Reign of Ash

by Meg Anne

  “For you, I added the symbol of life, since you are the Mother’s Vessel,” he murmured as he gestured toward something that looked like flowering vines wrapping around the symbol of the Mother.

  “And yours?” she asked, trying to lift her head to see what he was doing.

  He scowled at her and pushed her back down, “Settle down, or I’ll call one of the men in here to hold you down.”

  She made a rude gesture to show him what she thought of that suggestion.

  Ronan shook his head as he laughed, still not answering the question.

  “Hey! I’m waiting,” she reminded him.

  “Patience,” he murmured, refusing to answer.

  Just when she was about to push him, he sat back and nodded, “Just one last thing and we’ll be done.”

  He set his tools down and cleaned her throbbing skin with a cool cloth, wiping away the excess ink and blood. Once she was clean, he rested his hand above the Mother’s mark and bowed his head. She watched his eyes flutter closed and he said something hushed she could not understand.

  Once he was done speaking she felt a tingling rush work its way through her body. The colors in the tent had grown muted as it became dark outside. However, they were now blazing brightly. Helena blinked, trying to get her eyes to adjust. She turned toward Ronan, who was looking at her with something akin to wonder, his mouth hanging open in a way that frightened her.

  “What?” she asked, startled to hear her voice come out in the richly layered way she associated with her magic.

  He blinked a few times, “Your eyes,” he said hoarsely.

  She reached for a mirror he had set to the side and pulled it to her face. Staring back at her were twin pools of swirling iridescence. That was nothing new. Unexpected, but not new. It would seem the Jaka had called her magic forth.

  Curious to see what her tattoo would look like with her enhanced vision, she moved the mirror down to see her Jaka for the first time. Her skin was red with irritation, which only made the shimmering mark stand out in sharper contrast. Helena’s breath left her in a whoosh. It was beautiful.

  The twirling lines seemed to sparkle like a cloud of diamond dust along her skin, catching and pulling the light to the symbols now inked into its surface. She studied the Mother’s mark first, which looked like two hands cradling something between them. Her own mark, twisted around it like a vine with flowers in various stages of bloom. Helena followed the vines, moving the mirror as she did, noting the symbols he had already indicated and picking out a few others. She opened her mouth to ask him about them when realization dawned. He had included a symbol for each of her Circle.

  “Ronan,” she whispered awestruck, as she peered more closely.

  There was Darrin and Kragen, the runic shapes representing a shield and sword hidden along a snaking piece of vine from her own symbol. A little beside them, also hidden in the vines were the symbols of knowledge and power, Timmins and Joquil respectively. Von’s mark left her speechless. Her fingers fluttered above it, aching to touch it. At first glance, it was nothing special, but upon deeper inspection, it was a spiral of stars that worked itself around the vine and ending just below her heart. It was the symbol for completion blended with the symbol for the soul.

  “It’s perfect,” she breathed, trying to push down the emotion that threatened to spill over. She’d had enough of tears, and this was not a moment for them.

  Before she set the mirror down, she caught one final symbol, barely visible to her at the base of her ribcage. It was the very tip of the tattoo, a trio of arcing lines that connected into a tight knot.

  “Loyalty,” Ronan supplied in a subdued tone.

  Her throat too tight for words, Helena reached out and grasped his hand firmly in hers. She squeezed it tightly before letting go and turning to him.

  “Thank you.”

  Ronan bowed his head. As he did, she felt a small ripple in her mind. It was not the feeling she associated with her connection to Von, but it was familiar all the same. Focusing on that sensation, Helena quickly realized what it was. Her glowing eyes studied the man standing before her. She was experiencing Ronan’s feelings.

  As she turned deeper into herself, she found that there were five new threads in total, one for Ronan and one each for the rest of her Circle. The tether connecting her and Von was unchanged although it now seemed to pulse with increased awareness. The other strands were vibrant and steady within her, and it was not difficult to identify which strand represented who.

  She reached for the one that felt like Ronan and waited. There was no reaction from the man standing before her, although she was able to focus more clearly on what he was feeling. His sense of pride at her happiness with the tattoo warmed her.

  Smiling, she focused on the others. Helena felt flickers of awareness, but not an actual connection. Whatever Ronan had done when he’d incorporated himself and her Circle into the tattoo had deepened her empathetic connection to each of them, but it was not the two-way bond that stretched between her and her Mate.

  Helena wondered how long it would take for the others to realize what had happened.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Gillian paced back and forth between two of the pillars in the throne room. Her mother had summoned her and she had no clue what to expect. Things with Von were progressing, albeit more slowly than her mother would have liked. The dose of the healing brew that she had been giving him each day was no longer necessary, although she continued to use it as an excuse to keep him sedated.

  Stupid male with his stupid eyes, she thought darkly. He was the one who was chained, not her. What did she have to fear from him, really? The memory of their last interaction rose in answer. Right. She shuddered and began biting at the soft flesh beside her thumbnail. There was something about that cold silver gaze that made her edgy. She much preferred when he couldn’t look at her. Perhaps Rowena would be willing to consider blindfolding him so that she could avoid it even in his waking hours. Gillian did not go out of her way to ask for favors from her mother, but this one might be worth it. If for no other reason than to escape the sinister promise lurking in those eyes.

