Authors: Kelley Armstrong

Spellbound (22 page)

BOOK: Spellbound

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I kept my eye out. No one seemed to be searching the crowd, and I began to wonder if I'd overreacted. My pursuers were probably staking out train stations, bus terminals, and car rental places, and this was exactly what it seemedâan actual bomb threat with actual bombs.

Once the building was completely evacuated, hotel staff came out with the bullhorns and announced that it was highly unlikely anyone would get back into the building that night. Buses were arriving to transport people to other hotels. Those who wanted to wait would not be readmitted to retrieve their belongings until the building was cleared.

Having left nothing in my room, I was free to go. The safest course of action, though, seemed to be to climb on one of those buses. When they arrived, I wedged myself into the thick of the crowd, and took an aisle seat beside a big guy so I couldn't be seen through the window.

When we reached our destination, I again jostled with the crowd, fighting to get off, so I'd be surrounded by others as I disembarked. I let the mob carry me into the hotel, then slipped out the back door.

From the loading dock, I called Rhys. His answering service told me he was unavailable. He'd call when he could.

I looked around. It was four in the morning. This loading dock seemed as good a place as any to hang out for an hour or two. A little too open, though. I'd be better in an enclosed space where I could watch the door.

I poked around the dock and the valet parking lot until I found a door. I tried the handle. Locked, but it seemed a simple enough one to pick. I found a paper clip that did the job nicely.

The door led into a storage room no bigger than my bedroom, and contained nothing more valuable than empty cardboard boxes. I stepped through andâ

A blow to the back of my head knocked me to the floor. I tried to scramble up, but another sent me down for good.

twenty-one

C
old fingers slapped my cheek. When I snarled, they slapped me again, hard enough to bring tears to my eyes, and I jolted awake to find myself staring at Sierra. Severin stood at the door.

“Nice choice,” she said, waving to the room. “I was thinking you seemed ready to sit down in that big, open parking lot, and that really wasn't suitable at all.” She bent in front of me. “You aren't nearly as good at hiding as you think. Not enough practice at it, I think. Normally, you can rely on your spells but . . . they aren't quite up to snuff these days, are they? And it isn't the poison.”

I tried to hide my reaction, but her laugh told me I failed. She glanced at her brother.

“Yeah, yeah,” Severin said. “I owe you a hundred bucks.”

She turned back to me. “See, we'd heard that rumor from a source. But you know demons. Notoriously unreliable. Which is why we weren't taking any chances.”

“If you're waiting for my friends to show up, you'll be waiting a long time,” I said. “I figured you'd let me escape so I could lure them in. So I haven't contacted them.”

“Maybe not, but you have contacted someone.” She waggled my cell phone. “Don't worry, I won't ask who. Not interested. We know where your pals areâholed up under maximum Cabal security in Miami.”

“Right, which is why you are trying to lure them out.”

She bent again. “Got it all figured out, haven't you? You think Giles and his bunch let you go in hopes your friends would send help, preferably a werewolf or Hope Adams.” She straightened and turned to Severin. “Good plan, huh? Kinda genius in an underhanded way.”

“Which is why you can be damned sure Giles never thought of it,” Severin said.

They both laughed. I thought back to my escape. Who'd tied me up? Severin. Who'd locked the door? Severin. Who'd stopped for gas and not bothered to check on me? Severin.

“They didn't set me free,” I said. “You did.”

“Yes, we let you go. This is just a little session to negotiate our reward. Well, not really negotiate. Demand, actually. Either you pay up . . .” She lifted her fingers. They frosted over. “Everyone says it's a party-trick power. What's it good for, other than chilling beer cans fast? Thing is, they lack imagination. There's a lot of things you can do with ice. Nasty things. Painful things.”

“What do you want?”

“To join your team. Help you.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. They waited patiently until I was done.

