“We’ve been on our own a long time now. I know you liked life the way it was when it was just us and Xander fighting the good fight.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t want this beast inside me any more than you want to be the archdruid. But neither of us can change what we are.” He squeezed her arms. “Cry and scream if you want to, but the Rhiannon I know wouldn’t run away when she knew we needed to be here.”
Ann pulled away from him. “Don’t you want to go back to being the way we were? Rogues, fighting the good fight?”
“We’re still rogues, and we can fight the good fight,” he said. “You know I’ll always be by your side no matter what. Always and forever, remember?” Ed turned and walked away.
Ann slumped back against the oak tree, closing her eyes, letting her mind drift.
Darius stood beside her. Tall, dark, imposing. A giant of a man. It made her heart ache seeing the memory of him. Papa, why can’t you still be here? You were always meant to lead these people. Not me.
She let the memory unfold before her. Let it take her back to a happier time.
“It’s not working.” She raised her hand, trying to make the leaves of the tree blossom by using her magic.
“You’re trying too hard.” He raised his own hand, making flowers spring up around her.
“I’ll never be as good as you.” She sighed. “I’m not that powerful.”
“You already have power, Rhiannon. You’re the strongest of all my children,” he said. “Being a druid isn’t about power. It’s about strength and skill. Nature provides us with all the power we need. The rest has to come from us. Our will, our determination. If you believe you can do anything, you can. Try again.”
Ann took a deep breath and raised her hand. This time the entire tree became covered in bright green leaves.
Darius laughed. “There, you see? Remember that whenever you have a problem you think you can’t solve.”
Ann opened her eyes, letting the memory fade. Raising her hand, her fingers flared with light. All around her trees became covered with leaves and flowers sprang up, filling the air with their heady scent.
She rose and drew back her hood. She marched back into Blaise’s house and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if I offended you earlier. But understand I didn’t come here to challenge you,” she said. “Like it or not, I’m staying. I won’t stand on the sidelines anymore. I tried to keep Urien away, to weaken Orla. That didn’t work, but I won’t stop until I save Xander and find a way to stop Urien for good.” She stared at him. “We don’t have to get along. These are still your people, not mine.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Maybe I can help while I’m here.”
Blaise laughed. “Help with what? As you can see, we’re managing just fine here. We have the stones to keep out the worst evils. Erthea provides all we need. Why would we need your help?” he retorted. “Last I heard, you and your rogues are wanted fugitives in all five lands.”
Her lip curled. “You don’t believe I killed my parents, do you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe. I still don’t want you or your rogues here.”
Ann repressed a sigh. How else could she get through to him?
“The stones are weakening,” she said instead. “Their power protects the druids when they’re within its border. But that’s getting less and less every year, isn’t it?”
Her uncle’s eyes narrowed. “What would you know that? You’re wrong, the stones have been around since the times of ancient man. They’ll be here long after we’re all dust.”
“I can feel it, and I think you can too. While I’m here, I can—”
“No.” Blaise slammed down his fist so hard the table shook. “I won’t have you using the power of the stones for your own gain. Blessed spirits, you’re no different from Darius. He used the stones—”
“Like it or not, I’m the only one who can use their power. The stones are tuned to the power of the archdruid. I’ll do what I can to help keep you and the others safe.”
Blaise’s mouth opened and closed several times, but no words came out.
She turned to go. “I’m sure you can tolerate me for a few days.” She glanced at Ed as he came inside. “We’re staying.”
“First a Gliss, now a lykae. You’re asking a lot of me, niece,” Blaise grumbled. “Do you control him, too? Then again, he always did act like your lapdog.”
Ann frowned. “What’s a lykae?” Her lips thinned. “And he isn’t my lapdog. He’s my partner, so treat him with some respect.”
Her uncle snorted. “You don’t even know what he is, do you? He’s more dangerous than a Gliss. Maybe even more dangerous than Urien.”
Chapter 10
Lykae. Ed let the word roll inside his mind. It sounded somehow familiar, but he had no idea where he’d heard it before. Lykae—did he finally have a name for the beast? If so, where did lykaes even come from? Were there more out there?
Blaise’s words: “He’s more dangerous than a Gliss. Maybe even more dangerous than Urien” hit him like a ton of bricks. What could that mean? He’d never hurt Ann, Jax, or Sage.
“He isn’t a threat either,” Ann snapped. “Are you going to condemn every one of my friends?”
“Ann, don’t,” he said and turned to Blaise. “Do you know what I am? Why I have a beast inside me?”
“You don’t have a beast, you are a beast, boy.” Blaise laughed. “I didn’t think you knew. I always wondered when you’d change.”
Ed froze for a moment. Orla hadn’t cursed him; the beast was part of him. He hadn’t wanted to consider that possibility before now. He’d been in denial for weeks. Even though the others had suggested the beast might be a natural part of him, he never wanted to believe it.
“What is a lykae?” Ann asked. “I studied most of the races throughout the five lands whilst I was growing up. I’ve never heard of them.”
