Passion Untamed (Feral Warriors #3)(34)

Almost.

Two people slipped into the room, the couple from the car, hand in hand, looking both well pleased and sheepish.

"Sorry," Tighe said. "We got a little carried away."

Lyon nodded, then turned back to Skye. "How many Mage in the cavern?"

"Twenty-seven including me."

"How many ways in and out?"

"Three. Two main passages and a little-used back passage, which was the one I led Paenther through to escape. But I don't know if you can get through the warding on the mountain to reach the cavern. I know it's impossible for humans to breach."

"She's f**king with my animal again," Jag snarled, his brows low and menacing as he rose from his chair and started toward her.

Skye tensed.

"Jag..." Lyon warned.

Paenther stood, putting himself between her and the angry warrior. "She can't help it. Animals are drawn to her."

Jag scowled. "Mine's not drawn to her. It's getting itchy. Annoyed. And so am I."

"Sit down, Jag," Lyon said. "We've got to understand what's going on before we deal with the witch."

His words did nothing to calm Skye.

And little enough to calm the angry Feral. Jag scowled. He didn't reach for her, but neither did he return to his seat. Instead, he paced like a caged animal, ready to bite off the first hand thrust into his cage.

Paenther remained standing at her back.

"How did the Mage regain their ancient magic?" Lyon demanded of her.

"They didn't."

"Do you think we're fools?" The Chief of the Ferals' voice was deceptively soft.

"No, I think you may be the only ones standing between the world and true evil. The Mage haven't regained their ancient magic. They've acquired dark magic."

Lyon's gaze narrowed, but in question now rather than hostility. "Explain."

Skye clasped her hands, knitting her fingers together behind her. "I don't know the entire story, but I've heard rumors that the Elemental, Inir, was infected by dark spirit years ago. He was only a sentinel at the time, but within a few months he rose through the ranks to become the high leader. I do know...he changes people. I think he changed Birik a long time ago. Before he claimed me. I saw the changes myself when Inir came to the cavern years ago."

"How many years?"

"I'm not sure. I'd reached my full height, but not my maturity. It was probably eight or nine years after I'd arrived there. Thirty or so years ago. He did something to the Mage. I think he stole their souls. They serve the purpose of the High Daemon now."

The room went deathly silent. Growls slowly erupted.

"Satanan hasn't risen," Lyon said.

"No." Skye shook her head. "Inir's intent is to free him."

The Shaman nodded, leaning forward. "Dark spirit always seeks to free evil. Some believe the dark spirit left in the world is part of Satanan himself, tiny bits of his consciousness left behind when he was imprisoned."

Lyon's eyes narrowed as he stared at Skye. "So you have no soul?" The cords in Lyon's neck were beginning to stand out.

Skye's pulse ratcheted up another notch. "I alone was left untouched by Inir's sorcerers. Birik feared I'd lose my ability to call the animals if they changed me. He feared he'd lose the source of my power."

"Yet you're able to hide your Mage eyes," Paenther said behind her. "That's a magic Mage haven't had in millennia."

She turned and looked up, meeting his piercing black gaze. "Birik gave me that ability in the form of a short-term spell to enable me to capture you. I can no longer hide them."

"Our first target is Birik and the cavern stronghold."

Skye turned back to the table as Lyon addressed his men. "I want Vhyper and the blade out of there, and those Daemons destroyed." Lyon looked at the Shaman. "What's it going to take to free Paenther from the shackles?"

"I don't know."

"Work on it. I need him." Lyon turned back to the table. "But we can't wait. Kougar, Wulfe, and Hawke, you'll leave for the Blue Ridge immediately. Once you've located the cavern, we'll regroup and move on it, full strength."

Foxx leaned forward, his face eager. "And me. Let me go, Lyon. I've already been out there. I'll recognize the area."

"You remembered shit, Cub," Jag said. "Or have you forgotten?"

"Lyon?" Foxx persisted.

The Chief of the Ferals shook his head. "You stay here, Foxx. You were touched by magic once out there, I'm not sending you again." He turned to Hawke. "Go. I don't know what she's doing to our animals, but I feel it, too. The sooner you're out of here, the better. Foxx and Paenther can fill you in further over the phone."

Hawke nodded as all three men rose and left.

Skye watched them go, wondering why the animals were becoming so agitated. And there was no denying they were. All but Paenther's. Why? She was doing nothing to antagonize the Ferals themselves and certainly nothing to harm their animals. Why would they be getting more and more angry?

Jag began snarling, glaring at her.

"You take your life in your hands, witch," Lyon warned.