Blood Chained (Dark Siren Book 3) (27 page)

“Okay,” he said aloud as white fur rippled down his forearms. “Here goes.”

The wolf was strong and it was immortal, but Rhane wasn’t sure how much damage teeth and claws could inflict on a raging monolith. He would have to find out soon. The surviving rogues didn’t have much time left.

Of a unit boasting over twenty members, fewer than ten rogues remained. Fully transformed, Rhane galloped toward the bloodshed and hoped Eris was still among the living. He put every ounce of power into the last bound, launching the great wolf into the center of the action. Literally. The wolf slammed into the pillar of a massive foreleg, knocking the sentinel off balance and off the course of obliterating a cluster of trembling rogues. The impact rolled through Banewolf’s body, pushing him back ten feet through the sand. Both wolf and sentinel recovered at once. The stone canine leveled its blue gaze at the white wolf as if assessing the new threat. Banewolf paced in the giant’s shadow, ripping free a ferocious snarl when the sentinel dared look away.

Behind him, rogues were wisely using Banewolf’s intervention as an opening to flee. They hadn’t gotten far when the sentinel leapt over the wolf to cut off their escape. Caught off guard, it was a scramble to catch up. In about three seconds, the sentinel would get another taste of rogue blood.

It doesn’t want me. It wants them.

Not knowing what else to do, Rhane guided the wolf into its fastest lope and highest jump. Then he dug every claw into the stone hide and climbed. Aiming for a dinner plate sized left eye, he leapt from the sentinel’s back and onto its enormous head. He couldn’t have done better hitting the target. The sentinel roared. Stopping in its tracks to buck and rear, it whipped its head and shoulders to and fro. Not anchored deep enough to endure, the wolf’s claws slipped free. The sentinel retaliated, plowing into Banewolf’s side as he fell with a sweep of its head. The wolf rolled with the impact, minimizing the damage. Gathering his feet, Banewolf braced for the next attack. But the blow never came.

The sentinel had moved on, faster than before, intent on overtaking the rogues. Rhane steered the wolf after it, thinking past his mounting frustration.

This isn’t working.

He caught up to the stone guardian with only a breath to spare before using his body as a shield for the next punishing swipe of the sentinel’s paw. The strike sent wolf and rogue flying through the air. They collided with a half-collapsed wall, finishing the ruin started by nature, time, and neglect. Banewolf rolled to his feet, forcing air back into lungs knocked windless. He stood over the fallen rogue, recognizing the scent and slanted shoulders all at once. Eris.

Think.

This would be his last chance to save the rogue. The sentinel was coming straight for them. Maybe it was adrenaline, but its eyes appeared to burn an even brighter blue.

It doesn’t want me.

Trust your instincts.

The sentinels are guardians.

Blood.

Recalling the wolf, Rhane resumed human form faster than ever before. He pulled the knife from his boot and quickly drew a thick slash on the underside of his arm, down past his wrist, and into his palm. Blood poured from the wound, dripping to the ground in copious amounts. He spread the warm splatter onto Eris’s fallen form just as the rogue began to regain consciousness and the sentinel lowered its head for the next assault. The creature charged and Rhane lunged sideways, trailing his palm down the stone head and withers. The long smear of blood, at first black in the starlit night, began to glow with a soft blue radiance. The light deepened in color, matching the symbols already illuminated on the sentinel’s body.

The goliath slowed its charge. Then it simply halted.

Eris still wasn’t moving, but the sentinel had stopped right above his body. Rhane waited tensely while his mind scrambled to construct a viable Plan C. What he came up with more closely resembled a Plan F. Rhane really hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Instead of attacking, the sentinel turned back to Rhane, and with an uncanny gracefulness, lowered its head. Stone became still again and Rhane could finally relax…until he heard movement behind him.

Thinking the danger over, five rogues had come out of hiding. The sentinel didn’t look happy about it.

Rhane spread his arms wide. “No,” he said. “No more killing.” Very carefully, he retreated to where the rogues were huddled, reeking of fear. The cut on his arm was healing fast, so he had to risk a few sudden movements to mark the clothing of the survivors with his blood.

“No more killing,” he repeated. “Stand down.”

Behind the sentinel, Eris had quietly gotten to his feet but wisely moved no further.

After what felt like a human lifetime, the sentinel lifted one monstrous paw and stepped over them. Rhane stared up at its belly as the rest of the guardian’s towering form sailed past like a slow moving freighter. The thunder of each step receded, eventually fading as the sentinel reached the courtyard and settled into its resting place. With one final motion, it lifted its gaze to the stars.

Stringing together a slew of swears and oaths that would make York proud, Rhane sank down into the fine sand. The night marked the first time in his life he had cared whether a rogue lived or died. The moment was kind of cathartic.

