Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series

by Tiffany Shand

  Warmth flooded through her, filling her with renewed strength as another fireball came towards her. Silver fire suddenly exploded around her, forming a protective circle around her body and repelling Raven’s magic. More flames covered her hands, filling the air with the smell of sulphur. The fire had finally come to do her bidding. Her hand shot out, the flames danced across the ground and lunged towards Raven.

  Jason ignored the pain of his wounds, feeling a wave of dizziness as Cate called yet more energy from him. Damn it, he had to find a way to reach her, to stop her before it was too late, but there was a wall keeping him out.

  There was a bright flash of gold orbs and Jason stared in disbelief. There stood Ceri, alongside her husband, Kal.

  “Ah, thank the goddess we finally found you.” Ceri’s eyes shot towards Cate.

  Kal swore. “It is as we feared. The power in her has taken control.” Cate hurled more silver fire at the Deva, making it, and Raven, scream.

  “Do something!” Jason said to them. “She won’t listen to me.”

  Kal raised his hand, invisible waves of energy pounding through the air, which Jason recognised as a time freeze. The Tempus’s power rippled uselessly against Cate’s protective circle.

  “Cate, stop this!” Ceri cried, putting her hands up to try and break through the wall of energy.

  “Catie, listen to us. You have to cease this now,” said Kal. “You don’t have the power to stop her. Not like this.”

  Jason fell his knees, static shooting all over him. “Make her stop. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

  “We need to cut off her source of energy,” said Ceri. “Her body won’t be able to survive much more and the ascension would kill them both.”

  Cate barely gave her parents a second glance. “Enough!” Ceri forced herself through the shield and the circle instantly shattered.

  Raven raised a hand as Cate was about to plunge her knife into the Deva’s chest. Raven grabbed the blade and pulled it from her grasp. “You disappoint me, Cate.” She raised the knife, about to turn it on Cate.

  Jason, moving at lightning speed, shoved Cate out of the way and the blade imbedded itself in his chest. Cate screamed and collapsed to the ground, as Jason grunted and staggered.

  “Not my daughter, you bitch!” Ceri threw her own column of silver fire at the Deva.

  It was the last thing Jason saw before darkness took him.

  Cate felt as if she were drowning in a black void. Voices echoed around her, the sound of it only making the pounding in her head worse. Memories came flooding back of the Deva, Raven, and silver fire. And Jason as he’d jumped in front of her, taking the knife intended for her.

  A scream seemed to come from her very soul, bringing her back from the depths. Her eyes flew open as she scrambled up. Her body stung everywhere, her head felt as if it were being repeatedly hit by a sledgehammer, and she felt drained beyond exhaustion.

  “Well, that was fast,” Someone commented. “Catherine…”

  “Oh, do stay out of this, Mother!” another voice snapped.

  The room was a blur of light and colour; Cate couldn’t see anything clearly. Her stomach lurched and she felt as if she were going to vomit.

  “It’s alright, Cate,” said a soothing voice she recognised as Niara. “Lie down so I can heal you properly.”

  The other voices continued to argue in the background. Cate put her hands over her ears, trying to block it all out as tears flowed down her cheeks. “Jason,” she muttered and tried to reach for him with her mind. She felt nothing. No trace of him. Her heart ached and fear crept in. Had Raven killed him? Had he died saving her life?

  “All of you out!” Niara cried. “You are making things worse.”

  “She’s my daughter. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I am the Grand Mistress. No one orders me to do anything and she is my granddaughter.”

  “Well, she is my granddaughter too and I am the Serenity, which means I have rank over all of you. Now get out!”

  More mutterings ensued before the door slammed. Cate felt warmth wash over her body as Niara started to heal her.

  Reaching out for Jason, she screamed for him. She needed him, needed to feel his comforting presence, to know that he was alive. But again she felt nothing and the blackness loomed once more. She felt a presence in the corner of the room as death whispered to her. Beckoned her to him.

