by Apryl Baker
The enraged battle cry behind her confirmed she’d only managed to piss it off. Seconds later, the creature rolled into her and she went tumbling down the hillside toward town. So close. A clawed hand gripped her ankle and jerked her backward, halting her fall. She kicked out with her free foot, but it only met the squishy, solid chest of the creature. The thing snorted, and if she didn’t know better, she’d swear it was laughing at her. She met its gaze. It was pissed, but she caught a glimpse of humor in its eyes as well. Well, now, this was new. She hadn’t thought they were capable of that. It pulled her closer, sniffing. She shuddered away, but it only brought her closer, its other hand wrapping around her arm and pulling her into a sitting position. Her face was only inches from its own. The smell gathered in the back of her throat and she fought the bile rising up.
The sound of pounding hooves distracted the creature. It swiveled its head to focus on the oncoming threat. Riders approached, weapons drawn. The creature hissed and then let out a series of sharp sounds. Three more of them charged out of the forest, headed straight for the horsemen.
The horsemen never hesitated. Two pulled out swords, the other three aimed their guns at the approaching ravagers. Shots rang out, stunning the beasts. The men carrying swords swiftly removed the heads, the only sure way she knew of to kill the monsters.
The one latched onto her tightened its hold even further and Katyia winced at the pain. Two shots were fired and she flew backward with the ravager. A sword swung down and then she was free, at least of the ravager, whose carcass lay bleeding all over the snow.
Katyia stood on shaky legs, the wound in her side seeping blood. She must have lost more blood than she’d thought. Her dagger clutched in one hand, she turned to face the men behind her. Her vision blurred and she heard the canter of horse coming closer. Were they friends or enemies? The mountains held dangers besides the ravagers.
Strong arms swept her up and settled her on the saddle in front of her maybe rescuers. Fingers pressed on her wound and a small cry of pain escaped. Her adrenaline rush gone, the pain took over, but it didn’t dull her sense of self-preservation. Best to find out who these men were and what their intentions were. Starting with the man she currently rode with.
She looked up into ice blue eyes. The color suited him, though. His demeanor spoke of a cold, cruel man, and the icy eyes only enhanced that. He inspired fear. He was handsome, and that somehow made him all that much scarier. Her first instinct was to run, but his hand on her side prevented that.
“Be still.” The harsh command was whispered in her ear. “I need to stem the blood.”
He didn’t sound at all happy to have to be doing it, she decided. He sounded more put out than anything. “Just get me back to the village and you can be on your way.”
“Don’t mind Roman. He’s always in a foul mood.”
Katyia craned her head around the massive wall of muscle to see the speaker. He looked like a Viking, all blond hair and blue eyes. Only his were smiling and he winked at her. Or did he? It was hard to tell with her blurry vision.
“I am Greggor.” The Viking moved his horse closer, and she didn’t have to strain to see him. “Are you okay?”
“I wouldn’t call bleeding half to death okay.” This from the statue behind her. “What were you doing outside the town walls? Don’t you know they travel in packs, waiting to herd you?” The sigh of irritation that rumbled through him spoke volumes as to what he thought of her.
Katyia blinked, trying to clear her vision. He was right about one thing. She wasn’t doing very well. Alarm spread across Greggor’s face when he saw her fully. “What is your name, girl? Where should we take you?”
“Katyia,” she whispered. “Katyia Dragonovich.”
“As in Ivan Dragonovich?” Greggor leaned closer, sniffing.
She nodded, letting her head fall against the wall behind her. “My father.”
“At least this one has some fight in her.” Disgust rolled off the man, but if it was directed at her or her father, she wasn’t sure.
“My father...”
“Is weak,” he cut her off.
“He is not.” Instead of the sharp rebuke she’d meant, her voice sounded weak, frail. “He is a good man, a strong leader.”
Someone said something, but Katyia didn’t hear it. Her head rolled forward, the gray fuzziness around her vision went black, and she passed out.
The sound of a whispered argument pulled Katyia out of a deep, nightmare riddled sleep. She opened her eyes to see her sister Nicolette in a heated debate with their oldest brother, Gavin. He simply stood, arms crossed, and waited. Never a good sign when Gavin got all patient. Katyia tried to sit up, and pain lanced up her side and through her chest. The soft gasp that left her lips brought an abrupt end to the argument.
“Kat, don’t try to sit up!” Nicolette rushed to make sure she didn’t attempt it again, sitting beside her. “You’ll pull the stitches loose.”
Gavin stared her down and Katyia glanced away. His green eyes, so like her own, held accusation. He’d cautioned her since she was a child to never go outside the barrier. Technically, she hadn’t gone outside the land supposedly enclosed behind the spell. But did Gavin know it was breaking down?
“Mother is furious.”
“Of course she is.” Katyia grimaced, thinking of the fury she’d be facing later. “Why aren’t you two at the party?”
“Canceled.” Her youngest brother, James, came bounding through her open door. At thirteen, he was all leggy and bumbling, his strides choppy. Hazel eyes filled with mirth caught hers and she smiled at him. Everyone adored the kid. “Thanks for that. I hate wearing those fancy suits Mother insists upon.”
