Текст книги "Wicked Edge"

Автор книги: Rebecca Zanetti

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter 30

Daire shucked his belt and examined his boots as the familiar scent of Simone’s penthouse filtered around. Spicy moonflowers. “No metal.” Shit. They wouldn’t be able to wear bulletproof vests because of the metal content, and no guns or knives would make the trip. “Teleporting is more dangerous than I thought.” Considering they couldn’t take weapons.

Sam finished removing his watch and cell phone to place on Simone’s feminine walnut desk in her home office. “Accidents are rare. There’s less than a ten percent chance that your molecules will be torn apart by cosmic forces.” He smiled. “If you’re demolished on a subatomic level, we won’t ever find your particles, so if you’d like to leave a message for loved ones, now is a good time.”

Zane snorted over by the satellite pictures glowing on the wall screen from the computer.

Daire cut them both a glare. His mate’s kids were assholes, but he couldn’t blame them too much.

“I want to go,” Garrett grumbled for the tenth time from where he sprawled across a plush sofa.

“Too risky,” Zane said. “We can get you in, but we might not be able to get you out. I carry Daire, and then Sam brings back Daire while I bring back Mom and Logan.”

Daire nodded. “You give me your word that if you can only get one person out, you take your mother, and Sam takes Logan.”

“No problem,” Zane said easily.

Daire was suddenly sorry he’d sent Kellach to Titans of Fire headquarters with orders to get to the bottom of the Apollo connections no matter what. He was done taking it easy and going slow, although right now he could use some backup of the friendly variety.

A knock sounded on the outside door, and Simone glanced up from the computer screens. “Now who is here?”

Daire winced. He’d already had a discussion with Zane, and this might’ve been a bad idea.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the pristine penthouse, and a rumble of tension violated the atmosphere. Nicholai Veis crossed into the room.

“Bloody hell,” Simone said, sitting back in her chair. “You called the damn demon?”

“The Coven guards are on the way to fetch you, and I’m a little busy right now,” Daire shot back at his cousin. He’d had to scrap his plan to get her away from Nick in order to save her neck. “So aye, I called for backup.”

She stood, dark eyes flashing. “I don’t need backup.”

Darkness settled on Nick’s face, making him look every inch the dangerous demon he was. “That’s too bad, Zaychik moy.” Sucking in air, his lowered his chin, and the air in the room slowly relaxed.

Daire’s shoulders untensed, but he kept an eye on his cousin. Being called My Bunny wouldn’t set well with her, but he was fairly certain she wasn’t currently armed. Well, except with her natural ability of being able to create and throw fire.

Nick turned toward Zane. “As your first in command, I have to say, take me instead of the enforcer.” His eyes held no expression as he nodded at Daire. “No offense.”

Daire rubbed his chin. “None taken.” As an enforcer, he understood duty. “But my mate, my fight.”

Nick nodded. “Zane?”

Zane glanced at Daire. “I’m with the enforcer. Plus, he can communicate with my mom and so far hasn’t burst a blood vessel in his brain.” The demon leader turned back to the picture on the wall. “Yet.”

The family love was going to suffocate Daire. He rolled his eyes. “Simone, I need somebody on you.” Then he winced at the language. “As a bodyguard. Leave here, get somewhere secure, and as soon as I get Felicity to safety, we’ll figure out our next step.”

“No.” She crossed her arms over a pretty red shirt.

Daire sighed and nodded at Nick. “Thanks for your help.”

“Not a problem.” He took two steps into the room. “Come with me willingly or not, Simone. Your choice.”

She stood and planted her feet. “Daire, I can’t believe you’re on board with this.”

He dug deep for patience he really didn’t have. “I’m about to cross dimensions and end up a world away, cousin. In order to concentrate and then probably fight to the death, I need to know you’re safe. So aye, I’m on board. Get to safety, and you can yell at me later.”

She eyed him, no doubt fighting both loyalty, concern, and a glorious temper. “Fine.” She tossed her hair and strode toward the demon. “You’re garna regret this, Nicholai Veis.” Her huff as she swept by him promised a wonderful fight was on the way.

Daire gave him a look containing both gratitude and warning. “I owe you.”

