Bound to Blackwood (33 page)

Kaden swore. He wanted nothing more than to go and check on Lena, but even he couldn't be in two places at once. He still hadn't decided what to do about Marin. He still needed to speak to Thorn about, well about everything and he couldn't remember the last time he ran a training session.

He puffed out a breath. And then there was Soraya. He pinched the bridge of his nose and pushed his fingers out across his brow, trying to iron out the creases of his seemingly permanent frown.

God, he was tired.

As he tracked Lena leaving her house, he felt tireder still. His mind's eye saw her making her way through the streets of west London and knew instinctively that she wasn't out for a casual stroll. Even from House Blackwood her aura threw off anger and bitterness and Kaden knew there were Fallen out tonight who would feel the full force of her fury. Dead Fallen were not a bad thing. Lena compromised by her own temper was dangerous.

Great.
Just what he needed.
 

His mood didn't improve as he sensed Thorn in the hallway. Kaden had a pretty good idea that Lena's sudden departure had a lot to do with Thorn and that just pissed him off.

Thorn marched into the Command Centre wearing a look that could kill at twenty paces. Kaden watched the King prowl through the room. Somehow, it pleased Kaden to know Thorn was just as angry as Lena appeared to be. He knew Lena well enough to know she was probably the reason for his distemper.

"What's up with you?" Kaden asked, unable to help himself.

"Nothing," Thorn growled. "Where are we with the Greenshire girl?"

Kaden cocked an eyebrow, waiting for a better answer.

Thorn narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't push me, Keeper."

Oh, so that's how it was going to be
. King and Keeper.
Fine
. Kaden sighed. "The boys and I went to House Ashby. The Claydens were their bannermen."
 

Thorn nodded. "And?"

"And she was there for less than twenty-four hours and was moved again. They don't know where she went next."

"And that leaves us where?"

Kaden sucked in a breath before whispering the one answer he really didn't want to give. "House London."

He watched as Thorn's golden eyes widened. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Thorn stared at him for an eternity, his anger now palpable.
Way to poke the caged lion, Kaden.
"When are you going?" Thorn finally asked.
 

It irked Kaden that Thorn just assumed he was going. He was, but he was going in his own damned time. "When I finish up some stuff here," was the politest answer he could give.

Thorn just nodded again. "Don't leave it too long," he said as he turned to leave.

"Thorn?" Kaden watched the King stop in his tracks, but he didn't turn around, didn't reply. Kaden winced at the emotions flowing from him, but he had to know. "What happened to Lena?"

"I don't know what you mean," Thorn replied, still not turning to face him.

"She left."

Thorn span around, his eyes wide in disbelief. "She did what?" he bellowed.

Kaden took an involuntary step back. He had never in all his life seen Thorn so furious. Or in so much pain. Worry for his friend tempered his own anger at Thorn's treatment of Lena. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice much softer than before.

Thorn squeezed his eyes shut as he raked a hand through his black hair. When he opened them again, Kaden barely contained a hiss as he saw the swirl of emotions there. "I went to see her," Thorn whispered.

"And?"

"And she threw me out," Thorn replied.

So Lena's current mood
was
Thorn's fault. "What did you do?" Kaden asked, the anger in his voice more evident than he would like.
 

"It's none of your business," Thorn snapped, his ire returning.

"Oh, wind your neck in, Thorn. This is Lena we're talking about! She's as good as my sister!"

"Watch your mouth, Keeper!"

"Don't you dare pull rank on me, Thorn. Right now, I am not your Keeper. I am not Commander of the Order. I am Lena's big brother and I'm your best friend. Now tell me what the fuck is going on!"

The next thing Kaden saw was Thorn's fist as it flew through the air towards his face.

Diverse, fun-loving and never quiet, Soho should have been just the distraction Lena was looking for. Nowadays the area had almost shed its seedy reputation of bygone eras. Almost. The small part of West London still held on to its risqué vibe with both hands meaning that it attracted Londoners and tourists both. Whilst the natives were pretty savvy, tourists seemed determined to throw caution to the wind. And where there were tourists, there were Fallen.

Usually.

Lena had covered the square mile that encompassed Soho three times already. She searched her inner mind, waiting for that flash of brilliant white that would lead her to them. The bastards had yet to show.

Typical.

She stomped down Old Compton Street for the fourth time. The street heaved with every size, shape and sexuality of human possible, and they all cut her a wide berth. Those that did catch her eye looked away immediately, such was her demeanour.

She stopped outside the Admiral Duncan pub and looked up at the rainbow flags displayed in the first floor windows. She often went in for a drink, but not tonight. Tonight, the rainbow of colours seemed dull. The music and laughter of the patrons left her cold.

Her head down, she made her way back up the street, heading for Soho Square. Neon lights screaming erotica, sex and guilty pleasures assaulted her from all directions. Despite her fury, an inexplicable fever crept over her and a desperate need welled at her core.

Oh God, not now!
She wanted to kill something. She did not need to be turned on by the Ann Summer's window display.
 

