I gritted my teeth and embraced the pain as a distraction, but Talakai’s take on it be much different. What I sensed of him through Anna—what had Xumi done to him?
Despite my efforts, the dream grabbed me again, and my body trembled withneed. Isobel ran her hands over my back below where the icefire whip bound my arms. Her slim fingers slid over my buttocks as she fed another pulse of energy through the whip.
I had little control over what my energy revealed. My humiliation reached new levels when the Bellati I be strapped to snorted and turned his head to regard me. I read both disgust and disdain in his gaze.
It mattered not. My body ached for culmination. It be not Isobel doing this to me, but it gave me an excuse as I writhed between the icefire whip and the dream. Isobel’s fingers pushed between my legs to cup and stroke my balls, and I gritted my teeth and let her—better that, than have her discern the truth.
When the dream Talakai arced up off the ground and took Anna with him, I went too. I shuddered and gasped.
“So responsive, my stallion,” Isobel whispered in my ear, her voice husky as her fingers squeezed hard. “Hold that thought. You will find it useful where you are going.” And she shocked me again with the whip.
Rage coursed through me, and I ground my teeth, but I be powerless to do anything about any of this. When had Isobel become such a twisted thing of anger and evil? Perhaps she had always been like this, and I had been too besotted to notice?
Our mount swung his head again, ears flat to his skull. Humiliation burned within me, but it be not my fault he’d need a shower after this. Without access to the life energies, I couldn’t even shed my hair down low to grow fresh covering.
Isobel’s coven also remained human and rode astride Bellati warriors. They be spaced around me, cutting me off from the life essences as we wound slowly through a series of canyons and valleys. The pace be deliberate—Isobel be dangling our party as bait in case anyone managed to follow.
The sun rose high and then began to sink before she brought us to our destination.
We passed through gates that stood twenty feet from the ground. Stone barriers to each side bridged the gap between two steep canyon walls. It be ancient, not a new construct, and it made me wonder about a place that felt such a thing be necessary.
It hadn’t helped them keep Galeran at bay.
I didn’t need my link to energies to judge the town beyond the gates. It be clearly in torment. Residents averted their eyes as we passed, scurrying into buildings and closing the doors.
They be a mixed lot—so not likely a virgin realm—but mostly humanoid in appearance. As we progressed through the residential areas and into one more commercial, my impression of a population under siege only got worse. While some went about their business slouched and scurrying with averted faces, others lounged freely along walls and posts. These boldly met the gazes of our party, assessing me with cold, calculating eyes. Roughly dressed, they had weapons clearly displayed.
By the buildings’ appearance, this had been a prosperous town before Galeran got hold of it. These rough-looking men be the new power here. I recognized races from several different realms, as well as Dires. Most in human form, but I noticed an increasing number in beast form too.
When I’d been part of Galeran’s chosen, my kind had been his arms and legs. But he’d also recruited a Torshin, who had used Dires as his minion of choice.
Clearly, Galeran be using them still.
He probably needed the extra help now that his main weapon had been denied him—the Perditor who had tapped into the chaotic core power lying deep beneath us.
Galeran’s son.
Nikolai had been leashed by his father and used to wreak havoc across several realms. He’d eventually broken free, but it had been a close thing. And I’d used that coup to stage my own betrayal.
Without that power, Galeran had gone into hiding. He be reduced to staging smaller-scale mayhem while he re-formed his power base. By the looks of those holding sway over this town, his standards had declined.
I paid close attention to both the invaders and the residents. The locals could provide clues as to where we be. I also scanned the storefronts—and noticed no fewer than three breweries on the main thoroughfare alone, along with two bars, bustling with late evening traffic—most of it Galeran’s hired help.
Our Bellati mounts trotted down the street with arched necks, carrying me with pride. The traitor, brought home to pay the ultimate price.
Whatever that may be. I only hoped I could discover the location of this place before that happened.
Isobel sent another pulse of power through the icefire whip, and my body writhed in its grip. To link her in any way to the peace-loving, gentle beings I knew as Watchers be almost sacrilege. Isobel had morphed into something else. Something I didn’t recognize. Galeran had swept her up in his madness, and they had taken the others with them.
We left the bustling main street behind and passed a few more residential ones. The houses be larger here, more prosperous. Behind them, the canyon walls had been transformed into terraced gardens festooned with vines. The source, no doubt, of the materials for the breweries. The ground between the mansions had been fenced into pastures, and within them I glimpsed elegant creatures that resembled horses, only their hooves be cloven, and they had heavily branched antlers. Trantils, a prized riding and hauling beast across the realms. The private driveways veering off the main road sported pretentious signs—these be breeding operations, with every mark of wealth associated with them.
I cataloged all of it as I bounced uncomfortably. Isobel sent another pulse along the whip, and I clenched my teeth.
She leaned over me to hiss, “Enjoying the view? This will be your final home. I’m committed to seeing you appreciate every aspect of it.”
Her tone be not reassuring.
The Bellatis turned up a driveway. It took us from pastures filled with grazing beasts to a huge house. It sat among stables more grand than most residences we had passed.
