by Miles, Amy
“Are leaving.” He grins, leaning in to press his lips against my temple. He draws back and does the same with the other. His free hand settles upon my waist, his fingers kneading my side. I can feel his growing urgency. “There’ll be no one bothering us tonight.”
That’s what you think.
My smile falters. I can see it in the mirror. Confusion pinches the corners of my eyes as I stiffen in his arms. “Illyria?” I blink and realize he’s looking down at me. “Is everything all right?”
I start to answer, but I feel a feather-light touch in my mind and gasp. Aloysius’s gaze narrows and the touch increases. I can feel him.
“Yes,” I manage a rather convincing smile and press my hand against his chest. “I’m just… I’m nervous, I suppose.”
His gaze grows tender with understanding as he shifts his hand to hold my chin. He places a soft kiss upon the tip of my nose, like a father would for a child with a cut on her knee. “I promise I’ll be gentle.”
A deep flush rises along my cheeks as the odd touch in my mind fades away. Apprehension ripples through me as he lowers his hand to grasp mine, pulling me toward the bed.
It stands nearly as high as my waist and is circular in shape. A mountain of pillows leans against the curved headboard, each one white but with different patterns. Some with fury patches, some soft as leather, and others shiny. The blanket looks soft and fluid, like water rippling on a moonlit pond. It is made of a black material that I’m unfamiliar with.
Aloysius pauses by the table that stands beside the bed and removes the crown from his head. It glints of yellow gold and clanks softly as he sets it down. He motions for me to come closer and raises his hands to remove mine as well.
The weight of it is freeing as he unwinds it from my hair. Jewels shimmer as they fall from my hair and onto the ground. I gasp and sink down to retrieve them, but Aloysius laughs and tugs me back up. “Leave them. You’re far more precious than those rocks.”
He lightly brushes the back of his hand down my arm. “You have made me the happiest man today, Illyria.”
“And I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have been chosen to be at your side, my king.”
I’m gonna throw up!
He leans back and appraises me again. I smile nervously. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“I…” I look down, my cheeks flooded with heat of embarrassment. “I’m afraid I won’t please you.”
Really? How lame! Kick him in the groin!
“How could you not?” He sounds surprised. His hands grip my arms as he lightly pushes me down onto the bed. I sink onto the edge of the soft mattress. “You have nothing to worry about, darling. I will guide you.”
I raise a hand and gently run the sheer white curtains that drape over the bed through my fingers. They drift lightly in the breeze, pulling away from my grasp. I turn to look at the window, frowning. “Did you open—”
A terrible crash sends me shooting to my feet. Aloysius pushes me back behind him, facing off with the man who now crouches in a sea of glass. Fear strikes me as I grip my husband’s arm.
My vision.
A strange sensation rolls over me as the man looks up. His gaze sweeps past Aloysius and fixates on me. There is a tugging in my stomach, as if I need to be standing at his side instead of my husband’s. His face is grim, but his gaze is gentle, almost loving.
I feel a sharp stab in my mind and I blink, dazed. I try to clear the haze from my mind as the man rises slowly, rolling his shoulders back. Shards of glass rain down from his spiked black hair.
“You?” Aloysius growls. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”
I turn and stare at the man, confused. “Do we know him?”
Sapphire eyes stare back, and I can see something flicker in his gaze… pain. “She doesn’t know you,” Aloysius gloats, placing himself firmly between us. “Though, it would appear that somehow you two managed to screw with my mind control. I had my suspicions when I saw you take down Drakon in the hall, but I knew the moment I saw the pain on her face when she saw you standing next to me at the wedding.”
Cruel bastard.
Aloysius laughs, openly gloating. “It was one of my better ideas. I could feel your anguish behind me. It made our first kiss as husband and wife that much sweeter, and I have you to thank for that.”
The young man’s back teeth grind. He doesn’t look at me again, and I’m glad. The darkness sweeping over his face makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “Who is he, my king?”
“A prisoner who needs to learn his place.”
