The Temple of Sacrifice

by Tameri Etherton

  Nena’s words echoed in his mind. Taryn was not in danger. At least not at that moment. He slapped the reins and Fayngaar grunted his distaste for the disguise. They trundled north toward Lake Eion, but Rhoane kept his gaze to the west and Caer Idris, where he hoped Taryn was safe.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  No guided their way as they traveled southeast toward the Dierlin Pass. The first night of their escape, Taryn found them shelter in an abandoned shepherd’s cottage. Niko munched moldy hay and Kaida caught several rats in the loft while Taryn and the faerie ate what crumbs they could find in the cupboard. When she sank to the floor, exhausted, a wave of emotion washed over her but she held back her tears for fear if she let one fall, a dam would burst. Kaida and the faerie curled close, but it wasn’t their warmth she craved.

  The frigid darkness that teased her since the Stones lingered, sometimes giving her chills that wracked her body, other times being nothing more than a nuisance. On several occasions, Rykoto whispered entreaties to her, but he didn’t attack as he had at the river. Still, Taryn was cautious. The constant wariness wore on her and twice she had almost allowed Rykoto to convince her to leave her companions. Always in the middle of the night the voice came, coaxing her awake, easing her into a false sense of confidence.

  Both times, Kaida had prevented her from leaving or harming herself. Each time, Taryn had lain with her arms wrapped tightly around the grierbas, too afraid to let go. Rykoto was getting stronger and more bolder each day and she was no closer to understanding her Dark powers. She couldn’t rely on her father or brother for help, which meant she’d have to find someone else. Hopefully her uncle would have an idea of where she could start, but that had to wait until Paderau and there was a lot of riding between them and the duke.

  They rode hard, day and night. Only when she was faint from lack of food would they stop to set snares or fish in a stream. At first, the faerie snatched his food from her with greedy hands, taking gulping bites, afraid Taryn might take the food from him.

  Very gently, as if she were speaking to a child, she would say, “You must eat slower or you will make yourself sick.” When she put a hand on his, he snarled at her, baring his teeth. “I am not going to take your food. Slowly, that is it. Just a small bite.” When she gave him another portion, he looked at her with apprehension. “You can trust me. I am going to take care of you.”

  Gradually she earned his trust and one night, under a blanket of stars, the faerie found the courage to speak. Not with his voice, but in her mind.

  His name was Gian. He belonged to a clan on the western border of the Narthvier. They traded goods with several villages nearby and it was when he was out hunting for pelts that Zakael had come upon him. He bound Gian in his ShantiMari and took him to Caer Idris. Beyond that, Gian would say no more. When Taryn suggested she return him to the vier, he sobbed against her, his sounds muffled in his throat. He insisted over and over again he could never return to the Narthvier.

  Whatever he suffered while imprisoned in Zakael’s dungeons had scarred Gian physically and emotionally. Taryn held him close, promising she wouldn’t let anything happen to him. She stretched her power, pulling the shadows over them like a thick cloak.

  On the sixth day of their escape, Taryn noticed a sleek black bird flying overhead. When it circled above them, her pulse quickened. Niko must’ve sensed the bird’s presence because he pawed at the ground, snorting with angry huffs. She led him off the road and slid from the saddle, taking Gian with her.

  “Go hide over there behind those trees,” she told him. “Do not come out no matter what you see. Do you understand?” He nodded mutely and ran to where she’d indicated. “Kaida, go with him. Zakael will be here any moment. You must keep Gian safe.”

  Taryn removed her sword from its scabbard and stood in the center of a small clearing. The bird circled once and then swooped down, dissolving into the form of Zakael when its claws touched the ground. Her brother shook out his cloak, cracking his neck and shoulders before turning to face her. A sword appeared in his hand, its black steel glinting in the sunlight.

  “You aren’t making a very good escape, sister. I found you too easily. Why did you run away? It was most vexing to Father. And myself.”

  “I didn’t run away. You and Valterys disappeared. I got bored, so I left.”

  “That’s twice now you’ve left my home on short notice. Is it something I said?”

