The Airship landed smoothly on a barren stretch of ground beneath a dull gray sky. Seleena disembarked gratefully, relieved that the trip had been remarkably, blessedly, short.
She glanced around as Nardik stepped out behind her. She was about to ask him how they would find the coven when she sensed it - the unmistakable signature of black magic. She turned toward the east, where it was strongest.
“You sense it, too?” Nardik asked, moving up beside her.
Seleena nodded. “Let’s go.”
“Wait.” Nardik drew his wand from inside his cloak, waved it once, then murmured an incantation. “She is here.”
“What you talking about? Who’s here?”
“Annis.” He smiled grimly. “Perhaps we can solve two problems with one visit.”
#
Serepta’s scent preceded her into the dungeon. But it was another scent that brought Quinn to his feet. He swayed unsteadily, the scent of fresh blood - human blood - stirring a hunger already roaring out of control due to the blood he had lost and the pain thrumming through him.
“I brought your dinner,” Serepta said as she unlocked the door and thrust a young girl inside. She was no more than fifteen or sixteen, with stringy blonde hair. Blood leaked from a long gash in her left arm. “Enjoy.”
Quinn backed away as far as the chain would allow. “Get her out of here!”
“Not your type?” Serepta asked.
“Get her out of here!” He clenched his hands. He had never known a hunger like this. He had to resist the urge to kill her. She was young, innocent, her eyes wide with terror. The pounding of her heart called to him. Fresh blood. An end to the pain ripping through him. “No!” He had promised Seleena he wouldn’t take a human life.
“I’ll just leave you to it,” Serepta said. “Think of it as your last meal.”
Her laughter trailed behind her as she left the dungeon.
Tears welled in the girl’s eyes. “Please, don’t.”
“Put something over that cut.” He ground the words through clenched teeth.
She stared at him then removed her torn shirt and wrapped it around her arm.
It didn’t help.
Quinn cursed under his breath as blood quickly soaked the cloth. The smell was just as strong. Just as tempting. With a low groan, he turned his back on her and dropped to his knees. He hadn’t uttered a prayer since the night his mother died. But he prayed now, desperately pleading for the strength to resist the siren call of the girl’s blood.
Chapter 27
Seleena stared at the walled citadel that crouched like a lion on the flat rise before them. This close, the signature of Black Magic was overpowering. It crawled over her skin, made her insides clench with revulsion.
“Do you want to wait out here?” Nardik asked, sensing her reluctance to enter.
“No.”
With a nod, he started up the hill.
Seleena followed him. It would have taken little effort to transport themselves to the top of the rise, but it was never wise to use one’s magic in another’s territory. A narrow path led from the top of the rise to the wall, which rose one hundred feet into the air.
There was no visible entrance.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
“The wall is to keep invaders and non-magical folk out,” Nardik said.
Seleena frowned. “So, we need to go over it. But you said we shouldn’t use magic.”
“In this instance, they will be expecting it. Together,” he said, reaching for her hand. A murmured incantation carried them over the wall into a barren courtyard. A large gray stone dwelling stood at its center.
A thick oak door swung open at their approach. A man clad in a long, black robe stood in the doorway. Slight of stature, he had regular features, devil-dark eyes, and hair as white as the snow atop the mountains of Brynn Tor. Power radiated from him.
With a slight now, Nardik introduced himself, then inclined his head in her direction. “And this is Seleena.”
“What brings you here, uninvited?”
Though he was small of stature, the wizard’s voice rang like thunder in Seleena’s ears.
“I am Serepta’s father. And this is her mother.”
Face void of any emotion, Wyrick said, “I have been expecting you.”
“Indeed?”
The wizard nodded. “I am Wyrick. Please, come inside.”
Seleena followed Nardik and the other wizard down a long narrow corridor and into a large, square room furnished with a number of couches and tables. A large stone fireplace took up one wall. Ancient weapons and instruments of torture rested on shelves and adorned the walls.
