Deep purple swaths tinted the sky above Hutchinson Island—the landmass jutting out to the Savannah River, between the borders of South Carolina and Georgia. The raiding party, cloaked in Lord Aten’s full camouflage, had landed on their target as planned. From this moment onward, light would continue to deepen and shadows would ingest the land.
Walking alongside the structure’s crumbling brick walls, Soren led his fighting force toward a gaping opening midway up McGuire Street. He paused next to the first in a series of graffitied concrete pylons that supported the entrance and large overhang. Talaith glared at the building, stretching to the east and west. Its extreme state of decay did nothing but worsen her gloomy mood.
Frowning, Soren studied the rusted hangar doors at the front of each wing. “Okay, we need to split here. I’ll take the east side. Maya will head west.”
“Wild. Why are you separating from your mate?” Alain asked.
“Because we’re dealing with separate structures,” Kailen explained. “One group searching is inefficient. We could be entering one wing while Dubtach and company escape out the other. Plus, for reports, we need silent comms. Soren and Maya are telepaths.”
“I see… In that case, I’m going with Soren.”
“Chicken.” Talaith snickered.
“Like you had a choice. You were coming with me anyway. I’m keeping you real close.” Soren shook his head. “Stay alert, Maya. My gut tells me he knows we’re here. I want updates. If you go silent longer than a minute, I’m coming in hot. Alain, did you bring your weapon?”
“Yes, right here.”
“Talaith and I will go with Maya,” Kailen said.
“Aye, so will I,” Eachann added.
“Good,” Soren grunted. “Bromm and Djoser, with me.”
“Will you stay visible?” Talaith asked Eachann.
“You know me well, lassie.” Laughing, he moved next to Maya, who was already on her way to the hangar door.
The cunning vampire had skipped answering her question. She figured he’d stay corporeal until the fighting began, then he’d be at one with the wind’s formidable energy.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m going to be with you all the way,” Kailen murmured, clasping her shoulder.
“I know. I never fear when you’re with me.”
“No matter what happens I will always protect you. Before we go inside, there’s one thing I want you to keep present at all times.”
“What is it?”
“Your sorceress nature protects you from lieutenants, drones, and minions. You can be injured, although not killed. Dubtach is different. He’s a high mage. His power rivals Khnurn’s, so avoid a direct strike from him. Should he aim at you, duck, jump, move out of the way. Don’t hesitate. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Kailen.” She nodded, trying to smile even though her stomach had turned inside out.
“It’ll be all right.” He kissed her forehead, then gave her rump an affectionate pat.
Savannah’s lively sounds, a city popular with partying humans, began to fade the farther they advanced inside the building. The crunch of packed dust, rubble, and gravel under her boots replaced the happy noises. As promised, Kailen stepped silently at her side, his wrist guards on and holding his modified laser sword at shoulder level, ready to wield it.
Something about walking into the thick of danger, her empty arms swinging casually at her side, made her feel silly and irrelevant. She wished someone had given her a weapon to hold on to. A staff or long stick would work, anything that would steady her nerves, occupy her trembling fingers, or at least help her present a menacing image.
Her weapons were internal, same as Maya. She glanced at the phoenix. Her friend didn’t seem bothered by the lack of external trappings. Chin raised, her sharp eyes surveying perilous grounds ahead, she walked on.
The pendant hanging next to her skin heated. She clasped it, and a settling wave of confidence and understanding surged in her. It became clear the universe intended it this way: misjudgment from strangers was her fate. For magical creatures like her, with a harmless facade, being overlooked by enemies was an advantage. Because in reality, she was the ultimate deadly stone fish lurking at the bottom of the ocean. With one flick or snap, she could vanquish them all. Comforted and strengthened by the wisdom in the message, she breathed deeply and settled into her new role.
Five minutes into the building, they reached a half-collapsed wall, opening the way to a cavernous storage room. Her shoulder brushed the edge when she stepped through, and pieces of stone and mortar trickled with a dull, dry sound. Maya eyed her in warning. Talaith gave an apologetic cringe in return.
Holding up a fist, Maya signaled to halt next to a tall pile of dilapidated stones. Maya waited and watched. When nothing but complete silence came at them, she waved and continued forward.
