“Yes, Alaster.” Kendra threw herself into his arms. “I will, and completing our bond here will only make us stronger.” Taking his hand, she led him to the arch.
“You must enter the arch alone, first, Kendra. It must settle the magic upon you. Then, I will join you, and we will speak our vows and consummate our union.” He released her hand and gave her a gentle shove toward the arch. “It waits for you.”
Slowly, with no small amount of trepidation, Kendra approached the archway. Made of stone, in the center of the island, the arch itself was nearly ten feet wide and twenty feet deep.
“Do I walk through or just stand beneath it?”
“You’ll know as soon as you enter the arch. What the magic of the mountain wishes, varies with every heir. Step inside and you will know.” Leaning down, he pressed a quick kiss against her mouth. “Now go.”
Turning, Kendra stepped inside the arch. Energy immediately swirled around her. In the air, she breathed it in, much as though she had breathed in the water in the magical lake. Her skin tingled, her hair dried immediately and the magic surrounded her in a blanket of warmth.
At the center of the archway, the air grew thick and the magic settled around her. Her arms and legs spread wide as the power lifted her into the air. Bright light shone from the arch, bathing her in its magical glow.
Heir to the Clan of the Shimmering Bow, do you accept the mantle of leadership? the strange, deep voice of the mountain asked. Though it was deep, Kendra felt the feminine threads. Now that Alaster had referred to the mountain as a female, it was obvious.
“Yes.” Kendra closed her eyes when the light grew brighter and brighter. “I accept the mantle of leadership.”
Will you use the power with compassion and wisdom?
“I will do my best to do so, yes.” She bit her lip, wondering if what she said wasn’t good enough. Still, she couldn’t say that she would always be wise. Hell, she was in her twenties. Who could possibly always be wise? Not to mention the fact that she was a twenty-something girl from Earth and knew nothing of the ways of this world?
Your honesty is wise. Your trepidation on entering an unknown body of water is wise and your need to help the sick proves your compassion. You are the one; the magic is yours. Rule wisely.
The magic lowered her back to the ground and released her. She didn’t know why, but something told her that she needed to backtrack. She couldn’t walk through the opposite end without Alaster by her side. Turning, she walked back. Standing still within the arch, she held out her hand.
“Will you bond with me here?” She glanced around the cavern, for the first time noticing the illuminated gems and the light of the magic glowing around them. “I can’t think of a more beautiful place to get married. Can you?”
“No, Your Majesty, I cannot.” He grinned at her raised brows. “Just as your father was my king, you are now my queen.” He bowed low, looking rather courtly for a naked man, before taking her hand and stepping into the arch.
The magic surrounded them, lifted them as they kissed and enjoyed each other. Kendra held to his muscular arms as he made her his. Their passion burned and pleasure burst over them both, carrying them to a magical place where their hearts joined together as one. Just as they both reached their peak, the magic concentrated and coalesced into a pinprick of light. The magical laser beam drew on their flesh just above their collarbones. It left behind a glowing tattoo of a shimmering bow and arrow surrounded by the shape of a heart.
The magic jumped and arced between the identical tattoos, joining them with a mystical bond before gently lowering them to the ground within the arch where they fell into an exhausted sleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter Ten
“I don’t feel any different,” Kendra said as she walked into the sunlight, her fingers laced with Alaster’s. “Do you?”
“I feel invigorated, happy and like the strongest man in the world. You don’t feel any different?” He smiled down at her, tongue in cheek. “I take that as a challenge, my queen. Tonight, I shall see what I can do to make you feel something spectacular, since I have apparently failed in my duty to you, lady wife.”
“You know what I meant.” Her cheeks burned as he stared down at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I meant that I don’t feel magical. Shouldn’t I feel something?”
“I have no idea, my love.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “But, we should get back to town.” He rested a hand over his stomach. “I have a bad feeling, and I would rather not risk the life of our new queen so soon after she’s taken on the mantle of power.”
“Too bad, twinkling spring.”
Alaster’s smile disappeared, and he stiffened at her side.
“We are the Clan of the Shimmering Bow, Sculoul. At least our people are not associated with the necrotic body parts of our enemies.” His lip curled as he addressed the man dressed in the skin of his kills, the scull of a ram sitting upon his head like a hat.
“I will be proud to wear your scull as a trophy.” The stranger smiled, showing the gaps in his teeth and let out a maniacal laugh as he pointed the tip of his spear toward Kendra. “She wears the mantle of power but knows not how to use it. She wears the cloak of leadership but has no wisdom to rule her people. She is as dead today as her father and grandmother before her.”
“My grandmother isn’t dead, and she is not going to die.” Kendra tried to push past Alaster to stand before the deceitful Sculoul warrior, but Alaster pulled her back and tucked her beneath his shoulder.
“You will not take my queen without a fight. I will die for her. Our people will die before they let the scourge of her kingdom touch even a grain of sand she walks upon.”
“Then, our war begins and ends here, glowing arrow.”
Alaster growled at the other man’s insolence.