  “Cate, don’t resist me.” Niara said. “If I don’t heal you, you could die.”

  Cate continued to sob and the room began to tremble violently. The door banged open and Jason, bruised and bloody, marched over to the bed and gathered her up in his arms. “It’s alright. I’m here now, love.”

  “Talbot, you should be healing yourself,” Niara told him.

  “I’ll heal later. I’m not leaving her.” He stroked Cate’s hair and whispered softly to her. “Let her heal you. I’ll still be here when you wake up.” Cate closed her eyes and gave into oblivion.

  CHAPTER 24

  Jason watched Cate’s wounds fade as she fell asleep in his arms. He’d felt her life force wavering, deep inside his soul and it had terrified him. “Will she be alright?” he asked.

  “She’ll need time to recover and energy.” Niara put a hand to Cate’s stomach. “You have the same wounds.”

  Jason frowned and gasped. “But how is that possible?”

  “You should go, Talbot. You are injured and my powers would have a limited effect on you.” Niara deliberately avoided his question.

  He shook his head. “I’m not leaving her. Not yet.” Not ever, he thought. He needed to stay, to be physically near her. He had come so close to losing her.

  “I put her into a healing sleep. She’ll be unconscious for several hours or more. Do not be stubborn — you are not immune to Ashrali blades.”

  Didn’t he know it, judging by the hole in his stomach. It hurt like a bitch.

  Niara sighed and put a hand on his abdomen. Her palm bathed him in golden light, which felt like warm sunshine. “You still need the elements to fully heal you, but your injuries are not so bad.”

  “Thank you,” Jason said. “And for what you did for Cate.”

  “If you can leave her for a while, we have things to discuss that now involve you.” Niara glided out of the room.

  He stroked Cate’s hair from her face. “I’ll be back soon, love.” He kissed the top of her head. “We need to talk when this is all over.”

  Jason left the room, gently closing the door behind him. He heard the sound of raised voices coming from down the hall. Obviously, they were arguing about Cate. Well, he’d just have to join in.

  “Enough!” Niara thundered and it felt like the air in his lungs shook.

  Jason made a mental note never piss this woman off. She was scarier than Seline and she had the power to hurt him.

  “All of your arguing is not helping,” snapped Niara.

  “I demand to know what happened.” Seline folded her arms across her chest and her usually cold exterior was hot with anger. Jason imagined she was not pleased to see her daughter, or having someone pull rank on her. Under other circumstances, he would have found it amusing.

  “Why don’t you explain to us what happened tonight, Talbot,” Kal suggested, “since you were the one with Cate?”

  All eyes suddenly turned to him. Facing the Deva was far less uncomfortable, than having three of the most powerful people in existence giving him accusing looks. Only Niara didn’t look angry at him.

  “Yes, Talbot. Explain to us how you failed, yet again, to keep Catherine safe,” Seline snapped. “The two of you disappeared today and I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

  Jason glared at her. “What Cate and I do in our spare time isn’t your business.”

  “She is my granddaughter and close to ascension. Everything she does is my business!”

  “Calm down, Seline,” said Niara.

  “I am Grand Mistress. I still have power over him, since
he is an Enforcer and a member of the Mavis Order! You just butt out, you–”

  “Mother!” Ceri said sharply. “Goddess, you haven’t argued this much since Kal and I told you we were married.”

  “Yes and–”

  Niara raised her hand. “As Serenity I have rank over you, so keep your opinions to yourself, Grand Mistress, and let the boy speak.” She ignored Seline’s glowering.

  Could he possibly have an unlikely ally in Niara? Gods, he hoped so. Having the four of them staring at him scared the crap out of him, but he wasn’t about to let them intimidate him, no matter who they were or how powerful.

  “Cate and I spent the day together. I thought it would be good for her to relax and get out of the city for a while,” said Jason. “We were celebrating our anniversary.”

