“Can you …?”
“I got it,” Saber replied and set about organizing the sendoff for Maya.
The males helped build the large funeral pyre, then everyone went and found something personal to go with Maya to the afterlife.
As they worked, Saber let his anger and hatred fuel him, not even attempting to control it. It was far better than the misery of losing Maya, Adarias, and Cass, who though still alive, looked ready to climb up beside his mate and burn.
So it was no surprise when Cass finally relinquished Maya and turned to Saber. “I need to go with her.”
At the agony and despair in his friend’s eyes, Saber blinked back his tears, unable to argue.
Yet that didn’t mean he wanted to witness Cass’s death either. Suddenly, an overwhelming need to be alone, to fly until his wings could no longer carry him, took hold and hung on. Saber tried to shake it off, but it only grew stronger and stronger. He had to get away, he couldn’t watch what was about to happen.
As Cass followed Maya’s body to the pyre, Saber found himself inching away. Then, as he started to turn, he felt a tug on his pants. Saber blinked and found Maya’s four-year-old daughter staring up at him.
“What’s wrong with Mata?” Skye asked, then stuck her thumb in her mouth. Worry shone bright in her blue eyes.
Saber swallowed deeply and glanced around. Shit, he’d forgotten about Cass and Maya’s Young. One of the elders held Maya’s baby boy, and everyone was so lost in their own suffering that no one paid little Skye any attention. He debated on leaving, but instead scooped Skye up in his arms. Saber buried his face in her hair and inhaled her sweet, innocent scent as he held her close.
Then he hurried after Cass. “Brother, you can’t do this. They need you.”
Cass gazed at him, then his blank eyes landed on Skye. He blinked and then shook his head. “I have nothing to offer her. Please, take care of her.”
Saber let the tears fall. Tears for all that had been lost this night, and shielded Skye as Cass climbed up and lay beside the love of his life.
Chapter Eleven
Miracle, or Not
The next evening, after they sent Maya back to the ancestors, Saber sat in the village square staring into the fire. Skye and her brother were tucked in their beds, asleep and being cared for by the whole village.
Some things were beyond his or anyone’s understanding, he thought, as he took in the passed-out form of Cass mere feet away. He couldn’t blame the guy for spending the day in a drunken stupor. It was something he was highly tempted to do as well, but the urge to hunt those responsible kept him from joining his friend.
Saber couldn’t help but worry about Cass and why he still lived. He’d heard of instances of bonded mates living past the deaths of their mates, but those were mostly tales—with little or no truth behind it. But for Cass to survive the funeral pyre as well? It was a miracle.
Or was it?
When Cass rose from the fire, he had staggered to Saber and collapsed. “It hurts,” he said. Saber knew he didn’t mean the fire. Cass didn’t have a single singed hair on his head. “It hurts beyond words.”
He just held his friend, then later attempted to lead Cass to the dwelling where Saber stayed when he visited, but Cass pulled away. “No, take me to my home, I need … Maya …”
The next morning, Cass began to drink, while Saber stayed close to him. He had just been mulling over this strange turn of events, when Cass lowered his bottle and met Saber’s gaze.
“Maya broke our bond. Why would she do that?”
Saber had no answer for his friend.
But Cass just shook his head. “I didn’t know she could do that. I was ready to go with her. I would have gone. Even though I felt something else trying to hold me here to this world, I was ready. I wanted to go. I still want to go.”
Saber frowned. He’d never heard of such a thing happening. “You think it’s your bond with your Young holding you here?”
Cass shook his head and, appearing stone sober, gazed off into the distance. “No, someone else. I can feel it … her … it’s female. She’s holding me here to the land of the living.” Then Cass’s green, tormented eyes bore into Saber. “Why? Why would anyone do this to me?”
Fuck it! Saber snatched up a bottle of ale from Cass’s stock pile and took a long drink.
“Do you think whoever this is, is what prevented me from burning last night?” Cass asked.
