by Billi Jean
“The canyon will protect us and slow them. There are parts that are sheltered by the overhanging rocks. We’ll stay under those. They won’t see us. We’ll be able to hear them. We have the advantage if we stay low. I know it seems wrong, but I’ve been through here before. If we go up high, we’re exposed from all sides.”
Stephano relaxed somewhat and exchanged a frown with Ajax, but focused back on Maeve. Her eyes were too wide, her face too pale, but she seemed to nod ever so slightly. For me to follow Brennan? The man hadn’t led them wrong yet, but he’d kept this from them. Stephano guessed since he’d interrupted his seduction of his sister.
“Fine. We do it your way. The first sign of trouble, we ensure Maeve is secure.” Stephano kept the censure from his tone by sheer willpower. If she were mine to watch over, I’d never lead her into peril.
“Of course,” Brennan snapped.
“Alrick, bring Garret back in.” Ajax cast an eye to the clouds. “It’ll rain soon. That’ll aid us, and slow them. Whoever they are,” he clarified, giving Stephano a firm frown no doubt meant to back off on his aggression toward Brennan.
“Rain will hide our trail and slow them down,” Brennan agreed. This time he spoke more to Maeve then them. She didn’t appear reassured, but gave her brother a small smile Stephano took for her acceptance that they were going the right way.
Why do I feel we’re not?
Chapter Seven
An hour later, they were jittery, ready for anything. Only that anything wasn’t happening. Stephano felt sure they were missing something. But each time he reined in to stand in his stirrups and stare back down the canyon, he saw nothing to indicate pursuit.
They’d ridden far, using a hidden path, shielded by the high walls of rocks. He still felt a tingling in his shoulder blades he’d learned never to ignore. Ajax was as tense, scowling so fiercely he’d have a permanent mark between his brows.
Garret hadn’t returned but Darren and Alrick seemed assured he would when he found something. Stephano wasn’t as certain. He shifted his shoulders, not used to riding with companions he didn’t know well. Ajax caught his eye and jerked his head to indicate the trail behind them.
Stephano spotted a path leading up through the rocks. “Where does that lead?” He reined in. Everyone else did as well.
Brennan wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve and squinted up at the pass. “It’s a look-out. From there you can see the valley we left behind, along with the pass we’re heading toward.”
“I’ll ride up and see if I can’t spot Garret.”
“See if you can’t pinpoint where they’re coming from,” Ajax added as he swung his mount around closer to Maeve’s. “Garret can take care of himself. We need to know if there is someone following us or not.”
Stephano ignored Ajax’s temper and headed up, giving his horse his head so he could lunge up the steep path. The stallion slipped on the shale, but made it to the top. There was no sign of movement. Even the birds were missing. He sensed something building, coming closer, but nothing more.
Waiting, he watched the wilderness for sign of someone following them, or at least Garret. Frustrated and feeling as if they were missing something, he headed back down. Alrick was off his horse, discussing something with Darren, while Ajax was deep in conversation with Brennan. At first he didn’t spot Maeve and his heart gave a hard squeeze. Her hood slipped and revealed her pretty face. Relief made him shudder out a breath and loosen his grip on the reins. Damn, she’s sunk her hooks in deep. He dismissed the thought, knowing that up here, with someone after them, his senses would be heightened over everything. Not because of her.
He urged his tired horse back down going over in his head all that needed done. The horses would need to be fed. The men, too. Maeve’s eyes were red. She would need to rest soon, but he sensed now was not the time. They needed Garret back. And they needed to plan for the night because evening was going to come down quicker up here in the foothills.
“No sign of pursuit.” He dropped his reins and his mount dropped his head. “Or of Garret.”
Alrick nodded tightly. “We keep on.”
“The horses will need tended to soon.”
“Aye, after we make it clear from this canyon,” Brennan called over his shoulder, already moving up the trail.
Darren glanced at them, then took his place, a step behind Alrick. Ajax waited but Stephano motioned him forward so he could draw up next to Maeve. He halted her with a hand on hers. She startled and the brown cloth fell to reveal more of her face.
