by S. D. Grimm
“You are easily provoked to aggression.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, but the lion was there, too. And only her head was white. Everything else was red.
“I saved your sister. You owe me.”
I owe you nothing. An arrow zipped past. Wide-eyed, Ryan looked for the source. A man on horseback was charging up the hill. More men crested the hill behind him. “Chloe, run!”
“No.” Her voice trembled.
He looked into her scared eyes. “Please, Chloe. One of us has to. I’m the right age; they’ll follow me. Run!”
She scrambled to her feet. “No.”
Tears blurred his vision. He pushed her. Pushed his own sister.
She stumbled away from him and ran right back to his side, eyes wet. “Ryan?”
He touched her cheek. “Please, run?”
“Snare you, Ryan. Snare you!” Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she turned and ran.
Thank the Creator, she ran. I love you, too, Chloe.
Ryan turned back to the men advancing up the hill. He dropped his sword and spoke to the lion in his head. If you want me to kill, I won’t do it.
“Fool.”
No. You don’t control me.
“We’ll see.”
The woman in black held up her hand and the five on horseback, now congregating at the top of the hill, stilled their arrows.
“What are you doing, boy?” She stepped closer to him.
“I’m surrendering. If you’ll let my sister go.”
The sound from her throat sounded like a purr. “She is of no use to us anyway, not if we have you.” She stopped in front of him and pulled a knife from her belt. “What’s your name?”
There was no use lying. “Ryan.”
Her dark eyes were wild, crazy almost. “I’m Belladonna.”
A cool blade pressed against his neck, but he wouldn’t move. Wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing his fear.
“The king wants you alive, lucky for you. But even so, you are quite handsome. And strong. And I do need more men since you’ve robbed me of three perfectly good ones.” She stroked his bloodied arm. “Cain was my favorite, but I think I can train another.”
Ryan clenched his jaw.
Crazy Belladonna stood on her tiptoes and her cheek brushed against Ryan’s neck. “I will keep you for my own, if he’ll let me. Would you like that?”
“I’m nobody’s pet.”
“Honest, too.” The flat of her knife blade slid against his neck, but the edge sliced him anyway.
He flinched as sweat seeped into the open wound.
“Oh, how clumsy.” She traced her fingers along the cut. It grew hotter.
Then cooled. No more sting. Then she touched the wound in his shoulder.
Heat burned through him like the fire from the black lion. Just before panic set in, it cooled. No more gash. No more pain.
Ryan flashed his eyes to meet Belladonna’s dark ones.
She smiled. “That’s right. I healed you. Now if you continue to be this compliant, you’ll find yourself a knight of the king in no time.”
The king? Ryan’s stomach squeezed. What exactly had Morgan seen?
“Raph, Travis,” Belladonna shouted, and two men moved their horses forward. One was smaller, weasel-looking, and the other was a burly man with an eye patch and a wooden leg. “Follow the girl, but don’t hurt her. I want to know where she’s going. Don’t get caught.”
The two men spurred their horses down the hill.
Ryan closed his eyes as his stomach squeezed. What have I done?
Chapter 64
Ink-Black Water
Dawn’s rays pierced through the trees and lit the rocky shore bordering the moat. The flare of protection in Ethan’s chest burned stronger with each step toward the ruins. Danger for Quinn. For himself. Maybe the beast wasn’t as dead as he’d hoped. Great. Hopefully he’d be able to help her before the others found him missing and tried to follow.
Ethan pulled the stone out of his pocket. Just one more glance to make sure nothing else had changed. A flash of red, like the glow of fire in a fanned coal, spread over the black surface and she appeared. Alone.
He breathed deep and replaced the stone. Then he stepped into the clearing and looked across the water to the island’s south side. Listening. Feeling. Trusting his talent. That last one was hardest.