He smiled. “Zane, I have my phone. Call if you need backup.” Without waiting for an answer, he followed the furious witch.

Zane pointed to the satellite picture. “I’m thinking the planekite mine is on this side of the mountain, with offices and such here. See the entrance?” he tapped the screen. “So try Mom again, and ask her for a visual of where she might be.”

Daire leaned against the desk for support and closed his eyes. Felicity? Don’t answer for a moment. We’re getting ready to come in and get you, but all we have is satellite pictures to go on. Give me a picture, a mental image, of what you’ve seen so far. Hopefully her pictures wouldn’t burn his brain as badly as her words and emotions had.

Terror rippled into his head along with a hot blade of pain. He gasped and slapped a hand to his eye. What’s going on?

Nothing. Sorry. I’ll try pictures.

Boiling pins pricked his eyeballs. Slowly pictures began to form in his mind. A dining room. Bedroom. War room. Now a long hallway. Even though her sending pictures didn’t hurt as much as her thoughts, an underlying fear hovered around the message. Whatever was happening had her frightened.

The walls sparkled an odd green glow. Planekite.

His eyelids snapped open, and he strode over to the screen to study the picture. “Based on the hallway, I’d say she’s somewhere here.” He pointed along an area. “But it’s hard to tell, and she hasn’t seen Logan yet.” He dug deep and tried to calm his heart. “She’s scared right now, so the sooner we go, the better.”

“Scared or angry?” Zane asked, a muscle visibly ticking in his jaw.

Daire blew out air. “Scared. Definitely scared.” The primal being at his core sprang awake, ready to wage war. “We need to go. Now.”

“Okay. Go with your gut. Where do we land?” Zane asked as Sam rose to stand next to him.

Daire pointed to the entrance to what he believed was the business side of the mine. “As much as I’d like to go in center mass, I’d hate to land in the middle of a rock.”

Zane nodded. “Keep in mind, one second we’re not there, and the next second we are. If there are guards or anybody with a weapon, they’ll shoot us before we regain our equilibrium.”

Fucking fantastic.

The demon leader leaned in, gaze serious. “Take a deep breath, go as calm as you can, and don’t fight the universe.”

Daire nodded. He’d never really been one with the universe. “We don’t have to hug, do we?”

Zane rolled his eyes. “No.” With a hard lunge, he tackled Daire, and they both went down.

Through nothing. They fell through earth and reality, transporting between dimensions of time and space.

Darkness and an odd whistle echoed around Daire. His body flew away and then reassembled. For the briefest of seconds, true peace surrounded him.

Then he hit a freezing floor and rolled, coming up to face a slack-jawed guard. The guy lifted a weapon and fired.

Felicity entered the medical room and stopped short. Sterile white examination table, white counters, even white tile. Talk about a nightmarish room.

The doctor bustled around, flipping on different monitors. “We’ll keep track of your heartbeat and oxygen levels after injecting the mutated virus,” he mumbled, reading a chart and then scurrying over to the counter.

She shook her head. “Why? If I have a bad reaction, what exactly do you plan to do to counter the drug?”

He turned around and scratched his chin. “I don’t have a plan. This mutation is so new, there isn’t a lot of information about it.” His light-colored eyebrows rose. “To be honest, you’re the first person I’ve met who has already taken the mutation to negate the mating bond. Perhaps if you tell me about the experience, I’ll know what to do.” Curiosity glowed bright in his eyes.

What an asshole. “I’m not a research experiment, and we both know there’s nothing you can do if I have a bad reaction,” she countered, chills clawing down her back.

Ivan prodded her in the kidneys with the gun. “Hop up.”

She stormed away from him, noting the tray of surgical instruments on the counter. “Planning on operating?” she hissed, turning around and jumping onto the table. The smooth sheet bunched under her butt.

The doctor shook his head. “No.” He grasped a small clasp and shoved it on her index finger, and one of the monitors began to beep. “Those are just in case. Your oxygen levels look good.”

“What a relief,” she snapped out.

Ivan shut the door and leaned back against it, gun hanging casually in his hand. “How long does the process take?”

The doctor glanced at Felicity. “Based on my contacts, it takes about two days to fully negate the mating bond.”

