The Necklace Page 13

  Her heart rate picked up a pace, fear grabbed hold of her insides.

  Stay calm, Marissa. I am with you.

  A loud wrenching boomed. Marissa could hear metallic popping sounds, like bullets shooting through a wall. Her sensitive, acute hearing caused her head to ache from the noise. Gasping aloud, wanting to cover her ears, her arms flopped uselessly.

  Sleep, my love.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Tylan’s muscles bulged with effort as he ripped the door down. Since his mind was divided, half on the task at hand, and the other half focused on Marissa, the process was taking a little longer than normal.

  Unexpectedly, the metal yanked from his hands, the bent remains creaking open, the hinges screaming in protest.

  “You know, if you would have waited a few moments, I could’ve opened it for you.”

  Tylan frowned, staring at Gabriel in frustration.

  “If you hadn’t taken so long with those guards, I would have asked.”

  Gabriel smiled wickedly, his fangs and teeth glistening white in the darkened interior. “A boy’s gotta eat.”

  Tylan sighed, dismissing Gabriel’s confounded sense of humor. “Get to the other tank and help the warriors with the delaphin. They may have need of your skills.”

  “I’m not one of your subjects, Tylan. And I don’t take orders very well.”

  Stiffening, the urge to lash out nearly pushed reason from his mind.

  He and his warriors could have taken the institute without Gabriel, but not without a high probability of human loss of life and limb. The half breed’s talents had been invaluable in helping to subdue the security and institute staff, preventing anyone from sounding an alarm.

  Though, he knew this, Tylan still wanted to strike, blood lust and fear for Marissa fueling his rage.

  “Do as I say, Gabriel, because you owe me. I don’t have time to waste bantering with you. I must get my mate out of here.”

  “What about the other two?”

  “Give me some credit. I can handle two humans. I’ll take care of them. Now go,” he ordered roughly, his head cocking to the side, his mind’s eye watching the steady progression of warriors moving around the institute.

  “As you wish, my Lord,” Gabriel mumbled sarcastically, shaking his head, and misting away like smoke from a chimney.

  And Gabriel, no shifting to your—other form. Tylan added, speaking telepathically.

  He heard a loud snarl echo, and he knew instinctively Gabriel wasn’t happy about his order.

  Turning away, Tylan dismissed the half breed from his thoughts. He could see clearly inside the darkened laboratory, his senses and eyesight heightening. The strong aroma of Marissa’s essence filtered through his nostrils, calming his restless, agitated state.

  Though no sooner did he take a deep calming breath, than the strong tainted smell of the narcotics in her blood sizzled his anger to a furious boiling point.

  Growling softly, Tylan moved further into the lab, his eyes glancing over the medical equipment scattered around. He didn’t need to flair his senses to find the two humans hiding inside. The hushed noise of their panting breaths, the pungent smell of fear, alerted him to their location.

  Walking on silent feet, his footsteps muffled by the soft-soled shoes he wore, he stopped in front of a row of high-tech monitoring equipment.

  Glancing over his shoulder, his gaze went unerringly to where Marissa lay motionless, still held under the thrall of his compulsion.

  Every single portion of his soul wanted to go to her, hold her in his arms, caress her hair and face. Inhaling a deep draft of air, Tylan attempted to still the emotions inside of him. Slowly, rolling his eyes, he looked back toward the myriad of machines lined against the wall.

  Anger, bright and hot, penetrated his pores and he focused on his rage, on the torment Marissa received, on the capture of the delaphin, on any negative emotion aside from pity.

  Moving his palm, he swept his hand in a quick jerky motion, scattering equipment with the power of his mind.

  The two deceitful land dwellers screamed loudly, trying to move away, but he held them still with his thoughts, freezing their movements, pinning them to the wall nearby.

  “Please! Leave me alone. I didn’t do anything!”

  “You will both die for your treachery,” Tylan stated baldly, his voice hard and cold.

  “No-ah … it’s his fault. I didn’t do anything. I swear!”

