by Eden Ashley
“Relax, brother. You only make it worse.”
The surge of anger left Rhane momentarily frozen. “River, you son of a bitch, where is she? Where is Kalista?”
“I assure you, she is safe.” Rhane heard a grunt and then soft footsteps as River limped into view. “Calm down. Then notice for yourself.”
After letting loose a roar that touched every surface in what was apparently a very large room, Rhane stilled himself enough to note the sound of Kalista’s faint breathing and a strong heartbeat. But on top of that was the smell of her blood. Rhane growled. “Let me go,” he said. Murder coated every syllable.
“She’s only sedated. Her injuries are superficial and will heal easily without your intervention. You did a good job protecting her.” River roamed closer, but not too close. Even so effectively restrained, his brother might find a way to cause him bodily harm. River felt terrible about what he had done. But circumstances had forced his hand by leaving no other options. “My goal was to detonate the charges at a distance that would hurt but not kill, leaving you with only enough time to shield Kalista.” He winced. “I miscalculated. The blast did not incapacitate you as I’d hoped. Further action was necessary.”
At the mention of that “further action” Rhane lifted his head. His blood soaked shirt clung to his skin. Seepage still pooled in the fabric, intensifying with every movement. His head dropped to the table with a thump. “You stabbed me.”
“I had to. I’m sorry.”
“Blood silver?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you get the explosives?”
“I took it from one of your rogue friends. He was not eager to part with the C-4, so I killed him.”
“Right,” Rhane said, testing the metal ties again. The left arm wouldn’t be getting free on its own any time soon. Maybe with a partial transformation he could free his right.
River’s soft voice rebuked that notion. “It’s no use. Don’t you see, brother? This place was not only a laboratory. It was built as a prison for those like us. You will need the full might of Banewolf to break those restraints. And I don’t believe you have that right now.”
“I’m not really working for them, you know.”
“I had my suspicions. What are you doing? Tell me.”
“You first.”
River laughed quietly. “This is so like you. Tied up and tied down, I have your mate, the Heart, and the only means to free you. Yet you still possess the fortitude to command your captor.”
Craning his neck to the point of pain, Rhane leveled a dark gaze into River’s icy stare. “Test that order and you will see how much fortitude I possess.”
River’s lips pressed into a thin line as he relented. “There are things I must tell you, and I need you to hear them while not trying to kill me.”
“I’m listening.”
“What I did to Kalista was wrong. I never wanted to hurt her. And I didn’t want to hurt you. Understand me, brother. I cared for her then, even as I care for her now.” River’s voice took on a strange sort of despondency, and Rhane gritted his teeth, wishing he could heal his body by sheer will.
“Kalista was not a part of the original plan contrived by our Primes. Her abilities as a siren were considered too much of a threat. Four centuries ago, she was to be killed and Rhaven taken hostage. Our Primes needed and still need Banewolf to achieve their aim. At the very least, they had to make sure you would not act against them. It was decided that controlling your child’s fate was sufficient to accomplish this.”
“You knew this and didn’t come to me?”
“By the time I found out, it was already too late. The plot was fully in motion. You were away—as you often were—leading the Warekin army in war. I proposed to our mother a way to make Kalista useful, hoping Roma could sway the conspirators to a different course that would spare Kalista’s life. I asked Roma to consider an heir. A firstborn from my loins, if born of white hair and fair eyes, would have established me as Jehsi’s rightful successor in the line of Primes. Roma’s status would have been significantly elevated, and one day she could have ruled as a Mother. She could have everything she wanted, everything your birth took from her. All she had to do was spare Kalista’s life.” Looking away, River’s voice fell to a hoarse whisper. “I took something that was not mine. I violated the bond between you and your mate. But I cannot say I regret it…because it saved her.”
Rhane could remember in vivid detail every moment spent, every battle fought, and every drop of blood spilled as Banewolf. Violence and rage dominated the creature’s persona to the point where it seemed solely designed for vengeance and destruction. Each time Rhane accessed the wolf’s mind in a human state, he was met with floods of caustic emotion turned back by only the flashes of memories used to bridle the creature’s rage. Those flashes were all that remained of his life as a father, as a mate, as a son…and as a brother.
“Carrying my child rescued Kalista from the clutches of an evil plot. She was pregnant when she fled our homeland. I realize after all that has transpired I have no right to it as a father. I have no right to ask you this. But I need to know if the child survived. If you know him, tell me where he is.”
