by Suzanne Rock
Then everything was quiet. In her mind’s eye she stood in front of two brightly colored ropes. She automatically let out her magic and began to unravel the closest rope.
“What are you doing?” Donar asked.
She paused from her work and looked up. Donar was standing next to the second rope, his hand gently caressing the threads. He looked blurry, as if part of a dream.
“I’m undoing the threads of my soul so that I can weave them with yours.”
He looked up at the rope next to him. “Is this my soul?”
“Yes.”
He waved his hand over the braid. It began to unravel.
“How did you do that?” Tara asked. She had thought that only Iatros could undo the threads of a person’s soul.
Donar shrugged. “It seems right.”
She finished her work and then gathered the loose threads of Donar’s soul in her hands. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
She gathered as much as she could between her palms and closed her eyes. Soon she felt her magic leave her body. She poured it into the threads, reweaving them with a spell that every Iatros learned as a child.
Eventually the adrenaline she had been using during sex faded and exhaustion overcame her. She opened her eyes and saw that the strands glowed bright white. She opened her hands and saw the intricate braid of colorful rope—both her soul and Donar’s entwined for eternity.
Donar hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze.
“This is right,” he said.
Donar leaned closer, his gaze shifting to her mouth. Then Tara felt something press against her pussy. She gasped and the spell broke.
Tara opened her eyes and looked behind her. Soren had moved from in front to behind and had positioned himself against her opening. His hungry gaze met hers.
“I’m sorry. Donar and I agreed to take you one at a time to help conserve energy. I meant to give you rest, but my deahman…” He shut his eyes as his whole body shook. Tara realized that he was fighting his inner darkness for control.
An eerie calm enveloped her, wiping away her exhaustion. She wanted to do this. Soren was the one who’d believed in her when she couldn’t believe in herself. She had to try, for him.
“It’s okay, Soren. Do it.”
Soren opened his eyes and looked toward the sky. He let out a mighty roar, something that sounded half human, half animal, then drove his cock deep inside her channel.
Tara gasped his name. Soren wasn’t slow or gentle, but fucked her with all of the pent up emotion inside of him. She had thought that she was too exhausted to feel anything, but Soren’s energy buoyed her and soon she desire wound around her body and moved her toward the familiar goal.
Soren curled his fingers into her hips as he thrust harder, faster. Tara closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of him filling her channel. The sweet friction stoked the fire in her belly and increased her need. Within moments, Tara found herself once again standing on a great precipice.
Soren cried out. His thrusts became more erratic, more primal. Tara focused on his voice, on his touch, everything that was uniquely Soren.
Then he shifted his position and touched a very sensitive spot inside her core. Tara cried out as white light once again exploded across her vision. She tightened the muscles in her pussy around Soren’s length, causing him to shudder. Two more thrusts and then he cried out as his own orgasm roared through his body and he followed her over the edge.
Within moments she was standing on the same white plain, and yet something had changed. She turned to the side and noticed that her hand was in Donar’s, and they both held the tight braid of their entwined souls in their hands. Soren emerged out of the light, bringing his own soul with him.
Tara reached out on instinct to touch Soren’s braid, but he pushed her hand away.
“Allow me. You’re tired.”
“But you don’t know how to do it,” she said.
Soren ran his hand over the braid, just like Donar did moments before. The rope unraveled in his fingers.
“We learned it in hell,” Soren explained. “One of the perks of being a deahman.” He handed her the strands.
Tara sank to her knees and gathered all of the souls in between her palms. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, then wondered if she had the strength to go through with this. Soren was right. She was tired. Beyond tired. What if she failed? Then she’d die, and quite possibly kill Soren and Donar along with her.
Tara looked up from the threads and found the men studying her.
“I can’t do this,” she said. “I’m not strong enough.”
Donar’s features softened. “You’re right.”
“She is?” Soren asked.
Donar took Soren’s hand. “Alone she is not strong enough.” He held up their joined hands. “But together we can give her the strength she needs to finish the task.” Donar knelt down beside Tara. Soren followed. Together they placed their hands over hers.
Tara watched in amazement as each of the twins bowed their heads and closed their eyes. They were so giving, so wonderful. How did she ever get so lucky?
She owed it to them to try this, to give them both a chance at peace.
Tara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A cool breeze blew, and she felt the darkness that was part of the twins rise up into the air. She sent her magic after it. Her power engulfed theirs and dragged it back down toward them. Slowly she began to unravel her threads from Donar’s.
The process was taking far longer and required much more energy than she had originally thought. With each passing moment she felt weaker and weaker. Her body began to sag, her mind to wander. Then she felt Donar’s rough fingers move against her own and Soren’s quiet presence beside her.
Take our strength. Donar’s words flowed into her mind.
Let us help you, Soren added.
Of course. Tara opened up her mind and embraced the men’s darkness. She wrestled it, harnessed it and drove its energy into the threads.
When she was finished, she eased her hands away from the twins and opened her palms. All of the threads were woven together, a symbol of three souls becoming one.
