by C. A. Szarek
“Maybe Dimithian has long-lasting effects?” the first voice asked.
“Hmmm, maybe,” the half-elf said. His long, dark hair was loose and flowing, unlike before when he’d worn a hat. Even with blurry eyes, she could make out long, slender, tapered ears.
“Wh…what…do you want…from me?” Elissa’s throat scorched.
Silence fell, as if her kidnappers were surprised she could speak.
“Water, get her some water,” the half-elfin one directed. “Then tend that fire. Don’t burn our meal, either.”
One set of boots disappeared and she heard shuffling as someone did his bidding. Then a drinking skin was pressed to her mouth, but she had trouble opening her cracked lips.
Rough hands gripped her jaw, but the hold didn’t hurt. “Open. Drink.” Right above her ear was the smooth baritone again.
Cool liquid slid down her throat, lessening the burn to a dull throb. Elissa swallowed twice and he took the water away. She didn’t thank him. Wouldn’t, no matter how pleasant he was being. They’d still taken her against her will.
She wanted to sit up. Fight. Get back to her—
Blessed Spirit! Mischief!
She was alive, so her bondmate had to be, but what if the magic had injured him permanently?
Elissa sent a frantic thought-send to him, but in her weakened state, she could barely sense their bond. Tears stung her eyes. No doubt her wolfling was frantic. If she couldn’t hear him, he likely couldn’t hear her. How would he find her?
Alasdair. The other knights…Sir Leargan, Sir Dallon, Sir Bowen…Sir Kale? The Greenwald men-at-arms, too.
Lucan!
He was much more powerful than she. Had the Dimithian killed him?
Her belly fluttered and she sucked back a whimper. There was no use showing her emotions to the men who had her. If they saw her as weak, they might try to hurt her…rape her. She gulped.
“What do you want from me? Where’re you taking me?” Elissa cursed the tremble in her query. She tried to shift her body again. Her shoulders burned as she stretched her forearms and bent her wrists. They had her bound from behind, and she was sitting on her hands. Her limbs went back and forth from throbbing for freedom to numbness.
“That’s not for us to tell,” the one with the deepest voice growled.
The half-elfin man brushed her hair back from her face with surprisingly gentle fingers. “No one’ll harm you.”
Elissa wanted to yank away from his touch, but her body wouldn’t respond to her commands. At least she could see better now. Her vision had finally cleared. She tried to glare. “Let me go and I’ll beg them not to kill you when they find me.”
A bark of laughter had her glancing up. The man with the deepest voice was huge. Probably as tall as Sir Roduch, but not nearly as handsome. He was thickly muscled and had arms crossed over an impossibly broad chest.
She fought tremors and looked back into the deep blue eyes of the half-elf, who was still squatted beside her.
His expression was implacable. “Don’t waste threats on us, my lady.”
Elissa forced a shuddering breath and made herself look around—as subtly as she could. They were in the woods, but it was nondescript. A warm fire burned at the center of a small camp, and three horses were tied not far away.
The sky was grayish, but she didn’t know if dawn crested or if it was past twilight. She had no sense of how much time had passed, either. Panic churned her stomach and she fought it. Sucking in air only helped a little, but she reached for calm with all her might.
The third man rose from tending the fire and rejoined the other two. He was smaller, with fair hair and a slender build. His face was pocked.
Elissa studied all three of them as best she could. She needed to remember everything so she could recount it when she broke free. She called to her bondmate, but still got nothing, despite the fact her head wasn’t nearly as fuzzy as it’d been when she’d woken.
“This one’s much prettier than the others,” the blond man said, a grin displaying rotted teeth.
Others?
He reached to touch her cheek, and Elissa gasped, recoiling, but she didn’t need to worry.
The half-elf shot to his feet and slapped the man’s hand away. “Don’t touch her. No one touches her.”
“Relax. I was jus’ sayin’.”
“Keep your hands to yourself and your ideas in your head,” he barked.
