He coughed and tried to clear his head.
Sam Kyllwood, his face bloody and battered, stood across the narrow space in a cell facing Benny’s. He looked at the other two and then at Benny. “Tell me this was intentional,” he croaked, his voice demon-hoarse and rough.
Benny grinned, and blood dripped into his eye. “Of course it was intentional.” Kind of. Well, not the getting drugged part. The Kurjans and their Cyst faction must have new drugs, because the Seven had been inoculated against all known sedatives. “We’re here to get you out.”
“Fuck,” Sam said quietly.
Benny barked out a laugh. The cell bars morphed and bent in a bizarre parody of a circus funhouse. Then the walls swirled around, clouds gathered in front of his eyes, and his gut ached.
He passed out cold.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Karma stared at the satellite feed as the three males were taken. “Are you sure the Kurjans don’t know about this feed?” she asked. Again.
Mercy shrugged. “I can’t be completely sure, but since I just hacked into it this morning, there’s a good chance they don’t know we’re watching them. This is one of the Coven Nine feeds, and those witches are almost the best at concealing their technology.” She grinned, but the happiness didn’t reach her worried eyes. “I’m better. Most Faes are, to be honest.”
Karma rubbed her stomach, where a pit the size of a boulder had lodged. “Why aren’t you more upset?”
Mercy grimaced. “Benny didn’t tell you the plan?”
Hurt spiraled around Karma’s torso. “No.”
“He was probably just trying to protect you,” Mercy said, the sympathy in her eyes making Karma even angrier. “Well, we wanted one of them to be taken hostage so we could get to Sam.”
Benjamin hadn’t trusted her enough to tell her about the strategy, even though they’d engaged in coitus. Karma tried to hold on to her temper. “This attack backfired if only one of them was supposed to be taken hostage.”
“I know,” Mercy said, watching the spot where the males had disappeared into the mountain. “The drug surprised me—it must be a new concoction.”
Karma stood up, unable to sit any longer. “Mercy, think about this.” The Seven were overconfident, in her opinion. Of course, they needed to be strong and ready for battle, but they had underestimated the evil of the Cyst and the willingness of the Kurjans to go along with dishonorable plans. “The Kurjans and their Cyst faction now have three members of the Seven, as well as Sam Kyllwood.”
Mercy looked sideways and down the computer banks. “I’m aware of that.”
Karma had lived with the Kurjans for several lifetimes, and she knew them better than did the Seven. She was also figuring out she had a decent head for strategy. “I know from listening to conversations between Dayne and Terre that it is very difficult to survive the ritual to become a member of the Seven.”
Mercy slowly nodded. “Yes. Only ten percent of the warriors who have attempted the ritual survived. We finally figured out that certain family bloodlines have a better chance of survival.” She pushed several curls away from her eyes. “The Seven know how to fight.”
“The Seven were just taken down by sedatives,” Karma said, her heart racing. Her temples began to pound. “Nearly half of the living members are now in custody, including the one soldier in the entire world who’s responsible for finding the magical place where Ulric’s final ritual will be held.”
Mercy swiveled her chair to face Karma. “Excuse me?”
Karma blushed. “I overheard you all discussing Sam, and don’t worry, the Kurjans don’t know his destiny. They don’t know who he is, as far as I can tell. Well, except that he’s the demon king’s brother.”
Mercy looked back at the screen. “All right. This was a good plan. They know what they’re doing.” Her voice quavered.
Karma took a deep breath to remain calm. “There is only one smart move for the Kurjans, and Dayne is a strategic genius.” Terre just liked to hurt people, while Jaydon was obsessed with the idea of taking Ulric’s place. “Dayne is in charge, so strategy will be employed for now.”
Mercy’s nostrils flared. “The correct strategy would be to try to gain information from the Seven.”
Karma’s stomach dropped. “Not for long. Dayne has to know we’ll call in the demon nation as well as the Realm. The smartest move on his part is to kill the members of the Seven and perhaps negotiate for Sam Kyllwood’s release, unless Sam has told them about his role in the ritual.”
Mercy paled. “Taking out half of their members would put the Seven back eons. Maybe more, if it takes a long time to replace the fallen members.” She stood and grasped Karma’s hands. “You know the Kurjans. Would they do such a thing? It would mean certain war with the Realm and the demons.”
Karma’s lips trembled. “The Seven attacked first. They charged into Kurjan territory, and the Kurjans could claim they were just defending themselves.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Mercy said. “There is no way the Realm and the demons wouldn’t declare war over this. No way.”
Karma leaned forward, desperation chilling her very bones. “The Kurjans don’t know that. They won’t understand, I think.” She really wasn’t sure what Dayne would choose to do. “If Dayne’s loyalty truly is to Ulric, and I believe it is, he’ll do what he has to for Ulric to succeed. That means weakening the Seven at any cost, even if it means war.”
Mercy shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Karma grabbed Mercy’s hands this time. “You don’t understand. Ulric is their spiritual leader. Their prophet and their god. Dayne has lived his entire life preparing for Ulric’s return.”
Mercy bit her lip. “I’m not sure what to do. We could call in Zane, but that’d be a disaster.”
Karma released her and sat back. “I do not know, either.”
Mercy looked back at the Kurjan encampment, where very little movement showed. “I trust Logan,” she said softly. “You trust Benny, and we both know Garrett is a badass. I’m sure Sam is in good enough shape to fight for his life, and now that his brother is there, he’ll gain twice the strength. You’ve never seen those guys together.”
Karma tried to pull faith from Mercy’s words. “You’re saying we need to let them continue their mission?” The males wouldn’t survive the following night. She just knew it.
“We either trust them or we don’t. I do,” Mercy said reverently.