“A creature that comes from one of the other lands. Maybe part of Asral that was lost to the mists, or Lulrien—most of that land vanished. They are a thing of nightmares.” He glared at her. “If anyone here gets hurt because of your beast or your Gliss, I will hold you responsible.”
“They won’t,” she insisted and took Ed’s arm. “Come on, we need to check on the others.” She tugged at him outside the door.
Ed sighed but pulled away from her. “See you in a minute.” He headed back inside. Blaise might be one of the few people who knew what he was and how to control it. He had to find out what the druid knew about his lykae nature.
“If you want more answers about the lykae, I can’t help you,” Blaise snapped. “I only know what you are because Darius told me. He didn’t elaborate on what it means, or how to help you. I’m guessing that’s why he chose you to keep his daughter safe above all of the other Black.”
Ed’s eyes widened. Darius had known? He shouldn’t be surprised by that. That man had a lot of secrets. Darius had even known he would die. He’d given Ed plans to help get Ann and Xander out of the palace and take them somewhere safe.
“What else did he tell you?” Ed asked. “Please, I need to know. You don’t have to trust me, but I know you’re a good leader and a good man. Isn’t helping others what the druids used to be about?”
Blaze laughed again, this time without humour. “What does it matter? The druids are a dying race. As for what you are, no, Darius didn’t tell me anything else.” His lips curved into a dark smile. “Are you sure you want to know what you are?”
Ed hissed out a breath. “I don’t have a choice in the matter. I need to know how to control it.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. The lykae could come from beyond the mists. Given how you were in the sea when Ann found you, you could have come from anywhere.”
Ed nodded, accepting defeat, then paused. “I thought you should know, Flora…” just thinking of his foster mother brought to his lump to his throat. Ann didn’t mention her aunt much, but then, she was good at blocking out her feelings.
She always had been.
“Is gone now too. Yes, I know. I felt it. Both my siblings are dead. Darius was no surprise, but I never wanted my sweet sister caught up in this mess.” Blaise continued pounding away at an herb mixture with his pestle and mortar. “I warned her to get away from all that. But no, she insisted on working with Sage and the resistance.”
“Flora believed in working for better future, just like Ann does. Ann isn’t Darius. You’re on the same side, and you need to learn to work together,” he said. “She can be a great leader, but she needs people on her side if we’re going to stop Urien.”
“You saw what my brother’s lust for women and ambition for power cost the five lands.” Blaise stopped pounding for a moment.
“We can’t change the past, only work for a better future.”
Blaise laughed. “Careful, you almost sound like a leader. You shouldn’t be led by blind loyalty or the feelings you have for my niece.”
“I don’t stay out of out of loyalty. I know what she is capable of.”
“Is it because you love her?” The old druid raised a brow.
Ed turned and left, letting Blaise’s words settle over him.
Jerome led Ann and the others to where they could sleep during their stay in Trewa. Ed trailed behind, mind still reeling from everything Blaise had said to him.
He took them to a set of small wooden cabins close to the forest. They looked like they hadn’t been used in years. Trees and heavy foliage had grown over them.
“This is the best they could offer the archdruid to stay in?” Ceara scoffed. “I think we would be more comfortable sleeping outside in the forest. Your uncle really doesn’t want us here.”
Ed opened a door to one of the cabins and it fell off its hinges. He raised a brow at Jerome, who flinched.
“I’m sorry we don’t have better accommodation,” Jerome said to Ann. “These cabins were used when we had more warriors here. We just use them for when we have refugees passing through from the other lands. Sage sends people here when the resistance needs places for them to stay.”
Ann’s eyes widened. “And here I thought my uncle wasn’t interested in helping the resistance,” she remarked. “Don’t worry, Jerome. These will do fine. We’ll only be here for a few days at most. We can make do.”
Jerome nodded, then made his excuses and left them alone, much to Ed’s relief.
“You can’t expect us to sleep here, can you?” Ceara crossed her arms and started rubbing the back of her neck again.
“We can make do. We’re rogues, we don’t expect to stay in luxury wherever we go. Ann and I have slept in worse places than this before,” Ed insisted. “Why do you keep touching the back of your neck?”
“No reason,” she growled through gritted teeth. “When I agreed to join you lot, I didn’t expect to have to sleep in a hovel.”
Jax sniggered. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you can enjoy your nice cosy bed when you go running back to Urien.”
Ann scowled as she appeared inside one of the cabins. “This is my uncle’s way of making sure we don’t stay long.”
“It’s probably to keep the threat of a Gliss as far away from the other druids as possible,” Jax remarked. “You can’t blame him for that.”
“How come Sage gets to stay in the village with the other druids?” Ceara grumbled.
“Because she’s the only one of us my uncle likes,” Ann replied. “After a bit of cleaning up, I’m sure we can make these places habitable.” She raised her hand. “Glan agus deisiú.”
Ed felt magic crackle through the air. Orbs of light sparkled around the two different cabins. The dust and debris inside melted away, revealing makeshift beds, a small wooden table and a couple of chairs inside each. Jerome had said he would have some mattresses brought in for them too. The first cabin proved to be the largest, with two bedrooms.
Ceara smiled. “Nicely done, oh mighty archdruid. Now, the next question is who is sleeping where?”
