“It must hurt feeling so sad.”
The voice had my eyes flying open and my knife in my grasp. It wasn’t said aloud, but in my head. An orb of light above me grew in brightness and shape. Dark hair began to stand out against the white, as did familiar features to a face I’d never seen in person before. Yet, I knew who was floating above me.
“Kelu of Paltenia.”
Ri’s thought brought her closer. She could hear him. And Kelu didn’t seem afraid when Ri expected her to be. Her beauty…it hit Ri so hard, my mind hesitated at the anger and uncomfortable vibrations he put off. He didn’t want to think she was attractive. He didn’t want to have anything to do with her except claim her death. But he couldn’t. And not because she wasn’t in physical form, but because a part of him wanted her, and he didn’t even understand why.
“Ri of Ri. Or should I say Ryder? That’s your real name, isn’t it? We meet at last.”
“Did your spineless brother send you here? Has he finally accepted that he cannot avoid his destiny? I struck your kingdom. I took his wife and child. It is his turn to come after me.”
Tightness crept into Kelu’s features, but she did well hiding her anger.
“Atlas’s destiny is no longer the Paltenians concern. He abandoned his people. He’s gone. He does not wish war. He seeks peace. Peace with you, and peace within himself. The Paltenians are mine now.”
Evil radiated from the smile on Ri’s face as he leaned in closer to Kelu’s floating form.
“You’re here to face me as their leader then? You?”
“Do you think me incapable?”
He laughed.
“Hmm. I think you capable of better things. Perhaps that’s why you’re here?”
Ri’s finger went through the hologram before him as he tried to pull at the white gown barely visible between her cleavage. A growl tore from me until I was standing before him, my sword pointed at his chest. But all I had was my sword. Cara was already in his arms, fading with the shadow king as more of his soldiers began to circle in around me.
“My queen…for yours.”
Chapter 22
Cara
I expected Ri’s kingdom to be dark and cold like in my vision, but it was anything but. Dark, yes, but it was stifling hot and humid. Breathing was almost impossible at the lack of circulating air. Not that I thought that would make a difference. Moving just seemed to intensify the warmth. It didn’t help that the shower in the corner didn’t work for relief. Even the water that trickled out was hot. I was in hell. And it was all thanks to Ri. He wasn’t the same man he’d pretended to be before. He wasn’t much of a man at all. Atlas had been right in that regard. The evil creature I saw kill my mate’s wife and child, the one who brought my cancer back, was the same monster who tore my shirt free and paraded me through the center of town so all could see my brand. Traitor. Enemy. The new Paltenian Queen.
The Ri’s thoughts bombarded me like a flesh-eating plague. Teeth snapped in my direction from some, while others pointed their sharp claws toward me as a warning to flay me alive. Even now, as I curled into myself in my dark, little room, I could still feel the king’s hand tightening around the back of my neck as we headed down the aisle of thickening reptilians. The castle grew bigger by the second, but it held no comfort. The looming gothic statues at every corner taunted me with their watchful eyes.
“Your fear smells sweet, Ina. Atlas’s bond with you is strong.”
My jerk did nothing to dislodge his grasp. With one squeeze, Ri could have popped my head clean off my shoulders had he wanted.
“Kelu will not come.”
“You’re wrong. Atlas will bring her.”
“He will not. That is his sister. His blood. He’d never hand her over.”
Loud laughter sounded behind me. Even the tone was different than the man Ri had pretended to be. Or maybe he wasn’t pretending at all. The light was gone from him. His skin was nearly as dark as the sky, and his eyes were no longer yellow, but turning an orangish-red.
“Atlas will not have a choice. The brand you wear assures me of this. You’re his mate. He will do whatever is needed to get you back. Dead. Or alive. Even dead, he’ll risk his life to remove your body from my kingdom. Keep that in mind, Ina. I don’t need you breathing to get what I want.”
The push sent pain searing across my palms and chest as I slid against the large stones. Hissing and the gnash of teeth had me moving quickly as I tried to rise. The Ri were practically on top of me. Had their leader not been feet behind, I would have been their meal.
