“Are you sure you want to go through with this? Lor is convinced the Shadow Assassins are on their way out of Las Vegas.”
Talking with a disembodied voice shouldn’t have seemed odd. People talked on speaker phones all the time. Even so, it still felt strange to hold a conversation with someone Jillian couldn’t see. She glanced in the rearview mirror, but the backseat appeared empty.
“If they’re really on the move, then this opportunity is more important than before.” She pulled her car into a parking space near the front door of Unique Ink and turned off the engine. “What do we have to lose? My new tutor doesn’t arrive until tomorrow. I’ve got time to kill.”
She opened the door and stretched, giving Odintar a moment to float out of the car. He could push his energy through the door if he needed to, but this was less exhausting.
With her purse slung over her shoulder and her sunglasses holding back the front of her hair, she walked into the shop.
“Hey there, beautiful,” Jett greeted. “I thought you weren’t coming in until tomorrow.”
“I’m not official until tomorrow, but I was in the area. Figured I’d stop by and see how things were going.”
Roxie snatched the privacy curtain open and rounded the display case, welcome shining in her pale blue eyes. “I thought I recognized that voice.”
Before Jillian could do more than return her smile, Nazerel stepped into the opening. “Well, isn’t this awkward?”
Her mouth dried up as her heart thundered in her chest. What was he doing here?
You shouldn’t know who he is. Odintar cautioned, his signal reed thin and heavily shielded.
“Excuse me?” She recovered enough to reestablish her role. “Do I know you?”
“Oh I think you do.” He brushed past Roxie and stalked toward Jillian, menace emanating off him in waves.
In a flash Odintar, Lor and Blayne surrounded Nazerel and the two humans crumpled to the floor. Jillian summoned Air, creating a swirling vortex around Nazerel. His eyes widened as he struggled against the confinement. Then he looked at her and smiled. “Very good.” His dark gaze shifted to Lor and his smile evaporated. “Someday you’ll have to tell me how you turn latent females into Mystics overnight.”
Lor’s arms were extended and fire swirled around his fingers. He ignored Nazerel’s jibe and motioned Blayne forward. “Grab him. Let’s go.”
Nazerel drove Blayne back with a wave of his hand, but his gaze remained on Lor. “I am not looking for a fight. I came to warn Roxie.”
Odintar crept forward. Nazerel pushed him back as well, though it took considerably more effort. “This is neither the time nor the place for a battle.” Nazerel forced the words out between clenched teeth as Blayne and Odintar combined their energy. “She must be warned!”
Jillian poured energy into the vortex, but the struggling men barely noticed. Forget the invisible tug-of-war; they needed to get Nazerel out of here before Jett or Roxie woke up.
“Warn her about what?” Lor asked without relaxing his stance, then to his men he added, Let him speak.
Maintaining his hold on Nazerel, Odintar neither forced his way forward nor allowed himself to be driven back.
Nazerel panted, sweat now beading his brow. “Gerrod wouldn’t tell me why, but Roxi is important to Sevrin. That bitch has a use for Roxi and I don’t think it’s good. She needs to disappear and disappear now!” As if following his own advice, he flashed out of sight, Lor and Blayne half an instant behind him.
“Damn that man is strong.” Odintar rested his hands on his knees, panting harshly.
“What the hell just happened?” Jillian rushed over to where Roxie lay. She didn’t seem to be harmed, just unconscious. “Can you wake them up?”
Odintar stumbled to the couch and collapsed. “It’s better if the compulsion wears off naturally. They’re still going to feel like shit. There wasn’t time to be gentle.”
So Odintar had been responsible for their sudden collapse. She’d known it was one of the Mystics. She just hadn’t known which one. She checked Jett as well, straightening one of his legs so he lay more comfortably. “How long will it take to wear off?”
“Not long.” Gradually his breathing returned to normal, but his face remained flushed, his hairline damp. “He resisted us, but why didn’t he attack? He could have done some serious damage. Why’d he just stand there?”
“Trouble in paradise?” She crossed to the couch and sat beside him. “If Sevrin’s hold over the men is slipping, it could be a very good thing for us.”
He looked at her and smiled. “I like the way you said us.”
She nudged his shoulder. “I might not have your mad skills, but I’m a member of the team.”
“I consider you one. I’d just never heard you place yourself among us.”
The door flew open and Elias rushed in, followed by two of his men. “There are definite advantages to the way you guys get around.” He waited until his team confirmed that the scene was secure before leaving his position by the door. “Do they need a medical team?” He nodded toward the two lying on the floor.
“They’ll be fine,” Odintar assured. “But we better figure out what to tell them. They’re going to be more than curious.”
