Dalir's Salvation (11 page)

“Whiskey?” Well one thing was for sure. This definitely was Lauren. “Is it that bad?”

“Yeah.” Lauren’s expression sobered. “You’re going to need it.”

* * * *

Ari, clean and dry in a pair of blue yoga pants and a shirt, sat tailor-style on the bed. She pulled the edges of the teal throw cover tighter around her shoulders. Lauren had wanted her to get in bed, but she wasn’t ill. Just confused by the explanation Lauren had just given her. Ari took a long drink from the tumbler. The cool liquid stung in her throat but flowed warmth into her belly. She couldn’t have heard Lauren correctly. “So let me get this straight. In the past, we met this band called Thane’s Redemption at The Song. You and Celine hooked up with two of the members, but they left, and we couldn’t remember them.”

“Right.” Lauren plopped down on the queen-sized bed.

“Then Reid showed up in the future at your dad’s cabin. You couldn’t remember Reid, and he couldn’t remember you because he had amnesia, but you hooked up again.”

Lauren nodded reassuringly as she dragged a pillow onto her lap. “Yep.”

Okay. This all sounded nuts, but she’d run with it. “He got his memory back, then a bunch of stuff involving Dalir’s brother happened, that’s too complicated for you to get into right now. And all this time, you’ve been here with Dalir, Reid, and the rest of the band, who really help Dalir save the world because he gave them the gift to—” Ari drank more whiskey. She needed alcohol just to say it. “Travel time.”

“Yes!” Lauren patted Ari’s knee. “But the guys call it phasing. Believe me. I know what you’re thinking. It’s a lot to take in. If it hadn’t been for—” Her mouth hung open and her face flushed. “Oh, wow. What was I thinking? I left out a really important part.”

“Just say it. Don’t hold back now.” Ari set her tumbler next to the whiskey bottle on the pinewood side table. What could be more insane? Time traveling, people she met but can’t remember, sleeping with a guy from a whole other dimension, and oh, his brother wanted to kill her.

“There’s no easy way to say it.” Lauren’s expression grew more anxious as she clutched Ari’s hand. “Celine’s here, too, and she’s engaged to Thane.”

“What?” Ari grew lightheaded.

As if on cue, Celine burst into the room. She enveloped Ari in a tight hug. “Are you okay? Thane told me what happened. I can’t believe it.”

Join the club. Her best friends had lied to her, left her behind to stay with their boyfriends, and they’d gotten engaged without telling her.

“I can’t believe Dalir did this.” Lauren fumed. “What excuse did he have for not telling Ari anything. I can’t believe he dragged her here against her will.”

“But he didn’t have a choice. He saw Kell.” Celine looked to Ari. “Didn’t you tell Lauren what happened?”

Fury mushroomed off the charts. Ari tossed the throw from her shoulders and leaped off the bed. “No, I didn’t get the chance. Why? Because Lauren was too busy telling me how my two best friends in the world, my family, ditched me for their boyfriends!”

Celine’s eyes popped wide.

As she faced Lauren and Celine, Ari saw her mother’s face. He cheeks burned as tears spilled down her cheeks. “You abandoned me.”

“No. Wait.” Lauren jumped up. “It wasn’t like that.”

“It feels that way to me. Did you think of me even once? What I was going through without you guys around? No wonder I slept with Dalir. You know what? I need to be alone right now.”

Lauren and Celine traded concerned looks.

“All right.” Celine nodded. “We get it. You have a right to be upset. We’ll talk later.” She reached for the glass and whiskey bottle on the table.

“Leave it.” Ari turned her back on her friends. “Just go.”

* * * *

As Dalir sat back in the wood framed, padded chair in the dining room it creaked. Thane, Reid, and Colby sat around the polished wood table. Earlier, they’d phased to the warehouse. Kell had slipped past them again. Most of the weapons were gone, but miles down the road from the warehouse, his brother left carnage behind. Colby had discovered the woman, and all of the guards except Henshaw, shot execution style. West and Mace had stayed behind to dig up more intel.

Dalir finished briefing them on what happened. He’d told them about everything except Ari’s visions. Despite talking about Kell, an undercurrent existed in the room. As the guys stared back at Dalir, they shielded their minds, but he could guess what they were thinking. He’d fucked up by investigating the lead about his brother without them. Ari could have died because of his careless mistake.

