Diamond stood mute as General Edo leaned forwards and cut strips off her skirts, instructing her to bind his arm, which she could only do with Tom’s help as her fingers were shaking.
“I will carry you to the cave,” the general said, but he sounded tired, his body listing as he leaned heavily on his sword.
The warrior stepped in decisively with no emotion in his voice. “Sir, you are exhausted. I will take the girl.”
The general raised his eyebrows, his brow furrowed in a frown, but he nodded reluctantly and took a step back. Diamond’s heart beat against her ribs, her eyes shifting back and forth from the warrior to the school house. Her body tensed—ready to bolt—but he stepped in front of her, his broad-shouldered bulk blocking her path. His beautiful sapphire and silver eyes narrowed and held hers, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Chapter 4
Danger and impatience pulsed off him in warm waves. It was a strange, almost tangible sensation that rippled over Diamond's exposed skin, startling her. Instinctively she stepped back, rubbing her arms. Fearful of him, she looked to General Edo for guidance. His mouth a tight line, General Edo nodded. But the school house….
The Queen’s guard took in her blood-covered, grief-stricken face, his eyes dropping to the wounds on her neck. Unaware, Diamond’s gaze stayed focused on the school house.
It was impossible to just leave. Her father deserved better than to be abandoned. He had died to save her. All this—all this screaming and death and bloodshed was her fault. Diamond’s face crumpled, tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Can’t we at least take him to the temple? His soul will not enter Eternity if we don’t release it with fire,” she sobbed, not caring what any of them thought.
A new wave of terrified screams saturated the air. The warriors shifted uncomfortably, moving to face outward with swords drawn.
“No. We cannot stay. It’s too dangerous. Any remaining Seekers will hunt you until they can no longer scent you. The only way to escape them is to fly you somewhere distant from here.” The Queen’s guard held his arms out expectantly.
Diamond stared at him. Before she knew what she was doing, Diamond launched herself into a run, screaming for her father at the top of her voice. He is not dead. He could not be—because she did not know what to do without him. Tears blurred her vision as she sprinted. He could still be alive….
It only took seconds before the Queen’s guard caught up with her. Wordlessly he grabbed her waist and hoisted her up. Diamond had no choice but to latch her fingers onto him. The roughness of his touch shocked her out of the madness that had taken her. Choking on gut-wrenching sobs, she closed her eyes. He extended his wings in one swift, powerful movement, then launched up into the sky.
Wind roared in her ears as those startling feathered membranes turned to metal and picked up speed, thudding solidly against the air. Weeping, she curled her fingers into his leather-clad shoulders, grief ripping at her heart as the school house and everything she knew grew smaller, disappearing until even the haunting screams of the dying faded. Her handsome, loving father was truly gone—and it was all her fault….
Oblivious to time or the cold wind against her skin, Diamond cried herself dry. Eventually her sobs settled into hiccoughs. As awareness returned, it was an effort to lift her heavy head from the elite guard’s chest. At least they had rescued Tom. Guilt stabbed at her. She hadn’t even thought of him since the guard had snatched her up. Her friend was clutched in the arms of another warrior, looking pale and stunned.
Diamond’s insides felt like they had been ripped out, leaving her hollow and numb, yet her heart ached with a fierceness that threatened to tip her over the edge of reason. Her father was gone forever; never again would she feel his love or forgiveness or hear the anger in his voice when she pushed him too far. Blind panic stole her breath. She would never see him again.
“Slow your breathing before you pass out,” the guard advised unemotionally. Diamond ignored his tone and tightly gripped his solid shoulders, using his bulk as a lifeline. She didn’t care what he thought of her. She needed something, anything, to keep her anchored before she lost her mind completely. Keeping her eyes closed and her cheek against his chest, Diamond concentrated on the shift of the guard’s shoulder and back muscles. They moved powerfully under her fingers as his wings beat a steady rhythm. After a while the tingle of panic in her fingers and lips abated.