“Gas leak?” Elias offered with a sardonic smile. Then his gaze returned to Roxie and lingered. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath as he went and knelt by her side. He pressed his fingers to the pulse point at the side of her throat then slid his knuckles along her jaw.
Jillian couldn’t help but smile. Checking her pulse was probably procedure, but that caress had been interested male.
“Is this Roxie?” He glanced over his shoulder then carefully lifted her in his arms.
“Yeah.” Odintar rubbed his temples, eyes tightly closed.
He was obviously distracted by his massive loss of energy. Still, Jillian was fascinated by this softer side of Elias.
Elias crossed to the large easy chair and arranged Roxie as comfortably as he could. “Her pictures don’t do her justice and that’s saying a lot.”
Jett stirred, groaning loudly before his eyes flew open. “What the…” He sat up then pressed his hands to each side of his head. “Why do I feel like I just came off a three-day binge?”
Not trusting the men to invent a story that would satisfy the curious artist, Jillian hurried across the room and helped Jett to his feet. “Nazerel was right. I not only know him, he’s the real reason I applied for the job.”
“They’re criminals. I knew it.” Jett’s usual enthusiasm was muted by his pain, but he hung on her every word. “What sort of technology are they into?”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, but it set up her story perfectly. “Can’t you guess? You just experienced the effects of one of their toys.”
“They’re arms dealers?”
“They’re many things. Inventing new weapons is just one of their businesses.”
Apparently Elias didn’t want her tall tale to grow any taller. He moved up beside her and stuck out his hand. “Special Agent Elias Bertram.” Jett shook his hand. “We’re sorry about all this, but the less you know the safer you’ll be. Suffice it to say that Nazerel and his companions are extremely dangerous. We believe they’re headed out of Las Vegas, but we want you to lock up the shop and head out the back if you ever see them again.” He handed Jett a very official-looking business card. “And then contact me immediately.”
Jett nodded and put the business card in his wallet.
Jillian tapped Elias on the shoulder and pointed to Roxie, who was just beginning to stir.
Elias moved to the chair and waited until she opened her eyes. “Hello. How are you feeling?”
“Like someone kicked me in the head.” She pushed her hair back from her face, her light blue eyes finally focusing on Elias. “Who are you?”
“Special Agent Elias Bertram.” He held out his hand, but she ignored it in favor of rubbing her temples.
“Holy mother of God, my head hurts.”
Odintar stood and moved behind her. “If you’ll allow me to touch you, I can ease the pressure.”
He could barely stand. Did he have enough energy to heal her?
I can do this in my sleep, gennari. But your concern is sweet.
Roxi sat quietly as Odintar pressed his fingertips against her temples. Elias, on the other hand, looked ready to dive over the chair and tackle Odintar to the ground.
“Wow.” Roxie blinked several times and then opened her eyes. “What did you just do? The pain is just—gone.”
“Pressure points,” Odintar told her. “Western doctors scoff at the concept, but they really do work.”
Roxie didn’t argue, but she wasn’t totally convinced. She stood, swaying a bit as she walked over to Jett. “Go cancel the rest of the appointments for today. I don’t think either of us is fit to work.”
“You got it.”
He disappeared into the back and she turned on Odintar, gaze flashing. “What the hell are you?”
“What am I?” He laughed, genuinely caught off guard by her hostility. “I’m a human. What are you?”
“Humans can’t materialize out of thin air or heal with a touch. And it wasn’t just you. I saw the others. Don’t bother denying it. I know what I saw.”
“The weapon Nazerel used on you can cause hallucinations,” Odintar told her.
“All right. Let’s talk about whatever kicked in my head. Why didn’t it work on you?” When he had no ready reply, she shifted her gaze to Elias. “I’ve had it with this bullshit. Who are you people and what are you doing on my planet!”
Lor flashed into view behind her, wrapped both arms around her, and flashed out before she could do more than gasp.
Jillian looked at Odintar. “Did you tell him to do that?”
“She has to be debriefed and likely kept in protective custody until we figure out what the hell Nazerel was talking about.”
Elias nodded, obviously in complete agreement. “Tell Jett she left with me.” He motioned his men from the room, leaving Jillian and Odintar alone in the reception area.
“That was not cool. She was terrified and now—”
“It couldn’t be helped.” Odintar placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed the tip of her nose. “I don’t think Jett saw anything, but Roxie obviously did. The situation had to be contained before she made things worse.”
Jett returned a few minutes later, his concerned gaze sweeping the room. “Where’d everyone go? Where’s Roxie?”
“Her headache got worse,” Jillian told him. “They have a medication that reverses the effects. She’ll be released as soon as she’s feeling better.”
