Evalle was gripping the edge of her stone seat. It sucked as a stress reliever. Her heart rate had gone into Mach speed. Where was Storm when she needed a calm-me-down spell?
Trey glanced over at her. "Problem?"
Yes, I want to shout at Tzader that we need to talk now! Instead, she whispered back in a strained voice. "Indigestion."
He nodded and returned to listening.
She just had to figure out how to spin this ABC event to be a VIPER issue.
Casper stood behind her. "Whoa now. When I was in the Texas division, Beast Clubs were illegal. What's changed?"
Thank you, Casper.
"Nothing." Tzader's gaze swept the crowd. "Beast Clubs are still illegal and within VIPER jurisdiction for sanctioning if the battles are held on any land that is not under diplomatic protection. In fact, one of our people spotted a Beast Club in progress in the area of Oakey Mountain last night. By the time agents arrived there was nothing left but torches staked around a circle." He continued sharing the report, details Evalle knew firsthand.
Cold raced along her skin at how close she and Storm had come to being caught. But they hadn't. She focused on keeping calm. Don't react here. She leaned toward Trey, hoping he knew more. "That was some get. Who called in the Beast Club alert?"
"Horace Keefer," Trey said softly. "He heard about it from a Nightstalker, but that must have been before the infection broke out. Old guy comes up with surprising intel sometimes."
"No kidding. Poor old guy needs a hobby."
"I think working with VIPER is the only thing keeping him going after losing his wife and son years ago."
She nodded, listening as Tzader moved on to VIPER's response to the report.
"We've sent out several trackers who are following scents, but no leads as yet. These illegal Beast Clubs have sprung up overnight, primarily here in the southeastern region, but we don't expect them to continue once the Achilles Beast Championship is over."
Evalle made a mental note to tell Storm about Horace having reported the Beast Club to VIPER, but she wouldn't reach him by cell phone until she got out of this mountain. If Horace had seen her or Storm, he'd have reported to Tzader, so she might be worrying for no reason.
Down in front, Horace swung his head around, eyeing the crowd, then his gaze paused on her. He gave her his grandfatherly smile, and she returned one as warm to him.
Trey shoved to his feet. "What about this beast championship? What makes that legal?"
What about sitting down and shutting the f--
Evalle sucked in a breath at even thinking a curse like that. Trey was only asking what she'd ask any other time when she didn't have to talk to Tzader about the ABC first. Her emotions were erupting willy-nilly, landing on the closest target for no particular reason. Please get me out of here soon.
Tzader turned to Sen, who stepped forward to answer. "I informed the Tribunal, who indicated they knew of the event and the host. According to them, the host is holding the games on his land, and he has diplomatic immunity as long as there's no illegal activity."
How about telling us who the host is? Evalle couldn't ask, because she didn't need to show any interest in the championship, not in front of Sen. Engaging him directly while she was wearing the Volonte armband would be asking for trouble, but you'd think someone else would want to know.
A female agent on the far left gained the floor. "You mean like tradin' fairy dust?"
"Exactly."
Evalle had to lock her knees around the edge of the bench to keep from jumping up and asking if Horace had found out that the buy-in was stolen Volonte bones, or that the Medb were offering Alterants immortality. She clutched the stone seating harder, feeling pieces crumble under her fingers.
Saying a word about the ABC right now would burst a dam on questions that would drown her the minute she tried to explain.
Trey sat back down, but his gaze traveled over to where she dug finger grooves into her seat. He leaned over. "I'll explain to Tzader if you need to leave."
Relaxing her fingers, she shook her head and squeezed out, "No. I'm good."
Sen's booming voice drew all attention back to the stage when he explained, "If anything illegal does occur during the event, we won't find out until after it happens. By that time, the event will be over."
The female agent pressed, "Don't you want to send in a couple of agents just to monitor the event?"
Yes! Thank you, whoever you are.
"No. The Tribunal indicated the buy-in is too high to send in a covert team."