Colorful graffiti and a variety of imaginative drawings embellished the deteriorating plaster walls. On the far end of the room, corroded beams did their best to support a loft that threatened to tumble at any minute. What used to be a side row of windows—glass panes and frames long gone—opened to a darkening sky.
A chittering noise got her attention, and Talaith moved to the right wall. She went around an overturned container. A pair of rats scampered and disappeared through a deep crack on the dusty floor. Other than the rodents, the area was clear. She picked up no traces of magic or enemy activity.
She returned to her group. Maya, Kailen, and Eachann were inspecting what years ago might have been an office. The gloom made it difficult to find anything of value. Talaith turned inward, and gathering her force, she radiated her platinum light outward.
Kailen, who’d never seen her illumination, glanced at her with amazement.
Maya winked, mouthing, Thank you.
A frustrated Eachann punched a fist on the remnants of a metal file cabinet. “I sense nae magic and nae hostages. This is a waste of time.”
Maya’s amused expression twisted into a grimace. She stiffened, placing a palm to her temple. At the same time, Eachann froze and fell silent as if he too had heard the telepathic message. His eyes flashing bright, he gyrated into his wind form and blew out of the ancient office, lifting clouds of dust and debris.
“Soren’s calling for help!” Maya’s exclamation confirmed Talaith’s worst fears.
Talaith took off after the vampire’s trail, Kailen close behind. Eachann’s preternatural wind was much too fast. To stay on his path, she sent out her senses in a relay chase. As one returned with his location, the next set out. She fled to the outside, traversing the pylons in the main entrance, crossed over cracked asphalt, and plunged into the stygian darkness of the next building.
“Talaith, your light.”
Kailen’s urgent call came in the nick of time. She lit up before crashing into a metal cart. The next locator sense returned, and she veered to the left, sliding feet first into a wide, angled chute that led to a set of rickety stairs. She flew to the floor below.
“Stairs ahead,” she warned over her shoulder.
Her senses weren’t necessary anymore. Shrieks, loud masculine grunts and curses, and flashes of light guided her to the fight. Talaith, with Kailen at her side, stopped at the archway waiting for Maya to catch up. She resisted the impulse to run in. Instead, she gauged locations and combatants.
The arrangement in this room was the mirror opposite of the storage area they’d just left. An unconscious Alain lay sprawled on the floor. Four drones and two lieutenants surrounded Djoser and Bromm. She watched in awe as the Aurician and his terrible weapon separated a lieutenant’s head from his body in one stroke, then kicked it aside. A screeching drone pounced on Bromm. The werewolf reared back as he fired his laser sword. His target burst in a haze of red.
Perched on the loft and safely above the fray, Dubtach, Rhonda, and her bodyguard supervised the struggle.
“Soren. I don’t see him,” a panicked Maya shouted.
Off to Talaith’s right, a strange effect in the air caught her attention. Soren’s form flickered on and off, hopping from one spot to the next, infuriating the minions, drone, and lieutenant trying to pin him down.
“Look. He’s in the rippling air.”
Talaith pointed, then followed the magic line from Soren to the office room. There, Khnurn, bound and gagged, sat cross-legged in the same floating cell Dubtach had used to trap him in Hillsborough. Despite his wounds, and even without his amulet, he was sending blocking waves to protect Soren. She knew her master couldn’t sustain this effort much longer. The magic shielding Soren was already beginning to weaken.
Rushing to join her mate, Maya vaulted over two drones, then planted her back against Soren’s. Uncaring of who saw her Simurgh lightning force, she sliced minions in half.
Up on the loft, a wide-eyed Dubtach watched as Maya, deploying her Titanian-like abilities, engaged a lieutenant twice her size in a fierce one-on-one. This was clearly a huge discovery for the mage and as he continued to observe the phoenix, surprise changed to admiration and assessment. It was obvious he wanted Maya for his own.
Talaith used the opportunity to slink along the western wall and approach the office unseen. With Kailen covering her back, she moved closer and closer. She only had to free Khnurn’s hands, give him the pendant, and, with his power returned, the skirmish would be over.
Howling in pain, Bromm dropped a knee to the floor. The ooze that drones called blood had struck his thigh, injecting acid into the wound.
“Watch out, drones carry acid in their blood!” Kailen shouted before she did. “If they’re wounded, keep clear.”
