by Tricia Barr
“Did you really think that, just because it was your own power, that you’d be immune to its effects?” he asked.
“Not immune,” she said with a sniff. “But I should have been stronger. I should have fought the compulsion.”
“So you think you are a bad person for being compelled?” Sebastian reiterated.
She nodded into his chest.
“Do you think that all of your—for lack of a better word—‘victims’ are bad people for falling prey to your compulsion?”
She jerked her head back, this notion taking her by surprise. “What? No, of course not. Those people couldn’t help themselves. They have no choice but to do what I tell them to do when I compel them.”
“Exactly,” he said, as if the conclusion was obvious.
She shook her head. “But it’s not the same thing. I still had control over myself. Or, I should have.”
Sebastian propped himself up onto his elbow so that he could look down on her. “You clearly don’t see yourself as I do. You are the strongest person I have ever known. You think that your so-called darkness makes you weak, but the fact that you fight it and continuously rise above it makes you stronger than those with nothing to fight. Joran has been tempting you from day one, and I am in awe that you were able to resist as long as you did. You’re amazing, my love.”
Trapped in the pull of his twinkling ocean blue eyes, Phoenyx suddenly felt like the huge weight she’d been carrying for centuries had lifted. The undying love she saw in those bright topaz eyes, mirroring her own love, made her feel invincible, like together they could conquer the world.
“I’m just sorry that I pushed you in that direction,” Sebastian said, casting his gaze down in self-degradation.
“We both did what was necessary,” Phoenyx said, much more sure of herself now. “Speaking of which, how’s Ayanna?” As soon as she let her thoughts turn in that direction, her insides clenched in apprehension of what news he might have of her sister.
“She’s fine,” he said, and she sighed with relief. “We were able to coach her into using her powers, and it worked. She’s her old self again. We have her back.”
Phoenyx was so relieved by this that she wanted to cry. She had feared that the Ayanna she had known and loved all her existence was gone forever. And she was also very glad to hear that Ayanna had not been harmed. At least, not yet.
“Then our sacrifice was well worth it,” Phoenyx said, blinking back tears. “I can’t wait until this is over, so I can give her a big hug.”
“That just might happen soon,” Sebastian said, excitement sparking on his boyish face. “Sam called a few hours ago. He was able to cast the spell, and it worked!”
With everything that happened last night, and all her worry over her relationship’s fate and Ayanna’s well-being, she had actually completely forgotten that Sam had taken the dagger. Sebastian’s words processed slowly, and when it finally clicked, Phoenyx couldn’t keep the smile from spreading wide.
“It worked?!” she asked in an excited whisper. Joran can be killed. This can all finally end!
Sebastian nodded. “Skylar and Lily left to meet him as soon as he told us.”
For the first time since Phoenyx came into the room, she really noticed the fact that Skylar and Lily were not in it.
“We will soon have a weapon that can kill Joran,” Sebastian said. “You won’t ever have to compromise yourself with him again.”
She smiled at him and snuggled back into his arms. Thanks to his confidence boost, she truly believed that no part of her wanted Joran.
They had a weapon. They had hope! Now the tricky part was going to be actually using the dagger without losing themselves.
“The question is, how are we going to get close enough to stab him without dying ourselves?” Sebastian asked as they sat in a circle in the grass at a park in London. “You know that as soon as he sees that dagger, he’s going to steal the soul of whoever is wielding it.”
Phoenyx and Sebastian had taken a taxi up to London to meet Skylar, Lily and Sam before the rest of the castle had roused. They needed to talk about the next phase of their plan, and Phoenyx was none too eager to face Joran after their decadent rendezvous.
“Even if we try it when he’s asleep, we run the risk of him waking up as soon as he’s been stabbed and killing his attacker,” Skylar said, agreeing with Sebastian.
“None of us is going to sacrifice ourselves for this,” Lily said firmly, maternally. “There has to be a way to end this with as little bloodshed as possible. I won’t lose any of you.”