Three days, actually, and then about a week of regaining energy and strength. The process was like a human experiencing a very bad flu bug. Felicity shoved hair away from her face. Was it really like the flu? If so, would this one take her down, or would she have created antibodies against the mutation? She swallowed and glanced at the syringe already filled on the tray. “This is such a terrible idea.”

Ivan laughed. “Let’s hope it works.”

She’d known him forever. “Ivan, this might kill me. At least let me see my son once before we take the risk.” She tried to force the hatred from her voice, and it came out quivery.

He shook his head, not concealing the hatred from his eyes at all. “Perhaps this will give you incentive to survive.”

Fear and anger flushed through her. “You are such a prick.”

The doctor cleared his throat and moved to attach a couple of nodules to her upper chest. Her heartbeat blipped on the screen, way too fast. Then he reached for the syringe and glanced at Ivan.

The demon nodded.

“Just take a deep breath and relax,” the doctor said, grasping her arm with chilled hands.

Shots fired in the distance.

Felicity’s head jerked up. Daire was there.

In one smooth motion, she grabbed the syringe, twisted her wrist, and plunged the syringe into the doctor’s palm. He cried out and backed away, windmilling his arms. His ass hit the counter, and the tray of supplies tumbled to the floor. Sharp knives and hooks clattered across the hard tile.

“I’m mated,” he cried out, yanking the syringe free.

“Not anymore,” Felicity hissed, throwing the oxygen counter at his head.

Ivan darted forward, and she kicked, nailing him in the balls. He doubled over with a pained oof.

She grabbed onto the bed, swung around, and hit the doctor under the chin with a hard kick. His head snapped back, his eyes fluttered shut, and his body pummeled down onto the tray.

He’d only be out a few minutes.

Felicity slid to her feet just as Ivan stood up to his full height.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” he said, turning the gun on her.

Cold purpose flowed through her like bubbling rage. She stood and held out her hands. “You really need the gun for that?” Her lip twisted.

His chin lifted. “No.” Slowly, he shoved the gun in the back of his waistband. “I rarely like to get my hands dirty, but I’m going to bathe in your blood.”

She smiled. “I’ve been waiting for this way too long.” Bunching her knees, she jumped into the air, clapped her thighs on his head, and twisted. Gravity did its job, and she dropped, taking his head with her and forcing his body to follow.

He bellowed and punched her in the hip.

Agony spread along her lower back.

Her hands slapped the floor, and pain ricocheted up her arms to her shoulders. She released his head, rolled, and came up swinging. A jab to the throat threw her back against the counter.

She wheezed in air and sent healing cells to the broken trachea, her eyes wide.

Ivan stood to his full height, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead.

She scrambled down and grasped a scalpel to hold up in front of her.

He chuckled, the sound low and evil, before drawing a jagged knife from his boot. “Mine is bigger.”

“It’s not the size—.” She ducked into a slide, went past him, and cut his heel as she went. Blood spurted.

He bellowed, turning and yanking her up by the hair. Quick as a shifter, he flipped the knife in the air, grabbed the base, and jabbed the handle against her mouth.

Pain shrieked through her lips, and blood spurted. She jerked her head, freeing it. Her entire face felt like it was on fire. Gasping, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and maneuvered to the side. He took one step toward her, swinging out and backhanding her left cheekbone. Stars exploded behind her eyes, and she careened into the wall.

Tears clogged her vision.

Another punch came out of nowhere, right to her stomach. She doubled over, and her knees went weak.

She kicked out, her heel impacting his nose. Cartilage crunched with a satisfying thud. He yelled and clapped a hand over his bleeding nose. She took advantage of the weakness, jumping up and spinning a kick into his ribs. At least two of them shattered.

He swung out, nailing her in the temple. Her stomach lurched, and she went down.

He grabbed her hair and dragged her over to the examination table, lifting her up and slamming her down. She bounced, and her vision turned black.

He planted a fierce grip around her throat and held her down, scrambling through drawers to the left.

She struggled and tried to stay conscious. For so long, she’d trained to fight him. It couldn’t end like this.