The attacking drone turned its hideous glare on Kailen and made a move to discharge his weapon when Eachann’s wind picked it up and pitched it against the southern wall full force. The entity splattered. Its acid blood dripped down crackling, bubbling plaster. Kailen lifted the injured wolf, tossed him over his shoulder, and rushed him to the archway. With Bromm resting on the sidelines, he joined Djoser, who now fought alone.
Pressed against the wall, Talaith watched Dubtach’s reaction. The mage scowled, evaluating the fight below. Up to this moment, his forces had outnumbered Soren’s group. But Eachann had tilted the battle against him. Pushing the woman out of his way, he took the steps to the ground floor.
Khnurn grunted at Talaith. His eyes sent a message she couldn’t decipher but that worried her nonetheless. She dashed to the office in a semicrouched position, but a dark-haired male wearing a hooded black robe intercepted her. A malevolent sneer flashed across his face as he raised his hand. Under his gag, Khnurn shrieked a louder warning. The pendant went hot. An order hit her brain. Obeying, she lifted her palm in defense mode as the male threw a lightning bolt. She cringed, expecting a deadly blow. An inch away from hitting her, the bolt splintered into a shower of sparks, then dissipated into the ether.
Talaith blinked, but remained alert to her predicament and kept up the defensive position. The hooded male repeated the attack. The next bolt disintegrated against her magic, same as the first. The mage cursed. Covering his face with the edge of his hood, he turned on his heel, opened a personal portal, and dived through.
Talaith glanced at her hands in surprise, then dropped them to her sides. This wasn’t the right time to examine what had happened and why she wasn’t hurt. Later, she could ponder all those questions. Now she had to release Khnurn.
She made it to the office doorway, then scanned the interior for hidden enemies. Satisfied no one but Khnurn was in the room, she hurried to unlock his door. Gently, she wiped his pale sweaty face. His facial contusions and lacerations didn’t worry her as much as the wet spot spreading on his chest did.
“You’re bleeding, Master.” She pulled down his gag. “I need to know what he did so I can help you.”
“It’s nothing, child,” he rasped weakly. “You’ve made me so proud. I can rest.”
“Rest? No. I brought you the pendant. It will heal you, make you strong again. Here.” She pulled chain and ankh out of her top. Surrounded in a bright halo, the diamond sparkled with an unnatural light.
He waved her effort away. “Not now, child. You’re so strong. Believe, Talaith. Take your rightful place. Do it, protect us all.”
“But, Master—”
“Give me the pendant, and I shall save him.”
Talaith spun. Dubtach stood at the doorway, extending an open hand.
“Liar.”
Behind her, an explosion tore a hole in the wall of the office. She covered her face as shards of stone flew. One hit Khnurn above his ribs, and he gasped in pain. A second beam struck, enlarging the hole, and a new round of plaster and rubble rained on her. An armed drone stood at the opening.
“The pendant is mine, little one. Give it now.” Dubtach’s tone was calm, patient.
“No.” She pivoted from the drone to Dubtach.
She didn’t have to look to know the drone approached. Its harsh breathing came closer, the putrid scent invading her nostrils. With a strange detachment, she wondered how much longer she could stand her ground.
The mage smiled. Reading her hesitation, he narrowed the space between them.
Just when she thought the drone would fire its weapon, a sudden gale barreled into the office, tumbling and tearing at anything in its path. Talaith held on to the bars on Khnurn’s cell as an ear-shattering shriek reverberated and the creature was swept out and impaled on the jagged tip of a water pipe.
Dubtach scowled. “The pendant, now. He’s dying. I alone can heal him.”
She turned to check on Khnurn. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Dubtach’s hand movement. As the mage pitched his bolt, Kailen jumped in front of her, his wrist guards deflecting the edge of the bolt. Falling short, the fireball hollowed out the ground a foot away from Kailen, but death-magic splinters struck his legs. Grimacing, he rolled onto his back.
Talaith froze. She couldn’t think, feel, or speak.
Looking down at Kailen, Dubtach shoved him in the ribs with the tip of his boot. “We meet again, Danann. Hardly a fair fight.”
Kailen ignored the taunt. His fathomless water-colored eyes were focused on her. He was losing color, growing paler. The shadow carrying death magic moved up his legs.
