“Welcome to my domain, cygnet, or should I call you Death Bringer?”
As the massive door swung open, Adam stood back and bowed, allowing Vadim his first glimpse of the stronghold of the Otherworld sect. It was as impressive as he’d suspected it would be—high towering ceilings, magnificent mosaics and paintings so beautiful they would make one weep. The sect’s arrogance would demand a cathedral-like setting to worship the sordid achievements of a group of Fae who’d lived too long and lost all affinity for what was good and right.
He grimaced at the sanctimonious thought. And what was he? How many creatures had he killed in his egotistical assumption that his father’s word was law? Since arriving in Otherworld, he’d dropped his human shape completely to reveal his true form. There was nothing to hide anymore. Death Bringer was not only his given name, but his bloody legacy. Every time he had to look at Adam, that message was reinforced. Had the male chosen his face with that in mind?
Of course he had.
The door shut behind him, and Vadim turned to Adam.
“Are we to fight here?”
“Oh, we’re not fighting yet. I have something I need to do first.”
Vadim smiled to reveal sharp fangs. In Otherworld, the swan wasn’t the only creature he could shift into. In fact, he could become whatever species he wanted. “And if I don’t agree?”
“You don’t have a choice.”
He drew himself up and felt long-forgotten power flood his veins. He flexed his fingers, felt the visceral tug of his claws. It was like receiving a blood transfusion. He’d been transforming ever since he set foot back in Otherworld. He wasn’t quite at the full extent of his powers yet, but he was getting there. “I think you’ve forgotten whom you are dealing with.”
“You won’t want to destroy me just yet.” Adam drew something out of his pocket, which hovered over his palm.
Rage coalesced in Vadim’s chest, black feathers swirled in the air into a screaming tornado and the building began to shake.
“That is my mate’s face.”
“I know, so don’t kill me. If you do, you’ll never stand a chance of reclaiming it.” He gestured with his other hand. “Would you like to follow me to the trophy room?”
Vadim forced himself to follow, each footstep distinct as he destroyed the delicate tile beneath his feet, but he didn’t care. His rage knew no boundaries. His family had betrayed him. Everyone in Otherworld had betrayed him...
God,
He’d failed her completely. Was she even alive? In this threatening environment he couldn’t even lower his shields to check the truth of that.
Adam approached the final golden doors at the end of the long hallway. Four trolls and two small black dragons guarded them. He held up his hand and the doors opened, releasing a waft of malignant power that almost made Vadim stagger. He forced his newly discovered empath talents to the back of his mind. He didn’t need to be vulnerable to others’ emotions when his own were threatening to cascade with the speed and ferocity of a national disaster.
The trophy room was well named. Beasts and races of all kinds adorned the crowded walls. He saw three extinct red dragons’ heads and tails, the tusks of a mammoth and the horned skull of the Minotaur. On the shelves below were other “precious” objects. He could only assume Pandora’s box and the Holy Grail were in there somewhere.
Adam held up his prize like a triumphant offering and headed for the farthest wall of the huge room. Vadim had no choice but to follow like a dumb beast. As they approached the wall, he recognized the ghostly floating features of Brad Dailey and Ms. Phelps hovering above two gold plinths. With a great deal of care, Adam leaned forward and carefully placed Ella’s furious face next to the others. She obviously hadn’t been happy about Adam’s face-stealing technique. The sight of her riled expression cooled his temper somewhat and made him able to think.
“There. My task is almost complete. All I require now is her death.”
Even before the words were out of Adam’s lying mouth, Vadim launched himself at him. Magic seemed a poor substitute for the sheer pleasure of strangling the male with his bare hands.
“If you kill me, she dies!” Adam squealed.
Vadim barely registered the words as a red tide of rage colored his vision.
Pain shuddered through him as something attacked him from behind. It felt as if he’d been caught in a net. Manacles locked around his ankles, wrists and throat. The smothering sensation of iron chilled his skin, making him feel heavy, his magic dull as it tried to reach beyond the lethal cage.
Adam broke away and rolled out from under him, his expression triumphant.
“We have him!”
Vadim was shoved onto his back and glared up at his captors. He didn’t recognize the other three men, but he remembered the force of their combined power.
“I can still kill you, Adam. Unlike most Fae, iron doesn’t contain me completely, it just slows me down.”
“But you won’t be killing anyone, will you, Death Bringer, while I hold the fate of your mate in my hands.” Adam smoothed his rumpled clothing. “Unless she kills herself without my input. She might do that, I suppose, what with you abandoning her.”
“You don’t know my mate. She’ll wait for you to come after her, and she won’t go down without a fight.”
“So I hear.”
He was hauled to his feet. The iron collar around his neck was choking him. He forced a thin bolt of power from his fingertip, and Adam backed away, cursing.
“I’ll get free, eventually. Nothing can hold me forever.”
“I’m counting on it, Death Bringer.” His opponent smiled at the other men surrounding them. “When I kill him, I’ll truly become the greatest collector of all time.”
“You won’t succeed.”
“Why not? I thought you wanted to fight me.”
“Oh, I do, and I shall.” Vadim stared at the little weasel until the certainty faded from his gaze. “I’ll enjoy ripping you limb from limb.”
“We’ll see about that.” Adam nodded at the guards. “Take him below while we prepare the stadium for our battle.”
In his present weakened condition, Vadim couldn’t resist the concerted efforts of the four guards and the focused power of the sect, and was led down several flights of stairs into darkness, thick walls and the sounds of hopelessness. He was tossed ignominiously into a dark hole and left alone.
It took him several minutes to work out which way was up and where the door was. He leaned against the damp wall and took a quick survey of his current position. The sect had caught him before he attained his full powers. Coupled with Adam’s threats to damage Ella’s face, he hadn’t stood a chance. With a groan, he considered what the hell had happened and what, if anything, he could do about it.
Who among his family had decided not to preserve his mate’s life? It could only be his father. But with what cause? Did he truly believe Vadim wouldn’t turn against him? Didn’t he understand his own creation? But what if it was worse than that? His fingers clenched into fists, his claws digging into his palms. What if his father understood him too well and had conspired with the sect to bring him down? That sounded far more likely.
And what of Ella? Was she slowly going mad, wearing someone else’s face, or was she doing her best to pretend nothing was wrong while she waited for Adam to show up? He wouldn’t put it past her. She wasn’t going to make it easy for the face stealer. His heart ached. Had she believed him when he said he was leaving her forever? He damn well hoped so. Adam’s last-minute offer to leave her alone if Vadim accompanied him immediately to Otherworld had seemed too good to be true, but he’d been willing to risk it if it kept Ella safe.
He swore softly and fluently in Fae. And what had he achieved? Ella’s face was gone, and he was stuck in a dungeon. She’d be so proud...
Whatever happened, they would have to work fast if they intended to destroy him. He flexed his bruised
