Alterant (Belador #2)(104)

“What did you tell Evalle?” he asked.

“Just what we’d agreed upon. She’s to become my coordinator of Alterant research and pursue locating the missing Alterants.” Macha became impatient, tapping her foot. “I could have sent someone to find Tristan instead of freeing Evalle.”

“And risk Evalle falling into Medb hands?”

“We both know the chances of Evalle escaping were zilch.”

Tzader had considered several possible ways to have Evalle freed, but every option had put him and Quinn fighting VIPER, Macha and the Beladors.

That would have left him no way to protect Brina.

If not the best choice, this had been the only one that protected all he held dear from danger.

Macha sighed heavily. “Even with Evalle free, we must be vigilant to protect Brina. I’m not entirely certain we can stop the Medb from finding a way to breach the castle as long as Alterants are running around loose.”

“I will always protect Brina. You know that.” He could only stomach so much of this, but he had to keep his end of this bargain or Macha would take away everything she’d given. But he didn’t have to stand here acting as though she really had his best interest at heart. “That’s not what you’re here to discuss.”

“You’re right. You share a certain amount of responsibility in what happened to Brina. She trusted Evalle based upon your ties to the Alterant.”

He’d conceded that point when he’d almost lost his mind upon learning that Brina’s hologram form had been captured.

But he wondered how much of this happenstance Macha had orchestrated. He’d known the goddess a long time and had never trusted her as completely as his father and Brina’s father had.

Look where that trust had gotten their fathers. Killed.

And Brina stuck in a castle until she produced an heir. “What about Brina? Does she get a say?”

Macha said, “The last time I saw Brina, she broached the subject of it being time for her to produce an heir.”

Okay, that surprised him based on the reception he’d gotten from Brina. She wanted to have a baby now . . . with someone else? All he could get out was, “I see.”

“She recognizes the need more than ever to have a child and protect the future of the Beladors, especially in the face of all that has just happened.”

“Then remove my immortality so I can marry her.”

“I can’t go back on the oath I gave to your father. You speak of marriage? Must I remind you to give me your vow as your part of our bargain? Or shall I return Evalle to the cell in VIPER and prevent Brina’s hologram from leaving the castle?”

No. He’d relive this moment a million times over from here on out. The words stuck in his throat, but he had negotiated in good faith and had no choice but to do his part. “I vow to not pursue Brina’s hand in marriage anymore and to do nothing to prevent her from marrying another.”

The muscles in his fingers tightened into balled fists inside his crossed arms. How could he stay in this world and allow another man to touch Brina?

Macha waved her hand in exasperation. “You make it sound like I’ve given you a death sentence. Are you so selfish as to make Brina wait forever for something that is impossible?”

He’d never hold Brina back from having a life with someone else if she wanted another man, but letting her go was ripping him apart inside. “Of course I want her to be happy. I told you I wouldn’t pursue her. Are we done here?”

“Not quite. You agreed not only to let this relationship go but also to convince Brina that she is free so she can move on without guilt. She was very upset after your last meeting and doesn’t know what to say without hurting your feelings.”

Hurt his feelings?

What a ridiculous description of losing the most important person in his world. “I’ll convince her.”





FORTY




Evalle strode along the last hallway to her underground apartment, bruised from head to toe, heart to soul. Sen had teleported her to where she’d left her motorcycle in Decatur.

He hadn’t said a word, but there’d been no way to mute the raw hatred in his eyes.

And no way he would have given her a straight answer about Storm, so she hadn’t wasted time asking. She didn’t need him to find answers. Tzader had said he’d let her know when anyone heard from Storm.

She opened the door of her apartment and stepped inside. “Feenix . . . I’m home.”

Where was he?

Thump, thump, thump . . . then the flap of wings.

Her heart caught in her throat when he came flying at her. She normally stepped aside so he could land in the beanbag and slide across the floor for his NASCAR finish.

She just stood there.

His orange eyes blazed in surprise. He angled away, circled the room and came back to her open arms, tucking his wings as he landed.

She pulled him in close, hugging him, hurting and happy at the same time.

Feenix patted her face and pressed his nose into the curve of her throat.

She shook with the effort of holding back a sob that she couldn’t let free. Her insides were shredding with hurt. Storm had to be alive.

If he was, where was he?

He’d found her in South America.

He’d found her near where she lived.