Entwined Paths (Swift Shadows Book 2)

by M. L. Greye

  Entwined Paths

  m.l. greye

  Copyright 2019 m.l. greye

  Book 2 of Swift Shadows Series

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For Luke –

  When you fall,

  get back up

  Contents:

  Prologue

  BOOK ONE: COUNTERPARTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  BOOK TWO: EQUALS

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  BOOK THREE: PAIRS

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Books by m.l. greye

  Acknowledgments

  PROLOGUE

  The last night of summer was an important celebration in Anexia. It was called Lightning Snag by the elder generation, but everyone else, including Emry, simply referred to it as Autumn’s Eve.

  Anexians celebrated with the usual revelry – dancing and feasting – along with catching lightning bugs. Or, rather, attempting to catch them. Emry was terrible at it.

  But Autumn’s Eve was the reason why Emry and her brother Ewan were out so late. It was one of the few nights a year they were allowed to mingle with the peasants in the nearest village to their family’s estate. It was why Ewan’s border patrol friend was staying with them for a few days, instead of in his bunk at the garrison.

  Declan was kind and a little boyish when he joked with Ewan. He smiled easily and could knock Ewan off his feet every time they sparred. He was a Teal with midnight, blue-black hair. His frame was wiry with arms just beginning to thicken from all his training. He was handsome, but Emry knew better than to flirt with one of Ewan’s commoner friends. Her father would never allow anything of it.

  Not that Declan would have been interested. He was already an adult. Emry still had a few months to go before she reached that wonderful age of sixteen and entered adulthood. For all she knew, Declan saw her as a child. Worse than a child, really. She was his friend’s little sister, which meant that he’d never truly see her as a woman. It was fairly depressing.

  Tonight, though, was the first night her brother’s friend was to spend with them at her Anexian estate. It’d been her mother’s before she’d died. It was where Emry had spent the first half of her life. Now, it belonged to her. In her mother’s family, property was inherited only by Silvers – passing from one silver-eyed to the next. Emry was the only Silver of her mother’s children, so the estate was hers. Lucky her.

  Emry, her brother, and Declan had left behind the dying bonfires and celebrating throng in the nearby village maybe twenty minutes ago, and were walking the short distance back to her estate. There was a half-moon out – just barely enough to light their path. Not that Emry needed it – she would have been fine if there’d been no moon. She’d already adjusted her eyes to her night sight, one of her more useful abilities. The world held a bluish tint, but it was lit well enough that she could see the path clearly. Beyond that first line of trees on either side, though, it was blurry. Still, it was better than what Ewan and Declan saw with their eyes.

  It had to be near two in the morning. Declan and Ewan had danced with the village girls for most of the night, while Emry had been forced to watch on the sidelines. She’d only been allowed to join in on the family dances … with the children. Fifteen was such an awkward age to be. She was both too young and too old. She couldn’t wait for her next birthday.

  “You tired, Emry?” Ewan bumped his shoulder into her own, making her stumble a little. “You’re being strangely quiet.”

  She glared up at her oldest sibling, which only made him grin – his bronze eyes flashing. She rolled her own eyes and grumbled, “How could I be tired when I hardly did anything?”

  “No, I think you ate about ten of those cinnamon rolls.” Her brother had the nerve to look pointedly at her stomach – her flat stomach.

  Declan only chuckled. “You clearly don’t have enough sisters to know better than to bring up their weight. Be careful, Ewan. Emry seems like the type to get even.”

  Emry turned to her brother’s friend in surprise. Had he ever teased her before? She wasn’t sure if he knew that Ewan had another sister, either. Ewan might not have ever mentioned Citrine, since she wasn’t in Anexia and hadn’t stepped foot outside of Enn for a few years now.

  “Oh, Emry would never hurt her favorite brother.” Ewan winked. Such an Anexian gesture. No one winked at the palace in Enn.

  She opened her mouth – about to let him know just how willing she was to smack him – when a movement off to their left caught her attention. She turned, but as far as she could see there was nothing out of the ordinary.

  Declan noticed her hesitation. “What is it?”

  “I thought I saw something,” she murmured, still scanning the forest.

  “Relax. If you’re worried an animal will jump out at you, I’ll stop it before it can get close enough to sniff you.” Ewan’s bronze eyes that he’d inherited from their father meant he could talk with animals. Every eye color meant something different – defining which set of abilities one possessed.

  When Emry had first arrived at the palace in Enn after their mother had died, Ewan had gone out of his way to send her fluffy bunnies with little trinkets in their mouths. It was an attempt to cheer her up, and it had worked. Now Emry had a tender spot for tiny, fluffy bunnies.

  She narrowed her own silver eyes on her brother. “I’m not worried about an animal attack.”

