Dead End Page 11

  “You’ll sleep now so you will have the energy to get your brother back.” He crouched before me and took my hands in his. His pupils were large and dark as he looked into my eyes. “I can’t even begin to imagine everything you’ve been through, and the last thing you want to do is fall at the final hurdle due to exhaustion. You need to recharge.” He reached up to brush tendrils of my hair back off my face. “I wish I’d been with you. I should have been with you.”

  I stroked his jaw. “You have a kingdom to run. You can’t be with me, and trust me, when this is all over, I’ll be back here with Bry for a long, much deserved vacation.”

  He cracked a smile that transformed his austere face into something glorious. “I’d like that very much. But for now. Rest.”

  I nodded and lay down on the chaise longue, but he scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed. He laid me carefully on the sheets, and his scent enveloped me, and then his hair brushed my cheeks as he leaned in to kiss my forehead.

  “Sleep tight. I’ll wake you in a couple of hours.”

  Honestly, how could I possibly sleep with everything going on? I needed to be with Emory. Yes, that’s what I should do, get up and go help Emory. I needed to ….

  Despite my best efforts, I slept. When Rhydian woke me, it was with the news that Emory had finished the explosive.

  I stared at it now. It looked so innocuous and tiny. A rectangular box that could fit in the palm of my hand. Councilmen Bane, Orin, and Ryker looked just as unimpressed as I did. Micha lounged against a stall beside Rhydian, and Deacon was silent and watchful at my side.

  I resisted the urge to touch the explosive. “How does it work?”

  Emory had no such qualms; he picked it up and turned it over in his hands. “I tested the orgometal against various chemicals, and Genesis’s hiding act makes complete sense now.”

  “Because?”

  “Orgometal may be mutable and sentient to a degree, but it turns out there are several chemical components that can disrupt its integrity. I guess the Arcana were expecting to keep the super brain locked up tight, so they didn’t worry too much about those things. They didn’t expect it to go rogue and build minions to carry it away and hide it.”

  “So, what did you use?” Deacon asked.

  “Regular hydrochloric acid. There’s acid under this top coating which will shatter on contact with the orgometal. The acid will eat away at the brain, and the bomb will sink into it, and then we detonate.” He puffed out his cheeks. “The only problem is, I’ve only got enough materials to make one explosive.”

  “And the arcana?”

  “There’s a heavily charged crystal inside.” He put the explosive back on the workbench. “I knew we’d need one, and so I’d put a small crystal in the heart chamber when we first discussed the idea.”

  “That’s why you took so long getting back to the tunnel?” Deacon asked. “You went to the heart to get it?”

  Emory nodded, his mouth turned down. “Also … I had to see it. I had to see what damage had been done to the heart.” His mouth hardened. “What damage Genesis did.”

  He’d said Genesis, not Hunter. “Thank you.”

  He looked up with a frown. “For what?”

  “For not blaming Hunter.”

  His mouth twisted. “If anyone can understand not having control of your body, then it’s me.”

  Of course, he’d lived with Gideon inside his mind all his life, he could empathize.

  “It seems that Hunter is as much of a victim in this as anyone,” he continued. “He was a child experimented on by the Arcana government and then locked up in the Hive by another Arcana. You freed him, but he didn’t even get to enjoy that because Genesis had taken control of his body.”

  Remembering the shit Hunter had gone through just made the anger simmering inside me flare brighter. “He’ll be free once we stop Genesis.”

  “Yes. But it won’t be easy,” Emory said. “Genesis is essentially just a brain, and he will be heavily guarded. We have no idea what kind of shit he’ll throw at us to protect himself. Right now, he thinks we’re mulling over his proposition, but it won’t be long before he realizes we’re playing him, if he hasn’t already.”

  Ryker tutted. “And then he’ll reinforce his defenses. He’ll feed on souls to power up.”

  “Yes,” Emory said.

  My palms were suddenly sweaty. “We need to mobilize now.”

