“Leave me alone, Koios. I mean it. I don’t want you around me; I don’t want to be with you.”
“Let me ask you this, gamata…how do you plan to stop me?”
Good question. Every time she’d tried to just stay away from him, he’d shown up and flashed her somewhere. Why was he so persistent? “What is it you hope to gain?”
“In what?”
“This persistence. I don’t want you around me, I don’t want to take part in whatever plans you have, and I definitely don’t want you think I’m your gamata.” She was familiar with the term—Auri had explained how it was similar to a Dardaptoan Rajni, but it was a matter of mostly choice for warriors. Kindara was Rathan’s, Auri was Ren’s. But there was no way she was going to allow Koios to make her his.
Fifteen months ago, when she’s first met him, first realized that he was her Rajni, she had known immediately who he was. And she had trusted in the knowledge that Rajnis had no choice but to protect and care for their mates, that their souls would ensure that. But it wasn’t the case with this big demon.
He had stolen her from those who loved her, and she’d gone willingly. Then. Because she thought he was the male who would love her forever.
Instead he’d given her over to that monster without a backward glance. How was she supposed to forget that betrayal, just because he suddenly decided he wanted her?
“Why do you want me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why. Do. You. Want. Me?” She surprised herself—and him—by yanking the clean vestis out of his hand when he tried to wrap it around her. She sat there, naked from the waist up until she got the material wrapped around her chest. “Let’s be honest here. You don’t want me. You’re not attracted to me the way a mate should be. You have some other weird reason for harassing me.”
‘I do not view courting my gamata as any type of harassment.”
“Well, it is. As long as I see it that way, it is. Why can’t you just leave me with the people who love me, and go about your own life as if nothing ever happened all those months ago? Don’t you understand that I just want to forget all about you?”
His hands pushed hers out of the way and he tied the vestis closed. Then hard fingers wrapped around each of her shoulders. He had really big hands, didn’t he?
He was so much larger than then men she was used to. Her brothers were both tall men, but they weren’t not as tall or as muscled as Koios. She knew just exactly how strong he was, as well.
She waited for the grip to tighten even more. But it didn’t. Instead, he slipped his hands down her back and lifted her up. He kissed her forehead and almost had her in tears. Her emotions were so wild, unstable, around him. She fought to steady herself.
“Koios, what are you doing? Why? I need to understand, please?”
Chapter 12
HOW was he to answer?
If she were demon, there would be no need for him to explain. To put it into words. He was not one of glib language—his twin was the voice of Lothicano.
She was claimed as gamata—to a king, no less; shouldn’t that be enough for her?
Her face was tilted toward him, pale and beautiful.
She definitely resembled no demon Kind he knew. She looked far too fragile to ever be considered one of the thousands of Kinds in his world.
So fragile. And he had come so close to breaking her with his carelessness.
Never again.
He would dedicate the remainder of his life to protecting this female. He set her back on her feet as gently as possible. “You must finish dressing. They are expecting you in the private hall shortly.”
“For what?”
“They did not say, but the tone of that bastard Black was grim.”
“Do not call him that. He is a part of my family. And I care for him greatly.”
There was a snap in her words toward him this day that had never been there before. It showed more spirit from her than he had expected.
“He flashed me into cave and left me there.”
“Why did he do that?”
“Because he could. But as you can s—” He cut himself off. “Never you mind Black. He will not be interfering with us again.”
She smiled and he was taken aback at how perfect the expression was. Had she ever smiled in his presence before?
Koios was stuck by the knowledge that she hadn’t.
Had he truly given her nothing to smile about throughout their association?
“Do you really think you can stop Nal from doing whatever he wants? No one ever has before, that I know of.”
“He is no god.”
“No, he isn’t. He is more though, isn’t he?”
Of course Black was. He was Laquazzean.
And so was she.
Koios mustn’t ever forget that.
Chapter 13
KOIOS wanted to break Black’s damned fingers. The other male had a hand on Bronwen’s small shoulder, using his grip to guide her where he wanted her to go. And she didn’t shrug off the Laquazzean’s touch.
Not like she did Koios’.
“Nal, I am not so sure of this…”
He heard the nerves in her voice and his response to that fear surprised him. He never wanted her to feel fear again.
The realistic part of himself knew that was something he would never be able to fully accomplish. But that did not mean that he wanted another male comforting his gamata. He dislodged Black’s hand and wrapped his own around her shoulder.
She immediately tensed. “What are you doing?”
“He has his own female, he has no need to touch mine.”
“I’m not your female, Koios. You need to remember that.”
“In time, you will realize that I am your gamata. We will grow from there. In the meantime, consider me your champion. It is my duty to ensure you are well guarded, protected, in this coming time.”
“I did not ask for your protection.”
“But you have my oath, and my sword. Such that it is.” He still had the one he had taken off a fallen Midreno demon two days earlier. Midreno were similar in size to Beskre warriors, having come from a common ancestor. But Midreno were more animalistic, more killing machines. Evolution had taken from the Midreno their ability to experience softer emotions, while evolution had enabled the Beskre to grow a little stronger and a lot faster than the Midreno. Still, the Midreno were known for their artistry with swords. “Since Black is responsible for the loss of my own ancient blade.”