“There.” His voice filled with triumph, and he turned toward her. “I changed my mind.” He squeezed with enough pressure to cut off all oxygen. “First I’m going to stick you full of this shit, and then, if you survive and negate the mating, I’m going to make you mine. You deserve to be fucked and often until you can’t live any longer.”

She struggled, trying to stay awake, trying to free her throat.

He held the syringe up high as if to jam it down into her chest.

She calmed. For years, she’d trained to fight somebody bigger and stronger. Her boys needed her. Daire needed her. The monster couldn’t win. Drawing on strength she’d only hoped for, she lifted her legs, slammed them down on his shoulders, twisted and shoved. He dropped, his head hitting the examination table.

The hand at her throat loosened.

She slashed his wrist with the blade, and he yanked back. Following his movement, she levered up and jammed the scalpel in his eye.

He screamed in unholy pain, his hand dropping the knife and going to his eye.

The room quieted. She centered herself. Grabbing the knife, she propelled herself up on her knees and brought it down in his neck. Blood spurted up, covering her face and burning her skin.

She ignored the pain and shoved with all her weight.

The knife sliced through cartilage and muscle. His body convulsed like a fish stuck on the dock. She set her knees and used her entire body to yank the knife to the right and then the left.

His eyes closed.

She swallowed as more blood flew up to coat her shirt.

Breathing through her nose to keep from tasting blood, she sawed back and forth, using every ounce of strength she owned. Finally, his body dropped to the floor while his head remained on the table.

She released the knife and fell away from the head. Her body shook and her stomach lurched. Blood coated her from head to waist and dotted along her pants. The liquid burned like acid.

The gunfire suddenly stopped outside.

The door flew open and Daire stood there, bloody and battered. His eyes widened as he took her in. “Felicity,” he breathed.

Chapter 31

Daire’s mouth gaped open. The woman was covered with blood. His gut spasmed and he rushed for her, grabbing her biceps. “Cee Cee? Baby?” Slowly, being as careful as he could, he ran his palms down her arms. Then he patted her chest. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.” She was still standing, although shock filled her eyes and she began to sway.

He shook her. “Stay awake.” She had to be all right. “Please. I need you.” He pushed both hands through her bloody hair. “I love you.” He wanted to shout the words, but whispering them might save her. Somehow. If she allowed him to help her.

She smiled, her eyelids fluttering.

“No.” He yanked off the shirt to find the wound. Forget taking it slow and courting her. She was his, damn it.

Her chest looked intact.

He patted down her legs and then turned her around, scouting every inch and finally shooting his hands into her hair. “You’re all right,” he said slowly.

She nodded and turned. A low sob escaped her, and she fell into his chest.

He patted her back, and only then did he see Ivan’s head on the table. The body had fallen down on the other side next to a guy slowly regaining consciousness. “Honey?”

She leaned back, and tears streaked down her face. “Not my blood.”

Three better words had never been invented. Daire stepped away and ripped his shirt off to shove over her head. He reached for a paper towel and quickly wet it, wiping off her face. Demon blood burned skin. “You killed him?”

She nodded, her face paling under a couple of quickly purpling bruises. “I said I was going to.”

Aye, she did. He grasped her hand and saw the empty syringe on the floor. His world stopped. “Did they inject you?”

“No.” Her fingers threaded through his. “We’re still mated.”

His body settled. “Good.” Leading the way, he kept his body between her and danger. She’d taken out Ivan, and damn if that didn’t make Daire want to roar in pride, but that was her last fight to the death. Ever. Unfortunately, with planekite living in the walls around them, his strength was slowly ebbing. “Keep on my six.”

“Go left. I think Logan is to the left,” she said, her hand trembling in his. “Wait a minute. You should stay here—there’s planekite everywhere.”

“I’m fine—don’t worry. Zane and Sam are fighting their way here, and we can’t wait. The alarm went out the second we landed.” Dizziness still catapulted through his head, but he shook it off in order to fight. Teleporting was not for him, that was for damn sure. Or maybe it was the planekite messing with his equilibrium. He loped into a jog, and the hallway narrowed. A soldier ran toward him from a locked door, and he lifted a gun he’d taken off a demon soldier, firing off two shots. The guy dropped.

Felicity shook her head and pointed at a metal doorway in the rock. “I think the mine is that way.”

