The Curse (Belador #3)(80)

“Tomorrow, and if not, the day after.”

She’d love to stay here and find out what he had in mind, but Trey needed to know about this Svart attack. When Storm dropped his hand, she shifted gears, ready to work. “I tried to reach Tzader and Quinn on the way here, but they were both grabbing a couple hours rest. The last time I talked to Trey—”

Evalle, where are you? Quinn said in her mind. She held up a finger for Storm and whispered, “Quinn.” Then she answered telepathically, I’m in Midtown.

Did you get the weapon?

Yes, I gave it to Trey. What’s wrong?

The trolls are gathering up nonhumans for the Svarts to eat. When they feed on power, it increases theirs. We’ve got to find where they’re holding the prisoners.

She wondered where the intel had come from, but didn’t need to know right now. Any idea how many they’ve captured?

Six that I know of. One is a teenager, a female cousin of mine.

She’d heard snippets about Quinn’s extensive family but thought they were all in Russia. I’m sorry, Quinn. We’ll get her back.

There’s more. My cousin said she’s with twin boys who know you.

Kellman and Kardos?

She didn’t say, but I saw her with two blond boys in Woodruff Park. One was playing chess and they both knew about the trolls.

Sounds like a pair of male witches I know, just innocent teens. Well, not all that innocent, but they didn’t deserve to be troll dinner.

Tzader and I will round up the teams. Meet us at the street sign for Underground.

On my way.

He had to be talking about Kellman and Kardos. Those boys had no one to watch out for them except her and Grady. Evalle grabbed Storm’s arm. “We have to go. The Svart trolls are gathering up nonhumans to eat as fuel. That could be why they were trying to drag me off.”

He put his hand over hers. “What else is wrong?”

How did he read her so easily? “They have Quinn’s cousin and two teenage male witches I know.”

“The homeless twins?”

“Pretty sure it’s them.”

Storm cursed softly. “Grady believes more Svarts are coming. If they’re here already, VIPER could be outnumbered.”

Storm was right. The Svarts had already beaten her twice in combat, and Tzader would not allow Beladors to link with the chance of Svarts killing many Beladors with one blow. The Nyght weapon she’d borrowed to take out one troll at a time would not stop an army of trolls.

Isak had more weapons, but would calling him for support turn out to be a benefit or lead to bloodshed on all sides? She hadn’t had a chance to inform VIPER about exposing her Alterant identity to Isak.

And only someone with a homicide fetish would put Isak and Storm in the same zip code anytime soon.





TWENTY-FIVE




Fear fingered along Quinn’s neck. He’d lived his life alone for one reason—to protect those he would put in jeopardy with his line of work. All these years, he’d thought Kizira safe as long as she stayed away from him, but she had some bloody plan to see the Medb and Beladors at peace.

And Lanna shouldn’t even be in the middle of this mess.

Both women were in danger, and not being able to protect either one right now was driving him mad.

He quickened his pace through the intersection of Five Points in the heart of downtown Altanta, wanting to break into Belador speed to cover the last quarter mile to reach the meet point, the sign for Underground Atlanta.

Every second counted.

The boys must have gone to Underground thinking it safe to stay in the crowded iconic venue that drew tourists and locals to shopping and entertainment beneath the streets of downtown Atlanta. Wise move if they hadn’t trusted a troll to help them, according to Lanna.

Quinn hadn’t heard from her in the past twenty minutes. Tzader and the team would find the Svart troll nest. But would they be in time?

“Quinn!” Evalle shouted at him as she rushed out of the bottom floor of a three-level parking deck on his left. Storm followed close behind.

That explained why Evalle had been in Midtown, but not why she had blood all over her. Did all the women in his life have to be one step away from death? “What happened to you?”

She lifted her hands. “I’m fine. Got jumped by Svarts.”

That did nothing to calm Quinn’s already sheared nerves. He unleashed on Storm the minute he walked up. “Where the devil were you when she was attacked?”

“Me?” Storm snarled. “You and Tzader are the ones sending her out alone.”

Evalle stepped between them. “Whoa, you two. This isn’t Storm’s fault, Quinn. He’s the only reason I’m alive right now, but we don’t have time to waste and I’m healed.”

“Mostly,” Storm grumbled.

“And,” Evalle added, “Storm came to help us find the kids.”

Quinn raked his hand through his hair. “Sorry, chap. It’s been a long day and doesn’t appear to be improving anytime soon. Good to have you back.”

Storm nodded, stepping up next to Evalle in a possessive stance.

Interesting, if Quinn had the time to waste thinking about it, which he didn’t. When they turned back toward the meet point, he said, “I got another text from Lanna—”