Assassin's Kiss (28 page)

The need to get to Tessa, to finally tell her what he had suspected, rode him hard. But he knew she wouldn’t want her people to be in danger.

He’d see her soon. For now, he had to help the guards.

C
HAPTER
25

T
ESSA PAUSED AS SHE BRUSHED
her teeth. Had she heard something? A loud cry or screech? Toothbrush at her gums, foamy toothpaste filling her mouth, she stood completely still and listened.

Nothing.

Maybe she’d imagined it. If only Scorpio were here. His good ears heard everything. She spit into her sink and couldn’t help a smile. To think he had heard her tossing and turning, from several doors down…

From the other room, her phone rang and she hurried to answer it. The screen lit up with Zeebi’s name and Tessa pressed accept. “Hey, I was just getting ready for—”

“Tessa. I need you.” Zeebi’s voice trembled with panic.

“Zeebi! What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I-I don’t have time to explain. I’m in the forest west of the coven. Can you help me?”

Tessa frowned. “Yeah, of course. But what’s going on?”

“The men turned on me.” A sniff carried through the phone.

“
What
?” Tessa stopped in her path to the bedroom. “Who turned on you?”

“The guards. And Scorpio.”

Cold dread zoomed up Tessa’s spine. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s better if I explain in person. That’s why you have to come out here. They’re going to tell you horrible things about me.”

“Horrible things? What on earth could they say? And why are you out in the woods at night?” Tessa put the phone on speaker and laid it on her dresser where she kept the transportation amulet from Scorpio. Not that she’d need it tonight. Getting Zeebi safely back to the coven was priority one, not ‘porting around the realm. She pulled off her soft pajama pants and grabbed a pair of jeans.

“I went for a walk. Just hurry, okay?”

“I’m changing clothes right now. Are you hurt? Should I bring Inga?”

“No. Don’t bring anyone. I’m fine. I just need to talk to you.”

Tessa yanked a soft gray T-shirt over her head. “Okay. I’m headed out.”

“If you see any of the men, don’t listen to them.”

Tessa paused as she slid her feet into her boots and switched the phone back to regular mode. “You want me to ignore our men?”

“Yes. I think some dark magic got to them, or something. I don’t know.”

“You’re really scaring me.” She shoved her door open and hurried down the path to the woods.

“I’m scared too.”

“There’s dark magic affecting the men, and you’re out there in it too? Shouldn’t I bring one of the Elders?”

“No. No one will understand. I don’t even know what’s going on with them, just that-that…They’re going to try to lie to everyone about me.”

Tessa’s boots crunched over dry leaves. “Lie about what?”

“The reason I’m out here.”

“You said you went for a walk. Which isn’t safe, by the way. Not at night.”

“I know that now. Crap, I need to move, I think they’re coming closer. Remember the maple we used to climb?”

“Yeah.”

“Meet me there, okay?” Zeebi was breathy, like she was hurrying as fast as Tessa. “Gotta go.”

“Oh my gods—” Tessa gasped and stared at her blank phone screen. What in the world was going on? With panic in her steps, she ran toward the tree where she and Zeebi had spun wishes and dreams when they were little girls.

In ten minutes she was there, breathing hard and too loud, but her worry for Zeebi outweighed the need to be quiet. “Zeebi?” she whispered, loudly.

Zeebi crept out from behind a nearby bush and threw herself at Tessa. “Oh thank the gods you’re here.”

“Of course. I’m terrified for whatever is happening. Talk to me.” Tessa held her friend in a tight hug.

Zeebi drew a shaky breath. “The men all think I’m some kind of spy.”

“What?” Tessa pulled back and stared into Zeebi’s eyes. “How in the world can you be a spy?”

“Scorpio convinced them all. He led them out here.”

“How could he convince them of that? He wouldn’t do that. He’s not like…” Tessa bit her lip.
He’s not a monster. He’s a good man.

“He’s a murderer, Tessa.” Zeebi grabbed her arms. “He’s a master manipulator. He got them all to believe him.”

Tessa shook her head, stunned by her friend’s words.

“Come on, Tess. I know you spent a little more time with him than I have, but how well do you really know him? How do you know anything he says is true?”

“His aura.” Tessa drew a thread of logic from the muddle of shock in her brain. “I’m not wrong about people. And his aura projects honor and steadfastness.”

