by J. L. Weil
“Something’s coming,” she whispered, the center of her irises gleaming as white as the spitting snow.
Chapter Three
DEVYN
Not someone. Something.
Fuck.
I didn’t know which was worse.
Kai’s cat-like eyes shifted to the patch of trees on our left. “It’s not fae,” he whispered.
You’ve got to be kidding me. I didn’t have the time or patience to deal with one of the numerous beasts that lived and roamed the area. They weren’t pleasant creatures. “Can you tell what it is?”
His eyes focused on one spot as he remained still as a hawk. The sun highlighted strands of his hair, turning them silver. “Not yet. But it picked up our scent, and it’s stalking us from just beyond those trees.”
A gust of wind blew through our path, kicking up a dust of snow, and carrying our scent straight toward the beast. “Take her,” I begrudgingly asked, lifting Karina into Kai’s arms. Bitterness and jealousy stabbed me in the gut when he settled her against him. “Stay here. I’ll deal with it.”
His features tensed. “Are you sure you can handle this alone? It would be a shame if you were hurt.”
I snorted, betting that would answer all his prayers. Without me, he would be free to take my place and marry the woman I loved. “There is no other alternative. Keep her safe, or it will be your blood that stains the snow.”
“I will protect her as if she were mine,” he replied smoothly.
My jaw unhinged as my hands clenched at my sides. Everything out of Kai’s reply was intended to piss me off or rattle me. Most days, I ignored his cool snark, but with Karina, it went too far.
The beast. Kill the beast. I had to remind myself who my target was because right now, I wanted to smash my fist into Kai’s pretty face.
The corner of his lip twisted as if he knew exactly what was on my mind—the devil. My stepbrother was the fucking devil sent to test me.
With one last look at Karina, I whirled and sent out my tracking senses in the direction of the woods. The sooner I killed the creature stalking us for its next meal, the less time Karina spent in Kai’s arms. That was all the motivation I needed to move my ass.
Wrath and Fury’s weight pressed onto my back as I crossed over frozen patches of grass, keeping my steps light, silent, and stealthy. I could do nothing to mask my scent, not when I needed to preserve my shielding abilities for the long journey still before us. Ice tickled my nose as the snowfall accelerated, descending heavier from the puff of clouds that blanketed the entire sky.
“Where are you?” I mouthed, hot air expelling from my lips. White flakes sparkled off the tree branches when I entered the patch of evergreens. The dense covering of pine needles intensified the shadows. I took a cautious step, my eyes darting from one tree to the next, scanning the dark spots for any sign of life.
Immediately, I sensed I was being watched but from where?
My eyes went upward into the trees, scanning the lush foliage. It gave new meaning to finding a needle in a haystack.
I continued to look, to listen, and I almost didn’t hear it, the sound too faint. A breath so soft that it was nearly inaudible to my fae ears. Angling my head toward the noise, I used it to track the beast. I didn’t have to go far. We were hunting each other.
Somethings I wish I could unsee. This was one of them.
From what looked like a tear in the world, a dire beast stood with its back arched, and four large paws planted firmly on the ground in front of me. When was the last time I’d seen one? Not for many years. I had been but a boy when my mother fought the creature born of nightmares, and barely survived. It was a fight I’d never forget.
Shit. So much for hoping for a quick kill.
They were rare creatures, only emerging every decade or so to feast, then they returned to whatever fold of the realm they came from. Similar in height and statue of an Alaskan bear, spikes ran along the dire beast’s spine. Its two bottom tusks were sharp and large—deadly.
Clasping both my hands onto the hilt of Wrath and Fury, I unsheathed the swords. The fae snakes hissed at the presence of something foreign and made of pure evil—their favorite type of opponent. Their eagerness gripped me fiercely as they wound around my forearm, forked tongues licking the air in anticipation.
Squaring off, I prepared to make each strike count, knowing I needed to use my surroundings. “What are you waiting for?” I asked the beast that just stared at me hungrily.
