by S. D. Grimm
Sunlight bathed the horizon in red. “I’m not sure I can play my part.”
Quinn grabbed Jayden’s hands. Quinn’s hazel eyes looked almost golden in the light. She smiled. “Me either.”
“What? You have to. You . . .”
Quinn tilted her head to the side. “I’m scared, too. I’m terrified actually. Of hard things, like knowing which trees’ voices to follow to get the right information. Of facing the woman who told those other women to torture me. And of things that seem silly. Like meeting the Wielder.”
“The Wielder?”
She nodded. “He’s supposed to be my betrothed. I—” Her smile faltered like someone trying not to cry. “I wonder if he’ll love me. I see you and Ethan. The way you look at one another. Love one another. And I know that’s how it’s supposed to be, but I wonder . . .” She pulled up her sleeves to reveal her scarred arms. “I wonder what he’ll think of me. If he’ll see a Whisperer who lived too long away from others and isn’t desirable.”
“Oh, Quinn. You don’t need to worry. If he doesn’t see what the rest of us see, he’s not worth it.”
Quinn bowed her head and let her hair cover her expression. “I hope I’m doing this right. This Whisperer thing. But I know that it’s my purpose. That I may want to doubt myself, but when I doubt myself, I doubt the Creator’s purpose. I believe he knows better than I do.”
“Why let us go through all of this then? Why not just keep the Mistress confined?”
“I don’t think it was the Creator who let her free. I think there are people who have been trying to free her. Perhaps those who don’t want to live in a world they can’t control. They believe they can get the power and do a better job controlling it themselves.”
“With the power.”
“Yes.”
Jayden sighed. Something about Quinn admitting that she felt inadequate made her more human. More like Jayden. Maybe she wasn’t as alone as she thought after all. “That’s why we should split the power between four of us? So one of us wouldn’t control everything?”
Quinn tilted her head. “Do you want to control everything?”
Jayden looked up at the trees. Felt the breeze. Remembered Morgan’s pain as she spoke of the burden of her talent. Jayden breathed the calm air. How could she choose who received what talent? How could she choose to decide which trees grew and which seeds failed? If she was supposed to save the world, she would. But not alone. She had others to help her. Serena. Ryan. Ethan. But also Quinn. And Connor—the Wielder who had helped her once.
“I guess I don’t understand everything.”
Quinn smiled. “Neither do I.”
“But I know I have to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Make sure my loved ones have their best chance of survival. Not just to survive, but to thrive.”
Quinn squeezed her hand. “When doubt plagues your mind, just remember that.”
“I’ll try.”
“Now rest.”
Jayden squeezed back. “You, too.”
As she returned to her bedroll, something in her stomach tightened, and the burn on the back of her shoulder seemed to echo it. It was a bite, wasn’t it?
A scream split the night. Jayden jolted to a halt. Another one? That made seventeen. Melanie was the first to race to the afflicted person, and Jayden clutched her shirt right over her heart.
Ethan ran up to her, eyes wide. “Who is it?”
Jayden shook her head. “I don’t know, but if Quinn doesn’t find an antidote in that book soon, we’re going to lose too many.”
He squeezed her shoulder and she flinched. Immediately, his unease pierced her heart like a dagger. He narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Her eyelashes fluttered.
“Jayden?” His voice hardened.
“One of them scratched me.” She pulled down her shirt to show him the mark on her shoulder blade. “It’s—”
“You were bitten?” His eyes widened and he grabbed her hand. “We have to tell Logan.”
“No. Scratched. And Logan knows.” She resisted his pull. “I’m not having nightmares. I’m not screaming.” She tugged him back to face her. “Besides, there’s no cure yet. Quinn is searching.”
He sighed and his breath shook. “You kept this from me?” He backed away from her, chest heaving as his hurt poured into her. “Why?”
“Ethan.” She reached for him, but he dodged her touch. “I’m sorry. You had so much to worry about.” Her chest squeezed. “I never should have kept this from you.”
His emotions started to fade from her perception.
