She’d never been proud of her ruling years. She’d been too young, too confident in her power, just as she was when Kalinda was taken. She hadn’t learned from her past, but she hadn’t allowed her people to die needlessly.
“The Unseelie court held their own in Daemon. I had nothing to do with their lands from Seraph. You know this.”
“And what of the Unseelie trapped in Seraph?”
Unseelie in Seraph? It was impossible. They only mixed under strict guidelines of trade. The two Fae had never gotten along. The Seelie wanted to help humans, giving them magic and assistance. The Unseelie, however, had given them daywalkers and other paranorms that could feed on fragile human life. In retaliation, the sides had separated.
“There were no Unseelie in Seraph.”
Instead of answering, Kieran bellowed and leapt into the air. Silva matched him, snapping her wings open to lift into the air. They twisted, spinning and breaking apart. Kieran wasn’t able to fly like Silva, but he had power in his legs. The circle would keep her from only being able to fly so high, where he could also reach.
The Osaltirhiem kept battlers on even ground, forcing them to meet on terms either could win. It was the reason the Fae had designed it. Knowing this and being locked within the confines were two very different things.
Silva streaked forward, pulling her magic around her to turn her into liquid silver, strong and malleable. Kieran retaliated, wrapping fire around the sword he pulled from his back.
“I’ll cleave your head from your fucking shoulders.”
He’d try, he meant.
Silva grabbed her sword, infusing it with her power. The silver beast was made up of what she had control over, and the inset diamonds on the hilt amplified her gift. She elongated the blade until it fell apart in shards along a whip.
Keep him distant.
Flicking her wrist, her blade slithered, slicing through the air with a whistle, and wrapped around Kieran. He was fast, though, shifting into shadow and back in an instant to disentangle himself before advancing on her.
She met each step he made with a twist of her weapon, keeping him inching instead of barreling into her. This wouldn’t last long. He knew her weakness, what element could be used to cut her to size.
“Are you afraid, little queen? Afraid to face the truth?”
“I fear no one.”
“Your name terrifies my people, but not me. I’ll avenge them all.”
“I did nothing to your people.”
“You kept us in chains!”
Kieran leapt into the air, high above Silva’s head, turning so he flipped, angling his sword downward. The move was agile, graceful—deadly. As he fell, he blew his fire out behind him, which pushed him faster. She rolled, tucking her chin just as his sword sank into the rock where she’d been standing with a great boom.
“We were enslaved. Beaten for sport. Our women taken for enjoyment. We were nothing but playthings for your people. The rich. The powerful. They loved breaking our bones. They loved how we begged to return home. But the shackles they placed on us made us untouchable.”
She had no idea of the atrocities of which he spoke. She’d never enslaved the Unseelie. “Never!”
He dragged his armor from around his neck, exposing a thick, black band with white runes pressed into it. She read them, and her soul went cold.
Sorlisalvalkeld.
They’d spelled it out, letter by letter, to etch more pain into the flesh of those bound to them. She recognized it but didn’t want to believe it. He’d been a slave. The haunted, vile look in his eyes was pure hatred for her kind. His oppressors.
“I-I didn’t do that.”
“We cried for you, the great Queen of the Seelie. We cried and begged like our people had never done before. For your kind to have mercy, for you to free us. Instead, you ordered us killed for having bothered you.”
No! But she couldn’t answer him. Couldn’t move fast enough as he flashed to her side.
“And all we wanted was our freedom. All we wanted was to live.”
His fiery blade cut toward her face, and she sprang away. Too slow. Too slow. An inferno spread across her nose where the fire touched, spreading under her eyes and making them water. Silva blinked against the tears, forcing herself to stay on her feet and fight.
But Kieran had rage and pain behind him. She was fighting for her life, but he battled for those who’d lost theirs. Faceless souls she knew nothing about.
“Don’t punish me for another’s crime.”
“It was your seal!”
No one in the Light Palace had access to her seal. It was from her magic, straight from her soul. It kept others from being able to use her name on decrees. She’d never signed an order like that. Had she?