  “What do you want?” Taryn flexed her fingers around the hilt.

  “For you to return with me, what else?”

  “Why—so you can ignore me? No thanks.”

  “You seem to think you have a choice, dear sister, when in fact, you don’t.” He threw a ball of power at her and she sliced through it.

  “Yes, I do.” She deflected another of his attacks before swinging her sword low to catch his thigh. He danced out of reach, then came at her hard and fast, but she was ready.

  With each thrust, she parried and deflected, circling around to slice his knees, followed by a cut to his chest, deliberately trying to throw him off balance. The longer they fought, the more astonished his expression. He’d underestimated her skill in all things, especially with a sword.

  The clash of metal rang out as they slashed and jabbed at each other. Sweat ran down Taryn’s face as she leapt around Zakael. He, too, was dripping from the exertion. Their fight disrupted the calm of the forest, agitating the animals, disturbing nesting birds. The whisperings distracted her focus, and she missed the tip of Zakael’s blade by a carlix’s whisker. The same couldn’t be said about his fist. It landed squarely on her right jaw and she staggered backward.

  A devilish grin spread across his face and he advanced for another assault. She spun quickly, elbowing him in the gut, then crushing his foot with her heel before turning to knock him on the head with the hilt of her sword. He went down on his knees, breathing heavily. Dazed from the blow he’d given her, and the energy she expended, she paused a moment to gather her strength and he grabbed her with his power.

  His ShantiMari whipped around her neck, lifting her from the ground. She thrashed, gasping for breath. A thread of silky black snatched her sword from her hand while another pulled her arms above her head. She cursed herself for giving him the opportunity to restrain her.

  A sharp jab to her mind sent her thoughts scattering for a heartbeat before she closed it against him. When she reached for her ShantiMari, a barrier prevented her from touching it.

  Zakael stood, one hand on his stomach, the other stretched toward her. A thread of his power ran from his fingertips to her head. Somehow he was blocking her from accessing her ShantiMari. To block another’s power was strictly forbidden.

  “You’ve no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this moment.” He took a step closer. “Father wants you alive, but he didn’t say by how much.” His fingers twitched and the power tightened around her throat, cutting off all air.

  She stopped thrashing and hung limp. Thick cords of ShantiMari wrapped around her ankles, pulling her legs wide apart. A pain-filled gasp came out muffled and pitiful. The exertion spent the air in her lungs.

  Darennsai, shall I attack him? Kaida asked, surprising Taryn that Zakael had not blocked her thoughts as well.

  Not yet. Wait for my call. Until then, keep Gian safe.

  “Don’t fight me, my beautiful sister.” Zakael held his sword at waist level, chuckling under his breath. “You could still join me willingly. Either way, I will have you.” The hilt of his sword traveled from the top of her leather pants to between her legs, where he rubbed it cruelly against her. “We were meant to rule Aelinae together, you and I.” He reached out suddenly, grabbing her side, sending his power into her vorlock scar.

  Pain shot through her, sparking fire in her blood. Once more, she sought her ShantiMari, but found nothing. Again, she thrashed against the bonds, but they were too tight. “I will never rule with you,” she managed between breaths.

  He pressed agai
nst her ribs. Searing heat, followed by icy chills, sliced through her body.

  She bit back a scream.

  “So much pride. Even this close to death, you think you have a choice. You’ve never had a choice, Taryn. Your fate was decided a long time ago by the Eiriellean prophecy. It says ‘Light and Dark will unite Aelinae.’ My dove, that means you are meant to rule with me, don’t you see?”

  “You’re a delusional idiot,” she rasped.

  “I assure you, I’m neither.” He lifted her tunic, whistling at her scar. “That’s really something. Marissa told me of your bravery that day and I’ll confess—I did not quite believe her.”

  Taryn flinched when he reached out to touch it, but there was nowhere for her to hide from his grasping hands.

  “Oh, my sweet, after a few days in my playroom, you’ll think this scar is nothing. I do admire your strength. You’ll make a fine queen for me. In fact,” his granite eyes became glossy in thought, “I believe you are my equal in all things. Your sister was never able to satisfy my needs, but you, yes, you’ll know how to fulfill my desires, to satiate my needs. And I, in return, will never leave you wanting. I can tell you crave this.”

