Rise of the Gryphon by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Everything was falling apart.
Kizira had sworn she'd compel Tristan to find a place to hide Petrina and stay there with his sister until Evalle called to him. She hoped he hadn't figured out that he was no longer under Kizira's orders and tried to leave on his own.
Banking hard to her right, Evalle headed for the castle. Had Lanna and Conlan made it there?
Two golden-headed gryphons landed in the open field in front of the castle, looking like strange airplanes touching down in an area as large as Hartsfield-Jackson airport back in Atlanta.
An army of Beladors surged to block them from getting near the castle.
Evalle swooped low, heading for the castle doors that were behind that line of warriors but barred by fifty more Beladors.
Tzader stood at the front.
She hated to do this, but she raised her front paws and sent a series of short kinetic blasts, swatting warriors aside like bowling pins. Even Tzader. They might be banged up and knocked out for a bit due to getting hit with kinetics like they'd never felt before, but none would die.
Tzader, however, would never forgive her for taking him out when he was standing between the enemy and Brina. She would lose a friend, but she'd save the Beladors.
Pulling up at the last minute, Evalle's momentum sent her plowing into the tall wooden doors that burst into the castle. Black iron hinges ripped from the walls. Chunks of wood flew like shrapnel.
The pressure of her explosive entrance and flying debris knocked out the guards inside the massive three-story hall.
From the top of the stairs, Brina raced down, a sword sizzling with power in hand.
Evalle called to her. Go back! Hide!
At the bottom landing, Brina paused. Evalle?
Yes. Get out of here.
Taking a look around at bodies sprawled everywhere, Brina looked up in shock. Is that aqua thing you?
Yes. I'm a gryphon. Where's Macha?
She's using all her power to hold a ward against . . . you and the others.
How had Evalle gotten past? What kind of ward? Nothing even slowed me down.
We heard you were immortal. But you aren't. That's why you didn't die crossing the threshold.
The stupid beast championship rumors.
Why, Evalle? Brina asked in a heartbroken voice. These are your people.
I didn't kill them. They're just knocked out. Evalle didn't have time to explain further. Boomer would be coming, and she had only one hope of stopping him. First she had to force Brina to help her. Evalle said, I'm not here to kill you, Brina, but to protect you. I need your help. I've trusted you, now you trust me. A gryphon is coming that no warrior in human form can stop.
Brina hesitated only a minute, then she raised her sword, every bit the Belador warrior queen. What do you need?
You have to kill me.
Are you crazy?
I don't have time to explain. Just do it and trust me.
I can't!
You must. We have no time! Do it. Trust me.
Tears streaming, Brina gripped the sword and drove it into Evalle's chest.
Evalle gritted her teeth against the pain and leaned down as Brina drove the sword into her heart once, twice, three times. Okay, enough. That should do it. Evalle folded a wing so that she'd keel over to the side and not crush Brina.
Brina stumbled back, a tear streaming down her cheek, and stared at the blood-drenched sword she held. "Evalle?"
Evalle hissed at the pain, breathing hard. She had to ease Brina's horror. I'll live. Give me a minute. The world receded as Evalle's life bled out until her thoughts shrank into a black void with only a pinpoint of light pulsing.
What if she didn't regenerate?
Then the light brightened, and with it came the incredible pain of regenerating. In her mind, Evalle cried out, but in the TAmr Medb battles she'd heard the other gryphons' high-pitched wailing, so she knew she was making an ungodly sound about now.
Bolts of energy streaked through her chest, shocking her heart back to pumping and healing the damaged tissue.
Rolling to her side once more, she leveraged herself up and shook her head, drunk from healing again in so short a time.
An earth-shaking roar approached from a distance.
Boomer.
Evalle called upon her beast powers to flood her body, and the explosion of energy lifted her off the ground. She settled on her hindquarters. If she felt this good after a second death, what would Boomer be experiencing after three?
Brina stood shell-shocked as Evalle rose to her full height.
Conlan's voice entered Evalle's mind. We're inside and Lanna has us cloaked, or Brina will probably kill me.
