Alterant (Belador #2)(88)

“Turn me around,” Evalle ordered Tristan and added, “Now!” before he could argue.

When he did, she covered her head with her arms, ready to call upon the Tribunal powers.





THIRTY




Evalle flagged against Tristan as he shifted her to face a wild-eyed Kizira. The witch’s hair lifted with all the static energy firing from her.

Killing her was tempting, but Evalle did have an alternative, so lethal force couldn’t be used. She spoke in a voice hoarse from the dust and fires. “By the Tribunal power gifted me, I command the rocks from the ceiling to unite as one above my head and form a wall that will not touch me.”

Rocks hung in midair, then immediately changed direction. All sizes and shapes started banging together as if magnetically drawn to each other.

Kizira paused and stared at Evalle, mouth gaping.

Evalle grinned. “Didn’t expect me to have that kind of power up my sleeve, did you . . . bitch?”

She figured even Brina would call Kizira that right now.

Kizira railed and threw fireballs at the wall forming below her in midair, but the gaps were closing down to openings smaller than Evalle’s fist. Harmless sparks pinged through the holes.

She laughed at the last vision of Kizira until she noticed Tristan and the two Alterants staring at her.

Tristan asked, “Where did you get that power?”

Evalle shrugged. “I would say I have friends in high places that loaned me a trick, but they aren’t friends, and I can’t do it again. I’m not sure how long that will hold her or if she’s any better at teleporting around this place than you are, so we need to roll.”

Tristan started toward the exit, which was now blocked by rocks that had made it to the ground. He lifted his hands to use his kinetics, and two small stones tumbled from the top.

Evalle had nothing to give him until her power regenerated. What could have drained her this way? Linking with Tristan? “How many Alterants does it take to get out of a hell party?”

One of the Alterants in beast form trudged over in front of Tristan and started shoving rocks aside as if they were foam balls. When he finished, he swung his head around at Evalle, then Tristan.

She recognized him by his exotic Haitian eyes . . . that were still brown. She smiled. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Thanks, Webster,” Tristan agreed.

Evalle gave a quick check of the other Alterant, whose eyes were blue.

Blue and brown eyes.

Why had Kizira called them Rías? These Alterants looked like the one that had shifted in the fog, but these two had their beasts under control.

Does that mean any Alterant could be taught to control his or her beast?

Tristan headed out through the opening with her stumbling along beside him. At some point in the last few minutes, Tristan had unlinked with her. She could feel her energy finally seeping back through her limbs.

She stepped out of his hold and he let his arm fall away. “Why am I so drained? I’m never like this.”

Tristan covered several long strides before he answered. “I think it’s got something to do with that cocktail the Kujoo gave me that the witch made up with their blood mixed in.”

She ran back through the fight with the Kujoo. “They were immortals. Are you . . .”

“No. I’m not.”

But the downside of his extra abilities, like teleporting, was the drain on his powers. Her powers must have been drained by linking with him . . . just like when Beladors had the benefit of her night vision when they linked with her.

That’s also why he wouldn’t have shifted into his beast form to fight the serpents. He wouldn’t have been able to teleport soon if he had.

Could Tristan get all four of them out of here now? “Are you going to be able to teleport us, even one at a time?”

“I think so. If we can get out of here without another fight with Kizira or the ghosts, I’ll be back to a hundred percent soon.”

“Our kinetics didn’t backlash so I’m guessing the spirits are doing whatever they can to move us along. I just hope Kizira has a healthy respect for the maze’s ability to change shape, too.” Evalle looked back, checking to make sure that those two behind her were staying caught up. Yes, but they were hanging back, as if reluctant to walk with her and Tristan.

Were they returning to their normal bodies? No.

She kept her voice low and asked Tristan, “Are those two going to be able to shift back to human form?”

He gave a negligible glance over his shoulder, then faced forward again. “Sure. They can do it in less than a minute. When I brought them to the Maze of Death, I showed them how to make the change and keep control.”

“Then why don’t they change back?”

A smile touched his lips. “I don’t think they want to walk around you as a human male in all their swinging glory. You didn’t notice how once the fight was over they kept their bodies turned away from you? That much adrenaline running through a man’s body makes him hard as a two-by-four after the fight’s over.”

“Oh.” Her face heated at finally understanding. “What’s the red-haired guy called?”

“Aaron.”

“No last names?”

“Not necessary.”