Chapter 43

Remi was glad at that moment she had no blood family; it seemed to her that it was a horrible complication, she swallowed the lump in her throat when Brome’s cousin began to raise his hands.

Brome made a guttural noise and stepped back a few feet. “Not this time, dear Gris.” He stepped forward and threw his hands out in front of him making the other mage step back this time. “It ends tonight. You will find justice is your new bedmate.”

Holding her breath, Remi watched as each time they moved their hands it seemed to hurt the other. Finn hissed and stepped a few feet in front of her. Remi knew he wanted to do something, but what could a fledgling vamp do against a powerful mage? “No, Finn,” she said softly.

Looking quickly back to Brome, her heart stuttered to see him hunched over. That Gris jerk had a big smile on his face. Remi felt a heat moving through her, this was bad. She started to take a step forward when Vie stepped into sight. She had her hands raised out from her sides her mouth was moving but Remi couldn’t hear what she said.

Remi watched as Vie raised her hands and Gris stumbled back several feet, his head snapping around to look at her, the shocked expression on his face made Remi want to shout, ‘Go, Vie,’ but she kept silent.

Gris grabbed his head and winced. “How…”

Brome had recovered by this point. “Cousin, may I introduce the lovely Vienna.” He started walking toward the other mage. “She’s like no one you’ve ever met before, or ever will again.” Gris fell to his knees, moaning as Brome stepped up in front of him. Reaching into an invisible—Remi didn’t know what, his arm disappeared up to his elbow and then he pulled it out and held up a glowing blue pair of handcuffs.

“I’ve got him, Vienna.” He moved behind his cousin and put the cuffs on. Immediately, Gris didn’t seem big and scary. Now he just looked like a normal man, about to face a hefty sentence. Remi guessed the cuffs suppressed whatever abilities or magic he had.

Vie stumbled a step and then leaned down over her knees. “That’s all I have in me.”

Brome yanked Gris to his feet and dragged him in her direction. “That’s all we were meant to do in this.” Reaching her, he put his arm around her and headed back to the trees they’d hidden behind.

Darien’s growl brought her attention back to look across the field. In the time she’d been caught up watching a mage battle, all hell had broken loose. Nadine and the witches were scattered around the field, each taking on one or more, witches. Hope looked like she was bored with the whole thing as two young girls chanted loudly while facing her. With a flick of her hand, they stopped talking and clawed at their own mouths. That would be a handy skill. Hope laughed, “If your strength lies in saying words aloud, you’ll never be skilled enough to last.” She stomped toward them, a pair of blue cuffs in each hand.

Shaking her head, Remi turned to see how Nadine fared. Her two coven mates were backing in her direction, five others walking toward them. Naddy had a scowl on her face, the look one of complete concentration. Those pressing toward her paused, but it didn’t last long. Remi started to head toward her, not sure what the hell she was going to do, but Emery stepped in front of her.

“Focus,” he said around a mouthful of fangs.

Nodding, she stopped and took a deep breath; reaching…she still didn’t feel anything. So much for this happening when she needed it.

Pascal appeared a few feet away from Nadine and with a grin on his face glided in the direction of the witches Nadine and her mates were trying to stop. Remi saw the look of determination appear on her friend’s face as the vampire distracted the younger witches long enough that she could toss a spell, or whatever, their way.

Satisfied they would prevail, Remi turned her attention to the twins, Ranae and Deane were flanked by the not-so-pretty relatives now. What sounded like hisses and cursing came from them and the horde they faced. Deane laughed as one of the male elves opposing her fell to his knees and clutched at his throat. Scary.

Deane yelped and then spat out blood. No one was even standing near her, so Remi had no idea who was responsible. In an instant Leontes was there, hauling a woman up in the air, so her feet were dangling off the ground. Deane grinned, evilly, but still a grin, and moved closer. With a tilt of her head, the woman gasped and kicked her feet. Satisfied the elf had it under control, Leontes blurred out of sight.

A shrill laugh, one she knew was Iris’ brought her attention to the right of where Remi stood. Iris and Alaric, both looking like this was some kind of party were advancing on half a dozen fey. The fey didn’t even seem slightly concerned as the large elder fey and crazy red-haired one moved toward them.

She was so far out of her league here, Remi decided as she took deep, deep breaths and tried to stir this supposed skill that was hidden inside her.

