I grimaced. "We can't just kill everyone, Jaiel. How would Dimiri explain something like that?"
"Fine, fine. We'll do it your way. But I won't hold back if those bastards come after me again."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
46
Kaiya
I would be fine.
Wouldn't I?
Of course I'd be fine. I'd just finished the thought when my toe slammed into a root and I tumbled headfirst into the dirt. My back burned, my chest ached, and I'd royally fucked up.
Throat burning, I gasped loudly, clasping a hand in front of my mouth to stem the emotions that threatened to break free. My lungs spasmed again and again, though, and I couldn't stop the tears from coming.
Why had I ever thought this would work? The Ellingsworths had everything — power, money, respect … what hope did I have of beating them?
And Eli? What had I been thinking, trusting him?
I fucking knew better!
My chest ached at the look in his eyes as I'd punched him. That he'd tried to claim feelings for me as a reason for betrayal? It made me nauseous … heart-broken and nauseous.
"I'm assuming things didn't go as expected?" Lynk's gravelly voice interrupted my pity party, and I looked up to see him leaning against a tree, eyes dark at the edges.
I shook my head and stood, trying to quickly wipe away all evidence of my tears. Of course he'd be the one to see me like that. I should have known he'd be watching. Damn him.
"She had the Seekers all killed."
His eyes widened, but he nodded. "And what did Eli say about that?"
"Eli is actually Liam." My heart ached at the reminder of that lie, but I pushed away the feelings. "And he didn't seem all that surprised — horrified perhaps, but not surprised. He was more focused on getting the relics out of here and away from the hands of the Empire."
"Liam, huh? So he finally told you he was with the Rogues?"
My fists clenched. Had everyone known except me? "Why didn't you tell me?"
He chuckled mirthlessly. "I couldn't tell you, Kaiya, and neither could he. The Rogues have an important purpose and some bond mage girl cannot get in the middle of that — regardless of how attractive she may be."
His words rasped over my tender emotions, and I looked away, filing the compliment away for later. "He had no excuse for using me, Lynk. He could have just done it on his own. Instead, he pretended to be my friend …" More than friend.
Lynk just shrugged. "He was here on a mission. He had to use whatever resources were available to him. In the same position, you'd do the same."
I glared at him. "No. I wouldn't. I would never use someone's emotions against them like he did."
At that, his lips quirked, and he stepped away from the tree. "I see — so you treated him fairly the whole time, too? You didn't use his crush on you to your advantage at any time?"
I thought back to all our moments together and grimaced. Perhaps he had a point. Still …
"I'm not saying what he did was good, just that perhaps it was necessary."
I nodded. "Well, now I have to figure out a way to stop Ellingsworth, or explain to Aunt Grace that I failed … again."
"That's just an excuse and you know it, little thief." He uncrossed his arms. "If you wanted to solve this problem, you could have — ages ago."
I gasped. "No. You're wrong."
His eyes were tight as he shook his head. "Yes. You need to hear this, little thief. All these years wasted … and for what? So you could get the punishment you deserve for killing your uncle? Because that's what this is really about. Isn't it? You and I both know it."
His words took my breath away, and I stood there staring at him, mouth agape.
They were true, but he made it sound so wrong. "I promised him." My voice was rough with emotion. "It's my responsibility to take care of her."
"That's ridiculous, and you know it." He scoffed. "He's dead, Kaiya. Dead." He grabbed my chin and forced me to meet his eyes. "Promises to the dead don't matter. Trust me on that one. And until you can get past this damned guilt trip, you'll just be the helpless child you've always been."
I pulled away and glared at him. Helpless child? He was wrong. Completely wrong! I'd done everything I could to save us.
An image of Eli's face, telling me we should wait for Lynk, popped into my mind, and I grimaced. That wasn't what he meant, though, was it?
"Your uncle's death was not your fault, Kaiya," Lynk continued, stepping closer, his voice softer than before. "It was an unfortunate circumstance, nothing more."
