Where was her cousin?
Suddenly her head throbbed. She dropped Quinn's shirt and grabbed her head, but nothing stopped the pain that came and went.
It meant Grendal, the wizard, was here in this country. Not close, but not far either. She could not let him capture her again. Last time, she had been his prisoner in Transylvania, and he'd forced her to drink a potion her powers had not liked. She'd escaped, but Grendal had found her again. She could feel it.
Her fault that he'd found her, but no choice. Innocent nonhumans would have died if she had not drawn on elements to save them.
Grendal was in Atlanta.
What if he had found Cousin Quinn and harmed him?
She rubbed at the sharp pain in her head. Was not logical. If the wizard knew she hid in her cousin's hotel, he would be here now.
The snick of a keycard sounded from outside the hallway door, then her cousin entered.
She released the nervous breath she'd been holding.
Cousin Quinn walked in with his wool jacket in hand. He wore the same light blue shirt she'd seen on him last night. His clothes had suffered. Quinn's eyes were tired. He had suffered, too.
She might have a paranoid imagination, but she had good reason. Her cousin was a powerful Belador expected to fight dangerous supernaturals.
"Hello, Lanna." He moved slowly. Not just tired, but an unhappy slow.
Who had caused this pain in his eyes? Too weary for a man in his midthirties. "You are exhausted, Cousin."
"Everyone is. Another long day in Treoir." His gaze immediately assessed the room, where magazines were piled on the sofa and the remote sat next to her leg. "Did you stay in?"
"Yes."
"All day?"
"I am eighteen. We are lazy at this age. Enjoy movies and boys." She hoped that sounded like a careless teenager, something she'd never had the luxury to be.
Quinn dropped onto the sofa, pushing aside her things.
He needed fun in his life. What could she do for him? She offered, "Would you like drink?"
"Not yet." He pointed at a chair across from him. "Have a seat. We need to talk."
She sat heavily. Here came round three of "Lanna must go home." She had to think of a new way to delay. Hard to do when her head wanted to explode. Going back to Transylvania was not possible. Grendal would have someone there watching for her return.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, her cousin leaned back, his arms outstretched over the back of the sofa, one finger tapping quietly. "I tried to fix it for you to visit for a while, but I haven't heard anything, which I take to mean the time extension VIPER gave you for remaining in this country is up at daylight."
"I see."
"Don't be hurt, Lanna. VIPER appreciates your help with the Svart trolls, but VIPER still has to follow protocol for visitors with powers. If they let you stay without going through the proper channels, someone will use that as a precedent later on. I'm glad to see you, but it's time to go home."
She would leave soon and find somewhere else to hide in this country.
"Lanna."
"Yes."
"I can feel your brain spinning, but you aren't staying in North America. I have to provide proof of your leaving, which means a second VIPER agent has to be on site with me when you depart to confirm your transportation. Don't get any ideas about slipping out before tomorrow, because I won't leave you alone until this is handled."
She should have left today. Now she was trapped.
Grendal would capture her again. He would . . .
Her head throbbed. She clutched each side. Her body trembled.
"Lanna, stop! You're shaking the building."
She looked up and took in the room. Curtains waved. Dishes in the glass cabinet rattled. Furniture vibrated.
Quinn stood and leaned forward, reaching toward her, then pulled his hands back. Probably remembering last time he grabbed her. His voice was full of concern. "Calm down. Take a breath and relax."
"Yes. Sorry," she mumbled, propping her elbows on her knees and dropping her head into her hands.
When her cousin spoke again, he kept his voice low and soothing. "Time to tell me the truth."
"About what?"
"Whatever is scaring the bloody hell out of you."
When she lifted her gaze to him, he sat down again and propped his elbows on his knees, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "I will help you. You know that, but you have to tell me what's going on."
"I . . ."
"No more lies. We're family. I won't let anything or anyone harm you."
Sincerity in his voice broke through her determination to handle Grendal on her own. Either that or she could not think with so much pain. She wanted to tell someone, needed to know she did not have to fight Grendal alone, but she could not allow that wizard to hurt Cousin Quinn.
