by Caris Roane
~ ~ ~
When Rosamunde drew back, she held Stone’s gaze for a long moment, savoring the rich, mossy color of his eyes and the profound glimmer of emotion that radiated from him. She could feel his love in the same way the water flowed around her. She’d felt her mother’s love in this way as something that moved around her, comforting her, encouraging her.
Now she had Stone and not just in the normal way, but through a blood rose bond. She searched his face, then closed her eyes and traveled her mating frequency, loving the feel of how they were joined.
She went deeper. Stone, are you with m? Can you see what I’m doing?
I can.
She felt her way along the bond and found the location at the base of Stone’s heart, a second pulse. She moved swiftly back into her own body and found the same thing, a steady, ruby-like pulse of love and joining, of mystery and magic, of everything she could ever want.
When the earth rumbled beneath the water and a second wave of elf-lord power began to flow, she stayed within her fae abilities. Stone wrapped his arms arounds her securely.
It won’t hurt anymore, she pathed. That much I know. Because you and I are bonded, I’ll be able to channel like you. And I suspect when the visions come, you’ll always see them at the same time.
His voice penetrated her telepathy. We’re sharing our powers now.
Yes, we are.
But I feel something else, Rosamunde, that our joined powers have increased.
As the second wave of elf-lord power struck, she opened her eyes and met his. Her heart began hammering out a level of excitement she could hardly contain. “Stone, I think together you and I might be able to defeat Margetta.”
His lips curved. “I think this was what she was after. She wanted to bond with me because of this level of power.”
As the elf-lord power flowed through each of them, Rosamunde knew it was true. She could feel the difference in her bones, that what had been so difficult for her to achieve for the past thousand years, now seemed simple. “This was what I couldn’t help you understand, how deeply I understood that I couldn’t have battled Margetta on my own. But now, I know we have a chance to defeat her.”
He kissed her again and once more she melted against his body, drinking in the pleasure of being loved by him.
But as she drew back, the elf-lord power began to create very specific images in her head of the Tannisford Plains. “Are you seeing this?”
“I am. The final battle.”
“Yes.”
Stone grinned. “Then I think we should get some clothes on.”
She laughed and hugged him hard. She started to teleport him to her cottage, but he was before her and she landed with a surprising jolt at the foot of her bed.
“Stone, you took us here! This was you, not me.”
“I know. Yup, we’re definitely sharing abilities.”
“I’m going to grab a shower.”
He gestured west, toward Tannisford. “And I’m going to take a quick hop to my lake and pick up some clothes. I’ll be back here before you know it.” He kissed her once on the lips, then with a smile, vanished.
She went into the bathroom, turned on the shower, then took a few minutes to rinse the sea water off. Afterward, she didn’t bother to use her hair dryer; there wasn’t enough time. Instead, she towel-dried as best she could then arranged her damp hair in a single braid down her back.
When she was ready, she found Stone standing very still near the foot of the bed but clothed in fresh battle gear. She sensed he was communicating with the ruling mastyrs. He waved for her to come close and when she did, he slid his arm around her waist then pulled her into the telepathic conversation.
Rosamunde is with us. Ian, say again about Margetta’s army.
She’s been moving her wraith-pairs in large groups to the east foothills at the top of the plain.
Rosamunde knew the location well. Massive rocks formed a shelf that stretched for three miles in both directions. Margetta couldn’t have chosen better. Her army could scramble back through the hundreds of pathways that led through the rocks and into the nearby cave-riddled hills.
Ian continued. We have the Combined Forces still arriving in waves from every Realm. Davido and Vojalie have gone from realm-to-realm and have moved all the Vampire Guards and Shifter and Troll Brigades to the plains. I doubt Margetta expected that.
Rosamunde agreed. She gripped Stone’s waist tight. He met her gaze and nodded.
This was it.
The final battle.
Whatever happened here tonight would determine the next thousand years for the Nine Realms.
