He pressed the pedal, sending the cart flying forward through the tunnels. “Whatever Kayrs shows up will stop and make sure she and the babe are all right. I just bought us some time.”
Moira struggled to keep upright. Damp earth filled her nostrils. Lights flashed by, and she blinked. She swayed.
Trevan clapped a hand around her arm. “Don’t go falling out, now. Your body will adjust to the collar. You won’t get any strength back, but you should be able to sit upright soon.” His voice echoed from far away.
She lost track of time. Or maybe reality. Finally they came to the end of the tunnel. Trevan jumped out and yanked open a worn door. Snow and wind bombarded inside, and Moira turned her head to the side, shutting her eyes. So cold. Slowly, her thoughts began to organize.
Trevan grabbed her hair, tugging her off the seat.
She protested as he pulled her into the swirling storm. A sprawling hill lay to the right, trees and rock ahead. Atop the hill stood a large warming hut. Hail pelted her, leaving bruises. But the pain centered her. Until she tripped over a rock, smashing to the ground. Her hands stopped her fall, shredding from brittle pinecones. Cold, she was so cold. Trevan tightened his hold on her hair, dragging her along an overgrown trail into the forest.
The knees of her jeans shredded. She stumbled to her feet, yanking her head away. The wind nearly knocked her over. She should run.
Trevan grabbed the front of her blouse and forced her through the trees. A rocky cliff stood before them. He reached out, slid his hand across the rock, and a keypad appeared.
Dizziness swamped Moira. The stones moved. Crap. An elevator? Her mind wanted to fight. Her body wanted to sleep for weeks. “Take the collar off, Trevan.” She staggered inside the elevator, reaching out to steady herself against the walls.
“No.” The door slid shut. The lift began to rise. “Your mate won’t find the elevator, Moira. We’ll be safe at the top while waiting for my people.”
Nobody would see the lift. But Conn would scale the mountain to rescue her. None of it was making sense. The collar muddled everything.
The lift halted and the doors slid open. Mother Nature smashed her way inside. The squeal from the wind pierced Moira’s eardrums. She cringed back when Trevan clasped her hand, but he dragged her into the storm unhampered, as if she had no strength.
Hail pelted them during the short trek from rock to cabin. With a sigh of relief, Trevan pushed open the door and propelled her inside.
Chapter 30
Trevan shoved Moira against the wall of the cabin, casting a worried glance at the hail battering the window. “This storm is unbelievable.” Quick motions had her handcuffed to iron rings set into the rough wooden planks.
She looked around for a weapon. Shelves held gloves, goggles, and hand warmers. The walls were bare, and unbleached pine spread across the floors. A broken board from the floor would make an excellent weapon. A closed door stood to the north, probably to a bathroom. “Your helicopter isn’t going to make it here, asshole.” Moira struggled to keep her neck upright. The collar seemed to be dragging energy right out of her skin.
Trevan tightened his jaw. “Sure it is. The landing spot is next to this warming hut. We always meet transportation right here.”
A tingling set up at the base of her neck. She focused on the closed interior door. An energy, one barely measurable, pulsated in the next room. Something familiar. “Who’s in there?”
His eyes lightened. “You truly have power, Seventh.” He strode over to the door, ripping it open and revealing a bathroom. Reaching inside, he grabbed something and yanked.
Moira cried out as her sister tumbled out. “Brenna!” Thank God. Relief threatened to steal whatever strength Moira had left. Tears gathered, wanting to fall.
Brenna shook her head, her eyes fluttering before opening. Frayed rope bound her hands and feet. Duct tape covered her mouth. She wore a matching, sparkling collar around her neck. Her dark eyes widened on her sister before she scowled.
Trevan grabbed her hair and dragged her next to Moira, handcuffing her to the wall. “I left her in the bathroom—wasn’t sure how long we’d be.” Flashing a wide smile, he ripped off the tape.
“Ouch god dam it you fucking prick,” Brenna hissed. Angry motions had her tossing strands out of her face. “I am so going to kill you. First I’m going to take your skin, then I’m concentrating on your liver. You think my aunt is scary—”
Trevan backhanded her, slamming her head back into the oak.
Brenna gasped. “Now that just hurt, Trevan.”
Moira struggled against the cuffs, feeling like sand had swallowed her limbs. She’d kill him. She’d take his liver out and eat it. “How did he get you here, Bren?”
“Two of his guys dropped by. I let them right in.” Self-disgust curled Brenna’s lip. “We fought, and I woke up on a plane coming to this palace. He brought me to keep you in control, the dumbass. How did you get here?”
“Transported. Prick.” Moira stared into the darkness outside the wide window. Anger rose at her helplessness. “Take this collar off and fight me like a man, Trevan.” She could take him one-on-one. Using a device made of phanakite violated every oath he’d ever taken.
“No.” He frowned at his cuticles. “I bruised my hand on your cousin’s face already.” His tongue darted out to wet his lips. “Quite a surprise, that one. Thought I knew Simone.”
“Guess you don’t understand women.” Brenna rested her head against the wall.
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that. Besides, Simone was a temporary distraction. One I now regret.”
Moira kept her body still, forcing boredom into her tone. “Right. Considering you already have a woman.” She had heard a female voice ... who the hell was it?
“Nice try.” Trevan inched closer to the window. “I promised my lady protection and unfortunately am unable to satisfy your curiosity.”
Moira’s feet began to tingle, her hands going numb. The collar needed to be removed, and fast. “I suggest you make a run for it now, Trevan. My mate will be here soon.”
“I’m counting on Connlan making an appearance. My people will arrive in due time, and we’ll arrange an alternate meeting point with the Kurjans.” Trevan grinned, flipping open a cell phone to speak. “That helicopter needs to land on the roof within thirty minutes, or I’ll kill you and your entire family. Everyone you’ve ever known, in fact.” He listened and then nodded. “I thought you’d see things my way. Are the sharpshooters in position? Good.”
Nausea competed with dread in Moira’s stomach. “You’d truly hand me over to the Kurjans? Knowing they want a witch to experiment on?”
“I need an alliance with them to take over the Nine.” He punched a code into a keypad on the wall, and the hill below them lit, illuminating the pelting hail. Wind beat against the sides, shaking the rafters. “Ladies, I believe we’re about to have some fun while we wait.”
Moira’s eyes fluttered, and she bit down on her lip. The pain helped her focus. “What have you done?”
Trevan rubbed his hands together. “We’re against solid rock with a sheer cliff on the other side. This hill, this sweet-looking hill, is the only way to reach you, Moira. I assume we’ll see your mate shortly.”
The gods continued to hail missiles at the ground, and Moira forced a smile. “Your sharpshooters can’t see through that muck. They can’t find my mate.”
Though was he all right? Conn’s internal injuries hadn’t had time to heal, and the skirmish below had sounded bloody.
“They can spot him well enough, don’t you worry.” Trevan placed one hand against the window. “Besides, bullets are the least of your boy’s worries.”