Freeing a Tiger's Soul (Tiger Series)

by Anderson, Amanda

  “What has happened Krisi?”

  “Wolves are attacking us. We must run.”

  “I must fight. I will nay run from a dog.” He insisted offended that she would suggest he run.

  “No. They want you. I heard them talking. They want you.” Krisi was franticly pushing Euan in the opposite direction.

  “Why would a wolf want me?”

  “I do not know. Why would a wolf attack us? I know of him and what he is. I can feel the evil in him. We must flee.”

  “Ramsey.” He stated with certainty. “I ken that stench. Why would he risk himself to capture me?”

  Krisi shook her head and urged him forward. He planted his feet and pulled her into his arms.

  “I will nay run Krisi.”

  “Please.” She begged and he saw the desperation in her eyes. She knew something she was not willing to share with him.

  “Tell me why.” He insisted. He tried to enter her mind, but she firmly held him out.

  Her voice was barely above a whisper when she was able to speak. “He has darkness in him. I know that he was tainted with it before his birth and that he suffers. He is growing weak from his battles with it.”

  “Why does he want me?” He took her firmly by the upper arms and held her firmly. “You will tell me now.”

  “I cannot! I have said too much as it is.” She gasped as her sobs worsened.

  “Are ye afraid he will beat me? Do ye think he is stronger than I am?”

  “Nay!”

  “Then why must I flee him? Why should I leave my friends and my brother to fight my fight? Ye will tell me or I will not leave here.”

  “He wants your soul.” She choked out.

  12

  Euan froze as the words sank into his addled brain. He had heard those words before. Long ago.

  “Evan! If I am in danger then so is he.” He began to fight his way toward his brother.

  Flee!

  Euan’s body shook with the intensity of the voice in his mind. He knew that the lass spoke to him and he knew he should follow her words, but he was utterly unwilling to sacrifice his brother to save himself. He forced Krisi to release him.

  “I will not take the coward’s way. My place is with my men. I will fight.”

  He saw determination in the set of her jaw and the slight lift of her chin and he knew he would not like the words she would say.

  “Then I fight with you.”

  He wanted to argue, but there was nothing he would say to convince her to leave. Besides there was no place she would be safe. He nodded and they ran to where he could hear the battle raging. He felt Evan in his mind and felt the concern his brother held for him.

  Run Euan! There is no shame in it. Ye must flee this madness and conquere the darkness. Evan forced the words into Euan’s mind.

  “Nay brother.” Euan spoke out loud as he grew near. “I will fight.”

  Euan changed quickly and his eyes found Krisi. She had climbed into a nearby tree and had an arrow knocked. Her eyes blazed with determination and he knew that she would do all she could to protect him as he would do for her. He flung himself into the battle as she let her first arrow fly. He was instantly assaulted by a wolf almost the same size as he was. He fought to free himself. Teeth sank into his shoulder and he roared in pain. He reached back and grabbed the wolf with his razor sharp claws and ripped him from his back. He bit down on the wolf’s neck and shook him like a limp rag before letting him drop to the ground.

  The battle lasted for what seemed like hours, but could only been a few minutes. When they stood heaving over their enemy they noticed that Ramsey was not among the dozens that had fallen. Somehow he had escaped. Euan heard Liam’s low growl and knew that Liam regretted not killing Ramsey when he’d had the chance so many years ago.

  Euan looked around and found Krisi walking toward him. She had blood on her arm, but seemed unharmed otherwise. He sought out her father and saw him leaning heavily against a tree. His shimmering tunic was soaked with blood and shredded on one side. He was breathing hard, but he didn’t seem concerned with his wounds. The tigers began to change and Euan saw then that Evan had suffered a blow to the midsection. Blood oozed from a large gash across his belly and he was breathing heavily.

  Euan rushed to his brother’s side as Balor took a clean rag from Krisi’s saddle bag and tried to stop the bleeding.

