My eyes take in the strong shimmers that reveal the hidden barrier. The little girl sobs harder, and Leah looks around like she’s trying to find something to break through.
“A night stalker can’t do this,” I whisper softly.
“He can,” Kya says, tossing a thumb in Zee’s direction.
“He’s not a typical night stalker. Gavin did something to him that defies all laws of immortality and magic,” I remind her.
“Then maybe he did it to Silan too. It’s too coincidental that the girl would go missing right now when—”
“Well, well, well,” a voice says from the side, causing us all to snap our gaze to the far wall.
A man with glowing blue eyes is smirking at us while casually leaning against the opening there with his arms carelessly crossed over his chest. His white blond hair confuses the hell out of me. All night stalkers have dark hair. Even if they were blond before changed, they still turn dark immediately.
“Silan,” I hear Zee growl as he slowly stands. “What the fucking hell are you doing with my niece? What have you done to her?”
Silan continues to smirk as a slender woman steps into view with the same white blonde hair, glowing blue eyes, and wicked glimmer. Something isn’t right.
“Nothing yet,” Silan drawls. “You’re here much too early, brother. How’d you manage that?”
Silan doesn’t appear overly concerned, which worries me. My eyes scan the area for any other barriers, but I don’t see any... Until I look up.
Shit...
We’re locked in. It seems appearing in here is a one-way trip.
My eyes come back down, and I pretend I don’t notice we’re stuck in a trap.
“Why did you fucking take her?” Zee asks again.
“Where are all your little friends?” Silan asks instead. “You know... the new family you abandoned me for?”
My wheels start turning, trying to decipher the situation as I remain in the background, not drawing attention to myself.
Kya is still beside me, but I can tell she’s plotting something. It better not be something stupid. No one can touch the kid but Silan right now, even though I don’t know how he has a magical barrier in place.
I wish Kane was here. He can walk through spelled barriers better than anyone, even better than Ella.
Kya steps closer to me, her shoulder brushing my arm. Her eyes are intently focused on the duo who seem to think they have full control of the situation.
“Damn it, Silan!” Zee roars. “Why? She’s just a fucking kid. I know you haven’t gotten that cold.”
“You know nothing about me, Zee,” Silan drawls. “You were too busy getting all self-righteous right after I rescued you to stick around and learn about me. Now I’m here to show you what you’ve been missing.”
He grins like he’s enjoying this, and Zee balls his fists as his jaw tics. He’s about to do something stupid.
“Absorb the barrier,” Kya whispers just loud enough for me to hear and no one else.
“What?” I ask her, confused.
“Use your jinn and Lokie. Absorb the barrier,” she says in that same, almost silent tone. “Do it quick, because I don’t know how long I can hold him.”
Before I can ask what she means, her body drops lifelessly to the ground, and a faint glimmer of something darting through the air has me diving toward the barrier. My fist slams into the barrier as an unnatural roar comes from Silan.
I feel the magic draining into me just like it does when I’m stealing it from unsuspecting volunteers. With each second, I feel stronger, and the barrier feels weaker.
My eyes dart over as Silan goes into a fit of seizures, standing wide-eyed as the color in his gaze changes from blue to black to red to... What the fucking hell is going on?
The girl beside him curses as she slams him against the wall and yelling wildly. Kya is inside him, fighting for control of his body, giving us just enough time.