by S. D. Grimm
The pages appeared blank at first. Then Quinn tapped the page with her finger, and pictures of animals appeared. “The Mistress isn’t very strong yet, so she’s surrounded herself with her creatures. She wants them all to be free to roam the land, but she’s not strong enough to allow that. Neither are they. Her weakness has caused her to lose control of certain creatures already. But as she grows stronger, she will expand her borders, essentially giving her creatures a greater reach.”
Jayden leaned closer. “You’re saying those animals hunting us are confined by borders?”
Quinn nodded. “They are contained where they are—like a labyrinth of protection to keep us out while the Mistress is at her weakest. She created these beasts that guard her, and she’s had a long time to bond with them, if you will. They are loyal to her. And they don’t want to be locked up again either. So they help bring the Deliverers to her.
“The way she does this is to set up these levels. There are seven kinds of guards to her prison. The black lions. The kelpies. The abysshounds. The shadow wolves. The maelvargs. The molten bulls. And the firegoats. She’ll place them around her so you can’t get an army close to her. But each level is designed to let the Deliverers pass through.”
“Can I see that?” Logan held his hand out for the book. She passed it to him.
Jayden stood close enough to see. The page depicted a grouping of rings, each level looping around the next, like a target. “Which level are we in now?”
Quinn pointed. “The shadow wolves are here. I think the black lions and kelpies have had free rein for a long time already. They aren’t part of this grouping. The abysshounds attacked us already. I think they might be breaking free.”
“We have to go through that to get to her?” Gavin asked.
Quinn nodded.
Logan breathed deep. “But she’s weak now. Vulnerable.”
“Yes.” Quinn’s hazel eyes filled with hope. “And there is a way through.”
“How?” Ethan took the book from Logan.
“I have to get closer to the levels to see it, but the trees will know. They cannot survive in the levels. That’s how I knew to read about it. I heard so many voices cry out.” A tear escaped her eye, and sadness choked her voice.
Jayden drew closer and touched Quinn’s shoulder. Pulsed comfort into her. She could see the book again. The page Ethan stared at was blank. He gave the book back to Quinn, who held it for all to see.
As she touched it, a drawing appeared on the page of a beautiful woman on a throne made of—bones? Her name was written beneath the heads of the two massive, ugly dogs at her feet.
“What’s that?” Jayden held out her hand, and Quinn relinquished the book.
“The Mistress of Shadows and her seconds in command, Gnarg and Garmr.” She slid her fingers over the next page, and a new picture filled it: an expanse of land like the one they walked toward now. Barren. Sick. Thirsty for life. Jayden shivered. It was almost like the land tried to leak emotion into her, but there was nothing to leak. Just a void of feelings.
Quinn flipped the page again. A picture bled to life as she traced the pressed leaf with her fingers.
Legs like tendrils of smoke led into a body of fog. Dark, black eyes resembling an abyss with red pupils pulsed in the middle of the page. “Those are shadow wolves. They fly.” Quinn shuddered. She turned the page and swept her hand over the next blank one. Long front legs led up to a barrel chest. Powerful hind legs and a tail with spikes armored the rear end. A hunched back bore spikes the size of spear tips, and its eyes looked as if they glowed. “Those are maelvargs.”
“Maelvargs,” Logan repeated with a wince.
“The laughing things with the glowing green eyes?” Ethan asked.
Quinn stared at him. “Y-you’ve heard of them?”
“In bedtime stories.”
The next page showed the beast they’d fought. The wolfish creatures with smoldering fur.
Westwind whined.
Quinn glanced at him. “Does he wonder why they are all canine? They aren’t, but many are. The Mistress loves wolves.” She shivered.
Logan asked the question Jayden wondered. “How do we defeat these creatures?”
She flipped through blank page after page before she stopped and slid her finger across the thick leaf-paper.
“The shadow wolves are afraid of light. They attack you when you sleep. Prey on your fears. If they bite you, you will never wake of your deepest nightmares. I–I have to keep reading.”
