Sophia stopped. “Jared, I have to find Caleb before I go another step towards that altar.”
Her entreating voice, so out of character, made Jared smile. “But don’t you remember? You’ve already said you’d marry me. And you’re holding a doll to prove it.”
Sophia bit her lip, trying not to smile back. “If you love me so much that you want to marry me, then you’ll find Caleb and drag him over to that altar.”
“Now that’s what I call sneaky.”
Sophia raised her eyebrows flirtingly. “Please.”
“My lady, when you look at me like that – of course. What else can I do?”
She squeezed his hand, not knowing if he was being serious. “Can we still be friends? Even if I haven’t accepted your marriage offer?”
“Sophia, the day is still young.” Jared walked away to find Caleb.
* * *
It was Seth who spotted Caleb. He would never have found him if it hadn’t been for the bond that linked them through the Seer-Stone. Caleb’s face was a mask of rage as he eavesdropped on Sophia and Jared. It was clear that he hadn’t meant to listen, but Sophia and Jared had stopped just feet from where he was hiding.
So Jared is going through with his stupid challenge! Of course he is. A brilliant way of undermining me. Caleb ran his hands over his face. Well, he’s welcome to her, because I sure as hell don’t want her.
Then Caleb’s eyes settled on Sophia. His stomach knotted, and a light sweat broke out over his skin. He felt himself trembling with . . . longing? For her? What’s the matter with me? I didn’t even feel this way for Talitha – and I love her. But, try as he might, he couldn’t pull his eyes away from Sophia. Worse, the urge to join her was suddenly overwhelming. He hesitated, torn between running away and walking straight into her arms. She glanced in his direction and he saw her eyes. The next thing he knew, he had stepped out in front of her.
Her sigh of relief was quickly replaced with a friendly smile.
Cobras can also hypnotise with their eyes, Seth heard Caleb think. They can make their prey walk straight into their mouths. Just like I’m doing with her.
Unable to fathom what Caleb was going on about, Seth looked at Sophia. She was holding Caleb’s gaze as if his eyes were tethered to hers with iron rods. Caleb was trying to look away, but it was hopeless; he was bonded to her like superglue.
Erin saw it too. “Seth, it’s like she’s hooked him! And now she’s reeling him in.”
She frowned, looking for some parallel to explain what they were seeing. “She’s his temptress! Like a mythological siren! She could look like a dung beetle and he’d still find her irresistible.”
“Trust me. She’s no dung beetle. Can you feel Sophia’s heart beat?”
“Always.”
Seth picked up her hand and put it on his chest. “Feel that.” Caleb’s heart was beating in unison with Sophia’s. “They might as well be Siamese twins. The poor guy doesn’t stand a chance.”
Erin’s anger spiked. “It’s cruel. He’ll need the willpower of a god to resist her.”
“He’s no god, Erin. He’s just an ordinary mortal, fighting some weird power that’s forcing him to go to a girl he doesn’t want. This curse sucks.”
“This is not the curse, Seth.” Stephanie had joined them. “Phineas was trying to tell you that. What you’re seeing here is the effect of Gideon’s Prophecy. Caleb turned down his soul mate. Now he pays the price.”
“Then the prophecy sucks too,” Seth said, watching Caleb as he stopped a mere foot away from Sophia.
Sophia gestured to the altar. “Are we honouring the marriage oath, Caleb?”
“What choice do I have?” Caleb muttered. He closed his eyes to protect himself from her gaze, but it didn’t help. He could feel her influence curling around him, seeping into his skin, robbing him of all choice. It was as if he was drowning, but no matter how hard he tried to kick against the tide of lust engulfing him, his limbs refused to work. Helplessly, he offered her his arm and walked her to the altar.
There, a man dressed only in black leather breeches waited with outstretched arms. His chest, tattooed with a Lightning Bird, glistened with sweat.
“Opher. Our Great High Priest,” Caleb whispered to Sophia, feeling compelled to explain.
