Seared

by Bethany Adams

  When Ralan sensed Delbin’s energy nearby, he sent his mind out in a quick sweep. Inona and Fen waited beside his student. Ralan gave Delbin a mental nudge to warn them of his presence before he and Cora stepped into view. He’d rather not be gutted by Inona or have his throat ripped out by Fen.

  Delbin lifted a hand in acknowledgement. His pinched expression gave Ralan pause, since his student tended toward humor during times of stress. “That bad?”

  “I can’t take control of Victor,” Delbin answered. “He’s stronger. Maybe once I see him, I’ll be able to. But Fen was going to handle Kien while we deal with the others. We’re trying to decide if the plan is still worth the risk now that Maddy’s unconscious.”

  Ralan stared at the cave opening, the small gap illuminated by light from within. Kien hadn’t bothered to conceal it, and that seemed…wrong. All of this was wrong. He glanced to the right at the stranger among them. Fen. He’d led them here as promised. But was this part of a greater trap?

  Ruthlessly, Ralan shoved his mind into the half-blood’s. Fen flinched, but he didn’t resist. Ralan scanned the other’s thoughts, especially his recent memories. Some of Ralan’s tension eased when he confirmed there was no trap, though the kid had seen more fucked up stuff than he wanted to contemplate.

  Had Kien really—

  Ralan jerked his mind free as the image of a severed head clarified in Fen’s memories. That had been the boy’s turning point, but it had taken him a while to work his way free. Now he was determined to regain his uncle’s trust. Fen would make a good ally in this.

  “Send Fen in first.”

  A frown pinched Delbin’s brow. “He’s supposed to be bringing us back as captives.”

  With a deft twist of power, Ralan brought the others into the mental conversation. Cora winced and Fen scowled—but no one argued. “How were you going to bring them in by yourself? You couldn’t have carried them.”

  Fen’s expression turned sheepish. “I hadn’t considered it. I suppose I could tie them together and march them through.”

  Inona stiffened. “You will not—”

  “Only the appearance of being bound, not the reality,” Fen said quickly. “But with these two here, I’m not sure what we should do.”

  Ralan considered the matter for a moment. “Carry on with that plan until you’ve secured Maddy. I’ll take care of my brother.”

  Quietly, they crept away from the cave until the entrance was no longer in sight. Trees thickened overhead, blocking much of the moonlight that had begun to trickle through. It took a moment for Ralan’s eyes to adjust, but when they did, he found Fen already digging through the backpack he’d dropped on the ground.

  Most fae races had excellent eyesight even at night, but none could match the Unseelie or the Dökkálfar.

  Fen stood, a length of rope and a knife in his hands. In short order, he had Delbin’s and Inona’s hands tied behind their backs with loose knots. Another rope linked their hands, a tail dangling free for Fen to hold. But before he grabbed it, he pulled a pouch from his bag and shook it.

  “Fake blood. I sent Kien the image of them bloodied.”

  A few dark smears and they were ready to go. Ralan shifted closer to Cora as Fen waved his knife and grabbed the end of the rope. He marched Delbin and Inona through the trees, this time not bothering with stealth. Small branches and leaves crunched underfoot as the group walked.

  Ralan straightened his shoulders. It was almost time. Live or die, he would face his brother. He’d believed he would return to Moranaia at least once more. Even Eri had told him he wouldn’t defeat Kien this trip. But there was nothing consistent or reliable about the strands, and he could count on nothing. If only he hadn’t brought his bonded into danger.

  Once Fen and the others were out of sight, Ralan turned to Cora. “I hate the thought of taking you in there.”

  “I can defend myself.”

  Cora lifted a finger, and his brows rose as a tiny flame sparked to life at the tip. “Well, then.”

  The fire winked out. Her expression turned grave as she lifted her hand to his cheek. “I’m not too fond of you going in there, either. Let’s both live through this.”

  Ralan leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. Once. Twice. “I’m good with that plan.”

  He pulled away with a regretful glance as Delbin signaled that they’d entered the cave. The plan was for Ralan and Cora to wait, but there was no way he’d leave his apprentice on his own in a situation like this. Delbin might not be able to gain control of Victor.

  But Ralan could.

