Rogue Belador: Belador book 7 (25 page)

He shoved his feet up on the next chair, then swiped his finger in the general direction of the light switch. The room fell dark.

He dropped off into sleep and slid deeper with each slow breath. Darkness seeped into his mind, shutting out the flash of thoughts that had battered him constantly. His body gave up the fight to keep moving and every muscle eased until it was limp.

For just a moment, he had nothing to do. Nothing worry would fix.

“
Tzader!”

The harsh whisper brought him awake. Brina’s hologram leaned forward. She huddled, as if hiding somewhere. “I have to talk to you. Now. We have a problem. Meet me in the clearing.”

She blinked out of sight.

Slamming his eyes closed, he breathed in and out slowly, pushing himself into deep sleep. It was taking too long. He had to calm down, but how could he do that after seeing Brina in a panic? He stopped thinking about going after the dragon, about Macha, about anything else except seeing Brina. His muscles loosened and he was falling deeper when someone touched him.

Could Brina be pulling him to her? She’d never done that. He focused on reaching the dream world.

Invisible hands gripped him hard, dragging him from deep subconscious to ... 

He opened his eyes. No sword flew at his head. Nobody reached for him.

Soft clouds floated overhead through bright blue skies. He sat up and looked around. This was the clearing, the location where he and Brina had always rendezvoused.

He pushed up and looked around at the landscape that went on forever. Where was she?

“She’s not here.”

Tzader jumped up, and swung around to find Ceartas standing where he’d heard no one a moment ago. “Where is she? She just told me she was coming to meet me here. She had something to tell me.”

Ceartas shook his head. “That’s unfortunate.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

“I’ve been watching for Brina since you left. She would normally have slept twice since then, but she hasn’t returned. Macha must have decided to put a stop to Brina meeting with you in the dream world. Once you free the dragon, he can call Brina to him, even from a different realm as long as Brina holds his scale. Get to the dragon before Macha finds that scale and hides Brina from all of us.”

Tzader felt sick at the dream walker’s grim tone. Whether it was fair or not, he lashed out at Ceartas. “It would have been good to know that about the damn scale.”

“Now you know,” Ceartas said.

Tzader was too tired to banter with this dickhead. “Since you’re Mr. Information, any chance of Queen Maeve and Cathbad leaving Tŵr Medb soon, or does that dragon have any idea on how to get them out of the tower?”

“The queen is curious about a witch who possesses a power called Witchlock. She and Cathbad ... ” Ceartas was yanked back a step, then his body literally looked as if it were being pulled like taffy. He squeezed out, “I have to go.”

He vanished as the last word reached Tzader’s ears.

Chapter 22

Grendal dismissed his tikbalang. It could once again turn invisible, now that Grendal had repaired its injuries. The hairy gray beast plodded out the side door of the empty building Grendal had warded to use as his temporary headquarters.

Making those two creatures had drained too much of his powers.

That blasted Skinwalker and his Alterant mate almost destroyed this tikbalang, but the stupid beast should not have allowed himself to be detected. Grendal walked through the musty corridor and down the stairs to the basement level.

Queen Maeve and Cathbad underestimated him.

The arrogant queen had sent her people to search for Lanna, but she’d also sent a team out to hunt for him. Did she think he hadn’t considered that possibility? Didn’t she realize he’d developed a network of snitches during the months he’d spent in this miserable country?

He missed the tranquility of Transylvania.

Yes, he had to keep an eye on that pair in Tŵr Medb. The
Scáth
Force would capture Lanna, and then Queen Maeve would try to keep the girl. She’d also try to capture
him
, but she would fail at both.

He stepped off the stairs into the musty basement where five witches were tied to elevated tables he’d had built just for them.

Not all witches. One civilian.

Those four white witches had been
so
secure in their power.

Until someone unexpected showed up.

Much like how Queen Maeve and Cathbad would soon lose their arrogance when they realized they could not outmaneuver Grendal.

His servant stood against the wall on his right, where she had a clear view to guard all five tables. 

He called out, “Leeshen.”

She turned to him. “Yes, Master?”

No emotion tainted the eyes outlined in thick kohl, so stark in her simple face. Russet-colored skin shone along her bare arms, showing off the carved definition these American bodybuilders wished to achieve. Grendal considered Leeshen’s musculature one of his finest masterpieces. He took full credit. After all, she’d been only a witch before he’d recreated her.

