by A C Wilds
A blow of air comes out of him as he stumbles back. I dance back, waiting for his next move. The fury in his eyes is clear. He doesn’t like to lose.
“Stupid bitch.”
“Is that how you talk to a princess?” I laugh, the barb not affecting me. I’m no one’s princess. I’m an assassin.
He places his hands at his chin and comes at me again. A swift combination of punches. One clips me in the shoulder, jarring me back. His cocky expression fuels me. Enough playing.
I advance, striking out with a kick to his thigh. Not expecting the blow, he strays from his stance. I hit his fist away with an open smack, then jump up. My foot connects with his upper arm, and I climb up onto his neck.
My thighs press into his neck, giving me a sturdy purchase. I choke the breath out of him. He swats at my thighs, but they’re much stronger than they look. I hold his head still with the palms of my hands.
He’s furious, spinning us in a circle, but I hold on. I can feel the exact moment when he’s about to fall. His hands collapse at his side, and his body tips forward. I push off his shoulders to land next to him.
Silence greets me as I turn and wait for Donaas to call it. “He’s out. I win?”
“Um… yes. You win,” he mumbles, watching Umbra for a reaction, but all she’s doing is standing there with a smug expression.
“My turn,” she says, grabbing two practice swords from the stand and meeting me at the mat.
I take one from her, twirling it around, getting a feel for balance. It’s a little heavier than Hubris, but it will do.
“Rules?” I question again.
“Till the first blood. Everything goes.”
Anticipation thrums through me. “My kind of fight.”
“Prepare yourself, assassin. I’m not Severn.”
She takes her stance, her body easily falling into the position. Raising her sword, she stands at the ready. I mirror her actions, waiting for the coming blow.
She strikes, sword swinging precisely where she intended. I block it, then spin to counter her next attack. We continue to dance around the training room, the only sounds our swords clashing. The onlookers don’t dare make a sound.
Sweat pours down my back, the movements stretching muscles. I haven’t had a worthy opponent besides Nox and Uriel in a long time. I smile at the thought of doing this every day. Having a family to train with.
Our swords clash together, and we’re both face to face. “Give it up,” Umbra exhales. Her hair is plastered against her forehead with sweat.
“I’m not the give-it-up kind of girl. You said till first blood.”
“Have it your way.” She pushes me back with such force that I stumble backward, almost landing on my ass.
Her magic whips out, strong black smoke taking over her entire body. Glowing with the silver of a Dark Demon, her eyes flash. I bounce up with renewed energy. I’ve waited so long for this.
She tries to grab the sword from my hand, but I counter it with the purple hue of my own. Its golden sparkles make it look like something a four-year-old would want, but it’s as deadly as her black smoke.
Our magics crash together, making us both grit our teeth. I can’t hold my sword and control the magic. It falls to the floor with a bang.
Using both of my hands, I try to wrap her magic with my own, claiming it and sending it back to her. It’s harder than it looks. Her magic is so strong.
I try a different tactic. I create a separate tendril, small enough not to be noticed but powerful enough to cause first blood. It snakes along the ground as I keep the rest of her magic back with both hands.
When my shadow smoke reaches her feet, I raise it off the ground like a whip and whirl it down on her arm. She screams, blood pooling from the tiny cut. Her smoke recedes, and I pull mine back.
I’m spent, all the energy taken from me. Plopping on the mat and lean back. That was exhausting and thrilling.
“You did good,” she says, coming over and giving me a hand up. “I didn’t think you’d be this strong. You’re a formidable opponent. I’m happy to call you family.”
I release her hand, clearing my throat. “Thank you. It was great sparing with you.”
She smiles and walks off, collecting Donaas as she goes. The rest of the trainees stand around stunned. Severin looks like he’s about to be sick.
I give them a salute, following the pair out the door. Seems I’ve just proven myself to some of the Dark.
Nine
TORQUE
I watch her from the doorway of the training room. The way she moves and fights stirs something inside me that I haven’t felt in a long while.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, stopping to study me for a moment.
“I wanted to see you fight.” It’s a half-truth.
“Satisfied? Seems like everyone is taking my measure today.” She brushes past me, but I grab her arm. She glances at the connection before meeting my eyes.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I’ve seen you fight; we’ve fought. I wanted to see you move. It’s addicting—your dance of death.”
Gently pulling her closer to me, I drop her arm. I pick up a loose piece of hair from her bun, then slip it behind her ear. Holding my hand on the side of her head, I guide her face up to mine.
“What are you doing?” she exhales. Her feet shuffle closer, and I place my other hand on her hip.
“Kissing you.” I place my lips on hers slowly, waiting for her to pull away. When she doesn’t, I press harder and lick the seam of her lips. She opens for me, reaching up on tiptoes to press herself closer to me.
She makes a surprised noise once my tongue touches hers. The bond closes more, fueling my desire. She’s so beautiful, so consuming. I want to suspend this moment for a long time.
“Torque,” she moans, pulling away and staring into my eyes. “We can’t.”
“You’re stubborn, little witch.” I smile, stroking her hair and keeping her still in my arms for a little longer.
