A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1)

by Karen Tomlinson

  “Where have they taken you, my love?” he whispered to the empty turret.

  Ignoring the thrashing desperation of the beast inside him, he calmed his breathing and his mind, and felt for her. He didn’t know how to work their venom bond properly yet, but magic was something he had known all his life. Absorbing more from the energised air was as easy as breathing. Hugo grinned and flexed his muscles. Rolling his neck, he melted into the shadows.

  Following the sweet smell of summer flowers was easy, but curbing his rage was not. Mixed with Diamond’s scent was the disgusting stink of human male sweat—and fear. Two captors then, he mused. Not that it mattered, they would be dead soon enough. Damp tickled his nostrils as he descended unseen into the darkness. His boots were silent on the stone steps as down he went past ground level and the tower guard room into the pitch black. He was nothing more than rippling darkness as he stepped onto the earthen floor of the lowest level. Only spare gate machinery was housed down in this musty, unused store. Hugo adjusted his vision until the piles of heavy chains and workbenches came into a foggy view. Clearly no one had been down here for a long while—except two reeking humans and Diamond.

  Hugo followed his nose, prowling toward what looked like a solid wall. Anyone else would have missed the concealed outline of a stone door. He inhaled and smelled the astringent herb they had used to drug her. Monksweet. A plant the Acolytes used to stifle magic and render their victims unconscious. Effective but short-acting. A cold rage settled on his heart. He had no idea who would want to take Diamond, but he did know they were going to die, and painfully, if they had harmed so much as a hair on her head. Carefully, slowly, he placed one palm against the upper brick of the door that looked cleaner than the rest and pushed.

  Stone grated upon stone. Hugo stopped to listen, his body coiled and ready. Nothing. Every move of his body was perfectly controlled as he drew his blades and stalked forward.

  Murmured frantic whispering buzzed like the hum of an insect in Diamond’s ears. It stopped as she groaned and cracked her eyelids. What in Chaos? Her thoughts were muddled, her mind thick and syrupy. Where am I? This isn’t my room….

  Outside, seagulls screeched and people shouted anxiously. A large group ran past the building, their feet stomping below the open window before fading away. Her arms were heavy, too heavy to move. Confused, Diamond opened her eyes fully and stared down. She was tied to a chair. Even as her mind registered that fact she felt the hard seat underneath her. Her head ached ferociously, and she couldn’t make her body move.

  “Here,” came a muffled voice. “Drink some of this. It’ll make you feel better.”

  Diamond swung her head away but large hands gripped her head from behind, keeping her still. Her captor held her nose, forcing her to drink. Lukewarm liquid hit the inside of her mouth. With no other choice, Diamond gulped and choked down the sweet solution until she wanted to vomit. Just before he pulled the cup away, she held a mouthful back, spraying it into his face. A petty defiance, but a defiance nonetheless. The man behind chuckled.

  “There is no need for bad manners, girl. Our lord only wishes to speak with you.”

  Ayk! She would not deign to answer him.

  That potion cleared her mind a little. Ayk had kidnapped her—and murdered two Queen’s elite guards, just like that. No remorse, no hesitation.

  Diamond squinted at the figure retreating to the window. His face was completely obscured by a black, featureless mask, which he was now wiping with his sleeve. He turned and looked outside, his head tilted down. They were upstairs then. Diamond cocked her head, listening to the madness of the city; the screams, the shouts, the distant roar of the guardian.

  Blinking her scratchy eyes, she studied her captor. Broad shoulders, wide enough to block out the light, dipped to a trim waist. His cloak slipped sideways revealing golden wings folded almost flat into his back. A warrior then, Diamond realised, trying not to panic. What in Chaos is a warrior doing kidnapping his Queen’s prisoner? Her eyes darted to the small door, and she took a deep breath, her heart beginning to race. She didn’t know if she could get away from such a male without her magic. Probably not. The hair on her neck prickled as feet shuffled behind her and Ayk whispered with someone. Diamond wanted to laugh. She had been thrust from one prison right into another.

