The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set

by Kelly Blanchard

  “Me.”

  “And when he came to Serhon for my birthday and drank so much that he told embarrassing stories of his childhood and my own past—was that him or you?”

  Therth turned his head as much as he could while she still held his chin. As much as he didn't want to answer, he was bound to. “Him.”

  She shook her head and finally released his chin. “And you wonder why I do not love him.”

  Fire burned within Therth—hope mixed with anxiety. If she did not love his cousin, then maybe—just maybe she would accept him. He stared up into her eyes. Three little words rested on the tip of his tongue. “How funny that such simple words have the power to change so much,” he reflected but then dismissed the thought. It was not an uncertainty to him whether or not he loved her—he had decided that a long time ago, but this was the first time he realized his hopes and dreams with her had the slightest possibility of becoming reality.

  Swallowing any fear of rejection, Therth rose slightly and captured her lips with his. Her lips parted in a gasp, and he instantly pulled back. “I'm sorry, Atheta. I have loved you all this time, and I know I shouldn't expect you to feel the same—”

  She silenced him with a firm kiss. He tensed but slowly pressed her back onto the bed—sensing for and anticipating any resistance on her part. Instead, she melted into his kiss and gripped at his tunic, pulling him closer.

  Allowing himself to surrender to the moment and forget all thoughts of consequences, Therth pulled her close, kissing her passionately as they gave in to the soft caresses of the night.

  Segment 14

  Lorrek had yet to sleep during his stay in Jechorm. Morning found him standing in front of the window in his room, feet rooted to the floor, hands tucked behind his back. He had spent the whole night in magic again and was slowly emerging from it when Loroth's alarmed voice yanked him back to the present moment. “Lorrek!”

  He snapped open his eyes and shot a glance around. Discovering he was alone, he determined his cousin had used the bond, and a sickening feeling filled Lorrek's stomach. The only time either Loroth or Vixen had used the bond to contact him so urgently was when one or the other was near to death, and Lorrek magicked out of his chambers to Loroth, and he found himself in the suite assigned to Loroth and Vixen. He noted Loroth's presence immediately and looked around for Vixen but did not see her.

  Forcing himself to remain calm, Lorrek crossed his arms and shot his cousin a sharp look. “What is it?”

  Loroth stood as if lost in the middle of his room. He looked back at Lorrek with a wild and frightened look in his eyes. “Vixen—she wasn't here when I woke, and when I checked our bond, I found it blocked.”

  “Blocked?” Lorrek frowned then reached into the bond as well. “Vixen?” He sent out but only heard the call echo back.

  Loroth noticed how his cousin's features darkened, and he nodded. “Your bond with her is blocked as well.”

  Lorrek didn't like this. It made no sense to him. Why would she leave her husband—whose side she rarely left in his condition—and how did she learn to block the bond? Then he remembered what Radella had said about what it would take to wake her. “A magical individual, a fierce spirit, and an individual open for change.”

  “Pardon?” Loroth furrowed his brows as he watched his cousin pace around the room, but Lorrek didn't have time to explain.

  “Go find Roskelem and Atheta, and tell Therth to find Erita and Inecha. Get everyone to my chambers.”

  Loroth grabbed Lorrek's arm before he had a chance to magick out, and he leveled him with a hard look. “And where are you going?”

  “To get your wife.” With that, Lorrek phased through his cousin's hand and magicked away.

  Left alone without any certainty of what was happening, Loroth raked his hand through his black hair then frowned. He had to find Roskelem. Stepping out of his room, he marched through the corridors in the direction of Roskelem's chambers.

  Meanwhile, Lorrek latched onto his bond with Vixen and magicked to the closest proximity to her without being detected. If his suspicion was right, Pelham, Asalda, and Verddra had taken Vixen to substitute as the 'fierce spirit'; she had proven such in her fight with the Guardians.

  Lorrek reappeared in the corridor outside an operation room. Dread crept into his bones, but he took a cleansing breath then dipped his mind into the realm of magic and opened his eyes. He saw through the wall into the room and was taken back by the sight.

