Galin (14 page)

“Jacob was here. He said I was to give you
something.” But for the life of her she had no idea what it was. “He handed me
something. But now that I think about it, I don’t know what it was. He just
touched me and I fell over. You don’t think I lost it when I fell over, do you?
Please tell me that I didn’t. I don’t know what I’d do if we couldn’t get to
him in time.”

“Touch me.”

Dusty wasn’t sure that was a good idea and
put her hands behind her back. There was something so…off about him that made
her think he was not well. Or something.

“It is a message that only I can understand.
He must have been…I’m not trying to insult you, but he must have been very
desperate to have given it to you. I would have thought he’d give it to someone
with more…well, just more of everything.”

Then Boss did something he’d never been seen
doing before; he rolled his eyes at her. “Give it to me, woman.”

“He was hurt.” Boss nodded and moved toward
her. “Will you be hurt by this like I was? If so, then I’d rather you just let
me figure it out. There is no reason why everyone should be injured over this.”

“That’s really nice of you, my child, but
impossible. The fact that he gave it to you tells me that you’re very powerful;
for him to be able to contact you is something else altogether. I didn’t plan
on that. And that you did not fail to receive it says a great deal for your
strength. But the message is for me. I should take it so that I can help him.” She
started forward when she remembered something else.

“He said that I had to come to the other
realm as well. That it was the only way.” Boss put his hand down and watched
her. She could see the disbelief on his face. Hell, she didn’t know what the
hell was going on, and she had been there when Jacob had come to her. “You have
to let me help you. Jacob needs me.”

“Very well.” She moved forward and before she
put out her hand, Boss pulled her to his body. The surge of heat nearly had her
begging him to let her go, but as soon as he did it, she realized they were no
longer in her office. “Do not ask me where we are.”

Dusty nodded. “I’m to assume we’re not in
Kansas anymore then?” Boss nodded and she did as well. When he turned to look
around, she told him what else Jacob had told her.

“He is a very brave man for what he’s done. I
cannot…it’s not possible for me to see the goings on in all the other realms. When
it’s not the one I live in then it’s like a door is there.” Dusty nodded after
Boss spoke, already having figured that part out. “When we find them we will—”

“Them?” Boss looked at her questioningly. “Them?
You said them as if you already know there are more than just Jacob. How would
you know that when I didn’t tell you? Do you…are you really Boss?”

“Of course I am. Who would I be if not him? What
a stupid question. Of course I’m him. I don’t know why…why would you even ask
me that?” Before she could tell him she simply didn’t trust him, that was why, he
shoved her against the wall and put his hand over her mouth. In seconds she
could hear someone speaking as they came toward them. Her wings…she wanted to
free them to protect herself, but he leaned into her ear.

“You will give us away if you do that. The
magic that comes with opening them will have them finding us sooner. And I’m
just not ready for anyone to find us. And Jacob did warn you that the trip in
wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed.” Dusty nodded as he continued. “I am going to
let you go for now and then leave. But only for a second. Stand here and do not
move. I shall come back as soon as I find them.”

She wanted to leave herself. Something was going
on here that she didn’t understand or trust. She would have argued the
stupidity of him leaving her alone if he hadn’t left her almost as soon as he finished
speaking. Dusty leaned back against the hot wall she was standing next to and
thought of how dumb this was. Before she started to panic and berate herself on
how next time a big boss told her he’d handle it, she’d fucking let him, Boss
appeared.

“He is here as are others, just as he said.”
She didn’t want to ask if he was dead or not, but he must have understood
something on her face. “He’s alive. The injuries that he sustained are horrific,
but he will survive if you can get him out now. You are still wanting to help
me, right? Willing to go in and get him?”

“There is no question of me helping you. Just
tell me what to do.” He nodded and smiled. Dusty had no idea why he’d smile at
a time like this, but he was moving down the hall and she had no choice but to
follow. Dusty thought of Galin.

Tell me where you are.
Dusty stopped
walking for a second and looked around. She thought that Galin was standing
right next to her when he spoke.
Where are you, love? Denise is beside
herself with worry, Riss is spitting mad, and you don’t even want to know what
Kala and Judith are saying. I want to be with you.

She told him what had happened.
You can’t
come. I’m not sure why I’m here either, but Jacob told me that I had to come.
And if he had said you too, you’d be here with me. Boss isn’t overly thrilled
to have me here, I think.

Honey, Boss is here. With me and the others. He’s
not there. What’s…do you know who might have you?
Dusty stilled in mid
step. This was just wrong.
I will…please don’t do anything. I don’t know
where you are but…. The only thing I can think of is that you’re in another
realm. Whoever this is, he’s taken you to another realm for some reason. I’m
betting it’s Markum. There is no preparing for this. We can’t get to you unless
there is an invitation.

An invitation? Okay. Would you come and get
my ass out of this mess?
He told her it didn’t work that way.
Well, of course
it doesn’t. Why should it? I mean, I’m here and anyone who can save me is
wherever you are. I want you to do me a favor. Don’t tell Kip where I am.

He’s not with you?
Her heart skipped
several beats when Galin asked her.
The school said that you picked him up
not an hour ago. I went there to get him knowing that he’d be worried if you
weren’t at home since you were working so hard. I assumed…Dusty, he must be
there. That’s why Jacob said you had to come with Boss.

When whoever this man was turned to her, she
had a feeling he knew just where Kip was. Before she could ask him, he pointed
to a large cell door that looked like it was covered in blood, still dark and
wet. She put out her hand to take the doorknob, then hesitated. There was just
something not right about this whole thing. Turning to “Boss,” she looked at
him. Really looked, and realized what she should have at the very start. This
was not the man she had been made to believe he was.

