly looked around the room. Cixi’s information, if true, was indeed valuable. But could she be trusted? Rion and River both appeared doubtful. York’s expression was unreadable as he stared at Kali, waiting silently. For what? Bailen leaned into her ever so slightly. It was the cue she needed.

“How do you know this?” she asked.

The red and golden beauty lifted her chin. Defiance darkened her eyes. “I am kindred. And I am the beta of the eastern hemisphere. I allied myself with sun rogues on this continent, to the faction who seeks the vessel. But I am loyal to my people, to Ian. He does not approve of my methods, but he has never turned away good intel.”

“Why should we trust you?”

“Dmiri sees truth. He can assure you that my purpose here is to help.”

At her words, the large kindred materialized from obscurity. “How do you know what I am?”

“Your smell is old. Even older than Ian’s. Throughout my life, I have heard rumors of creatures like you—ancient ones, originals who survived the First Wars and the Great Cleanse. Kindred who have transcended time, evolved into something more, into things the master race had not intended.”

“Ah.” Dmiri smiled. “You are correct. I do see truths.” Standing between the two women, he shifted his focus to Kali. “Cixi can help return what was lost to you. But you must never forget, dark one. A scorned lover is more dangerous than a startled viper.”

“Okay then.” Kali shoved to her feet, blocking out ripples of pain that accompanied the movement. “We’ll just have to tread carefully.” She matched Cixi’s unblinking stare. “Tell us everything. But start with how to get into the bank’s underground.”

“I will give all I have. But I must ask for one thing in return.”

“What?”

“Once I turn over this information, the rogues will know I have betrayed them. All hives will seek vengeance. Nowhere on this continent will be safe for me. I must journey to the States and take refuge with Ian’s pack. For that, I will need your help to ensure I arrive unharmed.”

Though she really didn’t like the idea of Rhane’s ex living within a hundred miles of the manor, Kali didn’t flinch at Cixi’s request. “Done,” she said. “Now can we begin?”