by Cara Lake
They hadn’t let him change into his barghesti form yet, the warloki explaining to Phenex that they would need complicated shielding spells to protect the spectators during a fight and that those types of shielding took an enormous amount of power. It was better that they hold back and keep their energy in reserve for the actual fights. Maintaining the current suppression spell was hard enough. Phenex had agreed grudgingly but was impatient. He wanted to see Jaro fight in his barghesti form but he wasn’t stupid.
While watching the training, Tani had kept her eyes open for the Eunomi presence that Borealis had promised her would be close. She hadn’t been able to make contact with Cassi or Tyr personally to fill them in but had faith they had some means of watching out for her. She suspected one of the ladies who waited on Sitri was a Eunomi sympathizer but had been unable to speak with her privately as Phenex had decided to restrict Tani’s movements by locking her room at night. She wondered if this was a result of her nighttime visit to the dungeons.
She knew Phenex was biding his time before coming to her and had no doubt he intended to come to her soon but for the moment he seemed content to wait and placate Sitri with preparations for her birthday festivities. This event was apparently celebrated every year with dancing and a series of fights Sitri presided over. Phenex seemed willing to indulge his mistress, giving her an element of control he gave no one else. Tani wondered what hold Jaro’s mother had over Phenex and whether it was a result of some dark warloki spell rather than true affection. She had her suspicions. Particularly when Sitri started being nice to her, making overtures of friendship and offering advice in regard to clothing and hairstyles. It didn’t take long for her to realize the approving looks Phenex gave Sitri when she made these gestures was more probably the reason for her sudden change of attitude.
So Tani too bided her time. She focused on finding a way to free Jaro and if that meant courting the favor of the mother who had abandoned him, she would do it. But she would do it knowing that a careless word or glance in the wrong direction might be playing into Sitri and Lorcan’s hands and could put both her and Jaro in even more grave danger. Danger that began with a capital D. She knew it was only a matter of time before the Discordants became aware of the existence of two Esseni on this planet and with that knowledge would come Choronzon or one of his trusted commanders. They would come for her and her worst nightmares would be realized. Tani could only hope that before that day arrived she would have achieved her aims that focused on the man who held her heart. She prayed to Gaia she had the strength to hold true to her Eunomi vows.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Compassion
For three days Jaro trained in the arena. The warloki kept the suppression spell constant and when not fighting he was locked in a cell. This gave Jaro plenty of time to consider his options and he’d come to the same conclusion no matter how many times he played out a variety of scenarios. Phenex had to die. Not just because Jaro desired vengeance or because Phenex was a cruel despot, but because he needed Tani to be safe. He was relying on the Eunomi and Tyr Bellor to make sure she escaped this rock and for some reason he trusted Bellor with her safety. Tani hadn’t been back to see him and for that he was profoundly grateful. It was better they had no contact. She gave him hope, made him wish for things that could never be. To carry out his plans he needed to steel himself against her.
Late that night when he heard footsteps shuffling outside his door, his heart leapt with both hope and fear that she had come to visit him again. But the voice that rang through the darkness was one that he had thought to never hear again.
“I can help you, Jaro.” Dulcet tones so familiar and long reviled. He hadn’t heard them in an age. He had seen her many times over the years but she’d never spoken to him. But still, he had never forgotten the sound of her voice. Once he had loved it. Hearing his mother’s laughter had been the greatest moment of his day. Now it conjured more nightmares than long-forgotten treasured moments. Those were as dust and ashes. Lorcan had shown his true colors. He had no doubt his mother would too.
Jaro knew it would hurt to look at her but he could not ignore the tiny particle in his brain that hoped for some small expression of regret on her part. He opened his eyes slowly. “I can help you,” she repeated, standing in front of him, her blue eyes burning with an expression he couldn’t read.
He choked back a laugh, failing to hide the overwhelming bitterness of her past betrayal. “You can help me?”