  He slid his other hand between her legs, rubbing his fingers against her above the hilt of his sword, half impaling her upon it.

  “You know nothing about me.” The hoarse words hurt to expel, took too much energy.

  “I will train you to please me. Together we will rule Aelinae and all will be as it should.”

  His eyes half-closed in dreamy expectation as he bent low, his hot tongue licking from one end of her scar to the other. A moan reminiscent of the sound he’d made in the dungeon escaped his lips. Pain-fueled ecstasy.

  Something broke in Taryn. Rage like she’d never known coursed through her. Hate, raw and unfettered, rocked her core. Images flashed through her mind, cruel and vicious in their scope. She wanted to hurt Zakael, to maim him beyond recognition so that he could never inflict pain again. A low chuckle started in her belly, working its way up until she was laughing out loud so hard that the bonds at her neck constricted, cutting off what little air she had.

  He screamed at her for silence, striking her across the face with his fist.

  A flash of white streaked through the stars of pain. Suddenly Kaida was on him, snarling and snapping at his face. The unexpected attack was the break she needed to reach her power. Mari sped through her limbs, burning Zakael’s bonds.

  Taryn’s jaw throbbed and she tasted blood, adding fuel to her fury. She threw a wave of power at Zakael, pinning him down. Gian ran forward to grab Zakael’s sword and then ducked behind her, disappearing into the bushes. Kaida pounced on his chest, snarling and snapping, her fangs an inch from his face.

  Kaida, stop. See to Gian.

  The grierbas snarled at Zakael a final time and then loped away to guard the faerie.

  Taryn ripped Zakael’s power from around her neck and fell to the ground. Ynyd Eirathnacht flew to her outstretched hand, pulsing energy into her, renewing her strength. The pain in her scar thrummed, then faded. Her pendant rose in song, with the sword answering the melody. Her ShantiMari burned in her veins, igniting a fire within, and she savored the sensation. Freedom, release, pure infinite pleasure coursed through her body. Never again, she vowed, would she allow herself to be taken prisoner and cut off from her power.

  Zakael scrambled to his feet, but Taryn was on him. She punched him in the nose, then the sternum in quick succession before smashing the side of his head with the hilt of her sword. A trickle of blood oozed down his temple.

  She wrapped her ShantiMari around him, throwing him high in the air. During his fall, he began to transform into a bird but she tightened her power against him, stopping the transformation with him as half-man, half-bird.

  He screamed against her bonds in a terrible cry that scattered the birds in nearby trees.

  “Become Aelan,” she commanded.

  “Fuck off,” he spat at her.

  “Very well. I’ll just leave you here.” She stormed toward Nikosana.

  “Wait!”

  He transformed into his Aelan form and she lowered the bubble until it touched the ground. His ShantiMari swirled within the confines of hers.

  “Release me. I’ll not harm you,” he pleaded.

  “I’m not that stupid, Zakael. As soon as I let the barrier down, you’ll try to trap me again. I should leave you here in this prison, at least long enough for me to return to Talaith.”

  His eyes grew large. “I’ll starve to death.”

  “And I should care, why? Weren’t you just gloating about how close to death you could bring me?” Taryn asked, her voice cool.

  “Taryn, you aren’t like this. You are caring and good.”

  “You make me sick.” Her mind screamed at her to kill him, but her bloodlust had passed.

  “I’ll return to Caer Idris and tell Father I couldn’t find you. I swear—I won’t harm you.” He held up his hands, placatingly.

  “Teach me to transform and I’ll let you go.”

  He sputtered, shaking his head. “It isn’t something you do immediately. It takes a season or more to master.”

  “You don’t have that long. Teach me.” When she put her sword at his throat, it sang a song of death, and from the look on his face, he heard it.

  “Put that down. I can’t think with your blade on me.” His power strengthened.

  “Don’t do it, Zakael. I’ll know whether you’re trying to overpower me.”

