The cars pulled to a halt, and even in the dark, she recognized the place. They were at the base of the hill below the standing stones of Taryn Carnack.
"Get out," Vortigen said.
The night was warm, but a shiver ran through her as her bare feet touched the grass. She peered over her shoulder as Mal got out of the car behind. His hands were still tied behind his back, and a guard stood at each side. He caught her gaze, and something fierce woke behind his eyes. She stared, taking him in, filling her mind with his image to give her strength.
A hand touched her arm, and broke the contact between them. She gave Mal one last look, and then allowed them to push her toward the steep path that led to the standing stones. The grass was soft against her bare feet, but once on the track she winced as the gravel cut into her skin. She stubbed her toe and swore under her breath. The man in front of her glanced behind, and then murmured to Vortigen. He stopped and turned to her-it was one of the guards who had held her the night before. "Princess," he said. "I will carry you."
She had no time to object, just a moment to clutch her blanket around herself, and then he lifted her into his arms. After that, the journey passed swiftly. He carried her with ease, and after a couple of minutes, she relaxed against him.
The moon rose as they climbed, bathing their procession in silver light. No one spoke, but she could sense the excitement building with each step. Then they were there. The stones loomed vast and dark in front of them. The guard lowered Lily to her feet.
Nausea churned in her belly, and she wrapped her arms tight around herself to stop the shivers that wracked her body. But standing before Taryn Carnack, she became aware that beneath her fear, another emotion struggled to break free. A sense of rightness, as though her whole life had been leading here. She knew that if she had been standing with Mal beside her, this would have been a moment of sublime triumph. This was why she had been born. She could feel the mark at her arm take on a life of its own as she walked between the tall guardian stones and into the inner circle.
A gentle hum filled the night air. The sound rose as she approached the arch, until it buzzed like a swarm of hungry bluebottles, and she could feel the power mounting within her. The dragons followed her into the circle, took their places around her, and through the arch the first fires of Ankesh burst into life. She reached out a hand, and the flames leapt higher.
Vortigen came to stand beside her. She turned away, searching until she found Mal standing at the outer rim, chained to one of the great guardian stones. Two of Vortigen's sons stood guard, guns trained on him. She cast him a quick smile, but then the archway commanded her attention. Vortigen took her hand.
No freaking way.
She jerked free and stepped forward alone to the altar. Dropping the blanket, she stood naked before them, and gasps erupted all around her. The buzz was now a roar and within that roar, she could hear the crackle of flames. The scent of smoke filled her nostrils as the gate opened, and the fires of Ankesh were before them.
A wild longing washed through her. Home.
The thought brought her to her senses. How could Ankesh be her home, when she'd never been there? Still, the compulsion wouldn't leave her and she had to force her feet to stand still. Stretching out her hand toward the gateway, the heat and fire of Ankesh warmed her fingertips. Vortigen made some gesture beside her and the dragons came forward. The first stood before her. He smiled, nodded his thanks, and stepped through the archway. The flames roared red and orange, and Lily saw a huge shape take form, dark against the conflagration. Then it was gone.
One by one, the dragons entered the archway. Through the flames, she saw figures swooping and flying, dancing in the air beyond, and the longing rose like a wrenching pain.
When no more came forward, Lily turned around. The only ones now left were Vortigen, his four sons, and Malachite. Her longing waned as cold dread uncoiled inside her. The archway cooled so the flames merely flickered, and Lily shivered as a cool breeze ran over her bare skin. She glanced up at Vortigen. He smiled at her, a cold, cruel smile that promised pain and sent shivers racing down her spine. A hard lump formed in the pit of her belly and her whole body tightened in anticipation. She looked around for a way of escape, but there was no way she would make it, even to the outer circle. Mal stood impassive, unable to help her, but his golden eyes gleamed, willing her to be strong.
But she didn't feel strong. She felt fucking terrified. While she'd promised herself that she wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction of weakening, of breaking, she wasn't sure how long she could hold onto that promise. Bile rose bitter in the back of her throat, she swallowed and bent down to pick up the blanket.
Vortigen stepped forward and placed a heavy foot on the material, preventing her from lifting it.
"I don't think you're going to need that." His lips smiled but his eyes were cold and something dark and dangerous shifted in their depths. She glanced at his two sons who flanked him. Their expressions were blank. There would be no help there.
Vortigen's gaze wandered over her body making her skin prickle and crawl. Maybe she could goad him into killing her quickly, but she knew in her heart that she was too valuable to them. If Vortigen killed her, then he would never go home.
A movement in the shadows of the guardian rocks caught her gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw moonlight glinting on blonde hair. Cassandra. She crept around the stones until she hid behind the one closest to their small group.
A moment later, the witch broke cover. In her hand, she held a long knife, and she headed straight for Lily, the weapon raised. She was almost on her. Lily had a moment to think that, after all, she didn't want to die, then a shot exploded in the night. Cassandra crumpled to the ground, her knee a shattered mess of blood and bone. She screamed then rolled onto her uninjured side and tried to stand, her face a mask of fury as she glared at Lily.
Vortigen strolled across to where she struggled. He stared down at her for what seemed like an age, and then kicked her deliberately in her good leg. She collapsed back onto the carpet of grass and gazed up at her lover, her eyes no longer furious but filled with longing.
"Why?" Vortigen asked.
"I did it for us," Cassandra said. "You would go back to Ankesh, leave me here without another thought because of her. If she dies, you will stay with me forever. You'll be mine as you should have been."
"I've never been yours, you stupid bitch. You were useful, that's all."
"You lie," Cassandra said, and Lily winced at the desperation in the other woman's voice. "You loved me. You would love me again if she were gone, if this was your home forever." She tried to rise again. Vortigen kicked her back and she lay panting, her face white, her lips tight with pain.
"Give me blood," she pleaded. "Heal me as you have done in the past."
Vortigen stood over her, then reached behind him and drew the pistol from the holster at his back. He took careful aim. There was no fear in Cassandra's eyes, only disbelief, as if even now, she couldn't believe that the man she loved would do this. Lily looked away, back to Vortigen, and saw him smile as his finger tightened on the trigger. There was a blast of noise and Cassandra's head disintegrated. Something warm splattered against Lily's bare legs and she glanced down to where the witch's blood stained her pale skin crimson.
She backed away, whirled around, and fell to her knees, retching up bile from her empty stomach. She stayed for a moment on her hands and knees, mind blank, her head hanging down like an exhausted animal. After a few minutes, a hand touched her shoulder. She jerked away. The grip tightened. Vortigen stared down at her, his eyes half-closed, excitement gleaming behind his lids. "Get up."
"No."
He stepped back and a moment later, two sets of hands dragged her to her feet. She hung between them, their fingers biting into the soft flesh of her arms. Lily's glance flashed to the dead woman then flinched away only to meet Vortigen's cruel gaze.
"It was a mercy killing," he said. "I did it for you, Lily. She was quite mad and would have tried again." He sighed. "Now perhaps we could get on, I grow impatient to cement our relationship. Place her on the altar."
They half-dragged, half-carried her across the grass. Lily didn't fight, but she didn't help them. She knew this was going to happen, and she couldn't stop it. Not alone. They lifted her, then lowered her onto the altar stone. She struggled, her head hitting the rock, and she lost consciousness. When she came around, she was lying on her back. The rough rock scraped her bare skin as she struggled against the hands pressing her to the cold stone. Vortigen stood beside her. He reached out and ran a possessive hand over her body.