24. Bree

24

Bree

I met Riggs's eyes, and I couldn't have stopped smiling if my life had depended upon it. Being here, on a mission, with him, made me feel as though anything were possible.

The reassurance that coursed through me when he smiled back was sorely needed. Because I was desperately worried that I wouldn't be able to help with this effort. That I would be merely a burden.

So far, I'd contributed nothing. I'd had a difficult enough time holding onto the rope while Riggs and Sid hauled me up the wall.

Caliel's silence was only adding to my angst. I needed him on board to do my bit, and he wasn't even monosyllabic. Our partnership had eroded to almost nothing. Was it only the lack of crystal dust that had caused this? Or was he withdrawing due to his reaction to Riggs?

I couldn't believe he'd hold back just out of a jealous pique. Not unless I'd misjudged him. Which was possible, as in reality, I barely knew him.

But could it be both? Was he jealous, but also growing weaker?

Adilyn hovered in front of Cody. "The stairwell is locked."

"Expected that." Cody dug into the pocket of his pack for a small oilskin roll, and from it extracted a lock pick.

It only took him seconds to get the door open. He peeked inside and then took us in.

We moved down the stairs in near silence. Adilyn flew point, darting to each level to check for activity before continuing on. Cody was directly behind her, pack over his shoulder. I drew the sword I'd been given and followed him. Its edge had been dulled to reduce its lethality, but if we met anyone, I was nervous about using it at all.

I guessed I could always use it to smack someone over the head.

Lightly.

I missed Caliel's sarcastic chatter. Made me feel very alone.

Then Adilyn darted up the stairs to flutter in Cody's face, and we all froze. Cody gestured behind me, and Nar slipped past us. The moment he did so, he vanished against the wall.

We heard a door open and close below, and footsteps approach up the stairs. There was a scuffle, and then silence.

"We're good," Leah said.

Cody moved us down, and there was a guard slumped on the stairs. He had two bleeding holes in his neck.

Nar materialized from the wall, wiping his mouth. "Got a good strike. He went down fast."

"You rated the dose?" Cody asked.

Nar nodded. "Gave him just enough to knock him cold for an hour or so. He'll have one hell of a headache, though."

I stared. "You bit him?"

"Sea Krayt's have venom," Cody told me. "We have a class that discusses the traits of the various Cryptids. You'll learn all this, soon enough."

I sighed. My list of what I needed to learn just kept getting longer.

We continued on down the stairs until Cody paused at the ground level. "Nar, scout ahead. They might have additional guards near the vault."

The Sea Krayt nodded and vanished again. His camouflage ability was invaluable. Much more useful than my supposed talents.

Riggs leaned close. "Kinda feel like a fifth wheel," he said.

I cast him a grateful look, but then pointed out, "You climbed us up to the roof."

He shrugged. "Cody could have done that."

I snorted a laugh. "Cody could do this on his own."

The man in question cast us a look, and we fell silent as we waited for Nar.

It startled me when the Sea Krayt materialized from the wall. He wasn't just invisible, he was stealthy, too.

"One guard just inside the door," Nar said. "Can't get to him without opening it. We need Leah."

So far, the Selkie's Siren heritage had been the most useful talent for our team. She vanished down the stairs with Nar, and a moment later, a subtle ripple passed through me. I couldn't hear her soft words, but the song carried up the stairs. I blinked, feeling sleepy.

"Cover your ears," Cody ordered.

We did, and I immediately perked up. Then Leah appeared on the stairs and gestured to us.

They'd dragged the snoring guard into the stairwell.

"Riggs, Adilyn, you two stand watch," Cody ordered as we slipped by him.

Cody took the rest of us to the vault. It possessed a deadbolt-style lock, so he removed his picks. "Sid, you've had a few lockpicking sessions now. Care to try your luck?"

The big Anisau took the picks—the bits of metal looked ridiculous in his huge hands, but he handled them with surprising dexterity. It only took him a few moments—along with a few directions from Cody—and the tumblers turned over. When Cody pulled on the door handle, it opened.

Sitting on a table inside was the machine.