“Please, sit,” the wizard invited. A wave of his hand, and a tray holding three crystal goblets and a decanter appeared on a table. He filled the three glasses, offered one to Nardik and Seleena. Keeping the third for himself, he sat on the sofa opposite theirs. “How may I help you?”
“Our daughter was here,” Nardik said.
Seleena wondered if the wizard would deny it, though it would be foolish to do so. The signature of her magic lingered in the room.
“Yes,” Wyrick said. “She asked that I restore the magic you took from her.”
“She is stronger now than before.”
“Of course. That is why she came to me. You think to destroy her, do you not?”
“It must be done, though we take no pleasure in it. Is there a way to weaken her powers?”
Wyrick shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“Will you tell me how it can be done?”
“No.”
“What did she give you in return?”
“That is for me to know.”
“It was a young woman, was it not?” Nardik asked. “A young woman by name of Annis. Sister to the queen of Brynn Tor.”
The wizard said nothing.
“Serepta kidnapped Annis from the cloister where she had taken her vows.”
Surprise flashed in the wizard’s eyes.
“She is here,” Nardik said.
Wyrick sipped from his glass, then put it aside. “Yes. No harm has come to her. She is to wed my son.”
“What?” Seleena leaned forward. “She is already married to the church.”
“That is unfortunate,” Wyrick replied. “The date of the marriage has been set.”
“You cannot force her to marry against her will!” Seleena exclaimed.
“She willingly accepted my son’s proposal. Their union has been consummated.”
Seleena stared at Wyrick.
“I wish to speak with her,” Nardik said. “I wish to hear from her own lips that she comes to this union of her own free will.”
“As you wish. Follow me.”
Wyrick led them through a warren of corridors and up a flight of stone stairs. He paused before the only chamber on the floor and knocked once.
Several moments passed before the door opened. A tall, handsome man stood on at threshold. He smiled at Wyrick, then frowned when he saw Nardik and Seleena. “Father?”
“These two wish to speak with Annis.”
“To what end?”
“They have come to assure themselves that she is not being forced into this marriage.”
The man glanced over his shoulder. “Annis, we have guests.”
Smiling, she came to his side, her eyes growing wide when she saw their visitors.
“Nardik! What are you doing here?”
“I have come to take you home.”
Annis looked at Rajj. “You’re sending me away?”
“Only if you wish to go.”
“But I don’t!” She looked at Nardik, her eyes wide. “I want to stay here, with Rajj.”
Nardik’s gaze searched hers. He detected no hint of witchcraft compelling her to lie, no sense that she spoke anything but the truth. No mistaking the fact that she was truly happy.
“I was afraid at first,” she said, taking Rajj’s hand in hers, “but I’m not any more. I know it sounds u
nbelievable, but I know we were meant to be together.”
“Is there anything you need?” Seleena asked. “Any message for your family?”
“Yes. Please tell Marri and my mother I’m well and happy and that I send them my love.” She smiled at Rajj. “And that we hope to visit them soon.”
#
Seleena was pensive as she and Nardik left the citadel. “Did you believe her?”
“Yes. She was not compelled in any way.”
To her surprise, an opening appeared in the wall when they approached. Nardik hesitated a moment, then passed through. Seleena stared after him. Her body tingled with foreign magic as she followed him. The opening closed silently behind her.
“We’re no better off now than we were before,” she remarked as they made their way down the hill toward the Airship. “We still don’t know how to defeat Serepta or how to breach the wards she’s set round her lair.”
“At least we know Annis is well,” Nardik said matter-of-factly. “No doubt our daughter will be displeased to learn that, quite inadvertently, she has made someone happy.”
“I’m not worried about her,” Seleena said, settling herself inside the craft. “Right now, I can’t think of anyone but Quinn.” Leaning forward in her seat, she spoke to the pilot. “Please, hurry!”
