by Donna Grant
Brom began running as he followed her tracks. One way or the other, he was going to find out why she’d done what she did. He really hoped that Runa was trying to put distance between them and not chasing after a Gira. His heart pounded as his mind came up with all kinds of scenarios. As he weaved through the trees, he glanced up at the sky and noted that the sun was beginning its descent to the horizon. There were still a few hours left, but clouds were gathering. Another snow shower could wipe out any trail he had, and he couldn’t allow that.
Oddly enough, the tracks continued in almost the same direct line Runa had started in from the cave. There were a few deviations, but they had been around boulders on the mountain. His legs ached from the climbing, but he didn’t slow. When he spotted a loch through the trees, he paid it no mind. With single-minded focus, he kept to the footprints.
It wasn’t long until his lungs burned from exertion and the cold. He was getting a little rest as he made his way down the mountain after a rigorous climb. Brom glanced ahead to see the huge mountain ahead of him.
He paused when he got to the bottom to catch his breath. Brom used that time to look around and note anything important. After a few moments, he continued on. Just before starting up the mountain, he saw where the trees narrowed. And that’s where he found the Gira’s body.
Brom knelt beside it and noticed the single wound in the creature’s spine from a blade. The weapon had sunk deep, denoting that it had most likely been thrown. There was a really good chance Runa had been chasing this Gira since the attack. The nymph’s body was cold but not stiff. Runa was only an hour or so ahead of him. He might catch her before the sun went down.
Just as he was about to set out, he heard something. His head snapped to the side as he saw movement through the trees. Brom quickly looked around, trying to find a place to hide. He needed to get away from the dead Gira as well as cover his and Runa’s tracks. The easiest way would be to use magic, but he hesitated.
Whoever was coming continued getting closer. He turned and sprinted back the way he’d come, hiding behind some boulders. Once he was concealed, he used a simple spell to cover his and Runa’s tracks around the body.
He peered around the boulder and saw a group of witches come into view. One looked around intently. Almost immediately, the others did, as well. Brom grimaced because he knew they had sensed his magic. Still, they didn’t start looking for him. Instead, they took particular interest in the nymph.
For several tense minutes, the witches stood close together, whispering amongst themselves. Brom wasn’t sure whether they were looking at the body or determining where he might be. He didn’t want to wait around to find out, but he didn’t have a choice. He also didn’t want to battle the witches. Not only would it alert others, but it would also put him farther behind Runa. He knew he needed to be there with her for whatever she had planned. She was in way over her head.
Brom kept his gaze on the witches, even as he recalled how steep the incline was. Their position gave them the higher ground. However, the dense trees and many boulders there also hindered them, giving him the advantage.
Minutes ticked by before the witches collectively took a step back and turned as one. Their gazes went directly to him. Brom inwardly groaned. There was no way out of this mess. He would have to fight them if he wanted to live. Or, he could play the fool and claim that he had just stumbled upon them. But he wasn’t that good of a liar. It would be quicker and easier to dispatch the witches and get on to following Runa.
Just as Brom was getting ready to show himself, the witches started walking at a diagonal away from him. He followed them with his eyes, making sure none of them peeled away to come back and attack him. It wasn’t long before they disappeared from sight, but even then, he didn’t move. His mind screamed for him to start running, to catch up to Runa, but he needed to be more cautious.
The longer he sat there, the more daylight he lost. When he could wait no more, he cautiously moved away from his spot and went to the witches’ tracks. Their route was much smoother, though still difficult through the mountain pass. He followed the trail a little to make sure that they stayed together. When he was satisfied, he turned and hurried back the way he had come.
Brom didn’t even glance toward the dead Gira. The light was fast dipping behind the mountains. Twilight made it even harder to see, but that still didn’t slow him. Brom’s legs burned, his lungs ached, but he ignored it all to get as far as he could before the last of the light disappeared. Only then did he stop. He bent over and put his hands on his knees as he dragged air into his labored lungs.
He dug into his pack for the waterskin and drank deeply before replacing it and getting an oatcake. He used the time as he ate to allow his eyes to adjust to the growing darkness. Then he started walking slowly again, looking for any sign that the snow had been disturbed.
There were animal tracks, but no sign of Runa. Brom knew that she was near. Just as he’d known last time. He wasn’t sure how she was hiding, but whatever she was doing, she was good at it. It meant that she could hide from her enemies. He wished he knew how she was doing it so he could find her.
He walked for hours in the direction she’d been headed. The longer he went with nothing to show for his efforts, the more he was convinced that she had changed course. Brom stopped near the top of the mountain as the temperatures dropped. There was no cave for shelter, just trees and rocks. He wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and huddled against the trees.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on him. Sleep pulled at him. He needed to rest his eyes, but after the grueling day he’d had, he would have to sleep so he could be ready for the morrow. If only he’d found Runa.
