by Vella Day
“Do you like?” Darinda asked, almost acting flirty. What the hell was up with that? “This is Nanor, your double.” She smiled. “In case you aren’t thinking straight, I named him Nanor because it’s Ronan spelled backward.” Her laugh sounded so evil. “His skills match yours, only he’s a bit stronger, faster, and has a lot more endurance. And if you injure him, he’ll heal immediately.” She pressed her palms together, probably trying to look pious. That was a joke.
“Here are the rules,” Darinda continued. “Kill Nanor and I’ll let you fight me. Not that you’ll live past today regardless of how you handle yourself with this magnificent beast, but it will bring me much joy to see the life slowly drain out of you.” The goddess glanced over at Blair. “As for you, my dear, I will take great pleasure in watching you see your mate suffer. Once he is gone, I am going to have my fun with you too.”
Vomit rolled up her throat, and this time it wasn’t from the baby growing inside her. “Ronan will kill you,” she spat.
“That will never happen.” She looked back at Ronan. “I suggest you shift, unless you want Nanor to tear you apart right now.”
The beast’s eyes were black with red irises that radiated pure evil. Blair wanted to rush over to Ronan and hug and kiss him one last time, but he didn’t even glance her way. She had to believe it was because he didn’t want to become distracted.
Slowly and methodically, he undressed and then tossed his clothes to the side, almost as if he expected to be putting them back on at some point in time.
There had to be something she could do, but what? Shift? She was a bear with long claws. She could do damage to a little wolf, though she doubted Darinda would let her get that close. This was Ronan’s fight.
Once naked, Ronan shifted, and except for the color of the doppelganger’s eyes, even Blair couldn’t tell them apart. Crouching low, Ronan attempted to circle his opponent, but before he was halfway around, Nanor leaped into the air and landed on Ronan’s back. When the alien wolf sunk his teeth into his back, Ronan let out a high-pitched shriek, and Blair’s pulse shot into overdrive. The resulting gaping gash horrified her.
Do something, her bear begged.
Let’s see what Ronan does next. We can step in if we need to, but I don’t think Darinda will allow that. Blair had witnessed quite a few fights in her life and the outcome wasn’t determined by one or two swipes. It took time to kill a wolf.
As if Ronan sensed her encouragement, he wrestled the fake wolf to the ground, clawing at its side. Go, go, go, her bear urged.
Nanor growled, seemingly injured, and Blair shouted, “You can do it, Ronan.”
As if her voice helped motivated him, Ronan lifted his head, and aimed for the wolf’s neck. Whether or not this wolf could even die was anyone’s guess. Vinea never said anything about there being wolves in the dark realm.
Focused on the fight, Blair jerked and moved with every swipe of Nanor’s paw. When the opponent scraped his claws across Ronan’s snout, Blair could almost feel his pain. Ronan stumbled as blood spurted out of the side of his face. The animal attacked again, this time digging his teeth closer to Ronan’s throat. It was almost as if this Darinda-driven animal was toying with him, wanting the fight to cause as much pain as possible.
By some miracle, Ronan managed to throw off his opponent. He struggled to stand, but even when on all fours, Ronan was unable to keep his balance very well, teetering and breathing heavily. Blair ached for him, and for their baby who might never know his father.
Despite his wounds, Ronan seemed determined to win. With teeth bared, he charged, clawing at his opponent’s legs and then digging his teeth into the animal’s neck.
“That’s it, Ronan. He’s going down.”
The red eyed monster staggered then inexplicably revived. He crawled toward Ronan as if he believed that by keeping low, he’d have the advantage.
Blair couldn’t stand to watch any longer. The lookalike was some kind of super wolf. Just like Darinda claimed, he wasn’t tiring at all. Needing to help, Blair shifted into her bear form, stood on her hind legs, and growled.
“Oh, my,” Darinda said, not looking concerned at all. “You are a big one, aren’t you?”
