An Apocalyptic Need (11 page)

He was no longer pretty. The once handsome face had taken on a beakish quality, narrow and sharp. The black eyes were like shiny pebbles in a face overlaid by thin, gray lines that branched and twisted like a tree from the dead lands. The blond hair upon his head had thinned, the strands broken and limp against his scalp.

It was said there was always a price to pay for the use of powerful magic. Pisney believed the price was even higher when the magic was black and oily with evil.

He barely repressed a shudder as he looked upon the wizard. But he fought to keep the disgust and fear from his gaze.

It wouldn’t do to offend the man who was about to give Pisney everything he wanted.

“Why haven’t you brought her to me?”

Pisney straightened from the bow and pasted a pleasant expression onto his face. “She was abducted from the
Stellam
by a space pirate she insisted on bringing aboard, sir. My men are searching the epochs for her now. We’ll find her shortly.”

The small man didn’t speak. His expression never changed. But the black robes he wore swirled around his feet with a bit more energy. The wispy hair upon his head fluttered in a breeze of his own making.

His agitation was clear.

“Is this the same pirate you were instructed to kill?”

Pisney fought against the need to squirm under that hostile black gaze. “I’m afraid the man I sent to kill him was overtaken. I can only assume the woman didn’t drink her drugged wine as planned.”

The black gaze sharpened. “I thought you told me she was abducted? You believe she was involved in stopping your man?”

“She
was
abducted. I…” Pisney swallowed, his mind working quickly. There was more than his ego wrapped up in keeping the wizard appeased. Much more. “There were signs that they had been…” He blinked, hoping the man would take his unspoken suggestion and run with it so Pisney wouldn’t have to lie outright.

“Signs that they’d been what, lieutenant?”

Alcott frowned.
Damn the man!
“I believe the woman and the prisoner had been indulging in sex when my man entered her quarters. The prisoner was not behind bars as he should have been. I’m afraid he caught my man unaware.”

The wizard lifted a finely sculpted blond eyebrow but said nothing. He folded small, pale hands before him, the motion deceptively relaxed. Pisney knew it was a lie because the man’s robes swirled with new vigor.

Alcott really hoped that lie didn’t come back to bite him in the ass. The wizard was very good at ferreting out falsehoods.

“It’s that kind of carelessness that gets a man killed, lieutenant.”

Pisney didn’t miss the implied threat. He swallowed hard, dipping his head. “I agree, sir. That’s why I had the guard executed for his carelessness.”

The wizard expelled a breath and turned back toward the window, staring at the steel gray sky beyond. In the distance a tiny, black speck among the clouds worked its way toward the castle.

Pisney thought it might be the man’s raven familiar.

“If that’s all…”

The wizard lifted a hand in dismissal. “Bring me the woman within forty-eight hours, Alcott, or you will suffer my wrath.”

Wondering what the powerful wizard could possibly want with a magic-less whore of an imposter, Alcott murmured a response and turned, hurrying from the room. As he headed for the nearest portal, Pisney’s hands found his skin, scratching manically at the oily itch a visit with the wizard always left behind.

Like thousands of spiders dancing across his skin.

The other woman’s smile faded as the men left. Cari held the probing blue gaze, feeling its power in the center of her chest, a feeling not unlike delicate fingertips sliding along her bones. “Don’t use your magics on me, witch.”

Yeira tilted her head, her expression amused. “It isn’t often someone chooses to insult me with the witch side of my genetics, over the reborn side.”

The woman was beautiful, with softly curling red hair that fell to her waist and pale, delicate features. It was always a shock to Cari when one of the zombies looked so lifelike…even attractive. “It isn’t your dead side that’s trying to steal thoughts from my mind right now.”

Yeira made a derisive noise. “You overestimate my powers, mage.”

Cari blinked, despair blooming in her chest. “You mustn’t tell Grimm what I am.” A mistake. Clenching her fists, Cari struggled with the need to push, to force. The witch would use the knowledge against her.

