by Cege Smith
Connor barely had the presence of mind to shift the air around them to ensure that they were moving without being seen. It required more concentration to hide three than to hide just himself, but something was terribly wrong. He finally reached her door and threw it open. Immediately he was hit with the strong coppery smell of blood.
He heard the sobbing coming from the other side of the room. He pushed Corrinda into Malin’s arms and dashed around the bed. Angeline was kneeling there bathed in blood. A young woman who had her throat ripped out was lying across her lap.
“No!” He fell to his knees beside Angeline and gripped her face, pulling her eyes to his. “Angeline, what happened?”
Tears fell freely down her face. Her eyes were cloudy and dull. He could see by the blood smears around her mouth that she had succumbed to the hunger raging within her. His throat clenched.
“Elvry.” The name fell from her lips and Connor’s mind spun.
“Did she do this?” He didn’t look down at the young woman.
“Yes,” Angeline whispered. “She knows what I am.”
That revelation was very bad news.
“I thought you said that she wasn’t going to be doing anything else but mischief with the queen?” Malin’s alarm was obvious.
Connor took Angeline by her shoulders and gently lifted her to her feet. As he pulled her to him he looked at the bed. Several dresses were strewn there. He saw what had happened immediately. Elvry had decided to pillage Angeline’s closet for her ball dress instead of Lady Gallow’s. He had sent Angeline right into a trap. He was amazed she was still alive.
Corrinda was staring down at the floor at the dead woman. Connor’s mind raced. “We need to get moving and get everything in place now. Angeline and I will leave at dusk. I’d leave sooner if we could.”
“I will go with you,” Malin said.
“You can’t,” Connor said carefully. “You have to stay here with your sister and make sure that no one knows what happened here. You’ll say that this woman ran away.”
“Rhone said they killed the others.” Angeline’s voice was empty. That scared Connor badly. “They burned them. But Elvry would have escaped their notice because she was here in the palace. Now she’s on her way to the Master.”
“It’s all right,” Connor said. “I’m sorry, Angeline. I didn’t know that she would be here. I need you to focus right now though. You and Malin are going to tell Corrinda everything that she needs to know about the people, the routines, and the ceremonies for the next few days.”
Angeline finally looked at Corrinda. She frowned. “She looks just like you, Malin.”
“Angeline,” Connor said quietly. “I need to know if Malin and his sister are in danger right now.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Elvry’s gone.”
“I mean from you.” His heart ached that he even had to ask her the question, but he licked his thumb and cleaned the area next to her mouth. Her eyes met his and he saw sadness and grief there. She knew that he knew what she had done.
“Do not be ashamed. You did nothing wrong.”
Her eyes fell. “They are in no danger from me,” she said. “It was different this time. I can’t explain it, but I was present the whole time. It was just more like it merged with me instead of taking control of my body.”
Connor had no idea what to make of this new turn of events. “Wraiths never were allowed to live long enough to find out what happened as they matured in their transition. This may be good news.”
Angeline’s chuckle was mirthless. “There is nothing good about what is happening to me.”
As if sensing a distraction was needed, Malin cleared his throat. “Majesty, I would like to introduce you to my sister, Corrinda Belle Baford.” He brought Corrinda closer to Angeline and Corrinda did a small curtsey.
Angeline nodded. “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, Corrinda.”
Connor cocked his head toward the two chairs next to the fire. He gently prodded Angeline across the room and helped her settle into it while Malin did the same with Corrinda. “Angeline, I think it would helpful if you tell Corrinda was is going to happen tonight at the Ball. The Chief Advisor and I need to have a word.”
He saw her mouth tighten but then she turned to Corrinda. Connor stepped back to the dead body on the floor. Looking down at her, he said, “Do you have someone you can trust to clean this up?”
“Yes,” Baford replied. His face was filled with disgust. “Clarissa was a good woman. This is tragic.”
“This is war,” Connor replied. “In any war there are casualties.”
“That is a very callous observation,” Baford said.
“The only thing I care about is Angeline. If that makes me callous, then so be it,” Connor said.
Baford nodded. He looked back over his shoulder at Angeline. “Did she…?”
It was a question that Connor would have preferred to avoid. “I don’t think she fed from her, which quite frankly is amazing. But that doesn’t meant that she didn’t find a way to taste her blood, which I suspect is the reason she is behaving the way that she is. Even in the Amaron she only fed on animals. The blood lust is a curse that is filled with guilt.”
“She has to convince the Clan to cure her,” Baford said. His voice was full of anger. “This was never supposed to happen.”
Although Connor didn’t mean to do it, he suddenly picked a thought from Baford’s mind. It was like a series of locks suddenly sprung open. He slammed Baford into the wall. He heard Angeline cry out behind him but he didn’t care. “You were behind all of this, weren’t you?”