“I’m telling you, he’s able to manipulate it somehow. He planted a story about me listening in on Hallon’s private meetings and reporting to Damien, and the men all believe it.”

Tessa stared, slack-jawed. She’d known Zeebi all her life, had been through everything with her. They were practically sisters. And she’d only known Scorpio a few weeks…yet the urge to believe he was a good person washed over her like a wave. But either Zeebi was lying, or Scorpio had her totally fooled. And neither outcome was one she could handle. “Can we go back, talk to Hallon and the Elders, and sort this out? He can return to the cage if needed.” Though the very idea made her gag.

He didn’t deserve that. She was certain.

But then what the hell was going on?

“No way. We can’t go back,” Zeebi said.

“Well, we can’t stay here forever,” Tessa said. “We need to all get back within the wards before some nasty creature eats us. Plus, I need you safe and not panicked. If you’re not a spy, which of course you’re not, let’s get all the leaders on board. They know you. They love you.”

“And they’re starting to fall under that demon’s spell too.”

“Spell?” Tessa rubbed her temples and paced the soft dirt under the maple. “This all sounds so crazy, Zee.”

“I know it sounds crazy. But think about it. Most killers are good at deceiving people. Right?”

“Yes, but that’s behind him. He’s a Watcher now.”

“And look how easily he killed the Vespera guards when we got the crystals.” Zeebi folded her arms.

“That’s what Watchers do, when they’re on protection duty.” Not that she had ever really seen the Watchers in action. “And I thought you were pushing me toward him.”

“That was before I saw the real demon that he is. Gods, I wish he had never landed here. You deserve so much better than that monster.”

“He’s not a monster.”

“See?” Zeebi set her hands on her hips. “Even you, now. You think he’s a good guy.”

“Well…yeah.” Tessa frowned. “He saved me, saved all of us—”

“Tessa!” A deep familiar voice cut through the trees.

She whirled to find Scorpio, golden eyes fierce. Red welts shone angrily on his neck and arms. Orser ran up behind him with a black eye and ripped shirt.

Zeebi crowded Tessa, wrapping an arm around her waist. “They’re so mad at me.”

“Tessa, step away from her,” Orser said. “We need to bring her in for questioning.”

“Why?”

“The rest of our men are lying with wraith burns, unable to walk because of her and Damien!” Orser shouted.

“Hear that? Orser t-totally believes Scorpio.” Zeebi’s words trembled.

“You need to explain what’s going on.” Tessa fought to keep her voice level as she glanced from Orser to Scorpio. “Or we’re not going anywhere.”

“Tessa, please. There’s a lot Zeebi needs to account for.” Scorpio took a step closer.

“Why don’t we talk about it right here?” Tessa challenged, unable to believe this. Her psyche grasped at the two wildly different realities as if having an out of body experience. A nightmare where someone was going to be deeply hurt, and she had no way to avoid it.

“Care to fill in your best friend on your extracurricular activities?” Orser growled at Zeebi.

“See?” Zeebi whispered.

“She is
not
a spy! How could you think that?” Tessa narrowed her eyes at Orser, then Scorpio.

“We don’t think. We
know
. She was making plans to listen in on meetings and report to Damien. He gave her a special device to enhance her hearing through the office walls.” Scorpio said. His eyes stormed with regret. And truth.

How could he be lying? How could he not?

Tessa couldn’t accept the words from his mouth. “I don’t believe you,” she rasped. Tears pricked her eyes. “I’ve known Zee all my life. She wouldn’t do that.”

Scorpio and Orser both looked at her, pity in their gaze, but also warning. “Step away from her,” Scorpio commanded.

“No.” Tessa jutted her chin. “Not until we sort this out.”

“Walk away, Tessa. Now.” Scorpio’s tone was pure demand, low and dangerous.

A tear escaped and raced down her cheek. How could he be saying this?

I care about you.
She wanted to scream. Had she gotten it all wrong? Maybe demons were immune to her perceptive abilities. But Winston had thought the same things about Scorpio. How could they both be wrong?

“No,” she whispered, broken.

Zeebi shifted beside her, arm still wrapped around her. Tessa barely noticed, caught in Scorpio’s mesmerizing eyes. “Tessa.” His articulation was gravelly and deadly serious. “Trust me. Remember what you know to be true.” Anguish and anger poured from him. And leaking through it was a cold calculating vibe. He had a plan.

