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Cole stared at the flames climbing higher against the late afternoon sky. The air had been cool that morning. Now the heat of the fire beat against his face as if it wanted to burn the world. The children stood in pairs and trios. Some held hands, others wrapped their arms around each other, seeking comfort. Georgina sat in the grass at the edge of the yard with a toddler on her lap, tears streaming, but silent as she stroked the child's hair.
"They took her." Billy sobbed, his voice thick with tears and self-reproach. "Knocked me down and took her."
He'd said it before, but couldn't seem to stop accusing himself. Ryleigh knelt beside him, struggling with her fear and anger — not at Billy, but at the imps.
"Did they say anything about where they were going?" she asked.
"No, miss. At least, not that I heard. When the big imp hit me, I went down cold. I woke up as they were driving away, but my eyes wouldn't focus. I couldn't even get the plate number." He lowered his head and cried.
"Ssh, hush now. It isn't your fault." She pulled him into her arms, rocking him, and looked over his head at Cole. "We have to find her."
Cole agreed, but a growing uneasiness in his gut told him the problem was bigger than they knew. If everything had gone according to plan, Char should be on her way back from the pub — but she should have called by now. He checked his phone again, knowing he couldn't have missed a call. Maybe she'd texted instead.
Nothing.
The imps attacked an hour into the evacuation process. The children were going by bus to the new house in the country, and Ryleigh had sent some of the youngest ahead already. Those who remained were packing up to follow when the fire broke out.
Sirens wailed, and firetrucks turned into the lane, approaching with cautious speed. As the firefighters piled out of the vehicles, hoses and equipment in hand, Cole and Ryleigh pulled the children further back from the building, giving them room to save what they could. But Cole could tell it wouldn't be much. Trócaire house was three-fourths engulfed. He couldn't imagine they'd be able to save the rest.
Cole stood beside Ryleigh, watching them work. "I know several big names in philanthropy," he said to her. "I'm sure they'll help you rebuild."
"If I can't find Imogen, it won't matter. I can't—" She choked back a sob, staring at the smoky skyline until she could calm herself. "Any word from Char?"
Icy claws of foreboding clutched at his insides. "Nothing," he said. "Something has gone wrong, but I don't know what."
Drakat... has... Char... The thought came into his mind, ragged and faint. Cole spun on his heals to find Sasha, only a foot long snout to tail, crawling through the hedge, his wings dragging. His bright silver scales were almost black, as if tarnished.
"Sasha," Cole yelled, running to the wyvern's side. "What happened? Where is Char?"
I... don't know. I tried... to follow, but she... Drakat used... a portal. Grabbed up... the spear... too. The little dragon wheezed, coughing weakly. The demon... has Doirsain. Don't know how much... longer I can...
The thoughts stopped, and Cole paled. The wyvern shivered, growing smaller, his eyes closed, scales dull. Char had told him once that Sasha couldn't be separated from the soul stone. She hadn't said what would happen, or what to do, if the two were ever pulled apart. As far as he knew, it had never happened before, so maybe Char didn't know either.
Ryleigh crouched next to him. "What's wrong? Where is Char?"
"I think he's dying," Cole said. "Somehow, Drakat got a hold of the amethyst and took Char hostage. I don't think guardians can survive away from their stone."
Horror drained the color from Ryleigh's cheeks. She gently picked Sasha up and gasped when the snake shaped pin fell from his claws. Handing Sasha to Cole, she scooped it up.
"You were there," she shouted. "Why didn't you help her?"
Boros reared his tiny head, hissing. "I told you we could not interfere without risking a bond,” he said sullenly. “Only Caraigama can make that decision." He didn't bother changing size to respond to her challenge.
Ryleigh's face went blank, her skin porcelain pale, her auburn hair floating as if in an unseen wind. "You will help me now, or I will toss you into the nearest crucible."
"You do not have a crucible," Boros sneered.
"I can fix that," Cole said. Raising his arm, he let the sleeve slide back to reveal Solcruth's blue fire glinting in the pale sun.
"Excuse me," a low, whiny voice said. "But I got maybe a better idea?"