  Rhydian had been silent up until now, but he stepped away from the counter he’d been leaning up against and joined us. “I can escort you to a safe spot on the coast, northwest of your target location.”

  That was all very well, but we needed to gather forces. “How many made it out alive?”

  Bane exhaled through his nose. “Not nearly enough. Half the Sanguinata and the Lupin were killed. Most of the Protectorate guard are dead or severely injured. Those that are left aren’t fit to fight, but I can recruit as many as can stand.”

  “Please. Once we have numbers, I’ll contact Lyrian and arrange a rendezvous. I’m sure we can count on the Keep’s support.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Orin said.

  “Excuse me?” Micha stood taller. “What the heck do you mean by that?”

  Orin placed a hand on my kindred’s shoulder. “No offense, Micha, this isn’t a slight against your people’s courage or bravery. This is a purely strategic issue. The Keep is the topside’s last stronghold. If we fail, they will be the only organized unit left standing between Genesis and the souls left topside. They will be the only hope for the humans in Genesis’s clutches.”

  My mind was whirring as it turned this over. “Are you saying the Keep won’t provide fighters because they’re holding back for a plan B?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Orin said.

  “No, Wilomena said they’d help where they could …”

  Now that I said it out loud, it sounded lame. What did that even mean?

  “Transport more than likely,” Orin said kindly.

  “Well, maybe someone needs to tell them this is plan B. We need to throw everything at Genesis. This is our shot.”

  Orin shrugged. “And we could do that and still fail. Echo … We’ve been here so many times before.”

  “Really? Right here, with the Hive gone and the humans captured and an explosive that could blow up a super brain?”

  Orin pressed his lips together, and it was Bane who responded.

  “It’s just the way it is,” Bane said. “The Keep won’t lose Draconi and Shedim on this.”

  “Well, I’m in and so is Lyrian, regardless,” Micha said.

  My gut twisted in anxiety at the same time as my heart bloomed with warmth for my kindred.

  “Then what do we do?”

  “We recruit from the settlements,” Micha said. “There’s a couple of large ones we can hit; I’m sure we can get fighters to help.”

  “And you have my aid,” Rhydian said. “My guard can breathe on land, and both them and I will accompany you.”

  The sick feeling in my stomach intensified, because this was really happening, we were going to do this.

  “Contact Lyrian,” Micha said. “How long will it take to get to the coast?” he asked Rhydian.

  “An hour,” Rhydian said. “We can leave when you’re ready.”

  I turned to him. “You don’t have to do this. You have a kingdom to run, you—”

  “You’re my queen, and I’m not the kind of king to let his queen go into battle alone.”

  My throat tightened, and my eyes burned. “Thank you.”

  His smile was solely for me, warm and intimate and beautiful. “Anytime.”

  Bane’s shoulders heaved. “I guess it’s time to recruit and get out there.” He glanced out at the water with a grimace.

  Ryker winced. “Bane is not a fan of swimming. It messes up his feathers.”

  “You should stay here,” Rhydian said. “I don’t think we have a sea suit to fit you anyway, a
nd it would give me comfort to know someone was taking charge of the kingdom in my absence.”

  Bane looked torn but then nodded. “I’ll go and round up troops.” He left with long strides.

  I wanted to ask Rhydian what had happened to his brother, Julian? Was he still locked up, or had they exiled him already? But I kept my mouth shut; that was a conversation for later when we were in private.

  I opened the door between Lyrian and me.

  Lyrian? You there?

  His presence bloomed in my mind like a warm hug. I’m here. Are you all right?

  I’m okay, but a lot has happened. I filled him in on the Hunter fiasco. Orin seems to think the Keep won’t provide fighters.

  Lyrian sighed. He’s right. I’ve been arguing with my mother for the past hour, but she won’t budge. I’m overruled and outnumbered. But she will provide transport. You’ll get dropped off a mile from the hydro plant.

  Truthfully, how could I be pissed at the Keep when the Hive had intended to leave them to rot. I filled him in on what had happened with Hunter and our progress with the explosive.

