by Raine Thomas
Skye gasped. She realized then how the Orculesti lieutenant had managed to send his thoughts through the barriers around Central. She also noted that he was wearing a shirt with sleeves, a garment that would hide an avowed marking.
“This is not about interpreting thoughts, Tristan,” Jean-Marc snapped, watching the soldiers as they approached the tables and began examining the tools. “This is about using your head. You are fueled by jealous anger and resentment because you were not selected to pair with one of them, and you are not thinking clearly. Grolkinei wishes to oversee their torture himself.”
“The elders were going to pick me!” Tristan snapped. “Caleb and James surely lied to get selected over me. I was the better choice.” He sent a heated glance toward Skye, as though it was somehow her fault. Then he said to Jean-Marc, “And you are certainly one to talk about being ruled by jealousy. Avowing yourself to Layla because you could not have Malukali?”
“They talk too much,” one of the Mercesti grumbled. “Makes me want to use these tools against them instead.”
“Let them argue,” said the soldier who had picked up the scissor-tongs. “I do not care what they decide. They do not make my decisions for me.”
He moved into the center of the chamber, opening and closing the weapon as he approached. “And the biggest decision right now is which one of the half-breeds to use this on first.”
The brothers heard the conversation as they carefully gauged the situation from one of the many entrances into the chamber housing the sisters. They did what they could to push aside the emotions that threatened to overtake them when they spotted their wives at last.
Caleb looked around the chamber, assessing the environment. He thought, The key to getting them out of there is to kill Jean-Marc first.
His brothers nodded. The Orculesti lieutenant stood closer to another entrance to their right. There wasn’t a clear shot at him from their angle, so an arrow or throwing weapon wasn’t an option. Caleb continued weighing options, trying hard not to focus on Skye. He had noticed the blood on her arms and the bruising on her face and throat when he first glimpsed her and it had nearly propelled him heedlessly into the room.
“Well, you cannot choose based on their appearance,” another soldier said, “since they all look alike.”
One of us needs to— Caleb began, only to turn and see that James and the cats were gone.
Gabriel lifted his chin toward Jean-Marc, indicating that James had already moved to get closer to the Orculesti lieutenant. Caleb nodded and returned his focus to the room, poised to act.
“I think the blue-eyed one looks the most enticing,” one soldier said, looking Skye up and down. “Those amazing legs. And she struck our lord, did she not? I say start with her.”
“Oh, Lord,” Amber said in an exasperated tone. “Just get on with it and stop talking it to death. I’m willing to bet that any one of us will kill you before you touch us with that thing, anyway.”
The Mercesti holding the tool stood straighter, his nostrils flaring over the insult. Caleb watched Gabriel shift the hold he had on his dagger, obviously prepared to change their plan if Amber provoked any danger.
“Oh, yeah?” the Mercesti said tauntingly, moving closer to Amber and lifting the tool with the clear intent to use it. “I would like to see—”
That was all he got out. Amber lifted her legs from the ground using her chains for leverage and then broke his neck with a brutal twist of her boot-clad feet. He fell with a rather surprised expression on his face.
“See?” she said to the dead Mercesti. Then she turned her cold gaze to the stunned soldiers around them. “Next?”
Though she had no way of knowing it, her actions provided exactly the distraction they needed. With everyone’s gazes focused on the activity in the center of the chamber, no one noticed when Jean-Marc suddenly went missing.
But Caleb knew the moment the lieutenant was dispatched. His connection to Skye was instantly reestablished.
We’re here, he calmly sent out to her. Get ready to transport us out.
To her credit, Skye barely reacted. He felt the potent flood of emotion course through her, but she merely sent him a mental nod as she kept a wary eye on the surrounding soldiers.
I’ll take Tristan, Gabriel communicated. You scatter everyone else.
Deal.
This was all communicated within seconds of Amber’s killing the soldier. Those seconds after the killing proved precious. Everyone was too baffled and shocked to act. By the time the Mercesti all exchanged looks with each other and made some semblance of moving to exact retribution, Caleb stepped into the room, Gabriel on his heels.
He didn’t wait for everyone to notice him. He simply brought forth holy light and cast it throughout the chamber, moving toward Skye as he did so.
There were shrieks and screams as the light touched the eyes and skin of the Mercesti. Most of them fled from the chamber. Some of them held their ground and drew weapons. James and the cats took care of them as Gabriel engaged Tristan in a battle with swords.
Skye teleported out of her manacles to Olivia. Then she teleported herself and Olivia over to Amber. They both held Amber’s waist, positioning themselves to defend if needed. Skye had to conserve what energy she had left to get them all out of there.
There was no grand and eloquent exchange of words as Gabriel deflected Tristan’s furious sword slashes. There was simply no luxury of time for that. But Caleb knew his brother’s thoughts as he ultimately ran his blade through the traitor’s heart.
This is why I didn’t choose you.
Without another word or wasted thought, they all collected around Amber. Skye wrapped an arm around Amber’s legs and reached down to touch one of each of the cats. Everyone else touched Skye wherever they could reach.
