The High Priestess (11 page)

Though she didn’t exactly agree with him—plenty of these men deserved horrific pain—she didn’t argue. Marianna just wanted to be free. She sent up a prayer to the Lady, begging for this escape to be successful.

Fisk stopped so abruptly she almost ran into his back. Voices sounded from around the corner in front of them. She slid back a step, her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest, when a high-pitched man’s laugh echoed from behind them. “Oh, Fisk, I’d hoped you’d be a little more original than this.”

Fisk went unnaturally still, hand on his laser. “Adam.”

Marianna spun around and pressed her hand to her mouth. The blond man from Gerard’s ship. The one he’d gone to such great lengths to keep from touching her. As she took in the sick smile on his face, Marianna decided she fully supported that plan. Judging by the laser aimed at her chest, it didn’t seem as if she’d have much of a choice.

“Put the laser down, Fisk. I’d really hate to have to hurt you.” He cackled again, the sound setting her teeth on edge. “Okay, that’s a dirty lie. I’d love to hurt you.”

She felt, rather than heard, more men come up on the other side of Fisk. They’d hurt Fisk and take her back to that cell where she’d wait to die. This was the end. There really was no escape. She was going to die.

The dismal thought snapped her back into the present. Was she really considering giving up without a fight?

No. She would
not
be taken passively.

Marianna dove for Adam’s legs, taking him down the same way Darla had taught her all those years ago. The laser went flying, spinning down the hallway. Sounds of fighting broke out behind her, but she was only focused on getting that damned laser and making an end of this.

They rolled, knocking against the wall as he tried to shake her loose. Instead of letting go under the barrage of pain, Marianna went for his eyes. He screamed, swinging wildly and hitting the side of her head against the wall. For one terrifying moment, her muscles stopped responding, and she hit the ground hard.

If she didn’t move, he’d calm down long enough to get the laser. Marianna had no illusions about her chances then.

While Adam flailed around, clutching his ruined face, she forced her damaged body to move down the hall when all she wanted was to curl up and be done with this. The laser felt foreign in her hands as she rolled over and pointed it at where Adam struggled to his feet. He turned in her direction, the blood running like tears down his face. “I’m going to kill you, whore.”

“No, you’re not.” She pulled the trigger, the laser kicking so hard it nearly flew from her grip. The beam went wide, creating a crater in the plaster beside him. The bastard actually laughed at her. Marianna gritted her teeth, fighting back panic as he started toward her. Taking careful aim, she pulled the trigger again. This time the beam scorched his chest and knocked him into the wall. Adam slumped to the ground, the life gone from his body.

Marianna’s breath hitched, her stomach lurching. A man was dead because of her, his life snuffed out, all chances of redemption extinguished. She dropped the laser, kicking it farther down the hall, all without taking her gaze from Adam. He was a monster, but he’d been a man, too.

When someone grabbed her shoulder, she shrieked. Fisk slapped a hand over her mouth. His eyes were dilated and blood stained his hairline, but he dredged up a half smile for her. “If they haven’t heard us yet, we don’t want to catch their attention now. Come on—let’s get out of here.”

…

The fire worked better than Gerard could have expected. He waited around long enough to make sure the flames caught and the shouts started, then slipped between buildings, keeping to the shadows as he headed for the shipyard. A gut feeling made him change direction, swinging around the dorms instead of taking the quicker way. He should trust Fisk to get Marianna, but the only thing keeping him going right now was making sure she got out of this alive. It was his fault she was here in the first place, after all, and she was the only one left for him to save.

His boy…

Gerard shoved the thought away before it could take root, picking up his pace even though it made his body scream in agony. He circled around the back of the holding cells, aiming for the secondary exit just in time to meet Fisk dragging Marianna out. Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Gerard?”

He didn’t get a chance to respond before she shook free of Fisk and threw herself into his arms. Pain made the world go hazy, but he held on tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

“I know you’re all happy to see each other and everything, but we need to keep moving.” Fisk shifted from foot to foot, gaze jumping around as if he expected an attack at any moment. He looked like he’d been on the shit end of a fight, but at least he was still standing. “Your happily ever after is waiting.”

There was no such thing, but Gerard would take whatever he could get. He nodded, keeping an arm around Marianna. “Let’s go.”

They wove though the warships, the eerie silence only broken by distant shouts as their brothers worked frantically to put out the fire. It wouldn’t work—witchfire was notorious for resisting flame retardants. Fisk led the way, stopping in front of a beat-up old skiff. It wasn’t pretty, but Gerard trusted his friend knew what he was doing. He had to let go of Marianna in order to climb the ladder to the hatch, and Gerard did so reluctantly. It was only then that he noticed the blood coating her hair. “You’re hurt.”

She raised a hand to her head, giving a shaky smile. “I’ll live. Please, just get us out of here.”

