by Meg Anne
Just like that, it was over.
Helena could feel the heat of her Fire still pulsing under her skin. Rage caused her body to shake, and she snarled when she felt a hand touch her shoulder.
Darrin stepped back, his face bleached of color.
“Kiri,” a voice called softly. She turned to the voice, her teeth still bared and her eyes swirling with iridescent fire.
Von stood before her; eyes gray once more.
Her heart continued to race, fueled by the rage she could not seem to contain.
“She pulled too much power too quickly if she releases it she could kill us all,” Joquil murmured to the others, his voice laced with fear.
“If you don’t have anything helpful to say, get the fuck away from her,” Von growled without looking away from Helena.
“Helena,” Von called to her through their bond.
She was still staring at him unblinkingly.
“Mira,” the deep voice begged.
She shuddered, trying to focus on the images that flickered through her mind: Von holding her close as they danced; Von kissing her after her trial; Von’s eyes devouring her in her mating dress.
With a gasp she came back to herself, knees shaking so hard she started to fall.
Von’s arm shot out to grab her, cradling her as she dropped to the ground.
His warm hands brushed the hair that had fallen out of her braid back from her face as she began emptying the contents of her stomach on the smoking remains of a creature.
Von’s hand gently ran along her back, her stomach continuing to heave even after it was empty.
“You don’t have to all stand around watching me humiliate myself,” she rasped.
“They need to see that you are okay, Kiri,” Serena said from behind her.
Her arms shook as she tried to push herself back into a sitting position.
Von eased her back until she was sitting beside him.
The Circle along with Ronan and Serena surrounded them, each looking grimmer and more battle worn than the last. All were coated in ash, their sweat leaving dark smears along their skin. None appeared injured, save a few tears in their clothes, which could have been scratches that have already healed.
The rest of the Rasmirin were helping the villagers put out the remaining fires while the Daejarans tended to their wolves.
“Starshine?” Helena asked, eyes scanning the sky for the streak of white.
The Talyrian prowled over to its mistress, dropping down to lay beside her. Helena rested her head against its side, brushing trembling fingers over the soft fur.
“What were those things?” she asked wearily.
“Those, Kiri, were Shadows,” Joquil said, his voice more grave than she had ever heard.
She looked from face to face, trying to gauge how bad this news was.
All shifted uncomfortably, seeming troubled.
Helena recalled their conversation from the campfire and gasped, horrified, “You mean those things were Chosen?”
Timmins and Joquil nodded grimly.
“That’s awful,” Helena whispered. Another piece of the story clicked into place and had her asking, “But who was controlling them? I thought only one who was gifted with spirit was able to create a Shadow.”
Von picked up the question for her, “I thought with Rowena’s death that no other Damaskiris remained.”
“Could there be another out there?” Helena asked.
Timmins shrugged; worry making him look years older.
The group eyed each other, all with more questions than answers.
Around them what was left of the blackened bodies smoked, while ash flew through the red and black sky. Had she been paying attention, Helena would have recognized this scene from her trial. Instead, her brows were frowning in concern as the question tumbled through her mind, was there another like her out there?
Chapter Twenty
The group had been exhausted after the battle, none wanting to go farther that day. It was not so much that they were too tired to move on, but that they were afraid of what they might find when they got there. That did not mean, however, that there was not work to be done.
After the storm had cleared, and Helena’s strength had returned enough for her to move about on her own, Kragen insisted that the Circle have a meeting. At Helena’s request, both Ronan and Serena joined in. As Von’s next in command they were fast becoming an extension of her own Circle, and she trusted them just as much as she did the others.
They met in Joquil’s tent, the space cramped with the excess of people. Helena sat resting between Von’s thighs; his arms wrapped tight around her waist. They were waiting for Serena, and for the moment, Helena had her ear pressed against his chest. She was listening to the beat of his heart which was still beating in time with hers.
Despite the gravity of the day, she couldn’t help the smile that appeared at the reminder of their connection.
“Mine.”
“Yours.” He agreed, a hand lifting to caress her cheek before pressing her head a bit closer to his heart.
It still surprised her, how gentle her Mate could be with her. He exuded a raw fierceness and was more likely to scowl than smile when around the others. Despite that outward display, with her, there was an ever-present tenderness. She could feel it lapping at her through their bond, sometimes warm with his love and other times burning white hot with his need for her.
She had just turned in his arms and pressed a gentle kiss above his tattoo when Serena rushed in offering an apology for the delay.
“Sorry everyone, I had to go back and grab what I wanted to show you from where I kept it in our tent.”
“Is this what you found on the bodies?” Joquil asked eagerly, sitting forward in his chair.
Serena nodded, holding the object out for his inspection. Within her palm, there were several small gems. They were a dark purple, almost black, and dull. Joquil kept one of the gems and passed the others around.