They spun to face the newcomer and saw Grag, shifting from one foot to the other, hands tucked into his grimy pockets.
The imp backed up as they all turned to face him. Georgina slowly rose from the grass, rage turning her face into a mask. "He's like those others. The ones who took Miss Imogen," she rasped. "Kill him!"
His green complexion fading to pale yellow, Grag wrapped his arms over his head and cowered. "No, no, kind mistress. Please don't kill me. I came to help you."
Ryleigh towered over him. "I doubt that. You're Drakat's minion, yes? You were taking the Caraigama to her."
"I was, yes, it's true. I was her servant. I won't deny it. But I wasn't taking her the soul stone. I wanted to sell it to buy my freedom. Drakat is cruel. She is evil. She wants to kill me."
"I get that," Cole said, his voice cold enough to freeze the sun. "I'm tempted to give her what she wants." He looked at Ryleigh. "We might be able to trade him for the women."
"Noooo," Grag wailed. "Please, please, you have to believe me—" The little imp screamed as Sasha, his scales bright and flashing, jumped on him. The wyvern had tripled in size, going from palm to cat size in a heartbeat.
He has Doirsain. Give her to me! The thought echoed broadly in everyone's mind, filled with rage and pain. The child in Georgina's arms woke, crying. The leopard shifter backed away, eyes wide as she comforted the toddler.
Sasha scrabbled at the imp's pockets, tearing his jacket and sending the wand and rod flying. Suddenly, he went still, his talons wrapped around something small and purple. A shudder shook him and he backed away, hunching over the stone, his dark eyes sparkling with warning.
No one made a move toward him and Grag curled into a ball, sobbing.
"Now we have both stones back. What are we going to do with them?" Ryleigh asked. "We can't use either one."
"Give Sasha a little time. He'll help us rescue Char."
"And what about Imogen?" Ryleigh snapped. "Who is going to rescue her?"
"We will," Cole said. "We'll get them both out. We won't let Drakat kill them."
The tension eased out of Ryleigh's shoulders, leaving them slumped and defeated. "For all we know, they're both already dead."
"No, they aren't," Cole said, his voice a thin, hard thread of sound.
She whirled to face him, her face a mask of grief. "How do you know? Now that Drakat knows we have them, she'll want those stones. She knows Char is the holder of Doirsain and that killing her will give her ownership by bloodright. Why wait?"
"It won't, though." Cole's face went tight, his jaw rigid. "And Char will have told her that. Imogen can tell her that bloodright won't give her Caraigama, either. Her only option is to make a trade. And for that, she needs them both alive."
Confusion pushed away some of Ryleigh's despair. "What are you talking about?"
"It's a long and complicated story. Let's just say Char is great at finding loopholes, even in eternal contracts. Now, we need to figure out a way to get them free. Are you with me?"
Slowly, Ryleigh nodded.
I am with you, Cole Ryan Delaney. Sasha's voice was stronger, and hard with determination.
Nate stepped forward, out of the crowd of children. "I'll help."
"Me too," Georgina said.
Cole prodded Grag gently with his foot. "If you help us, I promise to do everything in my power to see you a free imp. Deal?"
Grag's sobbing stopped like a faucet turned off. He shot a sly look between his fingers at Cole. "And money to start over?"
Reaching down, Cole picked up the wand and the rod Sasha had dropped to the grass. Pocketing the rod, he examined the wand carefully, then held it close to Solcruth and closed his eyes. A white vapor drifted from the sapphire, coating the wand and sinking in.
Cole crouched next to the imp and helped him sit up. He held the wand before the creature's eyes. "This wand is now ten times more valuable than anything you might steal or cheat to get. If used properly, it will keep you in comfort for the rest of your days, and protect you from harm. I will give it to you, if you will help us rescue the women, but only if you don't betray us." He stared into Grag's eyes, his own gaze hard and unwavering. "Deal?"
Grag held out a gnarled paw. "Deal." They shook hands.
Cole tucked the wand into his jacket pocket, and though Grag's eyes followed the movement, he didn't object. Everyone knew payment came after the job, not before.