Colby released a deep exhale. “Well, West confirmed it. The people we found in the field were longtime members of a group we tangled with before. Red Path Anarchy. My guess is that when Kell tortured Xenia Allen, the scientist who stole the super virus, he learned about them. With the group’s main leadership either dead or in prison, he slid right in.”

“Guns and fringe groups.” Reid ran a hand over his shaven jawline. “That’s a significant change. Guess it’s safe to assume that Kell’s past fighting with swords.”

Thane rested his arms on the table. “I think it’s also safe to say that he’s interested in more than just revenge against you.” He looked to Dalir. “Kell’s been laying low because he’s raising a damn army. Any ideas why?”

“Power.” It made sense because that was the only reason Kell had craved rising to the throne in Alandia.

Colby met Dalir’s gaze. “To what end? Is he just getting off on controlling a bunch of true believers or is he planning to take over a town or a country?”

“It doesn’t matter. In the long run he won’t succeed. Power isn’t a strength for him. It’s a weakness.”

“How?”

“I overheard a conversation between the woman we found shot in the marsh and a man I suspect is part of Kell’s leadership. His name is Henshaw. She was afraid and wanted him to leave with her. According to her, she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. From the way they acted, I suspect Henshaw and the woman were close. Considering, he’s the only one we didn’t find dead, I suspect he chose sides. Kell’s.”

“Dissention within the ranks.” Thane’s cold smile mirrored his gaze. “We’ll use it. If we can quietly stir up a little more discord, gain trust, someone in the group will weaken. They’ll give us the info we need. The guns were headed to Tampa. That’s where we’ll start. One of us needs to get close to someone in RPA in that area. We need to track the guns, stop any plans Kell’s set into motion, and then catch his demented ass.”

“Shit.” Colby released a harsh breath. “Man on the inside, that’s me, isn’t it? I hate messing with those Red Path Anarchy nut jobs.”

Thane waved him off. “Shaved head, lots of ink, West can easily fit the part. He’s also been itching to do more hardcore field work, but, Colby, you’ll be his outside contact. Watch his back. West has been acting as control for the past five years. He’s still good, but it’s been awhile. And don’t forget, Kell is expecting us, and he can track latent phase energy. West can’t be in contact with Kell or his group until his phase signature is cold, and while West is on target, he dials his phase energy back to morbid. Make sure he understands he phases there and back here when the mission is done. That’s it. Everywhere else he walks, rides or drives.”

“Yeah, take extra precautions on this one.” A grim expression shadowed Reid’s face. He flexed his hand as if remembering how Kell had broken every one of his fingers. “I’m sure the bastard is even more twisted since I had my little visit with him.”

Colby released a long breath. “Copy, loud and clear.”

Thane continued. “I know we all want Kell, but remember we’re working two objectives. Colby and West are stopping the guns. Reid and I will be sweeping for Kell. We’ll tap Mace out this round so he can stay here and work control. Colby, you and West leave tonight.”

Reid and Colby left to prep for the mission.

Thane stayed behind with Dalir. “Anything else I should know about Kell?”

“Kell stopped short of following me years into the future during the chase from the warehouse.”

“If he had, the group he’s assembled would have forgotten him.” Thane frowned. “So he either realized he’d never catch you or he’s more interested in his plans for the group right now than coming after you. Do you think he’s shared his power like you have with us?”

“No. He’s too weak for that and also too obsessed with control.”

“If he kept Henshaw alive, maybe he has plans for him.”

“Kell wants complete submission and fear is one way to get it. Henshaw’s focus is self- preservation. I’m sure my brother threatened his life to keep him in line. The important thing to remember, Kell is still weak. We need to find him now.”

“You said he was geared up like his crew and carrying a gun?”

“Yeah, he was.”

“Thane rubbed the back of his neck. “An ancient using a firearm. I don’t like how that plays out in a fight.”

“What’s your concern?”

“Not just one concern. Several. What if Kell takes the fight into the actual phase stream? A random bullet flying off and hitting someone in the future could end in disaster a million different ways I don’t even want to consider. And what about you? I know there’s this honor code of the ancients, that you fight and die by the sword, but he ain’t interested in that anymore. If the two of you are in a showdown, you’ll be fighting against bullets not steel.”

“I will not put down my sword.” The thought of doing otherwise left a bitter taste in Dalir’s mouth. He may not serve Alandia anymore, but he revered the blood that ran through his veins. They’d banned the use of firearms in the Alandian dimension. Unlike Kell, he wouldn’t dishonor his heritage.