We didn't waste any time examining it. Cody pulled a bag from his pack, and we pushed the contraption into it. Once laced up, the sack offered handles and straps, which made it easier to grip.

We'd just wound it up when I had the oddest sensation—for a moment, it was as though I was seeing through another's eyes. Looking up the stairs, while Adilyn fluttered in my face…

The truth came to me in a flash of understanding. Riggs. How was it possible that I was seeing through his eyes? Was this another kind of vision?

"I think someone's coming," I said.

Cody glanced at me, his brows lowering.

"I'm seeing Riggs?—"

Sid's eyes flashed. "Adilyn confirms that someone's coming," he said.

Cody locked gazes with him. "Are you two?—"

Sid nodded.

"I know your matebond seems private, but it's a vital piece of intel for a mission," the Sabre said.

"It's new," Sid replied. "But I should have mentioned it."

Cody nodded before his eyes slid to Nar. "We'll need him taken down quick, or he'll sound the alarm."

The Sea Krayt was gone in an instant, and we hung back in the vault. I sensed that Riggs was plastered to the interior hall wall as he heard the footsteps descending the stairs. He hadn't drawn the sword, but stood with fists ready…

I looked down at them as though they were my own, with no explanation of how I could see them at all. We weren't mated…

But Caliel had been inside Riggs's body while he healed him. Could that explain it? Had it formed a connection?

My heart twisted. Did that explain, also, what existed between Riggs and me? Surely not. It felt like so much more . And this ability to see through his eyes was new, as though what lay between us was growing stronger.

He'd found me when I was hiding beneath the ice.

Through his eyes, I saw the guard appear on the landing and push through the door. Froze as he saw the sleeping guard…

I witnessed the entire thing through Riggs. Nar materialized from the wall behind him, grabbed the guard's arm, and sank long fangs into his exposed wrist.

The guard drew his sword and moved to bash him with the hilt, but Riggs leaped from behind the door to wrap a long arm around him. The guard tried to yell, but it was muffled by Riggs's hand, and his struggles soon weakened, until he finally slumped.

Riggs lowered him to the floor. "Good work, Nar."

Nar waggled his brows. "I'm known for it."

My mental eye roll snapped the rapport, and I was back in the vault with Cody, who peered around the doorframe.

"We're good," Sid said.

Cody's body relaxed, and he gestured to us. "Let's go."

The Anisau swung the entire machine onto his back. Two hundred pounds, and he handled it like it was nothing.

"Okay," Cody said. "Now out, the way we came in."

We joined Cody in the hall, and when he opened the stairwell door for us, Adilyn darted upward.

The ex-Dragon shifter didn't act as though he knew I'd connected to him. We climbed past the unconscious guard and reached the roof without incident. Riggs slid down the rope like he'd rappelled all his life, and stood ready to receive the machine as it was lowered.

"You next," Cody said to me. "We'll need you shifted to equine as soon as possible.

My pulse hammered at me as I slid down the rope. Riggs's hands folded around my waist as I landed, ensuring I was steady on my feet.

I met his eyes, and smiled once again. "Thanks. I've been excellent baggage so far."

"Now's your chance to shine," he whispered, his eyes gleaming metallic.

I stood aside and reached. Need to shift, Caliel.

Indisposed, here. You are on your own.

What? How could he be busy? I took a deep breath to steady my jumping nerves and reached again.

And this time, I felt it. The seething swirl of restless scales pushing against Caliel's hold. He was restraining the monster from emerging.

How long has it been like that? I asked.

Since the beach. It wants out. And it is all I can do to stop it.

How could I have doubted him? I should have known there was something wrong. He'd pushed the battle so deep that I'd experienced glimpses, nothing more.

Even my brief contact was enough to galvanize the monster. Leave off, Bree, Caliel said desperately. I've got enough problems. His voice altered, just a burst of calm. You should be able to handle the equine on your own now. Just visualize. Riggs can help.

On my own? I experienced a moment of panic. But if I didn't want the monster emerging, I needed to come at this differently.

"What's wrong?" Riggs asked.

Above us, Leah slid down the rope. They'd all be down here in minutes. We needed my equine form, and now.

