by Donna Grant
“Good.” He forced a smile, but he knew, deep in his gut, something was wrong. “We’re in this together.”
“If you think I’m with Isran, you’re wrong.”
Aimery took a deep breath. “I don’t mean to make you feel that way, but I know how he is. He’s manipulative. He’ll do whatever he has to do and say whatever he has to say to get you to do what he wants. You know he uses people’s weaknesses.”
“I’m with you. Only you. Whatever I do, I will do it with the intention of fulfilling our mission.”
The urgency in her gaze told him she needed him to believe her. “All right.” She sighed and snuggled against him. Aimery held her until her breathing evened into sleep. His fingers traced the dragon’s head on her cuff. The sapphire eyes regarded him solemnly.
His weakness was Kyndra, but what was Isran using on her? It couldn’t be the egg because Isran planned to use it. Could it be that Isran was using him? Did Kyndra care about him deeply enough that Isran was able to use it against her?
He was going to have to tell her not to trust Isran, especially when it came to him. If Isran had wanted him dead, he would already be dead. There was nothing Kyndra could do that would prevent that.
If only he still had his weapons.
* * * * *
Kyndra woke slowly, blinking several times. She was surprised to find night had fallen. The room was dark, but she knew she and Aimery weren’t alone. She sat up and turned to find Isran sitting at the foot of the bead, leaning against one of the posters.
She glanced at Aimery to find him sleeping before she wrapped the blanket around herself. She rose from the bed and covered Aimery with another blanket.
“Aren’t you going to talk to me?” Isran asked.
“Why? You know everything anyway.”
“Do I?” He scratched his chin. “I probably do, but it only courteous to acknowledge me.” She turned to glare at him. “Is it courteous to watch two people make love? To listen to their thoughts?”
“Ah. You’re angry.”
“Angry doesn’t begin to describe how I feel.”
Isran chuckled and rose from the bed. “I gather you didn’t tell Aimery that you’ve drifted to the dark side? I don’t think our Commander would have taken it well at all.”
“Stop,” she said and ran her hand through her hair. “Just stop. I cannot take this. I’ll do whatever you want but allow Aimery to return home.”
“I can’t.”
Kyndra signed and picked up her gown.
“Aimery is an intelligent Fae. He knows that I’m using him against you, just as I’m using you against him. He’s spent most of the past few hours trying to find a way to block me from his mind.”
Her body still hummed from the delicious lovemaking. She wasn’t ready to leave Aimery and face a future that didn’t have him in it.
“You won’t have long to wait now,” Isran said and walked to the door. “At dusk, it begins.”
Kyndra’s knees buckled. She crumpled to the floor as Isran left the chamber. Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest she was sure it would wake Aimery. They had mere hours to gather a plan.
Yet she knew in her heart it was useless to hope. Isran was too powerful to deny. He would use the egg, he would become invincible. And she and Aimery were doomed to suffer whatever torment he decided upon them.
The only difference was, she wouldn’t be able to come to Aimery as she did now. Once he realized what she had become, he would turn his back on her. And he had every right to do it.
She had become the very thing she despised above all else.
She looked at Aimery sleeping so peacefully. She let go of the blanket and crawled to him. His hand hung over the side of the bed, and she laced her fingers with his. Just being near him gave her strength to face the next few hours.
Moments ticked by into hours. The first rays of sunlight made her sit up. She glanced at Aimery to find him still sleeping. She should have woken him, told him what was going to happen. But she had feared the knowledge would send him teetering over the edge. He needed to be as coherent as possible. If he knew she had turned to black magic, that there was nothing they could say that Isran didn’t know, his madness would consume him.
She would rather see his hate because at least then he would be sane. And a sane Aimery would find a way. Of that she was positive.
Kyndra put on her gown. She had just finished combing her hair when the door to the chamber opened. Two guards stood waiting for her. She didn’t have to be told what for. Isran had given her and Aimery all the time he would.
