The Curse

  "All is fine now."

  Macha vanished.

  Evalle would normally wait to return with the team, but she couldn't face Storm. He hadn't come near her since she'd shifted back to her human form. Why would he?

  What man would want anything to do with a hideous monster? Storm would never look at her again as a woman after seeing her beast today.

  She could suffer any wound except seeing the revulsion he wouldn't be able to hide. But she couldn't leave without asking Tzader, "Will Macha do anything to Storm?"

  "No, I'll explain that he helped us. Just go heal yourself." He added, "I need you back to full speed before you return. Take the time you need to completely heal."

  When Tzader hesitated as though he had something else to say about Storm, Evalle's stomach dropped at the worry coming off Tzader. He had seen her shame before she turned away and would try to fix that, but as Maistir he had enough burden on his shoulders today.

  Her smile lacked any power when she told him, "I'll be fine."

  "Where do you wish to be sent, Evalle?" Brina asked.

  "I need to get back to my motorcycle."

  Quinn released a sigh full of frustration. "You're in no shape to ride that thing. I had a car sent for Lanna before we left the building. Take that home and pick up your bike tomorrow. No one can steal your Gixxer or harm it. But give me a minute with Lanna, then you two can go."

  Numb to her soul, Evalle didn't argue. She couldn't find the energy to care about anything right now.

  She missed Storm already. The desire to turn around and search for him was so strong she shook from it. But she might see more than shock this time. She might see disgust and couldn't face that.

  He'd never touch her again.

  Quinn pulled Lanna aside, speaking to her in a hushed tone.

  Tzader stood next to Evalle, staring at Brina, who moved closer to the very inside edge of the threshold. He'd told Evalle that Brina was duty bound to stay inside the castle to protect the Belador power.

  The Belador warrior queen looked miserable, and Tzader not much better. Brina whispered to him, "I feared for your life."

  Tzader took a step toward Brina as if her words drew him, but he paused when someone in uniform appeared behind her. A guard. The young man's face tightened with fierce determination over something.

  Tzader spoke to the guard. "Where were you, Allyn?"

  "Covering her back in case a troll found another way inside the castle. She was never out of my sight."

  Evalle believed only the three of them were privy to whatever played between Brina, the guard and Tzader.

  Cool disdain swept across Tzader's features. He took a step back.

  Brina's face fell beneath an onslaught of emotion. "Tzader?" Her pleading voice sounded like the young woman she should be and not a warrior queen who carried the weight of so many lives on her shoulders.

  The harsh line of Tzader's grim mouth softened with tenderness when he said, "I will always stand between you and danger." He turned and walked away.

  Lanna grasped Evalle's hand, tugging down to get her attention. "We will go now."

  Confused over what had just happened between Tzader and Brina, Evalle just nodded at Lanna and said, "We're ready, Brina."

  Caught watching Tzader, Brina shook herself and blinked at Evalle. "What?"

  "To go back to Atlanta. You were going to send us."

  Brina drew in a shaky breath, then seemed to remember who she was and squared her shoulders. This time, her voice came out crisp and confident. "Envision exactly where you intend to arrive, and if you close your eyes, Evalle, the goin' will not make you so sick."

  Why hadn't anyone told me that before? Or would that only work when Brina teleported her?

  Evalle nodded and closed her eyes.

  She still suffered the sensation of being out of control and swirling around, but she didn't throw up when she and Lanna reached the parking lot behind the old Sears Building. Light seeped along the eastern horizon, but she had enough time for a speed-limit drive home.

  Casper appeared out of the dark shadows and strolled up to her with the Nyght weapon hanging in the crook of his arm. He surveyed her clothing and cocked an eyebrow. "Everything okay, Evalle?"

  Nothing would ever be okay again, but Casper had been talking about Treoir. "We stopped the Svarts. How about here?"

  "Before all of you hauled ass out of here, Quinn told me the Lieutenant troll knew of eleven more in the city. I got 'em all but one," Casper said, sounding like someone who could spin a six-shooter and drop it in his holster. "Sen took care of the last one. He's about done here."

  "I don't want to see Sen."

  Casper grinned. "Don't blame you, but it's going to be a bit airy riding home unless you've got on something under that robe. Not that I wouldn't enjoy the view when you rode off."

