Deathbringer

by Tamara Grantham

  “No, I think you’re smart. I also think you like a challenge. Kiss me and see if you feel anything. If you feel nothing, then you’ll know I’m wrong. You’ll know there couldn’t possibly be any curse because you’ll feel nothing for me.”

  He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling. “This is ridiculous. And it would prove nothing.”

  “Then what have you got to lose?”

  He straightened. “How do I know this isn’t some ploy to place yet another curse on me?”

  “I guess you’ll have to trust me.”

  His eyes narrowed and he took a step toward me, although I didn’t like the dark look he gave me. Reaching out, he grabbed my face between his hands, but it wasn’t the soft, caressing touch I was used to. As he studied me, I could feel his eyes boring into mine, trying to work out my secrets.

  “There is something different about you—something I’ve never seen in anyone else. When will you tell me what you’re hiding?”

  “I’m not hiding anything.”

  “That’s not true,” he said, still cupping my face as my heart thudded with apprehension. “There’s something I don’t understand.”

  Cautiously, I placed my hands atop his. I knew with the curse Kull could act erratically—he could possibly hurt me if he thought I was a threat, but if there was any chance I could help restore his memories, I had to take it.

  “Tell me what you don’t understand,” I said quietly.

  “I don’t understand why you’ve captured me—”

  “I haven’t.”

  “And I don’t understand why I feel this way.”

  He pulled me closer to him, so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheeks. “Who are you?” he whispered.

  I didn’t answer. I couldn’t even if I tried, my heart was pounding so fast. Fear and anticipation raced through my blood.

  He leaned closer, his face stopping inches from mine.

  Kiss me. You’ll know I’m telling the truth, I wanted to say, but I kept my mouth shut. He had to do this on his own. I couldn’t force him.

  His lips brushed mine, hesitantly, barely grazing me, but he didn’t move away. Slowly, he deepened the kiss. When his tongue met mine, a wildfire ignited inside me, heat and passion flaring so strongly I wasn’t sure I could control it. His hands moved from my face and pulled me to him. He’d never kissed me this way before, with a feverish intensity that stole my breath.

  My chest tightened. I felt as if my heart would burst.

  He pulled away, his eyes burning with passion and unsated lust, a look that spoke of danger and excitement.

  “Don’t stop,” I whispered, knowing better. A man with that look in his eyes was like wildfire. He couldn’t be controlled, and I knew better than to goad him, but I couldn’t stop myself. He was here and he was mine. For once, I would finally have him.

  Kull kissed me again, then he picked me up, holding me against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist. Lightning shot through my body, all the way down to my toes. I couldn’t get enough of him. The feeling was so insistent that pushing him away was impossible.

  At any moment, I expected Theht’s presence to react and tear me away from him, but it never happened.

  He carried me down the hall and into his bedroom where he placed me on his bed. Trailing kisses down my neck, and then my collarbone, Kull pinned me to the mattress. I ran my hands over his back, feeling the familiar curve of his deltoids under my fingertips, yet it all felt wrong.

  I should have never started this. What was I thinking? Our first time couldn’t be like this, when he wasn’t himself, when he’d lose all his memories as soon as we crossed into Faythander.

  “Kull,” I said, pushing away from him. “Stop.”

  “Stop?” he asked. “Why must I stop?”

  “Because you can’t do this.”

  He pulled away. “Why?”

  I sat up, rearranging my shirt. “Because it’s not right.”

  He laughed. “No, it is right. It’s very right.” He pinned me to the bed once again, kissing me so passionately I felt my toes curl. My body ached for him, a feeling almost painful. I’d wanted him so badly for so long, why couldn’t I have him now? Didn’t I deserve it, after so much heartbreak? And darn it all, wasn’t it about damn time?

  But it wasn’t fair to him, and I knew it. I was being selfish if I let our first time be one that he wouldn’t remember, at my ex-boyfriend’s house of all places, and when he was under the influence of a curse that was tampering with his mind.

