traitor. A war is coming with the Medb and the battle will be fought over Alterants.”
“I thought they wanted to kill Brina and capture Treoir Castle.”
“That’s what I understand as well, but the Alterants will be the difference between success and failure.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m helping Tristan and Petrina escape before the Medb find them. That’s all I can do for these two Alterants. But you must find the others and keep them from the Medb. I will help you hide them.”
“I have no idea where any other Alterants are or I’d be bringing them in to Macha.”
Sam’s liquid gaze slid over to Tristan. “Tell her what you’ve learned in the past few weeks.”
Tristan stood and walked across the room to a fireplace with a hearth covered in cobwebs from lack of use. He leaned back against the mantel and crossed his arms. “Sam caught me walking in my sleep a few times, heading toward Atlanta. Petrina would do the same thing. It’s as if something was making us go back, some inner animal urge to return to Atlanta.”
“Good, because I need you to go back.”
“Not going, Evalle.”
“We had a deal.”
He shook his head. “I said I’d give you information, but I did not say I’d return with you.”
Sam cut in, “The point is that I think the Alterants are beginning to be drawn to Atlanta.”
She ignored Tristan for a moment and asked Sam, “Why?”
“It could be you.”
“Oh, sure. I’m a regular Alterant magnet.” She hadn’t found one in the past three weeks.
For once, Tristan didn’t make a smart follow-up comment, but spoke in earnest. “Didn’t you claim there’s been an unusual number of Alterant shifts and attacks in the past year in the Southeast?”
“Yes, but Rías could have committed some, or all, of the unprovoked attacks blamed on Alterants. You said so yourself.”
“True, but the point is, this hasn’t been as prevalent in other parts of the country, right?” Tristan said, leading her to see Sam’s point.
“Right, but … I don’t buy this theory that they’re coming because of me. Why me? Having outbreaks in the Southeast doesn’t prove anything. And three weeks ago lots of beasts shifted all over the country because of the sentient fog.”
Tristan argued, “Rías. Sam’s talking about Alterants.”
“Just give me facts … and tell me where you’re getting these facts if you want me to believe you.”
Sam’s arms shook when he pushed against the chair arms as if to stand, but didn’t when the effort was too great. “Believe me or not, but you don’t have a lot of time. If the Medb get their hands on the Alterants, they’ll be able to breach the castle and kill Brina. Find the other Alterants.”
“You’re just full of ideas, aren’t you? What makes you think I can find Alterants when I haven’t located any others since meeting Tristan and his sister? Fat lot of good that’s done me.” She glared at Tristan, who examined his hands as if critiquing a manicure. Turning back to Sam, she asked, “Any tips on how I can find these Alterants?”
“Yes, you can—”
The living room windows exploded into the house.
Evalle smelled the burnt-lime odor that screamed Medb. She jumped to her feet and vaulted over the back of her chair, landing sure-footed.
She reached toward her boot for her dagger.
Which was still on her motorcycle back at the Iron Casket.
Two warlocks in snug, black, ninja-type clothes jumped Tristan, who hit them with kinetic blasts. Barely fazed them.
Poor Sam had been snatched up and shoved against the wall by another warlock.
Evalle swung her hand in a horizontal arc from left to right. The kinetic slice had been intended to take out the knees of the warlock attacking Sam.
Her blast bounced off the Medb.
No way.
Evalle started toward Tristan, but two more warlocks leaped through the windows.
She had her own fight coming on.
Her and Tristan’s kinetics were dulled in here for some reason. A quick
“I thought they wanted to kill Brina and capture Treoir Castle.”
“That’s what I understand as well, but the Alterants will be the difference between success and failure.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m helping Tristan and Petrina escape before the Medb find them. That’s all I can do for these two Alterants. But you must find the others and keep them from the Medb. I will help you hide them.”
“I have no idea where any other Alterants are or I’d be bringing them in to Macha.”
Sam’s liquid gaze slid over to Tristan. “Tell her what you’ve learned in the past few weeks.”
Tristan stood and walked across the room to a fireplace with a hearth covered in cobwebs from lack of use. He leaned back against the mantel and crossed his arms. “Sam caught me walking in my sleep a few times, heading toward Atlanta. Petrina would do the same thing. It’s as if something was making us go back, some inner animal urge to return to Atlanta.”
“Good, because I need you to go back.”
“Not going, Evalle.”
“We had a deal.”
He shook his head. “I said I’d give you information, but I did not say I’d return with you.”
Sam cut in, “The point is that I think the Alterants are beginning to be drawn to Atlanta.”
She ignored Tristan for a moment and asked Sam, “Why?”
“It could be you.”
“Oh, sure. I’m a regular Alterant magnet.” She hadn’t found one in the past three weeks.
For once, Tristan didn’t make a smart follow-up comment, but spoke in earnest. “Didn’t you claim there’s been an unusual number of Alterant shifts and attacks in the past year in the Southeast?”
“Yes, but Rías could have committed some, or all, of the unprovoked attacks blamed on Alterants. You said so yourself.”
“True, but the point is, this hasn’t been as prevalent in other parts of the country, right?” Tristan said, leading her to see Sam’s point.
“Right, but … I don’t buy this theory that they’re coming because of me. Why me? Having outbreaks in the Southeast doesn’t prove anything. And three weeks ago lots of beasts shifted all over the country because of the sentient fog.”
Tristan argued, “Rías. Sam’s talking about Alterants.”
“Just give me facts … and tell me where you’re getting these facts if you want me to believe you.”
Sam’s arms shook when he pushed against the chair arms as if to stand, but didn’t when the effort was too great. “Believe me or not, but you don’t have a lot of time. If the Medb get their hands on the Alterants, they’ll be able to breach the castle and kill Brina. Find the other Alterants.”
“You’re just full of ideas, aren’t you? What makes you think I can find Alterants when I haven’t located any others since meeting Tristan and his sister? Fat lot of good that’s done me.” She glared at Tristan, who examined his hands as if critiquing a manicure. Turning back to Sam, she asked, “Any tips on how I can find these Alterants?”
“Yes, you can—”
The living room windows exploded into the house.
Evalle smelled the burnt-lime odor that screamed Medb. She jumped to her feet and vaulted over the back of her chair, landing sure-footed.
She reached toward her boot for her dagger.
Which was still on her motorcycle back at the Iron Casket.
Two warlocks in snug, black, ninja-type clothes jumped Tristan, who hit them with kinetic blasts. Barely fazed them.
Poor Sam had been snatched up and shoved against the wall by another warlock.
Evalle swung her hand in a horizontal arc from left to right. The kinetic slice had been intended to take out the knees of the warlock attacking Sam.
Her blast bounced off the Medb.
No way.
Evalle started toward Tristan, but two more warlocks leaped through the windows.
She had her own fight coming on.
Her and Tristan’s kinetics were dulled in here for some reason. A quick
Similar Books