I didn’t dare take my eyes off it, but after another minute, it became clear that it was waiting to see what I would do. The bastard was assessing me—its prey.
Not today, asshole.
Instinct sparked, and the woods around me faded away, leaving only the dire beast and I. Stepping forward, I decided to make the first move, but the creature was suddenly on my other side. It just appeared, hurling a tusk in my direction with a swing of its massive head. I lunged to the side, rolling out of the attack. Snow crunched under my boots when I landed back on my feet, blades raised between us. It was waiting. One of his front paws came swiping at me faster than expected, and I lifted my sword to block it, but its long digits still caught me in the shoulder. Its nails scraped through my shirt, scratching the surface of my flesh.
Son of a bitch.
I bit my lip through the pain, slicing my sword toward the dire beast’s chest as it came down on all four paws. The harsh thud shook the earth underneath me, yet balance wasn’t going to be my problem. It would be keeping up with its attacks, especially if the creature kept vanishing and reappearing around me.
My first, second, and even third attack didn’t connect. It wasn’t until I spun on the fourth attempt, whirling in a circle, that I managed to get a cut in, right on the beast’s side. Throwing its head back, a roar erupted, and trees shattered around us.
Holy shit.
Branches crashed everywhere, but I dodged them in what resembled a deadly dance. There was no time to catch my breath. Phantom talons dug into my side, and I drove my elbow up into the beast’s snout. It shook its head, backing up a step, and puffed out snotty bits of air.
“You didn’t like that much, did you?” I murmured to the creature.
Angry, its jaws snapped at my face. I thrust back, evading having my nose chewed off, but barely. The thing came at me again before I had a chance to put space between us, ramming his large head into my gut. The impact had my lungs gasping for air as I stumbled backward.
My hand shot out, plunging the blade of my sword in between his furry eyes. Pain ripped through my frozen knuckles as I continued to fight for air. I went back at him for another hit, but my weapon connected with nothing. The space where the dire beast had been was empty.
Fucker.
Wrath and Fury hissed in aggravation.
I was right there with them.
Once the frigid air moved a bit easier into my lungs, I turned in a circle, waiting for the creature to show itself. He wouldn’t dare leave behind a meal, no matter how difficult the prey was to kill.
Movement came from the corner of my eye, a spot of ancient darkness, but instead of whirling in that direction, I stood still… waiting… waiting… waiting.
I pivoted when the beast reared up on its hind legs, teeth gnashing. Both paws rose in the air, claws spread out like daggers. Upright, as he was, the creature stood at least two feet above me.
Shoving off the ground, I launched myself at him, slamming both my swords into the dire beast’s throat and thrust upward, piercing its brain. Cold blood rushed down my arms as it spurted from the wound. Surprised by how thick and tough its skin had been to puncture through, not to mention, the long, matted fur, I yanked out the blades. One tortured cry of pain escaped the creature, shock spreading through its red eyes before the head lobbed to the side. Its heavy body went limp, crumbling to the ground.
Wrath and Fury coiled and slithered around my arms, yearning for a taste. I gave a nod and the snakes unbound themselves from
me, crawling over to the dire beast, and attaching their pointy fangs into its flesh.
I sunk against a nearby tree, allowing them to take their fill. At least some of us are feasting. The last thing I wanted to think about was food. Such a waste. I shook my head at the decaying corpse. Dire beasts weren’t edible, not to us. In another minute, the animal would be nothing but ash and fur, materials for the critters in these parts to use.
Wincing, I shoved off the tree and returned Wrath, Fury, and the swords into their scabbard. Then I dragged myself back to where I left Karina with Kai and Tink, my wounds already stitching themselves together, but that didn’t mean each movement didn’t hurt like a son of a bitch. Covered in the blue-black blood of the dire beast, I ached, my shoulder burning.
The moment I got back, Kai looked me over, his nose wrinkling at the sight of all the blood. “I’m assuming you found it?”
