This was what Theren never wanted to talk to her about. He had told her little of what he was forced to do under his master’s care. She knew he had found a small measure of escape when they met at the beach, but that had only lasted until he was finally caught and whipped for his actions.
“You’re not a monster Theren,” she consoled him. “You were doing everything you could to survive. If you didn’t do that, we never would’ve met.” She grabbed his chin and forced him to face her. “Meeting you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I am here because of you. We can free your people. We can stop any more of them from becoming slaves. We are doing this together.”
When she released his chin, he snatched her hand, pulling her closer to him. “Nothing could be worse than the thought of not being here with you.”
He tucked a hair behind her ear, then placed his lips on hers. Overwhelmed with joy, she deepened the kiss. Theren’s lips were warm and welcoming that turned passionate and full of energy that ignited a fire in her heart.
His green eyes gleamed like a star in the night sky. “Serra,” he breathed then kissed her again. His arms wrapped around her waist, closing the gap between them. Her hand moved to the back of his neck. Being so close to him made her realize just how warm he was. Yet, it didn’t feel close enough. She needed to feel more of him.
Unbuttoning his shirt, she caressed his bare chest. His toned, hardened muscles replaced his once thin frame. She no longer could see his ribs but was cautious of touching his back. Theren pulled her onto his lap and in one quick movement, they were on the bed with Serra’s back against the blankets. Anxiety roiled in her stomach as he began undoing the front of her shirt.
“Are you sure?” he whispered, as if terrified he was pushing her too far.
Breathless, she nodded. “There’s only us right now, Theren.” Her words seemed to attack his body as he shook. He was just as scared as she was, but nothing would separate him from her. She kissed him once more to reassure him, telling him her feelings through her lips. Tonight, they were truly together, ready to face whatever danger the future held for them.
Serra awoke beside Theren’s warm body as his arm lay across her stomach, asleep with only the sound of a soft snore. She stared at him for what felt like hours. He was so beautiful. He accepted her, as she did him. She was his as he was hers. It was a feeling she’d never felt before. She was a part of a something and he was her other half.
Certain that she could sleep no longer, she carefully lifted his arm and scooted herself out of the bed to get dressed. Her messy, tangled hair dripped over her shoulders.
Her bare skin cooled as Theren’s warmth slowly escaped into the air. She shivered as she put on her clothes. Picking up the bottle, she sat it on the small table next to the bed. Theren shifted in the bed momentarily, sinking deeper on his side. A small smile formed on her lips. He was simply beautiful. Gentle, understanding, and far more than she ever could have anticipated.
She pictured the first time she had seen him. It felt like ages ago. Starved and thin—so thin that she could count each of his ribs. Now he was growing healthier by the day, just as her love for him had grown.
She had been scared that he would hate her for what she had done to her parents’ murderers, but he didn’t hold it against her. In fact, he’d opened up to her as well. It marked them like two sides of the same coin. They were connected, and through that connection, had formed a powerful passion they’d expressed to each other last night. Serra had never felt happier.
She could still feel his touch. Vibrations shook her as his hands trailed throughout her body. He left no area untouched by his kiss, making her completely his. She had kissed his scars, telling him he was beautiful. No number of scars would change how she felt about him. He responded with a fiery lust to be with her, and it became so.
Stomach growling, she went to the dining hall to pick up something for her and Theren to eat. After all they’d been through, she wanted him to get as much sleep as he could before the next mission. Whatever it was Sharlea had planned. There was still no word on what her next move was. Perhaps she was waiting for the next best opportunity, but as to how long that would be was up for debate. It could be months before they found such viable information. Still, this was a start of a long war.
Eventually, they would need to approach the duke and King Aron. They would need to prepare for a fight, and the numbers they had now wouldn’t get them within miles of Silverhall. All of them would be slaughtered by the guard.
Caden sat alone at the edge of the table, biting into an apple. Serra sat beside him, patting him on the shoulder. “Caden, how’ve you been? Been having fun since we left?”
His eyes remained focused on something across the room. “A lot of these people are sick, Serra. There’s only so much I can do, but… I think what you did helped. It’s giving them something to fight for.”
Her mind immediately went to Imra, the pregnant elf she met the other day. “Is it really that bad?”
“I heard a rumor that the king has taken ill as well. Seems like something is going around. Best come to me immediately if you start to feel ill.” He turned to face her with a serious expression. “I know you and Theren have become… close, but are you sure you want to put yourself in that position?”
She almost choked on her drink. Rage threatened to boil over. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
He sighed. “I mean… you two are different and come from different backgrounds. Wouldn’t it be better for you to find something… closer to home? I mean, I’m all for helping these people, but I wouldn’t take one to my bed.”
And with that, Serra splashed her drink all over his face then threw the cup somewhere to her right. She pointed her index finger toward him. “That was a warning. Say something like that again and I’ll rip your tongue out. Theren is a person just like you and me. He has feelings and he’s been through hell itself. Do not make such remarks as if he was nothing just because he’s an elf.”