Rhane saw in his mind’s eye images of he and River as children. River was younger and the favored one, but he had shielded Rhane from their mother’s wrath. And when River couldn’t protect Rhane, his love was a salve for the wounds. For many years, he was Rhane’s constant and only friend even after an entire village had rejected him. Those memories were branded into his brain by iron, rising above the furious roar and blinding rage as he shredded the manacles apart and split the table beneath him. Grabbing River by the neck, Rhane threw his brother across the room, toppling equipment and shattering glass. Rhane roared again, closing one hand around River’s throat to slam him backward into the nearest wall. A sharp crack punctuated the blow, but was muffled by the growl rumbling deep in Rhane’s chest. River’s fair skin brightened to red and darkened to purple. Still, Rhane’s grip did not loosen. He wanted to squeeze until the light died in River’s clear blue eyes. But the love between them stayed his hand, reining back his need for vengeance.
Tear were hot in his eyes as Rhane brought his forehead against River’s in the gentle embrace shared only by those of close bloodlines. At some point he found his voice, nearly choking on the words. “For my sake…Kalista would forgive you. But for her sake, I cannot. You are banished from her sight. I release you from your oath, but give you one final order. Do not. Do not come near Kalista again. Your life hangs on this directive. Disobey it…and our love aside, I will kill you.” Mounting one last shred of control, Rhane let go, and River crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.
River mustered the strength to rise to his feet as quickly as possible. Rhane’s eyes were black with more hatred in them than River had ever witnessed. And the tears—he had never seen his brother cry. Both were because of things he’d done. That knowledge hurt more profoundly than River could have imagined. Deep down River knew he had expected no other outcome…except for maybe his death. In order to save what was most precious to his brother, River had sacrificed all that was precious to himself.
Before leaving the chamber, he set the Heart near a rectangular panel mutely lit with an array of blinking lights. It was the one final parting gift he could give his warlord. Then River turned away, hoping one day the rift between them could once more be healed.
Chapter 26
The first thing Kali became aware of was the complete silence. Feeling in her arms and legs slowly followed as a carpet of pins and needles tingled through her extremities and finally into her chest. She sat up, inhaling deep breaths of air into dehydrated passages, letting her eyes gradually adjusted to the light. Ultimately, she noticed a motionless form slumped against the far wall.
Rhane.
An alarming amount of blood had pooled on the floor beneath him, and more of it was smeared across his cheek and forehead. His knees were drawn u
p, both wrists resting atop them as his hands hung limply. Heart lodged in her throat, Kali slid from the table. Her first few steps were a staggering mess. There seemed to be a disconnect between her brain and her legs. She tried to call his name, but the word became a harsh croak in her parched throat. Swallowing, Kali tried again.
“Rhane.”
She smiled as his head lifted and his eyes opened. But new shadows had formed there. Something horrible had touched Rhane and reconnected him to their terrible past. Kneeling next to him, Kali grasped his hand, swallowing as she studied the huge gash that dominated the left side of his chest, exposing muscle and tendon. She saw no other injury, and guessed most of the blood loss came from it. “What happened?” She tore her eyes from the ugly wound to meet his hollow stare.
“He’s gone, Kalista. He won’t ever hurt you again.”
Pain squeezed her chest. “You didn’t have to do that. I know how much he means to you.”
“It’s done.”
She touched the bruises on his wrist. “Did River do this to you?”
“Yes and no.” Sighing, Rhane rested his head against the wall. Kali brushed the hair from his eyes and waited. “I made it a lot worse,” he finally said, and his lopsided grin eased the ache in her heart. “Lost my temper.”
“Can you walk?”
He made a tiny shrug with his right shoulder. “Probably not. Take the statue and get out of here.”
Tears started at the very thought of losing him, and her voice fell to a shaky whisper. “Please don’t make me do that.”
“Don’t cry.” Rhane stroked her cheek. Even lifting his right arm seemed to take a great deal of effort. “Do you really not know him?”
Confused, she shook her head. “Know who?”
“The child.”
Kali hesitated. “Sometimes I think it could be Bailen. At least…I wish it were him.”
Rhane closed his eyes. “Bailen,” he whispered, but said nothing else.
Needing to fill the silence, she spoke again. “It would mean he lived and had found us.”
“Yes. It would.” His voice took on a distant quality. “You need to go. Now.”
“First promise me you’ll be okay.”
“I will be okay. But rogues cannot find you here with me.”
Still, Kali couldn’t bring herself to move. Rhane was hurt. What if the emotional and physical wounds he suffered were too great for him to heal?
“Rhane, I—I”
His smile was tortured. “You what, Kalista? Love me? It’s not enough anymore. People—humans—fall in and out of love all the time. What lies between us does not die. It doesn’t move on. You are mine,” he said, possessing her with the very word. “And I am yours. We are forever. Somewhere along the way—a long time ago—you became a part of me. I cannot exist without you. I will find you again. We will be together.” Lifting his chin, he released a howl. The sound was low but powerful. It rumbled through Kali to fill the room, and then ascended to the rallying call of a lone wolf. With one hand against her face, he drew her close and kissed her softly. Longing, urgent, and tender, it was a farewell kiss of unyielding devotion, and penetrated Kali’s very bones. She clutched him tighter as it ended, knowing she had no choice but to let go.
