by Smith, S. E.
“By the dunes.” Mersi hurried forward.
They crouched by the blanket. The little girl was shaking, her skin slicked with sweat. Her blonde hair was lank and stuck to her face.
For a horrible second, Bren was back on his family farm. For a second, it was Zari lying there, infected by the raiders.
“Hey there, sweetie.” Mersi shifted closer, moving slowly. She reached out and touched the girl’s forehead, brushing her hair back from her face.
The girl whimpered and leaned into Mersi’s touch. Her eyes opened, fatigue and pain in her blue eyes.
Then, the girl’s eyes flickered to black briefly, and then back to her normal blue.
Bren felt like he’d been kicked by a tarnid. Drak. Mersi hissed in a breath.
“She’s Tainted,” he said.
Fiend, who’d been hovering close by, dropped down beside the girl. He leaned in close, resting his muzzle on her belly.
“They both must be Tainted.”
“You think that’s why Fiend can change?” Mersi said.
Bren nodded.
She frowned. “But he doesn’t go entirely black and his eyes were red.”
“I guess the Taint reacts differently in his species.” But the reaction was similar enough that it made sense. Drak. Bren should have realized.
Mersi slipped off her pack and pulled out a blanket. She pulled the tattered, stained one off the girl and wrapped her in the clean one. “She’s sick, Bren. She’s burning up.”
“She’s not through her transition. She must have been Tainted recently.” He scowled. “She needs medical attention.” And to be monitored to see if she could control the Taint inside her.
Mersi looked up at him. “She deserves help.”
“Of course, she does.” She was a tiny, innocent girl.
“And she deserves love and care.”
“We’ll take care of her,” he said.
“You deserve all that too, big guy.”
He stilled, his gaze locking with hers.
“If you think you should shut yourself off from everyone because you’re Tainted, then you think we should do the same to her.”
“Mersi.” He cupped her cheek. “Not everyone can control the Taint. Most of the Tainted are monsters.”
“You’re not. You can control it and you can teach this little girl to do the same.”
He rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Probably not, but you’ve got me. And now that I’ve got you, I’m not giving you up.”
By the sands, she slayed him. Emotion rocketed through his body, and he stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “We’ll help the girl.”
Mersi nodded. “Let’s get her out of here.”
Bren scooped the girl into his arms. She was such a small weight. “We’ll take care of you.”
Blue eyes looked at him before they fluttered closed.
He carefully climbed down from the ruins, and saw Mersi herding Fiend. They were heading back toward the crack they’d climbed through, when they heard voices.
They both froze, and Bren tightened his hold on the girl. He saw a group skid down into the rocky depression.
Bren quickly shoved the girl at Mersi and stood in front of them. He drew his crossbow off his back.
An older man in a rich, red tunic strode forward, surrounded by men who were clearly his guards. They were all armed, faces serious. Bren studied the man. His clothes were edged in gold, and he walked with a swagger that said he thought he was in charge.
Bren stared into the weathered, craggy face. The man had aged, but the smirk on his face and the evil in his eyes were still the same. Shock reverberated through him. No.
Behind him, he heard Mersi suck in a shocked breath. He glanced back and watched as fear flowed over her face.
“Bren…” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “That’s—” she shuddered “—the warlord who bought me as a teen.”
Breathing through his own emotions, he murmured, “Stay back.”
Before they could do anything, they were surrounded, weapons pointed at them.
“I see you have something that belongs to me,” Warlord Vark said.
The man barely looked at Mersi, instead his gaze lay on the small, shivering bundle in her arms.
“That girl is mine,” Vark continued.
Fiend growled.
Vark scowled at the dog. “And that’s the menace that leaped into the Taint and saved her. I’ll have its hide.”
“You Tainted a little girl,” Mersi spat, her voice vibrating with rage.
Bren stayed silent, assessing each of the guards. He needed to figure out a way to get Mersi and the girl out of here.
“We discovered the younger someone is Tainted, the greater their chance of controlling it,” Vark said. “If she survives, she’s a very valuable investment.”
“She’s a little girl,” Mersi snapped.
Vark’s gaze narrowed on Mersi, and Bren hated the fact the sand-sucker was looking at her.
“Do I know you?” Vark tipped his head to the side.
Bren felt the darkness rising in his chest and his hands clenched on his crossbow. This time, he welcomed it. The color bled out of his vision, leaving everything painted in stark black and white. He’d protect Mersi and the child, whatever it took.
His hands and arms flickered, turning black.
“You can’t have her.” Bren’s voice was a deep growl.
He heard gasps all around. The guards raised their weapons higher.
“You’re Tainted.” The warlord’s gaze settled on Bren’s face and a flicker of recognition moved through the man’s brown eyes. “Bren. Bren Hahn.” Vark smiled coldly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, old friend.”
Mersi made a choked sound behind him.
Now she knew. Bren had sold his soul to the warlord who’d once tried to cage her.
“You were never my friend,” Bren said.
The warlord looked at Mersi. “You have a pretty woman, Bren. It would be a shame for her to get hurt.” Vark tilted his head. “You do as I say and I’ll let her go.”