Gritting her teeth and ignoring the heat, Lena powered down Frith Street desperate to get to the relative quiet that Soho Square afforded. The square was much like any other such square in London, surrounded on all sides by tall buildings and sash windows of bygone eras. And like many
squares open to the public, it took on a sinister edge at night. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Soho nightlife, it was prime Fallen territory.
 

She was half way along Frith Street when she finally found what she sought. A bright white flash in her mind's eye signalled that the Fallen had finally decided to show up. She knew they'd be here. Soho was too good a hunting ground to ignore. She wanted to dematerialise and get there as fast as she could but there were too many humans around. Grinning at the prospect of getting to kill something, she stampeded down the street.

Lena slowed her pace as she reached the Square, sending her senses out to track the Fallen. Her mind's eye turned the square monochrome, making it easier to see the shining, white signature of the Fallen at the other side of the square. Keeping to the shadows, she skirted the green park.

As the three Fallen moved apart, her heart skipped a beat. Their bright white signatures were plain to see, but what angered her was the fading glow of green in amongst them. A human soul.

The bastards were making light work of the human, but whilst the soul still glowed, there was still a chance.

Not wasting any more time, Lena materialised in front of the group and charged at the Fallen with his back to her. Grabbing him about the waist, she wrenched him from his meal. Her momentum sent them rolling across the lawn.

They were so close to one another, her sword was no good. She reached for the blade strapped to her upper leg, but couldn't get at it as the Fallen wrestled with her. Now behind her, he had his arm across her neck as he pulled her on top of him. Lena's hands went up instinctively, trying to free herself, but he had the upper hand.

Lena snapped her head backwards and relished the crunch as the back of her skull smacked into his nose. The distraction was all she needed as his grip across her throat loosened. She leaped to her feet and glanced at the other two Fallen advancing towards her, their meal now discarded.

Lena drew her sword but slammed to the ground again as the one with the broken nose kicked out and took her feet from under her. She landed with an oomph as the air punched out of her lungs. Spread eagled, and momentarily stunned, Lena felt her sword fall from her hand.

One of the new-comers pulled her to her feet by her hair. His black eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at her. He released her with an evil chuckle. "Well met, Lena."

That he knew her name was not a surprise, but there was something in the way he said it. Some joke she'd missed.

Still catching her breath, Lena didn't reply.

Behind her, she heard someone draw a blade, whilst the joker in front of her reached for his own weapon. Her sword still lay at her feet.
Shit.
 

Lena heard the blade behind swish through the air and ducked just as the steel flew past the top of her head. The movement allowed her to scoop up her own blade as she rolled away from them. Joker came at her next, their blades clashing as she parried his strike. She met him stroke for stroke as they danced across the lawn, but Fallen never did fight fair. He came at her again, swinging his sword in a great arc and as she moved to defend herself, Broken-nose rushed her from the side, knocking her to the ground.

Pain erupted in her side where his blade sliced through her flesh. She scrabbled away. Once back on her feet, Lena could feel the wetness of her own blood seeping through her shirt. It hurt like hell, but the wound wasn't fatal.

Now she had more room, she retrieved the dagger from her thigh holster. Turning to face all three of the bastards, she growled. She ran at them, her long sword held aloft in her right hand, the dagger in her other.

As she reached them, she sprang into the air to vault over them. Her blade sliced through the air as she went. She landed behind them in time to see Broken-nose's head hit the floor. His body stayed upright impossibly long before it joined the brains of the operation on the ground.

Searing pain ripped through her, the jump having opened her wound further. She clutched her side, battling to catch her breath.

Unperturbed, Joker took one look at his fallen comrade and laughed.

Lena snarled.

Joker's remaining friend wasn't laughing. He ran at her, but Lena was quicker. She clicked the button on the hilt of her dagger, releasing the two side blades. She caught the guy's sword between her trident tines and twisted hard. His grip faltered as she pushed at him.

There was a dull thud as his weapon hit the turf — right before she thrust her long sword through his belly. Lena slid her blade back and watched him fall to his knees, his eyes wide in disbelief. Lena didn't waiver, tucking her dagger into her waistband, she swung her blade with both hands, cleaving his head clean off his shoulders.

And then there was one.

Joker was clever. He retreated across the park and loomed over the human woman still bleeding on the ground. His maniacal laugh sent shivers down her spine. He knew exactly what he was doing, keeping himself close to the human limited Lena's options. She couldn't attack him without endangering the woman.

Damn him.

Even as she watched, the woman's soul was fading. If she died here, the Fallen would take her soul and it would die. There would be no heaven, Zion, rapture or whatever the poor woman believed in. And Lena would be helpless. She couldn't take a soul with the gates of Faerie closed. She had no way of guaranteeing safe passage to the Glory.

What now?

Breathless from the agony in her ribs, indecision froze her mind. If she attacked head on, she risked killing the woman too. She circled him whilst he crouched over his victim, taunting Lena as he licked the blood from his gnarled fingers.

The disgusting stench of Fallen hung in the air, but the aroma of the woman's sweet blood breezed through it, making Lena's stomach rumble. Distracted by Thorn, she hadn't fed properly in days.