She’d show Darinda just how big. Blair dropped to all fours and charged. Before she reached the two wolves trying to claim each other’s lives, a force, the strength of which Blair had never experienced before, knocked her back a good twenty feet. She landed on her butt before hitting her head against a tree trunk.
What the hell?
“Don’t interfere again, or I will kill you,” Darinda said, her voice turning low and full of hatred.
The goddess was going to kill her regardless of the outcome of this fight, so Blair might as well try again. And she would too—just as soon as her stomach stopped hurting and she was able to stand.
The two wolves snapped, bit, and clawed at each other, but Nanor didn’t seem to be making as much progress as he had at first. The bad news was that every time Ronan managed to get in a good swipe, Nanor healed himself almost instantly, whereas Ronan was bloodied and growing weaker by the minute.
Blair had to help somehow. She rolled to her side and managed to rise on all fours. She then lumbered closer. If she thought shifting back to her human form would help, she would have. About ten feet from the fray, she spotted a pointed rock about four inches in diameter. She positioned it near her rear right paw, and as soon as Ronan was on the far side, she turned around and kicked the rock backward, pretending it was unintentional.
While she had no expectations of hitting the red-eyed wolf, it might distract him enough to give Ronan a chance to attack.
Before she could turn around to see if her strategy had worked, loud shrieks rent the air. Blair spun around. Ronan must have used the last ounce of his energy to fly through the air, his mouth aimed perfectly at the doppelganger’s neck. As if the two were suspended in air for the longest time, Ronan’s opponent finally fell, and Ronan collapsed on top of the downed wolf. Either he couldn’t move, or Ronan wanted to be sure all life had drained from his enemy before disengaging. Only when Darinda started to clap, did Ronan look up. “Congratulations, Ronan. Excellent job. I am so going to enjoy killing you myself.”
Blair wanted to rip out her throat. It didn’t matter; it would do no good. Darinda would never die. Blair growled her displeasure. She wouldn’t be surprised to learn the goddess had placed some spell on Nanor, preventing him from finishing Ronan off just so she could have the honors.
Ronan finally released his grip on the wolf’s neck. Even though Nanor appeared to be dead, he didn’t turn into a human after death, proving this creature was no ordinary wolf—or one from this realm.
Blair moved toward Ronan wanting to lick his wounds, but as she neared, she felt what could only be described as a bolt of electricity shooting through her, paralyzing her muscles.
The impact threw her backward again, and unimaginable pain sliced through, catching her belly on fire. The baby! No-ooo. A wave of protection swelled inside her. She would not lose this child.
While catching her breath, Blair became more determined than ever to help. She needed to have a better plan than just charging in and hoping for a good outcome.
Ronan shifted into his human form, and the horror of his appearance took her breath away. His bloodied face was a mass of scrapes and contusions, some so severe, she was uncertain if he could ever heal. His leg had a wide gash running down its length, and his shoulder was swollen and sat at an odd angle.
Somehow, he managed to come toward her, his gait uneven. Before he reached her, Darinda must have shot a bolt of the electricity through him too, for he stumbled to his knees and lowered his head. His back heaved, and Blair’s hatred swelled.
The dark goddess barked out a laugh then quickly sobered. “Did I say you could go to your woman?”
Ronan looked up, his eyes blacker than black. Even in excruciating pain, he managed to mouth, “I love you.”
Te
ars welled in her eyes. As much as Blair wanted to say the words back to him, she didn’t dare, not with Darinda watching.
“Come, come now,” Darinda taunted. “You still have to fight me.”
Ronan grunted then stood, drawing himself up to his full height. Given the immense pain he was experiencing and the bit of fear skating across his face, it must have taken every ounce of control to stand tall. He looked over his shoulder at Darinda. “May I have a minute?”
“No. Fight me like the coward I know you are.”
As if she’d held a flame to his cuts, Ronan sneered, ran a few feet to the blanket, and dove for the sword.
Darinda laughed. “That puny thing won’t do you any good.”
