No matter. He wouldn’t walk away this time.
Jackson crouched, circled, searched for an opening.
The savages screamed, their feet pounding a thunderous cacophony, shaking the ground.
A smile lit Kai’s face. Eagerness danced in his eyes. He lunged without warning, landing a blow against Jackson’s breastplate. Playing with him, or he’d have gone for a head shot.
Very well then.
Kai swung again, rounding the sword straight toward Jackson’s neck.
Jackson ducked.
The sword whistled over his head.
He lunged forward, plunging the sword toward Kai’s side.
The warrior turned, and the sword clanged against the metal of his breastplate.
Jackson shoved him back. This was not going to work. He couldn’t stand toe to toe with Kai. The man had taught Jackson everything he knew. There had to be another way.
They circled again, Kai’s eyes growing a little more wary, even as he grinned.
Metal clashed against metal.
Snorting, grunting, pounding, and screaming enveloped them, as the savages grew more agitated.
Jackson stepped back, lifted his sword.
Two savages grabbed Jackson’s arms, one on either side of him.
What the…?
They dragged him back. Something hit the back of his knees, hard, and he went down on his back, knocking the breath from his lungs and the sword from his hand.
The savages released him and stepped back.
Kai stood over him, victory dancing in the depths of his black eyes.
“Is this how you would win, Kai?” Jackson struggled for air. “Where is the honor in this?” He lifted his head and shoulders from the ground, tried to sit up while keeping his gaze firmly on Kai.
“I don’t think so, boy.” Kai placed the tip of his sword against the center of Jackson’s breastplate. “You’ve caused me enough trouble.” His gaze hardened, the intensity boring through Jackson. Kai plunged the sword deep, straight through Jackson’s armor, pinning him to the ground.
Magic? No matter. The coppery taste of blood rushed up the back of his throat.
The savages cried out, wild with the exhilaration of victory and the scent of blood.
Kai moved closer, standing with one foot on either side of Jackson’s legs. “The only question is, do I move my sword a little to the right and stop your heart right now? Or do I leave you for the true King Maynard?”
He struggled to order his thoughts, but the vision of Ryleigh wouldn’t leave him, wouldn’t allow him room to think of anything else.
“What’ll it be, Jackson?”
Jackson breathed in slowly, trying to keep the pain at bay. Failing. He tried to speak, tried to tell Kai to go—
“Answer me, boy.” Kai gripped the sword handle tighter.
Pain unlike anything he’d ever known flared in Jackson’s leg. He slid his right hand over and pressed it against…What?
His mother’s knife.
Excitement pushed past all of the pain. “Come…” He kept his voice deliberately quiet.
The warrior leaned closer, lowered himself to one knee, crouched over Jackson. “What’s that, boy?”
“I said…”
Kai leaned over him, the warrior’s long hair falling forward.
Jackson struck. Grabbing a fistful of Kai’s hair, he pulled the other man toward him, even as he whipped the knife from his pocket and plunged it through Kai’s temple and into his brain.
The warrior’s eyes widened an instant before he fell.
The savages roared, their feet stamping, shaking the ground, sending jolt after jolt of pain through Jackson.
Jackson tumbled Kai off to his side. He gripped Kai’s sword by the blade and ripped it from his chest, then rolled onto his side and coughed, blood spraying the ground.
“Bravo, bravo.”
That voice, distorted as it reached him through the portal. Familiar. The same voice he’d heard the night Kai betrayed him.
“Beautifully done, my dear brother.”
Chayce. Pain exploded in his chest, slammed through him.
Chayce stepped forward through the portal, careful not to get within striking distance. Smarter than Kai. “I hope you appreciate me leaving some very important business unfinished to come and welcome you personally. Although I do have to say, you arrived much sooner than expected.” He approached Kai, nudged him with his foot, then kicked him in the back. “Hmm…What a waste.” He circled around Jackson. “Oh well, he was getting to be untrustworthy, anyway. So, I guess you did me a favor. Thanks, brother.”
