Wicked Waves: Solsti Prophecy #2 (14 page)

Excellent, now that I’m holding you.

She let out a sigh of relief as he put her down.
I love you
, she thought.

And I love you
.

A deliberate cough from Rhys brought her attention to the others. “All right, cut the mushy mind stuff,” he drawled. “Don’t you want to know how many of those fuckers we killed?”

She turned to the dark-haired demon. “I do. But…but Brooke and Kai didn’t come back.”
 
Her voice broke on the last word.

Rhys and Brenin cursed loudly as Gunnar folded her into his arms. “Never underestimate Kai,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a good reason they didn’t return.”

“But remember how much trouble we ran into when we were there?”
 
Images flashed through her mind in rapid-fire succession. Different predatory demons, some with wings, some with venomous fangs, some with poison arrows. All bent on killing whoever they wanted. She shuddered.

“Kai has gotten out of near-impossible situations. And he knows that area better than anyone I’ve met.”

Nicole swallowed a lump in her throat, emotion trampling any hope of stringing words togerther. “Okay.” She pressed tighter against Gunnar, aching for his warmth to fight the chilling fear in her soul.

“We’ll talk to Arawn about Brooke and Kai, and about these Neshis, too. Two of them escaped.” A rumble of frustration reached both her ears and her mind as Gunnar’s hands tightened at her waist. “Bastards dove into the river while we were each fighting two of their kin. We couldn’t track their scent in the water, and they could be anywhere by now. We’re going to need reinforcements.”

“Oh my God.”
 
She’d hoped that Brooke’s encounter with the Neshi demon had been an isolated event. But if more of the hideous orange creatures lurked around the city?
 
Unease prowled down her spine. Not only were the city’s residents in danger, but Brooke might be, too. And Gunnar, Brenin, and Rhys wouldn’t be able to pop over to Torth to find her. Not yet, anyway.

Gunnar rubbed her back. “We’ll get Arawn to put someone on Brooke’s trail ASAP.”

“Tell him to send Mathias,” Brenin said. He leaned against the SUV, arms folded across his chest.

Her eyes darted to the blond fighter. “Who’s Mathias?”

“He’s our Hunter. He’s the best,” Gunnar answered.

“Hunter?
 
What does that mean?” Nicole scrunched her nose.

“Among the Lash race, he’s our top tracker. He can find anyone, anywhere, whether they want to be found or not.”

“Are you sure he could find them, even if they…if they’re…”

Gunnar tilted her head up and gazed down into her eyes. “Don’t think that way, love.”

Nicole nodded, drawing strength from her mate. She felt a surge of confidence entwined with Gunnar’s thoughts of this demon named Mathias. It settled over her like a cozy blanket.
 

“I heard he’s never failed to locate a mark. And he’s five hundred years old,” Brenin said.

“That dude’s got serious skills, Nic,” Rhys added.

“Thanks, guys.” She managed a weak smile at their efforts to alleviate her fears. Rhys, Brenin, and Kai had become the brothers she never had, and she knew they’d do anything for her and her sisters. She examined their disheveled state. “You need to get cleaned up.”

“Agreed,” Brenin said, striding toward the back door. He gently squeezed her arm as he passed. “Brooke’s one tough cookie.”

“And Kai can be a vicious bastard.” Rhys kicked a small stone and followed Brenin.

“There’s nothing we can do until we speak to Arawn.” Gunnar’s strong fingers stroked her nape. “He’ll make sure Brooke and Kai are located.”

I’m just scared
. She studied his blue eyes, noting the absence of any fear. She narrowed her eyes.
Wait. Why aren’t you?

He wrapped a brawny arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the house.
You don’t know Mathias. One time he located a sea witch who’d been living ten miles below the ocean for a hundred years.
He lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “I know you’re worried, love. And I know waiting sucks. Nicole…”

She gazed into the azure glow of his eyes, waiting for his unfinished thought.

He stopped and turned her to face him. “Kai was captured when he was young. Spent almost a year as a gladiator slave. He was forced to fight for his life every time he entered the arena.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “I had no idea.”

