A few more stones burst to pebbles creating a large access point to the inner bailey of Shadowmere. Only then did Kaitriana rein in the light force and shoot a wink at him over her shoulder, “Nor yours, Vampire.”
It was true. His features half-lit by the shadowy light of the moon and dressed for war, her male looked ruggedly fierce. The determination in his eye also held an edge of excitement and he looked the invincible warlord that legend painted him to be. His appeal threatened to pull her attention from their well laid plans and she was biting at her lip when she turned back to the task before her.
Various Witch groups had gained the walls and were engaging with the Dark warriors that spilled forth to meet the assault. Lorcan’s attention also quickly returned to the ensuing fight as the Darks shadowed towards their enemies en mass. Kat made her way to one of the openings in the crumbled stone and leapt over it to gain entry to the inner grounds. The Elite formed a formidable defense at her back. Her gaze swept the scene - Witch and Vampire, locked in a play of both sword and magic.
The clang of metal and shouts of pain and triumph mingled with the growing scent of blood. The tangy essence washed over her strongly and Kaitriana felt her fangs extending in response. Ignoring the hunger, another quick survey of the fray brought a satisfied smile to her face. Her Faction was fighting well.
The Fire, Light and Warrior Castes were at the forefront of the assault. As always, the Warrior Caste witches were swinging their swords with might and finding their targets with ease. They were imbued with a strength that equaled the Vampire and a speed that was nearly as swift. The Fire and Light Castes worked in unison wreaking havoc on not only their enemy but on the structure of Shadowmere. These two Castes were not as adept with weaponry as their Warrior Caste kin, but they used their searing powers to make their strikes lethal. When a blow was landed, weapons suffused with light and fire scorched the enemy as if their flesh had met the touch of the sun.
Kat heard Lorcan give the order to bring his own warriors forward. The inner sanctuary of the structure was overrun when his men shadowed within and took positions opposite the Darks. Her short sword remained sheathed; instead she relied on her hands to award death to any foe that ventured too close. Her fiery balls of blue downed the Dark vampires easily.
The chaos of the skirmish did not deter her from her mission. Kaitriana shadowed to situate herself at the top of the massive steps leading to the iron doors of Shadowmere. The looming stretch of black metal represented the last fortification guarding the interior of the structure. If her allies were successful against the Darks in the combat outside the fortress, victory would be theirs once they took the interior of Shadowmere.
The wall had been a solid obstacle. Though she appeared to have downed it effortlessly, the level of magic required had strained her. It was no wonder Shadowmere had been a Dark stronghold for centuries, its defenses were formidable. Kaitriana could feel sinister magic radiating from the metal, hard-packed in the forged iron. Waves of it reached out, brushing against her senses, challenging her with its power. Dropping her head back to her shoulders, she inhaled deeply of the brisk air and her eyes drifted close in concentration.
Her powers were surging so strongly in reaction to the evil force that it was almost painful to experience. A veil of luminous ice-blue color overtook her eyes completely. This outward display was a sign of the level of magic that now pulsed through her; a level of magic seen only hereto before by the long dead Queens. The liquid sheen of blue rolling over her eyes was incandescent when she lifted her head and looked at the entry once again. Light was not only centered in her hands but seemed to emanate from within; even the tips of her curls were dancing with blue flames.
Lorcan did not see her shadow but had immediately felt her absence. Before he or any of his men could follow to protect her, his group was overrun by a host of Dark warriors. If any shadowed to the girl at this moment, it would leave the others to fall under the onslaught. Understanding this, as a unit they cut through their opposition, vicious now in their combat in order to reach Kaitriana with all haste.
His view of her was limited by the press of Darks. Lorcan savagely removed the heads of two with a single whistling pass of his weapon, seeing them only as obstacles in his mission to keep watch over the witch. A disturbing wave of energy rolled over the grounds simultaneous with a loud rumble. It was followed immediately by a hammering groan of metal that reverberated through the courtyard. Lorcan glanced over in time to see Kaitriana pick herself up from the stone steps and irritably brush dust from her behind. By her expression, he had no doubt she was sharing a litany of foul curses with the still standing door.
