Angel Seduced (26 page)

An ungodly sound rent the air. Then a roar. A Dragon roar. He raced toward its source, searching the lush grounds as he went. A flash of deep, verdant green didn't fit in with the rest of the foliage. It moved too fast for something shifting in a breeze. He came up on a scene that twisted his heart. A deep green Dragon, scales shimmering the way the sun did as it streamed down into the water, and two black creatures attacking her.

What the hell were they? Not demons. Not Elementals. Wraiths. Roughly the size and shape of gorillas, they moved with speed and agility. They looked shadowy, but their talons and teeth were very real, given the bleeding cuts on the Dragon. Hayden tried to remember what the old textbook had said about how to fight them as he inched forward. The Dragon spun around to fend off another attack, and he saw a nasty gash on her side.

Cecily
. He could see her in those cat-like irises, in the delicate jawline. It was the first time he'd seen her in Dragon form, and she took his breath away. Especially since she was under attack.

Her deep green eyes locked onto him, fear and gratitude in them. “Hayden,” she said, and the growly word reflected both emotions as well.

She turned back to her attackers and blew a torrent of steam at the two wraiths. She was a water Dragon, using her breath to steam or drown her victims. Neither would work on the wraiths beyond holding them back until they found a way around her defenses. As they'd obviously done before.

It was also difficult to kill them with Light. He reached back to the electric energy of his wings and pulled one of the feathers. Like tearing out a lock of his hair and a bit of scalp, it hurt like a bitch. The feather solidified into a dhagger as he raced up behind one of the wraiths.

The wraith turned just as Hayden reached it, slashing at him with its talons. Hayden punctured the wraith's chest, but it moved out of reach before his knife could do any damage. Damn, they were as fast as cockroaches.

The other wraith took advantage of Cecily's diverted attention as she watched him and Leaped onto her tail, scrambling along the thick spines of her back. She smashed at it—and herself—with her tail to knock it off, but it skirted her. It reached her graceful neck and wrapped its lanky arms around it. The wraith readied its talons, about to drive one right up into her kill spot beneath her chin.

No.

He Leaped onto her back next to the wraith, grabbing her neck to keep from falling on the other side. He settled between the deep grooves of spines that reminded him of shark fins. He'd barely gotten his balance when the wraith grabbed his wrist with its spindly fingers. He had to struggle to hold on as the wraith's teeth speared right through bone and flesh.

The wraith's gaping eye sockets seemed to stare him down. Hayden was losing his grip on her. Pain radiated down his arm and numbed his fingers. The slippery blood made it even harder to hold on. Cecily wasn't making it any easier, thrashing as she fought the other entity in front of her. He could use some of Kasabian's freaky magick about now.

Hayden sent a blast of Light from his good hand, punching holes in the wraith's arm. It loosened its grip just enough for Hayden to plunge the dhagger into the wraith's indistinct face. It squealed and tried to wrestle the knife from Hayden's control. He held on with a death grip, and finally the wraith disintegrated. He had to wrap his good arm around the base of Cecily's neck, flattening himself to the right of the hard spikes.

The second wraith skittered around behind them and lashed at the wound Cecily had already sustained. She screamed in pain and stumbled. His thighs tightened against her smooth scales, but not fast enough. He slid to the side and, without two operable hands, fell to the ground.

Fuck, his hand was useless until it healed. He raced around to the side. Cecily's fangs snapped at the wraith, sinking into its shadowy body. It was staying too close for her to steam it.

Hayden came up beneath her, sliding against her belly, and plunged his knife into the wraith from below. He twisted it as the wraith struggled, and then it disintegrated. Cecily staggered, and Hayden moved out of the way a second before she collapsed to the ground. Dragons could heal themselves if they remained in their form, but that could take time. And time was one thing they didn't have a lot of.

He searched the surroundings and spotted a Caido who'd been watching the whole thing. He started to run off, and Hayden held out his good hand and shot him down with a lethal dose of Light. With a gasp, he fell.

He turned back to Cecily, who'd Catalyzed to human. She didn't even have the strength to maintain her Dragon form. Not good. The gaping wound along her side looked even worse now that it contrasted her human skin. The wraith had cut through the muscle, and blood poured out with her every gasping breath. He dropped down beside her and drew the Light to heal her.

She was shivering, her eyes wide and unfocused, hands curling into the grass. He pulled her into his arms with his good hand, settled her across his lap, and held that hand over her wound.

“Hold on, Cecily. I'm healing you, but you have to do your part and stay with me.” He bent over her and cradled her, breathing through the gut-searing pain that now manifested in his side. His other hand throbbed in pain. He couldn't heal her and himself at the same time, and her wound was life-threatening.

