She nodded, tears building in the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away hastily.
“The ring is perfect. I think it’s exactly right for an emperor’s wife. It’s exactly right for me.”
“RUBY!”
Before I could say another word, her father’s voice yelled from the group ahead. Our time was up.
“I’d better get back,” she muttered sheepishly. “Just remember that their bark is worse than their bite…well, except for Mom. Bark and bite are both pretty bad with her, but you’ll get used to them.”
“Right.” I laughed. What else was I expecting? Of course Ruby’s parents were going to be tough as nails and slightly terrifying—it wasn’t like wallflowers would ever bring up a girl like her.
“Go on,” I urged, “before they start accusing me of being your kidnapper.”
Ruby ran ahead, snorting with laughter.
Rose
WHAT?
Dating her kidnapper?
Caleb kept muttering under his breath, trying to rein in his temper, as we followed the sentry my daughter seemed to be infatuated with back to the castle as quickly as we could – trying to keep pace with the slower-moving sentries. I walked between Hazel and Benedict, listening to my son explain the land we were in with an enthusiasm that was totally typical of him—I heard about flying vultures, bull-horses (which explained the strange creatures the other sentries were riding and the hoof prints we’d been finding everywhere), fang-beasts, and the strange mental powers of the sentries themselves.
“They’re okay,” Benedict explained about the sentries, “once you get used to them—well, some of them are. Some are downright evil, like Queen Trina, and some are just gross, like Jenus.”
“Who?”
“Benedict,” Hazel interrupted gently, “let’s just wait till we get to the castle. Mom will need a proper briefing.”
“Yeah, okay—you’re right.” My son was instantly quiet on the subject, and instead started to question how GASP had managed to get here. I answered his questions, feeling like I truly had traveled to an alternative universe. Since when did Benedict listen to his sister and do as he was asked?
I watched them talk, half involved in the conversation and half watching us all from the outside, still trying to get my head around the fact that we’d actually managed to find them and that they were alive and safe. I could see that they had changed. In Benedict it was subtle, but I could detect a sadness beneath his enthusiasm—a wariness that had never been there before, that should only ever really belong in a person three times his age. I realized that my son had seen too much while he’d been here—they had obviously been through a lot. I’d sent them to Murkbeech for them to have fun and learn survival and team skills. It looked like they’d learnt some harsh life lessons instead.
In Hazel the change was more pronounced, and at the same time, more confusing. Part of it was confidence. She seemed to walk a little bit taller, like she was more solid, more sure of herself. Hazel had always been a daydreamer, part present, part thinking about the latest book she was reading or some fantasy that her head was concocting. I didn’t know if it was our sudden appearance or a fundamental, permanent change, but she appeared more present, more in the moment. Was that because of this sentry she was dating? Or something else?
“Hazel, are you all right?” the sentry asked, studying her intently.
“I’m fine,” she nodded.
I frowned. Why did he seem to be wary of her interaction with us?
“I can look after Mom,” Benedict added, “if you want to go ahead with Tejus?”
“Hazel?” I queried, worried. What was all this about? Why was Benedict watching his sister as if something was wrong?
“She’ll remain with us,” Caleb snapped.
The sentry ignored us all, watching for some kind of confirmation from Hazel—apparently not convinced by her telling him she was ‘fine’.
“Honestly, I’m good. We’re almost at the castle.”
The sentry nodded, walking on, leading his strange bull-horse by the reins. I bit my tongue. Whatever it was would come out eventually—it looked like I needed to have a long chat with my daughter. There was definitely something going on that I was missing.
Wasn’t he too old for her? He seemed like a fully-grown man, and I still considered Hazel just on the cusp of young adulthood. It wasn’t just his age that made me skeptical about his suitability for my daughter. He had a darkness about him, not uncommon to supernatural creatures, but he certainly had a ‘tortured soul’ thing happening: dark, brooding, deadly-looking. A born fighter. That kind of man was in danger of sucking all the light out of my daughter.
From our small interactions so far, he also seemed over-protective of Hazel. And controlling. Huh. I tried to ignore the similarities between him and the rest of the Novak men. Was the attraction to kidnappers a genetic thing?
But the Novak men were also brave, good and righteous on the inside—once you got under the hard exterior, despite their sometimes obvious flaws.
Was Tejus the same? I wasn’t convinced. I hoped that this thing between the two of them was just a crush, because quite frankly, so far, he’d just come across as an arrogant ass.
“Tejus.” Benedict broke off from his chatter, calling out to the sentry in a breathless voice. “I think… I think I can feel it.”
“I know,” he replied. He jumped up on his horse, turning it around as the creature reared up, and grabbed both Benedict and Hazel, flinging them on behind him.
“Hey!” I exclaimed.
“I understand that your kind has superior speed. Run to the castle and don’t look back,” he instructed us. “Tell the rest of your team to do the same. ASH!” he bellowed over our heads, catching the attention of another sentry who rode at the back of the line.
“I’m right behind you,” the other replied.
The other sentries started to gallop off with their bull-horses. Tejus led the way—Benedict turning his head to look back at us, his face ghost white and his expression terrified. He grabbed the hand of a red-headed girl who I was certain was human, pulling her along with him.
