Chapter 45
Rylee
“Such a pretty little treasure,” the Fader says as the rest form a circle around me.
“You know the boss will want her,” another one says. A woman this time, though it’s not Erin.
“She’ll have her,” the other one says. “After we’ve had some fun.” He jabs a finger toward me. “This is the one who killed a bunch of us months ago. Saw it with my own eyes.”
“To be fair,” I say, shifting on my knees, wobbling a bit but regaining my balance as I hold up a finger of my own. “They were being real dicks—”
His hand cracks across my face so hard I taste blood. I spit a mouthful of it onto his boots.
“Mouthy little bitch,” he fires right before landing a punch to my stomach that has me doubling over. I can’t breathe for a full thirteen seconds.
I cradle my ribs, instinct tunneling inward, reaching for powers that aren’t there.
“I’m going to track her down,” the woman says, shaking her head. “Boss!” she yells, running down the street. A few follow her, leaving me with the guy who loves to hit and seven of his fucking friends.
Running on pure adrenaline, I manage to shove to my feet. It’s slow and not at all graceful, but I’m standing. I shift into a defensive stance. I’m not going down without a fight.
The Fader laughs. “Can’t tell if you’re brave or stupid,” he says, motioning to his friends. “There are eight of us and one of you.”
“I’ve had worse odds,” I lie. I’ve never faced this many without a scrap of power to use. But how long can this stuff really last? It has to wear off quickly, or else those without powers wouldn’t go looking for another hit.
Another wave of laughter echoes through the group, the sound as enraging as it is ominous. Ice sluices through my veins. Jax will kill me if I die out here. Kal would meet his mother and beg for my life. Axl would raze the Fader organization to the ground while Pierce would melt their minds.
A shiver races down my spine at the thought of what they’ll do.
There’s no stopping it, though. Not when they have me so vulnerable.
I slip my hands inside my open jacket, pulling out two small blades gifted to me by the Nightmare.
“You throw those,” the Fader says, “you better make them count. Because it’ll be your last free move.”
I point the tip at his neck, then move it down. “Your throat or your balls?”
He takes a step toward me, and I brace myself, lifting both blades—
“Enough!” Erin’s voice is authoritative in a way I’ve never heard it before. It’s enough to halt the Fader.
The rest immediately back up, parting enough for her to come through.
She’s wearing her mask, but even if she hadn’t spoken, I’d recognize her gait.
It’s so obvious to me now, I don’t know how I ever missed it before.
The four that left walk behind her, the group looking ominous as all those masked faces are focused on me.
“We were going to bring her to you—”
“Shut up,” she cuts him off as she strides up to me, examining the wounds on my face. “You dosed her?”
He looks down at his booted feet.
“She’s not a Legend, idiot. You wanted her enhanced for some reason?” she fires at him, and I do my best not to look confused.
Wait. Of course. No one knows I have powers. And Tox gives bursts of power to users who don’t have any.
“Figured it couldn’t hurt,” he says, motioning to me. “She did that weird magic thing with the fucking princes. Who knows what she can do now?”
“That wasn’t her,” Erin hisses. “It was clearly the Mind’s powers. You were seeing things. And you know he’ll want her.”
He? He who?
“She’s invaluable.” Erin turns toward me. “Can you imagine what the princes will offer to get her back?”
I can’t move. Is she seriously planning on using me as leverage?
A rumble of excitement and chatter rolls through the group.
I take a step back, only to run into the two Faders behind me. The Tox is still in effect, numbing my insides in the most hollow way. It’s all I can do not to panic at the fact that I can’t connect with my bonds, let alone my power.
“Get some chains,” Erin orders, and four of them head in another direction. “You five, finish sweeping the perimeter for any supplies we need. And get a body count. You know he likes specifics.” More rush off, leaving Erin and three others.
I move again, this time toward her. “If you think for one second you’re putting me in chains—”
A swift move, and I’m on my back, my head rattling from the impact. Erin is atop me, hand at my throat, face so close to mine our cheeks are practically touching.
“Shut your mouth, princess,” she snaps, then dips her head closer.
I don’t struggle, because she’s not actually choking me, and it confuses the shit out of me.
“You three,” she says to the final Faders. “Has there been any progress on the temple?”
“Group B is there now,” a man answers. “I can send a runner—”
“Send yourself,” she barks. “I need to know if it’s been successfully planted or not. If this trial doesn’t work, we might not get another chance with the other temples.”
I hang on every word she says, noting how easy it is for her to speak directly to her minions, as opposed to me, her own sister.