Try to get us a good distance from here, Caleb thought.
And then they were gone.
Grolkinei spent as much time as he thought necessary convincing his soldiers that the dance they had witnessed should not sway their course. He had known walking back into the central cavern that he faced a challenge. Skye had managed to affect them all.
Even him. He simply couldn’t believe that any being could be that intrinsically good. It was far easier to believe that she had known exactly what she was doing when she stepped onto that dance floor.
So when he addressed his class, he explained how manipulative and conniving Saraqael’s daughters were. How well they knew how to play on emotions, being half-human. He told his soldiers that they had been taken advantage of, that they had been robbed of a fun public whipping, and he would gladly remedy that through the use of the torture chamber that very night.
He used the volume of their cheers to gauge his level of success. By the time he was done, the noise all but brought the mountain down.
After adjourning the feast, he invited his commanders to participate in the torture session with the sisters. The only one who declined was Kanika. She claimed exhaustion. He knew she didn’t have the stomach for it.
As they were getting up from the table to head toward the torture chamber, Layla paled and sat back down.
“Jean-Marc!” she gasped.
Grolkinei tilted his head in a brief moment of confusion. Then realization set in. With a loud curse, he turned and headed for the tunnel that would get him to the torture chamber the fastest. He hadn’t gotten two steps into the tunnel when the thoughts started flooding his mind.
Intruders! Get to the torture chamber!
Holy light!
Gloresti—three of them—
He sensed it when some of the soldiers fell. And he knew, since they mentioned the holy light, that Jean-Marc was either dead or incapacitated.
Most importantly, he knew before he ever reached the chamber that the sisters were gone.
Chapter Fifty
Skye brought them to the single spot she could remember from their travels to the mountain. It was the last place Grolkinei set them down so Amb
er could heal her. She focused intently, not wanting anything to go wrong during the transport. She had never moved so many at once, but she wasn’t about to let anything happen to those she loved.
So she thought of the rocks covered with snow. She thought of the night sky and the freezing wind blowing off the mountain face. She thought of the copse of pine trees she had seen and the creaking sound the branches made as they shook.
And as she pictured it, it simply became.
Her head swam as they all physically connected with the landscape in her mind. She felt Caleb grab her and pull her against him so she wouldn’t fall, but she couldn’t command her limbs or her brain to respond.
Then Amber and Gabriel reached out and touched her. She felt better almost instantly.
Blinking, she raised her head and looked around at her siblings. They were all staring at her with such concern that she couldn’t help but be touched.
Smiling widely, she said, “Thanks.” Then she turned her head and caught Caleb’s gaze. “And now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She pulled him down and kissed him. She never noticed when their siblings moved away to have their own reunions. She couldn’t move away from his mouth. His warmth and vitality.
Eventually, though, they parted. He held her gently with both hands by the back of her head, threading his fingers through her hair and pressing his forehead to hers as they both fought for breath. Plumes of white mist surrounded them.
Are you okay? he thought.
Yes. Are you?
I am now. You’re crying.
Of course I am. She reached up to wipe her tears from her cheeks so they didn’t freeze. Then she once again encircled his waist with her arms. You have blood all over you.
It’s not mine.
Okay.
He kissed her again. As he did, he thought, You need to connect with Evangeline and ask for some warmer clothes. You’re going to freeze.
Sure thing. Absolutely. In just another minute…
James carried Olivia into the nearby copse of trees. She didn’t object, though she was perfectly able to walk on her own. The cats trailed quietly behind them.
He found a fallen tree a short distance into the woods and walked to it, sitting with her on his lap. She turned so she had her legs wrapped around his waist. Then she just clung to him and cried.
He stroked her hair and struggled to maintain his composure as she wept against his chest. He alone knew that she still suffered nightmares from her time all those weeks ago at Grolkinei’s hands. The helplessness she had experienced by being shackled and at the Mercesti’s mercy had so traumatized her that she hadn’t even wanted to wear her special bracers around her wrists for weeks afterward because they reminded her of the restraints. He knew that right then, she was suffering much more than either of her sisters because that experience had been revisited upon her. He hated that he’d had any part in it, however indirectly, by not preventing her kidnapping.
Aurora and Titan sat silently nearby, both wearing solemn expressions. They both knew Olivia’s emotions as well as he did. And to him, they were heroes.
After a few minutes, she calmed down. She used her fingers to wipe her face dry. He realized she was trembling and rubbed her arms.
You need to connect with Brenna for some warmer clothes.
She sniffled and nodded, then closed her eyes. A moment later, there was a flash of lavender light. They worked together to get her dressed in warmer pants, a long-sleeved shirt, jacket and boots. There was armor waiting for her at the base camp, but there was a little time left before they needed to worry about that.
I saw you, she thought when she was dressed and again sitting quietly on his lap.
He didn’t have to ask what she saw. He knew her thoughts.
She had seen him kill Jean-Marc.
