"Yes." Nadina glared right back at her.
Adrianna added, "You will also tell Evalle how to open the bolthole on her own."
"Why?"
The very fact that Nadina was so quick to snap at Adrianna over that meant Adrianna had just done Evalle a favor.
"I don't need a reason, Nadina. I'm here as an advisor." Adrianna sent a sad glance in Evalle's direction. "I know you believe that you will bring him back, but Hanhau is not known for losing any that are his. They tend to stay with him."
So that's why she had added the caveat about Evalle opening the bolthole on her own.
"You think I'd leave without Storm?" Evalle asked. That was not happening.
"You don't know what you'll find. I'm giving you the chance to escape. It will be up to you to take it." Then Adrianna turned to their captive. "Any questions, Nadina?"
"No."
That single word was the sound of a beaten witch doctor.
Adrianna said, "Once I begin the binding spell, you will repeat exactly what Evalle has stated and give your word, Nadina, daughter of Sinaa and witch doctor who serves Koriospiri, that you will do as agreed or you will become too hideous for anyone to gaze upon without falling ill and your body will age one hundred years in one day."
Nadina whispered, "How did you know?"
"Your name?" Tilting her head to study the witch doctor, Adrianna admitted, "I've grown up hearing of the Koriospiri followers and about the daughter of the great Spiritwalker Sinaa, child of jaguars. I made an educated guess, but I had no confirmation that you really existed. Until now."
Nadina might not respect Adrianna, but she feared the Sterling witch and that was good enough for Evalle.
Evalle had worried about bringing Adrianna into this. Not any more. She had a whole new appreciation for Adrianna's ability, and now also realized the Sterling witch would not have wanted to show this side to anyone in VIPER.
Evalle had promised to help Storm with the debt he owed Adrianna, but that debt just kept getting larger. What could possibly mean enough to Adrianna that she would do this to insure Storm returned and that Evalle would owe her without question?
It didn't matter.
When the opportunity came to return the favor, Evalle was in all the way. Additionally, she'd assure Adrianna that her secrets were safe with her, plus she'd gain Isak's agreement as well.
Adrianna had been quiet a moment in a thoughtful pose. She interjected one more point. "You will be required to cloak Evalle and yourself for traveling to Mitnal and back to this world, as well as cloaking Storm for his escape."
Nadina rolled her eyes. "This is not a Christmas list. I am not Santa to hand you all that you wish.I can cloak Evalle and myself. I can also cloak Storm, but only if he is in human form. If he is a full demon-"
Evalle broke in. "Storm is not a demon." She hoped.
Nadina managed a limited shrug. "I am only saying, that once he is a full demon in jaguar form, he is bonded to Hanhau. At that point, Hanhau will know exactly where Storm is as long as he is inside Mitnal. At that point, my cloaking will not hide Storm from Hanhau or any of the other demons. Do you still wish to do this?" she challenged.
"Absolutely." Evalle put her faith in Storm. He was clearly fighting to remain as human as possible the last time she saw him. That was enough for her.
The binding spell Adrianna placed on the oath given by Evalle and Nadina wasn't as impressive as what Adrianna had executed to send Evalle's body on an astral projection, but Evalle didn't doubt the power behind it. Not after witnessing what the Sterling witch could do.
As soon as Nadina was freed from her metal bindings, which took convincing Isak that Nadina would do nothing to any of them, Evalle and her witch doctor sidekick were ready to go to Mitnal.
Adrianna motioned Evalle aside. When Evalle reached her, the Sterling witch whispered, "The oath is absolutely enforceable in this world, but I'm not so sure about Mitnal. Don't don't turn your back on her there."
"I hear you." Evalle needed a weapon of some sort in this demon world. "Do you have that ponytail in your bag?"
"Yes."
"Slip it to me so that she doesn't see."
Adrianna gave a look of approval, which Evalle shrugged off as Adrianna fished out the ponytail and put it in a small black bag that she drew closed with a drawstring. Evalle stuffed the bag with its length of hair in her pocket. The ponytail had gained Nadina's compliance here, but Evalle had no idea if threatening to hand it over to Hanhau would make any difference in Mitnal or not.
