Celestial Bones (Forged in Blood 3)

by Evans, Holly

  “I still call bullshit,” I grumbled.

  “Not everything can be glamorous. Sometimes, we just have to stand around protecting stuff. Think of the big picture. Us keeping these bones in the ground stops the god from killing thousands of people.”

  It did sound much better when he put it like that. It still sounded obscenely boring, but boring for a good cause.

  “Are we really going to have to deal with elves?” Gray called.

  “Afraid so.”

  I hadn’t really spent much time around elves; the only one I’d spoken to for more than a minute was Gray’s uncle Kadrix. He was a handful, to say the least. I cringed thinking about the personal questions he kept asking and the poking and prodding. I’d never last a day being surrounded by that.

  We joined Gray in the living room, where he stood with his bag over his shoulder and a frown on his face.

  “Do we have to deal directly with the elves?”

  Alasdair laughed.

  “Yes.”

  “They’re such pompous assholes, though. I love my uncle Kadrix, but I’ve met his friends and relatives. They’re going to take one look at me, realise I’m half hellhound, and it’ll be nothing but snide comments and bullshit. It’s exhausting, especially when I can’t break their nose.”

  Well, this trip was sounding better and better.

  Marrakech was beautifully warm with clear blue skies and a warm breeze. It would have been unbearable on a hotter day, but I enjoyed it for now. We made our way from the airport to our assigned apartment in a black rental car Alasdair had picked out. I watched the world go by. The roads were lined by slender-trunked trees with hardy green foliage. Behind the trees sat square reddish-coloured buildings with archways over the doors.

  It was very much a desert city, but that was refreshing after all the rain in Galway. Slowly, the city faded away around us, and I looked at Alasdair, wondering if perhaps he’d taken a wrong turn.

  “We’re dealing with the elves, remember.”

  I groaned.

  “We’re staying with them on the fae plane.”

  Gray huffed.

  “We’ve been asked to help them by the goddess, and by their prince. They’ll treat us well. It’ll be a nice holiday after our last assignment.”

  I had to admit that I’d be glad to not have people shooting at us, but that didn’t mean I was looking forward to figuring out my way through the maze that was any form of fae society.

  We were out in the middle of nowhere down a sand road surrounded by wide-open desert by the time Alasdair stopped. The mountains were lining the horizon, and the sky stretched overhead looking far bigger than it had any right to look. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was some form of joke or trap. If we had car problems out there, we’d be completely screwed.

  Alasdair stopped the car and we got out. I slung my bag over my shoulder and looked around for trouble. We’d be able to see or hear anyone approaching for a good couple of miles in any direction. I pricked my ears and listened for anything unusual. Gray and Alasdair stood on either side of me in a loose triangle where we covered each other’s backs.

  “Has the goddess sent you on anything like this before?”

  Alasdair remained quiet for a few beats.

  “No. I’ve had to guard a moon temple before, but never something tied into the fae.”

  I looked at him.

  “And you’re sure Saoirse said this was the goddess’s command?”

  “The goddess herself has been silent, and Saoirse has no reason to send us into elf lands.”

  I didn’t miss the uncertainty there. The flicker of suspicion.

  “Shouldn’t trust the gods any further than you can throw them,” Gray said.

  “Bit late now,” I muttered.

  “Don’t worry. If she tries to smite you, I’ll do everything I can to keep you alive.”

  “I’m not sure you can take on a goddess…”

  Gray grinned at me.

  “I don’t know, I haven’t tried yet.”

  I laughed at his optimism, and the tension around us began to ease. Still, the feeling that something was very wrong weighed on me. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what or how, but something seemed very off.

  “Can priestesses go rogue?” I asked after a long silence.

  “Yes,” Gray and Alasdair answered as one.

  Well, that wasn’t at all reassuring.

  5

  A soft rustling sound like silk in a gentle breeze caught my attention. I spun around with my dagger in hand to see a pair of elves smirking at me. Their tall slender physique made it easy to underestimate them. Their bearing, however, was that of experienced warriors. They had pulled their long pitch-black hair back into a complicated braid that fell down their back. It was their eyes that held my focus, though. They were the colour pale caramel, sharp and haunting. I didn’t trust them.

  “Guardian Kerrigan,” the slightly taller elf nodded to Alasdair.

  “Taen,” Alasdair returned.

  “Come. It is hot and miserable out here,” the elf spoke with a rich melodic voice.

  The pair of elves turned and walked through a slight shimmer in the air. Alasdair followed them and vanished. Gray and I looked at each other before we followed. I hadn’t been to the fae plane before, and I had very much hoped to keep it that way.

  In one single step, the desert vanished, to be replaced by a classic, elegant interior. The air temperature dropped and goosebumps formed on my arms while my body adjusted.

  Alasdair stood just in front of me, stiff and military in his bearing. He’d abandoned his shirt jacket, but he remained in the well-fitted pants and button-down shirt. A quick glance around told me there was only one exit out of the large high-ceilinged room, directly in front of me down the wide hallway. There were no personal touches around. The walls looked to be made from pale cream marble with small swirls of copper. The floors were of pale wood, and the lighting was a series of white floating orbs.