I’m sorry, he thought, tilting her head back so he could look into her eyes.
No, she returned. I’m sorry you were put in that position. Jean-Marc brought his fate upon himself. I hold no qualms about what you did…what you all did. I’m grateful. And I know my time to deliver death to the Mercesti will come. I can only hope I’m a fraction as courageous as you are.
He rubbed his thumb over her lips. Olivia, you are my courage. I don’t know what I would do without you.
Overcome, she kissed him. And she knew she would find the courage she needed right here.
Gabriel stood with Amber under a rock ledge. It gave them moderate protection from the icy wind but kept them within sight of their siblings.
He held her tightly and pressed his face into her hair, breathing in her sunlight and spiced honey scent and assuring himself she really was safe. The past hours now seemed a blur.
How’re you holding up? he thought when his mind cleared enough to do so.
I’m okay. She moved her hand up and down his back, offering him comfort. Skye got the brunt of it. Grolkinei doesn’t know what to make of her, and he lashed out at her because of it.
She’s everything he isn’t.
She nodded.
He pulled back slightly so he could look down at her. And otherwise, you’re okay? I know the first time I killed a Mercesti…well, that was a long time ago. But it’s never easy.
It never should be. But, yes. I’m really okay. She sighed and brought her hand up to touch the side of his face. I love you, you know.
He managed a smile. I love you, too.
Is it really possible that I was worried sick over passing my finals just a matter of months ago?
He laughed then, something he hadn’t expected to do. He had helped her study for weeks for those exams. Back then—just months ago—that had seemed life or death. Now, it simply paled in comparison.
Brushing his lips against her forehead, he thought, Guess things got a little more complicated after graduation than we figured.
Yeah. They held each other in silence for a few heartbeats. Then she thought, How long until the troops get here?
About a half-hour, I’d guess. I contacted them as soon as we made it here so they wouldn’t go into the mountain looking for us.
Okay.
He brushed her hair from her face. You’re probably freezing and hungry, he thought. Do you want anything?
In answer, she just pulled him down for a kiss.
Twenty minutes later, the siblings sat together where they had transitioned. James got a fire started and Gabriel produced some chairs. The sisters were all dressed more warmly now and sat clutching steaming bowls of soup. Aurora and Titan, after many pats and hugs from the group, were a short distance away enjoying their own food reward, though they had managed to hunt it on their own.
Skye spooned some of the delicious chicken noodle soup into her mouth and savored the taste. She didn’t think she had ever been hungrier in her life. It seemed like their picnic lunch had been days ago.
“Did you really hit Grolkinei?” James asked, grinning at her.
They had all been sharing some of the details of their different experiences. Skye felt her cheeks heat as she nodded.
“How’d it feel?” Olivia asked.
“Good, especially since it allowed me to breathe,” Skye admitted. Then she shrugged. “Until he hit me back. That part wasn’t so great.”
Amber snorted a laugh. Caleb tightened his hold where his arm rested across Skye’s shoulders, but he didn’t respond.
“I wonder how Jean-Marc’s death is going to affect Layla,” Olivia said.
“She won’t survive it,” Gabriel replied with a thoughtful frown. “This level of bonding is absolutely vital.”
“It’s sad,” Skye said quietly. “Even if they only did it to get to us, it’s still sad.”
They all exchanged understanding glances.
“The others are near,” Gabriel said then, glancing toward the east.
They looked up and saw the rainbow of wings in the distance. Just as Skye set her bowl to the side and it disappeared in a lavender flash, the first of the elders lan
ded a few feet away.
They all got to their feet. Skye and her sisters were swept into hugs. She watched Sebastian wave his hand, removing the blood covering Caleb, James and Gabriel. Even without the blood, she thought they still looked incredibly fierce in their black armor and small arsenal of weapons. They didn’t seem like the same guys who had played Chicken and Marco Polo in the water earlier that day.
Or was it now the next day? She couldn’t tell anymore.
“We will wait until the morning to finalize the battle plans,” Jabari said after everyone had greeted them. “You all need rest.”
Sebastian nodded. “I have created a few temporary shelters that you may use.”
“No mental intrusions will get through here tonight,” Malukali added.
Zayna said, “We will work through the night arming everyone to be ready by morning.”
“We will maintain a thorough watch,” Uriel said. “Get the rest you need.”
Gabriel looked around at the elders and commanders surrounding them. Then he looked at his siblings. They all nodded. So he said, “We appreciate all that y’all are offering, and we’re looking forward to taking you up on it. But there’s something we need to do before we rest.”
“What is that?” Ini-herit asked.
And Gabriel produced the cursed arrow.
“They will not know what hit them,” Angius said as he stood beside Grolkinei in the War Room.
Grolkinei didn’t comment. He stared expressionlessly at the map in front of him. They had thoroughly reviewed their plan of attack. Every rank of soldier in his army knew where to be at what point of the coming battle. They had layers of reinforcements for all forms of attack. He had no reason to think they would not succeed.