I still could be…
I shook my head, holding tighter around my knees. I wouldn’t think about the rest of the walk. About the constant snarls in my ears, or the hot breath against my cheeks. I only had to deal with one Ri for now, and that was the guard eying me from outside the thick bars. I was safe. I had to believe. My fear was hindering my abilities. Atlas was lost to me when I didn’t think it possible for him to be. The fire inside me, inside both of us, was gone.
Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes, imagining golden light filling my lungs. As I held it in, I let myself reach deep into the earth, forming a cord to connect my root within the center. But…the golden thread didn’t branch like I’d seen so many times. There was nothing to ground or wrap to. Frantic, I tried to reach out further, but there was nowhere to go. The darkness surrounding me wasn’t allowing me to lock on anything. It was space. Emptiness in the center.
Sweat rolled down my face as I panted for breath. The guard was staring, but I suddenly didn’t care. Meditation was everything. If not my outlet to reach Atlas, it could have at least provided me something. Answers, perhaps, or at least some form of peace.
“This isn’t happening. There has to be another way.”
My spine straightened against the wall while I lowered my legs to cross. Golden light filled me as I inhaled and thought of Atlas. He was my everything. The good in me. He had the power to increase my energy for what I was meant for.
Images of his face played out as I focused on the green source of my heart chakra. Tingling prickled, followed by an electric field. The bright force began to grow in a large bubble around me, shooting out even further as I exhaled. But it was nothing compared to the pillar of golden light searching for source and home. My intuition knew I wasn’t on physical earth anymore. I didn’t have a clue where I was, and that was the problem. I assumed this realm had been real because I had walked around on it. I saw the large expanse of land the Paltenians were fighting on outside of the castle. But was this not a planet at all? An illusion? A dimension?
“Secure yourself,” I snapped. “You saw dirt. Boulders. Wrap around the fucking castle if it makes you feel better, Cara. Find something, anything, and let’s get the hell out of here.”
On a deep inhale, I let the gold unleash to stab into the stone floors below me. It cut through the rooms, breaking and sending rock flying as it embedded inside to anchor. Simultaneously, my energy exploded into the atmosphere. Blackness met me without a star in sight. I was blind, pushing through the void all around. Minutes seemed to go by. Then, an hour. Two. Forever. I kept going, screaming my frequency into the ether. Pleading and scraping my soul to find my connection with my mate. I even called to Kelu. She didn’t know me, but perhaps she’d hear my call.
Nothing.
No voices.
No help.
No light.
“Ah, the desperation you feel. Such a familiar emotion.”
My lids eased open to see Ri standing just outside the bars. He was back in the form of a man. There were no reptilian pupils or claws protruding from his fingertips. Even his voice was back to the smooth tone he’d used to try to charm me.
“Did you need something?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t ask. You think I need an excuse to see you?”
Cautiously, I stood, bringing my arms to cross my breasts.
“Why are you here, then?”
A guard lurched forward at Ri
’s gesture, unlocking the door so he could step in. The moment he did, his size was all too renewed. And he detected my fear. A smile appeared, fading to a slight grin while he stared.
“You’re here to do what you’re made for.”
“No.”
Orangish eyes transitioned to red as they followed me to the corner of the cell.
“You don’t have a choice. You will do as I say, or you will suffer. Food, water. You need them to survive, Ina. We both know how hungry and thirsty you are.”
“What you’re feeling is not my hunger. It’s our tie. There’s damage where we connect. It still burns.”
“And will continue to for some time. I took away the heat as much as I could, but I’m afraid our dear Emi-Ehn and Atlas were stronger than I gave them credit for. It’ll fade. Come.” He took a step back, pausing to glare. “And don’t make me tell you twice. I assure you my guard won’t be gentle if you stay behind.”
A long tongue licked over thick lips as the guard watched me. The reptilian was more creature than man. He may have stood on two legs, but his jaw and mouth were wider than their human form. Even his pupils were more elliptical than I last saw.
“May I have a shirt to wear before I leave this room?”
