Tempest (The Chronicles of Winterset Book 2)

by K. G. Reuss

  “I love you,” he gasped out as he struggled with the portal. “Be safe, please, Ana. Please.”

  I nodded wordlessly, my throat burning as Tarek nudged the horse forward, and we disappeared into the portal, leaving Kellin behind.

  Chapter 43

  We made camp along the edge of a river, making sure to keep ourselves deep inside the woods so we weren’t easily visible to anyone passing by. I sat outside my tent, contemplating what I was going to do—fight the betrothment, stay with Kellin despite my fears he belonged with someone else, battle Zaros when I saw him—the list went on and on, and I was stressing out over it.

  “Come on,” Tarek said, standing in front of me.

  I looked up at him and scowled. “What?”

  “Let’s go practice.”

  “Practice?” I grimaced. That was the last thing I felt like doing.

  “With our swords. With your other abilities. Maybe we’ll attempt Earth wielding. Come on.”

  I perked up at the idea, hoping he wouldn’t shake the ground I stood upon and knock me over. I needed a good distraction. I followed him away from the encampment to a small clearing and waited awkwardly as he surveyed me.

  “So, what can you do? I know about the fire stuff.” He frowned, obviously remembering me setting him on fire when we first met. “But what about all the other things? Water, wind, earth? You’ve spent more time with Prince Niall working on them than you have with me.”

  “I haven’t really practiced as much with them as with the sword and fire,” I admitted. “I’ve practiced with the others a few times, but I think I’m not bad at them now. I’ve come a long way. Kellin was seeking an Earth wielder and a Water wielder for me to work with.”

  “Well, good news is since you’re the Oracle wielding them should come rather easy. Bad news is, I’m not sure if it counts since the Mortae is gone. The two of you fed off one another and without his side, we may have a problem.”

  “Great,” I mumbled, glad he hadn’t referred to Calix by name. “Do you think that’s why it’s so hard for me to control them sometimes?”

  “Possibly,” he answered thoughtfully. “Only one way to find out.”

  “Are we going to duel?” I asked fearfully, suddenly deciding I should’ve stayed at the camp.

  “I’m not sure yet. I want to see what sets you off. Can you simply make a flame?”

  I considered the idea and held out my hand. I wanted flame. I controlled it. It belonged to me. A small flame erupted from my hand. I focused on controlling it, telling myself it couldn’t hurt me. I let the wind whisper in the background.

  “Make it larger,” Tarek murmured, watching the flame dance in my hand.

  I focused my mind on it, and the flame grew larger as I fed it wind. It became so large I had to cup it with both hands. It licked the tops of the trees before Tarek commanded me to put it out. I did so immediately, breathing a sigh of relief.

  “Fire has always been easy for me,” I said softly, the idea frightening as I remembered my vision of the flames. Of Incaendium.

  Wildfire.

  “I see,” Tarek said, a muscle working along his jaw. “How about Earth?”

  “I’m not terrible.”

  “I use Earth. It’s my favorite. I can teach you some tricks. But for now, show me what you can do. Try it. Focus on it. Just like fire. Become it. Control it.”

  I put my mind into it and managed to make a small shudder in the ground which caused Tarek to chuckle. He came over to me and placed his hands gently on my hips and dipped his head low, his warm breath tickling my ear. My heart hammered like mad in my chest, the warmth from his touch unnatural as it flowed through me.

  “Again,” he murmured in my ear, his hands traveling down my arms and guiding my hands forward. A flurry of goosebumps traveled through my body. “Can you feel me, Ana? Do you feel me giving you my energy?”

  “Yes,” I whispered, shutting my eyes, his lips dangerously close to my ear, his voice soft.

  “Fire dwells in the core of earth. Wind moves the fire. Water conquers it. Shadow conceals all. Know this of them all. They’re all connected. We are connected.” He twined his fingers through mine. “Take what you need from me. Make me move. In this moment, everything I possess is yours. Everything. Listen for the rumble. Feel it. Become it. Bring the thunder.”