The queen's guard ordered a brief stop to collect their packs, which had been left many miles from the town, but he did not land himself. With apparent ease he hovered above his men to keep a look out. That task completed, the warriors followed General Edo. Several times the high winds forced them to change direction. Invisible eddies wildly blew through Diamond’s bloodied silver hair. Hissing with impatience, the guard moved his chin to trap her hair out of the way. She might have apologised or grabbed it in her hand—if she could have brought herself to care. The cold eventually numbed her hands to the point where her grip on his shoulders slipped. Alarmed, her eyes flew open. The ground was a frighteningly long way down. She gasped, her eyes anxiously finding his. Heights had never been easy for her to deal with.
“I will not drop you. You can let go if you wish,” he said brusquely, hitching her higher. For a moment his sapphire eyes flicked to hers. It was easier to close her eyes and drop her head back on his shoulder than even consider meeting that icy regard. She must appear so weak and feeble to someone like him.
It felt like hours passed before General Edo shouted, “Here!”
Bracing her hands on the guard’s shoulders, she twisted her head to see where they were going. A cave materialised from behind some spiky bushes that clung tenuously to the sheer cliff face. General Edo landed first, followed by the others one by one.
The guard hovered, watching them and ignoring her. When the ledge was clear he glided in, landing with light-footed grace. Inside was gloomy but large enough for all twelve of them to fit. Only the Queen’s guard had to bend his head to keep from banging it on the roof. Absentmindedly he lowered her to the ground and turned to the general.
“General Edo, it would be best if you rest here and take some time to clean and re-bind your wounds. We will be back with food and water soon, and tomorrow we have far to go. Karl! Zane! Finn! With me. We will hunt due west. The rest of you go east. Be back here by dusk,” he told them. “We will rest here tonight and re-join Prince Oden tomorrow.”
They all saluted smartly and chorused, “Yes, sir.”
“Karl. Give the general your salve and clean bindings for his wound.”
“Yes, sir,” Karl replied and delved in his pack, passing the items to General Edo. The general nodded his thanks.
Without so much as a glance in her direction, the guard turned to leave.
“Wait!” uttered Diamond reaching out to touch his arm before the inappropriateness of that action caught up with her brain. He turned back, eyeing her hand coldly. Her eyes widened at the sharp stab of pain in her fingers. Wincing she dropped her hand immediately. It felt like something had bitten her.
“Yes?” he replied coldly.
“Err…what’s your name?” she asked, suddenly feeling inadequate and foolish.
He cocked his head, weighing her up, deciding if she was worth an answer. She squirmed under the weight of that midnight gaze. “Commander Casimir,” he replied after a few seconds.
“Oh. Is that it? Don’t you have a first name?” she blurted before it occurred to her sluggish brain that being on first name terms with a Queen's guard was absurd, especially for a half-blood.
“Yes. I do,” he answered, annoyance colouring his tone. “You are not in the military and clearly neither are you a full-blooded human or fae, so how you address me—by my first name, which is Hugo or Commander Casimir—is of no importance to me.” He looked her up and down, a shadow of distaste curling his mouth. “I can see why your father kept you in the northern forest. Someone like you will not fare well in
the southern cities.” He looked to General Edo, who stood stoic and silent, before looking back at her again. “Valentia may be safer than the forest, but you will have no rights there, especially as an obvious half-blood. Is that still the course of action you wish to take, general? You could appeal to the prince to keep her with his people in the valley.”
“No,” interrupted the general sharply.
Diamond almost missed the exchange about her future safety, she was too busy trying to ignore the hurt his words caused her. Of course she was of no importance to him—to anyone. Shrinking within herself, the consuming numbness of grief and inadequacy threatened to devour her, but manners, the manners her father had instilled upon her, won out. She squared her shoulders and forced herself to form words and speak. “I will do whatever Uncle—I mean General Edo—thinks best. I—err, just wanted to thank you, commander f-for s-saving me,” she stammered even as she lifted her chin. “Despite my unimportance.”