The big one chuckled, but she didn’t sense humor in it. “He’s right, though. This one’s comely. What’s tha harm in a little fun?”
The half-elf slid in front of her and gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist. “I said nay.”
Elissa looked from man to man, feeling the tension rise and thicken.
“If ya want ‘er for yourself, all ya ‘ave ta do is say so,” the blond man muttered.
“I do. I claim her. Here and now.”
Her heart dropped to her toes.
Is he going to rape me?
The big one arched a dark eyebrow and cocked his head to one side. “Do ya now?”
“Aye. So back off, both of you.”
Two more seconds of silence passed. No one moved. The men stared each other down.
“He always gets tha good ones.” The blond man shook his head and shrugged. He looked from man to man, then left to tend whatever was cooking on the fire.
The scent of meat made her tummy growl. They’d taken her before she’d eaten.
The half-elf was still having a stand-off with his other companion, but finally, with a grunt, the large man sent a glare her way and walked away.
Elissa watched him go to the horses and dig for something from a saddlebag before he took a seat next to the blond man by the fire.
Her remaining captor glanced at her, but said nothing. Soon, he too joined the others, only to return shortly with steaming meat on a crude plate. The half-elf whispered some spellword, too low for her to catch.
A cool flush caressed her body and her powers were suddenly inaccessible. Her magic wouldn’t respond to any of her calls, even water, which usually came to her without effort. “What did you do to me?” she demanded.
“Just a little dampering spell, so you don’t drown me. Water is your strongest element, right?” He had the nerve to smile as he knelt beside her.
She glared.
“Hold onto that. Be strong. You’re going to need it.”
Elissa finally straightened against the tree. There was a crease to his brow as he spoke. Was that regret?
Can I use it to my advantage?
“What’s your name?” Maybe if she was nice to him, he’d be nice back. He’d already asserted that he’d protect her from his companions. Could she talk him in to letting her go?
He laughed, and shook his head. “Nay, my lady. Nothing you need to know.”
“Are you an empath?” Elissa blurted.
“Not that it matters, but no.” He wore a grin that could pass for charming, and she wanted to kick herself for thinking he was handsome.
She frowned.
“I have a question for you,” he said after a moment.
She could sense the slightest hesitation in his low tone. “What?” She let her frown slip into a scowl.
“Do you have a mark, high on your right side?”
Elissa froze. They stared at each other in silence, until she swallowed, shouting at herself to not show any reaction.
Why does he want to know about my birthmark?
“If you don’t tell me, my lady, I’m afraid I’ll have to look for myself.”
She shook her head.
“Nay about the mark? Nay about me looking?” Amusement darted across those blue eyes.
Elissa bit back a growl. He hadn’t hurt her, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t quick to anger. Admitting it would be better for her. She wouldn’t want him to rip down her bodice and bare her breasts to the other two. Not after the blond one had already expressed interest in touching her. “I have the mark.
”
Her captor squared his shoulders and gave a curt nod.
“Why?”
He narrowed his eyes, and she knew he wouldn’t tell her. “Enough talking. Eat. We’ve a long ride ahead.”
“To where?”
The half-elf didn’t answer, just shoved meat against her lips until she opened. He fed her but didn’t release her hands. Elissa wanted to spit the roast rabbit back in his face, but she needed to keep up her strength for her escape, so she ate without complaint as he served her like a babe.
He wouldn’t answer her demands between bites, either, so she gave up—for now.
After she’d whispered she was full, he merely nodded and rose, not appearing to expect the thank you Elissa failed to utter.
She watched all three of them as closely as she could when he moved toward the fire and joined his companions.
The blond one kept throwing her salacious looks, and only laughed when she scowled or glared. The hum of their speech settled into normal conversation, but she wasn’t so far away that she couldn’t hear every word. They spoke of mostly inconsequential things, no doubt censoring anything to do with her. When their voices dropped, Elissa listened harder.