“Seriously?” I said. “If this is Giles's backup idea for planting a spy in the enemy ranks, then he really isn't very good at the underhanded stuff. So, what's your story? Let me guess. You've been having doubts. Wondering if exposure is really such a good idea. Now you've met me and you've seen the light. You want to switch sides.”

“We don't have doubts,” Sierra said.

“Ever,” Severin added.

“What we do have is ambition. You're about to be made a very generous offer, Savannah. One that will put you in a position”â Sierra's lips pursedâ“a position we don't think you're ready to undertake. Not alone, anyway. You need help. Our help.”

“So you're threatening me with torture because you want to team up with me?” I sighed. “Okay, look, obviously you guys skipped preschool and missed out on all the lessons about making friends. Let me give you a few pointersâ”

Sierra laid a finger on my arm. A shot of icy agony had me howling in shock and pain. “You have no idea what we're bringing to the table, little girl,” she said. “No fucking idea.”

“Okay.” I struggled to keep my voice calm. “Why don't you tell me?”

She eased back and peered at me, jaw set in a way that said she didn't think I deserved a response. Not yet.

She touched my arm again, in the same spot. Pain shot through it, and I choked on a scream. When she withdrew her finger, she'd left a patch of white skin.

“Ice is a nasty thing,” she said. “Much worse than fire if you do it right. Localized freezing. That's the key.” She stroked the back of my hand. “You have very pretty fingers, Savannah.”

I remembered Walter Alston's fingers lined up on the desk. I yanked my gaze away before she could see my reaction.

Severin was drawing a chalk circle on the floor.

“What's that for?” I said, jerking my chin at the circle.

“Did I mention you were about to receive a very generous offer?” Sierra said.

I stared at the circle. “From a demon?”

“You're a lucky girl.”

Severin stood. “My sister's given you a little taste of our powers, Savannah. I'd suggest you don't mention that incident to our employer. He may be powerful, but he won't be able to protect you all the time. Just remember our offer. We'll be making it again after you've gotten yours. I'd suggest you consider it.”

“Strongly consider it,” Sierra said.

Severin stepped into the circle and began reciting the incantation. I tugged and writhed against my bonds, but I wasn't going anywhere. Not until this was over.

I didn't need to wait long. The last words had barely left Severin's mouth before he teetered, then jerked upright. Then he looked at me and his eyes glowed a green so bright I blinked.

“Savannah.” His voice was pitched low, silky, musical. He seemed to glide across the room toward me. I could feel the heat radiating off him. Sweat trickled down my face as I stared into those piercing green eyes. Not just any demon. A lord demon.

I struggled not to shrink as he came closer. I'm not sure I didn't anyway. Sierra stepped back fast, her gaze averted, cheeks flushing, lips pursing, as if annoyed by her reaction.

The demon stopped right in front of me, those waves of heat making sweat spring from every pore. Then he lowered himself to a crouch. When he reached to touch my face, I had to grit my teeth to stay still, and even then, I couldn't maintain eye contact.

He cupped my chin in his fingers and rubbed his thumb along my jaw. I knew the incredible heat of his touch should burn, but it was like a hot-water bottle on a winter's night. I leaned into his hand, in spite of myself.

“As perfect as any mortal could be,” he said. “Such power. Such incredible power.”

Not anymore.

I didn't say the words aloud, but his grip tightened and I looked up to see his eyes flash with an anger that should have terrified me, but I drank it in and I felt . . . pleased. Satisfied.

“Someone took your powers,” he said. “I had heard the rumor, but I didn't believe it. I didn't think anyone would dare.”

So it wasn't you?
Again, I only thought it, but his grip tightened and that anger flared once more.

“Never,” he said. “When I find out who did . . .”

A blast of heat sent every scrap of paper in the room whirling. Sierra yelped and fell back. To me, it felt like a sauna door opening, and I basked in the heat of the demon's rage.

“Whoever did this will pay for his trespass,” he said. “Now that I have confirmation, I'll set a legion of demi-demons on the task. You'll get your powers back, Savannah.”

