by S. T. Bende
“You don’t know that.” I rubbed my thumb along the back of her hand, trying not to stare at the dark liquid coursing through the veins. “Viggo, get on your com and get a Kuera here, immediately. There must be one in the palace.”
“There is.” A tremor overtook my grandmother’s chest, and she let out a pained hiss as her veins darkened to a pure black. Whatever poison Rankin had put in her was spreading. “But she . . . cannot undo . . . this.” Constance’s eyes fluttered closed as she struggled to breathe.
“I’m so sorry. That blast was meant for me. You shouldn’t have—”
“I have caused you . . . enough pain.” Constance met my tear-filled gaze with a remorseful stare. “The least I can offer you . . . is the chance to . . . live your life.”
“You saved it,” I whispered.
“You saved me.” The ghost of a smile glimmered on my grandmother’s lips. “I didn’t truly live . . . before you came along. And now . . . I want you . . . to do as I should have done. Rule with honor. With dignity. Be the royal rebel Alfheim needs.”
A tear slid down my cheek. “That’s what you want me to be?”
“I want you to be . . . who you are.” Constance squeezed my hand. “Not who I, or anybody else . . . expects you to be. Live your best life, Granddaughter. That is my dying wish.”
“Don’t go.” I swiped hastily at my cheek. “We’re finally getting along.”
Constance’s raspy laugh gave way to a gurgling cough.
“What’s going on?” Signy’s voice burst from the southern entrance to the courtyard. “We saw the light and—oh, gods. Aura. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I croaked. “But Constance is . . . she’s . . .”
“Who did this?” Ondyr growled.
“Rankin,” Viggo said as he knelt next to me. When had he come to my side? “The bolt was meant for Aura, but the queen pushed her out of the way. She thinks what Rankin threw was a dark curse . . . and that it’s irreversible.”
“It is.” Ondyr dropped to his knees. “I saw the black bolt—it’s the deadliest affliction in my grandfather’s arsenal. He used to threaten his political opponents with it. It’s the reason he managed to hold onto his power in spite of everything our family went through.”
“What about älva dust?” Hope filled my heart. “Maja’s inside and I know she has some left. If we could—”
“Nothing can reverse the black bolt,” Ondyr said sadly. “I’m so sorry, Aura. Your Majesty.”
I looked at my grandmother—at the nose shaped just like mine, and the wings vibrating softly against the ground. At the sorrow etched in each wrinkle, and the remorse pouring from her eyes. I looked at the woman who had caused me so much hurt, who had lived through so much pain, who had just given her life to save mine. And I was overcome with heartache—for all that had happened, and for all that might yet have been.
“I’m not ready to lose you.” I choked on my sob.
“I’ll always be right here.” Constance reached up, her trembling fingertips brushing lightly against my heart.
“Look out for me, okay?” I rested my forehead against my grandmother’s. “From the other side?”
“I’ll be your greatest champion,” my grandmother promised. Her eyelids fluttered closed again. I held tight to her hand as her breathing grew shallow. Her chest shuddered, and another wave of coughing overtook her. Before she drew her last breath, she squeezed my hand and spoke her final words. “I am proud of you. My granddaughter. My queen.”
Constance’s fingers went limp. My tears streamed freely as I dropped my head to her chest and wept. I felt a hand on the small of my back, its light pressure providing what little comfort it could. A second hand touched my shoulder, and when I looked up Viggo and Signy framed me with bowed heads. Ondyr knelt nearby, his own head lowered in respect. The queen’s guards wept silent tears, and even the flowers seemed to droop. The entire courtyard was somber, honoring the passing of the leader who’d driven Alfheim to its darkest days . . . but in the end, also pushed it toward a brighter future.
I would make sure her selfless act wasn’t in vein.
“We got a lock on the crystal! It’s right here. Now we just have to take it to . . . oh, gods.” Finna’s jubilant run came to a sharp halt as she looked from me to Signy to Constance. “Is she . . .”
“My grandfather killed her.” Fire burned in Ondyr’s eyes. “Right before he disappeared.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” Maja dipped her head.
