The Lost Tribe Complete Collection (14 page)

“Concentrate.” Vlad stood between the two. “This really isn’t as hard as you’re making it. Lena, can you feel when Rory’s casting a spell?”

“Of course.” Lena gritted her teeth. “I am boosting her spells.”

“Yes, but you should be able to supercharge them,” Vlad said impatiently. “We need a bigger reach. Maybe this is too difficult to get in a few minutes.”

“No, no.” Twilla nudged Vlad until he got out of the way. “They have it. I think they’re both holding back.”

Rory glared at Twilla. “I am not holding back. I am giving it my all here. Trust me. I want them gone just as much as you do.”

Lena was trying her hardest too. She could feel the edge of Rory’s magic easily. She had no problem giving Rory’s spells a little push. What Lena didn’t understand was how to “supercharge” her half-sister’s spells. Doing a worldwide spell was nearly impossible for a single witch or fae. Even Sophia couldn’t do that. Vlad was asking them to locate each member of her tribe and send them to the planet Beatrice had found.

“Whatever you’re doing, hurry.” Melody came back into the room. “Twilla was right. Sophia killed the wizard on the Council.”

“Poor William.” Twilla shook her head. “She really had it in for that family. He was a very distant cousin to Elena.”

Rory’s magic flared. Whoever Elena was, Rory must have cared about her. Lena didn’t want more of that out of control magic.

“You’ll be glad to get us out of your hair, finally,” she said to Rory. “I heard you were building a new home.”

“Don’t remind me,” Cross groaned from the floor. He had taken a nasty hit during the battle with the vampires but was healing quickly.

“We are.” Rory pushed her long blonde hair from her face. “We’re going to need more space.”

Magda perked up from the floor next to Cross. He shook his head. “Not yet, Magda. But Rory’s right: we will need the space soon enough. It’s just a real pain in the ass to build in the compound. There’s always pups running around, so we can only hire shifters.”

“It’s surprisingly difficult to find shifter builders in these parts.”

“A business opportunity?” Eric suggested. “Our whole tribe gets work from the three companies we run. I bet you guys would get a lot of business if you were willing to travel.”

As the conversation continued, Lena studied Rory’s magic. It did feel familiar. There were elements that she could touch that felt the same as one of her own levitation spells. She focused on those parts of the spell and pushed with her all might. Twilla shot to the ceiling and would have hit her head had Rory not pulled her back at the last second.

“I think they may have it.” Twilla put her hand on the ceiling. “Can you get me down from here without dropping me?”

Rory looked at Lena with wide eyes. “Maybe.”

“You pull her down and I’ll keep her steady,” Lena instructed. It was much easier now that she knew what to look for. By only focusing on the parts of the spell that were like her own, she could help Rory control her magic. Their crazy plan might actually work.

“Wonderful.” Vlad stepped forward again. “Now you need to find the rest of the Lost Tribe.”

“Locator spells aren’t my best,” Rory warned.

“Northlands Fae are superior trackers. Just start the spell.”

“Is the sun coming up already?” Troy asked, astonished.

“We have day and night for equal parts of the day on most of our world,” Violet told him. “Your planet sounds like hell for vampires.”

Tavis gave her a funny look. “Do you not like the sun?”

Melody put her hand on his shoulder. “That would be an understatement. We’re going to have to close the shutters once the sun is up.”

“You can sleep,” Eric told Violet. “You won’t be any good to us if we need you tomorrow night.”

Violet shrugged. “I could stay awake another day or two.”

“I’m not sure we’ll need any of your help anymore.” Vlad looked around the room. “Thanks, all of you, for your help, but this will be the Lena and Rory show.”

“And the Cross show.” He tried to stand up, but Magda put a hand on his shoulder.

“You and I aren’t going anywhere. We’ll stay here at the mansion for as long as we can.”

“The more the merrier,” Twilla sang.

A map was forming on the floor in front of Rory. Lena helped her as small points of light started popping up around the lines. She could see where all the members of her tribe were around the Earth. Melody’s contacts had told her that the Tribe was lying in wait for further orders. That much was a blessing. None of them were drawing any attention to themselves yet. The Council was going to figure out they were all back within the hour, if they didn’t know already.

“Beatrice.” Rory called. “We could use some help just about now.”

The ghost appeared at Lena’s side. “You need to open the right portal or you’re going to kill them all.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Lena said. She opened a portal and tried to tune it.

Beatrice popped her head through. “Not right. Try again.”

“I could use some help here, Rory.”

Lena felt her magic focus. It was like she’d been in a dark room and now the light was thrown on. She tried again.

