A sharp jab to her mind sent her thoughts scattering for a heartbeat before she closed it against him. When she reached for her ShantiMari, a barrier prevented her from touching it.
Zakael stood, one hand on his stomach, the other stretched toward her. A thread of his power ran from his fingertips to her head. Somehow he was blocking her from accessing her ShantiMari. To block another’s power was strictly forbidden.
“You’ve no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this moment.” He took a step closer. “Father wants you alive, but he didn’t say by how much.” His fingers twitched and the power tightened around her throat, cutting off all air.
She stopped thrashing and hung limp. Thick cords of ShantiMari wrapped around her ankles, pulling her legs wide apart. A pain-filled gasp came out muffled and pitiful. The exertion spent the air in her lungs.
Darennsai, shall I attack him?Kaida asked, surprising Taryn that Zakael had not blocked her thoughts as well.
Not yet. Wait for my call. Until then, keep Gian safe.
“Don’t fight me, my beautiful sister.” Zakael held his sword at waist level, chuckling under his breath. “You could still join me willingly. Either way, I will have you.” The hilt of his sword traveled from the top of her leather pants to between her legs, where he rubbed it cruelly against her. “We were meant to rule Aelinae together, you and I.” He reached out suddenly, grabbing her side, sending his power into her vorlock scar.
Pain shot through her, sparking fire in her blood. Once more, she sought her ShantiMari, but found nothing. Again, she thrashed against the bonds, but they were too tight. “I will never rule with you,” she managed between breaths.
He pressed against her ribs. Searing heat, followed by icy chills, sliced through her body.
She bit back a scream.
“So much pride. Even this close to death, you think you have a choice. You’ve never had a choice, Taryn. Your fate was decided a long time ago by the Eiriellean prophecy. It says ‘Light and Dark will unite Aelinae.’ My dove, that means you are meant to rule with me, don’t you see?”
“You’re a delusional idiot,” she rasped.
“I assure you, I’m neither.” He lifted her tunic, whistling at her scar. “That’s really something. Marissa told me of your bravery that day and I’ll confess—I did not quite believe her.”
Taryn flinched when he reached out to touch it, but there was nowhere for her to hide from his grasping hands.
“Oh, my sweet, after a few days in my playroom, you’ll think this scar is nothing. I do admire your strength. You’ll make a fine queen for me. In fact,” his granite eyes became glossy in thought, “I believe you are my equal in all things. Your sister was never able to satisfy my needs, but you, yes, you’ll know how to fulfill my desires, to satiate my needs. And I in return will never leave you wanting. I can tell you crave this.”
He slid his other hand between her legs, rubbing his fingers against her above the hilt of his sword, half impaling her upon it.
“You know nothing about me.” The hoarse words hurt to expel, took too much energy.
“I will train you to please me. Together we will rule Aelinae and all will be as it should.”
His eyes half-closed in dreamy expectation as he bent low, his hot tongue licking from one end of her scar to the other. A moan reminiscent of the sound he’d made in the dungeon escaped his lips. Pain-fueled ecstasy.
Something broke in Taryn. Rage like she’d never known coursed through her. Hate, raw and unfettered, rocked her core. Images flashed through her mind, cruel and vicious in their scope. She wanted to hurt Zakael, to maim him beyond recognition so that he could never inflict pain again. A low chuckle started in her belly, working its way up until she was laughing out loud so hard that the bonds at her neck constricted, cutting off what little air she had.
He screamed at her for silence, striking her across the face with his fist.
A flash of white streaked through the stars of pain. Suddenly Kaida was on him, snarling and snapping at his face. The unexpected attack was the break she needed to reach her power. Mari sped through her limbs, burning Zakael’s bonds.
Taryn’s jaw throbbed and she tasted blood, adding fuel to her fury. She threw a wave of power at Zakael, pinning him down. Gian ran forward to grab Zakael’s sword and then ducked behind her, disappearing into the bushes. Kaida pounced on his chest, snarling and snapping, her fangs an inch from his face.
Kaida, stop. See to Gian.