Water, black as pitch, surrounded the ruins. A strange rock formation jutted up from the center of it that looked like a dwelling built on a mountainside. Only it was no mountain. By the black rock-rubble at the bottom of the formation and the lush, living vegetation surrounding it, this was most certainly a volcano.
The water around the island resembled a moat. Manmade, but archaic. The rock formation could have been an ancient castle tarnished with lava and centuries past its once-formidable prime. This was the place.
Ethan scanned the base of the volcano for the girl. Scanned the shore for a boat. There. Farther up the shoreline, where it curved around the massive volcano. The scent of ash was faint in the wind. He moved closer, his boots crunching on the rocky soil.
“Ethan.”
He stopped. Heart sinking deep. Why did they have to follow him? He was the Protector. Couldn’t they see that he was trying to keep them safe?
He turned to face Logan, but Serena and Jayden followed him right through the clearing. Scout bounded up to him. Westwind stood beside Logan, Dash stood behind Serena, and a black horse—no, a pegasus—stood beside Jayden. Ethan stared.
“Her name is Stormcloud. I’m sorry I left you alone—”
“You bonded?”
She beamed.
He sighed. “Quinn is only alone for a few more hours. I didn’t want the rest of you to get hurt.”
Logan walked up to him and squeezed his shoulder. “Kid, this isn’t your burden to bear alone. I thought you’d get that by now.”
“I’m supposed to protect them, not drag them into danger. Besides, I couldn’t wait for Melanie and Gavin. I had to make a move now.”
“Yes, but not alone. And how were you planning to get across the moat?”
Ethan glanced at the pegasus. He had to admit, the timing was good.
Logan’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “Sometimes letting your friends—no, family—help you is better than going alone.”
Sometimes.
The heat of a threat pulsed in Ethan’s heart for Jayden and Serena. He fisted his hands. Why couldn’t Logan ever listen? “Sometimes going alone is best. Get them out of here, please. I don’t know what the danger is, but I have a bad feeling, and—” A low moan seemed to shake the ground. “And it just got worse.”
“What was that?” Logan’s eyes were wide.
“The beast.” Serena’s soft whisper hung in the air like thick mist.
A girl stepped into view on the island. She strained to reach the end of her chains so she could see them.
Ethan let out a trapped breath. She was alive. He cupped his hands to his mouth. “We’re going to get you out of there.”
“No! Run before it kills you. It will kill you!”
The ground quaked. A thunderous bubble rose from the dark liquid. Ethan pulled out his sword and stepped back. He glanced at Jayden, pleading. “Will you run now?”
Jayden stood next to him with her daggers out. “Not a chance.”
“Actually, it might be a good idea.” Logan grabbed Jayden’s wrist. “Let’s go.”
Water shot up from the moat like a spire. It towered above them so high, Ethan couldn’t see the top. Then, like a firework, it burst apart in five directions. Ethan pushed Jayden into a run. They all headed toward the trees.
A snakelike neck, bigger around than an old oak tree and covered with green and yellow scales, slammed onto the ground ahead of them, knocking Ethan off his feet. He pushed off the ground, but the earth shook as four more necks crashed to the ground, separating him from the others. The creature could have separated all of them, for all he knew
.
One thing was certain, his chest was practically on fire. Not like he needed the warning.
The single black eye on a scaled, cyclopean head focused on him. Smoke leaked from its nostrils. White fangs lined its massive jaw. It opened its mouth and an orange ball of flames festered in the back of its throat. Ethan rolled and scrambled to his feet. “Now what?”
“We hope our swords cut through it.” Logan’s voice came from behind one of the necks.
He raised his weapon as a stream of fire spewed toward him. Fighting this was not like fighting a man—its heart was still safely in the water. Great.
The pegasus soared into the air and one of the heads tracked it. Jayden was atop Stormcloud.
The best way to save her was to kill the thing. He focused on the head tracking him and raced toward the water’s edge. Two heads swiveled in his direction. One head lunged at him, opening its mouth. Two rows of serrated teeth dripped with saliva. The orange glow was a good tip-off, at least.