Katyia laughed and regretted it instantly. Fire tore through her abdomen. Laughing was not a good idea right now. Susan, her nanny of a sort, would scold her for making it worse. She was probably the one who’d bandaged up her wound.
“Well, it’s not like Mother could go on with the party when they came riding up with you all bloody. It wouldn’t have been proper.” Nicolette sounded as pleased about the cancelation as James. She hated the parties as much as the rest of them, but Mother had pounded it into her head over the years Nicki was obligated to be there as the future Regent.
“What were you doing outside the barrier?” Gavin asked. She didn’t have to look at him to understand how hot his anger ran right now. Katyia also knew he didn’t know about the barrier breaking down. He had no magic to speak of and wouldn’t have felt the absence of it. It seemed Papa hadn’t told him.
She was saved from answering by the appearance of their father. He filled the doorway and spoke to the guards behind him. Ivan Dragonovich was a tall man, full of confidence, and held an air of authority. He was also the kindest person Katyia knew. He worked hard to keep them all safe, all the while sheltering his people from the truth of the magic failing. How did he handle the stress of that burden?
“Everyone out. I must speak with Katyia.”
Her siblings filed out one by one, shooting her looks of concern. Suddenly Katyia felt like she was five again and caught playing with the fairies who lived in the gardens. Her father had been the one to find her, and he’d made it clear how important it was for her to hide her abilities. To this day, she didn’t understand why she had to hide her magical abilities when Nicolette’s were encouraged.
Ivan closed the door and came to sit beside her on the bed. His eyes looked haunted. “You scared the hell out of me, little girl.”
“I’m sorry, Papa,” she murmured.
He smoothed a stray strand of hair away from her face. “What were you doing out there?”
“The barrier, Papa, the magic…”
“You felt it?” Surprise and shock warred in his eyes.
“No, that’s the problem, Papa. I didn’t feel it.”
His face paled. “Is that what you were doing so far away from town? Testing the barrier?”
She nodded. “I didn’t know if you kne
w and only wanted to check to see how far out the magic held. Don’t you know dangerous that is? Children play out there, Papa.”
“Not anymore. I just put an order in place today that no one is to leave the walls of the city. I had guards go out and bring everyone inside the walls until we can get a protective perimeter set up.”
“You did know, then?” Relief went through her. Of course he knew. “That’s why we’ve had so many strangers in town?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to find ways besides magic to protect our people. The magic is failing, Katyia. I’m not sure how much longer it will last.”
“But once Nicolette passes the First Regent’s test, her magic will bolster it, bring it back to its full protective capacity.”
“No, Katyia, that’s not going to happen.” His voice sounded troubled and broken. “What I am going to tell you must not be repeated, not even to your sister. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“The magic has been getting weaker and weaker with each new generation that takes over the Regency. Our family’s magic is getting weaker. It is why I was surprised you were able to feel the absence of it. Your sister cannot. It’s for that reason I’m not sure, even with the addition of her magic, we’ll be able to hold the wall.”
Panic filled her at the ramifications of that statement. They wouldn’t be able to keep the ravagers out. They’d be prey for them. Maybe not easy targets, but there was no way they could last long without the barrier to protect them.
“What are we going to do?” she whispered.
“I have arranged for mercenaries to guard the perimeter until we can find a way to regain the magic.”
“Was that who found me?” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of the rude one she’d ridden with. Brute of a man.
“Yes. They saved you.”
“I would have been fine.”
Her father’s eyes traveled to her side where a swath of bandages laid under her gown, and he snorted. “You almost died today, Katyia. If it had not been for the vampire mercenaries, you would have.”
“Vampires?” Her eyes went round. Did he really just say that? He let those vile monsters guard them?
“They are stronger than we are, Katyia. We need them to help us.”
“Is that why you moved everyone inside the walls of the town?” Accusation laced her words. “You didn’t want them alone out there where they would just be midnight snacks for that lot?”
He flinched. “They are inside the walls because that is as far as the magic goes.”
His voice wasn’t as strong as it had been, and she knew he was lying. She couldn’t believe he’d made a deal with those devils. They’d called him weak. Maybe he was if he’d made this deal. Another thought occurred to her.
“What did you promise them, Papa?” She couldn’t imagine it was money. The vampire clans had no need of money.
A knock sounded at the door seconds before it opened to reveal her stepmother. “Ivan, you are needed in the conference room.” Her eyes flickered to Katyia. “Let the girl sleep. She needs to rest.”
Relief lit up his eyes, and anger burned inside Katyia at his swift retreat. The door closed behind him, leaving her once again in darkness. Only this time, sleep did not welcome her.
What had he promised them?
Roman walked down the corridor, his senses alert for danger. Not that he thought he’d find any in the home of the Regent. They were inside what remained of the Regent’s protection. Small that it was. He slowed, hearing raised voices.
“I think we should let Katyia attempt the test.”
“What?” Roman recognized the shriek coming from the wife of the Regent. Olivia did not sound pleased.
“The girl felt the lack of magic in the barrier. Nicolette did not. Katyia’s magic is stronger.”
