Inferno (34 page)

Duncan had become dear to her in the time they’d spent together. She also had the flavor of his long-standing friendship with Dante in her mind. She had no doubt the two of them had gotten into and out of more scrapes together than she could even imagine. She suspected when she and Dante were ready to fully share their minds, she’d learn more about the mischief he and Duncan had caused together than she really wanted.

“You, on the other hand, look bright eyed and bushy tailed, if you’ll pardon the expression.” His twinkling blue gaze teased her.

She stretched a little in her seat. “I feel great. You can rest a bit if you like. Or if you tell me what you want done, I’ll do some of your legwork this morning while you take it easy.”

“I may be old, but I’m not decrepit,” he groused good-naturedly. Still, he sat on the couch, watching her. “You don’t sleep much, even for a
were.
” She shrugged. “A couple of hours is all I need. All I’ve ever needed.”

“I suspect your mother and grandfathers slept more than you did. Am I right?”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” She wondered where he was going with this.

“Could be your fey nature is stronger than I suspected. I noticed some things as I worked with Dante earlier. He’s either jumped another notch in power or…”

“Or what?”

“Or it’s you. My blood gives him the same kind of elevation, but the flavor of the resulting magic is slightly different. Perhaps your fey/
were
mix is having a strange effect on our friend, Dante.”

“Strange?” She didn’t like the sound of that. “He’s not in any danger, is he?”

“How could he be when you are destined mates?” Duncan looked calm, so she tried to relax.

“The Goddess would not pair you if it was a bad thing. There is reason in all She does.”

“You have the strongest faith of anyone I know.” She truly did marvel at his deep belief.

“That’s because I serve Her, Megan. I’ve felt Her presence in my soul, guiding my sword and influencing my actions. To be a Knight of the Light is to be directly in Her service, for in many ways She
is
Light.”

“I never quite thought of it that way.” Megan was humbled by his words and his deep and true conviction.

“So I have to wonder about your mating. She, no doubt, has plans for you both. I think it would be wise to test the boundaries of your bond as much as you can. You’ll want to go slow, I’m sure. Just remember, the more you explore what the bond means for each of you, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever comes.” Duncan tempered his intense words by sitting back, though his gaze didn’t waver. “You two are unique. There hasn’t been a mating such as yours in a very long time. The selkies were right to want to guard you during this period of vulnerability.

But coddling would never sit well with Dante. Or you, I believe. You’re both creatures of action, needing to be in the thick of it.”

“You’ve got that right. I think it’s good to have friends helping us, but neither of us would be comfortable sitting back while others take action.”

“Just so.” Duncan stood, looking better than he had. “Perhaps we should have a bite to eat before we tackle anything else.”

They shared a meal in companionable quiet. Duncan seemed tired but able to function at a reasonable level. Megan worried silently about what Siobhan had planned for them. So much had happened in such a short time. It was a lot to take in.

When the attack came, it was without warning.

Breaking glass was heard from every room. Megan and Duncan jumped to their feet, not knowing which way to go. The tinkle of deadly shards of sharp glass sounded throughout the house. It was as if every window had shattered simultaneously.

“Be ready for anything!” Duncan shouted. She could feel him gathering his magic, an intense vibration in the air around him.

She sniffed and listened closely, hoping her
were
senses would tell her what direction to take.

After that ear-splitting shattering of glass, all was silent. Eerily so.

Then, from below she heard the sounds of movement.

“Dante.” She breathed his name in a whisper of dread even as she took flight toward the secret entrance to his underground lair. Duncan was right behind her.

She leapt down the flight of stairs, only bothering to bounce off one or two on the way down.

Megan harnessed all of her
were
agility and strength to get to the room she had never visited but knew from the sharing of Dante’s mind.

He was awake. Thank the Goddess. He was awake. She could feel that from the connection, held tightly closed on his end. If he had enough strength to maintain the compression of their link, then he was either unharmed or protecting her from something much worse.

She prayed as she had never prayed before that he was all right, even as she tore through the rooms that made up his lair, heading for his bedroom. She felt his presence there. His presence—and one other.