His perfect wall of rage cracked in the face of her bravery, even after all she’d been through—all of it
his
fault. “Marianna, I—” The words died somewhere around his throat, unable to be voiced. There was too much else wrapped around his heart, squeezing so tightly he couldn’t seem to draw a full breath.

“I know.” She kissed him, hard and brief, before turning and climbing the ladder, more agile than any squirrel. Gerard followed at a slower pace, grunting under the strain of pulling himself up. Tearing the med patches was guaranteed, but he’d worry about it later.

Blaine waited for them in the hub. He started to salute, but the motion died when he caught sight of Marianna. “W-What’s going on? What is
she
doing here?” His brown eyes went wide. “You’re breaking her out.”

“Yes.” There was no point in denying it. Gerard maneuvered Marianna behind him in case the newbie tried to do something stupid.

“I can’t let you do that.” The redhead drew himself up, reaching for his laser. “By the order of the High Priest, I—”

Gerard moved before the newbie could finish the sentence. He stepped into Blaine, grabbing his head and twisting it sharply. As the boy hit the floor, the last part of Gerard tied to Sanctify died. Whether for better or worse, he was done with it.

He glanced up as Fisk came through the door. “It had to be done.”

Fisk shrugged and headed into the cockpit, leaving the door open.

Gerard startled when Marianna touched him. She very deliberately didn’t look at the body on the floor. “Would it be possible to remove him before we take off?”

Idiot. He should have thought of that. With a nod, he scooped up the body and staggered from the room, heading for the hatch. It was quick work to dump it. Gerard took one last look at Sanctus as the door slid shut. Ba’al willing, he’d never set foot on this planet again.

Fisk had the ship ready to go by the time Gerard made it back into the hub, his hands flying over the controls. “Better strap in. I’m going for a quick, rather than smooth, ride.”

“Heard that line before.” Gerard helped Marianna with her harness before he dropped into the seat next to her and strapped himself in.

The ship lifted off with a lurch, throwing them sideways. Marianna’s hand found his, and Gerard held on to her as though she were his lifeline. Hells, she was. Without her, he had nothing else to live for but revenge.

“It will be okay.” When he looked at her, she sighed. “Perhaps
okay
isn’t the correct word. But it will get better.”

“Some things never get better, Marianna.” The boy—he couldn’t even bear to think his son’s name. The gaping hole inside him widened, just waiting for an unwary step to swallow him completely. Gerard had no intention of taking that step. Ever.

“We can argue about it later, if you like.” She gave his hand a squeeze as the ship shuddered while passing through the atmosphere. “What will you do now?”

The future loomed, nearly as terrifying as the pit inside him. “I had hoped…we could spend some time together when you’re not my captive.”

“Would you like to come to Keiluna with me? It might not be much, but it’s home.”

Keiluna was the first place Sanctify would look for them—or maybe it was the last place. No one would believe he’d be stupid enough to return to where this all started. “I’d like that.”

He wanted time with her, but he also needed to recoup. To gather his credits and connections and put into motion the plan starting to form in his mind.

Gerard looked at Marianna, her head tilted back and eyes closed. Revenge would take him far, but there was a spark between them that he wanted to explore. It was more than her beauty; she carried an inner strength he had never seen before. And the way she looked at him… Yeah, he wanted to see where this went, to see if they really had a chance outside Sanctify’s hold. He brought their interlaced hands up and kissed her knuckles. “I’ve heard Keiluna is beautiful in the winter.”

Those violet eyes opened and she gave a soft smile. “What about Sanctify?”

“I have a few ideas.” There were so many rebel groups trying to fight against the inevitable tide that was Sanctify, but they were lacking in weapons and direction. He could supply them with both.

She arched an eyebrow. “We’ll take on the devil together?”

“The devil, the High Priest, and anyone else fool enough to come after us.”

To God, always and forever.

Also to my family, for putting up with me during the hectic last six months. Nice to know I can show up unexpectedly and they’ll feed me and send me on my way.

To my betas, Seleste DeLaney, Lisa Basso, and Nina Croft. This book wouldn’t be anything without your input!

To Heather Howland for demanding Marianna and Gerard’s story be told. This book wouldn’t even exist without you, and it sure as heck wouldn’t be any good.

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back. Now living in Eastern Washington, she spends her time— in between ogling men and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse—writing speculative romance novels.

Keep reading for sample chapters of QUEEN OF SWORDS, the first novel in the Sanctify series…

When the cards tell Ophelia Leoni she’s supposed to marry the Prince of Hansarda, the gunrunner grits her teeth and boards the starship that comes for her. It doesn’t matter if the ship’s commander is the gorgeous stranger she just spent a wild, drunken night with. As a Diviner, she’s painfully aware the cards don’t lie. Ever.

Boone O’Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince’s emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can’t be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock–or into bed.

Even as they fight each other–and their explosive attraction–Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them...and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

Available in stores everywhere June 2012.