  Still, I could enjoy him for a little longer, couldn’t I?

  He removed his shirt, and I drank him. I forgot how breathtaking he could be. The little bit of moonlight coming in through the window highlighted his carved chest and toned abs. Excitement rushed through me as I ran my hands over his pecs, feeling the warmth of skin, raising goose bumps on his skin.

  Kull brushed the hair away from my cheek and let his finger trail along my ear, the way he used to do, slowly caressing me, then he let his fingers trail down my face, my neck, and to the tops of my breasts. His fingers unfastened the buttons on my shirt, but I grabbed his hand, stopping him.

  I pushed him away and stood, although it took every ounce of willpower within me to make it happen. I’d battled dragons, goblins, and demons from other dimensions. I’d endured being abducted, tortured, and starved, but that right there was just about the hardest thing I’d ever done.

  He stood and took my hands, the heat of his bare chest radiating to encompass me, making my heart pound wildly.

  Leaning toward my ear, he spoke quietly. “You don’t want me?”

  Swallowing, I couldn’t answer. I wanted him so badly it was almost incomprehensible. Looking into his eyes, I hoped he understood.

  “You told me you were waiting.” I wasn’t sure if it was actually true, but right now, it made a good excuse.

  “Waiting for what?”

  “Marriage.”

  He knit his eyebrows. “I never would’ve said such a thing.”

  “This time you did.”

  “For what reason?”

  “Because I almost died once, and you said that if you ever got me back, you wanted things to happen the right way and at the right time. Plus, if we ever do make it back to Faythander, you would lose all your memories. Is that really how you want our first time to be?”

  “I don’t care.” His eyes lit with passion. He cupped my cheek with one hand, and with the other, he pulled me against him. “I want you now.”

  I took both his hands in a firm grasp and pushed him away from me. “But you can’t have me,” I said. “At least, not right now.”

  His eyes shone with hurt. “You’re being serious?”

  I nodded.

  Sighing, he turned away. “You’re still lying to me. Why can’t you tell me the truth? You say you don’t want me, but your actions speak otherwise. I feel the spark between us. You can’t deny you feel it, too.”

  How was I supposed to answer? Did I lie to him? Even if I did, he’d know. Lying had never worked before, and I knew it wouldn’t work now.

  “Yes,” I answered quietly. “I feel it, too, but now isn’t the time.”

  “When will the right time be? Tomorrow?”

  “No, not tomorrow. Never.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Never?”

  “Not until your memories are back. I’m sorry, Kull.”

  Standing tall, he crossed his arms, putting up a wall between us. “You should leave.”

  Nodding, I backed out of the room. It was better this way. He’d hate me if I let him do this now.

  When I got back to my room, I closed the door behind me and climbed in bed, pulling the sheets under my chin. I felt empty and cold inside.

  Han slinked out of his hiding spot under the bed, hopped on top of the covers, and curled up beside my feet, purring softly. My thoughts wouldn’t let me sleep, and my emotions were so wound up I felt like a rubber band ready to snap.

  I
’d done the right thing, hadn’t I? Deep inside, I knew it was the right decision, even though all I could think about was the way his lips had felt on mine and the way his hands had caressed my skin.

  As my mind wandered and I finally started to fall asleep, I felt Theht’s presence returning, making me speculate how it was I hadn’t felt her when I’d been with Kull. Was it because my powers were missing?

  If so, maybe that meant there was a way to banish her, but before I could give the thought much more attention, my exhaustion caught up with me as I drifted off.

  Sunlight streamed through the window. As I woke, I glanced at the clock. 7:13. I grabbed the pillow and held it over my face, wishing morning would go away. I so wasn’t ready for another day. I wasn’t ready to face Kull. Didn’t want to relive that embarrassing nightmare that was last night. How could I look at him straight?

