I ran to the corner, farthest from the door, then turned and braced for Lutin. The storm never subsiding for a second as he approached unseen on the other side of the wall.
Then the wall burst apart, plaster and splinters flailing against me as I crouched down and covered my head. A piece of the building landing heavily against my shoulder, tearing a grunt from my lips and making me lose the grip on my stake. I fumbled in the mess of debris at my feet for the fallen object, finding it just as Lutin stepped into the room.
The cut to his face had already healed, a pathetic attempt to incapacitate him on my behalf. I tightened my grip on the weapon in my hand and prayed to Nut I was strong enough to end this once and for all. I started to search for any Dark within me, anything that countered my aversion to killing this man. Oh, I wanted him dead, I really did, but my body refused to obey my heart's command.
"I will not harm you, elska," he said, as musical chimes mixed with the sounds of the howling wind. "But you have angered me this night." His eyes fixed on me, blazing a maelstrom of greens that threatened to blot out the flashes of lightning that spasmodically arced above our heads.
I knew what was going to happen, or at least what the result was going to be. And I refused to give him what he sought. I kept my gaze averted, but the pull to his vibrantly green eyes was a hard battle to fight.
Even though he said he wouldn't harm me, that by doing so would harm his mythical child, I didn't trust him. He was Ljósálfar. They could lie. I increased my Light shield until the room was a blaze of white from my Light and green from his eyes. I almost had to shut my lids, to block the blinding lights out. Then he changed tactics. The storm still raged around us, thunder now joining the flashes of lightning in the sky. The roof completely gone, the building crumbling beneath us and to our sides. But now he called his own Light forward and sent it to wrap with mine.
My shields can resist many magical assaults. To a certain degree I have learned to protect against Fey attack. But Lutin's Light is different and always would be. From the moment I had met him, his Light called to mine. But since we had completed the kvángask it had intensified. I had no hope of resisting, my only thoughts as both our Lights began to entwine, was that my vampires could find me while I distracted him. While I allowed his Light to be embraced by mine.
Both Lutin and I fell to our knees, the effect of our combined Light taking its toll. I gritted my teeth in an effort to stay in control for as long as I could, keeping my shields solid, maintaining a level of detachment, but knowing it was slipping with every second that passed.
I needed to give my guards more time. That thought was enough for me to send a surge of Light towards Lutin, to smash against his own for a second, maybe two. Long enough for me to feel a small smattering of elation, then as my Light stopped attacking and began to enfold Lutin's instead, both blinding the night sky, fear like I had never felt before rushed in.
I could feel my body's response to his Light as it fell towards the rubble strewn floor. I could see his own movements through the dust of the debris to reach me. Our combined Lights making his progress so much easier than it had any right to be. He'd almost made it to me and I knew the moment his hand touched my body all would be lost. He'd chance Álfheimr in order to contain me and I'd have no hope of escape. And when the time came that he realised I wasn't pregnant at all, his anger would match no other.
I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, the pressure in my head from the storm about to explode. His Light cocooned me, my Light encouraged him and all I kept whispering in my mind was, Michel.
He'd heard me, the connection snapping open wide, but it was too late. Lutin's hand hovered over my wet cheek and then the lights - and Lights - went out.
Chapter 24
The Wings Of An Angel Or The Flames of Hell
I heard the loud fluttering of wings. Which surprised me, the fīfrildi shouldn't have been in the Ljósálfar Royal Court. Then the hot wash of fire as it passed me and the crackle of wood igniting filling my ears.
I wasn't in Álfheimr, I was in hell. And I couldn't decide which was worse.
"Come on, lass!" a voice commanded me. "Time to move your arse!"
My eyes flicked open to see two dragons in battle with a blazing ball of Light. Before me crouched Sebastian, in human form, his clothes scorched, his sandy hair singed. But I couldn't think of a better sight.
"Did Michel call you?" I said in utter relief.
He frowned at me and shook his head. And in that moment I knew the dragon shifter had found us at Amun's house too. That Amun had not only betrayed our trust to a fairy, but to the Champion's spy as well.