  I tried again, his warmth becoming hotter as I pulled from him. The ground quaked beneath our feet. Yet we stood untouched, unmoving. His fingers intertwined tighter around my own, his body flush against me, giving me power. I felt flushed. Hot. Powerful as his body touched mine, as his fingers tightened further around my own like he willed them to become one. The ground trembled violently beneath us. It was an indescribable feeling, one I’d never experienced before, not even with Calix.

  Tarek slowly loosened his grip. His hands slid up my arms before he backed away from me until his touch was gone. Immediately, I felt empty inside, my body aching for him to be near me again.

  “Don’t go,” I whispered, shaking as a scary realization began to dawn on me. “Don’t leave me.”

  “Never,” he murmured, his hands finding mine again, giving me strength.

  Chapter 44

  With Tarek’s touch, everything fell into place. It was so easy to wield the elements. They poured out of me without effort. When he finally moved away from me, that emptiness returned, but with it, so did my confusion about what everything meant and who he really was. I knew he could see the question in my eyes because he reached out and thumbed my chin gently.

  “You’re almost there. You’ll figure it out soon enough,” he said, giving me a small grin. “Now, let’s see how you do it under pressure.”

  My heart thudded unevenly in my chest as he pulled out his sword. He charged at me quickly, making me pull my sword. His clanged against mine. I fought hard, channeling all my desperation, sadness, anger, fear, confusion, hate, love, and anything else I had into my effort. Fire flew from my fingertips, wind helping to guide it. I made the earth quake while Tarek dipped and dodged me. I wasn’t aware we’d drawn an audience.

  “Use me,” he shouted to me, encouraging me rather than trying to anger me. I tried to pull from him, but I couldn’t keep my mind focused because of all the sword play.

  I ducked, dove, flipped, and pivoted as Tarek swung his sword, offsetting me with his Earth ability and then his Wind ability. I stumbled but recovered quickly, and then I saw it—my opportunity to take down the mighty Tarek, without using too much in the way of elements. Without thinking about it, I lunged forward, catching his leg with my own and throwing a burst of wind at him. It knocked him onto his back, and I leaped on top of him, my sword at his throat. He gaped up at me and then down at the dagger he had pressed against my chest.

  I gave him a smirk and pushed the pointy end of the dagger my father had given me just below Tarek’s ribs. His grin widened, and I knew I had him.

  Cheers erupted all around us, and heat swept over my face as Soran pulled me off Tarek.

  “Incredible! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’ve been training for years,” Soran exclaimed, patting me on the back. “And here I was worried you couldn’t handle yourself. You took down Tarek, one of the best fighters in all of Winterset.”

  I grinned stupidly and was surprised to find Tarek still smiling at me. Knowing how he was, I figured he’d have gotten mad by now, but he hadn’t. Instead, he looked proud of me, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a little relieved.

  Chapter 45

  Seeing me take down Tarek seemed to give the troops a renewed sense of hope, and it put me in a better mood. I was sitting outside my tent alone, watching everyone eat and talk, when Soran approached and sank down beside me. He offered me a flask. I took it and swallowed quickly, noting he had honey rind tea in it, not water.

  “So, you and Kellin, huh?” he said after a moment of silence.

  “Yep,” I muttered, my mediocre mood dissipating.

  “Ana, I don’t know wha
t’s going on between you and Tarek, but please, give Kellin a chance.”

  “What?” I feigned dumb. “There’s nothing going on with me and Tarek.”

  “Ana, I’m not blind,” he said gently. “I saw the way you looked at him today. And I see the way he looks at you every day.” He grew quiet for a moment before speaking again, “I saw you two in the woods earlier. I saw the flame and decided to check on you. Do you know what I saw when I arrived?”

  “What?” I answered thickly, fidgeting.

  “I saw a man who cares deeply for my sister helping her. I saw him holding her. I saw her not pushing him away. I saw the nearness between them, and not just physically. The two of you working together is incredible, Ana. But it’s more. You know what I’m talking about. When did it all start?”