Iris made what Remi could only call a rebel yell and launched herself at a tall fey.

Garrett emitted a low, menacing growl and moved in the direction of the fey action. Darien now stood right in front of her like a giant guardian. The sound of pain made her look back, all she caught was Iris flying through the air and landing on her back with a loud moan.

Fury filled Remi, so strong it took her breath away. Without thinking, she ran toward Iris, Emery, and Finn right on either hip. As she reached her the fey man that had hurt her faerie friend stood over her. Pushing right past logical thought, Remi stopped and glared at him. He stopped, his eyes moving to her with shock on his face.

Finn flew through the air and tackled him to the ground, then paused and looked over his shoulder at Remi. “You did it, he’s paralyzed.”

Stunned for a second, Remi nodded. “Stay with him. I don’t know how long it works.”

Finn stood up and placed a foot on his chest. “Got it.”

Alaric shouted to Iris, as she sat up slowly. He tossed something to her, blue cuffs landed beside her. Remi recognized the look of vengeance on the little fey’s face and stopped moving in her direction.

Iris got up, cursing under her breath, and went over to the faerie Finn all but stood on now. “Flip him over on his face.”

“With pleasure.” Finn leaned down and rolled the large fey over like he was a small child.

“Are we winning?” Iris asked as she snapped the cuffs on the man.

“It’s a tie so far, I’d say,” he told her.

Getting up, she brushed off her pants and ran a hand through her messy hair. “Then let’s get back to work.”

The fog suddenly thickened and Remi turned trying to see, only to find white all around her. It had to be magic.

Fifty fifty, Remi thought as she looked around. There was so much commotion she wasn’t sure where to look. Bodies moved in and out of the fog, sounds of pain and victory echoing in the darkness. “Darien,” Remi whispered and in an instant, he was at her side. “Go help. Emery will stay with me.” She watched the hesitant look in his yellow eyes. She shook her head. “Go help our people.” Growling softly, he glanced at Emery and then turned and disappeared into the fog.

“Attis,” she said quietly knowing he was lurking somewhere nearby. He appeared out of nowhere. “Find Naddy or Hope, get them to clear this damn fog somehow.” He studied her. She shrugged, “I did it once, but if I can’t see anyone, I can’t do much.” Nodding abruptly, he sent Emery a look and then blurred into the darkness.

Looking over at Emery, she took a quick sharp breath and exhaled. “Let’s go find someone to help.” He didn’t bother to give her a tentative look, just held out his arm and motioned for her to pick a direction.

Stepping through the fog, Remi kept her hands loose at her side, she had no idea who she would see first, but she needed to be ready.

Emery stopped so suddenly Remi came close to walking into him. Damn, this fog. He hunched down, his stance widening telling her that they were close to someone, and unless his vamp senses weren’t working, she was pretty sure it was someone they didn’t want to be near.

Before Remi could decide what to do, Emery was knocked back, sliding across the dirt with another vampire on top of him. A growl unlike any sound she’d ever heard came from him as Em jumped to his feet, the other vampire dropping away like he’d been nothing more than dust on his shirt. Emery stood straight and glared at him, his eyes glowing red. A haunting fanged smile appeared on his face as he stepped closer to this other vamp.

Remi’s heart surged, a tingling heat bursting through her. Raising her hand toward the stranger, she felt a chill go down her arm.

Emery stopped and then his shoulders slumped slightly. “Killjoy,” he said glancing at her and she realized that the vampire was stopped where he stood, a look of hatred on his face.

“So sue me,” Remi uttered and then looked around but couldn’t see anything in the fog. “Cuffs!” she called out.

Elaine appeared out of the fog. She stopped and looked at Emery and then to the other vampire. “I see you’ve figured it out, Keeper.”

“Let’s hope,” Remi told her as she turned to go back into the fog. “How are the witches making out lifting this fog?”

Elaine shook her head, “Brome has gone to lend a hand.” She snapped the cuffs on the vampire, “It’s taking all the fun out of it when you can’t see the mayhem.”

Emery gave Remi a wide-eyed look and then motioned to the left.

“Just think of it as hide and seek,” Remi offered as she followed him into the void hoping all of it was over soon. Elaine’s eerie laugh echoed around her.