“Almost.” Beatrice didn’t even bother to look at this one. “You’re just a few worlds away…I think.”

“You think?” Tavis said, indignant.

“This isn’t a science,” Beatrice snapped. “Last time they did this, they had help from a whole group of people. It was a huge signal boost. We’re recreating this with only two people.”

“I can help some,” Twilla said. “I had a small hand in boosting the signal last time, so to speak.”

Lena’s power flared out as Twilla joined with them. She felt the portal click into place. This was the right one. She could feel it in her bones.

“We’re going to need more help to push them through.” Hair was sticking to Rory’s forehead. “We aren’t going to have enough power.”

“We’ll help.” Melody looked at Violet. The two joined hands and Lena could feel a small ripple of magic reaching out to join hers. She focused on keeping herself linked to Rory. The others were only adding fuel to an inferno. She and Rory were a forest fire. They just needed help focusing. She was sure if they had more time they could do it on their own.

The parts of Rory’s magic she recognized had to be the fae in her blood. Lena couldn’t connect to Twilla’s magic in the same way. So much for her hybrid theory.

“I think we might be able to do it now,” Lena panted. Her tribe was going to hate her but it didn’t matter. This was the only way they could all live. The Council couldn’t possibly come after them. Lena was banishing her own tribe. That had to count for something.

“Ready?” Lena asked Rory.

The young witch nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Rory stood up and joined hands with Lena. Rory concentrated on pulling all the Northlands Fae on the map toward Lena’s portal. Lena had to stretch her little portal to the points on Rory’s map. It was a gargantuan effort. Rory’s hands were trembling and she was saying her spell aloud.

Lena was glad she couldn’t hear her people’s reaction as she betrayed them. She swore she could feel it as each fae crossed over to their new home. They would be fine once Sophia was with them. She had been able to terraform a portion of Manna in less than a day. She would make their new home even more beautiful. Lena took some comfort in that.

“It’s done,” Vlad said as the last of the lights not in the room with them disappeared. Rory collapsed. This time Cross got up and came over to her. The pain on his face made Lena ache. They were hurting so many people. Rory’s and Cross’s lives had been turned upside down by her and Sophia. Cross had almost died. Lena had enjoyed meeting her sister and seeing what their magic could do together. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t curious what they would be capable of in just a month’s time. But she couldn’t stay on Earth even if she wanted to. It wouldn’t be fair to any of them. Or to Troy, for that matter.

She still had to do something with Margaret. There likely wouldn’t be time to force Sophia to send her back but maybe she and Rory could do it. It couldn’t be that hard to bend time. And if they couldn’t figure it out, Lena knew there had to be a fae who could help them.

“Is she going to be okay?” Lena asked Twilla.

“She needs time to rest. Why don’t we try to find out where Sophia is hiding on our own?”

“She can crash with me.” Violet yawned.

Cross picked Rory up and followed Violet, Melody, and Eric from the room.

“I’ll stay to help in her absence,” Magda volunteered.

“Thank you.” Lena sat down at the table Melody’s servants had brought in for them. There was some food set up but she didn’t have an appetite.

Ellia sat down next to her. “You did a good thing. You helped all of them.”

“It doesn’t feel that way.” Lena bit her lip. “I can see why my mother didn’t fight death after doing this job for hundreds of years.”

“Or why your father flat-out refused it.”

Prescott. He hadn’t made an appearance yet. He had to know his daughters were back. Lena didn’t even know what she would say to him. What he had done was unforgivable. He was acting only for his own gain. Rory had nice things to say about him but he always seemed to show up after the action was finished. Lena supposed he would come visit Rory when she had her first child. It might well be his first grandchild at the rate his children were disappearing.

“We’re going to have to take a break,” Vlad said. “Why don’t we all rest and then reconvene closer to dusk?”

One of Melody’s servants led them all to rooms. The mansion was huge. Lena and Troy ended up in a room next to Violet and Eric. It was decorated much darker than Lena expected. The bed was made of black wood and the carpets were thick black plush. With the grey wallpaper, it was almost dreary. Maybe if the day had gone differently, she would have liked the place, but even the sun didn’t make it seem more appealing.

She lay down on the bed without undressing and turned on her side. Troy fitted himself against her back and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Are you alright?” he asked gently.

“No.” Lena couldn’t lie. “I don’t know if I can send Sophia away.”

“Even after all she’s done, you still believe in her.”

“I love her,” Lena confessed. “I want to hate her but I can’t.”

“That’s one of the things I love about you. You always see the best in people.”

