Eversong (The Kindred Book 1)

by Donna Grant

  Chapter 29

  Blackglade

  She could always tell when Armir was behind her, and Malene didn’t need magic for it. Her skin prickled with awareness as she looked out the window, every nerve ending coming to life in excitement.

  Which was understandable since he was her only companion. It was by her own hand, but that was why she’d become so...aware...of him.

  Malene looked down at her right palm, rubbing her left thumb over the faint blue light that matched her other hand. The swift and potent increase in her power left her dizzy. And reeling.

  To put it simply, she was terrified.

  “My lady.”

  Her eyes closed at the sound of Armir’s voice. There were times he simply stood next to the door of her tower like a silent sentry. Then there were days he pushed her to increase her magic and accept her role among the Varroki. It was never enough that she was inside the tower at Blackglade. Armir wanted more from her.

  And she was afraid that she had reached her limit.

  She didn’t know if he had brought her down from the top of the tower, or if she’d lost time, regardless, she wasn’t ready to share her new discovery.

  She turned her head to the side to address him. “Aye?”

  There was a long pause of silence before he said, “Jarin’s falcon hasn’t returned with a message.”

  Jarin? It took her a moment to sort through her memories to recall Armir telling her about the warrior who was tasked with tracking Eleanor.

  “You fear he and the Coven elder clashed?” she asked and faced him.

  Armir’s green eyes were locked on her face. “I’ve already checked with the Quarter. The four seers sense his life force.”

  There was much she’d learned about her people over the years. Armir was extremely protective of his warriors. He was a demanding, exacting leader, but there was no one more loyal to them than Armir.

  He never doubted their abilities when he sent them out on a mission. Nor did he waiver in the knowledge that they would complete their assignment and return home.

  For the few warriors who never made it back to Blackglade, Armir was the first to discover what went wrong. And while he tried to keep his travels quiet, she knew when he left to track down a particular witch to dole out his special brand of justice.

  So, while his words about Jarin were nonchalant, Malene knew he was worried. “Tell me,” she urged.

  His gaze shifted to the side for a moment as he took a deep breath. “Jarin is one of our best. If he wanted my position, he could take it.”

  “He’s that powerful?” she asked, surprised that she was just now learning such information.

  Armir’s lips compressed briefly. “Aye.”

  “Which is why you sent him to follow Eleanor.”

  He gave a nod of his blond head. “Jarin is first and foremost a Varroki, but he does not always get along with others. He prefers solitude with his wolf and falcon.”

  Malene recalled meeting the warrior during the first year of her reign. She folded her hands together and walked toward Armir. “Do you want to find him?”

  “Nay,” he replied instantly.

  “Your words say one thing, but your eyes say another,” she pointed out.

  A muscle ticked in Armir’s jaw. “Jarin is a close friend, my lady. His assignment was a treacherous one. Then I asked him to find those from your vision.”

  “Give him another day. If there’s no word, then you will discover what has become of him,” she stated.

  His lips parted as a frown formed. “I’m not to leave your side.”

  “We both know you’ve done it before. This time, I’m not only giving you permission. It’s an order.”

  His pale green eyes studied her for a long moment. “You’re different.”

  “Because I’m acknowledging something you’ve attempted to keep secret?”

  He closed the space between them, his long strides eating up the distance. He halted before her. While he didn’t touch her, he was close enough that she could feel the heat rolling off him.

  “Do you trust me?” His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

  But his eyes blazed with unease and a healthy dose of annoyance. As well as sadness. It was the dejection that surprised her.

  She licked her lips and nodded. “I do.”

  “Then tell me,” he urged.

  With three words, she had her confirmation that he was the one who’d brought her from the roof and put her in bed. In many ways, she was relieved that he knew her secret.

  But it was the other part of her that recoiled in desolation and despair. For he had touched her again, and she hadn’t been awake for it.

  Ages ago, a Varroki leader and her commander had an affair. The leader renounced her title and made plans to run away with her lover. Since a new leader can only be found after the death of the current one, it left the Varroki vulnerable.

  The warriors were forced to pursue the lovers. When the couple refused to return to Blackglade, the warriors had no choice but to kill them. The fallout from the event nearly destroyed the Varroki.

  A new rule was quickly enacted that the Lady of the Varroki was not to be touched. Malene understood why the decree was there, but for someone who craved another’s touch, it was the worst kind of torture.

  She held out her hands between them. Then, slowly, she turned them, palms up.

  Armir’s gaze remained on her face for a heartbeat before his eyes lowered. His visage remained impassive. She was so focused on looking for any emotion crossing his face that she almost missed his hands lifting. His fingers came within inches of touching her, but he dropped them at the last moment.

  She nearly cried out, almost begged him to put his hands on her, but she managed to keep it inside somehow. A little more of her died then.

  Armir thought she fought her role with the Varroki. When in fact, she was withering inside. A slow, agonizing death she suffered alone.

  Malene lowered her hands and returned to her spot at the window. There, she could look across the sea and imagine a life where she had no magic, where she met a man and fell in love and had a family.