“You would deny our daughter the chance to be Regent?” Anger seethed in her voice. “Nicolette has been promised for years she would be the next Regent.”
“This isn’t about denying our daughter anything. It’s about keeping the people of Semmondhold safe. Nicolette cannot. You know it as well as I, Olivia. Katyia stands the best chance of saving our people.”
Perhaps there was more spine in the man than he’d originally thought. The girl in question did have power. He’d seen her use her magic against the ravager. It gave them enough time to reach her before the pack surrounded her. There were few powerful enough to pull off that kind of magic anymore. It wasn’t just the Regent’s family. Magic seemed to be dying everywhere in Sector Three.
Roman moved on. He had no interest in a domestic squabble. Even if it was about the girl who’d occupied his thoughts all day. His first instinct had been to take her back to camp with him instead of returning her. The strangeness of that sensation alone forced him to hand her over to her father. He’d become protective, possessive. Very unlike him and something he couldn’t afford at the moment. His people’s survival depended on him more than the strange feelings he had for the Regent’s daughter.
He wound his way down two more corridors and up a flight of stairs to the roof. The old home had been completely renovated, the roof housing walkways where guards were posted, watching for any sign of ravagers. Only no one was really watching. Two dozed and another seemed to be on watch, but his eyes were glazed in an unnatural way. Roman smelled the drugs in his bloodstream as he passed. He shook his head in disgust. The Regent paid no more attention to his soldiers than he did to the hounds that ran the grounds.
He found Greggor on the east wall, a frown on his face. The man almost never frowned. A fact that irritated Roman to no end. They had nothing to smile about these days. Their people depended upon their ability to negotiate this deal with the Regent.
“What disturbs you?” Roman came to a stop beside the man he called brother and looked out over the snow covered town. It was quiet, almost beautiful in the stillness of the night. One could forget the horrors that lurked outside these walls.
“What we are asking these people to do, to sacrifice…it is not right, Roman.”
“Is it right to ask our people to starve to death?” It was an argument the two of them had had for weeks. Greggor saw things in black and white, while Roman saw the gray areas. This wasn’t an ideal situation, but then again, since the ravagers invaded, nothing was easy. It used to be they could go out and find eager recruits for their way of life. Books had romanticized them to the point where everyone wanted to be a sparkly vampire. Those days were gone, those books long forgotten. Survival was humanity’s only instinct.
The anger burning in Greggor’s blue eyes didn’t make Roman flinch. He couldn’t back down from this. Too many of his clan had died from ravager attacks. Each time their numbers dwindled, the farther Roman was from reclaiming his birthright from his uncle. He’d been just a boy of seven when his father died and Alexi took over as chief. The man went so far as to try to slaughter all of Roman’s family. He and his four-year-old sister managed to escape, hiding for days in the forest until Greggor’s father found them.
“Give me another option and I will gladly take it.” He kept his own frustration out of his voice. He was not comfortable with this either, but he wouldn’t let that stop him.
“Here you are!” Dominic’s voice boomed across the open expanse of the roof, startling the guards out of their naps. “I thought we might find you up here.”
“How go the preparations?” Greggor asked. Even though he disagreed, Roman knew he’d support him when it came down to it. His brother understood the end game, even if he didn’t like the roads leading to it.
“We’re ready.” Lucern, the last man to make up Roman’s riding party, braced himself against a post. “I left Delia in charge of the camp. She said as soon as we get the go-ahead, she’s ready to start the transformations and to help ease the nerves of the others.”
“When do we start?” Dominic asked. There was no mistaking the disgust on the man’s face. This deal sat well with none of them, but Rom
an was at a loss as to what else to do.
“Tonight.”
“So soon?” Lucern shifted his position. “Has the Regent even spoken to his people about this?”
Roman suspected Ivan hadn’t, that he would wait until after the plan had been carried out. There would be less fear that way. No one would have to sit waiting to see if they were chosen to be fed upon or turned into a monster. It was what he would have done.
He looked out over the snow covered land. “Does it really matter?”
They were all silent as they followed him back down from the roof to the stables. Tonight was going to be long and difficult. Best not to let their thoughts lie where they had no need to go.
The light woke Katyia this time. It was soft, just a small stream coming in from the crack of the door. She heard her mother speaking with someone outside her door and then it opened, allowing her entry. Olivia was a beautiful woman, her features very much like those of Nicolette. Her blonde hair was beginning to grow lighter, fading to the snow white color that marked the passage of time. Not that Olivia appeared to be getting older. Her eyes were older, more cunning, but the beauty that marked her youth was still very much apparent.
She lit the lamp and then came to stand beside Katyia’s bed. The fire burning in her eyes made Katyia shrink back against the pillow, fearing the retaliation sure to come. Only it didn’t. Olivia just continued to stare down at her, hands balled into fists.
“Mother?” she asked, confused. Why did she just stare at her? It unnerved Katyia more than the whip Olivia often used to punish her.
Olivia snorted, a laugh bubbling up. “You cannot begin to even understand the joy I feel knowing I will never have to listen to you utter that word again.”
