Jackie let out a heavy sigh. “He’s never going to fit in anywhere, is he? Humans will know he’s not normal, and your people will shun him because of who his father was.”
“Our people. You keep forgetting that you’re one of us.”
“I’m a lot like Samson, you know? Both of us are screwed because of who our father was. He and I are going to have to stick together.”
Iain bit back his comment that she wasn’t screwed—she just hadn’t accepted her fate yet. If aligning herself with Samson made her feel better, then let her think what she wanted. “How are you going to be part of his life and have your old life back?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find a way. I’m smart. Samson is obviously smart. We’ll make it work.”
Like him, she wanted everything. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that it wasn’t possible. She could no more live a human life with Samson in it than he could breathe new life into his soul and be the man she deserved. They were both fooling themselves, and sooner or later, they were both going to have to choose between what they wanted and what was right.
He was pretty sure he knew how it ended for both of them. He only wished he was going to live long enough to see her come to accept her rightful place.
Logan hated taking risks like this with Hope. She had no idea how precious she was. And until today, he’d had no idea how easy he was to manipulate.
Still, he couldn’t be mad at her. She was doing what she thought was right. He couldn’t fault anyone for that, or he’d die a hypocrite.
He did exactly as she said, funneling his power at a specific set of runes carved into the side of the Sentinel Stone. They began to glow with blue fire, and a brilliant line of light spewed out, widening as he kept his focus on those runes.
“Keep going,” she said. “Just for one more second.” She tossed her amulet and the attached note into the light and stepped back. “There. Let it go.”
Logan did. He released his power, letting it flow back into himself. He expected the gateway to snap shut, but instead, it stayed open those scant six inches.
And then it began to widen.
Fear took hold of him, and he grabbed Hope, shoving her behind him. He knew gateways were dangerous, and yet he’d let her stand next to him while he did this, risking her life like an idiot.
He focused on those runes and tried to funnel power away from them. “Go get help,” he ordered. “I may not be able to stop it.”
And there was no way of knowing what might come through. If Hope was right, then this place, this Temprocia, was rustic but not terribly hostile. But if she was wrong or he’d accessed the wrong runes, then there was no way to know what would soon be stepping into their domain.
Logan’s efforts seemed to be doing no good. The crack continued to widen.
He stopped wasting his power trying to close it and readied himself for attack. Moments later, several Theronai came running out of the main building, swords drawn.
“Hope said there was trouble,” said Nicholas, who came to stand beside him, blade in hand.
“Perhaps. I can’t close the gate. I don’t know what may come through.”
“We’ll be ready for it,” said Nicholas, radiating confidence.
Joseph’s angry voice sounded from behind him. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“It’s not his fault,” said Hope. “It was my idea.”
“Yeah? Well, the next time you get an idea, ignore it.”
Logan barely controlled the anger lashing inside of him. “Do not speak to her that way. It was my choice to participate. We are trying to save Grace’s life.”
“By provoking an attack from another world? Great idea,” said Joseph.
There was a high-pitched, tearing kind of sound, and a moment later a figure appeared inside of the light. All he could see was a silhouette, but it appeared to be human, and alone.
The figure stepped through, and the light winked out, revealing a woman of indeterminate age. She was draped in shaggy layers of fur, leather, and rough fabric, all in muted, natural colors. Long, silver hair flowed over her shoulders and down past her hips. Her smooth face was a perfect mix of beauty and strength. The color and movement in her eyes reminded him of leaden waves kicked up by storm winds. Those eyes also gave away her origin. This woman was Athanasian.
She stood still, regarding the group of people that had gathered. As soon as her gaze fell on Hope, her lips quirked in a slight smile of relief. She opened her arms and Hope rushed forward before anyone could stop her, embracing the woman.
Logan shifted a protective step closer, unsure if he should pull Hope away or trust her instincts.
Hope turned and offered him a teary smile. “This is Brenya, the woman who raised me.”
Brenya cupped Hope’s face in her hands. “Are you well, child?”
Hope nodded. “Perfect. Everything turned out fine, just like you said it would.”
“So you remember?” The woman’s voice was soft and melodic, almost mesmerizing.
“Some things. Logan helped restore what I’d lost. More of my past comes back to me in bits and pieces, but I remember you. We need your help.”
Brenya opened her hand, and in it was Hope’s amulet and the curled paper on which she’d written her note. “I mustn’t stay long. Time flows more swiftly in Temprocia, and every moment I’m away is one my people are in danger.”
Joseph stepped forward. “I’m Joseph, leader of this place and these people.”
“Then you shall lead me to Grace.” Her tone was imperial, demanding obedience as her rightful due.
“First you tell me who you are,” said Joseph.
Power seemed to radiate out from her, making her appear taller than she really was. “I’m a healer. That’s all you need to know.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Let her help,” said Logan. “This may be Grace’s only chance.”
Joseph’s mouth twisted with frustration, but in the end, he nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
“Good. You may be of use,” said Brenya.