He waited patiently.
She finally gave up. "I have trouble at home." She peeked at him, but his face showed no reaction. "That is why I come here. Mama said you would help me, but . . ."
"But what? Have I ever not come to help when our family needed me?"
"No, and that is problem."
"I don't understand."
"If I tell you what happened, you would go to Transylvania."
Quinn sat up, hands on his knees, fingers tensed. "Did someone hurt you, Lanna?"
"Yes, but not how you think." She took a breath. "I have not been hurt by a boy. I was captured by wizard who wants to use my powers."
Quinn shot to his feet again, raking his hands through his hair. "I'll kill the bastard."
"See? That is problem."
He turned his fierce warrior gaze on her, the one she'd seen make big men tremble, but her cousin did not frighten her even when he demanded, "Who is it, Lanna?"
"I will tell you his name if you calm down."
"You will tell me his name. Period. And where I can find him."
"This is why I have not told you. This wizard is dangerous. He has many in his castle. You cannot fight him without army of warriors like you."
"I can call up an army of Beladors."
"Not now, with threat on Treoir and your warrior queen."
Quinn paced to the dining room area. He stopped at the end of the table and turned, arms crossed, gaze demanding. "Tell me everything."
Now was the time for all truth. "His name is Grendal."
"Tell me about him. Who is he? What did he do?"
"Grendal struts much like peacock. Has hook-shaped nose that belongs on vulture." She snorted. "If bird was born with ugly yellow skin. Bright yellow hair that is short." And empty eyes that promise death to anyone who refuses Grendal. "He is terrible person, Cousin. He poured potion down my throat to make me do what he says, but my majik did not like it. I . . . blow up one end of castle. That is how I escape. Also, that is why my majik has problems. Sometimes it does as I wish and sometimes not. My power grows and weakens."
Quinn stood quiet as a statue, thinking. "Does he know you're here?"
"He does now."
"What does that mean?"
She admitted, "I was careful to only use majik in small ways, not enough for Grendal to notice, but when I called on elements to stop Svart trolls from killing everyone in warehouse last week I showed Grendal where I was. He was watching for me to make mistake."
"Good God," Quinn muttered, then his eyes brightened with understanding. "That's why you concealed yourself and held on to Evalle when our group was teleported to Treoir from the warehouse."
"Yes. I was afraid."
Warmth and admiration shone in Quinn's eyes when he said softly, "Afraid, but you still saved all those captives knowing this wizard would find you."
She shrugged. "No choice. People would die if I did not." Her new friends, the twin boys Kardos and Kellman, would have died.
A double knock at the door made her jump. A second double knock followed, as in some secret code.
Quinn lifted his hand for her to wait, then he walked to the
door. "I got a text on the way here, so I know who it is."
When Quinn checked the peephole and then opened the door, Evalle strutted into the living room. Lanna wished to be Evalle in her next life, with long legs to look badass wearing jeans and black boots with hidden blades. She liked Evalle's vintage shirt.
Hard to be thought badass when short. Lanna sighed, resigned to a life as nothing but sexy Brasko female.
Evalle smiled at her. "Hey, Lanna Banana. Like that red sweater and the black jeans. You planning a night out in Atlanta?"
"No. I am prisoner." Lanna sent her cousin a prim look of challenge.
Cousin Quinn rolled his eyes. He did that often around her.
Evalle pretended not to notice. "How are you, Lanna?"
"Good. Happy to see you."
"Same here." Then Evalle reached around and pulled a fat white envelope from her back pocket and handed it to Quinn. "Tzader said to give this to you and for you to call him after you get it. Probably about Treoir. He mentioned needing you back there to oversee security so he can be here to deal with the infection."
"What infection?" Lanna asked.
Quinn murmured to Evalle, "You tell her while I read this."
Evalle explained about a strange infection being passed by Nightstalkers. Until the sickness was stopped from spreading, no telepathy was allowed between any Beladors or agents.
This was bad news. Even more reason for her cousin to send her home.