She pulled off her dragon cuff and laid it in Aimery’s palm. It was her way of saying farewell and facing what was to come. No longer was she the head of the Blue Order, no longer was she a priestess.
She was Isran’s to use as he pleased.
Kyndra followed the guards as they led her to her chamber to find a bath waiting for her.
She wasn’t surprised to find another gown for her, this one in crimson. Kyndra ran her hand over the soft, silky material.
“Do you like it?”
She turned her head to look at Isran over her shoulder. “Does it matter?”
“It does.”
She wasn’t fool enough to believe anything he said.
“I let you waste enough time with Aimery. I had thought you would thank me for that.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“I can smell him on you.”
Kyndra smiled and turned away from him.
“Get cleaned up. You have work to do before tonight to strengthen your magic.” She didn’t move until the door shut behind him. Though she knew it wouldn’t hold him, she bolted the door and removed the gown. She hurried to wash. Isran was right, after all. She needed to gain strength.
After she had dried off, she pulled on the crimson gown. It slid sensuously down her body, reminding her of Aimery and the delicious way he made her blood heat with longing. She looked into the floor length mirror at herself.
The gown dipped in a low V in the front, showing an ample amount of her breasts. It clung to her waist before draping gently over her hips to fall at her feet. The matching crimson shoes were soft soled and hugged her feet.
It wasn’t until she sat at her vanity to comb her hair that she saw the ruby necklace. She flung it aside and took a deep breath. She would wear the gowns because she refused to go naked in front of him, but it stopped there. No other “gift” from him would be accepted. And she hoped it made him angry. She wanted to rile him, to make him seethe as she did.
After she brushed her hair, she plaited two braids that began at her temples and met at the back of her head. The rest she left unadorned to hang freely about her. Aimery had loved to thread his fingers through her tresses.
She fisted her hands, feeling the black magic rise with her anger. She didn’t try to hold it back as it infused her, consumed her. Isran had said it would be easy, and it was. So very easy to accept the power made every one of her senses stronger. She felt the power thrum through her, urging her to use more of it, to grow the magic.
With one last thought to Aimery and what could have been, she unleashed her power.
Chapter Twenty
Theron paced the vaulted foyer of Lugus’ home. Ahryn’s labor had been difficult, but that wasn’t what had kept him away from his brother the past couple of nights. It was Aimery.
Something had gone wrong, terribly wrong.
He glanced up when he heard a noise to find Lugus leaning against a doorway. His face was lined with fatigue, but he wore the silly grin of a new father. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“I know.” Theron smiled despite the fears gripping him. “It was the same when Rufina had Nearra. I suspect it will be so again when our next child comes. Have you named your son yet?”
“Charon. After our father.”
Theron nodded. Lugus had been accused of their father’s murder, which had lead to his banishment from their r
ealm. Had Lugus not garnered his powers, they would never have known that he hadn’t killed their father, that he had died accidentally. Theron was still ashamed that he had so readily accused his own brother.
“Father would like that,” he said.
Lugus shrugged. “I hope so. It was Ahryn’s idea, but it seems to fit the babe.”
“Will Ahryn be all right?”
“No one expected her to have such a tough labor and, if not for our magic, I fear I would have lost her and Charon. But, aye, she will be fine. She’s resting now.” He pushed off the door and walked to Theron. “I’m sorry I had to leave Aimery and Kyndra.”
“Don’t,” Theron said. “I would have done the same had Rufina called to me.”
“Now that my son is born, I can return to Thav.”
“I don’t think that’s a wise decision, brother.”
Lugus frowned. “What has happened? Have you heard from them?”
“Nay, I have heard nothing, which leads me to believe our worst suspicions have come to light.”
“Isran.”
Theron nodded. “Aimery would have sent me a message letting me know he had reached Eldar and spoken with him.”
“If something happened to Aimery, would Kyndra know to do the same?”