Evalle's head throbbed with the need to use telepathy and tell Tzader she had the buy-in.
Tzader asked Sen, "What's the buy-in for these ultimate games?"
"Volonte bone."
"Thought those were stolen."
Evalle wanted to cheer Tzader, to tell him to keep going.
Shaking his head, Sen said, "It's rumored that the bones were stolen after the archaeological discovery, but the humans haven't reported a theft, so we can't charge anyone with theft."
That had to be good and bad news for Evalle, but she wouldn't celebrate until this armband was off. Until then, she was channeling Storm's soothing voice through her mind to hold on to her control.
"And," Sen continued, "those bones are so rare the event host will be lucky if they see two or three." He paused, his tone heavy with warning. "There is another way for someone to get inside the games without a buy-in. An Alterant can enter for free."
Tzader's eyes flicked at Evalle for only a second, but in that moment she could see that he understood the nature of what she'd wanted to discuss.
Evalle pretended that every set of eyes in the room hadn't just locked on her. Stay calm. Don't smile. Don't frown.
Didn't take long for someone to ask, "Why would they get in free?"
Sen's voice warmed to the subject. "They're the main attraction in this freak show. The marquee battles are a non-Alterant against an Alterant. The last Elite matches are five beast-against-beast battles, with the winners offered immortality by the Medb."
Silence overpowered the room.
Emotions burst forth and raked across Evalle's senses so quickly that she clenched against the onslaught. She shut down her empathic side, but not before shock, fear and anger sang through the energy around her.
She didn't have to hear their thoughts to know many of them would be quick to believe that she'd enter the championship for a chance at immortality. Sen had to be loving this.
I hate you, you miserable piece of . . . She'd lifted her hand to toss a kinetic blast, but she caught Trey's hard stare. She forced a smile at him, hoping she didn't look like a rabid dog baring its teeth. "Hand cramp."
Nodding, Trey turned back to face the stage.
She was going to snap if this didn't end soon.
Sen had paused, anticipation building during the silence until his voice boomed through the room. "Make no mistake on this, people. No member of VIPER is allowed to enter these games as a fighter or observer. The coalition bylaws are clear about any agent fighting for personal gain. It will not be tolerated. To do so is to bring down the full force of our laws on your head. The last time a VIPER agent was caught in a Beast Club, the agent was terminated and his direct supervisor sent out of this country."
Terminated, as in destroyed.
Heavy thumps pounded in Evalle's chest, each beat echoing through her with the finality of a death knell. She crossed her arms again to keep her hands out of trouble and to hide the rage trembling through her. Sen expected her to go rogue.
Someone far down near the front asked, "What about Alterants? They don't have a pantheon. What's their status?"
Another round of stares swept up at Evalle. She kept her gaze locked on the stage.
Sen answered, "Any rogue Alterant found after this event will be considered dangerous and a threat due to the possibility of their becoming immortal." Snickers of disbelief erupted. "Regardless," Sen said, quieting the room. "Once the ABC is over,
these beasts are to be apprehended or terminated. Agents have autonomy to make that call."
That bastard. No thought of trying to rescue any Alterants being forced to fight against their will, like poor Bernie.
Sen's motto ran along the lines of the only good Alterant is a disintegrated one.
When rumbling percolated through the room, Tzader took a step forward on the stage, and every Belador in the audience snapped to attention. That quieted the rest. He said, "Finding whoever is behind this infection problem is our priority. I will contact you immediately by text if there is any breakthrough or change in this situation. Until then, telepathic communication risks a pandemic problem. Everyone is dismissed."
Evalle stood on wobbly legs, then made her way downstairs against the throng of agents heading upstairs to exit. She managed not to lash out at suspicious glances and whispers, pushing past the last group, when she came face-to-face with Sen.
Without any preamble, he handed out a dictate. "Tell Storm he either comes back now to help, or he's persona non grata with VIPER."
