by RJ Metcalf
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Jeff bobbed his head again, hope lighting his face as he stood and picked up his sword. He gazed down at it, as if beholding it for the first time. “For once,” he said softly. “I get to fight with honor.” He sprinted away, along the edges of the ongoing battle, heading toward the city.
Finn gave Brandon a small glance of triumph. “Now do you understand the good that can come of this burden you carry?”
Brandon stood, strength flowing through him. “I do.”
He really did have the power to do something good. This wasn’t entirely a curse.
“Great, so let’s keep moving, shall we?” Zebediah exclaimed from behind Finn.
Brandon gaped.
Bodies littered the ground like leaves after an autumn windstorm in Perennia. A handful of Lasimian shock troopers lay among the fallen, whereas the majority seemed to be unconscious, much like Jeff had been. Brandon shook off the chill that wanted to run through him. Beyond those lying before him, the battle had spread to nearly every square inch of land outside the Hollows; the bonded showed no signs of exhaustion, no signs of letting up. Bodily fluids and blood soaked the parched desert, and still his men fought.
“We need to capture and re-order some of the leaders.” Brandon gestured for Zebediah to draw near so he could point out the same individuals that Jeff had. “If we can get to them, they can direct those under them.”
Zebediah harrumphed and waved Brandon away from the guard he’d started to kneel by. “Skip these guys. If we can get their leader, we’re set.”
A flash of red in the distance caught his attention, and Brandon swore softly. Finn’s fires had died down or been put out, and now a small group of prisoners and guards ringed around a crimson-haired woman, who moved toward the city. Brandon sheathed his sword and forced himself to follow after Zebediah and the shock-troopers. His role was here. Giving a new life to these who desperately needed it.
Hopefully Jeff and more would be able to protect the innocent lives in the city.
Chapter Sixty
Jade
Jade gripped her new Monomi dagger in her left hand, holding her right fist behind her back. She circled the palace training ring slowly, cautious with each step. Sweat dripped from her chin. Her lungs ached. She grinned.
Zak’s eyes seemed to smile back at her before smoothing back into seriousness. He burst forward, and she dodged, throwing herself to the side and reaching out with her blade, stretching, trying to nick his boiled leather armor.
He skidded and turned, focused on her. He took in every twitch, every breath, barely blinking. He stalked with the same grace as an inky black cat. Predatory.
The sound of footsteps rounding the corner echoed lightly in the open training area, but she ignored it. There were so many guards crawling around the Aerugan palace that she was getting used to it.
But Zak’s smoldering gaze on her? That was something she hoped she’d never get used to.
Anticipation skittered across her skin, and she settled back into her defense stance, lifting her new dagger again. She was starting to get used to the shorter reach, the different grip. She’d have to keep practicing, but she wasn’t as bad as she had been an hour ago.
This time she moved first, pushing off the ground with the ball of her foot, propelling herself toward Zak. He smoothly transitioned his position from offense to defense, shoulders squared and feet firmly planted. She stopped short, hoping to throw him off. He didn’t move.
A flicker of annoyance flashed through her. Her eyes narrowed, and she reached out with the dagger with exaggerated slowness as if she were planning to tap his side.
Zak grabbed her wrist, his lips curled in amusement. “I don’t think that’s going to work, love.”
Her skin tingled at his grasp and she laughed. “I know.” She kept the blade pointed away from him as she moved in for a hug, bumping their armor together.
He sheathed his dagger with his free hand and wrapped her up in both his arms, freeing her dagger hand. He kissed her cheek lightly. “You were getting better at the end,” he complimented.
Triumph surged through her, and she brought her blade up, giving his neck a gentle tap with the dull edge. “I know.” She winked. “You let your guard down for some pretty girl. Shame, Mister Monomi.”
An incredulous guffaw burst out of Zak. “So vicious. I suppose I’ll need a counter strike.” He leaned in, peppering her face with kisses. “Take that, you vixen.”