“He doesn’t like to talk about it. But when Rhys said he was a vicious bastard, he’s right. He’s faced every demon imaginable, and won. Kai would give up his life before he’d let anything happen to Brooke.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
 
A chill crawled over her skin, reaching deep. Even the billowing wave of Gunnar’s certainty couldn’t mitigate it completely.

“They’ll be okay, love. We’ll get them back.”

She let him lead her into the house, let his reassurance drape her in feathery comfort.
Okay
, she thought.
Let’s call Arawn right now
.

Do I get a five minute shower first?

No.
At his quirked eyebrow, she continued,
shower later.

He took her hand and led her up the stairs to Rilan’s room. “I’ll happily talk to my liege, covered in Neshi blood, if it’ll help find Brooke five mniutes sooner.”
 
He kissed the back of her hand. “We need Rilan’s spells for this. Arawn’s on Torth, and our phones don’t work between the realms.”

“Someone needs to fix that,” she muttered.

“Agreed.”
 
Reaching the Elder’s open door, Gunnar knocked on the frame.

“Come in.” Rilan sat hunched over a massive tome, and he turned around when they stepped into his study. Warm brown eyes taking in Gunnar’s disheveled state, the Elder and her warrior spoke in unison.

“We need to talk to Arawn.”

C
HAPTER
10

S
URROUNDED
BY
S
ERUS
DEMONS
, B
ROOKE
and Kai trekked through the barren landscape. She guessed it was mid-afternoon, though it was hard to tell without seeing the sun’s passage across the sky. Clouds obscured it, except for a pale splotch peeking through once in a while.

They had left the forest of silvery, ghostly trees far behind. The terrain was punctuated by the occasional boulder or bush, everything washed in shades of gray. Gravel and scrubby grass covered the ground and nearby sloping hills. She couldn’t sense any water, save for the fluid flowing inside living things.

Kai marched several feet behind her, ringed by three guards, his hands still bound with the magic rope. She ventured a glance over her shoulder a few times, drawing reassurance from the winks he gave her. She walked with a demon at each side but, thankfully, Cale hadn’t seen fit to have weapons drawn on them as they moved across the ashy ground.

They moved through occasional tendrils of filmy fog, and in between the mists she noticed more trees. She hadn’t thought it was possible for trees to get more eerie than those they had seen earlier, but these looked downright haunted. Clumps of gray, hole-ridden leaves grew at random spots along the trunks. Gnarled branches stretched toward the sky like arms begging for nourishment. The species resembled a cross between an oak and a maple, with the bark hanging off in strips.

A breeze blew through the tepid air. She crinkled her nose and peered ahead at a darkness looming on the horizon. As they drew closer, she saw a stone wall stretching a hundred feet on either side of a heavy wooden gate. Two guards stood in front of it and ten more stood atop the wall.

Cale, who had led the journey, strode forward to speak with the guards. Brooke couldn’t hear what they were saying, but a few minutes later the gate opened and their entire group passed through the entrance.

Brooke stared at the gray expanse before her. The stone wall encompassed half a dozen buildings huddled together in the center of the complex, every surface colored in the same range of drab hues they’d just walked through. It was nothing like Nicole’s tales of lush, verdant forest and rivers sparkling with rainbow sprites. What she wouldn’t give to be where her sister had visited instead of this colorless wasteland.

She inhaled, taking in the scents of dirt, garbage, and unwashed bodies. A faint sensation of power flitted through her and her body drew strength from it.
Water
. Somewhere nearby its presence beckoned, though it was subdued enough that she couldn’t see it or hear it. Her nerves calmed and she fought the smile of relief that threatened to spread across her face. She would find the source.

Kai had worked his way next to her as they filtered through the open gate. Turning to him, her newfound relief disappeared. His mouth was set in an angry line. She’d never seen him look so grim.
Uh-oh
. Kai wasn’t supposed to look like that.

“Kai?” she whispered.

He didn’t look at her. Instead, his eyes were fixed on a group emerging from the nearest stone building. “Things might get worse before they get better, Sprite.”

She followed his gaze to the handful of figures approaching. In front strode a man with beady red eyes and stringy dull-brown hair. It hung in a shaggy mane around his face and shoulders. He was tall, but not as big as Kai. Red eyes fixed on Kai, his jaw clenched as he moved closer.
 

