Maxon (24 page)

A half-dozen Air Valta appear in the night sky. Fast as a heartbeat, they grab Fisk and speed off toward the horizon. He struggles under their grip, fighting with everything he's got.

I take off after them, my body becoming a blur of mist. Fisk pulls out his sword and stabs one of the Air Valta in the chest. I summon a piston made of boiling water and smash another one through his face. Our group tears through the clouds, fighting and lunging as we go. Panic and rage rush through me.

Not Fisk. Not now.

More Air Valta appear. They grab my arms and legs, draining my energy and returning me into solid form. I watch in horror as Fisk is dragged off into the darkness. I thrash under the grip of the Valta, hoping that I can somehow break free. That doesn't happen. I have greater powers that I can use here. Something tells me to save them for later.

That's when Zephyr materializes. His gray Roman armor glimmers in the moonlight as he hovers before me. Fresh anger streams across my skin.

This would be the something I was waiting for.

“Hello, little monarkki.”

My face twists into a scowl of rage. “Release Fisk. Now.”

Zephyr pounds on his Roman breastplate. “Do you really think you can order me about?” He eyes me from head to toe. “You're nothing but a little…”

“Don't say it.”

“You don't issue me orders, girl.”

“Seriously? I've Namare's powers and I'm learning how to use them. Your Valta can't just hold my arms anymore and expect that to stop me.”

I don't wait for a reply. Instead, I summon two daggers of boiling-hot water and hit Zephyr straight in the face. “Take that,
boy
.”

With all my focus, I pull every last ounce of elemental energy from my soul. It takes a huge effort, but I'm able to overcome the magic of the Valta who hold me. My body returns into mist form. Since I'm no longer solid, I can easily slip free. Fast as a heartbeat, I conjure bands of ice to hold the Valta in place while I focus on defeating Zephyr, once and for all.

You are going down at last.

Zephyr's still hunched over, howling in pain. It'll only take him a few more seconds to heal, so I can't waste any time. Raising my arms, I summon a hailstorm to ricochet through Zephyr's body, injuring his solid body further. Zephyr heals himself quickly, but I'm just as fast to tear him apart, again and again.

I can't keep injuring Zephyr forever, though. I need help. Time to summon the water elementals. With Fisk gone and me crownless, will they answer my call?

My thoughts are so focused on summoning elementals, I barely register the air shift behind me. An oily male voice sounds in my ear.

“Excuse me, Your Eminence.”

Whatever it is, it's not an elemental. And therefore, I'm not turning around to chitchat with it. “Kind of busy here.”

The newcomer moves to hover before me. It's a black dragon with two heads spouting from his shoulders. A third neck-stump sits in the center of his chest. The beast's great ebony wings pump behind it in a slow rhythm. My neck and shoulders constrict with recognition and fear.

No question who this is. Chimera. I've read about this guy and his venom sacks. Him showing up here is bad news.

Chimera's appearance breaks up my concentration. Anything I've created with my powers—including the bonds on the Air Valta—now weaken. The Valta use this to their advantage. They tear free from their bindings and reach for me once again. The moment that the Valta touch my misty body, they drain my powers more than ever before. I no longer have enough energy to stay in my mist form. I am solid once again.

With rough movements, the Valta pin my arms behind my back. Pain tears across my shoulders. I twist under their grip, but it's no use. I no longer have enough energy to break free.

Now that I'm restrained, Chimera closes in. His great black wings pump the air until his two faces are only inches away from mine. Foul dragon breath warms my body. Panic electrifies my soul. Opening one of his mouths, Chimera spews green venom into my eyes.

Which one was it? Acid or paralytic?

Every molecule in my body freezes. New levels of terror careen through my mind, but I can't even twitch, let alone scream.

Paralytic it is.

Maxon

I stalk G's command central like I'm a caged animal in need of raw meat. All the pink and yellow in this place makes me want to tear my eyes out. I pause by the entrance and grip the doorjamb so tightly, the wood lets out a soft crack. G looks my way for a second, but she doesn't say anything. My G knows better than to talk when I'm like this. Instead, she starts issuing orders to the half-dozen or so folks who are running around doing damage control.

