for the well of energy within him. Concentrated. He searched for the ball of light in his core, desperate to extinguish the light with a burst of energy. Nothing. Damn. Fairly certain the girls remained concealed in the shadows, he abandoned his efforts. No sense wasting time. He ran down the alley, staying as close to the building as possible. Fear consumed him. He had to get back to Ryleigh and Mia.
He flattened his back against the wall and peered around the corner. It would only take a few seconds to reach the first row of cars before he’d have at least some cover again. He searched the empty parking lot. Quiet. Too quiet. He tried to reach out with his extra senses. Nothing. He had to get used to being stripped of his powers. He inhaled deeply and ran.
The impact came from his right side with no warning. He went down hard, dragging his attacker with him as he rolled. He circled his right arm around his opponent’s throat, threw his weight back and snapped the other man’s neck. In one fluid motion, he dumped the lifeless body to the ground and sprang to his feet.
Ryleigh.
Even without use of his powers, his speed surpassed that of any human. The alley sped past him in a blur, and seconds after he’d disposed of Daygan’s minion he stood at the back entrance to the hospital. Face to face with Kai.
“What are you doing here?” Jackson forced his strained breathing to slow.
Kai laughed. “Babysitting, of course. Someone has to keep an eye on you, so your father sent me.” He held Ryleigh’s back pressed against him, his arm draped across her neck, one hand gripping her shoulder as he stroked her hair.
“Let go of me!” Ryleigh gripped his arm, struggling to loosen his hold on her.
“Release her, Kai.” Jackson wanted to tell her to save her energy, wanted to scream for her to wait for his signal before moving. Instead, he remained silent, watched, waited, searched for an opening. He took one step closer.
Kai’s grip tightened. “And why would I release her, My Prince?” He spat the last out with bitterness and contempt. “Because you ordered me to? I trained you for hundreds of years to take my place. And how do you repay me? You fail. Did I teach you nothing? If my king demanded I retrieve the girl, I would have followed his orders.”
“I said, release her, Kai. Now. That’s a direct order.”
Kai laughed harder. A vicious laugh that held no humor, only hostility. The warrior could already have escaped to Cymmera. Could have easily snapped Ryleigh’s neck and taken her. But his arrogance wouldn’t allow it, nor would his respect for the king. He only wanted to torment Jackson, flaunt his superiority over his young protégé.
That would prove to be a critical mistake, if Jackson could just get Ryleigh out of harm’s way.
“I thought you might enjoy watching how it’s done, thought maybe I’d man you up a little.” He tightened his grip on Ryleigh’s shoulder, took her chin in his other hand. “Ah…but there’s no reason to toughen you up now, is there? You see, my young friend, your father might be too weak to impose the proper punishment on you, but be assured, I am not.” He forced Ryleigh’s head to the side, twisted her neck, slowly, drawing out the drama of the moment. Reveling in it. “I could escort the girl to Cymmera and properly enslave her then return for you.” A vicious grin lit Kai’s face. “What do you say, boy?”
A movement in his peripheral vision drew Jackson’s attention. He forced his gaze to remain fixed on his adversary. The weight of the dagger in his sleeve called to him. There would be no second chance. He inhaled deeply. Held his breath. Waited.
Mia sprang from the darkness, swinging a large, dead branch as she pounced. She couldn’t move quickly enough to land a damaging blow, but forced Kai to release Ryleigh’s chin to block the impact.
Ryleigh flung her body to the side, revealing just enough of Kai’s chest to make a target.
Jackson attacked. He plunged the knife deep, but avoided Kai’s heart. Maybe the crazy bastard didn’t have one. Jackson pulled back.
Kai swung his arm, flinging Ryleigh aside.
“You would dare attack me?” Spit flew from the warrior’s mouth as he screamed. Rage colored his face. “Over a girl? A human? Do you forget I taught you everything you know? This is how you repay me for all the years I’ve spent training you? For that I will see you tortured before you’re executed.”
Jackson let him rant. He tried to keep track of the girls from the corner of his eye as he and Kai circled one another.
Ryleigh grabbed Mia and dragged her beneath the cover of the bushes.
Kai and Jackson circled around.
With Ryleigh and Mia out of the way, Jackson turned his full attention on his mentor.
“Why would you kill me, Kai?” Jackson tilted his head, teased his tormentor. “As punishment for my sins? Or, perhaps…” His voice and expression hardened. “You are not willing to relinquish your position as second in command.”
“Don’t be a fool. I’ve been training you for that role since you were a child, but I should have realized your cowardice before now.” Kai appeared thoughtful, but Jackson knew him too well to be fooled. “Hmm…Perhaps your brother would be better suited to stand beside your father.”
Jackson stepped forward, dagger raised.
A bolt of pure energy exploded from Kai’s fingers.
The fireball slammed into Jackson’s chest and catapulted him into the wall. His head smashed into the bricks. Hard.
Chapter 3
The sisters crouched beneath the bushes, submerging themselves deep in the shadows. Mia buried her face in Ryleigh’s back.
Ryleigh didn’t dare breathe. Tremors surged through her body, and she fought to suppress them, praying fervently the younger girl’s teeth would stop chattering so loudly.
Jackson lay in a heap on the concrete walkway. He didn’t move.
His attacker stood perfectly still, his back to her, head cocked to the side. He waited an eternity before he lifted his hands over his head, fisted them together then ripped them apart, tearing an enormous hole in the darkness.
The world as she knew it ended. For just an instant, another world existed. A barren world, filled with shadows. Then the darkness swallowed both the killer and the universe he’d unveiled.
Holy crap. She had to get out of there. Now. But no amount of coaxing would move her feet from the spot where they’d rooted. What had happened? Where did he go? Was he still out there? Would he find them? Her heart pounded hard enough to rock her back and forth. Bile gushed toward her throat. The blood rushing through her ears drowned out all other sound.
Mia gripped her arm tighter, nails digging into her skin, and sobbed.
Clamping her mouth shut, Ryleigh lifted a finger to her lips.
Mia nodded.
Ryleigh gestured for her to slip out the back of the bushes.
Mia shook her head.
With
