She sprinted down the alley, knowing she would have to stall James until they brought the card, trick him into thinking she had it. And pray for Zach to hold on until she got to him.
*
Pain threatened to consume him.
Every movement was white-hot agony. The blade shredded Zach’s strength, its power pushing at his, trying to find a way in. Only an instinctive barrier kept it from consuming him. Zach was sure he could thank his former incarnation for that.
He fought to breathe, and each breath hurt more than the last. The only advantage was that the pain overrode any need to find. He would have to remember that for later. If there was a later. Don’t go there—Mom’s coming. Just hang on.
He heard James muttering, an accent that had always been just under his voice more pronounced with every word.
“How the bloody hell does she know?” James jerked him off the tree-lined path, and agony dropped Zach to the ground. “It’s a good thing we are here, seeker.” Zach bit his lip on a scream. James pushed at him until he lay on his back, the trees shading him from the pale, late afternoon sun.
He wanted to yank out the knife, wanted it so badly his hand kept inching toward the hilt. But part of him knew that he would only bleed faster if he did.
“Not dying already, are we? I did so want you to watch while I choke the life out of your dear mother. After I learn who she was.”
He stalked away, rubbing his bald head and talking to himself. Zach dug his left hand into the cold grass, held on to the knowledge that Mom was on her way, and kept breathing.
*
Simon pulled his cell phone out and dialed Eric’s number, figuring he would be the most level headed of the group.
“Simon?”
“I don’t have time to explain, so just listen.” He gave a two sentence recap. “Claire wants you to meet her at the cliff where she fought Natasha, said you’d understand.”
“Yeah—I do.”
“Bring the card, and Marcus. And leave Annie behind if you can.”
“Right.” Eric let out a sigh. “You know where it is?”
“I’m following Claire. I’ll meet you there.”
He ended the call, never taking his eyes off the slight figure running ahead of him. She was so intent on her target, she never looked behind her. Simon fully expected her to turn on him at any moment. It didn’t look like that was going to happen.
At their fast pace, they’d reach Zach in record time. Simon knew he didn’t have long, especially if the knife pierced any vital organ. But Zach was strong—even stronger than before Simon left, and more than physically. The vivid blue glow surrounding him surprised Simon. And the way it reached out to other people, the people Zach cared about, like the touch of—
An angel.
If they got through this, he and Zach were going to have a long, private talk.
NINE
“Oh, hell no. You are not leaving me behind.” Annie stalked past Eric, grabbing her coat off the rack near the door. “I’m going. End of conversation.”
“Annie—”
“I’ll stay in the car, Eric.” She gripped his hand, so scared she could hardly think straight. “Please, don’t make me stay here, alone, wondering what’s happening.”
“Fine.” Eric pulled her with him to the door. Marcus already waited outside with the keys to Eric’s new SUV. “But you stay in the car, blondie. No changing your mind once we get there.”
“I won’t. Cross my heart.” She let out her breath, relief spreading through her. Aside from not knowing, the bouts of indigestion were coming on more often. She didn’t really want to be alone if the indigestion turned out to be—something else.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” she whispered, spreading both hands over her stomach as she followed Eric outside, overwhelmed by the sudden, fierce love that surged through her more and more lately. “Just hang out in there a little longer. Until we’re all safe.”
*
Claire followed James’ scent, an ugly taint of darkness that leaked out from his soul. The blood trail Zach left in his wake scared her into moving faster.
She stepped off the path and headed for the cliff. Zach lay on the grass, a tweed jacket under his head, his right hand curled around the knife hilt, pain etched into his face. James stood next to him, arrogant and flush with the power of Agnes’ death.
“Where is the card, Claire?” The cold wind whipped around them, shredding his voice. Claire heard him; all of her heightened senses were coming back. “I have played and won too many times to be fooled. Who are you?” Vicious temper slapped at her. “My aunt never warned me about you. Never said anything.”