  “Come, we’ll show you to your accommodations, it must have been a long and tiring journey,” Taen said.

  I kept my ears pricked and looked around, trying to note where we were going so we could make a quick exit if we needed to. Although, I didn’t know how we’d get off the fae plane - only the fae could form those portals as far as I was aware.

  The building we were in continued with the pale-cream theme as we walked down long hallways with pale wooden doors at even intervals. There was no artwork, no clutter. It began to feel like a hospital after a short while. There was a cold industrial feel that sent shivers down my spine.

  We finally emerged from the hallways into a large living area with a glass ceiling revealing a pale blue sky with small fluffy clouds. Large comfortable couches and armchairs were scattered throughout the space with thick plush rugs in reds, purples, and blues covering some of the pale floors. The walls were adorned with what looked like silk hangings and paintings of stunning landscapes.

  “This is your living area. Your bedrooms are there,” the elf said and pointed to our left where two white doors stood, “and the bathroom is there,” he finished, pointing to the blue door a little further into the room.

  My body had finally adjusted to the temperature, and it felt pleasant and fresh. The room was filled with an unfamiliar scent, something crisp and clean.

  “Food will be brought to you in an hour. Make yourselves comfortable, and feel free to freshen up.”

  The elf gave a sniff and left through the door at the far end of the room. I looked around and saw no weapons and only two exits. One back into the hallways, and one where the elf had gone.

  Alasdair turned to face us with a small smile. “I was hoping we’d have a little more freedom than this, but the fae aren’t particularly open to people wandering around their plane.”

  “It feels like a pretty cage,” I grumbled.

  Alasdair put his arm around my waist.

  “I know, and we’ll make sure to scout
out our exit routes as soon as we can. Right now, I’m going to call the first shower and look forward to some good elf food. We’ll get the details on the job when food arrives.”

  Gray and I looked at the bedrooms. They were both the same size with a very generously sized bed. Gray took the one closest to the bathroom, and I walked into what had become mine and Alasdair’s. The bed was comfortable. The lack of windows bothered me, but it was better than a lot of places I’d stayed. The cream on cream was going to drive me mad before long, but I hoped to only be sleeping in there.

  Alasdair came into the room with just a white fluffy towel around his waist, droplets of water idly trickling down his chest and abs.

  “You’re teasing me,” I said with a smirk.

  “You’re welcome to come over here and remove this towel any time you like.”

  I was tempted. It had been a good while since I’d gotten laid, and the goddess knew Alasdair was the image of perfection. His silver eyes shone with amusement as I walked a little closer. It would have been so easy.

  “Niko, are you grabbing a shower next?” Gray asked.

  “Yea.” I picked up my bag.

  I needed to make it an icy cold one.

  It was difficult to tell how much time had passed, exactly. We were all lounged out on the soft couches that threatened to devour you if you sat in the wrong position. A trio of elves came in the door Taen had left through, each carrying a pair of large black trays covered in food. The rich scents of warm spiced meats, buttery potatoes, fresh vegetables, and more made my mouth water.

  “Taen will be through soon to discuss your role here,” a younger elf said stiffly.

  We thanked them and moved to the table where the food had been placed. Two trays were covered in various red meats, which smelled of warm spices I didn’t quite recognise. Another was full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the last had the most divine roast potatoes I’d ever laid my eyes on. They were crispy and golden brown on the outside with a soft, fluffy cream interior.

  We dug in and ate our fill. The food was even better than it smelled.

  “I hope we have space to run and work out here, else we’ll be getting fat,” Gray said with a laugh.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying the food,” Taen said.

  “You have been very generous,” Alasdair said.

  The elf sat in the spare chair and picked at a piece of red meat.

  “Do you know why we asked you here?”

  “Necromancers have been trying to raise the bones of an old god.”

  Taen nodded slowly.

  “Yes. My order has been guarding the bones of the god Khaelnir for centuries. He was a warrior god that originally protected our people. Once the wars between the fae lessened, he was no longer needed. He began making wars for his own amusement. Thousands were killed. As a god, we weren’t able to kill him entirely,” he took another piece of meat, “and so we did the best thing we could. We stripped his flesh from his bones and buried them in a secure location where he would never rise again.”

  I fought to keep a neutral expression. He said it so matter-of-factly, that he had torn the flesh from his bones.

  “Is his essence still tied to the bones?” Gray asked.

  “Yes. If it were released, he would be able to form another body.”

  So, there was a pretty good chance that he was aware he was a bunch of bones being watched over by uptight elves.

  “And these necromancers?” Alasdair asked.

  “They have been trying to find his bones for centuries. We’re not sure how they found them. We believe their goal is to bring Khaelnir, as there are more wars coming. The veil will fall.”

  “You seem very sure the veil will fall,” I said.

  He didn’t look at me.

  “Our order is well-trained and will fight at your side with the experience and dedication of your fellow guardians.”