Lambskin crisscrossed her breasts. She wore shorts of the same soft skin. Silky lavender hair cut even with her chin swished on one side of her otherwise bald head.

Her dark-purple lips parted when she addressed him. “Master.”

Someone on the far end of the room groaned.

Leeshen’s head swiveled toward the sound. She walked over and lifted a two-inch purple fingernail that was tipped in pure gold and filed to a point. She pierced the captive in the side of her neck.

The witch arched up, keening and shaking, then fell to the table.

Once the prisoner was silent again, Leeshen turned back to Grendal. She never annoyed him with endless questions, always waiting for instruction. She didn’t complain about cold or discomfort. He’d stripped away the desire for anything but pleasing him.

“Very good,” Grendal said. “You may rest.

She dipped her head in acceptance of his glowing praise. Then she went to the corner and crouched.

He didn’t understand why others with his power criticized his creations. Of course, they did so only once, then he’d send Leeshen after them.

Stepping over to the second table, he smiled down at Mattie. “Wake up. It’s time for your next treatment.”

She blinked, her wrinkled eyelids slow to open. When they did, she struggled to focus. “What is ...?”

Grendal slapped her papery cheek.

Her head snapped sideways hard from the hit. She licked her lips where blood trickled.

Once she appeared cognizant, he reverted to speaking in the calm voice he used to manage the mentally challenged. “Pay attention, Mattie.”

The witch’s rheumy eyes sharpened. “What do you want, you son of a whore?”

“Let’s not pull my dear mother into this. She died in that whorehouse, after all.”

Mattie blinked, and her eyes flared slightly either at his lack of reaction or his admission. She licked her cracked lips again. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“That is more like it. My name is of no consequence for someone in your position. I wish to have a conversation. It will save time if you know what is expected of you.”

“I won’t help your kind.”

“You only think you won’t. I require a constant source of energy to keep my power level high and to maintain a healthy body.”

Her eyebrows climbed toward her frizzy gray hair at that.

“You’ve met Leeshen.”

“The one that looks like a demon left out too long in the sun? Yes, I met her, it, whatever.”

Leeshen could hear everything from her position in the corner, but showed no reaction to the insult.

Grendal smiled again at her metamorphosis. Leeshen had been a powerful witch. She’d proven a solid energy source as he’d transformed her, but now he required a more powerful subject to work on. He’d had a perfect power source until that miserable child had destroyed a section of his castle and escaped. Lanna would not get a second chance.

Returning to Mattie, Grendal stroked her gray hair. She pulled away as far as her arm restraints would allow. “Power must be given willingly, Mattie. I want a willing participant, someone worthy of the metamorphosis that takes place. I can take the power, but that often drains me and influences the transfer.”

“You’re out of your mind. I won’t give you anything, even if it means I never leave here alive. I’ve lived my life in the light, and will not support the dark side in any way.”

He continued petting her, speaking as if he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “There is, of course, a ritual involved, and it takes hours for the spell to mature to the point of transfer. Once the host is compliant, I must be physically connected to the host when I draw on the majik, and feed on her blood as she receives my power through her. It’s a complete cycle. It generally takes five sessions for the host, a witch, to completely morph into a version similar to Leeshen.”

Mattie’s mouth fell open. She trembled in horror. When she could speak, she said, “What kind of animal are you to rape me for my power?”

“What?” He straightened away from her. “No, no, no. I have no intention of drawing the power from you. You’re too far past your prime and too combative. I need young flesh for this. I had an alternate plan for locating the one I prefer, but someone is interfering. I’ll need your help calling the other young woman to me.”

“I won’t do it.”

“I believe you will.

“Call in some innocent girl to be raped and turned into something like that monster you call Leeshen? Go ahead and kill me. Won’t happen.”

“I’ve already given a succulent young thing of twenty-six, who hides her witch blood, a workout. While she put up a rigorous fight that entertained me to no end, she isn’t as powerful as my first choice, or as you. You’ll understand why I found that odd when you look to your left.”

Finally, Mattie’s vulnerability rose to the surface. She turned her head slowly.

He mentally counted down. Three, two, one...

“
Nooooo
,” she screamed. “
No, no, no
...” Her wails turned into sobs as she stared at the bloody fingers of the naked woman stretched out on the next table. That half-alive woman stared back at Mattie with empty eyes, her face a mottle of bruises. But not so many splotches of blue-green that Mattie wouldn’t recognize the only grandchild to inherit her gift.