I didn't have time to dwell on that realisation, as Sebastian helped me to my feet, ducking when the leathery wing of one of his comrades swept over our heads. He said some words in a language I didn't recognise and then suddenly threw me up in the air. I screamed as my body flew through the enclosed space, my arms flailing, my Light trying futilely to cushion what was going to be a rough ride. Then the swoosh of wings distracted me and I hit the back of a scaly dragon hard.
"Hold on!" Sebastian instructed and then proceeded to transform. The flash of bright magical colours swirling around his new dragon form.
I scrabbled to find anything to hold onto as the dragon beneath me took flight. Sliding gracelessly backwards, I gripped my knees tight to his sides and wrapped my arms around his thick neck. The sensation of slipping ceased, but not the unreal feeling of falling as he forced his body higher and higher in the sky. The blazing ruins of the house got further and further away, the heat of moments before being replaced with the chilling high altitude flight.
"Take me down!" I said through chattering teeth and the dragon snorted in response. A puff of smoke and flame emitting from his nostrils, but he began, at least, to descend in lazy circles back towards the continuing fight. He didn't land, he made sure to keep us out of reach or sight, but I could see everything ensuing. The dragons' fiery breath, the burning flames of the house and Lutin's Light. Two dragons against one fairy should have been a logical win, but Sebastian and his partner were failing. Hit after hit from Lutin's Light landing its mark, the storm causing deadly projectiles to pound against their hardened scaly shells. Lightning missing by mere millimetres.
My heart leapt into my throat.
"They're not going to win!" I shouted above the wind in my ears. "I need to help!"
The dragon just grunted but continued to circle at the same height. It was too far to consider jumping, but then I refused to let anyone die for me again. I'd watched too many friends sacrifice themselves for me in the past and even though Sebastian was far from someone I'd call a friend, he had found me tonight, he'd entered the fray to get me out. And he was risking his life now because of me. That may not have constituted friendship, but I still wasn't going to let him die tonight.
I slid my leg over the side of the dragon, careful to avoid his outstretched wings, then taking a deep breath I let go, falling quickly from his side. The ground came up faster than I had expected, the wind rushing past my ears in a deafening roar. It was all so distracting. But I willed my eyes to stay open and thrust out toward the startlingly fast approaching asphalt with my Light.
I landed in a crouch, one leg outstretched and my hand firmly on the ground. It would have looked spectacular, some action heroine leaping into the fight with feline-like grace. I silently sent a thanks for my hated joining to Avery and the ability it gave me to land on my feet from a great height like a cat. I stood stiffly and stretched my muscles, testing to make sure I wouldn't collapse. Then turned and headed towards the now raging inferno with one thing only on my mind.
This had to stop now. I didn't know how, I wasn't thinking that through to conclusion just yet. I couldn't, the part of me that is Light refused to believe it had to end this way at all. But the part of me that is entwined with the Dark, steeled my heart and hardened my soul.
The heat almost pushed me backwards, no normal human coul
d have past through those flames uninjured. But I reminded myself I was not a Norm and gathered my Light around me, letting it pulse out in a protective wave. Then before I could think better of it, I ran through the wall of flames.
I'd been able to see quite a lot from the vantage point of a flying dragon, but on the ground, in amongst the soot and smoke, falling debris and shocking heat, it was harder. I stumbled across fallen walls and broken and charred furniture, trying to orientate myself to the sounds of battle that I knew was raging somewhere within. Several seconds passed with nothing to show for my efforts except a lung full of hot smoke and a few more bruises and scratches to those Avery had left on my skin. Then to my utter relief I found them.
Relief quickly turned to horror as I realised already that one dragon was down. I couldn't tell if the form belonged to Sebastian, the dragons all looked the same to me when transformed. But it didn't matter if it wasn't him, this dragon had fought at Sebastian's request because of me. I felt responsible and I felt my anger start to rise. I brushed my hair aside and charged on into the fray.