I could only nod in response.
“Aura? Are you okay?” Jande dropped to kneel beside Ondyr.
“No. Not at all.” I pulled my shoulders back. “But we’re going to avenge her. And all of Alfheim. Rankin’s screwed with us long enough. We need to stay off his radar long enough to find him, and ki—”
“Slight problem.” Viggo’s hand hadn’t left my lower back. Now he rubbed small, calming circles. “Rankin said the queen had a trace on you. And it sounds like he’s got that trace now, too. I don’t know how, but if he has a way to track you I don’t know how to keep you safe.”
“I don’t remember anyone asking about a trace.” I shook my head.
“I do,” Signy said quietly. “Regents and key personnel always have a tracking resonance coded for them. It’s a security measure to deter abductions. I signed off on Aura’s being done before her coronation. You were to sit for it next week.”
“But I didn’t,” I pointed out. “So, they can’t have a tracker on me.”
“There are other ways to procure a code,” Signy said. “Any senior level Empati could identify your resonance—even remotely—and code it for tracking. If someone fudged the date on my authorization, the code may already be in the private records room.”
“And where exactly is that room?” Viggo asked tensely.
“The senatorial complex,” Signy answered. Then she swore. “The shadow in the complex. Narrik was after Aura’s code.”
“And Rankin said his servant had already procured it.” Viggo picked up his sword and jumped to his feet. “We have to stop Narrik before he hands it over.”
“Rankin has a head start.” I folded my grandmother’s hands over her chest, and picked up my own sword. “We’d better get moving.”
“We’ll catch him,” Viggo said grimly. “I won’t let you spend the rest of your life running.”
“Aura’s run long enough.” Signy held out her hand and I took it. “Let’s put an end to this once and for all.”
My eyes darted to my grandmother’s limp form. “Rankin is really dangerous.”
“In case you’ve forgotten . . .” Signy pulled me to my feet, “. . . so am I.”
Chapter 12
“MY GODS,” MAJA WHISPERED. “The whole city is burning.”
She wasn’t wrong. She, Viggo and I had flown Signy and Ondyr into the capital, bringing the crystal with us and leaving Finna and Jande in the relative safety of the palace. As we’d traveled, we’d been careful to avoid the hot zones—but it was impossible to miss the waves of destruction coursing below us. Flames still roared through the residential area, consuming the townhomes that had once housed our government officials, and sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the night air. We could barely see the moon through the haze, and what little patches of sky we were able to glimpse were dirtied with ash that fell like rain. The tang of charred wood assaulted my nostrils, digging sharply into my lungs and leaving me with the awareness that each breath was too short; too shallow; too void of oxygen.
“I can’t breathe.” I doubled over once we’d touched down behind the senatorial complex.
“Well, you’re going to have to,” Maja said sharply. “So, stand up, and let me clear you.”
“Clear me? What are you—oh!”
My spine immediately stiffened as Maja waved her hand. A waterfall of light coursed through me, running from the top of my head down my throat and ending just below my belly button. I was immediately lighte
r, freer, and, most importantly, able to freaking breathe.
“Thanks.” I exhaled.
Maja turned her attention to the massive structure behind her. It housed not only the senators’ offices, but the meeting rooms and private storage facilities that kept confidential government records . . . including, apparently, my tracking code.
“Rankin’s here,” Maja announced. “He’s looking for Narrik. We need to intercept them before they transfer Aura’s code.”
“Then we’d better get inside,” Viggo said grimly. “Aura, stay between me and Signy. If anything comes at you, I want you to run.”
I tightened my grip on my sword and shot him a look. “Haven’t you figured out by now, I don’t run from my problems?”
“Yeah.” Viggo slid the hand not holding his weapon through his hair. “But I had to try.”
“Running from your homicidal grandfather and the monster who drugged the queen would not make you weak,” Signy offered. “Just so you know.”
“I’m not running,” I repeated. “Now get moving before Maja has to clear my lungs again.”
Viggo shot me a look of resigned frustration, but jogged toward the back entrance. He wrenched the door open, and waved us inside. Once we were all in, he turned to Maja with a frown. “Okay. Where is he?”
