The strangling noises stopped.
Evalle glanced over at Kizira, whose throat now sported claw marks. The priestess leaned over, a hand on her knee as she fought for a breath.
"Is this true, Kizira?" Flaevynn asked.
Standing upright again and coughing first, Kizira nodded. "Yes. And the hotel security tapes will show Evalle leaving his room with the Triquetra in her hand."
If Tzader and Quinn didn't figure out how to stop Kizira and the gryphons from the cryptic note Evalle left with Storm, then Evalle hoped they'd at least realize the one thing she tried to make very clear--that Evalle was a threat to Brina, and thus the Beladors. If they had any doubt that she'd joined the Medb, that hotel security tape would probably cinch the deal. She couldn't stand to consider how low Quinn and Tzader would think of her, but if they survived the attack on Treoir, that would have to be enough.
She only regretted not having a chance to tell Storm in person that she loved him and to ask him to please forgive anything he heard about her after tomorrow, which evidently was today. She'd lost all track of time zipping between realms.
Drawing herself up with regal poise, Flaevynn said, "I compel you to tell the truth or bite off your own tongue, Evalle. Now, tell me why I should trust you."
"You shouldn't--"
Kizira made a small noise.
Evalle pasted contempt on her face as she looked at Kizira, then back at Flaevynn, and continued, "I was saying you shouldn't trust me if I wasn't compelled. I would do all in my power to help the Beladors if I could, but I can't, and the minute I show up as a gryphon they'll have every reason to kill me. Self-preservation alone will force me to defend myself, and Kizira's control over my actions will force me to carry out your plan." Evalle made sure she loaded plenty of bitterness on her words. Not hard to do when it flowed in her veins, because she'd spoken the truth.
Flaevynn lifted a hand as if calling someone.
Cathbad appeared next to her throne. He observed Kizira for an unguarded moment but washed his face of emotion so quickly that Evalle wasn't sure she'd actually seen concern.
Addressing Cathbad, Flaevynn said, "As you can see, they're back. I am convinced of Evalle's loyalty. I want all the attack plans laid out here, where I can observe."
He cast a furtive glance at Kizira, who ignored him when he said, "I have spoken to our contact who will be on Treoir."
That blasted Belador traitor who was costing her everything. She'd cut that throat in a heartbeat.
Cathbad went on. "Our contact tells me the coast of the island is heavily guarded, but he will open an area one hundred yards wide for Kizira and our army of gryphons to enter."
Evalle held herself still, purposely showing no reaction to news that the traitor was actually on the island. At least she'd been able to leave Tzader and Quinn a message.
Hands clasped behind his back and walking around the room, Cathbad continued speaking with the confidence of a general headed into battle with superior forces. "Once our army arrives on the island, our warlocks will engage the enemy, occupying them while the gryphons enter."
"Only the five," Flaevynn interjected.
"Yes."
Evalle's heart sank. How could she get Tristan out of here if he couldn't fly with them?
Kizira said, "I want to take all ten."
Cathbad paused in pacing. "Why?"
"You gleaned the additional information about the destiny of the five powerful gryphons from old bards' tales. That once they invaded Treoir, gryphons would roam the island forever. If that's the case, why not use all of them and ensure victory?"
Evalle wanted to cheer at a chance to get Tristan and his sister out of here, and at the same time, groan at the idea of an even greater force of gryphons attacking Treoir.
Cathbad grinned. " 'Tis not a bad thought, Flaevynn."
"Fine. Take them all." The queen gave a dismissive wave of her hand, then sent a pointed look at Cathbad. "Did you tell her?"
Kizira turned to Cathbad. "Tell me what?"
Watching this scene play out between the three Medb gave Evalle an insight into Kizira's life all these years in the Medb Coven. For the first time, Evalle actually pitied Kizira.
When Cathbad stepped up to Kizira, his eyes flashed with compassion, then turned ruthless. "The minute Brina is dead, you are compelled to stand upon the steps of the castle and wait for Flaevynn to arrive."