Lutin was firing Light bolts after Light bolts towards the remaining shifter. The dragon flicking out of sight and reappearing several feet away, in an effort to avoid the onslaught. But he was tiring and I could tell any moment now he'd make a mistake. Before Lutin had a chance to see me coming, I shot a bolt of my own Light squarely towards his chest.
Even though anger consumed me at the sight of the fallen dragon in amongst the rubble of the house, I still didn't 'shoot to kill'. My Light caused Lutin to stumble backwards, but it was enough of a distraction for the dragon to strike. Sharp claws raked down his torso, followed by a flash of orangey-red flame. The smell of burnt flesh mixed with the already charred smells around us and I forced back a choked gag.
I hesitated at the sight of what the dragon had done. Horror mixed with a sense of disbelief that Lutin had been disfigured to such a degree. His skin hanging in burnt strips off the side of his once handsome face. I wasn't sure if it would be permanent, the thought making an hysterical bubble of laughter spill up my throat. I'd wanted him dead moments ago and here I was worried about a little scaring on his face.
He rallied and shot out at the dragon with a pure blast of his Light and backed it up with an increase in the tornado that twisted about the wreck of a place. Bits of wall and masonry, furniture and dust, began to rain down on the dragon, but somehow continued to miss me. Even fighting for his life, Lutin was able to keep his elska out of harm's way. I couldn't understand why he just didn't walk back through a rip in space, return to Álfheimr to heal. But I didn't have time to think about it as the dragon, in a roar of anger, lashed out again.
This time Lutin couldn't protect me, as the scaly tail of the dragon flicked out in an attempt to maintain its balance as it struck forward with a clawed hand. I went flying through the air, my Light wrapping around me in an effort to shield, but the pile of bricks I landed on still bloody hurt. The air was pushed from my lungs in a rush of blinding pain and it took me several moments to refocus on the continued battle before me.
For a while all I could see was bright lights, colours in every shade and hue, dancing before my eyes. They reminded me of Michel, when he had been joined to me and had battled he'd appeared as a tornado of colours, beautiful and frightening in equal degrees. I was terrified now, but strangely not for me. The colours seemed a little removed from where I sat a little broken, struggling to breathe.
I spotted a burnt Lutin in amongst the rainbow, the dragon with bleeding holes along his side. Blood gushing in rivulets down his scales, flame scorching a path as he turned his head tracking the fairy. But Lutin managed to keep out of the firing line, landing blow after blow of Light on the dragon's head.
I had a choice to make, sitting there watching it all happen slowly before me. I could allow Lutin to kill the dragon and avoid the one thing I seemed to be having trouble facing - killing him myself. Or I could suck it up and do what needed to be done, to save an innocent life and not let a man die tonight because of me. I could reach into the part of me that is all Dark and do what needed to be done.
"Lutin!" I cried above the sounds of battle and flaming building. "Stop!"
I scrambled to my feet, the world tilting precariously sideways for a moment and gathered my Light. I held it in a ball of brightness within my palm, intentionally trying to catch the fairy's line of sight. I wanted to warn him, to give him a chance to retreat. I wanted him to choose the right path and leave before more irreparable damage was done and another dragon had to die.
Lutin's eyes flicked up to mine and he smiled. The sort of smile meant to reassure. I watched as he gathered his own Light, ready for the killing blow. He really didn't think I'd do it. He really believed I was on his side. I let a sob of disbelief out on a breath of hot air and threw my ball of Light. My aim was off, I'm not sure if that was intentional or just a result of the last bang to my head, but it bounced off a pile of rubble and rebounded off a partially standing wall. The result wasn't as strong as I had intended, but it did manage to spin Lutin around like a top.
The dragon roared in appreciation and I watched as his claws tore at Lutin's clothes. Part of me thought it was just fabric flying through the air, the part of me that wanted to believe that's all I saw. But as more and more of Lutin's body was torn apart and blood covered the floor like the sea, I couldn't hide the truth from my brain any longer and realisation of Lutin's impending death sunk in.
