She licked at her lips, nearly flicking her tongue to taste his mouth for the first time. Nay. Her sacrifice needed to be pure. “I cannot stop you from doing whatever you choose. But know this, my dearest Azer. To rob me of my destiny would be to rob yourself of my respect and love.”
He swore in Vespian and released her with nothing more than a chaste kiss to the forehead. “I shall return when the time comes.” He dissipated into the blowing wind.
Chapter Twenty-one
The sun had set hours ago with no word from Lena or the kids, and Ramona was growing concerned. Although she trusted Lena with Breandra and Hope, she couldn’t nip the feeling something was off. All of Dilseacht had settled in for the night. Not a single person crossed her path as she made her way through the courtyard toward the southern tower. Her heart quickened as she neared the untenanted wall. She spotted a lone sentry leaving the rampart. “Hey, you!” The guard paused and waited for her to run to him. After several long pulls of breath, she managed to ask, “Where is the church?”
He stared back as if she spoke gibberish. “Milady?”
“The Christian church. It's just outside these walls, right?”
The guard snorted; a bushy brow raised in confusion. “Christianity is a myth. There is nothing here but the peasant population and a few night infantry.”
She trembled. “Wait…a myth? Are you sure?”
“Aye. I have served for over ten years, and lived here my entire life. There is no such building in all of Dilseacht. Are you faring well? Shall I fetch Lord Jalomar?”
She hissed at the sound of Jalomar’s name. Hah! Good luck finding him. He's probably still boinking the blonde with the huge rack. Not that she cared, she reminded herself. As long as he was preoccupied, she was free from his orders. “No. I'm freaking peachy. Don't go running off to get Lord High and Mighty.”
She ran for the stables, leaving the guard behind without as much as a thank you or goodbye. Her legs throbbed, and her chest burned with each step, but she couldn't stop—wouldn’t stop. Her imagination ran rampant as she tried to imagine where the children could be. Who was behind the lie that coaxed them from safety? Sandread’s warning rang in her ears. She'd never felt so helpless, or scared. Even during the bombardment, she somehow knew they would be all right. But this was different. And after Meg… The fear strangled her. She reached the stables. Not a single goddamned horse in immediate sight.
She snatched a lit oil lamp from its peg off a beam. A burgundy pool spilled from the very last stall, and she ran to inspect it. “Son of bitch!” Gus lay motionless. Blood oozed from his forehead and saturated the pile of hay below him. “No, Gus...” Her shaky hands checked his wrist for a pulse. Weak, but it was there. “Please forgive me,” she whispered as she removed the dagger at his waist and tucked it into her own. “I will come back for you. I swear.”
Gus's eyes fluttered open. He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Sandread spooked all the horses,” he whispered before falling back into unconsciousness.
Sandread. Her body froze.
Oh God! He had the kids! She forced herself to stand, pushing the urge to vomit to the back of her throat. A horse whinnied. She turned to see Lacaux's dark eyes peering from the stable's entrance. He pawed the ground and neighed. “Hey there, big guy.” She approached with caution. “I need your help,” she said softly as she reached out to pet his face. The black stallion snorted and gave her a nudge. Lacaux went down on two knees and allowed her to mount. She grabbed a handful of his mane, and the pair raced out of Dilseacht’s gates and down the dark path into Gullymouth Forest. Dilseacht was barely out of sight when Ramona heard voices—and Hope's cries. Her heart broke and sang at the same time. They’re alive.
Lacaux slowed his pace as if he understood the dire need for silence. He crept along the path several steps before coming to a full stop. He threw his head back, signaling he’d go no farther. She jumped down from his back and tiptoed along the tree line in the direction of the raised voices.
She recognized Sandread's deep tone and found a spot among the trees to watch. “Very well done, Mrs. Steele. Labelle will be pleased with your findings and the delivery of the child.”
Mrs. Steele accepted the compliment with a satisfied grunt. “I shall go gather my belongings and make my way to Dika for my reward. I cannot stay here now in case Lena survives the blade to her back. The bitch knows I killed Megan, too.”
“Aye. The missing children will be noticed soon as well. Why did you bring me both? I only requested the infant.”