The Fader hesitates. “What about her?”
“All of you can go,” she says. “I’ve got this one. She’s got nothing left. They’ll be back with the chains in minutes. Go. Don’t make me ask twice.”
They fucking bolt. It would be funny if I wasn’t so damned confused.
She looks in their direction. “We don’t have much time—”
Hollers sound in the distance. From the corner of my eye, I can see the Faders with chains, whooping and heading toward us.
“Shit,” Erin mutters.
I knock her off me, scrambling to my feet. “You’re not taking me.” I point my blade toward her.
I can’t see her face, but her body language says she’s rolling her eyes. “You need to listen—”
A chain wraps around my throat from behind, hauling me to my knees. The shock of the blow has me dropping my blades.
“Easy!” Erin commands, a tiny hint of desperation in her voice. “He won’t want her damaged!”
“That’s owed,” the man from before says. “She spit on me.”
“Fucking coward.” I force the words out, my fingers tugging at the chain tightening around my neck.
Black dots my vision.
“Let her go,” Erin commands. “Or I will end you myself.”
The chain loosens a fraction.
A loud, thundering impact shakes the ground beneath my feet, a blur of red slamming into the space next to me.
One second, I’m struggling to breathe; the next, the chain is lifted from my throat and the Fader holding it is soaring through the air like he can fly.
He can’t. He lands headfirst with a sickening crack across the street.
A rush of blue accompanied by the sound of roaring water soars by me, too fast for me to follow. A wall of ocean sweeps the rest of the Faders off their feet, sending them spiraling away.
Including Erin.
“Rylee.” Kal’s voice matches his touch, which is soft as he cradles my face.
“Kal?” I take him in, eyes scanning his face as he kneels in front of me. “You’re here?”
“I’m here,” he says, drawing me against him as he pulls us to our feet. His scent envelops me, relief coursing through me so much it hurts.
I turn, following the sound of water, and panic.
“Don’t drown them!” I yell at Axl.
He immediately drops the wall, rushing over to me. “Kitten,” he growls, golden eyes on my neck. I must look like a wreck, because his expression is murderous.
I reach for him. “Please,” I say, barely able to get the word out. “She’s out there.”
He looks to the group now scattering in different directions, then returns focus to me, tracing the sore patch of skin on my neck. He cringes. “Sorry we didn’t get here sooner.”
Kal shifts behind me, scooping me up and cradling me against his chest. “Home or chase?” he asks, almost like he can’t form a coherent thought.
“They’re gone,” Axl answers for me.
“You have your powers?” I ask, still unable to feel them.
“They hit us the second we docked,” Axl explains. “Thought you did that.”
I shake my head, wincing when the motion hurts. Kal looks down at me, concern shaping his features. “They hit me with Tox,” I explain.
“Home.” Kal nods. “You need a healer.”
“Axl, your velomage is by the keepers’ supply building,” I tell him seconds before Kal launches us into the sky, flying swiftly to the palace. He doesn’t let up on the speed until we’re in my room.
“Get Dalfon,” Kal demands of the enforcer standing guard in my hallway.
The guard doesn’t hesitate to run.
Kal sits me on the edge of my bed, agony flooding his blue eyes.
“I’m okay,” I assure him even though my lip feels swollen and my neck is on fire. “You’re here.”
“I’m here,” he says, kneeling so he can be eye level with me. “I felt you,” he says. “When we were close to shore. Axl did, too. His ship docked at the same time as mine. We were so worried, especially when our powers came back.”
I blow out a breath, tears spilling over my lashes as I lean my forehead against his shoulder. Kal holds me, gently stroking my hair.
“What happened?”
I don’t even know where to start. My head is still spinning.
“Rylee?” Dalfon calls from the doorway.
“Hurry,” Kal says, shifting out of the way so the healer can look at me.
Dalfon immediately cringes.
“That bad?”
“Sometimes I think I should shadow you,” he says, shaking his head before approaching me. He eyes Kal. “Are you going to behave while watching? I know you’ve been separated from your mate for a lengthy time.”
Kal takes a step back, balling his hands into fists. “I’m fine. Heal her.”
Dalfon nods, studying me with his black eyes. His palms ignite, blue flames roaring to life. He points them at me, hovering them above my wounds. Tingling relief knits me back together, my head swimming with how good it feels.
“They dosed you with something?” Dalfon asks.
I nod. “That enhancement that’s been affecting people.”
A low growl from Kal.
Dalfon rakes his cool flames over me again. And again.