  “Evan? Wake up! We have to do away with these filthy carcasses and you think it is a good time to sleep?” Euan tried to keep the worry out of his voice as he spoke to his brother, but he knew it was there anyway.

  Evan’s eyes flickered, but they did not open.

  “Shite. I am angry. I would like to love my mate, but I will have to do yer work and mine too I suppose. I grant ye’ll be ready to go as soon as the work is done as usual.”

  Evan groaned and opened his eyes. Euan steeled himself against the pain he saw in his twin’s eyes and continued to berate him knowing it was a sure way of getting Evan to fight through the pain.

  “Ye’re an arse.” Evan said in a thread whisper.

  Euan couldn’t stop the tear that escaped his eye, but no one mentioned it. He took the cloth from Balor and pressed it to his brother’s belly. He felt the warm, stick blood coating his hand and wanted to roar in anguish. This had been because of him.

  “Nay Euan. They are evil and it doesn’t have to make sense.” Evan spoke quietly.

  Euan felt his brother’s hand on his and they sat trying to stop the flow of blood and comforting one another as only they could.

  Krisi stepped forward and dropped to her knees in the dust beside Evan.

  “I have something that will help. Do you trust me to tend to your wound?”

  Evan took a moment to study Krisi and Euan felt a rumble in his chest.

  Evan smiled a pain filled smile and nodded his acceptance.

  Krisi pulled a small vial from her pocket and held it up to Evan. It glinted a deep green in the low light of the evening and Euan was confused. He had never seen anything that color before.

  “What are ye givin’ him lass?” He insisted as he held her wrist and inspected the vial of liquid.

  “This is a tonic that will heal his wounds. It is of my people and I would be punished for sharing it with him, but I must if he is to survive.”

  Euan thought only a moment before he nodded. Krisi lifted Evan’s head and trickled a small amount of the elixir into his mouth. Evan sighed as the flavor exploded on his tongue and his eyes were heavy lidded when he looked to Krisi again. She frowned at him and lifted the blood-soaked cloth from his belly. She poured most of the contents of the vial on his wound and he shrieked in agony.

  Euan was horrified by what Krisi had done and shoved the vial away from his brother.

  “What have ye done? Do ye think he is not in enough pain?”

  Krisi sat up on her knees and glared at him.

  “I gave him a taste to dull the pain. I knew it would not be pleasant, but it was the only way to save him. Would you rather he hurt a bit or die?” She glared at Euan and he felt his heart race.

  Evan groaned and took his brother’s arm.

  “I am better now. It was the shock of it. I will be well now.” Evan assured his brother.

  Euan was confused but he saw that his brother’s wound was already healing.

  “Does that stuff always hurt so much?”

  Krisi suddenly beamed a bright smile. It was like the sun in the midst of a darkened night.

  “It does.” She said and shot Evan a teasing grin. “I don’t usually take on so though.” She shrugged as if it was nothing and then laughed when Evan scowled at her.

  Euan shook his head. “I thought you healed naturally as we do.”

  Krisi’s smile was indulgent and her tone was soft when she spoke as if Euan was a child. “We can heal minor things, but severe wounds must be treated.”

  Euan suddenly frowned. “Do you have more? What if you need it to heal yourself?”

 
Krisi found the ground very interesting. Euan forced his way into her mind and was horrified by what he found there. She had only a small amount of the elixir left and that would not be enough to treat a serious wound. He was appalled and grateful at the same time. She was risking herself to save his brother. He looked at each of them and knew it was a choice he would never be able to make. He prayed that life would never ask it of him.

  Euan didn’t chastise Krisi for her choice, but he couldn’t thank her either. He stood and made his way to the others.

  Krisi looked to Evan and knew that he understood the sacrifice she had made for him.

  “Thank you Krisi. I want ye to promise to stay safe. I would never forgive myself if something happened to ye because of this.”

