Alterant (Belador #2)(47)

And he hadn’t shifted. Had he been saving energy to teleport?

She let that go in favor of getting on the move. “Tristan knows where the other Alterants are in Atlanta and agreed to help me locate them.”

“He was lying to you.”

“Maybe about helping me, but I believe he was telling the truth about the Alterants being in Atlanta.” Even though Tristan had lied by omission he hadn’t taken her dagger again or left her stranded, when he could have. She hadn’t figured that one out. Why had Tristan stayed with her? No time to waste on that right now. She glanced around, defeat closing in on her with too far to travel in little time. “Any chance you’ve figured out how to track teleporting?”

“No. If he was headed back to Atlanta, call Tzader or Quinn so they can start looking for him while we head back.”

“I can’t ask anyone for help, especially them. The Tribunal forbade it.” Then a thought struck her.

She hadn’t tried any of the gifts because she could only use them for the explicit reason of finding the escaped Alterants and bringing them in.

“What, Evalle?”

“The Tribunal gave me three gifts.” She got excited. “I think I know how to track Tristan.” In her mind, she had to find Tristan to locate the missing Alterants, therefore she could call upon a gift.

But if her reasoning was wrong, she had no idea what the fallout would be.

“Then do it,” Storm encouraged.

Using one gift now left just two for capturing three Alterants and dealing with Tristan at large.

She had no choice, but that didn’t make her happy about what she had to do. “I can’t believe I’m going to burn a gift on this,” she muttered.

“On what?” Storm stepped close to her.

“Teleporting. And I don’t know how to do it, so I’ll probably throw up the entire way and . . .” She lifted her gaze to him. “I can’t leave you, but I might do something wrong and hurt you if I don’t do this right.”

Storm pulled her into his arms.

She sank against him, enjoying the feel of his body next to hers.

He lowered his head and told her, “I’ll keep you from getting sick. Call on the gift.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but his lips covered hers.

Since meeting Storm she’d come to realize that kissing cured a lot of ailments.

His mouth managed to suck all the fight out of her. His hands tucked her closer, but carefully. As if he knew just how far to test her ability to be touched. She’d never let anyone kiss her or get close enough to touch her since escaping that basement.

Not until meeting Storm just a few days ago.

He paused and lifted his head. “Teleport us now or we won’t be leaving here for hours.”

It wasn’t what he said so much as the serious intent in his voice and stark hunger turning his eyes black that got her moving.

She didn’t hesitate. “By the Tribunal power gifted me, I command that Storm and I be teleported along the same path as Tristan.”

The world started spinning as a thought hit her.

What if Tristan teleported somewhere dangerous that he was prepared for, but she and Storm would not be? What if . . .

Storm folded her close to him and kissed her again, pushing thoughts of anything but him from her mind.

An unfamiliar need coiled hot and urgent inside her. His lips caressed hers, his tongue playful. Fingers slid down to her hips, gently moving her snug against him.

Heat rippled through her abdomen.

He whispered calm words between kisses pressed along her neck. She shivered, longed for what his kiss promised. Her body urged her into his touch.

This was the only way to teleport.

He kissed her cheek once, twice.

She leaned back against his arm and turned her head, sucking in a breath when his lips caressed her throat.

All at once the swirling colors melded into distinct lines.

The ride was almost over. Too soon.

She smiled when Storm paused then kissed her again.

Did he do everything with this intense focus? As her feet touched solid ground again, Storm’s chest expanded with a deep breath. He released a groan as if he was just as disappointed as she was to realize their trip would end soon.

He cupped her face and whispered, “Welcome to Air Evalle. Coffee, tea . . . or this.” He kissed her again, murmuring, “Keep your eyes closed.”

She smiled around his lips and followed his advice.

One day when this was over, maybe she would . . .

Day.

A new worry hit her with brutal swiftness. If Tristan had teleported to Atlanta, that’s where she and Storm were landing.

It would be . . . afternoon. Right now.

What if the sun blazed overhead?

Still clinging to Storm, Evalle opened her eyes to a glint of brilliant light.





FIFTEEN




Tzader paced the boardroom on the eighteenth floor of Quinn’s building, one of several he owned in downtown Atlanta.

His gut said not to do this, especially to Vladimir Quinn.

Not that Tzader wanted to risk destroying any person’s mind, but Quinn and Evalle were his closest friends.

Next to Brina.

He stopped pacing. How could Brina think he didn’t put her safety first? What was going on with her?