“I don’t know.” Theron ran his hand down his face. “I know Aimery would protect her with his very life if need be.”
Lugus blew out a breath. “Let me go to them.”
“I can’t. Ahryn would never forgive me if I lost you to Isran as well.”
“But you don’t know if you’ve lost Aimery and Kyndra. We won’t know that until I go.”
“Nay, brother,” Theron said. “Don’t defy me in this.”
“There can be only two reasons you haven’t heard from Aimery. Either he’s dead.”
“Or Isran has taken over,” Theron finished. “I know. I’ve been over this and over this for the last few days.”
Lugus’ gaze narrowed. “There’s something else? What is it?”
“I was paid a visit by Julieth.”
“The High Priestess? What did she want?”
“She didn’t want anything. She wanted to impart a bit of knowledge that no one, not even Kyndra, knew about.”
“This doesn’t sound good.”
Theron shook his head. “It isn’t.”
“Spit it out then. We can’t do anything until we know what it is.”
“Everyone knows that to steal a dragon’s egg and bathe in the yolk after using black magic will make you invincible.”
“Aye.”
Theron hesitated. “What the Order has kept so secret that only the High Priestesses know is that if there is a priestess of the Order who can be convinced to perform a ceremony during the cracking of the egg then Isran’s power will never be contained.” Lugus turned on his heel and walked to a table where he poured two goblets of wine. He handed one to Theron and drank deeply before he wiped his mouth and cursed.
“My thoughts exactly,” Theron murmured.
Lugus tapped a finger on his leg. “If Julieth knew this, why did she send Kyndra? Why send a priestess at all?”
“I asked her the same question. She said the dragons told her to do it.”
“Shite.”
Theron drained the goblet and poured himself more wine. “My question is, do you think Isran could turn Kyndra to his side?”
“I don’t know. I do know that Aimery would do everything he could to stop it.”
“Would it be enough, though? No man has sway over the priestesses.” Lugus chuckled. “You didn’t see how Aimery was looking at her then, did you?” Theron paused as he lifted the goblet to his lips. “What?”
“Aimery was quite taken with the beautiful warrior priestess.”
“And Kyndra?”
Lugus shrugged one shoulder. “She noticed him, if that’s what you’re asking. What happened after I left is anyone’s guess.”
“Despite Isran and Aimery’s friendship, I know very little about Isran.”
“There’s not much to know. He was known for his tricks. He liked to manipulate people into doing what he wanted.”
“In which case, he would manipulate Kyndra and Aimery.” Lugus nodded. “He needs the priestess and, if Kyndra is smart, she’ll have kept Aimery alive as well.”
“All this is assuming Isran has taken over.”
“I think it’s safe to say that has happened.”
Theron sighed heavily. “Everything relies on Aimery and Kyndra.”
“All we can do is ready the realm.”
“I need you to command the army,” Theron said. “I know you’ve just been blessed with your first child and your wife is still weak—”
“I’ll do whatever you need,” Lugus interrupted him. “Let me get Ahryn settled, and I’ll be at the palace.”
Theron nodded, grateful once again to have his brother back in the realm.
* * * * *
Aimery knew the instant he opened his eyes Kyndra was gone. He sat up and sighed, wishing she had woken him. It was only then that he felt something in his hand. As soon as he saw the dragon cuff, he knew Isran had managed to turn Kyndra to his side. He didn’t know what Isran had planned for her but, whatever it was, it was bad enough that she had decided not to tell him. He swallowed and focused on the image of her face in his mind instead of the pull of the madness. He would not succumb. He would not!
After several moments, he opened his eyes, his breathing ragged and his heart pounding in his ears as if he had run from one side of the realm to the other. So far he had managed to control the madness, but how much longer would that last? How long could he continue to fight it until he gave in?
He jumped from the bed and dressed. He pulled his hair into a queue then turned to Kyndra’s cuff still lying on the bed. He refused to leave it, but neither would it fit his arm.