  “Nothing started, Soran,” I whispered. “I-it’s true. I do feel something when I’m with him. I feel drawn to him. There’s a pull when I’m with him, and it’s not something that’s always been there. I mean, in the beginning there was a familiarity, but it’s grown since then. It’s a strange feeling… like I-I belong with him. Or to him.” The moment the words were out of my mouth, my heart slammed into my chest. It was similar to a feeling I’d had with Calix. It was easier here. Maybe easier was better. My wielding was better. I was stronger. I was ... fiercer. Maybe it all had something to do with being back in Winterset, where I belonged.

  “Have you two done anything together?” Soran asked, his voice low. “I know you’re a private person Ana, and the last thing you probably want to do is tell me, but I need to know. Kellin is my best friend, and while I’m angry with him now, I don’t want to see him hurt. And you’re my sister. I love you with my entire being and don’t want to see you hurt again.”

  “No.” I shook my head, my heart speeding up at the idea of something like that with Tarek. It hadn’t crossed my mind that it could happen, although I knew deep down it had to have been lurking. “Never.”

  “Good.” Soran breathed out a sigh of relief. “Kellin is worried something has happened between you two, and that was why you told him you were coming with us and not him. He’s hurting, Ana.”

  “That’s not it at all.” I said angrily. “Tarek has nothing to do with this. Nothing. I’m mad because Kellin lied to me about Cyrena. I had no idea he was engaged before. Then I found out it hadn’t been officially dissolved, that he was majorly in love with her, and was forced to be with me. He tried to run away with her so he wouldn’t have to marry me. He spent time with her the night before our engagement was announced. I don’t even know if he truly feels for me or if it’s just another set of obligations he has to fulfill. And don’t get me started on having to marry someone simply because a couple of old guys got together and decided it. I said it before, no one decides who I’m going to marry. I knew it was a mistake to agree to this. I did as you asked, Soran. I tried. I can’t be with someone who’d lie to me.”

  “And this isn’t about Tarek?” Soran asked skeptically.

  “I… No. I don’t know. Not really.” I sighed in frustration. “Tarek is the one who told me about Kellin and Cyrena. But I practically had to beat it out of him. Tarek and I ...” My voice trailed off as I thought about it. “It’s nothing.” The lie ate at me before it even left my mouth. It was something, but what I didn’t know.

  “Ana, how do you know Kellin lied to you? Why do you think that? Because he didn’t tell you? Did you see it? Did you ever stop to think that this is painful for him too? Yes, it’s true, Kellin was in love with Cyrena. But if he’d loved her more, no force would’ve torn him from her.”

  “He didn’t love me when he left her. He didn’t even really know me. I was only a child. He was just following orders. He claimed to love me before the announcement of our engagement. But he still went to see Cyrena. He spent the night with her the night before our engagement announcement. Do you know how that makes me feel? I’ve been pushing it out of my mind, Soren, but I know if he loved me he wouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry, but I can’t buy into him doing it—loving her, being with her—because he genuinely gave a damn about me. This is about obligations. Not love.”

  “You’re missing my point. Kellin is a good, loyal man. He wants what’s best for his kingdom, and you’re what’s best.”

  “I’m not a prize, Soran,” I snapped bitterly. “I want to be wanted simply because someone cannot live without me. Calix couldn’t, and that’s why he gave his life to save me. Not because of my title or what my presence could offer him. Tarek told me about how Kellin’s engagement wasn’t dissolved. How his father has failed to meet the requirements to break the contract.”

  “He hasn’t.” Soran sighed. “And I don’t know why. Perhaps embarrassment.”

  “Kellin is still rightfully Cyrena’s. I can’t be with him like that.”

  “You’re right,” Soran agreed, hanging his head. “Legally, you cannot. I’ll speak to father over it. If father agrees, and I’m sure he will, to speak to Kellin’s father and persuade him to officially dissolve Kellin’s engagement to Cyrena, will you please consider remaining with Kellin? He does love you, Ana. Very much so.”

