Alterant (Belador #2)(85)

Don’t distract me right now.

Evalle slid to the edge of the entrance, taking in the open space that soared thirty feet high. The hollowed-out chamber stretched as wide and long as a concert hall, but the only music playing here tonight would be death throes if their half-assed plan went bad. Torches blazed around the room and on each corner of a stone slab twenty feet across. Three knee-high, round bands of flames positioned on the ground in front of the platform provided half the light in the room.

Three men in ragged and dirty clothes had each been imprisoned in three fire circles.

Those had to be the escaped Alterants.

They all looked to be around mid-to late twenties. One had dark brown hair that mopped around his shoulders and could have been a center in basketball with his height. The next guy had frizzy, carrot-red hair, a medium build and skin so white it almost glowed. The shortest guy wore a dangly little earring in one ear. He had curly black hair and a Haitian face.

And none of them had green eyes, but they did have one thing in common. Terror.

Tristan stopped in the center of the room.

The three men started shouting for him to free them.

Kizira appeared out of thin air, floating inches above the stone slab. Flames shot up in front of the stone, then spread out until it formed a wide moat of fire surrounding her.

Evalle suffered her first real doubts about escaping the Maze of Death alive.

The Medb priestess waved a hand at the three men, silencing them and setting the bar for her witch powers.

Tristan addressed Kizira. “I’m here. Release the Alterants and my sister.”

“Nice to see you again, Tristan. I missed you.” Kizira had a debutante’s voice that scraped across Evalle’s nerves.

“Can’t say the feeling’s mutual, Kizira. Where’s my sister if you want to deal?”

“Our last bargain did not end successfully. You still owe me for that one.”

Evalle fingered her dagger at the sour note in Kizira’s accusation. That priestess had tried to use Tristan a week ago in a fanatical plan to kill all the Beladors.

The scary part was that it had almost worked.

But Kizira had abandoned the Kujoo and Tristan the minute things had gotten dicey.

Tristan countered, “I fulfilled my part of the agreement and got shipped back to South America when you disappeared on us. The failure was not on my end. Release these Alterants and I’ll come to you willingly. You don’t want to cross me.”

The pale blue robe and hood gave Kizira a saintly look, but any sweet image ended there. She had the heart of a snake, too small to be anything but deadly. “I agreed to exchange these three Rías for you. Your sister’s not part of that deal.”

Evalle cocked her head. Rías? What did she mean by that distinction?

Tristan replied, “Then make it part of this deal. My sister is of no use now that I’m here.”

“But I want something else in trade for her.”

“I have nothing else to offer you but me,” Tristan said as though it was obvious.

Kizira laughed, a tinkling sound of delight. “Oh, that’s not true. You have something lurking nearby that I want as much as you want your sister.”

“What?”

“Evalle Kincaid.”





TWENTY-NINE




Evalle froze. Kizira wants to trade Tristan’s sister for me? Is Kizira bluffing about knowing I’m here?

Tristan hadn’t given Kizira an answer yet.

He might be willing to exchange his life for those other three Alterants, but he had no reason to risk anyone to save Evalle.

Especially not his sister.

Kizira called to Tristan, “I have made you a fair offer, Tristan. Evalle for your sister.”

He said, “Show me my sister.” Then he came into Evalle’s mind. I can only shield my mind from Kizira and talk to you at the same time for seconds. If I can get my hands on my sister, you take her and find your way back to the subway wall. When you run late, Storm will figure a way to get someone to you.

Evalle blinked. He wasn’t throwing her to the Medb?

Evalle! We have a deal?

She nodded even though he couldn’t see her. Yes, but what about you and the other three?

I’ll try to get them out, but if you and my sister can escape, that’ll have to be good enough. Just promise me you won’t hand her over to the Tribunal no matter what.

Like she could do that to Tristan at this point? I promise. Do you think Kizira knows I’m here in the maze?

I don’t know. I didn’t tell her.

Evalle believed him.

Kizira said, “I’m tired of waiting, Tristan. Hand over Evalle. I know she’s close by. Call her in here.”

Guess that answered my question. Evalle gripped her dagger.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about. She’s not here,” Tristan bluffed.

Evalle peeked again. Kizira rose high in the air. “Don’t waste time trying to fool me. Her friend told me I would find her with you.”

Evalle almost snorted at that. Stupid witch. Evalle could count her friends on one hand, and none of them would help Kizira find her.

“Who told you we’d be together?” Tristan asked.

“Vladimir Quinn.”

Evalle swung around, slamming her back to the wall. Her heart cramped. Quinn would never betray her. How would he even know she was here with Tristan?