Helena held one in her hand, holding it up to the light for a better look. No matter how she twisted the gem, it did not shine when it hit the light. Rather it seems to reject it, as though it was pushing the beams away so that it could stay shrouded in shadows.
Laying the gem flat in her palm, she was startled at the feeling of revulsion that spread through her. There was a malevolence within the gem, something that recognized her and was promising nothing but harm.
She quickly shoved it into Von's hand; eyes narrowed as she tried to shake off the feeling of unease holding the gem had caused. Von lifted a brow in question, but she didn't know what to say.
Facing the others, she asked, “Do we know what these are?”
Serena shook her head, “No clue. We didn't notice them when we first checked the bodies, but by the time we found the third one, we figured they must mean something. Each stone was sewn into the hem of a shirt or tied off in a leather cord they wore around their wrists or neck. Most of the leather and fabric had burned away, so the stones came loose, but there were a couple that still had them intact.”
“How many of these did you find?” Kragen asked.
“Not many, considering the size of the horde. Only about fifteen.”
Joquil's frown was severe as he studied the pearl sized gem.
“Joquil, is something the matter?” she asked softly, the others all turning to study the Master.
“I do not know, Kiri. I feel as though I have seen a stone like this before, but I cannot recall where. Another reason to search through the records it would seem.”
“I will help you,” Timmins offered.
Joquil offered him an appreciative smile, “More eyes would be helpful, thank you. I feel certain we will find the answer to how the Shadows came to be in that village today if we can find out more about these gems.”
“Did you have anything else to report?” Kragen asked Serena and Ronan.
The two shook their heads and stepped back to allow space for Darrin to ent
er the center of the tent.
“I think we need to discuss the carelessness with which Helena acted today.”
“I'm right here, Darrin. There's no need to speak of me as though I'm a child.”
“Then perhaps you should stop acting like one,” he snapped.
Helena's back went straight as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me? Would you like to say that again, Shield?”
“I think you heard me the first time, Kiri.” He was primed for this fight, his frustration from the battle rising to the surface now that she was safe.
“He is concerned for you, Mate. As your Shield should be. You scared him today riding head first into danger without any thought to your safety. You left them behind scrambling to try and reach you.”
Helena's tried not to let her face show her surprise at the admonishment. Von always took her side. “You left me behind.” She accused instead.
“It is a habit for me as the Daejaran commander to take the lead in battle. I am used to defending those I care for, not fighting beside them.”
“You fight with Serena and Ronan.” she pointed out.
“That is different, Mira. They have trained as long as I to be warriors. I met them in the training ring when we were all mere babes. With you, Helena...” his voice seemed to sigh and linger on her name, “you are the purest soul I have ever known. I will do anything in my power to protect that. It's not that I don't believe you can hold your own; I just do not want you to become tainted by the realities of the battlefield. There is no place for you in that sea of death.”
“It would seem you have a lot to learn, Mate. My place is at your side. We are stronger together, did you not feel that today? The way that our power was enhanced when we fought side by side?”
“I did. My power feels different since we were Mated, deeper somehow. Almost as though there is more for me to access than before.”
“Like how you can teleport from place to place now?”
She felt his chuckle in her mind, “Yes, that has been a useful new skill. It surprised me the first time it happened. I merely had to think about where I wanted to be, and I appeared there. I cannot go far distances, only within the range of what my eyes can see.”
“I've been calling it blinking.”
“Blinking?”
“Yes, in the time it takes to blink you manage to appear in a new spot.”
He let out a surprised laugh at her explanation. The group, having become used to these bouts of silent communication between them, were studying them expectantly.
Only Darrin continued to glower at her, “Are we interrupting?” he asked dryly.
Helena met his glare with one of her own, “You shouldn't be so quick to speak, Darrin. Von was taking your side.”
Surprise flashed across his face momentarily before he schooled his features back into a mask of haughty superiority.
“You do realize, Shield, that I'm the one in charge here? You don't get to lecture me for being naughty.”
“You seem to be the only one here, Kiri, forgetting what we vowed to you. We are here to protect you, with our lives if need be. How can I do that when you throw yourself in the heart of a battle against an enemy we know almost nothing about?”
Finally chastened, Helena's shoulders drooped, and she sighed heavily. “I did not mean to be thoughtless; I just could not stand the thought of burying one more child. When I saw the Shadow reaching for her, I just...” She trailed off, heart heavy again with the weight of the bodies she had given back to the Mother.
“And how do you think we would feel, Helena, if the next body we place in the ground is yours?” Kragen asked. The rebuke from him came like a slap compared to the ribbing she was used to from Darrin.
The rest of the men were silent, the words filling the tent as silent tears dripped from her cheeks.
“I will be more careful next time,” she said weakly.
“That is all that we ask, Hellion,” Darrin said, his voice gentle, before turning and leaving the tent.