The drama unfolding on the steps was enough to gain his undivided attention. Judging by the hordes of Vampire and Witch that now stood motionless, it was for them as well. Both Light and Dark were spellbound watching the Chosen. Kaitriana looked otherworldly surrounded by the blue aura with that sparkling shroud covering her eyes. Her appearance left no lingering doubt that the dainty witch held more strength of power than even the Ancient Queens. Her hands were braced against the doors to Shadowmere and her mouth moved in a chant, but the words were audible to none.
The door had almost given way under her last strike, but the Dark power had slammed it back with a wicked shriek of twisting iron. She had been tossed her on her butt by the energy from it. The magic protecting it had taken a swipe at her and the blow felt physical. She had ascertained that the witchcraft facing her was not that of one Dark witch but several, and Kaitriana was thrilled by this contest against so many of her adversaries. Chanting again, she was taking playfully swats at its defenses when her face lit with sudden inspiration.
Taking a few paces back, she was oblivious to her audience. She remained immobile save for the tapping of her booted toe against the landing as seconds clicked by. A confident smile formed and the mute recitation of her magical words resumed. Very nonchalantly she pulled her hands forward. Two tiny bolts, one of fire and the other of light, struck the metal. The massive iron sheets crumbled as though paper and fell inward to the interior floor with a crash.
Kaitriana danced a circle in her elation. Clapping her hands and laughing exuberantly, she basked in her victory, forgetting entirely that she was standing in the middle of a thousand bloodied warriors. The cheers of her followers rivaled the bitter obscenities shrieked by her enemies.
Delighted for her, Lorcan regained his awareness and raised his sword in time to stop the contact of the one sweeping towards his neck. The Darks had become rabid in their fight with the fall of the main defense and the maelstrom erupted once again. The Elite were quickly cutting through their enemies this time, settling into the rhythm of the fight. They made progress towards where the witch still stood on the steps admiring her handiwork.
Noting their advancement and intended destination, a group of the attacking vampires shadowed to the steps directly below and behind the girl. Kaitriana remained unaware of the immediate threat; her focus was only on the darkened interior of the entry. Lorcan could not shout warning to her over the din of the battle in the bailey. The leader of the group brought his sword higher and took the next step up, positioning himself for a killing blow. Seeing the threat, the Elite circled more tightly in with one another and Colm shoved at Lorcan, yelling so as to be heard, “Go!”
He did not hesitate, appearing the next instant beside his witch. The impact of his body drove her to the ground beneath his weight as the steel made its arc downward. The blade caught the armor on his shoulder and Lorcan was immediately rolling, weapon in hand to take on the assault from the Darks. He looked on in disbelief as the four on the steps disappeared with a blinding flash.
The immediate threat was gone, but being in the midst of a battle did not allow him to either coddle or throttle Kaitriana as he wanted. He was relieved that she was safe but furious over her mindless stunt. Fury won out and he dragged her roughly to her feet, shouting, “There was a reason I forbid this. You almost we
re killed because you do not have enough sense or experience to maintain focus on your surroundings.”
Rubbing her bruised arm, Kaitriana whirled on him but her answering shout of anger was interrupted by sardonic laughter behind her. The orbs of magic that formed in her hands were unnecessary. She turned and found herself craning her neck to look up at a Light warrior - Caedmon. Her nose wrinkled in distaste, no effort made to conceal her aversion.
The leader of the Spell Casters had darkly tanned features that contrasted sharply with his bright green eyes and shaggy black hair. Kaitriana had no doubt that he was responsible for the disappearance of the Darks; rumor was that the Caste Leader was as powerful as he was ruthless. She continued to glare up at him and her eyes went inky black when he reached out and rumpled her hair in a patronizing gesture.
The male witch’s eyes were glinting with amusement when he shifted his attention to Lorcan, “You need to keep a closer eye on your pet, Vampire.”