  “I’m going to stick your blood-sucking head up your ass,” Delbin snarled with relish as Fen shoved them through the cave entrance.

  Delbin noticed Victor leaning against a stalagmite only a body-length away. The fae man scowled. “You.”

  As Victor strode forward, Delbin gathered his energy and reached for the other’s mind. Only to thud with mind-ringing force against an impenetrable shield. He cried out as pain bloomed in his head. Then Victor jabbed a fist into his gut, and Delbin doubled over with a new kind of agony.

  “You’d better not damage them before Kien gets the chance,” Fen said in a casual tone.

  But even that soft reminder must have alarmed Victor, who stumbled back at once. Scowling, he spun and marched down the long, narrow cave. Delbin bit back a groan as he straightened. If he found a way to take control of that bastard…

  Victor froze a few paces away from Maddy’s prone form. For a moment, Delbin ignored him, focusing instead on the Sidhe woman. Her skin was pale, but her chest rose and fell. As he stared, she shivered in her sleep. Relief poured through him, dulling the ache in his head. She was alive. If they could get her out, it would all be worth it.

  Then Victor stooped down beside Maddy, a knife in hand, and Delbin’s heart jumped. He jerked forward, forgetting for a moment that his bonds were false. But Inona hadn’t. The rope that had kept their hands connected went lax as she burst into action. She rushed across the cave at full speed as Victor slipped his knife close to Maddy.

  Only to cut the bonds trapping her hands behind her back.

  Inona drew to a startled halt as Victor stood and lifted his hands. His blank, unseeing gaze passed through them as though he was being controlled. Delbin frowned. What the hell? Then he sensed Ralan’s energy behind him, and the odd behavior became clear. He should’ve known the prince wouldn’t be able to resist stepping in.

  “Well, well,” a smooth voice called from the darkness at the end of the cave. “It seems Fen caught more than I could have anticipated.”

  The room seemed to still as Kien strolled into the light. He halted beside Victor and lowered his hand to the man’s shoulder as though offering comfort. “Release my friend, brother, won’t you?”

  Ralan gave a low laugh. “I think not.”

  “Foolish as always,” Kien said.

  Before Delbin could blink, Kien whipped a knife from his belt and plunged it into Victor’s eye. The man made a sound, a scream barely formed, before his body slackened. As Ralan cried out, Kien tugged the blade free with a sick, sucking pop. Grinning, he licked both sides of the knife clean.

  “I might not be a blood elf, but I admit I love the taste.”

  Delbin couldn’t help it. He retched.

  Chapter 20

  Ralan gagged at the surge of agony that cleaved his head. He’d barely managed to disconnect from Victor quickly enough to avoid death, but he hadn’t been fast enough to avoid the echo of pain. Kien laughed, a wicked sound that pounded against Ralan’s aching head. Damn, that had been close.

  Cora reached for him, and her soothing touch snarled with the worry that streamed from her along their bond. Even as he fought back the pain, he sent her a wave of reassurance. His brother wouldn’t fell him so easily.

  And besides, he already knew he’d die by fire.

  Ralan’s eyes refocused on Kien. Sneering, his brother glided closer to Maddy. Then Kien’s attention shifted to
Inona where she stood in the middle of the cave. “I’m glad to see you’ve returned. I look forward to killing you.”

  “Not likely,” she answered.

  Kien shrugged and toed Maddy with his boot. “Fen. You’ll do as I say, or I’ll kill the little healer.”

  “You probably will anyway,” Fen called.

  “Astute.” Kien bent down and ran the flat of his blade along Maddy’s cheek. “But in this case wrong. Your cooperation means more to me than the joy of her death.”

  Inona shifted slightly, preparing to spring, but Kien’s gaze darted to her face. Even Ralan’s breath stilled for a moment as his brother and Inona stared at one another. Then Kien smiled and stood. He took a step closer, his body between Maddy and the others. A sick and twisted parody of a guardian.

  “I suppose you believe you have me outnumbered.”

  Ralan chuckled. “You killed your only ally, so I’d say yes.”

  Kien’s eyes flashed with power a heartbeat before his magic pulsed through the air. Ralan cast a shield around himself and his allies, but the spell did not wing their way. Instead, the mage lights hovering above them throbbed like his pulse. Then the light surged, filling the space with nothing but bright, painful blue.

