by Kim Stokely
Even though I know it is hopeless, I wrench myself from my terror and force myself to move.
I run straight into Lord Donagh’s chest. Braedon’s father seems to have materialized out of the darkness. His gloved fingers dig into my arms like vices. “Now, now, my dear. We would not think of letting you leave before your lover consummated your betrayal.”
I fight with every ounce of strength I have, but still he drags me toward the tent.
I thrash and kick and scream. Donagh throws me inside. I trip over the rugs and land sprawled at Tegan’s feet.
“Take her,” Lord Donagh barks.
I try to crawl away. “You can’t do this.”
Braedon steps inside the tent. “You have chosen, boy. Take her now.”
Tegan stumbles toward me.
I get to my feet, glaring at the three men determined to destroy not only me, but all of Ayden. “Why make him do this? None of you man enough to rape me yourself?”
“And who would believe you willingly slept with any of us?” Rafer grasps Tegan by the shoulders. “When you have made no secret of your love for this boy. Even those with Elder gifts will see only his seed in you. You will not convince them it was without your consent.”
I shriek and hurl myself at Braedon. My fist hits his chin with a loud crack. His head rockets back. My hand moves to strike him again but is stopped. I shout with pain as Lord Donagh wrenches my arm behind me.
“I have had enough of this. Enough of you.” He shoves me toward Tegan.
Tegan grunts as I fall against him, then holds me tight. “I have to. For my mother and brother. . . I have to.”
“Don’t do this,” I plead. “Please.” I can barely breathe. “Don’t do this.”
He whispers in my ear as he maneuvers me toward the pallet. “Forgive me.”
I am writhing and twisting, but his fingers have an iron grip on my arms. The sleeves of my dress tear. I manage to reel away from him.
This time it is Braedon who stops me. He backhands me with such force, I fly across the floor. My head thwacks against the ground. The tent spins.
I can only think one thought clearly: Kyran.
Kyran would never have done this to me. He would have run a thousand miles away before he let Braedon use him as a tool to destroy me. He would have taken his own life rather than cause me pain. Kyran. I’m sorry. I know I would rather die than face him with my betrayal. But that will not happen. Braedon will make sure all of Ayden knows what I’ve done.
Tegan straddles my prone body.
Kyran!
I try to roll away. Tegan’s hands force me back. He pins me under his weight.
Kyran! Please hear me! I am so sorry.
Tegan pulls at my skirt, trying to move it out of the way.
If only I had an Elderstone. I would kill them all. My hand grows warm. The stone in my ring is blazing purple. It’s so small, I doubt it can kill them, but I can certainly hurt them. Instead of trying to scratch Tegan’s face, I lay my palm on his neck. “Burn.”
He howls as he jumps off of me. A bright pink blister, the size of my hand, rises on his skin.
I scramble to my knees. Braedon stops me. He grabs my wrists, holding me firm, but at a distance. “It’s the ring. She is using it as a weapon.”
Donagh tries to wrench it off my finger. I send a pulse of energy through it. He jerks away with a curse as it surges into him.
Braedon’s hatred of me is palpable through his eyes.
I hope mine convey the same message to him. “Let me leave!”
We hold each other’s stare. I try to burn him, but he has my wrists and not my hands. Nothing happens. Understanding creeps across his face. He calls over his shoulder, “If we bind her hands, keep them covered, she won’t be able to harm us.”
Rafer takes a knife to one of the blankets on the floor, tearing it into strips. Braedon maneuvers my hands behind my back. I send pulses of energy through my palm. Although he grimaces in pain, they’re not strong enough to stop him. Rafer covers the ring with the cloths and ties my wrists together.
Once this is done, Braedon stands in front of me, smiling. “I must admit, you have proven to be a worthy adversary.” He traces a finger down my cheek. “I wish I could be the one to ruin you first, but alas, we must stick to the plan.”
His hand starts down my shirt. I spit in his face. He backhands me again, and again I crumble to the ground, hitting my head on the hard packed earth.
