Fire and Fantasy: a Limited Edition Collection of Epic and Urban Fantasy

by CK Dawn

  A soft tap came at the door, and Elaina tilted her head, compassion vivid in her countenance and the emotions flowing from her. She set a tray with a pitcher of water, a cup, and cleaning material on the bed stand and then repositioned the thick comforter in her arms.

  Cole sighed and reluctantly stood. Elaina placed the blanket at the foot of the bed and sat at Anna’s side.

  Feeling displaced, Cole tugged a corner wingchair near and sank into the cushions. He stretched his longs legs in front of him and rested his forehead on his hand.

  Monotonous ticks from the clock on the bed stand filled the room as Elaina sponged Anna’s body clean. He peeked through the tops of his lids as she stood and withdrew a gown from the folds of the comforter. She glanced at him, and he lowered his gaze. Nothing would make him leave Anna’s side, modesty-minded nursemaid or not.

  Elaina tucked a heavy comforter around Anna with the care of nestling a baby in a crib. “I’ll get more water, Cole, but she really needs a hospital.”

  He kneaded his tightened brow with his fingers. “They can’t know she’s up here.”

  “I could take her in. They don’t need to know she’s staying here.”

  “You don’t understand the situation, Elaina.” He sighed at having to explain. “Where’s Vincent?”

  She motioned to the door. “In the study, talking with James.”

  He glanced at her, sending a disgruntled gaze her way. “He needs to be talking with you. It’s his place to calm his woman’s fretting.”

  She flushed red and blinked at him. Turning for the door, she quickly left.

  Cole released a breath of frustration and dragged his hand over his face, knowing how harsh he’d sounded. He had enough to deal with and another woman’s concern was the last thing he needed.

  With all his efforts focused on freeing Anna, he never stopped to think that she would panic in such a way. Her deep wounds and pools of blood showed bright against his eyelids every time he closed them. Regret deepened each time he rested his eyes.

  Exhaustion washed over him with nauseating force, and he took a deep breath to waken his fatigued mind. He felt James’ concern, and he glanced to the door.

  “How’s she doing?”

  Cole shook his head and didn’t bother to hide the resignation in his voice. “James, how was I supposed to know she’d dive through a window to get to something familiar? I only touched on her memories to make her recall the need to run.”

  James stepped into the room and leaned on the wall. “Don’t beat yourself up. You couldn’t have known. We should have scryed for her sooner.”

  “Blood was everywhere.”

  “I took care of that. Nobody will be able to tell anything happened.”

  That wasn’t what he meant. But by the compassion emitting from his brother, he realized James was only attempting to fill the void. How could anyone know what to say to make things right? For that matter, how could anyone make things right? There was a strong possibility Anna wouldn’t pull out of this. He knew it, and he knew his brothers knew it.

  Cole shifted in his seat as the thought ate at his gut. In her case, if her life ended, so did her soul’s progression. Completely. “She can’t die, James.” He swallowed the thickness in his throat. “Not now.”

  James sighed and looked at the vial in his hand. “I can’t gather lost blood. Purity is compromised when I do. But, I think I might be able to help with the production.”

  Cole peeked through the miniscule opening between his lids. “You can’t duplicate a person’s blood.”

  “I’m not talking about copying blood and conducting a transfusion.” He held out the small container. “I haven’t told anyone, but I did an essence trace on Sarah.”

  Cole looked at him. Of course, he knew this.

  James pursed his lips. “She’s very ill. I thought at first it had to do with an inability to produce sufficient blood. So, I’ve been working on a potion to accelerate its production.”

  A chill swept Cole’s heart, and he lifted his head, realizing what his brother’s words meant.

  “Her name is Tiffiny now.” James smiled a little. “But she has a disease that’s far too advanced to correct. She doesn’t have long to live.”

  Cole held his anticipation, waiting for the right moment. “I’m sorry, James.”

  James nodded. “It should work on Anna.”

  As Cole grasped the small bottle, unmitigated relief flooded his soul.