My aunt had said the same dozens of times, but somehow it felt different coming from him. I gritted my teeth and looked up at him. It hurt to speak the words, but he needed to know — to understand. "I was the one who went to town that day. I had to explore that damn cove and see if it really was the Druid's shrine. I wasn't ready for the gremlyns, though.” I rubbed that scar above my eye. “And I was taken to Ellesmere, to the medical tent there. It was me who brought back the plague. We were all fine until then! First my uncle caught it, then my aunt. I was able to get money in time to save Aunt Grace, but the doctors were too late to do anything for him."
I dropped my gaze to my hands, now clutching the front of my shirt — coated in dirt and blood. "It should have been me."
"Kaiya." My name on his lips sounded so perfect, that gravelly voice making something melt inside me. He stepped closer, so I had to look up. "It wasn't your fault. Sometimes, bad things just happen."
I pushed away the strange feelings and looked up to his narrowed eyes. "It doesn't matter. I promised him! Aunt Grace deserves more than this shitty life."
His mouth tightened, and he ran a finger down my cheek. "Have you ever thought that the gods might have had a plan for you, and that's why they kept you alive?"
The intensity in his eyes made my heart slam against my ribs.
"I — why would they do that?"
He stared into my eyes, as though he were debating something, then dropped his hand and turned away. He stalked to a nearby tree and when he turned around, he carried a small book.
He walked close and passed it to me. "When you're ready to let go of this stupid self-sacrificing shit, open it."
Well, that was not what I expected. Still, I looked down to see several sets of locks holding the leather-bound volume closed. "Wait. What is this? And how am I supposed to open it? What does this have to do with anything?"
He just shrugged. "You'll figure it out."
More riddles.
Grimacing, I pushed it back at him. "No. No, and no. I'm not taking some weird book from you because you feel bad for me and want to teach me a lesson!"
His jaw pulsed, and he nodded, then grabbed it from my hands. "Fine. There are … things … I must take care of. Things I don't want you and the lordling tangled up in, so I may not be around for a while."
I wanted to argue, to ask where he'd been and say that I could help — but could I? I'd failed to help, yet again. And if it was something that he was struggling with, it must be pretty bad.
"Be safe, Lynk. I — I wouldn't want to see you hurt."
His eyes softened as he stared down at me. He lifted a hand and moved a piece of hair behind my ear, then dropped it back to his side, lips tightening. "You too, little thief. You, too."
Then he was gone, and I was alone — again — staring at the blank space where he'd been standing just moments before.
Why did it feel so much lonelier this time?
47
Kaiya
I'd thought the whole way home, debating how to break the news to Aunt Grace and explain the lashings. She'd be devastated … and rightfully so. Perhaps she'd already heard about the Seekers and had guessed …
Had Lynk been right? Was I making things worse for myself because I felt guilty?
That was ridiculous. Wasn't it?
Questions pounded at my mind, and I wished I could just crawl into bed and go to sleep. But
a carriage stood parked in front of the house.
I grimaced at the sight of the vicar's crest. Gods. Dinner with him tonight, too? My stomach lurched at the idea.
I couldn't just leave Aunt Grace to him, though.
No. Taking a steadying breath and pushing away the headache, I stepped in the door and slipped off my cloak.
Hanging it beside the vicar's, I listened to the giddy laughter pouring out of the dining room. Gods, I didn't have the energy to deal with that man's damn tricks. Couldn't I get a break?!
Swallowing my discomfort, I rushed upstairs and changed. It wouldn't do to appear at dinner in bloody and dirty leathers. Slipping on a basic walking dress, I ran downstairs, pasted on a smile, and stepped through the double wooden doors.
The vicar sat uncomfortably close to Aunt Grace, who was leaning over and pulling at his cloak coquettishly.
No. Not again! What had he done to her?
