Fated Fortunes

by Angela Colsin

As she waited to help him up, she was so focused on his ascent that the shadow which encompassed her body from behind didn't register until the last second—and by then, it was too late.

  Without warning, someone reached down and grabbed Jada's pack, using it to quickly lift her from the ground with a great deal of strength.

  Immediately, she found herself flying through the air to land on her back ten feet away where a foot came down on her chest, pinning her in place.

  Grunting at the heavy weight, she looked up to see the gnarled face of a troll casting a vicious grin of rotting, brown teeth down at her. His dark blue, oily skin, stringy white hair, and beady yellow irises set in black sclera were just as unpleasant as his raspy voice in hissing, “We thought we smelled sweet elfesssssss.”

  A low murmur of appreciative groans sounded from a large group now surrounding Jada—and each was uglier than the last. With varying skin colors, body shapes, and heights, they all leered at her eerily.

  The sight was unsettling, but she'd encountered trolls on numerous occasions—trolls which were now dead—and had no intentions of letting these off any differently.

  Especially not when she heard Dalris' enraged roar.

  Immediately, the trolls looked back to the opening in the rock wall just as her mate emerged, hefting himself up with a great deal of strength before barreling toward them. Furthermore, he was in Wrath, his body sparking with electricity that forked out and slammed into three nearby trolls at once.

  Simultaneously, he lifted his arm and, with a deft flick of the wrist, his dagger spun through the air to find its way into the skull of the troll holding Jada down.

  As soon as the monster collapsed, she rolled away and stood, unsheathing her swords to engage their enemies.

  As an immediate response, the trolls let angered shouts and raised their jagged blades, obviously eager to fight. Some came after her while others attempted to take Dalris down, but the draconian was moving like a killing machine, beheading one before impaling another at the same time he blasted a third with a powerful current of electricity.

  It made focusing somewhat difficult when all Jada wanted to do was watch him work. Yet she had her own battles to fight, and moved with less power, but more agility and speed.

  Quickly ducking into a roll to evade a jagged blade, she turned to meet another troll's strikes with loud clashes of metal. With one sword set to ice and the other glowing with light to blind them, Jada swiftly took the chance to impale one of the monsters, freezing his body before taking off his head.

  Yet their enemies weren't stupid, nor were they weak, forcing her to tear them down a piece at a time.

  Slicing her swords at deft arcs, black blood spattered against the ground, and Jada didn't stop moving until she found herself back to back with Dalris after mercilessly slashing a throat.

  That's when they both realized the rest were out of reach, and despite the carnage, the troll's numbers had multiplied.

  Apparently, this swamp was indeed infested, and they were completely surrounded.

  With deep breaths, she kept her back to Dalris', their bloodstained blades at the ready—but there was little hope of survival in the face of so many bloodthirsty enemies. In fact, the only thing Jada could think to do was to take Dalris' hand and spawn as many clones as her rune would allow, but even then, she wasn't certain it would be enough.

  As the dismal thought hit with the trolls slowly closing in, a loud shriek sounded in the near distance. In response, their enemies looked up toward the sky, and Jada immediately grinned.

  “I know that shriek.”

  “Adravi,” Dalris returned certainly.

  As soon as he spoke, the large, red wyvern emerged over the trees, flying toward their position at top speed. Opening his mouth on the way, a blaze of fire erupted in the direction of the trolls, setting several of them ablaze.

  Watching their enemies flail, Jada remarked, “Well, that evens the score.”

  Her comment was punctuated by a loud thud as Adravi landed nearby, wasting no time incinerating even more of their enemies while lashing his spiked tail out at those trying to escape.

  Jada and Dalris weren't content to sit idly by while he had all the fun, either. Yet, just as they were about to resume their attack, another shriek sounded nearby.

  Peering in the direction of the trees, Jada surprisingly spied an adolescent blue wyvern heading toward them. Unlike Adravi, this one was about the size of a large dog—and it was being followed by a surprising number of people, including Novak, Karina, Edith, Isaac, and three others Jada didn't immediately recognize.