“Jaro.” His name falling from her lips sounded rusty and all kinds of wrong. “I’m so sorry for all of this. Please believe me; I never wanted this to happen.”
He shook his head. “You did this to me. You could have saved me. Why are you here now when you’ve ignored me for so many years?”
Her expression changed to one of sorrow. “I have no right to ask. I know that but I need your help.”
“I helped you before. I think I’ve learned my lesson.”
“It’s not for me. It’s for your brother.”
“And why would I help him?”
“Because he is a part of you. I know you love your brother and you’ve always helped him before. And that’s what you do, Jaro, you save people. I’ve watched you from afar. Even though I had no way of helping you, I’m so proud of you…”
“Proud of me? The vile slave! You’ve only ever watched me with disgust!”
“No, no!” She shook her head. “You’ve got it all wrong. I had to pretend. To protect you. Phenex, he forced me by threatening to kill you. Don’t you realize that’s why you’ve survived this long? It’s because of me. I have sacrificed so much for you.”
Jaro’s head was spinning. She had sacrificed? She had protected? How could he believe what she said? It was too unbelievable considering everything he’d been through. “And Lorcan? My father? You know what he did?”
She wrung her hands and Jaro watched, fascinated, as a lone tear trickled down her pale cheek. His mother was so beautiful she could bring a man to his knees. “I didn’t know, not until after,” she whispered. His gut clenched. Somehow he wanted to believe. Believe that she was as she appeared. But how could he? If she was as innocent as she said, what did that make Lorcan?
“What is it you think I can do?”
“I think you can save him.”
Jaro had to laugh at the irony. “How do you expect a lowly slave to save him? I can’t even save myself.”
“I know the truth of what he is,” she said, “and so do you. But I fear he will choose the wrong path. He is not as strong as you, but you could help him. Speak to that girl. She has power over him. Intercede on his behalf.” Jaro didn’t pretend not to understand what she was asking. He had no doubt his mother knew Lorcan was an Esseni and what Tani was to him.
“Why do you think I can help?”
“You are his brother and I know the truth—that you saved her from Belial. I know that even though you were angry with her, she visited you here. I know she trusts you. You need to trust me, Jaro. I have told Phenex nothing of this.” Her reasoning was simple. She made it sound so easy but in truth it would be the hardest thing he’d ever done. How could he persuade Tani that Lorcan could be trusted when he knew in his heart that was a lie? Did his mother really believe Tani had some power over Lorcan, that her words would sway him from his chosen path?
“I can get you to her,” his mother said. He knew he was lost then, if it meant he would see Tani again. He would warn her rather than speak on Lorcan’s behalf but his mother didn’t need to know that.
“I will try to do as you ask,” he said. His mother smiled and gave him a key.
* * * * *
Lorcan swallowed the last dregs of mead, the bitter brew unable to quench the thirst that raged in his throat or quell the nausea that churned in his gut. No matter how hard he tried he could not block out the words of the red-haired bitch. How dare she repulse him in favor of his brother? Her words ate into his flesh, burrowing into his bones, building fires tha
t flamed angry and hot. It was wrong, so wrong. He was the one who should be worshipped. He was the one who should have power. He would take what should have belonged to him all along.
Throwing back his chair, Lorcan left the Alpha Beta Club, staggering into the dark alley. His brain was fuzzy from imbibing too much alcohol but he knew he was doing the right thing. His mother had told him to wait, to play it cool and give Tani a chance to come to him. But it was taking too long. He had neither the inclination nor the patience. He would take what was his by force as he had always done and prove to the Discordants and Choronzon that he was a power to be feared, and in doing so he would prove to his mother that she had made the right choice all those years ago.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Agony
It was the night before the big fight and her body was floating. Spinning. Or maybe it was the room that was spinning, it was hard to tell. Dreams. She had been dreaming again. It was the same dream that always saw her wake up shaking and left her skin coated with sweat and her mind full of fear.