Jackson heaved in a breath. “Don’t…” And another. “…call…” He wheezed. “…me, brother.”
Chayce laughed. “You never cease to amaze me. I have to be honest, I didn’t think you could take him. You’ve always seemed a bit soft to me.”
Jackson shoved the rage aside. There was no time for that now. No time for any emotions. He struggled to focus on healing the chest wound, forcing all of the energy he could harness to the center of his chest. Heat slid between his ribs, circled around his heart.
“So, what do you say? Do I kill you now, or reunite you with your queen and then kill you both?”
Ryleigh.
A chill raced through him, snuffing out the small well of healing heat he’d managed to call. Darkness threatened, but he shoved it away. No way he’d give Chayce that satisfaction.
Chayce’s laughter echoed. “Take him.”
The savages surged forward in a wave of ferocity.
Chapter 7
Ryleigh crept down the hallway, keeping to the shadows along the wall. The urge to call a portal and escape to the safety of Cymmera—and the comfort of Jackson’s arms—hammered her relentlessly.
Memories of Kai’s voice last time she tried to escape through a portal convinced her to resist the urge. She inched forward with her back pressed against the wall, the hum of complete silence screaming through her head. Dim light filtered through a grimy window at the far end of the hallway. Two doors stood open, but no light spilled from either of the open doorways, no sound penetrated the stillness, and she snuck past unimpeded. Emptiness surrounded her, a vacuum of solitude.
When she’d lost her parents, her grandmother had been there to care for her. When her grandmother had passed away, Ryleigh had Mia to care for. Now, for the first time in her life, she knew what it was to be completely alone.
At the corner, when she could go no farther, she pressed her back against the wall, leaned her head back, and inhaled deeply. She could do this. She had to do this. She’d left herself no other option. Good thing, or she’d have already slunk back to the comparative safety of her prison to await her fate.
She peeked swiftly around the corner, then pulled back behind the wall. No one. At least no one she could see. But the curved staircase lying around the corner presented a problem. She wouldn’t be able to see past each curve. By the time she noticed anyone coming there would be no way to escape. Murky haze pressed against the window, blocking any real view of the outside world.
Here goes nothing. She turned the corner and plunged recklessly into the gloomy stairway. Thankfully, her UGGs landed softly against the damp stone, and the wild drumming of her heart probably drowned out her footsteps anyway. She ran forever, clinging to the railing, staying close to the wall as she spiraled down into the never-ending abyss.
When the stairway finally ended, she stood frozen, staring hopelessly at a solid wall. She pressed her palms against the cold, unforgiving stone. “No.” Her cry carried through the chamber and into the upper level. She slapped a hand over her mouth and spun to see if anyone heard.
A wooden slat peeked from behind the stairs. A large wooden door, with nothing more than two handles and a latch, barred her path. That cocky bastard thought he was invincible. She fisted her hands. Chayce would pay for what he’d done. Somehow. When she returned
to Cymmera, she would see to it he was punished. What was the punishment for such treason?
Oh. Right. Death.
Her stomach lurched.
The thought of killing another person, didn’t sit well, and ordering someone else to commit murder wouldn’t absolve her of the responsibility. She forced the thought aside. None of it would matter if she couldn’t get up the nerve to open the door and run. Besides, she would simply tell Jackson what she knew. Any punishment to be doled out would fall squarely on his shoulders. Could he bear the responsibility for his own brother’s death?
She squeezed her head between her hands, begging the random thoughts to leave her alone. She wiped her face, smearing tears everywhere. Her puffy eyes impaired her vision, though whether they were swollen from crying or her injuries, she had no idea. She did know, she couldn’t stand at the bottom of the stairway indefinitely. Eventually someone would come for her. The thought motivated her like nothing else could have.
The soft click of the latch opening echoed through the absolute stillness. Easing the door open the slightest bit, she listened intently for any hint of a sound. Wind howled, snowflakes swirled over her, tiny fingers of mist seeped through the crack, reaching for her.