Saber shook his head. “No idea, my friend, this is all beyond me.”
Cass nodded and stared down into his ale. “I need to join Maya. Even now I feel this—whatever this is—tethering me to this world. I … hate it. Whoever this female is, she will pay, if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
Saber shivered at the finality in Cass’s words, but had nothing to offer his friend. He’d never heard of anyone able to hold someone back from joining their mate in the afterlife. Or someone able to keep another from burning from any kind of distance. Though if anyone could, it had to be the druids. The evil witches knew no end of hate for all Supes, and it would be just like them to do something so horrible.
Filled with loathing for the Ilyium who had tormented dragonkind for so long, Saber held onto the renewed hatred. If nothing else, it may end up being the only thing to keep him sane. Up until now, he knew Adarias would be there to put him out of his misery once he turned rogue. Now, that wasn’t going to happen.
Not Zales, or any of his younger brothers would be able to do the job, and Saber didn’t know of any other dragons strong enough to do the deed. Cass, while once extremely powerful, was now broken and too close to the edge. No, despite whoever seemed to be tethering him to this world, it would be a miracle if his friend survived. Besides, how could he even ask it of the guy after all he’d just lost?
Saber decided to worry about it later. Right now, he needed to get on the trail of those who deserved to die for their part in the latest horrid attack. Luckily, he knew it wouldn’t be hard to locate the Ilyium. He had the individual scents of all who had been there.
Then Saber remembered the female with the mop of fiery hair and his heartbeat sped up. He had momentarily spotted her across the witch circle. Then amid the stench of blood and burnt flesh, he’d caught the slightest hint of honeysuckle and spice. Who is she? More importantly, why had she been with the others? She had appeared upset and horrified. Not the expression of one who believed in what she was doing. Even more, he couldn’t stop thinking about her bright, amber-eyed gaze, or the intense jolt of power that shot throughout his body when he’d met her eyes. It had set him aflame and completely energized him.
Like a sizzle of recognition that resonated deep inside and made his dragon sit up and take notice, it had left Saber stunned. Breathless. The connection felt so deep. So utterly right and powerful. It had almost been enough to distract him at a crucial moment.
Maybe that was the plan? One of the enemy had managed to cut him after all. Saber’s breath grew ragged as he thought of her. Sweet and curvy in all the right places, and her lips … Saber shook his head as his cock hardened in need. Stop it, you fool. How fucked up are you? She’s the enemy. She killed Maya. You don’t need to be thinking of her. You only need her to tell you how to get Adarias out of Hades and then kill her. Saber groaned, his head was about to split apart. Yet no matter how he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew her. Who was he kidding? If he’d ever met her, he’d have never been able to forget.
Saber finished the ale and his aching cock twitched. With a growl, he stood, threw the bottle into the fire, and walked away. It had to be some kind of trick or spell. He’d already met and lost his mate. Yet deep inside, a voice told him to go find her. Oh, I’ll find her, she can’t hide from me. I have her scent and I will search all fifty-two realms if need be.
Chapter Twelve
Blood Ties
Tirah waited until the guard turned his back, then slipped through the gap in the fence and into the slave compound. S
he kept to the shadows and breathed a sigh of relief when her mother’s home came into sight.
Hiding behind the large weeping teal tree, she peered around to make sure no one was about, then dashed across the dirt yard and inside.
Ashara waited just inside the door, anxiety bright on her face.
“Mom, what do I do?” Tirah trembled. All she wanted was to fall into her mother’s welcoming arms. Only the sticky gore on her uniform stopped her. No way would she taint her mother with Captayen’s disgusting blood.
“I don’t know, baby. I’ve called Mihel,” Ashara said.
Tirah backed away in panic. “No. Why? He’ll have to turn me in.”
“I would never,” her brother said vehemently as he entered behind her. “Though you do need to leave. You killed your superior, they’ll be coming for you.”
“Where will I go?” she asked. The thought of living anywhere else terrified her.