Maja closed her eyes and held very still. I glanced nervously down the darkened hallway. Eerie flickers of orange light came through the windows. The fire wasn’t close, but it was big enough that it dominated everything it touched—including air.
“Rankin’s moving through the western corridor,” Maja finally announced.
“And Narrik?” Viggo asked.
“Southern corridor—leaving the basement-level records room.”
“Good. They’re not together yet.” Signy glanced over her shoulder. “We intercept Narrik first—once he’s in custody and we have possession of the code, we use whatever communicator he has to inform Rankin of his treachery. Viggo, do you still have that transmuted crystal?”
“I do.” Viggo patted the pocket in his cargo pants.
“Excellent. We stay together, we move as a unit, and under no circumstances are we to kill Narrik. No matter how much we want to.” Signy spoke the last words as if they pained her. “We need him as bait to draw Rankin back.”
“And then we can kill him?” Maja didn’t bat an eye.
“We’ll discuss it in committee,” Signy said. I wasn’t sure whether she was joking or not.
“Move out,” Viggo instructed. “Aura, stay—”
“I know. Stay between you and Signy.” I raised my sword and followed Viggo down the hall. “Since when do you treat me like some delicate snowflake? Huh?”
“Since you became our sole regent, and the official head of Alfheim.” Viggo glanced back at me as he jogged. “Queen Aura.”
My stomach tightened. But I didn’t have time to process Viggo’s words—or my devastation at losing the woman I’d become so close to. The full weight of Constance’s crown now rested solely on my head, and I could only focus on the mission: capture Narrik, retrieve my code, and convince Rankin his ‘servant’ had betrayed him.
One step at a time.
We reached the southern corridor in no time, and quickly descended the steps to the basement records room. What we saw made my blood run cold.
“You.” I raised my sword at the sight of Fyrs Narrik, in his tattered, military regalia, standing beside a glistening fountain. Instead of water, the fount spouted golden holographic tickets, each of which bore the likeness of one of Alfheim’s key governmental personnel. Narrik spun around to face me, a shimmering ticket in hand and a shocked look on his haggard face.
“By order of the queen, you are hereby commanded to turn yourself over for questioning regarding the abduction of Alfheim’s esteemed Opprør, and the drugging of our regent, Queen Constance.” Signy raised her sword and stepped forward. “And I suggest you put that code ticket back. Now.”
Narrik’s eyes darted from Signy to Viggo to Maja to Ondyr, before finally settling on me. “What code ticket? Yours, Princess Aura?”
“It’s Queen Aura now.” I stepped forward so my sword was level with my aunt’s. “And you heard her. It’s over, Narrik.”
“And what exactly do you think is over?” Narrik’s menacing voice echoed off the stacks of records. “I have your code. I can track you from here to eternity. But more importantly, the dark elf who’s hunted you all from the moment you were born can finally claim you as his rightful property.”
“Aura is nobody’s property.” Viggo’s sword glinted, its threatening silvery blue blade sparking as he fell in line with Signy and me. “We’ll ask one last time. And then we’ll have to kill you.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Narrik growled.
“So be it.” Maja launched herself at Narrik. She moved in a blur of wings and fury, striking him from the side and forcing the code ticket from his hand. It fluttered gently to the ground, a stark contrast to the thud with which Narrik hit the side of the fountain. I scrambled to pick the ticket up, shoving it into my cargos before joining Maja in her assault.
Narrik had scrambled to his feet, and was using the dagger he must have carried on his belt to deflect Maja’s energetic shots. Silver light pinged off the blade as it reflected blows from my furious friend. While Maja delivered her energetic attack, Viggo and I mounted a physical one. We moved to opposite sides of the aisle that surrounded the fountain, and crept closer to our enemy. Narrik, distracted by Maja’s unrelenting assault, didn’t see us coming until we were close enough to strike. Viggo leapt forward, driving his sword into the flesh between Narrik’s ribs. The monster’s cry set my teeth on edge, but I held my focus and struck from the other side, slicing clear through Narrik’s shoulder.