One other that most definitely did not belong. An incongruous abomination. A blank hole of evil magic where there should only be Dante’s warrior spirit.

“She’s in there with him,” Megan whispered back to Duncan in warning as she finally slowed.

He wasn’t far behind, but he was still no match for her
were
speed. She was in front of the door, and she wouldn’t wait to help her lover.

Megan kicked open the door and ducked low, expecting the sorceress would aim high if she was lobbing fireballs. The scene Megan interrupted was far worse.

Dante was covered in blood. A quick look at Siobhan told Megan it wasn’t her blood. Dante was bleeding. Far too freely from the looks of it.

Megan half-shifted, growling as Siobhan turned to face her, a bloody silver knife in her hand.

“So it’s true. D’Angleterre’s got himself a wolf bitch,” Siobhan spat. “No doubt she was your reward for murdering my brother.”

“I didn’t kill your brother.”

Megan could feel Dante’s regret through their link. He knew what it was to lose a brother all too well.

“He left with you,” Siobhan accused. “You returned. He’s nowhere to be found. Nowhere in this realm! I’ve looked and looked. He’s dead, and you’re responsible.”

“Your brother brought about his own demise when he attacked an innocent woman. To my great regret, I helped him—until I understood what his true mission entailed. When he tried to kill a Priestess, I realized what he was.”

Siobhan seemed to grow in height as her outrage sizzled in the room. “He should have killed you when he had the chance, vampire!” She struck out with her silver blade. Thankfully, Dante was no longer within reach.

Silver was deadly to immortals and dangerous to shifters too. Megan didn’t care. This bitch was going down. Megan advanced on the sorceress, the gleam of death in her eyes. Megan’s clothes were in tatters over her half-shifted body, but that barely registered through the battle haze engaging her senses, except as a nuisance. Her claws extended, ready to rend the sorceress from end to end if only she could get close enough.

Duncan registered in the back of her mind. He was in the doorway, standing firm. He wouldn’t let Siobhan escape, even if Megan failed. But there was no way she was going to fail.

“Why are you awake?” Siobhan accused, probably to gain time as she tried to corner Dante again. “It’s high noon. You should be dead to the world. Weak. Vulnerable. Pathetic. Yet here you stand, defying me. Did you steal my brother’s magic when you killed him?” No, Megan thought. Dante had enough of his own. It was a good question though. Dante should probably be a lot weaker than he appeared. Even bloody and bludgeoned, he stood his ground and moved quickly when needed. He was strong, even with the sun streaming over the house outside.

“You brother’s evil was dispersed,” Dante said. He kept the woman talking to gain time so Megan could get closer. They made a good team. She could feel his intent from the connection that joined them. She’d take him up on his useful ploy so he could get close to the sorceress and take her out.

The bitch wasn’t going to make it easy. Megan got in range and made one long arcing swipe with her clawed hand. Her razor sharp nails skittered along an energy barrier, causing sparks to fly in every direction, igniting little fires along the rug, furnishings and bedclothes. Shit!

Duncan’s magic swept into the room, dousing the flames, much to her relief. Fire was just as deadly to vampires as it was to any other being. Dante sagged, but he stood behind Siobhan, ready to engage. Megan read his intent through their bond.

“She’s mine,”
Megan growled through their link.
“I want her blood.”
It didn’t happen often, but every once in a while her beast demanded blood. For what Siobhan had done, Megan’s wolf wanted her dead.

“She’s crafty,”
Dante warned in their shared mind. He allowed the connection to open a little more, sharing information easily between them. In a flash, Megan saw how Siobhan had taken Dante by surprise. She sent back images of what had happened above stairs. Siobhan had taken them all by surprise.
“Her shield is strong. We might find a weakness if we work together.”
It was a sound plan.
“Good. We do this together. My wolf needs her blood, and you’re injured.

I’ll take point. You hang back.”

“Never let it be said I argued with my lady,”
Dante answered gallantly.
“However, if she puts
even a toe wrong, all bets are off.”