Did he think he could just dump that on her as if she controlled what Storm did or did not do? She snapped, "What makes you think I'll see him?"
Sen's eyes turned to cold steel but he didn't lash out, which worried her more than his usual temper. He said, "Tell him or don't. Either way, he's got until Monday to come in and declare his status with VIPER. His leave is over."
Of all the people she'd been concerned about attacking in this place, Sen had topped her list. Why the sudden lack of aggression? She should be glad, but all she felt was suspicion.
Evalle looked over at Tzader, who was talking to Horace. Tzader's gaze drifted to Evalle. When he noticed she was standing with Sen, Tzader ended his conversation with Horace.
Walking up to Evalle and Sen, Tzader asked, "What's up?"
"It would be in everyone's best interest to put the Alterant in protective custody."
What? "I'm not a threat."
Tzader gave a resounding, "No. And you know her name. Use it."
As usual, Sen ignored anything to do with showing Evalle respect. He tried to put the yoke on her conscience. "You should do the right thing and offer to stay here. If you're captured and forced to fight in the ABC, you'll either be killed or end up being hunted if the Medb take you into their coven. And once you do that, you can't return to the Beladors without putting them in conflict with VIPER."
Evalle had to hand it to Sen. When he cornered his prey, he made sure the only way out of hot water led into the fire. But she would not plead any defense to him.
Tzader lifted his hand. "Evalle's not fighting in the beast championship, so this is a moot point. Neither is she going into protective custody. Beladors can protect their own."
Sen shrugged as if he really didn't care. "Don't say I didn't offer." He strolled off.
He'd given up too easily. Evalle had a hinky feeling that he'd just set another part of a trap in place. Or was she running on high-test paranoia today?
After that conversation, she couldn't tell Tzader about the ABC.
Once Sen and everyone else had vacated the hall, Tzader spoke softly. "Before you say a word, I'm bound to give the Tribunal any report of Alterants around the beast championship. Even if Macha is behind some plan to capture Alterants."
Evalle's last ember of hope died with his words.
She just stared at him. Her stomach dropped to her feet.
Tzader cursed and turned away, cupping his hand over his eyes. "She can't do this."
"She isn't."
He lowered his hand and turned to her. "Neither can you."
"I hear you."
"Evalle."
She held up her hand to stop him. Tzader would step over the line and put himself at risk for her or Quinn, but she wouldn't let him. "The less said the better."
"I know you won't fight in the ABC, but she better back whatever she has you doing."
No, Macha was not backing her, but telling Tzader that would only add to the worry feeding that bleak look in his brown eyes. He'd been her only hope for unloading this Volonte. The emotional toll the artifact had taken during the meeting left her feeling wrung dry of energy. But she was stuck with it for now.
All her options had just vaporized. Instead of admitting she was rolling solo on this one, Evalle changed the subject. "I do need something."
"What?"
"An SUV warded against the sun so I don't lose daylight hours. You need everyone hunting for whoever brought in the infection." She hated implying that was why she needed the vehicle when in fact she needed something big enough to carry several Alterants if she managed to get some out of the ABC.
"I'll have Sen ward an Expedition. Where's Storm?"
She hadn't expected that question from Tzader. "At his house."
"We could use him."
"I'll tell him, but I'm not encouraging him to sign on with VIPER again." Evalle looked around, making sure they were still alone even though Tzader could see behind her. "Whether anyone believes it or not, I'm sure Sen tried to kill Storm a month ago."
"You can't be saying that around here without evidence."
"I'm not. I'm telling you, because Storm will probably come in to help you and the other agents. Just keep an eye on his back if he does, okay?"
Tzader took his time answering, those dark brown eyes concentrating a little too much on what she'd just said. "I'd think you'd be watching his back."
Crap. She shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans to keep from giving away her jumpy nerves. She should be helping Tzader. She should be watching Storm's back. She should be able to do a better job of watching over the people she cared about. "I will, but we probably won't be working together the whole time due to how little time I can be in the sun." Especially once she headed out for the ABC without him.