Wiping his face with his handkerchief, he narrowed his eyes. “I apologize, that came out wrong. What I meant to say was that it is… inappropriate given the circumstances.”
She crossed her arms. “Inappropriate?”
“When’s the last time you saw an elf and a human together that weren’t master and slave? Your relationship with him would never be accepted here nor anywhere in Sostar.” He fiddled with the handkerchief. “I’m worried that something may happen to you. You’re right, Theren has been through a lot and I know you have too, but no one will care about that. All they will see is a human girl and a male elf together. All they will see is two people who may produce a half-breed.”
The last thought Serra would ever have right now was bringing a child into the world. She and Theren had only joined last night. Yet, she mindlessly touched the front of her stomach. What if they could have children? What would they be? Elf? Human? Or the half-breed Caden suggested? She looked around toward the others in the dining hall. Elves and humans spoke, but most of them remained separated from each other. An invisible yet finely-labeled line between them. Any male and female couple were from the same race. Would they judge her and Theren? Would they reject them?
Caden pulled out something from his pocket then slid it and a drink to her. “Take this, it will prevent any… complications.” After a moment, she realized what it was. It was the same herb that was said to prevent pregnancy. It was a crimson leaf found only in certain areas of Sostar’s forests. They grew on trees that had vines that spread from the ground to their branches. Finn had pointed it out to her last year when they were at a market. He had told her to find this specific plant if she ever met some “rugged young man,” as he said. Now, she knew why.
Serra said nothing but took the herb as he instructed. She chewed and swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat. Caden stood. “I have plenty for you. I try to always have a stockpile in case I have a… concerned female patient. This dose is potent and should l
ast you for a few weeks. I’ll give you another after you have your,” he coughed, “visit.”
When he left, Serra didn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry. For once, she had found true happiness and it was already being taken from her. Ripped from her very chest. What would all of this mean for her and Theren? If he had held the same concerns as Caden did, he would’ve told her. They never would’ve…
No, don’t think about that, she thought. He never held what you were against you. He won’t do it now. Not after all this time.
Shaking, she grabbed some bread and jerky and walked back to Theren’s room. Her mind spun with possibilities of what all Caden said could mean for them. She knew that Milena was interested in Theren, but she never acted on it that she knew of. Theren wanted her, that was obvious, but was it enough? Could this mean something would happen if they were found out? Would these people she saved at Slaterock even hold it against her? Was their hate so strong?
You have done nothing wrong, she told herself. You found each other. You love each other. That’s what matters in the end. Her own words offered little comfort as she slowed her pace, feeling the weight of the truth that the others may never accept them.
A human and an elf. A potential half-breed. If how they treat elves were bad, what would that mean for a half-breed?
Something slammed right into Serra, causing her to jump and drop one of the pieces of bread. She quickly picked it up and saw she had run into Ethrond, who looked particularly irritated. “Sorry. I didn’t see—”
Before she could finish, Ethrond’s hands gripped around her throat then slammed her against the wall.
Air. Serra struggled to remove Ethrond’s hands around her throat. In return, he squeezed harder. Her vision blurred as she gasped for any air she could get. She tried to force her legs to move but found no strength to do so. Her ears rang as he slammed her against the wall again. Any effort she made to move, he punished her.
She forced herself to focus on his face. His eyes were black and matched the vein-like marks surrounding them, spreading to his hairline. The marks were familiar, but she had trouble remembering. Forcing herself to try to say his name, it failed before it could reach her throat. The world faded as his grip held steady, waiting to watch her die. Tears rolled down as she tried to scream for help.
Something hit Ethrond from behind, causing him to loosen his grip and release his hold on her throat. She dropped to her knees and violently coughed. Touching her throat, it felt as though it was on fire. Her chest ached. She barely managed to look up and see Caden standing over Ethrond’s body. His mouth moved, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. It sounded like he was screaming for help. Within moments, a few other figures appeared. Their faces blurred as Serra lost consciousness.
A small group of yellow flowers were in her tiny grip, and she felt a bright smile was spread across her face as she made her way through the tall grass back home. Mama will love these, she thought. I bet the baby will too! She imagined herself in a handful of months telling stories to her baby sister as she lay in her crib, smiling at her. She would tell her stories of knights, princesses, and great adventures.
When they were older, she would braid her hair the way their mother would braid her own. Her sister would be so beautiful. She would grow to be just like their mother with a glow that would shine any room she stepped into. Jealous girls and swooning boys would follow her to the ends of the world.
If it was a boy, he would be as handsome as Papa. He would be big and strong. He would grow to be a knight for a powerful king. He would be the warrior she never could be.
The flowers fell to the ground when Serra saw the smoke. Running as fast as she could, she tripped when her foot hit a ditch, and from the ground, she saw her entire home encased in flames. A group of men dressed in loose dark green shirts and black coats bickered before hopping on their horses and leaving. Serra remained staring at her home. There was no way in and no way out for her parents. No escape.
