The Curse (39 page)

He scowled at her.

Quinn showed up next, just as ragged and bleeding around the edges as Tzader. He shook his head, saying to Evalle, “I don’t know who took more bloody years off my life today, you or Lanna. You two are turning me into an old man.”

Lanna hugged Quinn. “You are unharmed, Cousin?”

“I’m fine.”

Tzader said to Brina, “I
know
Evalle’s hurt worse than she’s admitting. I could feel it when we linked and I smell the blood. She needs to heal.”

Before Brina said anything, Evalle took a gamble and said to Brina, “I’ve learned how to heal myself. I can do it once I go home.”

Brina looked over at Tzader, who said nothing, which made it appear as though he knew about her ability to heal when he didn’t. Evalle would tell him and Quinn about it as soon as she got a chance, but for now Brina seemed to take his silence as approval that Evalle’s healing did not involve shifting into her beast. She told Evalle, “I’ll be sendin’ you back to Atlanta as soon as you are ready.”

Quinn added, “You can take Lanna with you, Evalle.”

“That’s fine.” Then Evalle realized she couldn’t go. She told Brina, “I can’t leave until I talk to Macha. I haven’t brought her an Alterant yet, and she gave me a deadline to do so by the time she finished meeting with Dakkar.”

Brina held up her finger and looked off into the distance, her eyes unfocused. “She’s on her way.”

The air brightened and crackled with the introduction of power, then Macha appeared next to Brina. The goddess took one look at the group on the castle landing and said, “What’s going on?”

Brina quickly explained what had transpired.

As Macha stared out over the field, her face morphed from appearing imposed upon to deeply concerned. Her hair floated and moved, changing from a deep auburn color to golden-streaked until the locks settled down when her gaze returned to Evalle. “Have you brought me Tristan?”

“No, Goddess.”

“Any other Alterants?”

“No.”

Tzader cleared his throat as though to speak, but Macha turned one raised eyebrow on him, and that silenced everyone. Then she said to Evalle, “Is it true you shifted into your beast?”

Evalle considered trying to explain, but that had been a yes-or-no question, intended for her to acknowledge what she’d done, because Brina must have told Macha telepathically when she called for the goddess. “Yes, I did.”

“Your deadline has arrived for delivering Tristan to me.”

“I understand. That’s why I waited to see you.” And accept whatever penalty Macha imposed. She’d given Evalle and other Alterants a golden opportunity, only to be disappointed.

Macha surveyed the carnage once more, then glanced back at Evalle. “I understand I have you to thank for defeating a demonic Svart troll.”

Not sure how to reply to that, Evalle just kept quiet.

“Had that troll harmed Brina, bringing me all the Alterants in the world would not have made up for it. I will allow you more time to complete your task.”

Relief was too simple a word for what Evalle felt. The deep breath she took sent pain streaking through her chest from where her ribs had been broken. She hissed and gritted her teeth.

Brina noticed and announced, “I was preparin’ to send Evalle back to Atlanta.”

Acknowledging her comment with a tilt of her head, Macha said, “Go ahead.” She took in Tzader next and stated, “We have outsiders in Treoir.”

“If you’ll allow me to complete what I have to do out here first, I’ll give you a full report about that and the Svart trolls before I leave.”

“Do you require my assistance out there?”

Tzader looked over his shoulder, then back at the goddess. “No. Thank you, Goddess. We have this handled.”

“Have Brina call me when you’re ready to talk.” Macha turned to Brina. “Is the castle secure?”

“All is fine now.”

Macha vanished.

Evalle would normally wait to return with the team, but she couldn’t face Storm. He hadn’t come near her since she’d shifted back to her human form. Why would he?

What man would want anything to do with a hideous monster? Storm would never look at her again as a woman after seeing her beast today.

She could suffer any wound except seeing the revulsion he wouldn’t be able to hide. But she couldn’t leave without asking Tzader, “Will Macha do anything to Storm?”

“No, I’ll explain that he helped us. Just go heal yourself.” He added, “I need you back to full speed before you return. Take the time you need to
completely
heal.”

When Tzader hesitated as though he had something else to say about Storm, Evalle’s stomach dropped at the worry coming off Tzader. He had seen her shame before she turned away and would try to fix that, but as Maistir he had enough burden on his shoulders today.

Her smile lacked any power when she told him, “I’ll be fine.”

“Where do you wish to be sent, Evalle?” Brina asked.

“I need to get back to my motorcycle.”

Quinn released a sigh full of frustration. “You’re in no shape to ride that thing. I had a car sent for Lanna before we left the building. Take that home and pick up your bike tomorrow. No one can steal your Gixxer or harm it. But give me a minute with Lanna, then you two can go.”

Numb to her soul, Evalle didn’t argue. She couldn’t find the energy to care about anything right now.

She missed Storm already. The desire to turn around and search for him was so strong she shook from it. But she might see more than shock this time. She might see disgust and couldn’t face that.

He’d never touch her again.

Quinn pulled Lanna aside, speaking to her in a hushed tone.

Tzader stood next to Evalle, staring at Brina, who moved closer to the very inside edge of the threshold. He’d told Evalle that Brina was duty bound to stay inside the castle to protect the Belador power.

The Belador warrior queen looked miserable, and Tzader not much better. Brina whispered to him, “I feared for your life.”

Tzader took a step toward Brina as if her words drew him, but he paused when someone in uniform appeared behind her. A guard. The young man’s face tightened with fierce determination over something.

Tzader spoke to the guard. “Where were you, Allyn?”

“Covering her back in case a troll found another way inside the castle. She was
never
out of my sight.”

Evalle believed only the three of them were privy to whatever played between Brina, the guard and Tzader.

Cool disdain swept across Tzader’s features. He took a step back.

