Soul Singer_Iron Souls, Book Two

by Becca Andre

  “I do believe you have the heart of the nomad.”

  “Sounds right.” She glanced over. “I know you said you haven’t moved around so much by choice, but would you really like to be tied down to one place?”

  He didn’t immediately answer.

  “You can be honest,” she said. “It won’t offend me if a nomad’s life isn’t for you.”

  “No, that’s not why I’m hesitating. I was just thinking about the differences between your nomadic lifestyle and mine. You were never alone, whereas I’ve been alone since Fabrice died—well, except for the time I spent with Solon.”

  “Solon? When did you spend time with him?”

  “I’ve been with him off and on since he broke me out of the ferra stronghold where I lived.”

  She turned to stare at him, though she could see little more than his silhouette. “Solon broke you out? He… rescued you?”

  “Not so certain about rescue, but yes. Solon, Farran, and a couple of others.”

  She stopped. “Farran was one of those who rescued you? God, Grayson, I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry about what?”

  “He was your friend.”

  “If you use that term loosely. I guess.”

  She began walking again. “How long ago was that?”

  He thought about it for a moment. “Seventeen years.”

  If she remembered correctly, he had been eight when he was taken from—escaped—his ferra home. That made him twenty-five. She was right; he wasn’t that much older than she was.

  “You told me you slowed Solon’s devolvement. Why didn’t you slow Farran’s?”

  “I didn’t help Solon on my own. Actually, I shouldn’t have been able to help him at all until I was fully cast.”

  And now Solon wanted him to help the rest of their kind. That’s why Solon forced his final casting on him.

  “So how did you help Solon back then?” she asked.

  “I had assistance…from a soul singer.”

  “What?”

  “Well, she didn’t mean to help.” Grayson sounded amused. “She caught us. Solon was carrying me.”

  “Because you were a child?”

  “Because I’d just created Lock.”

  “Oh.” Because he’d just lost his heart.

  “I don’t know that I can explain what I did, but she had taken Solon and I…took him back. It absolutely drained me, and I don’t remember how we got out. Over the years that followed, it became obvious that Solon didn’t appear to devolve as quickly as the rest. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to help them. To be honest, I still don’t.”

  “I assume you told Farran that.”

  “Since the beginning.”

  She walked in silence, absorbing all that he’d told her. She had just assumed that Solon and Farran were Grayson’s enemies, but they might have been just the opposite. Once. And from what she’d learned about Grayson’s temperament, she suspected it really bothered him.

  “Farran was the eldest and had devolved the most, even back then. I don’t know how bad the rest are now, if they’re even still alive. Then there are the younger ones who are still reaping the benefits of having a construct.”

  “Those who haven’t had their final casting forced on them.”

  “Yes.”

  She frowned. “Are you refusing to go to Solon because you don’t want to devolve more quickly or because you don’t know how to help them?”

  “It’s tough being everyone’s savior, especially when it’s all a lie.”

  “What if you did know how to save them?”

  “Then I would.”

  She smiled. “Good.”

  This time, he stopped. “You want me to help them?”

  “I want you to be willing to do what’s right, and I think helping them, if you’re able, is the right thing. However, from a purely selfish standpoint, if it will accelerate your devolvement, I don’t want you to do it.”

  “That sounds a bit hypocritical. I think.”

  “I guess.” Her logic was rather convoluted. She wasn’t so sure she had it all sorted out.

  He walked on. “There’s no easy answer.”

  “No, there’s not.” She hurried after him. “This conversation has devolved.”

  “Bad pun,” he muttered.

  She reached over and took his hand, surprising herself. Wanting to distract him, she changed the topic to something lighter. “Did I tell you about the time I dropped a spider down the front of Helen Hickman’s dress?”

  Grayson barked a short laugh. “You what?”

  “I don’t know how many times it bit her, but the swelling was more impressive than the… lumps she was showing off with her fancy corset.”

  Grayson laughed harder. “What had she done to you?”

  “Made fun of my freckles.”

  “Clearly, she was jealous.” He squeezed her hand. “How old were you?”

  “Fourteen. I think Eli scolded me more about that then Uncle Charlie did. At least until I accused him of being sweet on her.”

  “You knew Eli when you were fourteen?”

  “Uncle Charlie hired him on when I was twelve. I think he appointed himself my big brother that same day.”

  “Huh. Well, I’m sure it’s been quite the undertaking to keep you out of trouble.”

  “And you were the well-behaved youth?” she demanded.

  “I never claimed that.”

  “Go on. What pranks did you pull?”

  “Hmm.” He fell silent as he considered the question. “There was this neighborhood bully who used to torment me, back when I lived with Fabrice. The kid was bigger than most grown men by the time he was twelve. I was a scrawny nine-year-old.”

  “David and Goliath.” She smiled. “I like where this is going.”

  He gave her hand another squeeze. “He cornered me in the market one morning. While he threatened me, I looked around for a weapon, or at least, a distraction. That’s when I noticed his belt buckle.”

  “Iron?”