  With that, he stood and left.

  “Does anyone else think he left out most of the story?” I asked.

  Alasdair sighed and pushed his plate away.

  “I think we just got pulled into a lot of political bullshit we don’t want to be near.”

  6

  “So, who exactly is this order?” I asked.

  The food had been cleared away, and we were standing in the living area. I paced back and forth down the length of a midnight-blue rug with yellow swirls.

  “I don’t recall the name; Taen may not have told me. It is like they said, they were created when the bones were buried to protect them,” Alasdair said.

  “And you trust him?”

  “No. We simply fought side by side for a few days during one of the more brutal elf wars.”

  “Why would necromancers want to raise him? Surely, as a god, they wouldn’t have any control over him? And as an elf god, he’ll be on the elf side of things,” Gray said, frowning.

  “They could be fool enough to think it’d bring them power,” I offered.

  “I agree with Gray. Something seems wrong here,” Alasdair said.

  “It’s likely someone with the order told the necromancers where the bones were. They’re really secretive, right?” I asked.

  “I agree,” Alasdair said.

  “So, they have at least one traitor within their ranks. It’s not a far stretch to think they’d target us, given we’re here to keep the bones safe,” Gray said.

  “What exactly is our job, here? We’re not going to guard the bones for the next century, are we?” I asked.

  Alasdair’s frown deepened.

  “Saoirse didn’t specify.”

  I looked to Gray. Something definitely wasn’t adding up here. I’d been a Guardian for all of a few weeks, and already it was looking suspiciously like things were going to shit around us.

  We headed to bed early as we didn’t have a tv to flake out in front of. I was getting ready to curl up in Alasdair’s arms when I heard soft footsteps. Alasdair tensed, and we both pulled out knives, looking around for the owner of said footsteps.

  We opened the door and looked out into the living area. A small group of sidhe were creeping into the space. Their bodies were slightly stockier than the elves, and their bone structure was sharper. All of the fae types looked similar, but there were enough differences if you knew what you were looking at.

  I was pretty sure that sidhe weren’t supposed to be in an elf order’s house thing. I edged out into the room and watched as the sidhe tried to creep through the shadows at the edge of the room. Gray slipped out of his room and we ran straight across the room at them. No one ever accused wolves of being subtle.

  The sidhe turned as a group and grinned at us, revealing sharp teeth and sharper blades in their hands. We had them pinned against the wall, but that didn’t stop them. The smallest one, an almost delicate blonde, lunged at me. She moved with startling speed and almost succeeded in getting her blade against my throat. I threw my weight to my left and swung myself around to use her momentum against her. I shoved her in the lower back, sending her forwards. Another sidhe was on me before I could stamp on her knees and break the joints, thus immobilising her.

  I parried a number of swift blows from a larger dark-haired male. He was aggressive and kept pushing into my space, trying to drive me back. I snarled and allowed my wolf forward enough to increase my own speed and strength. He sliced my chest, but I saw an opening and drove my blade into the hollow of his throat. He gurgled and slumped down. A sharp pain bloomed in my calf. I side-stepped, avoiding a knife between my ribs just as I saw Gray slam the heel of his hand into the nose of an older female.

  Alasdair smashed the head of his opponent into the wall, leaving a bloody smear just as I broke the wrist of my attacker and thrust my knife into his eye.

  Gray set the final surviving combatant on fire. She died a quick, agonising death.

  We looked around at the death and destruction. Bodies were crumpled on the floor, bright red marring the pristine creams.

  “My lad
y will be pleased,” a melodic male voice said.

  All attention turned to the sidhe dressed in blood-red silk.

  Alasdair bared his teeth and snarled.

  “Your queen will not lay a hand on my partner.”

  “Oh, she’ll do far more than that.”

  7

  “What on Earth happened!?” Taen demanded.

  A cluster of elves were close behind him, each looking more horrified than the last.

  “You tell us. How did a group of sidhe assassins breach your wards?” Alasdair growled.

  “Why were sidhe assassins after you?” one of the elves at the back shouted.

  “I don’t know how they got in,” Taen said stiffly.

  We all glared at each other. The elves knew damn well those sidhe shouldn’t have been able to get in here; this was supposed to be a safe place.

  “Well? Why were there sidhe assassins after you?” Taen finally said.

  “The queen has taken a liking to Niko,” Alasdair said.

  All eyes turned to me.

  “He’s an abomination.”

  “Nothing but a mongrel.”

  “Pretty eyes.”

  I bared my teeth at them. I’d show them just how much of an abomination I could be if they didn’t back off.

  Alasdair’s wolf pushed forward, and he looked a few inches taller as he strode over to the elves. His muscles were tense, and blood had dried on his hands. He was terrifying and beautiful.

  “How exactly did the sidhe get into this place?”

  Taen took a step back.

  “I will examine the wards.”

  “Make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Alasdair snarled.

  “This would be much easier if you explained which sidhe queen and why she’s interested in him.”

  Alasdair levelled a cold stare at them and said nothing.