They were careful, never once revealing their names, or letting on to where they were taking her.
Her captors did reference another party, but no name was whispered then, either. They just referred to whoever they meant as him. The big one even called the man, Himself, and he always wore a sneer when he said it.
Not long after they’d all eaten, the half-elf returned to her side, and tugged Elissa to her feet. “We’re leaving.” He was about as gruff as she’d heard him.
The passing time had told her it was night, not the beginning of a day. It’d only gotten darker, and the moon had risen high in the black sky.
She resisted, dragging her feet until the half-elf pushed her forward. The huge, dark-haired man came quickly to his aid, pulling on her upper arm.
Elissa lost her balance and careened into his hard chest. She sucked back a wince and put on her best regal glare as his large hands swallowed her waist.
He laughed, like he had earlier, throwing his head back. The brute squeezed her sides. “Are you sure I can’t ‘ave a little taste? This one’s feisty like I like ‘em.”
“Take your hands off her,” the half-elf barked. “If I needed your assistance I would’ve asked.” He tried to wedge his torso between them when he wasn’t obeyed immediately.
She struggled, but the brute’s grip on her only tightened, and lust flashed in his dark eyes. Her stomach turned itself inside out.
“Not a’tall like the others,” he whispered.
“Others?” she blurted. That was the second time he’d said that.
The half-elf sent her a warning glance.
“What harm’d one taste be? I won’t use her hard, no’ one this fine. Himself wouldn’t even know.” He leaned forward and inhaled, then licked his lips.
She recoiled, but his hold was unrelenting. Elissa tried not to whimper as she frantically called to her magic, but the half-elf’s spell still held her powers back, as if they’d been locked away. Not even the barest tingle hit her skin.
“Do not make me run you through. I claimed her.”
Elissa maintained eye-contact with the large man. She prayed to the Blessed Spirit her fear wasn’t showing.
“Stick to whores,” the blond man said, staring, but not moving closer. “I think he’s serious. Should listen to ‘im, or we’ll need a new partner.”
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, the oversized man shoved her away from him.
Elissa screeched as she fell backwards, but she was in the half-elf’s arms in seconds.
He righted her against his chest and scowled at his companion. “Try anything like that again, and you won’t have the equipment for whores. I’ll geld you myself.”
In answer, the brute chuckled.
“What did he mean by ‘others’?”
“Rest, lass.” The half-elf put a palm to her forehead and said a spellword.
Elissa gasped and thrashed against him, because his spell would make her sleep—whether she wanted to or not. If she was asleep she couldn’t see where they were taking her.
She called to her magic again, a sharp command that went unanswered. Her eyes weighed a ton and slammed shut against her will. A heavy shroud of drowsiness enveloped her, and she didn’t have a choice but to give in to the blackness.
Chapter Thirty-three
They were finally here. The last three days had been the longest of his life.
He’d only communicated with his hirelings once, and the conversation had been short, as necessary.
Drayton clapped, the loud slap of his palms reverberating off the walls of his cave. Delight boiled up and rolled over him. His magic responded, water bubbling, pushing under the surface of his skin in a way it hadn’t had in turns.
He felt strong. Things were going his way.
He sensed an elemental even before the half-breed was through his protective spell-wall. Straightening his shoulders, Drayton stood at the center of his dais and waited.
The tall, dark-haired half-breed spilled into his living space with a precious bundle in his arms.
The lass appeared to be out cold. Her brown gown had long, full sleeves. A slender hand peeked out as her arm hung in the air. Her hair was fair, so blonde it was almost white, and cascaded in silken waves over the mercenary’s arm and shoulder. Her head was tilted back, revealing a delicate jaw and slender neck. She was dainty. Beautiful.
“What’s wrong with her?” Drayton snarled.
Charis inclined his head. “Nothing, my lord. She sleeps. But my spell won’t last much longer; she’s powerful.”
“Wake her. Now.”