His face was severe enough she found it difficult to look at him. Surprise flickered in his eyes, warming them for an instant before ice settled once again. He dipped his head silently, an acknowledgment of her gratitude before launching himself elegantly out of the cave after the others.
Chapter 5
Diamond awoke with a start, sweat running down her spine and between her breasts. The floor underneath her was hard and cold. Panting, she tried to get her bearings. The pounding in her head made it so hard to think. Cracking her eyelids open she swiped the dampness from her cheeks and tried to pull herself together. For a moment confusion fogged her brain. Where am I?
Then everything came flooding back. The Seekers, her father—her nightmare. A horrible place in her mind, plagued by dragons and fire and blood and monsters. Diamond stifled a sob and pushed herself upright. Focusing on anything else but those dark thoughts, she cast her eyes around the cave.
The warriors had all returned. General Edo and Tom sat near the cave entrance, silhouetted against the firelight. A small boar sizzled and dripped juices into the flames, releasing a mouth-watering aroma that, despite her lack of appetite, made Diamond’s stomach grumble loudly. Warmth filled the cave, the glowing orange flames casting her into a veil of shadow.
Seeing the others eating did nothing for her. Despite the emptiness that filled her, Diamond's limbs were shaking too much to get up and venture across the cave. Trying to control her trembling body and addled mind, she inhaled and pushed her back up against the cave wall. Absorbing the solid strength of it, Diamond closed her eyes and forced the disturbing dream into the recesses of her mind. Concentrating on the pain from her bruises helped distract her and, after a few minutes, her breathing settled and the shaking lessened.
Feeling a little stronger, she opened her eyes to find Hugo sitting in the blackest shadows opposite watching her closely. Obscured in the gloom of the cave his eyes only glinted, but she had no inclination to look at him. Instead she cast her eyes at the spit over the fire and pushed a hand against her aching belly. Not knowing if she was hungry or just sick with grief, she closed her eyes again. Memories of her father’s gentle voice filled her mind.
“Daddy, why did all the warriors have gold wings in that faery tale? I don’t like gold, blue is my favourite colour. I want to see a warrior with blue wings….”
Her father chuckled. “Blue wings don’t exist; fae only ever have red, gold, green and pearlescent wings, or pearls as we call them. But remember only golden-winged warriors live in Avalonia now—just like the story tells you.”
“Did the bad lady kill the fae with pretty wings just because she didn’t like their colours?”
“No, my little jewel, she killed them all because their magic can make her stronger.” Her father looked and sounded so sad. “Fae magic that was once mighty in this kingdom now dwindles so low that only the strongest fae can be taught to use it.”
“Where did magic come from, Daddy?”
“Long ago Lunaria, the goddess of creation, gifted the fae with magic. She gave us four levels: red to wield fire and heat.” He settled her into bed. “And just like fire, red-winged fae are powerful and not to be trifled with. Their temper is as quick to blaze as the fire and heat they command. Green is the colour of fae who can create and control flora. They can encourage life to flourish and make excellent healers. Then there are gold-winged fae, who just love the gleam of metals—any metals. In my home in Rhodainia they were by far the most common fae but not the only ones. Some could even pinpoint metallic ore through the ground. In Avalonia fae can only force the metallic elements of their magic to armour their wings. Then there is the weakest and gentlest of our race, the ‘pearls’, who have very little magic of their own. It is said that as soon as the wicked queen took the throne of Avalonia she ordered any child born with magic above gold killed at birth.”
“Oh.” That answer had been far too long and Diamond had lost interest. “When will I grow wings? I want red magic, or maybe pretty gold magic, then I can be special and strong like you, Daddy.”
He had smiled and pulled the bedclothes around her, tucking them in tightly.
“Diamond, you do not need magic to make you special, you already are. And you do not need wings to fly because jewels like you can soar right across the sky all by yourself. Have you ever seen a shooting star?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she replied gravely.
