Page 35

Ella shaded her eyes and looked around the vast hall, which was the length of a football field.

They were back in the sect’s palace, waiting for the Fae court to arrive so the ‘battle,’ whatever that meant, could start.

At least Drew Spencer had gone back to Washington to prance around in his other role as head of the SBLE.

She would hate to see his smirk at this point.

She still wasn’t convinced that his so-called judgment had been fair and unbiased.

But that was a fight for another day—if she and Vadim survived this one.

It was a strange place for a fight. The walls were mirrored, and the floor-to-ceiling windows were hung with gold and silver banners.

In contrast, the floor was like a stark black-and-white checkerboard that gave her a headache.

Since her little alliance-forming experiment with Adam, apart from one Fae guard, she hadn’t been constrained at all.

She loved being underestimated. From the look of it, she was going to have a grandstand view of the battle.

Adam stood just below the balcony, talking to three other men she assumed were his sect sidekicks.

They all carried swords and wore tacky gold-and-cream clothing that matched the drapes.

It reminded her all too vividly of a medieval show she’d once seen in Vegas.

The major differences between the men were that one was bald, one fair and one a redhead, which at least made it relatively easy to keep them straight.

She already recognized their magic from their encounter in the hospital over Ms. Phelps’s bed.

Together their power had been formidable and definitely a match for Vadim’s.

But they were in Otherworld now, not San Francisco, and his powers were growing stronger every hour. He also had a secret weapon.

Her.

Keeping her shields high, she attempted to penetrate the mind of the nearest sect member.

The older, balding man was already frowning at something Adam had said.

Her empath senses told her he was the weakest of the four, but taking down any of the men would be difficult.

From what Vadim had revealed earlier, these particular Fae were thousands of years old and extremely difficult to control or destroy, even for him.

She concentrated for a moment on learning the way the man’s thoughts flowed and ebbed, identifying his signature, and then moved on to the redhead standing next to him.

He was more dangerous, his mind sharper, and he was far less likely to compromise and more strategic in his thinking.

The blond was the hardest to read. Something about his handsome features reminded her of Rossa and Vadim.

She probed a little harder and then quickly withdrew as his barriers came up.

He glanced briefly in her direction, but she didn’t meet his gaze.

Definitely Fae royalty, and the one most likely to disobey Adam’s orders and attempt to win glory for himself.

Was he connected to the Fae king? Was he the male who had made sure the sect came after Vadim and his new mate?

It seemed horribly likely, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

“Soul Sucker.”

Speaking of the king… She looked up into his treacherous smiling face.

He’d changed into a loose white shirt, black leather pants and a golden cloak that matched his eyes.

If you were looking for a little girl’s definition of the ideal prince, he’d do perfectly.

Until you realized what a fucking psycho he was…

“Hey, what’s up?”

He regarded her closely. “I hear you repudiated your mate.”

“Re—what?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “What does that big word mean?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be insolent. I know you are far smarter than you let on.”

“Really? Don’t tell Morosov. He likes his women blonde and dumb.”

“Did you mean it?” the king said abruptly.

“That Morosov likes them dumb, or that he’s a liability? Sure, I meant it.”

He chuckled. “Drew Spencer said that you are the one who is a liability.”

She hardened her voice. “I spent more than half my life in school and college being forcibly trained to become a tool for my government to use against Otherworld. That’s why Spencer doesn’t like me. I hate being told what to do.”

And come to think of it, that was basically why Vadim didn’t like his father too, but she wasn’t going to bring up that subject right now. It was surprising sometimes how much she and her mate did have in common,

“What does your petty resentment of authority have to do with Death Bringer?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s too powerful. He wants to control me, and it’s infuriating. Ask anyone at the SBLE. Even when he’s in his human form, we fight like cats and dogs.”

“Spencer did mention that.” The king contemplated her expression. “But he is also your mate.”

She faced him. “As you pointed out, I had no idea what he was when that happened. I’m glad he saved my sanity, but I still hate being lied to, and I don’t want to be held in his magical thrall for the rest of my existence.”

