The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bailey Ardisone

  Lómë made all sorts of menacing roars, and that too sent shivers over my body. I slowly, very slowly, peeked my eyes over my shoulder and around Mycah’s legs to get a view of this guy.

  Completely covered in black, except for a heavy, silver cloak around his neck, his rib-length hair shone deep crimson in contrast to his clothes. It blew wildly around his body, despite the wind being almost calm. His bright emerald eyes never left Mycah’s face. He wouldn’t be looking away from his prey, now that it stood just before him.

  Again, I thought I’d be sick.

  “Are you a servant of Ohtar’s now?” Mycah started incredulously, but mockingly. “A high-elf who used to answer to no one, now taking orders from a usurper? Lle lakwenien?”

  He ended in Elvish, so I couldn’t understand.

  “Lle tela?” Dae’Sûl responded.

  “N’uma. Mani uma lle merna?” Mycah spoke louder. “Mankoi naa lle sinome?”

  Okay, all this Elvish talk grew on my nerves. What were they saying?!

  “Faarea. Dina, gothamin.” Dae’Sûl held up his hand.

  “I am not your foe, helkaer.” Mycah took a step closer, clenching his fists. “My father did not mean for your son to perish. And now that my father is dead along with your son, your revenge means nothing.”

  “I said enough!” Dae’Sûl bellowed. “You know nothing of my turmoil. Nothing of my revenge. It means everything! I shall avenge my son, even at the cost of my saving breath.”

  At that, faster than my eyes could pick up, Dae’Sûl was gone from the spot he once stood, only to appear right next to me to my left—my nose practically touched his legs—and to my horror, had his sword impaled through Mycah’s back.

  If I weren’t so horrendously stunned, I would’ve screamed. But nothing came rushing out of my vocal cords as Dae’Sûl ripped his blade out from Mycah’s body and dodged away from Rydan’s attack. A flash of movement sent my eyes turning direction, and I found Ender and Naminé, who had been trying to join in the fight, were caught in a slithering tangle of blackness. It wrapped around their bodies, forcing them together and unable to move.

  But my only thought was healing as I clutched anxiously at Mycah’s legs, who still stood firm, his hand over his wound. I pulled myself up, trembling like a leaf, and placed my hands over his. Mycah’s eyes were on Rydan as he watched his younger brother battle his long-time enemy.

  I glanced quickly at Rydan, worried, and noticed Dae’Sûl looked to be having a good ol’ merry time, not even bothered by Rydan’s attacks. He played with his prey. Bile rose in my throat, and I worked to gulp it down as I focused on healing Mycah. I didn’t have much energy, but it didn’t take long to do, because we did it together, and all too soon he sped off like a blur to protect Rydan.

  Shaking my head at his speed that seemed faster than a bullet, I immediately pulled on my connection with the land to assist where I could. Mycah sliced his sword down over Dae’Sûl, but he blocked it, and Rydan took a beat to regain his composure. That was when I noticed Lómë and Calen covered in black ravens. They swarmed from every direction, keeping Lómë from assisting Rydan.

  Using my senses, I shut my eyes calmly and willed the land’s energy to join mine. I was weak, but I mustered up every bit of strength I could as I pulled from the roots in the tall trees that surrounded us and the bugs I knew to be crawling in the dirt beneath my feet. The birds that flew in the sky, the moon and stars that hung overhead—I used them all to come to my aid and lend themselves to me. I fell to my knees, exhaustion taking over my body. Perspiration already exuded out of me as I struggled to breathe properly. A soft breeze played with my hair, soothing my nerves, and I used the energy it offered happily.

  Mycah ducked and jumped out of Dae’Sûl’s way, and Rydan attempted to stab his blade into the evil elf’s torso, but he deflected. Mycah stopped an assault that almost cut Rydan’s throat, and I wavered in my focus for a second. I couldn’t pay attention to them; I knew I needed to do my part. But it was hard when the two people I loved most were in a battle for their lives. Mycah kicked Dae’Sûl in the chest, sending him flying backward.

  This was my opportunity. Lifting my hands above my head, I drew them down in a swift motion and slammed a bolt of lightning at the mongrel. He rolled out of the way just in time—my effort flashing from the ground into the middle of the sky worthlessly.