“Where’d they take her? I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“We’ll have her call you as soon as she’s able,” Odintar told him.
“No way, man. I want to go there.”
“I understand, but it’s a private facility. No visitors allowed.”
“This is bullshit!” He stomped right up to Odintar and glared into his eyes. “You’re going to take me there or I’m calling the media.”
“Roxi will call you in two hours or less. There is no reason for your hostility.”
The pissing contest was getting them nowhere. She touched Jett’s arm and waited until her looked at her. “Jett, you know me. I’m not a stranger. I have a history with this town. Roxi is going to be fine.”
Gradually a bit of the fight melted from his posture. “Do you know where they took her?”
“I know you’re worried about her, but I won’t let anyone harm her.” She looked right into his eyes, meaning every word. “I’ll make sure she calls you and you can hear it from Roxie herself.”
“It has to be a video call. Voices are too easy to fake.”
She looked at Odintar and he nodded. “A video call in two hours or less. It’s a deal.”
“I really will call the media.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Odintar.
“There will not be a need.”
She took Odintar by the hand and hurried him from the shop before the situation could escalate. “And what are we going to do when Roxie tells us to go screw ourselves?”
He finally smiled. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Jillian triggered the locks on her car then slipped in behind the wheel. Odintar joined her, in the front this time. “Do you know how to drive?”
“I do, but I don’t mind. I gave myself a headache too.”
After carefully backing out of the parking space, she headed off down the street. She couldn’t forget the image of Roxie’s terrified face as Lor appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her. At least when Odintar first teleported with Jillian, she’d had some sort of warning.
She was just about to turn onto Tropicana Blvd when something or someone pulled at her mind. “Did you feel that?”
“Only because our link is wide open. He’s trying to reach you.”
The driver behind her laid on his horn, so she pulled into a small parking lot on the right instead of entering the busy flow of traffic. “He? How could you tell that was a man?”
“Much can be learned from energy patterns. I’ve been deciphering them for years.”
She searched inward, trying to understand what she’d felt. “It’s gone. Whatever it was is—” Fear and pain stabbed into her brain and she saw the lighted canopy of Fremont Street. “He’s downtown. What should we do? Can you tell who he is or what he wants? All I sense is desperation.”
“Lor and Blayne will meet us there. We’re to approach with extreme caution.”
Yeah, no shit. No one needed to tell her to be careful. The real question was should she approach at all. Was this one of the Shadow Assassins? “Are all of our people accounted for? Who else could send that signal?”
“His energy feels similar to my mother’s.” Odintar looked at her meaningfully. “I think he’s battle born.”
To her knowledge there was only one battle born hybrid left on Earth—her father. “Why would he reach out to me?”
“It feels like he has no choice.”
Even with the recent restoration efforts, downtown Las Vegas was a pretty scary place. “All right.” She turned off the car, put the keys in her pocket and stuffed her purse under her seat. Then she held out her hand and braced for the sickening rush of acceleration. “Let’s go.”
The quick jump across town felt like nothing now that she knew what to expect. They materialized in an alley and she quickly unbent her knees.
“His signal is weak, but it’s still there,” Odintar told her. “Can you feel it?”
She closed her eyes and let her emotions surge, a lifetime of resentment combined with the fundamental desire to assist those in need. Air swirled up through her, bringing the sensation closer to the surface. “He’s over there.”
Checking the street for cross traffic, she hurried toward the area from which she sensed the signal. A three-story parking garage formed one side of the alley while the back side of narrow businesses lined the other. Late-afternoon shadows had given way to twilight, so she hurried. If they lost the light completely, they might never find him.
“Trust your abilities,” Odintar urged. “Focus only on the signal. Tune everything else out.”
Easier said than done. The pavement was slimy and the scent of rotting garbage and bodily fluids hung heavy in the air. She had to do this or her father could die. Did she care? The one and only contribution to her life had been seducing her mother. Why should she care if his life ended? Shame gave her a stubborn shake. Every life was precious. She had to help him if she could.
She paused, tuning out the rank smells and the distant pulse of muffled music. Air swirled around her, driving away the stench. She inhaled deeply and let the energy wash over her. Asshole or not, she needed to find her father.
“There!” She locked on to the signal and didn’t let go.
Gerrod crouched in a corner created by a stairwell inside the parking garage. His legs were drawn up to his chest and one of his feet was bare. The front of his shirt and one side of his pants were soaked in blood, but the cause of the bleeding wasn’t obvious.
“You came.” He forced a weak smile. “I wasn’t sure you would.” His head dropped back against the brick wall and the signal blinked out.
