"How are you doing this?" he demanded.

Now that my emotions had been released, I couldn't hold back. I gathered cl.u.s.ters of energy and continued to toss them at him. Over and over, with all the fury and helplessness raging inside me. He fell, and I used the thickened air to gather his knife. The sharp blade hovered in the air. As his eyes widened, I inched it closer to his neck.

He stilled, not daring to breathe.

"How does it feel to be helpless against another's powers?" I taunted. The words were a whisper of wind, but he understood.

He opened his mouth to yell for help.

"Call your guards," I said, pressing the knife even closer, "and it will be the last sound you ever make."

His voice gurgled to quiet.

"That's better." Keeping the knife steady with one hand, I used my other to gather enough energy and tug off the gold band anch.o.r.ed at his neck.

"The moment you release me, I'll be able to kill your body. A spirit cannot live without a host."

"That's true," I admitted.

"How long do you think you can hold me like this?"

"As long as it takes. Are you an honorable man, Devyn?"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him reaching up, intending to grab the knife and throw it away from him.

"Uh, uh, uh," I said, and pushed more energy toward him, digging the tip a little deeper into his neck. A drop of amber-colored blood formed.

A growl of frustration parted his mouth, but his hands stilled.

"Are you an honorable man?" I asked again.

"Yes, d.a.m.n you."

"Then vow to me here and now to send me home at the next solar flare, and I will let you live."

"No."

"No? I can kill you now, reenter my body, and escape this place."

"You would never make it past my guards. They were chosen for their telekinetic abilities, as well as their s.a.d.i.s.tic natures. When they spot you, and they will, they will make you regret the decision to leave me."

"I bet you thought I'd never be able to hold a blade at your throat, either."

Silence.

"You're not going to kill me," he finally said. Sweat dripped from his temples. "You're a woman and a Raka. Your people might be rare, but I know you are peaceful. Sensual. Violence is used only by the ruling cla.s.s."

"Maybe I'm part of the ruling cla.s.s, because you see, Devyn, I'm more than a government agent. I'm an a.s.sa.s.sin. I've killed countless people, and killing you will be no hardship. Why do you think I let EenLi capture me? Why do you think my man was trying to 'buy' me? So I could kill EenLi and destroy his slave ring."

The Targon stiffened.

"I'm willing to let you live, however." The moment I'd met those women in the cell, my goal had ceased to be proving my own worth or being known as the best. My goal had changed to one of savior. The women, Lucius. And I'd make a deal with the devil himself to do so. "What do you say, Targon? Your life for a ticket home."

"Do I get to bed you for my troubles?"

"No. I will let you kiss my feet, though."

He snorted. One of his hands tangled roughly in his hair as he considered my offer. Obviously, no one had ever gotten the best of him, and he didn't know what to make of me-a true threat or a novel amus.e.m.e.nt. Had I been here on vacation, I might have enjoyed the king's antics.

"What do you say?" I demanded. "I'm growing impatient."

"I paid good money for you," he whined.

"So I'll pay you back."

"You cannot pay me back the two warriors I gave up for you."

"What if I promise not to cut off your p.e.n.i.s? Will that help alleviate your sense of loss?"

He gulped. "We have ourselves a deal, Raka."

Chapter.

25.

Though I remained on alert, I released my energy-hold on the knife and necklace and they clanged to the floor. I quickly reentered my body and popped to my feet. Devyn stayed true to his word and didn't call for his men, nor did he try to kill me. He merely pushed to his feet, then dusted off his kilt (or whatever the h.e.l.l that skirt thing was called). All the while, a dark expression tightened his handsome features.

I gathered the fallen items and faced him directly. "You got something to say?"

"I am very angry about this."

"You'll get over it. How long until the next solar flare?"

At first, he didn't answer. He shoved a hand through his hair and stared up at the ceiling, before finally expelling a long breath. "A solar flare isn't needed. Come," he said, the single word whipping out with the force of a bullet. He spun on his heel.

I followed after him, still not dropping my guard. "What do you mean, one is not needed?"

"Solar flares are only needed to travel from Earth, not Targon. Here we use the Skyway."

The gel-like pool, I realized. I tucked that information away, knowing I'd have to give a full report to Michael.

When Devyn and I strode into the narrow hallway that led into the white stone room where I'd found the necklaces, the guards posted at the walls stood at perfect attention. I was so agitated, so ready to be home, my limbs were shaking.

"Open," Devyn said.

Two of the men immediately complied, prying the doors apart. Devyn and I slipped inside. As the doors closed behind us, Devyn said, "This human of yours." His tone displayed a complete lack of interest, but I knew better. He didn't turn to look at me. "What makes him so special? And do not tell me he is yours. There is a reason, something that sets him apart."

I leapt up the stairs two at a time, the king right on my heels. This man was taking me to Lucius and the enslaved women, so I was feeling generous toward him. "He stirs something inside me," I answered. "He fires my blood in a way I don't understand."

"I could do the same. I promise you."

"Perhaps.Perhaps not."

A pause. Then, "What if I am taking you back to Earth simply to kill your human and get him out of my way? If he's not already dead," he added. He took the necklace I still held and wrapped it around his neck.

"He's not, and you know I'll kill you if you hurt him." I had placed a lot of trust in this one self-centered man. But Iwas prepared to kill him at any time-if he didn't kill me first. I was willing to take the chance, though.

"I want you for my own," he said. "I haven't tried to hide that fact."

"You do have some pride, don't you?"

