know.”
“And what is that. Soul Sucker?”
Ella flicked a glance over her shoulder at Vadim. “He’s not as smart as he thinks he is, and neither are you.”
Adam’s expression hardened. “I don’t like your tone.”
She laughed, and behind her, Vadim growled a warning. “Having seen what he’s like in this world, do you think I want him back in mine? He’s a fricking psycho.” She blew him a kiss. “I’m sorry, darling, but I really think I’m siding with Adam on this one. You need to be put out of your misery for all our sakes.”
Vadim’s face whitened. He gathered himself and came after her, his roar echoing through the valley as the sun finally set behind the trees. She didn’t move, just watched the guards hold him down and contain him within some kind of magical net.
Adam smirked triumphantly and patted Ella on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Soul Sucker. I’ll make sure he never comes near you again.”
“No!” Vadim roared. He fought against his captors, his claws raking at the net, and almost found a way free.
“Stop it, Morosov.” She was standing right over him, her expression bored. “You’ll hurt someone and just prove what an animal you really are.”
He bared his fangs at her and hissed an obscenity in Fae.
She nudged his torso with her booted toe. “You’re way too scary. How could you expect anyone to live with that? I’m sorry, dude, but I have to protect myself.”
Adam ordered Vadim’s removal and turned back to her.
“Are you coming, Soul Sucker?”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
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
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
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
“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
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.”
