Crest (Ondine Quartet Book 3) (41 page)

"If anyone can, it's you." Fingers brushed the ground as she stretched her hamstrings.

Mouth opened and closed several times. I wanted to argue, tell her she had to stay and do what was right.

But I didn't know what that was. She wanted to mate with someone she loved. How could I tell her she was wrong?

In the end, the words that came were startlingly simple.

"You're leaving Helene alone."

She paused for a fraction of a second then straightened. The fierce protectiveness of her expression was that of a bear protecting her cub.

"I'm not worried."

Her eyes met mine and I suddenly understood every test she'd put me through in New York.

"She has you."

EARLY AFTERNOON SUN POURED ACROSS the colossal circular aquarium. The clear acrylic glass tank towered forty feet high, its circumference roughly spanning two city blocks.

Called the
Clannatre
, it ascended from the ground near the eastern boundary of the woods. Rows of bleachers lined the south side of the tank in a style similar to a high school football field.

Ancelin had demanded this presentation be integrated into the conference schedule. Determined to show delegates what his people could do, he'd insisted on this unsubtle display of power.

Tristan had been adamantly against it until I figured out how to use it to our advantage.

Delegates now filled half the bleachers. Rhian, Jeeves, and other Governing Council members sat in the front row on the western section.

I settled near the top and saved room for the others. Yahaira helped Helene adjust tripod legs in the very last row.

"A little higher. No, too high," Helene instructed, gazing through the camera. "That leg's a little banged up because someone stole the case when we arrived."

She still sounded outraged. Yahaira caught my eye and winked. She had the patience of a saint.

Land took up half the aquarium tank. A few trees marked the dry grassy terrain leading to a gravel shoreline. Water, approximately twenty feet deep, filled the remaining space. The top was sealed and a small door along the north curve provided the only entrance.

Every spectator could see what took place above and below water.

A familiar head of mahogany hair emerged from the woods. Tristan scanned the bleachers until he spotted me. Without a word, he climbed up and sat beside me, expression unreadable.

Guess we weren't talking.

He was probably weirded out about Cam and Alex walking in on us at the workout room. And I was pretty sure he was still angry over what happened at the Áimoni.

But his reaction pissed me off. I was balancing multiple objectives at the same time and attempting to keep our relationship professional.

Hard to do when he wouldn't even talk to me.

After a few minutes, Ian and Aubrey joined us and did a double-take at my expression. Wide eyes then shot to Tristan's hardened face.

They decided to sit a row away. Couldn't blame them.

King Belicoux stepped onto a makeshift raised platform in front of the aquarium. Self-satisfaction oozed from every pore in his body.

"The
Clannatre
is the backdrop for realistic simulations of Aquidae encounters and is frequently used as a public teaching venue for gardinel trainees. A selection of Gystfins will act as today's targets."

Nerves tingled. Gystfins were nasty carnivorous water creatures native to the Arctic's Chukchi Sea. Supernaturally vicious and fast with bulky bodies, ugly, troll-like faces, and razor-sharp teeth, they moved in a similar way to Aquidae.

Ancelin nodded at five ondines sitting in a prominent position up front. "Our thanks to the Projectors who graciously supplied glamour for the targets."

Polite applause filled the air and the ondines stood and waved in acknowledgement.

"Four trainees are up first. They will be followed by gardinels currently serving in Haverleau: Garreth Percailou, Ewan Vellucar, and Adrian Liathne." Ancelin paused. "I'd like to stress that these are live demonstrations. Unplanned and unrehearsed."

He sat beside Rhian. Behind them, Marquisa LeVeq craned her neck and eagerly watched the tank. Jeeves had taken a seat as far from her as possible.

Hushed quiet settled over the crowd. The aquarium door opened. Dax, Renard, and the two trainees from the scuffle the other day marched in.

A few catcalls and whistles came from the chevaliers and gardinels at the far end of the bleachers. Dax took position on the shore. He faced the water, face blank with concentration.

Renard stood at midpoint with his back against the trees. The other two settled at the north and south ends.