“Illyria…” I feel an odd stirring in the air just before the man’s face wipes clean of emotion. He stands upright woodenly, as if he were a puppet being controlled by a master.
“What have you done to him?” I ask, stepping back from my husband. This feels wrong.
Aloysius walks toward the man and pokes him in the chest. No reaction. A malicious smile crosses his lips as my husband turns back toward me. “He is no longer a threat to you, my dear. I’ll have him removed.”
He starts to walk away but stops and turns back. “On second thought, perhaps it would be better to just remove him altogether.”
No! Wake up! Please, wake up!
My hands tremble at my sides as I watch my husband march across the room. He presses a panel on the wall and a door slides back to reveal a secret stash of weapons. I spy daggers, spear-tipped lances that expand out, a circular blade with a metal bar running through the center, and a laser pistol.
Aloysius’s hand hovers over the weapons, skimming back and forth. “My king?”
He glances back over his shoulder at me. “Yes?”
“You won’t hurt him, will you?” I cast a worried look at the man. It bothers me that he is so lifeless. I can barely see him blink.
My husband selects a serrated dagger and closes the door behind him. A trickle of unease flows over me.
You’ve seen this. Wake up! He’s going to kill Bastien.
I blink rapidly, confused.
“It will all be over soon.” My husband’s voice is low and dangerous as he stalks forward. I feel paralyzed as Aloysius lowers his dagger, poised to strike.
“No!” I thrust out my hands. An invisible energy surges from them, knocking Aloysius off his feet. He cries out as his shoulder slams into a bedpost and he crumples to the floor.
My chest rises and falls as I suck in huge breaths, shocked at what I’ve just done. Aloysius is shaking as he rises, his skin blotched with red. I can feel him searching my mind, his touch no longer soft but stabbing. His eyes narrow as he jabs again.
The air ripples before me as I lower my hands and I feel the haze lift. I tap my temple and grin as I bat aside his mental touch. “I feel you.”
“That’s impossible,” he growls, stepping closer. “No one can do that.”
“And yet… I can.” I stretch out my hand and push the boundary of my shield to encompass Bastien. He blinks, coming out of a daze. “You okay?”
“You know me now?”
“Yes.” I smile, wiggling my fingers. He lifts his gaze and notices the shimmer around him. “Huh. Why didn’t we think about that before?”
“Didn’t know I could do it. It’s a new trick.” I train my eyes over the shield, amazed. “I wouldn’t advise stepping out of my—” I cut off as Aloysius drives his shoulder into Bastien’s waist and sends them tumbling to the ground. Bastien hits hard, grunting as he beats against Aloysius’s grasp. I struggle to keep him within my shield, shifting it constantly as they wrestle upon the floor.
“You will not take her from me!” I see the glint of silver a split second before it carves through the air. Bastien cries out as the knife slashes across his arm, leaving his sleeve sliced and dangling from his arm.
His blood seems unnaturally bright as it splatters against the floor. Pain mars his features as he clasps his arm, twisting and turning to try to buck Aloysius off. My husband raises his hand for anothe
r swing, and I dive, raking my nails down the backs of his arms. He howls and releases his hold on the knife.
I spin and grab for the knife, but Aloysius snatches a handful of my hair and yanks. My scalp is in agony as I grapple to reach for the knife. My fingertips brush over the blood-slicked handle, but I can’t quite get it. “Bastien.”
He bucks hard and sends Aloysius sprawling to the floor. Several black strands remain between his fingers. I grab the knife and dash to Bastien’s side. He cradles his arms to his chest, his face pale. “You need to get out of here.”
“No.” he shakes his head. I can see his fierce determination. “I’m not leaving until—”
He slams his good hand into my shoulder, knocking me out of the way as Aloysius attacks. They roll end and over, landing punches. The sound of flesh pounding flesh and the shattering of bones makes me sick. I try to find a way to dive in to help, but they’re tangled together too tightly.
A burst of color reflects in the mirror as I whip around to see a giant fireball spiraling toward the palace. “Duck!”
