The following night, right after sunset, Jia arrived with Russell in Tiger Town. The courtyard was full of Vamps, shifters and Han’s ex-soldiers, all waiting for the battle to begin. Angus was at the top of the stairs that led down to the riverbank. From there, he had a good view of the Mekong River and Han’s army, gathered on the other side.
“Howard was supposed to tell Angus about our plan to kidnap Han,” Russell told her. “I’ll check with Angus to make sure he knows.”
Jia nodded. “I’ll be waiting for you inside the palace.”
“All right.” He squeezed her hand before turning to leave.
She watched him go, her heart heavy. For thirteen years, her plan to destroy Han had been inspired by hatred and the need to avenge her family. But now that she’d fallen in love with Russell, vengeance no longer ruled her heart. Now she wanted to kill Han so she could spare Russell the pain of murdering his brother.
He might resent her for butting in, but she was willing to face his anger if she could protect him from harm. What else could she do, as much as she loved him?
She weaved through the crowd, then, in her room, she changed into a simple robe that tied at the waist. Instead of her boots, she put on some slippers. This way, she could fling off her clothes in a second in case she needed to shift. She wedged a knife under the sash and hid two more in the deep pockets of her bell-shaped sleeves. Tied to her sash was the silk pouch that held the silver chain.
Outside again, she hurried through the crowded courtyard, headed for the palace. When Russell teleported his brother to the throne room, she would loop the silver chain around Han to keep him from escaping.
Halfway up the stairs to the palace, she heard Rajiv calling her name. She turned to see him bounding up the steps.
“Jia! Are you all right?” He stopped beside her, his gaze looking her over carefully.
She’d called him during the afternoon to assure him she was fine, but when he’d pressed her for more information, she’d changed the subject to the upcoming battle. The last two nights with Russell had seemed too precious and personal to discuss on the phone. She’d wanted to treasure her time with Russell without dealing with any outside interference. “I’m perfectly fine. You can stop worrying.”
“But you were stabbed. Xiao Fang told us about it.”
“The wound has healed.” She motioned to the palace. “I need to wait inside. Russell is going to teleport Master Han to the throne room. I’m supposed to help—”
“You’re going to fight Han again?” Rajiv looked aghast. “He nearly killed you before.”
“I’m stronger now—”
“He did kill you, didn’t he?” Rajiv grabbed her arm and looked closely at her eyes. “I can sense more power in you. You’re on your second life, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Dammit!” Rajiv released her and turned away to clench his fists. “Russell said he would protect you. I should clobber—”
“It’s not his fault! He was in shock. He’d just found out that Han is his brother.”
“He should have brought you here! Leah could have patched you up, and Neona could have taken away the pain. Dammit, Jia, why didn’t you do as you were told? And how could Russell just let you die? I’m going to kill—”
“He did what I asked him to! Believe me, he wanted to bring me here, but I insisted.”
Rajiv took a deep breath, then lowered his voice. “Did you mate with him?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes.”
Rajiv let out a howl of outrage so loud that half the crowd in the courtyard turned to look at them.
“We’ll talk about it later,” she said quietly.
“Did you forget that your fiancé is arriving in a week?” Rajiv hissed between gritted teeth.
“We can contact him after the battle—”
“It’s too late. He’s already left Korea. He and his entourage are sailing to Hong Kong on the royal yacht.”
Jia groaned. “Fine. I’ll reject him in person then.”
Rajiv scoffed. “You’re refusing him?”
“Yes. I’m in love with Russell.”
Rajiv gave her an incredulous look. “You’re giving up a were-tiger prince for a vampire who has nothing?”
A spurt of anger burst inside her. “He has honor and courage. And I refuse to give in to the old prejudices of our people. How many Vamps are here now, willing to risk their lives to protect our home?”
“I know very well that there are good Vamps. They’re like family to me. But many of our people, especially those in outlying colonies, have no experience with good Vamps. They equate death and destruction with vampires, and they are not going to understand. A were-tiger has never mated with a vampire before—”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Jia interrupted. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go to the palace to help Russell defeat his brother. How do you think he’s feeling right now?”
She turned and marched up the stairs. When she reached the top, she heard Rajiv calling for Tenzen. As she opened the door, her cousin and uncle joined her.
Rajiv held the door open for her. “We’re not going to let you do this alone.”
Her heart swelled. Rajiv was still on her side. “Thank you.” Now Master Han would have three tigers to contend with.
With a pair of binoculars, Russell scanned Han’s army on the far side of the river. He estimated about two hundred soldiers: most on foot and a few officers on horseback. No sign of Darafer, and so far, he hadn’t spotted Markos, either.
