“Did Druan tell anyone about the time vault?” If he had, their trouble wouldn’t end with Druan’s destruction.
“No. He protected his secrets. He was always afraid one of the others would find out.”
“Others?”
“Them. The old ones. That’s why he used this castle, so no one could see what he was up to, including his master.”
“Are the other demons of old helping him?”
“No. They don’t help each other. The league is a farce. Druan wants rid of them as much as he wants rid of you.”
League. The word Tomas had seen in Angus’s notebook. “Did you cloak this castle?”
“No. I don’t know who did it.”
“Is this the virus?” Faelan pointed at the box.
“If I tell you and you destroy him, will you save me?”
He wasn’t making any promises to a sorcerer who’d spent more than a century figuring out how to destroy humans and could pass the information on to someone else. “Is this it?” Faelan put his dirk to the man’s throat.
“It’s in there.”
“How does it work?”
“It’s a combination of virus and sorcery. It destroys oxygen on contact, feeds on it like fire, but faster. Everything human will die. One vial will wipe out this entire country. He brought demons here from all over the world to solicit their help in releasing it.”
“They’re here in the castle?”
“No, Albany.”
The conference. “Is he working with vampires?”
“Vampires?” The old man looked startled. “Aren’t they extinct?”
Everyone seemed to think so, except the vampires. If Druan had formed an alliance with the undead, he would have to keep it quiet. The Dark One wouldn’t tolerate it. But it made no sense for the vampires to help Druan eliminate their food source.
“Druan wouldn’t work with vampires if they did exist. He can barely tolerate his own kind.”
Then what were they doing here? “Where is Druan?”
“I think he’s with the woman. He had something urgent to do.”
“The woman? Bree?”
“He didn’t say for sure—”
Faelan lifted the man by his shirt, dangling his feet off the floor. “What has he done with her? Tell me now, or I’ll kill you myself.”
The old man trembled. “I don’t know. I swear on my mother’s grave. He just said he had something important to do. He doesn’t trust me. He doesn’t trust anyone.”
Faelan dropped the man, swallowing back the pain. “Can you think of any place he’d take her? Somewhere hidden.”
“The secret passages.”
“We’ve checked there.”
“I’d tell you if I knew. I tried to warn her when she called, but he almost caught me.”
Faelan would have to get rid of the virus first, then find Druan, shackle him and force him to tell where Bree was. “Is this all of the virus?”
“It is. I packed it myself. Be careful. Once these vials are opened, nothing can stop it.”
“The virus won’t be released.”
“How can you stop it? It’d take a miracle—”
“I know someone in the miracle business. Close your eyes.” Faelan pulled his talisman from his shirt. “Better yet. Don’t blink.” He couldn’t let this monster live to create another virus.
The sorcerer didn’t hear him. He was staring past Faelan, his features twisted with terror. Druan stood in the open doorway, wearing his human shell, his gaze darting from Faelan to the box. The sorcerer ran toward the open window. Faelan grabbed for him, but it was too late. The old man plunged over the side with a scream, leaving Faelan with a torn piece of shirt in his hand.
“Good riddance. Saves me the mess.” Druan closed the door. After glancing at the ruined lock, he lowered an iron bar that must have been there since the castle was built.
It took all of Faelan’s willpower not to destroy Druan on the spot, but he had to find Bree first. “Where is she?”
“My human?” Druan laughed, but the sound was cold, hard.
“She’s not yours,” Faelan growled.
“Ah, but she is, warrior. I’ve watched over her for a long time. While you slept, I watched her grow. And after I rid this planet of its blight, I’ll need a few mixed breeds for slaves. Bree will make an excellent mother, don’t you think?”
Faelan wanted to shred Druan into pieces with his bare hands, feel his bones crunch and tissue tear. “Tell me where she is.”
“Where only I can find her. You believed she was a demon, didn’t you? When all she’d done was try to save you, which I’m punishing her for, even as we speak. Then I’ll practice this forgiveness your God is so fond of and make her mine.”
Every part of him seethed with panic and rage. Before he could judge the wisdom of it, Faelan sent his dirk sailing through the air. It struck Druan mid-chest, and the demon screeched. He ripped it out and flung it to the floor, hate oozing from eyes already starting to shift. His bones lengthened and skin bulged grotesquely, as he transformed into his natural form, towering over Faelan.
Faelan was no stranger to demons, but the sight and smell was still repulsive. “Tell me where she is, or I’ll destroy you now and find her myself,” Faelan snarled, his hand twitching over his talisman, the other tight on his sword.
“You’ll never find her in your lifetime. Not even two. I’ve saved the best trick for last.”
“Did you hurt her?”
Druan threw back his gray head and laughed again, a slimy hissing sound. “Did I mate with her? Not yet. But I will. In and out of my human shell.”
“You won’t get the chance,” Faelan said.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs. Druan smiled and moved toward the door. Faelan’s anger numbed. He should have let Cody stay. It would be impossible to destroy Druan, the virus, and his horde of demons, too. But he could finish what he’d started before Druan came in. If the virus was gone, Druan might be easier to manage. Before he could raise his talisman, the air shifted. He heard screams and voices calling his name. He recognized Ronan and Duncan. The reinforcements were his. They’d destroyed Druan’s demons.
Druan shrieked with rage. He whirled and came at Faelan, slashing with his claws. Faelan spun like a matador and sliced open Druan’s arm with his sword. “That was for my father and Ian,” Faelan said, trying to block the sulfurous smell.
Druan turned again, moving slower this time, calculating. “What about your sister, little Alana? I let her live… after I finished with her. But her firstborn son, how could I let him live, bearing your name?”