She combed her fractured past for the answer, and all she could remember was her blind acquiescence to whatever was put in front of her. Seraph was rich, it was growing, and the people loved her. Had one of the protocols she’d signed sealed the fate of the Unseelie held illegally in her lands?
“I didn’t know.”
“You were ignorant to the filth within your own walls. You didn’t care enough to lead. It’s why even Asherah was lost to you.”
At her sister’s name, she wailed. Yes, Asherah had disappeared, never to be seen again because she hadn’t been paying attention. She hadn’t thought to send her sister with escort when she wanted to travel to their family homelands. Who would harm her? And Asherah was nothing but a whisper of remembered laughter in the Palace long before Silva even realized she was gone.
Silva had been a horrible queen, distracted and only interested in her life and fun.
And now she would fall. Kieran was too close, his blade already poised at her breast before she could fend him off.
“I never meant it. I swear on my blood.”
The blade pierced, and Kalinda screamed.
I’m sorry.
Her heart shattered, the world fading to darkness.
I’m so sorry.
“I never would … have allowed it. I was … not a good queen. I’m … sorry.”
The blade stopped, but it didn’t matter.
Agony blew through her limbs before giving way to seeping cold.
Kalinda.
The numbness spread through her fingers, up her arms.
The tie!
But the thought came too late. Just like Silva had always been. Too late. Too absorbed.
Never meant to be queen.
She never should have been.
With a final blast of the power remaining inside her, she shot all her silver out of her body in thick spikes. It was automatic, a final plea to live. Each one pierced Kieran as he held on to her, his blackened blood spilling down over her.
Even that couldn’t warm her.
“Do you swear it?”
What? She couldn’t focus on the words. They filtered in and out of her brain as she coughed, blood choking her.
“Do you swear you knew nothing of it?”
Blood sprayed from her mouth. “I swear it.”
Silva stretched. She was so tired. Her fingers were slick, clumsy messes, but she still reached to place them on Kieran’s neck.
“I release you, Kieran of the Shadow. No … Heath. Heath, you are free.”
The brand sizzled, breaking apart into ashes and flying to the sky. Kieran watched her with wide eyes.
He ripped his blade from her heart, tossing it away. It clattered somewhere, the sound echoing in her head.
Kieran pulled Silva tighter, gripping her against his chest. “Stay, Niamh. Silva!”
But she couldn’t, no matter how much she tried.
“Silva!” Kalinda?
The magic in the runes snapped again. Kalinda had tried to break in. But until Silva’s heart stopped, they couldn’t get out, and her spikes hadn’t hurt Kieran enough. Even now, the silver cried, molten mercury melting from his body from his inherent heat. He was healing as she lay dying.
�
��Kalinda!”
Romano’s scream made Silva twitch, fight to stay awake, but she couldn’t move.
Silva swallowed, forcing her throat to work. “I am her Cosantiór. She will …”
“I will get them to safety,” Kieran promised.
That’s all she could ask.
Kieran shifted, still holding her against his chest, cradling her head on his shoulder. “If you don’t get Kalinda to someone, and fast, she will die.”
“Not before I kill you first, you piece of shit,” Romano roared.
“Silva is her Cosantiór,” Kieran tried again.
“Explain.”
Zahara.
“When Silva’s heart stops—” Kalinda wailed, breaking Kieran’s words. “Kalinda will die as well. They are tied by the soul. I … didn’t know.”
No, he hadn’t. Heath had disappeared shortly after Silva had come into her Fae powers. He’d run when he sensed her.
When he sensed the one who had abused him and his people may remember and be able to recognize him.
She wanted to hold him close. He may have ended her life, but she couldn’t help but understand. What would she have done? If she’d been faced with the same fear, the same hatred, she may have done exactly as he had. She couldn’t hate him for wanting to pick up his sword.
And with her memories still jumbled, Silva couldn’t remember why she’d been bound and thrown into the world in the first place. Maybe … maybe it was because of what she’d done to them.