“Arugh!” Our enemy turned, sending a spray of blood arcing across the stone floor. He staggered forward, swinging at me with his good arm. As I jumped back, Signy charged him from behind. Narrik must have caught sight of her reflection in my sword, because he halted his attack on me, squatting low to the ground and striking out with his leg as he spun around. The move caught Signy off guard, and she threw herself to the right, somersaulting across the stones to avoid being struck. After a rotation she leapt neatly to her feet, and charged. Narrik was ready for her, lashing out with a roundhouse that forced her back again.
“He’s not going to make this easy,” Signy shouted. “Aura, shield me and Viggo while we go in!”
I didn’t stop to question her. Keeping my sword raised, I dropped my energy to the ground and reached out until I felt the protection I always carried around me. With a breath I pushed it outward, straining its balloon-like confines until it slipped over Signy and Viggo. Then I opened myself up to the darkness, letting the energetic swarm merge with the brilliant, white light I drew up through my feet. Once I’d formed my signature blend, I sent it through my balloon, charging its edges with a toxic, silvery light.
“Fools,” Narrik shouted. He raced toward Viggo, delivering a fierce front-kick that would have left my boyfriend staggering back. But I sent a surge through my protection, and the minute Narrik made contact he shrieked in pain. The dark blend had done its job.
“Who’s the fool now?” Viggo swung his sword. Narrik rolled out of the way, then jumped to his feet and threw a right hook at Signy. The protection burned his fist, which sizzled at the hostile contact. He let out a howl, clutching his hand to his chest and whipping his head back and forth like a cornered dog.
“You’re wasting your time,” Narrik warned. “Rankin is coming. And when he does, he’ll kill every last one of—”
Thwap!
Narrik’s words turned to a gasp as Ondyr’s arrow struck him in the ribs. He doubled over, clutching his chest as a pool of blood dribbled onto the ground. Maja quickly flew in, pulling Narrik’s arms behind his back and binding them together with a rope that looked like it possessed at least a basic level of magic. Narrik strained against the hold, but
with his rapidly diminishing blood supply, he was no match for the älva . . . or her bindings.
“Keep him alive,” I ordered Maja. “We want Rankin to believe he defected.”
“If I have to.” Maja knelt down and extracted the arrow. Narrik shrieked as a fresh wave of pain coursed through him, but Maja ignored the noise and whipped an elixir out of the satchel she wore on her waist. She quickly poured it over the wound, which smoked angrily before knitting itself closed. When Narrik whimpered, she leaned in and pressed her forearm to his neck. “If you make so much as one wrong move, I’m reopening the hell out of that. And you will die. Are we clear?”
Narrik nodded feebly. He was probably too exhausted from the massive blood loss to do anything more. But just in case, I ripped a piece of fabric from the hem of my tank top, and tied it across his mouth. Then I lifted my sword so the tip dug lightly into the fabric of his shirt.
“Also, if you say a word I’ll drive this sword straight through your chest. And unlike that arrowhead, the Dual Sword doesn’t have a magical remedy. Are we clear?”
Narrik’s defeated head slump served as my confirmation.
“Access his com,” Viggo ordered. “There’s got to be a way to reach Rankin through that.”
Narrik’s eyes widened, whether in fear or anger, I couldn’t tell. But when Ondyr marched forward and stripped the communicator off Narrik’s wrist, he didn’t try to fight back. He merely watched in resignation as Ondyr manipulated the device until an image of Rankin popped up.
“Excellent.”
Ondyr tapped the hologram. It emitted a high-pitched buzzing. A few seconds later, Rankin’s face filled the space above the com. Anger radiated from his knitted brows and thinly set lips as he barked, “Where are you? You were supposed to meet me at the back stairs.”
“Your ‘servant’ isn’t going to be able to meet you.” Ondyr held the communicator directly in front of his face. “Why don’t you talk to me, instead?”
“Ondyr?” The V between Rankin’s brows deepened. “Where the hell have you been, son? Your mother has been worried sick.”