  Kal’s blue eyes, the image of Cate’s, narrowed. “What anniversary?”

  “Their partnership, it’s been ten years since they became partners,” said Ceri.

  “Goddess, curse that day,” Seline murmured and Niara glared at her.

  “What happened today?”

  He told them they had spent the day together, seeing the town of Stoneridge, but only giving basic details. He explained they had spent most of the morning in town, and then went to his house, where they were having dinner when he sensed the Deva and Raven had attacked them.

  “After exploring Stoneridge I took her to one of my safe houses,” Jason explained. “My house is built on holy ground.”

  “But Devas can’t attack on holy ground!” Kal protested.

  “I don’t know how it’s possible either. Raven must’ve done something or perhaps it was her spirit that allowed it to enter,” he replied. “How did Raven even get a Deva? She’s not Ashrali.”

  “I doubt that would have stopped her from acquiring one,” commented Ceri.

  “How did Catherine use that kind of power?” Seline demanded. “She’s still mortal.”

  “She used the nearest source of energy she could find,” said Ceri, “and she has my Phoenix fire ability.”

  Phoenix fire? What the hell does that mean? Jason wondered.

  “Why does Cate keep losing control the way she does?” he asked. “I’ve been around the Denai long enough to know that sort of thing doesn’t usually happen.”

  “She is in transition, her powers and emotions are magnified,” said Ceri. “Besides, Cate isn’t just a Denai. Her Ashrali side is just as strong as the witch in her, and both sides are growing in power.”

  “But she only loses control when she’s with him,” Seline said accusingly.

  “It’s simple — her feelings for you, Talbot, are sending her over the edge. Whenever she senses you’re in grave danger or injured, when she feels you get hurt, it sends her into a rage and power takes control,” Ceri explained.

  “Are you saying this is my fault?” he asked with a worried look.

  “Cate has feelings for the Nuardan?” Kal demanded. “Talbot, we warned you–”

  “Oh hush, all of you,” said Niara. “It isn’t you, Ceri, or just her powers that have kept Cate safe, it’s him.” They all turned to stare him again.

  Seline laughed harshly. “Him? He’s done nothing but put her in more danger. If it weren’t for the fact that he has enough energy to help her through the ascension, he wouldn’t be here.”

  “Talbot, why do you think the Devas have rarely attacked you whilst you stayed in Faliaster for as long as you have?” asked Niara.

  “I thought I’d learnt how to stay under their radar. I limited my use of power,” he replied.

  “The Devas can sense you whenever you use your powers. That’s what they were made for,” said Kal.

  “It’s simple. His bond with Cate has shielded them both,” Niara said.

  “They’re bonded now?” Seline demanded and Jason could feel the charge of power in the air.

  “Have you bound her to you, Talbot?” Kal asked.

  Jason saw Kal tense too and suddenly began to feel afraid. “Of course not. I would never –”

  “You would, if you thought you could be with her. If you knew she could protect you from the Ashrali,” Seline accused and made a grab for him.

  Jason quickly stepped back. “Mother, your powers won’t work on him,” Ceri told her.

  “This bond must be broken!” Seline snapped.

  “I agree. I will not have my daughter bound to a Nuardan,” said Kal.

  “You can’t break a naturally occurring soul bond,” said Niara. “If we tried, you could kill them both.”

  “Soul bond? But those are rare and virtually never happen anymore,” Seline retorted. “You cannot expect me to believe that the Goddess Marked is meant to be with a lowly slave like him.”

  “Kal and I have a soul bond, Mother,” Ceri pointed out. “It might be rare, but it’s not impossible.”

  “But why him?” Kal asked. “I expected a better man for Cate, than him.”

  “Simple, he is of two of the elder races, just like Cate,” said Niara.

  “We cannot let this bond begin to form. Talbot can leave and we will find someone else to be her Mavis,” Seline said indignantly.

  Niara replied. “It’s far too late for that. The first stage of the bond has already been made and sealed.”