Blair almost smiled. Let the bitch underestimate him. While any normal person would say Blair was crazy for thinking Ronan had a chance, she had to believe. As she watched him grab his shield and sword, her muscles regained some of their function. Not wanting to let Darinda know she would be at full strength soon, Blair remained still, willing all of her strength into Ronan.
He glanced over at Blair. “I’m begging you. Hide.”
*
Every one of Ronan’s muscles screamed in agony. His left leg had been seriously injured, and his right arm was weak from the shoulder damage. He wasn’t even sure how he was able to stand, let alone fight a goddess, but fight he would. When he watched Darinda send Blair tumbling, his anger knew no bounds. It was what had kept him alive.
His lookalike had amazing skills and lightning fast reflexes. It had been so frustrating that the animal had been able to anticipate his every move, almost as if he’d tapped into his mind. Only by blanking his thoughts and working on instinct alone, had Ronan been able to surprise the animal and kill him. But it was Blair’s kicked rock that had done the trick by distracting the animal long enough for Ronan to have the upper hand.
“What are you waiting for, Ronan?” Darinda said with her legs wide apart and her arms lifted to chest level, ready to defend herself.
Ronan wasn’t sure what Zane had done to the shield or how he’d done it, but he said it contained an extra dose of magic to help him. He prayed his friend had been telling the truth.
Focus on the neck.
Ronan had practiced swinging the sword over his head for hours, but most of the time he used two hands. With a shield in one hand, his timing wasn’t what he wanted it to be. His bum shoulder screamed in pain, but he forced himself to ignore his discomfort. If he died, so would Blair, and he couldn’t let that happen.
Knowing his strength wouldn’t last much longer, he charged. Darinda held up a hand to forestall the advance. Anticipating she’d use some kind of force against him, he raised his shield to protect himself, but a blast knocked him on his ass nonetheless. Then something strange happened. Darinda staggered backward, her face in a grimace.
Encouraged by the shield’s ability to deflect part of her powers back at her, Ronan jumped to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Blair ducking behind one of the boulders, hiding as he’d requested. He wished she’d leave all together, but even if she managed to escape this time, Darinda would eventually find her.
Pushing aside that terrible thought, he lifted his sword again. The only way to succeed was to get close to the goddess, and that seemed like an impossible chore.
“Nice little shield you have,” Darinda said. “I’m not worried though. You’ll tire a lot sooner than I will.” She shot another blast at him, and Ronan went sprawling once more.
Somehow, Darinda managed to dodge most of the reflected blast this time. His only hope was to outsmart her—if that was even possible. Ronan wanted her to think he couldn’t go on, that he was ready to give up so he remained on the ground and caught his breath. Colors of midnight blue and deep maroon swirled around her. That combination he’d never forget—it was the sign of pure evil.
Darinda eased toward him. “You’re not going to give up that easily are you? I expected more from you.”
When she leaned over to check on him, he lifted up on his knees and swung the sword as hard and as accurately as he could. The blade hit her neck, but she managed to lean to the side quickly enough to avoid losing her head. As if he’d crossed some invisible line, Darinda’s face turned red, and her eyes glowed the same color.
She dragged her hand over the wound and snarled. Ronan never would have believed she’d bleed red. It almost made her human.
“You will pay,” she snarled, baring her teeth.
With a strong kick, she hit his wrist and sent the sword flying a good fifteen feet. As he scrambled to stand, his pulse pounded, and adrenaline soared through him. Just as he was about to make a mad dash for the sword, Blair eased out from behind the rocks.
Ronan only had one option. He held up his shield and faced Blair, forcing Darinda to turn her back on the advancing bear. “How about fighting me hand to hand?” Ronan tossed his shield to the side.
Darinda sneered. “Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can’t beat you.” She hauled off and punched him hard.
In as many brawls as he’d been in, no punch had been harder. Her fist sliced open his cheek further, but he didn’t drop to his knees. He refused to give her the satisfaction.
“I’d like to see you try,” he said with as much confidence as he could muster.
Darinda just laughed. Quicker than the speed of light, she attacked again.