“What are you talking about, Connor?” Angeline was at his side pulling on his arms.
“Ask your betrothed,” Connor said. He didn’t release his grip. Baford’s face was starting to turn blue.
“Stop, Connor!” Angeline yanked on his arms again and this time her strength outmatched his. Baford crumpled to the floor. She knelt at Baford’s side and glared up at Connor. “What’s gotten into you? Malin gave us his sister. What other proof do you need?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Connor growled. “I always knew there had to be a connection. That someone had put the notion in the Master’s head to go after you. Ask him. Ask him the part that he played in your kidnapping.”
An expression of horror crossed Angeline’s face. She slid backwards. “Tell me it isn’t true, Malin.”
Connor thought that the man at least had the grace to look ashamed. He rubbed his neck and looked at Angeline. “Yes, I told the Master that you would be called home soon knowing that he would send someone to intercept you. But it was only meant to be a scare tactic so that the Clan would be able to keep you amenable to their desires.”
Connor knew the truth. He had read it in Baford’s mind. “The only way that you could have known that was if you knew that the king was going to take ill.”
“I told you, Connor. The Clan will always remove those who threaten their control of Altera,” Baford said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Connor caught her just as her hands swiped at Malin’s face. He pulled her back but she fought him every inch of the way. Malin had known that her father was going to die. For all she knew, he had been the one who done it.
“I trusted you!” she cried out as she flailed in Connor’s arms.
“I had no choice, Majesty,” Malin said. He stood up but didn’t move from the wall. “You must understand. Since the time I was old enough to grasp the enormity and power of the Clan, I have watched them eliminate every person that they thought was no longer listening to them, including my own parents.”
His words registered and in that moment she saw Malin for the first time. He was a young man who was completely and totally lost. But that didn’t make her any less disgusted by him. “You told me yourself that my father took you in. I watched him dote on you like the son he never had. You owed him your loyalty for everything that he did for you.”
&nbs
p; “I am not proud of what I’ve done,” Malin said. “That is why I’m finally trying to do what I think is right. What happened to you was wrong. It was a horrible accident and you should not have to pay the price for that. That is why I said I would help you.”
“He has the rest of his life to live with the guilt of what he has done,” Connor whispered in her ear. “That will be punishment enough, I promise you.”
“He’s right,” Malin said. He took a tentative step toward her. “Let me help you now. If you still want to, I will accept whatever punishment you feel is appropriate later, after you have secured your throne.”
As much as she wanted to lash out and hurt him, she knew that she couldn’t. That would be a highly emotional and illogical act that would carry far direr, long-term consequences. “If I can find a way to keep my throne without marrying you, I will,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and even. “You helped kill my father. If you ever touch me again, I will rip you limb from limb.”
Malin looked forlorn but he nodded. “I understand, Majesty. I just hope someday you will be able to forgive me.”
“I can assure you that day will never come,” Angeline said stiffly. She felt different somehow. She didn’t know how to explain it, but she had done the best she could when she told Connor about it. The wraith was there, deep inside of her, but it no longer felt like it was a separate thing. It was her. That simple truth was almost more than she could bear, but she couldn’t deny that even as things had erupted with Elvry she had been completely aware and present. She had been the one controlling her body, but everything inside of her was fueled by the wraith. She wondered if the Clan would be able to separate the two of them now that they were becoming one. She would have to trust that they could.
“There is probably only an hour left until dusk, Angeline. We have to hurry,” Connor said.
“I can’t believe I’m about to leave my kingdom in your hands considering what you’ve done to my family,” Angeline said to Malin.
Malin pointed at Corrinda, who was sitting in her chair watching them blankly. “I’m giving you mine in return. Tell your vampire to compel her to kill herself if something happens to you. I won’t try to stop him.”
The idea of that kind of deal made Angeline sick. “I will deal with you when I return. For now, though, I would never lower myself to doing something so vile to another person.”
She returned to her seat by the fire and proceeded to tell the woman across from her everything that she could possibly think of about what was going to happen over the course of the next two days. Malin eventually stepped to his sister’s side and laid his hand on Corrinda’s shoulder. Angeline refused to look at him, but she allowed him to fill in some of the blanks. The shadows grew long in the room as they finally reached the point where the festivities brought them to the wedding.
“No matter what happens, I will make sure that I am back by that time,” Angeline said.
“You can’t guarantee that,” Malin said. She could see that he was trying to make a point without openly disagreeing with her.
“Then you must find a way to delay the ceremony,” Angeline said. “Lie. You do it well enough.” It was a low blow, but she was beyond caring.
“Perhaps Corrinda will be kind enough to tell us where we are going,” Connor said. He had sat quietly off to the side while she and Malin tutored Corrinda.
Corrinda looked at him inquisitively. “Where is it you want to go?”
“We need to find the Clan,” Connor said. “Your brother has been reluctant to tell us.”
