by Donna Grant
He was jostled awake by Armir, who slapped him on the face. Brom jerked upright to see that Synne and Lachlan were having just as much trouble.
“I’m good,” Brom said.
Armir helped him to his feet. “Do you know where we are? Malene got us as close as she could, which is probably closer than we should be.”
“We don’t have a lot of time,” Malene stated.
Brom turned in a circle to get his bearings. “Which way is the Coven?”
Jarin pointed to the north.
Brom faced in that direction, his thoughts full of Runa. He had to get to her and quickly. “Will the Gira be near the Coven?”
“They’re at a loch,” Synne said. “It’s not too far from the Coven.”
Malene gave Brom a nod. “We all know what to do.”
“If even one of us fails, it’s over,” Armir said.
Helena lifted her chin. “We won’t fail.”
Brom exchanged a look with Armir. “Good luck.”
“Same to you,” the commander said before he turned to face Malene.
Brom, Synne, and Lachlan set out in the direction of the loch, while the other four headed to the Coven. The rest of the Varroki waited at Blackglade in case there was an attack there.
“Which direction?” Brom asked Synne.
She pointed, and he began jogging through the snow. Time was of the essence, and each moment that passed without Runa was one against them—he knew it in his gut, in his very soul.
The three of them ran when they could, walked when they had to, and rested only briefly. Brom knew why Malene had dropped them so far from the Coven, but he wished they could’ve gotten closer to the loch and the Gira.
“Wait,” Synne told him, grabbing his cloak to stop him.
Brom slid to a halt and looked at her. “What?”
“The Gira.”
Brom had been so focused on getting to the loch and finding Runa that he hadn’t been thinking about the Gira. He looked around. “Are they here?”
“Aye,” Synne whispered.
“How many?” Lachlan asked.
Synne moved in front of them without answering. Suddenly, there was movement at one of the trees. A woman’s shape took form as she turned to Synne.
“Asrail,” Synne cried and rushed to her.
The Gira enfolded Synne in a hug as the two held each other. Finally, Asrail pulled back with a smile. “I knew you’d come.”
“We need to get to Runa,” Synne told her.
Asrail nodded, a grim expression on her face. “I tried to warn her what the Gira wanted, but it was too late.”
“What did they do to her?” Brom demanded.
Synne said, “This is Brom. He’s come to help Runa. We all have.”
Asrail drew in a breath and released it. “They’ve made her their queen.”
“What?” Brom and Synne asked in unison.
Asrail shot Synne a sad smile. “They wanted her, and if she refused, they would’ve killed her and come for you to lead them.”
“I…I don’t understand,” Synne said. “They tried to kill us.”
“I know, my child. But things change,” Asrail replied. “You both have incredible gifts, and you’re both unique.”
That got Brom’s attention. “What is Runa’s gift?”
Asrail studied him for a long moment.
He grew anxious and sighed loudly. “I love her. I doona care what blood she has or what she can do, or even that she’s the queen of the Gira. All I care about is her.”
“We shall see,” Asrail said. “Come. I know how to get to Runa.”
Brom didn’t mention that Asrail hadn’t answered him. He figured she had done that on purpose, and that was fine. As long as he got to Runa. And he would get to her if it was the last thing he did.
The four of them moved quietly. Asrail took the lead with Brom bringing up the rear. With every step, Brom’s unease grew until it festered within him like a giant lead ball. He couldn’t pinpoint what caused it, which only made things worse. Asrail halted abruptly. Then she turned and pinned him with a hard look.
“What is it?” he asked.
Asrail pivoted and walked to him. “I know what you have.”
“Do you?”
Synne hurried to them. “We don’t have time for this now.”
“We need to make time,” Asrail said without looking away from him.
Brom gave the Gira a nod in agreement. “Aye. We talk now.”
“Och,” Lachlan murmured, irritation straining his voice. “This isna the time.”
Asrail lifted her chin. “It is. Because if Brom comes with us to the Gira, he’ll use the bone against Runa.”
“I wouldna,” he stated.
Asrail’s gaze lost some of its intensity as sadness overtook her face. “You won’t have a choice.”
“What does that mean?” Synne demanded.
Lachlan frowned as he shook his head. “Malene said Brom was the key to us winning.”
“And he is,” Asrail replied. She blew out a breath. “He’ll do it by killing Runa.”
Brom couldn’t have been more surprised by Asrail’s statement. Fury whipped through him and with it a force of magic so deep and forceful that he took a step back. “I wouldna harm Runa.”
“Even if it meant ensuring that the rest of the world remained safe?” Asrail asked.
Brom squeezed his eyes closed for a heartbeat. “Where is this coming from?”
“A source I trust.”
Synne rolled her eyes. “You’re going to have to give us more than that. It was Brom who let us know that Runa was fighting against Sybbyl.”
“Are you sure of that?” Asrail asked as her gaze swung to her granddaughter.
Brom answered quickly. “I am.”
“Because you knew Runa for one night?” The Gira’s gaze slid back to him. “You know nothing of her.”
“I know what I feel,” he argued. “Whether you think that’s right or wrong, I doona care. I’m here to protect Runa.”