My gaze went straight to the girl still sleeping in his arms. “It’s dead,” I stated flatly, doing what I could to control the punch of jealousy—an emotion I would need to learn to eradicate or go crazy. With Karina as the queen, I would have to share her, despite the possessiveness brought on by our mating bond. She would never be just mine.
A faint smile played at his lips. “Very little crosses your path and lives, brother.”
“Except for you,” I reminded him.
Kai smirked. “Yes, well, we're family.”
Tink shook her head from where she was perched in a tree. Her mouth pulled in a tight line at the sight of me. “What was it?” she asked.
“A dire beast,” I admitted grimly.
“One wasn’t due for another few years,” she informed, her little mind whirling. “Do you know what this means?”
I nodded glumly, dipping my hand into the snow to clean off the blood. “The barrier of our world is weakening.”
“Wonderful,” Kai spat sarcastically.
My gaze returned to Karina, her pale face utterly relaxed, softening her beautiful features. Waves of her dark hair fell over Kai’s chest. “How is she?” My voice was thick, raspy.
“The same. Sleeping like a baby,” he replied, his eyes cloudy.
“You’re hurt,” Tink gasped, fluttering off the tree to buzz around me—to see where I was injured. “It looks like it clawed you up. Though, not all that blood is yours.”
I stood, wiping my hands over my pants to dry them. “I’m fine. The wounds are already healing.”
Her aqua eyes latched onto mine. “You’re lucky to be alive.”
Luck had nothing to do with it. “Did you run into any trouble while I was gone?”
“Not like you,” Kai muttered.
Sweet relief poured into me. “Good. Let’s go before we are noticed lurking about.” I took a step toward Kai intending to remove Karina from his arms, but then I remembered the blood. Shit. I needed to clean up, change my clothes, but there was no time.
Kai seemed to understand my struggle, his lips curling. I wanted to tear her from his arms, wipe off his wry grin with my fist, and—
Snap.
To my right, a twig broke in half.
Someone was coming.
“Move,” I whispered, gesturing to the nearest building on our left.
We took off, crouched low to the ground, and dashed behind a metal structure. Pressing our backs against the icy exterior, Kai and I inched along the perimeter with Tink flying beside us. Kai jerked his head toward the second building a few yards away.
I nodded, understanding. That was what we sought.
Putting a finger to my mouth, I listened as someone rummaged inside the barn. Cloaked in Kai’s shadows, we darted to the next shed, creeping around the back and along the side, until we were at the corner near the door. Hooves stomped from inside, the horses sensing our presence and growing weary. A series of snorts followed the nervous prancing. We had to get in there or risk being discovered.
Fae horses, depending on the breed, had abilities of their own. Some were known to link up to their owners, like my steed, Gyspy. I couldn’t let that happen here. “We need a diversion,” I mumbled, racking my brain for an idea to help us get away with the horses.
Stealing was one thing, but I didn’t want to hurt an innocent.
Not if I didn’t have to.
“You owe me, Sin Eater,” Tink declared softly in my ear, and then she was gone. Nothing but a trail of pixie dust in her wake.
I blinked. Damn pixie.
The wind howled as Kai and I slipped inside the stable, covering the squeaking of old metal hinges on the large door. It wasn’t every day a farmer saw a pixie. I imagined Tink would keep him quite entertained as the fae tried to capture her. She better not get herself caught. Karina would have my balls if anything happened to the little nuisance.
I quickly moved to the first stall and ran a calming hand down the spotted horse’s forehead. “Shh,” I murmured. “I need your help. Ignore the blood. I mean you no harm.” The horse’s big brown eyes locked on mine. I let her feel that I wasn’t there to hurt, that all I truly wanted was her help. Her eyes averted to the floor, and she bowed just the slightest in acceptance. “Thank you, my friend.”
Opening the stall door, I grabbed onto her mane and hoisted myself up. “Give her to me,” I ordered Kai. Blood be damned. I couldn’t ride without her close to me.