  But Dalris did, remarking, “He brought Liam, Ulric, and Charlotte.”

  “Who's Charlotte?”

  “The sun fae with Ulric. She's his mate, and the blue wyvern's name is Rozdra.”

  Nodding, she watched as the fae blinded all of the enemies nearby with a bright burst of sunlight that let Ulric take them down with ease. At the same time, Rozdra landed on one of the trolls, snatching his arm in her fangs to send a bright current of electricity through his body.

  The troll seized up as a result, allowing Liam to take his head in passing, and the two wasted no time moving onto the next.

  Novak wasn't playing games either. The barbarian had just impaled one troll, then kicked his body back before swinging to slice the head of another down the center. It was a gory display, almost as bloody as Isaac's attack in which he literally ripped a troll's beating heart out with his bare hand.

  As if that wasn't enough, both Edith and Karina were doing massive damage using magic.

  The trolls didn't stand a chance.

  While watching the battle take place, Jada idly remarked, “They're actually making me feel useless.”

  “Same,” Dalris agreed with a smirk.

  “Are you two gonna gawk all night, or get in on this?” Novak suddenly called, laughing as he engaged a particularly large troll, their swords clashing with powerful blows.

  “Wouldn't I just be ruining your fun?” Jada returned, ready to add that she was enjoying watching them kick ass too much to join in.

  But at the last second, she sensed movement behind her, and quickly spun around to defend herself. Dalris must've noticed the same thing because he turned and lunged without hesitation, tackling a short, red troll to the ground with ease.

  Yet Jada paid little attention. Instead, her eyes drifted downward where they latched onto the hilt of a jagged blade—one that was now jutting from the center of her chest.

  CHAPTER 37

  “Jada!”

  “No!”

  Karina's scream was accompanied by Novak's angered roar, and now pinning a troll he was about to kill, Dalris momentarily stopped to look back and see what the problem was.

  And the sight he beheld nearly snapped his sanity completely.

  “Dalris … ,” Jada whispered, a line of blood dribbling from her lips as she dropped to her knees, her hands clutching a sword embedded in the center of her chest.

  Time stood still. With Karina running over to join her falling sister, Dalris couldn't process what he was even seeing. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the words Jada's dying emerged, but they didn't make sense.

  Yet, when he heard the troll he was now pinning to the ground laughing maniacally, and turned his gaze down to spy a twisted grin on his enemy's face, the reason for it registered—and fury as Dalris had never known it consumed him.

  Such rage must've shown in his eyes because the troll's joyful expression quickly turned to one of terror—and Dalris wasted no time exacting revenge.

  With a loud roar, he summoned every ounce of strength he had to send a shock of electricity into the creature so powerful it spread around them in arcs—and he didn't stop there. The current engulfed his arms completely, spreading through the troll until his body erupted.

  As gore and black blood spattered everywhere, the arcs faded, and Dalris collapsed to his side, having used so much of his strength he was physically afflic
ted. But he didn't let that stop him from joining his mate as quickly as possible.

  By then, Charlotte had reached Jada and tugged the sword from her chest with the intentions of providing a healing—but it was too late. The grim look she gave them only moments after trying with no success proved there wasn't a spark of life left for the fae to work with.

  As Karina sobbed her sister's name, Dalris stared at Jada's unresponsive body, her violet eyes pointing blankly toward the sky.

  Mindlessly, he dragged her into his arms and urged her to wake up despite Charlotte's failure at reviving her.

  “Las'ira … ?”

  The only response was another line of blood trailing from the corner of her mouth.

  Seeing it, his head bowed forward in defeat, even as he denied the truth. She's not dead … she's still warm! I can still smell her scent!

  He wouldn't accept it—couldn't. Yet she wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. He'd never hear her laughter again, never get the chance to tell her how much he loved her, and the mere thought was absolutely unacceptable. I have to join her … .