Evalle took a look over her shoulder to check on Boomer, who was not in view yet, then turned back to Brina. Evalle had to give her yet another shock. Lanna and Conlan are inside the castle, too.
When Brina raised her sword out of instinct, Evalle quickly added, Conlan is not the traitor. Tzader will tell you this when he talks to you, so don't hurt Conlan. He's with Lanna. Tell them to show themselves, then please get out of here so I can fight without worrying about you. That incoming gryphon is heading for the immortality river beneath the castle.
Brina lifted her voice. "Conlan O'Meary, show yourself."
A Belador could not refuse that order. Lanna and Conlan came into view, with Conlan standing in front of Lanna, shielding her.
Conlan said to Brina, "Give me a sword, tell the others not to kill me, and I'll join the battle!"
With one look at Evalle then back at Conlan, Brina nodded, and a Belador sword appeared in front of Conlan.
Evalle told Conlan and Brina, Move these knocked-out warriors out of here or they might burn to death with two gryphons battling.
Brina and Conlan used their kinetics, stacking the ten warriors and moving them up the stairs, where Horace Keefer came hurrying down with a sword in hand.
Evalle lost all patience and yelled telepathically, Get everyone out of here now! Conlan, you go out and protect the warriors I had to knock out. Do not engage any gryphon. Brina, will you please do something with Lanna and Horace?
Conlan grabbed the sword and dashed out the door.
Brina shot her a glare, but the Belador warrior queen understood that staying would jeopardize Evalle's chance to survive, as well as her own. And Brina was the sole living Treoir descendant. She had to remain alive to protect the Belador power base.
The sound of flapping wings approached as Brina herded Horace and Lanna out of the room.
Evalle stepped around to face Boomer.
He slid into the room, his green eyes as bright as two electric balls. His jaws opened and he spewed a torrent of fire at Evalle, who blocked with a kinetic blast that sent flames licking the walls. She pushed forward on her hind legs, forcing the surge of fire back at Boomer, who realized he'd torch himself if he didn't close his mouth.
When his jaws snapped shut, Evalle dropped her protective shield and lunged at Boomer.
Her jaws opened wide to clamp his throat.
He swung a paw at her before she reached him, sinking his claws into her throat.
They went down in a snarling twist of gouging beaks, wings beating and claws ripping open bloody gashes.
FORTY-SIX
Lanna would not leave Evalle. She turned to go back and help.
Someone grabbed her shirt, yanking back. "No, you don't."
She twisted to face Brina. "You do not understand."
For a pretty woman, Brina could make a fierce face. "You're not understandin'. Much as I'm wantin' to fight beside Evalle, we all have duties. Mine is to protect the Belador power. Yours is to do as I say, and Horace's is to protect our backs."
Digging in her heels when Brina started pulling on her again, Lanna said, "Boomer is more powerful than Evalle. He will kill her."
"Take it from me. She'll come back."
"No. Only three times."
Brina paused from dragging Lanna. "Three time
Since Lanna had not been compelled, she spilled everything about the gryphons.
Brina whispered, "That's why they're not really immortal?"
"Yes." Lanna nodded, in a hurry to get Brina to understand. "Boomer has died twice. He gets stronger each time."
"Evalle said he was tryin' to reach our river of immortality."
Lanna felt the blood leave her face. "That means he has died three times. Evalle cannot stop him."
"She just died a second time. I killed her."
Yanking away, Lanna shouted, "You killed her. Do you not know what she has gone through for her Beladors?"
Brina scowled at her. "Do not push me right now. Evalle wanted me to do it so she would be stronger."
Horace had been watching their backs with his sword raised, though Lanna thought the old man would fall over in a strong breeze. He swung around, ordering, "Get moving if you don't want Evalle's effort to be wasted."
Outnumbered, Lanna continued toward a room that reminded her of an old-fashioned solar, with unusual plants in handcrafted pots and unique furniture carved of strange wood and covered in plush cushions.
A solar except that the room was entirely stone with no windows. A safe room.