“Your foolishness is responsible for whatever loss you experienced.” Black smirked at him, and Koios wanted to smash a fist into the male’s face. He would not forget the shit Black had pulled three days ago. If it had not been for Phaenna, Koios would most likely still be in that damned hole. He would not let that slight go too much longer.
Had his gamata’s safety not been in jeopardy he would have already addressed the affront. He would have his day with Black, and soon.
The male looked at him. “Sure you will. You are a flea upon a dog when compared to a Laquazzean.”
“And arrogance has failed many a warrior.”
“So says the king of arrogance.”
“Yes, I am a king. You would be best to remember that. And I command an army of eight thousand demon warriors.”
Black said nothing as they made their way down the white stone hall. He stopped at a black door. His eyes met Koios’ again. “And those numbers will most likely be needed. That is one of the only reasons you are not locked out of this meeting. You are supercilious. Bronwen is not.”
“Nalik, I—”
Black closed the door instead of pushing it the rest of the way open. He turned Bronwen toward him. “Listen to me, Bronwen. I would not bring this upon you if I could protect you, any more than I would have wished it upon my own sister—or that I wish it on Cassandra. You know that. I was there with your brothers on the day you were born, I comforted you when you scratched a knee and when you broke your arm. I lov
e you. I would not ever wish this for you, yet I also know you. And I know what you are capable of. I know what you have in you. But the question is…do you?”
“I think we both know the answer to that, Nal. I’m not that capable of anything anymore.”
Bronwen’s whispered response stabbed right through Koios. Had she always been so self-doubting or was that something else that could be laid directly at his own feet?
He reached over her shoulder and opened the door. They had much to talk about and that could only happen after this meeting.
He knew it. Did she?
***
She bumped her way toward a chair, following Nalik’s guiding hand. It wasn’t exactly a chair, but a stone bench with room for one other. It did not surprise her when Koios took that spot.
Someone reached out and tapped her shoulder, laid their head against Bronwen’s. From the familiar scent she recognized the closest person to a mother she had ever had. “Auri…what are we doing here today?”
“We are making decisions that will shape a war.” It was Ren, and his voice came from the other side of Auri. “Welcome to our special party, little healer.”
“I do not know why I am here.”
“Oh, sweetie, I think you do.” Auri hugged her. “I saw it that day, in the courtyard. Your future was set long ago; it only waits for you to live it.”
“But what is that future?” She knew she wouldn’t get a true answer. Her brother Theo had the gift of foresight, and he firmly believed it was better not to know and perhaps ruin that future than to know it ahead. She’d always understood it in theory. But when it pertained to her? She didn’t appreciate it so much.
Eaudne must have heard her. “To heal, child.”
“Be that so,” Nalik said. “It cannot be done here. Thrun is not structurally set up to support mass healing. Auri and I have shorn it up as best we can, but it is a demon city and built over a mass of caves far weaker than any limestone of the Gaian world. Daily power surges and instability even from a fraction of healers here would weaken the city. Thrun would not be able to withstand another battle like we faced recently.”
Bron shivered. “Do you think there will be another one?”
Nalik answered. “Yes. I believe there will, possibly many. Thrun is vulnerable, still. Even with us to protect it. Auri and I cannot be everywhere. And even our strengths and skills cannot protect the entire city. Yet.”
Auri’s Rajni agreed. “What my gamata and her cousin cannot, I have eight thousand warriors, mostly Beskre, Phrymos, and Morcpe, to shore up this city. And another four thousand remain with my King in Relaklonos’ capitol.”
Koios shifted on the stone beside her. “Do you feel such numbers necessary? What do we know of this war? Who? Why? Where, even? Vague predictions and threats will not convince others a war is to come.”
Another voice answered, and it wasn’t one Bronwen recognized. Phaenna? She had only met her once or twice, and never had they spoken to one another. “This has not ever been revealed to us. Twelve thousand be so few, but it may be far too many. We have no way of knowing. We are only beings, for all of our gifts. Some of us have the ability to see what could be. Some like Nalik and Aureliana have gifts that allow them to lead, to protect. Still others like Cass, and yourself Bronwen Sebastos, the gift of restoration, of regrowth, birth, and healing. Those are not to be taken lightly.”
A cold hand wrapped around Bron’s chin and turned her toward the voice. “I know you, more than any of us in this room, feel the pang of uncertainty. But you were meant to be here, just as much as I am. Or any of the others. That is the way that destiny works. For all that I am Laquazzeana, I cannot deny the Four of Destiny when they are at work. We each are. Though our King of Arrogance there beside you has yet to earn his place, he is still meant to be here.”
“Forget you not, all of you, that I am in fact a king. Of equally high birth as the Phrymos here.”
“But Ren is my champion, protector of my soul.” Bronwen could feel the strength of Aureliana’s power beside her. And her irritation. “You are here because Phaenna spoke for you. No one else.”
Bron didn’t have to see his face to know that Koios would not like that challenge. “Does it really matter?”