Despite the pain reflected on his handsome face, he managed to smile. “I love you…a cuishle…mo croí,” he whispered.
Words caught in her paralyzed throat. She wanted to scream and couldn’t.
“It’s over. You cannot save him.” Dubtach’s green eyes scrutinized her. He extended his hand again, clearly expecting her to hand him the pendant.
How could he ever imagine she’d give it up?
A hot surge of pain erupted from deep within her core, lava singeing everything in its path. Opening her mouth, she bellowed, releasing a raging energy that would not be contained. Fury and hatred churned within her. The pendant vibrated, speaking in a mental language she’d never heard before, yet clearly understood. Extermination magic exploded out of her. Her hair lifted in a wild corona, the tips ejecting multiple blades of fire at a stunned Dubtach. She aimed her eyes at him. Flaming missiles shot out and cracked his magic shield, showering fire on his clothes and body. The mage contorted, but this wasn’t enough for her. He had to die. Twisting her palms together, she curled energy within, rolled it, tighter…tighter… then let it go.
The fireball struck Dubtach dead on, and the mage vaporized in a black cloud.
Her wrath spent, she turned to Kailen. “No, no, no…” She dropped to her knees and crawled to him. Relentless in its purpose, the shadow line had already reached his waist. The death magic wouldn’t stop until his life force was extracted.
He had saved her, sacrificed his life for hers, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. What good was all her magic and power? Nothing. Worthless. She’d give all of it away in exchange for Kailen’s life.
“Oh, please… Oh, please…” She kissed his cooling forehead, his eyes, his lips. “Stay, Kailen. Stay. Don’t leave me. I can’t do this without you.” His eyes glazed over, and she became desperate, pressing her hand on the shadow line, urging the darkness to take her too. But the death magic, satisfied with its victim, ignored her plea and slipped underneath her hand.
To her horror, his legs were turning to stone. If this continued, what would he become… a statue…an item stored in a corner of some mausoleum…forgotten, lost in the sands of time? She covered her mouth, stifling another scream. How could the gods allow such an undignified, miserable end? Kailen was an honorable knight, the last Danann on earth and champion of worthy causes, who’d followed every order given him, who’d protected the weak and the natural order, who’d saved her…
“Talaith. I’m here.” A grim Maya spoke at the doorway. Soren, Eachann, and Djoser stood behind her.
“Child,” Khnurn whispered from the cell, his voice a thread. “Listen to me. Out of the ashes, a full-fledged phoenix resurrects the deserving, the noble, and those she loves. Kailen has earned the right.”
Maya knelt at her side. “Don’t give up, Talaith. You and I can crush death magic and wrest its power. Release your innate healing. Let it flow through me. We can do this, together. Hold my hand, and do what I do.”
Torn between a glimmer of hope, insidious doubt, and despair, Talaith asked, “Gods, Maya… Are you sure? Tell me the truth. You’ve never done this before. How do you know it will work?”
In answer, a luminous cloud enfolded Maya, and her eyes emitted red sparks. “The phoenix has risen in me. I’m its obedient vassal.” Her voice deepened, became husky and distant. This wasn’t Maya speaking anymore. The phoenix was in command.
Talaith held on to her friend’s glowing hand and followed her every move. Anguish struck when she touched Kailen’s cold, lifeless chest. She fought back. Recalling his smiling, handsome face, she pushed the crippling emotion aside, then opened her soul to the possibility of miracles.
Pressure built against her palm, and a vision formed in her mind: the purest of energies, colorless, radiant, and perfect, streamed past the open gateway and swept through her system erasing fear and doubt. As the swell moved on, all her cherished memories, the goodness, her dreams of happiness and love, transported from her into Kailen.
The aura enfolding Maya brightened to a vivid crimson and expanded in the shape of unfurled wings. In a moment, Kailen and Talaith were subsumed within its magical space. A spot of light sprang from the base of Kailen’s spine. A second spot flashed from his navel, then another out of his solar plexus. One by one, the phoenix was charging his energy points in a direct line to the crown. When the seventh point at the top of his head flashed, a blinding vortex of light surged out, forcing her to close her eyes. The air crackled, the floor and walls vibrated, loose items crashed and crumbled, and Talaith was thrown on her back. She peeked just as the vortex imploded within Kailen’s chest and disappeared.