Lanna plopped down on a sofa, squeezing the cushion on each side of her legs as stress relief until she heard Brina making strangling noises. Jerking her head up, Lanna saw the old guy standing behind Brina, tossing sparkling dust on Brina.
Rotten lime smell stung Lanna's nose.
Noirre majik. She knew it.
Thin green and purple threads began to wind around Brina. She struggled and tried to shout, but the threads wrapped her mouth. Why did she not call guards telepathically?
Lanna leaped up.
He paused in chanting and said, "You knew a troll killed my wife and child while I fought with the Beladors. Macha knew, too. But she wouldn't bring them back. Now she'll know what it is to lose what she can't replace."
Lanna raced over and threw all her weight at Horace.
He shoved up a hand.
A pair of double X scars marked his forearm.
The traitor.
Lanna hit an invisible wall. Kinetics. A force tossed her against Brina. Dust hit Lanna in the face. Threads started wrapping her up against Brina's body. Lanna fought against the binding, reaching a hand until she found Brina's and gripped it.
She told Brina, "Stay calm. I will teleport."
Brina whispered, "No. I will . . . hologram."
Whatever Brina meant was not working.
Lanna's air squeezed from her chest. They would both die. She held her breath, hoping she didn't send them into a wall.
Could she even do this with Horace placing a Noirre spell on them? She closed her eyes, whispered a few words and teleported.
FORTY-SEVEN
Fangs chewed on her shoulder. Evalle slashed her claws at Boomer, who showed no sign of weakening.
Unlike her.
But she couldn't split her focus from fighting Boomer to call on her beast form to heal her wounds, or he'd have the opening he needed to rip her head off.
Drawing her energy into her wings, she flapped, lifting them off the floor with Boomer clutched to her chest and ripping chunks out of her shoulder.
She flew toward a wall, slamming his head. His gold head bounced and shoved his jaws deeper into her shoulder.
She winced.
Wings still flapping, she swung around and flew at another wall, ramming his head again. Stone broke and chunks fell to the floor. Her shoulder was taking just as much of a beating.
Then his jaws released her shoulder and his head wobbled.
This was her only chance to get him in a vulnerable position. Get him outside where she could fly to Beladors who would finish him off.
She flapped around, wobbling as she lost energy.
Her wings couldn't hold both of them any longer.
They hit the castle floor with a loud bang, but at least Boomer was beneath her.
She struggled to lift her head and chest. The space where the castle doors had stood was only a few feet away, but she'd have to heal first, and Boomer was rousing.
Someone raced toward them from outside, yelling, "Brinnnaaaa! "
Evalle shouted telepathically, I'm Evalle. Cut off the head on the floor.
Lightning exploded around the entrance when the warrior broke the threshold. The warrior screamed in agony.
Boomer's eyes glowed with power.
A sword blade slashed down across Boomer's neck, killing the power in his eyes.
Evalle shuddered with relief and took a breath, ready to heal when her vision cleared.
Tzader collapsed on the ground next to Boomer, gasping. Dying. Tzader was immortal, and the ward on this castle killed any immortals who were not Brina or Macha.
Evalle cried into his mind, Tzader, nooo!
He said, Protect . . . Brina.
That's your job. Evalle opened the link between them, but Tzader was too weak to connect. Or refused to open his link. Gryphons were more powerful. She just kept telling herself that and drove harder to open the link between them.
Tzader's thin voice said, Don't. You'll die with me. Brina. Tell her . . . I love her.
Refusing to quit, Evalle pushed more power into the link and the connection formed.
She could immediately feel her life essence flooding out, fast and hard. Not like the other two times. Maybe she was too damaged to regenerate, especially connected to another dying body.
She called on her beast and felt nothing, not even the link to Tzader that had gone cold and quiet. No! Don't die, Z!
The void swallowed her. No pinpoint of light.
She'd die with a clear conscience that she'd upheld her Belador oath to the end.
It's not your time, a female voice whispered in her mind.
Not you again. Evalle hoped this voice didn't follow her into the afterlife.