Koios’ hand wrapped around her shoulder again. To quiet her or to support her, she didn’t have a clue. “Perhaps I am here to augment the Relaklonos’ numbers. I command a force of mine own, nine thousand loyal to me and my Lothicano. My brother commands an additional number equally as great.”
“So between the demon twin kings, we have twenty thousand soldiers,” Eaudne said. It was the first she had spoken. The rest of the room quieted. “And between the Dardaptoans, Gaian and Evalanedean, we can meet that number times five. One hundred and twenty thousand. The high king has promised us another fifty thousand. I just hope that is enough. I just hope…”
Her voice broke and Bron felt her own breath hitch. Something had happened between her and Eaudne during the fighting three days ago. A bond had formed that Bronwen had never expected. It hurt her to hear the other woman’s pain. Eaudne continued. “I have seen these days before…”
“Eaudne, you don’t have to talk about it. Not if you don’t want to.” Nalik’s Rajni said. “We understand painful memories.”
Chapter 14
KOIOS studied the older woman. Save for the lines around her eyes brought from suffering, she looked no older than any of the other females seated around the massive stone table. It was the aura that surrounded her which made her age apparent to those who looked closely.
“No. To not speak of horrors does no one true service. Not in matters such as these. Cass, Bronwen, babes you both are. Wars, you have not really known. But the rest of us have seen...”
She stood and walked with her damaged gait around the table. She stopped behind Bronwen and stared down at his gamata. The grief in her eyes was unmistakable. Eaudne brushed her scarred hand down Bronwen’s braid. His gamata turned.
“Twenty-two children have I brought from my body. Each one as equally precious as the others. For thousands of years I lived with the knowledge that all but one had fallen when Evelanedea fell. Kennera was returned to me—and that return was the greatest gift. Since that day I have found three more of my children with reborn souls. Havalana of Amyenka, Nalik of Black, and now in Bronwen of Sebastos. Three in four thousand years. And with my mother’s heart I know that I will fight whatever I must to protect my children.”
Bronwen’s shock was visible when Koios looked at her. It surprised him, as well, though the Laquazzeana had said nearly as much to him before.
“To do that, I cannot hold secrets close any longer.” Eaudne continued around the table to Black’s female. “Cass...my dear, dear Cass...Light is the soul within you. And very much like that of the mother of Druidics that predates the Kind of Gaia’s Ireland who borrowed the name centuries ago. It is from her line your blood descends. She drew her strength from the ground and what from it grew. You have the same purity of spirit because in you the soul of her youngest daughter was reborn. It is by no coincidence that that rebirth happened within you. Nor Bronwen or Havalana. Nor was Kennera brought back to me now, after all these centuries. No it is just a precursor of what is to befall every world. Every realm.”
Koios voiced the question he knew the others were thinking. “What happened to you?” He ignored the expression of censure on several of the females’ faced. War had no time for sensibilities.
“The fires, dear boy.”
She returned to her chair. But she still held everyone’s attention. “The worlds were forged from breath and flesh, through fire and cold. Layer upon layer they formed, each one blending into the next. It was not always so difficult to move between the worlds. And those of the right sorcery can perhaps still manage it. I suspect our Phaenna can...We all know how the differing worlds rest, one directly upon the next, now. But someone, a sorcerer of such dark skill some said he had to be two men, managed to m
anipulate the inner worlds. To bring the fires of the Three Hells up through five other worlds to burn the Houses of Evelanedea.”
Koios stayed silent as her gaze turned inward, her tone flattened, and her good handed rubbed absently at the bad. Was she even aware of those surrounding her now?
“The fires were on our lands before we knew. Before we could even smell the death on the air. By the time warning was given, it was far too late. My mate’s family had ruled Evelanedea from the moment life was born into our world. But I was just a small peasant girl by birth. It took me so long to adjust...Twenty-two children I brought to the Dardaptos family; twenty-two targets for that sorcerer’s soldiers. We were celebrating the betrothal of my third son Jushua to the daughter of my closest friend. Celebrating, and perhaps more foolish than we ought to have been. But no one can escape the fires of the Three Hells—or at least they are not supposed to. Nelciana and Kennera did. Jushua did. And I did. But the child I carried in my arms did not. Her soul was not strong enough to withstand the sorcerer’s thirst. It is the soul of that babe that I sense within you, Bronwen of Sebastos.”
No one spoke for a long time. Bronwen broke the silence. “I am sorry for what you lost that day. But I still have so many questions.”
Eaudne looked at her for a long, silent moment. “Of course you do. How could you not? But those questions will be answered later. Now, we must turn our hearts and minds to this war that comes. The day my children were taken from me the sorcerer laid his hands upon me; his intentions were very clear. He would claim each Dardaptos soul, and by marriage, through sheer love I had for my mate and children, I was Dardaptoan. I fought him to protect my daughter, and I fell. He should have killed me that day, but he took that precious child instead. And he left me to live. I do not know what stayed his hand, but he left me there in the ash and the mud. The rain. When I next opened my eyes, Jushua was there, and it became clear to me all that had been lost.”
Warrior Blind Page 5