Bastien and Aloysius don’t hear me. I throw out my hand and mentally shove them aside as flames erupt against the side of the building, spitting molten rock into the room. I cry out as one of the rock shards lands upon my leg, cauterizing my skin.
“Illyria!” Bastien drives his hand into Aloysius’s side and a terrible snapping sound fills my ears. My husband howls and rolls to his side. Bastien scrambles to his feet and throws himself to my side, stomping out the flames igniting on the carpet around me. “Oh, God, you’re burning.”
The scent of my flesh melting makes my head swim. I can feel his hands upon me as he digs the scalding rock out of my leg. Darkness edges my vision. The pain is localized but excruciating.
“We have to get you out of here!”
Another explosion rocks the palace. Over the cracking of stone and hiss of flames, I can hear shouting from below. “Eamon!”
Bastien rises to look out the window and nods. “They’re coming. We have to—” His eyes widen and his mouth gapes open.
“No!” I shriek as a blood-tipped spike shoves through his stomach from his back, nearly three inches in diameter, punching a hole through his intestines. Aloysius’s maniacal grin appears over his shoulder as he shoves Bastien aside.
Bastien shudders, blood bubbling from his lips. Pain pinches his features. His hands shake as he touches the spike protruding from his stomach. Gurgling moans rise from his throat as he locks his gaze on me, beginning to glaze over. “Illyria…” He stretches out his hand toward me.
I can hear the wet wheezing in his chest and feel numbness wash over me. Blood pools beneath him, thick and bright. I watch as it begins to seep toward me. When I look back at Bastien, his eyes are unfocused and his chest lies still.
“Bastien!” I start forward, but Aloysius steps between us, blocking my path. Tears burn in my eyes and I grit my teeth, fighting to comprehend that he is really gone. Rage burrows into my chest as invisible sparks vine around my hands. I glare at my husband. “You will pay for this.”
Twenty-Four
I rise slowly from the floor, ignoring the pain in my lower leg as I stand. The air sparks around me. The glass shards on the floor begin to clatter against the tile. The hair atop Aloysius’s head lifts, flapping in the rising winds.
The sound of the gale drowns out the screams below, though the flash of laser fire can be seen against the walls. I ignore it all. Aloysius is all that matters—my anger… my revenge.
His eyes are wide and glazed as he looks back at me. His face ashen and drawn with fear. I can feel my powers rippling across my skin. Aloysius backs away. I follow, stalking after him as he stumbles on the edge of the rug and knocks over the bedside table. He skirts the wall, nearing his weapons cache.
His fingers fumble over the keypad and the door hisses open. He grabs the first thing he can find and turns to face me with the laser pistol pointed at my chest. I roll my eyes. “Why did I ever fear you?”
With the flick of my wrist, I bat aside the first shot. It ricochets off the wall, searing a hole through the white gossamer curtains draping from the ceiling. The second and third leave scorch marks across the bedding and walls. The blanket catches fire. I can see the flames flickering in Aloysius’s eyes.
I step toward him and he cowers back. His needling jabs at my mind are laughable now. “What are you?” He gasps as my hair begins to rise from my shoulders.
“You know…” I tilt my head. “I don’t really know.”
I clap my hands together in front of me and the windows shatter in a rain of glistening glass. My husband is thrown back off his feet. He slams into the wall and slumps to the floor. Small cuts line his forehead, making his eyes look as if they are weeping blood as I leap forward and snatch a jagged shard of glass and press it to his throat.
His eyes widen as his hands claw at my arms. I press my weight against him, watching as a seam of blood appears along his neck. His mewling sounds turn moist as I dig in deeper, feeling the layers of his skin peel away. Warm blood flows over my hands, but still I press, ignoring the splatters against my cheeks and neck.
His throat gurgles as his grip on my arm slackens. His eyes glaze over, unseeing. With a cry, I slice the glass straight across his neck and toss the shard away. A sheet of blood pours from his neck as his head collapses against his shoulder.
I rise to my feet and back away, my hands quaking. I can feel his blood on my face, clinging to my hands, and frantically wipe it away. I’ve never killed a man in cold blood like that before.