His lips parted as he swore he saw one of the eyes shift. Could it be that it held some magic? Dare he hope?
Aimery lifted it around to the back of his head where he threaded his hair through it. He smiled when the cuff changed, growing smaller to wrap around his hair. There wasn’t a lot of magic in the cuff, but there might just be enough to help Kyndra.
He strode to the door and jerked it open. Only to find his weapons lying in the corridor.
Aimery glanced first one way then the other before he bent and retrieved his sword and dagger.
He strapped his weapons on and flexed his hand. It seemed Isran wanted a battle, and it was a fight Aimery was certainly looking forward to.
“Which way are you?” he murmured.
Aimery decided to turn right. He walked the silent hallway for a time seeing no one, hearing nothing. Most of the torches had burned out, darkening the passage. He unsheathed his dagger and stepped carefully. When he came to a corner, he flattened himself against the wall before he rounded the turn, weapon raised.
He had expected Isran to place men in his way, to prolong him and tire him. And without his magic, Aimery would have to be careful that he didn’t expend too much of himself before he meet Isran.
When he came to a set of stairs he looked down first then glanced up and saw a guard waiting for him. Aimery smiled. He was ready for a fight. He moved his dagger to his left hand and unsheathed his sword as he took the stairs two at a time.
The guard had the advantage of being higher up than Aimery, but Aimery wasn’t concerned. He ducked when the guard swung the sword at his head, and he lunged up the stairs as he straightened, plunging his dagger into the man’s stomach.
Aimery pushed the dead guard off his blade and cautiously continued up the stairway. He had climbed two more levels when the next attack came. Aimery heard them just before he turned the corner on the landing. He fell down onto one knee to avoid a swing of a sword. The blade embedded into the rock, giving Aimery the time he needed to slice the guard’s neck as he stood.
It was just a whisper of movement and instinct that made Aimery duc
k and roll. He jumped to his feet and turned to find two more guards waiting for him.
“I suppose you want the same fate as your comrade, aye?” he taunted them.
The man on the left lunged at Aimery. Aimery blocked the blow of the war ax with his sword the same time he kicked the second guard in the balls. As the second bent over with a wail of pain, Aimery twisted around the first guard until his sword was against his neck.
“You can either drop your weapon and live, or you can die.” The guard elbowed him in the ribs as an answer.
Aimery plunged his dagger into the man’s side. “Wrong choice.” With two guards lying dead at his feet, he turned to the one still rolling around on the floor clutching his balls. “I’ll give you the same option I just gave your friend.” The second guard pulled himself up on his hands and knees and crawled away. Aimery blew out a breath and turned to the next flight of stairs. Where did they lead? And what did Isran have waiting for him next?
Aimery didn’t have long to find out. On the next landing five men waited for him. He eyed the men, determining how he was going to kill them. One laughed, swinging his blade around him as he stepped toward Aimery.
“We was told ye were a mighty warrior.”
Aimery shrugged. “I did get past the others.”
All five men chuckled.
“Aye,” the first one said. “But ye won’t be gettin’ past us.” Aimery didn’t have time to talk. He lunged forward, his sword sinking into the man. The guard’s startled eyes widened before they closed. Aimery kicked the man off his sword and beckoned the others forward.
They didn’t hesitate. He stepped to the side, making one trip over their dead comrade.
Another moved behind him, just as he wanted. Aimery elbowed him in the nose which sent him staggering backwards, his arms flailing as he tumbled down the stairs.
The other two came at him with their swords swinging. Aimery used both his sword and his dagger to block their swings and get in some swings of his own. The third had finally found his feet, though he was covered in the dead guard’s blood.
Aimery grabbed the third man and turned just as the other two drove their blades toward him. The third grunted as the weapons sunk into him, blood bubbling from his mouth as his life drained away. Aimery pushed him away and spun. He swung back with his dagger, finding the spine of one while his sword sliced the other’s neck.