  Drat.

  He was back in Mycah’s face before I could think another word. Their swords clanged together repeatedly like their own lightning storm, but despite two brothers against one, they could not penetrate Dae’Sûl’s defenses.

  He elbowed Rydan in the nose, and my best friend—my Guardian—stumbled backward as blood gushed through his fingers that he held over his face. Naminé had gasped in horror, still caught in her web of blackness. Immediately, I sprinted like I was in the race of my life toward Rydan. My heart pounded against my ribcage, wishing for him to stay put, but he looked to be about to join the fight again.

  “Wait!” I risked drawing attention to myself and my intent on healing Rydan, because I knew once he re-joined the battle, there’d be no helping.

  “Stay back!” Rydan shouted at me, but I didn’t listen. Dae’Sûl was so focused on Mycah that he hardly paid attention to us. I almost sighed with relief. Almost.

  “Just stay put for a sec!” I breathed heavily, finally reaching him.

  “Nari, what the hell? It’s fine; you need to stay back. You shouldn’t be healing, remember?” Rydan held onto my wrists, pushing me backward. He jerked his chin at Ender and Naminé. “Go help them!”

  “Will you just stop! I’d already have it healed by now and you’d be back in there! Just let me do it.” I wedged my hands free and held them over his nose. Rydan winced, but a second later I had his nose healed. He huffed, not thanking me (yet), and raced back to Mycah’s side.

  You’re welcome.

  I tried to help Ender and Naminé, but any attempt I made stung my fingers and my attacks sizzled at the contact of the black stuff. I didn’t know what else to do, because I certainly would be no help with a sword without any strength or energy to put behind it. Not to mention they moved too much and way too close together to risk using a bow and arrow—at my current skill level anyway. The only thing I could do was to try another elemental command.

  Dae’Sûl sliced his blade at Mycah, who bent backward out of the way, but it wasn’t enough. The sharp weapon cut his cheek, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. I cringed, hating to see it. The wound didn’t faze Mycah though, and in turn his own sword made contact with Dae’Sûl’s shoulder. And, of course, it only seemed to make him more furious.

  Hazy clouds glided in front of the moon, shutting out the little light we had, but I could still make out the scuffle that played out yards in front of me.

  Feeling for a root from a tree near Dae’Sûl using my elven senses, I snagged it up from the ground and wrapped it around the elf’s ankle. Yanking him backward, he fell face-first into the ground. Both Mycah and Rydan brought down their swords to impale his fallen body, but like thin air, their blades met only black nothingness.

  Dae’Sûl disappeared in a puff of dark, smoky, feather-type tendrils. It reminded me of when I had come to Luïnil by myself and I had just found Mycah and Rydan, only to lose Mycah in a puff of black feathers and smoke. It had been Dae’Sûl then, and it was his trick now.

  A coal-colored raven flew overhead, just like that day last time as well, cawing in a hideous screech as it dipped to our level and morphed back into the tall, dark elf.

  He was too sly and slithery.

  I sent a burst of wicked-hot wind swirling at the ravens attacking Lómë and Calen, giving them relief. Lómë pounced on half of the ones that were left, and they puffed into smoke like they hadn’t been there at all. She swatted at the others flapping around her head that pecked like Woody Woodpecker.

  Dae’Sûl picked up where he left off, but in between attacking and defending, he chucked a small dagger in
my direction.

  “Nari!” Rydan shouted in warning the same time Mycah stretched his hand outward after it, and I rolled out of its direct line just in the nick of time as Mycah knocked it off course. It splintered the bark of a tree several yards away from me.

  The little trick distracted the royal brothers enough for Dae’Sûl to catch them both off guard, stabbing Rydan in the gut with his sword and punching Mycah across the jaw. With magic, he zipped a black, slithery rope around Mycah’s body, pinning his arms tight at his sides.

  At the same time, Lómë managed to put an end to her pests and the terrifying sound that came out of her as Rydan had been stabbed matched the outrage and terror I had in my own heart from having watched the sickening scene.