Donagh kicks Tegan toward me. “Be quick. We must finish this now.”
The tent spins as I squirm away, but with my arms behind my back, Tegan easily catches me. This time, he pulls my skirts up before climbing on top of me. I scream as he forces his knee between my naked legs.
The tent fills with a blinding blue light. The air crackles with energy.
“Get off my wife, or I will slice open your spine.”
Tegan rolls off.
Kyran towers over us, his sword pointing toward Tegan’s throat. Quinn is next to him, holding the Chrysaline.
“How—” Lord Donagh’s voice is cut off as a bolt of electricity from the orb engulfs him.
Kyran bends down to scoop me up with one arm, his other still brandishing his sword. The tent fills with a smoky haze. Braedon and Rafer drag Tegan from the tent as Donagh’s skin blackens and burns. His howl is like something from another world. It cuts off as his chest implodes in a cloud of gray ash.
Quinn steps toward Kyran and I know he means to take us back to the palace.
“Wait,” I order.
Kyran tenses. I sense his frustration. His anger.
“Untie me.”
He slices through my bindings with the tip of his sword.
I raise my arm and concentrate on the Chrysaline. A streak of electricity collects into a ball above my palm. Quinn and Kyran both gasp as it grows in my hands. I stagger out of the tent, determined to find Braedon, but he, Rafer and Tegan have vanished into the forest.
I focus the power in my hands toward the Black Guards. Instead of hitting them, the energy radiates into a blue circle of fire, preventing the demons from coming toward us.
“By Ruahk,” Quinn gasps. He and Kyran have come up behind me.
I’m panting hard as I stare at the guards. “I wanted to end it here. I wanted to kill Braedon.”
Kyran comes up behind me. “You will have your chance again.”
I turn to him, not daring to lift my eyes to his. “Take me home.”
He pulls me close, so that my head rests on his chest. His heart beats fast and strong. Quinn envelops us with his arms. Together we are thrust into the passage.
The Chrysaline must speed up our travel. I see only a flash of light, before I sense my feet on different ground.
Instead of dirt, I am on wood.
Instead of the forest, walls of stone.
And instead of Braedon and the Black Guards, I am surrounded by the angry faces of my family. My hair is unbound and tangled. My dress is dirty and torn. My cheek swelling from where Braedon hit me.
Kennis groans as she crosses to us. “What happened? Are you—”
“Leave us,” I order.
Quinn blocks her path. Whispers something in her ear.
“Alystrine.” Geran’s voice is authoritative. Demanding. “We must know what happened.”
On any other day I may have obeyed his command, but I am too tired. Too exposed. Too afraid. “Leave us.”
Quinn herds my family from the room. The door thuds closed behind them.
Other than to drop his arms from around me, Kyran hasn’t moved. Neither have I.
We stand there for what seems like hours. Not speaking.
I want him to rage at me; to hit me, beat me, punish me for going to Tegan. Physical pain would be better than this agony eating at my soul.
Please, say something. I stare at the floor in my shame. A sob catches in my throat so that my breath stutters out. Anything, please.
“I deserve words, Alystrine. N
ot thoughts.”
I make a sound like a wounded animal. It is primal. I think it may be the sound of a broken heart. Mine. Kyran’s.
I clutch my stomach and fall to my knees at his feet. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
It’s not enough. Words are not enough to heal this wound. He turns away, finally sheaths his sword in the scabbard at his hip then stalks toward the fireplace. He squares his broad shoulders before he looks at me again, his deep brown eyes flashing with anger.
“Please, Kyran.” I rock back and forth, struggling not to lose control, although I feel as if I may shatter into a thousand shards. “I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove myself to you. Trying to give you everything you deserve.”
Although why would he want me now? I feel dirty. Exposed.
He braces himself against the mantel then lowers his head.
“What can I do?” My tears flow. “What do you want me to do?”
My mind is too consumed with grief to reach out and read his thoughts. My muscles tremble with waning adrenaline. There is only one thing left to tell him, and then I will face whatever punishment he decides to give me. “I know now, what you and Quinn tried to explain.”