“My young Shenayans,” Opher cried. “You are here today to give thanks to the Lightning Bird for blessing you with your lovely marriage partners. Now, I know how excited you all are to be married. Especially for the next phase in the marriage ritual . . .”
A collective snigger, coming from the watching crowd on the benches, made him pause. Opher waved, laughing with them. Although the spectators were clearly enjoying themselves, the silence from the couples in the procession was palpable.
“What’s this all about?” Seth demanded.
“Consummation,” Erin said, reading the wave of thoughts swirling around her.
“Consummation?”
“Yes. Kate told me that marriage is only binding after it has been consummated.” She pointed to the silent teenagers. “And most of them are just dreading it.”
“But that means they can still escape,” Seth replied. “If they refuse to have sex.”
“At the risk of becoming an Outcast,” Stephanie said. “Refusing to accept the partner selected for you in the Emblem Picking is the greatest form of rebellion one can commit against the Overlord and Reuel. It’s tantamount to saying that you have a mind of you own and that love will be a personal choice. Very few have the courage to do that. Hence the power of Reuel’s Curse.” She pointed to Caleb standing with a bemused expression in front of Opher’s altar. “But we have great hope for him.”
Seth and Erin exchanged glances that said, “Yeah, right. He really looks like he’s in a position to resist Sophia.”
The joke at the couples’ expense over, Opher continued speaking. “But before that happy event can take place, you boys must first show your gratitude to the Lightning Bird. What a great honour it is to offer your most treasured possessions in exchange for your brides, the weapons which have served you so well in defending the Overlord.”
“Oh man,” Seth murmured. “Talk about a cheap shot.”
Stephanie smiled. “I see you understand, Seth. It’s a simple ploy to disarm the Pledged until the marriage festival is over. Everyone knows how awful the Emblem Picking is – after all, everyone has lived through it – and the Overlord is not blind to the fact that one day a Pledged might turn against him.”
Seeing the disgust in Seth and Erin’s eyes, Stephanie fell silent, allowing them to focus on Opher as he beamed at Caleb. “My Shadow Lord, if you will please lead the way.” He nodded to an Outcast. With the slap of bare feet on stone, the man hurried forward, carrying a well-used bow and quiver, and a spear. He placed them at Caleb’s feet, then fell to the ground and buried his face in the dust.
Caleb hesitated before picking them up, his face hiding the fear, anger and helplessness seething in him. Seth sucked in a breath, praying that spell which griped Caleb’s body, but clearly not his mind, would break. But, as if pulled on invisible threads, Caleb’s eyes drifted back to Sophia’s. With almost robotic movements, he thrust his precious weapons onto the altar.
“The Lightning Bird has accepted your sacrifice, my Shadow Lord,” Opher said. “Now, you have a gift for your bride?”
Caleb reached into his pocket, pulling out a gold and diamond hair comb. Slowly he turned to face her. His fingers found the locks of fallen hair that had tormented him earlier, and with unsteady hands he twirled them together, trapping them between the gleaming teeth of the comb.
Then, against all logic, all reason, he kissed her.
Sophia reeled away from his touch; then quickly recovered. Forcing a passion she didn’t feel, she kissed him in return. But it was hopeless. His smell, his touch, his tongue probing hers were all so foreign, so . . . disgustingly horrible, she told herself. Even if my parents’ lives depend on my liking him. Her eyes jerked
open and her body stiffened.
It broke the spell.
Caleb stepped away from her with the relief of a man freed from slavery. Slowly, deliberately, he turned to acknowledge his future subjects.
Sophia’s eyes also panned the crowd. But only one face clicked into focus. Jared’s. He was smiling at her, his expression mocking. In her mind she could almost hear the sarcastic commentary she guessed was streaming through his thoughts as he watched her and Caleb. She rubbed her arms, feeling again the firm grip of his calloused hands on her skin. Stephanie, why do I have to marry Caleb when I know instinctively that Jared would be a far better match for me?
“Sophia, you know why you’re here,” Stephanie reminded.