  Indecision etched across his face, and then he relaxed, drawing in a deep breath. “First, you imagine the beast you wish to become. Bird, grierbas, horse, cat—anything. Think of the lines of the animal, the musculature, the fur or feathers. All of it. You must become the animal in your thoughts and heart.”

  “Show me. Slowly.”

  “Transformation is dangerous. If you get it wrong, you could stay as the animal forever. Or worse.” He actually sounded concerned for her.

  She touched his throat, her blade drawing blood. “I said show me and take your time. Move by move.” His arms began to change from that of a man to the long wings of a levon. His head and torso were replaced by a feathered crown and body. Finally, his legs grew scales and he stood on long claws.

  Taryn stared, transfixed, as he morphed into Zakael once more. “Are you ever anything other than a levon?” she asked.

  “No more questions. I showed you how it’s done. Release me.”

  “I need to make sure I can do it first.”

  “Not on your first try. No one ever gets it right the first time out. Practice when I’m not around.”

  Taryn tied off her ShantiMari to prevent him from moving and closed her eyes, thinking of a great beast, her silver scales shining in the afternoon light. Her wings flowed out from her arms, and her head and body convulsed into the form of a fanged dragon. She scratched her feet on the ground, feeling her talons rake through the grass.

  The beast turned her azure gaze on Zakael. He glared at her in absolute panic.

  What an odd thing it was to be first a woman, then a dragon. They were nothing alike and the balance was completely off. She flicked her tail and shuffled forward to compensate.

  Taryn took a deep breath and settled her mind into the dragon’s. Her crouch softened, her neck lengthened, and her tail curled around her body. Sitting was one thing, but dragons weren’t meant to laze around like palace cats.

  Great leathery wings beat hard and she tilted from side to side, until she relaxed into the movements. Once she had the rhythm, she lifted into the air. Kaida crouched low, near the edge of the clearing, and she sent a thought to her grierbas friend to not be afraid. Stay with Gian. I’ll be back shortly.

  She reached out with a claw and picked up Zakael as if he were a doll. He fought against her firm grip as she beat her wings harder, rising up into the sky. Exhilaration and terror commingled within her.

  Once airborne, she panicked and plummeted toward the g
round.

  Zakael screamed at her, “Be the dragon! Don’t think like Taryn—link your mind to hers.”

  Taryn let her mind drift into the dragon’s and gasped as everything came into sharp focus. She saw through the dragon’s eyes, felt the wind across her long snout. They moved through the air at an alarming speed. Her dragon mind scanned the landscape below them and then dove into a small canyon. Zakael cried out for her to stop, but the dragon knew what she wanted.

  She sent a thought to Zakael to sleep and when he hung limp, she gently lowered herself to the canyon floor, dropping him to the ground before shifting into a woman with ease.

  Despite what Zakael said, the change wasn’t difficult at all. As if she’d always been a part of the dragon. Or the dragon a part of her.

  After she had tied several bonds around Zakael, making certain they would take most of the day to unravel, she spiraled into the air, snorting a burst of flame from sheer happiness. When she returned to the clearing and transformed back into Taryn once more, it was with great reluctance.

  Kaida crept forward and lay before Taryn. You are Darennsai.

  Gian came out from his hiding place to prostrate himself before her. Great One, I am yours to command until my last dying breath. This I, Gian of the clan Brenbold, swear to you.

  Their response to her transformation unnerved her. “Get up, Gian. You cannot tell anyone of this—do you understand?” He nodded and kissed his thumb before placing it over his heart. “Good,” she said as she went to find Nikosana. “Because if Rhoane knew what I just did, he’d never let me out of his sight again.”

  Her pendant sent a shock of heat over her skin and she jumped. She’d deliberately kept thoughts of Rhoane at bay to better focus on what she had to accomplish at Caer Idris. Now that she was headed to Talaith, she didn’t know whether he’d be waiting for her there or if he remained in the Narthvier. What she did know was she couldn’t let herself think the worst. Her fingertips fluttered over the pendant—the desire to touch his emotions too strong.