Jade squealed and sheathed her dagger, helpless to fend him off between peals of laughter. The soles of her boots squeaked against the floor as she tried to wiggle free. “I yield! I yield!”
“Wow. And here I was, worried about how you would survive without us, and this is what I find?” A feminine voice rang out, amusement tinging the words. “I guess I can rest easy tonight, then.”
Jade twisted in Zak’s arms and pressed a hand to his chest as she searched the room for the owner of the voice. How long had it been since she’d heard it? Far too long.
Krista perched on a bench, chin in her hand, smirking. Briar sat next to her, prosthetic leg stretched in front of him, a look of equal delight on his face.
“Krista!” Jade yelped. Zak let go of her, and she rushed across the training room, all but flying into her best friend’s arms. Tears misted Jade’s vision as she embraced Krista. Jade reached out and patted Briar’s back without letting go of Krista.
Krista pulled away from Jade and tapped her finger on the hilt of Jade’s dagger. “So we get married, and you decided to follow our lead, I see?”
Jade moved aside to let Zak by to greet Briar, and she gave Krista a small grin that grew to hurt her cheeks. “Couldn’t let you have all the fun.”
“And what does the prince have to say about this?” Krista hooked her arm in Jade’s and started to pull her away from where the guys chatted, then paused to grimace at Jade. “Ew. You’re sweaty.”
Jade rolled her eyes and pulled Krista to one of the low benches across the way. “You saw us sparring.”
“I saw you two making eyes at each other, and then I saw you getting closer than Zaborah would be pleased with,” Krista corrected. She threw her head back with a laugh that made her black braids swing. “Catch me up on everything I’ve missed.”
Jade started with the decision of Ben and Geist leaving for the Hollows—glossing over the knowledge of Ben being a Void Born—the hope she’d felt when she’d learned of Brandon’s reasons to bow to Everett, then the night they’d learned of Everett’s murder, and quickly recounted their fleeing and backtracking.
Krista held up a hand, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, you’re telling me, you’ve been in Zak’s pants, before you two married? Shame!”
Jade’s entire face burned and she shoved Krista. “You know it wasn’t like that,” she hissed, casting a furtive glance across the arena. There was no way Zak would’ve heard Krista’s gleeful comment, but there was absolutely no need to risk that type of mortification. Krista cackled, and Jade buried her face in her hands, groaning.
Krista rubbed Jade’s back, still chuckling. “It was too easy and too perfect.”
“You know, I was nice to you when you two got engaged. I didn’t tease you two like this.” Jade pointed out, a slight whine to her voice. “And then there’s you, so mean.”
“You’ve missed me.” Krista stated, matter-a-fact. She rested her elbows on her knees and knit her fingers to rest her chin on them. “So. When are you two getting married?”
That was the question as far as Jade was concerned. Who knew when would be a good time? War was inevitable and on the horizon, refugees at the gates, and a nation’s ruler had been assassinated within the last week. It seemed that having a wedding now would be in poor taste.
Even if it was one of the only things that made sense right now.
“I hope you’re not going to wait forever.” Krista nudged Jade with her shoulder, her expression earnest. “I want you two to be happy toget
her for as much time as you can have. And if that means a wedding today, then do it. Don’t wait. Not now.”
Wistfulness stole over Jade, and she watched Zak across the ring, admiring the way the light reflected off his cheekbones, how his sweat-dampened hair curled on his forehead. What would it be like, waking up to him every morning? To be allowed to steal any moment possible together? Not only have it be allowed––but to have it be something considered good?
Krista’s hand waved in front of Jade’s face, and Jade sat up, startled. Krista gave Jade a knowing grin. “Seriously. Don’t wait on good things like this. Every day we have alive is a privilege, and not one to be taken for granted.”
“True.” Jade pressed her lips together, the clouds of reality darkening her cheerful mood. “At the very least, I want to wait till Brandon and Zebediah are back.”
Krista’s excited energy toned down to match Jade’s. “Have you heard anything yet?”