Her family was dead.
Serra shot up from the bed, breathing heavy. Caden placed his hand on her arm. “Careful, there. You’re all right. You’re safe. Deep breaths.” She focused on her breathing, reminding herself that it was just a dream. A nightmare.
It all came flooding back. Hands were around her throat. She couldn’t breathe. “What happened? Where’s Ethrond? Why did he--?
“We aren’t sure. He tried to kill you. Now he’s spitting out madness, saying something about the Black Trinitas. I think he may have snapped.” He handed her a cup of water. “The others are interrogating him now, though I doubt they will get much out of him.”
She forced her mind to recall the events, and the only thing that came was the feeling of his hands on her throat and his eyes—they were so black. An abyss of nothingness. “I have to see him.” Before Caden could protest, she got up and rushed to the door.
The movement was too fast. She lost balance and fell sideways against the nightstand, knocking over a pitcher of water and hairbrush. She touched her forehead, closing her eyes as she tried to calm the dizziness. If the room spun any more, she was sure she would vomit.
Caden put his arm around her for support. “One step at a time. If you absolutely must see him, then I insist I go with you. Please drink your water.”
They carefully made their way downstairs where the holding cells were. She had never visited this part of Sharlea’s underground fortress as there was no reason to go there. Until today. Outside the main door, two familiar guards were posted. The sound of a loud crack came from behind the door, and Theren’s voice.
“That’s enough! Go outside for a while and calm down. He’s no good to us dead,” another voice said, slicing into Theren.
Some murmured conversation happened afterward, but she couldn’t hear the words. Theren opened the door. Behind him was Ethrond tied to a chair and Leo watching his every move. When Theren saw her, he embraced her. “Are you, all right? By the gods, your neck.”
She didn’t need to look in a mirror to know she had bruising all over it. Caden was careful not to touch that area, save for applying an ointment to help with the pain. “I’ll be fine. What have you learned?”
He didn’t seem convinced that she was all right. He stared at her neck for a long moment before he finally answered her. “He won’t tell us anything,” he said, his voice filled with murderous rage.
“I need to see him. He attacked me for a reason.” She shifted out of Caden’s grasp then walked past Theren into the holding cell. The guards behind her closed the door after Caden followed her.
Ethrond looked up. His face was coated in scratches, blood, and he had a swollen eye. Theren must’ve been rough with him. No wonder why Leo told him to leave for a while—a few more hits and he would’ve killed him.
An elderly elf sat in the corner, saying nothing. His cheeks were wet as he stared at Ethrond. His father. Ethrond had the same nose and facial structure.
Ethrond smiled wickedly. “Ah, she finally arrives.”
What little she could see of his eyes were still black and the vein marks still flared out past his eyebrows and almost touched his nose. Was he possessed by some dark magic?
“Ethrond, why did you attack me? What’s wrong with you?”
He snickered. “You can’t stop them.” He seemed too glad to see her ignorance of who he meant.
“Who? Who’s them?”
“The Black Trinitas. They will bring back the gods, and all of you will die.” Silence filled the room. Looks passed between Leo, Caden, and Serra with hopes of finding someone with answers, but they all came to the same conclusion—that he must’ve lost his mind.
Leo stood forward. “Enough with this nonsense, Ethrond. Why did you betray us? Your own people! I saved your life! You were my brother, Ethrond! How could you do this to us?” Pain filled his voice, the words cracking as he spoke. This was hurting him more than Serra could imagine.
“Did he attack someone else?” she aske
d Caden.
He stared at his feet for a long moment. “He was saying earlier that he was planning to give us all to this Black Trinitas, that it didn’t matter if you were elf or human.”
“He planned to have all of us murdered. Sharlea is planning the evacuation now,” the elderly elf finally spoke. “My son, why would you do this? Sharlea has been nothing but kind to us. She gave us a home when your mother…” He trailed off and broke down into tears. Leo comforted him and put his hand on his shoulder.
Serra stepped forward and knelt in front of Ethrond. “What is the Black Trinitas, Ethrond?”
He chuckled then smiled viciously. “Your salvation.” His eyes widened as smoke began escaping out of his sockets, burning them to a crisp with a fiery glow. A cry escaped as Caden rushed to try to find the cause. Then Ethrond stopped moving.
As Caden touched his throat, he shook his head. “No amount of medicine can counterattack such black magic.”
Serra’s breath held still in her chest. Whatever had possessed Ethrond got what it wanted and killed him instantly. Who would do this to him? Who was after them?
It was then when Serra realized why his marks were so familiar. They were similar to the ones the men in black robes had when she and Finn delivered cargo for Grom months ago. But none of them spat this nonsense. They were creepy, but they acted normal.
A black mark stuck out behind Ethrond’s shirt. She pointed it out to Caden who undid his shirt, pulling it back to reveal what looked like a burn mark on his chest. It reminded her of a dead tree, but the branches were bent into a circle with one sticking straight up.
Rise of the Champion (The Champion Book 1) Page 18