Reclamation: The Sacred Isle Series

by K. E. Miller

  “Not as much as she needs you,” Jaden countered. “You’re another Mage. You understand her power in ways I never could. You also know all about her past. I’m not saying she couldn’t defeat the Council without us, but she needs to know we are with her.”

  “I was so caught up in my fear and anger I didn’t even consider what my absence would be like for her or what it could do to her confidence.”

  “She is so afraid of losing you,” Jaden said with an insight I’d never realized she had. “She isn’t afraid of what it would be like if you died. She’s afraid of you leaving her on purpose. She’s afraid of not being the person she used to be and losing you because of it. I’m not sure she would recover from that.”

  “I would never leave her. There was a time when she was my wife and I couldn’t imagine one day without her. It destroyed me when she died. When she stepped in front of me, all I could think about was what would have happened if she hadn’t stopped that sword. I guess part of me felt like she was choosing death over me. I know she wasn’t, but that’s what it felt like for me when she died. What happened yesterday just brought all of that back,” I explained.

  Jaden reached across the table and took my hand. It was a gesture that both shocked and touched me.

  “You need to let go of your fear,” she said. “It’s the only way you’ll be able to be with her and help her to do what must be done. If you were afraid of Killian, how are you going to handle seeing Shaylee up against someone like Dominic? It’s time to forget the past and embrace the present. She’s here now, with no intention of ever sacrificing herself again. Be grateful that she’s returned and leave everything else where it belongs; in the past.”

  Jaden spoke with wisdom I never would have guessed she possessed. I felt truly grateful that she was the Warrior who had befriended Shaylee three years ago. If I was really going to be with Shaylee as I’d been with Sophia, I had to trust her judgment. After all, the person who had killed Sophia was Sophia herself. That was never going to happen again.

  Chapter 10

  Jaden

  After talking some sense into Aaron, I listened to his request and agreed. Although I had no desire to interrogate Killian, I understood the need. I wasn’t sure what I would be able to get from him that Nolen and Thorn weren’t able to, but if he knew anything else about the plot against Shaylee, someone had to get it out of him.

  I left Aaron, satisfied that he would make every effort to fix the situation with Shaylee, and proceeded to the cell where Killian was being held. I didn’t really know what to expect from him, but based on what Shaylee had told me about him, I knew he was going to be difficult.

  The cell block was a utilitarian hallway, unlike any other part of the Resistance that I had seen. The bright florescent lights were practically blinding compared to the soft candle and Mage light in the rest of the building. I knew from my security briefing with Laird that these were short term holding cells, designed for questioning. The long-term cells were further down the hallway and Killian would be moved there once we were done interrogating him.

  Standing just outside the door to where Killian was being held, was Thorn. He smiled when he saw me. I couldn’t help smiling back. There was something about him that was strangely calming and the only time I felt at ease lately was in his presence.

  “I was hoping to catch you before you went in,” he said.

  “So naturally you guarded the only door to ensure that you caught me,” I said with a laugh.

  “He’s very dangerous, Jaden. It would be devastating to the queen if harm were to befall you,” Thorn said, seriously.

  The only indication that my comment had amused him was the sparkle that lit up his eyes. I knew I should be more focused on the task ahead of me, but chatting with Thorn was just too good to pass up.

  Lowering his voice, he added, “It would be devastating to all of us.”

  “Yeah I get it,” I replied. “You know guarding the king and queen would be boring without me.” I didn’t know what to make of his comment, so joking seemed to be the best idea. Thorn frowned slightly at my response before he began to walk away.

  “Don’t worry,” I added and he turned to look back at me. “I am capable of being careful.”

  He nodded and continued walking away.

  “Oh, and I talked to Aaron.”

  At that he stopped completely. I was amused to see his eyebrows raised in surprise as he turned to fully face me.

  “What did you say?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

  “I told him he needed to suck it up,” I said with a chuckle.

  “Jaden, you cannot speak to him that way.” Thorn sounded desperate for me to understand. His face had paled and his eyes were huge. “He is our king. You must speak to him with respect.”

  “Look, it wasn’t very long ago we were high school students. He was my friend, not my king. Just because we are at the Resistance now, doesn’t mean he stopped being my friend. I don’t need a lecture from you about how to speak to the king. All that matters is that he fixes things with Shaylee. She needs him and he needs her. The sooner he lets go of all the crap he’s been carrying around for the last seven hundred years the better.”

  Thorn didn’t immediately reply. I wondered if I had somehow managed to upset him further, but I didn’t say anything more since he looked to be deep in thought.

  “You’re correct. They do need each other. I suppose if he actually listens to you, it will solve the problem much quicker than if you’d allowed them to work it out on their own. You’re the only one bold enough to speak to him that way. It says a lot about you that he allows it.”

  “Was that a compliment?” I asked, teasingly.

  “Not at all,” Thorn said with a small smile. “It was simply an observation of the facts.”

  Once again, he turned and walked away. This time I didn’t stop him. As much as I enjoyed teasing the Warrior, I knew I couldn’t avoid the job I’d been given any longer. I turned my attention to the task in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.