Lena couldn’t breathe. “You love me.”

Troy cleared his throat. “I mean…I….yes. I love you.”

He loved her. Lena couldn’t believe her ears. “Why?”

Troy laughed. “I don’t think I ever had a choice. I trusted you faster than I’ve ever trusted anyone in my life. I didn’t understand it until we rode over the ocean together. My dragon knew he loved you long before I realized it.”

“Do you believe in fate?” Lena asked.

“I do. Some people belong together. You had to be banished from your home world for me to find you, but I did. I swear I’ll make Castle Blackfire your home. Soon enough you’ll see all the beauty my planet has to offer. You’ll fall in love with Manna.”

“And with you.” Lena rolled onto her stomach. She stroked Troy’s face. She would never tire of seeing his blue eyes or flying with his dragon.

“There’s something I need to show you,” Lena said. “I hope you still feel the same way about me when I do.”

Troy took her hand. “There’s nothing you could show me to make me feel differently.”

Lena took a deep breath and let her glamour drop. Troy looked at her unblinking. He was finally seeing her for the first time. She had never let anyone outside of her tribe see her without her glamour. He didn’t say anything and Lena’s heart began to beat furiously in her chest. He was going to reject her. Now that he saw how ugly she truly was, he didn’t want to be with her anymore.

“Is this it?” he asked.

“Yes. This is what I look like,” Lena said sadly.

Troy laughed. “Lena! Are you serious? I turn into a giant, cold-blooded, fire-breathing animal! You really think a few wrinkles and grey skin were going to turn me off?”

“Maybe,” Lena said sheepishly. “You really don’t care?”

“Do you care that I turn into a dragon? Do you think less of me because of my animal form?”

“No! Of course not. It’s a part of who you are.”

Troy put his hand on her face. “Exactly. You are what you are and I love every part of you.”

Lena put her glamour back up and rested her head on Troy’s chest. “I love you too.”

There was a knock at the door and Troy got up to answer it.

“Time to finish this,” Cross said.

Troy yawned and looked back at Lena on the bed. “I’ll be glad when this is done. It’s been a very eventful week.”

“You don’t know the half of it. We’re all down in the throne room again.”

“We’ll be there in a little bit.” Before Troy closed the door, he saw a vampire leaving Ellia’s room down the hall. She kissed the vampire before he could leave her. She turned and waved at Troy before going back in her room.

“A vampire just came from Ellia’s room,” he told Lena as she stretched.

“That’s our Ellia.”

“It feels wrong to be waking up when the sun is going down.” Troy looked at the darkening sky. “I do not envy vampires in the least.”

“It’s different when day and night are the same amount of time.”

“Very true.” Troy thought of his home world. The way time passed, he was sure no one would even know they were gone. Except for Rustion, all anyone knew was that Troy and Tavis had gone into the forest. As long as he got Hera home in one piece, no one would be the wiser.

Lena made them both a change of clothes and they went to the throne room. Everyone was already assembled and ready to go.

“The Council is searching for Sophia already,” Rory said.

Ellia spoke when Lena’s face fell. “That means they’ve done half the work for us already. Have they found the bitch?”

Melody shook her head. “This Council isn’t used to dealing with your kind. They’ve called in the only Lost Tribesmen still on Earth to help track. They’re being slowed down massively, though. They can’t find any fae to help them track.”

“They must have all gone into hiding,” Cross said. “We tried to get one to help us find Prescott for our wedding and she flipped her shit. They must be spooked.”

“Most of them have firsthand knowledge of the Northlands Fae,” Twilla said. “We lucked out big time. Sophia doesn’t know this modern world well enough to act quickly, like she could last time.”

“Allen, Ellia.” Lena came to the table. “If you would help me track my sister?”

“Gladly.” Allen pulled a map up on the wood immediately. “We’ll get started right away.”

“Has anyone checked on Margaret?” Troy asked Grizzly. The rest of the Moon Brothers had departed the night before. Grizzly had stayed with his injured son, but the pack beta had gone home.

“Sounds like she’s getting along just fine at the compound,” Grizzly said. “The pups seem to have taken to the fox. She’s the first fox-shifter they’ve seen.”

Troy nodded. He’d wanted to see her shift once before she was sent back to her own time. He’d never even seen a picture of a fox, but he assumed it was a land animal.

“What is a fox?” he asked Grizzly. They had a few minutes as Allen, Ellia, and Lena searched for Sophia. Grizzly had enough time to not only tell Troy what a fox was, he showed Troy a picture of one on his cellphone. It was not what Troy had been expecting. It was smaller than a wolf and rusty colored. He couldn’t imagine Margaret becoming the little creature. It had to be equally difficult for them to imagine what Troy looked like as a dragon.