Silence filled the room. Tentative and afraid, she opened her eyes fully.
“Believe, Talaith.” Khnurn’s words rang in her brain.
Movement.
Kailen flicked two fingers. Activity exploded in the office. Everyone except Maya spoke and laughed at the same time. Her friend stared into space. The phoenix trance had her in its grip. Soren approached quietly, stood behind his mate, clasping her shoulders.
A hint of a smile appeared on Kailen’s face, and Talaith’s paralysis ended. She fell on him, holding him as tight as she could while relishing his reassuring warmth. She covered him with kisses as she uttered a silent prayer of thanks to the universe.
“I’m confused. Feel…weak.” His voice was thin and scratchy. “What happened, a stór?”
“Unbelievable.” She smiled. “I have so much to tell you, my love.”
He frowned. “I remember Dubtach aiming for you… Nothing more.”
“Relax, try not to speak. I will explain everything, but after you’ve recovered.”
Eachann strode past her, heading for Khnurn’s cell. He touched the sorcerer. Shaking his head, he turned to face the room, his expression dark.
“I’m sorry, lass,” he said.
Her stomach plummeted. She pushed off the floor to stand, but Maya grabbed her arm with a fierce grip. “Do not fight this. The universe calls. It’s his time.”
“Impossible. That can’t be.” She struggled with all her strength, jerking free from Maya’s grip. “He’s fine. I spoke to him a minute ago.”
Eachann stood in front of her. She could never fight the powerful vampire.
His expression was kind. “Let it be, lass. Let it be.” He clasped her shoulders.
“Khnurn has transcended to the spiritual realm,” Maya whispered. “You’re his beloved protégé. His guidance and protection will come to you always.”
“No!” She covered her ears, refusing to accept Maya’s and Eachann’s words. “Bring him back. Bring him back.”
“Only one at a time, mandates the universe,” Maya said. “Khnurn chose for you.”
Why was this happening to her? This was too much, too much. Her brain spun at high speed repeating the same absurd thought: Khnurn is gone. Khnurn is gone.
“Talaith?” Weakly, Kailen reached for her.
She grasped his hand between hers and pressed it to her chest.
Khnurn had chosen happiness for her. A profound calmness took her. She understood and stopped struggling.
One soul’s departure was long overdue. The other was in the prime of its existence. The second was rightfully hers, and it had been returned. Be at peace.
She dropped her head in acceptance. “What do we do now?”
“We gather up the pieces,” Soren said. “We depart this place of death magic and sadness and go home. There, in the company of friends and loved ones, we heal our wounded, rejoice in the miracle of Kailen’s return, and mourn Khnurn’s life properly.”
During the fourteen-hour period that followed Kailen’s return to life, a pervasive chill took root in his system and wouldn’t let go. Because this was new ground for everyone, careful consideration was given to the circumstances. Maya concluded the cold was the aftereffect of death magic and its shadow. Zuberi and Fritiof concurred, and Soren gave orders to arrange the conservatory for Kailen’s use. Planters were moved to the sides, and lounge chairs took their place. Since summer was in full swing, the hardier shrubs were taken outside.
“This is so unnecessary,” Kailen protested when Talaith fussed, arranging his legs on the lounger, tucking a thick blanket around him, and fluffing a pillow behind his head.
“Maybe so, but you can’t take this enjoyment from me. I almost lost you, Kailen, and I’m not finished touching and pampering you.”
“It’s bad enough you eliminated Dubtach when I was supposed to do it,” he huffed. “Now you’re handling me like I’m a child.”
His words stunned her. Did he resent her retaliation? She hadn’t planned it. Dubtach’s actions had taken that choice from her.
“Gods, no, Kailen. From the start, I’ve respected your desire for payback. Interfering with your purpose was never a thought. You saved me, protected me with your life. When I saw you there…on the floor…after he hurt you, I couldn’t handle it. I lost my mind and struck out.”
“Come here.” He held her hand and tugged, forcing her to sit at the edge of his lounger. “That didn’t come out right. It was a really poor attempt to make fun of myself. Everything you did was perfect. I am so proud of you, a stór. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter at all if you or I dispatched Dubtach. The mage was evil and had to go. I only wish I’d seen it happen.”
“No big deal, it went too quickly for my taste. Almost anticlimactic.”
