Chapter 19

19

For the love of a woman, wars begin.

~ Lord General Avingatar

Kaylina squeezed in past the broken door, entering a short hall with a wine cellar and food preparation area on one side and giant linen closets on the other. The beast wasn't in sight, but she spotted a lantern burning low and grabbed it.

"Nobody's ever served me wine while I bathed," she muttered, walking by rows of casks stacked against one wall in the hallway.

Kaylina held the lantern ahead of her, looking for drops of blood on the tumbled-travertine floor tiles. The hallway ended, offering options that led to laundry facilities, the reception area up front, and stairs heading down.

Since she'd briefly been in the building before, she knew the layout, but that didn't mean she knew which route Vlerion—or the beast—might have chosen. Why had he come here? To hide? To nurse his wounds?

She cocked her head, listening for sounds of someone in pain. Or anything at all.

Faint hisses came from below, but that was it. Though the Strigil wasn't yet open for the day, warm steam wafted up the stairs, dampening her cheeks. Maybe the fires were kept going and the water heated around the clock.

Thinking Vlerion might have needed a towel to staunch the blood flow, she started for the laundry room, but she halted, realizing he might have gone into the catacombs. He knew them well, and an assassin from a distant land wouldn't. Maybe he'd thought to set a trap or lead his stalker past some of those Kar'ruk statues that spat poison vapors—one of the ones with its reservoir still full.

Lantern in hand, Kaylina descended the stairs. On the second step from the bottom, a spatter of blood promised she was going the right way.

"Vlerion?" she risked calling softly, though if he'd gone into the catacombs, he could be long gone.

No, not that long gone. The blood she kept finding was still damp. She was close behind him.

He didn't answer her, however. Only a hiss of steam sounded, making her jump.

At the bottom of the steps, the walls were tiled, droplets of moisture on them glistening in the lantern light. She stepped into the first of several bathing rooms. Towels and brushes were stacked on trays on benches around large pools wafting steam into the air. Walkways between them allowed one to easily move from one to another.

By day, with numerous bathers about, the atmosphere might have been appealing, but with only the lantern to brighten the shadows, and all the hisses of steam releasing, Kaylina found it eerie.

"Vlerion?" she called again. "Are you here? I'm pining for you."

Another hiss was her only answer. A hiss and… was that water rippling?

She set the lantern on a bench, drew her sword, and turned toward the noise.

A shadow stirred in the steam, and the sage assassin stepped into view, again wearing loose tan and white clothing. He gripped a sword, the tip pointed toward her, but his other hand held a bloody towel to his side. Sweat bathed his face, his jaw stubbled, his eyes lined with fatigue and pain.

If he was here, what scent trail had the taybarri in the park been following? Had Levitke led Kaylina after the assassin instead of Vlerion?

"Where is he, girl? And what is he?" His hard gaze held hers as he lifted the towel to reveal shredded clothing and three deep gashes in his side. Claw marks.

"Someone you shouldn't trifle with."

The assassin snorted. " That I figured out. We should have demanded much more coin." His voice lowered to a grumble as he added, "Or avoided this assignment altogether."

"Who's paying you to hunt him?"

"An honorable assassin does not reveal his employer's name."

Like this guy was honorable .

"Does he spring on an innocent girl in the park and cut open her shirt?" Kaylina pointed her sword toward the man as she risked glancing around. If her taybarri had been following the assassin's trail of blood here, where was Vlerion? Had he led this guy here, as she'd been thinking, or had the assassin come of his own volition, looking for a towel?

No, he'd asked her where Vlerion was. He had to believe he was in the area. And Levitke would have known who she was tracking. Maybe they were both wounded.

"He does not," the assassin said. "That was inappropriate, but I was curious about what you are."

"Just a girl with a sword."

"You are not." He glanced toward her branded hand.