“What about sacrificing a pawn to do the job?” Sam proposed.
“What do you mean?” Sebastian asked. “You think we can get someone else to volunteer? There’s a not a soul alive who would dare try to kill Joran. The whole world saw what he did to those prisoners.”
“Not a volunteer,” Sam clarified. “Someone that we choose as a casualty. Someone who’s loyal to Joran, whose close proximity he wouldn’t question.” He turned to Phoenyx. “You can control people, right? Put them into some sort of trance?”
Phoenyx understood. “You’re suggesting I compel one of Joran’s minions to kill him.” She briefly quarreled with her conscience, which luckily was flimsy to begin with. “That’s actually not a bad plan. If we have to sacrifice anyone, it might as well be someone who would already willingly die for Joran. And I have the perfect candidate in mind.” She felt a wicked smile spread as she pictured his face.
“Vincent Mallick,” Skylar said, although he didn’t have to read her mind.
Phoenyx nodded.
“I don’t know if I like this plan,” Lily said, her voice wavering with empathy. “We should keep trying to find a way where no one has to die…well, no one else.”
“Why?” Phoenyx blurted. “Lily, this man pretty much murdered you. He slit your throat and didn’t flinch as your blood spilled in front of him. Besides, this is the best plan we’ve come up with. If we don’t kill Joran soon, millions more innocent people will die. I’d much rather trade Vincent’s life for the lives we’d be saving.”
Lily frowned but didn’t argue, and Sam, who had his arm around her, rubbed her arm comfortingly.
“Okay, so we compel Vincent to stab Joran in the heart,” Sebastian said frankly. “But when? It can’t just be at any given time. It has to be when Joran’s distracted.”
A memory from the night before flashed in Phoenyx’s mind, and a flush of heat ran through her belly. Joran was on top of her, claiming her, making her utterly incoherent with rabid lust.
“You will be beside me when the world bows before me,” Joran whispered as he chewed on the nape of her neck. “In two days, we will conquer England, and you, my little concubine, will be my right hand…”
With effort, Phoenyx pulled herself out of the memory that tempted her to bask in its dark pleasure forever. Joran had confessed much during their night together, and she could use it against him now.
“Joran’s planning another attack,” she said, trying to filter and organize her thoughts. “Not on another prison like we thought. He’s going straight for England’s throne. Tomorrow, he’s going to storm Buckingham Palace, take the country as his own.”
“When did he decide that?” Lily asked with blatant fret. “This is too soon!”
“No, it’s perfect,” Skylar argued, making Lily double take in confusion. “That would be the perfect time to strike him down. He will most likely do another mass killing for show. When he pauses to concentrate his powers on it, that’s when we’ll make our move.”
“That’s brilliant,” Sebastian said. “He’ll be expecting plenty of strikes from his enemies, but he would never expect his most loyal servant to turn on him, not in that moment. We couldn’t ask for a more perfect opportunity.”
The ringing of Sam’s phone sliced through the private little bubble they had created for themselves, and Sam momentarily left the circle to answer it.
“That was the Council,”
Sam said when he returned. “Joran is calling for a meeting tonight to discuss the next phase of his plan, which I’m assuming is this attack.” He took a big breath and slowly exhaled, shaking his head. “This is so not what I signed up for when I came to London. This is a declaration of war, and we’re straddling the wrong side.”
Phoenyx could see the frightened boy hiding in Sam’s pale eyes. It was the same frightened child that she had been when the Four Corners first captured her two months ago.
“Yes, but thanks to you, we now have the key to stopping this war before it begins,” she told him, holding up the covered dagger.
“I suppose that means Joran will be expecting us to attend this meeting as well,” Skylar said.
Phoenyx’s own phone vibrated in her pocket. She withdrew it and turned on the screen. There was a text message from an unfamiliar international number.
COME HOME, MY PET. WE HAVE BUSINESS TO DISCUSS. BRING YOUR FRIENDS.