Rosamunde and I will be at the promontory near the Sea of Vermed.
Ian’s voice strengthened. All the mastyrs are assembled there, Commander. We’re awaiting your orders.
At these words, Rosamunde felt Stone’s shoulders lift slightly and his spine straighten a bit more. She was proud of him, of what he’d achieved in bringing all the ruling mastyrs together. It was always believed that a unified Nine Realms would be impossible given the fiery nature of the mastyr vampire.
But the blood roses had come, tempering each man, while adding power on power. Rosamunde thought it a beautiful juxtaposition, even a paradox that while the men gained power through their women, they also developed an ability for a kind of collaboration that had never happened before.
We’ll head your direction shortly.
Yes, Mastyr. The latter was a group response, a flow of masculine telepathic voices that filled Rosamunde’s heart with pride and hope.
Rosamunde felt Stone shut the telepathy down. He turned toward her and kissed her again. “I want you safe.”
She loved the level of his concern, but her lips curved. “To hell with that, my darling. I will do whatever needs to be done to rid the Nine Realms of Margetta forever.”
His eyes glowed with a like spirit. He nodded several times in a row. “Then let’s do this.”
She let him teleport them both to the raised section of rocks at the base of the plain. The sea cliff wall, just forty yards behind them, was tall enough that the sound of the crashing waves was distant and muted.
As Stone released her waist and moved to the highest point, Rosamunde put a hand to her lips. She couldn’t believe the massive size of the gathered armies.
In the far distance, toward the rocks, Margetta’s wraith-pairs had already started making their usual racket, clanging their axes and swords together. The wraiths shrieked.
She noted that because of the discipline inherent in the Guard and Brigade ranks, Stone’s Combined Forces remained still and steadfast against the growing noise. She sensed a profound determination emanating from the thousands of vampires, wolves and trolls that stood against the Ancient Fae’s army this night.
Rosamunde had foreseen these elements in the vision. But her gaze continued to shift toward the southeast and an open area of the plain from which Margetta’s golden wind had appeared in the prescient images.
With her gaze fixed in that direction, a sudden restlessness moved through the thousands of realm warriors of the Combined Forces.
Rosamunde knew the cause since a moment later Margetta arrived in a swirl of her gold wind. Not everyone would be able to see her, but Rosamunde could. The Ancient Fae was surrounded by at least a dozen mastyr vampire wraith-pairs, the cream of her army.
Stone, do you see them?
I do. The solemn response reflected his frame of mind more than anything else could have. Mastyr vampire wraith-pairs were impossible for a single ruling mastyr to defeat and here were a dozen, as well as Margetta, and all heading for their east flank.
Rosamunde became fixed on her aunt, the woman who had killed her own sister. Hatred wasn’t quite what she felt for the Ancient Fae. The feeling was much broader and deeper. She despised the woman, who had all this amazing power and ability, but no heart or conscience. She’d killed countless realm-folk and enslaved thousands more.
She’d
built an army by kidnapping unwilling realm-folk and turning them into monsters, ready to obey her will no matter what.
Maybe it was the sharing of Stone’s powers, but as she watched Margetta, she knew what needed to be done. But would Stone agree to it?
You and I need to take Margetta on. What do you say?
~ ~ ~
Yes.
Stone felt Rosamunde’s focus as though it was his own. His gaze, like hers, had become fixed on Margetta. A profound need to stay close to Rosamunde came over him, a sensation that felt more fae than vampire, elf or troll, another indication he was bonded to Rosamunde.
He drew close, though he didn’t touch her. Instead, he felt the elf-lord power begin to rumble around the promontory.
So, we’re doing this then, you and me?
We are. She smiled up at him. There wasn’t a hint of doubt in her telepathic voice.
He switched mental paths and turned the reins of the army over to Ian.
What’s your plan? Ian asked.
Stone brought Rosamunde into the telepathy. Rosamunde and I are going after the Ancient Fae and her band of mastyr vampire wraith-pairs.