The grierbas snarled at Zakael a final time and then loped away to guard the faerie.
Taryn ripped Zakael’s power from around her neck and fell to the ground. Ynyd Eirathnacht flew to her outstretched hand, pulsing energy into her, renewing her strength. The pain in her scar thrummed, then faded. Her pendant rose in song, with the sword answering the melody. Her ShantiMari burned in her veins, igniting a fire within, and she savored the sensation. Freedom, release, pure infinite pleasure coursed through her body. Never again, she vowed, would she allow herself to be taken prisoner and cut off from her power.
Zakael scrambled to his feet, but Taryn was on him. She punched him in the nose, then the sternum in quick succession before smashing the side of his head with the hilt of her sword. A trickle of blood oozed down his temple.
She wrapped her ShantiMari around him, throwing him high in the air. During his fall, he began to transform into a bird but she tightened her power against him, stopping the transformation with him as half-man, half-bird.
He screamed against her bonds in a terrible cry that scattered the birds in nearby trees.
“Become Aelan,” she commanded.
“Fuck off,” he spat at her.
“Very well. I’ll just leave you here.” She stormed toward Nikosana.
“Wait!”
He transformed into his Aelan form and she lowered the bubble until it touched the ground. His ShantiMari swirled within the confines of hers.
“Release me. I’ll not harm you,” he pleaded.
“I’m not that stupid, Zakael. As soon as I let the barrier down, you’ll try to trap me again. I should leave you here in this prison, at least long enough for me to return to Talaith.”
His eyes grew large. “I’ll starve to death.”
“And I should care, why? Weren’t you just gloating about how close to death you could bring me?” Taryn asked, her voice cool.
“Taryn, you aren’t like this. You are caring and good.”
“You make me sick.” Her mind screamed at her to kill him, but her bloodlust had passed.
“I’ll return to Caer Idris and tell Father I couldn’t find you. I swear—I won’t harm you.” He held up his hands, placatingly.
“Teach me to transform and I’ll let you go.”
He sputtered, shaking his head. “It isn’t something you do immediately. It takes a season or more to master.”
“You don’t have that long. Teach me.” When she put her sword at his throat, it sang a song of death, and from the look on his face, he heard it.
“Put that down. I can’t think with your blade on me.” His power strengthened.
“Don’t do it, Zakael. I’ll know whether you’re trying to overpower me.”
Indecision etched across his face, and then he relaxed, drawing in a deep breath. “First, you imagine the beast you wish to become. Bird, grierbas, horse, cat—anything. Think of the lines of the animal, the musculature, the fur or feathers. All of it. You must become the animal in your thoughts and heart.”
“Show me. Slowly.”
“Transformation is dangerous. If you get it wrong, you could stay as the animal forever. Or worse.” He actually sounded concerned for her.
She touched his throat, her blade drawing blood. “I said show me and take your time. Move by move.” His arms began to change from that of a man to the long wings of a levon. His head and torso were replaced by a feathered crown and body. Finally, his legs grew scales and he stood on long claws.
Taryn star
ed transfixed as he morphed into Zakael once more. “Are you ever anything other than a levon?” she asked.
“No more questions. I showed you how it’s done. Release me.”
“I need to make sure I can do it first.”
“Not on your first try. No one ever gets it right the first time out. Practice when I’m not around.”
Taryn tied off her ShantiMari to prevent him from moving and closed her eyes, thinking of a great beast, her silver scales shining in the afternoon light. Her wings flowed out from her arms, and her head and body convulsed into the form of a fanged dragon. She scratched her feet on the ground, feeling her talons rake through the grass.
The beast turned her azure gaze on Zakael. He glared at her in absolute panic.
What an odd thing it was to be first a woman, then a dragon. They were nothing alike and the balance was completely off. She flicked her tail and shuffled forward to compensate.
Taryn took a deep breath and settled her mind into the dragon’s. Her crouch softened, her neck lengthened, and her tail curled around her body. Sitting was one thing, but dragons weren’t meant to laze around like palace cats.