  Still clutching her body tight to his, Dalris nearly erupted in electricity—the quickest way to end things would be by using every bit of strength he possessed until he was drained to death.

  But two things stopped him before he got the chance, starting with Charlotte's strange comment.

  “It's weird, Dalris. I don't sense any life in her, but at the same time, she's not just a blank spot in my perception. It's as if—”

  “Dalris?” Jada rasped weakly, interrupting the fae.

  He had to be hearing things.

  “Jada!” Karina gasped. “You're awake!”

  It can't be … . Quickly, he lifted his head to look down—and saw his mate staring right back up at him.

  “J-Jada?”

  She looked extremely worn, clutching her bleeding chest, but she nodded to confirm his unasked question. “I'll be … okay.”

  “How?”

  As if breathing was difficult, she sputtered, unable to answer. So he got Karina's help to lift her into a sitting position, and allowed Charlotte to provide a healing.

  With a warm light emanating from the fae's palms, she took his mate's shoulders in hand while Karina inquired, “Jada, did you bond with Dalris?”

  Surprisingly, Jada started nodding.

  Karina excitedly bounced where she sat, giving Dalris a bright smile with her announcement.

  “She's immortal now! So as long as you're alive, she'll live, too! Well, unless she's beheaded, of course.”

  Cradling Jada even closer, he was so relieved—and startled—by the news, he wasn't sure what to say, or do. But Liam got his attention by placing a hand on his shoulder and mentioning, “We should find a place to camp in case more trolls show up. Then you can explain what the hell you're carrying in your pack.”

  He sounded extremely curious, a sentiment Charlotte mirrored when she exclaimed, “Oh my god, are those golden wyverns?”

  “And a drake,” Ulric confirmed, giving his eldest brother a questioning look. “Seems like you've been extremely busy, Dal.”

  Lifting Jada from the ground to carry, Dalris offered a simple response.

  “You have no idea … .”

  • • •

  “You know, I am better, Dalris.”

  “Don't care.”

  “But everyone's waiting.”

  “Again, I don't care.”

  Jada snickered, cuddled into his side on a bed of soft grass near a gentle stream where they'd washed up after their fight. The rest of the group was several yards away in a small grove Edith had warded against enemies—including any spies Menlor may have left in the swamp to keep an eye on things.

  That ward, combined with Charlotte's fae abilities to sense living creatures nearby, meant security wasn't an immediate issue.

  But ever since they'd set up camp, Dalris had kept Jada close despite the fact that she was fully healed. It made her think he was still trying to accept her revival—and she couldn't blame him. Knowing she was now immortal was overwhelming, and her heightened regeneration was staggering.

  After being impaled through the chest, she'd come to only minutes later, proving beyond all doubt that her life was anchored to Dalris' irrevocably—and she felt guilty for not letting him know it was happening sooner.

  Perhaps then, she wouldn't have woken to see such a heart wrenching expression of loss on his face. I may as well have been impaled a second time.

  But everything had turned out for the best, and she didn't want to dwell. There was too much left to do to allow time for remorse, and Jada was more eager than ever to get started if only because she had an entirely new reason to uncover the truth; I'm not letting Dalris go for anything.

  Still, if his track record of blaming himself was any indication, he probably felt responsible for her mishap—and she wasn't going to stand for it.

  So, propping her head up against her palm to give him a warm smile, she asked, “You're not going to get overprotective now, are you? Or worse, start blaming yourself for what that troll did.”

  Dalris frowned, lifting a hand to drag his knuckles along her cheek. “I'll try not to if it makes you happy.”

  “It does. You can't take the blame for others' actions, and it's not your fault if you couldn't prevent it. Besides, that attack proved you're my mate beyond a doubt, so it wasn't all bad.”

  He grumbled, but didn't deny her statement. “I do enjoy knowing I'm yours, but … gods, the worst part of all was thinking you were gone without knowing the truth.”

  “What truth?”

