by Aimee Moore
Dearest Kenni. I regret that this is the last you will see of me. Cowardly though it may appear, I can promise that Dal and I would not leave Sunwold so suddenly were it not necessary. Please, care for Lianne in my absence. Allow her to give the women of Sunwold her strength, and in return, give her acceptance. I know I have no right to ask it of you, but I also know you to have a good heart.
I cannot say if I will see you again. Fate is, at times, fickle and cruel, but also surprising in its kindness. If we do not meet again, know that I am loved and protected. And I will rest easy knowing that you have Lianne there to watch over you. Your friendship has been a salve to me, a small slice of the family that was taken from me so long ago. I will not forget you.
Yours, Seraphine
“I am a coward,” I said into the chill morning. My breath fogged before me, and our rickety cart from the palace rolled along in a noisy staccato.
“No, you are not,” Dal said next to me. Our spirited black draft horse that only Dal could control clopped along the dirt path, head drooping in boredom as he pulled. We had left Sunwold before the sun rose to warm the day, and yet a strange chill clung to us in our departure, misting the darkness between the trees.
“Is not the Longest Day marked by warmth in your world?” Dal asked.
I puffed a breath out before me. “Yes, it is supposed to be quite warm these mornings. Strange things happen now and again, though,” I said.
“You must be hungry,” Dal said. “It has been hours since we left.”
“I am, but I can wait.”
Something black slinked between the trees to my left, and Dal, on my right, was already watching it. I couldn’t tell what it was, only that it was slender as a shadow weaving between skeletal trunks.
“I have never seen anything the like. What is it?” I asked.
“It has been following us for some time. Whatever it is, I do not think it is of your world.”
“Are we in danger?” I asked.
“We are far more dangerous.”
The creature seemed to come to the same conclusion and left us in time. We traveled further North and witnessed other oddities to my world. The white moss was no more, however, other strange flora had taken up residence alongside our road. Tall stalks of blue and white plants, muted green leaves dotting the trees that normally displayed a vibrant green, and I was sure I saw a white moth as big as Dal’s hand flutter away, leaving behind it a trail of diamond dust.
Dal kept his sword at the ready, but I was so entranced by the trees blooming leaves in occasional shades of sky that I barely noticed half of the things he did. My world was becoming strange to me, bit by bit. As life returned, familiarity died.
When at last we found a water source to stop by, Dal pulled the cart off the road and let the large horse graze freely on the grass. Since our departure, we began calling him Kalgar, which was Kraw for “night strength.”
We stole a moment to ourselves to splash in the cool stream, flirting and laughing, until our cart rocked loudly there on the bank, drawing both of our attentions. I stepped in front of Dal, calling my flame to protect him. He didn’t move to defend, but I didn’t have time to question why as the cart rocked again. I was ready to incinerate whatever large creature saw fit to raid our food stores.
The hide that secured the back opening of the cart tugged at the corners, and then flapped open as a soldier hopped out, uttering a crass curse on an awkward stumble.
“Lianne?” I said, incredulous. I pulled my flame inward and whirled on the dripping warrior who had been suspiciously still moments ago. “You knew?”
“She stole into the cart just as we left town,” Dal said, wading to the shore.
“Why did you not stop her?” I sloshed after him.
“Well there’s no stopping me, now, is there? I’d have alerted the whole bloody town, I would, if you’d tried,” Lianne said.
Dal helped me out of the water, then turned to gather wood.
I whirled on her. “Lianne, you are to be upholding law and order in Sunwold. Lending your strength to those who need it most. Not tucking your tail and running like a coward with us!”
“I figure between that crazed Willet fellow and all the women knowing the ass end from the tip of a sword, things are well on their way. ‘Sides, I couldn’t just leave you two to the wild unknown. If anyone’s going to shit themselves before they die I bloody well wanna see it.”
“Ugh,” I said, turning away and wringing water out of my long braid.
