Skin Deep (37 page)

I had to get Mom out of the Hall and figure a way to get Greer out too. It would be more difficult with Greer on the opposite side of the pool. With the portal open, Widd'en now beckoned Mom forward.

"I don't have all day, Celeste. Have you made your decision? Daughter number one," he waved a hand at Greer. "Or daughter number two."

I was certain he had no plans to keep his promise. Which meant I had to save Mom right now.

So I took my chances and ran around the edge of the pool and straight at him. On the way I gave Mom a shove. She fell heavily on her side. From the gasp of pain she uttered I knew she'd been hurt, but she was a big girl. I was trying to save her life.

It took Widd'en a moment to process the fact he was under attack.

Time enough for me to get close to him. My fingers had been busy assessing the number of needles remaining. After the battle in the tunnels I was left with two. Had to use them sparingly.

Before I ran at him, I'd gripped a needle between my fingers, hoping to get a chance to plunge it into his armpit. I had to get close if I were to succeed.

His solid black eyes widened as he saw me close the distance. I slammed into him before he could react, the impact throwing him onto his back. I lay on his chest for the briefest of seconds. I rolled off, skin writhing in disgust at such close contact.

I was fast.

He was faster.

Moved like a blur, and was on his feet in seconds. I'd gotten the needle deep in his armpit though he hadn't given any indication he'd felt it penetrate.

We circled each other, mimicking the other's movements until we reached a stalemate.

Light flashed from his hands and I recognized the black sword he'd held to me in the lab. A beautiful thing in its own right, but in the hand of this foul creature it became an ugly weapon of destruction. No art. Just murder.

He held it in at his shoulder, like a baseball bat. Clearly the master of the Wraith hadn't perfected the art of sword fighting. He swung it in an ebony flash, and missed me by a hairs-breadth. He came back at me again and I curved my torso backward to avoid the swipe.

Rule number one - never under-estimate your opponent's ability to wield a sword. It became a dizzying dance. The next swipe caught me on the arm, and thankfully it was the armored one. I prayed it would hold its form as it had in our last encounter. The blow stunned me, sending rippling vibrations through my bones. Widd'en took the opportunity to swipe again, this time lower. Even though I sprung backward, the swipe cleaved the flesh of my thigh open, and I felt the gush of heated blood flow through the wound. Damn. I hadn't planned on getting hurt.

Swooning with pain, I almost missed the Wraith-Master as he reached for the medallion to close the portal. Greer didn't see him and jumped. I heard Mom's scream echo through the Hall and knew the reason for the pure agony it contained. Widd'en had moved the medallion thus moving the portal.

Even the slightest movement would mean the portal would send Greer somewhere else. But it also meant she would remain there for as long as it took us to find a way to get her out. My eyes filled with tears and none were for my damaged limb. My sister was now gone who knew where. But Greer was no weakling. She'd find a way to stay safe and besides, her hatred would give her the energy to survive…

My hand was sopping with blood as I tried to stem the flow. Blood and anger were a temptation to my Panther that couldn't be stopped.

I had no intention of even trying.

Heat sluiced through me, flesh and bone simmered hotter than the pain which still fired my thigh. My limbs lengthened, thinned. My eyes deepened, cheeks heightened, skin furred. With a final, sickening rip, my clothes fell to the ground and I stood in all my Skinwalker glory, canines bared, pelt glistening as dark as the sword Widd'en carried.

As elements of surprise went, I would certainly have won first prize. At least it caught the sucker off guard. Enough for me to pounce. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mom rise to her feet and run toward us, favoring one leg. I liked the two-to-one odds better. As I sprang at him, he lifted his sword and held its point straight at my chest. Mom came at him from the side and hit his arm full force, throwing him off balance. The sword clattered on the stone floor and I suffered a mental wince. Such a beautiful weapon. I hoped it wouldn't be damaged.

Distracted by Mom's side-swipe Widd'en didn't see me land on him. My weight threw him to the ground, and I sank my teeth into his neck. A death grip from which even I was unable to release him until my adrenalin slowed. Black goo spurted from the wounds and filled my mouth, coating my tongue with a bitter, oiliness. Ugh.

He bucked and kicked - violent, angry movements, but my jaw gripped tight. At last the fight drained from him along with most of his blood. He was dead. While I remained locked onto his neck, Mom rose and threw the medallion back over the pool to open the portal. She came to my side, stroking my back like she would a cat.

"Come now, release him
, Kailin." Her voice was soft and comforting, washing over me in calming waves. I growled at her, somewhere between don't-touch-me and please-help-me. "Shhhh. Come, Kai. Leave him."

My jaws unlocked and I released the dead Wraith
's throat. Took a few steps back, and sat heavily on my haunches. My thin legs quivered like a newborns as the last of the adrenalin faded. Heat filtered through my blood again as the Panther retreated and I returned to my Human form. Weak and naked at my mother's feet. She knelt and held me in her arms as I desperately swiped the dark slick blood from my chin and cheeks. I was desperate to get it off.

"Honey, it's alright. You did good, Kai." I felt a rush of air and something large covered my naked skin. "Time to go home."

Mom supported me as I rose on shivering legs and we walked to the edge of the pool. I stared longingly at the sword, as I passed inches from it. I had no energy to bend down and grab it. The blood loss had continued through my transformation, only stopping once I'd fully transformed into my Panther form. Thankfully, the transformation back hadn't ripped the wound open again but the loss of blood meant I had very little energy left.

I held onto my Mom's hand and squeezed. Ready to go home.

"Now." She whispered the words and shoved me, adding to my momentum as I made a weak effort to jump to the brightly shining light. I turned to see her step back and pick up the sword. She'd known I'd wanted it. She stepped back a few paces more, gaining distance for her jump when two Guards came hurtling into to Hall, running straight at her.