  Every day she built upon that fantasy, the story unfolding in her mind. It was the only thing that got her through the unending days. And it was a secret she would keep from Armir. He knew nothing but the Varroki way of life. He didn’t understand what it meant to want something more.

  “Are you in pain?” he asked.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and fought against the sudden sting of tears. She was suffocating, the pain slashing deeper every day. But that’s not what he referred to.

  Malene took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “There is no pain.”

  “But there is fear. I hear it in your voice.”

  She whirled around to face him and held up her hands. As her anger rose, the blue radiance got brighter. “Look at these! I’ve spent the morning researching the other Ladies of the Varroki. None of them had both palms glowing. Only the left. What does this mean?”

  “That you’re more powerful than the others before,” he said as he walked slowly toward her. “That there is much more planned for you.”

  She dropped her arms and shook her head. “Nay. I don’t want any more. I’ve reached my limit.”

  In a blink, he gripped her wrists in his hands and leaned his face close. “If anyone can handle this, it’s you. You, Malene. Only you. Your potential is limitless.”

  “You can’t feel the power rushing through me. I have no control.”

  “You do.” He released her wrists, but he didn’t move away. “Don’t keep these feelings bottled up. You need to talk to me, and if you cannot, or do not wish to share with me, then I will find you someone you can talk to.”

  She let her arms drop to her sides, and she smiled ruefully. “I don’t know how long you looked for me years ago, or even how you found me. There were times I hated you.”

  “I know,” he stated in a flat voice.

&
nbsp; “And times I couldn’t survive without you. You’ve helped me to stay on the path the Varroki need me to follow. You’ve even helped me walk the fine line of my position. But all of your wisdom and guidance cannot help me with what’s in here,” she said as she pointed at her chest.

  “And what is in there?” he asked.

  She fought the urge to touch his chiseled face. “Do you remember the first night we met and what you said to me?”

  “To follow your heart,” he replied with a nod.

  “I thought it would be an easy way to find my way in this role, but it has only made things more complicated. I know what I want, but it goes against everything I’m supposed to do. I have an entire city looking to me. Not to lead them, because we all know that you do that. But to protect them, and to keep Blackglade thriving.”

  Armir’s face folded into a frown. “You are so much more than that. You are the beacon that reminds our people who they are.”

  “They don’t need me for that.”

  “But they do,” he insisted. “Why do you think they look to this tower every day, hoping for a glimpse of you? Why do you think magic is revered so? Not because it is handed down through our blood to our descendants, but because of your hands. That blue light makes you royalty to our kind.”

  She ran her thumbs over her fingers as she felt the light of her palms warm at his words.

  “You remind them of how great our people are, of how we survived eons of both worship and persecution. You signify what was forged in flame long ago. Magic. Power. And it courses through you so fiercely that I can see it.”

  “I want to be all that you say and more.”

  “Then do it,” he stated. His green eyes stared at her, filled with a fierce light, daring her to do as he said.

  Malene looked down at her hands, turning her palms to face each other so that the blue light reflected back onto itself. “You know what the second light means, don’t you?”

  “Aye,” he said after a long pause.

  And he hadn’t told her, which meant he wanted to keep it from her for a reason. Normally, she would have demanded to know the facts, but not tonight. It might destroy her, and then there would be nothing Armir could say or do that would fix her.

  She lifted her gaze to him. “Keep me informed about Jarin. I want to know the moment you get word from him. Or if you don’t.”

  His eyes searched her face, the worried frown smoothing away. “Aye, my lady.”

  “If Jarin is...no longer with us, then I will accompany you to confront Eleanor.”

  Armir’s lips parted in shock, a scowl in place. “You cannot be serious.”

  “But I am. I may be everything you said a moment ago, but I’m also here to fight witches, specifically the Coven. After the vision I had, it might be better to have this confrontation now rather than later.”

  “Malene, please. You do not even know what this extra magic can do.”

  “Then we’d better make sure I’m prepared,” she said and lifted a brow.

  Chapter 30

  “It’s going to hurt.”

  Leoma gave Jarin a baleful stare and petted the side of the stallion’s face when he put his head over her arm. “Worse than what you just did to my mind?”

  He hesitated before shrugging. “Aye.”

  “Great.” Leoma let out a breath as she faced the horse. “And the animals?”

  “I’ll send Armir a message, telling him what is going on. As for Valdr and the stallion, they must be left behind.”

  She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the horse. “I cannot just leave him out here.”

  “Valdr will ensure that the stallion is safe.”

  “A wolf guarding a horse.”

  Jarin blew out a breath. “I must tell you that travelling with magic is not without risks.”

  Leoma faced the warlock. “Braith is standing among the Coven. Alone. I told him we would fight them together. I’ll not leave him by himself. Regardless of the risks,” she added.

  “It will take me a few moments to prepare the message.”

  She took the horse’s reins and led him a short distance away. There was no magic within her that allowed her to communicate with animals, but she had to tell the stallion what was happening.