Her breathing evened out, and her shivering lessened. He watched the torn flesh mend without leaving so much as a scar. She should sleep, continue to heal, but there wasn't time for either.

She met his gaze and smiled, the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Her gaze went just beyond him where she could no doubt see his wings. Or a semblance of them, since she didn't have her glasses. “My angel,” she whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek. Her pupils were dilated.

He took her hand. “You gave me a hell of a scare.”

“You've never seen me as Dragon before.”

He chuckled. “Not your Dragon, silly girl. The wraiths attacking you.”

She blinked, coming more fully back. “Is that what those things were? They were horrible.”

“Wraiths are rare, so there's not a lot about them in the training manuals.”

Her gaze locked onto his hand holding hers. “I can feel your heartbeat. I guess you
were
scared.”

Caidos tried to keep their emotions neutral, but he'd come to care about Cecily. Especially since he and Kasabian had put her in danger. “I have to heal my other hand.” He raised it, and she gasped.

“Oh, my gods. You must be in terrible pain.”

“It's just a scrape.” He pulled the Light and focused on the splintered bones, shredded tendons, and ripped skin. Now she watched in fascination as it healed before her eyes.

“You're amazing,” she said, awe in her soft voice.

“Ditto.” And now he became aware of her nudity as she lay in his lap. Her light straight blond hair fell over her breasts, not thick enough to conceal the curves. “We need to get you some clothes and find the others.”

“Always the pain-in-the-ass thing about Catalyzing when you're not prepared.”

He helped her to her feet, and he pulled the shirt and pants from the Caido he'd just killed. When she shrank back at the clothing, he told her, “Standard operating procedure for Dragon Vegas and Arguses in these kinds of situations.”

She slid into them, an expression of disgust on her face, and they ran down the pathways. He searched for any sign of minions. A woman with long brown hair shifted into view up ahead, just before she ducked out of sight. Mallory.

He made a soft sound that had her peering around the bush. Her expression softened in relief as she ran toward them. “I haven't seen Kasabian.”

“We're going to Leap to him.” He nodded toward the angels that were beginning to pull free of their bonds. “We're just about out of time.”

K
asabian knew the only reason the Caido kids were willing to put their exhausted little bodies through more was because Kye had done the same to protect them. Lyle, holding Jonathan's hand tight in his, had made them very aware of what she'd gone through.

Kasabian felt every bit of her fear that they wouldn't succeed. They'd gathered the children in a courtyard, directly beneath the nearly full vessel that held their essences.

Three people materialized next to him. Kasabian held out his hands, until he saw that it was Hayden, Cecily, and Mallory. They all jumped at the sight of Silva, now bound to a tree with Wraithlord magick.

Hayden met Kasabian's gaze. “I'm beginning to appreciate that dark magick of yours.” He looked at the group of children, and his expression fell. “We got this far. Now what?” He could probably feel their life force ebbing, just as Kasabian could.

Kasabian stroked Kye's arm. “All of the Caidos are going to draw the kids' essence back into them.”

Cecily stepped forward, wearing ridiculously oversized clothing. “How can I help?”

“Catch the kids when they fall,” Kasabian said. This was going to take everything out of the few who were still standing or sitting.

“I can help,” Silva said.

“I'm not releasing you.” Or trusting him. Kasabian gathered the kids in a semicircle. “You're going to do what you did earlier, only this time you're pulling it from up there.” He pointed to the sky. “Are you ready?”

As fatigued as they looked, they nodded eagerly and went to work. It was the Essex times a thousand, not a coaxing but a tug-of-war. The angels fought to pull it back, selfish bastards, making the vessel tremble.

Kye was kneeling down next to some of the children who were barely hanging on, encouraging them. She was also watching Silva, who was trying to free himself. The Caido kids were grimacing in their efforts, their eyes squeezed shut, hands physically pulling at the air. Kasabian could see when they'd get the upper hand; a trickle of blue would start streaming down to earth. Then the angels would get a surge of strength and gain control again.

“Come on, one big pull.” Kasabian could see the essence in the vessel coming down, like a tornado beginning to descend from the clouds. “Yes,” he gritted out. “We're doing it.”

Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his gaze to Treylon, who was stepping into the courtyard. “No.” The man's eyes glittered with anger as he glared at Kasabian. “You will not do this to me again!” He shot a beam of Light at Kasabian, who dodged it.

Kasabian's lost concentration made the streams pause, but he focused on it again. “Look at the cost to free a bunch of fallen angels!” He pointed toward the children on the ground.

“I'm also freeing Caidos from the curse!”

“Are you sure that will happen?” Kasabian asked. “Or is that what the angels told you?”

“I trust them more than anyone else.”

