Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(101)

“I’m up for a trade when you’re ready.”

“No trades. You owe me two souls you stole.”

“You won’t even trade for Evalle?”

Power rushed through him, driving his jaguar to break free. Storm drew fast breaths, fighting the change, because she was trying to push him to shift.

Anything Nadina wanted, he didn’t.

If she touched Evalle, he’d make Nadina’s death slow and excruciating. “You can’t have Evalle, and she would destroy you anyhow.”

“Don’t put your money on the wrong one so quickly. I’m not the same witch doctor you knew back in South America.”

“Egotistical, reality-challenged sociopath. I don’t see any change.”

She smiled with confidence, so much that a ripple of concern ran up Storm’s back when she bragged, “Oh, I’ve changed quite a bit now that I’m aligned with Hanhau.”

Hanhau? That explained her new and improved powers. Storm hid his shock with a scoff. “Only a fool would make a pact with him.”

“Fool?” Her eyes narrowed in warning. “Careful how you speak of someone favored by the ruler of all demons and Mitnal,” she said, referencing the land of the dead.

“Of demons in South America, not here,” Storm countered. “Speaking of Mitnal, why aren’t you there now?”

“I’m not one of his demons.”

“Pity. You missed your calling.”

“I’d love to chat, but not right now. I’m pressed for time. This is your one warning. Come to me soon, Storm, and willingly, or I’ll take what you most desire. Evalle.”

Kai’s words echoed in his brain. His guardian spirit had warned him that if he did not kill Nadina, she would take what Storm most desired. He’d thought Kai meant his soul, but he now knew it was Evalle.

He was ready to fight, but not when Evalle believed she would disappear soon. “You can die trying to take her.”

“You don’t even know she’s gone, do you?”

“Liar.”

“Am I?”

It hadn’t been twenty minutes, so Evalle still had time, but Nadina had spoken the truth. Storm started toward his bedroom and Nadina swirled into a blur, moving out of his way. She claimed not to be the same witch doctor he’d known before, but she was wise enough to realize she didn’t know how he’d changed either.

He raced into the bathroom, then back to the bedroom, yelling, “Evalle!????”

“She’s gone.” Nadina appeared in the doorway and sniffed. “Smells like Medb in here.”

He ignored the burned citrus odor. He looked around for Evalle’s note and saw a blank piece of paper on the nightstand.

Nadina taunted, “You don’t know the best of all this. If Evalle does find her way free of the Medb and you have not come voluntarily to me, I will call her to me instead.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Remember the Volonte bone?”

His scalp tingled with warning. “What about it?”

“Did you think that ended up on Evalle’s arm by accident?”

No. “She’s not wearing it anymore.”

“I know. That was all part of my brilliant plan. Just like Imogenia, I can call Evalle to me anytime and anywhere. I cast a spell on the bone that created a leash between me and those who wore it next.”

His mouth dried out. Storm’s fingers curled into claws with his impending change.

Nadina took a step back. “I can see you’re still not ready to discuss this. Guess I’ll have to take her if you won’t come to me voluntarily.”

Fury crashed over him so fast that he started shifting, his hands changing shape into paws. Sharp claws curled. Fur covered his shoulders and chest where hair never grew due to his ancestry. But he wouldn’t be able to talk and deal with Nadina in animal form, so he tightened down on his control and forced his animal to retreat.

She moved in a blur, disappearing.

He rushed into the kitchen, where she’d stopped near his closed front door. Not teleporting. Speed from black majik, because he never lost her scent.

She smiled with predatory happiness. “Just a tiny demonstration to spare us any posturing. My timing isn’t by accident. I know you mated. You have until she returns.”

The door opened on its own and Nadina strolled out.

When Kai had searched Storm’s future, she’d warned Storm that he would lose Evalle before he won her.

The time had come to end this. He snatched open a drawer, grabbed out a pen and paper and scribbled a note he hoped Evalle would find if . . . when she came back.



Sweetheart—

I’ve gone to deal with the witch doctor and end this so we can be together. Then I’m coming for you no matter where you are.

Storm



He rushed out, hot on Nadina’s trail. He could follow her as long as she didn’t teleport. Once he found her, they’d both find out just who had become the most powerful since they last fought.





THIRTY-NINE





You bitch!” Evalle shouted even before the spinning from teleporting stopped. The minute her feet hit the carpet of the private study in T?μr Medb, she dove for Kizira, who disappeared.