“I’ll take your reaction to mean you will wholeheartedly help me locate Lanna Brasko.”

He’d probably have to repeat himself later once Mattie became coherent again. This had turned out far better than he’d originally planned when he’d captured her to trade with the Medb.

Her granddaughter did possess an exceptional amount of energy, but Lanna was superb. Comparing this young woman to Lanna was like holding up a candle to outshine the sun.

Chapter 23

Evalle headed to the garage of their building while Storm ran upstairs to check in one last time on Oskar and Feenix, and to inform all three teens to stay in their apartments until someone came for them.

They had food, Internet, and television.

Where she would’ve simply asked them to stay in, Storm politely made it clear that leaving the building was not an option.

Quinn had excused himself and stepped away to make a call, leaving Evalle with Adrianna, who asked, “What are you going to do if no one ever holds a vote on the gryphon race petition?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Evalle quipped. “Macha isn’t helping. I can’t keep telling the other gryphons that it’s going to be soon, when soon has come and gone. In fact, once we get the dragon out of Tŵr Medb, I’m thinking about helping Tristan teleport the gryphons out. They were offered the chance to leave, but it was a double-edged blade. Leaving back then meant it would be reported to VIPER, which is a hotline to Queen Maeve these days.”

“Doesn’t sound good.”

“No. The situation has to be bad for me, Tzader, and Quinn to break into Queen Maeve’s domain to steal her throne without Macha’s consent and support. Just because we see it as honorable doesn’t mean she will, especially if a war breaks out from this. Once I do that, I might as well go free the other gryphons. No point in going halfway. The penalty for crossing Macha is the same.”

“What will Macha do?”

“I’m past the point of speculating, and making this up as I go, but Storm has made it clear that we have options. I may have to consider those options.”

Adrianna whispered, “What do you really think Macha is going to do when she finds out you’ve crossed her? If you bring back Brina’s memories, do you think she’ll let you just walk away?”

“No. But she needs Treoir and she needs the Beladors to follow her. The way I understand it, gods and goddesses grow in power the more followers they have who believe in them. In her right mind, Brina will stand behind Tzader, and Macha cannot harm Brina because Brina is the power behind the Beladors. If she destroys the Beladors, she says goodbye to her support group. We have the largest force of warriors in the world, which means she currently has the largest base of support. Tzader would risk all for Brina, but he’d never put the entire Belador clan at risk for personal gain. The thing is that Tzader’s goal will also end up supporting Macha’s power base because, apparently, the dragon demands that Brina be saved. That dragon seems to know a lot about Macha and Queen Maeve. I can’t fence-sit. I’m going to believe in Tzader.”

Adrianna ran a hand over her hair and down her ponytail. “With the dreams I’ve been having, either this dragon is going to lead all of you to victory, which keeps my world safe, too, or we’re all going to be fighting one hell of a threat. I could feel his power in my dreams. It shook me. Even with my possessing Witchlock, the idea of his turning that on me was terrifying.”

“If war did break out in the supernatural world, where do you think Sen would stand?”

Adrianna lifted a shoulder. “No clue. VIPER isn’t going to be able to control the situation, and you know as well as I do that the deities are going to cover their own asses. At that point, all humans would be at risk.”

That sent Evalle’s next thought to Isak. He’d be in the middle of it all. The Nyght armory designed weapons specifically to take down preternaturals.

Quinn finished his call and headed for his car, parked in the last position in a garage fit for ten vehicles.

Plus one GSXR motorcycle.

Evalle had a hint of tease in her voice when she asked Adrianna, “Speaking of favorite humans, how’s Isak?”

“I know that tone of voice. Don’t play matchmaker. You’re out of
your
league with that. Let’s just say I haven’t unleashed a spell on him, but he’s stepping dangerously close to finding out what I can do.”

“What happened?” 

“I ignored him for a week and he sent a black ops team to put me in a van and bring me to him.”

Evalle started chuckling.

Adrianna didn’t look impressed by Isak’s dating techniques. Yep, Evalle had been there, done that, gotten an Italian dinner out of the deal. “How’d it go?”

Adrianna managed a sly smile. “I turned the wheels on his van into stone. He’s probably still chiseling those off.”

