Was he high? “We’re outnumbered and you have no superpowers. There are only ten of us, and apparently Dev’s magic can be neutralized. I think it’s time for you to use some of that diplomacy I always hear about.”
I was strictly muscle, but my demon arm wasn’t going to get us out of this.
Donovan sighed as though he’d really wanted a fight. “How are we going to communicate with them?”
The big guy with all the swords stepped up to join us. “I suggest talking, though you likely won’t have to talk for long. Move. Join the others or I’ll kill you where you stand.” He sneered my way. “Not you. You, I think I will take back to camp with me for a while.”
Donovan snorted. “Yeah, you do that, buddy. See where that lands you.”
“It will land me in the Summerlands,” the big guy replied with the reverence of a true believer. “Our king will finally deliver us to paradise where he will rule all the outer planes.”
“And how does he intend to do that?” Donovan seemed determined to keep the guy talking.
I wished I could see whatever Donovan was seeing. I could feel his tension, sense we were on the edge of something bad. My mind was racing, trying to find a way out.
I didn’t see a reason for these dudes not to kill all of us. They only really needed Summer if Charlotte was right. I was certain Erna had convinced Summer’s stalker that she could somehow make Summer do her bidding. With no real reason to keep us alive, we were looking at swift death.
“The witch already has much of the abomination’s magic,” he replied with a superior smirk. “She’s been draining the abomination for years, soaking up her power for my king’s use.”
Oh, that lying bitch. “She’s not using it for your king. She’s using it for herself, and she’ll turn on you as soon as she can.”
“My daughter is not an abomination.” The words were tight coming from Donovan’s mouth, and I didn’t need to see him to know he was pissed.
He was missing the point. “Summer’s magic isn’t something that can be drained. If you kill her, it won’t go to Erna. I’m not saying the witch hasn’t figured out a way to siphon power off of Summer, but she can’t strip her of it. If she could, why hasn’t she done it yet?”
Why would Erna spend years on the run with Summer if she could have simply killed her and taken her magic? Why would she have put up with Dean when she obviously hadn’t wanted to? Because she couldn’t simply take what she wanted.
Only a momentary discomfort went across the warrior’s face before that arrogant look came back. “My king knows all. He cannot be fooled or tricked, much less by a woman.”
“My daughter is made of magic.” Donovan seemed to have picked up on my play. If we could convince them Erna was lying, we might buy ourselves some time. “You can’t strip her of it. It would be like taking her heart out. You might be able to hold it in your hand for a moment, but it would be a dead thing. It can’t work without Summer to animate it.”
Pretty bloody metaphor, but accurate. “Think logically. Summer’s powers are bound. Why would Erna bind them if she could take them instead?”
The warrior’s shoulders straightened. “I do not need logic. I have my king’s wisdom. Now stop your babbling, woman. You will come with me and be judged by the man who will soon rule the outer planes.”
“Yeah, buddy, that’s the thrall stone talking.” I hated those damn stones. Though I still had one shoved in my pack. I wasn’t about to leave it lying around.
“Did I sound this whiny and kiss ass around Myrddin?” Donovan asked as I was hauled around.
“Yes. It was annoying,” I shot back as our warrior jerk tightened his hold on my arm. I could have easily broken it, but I figured that was when the other twenty or so dudes would have taken exception, and I needed everyone calm. “I think we should go and make our case directly to Dear Leader.”
“I think you’re right.” Donovan had his own escort, another big warrior with an ax in his hand. “I think we’re going to have to talk our way out of this, but you’re wrong about who we need