From Burning Ashes (Collector Series #4) (8 page)

“Oh shit. Right.” Croygen put out his arms
robotically to me.

“I’m fine!” I pulled away from both of them,
but Croygen tugged me until I stood closer to him, and farther from
Ryker.

“How did you find us, Amara?” Ryker’s voice
rumbled through the air.

“You think I didn’t learn a few things from
you over the
years
?” she countered. “I know you, Ryker. I
knew you’d sneak out. I might have drifted off to sleep for a
moment, but when you shut the door, I was up tracking you. I
watched you turn yourself over to
those men
. For
her
.” Her voice was thick with disgust. “I kept an eye on
DMG. Finally you guys emerged, and I followed.”

“Why?” Croygen asked, brows creased. “What do
you want?”

Her lids narrowed. “And what is it you want,
Croygen? Why are you here?” Her eyes tracked to me and back to
Croygen. “Oh, I see.”

Ryker’s arm flexed, an irritated noise
rumbling from his throat. Amara had only been here five minutes and
was already causing trouble.

“You need to go.” My teeth clenched. “Or I
will kill you, you traitorous bitch.”

Her perfectly shaped eyebrow curved up at me.
I turned my head to look at the wall. Staring at her only drove
more need into my muscles to end her life.

“Amara saved my life,” Ryker said as he moved
farther from me. “She is the only reason I am standing here now.
She helped me escape Vadik.”

He had told me that last night, but I didn’t
trust her; she bounced back and forth between sides as it suited
her. “She is the only reason you were there in the first
place.”

“I know.” Ryker kept his eyes latched on to
mine.

“I-I can’t believe this,” I sputtered.
“You’re actually defending her? You’ve forgiven her? Think of what
she’s done to us.”

Ryker’s mouth creased into a line. “I know
you can’t understand, but—”

“You’re right. I don’t.” I half turned,
flipping my hand out at her. “She has deceived, lied, and separated
us to be tortured and possibly killed. And you forgive her?”

“You know, I’m standing right here.” Amara
folded her arms.

The sound of her voice made me think of the
old cliché “like nails on a chalkboard.” I swung around for her.
Ryker immediately stepped back to me, but Croygen grabbed me
first.

“Amara, be smart for once and just shut up,”
Ryker snapped.

But of course she wasn’t wise. “Just think,
if I didn’t turn you over, Zoey. You would never have known about
your dear, sweet,
living
sister. You should thank me,
actually.”

“Oh fuck,” Croygen muttered, his arms
squeezed around me, but his hold wasn’t tight enough to keep me
back. I sprang for her like a wild animal. The power withheld from
me vibrated in its case, begging for a way out. It was probably the
only thing that kept her alive.

I went into a haze, my fighter instincts
taking over. Amara wasn’t a damsel in distress, and she fought
back, landing slaps and punches to my face and body. But my love of
the fight gave me drive she didn’t have. I could have easily beaten
her, with more time.

Once again, I was lifted off her like a
hissing kitten. Ryker moved me back, shoving me once again into
Croygen arms.

“Jesus, Amara. Don’t be an idiot! Do you want
her to kill you?” Ryker shouted, stepping away. “Keep your mouth
closed for once…or leave. I’m struggling enough here.”

I tracked Amara rolling to her side and
spitting out blood.

“She can’t kill me,” Amara mumbled, wiping
her chin.

“Yes, she could.” Ryker put his hands on his
hips. “I told you not to underestimate her. Even when she was pure
human, she could have put you down. Even more so now that she’s
part fae.”

“What?” Amara rose, grimacing in pain. “What
are you talking about?”

“Some of my magic chose to stay with her.
It’s a part of her now.” His eyes flew over to meet mine.

“Holy shit. You killed her?” Amara bent over
her knees but stared up at Ryker in amazement.

“Yes.”

“But she lived.” Disappointment caked her
words. “And some of the powers stayed?” Amara straightened. “She’s
becoming one of us?”

“Sort of. I can still feel her human side,
but the fae is also strong. Maybe equivalent to a Druid or a human
who eats fae food.” He folded his arms.

“See? You didn’t need Regnus after all.” She
smirked and cringed, her fingers tapping at her lip.

“Regnus.” I forgot all about the man, the
seer, whom Ryker wanted to save from Vadik. “Did you find him? Did
he escape with you guys?”

Ryker stared at Amara. “Go ahead, Mar, tell
her.”