“Ye doona have to do this,” Angus muttered. “We’re prepared to fight.”
“I’m not letting another person die because of my brother.”
“Ye’re no’ alone in this. I could station some guys in the throne room.”
“Have them wait outside the door. I need to talk to Markos first. If I can convince him to surrender . . .” Russell’s voice faded with doubt.
With a sigh, Angus patted him on the back. “Have ye spotted him yet?”
“No.” Russell lowered the binoculars. The moon was almost three-quarters full and bright in the night sky. He had expected to catch the gleam of his brother’s golden mask. “When did the army arrive?”
“About two hours before sunset,” Angus replied. “Rajiv was in charge. Every time they approached the river, he ordered his men to fire at them.”
Russell glanced at the male were-tigers who were armed with rocket grenade launchers. No wonder Han’s army was staying put. The minute they attempted to cross the river, they would be easy to pick off.
He spotted a small group behind the army, all dressed in black, making them hard to see in the dark. With the binoculars, he focused on them. They were heavily armed, and the one in the middle was wearing a black Kevlar vest and a hood concealing most of his head.
Russell’s heart beat faster as he waited for a telltale gleam of gold. Look this way, Markos. Let me see your mask.
The man lifted his head to gaze at the sky. Nothing but black inside the hood.
A black mask. Of course. Russell’s chest constricted with a mixture of relief and dread. “I found him.”
“Really?” Angus asked. “Where?”
“The group in the back, all dressed in black. Han is in the middle.”
Angus narrowed his eyes. “I hope ye’re right. A surprise attack only works the first time.”
“I know.” Russell handed the binoculars to Angus while he focused on Markos. Always before, he’d seen Master Han through a dark lens of hatred, but now that his eyes were open, he saw things he’d missed before. The way Han stood, the gestures with his hands, the tilt of his head. Markos.
Russell closed his eyes briefly, trying to shut out the pain, but of course, it didn’t work. There was no help for it. God help me. He teleported behind his brother, grabbed him before anyone had time to react, and took him to the palace throne room.
Jia and Rajiv had the silver chain stretched out, each of them holding an end, and they immediately jumped at Han to wrap the chain around him. He struggled, but Russell held him tight from behind.
“I’ll knock you out if I have to,” Russell warned him.
“Russell?” Markos grew still. “No need for the silver. I’ll stay. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
Russell released his brother as Jia and Rajiv looped the chain around him a second time.
Markos grunted as the silver burned the silk material of his sleeves. The Kevlar vest protected his torso. “I said I would stay. Don’t you trust me?”
“No.” Russell shoved his brother’s hood back, then ripped off the black mask and tossed it on the floor.
Even though Russell knew what to expect this time, it still made his heart clench to see his brother’s face. Markos’s eyes and hair had always been a darker brown than his own. But the shape of his jaw and nose were almost identical. They were the same height, same build. They’d grown up in the same house with the same parents. So why had they become so different?
Russell searched his brother’s eyes, trying to find the younger brother he knew.
Markos gave him a wry look, then glanced at the were-tigers. Tenzen had his sword drawn. Rajiv passed the ends of the chain to his cousin, then drew his sword.
With a smirk, Markos turned his attention to Jia. “You again. Tell me, did it hurt to die?”
She yanked the chain tighter, so that it sizzled against his arms.
He winced, then shot Russell an annoyed look. “These damned cats. You kill them, and they just keep coming back.”
Jia narrowed her eyes. “When you killed my parents and brother, they didn’t.”
“Oh?” Markos gave her an inquisitive look. “Did I hack them into itsy-bitsy pieces?” He shrugged. “Too bad I can’t remember. There have been so many, you know.”
With a hiss, she pulled a knife from her belt. Rajiv took a step closer with his sword.
“Shut the fuck up,” Russell muttered. “Before my friends decide to kill you.”
“Your friends?” Markos snorted, then angled his head toward Jia. “So, is she your pet kitten? Do you make her purr?”
Russell seized his brother by the neck. “Shut up, or I’ll kill you myself.”
“Is that why I’m here?” Markos sneered. “Don’t tell me my noble brother has turned into a lowly executioner.”
Russell released him with a shove. “I brought you here so I could talk to you.”
“Great!” Markos cleared his throat and switched to English. “So, are you over your shock yet? Last time, you looked like you were going to barf.”
“I feel sick every time I think about my brother being a mass murderer.”
“Aw, does it offend your noble sensibilities? Get over yourself, Russell. You were a soldier, too. We were mass murderers by profession. How many villages did you wipe out?”