  Four chairs sat in a circle facing each other—each one connected to the other through cables. The presence of Verddra shone boldly in the room. At her left was Vixen. On Verddra's immediate right sat Roskelem, and directly in front of her was Radella—still staring, unblinking. Magic from Verddra rushed freely through Roskelem and Vixen into Radella. Roskelem and Vixen appeared unconscious while Verddra stared straight into her daughter's eyes. The magic from Verddra flowed from her like a current—flooding Roskelem and Vixen's bodies and senses, and no doubt tearing away bits of their humanity to give to Radella.

  Determined to give Vixen back to her husband, Lorrek forewent the bond with her and dove straight into her mind, blinding her with his own power. “VIXEN! Awake now! You are in danger!”

  Vixen's eyes snapped open.

  She didn't even take in her surroundings or the situation.

  She struck out—yanking the cords attached to her arms, temples, and head. Scientists tried to restrain her, but with a cry Vixen moved in a blur—disarming this man, breaking the arm of that man, shoving aside that woman.

  This abrupt action disrupted the flow of magic, yanking everyone out of the dazed state and blasted the magic back to its original source—Verddra. The whiplash slammed her back in her chair—further disconnecting the cords from the others. “No!”

  Roskelem opened his eyes with a gasp and saw the chaos Vixen wrought. At first he furrowed his brows, but then he felt a tingling at his hands and looked down; they glowed with a haze of blue fire. He knitted his brows further as he lifted his hand, inspecting it. The glow intensified, and a grin spread across his face.

  Then the flame fluttered and faded, and Roskelem trembled as he shook his head. “No, no, no, no! Not when I was so close!”

  Vixen grabbed the final scientist by the throat and slammed him to the floor as she crashed to a knee. Then she snapped her gaze up and locked onto Pelham and Asalda at the end of the room—both of whom retreated. She sneered and slowly rose to her feet to deal with them, but in one moment she was in the operation room, and in the next she was outside in a corridor.

  She moved to strike whoever had her, but Lorrek grabbed both her arms and glared down at her. “Not now. We need to get out of here!” Before she could protest, Lorrek magicked both of them away.

  Back in the operation room, Verddra yanked the cords off and coughed as an uneasy calm settled in the room. She didn't need to ask what had happened—she could see it.

  Someone offered her a hand up, and Verddra hesitated then looked up at the owner of the hand. “Radella?”

  Radella smiled—a cold and empty smile. “Hello, Mother.”

  Verddra seized her hand, and Radella pulled her to her feet with ease.

  <~>~<~>~<~>

  Back in Lorrek's chamber, Loroth paced while waiting for his cousin and his wife to appear. He had gathered the others as Lorrek had requested, but he was troubled when he couldn't find Roskelem, and he was further perturbed by Inecha's failing health. “She had been like this all night,” Erita had told him when he came to get her. Still, Lorrek had ordered the two sorceresses to be present, so Therth carried Inecha to their cousin's chamber then laid her down on the couch while Atheta and Erita tended to her.

  Therth left Atheta's side and went to his brother. He placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him but found himself at a loss for words. The very night when his own dreams were fulfilled in the arms of Atheta, Loroth's wife was taken from him without the consent of either of them. This angered Therth, and he curle
d his hands into fists, wishing to harm whomever was behind all this.

  In a whirl of wind, Lorrek appeared with Vixen, and Loroth was at his wife's side in an instant as she sank to a knee. “What happened?” Loroth shot a look to his cousin while he steadied Vixen.

  Lorrek drew in a deep breath and raked his hands through his hair. He knew what had happened, but he wasn't sure how much sense it would make to any of them. “It doesn't matter what happened. She is well—though disoriented and perhaps a little weak.”

  “I'm fine.” Vixen insisted but didn't bother pushing her husband away.