Tara glanced at first Donar, then Soren. After a long moment, she raised up the braid in between them. “It is finished.”
Donar smiled and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “You’ve done well little one. Rest now.”
Tara’s whole body relaxed under his command and her world went black.
* * * * *
A loud buzzing sound cut through Soren’s dreams and roused him from sleep. What the hell…
He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“It’s a motor.”
Soren blinked up at Donar, who was already throwing on his clothes. “Better get dressed. It looks like we have company.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, but…” Donar’s whole body stiffened and his hands stilled. “Do you feel it?”
“No.” Then out of nowhere, a strange sensation rippled up Soren’s spine. It felt almost as if someone had sent an electric current through his body. Every inch of his skin tingled and his mind began to fill with a pleasurable haze.
“Fucking Nergal,” Donar said. “He’s trying to control us.”
“I thought binding with her was supposed to help us?”
“Me too. I think she’s too weak right now to be much help to anyone.” He hardened his jaw for a moment. “We’re going to have to fight it ourselves.”
“We can’t let him master us.” Soren looked down at Tara. “If we’re both under deahman control, who’s going to protect her?”
“I know.” Donar crawled over Soren to get to the wheel. “How do I turn this thing on?”
Soren threw on his jeans and stepped over Tara. “Here, let me.” He put his hand on the key to turn the motor back on and paused as another bolt of energy sliced through him, this one much stronger than before.
“No,” Donar whisper
ed. The buzzing noise got louder. Another boat was coming closer…
“Good afternoon, slaves.”
Soren turned and saw a small yacht float over next to them. The woman in leather, Anisa, tied both boats together. Nergal stood at the stern with a smug expression on his face.
“You didn’t think that you’d get away from me that easily, did you?”
Soren stepped in between Tara and Nergal. “Stay away from her.”
Nergal laughed and the electricity running along Soren’s spine amplified. Soren knew that he had to untie the boat and get them out of there. He tried to move, but found he couldn’t.
“Nice to have you boys back.” Nergal nodded to Anisa. “Good work my dear. There may be hope for you yet.”
Anisa frowned, then retreated until she stood just behind Nergal. “Your wish is my command, master.”
“Come on home, boys.” Nergal motioned them to the boat.
The electricity surged once more and Soren used all of his energy to stand still. Donar was already moving, but then again, he had a much stronger deahman than Soren, and as such, the darkness had more of a control over his psyche.
Soren glanced over onto the deck of the other boat and noticed something interesting. Nergal stood with his hand outstretched, his body tense. Beads of sweat formed around his brow and his jaw tensed with concentration. This was difficult for him. Nergal had to concentrate to maintain his hold over them. If Soren could distract him somehow…
Soren’s inner darkness growled and then his feet started to move of their own accord. Damn. He tried to fight the darkness, but it was no use. He’d have to play along until an opportunity presented itself.
He followed Donar over to the other boat and stood beside Nergal.
“Good.” Nergal lowered his hand and smiled at Anisa. “You see, dear? All it takes is some self-control—and knowing where your enemy’s weakness is located.”
Myriad emotions crossed Anisa’s face; anger, fear, self-loathing. Then they were all replaced with a cool mask of indifference. “Yes, master.”
Nergal nodded to the other boat. “Once a weakness is found, you exploit it. Always.”
“Yes, master.” Anisa flexed her fingers at her sides.
“Good. Now untether us from the boat and burn it.”
Soren blinked in shock. Torch the boat? But Tara was still on it, unconscious.
Anisa also seemed to be confused. “You said that Urian’s orders were to take the Iatros back and clip her wings.”
“I know, but he’s wrong.”
“Killing her will kill the twins.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not. My hold on them is strong. There’s a chance that they will survive the strain. I’m willing to take the risk.”
Soren tried to move. When that didn’t work he tried to speak. Then he cursed his body for not responding to his commands. A quick glance at Donar told him that his twin was suffering the same fate.
We need to wake her. Donar’s words floated through his mind.
We can speak with each other in our heads?
I guess so.
Why?
I think Tara has linked us somehow. Can you move?
No. They needed that distraction, but what could they do? He stared at Anisa as she unhooked the boats and sent them adrift. Wake up, Tara. Please…
When they were about one hundred feet away, Soren saw it—movement on the other ship. A surge of hope rushed through Soren, momentarily confusing his inner darkness.
“Look out, Tara,” he yelled. “They’re going to burn the boat!”
Nergal faced him and held out his hand. “Shut up, slave.”
Electricity shot through Soren’s spine. His whole body screamed in pain as he fell to his knees and cupped his face in his hands.
Nergal turned back to Anisa. “Torch it.” He let out a frustrated noise when she didn’t move. “Quickly, girl. Quickly.”
Anisa raised her hand and removed her glove.
* * * * *
Hurry, Tara. They’re going to burn the ship.
Donar’s words pierced the fog in Tara’s mind. Burn?
Nergal’s here. He isn’t paying attention to me. I have enough freedom to speak with you, but not to move my body.
What’s happening? Where are you?
