Free Taken By Storm by Cyndi Friberg Page A

him and they’ll both get their butts off your planet .
    Hope and fear chased each other through her body, drying her mouth, making her tremble. Moving half a step to the side, Charlotte studied the other man. Had he taken over the identity of a firefighter? Had there ever been a firefighter or had it been Joon all along?
    The men began to argue as they faced off like gunfighters. She wished she could understand what they were saying. What had Joon done? What did he want with her?
    She felt a sharp ping deep inside her brain and suddenly she could understand their words. The language still sounded alien to her ears but somewhere between her inner ear and her brain, their words were being translated into English.

    “You had no authorization to Summon the Storm,” Tal said. She could only see his back but the charge sounded serious. “I have been sanctioned by the Mystics to return you to Ontariese by whatever means necessary.”
    Joon laughed. “And what ‘means’ do you believe will give you power over me? Vee himself cannot control me. Do you really believe you can?” Tal’s body stiffened and the coil of his hair tightened. She wanted to help him, to support him, but she knew anything she did would only distract him. This was way out of her league.
    Joon’s shape rippled, such a subtle movement, she wondered if she’d imagined it. But Tal dove for him, toppling the other man to the pavement.
    The men rolled across the snowy asphalt, landing in the dirty ridge left behind by the plows. Inches beyond the insubstantial mound lay a deep ravine.
    She started toward them but stopped herself. How are you going to help him, you fool?
    She could see no trace of the firefighter now. Long white hair tangled with black and she couldn’t distinguish between their flailing limbs. Tal pinned Joon to the ground, his forearm across Joon’s throat.
    Joon began to sink into the pavement and Charlotte gasped. He looked as if he were melting. Quickly encircling his wrists with Joon’s white hair, Tal tugged him back to the surface.
    A siren wailed in the distance but she couldn’t take her eyes off the men. Tal dragged Joon to his feet and spun a web around him, a transparent, gently fluxing grid. She watched Tal’s movements, spellbound by his grace and speed.
    Joon struggled against the grid for a moment then stood perfectly still.
    She had her first unobstructed view of Dez dar Joon. Like Tal, his skin was pale and smooth, but unlike Tal, hatred and malice twisted his angular features, making them appear sharp and harsh. Dirt and debris now decorated his long white hair. The color of his tunic and loose-legged trousers perfectly matched his turquoise eyes.
    “If I did not know better, I would think you planned this, seyati ,” Joon muttered, putting special emphasis on the word. Why hadn’t her mysterious auto-translator provided the English equivalent?
    “You lost the right to speak that word when you were banished,” Tal panted. The bright winter sun harshly accented his ashen pallor.
    Joon turned his turquoise gaze toward Charlotte and she felt a sharp stab in her brain. She yelped and staggered back, closing her eyes as his mocking laughter filled her head.
    “Protect her if you can, seyati . You have won only this round.”
    Even through her closed lids, she could see the fluctuating light. The ground beneath her trembled and the wind roared in her ears. A sharp crack of thunder swallowed Tal’s shout. She rubbed her eyes, trying to focus.
    Dez dar Joon was gone.

    She barely had time to register that fact when she noticed the squad car speeding toward them.
    “Shit!” She ran for the opposite side of the road.
    The embankment was not as steep here. Hopefully, they could lose the cops in the trees. Glancing back, she skittered to a halt. Tal stood in the middle of the street, calmly watching the car approach.
    “We have to go,” she called out. “There is no way I can explain you!”
    “There is no