Jacob's Ladder (String of Fate) (15 page)

And then he saw the last of the outer perimeter positions get overrun. The enemy was within the outer defenses and everyone was regrouping. The selkie priestess had done something in the small thicket of bushes in which she and the two tigers hid. Seth couldn’t see them now, which meant the woman had raised some kind of protective shield. Smart move, since Beau wasn’t going anywhere and the priestess was probably running on her last dregs of energy if she had any left after that final protective spell. Master Geir would watch over both of them, Seth knew, though it was unexpected.

Seth had thought nothing could tear the tiger away from defense of the Nyx, but then Seth had noticed the way Geir watched Jacki Kinkaid. It was subtle, but there was definitely something there. After witnessing that, it didn’t surprise Seth too much to see where Geir had decided to make his stand. The Nyx was precious, but so was the priestess. Both needed protection and Jacki had only a wounded man to look after her while Ria had every soldier on the mountain on their side and her elite Royal Guard watching her back, not to mention her mate. The seer.

Powerful allies indeed. Seth couldn’t fault Master Geir for taking the initiative and watching over the selkie priestess. He might’ve done the same.

The tide was turning and not in the defenders’ favor. Seth could do little more than pick off those he could see but there were too many for one man. Too many for the team of four that had distributed their skills around the stone circle. Seth was placed in the southeast sniper location. Ben had southwest, while Ari and Pax were northwest and northeast respectively. They had split up the perimeter of the stone circle to lie in wait.

Of the four, Seth was seeing the most action, though all of them were kept busy picking off intruders. Still, Seth had the best vantage point since the main attack force seemed to be coming from his direction. Jacki Kinkaid and the tigers had hidden just a little south of his position and Seth assumed the Royal Guard would be manning the cardinal points of north, south, east and west from within the circle of stones.

Jake though, was a wild card. He’d been traipsing up and down the mountain, helping here and there, going between groups, spreading news and helping where he could. Seth hadn’t seen the sense in it. What could a lone human do ferrying information between groups of shapeshifters? Seth hadn’t expected much, but he’d been surprised by the effect the seer’s words had on the groups he spoke to throughout the running battle.

Jake had shown courage and stamina as well as skill Seth hadn’t expected. The human had taken down opponents without hesitation and helped get the injured to safety within the stone circle. But he didn’t stay there. Surprisingly, rather than stay with his mate, Jake kept making forays out from the circle. It was as if he was looking for something, Seth realized.

And then Seth watched, helpless, and with a sinking feeling in his gut, as something found Jake instead.

Chapter Twelve

Jake knew the moment he pushed his luck just a little too far. Or maybe just far enough. He felt the cold barrel of a gun against his neck as a harsh voice ordered him to put his hands up. Jake complied, knowing with a little sinking feeling in his stomach that at least one of the really bad things he’d foreseen was about to come true.

He didn’t struggle as the enemy soldiers pushed him around. He didn’t fight back. He knew if he did, he would die. Simple as that. The vision had shown him the consequences of fighting—and what might happen if he chose to control his instincts and not fight back…yet. Jake had decided to go with the latter option. There was still a slim chance of pulling this out and he had to take it.

“What the hell is a human doing up here among the animals?” Jake’s captor sneered.

Jake didn’t reply. He had to keep his cool or this could turn out very badly. It bothered him to stay silent, but he knew in this instance it was very necessary to his possible survival.

“Cat got yer tongue?” the man asked while securing Jake’s hands behind his back with zip ties. He then prodded Jake once more with the gun, now bumping hard into his kidney. The man laughed when Jake continued to ignore his taunts. “It’s your lucky day, buddy. The big kahuna wanted any human we found on this mountain alive for some reason. Let’s go. He has to see you before he decides if I get to kill you or not.”

Another hard poke to the kidney got Jake moving. It pained him to realize they were moving up the mountain, toward the stone circle. Could the enemy have gotten so far in such a short time? It was possible. One of the scenarios he’d foreseen had him meeting the face of evil inside the stone circle. If this was that particular possible future, Jake had a good idea what to do. He set to work, thinking about how to best utilize the tools he had pre-positioned based on the multiple scenarios he had foreseen.

When evil walked into the circle of standing stones, Ria felt it immediately. The portal had opened moments before, swirling in a light show she had seldom seen before, a viscous green circle positioned in thin air, right above the altar stone. Ria knew the energy of the standing stones was amplifying the power of the amulet. It was a phenomenon she had only seen a couple of times before.

Ria was not in control of this manifestation. The energies of the amulet and the stones had called to each other and the portal had opened. Ria could hear the wailing on the other side as the terminating point of the portal was pulled and stretched from the next realm toward something…else.