“You can piss and moan all ya want Seraphine, but I’m not one for sitting around babysitting whining ninnies and their children. Had enough of that in the last war. We make our fates, and here I am, ready to greet destiny,” Lianne said, fishing the stone bird out of her armor and tossing it into the stream with a loud plop.
“There’s no destiny to greet here, Lianne. We’re going to tell the Nialae woman to leave us be, and then we’re going to disappear. Alone.”
Lianne gave a snort, helping Dal gather the wood.
I cut Dal an irritated look, and he responded with an apologetic smirk.
“I will not abide your secrets,” I told Dal in his language, using my commanding voice. I cast my flame to the pile of wood, crossing my arms as Lianne jumped away just in time with a curse.
Dal responded in his language as well. “You would have been loud in your assertions, and in the end she would have come. Her search for destiny will push her to move on from us in time, Sera.”
I turned away with a muffled Kraw curse and marched off into the woods to clear my muddled head. Dal gave me the space I wanted, knowing that I could defend myself if needed.
I limped on through the crunch of fallen leaves and twigs for what seemed like an hour. The stillness of the trees and bushes was centering, soaking into me with their placid calm. I was rude to Dal and cruel to Lianne. When forced to choose between proving herself to her king or seeking destiny with us, she tossed that stone bird away with ease. Who was I to scorn such conviction when I’d been ruled by my own only weeks before?
With a heavy sigh, I began to walk back to the cart to make my apologies when I was paid a visit by a second Nialae. And this one put me in a worse state than Ysiel ever could.
Chapter 9
Secrets
Lust.
It flooded my senses, forcing my trembling body to find support against a nearby tree. Stars above, I was going to come undone right here, alone in the forest, with no idea why. I trembled as I scanned the stillness around me for an explanation, fighting for control with every breath.
“What manner of creature might you be…” a cultured male voice said from somewhere nearby. My nipples hardened at the sound, rubbing on the thin white tunic under my leathers. Only one type of creature could do this.
He stepped out from behind a large tree, arrogance orchestrating his posture. He was as Ysiel was: lithe and beautiful, except golden-skinned instead of moon pale. Pearlescent hair brushed his pectoral, and slightly inset, honey-yellow eyes made for a piercing gaze. I could see through his clothes that he was muscled, though not nearly as muscled as Dal. Yet it was the perfect amount of strength on his lithe frame.
And I wanted him.
“Ah, sweet human. Your body is like music, you know,” the male said to me as he watched me suffer. “Your resistance, tantalizing to watch.”
I sunk to my knees on a pitiful moan, nails scraping down the tree bark as I went. If this was what Dal suffered in Ysiel’s presence then his fear of her was completely justified.
“Such an exquisite melody. You could almost pass for Nialae, you know, if not for that hair.”
“What do you want?” I whispered.
“Straight to the point. No questions of who or what I am. Which would mean that you’ve met another. But who, I wonder, has found their way to you so soon after our arrival?” He took careful steps toward me.
“Ysiel,” I said. I tried to call my power to me, but again, it was gone, leavi
ng pain and helplessness in its place.
“Hmm, Ysiel. I am unfamiliar with the name,” the male said, pausing. “What might I call you, delicious creature?”
“Go to the seven hells,” I breathed.
“Rude. I am Karne, known to many as the Queen’s First. First advisor, first man at arms, first in many more useless things, none of which are pleasant.”
“Congratulations,” I breathed, trying to take myself someplace where only solitude and stillness resided. For some reason, I went to that lake outside of the cave Dal and I had first made love in. Still, cold, alone in the night, reflecting everything and giving away nothing. That lake gave me some measure of calm, and my muscles, tight with need, let up just a little. I let off a breath.
“Has your new friend gained your trust?” Karne asked, his voice a gentle purr.
“I trust no one,” I said.
“Not unlike my own people, and yet so refreshingly honest,” Karne murmured as he strode nearer. Danger seemed to trail him, to lick its way up his body and stalk in his shadow.