He opened his mouth as if he would argue, but then snapped it shut, lifting Karina into my arms. As I settled her in front of me, Kai moved to the horse in the next stall. My mare lifted and dropped her hoof a few times, adjusting to the weight on her back. We were both adjusting.
The sudden burst of emotions at having Karina in my arms again was unexpected. Her breath was soft against my neck, my shoulder cradling her head. The sweet scent of vanilla and spring lilies hit me, and my heart swelled. I tightened my arms and brushed my cheek against hers. “I miss you, Kitten,” I whispered.
There was also a hint of darkness that clung to her, which I recognized as Kai’s. Traces of his magic shouldn’t be on her; the man inside me growled. She was mine. She’d never be his.
Rage burned in my veins and I knew my eyes were glowing, but I didn’t care.
Kai cleared his throat, and I reluctantly lifted my head, scowling in his direction. He was atop a chestnut mare, a wolfish grin on his lips. “It won’t last,” he assured. “It’s only remnants of sharing my power.”
Anger churned inside me, wild and choppy. “And that was the last time you share it with her,” I warned.
“You want to argue now?” An eyebrow rose when he spoke. “Might I suggest you save the ass-kicking you’re so eager to deliver until we get to the hollow?”
With a grunt, I clutched onto the mare’s mane and clamped my legs around her, giving her the signal to go. She did not disappoint, seeming as keen as me to get moving. We burst through the barn doors, flying over the ground—the horses’ hooves barely making a sound.
Chapter Four
KARINA
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Like I was lost in a dream, unable to find my way out of it. That was the only way I could describe the state I found myself in.
I’d closed my eyes and fallen asleep in Devyn’s arms. His warmth followed me into my dreams, except where I went wasn’t a dream. It was someplace else.
My body floated in a space with no gravitation, surrounded by clouds of soft pink light. The air was neither warm nor cold, and it felt thick and squishy like Jell-O. I felt no fear, no sadness, no happiness either. It was as if I had no emotions other than peace.
How long could I stay like this? Stay here? How much time had already passed?
Somehow, I knew I shouldn’t be here, and couldn’t stay forever. Yet, I didn’t see why I should leave. There was something blissful about having no emotions. Never being afraid. Never feeling pain.
What about love? An inner voice asked. Do you never want to feel the warm tingles of a kiss? Of Devyn’s lips pressed to yours?
>
Of course, I did. I loved him. Devyn. I couldn’t leave Devyn. He was worth all the pain in the world, all the tears, and all the horrors. For him, I’d fight until the end of the world.
That thought stopped me.
The end of the world.
Wasn’t I supposed to do something? Wasn’t there someone I had to save? A task I had to complete? What was it?
I couldn’t put my finger on it. The thought was right there, but just out of reach. The longer I thought on it, the further away it drifted until I completely forgot what I was looking for from the start.
And so, the cycle began. Around, and around, and around. A fucked up Ferris wheel I couldn’t get off of, no matter how hard I tried.
Until I heard a thought that wasn’t mine.
“I miss you, Kitten…”
Devyn’s voice echoed in the space, bouncing off the light pink clouds. I longed to reach out a hand and touch him, to intertwine our fingers, hug him… but I didn’t know where he was. Or how to find him.
“Devyn!” I cried out, but the words never left my lips.
Chapter Five
DEVYN
Six days we traveled on horseback, setting a grueling speed for both us and the horses. Mist chilled my face as we rode. The mare’s warmth kept some of Thornland’s brutal cold away as did my magic, but I was closed to drained and we needed shelter and a fire soon. We were deep into the frozen tundra, and when night fully descended, Talin wouldn’t be the biggest threat.
Freezing to death was a real possibility.
“How much further?” I hollered to Kai, dodging the latticework of wild brush, old trees, and thorny branches. The roaring of the winds carried most of my voice away, making my words nothing but a whisper to him. He assured us we would make it to the hollow tonight, however, the weather was taking a toll.