Cathbad's position blocked Kizira's face from Flaevynn's view, but Evalle caught the flicker of disbelief . . . or hurt in Kizira's face.
But that didn't stop Cathbad. "If you do not walk out on those steps within one minute after Brina's death, or if you touch the immortal river before Flaevynn does, your skin will begin to peel from your body."
"I thought I was bringing the water to Flaevynn." Horror spread across Kizira's face. "Why would you--"
"Once Brina is dead and you control the castle, Flaevynn and I will be free to leave this tower." Cathbad spoke as though no emotion flowed through his veins, but Evalle saw regret tinge his eyes when he added softly, " 'Tis the only way I could convince Flaevynn you would do as told."
Evalle had opened her empathic senses, and she got swamped by the rage and regret pulsing off of Cathbad.
Silence built into a living thing between Kizira and Cathbad until the queen added her bit. "I'll be watching from here, Kizira. Do not fail me."
Struggling to pull herself together, Kizira blinked away moisture building in her eyes and stared with hatred at Cathbad. "When do I leave?"
Cathbad answered, "The six hundred and sixty-sixth anniversary of Flaevynn's birth will arrive in three hours. Our contact on Treoir is expecting you and the gryphons to arrive one hour before that."
FORTY
Tzader shoved a kinetic blast at the front door of Storm's house. At least he hoped it was Storm's house. This was where Nicole had sent him.
He made short work of searching the house, where a full carafe of coffee was still warm.
No mugs. No dishes.
What was that smoky smell? Licorice?
Native American incense?
Tzader lifted a piece of paper that had fallen on the kitchen floor. A note from Storm to Sweetheart. Evalle?
So Storm expected Evalle to come here?
Hunting further, Tzader found the bedroom and immediately identified the smell of sex lingering on the rumpled bedsheets. Had Evalle been here? Even the towel on the floor was damp. Quinn kept telling Tzader not to smother Evalle with being overprotective, that Storm cared about her.
Evalle wouldn't have opened herself up like this unless she trusted Storm with her life.
Where could Storm and Evalle have gone?
But she wasn't with Storm if he'd left a note for her.
Tzader scratched his neck, circling the bedroom once more before he spied another piece of paper on the nightstand. Blank. Out of habit of being thorough, he snatched it up and flipped it over, where he found Evalle's handwriting. Why had these two written each other notes? He started reading, confused until he slowed down to read the words a second time.
Ah, hell.
What had the Medb done to Evalle? What kind of pet? A dangerous one.
The paper shook in his trembling hand. How was he going to explain this to Quinn?
His belly hurt, as if he'd taken a sword to the gut. First he had to inform Macha and Brina about this.
Then he had to prepare Quinn, and himself, to kill Evalle.
FORTY-ONE
You should join the Beladors," Evalle suggested. "They might not like you, but they wouldn't torture you the way the Medb do."
Kizira had taken Evalle to the private study with the warded walls. The priestess hadn't zipped away as usual. Head down, she seemed to need a moment to regroup. She raised eyes so dark with desperation that Evalle knew she had to be in pain. "You can believe me or not, but I have worked very hard to see the end of the war between the Medb and the Beladors."
"Why?"
"Because I love . . ."
"Him," Evalle finished, since Kizira refused to speak his name here, and from everything she'd seen, that was probably for Quinn's benefit.
"Yes. I had planned to enlist your help once we got to the island. I thought . . ." Kizira spoke haltingly, and tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. "If I could get inside the castle and to the river, I could stop the battle before it reached the castle. I didn't want immortality so I could live forever, but so that I could stop Flaevynn from surviving past her birth hour."
"Have any of you thought about the fact that the castle is warded against any immortal crossing the threshold?"
"Cathbad claims that anyone who becomes immortal inside the castle should be able to break the ward."
Would that help Tzader? No, he'd still have to cross the threshold first to reach the river, so he'd die before he got there. Evalle brushed off Tzader's love-life problems in favor of taking advantage of this turn of events. Kizira loved Quinn. If Evalle could convince Kizira to help her, they might be able to save Brina and Treoir.