I flailed in mid-air, screaming, "Mom. Run."

She ran but, hampered by her limp, not fast enough. Tackled by the Guards she tumbled to the ground. Before she hit the stone floor she twisted her torso and flung the sword at me.

As the black sword spun, reflecting a thousand pinpoints of colored light, and as I stared straight at my mother, I lost consciousness. My last thought was of her mother's eyes. They were filled with a message. She was strong. The encouraging nod she'd given me was an instruction.

I will wait for you to come for me.

***

I was so deep in grief I barely registered my arrival back in Chicago.
Thankfully, I landed on the pier and not in the murky water. The sword followed me through the light and landed next to me with a solid thunk. I only had a few seconds to wonder how neat the slice would have been had it landed two inches closer to my good leg. Then I passed out cold.

Voices filtered through a
gray haze. I heard the rushing of heels on the wood of the pier. The plank's vibrations rippled against my cheekbone. My lids fluttered open.

The three men in my life halted before just as my head ceased spinning.

My father. Furious.

Ia
in. Furious.

Logan. Furious.

Just looking at them, I'd had enough. Macho over-protectiveness across all species.

What in Ailuros' name were they doing here? How did they find out where I was?

My head pounded while my leg throbbed as if my heart had decided my rib-cage was no longer suitable lodgings. I sat up. Had the presence of mind to grasp for the cloak. Nudity was not appropriate when all three men were so angry. Especially when my father and brother were two of those men.

Logan rushed to me, crouching beside me. "Kailin, are you okay?" Then he swore, lifting his hand, now red with my blood. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

I moved the cloak aside just enough for him to see the slowly knitting gash in my thigh. Relief would’ve smoothed his features had he not been furious as well. "I'm fine. It's already healing." I felt Iain and my father hovering but neither commented on my injury.

My eyes scuttled around, in search of the sword.

"You looking for this?" Iain asked, twirling the obsidian weapon in his hand, one finger teasing the fine tip.

"Be careful with that."

"Well, well, the Panther can still strike even while bleeding all over the place." He smirked.

"Shut up
, Iain." I'd had about enough for one evening. Iain wouldn't find all of this so funny once he knew where I'd been. And who I'd left behind.

"I need that sword so you'd better be careful with it." I glared at him.

"Where'd you get it?" The glint in his eye managed to be both amused and angry at the same time. Sure, I understood they were all upset about my disappearance, and probably my damaged state as well. Perhaps they felt superfluous. When men felt superfluous it was a situation much better avoided.

"It belonged to Widd'en, Wraith-Lord of Wrythiin." That got their attention.

"Belonged?" Iain asked.

"To the victor go the spoils." I waggled my eyebrows at my brother. Beside him my father was very quiet.

I eyed the sword warily. Hoping Iain hadn't drawn blood with the vicious weapon. I found him frowning at my words. I continued patiently, "In most battles to the death the victor has the privilege of taking with her the weapons of her opponent." I turned my head and met Logan's eyes and fire rippled along my veins, a not-too-gentle reminder of where my heart lay. I longed to be enveloped in his strong arms, longed for him to tell me everything would be okay. Logan managed a weak smile, "You think you could help me to my feet without giving those two an eyeful?"

He grinned and nodded, looping his arm around my shoulders. He supported most of my weight while I gripped the cloak to my body. At last I was standing, still leaning on Logan for support.

"Let's get you to your apartment. You need to get some rest, and have your wounds seen to." Logan said briskly. "Then we can all talk."

I limped to Iain, and muttered, "Take care of my sword
, dear brother. I may be needing it in the very near future." To his credit he remained silent. My brother may infuriate me, but he knew when I was hurting. And that's why I couldn't understand how he could’ve kept Mom's presence from me.

I paused as we passed my father. "Father, we need to speak in private. I have something to tell you." When he looked like he was going to resist, refuse to speak to me, I said, "It's a message from Mom."

My last words were spoken so softly only my father heard them. He searched my face, eyes moist, and offered a short quick nod.

Logan urged me on, leaving my father to his thoughts.

"You have things to sort out with your family. I'll drop you off at your apartment and I'll come see you in the morning - when you're feeling better." At last Logan had found his voice and he'd just closed himself off from me. Was he intimidated by the two Alpha males in my family? He wasn't meeting my eye.

I grabbed his shoulder as he began to walk away. "What's wrong?"

He was pulling away from me and I was desperate for him to stay. The last thing I wanted was for him to leave me too. My eyes blurred with tears, and though I would've liked to believe they were a culmination of this horrible evening, I knew deep down they were real tears about to be shed for the guy I was crazy about. I was about to cry like a girl in front of my father and brother - enough proof I needed rest.

"No, you won't. You're taking me home." I looked over my shoulder at Iain and said, "Can you bring Father over to my place? There're a few things I need to discuss with Logan."

Once inside the car, Logan turned the heat up and made quick work of the distance to my house. His silence unnerved me. Made me want to grab his arm and beg him to stay.

"Pull over." I steeled my voice from any emotion.

He looked at me, startled.

"Pull over. We need to talk."

Indecision clouded his eyes and just when I thought he would ignore me, he indicated and turned into a quiet side street.

"Something's wrong, and I have too many things to worry about to have this bugging me too." It sounded selfish but it seemed the best tack.

Silence filled the car. I waited. He'd talk when he was ready. Although I would prefer sooner rather than later given my state of undress.

"It's something I did a long time ago." When he met
my gaze, his eyes were filled with pain. His expression was so similar to the look in my mother's eyes as she watched me disappear into the portal. My lip quivered and hot tears spiked my lids. Biting back the tears, I waited.