  “Then, can we keep going?” Ewan waved a hand at the trail in front of them.

  “Fine. We can-”

  Emry was cut off by Declan – by his body as he flung himself at her while using his Teal speed. She hit the ground with a jolt that was definitely going to bruise her, and the air whooshed from her lungs. If she’d been able to breathe, she would have demanded he explain himself. But all she could do was gasp.

  There was a shout above her somewhere. Ewan maybe? She wasn’t sure. Her ears had started ringing from her fall. How hard had he hit her?

  Her shoulders curled in, trying to take in even a single, shallow breath. The flickering light of flames caught her eye, and she realized why Declan had thrown her to the ground. A burning arrow was lodged in the soil where she’d been standing. Declan, being teal-eyed, had noticed it and reacted with his above-average speed. He’d probably just
saved her life.

  But where was he now? Declan wasn’t on top of her anymore. She pushed herself up on one elbow to get a better look. Breathing was still difficult, but Emry pushed back the panic at not taking in enough air. This wasn’t the first time she’d had the wind knocked from her – she knew her breathing would get easier eventually.

  Declan hadn’t gone far. He’d merely rolled off of her and into a crouch beside her. Ewan was a little in front of him, standing. And all around them…

  She stared. At least ten blinding, burning arrows were pointed right at them. Blinding because Emry’s eyes were still using her night vision. She couldn’t see the faces of those holding the arrows. She had no idea how many there were behind the archers. Or if it was just the archers surrounding them. She had a feeling it wasn’t just the archers.

  But why weren’t they shooting? Why had they paused? Better yet, why were they even there?

  “Let them go, and I’ll come willing,” Ewan was saying from above her. “You won’t need to lose any of your number in a fight.”

  What was he saying? Emry gaped. Was he trying to trade himself for her and Declan’s freedom? Her mouth formed a wordless no. She wanted to scream it, but she couldn’t even whisper it.

  There was a low chuckle from the darkness behind the archers. Low and taunting and vicious. “You’re not in any position to bargain.”

  His accent – he was no Anexian. She couldn’t quite place it. Similar to that of an Enn, but not at the same time. She wasn’t sure if the man was even from Enlennd.

  “What do you want with us?” Ewan asked quietly. He was buying them time. To do what, though?

  Again with that laugh. “I think we’ll keep the Silver.”

  Fear pooled in Emry’s stomach, making her heart pound. Fear and dread – making her sick. These men and women – whoever they were – had come to kill them. That was what he meant. Except maybe not for her. Or had he said that just to taunt her brother and Declan? Either way, Emry doubted these people would let them all live.

  Unless she stopped it. She knew what Silvers were capable of – what her ancestors had done. Silver-eyed could pull out the souls of their enemies. Kill them without ever laying a finger on them. But Emry had never done it. She’d only ever heard stories – and the horrible consequences from dealing in death.

  She didn’t see any other way, though. They were still too far from the estate for the servants to hear them scream, the revelry from Autumn’s Eve too loud for anyone to notice, and the road too empty. Declan and Ewan could fight, but how many ambushers were out there? And the arrows … Declan could probably outrun them if they were loosed. But Ewan couldn’t. Emry couldn’t.

  “You’re not taking my sister,” Ewan told the archers darkly.

  “I don’t think you have much of a choice,” the man replied.

  Act now. Emry had to act now. She could save them, or at least try to. Finally able to take a small breath, Emry adjusted her eyes to that other ability she’d only ever used once before.

  The blue tint of the world shifted into black and silvery light. The light coming from those living around her. Emry’s heart stuttered. There were more bodies than she could count at first glance. Fifteen, maybe? Twenty? She was no longer sure she could do much to help them. She was too inexperienced to latch onto all of them and yank out their light – their life force – at once. There were too many of them. But maybe if she just focused on the archers–

  “Take her, Declan.” Ewan’s hiss was barely louder than the snapping of the flames on the arrows. “Run her to the estate. Don’t stop – no matter what happens.”

  “No,” Emry wheezed.

  “I don’t like whispering,” that voice retorted, as if he were dealing with petulant children.

  “Now, Declan,” Ewan ordered.

  Emry’s stomach churned. “No!” She yelled with as much force as her lungs allowed. The word came out as more of a croak.

  But Declan had already hoisted her over his shoulder – as if she was nothing more than a sack of flour. She hadn’t even finished the word by the time he grabbed that flaming arrow from the ground and blurred toward the archers. Emry’s stomach lurched again, but this time not from fear. She’d never moved so fast.

  Her mind barely registered Declan darting across the line of archers with his arrow outstretched, slicing through their bowstrings one after the other as he flew past them. Their arrows flew through the air at different angles – no longer locked on Ewan.