  She nodded, too choked to speak, and helped Evan stand. He was shaky at first, but he soon gained enough strength to walk alone. They found the others and listened quietly as Liam outlined the plan for their safe travel to Stewart lands.

  13

  The journey took several more days than any of them had expected. They had to remain ever vigilant and watch against another attack which made their travel slower. It was dark when the gates swung open and they were ushered into the magnificent keep.

  Krisi was so tired and hungry that she hardly noticed the greatness of the mighty fortress. She had spent a great deal of time inside these walls and the beauty no longer affected her as it once had. Now it was as much her home as any and she wanted to curl up in her bed and sleep for days.

  She stopped and her eyes found Euan. Would they share a room? Would he want to?

  She felt warmth sweep through her and felt Euan’s happiness and looked up to see him smiling at her.

  “Do ye doubt yer mate Lass?” He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Krisi felt a shiver work its way through her body at the deep vibration of his voice and the sweet tremor that it made inside of her. She had no words to answer him with. She just stood and stared at this beautiful man who was all hers.

  Euan chuckled and pulled her into his arms. He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered. “I will share your room every night until I am no more. Never doubt that I want to be with you.”

  Krisi felt her cheeks grow warm at his words as well as the breath he blew over her neck. Her breath caught in her throat and she allowed Euan to lead her inside the great keep.

  The company was met by Amelia and her son and daughter.

  “I am sorry that Henry could not be here to greet you. He will be away for two more days, maybe more. You are all welcome here of course.”

  Krisi frowned suddenly feeling unnaturally anxious. She let her eyes travel around the folks standing nearby and found no one overly interested in their arrival. She looked to Amelia and found Collin staring at her.

  “Hello Collin. Are you well?”

  “Nay! My mate has gone on a visit and I am required to stay here. I could not be worse.”

  His voice vibrated with frustration and Krisi wanted to smile, but she knew Collin would take offense. He was a terribly serious sort of young man. At sixteen he acted like he was twice his age, except when he was with his young mate, Hope.

  “She was well when I spoke to her last. She was missing you though.” She said kindly and watched as his frustration melted away for a few moments.

  “She said that?”

  “She did. She said she would not wish to be rude, but she hoped she would be able to return to you soon.”

  Collin closed his eyes and shivered. It was then that Lady Charlotte joined them along with her husband Richard and her brother Karic. It was obvious that Charlotte and Karic were Fairborn, but she supposed it was because she was as well.

  She turned and found Euan staring, but not at the new comers, but at Serina, Amelia and Henry’s daughter.

  Krisi felt jealousy bubble up inside her. Euan couldn’t take his eyes from the enchanting young woman. He was quivering in her presence and Krisi wanted to pull him away, but she only stood and watched as Euan gawked at the other woman.

  “Hello Euan.” Serina spoke in a soft, musical voice.

  Euan shivered, he knew that voice. He felt the darkness trying to escape her and he knew that she was the one who would save him from his torment. He knew her to be only sixteen, a child, but he did not question her abilities. He could feel her purity as it flowed from her. The proof was in the reaction he felt to her and of the fear he felt deep inside the darkness.

  “Lady Serina. I have come to seek your help.”

  Her smile was as blinding as her beauty.

  “It did not take you as long as I had feared.”

  “I can feel your strength and your purity. I know you are the only one who can help me.”

  Krisi gasped and tried to pull away from Euan, but he caught her in a firm grip. Although he held her he did not look at her. His eyes never strayed from Serina.

  Serina met Krisi’s eyes just as a low rumbling growl pierced the air. Serina let a light laugh float across the baily as her mate tore through the crowd to get to her. She only shook her head and smiled down at the enormous tiger as he drew near to her.

  “All is well Owen. I do not want another mate. You are all I will ever need, but I must help this man.” Then she looked to Euan. “I fear our mates will not understand what we must do to rid you of the taint of evil that resides within you.”

  Euan looked to Krisi and saw the confusion in her eyes.

