Spurn

by Jaymin Eve

His expression didn’t change.

  I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath and silently praying. Maybe death wasn’t the only way I could lose him.

  It’s the absorption of power, Red. He will be fine. It’s an adjustment, but Josian is too old and wily to let the power control him.

  Apparently, Brace was back in my head.

  I can’t ignore your distress. It makes me want to slay dragons and kill spiders.

  I got a mental wink. I smiled. I couldn’t help myself. There was something delightfully enticing about this new Brace.

  “I’d say your weird smile is kind of creepy, but I recognize mind-talking,” Talina said, examining me. “Are you speaking to Josian? Is he okay?” Her voice held concern.

  I shook my head. “No, Brace has decided to mind-stalk me. I can’t get rid of him.”

  Liar, you don’t want to get rid of me.

  I ignored him for the moment. Josian still hadn’t answered me.

  “Dad!” I said it more forcefully this time. “Pull yourself together. We don’t have time for this.” I raised my arm high so I could snap my fingers in front of his face.

  Slowly, with deliberate movements, he stared down at me from his lofty heights. I gulped audibly as I copped the full force of his red eyes.

  Rocking the vampire, I thought to myself.

  Never really been a fan. How is an unnaturally pale bloodsucker attractive?

  I was surprised Brace had understood the reference, and I’d had enough of this one-sided conversation.

  I reached out in an attempt to connect with him. Before I knew it, he’d sucked me in to the warm foreign depths of his thoughts. I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it; he’d created a mental picture of Josian as an emaciated old vampire.

  I was distracted by the real Josian as he reached down and took my chin, capturing my attention and forcing me from Brace’s mind.

  “We need to let Brace concentrate now; it is his turn to battle.” His voice echoed, sounding disconnected.

  But I saw a sliver of bronze blending into the red of his eyes. He was gaining control.

  “What did you do to Traktin?” I asked. “And is Brace’s battle the same type of thing?”

  Talina interrupted us. “I really don’t want my father to be absorbed or whatever you did. We aren’t sure if he’s a bad guy yet.”

  “I chose to end the energy that was Traktin. He kidnapped and threatened my daughter, and I could see he would never stop. His obsession was intolerable.” He gestured to where Brace and Almastore silently faced each other. “Brace simply has to best him in battle. He will not make the same choice.”

  Josian was trying to reassure us, but his current scary aura wasn’t really helping.

  “Do we need to move closer?” I said, already walking in Brace’s direction. I was too far away for my comfort.

  Red, you stay out of this. Promise me. I need to concentrate, and as always half my attention is on you. I need to make sure the other half stays on this moron.

  He was in my mind, but to look at him you’d never know it. His gaze didn’t waver, not even a flicker from his eyes.

  I’m not promising anything. But if you don’t get your butt kicked, I’ll stay over here.

  I lowered my ‘mind voice’ in warning.

  So don’t lose.

  His laughter echoed through me, warming, comforting. It was so familiar, and yet it gave me chills. Bumps broke out across my skin as though a swift breeze had startled every hair on my body and they were now standing up on end. But the weather was warm and calm. Nope, that was all Brace.

  “It is about to start,” Josian said.

  Shivers crossed my skin again. I couldn’t watch and yet my eyes refused to shift.

  Almastore bowed formally, which Brace reciprocated. The animosity that had been between Josian and Traktin was missing from this fight. However, I wasn’t reassured.

  They started without any fuss.

  Brace dived to the side as the first of a series of energy balls shot in his direction. He continued to play defensive as Almastore moved in a circular pattern, shooting off one flame after another. The flashes of energy were all different colors and I wondered if each one did something special.

  “Why isn’t Brace fighting back?” I whispered, worried about distracting him.

  “He is testing the Abernath, assessing his skills and abilities. It’s clever, especially if you’re quick and skilled enough to avoid the attacks.” Josian was engrossed in the fight. “He will strike soon. Brace is fast and lethal. Don’t you worry, baby girl.”