  She smiled a little, hoping Casper still wanted to joke with her once he heard about Evalle the Monster. "Quinn sent a car that's supposed to be here somewhere."

  "That'd be the sleek black ride sittin' over yonder." Casper waved at someone behind her.

  When Evalle shifted around, a black limousine pulled up. The driver jumped out and said, "Miss Lanna?"

  Lanna took on the air of a princess. "That is me. There are two of us."

  "Absolutely." The chauffeur opened her door, then led Evalle to the other side, where she slid onto the luxurious leather seat next to Lanna.

  As soon as the driver climbed in, Lanna said, "Evalle will give you her address."

  Evalle had just sat down. "What?"

  "Cousin said he must help Tzader and I must go with you to apartment."

  Evalle had never allowed anyone inside her underground apartment except Tzader and Quinn, but this girl had done her share to save lives tonight, the twins being two of those. Evalle gave the driver an address near her apartment and dropped her head back against the cool leather seat.

  When the chauffeur closed the privacy window to the passenger area and drove off, Evalle mumbled, "Thought Quinn wanted you to go to the hotel."

  "He said I am safe with you and I am to tell you important thing about when you change into your other self."

  Turning her head to Lanna, Evalle said, "I don't want to be rude to you, but the last thing I want to talk about is what happened back in Treoir."

  "You are wrong. You must know this."

  THIRTY-THREE

  I should ha expected Kizira ta put her own plan into play since she shares the blood of both of us. Cathbad stood alongside Flaevynn in front of her scryin' wall, where rare gems glistened and sparkled beneath a shower of cascading water.

  He could no fulfill his own plans as long as Kizira remained in the dungeon. Pointing at the images on the wall--the aftermath of the battle between the Beladors and the Svarts on Treoir--Cathbad said, "You're fortunate the female Alterant defeated the demonic troll."

  "I never doubted that Evalle would survive a battle with the troll we dipped in Loch Ryve. I'm fortunate to have caught Kizira's betrayal now before she could ruin everything."

  "Ach, Flaevynn. You're wrong. Kizira did ya a favor."

  "How do you possibly see this as such?"

  "Kizira told me she intended to gain the location of Treoir an' test the defenses with trolls. She ha planned it as a surprise for ya."

  "You really want me to believe that?"

  No, but he ha never won a battle from the point of defense. "I do. You compel her. Do ya really think she can get around that?"

  Flaevynn shifted her gaze to him, eyes tense with undisclosed thoughts. "Not really."

  "Course no. Ya need Kizira. She brought ya Tristan an' his sister. Kizira will deliver the other five Alterants, an' in time." Cathbad would ensure that she did.

  Flaevynn floated across her chamber. In her wake, flames surged on hundreds of candles around the room, then died back to normal heights as her energy moved with her. "I can't abide a traitor."

  "If that be the case, why does she li
ve?"

  Spinning around in a swirl of brilliant colors, Flaevynn cocked her head at him. "You would condemn your precious child to death?"

  "No. I but question if ya truly believe she betrayed ya since she still lives."

  He'd struck his mark. Flaevynn scowled at him.

  Now that he'd stirred doubt, he added, "Ya need the girl to do your biddin', less ya want ta go out there yourself."

  She sent him a look that suggested he'd been birthed by a rock.

  He gifted her with the smile that ha once put him in her bed. "You an' I can no leave until the day the Alterants win Treoir for us. Until then, we need Kizira."

  She smoothed a hand over her hair. Long, black fingernails adorned with diamonds sparked with tiny bolts of energy. "I'll release her if you share what you know about the Alterants."

  He loved a good victory, especially since he'd been anxious to start pushing Alterants to the next level. Waitin' until now ha played perfectly into his hands. He would share something, but no everythin'. "'Tis a fair request ya make. First ya must know that the other four will seek out Evalle."

  "When?"

  "That is the part that I will now share with ya. 'Tis said once the female Alterant has the gold aura and shifts into her beast--as she did today--the other four Alterants will seek her out. When that happens, Tristan an' his sister will become important, so do no lose them."

  "I don't plan to lose any captive, but what would it matter since Tristan is not one of the five?"