  The soft click of a door shutting halted her steps and had her spinning to face the throne where Rowena now sat. Being seated did nothing to diminish the icy power that radiated out of her.

  Gillian clasped her trembling hands together and was glad for the folds of her dress that concealed them. “M-mistress,” she said by way of greeting, hating herself for the nerves that made her stutter. Once she had finished her approach and stood before Rowena, she genuflected and nervously lifted her eyes up to assess her mother’s mood.

  Rowena stared down at her without moving, her face an expressionless mask. Only the slight tightening of her mouth alluded to her temper. “The bitch queen moves with her band of rogues to surprise us. Even now they approach our border. How can that little fool really believe that anything she does would go unseen in my lands?”

  “Her underestimation works in our favor,” Gillian pointed out, blanching when her mother narrowed her eyes. The question had been rhetorical and she had not be given permission to speak. Lowering her gaze, Gillian bowed her head apologetically.

  After a long moment of silence, her mother continued, “We will be ready for her with a little surprise of our own. It’s time to ready the prisoner.”

  Gillian lifted her eyes, unsure what her mother meant.

  Seeing the question on her daughter’s face, Rowena rolled her eyes with exasperation, “Must I do everything myself? Bring him to me so that I may begin drawing from him.”

  Understanding dawned, and Gillian clenched her hands into tighter fists, her nails cutting into the soft skin of her palms. “Of course, Mother. It will be done.”

  “See that you do not waste time.”

  Gillian nodded to show that she had heard her and swiftly made her way out of the room. She had mixed feelings about her mother’s twisted use of power. There was something about
it that grated against her and left her unsettled for days after witnessing it. While she was no great fan of Von’s, other than using his body for her amusement, a part of her could not stomach the thought of him as one of her mother’s puppets. To see such strength cowed... it was a shame.

  Shaking her head to clear it of the unwanted sympathy, she steeled herself for what lay ahead and made her way to Von’s room so that her mother could begin the process that would turn him into a Shadow.

  “Kiri,” Timmins said in a respectfully subdued tone from the entrance to her tent.

  Helena looked up from the map Micha had sketched for her and idly asked, “Why is it we never seem to stay anywhere that has actual walls. These lands have inns don’t they?”

  The side of Timmins’ mouth curled up in an amused smile. That question had become a familiar refrain as the climate continued to drop the closer they came to the heart of the Vyruul mountainside.

  “You know it is not safe to announce our presence here.”

  Helena’s answering smile acknowledged his words of caution, while the shiver that ran down her spine reinforced them. The truth was, something knew they were here already. Helena had never felt anything like the bone-deep certainty that she was being watched; she had been tense and on high alert for days.

  Sighing, she turned to face him fully, “What did you need, Timmins?”

  Her Advisor looked at her carefully before speaking again, “We are less than a day’s ride from the keep, according to Micha.”

  Helena nodded, her indication that he should continue.

  “We will need to select our base camp and begin preparations for the attack.”

  She raised her eyebrow at that, “What do you mean begin? Preparations started days ago.”

  “I just meant…” Timmins trailed off and looked at her with concern etched in his expression. His usual confident demeanor was nowhere to be found as he noticeably deflated before her. Helena could feel his worry tugging at her from the depths of their Jaka-enhanced connection, but she didn’t need it to know something was weighing on him. She could see him struggling to find the words he needed, so she did not press him and remained quiet as she waited for him to continue.

  “Helena, I - I do not have a good feeling about what awaits us. You said yourself there was another woman in the room when you joined with Von. Gillian is not the only one we will face and I highly doubt she was the mastermind behind kidnapping Von. We need time to better plan and prepare for the true enemy—”

  The change in Helena was instantaneous as she cut him off, “One enemy or thousands; the plan does not change. They took what is mine,” the word came out in a snarl that echoed in the voice of her magic, “and now they must pay.” Her hair flew up around her, rippling in a non-existent breeze while her eyes twinkled with iridescence. It was not Helena talking; it was the Vessel.

  Timmins stared at her with wide-eyes.

  “Do you doubt my ability, Advisor?” she asked in a deadly soft croon.

  “No, Kiri,” he replied, his voice even and his answer immediate.

  She waited a beat before speaking again, letting him feel the weight of her power fill the room. “You do bring up a good point, though. One I had already been thinking on, in fact. We cannot prepare for something that is unknown.”

  “Kiri?” he asked, his tone wary as if anticipating what she was about to say.

  The smile that curved her lips was filled with bloodthirsty promise, “I think it’s time we do some spying of our own.”

  Helena rolled her eyes as her men fussed around her. They had moved her away from the campsite and into a large snow-covered clearing, so that if she lost control again, her magic would not destroy anything of value. If she did not agree, at least in part, with their assessment that this experiment could yield potentially dangerous results, she would have already begun the mental descent that would take her to the threshold of Von’s mind.

  Since being marked by Ronan, she had felt more centered and in control of her power than she had since Von disappeared. She had also been feeling increased flickers of awareness along their mating bond as they closed in on where he was being kept. The result was that Helena was stronger than she had ever been, and she was ready to test her power.