Kaylina looked toward the back of the room, beyond two pools and a couple of statues of gold miners with picks. The steam made it hard to see the wall, but she'd come out of the catacombs back there. She would be hard-pressed to pick out the door since it blended seamlessly with the tile. It had been easier to see from the other side.

"You are not," the assassin repeated, looking toward her face again. "After what I've endured, I am more certain than ever that you might be used as bait to lure him close."

He took a step toward her.

"Maybe so, but are you sure you want that?" Kaylina pointed the tip of her sword toward his wounds. "It looks like you lost in your last confrontation with him."

"I am not the only one wounded. I was chasing him." His brows rose. " It ."

"Oh, he's male in both incarnations."

"In one, he's stronger, but that did not keep me from wounding him. He fled here to hide."

Kaylina didn't object aloud, but she had never seen the beast flee anything and thought her earlier guess might be right, that he'd been leading the assassin into a trap.

"What magic possesses him, girl? I know you know."

"Why don't you set down your sword, turn yourself over to the authorities, and we can discuss it?"

That was a lie. She wouldn't discuss anything about Vlerion with this guy. But she wasn't sure what to do. Fight him? Even wounded, he could best her.

"I think not. I simply want him dead." The assassin glanced toward the corners of the room and clucked his tongue.

Even before Kaylina saw or heard anything, her stomach sank as she realized they weren't alone. The steam had hidden people from her.

"These pools are shallow," the assassin said softly. "You'll not escape into the water this time, girl. And, unless I'm mistaken, your furry allies are too large to come to your rescue."

"You are mistaken. I can summon them anytime I wish." Kaylina shifted to put her back to one of the pools. Shadows in the corners of the room stirred as a second assassin stepped out of the steam, his sleeves rolled up to reveal a sagebrush tattoo. Another assassin stepped out of the hallway, blocking her escape route. Also armed with swords, they strode toward her.

Levitke , Kaylina called silently, willing the brand to give her the power to reach the taybarri. Please tell me you're on your way back with Targon. I need help.

As if sensing her calling upon magic, the lead assassin glanced at her hand. "I believe you can summon them, girl, but not that they will fit down here." He nodded to his men and spoke words that sounded similar to, "Get her," followed by, "We bait our trap."

A muffled roar came from somewhere outside the building. A taybarri roar.

The lead assassin frowned, but the two men arrowing toward Kaylina didn't pause. She cursed and flung her sword at one to slow him down, then turned and jumped into the pool.

He dodged the blade, and it clattered onto the tile floor. At least it stopped him from leaping in after her. She couldn't let one of them catch her again, couldn't let herself be used to ensnare Vlerion.

If she could reach the taybarri, they would be more than a match for three humans, even humans enhanced by whatever altered plant they consumed.

Half swimming and half wading, Kaylina attempted to make it to the far side of the pool before the assassins, but one ran around the corner to head her off. She backed into the middle of the pool.

Glowering, he crouched to spring in after her, but a roar sounded, and he froze.

That roar didn't belong to the taybarri, and it didn't come from outside the building.

The lead assassin cursed as the hidden tile door ground open. The beast charged out of the catacombs entrance and straight for him. Another roar echoed through the bath chamber, far more fury than pain in it.

His short auburn fur damp and sleek, the beast ran, sure-footed on the slick tiles, his muscles rippling. His blue eyes were savage and locked on his target. The lead assassin.

Instead of leaping in after Kaylina, the frozen man remained on the edge, glancing from her to the beast racing toward his leader. She took advantage of his indecision and paddled toward the far side of the pool.

Sword in hand, the assassin leader dropped his towel and delved into a pouch at his belt.

"Look out," Kaylina yelled, certain he had a trick to pull out.

As the beast sprang for him, the assassin threw down a smaller version of the ceramic containers his allies had used near Nakeron Inn. When it exploded, the boom thundered in the confined space. Tiles rattled and water sloshed while a cloud of smoke spread, mingling with the steam.