Bren let out a harsh laugh. “I learned the hard way that your promises are worth nothing, Vark.”
A nasty look crossed the older man’s face. “You were valuable to me, as well. Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for running away.”
Bren knew Vark would slaughter them all. He’d hurt Mersi to get to Bren. He’d take the little girl, and if she survived, he’d twist her into a monster.
Bren glanced at Mersi. She looked pale. He tried to tell her how he felt with his eyes. He’d loved her from the day she’d first smiled at him. It had been just days after she’d recovered from her escape into the desert. She’d been so beautiful and had helped him fix one of the generators. She always asked questions, was curious about everything, and she’d made him smile.
That she could love him was a miracle.
She held his heart, and he would give everything he had to ensure her survival.
He spun and let the Taint free.
The darkness spilled over his skin and he let out a roar.
* * *
Mersi cuddled the girl close to her chest. The poor thing whimpered, but Mersi didn’t look at her, she kept her gaze on Bren.
She saw the darkness flow over his body as he increased in size.
His muscles bulged, his arms held outstretched. There was beauty to him. A savage, primal strength.
She drew in a deep breath. She knew he’d fight to protect them. She knew he’d give his life to do it.
How he thought he was a monster, she had no idea.
Vark shouted orders, and her gaze swiveled to the aging warlord. Drak. Just looking at him made her feel like she was sixteen and afraid again. Thank the sands he hadn’t recognized her. No surprise since she’d run almost as soon as she’d been sold to him.
Not only was he the man who’d tried to enslave her, he was the man
to whom Bren had sold his services. A man who used and abused people for his own selfish pleasure and gain.
Bren hadn’t wanted to tell her it had been Vark. She shook her head. She was going to work on him about this habit of keeping secrets from her.
Suddenly, Bren charged forward, clawed hands swinging. The guards charged at him.
Nausea rose in Mersi’s throat. Bren was hers and she didn’t want to see him hurt. She didn’t care if he was the bogeyman of the desert.
He fought wildly. One guard screamed, and bones crunched with a loud, snapping sound. Another guard went flying, slamming into the ruins. Several more ran at Bren, but he lowered his head and charged. He rammed into them. One flew back into the wall of a ruined building and the rock exploded, pulverized to dust.
Bren ducked, swung, and roared.
Mersi moved, creeping around the edge of the fight. She saw two guards spot her and head in her direction.
Drak. She looked at the ruins looming above her. There was a ledge not too far up, maybe an old balcony. She clambered up, praying she wouldn’t drop the little girl. She gave a sharp whistle and Fiend followed.
She reached the balcony, noting the crumbled remnants of a railing. When she glanced down, she saw the two guards were climbing up behind her.
She set the girl down and grabbed her laser pistol. She took aim and fired. One of the men fell back with a scream. The other kept coming, and pulled himself over onto the ledge, shooting her an ugly smile.
Fiend stepped forward and growled. The guard didn’t even look at him.
“You made a mistake following us,” Mersi said.
Fiend started growing in size, his fur darkening. The guard’s eyes widened and he stumbled back.
The huge, black canine rushed past her.
With a growl, Fiend clamped his huge jaws onto the man’s leg, shaking him. The guard screamed and fell on his back. Fiend went for the man’s throat. Together, they skidded over the edge of the balcony, the guard’s screams abruptly cutting off.
Then there was a wild roar from below.
Bren.
Mersi hurried to the edge and looked over. She spotted him standing below, the ground around him littered with bodies. Blood was dripping down his stomach and legs.
Oh, drak. Her pulse leaped. He was hurt.
Another guard with a spear ran at him. Bren charged. He was still fighting, but she could tell his moves were growing sluggish.
She scanned the crater and spotted Vark. He stood back, smiling as he watched the fight.
Bastard. It was another Earth curse word she’d learned from Neve.
Mersi watched as one of Vark’s guards lifted a laser rifle. He fired at Bren. The green laser hit Bren and his pained roars echoed off the rocks.
She lifted her weapon and took aim. She fired, missing the guard, but he dived to the ground. She kept firing, trying to help Bren.
Suddenly, another guard swung something over his head. She frowned. What now?
He launched it and she saw it was a chain. The looped end fell over Bren’s left arm. The man pulled back, tightening the chain. Another man rushed to help him and the chain pulled tight on Bren’s arm. He whipped around, yanking at the chain, but it didn’t break.
Another chain snapped over his right arm, two more guards pulling on the end of it.
Bren fought against the bonds, twisting and turning. He dragged the guards through the sand, but the chains didn’t give way.
Mersi swiveled, taking aim at the guards. Her pistol clicked and her stomach dropped. It was out of charge. No.
A guard carrying a long metal staff darted in closer. He slammed the staff at Bren’s legs.
Bren dropped to his knees, and the man jabbed the sharp end of the staff into Bren’s lower back.
He roared.
No. Bile rose in Mersi’s throat. She had to help him.
She hurried to the girl, tightening the blanket around her. Fiend had reappeared, still in his Tainted form.
“Fiend.” She gripped the canine’s neck. “Stay with her.”
The shaggy beast whined.