“I couldn't separate them. While that red-headed whore is away, this young bitch is in charge. It doesn't matter. You got the one you wanted anyway.”
Sandread nodded. “Aye, I'll just slit this one's throat. I cannot risk her running back for help.”
Mrs. Steele pursed her lips and directed her gaze toward Breandra. “Sacrifices are necessary to maintain world order. Do what you must. Sorry, kiddo.” She shrugged and turned away.
Ramona’s whole world spun beneath her feet at Mrs. Steele’s confession and Sandread’s involvement. She’d always known he was the bad guy, but until this moment she’d never really considered him the enemy—a child murderer. Blinding rage took control.
Breandra fell to her knees with Hope squashed tightly against her bosom. Sandread made a move for Breandra, but Ramona leapt from her hiding spot and blocked him. “Traitor!” she yelled and waved her fists at Mrs. Steele. “You killed Megan, and now you're betraying us all!”
“Me, the traitor?” she echoed cockily. “It was you who betrayed us. The people from your own time. You spread your legs to gain the upper hand. While the rest of us are forced to slave away for you and those filthy orphans who were meant to die!”
Ramona shook her head. Mrs. Steele's view of the world was pitiful. She'd squandered her second chance at life. To condemn innocent children to death was reprehensible, and she deserved to die in the bombardment for that alone. From the corner of her eye, Ramona saw Sandread sidestep and ease toward Breandra.
“Give me the baby!” he demanded.
Breandra fell completely to the ground and lay atop the screaming infant. Ramona shoved Mrs. Steele and raced to the children, throwing herself over them as a shield.
“Do you want to die?” Sandread hissed into her ear.
A white light enclosed Ramona and the girls.
“Do you want to die?” an unidentified woman mocked in return.
Sandread stiffened. He stepped away from Ramona and the children, turning to face an invisible opponent. A tall, slender blonde clad in what looked like a toga materialized, pressing the tip of a blade to Sandread’s groin. She smiled with satisfaction. “Tell me, Commander Sandread: How do you like to feel helpless? I dare say that child you threaten so easily has more bravery and heart than you.”
Sandread attempted to maneuver backward, but the Amazon goddess pressed the tip deeper. “It is not recommended you move.”
“Is this how you repay me for setting you free, my little butterfly? You’d be dead by now if it weren’t for my kindness.”
“Which is why I have yet to run you through, Commander. Allow me to recompense you with your life, this time.”
“I want the child. The rest are yours.”
The goddess sneered. She jerked her wrist purposefully, smiling when Sandread paled. “Why do you want that child?”
“Yeah! What the hell is your problem?” Ramona demanded, still huddling over the children.
“As if you do not know,” Sandread snarled. “You just want the child of fire for yourself. You are indebted to me, Cynthe!”
“I am not so foolish to believe you did so out of the kindness of your heart. You need me alive. You need my majik to prevent Labelle from gaining ultimate power over this world if you fail in your plans. And know that I know your thoughts and ambitions. So heed me when I tell you, this child is not the child born of fire.”
Ramona's brow furrowed. “She has to be. She was born
during the bombardment.”
“Nay,” said Cynthe. “She is merely a regular infant, lucky enough to survive with your good grace.”
“You're lying!” Sandread hissed.
Cynthe lowered her weapon, a golden brow arched as she addressed Sandread. “Do you think the prophetic child would be easily taken by an old woman and brought to you without resistance? The child of prophesy would be guarded highly.”
Sandread paused, his eyes narrowed in deep concentration. He erupted into raucous, almost merry laughter. “I cannot believe I missed something so evident. Thank you for the clarification.”
Mrs. Steele burst into a string of explicit curses. “I risked everything for a regular brat?” She lunged forward, pushing Ramona off the children onto the hard ground. Before anyone could react, she had Breandra by the head of her hair, wrenching her back and forth. “Give me that fucking kid! That bitch lies! This has to be the child!”
Ramona lunged for Mrs. Steele.
