I was convinced I wasn’t coming back from this battle. And Aric believed the same of himself.
The Hunter
“Plan J,” Kentarch suddenly said.
Huh? We’d all been talking, sharing another round of whiskey nips before the big dinner. Then the Chariot’s military posture had grown even stiffer.
“Uh, what does that mean?”
Without warning, the trio of Arcana rushed toward Kentarch—and then they all disappeared.
Three realizations struck me. The battle was tonight, Domīnija had double-crossed me, and everybody had been in on it.
38
The Empress
Aric, Tee, and I rendezvoused with Circe and Lark in the foyer just as the hangar crew materialized.
When Aric had escorted me back to our room to change into battle gear—jeans, boots, and a coat for me; armor and swords for him—I’d gotten the sense that this would be the last time we would ever walk together. My hand had shaken in his. He’d noticed, bringing my palm to his lips to kiss. “We’ll be okay, Evie.”
I wasn’t ready to leave him and Tee, and yet, I was. I was ready to do whatever it took.
After changing, Aric and I had met at the crib as usual. When I’d lifted Tee and begun dressing him in warm clothes, he’d awakened, frowning at us.
As I snapped and buttoned, he’d bounced up and down excitedly, must’ve thought he was about to go outside with his parents to play in the snow. Somehow I’d kept from crying.
Now we were back downstairs with our full alliance, minus one. As I surveyed our group, I thought, We’re a formidable team. And yet Zara and Richter would probably wipe us all out. I asked Kentarch, “Jack?”
“Will be angry. But safe.”
Joules gave me a chin jerk in greeting. “Last time I saw you with your hair so red, you were about to stab me in the throat with your claws.” That was true, but I’d reined in the witch with Jack’s help. Joules tilted his head at Tee, who stared at all the newcomers with owl eyes. “Cute kid for an unholy spawn.”
I dryly said, “I’ve missed you so, Joules.” But I kept in mind that without him—and the rest of these allies—Tee and I wouldn’t be here. My life had depended on each of them at some time.
Helmet under his arm, Aric told everyone, “Thank you for answering our call.” He introduced Arcana who had never met in person, at least not in this life, then offered his gauntleted hand to shake.
Tonight at our dinner, he would have been a gracious host. I could see him as the treasured son of a lord, with all the skills of an ambassador.
After shaking Aric’s hand, Sol crossed to me to give me a big hug and baby-talk Tee: “¡Pero qué mono!” He smiled warmly at Lark. Eyes alight, he gestured toward Circe’s arm fins and scales. “¡Fantastico!”
She winked at him. “Aren’t they amazing?”
The only thing Sol seemed to like more than her was the castle: “Death’s lair. Now, this is what I call on theme. Can you imagine hosting a rave here? Or a history tour?”
When Aric offered his hand to Joules, the Tower just stared at it. “You having a go at me? I got standards.”
“Kids, kids,” Circe said with amusement, “must you always fight so? Especially at this juncture in the game? It’s like we were all born to kill each other.”
Aric brushed off the slight, telling the Tower, “I appreciate that you’ve come at all.”
Red-faced, Joules muttered, “Then let’s get the show on the road.”
It was time to relinquish Tee to Kentarch. Aric removed a gauntlet and stroked his son’s cheek with utter adoration. Then he and I leaned down to kiss him. I breathed in Tee’s sweet baby scent and took his excited coos into my heart. The last time I’ll ever see my little boy. Refusing to cry, I handed him to Kentarch, who cradled him in the crook of his elbow. “Tell Jack thank you.”
Kentarch gripped my arm. “You can tell him yourself.” Shivers overtook me as he teleported us both—and then I was standing in a strange room. The bunkroom in the hangar? As I gaped in shock, he placed Tee in a waiting playpen, then tensed to teleport back. “My apologies—”
Before he could blink, my vines had whipped out and bound him. “Not so fast.” I grounded him with the force of my vines. “You double-crossed my double cross?”
Jack stormed into the room, bow and bug-out bag ready. “Leaving me behind, Chariot? The fuck?”
Wide-eyed Kentarch struggled to vanish but couldn’t.
Jack pointed at me. “You are supposed to stay here with Tee. Your master manipulator husband stung us both.”
I pushed Jack away with my vines and used others to give Kentarch a squeeze. “You’re taking me back, Chariot. Or I’ll poison you where you stand.”
After a beat, he nodded.
Jack strained against my vines. “Doan do this, Evie! I go back—not you. They need me.”
“They need me more.” I adjusted the vines so that I was all but attached to Kentarch, but he could move.
Tee had begun to cry in the playpen, and the need to comfort him overwhelmed me. But the need to protect Aric was greater. “I love you, Tee.” I turned to meet Jack’s desperate gaze. “Take care of my baby.”
As Kentarch and I faded, Jack yelled, “Evie, nooo!”
39
Death
I stared at the blank space that had contained my family. The last time I would see them. I wished I’d been able to tell Evie good-bye, but I supposed I had been for months.
Despite my welling grief, I cleared my throat and said, “It’s time to take our positions.”
The Arcana filed outside. I checked my swords, and gazed around this castle for a final—
“You dick!”
I whirled around. A furious Empress had forced the Chariot back here.
Recovering from my surprise, I urged her, “Return to our son, love. Remain there with Jack. Evie, I am begging you.”
“And leave you with your asinine plan to take out Richter? No way! The Emperor is my kill to make.”
“You need to be our backup. If we fail to stop them here, you are the earth’s only chance.”
“Then let’s not fail.”
Damn it, she wouldn’t be dissuaded. I’d have to fight this battle while keeping her safe. I met eyes with the Chariot; we’d discussed this possibility. I sighed. “Release him, Evie. He won’t teleport you away again.”
After a hesitation, she did, turning her full fury to me. “How dare you trick me!”
“I never told you a lie.”
“You’re such a manipulative jerk.” Her eyes flashed green. Good. I wanted her furious.
Was she powerful enough to take out the Emperor? Yes. But could she bridle that power once she’d freed it?
I had to believe that.
“We’ve no time for further discussion.” I turned to the Chariot. “Can you move us into position?” I secured Evie with my gauntleted hand, and Kentarch took my arm to teleport us to the river’s edge. There, with a nod at us, he hurried to his station with its attendant rocket launcher.