Great leathery wings beat hard and she tilted from side to side, until she relaxed into the movements. Once she had the rhythm, she lifted into the air. Kaida crouched low, near the edge of the clearing, and she sent a thought to her grierbas friend to not be afraid.Stay with Gian. I’ll be back shortly.
She reached out with a claw and picked up Zakael as if he were a doll. He fought against her firm grip as she beat her wings harder, rising up into the sky. Exhilaration and terror commingled within her.
Once airborne, she panicked and plummeted toward the ground.
Zakael screamed at her, “Be the dragon! Don’t think like Taryn—link your mind to hers.”
Taryn let her mind drift into the dragon’s and gasped as everything came into sharp focus. She saw through the dragon’s eyes, felt the wind across her long snout. They moved through the air at an alarming speed. Her dragon mind scanned the landscape below them and then dove into a small canyon. Zakael cried out for her to stop, but the dragon knew what she wanted.
She sent a thought to Zakael to sleep and when he hung limp, she gently lowered herself to the canyon floor, dropping him to the ground before shifting into a woman with ease.
Despite what Zakael said, the change wasn’t difficult at all. As if she’d always been a part of the dragon. Or the dragon a part of her.
After she had tied several bonds around Zakael, making certain they would take most of the day to unravel, she spiraled into the air, snorting a burst of flame from sheer happiness. When she returned to the clearing and transformed back into Taryn once more, it was with great reluctance.
Kaida crept forward and lay before Taryn.You are Darennsai.
Gian came out from his hiding place to prostrate himself before her.Great One, I am yours to command until my last dying breath. This I, Gian of the clan Brenbold, swear to you.
Their response to her transformation unnerved her. “Get up, Gian. You cannot tell anyone of this—do you understand?” He nodded and kissed his thumb before placing it over his heart. “Good,” she said as she went to find Nikosana. “Because if Rhoane knew what I just did, he’d never let me out of his sight again.”
Her pendant sent a shock of heat over her skin and she jumped. She’d deliberately kept thoughts of Rhoane at bay to better focus on what she had to accomplish at Caer Idris. Now that she was headed to Talaith, she didn’t know whether he’d be waiting for her there or if he remained in the Narthvier. What she did know was she couldn’t let herself think the worst. Her fingertips fluttered over the pendant—the desire to touch his emotions too strong.
A sharp pain in her wrist stopped her from reaching out to Rhoane. A new rune in the clear shape of a dragon was etched into her skin. She traced the new rune, then the others. They glowed as they always had, which she hoped meant she was still bound to Rhoane. The thought came unbidden—did he still want her? She had, after all, abandoned him.
Chapter 35
SABINA awoke screaming and Hayden wrapped his arms around her, making shushing noises, his limbs trembling. She’d not had a night fright since before they left Talaith for Celyn Eryri—he didn’t welcome Kaldaar’s return to their lives.
She huddled against him, her muffled sobs breaking his heart. No matter how skilled he became with ShantiMari or the sword, he could not protect his love from the banished god. “Sabina, what is it?” he coaxed once her cries quieted.
“I saw Taryn surrounded by blackness, injured and frightened. I couldn’t reach her. I couldn’t reach her.” Sabina dissolved to tears and he rocked her, stroking her hair.
On rare occasions, Sabina had flashes of future events. More sensations rather than full visions, but they nearly always came true. If she feared for Taryn, then his cousin was in danger.
Taryn. He cast the thought west, not knowing exactly where she was, but having a vague idea.
Silence answered him.
Taryn, please speak to me. Sabina and I are worried about you.
Silence.
“What if her father—” Sabina cut off her words, a shiver slicing through her. Hayden rubbed her arms and back, warming her. “We must find her, Hayden.”
“Rhoane left a few days ago. Perhaps he is searching for her.”
Even Iselt was gone, having left on Adesh’s ship the previous morning. He could ask Baehlon or Denzil to search for Taryn, but where would they look? Aelinae was too large to find one woman, a horse, and a grierbas.