  As Ralan covered his eyes against the visual blow, he cast his mind around him. He’d expected Kien to attempt escape. Instead, Ralan found pain and panic emanating from Inona in waves. The flare of light began to fade, and he squinted against the remaining glow. When it settled back to normal, he cursed.

  Kien had her.

  He'd wrapped his left arm around her body, trapping her arms, and his knife was shoved against her throat. Inona froze, and her panic disappeared, replaced by the resolved calculation of the warrior. Her own weapon rested a few feet away, too far for her to reach. They’d have to distract Kien long enough for her to fight free of his hold.

  “This looks familiar,” Ralan drawled. “You certainly do like to grab women from behind. But since young Meli was able to defeat you, I imagine a trained warrior can fell you easily.”

  “Not a warrior disarmed,” Kien answered.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Ralan caught sight of Inona’s left hand creeping slowly toward her pocket. She must have another knife. Ah, his brother always underestimated women. Maybe someday it would be his downfall.

  Ralan focused on Kien. “Stop this madness.”

  “I said I’d kill her, and I meant it.” Inona’s hand stopped as Kien’s arm tightened. “I almost bled out in the fucking mud beneath that old house. Me, a future king.”

  Delbin’s anger vibrated the air around them. “You deserve worse.”

  “This from an elf who was banished here, abandoned by our people.” Kien’s eyes glinted. “Sure you don’t want to join me? Perhaps I could let your woman live for the promise of a strong telepath on my side.”

  Delbin gestured at Victor’s body. “Your allies don’t exactly fare well.”

  “They’ve all turned out to be traitors and fools.”

  Ralan took a step forward, pushing away from Delbin and Cora. “What have I ever done to you, brother? What is the point of all of this?”

  Kien laughed, a wicked chuckle that speared the ears like needles. “You’ve never done anything to me. Isn’t that the funny part? You were a good brother, gullible and easy to push around. But our aunt? There’s no future in which you will be king, she told me. Then she gave that prophecy to our father saying the first son to have a child with an outworlder would be the next to rule.”

  “Teyark was still the heir,” Ralan said, his frustrations rising. “I was in love with Kenaren, not an outworlder.”

  Kien’s eyes narrowed. “Father was determined to see you married to that Galaren princess. I couldn’t risk him talking you into it.”

  A gasp sounded behind Ralan, and he glanced back at Cora. He frowned to see her skin so pale, but he couldn’t allow himself to ask her why. Not with Kien so close to snapping. Unease slithered through Ralan as he turned back to his brother.

  “Perhaps you were correct, since Kenaren proved untrue.”

  “Actually, she loved you dearly,” Kien said, his tone calm and almost friendly. Ralan knew better. “Do you know how many months it took me to wear her down? Each time you reassured her that you wanted no other, I found a way to undercut your words. I even promised her she would be my queen. Finally, I seduced her. She cried when we were done, you know. But it didn’t take long to break her after that.”

  Ralan’s heart twisted, and bile scalded his throat. “I will kill you for that alone.”

  “Did they tell you what got me banished?” Kien’s grip tightened, and Inona let out a soft sound as his blade cut into her skin. But the thin line of red wasn’t what had Ralan’s attention. “I doubt they’d want to upset the precious prince. See, Teyark caught me torturing the lovely Kenaren after she threatened to confess.”

  “That’s a lie,” Ralan said. “They would’ve killed you, not sent you into exile.”

  Kien smiled, an odd hint of pity coloring the curve. “If our father wasn’t weak, perhaps. I kept her chained in my workroom for days. Her pleading screams were so beautiful. She even called for you. Ah, the sweet slice of knife through flesh. It’s not as easy as it might seem, you know. Even the soft parts of the body provide resistance. But I do have to wonder if the tiny life I cut from her womb was yours or mine.”

  Ralan’s vision blurred, and he swayed on his feet as the shock of his brother’s words hit. Kenaren had been pregnant? Oh, Gods. If she’d been very far along, it would’ve likely been his, not Kien’s. Why hadn’t he Seen it? Had Megelien hidden this, too, or had he been too deluded to Look?