  Gazing into the creature’s large, dark eyes she said, “I’m going to get Braith, but you cannot come. Valdr, the wolf, is going to stay with you. Now, Jarin has assured me Valdr won’t harm you, but if, at any time, you feel threatened by the wolf, feel free to kick him. Just to keep him on his toes. I don’t know how long it will take, but I plan to bring Braith back to you.”

  The horse blinked at her and returned to eating. Leoma turned and found Jarin and Valdr a few feet behind her. The warlock was grinning, letting her know he had heard every word.

  “Consider Valdr warned,” Jarin said.

  Leoma glanced at the wolf. “Good. This horse means a lot to Braith.”

  The smile dropped from Jarin’s lips. “Valdr will guard him well. I can assure you of that.”

  “Thank you.”

  He gave a nod and turned on his heel. A moment later, he issued a loud whistle and held up his arm while looking at the sky. Leoma found herself searching the heavens, as well. It didn’t take long for her to see a dark shape flying high above them.

  The falcon dropped down and perched on Jarin’s arm. Leoma saw no quill and ink as the warlock unrolled a small piece of parchment that appeared out of thin air.

  Jarin’s lips moved, but she couldn’t make out what he said. Then he rolled up the paper and tucked it into the holder on the falcon’s leg. The next instant, the bird was in the air, and Jarin was looking at her.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Her stomach still wasn’t settled from her last encounter with his magic. “I think.”

  She was reaching for the waterskin when he said, “You may not want to do that.”

  Leoma met his gaze and decided against drinking—or eating—anything for a while. “How weak will we be when we arrive?”

  “More or less as we were after I read your mind.”

  She forced a smile. “Wonderful. And how close will we be?”

  “We’ll have time to collect ourselves before we face the Coven,” he replied.

  The fact that Jarin didn’t look any more prepared to do this magic than she was to experience it helped her gather some courage.

  The warlock knelt, and the wolf walked to him. Jarin rubbed his head against the wolf’s in some kind of silent message. After a few more rubs and soft whining from Valdr, the wolf loped off to the woods and lay down in the brush.

  Jarin stood and motioned to her. Leoma knew that Braith would do whatever it took to get to her if the tables were turned, and she would do the same. She came to stand before the warlock, who held out his arms. After clasping his forearms, and him wrapping his fingers around hers, she met his gaze.

  “You trust Braith completely,” he stated.

  She frowned, unsure where he was going with his assertion. “I’ve said as much, aye.”

  “You keep your trust. I’m going to prepare for a betrayal.”

  Leoma swallowed past the lump of emotion in her throat. “He’s a good man.”

  “Good men can be influenced by evil.”

  She knew that all too well, but she couldn’t let doubt into her mind—or her heart.

  Jarin said, “Stay alert and be wary. Of everything. It won’t take the witches long to sense the connection you and Braith have. They’ll use it against you.”

  “You forget, I’ve fought witches before.”

  “Not like this. Training will only get you so far, and let’s hope those who readied you gave you all the skills you’ll need. If you fall into a trap, I may not be able to reach you.”

  Her mouth went dry. “Understood.”

  “If Braith is as steadfast as you claim, you’ll be the only one who can reach him. I’ll have your back.”

  How had she begun this
journey not trusting anyone to find herself with a knight who’d stolen her heart and a warlock she was prepared to hand her life to, in the hopes that he didn’t betray her?

  Jarin’s pale eyes held her. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “You have to stop saying that. I get no comfort from it.”

  His lips turned up in a grin. “Keep your cheeky wit, Hunter. It’s a good asset.”

  Before she could reply, his head tilted back, and his hands tightened on her arms. The wind picked up, tangling their cloaks around their legs. She turned her head and squinted to keep debris from her eyes. But the wind only increased, pushing and pulling against her until her hands clung to Jarin in desperation.

  When he lifted his head to look at her, his eyes were glowing white. Leoma glanced to her left, but it was nothing more than a blur as if the world were spinning around them so fast that she grew dizzy. She had to shut her eyes.

  Nausea rolled in her stomach. She pressed her lips together so as not to be sick. Suddenly, she felt as if something grabbed hold of her midsection and yanked.

  “Open your eyes, Leoma. Breathe. Breathe!”

  She parted her lips and sucked in a large mouthful of air, the same time she opened her eyes to find Jarin standing over her looking ashen and sweaty.

  Her fingers sank into earth. Almost immediately after that, her stomach rebelled. Leoma rolled onto her side and emptied her belly. Beside her, Jarin collapsed to his knees, his head hanging.

  When the retching finally ceased, she rolled onto her back and looked at the sky. Her entire body ached as if someone had battered it for hours. How in the world was she going to fight feeling like this?

  “You don’t look quite as green,” Jarin said as he sat back on his haunches and put his hands on his thighs.

  She turned her head to him. “I feel horrid.”

  “It’ll wear off.”

  “It better.” She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.

  But knowing that Braith was waiting for her had Leoma getting to her hands and knees, and then her feet. She turned in a circle and found the red beacon behind her. It stood bright and vivid, only a little ways ahead of them.