“You trust angels who approve the sacrifice of children?” Kasabian looked at the downward flowing stream, now back to a trickle. Damn. He spun around to see that Silva had escaped his magick bindings.

Treylon pulled his Light in the shape of a sword, swinging it back and forth. He looked at Silva, his mouth twisted with cruel taunting. “Do you have the guts to kill Kasabian, or will your
feelings
get in the way?”

Silva seemed to wrestle with the answer. He looked at the children, then back to Treylon. “The question that plagues me more is do I trust angels who sanction the death of children to live up to their promises? More importantly, do I trust a man who would kill his own son, especially when that man has shown me little regard? You threatened to kill me just for using my power in front of others without your permission.”

“I don't care about the questions that reflect your insecurity,” Treylon bit out. “I only care that you do the right thing.”

“I have the guts to do the right thing, yes.” Silva stepped up next to Kasabian and added his efforts to their cause, bringing the blue light down in a steady stream.

Treylon's eyes bulged in anger. Silva gave Kasabian a meaningful look. He didn't see Treylon's anger. Or the sword that he threw at Silva. Kasabian tried to shove Silva to the side, but the sword pierced him anyway. He gasped, staring at the glistening red blade of Light protruding from his chest, and fell to the ground.

No! Not when they were this close. Kasabian felt the Wraithlord rise, and he let it take over. In a blur, he flew at Treylon and dragged him out of sight of the children. He heard Kye's voice call out, “Keep going, keep going!”

Kasabian shoved the man to the ground, seeing the shadow of a Dragon's hand over his own as it plunged into Treylon's chest. It took everything in Kasabian to muster the energy, drained as he was from drawing the essence down. Treylon reached a shaking arm out and clamped his hand on Kasabian's shoulder. Pain rocketed through him as the Light charged through flesh and bone.

“You won't win,” Treylon uttered. “You don't have enough power.”

“Together we do.” Kasabian clutched Treylon's heart and squeezed just enough to keep Treylon inert, but not enough to kill him. Kasabian used Treylon to help pull down the essence, while adding his effort. He turned to look at the cloud, where Treylon's attention was riveted. The stream now reached the ground right where the children were.

“No,” Treylon said on a faint voice. “Kill me now.”

“Not a chance. I will use you like you have used all of those children. I will use you until you serve your purpose, and then you can die.”

Treylon lifted his hand and aimed for his throat. He was going to kill himself. Kasabian sent the vines to grasp his wrists and hold them.

Goose bumps prickled along Kasabian's skin. He looked up to see one angel looming above them. “Stop them!” he commanded Treylon.

“I…cannot,” he said.

The sky shuddered with the sound of thunder. No, the sound of angels screaming in anger. “I am your sire,” the angel told Kasabian. “You owe me your life.”

Demis. Kasabian faced the angry, beautiful face. “I owe
you
for the pain and suffering that you cause all of us every day of our lives.”

Demis threw his hands toward Kasabian, who braced for some kind of blast while holding his power to continue assisting the tug-of-war. Electricity filled the air and seared Kasabian's back. It felt like his skin was being flayed. He held on, panting through the pain.

Demis looked beyond Kasabian. “The wave. It's here,” he called to the others. “It will be enough. It has to be enough!”

It was barely visible, a shimmering wall that rushed toward them. Demis reached toward it now. For a few moments, the
Deus Vis
vanished, leaving Kasabian breathless and empty. He felt his Caido essence wilt, his wings begin to pull in. Then the magick returned with a blast as the wave washed over and past them. Demis receded into the cloud.

Kasabian called out, “You cannot punish the innocent to free yourselves! Bastards,” he added under his breath. Then he turned his anger on Treylon. “And you are the biggest bastard of them all. They have never been human, but you are. Human enough to feel empathy, to know wrong from right.”

“What I'm doing
is
right,” Treylon gasped. “I was trying to save us…”

His mouth went slack, and the spark of life left his eyes. Kasabian fell away from him, rolling onto his back. The vessel was gone.

Kasabian got to his feet as Kye appeared at the entrance to the courtyard. Her expression went from scared to relieved, and she threw herself into his arms. Her emotions pummeled him as their bodies collided, and he didn't care. He was alive to feel the pain…and her. His arms wrapped around her waist, and for a moment, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in. Warm and sweet and salty from her tears. When he pulled back, he could see the faint tracks of them, fresh with her joy.

“You're okay,” she whispered, running her hands over his face as though to make sure. “The kids are all right. They're starting to revive.”

He could see them through a gap in the bushes, the Caidos helping them to sit up. They were rubbing their faces as though they'd woken from a long sleep. He hoped they'd see this as just a nightmare.