He knelt close enough to touch me, and the smell of pure male caused me to whimper. I squeezed my eyes closed, taking myself back to that lake.
Karne inhaled, long and sensuous, before blowing an exhale across my skin. My eyes flew open on a gasp. “What I wouldn’t give to have you, Seraphine.”
“I don’t want you,” I ground out.
He stood and laughed. “You still fight me. Why ever would you do that? I see that you want relief. Let me offer it; Nialae pleasures are unmatched.”
“Tell me what you want or leave,” I said, realizing that my hands had begun to drift to indecent places. I clawed at the tree bark.
Karne laughed. “I was on the beach just now. Your world’s beach is dingy, you know. Dirty. It smells of death and rot. The colors are muted, the light is harsh, glaring over the cold reality of your world. And as I strode across your sand pit of mediocrity, considering what to do with this new existence, I felt you.
“Bright, magnificent, hot power. It was as if a drop of my home world was here, in this imperfect world, calling to me. Imagine my joy when I got here and found that you are this pleasing creature. You ask what I want? I want you, Seraphine.”
“What is stopping you?” I said on a harsh breath.
Karne pondered me. “What kind of beast do you take me for? My lovers are only ever enthusiastic, and you clearly are not. But that will change.”
“I’ll never want you. Force your allure upon me all you want, I won’t change.”
“You think this is force?” Karne whispered.
“And you think fear will win my cooperation?” I hissed.
Karne smiled. “Perhaps not. Perhaps I am hopeful that you will give yourself to me.”
“Ugh.” The lake. I took myself back to the lake. “I am mated to a Child of War,” I said. “He will kill you if you touch what is his.” Oh, how the words pained me to say. Pushing away the relief striding in front of me was agony. Torture. True self wounding.
Karne threw his head back and laughed. “You think the Nialae fear savages? That I didn’t know what the marks on your arm were?”
I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was desire; throbbing, exquisite, desire. I let a long breath out of my nose as the frustration nearly caused me to groan.
He knelt next to me again, leaning one elbow on the tree near my head. White moss blossomed under his touch. I pressed myself into the bark, wishing to the stars above that he would see the desire burning in me and just touch me to end it. Madness.
Karne was a breath away. “To a people as long-lived as mine, time is just another flavor in the feast of our efforts. I would wait lifetimes to see your body strung tight as I played notes upon it.” His hand moved toward my breast, which rose and fell with quick breaths. He stopped just short of touching me. Instead, he lifted the whorled seashell necklace off of my chest, carefully so as not to make contact with me.
“Interesting trinket, this is,” Karne said.
“It was a gift,” I whispered. It was the only thing I owned that truly meant something to me. If he tore it off of me right now and took me, I would be relieved.
Karne dropped his hand, lifting dark lashes to me. Such a pristine face on a man should not have been as masculine as his was. “You will remember me, will you not?” He breathed in a low voice.
I trembled through a glare.
Karne smiled, gazing at my lips. “Remember me, Seraphine; I’ll be seeing you again. Remember that I have not touched you.”
And then he was gone, and I gasped at the void in my senses of where he had just been. I reached down to the apex of my thighs and found relief instantly, crying out to the woods as climax after climax shook my existence. The more I hated myself, the harder I came.
∞∞∞∞∞
Collecting myself after my encounter with Karne was difficult. Pine needles and bark were strewn in my hair and splintered under my nails. My legs shook and my whole body ached. Worse, shamefully, the simple act of walking caused me to gasp with pleasure.
Dal would know what I’d been through just from my scent. I knew I should tell him of this embarrassment, and yet I couldn’t bear the shame of my desires. The weakness I had displayed. There was only one choice: keep the horrific event to myself and ensure that it never again transpired.
Why had Karne sought me out away from my group? Was it that Dal offered some measure of safety from Nialae influence? Karne’s allure had been far more devastating than Ysiel’s, but perhaps it was as simple as the fact that I preferred men. Either way, I would simply have to ensure that I stayed in Dal’s presence at all times, and Karne’s promise to return to me would never come to pass. Easy.