Stepping back over to the center of the dining room, Adrianna was fully back in character, polite and conservative in her motions when she addressed Nadina, repeating the entire oath.
"I am no idiot," Nadina snapped. "I know to what I have agreed."
"I am stating it once more for the benefit of the spirits in this house who have granted me aid, and extended their offer of help if I ever need it again."
Nadina said nothing, but her eyes flicked up to where orbs now covered the ceiling, no longer agitated. They'd seen who was the more powerful witch tonight and knew where to place their betting chips.
"I need a moment," Evalle said to Adrianna, tipping her chin in Isak's direction.
"We'll be right here."
When Evalle walked past Isak and into the kitchen, he followed. Moonlight spilled through the window facing the backyard where nothing disturbed the peace outside.
Would she ever have a life where her world was that calm?
She turned to find him waiting for her to speak. "Thank you for coming out tonight and helping me. I'm sorry about that moment with the smoke."
Isak studied her during a couple of shallow breaths. "You shouldn't let something like her walk around free."
Did he mean Nadina or Adrianna? Probably both. "If it was left up to me, there would be no evil in the world, but I'm not the judge and jury. I'm only a guardian to protect the innocent. And I need Nadina."
Isak looked away, staring at the same window where moonlight filtered in. "This is what you do all the time, isn't it?"
"Sort of. Not necessarily dealing with witches. Give me a demon any day."
His gaze came back to her. He touched her hair, running a finger across it. "You wouldn't have to do this if you were with me. You could have a normal life where nothing would ever harm you, and since I'm human, you'd never have to pull me out of some demon hell."
She'd met Isak before Storm, but he hadn't been the one to reach inside and jumpstart her heart. If he had been, she might have that life. But Storm was her world and all that she could think of, even if it meant going into demon hell to drag him out.
"Thank you, Isak, for being my friend and for caring, but I'm committed to Storm."
He finally nodded. "Sure you'll be safe with that bitch?"
Not really, but Evalle put her best not-a-problem face on and said, "I'm good to go."
"Let me know when you're back." With that, he walked past her to the door. He opened it, then paused.
She turned to say she would call, but he got an unholy glint in his eyes and said, "Marriage is a commitment. I don't see a ring of any sort. I'll be looking for dinner in a week."
Then he was gone.
Marriage? She'd never even thought of that.
Or of being mated, which she apparently was, but she couldn't waste the brainpower on either one right now.
"Evalle? You ready?" Adrianna called from the other room.
Striding back to the living room, Evalle found Adrianna picking up her candles and carefully folding the cloth with the glyphs.
Adrianna glanced up and something in Evalle's face must have given her pause. "Yes?"
"Thanks. When it's time for what you need, I'll be there."
"Let's hope so," she joked, cutting her eyes in the witch doctor's direction. Then Adrianna winked and kept packing her bag.
Nadina snapped, "You must stand next to me for the cloaking spell to be set, then you can move away and re
main hidden."
"Got it." Evalle walked over to stand in front of Nadina. "Can anything break this cloaking spell?"
"Not as long as I live or until we return to this world."
Once they did make it back to this world and Nadina returned the two souls, and freed Storm's father from whatever hellacious place he wandered through, Evalle had the task of convincing Storm to allow Nadina to walk away.
To accomplish that, Evalle would have to get past her own homicidal urges toward Nadina.
Taking her place at Nadina's side, but leaving a smidgeon of space so she didn't touch her, Evalle tried to convince herself she was ready. She would be if she could just shake off the sick feeling in her stomach that something would go wrong, such as Nadina taking control of Storm even though that possibility had been covered in the binding spell.
Had Storm agreed to travel to Mitnal confident that he would be successful? Or had he suffered the deep-down feeling Evalle was experiencing that warned her she'd missed something? Nadina was not someone to allow a loophole.
Nadina began chanting the cloaking spell.
As soon as the cloaking draped Evalle, she could see through the shield, but it was similar to looking through a filmy window.
