Kat couldn’t help feeling sorry for the poor girl. “Come on, you guys, she can’t just turn it on like a switch.” She looked at Nadiah hopefully. “Uh, can you?”
“Not usually,” Naidah said carefully. “But…I can try.”
“Please do,” begged Sophie. “Please!”
“All right.” Taking a deep breath, Nadiah closed her eyes and appeared to concentrate deeply. But when she looked up, there was a troubled expression on her face. “Nothing,” she said quietly. “I see nothing but darkness. I’m sorry.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Xairn stared fixedly at the controls of the Kindred ship wondering how much longer he should wait. It was stupid, really, expecting warriors who were technically his enemies to come to his aid. He was only waiting because he had promised Lauren he would. But he couldn’t put off the confrontation with the AllFather much longer—not if he hoped to keep his mother alive.
Gods, after all these years, he couldn’t believe that he might actually see her, that she might speak his name in that soft, clear voice he’d heard so often in dreams. When he was a child he used to wish for her constantly, especially after he was taken from his nurse. His father had fed his feelings of yearning and abandonment, deliberately showing him images of his mother over and over again in order to draw sustenance from Xairn’s pain.
Mother, he thought, staring out at the endless black reaches of space being displayed on the viewscreen. For so many years I longed for you. I’ll save you from him even if it kills me. I swear I will.
Suddenly a very strong feeling that someone wanted to talk to him intruded on his thoughts. Surprised, he opened himself to the new feeling. “Is someone there?”
“Forgive me for bespeaking you, Brother, but we wanted you to know we’re on our way,” a voice said in his head.
“Deep?” Xairn could hardly believe it. “Are you and Lock coming?”
“Along with two of our brothers. Together we’ll do what has to be done.” Deep sounded confident. Just the sound of his mind-voice gave Xairn a boost and he realized he really was glad that the Kindred warriors he had met so briefly were willing to help.
“Thank you, he sent. I am deeply in your debt. I know you have no obligation to help one who you consider an enemy.”
“You’re no enemy,” Deep sent back. “Though you are Scourge and we are Kindred, we’re brothers beneath the skin.”
There was a sudden hollow pounding at the door of the Kindred ship and Xairn heard Deep shout, “Open up, it’s us.”
Quickly he went to the airlock and engaged it, making a seal with the other ship. Then he swung the metal door inward, welcoming the Kindred warriors inside. Deep and Lock he knew by sight but there were two more—a Beast Kindred and a Blood Kindred if he was not mistaken, whom Deep introduced as Baird and Sylvan. One had black hair and the other had blond but both of them had grim, battle-ready expressions on their faces.
“Welcome,” Xairn said stiffly. “You have my gratitude.”
“Didn’t I tell you we were brothers beneath the skin?” Deep stepped forward and hugged him, pounding him on the back in a warrior’s embrace. Pulling back he surveyed Xairn. “And speaking of skin, just look at yours! I wondered how you were passing as human down on Earth.”
“I had my DNA altered,” Xairn said. “I believe Lauren finds my appearance much more palatable now.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty all right.” The Beast Kindred called Baird gave him a white grin. “But we don’t give a damn what you look like—it’s how you fight that counts.”
“I am ready to fight,” Xairn told him. “Ready to kill that bastard who raised me in such pain and misery. He has my mother. I don’t know if Lauren told you that but she is the reason I have to do this.”
“We understand,” Sylvan, the blond warrior said. “And we’re ready to help you make the fight. But a little strategy before we go charging in would probably be prudent.”
“I agree.” Xairn nodded. “My father will be expecting me to come alone or with Lauren. He still seeks her to fulfill the prophesy. That’s why he’s trying to lure me back to the Fathership.”
“How many guards around him?” Baird asked.
“Probably four if it’s like last time,” Lock answered for him. “His main guards are huge but slow—except when the AllFather is controlling them.”
“They’re soulless,” Deep added. “He can work them like puppets when he wants to so beware of them.”