  “I don’t know.” I shook my head. My head and heart were so inundated with emotions I couldn’t think straight. “There’s too much going on right now for me to think clearly. I was still getting over Calix when this was thrown at me. In fact, I’m still struggling with my feelings for Calix, and I’ve only succeeded with distracting myself from them. I let myself go with Kellin. I let myself feel for him, love him. To find out he lied to me even when I asked him about it… I just can’t. Not right now. Not like this. Not-not with my head and heart so jumbled right now.”

  “You can do it, Ana. Do you love Kellin?” Soran demanded passionately. “Do you feel for him in any way? You said you did. You said there’s nothing with Tarek.”

  “I… Tarek… I don’t know. It’s something different with Tarek. Something I don’t even want to ponder. With Kellin, of course I love him,” I scoffed. “I’ve always felt for him, even before all this.” I gestured around. “I didn’t guard my heart closely enough with him. I let him have it, as in pieces as it was. It was a mistake.”

  “It wasn’t a mistake. Be with him. He’s ready to die for you. If nothing has happened with Tarek, just let it go with Kellin. Stop this before it starts. You and Tarek can never happen, Ana. He isn’t royalty. Father would never break the contract to see you marrying a commoner instead of a prince set to become the king of our greatest ally.” He stared sadly at me.

  I flinched at the truth in his words.

  “Be with Kellin, the man you’ve known your whole life. The man who I know is out there right now aching to be with you.”

  “He gave up his life for me once already. I don’t want him to sacrifice it again. I’d rather spend eternity alone than force someone into loving me.” I grew quiet for a moment before speaking, “Do you think I’m being childish? Whiny?”

  “A bit,” Soran sighed. “But I’m being biased. You’re entitled to your doubts, or whining, as you so eloquently put it. You owe it to yourself to figure out who you are and what you want. Do you want Kellin? Everything else aside.”

  “I don’t know now. I thought I did.” I stared down at my hands. Kellin made my heart pitter patter in my chest. It was a nice feeling, one I’d miss. But Tarek ... And now with Cyrena thrown into the mix. “I-I do love him. I care deeply for him. I want to keep him safe. I want him to be happy. Being with me isn’t safe, and he sure as hell won’t be happy when he loves someone else. Besides, being anywhere near me is inviting death and despair to pay a visit. I don’t want him hurt in any way.”

  “Ana, you just keep making excuses.” Soran threw his hands in the air.

  “They aren’t excuses, Soran. If-if being with me, near me, means you all will suffer, I’d rather die than put any of you through it. In fact, I’ve already tried. I’d do it again.”

  “Don’t talk like that,” Soran growled
, snapping his gaze on me. “You will do no such thing.”

  “Zaros is coming, Soran. You know it’s true. You may not be prepared for me to meet my fate, but I’ve been fighting so long that I’m tired, and I’m tired of everyone else fighting for me. How many years has it been for Winterset? Eighteen Earth Realm years of death and violence just so some jerk can rule everything and feel better about being dumped? Don’t you think that’s too long to put up with? I do. And, as afraid as I am, I’m ready to end it. I’ve only been here a short time, and I know I’m not equipped to deal with it for another week, let alone years. I’ll do anything to end it. Zaros needs to die.”

  “When did you grow up?” Soran murmured sadly. “I want your happiness and safety, Analia. And I agree with you, Zaros needs to die, but that doesn’t mean you need to as well. If he gets you, there’s no telling what he’ll do, including bringing back the Mortae. I know you don’t want to see Calix like that. The pain will be far too great. It’ll tarnish your memories of him.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “I know.”

  “Then promise me you’ll keep yourself safe and while doing so, you’ll give Kellin another chance. You love him. I know you do. Aside from you saying it, I see it when you look at him. It’s clear when you speak of protecting him.”

  “I’ll try,” I replied, wanting to, but afraid. I really didn’t want harm to come to him. But I really wasn’t sure his feelings, despite his words. If he truly loved me, us, then he would’ve come instead of going to search for Cyrena. On the other hand, it was his sweetness, his concern for others, that always made me like him. I couldn’t fault him for trying to save someone. It wasn’t fair. Then again, lying to me wasn’t fair. Me lying to him wasn’t either. I knew one thing—I was sick of loving people. It only led to heartbreak.