“You’re not Him.” Boss nodded and smiled at
her. The smile was not reassuring, nor was it very friendly. “No, you’re not.
You look like Him, even sort of act like Him to a point, but you’re so not Him.”

“I’m your master. Believe me.” She backed from
the door. “Open it so that we may get out Jacob and the others. Kip needs you.”

“Kip isn’t in there.” He nodded and she could
see a part of this impostor that she’d not noticed before…he had dark wings. “You’re
not Boss, you’re Markum.”

The change was swift and scary. She watched
in horrid fascination while the man she had come to admire more than anything
disappeared and this…this monster took His place. When he moved toward her, she
knew that she was seeing the real him and not the person he’d been when he’d
come to her home and hurt Valyn.

He was taller by at least several feet. His
wings were spread out now and she could see that not only were they dark, but
they had hot veins of flames running through them. She took a step back when he
sort of slithered toward her. His long torso was being held up by a serpent
like body where legs should have been, and it had a long sharp point at the
tail. And his entire body was encased in what looked like scales. He was
fucking terrifying.

“You are much too smart for your own good. I’ve
always thought that. Since I’ve found you, I kept thinking to myself, let her
go, she’ll get you into trouble. You have too, lots of it. But now you’re here
and you’re mine.” He spread his wings out more until they stretched the entire
length of the area where they were. She could see that they were indeed dark…not
black, but covered with blood. “You are going to be so much fun to fuck when
this is finished. To think that I was going to give you to my lordship and not
keep you for myself.” He moved closer to her and she cringed from the stench.

“You will bow before me, Dusty McGee, and
when you do, I shall take you and make you my pleasure bitch. And you’ll only
service me. Whenever and wherever I wish.” He reached between his legs and
stroked what she could only assume was a cock. He looked…she wanted to say tiny,
but all she could think of was pencil dick.

“Are you kidding me? That’s all you have? You’re
going to have to use a lot more than that if you want to fuck me. Can you…are
you hard now? That doesn’t even look like you could fuck an ant and have them
feel it.” His wrath burned over her skin when he roared at her. Dusty had no
idea why pissing him off would make him be stupid, but the thought kept going
around in her head like a loop. “I have an idea…why don’t you go to my house
and get a vibrator? I might come a couple of times if you use that; otherwise…otherwise,
I’m not going to enjoy myself. And if I don’t, you won’t, buddy. I don’t like
to give when I get nothing in return. And with that…well, I’d get nothing for
sure.”

“You will be more respectful of me. I am
going to be a lord and rule the realm with a hard fist.” She giggled. “You
think this is funny? You think that I’m not going to make you do as I say? I’m
going to rule you. I’m going to make everyone bow before me, because I will be
all powerful.”

“All powerful with a tiny dick.” His…claw,
she supposed, came out and hit her before she could move. The pain was
incredible but she didn’t back down. He was mad now and backing himself into a
corner, literally. As soon as she had him far from the doorway she’d come
through she asked him about the door. “You had a real…well, I was going to say
hard-on, but who knows with you. But you wanted me to open that door. Why? You
brought me here thinking you were going to have an easy lay, and it all has to
do with that door. What’s on the other side, Markum of the Little Dick?”

“You’ll not call me that again, woman. But
you’ll do as I command. You will see what I have for you. Open it.” She looked
at him like was he was not serious. “Come here then. Open it and we will enter
together. Then I will show you what a real man can look like.”

“I don’t think so. You do it and maybe I’ll
go in with you.” He roared again, and Dusty felt her skin blister. Much more of
this and she’d be a crispy fry in no time. But he looked at the door. She could
see the frustration on his face and the desperation. He wanted her in there and
right now. Dusty wasn’t going in there for all the money in the world.

“You will follow me?” She didn’t say anything
but shrugged. “I need for you to go willingly. If you do then I will return…he
will be returned to you. I make this promise to you because you’re going to do
as I asked.”

Dusty didn’t point out that he hadn’t asked
anything but had kidnapped her, but kept her mouth shut. And by the person he
said he was going to return to her, she didn’t think he meant Kip because she
knew that he was not in that room. There was something there, but it wasn’t her
Kip.

“What is the meaning of this?” They both
turned to the second being that stood just inside the other hall, a hall she’d
not noticed before now. “Who is this…this woman, and what is she doing here in
this realm? What have you done, Markum?”

“She wanted to visit me and was thinking of
staying, my lord. She has begged me so much that I thought it good that she
come here.” Dusty looked at Markum. There was such a marked change in him that
she wanted to ask him who the being was. Markum’s voice, his mannerisms, were
all different. He was subservient sounding. Whoever this newcomer was, he was
someone that Markum feared. But Dusty wasn’t going to be a doormat any longer
with this prick.

“He’s lying to you. And big time too. He said
he was keeping me for himself. And as far as visiting here? No way. I just came
to find my nephew. I think this asshole took him from me and put him somewhere
else. I don’t know what’s in that room, but he wants me to go in with him. I
don’t suppose you know what that’s about, do you?” The being looked at her. “You
should also know that I think he was going to fuck you over. And for some
reason, I was the bait. Whatever his plans are, you are not going to come out
on top as far as he’s concerned.”

The being—because she wasn’t sure really what
to call him—looked at the still closed door, then at Markum. She could see the
anger there but also caution. When he spoke it was harsher than before, and a
good deal angrier.

“You were taking her to your realm, your
room?” Before Markum could say anything the being advanced to him. “You’ll
answer me truthfully or I will tear you apart. I’ve had enough of your shit to
last several lifetimes. Answer me without a lie or so help me, I will give you
such pain you will never recover from it.”