Page 15 of Kiss the Dawn (Order of Helsing #4)
LORENZO
S eeing Orina again, spending time with her, has been illuminating. The attraction is still there and growing the more I learn about her. Losing her to the Isle isn’t an option for me.
It’s been a long time since I met a woman that I wanted to keep close, and now I have a way to do it.
The idea is simple. Risky, but I’m certain it can be done by the right people, and with the green light from Daphne, I’m ready to let Orina know the plan and see if she’s on board.
It will work. I’m certain. And it means we can leave tomorrow without Orina having to do the ceremony.
“We should have thought of it sooner,” Frederick says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
We’re almost back at our quarters, two doors and several staircases later. The Loop itself might not be vast, but it can take you places with its witch doors. Doors that Frederick has access to.
“It’s such an obvious idea now that you’ve laid it out,” he says.
“We’re in a world filled with magic. Basic science isn’t something that takes precedence in our minds.” The door to our quarters comes into view, and I lengthen my stride.
“Do you think she’ll agree to it?” Frederick asks.
“We’ll find out soon enough.” I lightly knock, then enter to find the room empty. “Orina?” Maybe she went to lie down. But the bedroom door is open, the bed neatly made. The bathroom is empty too. “Where is she?”
“Would she have gone exploring?” Frederick asks.
Orina is a curious spirit, but she’s also disciplined. She understands the delicate situation we’re in, and I asked her to stay here so…My pulse quickens as I catch the scent of witch magic. It’s gone quickly, but it leaves me with no doubt that there was a witch in this room not long ago. One that used magic.
“Who else is here aside from us? Any witches?”
Frederick frowns. “Well, Eliza and her mates arrived a few hours ago, but?—”
“Fuck.” I rush to the door because I know exactly where she might be, but whether of her own will or not is another question. “Take me to their quarters. Now.”
One witch door, a flight of steps, and a corridor later we reach Eliza’s quarters.
Frederick moves to knock, but I grab his arm to stop him. I can smell power. Sharp with intent and something else. A sickly sweet scent that I’ve come across once before.
Oh…Oh no.
I throw up my hands and blast the doors open. The scene unfolds before me in quick flashes. A blond woman lies on a sofa, and three men stand around a table. All I see are the soles of her boots and I know it’s her. They have my Orina on the table.
They turn to look at me, unconcerned, unashamed, and I see her lying still and gray. Strapped down.
The sickly smell hits me again.
Poison.
Death.
Heat lashes at my heart, and I throw out a hand, knocking the men out of the way while Frederick bellows for guards. For help.
My focus is Orina as I flick my wrists, snapping the straps that hold her immobile while the witches thrash and attempt to break free of my power. No match for me. I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them all if…
Her pulse beats against my fingers.
Still alive, then .
Still time.
I press my palms to her body, one to her chest, the other to her stomach, and command the poison to rise out of her body. To seep from her pores in green rivulets.
“NO!” one of the witches yells. “Stop it! Stop it now!”
I will his mouth sewn shut and continue to work. My body grows warm as I push myself to the limit, holding them off while purging Orina of the death serum.
Guards enter the room.
I don’t fucking care.
Orina, come on. Fight it.
Am I imagining it, or is her skin less gray?
“It’s working,” Frederick says. “Keep going.”
A surge of power hits me as the witches are cut off from the weave by whatever nullifying effect the guards are using, and I’m free to channel everything I have into saving Orina.
Her chest rises and falls, her mouth parts.
“Lorenzo…”
Something inside me breaks, and I gather her into my arms, channeling, always channeling while I clear out the toxin. Her eyelids flutter open, and she looks up at me, dazed for a moment before her gaze sharpens. “Is it real this time?” she asks. “Are you really here to save me?”
I can barely speak past the lump in my throat. “I am. I’m here. You’re safe.”
She reaches up to caress my jaw. “I was dying, and I dreamed you came to save me. You were going to kiss me.”
The last of the poison leaves her body and she sucks in a sharp breath, then exhales, going limp in my arms. “I wanted you to kiss me.” She slips into a healing unconsciousness.
“Is she all right? Is she safe?” Frederick asks as I lift her off the table.
“She’s all right. But she won’t be safe until we’re off this Isle. This act of violence against my charge has just breached the terms of the agreement between the consortium and the Circle. Get me Daphne. Now.”
The power is now in the consortium’s hands, and I’m going to make sure I use it to get what Orina needs.