  I needed the old Kull back. Cursed Kull was someone I didn’t know. He didn’t even resemble the man I’d fallen in love with. Somehow, I thought I might regret not having sex with him last night, but now, I was relieved I’d done what needed to be done. I would’ve hated myself forever if that had been our first time.

  After showering, changing, and making it downstairs to the scent of brewing coffee, I found Brent in the kitchen, buttering a piece of toast. He looked up as I sat on the barstool and grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl.

  “Sleep okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Wonderfully.” I hope he heard my sarcasm.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Has His Majesty made an appearance?” I asked as I peeled my orange.

  “Haven’t seen him.”

  Good. Maybe I’d figure out a way to avoid him altogether.

  “When’s the big day?” Brent asked.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Big day?”

  “Yeah, you two are getting married, right?”

  “Oh yeah, guess I forgot.” I sighed. “No idea. We’ve been so busy trying to find a lost sword and save the world that we haven’t made any wedding plans. To be honest, with the way he is now, I don’t know if it’ll ever happen.”

  Brent nodded. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

  “What? Not getting married?”

  He nodded.

  “Why would you say that?”

  He placed his butter knife aside, seeming to think carefully before he spoke. “I’m just not convinced he loves you, that’s all.”

  “That’s because you’re not seeing who he really is. This curse has made him a completely different person. He’s not usually like this.”

  “You’re sure it’s a curse making him that way?” He spoke with a casual tone, but I heard the concern in his voice.

  “Yes, I’m positive.”

  “Hmm.” He took a bite of toast.

  “You don’t believe me?”

  “I think you’ve always had a problem with falling for people who don’t really love you.”

  “What?” I laughed. “Okay, if that’s true, then are you admitting you never loved me?”

  He paused before answering. “I think we stayed together because it was convenient.”

  Ouch. “Then it’s a good thing I dumped you.”

  “I suppose.”

  “You suppose? You’re admitting that we never loved each other, but you only suppose it’s a good thing we broke up?”

  “All I’m saying is I think you should really consider what you’re doing before marrying this guy. Are you sure he loves you? Are you sure he makes you happy?”

  “Yes. I’m positive. I know you can’t see it right now, but he loves me, too.”

  I’d had this same conversation in reverse after I’d met Kull, except then, we were discussing Brent. At the time, I’d had a hard time admitting I loved Brent, but this time, I didn’t hesitate to admit my feelings for Kull. I’d never been more sure of anything in my life.

  “You’re right,” Brent said. “I can’t see that he has feelings for you at all, which is what worries me.”

  We stopped speaking and ate our breakfast in silence. I would’ve reminded Brent of the curse, but I’d already explained it before, and I got the feeling he wouldn’t understand any better if I explained it again.

  His Majesty finally appeared from upstairs and stalked into the kitchen. He pulled out a two-liter from the fridge and sat at the opposite end of the island counter, avoiding eye contact with me as he drank his poison, looking menacing as he hunched over the bottle, like King Skullsplitter returned once again.

  “I’ve got to work a shift tonight,” Brent announced, “so if you need to get somewhere today, you should let me know.”

  I wasn’t sure where to go or how to get started.

  “Has your magic recovered?” Kull asked, still not looking at me.

  “No,” I answered. “I haven’t felt it at all since we got here.”

  “Then we need to find a portal,” Kull said, his voice low and gruff, as if he hadn’t slept well. I noticed the circles under his eyes, too.

  “Find a portal?” I asked. “Why do you say that?”

  “It’s the only option we’ve got. You have no magic, so there’s no way for you to open one, but if we find a naturally occurring portal, we’ll be able to finally escape this accursed planet.”

  “Do you know where to find one?” I asked.

  “I was hoping you would know.”

  I crossed my arms. “How do you know about portals anyway? Most people have no clue they exist—here or on Faythander.”

  “I’ve read about them.”

  “If you’ve read about them, then you’ll know how hard they are to find. You’ll also know that most portals are protected by magic and can’t be accessed. The dragons took great pains to make sure no one accidentally fell through one.”