Asrail’s shoulders sagged. “You won’t be able to.”
“Why do you say that?” Lachlan asked.
The Gira appeared to age before them. “There is more magic on this Earth than witches, warlocks, and nymphs. There is magic much older, much stronger. It showed me…things I didn’t want to see, including Runa’s death by Brom’s hand in order for this war with the Coven to end. Where there’s poison—”
“There’s a remedy,” Brom finished, remembering Malene’s words at Blackglade.
Asrail nodded slowly. “All these years, I thought Runa and my dear friend Morea had died. Morea never reached out to me, and I never looked for her. We did it to keep both Synne and Runa safe from the Gira. My granddaughters have finally come into my life, and now I’m going to lose one.”
“We’ll see about that,” Brom said. “Take me to Runa.”
24
Runa might know nothing of being queen and ruling, but she knew people. And after her brief talk with Sybbyl, she knew the Coven leader wasn’t going to stand by idly and do nothing. Sybbyl was furious that she had the sword. Not to mention, the witch suspected the Gira had done something to Avis—and Sybbyl wouldn’t be wrong.
Up until then, Sybbyl had thought the Gira were on her side. No doubt she had second thoughts about that, for good reason. Mainly because the nymphs weren’t on the Coven’s side any longer. Runa wasn’t sure what that meant. Yet.
She waited until Sybbyl was out of sight before turning on her heel and making her way back to the area the Gira had made for her. Runa had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly and inventively the nymphs had constructed a shelter out of broken branches and the many rocks around the area.
While it only had three makeshift walls, it would keep the snow off her. The roaring fire also helped to warm her. Then there was the food. Runa couldn’t believe the variety of meats the nymphs had hunted—rabbit, various birds, and a deer. There was no way she could eat it all,
and she wasn’t sure the Gira would.
No sooner had Runa sat down before the fire than her thoughts turned to Brom. She tried not to think about him. It did her no good, and only made her wish that things could be different. But there was no changing the path she was on.
Her thoughts went to Asrail. How she wished she knew where her grandmother had gone, but perhaps it was for the best that she didn’t know. The other Gira would probably object to Asrail being with them. However, Runa had decreed that no one could touch Asrail. Whether they obeyed that or not was the question. All she could do was hope that the nymphs spoke true when she asked where her grandmother was earlier. If she found out that any of them had harmed Asrail, Runa wouldn’t hesitate to take her anger out on them. Asrail was family, after all.
Speaking of family…her thoughts moved to Synne. Runa had no idea what her sister looked like, and she probably never would. That made her sad. But if she could keep Synne from taking the mantle of queen, Runa would do it. It was only fair that someone in their family actually have a good life. Synne had begun it, so Runa should finish it.
Even as Runa thought those words, her heart ached for Brom. How could someone she had known so briefly leave such an impression? But she knew. He was special. More so than any other being she would ever encounter—because he was hers.
And she was his.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she hastily wiped it away. This was no place for crying. The Gira weren’t her friends. They were her enemy, just as the Coven and Sybbyl were. Runa couldn’t trust anyone, and she certainly wouldn’t allow anyone to see something they could perceive as a weakness.
She thought about sending some nymphs out to look for Brom, but Runa knew that for the folly it was. The Gira might accept her because of the blood in her veins, but they likely wouldn’t accede to Brom being with them. And even if Runa demanded it as their queen, there was the question of what Brom would do if he found out who and what she really was—and what she could do.
“It doesn’t matter,” she told herself.
Brom was gone. She needed to let his memory go, as well. She had made sure that he couldn’t follow her. He had managed it the first time, and a small part of her had hoped—expected—that he would the second time. But he hadn’t. It was for the best. He didn’t belong in this world.
Not because he wasn’t Gira but because he was a warlock. His place was with the Varroki.
But what if he accepted you?
Runa squeezed her eyes closed. She couldn’t allow herself to ask questions like that or cling to a maybe one day. She had accepted her fate the moment she took the sword. There was no turning back now. Nor could she sit and wallow in self-pity. She had to think about what was coming next. Sybbyl might attack the Gira. It would be a foolish move, but the Coven leader was furious at the moment. Which meant there was no telling what Sybbyl might do.
The fire felt wonderful, and it reminded Runa of Brom and their time together, but she couldn’t stay here. She climbed to her feet, careful to keep the sword with her. She walked from her shelter and looked around for the five. As if they knew she wanted them, they came from various directions to stand before her.
“Scouts need to be set up in a wide perimeter. Make sure they’re somewhere Sybbyl won’t think to look for them,” Runa ordered.
One of the females couldn’t hide her shocked expression. “You believe Sybbyl will attack us?”
“Surely not,” another said. “We’re too powerful.”
Runa didn’t want to listen anymore. “I hope she doesn’t, but Sybbyl knows I have the sword. She suspects we tracked down Avis and took it. And now she knows the Gira aren’t following her beck and call as you once were.”
The male nymph took offense at this. “We weren’t at her beck and call.”
Runa swung her gaze to him. “Really? So, you had every Gira you could gather follow her…why?” There was no response, not that she needed one. She took a deep breath. “Set up the sentries. Tell them not to attack if anyone gets close. They’re our eyes only.”
