When Atheta finally woke, she recalled nothing of the attack. It wasn’t until weeks later that they discovered she was pregnant. Secretly Rickar had been upset with this news because he always admired her growing up and in school and often daydreamed about asking her out, but now her life was changed forever. She probably wouldn’t look at another man again.
Gathering all the evidence, they came to the conclusion that Atheta had been attacked—and raped—that night, and that Loroth had tried to protect her but had been killed in the process.
Now this man stood before them intending to take Atheta and the child. That could only mean one thing. “You’re the one who raped her and killed Loroth!” Rickar shoved his gun back into Lorrek’s face.
Having been accused of this too many times in the past and having lived with the accusation for so long, Lorrek finally had enough.
His smile dropped, and his pleasantries vanished as he marched up to Rickar, snatched him by the throat and dragged him back until he slammed his back into a wall of the house. He held Rickar by his throat as his feet dangled in the air.
Rickar tried to shoot, but the gun jammed.
Around them gunshots rang out—all headed for Lorrek’s back.
Atheta screamed and dropped to the floor as bullets ricocheted off this stranger instead of striking him.
Without taking his eyes off Rickar or sparing a thought for the bullets shot at him, Lorrek lifted an invisible shield between himself and the bullets and heard the bits of metal bounce harmlessly off it. He watched Rickar’s face closely as the man widened his eyes as he comprehended what was happening.
Lorrek almost smiled at the utter fear and disbelief he saw, but he hated the accusation made against him.
This time he would not allow it.
He slammed Rickar against the wall again and dug his fingers into his throat. “Do not...” he warned with a low, steady voice, “Accuse me of such hideous crimes. You do not know me.”
Something flashed in Rickar’s eyes. Lorrek recognized it, and tried to place it but couldn’t. This made no sense, so he dismissed it and released the man.
“Then who are you?” Atheta had found her courage to ask the question, and Lorrek paused then glanced over his shoulder to look at her.
“Always a princess even when you have no memory of it,” he mused over this undeniable part of Atheta and realized exactly what he must do.
Stepping back from Rickar, Lorrek turned his back on the man and moved to approach Atheta, only for Rickar to grip his shoulder. Lorrek halted then slid a scowl back at the man. “Trust me, whatever you are considering to do—don’t. It will only end badly—for you.” He gave Rickar a look then phased his shoulder through Rickar’s hand and approached Atheta—the lost princess.
As he moved across the room, he felt the eye of every armed man on him and their weapons trained on him, but he ignored them.
With confident strides, he drew near to Atheta and saw how she tried to keep her eyes on him but then kept glancing upward. He paused finally and followed her gaze and saw the boy and girl. “Twins?” he wondered, but his magic hinted the boy was older than the girl, and he frowned, “Who is the girl then?” And he looked back at Atheta.
“Who...” Her bravery faltered, but she swallowed and lifted her chin to try again. “Who are you?”
Lorrek smirked. “Ever the princess—that you are.” He tipped his head toward her then took her hand in his.
“Hey!” Rickar demanded Lorrek’s attention, and Lorrek arched his brows and glimpsed over his shoulder to see the man pointing his gun at him. “Step away from my wife!” He pulled the trigger.
A gunshot echoed in the stillness of the darkness of dusk.
The bullet traveled through the air fast, but it seemed so slow to Lorrek.
Anger swept through Lorrek. Did Rickar not learn how fruitless it was to shoot him? Did he not realize Lorrek could simply phase, so the bullet would harmlessly pass through him and strike Atheta?
However, Rickar’s words caught his attention, and Lorrek looked over his shoulder at Atheta—wide eyed and turning in slow motion to shield herself.
He narrowed his eyes, snatched the traveling bullet out of the air, then snapped a glare across to Rickar as time seemed to resume at a normal pace. “Your what?”
Rickar blinked in surprise and began to stutter nervously but then regained his footing and pointed the gun back at Lorrek.
