BOUND (#1 in The Crystor Series)

by C.K. Bryant

Chapter Forty Five

  After much resistance, Octavion finally convinced Cade to stay behind and stand guard. Even though he was an expert tracker, he was young and didn’t have the experience the other two had. Cade swore to keep the girls out of harm’s way and stay alert.

  Lydia and Kira also received instructions. They were to keep their weapons close and try to get some sleep. At the time, Kira thought it impossible, but once her head hit the pillow she was dreaming. Somewhere between her dream world and reality, she felt a warm hand tenderly stroke her cheek. With effort, she pulled herself awake.

  “You’re back,” she whispered. She opened her eyes, expecting to see Octavion’s face, but he wasn’t there. Kira pulled back the piece of black fabric and searched the clearing, but found it empty.

  “Octavion?” she whispered.

  And then she saw them.

  Outside her shelter was a single set of footprints and a round indentation where someone had knelt. She’d seen enough of Octavion’s footprints to know they weren’t his.

  “Cade!” she called, but he didn’t respond. She tried again, but only Lydia answered.

  “Kira, what is it?”

  “Where’s Cade? Someone was here and they touched my face.”

  “Cade!” Lydia screamed. This time he came stumbling out from between two trees. “Where were you?”

  “I—I fell asleep. Forgive me. Are you all right?” He rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair.

  Kira pointed to the footprints. “Are these yours or Luka’s?”

  He crouched down and examined them, the color quickly fading from his face. “No. They belong to Zerek.”

  The image of a hand against her cheek flooded her mind. She pulled her quilt around her and retreated to the back of her shelter, letting the curtain fall. She was so afraid she couldn’t move. Even when she heard Octavion’s voice, her trembling limbs wouldn’t let her go to him.

  “Who took her?” he yelled. “How long have they been gone?”

  Kira heard the panic in his voice. She tried to say his name, but nothing came out. Lydia and Cade both tried to explain their version of what happened, but neither one of them made sense. Finally, Lydia raised her voice above everyone else.

  “Octavion, stop! I didn’t say he took her, I said he touched her. She’s in there.”

  Firelight burst into Kira’s lean-to as the black curtain was ripped from the front of the shelter. The fabric drifted to the ground behind Octavion as he fell to his knees in front of her. At first, he just stayed there, staring at her, his chest rising and falling as if he struggled to breathe. Then he reached out with his hand.

  “Kira.”

  She leapt into his arms, letting go of her emotions and crying out all the fear she’d held inside. He wrapped her in his warm embrace and pulled her head against his chest.

  “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.

  “I felt Zerek’s hand on my cheek. I thought . . . it was you.” Kira managed between her sobs.

  “Shh . . . I am here now. You are safe.” He brushed the hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.

  “Are you okay?” Lydia asked.

  Kira nodded. “I think so.”

  Lydia shared a long look with Octavion. After a few seconds, Lydia went to join Luka and Cade. Kira saw them standing in a tight circle, though no one spoke.

  Kira hadn’t realized until then that all of them could converse without speaking. She didn’t know why it surprised her—she should have guessed. At one point, both Luka and Cade looked over at Kira, quickly turning back to their conversation with Lydia. They nodded in agreement.

  Kira knew exactly what they were discussing.

  “I won’t go,” she said.

  Octavion let out the breath he’d been holding, but said nothing.

  Kira unwrapped her arms from his waist and scooted away. As their eyes met, his jaw tightened. He looked beaten and haggard. She’d never seen so much agony and concern on his face, not even when Lydia was injured.

  “Kira,” he finally said. “I don’t know what else to do. I cannot protect you from Shandira, her warriors, the Darkords and my own kin. I am only one man.”

  “But I can fight. You know that.”

  “Yes, you are stronger and have mastered your bow, but that is not my biggest concern. What if you are injured? How am I to fight our enemies and protect you from my heritage—from them?” He motioned toward his cousins.

  “You mean my blood?” She took his hand, grasping it with both of hers. “How do you know how they will react? Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

  “I know because they have just arrived in this world. Why do you think I live up here, Kira? Why do you think we have those chains?”

  Kira cringed at the mention of them. “I don’t know,” she finally admitted.

  “When we first came here, the temptation was unbearable. Every new moon my sister had to bind me to prevent me from feeding on humans. When I worked construction, I nearly killed a man when he got a sliver in his finger.”

  “But you got used to it. You said yourself that it didn’t bother you as much.”

  “Yes, but it took a long time to build my resistance and I still have trouble controlling my cravings.”

  “Octavion, please don’t make me go. What if something happens to Lydia, I have to be close to heal her, right? I can’t do that if I’m miles away. There might not be time for someone to come get me.” His expression remained unchanged. Nothing she said made a difference. She closed her eyes for a moment and said a silent prayer that her next words would reach his heart and somehow change his mind.

