Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(26)

Nadina moved around, gazing up at the branches that swayed lightly with the breeze. She looked at Imogenia. “That is simple. Take your beast to the games and accept the Medb’s offer to negotiate for a trade before entering him in any battle. They clearly want many Alterants, or they would not make that offer for those who expect to lose their fighter in early rounds.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because the Medb won’t offer Noirre majik for anything less than the top five Alterants who win the final Elite matches. They won’t give me squat for an unproven beast.”

“You become tedious, Imogenia. You would not have this dilemma if I had not found this Alterant for you. Now you complain about the product. There is no pleasing you. This is clearly a win-win, no?”

No, it wasn’t, but saying so could bring back that needle-tooth bitch. What drove all this with Nadina? “What’s your interest in Evalle?”

Nadina surprised her by actually answering. “I want her jaguar.”

“Good luck with that. I doubt even a dark witch can take that beast from her,” Imogenia quipped.

Nadina’s lips curved up, but not with humor. Her eyes glowed a deep yellow-orange. The sheer energy of Nadina’s stare forced Imogenia to take a step back.

Hadn’t Nadina already proven Imogenia was not in Nadina’s league? Yes, much as Imogenia hated to admit it. Next time, she’d be more careful with her words.

Nadina warned, “I am no simple dark witch.”

“Then what are you?”

“Far more dangerous.” Nadina floated back a few steps and paused. “But I will grant your wish. Bernie will not face the jaguar in the ABC.”

At one time, Imogenia would feel relief over that offer of help. Not now. She regretted putting herself in the position of being any more in this witch’s debt than she already was. “Why would you do that?”

“Why must you question good fortune?”

“Because nothing in our world is free. I want to know what you want in return first.”

Nadina gave her a look one used on a mentally challenged pet. “I have not decided, but I will let you know when I do.”

No, no, no. And Imogenia had no desire to be at this woman’s beck and call. “I’ll be out of touch until the championship match, so you’ll have to tell me how to find you. Unless you plan to attend,” Imogenia added, fishing.

Nadina didn’t answer her, so Imogenia pressed cautiously, “If you don’t attend, how can you be sure that the jaguar does not face my Alterant?”

“I come from a long line of Ashaninka witch doctors with powers you could only fantasize about. Follow my instructions and you will be fine. I’ll let you know when I want something.”

Imogenia muttered to no one in particular, “Just said I wouldn’t be available without notice.”

“Oh, but you will.” Nadina laughed, immensely entertained. She lifted her hand, palm up, and whispered soft words Imogenia could not hear. Nadina crooked a finger in a sign of come here.

Imogenia felt a sharp spike dig into her chest as if something had hooked her. The pain cut deep.

She took a reluctant step forward, then another toward Nadina.

Fighting the pull only made her chest ache more. She walked with spastic motions all the way until Nadina held up a finger and said, “Stop.”

Imogenia obeyed, panic-stricken. She’d never given Nadina anything a dark witch could use against her. “What did you do to me?”

“I bound you to me through the Volonte bone, just as I have bound another to me who has worn that armband. Why do you think I wore it first?” She caught herself and cocked her head in thought. “To be honest, I did need it to create my Langaus with necromancy, but now I can find you or Evalle whenever I want.”

Sweat trickled down the side of Imogenia’s face. This was worse than a traitor in her coven. Imogenia could make Daniella disappear in a painful way, but she had no idea how to break this connection with a witch doctor.

Nadina’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “Speak a word of my existence to anyone or share anything about the Volonte bone after this point and I’ll first dismantle you slowly and the person you tell next. Then I’ll feed you to your Alterant one limb at a time and use your blood for something . . . special.”

Imogenia’s skin crawled at the idea of being a blood sacrifice for this witch. “I won’t say a word.”

“Bueno. As for my jaguar, he will not be able to fight against your Alterant . . . or any other one at the games.”

Nadina turned and vanished into the darkness.





EIGHT





Storm shook off the urge to climb a tree to find a safe place to sleep in his jaguar form.

After spending all day covering a vast amount of Oakey Mountain, he was whipped.

And empty-handed.

He’d taken his time tracking Imogenia’s scent trail, moving slowly, sometimes backtracking, because he thought he’d missed something due to the erratic way she and Bernie had crisscrossed down the mountain. Going from point to point, then sometimes turning around and covering the same ground again or crossing over an earlier trail.

She had trudged around and her Alterant had dragged his feet most of the time. Not the footsteps of someone comfortable in the woods. Had all that hiking cost Imogenia a bit of majik?