"Not really." A wicked twinkle entered his eyes, and he grabbed my hand, jerking me to a stop. Light from the Skyway caressed his face, illuminating his pale skin. His dark hair wisped over his forehead. "Why don't we strike another bargain, you and I, hmm? I'll give you my royal oath to help you save your man if you'll give me a single night with you."

I flipped my hair over my shoulder with a flick of my wrist. "We made a bargain already. I didn't knife you, and now you're taking me home."

"Ah, but I can do more than simply take you home. I can save your man...and take you to EenLi."

He was deadly serious, no hint of teasing in his expression. The wicked twinkle was gone. I stood, watching him, bathed in indecision. Trust him. Not trust him. Either way, he'd just offered me something I couldn't turn down, no matter the price.

"Deal," I said, the word a hard knot in my throat.

He nodded. "The deal must be sealed in blood." He kneeled, dragging me down with him, and unsheathed a blade from his side. I tensed, but didn't move as he sliced the silver tip down his bare chest. Amber blood dripped down his rippled muscles. "Give me your arm."

Tentative, I stretched my arm toward him. He clasped my wrist and slipped the blade over the skin, cutting. Not deep, just enough to draw blood. He lifted my wrist and meshed it against the wound in his chest. I could feel his heartbeat, a rapidb.u.mp, b.u.mp.

"You have my vow of aid, Eden Black. Your man and your enemy will be mine to give you." He motioned to me with a tilt of his chin. "Now you."

"You have my vow, Devyn," I said, shaking inside. If there were any other way, I'd take it. But there wasn't, and I knew it. "One night with me."

After the words were spoken, the air around us thickened, became as dappled as the Skyway. A living force. I blinked and gazed around in shock. I even reached out, sliding my fingertips over the jelly-like air. It was as cool and ephemeral as a dream.

"To break either vow means death," he said, standing. He pulled me up beside him. He watched me for a long while, then nodded. "The bargain is now struck. Come."

We zigzagged through several more hallways and finally hit the top of the stairs. My arm burned, but I ignored the slight pain. Devyn grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the pool.

"I need a necklace, too," I said, dragging my feet to slow him.

"Just hold on to me, and you will be fine." He flicked me an unreadable glance. "There is still time to change your mind."

"No."

"Very well," he sighed.

"What happens if-" I wanted to know what would happen if we became separated, but he pulled me inside the oddly dry jelly before I could finish my sentence. I was sucked into a vacuum. My feet lost their solid anchor, and my heartbeat quickened, nearly exploding inside my chest. Screams erupted, winding around me like ivy leaves reaching for the sun. Too-bright stars buzzed past my head.

A terrible wind kicked up, shoving me from every angle. I had to fight to remain upright, and clutched desperately at Devyn's hand. Round and round we began to spin, stars winking and flashing at me.

The wind became so violent, the Targon was ripped from my grip. "No!" I screamed. "Devyn!" He wore the necklace. I needed him to reach Earth. Didn't I? Without him...Blindly I groped the air with both hands, searching for him. For any type of anchor.

Instead of finding him, I felt everything still. The screams ceased abruptly. The lights faded. My feet hit a solid foundation. I swayed. My pulse continued to hammer, but I regained my equilibrium. I opened my eyes. And gasped.

I stood in an open forest of tall, green trees. Cool air enveloped me, not dry but humid. Crickets chirped a lazy tune, and moonlight dripped hazy rays on the gra.s.s. I sucked in a breath, inhaling familiar scents of pine and dirt. Of Earth.

Golden tendrils of hair were glued to my temples, and I pushed them back with shaky fingers. I'd made it. I'd truly returned. I scanned the area for the Targon.

He wasn't here.

I couldn't concern myself with him right now. I had to find a phone. Had to call Michael. I sprinted through the trees, my determination giving me swift wings. Gnarled limbs whipped at my face, and stones and twigs attempted to trip my feet. I ran for over an hour, toward the buildings I saw towering on the horizon. Breath burned my throat and lungs, but I never slowed.

When I reached the first building, I realized they were homes. Only one glowed with internal lights. I ran to the front door and slammed my fists against the thick oak entrance. When no one answered, I banged harder.

"Stop that racket," someone shouted from above. "I'm trying to sleep."

My gaze followed the sound, and I found myself staring up at a silver-headed man with a wrinkled, irritated face. "I need to use your phone."

"You need to learn how to shut up. I'm tired."

Scowling, I grabbed a rock from the colorful, blooming garden and broke the window. I didn't have time to pick the lock or mess with the ID box. Their security system erupted in a series of high-pitched beeps. I reached through the shattered gla.s.s, cringed when a sharp piece sliced my skin, adding another wound, and ripped the lock system from the side wall. The door opened of its own accord.

I shoved my way inside.

The silver-headed man was racing down the steps, and now he had a civilian pyre-gun in hand. "I'm armed," he shouted, "and Iwill shoot to kill."

I moved swiftly, met him halfway, and tripped him down the stairs. He squeezed off a shot, but the stream of fire whizzed past my shoulder. As he fell, I wrenched the gun from his hands. By the time he reached the bottom, I had the barrel pointed at his heart.

"Where's your phone?" I demanded, my aim steady and sure.

"Don't hurt me," he cried.

"Just tell me where your phone is, and you'll be fine."

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pointed a shaky finger to a nearby table. I hated that I had terrified the human, but I didn't have time for niceties.

"You move and you die. Understand?"

A sob racked him, but he nodded.

Keeping the pyre-gun directed on him, I walked backward to the table. With one hand, I punched Michael's number into the unit. The silver-headed man never moved a muscle.

"This is Black," my boss soon answered.

How wonderful it was to hear his voice. "Michael, Lucius has been shot."