  “Shut. Up. Jillian.”

  Whatever benevolence he might have felt disappeared as another wave of fury streaked through his veins. “Your stupidity knows no bounds, Litchfield. But I’m glad you’re not pleading for your life. I’m looking forward to ending it.” Tylan growled low and deep, moving closer, so his face was inches from the smaller man. “You put your hands on her. For that, you will die painfully.”

  “N-no … d-don’t,” a soft, broken voice intruded, “pl-please don’t kill them.”

  Startled, Tylan turned toward Marissa, watching as she tried to rise from the large examination table, her fin flapped about restlessly, her weakened arms attempting to lift her to sitting position.

  A wave of love moved through Tylan. “You should be resting, my love,” he said, walking toward the extra large gurney, wondering how and when she released his strong compulsion.

  “You can … not kill them, Tylan.”

  “Do not ask this of me, sena. They are a threat.”

  “I-I can’t have their bl-blood on my hands,” she whispered, staring up at him, her blue eyes misty with tears. “Please don’t.”

  Tylan sighed, knowing he could not cause her further hurt. She had already been through enough pain and agony.

  “For you, my love.”

  Marissa turned away, and Tylan wanted to flinch at the dejected look in her eyes.

  Reaching toward her slowly, afraid to startle her, Tylan ran his fingers through her hair. The long locks clumped in his hand, the wet tresses tangling around his fingers.

  “Try to rest. We’ll be leaving here after the delaphin is rescued.”

  “The-the what?” Marissa asked, her voice still bewildered from the effects of the mind-numbing drugs.

  “Don’t talk, leethil. All will be well soon.” He turned her face, making her look deep into his eyes, the power inside him strengthening. “Relax, Marissa,” he commanded, his voice laced with compulsion. “You need to rest.”

  Marissa’s eyelids drooped, and within a second, she fell into a deep sleep. This time, he made sure to reinforce the strong persuasion by pushing all worry and doubt from her mind. Even drugged, she was still extremely agitated, the restless nature of her thoughts helping to shake his earlier command.

  Turning to face the two deceitful land dwellers again, anger crested through his body, the urge to kill running strongly in his veins. Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, controlling the fury inside, dulling his emotions.

  “You are both fortunate she is kind and forgiving. I, on the other hand, would not hesitate to end your lives.” Tylan paused, stepping closer, his gaze moving along the short, freckle-faced brunette, and the gangly man frozen at her side. “Death will come quickly if you ever try to harm her again. And I assure you; no one will be able save you then. No one.”

  Tylan stared at them, penetrating their minds with the certainty of his words, capitalizing on their fear, planting suggestions of dire death and retribution.

  He would have liked to cloud their recollections, make them forget what they had seen and heard. But the length of time they’d been exposed to Marissa’s change, and their own greedy and selfish desires, made the task impossible without destroying every other single thought in their brain, including their most basic motor functions.

  The idea had tremendous merit, but leaving them broken and destroyed equated to the same as death. At least, he was sure Marissa would feel that way about it.

  Reaching through the layers of their minds, Tylan sent a strong compulsion, rendering the la
nd dwellers unconscious, commanding them not to wake for several hours.

  As they slumped to the floor in two heaps, their bodies limp, he still wanted to kill them, stop their breaths and release them to a slow unknowing death. He wouldn’t though, simply because his mate had asked him not to.

  Realizing there was nothing more he could do to them, Tylan turned away to walk back toward Marissa, his eyes glancing around the room, looking for something to cover her body. The night air held a decided chill, and he didn’t want her to be cold.

  Finding a large white lab coat lying on top of a table, he quickly draped it over her chest. Scooping her into her arms, Tylan marched from the room without looking over his shoulder.

  Stepping quickly, he didn’t stop till he stood next to Cowan, silently watching the procession of warriors moving in and around the facility.

  “How are things?”

  “Everything is moving along smoothly, my Lord. The delaphin is being prepared for transport as we speak.” Cowan paused, turning his head to stare down at Marissa. “How is she?”