  I’m coming with you, Echo. All the way, he said. Let me know when you set out, and I’ll meet you on the coast.

  His voice in my head was a honey caress, and I ached to see him, and the words that had been hovering on the tip of my tongue spilled out. I’m scared.

  I know. But we can do this. We can do this together.

  I know.

  I’ll see you soon.

  I reluctantly closed the door in my mind and focused on Micha.

  “Done?” he asked.

  “Yes. Bane was right. No significant aid from the Keep aside from rides.”

  Micha’s jaw tensed. It was obvious from the flash of embers in his eyes that he’d been hoping for a different outcome. “This is wrong. I can’t believe she’d do this.”

  “We do what we must to survive,” Orin said. “It’s the smart plan. We will find allies to help us, settlers topside who would be eager to put Genesis down once and for all. We just need to get to them and tell them our plan.”

  “Echo, thank God.” Finn stormed into the dome with huge strides. He cut through the guys and swept me into a hug. “Thank God you’re okay.” He released me and turned blazing hazel eyes on Deacon.

  “What the fuck? You didn’t think to tell me you were back. I get to hear it from Councilman Bane?”

  “I assume he’s recruited you?” Deacon said coolly.

  “Yes. We’re in. A few of the Sanguinata have agreed to help too, but not as many as who could have. Fucking shame they can’t be forcefully recruited.”

  “If they’re cowards, then they have no place going with us,” Deacon said. “They’ll just be a liability.”

  “Good point,” Finn agreed. “Bane asked me to tell you that we’re ready to go when you are.”

  The fear surged up again to choke me, but I swallowed it back. I needed to gather my courage to the sticking place because we were headed into a battle we could not afford to lose.

  Chapter 15

  We stood in the corridor that led to the chamber that would spill us into the sea beyond. So many bodies—sea dwellers and land dwellers together. My people were dressed in the sea suits, ready to brave the force of the ocean beyond. The clothes they’d change into once we were out of the water were wrapped in waterproof fabric and tied to their backs. We’d be exiting in batches with Rhydian and me leading the way. The royal guard would escort the volunteers from the Hive.

  Finn and his Lupinata made up the third batch. Their huge bodies stretched their suits, leaving nothing to the imagination, and damn if it wasn’t hard to look away. Councilmen Ryker and Orin stood just ahead of Finn and his posse. Once again, two huge guys that looked much too good for their age, and behind me was Deacon, lithe and powerful; Micha, stocky and muscular; and Emory, slender-hipped and broad-shouldered.

  Rhydian sloped his hand into mine. “Are you ready?”

  I nodded and opened the door to Lyrian. I’m on my way.

  We stepped through the doors into the chamber beyond.

  The water slipped from my body, leaving me dry as I climbed up the rocky beach and onto land. How was it that I wasn’t even out of breath? I’d need to explore this newfound ability once this was over. A vacation sounded perfect about now, and yes, I was distracting myself, giving myself something else to focus on, a reward for getting through this and basically not dying.

  “You swam well,” Rhydian said beside me.

  I nudged him with my shoulder. “Nah, you just tugged me along.”

  He looked down at me in surprise. “I wasn’t pulling you along.”

  I blinked up at him. “You weren’t?”

  His smile was a slow burn. “No, Echo, that speed was all you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Here are the others now.”

  The sea looked calm and undisturbed to me, but a few moments later, heads broke the surface and began to bob toward shore.

  A great gust of wind hit us in the chest, and I looked up to see the majestic form of several Draconi in the sky; they came in for a landing, flying in ever decreasing circles as they dropped altitude.

  The world shook as they hit the ground, one by one, and then Lyrian was jogging toward me, his arctic eyes intensely fixed on me as if I were the only person on the shore. My heart leapt, and I ran to meet him. We’d only been apart for a few hours, and he’d been in my head all the time, but it felt like we’d been separated forever.