  “She needs to drink it. Even if it’s a little at a time, see that she swallows it all. And pray.”

  A hush fell over Cole’s face. “I’ve already done that.”

  James set his large hand on his shoulder. “As have I.”

  Sixteen

  Vincent pulled Elaina into a tight embrace and stroked her strawberry hair. Warmth seeped through his shirt as her tears dampened his shoulder. His heart tugged at his chest. “Don’t cry. I told you Cole was moody. Don’t let him get to you.”

  “Vince, you didn’t hear him.” A sob punctuated her words. “I was only trying to help. I don’t understand why he doesn’t just—wave a hand or something and make her better.”

  “Elaina.” He leaned back to gaze into her eyes. “Sometimes we can manipulate flesh to heal, but we don’t have power over life. We’re not gods.”

  She wrinkled her brow. “Vince, if your magic keeps you alive for so long, how can it not keep her alive?”

  A small smile touched his lips. “Our magic doesn’t prolong our lives. Our nature does. It’s how we were created.” He brushed his forefinger cross her chin. “Your gods chose a shorter life-cycle for their children.” His grin inched up his cheek. “Some say we have long lives because it takes that long to get anything to sink into our thick skulls.”

  Instead of the joke lightening the mood, another serious topic rolled from her tongue.

  “Our gods? We don’t have the same gods?”

  “Each realm is distinct in their creation. Each has its set of gods.”

  Elaina paled as quickly as she flushed, and her gaze shifted to the tapestries that hung beside the hearth. Meridian’s blue sun sank below fields of amber and white weeping woodlands woven within the threads. No doubt a myriad of questions ran through her mind. Viewing the difference between the most ancient, distant realm in the depictions must conjure all sorts of alter-realities.

  He nodded and stepped beside the artwork, taking the opportunity to get her mind off Cole’s rash behavior. Motioning to the image on the third wall-hanging, he lifted his brows in fondness. “This is Meridian, my home. It’s the oldest dimension in the Arched Spectrum of Realms. You might call it the mother of the planes. She’s the original that all others are patterned after.” He glanced at her with a wink. “I tried to explain that to you in the park. One day, the other realms may progress to the point we are now. But they have many millennia to go before that can happen.”

  She gnawed on her lip with a little grin. “But we don’t have a blue sun or five moons.”

  “No. Terra’s a cornerstone dimension and has a yellow one. Midway dimensions have white.” A breath of humor puffed from his nostrils. “Don’t ask me why. But it’s symbolic somehow.”

  “Progressive intensity?”

  “Hm. Perhaps. And the five moons are reflections of the other dimensions’ moons...aside from our own. Many think of them as a crown. All other planes see one.” He shrugged.

  “Who are your gods, Vince?”

  Reverenced by the thought, he looked at the crystal globes that sat at the center of the bookshelf behind Cole’s desk. Stepping to them, he placed his hand on the left sphere. “This crystal was given to my mother and father when Cole was born. It was a gift from Dyas, God of Knowledge.” He brushed his fingers across the next in line. “This one was given fifty years later when James was born. A gift from Iradal, God of Life. And this one,” he picked up the last, and it glowed at his touch. “Was given to them three hundred years after that, when I was born. It�
�s from Aditi, God of Creation.”

  His voice hushed as he gazed into the token. “It’s not often a Meridian couple is blessed with three children. Long life spans hinder re-incarnation somewhat. The fact that Dyas presented a Triad crystal to my parents when Cole was born signified they were chosen. They knew Iradal would intervene and birth a new soul, if needed.”

  Honor filled him. “This is my first life cycle.”

  “Your first... You mean James and Cole have lived before? Re-incarnation really exists?”

  Glancing at her, he realized he’d offered much more information than he intended. He set the crystal back on its plinth and turned to her. “Rebirth exists throughout the realms, Elaina. It’s how our souls progress, learn. Cole and James are both living in their third lifetime.”