“Ethan! Don’t shut me out. Please?” She inched closer to him, and he remained quiet, an incredulous look on his face. “It was wrong of me to hide this from you. I didn’t want to burden you with—”
“Burden me?” He shook his head as if trying to understand. “If you don’t trust me enough to let me help you carry your burdens—”
“I do!” She grabbed his hands, her knees unsteady. “I’m sorry. Never again.”
He stood there, silent, but at least he was no longer trying to actively back away from her. “The moment Quinn finds—”
“You’ll be the first person I tell.” She looked into his eyes, pleading him to forgive her. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled her into him and kissed her hair. Held her close. “I will not lose you to a nightmare.”
No. He wouldn’t. Jayden’s heart clutched and she hugged him back, tighter. Hot tears spilled out. He wouldn’t lose her until the snow fell. And she wouldn’t be there to comfort him. Did she have to tell him that, too?
Logan lay staring up at the stars. Seven more had died tonight with no cure in sight. That was twenty-four total. Bekah’s head rested on his chest, and he ran his fingers through her silky hair. No tents tonight. Tomorrow they moved closer to the palace.
His thoughts wouldn’t stop churning on what Morgan had told him.
He heaved a sigh that put the memory away for the time being, and Bekah looked up at him. Her dark eyes searched his face. “You never slept well the night before battle.”
“No, but at least you keep me from pacing all night.”
She ran her fingers over his ear, his lips, as if memorizing every ridge of his face. “You’re older, but you look the same. Have the same expressions.”
“And a few more scars.”
“Many more scars.” She kissed him, long and gentle. “Don’t leave me today.”
He cupped her head in his hand. “Not today. Not ever. Not as long as you love me.”
She cuddled her head onto his chest again. “Then not ever.” A warm tear dripped onto his skin.
How many times had he said goodbye to her? During the Blood Moon wars, he’d said it every day. Not the word goodbye perhaps—never the word goodbye. But the words he’d chosen meant the same thing.
A shrill scream brought Bekah and him to standing. Logan raced out into the camp, searching for the next victim of the shadow wolves. Half the camp clambered to their feet. The scream sounded again, and this time Logan’s breath caught. His chest hollowed. Jayden. That was her scream. He scanned the camp for her and found Ethan trying to calm her from thrashing. Stormcloud pressed her nose against Jayden, and Jayden shoved the pegasus away. Logan raced over to them, heartbeat erratic. This could not be happening.
“Nightmare.” Logan spoke the admission he most feared.
Ethan looked up at him. He was trembling. “Yes, she—”
“Was bitten.” Bekah’s words came out in a whisper. She’d followed.
Jayden stood up, daggers in hand, and faced Ethan. He held his hands out, palms open. “Jayden—”
“Get back, monster.” She swung her daggers, but he backed up in time.
“Everyone stay back!” Ethan’s warning caused everyone to stop moving.
Everyone except Westwind. He raced toward Jayden. “She has the rabid disease.”
“Westwind!”
“She
sleepwalks. She needs to wake up.”
“The dream is overcoming her.” Quinn covered her mouth with her hands. She jumped in front of Ethan.
Too late.
Jayden swung her daggers.
Ethan pulled Quinn tight to him and whirled her away from Jayden.
The dagger bit into—into nothing. It stayed just above Ethan’s back. Zephyr hovered in the air right behind Ethan, his wings beating furiously, creating some sort of shield that kept Jayden from reaching Ethan.
Then vines snaked across the ground and wrapped around Jayden’s arm and pulled her hand back.
Logan grabbed Quinn and guided her to Bekah. “Quinn, did you send the vines?”
She nodded. “We have to wake her; it’s a nightmare. I–I think the Mistress is using it to steal her mind.”
“Keep everyone back.” Ethan looked into Logan’s eyes. He nodded.
Westwind chuffed and stepped forward. “I’ll not let her stay like this. I—”
“You can come,” Ethan said to Westwind.
Together they approached Jayden. Her eyes were glossed red.
“Jayden?”