In the haze, Kaylina lost sight of the beast and the lead assassin, but she heard a loud splash. The man diving into one of the pools? Or the beast knocked in by the power of the explosion?

Kaylina drew her knife and climbed out of her pool. Her sodden sling would be useless, but she had to help if she could. These guys were more than human, and they'd thus far survived their encounters with the beast.

Unfortunately, the smoke and steam made it hard to see what was going on or even where everyone was.

A scream rang from the walls. A scream of pain. It halted abruptly, and another smaller splash sounded from the pool Kaylina had exited. She crouched and looked toward something starting to sink. A head.

"Shit," she swore and backed up, almost pitching into another pool.

The head belonged to one of the assassin's assistants, but that didn't make it less disturbing.

A moist thud came from the walkway to her side. The rest of the man's body hitting the floor?

Splashes, the sound of someone swimming, came from one of the pools. A heavier splash followed. The beast jumping in after his prey?

Something shattered against one of the walls not far from the catacombs exit, and another boom followed. The floor quaked under Kaylina's feet, and smoke again flooded the chamber. She couldn't see more than a few feet but had a feeling the lead assassin was trying to get away while his men distracted the beast. Or died to the beast.

Kaylina backed to the chamber's main exit, thinking to head off the lead assassin if he was running. She didn't want to fight him, but if she could delay him, maybe the beast would finish off the others and have time to take care of him too.

But the only sounds came from the back of the chamber. More splashes and were those footsteps? She realized the leader had to be heading for the catacombs. He'd heard the taybarri roars and had to guess they would attack if he ran outside.

Dashing sweat and water from her eyes, Kaylina followed the wall around the pools. She wanted to avoid the beast but catch the assassin before he slipped out.

Another scream of pain rang out, this time from one of the pools. Splashing— thrashing —sounds announced a man dying.

Kaylina reached the back wall but caught a grinding noise over the splashes. The catacombs door closing.

She hurried, her foot slipping more than once on wet tiles, but was too late. The door had closed, and it was so well hidden from this side that she couldn't find it again. She patted around but feared it was too late. The leader had gotten away.

In the pool behind her, water rippled. A grunt sounded, and she spun in time to see the beast pull himself out, landing in a crouch on the walkway.

Blood mingled with the water dripping from him, but he didn't appear as injured as the assassin had suggested. He certainly hadn't been too injured to fight. The smoke had cleared enough to see a body floating in the water behind him, the assassin she'd thrown her sword at.

The beast placed his paws on the wall. Seeking the hidden door? Since he'd just come out of it, maybe he knew how to get through it from this side.

Before he'd done more than push and grunt a couple of times, the beast spotted her through the steam and smoke. His head swung around, his gaze locking onto hers.

"You're right. The lead assassin went through there if you want to catch up with him." Kaylina smiled at him and pointed at the wall, though she had no idea if he was in the right spot.

Fur sleek and wet over his powerful muscles, the beast fixated on her. He'd either given up on finding a way through the door from this side, or… he'd forgotten about his foe. She was the reason he'd come forth tonight, after all. Maybe he felt his duty was done?

"Through there." Kaylina pointed again. "He's getting away."

The beast looked her up and down, all interest in the assassin gone. They were alone now, he with the woman he'd once called his mate.

Kaylina licked lips that had gone dry in the steamy air. She felt vulnerable with her sodden clothes clinging to her body, making her curves easy to see. She knew well from past encounters that the beast was drawn to those curves, drawn to her.

The back of her hand tingled.

What did that mean? If he came at her, there weren't any vines or trees down here that she could call upon for help.

"My female," the beast rasped, stepping closer. His gaze was hungry as it roved over her, but he also sounded weary. How long had he been in that form, hunting the men?

"Your mate , right?" Kaylina smiled again, but nerves knotted in her gut. Every time she faced him, she worried it wouldn't end well, that he would catch her and mate with her, leaving her scarred from those claws—or worse. This time, there were no rocks to hide under.