Eris approached, but kept his head angled toward the stone monuments as if expecting them to be reanimated at any point. “That was incredible,” he said, offering a hand to Rhane. “You saved our lives.”

Rhane shook his head, accepting the help as he climbed to his feet. “You would have done the same for me.”

Eris nodded seriously. “It would be an honor to repay this debt. If you ever need anything, anything at all, just ask.”

“Thank you.” Rhane surveyed the remaining rogues. He was unsure what would happen next. After the insane ordeal they had narrowly escaped, there was no way these guys could be sticking with the original mission to recover some mysterious stone. Rogues needed to clear out of the outpost as soon as possible. Rhane took a breath to tell Eris exactly that, certain he would be more receptive than the late Cronus, but the rogues fell back, suddenly raising their weapons again. Even Eris looked ready for a fight.

Tensing, Rhane whirled and caught sight of what had spooked them so.

It was Jethra, but she looked nothing like the proud and regal Mother Rhane knew. Her clothing was torn and muddied. She was covered in blood, only some of it hers. And another scent came from her wounds, one Rhane did not recognize. Whatever had done this to her was bad news.

“We do not have much time,” she said as if to confirm the thought. Circles of pulsing light charged in both of her hands. “They are not far behind.”

Rhane looked uncertainly at Eris and the rogues standing behind him. Their weapons were still pointed at Jethra. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“No. These men belong to the original unit I commanded. They are loyal to me.” Raising a closed fist, Eris addressed his company. “Lower your weapons.” The rogues obeyed immediately.

“Eris, something bad is coming. You and your men really need to get out here.”

“I meant it when I said it would be an honor to repay my debt to you. If that time is now, so be it.”

Rhane placed a hand on the rogue’s shoulder. “And it would be an honor to have you repay it. But not like this. I just saved your life. It serves no one for you to turn around and sacrifice it now.”

After a brief consideration, Eris accepted that. Though he gestured for the unit to move out, the reinstated commander lingered at Rhane’s side. “When you need of me, ask for Eris, the priest’s son. Any rogue will know me.” A hint of scorn shaded his voice. “My father is pretty infamous.”

“Thank you, friend,” Rhane said warmly. “Now go. Please.”

As soon as the rogues had disappeared from sight, Jethra all but collapsed in Rhane’s arms. “Help me,” she said weakly. “Rhane you must…help me.” 

Chapter 38

Kali stretched across the sofa with a thawing ice pack on her shoulder. Resting her head against the pillows, she listened to the nonstop barrage of gunfire punctuated by the occasional explosion while trying not to focus on the throbbing pain that seemed to reach into her marrow. Matthias sat near her feet, completely absorbed in one of War and Rion’s beloved first person shooter games. That afternoon he played alone. Rion had shown little interest in video games since War’s abduction. He’d made the effort to teach Matthias the basics, gaming with him a few times to hone new skills. But after that, he’d practically abandoned virtual battlefields.

Rion entered the living room now, armed with a fresh ice pack to switch out for the old one on Kali’s shoulder. He was recently showered and dressed in sweats and a black t-shirt with “Fur Is Sexy” printed in block lettering

“Here ya go,” Rion said with a grin that was both apologetic and self-satisfied.

“Thanks.”

“I really am sorry about the shoulder.”

“No you’re not.” Adjusting the pack, she scooted up higher on the sofa to make a spot for him. “But you don’t have to be. We were sparring, and you got a lucky shot. It happens.”

Rion practically jumped on the sofa. “That was not a lucky shot. I kicked your ass all afternoon.”

Opening her mouth to protest, Kali snapped it shut. He was right. She’d been completely off balance today.

Rion nudged her. “Still worried about your sister?”

She nodded. “But it’s more than that. The fight we had yesterday was the worst in years. Plus…” Kali bit her lip.

“What?”

She looked at Bailen meaningfully. She couldn’t stop worrying about him.

“Right,” Rion said, understanding immediately. “That goes without saying.” He patted her leg.

“And this waiting is driving me nuts. I just don’t know if I made the right decision.”

“It’s not all on you. We all agreed that giving the statue to rogues was the best chance we had at getting our people back.” Fishing through the cushions, he dug out a fist-sized rubber ball lined with suction cups on all sides. “I’m sure we’ll be hearing something soon. Rogues wouldn’t waste time using what could end up being the keystone to all this mess.” He studied the ball thoughtfully. “You know what does bug me though?”

“What’s that?”

“I went back and plotted the coordinates we skipped in order to catch up to the rogues in Asia. The first set of numbers, rock, is located in the ruins of the Gobi outpost—the same one where Gabe tried to capture you, and in escaping, you guys managed to devastate the only part of the city untouched by the decay of time.”

Kali smirked. “Thanks, Rion.”

“And the location of mountain, get this. An actual mountain sits right on top of the plotted coordinates. Between Pakistan and China.” With a flick of the wrist, he launched the rubber ball straight at the television. The suction cups did their job and stuck fast to the screen.