A long, tired sigh wheezed out of Tzader. "Take him with you to do whatever you're doing."
No way. "If I need him, I will, but he'll be more help as a tracker right now."
"Fine. I need you to do something for me, too."
"Name it." Being able to do anything for Tzader gave Evalle a happy moment she needed after hours of stress.
Tzader reached inside his jacket and withdrew a thick legal-size envelope. "Take this to Quinn tonight. I got a text saying that he received the warning about the infection and that he's back in the city. Said he'd be at his hotel all night. Tell him to call me after he gets this. I need to send him back to Treoir to oversee security there until we get this infection figured out."
She took the envelope and followed Tzader up the forty steps it took to reach the hallway that led back to her motorcycle. With every step, guilt dragged at her over leaving Tzader and Quinn to deal with the infection when she should be here helping out.
But she didn't have a lot of time to go see Quinn, check on Grady and talk to Storm before she had to leave for Cumberland Island.
When they reached her motorcycle, Evalle gathered what she needed, while Tzader arranged for the big black sport-utility vehicle that screamed Secret Service.
Tzader put his hand on her shoulder before she stepped into the imposing black ride. "I've never known Macha to intentionally send someone into danger, but I've got a bad feeling about whatever you're doing."
She pulled together all the muscles she could to create a believable smile. "Nothing worse than her usual crap."
"Call me if you need me. Even if you can't use a phone."
"I will." Not. She climbed into the truck and flipped on the headlights that speared the dark hanging outside the mountain. When she drove out, the entrance formed back into a rock, blending into the surroundings.
She couldn't tell Tzader. And though she needed her friends to know, she hesitated to share any of this with Quinn. Guilt kicked her in the gut every time she thought about him, but much as she didn't want it to be true, her trust in Quinn had a severe crack.
Back before Tristan was captured, Kizira had claim
ed Quinn had told her where to find Evalle. That knowledge had almost brought about the deaths of Evalle, Tristan and his friends in an underground maze. When Evalle had questioned Quinn, he'd lied about helping the Medb priestess find Evalle. And Evalle knew that to be a fact only because Storm had unintentionally overheard her questioning Quinn.
Even if she could tell Tzader, now was not the time to divide his focus, when his first responsibility was to the Belador tribe. Evalle's should be, too, but she also served Macha now, and Macha topped everyone in the Belador food chain.
That meant Evalle would have to insert into the ABC alone, with no backup, because she would not pit Storm against an Alterant again.
And he couldn't get in without her.
She hadn't gotten the armband off, but she also hadn't tried to kill Sen. That counted for something.
Sen had been too accommodating with this vehicle, and he'd backed off way too quickly when Tzader had refused protective custody.
Definitely too easy.
Sen hadn't demanded anything in return for the warded SUV.
Deep in the pit of Evalle's stomach, she had a sick feeling that Sen knew something. About her and Storm being at the Beast Club? But Horace would have told Tzader, who would have told Evalle.
Or was Sen anticipating that she'd make a run for the immortality offer by the Medb and he'd capture her there? If he caught her, he wouldn't hand her over to be judged by the Tribunal.
Not this time. He'd deal out justice himself.
FIFTEEN
Cousin Quinn should have returned by now. He was near.
Lanna knew this because she held his wrinkled dress shirt in her hands, rubbing the soft material. She was sure she had felt him close just before dark, but that was three hours ago.
Brasko women were born with the gift of precognition, but few had Lanna's power. Of course, hers was an unskilled gift, and at eighteen, her hormones were creating as much trouble as her lack of formal training. Still, she had been sure Cousin Quinn would walk through the door of his grand hotel suite way before now.
She went to the giant window, where rain slapped the glass and blurred lights of downtown Atlanta at night. Her cousin had much money and liked to be high above Peachtree Street. So many umbrellas opened against the drizzling rain, she could not see who was down there. Dark and gloomy skies. Much like her mood.