If that happened, Macha might not torch Kizira, Evalle and all the gryphons.
As long as I'm having wild fantasies, I might as well wish for freedom from Sen and a life with Storm. Getting back on track, Evalle said, "What happens if you lose the battle?"
"Flaevynn dies, then I die. She won't pass her crown to me. A day later, Cathbad dies."
"Wait, are you related to those two?"
"Biological parents."
And I thought I had it bad. Before now, Kizira's dying would have been on the top of Evalle's wish list, but now that she knew where Kizira stood, Evalle couldn't throw her out with the rest of the Medb. Evalle knew what it felt like to be of no value to family. "If you live past Flaevynn's death, would all the Medb Coven follow you?"
"Technically, yes."
"What happens if Flaevynn leaves TAmr Medb before her time here is up or before the curse is broken?"
"She'd burn like an asteroid diving into the Earth's atmosphere, but Cathbad has figured out something he had not shared until today. He thinks that once Brina is no longer in control of the castle, he and Flaevynn can leave this tower. I held out hope that he was in my corner, but I was wrong. He's watching out for himself."
"What happens to you if Flaevynn dies by stepping outside this tower?"
Kizira cocked her head, thinking. "I was told I would automatically become the reigning queen, but that was never possible because--"
"She would never leave TAmr Medb." This would probably get Evalle torched, but she technically had two lives left if Cathbad was right about the gryphons having three. "Would you vow to uphold peace between the Medb and Beladors forever if you were queen?"
"Of course. That's what I told you I've wanted ever since--" Kizira cut off her words.
"Then make that vow to me and I'll help you."
"How?"
"Change how you compel me once we get inside Treoir so that I can talk to Tzader and Quinn. We'll stage the takeover of Treoir and Brina's death so you can call in Flaevynn."
Where Kizira had looked like a woman facing her death moments ago, she now was energized. "That would work, but it would take everyone's cooperation."
"Cathbad would probably follow Flaevynn out of here," Evalle reminded her.
"After the way he just compelled me, I would not spit on him if he were on fire."
No family baggage left there. "I want something else. I want to talk to Conlan. He may have information that could help us."
"How am I supposed to get him out of the dungeon?"
"Tell Flaevynn you suspect he was sent in as a spy for the Beladors and you want to show them they can't fool her. Tell her we can use him to confuse the Beladors, since he's your puppet. They'll take him to Brina since they're on the island, and when they do he can tell you where she is in the castle."
Kizira cocked her head in thought. "That might actually appeal to her ego."
Evalle just hoped she wasn't setting things in motion that she would regret later, but she trusted Tzader to keep Brina safe. Tzader would not want Conlan left behind in this place. That reminded her of two more people she had to save. The list just kept growing. "Tristan won't agree to leave his two Rias friends who were captured with him and his sister."
"You expect me to get them out of here, too? Flaevynn won't go for that. She'll be suspicious the minute I bring it up."
"Rias are enough like Alterants that someone would have to be close to them when they shift to see that their eyes aren't green. Convince Flaevynn that they'll be a sacrificial diversion." Evalle snapped her fingers. "No! Have Tristan go to her and demand that they stay here. He can tell her the deal wasn't to use them in this attack and they'll never survive. If she thinks they're of any use right now, she'll have to use them."
Kizira arched an eyebrow. "I like the way you think, but we're leaving here with or without them."
"Understood." Evalle would save as many as she could.
"I'll send you to your room with Lanna," Kizira said. "If I don't see you again, it means I ended up in the dungeon, too."
That would screw up the plans. "Tell Tristan and his sister what's going on, too."
"Done." Kizira waved her hand.
Evalle didn't even stumble this time when she landed in her Medb bedroom. "Lanna?"
The girl appeared next to the bathroom door, then ran to Evalle. "Where have you been?"
Evalle had never been much for touching in the past, but Storm had changed that. She opened her arms to Lanna, hugging the girl and actually enjoying the moment. "I've been busy trying to get us out of here."
Lanna stepped back, eyes brimming with excitement. "We're leaving?"