Turning around, I glare down the outer hallway. Ty could walk toward us at any second, bringing news of Lianna from his tracking spell. Since it's an emergency, Ty could even teleport right into this room. He won't, though. G considers it rude when people enter her chambers without knocking, no matter what the hell is going on. Walker's the only one who portals in whenever he wants. Then again, Walker has some serious balls.

I turn back around to find G standing across from me. She stares long and hard at my eyes.

Still mismatched, G.

Sure, I care deeply about Lianna, but I'm too broken to have it turn into more. Not that I'm having this discussion with G right now. It's all I can do to keep my staring vigil going with the hallway.

“Let's give it a rest,” says G. She guides me inside the room and slowly closes the door.

“If you say so.”

“How are you holding up?”

I feel and look like crap.
That's what I want to say. Of course, G looks like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine. You know, if the middle ages had magazines and cover girls.

“I'm fine, G.” And definitely in no mood talk about my feelings. “Mom sent her igni around Antrum, yeah?”

“Of course.” A small, knowing smile rounds G's mouth. “You know your mother.”

“I know the thrax. They love her supernatural light shows.”

G arches her right eyebrow. “You'll command the igni one day, too.”

Meaning when I fall in love. When I'm Angelbound. And I'm not having this talk, either.

A heavy knock sounds at the newly closed door. I couldn't be more thankful for a break from this awkward conversation. A muffled voice carries into the reception chamber.

“Tyberius of Striga, requesting permission to enter.”

I whip the door open. “Come on in, Ty.”

Ty doesn't meet my gaze. “Hey, Maxon.”

The second my buddy moves past the threshold, I shut the door and push for answers. “What did you find out? Did the tracking spell work?”

Ty keeps on not looking at me. “It's a little complex.”

This can't be good.

I turn to G. “Can you give us a sec, here?”

“As you wish, my child.”

Once G's out of earshot, I round on Ty. “What's up?”

“Lianna jumped off the Pulpitum and went to Charybdis.”

I exhale a relieved breath. “That's not so bad. We know where she is now.”

“There's more.” Ty's already long face gets longer. “Your parents and Walker are on the way here.”

“So something else is going on? Why can't you just say it?” Ty's dancing around big news and it's getting on my nerves. “Spit it out, man.”

“Zephyr's sent an emissary. He wants to talk with all the royals. You in particular.”

A shock of awareness zooms down my spine. Zephyr wouldn't send an emissary unless he wanted to talk terms. And he wouldn't do that unless…

“Does he have Lianna?” All of a sudden, I'm breathless and flustered. Part of me registers that this is more emotion than I've felt in a year. More of me is beyond caring about all this emotional crap. Lianna could be in the hands of that monster.

“We don't know yet,” answers Ty. “We'll find out when everyone shows up.”

A low hum sounds as a large door-sized hole appears in the center of the room. Out of the portal steps Walker, my parents, and an Air Valta. I'd know this elemental anywhere. He's one of the kids who tried to seal Lianna and me into a cavern. In other words, he's a dumbass. That's good.

“Greetings,” says the Air Valta. “I am Caius.”

G nods toward the door. “Please excuse us, everyone.”

There's a lot of bowing and “Yes, Your Majesty” as Ty and all of G's team hightail it out of the room. Meanwhile I give Caius a careful once-over. The guy has an all-gray body, baby face, and Roman armor. I tilt my head.

“You're the one who screwed up in the Philippines.”

“Come again?” asks Caius.

“You let Lianna and me escape,” I explain. “How are you alive?”

Caius tips up his chin. “Zephyr was merciful. He only killed—” He clears his throat, most likely to hide a sob. Suddenly, I feel bad for the kid. He's too young to be in this job.

“He let me live,” says Caius.

And killed your friend.

“Look, whatever happened with your buddy, I'm sorry. I've been in battle, I know what it's like to lose someone.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Now, what does Zephyr want?”