  Lorrek gestured to her as if to prove his point. He noted Inecha on the couch and recalled that the last time he had seen her was during an operation when her magic was being infused to Radella; no doubt they had drained her too much and risked her life. She wasn't safe here, but neither was Vixen. “Listen.” He turned to everyone, “I don't have time to explain, but Vixen isn't safe here any longer, and I would venture to say that neither is Inecha.”

  “What do you mean?” Erita rose to her feet from tending to Inecha and crossed her arms.

  “Inecha has reached an end to her usefulness. That is why she is in her current condition. No doubt they will seek to finish her off the first chance they get. And Vixen...” He glanced at his cousin's wife. “She just disrupted a complicated operation, and they will seek retaliation.”

  “Who's 'they'?” Therth asked from across the room.

  “Who else?” Lorrek lifted his brows. “Verddra, Pelham, Asalda, Roskelem.”

  “Papa?” Atheta stiffened when she heard mention of her father as she sat on the arm of the couch opposite from where Erita stood. “What does he have to do with this?”

  Lorrek sighed and looked her in the eye. “He has magic now—not much by what I could tell, and that will probably infuriate him. He will likely seek revenge on the person who thwarted his chance to gain limitless power.”

  “You don't seriously believe he would harm Vixen just because of what she did in self-defense?” Atheta looked between the men in the room.

  Lorrek could only offer her a shrug. “I don't know—”

  Suddenly darkness descended on the room as the power in the building went out—just for a moment before flickering back on.

  All those in the room shared a look, but only those with magic understood what had really happened.

  “What was that?” Therth slowly stepped back into a defensive stance but did not lift his hands.

  Lorrek pressed his lips into a thin line because he hated the truth. He locked eyes with Loroth. “I'm sorry. It must be done—for her own safety,” he sent across the bond to him, and Loroth gave him the slightest of nods.

  While Loroth took Vixen aside by the hand, Lorrek placed his hands on his hips while he explained to the others. “That was Roskelem. He is furious, and in his fury, his magic knows no boundaries.”

  “But he won't come after Vixen.” Atheta pushed herself to her feet and crossed her arms. “He will be too preoccupied with his newly gained power that he won't have time to seek her out.”

  “True,” Lorrek nodded, “but if they were to cross paths, he might lash out at her on instinct. Not only that, but she also angered Verddra—not to mention Pelham and Asalda. I do not want to imagine what they will do to her, so she has to leave.”

  “What do you recommend?” Erita lifted her brows.

  Glad to get past the argument of what Roskelem would and would not do, Lorrek nodded to her. “Inecha needs medical attention. If she stays here, she will die. I cannot explain how I know this. Vixen needs to be taken someplace safe—”

  “I'm not leaving Loroth.” Vixen finally joined the debate, sounding stronger now.

  Lorrek hesitated. What he had just witnessed in the room was a confirmation that magic could be infused, and therefore extracted from individuals, and that was the entire reason why they had come. He looked across the room to the assassin his cousin had married. “Vixen, we still seek a cure for him,” he shifted his eyes over to Loroth then back to Vixen. “We simply cannot leave. There is much more happening here then we ever anticipated.” He wasn’t about to tell them of the secret Guardian program. “And maybe...just maybe there is a remedy here for Loroth. The Jechorians may not give it to us willingly since we ruined their operation, but if I remain here, perhaps I can find it.”

  “I don't care.” Vixen shook her head as she stepped closer to her husband and intertwined their fingers. “I'm not leaving.”

  The sound of heavy footsteps marching through the corridor outside the room caused everyone to freeze and hold their breath. The footsteps sounded with precision and purpose, and Lorrek narrowed his eyes as he sensed them approaching his room. He looked at everyone else, “Be quiet and don't move.” He draped a cloak of invisibility over all of them then turned as the door opened, revealing three Guardians.

  “Prince Lorrek, we seek Patient VNMS also known as Vixen,” the forefront Guardian informed the prince in a stiff and formal manner.

  “And why might you be seeking her?” Lorrek crossed his arms.

  “She disrupted an operation today and the results have been detrimental. Sir Pelham and Lady Asalda wish to interrogate her on the reason for the disruption.”