Ethan dove to the ground. Rough pebbles grated against his body as he skidded away from the flame. The second head snaked closer. He scrambled to his feet and hacked at the beast. He hit it. A shock of resistance shot through his arms, leaving his muscles quivering. Its scales were like a rock, but the sword had cut through. The red on his blade proved that.
An ear-splitting screech emitted from the creature’s five throats. The heads targeting Ethan recoiled as if in pain. He spun to see what had happened. A head lay on the ground under Logan’s dripping sword. Blood cascaded from the twitching neck as fire spewed from the remaining heads. At least Logan’s sword got through.
Fire flared around Ethan. Scout valiantly jumped at the snakelike creature, but it knocked him away easily. Then the beast lunged at Scout’s fallen form. Ethan’s heart sped as he looked at his helpless dog. He raced forward, calling his speed. It coursed through him. Fueled every muscle.
He brought down his sword right at the base of the creature’s skull before it could claim Scout’s life. He swung. The head dangled, still attached on one side. Sparks spouted uncontrollably from the mouth.
Then heat washed over his chest. This time the threat was for him.
“Ethan, look out!” Jayden’s voice rang out above him.
Another head raced toward him.
Flames spouted and Ethan jumped. For a heartbeat, he was suspended in the air. Acrid heat shot past him, singeing his sleeve.
The half-severed head sailed toward him. Unable to change direction, he braced for the hit. It bashed into his arm, sending his sword flying across the ground.
Ethan slammed into the unforgiving earth and slid across the wet sand. Gasping for air, he tried to push himself up. The world spun. How far was he from everyone else? Panic shot through him. His hands were empty.
Chapter 65
Stolen Choices
A rumble shook the water and vibrated through the sand. Ethan reached toward a piece of driftwood. Maybe he could knock the creature out. Not likely. But it could buy him time. His fingers touched the tip of the wood. Fire spurted toward his hand, and he jerked it away from the weapon. The creature dove toward him. His chest squeezed.
Scout jumped in front of him.
A ball of heat billowed in the back of its throat.
“No!” Ethan grabbed his dog.
The beast’s head rolled off and toppled into the moat with a sizzle. Logan stood next to the wriggling neck with a dripping sword. “That was the last one.”
“Thank you. All of you.” He hugged Scout’s neck and buried his face in his soft fur. “You could have died, buddy.”
“He was willing to for you, Ethan.” Logan handed him back the borrowed sword and patted Scout’s head.
Ethan hugged him tighter. “You never leave my side, do you?”
Scout licked his face.
Logan motioned to the island. “Let’s get this girl and get out of here.”
With tired arms, Ethan wiped his sword and sheathed the weapon, then he stood. “Jayden, can I borrow Stormcloud?”
“Not without me.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to—”
“Not. Without. Me.” She jumped onto the black pegasus and held her hand out for Ethan. “Ready?”
Logan put his hand across Ethan’s chest to prevent him from joining her. “No. I’ll go.”
Jayden shook her head. “I am the only one who can understand Stormcloud. I go alone or with one of you.”
“No, Jayden.”
The pegasus flapped its wings, starting to leave. Heat tore through Ethan’s chest. There was a threat over there. “Jayden!” Ethan pushed Logan’s arm out of the way.
“Kid, don’t do this!” Logan called after him. “Bring her right back!”
He spoke reason. Jayden should not be a part of this, but she was being stubborn. He’d just have to protect her.
Ethan jumped onto the back of the winged horse as it lifted from the ground.
“Ethan, don’t do this.” Logan’s voice bordered on a growl. “If anything happens to her because of your recklessness, I’ll release you from your vow.”
That comment sent a pang through his chest. He curled his arm around Jayden’s waist. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She placed her arm over his and clutched it tight to her. “I know.”
He glanced down to see Serena chewing off her thumbnail and Logan shaking his fist at the air. Great.