Tani sat up slowly and tried to clear her head. Her thoughts inevitably strayed to Jaro. It was barely midnight and tomorrow he was due to fight as a barghesti during the celebrations for Sitri’s birthday. Sitri herself had stopped by earlier all smiles and fake friendliness. She had prepared a small feast to share with Tani and the other ladies-in-waiting. Spicy Arushkan delicacies and honey wine.
Tanith wasn’t fooled by her sudden need to make amends. She was sure Sitri was merely biding her time before digging the knife in. Tani’s ability to read strong emotions left her in no doubt that Sitri felt nothing but anger and jealousy toward her. Other than that, she could not forgive Sitri for the way she had treated Jaro. Even so she had little choice but to feign acquiescence to Sitri’s overtures of friendship while maintaining her guard.
Sitri had stayed awhile, gossiping with her ladies while Tani remained silent until finally Sitri dismissed her entourage, stating that she and Tani had some personal issues to discuss. Recalling her words now, Tani found it hard to remember what she had actually said. Something about clearing the air and that she accepted that Phenex had other mistresses and felt that they should be friends. At least that’s what she thought she’d said. Tani couldn’t be sure. It was as if there was a part of the discussion her brain wouldn’t let her remember. And now she’d had that dream again. The one that ended with her being choked to death.
Tani threw back the covers, her throat dry and her heart pounding in remembrance of the recurring dream. All her fears regarding fate and destiny washed over her and she desperately needed air. Walking to the window that overlooked a small interior courtyard, Tani grabbed a glass of the honey wine and swallowed it down, its sweetness wiping away the remaining bile in her throat. The fresh air did nothing to stay her nerves or her unsteadiness. Making her way back to the bed, Tani lay down, her vision blurring as she fought to stay conscious. She was tired, so tired.
The sound of a key turning in the lock roused her to sleepy awareness. Tani opened her eyes. The room was shrouded in the darkness of the night and her eyes had trouble focusing on the shadowy form entering the room. A hand touched her shoulder and she wanted to cry out.
“You are so beautiful, my love,” a voice murmured huskily, lips peppering her throat with kisses. “You are all I’ve ever wanted.”
Tani’s heart beat violently, threatening to burst from her chest. It was her recurring dream come to life. Fear rose but then faded as the next words deviated from the usual script. “It’s me, Tani.”
“Jaro?” she queried sleepily.
“Yes, Tanith. Jaro.”
At the sound of his reply Tani knew what she had to do next. “You’re here,” she said in wonderment. “At last.” He moved his hand from her shoulder to her throat, applying more pressure. “Wait,” she said. “Before you take what you want, share a drink with me, my love.”
“It would be my pleasure,” he said, his voice a rough growl sounding slightly off key and not so familiar to her now. She tamped down a sharp spike of fear and opened a fresh bottle, pouring her guest a glass of wine. “Drink,” she said, knowing that if he drank the wine then everything would be all right. “Then make love to me.” Jaro drank deeply, swallowing the last dregs with a flourish. He kissed her and then the world turned black.
When Tani woke again her head hurt. Her body hurt. She hurt all over. More than that, she was paralyzed by a heavy weight that held her immobile. Unable to fully open her eyes, Tani tried to wriggle beneath the oppressive weight but it barely moved. The pressure on her chest only increased when she shifted, so Tani paused, giving up, too groggy to process what the weight might be. Her eyelids finally found the strength to open. Light flooded in, the weight revealed. A dark head lay across her breast, a leg thrown over her thigh. Cold fear shot through her veins as hazy recollections of the previous night flooded back. Jaro. Jaro had come to her. He was here! She tried desperately to remember what had brought him to her, what he had said, what they had done. She moved her hand to shake him awake and fear seized her chest. His skin was frozen. No longer a glowing bronze tinged with sunshine, now a pale, dull whitewash of flesh that had been sucked dry. Gray and empty.
Tani’s heart began to pound, waves of nausea streaking through her bones as her insides heaved. She dry retched into the pillow. The weight that lay on her was a dead weight.