  ◆◆◆

  A short time later, I was running through the corridors. I had to dodge various people as I sprinted to Nolen’s office. I didn’t know if what I’d learned was the truth, but if it was, I had to stop it.

  Turning a corner, I ran right into Aaron. I caught him and kept him upright as he briefly lost his balance due to the impact. I gipped his arms as I fought to catch my breath and gather my incoherent thoughts.

  “Jaden? What’s wrong?” he asked with concern.

  “Has anyone heard from Andrew?” I asked.

  “No. Not that I’m aware of. Why?” he asked, his voice full of confusion.

  “He was the first of us to leave. We have to find him.”

  Pulling out of his grasp, I continued sprinting down the corridor. I had no time for any further explanation. I knew he was following me, but I didn’t want to slow down for him to keep up. Too much time had already been wasted.

  Bursting through the door I said, “We need to find Andrew!”

  I stopped as though I had once again run into someone. Sitting on the sofa was Nolen and directly across from him, Shaylee. I cursed myself silently as Shaylee stood up, concern entering her features.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes darting back and forth between Aaron and I.

  I glanced at Aaron. His eyes were locked on Shaylee. I had no idea if the two of them had patched things up or not, but I did not want to get involved if they started arguing now. Not knowing what else to do, I shrugged my shoulders.

  Shaylee narrowed her eyes at me.

  “Jaden, what’s wrong?” she demanded.

  “Nothing,” I said, my voice not betraying the multitude of emotions I was feeling.

  “Aaron? What’s going on?”

  Aaron said nothing, just continued staring at her.

  Making the decision to go against Aaron’s earlier wishes I said, “I have reason to believe that the Counc
il has abducted Andrew.”

  “What?” Shaylee screeched. “We have to go after him!”

  She started walking towards the door, no hesitation in her steps.

  “No,” Aaron said. His tone was firm, yet I could hear his apprehension and knew that he didn’t enjoy telling Shaylee she couldn’t go looking for the man who was like a father to her. I braced myself as I waited for the consequences.

  “What do you mean ‘no’?” Shaylee asked, stopping dead her in tracks.

  “It’s most likely a trap, a means of drawing you away from the safety of the Resistance. It’s too dangerous for you to go. We can send someone else.”

  It was easy to hear the desperation in Aaron’s voice as he tried to make Shaylee understand the situation without telling her everything.

  “If he has really been captured by the Council then I’m the only one who can find him,” Shaylee said, pleadingly. Her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears at the thought of Andrew at the mercy of the Council.

  I could feel her despair and her desire for Aaron to understand her feelings. She needed to find Andrew. I knew she’d never forgive herself if he was killed because she didn’t go after him.

  “He’s like my father, Aaron,” she said, barely above a whisper.

  “Then you will search for him here and we’ll send the information to someone on the outside.”

  “So, am I a prisoner now?” she asked, her voice sharp.

  “There are a lot of ways to do this than don’t risk your safety,” he replied, his voice rising. “It’s too great a risk. You need to think about more than just Andrew.”

  “So, you will let him die?” Her angry voice echoed around the large room and sent a chill down my spine.

  Aaron took a step towards her and said, “If it means ensuring your safety, yes.”

  Something happened then that I hadn’t been anticipating. I hadn’t even known that it was possible. The connection I usually felt to Shaylee’s feelings was suddenly gone. I still felt her presence, but I couldn’t feel anything else. Her face hardened into an angry and determined expression that I’d never seen before. Glancing at Aaron, I could see that he too had noticed the change. For the first time, I truly understood what Shaylee as a queen meant. She was Sophia now and I didn’t know anything about her.

  “I do not answer to you and I am not asking your permission.” Shaylee’s voice was cold. I barely recognized it. “I’m going. Do not try to stop me or you will regret it.”

  Shaylee walked toward the door, passing Aaron. He placed a hand on her arm and she paused. He looked at her pleadingly, anguish in his eyes, but her returning gaze was still cold, angry, and determined. She looked away from him and continued. Unable to make myself meet her gaze, I kept my head lowered as I stepped aside and allowed her to walk out of the room.

  “What have I done?” Aaron whispered.

  Aaron, Nolen, and I stood in silence for a long time, each of us lost in our thoughts. I was at a loss as to what we should do. My friend was gone and in her place was a cold and unfeeling queen. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way to repair the situation. We’d betrayed her trust and we were now paying the price. As I replayed what had happened for the hundredth time, only one idea came to mind.

  “Come on. We aren’t going to fix this by standing around here,” I said and turned around to open the door.

  “Where are you going?” Aaron asked, hopelessly.

  “I’m going after her. Are you coming?”

  ◆◆◆

  It was difficult to track Shaylee without having access to her emotions. It was like fighting with both arms tied behind my back. Luckily, I still had enough of a connection that after a considerable amount of concentration I was able to get a general idea on her location. To my surprise, Aaron still had enough sense to leave me alone as I tried to locate my friend. It was Nolen who rambled on and on about the loss of his queen.