Mrs. Steele pulled a small eating knife from her bosom. Ramona grabbed the dagger she’d commandeered from Gus from her belt and plunged it into Mrs. Steele’s left eye. Blood gushed from the wound, splattering Ramona and both children. The older woman fell to the ground with a loud thud, releasing Breandra as she collapsed.
Sandread used the distraction to disarm Cynthe with a quick kick of his booted foot. His fist shot out, landing a vicious blow to her face, and knocking her unconscious. He turned to Ramona with a boastful grin. “It appears the child of fire has yet to be made, Maiden.” With wide strides, he crossed the distance between her and the kids.
Ramona immediately shoved them behind her, standing tall to the approaching villain. “I don’t know what that means, and I don’t care. But you know neither of these children are what you’re looking for. So go away!”
“Of course, my gem,” he grinned. “They are free to leave, but you are not.”
Ramona stepped backward, using her arms to guide the kids behind her. He kept coming with slow, deliberate steps, walking her back into a tree. “Run!” she yelled at Breandra. “Run and get help!”
Cradling Hope in her arms, Breandra took off toward the road leading to Dilseacht. Sandread didn’t even spare the escaping children a glance, his focus locked on her as she pressed her back into the tree trunk as far it would go. Placing his arms on either side of her head, he leaned into her. “I think you know exactly what I mean.”
She swallowed hard, her skin flushing beneath his scrutiny. Hotdamn. She definitely knew what he meant. Her shaky arms attempted to push him away, but his massive weight refused to budge. “Please. No. Leave me alone already. I told you, I am not interested.”
He cupped her chin, tilting her mouth up to his. “Your body betrays you. You quiver with want of me.”
She shook her head no. Images of her and Jalomar together pervaded her head. Yeah. Her body was a traitor of late, but not for this brother. “Sorry to disappoint, big boy. I quiver with want for no one.”
“We can test that notion.” His mouth covered hers, and for a brief moment, Ramona opened up to his assault, her arms sliding around his neck. Thoughts of Jalomar consumed her burning flesh as she allowed Sandread free rein of her body. Even knowing it was wrong to be in Sandread’s embrace and reacting to his touch, she moaned into his mouth when his hands roamed her backside. Heat spread throughout her body. Desire raged through her like a California wildfire. There was no dousing it until it ran its course. Guilt hit home as his caresses slid beneath her tunic to touch bare skin. She gasped at the intimate contact.
A voice inside her head warned her to stop, but her body refused to listen. It was a traitor, just as Sandread had said. She opened her mouth to demand he stop, but the words were stolen before they left her throat. She lost all self-control.
He broke the kiss, his tongue tracing a path down her neck to her collarbone. “Come away with me, Ramona,” he whispered against her fast beating heart.
Jalomar clenched his teeth as he watched from the cover of the nearby brush. Sandread held Ramona against a tree, his traitorous hands defiling every inch of her. His aunt lay several feet away, either unconscious or dead. A few feet from Cynthe, lay Mrs. Steele in a pool of her own blood and a dagger sticking from her eye. Off to the left, his missing horse chewed on a patch of wild grass.
“Stop him,” Breandra whispered sharply beside him. “He’s going to hurt her!”
“It doesn’t appear that is the case,” Jalomar replied, his tone laced with disgust. His suspicions had been correct. “I believe your guardian is enjoying herself.”
“Are you blind? Or stupid?”
Jalomar gaped at the young girl. “Pardon, milady?”
“She’s only pretending. It’s how she got away last time.”
Swallowing his ire, Jalomar reluctantly returned his gaze to Ramona and Sandread. He growled as Sandread’s hand slid beneath her tunic. Her head fell back, granting him access to her bared neck, while his bastard brother hoisted her up, pinning her back against the tree with her legs wrapped around his waist. Anger overwhelmed Jalomar, and he considered walking away. But duty to the Vespa persevered. He had no choice but to secure the maiden’s safety—even if that meant locking her up when this event was over. Withdrawing his sword from the sheath at his side, he sprung from the bushes to confront the lovers. Lost in lust, neither heard him approach.
Jalomar jabbed the tip of his blade into Sandread’s back with enough force to pierce his skin through his chainmail armor. “Release the woman.”