  At that, he cupped her cheeks and leaned up to kiss her fervently, only breaking the contact for long enough to rasp, “I love you, Jada Tavar, with all my heart and soul.”

  Jada lost her breath. Deep down, she knew his feelings for her were strong, but hearing it aloud was so much different, and she didn't bother to stop herself from grabbing and kissing him with all her might.

  Their groans mingled together, hands rushing in a bid to touch and caress wherever they could reach. Following the affectionate gestures, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, whispering, “I love you, too, Dalris Dra'Kai, and I don't care what it means. I can't ignore my instincts, or the man my life is tied to.”

  His arms tightened around her with a low groan, the sound a mix of elation and need. “It's just too bad we're not alone anymore, or we could spend the next few hours proving it.”

  She snickered, lifting her head to promise, “Believe me, we'll get the chance. But we need to tell everyone what we've found, because I really want to find this oasis now.”

  Smiling, Dalris finally sat up with an arm latched around her, but didn't immediately stand to go join the others. Instead, he lifted his opposing hand and swept his knuckles across her cheek with a curiously sentimental gaze.

  “What?” she asked softly, breathless at the love so clearly visible in his blue eyes.

  “I was just thinking about what we might uncover there,” he started, “and if things turn out favorably … Dra'Kai may find you worthy of siring as a draconian.”

  Jada's eyes widened, the prospect seeming entirely unreal. Me? A draconian? She'd never once imagined such a thing, even in her wildest dreams.

  But the more she thought it over, the more appealing it seemed, filling her with curiosity until she inquired, “Do you really think so?”

  With a handsome smirk, he replied, “It's possible. But is it something you'd want?”

  “I … I don't know,” she admitted. “I've never considered it, but … .”

  Thoughtfully trailing, a smile soon graced her lips, and Jada nodded. “I do like the sound of it, and my mate's a draconian. So it makes sense.”

  He must've liked her reasoning because he leaned to give her a passionate kiss that made her forget all about the group waiting for them in the grove. Instead, all she could focus on was Dalris, and during those blissful moments locked in his embrace, she
knew the truth for certain.

  If becoming a draconian was ever an option, she'd take it in a heartbeat.

  Still, it wasn't easy to be completely optimistic. Every time she thought about their future together, her mind went right back to what they might uncover in mere days. No matter how difficult it was to believe, her entire life would be shaped by this single trip, and she was so torn between clinging to this moment with Dalris, and moving on that she broke the kiss with a low groan.

  “What's wrong?”

  Dalris' question was so breathless she had to smile, though it didn't quite reach her cheeks. “I can't stop thinking about what might be waiting for us. I know we'll be together, but how? The questions are driving me crazy.”

  Proving he understood, Dalris pressed the sweetest kiss to her forehead, then qualified, “Guess it's time to tell everyone what needs to be done, then.”

  Nodding, she stood with him, taking his hand so they could return to the grove. There, everyone was sitting around a fire while the babies play fought each other in the grass nearby. The blue wyvern, Rozdra, watched them curiously, but Adravi was absent. He's probably hunting.

  “You're back,” Novak announced as soon as he spotted them coming. “Feeling any better?”

  “Much,” Jada answered, taking a seat next to Karina while Dalris occupied the place between her and Liam, reaching to stroke Rozdra's head.

  The adolescent wyvern purred contentedly and sidled closer to him as he inquired, “How did you find us, anyway? Did Adravi lead you here by tracking Jada's rune?”

  “He did,” Novak responded, “and your brothers showed up this morning after I sent word of your prolonged disappearance. As you can tell, they brought some friends.”

  Confused, Jada asked, “Wait, how did you know who to send word to?”

  “I asked Novak to notify Liam if we disappeared,” Dalris explained. “But as for Ulric and Charlotte … ?”

  He looked to the couple for an answer, and Ulric explained, “We were all at the family home when word came. Edith and Isaac had just stopped by because she had some information to pass on about your matehood with Jada, but she hadn't been able to locate you.”