Binding Ties
Page 14

“How many more wounded are there?”
“Several, based on the smell of blood in the air. It’s going to take Hope and I at least an hour or so to get all the healing done. I’m afraid that after that, we’re going to be spent for the night.”
“What about Tynan and the others?”
Logan shook his head. “They’re too weak. The blooded humans have refused to give them blood. They blame all us Sanguinar for what Connal did.”
“Have Tynan come see me. I’ll give him the blood he needs. Andreas is playing down his injuries, but his arm is useless. He needs attention, and we need his people to have a voice of leadership. I doubt the Slayers would enjoy me telling them what to do.”
Logan nodded, his silver eyes lighting from within. “I understand. We must avoid more bloodshed until Hope has a chance to replenish her power in the sun tomorrow.”
“If you have to, stabilize the civilians and finish healing them tomorrow. We need all the fighters on their feet tonight. Children are missing.”
“It will be done,” said Logan, and he turned and went back to work.
The next hour passed in chaos as people were sorted out and given healing and shelter. Gerai—the humans who had dedicated their lives to serving the Sentinels—worked inside to provide food, beds, and a much-needed distraction for the traumatized children.
Warriors, both Theronai and Slayer, guarded the perimeter, watchful for approaching enemies. Soon, the huge front lawn inside the tall stone walls around Dabyr grew quiet and calm once again.
Joseph had worked nonstop, directing people to where they would be of the most use. Even as Tynan drank blood from Joseph’s wrist, he continued issuing orders so that everyone got to safety as quickly as possible.
Once the vehicles were housed in the garage and the last civilian was taken inside, Joseph texted his warriors to summon them to his office, leaving only a few inside the gates to sound the alarm if bad things came their way.
Andreas was waiting for him, along with several of Joseph’s men.
Lyka sat beside her brother, her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at him in defiance.
Fine. If she wanted to stay, let her stay. She eased his pain and helped him think more clearly, even if she was trying to kill him with her gaze.
“How many able-bodied men do you have?” Joseph asked Andreas.
“A dozen warriors and six trackers.”
“Seven,” said Lyka.
Joseph ignored her. “I’ve reached two teams in the field. They’re headed this way and can meet up with your trackers. My men will pair up and tag along with the other four trackers.”
“Five,” said Lyka.
Again, Joseph ignored her. “Will you be on one of the teams?” he asked Andreas. “Or are you staying here with your people?”
“I’m staying until sunrise to coordinate our movements. If Eric isn’t found by then, I’ll be leaving, too.”
“I’ve asked the Gerai to give you whatever supplies you need. Your road-worthy trucks are being gassed up now. It’s going to take time to clean the blood out of some of them, and they’ll have to stay here until they’re clean, so they don’t attract more demons.”
“I appreciate that,” said Andreas. “But I have another favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“The civilians and the young . . . they need a place to stay until we can relocate.”
“They’re welcome here for as long as you need.”
Several of the Theronai shared concerned looks, but kept their mouths shut.
“I know it might cause trouble,” said Andreas, “but I’ve warned them all that I’ll punish anyone who gets out of line. We’re guests here. They’re all to be on their best behavior.”
Lyka crossed her arms over her chest. “They’re not going to like being prisoners here any more than I do.”
“They’re not prisoners,” said Joseph.
“That’s what you keep telling me, too, and yet I’m not allowed to leave. Are they?”
Joseph couldn’t deal with her now—not when there was so much to do, and certainly not in front of an audience. “You know it’s not safe for them to leave. We’ll talk about it more when this crisis is averted.”
She shot to her feet. “If you think you can push me aside like a whiny child, you’re wrong. I don’t need your permission to do what’s right.” She shifted her death-ray stare to Andreas. “Or yours.”
Lyka was out the door before Joseph could stop her. He wanted to go after her, but knew it wasn’t an option. He had a rescue mission to organize, a bunch of frightened children to soothe, wounded to attend and more than five hundred lives to protect. He couldn’t allow the feelings of one woman to get in his way.
“I’ll go after her,” said Andreas. “Make sure she doesn’t cause you any trouble.”
Madoc unrolled a map on the table. “Let her go. How fucking much trouble could she possibly cause?”
Joseph winced.
Andreas let out a humorless laugh. “You clearly don’t know my sister. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“We can’t wait on you,” said Joseph.
Andreas nodded at his cousin—the one who’d been on death’s door when he’d arrived. He looked as strong and healthy as any Slayer alive now, thanks to Logan and Hope. “Amhas was there. He knows as much as I do.”
Amhas nodded his shaggy blond head. “I got this. Good luck.”
Andreas squared his shoulders. “Thanks. I’m going to need all I can get.”
Chapter 6
This wasn’t the first time Lyka had considered inciting rebellion and she doubted it would be the last.
She was halfway to the main room of Dabyr, where her kind was being kept, when Andreas caught up with her. He grabbed her sleeve and pulled her to a stop. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“You seemed to need my help, so I’m warning our people that they may be held here against their will. That way they can leave before it’s too late.”
“You call that help? What I really need is a sister who can listen and follow instructions. I told you to mind your manners, to be the glue that would bind our two people together, not to try to convince a bunch of uprooted, frightened people that they just walked into some kind of prison.”