I glared at him and cleared my throat, expecting them to pop apart, but Aunt Grace just looked up, eyes hazy, and motioned for me to take a seat. "Come dear, the vicar has heard of our reduced circumstances and brought us a delicious soup." Her words were slurred even more than normal!
He'd done something to her, and I was done pretending otherwise. All the anger and frustration from the day bubbled up inside of me and I leaned forward on the table to meet his eyes. "We'd like you to leave now, Sir Litsor."
He just smirked at me and ladled some soup into the bowl opposite him. "Oh, don't worry, dear. Your aunt has just had a few too many drinks of wine. She was rather worried after your little adventure today."
I glared at him, trying to spot a way to reach Aunt Grace. He had her cornered, though, and it wasn't like I could just stab him.
If I could just pinch her or something, I was sure she'd snap out of it and surely the two of us could work together to get him out of here …
"You know, I was so very sorry to hear about your little mishap at the jail today. Lady Ellingsworth stopped by to tell me about it and suggested I come by to check on you." He smiled, but his eyes flashed, and the worry in my gut intensified.
"Thank you, vicar. I appreciate your attentiveness, but my aunt and I have much to discuss, as I'm sure you can understand." That was the understatement of the century …
He smiled placidly and turned to watch my aunt take a sip of the soup. The smug smile on his lips sent a chill down my spine, and I reached forward to grab the spoon out of her hand and lifted it to my nose.
Sour poppy root!
My heart dropped, and I stepped back, my chair clattering to the floor behind me.
"Kaiya. I — I don't feel so well. Perhaps I'd better — " Her eyes rolled back, and she fell forward, face first on the table.
Sir Litsor stood and stepped between me and her.
"What have you done?" I shouted, pointing my finger at him, wishing I hadn't left that damn blade in the cave.
He just crossed his arms across his chest. "What needed to be done."
A commotion in the kitchen made me spin in time to see several men in deep blue cloaks pouring into the dining room. More of those people from the ruins?
Had Lady Ellingsworth gotten to everyone?
Why was she doing this? What was to be gained?
I reached for a fork on the table, desperate for some kind of weapon, but before I could use it, the vicar had pulled a small bottle out from his coat and sprayed it at me.
My head swam with the familiar scent, and my thoughts felt murky as I slumped back into the chair. Aerosolized poppy root?
How had he done that?
"Rone and Lermil were lost to the two at the cliff, but at least we were able to get her …" were the last words I heard before everything went dark.
48
Eli
"Seriously, Jaiel? How long do you need to get ready?" I cursed, knocking on the bathroom door again. We needed to leave for breakfast with my aunt and uncle.
"Liam, will you just stop nagging? Just because you don't care, doesn't mean I shouldn't."
I grimaced and laid back on the bed, sprawling as much as I could.
We'd brainstormed all night, but had yet to come up with a way to stop both the Ellingsworths and win back Kaiya.
A knock sounded on the door. "Lordling. Open up!"
What in the seven hells was Lynk doing here? I hadn't seen him since the picnic.
I strode to the door and turned the lock. He slipped through the door and paused, taking in what I was sure looked like a mess of a room.
It was hard to fit two men into a small space …
His brow lifted, but he just shook his head and turned to face me. "Kaiya is missing."
My heart froze. "What?"
"I stopped by her house and it's empty. It looks like someone ransacked the place, but I highly doubt it was a robbery. Those two had nothing left to rob …"
I winced. "What about her aunt?"
"She's gone, too."
"Could the ladies have taken the opportunity and left?" Jaiel piped in, stepping out of the bathroom, clad in only a towel.
Lynk's brow climbed higher, and he looked between the two of us. Fuck. I mean, Jaiel was certainly attractive enough … but I didn't want Lynk thinking that I'd been fucking around behind Kaiya's back. "Meet Jaiel, my mentor. Jaiel, meet Lynk — the —"
" — old man. Right," Jaiel said, sauntering forward and holding his hand out.