  "Open your scryin' wall to the arena an' teleport Tristan there."

  Flaevynn considered his request with suspicion but floated over to her wall. When she waved her hands, the massive pit in the tower known as the arena came into view, an' Tristan appeared inside, lookin' around in surprise. He shouted, "Where's my sister, Kizira?"

  Blank walls echoed his question back at him.

  "Well?" Flaevynn said to Cathbad.

  "Ya still have our wyverns we altered with Noirre majik?"

  "Of course, and they are mine, not ours."

  What man ever owned anythin' in a marriage? Cathbad let that go. "Call up the one known as Morvack."

  "Why the wimpy one? Some have grown far larger than that one."

  "Morvack is fine for what I have in mind. Just do it, Flaevynn, an' allow Tristan to use his kinetic powers in the arena."

  She shrugged and twirled the fingers on one hand. An iron door slid up, and one of the winged creatures Cathbad had begun acquirin' more than three centuries ago came snarlin' into the room. Unlike most dragons, wyvern had only hindquarters at one end of a black, snakelike body, but four massive orange-and-black wings with razor claws at the tip of each vertebra. The tail whipped back and forth, split at the end into two sharp, red spikes loaded with deadly Noirre venom.

  Tristan took one look at the wyvern and began ta shift into a beast, growin' taller and thicker with twistin' bones and muscles. His head widened and stretched with jaws that snarled open, a black maw with jagged teeth. Saliva ran from his lips when he roared.

  The wyvern flared its wings like an angry vulture, and fire shot from its snout. The black, undulating body twisted and arced back, liftin' a head with black eyes and red diamonds for pupils. Flames shot past the wyvern's two deadly fangs. Its head flared wide as a cobra's and struck with the same speed.

  Tristan blocked the strike with his kinetics, then slammed his fist at Morvack, lookin' surprised his power worked, but he did no more than knock the beast sideways. The wyvern flew at Tristan, drivin' the Alterant to the floor and stompin' on his chest.

  Flaevynn hissed at Cathbad. "I thought you said we needed Tristan. Why are we letting Morvack kill him?"

  "Just watch."

  Morvack an' Tristan battled across the arena. Tristan finally knocked the wyvern off its legs an' pinned him with kinetics, then jumped on the wyvern's neck. The wicked tail whipped 'round to stab Tristan's chest, but he grabbed the tail, an' used his power to hold the creature in place. He stomped the wyvern's head 'til it exploded.

  Fire danced up the Alterant's leg, singeing his hair.

  Tristan roared, his rage echoing around the arena.

  Flaevynn sighed and doused Tristan with a wash of water. "That was a waste of a wyvern."

  "'Tis no finished yet."

  Tristan's back arched. He jerked 'round, moaning, an' fell off the dead beast, rollin' into the middle of the chamber. The Alterant's body began changin' again, elongating as the scales and hair gave way to a smooth gray-blue skin covered with new translucent scales the size of Cathbad's hand. Tristan's neck stretched an' his head shrank, but in proportion to a body that took on a lion's shape with front an' hind legs, all the paws tipped with sharp claws. Wings sprouted from each side of the body, then stretched and widened. Blue and black feathers covered the tops of the wings, but they remained smooth underneath. Predator green eyes shone from within a head shaped like an eagle's, right down to the hooked beak.

  When the evolution finished, Flaevynn whispered, "He looks like a ... dragon, but more regal."

  Cathbad chuckled. "'Tis a gryphon."

  "I didn't know any still existed."

  "No for a long time an' these will soon be ours."

  "Mine."

  Women. Cathbad let it go. "All Alterants can finish evolvin' ta this state if they battle a wyvern ... or a gryphon. But we must capture the five Alterants we need ta breach Treoir and finish their evolution here."

  Flaevynn eyed Cathbad with irritation. "We only have four more wyverns. We have no choice but to use one with Evalle. Then what will we do about the other four Alterants?"

  'Twas just like Flaevynn ta think in terms of we when she did no care for the task. Cathbad said, "We need no waste a wyvern on Evalle."

  It took Flaevynn a moment, but she caught up to his thinking. She scoffed at him. "If you think to use Tristan as a sacrificial lamb for Evalle to kill so she can reach gryphon state, you'll be disappointed. She won't fight Tristan or his sister. Evalle is nauseating when it comes to caring for others, especially those she calls friends."