She hoped that was a yes. More of Bren’s pained roars echoed from the rock walls. She turned, snatched her knife off her belt, and jumped off the ledge.
* * *
Pain was a vicious, clawing thing inside him.
Bren was on his knees, straining against the chains that were holding him in place. He had to keep fighting. He felt blood running down his body, the life and strength draining out of him.
But he couldn’t stop fighting.
He yanked on the chains and heard someone scream.
Why did he have to keep fighting? His brain was turning foggy.
Then he saw her. She was running toward the guards and tossed her knife. A guard fell, clutching his gut. She leaped on him, yanking her knife back out. Another guard rushed at her.
She ducked and kicked at him. His punch caught her arm and she lost her knife. It flew through the air and hit the sand. The guard circled her and she crouched. She snatched up a dropped sword.
She held it up, swinging just the way Bren had taught her to.
Mersi.
His head cleared instantly.
He surged up, trying to swipe out at the closest guards. The chains were yanked back, keeping him down.
Mersi reached him. She lifted the sword over her head and swung it down.
Clang.
The blade hit the chain links. She raised it again and swung again. The chain snapped.
“Get up, Bren,” she urged.
Those aquamarine eyes glittered through his black-and-white vision. Bren saw a flash of red. He roared, getting to his feet. He yanked, feeling the guards on the remaining chain fall over. He spun and leaped at them.
A few hard hits brought them down.
Then, he heard Mersi curse.
He swiveled. She was wrestling with Vark.
The warlord yanked her back, one arm wrapped around her middle. He sank a hand into her hair and jerked her throat up, exposing it. He held a knife pressed to her smooth skin.
Bren stilled, but roared again.
“She’s mine now,” Vark drawled.
“Drak you,” Mersi spat, struggling against him.
“I think you might be a nice addition to my harem.”
“Never, you sand-sucker.”
Bren growled.
Suddenly, the warlord kicked at a sword on the sand. It skittered over to Bren’s feet.
“If you want her to live,” Vark said, “do as I say.”
Bren’s hands curled. The darkness was thrashing inside him and he couldn’t think.
Then Mersi gasped, and Bren saw that Vark had nicked her throat. A thread of red trickled down her skin.
Bren snatched up the sword.
Mersi shook her head. Her hair had come loose, and it fell over her shoulders in a tangled mess. “Bren, whatever he says, don’t do it.”
“Be quiet.” Vark shook her. Then the warlord looked at Bren. “You’re too dangerous. An adult male who can control the Taint? Far too dangerous. Fall on the sword and I’ll let her live.”
Mersi sucked in a sharp breath. “No.”
Bren looked at her. So pretty and strong. He wanted to watch her thrive, live, grow old. He knew even with gray hair and wrinkles, she’d still be the most beautiful woman he’d ever see.
There was love shining in her beautiful eyes. For him. She was his miracle.
And he’d wasted so much time because of his own fears. But Mersi would live. He’d do whatever he had to in order to make that happen.
He pressed the end of the sword against his gut. He watched as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Bren, no…” Her voice was choked.
“I love you, Mersi.” His voice was deep and rough.
“I love you, too.”
Bren fell forward. There was a burning pain as the blade pierced his gut and he fell to the sand.
Mersi’s scream echoed in
his ears.
8
No. No. No. With tears blurring her vision, Mersi watched as Bren caught his fall, one palm pressed to the sand.
The silver blade penetrated through his dark skin and was coated in blood.
Her throat was so tight she could barely breathe. This couldn’t be happening.
All of a sudden, a snarl filled the air. Fiend leaped down onto one of the last remaining guards.
She watched the canine’s fangs flash as he snapped at the guard. Energy flooded Mersi.
“What the drak?” Vark yelled.
Mersi knocked Vark’s arm away, spun, and kneed him between the legs.
The warlord made a strangled sound and hunched over. She lifted her knee again, slamming it into his head. He flew back and landed on the sand, unconscious.
Turning, she rushed to Bren, tripping in her haste to get to him. She crawled the rest of the way to his prone body.
He lifted his head and inky-black eyes met hers. There was so much pain and agony in them, her heart gave a twist.
“I’m here, big guy.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m here.”
She couldn’t lose him. She looked at where the sword pierced his gut and back, and more tears filled her eyes.
Then she felt rough fingers brush over her cheeks. She looked up to see him wiping the tears off her face.
“Let’s get this out.” She touched the hilt of the sword. She knew it would hurt him even more, and she hated that.
But she steeled herself, tightened her grip, and yanked the sword out.
Bren groaned and collapsed to the sand.
“I’m so sorry.” There was so much blood. She pulled him into her arms, pressing her hand over the wound. Red stickiness coated her fingers.
Fiend was still fighting with the last few guards. One guard backed away from the canine, moving closer to her and Bren.
This man was older, more battle hardened than the others. He raised his sword.
“Kill them both,” Vark called out. The warlord was on his knees, cradling himself. His face was twisted with rage.
Mersi tensed and felt Bren do the same.
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed through the air and hit the older guard in the eye. Electricity skated over his body from the arrow, and his body toppled.