Lynk just shook his head and turned back to me. Ha. Yet another person immune to Jaiel's charms.
Jaiel looked down at his arms, then over at me, confusion twisting his features. I could practically see him wondering if he was broken.
Served him right.
"In answer to your question, prince, no." Jaiel's brow climbed higher at Lynk's words. How did he know? “I do not believe the ladies left. Their belongings are all still in the house."
My stomach dropped.
"Gods damned fucking Ellingsworths," I said, striding to the bed to grab my jacket. "They are going to wish they'd never —"
"Stop, lordling. We cannot go into this running on emotion. We need to make a plan or risk all of us being killed."
I looked between him and my cloak, fear and anger pulsing in my chest. He was right, and I knew it. But gods — I didn't want to wait anymore!
"The lordling — love the name, by the way — and I have been brainstorming all night and have yet to come up with a way to fix this situation with the Ellingsworths without exposing the Rogues or Kaiya to more danger." Jaiel interjected.
Lynk stared at Jaiel for a moment, then turned back to me, ignoring the other man completely. Jaiel's mouth dropped, and I had to smother my smile.
"What're you thinking?" I asked. He wouldn't have come to us without a plan of some sort that required my participation.
He smiled, but this smile had no humor in it, and held out a small envelope. "This."
I grabbed what seemed to be an invitation and flipped it open. "A Ball?"
He nodded. "While you kids have been playing, I've been gathering intel. The group operating out of the Ellingsworths seems to be some kind of cult.
"I don't know the details, but I do know they're doing something tonight. And I'm guessing they need a bond mage like Kaiya for it.
"My best guess is that your little stunt with the Seekers has pushed them into a corner. So, we need to get Kaiya out of there. They likely have more relics and more people working for them, though, so I need you both to protect her once things start moving. Do you think you can handle that?"
"You've got it," I said, mind racing.
"Prince, you'll infiltrate the Ball. I'll question the guards. Eli, your job is to get some help from your animal friends. We'll need their assistance if we're to overwhelm a dozen or more mages with relics. Once we find Kaiya's location, we'll send Riarlo to you to let you know."
I grimaced, reaching out for Riarlo. He'd gone missing again after attacking those men by the ruins.
I'd have to
figure out some other way …
49
Kaiya
My head throbbed, and I felt cold to the bone.
What the fuck had happened?
I opened my eyes tentatively, but wherever I was was so dark that I couldn't make out any details. Groaning, I pushed myself into a seated position and took stock of my surroundings.
Water dripped behind me, a steady pitter patter that helped to calm my nerves. If I tried, I could pretend it was rain, and I was just sitting atop the cliffs with my eyes closed.
But no. That's not what was happening. That damn vicar had DRUGGED ME. But why? Why was he working with Lady Ellingsworth? What good did I do her here?
If they'd hurt a silver hair on Aunt Grace's head, they would all pay!
Rage and fear warred inside me, a culmination of the shittiest day I'd ever experienced.
I just needed OUT. Gods. There had to be some way out …
All I could see in the darkness, though, was the rocky cave and the entrance with bars going from floor to ceiling.
It looked similar to the cages the vrytra had been in …
A low moan outside my cell made my skin crawl. What in the seven hells was that?
I felt for the dagger in my sleeve, but it was still on the floor of the damn ruins.
My panic climbed.
Creaaaaaak. There it was again! Like a tree shifting in the wind.
At least the bars would hopefully keep whatever it was out of this cell …
The moaning seemed to come from my left, but I couldn't see anything except vague shapes in the pitch darkness.
I let my eyes drift shut and reached out with my korra, pressing through that barrier.
There was something there. It felt bitterly cold and metallic … and when I pressed into it, an icy bolt shot through me. I let out a gasp as I tumbled back into my body, fear crashing through me.
What the fuck was a wraith doing here?
Forsaken Secrets: A slow-burn new adult fantasy romance (Isle of the Forsaken Book 1) Page 22