“Well, you are just like them. One day, when you are grown up, you will soar right across this world and leave a blazing trail behind you…and you will not need wings to do it, my sweet girl.”
“Really…” she gasped, snuggling down into the warmth of her familiar bed.
“Here,” said Hugo, pushing a bit of bark piled with meat toward her folded hands. Diamond jumped. “You need to eat,” he said tersely.
Her mouth dropped open before she took the offering and placed it on the ground beside her. A Queen’s guard did not serve a half-blood food. Diamond swallowed nervously, not used to being near someone so heavily armed—or so big and imposing. Another surprise, he lowered his bulk next to her and stared at the meat, then her. A silent command. Sighing, she picked it up again. His shoulder rested only inches from hers, making her fully aware of his proximity. A strange warmth bloomed inside her, as if her body were reacting to the closeness of his. Feeling smothered, she shuffled sideways.
“What did that vile creature tell you? Why is the lord of the Barren Waste Lands hunting you?” Hugo asked, keeping his gaze forward.
“I don’t know,” she lied, not taking her eyes off the succulent pile of meat. Lying had never been her strength, and the food was a good excuse not to look at him. Her father had always been able to sense any lie she uttered, so she was not well-practised in the art of deception. Besides, this warrior was in servitude to a wicked and cruel ruler. Can I trust him?
Despite the delicious aroma, Diamond really did not feel like eating. Instead she dared a sideways glance. Her eyes alighted on the jagged white scar that marred Hugo’s face. It caught and held her attention. Something told her changing the subject away from her lie would be safer. If one immortal ruler wanted her necklace, maybe his Queen would too.
“Would you tell me about Valentia?” she ventured nervously. He had seemed so cold earlier—but for a reason Diamond was at a loss to understand, he had brought her food and now sat inches from her half-blood body. Maybe he was feeling benevolent and would be willing to answer her questions.
“General Edo thinks the island city will be safer for me than this forest, but you don’t. It’s where you’re from, isn’t it?” She made her voice sound in control and steady, even though asking this emotionally shutdown warrior a personal question felt awkward and unnatural. Then again, she didn’t know what else to say to distract a killer whose blades gleamed with every small movement he made, a male who was sitting so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Hugo leaned his forearms on his bent knees, his leather armour creaking as it strained against the expa
nding muscles of his back and shoulders. He turned, angling his head slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes. Diamond absently noticed he had dressed the wound on his neck.
“Yes.” He hesitated, clearly deciding whether or not to continue.
Diamond wondered how often he was asked to speak about himself. Probably never, she surmised, attempting an encouraging smile. It seemed neither of them was socially practised.
Hugo turned his attention back to the flames. “I was raised in the guard’s quarters in the palace, so Valentia is my home. The general is right in a way. The island city will be safer for you than the forest. But, like every town and city, there are monsters and demons of a different sort lurking in its shadows.” He looked at her.
She gulped at the warning in his eyes. “Why hasn’t Ragor attacked the city?” Diamond asked quietly.
“Oh, I think there are many reasons. For one, the size of his army is too big to travel swiftly. They also seem intent on attacking every town and village in their path. Any souls who have not fled are being hunted down by the Wraith Lord’s troops. It seems Ragor wants to kill as many as possible and possess their dead bodies to swell his ranks. He consumes their souls, then turns them into monsters.”
A ripple of disgust shuddered through her body. “But what can he want with so many souls?” she whispered.
“Devouring the energy of a soul is like a drug to Ragor, especially when they die fighting and screaming.”
Diamond trembled at his words. “But surely even Ragor can only feast upon so many souls before he will glut himself and explode from the inside out?” she asked with a grimace.
Hugo huffed, an unexpected smile twitching his lips and twisting his scar into something hideous that even the gloom of the cave could not hide. “Now wouldn’t that solve all our problems?” he muttered, glancing at her. The smile slipped away as if it had never been when he registered where her eyes rested. “Consuming the energy of a soul is his sustenance. It makes him stronger—but only for a short time, then he needs more.”
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 4