  He bundled me into a hug that squished my face to his chest and squeezed the breath from my lungs, but damn, it felt good.

  “I brought some rides. I have a radio, and we can call the rest when we’ve recruited settlers.”

  Four dragons waited patiently behind him. Dragons I didn’t know. “I suppose only essential personnel then?”

  “You choose who comes to the settlement. The rest can camp here. I’ll light a few fires. We’re miles from any known danger zones; they should be fine for a few hours while we recruit.”

  Behind me, the others were crawling out of the sea, chests heaving as they tugged off the fabric covering their faces. Micha jogged over to us, followed closely by Emory and Deacon.

  I arched a brow at them. “Want to come recruit?”

  Micha snorted. “Think of me as a must.”

  “Yes,” Lyrian said. “Micha and I are the main ambassadors when it comes to liaison with the settlements.”

  “I’m thinking David’s settlement?” Micha said. “It’s the largest, and the humans have more Shedim blood than any of the other settlements.”

  “So, they’re practically supernatural?” Emory asked. The waterproof pouch strapped to his back contained clothes, the explosive, and a detonator.

  “Yes,” Lyrian said.

  I touched Rhydian’s arm. “Are you coming?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “I’ll stay here and watch the troops.”

  Made sense. “Okay, let’s light up some fires, and then we get going.”

  Rhydian looked up at the sky. “We should move inland a little way. There’s a storm coming.”

  The sky was orange with the afternoon sun but clear. I opened my mouth to ask him if he was sure, then snapped it closed again. He was the sea king and at one with the elements; if he said a storm was on its way, then it probably was.

  Finn and a female Lupinata joined us. The woman studied me with open curiosity and then smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Mina.”

  I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  This was one of his mates. No jealousy reared its head to bite. Instead, I studied her beautiful face with a slight tilt to the chin that spoke of determination. Yes, she was so his type.

  I returned her smile.

  “What’s the plan?” Finn asked.

  Lyrian answered, “We head to the caves and get everyone settled, then a few of us go to the settlement to recruit.”

  “I’m coming,” Finn said. “Mina, you’re in charge of t
he Lupinata while I’m gone.”

  She nodded.

  I clapped my hands together. “Okay, let’s find some shelter. It’s getting late, and I’d like to be back here before dark.”

  “There are caves to the east,” Lyrian said. “Not far, just a fifteen-minute walk.”

  “Lead the way,” Rhydian said.

  Deacon headed back down the beach to round up everyone, and we set off over the rocks toward the caves. My stomach flipped, and a strange foreboding washed over me, but it was gone too quickly to analyze.

  Flash, flash, flash, time was moving in fits and starts. One moment we were setting off for the caves, the next we were flying toward the settlement, and in a blink, we were landing. Time was going too fast, hurtling toward the inevitable, and as much as I wanted to end this, to get Bry back and be done with Genesis, I also needed one more moment to breathe, to not be in the thick of it, and the selfishness of that thought made me sick. My little brother was in Genesis’s clutches. He was probably frightened to fucking hell, and I was complaining that time was moving too fast? Fuck me.

  I climbed off Lyrian’s back, and he shifted back to human form. The other Draconi landed behind us and Emory, Deacon, and Finn climbed off their rides. Micha landed beside me a moment later.

  “This is the settlement?” There was nothing but brush and rock and brambles. It was a tamed wilderness. “Wait, this place has been maintained.”

  “Good eye,” Lyrian said. “They groom it to look uninhabited but keep it manageable to allow them to come and go easily. This way.”

  He led the way across the dead-looking earth that seemed only to spawn weeds and thorns and into the tree line of twisted branches and ash-white bark. The others followed close behind, and then the canopy of leaves blocked out the sun and silence pressed down on us like a fist from above. Lyrian came to a halt and held up his hand to indicate we do the same. He then let out a sound that sounded like a strange bird cry.

  “It’s the signal,” Micha said. “They’ll hear it and come get us.”

  “Wait, you don’t know where they are?”