by M. R. Polish
His words fell on unconscious ears, and Karis knew it. Brady passed out minutes ago, but maybe it was Evan’s way of coping so she continued to ignore him.
Minutes passed into hours as she sat there dutifully beside him, healing him. Karis had never seen a poisoning so bad before. Not even in books she’d read while living in the palace with her father.
Alexis was in the room behind her. She could feel her presence and while she hated doing it, she drew from Alexis’s strength to help, as well as Evan’s, but hers was fading and Brady needed everything.
Magnus came in, followed by Zeus and Arika. Karis didn’t have the time or energy to argue about Arika being in the room. Besides, she needed more strength, and if she pulled from her, she’d be too tired to try any more nonsense.
“We’re here, use us, Karis,” Zeus said standing at the end of the bed.
She didn’t have to see the others to know where they were, she could feel each of their spirits as she readily reached out for more support. Soaking in their energy she sought out Arika’s. It was the most vibrant in the room and easy to find.
Brady’s chest rose and fell steadily, giving her comfort. His entire frame relaxed and he fell into a healing sleep. She hovered her hand over the last spot in his stomach, pulling out what was left.
When nothing more called to her, she ran her hand to his side where Marin jabbed the knife blade covered in Grazier, closing the wound once and for all. A small scar appeared behind the tail end of the teal Syrenae marking, blending in with his skin. Her hands shook, unable to hold them up any longer, she dropped them to her lap.
Zeus laid a hand on Karis’s shoulder. “You did good. I never really told you how grateful I am for you doing what you did and saving my brother. I’ve holed myself up for so long that my heart became as hard as rock. Thank you.” He looked at Brady. “He’ll make a good king. Thank you for saving him. The people will need him.”
She leaned back onto him, wanting nothing more than to sleep. “Thank you.”
Evan stood up. “Let’s leave them alone. I think Karis did everything she can for now. They both need rest.”
Karis had never been more grateful for someone speaking for her as she was at that moment. Yes, sleep and be alone with Brady. That sounded like Heaven.
Karis woke to Brady’s arm draped over her middle. Her body formed against his like she was meant to be there. This was the healing she needed. Just having him this close made her stronger.
Rolling over, she found him smiling at her. “I was wondering when you’d wake up.”
She smiled. “You should still be sleeping. You need to rest.”
“You think I can sleep while you’re pressed against me like that? You’re crazy.” He winked. “Besides, I feel so much better today. A little weak, but the pain is gone.”
Reaching her hand up out of the covers, she touched his unshaven face. “I was so worried.”
He looked into her eyes, staring into the windows of her soul. Grasping her hand, he kissed her palm, never veering his gaze. “That makes two of us,” he said, his voice husky. He continued to kiss her hand.
“Well, thanks to you I’m better. I never realized how deep my connection with this pendant was, but now I worry what would’ve happened.” She glanced away. If Brady hadn’t gotten the necklace, she and the baby might not be there.
“Hey,” he whispered, turning her head with his thumb on her chin. “Don’t think about it. It didn’t happen. It won’t happen.”
Licking her lips, she nodded.
Brady pressed closer to Karis, closing the little space between them. His lips crashed upon hers with a desire. A need built up in him that demanded to be fulfilled, like a fire roaring out of control, but only Karis’s body could douse the flames inside of him.
How long had it been since he tasted of her sweetness? Hell, it didn’t matter if it was a week or a day, it was too long.
A deep moan became trapped in his throat as an intense throbbing pulsed in his groin. Her tongue darted in his mouth, teasing his own in a playful dance. With each slide of the tongue she left a savory sample of her delicious nectar. Nothing on Earth or any other world could ever taste as good as she did.
Wrapping his hands around her head, intertwining them in her hair, he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. He couldn’t get close enough, he wanted more…needed more.
A soft whimper, full of longing, spoke to him in ways words could never communicate. He’d do whatever was needed to fulfill her every need to her that sound every day for the rest of his life.
“I thought you two would never wake up,” Evan said over a newspaper he was reading. Looking up at them, he winked and let out a small chuckle.
Karis could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. Of course he’d be the one to know why they were late getting up.
“I didn’t think you guys were going to join us today,” Zeus said, winking at Karis as he entered the small dining room.
“Oh my gosh, they all know,” Karis said to Brady in her mind. Her blush was quickly growing down her face to her neck.
“Probably, but I think they’re just jealous.” Brady squeezed her hand.
“Not helping,” she replied, keeping her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t bear to look at anyone just yet.
Arika came in and stood with her arms folded. “I suppose you’re leaving today?” Each syllable came out tersely.
“Yes. We don’t have time to wait around,” Zeus said for the group.
“Fine.” Arika stormed off, leaving them alone.
“What’s wrong with her?” Karis gawked at the departure of Arika.
Zeus picked up a bagel from a plate in the middle of the table. “I told her she had to drop the mind link she had on Brady. She wasn’t happy that I found out. Apparently, she has part nymph in her. Nymphimone has some amazing woman, but none of them think clearly. Although, each of them has a sex drive that could rival any of ours. Once a nymph finds a man she likes, she makes a mind link to keep him from leaving until she’s done with him.”
