“You make a valid point, Dark One,” Locke said, putting my teeth on edge as he used a nickname I seemed to be cursed with for the rest of my life. “I am willing to allow Rowe to pass so long as he immediately leaves our domain and does not return.”
“And me?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“You have crimes to atone for,” Locke said, a vicious grin spreading across his handsome face. “You have slaughtered a number of the animal clan over the long centuries. You have attacked and struck fear in the hearts of our people when you swore to be our protector.”
“While I know that you will not believe me, I took no joy in those acts, but was simply following the orders of my queen, as I swore to do. That reason does not absolve me of my crimes, but it does at least explain my actions.”
“Convenient answer. Blame it on the queen and wash your hands of the matter,” Locke sneered.
“The blood of our people will always stain my hands, and I will pay for those crimes, but now is not the time. Would not Kane like the chance to strike out at the true source of your anger and isolation? Would not your great leader like to take a shot at Aurora?”
“How do you know that we don’t already plan against her rule?”
Rowe snorted, stepping forward. “While the animal clan has always been the strongest fighters among our people, you will not get as close to her as you may hope. You need help, and Kane knows it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be hiding out in the mountains, but marching across these great lands to take the battle to her.”
“You were told to leave,” Locke snapped as he balled his fists at his sides.
Rowe shrugged. “Nyx comes before you, offering you a chance to strike at the one that used you as her dogs of war. Wouldn’t it be in the best interest of your people to allow Kane to hear her plan? Besides, wouldn’t your leader take more joy in watching her slaughter than just receiving her head after the battle is completed?”
Your assistance is less than heartening, I murmured in Rowe’s brain while keeping my face perfectly blank as Locke considered my fate.
If you die now, I may never be free of this damned collar. Furthermore, I would prefer it if Locke and the others don’t discover that you have me on a short leash.
After more than a minute one corner of Locke’s mouth finally quirked in a half smile. “You make an interesting case. Things have been quiet recently. I’m sure that Kane would appreciate a little entertainment, particularly if it means killing not only a sister of the queen but also the Dark One.”
“Thank you,” I murmured through clenched teeth. I knew we would not be welcomed with open arms, but I had not expected this level of hostility. Too much time living quietly with Cynnia had made me forget how much I was hated by the rest of our people. Many wanted to see my head on the end of a pike just as badly as they wanted to see either Cynnia or Aurora dead. If I did not believe so completely in Cynnia’s vision, then I would have said it was time for another family to rule over the naturi, while Aurora, Cynnia, and I faded from existence and memory.
“You will be led to Kane, where he will decide whether you are to be given an audience or just killed,” Locke said.
“And my reprieve?” Rowe inquired.
A fresh smile appeared on Locke’s face as he turned his gaze on the one-eyed naturi. “Revoked since you’ve decided to remain at her side. Your life is now back in Kane’s hands.” He then returned to the form of an owl and took to the skies again, flying high overhead for a moment before wheeling around toward the east.
You are becoming more trouble than you are worth, Rowe grumbled silently at me as we started walking. The other naturi in animal form drew closer to us, ushering us forward. Our escort continued to snarl and growl, keeping us moving at a brisk pace for fear of someone taking a nip at our legs should we slow too much.
You were facing death at the hands of Aurora when I grabbed you, I replied as I stepped over a log. I jerked my right leg forward as I brought it over the next log, narrowly escaping a fox snapping at my ankle. Its sharp little teeth scrapped along the sides of my leather boot. Now you’re complaining that you face death at Kane’s hands. Is there really any difference? Death is death, is it not?
I find it more likely that I will escape death at Kane’s hands but be stuck with this damned collar because you will be killed before I acquire the key.
I’m beginning to understand why the Fire Starter is so determined to kill you.
To my surprise, Rowe looked over his shoulder and flashed a wicked smile. For the first time, I wondered if the naturi was actually teasing me. The Rowe that I grew up with had always been a ruthless killer and brilliant fighter, but in the last months that I’d known him on Earth, I also discovered he had a somewhat unique sense of humor. Was this all a game to him? Did he have some secret that he was hiding away? A chill swept down my spine as I wondered who I should fear more: Kane or Rowe.
Nine
Rowe and I trudged nearly five miles through the woods in silence. Only the sounds of the occasional broken branch and the growling of our guards echoed through the dense forest. At the end of our march the dancing light of a fire peeked between the trees, beckoning us forward. My stomach twisted into knots, but I maintained my outward calm. I would not be deterred from my mission. I would not disappoint Cynnia. I would bring back Rowe and win over the animal clan. It was our only hope. Besides, my dear younger sister still had the more difficult task ahead of her.
As we came into the clearing, I paused and blinked a couple times as my eyes adjusted to the bright light of the torches spread about the area. A coyote snarled once and clamped briefly onto my left calf to goad me forward. Without making a sound, I pulled my leg free and continued with Rowe into the center of the clearing.
At the far end, Kane sat on his throne hewn from a giant boulder. The leader of the animal clan was a large man with a massive barrel chest and legs like tree trunks. His body was wrapped in a large bearskin, while his large bare feet were smeared with mud.