He still stands hunched toward the fireplace, but his head shifts in my direction, as if I’ve finally caught his attention.
“I know the difference between what Tegan and I felt for each other, and what you said you felt for me.” Is it gone? Did Braedon and Tegan ruin it as they tried to ruin me? Did I destroy it with my choice?
Kyran’s voice is firm. “Go on.”
I summon the strength to continue. “A love based only on physical attraction, on pure need, is selfish. It thinks of nothing but itself and the pleasure it can get from the other person. When it’s tested, it will fail.” Kyran’s eyes lift to mine. My voice falters when I see the pain etched on his face. “But a love like yours is never selfish. It only thinks of giving. Always.” A mewling cry escapes before I can speak again. “Why did you come for me?”
He moves so quickly, I don’t even see him until he is kneeling in front of me. “Because you called to me.”
I can’t catch my breath. “You heard?”
“I will always hear you. You are a part of me I could no more tear out than my heart.”
I think he will kiss me, but he doesn’t. There is understanding in his eyes. Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
“I am so sorry, Kyran.” My tears begin again.
“I know.” His arms gently pull me toward him, as my tears turn to weeping. He shifts so he sits on the floor and cradles me next to his chest. “I know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Confession
“Alystrine?” My mother’s voice stirs me from an uneasy sleep. I try to open my eyes, but my lids refuse to lift. “Alystrine, can you hear me?”
I nod, trying to understand the aching pain throughout my body. A groan slips from my lips as someone shakes me.
“Alystrine?” Now Kyran’s voice intrudes on my thoughts.
Kyran. My heart slows its beating, weighed down by the guilt it carries. I do not deserve his love. I wish I would have died in the tent. But that would have been too easy.
“Bring her to the couch.” Kennis’ voice orders. “Do you need help?”
Kyran has already lifted me into the air. My eyelids flutter open. He stares down at me with concern.
“Please.” My throat is dry and course. The reality of last night crashes down on me. My stupidity. Braedon’s brutality. “Let me sleep.”
“There’s no time.” Kennis kneels in front of me once Kyran has set me on the couch. “You must wake up. There are decisions only the queen can make.” She calls over her shoulder, “Fetch some water.”
Kyran steps back.
Panic fills me. He’s going to leave. My breathing grows rapid.
His brows furrow as he watches me.
I force myself to sit up. “Stay with me.” I reach my hand out to him. “Please.”
He pauses a moment, then sits down on the edge of the couch. Takes my hand in his.
My breathing slows. “Thank you.”
I try to take hold of the water Tamra gives me, but I’m shaking too hard to bring it to my mouth. My mother holds the goblet to my lips. I drink it down.
“Quinn has told us some of what happened, but we need to know everything.” My mother hands the empty goblet to Tamra. “The Elder Council will be here tomorrow. They’ve been informed.” She glances between us. “There will be an official tribunal to decide the fate of your rule.” She stands. “The first thing you need to do is talk to Geran and your grandmother.”
“No.” My voice is hoarse, probably from all the screaming I did and the smoke inside the tent. I push the memory of Lord Donagh’s burning body from my mind. “The first thing I need to do is arrest Lady Moira.”
Kennis frowns. “What?”
I look to Kyran. “Didn’t you or Quinn tell them about Lord Rafer?”
Kyran shakes his head. “We did not recognize him. He fled as we freed you.”
My mother kneels again so we are face-to-face. “You’re sure it was Rafer?”
“Positive. And I’m sure if there were any castings in my room they were left by Moira, not Lady Siobhan.”
“There was an intricate casting placed on your pillowcase. Barely detectible, but Devnet eventually found it.”
My dreams rush back into my head. I swear under my breath.
“Alystrine,” my mother scolds.
“Do you know what I’ve lived with this past week? The nightmares I’ve had?”
“No,” Kennis raises her voice. “Because you wouldn’t share them with me!”
