Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire (Love at Stake 16)
Page 45“Jia! Are you all right?” He stopped beside her, his gaze looking her over carefully.
She’d called him during the afternoon to assure him she was fine, but when he’d pressed her for more information, she’d changed the subject to the upcoming battle. The last two nights with Russell had seemed too precious and personal to discuss on the phone. She’d wanted to treasure her time with Russell without dealing with any outside interference. “I’m perfectly fine. You can stop worrying.”
“But you were stabbed. Xiao Fang told us about it.”
“The wound has healed.” She motioned to the palace. “I need to wait inside. Russell is going to teleport Master Han to the throne room. I’m supposed to help—”
“You’re going to fight Han again?” Rajiv looked aghast. “He nearly killed you before.”
“I’m stronger now—”
“He did kill you, didn’t he?” Rajiv grabbed her arm and looked closely at her eyes. “I can sense more power in you. You’re on your second life, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Dammit!” Rajiv released her and turned away to clench his fists. “Russell said he would protect you. I should clobber—”
“It’s not his fault! He was in shock. He’d just found out that Han is his brother.”
“He should have brought you here! Leah could have patched you up, and Neona could have taken away the pain. Dammit, Jia, why didn’t you do as you were told? And how could Russell just let you die? I’m going to kill—”
“He did what I asked him to! Believe me, he wanted to bring me here, but I insisted.”
Rajiv took a deep breath, then lowered his voice. “Did you mate with him?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.”
Rajiv let out a howl of outrage so loud that half the crowd in the courtyard turned to look at them.
“We’ll talk about it later,” she said quietly.
“We can contact him after the battle—”
“It’s too late. He’s already left Korea. He and his entourage are sailing to Hong Kong on the royal yacht.”
Jia groaned. “Fine. I’ll reject him in person then.”
Rajiv scoffed. “You’re refusing him?”
“Yes. I’m in love with Russell.”
Rajiv gave her an incredulous look. “You’re giving up a were-tiger prince for a vampire who has nothing?”
A spurt of anger burst inside her. “He has honor and courage. And I refuse to give in to the old prejudices of our people. How many Vamps are here now, willing to risk their lives to protect our home?”
“I know very well that there are good Vamps. They’re like family to me. But many of our people, especially those in outlying colonies, have no experience with good Vamps. They equate death and destruction with vampires, and they are not going to understand. A were-tiger has never mated with a vampire before—”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Jia interrupted. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go to the palace to help Russell defeat his brother. How do you think he’s feeling right now?”
She turned and marched up the stairs. When she reached the top, she heard Rajiv calling for Tenzen. As she opened the door, her cousin and uncle joined her.
Rajiv held the door open for her. “We’re not going to let you do this alone.”
Her heart swelled. Rajiv was still on her side. “Thank you.” Now Master Han would have three tigers to contend with.
With a pair of binoculars, Russell scanned Han’s army on the far side of the river. He estimated about two hundred soldiers: most on foot and a few officers on horseback. No sign of Darafer, and so far, he hadn’t spotted Markos, either.
“Ye doona have to do this,” Angus muttered. “We’re prepared to fight.”
“I’m not letting another person die because of my brother.”
“Have them wait outside the door. I need to talk to Markos first. If I can convince him to surrender . . .” Russell’s voice faded with doubt.
With a sigh, Angus patted him on the back. “Have ye spotted him yet?”
“No.” Russell lowered the binoculars. The moon was almost three-quarters full and bright in the night sky. He had expected to catch the gleam of his brother’s golden mask. “When did the army arrive?”
“About two hours before sunset,” Angus replied. “Rajiv was in charge. Every time they approached the river, he ordered his men to fire at them.”
Russell glanced at the male were-tigers who were armed with rocket grenade launchers. No wonder Han’s army was staying put. The minute they attempted to cross the river, they would be easy to pick off.
He spotted a small group behind the army, all dressed in black, making them hard to see in the dark. With the binoculars, he focused on them. They were heavily armed, and the one in the middle was wearing a black Kevlar vest and a hood concealing most of his head.
Russell’s heart beat faster as he waited for a telltale gleam of gold. Look this way, Markos. Let me see your mask.
The man lifted his head to gaze at the sky. Nothing but black inside the hood.
A black mask. Of course. Russell’s chest constricted with a mixture of relief and dread. “I found him.”
“Really?” Angus asked. “Where?”
“The group in the back, all dressed in black. Han is in the middle.”
Angus narrowed his eyes. “I hope ye’re right. A surprise attack only works the first time.”
“I know.” Russell handed the binoculars to Angus while he focused on Markos. Always before, he’d seen Master Han through a dark lens of hatred, but now that his eyes were open, he saw things he’d missed before. The way Han stood, the gestures with his hands, the tilt of his head. Markos.
Russell closed his eyes briefly, trying to shut out the pain, but of course, it didn’t work. There was no help for it. God help me. He teleported behind his brother, grabbed him before anyone had time to react, and took him to the palace throne room.
Jia and Rajiv had the silver chain stretched out, each of them holding an end, and they immediately jumped at Han to wrap the chain around him. He struggled, but Russell held him tight from behind.
“Russell?” Markos grew still. “No need for the silver. I’ll stay. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
Russell released his brother as Jia and Rajiv looped the chain around him a second time.
Markos grunted as the silver burned the silk material of his sleeves. The Kevlar vest protected his torso. “I said I would stay. Don’t you trust me?”
“No.” Russell shoved his brother’s hood back, then ripped off the black mask and tossed it on the floor.
Even though Russell knew what to expect this time, it still made his heart clench to see his brother’s face. Markos’s eyes and hair had always been a darker brown than his own. But the shape of his jaw and nose were almost identical. They were the same height, same build. They’d grown up in the same house with the same parents. So why had they become so different?
Russell searched his brother’s eyes, trying to find the younger brother he knew.
Markos gave him a wry look, then glanced at the were-tigers. Tenzen had his sword drawn. Rajiv passed the ends of the chain to his cousin, then drew his sword.
With a smirk, Markos turned his attention to Jia. “You again. Tell me, did it hurt to die?”
She yanked the chain tighter, so that it sizzled against his arms.
He winced, then shot Russell an annoyed look. “These damned cats. You kill them, and they just keep coming back.”
Jia narrowed her eyes. “When you killed my parents and brother, they didn’t.”
“Oh?” Markos gave her an inquisitive look. “Did I hack them into itsy-bitsy pieces?” He shrugged. “Too bad I can’t remember. There have been so many, you know.”
With a hiss, she pulled a knife from her belt. Rajiv took a step closer with his sword.