This irritated Lorrek. “By all the stars and realms, put down the gun before you actually hurt someone!” He didn’t wait for anyone to heed him before he snatched all their weapons away from them with a flick of his wrist and pocketed them into another dimension. “Now that we can approach this like more civilized folk...” Lorrek began to approach Rickar. “What exactly did you call her?” He pointed back to Atheta.
“My...” Rickar hesitated, shifting his gaze to Atheta then back at Lorrek, more confident this time. “I called her my wife because that’s what she is.”
Lorrek stood in stunned silence as the world crashed down upon him. Blood rushed to his ears, and he heard his own heartbeat as he slowly turned back to Atheta. He didn’t see the way they stood guardedly as he approached her. He couldn’t hear all the warnings or shouts around him of the men telling him to stay back from her.
He came up to her and looked down at her.
She stood her ground and lifted her chin to meet Lorrek’s stare. She swallowed but showed no fear otherwise.
Lorrek lowered his gaze and shook his head then spoke softly, “I asked you to wait.”
Her features crumpled into confusion as she realized he was a burdened soul. Searching out his eyes, she used the same soft tone. “Who are you?”
He paused at this question then lifted his gaze and locked eyes with her. “The answer to that is far more complicated than you can imagine.”
Lifting her brows, she crossed her arms like any stubborn woman. “Try me.”
Her royal stubbornness made him to smile, but it soon faded as he considered how to word his answer. Here stood Atheta—happy and carefree, almost like the little girl he grew up knowing. She had no worries of a kingdom on her mind, no concern for alliances, treaties, and allies. Simple things occupied her mind—making sure to have lunch ready for her husband and children before they went off to work and school, making sure the clothes were washed and ironed, the errands run, house in order, dinner ready by the time her husband came home, and homework with her children finished by the evening. Even with the busyness of their day, this small family still found time to cuddle on the couch and catch a movie until all three almost fell asleep.
A picture of peace—so different from the life Atheta was meant to live, and Lorrek hesitated. She was happy here. His entire path to redemption started with righting the only wrong he had done to Atheta and restore her memories to her. However, that would break the life she had built here and loved, and she would be as lost as he—wondering if any of it had been real and who she really was now.
“Should I simply walk away and leave her to live a lie?” Lorrek searched her face, willing her to tell him what he should do because this was one choice he did not wish to make.
It would be easy—easy to walk away, erase any trace of his appearance in these simple-minded people. He could go back to Cuskelom and “Still be viewed a criminal of the worst kind. Still endure the ridicule.” This thought pained him, and he closed his eyes, lowering his head.
Loroth’s words from long ago came back to him now, “You must right this wrong.” That was why he gave his life to save Lorrek. “If I do nothing but walk away,” Lorrek reflected, “Loroth would have died in vain, and I will not allow that.”
Taking a deep breath, he finally lifted his gaze to her and took another step toward her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, ignoring Rickar and the other men who shouted at him to unhand her. Lorrek stared down into Atheta’s face. “I am someone who is about to ruin your life, shatter your dreams, and force you
to make very, very difficult decisions.” She tried to step away from him as his words registered in her mind, but his grip on her shoulders kept her in place. “I ask for you to forgive me—one day. All I have ever tried to do was protect you...” His gaze shifted to the children above. “And your children.”
With that, he placed his hands on either side of her head and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against her. Eyes closed, he found the book of her memories in his mind and pocketed them back into hers letting them unfold into the beautiful picture that it was. At the same time, he lifted the long term spell he had placed on her that allowed her to fit into the life of this world and those she met easily.
He unwove everything from everyone, reminding them that they had not known Atheta before the time they found her outside the city. They had not grown up together, did not go to school together. She faded from all the memories and all the pictures.
At last he finished and stepped back—then waited.
Atheta stared at him.
“Mama?” her son called down from where he hid on the balcony above. Fear laced his voice.
Atheta looked up at him, remembering for the first time that he was Therth’s son and not the product of a terrible rape. She then looked across the way at Rickar as realization set in.
