Alterant (Belador #2)(100)

Pausing, Tzader’s chest rose and fell with a sigh of deep regret when he said, “I had no idea where you were, and Quinn had heard your name mentioned when he entered a vision in Conlan’s mind. I wanted you found as quickly as possible, so I contacted Isak for help.”

Did he think after all he’d done for her that she’d hold that against him? “What happened is not your fault, Z. Isak knew I was in Atlanta. I ran into him while I was searching for Tristan. When he saw glowing green eyes standing with me, he sighted down on a target. Could have happened no matter what.”

Tzader accepted that with his usual stoic quiet, but she knew he wouldn’t forgive himself for bringing Isak into the mix.

She needed to tell him something else. “You’ve piqued Isak’s interest. He may go digging around on you.”

“I’m not worried about Nyght.”

She was. “Please be careful and watch your back.”

“I will.” His throat muscles flexed with a swallow. “I have to leave soon, but I’ll make them let me come back.”

Sen had said one visit meant one visit.

Even Tzader might not be able to bully his way back in.

Panic scurried through her with sharp rat claws. “Do me a couple favors just in case . . . it takes a while.”

“Anything.”

“Storm was with me when Sen came for me. Sen hit him with some kind of power that might have, um—” She took a breath. She could not say the words she didn’t want to hear spoken. “I was in Decatur—”

“I know. Trey’s team must have shown up right after you left. Isak’s men were standing around looking confused.”

Her heart leaped with hope. “Did he find a—” She stopped before asking Tzader if anyone had found a dead animal at the scene. She’d told Storm she wouldn’t share that he could shift into a jaguar. She wouldn’t betray that trust even now.

“Storm must be fine.”

“Why?”

“Sen told me Storm quit. I’ve had people trying to find Storm since you were brought in, but he’s gone.”

Gone or dead? Had Storm survived that attack after all, or had Sen removed the body and made up the story about Storm quitting?

Tzader said, “About Storm—”

“He’s a good man, Z. I know you’re not sure about him because Sen brought him in, but he’s an ally.”

Tzader thought on that. “Why’d they let Storm help you when we couldn’t?”

“They didn’t. When the Tribunal had me teleported to Tristan’s spellbound cage in South America—”

Tzader cursed in Gaelic.

“—Storm found me on his own. I’m not entirely sure how he did it, but he did and he refused to leave me while I searched for Tristan and the other Alterants.”

“In that case, if he hadn’t quit I’d thank him,” Tzader said. “Sen blew me off when I asked about Storm. Said he was jacked up over you being locked up. Sen thinks he’ll be back in a day or two once he cools down. Storm’s one of their best trackers, so VIPER won’t let him get away.”

That sounded like a story Sen would fabricate to cover why Storm had left if Sen didn’t want to deal with explaining a dead agent.

But Evalle wanted what Tzader said to be true with every part of her being no matter how little chance she believed he’d had of surviving Sen’s attack.

Sen would have made sure Storm could not help her again, no matter what.

Thinking of that blasted Sen, he might pull Tzader out any minute, too. She needed Tzader to do a couple more things.

“In case you can’t come back to see me, please give this to Nicole.” She reached around her neck and untied the leather thong holding Nicole’s amulet. She wouldn’t think about how this could be the last time she ever saw Tzader. When she held the amulet out to him, he reluctantly opened his hand. “And make sure that Feen—”

Her voice broke. She’d thought she could say his name.

Tzader wrapped his arms around her. When he spoke, his voice sounded as if he’d eaten rusty blades. “We won’t abandon you.”

She pulled in a shaky breath, determined to get this out. “I know.” She licked her dry lips, searching for the strength to make sure her baby was cared for. “Take Feenix . . . to Nicole . . . so he won’t be alone. Tell Feenix . . . tell him—”

Her baby would go berserk when she didn’t return.

The first tear charged down her cheek.

Tzader hugged her. “We’ll take him to Nicole’s tonight as soon as I finish all the VIPER meetings. We’ll tell him you love him and take care of him until you get back. I swear it.”

More tears rushed to join the first one, but she squinted her eyes tight.

The door to her cell opened on its own.

She pulled back from Tzader and tried to smile. “Thank you for all the times you’ve been my friend and believed in me.”

“Don’t talk in the past tense. I will find a way to get you out of here. Quinn and I won’t stop until we do.”

Should she tell Tzader about Kizira’s claim that Quinn had shared information about Evalle? Not without proof. Evalle could only live with so much guilt, and she’d hurt enough Beladors for one day.