Silence returned for a hard moment. He could almost feel Ian’s vampire determination rising strong. The ruling mastyrs will join you, including me. I’ve trained my seconds to handle our force and we’ve drilled as you’ve taught us to for months now.
Stone needed another opinion. Rosamunde, thoughts?
Ian’s right. We need all the ruling mastyrs involved. But there’s something more.
What’s that? Yet even as he asked the question, he knew the answer and his heart started thumping in his chest. Holy fuck. Then as a group, all nine ruling mastyrs will share the elf-lord power.
That’s it.
Then nothing can stop us now.
The air boiled with excitement. Ian delivered Stone’s orders and within seconds all eight mastyrs flanked Stone and Rosamunde, four on one side, four on the other. Stone explained what was about to happen, including a brief sketch of the elf-lord power that originated in Ferrenden Peace.
All the mastyrs levitated in a line at the promontory and he let the elf-lord power flow.
He sensed the thrill that each vampire experienced as the power hit. At the same time, he felt his bond with Rosamunde grow stronger, so much so that the elf-lord power sparked violet and green hues all around them. The world that was a place of energies and frequencies had united in this moment to form a formidable array against the most dangerous entity in the Nine Realms.
Margetta kept her mastyr vampire wraith-pairs circling around her. Stone knew it was more than just for protection. He could see things now he’d never seen before.
Margetta’s power streamed in long rivers, reaching each of the pairs but also flying in heavy constant waves toward her army. It was no wonder she’d been after Stone. With what he’d experienced with Rosamunde, Margetta’s abilities would have put them, as a couple, into the stratosphere.
Stone remained levitating with Rosamunde thirty yards away from Margetta. At half that distance, her mastyr vampire wraith-pairs waited. Margetta paid no heed to her Invictus security force, but continued to gather her power. She wasn’t beautiful anymore now that her face was lined with deepening crags.
Rosamunde pathed, She looks like a haggard witch. What happened?
I’m not sure, but it started in the ice cave. The more she used the elf-lord power, the worse she became.
It’s fitting somehow.
I would agree.
Though Margetta also now streamed the elf-lord power, he and Rosamunde were a match for her. They also had an advantage that Margetta didn’t. He sensed that all the ruling mastyrs knew what was about to happen and each was ready. The blood rose bond they’d each achieved with the women given to them by the fates, had taught each man to be open, to trust, and to embrace the powers that came to him.
Power was what Stone summoned in bountiful waves. The elf-lord power might not have a mind, but their world had created a force by which the Ancient Fae could be defeated.
One with Rosamunde, together they continued to channel the elf-lord energy, dispersing it down the line both directions. The ruling mastyrs began to shout and raise their fists as each experienced the boost.
Margetta responded by revving up her power, which started flashing in brilliant gold and black streaks.
He gave the order to have the ruling mastyrs surround Margetta and her wraith-pairs. The mastyrs took up the same array as at Stone’s private lake so that Gerrod was on the other side of Margetta, directly opposite Stone.
When the elf-lord power reached its pinnacle, Stone gave the order to commence fighting. Each man chose his target and the battle was on. Red and blue energies clashed midair and rose high in the dark night sky.
Stone let his battle power build in his hands and Rosamunde, now sharing his power, did the same. The time for taking Margetta on approached quickly.
A wave of pure gold energy streamed in the direction of Margetta’s army. He heard her army’s battle cry and the Combined Forces almost at the same time.
Harris, tell me what’s going on. I can’t see the battlefield from my position.
Harris’s voice came back strong. We’re advancing, most levitating in swift flight. The two forces will clash in three … two … one.
Stone felt the mass collision as though he was in the mix himself.
The ruling mastyrs fought hard against the mastyr vampire wraith-pairs. Margetta fed those pairs with more power. Stone opened wider to the elf-lord power and channeled more and more of the powerful frequency to the ruling mastyrs. With that power, each mastyr was more than a match for the Invictus pairs.