  Jason put his hands up in protest. “Wait a god damn minute!” he said. “I don’t know much about soul bonds, but I haven’t done anything. So will one of you please explain all of this to me?”

  “Have you bedded her?” Kal had a pained look on his face.

  “What? No,” Jason protested.

  “At least the second stage hasn’t been formed yet,” Ceri added.

  “Blessed Denai!” Seline cried. “You married her!”

  He looked down at the ring on his left hand, having completely forgotten all about it. “No, that’s not what you think–”

  “The first stage of a soul bond is where you acknowledge your love for each other, and seal it with rings of commitment,” said Ceri. “The bond has already begun. It can’t be undone, unless you go through a risky ceremony.”

  “There’s no need. Destiny has spoken — we can’t interfere with what’s meant to be,” said Niara.

  After a while Seline and Cate’s parents finally left. Jason sat down in Niara’s sitting room, his mind reeling. “What is a soul bond?” he asked. “I always thought it was when two people took the Joining Vows when they got married.”

  “That is one way of forming a soul bond, but some can occur naturally. Especially in powerful Magickind, such as you and Cate,” replied Niara. “It’s why you shared the same injuries.”

  “I had no idea being around Cate shielded me from the Devas.”

  “She is half Ashrali. The Devas would sense her, but not harm her, for they were created by Ashrali magic.”

  “What does that mean for us?” he asked, confused.

  “It means you are forever linked now the first stage has formed.”

  “Ceri said that happens when we acknowledge our love for each other. But Cate – she never told me – I don’t know how she feels about me.”

  “Love does not have to be expressed with words, Talbot.”

  “So after we – you know. If we did – what happens after that?” He couldn’t help but feel a sense of awkwardness.

  “The bond between you would be stronger. Your minds and powers would be linked and you would feel what the other feels. There would be fewer boundaries between you,” said the Serenity. “But the bond is not fully sealed until you say the vows and your souls are completely bound to each other. If one of you were to die, both of you would die.”

  “But that won’t happen until after the third stage?”

  “If the bond was strong enough, it could happen after the second stage. A soul bond isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

  “Kal and Ceri are soul bonded.”

  “Yes and their love was powerful enough to produce my grandchildren.”

  “But they
hate each other. How is that possible if they’re still bonded?”

  “Relationships and marriage are not easy, even for bonded couples. Sometimes they need time apart, but they are still united in their love for their children.”

  Jason shook his head. “I don’t think Cate is going to be happy about this bond. Why did it have to happen now?” he asked. “We’re just starting to move beyond friendship.”

  “Fate is a cruel bitch as they say. All things are meant to happen in their own time.”

  “Perhaps Seline is right, maybe I should leave. I’m still a danger –”

  “Yes, and you are more vulnerable apart, than you are together. Leaving is not something you should consider,” Niara continued. “Even if you left, you’d still be linked and would need to have some form of contact or it will be unbearable for you both.”

  “But I’m the one causing her to lose control. She could have died tonight because of me.”

  “But you saved her, just as she protected you from the Deva.”

  “I used to think I was a bit obsessed with her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her after we first met. It didn’t matter how the years went by, I knew I’d find her again.”

  Niara nodded. “Your soul recognised hers. It’s why you could never truly love another.”

  “But I can’t be with her. Not without the second stage of the bond forming, right?”

  “But now the first stage is complete, it’ll be hard for you both not to seal the next one,” Niara said. “You should talk to Cate before you make any such decisions.”

  “Not yet, she has enough to deal with. She needs to be focused on her ascension, not a potential relationship with me.”

  “I may sympathise with you, Talbot, and unlike the others, know you are a good match for Cate, but I warn you — do not break her heart.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Cate opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar bedroom. Her head had settled to a dull ache and her limbs felt stiff from disuse. At once her mind reached for Jason; he was close by and her panic faded. Jason?