“Let me go!” She screamed and pulled hard enough that the vine snapped. She lunged at Ethan, but he dodged her. She circled him, and Westwind nipped her calf. She turned on him, but he was too quick to be struck.
“Oh no. One of them bit me.” She touched her shoulder.
“She’s reliving it.” Quinn’s voice trembled.
Logan’s heart chilled.
“She doesn’t have the black veins around her eyes,” Quinn said. “There’s still time to get through to her.”
Ethan held out his hands as if to calm Jayden. “Jayden, you have to fight this. You have to wake up.”
She snarled. “Don’t talk to me, monster.”
“It’s me. It’s Ethan.”
She stopped. Her head tilted in an animalistic way that made Logan shiver.
“Hear me, Jayden.” Ethan’s voice seemed to reach her.
She shook her head. Her shoulders dropped and she lowered her weapon. “Ethan?”
“That’s right.” He took a step closer. “Wake up. Please.”
Someone inched up beside Jayden, slightly behind Ethan on his left side. He encroached too close. Logan recognized him as one of the Dissenters. Likely he wanted to help, but didn’t the kid realize how dangerous that would be? Logan reached out to his friend. “Westwind, get that kid out of there.”
“It’s working.”
“Not Ethan. The one behind—”
“I see him.”
So did Jayden. “Look out! It’s one of them!” She pushed Ethan aside and threw her dagger.
It thumped into the Dissenter’s chest and he fell to the ground.
“No.” Ethan tried to catch the falling person.
Logan’s heart stalled. Just a kid! He raced toward Jayden to stop her from doing that again. Westwind jumped into her, paws slamming into her chest, and she fell to the earth, Westwind licking her face. Jayden shook her head. She sat there, looking stunned. Westwind backed up, whining. Her hands covered her face. Logan raced to her side and touched her shoulder.
“What have I done?” she breathed. “What have I—? Is he dead?”
Logan turned her away from the fallen Feravolk. “Jayden, you’re safe now. Look at me.”
She pushed against his chest, but her eyes were back. It was her. She clutched his shirt. “Is he dead?”
Ethan approached. “Hey, Jayden?”
“Don’t.” She pushed Logan away, hugged Westwind, and buried her face into his neck. He sat and wrapped a paw around her back.
Ethan sat with them. He looked up at Logan and nodded. Logan bowed his head. The kid was dead. And Jayden was compromised.
He touched Ethan’s shoulder and made eye contact with Westwind. “Don’t let her out of your sight. I will not let the Mistress succeed. And I will not let her rip you kids to shreds.”
Quinn stood next to him shaking, Bekah beside her. “I know how to make the antidote. We need a plant called firemilk, and we need another called blue weed to fight the maelvargs.”
Logan looked at Ethan. “Take Quinn and find them.”
Hope filled Ethan’s eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Chapter 28
A Fool’s Folly
Serena stared at Franco’s satisfied smile, and her stomach squeezed so tight it hurt. A simple yes or no? He’d trapped her. Either she’d lie and be ripped of her bond with Dash—which would likely kill them both—or betray her blood oath with Kara and die.
Franco’s eyes bored into her. “Answer, Healer. Did you heal my assassin? Yes or no?”
She shook. “Yes.”
No pain from a bond ripping.
No death.
No lie.
On their journey here, Serena had cracked Kara’s tough exterior. Kara had trusted her. So, yes, she’d begun to heal Kara’s hardened heart. She breathed deep, shuddering breaths as if air could offer her strength. And relief shot through her like tiny pinpricks through her blood.
Dash’s sigh filled Serena’s mind. “Close call, young one. Try and stay out of trouble, will you?”
“How powerful are you?” Franco’s eyes narrowed. “Have you heard that a tattooed Healer can regrow a limb if commanded?”
“It’s not true, Serena!” Dash’s voice grew frantic.
“It’s not true, Your Majesty,” Kara said.
Truth.
Serena’s heart pounded. Tattooed. He couldn’t know, could he? If—if he marked her, she’d be bound to follow his commands to heal whatever he commanded her to. Worse, she’d have to follow his commands if he told her not to heal someone.
