Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts Page B

swirling pockets of mists that blanketed the jaws of the rocks.
    Then she saw, on the high cliff, three figures sprawled on the tough, wet grass.
    â€œGet down there. Get down there fast!” She knew he could hear and understand her, in any form, but she might have saved her breath.
    The rush of speed slapped her back as he arrowed toward the ground. She was jumping off even as he landed, and began to change back.
    The fear was bright silver in her belly, but she saw Hoyt push himself up to sit, saw him reach for Glenna. His nose was bleeding, as hers was. When Larkin reached Moira, turned her over, Blair saw blood on her lips.
    â€œWe’ve got to move, we’ve got to go. They could follow us, and if they want to, they can move fast.” She pulled Glenna to her feet. “Let’s move faster.”
    â€œI’m woozy. Sorry, I…”
    â€œLean on me. Larkin—”
    But he’d already chosen his own way. She shoved at her wet hair as she pushed Glenna toward the horse he’d become. “Get up. You and Moira. Hoyt and I are right behind you. Can you walk?” she asked Hoyt.
    â€œI can.” If his legs were shaky, he still moved, and quickly as Larkin galloped off. “So much time passed. It’s dusk.”
    â€œNo, she made it. Lilith did it. She’s got more power than I figured.”
    â€œNo. No, not her.” Hoyt was forced to brace a hand on Blair’s shoulder for balance. “She has someone, something with the power to do this.”
    â€œWe’ll figure it out.” She half carried, half dragged him to the van where Larkin was already helping the other women inside “Glenna, keys. I’ve got the wheel.”
    Glenna fumbled them out of her pocket. “Just need a minute, a few minutes to recover. That was…it was rugged. Moira?”
    â€œI’m all right. Just a bit dizzy is all. And a bit sick in the stomach. I’ve never…I’ve never touched anything like that.”
    Blair drove, fast enough to cover some distance, and kept an eye on the rearview for a tail. “Earthquakes, false dusk, a little lightning. Hell of a ride.” She slowed as the sun began to break through again. “Looks like she gave up on us. For now. Nobody’s hurt? Just shook up?”
    â€œNot hurt, no.” Hoyt gathered Glenna against him, brushed the tears from her face with his lips. “Don’t. A ghra , don’t weep.”
    â€œThere were so many. So many of them. Screaming.”
    Blair took two careful breaths. “Don’t do this to yourselves. You tried, you gave it your best. It was always a long shot you’d be able to get anyone out of there.”
    â€œBut we did.” Glenna turned her face into Hoyt’s shoulder. “Five. We got five out, then we couldn’t hold it any longer.”
    Stunned, Blair pulled off to the shoulder, turned around. “You got five out? Where are they?”
    â€œHospital. I thought…”
    â€œGlenna, she thought if we could get them out, we could transport them to a place where they would be safe, and be cared for.” Moira looked down at her empty hands.
    â€œSmart. Really smart. It gets them medical attention fast, and keeps us from having to answer awkward questions. Congratulations.”
    Glenna lifted her head, and her eyes were ravaged. “There were so many of them. So many more.”
    â€œAnd five people are alive, and safe.”
    â€œI know, you’re right, I know.” She straightened, rubbed her face dry with her hands. “I’m just shaken up.”
    â€œWe did what we came to do. More than.”
    â€œWhat were they?” Larkin asked her. “What were they you and I fought back there? Not vampires, you said.”
    â€œHalf-vamps. Still human. They’ve been bitten, probably multiple times, but not drained. And not allowed to mix blood; not changed.”
    â€œThen why would they fight