But to her surprise, the other woman’s face softened. “I have no desire to harm you, Cari. I only wish to make sure my people are safe.” She stepped forward, lowering her voice. “But Grimm is my friend. If you hurt him…” The pretty blue gaze flashed with quick anger before she smiled. “Shall we join the men? We have much to discuss.”

Cari scoured the area with her gaze as she followed the other woman into a vast cavern with rock walls and a sand-covered dirt floor. The furnishings were sparse, comprised of only a rough wood table with long benches on either side that dominated the center of the single, large room; a lumpy looking bed pushed well to the back of the space and a kitchen area consisting of a small white refrigerator and a hot plate.

She rubbed her arms to expel the cool touch of magic against her skin.

Yeira noticed the action and explained. “This is all that’s left of a former reborn lair. My mo…” Her gaze flashed to Cari’s. “The witch, Edwige decimated the lair, leaving behind the oily taint of her black magics. That type of magic is hard to erase. What you’re feeling are my cleansing magics. I’ve had only limited success, I’m afraid.” Her gaze slid to the big, black-haired warrior standing several yards away, laughing with Grimm. “But it’s enough that I can stand to be here.” She shivered, wrapping her arms around her middle as a haunted look filled her pretty blue gaze. “If only I could remove the memory as easily.”

Despite herself, Cari felt sympathy for the other woman. She knew all too well what it was like to step into a nightmare. How it clung like a bad smell, coloring every thought, every action with a taint. She felt the urge to comfort and gave in to it. Touching Yeira’s arm, Cari smiled gently. “I think you’ve done a good job of obscuring Edwige’s taint. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy thing to mask.”

“I guess you’ve heard of her.”

Cari frowned. “Of course. Her antics are part of our training now. She evaded us time and again. The epoch mages are determined not to allow another witch to gain such power again.” Despite her good intentions, Cari couldn’t help giving the other woman a speculative look. Though Yeira was obviously unwilling to admit it, Edwige’s blood ran through her veins, making her a dangerous creature indeed.

“Shall we get started?” The big hunter, Kord wrapped an arm protectively around his lover, his gaze sliding warmly over her.

She nodded, pointing to the table, where Cari noted for the first time the large chart spread across its surface. “I don’t know if you’re aware, Cari, but the reborn have an accord with the Authority.”

Cari had known of the bargain but didn’t have the details. “I’ve heard something about that, yes.”

Grimm looked surprised. Cari avoided his questioning gaze by turning to the star chart Yeira was perusing.

“It’s a virgin accord, barely fleshed out and far from impermeable,” Kord told Cari.

“Unfortunately not all the Sorceri trust the reborn.” Yeira sighed. “But we were making good progress with the agreement, gaining support, when the first attack came.”

“Attack?”

“Hunters took out a reborn lair in the epoch you came from.” Yeira’s gaze snapped with anger.

“Rogues,” Audie was quick to add. “The Authority didn’t command the attack and doesn’t support it.” He seemed to be reassuring his lover as much as informing Grimm and Cari.

“It doesn’t matter, Kord,” Yeira said, wearily. “There are plenty of hunters who support the action. Even if the Huntsman doesn’t.”

“The Egress Sentinel is on our side. He told me many of the hunters are.”

Cari noted the skimming away of Yeira’s gaze—the quick surge of doubt. It was clear the other woman wasn’t quite in agreement with her lover. “What does this have to do with me?”

Grimm spoke for the first time. “Not you, captain. Us.” He fixed Audie with an intense gaze. “Am I right, Kord?”

To his credit, the big hunter didn’t back away from the challenge in Grimm’s gaze. “The Huntsman is concerned about your presence on the
Morte Stellam
, Grimm.”

Grimm made a noise of disgust. “The Huntsman? Or you?”

Audie shrugged. “I’d like to know what you were doing there too, Grimm. And why you brought her captain back with you.” Audie’s dark blue gaze burned into Cari, making her stomach twirl with alarm.