I squeeze Kyran’s hand, seeking the reassurance of his presence. “I thought I had to keep everything to myself.”
“Could the casting have caused that as well?” Kyran asks.
Kennis nods as she stands.
“I want Lady Moira arrested,” I demand. “Before she can escape to her father.”
Kennis heads for the door. Geran, Devnet, Quinn and Maris all wait outside. My mother speaks to one of the guards before she follows the others into the room. Geran paces as Maris and Devnet sit in the chairs. Quinn offers my mother a seat on the wooden stool near the couch. He stands behind her.
Geran nods toward Kyran. “You can go now.”
“No.” I don’t know why, but I think if he leaves, I’ll never see him again. His strength is the only thing holding me together. “I want you stay.” I can’t look him in the eyes. “I want you to know everything.” It’s only right.
Kyran doesn’t answer, but he squeezes my hand again.
I start detailing exactly what happened over the last week. The nightmares I’d experienced. Moira’s subtle digs at Lady Siobhan. My mind’s irrational musings about Tegan’s possible engagement to her. I have to reveal exactly what happened in Tegan’s tent.
“You went willingly to him?” My father asks.
“Yes. To tell him about tomorrow’s attack.” I can see how the news devastates them all. Geran strides away. Devnet and Maris lower their heads. “I knew it was wrong. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I had to warn him.”
It’s Kyran who asks, “Could the casting have forced her to go?”
“Forced? No.” Quinn places his hands on Kennis’ shoulders. He looks toward Devnet. “But it could have put the desire in her heart, could it not?”
Devnet runs his hand through his shaggy blond hair. “It may have. Oded has more experience with castings than I do. He’ll be able to read exactly what was woven into the spell.”
“Once you were in the tent.” My father turns around to face me again. “What happened then?”
I admit to my kissing Tegan, mainly for Kyran’s benefit. I don’t want any secrets between us. I’m so sorry.
He offers no forgiveness.
I tell them how I sensed something wrong as Tegan tried to lead me to his pallet. No one interrupts
me as I describe the battle I fought against Braedon, Rafer, and Donagh, until I tell them about using my ring as a weapon.
“Impossible,” Maris whispers.
“Show us,” Geran demands.
Kyran loosens his hold on my hand, and I reluctantly raise it in front of me. “I’m not sure it’ll work now. I’m exhausted.”
My father scowls. “Try.”
I close my eyes, drawing a deep breath to center my energy. I focus what little I have left toward my ring, opening my eyes when I hear the others gasp. The purple stone blazes with light. I concentrate as I turn my hand over, and a small glowing lilac orb hovers in my palm. I throw the light toward the wall and a torch explodes. Quinn and Devnet put out the embers that threaten to ignite the rug.
“We must be sure to tell the Council.” Maris’s expression is hopeful. “That certainly shows that she is still Ruahk’s chosen ruler.”
Geran nods. “It will help her argument.”
I lower my hand to the couch, grateful when Kyran rests his over mine.
My father glowers at me. “We’ve dispatched soldiers to arrest the boy. If Braedon hasn’t already killed him and his family.”
For once, I am able to separate my emotions from Tegan. “See to it that they are brought here if they’re alive. Treasa and Galvyn will have our protection until the war is over. They had no part in this.”
Geran raises an eyebrow. “And the boy?”
I know he and the Elders will see only Tegan’s treason, not Braedon’s barbaric bribery that caused it. “Is there some kind of trial system here? One where he could plead his case before a judge to decide his punishment?”
“Aye.” Geran’s eyes pierce me with their directness. “You would not grant him a pardon?”
I will. But not until the Joint Assembly has heard the full story. “I will listen to the advice of my counselors.”
Maris stands. “I think we’ve heard all we need to for this evening. The Council should convene by the afternoon.” She walks over to the couch then places her hand on my head. “This was a hard lesson for you to learn. I will pray the Elders see your contrition and grant you mercy.”
Devnet approaches next. “I will show Oded the casting as well. It was masterfully created. I’m sure it will help your cause.” He bows his head before leaving.