  She pounded against the dirt below her paws, her vicious claws penetrating deep in the soil like springboards with each draw she made. The rumble in her chest vibrated along the ground as her silver eyes swirled to a glimmering blue, her piercing pupils focused on one thing, and one thing alone.

  Now Dae’Sûl was the prey.

  Already I ran toward Rydan, and before I even got there Mycah had somehow melted the ropes right off his body. With Lómë in utter avenge-mode and Mycah free, they had the upper-hand against Dae’Sûl, who was backed against a tree. He defended each attack for now, but I had to turn my attention to Rydan.

  Falling at his side, I felt my chest cave the moment my eyes took sight of the amount of blood gushing from his wound. His clammy, pale-white skin looked ghostly as he jerked and gasped for air. Tears filled my vision at his obvious pain, but I left no time for anything else. Instantly, I had my hands over his injury and drew deep breaths of air.

  Ender shouted, “Nariella, no! You mustn’t heal him!”

  Closing my eyes, I ignored Ender’s warning and pinpointed my thoughts to saving my best friend. His pulse fluttered against my fingertips. Slowly, I felt the buzz of molecules and atoms bumping together and reforming to repair the damage. Little by little, he was pieced back together. His heartbeat strengthened to a steady pulse. I cautiously opened my eyes to find us bathed in a soft glow and the healing completed. I threw my arms around his neck, despite my vision going fuzzy and my chest caving in.

  Dae’Sûl fended off Mycah and Lómë’s attacks by dodging out of the way, disappearing and reappearing, or some other type of trick. Until triumphantly, Rydan withdrew from my hold and ran to rejoin the fight. He helped Mycah distract Dae’Sûl long enough for Lómë to sink her teeth into his jugular. He grunted in anguish for only a second before disappearing back into that disgusting black smoke, along with the stuff restraining Ender and Naminé. They ran over to us instantly, asking if everyone was okay.

  “Is he gone for good?” I breathed, clutching at my torso that filled with pain. My eyes were still growing dim, and I suddenly felt worse than I had when I revived Zaylie. I fell to my knees while my eyes searched for Dae’Sûl to reappear, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  “Not for good. But for now.” Mycah staggered over and knelt before me the same time Naminé embraced Rydan. “Your eyes have changed again. There’s more black streaks swirling throughout. Are you alright?”

  “We need to get out of here,” Rydan suggested, running a hand through his hair.

  I nodded, hugging onto Mycah with all my might, thankful he was alive. Ender rubbed my shoulder. The whole eyes thing creeped me out, but I couldn’t not save Rydan. “I’m okay.”

  Forcing myself to stand up, I struggled over to Rydan and threw my arms back around his neck, needing to finish what I had started after I had healed him. He squeezed me tightly, rubbing the back of my head with his hand.

  “I’m fine,” he whispered into my neck. My heart was in my throat, preventing me from responding. I was so happy and grateful we made it out of that alive. All of us.

  Slowly, I let go of Rydan and heaved myself onto Lómë, who wrapped her big tiger arms around me and licked the side of my head like I was her tiger cub. What would we have done without her? She saved us all.

  “Let’s go,” Mycah said as he gathered our things quickly and efficiently. We scurried quietly through the darkness with the desire to put as much distance between this spot and us as possible in a matter of seconds.

  I ignored the pulsing pain and tiredness I had filling my body as we flew softer and faster than I’d ever run, like discreet darts between trees, and never looked back even once.

  Chapter Thirty

  ~Naminé~

  After finding a well secluded place to rest for the night, I summoned Calen in my heart while everyone around me slept. She flew from her perch at the top of the tallest tree, suspending her duty of keeping watch over us.

  If I could connect with Cathar, I would quench my undying curiosity and suspicions. Shutting my eyes with Calen tucked under my arm, I let sleep descend just enough to clear my mind and make room for the dream that I was simultaneously painting for the two of us. I did not bother with details, for I was more than eager to reach him for the sole fact of finding out whether he was still alive. And then it happened—our minds connected victoriously, and an enormous weight lifted from my chest.

  Cathar entered the dream, and I could feel his presence as if he stood next to me. My eyes searched for him impatiently. Once they found his, I grinned from ear to ear.