Ri paused next to the guard, staying silent as he waited with his back to me. When seconds passed without acknowledgement, I held tight to my nude chest, leaving the cell. I didn’t want to do Ri’s dirty work, but if I stood a chance at contacting Atlas, it wouldn’t be behind these bars.
“You’ll stay close. If you wander off or try to run, you’ll suffer worse pain than our tie.”
The door opened, and Ri didn’t wait for me as he kept a steady pace down the wide stone hall. Multiple black doors lined the space, and a guard stood at attention at every other one. It didn’t make sense to me as to why, unless someone or something important rested behind them. Or maybe it was me they guarded.
“Shesh la pinteshiwa. La ma waye ne teesh.”
Ri barked what sounded like an order, sending the guard we were approaching scrambling from the entrance to the stairs. Four at a time, Ri surged up the dark stone steps. I was nearly running just to keep up. It was so hard with how my hands were restricted to covering myself. I became so focused on speed, I barely stopped before crashing into him at the top of the stairs. They hadn’t been very high. Maybe a floor or two.
“What I require is very particular. When I return, be ready.”
The door at the top of the staircase flew open at his push, and he grabbed my bicep, throwing me in. Had it not been for the reptilian woman inside, I would have went sliding across the floor. Unfortunately, it was pure accident she happened to be there. The moment the barrier shut, she pushed me to the ground, hissing.
“Treacherous, dirty human. Traitor.”
Short white hair shook along her graphite face. Her features were soft, regardless that her anger made them appear sharp.
My teeth clenched as I stood, covering my breasts again. “Of course I’m dirty. I’ve been in the mountains. In a cell. As for the traitor, no, I never agreed to be your queen.”
“Queen?” She laughed. “As if my king would choose you. You.” Her head shook. “No. You’re not built to run a kingdom. I bet you can’t even wield a dinner knife, more or less a sword.”
“I don’t need a sword to defend myself.”
“What do you plan to do, run them off with your stink?”
My lips parted as my anger rose.
“You don’t have to be so mean. I did nothing to you.”
“Are you stupid as well? Are you not aware of the brand on your back? If you weren’t so important, I’d take my time peeling those ugly designs off, one strip of flesh at a time. Paltenian scum.”
Yellow eyes were focused on me as she pointed to a full tub of water at the back of the room.
“Bathe. Eat. Then, I’m finished looking at you. You make me sick.”
“Well, you don’t necessarily make me happy either.”
Hatred shadowed her aura, and I studied it with more fear. These emotions went beyond what I knew. My legs were shaking, regardless that I tried to stand tall. Cautiously, I headed to the glass sitting next to a food tray in the back. I couldn’t resist. A thick metal cup sat next to the covered platter, and I swept it up, gulping down the cool water until I was nearly choking.
“Ugh. Just as I thought. No manners. I can’t believe I was tasked this. I did nothing wrong.”
“This is punishment for you?”
My voice was soft, but she had no problems hearing me from across the room.
“What would you call it? You’re Paltenian, and I was ordered not to kill you. This isn’t a gift.”
“I guess not. If it angers you so much to be here, you can wait outside. I know how to clean myself. I don’t need help.”
“And risk trial? Not on your life. Get in the tub, traitor.”
“Please stop saying that. My name is Cara.”
“You are of low breed. You’re Paltenian. You don’t deserve a name.”
I sighed as I reached down and unbuttoned my pants. Arguing would get me nowhere. Besides, the water called to me. I needed some form of element. Something that reminded me of earth. If I could just ground myself enough to decipher how to see home, I could at least check if Atlas was okay. He had to be. If anything happened and I wasn’t there to help him, strange dimension or not, I’d risk death to make these reptilians pay.
Chapter 23
Atlas
“Kelu! Kelu!”
My sister’s name came out more as a threatening roar than a greeting for being home. I could barely catch my breath from running all night and day. But it didn’t matter. Not my being tired, or the fact that I was covered in black Ri blood. My voice echoed from the large stone entrance that stood shut. The large slab sealing the opening was something that had stayed in place after Ri’s attack of my queen and child.
