God, where the hell were the Raziq? My father might have released his death grip on me, but the Raziq's transmitter had not. The pain of the device was all-encompassing, and spots still danced madly across my vision.
"It was not her choice," Azriel answered. "And if you know a means of removing it without killing her, tell us."
"There is no removal except death." My father paused, and the energy of him pulsated. "The Raziq come. I will find another way to contact you."
"Leave a damn note—" I croaked.
"No," he said.
"Why the fuck not?"
"Because I need to read your mind and understand what the players around you do."
And despite the net of fire enveloping his form, the force that was my father disappeared. I couldn't say I was entirely sorry to see him go. I might not have gotten any answers, but at least the fire in my heart began to ebb away. It left me trembling and weak.
"I'm afraid it is not over yet." Azriel tucked an arm under my arm and hauled me upright. "The Raziq come, as he said."
The words had barely left his mouth when another storm swamped me. Panic surged, but I drew Amaya and tried to ignore it. Of course, past experience told me she wouldn't be enough against the force of them, but at least this time I had Azriel by my side. Surely he wouldn't fall victim to the mind tricks the Raziq had used last time I was with them.
Fire dripped from the points of the two swords. It hissed and spat as it hit the concrete, and spread out in a sweeping arc, forming an incandescent barrier around us. It was almost as if the swords had drawn a line and were daring the Raziq to cross it.
The storm grew stronger, until I was being physically buffeted by it. I narrowed my gaze against the dust and rubbish flying through the air, my breath caught somewhere in my throat and my stomach churning. Every time I'd faced the Raziq, something had gone wrong.
Every single damn time.
"Not this time," Azriel said. He took a step forward, half protecting me with his body.
No protect! Amaya's protest echoed through my brain. Want to kill.