Summon (38 page)

The plants latched on to all four limbs. They
curled around my waist and wound around my hips. Swept into the undercurrent
heading downstream, and trapped by the flora, I was dragged deeper into the
vast nothing.

Leashing my terror, I focused, and forced the
creeping plants to release me.

The vines loosened, and I wriggled free.

I tried to regain the motion from before, but the
urge to scream overcame the logic of keeping my mouth shut. Lips wrenching
open, water flooded my lungs. It was cold and grainy. A flurry of bubbles
swirling towards the surface dropkicked the reality of how deep I’d sunken into
stark relief. My lungs filled and filled, and my pain threshold galloped past
unbearable as they swelled to bursting.

The moonlight marking the surface grew dim. My
struggles slowed to odd twitches.

An excruciating blast of energy seared me from the
inside out. I bucked, and my body expelled the water through my mouth.

Bewildered, I clamped it shut.

I experienced a second of relief before my lungs
burned for air. I fought the urge to breathe, and tried again to thwart the
relentless pressure of the river water subduing my pitiable endeavour to swim.

How many
times will I drown then revive?

I reached blindly waving a hand. Someone grabbed my
fingers then let go.

Don’t
leave me!

Two hands returned and grabbed me by the hair. I
slapped my hands onto the ones towing me up to ease the pain.

Don’t
people know pulling hair bloody hurts?

Pale hands dragged me bodily from the water.

Flopping on the swamped bank, I rolled onto my
stomach, vomiting river until retching was a reflex. My eyes stung, felt
gritty, and tears cleared the grimy layer warping my vision. Stomach wrung out
and throat raw, I finished puking.

A cold hand brushed soaked hanks of hair from my
face. I stared at Tomas’ glower in astonishment.

Raven locks slicked back, water dripped from his
nose and dimpled chin. “Your lips are blue.”

Making throaty noises, I shivered and nodded at the
observation.
I’m freezing
. “I need
you to do something for me.” The request came out nasal and faint. I shivered
hard and bit through my lip.

Tomas’ spiked lashes separated when he blinked. A
glossy eyebrow lifted. “Saving you from drowning isn’t enough?”

“No,” I snapped then coughed up more water. “I
drowned before you got to me. You lose points for that.”

He chuckled and pressed his forehead to mine.

Remembering I hadn’t
fallen
off the roof, I stiffened.

I shoved Tomas back to lift my head and look
around. “Marinette?”

He ran his fingers along my cheekbone, reluctant to
speak. Sad. “Landed safely on the opposite bank.”

“She’s watching us.”

Mouth thinning, he nodded.

“She’s waiting for me.” I flexed my wings to check
my pinion wasn’t healing a break, but the cold numbed me from feeling. “You’ll
do something for me?”

“Rae–” Tomas’ sighed objection died. He
stared moodily realising the futility of protest. “What is it?”

“I need you to–” Distracted, I cocked my head
and concentrated on a tickle of unease at the back of my mind that became a
painful bashing.

Lochlann tugged hard on my power, drawing from me
the way I used to draw from the Source.

It startled me, at first, but his fuzzy desperation
impressed the urgency behind the spiritual touch. It felt natural to let him
take what he needed.
I can’t reach you.
Get up and fight, Lochlann.
I hoped it was enough to see him through.

Worrying my lip, I fixed my attention on Tomas who
shook me in a panic. I stopped him with a scowl. “Go to the Wyld and steal the
grimoire.”

He looked bewildered. “There’s no way I’ll retrieve
the spell book and return-”

“You will guard it with your life until you find
the means to destroy it.”

I caught the moment realisation of what I asked
darkened his expression. “I won’t leave you.”

“Friends help each other. If you won’t help me I no
longer consider you one.”

“Good. I’m more than a friend.”

“Your death wasn’t destined. We weren’t meant to
meet. Ana told me. Gwendolyn’s vision muddled everything. You’ll live past
today.” I prodded his chest. “Do you know how lucky you are that your fate
isn’t tied to this fight?”

“How can it not be when I feel this way?” He
cradled my head. “You’re here. I’m staying.”

“Please.” The word was quiet with need.

“Don’t ask this of me.”

“This is important, Tomas. The amulets are going to
lose power, and the grimoire will be left without a guardian or key.”

“How do you know the amulets will lose power?”

Ignoring his question, I flexed my wings and winced
as holes in the membranes stung. “Help me up.”

He did, but searched my face the moment we stood.
He gripped my arms painfully tight. “Answer me.”

I wiped dirt from his cheek then patted his chest.
“I told you, you’re lucky.”

“You knew she was a threat to the fairy’s life. The
one you made High Priestess.” Tomas exhaled shakily. “That’s the way you’d know
the amulets fate.”

I nodded. “Maeve’s next move will be significant.
As will yours.”

“You’re calm.”

“This is my purpose.” The corner of my mouth
curved. “I know your future too. She’s beautiful.” I laughed. “And you don’t
see her coming.”

“Will I see
you
again?”

“No.”

A harsh sound tore from his lips. His red-rimmed
eyes washed with bloody tears, and he pressed a fierce kiss to my forehead. “I
love you.”

I touched his hand. “Goodbye.”

Tomas wrenched into movement. He blurred into an
apparition as he fled.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Lochlann

“Get
up.” I scraped the tip of my blade across Malice’s throat. I scored a red line,
but refrained from bearing down and severing his spinal column.
My nature demands honour in the killing of a
fallen enemy, but it’s a fitting end for this loa.

Shifty, Daphne licked her lips. “Lochlann?”

Malice laced his hands together on his stomach.
Blood from his nose dribbled into his mouth. He smacked his lips tasting it.
“Why?”

