“None of us did. It’s not your fault, Ryder.”
“Why would they take Angie? They already tried their experiment on her and the diamond in Australia, and it didn’t work. Isabelle I can understand, but not Angie.”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’re using her as leverage to gain Isabelle’s cooperation.”
Ryder nodded. “It’s possible.” He looked at Dalton. “Do you think the Realm will be able to pinpoint their location?”
“Yes, I do. They have people who can tune in to specific individuals’ psychic signatures. I’m sure Michael is working with them right now. We’ll find them.”
Ryder didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure he believed it. All he felt was a sense of emptiness, of guilt. He should have taken care of Angie. Instead, he had let the demons take her. It was the same as thrusting her into their hands.
What was she thinking right now? What were they doing to her? Was she okay?
He lay his head in his hands.
“Ryder, if they don’t. . we will.”
That’s what he needed to hear. He lifted his head. “We’re destroying the black diamond. No experiments. That’s our leverage. Without it, Angie and Isabelle are unnecessary to the Sons of Darkness.”
Dalton’s gaze met his; he nodded. Just like that, they had an understanding. That was solid. Real. He believed Dalton.
The clock was ticking.
He grabbed the bottle and poured another shot.
“Okay, we have something.”
Ryder put the glass down and turned to Michael. “You found them?”
“One of our people picked up Angelique’s signature.”
“Isabelle?” Dalton asked.
Michael shook his head. “Nothing yet, but they’re still working on her. It’s possible they have her hidden beyond what we can pick up. We’re assuming they’re in the same location, so let’s start with Angelique.”
“Fine,” Ryder said. “Where?”
“It’s a remote castle, up the coast, much like this one.”
“Isn’t it unusual for them to be aboveground?” Ryder asked. “I thought they dwelled underground.”
“They do. And yes, it is. We don’t understand it, either. So we’ll just have to go check it out.”
Ryder hated when the bad guys didn’t operate according to standard. That signaled a trap. He didn’t like this.
“The castle is well protected,” Michael continued, “so we’ll need reinforcements. I’ve already alerted Lou. He’s bringing a few of the others. We’ll meet them at the castle.”
“Let’s weapon up,” Ryder said, already feeling the rush of impending battle, glad to be doing something other than drinking to drown the misery and guilt. Inactivity sucked.
Action rocked.
They were going to get Angelique.
“You know they’re coming,” Badon said.
“Of course I do.” Irritated, Tase let the flames lick out, one tendril of fire slapping like a whip toward his brother. Badon stepped back, avoiding that which would cause him excruciating pain.
Tase hated being second-guessed. His brothers needed to learn their place.
“I feel their power.”
“You underestimate ours, Badon. And especially mine.”
He knew exactly what he was doing. Of course they were coming.
His plan was working perfectly.
The Realm was stupid.
And in many ways, so were his brothers-the reason they had not been successful so far.
Was no one fit to lead but him? Could no one match his skills, his cunning? Could they not see what he was doing?
The Sons of Darkness were going to win. The Realm was chasing ghosts.
They’d figure it out soon enough.
“Go back to your assigned tasks, Badon. I have this covered.”
Badon hesitated as if he would speak further. Tase let him know of his displeasure by flaming the entire room. His brother made a hasty exit. Badon would have wounds from this.
Tase was sure his laughter rang in his brother’s ear all the way down the corridor.
Ryder studied the castle from their position several hundred yards away. A typical touristy-type place, built