To her surprise rather than issue the scathing retort that Kaitriana expected, Lorcan actually laughed, “She makes that task rather difficult, Cade.” Incredulous, she watched the pair of males as Lorcan reached forward and smacked the other hard on the back, “I appreciate your assistance. I expect your fee for rescuing the little hellion will be exorbitant?”
Lorcan circled his arm tightly around her waist and was moving her to the side of the doorway, when Kaitriana muttered under her breath, “Arrogant BOS.” She did not appreciate the witch bastard talking about her dismissively in her very presence. Kaitriana began to squirm. She wanted to see the interior of their newly captured holding, but she held at the tight squeeze delivered by Lorcan.
Cade’s next words shocked her, “No friend, this one is on me. Sending those Darks on an unexpected vacation to the equator was particularly rewarding. It should be around noon and cloudless there.”
Friend? She gazed back and forth between the two with dark suspicion in her eyes. Her vampire actually liked this male witch? The displeasure over the thought was obvious on her face and directed at them both now. Of course Lorcan would like the surly conceited ass; Cade was one of the most arrogant in her breed so the two were peas in a pod.
After Lorcan’s answering jest, Cade casually folded his arms over his chest and insolently gave her the once over. Frowning at her with disapproval in his eyes, his voice was full of reprimand, “It is ‘arrogant SOB’ pet.” When he tired of the staredown with her, Cade dismissed her easily by stepping around the pair. Giving Lorcan a parting smack on the shoulder, he tossed back, “If your witch keeps running off and finding trouble, I can cast you a leash that even her powers cannot break. That one will cost you a fortune, Lorcan.” Cade’s mocking laughter echoed as he stepped inside Shadowmere.
The Darks were retreating, overwhelmed as Kaitriana had predicted by the sheer number of Light and their surprise attack. Of course, the additional help from hundreds of Vampire warriors had not hurt their cause either. The fall of the formerly indestructible fortress defenses had been the final turn in the battle. Light forces now swept into the building and the few lingering enemy took it as a cue to hasten their retreat.
Kaitriana pushed out of his hold. Her eyes were snapping when she jabbed Lorcan in the chest, “You should not have allowed him to speak of me like that.”
Lorcan cocked a brow and studied her face for a moment. He reached out and slid his hand into the heavy fall of her hair and slowly wound her curls around his fist. His stare was intense. Kaitriana could feel the power in it and she shifted uneasily. With a jerk he had her smashed against his hard frame and her head dragged back, “Cade is a witch and you are the Chosen. Perhaps you should not have allowed him to speak of you like that.”
Uncomfortable with his point, Kat issued a pouty huff and averted her gaze. When he bent her back over his arm and gave her hair a tug she quickly returned it to him. He voice was deceptively soft, “And if you ever pull a stunt as stupid as that again, I will pay him handsomely for that leash. As it stands now, I am strongly considering locking you in my rooms and punishing you for a week.”
Limited in her struggle by his hard hold, her eyes flashed with her outrage, “You would not dare!”
Unwilling to contain the urge any longer, Lorcan leaned down and ran his fangs over her neck, “Wouldn’t I? You forget who and what I am, Kaitriana. After your behavior of the past week - your defiance and your downright insolence - I would dare that and more. Push me further and I will allow my instincts to override my reason and remind you why it is unwise to toy with me.”
Pulling her head further to the side, he took a small nip at her neck before continuing, “You will give me your vows Witch and then I will let you know if I am in a mood to forgive you or punish you. Your vows – tonight – because I will tolerate no more disobedience from you.”
The stern set of his features coupled with his harsh promise of his words sent a shiver through her. As Kendrick and a few other Caste Leaders exited Shadowmere, Lorcan released his hold. He could tell by the brightness in her eyes that she was fuming but at least she was holding her tongue in front of the others. Small progress there. Settling his arms over his chest, he waited as they stopped before Kaitriana, all babbling at once over their great success.
Lorcan heard Kaitriana give the instruction to destroy the building. He immediately stepped into the center of the group shaking his head to contradict her order. Incensed further over his countermand of her directive, Kat placed her hands on her hips, her tone determined, “Yes, Lorcan. I want all Darks to look at the destruction of Shadowmere and be able to bear witness to the power of the Light.”