  My life has turned to rat shit, she thought, dropping her head to stare at her dirt-stained leggings. A victim, that’s all she was. It occurred to her that’s all she had been for years. A bubble of self-deprecating laughter escaped. Without a doubt she had to be the most pathetic person she knew; even Tom stuck up for himself more than she did. The window warrior turned his head and stared long and hard at her. Feeling his gaze, she lifted her eyes. They sparkled vividly in her mirth.

  “Is that mask supposed to scare me?” she scoffed before she could stop herself, a mad grin still plastered on her face.

  The warrior turned back to his vigil by the window. “No,” he muttered.

  “Where’s Rose?” Diamond asked, still foggy about what exactly had happened before she got here.

  “Rose will be fine,” he answered curtly. “I’ll make sure of that.”

  And that was that, no more talking. Silent minutes ticked by. Diamond didn’t know what she wanted to do more: laugh or scream. It seemed they were waiting for something—or someone. Tugging at the cord around her wrists only made her bonds tighten. With every vibration the strange silken rope dug into her wrists, becoming so tight her fingers turned white. It didn’t take long to realise she needed to keep still.

  The sun moved, its beams eventually bathing her in light and warmth. It must be afternoon by now, she decided as her stomach clenched. Hugo would find her missing soon; he would start searching for her. She jumped as a downstairs door banged and thumping footsteps climbed closer. Moments later the door swung open. Diamond stiffened defensively.

  “Hello, Miss Gillon,” said the newcomer. The fae by the window dipped his head in respect. “My lord,” he said in greeting, then stood straight-backed as if to attention.

  “Who are you?” Diamond rasped. It had been hours since her last drink. Her throat was so dry it was difficult to talk,

  “I’m a friend, Diamond,” he replied. Although he wore no mask, this man’s voice was gravelly and distorted.

  Diamond shook her head to clear her ears, trying not to shrink away as the newcomer approached her chair. He stopped in front of her and crouched on his haunches until his face was level with hers. She blinked, and blinked again. The man’s face was twisted, his features contorted and rippling as though she were looking through a dirty puddle at him. It was distinctly nauseating.

  “What do you want with me?” she asked, wishing her voice sounded stronger, less shaky.

  Her captor’s mouth twisted in a strange smile, reminding her of Hugo. She closed her eyes and wished with all her heart that he was here now, despite everything. He had fought for her before, and in her gut she knew he would rip these men apart for taking her, even if it was only because they had killed two of his men in the process. But no. It would be better if he didn’t come, if she could escape on her own, get away from her new gaolers without him. If she could, it might be possible to run from the Queen.

  The man continued, oblivious to her inner turmoil, “I want you to escape the Queen and live. I want you to save this world, and I want you to fight for Eternity,” he said sincerely.

  Diamond snorted with laughter, “You want me to live, to save the world—to escape? Oh, please. In case you hadn’t noticed I’m trussed up like a pig for slaughter…by you, not the Queen.” She yanked at her bonds and once again they tightened. She hissed in pain.

  Her captor looked down and frowned at her bonds. “I am sorry about that, but please try and understand our nervousness with you. You annihilated over one hundred enemy troops and took out half a mile of forest with your magic. I couldn’t risk you doing that to us before I have time to explain,” he said, pulling a thin knife from
his boot.

  “Explain what?” countered Diamond, eyeing his knife warily. “And aren’t I more likely to listen to you if you haven’t got me bound to a chair?” she uttered through gritted teeth.

  “Yes, but you would be wise to keep still. That is Haplotheria silk, the product of an ingenious little spider-like creature who kills its prey by crushing it with its web. This beautiful thread tightens against vibration and will not loosen by itself, so keep still, princess, and listen whilst I cut your bonds.”

  Diamond stopped struggling and gripped the arms of the chair to keep her hands quieted.

  “You are no ordinary half-blood,” he told her, leaning forward, the blade held loosely between tough, scarred fingers. Diamond leaned away but his breath became warm on her mouth.

  The masked warrior stiffened as windows broke in a nearby building. It seemed the Valentian people were rioting and looting far too close for comfort.