“Don’t, Alaster. It’s what he wants.” Kendra turned her attention to the Sculoul warrior and those who accompanied him. Smiling, she waved them forward. “Come on, stinky. You might think I know nothing of the magic, but that’s the thing.” She turned her smile hard. “It’s magic, and it tells me what to do. Do you care to test that?”
“Yes. I would love to test the magic of the interloper.” A new man pushed through the warriors before them. He was huge, the same size as Alaster, maybe bigger, if that were possible. “I challenge the new queen of the Clan of the Shimmering Bow.”
“Then, as regent protector, I accept your challenge, Charchuk.” Alaster placed himself between Kendra and her would-be attacker.
“Ah, you are mistaken, Alaster. You are no longer regent.” Charchuk laughed loudly. “Our plans couldn’t have gone better. You see—” His saddle creaked as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the horse’s neck. “Unless I am mistaken, you and your... queen,” he said with a curl of his lip, “Have bonded. That makes you her consort. By the laws of your own people, you can no longer be her protector, and since she has not yet appointed a new regent, she must fight this battle herself.”
“Over my dead body.” Alaster stepped forward with a snarl.
“It’s okay, Alaster.” Kendra rested her hand on his forearm, gently holding him to her.
“You haven’t a chance.” Turning, he met her gaze. “I can’t...” His gaze hardened. “I won’t stand here and watch him kill you.”
“Who say’s I’m going to die?” She smiled softly, giving his arm a squeeze. Lowering her voice, she whispered. “Remember what the lady mountain said? We were purified together, and we will be strong together anywhere there is magic. I can do this. I know I can. He has might, yes. But we have right and wisdom and compassion. Surely all those things are stronger.”
“I can’t.” He shook his head. “I’m not strong enough to watch you die.”
“Then don’t watch.” She raised her chin. “As you said, I am your queen and I forbid you to interfere.” With a wave of her arm, she sent him hurtling back to a tree where the magic would
hold him until she won this battle.
“I accept your challenge here, Sculoul, under one condition.”
“What is your condition, Queen?” Charchuk raised a brow. “I will not spare your life.” He glanced at Alaster. “Though I could be convinced to spare the life of your consort.”
“That isn’t it.”
“Then, what is it?”
“Here, in front of your men, swear to me that when I win—”
“If you win,” Charchuk said with a laugh.
“When I win,” Kendra continued, “your people become my people and the Sculouls cease to exist. Never will they raise arms against my people again.”
“That is such an easy condition to agree to,” he said with a laugh, “because you will not survive long enough for it to matter.”
“Then, you agree to my terms?” She crossed her arms and met his gaze.
“Of course.” He dismounted, grasped his sword from its scabbard and turned to face her. “And for good measure...” He turned to his men. “If I should lose, you will honor my agreement with a blood oath.”
The men pulled daggers from the sheathes at their waists, cut the palms of their hands and said, “By blood oath, we swear our allegiance to the winner of this challenge.”
“Thank you,” Kendra said with a grin. “I feel much better about this now.”
“As do I,” Charchuk said as he lunged toward her, his sword raised for a killing blow. “You should have armed yourself.”
“I did.” Kendra held out her arms with a serene smile. “I have two.”
Balls of light appeared in the palms of her hands. Charchuk, within sword’s reach, swung mightily, his blade slicing through Kendra as the power arced between her hands.
“What... what just happened? I struck you down!”
“Obviously not,” Kendra replied as she drew more energy within her. “Don’t feel bad. You gave it your best shot, and I’m going to be nicer to you than you ever would have been to me.” At that moment, some of her people arrived pulling Alaster’s horse, Cirrus, behind them. She called out, “Do nothing. This is a challenge. I don’t want it compromised.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” The man wore the uniform of the captain of the guard. The men behind him nodded and sat still upon their horses.
“You see, Charchuk, you attacked an old man whose power had waned. Had you approached my father in his prime, as you did me, he would have killed you, as is my right.”
Charchuk heaved his sword again, hoping to deal a killing blow. Again, it went through her but did no harm.
“This is what it means to wield real power, Charchuk.” Bringing her hands together in front of her, she pushed the energy away from her, hitting Charchuk in the center of the chest. Screaming, he disappeared in a flash of light, leaving his weapons and his clothes behind.
As one, his men dismounted, knelt at her feet and disarmed themselves. “We give to you our fealty, my Queen,” said the one she guessed to be the captain of the guard. “We place ourselves upon your mercy.”
“Henceforth, you will take your orders from Alaster, my king.” Kendra glanced back at Alaster and released him from the tree. “He is not my consort.” Reaching up, she grasped his shirt and pulled it aside exposing his left collarbone. “We are one.”
“You could have told me you could do that.” Alaster stalked toward her, his anger evident.
“And ruin Charchuk’s surprise?” She shook her head with a grin. “Not on your life.”
A pain shot through her chest, and she gasped. “Gram! I’ve got to get to Gram!”
Grasping her hand, Alaster pulled her to his horse, tossed her up on to his back and climbed up behind her.