  “Not well. She needs to see the Healer. How long will the transfer take?”

  “They still have to move the creature. It shouldn’t be more than a few more moments, my Lord.”

  “And there haven’t been any problems?”

  Cowan sighed, breathing deeply. “Not your typical type of problems, Sire.”

  “So, what’s the untypical type of problem?”

  “Gabriel.” Cowan stated succinctly.

  Tylan shook his head, refusing to debate this topic again.

  Although the benefits of involving the half breed were wholly apparent, it was obvious Cowan still resented the man’s intrusion.

  He knew part of Cowan’s reluctance stemmed from his natural distrust of land dwellers, even those not of the human persuasion. Yet, part of his dislike stemmed from something personal which he obviously refused to share.

  Tylan could intrude on his thoughts, determine the cause, but he didn’t want to. Whatever issues they had didn’t involve Eritrea. Of that, he was sure.

  “Make sure there are no further problems. Gabriel or not.”

  Cowan nodded, shifting his head away. “Absolutely, my Lord.”

  Tylan stared at him a moment longer, watching the slight play of emotions crossing his face. Keeping his mind clear, he turned away to look at Marissa, refusing to let his natural inclination seek out the cause of Gabriel and Cowan’s dislike.

  “She’s very pale, my Lord. Why don’t you take her back now?”

  “I don’t want any unfinished business when I leave, Cowan. I want it all done.”

  Shouts rang out, startling the two men.

  The delaphin was struggling against the mental hold of the warriors as she was lifted into the air, her mental and verbal shrieks careening through the silence.

  “Why is she so agitated?”

  “I do not know, my Lord. Perhaps her brain is addled from the confinement.”

  Tylan spoke directly into the creature’s mind. Be at ease. We are here to take you back to Eritrea.

  What wrong with Marissa? She not respond to me.

  Tylan’s arms flexed, and he walked closer toward the tank, looking up. She has been drugged, but she is alive. Cease your concern. We are bringing you home.

  Me not want to go. I want to know she is good.

  She needs to see the Healer. But, she will be fine. He stressed.

  Immediately, the creature’s struggles ceased, and she floated harmlessly in the air, her body drifting slowly through the night.

  “Get her to the truck,” Cowan yelled.

  Tylan sighed, though he would have preferred to levitate the animal directly to the ocean, there was no way to achieve a concealed presence.

  “It’s a good thing the humans are asleep. I think they might be a little freaked out by a floating fish,” Gabriel said, suddenly appearing from nowhere.

  Tylan rolled his eyes, glancing at the tightened expression on Cowan’s face. “I thought you had left.”

  “Naw. I wanted to see the rest of the festivities. It’s not everyday one of my kind gets to see Eritreans in action.”

  “I'll go see about the transport, my Lord. The company is no longer to my liking,” Cowan said, turning to walk down the pathway.

  “What is it between you two? I have never seen him act this way.”

  Gabriel swallowed, and Tylan could almost hear the slam of the mental shield going in place. Whatever had gone on between them, both men were keeping quiet, refusing to talk about the problems between them.

  Tylan sighed, his arms flexing around Marissa. Her color was still very sallow, and the dark shadows under her eyes worried him greatly.

  “So, this is the woman who has caused all this problem.”

  Tylan rolled his eyes toward Gabriel, raising Marissa higher against his chest. “Yes,” he answered without preamble, unwilling to show the depth of his feelings.

  The half breed reached a hand toward her face, twirling a lock of Marissa’s long hair between his fingers.

  Tylan growled softly, moving back a step and pushing against Gabriel with the force of his mind. “Step back!” he gritted, power running through his veins, his body gearing for battle.

  “I guess I would feel the same if I was in your position.”

  “Position?”

  “A mate, a female to call your own. I didn’t know it was so—involving.”

  “Now you know.”

  Gabriel nodded, stepping back, waving his arm in a conciliatory gesture. “So, you’re taking them back to Eritrea?”

  Tylan nodded, glancing around the institute.