“Every day is a surprise with you. I had no idea you hid such a bloody streak.” He gave a short laugh. “Actually, I’m relieved you weren’t hurt, and to be honest, I’m also delighted Maya had the power to bring me back. It’s good to be alive. I would have missed you terribly in the next world.”
“Well, it didn’t happen, and I don’t want to talk about it.” Rolling her eyes, she rearranged the blanket around him and sat on her chair. “Relax. That’s an order.”
He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “Mmm…the sun feels good. As to the rest, I have this empty spot. I lost a chunk of time.”
“I think magic is blocking your memory by design, to protect your thought processes. Recalling what happened might hurt you, love. And besides, where’s the advantage or purpose in reliving every ugly detail? I was there. Nothing I care to repeat. It was too damned awful.” She frowned.
“Talaith’s assessment sounds logical to me.” Maya stepped down into the room and settled on the lounger next to Kailen’s.
“My savior arrives.” Kailen smiled.
“Nope, more like the director in chief. You were a three-way project, my friend.”
“Three way, how?” Talaith asked.
“Well…” She held three fingers as she spoke. “Talaith, Khnurn, and me. Did you not feel his influence, his power behind the effort to restore Kailen’s life force? I did. His spirit lingered above us, ensuring every last bit of Dubtach’s death magic was completely removed. We don’t want nasty flashbacks.”
Talaith’s throat tightened. She’d never get used to Khnurn’s absence. The space he’d occupied in her heart would never fill. Kailen clasped her hand. He didn’t offer platitudes or interrupt this moment of grief. The gesture was a quiet message of support.
Maya sighed, leaning back in her chair. Talaith did the same. A soft silence fell in the conservatory as cherished memories of the ancient mage floated from one to the other.
A large puffy cloud moved overhead to block the sun, and shadows fell in the greenhouse. The mood changed.
“I’m curious,” Kailen said. “Where’s Gisela? In all the commotion during and after our return, no one has mentioned her or her father. What happened to Alain? The last time I saw him, he was lying facedown in the dust.”
“Good question.” Maya pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Before we get into this, anyone thirsty? I’m calling for tea.”
“Sure,” Talaith answered. Kailen nodded.
She finished tapping and dropped her phone on the side table. “After your life force was restored, Kailen, we split into groups. Eachann and Talaith teleported you, Bromm, and the still-unconscious Alain to the New York mansion. And while I stayed guarding Khnurn’s remains, Djoser and Soren searched the storage area high and low. They couldn’t find a single trace of Gisela. The bitch Rhonda and her bodyguard took off to parts unknown. We need to find those two. I’m sure they’re plotting somewhere. Remember them? They were perched in the loft with Dubtach.”
“Sure, I remember,” Talaith said. “Eachann entered the fray, and Dubtach pushed her out of his way when he rushed down the steps. He was worried. Did the hooded male return?”
Kailen stiffened. “Which hooded male?”
“He came out of nowhere. You were busy taking Bromm out of the fight,” she said. “Weird creature. I sensed a deep malevolence coming out of him. He did his best to keep his face covered. I held up my palm in defense.”
“You what?” Kailen sat forward.
She shrugged. “I had no choice. He attacked, and I blocked him.”
“How did you do it? Talaith, please stop mincing words. Give us the full account, including every physical detail you saw and what he did afterward.”
“Okay… I’d say he was medium height with dark hair and a cropped goatee. His cloak was well used, frayed in some spots. His smile gave me the creeps. When he aimed, the pendant got really hot, and a mental directive came to me. I lifted my palm, and his fireball shattered. He tried again, and the same thing happened. When he couldn’t get at me, he opened a single portal and jumped out of the room.”
“Did you see him again?” Kailen asked, his aqua-silvery brow gathered into a line.
“No. I went to Khnurn.”
“Guys, what did I miss?” Soren, carrying a large tray with a tea service, stepped in. “Zola had the water ready when you texted. Did I interrupt anything?” He placed the tray on a small table by Talaith’s chair.
“We were bringing Kailen up to speed with some of the events in Savannah and discussing others,” Maya said.
“Excellent,” Soren said. “When you’re done, I have news too.”
“You go first,” Kailen said.
“Pfft, I can wait.” Soren settled back on his chair. Either he’d forgotten about the tea or had no intention of serving and was waiting for his mate to take over.