“Logan, you and Hope come with us. The rest of you stay here. Make sure nothing else comes through behind her.”
“I’ll see to it,” said Nicholas.
The four of them hurried to the room where Grace lay, barely alive. Torr was on the far side of the bed, but as they came in, he rose to his feet, his hand going to his sword. “Who’s this?”
“My mother,” said Hope. “She’s here to see Grace.”
“Not your mother, child. Serrien alone holds that honor. I merely took what she willingly sacrificed.”
“I don’t understand. Serrien is my last name.”
“Your mother’s name. She gave you to me so she could return to her world before the Solarc learned of her disobedience. But that is a story for when there is more time.”
The Solarc ruled Athanasia with absolute authority. He was a megalomaniacal bastard by all accounts, and solely responsible for the starvation Logan’s kind suffered. The Solarc was the one who ordered the gate shut, cutting off the source of blood the Sanguinar needed to survive—a curse handed down as punishment on the children of those who dared to defy him. If this woman worked against the Solarc, then she was likely more friend than enemy.
Brenya stepped up to the bed, watching Torr as she would a venomous snake. “Do you claim this dying woman?”
“I do. Hurt her and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Brenya gave him a satisfied nod and rested her long-fingered hand on Grace’s pale brow. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, there was more than a hint of surprise in her gaze. “She did this for you?”
Torr swallowed and nodded, shame burning bright in his cheeks.
“Can you help her?” asked Hope.
“Perhaps. If she lives long enough. The time left to her can be measured in heartbeats.”
Torr’s voice was filled with demand. “Then do something. Now. Before it’s too
late.”
“I can’t. At least not here. It will take longer than one night to do what must be done, and the Solarc will know I’m here once the sun rises.”
“Who cares what that fucking asshole knows?” Torr nearly shouted.
“You will when he sends his Wardens here to cut me down.”
“Yeah,” said Hope. “You definitely don’t want to mess with those guys.”
“She’s right,” said Logan. “One of them almost killed us.”
“So what do we do?” asked Torr. “You can’t walk away.”
“I can and I will,” said Brenya. “Whether I walk away with Grace is up to you.”
“Me?” asked Torr.
“What you ask of me is dangerous. It could kill me.”
“So could I,” warned Torr.
Joseph took hold of Torr’s arm and in a low voice said, “Threats are not exactly helpful here. How about you try a little respect for a woman who is likely more powerful than all of us put together.”
Torr’s jaw bulged, and he bit out, “What do you want me to do?”
“What are you willing to do?”
“Anything,” said Torr too quickly. There was something about the way he said it that bothered Logan, making him wonder if his lifemark was still healthy as it had been a few weeks ago.
Brenya smiled, but there was no warmth there, only satisfaction. “Good. Remove your shirt and kneel.”
Torr did as she asked, dropping to his knees in front of the woman.
“I’m going to mark you, and when I do, I will be able to summon you at any time from any place. You will pledge to me your sword arm and your fealty, vowing to defend me and my people in battle even at the cost of your own life. Do you so swear?”
“I do,” said Torr with no hesitation.
Brenya laid her hand on his shoulder. Torr hissed in pain. She didn’t let him flinch away, but held on tight, forcing the contact to go on for several seconds. When she pulled her hand away, there was an angry red mark in the shape of a crescent moon.
“You are mine now.”
“Whatever,” said Torr. “Just save Grace. Please.”
“I will try. Bring her.”
Logan said, “We can’t disconnect her from the machines. She can’t breathe on her own.”
Brenya looked at Torr. “He will breathe for her.”
“Before you go,” said Logan, “there’s something I need to know. Are there more women like Hope?”
Brenya’s leaden eyes darkened with sorrow. “There are. Precious, hidden souls lost in a strange world.”
“How do I find them?”
She shook her head, making her long, silver hair sway about her hips. “I do not know. I stripped them of their past and tucked them in among the humans to protect them. You will find them or not on your own.”
“Did you give them each an amulet like mine?” asked Hope.
“The daughters of Celentia and Lahrien came through before you,” said Brenya, a heavy sadness tugging at her mouth. “I gave them nothing, not even their names. That haunted me, so when I sent you away, I did so with your name, hoping it would give you some comfort to know that you were loved enough to be given the most basic of possessions.”
Hope clutched Logan’s arm, and he could hear her pulse speed. “I remember them. I played with them when I was little.”
“Perhaps you can find them and see that they are safe? I would very much like to know that they are well.”
“We’ll find them,” said Logan.
Joseph said, “And if you send any more people through the Sentinel Stone, they will come to us, safely behind our walls. We will protect them as we would our own.”
Brenya regally nodded her head once in gratitude.
Andra busted into the room, her face red and her chest puffing with exertion. She looked at Brenya and froze. “Is it true? Are you a healer?”
“I am.”
“You have to come see my sister. She needs you.”
“I must leave. There’s no more time.”