Karis shuddered. She hated thinking of Arika forcing Brady to stay with her. Acid rose in her throat and she had to gag it back down. They couldn’t leave soon enough to satiate her.
Chapter Seventeen
Karis never saw Stonehenge in person, but she’d heard about it from her father. It was an escape portal, meant only for those who needed to leave Earth undetected. How strange it was that she would be using it.
The stones stood tall and proud. The moonlight faded in and out with the passing of each cloud, creating shadows that danced along the sandstone facings of each rock.
Brady’s hand glided along the small of her back until it came to rest just above her hip. He pulled her close to his side. “So what do you think we should expect once we get there?”
Shrugging, she looked up at him. His droopy eyes and dark circles divulged how tired he really was. No matter how she pleaded with him to sleep until they had to leave, he refused saying he was fine. But seeing the signs etched into his face just then made her worry. It was just nearly twenty-four hours since she extracted the poison, surely his body was weak, begging for rest. “I don’t know. Marin could be waiting with an army near the portal waiting for us. Or maybe Shamike is gone? It’s been a few days here, so that’s weeks there. A lot could have happened.”
She hoped that wasn’t true. Just the thought of her home destroyed made her cringe.
“Alright, let’s go. We’ve been gone far too long as it is.” Zeus’s control over the situation gave Karis confidence. He was a great leader and she was glad he was on their side. Maybe when the war was over he’d stay on with Azul to lead the army in Shamike.
Silver wisps of energy swirled around them. Karis grabbed Brady’s hand, before they were whisked away. The early morning rays of the sun were just peeking over the Shank Sea when Karis opened her eyes. A light fog rolled in off the water, covering the ground in a silky gray. Even in the dark desolation of what wa
s left of her world, her heart pitter-pattered with glee at being back. Too many times she’d been forced away, but each time she came back she felt closer than ever to Shamike.
Zeus crouched low, gesturing them to do so as well. Karis squatted next to Brady waiting for the all clear. Holding her breath, Karis scanned the darkness beyond the portal. Not even the sunlight could brighten such a gloom as she saw. Weeds sprouted up along the once well maintained walkway to the royal transport. The high stone wall that wrapped itself around the city looked daunting, and she wasn’t sure if it was creating fear to keep people in or out. When this war was over, that was one of the first things coming down, she mentally declared.
Even the small homes that sat outside the city looked barren and lonely. Life in any form was not visible. No farmers or gardeners out tending to fields. No animals balking at the early rise of a new day. But the one that worried her was the lack of guards. Surely Marin wouldn’t leave the portal unguarded. The feeling of being trapped overwhelmed her.
Alexis crept over to Karis, keeping her low stature. “I can’t believe this is Shamike. It looks so different from when we were here, but it hasn’t been that long. I don’t understand.”
“War can do the most despicable things, even bring worlds down to their leaders knees.” Karis sighed. “I’m more worried about where the people are.”
“Do you think it’s a setup?” Magnus asked.
“This way,” Zeus said, taking off, running crouched over to a group of sheds outside of a small house. It was roughly about three hundred yards, but it was the closest cover around.
Magnus shrugged then took Alexis’s hand before pulling her along with him the same way as Zeus. Evan glanced around. “Do you think it’s safe? Something feels off.”
Brady shook his head. “It’s hard to say. Let’s follow Zeus and see how far we get.”
Evan nodded before taking off. His straight beeline for the shed’s cover amused Karis. “He seems so tough yet so scared.”
Brady grinned. “Have you learned nothing from me? Men are just babies hidden behind beards and chest hair.”
Karis nudged him in the ribs, mindful of his aches from the poisoning, and rolled her eyes. A short whistle floated on the air, making her freeze. Evan was waving wildly at them to follow. Her heart raced as she wondered what could make him want to be so dangerous and risk being seen to warn them.
Brady wasted no time pulling her with him across the short distance to the sheds. “What did you see?” Brady asked his friend.
Evan shrugged. “Nothing. I didn’t want us to get separated.”
Brady grumbled. “I aughta’ shoot you. The way you were over here flapping your arms like some crazed man I thought someone was around the portal.”
“The Center is up there on the hill. We need to get there and find out what’s going on,” Zeus said, pointing to the tall spiraling tower that looked as if it emerged from the ground.
“You’re kidding right? The Center is in the old high councilor’s home? Who was the one brave enough to do that?” She shuddered as she thought about the last time she stepped foot in that building, and couldn’t help but feel as if they were stepping into another trap. That was another thing she’d like to see torn down once everything was over. Too many bad memories housed behind those doors.
Zeus turned to give her a quizzical look. “I had no idea that was the councilor’s place. Wasn’t Marin in that position?”
She shivered, despite Brady’s warmth beside her. “Yes. That’s also where he framed me. That’s one of the last places I was at before being banished to the island.”
Brady leaned down to her ear to whisper. “I’m sorry.”
“Let’s just get this over with,” Karis said with her head held high. “This is my world and I’m not going to let that man scare me away from it any longer.”