  “My lord, we need to leave. We can take the—” shadows hid the warriors eyes but Diamond felt him looking at her, “—the usual ways. You will have more time to persuade her of our cause in the safety of our normal haunts.”

  “Diamond—my lady. The drug we used has dampened your gifts in a similar way as the shield, but it will wear off soon. If I cut you free, will you give me your word you will allow me time to explain?” asked the lord. “I give you my word in return, you will be safe from the Queen.”

  “Safe?” Diamond snorted. “I doubt that you can promise to keep me safe from an immortal like her.”

  Warmth pulsed insistently in her belly, something familiar tugging at her chest.

  “Fine. I’ll make this quick, but you have a choice to make. This world needs you to live. Darkness will take us all if you die. There will be no more children, no more love or light, no more sun or moon—even the stars will fall from the heavens as Eternity itself is destroyed. Nothing but an endless void will remain. You can stop all of that. Diamond, your mother was someone very special….” He paused and took a breath, dipping his strange distorted head in what looked like reverence.

  Behind Diamond something splintered and exploded. The tug on her chest ripped an answering wave of magic from her core. Rage, worry, fear. Hugo’s raging emotions slammed into her, leaving no room for any other thoughts. Wood flew past her head in bits, some landing on her, some hitting the distorted man. Ayk and Dan only had time to grunt in shock before they fell, their hot blood hitting the back of Diamond’s head in a gut-churning splatter. Diamond looked on in horror as Ayk’s eyes glazed over and Dan’s body landed in a twisted heap beside her.

  The distorted lord was up and out of the door before Diamond could even blink.

  Hugo ploughed through the debris, kicking bits from his path.

  “No!” Diamond yelled at the disappearing figure, she needed to know about her mother! “Come back!” she screeched, twisting and fighting against her bonds until her wrists were dripping blood.

  The window warrior spun swiftly in front of the door, facing Hugo with his sword drawn. Clearly he wanted to give his lord time to escape, even if that meant his own death. Before the door banged shut downstairs, Hugo stormed forward. The warrior flicked his wrist. Diamond gasped. Red magic. No Avalonian had red magic anymore. It ripple across the room like a wave of shimmering heat. Hugo roared, but not in pain.

  Leaning into the onslaught of power he grinned with fiendish delight, darkness rippling around him. A shroud of silver-flamed shadow devoured the red wave, even as his powerful body charged forwards.

  The warrior swore, desperately raising his sword in defence. Clearly he had expected a different reaction to his magical attack. Hugo’s wrathful bellow filled the room as he drove his sword down. Metal jarred and sparked.

  “You took her from me! I can smell her blood. Now you will die!” he promised, his voice nothing like his own. It was more animalistic than Diamond had ever heard.

  The warrior blocked Hugo’s blade with skill and precision. Red magic meant the ability to control heat and fire. Hugo’s blade began to glow as the other fae heated it like it had come out of a furnace. Hugo grunted but did not let go. The white-hot metal did not burn him through the glove of darkness rippling around his hand.

  “Stop this, commander! We are not your enemy,” the warrior panted, blocking and spinning away from Hugo’s blades with utter confidence and no small amount of skill.

  Hugo did not answer, his only response was to blast the red magic away with a veil of darkness, parrying a strike and bringing his other blade down with such force the window warrior stumbled, almost driven to his knees. Hugo blocked the warrior’s sweeping sword strike and stabbed him through the shoulder, before mercilessly slashing across the male’s thigh. A move meant to incapacitate. The warrior dropped to one knee but somehow still managed to block Hugo’s killing blow.

  “Commander! Stop! She will be safer with us. If you take her back to the palace, the Queen will kill her! You know she will! We need Diamond to live! All of us do!” he panted, desperation in his voice now.

  Diamond gasped as she saw the warrior’s hand drop to his boot and grasp the handle of a small concealed knife.

  “Hugo!” she yelled, fighting her bonds with all her might. Pain screeched through Diamond’s wrists as the silk tightened. She screamed. It was going to cut off her hands!