Neither he nor Sabina slept the rest of the night—instead, they lay curled in each other’s arms. When the morning light shone through her windows, Hayden threw off the covers, but she reached for him.
“Stay. I don’t care what the empress or anyone else thinks.” She patted the mattress and he resumed his place beside her, relieved they no longer had to hide this part of their relationship.
Later that day, they met with Faelara and the younger princesses. Sabina told the trio of her vision, elaborating with chilling details that set Hayden’s hairs on end.
“A great beast tracks her, but there is a light protecting her. Not ShantiMari, but something else. Silver in color, with shimmering hues of the rainbow. I also sensed a presence with her, a gnarled affliction. Whether this is the beast or not, I cannot say. But it is close to Taryn.”
“What about Kaida? Is she still with our sister?” Tears glistened in Tessa’s pretty eyes.
“I can’t say. My visions are flashes of nonsense that I must piece together. Kaida has never shown herself to me.”
Baehlon joined them and they recapped their conversation for the knight. His usually stern expression pinched with suppressed rage; his lips tightened to a thin line, turning dangerously white.
“We’ll send a note to Duke Anje and ask him to search along the less traveled roads from Paderau to the Dierlin Pass. If she has left Caer Idris, we should find her there. If she’s still with her father, Dal Ferran itself will befall the man if he has hurt his daughter.”
“What of us? We can’t stay here and pretend nothing is wrong. We must search for her. Someone needs to go to Caer Idris and confront Valterys.”
“No, Faelara.” Baehlon’s voice lowered to a gentle baritone. “We stay here where we can watch the empress and Marissa. If they know of Taryn’s whereabouts, we’ll find a way to uncover it from them.”
“Tessa and Eliahnna, visit with your sister. Take tea with her as often as she allows. She’s secluded herself since the Light Celebrations and will appreciate the company, but don’t bring up Taryn by name. In fact, if you can convince her you’re upset with your sister, then perhaps she will share what she knows. It’s doubtful, but we must try.”
“Yes, Lady Faelara, we will.” Eliahnna answered for both of them. “Are you yet in Mother’s good graces?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. We are to stroll the gardens together this afternoon.”
Plans made for the women, Hayden excused himself, with Baehlon following close behind. The knight’s presence unnerved him. He’d wanted to slip out of the palace to speak with Adesh, with the hopes of meeting Denzil along the way. If Baehlon insisted on joining him, he’d have to alter his course.
When they reached the side door, Hayden asked innocently, “Will you be training this afternoon?”
Baehlon shook his head and tiny bells sounded. “There’s a man I want to see.” His gaze rested on Hayden. “It’s not the sort of place a lord should be found.”
“Then I shan’t disturb your errand.”
Hayden debated for only a moment before deciding his task could wait. When Baehlon reached the palace gates, he fell in step a good distance behind the man. He strolled along the cobbled walk, hands tucked in his pockets, whistling a soft tune. Instead of turning toward the docks, Baehlon circled up a tree-lined avenue in a modest neighborhood.
The well-kept houses boasted small gardens with a few hardy buds pushing through the soggy soil. A few horses clomped their way down the street, their riders clad in light cloaks to ward off the lingering chill. The dregs of Frost End clung to their days with surprising tenacity. Hayden welcomed summer’s warm embrace, having been too long at Celyn Eryri and the bitter cold. He shoved his hands deeper in his pockets and tilted his head toward the ground lest he be recognized.
About midway along the lane, Baehlon ducked beneath an arbor and hastened his steps to the side of a handsome home. Hayden waited behind a tree for several minutes until certain it was safe to venture forth. He kept close to the wall, his cloak shushing against the wooden slats. Baehlon’s voice sounded from a short distance above him and he stilled, listening for movement outside the house. Creaking floorboards and the hard stomp of the knight’s boots were followed by lighter footsteps.
Hayden pressed himself closer to the window, grateful for the slight opening.
A third pair of footsteps joined the other two and Baehlon’s baritone filled the space. “It’s about time, Denzil. Do you mean to keep us waiting all day?”
The Temple of Ardyn Page 31