  “Perhaps they should consider not forcing someone into such an operation without their consent. Now go.” Lorrek dismissed him with a wave. “You should check the chambers she shares with her husband.” He didn't allow for a response but closed the door in their face with a gesture.

  For a moment, he waited and listened as the Guardians moved from his room further down the hall. Once he was certain they were gone, he turned back to his room and removed the invisibility spell from around the others. “Well? I believe that confirms the urgency of this situation.”

  Vixen narrowed her eyes. “I'm still not leaving.”

  “Vix.” Loroth pulled her aside and spoke quietly with her. “You need to leave.” He picked up her vest of blades, which he had retrieved from their room, and handed it to her. “You will want this.”

  She took the vest, slipped it on, but gave her husband a hard look. “I am not leaving you.” She grabbed the front of his tunic and pulled him close in order to glare into his eyes—hoping he would recognize her determination and let her stay.

  He chuckled and reached up to cover her hands that were gripping his tunic. Pulling them off his clothes, he lifted her hands and kissed each of them. “I will only stay a moment longer—to see if this new development might be a way to remove the magic from me. If so, then I will come home, and...” The thought of living long had never occurred to him, but now it was a very real possibility. He swallowed back the tears of happiness he felt at that thought and looked into her eyes. Though he blinked away the tears, he knew she saw them anyway, so he offered her a smile. “If all goes well, we shall grow old together, Vixen—even have children, and I will be by your side to watch them grow. But for now, you must go. I refuse to allow anything to happen to you due to your own stubbornness though I love that about you.” He pressed a kiss on her forehead then pulled back and pressed his forehead against her. “Please, love, do as Lorrek says.”

  She struggled to submit but finally reached her arms up behind his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. When they finally parted, she stared deeply into her husband's eyes and meant every word she was about to say. “You had better come back soon. Don't die on me.”

  “I will watch out for him, Vixen,” Therth stepped into the conversation then motioned to Lorrek who stood near Erita and Inecha. “It's time to go. I promise I will protect him with my life. He is my little brother.”

  Reluctant to leave her husband's embrace but knowing the moment had passed, Vixen stepped away from Loroth and up to her brother-in-law. “And if you don't, the next time I see you, I will hurt you.” She jabbed her finger at Therth's chest, and the larger man chuckled.

  “I'm sure you will.”

  With that, Vixen reached back and gr
abbed Loroth's hand then the two of them went to Lorrek, who knelt beside the couch with a hand on Inecha's forehead, stabilizing her condition. “What's the plan?” Vixen inquired, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

  Lorrek looked up at her. Seeing submission, he nodded and rose to his feet. He gestured to Erita. “She is powerful enough to magick the two of you out of here and back to Cuskelom.” He looked at Erita. “Stay with them. My father is a sorcerer, but even he will need additional help to aid Inecha. Stay in Cuskelom until we return. You will be safe there.” He saw the disdain on Vixen's face at all of this, and he offered her a smile. “Not to worry, Vix. Your bond with Loroth will be as strong as ever. Distance will not change that. You can still communicate with him and still feel each other. Nothing will happen to him without your knowledge. And if something were to happen...” he paused to allow her to interpret the 'something' into death, and then he nodded, “you would know, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that nothing happens. You have my word.” Lorrek crossed a fist over his chest then bowed to her.

  Knowing she cared little for words, Lorrek straightened then scooped Inecha into his arms and brought her to the center of the room. Setting her on the floor, he stepped back and motioned for Erita and Vixen to join hands with Inecha. He had no words to say, so he watched.

  Loroth lingered back but never took his eyes off his wife. More than once she had saved his life—alerting Lorrek when he had stopped breathing and other instances. Though they had parted from each other on missions and jobs, this time was different. This time held the possibility of either erasing all traces of his illness or failing to do so, and thus resulting in death. He knew Vixen hated the odds, and that was why she didn't want to leave, but he offered her a smile—only to chuckle at her scowl. “All shall be well, my love.”