She trembled. Her hands started to sweat. And she fought hard to remain calm. He couldn’t know his threat held weight.
Franco cocked his head. “But it’s so ceremonial. A tattoo, then chopping off her hand. As long as I command her not to heal until I place the severed limb back against her body, she’ll remain wounded. Right?”
Kara narrowed her eyes and looked Serena over. “You can test a Healer’s strength by wounding them to see how fast they heal, Your Majesty. This archaic practice you speak of has not been proven. Would you really risk losing your link with this Healer for that? Or draining her power so you have less life to suck out of her?”
Franco stepped toward her. “My, Kara, haven’t you gotten smart? And a little outspoken for my taste.” He turned to his guards. “Prepare the ceremony. I will tattoo this Healer. And I will test her power as I choose.”
“Are you sure—”
He stuck his finger in Kara’s face. “The Mistress will not stake claim on my Deliverer, do you understand?”
“Perfectly, Your Majesty.”
“Good. I was getting worried that you were switching alliances.”
“Never.”
“It just so happens that I planned to tattoo Madison, but I think I’ll use my potion on the lovely Serena instead.” He turned his attention back to Serena and ran his hand along her jawline. She glared at him. “Your neck is so pretty. But lacking something.” She pulled away from his touch. He gripped her face tight enough to hurt. “I will make you love me. But first, I’ll mark you as mine.”
“I’m coming, Serena!”
“Dash, no. You can’t. I have to find a way out of this with Ryan.” She glanced at Kara, pleading. Her heart quivering.
“I know how to test how fast she heals, Your Majesty.” Belladonna’s sickly sweet voice halted the guards coming toward her. She raised a whip with three ends. Serena shivered. What was embedded in the leathery ropes? She straightened. It didn’t matter. The pain would be temporary, and she’d get out of this.
“Pet, carry her to the torture chamber.” Belladonna jiggled her whip.
No hesitation slowed Ryan’s steps. He neared Serena, scooped her up, and threw her over his shoulder.
“Ryan,” she whispered.
No response.
“He
ar me, please?”
Belladonna grabbed her face and dark eyes bored into her. “Don’t talk to my pet.”
She and Franco led the way out of the room, Ryan carrying her behind them. Madison, Kara, and the soldiers brought up the rear. The whole way down to the torture chambers, Serena’s bound hands rubbed against Ryan’s back. Ridges from scars covered him. She opened her talent to feel what had happened to him and wanted to scream. Belladonna had done this, and she would pay for it.
At last, the procession entered a dingy room that smelled of blood and waste.
“Is this where they tortured you?” she whispered.
His head flinched her way, then he ignored her again.
“I’m sorry they hurt you. I wish I’d come for you sooner, Ryan.” Tears threatened.
“Pet, set her down here and put her hands into the manacles.” A slow smirk stretched Belladonna’s lips.
He set her down against the wall, and she stood there, not struggling for fear that Belladonna would punish him if he failed. Her heart ached. He loosened the ropes on her hands and grabbed her wrist. She curled her fingers around his hand, and he stilled for a beat, his grip lessening enough for her to slide her hand into his. Palm to palm, she gave him an encouraging squeeze. “Your name is Ryan. Not pet. You’re no one’s pet.”
His gaze met hers. For a moment, the dead haze cleared and those eyes were his. Stormy eyes. And they permeated her soul.
“Ryan?”
The whip clinked together and he shuddered.
“Strap her in, pet.” Belladonna growled.
He shook his head and blinked. Only hate and fear shone in his eyes now, and he strapped her in. Metal manacles restricted her movement. She was helpless to defend herself now. A lump in her throat choked her, and she wanted to scream.
Head bowed, Ryan backed away from her.
“Serena? What’s happening?” Dash’s voice cut into her, frantic.
She breathed in deep. “Just stay put. Wait for the plan. Please.” Then she cut him out of her thoughts.
Belladonna’s smiling face stepped into view, then she walked behind Serena and tore open the back of her shirt. The first lash hit. Serena held in a scream. Her body knitted together. Burning pain receded into cool, healed skin.