“Tell me what?” My head turned to look at
them.

Amara’s lids narrowed on Ryker, her lip
curling up. “Fine. But someone better have a hold on your little
pet there.”

A sardonic grin inched up Ryker’s lips.

Amara sighed deeply. “Regnus is dead.”

I stared at her.

“And?” Ryker prompted.

“He’s been dead for a couple of years. I lied
and said he was alive to trap Ryker.” She propped her hands onto
her hips. “There, are you happy now?”

“Far from it,” Ryker retorted.

I bit my lip. “Is there anything you didn’t
lie about?”

“Yes.” She cocked her head. “I’ve always been
perfectly honest about how I feel about you.”

Croygen’s fingers cinched down firmly on my
arm.

“Believe me, I thought about killing Amara
many nights, but she did get me out.” Ryker kept his glare on
Amara. “She risked her own life and took me to Elthia’s to
heal—”

“Elthia’s?” I whirled around to face him. “As
in another ex-girlfriend who is also still in love with you?” I
normally wasn’t a jealous person, but tonight I had hit the
brink.

Croygen’s sniggering cut the dense
silence.

“Zoey…” Ryker spoke through his teeth.
Perspiration dampened his forehead, and his hands fisted. He seemed
to be fighting the urge to hurt me, I could see it, especially in
the tension along his shoulders. Even being this close to me had to
be difficult for him, but my temper held no sympathy.

“No. I get it.” I tried to force back my
attitude. Didn’t work. “She’s the perfect person. She could heal
you. She’d do anything to keep you safe.” My words didn’t match the
tension in my voice.

“Poor Ryker. So many women,” Croygen teased.
“Is there a chance the three of you would duke it out in a ring?
With mud…?”

“Shut up, Croygen,” Ryker snarled.

“Or Jell-O?”

“How about both of you wres—” A deafening
scream from inside the building cut me off.

My heart dropped to the ground, pulling my
soul with it. “Lexie!” I raced for the doorway.

“Zoey, wait,” Ryker said from behind, but I
disregarded his plea. He wanted to go first to see what or who the
threat was, but my mind didn’t respond logically when it came to
Lexie. I would fight whomever or
whatever
stood on the other
side with my bare hands.

I flung the door open, crashing it into the
wall, and sprinted into the room. “Lexie?” My gaze roamed to where
I left her, taking in the scene before me. My feet came to a sudden
halt, everyone coming in behind me. I had to blink to make certain
what I saw was real

Lexie sat on the dirty mattress, her blanket
wadded up in a ball a few feet away, like she had tossed it. Her
gaze was locked on an object perched atop the crumpled fabric.

Sprig held a coffee stirrer in his hand,
wiggling it at Lexie, as if it were a sword. “Back, you feral
Leanbh!
Back!”

My hand flew to my mouth as a choked laugh
escaped. Both swung around to me.

“Zoey!”

“
Bhean!
I said hello and she threw
me.”

“Monkey. Talking,” Lexie sputtered. Her eyes
still held a blurry confusion, not able to focus on me.

I bent down. “Come here, Sprig.” He stuck out
his tongue at her and darted for me, crawling up my arm to my
shoulder.

“Th-that thing talks,” Lexie repeated, fear
making her stiff. I had forgotten she had never seen him before
today. Even in Rapava’s house of horrors, Sprig was an oddity.

“Thing? How dare you! I am a sprite.” Sprig
huffed. “My name is Spriggan-Galchobhar.”

Lexie blinked.

“That is not going to help.” I chuckled. I
took a step toward Lexie, and she leaned back. “I promise you are
safe.” I held up my hands.

“What is that thing?”

“I’m a sprite.” Sprig shook his head, looking
at me. “Doesn’t she understand English? Do I need to talk
slower?”

I glared at Sprig.

“How are you feeling?” I returned to
Lexie.

Her head swiveled around the room, and she
didn’t acknowledge me.

“Lexie?” It took a couple more calls before
she finally looked at me.

“I-I know I need to tell you something…” Her
brows crinkled on her forehead and she shook her head. “B-but I-I
can’t remember anything.”

“It’s okay. You just need to rest right
now.”

“No.” Her head moved back and forth
violently. “There is something…” She drifted off again, staring
into the void.

“Hey.” I kneeled down at the edge of the bed,
cupping her cheek. “It’s okay.”