  Placing his hands on Elaina’s shoulders, Vincent gazed into her blue eyes. “Anna is Cole’s last wife, Elaina. Her name was Mianna, and she is his soul mate. He’s been lost since her death nearly four hundred years ago. He just found her again in Anna, and nothing’s going to keep him from doing everything in his power to save her. You need to trust him.”

  Elaina’s wide gaze searched his, and as she flexed her wrist, he knew the promise band told her of the truthfulness of his statement. A slow nod lifted her chin as she pulled him close and rested her head on his collar.

  “Wow,” she said with a breath. “I could have never imagined this. But it’s like I’ve always known.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and bunched his shirt in her fists. “Oh, Vince, I’m so proud to be part of your family. I’ll help anyway I can. I promise I’ll be right here.”

  “I know.” He held her in a tight embrace. “Right now just comfort her. Much more happened than what you see. She’s very confused. And when the time comes for us to undo the harm, your support will be very important.”

  Her gaze met his, and her words came without hesitation. “I’ll be there, Vince.”

  Elaina’s love flowed through every vein in Vincent’s body, and for the first time, he realized what it meant. Her soul called to his, penetrated his being, and bound him to her like none ever had or would. Eternity stretched before him, filled with Elaina’s love.

  Vincent flushed with understanding. Cole experiences this when he looks at Anna. Gods, the pain he must be going through at what happened.

  He set his jaw as determination swelled in his heart. Whatever it took, he’d be there to support his brother through what he knew would be the most difficult process ever undertaken.

  Seventeen

  Cole unstopped the slender vial and gently lifted Anna’s head to administer the potion. As he carefully tipped the container to her lips, tremors traveled down his forearms. His hands quaked, and the amber liquid jumped to the brim. He quickly tilted it upright. Gods, Cole, control yourself. She needs every drop.

  A soft palm rested on his wrist, and Cole’s gaze shot to Elaina’s. When had she returned, and how did he not notice the strong compassion emitting from her when she had? Her blue eyes looked deep into his; understanding with a touch of sadness. “Let me do that, Cole. You’ve been through enough.”

  He wasn’t sure if the tremors were from anticipating a fortunate outcome or from sheer anxiety over the whole ordeal, but he accepted her tender attention as a blessing. Vincent’s intervention with her was evident.

  She patiently poured small measures into Anna’s mouth and then turned to Cole, lifting the emptied container. “Well, that’s it. She got it all.”

  He sighed. “Thank you.”

  “Anything, Cole.” She smiled and set the vial on the bed stand. “What about you? Can I get you a drink? It might calm you some.”

  Nodding, he offered a small smile.

  “Good, then. I’ll be right back.”

  As she closed the door behind her, Cole eased onto the bed. “Don’t give up, Anna.” The silence of the room swallowed his faint words. “I’ll fix this and see to it nothing ever happens to you again.” Brushing his fingertips over her hair, he solemnly whispered a plea. “Don’t leave me.”

  Her soft locks sent countless memories rushing through his mind. Her smile, her cheeky comments, her blue eyes dancing as if life itself was a game. Her Arylinite spirit embraced every moment of love, able to see beneath façades that others deemed as truth. He sighed, knowing that side of her may have been unique to that lifetime—a result of her specialized upbringing in the Arylin colony of the northern territory.

  He tilted his head and gazed over her still face. Her features were remarkably similar to Mianna’s: The gentle slope of her nose, the way she chose to wear her dark hair long, and he couldn’t deny her blue eyes when she’d looked at him.

  He cupped her cheek with his hand, gently stroking her lips with his thumb. They curved from a bow-tie center into a natural smile. So, soft. Inviting. He leaned to her and lightly kissed them, then leaned his cheek to hers.

  “Talk to me, Anna.” His breath was a plea. As much as he knew no answer would come, his heart called to her with his deepest wish.

  He brushed his fingers down her neck to her chest, tenderly caressing the pale skin at the neckline of her gown. A strained pause caught his throat as he lightly followed her breast to her ribcage. “What’s in your heart?”

  The tiny circles he drew on the thin fabric fed his longing for her touch. Supple creases followed his motion. To have her arms around him, the love they brought, had given him unmitigated comfort in a past life. It could be so again.

