The funny thing was, now she knew she could.
Yes. But the troll part of me seems to think things are going to get messy.
Chapter Eight
Quinlan stuck to the path, his gaze searching every shimmer and twitch of the golden-leafed trees. He didn’t know what to expect and even he could see that Batya’s enthrallment shield held, but he had his battle frequency on full bore searching for the enemy.
He slowed as the first switchback came into view, a real hairpin curve, and as steep as the rocky banks were, the golden trees swayed in the constant breeze.
On he sped, Batya a warmth in his arms as he levitated and flew three feet above the ground, chin lowered
It’s beautiful here. Her voice in his head eased him.
I think it’s more than just a forest.
I do, too. But what?
Quinlan felt Batya’s consternation, a soft vibration through his skin. There was another mystery, that he could feel her emotions, that she seemed to be communicating with him all the time, just not always verbally.
Right now, she seemed really intent on understanding her surroundings, which was not a bad thing.
He broke his telepathic link to her, then contacted Henry. How we doin’ back there?
We haven’t been hit in several minutes and I’m not seeing the enemy. Speed helps, but it’ll be rough going up this mountain.
I know. And we’re fifteen miles out.
Any orders?
Quinlan grimaced at the undercurrent in Henry’s words. The whole brigade could come under attack at any moment, and all they could do was keep flying as fast as they could toward the Snowfields of Rayne.
How odd, though, that he could sense the snowfields now, the image of Batya’s painting etched in his mind like a beacon.
The miles wore on, one after the other, through the mountains. He would need blood soon to sustain this pace, to keep the brigade moving.
And just like that, her words were in his head. Need a tap while we fly?
Did you just read my mind?
She didn’t speak for a long moment. Instead, she grew very quiet, almost vampire still which also freaked him out.
Finally, her voice rang through his mind. Quinlan, I’m not sure how I know what I know but I felt your hunger like a bell ringing within my head, or maybe my chest.
If he hadn’t been in motion, he would have scratched his head over this one. I don’t get it. How did you know? Why do you have a bell? Is it a fae thing? Or maybe a troll gift?
I haven’t got a clue except that things are changing within me and I am experiencing this vibration that looks forward, not into the future, not like a vision, but as though I can see or feel well up the trail.
So what do you see ahead of us?
She didn’t speak, instead, she turned into him, slid her left arm more tightly around his neck, drawing herself higher up within the cradle of his arm, and lifted her wrist to his mouth. Feed first.
Quinlan wasn’t stupid, so he didn’t argue. Besides, his fangs had already emerged and using his free hand to hold her wrist steady, he struck then once more took her blood into his mouth.
The flavor, full of her scent, almost made him trip midair. But he adjusted, making a swift correction, and took in what tasted power-laden now. Maybe the new vibration she’d just mentioned had changed the quality of her blood, but whatever it was, he loved it.
As he drank, he felt nothing but gratitude that, while being pursued, she’d take care of his blood needs.
When he finished, he released her wrist, then readjusted his hold on her. Thank you.
You’re welcome. There’s only one problem now. I felt it a couple of minutes ago, but I thought I’d wait until you were done feeding.
What is it?
Something big. Not far now. I’m feeling dizzy.
Did I take too much blood? He couldn’t have. He’d just barely topped off, taking only what he needed to sustain his power levels.
No, that’s not it. I think… No, I’m sure it’s Margetta. She’s not far now. She’s waiting for us.
As Quinlan rounded the next bend, the dizziness Batya had complained about hit him suddenly and his battle frequency kicked into high gear. He pathed to Henry, letting him know something was up, then slowed his speed. The trail curved.
We’re coming up on an open stretch, a shallow valley. I can see it in my mind’s eye.
She’s waiting there?
Batya took a deep breath. I believe she is. He felt her tremble in his arms.
The dizziness became oppressive as he rounded a wide bend in the trail. The mountain gave way to a meadow, angling off to the northeast.
The grassy land had patches of snow but seemed to be a small valley in the middle of the range.
The trail climbed a small hill, then dropped down to a beautiful expanse that began to glow brighter and brighter.
He felt Margetta now and the distant spread of gold, glowing light, the same one that had been at Batya’s gallery, almost blinded his vampire vision. Beyond the glow, he could see a large force of Invictus wraith-pairs hovering in the air, waiting.
Can she see us through the shield?
I don’t think so.
And how did she find this part of the Dead Forest?
I think we cleared the entire Dead Forest from the enthrallment on the maps.
How far do you think we are from Ferrenden Peace?
Another hundred miles across the snowfields.
Oh, Quinlan, how are we going to cover so many miles?
Don’t worry about that right now. This is the only battle we need to fight.
She was silent for a moment, then pathed, You’re right. Of course.
Even though Batya’s enthrallment shield held, Margetta blocked the path in a huge radius of light, at least sixty feet up, past the tree-top line, and twice that width, which spanned the narrow meadow.
He slowed to a stop, pathing to Henry at the same time, then dropped to the ground.
Batya released him to stand on her own. “What do we do?”
He didn’t have time to answer, since Lorelei let out a piercing scream.
Turning in her direction, Quinlan saw Lorelei floating in the air, higher and higher and completely against her will. He left Batya, flying up into the air to catch Lorelei before she disappeared through the upper edges of Batya’s enthrallment shield.
He could feel Margetta’s hold on her. Still in her fae form, Lorelei wrapped her arms tightly around him, but Quinlan could barely hold his position in the air with her. The ancient fae increased her power over Lorelei. The frequency vibrated heavily so that he shook while holding Lorelei.
“Don’t let me go, Quinlan, please. Kill me first. I can’t fall into her hands. All of the Nine Realms will be in danger if she gets her hands on my blood and my power.”