“Please. Will you just look at my sister? The Sanguinar have tried to help her, but…”
Brenya eyed Andra, from the bottom of her combat boots to the top of her head, which was several inches above Brenya’s. “Are you a warrior?”
“I blow shit up when I get the chance. Does that make a difference?”
“Do you claim your sister?”
Andra frowned, looking around the room for guidance. “Claim her?”
“Is she yours? In your keeping?”
“Yes. I take care of her.”
Brenya looked to Joseph. “What is wrong with this woman?”
Logan spoke before Joseph could. “Tori was taken when she was eight. She was fed Synestryn blood for ten years. It’s made her violent. None of us have been able to filter the taint from her blood.”
“You’ve tried?” asked Brenya.
“Many of us have. She was with them too long. It…changed her.”
Andra closed her eyes in agony. “I should have listened to Nika. I should have found her before it was too late.”
Brenya looked at Joseph. “I will take this child.”
Joseph seemed to count silently before responding, as if trying to rein in his temper. “Are you asking or are you telling?”
“I am doing this thing. Bring her to the gate.”
“Do you have to take her?” asked Andra. “She’s so fragile.”
“Then she will not survive what I must do to cleanse her. Perhaps I should not bother.”
“No,” Andra hurried to say. “I don’t mean that. She’s strong. But her mind is troubled. I worry about her going anywhere without me.”
“I have no time for this. I go now, with or without your sister.”
“With. Please. Whatever it takes.”
Brenya studied Andra for a long moment. “Remove your shirt and kneel.”
Chapter 16
Jackie had hoped for something to distract her from missing Samson, but facing a cave was not exactly her first choice.
Iain drove the SUV over a rutted, barely discernible path and parked it. Even from inside the car, this place felt familiar. There had been leaves on the trees when she’d been here last, not only the first buds of spring. It hadn’t been nearly as windy, and it had been much, much warmer.
“I’ve been here before,” said Jackie. “It was the second cave they held me in.”
“Are you sure?”
The things she’d seen were not those easily forgotten. Even from a few yards away, she could see the gaping hole in the ground, hidden only partially with brush. The slope of the land obscured it from anyone more than fifty feet away, making it an excellent place to hide.
They’d passed a collapsing farmhouse on the path here, and the skeletal remains of a barn. No one had lived here for a long time. Whoever owned this land probably had no idea it was infested with demons.
It made her want to research county records and make a few phone calls to warn people to stay away. Of course that was only going to make her sound crazy, and possibly even bring people here to check out her insane claims.
“This is a scouting mission only,” said Iain.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re not here to fight unless we have to. I’m going to go in and see if I can find that Synestryn breeding demon you were talking about, and then I’m going to come right back out.”
“And what am I going to be doing?”
“Sitting in the car, all safe and warm. You’ve done your part already, identifying the cave. If you run into trouble, throw up a shield—which you know how to do—and I’ll be here as fast as I can.”
“How will you even know I’m in trouble?”
“I’ll know. I’ll feel your fear.”
“You’re in my head? I told you that I didn’t want—”
“It’s not something I’m doing. Your emotions flow into me. I can’t help but feel them.”
“I don’t like it,” she grumbled.
“I’m not exactly a fan, myself, but we’re stuck with it for the time being. We’re both going to have to learn to deal.”
Iain got out of the SUV and went to inspect the cave entrance. As he was walking back, the headlights hit him, shining off his black leather jacket. He showed no fear, even though he was about to descend into a pit of monsters. His walk was steady and determined, his powerful thighs bunching beneath his jeans with every step.
He opened the rear hatch and started to rummage through the gear. Cold wind whipped through the SUV, sucking away all the heat that had built up inside. Jackie shivered, closing the front of her new coat to ward off the chill.
She didn’t like this at all. She wasn’t the kind of person who sat around and let others do the work. What if he ran into trouble? That cave could be filled with dozens of demons, even hundreds. There was no way he could face those odds alone and survive.
The idea of going down there scared her to death. The things she’d seen were too horrific to face, and she knew that if she went down there, those memories would force their way to the front of her mind, demanding that she relive them.
She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t strong enough.
But she also couldn’t leave a man she cared about to dive alone into a dangerous situation when her presence could mean the difference between life and death.
As much as she hated it, she knew what she had to do.
With a silent curse for having been dragged into this situation—into this world she wanted no part of—she shoved her way out of the car and stomped to the back of the SUV. “I’m going in with you.”
“Like hell,” he said, his tone flat and final.
No way was she going to let him make this decision for her. She was a grown woman, and in some ways more powerful than he was. He didn’t get to boss her around. “I can go in with you, or I can wait until you’re down there, and then go in. I don’t know much about rappelling gear, so I could break my neck getting in, but I am going in.”
He lifted his head from the ropes he was toying with and gave her a hard stare. “You were held prisoner here.”
Dying Wish: A Novel of the Sentinel Wars Page 19