“Nothing.” Jade shook her head and gripped the cool stone bench beneath her. “Nothing from them, nothing from Ben. I can only hope that they’re alive, and that somehow they all make it back safe and whole.”
Chapter Sixty-One
Raine
Raine reeled emotionally as flaming orbs fell out of the sky and down to the road right by where she hid with Ben and Geist. The heat of the fire didn’t concern her so much as what the fireballs meant. She recognized her grandfather’s style. His priority of halting Artemis’s army from continuing toward the city. Finn was here.
How would she face him? What could she say? How could she explain?
Loss had led her down a path of vengeance that left her empty.
She’d deal with that if she survived.
Maybe it would be better if she didn’t.
But for now, Artemis had Andre.
She would rescue him from her. Somehow.
Fireballs rained from above, splashing onto prisoners and guards alike, lighting them up in hideous caricatures of candles. The scent of burning flesh wafted in the cold air, and she gagged, dropping to her hands and knees as her stomach threatened to rebel whatever was left in it.
“I got you,” Ben whispered from her side, his hand on her back, pulling strands of hair from her face. His voice sounded strained. “Looks like they’re on our side. Do you have a plan?”
Raine forced herself to breathe through her mouth, then pulled her jacket sleeve over her hand, trying to filter the air through that instead. Geist retched behind them, and she clutched Ben’s forearm, wishing she couldn’t hear the dying wails of the burned. “If Artemis is the one controlling them, maybe we could convince her to let Andre go?” Even as she said it, she knew Artemis wouldn’t. Not if she was already willing to go this far. Raine scuffed her boot at the barren ground. “What if she were to die? Maybe that’d break the bond?”
Ben’s arm moved under her hand as he shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine, better, actually, since you’ve lived here your whole life.” He looked out to where they’d last seen Artemis and swore softly under his breath. “She must have turned Markus too. Poor guy.”
“Markus?”
“One of the guys on the airship with Geist and me. Solid fellow. Quiet.” Ben peered down the hillside, gingerly stepping out to see better. “Oh, he’s moving away. Good. One less for us to deal with.” The dirt shifted under his boots, and he stumbled, grabbing onto her arm. He blanched and dropped a hand toward his leg. He breathed out his mouth shakily before straightening. “Can you handle it if Geist and I take care of Artemis?”
Raine snorted. “No offense, but how can you even take care of Artemis when you can barely walk?” She ignored the injured pride that flashed across Ben’s face, but gentled her tone. “Look, I’m not going to go anywhere near Artemis if I can help it. My goal is to get to Andre.”
Worry crossed Ben’s face, but he seemed to accept her declaration at face value, and he limped over to Geist. She returned to watching Andre stand by Artemis’s side. It was impossible to see his face, but she had a guess as to how he felt. Artemis was sure to use his strength, his skill, for her own evil plans.
And while it might not break him, it would cut deeply. And if Raine could somehow spare him that, she would. She owed him that much after his care for her.
Better to save someone more whole than herself.
Clouds obscured what little light the sun had been letting off, and the temperature dropped again. She suppressed a shiver and mentally thanked Ben for lettering her keep his jacket. The heat of her anger warred too much with the cold of her depressed apathy, and now the fires that her grandfather had sent were burning low. She flexed the muscles in her legs, willing them to not be a tingly mess when she’d finally stand. How would she stop Andre without killing him? Without risking getting bonded herself? She rubbed her arm, not needing to see through the sleeve to know exactly where her own tattoos branded her skin.
How did the bonding work? Did Artemis need to be touching her? Touching the tattoo? Was there a code word? Why had she not bonded Raine earlier? Would she bond Raine the second she saw her?
Raine halted her steam trans of thought there, fighting tears that arrived against her will. What could she do?
The scuff of dirt announced Ben, then Geist, stopping next to her. It took no imagination to envision Ben’s concern at the moisture in her eyes. He touched her hand. “Raine?”
