City of Light (Outcast 1)

“You will have to forgive my reaction,” I said, when I could actually speak, “but someone who would threaten the existence of so many innocent ghosts to save one living soul is not someone I’m inclined to trust.”

“It’s more than just one soul,” she snapped back. “Or have you forgotten the other thirteen missing children?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything.” Not the children, not the war, not the worthlessness of promises. After all, had not the shifters assured all those caught in—or herded ba

ck to—the bases after the war that rumors of eradication were untrue? That places would be found for us in a world broken by war?

“You have my word . . .” She caught herself, making me wonder if she’d read my thoughts, then continued, “I swear, on the heart of the earth goddess herself, that if you do your utmost to help us rescue both Jonas and those children, I will do nothing to threaten either you or those who haunt this place.”

I crossed my arms. Making such a vow was the next best thing to signing her own death warrant if she didn’t follow through. Her goddess was not benevolent when it came to such things.

Still . . .

“What happens if I don’t rescue him? What happens if we rescue some, but not all, of the children?”

“If you fail, we all fail. That much I have seen.”

“Answer the question, Nuri.”

“Nothing will happen. A vow was made, and it will be upheld.”

“By you. What of those you work with? We both know you have some sort of government connection—just as we both know standing aside while others seek to cleanse this place of us would not make you a vow breaker.”

The mediscan beeped, and I jumped. I took a slow, deep breath in an effort to calm my nerves and glanced at the screen. In my anger at Nuri and her threat, I’d forgotten to give the go-ahead for all recommended actions. It was tempting to do nothing—to deny Branna the treatment that would help save his life. Very tempting. It might also be the safest course of action and one that would undoubtedly save me future grief. But if I did and he died, then I would be no better than them. Not that I was, anyway. I might have been bred as a seductress, but killing my targets after their usefulness had ended often came hand in hand with that.

I accepted all the machine’s recommendations, then met Nuri’s gaze again. “Do you deny government links?”

“If this place is attacked, it will not be from anything we have said or done.”

An assurance that didn’t sit well, especially given she hadn’t answered the actual question. And, I judged, had no intention of doing so.

“Fine,” I snapped. “I’ll try. But you do realize that if Jonas is still alive, it’s because they have plans for him. Or because they are using him as bait.”

“I’m aware of those factors, and that is why you must leave now. They will not be expecting a response so quickly.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. “And just how do you expect me to get up there? No matter what the rumors are about vampires, they can’t fly, and neither can I.” Or, at least, not when there was any light about.

“Our ATV is parked behind the museum. Use it.” She tossed me a control disk. “Bring him back to us alive, Tiger. It’s just as important to you as to us that this happens.”

I frowned. “Meaning what?”

She waved the question away. “Go. Your ghosts will come to no harm.”

“When it comes to the ghosts, it’s probably you who should be worried, not me. They will fight you if you attempt anything untoward.”

“I won’t, not as long as you uphold your end of the deal.” She half shrugged. “And Branna has neither the skill nor the knowledge to harm them. He is fury and bluster, nothing more.”

I seriously doubted that. None of these people were what they appeared on a surface level—they all had deeper depths, and certainly deeper secrets. I hesitated a moment longer, but my innate awareness of night and day told me the sun was on the march through the afternoon sky. If I was to have any hope of pulling this rescue off, then it had to be done before dusk set in and the vampires woke.

Cat, Bear, stay here and keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn’t release Branna. Warriors, stand down. Do not attack them. With that, I spun on my heel and walked out.

And prayed like hell that by trusting Nuri, I wasn’t making the biggest mistake of my long life.

• • •

I drove the ATV as close to the base as I dared, but made no effort to conceal its presence nor pull off the road. I simply turned it around so that we could jump straight into it and flee—presuming we actually made it out of the base alive, that is.

Besides, if there were watchers about, they’d spot the vehicle sooner rather than later. The canopy high above might be thick enough to reduce the fading daylight to mere flickers—and therefore stop any guards on the wing from spotting me—but there was no such protection here at ground level. The undergrowth was thick and crawling with shadows, neither of which was a deterrent when it came to vampires. And if they had set patrols around the perimeter of the base, they’d see past any attempt of concealment. The transport was too big—and chewed up the soil too badly—to escape detection. Which is why I was here, on the opposite side of the valley from where we’d entered last time. I was hoping against hope that Sal had forgotten about the déchet entrance into this place.