  “My life was yours.” He kissed the circles he created. “Every moment, I found joy in you.”

  He looked at her closed eyes. “Please, don’t leave me. Please promise you’ll be mine again.”

  No emotion showed upon the visage of his love, but distant echoes of vows lighted his soul.

  “Open to me.” He wondered if his whispered thought could possibly reach her unconscious mind. “Speak to me with your soul.”

  Her lips parted, and a chill flew through him as weak sensations touched his senses. “Anna,” he said aloud, hope rising. He cupped his palm to her cheek again. “Fight for it. Call to me.”

  Anna remained silent.

  Cole’s heart ached. Yet, that small reaction spurred his resolve. He framed her face as he lowered to take her lips with his. “I’ll help you.”

  The scent of licorice and cream fell from his lips as he called on his Breath of Zephyr. His soul’s voice owned his words. “My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”

  She inhaled his sensual gift and gasped for deeper intake.

  Yes. Hope impossibly filled him. His muscles tightened with expectation. His heart pounded against his chest. “Call to me!”

  Quick taps sounded from the door, and Elaina opened it a crack. “Cole, um, Lord Dressen is here to see you. And,” she glanced down the hall, “he has others with him. They refused the parlor. They wanted to wait in the foyer. They don’t look happy.”

  Cole released his breath and clenched his teeth, quickly looking over the quiet face of his love. Of all times for interruption.

  He glanced at the clock on the bed stand. Five o’clock a.m. He figured he’d be contacted at some point, but this was sooner than expected. “Stay with her, Elaina. I’ll take care of this.”

  Cole kept his stride steady as he descended the staircase. James and Vincent stood beside the banister Sentinel to his left. Dressen mumbled to his comrades in the center of the hall. Five accompanied the lord, each a highly ranked Grand Marshal. Elaina was right. They weren’t happy. A strong sense of ill-affect echoed from the group.

  Curving his lips into a congenial smile, he walked to them. “Lord Dressen, I trust your celebration was a success.”

  Dressen turned without pleasantries and stated his purpose. “Where is she?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know damn well what I said. Where is she?”

  Taking a deep breath, Cole leaned his head toward the lawmaker. “
I can only assume you’re speaking of the young woman you escorted to the event.”

  “You were the last to see her, Sir Shilo. The guests told me the three of you left directly after you entered from the terrace.”

  Cole glanced at the gathering, several of whom he recognized as guests in the ballroom when they exited. “And I’m sure they also informed you that we left alone. I wasn’t aware you put her in my care while you explored the extents of the gift.”

  Dressen growled. “I didn’t.”

  “Then why would you think I would know of her absence?”

  The lord huffed and looked away. “Well, she’s nowhere to be found.”

  “I’m certain she merely wandered onto the grounds.”

  “We’ve checked the grounds! We’ve checked everywhere.” His gray gaze carried a commanding glare as he looked into Cole’s eyes. “I want her found and returned to me by midnight tonight.”

  Cole raised his brows. “A re-harvesting?”

  “Call it what you like, my bid will be filled.”

  He shifted his stand and clasped his hands, lifting his chin. “I must say, Lord Dressen, this is unusual. Once a bid is satisfied, the trade is complete.”

  Dressen’s features went livid. “If I find any cause to suspect your involvement in her disappearance, I’ll have the entire court of Grand Marshals on your backs! This order was bid in faith of an honest transaction.”

  A sizzle ran the length of Cole’s spine as the circumstances surrounding Anna’s harvest tainted the words. “Indeed.”

  “By tonight, Sir Shilo.” The lord turned and marched out the front door. Several gazes sent judgment Cole’s way before the group followed.

  As the door slammed, he looked at his brothers. “That was quick. It seems I overestimated his love of the gift.”

  James cocked an eyebrow and set his hands on his waist. “At least we got her here. He can’t prove anything unless they search the house.”

  Vincent huffed. “And that’s not happening. They have no authority here.”