I shook my head. “I'm not making any bargains. I don't care who you areâ”

“No?” He tilted my face up. “I think you know who I am, and if you do, you know that I'd never try to bargain with you. I'll give you what you need. Freely. That is your birthright.”

When I didn't answer, he lowered his face to mine. “You do know, Savannah. I know you do. Who am I?”

“Balaam.”

“Yes.” He kissed my forehead and when he pulled back, I felt the burn like a brand on my skin. He crouched before me, his face level with mine. “I'm not here to make bargains, Savannah. But I am here to ask for something. I need your assistance in helping you achieve your birthright. The kind of life you deserve. Which is not a life spent hiding. All supernaturals are superior to mere humans. You know that.”

We have gifts. So do many humansâintelligence, wealth, strength. It's what you do with them that counts.

“True,” Balaam said. “But what do you plan to do with your gift, Savannah? Hide it? One of the most powerful supernaturals in the world, working as a receptionist? How does that feel?” He leaned closer. “They've made you think it's a worthy calling. But you know it isn't. You know you should be more.”

And I will be. Someday. When I've earned it.

“They really have brainwashed you, haven't they? You have earned it, Savannah. By your very birthright, you've earned it. Now it's time to seize it. You understand what I'm talking about, don't you?”

I spoke aloud now. “This supernatural liberation movement. You want me to join it.”

“In a way. You'll join and you'll let these people do the work. But you'll rise in the ranks, with Sierra and Severin at your back, and when the time comes, with my help and theirs, you will push past these lesser supernaturals and reap the benefits.”

“Which I'll share with you.”

He eased back on his haunches. “Yes, I would benefit by having my offspring leading the charge. But I have children other than your mother, Savannah. And a dozen grandchildren. You're the one I chose. The only one.”

“Because I also have witch and sorcerer blood. And I'm very, very well connected.”

He smiled. “And very, very perceptive. Which I expect. As I do not expect you to leap at my offer now. Stay with your friends. Think on what I've said. When the time is rightâ” His head snapped up. “I believe we're about to be interrupted.”

Sierra squawked something, but Balaam ignored her and touched my cheek again. “Think of what I've said. You deserve better, my child. And whatever your answer, I will make sure you get your spells back. I promise it.”

Sierra stepped forward. “You said someone'sâ”

Severin's body collapsed. He let out an oomph as he hit the floor, then groaned and lifted his head, blinking. “Okay, next time? Some warning would be appreciated.”

As he pushed to his feet, the door handle clicked.

Sierra spun on her brother. “I thought you lockedâ”

“I did.”

He jumped to grab the door, but it swung open.

“Huh, this doesn't look like luggage storage,” said a Southern drawl. In walked a guy with blond curls, broad shoulders, and blue eyes that didn't glance my way.

“It's not luggage storage,” Severin said as he and Sierra moved in to block me from view. “Now, if you would please leaveâ”

“What's this?” He bent to examine the chalk circle. “This isn't that devil worship stuff, is it? You kids really shouldn't play around with that.”

Severin reached for the intruder's arm. The guy grabbed his instead, and whipped him clear over his shoulder and into the wall.

“Hey, Clay,” I said. Clayton Danvers. Elena's mate. The Alpha's bodyguard. The Pack's enforcer. If I had to be rescued by someone, Clay would top my list.

“Took you long enough,” I said.

“You're welcome,” he said.

“The rescue operation, I presume?” Sierra moved over beside me and reached out, fingertips icing over. “I believe we have a standoff.”

“Nah,” Clay said.

He lunged and grabbed Sierra's arm so fast she let out a yelp. He threw her across the room, where she landed beside her brother, who was struggling to his feet.

“This is a standoff,” Clay said.

He grabbed the rope on my hands and yanked, and it snapped like thread. I bounced up.

“And this is a fair fight,” he said.

Sierra snickered. “Um, no. Hate to break it to you, but your girl there is spell-free these days.”

BOOK: Spellbound

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