  Quiet surrounded the deserted interior, the smell of the nearby open ocean hung heavy in his nostrils. The thick light of the moon shone down, casting figures in an eerie shade. Even the blowing wind remained quiet.

  Most of his warriors had left to attend to the preparation of the delaphin’s conveyance, and his mind’s eye looked in on the proceedings, watching as his warriors placed the creature inside the specially designed carrier tank.

  The container had originally been built to transport the creature after his shadow company, E-corps., purchased the institute. Now, however, it served as the means to escape in the dark of the night.

  The semi would convey the delaphin back to a safe point, where a battalion of his best warriors would escort the creature back to the provinces, safe and sound.

  “Consider your debt to me repaid,” he said, settling his sight on Gabriel.

  “A life debt is a serious matter. I don’t think I could ever repay you.”

  Tylan frowned at the sadness in Gabriel’s voice.

  For as long as he had known him he had never known the half breed to sound so forlorn. He was usually full of laughter and jokes. To hear him sound so lost worried Tylan.

  “I invite you to come back to my home. I assure you will be welcomed there. Your help in this matter has been invaluable.”

  “Ha! Who would welcome me, Tylan? A half breed rogue? I think you underestimated the peace-loving nature of your people. Cowan and Kefar would have a fit.”

  “That’s why it’s good to be King, Gabe. I can do what I want. Come back with me,” he urged further. “Rest for as long as you want. Enjoy the comforts of my home.”

  Gabriel smiled at him, but his face held no signs of laughter, only fatigue and unease. “No, I belong in the shadows, in the dark. I have no place in your kingdom.” He sighed, walking away, true shadows beginning to cover him. “I don’t have a place anywhere.”

  “I pray to Vala it will not always be so for you, Gabriel,” he said sincerely, wishing better for the man who under different circumstances would have been a great friend. “Whether you believe it or not, you have a good heart. You just need to use it more.”

  Gabriel did laugh then, his voice filling with his usual liveliness. “Whatever you say, my Lord. You can do me one favor though.”

  “What’s that?”<
br />
  “Tell Cowan I said goodbye.”

  Tylan snorted, staring at Gabriel’s retreating figure.

  Looking down at Marissa, he embraced her tighter, relishing the feel of her in his arms.

  “Be at ease now, my love. All will be well soon.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “She has slipped into a deep recess of the mind, my Lord. She is stuck in limbo, so to speak. She will die if she stays in this state much longer.”

  Tylan closed his eyes, his mouth agape. He couldn’t believe what the Healer was telling him, didn’t want to believe. Yet, as he watched the slow rise and fall of Marissa’s chest he knew the words were truthful.

  He knew something was wrong with her moments after they left the institute. But he didn’t fully discover the problem until hours later.

  Furious jet streams and hard seismic waves slowed the journey through the ocean’s depths, and although he tried to wake his mate several times, she continued sleeping, her breathing and body temperature growing more erratic with each passing second.

  Tylan had to make the final six miles to Eritrea towing her limp body through the water, deathly afraid for her and hoping against hope that in her altered form the rich oxygen of the sea would stabilize her body functions.

  Lifting his lids, Tylan stared at the Healer, not seeing the beauty many claimed rivaled Helen of Troy’s. He only saw the pallor of Marissa’s skin as she lay on his bed, motionless and too near death.

  “How could I not have known? I merged with her—mated.” Tylan shook his head, a mist of tears gathering in his eyes. “I sent her to sleep. Why could I not sense the disturbance in her body then?” he railed, upset at his own lack of insight.

  “You couldn’t have known, Sire. Although you have mated, she is extremely resistant to shift. Her body wants to respond, but her mind is locked because she doesn’t understand.”

  The Healer walked toward him, her bare feet moving soundlessly against the marble floor of his private sanctum. Stopping directly in front of him, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

  Tylan knew the gesture was supposed to be one of consolation, but the guilt assailing his soul didn’t allow room for comfort.

  “You have to save her, Healer. You have to,” he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. “Tell me there is something you can do.”