I decided on honesty. "Caliel is busy holding back the monster. He can't help me shift to equine."

"Can you do it on your own?" Riggs asked.

"I'm not sure. I've never done it that way before."

As Leah touched down beside us, Riggs pulled me off to the side. Then he drew the sword.

"It gave you energy before." He shrugged.

It was worth a shot. He laid the glowing blade on my shoulder?—

And power coursed through me. I gritted my teeth and visualized my equine form. The four strong legs, the long, graceful neck.

The pain that shot through me told me it was working. I struggled to hold onto the image as my body contorted its way to equine. Until I opened my eyes, and the blade rested upon a muscled shoulder sheathed in black, glossy hair.

I tossed my head in elation. The sword's energy continued to pulse through me, and I sensed Caliel grab hold and use it to reinforce the wall between the monster and us.

Riggs watched me with concern in his eyes. I assumed I'd made some undignified noises while shifting.

"You okay?" he asked.

I shook my mane. "Yes," I said. "Leet's load up."

The machine was very awkward to strap on, but with Sid holding it in place, he managed it. By that time, the entire team was ready to move.

We jogged across the bridge and into the trees, moving as fast as we could. Which actually was a pretty good clip, although the way Leah was panting, it might not be sustainable.

We'd only got halfway through the forest when I heard hoofbeats.

"Trantil." Sid exchanged a look with Cody. "They must have found the guards."

Cody dropped his pack, and his face started to lengthen. In moments, he was in beast form.

He swung his massive head at Leah and Nar. "Leah, get on me. Nar, Sid can carry you."

The Selkie didn't argue, but climbed onto his back. Sid slung Nar onto his.

I poked Riggs with my nose. "Mount up."

He eyed the limited space available behind the machine. "I can run."

"Not like I can," I said. "Geet on."

He grabbed the bundle and swung up behind it.

Cody took a giant leap, and Leah uttered a little shriek, her hands buried deep in his thick mane.

And we ran.

Sid moved easily beside us with Nar clinging to him. On his own, the Anisau could likely outrun the Trantil. Maybe me, too, if I wasn't carrying so much weight. But Cody was built to stand and fight, not run. And as we sped through the forest, I could hear the Trantil gaining.

By the time the ground dropped beneath my hooves, and we hopped a small stream, I knew there was no way we were going to outrun them, not weighed down as we were.

Water.

I slid to a halt, and spun, almost unseating Riggs. Galloped back to the stream.

Caliel? I asked, my thoughts clear in my mind.

Not a good idea. His mindvoice was laced with tension.

It would work.

This is only an exercise, he stated . Not worth the risk.

I am useless to this team unless I can tap into what I am, I said.

"Are you debating with Caliel?" Riggs asked.

"He's afraid the monster will break free," I replied.

His answer was to draw his sword. He leaned over and planted the tip in the ground.

The water rose from the stream, thousands of tiny droplets hanging suspended. He kept them coming until they were thick.

I sensed Caliel sigh. And then he created the tiniest of openings in the wall he'd built.

The monster tried to come through. I sensed it, but I reached out with my nose, and pushed it against Riggs's hand on the sword's hilt. The surge of energy shoved the monster back, allowing only the smallest trickle of power through.

Lightning bolts of pure ice radiated from my skin as I grabbed it to create a wall between us and the oncoming mounted guards.

Riggs kept suspending the water, and I used it to build, until the wall would support itself. Then he pulled the sword free, and I spun to trot back to the others.

They were standing on the rise beyond the stream, staring at us.

"Well done," Cody said.

"I haveen't done much," I stated. "Not compared to you guys."

Sid snorted a laugh. "Are you serious?"

Cody fixed me with his coppery gaze. "Trrust me when I tell you, Bree," he growled, "that when it comes to talents on this team, you arre the heavy hitter."

His gaze shone with sincerity—he really meant what he'd said. Warmth permeated me at his praise, and if I'd been human, my face would have flushed.

To cover my embarrassment, I asked, "So what is this machine wee've stolen, anyway?"

"Think it's the mechanism that used to operrate the drawbridge. Figured it was better than a sack of rrocks," Cody replied.

Then he laughed, and took us home.