“I have a map.” Mihel walked into the tiny kitchen and spread it out on the table. “Here—” he started to say, but their mother held up her hand.
“After.” Ashara looked at Tirah. “Come into the bedroom. Let’s get you cleaned up and changed.”
Still in shock, Tirah followed and tried not to wince as her mother dressed her wounds.
“Honey—”
Tirah shook her head. “No. Please don’t.” She didn’t want to completely break down and she would if her mother continued to speak about her actions.
Ashara didn’t say anything else, and Tirah quickly shed her blood-spattered clothing and dressed in the nondescript garb that was handed to her.
Then she thought about how her mother had spoken to her in her head. “How did you communicate with me like that?”
Ashara sat down on her bed. “It’s called telepathy, and it’s one of our gifts.”
“You are only now revealing this, why?” Tirah was still trying to wrap her mind around the whole thing.
“My gifts are complicated. And as much as I would’ve loved to have communicated with you all these years, it was too big a risk. Someone would have found out, and I shudder to think of how they would’ve used us if they knew. But this time I had no choice. When I saw what was happening, I knew you needed to run.”
Tirah stared at her mother and wondered what else they could do. “Do any of my brothers know about me?”
“No, not as far as I know.”
“Do any of them have gifts as well?” Tirah asked, though she wasn’t so certain she’d call them gifts.
Ashara hesitated. “Casin doesn’t. I don’t know about Wren, and Mihel … well, it’s better if you don’t know what Mihel’s gifts are, just like it’s safer for him not to know of yours.”
“I would never tell anyone,” Tirah said, thinking of all the times her mother had told her to keep what she was a secret.
“I know you wouldn’t. At least not intentionally.” Ashara sighed deeply.
Tirah gazed down at her bloody hands and frowned. Her mother had always been so scared that someone would find out about them. “I’ve always wondered why my brothers aren’t like us.”
“I suppose they just inherited more of their father’s genes.” Ashara stood and gathered up the ruined clothing.
Back in the kitchen, the reality of what she’d done hit her as her uniform was tossed into the wood stove.
“Tirah, look here.” Mihel pointed at the map in front of him. “See this spot? There’s a secluded cabin here. Make your way to this location but be careful. I will come to you when it’s safe for me to leave.”
“Take this.” Tirah’s mother shoved a pack into her arms.
“What is this?” Tirah asked.
Ashara shrugged. “Some food and other stuff I kept ready, just in case.”
Tirah blinked and wanted to ask what for, but just then, her mother pulled her into her arms. “Don’t ask. Just go, and remember, I love you.” Then her best friend, who had never touched her, hugged her. Tirah let out a little gasp at the feeling of power emanating from her brother.
“Remember, be careful. Trust no one. I will be there as soon as I can,” Mihel whispered.
Tirah pulled away and nodded. She studied the faces of her family, the only two who had ever cared about her, then left her mother’s home. Tears threatened, but she held them back and hurried into the night.
She felt empty and more alone than ever, as she quietly kept to the shadows of the buildings and trees. By the time she passed the barracks and made it to the outskirts of town, she was shaking. Finding a cluster of trees to rest unseen, she stopped. Then, as the whole horrible incident rushed through her head again, she sank to the ground and fought to breathe.
***
After two weeks of hiding out at the cabin, Tirah had run out of food, and was growing desperate to see her brother.
She was relieved when Mihel finally showed up. “I am so happy to see you.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.” Mihel set a bag of supplies on the rickety table. He seemed jumpy as he peered around the small space.
“Did you bring any food?” Tirah asked. “I’ve eaten everything Mother packed for me.” Not wanting to be seen, she had resorted to searching the forest for berries and nuts. “I’d have hunted small game if Mother had packed a knife or any kind of weapon—” Tirah stopped, aware she was babbling.
“Yes, here.” Mihel handed her a bundle, and Tirah tore it open.
