City of Light (Outcast 1)

“Deal.”

Her fast response had me worrying. Was it really wise to let these two into our sanctuary? Was there even a choice now that they were here? They couldn’t remain outside without attracting the sort of attention I wanted to avoid, and there was something in her expression that suggested she wouldn’t leave even if I refused entry. I punched in the code and stepped back as the grate opened.

“Follow the ghosts,” I said, offering Nuri no help. She was a strong woman, and an earth witch besides. If she needed help bearing Branna’s weight, she could pull it from the earth. I had no intention of getting within arm’s reach of the man, even if he was bloody and momentarily broken.

I reset the nets and followed a safe distance behind the two. Nuri hauled Branna into the mediscan nearest the door, then stepped back and eyed the unit somewhat dubiously. “They really are ancient, aren’t they?”

“I did warn you.” The light screen shimmered to life as the bed’s thick foam enveloped Branna. A soft beeping filled the silence; his body might be broken, but there was nothing wrong with his biorhythms, aside from an accelerated pulse rate—no doubt due to his body’s natural healing abilities trying to cope with both his broken bones and the blood loss. I set the scanner into motion, then glanced across to Nuri. “So where’s the third musketeer?”

“Musketeer?” She raised an eyebrow. “I take it you mean Jonas.”

“Yes.” I glanced at the

screen as the scanner finished and began listing recommended actions. Despite outward appearances, no major organs had been damaged, and the only real danger he was in was that he was still losing blood too fast.

“I’m afraid he’s the other reason we’re here.”

“Really?” I pressed a couple of buttons; restraints wrapped around Branna’s ankles and wrists. While the scans suggested he was truly out of it, I wasn’t about to take chances. “Why? What has he done?”

“The fool has gone and gotten himself captured.”

My gaze shot to hers. “What?”

Her expression was grim. “Our infiltration of the bunker did not, as you might have guessed, go according to plan.”

“The ghosts?”

She shook her head. “They were easy enough to deal with, despite the fury in their hearts.”

There was something in her expression that had unease crawling through my gut. “Meaning you destroyed them?”

“Those who did not accept the offer to move on, yes.” Her voice held an edge of unexpected ruthlessness. She might be an earth witch, but there was a steeliness in her—a coldness—that was very uncommon. “Our concern right now is for the living. The dead have had their time; they cannot linger here.”

“And is that the fate you plan for those who haunt this place?” My voice was soft, my hands clenched. I had no weapons, but I had the ghosts. And while I had no wish to put any of them in harm’s way by asking them to attack this woman, I could draw on their power. It might not be as powerful or as all-consuming as the force she was capable of, but it was nevertheless deadly.

A cool smile touched her lips. She was well aware of what I could do—and obviously wasn’t concerned.

“What happens to them very much depends on what decisions you make in the next few minutes.”

The ghosts—the warrior ghosts—were gathering. As was their fury. This situation could very easily run out of control if I wasn’t very careful.

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning, I want you to go back to that bunker and rescue Jonas.”

I snorted. “If the vampires have him, he’s long dead. They tend not to be able to resist the urge to feed when fresh blood is in the offering.”

“He’s not dead,” she said. “He hasn’t even been fed on.”

The certainty in her voice made me frown. “And how can you be sure of . . .” I hesitated, then added, “You’re linked, and it’s more than just telepathy, isn’t it? Because, as far as I know, telepathy has distance restrictions.”

“Yes, it has, and yes, we are. And I will not leave him to whatever fate these bastards have planned for him.”

“Then raise an army and raid the place. You’re living in the middle of Chaos’s mercenary section, for Rhea’s sake—there’s plenty of vampire fodder available there for the right sort of credit.”

“True, but mercenaries are not the answer in this situation. You are.”

The tension in me—around me—continued to build. Energy crawled across my skin, thick with fury and the need to attack. The ghosts didn’t, but I doubted the restrictions of their programming would hold if they truly felt threatened. I drew in a deep breath, knowing I needed to keep a lid on my own emotions if I was to have any hope of controlling that of the ghosts.