by S. D. Grimm
Chapter 43
A Red Rose
Logan had led the remainder of his battered and bruised Feravolk
army—including the Dissenters—as far from the palace as he could in a day and a half. They’d followed Westwind and Aurora to the river’s edge where grass, a sicker, yellower color than he remembered, covered the ground in patches.
That evening, they mourned the loss of companions.
Logan watched the quiet ripple of waves lap against the raft that carried Chloe’s body downstream. Orange, red, yellow, with a blue so dark it looked black, reflected against the water’s surface. He stood behind the others, Rebekah next to him.
Jayden stood beside Ryan, her hand on his shoulder. He let her stand close to him, but not Serena. Something kept him at arm’s length from her.
Ethan glanced at Jayden often, but she wouldn’t even look in his direction. Serena stood beside him instead. An invisible wedge embedded itself between the pairs. The Mistress had planted seeds in that palace.
When he hadn’t been there to protect them.
Logan clenched his fists, and Rebekah touched his tight knuckles. Pulled his hand closer to her. Eased the tension. Exactly the kind of comfort these kids needed to be giving to and taking from one another. Yet something stifled it.
Then Quinn and Connor added to the mix. Quinn stood on Ethan’s other side, glancing at either Ryan or Connor—perhaps both—with the same fear in her eyes that she held when she looked at Westwind. That wouldn’t do, not if these six were to be one unit.
Westwind stood beside Logan. “It’s the whole pack, but something keeps them from being whole.”
“You sense it, too?”
The wolf nosed the air and expelled a breath as if he could catch the scent of their dissonance. “A good leader knows when his pack is about to quarrel.”
“And does this good leader break it up?”
“Sometimes. When it’s necessary. Other times we just nudge them in the right direction.”
Logan smiled, but it faded and he looked out over the water. “Many boats sank today.”
“Yes. Too many. The Mistress isn’t done claiming casualties, either.”
“No.”
Ryan moved first. Jayden’s hand dropped from his shoulder, and he turned away from the water. They all disbanded with him, but as Ethan tried to catch Jayden, she quickened her pace and walked beside Ryan. No one said a word as they headed back to camp.
Rebekah stayed close to Logan. “They all grieve differently.”
“Yes. But this is more than grief. This . . . this is defeat. The Mistress is pushing them away from one another.”
Rebekah touched his back. “Then bring them back together.” She kissed his cheek.
Logan watched them all walk back to camp. Connor especially. He noted the kid’s severed limb. Healed, sure, but Rebekah had mentioned his weapon of choice was a quarterstaff. Not anymore. The way he carried himself—distant from all the others, yet studying them—confident yet secretive. Logan wasn’t sure what to make of him quite yet. “Will Connor be all right?”
Rebekah paused, taking her time forming words. “Connor will talk to me when he’s ready.”
“He seems to feel out of place here.”
“He’s a lone wolf, Logan.”
“He’ll need to accept that he has a pack.”
“I hope he will.”
Gavin raced down toward the bank from camp, Glider following right after. “Logan, we have visitors.”
“What kind?”
Gavin pointed to the trees and Melanie crept out. She waved her hand as if asking someone unseen to follow her. A shiver prickled Logan’s arms and raced across his skin as tawny, furry heads poked out of the trees. Mountain lions.
Aurora loped up to Westwind’s side and stood beside him. “I thought cougars traveled alone.”
“They do,” Logan answered.
Then more animals appeared. Owls and hawks took to the branches, and coyotes, foxes, lynxes, bears, and more peered out of the woods.
“What happened?” Logan crouched down and reached out to the animals. Three approached him. One, a fox, rubbed into his palm and nipped at his fingers. A coyote crawled in on her belly and Logan eyed Westwind.
Westwind yawned his disapproval but backed up a pace anyway.
“Our bonds started to weaken.” The coyote spoke to him.
“You’re bonded animals?”