Wind eddied around Logan, sending wet leaves skittering over the gravelly ground as the pegasus took flight. He let out a frustrated roar and spun around, searching for something, anything, to slam his fist into. “We have to go after them.”
“How?”
“The beast is dead. We can probably cross the moat without any trouble now.” He headed for the water, but Serena’s arm caught his.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Scout paced the bank of the water, whining. “I’m going. I have to go after him.” His brown eyes searched Logan’s face. The dog was bonded to him, but his loyalty—his heart—still belonged to Ethan.
“Scout, I don’t know if it’s safe.”
His ears dipped down. “Then let me be the one to test it. If I make it across, you’ll know it’s safe.”
Logan stared at the dog. Was he willing to let Scout make that kind of sacrifice?
“It’s my choice, Logan. You know I’d die for my human.”
Logan crouched down and Scout pressed his soft fur against Logan. Licked his hands. “You can’t stop me.”
Logan nodded. “All right.”
Scout bounded to the moat and jumped into the dark waters with a splash. They consumed him, lapped over his golden fur. Tainted it. But the dog surfaced. Then he swam.
“You made the dog go?” Serena grabbed his sleeve.
He stood. “No. It was his choice.”
She released him. “I hope he makes it.”
“Logan.” Westwind’s voice was wild. “Do you smell that?”
Logan stopped and sniffed the wind. He didn’t smell anything out of the ordi—wait. Faint traces of sword oil. Leather. Chainmail.
“I hope the dog makes it, too.” That voice sent a flash of heat and ice through Logan’s blood. “It’ll mean the way is clear for my men and me to get across.”
With a growl in his chest, Logan faced the man with his sword ready. He stepped in front of his daughter and looked into the eyes of his enemy. The old scar on his chest that General Balton had carved into his skin pulsed, and he touched it.
The man stepped out from the trees onto the shoreline, a cluster of men and horses following.
It was too late to get Serena out, but hopefully he could keep Jayden and Ethan from coming this way.
“Scout. There’s a trap over here. Don’t let Ethan come back this way.”
A shudder surged over the bond. “I’ll get them to safety.”
Logan prayed he could. He glared at the man before him and growled
. “Balton. I see you’re using your left hand.”
General Balton chuckled. “Hello, Lone Wolf. It seems all you could take from me last time was my thumb. I’d like to collect my payment for that. Oh, and don’t worry about your friends on the island. They’ve walked into a trap. I can take you to them.”
“I’d rather die.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Stormcloud sailed over the waters, surprisingly clear from above.
Ethan hugged Jayden tight. “I don’t think it’s wise for you to come with me.”
Her hand touched his. “I know. But I don’t think it’s wise for you to go alone. She can’t talk to you. It’s safer if I’m here.”
Not for him.
They landed and slid off Stormcloud. She whickered. “Shh.” Jayden stroked her nose. “She says it’s quiet, and she smells something dangerous.”
Great. “We’ll get Quinn, and you two can go.”
Stormcloud whinnied, but it sounded more like a scream.
A huge animal with a head, chest, and legs like an eagle’s and curved talons to match flew toward them. Golden-brown feathers fluttered in the wind, and massive wings beat against its sides. As it moved, Ethan saw that the back half of the animal wasn’t feathered at all, but covered in short, tawny fur. Like a lion’s body. A gryphon. A chain encircled its brown, feathered neck. Its long, muscular body shifted as Stormcloud took flight, and it caught her. It growled like a lion, and Stormcloud’s answering rumble was thunder. It slammed her into the ground and pinned her there.
Its tufted tail swished like a whip warding off predators. Its feathered ears lowered like an angry horse’s, and it locked eyes with Ethan. “Leave. Run.”
The words seemed . . . desperate. Ethan caught a glimpse of its eyes. Huge, round pools. Terrified. Of what?
“I’m sorry. I have to obey.”