Chapter 94
“Imagine an Earth as it was a thousand years ago. Immense forests, lush jungles, clean rivers and oceans, immaculate snow-topped mountains. That’s myworld. We don’t want technology. We don’t need it. We have all we ever need without it.”
“Then what doyou protect the portals from?” Shaw asked.
“From yourworld. Or more specifically those who seek to invade us and ruin our world the way they’ve ruined yours.” Drake shrugged.
“Can you imagine your billionaires, your industrialists, the very people who pollute and destroy your world, coming and doing the same in ours?” Bron took over speaking as Drake lapsed into silence. “Making slaves of those who are peace-loving? No, the portals aren’t to keep your world safe from invasion by my kind. It’s to keep your kind from invading ours.”
The revelation stunned Shaw. “Then what happened? Who wants the key?”
“A powerful man and, unfortunately, as he’s also a Halfblood, he’s well-aware of our existence, andof our paradise. Some Halfbloods on this side of the portal know the truth and help defend the keys, others think the portals keep us out, but a few only care about wealth. That’s what makes him so dangerous. He’s rich enough to buy many, and those he can’t buy, he deals with in other ways.”
“Like he tried to deal with you.” Shaw’s voice dropped in timbre and Drake cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Yes. Exactly so. His minions are more interested in power and riches than in keeping our world from becoming as poisoned as yours.”
“We need to get back.” Bron leaned forward. “It isn’t safe. We don’t know friend from enemy, and we have few allies here.”
“Where do you need to go?” Nik asked.
“The portal is hidden in what you know as Tararua Forest Park, not too far from here.” Bron stood up. “The longer we stay here, the more likely it is we’ll be tracked down. I’m sorry Drake, but we have to think of the key first.”
“Yes, I know.”
The mournful edge to Drake’s tone left a cold lump in Shaw’s stomach, but he could understand that the key needed to be taken back. Even if it wasn’t for the way he felt about Drake, he wouldn’t want a world of peace and beauty turned into the war, greed, and hate-ravaged world of his own.
“We can go in my car.” Nik got to his feet and pulled out the key from his pocket. “If we go now, we’ll get there before it gets too dark.”
“It’s for the best, Drake.” Bron reached out to his brother, and Drake nodded, took Bron’s hand, and stood up. “We’ll find a way for you to come back soon.”
“I know you will.” Drake looked at Shaw whose stomach lurched at the sadness in Drake’s eyes.
“Do you—do you want the key back now?” Shaw fought to keep his voice from wavering, but Drake shook his head.
“No. Keep it for now.”
Within a minute they were in Nik’s car and driving to the forest. As much as Shaw had wanted to sit with Drake, his lover and Bron had settled in the back, and so Shaw rode shotgun next to Nik.
Half an hour into the drive, Shaw became aware of the amulet growing warmer against his skin. He glanced at the wing mirror and frowned. A large car was catching up, clearly being driven well over the speed limit.
“Fucking idiots,” Nik muttered. “Just because it’s an open road. I’ll slow down a little, let them pass.”
“What’s wrong?” Bron asked, but before Shaw could reply, the vehicle came screaming up alongside theirs, then slammed into their car.
The unexpected maneuver sent them careering off the road, Shaw clinging tightly to the door handle as Nik fought with the wheel, trying to steer the car and bring it to a controlled stop.
Still reeling from the shock, Shaw grunted as the car came to an abrupt stop, and his glasses flew off. Before he could recover, someone had opened the door and hauled him out. His arms were pinned behind his back and Shaw squinted to see what was happening.
A gang of men surrounded Nik’s car, and while Bron and Drake came out of the vehicle fighting, they were heavily outnumbered. Within a couple of minutes, they were subdued, and a still-dazed Nik was dragged out of the car.
Another man came sauntering toward them. He swung something in his hand, but he was too far away for Shaw to clearly make out what it was. Shaw’s stomach rolled ominously as the stranger drew nearer. It looks like a baseball bat.
To Shaw’s surprise, the newcomer went straight to Nik.