Brom wished he knew what secrets she kept from him. They must be huge for her to go to such extremes to stay away from him. Though, he couldn’t get too upset by her not telling him. It wasn’t as if he had been forthcoming to many people before her. He still wasn’t sure what it was about Runa that had made him want to tell her that he was a warlock.
Maybe he wanted to see her reaction. Perhaps he wanted to know if magic was known to her. Or, he just wanted to share something with her besides his body. There was a deep connection between them. Neither of them could deny that, not with how much pleasure they had shared.
No one else had ever affected him the way Runa did. He wanted…well, he wasn’t sure what he wanted other than to help her. Actually, that wasn’t true. He wanted more time with her. Much, much more time. He wanted years with her, learning everything about her as she learned everything about him.
Did he yearn for something that had only been there in the cave? Was something greater between them? Something like…love?
Brom sighed heavily. He’d have to wait to discover that. First, he had to find Runa.
16
Things were worse than Runa had imagined. Having Gira blood allowed her to know when she was getting close to them. Unfortunately, the nymphs were everywhere. If she had sensed them, then they knew she was here, too.
Runa had done her best to stay just to the edge of where the Gira congregated, but she had made a mistake. And it might very well cost her her life. But what was done was done. All she could do now was prepare for the inevitable.
She leaned her back against a tree and closed her eyes. Her entire body ached in some form or fashion. And all she wanted was to be in Brom’s arms as they lay together. She wasn’t sure how it had happened, but she had developed intense feelings for the warlock. Very deep.
In fact, it might be love.
And yet, you left him.
She had left him because bringing him with her meant his death.
You don’t know that.
Runa hated when her conscience argued with her. The simple fact was that she did know that. Brom didn’t need to get mixed up in her family drama—no matter how much she wished he was beside her.
How odd that she had always preferred to work alone. She didn’t want just anyone with her. She wanted B
rom. And she kept finding ways things would be easier if he were with her. But he wasn’t, and she had made sure of that.
He isn’t stupid. He’s going to figure out that you knocked him out and killed the Gira.
She turned and hastily climbed the tree to a sturdy branch that split into two sections. Runa settled herself comfortably on them after removing the snow. She tried to think of an attack strategy, but her mind kept going to Brom. Though she hadn’t wanted to admit it at the time, she had been pleased that he had followed her.
Yet when given the opportunity to travel together, she had chosen instead to knock him unconscious and then take out the nymphs. She hoped that when he woke, he returned to his home. It was as if he could pick up her trail again. She’d made sure not to make that mistake a second time.
He’s following you because he cares.
Oh, how she wished that were true. She wanted it so very much, that it would be easy to convince herself of that very thing. If she weren’t going up against the Gira and the Coven, if she didn’t have Gira blood in her veins, if her life was different in any way…then she would’ve grabbed hold of Brom with both hands and never let go.
Maybe he wants you because you’re different.
Runa bit back a laugh. She knew that wasn’t true, but it was nice to imagine. And even though it was folly for many reasons, she allowed herself to imagine what life would be like with her and Brom together. There would be many nights of lovemaking, lots of laughter, arguments that led to them making up with long kisses and lying in each other’s arms every night.
It was a life so many others in the world had and took for granted. It had been a life that Morea urged her to find. That’s how Runa had discovered that she would never fit in with the humans and realized that nothing about her was normal—and there wasn’t a place for her anywhere.
You want to pity yourself? Look at what you can do. There isn’t another like you.
That wasn’t strictly true. There was her sister, Synne. They shared the same mixture of blood, but Runa didn’t know if her sibling had the same gifts as she. Not that it mattered. Synne knew nothing but the human world. That’s where she belonged.
Runa blew out a breath and thought of the layout of the forest. She had already seen a small group of witches headed out of the woods. They didn’t look as if they were leaving the Coven, rather like they were on some kind of mission. She could only imagine what Sybbyl had sent them to look for or do. Hopefully, more witches had left. The fewer there were, the better.
But they weren’t Runa’s only problem. The biggest one was the Gira. She might have some gifts, but in the end, she was half-human. That part would slow her down in the end. All the nymphs had to do was converge on her, and it was over. She was good at fighting a handful, but more than that would mean the end of her.
The only way she could ensure that didn’t happen was to keep her distance. But she couldn’t do that and still get to Asrail. She wasn’t even sure this was the right thing to do. There was no way she could free her grandmother. The odds had been stacked against her from the very beginning, but even knowing all of that, she still wouldn’t walk away. She couldn’t.
Things might be different if she’d had time to find her sister and talk to Synne, to devise a plan that actually had a chance of succeeding. Wishing was a waste. Runa had run out of time. The Gira would come at her soon, and they wouldn’t wait for dawn.
Despite that knowledge, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. It was like something was lulling her to sleep, and the more she fought it, the more it pulled her under. Runa finally surrendered. In a heartbeat, she stood in the middle of the forest in summer with bright sunlight streaming through the trees. The ferns on the ground sparkled with droplets from a recent rainstorm.
Runa turned in a circle, looking for whoever had brought her to this place. She wasn’t sure if it was in her mind, or if it was real. Either way, she wanted to know what she was up against.