With a worried cry, she fell to her knees, amazed by the fear and sorrow surging within her. “Is he dead?”
Odintar quickly scanned him then shook his head. “Unconscious. He’s extremely weak.”
Suddenly Blayne and Lor stood behind them. Their big bodies blocked most of the light in the narrow alley. “Can we move him? We’re too exposed here?”
Odintar examined him more closely, searching for the cause of the blood. An alloy band encircled his neck. Odintar gingerly pushed the band upward and blood gushed from a long nearly surgical incision concealed beneath the band. “Shit! Someone slit his throat.”
Someone handed him a wad of cloth. Jillian glanced back and found Lor had taken off his shirt.
Using the shirt as a pressure bandage, Odintar attempted to stop the bleeding. “This is pointless. Let’s get him out of here.”
Blayne pushed past her and scooped up her father as if he were a child. Odintar kept the shirt pressed tightly against his throat, but blood was already seeping through.
Odintar motioned toward her with his chin. “Will you—
“Go,” Lor urged. “I’ve got her.”
She rushed to Lor’s side and he wrapped his arm around her waist, teleporting with staggering speed. She had time for one startled gasp and then they arrived inside the Bunker.
Blayne had carried her father into the clinic. Uniformed medics rushed around the bed, fighting the Mystics for much-needed space.
Suddenly Odintar ripped off his T-shirt and spread his arms. Fire ignited deep inside his dragon sigil, making the entire mark glow vivid red. Tension rippled up his back then rolled across his shoulders. Then he shouted, “Get back!”
The medics scrambled out of the way as a thin stream of Fire arced from Odintar’s fingertip and cauterized the wound in Gerrod’s throat. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, but the wound stopped bleeding. Unfortunately the pillow beside his neck burst into flames. Someone ran for a fire extinguisher. Odintar switched gears with practiced fluidity, showering the pillow with Water before the flames could really get going.
“That’s one way to do it,” one of the medics muttered with a dry laugh.
“It worked. His blood pressure has stabilized,” another pointed out as she waved her hand in front of her face in an effort to dissipate the smell.
“I think we can take it from here,” the first medic asserted. He was probably a doctor not just a medic. He seemed personally affronted by Odintar’s actions and the intrusion into his domain.
“He needs blood and I’m your best bet for a match. He’s a Rodyte/Bilarrian hybrid.”
The female medic mouthed the words “A what?” But the doctor didn’t seem surprised by the revelation.
“Kim type his blood. Let’s hope we get lucky.”
Kim, the female medic, gathered the supplies and drew a small sample of Odintar’s blood. Jillian hurried to his side as Kim went into the adjoining lab. “How’s your back? Does it hurt to activate the sigil?”
He chuckled. “Burns almost as badly as when she put it there.”
“Well, thank you. I can’t help feeling that this is important. The Shadow Assassins leave town and he ends up nearly dead. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences. Someone tried to kill him. We need to know who and why.”
“And how he got away,” she added with a helpless shudder.
Kim returned with some sort of vacuum-sealed kit clutched in her hand. “Doctor Reyes said you’ll have to do.” She smiled at Odintar. “That’s a direct quote.”
“No doubt it is.”
“Could you move your chair over here by the bed. Some of these tubes aren’t very long.” She pulled a wheeled silver tray to the foot of the bed and opened the packages without removing what was inside. “According to Doctor Reyes, your blood isn’t a perfect match, but your blood type is tolerated well by people with the other types.”
“Like a human with O negative blood?” Jillian crept closer to the bed without getting in Kim’s way.
“Exactly.” She looked at Jillian and then Gerrod. “You should probably wait in the lounge. This will take at least an hour.”
“You’re transferring blood from my husband to my father. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her claim made Odintar smile and Jillian realized it was the first time she’d referred to him as anything other than lover.
“If Blayne or Lor can give him energy, that will help as much as the blood,” Odintar said. “I could use some too. It’s been one hell of a day.”
“I’ll go find one or the other, or both.”
Kim tried to conceal her curiosity and failed.
“First time you’ve worked with Mystics?” Jillian asked, suddenly feeling quite superior.
Kim nodded. “The orientation doesn’t even begin to explain what just happened.”
Jillian leaned over and gave Odintar a kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“You know where to find me.”
She was nearly out the door when she heard Kim ask, “Is the image on your back some sort of tattoo?”
Again Jillian smiled. She had learned so much in just a week and her education had just begun. Soon she’d have a Bilarrian mentor and access to something called the Wisdom of the Ages. It sounded like a truly interactive version of the internet.
Blayne and several soldiers were clustered in the corridor outside Elias’ office.