“Hey!” Matthias protested as the ball “walked” down the face of the television. Before their eyes, his skill disintegrated with the obstruction. There were bursts of gunfire, followed by flashes of red that filled the entire display, and Matthias’s avatar fell dead onscreen. He tossed the controller to the floor in disgust. “You’re a turd.”

Rion grinned. “We have taught you well.”

Kali kicked him lightly with her foot. “You’re awful. Now tell me what the name of this mountain is and what’s so interesting about it?”

“It goes by many names, but K2 is the most common. Everest has a higher summit, but K2 is way more deadly. We’re talking a five percent death rate vs. an almost twenty percent death rate in climbers.”

“That isn’t exactly riveting.”

Rion rolled his eyes. “C’mon. We were all assuming that only one set of coordinates mattered…well, maybe two. That submerged island seems a bit shady. But what if there is something else to be found out there? Another piece of the puzzle that we’re missing.”

“Okay, let me get this straight.” Kali ticked off each point using her fingers. “We’ve got rock in the Gobi—also a Warekin outpost. Mountain is an actual mountain—the second tallest peak in the world and the most dangerous. Water we found beneath the bank, which is where the Heart was ultimately found. And spirit is an uninhabitable island in Siberia.”

“Don’t forget tree.”

“Oh I haven’t. That was the random, nasty sewer. And it doesn’t fit your theory.”

“I’m working on it. I haven’t found its significance just yet.”

“Did you tell York about this?”

“I did.” Rion frowned. “He said that if Rhane ordered him to climb a cold ass mountain because of my half-baked theory, he would drag me to the summit and throw me off.”

Kali laughed.

“And I meant it,” York said from the doorway. He held up Kali’s cell phone. “You’ve had three missed calls from Cal, and he’s calling again now.” The phone arced through the air. Rion caught it, handing it to her.

She answered with the most neutral hello in the history of exes.

“Hey, it’s Cal. I heard what happened with you and Roz and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I really am, Kali.”

“What exactly are you sorry for?”

A lengthy exhale sounded through the receiver before he answered. “I guess I didn’t mean to come between you guys.”

Kali sat up straighter on the sofa, causing the ice pack to slip from her shoulder. “How dare you even start something up with her again, knowing what you are now?”

“What exactly is that, Kali?” His voice took on a hard edge. “What’s the difference between me and those other guys you’re hanging with these days?”

“You know exactly what it is,” she snapped, knowing the conversation was deteriorating, but unable to find the brakes to stop it. “None of them are sharing a body with a homicidal monster.”

“Well, that’s pretty unfair. Gabe has done right by you since your boyfriend left, possibly for good.”

“And before that, he tried to kill us.”

“He only tried to kill Rhane. You he just wanted for himself.”

“Oh, you mean like you did a week ago when you were still trying to get in my pants?”

“Damn it, Kali. You’re making this harder than it needs to be.” Cal did some extremely audible deep breathing. She wondered if it was a trick he’d learned in anger management. “Look. I’m not proud of the way things have turned out. I’ll be the first to admit it’s pretty messed up. But I’m doing what I have to. Your sister is a nice girl, and despite what you might think, I do care for her.”

Hearing the sincerity in Cal’s tone, Kali fought to cool her anger. “Just tell me that you’re not using my sister for some twisted endgame of yours or Gabriel’s. That’s what scares me. She’s never acted like this about a boy. I think she might be really into you but has no idea you’re not the same boy she had a fling with last fall.”

“I am the same,” Cal insisted, getting riled up again.

Kali closed her eyes. “You know what I mean, Callan.”

“Right. Sorry.” A brief silence stretched between them. “Kali, I want this. And Gabriel…he wants it too.”

What the hell?
“Whatever that means, this is me choosing to believe you. Hurt her, and I will never forgive you.”

“I’ll be good to her. I promise. Losing you has taught me a lot.”

“Okay,” Kali said simply, not knowing what else to say. Cal said goodbye and started to hang up when she called out his name.

“Yeah?”

Kali remembered the last time she’d fed from Cal, how rich purples and blues had infiltrated the cold gray and black of his spark. No way could he fake that. “You have changed. But mostly in a good way,” she added quickly. “Keep her safe like you’ve kept me safe.”

His smile in his voice was almost palpable. “I will.”

“That was big of you,” York said as soon as they disconnected. “But did you mean it?”

“I did.”

“But you’re still worried.”

Kali sighed. “It seems to be all I do these days.”

York sat on the side of the sofa, folding his arms. “What you said is true. Cal and Gabriel have both changed. Cal is a bit less of a pretentious weasel. Gabriel is a lot less of a murderous psychopath.”

“Yeah, but Cal flunked out of anger management and still has that awful temper. Instead of breaking her heart because he’s mad, he can literally rip her heart out.”