She slammed the door shut without moving, rested her elbows against it, and lowered her head into her hands. She couldn’t do this. Maybe she just didn’t have what it takes.
Sweat stung the cut on her head. She’d almost forgotten about it until then. The reminder brought all of her injuries racing to the front of her mind, each begging for attention. Pain radiated from her—probably broken—ribs. The sting in her throat where Kai had cut her a not-so-gentle reminder these men were stronger than her, knew more than her, could defeat her. She didn’t stand a chance against them.
Mia, Jackson, Elijah, Sadie, Kiara…Visions danced through her head. Images of people she loved, as well as those she barely knew. People who were dependent on her. People who would be hurt, possibly slaughtered if she didn’t let someone know Chayce was the traitor.
Determination straightened her spine. No way would Chayce get away with hurting anyone else. Besides, if she stayed where she was, she was as good as dead anyway. May as well go down fighting.
She pushed the door open a crack. Heavy mist covered the ground. Oh well. If she couldn’t see anyone, they probably couldn’t see her either. Maybe. She hoped. Opening the door only as far as necessary, she slipped out into the cold. Wind battered her, tore at her. Swirling snow blinded her.
Determination propelled her forward. Hunching her shoulders against the cold, she wrapped her arms around her middle, lowered her head, and strode into the storm. Snow filled her boots within two steps. Blackness loomed above her. After only a handful of steps, needing a break from the wind if only for a moment, she pressed her back against an enormous tree and looked back the way she’d come. The storm swallowed her footprints instantly.
A grunt pierced the silence. A sniff, then another grunt. The savage sniffed around the other side of the tree, snorted, and moved on.
Tremors rocked her body. She started to slide down the tree, to sit for just a moment, and caught herself. She stood straighter. If she sat now, she’d freeze to death before she ever found the courage to get up. If anyone had noticed she was gone yet, there would probably have been more of a commotion, which meant the savage who’d passed was probably patrolling the grounds or something. If he just passed, this might be the best time to run.
She turned and ran across the open field without another thought. Her legs tired quickly trudging through the knee-high snow. She slowed. Fatigue weighed on her. Her body ached from head to toe. Still, she pressed on. Head down, with no clue what direction she was headed. It probably didn’t matter. As soon as she was far enough away, she’d try to open the portal to Cymmera. A little farther. If she could just reach the tree line, she might be safe. Or at least hidden from view. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up.
Movement crept among the shadows in her peripheral vision. Her imagination? It was too soon to call the portal now. She would only have one chance to escape. If she alerted Kai or Chayce to her position, she was as good as dead. If the portal still wouldn’t open, she was as good as dead. Who was she kidding? She was pretty much as good as dead anyway. A small burst of delirious laughter bubbled out. Numbness tingled through her limbs. She lowered her head and plodded on.
Something rustled, louder than the wind screaming in her ears.
She searched frantically for a place to hide. Nothing but snow and dead brush across the barren field. The woods would offer some camouflage if she could make it another ten feet or so. She pushed forward.
The brush in front of her rustled. The bushes parted.
She stopped dead in her tracks.
A giant animal emerged and sauntered toward her, his gaze pinned on hers. A gray and white wolf, his back at least as high as her waist. An incredibly beautiful creature. Too bad it was probably going to eat her.
She stood perfectly still, except for the trembling she couldn’t control. Fear, cold, and exhaustion kept her from suppressing the tremors.
The wolf stalked her, creeping closer and closer. When he stopped, they stood face to face, Ryleigh silently imploring the animal to go away and leave her be.
The wolf inched closer, tail lifted, hackles raised. It bared its teeth and growled from deep within its chest, then crouched, the muscles in its back legs quivering with the strain. With one last warning growl, it pounced.
Ryleigh squeezed her eyes closed and threw her arms up in front of her face as she ducked to the side. She tried to die with images of Mia and Jackson for comfort, but the fierce snarl was etched too firmly in her brain.
Screams erupted through the storm.
Ryleigh spun and opened her eyes. The screams weren’t hers.