  “Are you sure about this, Helena?” Darrin whispered, crouching beside her.

  She pressed her palm to his stubbled cheek and offered him a reassuring smile, aqua eyes staring into green as she said, “I need to do this, Darrin. He needs to know that we are close so he will be ready when we come for him. Not to mention the fact that we would greatly benefit from any information he has gathered. I know that I can reach him,” she finished fiercely, her voice was strengthened by her conviction.

  “You may need to do it, but I don’t need to like it,” he muttered darkly.

  Helena couldn’t contain the chuckle that escaped at his petulance, “Were you hoping to talk me out of it?”

  The stubborn set of his jaw was answer enough.

  “And how, exactly, did you think you were going to stop me?”

  Darrin shrugged and looked away as he said, “I would have found a way.”

  “Mmm,” she murmured, the disbelief in her tone evident. Helena called her power to her, feeling it readily respond. “Look at me,” she demanded in the multitude of voices.

  Surprised at the change, his eyes snapped back to hers.

  “I am the Mother’s Vessel. I do not need protection. It is those who seek to oppose me that require protection from me.”

  “I am your Shield,” he protested in an angry whisper, “It is my duty to protect and defend. You are too important to our people to be so careless with your life.”

  “It is because of our people that I cannot afford to hide behind you. I am their leader, Shield. Let me lead.” There was no room for argument and he knew it. Helena could almost see the frustration rolling off him in waves as he stood and argued anyway.

  “And I am your Shield!” he shouted, “let me fucking protect you! Mother’s tits, Helena.”

  Infusing her voice with her power she stood slowly, “Do not forget to whom you speak, Shield. You made a vow to be in service to me and my will. Obey it.”

  “I made a vow to protect you from those who would seek to destroy you. I am staying true to my vow, you stubborn ass!” he fumed.

  The sky cracked in half as a bolt of lightning and the answering growl of thunder lit up the sky. In the distance, Starshine roared, sensing her mistress’s temper and seeing it as a call to battle, one that she was clearly eager to answer.

  “Kiri,” a soft voice called.

  Helena whirled around, hands balled into fists. Effie stood just off to the side, her trembling hands held up in the position of surrender, “He means no harm, Kiri. He is just worried about you. We all are.” The rest of her Circle flanked Effie, unwilling to step in the middle of this particular argument. From the set of their jaws and crossed arms, Helena could tell that they were not necessarily on her side.

  Seeing the wary way Effie and the others waited for her reaction was sobering. Helena took a shuddering breath, trying to reign in the temper that still rose too quickly to the surface. “I know.” She turned to face Darrin again and said more softly, “I know.”

  “It is not just the Chosen who need you,” he said softly, “I need you, too.”

  Her eyes softened, and she looked from Darrin to Effie, “But Von needs me more. Don’t you understand yet? Without him, I will cease to be me. This has to end, Darrin, for all of our sakes,” her voice carried despite the gentle way she said the words. She watched as the fight left him, his shoulders drooping as he released a deep breath.

  “Then I will stand guard while you do what needs to be done.” With those words, Darrin turned on his heel and stomped off.

  Helena’s eyes still shimmered with iridescence as she turned back toward the others. The added level of awareness her Jaka granted pulsed as she met the steady gaze of each. If she were t
o close her eyes, she would be able to identify who was standing where simply through that connection. Each man had their own unique sensation, some combination of their power and personality, that was unmistakable. And now, when amplified by the intensity of their emotion, it was a force she couldn’t ignore if she tried.

  The feel of them was overwhelming, especially since her own emotions were riding high. It should be too much for any one person to bear, all of these conflicting feelings swirling through her: Darrin’s receding anger, Kragen’s steady strength, Timmins’ gentle concern, and even Joquil’s quiet displeasure. But she didn’t have a choice. As the Kiri’s Circle, these men were bound to her. They had placed their lives in her hands, and she was responsible for their well-being. That included dealing with mercurial moods.

  Something shifted within her, settling into place. She was their ruler and the decisions she made would affect them all. While that meant she owed it to them to listen and take their opinions into consideration, it also meant that it was ultimately up to her to trust herself to make the right decision. They needed her to lead, to make the choices that they could not. So she would.

  Sensing the shift in Helena, Serena stepped forward. “We will all stand guard,” she said softly. The others nodded their agreement before moving away to stand in a loose circle around her.

  Nial was the only one who hesitated, walking toward her and placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know that I have made no formal vows to you, Helena, but I still serve. It is my brother you are bound to, which makes you family. If you have need of me, for anything, my help is yours.”

  “Nial—” she whispered.

  “I serve, Kiri,” he said firmly, before squeezing her shoulder and backing away.

  Those not in her Circle traded looks with each other before kneeling. Effie, Miranda, Micha, Nial, Serena, and Ronan each bowing their heads in a formal show of respect. Her Circle, seeing the others and sensing the importance of the moment, also dropped to their knees. Helena opened her mouth to protest, feeling overwhelmed at the sight of her friends submitting to her in this way.