A third female huffed. “Then what is the point in having them?”
“The point is for them to notify the second line of nymphs who will surround this camp. They will be set up far enough away that when the first line spots anyone, the second will attack them as well as notify the main camp. That will give everyone else time to prepare for battle and go wherever we’re weakest.”
There was a beat of silence before the fourth female gave a nod. “A sound plan. You’re proving why we chose you as our queen.”
“Then stop questioning me,” Runa stated. “I won’t explain myself or my actions again. You chose me and made sure I had no other choice but to be your queen. Because of that, you follow everything I say.”
The five bowed their heads in silent accord.
One of the females asked, “Where will you be?”
Runa glanced down at the sword in her hand. “I’m going to take care of Sybbyl.”
They gasped in unison. But none questioned her. Runa was relieved because she didn’t want to explain her actions. Going to Sybbyl might not be the smartest thing to do, but the Coven leader wouldn’t expect it. Plus, Runa could get in undetected, giving her yet another advantage. All in all, there was a very good chance she could end everything before a war even began.
“When do you go?” the male asked.
Runa looked at the night sky. “Now.”
She had only taken two steps when there was a commotion in the camp. Her head swung to the noise to see Asrail walking through the gathered Gira. Runa’s lips began to curl at the sight of her grandmother. The grin froze when she spotted a woman with blond hair behind Asrail, one step after her was a tall man with long, black hair pulled back in a queue. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted the final person in their group—Brom.
For just a moment, Runa thought to run to him, to throw her arms around him and shower him with kisses. Then she remembered where she was and what she was. Their night together in the cave was slowly becoming a distant memory. It would be one she treasured always, but she couldn’t continue on while still holding onto it.
It hurt her more than she wanted to admit when the smile that had filled him at the sight of her started to fade. She wanted to cry, to scream at the world for the unfairness of putting Brom in her life and showing her how it could be with him, only for her to lose him so epically.
Runa didn’t know how long they stood there looking at each other before she realized that the Gira were watching her. She knew Asrail had brought the group here for a reason, and she didn’t want to have that conversation in front of all the nymphs. Runa motioned for Asrail and the others to follow her back to her shelter.
She turned on her heel and looked at the five. “I don’t want to be disturbed. I also better not discover any Gira nearby, trying to overhear anything.”
Runa didn’t wait to see their response. She continued back to her lodgings and stood at the fire. Asrail led the other three into the accommodation until they stood in a semi-circle, looking at her. It took everything she had not to speak to Brom or even look at him. She had wished so hard for him that she would love to believe that she had somehow brought him here. Even if she knew that wasn’t the truth.
“Runa,” Brom said.
Her eyes moved to him of their own accord. The hurt she saw in his face was like a knife twisting in her gut. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I told you I’d follow you,” he said.
She lowered her gaze to the fire. “And I told you that it would only bring you death.”
“He’s here to help you,” the blonde said.
Asrail caught Runa’s gaze and smiled. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving me.”
“I didn’t expect you to leave.” Runa wasn’t sure why Asrail had changed the subject, but she was happy she had.
An odd look flashed in her grandmother’s eyes. “There are some things we cannot walk away
from, no matter what we might wish.”
“Bollocks,” the man said. “Everyone has a choice.”
Runa shook her head. “Not everyone.”
“Sometimes, our paths are chosen for us,” Asrail said. She glanced at the blonde. “Runa, this is your older sister, Synne.”
A breathless laugh escaped Runa. “Synne? Is it really you?”
Her sister smiled and laughed as she nodded. Synne hurried around the fire, and the two embraced. Runa held onto Synne much tighter than she should have.
“I never knew of you,” Synne whispered.
Runa fought against a wash of unshed tears. “And I didn’t know of you.”
Synne pulled back and wiped at her eyes. “This is Lachlan. He helped me get to the Varroki.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lachlan said, though his gaze lowered to the sword in her hand.
Runa knew it was his, but she couldn’t give it up yet. “Thank you for being there for my sister.”
“She saved me,” he said and gave Synne a smile so full of love that Runa couldn’t help but look at Brom.
Runa licked her lips, unsure what to say or do. It was like someone kept changing the landscape, causing her to trip and fall. She was tired of it. “You should leave.” She glanced at the others. “All of you.”
“I’m no’ going anywhere,” Brom stated.
Synne walked to stand between Lachlan and Asrail. “None of us are.”
But Runa didn’t hear her sister. She felt her heart breaking into a thousand pieces. “There are things you don’t know about me.”
“You’re part Gira.” Brom shrugged. “What of it?”
She gaped at him. “You say that as if it means nothing.”
“Because it doesna. How many times must I tell you before you believe me?”
“That isn’t all.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You’re now queen of the Gira. I know they forced you to take the title, or else they would’ve gone for Synne.”
Runa glanced at Asrail, but she couldn’t be sure whether her grandmother had shared that information or not. “I’m not who you think I am.”
“Aye, you’re exactly who I know you are. You’re kind and generous,” Brom said as he started toward her. “You’re fair and honorable. You’re passionate and loving.”