“I want you to keep that on. It hides you.”
She looked fearful, but drew it back up over her hair.
“If there is an attack, dismount and hide in the trees. That cloak hides you well with the rocks in the canyon. If we’re near a cave, or under an overhang, you’ll blend right in. See those?” He pointed to a small darker spot near the canyon floor. It looked as if she would fit beneath the rocky outcrop. “Hide in something like that. They might not see you.”
She frowned, but at his firm shake of her hands, nodded. Relieved she wasn’t going to resist his lead, or try to show him how tough she was, he released her. “Good. Now back in position.”
It wasn’t until they stopped, hours later, and the trail dipped down that he lost his patience with Garret’s absence. Darren seemed to feel the same way. Alrick was arguing with him in a low voice, but Darren’s intentions to go after his brother were clear.
“I’ll hang back and wait for Garret.” Stephano dismounted and loosened his horse’s cinch, patting his sweaty neck after. “See if you can’t get us through this. If there’s a wider bit of this dry creek bed, there’ll be a place to turn and fight,” he said loudly when Alrick, then Brennan tried to argue. “I’ll gather up Garret from where he got lost, and find you.”
“It’s the best plan,” Ajax said firmly. “These clouds are going to drop a storm on us any time now. We’ll wait for you. Clear the trail and make sure no one is left behind.”
“It’s best to kill them, Narc.” Brennan sounded worried.
“I hadn’t planned on sharing a meal with them.”
Brennan moved his mount closer. “Even one survives, he will go and alert others.” Eyes on the trail, he frowned. “If they’ve trailed us…” He glanced uneasily at his sister who appeared even more frightened. “Then we’re in for a fight.”
“Slavers were never my favorite people.” Stephano bit his tongue. Why does he think these men trail us? Why does it make Maeve so frightened? But he knew. Slavers were keen on beauty. Maeve caught his eye, her expression worried. But one woman, guarded by several men? Who goes for those kind of odds? Obviously, there was more going on here than they were being told.
He let it go. The two had secrets, that was clear. Whatever was really going on could wait, at least until he handled this threat.
“Dead is always safer, anyway. Don’t wait. I’ll catch up.” He watched Ajax take the lead, Maeve now enclosed by Alrick and Darren, her brother at the rear. Maeve didn’t turn back. It was just as well. He could feel the danger nearing. His shoulders bunched as the tension built. Whatever closed in, was more than some slavers happening upon their tracks.
An hour back down their trail he reined his horse to a stop, the sense of unease growing. He stepped his horse forward, letting a denser growth of trees block them from view. Silent now, he waited.
Not even a rustle of leaves alerted him that Garret had returned. The man dropped out of the tree to his left, hand on the forest floor in his crouch as he landed perfectly.
Stephano accessed the man for damage and found none. “Well? What did you find?”
Garret rose to his feet and dusted his hands off. “Slavers. A dozen. Marginally well-armed.”
“A dozen.”
“They’re not impressive. It’s almost not worth the effort.”
“Brennan feels they will bring more after us.”
“Well, that might be true. They have someone on a ch
ain, picking up our scent.”
He studied the Lykae’s expression but found nothing other than determination. “Is it a Lykae?”
Garret shook his head and snorted in disgust. “No, it’s some poor sap, possibly a witch. Warlock maybe.”
“It’s a battle they want?”
This got another shrug and distant look back the way they’d come. He couldn’t tell if Garret listened to something only he heard, or studied the trail, or simply wasn’t going to answer. Finally, Garret glanced at him and something, worry Stephano realized, flashed over his stoic expression. “No, not a battle, I think. They spoke of her.” He jerked his head toward where the rest of their group had gone up the trail.
Stephano felt a shiver race down his spine. “They knew Maeve was with us?”
“They knew we had a woman. They spoke like she would bring a large amount of money. Enough to have them on her trail for weeks.”
