The witch had placed a bloodied finger to the center of Kalens forehead and whispered, Abyssus abyssum invocat.
Hell calls hell.
Jesus, Aric said, his tone dripping with horrified disgust.
The red wolf wasnt any more disgusted with him than Kalen was with himself. Though the spell wasnt Kalens fault, and he hadnt known that Beryl would try to murder the Fae prince, it hardly mattered. He was to blame. He shouldve been stronger, even without the protection of his silver pentagram pendant. The one hed given weeks ago to Dr. Mackenzie Grant, his onetime lover, and made her swear never to remove.
Nick cursed and rubbed his eyes. Okay. Well figure this out. At least now we have Maliks human nameEvan Kerrigan. Grant is tracking him down, gathering intel. With any luck well have his location and a complete profile soon.
The man Nick referred to was General Jarrod Grant, Mackenzies father. Kalen wondered what the man would think of what Kalen had done to his precious daughter. He doubted the man knewKalen was still in one piece.
When Mackenzie walked into the room, her blue eyes briefly meeting Kalens, they were filled with such pain it stole his breath. Kalen could feel nothing but self-loathing. As she looked quickly away, his gaze settled on the beautiful doctor, hungrily
devouring the woman he could never have again, never allow into his mind or heart. The woman he had to protect at all costs from Malik.
From himself.
Im sorry to interrupt, but we knew youd want word of Sariel. We believe hell recover. Murmurs of relief sounded around the room. But he was already weakened from some health issues stemming from being in our world, so healing will take time. Hes stable, though, so I wanted to pass the good news along.
Thank you, Mac, Nick said, bringing Kalen back to the present. The doc returned Nicks tired smile and left.
Without looking at me again.
Nick went on. All right. I need to speak to Kalen. Well adjourn for now and discuss this mess later.
Nick nodded at Kalen, indicating for him to follow. He trailed the commander, wondering if he could take the man in a fight. Nick was tall and muscular, strode with his broad shoulders back, head up, all easy grace and confidence. Yeah, this man could walk the walk, but he also had the power and skill to back it up. Kalen had seen him take on dozens of enraged Sluagh, huge batlike creatures that were Maliks drones. Just swat them down like they were flies and spit on their carcasses. The man didnt need the gift of sorcery; he could definitely dispose of Kalen with brute strength alone.
Not that Kalen would defend himself. No. Whatever the white wolf chose to dish out, he deserved.
In Nicks office, the man closed the door and walked to his desk, parking his ass on the edge of it. With a sigh, he ran a hand through his short black hair threaded with silver at the temples and crossed his arms. Sit down.
Kalen complied without comment and waited.
Tell me exactly what happened before you were compelled to set Beryl free. Dont leave anything out.
That was not a scene hed wanted to revisit. Ever.
But the steely look in Nicks deep blue eyes said that Kalen wasnt getting out of telling the truth. He took a deep breath. I was in my quarters about an hour ago and the bastard started prying into my head again. They both knew the bastard he was referring to was Malik. He told me that hed never abandon me as everyone else in my life has done.
Smart, he said, an edge of disgust to his tone. Hes isolating the vulnerable cub from the pack, playing the doting mentor.
Im not a cub. His youth was a sore spot. Always had been, ever since hed been kicked out of the house at the age of fourteen. A lifetime ago, it seemed. Hed had to scrabble, suffer, for every morsel that eased the hunger in his belly. For every night not spent in a dirty alley under a cardboard box.
He didnt feel twenty-threehe must be a hundred.
Trust me, you are, despite all that power the Unseelie asshole is attempting to harness in you. I dont say that as an insult, he said seriously. What I mean is that in you, Malik has found a young, extremely powerful Sorcerer on the cusp of becoming all he is meant to be. As strong as you are, Kalen, youre nowhere near the level youll be in a few years, then a few decades. With you, its like when the very first coach ever saw Michael Jordan in action and said, My God, that kid is going to be the greatest player in the NBA one day.
In spite of himself, Kalen snorted a laugh. What a comparison.
But true. The Unseelie king knows youre a rising star and he wants you on his team. I cant let that happen. Do you understand?
Youre going to be the greatest Sorcerer the world has ever known, your power beyond comprehension. And that means there are those who would seek to control that power, or take it from you altogether.
A lump lodged in his throat at the memory of his grandmothers ghostly prediction, and he pushed it away. Do you want me to leave after all? Or are you just going to take me out now and be done with it?