21. Tez

21

Tez

I must be loco , doing this.

Everything I'd ever been taught told me I should be running away as far and as fast as I could.

Instead, I had deliberately baited those I needed to be running from. And was using them—to do what?

To rescue a woman who meant far more to me than she really should. I barely knew her, but here I was, risking my life. For her .

The only possible explanation was that I was losing my mind.

As I stood in the shadows just inside the main entrance, watching and listening with every sense on full alert, Nemi rubbed her little head against my cheek.

"So glad you fucking approve," I ground out.

The hummingbird chirped, once. Damned bird. Damned interfering grandmother. So much for setting me free.

She was far more likely to get me killed.

Then from the far tower, came a cry of alarm, cut short. And out of the corner of my eye, I saw a swirl of crimson along the wall.

I was on the move in an instant, darting away from the guards at the entrance even as they stiffened and cast their gazes to the sounds. I kept going, past the next guard at the top of the stairs, and then down to the basement. I paused outside Finn's rooms, and listened hard, ear to the door.

Nothing.

The Trinity were the wildcards in this entire plan. I didn't think even my inner serpent could handle that much power.

Caliel had deliberately hidden the feathers in multiple places on the far side of the building from here. Hopefully, it would buy me time, so long as I got her out fast. I kept going along the hall and slipped into a storage room across from Aurora's chambers.

I hadn't had much time to prepare for this, but it had been enough. A key component was what I now removed from my pack. I pulled it on, and ensured the hood was up, before leaning against the shelves and closing my eyes.

Chaos spread through the stronghold like a poison spreads through its host body. I almost imagined I felt the stone vibrating.

And then, footsteps. Running from Aurora's chambers, down the hall.

I swallowed. Show time. I pulled up the hood on the bright crimson cape and emerged from the storage room.

I'd hoped they would leave Bree unguarded, but when I opened the door, wasn't surprised to see that they hadn't. It was a Dire that I'd never met, and he was alert.

The Drakes prowled the cage in the sunken area. They ignored me as I skirted them—their focus was on what resided behind the cell door. As I glanced into their eyes, I couldn't suppress a shudder.

I saw nothing but the beast remaining within them.

"What's going on?" the Dire asked as I approached. "The damned Sorceress and her coven ran out of here, but wouldn't tell me anything." He squinted hard at me, ducking a bit to peer into the hood.

"Someone's attacking the palace," I told him.

His eyes widened. "They don't know what they're messing with." He glared at me. "No one's allowed in with the bitch. Although that's a piece of tail I'd love to nail. Maybe his majesty won't notice if I'm in and out quick enough."

The comment erased any trace of regret I might have. My hand shot out and shoved my eight-inch knife through the soft skin beneath his jaw, straight up through his mouth, and into his brain.

His eyes were only inches from my own, so I had a front-row seat to them glazing over. His last exhalation sighed from him as he slumped.

The occupants of the cage froze. But they didn't raise the alarm. I didn't know about the humans somewhere inside them, but the Drakes had no reason to love the current state of affairs.

They were watching. Waiting to see what happened next.

I yanked my knife free from the body, wiped it on his cloak, and pulled the key off his belt.

The moment I stepped up to the door, I sensed the laser focus of the Drakes. They wanted what was inside that room.

And I was going to take it from them.

Sure hoped those cage bars were strong.

Bree was standing at the end of her chain.

As I closed the door behind me and flipped my hood back, her conflict was written all over her face. I was certain that she and Caliel were still arguing, but it didn't matter. I was here to get her out, and that was what I was going to do.

"Caliel says they are spread throughout the west end of the stronghold," she told me.

"That's where he put the feathers," I agreed as I hurried to the chain. I dropped the pack to the ground, pulling out a cloak, and the small laser cutter that Sid had given Caliel. I hoped it had the power to cut the links, or this would be a very short rescue attempt.

I wanted that collar off her, but only once we got her to safety, could I tackle it. Who knew what kind of bloodmagic Aurora had infused it with. Caliel thought it might take more magic to get it off.

I moved in close, lifted the chain—and met her eyes.

Time froze.

Her intoxicating gaze was shot through with rays of pale, icy blue—exotic and beautiful as hell. I breathed her in, and her scent was like a lightning bolt shooting straight to my cock.

Fuck.

Nemi flew from my shoulder to Bree's—where she sat, and rapid-fired twittering noises at me, as if to urge me to hurry.

Different body, same shit. I ripped my eyes away and selected the third link from her collar.

Bree pulled her thick hair off to one side to help. "There's no sign of the Trinity?" Her voice was curiously breathless.

