Page 2 of Destined

“I will.”

Kayla hurried off toward Dirk’s tent. It looked like only a few shelters had been pitched. Although the camp looked deserted, Kayla kept her head low. Dirk and his men were probably at the lake, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. When she reached the tent, she peered through the flap first, then she slipped inside.

As her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit gloom, Kayla put a hand to her mouth.

Tara.

Her battered, drooping form had been tied to the center support pole. Her swollen eyes were shut and her thin arms loosely circled her abdomen. She appeared to be unconscious and barely breathing.

Fury, pity, and guilt warred in Kayla’s chest. If Dirk loved Tara, then why did he treat her like his worst enemy? This wasn’t love. It was twisted. Once more Kayla gave silent thanks that she had found Ryan before Dirk had gotten his hands on her.

As Kayla took a step forward, Tara lifted her head and gave her a ghastly, bloody smile.

“If you try to use my mouth again,” she said, her voice ragged. “I’ll bite it off.”

“It’s me, honey,” Kayla said, rushing over to her. She knelt down to slice at the knotted cords binding the teenager’s wrists. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

Tara grunted and spat out blood.

“Why?” she wheezed. “I’m with my clan now. I belong to–” As she moved to avoid Kayla, Tara bit back a cry. “Don’t touch me.”

Kayla understood now why her breathing was so shallow. “Your beloved clan broke your ribs.” She drew her razor-sharp blade across her palm. “Here.” She held the gash closer. “It’s okay. I want to heal you.”

Tara turned her head away. “I don’t want your blood or your help. Leave me alone.”

“I forgot, you prefer to be beaten and abused.”

Kayla touched her cheek, and a blue glow appeared under her fingertips that flooded over Tara’s skin. Slowly the swelling and bruises faded from her face, and she stopped clutching her sides. But her eyes went wide.

“How did you do that?”

Kayla shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She had seen the same kind of light appear when she’d saved Ryan’s life. But she’d thought it had been something between them. She stared at her hand. Did she have some kind of Fae healing power?

“We’ll figure it out later,” she said, and helped Tara to her feet. “Come on. We’ve got to move.”

“You’re being an idiot,” Tara said and picked up an ugly-looking, spiked club. Though Kayla tensed, Tara went to the flap of the tent and looked outside. “My clan is circling around the lake to attack the Fae, so you’ll have to go back through the woods. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”

“If you’re such a loyal Blackstone, then why did Dirk beat you and tie you up?” When Tara didn’t answer, Kayla wrenched the club from her grasp, and threw it across the tent. “Did he rape you this time? Or is that for later, during the Dark Fae victory party?”

Her thin face paled. “It doesn’t matter what happens to me now.”

“Really? Okay. Why didn’t you kill Jannon before you escaped?” As Tara looked away, Kayla came around to face her. “I’ll tell you why. You couldn’t do it. The same way you couldn’t drop me in Dirk’s lap when you pushed me through that portal. You’re not like them—and I’ll tell you why. Because they didn’t raise you. I did.”

The teenager pushed her away. “I’m not your sister.”

“I don’t care who or what you are. You may not want to be my sister, but I’m yours.” She grabbed Tara’s rigid shoulders and gave her a shake. “And for your information, that isn’t because of your magick or your curse or whatever the hell the clan did to you. I love you. That’s never going to change.”

A profound weariness filled Tara’s gray eyes. “But you know what I am—what I was born to be.”

“That’s their shit, not yours. You’re old enough to decide who you are, and choose the family you want.” Kayla pulled her close, wrapping her arms around the thin body. “Pick me, Tara. Screw the Blackstones. Be a Rowe.”

Christine ducked inside the tent, making them both jump. Her pretty face was smudged with soot.

“Uh, ladies, I hate to interrupt the sister reunion, but it’s time to go kick some slime monster ass and save our boys.”

“The only way to destroy them is with dragonfire,” Tara said, “or by keeping them out of the water. They can’t survive long on land.” Tara slipped free of Kayla’s embrace and faced the woman she had so long ago replaced. “Or you could toss me to them.”