  Cathbad would no tell Flaevynn exactly what he ha in mind or the alternative. He'd let her think she knew all there was ta know about the evolution. "I am no concerned. Evalle will fight Tristan in the arena, an' one will die. I promise you that." This much he knew to be true. "But ya must be able ta bring Evalle back ta us."

  "If that's all you need, not a problem. Evalle has this misplaced sense of honor that will force her to come looking for Tristan and his sister. I'll compel Kizira to lay a trail for Evalle that leads to TAmr Medb."

  THIRTY-FOUR

  For the millionth time, I am not going there." Evalle slapped her hand down on the island counter in her kitchen. Why wouldn't Lanna let her enjoy a quiet Sunday night after all she'd been through? "Storm doesn't want to see me. Besides, I have a job to do."

  If she knew where to start looking for Tristan, she'd leave now, but the Medb had Tristan ... if Kizira's warlocks hadn't killed him after he'd teleported Evalle away from the farmhouse. It was going to take some time to find out where he was.

  If he still lived.

  She hoped so and would start searching tomorrow. If Tzader caught her out walking the streets tonight there'd be hell to pay.

  Lanna had showered and changed to a bubble-gum pink sweater and jeans after having swung by the hotel to retrieve her small suitcase. The clothes gave her the appearance of an innocent teenager, but she called herself a sorceress.

  Could she actually be a sorceress?

  Picking up a lug nut, Lanna tossed it to Feenix, who snagged the treat with his tongue, then danced around chortling. Lanna said, "Tzader said you take time off. That was order. I know. I heard."

  "That doesn't mean I have to go out to dinner."

  "What do I tell Quinn? He does not like you unhappy."

  "And that's the only reason he gave you that message for me." Evalle had a moment of excitement when Lanna had first delivered Quinn's message, then realit
y had set in. Quinn and Tzader had witnessed the looks of shock--and horror--on faces when she shifted into a beast.

  Of all people, they would know how deeply that reaction cut her and, of course, want to do what they could to soothe her.

  "You call my cousin liar?" Lanna could arrange her face into a seriously mean look for a teen.

  "Of course not, it's just that--"

  "Oh. Now you have gift to see future?"

  "No." Sarcastic little snot.

  "You say you like Storm. How can you know he does not still like you?"

  Evalle shoved a handful of damp hair over her shoulder. Why had she spilled her guts to Lanna on the way home this morning? Because she'd never felt so alone and she'd had no one to talk to but Lanna.

  "Cousin said--"

  "I know, Lanna. The Belador warriors are proud of me, and Storm wasn't given the chance to speak to me before I left." Evalle would not put Storm on the spot to see her again just to prove Lanna wrong. She'd seen his face. He would still treat her as a friend, but she'd started thinking of him as more than a friend. Much more.

  Someone she didn't want to lose.

  "Do you not want Storm?"

  Just cut me to the bone. "This discussion is over." Besides, Evalle had to focus on finding Tristan and his group. She owed him for helping her escape. She would not leave him to the murdering Medb.

  But she would not have Storm's help tracking Tristan this time.

  She already missed Storm ranting at her about how Tristan could not be depended upon.

  Lanna played patty-cake with Feenix, whose wings fluttered as he hovered in front of Lanna where his hands could reach to hit hers. "I saw way Storm hold you when we teleport. His eyes only for you. Why you let Adrianna win?"

  Feeling that strike right through her heart, Evalle opened her mouth to snarl at the brat, hoping to shut her up, then Lanna added, "She is nothing next to you."

  Lanna's words cheered Evalle's bruised heart, but that didn't make the words true. "You saw Adrianna at the building. She's beautiful. I will never look anything like that woman or say the right things to a man or ooze sexuality the way it drips off her. I can't do it. And now Storm's seen me as a monster."

  Lanna cocked her head to the side, black-tipped curls bouncing. "If Storm wanted someone else, he would not look at you as if you are his world. Clothes, makeup and hair ... same as swords and daggers. Me? I am most excellent with female weapons. I would not let go of man like Storm and leave spoils to Adrianna ... or any other women."