"We'll have to keep our eyes open," I murmured as the laser heated a link. If only I could get my mind off the way my body was throbbing…

Nemi scolded again, and I moved the laser beam a bit closer, until the metal turned molten beneath it. I could wait until it burned clear through, or?—

"Hold it here," I said. "And here."

As she placed her hands on each side of the damaged section, I shifted the laser to one hand, and activated the spring sheath on the knife I'd gotten from the Centaur. It was a top-quality blade, and I winced as I inserted it into the superheated link.

"Hold tight," I said, and twisted the blade.

The link bent. I heated it a bit more and did it again.

This time, the link parted, and I kept twisting until it fell free from the one next to it.

Shoving the laser into my cloak pocket, I re-sheathed the knife—which seemed no worse for wear—and bent to hand her the cloak. While she slipped it on, I fed both my arms through the pack straps. Nemi flew back to my shoulder, and I yanked the red hood back over my face before grabbing Bree's hand.

Both Drakes rumbled the moment we ran through the doorway. They were pressed tight to the bars, with their nostrils flared.

I glanced back to Bree—and saw the ice spread in her eyes. Her scent drifted from her like a wave, and my knees almost gave way.

Fuck. They were calling to the Ice Drake, and Bree's monster wanted out to play. I pulled hard on her hand, dragging her across the chamber. As we approached the exit to the hall, the caged Drakes began to hiss. At me. At her.

And at each other.

Fighting to keep my own brain engaged, I let her slide to a halt. She stretched a hand toward the Drakes?—

And they turned on each other. Snarling and slashing, they went at it like dogs.

Very big, lethal dogs.

As the ground vibrated and the wind came up out of nowhere, I put my arm around Bree's waist and tugged her into the hall.

"She's—strong," she gasped. Her eyes were flashing like mad.

"Are you talking to Riggs?" I asked as we hurried along the hall.

She nodded. "He's feeding me power from the sword. It helps keep Icey in check."

A frisson of shock speared through me. "He can do that?"

"Yeah. It helps." She shot me a look. "Now that he has it back."

I ignored the look as we reached the stairwell, and a question burst from me. "Why did Excalibur choose an Akolachian? What does he have to do with the Dragon Empire?"

I heard her inhale, and her eyes, when I glanced at her, were flashing like mad. "An Akolachian wouldn't have anything to do with it."

My thoughts galloped, and I almost tripped on the steps. "He's not an Akolachian?" A sound from above had me freezing, but it wasn't on the stairwell. "Tell me later. We need to keep moving."

The stones beneath our feet shook. Whatever was going on above us was epic.

"Caliel has cleared the guard from the top of the stairs." She ranged up alongside me, moving more freely with every step away from the Drakes.

The entire stronghold vibrated with sound. Screams and the clash of swords echoed down the stairwell. We climbed at speed, and I hesitated only long enough to check the guard slumped at the top of the stairs.

He was snoring.

I shot her a look, and she shrugged. "Caliel's a healer, Tez."

"Fuck," I offered. Nemi pecked the side of my neck. Bloody bird.

Bree's eyes flashed. "The route to the entrance is clear."

I took her out into the hall beyond, which was quiet and empty. But when we passed into the foyer—sculptures were strewn in broken bits across the polished floor, there was blood everywhere, and we passed bodies that were so sliced up I couldn't tell what species they were. Mercs, though, I was pretty sure. Weren't big enough for Dragons.

Both Victor's strongest forces and the Priests had likely been drawn to the other end of the stronghold. But if they were close enough, the crystals those fucking zealots carried might orient on me too. We had to move, and move fast.

Bree stumbled and caught herself by flinging out an arm. It scraped against the stone.

I steadied her. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Just a bit dizzy."

Her eyes appeared dazed, her face flushed, and her stride uneven. I tightened my hold on her hand and guided her through the mess. We paused just inside the building entrance.

"Go left," Bree told me. "Caliel says run to the wall, and then hug it to the front gate. He'll handle the Priest on guard there.

He'll handle the Priest ? I suddenly had problems breathing. "Will his victim end up fucking dreaming?" I asked, and then winced as Nemi viciously stabbed me again with her beak.

"Does it matter?" Bree asked as we ran for the wall.

No. I guessed it didn't, really. So long as we got through that gate. But in my imagination, the Priest would wake up at an inopportune moment…

Holding tight to Bree's hand, I led her out into the rain. She staggered a little, and I matched my strides to hers as I dropped the knife into my palm.

Anyone trying to stop us was going to die bloody.

Because I wasn't a healer.