He halted. “We don’t know who’s waiting on the other side.” More than anything, he wanted to grab Sam and have him take her to safety, but Logan’s time could be limited. “How about you wait here for Sam?” Daire asked, releasing her.

“No.” She slid to the side.

That’s what he’d figured. “Fine, but get on this side of the door.” He slapped the gun into her hand. When he opened the metal, she’d be protected on the other side.

She opened her mouth to argue.

“No.” He nudged her gently out of the way. “I know you’re a badass who can fight, but I need you there so I can concentrate. My weakness, not yours.” Because he fucking loved her. One thing at a time, and he had no problem confessing to a weakness if it kept her alive.

She stayed put, settled her stance, and gripped the gun.

“Plus, gotta be honest. The planekite around us is messing with my system, and my aim is surely off.” He slowly opened the door. Nothing. “Come on,” he whispered, sliding inside a stone hallway similar to the one he’d just left, sans the carpet. Mining lights shone along the walls, and he stalked silently, heading down gradually.

Silence pounded eerily around him. The mining operations probably halted when the alarm had gone out. Chances were the miners weren’t soldiers and had headed for safety. Even so, if Logan was being kept in the mine, there’d be more soldiers to fight. “What makes you think Logan is down here?” he asked.

“Gut feeling?” she answered. “Besides the bedroom I was locked into, it didn’t seem like there were prison cells on that side of the mountain.”

“Bedroom?” he muttered.

“Yes.” She pushed him in the back. “Hurry up.”

The corridor reached an exposed mining elevator. A numbness tingled through his extremities, and his temples pounded. “Can demons teleport from inside the earth?” he asked.

“Depends how deep they are.” She leaned around him. “Looks like we go down.”

He nodded and stepped onto the platform, which swung from his weight. “Do you have any idea how many levels make up this mine?”

“No.” She took his hand and lifted her leg over the guardrail to stand next to him. “Sorry.”

Huge problem. They could have a dozen levels to explore, and they sure as hell didn’t have that much time. He had about ten more minutes left in him before he collapsed from overexposure to the stupid planekite. He pressed the lever, and they began to torturously descend. Soon a level came into view. A sprawling orange sign proclaimed the area held EXPLOSIVES. Nobody guarded the area, so perhaps any soldiers had headed for the breach. Hopefully Zane and Sam were doing all right.

Daire kept his finger on the lever, and they continued down into the cool earth. The next level stretched out dark and formidable before him with a narrow tunnel. He stopped the lift. “It’s too narrow to mine here—not enough room for vehicles or equipment.” He jumped over the rail and turned to lift Felicity to solid ground. “The mining operations will be down farther, so if Logan is being kept on this side of the mountain, this is probably the place.” Before them extended a dark tunnel that veered sharply to the right. “Follow me.”

“Do you want the gun since you’re on point?” she asked.

“No.” He glared at the dim yellow lights strung too far apart. Uneven stone lined the walls and floor. Unlike the hallway they’d just left, this one had been chiseled out without much care. Finally, they came upon a door secured with a metal rod. “Get ready.” He waited until she’d pointed the gun at the room before tugging the rod free. He then jerked open the door.

Mining picks and small equipment in pristine order lined the walls of a room big enough to hold three trucks. He shut the door and swung around to run down the tunnel to the next door.

Five doors later, and all they’d found were supplies, a massive amount of alcohol, and equipment. The tunnel narrowed and shortened until his head almost scraped the ceiling. “I don’t think Logan is down here,” he said, noting the dust filling the air.

Felicity didn’t answer.

Another door, same as the rest, was set into the wall ahead. “At some point, we should find weapons,” he whispered. He waited until she’d gotten into position and then unsecured the door.

The second it opened, a hard body slammed into him, throwing him into the opposite wall. Shards of rock slashed down, nicking his cheek. He turned and threw instinctively, dropping to a knee and slamming his hand over the guy’s jugular as they hit the ground.

“Logan.” Felicity dropped to her knees, her hands frantically patting her kid’s chest. “Are you okay?”

Oh. Daire released Logan and stood.