Evil was inside the circle and trying to influence where the portal led. Ria did what little she could to block it. Her personal energy was great, but she wasn’t sure it would be enough to stop the depth of depravity she now felt inside the sacred place.

And then she felt the help pouring through from the other side. All those who had gone before were there, at the terminus, using all their energy to keep the portal in their realm. There were some amazing beings in that other realm, but they too, it seemed, were under attack somehow. She didn’t know how it all worked on the other side. There were many, many things she was not allowed to know—or even to ask. What came after death in the mortal realm was supposed to be a mystery and there were rules each Nyx had followed, handed down by the Goddess Herself, it was said.

But Ria could hear the skirmishing in the background, beyond the veil, as if from a distant room. She also heard the voices of those who were defending the portal on the far side, offering advice that only she could hear. Ria followed the words of those she knew and trusted, holding strong against the invading power. Among them were priestesses and mages of antiquity who had come to share their wisdom and knowledge with Ria. They told her things she had never even guessed at before, teaching her ways to defend the portal from magical attacks.

She could do this all day, she thought, having absorbed the secret knowledge from those who had passed. She took a moment to look around the stone circle. Her Royal Guard blocked most of her view, having formed a circle of protection around her, the injured, and the altar, but she could see a bit as they moved and fought. Even the injured who could still hold a gun were helping defend the portal.

Ria’s gaze went from face to face among the enemy, looking for the one that was trying to commandeer the portal for his own use. She could sense it was male energy, but that didn’t help much. It looked like there were a vast majority of males arrayed against her people. That might mean something, but Ria had no idea what. If they survived this, it was something she’d have to look into, but for now, it was important that they hold strong against the enemy, even though the situation looked grave.

Her advisors on the other side of the portal cheered her on, giving her hope. They stood firm with her, helping her in whatever way they could, even as it seemed they fought on their side of the veil as well. They didn’t seem as overwhelmed over there as they were here, but she couldn’t be truly sure of anything just now.

And then Jake stumbled into the stone circle and Ria’s heart stopped. At first, she didn’t know what she was seeing. Jake was in the center of a group of enemy fighters and they were walking toward the eastern side of the circle. Was he with them willingly?

Her heart skipped a beat, then resumed as she noted the way his hands were pulled back and tied together behind him. His head was down, but she knew he wasn’t there of his own volition. He had been captured.

She gasped again, realizing the enemy had to know how important Jake was to her. No other fighter on their side had been seized and brought here. Something was about to shift the balance of power here and Ria very much feared it wouldn’t be in her favor.

And then the small group with Jake stopped in front of a short man with a gray beard. Bingo. That was the source of the energy that fought to wrest control of the portal from Ria’s hands. As the graybeard’s attention was snagged by the group and their captive, he gave a signal and the attack slacked off.

Both the magical attack against the portal and the physical fighting within the tight confines of the stone circle slowed and then ceased altogether.

“Look, Nyx,” the mage called out, facing her. “I’ve got your mate.” He spit the word as if it was a foul thing. “Would you like to see him die?” He paused to let that sink in. “Or will you cease your resistance and save his life?”

“Don’t do it,” Jake grit out even as the soldiers around him forced him to his knees before the short mage.

Ria was torn. She knew her duty, but she had only just found her mate. Jake was her life. Her everything.

His head lifted and he finally met her gaze. She saw something in his eyes that gave her pause. He was up to something. She just had to have faith in him. She nodded slightly and prepared for what she had to do. What she had to say. Though it broke her heart, she had to trust in Jake and his abilities—and she had to do her duty.

It was a hell of a thing.

“What’s your name, mage?” she asked, stalling for time. She positioned herself squarely in the middle of the swirling portal, just in front of it. This was, after all, her domain. The portal was the Nyx’s to call and to protect.

“Master Willard Fontanbleu, as if it matters. And you’re little Ria. Sold out by her uncle. Hunted all her life. Pathetic little Ria. I’ve searched for you for decades and now you’re mine at last.”

Ria laughed, though the sound was forced. There really wasn’t much to laugh about at the moment, but she had to play the game. The soldiers were at a standstill, her Guard wary, but not engaged with the still forces of the mage.

“I’m my own woman to the last, Willard. As you will learn.” The ancients were whispering to her, offering advice and she knew what she had to do.

“No, you little slut. You’re the one who will learn. When my lady Elspeth returns she will drink your blood and use your power to summon demons and creatures from all sorts of places. Now, give up your charm and let’s end this. Or I’ll end him.” Willard turned again to Jake, but Jake was already on the move.