“I’m right.” She pushes off me, then walks toward the castle. Sighing, I catch up to her in a few quick strides.
“How long will you let this go on? Don’t you feel what’s between us?”
She stops, then spins around to meet my eyes. “Of course I feel it. It’s all I think about besides saving everyone. But it’s too much. Being distracted gets us dead. And too many people need us focused.”
“This isn’t about them, Anima. We can still defeat Scur and Rahna while being together. You’re it for me. You are my life now.”
Anima runs her hands through her hair and tilts her face to the sky, closing her eyes. She fists her hands at her sides. I won’t back down from this. She means more to me than anything. I didn’t lie to Nox.
“It’s not that simple.” The fight drains out of her, and she appears tired. The weight of the world is on her shoulders, and this is one more thing.
“It is, and you know it. The Fates deemed us to be together. We were enemies and now mates. Everything else we can get through together.”
“You’re staying.” It’s a whisper in the wind. The force of the words crashes into me.
“So?” It’s not the most reasonable answer, but I’m unsure why this matters now.
“I’m not. I don’t belong here. My home is in the Mortal Realm. I have friends there and a life. Even if it won’t ever be the same, it’s where I want to live.”
“Is this what has been bothering you the whole time? Our possible separation?” I chuckle, but I grab her hand before she can use it. Her scowl tells me I was three seconds away from a throat punch.
“I won’t give in, Torque. I’ve worked too hard to have a sense of normal. Here, I’m a freak. There, I’m someone.”
“I’d never ask you to give up what you love. I go where you go. It’s simple.”
“Having your people happy is your number one. You’ve said so frequently. I’ll impede on that.”
I pull her to me again, molding our bodies toge
ther. Her silver eyes dart around my face, searching for something. “Anima, I vow to you from this day that I will stand by your side no matter the place you are in. If you want to live in the Mortal Realm, I will be there with you. If you want to live in the Darklands or the Bloodlands, I’ll be with you. I don’t care where we make a home—what I care about is you. You’re a part of my soul. Being without you isn’t an option.”
A breath leaves her as she closes her eyes. She leans into me, clutching my tunic. “I’m scared.”
She loses her voice among the fabric, but I know. Being a warrior is lonely. Trusting people you may have to kill the next day isn’t something that comes easy, but your mate? The one you’re destined to be with shouldn’t be a question.
“Our bond is nothing to be afraid of. We don’t have to seal it until you’re ready, but I need to know you want this.”
She lifts her head from my chest, reaches up to cup my jaw. “I’ve wanted you since the night we fought. Your whiskey and brimstone scent made me feel things I’ve never felt.”
Smiling down at her, I can’t help but press my lips to hers again. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of kissing her. She grips my chest, making me want to take her right there.
My hands wrap around her hips to merge us tighter together. The bond lights with intensity, making my need grow. She bites my bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth.
“I’m losing what little control I have,” I growl.
She laughs, pulling away. “We have too much work to do.”
Sighing, I have to agree. Preparing for war is our top priority. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
ANIMA
Confessing my need for Torque lowered my guard more than anything I’ve ever done. I allowed him to see me. For the first time, I’ve trusted someone other than Shelley.
Namir meets me in the courtyard when Torque and I head up to the castle. Agitation is rolling off him in waves. The guards are avoiding him at all costs.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to get him to stop pacing.
Scur is closer than we thought. He will be here in a few days. His army advances at a rapid speed.
“How did he recover so quickly? Ari took out a lot of his soldiers during my rescue.”
I do not know. This frightens me. How many are in his army? Who are they working with? You must speak to the kings to see if there is something I do not know. Ari and I will go scouting. I shall be back before the battle. Prepare yourself.
He bumps into my stomach. I wrap my arms around him, inhaling his tyger scent and letting all my love pour into him. He’s a part of my soul now, my soul-bonded.
Watching him go puts a lump in my throat, but Torque is there pulling me against him.
“Ari explained,” he says. I look to the sky, finding her flying close by. From down here, she’s like any other bird, but I know better. With talons the size of my hands and a wingspan the size of an RV, she’s dangerous. Her screech can cause a sonic boom, exploding her prey from the inside. I’m glad she’s an ally.
“Let’s not waste time then. I’ll find Nox and Uriel. You find Umbra and her mates. We’ll meet in their war room in twenty minutes.”
Before I can run off, he draws me in for a quick kiss. “Be careful.”
I roll my eyes before punching his arm. “That is one reason I didn’t want a mate,” I call over my shoulder.
I find Nox and Uriel in an outside courtyard on the other side of the courtyard. They appear to be in a heated discussion, but there isn’t time for me to be cautious. We only have a limited amount of time before Scur comes.
“Anima, what’s wrong?” Uriel asks, getting up from his chair.
“Change of plans. Scur’s recovered far quicker than we expected. He’ll be here in a few days.”
“How did he scrounge up an army in that time?” Nox questions.
He wasn’t with us during the last battle, but I’m sure Uriel filled him in on what happened. The thought of paying Scur back for what he did to me has a thrill running through me. I’m happy I don’t have to wait a month to kill him.