A feminine chuckle bubbled across her senses. Tired, hurt, disappointed and alone, Evalle snapped, What do you want from me?
Maybe I want to give you something.
So now you're my Secret Santa? Where were you for the past twenty-three years?
Evalle sensed sadness in the silence and felt bad for berating someone who had annoyed her and given her unwanted advice but had never caused her harm.
The voice said, I'm sorry you never had birthdays or celebrated holidays, but you can have that with Storm.
How do you know Storm?
Through you. He is your other half.
Great. Now a voice was making her depressed, as if dying with Tzader wasn't enough. Feeling guilty, Evalle said, Didn't mean to take my bad mood out on you. Side effect of dying, I guess.
The chuckle was back. You must return to the living.
I don't know that I have to, but I'd like to go back.
No, you must, because Storm needs you. Sending you back is my gift to you.
Storm needed her? Evalle's heart thumped with worry. But how could her heart thump if she was dead? A tiny light beamed in her mind's eye and started to glow brighter.
Pain--feeling--crawled through her body, stinging and burning as energy surged into her legs, wings and arms. Her heartbeat picked up speed, stomping against her chest. Power burst from her core, raging across her senses.
She opened her eyes and stared at twenty sword points.
Panicked, she yelled at every Belador present, I'm Evalle. Don't touch me or you'll kill Tzader! We're linked!
All eyes shifted to Tzader, who didn't move. Not even a breath. Come on, Z. Nothing. She refused to let him go.
She closed her eyes, searching for the link. She found it. Cold. Quiet. Careful with her energy, she forced a slow stream of healing power into the link, waiting for a sign.
He twitched.
She opened her eyes and kept sending him the constant flow of life energy.
He groaned. No sweeter sound had she ever heard. He drew a breath
Tears pooled in her eyes when he slid his palms forward and pushed up, shaking his head.
He twisted, his gaze searching hers. Evalle?
Yes. The tears fell, running free.
I heard you in my mind. How did you save me?
Long story that I'll tell you soon, but call off the guards first.
That's when Tzader looked up. He must have sent a telepathic message, because every sword pulled back and the guards stood down.
Evalle relaxed, tired of fighting. Tired of being a gryphon right this moment. Her body started changing before she realized the shift had come over her.
Tzader glanced down, did a double take, then ordered, "Everyone face away. Now."
Then he whipped off his T-shirt and handed it to her as she stood. She shrugged it on, thankful it was long enough to cover the important parts. Looking around, she asked, "Where's Brina? I can't believe she actually did as I asked and found somewhere safe to hide."
Tzader snapped alert. "Which way did she go?"
A warrior answered, "Down the back hallway."
He called for a sword. One of his men tossed him the weapon, and Tzader took off running. Evalle followed with a herd of boot heels pounding right behind her.
When Tzader skidded to a stop and turned into a room, Evalle smelled Noirre majik heavy in the air.
Horace stood with his back to the door, chanting and tossing dust at Lanna and Brina.
Tzader shoved his sword into Horace. The old guy screamed and dropped a bag that smelled of rotten limes.
Evalle raced over just as Lanna and Brina disappeared, leaving a holographic image of Brina.
Evalle reached toward it, then pulled back.
Tzader was next to her in an instant, his voice hollow when he whispered, "Where'd they go?"
"I don't know."
FORTY-EIGHT
With no idea what to do for Brina and Lanna, Evalle finally shook herself loose from the numb feeling of too many shocks at one time. Someone had to deal with the battle still raging on Treoir.
With Boomer can't-come-back dead and Evalle having regenerated three times, she'd become the most powerful gryphon.
She ordered the gryphons to stand down from any fight and fly to where they could circle the castle.
Seven answered her, which meant they had another dead gryphon besides Boomer.
Who had managed that? The only way one of the gryphons would not have gone through three cycles was if the head had been cut off.
Evalle told Tzader, "All the gryphons are under my control. I've called them in to circle the castle, and I need you to tell the Beladors to stop attacking. Once you do, I can turn the gryphons on the witches and warlocks."