Kailen rapped his armrest. “I insist.”
Soren grinned. “Minutes ago, we received an anonymous call. Interesting, wouldn’t you say? I mean, who has our number? We’re going to have to take care of that. Anyway, so far, Woody has traced the call to downtown Manhattan. He wanted to pinpoint the exact location, but doubts he can. Gisela was seen wandering in a daze in the vicinity of the old bar.”
“The bar we burned down?” Kailen asked.
“That’s right. Her elf appearance is off-putting to humans. Thus far, they’ve left her alone, probably thinking she might be a bit touched. Brant is on his way to pick her up before the authorities are called in. He’ll assess her condition. If she’s in any shape to travel, he’ll teleport right away.”
“Damn,” Kailen muttered.
“You took the word right out of my mouth,” Soren said. “I hope her mind is salvageable and can give us something to work with.”
“Do you fear memory tampering?” Talaith asked.
“A Titanian wouldn’t, that’s obvious. But Miss Sterling, currently on the run, might possess her father’s original formula. I wouldn’t doubt she’s experimented with Gisela’s mind. We’ll see how it goes. Gisela was never in Savannah. I want to know who held her and where. I suspect the intention was to manipulate her father at a later time.” He crossed one leg over the other and folded his hands on his lap. “So, what were you discussing?”
Talaith squinted at the tray. “Since no one is making a move, how do you take your tea, Maya?”
“Black, one sugar.” She smiled. “Same with Soren.”
The large Titanian leaned on his elbow, scratching the back of his neck. He was the image of contentment and relaxation. Talaith finished pouring and returned to her seat.
“Go on, please,” Soren said. “I’m listening.”
“We were discussing Talaith’s stunning face-off with a strange male wearing a hooded cloak,” Maya said. “Did you see anyone with that description, Soren?”
He shook his head.
“None of us did. Since the pendant got involved, what are your thoughts, Kailen?” Maya asked.
“The scariest and most wondrous of possibilities,” he said. “Going by the male’s description, I’m certain Talaith encountered Mage Oras. The fact that his magic failed against hers is bewildering. Oras is far meaner and deadlier than Dubtach could ever be.” He turned to Talaith. “You didn’t do anything special or different?”
“No. The pendant sent mind images, and I obeyed.”
“Amazing.” He settled on the seat. “This explains a lot.”
“Kailen… Who’s mincing words now?” Maya frowned.
“This may sadden you, a stór. Forgive me if it does, but it’s knowledge you should have. Khnurn was a trusted mage. The gods and the universe relied on his wisdom, his fairness, and his sense of duty and honor, and for this reason, the primordial god Atum lent him a pendant that encapsulated the power of the cosmos. Khnurn was then appointed guardian of the universal order. In his quiet way, he ensured that any endeavors and machinations between the races fell within the parameters the universe established. He came into existence eons ago. There are hundreds of rumors and stories about Khnurn’s origins. One fact is certain—he was ancient, and it’s possible he’d grown tired of existing. We’ll never know for sure. The point is, he couldn’t rest or transcend until he found another worthy mage. A trusted mage like him, to pass on the power of the pendant. That’s you, Talaith. In a roundabout way, the pendant chose you on its own. Atum’s ankh latched on to your energy. You’re next in a line of great mages.”
“But… I can’t. That’s too much responsibility. I’m new and unworthy. I don’t know my lineage and have no experience. Only weeks ago, I was in training,” she protested.
“Nonsense,” Soren argued. “You’ve risen to the challenge and proven me wrong more than once. I didn’t trust you when we met. I misinterpreted your private demeanor for duplicity, and I’m sorry about that. You’re the product of Khnurn’s quiet wisdom. I see him in you.”
“The power of the cosmos resides best in a modest soul,” Kailen said. “Khnurn trusted you could handle the power. He trained you. He’s the wisest of all the creatures I’ve ever known. You can count on my support, every step of the way.”
“Me too,” Maya said.
Sighing, she clasped the pendant. The ankh warmed gently at her touch, infusing her with strength and conviction. A whispered message entered her mind.
“Believe, Talaith.”
Yes, Master. I will obey the universe’s command.
Humbly, she accepted the appointment.
Eight hours later, a long procession of guests holding lighted candles exited Soren’s home and, following a designated path, strode into the woods. The funeral was about to commence.