“Illyria!”
Slowly I turn, blinking to clear my vision as two men burst through the door. One has crimson staining his tousled blond curls. The other stands tall and strong, like a beacon of hope. I sink to my knees, tears streaking from my eyes as Eamon and Kyan rush forward.
Eamon takes me into his arms, cradling me as I cry. I can hear him calling my name, but it sounds distant. Kyan kneels beside me, but his gaze is focused on Aloysius.
“It’s okay.” Eamon soothes, brushing his hand down over my hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”
I shake my head, pushing away from him. The sight of my bloody handprints on his chest makes my lips begin to tremble. I failed.
“Bastien,” I whisper and point toward the bed.
Kyan rises fluidly and rushes around us. He goes absolutely still, his expression filled with remorse as he turns back to look at me. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry?” Eamon says, looking between us. “Sorry for what?”
Kyan closes his eyes. “He’s gone.”
My shriek is long and mournful as I collapse into Eamon’s arms, knowing I’ll never see Bastien’s smile again, never hear him call my name or hold me in his arms. He is gone… and it’s all my fault.
I feel as if my heart is on the brink of imploding within my chest, but it doesn’t. It refuses to die, leeching poison into my body, chilling but nonlethal. As my body begins to quake, I pray I could join Bastien in death.
“I can’t believe he’s really gone,” Eamon says, stunned. I can see him staring at Bastien’s feet and feel rage swell in my chest. Rage at Aloysius and at the fates.
“No.” I grunt as I push out of Eamon’s arms. I swipe my arm across my cheeks. “I won’t let him die.”
Kyan grabs my arm as I go to past him. “He has already passed over. It’s impossible to bring him back.”
“Not for me.” I shove him away, sending him toppling over Eamon.
I stand before Bastien, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I can feel my power crashing around me like waves in a torrent. The wind whistles through the shattered windows, whipping my hair into my face, lashing against my eyes. The lights begin to flicker overhead, the pillars in the four corners of the room cracking.
“Kyan, her eyes!” Eamon calls out.
“I know!”
I’m barely aware of Kyan as he circles around to stand in front of me. I don’t
look at him. I stare at Bastien’s lifeless body, at the pool of blood he lies in. So much blood.
“Illyria, think about what you’re doing. You have to pull back.”
“No,” I shout into the wind. “That’s exactly what I can’t do!”
I lift my hands out to the sides, my toes rising off the ground. A warmth begins to rise up from my extremities, drawing lines of gold along my veins, glowing beneath my clothes as they converge on my heart.
“What is she doing?” Eamon shouts, but Kyan doesn’t answer as he begins to back away. The instant the lights connect, my entire body jerks and the winds stop. A brilliant light fills the room, so bright it feels like I’ve harnessed the sun. I’m vaguely aware of the air rippling in front of me, a protective shield I subconsciously threw up before the blast. Glancing down I see Eamon and Kyan cowering on the floor but safe within my protective bubble.
I can no longer hear the screams or the sounds of laser fire in the palace yard. All I hear is pure, unadulterated silence.
“What have I done?” I stare down at Kyan.
He rises slowly, his hands visibly shaking. “I don’t know. I think… I think you’ve somehow stopped time.”
I look around me in amazement and realize he is right. I can see glass hovering in the air just beyond my shield. The flames mounting the curved headboard of the bed stand still. I look up to see the white curtains that drape from the ceiling have been blown sideways and hang motionless in the air.
Stepping lightly over the glass-strewn floor, I peer out the window and gasp. “It’s not just in this room. The men below are frozen too!”
“How is this possible?” Eamon asks, rising shakily to his feet. He brushes his hair back from his face, revealing a deep cut along his right cheek.
“I have no idea,” Kyan mutters, sounding out of breath. “I’ve never heard of such a thing before.”
“Why are we the only ones not affected by this?” Eamon rises onto his toes to look out the window nearest him.
Kyan glances around and then rises to meet my gaze. “Because she’s shielding us from it.”