Start the boat and get out of here as fast as you can.
Where’s Soren? Fear struck her chest in the silence that followed.
He’s hurt, but he’ll live, Donar said after a moment.
I’m not leaving without you.
No, you have to go.
Tara stood and rubbed her eyes. When the world became clearer, she found herself looking directly into the crimson eyes of the female warrior she had encountered back in the hotel room. Anisa was taking off her glove. Donar stood to one side of Nergal, but Soren was out of view. Tara reached out with her magic and felt his pain.
Questions filled her mind as she searched for her clothes. Why did Nergal have so much control over them? Didn’t her queen tell her that her union with Darien had allowed him to slip from the deahmans’ grasp and be his own person? Perhaps the bond was too new, or more likely, Tara was too exhausted to offer up any more magic to protection. The sex and weaving had tapped her out. Even now, she felt the exhaustion at the edges of her mind, calling her back to unconsciousness. Never before had she felt such a drain on her magic. It was almost as if her life force was slipping away. It was so tempting to close her eyes and let the blackness take her.
No. She couldn’t give up, she decided as she slipped on her underwear, pants and bra. Her magic might be waning and she could very well be dying, but she had to save Donar and Soren before she let herself fall into limbo. She didn’t go through all of that work only to lose them. She dismissed her shirt—it would only get in the way—and returned to the deck.
Run, Tara. Get out of here, now.
She ignored Donar’s voice and untethered the anchor from the side of the boat. Then she picked it up. Shit, it was heavy. Tara let out her wings and stepped to the edge. One look down and she remembered that she was over water. She swallowed the lump in her throat and stumbled back. Her magic was weak. Would she be strong enough to cross the distance between the boats? What if she failed?
Hurry, Tara.
Tara looked over at the ship and saw the female warrior point her hand at the boat.
If she flew over the water, there was a chance she could die like her sister.
If she stayed on the boat, she’d definitely die in a fiery grave.
Shit. Tara went up onto the side of the boat once more and closed her eyes. Then she spread her wings, and jumped.
Something exploded beneath her feet, and she realized that Anisa’s magic had hit the ship. Tara held onto the anchor with two hands and opened her eyes. She was flying. Over water.
Her magic slipped and she began to fall.
Focus on me.
Tara searched for Donar on the other ship with her magic. She quickly located him and focused her gaze on his concerned face.
Come on, you can do it, he said.
Slowly, she began to move toward him.
Don’t look down.
She peeked beneath her and saw nothing but water.
I said don’t look down!
She felt her chest constrict and her breathing became labored. The anchor was so heavy. She was going to die, she knew it.
Keep moving.
Tara slowly moved forward, keeping her gaze locked on Donar.
Tara, look out.
She turned in time to see Anisa send another line of fire in her direction. Tara whimpered and flew higher, out of the reach of the flames. Then she changed direction and headed toward Anisa.
What are you doing? Donar asked.
Trust me.
Anisa shot again and again, and each time Tara was able to evade her attacks. Finally Tara reached the female warrior and circled her above her head.
Anisa shot at her again, and this time the fl
ames brushed against her skin.
Tara cried out as pain sliced through her body. She loosened her grip on the anchor. It fell toward Anisa. The warrior tried to get out of the way, but it was too late. She caught the anchor in her chest. Tara watched as Nergal’s fighting machine grunted and toppled over the side of the boat.
Tara closed her eyes and let her magic radiate from her wings, creating a bright light. Nergal covered his eyes and ducked inside the boat before the brightness seared his skin. Anisa wasn’t so lucky. Tara’s magic caught her face. The woman struggled, trying to disentangle herself from the heavy anchor’s chain as the bright magic set her left cheek on fire. She screamed as she was dragged under.
Tara watched the bubbles rise up out of the water. Waves rippled along the surface as the female warrior struggled below. First there were many waves and bubbles, then they lessened. Finally, they ceased altogether.
Tara landed on the deck and wiped her hands together. One down.
She felt large, rough hands on her wings. She tried to turn, but the grip only tightened, holding her immobile.
“Come here, you little bug.”
Tara was dragged back to the end of the ship. Nergal took her wings in both hands and bent them together at an odd angle. Tears stung Tara’s eyes as pain lanced her body once more. She fell to her knees.
“What a little troublemaker. We shall see how tough you are once we clip your wings.”
Chapter Sixteen
Fuck, Soren, get up. Tara needs you.
Soren clung to Donar’s voice and fought through the pain. What’s going on?
Stand up and see for yourself.
Soren rubbed his eyes and noticed that the intense agony that Nergal had placed on him before was receding. He glanced up into Donar’s frustrated expression. The man seemed rooted to the spot. He flexed his fingers at his sides, his gaze darting back and forth between Soren and something that was going on behind him.
Move slowly, we don’t want to attract attention. But hurry.
Nice. Go slow, but hurry. What the hell did that mean?
Mine.
Soren steeled his jaw. Nice time for you to show some support, he told his deahman. Why couldn’t you have helped me a few minutes ago?