Exasperated, Lorcan ran his hand through his hair, “No, Kat. It is a solid, defensible fortress. It should be maintained, not destroyed merely out of vengeful spite.”
Tossing her hair back her expression was implacable when she responded, “No, it must be leveled to send the appropriate message.”
Done arguing, Lorcan motioned to the Elite that were loitering near the broken wall. Shaking his head, he scolded her, “Such action will send the message that this new leader of the Witch is as foolish as all in the past. The reason the Witch do not have the wealth that we Vampire possess is because you are illogical when it comes to these matters. This holding is an asset. If you are unwilling to view it as such, the Vampire will claim it as a spoil from the battle, as is our due for lending our support to your campaign tonight.”
Her spine stiffened over the insult and she hissed angrily, “Many things are more important than wealth Lorcan, and we did not ask for the assistance of the Vampire. You have no claim.”
Ignoring her comeback, Lorcan nodded to Broderick, “Bring fifty of the men back here with you. It is yours so long as you continue in your allegiance to me and so long as you can defend it.” Broderick nodded and immediately shadowed off, unable to fully contain his grin.
Kaitriana stamped her foot, seething, “Absolutely not! I did not give you Shadowmere and it is not yours to give away.” She rose up on her toes, her eyes clashing with his when she whispered, “You are undermining my authority, Vampire. This was my mission and it is my victory.”
Jabbing at his chest yet again, her voice raised enough to be heard by the others, “You have no say in this Lorcan, absolutely none.” Peering around him, she imperiously commanded the Caste leaders, “Leave nothing but rubble.”
His look turned dangerous and his hand snaked out lightening fast to settle around her neck. Curling his fingertips around her nape he pulled her forward, ignoring all others, “You would be wise to remember who you are pledged to Witch. Do you want me to ask Jortha for a spell to remove your marking?” Lorcan took satisfaction over the shock in her eyes at the suggestion and went on, “If you were not such an irrational species perhaps your entire breed would not be impoverished. To truly lead the Witch you need to think beyond battles and revenge, you need to also consider their welfare.”
Anger had light blossoming in her palms but she
closed her fists, squashing it before she scorched his eyebrows as she wanted. Her eyes turned black, fangs extending as she growled, “I remember full well whom I am pledged too – he happens to be a pompous, egotistical vampire that…”
Kendrick intervened by stepping into the line of sight of both, interrupting the remainder of her insult, “Kaitriana, let the vampires have Shadowmere. We did benefit from their assistance.” When she directed a contemptuous look at him, he faltered and quickly added, “We possess Laverock once more, do you not consider that a more than fair exchange?”
The icy blast of Lorcan’s gaze was palpable, pinning first Kendrick then landing on Kat. She was gloating when she looked up at him while responding to Kendrick’s suggestion, “I do agree, Kendrick. You make a very good point, quite a rational assessment.”
Kaitriana nodded haughtily to Lorcan, all the while taking heed of his darkening gaze and the tightening of his fingers at her neck, “You may have Shadowmere as the spoils of this battle. Do with it what you will.” She gave a shrug to dislodge his hold and took the opportunity to shadow back from his reach.
Lorcan took a threatening step forward, his voice raised for all within range, “You do not have Laverock, it belongs to me, Kaitriana. As I told you at the beginning of this night, you need to leave the place as does your kinfolk.”
She merely took another step back and nodded to Kendrick, “Take our warriors home, Kendrick. I will return shortly.”
The male witch stepped away, assessing the situation to be beyond his skills of diplomacy. He paused to exchange hushed words with the few that had gathered and then proceeded into the interior of the keep. The others exited to spread the order to those remaining on the grounds.
Taking a deep breath Kaitriana held up a hand to Lorcan, in part to ward him off, in part supplication. The edge left her tone, “Lorcan, be reasonable. Laverock is an heirloom of the Witch; it belonged to the Warrior Caste before your father forbade their presence. It should be returned to them.” Her voice turned beseeching, “Lorcan, it will help reunite our breeds. Please let them remain.”
Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series Page 21