"Very soon. You're going to cloak yourself and ride on my back."
"I am confused."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that--" Evalle paused, not sure if the compulsion spell meant she could or couldn't tell Lanna. "Look, I've been compelled not to share some things, so you're going to have to trust me and, for once, do exactly what I say."
"I will not make mistake. I will do everything you say."
The poor girl was terrified, and with good reason. Evalle tried to help her understand. "You know I can change into other forms, so just be prepared for something that surprises you, okay?"
Lanna nodded.
She was bright and resourceful. Evalle had no doubt the girl would do her part and follow Evalle's lead. She explained as much as she could without going against her compulsion spell, telling Lanna what she had to do when they landed on the island.
No mentioning Treoir by name, but Lanna was quick. She asked two questions, and after that, she didn't ask any more when Evalle shook her head.
Energy whistled through the room, then Kizira appeared with a pitiful-looking guy who sagged next to her.
Evalle gently pushed Lanna aside and stepped over to Kizira. "How'd it go?"
"Flaevynn is addressing her witches and warlocks about the attack, so I found Cathbad instead and told him he owed me. I reminded him he should know better than Flaevynn just how capable I am of sidestepping their plans, and that if he wanted to see me on those steps calling them in, he had to do something for me."
"Nice."
"I've got to get with Tristan next." Kizira wrinkled her nose at Conlan. "Also, even with Flaevynn busy, it may not be safe to talk here, where she can drop in."
Lanna spoke up. "I can shield their words, but you must compel Evalle to allow a teenage girl to listen."
Kizira appeared impressed and gave a shrug. "Fine. Be ready when I come back." She compelled Evalle, but Evalle held up her hand to stall Kizira's exit.
Evalle stepped around Conlan, who stood hunched over as if he'd been in that position for a while. He smelled worse than week-old restaurant garbage. Dried blood covered more of him than not, and his back had been split open over and over--it looked like it had been beaten with a cat-o'-nine-tails. One arm hung at the wrong angle.
/> Pointing at him, Evalle said, "How about healing his wounds and cleaning him up?"
Sighing as if she'd been asked to do the laundry, Kizira swept a hand past Conlan.
The stink dissipated, replaced by a fresh-scrubbed smell. He wore a clean gray sweatshirt and new jeans. When he finally stood upright and lifted his head, he no longer had a thick beard. He was attractive, and edgy as an animal waiting to see if he had to maul something to get away.
But nothing would remove the haunted look deep in his eyes. His voice was rough and dry. "All this time I thought nothing could sway you from your Belador oath."
Evalle flinched as if struck, but Conlan didn't know what was going on, and last she'd heard, he was still considered a traitor.
Kizira said to Evalle, "Get your mini-me to do anything else you need," and vanished.
Lanna stepped up. "You must stay in one spot. I am not as good as Storm."
Just hearing his name poked at the ache in Evalle's chest. She told Conlan, "Even though I was told you're suspected of being a traitor, I've learned more and am willing to hear what you have to say. You should want to hear what I have to say, since I got you out of that dungeon."
His eyebrows dropped over repentant gray eyes. "Okay."
"Let's sit down and make this easy for Lanna. She's Quinn's cousin."
Conlan's sharp gaze went to Lanna. "Why would he let--"
"Not yet, Conlan," Evalle said, moving to the sofa.
Once they were seated, Lanna said, "I cannot talk to you while I do this or I may make mistake and cause thunderstorm."
Guess mini-me had a few bugs to work out in her spell casting.
Evalle waited until Lanna nodded at her, then Evalle turned to Conlan and told him how she--and Lanna--came to be at TAmr Medb. Then she laid out what she knew about the impending attack on Treoir. "So, right now, I'm the one suspicious of you, since you escaped VIPER headquarters and you came to the Medb voluntarily, right?"
"I did."
When Evalle pulled back, Conlan lifted a hand. "Let me explain. Quinn did see the vision of me offering to join the Medb in the part of my mind that projects the future, but that isn't always reliable, because the future can be changed."
"But it didn't change."
"That was intentional."