Von hugged her to his chest. “Do not cry, my love. It is only their love for you that makes them speak so harshly.”
Helena nodded, too overcome with emotion for words, spoken or otherwise.
After speaking with the Circle, Helena made rounds throughout the camp, stopping to check on the wounded; of which there were blessedly few. She also offered small words of comfort to the villagers that remained. They had all been effusive with their thanks, overwhelming Helena with their gratitude. Most no longer had homes, but many had at least walked away with their lives. They had been lucky.
There was something about the attack that was niggling in the corner of her mind. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it just yet, but it was almost as if they had won too easily. Like it had been a test of sorts, to feel out their strength before the real strike came. Helena was the first to admit she was not an experienced warrior, but even to her it had seemed too convenient that they came upon those Shadows at precisely the right moment, when for days they had always been far too late.
Her thoughts had taken over, and she was standing still staring into nothing when Gillian found her.
“How are you feeling, Kiri?” Gillian asked softly.
Helena jumped, the words snapping her out of her reverie.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Kiri!” Gillian apologized profusely, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her, “I did not mean to startle you.”
Helena offered a wan smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. It was hard to participate in idle conversation with the events of the day weighing so heavily on her mind.
“It’s not your fault, Gil, I should know better than to let my thoughts wander like that. Did you need something?” she asked as she studied her friend.
As always Gillian was the perfect portrait of a lady, her hair pulled back into a riot of curls and her purple dress pristine, the same color as the stone in her necklace, hugging her curves shamelessly before draping more demurely as it fell towards the ground.
“Not especially, Kiri. I mostly wanted to check and see how you were. You’ve been so concerned with the others, and it didn’t seem like anyone had thought to look in on you.”
“That’s sweet of you. I’m fine, all things considered. A bit tired, if I’m being honest.”
Gillian smiled kindly, “That’s to be expected, of course. I’ve never seen magic like yours, Kiri. When you called that Fire from the sky,” Gillian paused as a shiver coursed through her body. “It was terrifying. I’m certainly glad to be on your side.”
Helena felt the twin of that shiver in her own limbs. Gillian wasn’t the only one who had been frightened by the intensity of her magic. In those final moments of battle, Helena had not been herself, had not even been aware of what she was doing; only that she needed to protect her people.
No, if she was being honest, she hadn’t been thinking of her people at all. She had only been thinking of Von. It was her desire to protect him that had her taking that deep dive into the depths of her magic and channeling her rage into the storm that had been its result. She hadn’t known Fire would rain from the sky with such deadly abandon. How had it known to only harm the Shadows?
The question had been plaguing her for hours, but she was too afraid to voice it to any of the Circle. Too ashamed to admit that so much of her power was still a reflection of instinct rather than intent.
“Kiri?” Gillian called.
Helena blinked and looked at the girl, smiling apologetically, “Sorry, I don’t mean to keep doing that.”
Gillian squeezed her shoulder affectionately, “No need to apologize. Let’s talk about something a bit more cheerful to get your mind off of things for a while!”
Helena tried not to frown at the suggestion. What she really wanted was to be alone with Von for a while, the warmth of his body against hers blocking out everything but him.
“How are things going with Von?” Gillian asked impishly, as though she had plucked the name str
aight from Helena’s thoughts.
She tried to fight the blush that rose to her cheeks at the question. The truth was things with Von were better than she ever could have imagined they would be. Never had she imagined such a connection was possible with another person. Mates were something only the Chosen were gifted with finding, and having grown up thinking she was Ungifted; it was never an option open for her to consider. Not since she had been a little girl prone to flights of fancy anyway.
Even then, her dreams of finding a Mate were woefully inadequate compared to the truth of the bond. The overwhelming intensity and completeness when he was buried inside her, their bodies as connected as their minds. Being able to feel his response when she touched him, knowing exactly what caused him to lose control and spend himself inside her... the thought trailed off, and she found herself once again staring off into space, Gillian smirking knowingly beside her.
“Ah yes, a much more pleasant thought, I can see.”
Helena shrugged. “He is wonderful,” she said simply. “He is brave, and so strong, in every sense of the word, but he can also be quite tender when he wants to be. I never imagined there could be so perfect a man, or at least perfect for me.”
“I wouldn’t say he was perfect, Kiri,” Gillian said, doubt coloring her words.
That caught Helena’s attention, and her focus zeroed in on the girl beside her. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” she started hesitantly before her brows lowered with a frown and she shook her head. “Never mind, Kiri, it doesn’t matter. All has ended well.”
Gillian had started to walk back towards the camp, but Helena’s hand shot out and stopped her, turning her back to face her. “No, Gillian, tell me what you mean.” There was no request in her words, only demand.
The playful teasing from before was gone entirely, “Please, Kiri. It’s better if you do not know. It will only hurt you.”