Even in this dire situation, he had the power to charm her. She sent him a feral grin through her elongated teeth as she rolled out of the way of a small fireball. It was a good thing Dante believed in luxurious simplicity. His bedroom was huge and uncluttered enough for her to have room to maneuver.

Duncan remained in the doorway. Dante stood on the far side of the room, near the bed that filled one corner. Siobhan was between them, holding them both at bay with outstretched hands crackling with evil fire.

“So you admit it,” Siobhan screamed. “You killed him!”

“He’s gone,” Dante said quietly, “but not by my hand. I’m sorry for your loss, Siobhan.

However, this is no way to honor his memory.”

“Avenging his death with yours is the perfect way,” she countered. “My Order has wanted you dead for centuries. Patrick could have done it, but he wanted to use you first. I’ll have my pick of honors for killing you.”

“Among the
Venifucus
?” Dante asked shrewdly. Siobhan jumped visibly, surprise written on her features. “Oh, yes, I know of them. I know they were never fully eradicated. And I know they’re working to bring Elspeth back. Just as I’m working to keep her banished.”

“You’ll never succeed. I’ll kill you and unlike the fools who’ve tried before, I won’t try to turn you to our side. I’ll just end you. After all this time, they’ll have to realize you won’t be turned.

You can’t be allowed to continue and fulfill your destiny.”

“Destiny?” Dante repeated quietly, surprise showing on his face.

“Don’t say you didn’t know?” Siobhan laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant sound. “A seer spoke at your birth. You’re to be a knight.”

“I was a knight,” Dante said, still clearly confused. “I fulfilled the seer’s words. I served my king and country.”

“Fool.” Siobhan was gathering her power. Megan could feel the crackle of it in the air. “Not that kind of knight.”

Dante’s eyebrows rose in surprise. He said not a word as Siobhan prepared another volley. She sent little licks of flame out around the room, a warning to keep back.

Megan could feel Duncan’s magic rising to meet it, tamping it down, controlling any stray bits of flame that might escape. The feel of his power—a tingle along her nerve endings—gave her an idea.

Though Megan was no mage, Duncan insisted she was part fey. If that was truly the case, she should be able to use the innate magic of the fey race, coupled with her natural
were
ability to withstand most human magic, to her advantage.

She advanced on Siobhan, drawing her attention.

“When I get close enough, distract her.”

“How?”

“I don’t care. Throw something. All I need is a split second.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Don’t worry. I think I can get her. I need to get close enough—jam her up so she can’t lob any
fireballs.”

“What about her shield?”

“I’m betting I can slice through it like butter if I really put my mind to it.”

“You sparked off it before. What makes you think you can get through it now?”

“I sparked off her perimeter. I’m willing to bet that I can walk right through the perimeter to
use my claws. Close in, she can’t throw fire and she can’t use that perimeter unless she knows
some way to magically armor bare flesh.”

Dante was silent a moment, most likely thinking through her plan.
“It’s worth a try, but stay
clear of her blade. It’s pure silver, and it’s magically enhanced.”
The reminder of what had caused his injury only heightened her desire to end this quickly.

Dante was still bleeding. He needed care and healing as soon as possible. Until Siobhan was out of the picture, Dante was in danger. No doubt, he was fighting against the poison of the silver just to remain standing.

Megan advanced quickly, holding Siobhan’s attention.

“Do it now. Distract her!”

An object flew through the air behind Siobhan, sparking off her perimeter shield to fall harmlessly to the floor. Siobhan fell for the ploy, spinning her head to see what had hit her shield.

It was only a split second, but that was all Megan needed. She was through the perimeter, her hide only slightly singed, and on the sorceress in the blink of an eye. Megan’s claws dug into Siobhan’s pale skin.

She made one last attempt to slice Megan with the blade. Megan clamped one hand over Siobhan’s wrist until it crunched. The blood covered blade fell to the floor, thumping against the plush carpet harmlessly.

“Do you yield?” Megan ground out between elongated teeth. She had to give Siobhan a chance, regardless of her bloodthirsty words to Dante. Megan wasn’t a cold-blooded killer.