  “There’s something you need to know,” she began as she found his eyes again. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t want the life I had before—hiding in a hole with nothing to look forward to. Without you and Lydia, I have no one. I won’t live like that. I need to be here. I need to be a part of this, just like I need to be a part of your life. I love you. Please, don’t leave me alone.”

  His grip tightened around her hands as tiny threads of yellow began to invade his dark blue eyes. “I will not lose you.”

  “Octavion, you’re not listening. What I’m saying is . . . I’d rather die in your arms tonight, than spend the rest of my life without you. I’m just as afraid of losing you and not being here to heal your wounds as you are of me being injured. Why can’t you see that?”

  He looked over at the threesome who seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation. “We have decided,” he said.

  Kira dropped his hand and exited the shelter. As she backed away from the lean-to, all four of them advanced toward her.

  “Kira,” Lydia said. “Do you really think you can outrun us?”

  “Why are you doing this? I thought you were my friend. It should be my choice.” As they got closer, Kira pulled out her dagger and stabbed the air between them.

  Luka laughed. “You are going to fight us? You are either brave or very foolish.”

  She had to admit, it was a stupid move, but she was out of options. She wasn’t sure whether to run or surrender, but then the Crystor caught the reflection of the fire and it gave her an idea. She transferred the knife into her left hand and slid the blade between her wrist and the small strand of silver. She pulled up just enough to cause Lydia discomfort.

  Lydia grabbed her wrist. “Kira, don’t.”

  Octavion took a step closer. “She will not do it. She knows what will happen if she does.” He took another step.

  “You don’t know me very well, do you?” Kira pulled up on the blade, making Lydia cry out in pain.

  Octavion’s whole body stiffened. He took another step toward her. “Kira! You have made your point.” He stretched out his hand. “Now give me the knife.”

  Luka looked over at Cade and made a motion with his head. Cade circled around behind her, so Kira stepped back to increase the distance between them.

  “Tell me this,” Kira said.
“If it weren’t for my blood and the fear of their reaction, would you let me stay?”

  Octavion looked over at his cousins who slowly advanced on Kira. “Yes.”

  “Then perhaps we should test your little theory.” She released the tension on the Crystor and pushed the blade into her flesh, but not enough to break the skin. “Tell me I can stay or I will slit my wrist right here.”

  “Kira, no!” Octavion pleaded. “You will bring them right to us.”

  Kira loosened the pressure on the knife, but didn’t remove it. “What do you mean? You told me you set a false trail and led them miles from here.” He’d never been worried about her blood attracting Shandira and her men before.

  He swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to scare you. We picked up their trail by the boulders, the same ones that were in the picture.” He advanced on her as she lowered her knife and dropped it to the ground.

  “They’re here? But, why haven’t they attacked us?”

  Octavion retrieved the dagger and handed it to Cade. “Luka and I followed their trail to the other side of the canyon where they circled around and came back to the creek—the place where you bathed only a few hours ago. At that point the trail went cold. I am sure they will wait until daybreak to attack.”

  “We don’t have a lot of time,” Luka said. “We need to plan our defense and be ready for them when they come. If we are to take her, it must be now.”

  “You’re still taking me?”

  “Tell me another way, Kira. How can I keep you safe and still be able fight these men? How will I keep my vow to protect my sister?”

  Kira shifted her focus from Octavion to Lydia—who scarcely resembled the friend she knew. Kira hadn’t given much thought to what this meant to her; how being forced to leave her home and come to this world had caused her to lose her identity and the security of her homeland. Kira had forgotten why they were here, why all this happened and how it had begun. It was all about Lydia—and Altaria. It was about saving her from the fatal intentions of her own sister. This was her fight and Kira was in the way.

  Kira looked back at Octavion, still not willing to give into their plot to send her away. “What if I don’t fight?”

  He folded his arms. “Explain.”

  “I can be your eyes,” she began. “You could hide me in a tree or behind the rocks where I have a view of the entire canyon. When they come, I can send my thoughts to Altaria and she can warn everyone.”

  “Go on,” Luka said, stepping closer.

  “Well, I sense things, like last night with Luka and again with Zerek. I saw them in my mind. If an image like that pops into my head, I can warn you.”

  “And you will not fight?” Octavion asked.

  “No, but I’ll keep my weapons close in case I have to defend myself.” A long moment of silence filled the clearing. “I promise to be careful.”

  Luka put a hand on Octavion’s shoulder. “It may work, cousin. She could be an asset to us.”

  Octavion growled. The furrow on his forehead was so deep, it looked painful. He shook his head and looked intently into her eyes. “If you get hurt…”

  She cut him off by leaping into his arms. “You won’t regret this, Octavion.”

  For a long moment, he was silent. Then he let out a sigh and said, “I already do.”