He studied her for a long time. “I’m not sure I believe you, Soul Sucker. You certainly seemed quite taken with him when I came upon you in the glade.”

“Did you watch? You’re Fae. You of all people know that sex doesn’t make a relationship.”

He smiled, and his mind brushed against hers, seeking her true emotions. She let him see what he wanted. “You are so refreshingly direct. I almost admire you sometimes.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“So will you reconsider my offer?”

“To take Morosov back to San Francisco? I thought you wanted him dead.” She gestured at the hall behind them. “He’s pretty likely to die right here.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Then you’d better start saying your prayers.”

“I have a better suggestion. I’ll make sure you receive your face back, if you make sure he’s dead.”

“I’m already getting my face back, even if he does lose.”

“You believe Adam will honor his word? He’s hardly been reliable in the past.”

“That’s true. Damn.” Ella took a long slow breath and then let it out. “How can I help you? I don’t have the weapon you gave me anymore.”

He held up her battered backpack. “Yes, you do.”

She made herself look deep into his cold eyes. “And if I agree to this, you swear on your own blood to let me leave here alive and return home?”

“You are more Fae than I realized, Soul Sucker. You bargain like my queen.”

“To be brutally honest, I just don’t want to deal with any of you ever again.”

“You are an empath. Your work will bring you to Otherworld.”

She swallowed hard. “I’ll endeavor not to come near any Fae of your Royal bloodline. I never have in the past. How does that sound?”

He held out his hand, and she shook it.

“Good luck, Soul Sucker.”

“Thanks.” She took her backpack from his outstretched hand.

He damn well knew that if Vadim died so early in their relationship, she was unlikely to survive.

He was quite happy to let her walk away and die.

Her resolve to bring him down hardened. She gave him her best smile. “But I don’t think I’ll need it.”

The king walked to the opposite end of the row of chairs, where the Dark Lord’s emissary sat, and engaged him in conversation.

Ella stared down at her backpack and struggled to control her emotions.

She’d never understand the Fae and their cavalier attitude to life.

If it made you that ruthless, maybe being immortal wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

“Good day, Ms. Walsh.”

She looked up to see Vadim’s diminutive mother taking the seat beside hers. She, at least, hadn’t changed her clothes, but her leaf-green silk gown was worthy of any occasion. Despite everything, Ella took a moment to covet it.

“It’s vintage.”

“Not magical elves? Damn. Don’t tell me you can read my thoughts, as well?”

“I didn’t need to. Your face gave you away.” The queen smiled and smoothed the silk. “As you are mated to my son, I can access your thoughts, but it isn’t easy. Your shields are excellent and most unlike the average human’s.”

“That’s empaths for you. We’re tricky.” Ella returned her gaze to the scene below them. “How exactly will this battle work?”

“Usually, it is a series of magical tests combined with physical strength.”

“And is it usual to have one man against four?”

The queen sighed. “No, but my son is very powerful. I believe he will overcome his opponents.”

“You do?” Ella looked hard at the queen, but her beautiful face gave nothing away. “You’re the only person who thinks so.”

“Even you doubt him, Ms. Walsh?”

“I have no idea what to think.”

“But you intend to aid him.”

It was a statement rather than a question, and one she felt confident not answering.

“How do they stop other people adding their magic to the fight?”

“They put up a barrier, but it doesn’t always work. I suspect anyone who wished to influence the outcome of the contest could get involved, if she or he had the means.” The queen lowered her voice. “Like a bonded mate linked with one of the combatants, for example.”

Ella glanced at her sideways. Wow, she was being remarkably helpful for someone who was supposed to be alienated from her son. She’d basically given Ella the go-ahead to help Vadim anyway she could.

Below them, a trumpet sounded, and three males bearing silken banners advanced from the rear of the hall, reminding her strikingly of Vegas again, although even she didn’t think she could stand having to eat a medieval banquet right now.

After the men came three leashed black dragons, their fanged tongues flicking out over strong white teeth, their red eyes gleaming.

The four sect dudes came next. She glanced around the hall.

Apart from her, the Dark Lord’s emissary, a dozen guards and the Royal family, there didn’t appear to be any other spectators, which suited her fine.