“Oh, you brought chocolate. I love you!” She grinned and tore the wrapper off, then moaned at the first bite. Only a handful of shop keepers on Tartaria imported the stuff.
“Thought it might cheer you up.” Mihel slid two knives—one small and one large—from the supplies and laid them on the small table. “Sorry it took me so long to get here,” he apologized again and sighed. “I have some bad news.”
“What is it?” she asked, suddenly worried. Not much scared Mihel, but if he was freaked, then it had to be bad.
“The two dragon shifters from that night, they were Thorn brothers.”
The Thorns were notoriously well known for being the most fearsome dragon shifters in all the realms. “Shit.”
“Yes, and one of them has been picking off everyone who was there,” Mihel said.
Dreads. She could tell just by his appearance that he was dangerous. She put the chocolate down as her hunger fled. She could still recall Dreads vow of vengeance. He’d never give up searching until he found her.
“I guess I can’t let him find me.” She wrapped up the chocolate, then focused on Mihel. “I’m just glad you’re here now.”
“I only wish we could stay here, but it’s not safe.” Mihel stared at her. “You need to go somewhere far away.”
“Far away, like where?” Tirah asked. There were a lot of towns and small cities on Tartaria, but none seemed far enough away with the Ilyium and a dragon hunting her.
“You need to go off world. Go to one of the other realms,” Mihel said.
Tirah fought her threatening panic. “I’ve never been off world.”
She stared wide-eyed as Mihel told her of his plans.
“Here, take this,” he said and pulled a roll of money from his pocket. “You don’t have to go where I say, just wherever you do go, be wary. This dragon is a very adept tracker and seems to have no soul left.”
Tirah accepted the money with trembling hands.
“I’d go with you, but I fear what would happen to Mother if I do,” Mihel said.
Tirah nodded. “No, you are right, you need to stay here. Besides, this is my mess.”
Mihel bit his lip. “I wish I had better news, but the Ilyium are ….”
“They’re what?”
Mihel’s face pinched with anger. “They’re calling you a traitor. If they find you, you’ll be hanged.”
“And Casin?” she asked.
Mihel’s eyes hardened. “He’s leading the search.”
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s always hated me
.” She knew it never mattered to Casin that they were blood.
“He’s always hated me too. I have no idea why. But I don’t hate you.” Then Mihel pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Tirah.”
Tirah hung onto him. “I’m scared.”
“I know,” Mihel said sadly. “I am too.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ten Years Later
Casin refrained from licking the blood off the blade and surveyed his handiwork. He sighed, wishing he could revel in his latest accomplishment, but knew it wouldn’t be wise. Finally, he went out into the living area and opened the door to the hallway. Good, his youngest brother still stood right where he’d told him to. “Get in here,” he commanded, happy when Wren obeyed just like the good little soldier he was trained to be.
Wren stopped in the doorway and scanned the opulent living area as his eyes adjusted to the evening gloom.
“Hurry up,” Casin growled. “Close the door behind you, for demon’s sake.”
Casin then led him into the bedchamber and smirked when Wren walked through the door and faltered at the sight of blood all over the massive bed.
“Come on, get over here,” Casin said.
“What … what did you—” Horrified, Wren scanned the room.
“Do not question me,” Casin shouted, then lowered his voice. “He had it coming.” Then he shoved the blade into his brother’s hand. “Here, hide this.” Wren’s eyes widened and Casin sighed. “Unless you want to get caught with it.”
“Ah …” Wren swallowed deeply, pissing Casin off.
“Oh, get over it,” he snapped.
Wren hastily tucked the knife into the folds of his robe. “What do you want me to do with—?”
Casin ignored him as he left the bedroom and made his way over to the door. Then he eased it open and peered once more out into the hall. No one was about. He smiled and looked back at Wren. “Do not question me. Find somewhere to dispose of it, where no one will find it. I’ll meet you back at my office after I take care of some business.”
Saberthorn (A Paranormal/Fantasy Dragonshifter Romance): Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms Page 6