Page 33 of Blood Skye (Skye Druids #6)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Denial hung on Song’s lips as her stomach dropped. Her cheeks felt flushed and her mind buzzed at the crushing news. Thomas had to be lying. He loved hurting others. That’s what he must be doing.

Because if Shi was who he said, she would’ve revealed something. A mother wouldn’t have stayed silent, surely. Not to a confused, uncertain twelve-year-old being influenced by such powerful individuals. There had been opportunities for Shi to whisper a few words during their training. Many opportunities. Yet Shi had never uttered a single word to suggest she was anything but an instructor.

Resentment churned with disbelief. Song stared at the woman Thomas claimed was her mother before her gaze skated to Lauren . There was no denying how similar the two looked. Song should’ve noticed that. The truth had been right before her, but she had missed it. What infuriated her was Shi . Her mother could’ve helped them escape the clutches of the elders, but she hadn’t. She had allowed Song to be turned into a killer and Lauren to be corrupted by London . Shi had chosen the organization over her own blood.

“ Wow ,” Thomas said excitedly. “ Who knew unveiling all my schemes would be so satisfying? I should’ve done this years ago.”

Lauren looked up at him with a face filled with love. “ You’ve not shared all of them, dearest.”

“ That’s right. I haven’t.” Thomas touched her chin as his blue eyes cut back to Song .

She shot him a contemptuous glare. “ She’s eighteen, you lecherous bastard.”

“ We’ll not be having any of that, son,” Thomas stated coldly.

Something flew out of Carlyle’s hand to skitter across the floor. Song saw the lighter right before a blast of magic slammed into her, propelling her backward and pinning her against the wall. It pressed against her chest, making her feel as if an elephant stood on her. The pressure was agonizing. She heard a loud pop as her collarbone broke.

“ Enough !” Carlyle bellowed.

Song tried to look at him, but black dots swam in her vision. Her lungs needed oxygen, but there was no room for them to expand. She was suffocating.

“ I said ENOUGH !”

A boom shattered her eardrums and shook the room. The pressure vanished, allowing her to gulp in huge mouthfuls of air. She tumbled forward, catching herself with her hands as she landed on her knees. Blinding pain coursed through her from the break. Moving either arm was agonizing, but it was nothing like what assaulted her each time she filled her lungs.

“ Hurt her again, and I’ll take your life,” Carlyle vowed. “ Fire or no fire.”

Thomas shouted in excitement and smiled proudly. “ That’s my boy!”

Carlyle’s lip curled in disgust, which only broadened Thomas’s grin. He got off on angering Carlyle . Rage rolled off him, filling the room with a savagery she had never beheld before. He stood with his feet apart, his hands fisted, and his gaze locked on the trio. The boom she’d heard had come from him. He had saved her again.

Song had to admit that the dynamic in the room had changed. So much for two against one. It was now three against two. Well , maybe one and a half. She was having a hell of a time moving her arms, and if she couldn’t raise them to shield herself, she was in genuine trouble.

“ Shi ,” Thomas continued, “is my loyal bodyguard. She didn’t care for Devon’s tone. I suggest you keep that in mind.”

Song sat back on her heels and lifted her head to look at the woman who had birthed her. There was no remorse on Shi’s face for nearly killing her. The family Song had longed for was gone. Or maybe it had never existed. Shi and Lauren had chosen the organization. All these years, Song had felt guilty for going with Thomas , but her father had given up her location. She had carried enough shame to last a dozen lifetimes. But she was done with that.

She was done with the past.

“ There is no need for all of this,” Lauren said. “ Devon knows her place. I got envious of hearing Thomas speak about how perfect she is.”

Thomas pulled her against him and moaned. “ Your jealousy is a marvelous thing. But you know never to do such a thing again.”

“ Of course, not. You’ve explained what an asset Devon is. So long as she never steps out of line.”

Carlyle issued a disdainful snort. “ You sent men to kill Devon because you were jealous?”

“ I am a catch.” Thomas flashed a smile.

