Part 27 (2/2)

Rya sent him a fierce glare. ”My mother needs me.”

He turned her to face him, gazing deep into her eyes. ”I need you, Rya.”

An elusive emotion rippled over her face, as if his words had touched her. Then she lifted her arm to place light fingers against his cheek.

”Please,” she pleaded softly. ”I can't abandon her.”

He reached up, covering her fingers with his larger hand.

”Think, Rya. If your mother is as terrifying as the gargoyle seems to believe, she'll have me castrated if she learns I didn't take you to safety when I had the chance,” he said with a rueful smile.

Her lips parted, but she couldn't argue. Which only emphasized Torque's belief he was going to have to walk on eggsh.e.l.ls when he finally had the pleasure of meeting the formidable Kai.

A worry for another day.

A sudden heat rushed through the air, the swirling mist directly behind them parting to reveal a gaping portal.

Dragon-magic.

”I've opened a gateway,” Ravel said, her tone stern. ”You must leave now.”

”He is right, ma belle,” Levet murmured, for once not making Torque want to choke him. ”It is time to go.”

She heaved a sigh. As if she was about to concede defeat. Then, without warning, the opening in the mist abruptly widened and the smell of sulfur filled the air.

”What's happening?” Rya demanded.

Ravel made a sound of impatience. ”Did you interfere with the gateway?”

Torque frowned at the accusation. ”Rya can barely stand, let alone manipulate your magic.”

”Someone is trying to...” Ravel hissed in shock, making Torque pull away from Rya. He wanted room to maneuver if they were about to be attacked.

”What is it?” he rasped, allowing his flames to flicker over his body.

Ravel abruptly dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around her daughter.

”It's Synge. He's sensed the opening and he's using his power to drag us out of here.”

”s.h.i.+t.” Torque smothered his flames and once again gathered Rya in his arms. ”Stay close.”

She s.h.i.+vered, her hair blowing back as a blast of searing energy wrapped around them.

”I don't think Father is very happy,” she muttered.

He gave a sharp, humorless laugh, feeling as if his skin was about to be sucked off his body.

”You, my love, are a master of understatement,” he managed between clenched teeth.

The magic thickened until there was no way to battle against the force yanking them through the opening.

A blinding heat seared over them, and still holding Rya tightly in his arms, he felt them cross from one dimension to another.

Once again he was reminded that traveling from world to world wasn't like a gentle stroll through the usual portal. No. It was like being roughly wrenched through the air by a giant hand.

Prepared for the awkward landing, Torque managed to remain upright. Beside him, Rya grunted, grabbing him around the waist to keep her balance. Torque grimaced, the pain from his wounds raw enough to yank the air from his lungs. And worse, the burns had been caused by a dragon, so they would take longer than usual to heal.

He had a brief second to glance around their new surroundings. A shudder of relief raced through him. He recognized the ma.s.sive room that had golden tapestries hung on the walls that displayed violent battle scenes, and a crimson rug spread across the stone floor.

At the far end was an elaborately carved throne set on a high dais and surrounded by a number of half-naked females sprawled on large pillows. More servants and guards were spread throughout the chamber. Some half-breed dragons, some fey, and even a few vampires, but no matter their species, they were all dressed in green and gold uniforms with the emblem of a lightning bolt on their upper chest.

Synge.

Torque's gaze at last landed on Rya's father, who was standing in the center of the room.

The full-blooded dragon was a large, brutish man with black hair that was buzzed short, and eyes the color of polished silver. At the moment he was wearing leather pants and a matching vest that revealed the handful of tattoos that moved over his skin with a metallic beauty. They couldn't compare to his son's. Baine collected knowledge, while his father preferred a more tangible treasure.

There was a low growl behind him, and Torque turned his head to see Ravel slowly lowering her unconscious daughter to the ground. She obviously wasn't nearly as pleased as Torque was to be in the dragon's lair.

With a last glance to ensure her daughter hadn't been wakened by the violent transport between dimensions, Ravel straightened and headed across the lush rug with determined strides, not halting until she was standing directly in front of Synge.

Then, with what Torque could only a.s.sume was a death wish, she lifted a hand and slapped the male across the face.

”How dare you?” she rasped. ”You've ruined everything.”

The entire room gasped in horror, a few of the guards stepping forward as a halo of fire surrounded Synge. But even as Torque prepared to toss Rya over his shoulder and make a run for it, the flames faltered. And the most astonis.h.i.+ng thing happened.

Synge's cruel features softened and his hand shook as he reached out to lightly touch his attacker's cheek.

”Ravel?” he breathed. ”Is it truly you?”

Ravel's lips flattened, but she made no effort to pull away from his touch. ”Obviously.”

”But...” Synge's words trailed away as his gaze drifted toward the unconscious female who Ravel had laid on the floor. ”Blayze?”

Disbelief and something oddly vulnerable darkened the male's silver eyes to smoke as Synge studied his daughter. But when he took an impulsive step toward the female, Ravel blocked his path.

”Stop,” she commanded, her hand placed in the center of Synge's broad chest. ”I won't let you hurt her.”

With surprisingly gentle care, Synge grasped the female dragon by her shoulders and moved her out of his path. Then with measured steps he prowled to stand over his daughter.

”The curse is gone,” he breathed in wonder, only to give a slow shake of his head, his brows drawing together. ”No. It's being contained by a s.h.i.+nto spell.” His head turned as he glanced toward Rya for the first time since their dramatic entrance. ”Yours?”

Rya shook her head. ”No. Mother's.”

”Ah.” The male's attention returned to Blayze as he crouched down beside her. He stretched out a hand to touch her hair that spilled over the carpet like a river of ebony. ”Amazing.”

<script>