“Lianna is in Zephyr's compound,” says Caius.

When I speak again, my voice takes on a deeper ring of menace. “We guessed that already, Caius. What else you got?”

“They're in deep negotiations on how to jointly rule all elementals,” says Caius. “Any attempts to cease this peaceful process will be taken as an act of war. Emissaries have been sent to Heaven, Hell, the Dark Lands, and Purgatory. All have the same message.” He focuses on me. “No coming after Lianna.”

And leave her with Zephyr? Never.

Every nerve ending in my body zings with rage. “Negotiations? You've got to be kidding. If Lianna is with Zephyr, she's a prisoner.”

Caius looks pointedly at my parents. “What is your reply?”

“There will be no official rescue party from Antrum,” says Dad. “Is that acceptable?”

A breathless pause hangs in the room. Dad specifically used the word ‘official.' That means I can do something on my own, assuming Caius agrees.

I love my Dad.

“Excellent,” says Caius. “That's exactly what we were hoping for.”

G nods regally. “I'll have my scribes put it in writing.” According to G, diplomacy is all about writing stuff down. I'd rather zap a few lightning bolts, but that's me.

Mom steps in to close the deal. “You've done an impressive job here today, Caius.” She grins and bats her eyes. Classic move. Mom does this all the time in negotiations. The woman can win over almost anyone with an X chromosome. Turns out, even elementals aren't immune.

Caius blushes. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“We'll finalize the agreement immediately.” Mom gestures toward Walker. “Please join the Queen Emeritus and Walker in the Throne Room.”

“As you command,” says Caius.

With a wave of his arm, Walker quickly opens a ghoul portal. Along with G and Caius, he steps into the darkness and disappears. Once the three of them are gone, I face my parents.

“I'm going after Lianna,” I say. “Unofficially.”

“I know, my boy,” says Dad with a sad smile.

“What can we do to help?” asks Mom.

“Nothing,” I say. “This is a solo mission.”

A muffled voice sounds from beyond the door. “Forget it! I'm going with you,” calls Ty.

We all share a knowing smile. Ty must have cast a listening spell. I whip open the door. All the guys are there.

“Where did you all come from?” I ask.

“I might have called them here,” answers Ty.

“You can't have all the battle fun without us,” adds Uth.

I try to pretend that I'm pissed, but do a shit job of it. “You're a bunch of sentimental dicks, you know that?”

“Yeah,” they reply in unison.

I turn back to my parents. “We have some planning to do, and then we're off.”

“Be safe,” says Mom.

“I can't believe you said that, Myla.” Dad shakes his head. “Kick some ass, son.”

“That's the plan.” I speed out the door, ready to make a plan and get my girl.

Don't give up, Lianna. I'll be there soon.

Lianna

I'm so thirsty, I could scream.

Only I can't.

In fact, all I can do is stare at the same stretch of blank white wall. Not that I have a choice where I look, either. Chimera's paralytic venom lives up to its reputation. It works like a charm on almost anybody. While I keep up the stare fest, the infirmary door opens with a menacing creak. I sense more than see an oily presence sidle up next to me.

“How are you feeling?” asks Chimera.

At this point, I'd love to tear the old dragon's heart out. Hell, I'd settle for being able to shift my weight or even twitch, but I can't. In fact, all I can do is make sarcastic comments inside my head.

“Ah-ah-aaaaaah,” says Chimera. “You want to move again, I can tell.”

You think?

“Have I told you about my paralytic venom?”

Only fourteen times.

“Works on anything in the after-realms, and I do mean anything.”

Must save you money on date rape drugs.

And so it goes. Chimera's been nothing but irritating for hours.

“Ready to give me what I want?” he asks. He wiggles the Kristalli of Water, which has been strapped to my hand.

The movement reminds me for the millionth time that Fisk was the last one to have the Kristalli. I really hope he's okay.

“Come on,” coos Chimera. “Charge up the stone with your power, and all this will be over.”

That's so not an option.
No way am I charging the Kristalli just so Zephyr can shoot up.