The wind picked up, sprinkling large dots of rain on them in a sudden fierce flurry, then died out. He hoped for rain, but didn’t count on it. The mini drizzles lasted seconds, drying up as quickly as they struck the earth. The scent of wetness grew heavier. It would work in their favor. “Since before we met up with Brennan and Maeve?” That news wasn’t good. “Are they from the Dark Faye lands?”
“No. Somewhere down south.” Garret spit and wiped his mouth. “They smell of evil, but there’s no one of power with them. My guess? They serve some beings much like the Dark Faye. The men’s speech is odd, guttural like the men from down south.”
He didn’t ask how Garret knew so much about this land and its people. Garret didn’t speak of his capture. Even though they’d left their realm within minutes of each other, he’d been captured. It’d taken them time to break him free. He must have spoken to one or more of the men from down south.
Stephano tugged on his ear as he thought out the plan. “And they’re not after us, eh? More warriors to fight for them?”
A shake of his head. “They’re after Maeve.”
The words sent a chill over his arms. He studied the light. The sun would set all too soon. The evenings were shorter here. The build-up of a storm was also a factor. Still, a dozen was still a dozen. If even one escaped…
“We hit them from up top.” Stephano didn’t like it, but it was their only option. “I’ll take the left side of the ravine, you the right. We bring them all down.” Garret carried a long bow. It would help. “How many can you take out before they can pin your location?”
“I can move.” Garret pulled an arrow and notched it.
“See you get your half, then, wolf.”
“I’ll get mine. You worry about yours.”
“I never worry about mine.” A dozen was a walk in the park. “We want to prevent them from getting to the canyon. And for going back for aid. Don’t miss.”
Garret’s eyes shimmered golden, revealing his bond with his wolf. “I never miss. We’ll tally up after, Spartan.”
He grinned. “There won’t be a need, wolf.” Almost everyone that knew him thought he knew women well. He didn’t. He knew one thing, and one thing well—killing.
Now that he had an objective, all the built-up adrenaline brought on by unfulfilled lust shot through his veins. Battle. Sex. Both were a pleasure, sometimes one as fulfilling as the other.
Chapter Eight
Maeve tugged her cloak out of the grip of a tree, not caring that the fabric tore. Brennan wasn’t listening to her—not that she could talk. But he was taking full advantage of that fact.
His back was stiff and unyielding, his shoulders bunched in that way she knew meant he was prepared for anything and everything. The cloak that covered her from head to toe was worn by people with a terrible skin disease, but no one would believe that a group of men would be near someone like that. One man, yes, it would work, but not three. Especially not five.
Not that Stephano and Garret had returned. I won’t think on that. Stephano is safe, and no doubt arrogantly dressing poor Garret down for making him ride back for him. It’s us I need to worry about, these men, with me I need to protect.
One of Brennan’s biggest fears was that she would be found, or rumors would spread and she would be found. Evie’s wasn’t only a safe haven from being discovered—Evie had hidden what she was—from everyone. If these men had trailed them, if they knew she was a Siren, then no amount of hiding her under a cloak would stop them. Worse, if whoever was after them was stupid enough to be found, then they weren’t the ones that were their main concern.
She and Brennan had learned early on that stupid people talked. Especially slavers. They bragged about the money they would have from her sale. That meant others would find out about her, and if others knew…those others usually weren’t stupid. They were dangerous. Brennan’s back had the scars to prove it.
She shivered. The wind picked up, carrying with it the heavy scent of warm, wet earth. Rain. She hoped for it. Rain would mask their trail and leave their enemies behind. Better, the trackers she feared might be after them would lose their scent.
If they were using trackers. I can’t let Brennan be hurt. I can’t watch such a thing again.
She rode closer to Brennan and attempted to gain his attention. He shook her off with a stern look. Hurt and even more distressed, she let a tree separate them so she could calm down. She had to get him to listen, but if she broke her silence, she might create more trouble.