Logan nodded. He turned to Gavin. “We need to figure this out. In the meantime, we have to get to the palace for my son.”
“And that’s where the Mistress is.” Kara’s nonchalant voice rose up behind Jayden. “Looks like you’re headed to the dragon’s den. I wonder if you have anyone on your team who knows how to get in undetected.”
Logan lunged at her, and, heart racing, Jayden stood between them. “She will help us.”
The fire in Logan’s eyes seemed more contained, but he glared. “And you trust her?”
“No.”
“I will tell you if she lies,” Serena said.
“Logan!” Ethan’s frantic voice jolted Jayden’s heart.
“What is it, kid?” Logan turned toward him.
“Chloe. She’s—she’s in danger.” Ethan looked at Jayden, and at once his regret pulsed into her, so deep and full it squeezed her heart. Then he picked up the sword—the Deliverer’s sword. An ache spread through her chest and into her core.
Then all of Ethan’s emotions winked out, and he glanced at Logan. “Hurry.”
Quinn grabbed Ethan’s sleeve. “Wait.” Wind rippled her hair and she closed her eyes. “She’s this way.” She pointed east. “She’s with a woman. The trees say the woman rescued her from two attackers, but one of the two men still tracks them. But that’s not all.” Quinn trembled. “A pack of abysshounds rides on their heels.”
Ethan stared at her, his chest heaving. “The levels are closer than they look?”
“Yes.” Quinn’s voice shook. “But the trees are protecting your friend.”
“Westwind smells your abysshounds, Quinn,” Logan said.
She shuddered. “They’re not mine.”
Ethan’s frantic gaze locked onto Quinn. “How do we kill them?”
She looked in the book. “Wielder-crafted weapons and fire.”
“Lightning?” Jayden asked.
Quinn bit her lip. “The trees say yes.”
Logan motioned to Gavin and Melanie. “Get some Dissenters to join us. Chloe and whoever is helping her need our aid. Tell the Dissenters to bring pitch-coated arrows and fire.”
Jayden crossed her arms. “I’m going with you.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he kept his mouth shut and raced the way Quinn had told them to go. Serena and Quinn followed. Kara smiled. “I’ll wait here.”
Jayden tugged her sleeve. “You’ll come and help.”
She didn’t need more prodding than that. Perhaps trusting her was a bad idea. Jayden’s heart hammered as they raced through the trees.
Chapter 7
A Familiar Enemy
Ethan swallowed his fears as he followed his talent’s urging. Ryan. Quinn hadn’t said anything about Ryan. If something had happened to his adoptive brother, he’d never forgive himself.
“Wait.” Quinn’s soft voice stilled him, and he looked over his shoulder at her. He didn’t even know she’d come.
“Zephyr—”
“Don’t worry, I know protecting them is a part of protecting you.” The gryphon stood in front of Quinn, Jayden, and Serena. His ears swiveled. “Someone is coming.”
The wood flooded with animals and men and women dressed in camouflage cloaks as Gavin caught up to them with the Dissenters. Twigs snapped in the forest ahead of them—at least Zephyr’s feathered ears perked that direction.
Westwind nosed the air.
Chloe rushed through the trees, breaking twigs and sticks. Cuts mar
red her cheek and dried blood stuck to her forehead, but she was alive. Very much alive. She caught sight of Ethan, and her green eyes widened. Thank the Creator his sister was safe. He pressed his finger to his lips and she ran to him, arms extended. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “They’re chasing me. They’re—I’ve never seen dogs so big. And there’s a woman. She showed up and saved me. But the man—he’s trying to kill me.”
“Hey, hey, you’re okay now. Where’s Ryan?” His heart rammed into his ribs as Chloe’s eyes rounded. “Chloe?” Ethan’s voice hitched.
“He—back at One Eye’s house and evil woman showed up. Ryan told me to run. I came to get help. But the evil woman took him to the palace.”
“What woman?” Jayden asked.
“Her name was Belladonna.”
Serena whispered, “No.”
