The man shifted again, and I caught Mason's understanding as he recognized the men weren’t quite right. “The decree came from King Everett. Who passed on the decree is not important,” the man said dismissively.
“And what are your orders once you capture these women?”
The men shifted. They wrestled with their thoughts and the enchantment upon them. A spell cast upon many men at once would have less specificity, I hoped.
“We are to take them to the palace.”
“And if they resist?” I tried to keep my voice light and non-threatening, but my body vibrated with anger as I thought about the many women across Megreria who could be facing a similar threat. Men could only travel a certain distance on horseback in the short time we'd been away. The women who lived far from Treleaven might have more time, but our country was not large. It wouldn’t take them long to reach even the most remote areas.
“We are to secure them and bring them anyway.”
“But not kill them?” I asked. Again the men shifted. Their consciences were fighting the orders placed upon them, and I began to feel the beginnings of hope for my sisters across the country.
“Not unless they attack us,” the man confirmed.
“Good.” I nodded. Now came the tricky part. I closed my eyes, relying on my men to protect me. Reed had a bow and arrow pointed at the men from a second story window; I could see it in my mind's eye. That the men hadn’t noted the threat was another indication a spell dulled their senses. Ian lurked in the shadows behind them, ready to corner them if they ran or attacked. Mason and Drummond were seconds away from bursting into battle if they dared to advance.
I focused on the darkness overlaying their spirits. The command seeded within their minds had only one directive, hiding their real souls and wills beneath the decree. The fact that their consciences fought the instruction aided me. The enchantment was a stain upon their soul; it spread like an ink stain on parchment, obscuring the light beneath. I drew on Mason’s, Seb’s, and Clay’s energy, merging their considerable power with the brightness of my own soul. Experimentally, I pressed the light toward the Soldiers. I had no idea what I was doing, but I could either hear my grandmother whispering in my mind or feel the Fates leading my actions.
I lifted my hand, and tendrils of gold spiraled from my fingers. With my eyes closed, it was a beautiful sight, that light seeking the blackness. I heard the creak of a saddle and the slide of steel followed by a guttural moan, but I didn’t open my eyes. I trusted my men to keep me, and each other, safe. I continued to push the light toward the men, seeking the stain on their soul. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for that evil to go. It returned along the path I sent towards it, each tendril of gold replaced by a blackened thread aimed back at me. I shuddered as it hovered before me in my mind's eye, carefully holding it out of reach as I continued to siphon the darkness.
One of the men’s spirits was quiet, and I assumed he had been knocked out; perhaps he had tried to make a move towards me. The blemish on his soul was the easiest to remove. Without his conscious mind awake, the darkness slid away like a layer of oil on top of water. The others’ darkness flowed slower until I had a ball of evil resting before me, in the plane of magic’s existence that most eyes couldn’t see. Perhaps my men could see it because it was their energy I used, but others could not.
The last of the darkness gone from the men, I held the roiling mass in front of me. It sought life, something I hadn’t expected. Sinuous tentacles reached toward every spark of life and every beating heart. I clenched my teeth as my muscles began to shake with the effort of preventing it from entering myself, my men, or any of the humans on the farm. I sought another vessel, relying on Seb’s land knowledge to find the closest being. A docile sheep dozing in the field was the only option, though my heart ached for the unfortunate creature. I forced the evil toward the sheep as best I could, my muscles giving way and a headache pounding in my temples. An inhuman shriek filled the air. I recognized it as the sound of an animal in pain, and tears ran down my cheeks.
Once the blackness had been transferred into the animal, I released the magic. I fell to my knees. Only Mason’s strength kept me from falling further. I leaned into him and met the first eyes that weren’t his. Drummond stared at me, his eyes wide. “That sheep will need to be killed,” I murmured before natural darkness overtook me, my brain no longer able to retain consciousness.