  “Then we’ll find a portal not guarded by magic.”

  Was it possible to find one? I wasn’t even sure one existed, but I did know how to find out.

  “In that case, we’ve got to get back to my apartment,” I said. “I’ve got an atlas from Faythander that maps out all known portals on Earth.”

  Brent sipped his coffee. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. If someone—elves—or whoever, trashed your apartment, they’ll be waiting for you to return.”

  “But we don’t have a choice. I need that book.”

  “We’ve no need to worry about elves,” Kull said. “I’ve still got the sword.”

  Brent eyed him. “You intend to use that sword in a fight?”

  “What else would I use it for?”

  Brent huffed. “You’d be breaking several laws, for one thing. Assault with a deadly weapon and—”

  “Brent, it’s okay. We probably won’t have to confront anyone anyway. Also, do you have any suitcases and an ID with a photo that looks halfway like Kull?”

  “Suitcases and an ID?”

  “Yeah. I’m pretty sure wherever we’re going, it won’t be close. Kull and I will most likely have to fly.”

  Kull raised an eyebrow. “Fly?”

  “Yes, on an airplane. Have you heard of them?”

  He frowned. “You know I’ve been to Earth Kingdom before, right? I’ve heard of airplanes.”

  “Good, then we need to get going.” I stood before the other two could argue. This was going to be a long day.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Kull, Brent, and I finally got everything packed, loaded into the car, and set off for Galveston, it was nearly noon. As we crossed the causeway to the island, storm clouds brewed in the distance, and I couldn’t help but feel as if the weather was some sort of omen.

  Raindrops pelted the windshield when we pulled into my apartment’s parking lot. As I stared up at the second-floor balcony and focused on the door to my home, an uneasy feeling came over me.

  In my opinion, elves were the most dangerous race on Faythander. Their basita weapons could disintegrate us with a click of the gears. But if Kull and I wanted to get off this planet, then I’d have to
find that book.

  Kull and Brent walked with me as we crossed the parking lot and neared the staircase. Flexing my fingers, I felt exposed without my powers. When we made it up to my door, I went inside and found the apartment how I’d left it.

  My bookshelf was in my bedroom. Most of the books were on the floor, so I sat and rummaged through them. It took a few minutes of searching, but I found what I needed under the pile.

  Portals of the Faeire Realm lay facedown on the floor, and I grabbed it up. The green, leather-bound tome was an old Faythander text, with its raised, embellished cover and handwritten pages. It had been a gift from my stepfather after I’d moved to Earth when I was twelve. He’d thought it might come in handy someday, and it looked like he was right.

  The paper creaked as I flipped from one chapter to the next. When I arrived at the chapter entitled Portals of Earth Kingdom, I stopped and scanned the paragraphs.

  …for some portals were formed naturally, as holes in the fabric between one reality and the next. The portals in Earth Kingdom were discovered to be unstable, as the Earth and Faythander magics warred for supremacy. Most portals collapsed because of the instabilities caused by the magic, while others simply ceased to function. A few, however, remained.

  In ages past, the dragons sought out these portals and placed wards and spells upon them to keep the Earthlanders from inadvertently crossing, thus making it difficult for any Earthlander to find their way into our world.

  “Find anything useful?” Kull asked as he leaned against my doorframe.

  “Not yet. I’m still looking. Give me a moment.” I resumed where I’d left off.

  The dragons were never sure if they had found all the portals, as locating any single one was a difficult task. Most portals formed in caves or near water, although a very few were found in places strong in Earth magic.

  One such portal was found in the pyramids of Giza in Earth Kingdom’s Egypt. Another the dragons discovered near the volcanoes in Hawaii, and another in Paris, France.

  Eventually, the dragons abandoned their search to focus on more acute problems in Faythander. Some portals were merely hidden with masking spells, making it difficult for Earthlanders to discover.