Furrowing his brows, he glimpsed between Lorrek and Atheta before finally setting his gaze on her. Hurt brushed across his features. “Who are you?”
The sound of pain in his voice tugged at Atheta’s heart, and she moved past Lorrek toward Rickar only to stop when he stepped back and held his hand up to keep her away. She creased her brows as she saw his hurt, and all she wanted to do was hold him and soothe the pain. “Rickar, I...” But she didn’t know what to say. How could she explain it? How could she explain any of it?
Her gaze shifted back to Lorrek, fully recognizing who he was and what he represented. He was here to take her back to Serhon, to her brother and sister, and to her parents—her power-greedy father. What would her father think of her children? Would he accept them, or would he banish them? No—she couldn’t allow that. They were happy here. They were a family. Sure, Rickar had anger issues from time-to-time, but he always took it out on the range or spoke with his mentor, Ragnvald. All this time he had been nothing more than supportive even during her difficult times, and she did love him. She had meant her wedding vows, and now that she realized how misunderstood her life was, all she wanted to cling to was the truth she knew—and that was her family and that they loved her and accepted her.
Pressing her lips together, she shook her head. “It’s nothing, Rickar.” She locked eyes with Lorrek. “He must be some madman playing a terrible trick. Have him arrested.” As she spoke, she stepped away from him but saw the confusion and hurt in Lorrek’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she wanted to say but knew the front she had to present.
However, Lorrek heard her thought and still stared at her. “Why? Why would you do this? Why would you lie?”
“This is my life.” She gave a slight gesture around them as the men began to close in on Lorrek. “I can’t leave now.”
Lorrek stared at her. He understood the loyalty to family—he truly did. During all the years of his search for redemption, he envisioned all the different scenarios and ways everything could play out, but this was one he never imagined.
He reached out to take her hand but stopped short and swallowed hard, trying to contain his confusion, the unspeakable pain in his soul, and the feeling of his world crumbling around him. “You...you must come with me.”
She withdrew her hand and hugged her arms close to herself as she shook her head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“But Therth...” Lorrek’s mouth went dry as he thought of his cousin, who had lost his own brother and the woman he loved, and now his child as well?
Pain flashed across Atheta’s face, and she stepped back. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Atheta,” Rickar finally grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him to protect him, but he never took his eyes off Lorrek. “Who is he?”
Lorrek watched her face to see what she would say, and he saw her thin her lips and shift her gaze up to her husband. All around them, he sensed armed guards rushing into the location, and though he knew their weapons wouldn’t harm him, he felt pressed for time. “Atheta!” Her startled eyes locked with his, and he clenched his hands into fists until he felt his fingernails cutting into his skin. “Tell me I had nothing to do with it. Tell me you remember I was only trying to save your life—that I did all this to protect you!” He swept his hand sharply around the room, causing everyone to flinch back. “And I will leave you alone, but I need you to say it. Please.”
Taking a deep breath, Atheta moved to approach Lorrek, but her movement caught Rickar’s eye, and he sent her a glare. “Don’t.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “I need to.”
“I don’t care.” Rickar shook his head then swept his gaze around the room—feeling safer now that the guards had arrived and taken up position, and that someone had pulled the children away from the glass. However, with all their guns trained on Lorrek, Rickar still didn’t feel confident in their ability to shoot him. He had seen what this stranger did with the other guns, how they simply disappeared, and he wondered if they’d ever return. Yet none of that mattered as Atheta wanted to approach this man, and Rickar simply couldn’t allow that. “I don’t trust him.”
Atheta let out a soft laugh, and she stepped in front of Rickar, placed her hand on his chest, and smiled up at him. “I trust him—with my life. He’s saved my life in the past, and I know he won’t hurt me now. Just let me talk to him. I won’t leave with him, but this is important to him.”
“Why?”