  Thorn offered me encouragement every time I got frustrated. I kept pointing out that he was just as capable of tracking Shaylee as I was, but he argued that my friendship with her made our connection stronger, which meant that I had a better chance of finding her.

  It hadn’t been until after we’d left Nolen’s office in search of Thorn and a car, that we’d learned about Shaylee taking Killian from his cell. I tried not to think about how Shaylee had left the safety of the Resistance unguarded, with a man who had tried to kill her less than a day ago.

  We’d been driving around the city for a good hour before I finally zeroed in on Shaylee. I directed Thorn into an industrial area south of the city, which was filled with large warehouses. My optimism about finding Shaylee before the Council did began to waver as I took in our dismal surroundings. We pulled up in front of a warehouse, which was obviously empty and appeared to have been that way for the past several years.

  “Are you sure about this?” Aaron asked, speaking for the first time since we’d left the Resistance.

  “She’s here,” I said with confidence. “Can’t you feel it?”

  “I haven’t felt anything since she blocked her emotions,” Aaron replied, obviously feeling defeated.

  I felt momentary sympathy for him, before focusing again on Shaylee. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. We didn’t know what we were going to find, so all of my attention needed to be on finding Shaylee and getting her back to safety.

  I led the men around the side of the building. When I reached the back corner, I peeked around.

  Shaylee was crouched down looking in through a partially open door. Killian was handcuffed to a large pipe leading from the ground into the building. I could tell by the way he was opening his mouth without sound coming out that Shaylee had cast some sort of spell on him to keep him quiet. I motioned behind me to the others and stepped out, immediately catching Shaylee’s attention.

  She jumped back and her hands began to glow. I never would have thought that Shaylee would think of using her powers on us, but she looked determined. I knew I only had moments to reason with her.

  “I’m not going back,” Shaylee hissed.

  “No one is going to make you,” I replied.

  I raised my hands to show that I was unarmed. I felt strangely like a police officer trying to talk down an armed criminal. The whole scene seemed entirely absurd.

  “We came to help you and keep you safe,” I told her.

  “We shouldn’t have tried to stop you. If you want to find Andrew, we can help,” Thorn assured her, his voice smooth and calming.

  I was grateful for his assistance. I could tell from Shaylee’s face that his words had gotten through to her, even if it was only in the smallest way. Her hands returned to normal and she lowered them, but she continued to eye us suspiciously. Her eyes flickered back and forth between Aaron and I.

  “And what do you have to say?” she asked Aaron.

  “I will do whatever you ask, my queen,” he answered, his voice quiet and sad.

  Shaylee seemed satisfied with his answer.

  “We have to go in,” she said.

  “Are you certain that this is the correct location?” Nolen asked.

  “I am,” she said with a nod.

  “Then in we go,” I said, trying to move things along before Shaylee grew suspicious again and decided to accuse us of stalling. “Just let Thorn and I go first. Just in case.”

  Shaylee nodded in agreement.

  After a few minutes of discussion, Nolen grudgingly agreed to stay outside with Killian. I would have felt better with Nolen added to our numbers, but I just couldn’t bring myself to leave Killian unattended. Nolen was the only logical choice. Regardless of whatever was going on between them, this was no time to separate Aaron and Shaylee.

  Stepping into the building, I was grateful for my increased night vision. Although there was some light coming in through the windows, they were so dirty it was a miracle there was any light at all. Together the four of us wound our way through the empty rooms and as we moved, I had
an increasing sense of dread.

  At long last, we came to the last room. I moved in slowly, Thorn by my side. After about five feet, I stopped. Something wasn’t right. I turned just in time to see the man who’d been hiding behind the open door reach out and grab Shaylee. He pulled her close with one arm around her neck. I could just make out the dagger in his hand.

  The whole room froze and for a moment I didn’t breathe. Shaylee’s terror hit me like a train as her emotions suddenly assaulted through me. I didn’t dare take my eyes off of her, but I could tell from Aaron’s sharp breathing that he was sensing her emotions in full force as well.

  “Let her go,” I demanded.

  “I can’t do that,” the man said.

  I couldn’t identify the emotion in his voice. It wasn’t angry or victorious as I would have suspected. It was almost despair.

  “You will gain nothing by this, Blake,” Aaron said, taking a step toward them.

  “I swore an oath. I made a promise.”

  “Release her, Cole,” Thorn said. “We can protect you.”

  “No one can save me from this. It’s my destiny.” Whispering in Shaylee’s ear he continued, “Forgive me, your majesty.”

  “No!” Aaron shouted, rushing towards them.

  Suddenly, a bright light filled the room. Thorn, Aaron, and I were all thrown off our feet. I put my arm up to shield my eyes from the light, but I was unable to see anything. Just as suddenly as it had started, the light dissipated. Where Cole Blake and Shaylee had been standing, there was now nothing. And just like that, my world crumbled as I realized that my best friend was gone, forever.

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