Druan had killed Alana’s infant son? Faelan’s anger merged into a fiery ball. The loss of his family, the death and destruction caused by a war that was no more than a distraction for Druan, the pain and heartache the demon had caused Bree. Faelan roared and lunged at Druan, striking again with his sword. A gash appeared in Druan’s chest, close to where the dirk had struck, but it would take far more to kill him by hand. Faelan struck again, this time slicing deep into the demon’s neck. Druan let out a terrible howl and swiped at Faelan. His claw caught on Faelan’s talisman. Druan jerked his hand back when the metal scorched his skin. The cord broke, and the talisman tumbled through the air, landing in a corner with a thud.
“Another scar. I’ll destroy that charm along with you this time.” The smell of burning flesh mingled with sulfur, and the pounding in Faelan’s head grew louder before he realized it was the door. It sounded like a hundred feet were kicking. Faelan moved toward the talisman in a haze. He had to get it back, or everyone he loved would die.
A whisper brushed his ear, soothing, balm to his pain. He didn’t know if it was Bree, Michael, or even God himself who tried to quiet his rage, but he held on to it, pulled it inside. Used it to focus on what he had to do.
Druan moved closer to the corner. “What’s so important about the charm, warrior? It gives a nasty burn, for a pretty decoration.” Druan swirled and picked up the talisman by the cord, winding it around one claw, careful not to touch it. His ugly head turned as he scrutinized it. “I see writing,” he said, inching toward the box. “Another trophy to replace the sword. I’ll keep it with the Book of Battles to mark the day of your defeat.”
Faelan’s skin felt clammy. Book of Battles? Druan had the book? His chest pounded like a cattle stampede. The demon was five feet from the box, bleeding from his wounds. Faelan had to destroy him. Now. Beheading a powerful demon was almost impossible, but it was that or wrestle the talisman from him. He’d already made the first cut. Faelan adjusted his grip on his sword and lunged for the demon.
Druan threw the talisman over Faelan’s head and snatched the box. He reached for one of the vials as Faelan spun and dove for the talisman. He slid across the floor, snatching the talisman as it rolled. He opened it as he leaped to his feet, praying it had enough strength, and began to chant. Druan opened the vial and flung it across the room. The air sizzled, too thick to breathe; the floor shook. Faelan watched it happen as if in slow motion. The iron bar broke free from the wall and the door burst open. Niall rushed into the room, followed by the others, as green vapors clawed through the air like fingers. Faelan heard a warning cry and saw the warriors spin around, throwing their arms over their eyes. A boom sounded like thunder as brilliant white light met the green vapors in midair. Colors swirled, tumultuous and violent, and the white wound around the green, swallowing it like a snake. Druan screamed, his face distorted, as he reached for the virus. The light retracted, leaving nothing but the metal box and empty vials clattering in its wake.
The virus was gone.
Druan was gone.
Where was Bree?
Chapter 34
The room filled with warriors, swords drawn, chests heaving, some dripping blood.
“Are you okay?” Duncan asked, but all Faelan could manage was a nod.
“What in blazes was that?” Brodie asked.
“You almost kissed your ass good-bye,” Niall said. “We all did.”
Sorcha ran in, hair flying, then lowered her sword. “I’m too late.”
The warriors circled Faelan, voices low with shock. Ronan put a hand on Faelan’s shoulder. “You did it, brother. He’s gone. The virus is destroyed.”
“You need rest,” Cody said. “We’ll get Bree. Where is she?”
Faelan’s legs buckled, too weak to support him, and he sank to his knees. “I don’t know.”
***
Four days later…
Faelan ran his fingers over the stone, leaving a smear of blood. He’d rubbed his skin raw. He kept his eyes off the bed as he moved to another stone, looking for a crack or hidden catch.
“Faelan?” Ronan stood in the doorway of Druan’s bedroom. “Go home. Get some sleep before you fall over.”
“I can’t leave.” Faelan pounded his fist against the next stone, but it didn’t move. “I can hear her calling me.”
“I know, but you killed an ancient demon. You’re still weak. You need rest and food. We’ll keep looking. You know that. He’s hidden her somewhere. He was too obsessed with her to hurt her.”
But where? Druan said he’d hidden her where only he could find her. The minions they’d captured had been no help. It was as if Bree had disappeared.
“Sean called a few minutes ago,” Ronan said. “The McKenzie clan is searching Druan’s last castle in Europe.”
“What about the demons at the conference? Did they get them all?” The list Coira found on Angus matched the one they’d discovered in Druan’s bedroom three days before.
“Most of them. They were still waiting for their vials. Warriors swarmed the place; only a few demons escaped, but they’re being hunted down. Cody has a friend in the FBI who’s covering our tracks. The public thinks it was a drug bust. More than a hundred demons have been destroyed in the last four days, thanks to you and Angus. This is the biggest joint operation in clan history. But you need to rest now, or you’ll be dead before we find Bree. Ever hear of Romeo and Juliet?”
“He’s right, Faelan,” Duncan said, joining Ronan at the door. “Let us finish up here. Ten more warriors just arrived from Australia. They brought Skylar and Caleb, two of their best Seekers. And Ryan and Brenna are on their way from Rome. Their sense of smell is unequaled. We won’t stop till we find her.”
Faelan nodded and rose to his feet. They’d all worked tirelessly, especially Conall. The young warrior had sworn he would not stop looking until she was found. He still felt responsible for losing her.
“Here,” Duncan said. “We found this hidden in the library.” He handed Faelan a leather book. “It’s her Grandma Emily’s journal. I don’t know why Druan had it.”
Holding the book under his arm, Faelan trudged through the castle, ignoring the long looks and hushed whispers as he passed his clansmen surveying and cataloging Druan’s possessions, some repairing the damage from the blast while others searched for Bree.
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