  I wasn’t worried. Sure my nails had just about drawn blood in the pads of my hands, but I was cool. My eyes closed as Brace just missed copping two full – were they lightning bolts? – to the chest. That was way too close.

  Keep your eyes shut. I’ll be finished in a minute. You don’t have to stress.

  Of course the moment he issued his ‘order’ my eyes flew open. I snorted out loud as I glared at my bossy mate.

  I love when you call me mate.

  His caressing words distracted me, along with a stroking sensation down my body. I jumped two foot in the air. I found it supremely unfair that he already knew these tricks.

  Narrowing my focus, I ran my eyes slowly, deliberately over his entire body. I started at the silky strands of his black hair, which fell messily across his forehead, before making my way down all six and a half foot of muscles and tanned skin. My experiment was starting to backfire.

  The chemistry between us had me sweaty and a little annoyed. I was possibly going to self-combust soon. During my mental assault he stumbled once, and a burst of light from Almastore glanced off his shoulder.

  Oops.

  Red, he said in warning.

  I stopped messing with him. I did want him back in one piece.

  “What are you doing?” Almastore said. He appeared to have had enough of this dodge-and-retreat from Brace. “Fight me. I don’t have all day for you to show me that you are weak and afraid.”

  As he poked at Brace’s ego, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Brace didn’t rise to the bait. I had always assumed that the male ego was fragile.

  Brace just grinned and nodded once. With a deep breath he stood straight and then he moved.

  I’d likened Brace’s fighting style to a ninja once, and it had never appeared truer than now. He flowed from one movement to the next. There was no energy or throwing of light. He got in close and personal, and began to land heavy blows on the other Walker.

  A serious of kicks, followed by a well-placed elbow to his face, drew the first blood. Almastore attempted to stem the flow, but the thick red fluid continued to pour freely.

  Brace moved again.

  Using a judo throwing style, he smashed Almastore into the ground, before he really started to fight dirty.

  I heard a distinctive crack.

  He’d twisted Almastore’s arm behind his back, snapping it without effort. The other Walker let out a yelp, but made it back to his feet, his left arm hanging uselessly at his side.

  “You can concede to me at any point,” Brace said carelessly.

  He hadn’t broken a sweat. His breathing was even; he looked like he hadn’t moved at all.

  “You don’t understand: I need my daughter.” Almastore’s reply was quiet, but we could still hear what he said.

  I was concentrating so hard on his words that I accidentally tapped into Brace’s thoughts again.

  I’ll just bet you do.

  I agreed with him; this Walker was up to something.

  Try and find out what he wants her for, I thought to Brace, hoping he’d hear.

  He flicked his eyes toward me and nodded.

  “So, maybe if you tell me why you want Talina, I will leave her in your capable hands.” His tone was perfect, not too interested, with just the right amount of push.

  “There is another of our kind whose son is interested in a mate exchange. I promised my ... uh, daughter, and
I think that would be best for her.”

  Talina snorted. She pawed at the ground, her bare feet digging trenches under where she stood.

  I patted her arm. “Yep, Walkers are big, not so hairy, unevolved apes.”

  Josian laughed, as did Brace in my mind.

  He’s lying, Red. I get deception at its finest. A few more beatings and he will concede.

  Yes, we need to know his true intentions so we can prepare, and Talina needs to understand.

  I’ll find out.

  And he did.

  It took a while. He beat on him over and over, asking the same questions. Almastore suffered through another broken arm, I would guess quite a few broken ribs and what looked like a fractured jaw.

  Brace did his job smoothly, with a methodical intensity that would have freaked me out except I could see into his mind. And he wasn’t enjoying this task. But he had a protective streak a mile long and would not stop until he was satisfied with the answers.

  I enjoyed digging around in his mind; there were just so many layers to explore.

  “No more,” Almastore finally said.

  He was on his hands and knees before Brace, his face and hair streaked with blood, one of his arms still broken, though the other looked to be healed.