The coyote nodded. “We all started to . . . feel less human. We forgot our bonds—as if they never were—and wandered away from our camp. Then as we came out from under the dome near the Forest of Woes, we remembered our people and called to them. The bonds worked out here. But the black liquid is spreading. We were sent for help, and we were all drawn here.”
“What would draw you here?”
The coyote’s gaze landed on someone behind Logan and he turned. Connor had come closer, eyes on the coyote. He held out his hand, and she rushed to greet him. Connor touched her gently. “Apparently, I drew them here.”
“You can understand her.”
Connor’s wolfish eyes locked onto Logan. “I can understand all of them.” He turned his attention to the coyote. “Go and tell your Feravolk friends that there are others here. Others who haven’t been touched by the black blood yet. We have to band together if we are to defeat the Mistress’s army. She has bonded people to her animals through her black blood.”
Animals started departing. Some in each direction.
Connor stood. “Black liquid is running through the land. Once it takes over the forest’s hearts, the Feravolk will lose their communion with nature.”
“We’ll lose our bonds. Our . . . talents.” Melanie’s voice was hushed.
“Yes. Your bonded animals will lose what they have gained from you as well. She plans to rip the bonds and then create her own. From the black blood.”
“Like what she forced between me and Smoke,” Ryan said.
Connor nodded.
Logan faced Connor and stared into his curious eyes. Eyes he’d found familiar and comforting the night Connor, in the form of a wolf, had rescued them from the palace. Had protected them and Rebekah. “Can we still stop her even though we failed this round?”
“Yes.” Connor looked at the others. “Unfortunately, she has what she wants. Ryan’s heart, Serena’s soul, Jayden’s mind, and Ethan’s strength. But she doesn’t have the keys. We have to stop her before she gets powerful enough to demand them.”
Logan breathed deep. They had to strike now. “We meet at my tent in one hour. You can tell the rest of us what you know, Wielder.” Logan nodded once and turned to face the others, but a quiet voice made him turn back around.
“Please call me Connor.”
And just like that, another seed of love grew and blossomed in Logan’s heart. He faced the Wielder—just a kid like the Deliverers. Like Quinn, who looked clearly their same age now. He glanced again at Connor’s missing limb. A loss he’d taken to protect the same four that Logan’s oath and love bound him to protect. Then he breathed deep. “I’d like to call you son.”
Connor’s mouth opened, but he stood speechless.
Logan squeezed Connor’s shoulder and then headed toward camp, a smile on his face and warmth in his heart.
Westwind loped beside him. “Your heart is large. Even for a human’s.”
“Compliment?”
“I think if anyone can bring this pack back together, it’s you.”
“And why is that? Just because I love all those kids?”
“That. And they’re your pack, Logan.”
Chapter 44
Allegiance
Whispers from animals pledging allegiance to the Feravolk and their cause still lingered in Connor’s ears. As did Logan’s profession. He wanted to call him son? Connor shook his head to clear the thoughts and wished he could shake his heart to clear it of attachment just as easily.
As the others left, he strode over to the ri
verbank. The sinking sun created trails of red through the sky, bleeding into the clouds. He shed his clothes. Time to see how different running like a wolf would be with half an arm.
The quarterstaff would no longer be his weapon, but he’d trained with many other weapons. As long as he could swing a short sword, he could still complete his mission—without the use of his powers. Until he had to open the door of death.
There had to be a way to destroy her without killing the others.
Connor morphed into his wolf form and stood on three legs, getting a sense of balance. He moved. A slight hop accompanied his step now, and his right limb moved—as if it were whole—but he managed.
More than that.
He ran.
Quinn’s book had to have the answers he needed. As soon as he was done here, he’d seek her out. That thought also sent shivers through him She no longer looked like the scared girl from the stone. She’d grown into a young woman.
And his Wielder heart pulled toward her the closer they were.
He’d have to keep that bond from taking over his logic. He barely knew her. There was no way he could already have feelings for her. All he had were feelings the bond had created. Those he could ignore. He had to ignore.