“Silva's in bad shape,” she said. “You need to help him.”

He slid his fingers through hers and let her lead him back. “He surprised me.”

“Not me.” Kye flashed him a sad smile. “I told you, we came to an understanding.”

Yeah, he'd get to the bottom of
that
later.

“Even mortally wounded, he kept pulling down the essence,” she said. “He made the difference.”

Silva was sprawled on the grass, his hand over the gaping hole through his chest.

Kasabian knelt down beside him and waved his hand over the wound, sending healing Light into it. “Why can't you heal yourself? I had a hole punched through my chest earlier, and it healed faster because I was in Wraithlord form.”

Silva shook his head, his breath coming in short gasps. “I used up all of my strength to bring down the essence.”

That was probably why Kasabian couldn't seem to do much to heal him either. “We're all sapped.”

“I get it, why you saved the kids all those years ago. Because it feels…right.” He reached toward Kasabian's hand. “I misplaced my loyalty.”

Kasabian stared at it for a moment and then clasped it. “Silva, you did good today.”

“Daniel.”

“What?”

“My original name was Daniel. Call me that. One more time.”

Kasabian wanted to hate this man who had betrayed him and caused so much pain. But now he felt sorry for him. Not because he was probably dying, but for all the things that had shaped him. And twisted his path so much. “Hold on, Daniel.”

Kye put her hand on Kasabian's back, kneeling next to him. She pressed her cheek against him, the emotions she was emitting twisting like barbed wire as the Essex began to wear off.

It was worth it. What he felt was her compassion and admiration. She met his gaze, letting him know that admiration was aimed at him.

“Thank…you,” Silva said. He gave Kasabian's hand a weak squeeze, took one stuttering breath, and fell silent.

Kye checked his wrist's pulse point with trembling hands. “He's gone.”

Kasabian closed his eyelids, unable to look at those vacant eyes for another moment.

Hayden approached as Kasabian got to his feet, pulling Kye up with him. Mallory and Cecily were right behind him. Kasabian scanned their surroundings. “We need to sweep the grounds for any other minions.”

Lyle, with his brother's hand still clutched in his, approached. “The kids want to go home.”

Kasabian took them in, all of them tired and scared, but grateful. Their emotions pummeled him like fifty pairs of boxing gloves. “We have proof of what's been going on here. Hayden, Cecily, go to the Guard and tell everyone at once so nothing gets covered up. We'll take the children to Harbor and start calling parents.”

Hayden put his hand on Cecily's arm. “Ready?” They disappeared.

Kasabian turned to Kye, pulling her close. “How are you holding up?”

“I'm okay. Nothing like saving lives to inject some energy into you.”

He planted a soft kiss on her forehead and felt how that simple act flooded through her. It stunned him. Even without their bond, he felt connected to her. But there wasn't time to explore it right then. “Call your parents and let them know you're all right. Sarai was freaked when you pulled your disappearing act.”

Her chuckle was husky. “I bet.” She took the phone he pulled out of his pocket and started to make the call.

“We're going to be busy with the fallout for a while, I imagine. Tell them we'll head their way the moment we can break free.”

“We?”

“I did promise I'd get you back safe and sound.”

Sarai's question echoed in his mind. Did he love Kye? Could he love someone after just a few days? Could he love at all? He hadn't thought so. Until Kye.

He slid his fingers through hers and led her toward the group of restless children. “We're going to get you all home.”

By the time they'd gotten every kid back where they belonged, answered thousands of questions, and walked Guard investigators through events, Kye was running on fumes. Kasabian had only been apart from her while they gave their separate statements. The moment they were released, he'd come to her side again. She could see his concern, probably worried that she'd keel over at any time. Which was a definite possibility.

Despite her exhaustion, their triumph kept her going. That and the feel of his hand clasping hers. There was something both comforting and sensual about the way he linked their hands…like he'd never let her go. Hayden had called him over though, and she felt oddly alone as she waited on one of the benches. Odd because Kasabian was in sight, only about twenty yards away. He kept glancing her way as he spoke to both Hayden and another man from the Guard.

Footsteps pounding along the pathway drew her attention to the right, where Lyle and Jonathan were running toward her. In the distance, Cory, in full wing, waited. He'd obviously brought them back.

She turned her curious gaze to them as they came screeching to a halt in front of her. “Are you all right?”

Lyle brushed his hair from his face. “That's what I wanted to make sure of, that
you
were okay. You looked…well, it was scary. I thought you might…”

Die. He'd been afraid
she
would die. That they cared about her generated a smile she couldn't contain. “I'm perfectly fine. Kasabian's been sending me doses of Light.” She searched their faces, tired but bright. “And what about you?”