That knowledge doesn’t make it any easier to marry someone I don’t love.
“Then you understand how every single person standing before this marriage altar feels today. None of them wants to be here either. You hold the key to releasing them from their bondage. Don’t fail them. Or your parents.”
Sophia dropped her eyes away from Jared’s and allowed Caleb to pull her aside to make room for Daniel and Kezeah at the altar.
Kezeah’s eyes, searching for Caleb as Daniel kissed her, told Daniel all he needed to know about his new wife. With a mournful sigh, he took her arm and led her away.
* * *
Seth noticed Caleb and Sophia leaving the square. He grabbed Erin’s arm and followed them. Caleb and Sophia stopped behind the podium where four Outcasts waited, holding a wooden litter. Caleb helped Sophia up, and, with deep reluctance, climbed in too, sitting opposite her. He nodded to the Outcasts who took off, racing through Cian, quickly reaching the hill path to the Fortress.
“We should have booked a taxi, too,” Erin moaned, struggling to keep up.
Seth grabbed her hand, pulling her along with him. They were almost at the crest when Stephanie whispered into Sophia’s mind.
“Sophia, I know how you feel about Caleb, but you still have a job to do. So why are you sitting here like a backward mute? You’re supposed to be charming him.”
Suppressing a frustrated sigh, Sophia forced herself to throw Caleb her most seductive smile.
It hit him like a mule-kick. Careful to avoid her eyes, he replied, “Sophia, keep your smiles to yourself.”
Sophia’s face flushed with worry. “Caleb, for some reason we’ve gotten off to a really bad start. Can we at least be friends, before we have to finalise our marriage.”
“Finalise our marriage? Sophia, if you think I’ll ever have sex with you, then you’re not only evil, but insane too.”
“Evil? Insane? What are you talking about?”
“That thing you did with your eyes.” Caleb leapt out of the litter, and ran up the final stretch of pathway leading to the Fortress.
Mouth hanging open, Sophia watched him go. Stephanie. What’s he talking about? What did I do?
“It’s all about the curse and the prophecy, Sophia. But don’t lose hope. As Jared said, the day is still young.”
* * *
Seth stopped walking and watched the slaves steady the litter before carrying Sophia into the Fortress complex. He saw a boulder under a nearby tree and led Erin to it. She slumped down, dropping the backpack next to her.
Seth looked down over the town, now bathed in soft sunlight. “Erin, right now I’m about as angry as I’ve ever been.”
Erin smiled inwardly. For someone that angry he looked remarkably placid. It obviously took a great deal to get Seth really worked up.
“Caleb’s right. Both Reuel and Gideon suck. It’s time both of them were . . .” Seth paused, searching for the right word. “Neutralized. That means we have to lift this friggin’ curse as quickly as possible.” He frowned. “Once we’ve figured out exactly what that entails. I don’t know about you, but right now I haven’t a clue of what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Erin’s face lit up. “I’m glad you’ve finally seen the light. There’s a complication, though. You made a promise to Kyle.”
“Yes, I did. And that promise still stands.”
The smile on Erin’s face faded, replaced by a flush of irritation. But before she could speak, Seth cut in. “Just slow down before you take off.” He waited to see if she was going to cry or shout at him, but when she merely scowled, he continued, “I know you’re feeling a bit . . . moody at the moment, but that doesn’t change any of my plans.”
Erin felt a sudden rush of tears. She swallowed hard, forcing the lump in her throat down. “Plans? What plans?”
“I’ve made a decision. You, me, and the diamond are going back to Kyle’s camp. And then we’re going to talk. Kyle’s a reasonable guy and I can’t see him objecting to us using the diamond to lift the curse. And you’re a reasonable girl.” He smiled at her. “Most of the time anyway. When you’re not shouting at me. And I can’t see you objecting to Kyle having the diamond when it’s done.” Seth waited for her reaction. He could see she was fighting back tears. It made him so uncomfortable that he was about to turn away.