Adrianna remained silent. The concern in her eyes told Evalle that the Sterling witch had her doubts too, but this was what they had come to do.
As soon as Nadina finished cloaking both of them, she said, "I will open the bolthole to Mitnal next. If we are discovered, the binding spell I agreed to has no influence on Hanhau. He does not allow anyone to pass through his kingdom without permission. Keep that in mind when I tell you what to do."
In other words, Evalle had to play Follow The Leader with Nadina, even if it led her over a cliff into a volcano.
Chapter 21
Quinn staggered toward a bench in Woodruff Park, a place where anyone in downtown Atlanta could enjoy a peaceful break.
Correction. Where humans could enjoy a break.
Most of the VIPER force was getting run ragged trying to catch demons running the streets like hungry rats on the move. He sat down hard and leaned back, groaning at the relief just sitting down gave his body. He couldn't stay awake and moving much longer.
Not while he was having episodes of blacking out.
He wasn't exactly blacking out so much as losing touch with reality. Dangerous for someone with his power. If his head would stop throbbing, he could actually think and figure out a way to fulfill his duty and leave Atlanta at the same time.
And that was so fucking illogical he snorted at it.
There was no way to do both.
He'd always performed his duty from the heart. Would stand and battle against any odds to protect his Belador tribe.
But right now he had no heart. He was as barren inside as a Medb.
That was not an entirely true comparison. Kizira had a heart filled with love.
But Kizira was dead.
Flaevynn, that miserable bitch who'd birthed her, had sent her daughter into a bloody battle and blocked Kizira's ability to heal herself. Flaevynn had caused her own child to commit suicide when Kizira threw herself in the way of a gryphon diving to attack Quinn.
His sweet Kizira had sacrificed her life for him.
He hadn't deserved her love.
Then there was Phoedra, a daughter he'd never known about until Kizira's dying breath. He still couldn't wrap his head around that, but Kizira had been telling the truth, frantic for him to find their child. But she'd died before she could tell him where she'd hidden Phoedra, which he had no doubt Kizira had done to protect their daughter from the Medb.
A blast of agony swept through him with the force of a tidal wave. His chest throbbed with pain, the deep kind that would never go away.
Phoedra. He'd let down both of them when he failed to protect Kizira. Had failed to realize that Kizira was as sincere as she'd tried to show him during the times she hadn't been compelled.
He grabbed his head, clamping his hands so tight his skull should crack. Kizira's face faded in and out in his mind's eye, calling to him, crying and begging him to find their daughter.
"Quinn."
He sat up at the sharp order. "Tzader. What are you doing here?"
Tzader's holographic image hovered next to the bench. Quinn knew Tzader could project himself from one location to another as a hologram, but as far as he knew, Tzader had only traveled this way to visit Brina in the castle. Tzader's black T-shirt and jeans were his normal attire, but now his skin lacked the deep luster of walnut wood. He was still powerfully built, but his face had sharp edges and his eyes were almost black from lack of food and sleep.
Quinn could relate to what Tzader was going through, but Quinn hadn't been much of a friend before leaving Treoir. What caused me to act like such a bloody asshole when Tzader asked for my help?
Tzader took a minute then cleared his throat. "Before I tell you why I'm here, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry about what happened on Treoir, Quinn. I don't know what got into me."
"I was just thinking how I was the one out of line," Quinn admitted. "I don't know what was up with me either."
"Are you any better?"
Quinn gave him a grim smile. "You mean do I still want to kill my best friend? That passed as soon as I left Treoir."
Tzader frowned at that. "I'm still battling with my temper. You think something on the island caused us to rip into each other?"
Sitting up and thinking on that, Quinn said, "You know what, I wasn't hostile until I went with you to see if I could do anything about Brina." He looked up at Tzader. "Has anyone else acted aggressive?"
"Not that I've noticed. No, wait. I take that back. Garwyli tried to help, then he and Macha got into a shouting match."
"Garwyli? Older-than-Moses Garwyli?" Quinn shook his head, then stopped and rolled the sequence of events leading up to their confrontation back through his mind. "The minute I touched the hologram, it was like something bled into my veins and released all this aggression. I was better outside, but I was still struggling with control."