Her eyes flew to mine. “How did I get here?
What happened?” She suddenly looked like the little girl I
remembered. Emotion filled her features, bringing her to life.

“What do you last remember?” I sat back on my
heels.

Her mouth opened and then she shut it. She
took in a hasty breath. “Everything feels like a dream. I don’t
know what is real and what is not.”

“It’s probably the drugs DMG gave her. I’ll
bet it makes her forget, so she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone,”
Croygen spoke from behind me.

Lexie peered around me, her gaze landing on
Croygen, gaping at him with a dreamy surprise. “It’s you,” she
whispered. Croygen looked around, then pointed to himself. Lexie
nodded. “You’re the man from my dreams who saved me.”

I groaned as I saw Croygen’s face brighten.
“Croygen, she’s twelve. If you say anything… Actually, do not say
anything at all.”

“What? I wasn’t…I didn’t… Oh, you guys are
disgusting,” he grumbled. “I mean, who can blame her? I am in most
girls’ dreams.”

“Or restraining orders,” Amara muttered.

“Hey, boot-humper? What did
Bhean
say?
Zip it, Lord of the Flies.” Sprig pushed my hair away, to yell over
at Croygen.

“How about my boot meets
your
humper.”

“Okay. Enough.” I held up my hands. “Jeez,
it’s like I’m an animal wrangler at a circus.” I went back to
Lexie. “I know this must be so confusing to you.” My train of
thought stopped when I noticed she no longer listened to me. Her
attention was on Sprig.

“Lexie, this is Sprig. He was an experiment.
Same as me.” I nuzzled his fur. “He was once a sprite, but Rapava
forced him into this monkey form.”

“That’s why he talks?”

“Of course I talk! Do you think I’m
uneducated or something?”

“That’s not what she means, Sprig. You know
monkeys on Earth don’t talk. It’s a little strange to see at first.
Remember when I first met you?”

“Oh right.” He sighed in my ear.

“Come down and say hi.”

“I only do tricks for food.”

Lexie leaned in closer. “He is so little. And
so cute.”

“Cute? Cute?” Sprig exclaimed. “I’ll have you
know,
Leanbh
, I was a fierce warrior sprite.”

“No, you weren’t.” Croygen snorted.

“Shush.” He continued down my arm, his chest
puffed up. “I was hunter, a great champion, feared in the
forest.”

“Only by the beehives,” Croygen muttered.

Ignoring Croygen, Sprig bowed and then
reached out his hand for Lexie’s. She looked up at me, and I nodded
encouragement. She giggled, taking his little hand with a finger
and shook it.

“Nice to meet you, Sprig.”

“You too,
Leanbh
.”

“What is a
Leanbh
?” Lexie let go of
his hand.

“It means child,” Croygen responded.

Lexie frowned.

“Don’t feel bad; he calls me girl.” I leaned
in closer to her. “I don’t think he remembers my name.”

“I know your name.” Sprig put his hands on
his hips, affronted. “It’s... uh... it’s honey—”

“If you say honey tits, I’m going to mash you
up in banana pudding.”

Sprig slapped his hands over his mouth, his
eyes wide with horror.

I smirked and motioned over my shoulder.
“Behind me are Croygen, Ryker, and Amara.” She gave a little nod to
them, then looked back at me. Confusion wrinkled her features.

“Where’s Daniel?”

Oh god
.

Her gaze loosely tracked me as I swallowed
and stared down at my feet. She wouldn’t have known about his death
unless Rapava told her. He clearly had not.

“He died.” I exhaled, surprised at the pain I
still felt recalling the moment of his murder. “The night of the
big storm.”

Lexie pressed her lips together. Her
expression crumbled into a painful sadness.

Her response startled me a bit. She had known
Daniel but not well. From what I said and the few times he helped
me take her to some of her appointments, she had grown attached. I
had told her my dreams of the three of us moving away together,
having a life we always dreamed about. I didn’t realize how much
she also had counted on that fantasy. And Daniel.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. She nodded,
shoulders sagging. Her lids fluttered, and her face suddenly looked
drawn and tired. “I think you should get some sleep.”

“Okay.” Sprig responded instead. His form
stiffened and he toppled over, falling headfirst onto the bed.

“Oh my god,” she shrieked. “Did I kill him?
Is he dead?”

I laughed and scooped him up. “No. Sprig is
narcoleptic.”

“He’s also a tremendous pain in the ass,”
Ryker vocalized behind me.