“You two again,” she snarled. “Back for another go? You weren’t too successful last time.”
Anna’s eyes sparked silver and gold fire. “I have nothing better to do with my time.”
Isobel’s eyes gleamed. “I’m so much more, now. I look forward to ending you all.”
The room vibrated with enough blood energy that it masked the maelstrom building as Nikolai pumped it through Lucas.
We stood in the heart of Isobel’s bloodmagic source—the crystals that held the accumulated wealth of many deaths. We’d be lucky to survive this battle. Isobel had beaten me already, more than once. Beaten Lucas, and Anna, too. From what Lucas said, she’d fled before Nikolai had really opened up. Did she sense the trap?
If we went down, I would bring her with us. When Anna’s bicolored eyes met mine, it was my cue to step forward, right into Isobel’s space.
Isobel and I stared at each other while the coven pumped the red energy into the figure in the cage and Havoc and Sebastian fought for their lives against not only Finn, but also a group of highly trained Bellatis.
Nothing else existed except the two of us.
Her eyes blazed red at me, and her mouth twisted. “It is time to finish this. You could have had it all. Instead, you have become nothing but a thorn in my side.”
I stood very still. “I am much more than that.” My words rolled from somewhere deep inside. “Because I am your destiny.”
Her brows lowered. “You are a fool. And you will meet yourowndestiny now, of that I have no doubt.”
She grabbed my arm. The bloodmagic hammered at me, pushing my power back. I let it do so, let her think she was overwhelming me. Moved closer, put my fingers along the side of her throat as I bowed my head, feigning defeat.
Meanwhile, Anna smoothly, quietly, sidled up to me and touched bare skin.
In a flash, Nikolai opened the floodgates to bring the maelstrom home.
47
Riley
With the usual flare of golden light, we arrived in the hall servicing the dungeon.
The empty corridor didn’t stay that way for long. Because Talakai whistled, and then yelled, “Hey, the prisoner is escaping.”
Words guaranteed to instill terror in any guard that had once served Brock. If he’d had half a brain, he would have questioned who was in there to make such an announcement, but it appeared intelligent soldiers did not apply for dungeon-guard positions.
The door banged open, and a big burly mercenary belted through it.
Talakai spun toward him so fast I couldn’t make out exactly what he did—I saw the flash of light on metal, and then the guard’s separated head followed his body down to the cold stone floor.
Talakai peered out into the hallway beyond, closed the door, and returned to drag the body into an empty cell. I stared at the long blood smear left behind.
You okay?Marcus asked. His mindvoice sounded completely calm. I supposed for him it was just another day at the warrior office, and I remembered the shovel he’d used on Kyle the first day we met.
Yeah. I’m good.I turned to peer through the bars of the closest cell. It was empty—as was the next. The third one had a pale-skinned face pressed to the small barred insert.
Talakai sheathed his sword and moved to examine Jinsic’s cell door, before touching the scales along his ribs. They retracted, and he pulled out a small pouch, very similar to the one I’d seen Lucas use. He extracted a long, thin pick and bent over the lock.
“I can Jump us in there.” I took hold of the Dragon shifter's arm.
The door clicked, and Talakai pulled it open.
“Or not,” I said.
Jinsic was a little taller than Tareal, but otherwise very similar in features. He could have told me they were triplets rather than mates, and I would have believed him. My ability to appreciate their differences required work.
Something clanged when he moved—his ankle was chained to a bolt in the wall.
