Donnchadh - Lynn Hagen Page 0,26

door.”

“I think someone doesn’t want us to leave.” Donny rolled his shoulders, refusing to go down without a fight. “Someone took Cadeym, and now they want us.”

“But why?” Hondo asked. “I mean I know why. There’re a lot of people who hate us. I mean, who could be this strong to trap a demon warrior in an ordinary building? Panahasi can’t even hear me calling for him.”

“I have no idea,” Donny said. “Maybe the same person who helped that fairy, Lyle.”

Lyle had tried to kill Phoenyx’s mate, Edward. In Donny’s opinion, Lyle hadn’t been all there. He’d loaned Edward money, expected the human to pay him back, and then tried to kill him in the meantime.

But Lyle had done things no unseelie should’ve been able to do, and Panahasi suspected that Lyle had had help. They just hadn’t figured out who’d been backing him.

Now they might have their answers.

Or we’ll die in this shithole building.

The clicking noise started again.

* * * *

Panahasi couldn’t get in touch with any of his warriors. It was as if the building was blocking out all communications. He walked to the nearest wall and pressed his hand against it then jerked it back when he felt a strange sort of buzz climbing through his arm.

The malevolence was almost palpable.

Panahasi closed his eyes and tried to summon Jayden, but once again all he found was a dark void, just like when he’d tried to locate Cadeym.

And now, the warriors. It was a vast, empty plane containing nothing. The only other time Panahasi had ever experienced that was when he and Jaden had been sucked into an actual void by The Keeper. Panahasi was dead certain The Keeper had nothing to do with this. He was also certain Jaden wasn’t involved because he’d lain down his hatred as soon as he’d found his mate.

Panahasi’s gut told him Surkath was behind this. The creature had the ability to use his powers, even from the Underworld. Which begged the question, was he still in the underworld?

Since Panahasi couldn’t get in touch with anyone, he would have to check as soon as he was out of there. He still firmly believed that Surkath was behind Lyle’s powers. That couldn’t have been a coincidence.

Until he was free of this building, none of his questions could be answered. But right now he had other matters on his hands.

It was as if anyone he tried to contact had been wiped from existence. That couldn’t be true, though. If Jaden were dead, Panahasi would be, as well. They were entwined, a balance. One couldn’t exist without the other.

He walked to the side exit and pushed at the door. He might as well have been pushing at a wall. The door refused to budge. He saw past the glass with the chicken wire, saw the outside, the overgrowth of flora, the cracked parking lot, and birds flying from a nearby tree. He slammed his fist into the glass. It cracked in a few places, letting in a breeze, but the glass remained intact.

Something very dark was at play, and instead of this being a rescue, Panahasi feared he’d just walked his men into a trap.

“Trying to leave already?” Phoenyx asked as he exited one of the rooms he’d been checking. He sauntered over to Panahasi, unaware of the danger they were in.

“Call one of the warriors. Any one of them.”

With his red brows knitted together, Phoenyx tilted his head back and shouted for Hondo.

Panahasi waited, looked around, and tried once again to sense Hondo’s presence. Not even a ripple, sizzle, or a pop registered in his mind.

“Why isn’t he here?” Phoenyx glanced up and down the hallway as if Hondo would emerge from one of the rooms at any second. “We’re in the same building. He should’ve been here by now.”

This time when Panahasi closed his eyes, he tilted his head back and thrust his powers outward, sending them speeding forward, but it was as if they’d hit a wall, spiraling back toward him.

“Give a guy some warning,” Phoenyx said. “I felt your powers creeping all over me.”

“We’ve been duped.” Panahasi opened his eyes. His anger mounted as he gnashed his teeth. He inhaled slowly, letting his breath out through his nostrils. It wouldn’t do for him to explode with rage right now. Panahasi had to keep his wits about him. “We were lured here by some dark spell.”

The confusion in Phoenyx’s eyes faded, replaced by concern. “You’re saying Cadeym isn’t here?”

“I’m saying that whoever