“Aye, my lord. She’s got quite the temper, and my dampering spell no longer works, but I know another that should keep her from attacking you.”
“No Dimithian; I need to sense her magic.” He already could. Even being asleep in the half-breed’s arms didn’t diminish the radiance of her aura. It didn’t speak of water, it shouted her main talent. Almost as strong were the other elements, all hovering around the teal tint that meant water. They were all intertwined, hinting at great magic. Drayton licked his lips.
It has to be her.
“Nay, my lord. Not what I had in mind.” The half-breed whispered a spellword and squatted low as the lass stirred. He set her to her feet, and helped her stand.
The lass groaned as she came around, rubbing her eyes. As soon as she was fully aware, she glared at his hireling. Gestured, as if she would throw magic, but the half-breed was faster.
He pointed, and shouted a spell. Light exploded, making Drayton squint.
An opaque sphere appeared, enveloping his lass. It was wide, and as the magic cleared, he could see her standing at its center. And none too pleased, if the scowl marring her pretty face was any indication.
Although pretty was too weak a word. The lass was breathtaking. It wouldn’t be a chore getting a child on her. He wished he could see the color of her eyes from his distance.
“Clever,” Drayton gestured to the bubble, and glanced at the half-breed.
He inclined his head. “She can’t harm herself or you from in there.”
“Good. What is the spell?”
Charis quickly explained the containment spell and confessed he’d not come up with it on his own, but had gotten the idea from the Greenwald mage, Lucan. Drayton didn’t care where he’d stolen it from, only that it worked. He circled the bubble several times, but didn’t touch the iridescent surface.
It was fantastic, though he hated to give his hireling any credit. He flicked his wrist and whispered the spellword, reducing the size of the bubble. So he could get within a few feet, examine her more closely. Soon enough the bubble wouldn’t matter. He’d put his bracelet on her and she wouldn’t be able to use her magic at all.
She tensed, bu
t didn’t cower. He liked that.
When Drayton leaned in, his lass squared her shoulders and tilted her head up. Narrowed her eyes.
He threw his head back and laughed. “She is strong. I’m glad.”
The half-breed looked as if he’d thought Drayton had lost his mind when their gazes brushed. He said nothing.
Drayton disregarded his presence and turned back to his lass. She’d be the mother of his child.
She was obviously highborn. Even if her posture didn’t tell him, the wealth of her clothing would’ve. Her brown gown was of quality fabric, even though the design was simple. Most likely for traveling purposes.
He imagined her clad in the finest gowns, shiny, flowing materials that would highlight her beauty and swirl around her when she walked. How she should be dressed.
If she bore him a child with elemental magic, perhaps he’d reward her with a fine gown to wear. He wouldn’t be able to take her magic right away. Their child would have to be weaned first.
Drayton rubbed his hands together. “I want to examine her more closely.”
“Her magic is powerful, my lord,” the half-breed cautioned.
“She was introduced to my Dimithian, was she not?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“She knows what happens if she tries to call to her magic?”
“I think so, my lord.”
He gave a curt nod, and heard Charis mutter a spellword.
The magic around the lass disappeared.
She tensed immediately and threw out her hands.
Drayton’s elemental sensed tingled. “Now, half-breed!”
Charis tossed the hunk of Dimithian at her feet, but it was still held within its force shield.
“If I say the word, my pretty, he’ll release my Dimithian and it’ll suck your powers away. So I suggest you stand still. You’ll come to no harm.” Yet. He inched closer, silently strengthening the spell around him to stave off Dimithian’s effects. It wouldn’t work if the shield slipped from the rock, but it would keep other magic from harming him.
His skin crawled when he neared the Dimithian and he resisted the urge to kick it away from the lass. He needed the leverage. He couldn’t use the rock to suck her magic away right now. Drayton needed to gauge her powers—and get the bracelet on her. First, he needed to confirm she really was his elemental. “Open your bodice.”