Russell gritted his teeth. “It was war. How you handle the aftermath is up to you. As far as I’m concerned, I have done nothing to be ashamed of. I was fighting for freedom. And for my country.”
“So am I.” Markos’s mouth curled up with amusement. “But now, the country doesn’t belong to some corrupt government in Washington. This country is mine!”
Russell scoffed. “It was never yours. You stole it.”
“To the victor go the spoils.” Markos’s face grew harsh. “You were an officer. You never knew what it was like to be a grunt, and to have an idiot officer over you treating you like expendable meat. I wasn’t going to take it anymore! I’m in charge now!”
“And now you consider your soldiers expendable? How many more have to die for you, Markos?”
He shrugged. “They volunteer. They want the superhuman abilities that come with serving me. And they want to be a part of my greatness. Why should I deny them?”
His greatness? Russell groaned inwardly. His brother was more than an asshole. He was certifiable. Illusions of grandeur and no conscience about the death and suffering he caused.
Markos grinned. “I’m going to take over the world. Not bad for a farm boy from Colorado, huh?”
“You think Dad would be proud of you?”
Markos’s smile faded. “That idiot. He always acted like you were Mr. Perfect. Ha! You’ll be working for me now.”
“You’re delusional.”
“Not at all.” Markos waved a dismissive hand. “I know exactly how you are. You always had to be the leader, the noble protector. And you expected the helpless little brother to follow.”
“I did what I was supposed to do. I was older than you.”
“So I was doomed never to be in charge?” Markos sneered. “Why do you think I kept you in a coma for so long? I knew I wanted you to rule by my side, but I couldn’t risk you taking over. So before waking you up, I had to make sure I had everything under my control. Now I’m the one with more experience. I’m the older one now.”
Russell stepped back as if he’d been hit. “You . . . you destroyed my life over a fucking case of sibling rivalry?”
Markos shrugged. “How does it feel to be the lowly one? It really sucks, doesn’t it?”
“Do you know what happened while I was in a coma?” Russell clenched his hands into fists. “Our parents died. I lost my wife. I lost my daughter! Even the ranch is gone!”
“Why do you care about puny mortals, when we can live forever? And why bother with a ranch when we can rule the world?” Markos snorted. “This is why I have to be the boss. You think too damned small!” He took a step toward Russell, but Jia yanked him back. “Cut it out!” he yelled at her in Chinese.
“Leave her alone,” Russell growled.
Markos switched back to English. “Is she really that special to you? I’ll make sure she lives. Just like I took care of you. The minute I realized how powerful and immortal I was, I knew I was destined for greatness, and I had to share it with you. I started planning for you. I experimented with hundreds of people to master the technique of long-term vampire comas. When I learned you were on leave in Phuket, I searched until I found you. You were so happy to see me that it was easy to take you by surprise.”
Russell’s stomach churned with disgust. “You should have left me the hell alone.”
“No! We belong together. I want you by my side while I take over the world.”
Russell shook his head. “Your army is depleted. They no longer want to fight for you. Half of our army is made up of soldiers who deserted you and want to kill you. It’s over, Markos.”
His brother’s eyes flashed with anger. “It’s not over! I’ll make you second in command. And I have Darafer—”
“Do you really think you can trust a demon? He’s probably letting you do all the work so he can kill you—”
“No! He needs me. And I need you, Russell. You have experience with my worst enemies—these shifters and vampires. You know how they work. With your help, we can defeat them.”
Russell glanced over at Jia, who was watching carefully but probably not understanding much of their English. Rajiv understood, though, and his grip flexed on his sword as if he was eager to use it. Next to him, Tenzen was also ready with a sword.
“These are my friends,” Russell said. “Do you expect me to betray them?”
Markos snorted. “Are you going to betray your own brother? Now that you know who I am, you have to join me.”
“I have to convince you to stop. It’s over, Markos.”
“Stop saying that! Russell—”
“Enough,” a voice spoke from behind a large column. Darafer stepped out, dressed in his usual black attire, his hands resting in the pockets of his long black coat. “Your army grows restless, Han. How about I kill all these people and take you back?”
Tenzen and Rajiv jumped back to keep both Darafer and Han in their sight. Rajiv kept his sword pointed at Markos, while Tenzen aimed his at the demon.
Russell stepped back, his hand going to the knife wedged under his belt. He glanced over to Jia and motioned toward the door with his head. With the arrival of Darafer, the level of danger had just skyrocketed, and he wanted her out of here.
She bit her lip, then shook her head.
“I’m not leaving without my brother,” Markos told the demon.