“Who says you’re getting your own room?” Jax scowled at her. “You are still—”
“I’m sure Ann and Ed will want to be alone. Unless she wants to be alone with her former lover, that is.” Ceara chuckled.
Ed’s jaw tightened. “Why would Ann and I need to be alone? Jax and I will take the second cabin.”
“Good, I’m not staying near Jax. He snores louder than a drunken pig.”
“I don’t snore,” Jax insisted.
“Yes, you do,” the others said in unison, which made them all laugh.
Ceara stalked off to her room once Jerome and a couple of the men brought mattresses for them.
Sage seemed the most relaxed among the druids and got chatting with them.
Jax got talking to some of the other warriors, too. Ed felt a little out of place among them, and instead stayed close to Ann. The other druids seemed to keep their distance from her, and especially Ceara.
After a few days, some of the other druids started to be a little less wary of her and finally started talking to her.
Ed got talking to the men, too, and got on well with most of them. Blaise hadn’t revealed his lykae nature to them, much to his relief.
He noticed Ann spending more time with Jerome, too. Ed tried not to let it get him, yet seeing them together made it harder to keep both the beast and his strange new rage under control.
Ed went for a run every morning and evening. He ran a few times around the entire town. That eased some of the tension.
But being near Ann seemed to calm him the most. He had no idea why she seemed to have such an effect on him.
The first rays of dawn broke over the horizon. Noticing a light on in her cabin, he headed toward it. Ed heard only one heartbeat inside, so knew Ann would be alone. He knocked, and she opened the door. “You’re up early,” she remarked.
“I don’t need much sleep now,” he told her. “Not since I turned into a beast.” She opened the door further to let him in. “What are you doing up?”
She shrugged. “Don’t you find it strange Urien hasn’t come after me again yet?”
Ed nodded. “I guess, but we’ve only been here three days.”
“Urien is an impatient person. Now he’s back, he’ll want the five lands to fall under his rule as soon as possible,” she said. “He won’t sit and wait for people to fall in line. Nor will he want me to start getting allies.” She paused and motioned him over to a map that lay on the table. “I’ve been trying to figure out what he’s planning. What his next move will be.”
“What does Ceara say?”
“She said she heard something about Urien calling all the leaders of the five lands together. He must have planned something big.”
Ed sat down on the bench beside her. “He’s already sent banelings after us. Not sure how he managed that; they’re supposed to live in Asral, and parts of that land are blocked off thanks to the toxic mists.”
Asral lay between Caselhelm and Vala. Some parts of it were inaccessible due to heavy toxic mists that had been around since before the dark times when ancient man and most civilisations had been wiped out. Things did occasionally come through the mists—strange, deformed creatures like the banelings.
“Urien must have found a way to pierce the mists,” Ann mused. “Damn it, I wish I could access my father’s vault.”
“What?” Ed didn’t recall Darius ever having a vault. He seemed to keep all his knowledge locked away within his mind. Darius hadn’t even written down the things he’d learnt, for fear it would be used against him.
“Papa had a vault where he kept everything he valued. Books, objects of power, weapons. He never showed it to anyone—not even me,” she said. “But I know it existed. I saw him go in more than once. A door would appear, and he’d disappear through it. He only shared things with me that he wanted me to know. But we both know he had a lot of secrets and used magic way beyond anything a druid could do.”
“True. Do you think Urien found it?”
“I think P
apa would have sealed it from him. He didn’t trust Urien either.” She glanced at the map again. “I’ve been trying to think where Urien would hold this meeting. Some leaders would have to travel a long way.”
“What about the vault? Have you tried using your powers to access it?”
“Tried, yes, but I’m still wary of using magic. I don’t want to draw Urien’s attention.” She frowned at him. “You haven’t tried accessing any more of your memories since we came here either.”
“You’ve been busy.” Ed knew it sounded like a lame excuse.
“I’m not too busy to help you. Come on, let’s go try again among the stones. I have a new spell I want to try, and no one will disturb us at this hour.”
“New spell? Should I be worried?” He grinned. “Just because I’m different now doesn’t mean your spell won’t go awry.”
Ann gave him a playful shove. “I could make you look like a beast all the time if you’re not careful.”
Together they headed out to the standing stones. Ann muttered a protection spell and the stones flashed.
Ed sat down, unsure if he wanted to remember more. He might have a name to go with the beast, but part of him felt terrified of remembering what might have happened to him.
“Try to relax,” Ann told him. “It will make things easier.”
“Last time, I remembered myself almost drowning and someone chasing me. It’s hard to imagine anything good coming from it.” He shuddered at the memory.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious to learn if you have a family or not?” She sat down beside him, laying her coat out on the ground.
“I already have a family. You and Jax are my family. Just like the Black were.”
“Yeah, but we’re not blood related.”
From what he’d seen of her family, Ed didn’t know if he wanted to learn more about his own kin. What if they were beasts too? What would they be like?
“You’re tensing up,” Ann said as she sat in front of him. “Breathe. Maybe put your head in my lap. It will be easier if I touch you.”
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