CHAPTER XXI

By the time nightfall came upon them, Anya knew she had made a mistake by going along with Corolon, Talion, Lyra, and Raine. As often as she threw her weight around and threatened these people with her gun, she was going to lose this contest of wills. Still, she wasn’t about to give up. At this point, Anya thought she had nothing left to lose. They couldn’t release her into the world she came from because she knew too much, and they couldn’t take her with them because she was different. Granted, they had offered to send her back to the library once when she had been particularly demanding, and they had sounded sincere. Anya had found the offer tempting for all of a heartbeat. She hadn’t come this far to give up, nor had she any intention of walking away from a chance at such a lucrative life without a fight.

Lyra watched Anya as she appeared to drift off into sleep and Lyra wondered if what she was seeing was real or not. To make sure what she suspected was true, she waited to tell the others about what had happened. When relatively sure of her facts, she reached out to Corolon, Talion, and Raine on their familiar pathways. “Anya has finally gone to sleep.”

Anya had let her jaw go slack, the hand that held the gun loosen its grip on the weapon, and her breathing grow deep and even. She sensed Lyra watching her but could play this game, too. Anya’s fingers twitched in her feigned sleep, and she listened as Lyra left. Good, Anya thought, she is gone to tell the others. Anya hadn’t found it easy to maintain the act she thought would fool her captives into believing she was truly asleep. If they were going to try to escape, this was the perfect opportunity. Anya had no intention of being left behind. She would be damned before she allowed these people to escape. She wanted this too badly. Besides, if she was going to die, she wanted it to be somewhere warm where she would be comfortable, not in the middle of a frozen wasteland.

Corolon didn’t want to waste a moment of the time they might have. Anya was canny, and might not be sleeping as Lyra thought. Anya had been taking light catnaps throughout the day. It would be just like Anya to pull something like this. Still, they needed to take a chance at some time.

With a jerk of his head, Corolon silently ordered the others into motion. They quickly gathered their meager belongings and left the igloo in single-file fashion. The moment they were all outdoors, Corolon projected an image that appeared in his mind, and he opened a portal to the place that had formed.

Anya knew the moment her four captives left the interior of the igloo, and she knew she would have to move quickly if she wanted to be a part of their next jump. This was going to be her only chance to go with them, and she wasn’t about to blow it.

The moment Corolon opened the portal, Anya burst out of the entrance of the igloo, grabbed Lyra by the hair, and pressed the barrel of her revolver against Lyra’s head. “We are going through right after Raine. She will take the lead. That way, I know you won’t slam the gateway closed after I have gone through. If you have erred in your location, Raine will be the first to die. Lyra and I will follow when I know it is safe to do so. You will keep the portal open until everyone else has crossed and then follow. Do I make myself clear?”

It wasn’t an easy feat for a Male Elf whose Life Mate was in peril to stay in control. By instinct, Corolon and Talion’s reaction to the threat Anya posed was to throw caution to the wind and go on the attack. They, however, were in enough control of their senses to know better than to do this. If they didn’t control their actions, Raine and Lyra would die very fast. Anya wasn’t the type to think twice about whether or not to pull the trigger on the gun she was holding. Neither Corolon nor Talion were willing to let their Life Mates die, nor were they interested in losing their lives quite yet, either. They only wanted to get home safely.

The doubt Anya had been feeling before about her chances for a future dissipated at the looks of distress that crossed her captors’ faces. Anya was now the one in control once more, and they weren’t going anywhere without her.

Lyra was tempted to try to surprise Anya with a sneak attack but quickly rethought her decision when Anya’s hold on her hair tightened. As Anya pressed the gun harder against her head, Lyra knew better than to tempt fate. Anya was not the type to put up with any resistance to her orders. Lyra was certain if she didn’t toe the line with Anya, she would end up dead.

Raine’s lips tightened meaningfully as she stepped through the portal opening to reappear on the other side. The moment she did, she reported, “Be very careful when you come through. I am standing halfway up the side of a mountain on a wide ledge, but it is icy, and you could easily slip. There is also a stiff wind blowing. It is strong enough to cause the unwary to falter and get blown off the ledge.”

Anya didn’t like the sound of what she was hearing, but she figured she could handle things well enough. “We’re next, Lyra,” Anya warned.

With twin movements, Lyra and Anya crossed onto the ledge where Raine had pressed her body tightly against the side of the mountain. The first thing Anya did was to conjure a seeking spell to see if there was a path they could take from where they were. There was, but it was going to be a lot of work to get to, and she would need both hands to make the climb. This meant Anya had to release her hold on Lyra, something she was loathe to do. It was why when Talion and Corolon followed Anya through the portal, the first question she asked was whether Corolon could create a short-range gateway to the entrance of the mountain farther up.

Corolon was surprised by Anya’s question and could only wonder how she had gotten her information. “Not without knowing where we are going for sure.”

Anya wasn’t certain how she knew she could provide this for Corolon, but she did by connecting to him through Lyra. It was a talent Anya had but she needed someone who shared a bond with the receiver for it to be successful. The moment Corolon had the picture in his mind, he constructed the opening.

Raine immediately knew what was expected from her, except this time she had no intention of going through on her own. She held her hand out to Talion, and he grabbed onto it to lead her through. No way Talion was going to let Raine do this on her own. He had felt her fear the last time she had gone through and wanted to shield her from the worst of it. The moment she stepped onto the new ledge, they could see the entrance to the interior of the mountain and headed for it. A sudden sense of urgency crossed through their senses, and they quickly got out of the way so the others could follow.

Talion paused as a vacant expression crossed his face. A moment later, he turned to Corolon and passed on a message he had received from the Elven Empire. “Emperor Lothriel sent an order. He says we need to make haste.”

Corolon needed answers before he could continue. So, Corolon used Talion’s connection with Lothriel to speak with him directly. “We have not found Pianth yet.”

Lothriel’s voice came back to Corolon strong and clear. “I have told Pianth where you are. You must come quickly.”

Corolon had no idea what the rush was, “Why the hurry?”

Lothriel wouldn’t explain; all he was willing to say was that time was of the essence.

Corolon warned, “We are not alone. We are being held at gunpoint by our enemy.”

Lothriel replied, “We are aware of everything that has happened and have the matter covered at this end. If you cannot safely lose Anya from where you are, the High Lord General Gabriella Eagle Claw will take care of things when you cross the boundary. The moment Pianth lands, you are to take the books Raine is carrying to the library and stay there until I call for you.”

Corolon then asked, “Where are we to meet Pianth?”

Lothriel sent a picture of a plateau situated on the top of the mountain they were on. “Pianth will be waiting.”

In hopes the sight of a Blue Dragon would shock Anya into agreeing to leave, Corolon created one last portal to take them to the plateau where Lothriel had told him Pianth would be. It was going to be an effort Corolon knew would deplete the last of his energy.