  “She never said a word,” Ralan choked out.

  Kien shrugged, jostling Inona. “I had her convinced you’d ditch her for the Galaren and ruin Moranaia. The last was certainly true. We both know a seer shouldn’t be king.”

  “You!” Cora gasped out.

  A new surge of agonizing fury ripped into Ralan along their bond, blending with his own rage until he almost vomited. Cora surged forward, half-turning Ralan to face her. He’d thought her pale before, but now her tan skin was drained of all color. Her wide, wild eyes found his.

  “You’re from Moranaia? A prince?” she demanded.

  Ralan blinked at her vehemence. “Yes. Same place Delbin is from.”

  “He never told me that. Great Divine.” Cora shoved a hand against Delbin. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “Exiles rarely talk about such things,” Delbin answered in confusion.

  As Kien’s laugh filled the cave, Ralan reached out and gripped her arms. “What is it?”

  “When your name sounded familiar, I thought it was because of your career. Roland Morne,” she whispered. “What’s your real name? The full one?”

  He wanted to crumple. To be ill. To blast his brother into oblivion. And she was worried about his name? “Moranai Elaiteriorn i Ralantayan Moreln nai Moranaia.”

  “Ralantayan Moreln.” Her eyes slipped closed, and she swallowed hard. “I’m the Galaren. The one you rejected, sight unseen. The one who apparently ruined your life.” Her broken gaze met his. “Just as you ruined mine.”

  Even Kien fell silent for several long breaths. Cora was from Galare? Ralan shook his head, refusing to believe. The coincidence was too great. His father couldn’t have possibly found his soulbonded, and if he had, he would have used that to convince Ralan. Surely he hadn’t rejected his own bonded without knowing.

  Cora wrapped her arms around her waist as if she needed to protect herself. From him. Ralan’s body shook from the force of her pain joining with his own. He wanted to sweep her into his arms, tell her it wasn’t true. But as memories seeped through, so did doubts.

  There’s enough royalty in this room to host a ball.

  She’d said that with a mocking tone Ralan had found strange at the time. Now, he realized that she hadn’t been talking only about him and Vek. She’d also told h
im that there were few portals to her land, and only a handful of places didn’t connect directly through the Veil. He’d just been too preoccupied to consider it.

  A princess. A Galaren princess.

  That made Ralan the fucking idiot who had rejected her.

  “This may just be the best day of my life,” Kien quipped.

  Fury surging like fire, Ralan took a step toward his brother. “Your games ruined everything.”

  “Ah, but the best part? You can’t blame me for this.” Kien smirked. “Just think. I saved you from having to choose between the mother of your child and your soulbonded. Well, probably your child. Who knows, really?”

  As Ralan’s body vibrated with rage and Kien’s laugh rang out, Inona’s hand reached her pocket. She gave a slight squirm as though she’d lost balance. But if Kien’s sudden scowl was any indication, he wasn’t fooled. Ralan drew energy into himself, ready to blast his brother. From the other side, he sensed Delbin do the same.

  Even the water dripping from the stalactites seemed to freeze in that moment. Then everything happened at once.

  Inona pretended to stumble again, tugging her knife free with the movement. As Kien’s left arm tightened, a calm, sickly smile twisted his lips. Ralan sent a mental blast toward his brother. A killing blow. But it bounced off Kien’s shield at the same time his brother dug the knife into Inona’s neck.

  Her eyes widened, and a moan slipped from her lips as her blade clattered from her fingers. Still smiling, Kien tossed her to the ground. Delbin cried out, and Ralan had only a moment to shield himself and Cora before the force of his apprentice’s magic shook the cavern.

  Stalactites and stalagmites shattered, pieces blowing away from the force of it. Kien and Fen were flung away, and Ralan struggled to keep his own feet as the wave hit his shield. Cora landed against him. His arms went around her in reflex, but she shoved away almost at once.

  In a heartbeat, Cora darted across the cavern, skipping over fallen bits of rock. Ralan called after her, but if she heard, she didn’t care. Heedless of anyone else, she knelt beside Inona. Her hands pressed to Inona’s neck. Then a new kind of power pulsed through the room.