A new fire burned inside of her. It wasn’t as big of a blaze as it could be, but she knew it would grow into something she’d need to defeat Marin. Already she could feel the warmth build inside her, urging her to push forward and fight. This city, this world, deserved so much more than a pitiful coward.
They followed Zeus to the city limits, staying to the shadows, they wound their way through the quiet streets to The Center.
Zeus snuck around to the back where the servants’ entrance hid behind an overgrown bush.
“Why are we going in here? I thought you left through the front doors,” Alexis asked, sneaking glances over her shoulder, watching for anyone who might be coming up behind her.
Zeus rapped his knuckles on the heavy wooden door. “A lot has changed since we left. My men had strict orders not to use the front door after I left so no one could see them coming or going.” After a few minutes, the door cracked open. “Lad, it’s me, Zeus. I’ve brought Karis with me.”
The door widened, a young man appeared with full armor covering his body. “My queen, is that really you? You look the same as when I last saw you at your banishment.”
Karis nodded. “I remember you. You’re the guard that led me to the car after my hearing.”
He nodded. “Yes. Please forgive me. I should have found a place for you to hide, or sent you someplace Marin never would have found you. I failed you that day.”
“No, you have done just what any trained guard would do. I don’t blame you.” She gave him her best smile, considering the circumstances.
Lad moved aside and swept his arms over, gesturing for them to enter. “You must come inside, you aren’t safe out there.”
Ha. She wasn’t sure she was safe inside either.
“Alexis! Karis!” Atty bounded down a set of stairs, barreling into them, hugging each of them.
“Oh, Atty, it’s so good to see you. I was worried about you when Zeus told us that you stayed behind.” Alexis pulled back from her embrace. “Have you found Azul yet?” A concerned expression covered her face.
Atty’s eyes filled with tears. “Not yet.” She drew in a long breath, sucking back the water in her eyes, refusing to let them fall.
Karis grasped Atty’s hand. “You will find him. We will find him.”
Atty nodded and tried to smile.
Lad cleared his throat. “That’s not entirely true. We know of where he most likely is.”
Brady straightened, wondering why Atty refused to believe she knew where Azul was. “Where?”
“Baratrum. Marin left with whatever was left of his army and fled to the underworld of demons.” Lad hung his head. “We’ve heard that Azul was transported when Marin left.”
Karis gasped.
Brady cursed under his breath. No wonder Atty didn’t acknowledge his location. He wasn’t sure he could if it were Karis in Azul’s position.
“But you said Marin is gone. Correct?” Magnus asked.
“Yes. He and everyone that was in the palace are gone. We’ve been watching but not even a guard stayed behind. Although,” he paused, looking at each of them, “we have heard that he is working with his army of the undead, if you know what I mean. I’m afraid the end is near before it has even begun.”
“I’m sorry, Lad, but it started a long time ago. It started before me, even before my father. It’s been in the prophesies of old that a war would change the fate of the worlds and that we’d have to come together to win a battle we would otherwise lose.” Karis closed her eyes and remembered the sound of her father’s voice as he’d tell her the story about how their world would be enslaved but then saved and set free.
Had she known that she’d be a part of what fate had decided for Shamike, she would have run the other way screaming.
“Alright, but you’re sure there is no one left in the palace?” Brady asked.
“Oh, I’m sure of it. We’ve scouted it for the two weeks you were gone.” Lad looked at Brady intensely. “I didn’t’ think you’d make it though. When you left here you weren’t much more than a dead corpse.”
“I didn’t feel much better than that either,” Brady
said with a slight chuckle. “But, Karis saved me.”
Lad nodded. “Yes, our queen has many talents and powers that astound and rival many of the other royals who came before her.”
Karis didn’t feel that astounding. Surely he was just trying to get on her good side. Either way, she was glad he had such faith in her. Hopefully the others in Shamike still had confidence in her as well. The last battle depended on it.
Chapter Eighteen
Waves rolled up on the sand just outside city limits. The Shank Sea glistened brilliantly under the afternoon sun. A few birds flew overhead, squawking as they flapped their wings.
“Are you sure you’re strong enough to try?” The circles under Brady’s eyes deepened the nervous glance he gave Karis.
She waved him off. “I’m much stronger than you give me credit for. It’s you who is still healing from Grazier.”
Her strength wasn’t her concern, but he was. The fact that they were both deprived of sleep since arriving to The Center did nothing to curb her fears for Brady. He needed rest. And now, to attempt to make a portal with her was pushing her anxiety to a new height.
But a night of planning with Zeus concluded with the truth… There was no more time to waste. Shamike couldn’t withstand an attack of any proportion. If Marin reached out in any way the remaining population might buckle. Karis hated thinking of her people bowing down to such a tyrant. And, then there was Azul. There was a chance he was still alive. But for how long?
“Nah, I’m a little tired but nothing bad enough to hold me back. I just don’t want you to overdo it.” He placed a hand over her stomach. “I can’t wait to be a family with you.”
Karis blushed and the little one inside of her kicked as if he or she agreed with what Brady said. “Me too.” She covered his hands with hers.
Leaning down, he rested his forehead on hers. “Let’s do this. Together.”
Inhaling his deep spicy scent, she closed her eyes and nodded. “I’m ready.”