Sitting back, she closed her eyes. Going to see Wyrick had been a waste of precious time. Time they didn’t have to waste.
“When we get back to Brynn Tor, I want you to go to the Fortress and wait for me,” Nardik said.
“No! I’m going after Quinn.”
“You cannot go alone. I need to let Amerris and Marri know that Annis is safe.”
Seleena stared at him. “Surely Quinn’s life is more important that allaying their fears!”
“Do not argue with me. We have not been able to breach her wards. You will accomplish nothing by going there now. Sooner or later, she will come to us.”
Seleena nodded.
“I will return as soon as possible. Consult the grimoire. Perhaps you will find an answer there.”
She nodded again, hands clenched at her sides. Nardik could do whatever he wished.
She was going after Quinn.
Chapter 28
Quinn huddled in the corner of his cell , eyes tightly shut. Even though he couldn’t see the girl, he heard every ragged breath she took, the slow, steady beating of her heart, the enticing scent of her fear. Like a wild animal smelling its prey, it only increased his desire to bury his fangs in her throat and ease the incessant hunger burning through every fiber of his being.
“Girl.”
“Wh…what?”
“Tell me your name.”
“Why?”
“Tell me, dammit!”
“Larrah.”
He repeated it, hoping it would help him to think of her, not as prey, but as a human being, a young woman who needed his protection. “I need you to trust me.”
She said nothing, but her skepticism was palpable.
Quinn opened his eyes and took a deep calming breath. “I want you to come here and sit beside me.”
She scrambled into the far corner, legs drawn up to her chest, hands protecting her throat.
“Come here.”
She crawled toward him, her whole body trembling, her eyes wide with terror.
“Listen to me,” he said. “I’m going to drink from you. You must not fight me. I want you to sit very still and say nothing. Do nothing.” If she allowed him to drink from her, perhaps he could take only a little. If she fought him, he knew he would kill her. “Larrah, do you understand?” If his powers weren’t so weak, he could have mesmerized her, but he lacked the strength to do so.
She nodded once, then closed her eyes. Her lips moved. He watched her a moment and realized she was praying.
Thinking, Heaven help us both, he grasped the girl’s shoulders and lowered his head to her slender white throat.
#
Serepta cursed at the sight that met her eyes when she materialized outside Quinn’s cell. She had expected to see the girl dead, drained of blood, her prisoner filled with self-loathing. Instead, the little whore was asleep, her head resting on Quinn’s lap.
He looked up, an impudent grin playing over his lips. “Thanks,” he drawled, stroking the girl’s pale cheek. “I needed that.”
Serepta glared at him. Then, overcome with rage, she materialized inside the cage and broke the girl’s neck.
Strengthened by the girl’s blood, Quinn sprang to his feet. “Damn you, Serepta! That was uncalled for!”
At the mention of the witch’s name, the dragon stirred to life, its teeth sinking into Quinn’s shoulder. Overcome with anger, he hardly noticed it.
But Serepta did. She smiled triumphantly. It was what she had been waiting for.
Now, she thought, her hand reaching for the dagger hidden in the folds of her cloak. Now was the time to destroy Quinn and unleash the dragon’s power.
She lunged toward him, smiling triumphantly.
Quinn stumbled backward and darted to the left. The blade, meant to pierce his heart, sliced into his shoulder instead, opening a shallow gash across the dragon’s tail.
The dragon let out a roar that shook the walls. Its tongue, long and black and forked, lashed out amid a white hot flame, searing Serepta’s arm from wrist to elbow and setting her cloak on fire.
With a shriek, she dropped the dagger and vanished from the cell.
Dropping to his knees, Quinn tore a strip from the hem of the girl’s skirt, intending to use it to staunch the blood flowing from his shoulder. But there was no need. Like a kitten with a bowl of cream, the dragon lapped it up, and as he did so, strength flowed into Quinn. The wound healed without a trace. The dragon snorted a puff of gray smoke and resumed its normal position on Quinn’s shoulder.