Stopping a few feet in front of them, he barked, “Show me the scar.”

The Serus guards jerked Kai around to face away from the red-eyed man.
Or is he a demon?
 
He took one look at Kai’s marked shoulder blade and threw back his head. A peal of evil laughter burst from his throat, echoing off the stone wall, filling the dismal space with malice.

He grabbed Kai’s arm and turned him sharply. “One hundred seventy years ago, you sealed your fate when you killed my father. I’ve had lots of time to invent new devices for my interrogation room. New ways to make you regret that night.”
 
An ugly sneer pulled his lips upward. “Other slaves have felt their effects, but it’s you they’re intended for. I knew your luck wouldn’t hold out. I relish delivering vengeance in my father’s name.”
 
His eyes narrowed and a venomous grin twisted his pale face.

This must be Draven
. Brooke didn’t want to think about his “devices” or plans. She needed to find that water source and get them out of here.

His crimson gaze slid to her and he stepped closer. “And you…” Beady eyes traveled down the length of her body and back up. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

A snarl escaped Kai’s mouth.

The man’s grin spread. He released her chin, only to circle his hand around her throat. He splayed his fingers wide and dragged them down the center of her torso, lingering over the swell of her breasts before settling at the waistband of her jeans.

He leaned in close enough for her to spot several crooked teeth. “You’re a pretty thing,” he whispered, his hot breath tickling her ear.

She shuddered and tried to jerk back, but his hand at her waist kept her in place. Her breath came in short gasps as she turned away, desperate to put space between them.

He pressed closer, pushing his nose into her hair. “You smell so fucking sweet.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as her stomach churned in revulsion.

Kai’s snarl turned feral. “Get your hands off her.
Now
.”

Draven turned, dragging his nose along her ear and cheek. “You like this one, hmm?
 
I’ll make sure your bonds are extra tight while I take her. I wouldn’t want you to miss that.”
 
He removed his hand and stalked away. “I have a fight to watch. Put them in a cell.”

Brooke’s eyes flew open and she exhaled sharply. She swiped a hand across her face in disgust, rubbing at the skin Draven had nuzzled. Unable to keep her shoulders from trembling, she turned to Kai.

“Fucking bastard. You okay?” His face was twisted in anger, brown eyes flaring with amber light.

She let out another harsh breath and willed her nausea to stop. The last thing she wanted was for Draven or his men to see just how badly he’d shaken her. “Yeah,” she said in a small voice. “I will be.”

“I’m sorry, Sprite. That goddamn, cock-sucking motherfu—”

One of the compound guards barked an order. The Serus demons handed Brooke and Kai’s magic rope restraints over to Draven’s men, who led them toward one of the stone buildings.

They crossed the open space and came to another heavily guarded door. Brooke’s eyes adjusted quickly to the dark interior, since the outdoors hadn’t been very bright. A chill fluttered over her skin, but it wasn’t from fear. Her power recognized its life-source. The sensation of water grew stronger as they moved deeper into the compound.

The demons guided them down a stone-walled corridor punctuated with torches. Brooke’s mind flashed to her younger sister, Gin, and her affinity with fire.
She could take a spark from any of these torches and turn it into a fireball. Destroy this entire shithole.
Too bad Gin wanted nothing to do with her talent.

Brooke shook her head to clear her thoughts. Gin wasn’t the one being held prisoner.
But she’d raise hell if she knew about this
. Brooke peered up at the ceiling, also made of stone and highlighted with archways every twenty feet. Mournful wails called from farther down, hopeless voices that pierced her with dread. The clang of metal on metal echoed, then scraped.
 
It was followed by another clang-scrape. She tried to block out its repetition, not wanting to know what was happening with that.
 

They passed several doorways covered with rusted bars, and from one of them a spindly hand reached out. She stifled a yelp.
Holy shit, this is an honest-to-goodness dungeon!

The only thing keeping her from screaming was Kai’s strong figure in front of her. She focused on his muscular back as they continued into the depths of the dungeon, forcing herself to take deep breaths. They stopped at a wide wooden door. It was open, and Brooke got a quick glance at a heavy beam propped against the stone wall. One of the guards shoved her into the dark space, his hand wrapped around her arm.