“Kelu! You know I’m here. Open, or so help me.”
Magic sizzled along my skin, warning me I was already too close. Rage overflowed, stirring my desperation. I needed Cara back. I needed to see if she was well. Our bond was barely existent, and the mated part of me was in attack mode. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to have her back, and Ri knew that. That had been his plan from the beginning. How he was even aware Cara and I would become connected, I didn’t have a clue. I didn’t care. All I knew was her, and how she was now missing from me. And this was Kelu’s fault. All of it.
“I fucking swear, Kelu, if you don’t let me in, I’ll tear this mountain down one rock at a time. Kelu!”
Pain zapped through my body as I rammed my weight into the magical barrier keeping me out. I was speaking half Paltenian, half English. Aching branched out in my jaw from the tension, but it was irrelevant as I stumbled through the shockwave to throw myself continuously forward.
“Kelu! Open. The. Door! Kelu!”
Again and again, I took the electrical repercussions. Sweat poured from my welted face, soaking through my shirt. Minutes went by. Hours. Night displayed the brightest stars, but I didn’t take time to bask in the wonders. My voice was almost gone from calling to my sister, and my fingers were bleeding from keeping my word on tearing the mountain apart. She had to be inside, and I’d find out in one way or another.
“How could you do this? My own sister? Kelu! Open to me. Tell me your side. Why betray our people? Why Ri? Kelu!”
Tremors of fire raced up my arm as I slammed my fist into the thick, flat boulder covering the entrance. Flakes crumbled under my force. Too many times to count, I hit the wall. My powers wouldn’t work against the spell. All I could do was physically try to make it give way.
“The sun will rise soon. Will you continue this spectacle much longer? I haven’t had a lick of sleep since you got here hours ago.”
I spun, my mouth parting at my former best friend standing a few feet behind. He was propped against a tree, his eyes scanning my every move.
/> “Lu. What the hell took you so long?” Where I expected some sort of smile or happiness, there was nothing. I stepped in his direction, watching cautiously as he stepped in mine. “You heard me. Why am I not being let in?”
“No one enters. Not even you, Atlas. Queen’s orders.”
“Kelu has betrayed you. All of you.”
Lu pulled his sword, pointing it in my direction. “Careful, old friend. Those are dangerous words to aim toward the crown.”
“Dangerous but true. My sister will come face me for what she’s done. She must.”
“Who are you to call attention to the queen? You left us, Atlas. You gave up the throne. You walked away.”
A deep breath left me, and I nodded. “I did. I thought it was the only way.”
“Ni!” Lu gave a hard jerk, lowering the blade to point toward my feet. “I refuse to believe that.”
“Did you not lose?” I growled. “You went to war. You saw the cost. That isn’t my fault. Kelu decided that. She mated to the enemy. Not I. Her!”
Again, he moved his head back and forth. There was a paleness to his deeply tanned skin as he continually refused my accusation.
“It is true, brother. You know I do not lie.”
“I feel Ri inside you, Atlas. He’s making you say this to draw her out. Kelu would never. She. No. Ri has stolen you from us. He runs through your veins. You’re all but him, now.”
“You’re wrong. You feel Ri, yes, we have a tie from what Kelu has done. He holds me responsible, but that is not what you’re feeling.” The sickness swarmed as I faced the truth and turned my head to expose the brand. “I have a new mate. An awakened human. Her name is Cara. She…” My fists clenched. “Ri has taken my mate in exchange for his own. For Kelu. He means to make her his queen.”
“You lie!”
The tip of the sword was slashed up to point at my face.
“I think you know what I say is the truth. Lu, I just want Cara back. She holds powers that can funnel light or dark. She’s a weapon. Aside from that…I love her. Creator, help me, I do. I will fight Ri in both her and Kelu’s honor. Me and him, that’s it. But I need to speak to my sister. If I stand any chance at beating him, Kelu must give me her permission to end this. She must be restrained. To lose a mate, even if it is Ri, will destroy her. She needs to prepare. We all do.”
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