Chapter 10
Reed
The three men trying to capture Alyson and Kiarra shook their heads groggily as if they’d just woken from a long sleep. They all knew Mason and could not recall how or why they’d left Treleaven. Reed’s heart nearly stopped in his chest when Kiarra collapsed to the ground. He had no idea what just happened, but it had been magic. Reed ran down the stairs as fast as he could, tossing the bow aside. He fell to his knees in the dirt beside Kiarra. Her other men were there already, Clay arriving just behind him.
“Back up, boys, she needs air,” the big Accleshian commanded. “Mason, carry her inside and put her in a bed. She needs to recover from the amount of energy she expended.”
Not willing to simply take his word for it, Reed performed a vitals check. Mason trusted his knowledge. “She seems like she’s just in a deep sleep,” Reed confirmed. Mason nodded and gently scooped Kiarra into his arms.
“What was that about a sheep?” Seb asked, his brow furrowed. They all heard the inhuman shriek just before Kiarra collapsed, but they hadn’t understood her words. Reed hadn’t been close enough to hear them.
The sound of heavy hooves stampeding toward them caught their attention. A sheep, its wool pure black and eyes tinged with red, plowed through the fence as if it didn’t exist. It aimed directly for Kiarra in Mason’s arms.
Reed didn’t even blink. He pulled his short sword and positioned himself in front of the Soldier and his match. It happened so quickly, no one else had time to draw a weapon. Reed’s sword plunged into the unnatural black wool at the sheep's throat. Thick blood coated him. He would have gagged if he wasn’t trapped by those red eyes a pace from him. Square teeth snapped as if the sheep had turned from an herbivore into a predator.
Reed’s sword stopped the animal but didn’t kill it. Ian burst from the darkness faster than the eye could follow. His hands grabbed the head, pulled the beast away from Reed’s face, and tossed it to the side. Then, he snatched Mason’s broadsword and cleanly severed the head of the animal. He had moved more quickly than even the Accleshian, who stood only a pace away. The head rolled grotesquely across the ground, its red eyes still malevolent. Reed rolled over and puked, the stew they’d had for supper making a reoccurrence. He could still feel the hot breath of the sheep on his face, and his body was covered in blood. The Soldiers from the city stared with wide eyes, completely flabbergasted.
The farmers who owned the house reappeared. They had hidden with Alyson when the guards approached, all except Anders who had already departed for the closest homestead. They weren’t fighters, and Mason had requested they stay out of sight for their own safety. Clyde frowned at the sheep and the splintered remains of the fence.
“We’ll help you fix that before we leave,” Drummond apologized.
“Nay,” the farmer said. “If not for the Queen, our Alyson would have been dragged to the capitol. No fence, or sheep, is more important than that.” It was the most Reed had heard the quiet man speak since they’d arrived. He glared at the guards who shifted uncomfortably, still trying to figure out what was going on.
“The sheep will need to be burned. Don’t eat its meat or use its pelt,” Drummond continued, and Reed was happy the man accompanied them. He took notes on the event in his mind, examining all the information. He’d ask for details from Kiarra and the Accleshian next.
Ian released the broadsword and held his arms out for Kiarra. “I’ll take her, Brother. These men need direction from a commander.” Mason seemed reluctant, but Ian spoke true. They recognized Mason as their superior, and only h
e could explain the situation with any type of credibility. Seb approached Reed and helped him to his feet.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Reed nodded, still stupefied. Mason clapped him on his shoulder, the only place not soaked in blood. “Fast reflexes, Scholar. Thank you.” Reed nodded again. Now that his heart rate had returned to normal, he was pleased with his reaction. His protective instinct for Kiarra had taken over. He hadn’t even hesitated to kill the beast. If it had been a man, he would have done the same. He would do anything to keep Kiarra safe.
Drummond surveyed Reed’s form. “You didn’t ingest any of the blood, did you, lad?”
Reed shook his head. “If I did, I tossed it with my supper.”
“Wash off in the creek and burn your clothes. Magic clings to living things longer than nonliving things, but keeping the clothes with the evil blood on them is a bad omen.”
Reed nodded. He had no desire to keep the clothes coated in blood, even if they were washed. He glanced at the house, but Kiarra had already been taken inside. Her heartbeat remained in a resting state.