This she couldn’t answer. She didn’t know why Lorrek came to her now, didn’t understand his demands, but she sensed she could put his mind at ease. With one final tap of her fingers on Rickar’s chest, she turned from him and to Lorrek then took a deep breath, wringing her hands. “I don’t know what has happened, but all I do know is that you saved my life. My father tried to kill you, and I was caught in the middle. He almost killed me...and my son.” She lifted her gaze to where her children had hidden but didn’t see them—only the armed guards aiming at Lorrek. The sight humored her, bringing a slight smile to her lips, but then she looked back down at the man before. “You did what you had to do to save us. You brought us here when you were wounded and dying. I don’t understand how Loroth died and you lived, but I can imagine. I don’t blame you, Lorrek—not for any of this. You did what you could do for us at the time.” She nodded. “I understand that now. Yes, I have a lot to consider and remember, but thank you—for coming back and showing me the truth.” She smiled at him. “Now go home. Tell my family I love them, and I wish they could meet my children, but I am happy here.” She stepped back—beside Rickar. “Go home.”
Lorrek listened to every word she said. With magic, he captured everything, but her words still left him stunned. She was happy here, and she didn’t blame him. This nearly lifted a burden off his shoulders, but then he realized he had others to whom he had to answer. Yet Atheta’s words could help him. “Maybe redemption is possible.”
Glimpsing around and noting the unease his presence caused, Lorrek sighed then glanced back at Atheta. He bowed to her. “Princess.” Then he lifted his gaze to her. “If you ever require my assistance, summon me, and I will hear. I will come.” With that, he gathered his magic around him and magicked away. Atheta had a lot of explaining to do for Rickar.
36
When Lorrek magicked into the council hall of the castle of Cuskelom—the original castle—he saw a curious sight. Theran sat in his rightful place on the throne in all black armor. For a moment, Lorrek wondered how Theran did not break the throne due to the supernatural power of the armor, but he ignored this for the moment and noticed Heldon by their elder brother’s side—face void of emotion.
With a heavy burden on his heart, he gl
impsed around the hall and saw Nyvera and Sirros standing there with others who appeared to be thieves or assassins as well as a few individuals who wore suits similar to Theran’s. He recognized King Caleth of Athorim, and then he saw Countess Verddra on her knees with hands bound behind her back. Beside her, lying on the floor, was Roskelem.
The sight caused Lorrek to pause. All these years and finally the man who had wronged him so much would answer for his crimes. However, as this thought passed through his mind, Lorrek bowed his head and closed his eyes.
“Lorrek?” Theran’s voice yanked his gaze up, and he found his brother staring at him. Theran then motioned at the room, and Lorrek straightened, realizing they expected an answer from an explanation for all the lies, confusion, and secrecy all these years.
However, his first concern was Roskelem. Why was he lying on the floor and not on his knees? Lorrek gestured toward him. “What happened?”
“That little Fawn witch broke my arms and my legs!” Roskelem spat, full of anger.
Verddra glared at him. “If my hands weren’t bound, I would strike you dead for insulting my daughter.”
Lorrek had enough of this and gestured for Fawn to come forward. “Heal him.” He had no interest in healing Roskelem himself. Instead, he stood back and crossed his arms as he watched Fawn approach the king of Serhon, give him a glare, and then shake her head before crouching beside him and touching his arms and his legs, healing them.
When she was finished, she glared at Roskelem then smiled sweetly. “You’re welcome.” Sarcasm dripped from her words, but she rose to her feet and nodded to him before retreating once more.
Guards stepped forward and hauled Roskelem to his knees then bound his hands behind his back.
Gathering a breath, Lorrek nodded. “King Roskelem...” He turned to face the man fully. “You once accused me of wronging your daughter and of killing her, but you are mistaken. You see, your daughter did not love my brother Theran. Nay, she loved the man she thought he was, and that man was our cousin Therth.” Lorrek pointed at Therth behind the others, and when they looked back at him and saw Theran’s face, they frowned and glanced back at Lorrek, but Lorrek shook his head.
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 74