Especially since he wouldn’t make it out of this alive.
Cliffdiver found him downriver, away from the camp, and sat beside him. “You seem to be adjusting well.”
Connor glanced at his severed limb. Yes and no. There were things he’d miss, certainly. Things that would be more difficult. But he’d made it out alive, and the Deliverers had killed Franco. Madison still lived. So did Kara. Whatever part Thea intended for her to play, he hoped it was in favor of his people.
“You seek solitude even after a lifetime alone in a palace?” Cliffdiver cocked his white, feathered head.
Connor chuckled. He stood and hopped along the riverbank back toward the camp. “Sometimes being alone to process new things is needed. Walk with me?”
“Of course.” The gryphon padded next to him. “What do you wish of me?”
“As soon as I find out from the Whisperer’s tome how to use the map book I smuggled from the library, I will know where the four thrones are. Someone fast will need to go ahead of me and find them in case we fail again when we go after her. Can you recruit those you trust to go on this mission with you?”
“I will.” The gryphon flapped his wings and took flight.
Connor reached his pile of clothes. He morphed back into a man and pulled on his breeches. A soft rustle in the trees told him he wasn’t alone, but he expected an animal. Not a girl.
Quinn stepped out of the trees, then covered her reddening face and turned back around. “Oh—I–I mean, I didn’t know you’d be . . . dressing.”
He chuckled and stared at her back as he pulled his shirt over his head. “It’s all right. I’m decent.”
She turned around, squeezed her eyes closed, and looked away again. “I came to ask if you’d look at the book with me. I think I may have found something. It talks about a map book and folding four corners. I’m not sure I know what it means, but—”
His heart stalled. Could this be what he needed? “I do.”
“You know where to find the thrones?” She peered over her shoulder.
“As soon as you show me this passage, I think I will.” He needed the book he’d had the prescience to bring when he’d visited the first time. He pulled at his shirt laces in one hand, and tried to grab them with the other, only to realize he couldn’t. That would take some getting used to. With Serena’s quick healing, it felt as though his right hand was still attached.
“Oh. I—” She stopped and stared at his bare chest. “Oh.” She bit her lip. “Do you need help?”
He stepped back from her. She could not touch him. “I’ll get it.” He pulled one string and anchored it down with the stump of his right arm. Then he looped the other string around it and placed it into his mouth. He pulled with his hand and his teeth and glanced up at Quinn, who stood with her hands clasped under her chin. “Was there something else?” He spoke around the material.
“Yes.”
He stopped tying the shirt, and crossed his arms since his bare chest apparently made her uncomfortable. The right hardly wanted to stay crossed, so he settled for gripping his elbow. “What?”
Her hazel eyes grew huge and she shivered. “You should get a new shirt.”
He glanced down at the bloodied half-sleeve. “This one was already cut. I—”
She reached toward him and stopped the moment he stiffened. “I can tailor your shirtsleeves for you. Bring them to my tent when you come to see the book.”
He froze for a heartbeat. He could not get attached to her. And she was making this very hard. He swallowed. “If you feel so inclined.”
“So inclined? Connor, you’re the Wielder.” She motioned to his shirt. “May I?”
He looked down at the undone ties. “Just—” His voice shook, and he held out the strings so they dangled far enough away from him. “Don’t touch me?” Why did he sound like he regretted those words? Because he actually craved her touch. Not good. Not at all.
She tentatively stepped closer and grabbed them. Something in her eyes looked dulled. Saddened. She probably expected her Wielder to be someone bigger, stronger, possibly handsome. Not this. How weak did he seem to her?
Her slim fingers tied it up, and then she smiled softly and backed away from him. Her gaze landed on his stump, and he suddenly had the desire to hide it from her.
She stared back at him. “Does it hurt?”
“What? No.” He rubbed the arm, feeling the strangeness of where it ended but his body thought it kept going.