The wolf was tearing into a savage. The battle ended quickly, leaving the savage lying in a pool of black blood melting through the snow.
The wolf buried his muzzle in the snow, wiping off the savage blood.
A pang of sympathy for the amazing creature kept her rooted for a moment, the intense burn of savage blood all too clear a memory. She rubbed the phantom pain in her arm.
He abandoned his efforts and returned to the savage, sniffing the remains. Making sure he was dead? Or about to have dinner?
Gagging silently, Ryleigh slapped an ice-cold hand over her mouth and inched backward. Slowly. Careful not to make a sound.
The wolf lifted his gaze, halting Ryleigh’s retreat.
He approached her, lowered his head though his gaze remained riveted on her, and waited.
Ryleigh placed a shaky hand tentatively on his big head. “Hey boy.” Without knowing how, she had no doubt the massive creature was male. “Thank you. You saved my life.” She resisted the urge to bury her face against his warm neck, inexplicable drawn to the giant animal.
He started to move away.
Loneliness surrounded her.
Then he stopped and looked back, his gaze meeting hers. Waiting?
She moved toward him, the urge to follow him overwhelming. When she caught up, he turned and resumed his trek, leading her into the brush he’d emerged from. She moved closer to his side as they walked, taking comfort in the warmth emanating from the huge creature as well as his company.
The woods thickened, offering some shelter from the storm, but doing little to relieve the intense cold. Regulating her body temperature had come naturally to her since entering Cymmera, even before she was ready to fully accept her new role. She didn’t know how her body adapted to the changing temperatures, but try as she might, she couldn’t find any warmth now. Maybe any power she’d started to develop in Cymmera wouldn’t work in Argonas. Or maybe the chill came from within. She’d stopped shivering. Fatigue battered her, slumped her shoulders, slowed her pace. The pain from her injuries had dulled to a constant ache. Maybe she’d begun to heal herself, or maybe
the cold had simply numbed her.
The wolf stopped. He stared at her through piercing, deep blue eyes. Eyes that held knowledge. Too much knowledge for a wild animal. A niggle of doubt crept up the back of her neck. Chayce could have sent the creature to keep track of her, to kill her. Surely, the wolf would have killed her by now if he meant any harm. He’d certainly had every opportunity.
Her eyes started to drift closed. Warmth finally enveloped her. Her knees grew weak, buckled. The snow cushioned her fall, leeching the stress from her heart, bringing comfort. Peace flowed through her.
Something hit her side.
She ignored it, lost in the intensity of relief.
It hit her again, harder, more difficult to ignore since it banged her injured ribs.
She tried to roll away. Pain ripped through her new-found sense of well-being. “Owww…” Her eyes shot open. The wolf’s mouth was firmly lodged around her wrist, teeth grinding down. She screamed as she lurched back and rolled over, pulling her arm from his grip. “You could at least wait ‘til I’m dead before eating me, you know.” She jumped to her feet, suddenly wide awake, and eyed the wolf warily.
Humor lit the creature’s eyes, then he turned and trotted forward.
Ryleigh had no trouble keeping pace with him this time, the adrenaline coursing through her like a jolt of caffeine. “Where are we going boy?”
Silence answered.
She filled her mind with thoughts of home. Not Cymmera, and not the Jacobs’ house, but her own home. The one she’d grown up in with her grandmother and Mia. The aroma of freshly baked, chocolate cookies used to greet her on Saturday mornings. Laughter always filled the cozy, little house with joy. The smell of smoke and Daygan’s harsh commands, as the only home she’d ever known had burned to the ground.
She wiped the tears from her face. The time for self-pity was over. It was time to build a new home, to create a loving place for Mia to continue to grow and learn and feel safe. It was time to return to her own realm. She had no place here, didn’t understand their ways, had no clue how to lead them. The people of Cymmera would have to content themselves with a king. Who knew? Maybe, one day, Jackson would marry and give them a queen. Jealousy flared, hot and painful.
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