“I’m not your enemy, hunter.” She glanced toward Yeira. “Or hers. I wasn’t on the
Stellam
to get between the reborn and the Authority.”

“Then what were you doing there, Captain Pascale?”

Grimm turned to her at Yeira’s softly spoken question, obviously wanting to hear the answer himself.

Audie also piled on before she could respond. “And if you meant no harm why did you destroy the
Avenging Angel
?”

Understanding lit. Cari fixed Yeira with a questioning look. “The
Angel
was a reborn ship?”

Fire sparked in the other woman’s gaze. “They were allies. I counted some aboard the
Angel
as my personal friends.”

Cari closed her eyes, feeling Yeira’s pain throbbing across the space between them. “I’m sorry.”

Yeira explained. “We were tracking the
Stellam
because we had intelligence that there were rogue Sorceri aboard.” She glanced at Grimm, speculation clear in her expression.

Cari sat as her knees weakened beneath her. “I was told the
Angel
was a ghost merchant ship. The ghosts have been attacking us throughout the galaxy under a neutral flag.” She saw the look of confusion on Yeira’s face and explained. “Ghost merchants are vigilantes who are tired of being stolen from. They’ve grown in numbers over the last few years and in many ways they’re no better than the pirates. Their kill count is nearly as high, including innocents.” She glanced toward the space chart. “The Directory sent down orders to destroy all we encountered.”

Grimm frowned. “The Directory?”

Audie responded before she could, his expression fierce. “They’re a corrupt governing body for the rogues.”

“I didn’t know they had a governing body,” Grimm said.

“It’s relatively new. They’ve spread quickly, killing and or taking prisoner anyone who doesn’t recognize their rule,” he explained.

Cari nodded, frowning. “Yes. They’ve shown signs lately of attempting to control other factions…”

“Factions like the Authority?” Grimm interrupted.

She flashed him a look. “Yes. Among others.”

“Is that why you were there?” He asked. “To get information on the Directory?”

“That was part of my mission, yes.”

“Then you are working for the Authority? For the Huntsman?”

Cari hesitated, knowing she would have to be very careful what she told him. “The Authority isn’t the only interested party, hunter.”

Grimm exploded. “Why won’t you tell me who you’re working for?”

“It’s need to know and you don’t…need to know.”

Grimm’s jaw tightened. A pulse beat on the side of his neck. He was obviously angry. Cari was sorry for that, but there was nothing she could do about it.

“Cari’s whereabouts aren’t our only concern, Grimm,” Yeira reminded him. She arched a fine, red eyebrow. “What were
you
doing on the
Angel
? I sent you to Nostralpha One to pick up arms. You should have been on the other side of the Universe.”

Grimm’s sexy mouth tightened to a hard line. “I was on personal business.”

“Without telling me?” Yeira glowered at him. “You disobeyed a direct order? That personal business better have been damn good.”

He didn’t respond right away, only looking toward his feet. It was clear to Cari that Grimm Forbes had his own secrets. “It was.”

They all waited a few beats but when Grimm didn’t explain, Yeira grabbed up the star chart and folded it with quick, angry movements.

“I need to get back to the
Stellam
,” Cari told them.

“No.” Grimm ground out.

“I’ll take you to a portal,” Yeira said, ignoring him.

Grimm stepped forward, halting at Kord’s glower. “Yeira, you can’t. She’s in danger there.”

“Many people are in danger, Grimm. I help those I feel I can trust.” She scoured Grimm with a look and then handed the chart to Kord. “Captain Pascale is a free woman. She doesn’t need your permission to do her job.” Yeira touched Cari’s arm. “Maybe you could let us know if you identify a rogue on the
Stellam
?”

Cari nodded. “Of course.” It was an easy promise to make. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the reborn herself, but her interaction with Yeira had clarified one thing. Killing them based on a lack of understanding was not the right response. The leader of the reborn was not only a formidable woman, but she was intelligent and kind hearted as well.