Chapter Nineteen
‡
Blair’s muscles locked. Her hope had soared when Ronan had been able to repel the goddess’ attack with Zane’s magic-filled shield. Then he stumbled in seeming agony. Only after she realized his fall was a ploy to draw Darinda closer did her fear lessen.
As much as Blair wanted to call out to him for encouragement, she didn’t want Darinda to take revenge on him for her actions.
Right before Darinda kicked away his sword, Ronan had lifted up, looking like some Phoenix rising from the ashes. He’d swung his sword, connecting with her neck. How Darinda managed to duck and avoid losing her head, Blair would never understand. Then when Darinda kicked Ronan’s sword right out of his hand and sent it flying, Blair nearly collapsed.
He was doomed unless she did something.
Ronan had slowly risen to his feet, spat on the ground, and then tossed down his shield. Blair’s heart stopped. What was he doing?
Get the sword, her bear urged.
Wait a minute. That sounded like Ronan’s voice in her head, not her bear’s, or was she hallucinating? She had to be since they hadn’t mated.
I’ve never swung a sword in my life, she mentally responded, hoping for some guidance—only none came.
When the sunlight glinted off the steel, it was almost as if some goddess of the light was giving her a signal to defend them. Blair shifted into her human form. Totally exposed and highly vulnerable, she edged closer to the weapon. Darinda knocked Ronan down once more, and this time it was no ploy when he remained on his knees. Ronan was losing strength fast.
Blair waited for a wink, a shout, or eye contact to tell her it was time to fight, but none came. Get up, Ronan, she urged. I don’t know if I can do this.
When Darinda slammed her foot into Ronan’s chest, his eyes bugged out and his mouth gaped opened. A wave of anger blasted Blair. Without thinking, she picked up the weapon and lifted it over her head. Ronan thrust his leg outward, connecting with Darinda’s shin, and then he growled.
“You won’t win.” His shout was loud—loud enough to block out Blair’s approach.
Now. Do it now.
Petrified and horrified, Blair stood to her full height and ran toward Darinda, sword wavering. Ronan must have glanced her way or else the goddess possessed a sixth sense because Darinda’s shoulder rotated. In one second, she’d be facing Blair.
It was now or never.
With a force she didn’t know she possessed, Blair brought the blade down as hard as she could. The impact with Darinda’s neck sickened her, but Blair didn’t
let up on the pressure. Her momentum carried the blade through the bones, the skin, and the body. When the bloodied sword emerged on the other side, the realization of what she’d done was so horrible that she dropped the weapon and stepped back.
Darinda’s head landed on the dirt, and her body followed. Then, as if she had never been there, the goddess evaporated. A second later, her wolf Nanor disappeared too.
Stunned, Blair crashed to her knees next to Ronan. She expected him to rise, embrace her, and tell her everything would be okay. Only he didn’t move.
Blair crawled to his side and shook him. “Ronan? Darinda is dead. She can’t hurt you anymore. Wake up.”
When he remained still, she pressed her fingers to his neck to check for a pulse. Between her own heart pounding hard and the pool of blood covering the side of his face, she couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not. “Ronan!”
Think. Think.
She wished he could shift back and heal himself, but until he roused, he wouldn’t be able to change into his wolf form. It was up to her to save him. Stopping the bleeding had to be her first task. Even though the picnic supplies were strewn everywhere, Blair located a full water bottle jammed up against one of the rocks near the lake. She opened it and held it against his lips. “Ronan, drink this.”
When his lips didn’t move and his head lolled to the side, her stomach tumbled. He couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him.
Wanting to make him comfortable, Blair rolled up the blanket and placed it under his head. Next, she poured the water over the worst of his cuts, and then tore his shirt into strips to make bandages. Dirt had filled the wounds, and if he didn’t shift soon, he might lose a limb.
Once she carefully wrapped the cloth around his upper thighs as well as around the wound in his arm, she poured the rest of the water on the remaining material and cleaned his face the best she could. No matter how hard she pressed or what she did, he never moaned, never moved.