The scrape of sliding glass was as loud as a gunshot. A panel opened on the ceiling and figures dropped in quick succession.

Flawless glamour removed all trace of the gystfins' trollish appearance.

The dozen pseudo-Aquidae looked like humans of varying ages and races, each with an Origin scar accurately located on the carotid artery.

Before the first three hit the water, Dax vaulted into the air.

Magic burst from his
pedaillon
and a flash of bright white whipped around his outstretched frame. Human skin rippled, crunching bones realigned.

A collective gasp escaped the audience.

A twelve-foot long creature plunged into the water. Unlike Tristan's mahogany pelt, Dax's seal skin was a pale blonde that almost appeared white under the sunlight.

Like real Aquidae, the simulations didn't need air underwater. Since Dax wasn't inducted yet, his foreflipper lacked Essence. He'd have to kill without it.

A balding, middle-aged man lunged for his side. Claws shredded through his chest.

Another came from behind. Dax flexed his hind flippers and hammered its head with enough force to crush it against the wall.

Blood smeared the glass.

With the same powerful, circular move, his left foreflipper stabbed the last Aquidae in the throat. A crimson cloud tinted the water.

In the time it took him to eliminate three underwater targets, his fellow trainees struggled to take out two on land.

Dax's body undulated, swiftly propelling through the water until he broke the surface in an explosion of power. Magic flared and human form flipped like an acrobat against the sky.

He landed on one knee,
kouperet
already in hand. Swift back kick took out the charging Aquidae behind him. Another flash precisely staked the Origin.

But he was so focused on the single kill, he'd taken his eyes off the others.

Two Aquidae attacked Renard at once. He killed one but gave the other an opening. An elderly woman with silver hair snarled and smashed its fist into his chest.

A sharp crack resounded and Renard stumbled back. Broken rib.

Dax whipped around and quickly finished her off.

Four left.

Selkies grouped together and stood back-to-back.

My breaths came faster. Tristan remained utterly still.

As long as they kept relying on instinctual speed and strength, Dax and his friends would only see one target at a time. They needed to form a coordinated strike.

These pseudo-Aquidae were hunting the selkies. With predators, danger didn't lie in the one before you.

It lay in the one you didn't see coming behind you.

Fingers dug into my thighs.

Come on, Dax. Think.

The beasts closed in, two in front, two behind. Selkies warily tracked their movements.

Dax suddenly moved inward and the others formed a loose ring around him.

What was he doing?

Seeing that the wall had decreased by one, the Aquidae bellowed and uniformly attacked.

As one, the circle of trainees leaped into the air and somersaulted over their heads.

Dax whipped up in a perfectly executed
drigor
.

Foot snapped against four Aquidae throats. The creatures lurched back into the waiting arms of the selkies.

Kouperets
pierced Origins.

All targets killed.

It was beyond spectacular.

The audience roared, a cacophony of cheers and whistles.

I caught the glint of approval in Tristan's eyes. Little brother did good.

Dax and his friends had huge grins on their faces. They raised their hands, pumping and egging the audience on, soaking in the adulation and applause.

After a few more minutes of ego-boosting hype, the four finally gave ostentatious bows and exited.

Excited murmurs raced through the bleachers as a group of gardinels cleared out the bodies.

A few minutes later the door reopened and Garreth, Ewan, and Adrian strode out. Renee, Chloe, and Amber followed.

"What is this?" someone yelled.

A few more shouts of discontent. In the front row, a woman with pale blonde hair stood, her face bone-white with shock. Marquisa Blanchard, Amber's mother.

Nanette Desmarais touched her arm, mouth rapidly moving as she said something.

Ancelin's face hardened to a stony mask. Furious eyes bored into Tristan for a few seconds. Then the Glare of Doom slid to me.

I smiled and waved. He looked like he wanted to strangle me.

Score tied. Two points each.

A large rifle slung over Chloe's back. She climbed a tree on the south curve and settled among the branches. Leafy fronds provided ample cover.