The full moon, a huge yellow disc, rose so close to the line of pine trees, Talaith thought she could touch it. In the middle of a natural clearing, a twelve-foot-tall funeral pyre stood above the ground. According to ancient Roman tradition, Khnurn’s casket had been inserted midway in a mesh of logs that promised to burn quickly and vigorously. Flaming torches surrounding the structure cast eerie shapes on the ground and on the leaders of all supernatural races. Dressed in their most traditional and elegant fineries, everyone came to pay their respects. No one would dare miss Khnurn’s funeral, lest the universe take offense and their race fall into misfortune.
The sole exception was Astarot and his daemons, the race bound to the exile realm. She knew the truth, and for the sake of general calm, the information had been kept secret. Mage Oras was at large, and until he was captured or eliminated, the collapse of the magic containing the exile realm and the ensuing escape of Astarot were both real possibilities.
As leader after leader walked around the pyre, bowed, and inserted a stone within the lattice woodwork, she pushed schemes, capture strategies, and battle plans aside. This was a moment of respectful contemplation.
At first, she’d struggled with angry rebellion and denial. Then later, listening to Kailen, Fritiof, and Eachann, who’d known her master the best and the longest, she made peace with his departure. Now, standing next to Sabah and Kailen, she came to bid farewell and to welcome his next form. Fire was the conduit to the ultimate transcendence; she would honor it and believe he’d watch over her in whatever configuration he chose. He deserved nothing less. More importantly, she’d resolved to discard skepticism and trust the faith he’d placed in her.
Speeches in Khnurn’s honor continued. She barely listened. The voices became a droning background against a stream of fond snippets that flashed through her mind. Scenes of Khnurn teaching her, showing her the nature of herbs and gems, guiding her through the steps of easy spells, and throwing his hands in the air in mock anger when she messed up. She wasn’t his natural daughter—that had been established with Kailen’s help—and she didn’t remember when Khnurn took her in either. Nevertheless, he was in her very first unblocked memory, a true father in every sense, almost… Only one puzzle remained unresolved.
“I hear the rumblings. Where’s your mind?” Kailen whispered.
She sighed. “Do you remember our conversation in Scotland? About my mysterious origins?”
“Of course.”
“We were going to decipher the riddle. Then life got complicated, events tumbled one after the other, and the next time I saw Khnurn alive, Dubtach had captured him. I couldn’t ask him to unblock my memories.”
Kailen squeezed her hand. “Yes. We could barely catch our breath. Don’t give up, a stór. You can’t release your memories yourself. Another powerful druid can. If Brysys is amenable, she could do it. She appears more together.”
Talaith sent the druid a quick glance. She stood between Adalheidis and Beatrix, as far away from Eachann as possible. Evidently, the sorceress’s common sense had returned. She’d left the teenager behind and had adopted suitable clothing for her high druid status.
“I may ask her tomorrow, after the ceremony is over and most of the guests have left. Do you know if she intends to stay in New York?”
“I’ve no idea. Maya should know.”
“We’ll see,” she murmured.
Lord Aten finished his speech. The crowd fell silent and the candles were snuffed. Her skin crawled with goose bumps when four massive Aurician warriors, in their stunning white robes and Eye of Horus medallions, stepped out of the crowd and positioned themselves around the pyre at the four cardinal points. Each warrior dipped his spear in a small brazier at his feet, lighting the tip. The one standing at the west sent his flaming spear toward the base of the pyre, south and east following in succession. Djoser on the north sent his last.
Flames roared to the sky. A wave of heat struck out. Guests stepped back. By silent accord, Sabah, Kailen, and Talaith stood in place. Swirls of hot yellow, orange, and vibrant red mesmerized her as she stared into the heart of the fire, sensing an impending message coming from the ether. A familiar pair of leonine eyes surged out of the conflagration, then hovered, gazing at her little group.
“Do you see him?” she whispered in awe. “Dear Master…farewell.”
“I do,” Kailen answered. “Good-bye, old friend.”
“Be well, my love,” Sabah murmured. “We shall meet soon.”
The eyes flew above the pyre, the fire rose and swirled into a huge single flame as brilliant colorful specks lifted en masse, coalesced in a single plume, and disappeared in the night sky.