“Let’s move out!” my dad yelled to the rest of GASP.
Caleb and I started running after our kids, heading for the castle as fast as we could. The dragons and Hawks flew above us, the jinni appearing every few yards or so and then vanishing, reappearing ahead as they got to know the area. Mona, Corrine and Ibrahim did the same.
As we ran, I started to feel something prickling at the back of my neck—the strange sensation of a million invisible eyes watching me.
“Caleb?” I called out, wondering if he could feel it too.
“Just keep running,” he replied.
I nodded. Nothing would stop me. Whatever we were running from, I had no desire for it to reach us. It was dark, malevolent and black, like a great abyss was yawning behind me—wanting to consume us all.
Tejus
The shadows’ approach seemed to recede as we neared the barrier to the castle. I watched as the ministers tore an entrance in the enclosure to let us pass. Their eyes widened with shock as they saw the group of vampires, dragons and other strange creatures that made up Hazel’s family and friends.
“Let them pass!” I yelled, crossing into the castle grounds.
The ministers nodded, the guards eyeing them suspiciously, hands ready on the pommels of their blades. Ash was right behind me, traveling with Ruby, whom he must have picked up on the way, and the rest of the army—one of the guards had been traveling with Julian.
I swiftly dismounted, turning to help Hazel off the bull-horse. My hands closed around her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath her shirt. She placed her hands on my shoulders for a brief moment as I carried her off, her eyes meeting mine.
“Hungry?” I growled.
I had been worried that she was going to feel the urge to syphon off her parents, and the uncomfortable nod she gave me confirmed it.
�
��Syphon off me,” I murmured, “quickly.”
She glanced behind her, watching her parents and the rest of GASP enter the barrier. They were still a little way off, they had overtaken us initially but stopped as they entered the enclosure of the barriers, whereas I’d ridden on to the stables. With the disorder and confusion our new guests were creating with their arrival, she had time.
Her arms moved from my shoulders to wrap around my neck. I pulled her too close, but I couldn’t help myself. I heard Benedict and Yelena scrambling off the bull-horse, Benedict making retching noises. Hazel smiled at me, rolling her eyes.
“Ready?” she whispered.
I nodded.
Her lips met mine, her legs wrapping around my waist. I gasped as my energy entwined with hers. The rush was powerful, her syphoning strong and instant. One of her hands moved to the base of my throat, traveling up to my jaw. She tilted my head up higher, taking the breath out of my body. I felt my heart racing, gold threads appearing in my mind—wrapping Hazel closer as my energy fed the void inside of her, filling her till her skin seemed to glow with vibrant, humming power.
Ash cleared his throat.
“Tejus, we need to introduce GASP to Queen Memenion.”
Reluctantly, I released Hazel.
“Thank you,” she murmured, sliding down the length of my body till her feet touched the floor. The interruption came just in time. Her family was approaching. I focused on Ash, trying to collect myself. My body felt like it was on fire.
I need a cold shower.
“Hazel?” her mother called, beckoning her away. I smirked, turning back to the bull-horse and handing it over to a waiting guard. I had never been in this kind of situation before. As a prince, even one from the most disliked family name in Hellswan, royals and ministers had been desperate for their daughters to marry me—only too happy for me to court them, pushing them my way like they were prized swine. It was a stark contrast to this family, who looked like they happily wished me dead. It didn’t help matters that my own conscience in regards to my relationship with Hazel was constantly conflicted. No matter how accepting she was of her situation, and how deeply I knew I loved her, there was always the nagging sense that I had corrupted her—transformed her into something as dark as I was. Watching her syphon off Jenus and feeling her energy become almost polluted afterward had torn at my heart. What a fate and a future I had given their daughter. They were right to hate me.
“Are her parents as big fans of you as Ruby’s are of me?” Ash groaned.
“I’m the ‘kidnapper’—you’ll get off lightly.”
“I don’t know about that,” he muttered, glancing back at the couple I assumed were Ruby’s parents. They were openly frowning at the both of us.
“I’m going to get Queen Memenion and Jenney. They might be able to defuse this…and then we need to talk about what the hell we witnessed in that forest.” Ash shook his head, as baffled as I was.
“We need to talk to the Impartial Ministers,” I added. “I want them at the meeting. There’s a minute chance that they’ll be able to shed some light on what that thing was—or things.” I still wasn’t sure whether the shadow had been one large malevolent force, or some strange multitude of creatures.
“Agreed. They’ve been avoiding us ever since we arrived. It’s time they were of actual use.”
With a heavy sigh, Ash began escorting the members of GASP to the castle. He avoided making eye-contact with Ruby’s parents. I laughed to myself. He wouldn’t get away with it that easily.
I hung back, deploying an avoidance tactic of my own while I thought more about what we’d faced today. The fact that it had seemed completely immune to our swords terrified me. The only victory that we’d had was when Hazel had stabbed the form. Was it because she had managed to come into contact with something? Or was it because of the dagger that she’d used? I’d never heard my mother or her family mentioning that the Mercy Dagger contained any specific qualities that would make it any different to our weapons. Deep in thought, I wandered over to the castle entrance, relieved to see that GASP had ventured inside. The coast was clear.
