Immortal Awakening: Immortal Heart (9 page)

Trevan smiled. “She’s good. Still staying with our parents.”

“And how are you handling the change from FBI special agent to dungeon guard?”

Trevan shrugged. “It was worth it.” He’d give up his post in the Human World a hundred times over if it meant his sister would be free of Darion.

“You’ve only got a couple weeks left, right?”

Trevan nodded. “That’s what I am told.”

Kale squeezed his shoulder. “You didn’t do anything that the rest of us wouldn’t have done. You should have come to us… we would have helped you.”

“Hindsight, and all that bullshit.”

Kale chuckled. “I’m sure the FBI is chomping at the bit to get you back.”

“How’s Lucas handling everything?”

Kale shook his head. “I don’t want to jinx us, but it’s been quiet in the Human World.”

Trevan grunted. “Think Darion and his minions are still licking their wounds?”

Kale shrugged. “All I know for sure is that we haven’t seen the last of them, and after what happened with Holly and Marie, and then Izzy and Bain, at the hands of Lady Esperanza and Darion… it’s gonna come to blows.”

Trevan sighed. They’d all heard about what had happened in the Dark Castle. No one but those directly involved knew the sordid details. However, it didn’t take a genius to piece it all together. Once a sick and sadistic fuck, always a sick and sadistic fuck.

“So, what makes you so sure it’s going to come to blows?”

“Because Bain and I just followed Kadar’s trail into their territory.”

“Kadar?” Trevan questioned.

“Our newest issue.”

Kale left Trevan and made his way to Cree, who stood from the chair he had been sitting on in front of Zander’s cell.

“What happened?” Cree asked in a deadpan tone.

“He’s in Darion’s land now.”

Cree scoffed. “Of course he is.”

Cree settled in his bed. With his hands behind his head, he let out a deep sigh. He knew the brothers would be making an appearance soon. However, in the meantime they needed to find some semblance of normality. Everyone had been briefed on the situation with Kadar. There was little to be done as morning quickly approached. They would take the search into the Dark lands later in the day. They all needed to get some rest while the castle guards remained on high alert. He only hoped sleep would find him, too.

Letting his lids fall closed, he called on the visions that brought him peace and tried to steer clear of the ones that only confused him. Still, he conjured the vision of Rowan… or a woman he knew was meant to be Rowan but looked different from the woman he loved so much. Dark locks had replaced the platinum of her golden tresses and fell in long waves down her back. Her skin was paler than it had been in life, but what remained the same was enough to sooth a bit of his soul. Those lavender irises that had captured him from the moment he had laid eyes on her were the same; they radiated the kindness and emotion that Rowan rarely tried to hide from him. It was some form of his love, but he wasn’t sure what it meant.

With the release of a deep breath, Cree rolled to his side and stared out into the vast darkness that covered the light lands. He had to try and get some sleep.

****

Hours later, Cree woke with a start. Visions weren’t easy to distinguish from dreams, but he knew this was no dream. Rolling out of bed, he watched as the sun began to peak over the horizon. He yanked on a pair of pants and pulled a long-sleeved thermal over his head. He tied his hair back and shoved his feet into his boots. Once tied, he reached for his sword and exited his room.

Jogging down the hall, he began pounding on the warrior’s doors, one by one, and telling them to get their asses to the front courtyard. He narrowed his eyes as Makyle’s door swung open.

“What happened?” Makyle questioned, pulling a dark shirt over his head.

“Nothing for you to worry about,” Cree said, stopping at his door and locking his hard gaze with Makyle’s.

“Are you trying to intimidate me?” he asked sardonically.

“Do you feel intimidated?” Cree countered.

“No, I never feel intimidated, and I have more power in my one hand then the lot of you combined. I should be out there.”

“What you need to do is get back in that room and wait for my return.”

Makyle stared at him briefly, then stepped out into the hall.

“Get back in that room. Now!” Cree ordered with a curled lip.

Makyle chuckled as he closed the door, leaving Samira in the room. “My brothers are here.”

Cree dipped his chin. “They will be soon. And until I see fit to come get you, you will remain hidden in this castle.”

“Is that so?” Makyle asked with an arched brow. “I don’t do well with orders, Cree.”

Cree smirked, but the twist of his lips didn’t speak of humor. “I am more than aware of that, Makyle, but the fact is, they have no way of knowing for sure that you are here, so you will stay in the shadows while my warriors and I deal with them. If we need you, someone will come for you. Before you argue, I will remind you that this is my domain you are in, and it’s my rules that govern this castle. So get back in your room and wait.”

The door creaked open, and Samira stepped out to grasp Makyle’s wrist. “Please, Makyle, do as he asks. Let’s just see what they want before you go out there and piss them off.”

Makyle tilted his head as he turned to look at her. “What makes you think my first intention would be to piss them off?”

She shook her head and pulled him back into the room. “Because I know you.” From the doorway, she smiled. “I got this, Cree. Go.”

Makyle’s brow remained arched as Samira closed the door. “You got this, do you?”

“Yes, I do. You are going to, for probably the first time in your life, do what is asked of you.”

Makyle just stared at her.

“Don’t look at me like that. There is more to all of this than just your brothers.”

“Kadar,” he stated with understanding. “I’m not going to abandon you to him.”

“Well, if you go out there half-cocked with attitude, you will piss them off.”

Makyle’s hands rose in defeat. “You’re right. However, I plan to be prepared for the chance that I need to go deal with them.”

Samira nodded and slid her feet into her shoes. “Then let’s be ready.”