Corrinda nodded. “It is forbidden.”
“But you will tell us, won’t you?” Connor’s voice was light and teasing.
The woman frowned. “Won’t I get in trouble?”
“No,” Connor said. Angeline admired his ability to lie so smoothly.
“High atop the mountains of Gilnor,” Corrinda said. “There is a mountain pass where it is green year round. It is a magical place but it is hidden unless you know it’s there. That is where the Clan lives.”
“Thank you, Corrinda,” Connor said.
“What is the easiest way to get there?” Angeline asked.
“By portal,” Corrinda said.
Angeline met Connor’s eyes and she saw that he had reached the same conclusion. Rather than try to travel to the high pass by foot, they could have Corrinda create a portal for them to pass through. How they got back would be a completely different matter, but it was a problem they would have to worry about later.
“You have to be careful not to drain her of her energy,” Malin said. “She is strong, but she still has limits.”
“What about Elvry?” Angeline asked Connor.
“I am certain that she will have discovered by now that Monroe and the others were killed. She is going to make her way back to the Master as fast as her feet can carry her. Elvry is sly and cunning, but she’s not one to try something on her own,” Connor said. “We also have to assume that she will tell whoever she is also working with inside the Clan, but that shouldn’t be a surprise to them.”
Angeline remembered then Elvry’s taunt about her and Connor’s relationship. It still stung, but she didn’t feel like she could broach the subject with him in front of Malin. She would have to wait. There were so many things that were uncertain. It felt like sand was running through her fingers and she couldn’t hold onto any of it.
She looked down at herself and felt sick again seeing the bloodstains on her dress. “I need to change before we go. It just won’t do to meet finally meet the Clan looking like I just killed someone,” Angeline said. She left the three to wait for her.
As she rinsed the blood from her hands and face, she stared at herself in the mirror. There was something different about her appearance, but she couldn’t quite place her finger on it. She chose a simple blue traveling dress. She tied her long hair into a thick braid and then realized that she had nothing left to do. She couldn’t stall the inevitable any longer.
Connor stood as she walked back into the room. “It’s time to go,” he said. “I have instructed Corrinda to open the portal about half a mile from the Clan’s encampment.”
Angeline gasped as she looked at the woman staring at her from the chair. It was like she was looking at a mirror image of herself. It was alarming and fascinating all at the same time.
“I guess no one will miss me,” she said.
“I will,” Malin said solemnly.
Angeline ignored him. Instead, she looked at the man at her side. He had not disappointed her. Connor had been by her side since the beginning of the madness. His loyalty had never wavered. His eyes softened as he gazed down at her and she could see the lines of worry there.
“Corrinda, open the portal,” she commanded.
Seconds later a small ball of silver light appeared in the middle of the room. Moments later it was as tall as Connor and wide enough for them to walk through.
“I expect my kingdom to be exactly as I left it when I return,” she said, glaring at Malin. He bowed to her in reply.
Connor took her hand in his. “I will go first. Stay behind me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She set her hand over his and smiled gently at him. “I know.”
Together they stepped forward and then Connor entered the portal. Angeline took a deep breath and followed. Her future was waiting for her on the other side.
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Trials of Truth (Bloodtruth #3)
By Cege Smith
Copyright 2013 Cege Smith
eBook Edition
Visit Cege's website and blog at http://www.cegesmith.com
Cover art by Indie Author Services
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CHAPTER ONE
Angeline knew that something was wrong soon after she entered the portal and felt the absence of Connor’s hand wrapped around hers. The shift of pressure on her skin was sudden and unexpected. She couldn’t see him in front of her because of the blinding light surrounding them. Then crackling erupted around her and the light changed from white to yellow to red and then streaks of black in a stuttering display that forced her to close her eyes or risk having her sight burned out.
“Connor!” she called out trying to get his attention. He had been right beside her, so he couldn't have gone far.
Silence was her only reply.
“Connor! I can’t see you!” She tried calling out again. Still, she heard nothing.
She turned her head to try looking behind her. Although she was only a few steps inside the portal, she couldn’t see the room she left inside the palace. There was nothing but a wall of white light. It seemed as if she was committed to moving forward whether she liked it or not. Inching forward, she tried to ignore the pulsating energy around her. Strange tingling sensations that were slightly unpleasant ran up and down her body. Angeline wondered if this was a normal part of the journey through a portal, or if something else was going on.
Worried about Connor, Angeline put her hand up and reached out in front of her as far as she dared. Her fingers met with nothing but empty air. Panicked, she rushed forward afraid that Connor inadvertently had left her behind. Then she felt the ground disappear beneath her feet, and she was falling. She cried out even as the strange lights around her dissipated and her body propelled downward out of control. The impact with the hard ground was jarring and painful, and immediately she rolled onto her back.