  “You have demonstrated your ability to outclass me in every fight style.” His head fell forward to rest on his chest. He couldn’t lift it again. “It’s Que. Your father wants Talina and he is going to kill me if I come back without her.”

  “Are you even Talina’s father?”

  The man nodded, but before he could speak Gladriel interrupted.

  “Of course he is.”

  We turned to stare at her. I wasn’t sure about everyone else, but I’d forgotten she was even there.

  Talina gasped out loud, her hand flying to cover her mouth. Gladriel was holding an unconscious Raror, her hand wrapped around his throat as she propped him up.

  “Raror!” Talina screamed and started running toward them.

  The seawater swirled around Gladriel. A sudden storm had blown up. Or, judging by Talina’s fixed expression, she was brewing one.

  “Stop, my pathetic little half,” Gladriel ordered, one hand held up in warning, the other tightening on Raror’s throat. “Do not come any closer, and halt your powers or he will be destroyed.”

  “You would not destroy your own son,” Talina said, although she did pause about ten feet from Gladriel. “He is all you have, next in line to rule Earon.” Her voice was tinged with desperation.

  An evil smile spread across Gladriel’s face, followed soon by manic chuckling.

  I had a sick feeling that very bad news was coming for Talina. And Gladriel did not disappoint.

  “He is not mine, Talina. He was abandoned years ago, and since I could not have children I decided he was better than nothing.” She glanced at the Walker Brace had bested without even breaking a sweat. “Of course, that was before I fell pregnant with you.” She gestured away. “I told you your father was weak and spineless. Look at him.”

  Almastore groaned from where he lay face down in the sand. I assumed each Walker had different abilities to heal, because he was still hurting.

  “Brace is Que’s son.” He groaned again, attempting to shift onto his back. “I could never have bested him. He’s been training since birth to take over all Walkers as leader.” His words were mumbled.

  He lifted his head and we all noticed the myriad of darkening bruises on his face. His lips were puffed and split open, although the leaking blood had slowed.

  “However, I cannot disobey Que. I had no choice.”

  Walker leader? I questioned Brace.

  He bristled slightly at my incredulous tone.

  Don’t sound so surprised, Abigail. Even though I am reasonably young for a Walker, I am strong and powerful. Don’t doubt my ability as your mate.

  I realized that my careless words had wounded his pride. I was reminded again how stupid pride could be.

  I look after myself, Brace. I’ve never needed anyone and I’m not about to start now.

  His arrogance was a sting to my own pri ... no, not pride ... independence. Something I had always been protective of. I didn’t like this whole ‘need a mate’ thing. In fact, every time I felt as if I couldn’t take one more breath without Brace’s kiss or my arms ached to hold and be held – it made me want to break things, send out energy bolts and go a little nuts.

  Damn, I’m the guy in this relationship.

  I was the commitment phobic, the one rebelling against this feeling of ownership.

  Trust me, sweetheart, you are definitely not the guy in this relationship.

  What was with this sweetheart all of a sudden? Yeah, I kind of liked it, but still.

  His eyes ran over me, slowly, provocatively ... I knew he did it deliberately, but in that moment I was my usual raging mass of teenage hormones and didn’t really care. I worked hard to calm my breathing, slow my heart rate. I had to think about something else, anything. I really didn’t want to self-combust in front of my father. Instead I focused on how disconcerting it felt to have my inner reflections heard. Most of the time my thoughts were random and stupid. They’d had no filter applied, no checking of their permissibility to be spoken out loud.

  I worried a little that Brace would think I was young and unintelligent. His mind felt ancient, despite the fact he sounded twenty when he spoke. In the layers of his mind he had lived through more than I could have imagined.

  You’re perfect. I could not have asked for a better match. You make me feel young, less weighed down by the burdens I’ve witnessed. Your passion, humor and fiery personality. You’re perfect for me, Abigail.

  “No!” Talina’s screams drew me from my head.

  I realized I’d missed most of her conversation with Gladriel.