Brina’s face fell beneath an onslaught of emotion. “Tzader?” Her pleading voice sounded like the young woman she should be and not a warrior queen who carried the weight of so many lives on her shoulders.

The harsh line of Tzader’s grim mouth softened with tenderness when he said, “I will always stand between you and danger.” He turned and walked away.

Lanna grasped Evalle’s hand, tugging down to get her attention. “We will go now.”

Confused over what had just happened between Tzader and Brina, Evalle just nodded at Lanna and said, “We’re ready, Brina.”

Caught watching Tzader, Brina shook herself and blinked at Evalle. “What?”

“To go back to Atlanta. You were going to send us.”

Brina drew in a shaky breath, then seemed to remember who she was and squared her shoulders. This time, her voice came out crisp and confident. “Envision exactly where you intend to arrive, and if you close your eyes, Evalle, the goin’ will not make you so sick.”

Why hadn’t anyone told me that before?
Or would that only work when Brina teleported her?

Evalle nodded and closed her eyes.

She still suffered the sensation of being out of control and swirling around, but she didn’t throw up when she and Lanna reached the parking lot behind the old Sears Building. Light seeped along the eastern horizon, but she had enough time for a speed-limit drive home.

Casper appeared out of the dark shadows and strolled up to her with the Nyght weapon hanging in the crook of his arm. He surveyed her clothing and cocked an eyebrow. “Everything okay, Evalle?”

Nothing would ever be okay again, but Casper had been talking about Treoir. “We stopped the Svarts. How about here?”

“Before all of you hauled ass out of here, Quinn told me the Lieutenant troll knew of eleven more in the city. I got ’em all but one,” Casper said, sounding like someone who could spin a six-shooter and drop it in his holster. “Sen took care of the last one. He’s about done here.”

“I don’t want to see Sen.”

Casper grinned. “Don’t blame you, but it’s going to be a bit airy riding home unless you’ve got on something under that robe. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy the view when you rode off.”

She smiled a little, hoping Casper still wanted to joke with her once he heard about Evalle the Monster. “Quinn sent a car that’s supposed to be here somewhere.”

“That’d be the sleek black ride sittin’ over yonder.” Casper waved at someone behind her.

When Evalle shifted around, a black limousine pulled up. The driver jumped out and said, “Miss Lanna?”

Lanna took on the air of a princess. “That is me. There are two of us.”

“Absolutely.” The chauffeur opened her door, then led Evalle to the other side, where she slid onto the luxurious leather seat next to Lanna.

As soon as the driver climbed in, Lanna said, “Evalle will give you her address.”

Evalle had just sat down. “What?”

“Cousin said he must help Tzader and I must go with you to apartment.”

Evalle had never allowed anyone inside her underground apartment except Tzader and Quinn, but this girl had done her share to save lives tonight, the twins being two of those. Evalle gave the driver an address
near
her apartment and dropped her head back against the cool leather seat.

When the chauffeur closed the privacy window to the passenger area and drove off, Evalle mumbled, “Thought Quinn wanted you to go to the hotel.”

“He said I am safe with you and I am to tell you important thing about when you change into your other self.”

Turning her head to Lanna, Evalle said, “I don’t want to be rude to you, but the last thing I want to talk about is what happened back in Treoir.”

“You are wrong. You must know this.”

THIRTY-THREE

I
should ha expected Kizira ta put her own plan into play since she shares the blood of both of us.
Cathbad stood alongside Flaevynn in front of her scryin’ wall, where rare gems glistened and sparkled beneath a shower of cascading water.

He could no fulfill his own plans as long as Kizira remained in the dungeon. Pointing at the images on the wall—the aftermath of the battle between the Beladors and the Svarts on Treoir—Cathbad said, “You’re fortunate the female Alterant defeated the demonic troll.”

“I never doubted that Evalle would survive a battle with the troll we dipped in Loch Ryve. I’m
fortunate
to have caught Kizira’s betrayal now before she could ruin everything.”

“Ach, Flaevynn. You’re wrong. Kizira did ya a favor.”

“How do you possibly see this as such?”

“Kizira told me she intended to gain the location of Treoir an’ test the defenses with trolls. She ha planned it as a surprise for ya.”

“You really want me to believe that?”

No, but he ha never won a battle from the point of defense. “I do. You compel her. Do ya really think she can get around that?”

Flaevynn shifted her gaze to him, eyes tense with undisclosed thoughts. “Not really.”

“Course no. Ya need Kizira. She brought ya Tristan an’ his sister. Kizira will deliver the other five Alterants, an’ in time.” Cathbad would ensure that she did.

Flaevynn floated across her chamber. In her wake, flames surged on hundreds of candles around the room, then died back to normal heights as her energy moved with her. “I can’t abide a traitor.”

“If that be the case, why does she live?”

Spinning around in a swirl of brilliant colors, Flaevynn cocked her head at him. “You would condemn your precious child to death?”

“No. I but question if ya truly believe she betrayed ya since she still lives.”

He’d struck his mark. Flaevynn scowled at him.

Now that he’d stirred doubt, he added, “Ya need the girl to do your biddin’, less ya want ta go out there yourself.”

She sent him a look that suggested he’d been birthed by a rock.

He gifted her with the smile that ha once put him in her bed. “You an’ I can no leave until the day the Alterants win Treoir for us. Until then, we need Kizira.”

She smoothed a hand over her hair. Long, black fingernails adorned with diamonds sparked with tiny bolts of energy. “I’ll release her
if
you share what you know about the Alterants.”

He loved a good victory, especially since he’d been anxious to start pushing Alterants to the next level. Waitin’ until now ha played perfectly into his hands. He would share something, but no everythin’. “’Tis a fair request ya make. First ya must know that the other four
will
seek out Evalle.”

“When?”