Ethan’s blood heated. How had Belladonna gotten a hold of Ryan? And what would she do to him? Ethan’s mind raced. She had left him alive, perhaps because she recalled seeing him in the palace with Jayden. He could only hope she recognized Ryan and would spare him, too.
Ethan guided Chloe behind him, trying to calm his shaking nerves. “We’ll protect you.”
She complied, but grabbed his shoulder. “And Ryan?”
He gripped the sword hilt tight. Like it or not, this weapon felt as though it had been made for his hands. “I’m going after him next.”
“I knew you’d come for me.”
“Always.” He raised his sword, waiting for whatever would come through the trees after her.
Chloe grabbed his shirt. “Ethan, we have to run.”
“She’s right.” Quinn trembled.
Logan glanced at the Whisperer then looked at Ethan. “Kid?”
His talent told him to protect the girls. Throbbed in his chest. “If we run, they’ll just chase us.”
Zephyr bristled and faced the direction Chloe had come.
A man broke through the brush, and Chloe screamed. She ran straight for Jayden and nearly stumbled into her. Westwind and Aurora ambushed the man, and he dropped his weapon, backing into a tree, hands raised.
Ethan stared.
A new flame sparked deep in the pit of his stomach. Not the warning of a threat. The ever-smoldering heat of revenge.
This man bore a scar over his eye. Wore a wooden leg.
Ethan couldn’t breathe. This was the same man who had killed his parents.
Zephyr growled. “Friend, he makes you very angry. You can’t protect when you’re angry.”
“Yes I can.”
“Not . . . not this kind of anger. It blinds you.”
Shaking, Ethan stared at the man who had ruined his life. The man looked right at Logan. “You should run if you know what’s good for you. We’re not all that’s chasing her.”
“You don’t seem afraid,” Logan said.
The man laughed. “It’s not me they’re after. They don’t hunt those with black blood.”
“And the woman who was helping her?”
The man shrugged. “She got away . . . from me.”
A cacophony of howls surrounded them. They shrieked. And the echoes seemed to be above them. Logan sent half of the Dissenters ahead, telling them to rescue the woman if they found her and take out the abysshounds.
Ethan kept his attention on the prisoner. “What do you know of black blood?” Ethan’s voice came out darker than he’d expected, but the man finally looked at him. Really looked. His eyes narrowed in what appeared to be recognition.
Thoughts of revenge clawed at the slow burn in Ethan’s chest. He nudged Quinn behind him and embraced his talent.
“You can’t run fast enough.” The man laughed. “They’re coming.”
Ethan glared at his enemy, the pull of revenge eating away at his heart. “What do you know of the black blood?”
The man just showed his teeth.
Dash stalked stiff-legged to the man and lowered his head. A thunderous growl popped the man’s eyes wider. Then Dash thrust his horn into the man’s chest.
He screamed.
Serena placed her hand on Dash and looked into the man’s eyes. “Help us, and when he takes his horn out of your chest, he won’t leave a gaping hole. That’s how a sword of noble light works.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Ask your questions now, Ethan.”
The man didn’t wait for Ethan to ask again. “The black blood makes them slaves to the one who controls them.”
“Slaves?” Melanie asked.
“Y-yes. They have to do what Belladonna tells them. She uses a ring. It’s a powerful tool of compulsion. That’s all I know. I swear.”
“Why didn’t she do it to you?”
He smiled. “She has other ways of making us hers. She wants her ‘pets’ to obey her out of love. For me, it’s gold.”
Ethan stepped back, a sick sinking feeling in his stomach. Love? How was that love?
Serena glanced at him and he nodded, his questioning done for now.
Dash removed his horn, and the wound on the man’s chest closed. He looked right at Ethan. “She told me to bring her the Deliverers and kill anyone who stands in my way.”
Quinn’s fingers dug into Ethan’s arm.
The burn flaring in Ethan’s chest pulsed. If he ducked, Quinn would be hurt.
“Ethan! He’s armed!” Chloe screamed.
Zephyr jumped between them, shielding Ethan. “It’s okay, Zeph. I won’t miss an opportunity to kill him again.”
