Born of Fire

And he saw that fear in Traysen’s eyes. The man was staring into the beautiful face of death and in spite of its delicate features, it lacked all mercy. That was a hell unimaginable and he never wanted to be on the receiving end of her hatred and determination. No wonder Caillen wouldn’t mess with her.

She cut the transmission. “We need to prepare.”

With a subtle nod, he pulled his laptop from the bag and set to work on finding information about the man who’d been assigned to the office where he’d dumped the chip.

Shahara paced the floor while Syn worked, wishing she could do something more productive. A subtle tapping sounded at the window. At first she ignored it.

“Could you let Vik in?”

She popped herself on the forehead. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” She went over and opened the window.

Vik came inside, cursing them both. “Do you know how painful the cold is on my circuitry?”

“Sorry.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

Syn looked up with a heavy sigh. “Quit bitching and get over here, Vik. I need you to boost my signal. I’m having trouble getting into a couple of servers.”

“Yes, oh, great snotty bastard.” Vik flew to his side, then extended a limb to plug into the computer. “Nice to know—”

“One more word, Vik, and I’m reprogramming you to remove your voice.”

He pressed his metallic lips together and shut up immediately.

Shahara would have been amused had their situation not been so dire. “There’s nothing I can do to help, is there?”

“Don’t distract me.”

And yet she knew she couldn’t stay here without bothering him. She wanted to know what he was doing. What he was learning. Tessa will die if you slow him down . . .

She picked up the link. “I’m going to leave you alone. Call me when you have something.”

He nodded.

Grabbing the new jacket, she left him and Vik and went walkabout so that she could at least try and clear her head. But it was impossible. All she could see was Tessa’s face when she’d been a kid, depending on Shahara. Back when she’d been training as a seax, Tessa had learned to cook and would always greet her at the door with some kind of treat.

“One day I want to be just like you.”

Only she’d wanted better than that for her sister.

Her heart heavy, she paused in the lobby to stare up at the beautiful dress in the boutique. How she wished she could afford things like that for her and her sisters.

I can’t even keep them safe.

Tears of frustration gathered in her eyes as she left the hotel with no destination in mind. It wasn’t until she reached a temple at the end of the second block that she stopped again.

Never one for religion, she approached the door slowly. It was Syn’s denomination. She still found his religiousness mystifying. How could he have faith after all he’d been through?

But then, maybe that was the beauty of it. There was no faith greater than that that had been tested and survived.

Wanting to find her own peace, she went inside. A young priestess around the age of twenty, and wearing the same robe as Mother Anne, stood in a nearby corner, restocking the supply of tapers. “Good evening, child,” she said with a tender smile.

“Good evening, Mother.”

“It’s a terribly cold night for you to be out. What trouble brings you to our door?”

“I . . . I’ve come to pray.”

The priestess smiled and handed her a candle. “Then I won’t disturb you. May you find peace tonight, child, and may the gods keep you and those you love safe.”

She didn’t know why, but those kind words brought tears to her eyes. “Thank you, Mother.”

The priestess inclined her head respectfully to her, then returned to work.

Shahara took the taper and went to light it. As quietly as she could, she entered the nave and found a quiet spot to kneel on the floor. She glanced around at the statues of the gods and wondered if they really existed. Did they see her or even care what was happening to her?

Neither of her parents had been religious, and she’d never had time for it in her life. But tonight . . .

Tonight she didn’t want to feel alone in the universe. She wanted to believe that there was a higher power that had brought her to this pass. That something had a plan, because she certainly didn’t.

Don’t die, Tess . . .

Tears fell down her cheeks as she faced reality. What was she going to do? To save Tess would mean Syn’s life. Merjack wouldn’t stop until Syn was dead.

What have I done?

She’d made a pact with the devil for one man’s life. And not just any man.

The only man she’d ever loved.

I can’t do this. I can’t hand him over to die.

But what choice did she have? And as those thoughts chased each other around in her head, she heard one deep, intrinsic male voice above them all.

Trust me.

Syn growled in frustration as he kept searching fruitlessly for information about Merrin Lyche. How could there be nothing on the man?

It was like chasing a ghost.

C’mon, don’t do this to me. Most of all, he didn’t want it done to Shahara.

Disgusted, he pulled a tiny ring out of his pocket and studied it.