“Run,” she whispered.
“What?”
“They’ll never let you go. Find a way … some way, to get home.”
“I …”
“Run, Heath.”
Kieran lowered her to the ground, his eyes filled with silvery tears. “I’m sorry.”
But then he was gone, moving as fast as his wounds would let him get to the edge of the circle. He wouldn’t be released until she was gone, but he could prepare.
“Bring a portal!”
“You’re not getting away, you fucking bastard.”
“Silva!”
The voices were so loud, and she couldn’t tell who was screaming as it all happened at once. Silva forced her head to turn and find Kalinda. Her girl was just steps away on the other side of the circle. She cried on her knees, reaching as close to the circle as she dared.
“I love you, chocolate drop.”
Kalinda’s watery chuckle warmed Silva’s fading heart.
“I love you too. I heard … what he said.”
“Let him go, Kalinda.” Silva didn’t hear the response. She was too tired. “I’m sorry I’m going to see you on the other side so soon.”
Because for one to die, the other would too. And that’s what Silva regretted more than anything. Kalinda would suffer because of Silva’s mistake.
Asherah, I won’t be able to keep my promise.
Giuliana grabbed Kalinda and yanked her to her feet just as the circle’s power faded and Silva stared at them with sightless eyes. Kalinda wailed, her body bowing like it’d been electrocuted.
“Romano!”
The wolf skidded to a stop in his pursuit of Kieran sliding toward a portal and raced back to Kalinda’s side.
“Mate.”
Kalinda wasn’t listening. She foamed at the mouth, her body jerking back and forth. She had no wounds, but with each passing second, she grew more ashen.
“She’s dying. Help her!”
Giuliana was already moving, laying Kalinda on the ground as softly as she could. Pandemonium ensued around them as the wolves fought with the Renegades and the dark Fae who protected Kieran’s retreat. But all Giuliana could afford to focus on was the Ales.
Kalinda was unresponsive, and Giuliana spread her hands over Kalinda’s chest until they glowed green. She called on every bit of healing power she had. Zahara tossed lightning bolts at the Fae, driving them back and widening the space around Kalinda and Giuliana until there was a buffer of silence.
“Kieran!”
But he was gone, having slipped into a portal. His Fae and the Renegades went with him as well, zapping out of Scorched Earth instantly.
They’d failed to avenge Kalinda … or save Silva.
Zahara raced to Giuliana’s side. “Let me see, chile.”
Giuliana kept Kalinda in healing stasis but moved over to let Zahara examine her. The witch doctor touched Kalinda everywhere.
“Her soul is fading.”
“Then bring it back,” Romano cried.
“I’m going to, pup. But not here. This place messes with magic. We need to get to my home. Torin, you have a portal you can create?”
The Guardian shook his head. “Not my gift. At the edge of Scorched Earth, there is one there who can.”
“Then we run. It’s Kalinda’s only hope.”
“What about Silva?” Giuliana wasn’t leaving her behind.
“Carry her. I’ll pack Kalinda,” Romano ordered.
Their charges in hand, they raced for a chance to save at least one of their pack members.
Chapter Seventeen
The portal deposited Zahara, Silva, Kalinda, Romano, Pasquale, and Giuliana in front of what looked like a log cabin built into a forest. Giuliana had never seen anything like it and knew of nowhere in Encantado like this. Even the Greenwald didn’t boast such a beautiful space. Where the hell were they? A massive tree full of deep roots grew through the center of the house and made up the stairs to the main door.
Zahara took the roots faster than lighting. “Stay out here. Lay Silva to the right side of Kalinda on the ground. Make sure their hands are touching. Giuliana, don’t stop working on keeping Kalinda here.”
They moved, not asking a single question. There wasn’t any time to think of anything else. Silva wasn’t breathing, and Kalinda was struggling to suck in any air. With each passing minute, their situation got worse. Still, Giuliana was surprised Zahara wanted Silva to be part of the healing process for Kalinda. How could the dead assist?