Blayne saw her approaching and broke away from the others. “Lor is catching everyone up. Were they able to save him?”
“The bleeding has stopped and Odintar is about to give him more. He asked if someone could feed him energy.”
“Odintar needs energy or Gerrod needs energy?”
“Actually both.”
“Not a problem. I can at least get things started.”
She turned around and headed back toward the clinic, Blayne at her side.
“Wait.” She skid to a stop. “Roxie needs to call Jett. If he doesn’t hear from her in under two hours he’s going to notify the media.”
Blayne chuckled. “And tell them what? He doesn’t know anything and can prove even less. They’ll think he’s a nutcase.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “I promised him I’d make this happen. Where’s Roxie? I’ll tell her myself.”
“I never argue with that look. Give me a minute. I’ll have Elias arrange the call.”
“It’s supposed to be a video call.”
He shook his head with a muffled laugh. “Anything else?” he tossed the question over his shoulder as he headed off down the hall.
“That will be all—for now.”
He waved without turning around.
She wasn’t even sure what time it was. Hopefully they were still within the two-hour window.
Blayne returned a few minutes later, but all playfulness had evaporated from his demeanor. “Elias was not amused by your assignment. Apparently, Roxie has been giving him hell ever since she arrived.”
“Go Roxie,” she whispered under her breath, earning a startled look from Blayne.
Kim was back in the lab when they reached the clinic. Odintar sat beside the bed, his head resting back against the wall. A blood-filled tube ran from the bend of his elbow into a small device. The device hummed and a small divided screen displayed several sets of numbers that meant nothing to Jillian. Another tube ran from the opposite side of the device and into Gerrod’s arm.
“What’s the gizmo do?” She moved to Odintar’s side and stroked his hair back from his brow. He was still shirtless, a state of affairs the female medics were enjoying no doubt.
“Not a clue,” he muttered sleepily.
“Has Gerrod stirred at all?” Blayne asked as he moved to the far side of the bed where it was less crowded.
Odintar shook his head. “I’ve sensed several spikes of awareness, but he hasn’t made a sound.”
Without another word, Blayne pressed his hand against Gerrod’s forearm and sent him wave after wave of energy. It didn’t take long for Gerrod’s color to improve and his breathing seemed less labored. Blayne looked up and smiled at her. “Next.”
She stepped away from Odintar long enough for Blayne to feed him. “If he needs more, I can come back later. They both seem pretty peaceful.”
She looked at Odintar and found his eyes closed, his body relaxed. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Blayne winked at her then left the clinic.
She moved to the far side of the bed so she could see Gerrod and Odintar. Her father and her mate. She wasn’t sure which was more surprising. She studied Gerrod’s face, searching for something of herself in his features. This was her father. The man who had captured her mother’s heart then stomped it into the dirt. Did knowing he had an in-depth ulterior motive make it better or worse?
Gerrod moaned and his eyelids fluttered.
Odintar jerked awake, coming up out of the chair before he remembered where he was and sat back down. “Where’s Kim? I’m feeling pretty woozy?”
“I’ll go get her.” There was a large window in the door leading to the lab and Kim saw her approaching.
“Is everything all right?”
“Odintar is feeling weak. Can you make sure he’s not giving too much?”
Kim moved to the bed and checked the readout on the device. “If blood volumes in Rodyte/Bilarrian hybrids is similar to humans, we better call this good.” She powered down the device then quickly gathered what she’d need to disconnect Odintar.
“Shoe.” Gerrod said without opening his eyes. His voice was rough and raspy. Had the blade damaged his vocal cords? Or had the damage been done by the fire Odintar used to cauterize the wound? It didn’t matter. He was alive.
After clearing his throat, Gerrod tried again. “Where is my shoe?”
He’d nearly bled to death in an ally and he was worried about losing his shoes? Both of his feet were bare now, so she looked at Kim.
“It’s in a bag in the closet.”
Jillian retrieved the bag and pulled out the shoe. “Safe and sound.” She held it up so he could see it.
He made a hand motion, but it made no sense to her. She quickly filled a glass with water and took it to him. He shook his head and motioned toward the shoe that she’d left on the counter near the sink. Curious now, she brought the shoe to him and held it steady as he pulled a foam lining out of the bottom.
“For you.” He handed the linerless shoe back to her.
“Is there something in there?” Odintar asked, obviously having watched the entire exchange.
She angled the shoe toward the light, so she could see inside. A small trench had been dug out of the bottom of the shoe and a thumb drive was nestled in the opening. She dug the thumb drive out of its hiding place and looked at Gerrod.
“What’s on it?” she asked.
All he said was, “Insurance.”