"My mate," he agreed, his maw parting, his sharp fangs far from human. Lust mingled with the savagery in his eyes, and he strode toward her on powerful legs, ready to claim her.

Fear tempted Kaylina to flee, to race around the pools and try to reach the stairs and the exit where the taybarri could help her. But what if Targon was up there with other rangers? Or what if only rangers were there, and not Targon? They would think the beast an enemy and attack him. She dared not run.

But he was almost upon her, crouching, as if he would spring at her like a panther, not a man. The hazy air couldn't hide how sharp and deadly those claws were as he raised them.

Her hand tingled again.

She willed it to send soothing power at the beast, to make the raw wildness fade and return Vlerion to her. "Easy, my friend."

His lips rippled with a snarl of objection.

"My mate," she corrected, though she didn't know if he objected to the term or her using her power on him. Before, he'd definitely objected to her attempt to command him to stand down. "I want you but later, all right?"

When you're human, she thought but didn't add.

The beast didn't spring, but he stalked closer. Though she wanted to stand fearless before him, he was so tall and powerful, so deadly, that she couldn't keep from creeping backward until her shoulder blades hit the tile wall.

"My mate," he whispered in that rough animal voice. "Protect you."

"You did. I appreciate that. You're a good mate."

Her hand tingled again. What, did she have to touch him for her power to work? Last time, she'd kissed him, but he'd been half unconscious, so it hadn't seemed that daring.

Mouth parted and fangs visible, the beast looked at her chest. He reached for her, claws leading.

Though she was tempted again to run, she couldn't. Instead, she swallowed and stepped closer, letting him touch her as she reached toward him. He growled with approval, cupping her and shifting closer as she stroked the side of his furred face and tried to hide the tremble in her hand.

"You've worked hard tonight." Kaylina tried to make her voice soothing, to let the power of the brand flow through her fingers and into him. "Why don't you rest for now? The battle isn't yet over."

"Mate first," he said in a hungry snarl and pushed her against the wall, his hard body trapping her.

Fresh fear blasted into her, the tremble not only in her hand but throughout her entire body. She pulled her fingers from his face to plant her palm on his chest.

"Mate later ." She managed to say it without a shake in her voice, but defiance sparked in his eyes. He wanted her now, not later.

Since it had worked before, she leaned in and kissed him, lips brushing fangs—terrifying fangs. At the same time, she again attempted to call upon her power to soothe him, to make him change back. He returned the kiss, hungry and eager, his muscled body crushing her against the wall.

Soothing him wasn't working. He was too roused. Too aroused.

Later , she thought, willing him to back off, to obey her wishes. She was the one with druid blood, damn it. Her ancestors had made him with their curse. He ought to do as she wished.

His weight shifted away from her, his mouth parting from hers, and he gazed into her eyes, confusion there.

"Later," she repeated. "You didn't get the lead assassin yet, and he'll be after you again. He's still a threat."

The beast looked toward the hidden door.

"After you deal with him, we'll mate." And after she lifted the curse. "I'll help you get him, but you need to rest first."

"Rest," he whispered, some of the savagery finally fading from his eyes.

"Yes." Kaylina gripped his shoulder. "Rest."

He lowered to one knee, though his hand—his paw—ran down her body as he dropped, reluctant to release her. His head rested against her abdomen, his claws curled around her waist. From there, he slumped against her.

Sensing the tension—the magic—flowing out of him, she placed her hand on the back of his head and repeated, "Rest."

As he dropped to the floor, gradually shifting from furry beast back into Vlerion, she realized they weren't alone in the chamber.

Clad in black and with his sword out, Captain Targon walked around the pool toward them. The steam stirred in the doorway, revealing another man in dark clothes. Spymaster Sabor.

"So, you can control him," he said. "I thought so. Excellent."

The steamy air didn't keep Kaylina from seeing the calculating gleam in the spymaster's dark eyes.