Song was incensed to learn her sister had wanted her dead. The very sibling she had gone against the organization for. Someone who cared nothing for her. Thomas placed his lips on Lauren’s and lingered there. Bile rose in Song’s throat at their display.

Finally , Thomas lifted his head and grinned. “ My amazing wife is correct. Devon knows her place. Carlyle , it’s time you accepted yours.”

“ Wife ?” Carlyle repeated with another snort, this one louder. “ You’re thirty-five years her senior.”

Lauren caressed Thomas’s face as she turned toward him. “ Age doesn’t matter where love is concerned.”

Song could only watch and listen to the horror playing out before her.

“ Love ?” Carlyle barked out a laugh. “ Neither of you would know what that is if it punched you.”

Thomas dropped his arm and stepped away from Lauren . His face turned dark as he shot an icy look of warning toward Carlyle . “ You will show her respect.”

“ Or what?” Carlyle taunted.

Song held her arms against her body and rose onto her knees. Shi’s eyes remained fixed on her. Song had been in enough rooms with posturing individuals to know that things were about to come to a head. She needed to be prepared.

And Carlyle needed the lighter.

It was too far away from her. She had to get closer. Song propped one foot on the floor, then stood. She had to take slow, shallow breaths to keep the pain of her bruised ribs at a minimum. But nothing could diminish the throbbing of her broken collarbone. Just blinking was painful. Bending to get the lighter would be unbearable. But she would do it.

“ You think to frighten me?” Thomas demanded indignantly. “ Your little show was impressive, boy. ” He spat the word with contempt. “ But it isn’t anything I haven’t seen before. I know the power that resides in you. You’re my son. I cultivated it.”

Carlyle’s smile started slow. Then he began to chuckle, softly at first, until it developed into full-blown laughter that echoed in the chamber. Thomas’s confusion only seemed to amuse Carlyle more.

Finally , he quieted. Wearing his wrath like a warrior, his eyes promised pain and death. “ You know nothing.”

“ Stubborn . Just like your mother.” Thomas looked over his shoulder at Shi .

Carlyle’s eyes skated to Shi when she moved forward. She didn’t glance his way or show any indication that she was aware of him. Carlyle wasn’t about to watch Song get hurt again. He held out his arm, and magic shot from his hand, brushing so close to Shi that it caused her to stumble back. That got her attention just as he’d expected. Dark eyes locked on him, but they didn’t stay there.

“ The sooner you learn that there’s no stopping me, the better,” Thomas stated.

The instant Shi started forward again, heading toward Song , Carlyle moved to intercept her. He didn’t get far before magic wrapped around him, locking his arms at his sides. No amount of struggling got him free.

He heard a gasp of pain and looked to find that Shi had Song’s arms twisted behind her. She threw her head back in a headbutt attempt, but Shi anticipated the move and leaned out of the way. She knew all of Song’s moves. She had taught her them, after all.

Carlyle turned his palms up and directed magic out like a fan. He craned his head back, but his magic still skated across his cheek. But it worked. The hold on him slackened enough that he could tug one arm loose.

He spun toward Thomas , ready to lay him flat. His father stood with his arms crossed, watching the show with pleasure, as if it were entertainment. Movement beside Thomas caught Carlyle’s attention. He found Lauren with her palm out toward him. She was the one who had bound him. He wouldn’t let her do it again.

Lauren lifted her other hand, but Carlyle was able to block her strike. She screeched in frustration and was so focused on getting his free hand confined once more that she wasn’t paying attention to the magic already holding him. Which was good for Carlyle .

“ Lauren !” Thomas barked.

But it was too late. Carlyle tugged his other arm free, then spun and dropped to one knee as he threw his hands up, magic exploding from his palms. The impact knocked Lauren on her back as her shot of magic flew harmlessly over his head. Carlyle spotted movement to the side and rolled just as his father targeted him.

He and Song were outnumbered. Carlyle had to get them out. Did he call for Melisse ? Did he dare let London know the Skye Druids had such friends? He didn’t want to, but Carlyle couldn’t retrace his steps. It would take them through the sentinels again. Song was gravely injured, and he feared she might be too hurt to shield herself.