Phoenyx knew without a doubt that it was from Joran. She didn’t know he had a phone, let alone knew how to use one. And how did he get her phone number? Apparently, the cave man had mastered their technology.
“Yup,” Phoenyx replied to Skylar’s comment, showing them all the message.
“I’ll see you tonight,” Sam said to Lily, then gave her a goodbye kiss before leaving their circle.
“We should head back, too,” Sebastian said, getting to his feet. “We will need to find a way to get Vincent alone. The meeting is our best chance to do it.”
Phoenyx wasn’t so sure about that. After last night, she was certain that Joran’s eyes would be even more glued to her than usual. They couldn’t compel Vincent without her. How was she going to get under Joran’s radar?
***
An oppressive weight settled over Phoenyx the instant she stepped out of the taxi in front of Bodiam Castle. The pounding in her chest was a battle cadence as she walked with her four friends over the green grass and across the moat to the elaborate entrance. They were so close to ending this. They couldn’t afford any mishaps beyond this point. Every second counted.
“His majesty is waiting for you in the library,” the doorman said to them.
The library. Phoenyx blushed, remembering what happened between her and Joran the last time they were in that room together. Of course he would ask them all to meet him there now.
Sebastian nodded at him. They hiked quickly and quietly up the stairs to their room to stash the dagger in a safe place, then made their way down toward the library to hear what Joran had to say.
Joran was sitting on the couch, in the exact same spot and with the exact same pose as the night before. But this time when his dark eyes found Phoenyx, they penetrated her with a threatening heat.
“You sent for us,” Phoenyx said, all business without a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“Yes,” he said, smiling at her like a cat to his toy mouse. “You know, I missed you this morning. After last night, I was really hoping to wake up to you in my bed.” He spoke to her as if they were the only two in the room, completely discarding their privacy to the other three.
Phoenyx was thrown for a loop. Why was Joran broadcasting their affair like this? Was he expecting to instigate a fight? Sebastian was not supposed to know. She looked at Sebastian, who played right along, his mouth agape in an expression of surprised betrayal.
“There is no need to keep secrets,” Joran said with a note of amusement in his deep voice. “Your friends would know soon enough that you are mine. I will not hold off on claiming the things I want any longer.”
Suddenly, an invisible force yanked Phoenyx off her feet, and she flew to Joran. He caught her in his lap and forced a rough kiss on her mouth. The instant his skin made contact with hers, that overpowering, delicious liquid desire seeped into her like venom, draining her of resistance, and she accepted Joran’s kiss willingly.
Too soon, his mouth tore apart from hers, and she was dizzy from the swoon. But she didn’t want to lose herself. She had to regain focus. She shook her head and regulated her breathing until some manner of control and self-awareness returned to her.
Joran stared defiantly at Sebastian, who was just standing in place, glaring back.
“That’s a good boy,” Joran said demeaningly. “This is exactly why I called this little meeting. As people say these days, we need to update our relationship status.” He let out a chuckle like a felinic growl, guttural and menacing. “Tomorrow is the day the world changes forever. I am going to conquer England. But before I do, I need to know where the Bound Ones stand. The time for neutrality is over. It’s time to make your choice.
“Option A: You stay with me and do exactly as I say, and be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams.” Again, he claimed Phoenyx’s mouth, and all she could do was sit there like a doll. Any sign of resistance would put them all in danger, and it was all too easy to acquiesce.
“Option B: You make the mistake of opposing me and die.” He gestured to his right, and they all looked in that direction to find the corpse of one of the servants lying in the shadows in that corner of the room. Phoenyx was so drunk with pleasure that she felt little more than a twitch of pity for the poor soul.
“Or there’s Option C: You simply disappear. As much as I would love to have you four by my side, if you choose to leave in peace, I will allow it. The three of you would be free to go. Fire, however, has no choice but to stay.” He smiled at her triumphantly as he said the last part.
“But you said—” she began softly.