Quinn stared at the tattoo. Why had it defended him against Serepta? Wasn’t she supposed to be its master? She had created it, after all.
With a shake of his head, he closed Larrah’s eyes, removed her shirt, and covered her face and neck with it. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “So damn sorry.”
Picking up Serepta’s dagger, he turned it in his hands. He spent the next several minutes trying to pry open the lock of the shackles on his wrists, but to no avail.
And then he looked at the tattoo on his shoulder. “Dragon?”
Nothing happened.
Using his fingers, he stroked the creature’s back. “Dragon, awake!”
The tattoo rippled. He flinched when the dragon’s claws raked his skin, but it didn’t draw blood. And then it raised its head and stared at him through dark, fathomless eyes.
“Well, shit,” Quinn muttered. “Listen, dragon, I need you to melt these shackles. Can you do that?”
With a shake of its head, the dragon unleashed a narrow flame of white hot fire. It burned through the silver link between the chains and the silver cuffs at his wrists, freeing his hands. Surprisingly, the flame didn’t burn the skin beneath.
Stroking the dragon’s neck, Quinn summoned its power and his own, felt it flow through every nerve and cell of his body. “All right, buddy, let’s get the hell out of here.”
#
Serepta kicked her ruined gown aside, then stared at the blackened skin of her rm. Not only did it burn like the fires of Hel, but it wasn’t healing. She summoned the woman who served as her maid, sank her fangs into her neck, and drained her dry. And still the burn did not heal.
The dragon had attacked her. Why? She had conjured it. It carried her magic. Why had it turned on her? And why wasn’t the burn healing?
#
Quinn was feeling pretty good by the time he returned to the Fortress. He called Seleena’s name as he stepped inside, realizing as he did so that she wasn’t there. Damn and blast, where could she be?
Seleena? Can you hear me?
Quinn? Oh, Quinn, just sit tight. I’m on my way.
On your way where?
To Serepta’s. br />
Forget that. I’m at the Fortress.
How did you get away?
The dragon, Red. He got me out of there. Hurry home and I’ll tell you all about it.
She walked in the door on the last word and flew into his arms, her hands moving over his back, his shoulders, his face.
“You’re all right?” she asked, her gaze searching his.
“Never better, now that you’re here.”
“I was so afraid!”
“Yeah, me, too. Afraid I’d never see you again.”
Taking him by the hand, she led him to the sofa and pulled him down beside her. “Tell me everything.” She noticed the dried blood for the first time. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
He nodded. “She cut me up a little, that’s all.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s not the worst of it.” He paused, thinking of the dead girl. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”
“Tell me everything.”
“Serepta brought me a young girl to feed on. Her name was Larrah. I fed on her, but I didn’t kill her. It made Serepta angry and she broke the kid’s neck.”
Seleena’s face paled at his words. Taking a deep breath, she blew it out in a long, slow sigh. “I’ve resigned myself to the fact that my daughter is beyond redemption. The dragon, Quinn, tell me about the dragon.”
“Serepta pulled a dagger, intending to kill me, I guess. When I dodged out of the way, the blade cut the dragon’s tail. I guess he didn’t like it. He struck before she got a second chance. It burned her hand and her arm. She let out a shriek, dropped the dagger, and vanished. The dragon melted the shackles that held me and we came here.” He held up his hands. “Think you could magic these cuffs off me?”
“Of course.” She murmured a few words and the restraints fell away.
He kicked them aside, then rubbed his wrists. “Where’s Nardik?”
“We went to Caynn in search of the wizard who restored Serepta’s magic, hoping he could tell us how to thwart her. He refused to help, but we learned that Serepta had given him Annis in exchange for the return of her magic. Nardik hoped to bring Annis home, but it seems she’s quite happy there. She’s going to marry the wizard’s son.”