Ramona gasped as she made eye contact with Jalomar, her gaze darting between the two brothers. “I swear it’s not what it looks like.”
Sandread placed her on her feet and slowly turned around with an arrogant smile. “It is, in fact, exactly how it looks, brother.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Jalomar threw his weapon down and charged Sandread. Ramona barely escaped the tackle thrusting Sandread into the tree trunk.
“What the hell?” she yelled. Neither male acknowledged her.
They continued to fight one-on-one. Their bloody fists clashed into each other’s even bloodier faces and bodies with fierce thuds.
“I grow tired of this,” Sandread rasped as they circled each other.
“Tired of what? Attacking my castle. My people? Stealing the maiden?”
“Nay. Tired of you gaining everything that is supposed to be mine! And I cannot steal what is willing to be taken.”
Ramona opened her mouth to shout her denial, but quickly clamped it shut. She had been willing to give herself to Sandread…but not Sandread. While in his arms, she’d visualized Jalomar in his stead. Her body became a slave to her visions, and she couldn’t stifle the yearning provoked by his touch. A hunger that burned from the inside out. For the love of whatever damn god ruled this shitty future, it’s like she was in fucking heat for Jalomar. Except he didn’t want her in return. It was no wonder she reacted to his brother.
The blows and grunts from each man began to slow as their battered bodies wore down. “You're a misguided imbecile to think Labelle has your best interest at heart,” Jalomar said.
Sandread avoided a jab by rolling to the ground. Grabbing up a handful of loose dirt, he flung it into Jalomar's face. “That is where you're wrong, Lord Jalomar.” He snorted. “It is Labelle who is foolish to believe I serve her best interest!”
Jalomar wiped at his face, blinking against the debris in his eyes. Sandread made a quick escape into the cover of the forest.
The mystery woman finally woke, moaning as she tried to sit up. Ramona raced to her side. “Are you all right…er, lady?”
She nodded. “I am Cynthe, and I fear I have a broken rib, or two.”
Jalomar whistled. “Come out, Breandra!”
Breandra and the baby emerged from the deep brush, stopping to stare at the beautiful, albeit bruised, woman on the ground. “Who is she?” Breandra asked Jalomar. “She saved mine and Hope’s life.”
“That is Cynthe, my blood aunt.” He sent a curt bow Cynthe’s direction. “She has come to aid Dilseacht in the war against Labelle.”
Ramona took Cynthe’s hands into hers. “Thank you for your help. I hope I can one day repay you.”
Cynthe smiled kindly. “You will in time, Maiden.”
“Right. That whole maiden thing. I need to talk to someone about that. It's just—”
Cynthe's head snapped to the right; she pointed as she leapt to her feet grasping her injured side. “The children need you now!”
Ramona spun around and screamed.
Mrs. Steele barreled toward Breandra carrying the bloody knife Ramona had plunged into her eye earlier. Ramona’s stomach rolled. An overwhelming warmth pulsed through her veins, searing as the heat escaped through her fingertips. “Stop!” she commanded.
Mrs. Steele kept coming. Ramona's motions were no longer hers to control. The hotness inside her bubbled, engulfing her. Her arms floated above her head as her body convulsed. “I said stop!”
The ground erupted, spewing six-foot flames in a protective circle around Breandra and Hope. Mrs. Steele plowed through the fire, bursting into flames. The elder woman screamed her terror with near deafening shrieks. She ran in a circle, smacking at the flames covering her body before dropping to the ground and rolling—straight into Lacaux.
The stallion reared his head and whinnied loudly. Lacaux tried to sidestep the frantic woman, but she kept rolling into him. He raised one powerful leg high, stomping down relentlessly before running off into the woodland. The crunch of Clarissa Steele's skull ricocheted from tree to tree.
The sound of bones crushing and brains squishing sent Ramona to the closest bush to vomit. Jalomar came to her side, and she fell into him. He held her tightly. “What was that? Was that you, Cynthe? Only Vespa can manipulate the elements.”
Wide eyed, Cynthe bowed before Ramona. “Nay. It was not I. The warrior within, the Fiery Maiden, has made her introduction to the world at last.”
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