“I’m fine.” No, I’m not. She let out a shaky breath as Andre bowed to something Artemis said. Raine’s stomach buried itself in her toes as Artemis stepped over the still-smoldering dirt road, leading her four-guard ring toward the city. Was Artemis going to the city to kill, or to bond? Either way, Raine had to stop it. She couldn’t let innocent people be hurt by this two-faced lying woman.
Maybe this was why Raine had been sent to the Hollows. For such a time as this. To stop Artemis. To free Andre.
His worth in the war was so much higher than hers. He had skill, strategy, training that she lacked. And she … she’d been tricked and used and gave herself over to cold-blooded murder.
Saving Andre would be a step toward redeeming herself.
That thought freed the tension in Raine’s shoulders, letting her breathe easily for the first time since they’d escaped. She could do this.
Even if she died here, her grandfather would find her body. He’d know she’d given her all for their shared ideals of protecting innocents, and he’d have his closure. She wouldn’t have to tell him what happened to her. He’d be free to fight for southern Terrene, and without the dead weight of a Void Born granddaughter who’d been branded by the Hollows.
It would be better this way.
She turned her head slightly, letting herself soak in the sight of Ben. Maybe they could’ve had a future together before this. Maybe not. But she was glad that he’d survived, that she got to see him one last time. His presence soothed her more than she’d expected, and she was thankful she didn’t have the time to examine that particular emotion right now. He had a home to return to, and it didn’t involve her. Hopefully he’d find a way back to his sister someday. He glanced over and caught her eye.
The edges of his lips turned up, and he leaned into her space, everything about his movement speaking of comfort and support. “We’re here for you, you know.”
The ache that she’d wanted to keep buried reared up at the warmth in his words. She gave him a small smile, keeping her tone gentle, though her voice broke. “Go home, Ben. Live long and happy.”
She adjusted how she crouched, searching for the best traction as subtly as possible without drawing Ben’s attention to her actions instead of what she was saying. There was no way to convey to him how much it meant to her that he’d come here, for her. That he actually cared enough to do the most insane thing possible. Because they were friends. But she had a friend here too. And he also needed help.
She reached out and brushed the back of Ben’s hand with her cold fingers. A last touch of comfort. “And thank you,
for being my friend.”
A flush of pink burst across the top of Ben’s cheeks even as concern flashed in his eyes. “Raine—”
She pushed herself up and away from their hiding place, not wanting to hear Ben’s words, not wanting to risk him convincing her to stay. Or persuading her to wait. Or play it safe. She couldn’t soften. Not now.
Geist swore while Ben called after her, but she didn’t turn.
She raced down the hill, sliding as often as running, pebbles and rocks showering down before her, dust billowing behind, taking away any chance of subtly or surprise. She didn’t care. She would get to him. She would help him. “Andre!”
He didn’t turn, didn’t move. Maybe he hadn’t heard her.
“Andre!” She yelled again. This time, his head twitched to the side, and she shouted a third time. “Andre, wait!”
Artemis glanced over her shoulder with an impervious air. Her eyes widened at the sight of Raine running down the hill, aimed straight toward her. The tattoo artist said something to Andre, and he snapped a salute, splitting off from her group to head straight toward Raine. He drew his sword, and her gut clenched as she gripped her own blade. She’d have to fight him. Again.
She’d known this.
This time, she would defeat him. And tie him up or knock him out or something until Artemis was dead or the bond broken, or whatever it took until Raine’s friend was freed.
Whatever it took. She would do it.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Brandon
Tendrils of smoke and steam hung heavy in the damp air, and low fog swirled around Brandon’s feet as he fought his way through the flank of Artemis’s bonded soldiers, desperate to get to the leader that Jeff had pointed out. The man’s dark scalp nearly blended in with the bleak light breaking through the clouds, but Brandon kept himself focused on the white eyes tattooed on the back of the guard’s head. If he could convert one of Artemis’s leaders—if he could convert all of Artemis’s leaders—then he could turn the tide of this battle.