“You said there’s no way for you to return to Alandia. Unless you have a death wish, you need to reevaluate what’s honorable based on where your future lies. Here. Not Alandia.” Thane released a long breath. “It’s going to take some work to track Kell. Reid and I can handle it for now. You need to stay here and sort out your shit with Ari.”

“There is no me and Ari.”

“Bullshit. Reid saw how you looked at her when she ran from you. He’d figured out you’d slept with her before Lauren told him. You had to know you were crossing a major line when you hooked up with her. She’s like a little sister to Lauren and Celine. Why do you think I gave the guys the don’t-touch-her-or-I’ll-kick-your-ass speech?”

“They’re attracted to Ari?” Given the chance, would she have chosen one of the others over him?

Thane snorted. “Of course. She’s a gorgeous woman. I mean, how the hell was it even possible for the two of you to hook up? She’s like us, and you’re, well…you.”

Dalir jumped to his feet. “It happened the normal way. How do you think?” He stalked to the window. Wasn’t he allowed to have feelings and desires like everyone else? But Thane had brought up one of the questions at the heart the whole damn situation. “I don’t know how, but Ari can see me outside of The Drift. I can engage with her. I also seem to impact her intuition and visions.”

“Wait. Ari has visions? Since when?”

“Ever since she was a child. I didn’t find the warehouse. Ari did. She saw symbols in her dreams.” And by making her follow the signs, he’d almost gotten her killed.

“Could she help us find Kell?”

The remembered moment of Kell holding her at gunpoint swept in. A sick feeling hollowed out Dalir’s gut. “He’s never getting near her. Am I clear?” Energy waved out of him.

The windows rattled.

He reigned in his power.

“Crystal.” Thane joined him. “Sounds like you and Ari discussed some things about her life. If so, you know her mom screwed her over. Lauren and Celine are the only family Ari’s got. She’s pissed at them right now. She accused them of leaving her, just like her mom did. You have to talk to Ari and straighten this mess out.”

If she ever let him get close to her again. Ari had a streak of stubbornness and the way she’d looked at him earlier… “She won’t listen to me.”

“You have to come up with a game plan.” Thane chuckled wryly. “I don’t know how you ancient dudes handle a pissed off woman, but around here, we leave them be until we’ve figured out all the ways we can grovel. Unfortunately, you’re deep in the shit because you don’t just have Ari to deal with. Celine and Lauren are upset, too. They’re not going to risk taking me or Reid off mission, but they’ll do whatever it takes to protect Ari. They won’t let you near her until they’re satisfied you won’t hurt her. If they don’t like the odds, there’s nothing any of us can do to save you.”

Thane left.

Rain poured down the windows.

While he respected that Lauren and Celine cared for Ari, he wasn’t in the mood to please them. The only one he cared about was Ari. He’d saved her life but lost her trust. People had hurt her in the past, and he hated taking a place on that list. His selfish desires had caused this. He should have left her alone.

Dalir phased to the front lawn. In a matter of seconds, he was soaked. The wind whipped through his hair and chilled his bare arms. He trudged across the field and into the trees. Proximity would force a confrontation with Ari. He wouldn’t do that to her. If Lauren and Celine decided to jump in with a comment, he might not control himself. He respected their friendship, but this had nothing to do with them. Dalir hiked up the hill. The exertion served as a welcome release of the tension clawing inside of him. He couldn’t undo what he’d caused. He’d give Ari the only thing he could at this point. Time.

Ari clung to the railing as she lumbered down the stairs. She squinted against the sunlight beaming through a floor to ceiling window. Each step throbbed in her skull. Last night, whiskey had taken her further away from emotional pain. It had also left her heaving over the toilet. Celine or Lauren had knocked on the door last night. She didn’t answer. They’d left a bowl of chicken soup behind.

As she reached the bottom step, Ari tugged up the sleeves of the blue hooded shirt. She’d discovered the shirt outside of the bedroom door that morning along with gray leggings and a pair of tennis shoes. From the sizes, they belonged to Celine. She appreciated the gesture, but they wouldn’t break her down. Now Celine and Lauren wanted to care. They’d left her to fend for herself while they’d traipsed happily off with their fiancés. And Dalir? She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. He’d broken her trust, too. Sadness added to the weight of the hangover dragging her down. Once she got herself, and her stomach sorted out, she’d find out how to get the hell out of this place and on with her life.