“I didn’t say
you
should be ready.”

She shrugged. “Someone has to be there to reign in your arrogance.”

Makyle sighed but didn’t bother arguing.

****

“Look alive, gentlemen,” Cree called out, as they all stood in the courtyard, flanking him.

Holly and Izzy both cleared their throats. Cree shot a quick apologetic smile at the two.

Lothar shook his head, and Bain chuckled.

“You stay quiet and calm. You got it, Iz?” Bain warned.

Izzy rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid, Bain. I have no desire to challenge three gods right now.”

“Demi-gods,” Kale whispered.

“Semantics, brother,” Uriah muttered. “We need to try and settle this without a fight.”

“Focus,” Lothar interjected.

Josiah, Zarek and Alistair landed hard against the cobblestone ground, the land shaking from the impact.

“You were expecting us,” Zarek noted, as he straightened his back, his harsh amber eyes scrutinizing their surroundings.

Cree dipped his chin. “And just like last time you appeared in our domain, you are not welcome.”

Zarek nodded. “In fact, I do understand your hatred towards me. I get that the loss of your wife broke your soul. Had the rules been followed and the relationship between the Immortal Three and the Fae not been blurred, she’d still be standing here with you. It’s time for you all to take some responsibility in the path your lives have taken.”

“Get to the point,” Cree said tersely.

“Some of you made an unpermitted visit to our domain to retrieve Makyle.” Zarek's gaze landed on Izzy. “You were, no doubt, one of them. His pet.”

Bain let out a lethal growl, causing Izzy to squeeze his arm to draw his attention to her. “It’s okay, Bain,” she whispered.

“Zarek,” Alistair warned. “Get back on track.”

“You brought back one of our souls. We want him returned.”

Cree crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” Josiah stepped forward. “You have three days to return him. If you do, we will leave Makyle and the child alone.”

“And if we can’t find him?” Uriah asked.

Zarek smiled. “Then we’ll be back to take both Makyle and the child. We offered you a deal, and you agreed. And then you interfered.”

“You offered Makyle a deal; we had nothing to do with it,” Izzy shot out. “You should be ashamed of what you did to your own brother.”

Alistair smiled. “This must be what he loves so much about you. You’re fearless, and it is misplaced. You should be scared right now.”

“Don’t threaten her,” Bain warned fiercely.

“Quiet,” Zarek stepped in, his pointed gaze locking on Uriah. “Your warrior was well aware of the deal. Did he hide it from you?”

Uriah narrowed his gaze back on Zarek. “He didn’t tell me that you were going to torture him. I wouldn’t have allowed him to leave with you, had I known.”

Josiah shook his head. “They must know a much different side of Makyle than we do… no one tells him what he can and cannot do. This situation is a prime example of that.”

Alistair nodded in agreement. “Regardless, we want Kadar. We’ll be back in three days to collect him.”

“Just to be clear, if we give you Kadar, you will leave Makyle and Makiah to their freedom?” Lothar questioned.

“There is need of a conversation with our brother, but yes. As long as you harness the child, we have no reason to return for him… for now,” Josiah answered before the three Rulers disappeared.

Holly scoffed. “Assholes.”

Izzy looked to her. “Right?”

Kale‘s dark gaze drifted to Cree. “What’s the plan?”

Cree looked to the rising sun. “You and Uriah head to Evan’s compound. Check on Kat, Marie, and Makiah, and meet us back here in two hours.”

Kale and Uriah both nodded and wasted little time taking off.

“Don’t we need them?” Holly asked.

Cree nodded. “Of course we do, but we need a plan, and the five of us, with Makyle and Samira’s help, can make that plan while they go see the people they are fighting for.”

“Perhaps I can try and get to Samira’s memories. If we can figure out where the lamp is, we’ll know where Kadar is headed,” Lothar offered.

“Maybe Iz can help with that,” Bain suggested.

She nodded. “Samira and I may be able to figure out a spell or something.”

“It’s worth a try,” Cree agreed. “You two get Samira and send Makyle to my office. Bain, Holly and I will start working on a contingency plan.”

Izzy grinned. “Are you telling me we’ll find them in the same room right now?”

Cree returned her grin. “They were when we headed out here.”

Izzy grinned as her knuckles rapped against Makyle’s door. The smile stretched even further when he answered it with Samira standing just behind him.

“Isabelle.” His voice held a warning tone, but the smile that twitched at his lips had her head shaking. “Do I want to know what you said to Alistair?”

“You were spying on us,” she accused.

“I was watching. You said something that caused waves.”

“The real question should be do you want to know what he said to her,” Lothar said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Makyle sighed. “I am guessing by that stance that it was unkind in some way.”

Lothar arched a brow. “I always thought Zarek was the…
unkind
one.”

“Zarek is the unyielding, surly one. Alistair is the curt one, though he is a bit more reasonable.”

“So where does that leave Josiah?” Izzy asked.

“Somewhere between the two of them. Now what did Alistair do?” His diamond gaze bored into her.

Izzy waved off the question. “The point is what they offered us.”

“What was that?” Samira asked.

Izzy smiled. “We have three days to find Kadar.” She looked back to Makyle. “If we can return him to them, they won’t come for Makiah again. And while they say a conversation is needed with you, they have agreed to call it even.”

Makyle smirked. “A conversation.”

Lothar nodded. “That’s what they said. Now Cree needs you, Makyle. And Izzy and I need your help, Samira.”

“Of course.”

Makyle looked back at her. Samira smiled softly and nodded. “I’ll see you later.”