Logan sat up, frown lines cutting next to his mouth. “Mom? What the hell?” He reached out and wiped blood off her face. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” She pushed up and held out a hand for him. “I’m fine. Are you okay?” Pleasure and relief sparkled in her stunning eyes.

Logan took her hand and used the wall to stand up. “What are you doing here?” He turned a hard glare toward Daire.

Felicity grabbed her son’s hand. “Long story. Right now, we have to find Zane and Sam.”

“Zane and Sam are here?” Logan shook his head, bewilderment slacking his jaw. “What is going on?”

Felicity reached up and patted his face. “Are you sure you’re all right? No wounds?”

“No, I’m fine.” He grabbed her other hand. “Really. Starving, but no wounds.”

“We’ll get you food,” she said.

Daire staggered past them toward the tunnel. “We have to move and now.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Logan asked.

“Planekite,” Daire said simply. “In about five, I’m passing out.” So he had to get his mate to safety. Stretching into a jog, he knew the two would follow him. His boots rang on the cold stone as he passed the useless rooms and finally reached the lift. He jumped over first and reached for Felicity. She gave him her hands without hesitation, and her trust warmed him head to toe.

Logan gave him a hard glare once again, and it didn’t cool his heat at all. Finally, they were once again moving on the lift, heading up this time. They reached the main level and stepped off.

Footsteps echoed. He jerked back, moving to shield Felicity.

Three soldiers ran around the corner. Vadim and two others. With a fierce roar, Logan leaped for all three of them, taking down one. Vadim smiled and lifted a gun to fire. Three darts instantly impacted Daire.

He growled and shot forward. His vision fuzzed. Shit. Apollo darts and not simple tranquilizer darts. He didn’t have long to fight.

Green laser bullets whizzed by his head from Felicity’s gun, and the third soldier dropped to the ground.

Daire impacted Vadim with the sound of muscle slamming muscle. If the darts held planekite, the poison would flow into his bloodstream any moment. Vadim jabbed him in the throat, and Daire countered with a knee to the groin.

Vadim’s eyes widened, and he stepped back.

Sometimes a guy just couldn’t play fair. Daire grabbed Vadim’s head and slammed it down on his knee. Vadim countered with a double-edged blade, slicing up Daire’s torso.

Daire hissed in pain, and his central nervous system misfired. His vision dimmed.

“Daire?” Felicity called from far away.

Her voice. The tone of fear in it, shot his eyelids open. He didn’t have much time, but no way was he leaving her in fear. Rocking back, he shot a hard punch to Vadim’s nose. The cartilage shattered, and the demon yelled in pain, striking up with the knife again.

Daire grabbed Vadim’s wrist, twisted, and used the demon’s momentum to plunge the knife into the demon’s throat.

Vadim gurgled and reached for the knife handle. Blood flowed around the blade.

Daire shoved and let gravity take them both down, making sure he landed on the knife, which shoved all the way to the ground. A couple of really strong twists, and Vadim’s head rolled away.

The air whooshed out of Daire’s lungs, and he fell to the side, trying to sit.

Logan grabbed his armpits and shoved him up.

The cold stone scratched his back, while fire lit him up from inside. Daire glanced down at the two darts protruding from his chest. Electrical shocks rippled through him, and his stomach cramped. He closed his eyes and his back began to burn. “Get me off the rock,” he mumbled.

Logan swore and tugged him away from the rock. “Sorry.”

Felicity knelt next to him and cupped his face, her touch so cool he leaned into her palms. “Stay with me, Daire. Just dig deep and imagine your body fighting the planekite.”

He nodded.

“I love you. Please don’t leave me.” Her voice sounded thick with tears.

He wanted to reassure her, but it took every ounce of power he had left in him to concentrate on not allowing his heart to melt in his chest. The pain was unbearable. But her voice, those sweet words, provided something for him to hold on to.

The veins and arteries in his body swelled to the point of bursting. His heart beat too quickly, and his lungs began to shut down in protest. Fighting the pull of unconsciousness, he opened his mouth and yelled.

Fire roared out of him to crackle against the wall.

Felicity leaned in closer, and he tried to push her way. “Get back,” he ordered through gritted teeth. “Back. I’m going to explode.” A raw burst of energy uncoiled deep inside him.

“Get back!” he yelled.