Folding the papers, Quinn looked at Lanna. "You can stay for a while."
Her heart jumped around in her chest, happy. "Truly, Cousin?"
"Yes."
"How can this be when you said they would not let me?"
Evalle's gaze bounced between the two. "Yeah, how'd you pull that off? I'm thrilled for Lanna, but amazed VIPER cut anyone slack."
Lifting the papers in one hand, Quinn explained, "This is temporary guardianship for Lanna I asked Sen to have expedited, but with him--"
"You had no idea if he deep-sixed it," Evalle finished.
"Precisely." Quinn gave Lanna a pointed look. "I told VIPER you were seventeen, not eighteen. Don't forget that if you're asked."
Lanna couldn't believe her cousin had gained her time. She spoke from her heart. "Thank you, Cousin."
"That's the best I can do for now, but I have to leave again--tonight--for Treoir."
Relief poured through Lanna in spite of the dull throb in her head. "Do not worry. I will stay inside."
Evalle said, "Load up on movies. Quinn might be gone for days or weeks at a time."
"It is not problem."
Quinn spoke up. "Yes, it is. You can't stay here alone."
Now what? "I have been good. No running around."
"You have," he admitted. "But now that I know a dangerous wizard is hunting you--"
"Stop there," Evalle interrupted. "A wizard is after her?"
"Yes." Quinn explained to Evalle, then swung his unbending tone back at Lanna. "As I was saying, I will not leave you here with that lunatic in the area."
Evalle gave Lanna a sympathetic look. "He's right. Way too dangerous to be without backup. Even if you could call Quinn, which you won't be able to do with him in Treoir, he can't even contact a Belador telepathically to get someone to you quickly."
Living in this country was much difficult. Lanna waited for her cousin to ruin the last of her good mood. Did not take him long.
"The safest place is in VIPER headquarters."
Evalle ground out a sound of disgust. "That place sucks, Quinn. She won't know any of the agents coming and going."
"But that mountain is safer than a vault."
Lanna would be trapped inside a mountain. What if the wizard had spies there?
Quinn asked Lanna to pack her suitcase. She nodded and trudged to her bedroom, fighting off a new panic. For all her relief over telling her cousin about Grendal, she was now terrified of being somewhere she could not escape if she needed to run.
She glanced out the door, checking to see where Quinn and Evalle were. They stood across the room, having a low, but terse, conversation.
Stepping out of sight, Lanna paused and concentrated on using very little majik. This would be easier if she felt better. She whispered a spell and watched her hands for several seconds until they finally became translucent. Her body disappeared in half a minute.
Practice on one new skill was paying off.
She could now cloak herself fully. But for how long? Uncloaking, she gathered clothes and stuffed them halfheartedly into her worn-out suitcase that did not belong in this fancy hotel.
Quinn appeared in the doorway. "Are you packed?"
"Yes." She would have to find a way to escape her cousin before they got to the mountain, where she would have no transportation back. She had tried teleporting twice but had not moved more than ten feet. She had been sick afterward.
Evalle stepped into view. "You're going with me."
The elation must have danced in Lanna's face, because Evalle added, "Let's be clear. I'll be gone a lot and Feenix will enjoy the company, but his vocabulary still consists of about twenty words, ten of which are numbers. Sure you wouldn't rather go to VIPER headquarters?"
Definitely not there. "I am sure. Thank you."
Quinn offered, "I'll have my car brought around."
"Don't need it," Evalle told him. "I'm not on my bike. I've got an Expedition from headquarters warded against anyone either trying to bypass the security or drive it."
"Why did you take a truck?"
Evalle hesitated to answer and did not look at Quinn when she shrugged. "Figured I could at least scout around town during the day to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious. Might not help Tzader with this infection, but you never know."
Quinn gave Lanna one last order. "Do not use your cloaking ability to slip away from Evalle or I will take you to VIPER headquarters." He leaned down, adding, "I want your word."
Lanna's heart dropped. She could not give her word, then break it. She nodded. "I give my word."