“I changed my mind,” he cut her off, putting his index finger over her lips. “You are far too valuable, too delicious, to ever let go. Isn’t that right, Water?” Joran sneered sideways in Sebastian’s direction.
Sebastian’s pokerface was on in full, and not even Phoenyx could tell what he was thinking. Were it not for the little twinkle of hatred in his stormy blue eyes, she would think he didn’t care at all. She hoped that Joran couldn’t recognize the twinkle for what it was. If Sebastian rebuked now, Phoenyx was sure that Joran would gladly kill him. Eliminate his only competition.
“Fear not, boy,” Joran laughed, trying to provoke a reaction. “I am willing to share. We can enjoy your mate together.”
There was a dark invitation in Joran’s words, and they brought forbidden fantasies to whisper temptations to Phoenyx—Joran and Sebastian both in her bed, loving her at the same time. The man of her dreams and the man of her wet dreams, worshipping her together. She had never been so enthralled by a proposal in all her lives.
“What about your queen?” Sebastian asked, his voice smooth and calm. “I don’t think she’d be too interested in sharing.”
Joran sighed. “Sadly, Ayanna is not the queen I had hoped she’d be. If she cannot abide by my rules, then I will discard her and name a new queen.” Joran looked at Phoenyx when he said the last part.
Panic stabbed through Phoenyx’s haze of lust. Did she really hear him right? Did he just say he was going to kill Ayanna? Phoenyx had been so certain, after everything that Joran had done to manipulate Ayanna, that he would not kill her. She knew that some small, losing part of him loved her in his own twisted way, and she thought he would just keep tweaking her memories to keep her his slave. But he was already tired of her. Had one night with Phoenyx been enough to change what little of his heart he had left?
“So, my dear friends, what will it be?” Joran asked.
Phoenyx looked at them from Joran’s lap, relieved to see that they were all successfully masking their emotions. Even Lily, who was the most sensitive of all of them.
“Will you stand by my side and become my Shade Princes and Princesses?” Joran prompted.
It was Skylar who finally stepped forward.
“We choose you, my king,” he said with conviction, and he fisted his hand over his heart and knelt down to bow.
“We are your humble servants, my king,” Lily said, following Skylar’s example.
But Sebastian still stood
. Phoenyx held her breath as she watched him, waiting.
Joran purred with satisfaction. “What about you, Water? Where do you stand?”
Sebastian flashed his most charming smile. He approached the couch and knelt directly at Joran’s feet, placing his hand on Joran’s knee as he bowed. “I am yours, my king, in any way you wish.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Joran said. “Killing you would have been such a terrible waste.”
Joran set Phoenyx aside and rose off the couch, inviting the rest of them to stand as well. The cloud of lust that had swallowed her brain began to clear as soon as Joran released her, and her faculties were returning to her in full force.
“Prepare yourselves,” he commanded. “Our subjects are coming in a few hours to discuss our strike on London tomorrow. I would like to announce your ascendancy, to make it known that the four of you are my heirs. But first, I need to pay a visit to the queen to see if she will need replacing.”
He waved his hands at them in a gesture of dismissal, and the four of them lowered their heads appropriately before leaving the room. When Phoenyx had passed the ten yard mark, she finally let out a sigh of relief, allowing all the thoughts she’d been silencing in there to scream out their grievances.
Sebastian clasped her hand as they made their way up the stairs to get dressed accordingly. “It will be over soon, my love.”
Phoenyx nodded. Soon could not be soon enough.
Ayanna
Hunger gnawed at her stomach while thirst choked her throat with each dry swallow. Ayanna knew that she could not have been in this dungeon without food or water for longer than a day and a half, but the constant, unchanging darkness that engulfed her made every moment stretch on impossibly. Without images to distract her vision or sounds to absorb her attention, her sense of touch was maddeningly heightened, making it impossible not to focus on the discomforts plaguing her. But focusing on her physical pains was preferable to focusing on her emotional ones.