Carlyle made his decision to call for Melisse . He glanced at Lauren . She hadn’t moved. He came up on his knee and sent a double punch of magic at Thomas , hitting his father in the gut, then his knee, and knocking him flat on his face. Carlyle jumped up and rushed to Shi and Song . Shi’s dark eyes met his. He saw her whisper something to Song before releasing her.

“ Mel —” Carlyle began as everything happened at once.

Behind him, Thomas got to his feet. Shi moved toward Carlyle . He had one shot. Shi was closer. Just before Carlyle released his magic, Shi stepped to the side. Time slowed to a crawl as he saw her lift her hands. But her gaze was no longer on him. It was behind him.

Focused on Thomas .

Carlyle turned his head and realized too late that his father had targeted Song , and Shi had stepped into the line of fire. She blocked Thomas’s first and second strikes as Lauren joined him. Carlyle rushed to Song , who lay crumpled on the floor.

“ Down !” Shi shouted.

On instinct, Carlyle ducked. He felt the magic brush past him and looked at Shi . Their gazes met briefly as her body jerked from the force of Thomas’s and Lauren’s magic. The floor opened just as Carlyle was reaching for Song . His fingers brushed her shirt as she fell into a dark pit. He lost his balance and toppled in after her. It was dark, the sounds of battle fading as they plunged. He smashed against a wall twice before crashing into water.

He breached the surface and frantically searched for Song . It was nearly pitch-black as he treaded water, turning in a circle in hopes of seeing her. He spotted light reflecting off the inky water not far from him. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“ Song ? Song !”

Something brushed against his hand. Once he realized it was material, he grabbed hold and dragged it close. She was floating face down. He flipped her over and touched the space between her lip and nose. She wasn’t breathing.

Panic consumed Carlyle as he frantically swam toward the light, towing Song with him. “ I’ve got you,” he whispered. “ You’re safe now. Melisse !”

Carlyle saw a stone arch about a foot above the water. He realized it had been moonlight that he’d seen. He swam faster as his worry grew.

“ Melisse .”

She appeared beside them, immediately swallowed by the water. She popped up a second later and took hold of Carlyle without a word. In the next breath, Carlyle , Song , and Melisse were standing on a floor inside a building under renovation. Carlyle held Song’s body, but her legs slammed to the floor. He would’ve followed since he had been treading water, but Melisse kept him upright.

Then she was gone. Carlyle gently laid Song out and began CPR . He should’ve asked Melisse to get a Healer . He hoped that was why she’d left. A few seconds later, he had his answer when she returned with Finn , Henry , Nikolai , and Esther .

“ She’s not breathing,” Carlyle told them as he continued to do chest compressions.

Carlyle finished the last compression and breathed into her mouth. He waited anxiously for her to breathe on her own, but she lay still. He immediately returned to the compressions.

“ We need a Healer ,” Finn said.

But there was no time. Just as there wasn’t time for Carlyle to remember the ancient healing spell he and the Knights had learned. He should’ve thought of that first. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Why hadn’t he called for Melisse sooner? If only he had gotten Song out the moment Shi attacked. He had waited too long. She was going to die because of him.

“ Carlyle ,” Henry said and put a hand on his shoulder.

He shoved it away and continued. Carlyle wouldn’t give up on Song . She couldn’t die. Not like this.

“ Goddammit , wake up!” Carlyle bellowed.

He blew another breath into her mouth before counting compressions. The others stood around him. He felt their pity, their sympathy. But he didn’t want it. He just wanted Song .

She coughed. He froze and stared down at her as her eyes fluttered open. Their gazes met, and her face crumpled. She reached for him at the same time he yanked her against his chest. They held each other tightly as the events replayed in their heads.

Carlyle looked at Finn , who gave him a reassuring nod. “ We can’t remain in London ,” he said.

“ That’s a good thing. Because we doona plan on it,” Nikolai agreed.

Balladyn suddenly appeared. “ Someone call for a ride?” He looked at Song . “ And a Healer .”