“Then you just don’t like to be touched by me? I only ask because I’ve seen you touch the others. I’ve seen them touch you.”
How was he supposed to answer that? “I–I, Quinn, it’s different with us.”
She tilted her head, and her forehead wrinkled. “You’re afraid of me?”
A startled chuckle escaped him. “That’s one way to put it.” He tried to offer a smile, but her eyes rounded. A shiny coating of tears covered them. And he wanted to touch her. Comfort her. But he stopped himself. It was truly better this way.
“I’m sorry.” She gripped her left elbow with her right hand and stepped back from him, looking like a timid rabbit. “I’m rather new at this.”
“What?”
“Being around other people. Other than Ethan, Serena, and Jayden, I haven’t really been around anyone. Anyone nice that is.”
Connor wanted to tell her he understood. He’d grown up around people, but other than Rebekah, there was no one he could trust. “There are plenty of nice people around here.”
A small smile played on the edges of her mouth, and she bent near the stream. Tickled the water with her fingers. “Some of them still scare me.” She looked up at him and smiled her innocent smile. “Like Logan.”
“He wouldn’t hurt you.” He crouched near her—but not too close.
Quinn bit her bottom lip. “I guess, but he scares me a little.”
“Why?”
“I think it’s the whole wolf thing.”
Connor’s heart sped. “Wolf thing?”
“Wolves are a little intimidating. Don’t you think?”
She was telling him she feared him, too. It was warranted. “Yes, but no more than gryphons. You don’t seem to have a problem with them.”
She stared at the water. “They look like the barghest and the shadow wolves.”
“I hope you don’t think wolves are monsters.” Didn’t she know he’d never want to hurt her? Didn’t matter. It was his destiny to hurt everyone he loved. And his Creator-designed bond ached to reach out to her. “They fiercely protect their pack. That’s a wolf way of saying family.”
“Must be nice to have a family.” That sweet, tearful smile would end him.
Yes. Must be. Creator help him. He wanted to touch her.
<
br /> She looked away again. “I guess we’re betrothed to each other.”
That was a change in subject. Connor swallowed. His heart throbbed. This could be the moment he freed her. Pushed her away for her own good. “How does that make you feel?”
“It’s a bit strange, isn’t it? To have someone chosen for you?”
“I grew up in the palace, so I guess it’s normal.”
Quinn just stared back at him with her hazel eyes wide.
He held out his hand as if to calm her. “But, I would never—I mean if you didn’t want to marry me, I wouldn’t hold you to it.”
“You wouldn’t?” The light airiness of her voice cracked his heart.
That hit harder than expected. “Wouldn’t you want to wed someone because you love them rather than because of some ancient betrothal?”
“Yes.”
“Well, your wish is granted.”
She looked down and dried her fingers on her dress. “Thank you.”
Maybe for the first time the Wielder and Whisperer wouldn’t wed. Maybe they would change history. Perhaps they were meant to. They weren’t the best match after all. She was so innocent and he . . . he was a monstrosity. Perhaps her hesitation was for the better. But she shouldn’t fear him. “Just so you know, I would never hurt you, Quinn.” Unless he killed her. He felt like he’d punched his own gut. Why would he promise such a thing?
Her eyelashes fluttered. “What a strange thing to say.”
Of course it was. He was a bloody Wielder. He intended to rub his hand over his face, but it was no longer there. “I mean, my power—I would never intentionally—”
“Connor, you’re not making any sense.”
“You said you’re afraid of wolves. I just thought—”
“Are you bonded to a wolf?”
She didn’t know? “Quinn, I—”
“There you are.” Westwind loped into the moonlight.
Quinn shrank back from the wolf. “Oh.”
Westwind paused at Quinn’s reaction and glanced at Connor. “Logan’s looking for you.”
“Thank you,” Connor said. And Westwind bowed his head slightly before he loped away. Only then did Quinn’s shoulders relax. Connor motioned toward camp. “Logan wants us to head back, I guess.”