“Rogues have probably pinpointed exactly where we are, and are approaching from the east. But now York can also find you. Travel northwest and meet him. Continue until you reach pathways of pebbled stone. Choose the left tunnel. It ascends to the surface. Take the statue to Wesley and barter for our freedom. Go now.”
#
Things happened exactly as Rhane said they would. Following his instructions, she ran northwest and almost barreled into York and Cixi who were traveling at blurs of speed. Kali was gasping for air when York grasped her left arm. She clutched the Siren’s Heart firmly in the opposite hand.
His eyes searched briefly over her shoulder before falling back to her face. “Where’s Rhane?”
Kali shook her head. “He told me the way out but had to stay behind. That rally was for you to find me.”
York’s grip tightened. “Is he okay?”
“Yes and no.” She swallowed the rising lump in her throat. “I’ll explain it all later. I promise. Right now I think we should get out of here.”
“Agreed,” he said, nodding curtly. “It’s good to see you again, kiddo. Where do we go?”
Hurriedly rattling off Rhane’s instructions, Kali fell in step behind York while Cixi took up the rear. After what had to be three miles of swerving rock and winding conduits, pebbled pathways shifted and rolled beneath their feet. When the passageway split, they took the left arm which became an unrelenting climb upward without giving proper notice. Thighs burning and lungs starved for fresh air, Kali barely kept up with the near superhuman pace. York was the first to launch into the light, while Kali grasped the ledge only seconds later. He finished yanking her topside using only one hand. Cixi followed closely, actually accepting the boost, and the three clustered together on a dark green carpet of grass, blinking up into sunshine dissected by a canopy of broad-leaf trees. A new day had come.
Kali didn’t recognize any of the jungle-like surroundings and thought they must have emerged in an entirely different land. “Where are we?”
“In one of many urban forests,” Cixi answered. She was already disappearing into the trees. “These manmade woodlands have been planted throughout the city in order to combat pollution and improve the air supply.”
Kali eyed York, waiting for some sort of cue. He eventually strode in the same direction the leggy redhead had gone, encouraging Kali to follow. When even her ears picked up sounds of traffic and people moving throughout the city, their pace slowed to an almost relaxed effort. At least the immediate danger was over.
York touched her shoulder. “What happened to River?”
Unable to look into the intensity of his gaze, Kali averted her eyes and fought to keep her voice steady as she answered. “He’s gone.”
“What do you mean, he’s gone?”
“Rhane sent him away.” Holding her breath, she waited.
“You okay?” he finally said.
Kali nodded and felt a jolt of surprise when York placed an arm around her. “Then I’m glad it’s handled.”
A cinderblock of weight left her body. She exhaled her thanks, but York wasn’t done.
“I know things have been rough lately, but if you need anything—anything at all, I’m here for you.”
“That really means a lot.” Slipping her arm around his waist, Kali leaned into him as they walked.
Cixi’s disapproving groan cut across the morning chorus of local wildlife. Arms folded impatiently, she waited ahead on an intersecting part of the trail. “If you two are done with this pathetically sappy reunion, perhaps you’ll care to note that we’ve got company.”
York shrugged. “It’s just Bailen and our new pal, Dmiri.”
Cixi’s almond shaped eyes briefly widened in surprise. Slender nostrils flared as she sniffed the dawn again. “If three is a crowd, then what is five?”
York grinned. “Hey, you can leave if you like. We got what we came for.”
“That wasn’t the deal.”
“Then play nice. That constant frown is only giving you more wrinkles.”
“Asshole.”
“Wench.”
“Bailen!” Kali practically yelled, seeing his furry head crest the horizon. She kneeled down as he raced toward her and almost fell backward when his shivering body crashed into her arms. Wagging his tail excitedly, he licked her cheeks in a very dog-like manner. Kali buried her face into the silky fur of his shoulder, drying tears she didn’t realize had come. Bailen reciprocated the hug. Nuzzling her neck, he rested his large head on top of her shoulder and sighed. That was very un-doglike. Enough happiness filled her heart to burst it.
“How did you find us?” she whispered.
“Ah, see now, little one? There was nothing to fear.”
; Kali’s gaze roamed until she spotted from where the voice had come. She located him leaning against an impressively sized evergreen, probably as ancient as the old kindred. “Hi, Dmiri.”
“Hello.” The kindred left his post, smiling wide in greeting. The green cargos and beige polo he wore offset his dark skin, nearly camouflaging him in the shadows of the forest. “I am glad to find you well. Though I suspected you would be so.” With a casually lifted brow, he considered the statue at her feet. Its ivory tones were much brighter by sunlight, but the onyx appeared even darker. “Did you find all you came for?”