  “What will need to be done?” He asked still searching Krisi’s pale face.

  Serina looked to her grandmother and apparently found the strength to go on in the woman’s pale blue eyes.

  “We will need to spend a great deal of time together.”

  “How much?”

  Serina closed her eyes. “I will need to be constantly by your side. I will need to touch you often as well. The darkness will shrivel and die in my presence. I do not pretend to understand why, but I know this to be true. I have seen it once before.”

  “When?”

  Serina’s cheeks turned pink. “You will think I am foolish.”

  “Nay.”

  “There was a cat.” She shrugged her shoulders delicately.

  “At night?” Euan asked still watching Krisi. He knew that the night would hold the worst torment for him as it always did.

  “Even then. I will need to be very close to you then.” She took a deep breath. “I may even need to touch you while we sleep. It will try to attack you while you rest.”

  Euan watched Krisi close her eyes in resignation and he wanted to roar out his frustration. There had to be another way.

  Colin burst into the conversation then. “Nay! I will not have this! I would never allow this with Hope and I ken well that Owen will not allow this with you. You will be ruined!”

  Serina looked down at the great cat who sat at her feet. She could feel him in her mind begging her not to do this, but she knew he saw the reasons for what must be done and he was not ordering her to give up on Euan. She smiled down at him and placed her hand on his furry head, loving him with all that she was.

  “I do not need your permission Collin. I have spoken with Da and he agrees that this is the best way.” She looked to Euan. “Da feels that Euan is trustworthy and Da trusts and respects him.”

  Amelia gasped and clutched at her daughter’s sleeve. Serina saw the anguish in her mother’s eyes and in her pale face.

  “This must be done.” Serina stated firmly. “It will take trust from our mates and support from them. I fear this will take quite a while.”

  Krisi tried to pull away again, but Euan still held her arm. She looked up and found his eyes boring into her.

  “I love you Krisi. I will not dishonor you. I couldn’t if I wanted to. You are the only woman for me. My heart body and mind are one with yours. Tell me you know that.”

  “I do.” She said in a quiet voice. I wanted to share my room with you, but I understand the importance of this. I trust you both. Very much.” Sh
e tried to force her heart to believe it as her mind did, but the stubborn organ refused. All she was feeling was let down.

  “I still do not approve.” Collin grumbled, but no one listened to his protests as they were all lead into the Hall where a long table was lade with food.

  14

  Euan watched as Krisi distanced herself from him. Since he needed to be near Serina he sat by her side at table. Krisi refused to sit on his other side. Instead she surrounded herself with her people and refused to acknowledge him in the slightest way.

  Euan closed his eyes and tried to penetrate the barrier Krisi had erected around her mind, but he was unable to break through. She had cut him off as one might do an infected limb. His heart raged at the injustice of finding a mate only to be refused by her. his mood darkened and he let it, too miserable in himself to realize the danger he was in.

  Serina gasped and drew his attention from his mate.

  “Euan. Your hair.” Serina said with wide eyes.

  Euan frowned and looked at the dark locks falling over his shoulder. He frowned at the inky hue and felt his mind shutter with the evil that had once again claimed it. His eyes met Serina’s and he saw the fear spark in her eyes before she shook it off. She held out her hand.

  “Take my hand Euan. It will help to fight it off.”

  Euan looked at the slender appendage and thought for a moment. Then he reached out and took the fragile digits in his hand. The darkness receded immediately with a searing pain that made Euan want to crumple to the floor.

  “You mustn’t allow the darkness to influence your moods Euan. Krisi is confused. She will come around in time.”

  Serina allowed her eyes to wander over the crowd that was seated in the hall. She found Owen leaning against a great pillar. He stared at her with unmoving strength, but she felt his anguish at seeing another man touching her. She smiled at him and he nodded once before he left the room altogether.

  Serina knew the anguish Euan was feeling because she was experiencing much the same pain. Could she lose the mate she had chosen for herself at birth because she must help this man?