The leader of the animal clan always had to be the strongest. He was frequently challenged by other members of the clan in battle. Unfortunately, until Kane, the leaders of the animal clan had not been known as the best strategists in battle. The clan was known as great melee fighters and was usually the first sent into battle against any enemy. It wasn’t until Kane rose to power that the group realized exactly how poorly they had been treated by the royal family.
Unfortunately for me, the animal clan had been the most vocal against Aurora’s decisions, forcing me to strike against them to protect her sovereignty. They had the most reason to hate me, and I had a dark feeling that I was going to feel the brunt of that hatred tonight.
Our guards had backed away from us, leaving Rowe and myself standing alone in the circle. I glanced around to find many of the naturi changing back into their natural form, while others settled on the ground, still in animal form. Their expressions varied from distaste to outright hostility. Only Kane looked somewhat amused by our presence. Locke took up his position on the right side of Kane’s throne with a smug look on his face. Without a doubt, their minds were already made up against me. I had to find a way to not only get out of this alive, but to convince them to take a big risk on a young naturi with a dream.
“I am honored that you have granted me this audience, lord of the animal clan,” I said with a bow of my head. I again held my hands out to my sides with my palms open to show that I held no weapons and offered up no threat. At my side, Rowe said nothing as he folded his arms over his chest and glared at Kane.
The leader of the animal clan gave a deep chuckle. “We have been short on entertainment recently, and right now, only Aurora’s head carries more value to me than your own.”
Suppressing a sigh of frustration, I pushed forward. “Locke granted Rowe safe passage through your domain so long as he doesn’t return. Will you honor that offer?”
“Locke told me of the argument you made for him. Wise word
s,” he admitted, scratching the scraggly brown beard that stretched from his chin. “I will grant him safe passage so long as he never returns to our lands.”
All eyes then turned to Rowe, who gave a nonchalant shrug of his slim shoulders. “In truth, I have been short on entertainment as well. I’d like to stick around and see the show, if you don’t mind.”
Kane gave a deep laugh, slapping one hand on the arm of his stone chair. “Done!” he declared. “I might have been young at the time, but I recall days of you two training together. I would have thought there would be more solidarity between you.”
“Things change,” Rowe said in a low voice that wiped the smile from Kane’s face.
Yes, things had changed for all of us, and none of it seemed for the better. The naturi had been caged, Aurora turned on many of her own people, Rowe branded a traitor, and I’d become a winged creature of death for those I was sworn to protect. The naturi were dangling on the cusp of extinction. Things had indeed changed.
My temporary captive ambled slowly away from where I stood in the center of the clearing and over to a large tree. He leaned against it, crossing one foot in front of the other as he prepared to watch me try to dance my way out of my own death. A part of me wished that Cynnia had not sent me alone into Kane’s territory, but I knew that if I had come with more at my back, Kane would have instantly seen it as a threat. I was an emissary, a diplomat. Not a threat.
“Will you give me leave to deliver a final message from Cynnia before you pursue my death?” I inquired in a calm, even voice, as if I weren’t talking about my own bloody end.
Kane arched one thick brow at me and seemed to cock his head to one side in surprise. “The young one lives? Between her run-in with the Fire Starter, the death sentence from Aurora, and her association with you, I assumed that she was long dead.”
“No, Cynnia lives, though she is in hiding from Aurora’s spies. She has sent me to you with a message. Will you hear it?”
Kane gave a wave of his meaty hand, beckoning me to continue. I once again bowed my head to him, attempting to show a degree of subservience. My people might have hated me from my birth, but until this moment I had been forced to bow to no one but Aurora.
I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. My life not only lay in Kane’s hands, but also in Rowe’s—I needed his cooperation now more than ever before. Unfortunately, it had been many years since we’d last seen eye-to-eye, and Cynnia seemed to forever separate us.
“Cynnia hales your break from Aurora and the independent domain that you have established within these mountains. She wishes you many years of strength and glory—”
“Enough of your pretty words,” Kane interrupted as he slouched in his chair. “Surely she has something more important to say, something that just may save your hide.”
“Fair enough,” I said, my voice taking on an icy chill that had struck fear in the weaker. I straightened my shoulders and crossed my arms over my chest. “Cynnia plans to strike against Aurora. The queen has gone mad. As you well know, she saw treachery and betrayal around every corner. She accused her own sisters of being traitors when we remained her loyal subjects. Aurora plans to continue her campaign against the humans despite the fact that our numbers have greatly diminished. In the end, Aurora will bring about the total extinction of our people. She must be stopped.”
“I’m assuming that Cynnia will place herself on the throne should Aurora be defeated,” Kane sneered.
“Cynnia has a different vision for our people,” I quickly countered, evading his question. “She believes that we can pursue a quiet coexistence with mankind that will allow our numbers to once again flourish. She wishes a peaceful existence that will bring our people back from the brink of extinction. There will no longer be war with the nightwalkers, the lycanthropes, or the humans.”
“You paint a pretty picture.”
“One that no longer uses the animal clan as its whipping boy.” Rowe’s interjection surprised me.