  “Yes. Long story short, he ended up with his cinched belt and pants around his ankles. The buckle was melted in place, so he couldn’t pull up his pants or pull them off over his boots. The story of him hopping through the market with all his bits on display was repeated for years. He even picked up a few nicknames.”

  “Like what?”

  “They were rather crude, but I will mention that not all of him was man-sized. You may draw your own conclusion.”

  She pressed her free hand to her mouth, blushing, but also laughing. “Brilliant.”

  He twined his fingers with hers. “Your turn.”

  “My turn?” she asked, powerfully aware of his warm fingers laced with hers. Was it just a gesture of friendship to him?

  “Tell me another story of those pricked by your thorns,” he said.

  “Only if you share another tale of someone who failed to slay the Gray Dragon.”

  He chuckled. “Agreed.”

  They spent the rest of the trip walking hand-in-hand along the dark towpath, sharing stories from their childhoods. Grayson had no trouble matching her tale for wild tale of brazen pranks and well-planned vengeance. Briar lamented meeting him only now. As tonight had proven, he would have been an asset in some of her more daring adventures.

  All too soon, the Briar Rose came into view. Lantern light still burned in the windows of the bunkhouse, and the occasional low laugh carried across the canal.

  “Looks like the crew is up past bedtime,” she said.

  “Will they be sent to bed without supper tomorrow?”

  “That would make me a bit of a hypocrite.” She released his hand and waded into the water. “Best we climb up the back
of the boat.”

  “Aye.” Grayson followed her into the canal.

  She sank into the water and swam across. Arriving at the back of the boat, she started to climb up. Grayson scampered past her with the dexterity of a squirrel. Smiling to herself, she followed.

  Reaching the rail of the tiller deck, she found Grayson waiting on her. He offered a hand, but she ignored it, climbing up on her own. It wasn’t so much that she wanted to emphasize that she didn’t need help, but she wasn’t so certain what to do if she took his hand and he didn’t let go.

  She crossed the tiller deck and stepped up onto the aft deck where he joined her. “I’d better use the hatch,” she whispered. Perseus and Kali were sleeping in the cargo hold outside her cabin. It occurred to her that Grayson would need a change of clothes, and his trunk was in her cabin.

  “Briar?” he stopped her. Had he realized the same thing?

  She faced him, ready to offer to bring him the clothes, but he spoke first.

  “I enjoyed our adventure,” he said, keeping his voice pitched low. “Thank you for taking me along.”

  “You followed me.”

  “But you allowed me to stay.”

  “I recognized your usefulness.”

  “So, I’m just a tool to wield against your enemies?”

  Normally, she would have given him a teasing answer, but she couldn’t help but think of all he had told her. How he had always been wanted, but only for what he was, not who. And how he was always alone.

  “No,” she whispered. “I’ve seen beneath the silver scales. You’re more than just a myth to be harnessed for another’s gain.”

  He said nothing, the darkness hiding his expression.

  “Seeing Farran, knowing your fate—it rips out my heart.” Wasn’t that evidence of how she valued him as a person? A friend? “You keep telling me it’s pointless, but I can’t just give up on you.”

  The moon broke through the clouds at that moment, and she sought his gaze, trying to see if he believed her. He was watching her, his fair eyes holding hers. Without speaking, he reached out and brushed her cheek.

  She stilled beneath the warmth of his touch.

  “Hope is such a torment,” he whispered, then leaned down and covered her mouth with his.

  Briar gave in to a longing she hadn’t allowed herself to acknowledge. She stepped closer, her hands coming to rest on the wet shirt covering his stomach, and returned the kiss with the same fervor he displayed. As it had the first time she kissed him, his scent filled her head, and his taste danced across her tongue.

  The hand that touched her cheek slid to the back of her head, and his other hand settled on her waist. He pulled her closer.

  With the distance closing between them, she slid her hands up his chest, feeling the solid contours through the wet fabric. Reaching his shoulders, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her body now pressed to his.

  He groaned against her mouth, the vibration sending a thrill through her. Dear God, she could stand here and kiss him all night, and never tire of it.

  Somewhere in the distance, a new sound grew. Grayson abruptly released her, and she recognized the sound of running footfalls across the catwalk. She began to turn when Grayson shoved her aside.

  She stumbled, but righted herself in time to watch Eli launch himself at Grayson with something like a roar.

  “Eli!” she shouted, then cringed as he threw a punch.

  Grayson sidestepped the blow, but Eli’s knuckles probably brushed his cheek on the way past.

  Eli followed with another punch, a left this time.

  Grayson jumped back from another near miss. Eli was fast for a big man, and he had been brawling since he was a kid. It was a regular form of entertainment on the canal, and Eli excelled at it.

  “Eli, stop,” she shouted, but he didn’t even glance in her direction. His attention was fully on Grayson, and he was more pissed than she could ever remember seeing him.

  “Briar, step back,” Grayson said. He gestured for her to move away, though he didn’t take his eyes off Eli.

  “Do not address her with such familiarity,” Eli growled, then charged Grayson again. He threw another right, but Grayson dove beneath his arm, coming up behind him before the big man could follow with a left.