“Who’s there?” Runa called out.
A Gira pulled away from a tree and came to stand before her. “You are a beauty.”
She eyed the nymph, unsure how to respond.
The Gira chuckled and shook her head. “Forgive me. It might be better to introduce myself. I’m Asrail, your grandmother.”
Morea had taught her that magic could be used for many reasons, including tricking someone. Runa wanted to believe this was her grandmother, but she needed proof. “How are we here?”
“I felt you,” Asrail answered. “The others did, as well. Your presence took their interest off me long enough so I could connect with you.”
“How do I know you aren’t lying?”
Asrail smiled. “You’re right to ask. The simple answer is, you don’t. You can either talk to me, or you can leave. It’s entirely up to you.”
“What do you want?” Runa asked to give herself time to make a decision.
The nymph drew in a long breath and then released it. “That day Morea and I saved you and Synne altered all of our lives. I wouldn’t change a minute of it, however. Just knowing that you and your sister lived was enough for me.”
“Why didn’t you ever come to see me?” The minute the words were out, Runa realized how much she needed the answer.
“Because I thought you were dead. When Morea disappeared with you, she never made contact with me again. And no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find her. I believed the Gira had gotten to both of you. Just recently, I saw Synne for the first time since I left her in Edra’s care. There were times I wanted nothing more than to have both of you in my arms, to tell you both how much I loved you. I wanted to share everything about your father and what I knew of your mother. But I didn’t. Because I loved you both so dearly.”
Runa glanced away as emotion welled up within her. “Morea was good to me.”
“I know,” Asrail said with a grin. “She was my closest friend. More like a sister than anything. I can never repay her for what she did for you. Runa, my dear, it warms my heart more than you can imagine that you’re here, but why?”
“To free you.”
Asrail shook her head, sadness filling her eyes. “I’ve lived my life. There is still time for you to leave and get as far from here as you can. Go find your sister with the Varroki.”
“I owe you and Morea. This is how I can repay that debt.”
Asrail took a few steps closer, her voice lowering as urgency filled her words. “Please. Leave while you can.”
“Because you don’t think I can win against the Gira?”
“Because to win against Sybbyl and the Coven, you need to join your sister and the others.”
There was more, Runa was sure of it. But, for whatever reason, Asrail didn’t want to tell her. “I’m already here. The Gira know I’m here. I’m sure Sybbyl does, as well.”
“Not yet,” her grandmother stated. “The Gira don’t tell Sybbyl everything, even though she likes to believe they do.”
“Where are they holding you?”
Asrail shook her head. “You aren’t listening to me.”
“You and Synne are the only family I have. Please don’t ask me to walk away after just discovering both of you.”
“Dear child.” Asrail started to reach out a hand to touch Runa but hesitated. Her arm lowered to her side. “Your parents loved you and your sister more than anything. I wish I could’ve saved them, but I couldn’t. I relive that day often. You might not have known about me or Synne, but I’ve kept both of you in my thoughts daily. I only got a little while with your sister. I’m glad I got this time with you.”
“Tell me where you are so I can come for you. Even if you don’t, I’m going to go looking.”
Asrail sighed loudly. “Please. I’m begging you. Leave now while you still can.”
Runa narrowed her eyes on the Gira. “Either you want to die, or you aren’t Asrail and you’re trying to convince me to leave so you can kill her.”
“I am your grandmother.”
<
br /> “Then why not let me help you?” Runa shouted.
“Because you’re doing exactly what they want!”
Runa blinked, taken aback not just by Asrail’s explosive tone but also her words. “What?”
The Gira squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. “Don’t ask.”
“You can’t say something like that and not expect me to demand to know what you’re talking about.”
When Asrail opened her eyes again, there was resignation in her gaze. As well as a wealth of sadness. “There are things at play here that you don’t know. Not even Sybbyl knows.”
“You’re telling me the Gira are doing all of this?”
“Not all of it,” Asrail said with a half-hearted shrug. “As soon as the Blood Skull was found, they began plotting.”
Runa was getting more confused by the minute. “I assume it’s because they know that whoever has the bones has the most power.”
Asrail chuckled. “You give us too much credit.”
“Then explain it to me. Please,” Runa implored.
“Your stubbornness is so much like your father’s and mine. I can’t even be angry because if I were in your shoes, I’d be doing the same thing.”
Runa waited impatiently.
Asrail’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sure Morea told you I was once queen.”
“She did.”
“I was removed from the throne when they discovered I allowed my son to marry a human. Your father would’ve done anything to be with your mother. When I saw your parents together, I couldn’t refuse them. I’d never seen my son look at someone as he did your mother. And your mother, she adored him with every fiber of her being. It was the kind of love others dream of. And there it was, right before my eyes. And I did what any mother would do for her child. I found a witch who used a spell to turn him human so your parents could be together.”
Runa took in every word, putting it to memory so she could look back on it later. And eagerly waited for more.