“The body you wear, the boy it belonged to saved
lives at my Wyld. He saved Rae’s life. He tried to warn us of your evil. I pay
tribute with your death.”

And if I
die it will be a sacrifice freely given so the gods may see reason and keep my
people safe.

“What are you doing?” Disbelief warped Daphne’s
husky voice into a broken quavering. “Finish it.”

My chest tightened at her fear.
I understand why Rae forever sends Breandan
from her. How am I to focus when my heart is vulnerable?
“I need you to
listen to me, vampire. This one time.” I kept my eyes on Malice. He followed
our exchange with melancholic delight. “Leave me and find your Sire. He will
protect you.”

She recoiled, hurt. “What?”

Donning the voice I used for war, I turned wintry
eyes on her. “I cannot concentrate with you near.”

Unblinking, she stared. “Why.”

Scrutinising my face, Malice smiled at the
discovery he made. “Because he loves you.”

Daphne’s quick intake of breath cut short. She
lowered and leaned her torso forward preparing to attack.

Uneasy, I motioned strongly for her to remain
still.

Malice jumped onto his hunches. He swiped an arm
over his face smearing red across his cheek. “If I told you I fight for
amusement, that I am done here and will leave the fight as a gesture of peace
would you believe me?”

“No,” we replied.

Standing, he clucked. “Too bad.” Malice bunched his
arms together then flung out his hands.

Fire spewed from his palms.

Daphne screamed my name and launched herself at me.
Not her.
Grabbing her around the
waist, I spun, forced her down and curled my shoulders. I pushed my magics
around us in a shield. A shimmer of bluish energy raced over my skin then
lifted, appearing as if a finely spun web. It extended just past my skin before
fringes of heat scorched my flesh.

I roared as the blistering flames rolled over me.
I’m burning.
Malice’s laughter echoed in
my ears.

Daphne screamed and struggled in my arms.

The world went black.

My flattened cheek pressed something cold and firm.
Grainy. Signals of pain transmitted by my raw nerves consumed my prone form in
undulations of biting sensation.

Sucking air through my teeth, I groaned. Singed
tissue on my back healed, and the breadth of skin tingled distractingly.

Unconsciousness tugged on my awareness of the world
as the healing progressed. My rational mind understood this. My reserves
depleted, and I needed rest yet fear crushed my chest.

My heart
aches.

The zealous desire to protect someone brought sweat
to my brow.

Strangely, I thought of Rae. Reached to a memory of
her as I would the Source for strength. She’d be able to protect what she
loved. No matter how tired, Rae would keep going. I witnessed her face impossible
odds and emerge victorious.

‘
I can’t
reach you.
Get up and fight,
Lochlann.’

Rae’s disembodied voice heralded a gushing surge of
energy.

I gasped.

Each lash weighted by fatigue, my eyelids fought,
and won, to flutter open.

This looks
wrong.
The dilapidated ceiling
looked like the floor
. What is that blur?
Hazy figures danced. I cursed. The Warrior in me dispelled the quaint
misinterpretation.
Your woman and enemy
are not dancing.

Daphne sparred with Malice. Clothes ripped,
movement sluggish, she favoured a leg. An arm hung limp at her side.

Malice hooted when she rushed him. He sidestepped
and shoved her into the wall.

Clamping a hand around her slender neck, he lifted
her off the ground and took hold of her good arm, roughly twisting it. “Give up
now. I’m not evil. I….” He trailed off. Leaned in to nose her neck. “You smell
sweet. Agree to spend a night with me. I’ll let you live.”

Wide eyes mirroring her panic, Daphne clawed at his
face like a wildcat. Kneed him in the side with her good leg. She snarled and
snapped when Malice didn’t flinch.

His hand tightened.

Daphne’s eyes rolled into the back of her head.

Slapping a hand on the ground, I levered onto one
leg.
Not her.
Ululating a battle cry,
I darted across the room. My forearms clamped over his head either side, and my
hands locked behind his head, trapping him against my chest. I had him. Concentration
fierce, I lurched back dragging him with me.

Malice let Daphne go to wheel his arms. He swung
back to get a hold on me. I ignored the fingernails glancing my face,
scratching deeply to draw blood.

My magics blazed in a vibrant aura of blue and
green. I held nothing back. I sucked as much power from the Source as I’d ever
held and still drew more.

Malice expended his power trying to break free. His
purple magics hammered against the force field I confined us within. Crashed
against it in immense blows that made my ears ring and my eyes water.

It won’t
hold.

“Daphne!”

Coughing, Daphne clasped her throat. Pushing with
her knees, she slid up the wall, using it as a prop to help her stand. Her gaze
skimmed Malice’s front. She tensed. Leapt. Sleekly muscled legs wrapped tightly
around the godling’s waist. Her weaker right arm hooked around his thick neck.
The left jabbed forward, and she punched him in the nose.

Fisting the plaits at the nape of Malice’s neck,
Daphne yanked back his head back exposing his throat.

Grunting, he grabbed her hair and pulled. His
strength lessened defending against my magical attack, but he managed to hold
her in place.

Daphne glanced at me over Malice’s shoulder.

Strained, I flashed a predatory grin. “Don’t be
afraid. Do it.”

The whites of her eyes blotted as darkness spread
from her pupils. The whites of her eyes became puddles of black ink. Face
twisting as she snarled, her sharp fangs descended into deadlier spikes before
she struck.

Malice bellowed, his body thrashing.

The muscles in my thighs quivered. My arms bulged
obscenely shooting excruciating pain through my nerves.
This bodily hurt is fleeting. Nothing compared to the agony I’ll suffer
if I falter.
I held steady as the vampire drained the godling.