Chapter Thirty-Seven
They landed on an island at the edge of the Sound, one Honor couldn’t see until they’d actually touched down. Another young Kurjan, this one named Vero, had been waiting in the copter. He was a couple of years younger than Drake and had handed her a blanket to keep her legs warm during the trip. His eyes were a normal human blue color.
Drake opened the door and scouted the area, watching the water roll in off the side of the landing area. He tapped his ear. “Father? I’m on the island. Couldn’t see anything from the air, but I’ll find out what’s happening.” He held a hand out for Honor.
She ignored him and jumped down.
He tugged a key from his pocket and released the cuffs. “I’d bet anything there are mine traps in the water around the island, so I wouldn’t attempt swimming, even if you could tell which way to swim, which I can’t.”
She rubbed her wrists, looking around. The island was heavily treed, with a sprawling lodge visible down a path between the pines. “How is this kept secret? Why couldn’t we see it?”
“Physics,” Drake said, gesturing her toward the building. “It’s shielded and nicely done. Jaydon has been planning this for a while.” He stiffened and grasped her arm, pulling her toward the trail. “Get out of the way.”
Another helicopter landed, this one a light blue.
The back door opened, and a Cyst soldier pushed two women out. They both appeared to be in their early twenties, one blond, one dark haired with Asian features. They both fell on the asphalt and scrambled up, their hair a mess, bruises on their arms, and panicked looks in their eyes. The Cyst jumped out behind them and looked at Drake. “Prince. Hi. We’ve found the final two.”
Prince?
Drake kept his grip on Honor. “Okay.”
Honor started to speak, and he tightened his hold. “Quiet.”
She pressed her lips together. Her young kidnapper didn’t seem to have a full grasp of the situation. Great.
Vero cast her a sympathetic smile. “It’ll be okay,” he said, his voice cracking as if he was still going through puberty.
She turned with Drake and strode along the trail toward the lodge, casting looks behind her at the two shell-shocked women and trying to give them encouraging nods.
Sam and his friends would come for her. They had to. Hopefully he was awake and knew she’d been taken. God. What if he was still sleeping and healing? She tripped.
Drake settled her and drew her up the lodge stairs to push open a heavy-looking door. The Cyst soldier and two women continued onward to what appeared to be a large wooden building lacking any windows.
She and Drake walked inside what looked like a former entrance to a hotel, except all the furniture had been removed in the center to make room for a large table, maps, and weapons. A wide screen took up the entire left wall, showing green lights throughout the world.
A massively built Cyst turned around, looking at them. He wore a full black uniform with a myriad of silver metals at his breast.
Honor’s legs wanted to give out. It was the same guy who’d attacked them before, and he looked even bigger now.
His gaze slashed to her, the purple in his eyes sharp as any blade. He lifted his face. “You lied. She’s mated.”
Drake shrugged. “Get a sample of the virus and change that. I don’t care. For now, I’d like a tour of the island.”
Vero flanked him, looking uncertain. “Why were those females bruised, General? We need Enhanced females for mates and want them to be healthy.”
The general looked at him as if he was lower than dirt. “They put up a fight. Better to learn that lesson now, right?” He strode toward them, stopping in front of Honor. “It’s a pity. You would’ve made a good mate.” He smiled, flashing sharp canines. “We have other uses for her, now don’t we?” He gave a half bow to Drake. “Prince? Come this way.”
Drake turned and moved after the general.
Vero gestured her to follow them. “This way, please.” The kid seemed decent and way out of his element.
Honor didn’t move. “I have to get out of here.”
His smile was sad. “There’s no leaving. I’m sorry. The sooner you accept life here, the easier it is to live it.” He gestured again.
She moved to follow Drake and the general outside to the other building, seeking a weapon as she moved. Clouds gathered high above, rolling in from the sea, dark with the promise of a storm. Thunder rolled in the distance. She shivered and moved almost gratefully into the building.
“This is crazy,” Drake snapped, looking around. “How many females do you have here?”
Several women sat against the walls or milled around the wide open space, looking lost. They were all wearing the same outfit. Pure white, see-through gowns. The two bruised women they’d seen earlier were already dressed similarly, sitting near the edge, whispering quietly to each other.
Two redheaded and one blond female were shackled to a solid wall of concrete to the right. They looked emaciated and exhausted. All three wore plain black sacks, their feet bare and dirty, bruises marring their necks and arms as if they’d taken several beatings.
Drake pivoted. “You idiot. You can’t just duplicate the ritual on an island outside of Seattle. It takes place in a sacred circle between dimensions.”
The general gestured toward the three chained people. “Two witches and a Fae. They can get me there.” He turned and grabbed Honor. “Where are we?” he asked a guard.
The nearest one looked at Honor. “We lost two more the other night, General. After they visited you. Our healers couldn’t save them.”
Drake growled. “You’re the one? We figured we had a rogue soldier. It was you attacking and killing Enhanced females?”
The general shrugged. “Everyone needs a hobby. I didn’t take more than we could afford to lose.”
Honor’s gut lurched. She needed a gun. Right now.
Another guard looked up from reading a tablet, which looked small in his huge white hands. “We’re at ninety-nine.”
“See?” General Jaydon said, his smile chilling. “I can count. Good news. We have number one hundred right here. Get her changed.” He shoved Honor toward the guard. She stumbled but regained her footing quickly.
Vero backed away. “This is wrong. This is an abomination. Only the great leader Ulric can be the Immortal One.”
“Shut him down,” the general said, pivoting to look at Drake. “What about you? Do I need to cut off your head?”
Drake looked at the desperate women. “No. This is an exercise in futility, General. You’re going to fail, and you’re going to wind up killing all of these females. We’ll have to start over finding enough for the great Ulric’s return.” He didn’t let on that he was wearing an earbud. What did that mean?