“Come on, Brother,” Seb urged. Reed noted that Seb didn’t have ghosts in his eyes anymore. His shoulders were squared and less burdened by the worries he’d carried his whole life. Reed had known that Seb had always feared his parents hadn’t wanted him, but he hadn’t pried into his brother’s private emotions. It had been selfish to disregard his foster brother’s feelings, feelings that Kiarra had felt compelled to heal, and he felt terrible for ignoring them for so long.
Seb led him toward the creek behind the farmhouse. Reed didn’t hesitate to strip and step into the icy water, even though his teeth began chattering immediately. He scrubbed at his skin with the rough cloth Drummond delivered along with a blanket to wrap around himself when he was finished. The big man took his clothes away to be burned with the sheep. Seb perched on a nearby rock, lost in his thoughts.
“Our girl is something else, isn’t she?” Seb asked as Reed rose from the water. His body shook with cold, but he was clean. He’d even dipped his head under the frigid surface in case any blood splashed into his hair. His wet curls dripped onto his face as he pulled the blanket around himself.
“Yes, she is,” Reed admitted. “You’ve completed the bond with her?”
Seb smiled, his expression tinged with wonder. “Yes, it was amazing. I feel so connected to her now, as well as Mason and Clay.” A pang of envy struck Reed's chest, but his brother slid an arm around his shoulders. “It will be your turn soon.”
“I don’t mind waiting,” Reed replied, as long as it didn’t take too long. He felt separate from the little group, but he knew it was only a byproduct of the imbalanced bond. His entire body shook with a shiver. He walked faster, seeking warmth.
“What do you think about the magic?” Seb asked as they rounded the corner. Mason spoke to the Soldiers in commanding tones, and Reed hoped he was giving them directions to find any other groups that might have been bespelled and sent out. If Kiarra hadn't intervened, these men would be dead. If they had tried to take her, they would have been killed.
Reed shrugged. The gesture was jerky as his body shook with chill. “I would have said I don’t believe, but I’ve seen it in action. Although I'm not completely connected to her, I could feel the pull of energy. It's a golden light which flies directly from her soul.”
Seb nodded, and Reed wondered if he experienced it similarly. Kiarra slept peacefully in the bedroom upstairs, her face unnaturally still. Reed checked her pulse and breathing, focusing on her health before his own.
Ian pushed him aside after he had confirmed she was only sleeping. “Get dressed, Scholar. It will do no one any good if you catch a fever.”
Clay sat in the chair next to the bed, holding one of Kiarra’s hands. His face was lined with concern. Ian watched over her, pacing the small room. Seb sat at the foot of the bed, his hand resting on her leg under the blanket. Reed dressed quickly and dried his hair, feeling an overwhelming need to be close to her. No one complained when he claimed her other side, his fingers playing with her hair. He wrapped the blankets around himself to restore his normal body temperature.
Ian glanced over after Reed had stopped shaking. “Do you know what’s happening to her?”
Reed furrowed his brow. “I assume it’s some kind of magical hangover. She used a lot of energy to pull the dark enchantment from the Soldiers and send it into the sheep. If she had connected to all of us, it might not have affected her as strongly, but she could only pull from the three she’s already fully linked with.”
Ian pressed a hand through his dark hair, but the inky strands just fell into his eyes again. “We’ll have to complete the bonds when she wakes. She needs to be at full strength if she insists on handling every problem we face.” There was irritation in his voice, but it wasn’t directed at Kiarra.
“Those men would be dead if Kiarra hadn’t sensed the enchantment.” Clay echoed Reed’s thoughts from earlier.
“Aye.” Ian didn't deny it. The darkness gleamed in his eyes. “We should assume groups similar to this one are crawling through Megreria. Kiarra cannot fight the enchantment on each one.”
“No, she can’t,” Mason answered, strolling into the room. His eyes were tired, and he looked older than he had just a week ago. “The men who arrived are cooperating and following my orders. They’ll try to either knock other Soldiers out of the enchantment or help protect the people. They said they felt trapped within their own minds. They could see what they were doing, but couldn’t control their actions.”