Tzader stared off. "Sounds a lot like what happened to me."
"Has anyone else been in the room with the hologram?"
"Just me, the druid and Macha. And Evalle, but only for a few minutes."
"Did Garwyli actually touch the hologram?"
Tzader nodded as he thought. "Yes."
"But no one else, not even that guard Allyn has touched it?"
"Hell no. I won't let Allyn step beyond the doorway."
Quinn let Tzader's sharp tone pass, because he believed he had their control issue figured out. "It might be the Noirre majik clinging to the hologram. I touched it and tried to enter the hologram with my mind. It was cold and had me on defense within seconds."
Tzader's gaze drifted away from Quinn in concentration. "Damn. You may be right. I put my hands on the hologram, too, right after you walked out. Now that I think back, it was weird how when you first came into her solarium I was feeling bad about asking so much of you when you were in no shape to do anything, but I put my hands on the hologram when you walked out and I went to major pissed off in seconds. I was furious that you had quit trying to help Brina." Tzader washed a hand over his face. "That's fucked up, bud."
"Tell me about it," Quinn muttered then nudged the conversation back to Tzader's unexpected visit. "You must have a strong reason to come here in this form. What is it?"
"Something's up with the Medb."
That drew a dark chuckle from Quinn. "You don't know the half of it. We've been spotting warlocks and witches all over the city."
"Really? What're you doing about it?"
Quinn's temper boiled for a moment at the insinuation that he hadn't been performing his duty, but now that he understood where the aggression was originating, he forced himself to settle down. "You don't understand. The Medb have actually been helping out." He took in Tzader's shock and nodded. "Now you're getting an idea of what's going on. We have
Medb running around at the same time that someone has dumped at least eight demons here. Those are only the reported demon sightings. I'm betting there are more."
"Macha was called to a major coalition meeting and she thought it was about them booting us from VIPER, but-"
That brought Quinn to his feet. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, she thinks VIPER wants to cut the Beladors loose because we're becoming dead weight that's drawing the attention of everything evil. I'm thinking maybe it's about this Medb outbreak of witches and warlocks. She left me in charge of Treoir with orders that she did not want an issue with VIPER right now while the Beladors are in a crisis."
Quinn had bad news for Tzader, because he'd already caused an issue with VIPER. Once he shared that incident, Tzader would understand why Quinn might just be the worst choice for acting Maistir. He quipped, "If that's the case, Macha will probably go postal when she hears about Medb saving humans from demons."
"A postal goddess. Just what this clusterfuck needs. What do you mean saving humans? Did the Medb show up at the wrong place and time then the demons went after them?"
"No, I mean the Medb are actively hunting demons and making kills, clearly before a demon can touch a human."
"That makes no sense," Tzader muttered. "Got any idea who the demons belong to?"
"I can't get close enough to one to determine an origin and, from what I've heard, neither has any other Belador. The Nightstalkers are hidden, probably terrified by so much dark activity in the city. The minute a demon shows its face in public, there's no Belador close enough to deal with it, but out of the blue a Medb witch or warlock shows up, nukes the demon then disappears. They have to be using a cloaking spell because humans are not noticing, but there are always plenty of nonhuman witnesses to vouch for what happened."
"What the hell is going on?"
"I don't know, but Sen is getting testy with me."
Tzader didn't snap at him this time. His silence was more damning, because Quinn knew his friend was biting his tongue to keep from making things worse. Quinn owed him the truth. "My control is in tatters. I managed to not kill a troll that was stalking a human, but I screwed up the mind of a Medb."
"That doesn't sound like a problem."
"Depends on how you look at the final outcome. I should have killed the troll, but I was starting to wonder just how dangerous it was to leave me in your position." Quinn cast a glance at Tzader who remained motionless so Quinn continued. "I grabbed the troll before he got close to the human, did some creative therapy and sent him on his way. He shouldn't harm anything worse than a fish or frog at this point since that's what he now believes his favorite meals are, but neither will he be able to carry on a conversation with other trolls."