  Declan whirled toward the path back to her estate, and Emry grasped onto his shirt with all her strength. But he only took one step before three figures blurred into his path. Other Teals. Emry could only make them out because she was using her own ability. Otherwise, they would have probably looked like shifting shadows. She grimaced, and Declan dodged their swinging blades with Emry still on his shoulder. If she hadn’t been so sick, she might have been impressed.

  They came at Declan again. This time, brandishing his arrow like a dagger, Declan sliced across one of the men’s throats before burying it into the chest of the Teal woman. Blood sprayed, but not on Declan or Emry. They were too quick. Declan maneuvered his way around the third Teal before tearing off down the path.

  And Emry discovered what it was like to run at top Teal speed partially upside-down. It was absolutely nauseating. The world rushed by at an odd angle, and Emry found all those cinnamon rolls she’d consumed threatening to come back up.

  But she didn’t want Declan to stop. He had to keep going – had to make it back to the estate. To get help for Ewan. Declan had bought him a little more time with his bowstring stunt. She wasn’t sure it would be enough.

  Declan made some sort of leap, and Emry slammed against his shoulder. She nearly threw up. She felt the bile rise up in her throat – could practically taste it. She clenched her teeth together. Retching her guts up would only slow them down. Not to mention, it’d be utterly humiliating drenching Declan in her vomit.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, but that only made it worse. She threw open her eyes again. When she did, her vision was back to normal – she’d slipped out of her other ability. But that also meant the world was just one enormous dark blur. She widened her eyes, returning them to her night sight, and saw that third Teal.

  They were being followed. The Teal was behind them, gaining on them. He wasn’t carrying anyone. That Declan had been able to gain any ground on the man at all was shocking in the first place. But the Teal was flying towards them, sword in hand. Declan was unarmed – he and Ewan hadn’t brought a weapon to the festivities.

  The Teal kept coming. He was getting closer and closer. Emry didn’t think warning Declan would do them much good. He was panting beneath her. Sweating. And they couldn’t stop. If they stopped, Ewan had less chance of survival. They had to reach the estate.

  Emry would have to deal with the Teal herself. It was the only way. Still gritting her teeth, Emry adjusted her eyes again. That other ability opened up before her. The Teal was so close she could make out his eyes in the moonlight. All he had to do was jump for them – he’d probably hit them with his blade.

  As if he heard her thoughts, the Teal hurdled forward. His sword raised above his head, ready to chop down on Declan’s back. Panic rose up in Emry’s throat, blocking her airflow. She watched in horror as the Teal vaulted towards them.

  But there was his light, swirling within him. His life right there for her taking. Before she could think through what she was doing, Emry reached out a hand and yanked on that light, calling it out of him. Just as Declan tripped.

  The power of the Teal’s life never reached her. Before she had the chance to release it into the night of her own free will, Emry was flung up into the air. A startled shriek was all that came out of her as she crashed into a tree. The Teal’s life momentarily forgotten.

  A sickening crunch sounded inside her skull, and white-hot pain ripped through her. Her shoulder was on fire. A warm liquid was seeping down her face,
drenching her, and her stomach was roiling. She didn’t have time to cry, though. Declan was there in front of her – dragging her up again, tossing her back over his shoulder.

  Emry heard herself whimper. Felt her own blood gushing out of her as Declan began to run again. The pain was excruciating, dizzying. She was going to pass out.

  The Teal’s body was strewn across the path – as if he’d fallen asleep across it, sword still in hand. She wasn’t even sure if Declan had seen what she’d done. It was better that way. It was better that his back was to the corpse. He couldn’t see the Teal’s darkness – the foulest parts of his soul – seeping towards her. Like she was some sort of beacon.

  The darkness that had been within the Teal would keep coming towards her until it latched onto her own soul. It was just as her mother had warned. It was the price to be paid – the fear and anger and sadness of her victim would become a part of her. The price of being a Silver.

  Tendrils of twisting black mist spiraled for her. Even at Teal speed. She wouldn’t be able to outrun it. But Emry didn’t fear the darkness. They were old friends.

  Fighting past the pain and pounding in her skull, Emry reached out her hand and called it to her. The darkness happily obliged – filling her, overwhelming and cold. Emry had dealt with this sort of ilk before. She’d pulled the very same emotions from her sister, brother, and even father – on purpose. The song of the shadows of the dead Teal was little different than those she’d pulled from her family. Yet, Emry hadn’t been on the verge of fainting when she’d done it before.

  With what little strength she had left, Emry forced the darkness to a single point within her and clamped down on it. She then flattened and compressed until only a smooth ball of power remained. The power she’d wrenched out of others many times before. Loosing something between a sigh and a sob, Emry shoved the power down deep inside of her – to that hidden reserve. The one no one knew about. Not Cit. Not Ewan. And definitely not her father.