“They are so willing to help?” Clay asked, surprised.
“They are loyal to me; they were my men. Matters are not well in the city. My father has sided with the Sorcerer, and even the top tiers already feel the strain. The Soldiers don’t like the idea of being controlled by magic, and they fully understand we could have killed them instead of helping them. Not only that,” Mason continued with a deep breath, “but word has spread of Kiarra, both from the guards at the gate and Carson's work in the Spy network. Everyone is hearing of the true Queen. Not everyone agrees with the idea, but as the situation in the city worsens, it will sway more followers to her side.”
“It’s happening so quickly,” Reed murmured.
“Everett isn’t wasting time; he’s probably been planning this for months. He might not have considered Kiarra in the equation, but he was prepared to usurp the throne and capture the females with multiple partners. He and the Baldonian are not wasting time.”
Ian smacked his palm against the wall, startling Reed. “Why didn’t our Spies know?”
“They could have been cloaking themselves in magic,” Clay suggested in a soft voice. “A week ago, we had no idea magic existed. If Everett or the Baldonian have been using it for many weeks, they've had a definite advantage.”
“We need to return to the city as soon as she is able,” Mason said, his voice choked with pain. “She’ll want the same thing. If we cut off the snake’s head, the snake will die. We can’t chase the enchanted troops across Megreria; we have to go to the source.”
Reed shivered with fear. He couldn’t bear the idea of Kiarra fighting again. Seeing her confront the Soldiers had been difficult enough. The thought of her facing the Sorcerer turned his insides. Mason was right, though. Kiarra wouldn’t let innocent women die. “We have some time,” he pointed out. “The guards said their orders were to abduct, not kill.”
“Yes,” Mason confirmed darkly, “the women. In talking to them further, their orders were to kill their bondmates if anyone resisted. The Sorcerer doesn’t need the men; he needs the power held by the women.”
Reed’s hand clenched against his thigh, his fingernails digging into his palms. “She needs to bond with Ian and me. She won’t be strong enough otherwise.”
“Aye,” Ian said. No one contradicted the Scholar or Shadow. Reed wondered if they had felt the tug on their soul’s energy when she began her spell. He’d fe
lt a trickle of it, but he imagined the pull would have been stronger with the three she had already bonded with.
“I’ll talk to the Accleshian,” Mason said. “He might have some insight on how to fight this Sorcerer.” He walked to the bed and tenderly kissed Kiarra on her cheek. Reed could sense his love and devotion to the woman that lay between them. He’d never thought he would enjoy sharing a woman with someone. Kiarra’s other Soul Matches finding contentment or being loved by her made him feel good as well. Nothing made him more joyful than seeing Kiarra happy, and he knew he wouldn’t have been able to please her entirely on his own. Being loved by these loyal, honest men was her destiny and her Fate. Reed was proud to call them brothers.
Chapter 11
Mason
Mason left his woman sleeping next to his brothers and went downstairs in search of the Accleshian. He was tired. He had barely slept the night before, making certain their loved ones escaped from Everett and his evil ally. Then, they had ridden all day. He swiped a hand over his face, pushing back a yawn. The Fate of the Kingdom depended on him. Good men and women would die if he didn’t accomplish as much as he could from this remote outpost.
Drummond and the farmer, Edward, stood over a blazing bonfire. He had already dispatched the Soldiers. He was convinced they would do their best to either dissuade their brethren or save the women. They had been filled with righteous anger, enraged that their wills had been subverted so easily. They didn’t necessarily agree with the concept of multiple partners, not all of them anyway, but life in Treleaven had given them the illusion of choosing their own Fate. They had tested into Military house, and many of them were third tier, having worked their way up from fourth. They didn’t want anyone else dictating the course of their lives.
Mason now understood what Treleaven really offered – an illusion of control. The House system was invented to control the citizens and keep them content in their boxes while also managing the city. The structure wasn’t entirely broken, but it wasn’t perfect either.
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