“Take these men into the village. Find them uniforms and remove that ugly tattoo from their arms. As our queen has arranged through the challenge, the Sculoul are no more. Assign a contingent to return to their village with them to inform them of the news. Let one return before you to prepare them. If he is a man of honor, there will be no resistance.
“I will ride with my queen to save the life of her grandmother.” He spun his horse around and heeled him to a gallop. “I’ll do my best to get you there in time, my love.”
“I know you will.” Kendra squeezed her eyes shut and reached for her grandmother’s life force. “We’ll get there in time. I’m holding her to me.”
The ride home was the longest hour of her life. Alaster rode his horse hard. He was probably harder on the poor beast than he ever had been.
When they stopped outside the house, Alaster slid from the saddle, pulling her down with him. He steadied her on wobbly legs before she pulled free and ran into the house and up the stairs.
Jonah sat beside her, weeping, his head bowed over her listless hand. He looked up when she ran into the room. “I can’t bring her out of it.” He shook his head. “I can’t convince her to stay. The poison has done too much damage.”
“Shh... Grandpa.” She kissed his forehead. “I’m here. I can heal her.”
“Nothing, no one can bring her back. She’s too far gone.” He met her gaze, his expression stricken. “I love her. By all that is good, I love her more than life. How do I say goodbye?”
“You don’t.” She glanced down at their joined hands. “You keep on holding her hand. Tell her you love her. Make her fight.”
She rounded the bed. Kneeling at her grandmother’s side, she placed one hand over her grandmother’s eyes, the other over her heart, and she called on the magic. Just as she had with the challenge, she instinctively knew what to do. Concentrating on the poison flowing through the older woman’s veins, she separated it from her blood and forced it out through her pores. Light spilled from her hands, the glow pulsing through her grandma’s body, forcing the poison out and filling her blood with the nutrients needed to heal her.
Kendra’s heart skipped a beat when her grandma’s hand grasped her wrist and the older woman opened her eyes.
Clouded with confusion and pain, they slowly cleared to the beautiful blue Kendra remembered.
“You came.” She glanced at her husband who sat staring, his jaw slack. “I told you not to bring her here, Jonah. That brute Charchuk will kill her, just as he killed my son. I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her, too.”
“Shh... Gram.” Kendra smoothed the creases on her grandmother’s forehead. “Charchuk is gone. I won the challenge, and he is gone.”
“Then, you are doomed to live a half-life between good and evil. You can never kill with the magic and remain unscathed.” Tears streamed down her grandma’s face at that admission. “I wanted to spare you that.”
“Don’t worry, Gram. You and Gramps raised me well. I didn’t kill him.” She grinned. “I sent him to Earth. If my calculations are correct, he ended up in New York, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty in the year nineteen-ninety... naked. I won’t be lying when I tell his people that he is gone from this world and I have not compromised my soul. The magic demands compassion and that is one thing you have taught me to have in abundance. Now,” she said with a smile, reaching back to clasp Alaster’s hand. “Alaster and I have already said our vows on the mountain with the blessing of Magon. May we say them with your blessing as well? I know you’ve always dreamed you could give me a big wedding. This is your chance.”
About the Author
Dear Reader:
If you’re reading this, I hope it means that you’ve just enjoyed reading one of my books. Always a romantic, I started weaving little fantasies for my friends at the tender age of fifteen.
After complaining to my husband that my favorite authors didn’t write fast enough, he asked a fateful question. “Why don’t you write one of your own while you’re waiting?”
Once I started, he couldn’t stop me. I write in the morning, before work and during my breaks at the day job, and I write at night when I should be relaxing. I’ve even been known to write in my sleep. Sometimes it even mak
es sense!
I grew up in Southwest Florida where I met and married the love of my life. My husband was in the Navy for twenty years, so if you wonder where I have gotten some of my ideas, I blame him. I suggest you do the same. He’s always saying he has wide shoulders. Let’s load them up, shall we?
Currently, I live in Michigan, seven miles from the nearest grocery store. I love living in the country. It gives me the peace and quiet I need to continue to write these stories for you. It also shows me a lot of natural beauty that I try to share with you in my books. While my titles may be dedicated to certain individuals who have touched my life in differing ways, please remember, every one of them is written for you.
My most recent dream is to continue what I do—to share more stories with anyone willing to read them. My new dream is to be able to pursue both my writing and my husband fulltime. Do you think he’ll run?
Where to find Tianna:
www.tiannaxander.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TiannaXander/
http://twitter.com/#!/TiannaXander
http://www.myspace.com/tianna_xander
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=635929605
A SmokeJumper’s Christmas
Book 2.5
By
Elle Boon
Chapter One
Cammie rubbed her belly, loving the feel of the tiny foot kicking for all he was worth. Soon, she’d hold her little guy in her arms. Snow drifting down outside the large picture window drew her eyes, making her wish Keanu was home to hold her. Their son clearly agreed with her thoughts as another round of kicking had her shifting in the overstuffed chair. Finding a comfortable position was becoming a harder chore with each passing day.
Romancing the Sweet Side Page 4