Romano cleared an area and laid his mate on the soft grass before Giuliana lowered Silva next to her. Giuliana didn’t want to focus on how cold Silva was. She knew the circle would have only been broken by her death, but she didn’t want to imagine the Fae gone. Everyone groaned when Silva showed up with her spell phone in hand, ready to take the craziest pictures, but they all loved her. There was no doubt of that.
She’d been too vibrant, too full of life.
And everyone had heard Kieran’s accusations against her and her responses. Romano would never stop hating Kieran—Heath—after he’d harmed Kalinda by taking Silva’s life, but Giuliana couldn’t ignore the pain in his voice.
Could any of them say they’d do anything differently?
Giuliana pushed away thoughts of Kieran and stationed herself at Kalinda’s head. The Ales was fading quickly, her body cool to the touch. But Giuliana only focused on holding her heart here. She’d never used her gift to this level. For her, healing was reknitting the skin, veins, and bones back together from the inside out, holding that picture in her mind. But with Kalinda, there was no wound to put back together.
What the hell was she supposed to do?
She pushed harder, reaching deep into her reserves to anchor Kalinda’s soul to her body. It wanted to escape, to travel with Silva. Giuliana now had a deeper understanding of what it meant for Silva to be Kalinda’s Cosantiór. To be soul-tied like that was similar to mating between shifters.
Like mates.
“Pasquale!”
He was at her side instantly. “What do you need?”
“Do you think you can do that thing with me for my healing like you do with your scenting ability?”
He frowned. “I don’t know, but we’ll try.”
He surrounded her, putting his arms next to her and intertwining their fingers. The green light from her healing wrapped around his hands lovingly. After a moment, it spread up their arms, and he inhaled deeply next to her ear.
The wo
rld brightened, impossible so, colors so vibrant they hurt. The leaves on the trees weren’t just green. They were all over the palette of mixes—gold, orange, red, and even blue. Each pulsed with life.
The tones bled into the air, twisting and turning much like scent did, but Giuliana saw it differently. It was the life of the earth, right there for her to use. She sank against Pasquale, pulling on his power more.
Take what you need, Giuliana.
Snow. He was there too, hovering over Red. She had her nose to the air, breathing deeply, and pulling from the air.
Like this, Giuliana. Take it.
Giuliana mirrored her wolf, lifting her face into the wind and breathing deeply. Pure essence filled her lungs, and she gathered it in her chest before leaning down and breathing it over Kalinda. It pressed into Kalinda, forcing her color back. It wasn’t permanent, but it kept her from slipping over the precipice no one could grab her back from.
“Good, chile. More.”
She was so focused on her work, she hadn’t heard the witch doctor return. Giuliana did as Zahara asked, pulling more from the world around her to give to Kalinda. Her head was swirling, but she fought to contain the energy.
“Romano, hold your mate’s other hand. Let her know what to come back to.”
Giuliana didn’t pay attention to him, concentrating on giving Kalinda what she could.
“I’m going to use Silva’s blood. Giuliana, whatever happens, don’t you let her go.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Zahara pulled out a wicked blade and sliced open Silva’s palm. Putting her hand back with Kalinda’s, she lowered them to the ground. She then stepped back, her white gown fluttering on the wind. Zahara had changed and her face was all white along with a white headwrap on her head.
She danced, singing a song Giuliana couldn’t understand. Faster and faster she moved, swaying back and forth with her dress flying out around her. Drums filled the air from somewhere unknown and matched her rhythm. They moved as partners.
“Omi tutu. Ona tutu. Ile tutu. Ori tutu. Tutu Esu. Tutu Orisa. Tutu Egun mi. Tutu bobo Egun ara orun tiembelese Oludumare.”
Zahara kept going, lifting her head to the sky as she sang. Giuliana poured more magic into Kalinda. Zahara moved closer to the prone women, pushing her hands at them.
Mated to the Prince (Portal City Protectors Book 3) Page 14