Dead! He was dead!
Jaro was dead!
Finally the fear that had overtaken her jerked her body into action. She pulled out from underneath him, tears burning, breath ragged and choking her throat. This can’t be happening! Panic flooded her veins and then she froze, numbed by the devastating realization that Jaro was gone. She barely had time to process this fact before a sharp voice called to her from outside the bedchamber.
“Lady Tanith!” Tani could do nothing but wait as Sitri glided into the room. She was followed by an entourage of ladies-in-waiting, all holding gowns of rich silk and hard on their heels an escort of four armed guards. “I thought we could find you something special to wear,” she said, then stopped dead as she took in the very obvious scene on the bed. The ladies behind her gasped in horror.
“Why are you with the slave?” Sitri asked, her head tilting to one side, brow raised in query. “You know Lord Phenex doesn’t like to share. Tut, tut, Tanith. What will he say?”
Tani scrambled backward on the bed, away from the body. Sitri walked forward, wearing a dispassionate expression as she felt the body for a pulse. Tani thought she caught a self-satisfied smile as Sitri announced, “He’s dead. I wonder how he died.” She scanned the room, her gaze alighting on the glass next to the bed. Sitri picked it up, eyes never leaving Tani’s horrified face. She inhaled. “Balauri poison. It has a distinctive smell. I thought you would know that, Tanith.” Her eyes narrowed, lips curling into a grin. She shook her head. “What a naughty Eunomi you are.” The ladies behind were now murmuring.
Tani could hardly breathe. Her brain was still foggy, she guessed now from something she had drunk last night. She barely remembered Jaro arriving. After that, nothing.
Sitri was still smiling, the venom in her expression obvious. “Call for Phenex and the guards.”
All hell broke loose and the world collapsed around her. Tani remembered little of what happened next. She was manhandled and cuffed, forced to her knees by the escorting soldiers, head bent to the floor while they awaited Phenex’s arrival. It seemed as though hours passed, during which Tani’s mind splintered apart. Hysteria choked her throat. Panic clogged her brain. She could remember nothing other than that Jaro was gone, and the agonizing finality of that thought seared her consciousness, gutting her from the inside out. She struggled to latch on to the connection that had been broken and retied so many times it was a festering knot wrapping around her heart. It hurt that she could still feel it. A lingering solitary thread. But it was false hope. Merely an echo, a faint residue that was yet to fade away. Her noble savage wa
rrior was gone. And she was left broken.
* * * * *
Tyr Bellor was impatient. Cassi had promised that Antares had the technology to set up a face-to-face call to Earth. He was itching to check on Irina. He’d been away for a week now, the longest they’d been apart since their bonding and it was killing him. He hated being away from her but there was no way he was going to bring her to Ophiuchus with him. This planet was far too dangerous. Who knew what the Discordants would do to a bonded Esseni if they caught her?
So even though Irina had wanted to come, he’d vetoed it and been grateful that her triplet cousins had called, asking her to visit Earth with them for their birthday. There was some boy band they wanted to see and as the concert was in New York, Tyr had suggested she could also take the time to visit her best friend Luc Whitaker. It was a suggestion he was loath to make, knowing that Luc had strong feelings for Irina, but he also trusted her implicitly.
Two Eunomi warriors and Merak, Irina’s surrogate father, had also been corralled into the party so Tyr was confident she would be safe enough. Irina’s Esseni powers were growing. She had gained such confidence over the last few months, her silver-tongued power of the voice gaining strength every time she used it. She was certainly able to persuade and cajole him into doing anything for her!
And now he couldn’t wait to see her beautiful face. It hurt so much to be away from her. Since they had met he had made it his mission in life to protect and shelter Irina from harm. She was the air that he breathed and any thought that she might be hurt was enough to send him into high alert. He just needed to see her face, to reassure himself that she was okay and that would be enough to soothe his agitation.