“We have something.” Lena’s eyes were still closed.

“She’s one tricky girl,” Ellia said with her hand on the map.

“Well?” Vlad asked.

“She’s gone home.” Lena opened her eyes. “For now, anyway. I don’t know how long she’ll stay there.”

“Is Hera with her?” Tavis asked.

Allen shrugged. “We can’t tell. I would say yes. Sophia did go through the trouble of picking Hera up from the mansion. I don’t think she’d discard her only ally so quickly.”

“I wonder if she knows what we did,” Rory said darkly. “She won’t forgive either of us.”

“If you’re afraid to face her, you can stay here.” Vlad suggested. “Fear will make your magic weak.”

“I can’t stay here.” Rory looked troubled. “Maybe we should try to push her through to the other world too.”

Lena looked doubtful. “I don’t think Sophia will be as easy to shove through a portal. She’ll fight us tooth and nail.”

“And we’ll lose the element of surprise,” Vlad noted. “A small group will go to convince her to go.”

“I doubt anything you say will get Sophia to change her heart,” Ellia said.

“I never said how we will convince her.” Vlad smiled, showing fang.

“Who’s going to go?” Violet asked.

“Lena, Rory, Troy, Tavis, Allen, Ellia, Cross, Vlad, and myself,” Twilla said in a way that didn’t brook disagreement.

“Maybe you guys could use another vamp?” Violet said hopefully.

Twilla shook her head. “Nope. The rest of you can help us from here.”

Magda crossed her arms. “I’m not letting my daughter go fight that psychopath alone.”

“She isn’t alone,” Twilla pointed out. “Cross is coming too. You would be much more helpful if you went home to Cleary and got the Coven to provide cover.”

“The Coven will be just fine without me,” Magda said.

“Mom.” Rory rolled her eyes. “I can do this. Cross will protect me if anything goes wrong.”

“If anything goes wrong, we’re all going to be kissing our asses goodbye,” Grizzly said pointedly.

Troy didn’t like the sound of that. There was no way he would have let Lena go alone. He moved closer to Tavis and spoke quietly. “If things start to go south, grab Ellia and Allen and get out of there.”

“I like your train of thought,” Tavis said. “Cross will be sure to get Rory away and the others can take care of themselves.”

Troy nodded. He had nothing against the rest of the group. He wished them well, actually. But he couldn’t risk his princess. He had just found her and didn’t want to lose her. If Sophia wanted to destroy this world, so be it. They had done all they could. Lena could come back to Manna with him and they would be safe there.

***

Lena was back in her home. The manor looked very different. None of their stuff was there anymore. That was to be expected, but there were entire rooms missing. Someone had knocked down walls and added rooms in places that made no sense. There was an area Rory told her was a gift shop. People who came through could buy little trinkets to take back from their holiday. It was shocking to think humans were touring her old home. It hadn’t been that long ago that she had lived there. Not for Lena, anyway.

The Council were checking in Iceland for them. Lena knew it wouldn’t be long before they realized they were on a wild goose chase in the frozen mountains. The group was searching room to room for Sophia. Lena had wanted to split up but Cross had refused flatly. He said people in movies always died when they split up. Whatever that meant. It was also how Rory had gotten taken by the vampires and given to Sophia.

“She isn’t on the ground floor.” Vlad looked to the stairs.

“I would wager she’s in my mother’s sitting room if she’s in the house,” Lena said.

“We will search each room in order,” Rory said. “Then we can start looking at each room by itself.”

Lena was surprised her sister hadn’t come to meet them. It wasn’t like Sophia to run from a battle. Maybe she didn’t want to fight them. She had already killed one Council member. She could kill them all if she tried hard enough.

Vlad went up the stairs first, followed by Troy and Lena. The vampire held up his hand. Everyone on the stairs behind them stopped.

“Well, look who finally made it,” Hera said sarcastically.

“You don’t have to fight us, Hera,” Tavis called from behind Lena. “You can go back to Manna and live your life. There is no reason for you to fight for Earth.”

Hera considered his words. “I’m bored of this place. There are no dragons here, and Sophia seems to have come unhinged.”

“So will you go?” Vlad asked.

Hera nodded. “Maybe. What will you do for me?”

She was looking at Troy. Lena was angry but she smiled sweetly. “Since Troy is already married, we’ll offer to let one of our children marry one of your children when they’re of age.”