“Tejus?”
Or not.
A man stood by the door, watching me. He had black hair, contrasting dramatically against skin much paler than my own. His blue eyes were intense, meeting mine as if he could see right through me. He looked young like all the rest, but as I met his gaze, I wondered how old he truly was. There was something that made me think that he had seen many lifetimes before this one.
“Yes,” I replied as politely as I could.
“I heard about you before we arrived here.”
I nodded. That wasn’t unusual—if they’d met a passing traveler who had rejected the confines of Memenion’s palace, they would undoubtedly mention me…and damn me.
“I’m not a very popular man.”
The man arched an eyebrow in my direction.
“That’s putting it mildly,” he replied sardonically. “It was a woman named Abelle. We unchained her from a tower, only to be thanked by her later — knocking us out, en masse, as we traveled through the forest.”
So she’s escaped.
“Bravo,” I bit back. “She was a prisoner. She was in league with the Acolytes, a cult dedicated to bringing about the rise of the creatures that chased us just now.”
“And you left her in a tower?” he hissed back, not taking kindly to my sarcasm.
“We had no choice. She was a liability—better that she rotted in there.”
I didn’t tell the man that she had harmed Hazel, had tried to get her killed. It would undoubtedly bring up more complicated subjects that I wasn’t willing to discuss till Hazel and I had a chance to decide how best we would tell her parents.
“How much of a danger is she now?” he asked.
“I can’t be sure. The rest of the cult is dead, and they have achieved their aim. Perhaps she is useless to the entity now, I have no idea.”
“It seems we have a lot to discuss,” the man replied, contemplating my response.
“Ash, the emperor, will be holding a meeting. Perhaps you should find sleeping quarters and prepare yourself for what lies ahead,” I replied. And stop questioning me.
“I am not finished with you yet, Tejus of Hellswan. I take it you are the man involved with my granddaughter?”
Ah.
That’s who he is.
“Yes,” I sighed, readying myself for another onslaught.
“Hazel comes from a long line of Novaks. Our family is powerful, our history darker than you could possibly imagine. I trust that your intentions are honorable?” His last line was laced with malice and an underlying threat.
“They are, sir.”
“You would have quite a force to be reckoned with if they were not.”
“I am well aware of that,” I replied, keeping my temper in check. “But I love your granddaughter. This is not something I take lightly, and I do not love her carelessly. Hazel may be part of your bloodline, but she is also part of my soul. Try to take her away against her will, and you will become acquainted with my equally unpleasant and powerful family.”
He didn’t have to know most were dead, and one was chained up beneath the castle.
“That’s not my intention,” the man growled, “but I love my granddaughter, and I am having a difficult time understanding what she would see in you.”
“I don’t blame you,” I replied quietly. “But that is not my concern. For whatever reason, Hazel loves me—and I’m honored that she does.”
The man nodded, quiet for a few moments. I sensed that I had passed some kind of test, and for now it seemed that he wouldn’t be questioning me any further. No doubt that would change once he understood what I had caused her to become, but I would have to face the consequences of that when the time came.
“This…protection around the castle. What is it?” he asked eventually.
“Barriers. They’re created and upheld by the mental energy o
f the sentries—our ministers usually attend to that task. They have more developed powers than guards or laborers.”
“How do sentries come by this mental energy?”
“We feed on energy—of our own kind, and other creatures.”
“Like humans?” he shot back.
Damn.
“Yes, like humans.”
“Which is why you kidnapped the children from Murkbeech?”
I nodded, wondering how best to explain our actions.
“We had trials, to gain the crown of Hellswan. My father instructed that my brothers and I portal to Earth and collect those whose minds were strongest. In the past it has been an uncommon practice. Most of our kind don’t wish to travel between the dimensions, preferring to disassociate ourselves from humans and other supernaturals—some of which, till today, I hardly believed existed. But the minds of humans are rich in energy, especially when they are young, and especially when they are flexible—like your grandchildren and their friends. I believe it is their acquaintance with the supernatural world that has caused their superior mental energy.”
“Does it cause them pain when you feed off them?” he asked, getting to the heart of his concern.
“It can,” I replied honestly. “But your daughter found a way to syphon without causing pain to the humans. Now that has become the common practice among my kind when syphoning off humans.”
“She’s smart, like her mother,” he muttered. “Do you still ‘syphon’ off Hazel?”
“Not often.” I cleared my throat, hoping that he would change his line of questioning.
“Tejus?” Hazel appeared around the doorway. On seeing her grandfather, she smiled broadly, but it dimmed as she fully registered both our expressions. “Grandpa, I’m going to borrow Tejus for a moment, is that okay?”
“Of course,” he replied, his mood instantly warming as he turned to his granddaughter. “I’m glad to see you’re safe, Hazel.”
I nodded my goodbye, and he returned it, his eyes back to watchful and mistrusting—but I felt like I was making progress. He no longer looked as if he was imagining ripping my throat out.
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