  Instead of killing the warrior, Hugo kicked his assailant in the chest sending him sprawling. There was a solid thud as the warrior’s head smacked into the wall and he stilled. Hugo immediately twisted to Diamond, dropping to his knees in front of her. Blood ran from her wounds, dripping down the chair arms.

  “Keep still,” he ordered, pulling a dagger and slicing through the silken rope.

  Sobbing with relief, she sagged against him before the pain started in earnest. Her fingers burned as blood rushed back in. Diamond whimpered, not sure what to do with herself.

  Thoughts of the window warrior escaped them both. Hugo quickly slashed strips of material off his tunic. Dropping his blades he firmly bound her wrists, trying to staunch the heavy flow of blood. For a moment he leaned his forehead against hers and gripped each wrist as she fought to control her panicked sobs.

  “Shh. It’s alright. You’ll be fine now. Breathe, Diamond. In…out…with me. That’s it.”

  Slowly her mind returned to her. With her head leaning against Hugo’s, they shared the same warm breath. She closed her eyes, her body responding to his. Her breathing slowed until it mirrored his own and she could swear she heard the distant beat of his heart.

  The scuff of boots on the wooden floor had Hugo on his feet in front of her, blades ready. Diamond looked on as he faced the bleeding warrior, his face icy and calm.

  “We are not your enemy,” the warrior panted. Equally calm and with slow intent he sheathed his own blades.

  “Kill me if you must. But you know if you take her back to the palace, the Queen will destroy her. Let her come with me, commander. Please. I give you my word I will keep her safe,” the warrior appealed, holding his bloodied hands out to Diamond.

  Hugo looked down at her, his brow bunched. Diamond shook her head frantically and grabbed at his tunic. He couldn’t be considering it.

  “No,” he bit out at last.

  “So be it. But you know what will happen now, and from what I’ve just seen pass between you, you are going to wish you had listened to me. You will both need our help one day soon; I just hope we can get to you soon enough. Until then….” he said and bowed low, his fist upon his chest.

  Even Hugo looked stunned by that universal mark of respect. Bleeding and bruised the warrior turned and fled.

  As if the goddess herself whispered in his ear, Hugo was certain that he must let the warrior go. Maybe they would meet again. Regardless, what sickened him most was that the male was right. Hugo would regret this selfish act, just as he regretted his decision to bring her to the palace.

  Diamond stared up at him with wide, shocked eyes. He wanted to reassur
e her, to pull her into his body for protection and take her away from this mess.

  “They know who my mother is—was,” she whispered, her gaze flitting between her bleeding wrists and the fallen men on either side of her chair.

  Hugo felt his heart go out to her. A life in the northern forest could never prepare anyone for all this pain and death. He dropped to his haunches and grasped her chin, pulling her face towards him so he could look at her.

  “Diamond, look at me, not them. We need to get out of here,” he said softly.

  Her beautiful eyes focused on his face. “How? How did you find me?” she whispered, lifting her hand and laying it against his scar.

  Hugo swallowed, he couldn’t remember any women ever voluntarily touching his scar—or him—with such tenderness.

  “I told you, I can feel your magic. I will always know where you are,” he murmured, wishing he could share how true that was as he gently cupped a bloodied hand against her soft cheek. “And I wish I could promise to always keep you safe—but I can’t.” For a moment he couldn’t move as she turned her face into his palm and kissed it.

  He should have let the warrior take her; he didn’t know what he was going to do now. His actions had been utterly selfish, his only thought to wrench her back to him. But now…. His mind raced with possibilities. Maybe they could catch that warrior. No. He sighed. It was hopeless. He had hesitated, and now it was too late. Hugo hung his head. He was too recognisable, but alone—just maybe she could make it to a trade ship and get out.

  “You should run,” he said quietly, knowing he would gladly return to his Queen empty-handed and suffer his punishment if it meant Diamond stood a chance.

  Diamond straightened. “No. You need to take me back,” she replied, her voice steady and determined.

  “Diamond, I can’t. That warrior was right. The Queen will destroy you. She will bleed your magic dry and then kill you.” He swallowed his self-disgust and inadequacy. “You cannot go back—I will not be able to keep you safe.”