Snapping her fingers and sounding more on edge than usual, Evalle said, "Let's go, and don't blame me when you get bored."
"I will be fine." Lanna would not stay with Evalle long enough to become bored.
With Grendal in the city, she could not afford to be locked inside anywhere, not even with Evalle. But now that she had given her word that she would not cloak herself to escape Evalle, Lanna would have to use teleporting . . . and hope she landed safely.
Not inside a solid concrete wall.
SIXTEEN
What kind of idiot got cornered into babysitting a teenage girl with the power to call up a thunderstorm?
Inside a building.
Me, obviously.
Evalle cut across the luxurious lobby of Quinn's five-star hotel with Lanna close on her heels. At least, Lanna had better be.
A quick over-the-shoulder glance confirmed Lanna kept pace, dragging her beat-up suitcase. Head bent down, Lanna's black-tipped blond curls drooped as much as her slumped shoulders.
Now Evalle felt bad about being perturbed that she'd gotten stuck with Lanna. It wasn't that she didn't like the girl. She did, but timing couldn't be worse with the Achilles Beast Championship coming up in twenty-four hours.
And that was only if she managed to convince Storm to help Tzader hunt down the source of the infection so Evalle could slide out of Atlanta without Storm noticing.
"How was Storm?" Lanna asked.
Was? Evalle slowed to let her catch up. "He is fine. I think he's healed completely."
"That is not question. How was date with Storm?"
Oh. Lanna had helped Evalle dress to see Storm after they'd returned from the battle where Storm had witnessed Evalle in all her beast glory. Not one of her more feminine moments. That had happened only because Evalle had been given permission to shift into her Alterant beast state to protect Brina and Treoir Castle from Svart trolls.
Lanna had come home with her
and pushed Evalle to go face Storm even though Evalle had been sure he'd been disgusted by seeing her hideous beast form. She'd walked up to Storm's front door wearing makeup and a sparkly sweater for the first time in her life--all Lanna's doing. He'd welcomed her with open arms.
And chided her for doubting him.
Then kissed her and . . .
"Evalle?"
"What?"
Lanna's shorter legs moved quickly to keep up. "I asked how date was."
Slow down and stop being so irritated. Lanna was just a kid. Evalle breathed deep and searched for the calm that seemed just out of reach this evening. "The date was not really a date, but it was okay."
"That is all?"
"It was nice." That night with Storm had been like stepping out of her life and into one that belonged to a normal woman.
He'd made her feel alive. Cared for. Special.
" 'Okay' and 'nice' not good." Lanna frowned at her. "Dull. What went wrong?"
Being with Storm was anything but dull. Evalle shot a glare at the nosy teenager. "Nothing went wrong. We enjoyed our evening. That's all you need to know."
"Ah. You spent night with Storm?" A speculative gleam brightened Lanna's eyes.
Evalle had thought Lanna's Russian-ish accent charming until the little busybody had decided to tamper with Evalle's love life from the first moment they'd met. Now the teenage terror rubbed salt into Evalle's wounded ego, reminding her she'd been a coward for backing away from intimacy with Storm.
She didn't need the reminder, blast it.
She was ready for him. Any time he wanted it.
Now!
Who was Lanna to question anything she did, anyhow?
Before they reached the doorman holding the glass door open for them, Evalle dropped her tone to a level meant to end all discussion. "What Storm and I did that night is none of your business. Got it?"
Lanna looked over at her, openmouthed.
Guilt stabbed Evalle from head to toe. Why? The teenager needed to learn when to talk and when to be quiet.
Outside, the drizzle had turned into a steady downpour. But Evalle was sweating. It was so blasted hot. How could Lanna wear a sweater in this?
Lanna dragged the suitcase along, wheels clacking faster to catch up. Her shoulders drooped teenage disappointment.
Evalle slowed her pace once more and pointed at the covered parking deck ahead. "We're going there."
Big mistake. Lanna took that as a sign that they were chatting again and started yammering, oblivious of poking at a beast. "I do not understand why you did not stay. How can you not want man like Storm? If Adrianna had Storm--"