"Stop," I whispered and of course no one heard me. But the storm was quietening, which only meant one thing. "Stop!" I yelled and began moving as the lightning ceased and the thunder no longer rolled. "Stop it!" I shrieked as I landed a blow with my fists on the back of the dragon's scaly tail.
I managed to push him aside, Goddess knows how I found the strength, and fell to my knees beside Lutin's destroyed body.
I was panting and my hands were shaking, I didn't want to touch in case I caused more pain. He was still breathing, but barely, his Light had already fled. I shook my head as the dragon shifted back to human form beside me. And then Sebastian stood in its place. His electric blue eyes on fire, his gaze never leaving my face. I ignored him. This was between me and Lutin. A fairy I hated and feared as much as I liked.
He'd done terrible things to me in the past, unforgivable things. And they'd never stop. He believed I carried his child, he believed I was his to possess. I didn't think he loved me, but he believed he did and in his mind that was enough. He would never stop hunting me, never stop trying to take me back. And I had sworn I would never, ever go to Álfheimr again.
So, I didn't offer my Light, I didn't try to save him. I didn't land the killing blow, but I was prepared to let him die. What did that make me?
I let a sob out at that thought and whispered, "Why don't you go back?"
"He can't," Sebastian answered in a cool voice. "My magic is keeping him tethered to this realm."
I didn't question the Nathair-Sgiathach, he could disappear in thin air, a little like a fairy. It didn't surprise me he could tamper with Lutin's ability to disappear too. I licked my lips and reached down to clasp the only remaining part of Lutin's body that seemed to be intact. His hand closed around mine with what must have been his last strength.
He was dying and we weren't even giving him the dignity to do it in his realm.
The fire continued to rage around us, but somehow we were cocooned. Lutin, me and a dragon-shifter, waiting for the end. The storm had completely dissipated and although I couldn't see the stars, I knew they were there. I wondered if Lutin was thinking of the stars in the sky of Álfheimr.
"Lucinda," he said in a rasp. I leant my head in to hear his next words. "Elska, tell me that the baby will live."
I pulled back in shock. His last words to me are for the child he fervently believes exists. I'm no good at lying. For some reason I missed that gene at birth. And after everything Lutin had done to me, he deserved the bitter sting of truth. But, I found mys
elf saying the words he longed to hear. And I heard the sincerity in my voice. One lie to a dying man - surely Nut would forgive.
"The baby will be fine, Lutin. It will be just fine."
I watched as a look of joy and contentment replaced the look of pain on his face. Then he whispered, in a barely there voice, "You will always be my elska."
I told myself the tears I cried as he breathed his last breath, was for the fact the world - mine and his - was now a sadder place. Lutin, Prince of Ljósálfar, was dead. And I couldn't help feeling there was a little less Light in our worlds tonight.
I didn't love Lutin, I never had. And he'd done some truly devious and hurtful things. But he'd been full of Light and mischief that had somehow called to me. I couldn't explain it, but a small part of myself died tonight as well.
I rested his hand on his destroyed chest. I gently closed his lids and straightened what I could of his torn and tattered clothes, then I stood shakily to my feet and stepped back.
"Let him go," I instructed Sebastian and instantly felt a wash of something earthy brush past my sides.
Colours, that could only have existed in Álfheimr, began to swirl around him and then in a smell of new season peaches he disappeared. Both Sebastian and I stood in silence and then he turned and walked to his fallen dragon's side. I wanted to ask if Lutin could be resurrected by his kin, if their magic was strong enough to raise the dead. But I already knew the answer, because in my heart he was most definitely gone. I hadn't realised the kvángask had formed any kind of connection between us. But then maybe it hadn't been that at all. Aliath had said when Lutin reversed my joining to Michel, he had swapped a part of himself in its place instead.
Whatever it was, he was gone and I knew it. He would never be hunting me again. But then maybe Isoleth would. I was responsible for her son's death this night, even if it wasn't me who landed the killing blow. I wondered if fairies thought the same as vampires, the punishment is in the offence. Excuses meant little, if the deed was in any way connected to you. Lutin's death was most surely connected to me.
Entwined With the Dark Page 28