Kane glared at Rowe before finally returning his attention to me. “As I’m sure you expected, this plan is appealing after years of being the main force behind Aurora’s army. We would like nothing more than to return to the forests and live in peace. However, I’m no fool. What is the catch to this beautiful dream?”
“Cynnia needs to build an army to defeat Aurora and those who have sided with her,” I said. “She humbly asks that the animal clan lend their assistance.”
“So we are to become the dog soldiers for Cynnia instead of Aurora?” Kane roared. “How is this going to be any different than what Aurora has offered us? We are still under the heel of the ruler and we are done with that role!”
“When we go into battle, the animal clan will not be alone,” I quickly argued. “They will be joined by members of the wind clan, most of whom have flocked to Cynnia’s banner, as well as some members of the earth clan. We will all be equals on the field of battle, taking back our lives from Aurora and securing our future.”
Kane shook his head. “Your numbers will still be fewer than those that follow Aurora. You will be slaughtered.”
“We will not go down as easily as you expect. Cynnia would like you to lead one battalion of naturi, and should I survive tonight’s encounter, I will lead a second. Our commander on the field will be Aurora’s former commander, Rowe,” I announced, not daring to look over at the one-eyed naturi. I couldn’t imagine how he was taking the news that Cynnia expected him to lead the army against his former wife-queen. For now, he remained silent, and I was grateful. “Rowe is unmatched in his fighting skills and a superior strategist when it comes to the battlefield. His leadership along with your own will give us an edge.”
“Interesting,” Kane admitted. “But I still do not think it will be enough to take out Aurora. Like I said earlier, you paint a pretty picture.”
“You need further enticement?” A smile crossed my lips for a second and I chanced a glance over at Rowe, who was frowning at me. I could feel the limb I was walking out on about to break beneath my feet. “As we speak, Cynnia is acquiring the assistance of the Fire Starter and any nightwalkers at her disposal. Mira has come the closest among any of us to killing Aurora. She will give us the edge we need to win.”
“Mira has agreed to follow my command?” Rowe smirked, but at least he wasn’t falling over laughing. I knew that it sounded ludicrous, and I honestly didn’t expect the Fire Starter to obey a single command issued by Rowe. But I did think she would lead the nightwalkers in an attack against Aurora. That would help regardless of what Rowe believed.
“Mira will lead the nightwalkers in battle. She will not strike against our fighters. There will be a truce.”
I will believe it when I hear the words spoken from Mira’s very lips. I was grateful for the silent communication from Rowe. For now, he wasn’t willing to sabotage my efforts to win Kane’s assistance.
The animal clan leader sat forward in his chair, leaning his elbows on his knees as he threaded his fingers together before him. “Rowe, the Fire Starter with her nightwalker army, and the animal clan,” he slowly listed. “That is an impressive gathering. Word recently reached me that the nightwalker defeated a bori. She may actually give a valuable edge to this battle. The animal clan is . . . interested.”
“What more can I say that would win you and the animal clan to our cause?”
Kane smiled broadly at me. “A place of true leadership in the new regime should Cynnia become the next queen of the naturi.”
I knew it would come to this, but I didn’t hesitate: Cynnia understood the duties that came with being the queen. “She has given me permission to say only this. If both you and Locke are amiable to the idea, she would offer Locke the position of consort should she ascend to the throne.”
“Locke? Not me?” Kane demanded, sounding surprised.
“She would prefer that you remain close to your people in the animal clan, while Locke would learn to take on the role of leader of the entire cl
an armies. You would undoubtedly still hold considerable influence over Locke for many years.” I paused and shrugged my shoulders, loosening my arms from their tight fold over my stomach. “And to be completely honest, Cynnia is attracted to both Locke’s appearance and personality. She feels that not only would the animal clan be pleased by the arrangement, but that she and Locke may actually have a happy life together.”
Kane twisted in his chair and gazed over his shoulder at his second in command, who seemed more than a little stunned by this development. He had just been offered the second highest position in the naturi royal family. I knew that Locke and Cynnia were familiar with each other, but I didn’t think Locke was aware that my sister actually had some feelings for him.
“Would you accept such a duty?” Kane asked of Locke.
“I would if it is your wish,” Locke said, staring down at his lord. It was a dangerous position. He would be taking a higher position over Kane, and yet would still feel compelled to answer to him for the first few years of the new regime as he became acclimated to his new position as consort.
Kane nodded. “It would be nice to see a member of the animal clan back in the royal family. Of course, there is a catch, isn’t there?” Kane narrowed his gaze on me. “Should Cynnia die in battle and Aurora is defeated, won’t you be next in line for the throne?”
“No, I hold to my father’s promise—I will never be eligible for the throne. If both Cynnia and Aurora are killed in battle, our people will need a new leader, not me or Rowe. If Cynnia requires it, Rowe and I will remain on in an advisory capacity, but our days as members of the royal court are over.”
Kane sat back in his chair, stroking his beard as he turned over my proposition in his mind. While I was bringing danger to his people, I was also offering them prestige and a new position of power within the naturi hierarchy. Was he willing to take a chance on a new life for his people, or would he prefer that they spend their last days hiding in the mountains away from Aurora?
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