Why couldn’t I have done something like that?
“I would have liked to see that.”

“It was funny, but I wish
he
had to do the chiseling instead of his men.”

Quinn called to Adrianna, who nodded and started his way.

Evalle fell into step with her. “Wait until you meet Kit.”

“Not happening. Isak and I do not mesh.”

From where Evalle stood, those two seemed perfect. Adrianna had the kind of experience—and the witch juice—a woman needed for dealing with a hardheaded alpha. While Isak did respect the word no, he was stubborn once he set his sights on a target.

Right now, he had his romantic crosshairs set on one deadly little witch.

Evalle waved them off and headed for the office to activate the garage door from a remote control panel Storm had put there so she wouldn’t catch an accidental shaft of sunlight through the big overhead door while using the controls in the garage. 

Storm met her at the base of the stairs. “Everyone is set. I have the boys’ computer linked to the flat screen with controllers, and signed them into an account for downloading games. I gave Lanna a laptop and showed her how to work her flat screen. In a little while, she’s going to bring Feenix to her room to keep him entertained. There’s food in both apartments. Oskar is snoozing, and I told Feenix you had a surprise for him when we get back.”

“Hold it.” Evalle held up her hands. “Unless you’ve been holding back on what you can poof into existence with that witch juice you say is a drop in the ocean, exactly how is it that the boys are all set up out of thin air?”

He took his time answering. The other side of Storm’s being a walking lie detector was that he suffered pain if
he
outright lied. He had double-talk down to an art when he needed it, but that wouldn’t fly right now and he knew it.

She crossed her arms, waiting.

He grumbled something. “I knew you weren’t going to be happy with the boys on the street and figured you’d try to set them up in your old place. Quinn told me in passing that as soon as you were finished with your old apartment and we got moved in here, he’s remodeling your entire building, including your downstairs place.”

Huh. Evalle hadn’t known that, but she wasn’t surprised that Quinn wanted to update the old building.

Storm continued. “It was only a matter of time before the twins ended up here. Planning for it saved all of us headaches and simplified it for the boys. I didn’t know Lanna would be here, but she’s welcome for as long as she wants to stay.”

“Quinn will take care of her rent.”

“He’s already offered, and the answer is no. Where else can we get an occasional babysitter for Feenix who’d love him as much as Lanna does? That’s priceless. I have all the apartments stocked with basics in the cabinets and refrigerators. Those three will be happy with pizzas and cold drinks.”

Storm hadn’t discussed any of that with her in advance, but she was honest enough with herself to admit that she would have argued about his going to the trouble and expense. Instead, she gave him what he deserved.

“Thank you, but I don’t want you to take on everyone else’s burdens.”

“I’m not. Having your friends be okay makes you okay, and that makes me okay. Anything that matters to you is not a burden.”

Every day she got a little better about accepting the life she hoped to live with him. “Should we do something else with Oskar if Lanna is going in there?”

“No. She won’t go near him, and he can’t escape where I have him.”

Placing her hand against his cheek, she said, “Thank you for doing all that. I’m going to have to make it up to you later.” She winked at him.

He grinned. “I am so holding you to a private thank-you session.”

“We have to go get Tristan.” She headed for the garage and Storm’s truck, which was warded against the sun for daytime use.

She could feel how the mention of Tristan had instantly soured Storm’s good mood.

He asked, “Why don’t you just call Tristan telepathically?”

“He doesn’t have to listen to me, and I don’t want to risk him taking off. It’s always better to deal with him in person and—”

Evalle!
Tristan’s voice shouted in her head.

She held up a finger, and pointed at her head to let Storm know she was engaged in telepathy.
Tristan, what’s up?

You said to let you know when I was teleporting back. I’m ready to go.

Shoot!
Don’t do that, Tristan.

Why not?
Suspicion came through his telepathic voice.

I’ve got an offer you can’t refuse.
She hadn’t expected the silence that followed to stretch so long.
Tristan?

Does this have anything to do with the Beladors?

She hedged.
Sort of.

Be specific.

Tzader, Quinn, Storm and I need your help.

The only thing that comes to mind is teleporting, and I’m not blowing my ride back to Treoir on you four. If I’m not back this evening, Macha will come looking, and her next target will be my sister.

It won’t take that long.
Silence again.
Tristan? Tristan!
She looked at Storm. “He may have teleported away.”