  Eli spun to face Grayson, moving with speed that surprised a lot of opponents, but Briar had seen Grayson defeat the soulless. He wasn’t fighting back. Yet.

  “I don’t suppose we could talk about this?” Grayson asked.

  Eli didn’t bother to answer. He took another swing instead.

  “Captain?” Jimmy stepped up beside her, and she noticed that the rest of her crew and passengers had gathered on the stable deck to watch.

  “I can’t call him off,” she said.

  “This has been brewing for some time,” Jimmy answered. “Maybe it’s best to let them fight it out.”

  “They could hurt each other.”

  Jimmy grunted, but didn’t voice a comment.

  Eli surged forward and launched a pair of punches in rapid succession. She had seen him defeat opponents in that single move.

  Grayson avoided the first blow, but the second caught him. The upper cut landed squarely on his chin and sent him stumbling. He righted himself in two strides, then straightened. His eyes narrowed as he flexed his jaw.

  “Come on, you inhuman freak,” Eli said. “Fight me.”

  Grayson flexed his jaw one more time. “As you wish,” he answered, his tone cool.

  “Ah, hell,” Jimmy muttered.

  “There’s the monster,” Eli said, smiling for the first time.

  “Gray—” Briar didn’t get to finish the admonishment when Grayson launched himself at Eli.

  Jimmy gasped, and Briar imitated him. Eli had been quick, but nothing like this. Grayson got in a second jab to Eli’s midsection before the first punch could make Eli step back.

  The strength of Grayson’s punches was evident by the way they forced Eli to move. Usually, punching Eli looked like punching a wall.

  “I knew he was holding back,” a voice said from Briar’s other side. To her annoyance, she saw that it was Kali. “The big guy’s good,” Kali continued. “Really good. But he wouldn’t last long in the field. Rule number one: never fight a ferromancer with just your fists.”

  “Grayson won’t hurt him,” Briar said, watching the two men circle each other. Maybe Jimmy was right. Maybe they just needed to get this out of their systems.

  “You haven’t been around ferromancers much, have you?” Kali asked. “That’s no longer your Grayson.”

  Briar spared her a frown. Just because Grayson had decided to fight back—

  Grayson attacked again, his moves so fast they were hard to follow. He didn’t just throw punches. He deflected blows and finished by kicking Eli’s feet from beneath him.

  Eli landed with a hollow boom that echoed through the whole boat.

  “Grayson, stop this,” Briar said in the momentary silence.

  “I don’t need you defending me, Miss Briar.” Eli sprang back to his feet with ease and went after Grayson with a single-minded fury she had never seen in him.

  Grayson meanwhile took the hits and returned his own with a mechanical indifference that gave her chills. Kali was right. He was no longer her Grayson. He was the ferromancer.

  The fight continued at a frenzied pace. Both men had bloody noses. Eli’s lower lip was split, and Grayson had a tear above one eye that dripped blood down his face.

  “Yeah, the big guy is amazing,” Kali said, her tone a little awed, but also amused. “Sad that he won’t survive this. Shall I?” She held up the disruptor.

  “No!” Briar seized her wrist.

  “You know it won’t hurt your ferromancer. N
ot permanently.”

  “What if you miss and hit Eli?”

  “I’m a better shot than that.” She pulled her wrist from Briar’s grip.

  “No.” Briar glared at her.

  “Then it’s up to you.” She waved her other hand at the fight, drawing Briar’s gaze back to it.

  Eli’s expression was grim and determined, but also pained. Grayson looked like he neither felt the punches he took, nor cared about the damage he inflicted.

  Briar slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out the silver pocket watch that was Lock. She gripped the warm metal in her fist.

  Lock? Please ask Grayson to stop.

  A faint buzz was her acknowledgment that the little dragon had heard. It was the only response she got, because Grayson didn’t slow.

  Eli tried to come in from behind Grayson and got an elbow to the ribs. The blow landed with a crunch and Eli grunted.

  Briar tightened her fist around the watch. “Stop this. Now.” She said between clenched teeth. She was captain of this boat and he would obey.

  Grayson’s eyes widened, and he froze where he stood. Had it worked?

  Before Briar could ask, Eli took advantage of Grayson’s stillness. Standing behind him, Eli looped an arm around Grayson’s neck.

  Grayson gagged, lifting both hands to grip the large arm wrapped around his throat.

  Eli leaned back, lifting Grayson from the deck. Grayson’s movements became more frantic, but he couldn’t get the necessary leverage to pull Eli’s arm away.

  “Eli, let him go,” Briar said.

  “Sorry, Miss Briar,” Eli wheezed. “You’ll hate me for a while, but I’m doing this for your own good.”

  “Doing what?” she demanded. “Strangling him?”

  Grayson’s eyes met hers. She opened her mouth to give Eli another command, when Grayson’s eyes…changed. One moment, she was looking into those familiar eyes, and in the next, she was staring into the inhuman eyes of a fully cast ferromancer, the blue-gray irises now stretching from lid to lid.