Undecided and even more worried, she glanced behind them, hoping to see the tall form of Stephano. For some reason when he’d been close by, she’d felt calmer, safer. As if he would not only protect her, but her brother and everyone else from harm. Instead of him, there was only the dry creek bed sprinkled with sparse trees and brambles running along the narrow trail. No dark hair, no wide grin at catching her worrying over him, no eagle eyes pinned on her.
Why is it taking him so long?
A shift in the breeze was the only warning. It brought with it the unmistakable scent of honeysuckle and the sea. Dark Faye.
She shoved the cloth back from her face, ready to cry a warning when she was knocked off her horse, falling hard into a pile of brambles. The breath left her. Her head hit the ground with a painful crack. She rolled to the side, getting stabbed by sharp thorns as she struggled to breath.
“Maeve!”
Fighting erupted all around. She knew it, knew she had to get up and help her brother, but the knowledge was distant. Her orientation felt odd, as if someone had shaken the ground she’d been standing on. Horses screamed near her, men shouted and cursed. The loud clash of metal hitting metal filled the forest, but her vision grew dim. She fought to draw in a breath. Then another. Each small inhale was a battle that became harder and harder.
No, it can’t end like this. Brennan! I have find Brennan. She gulped in a breath, then another. Half-crying, half-sobbing, she crawled. Thorns dug at her arms and legs but with each breath she managed, her vision cleared.
Near her left, Alrick cried a warning to Darren. She thought Brennan shouted her name again, but she couldn’t be sure over the cursing as they shouted to one another. Then someone did call her name. Ajax!
She crawled through the bushes. A break in the heavy foliage gave her an inch-wide view of horses’ legs, mixed with men wrestling among them, barely avoiding being trampled. She tried to find Ajax or Brennan in the melee. It was impossible. There were too many men, too many savage attacks and quicker counters for her to distinguish who was who.
No matter how hard she struggled to reach them she couldn’t. The brambles caught at her. Ripping her clothes, hair and exposed skin. She tried to break branches so the hole was bigger. Thorns dug into her palm. She jerked her hand back, hissing in pain.
Something heavy crashed through the bushes. She held her breath to keep in a scream as a warrior smashed to the ground beside her. His hand flopped down inches from her face. His long fingers were pale next to the bright red blood. Dressed in the dark green and black leather c
ommon among the Dark Faye, the man’s face was deathly beautiful. He lay still, but she watched and waited, holding her breath until she was certain he was truly gone from this world.
A Dark Faye. His bright gaze was missing the trace of evil and cruelty, but his hawk-like features were lashed with black diagonal lines common to the darkest of their numbers.
If they had one such as this… She tried to crawl away, but the way was too dense. Instead, she tried to go backward and found some success. She pushed and shoved, not bothering with the thorns and brambles that tore at her hair. Brennan needs me now. If they are here… If they’ve found us again… Already her breathing was erratic and her throat burned. A thorn ripped at her face, leaving a burning sensation behind. She ignored it.
Any second she needed to be free. They needed her now. She knew it. She found the way back was easier and scooted roughly along the ground. Her gown snagged and she had to rip it free. Her cloak got caught. She left it. Thorns tore at her hair and body, but she could feel a cooler breeze on her face. The end of this thing has to be close! With each frantic second, the fighting continued, sounding more and more violent. If I can stand, if I can use my voice…
Horse hooves coming closer made her freeze. All at once she could see it, the dark legs prancing near her spot. It reared up, screaming and stomped down hard. Fearing its feet would crush her, she used all her strength to move away. Too late she realized why the bushes had stopped.
The edge of one of the cliffs.
She tried to stop her downward slide with her hands and feet, but nothing helped. Rocks pummeled her, vines and roots felt as if they beat at her.
Suddenly, she was falling faster. A blur of brown, red and sparse greenery flew by. Her elbow connected with a painful crack. She slowed and there it was. One of the tangled trees. She reached out and caught a root. Got it! Her arm jerked painfully at the socket. Breathless and scared, she didn’t dare look. The way up seemed impossible. The way down a scary sensation she feared. Go! Go up!