I returned to the edge of the stream we’d stopped at earlier and sighed with pleasure as I ran the cool water over my heated skin. With luck, I could wash away the scent of my traitorous desire. Scrubbing at my face, I groaned as a new thought struck me.
Karne and Ysiel both said they found me because of my gift. How many more Nialae would find me this way?
And why? What was special about me? There were plenty of other Gifted in my world.
After my lengthy scrub, I was relieved to have my gift back so I could dry myself. I finger-combed my hair and braided it anew, then spent a few moments removing most of the splinters under my nails. The walk back to our cart was not as peaceful as the walk away from it. I was jumpy, afraid to be assaulted by crippling lust again.
But I made it back without incident, to be greeted by a second surprise.
“Seraphine, how lovely to see you again,” Ysiel said.
An elaborate firepit of sparkling stone was crackling near the stream, with plush chairs of azure and silver surrounding it. Ysiel was sipping more of that navy liquid from a sparkling glass, reclining in the seat as if she were queen of all the woods. Her pearlescent hair was twisted up into a half updo, and she wore a simple dress of shimmering morning blue, barely held over the swell of her breasts by silver bands at her arms.
Lianne was seated as well, knees splayed like a man, silver armor looking downright dull next to Ysiel’s glimmer.
Dal was leaning against our cart a few paces away, arms crossed. His eyes met mine in a wordless inquiry. I gave a small shake of my head, then went to seat myself with Ysiel. Mercifully, she had muted her allure for us. I didn’t know how much more Nialae allure I could take.
“You’ve returned so soon,” I said.
“Yes. Lianne here is an intriguing conversationalist. The Child of War remains distrustful, though.”
“Council’s balls, this is good,” Lianne said, slugging back more of the strange drink.
“What is it?” I asked her.
“Ah hells, I could no more tell you what this is than what sort of lout my future husband will be.”
“Would you care for some?” Ysiel said. “It’s made from a fruit in Niall. It sets the seed deep within the fruit, then the pod ferments within, ripen
ing the flesh to softness. Only then will it make this splendid color,” Ysiel said, holding her glass up to the light with a sigh. The sun pushed an azure tint through the glass, bathing her face.
“Backward world that puts the ass end of the horse first,” Lianne said.
“No, thank you,” I said to Ysiel.
She seemed to pout for a moment. “Very well.”
“Damn shame for you,” Lianne said.
Ysiel tapped a finger on her glass. “I had a time finding you, you know. Where ever were you headed?”
“We didn’t have a particular place in mind, we set out with the intention of solitude,” I said.
Ysiel gave me a slight smile. “But such power as yours, hidden away from the world who needs it. Solitude would be a shame.”
“Oh aye, shoulda seen what she did in Sunwold,” Lianne said, helping herself to more of the blue drink. “She can make grown men shit themselves with fear and children wet themselves with joy.”
Ysiel perked in her seat. “I would love to see this great power,” she said.
I scoffed. “You know my gift is ash in my veins when Nialae are near.”
“Nialae, or just me?” Ysiel asked, furrowing her brow.
All eyes were on me as the implication that I had met another settled through our camp. “I had assumed that all Nialae silenced my gift. Is it not so?”
Ysiel gave me a strange look, then settled back in her seat. “I know not. Perhaps, being Tanebrael’s handmaiden, I have innate powers which protect my queen at all times. Who is to know?”
I glanced at Dal, whose gaze was still on me. My heart skipped into my throat. Did he know about Karne? Did shame have a scent, too?
Ysiel gave her head a minor shake of clarity. “In any case, I have come to ask. Have you considered hearing my request?”
“No,” Dal said from over by our cart. “We will not take part.”
The glass in Ysiel’s hand was gone, and she stood carefully, dress swirling about her form like the caress of a lover. “Will you not even hear it?”