Stone stayed close to Rosamunde and felt her level of concentration. She channeled the power as well, only she kept her full attention on Margetta.
Then he understood. This was for Rosamunde, to avenge her mother’s death.
Take her, Stone commanded.
~ ~ ~
Rosamunde had never used her battle power before, but it felt as natural to her as if she’d been wielding the powerful frequency for centuries. She sensed Stone was feeding power to the ruling mastyrs, which gave her permission to focus on the woman who had caused so much trouble in the Nine Realms for as long as she’d lived in their world.
All her life, she’d known she was inferior to Margetta in power and even in the capacity to gain power. Now, because of her bond with Stone, she was her aunt’s equal.
She lifted her arms and let her violet power flow. The moment it did, Margetta’s eyes widened in alarm and she returned fire with massive waves of her black-and-gold frequency. The battling energies met in the middle, a colliding of vibrations that sent sparks rising hundreds of feet into the air.
Rosamunde couldn’t believe the difference in her ability. She pathed to Stone. I can hold Margetta like this indefinitely. Want to take advantage of it?
Hell, yeah.
She felt Stone encompass the ruling mastyrs in group telepathy once more, while including her at the same time. Rosamunde is holding Margetta in battle. Now’s the time to finish off these pairs.
The sudden resulting shift as the eight mastyrs doubled their efforts, began a cascade of failing mastyr vampire wraith-pairs. The elf-lord power was helping them to win the night.
Rosamunde never flagged, but kept her focus. Yet she could tell by the shrieking of the wraiths that the tide of battle had turned. From her periphery, she watched as the dying pairs began falling one after the other to the ground. It was a long way down, at least a hundred feet, so not much would remain of these deadly Invictus.
Margetta, part wraith, began to shriek as well, a sound that practically split the night sky in two. It was designed to disable a weaker opponent. But Rosamunde’s time running missions with Stone, as well as a thousand years of waiting, had made her strong and she held her ground.
As each of the ruling mastyrs slayed a wraith-pair, soon the Ancient Fae lo
st her security team and was now surrounded by nine powerful mastyrs.
Rosamunde’s arms sang with the power she wielded and still the sparks rose into the dark like an extraordinary stream of violet, gold and black fireworks.
She felt Stone shift his telepathy to Harris, though he included Rosamunde as well. What’s happening on the ground?
Margetta’s army is in disarray. We’re not sure what’s going on, but at least half her force has no will to fight and they’ve laid down arms. But we’re pressing on, taking prisoners of those who’ve given up and continuing to battle against those who are still actively engaged in the fight. Whatever you’re doing up there, keep doing it!
Stay after the army. Don’t let up.
Yes, Commander.
Rosamunde finally understood the reality of Margetta’s army, and why she’d pursued Stone as hard as she had: Margetta controlled her entire force through her own power. But having to use a portion of her energy to keep from being submerged by Rosamunde’s battle power, she’d severed her connected to both the now defunct mastyr vampire wraith-pairs and a large portion of her army.
They were so close to taking her out for good.
As Rosamunde continued to fire at Margetta, the ruling mastyrs began moving in. Stone put his hand on her back and physically urged her forward. She moved with him and as she did, her battle energy increased.
Her arms shook with the level of the vibration that her battle energy created. Stone slid behind her and surrounded her with his body. The vibrations settled down quickly and her violet stream continued to grow in strength.
Stone’s telepathic voice hit her mind in a group contact. Ruling mastyrs, move low to use an upward angle to prevent crossfire, then release your battle power at will.
She watched from her peripheral vision as all the ruling mastyrs levitated to lower positions so that each would utilize his battle energy in an upward trajectory. In that way, friendly fire could be avoided.
When the barrage began, Margetta tried to create a gold shield around herself, but each effort diminished the energy she could stream toward Rosamunde. She shrieked harder still as Rosamunde’s battle energy hit her dead on.