Hera’s face turned bright red. Lena was sure the Eternal Sun queen would shift right there and try to destroy them all. Instead, Hera nodded.

“I accept these terms,” Hera said. “We can discuss the details more at the coronation.”

“Of course,” Lena said. “If you could please wait for us downstairs.”

Lena stepped aside to give Hera space to pass down the staircase. She resisted the urge to trip the queen as she passed.

“That was easy,” Vlad said. “Let’s hope your sister goes as quietly.”

“She isn’t even in here.” Beatrice appeared at the top of the stairs where Hera had been. “Sophia is outside, near the maze. And you’d better hurry. The Council will be headed your way any minute. The jig is up. They’re tracking Sophia right now.”

Lena turned. “Everyone back outside! She’s at the maze.”

The group moved down the stairs and outside as quickly as they could.

“No one splits up,” Cross reminded them.

Lena scanned the maze.

“Looking for me?” Sophia appeared at the base of what was the old staircase.

“Your dragon is out of play,” Vlad said. “Give it up, Sophia. You can come quietly, or you can be difficult.’

“Oh, Vlad.” Sophia pouted. “You know I like to be difficult.”

Vlad smiled. “I was hoping you would say that.”

He shot a bolt of lightning at Sophia that she easily caught in her hand. “You’re going to have to try a little harder.”

Cross shifted to a wolf and the group spread out. Troy and Tavis wouldn’t shift unless absolutely necessary. Lena didn’t want to ruin the house if she could help it.

“Please, Sophia. Just give it up,” Lena pleaded.

“You helped them send our tribe away,” Sophia accused. “You’re a worse traitor than our father! I was being nice to you. I can’t believe my own sister would do this to me.”

“Look at what you’ve done,” Allen said. “All of this is your fault, Sophia. All these lives ruined because you couldn’t get along with others. Even after all that, we’re willing to show you mercy.”

“Mercy?” Sophia threw her hands up and bowed. “Aren’t you just a kind bunch?”

She threw a palmful of fire at Allen that lit his shirt on fire. He quickly put it out. He shot a ball of fire the size of his head at Sophia that she easily dodged. Cross paced restlessly and growled.

“You can’t give mercy to a queen,” Sophia yelled. “I choose your fate. You live only because I let you. I can rescind that right anytime I choose.”

Rory looked at Lena. The air shimmered behind Sophia. She felt the magical portal opening.

“Are you kidding me? You cannot be serious. You think this little trick is going to work on me again?”

Sophia jumped into the hedge maze. “Not so fast, sisters.”

She disappeared into the maze.

“Oh, bloody hell!” Allen exclaimed.

“We have to stick together still,” Twilla yelled. “She wants us to chase her and get confused. If we stay together, we can beat her!”

“Incoming!” Beatrice appeared next to Rory. “The Council is out front!”

“I’ve had more than enough of this game,” Troy said. He nodded at Tavis and they both shifted.

Hera was at Lena’s side. “I just punched a very nice woman in the face. I believe it’s time for us to leave this house.”

Before Lena could say anything, a vampire was at her side as soon as the dragons crashed through the old and damaged stone stairs.

“I’m Deliah,” the vampire said. “We’re here to apprehend Sophia of the Northlands Fae.”

Lena put her hand on the vampire’s arm and froze her in place. Her face was shocked behind the wall of ice.

“We have to hurry,” Lena yelled to Rory.

Rory nodded. “Let’s move the portal to her.”

“We’re going to need to get airborne.” Twilla lifted the entire group into the sky. “Lena, save your power for moving that portal.”

Lena focused on keeping the portal stable while Twilla flew them. Vlad kept his eyes glued to the maze. Allen and Ellia were pushing as much magic at Lena as they could. It was helping. Lena wasn’t going to waver. Troy and Tavis flew at their side. Lena turned to see a giant tiger slashing at the frozen vampire. That wouldn’t take long for them to break. They had to find Sophia fast.

Cross whined as they got in the air. He shifted back to human. “There!”

Lena looked. Sophia was collapsing the inner maze behind her. The maze was growing up higher, too.

“I’m going to set us down in front of her. She may hit us with everything she’s got, and my field will only last for a few moments,” Twilla warned.

Lena nodded. “I hope that’s long enough.”

Sophia looked up and saw them coming. Fire engulfed the bubble Twilla was using to transport them.

“I’ll divert the fire,” Vlad said.

Lena couldn’t even worry about the fire. She was moving the portal as Rory held it open. It was a delicate approach. Ellia grabbed Allen’s arm as she gave Lena even more power. Rory swayed as Lena pulled the portal closer.