  “Oh, brother! How I worried over you since I left you in Aselaira,” I crooned, running to him. He embraced me softly upon my reaching where he stood.

  “And I likewise worried for you, sister,” he said into my neck. “Where are you?”

  “I’m in Luïnil, not far from the outlying lands of the castle. But please, do not worry for my well-being. I am quite safe. I must know of your situation. Where are you? How are Mother and Father? Are you all in fact well?” my questions flew out in a rush, for I just had this horrible feeling that something was wrong, even with Cathar being here in the dream.

  “Nam, forgive me, but I failed,” he replied, dropping his head at the same instance my heart plunged into my stomach. “We were captured. Ohtar’s warriors were too great in number. Mother, Father, and I are to be hanged on the night of the Hunter’s Moon.”

  A loud gasp escaped my lungs, and I nearly fell to my knees on the ground. “Whatever for? Could you not have explained you were only running from our enemies during the battle with the Tavas army? Why would Ohtar have reason to hang fellow Isil who have always done well in service to him?”

  “We are not of the Isil race, dear sister. We are Tavas’Elda. Mother and Father were stolen from Lassaira long ago, cycles before you and I were ever born, and they were brainwashed by Ohtar to forget their past and believe they belong amongst the Isil kingdom. But it was all a lie,” Cathar explained, and my eyes went wide in wonder. How could this be?

  “You cannot be serious. We are Tavas?” my voice was strangled as the astonishment took over my vocal cords. “How did you discover this?”

  “During my first expedition to infiltrate Lassaira, my convoy came upon the Tavas guard. They felt my kindred blood within. They knew undoubtedly that I was one of them. They took me in as part of their army, and that is the reason you did not see me return with my convoy. I did not learn of the rest until I found Mother and Father during the battle to rescue Nariella from Ohtar’s dungeon. It took a great deal of medicine to clean their minds of Ohtar’s filth.” Cathar leaned his back against a tree as I contemplated this new information.

  “Poor Mother and Father. Are they all right? Are any of you hurt?”

  “For now, we are fine. But I am certain they would like to say their good-byes to you, Nam. You should visit them before the Hunter’s Moon as often as you can.”

  “No, I will not allow this. I shall come for you, Cathar. I have a fortnight before the night of the Hunter’s Moon. You will not be hanged. I refuse to sit by and let it happen without even trying. Wait for me. Do not give up hope, and let Mother and Father know that I am coming for them.” I threw my arms around my dearest brother’s
shoulders and poured as much sisterly love as I could into it, then I disconnected the dream in a hurry.

  Calen immediately dashed to her place above in the trees with the intent of keeping watch for danger. I rushed to Ender’s side and awoke him with urgency. I must tell them of my family’s impending demise. It could not wait.

  “Naminé? What is it?” Ender sat upright, panic filling his voice.

  “Ender, my family. They are in dire straits. They are to be hanged on the night of the Hunter’s Moon! We must save them!”

  Remycah awoke then, my voice disturbing him. I relayed an apologetic look, but I could not regret the reason. I had horrible news.

  “What’s wrong?” Remycah asked.

  “My parents and brother, they are to be hanged in a fortnight. We must stop it. Please, I beg of you.” My hand trembled as it clasped over my equally trembling lips.

  “We will stop it. I’m taking back the throne the instant we return to the castle. The people will have to accept that I am the true heir. You have nothing to worry over, Naminé. Once I take my place as king, they will be released,” Remycah explained kindly, soothing my nerves.

  “Of course, you are correct. I should not despair. Thank you, Remycah. I have just been so worried for them. It took me by surprise to learn of their doom. I will not let it trouble me. There is time to save them, like you said.” I dragged my feet back to my place of rest. The three of us resumed our lying positions to continue sleeping onward through the night.

  However, I could not calm the racing of my heart. I had feared my family was in desperate trouble, and it was overwhelming to learn of it being so. If we could not defeat Ohtar, then my mother, father, and brother would surely be killed, along with the rest of us.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  ~Nari~

  We ate the ration of food we had for breakfast, though we only paused briefly to do it. Static filled my head. I could hardly keep it upright as we continued on our trek.