And out of the dark sky, even darker shapes floated silently into the midst of the enemy forces. The dark shapes resolved into fully armed men and the scene erupted into chaos as fighting began anew.

In a blur of motion, Jake jumped to his feet. His hands were free and there was a small push dagger in one that he sank into the mage’s side with a savage growl worthy of any predatory shifter.

“Now, Ria!” Jake shouted above the din of combat. He somehow knew she had the words and she spoke them as they had been given to her. Terrible words in an ancient tongue aimed at the mage who was stunned for the brief moment it took to summon his spirit to the other side.

Willard’s body collapsed to its knees as the three soldiers who had subdued Jake tried to fight the whirlwind of hands, feet and knives that Jake had suddenly become. One by one, the men fell beside their leader, one dead, one dying and the other unconscious.

Meanwhile, Ria allowed the spell to work its magic, separating body from spirit and dissipating the short man’s magic into the place of power in which they stood. His vast stores of magical energy drained directly into the stones and from there went into the earth. His spirit was sucked into the spinning vortex of the portal, while his body fell to the ground, an empty husk.

The battle raged as new forces entered the fray on the side of good. This had to be the mercenary group Jake had talked about. Jesse Moore’s guys. The cavalry come just in the nick of time.

Ria fell to her knees beside the altar stone, a bit shocked at how easily this had all ended when the battle had been so fierce up to this point. Tears filled her eyes for the loss of life. Already many newly crossed were at the portal, speaking to her. They were speaking words of joy at the imminent victory over evil and some were talking to her, telling her not to be sad for them or feel guilt over their passing.

Eventually, after she had made note of several messages for loved ones that she promised to deliver, her mother came to speak with her. Everyone else retreated to give them a few moments alone.

“The one who was Willard was the only one who knew the Nyx’s secret,” her mother told her in that strong, sure voice Ria remembered from childhood. “Willard’s isn’t the only formerly evil soul on this side, and we have ways to deal with his issues, so don’t worry. We’ll take care of him now,” her mother promised her. “I’ve already questioned him and you might be relieved to know that the rest of his order doesn’t really understand what he hoped to achieve by hunting the Nyx. They think him a fool. That much is clear. So it just might be that you’re a little bit safer than you have been in the past.”

Ria felt a wave of relief. “Thank you,” she whispered, then tried again in a stronger voice. “Thank you for helping me tonight and for being with me. Even if I haven’t always taken the time to listen, I’ve been aware of your presence and your love. I hope you know how much you are loved in return. I miss you, mother.”

“I will always miss you too, my sweetest angel,” her mother said, deep emotion in her voice. “Until we meet again, which won’t be for many years yet, I hope. You need time with that amazing mate of yours, and you need time to create the next generation. Ask him what he’s seen about the next Nyx. I think you’ll like his vision of the future.”

Ria sensed the moon moving out of range. Soon the portal would close for another night. While she had one more night of this new moon tomorrow, she was never certain of who would come to speak with her. This might be the last chance she had to talk to her mother for some time. She wanted to say so much more but time was running out and she didn’t know where to begin.

“Hold strong, Ria. We’ll find out what we can on this side and we’ll speak again tomorrow. With all that’s happening in your realm and a few of the others right now, the usual strictures have been relaxed. You need help and we’re finally allowed to give it in a truly meaningful way. Come back here tomorrow. Do the final ceremony of the month in the stone circle and we’ll help you and the priestess cleanse this place properly. For now, go be with your mate. He needs you as much as you need him, I think.”

Her mother’s voice faded as the portal swished to a close, shrinking in size until it was completely gone. Only then did Ria turn around.

Jake was right behind her and her Royal Guard was directing the mop up with the help of all those who had come to help. She stepped away from the altar and into Jake’s arms. They were both safe. They had made it through the battle, mostly unscathed.

She moved back to look at him, though she couldn’t let him go just yet, and realized he was bleeding a bit.

“You’re hurt,” she noted with some anxiety. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” he smiled and pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight and rocking back and forth for a sweet, sweet moment. “I love you so much, Ria. You are the very heart of me. I’ve never been prouder of a person or happier at a battle won. Thank the Goddess you’re safe and whole.”

“I could say the same,” she added, her cheek against his chest, listening to the precious beat of his heart. “I love you, Jake. I was so frightened when I saw you had been captured. How did you get your hands free?”

He moved one of her hands downward and into his back pocket. She felt a hard object which she grasped and removed from his pocket. It was a sheathed knife. A small one, in a triangular shape. The push dagger. In all probability, the same one he’d used on the mage.