Erin grabbed his arm. “Do you think Gideon will agree to that?”
“I don’t give a damn what Gideon agrees to or doesn’t agree to. This curse has got to end. I know we can’t change the past. Everything that’s happened stays the same. But, regardless of what you think, I don’t like the idea that these people – my friends – could still be suffering because of Reuel. And Gideon.”
“Why do you keep blaming Gideon for this? He’s on our side.”
“No, he’s not. He has an agenda. Same as Reuel.” Seth saw her face flush, so he rushed on before she could speak, “And for some unfathomable reason Gideon decided to involve me in this. But that doesn’t mean he gets to control how I think or act. Kyle and I made a pact. Just like Caleb and Daniel. And I intend coming through with my side of the deal. So nothing is going to stop me leaving here.” Seth’s eyes, usually so gentle and laughing, were now like steel. “The question is: are you coming with me?”
His determination shocked Erin’s tears straight back into their ducts. She breathed with relief, suddenly feeling in control again. “I only see one problem, Seth.”
Seth’s face hardened. She hadn’t answered his question. “And that is?”
“Both Kate and Phineas have said that no Guardian will help you escape the crows unless you break your promise to Kyle.”
“I’m aware of that. And I’ve already factored it into my planning.”
“I see. So what exactly is the plan?”
“You haven’t answered my question. Are you coming with me or not?”
Erin cracked a small smile. “I think you know me better than that, Seth. I don’t act on impulse. Give me the facts before you expect me to make a decision.” When Seth blew out a long, slow breath, Erin’s heart began to pound. “Seth, I’m waiting.”
When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy, but still determined. “Erin, if the Guardians won’t help me survive the crows, then I’ll find someone who will.”
Erin’s stomach knotted. “Meaning?”
“I intend finding the person who’s in contact with Reuel. The guy Nathan warned us about. I’m going to try and cut a deal.”
With a shriek of horror, Erin grabbed his arms. “No Seth! You can’t be serious! Not after what happened with Lucien. He almost killed you!”
Seth shook her hands off. “It’s the only way out of this mess.” He reached for the backpack.
Erin grabbed it first. “No! I won’t let you do this.”
Seth closed his eyes, both to blot out her hysterical face and to hide his bitter disappointment at her reaction. “I see I have my answer.” He stood silent for a moment, and then looked at her. “You can’t stop me, Erin. Fifty percent of that diamond is mine. And what I do with my half is up to me.”
Erin’s pulse raced and she knew exactly what was coming – more inexplicable rage that would probably drive her to pummel Seth with her fists. Desperate for help, she called on Stephanie.
/> Unseen by Seth or Erin, Stephanie flitted to Erin and stroked her face with a finger, dousing her anger. Erin pulled in a calming breath. “Seth, please listen to what you’re suggesting. You want to deal with Reuel. Reuel, for crying out loud. The guy who tried to kill us. Who almost succeeded in killing you! Twice!”
“I have no other choice.”
Erin stared at him, trying to understand his motivation, but failed. Stephanie, I don’t get it. His logic is so flawed.
“Then help him see that,” Stephanie replied with tired patience. “That’s why you’re here. It’s not just for the view, you know. It’s your job to keep Seth in Shenaya until the curse is lifted.”
Erin spoke as gently as she could. “Seth, I know you’re angry with Gideon for what the prophecy did to Caleb this morning, but Gideon is not the enemy. Reuel is. And the guy who’s working for him.”
With a heart-breakingly crooked smile, Seth suddenly brushed her cheek. Then almost as if he regretted that action, he dropped his hand to his side. “I know that, but I’ve found a compromise that’ll led to peace. How can it be bad?”
Before Stephanie could even think to react, Erin’s face flushed bright red. “Seth, that’s like saying you want to be on speaking terms with God, but without offending the Devil! It can’t be done.” Even Erin was shocked at how harsh her voice sounded.
Seth’s face clamped shut. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Just touch the diamond, so I can find the guy who’s working with Reuel.”
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