Therian Prisoner(85)

Devon scrambled farther away from Granny as Ian opened his mouth. Flames shot forward in a red and orange cloud, beautiful in its fury. Silver screamed as her clothing caught fire and the floor around her began to burn. Ian let out a second burst of fire, spreading the destruction.

Much to Devon’s horror, Granny shot to her feet and ran to her sister, throwing herself into the flames. Silver went over backward and the two rolled, igniting support beams and debris in their wake.

Ian ran to Devon and crushed her against his chest. She cried out in fear and surprise as he launched them straight up and through a hole in the roof. She clung to him, watching over his shoulder as fire consumed the ramshackle building.

“How did you find me?” She wrapped her legs around his waist and settled more comfortably against his chest.

“We’re bound mates. I can always find you.”

She pressed her face into the warmth of his throat and let him concentrate on flying.

Payne, Holt, Kyle and Erin were gathered around the table in Erin’s kitchen. Ian landed on the porch and Erin leapt up from the table and slid the back door open. “Is she okay?”

Devon turned her head and smiled at her mother. “I’m fine.” She released her ankles and Ian lowered her to the porch. “But it’s time for some answers. Who were those women? How do they know you?”

Ian followed her into the kitchen and Erin closed the door.

“You’re right,” Ian told Payne. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but she’s still alive, or she was until a few minutes ago.”

“But who was she?” Devon persisted.

“I knew her as Zophia,” Payne began. “Apparently she’s calling herself Zophiel these days.”

“She’s not calling herself anything anymore.” Ian pulled out a chair for Devon before sitting down beside her. “I torched them both, so the rest is irrelevant.” Ian looked at Payne with an odd intensity.

“Are you sure?” Payne rested his forearms on the tabletop and searched Ian’s gaze.

“Even demons burn.”

“Demons?”

Ian waved away Kyle’s question. “The entire building was engulfed. There is no way they survived.”

Payne still didn’t seem convinced. He also seemed less inclined to elaborate.

Devon didn’t understand their reluctance, but she tried to respect their obvious preference that the past be left alone. “The older one said something about Roberto being dead. She wasn’t sure how they were going to explain his death to the other two backers.”

“Then that was Roberto.” Ian paused for a moment, lost in thought. “I didn’t kill him. For no apparent reason, he grabbed a gun and shot himself.”

“It sounds like Zophia was controlling him,” Payne said.

“I’m still confused,” Erin shook her head as she looked from Ian to Payne. “Was this Zophia the one who snatched Carly out of Holt’s house?”

“Yes.” Payne said nothing more.

“Zophia and Nehema were sisters,” Ian clarified. “We thought Zophia was dead and we knew Nehema by a different name, so we had all sorts of suspicions but nothing we could prove. That is until I saw Zophia in the flesh tonight.”

Frustrated by his continued ambiguities, Devon tried again. “We don’t need details, but we’re still not following you. Who are these sisters and why did Zophia or Zophiel kidnap me?”

Ian received some sort of signal from Payne before explaining, “Nehema is the driving force behind the Abolitionists, and Roberto’s participation in tonight’s raid proves that they were either working for or in competition with the backers. You were likely a bargaining tool.”

“Enemy of my enemy is my friend sort of thing?” Holt asked.

“Basically,” Payne replied.

“How long have these sisters been around?” Kyle drummed his fingers on the tabletop, his expression still thoughtful. “When and why did your paths cross?”

Payne ran his hand through his hair then pushed back from the table. “None of it matters if they are dead. Now we can concentrate on the backers.”

Another evasion. Didn’t they realize the longer they avoided the events, the more curious people would become?

“What did you do with Roberto’s body?” Ian looked at Kyle.

“I didn’t do anything with it. Once Mom roused and I was sure she was okay, I went back outside. The car was gone and so were the two we fought.”

“They just drove away with the body?” Ian shook his head. “This entire night has been bizarre.”

“Well, Devon is back unharmed and the head of the Abolitionists is dead. I call that a win.”