Renee leaned against a tree trunk on the north side. Posture was casual, but her eyes actively flickered over the tank interior.

Amber stood midpoint, beside a clump of thick brush. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, pale and quiet.

Garreth, Ewan, and Adrian remained near the door with slightly bored expressions.

Nerves chewed on my stomach. Leg bounced up and down.

"They'll be okay," Tristan murmured. "Security is in place."

He'd taken every precaution. But the anxiety rose from something more than safety concerns.

It was the significance of this moment.

Elementals now perched on the edge of a precipice and the only options were to fly or die trying.

Once this began, there was no turning back.

Glass slid open.

A figure dropped through the ceiling.

Two shots. Body fell into the water without touching land.

One bullet between the eyes and another through its neck. I was too far to see if it hit the Origin. If it didn't, it was incredibly close.

A second one plummeted. Shot took out its knee.

Body thumped onto the shore and Amber's hands arced through the air.

A tan colored vine lashed out from a shrub and twisted around the Aquidae's neck. Another pulse of Virtue and the creeper wound tight around its upper torso.

Ewan dashed over and eliminated the incapacitated target with his
kouperet
.

A thin male tumbled down. Chloe's shot missed and Renee stepped up.

With a flick of her wrist, energy raced around the aquarium. A thick branch the size of a two by four careened straight into the Aquidae's face.

Bones snapped. It staggered back.

Adrian sprinted,
kouperet
angled to the side. He dropped to his knees and slid across the ground.

The strike was so precise, so delicate, I almost missed it.

Blood rushed down the target's side. Adrian had slashed its artery, just underneath the armpit.

He gracefully bounced to his feet, spun, and staked it.

Another shot sliced through the air. Bright red circle bloomed on the chest of a falling Aquidae.

Garreth sprang into a perfect somersault. Blade flashed gold.

It was dead before it landed.

The whole thing was over in two minutes.

Absolute silence.

I wanted to clap but I was too busy picking my jaw off the ground.

Chloe climbed down and pulled a few leaves out of her hair. Amber looked slightly uncertain at the audience's lack of response.

Garreth, Ewan, and Adrian calmly wiped their
kouperets
and walked out the door. Renee, then Chloe and Amber followed.

The audience exploded.

An avalanche of shouts and cries boomed, the crowd's energy rapidly swelling to dangerous levels of panic and anger.

Rhian stood, her regal bearing an icy wall against the bombardment of screaming Governing Council members.

Tears glistened on Marquisa Blanchard's cheeks. You'd think she'd be proud of her kickass daughter. Not sobbing like it was the end of the world.

Ancelin's body shook with rage. Fury etched into every line of his face.

He marched in our direction, each step deliberate and purposeful. Gesturing animatedly, Sian blocked his path.

Marquisa LeVeq stood, her face frozen into a mask of shock and indignation. Cold blue eyes scanned the crowd.

And locked on me.

"You should leave," Tristan said. "Now."

"But —"

"Meet the others behind the
Clannatre
." His voice brooked no argument. "My men are ready."

I wanted to stand beside him and defend the program.

But the number of people glaring at me exponentially rose with each passing second. Now wasn't the time.

Tristan grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him. "Go!"

I hurried down the bleacher steps as the crowd's clamor rapidly gained intensity. Four gardinels emerged from the shadows and encircled me in a protective ring.

A large, colorful tent was set up for today's performers behind the northern curve of the tank. Two dozen gardinels supervised the perimeter, vigilant eyes alert for any problem.

Chloe and Amber stood near the back of the tent. Pride and elation glowed on their faces.

I walked up and simply looked at them for a few moments.

Shining expressions faltered.

"Kendra?" Chloe asked, hesitant.

My chest was so full.

"Amazing," I said softly. "Just amazing."

They beamed.

I threw my arms around Chloe and gave her the biggest hug I could.

"That was incredible." Helene neared, her camera glued on Chloe and Amber. "Can I interview you for my channel?"

"I'd love that." Dax strutted over. He stepped in front of the lens, cutting off her shot of Chloe. "Did you watch us?"