  “Please, don’t hurt him anymore,” Talina begged, apparently afraid to step closer, but still unable to stop from moving toward her brother.

  Gladriel had gashed Raror across his face, and it slowly dripped blood.

  “I warned you, Talina. If you do not go with your father then I will kill him.” Her voice was cold.

  She didn’t even look down at the Spurn she’d raised as a son.

  I realized Raror’s eyes were open now, just slightly, but he looked dazed. Whatever they’d done had really hurt him.

  “I will go with him. Just promise you won’t hurt Raror anymore. You have to let him come over here.” Talina waved her arms in the air.

  The storm and ocean were still in tumult behind Gladriel, but Talina seemed to be in control.

  “What is in this for you, Gladriel?” I asked.

  Why was she working with Walkers? It just seemed out of character for her.

  She turned her yellow eyes in my direction. She spoke immediately, as if she’d been waiting for someone to ask.

  “Traktin approached me with a plan. He promised to take out Ladre. He said that if I made sure you all went to Silver City then he’d guarantee that I became the ruler of all of Spurn. I want the power. I hate to be dictated to by anyone.”

  “Traktin is gone now,” I said, “so what’s the point of continuing this?”

  She gestured to Almastore. “He promised me the same thing if I made sure Talina would go without drama. I will not stop until I achieve my deserved crown. The Baroons should not rule over me simply because they are Baroons. I am the most powerful.”

  She turned from me again. “Now, dear daughter, since I know you value none above your brother, it was easy to figure out the way to assure your cooperation.”

  “And you have my full cooperation, bitc ... witch.” Talina stuttered over her attempt at a curse before finishing with a word she was more comfortable saying.

  I smiled as she took her chance to finally insult Gladriel.

  “So let Raror go. You have made your point. He is already hurt.”

  “Talli.” Raror coughed then. His words rasped. “Do not go with him. Do no
t sacrifice yourself.”

  He attempted to move away, but Gladriel still held him tightly around his neck and he was just too injured to fight her.

  “Save your energy and breath, son.” Gladriel squeezed tighter. “Talina will do as she is told; she’d do anything to save you.”

  “Dad, do something?” I turned to Josian. “Blast her.”

  Talina shook her head. “No, Gladriel is a master at shielding herself. She is protected at the moment. Unless we can move closer, there is no way to hurt her.”

  That must be why Talina’s ferocious weather wasn’t touching them. I’d thought she’d developed some type of awesome self-control, but no ... Gladriel had a shield up.

  “Go to your father, Talina, and I’ll leave Raror with your friends.” Gladriel was getting impatient.

  “No, I don’t trust you. You need to leave him there. Step away, far away. I’ll go to Almastore, and then you can leave.”

  “I have all the power, you ungrateful half. Now move, or I rip his throat out.”

  Talina stared at her mother for a minute, but I knew she would never risk Raror. Turning without another word, she marched over to where Almastore had pulled himself to a half-sitting position.

  He shook his head, his expression serious. “I can’t just take her, Gladriel. Don’t you understand? Brace beat me in a challenge. He is Talina’s guardian now, and he is the one who has to release her.” His voice was dull. He didn’t really seem that interested anymore.

  Wasn’t he afraid of Que? Shouldn’t he be trying to save his ass and get Talina to go with him?

  “It would be in his best interest to release her into your care,” Gladriel said, her yellow eyes focusing on Brace.

  He laughed out loud. “And why should I do that? You hold no leverage over me, and I am afraid Talina is important to us as well.”

  “Brace,” Talina said urgently. She stood at his side now. “Please release me. I need my brother to be okay.”

  He shook his head. “You cannot trust her. This Walker is going to take you through a doorway, and then there is nothing to stop Gladriel.”

  They argued for a few minutes. She clutched Brace’s arm, and I could feel his wavering. Despite the fact this might cost us the battle with the Seventine, he was going to release her. Stupid as it was, that spoke to me of his true nature, and I liked it a lot.