Blood Trinity (Belador #1)(114)

“I’m not sure you can do it with them frozen, but I don’t want you to free the Kujoo so they can kill the Beladors.” Evalle turned to Brina, surprised she hadn’t spoken. “What do you want her to do?”

“I can’t direct her to ask that rock anything. It carries Noirre majik deep within its powers.”

“The Ngak Stone?” Evalle hadn’t figured that, but it made sense. Maybe that was how the Medb had known about it. Evalle had assumed the stone was only Hindu in origin, but something that had survived since the beginning of time would have gained a lot of different powers.

Laurette took a gulp of breath. “I understand. I have to decide.” She gave the stone a new order. “Free everyone, but make them stay where they are and don’t let them attack each other.”

All the bodies in the room took a breath at once, but no one left their spot or tried to strike an enemy.

Tristan called out to Laurette. “Give me the stone and I’ll free the Kujoo … and I’ll give you your eyesight. I heard you were going blind. I’ll have the power to heal your eyes.”

The hope in Laurette’s face hurt Evalle’s heart, but she shook her head. “You can’t do that.”

Laurette nodded, her eyes red. “I know.”

Brina spoke up. “I have no say over the stone, but the Kujoo cannot leave here yet. They have broken the truce and must be punished.”

“No!” Laurette shouted at Brina, who merely cocked her head as if she were looking at an addled child. “I will give the rock to Tristan if you don’t swear to free the Kujoo.”

Tzader sent Evalle a worried look. “Do something.”

Me? “Like what?”

“Yeah, Evalle,” Tristan chimed in. “What about your offer to help the other Alterants? To see all of us free?”

Evalle took in the quick look of disbelief on Tzader’s and Quinn’s faces. “Shut up, Tristan.”

Brina forgot about Laurette and zeroed in on Evalle with a look that promised all her good deals had just run out. Then she struck Tristan with a piercing glare, studying his face. “Tristan? As in the Alterant that was sent away? You knew he escaped and offered to help the others escape?”

“No,” Evalle argued. “… I didn’t say that exactly.”

Frustration at things not turning out the way he’d expected started winding Tristan’s voice into a tight ball of deadly anger when he spoke to Evalle. “I did as you wished and had the Medb free all of them. You owe me.”

Evalle turned to Brina. “Let me explain.”

“We don’t have time for this.” Brina swung her gaze to Laurette. “You have eighteen minutes, young lady. What are you going to do?”

“The rock doesn’t always do what I ask.” Laurette glanced from Brina to Evalle with eyes begging for help.

Evalle took mercy on her and started giving her direction. “Send the Nightstalkers that are half changed to the other side of death so they can rest in peace.”

Laurette spoke to the rock and the creatures disappeared.

“Send the Kujoo …” Evalle paused, feeling Brina’s glare bearing down on her. The Kujoo had not become superwarriors yet. If they were not immortal, she had faith in the ability of the Beladors who lived eight hundred years ago to protect themselves. “Send them to their original time, but without their powers.”

“No! We end this fight today!” the Kujoo warlord screamed.

Vyan still dangled overhead and had been quiet until now. His wrists bled and his skin was a sickly gray, but his voice was strong when he spoke. “Yes, we do end this today.” He shifted his gaze to Laurette. “All will be right. Do as I asked of you.”

Laurette gave Vyan one long look that was filled with pain Evalle didn’t understand but sympathized with nonetheless. When the young woman lifted the rock this time, there were tears in her eyes. She put the stone close to her lips and whispered words even Evalle couldn’t hear.

All the Kujoo vanished, including Vyan.

Laurette turned her watery gaze to Evalle. “Now what?”

“Free the Nightstalkers that were not changed so they can return to their places in Atlanta.” In the next instant, Evalle watched ghouls whip out the windows, all except for Grady, who came to hover by her.

Laurette squeaked a sound of pain. “The rock’s getting hot. I can’t hold it.” She started juggling the rock between her hands, then pitched it at Evalle, who caught the stone against her stomach.

The stone was warm, but not too hot to hold. Was that because she was a powerful female?

Grace be to Macha. She held the power to do anything, even save herself from a Tribunal decision.

The room went deathly quiet.





THIRTY-SEVEN




Evalle closed her fingers around the stone and colors burst in her mind. The surge of energy was unbelievable. Even her bruised eye opened up.

Everyone left inside the derelict school auditorium was icy still. Were they afraid of her or what she’d do?

“Tristan must return to his cage,” Brina ordered.

“Nooo!” Veins stuck out on Tristan’s neck as he made an aggressive move, but his feet were glued to the floor from when Laurette had ordered the stone to stop everyone from attacking each other. “Evalle, you said you cared about the Alterants, that you’d help me. Help all of us.”