He held the bowstring and drew it back to his cheek, stepping around the gryphon.
The wooden-legged man held up his hands in surrender. His knife thudded to the ground.
Ethan breathed out. His finger started to release the string.
“Ethan. Don’t.”
Jayden. Didn’t she understand what she was asking him to do? His heart trembled. He wanted to listen to her. Wanted to have his revenge. The thoughts warred within him.
“He’s surrendered.” She touched his arm so gently. “Killing him now would be stooping to his level.”
“You would ask me to let this man live?”
“I would ask you to do what’s right. Please.”
He breathed in. Held it. Everything inside of him wanted this man dead. Jayden’s grip on his arm pleaded with the small ache inside of him that wanted him to do what was right: Let them take the prisoner. Be noble. His arm quivered. His aim would fail if he waited much longer.
She squeezed his shoulder. Her calm spirit leaked into him. Lapped over his heart like healing waves. He could listen to his talent now. He could put away thoughts of revenge. She was still rescuing him. Did she even know?
He breathed in and lowered his weapon. Jayden sighed and rubbed his back. He didn’t look at her. Instead, he looked toward Quinn. Her wide eyes softened and the smallest smile formed on her mouth and she gave him the tiniest nod. He breathed deep.
Logan sighed. He stepped closer to the prisoner.
But Ethan’s talent sparked to life, urging him to take these girls and get them to safety. The abysshounds were getting past the Feravolk. Their snarls sounded closer. Zephyr’s huge brown eyes met his, asking what to do. Had only moments passed since this man broke through the trees? “Logan, I have to get them out of here. I—”
“Run, kid. We’ll hold these creatures off.” Logan motioned at the remaining Dissenters. “Richard, Morgan, stay with the prisoner. The rest of you, let’s go help the others.” They raced toward the sounds of fighting. Logan started to follow.
“Wait.” Chloe grabbed Logan’s arm. “Ryan. You saw what Belladonna did to that man. She’ll do it to Ryan. You have to send someone to save him. Please.”
Logan nodded. “I won’t leave him to rot by her hand.”
“Thank you.”
Logan followed his men, and Ethan nudged Chloe toward camp.
The wooden-legged man chuckled. “Coward. I thought you were dead the night I slit your parents’ throats. It’s the only reason I left you th
ere. Yet you left me alone. Too much a coward to deal with me then, and too much a coward to deal with me now.”
Ethan stopped in his tracks. Revenge tried to take hold of his heart again. He squeezed it away as he fisted his hands and his talent surged.
Jayden gasped. “Ethan. I’m sorry. I had no right to—”
He plucked the knife from his belt and turned. Then he threw it. The blade stuck deep into the man’s throat, and he fell against the tree. A vial of purple liquid fell from his hand, and he slumped to the ground. Dead.
“He knew who we are,” Ethan said. “And I don’t think it’s coincidence that a pack of abysshounds is headed this way.” He looked at Jayden. “That wasn’t for revenge. That was for protection.”
“I know.” Her voice was a whisper. “Thank you.”
He nodded once and turned his attention to Chloe, who stood gaping at him.
“Come on.” Ethan grabbed Chloe’s hand and pushed her toward the others. “I’m right behind you. Run.”
Chapter 8
An Unwanted Tool
Another drip of wax hit the table, and Connor still didn’t have the
answers he was looking for. He flipped to the next page in the huge volume he’d pulled from one of the library’s many shelves, and the hair on the back of his neck prickled. The Mistress was on the other side of the palace in the highest room. Every moment, she gained strength. He felt each rush of power as it pulsed through her. So did the ground. It groaned like a man dying in battle.
Someone approached the library, and Connor closed the book and set it at the bottom of his stack. Then he opened another.
The form that filled the doorway stopped.
Stared.
Connor’s wolf form clawed inside of him. It wanted to run. It would have been a good idea if he’d already been dressed as a wolf and outside. But he wasn’t. Still, he’d managed to avoid Franco until now. Now he’d baited a meeting, and it had worked.
Franco cleared his throat and walked into the library. “There you are.”