Darafer sighed. “Have you been listening to him? He’s not interested. In fact, if you don’t surrender, he probably intends to kill you.”
“He’s my brother!” Markos yelled. “He would never kill me.”
Darafer smiled slowly, his gaze shifting to Russell. “Are you sure about that?”
“Then help me, Darafer,” Markos said. “Make him join us.”
The demon sneered. “The last time I forced someone, I ended up back in hell, and you never got me out.”
“A mistake on my part, I admit that.” Markos inclined his head. “Only you can make more supersoldiers. But remember how Wu Shen betrayed us. We need a second in command whom we can trust. If you bite my brother, he’ll do whatever you say. He’ll even kill the angels if they show up.”
Darafer shook his head. “He can’t kill an angel any more than he could kill me.”
“He could attack them, and that would distract them enough that you could escape,” Markos insisted. “You know we need him. He could get Xiao Fang back for us.”
“That much is true. The dragon boy trusts him.” Darafer cast an amused look at Russell. “What do you think? Are you ready to join your brother, or shall I give you a little . . . encouragement?” His eyes turned black.
Russell pulled his knife out. “Try it, asshole.” He shot a look at Rajiv. “Get Jia out of here now!”
Rajiv ran toward his cousin and jerked the silver chain out of her hands. “Go!”
The chain fell to the ground, releasing Markos just as Darafer morphed into a large black wolf.
Russell lifted his knife as the wolf slowly advanced.
Tenzen ripped off his tunic and shifted into a tiger.
“Get out!” Rajiv pushed Jia toward the door, then he shifted.
She pulled off her robe.
“No!” Russell yelled when she shifted.
All three tigers advanced on the wolf. Growling, Darafer snapped at one of the tigers, and it jumped back.
Markos grinned. “Now this is interesting.”
Russell tried to keep up with which tiger was Jia, but the three large cats were dashing around Darafer, trying to keep him isolated. “Jia, stop! Don’t do this.”
“Eenie, meenie, miney, moe, catch a tiger by its toe,” Markos chanted. “You know if he bites one, it’ll turn evil.” He laughed. “We could have an evil tiger on our side. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
The thought that Jia could be bitten made Russell frantic. He jumped between the tigers and Darafer. “You want me, asshole?”
Darafer growled and leaped toward him.
A tiger jumped on him from the back, raking its claws down a hind leg. Darafer spun about, his jaw gnashing.
“No!” Russell plunged his knife into the wolf’s shoulder.
Darafer snapped his jaws down on Russell’s arm.
“Yes!” Markos pumped the air with his fist.
Russell winced as pain shot up his arm, followed by a surge of anger so strong that it knocked him on his ass.
Darafer changed back to his human form, dressed in black, with no sign of a wound. “You’re mine now,” he hissed at Russell. “Kill the one you love. Use that knife with my demon blood on it so it will burn like hell. Do it!”
Russell’s grip tightened around the bloodied knife as he scrambled to his feet. Red-hot rage flooded him, and all he could think about was murder. Kill the one you love.
Jia. He glanced over at the tigers. Which one was she? The three tigers were huddled up close. No doubt she was in the middle, and the two males were trying to protect her.
“Yes!” Markos grinned. “Kill her, Russell!”
Kill the one you love.
With a roar, Russell dashed forward at vampire speed and rammed the knife into his brother’s heart. A look of shock crossed Markos’s face just before he crumbled into a pile of dust.
Darafer laughed. “Well, that saves me from having to kill him later.”
The knife tumbled from Russell’s hand as he realized what he’d done. The rage inside him exploded, and he threw his head back, roaring to heaven. One of the tigers moved toward him.
A bright light suddenly burst in the throne room, and the seven God Warriors appeared with their swords ablaze with fire.
“Attack them!” Darafer yelled at Russell as the seven angels moved to surround him. “Stab them now!”
“For breaching the decree of free will, you will be banished back to hell,” Briathos announced.
The seven God Warriors lifted their swords of fire and began to chant.
“Damn you!” Darafer broke through their ring, but they moved to encircle him once more. “I’m not going alone!” Just as his form wavered, he grabbed a tiger by the hind leg. Whoosh, he disappeared, taking the tiger with him.
“No!” Russell shouted. With Darafer banished, the effect of the demon bite was immediately erased. All the rage was gone, but now he was filled with abject fear.
Which tiger had Darafer taken with him to hell?
The two remaining tigers shifted back to human form, their faces stricken with horror. Tenzen. And then Rajiv.
“No!” Russell collapsed to his knees. He screamed again deep from his soul.
Jia was gone.