“Namir and Ari went to scout to try to find out. Is there anything you can think of? Are there hidden people loyal to him? I’d rather not go into this blind. I’m a trained fighter and assassin, but I’m no soldier.”
“He will require the Bloods to fight for him. I imagine the camp we destroyed only held one or two companies. He’ll have more stashed around the Bloodlands,” Uriel says.
“I sent Torque to find Umbra and her mates. We’re to meet in the war room in ten minutes.”
“You both go. I want to talk to Agatha,” Uriel says, making his way to the gate in the back of the garden. The fence is worse for wear with its huge arch that’s seen better days and a cricketing looking fence.
“Who is Agatha?” I ask Nox while we walk back into the castle.
“She’s Uriel’s friend. Her visions are more potent than his. Sometimes she’s able to pull something from just a story.”
“Is she an angel, too?” I’ve never heard of species such as these. If someone had told me last month that angels were still around, I’d have laughed in their faces.
“No, she’s Unseelie.”
“What type of demon is that?”
We reach the door, and he holds it open for me. The cool air from the hall causes my skin to pebble as we walk together toward the war room.
“It’s not a demon at all, but a class of the Fae.”
A laugh burst through me, sounding more like I’m choking. “Did you say Fae? As in fairy tales like they had before the demon attack?”
“Do not allow a Fae hear you speak like that. They are a proud race with formidable powers. The Unseelie more so than the Seelie. They’re creatures older than demons. Created before the first Fallen.”
“Are they from this realm?”
We stop before the door to the war room. I can hear shouting, no doubt from one of Umbra’s mates. They are as fiery as she is.
“A civil war destroyed their realm centuries ago. They seek refuge where they can. The Darklands have accepted some Unseelie. Their magic can communicate with this realm.”
“Are there many in the Mortal Realm?”
“Probably. I’m not sure of their numbers any longer. It’s a question Umbra can answer.”
“What if they’ve sided with Rahna? I hate going into things blindly. From the moment Rahna gave me the contract to kill Torque, everything has been one surprise after another. I’m sick of being the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“I feel responsible for this. If you had grown up at court, all this knowledge would be yours. All the time we could have spent together, raising you. It breaks me to think about what she stole from me.”
“I didn’t have an awful life if that’s what you’re asking. They took care of me, and all my needs were met. It wasn’t a loving environment, but it was enough.”
He tugs me toward him. Strong arms come around me, squeezing me into his chest. He smells like smoke and the night after a thunderstorm.
At first, I freeze. I’m not used to affection, but then I relax as his grip loosens something inside of me. What would it have been like to have this all the time? Someone I could count on to love me, not for my skills but for being me?
“Now that you are here, I will make up for it all. I love you, Anima. Know I’ve always wanted you. If I could go back and change things, I would. Rahna will pay for what’s she done.”
“Um… I don’t know what to say.” I take a step out of his arms, gazing up at his face. He stands at six feet, over eight inches taller than my compact frame.
“I didn’t say it so you could reply. It is different for you. You only found out what you are a short time ago. I’ve always known how I’d feel if I had a child. Knowing how you turned out makes it all that sweeter.”
He smiles before opening the door to the war room. Everyone is seated at the table except for Togmerin. He’s pacing in
the back of the room, looking much like Namir had before.
“Took you long enough,” he shouts before moving over to the maps stacked in the corner. He pulls a few out, then rolls them onto the enormous table between everyone.
Nox ignores his outburst, taking a seat at the head of the table. Umbra sits at his left, and I take his right. Torque squeezes my shoulder from the seat next to me, offering me a weak smile.
“According to Namir, he’ll be here in three days. What he wanted me to ask you all is how could he have amassed an army so quickly when we desecrated his camp not too long ago?”
Umbra and her mates stiffen in their chairs. Someone has been hiding information.
“Speak,” Nox orders.
Donaas rises from his chair, then squeezes in between Umbra and Nox leaning over the table.
“On the Bloodland border, there is a small pocket of magic. Something like a portal, although when we get close enough to inspect, the magic always disappears. We think he’s working with someone from another realm.”
“Do you have proof? And what realm?” Nox asks, staring at Umbra. This is something she should have disclosed in our first briefing. Even Torque is agitated.
“Hell. We think it’s Hell.”
Silence coats the room, but I’m as confused as ever.
“Isn’t that here? I thought Hell was another name the humans came up for the Demon Realm,” I ask.
Umbra shakes her head. “Hell is a prison realm. It was once a place for all the demons who have committed offenses too great to live among us. It has been closed for as long as I can remember.”
“Who created this realm?”
“Caedis.”
Ten
ANIMA
The rest of the meeting was logistics and the best way to arm the soldiers. Things I’ve never been privy to. My job was simple. Kill the demon on the contract. No questions, only recon and killing.
“Are you okay?” Umbra asks as we walk out of the war room.
“Yes. I just realized that court life is so much different from it is at the citadel. Rahna kept us on a tight leash, never sharing information. I’m useless in strategy.”