I will never hurt you. I will never leave you unprotected.
His words rang in her mind, but now doubt wrapped its insidious fingers around her heart. “I-I don’t know what’s true anymore.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t understand.”

Lost in a spiral of confusion, her breath came in choppy gasps and dread weighed her arms and legs. According to Lenore, Scorpio was supposed to be
hers
, even if they could never be together in any permanent way. How could he accuse her best friend of spying? How had things gotten so out of control? It was too much. She leaned on Zeebi, only to hear the words of an unfamiliar spell coming from her friend’s mouth.

“Zee, what are you doing?” Tessa forced the words out around a sudden sluggishness that made her want to drop with exhaustion.

“Fixing this.” Zeebi swung her free arm in an arc, and a thin blue barrier shot up from the ground.

Scorpio growled and summoned a ball of demonfire, holding it in his palm. “Let her go.”

Orser charged at the barrier, striking it with his sword, which glanced off as if hitting a sheer rock wall. “Zeebi! Stop!”

“Too late, moron,” Zeebi mumbled. She pulled a small charm from her pocket and started another spell.

Tessa blinked through the haze that shrouded her mind. “Let’s go to them, they want to help us.”

“Help is the last thing they want to do. Trust me.” Zeebi’s voice was hard.

“What do you mean?” Tessa stared as the shimmering ring of a portal opened in front of them. “We need to go home.”

“We’re going home, Tess. Our
new
home. Walk with me.” Zeebi commanded her toward the iridescent bubble.

Dimly, Tessa heard a roar and blinked as streaks of orange fire bounced off the barrier. The ground shook as impact after impact struck, but the blue shield held firm. Zeebi gripped her hand and pulled her toward the portal. Scorpio was mad. No, furious. She should talk to him.
But Zeebi is fixing the problem.
Those were the only words in Tessa’s mind, stuck on a loop.

“No, wait…” Tessa started, but her objection refused to fully form.

“Come with me,” Zeebi said. “I’m taking us where we’ll be appreciated. No more lies or murderers. Let’s go.”

Tessa glanced to the side to see Scorpio’s enraged face on the other side of the barrier. She needed to tell him she’d be fine. But her muscles wouldn’t obey. Her hand remained locked with Zeebi’s, her feet following as if they were now listening to her friend instead of her.

“No!” he bellowed. “Tess! Stay with us!”

Tessa looked at him as if in a fog. She knew she should listen to him. But she should listen to Zeebi, too. Right? She needed them both.

Zeebi steered her into the portal, arms around her, and with strength that surprised Tessa, pulled them both in. Tessa gasped at the bright flashes of color that popped in and out of her vision as they hurtled through disorienting darkness. It went on and on, and she clung to Zeebi. And suddenly they were out of the whirlwind, falling. Tessa hit soft dirt with a thud, and everything went dark.

C
HAPTER
26

T
HE BLUE BARRIER DISAPPEARED WITH
the portal. A prickle of magic lingered in the air, then that too dissipated in the wind.

“No!” Scorpio’s bellow of rage shook the leaves above him. His mate had been taken. Tricked. And she’d looked at him like he was a liar. He ran to the spot where she and Zeebi had stood.

Beside him, Orser swore a blue streak. “Zeebi used some dark magic on Tessa. Bet Damien was teaching her some of his tricks.”

Scorpio clenched and unclenched his fists as fury shot through his veins like fire, urging him to pursue the women and get Tessa back. But he couldn’t follow a trail that wasn’t there. Portals didn’t leave clues as to their destinations. This was where the trail ended, like it or not.

Orser pulled out his phone and dialed. “Need to tell Hallon ASAP. And get Inga and some others to help bring back the wounded.”

Scorpio pulled out his own phone. Orser raised an eyebrow, but Scorpio shook his head. “Long story.”

Orser frowned, but shrugged. “We have bigger shit to deal with right now than how you managed to get a phone. I—yes, sir. We have a problem.”

As Orser related the night’s events to his chief, Scorpio dialed Arawn. His commander picked up on the second ring. “This better be good.” A female sigh carried through the phone, but Scorpio didn’t stop to process it.

“We exposed the spy I told you about, but my mate was taken in the process.”

“Ah, fuck. Taken where?”

“They went through a portal. But my guess is, they went to the enemy coven.”