A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1)

by Karen Tomlinson

  “Get up!” Jack bellowed at her, blocking the hard blow from the creature’s weapon with Hugo’s sword.

  She scrambled unsteadily onto her feet. Dazed and in pain, she half stumbled, half fell to the nearest tree trunk. Keeping her back to it she sank down, her knees unable to take her weight. It was impossible to think of anything other than the agony throbbing through her face and head. Blood filled her mouth. Gagging, she spit. Blood clots splattered the ground even as more ran down her face. Jack appeared at her side, panting heavily. He was covered in black dust and blue blood.

  “Get up! Now!” Jack roared and, with a grip like iron, yanked her to her feet. “Run!” he bellowed and began sprinting over the ground.

  Diamond had never run so fast in her life. Trying to match Jack’s stride, she jumped roots, sprinting as swiftly as her wobbling legs would take her. When she faltered and nearly fell, Jack grabbed her arm and dragged her along. Despite the adrenaline pumping in her veins, she knew he could have gone faster without her.

  “Diamond, where’s the dagger Hugo gave you?” Jack barked sharply. “Get it out now! You are going to have to fight if you want to survive. To kill a Dust Devil you need to take its head off. Go for the neck.”

  She nodded, although her chances of hacking a head off with a dagger made her want to laugh hysterically. Her emotions stormed. Heat and magic seared through her insides, crackling around in her belly like exploding fireworks until the pain of keeping it contained nearly drove her to her knees. The dragon crystal was hot enough to blister and burn her skin. Clutching Hugo’s dagger like a lifeline in her right hand, she closed her eyes. Inhaling Hugo’s scent deeply, Diamond used it as her anchor and panted through the panic threatening to render her completely useless. A loud sob escaped her ravaged lips.

  “It’s alright, Diamond—just fight as hard as you can, for as long as you can,” Jack grunted, stepping back now so he was right next to her.

  But it wasn’t alright, not at all. This wasn’t like before. With Hugo nearby she had been able to control her magic. This time her power felt different, wild and savage. Blood ran down her chin. With every sob and shuddering breath she took, more dripped onto Hugo’s tunic. Hot tears blurred her vision as power thrummed through her veins, coursing through her exhausted body and burning into her very bones. She fought the urge to scream.

  Clutching Hugo’s dagger in a hand that didn’t seem her own, she forced herself to breath. In. Out. In…. Just like her father had taught her. The world seemed to narrow to that one need—to breathe.

  Jack fought on alone, taking on a heavily muscled Battle Imp, a blue monstrous creature that stood nearly seven feet tall. Its body was hairless, with pointed long ears and dark fathomless eyes. Wide jaws opened in a grotesque smile as it struck at Jack with a vicious-looking barbed and curved blade. Jack side-stepped with ease, then ducked. In one swift move he gutted the creature, splattering Diamond in foul smelling blue blood.

  Jack cursed, moving to shield Diamond’s body with his own. He stood over her, panting and facing the shadows as she fell forward onto her knees and hands, tears streaming down her face. Her brain wouldn’t work properly. This couldn’t be their end—overcome by magic or sliced apart by monsters. Panic crushed her chest, her face and hands numb. Jack dropped down in front of her and pulled her into his arms.

  “Diamond? It’s alright. They’ve gone for now,” he told her. “Something else has taken their attention.”

  She trembled against him, the heat inside her belly guttering into a flame rather than a raging fire. Her head dropped to his chest as she sobbed.

  “It’s alright, I’ve got you,” Jack murmured into her hair, “but we have to go.” Gently he pulled her to her feet. “Come on. We need to run,” he said, keeping hold of her hand.

  With every step Diamond took, her skull and face pulsed with pain. She wondered if her cheek bone was broken. Blood caked her chin, forming a dry crust on her teeth, and she had no saliva left to wet her raw and painful throat. Without warning the world tilted and her legs gave way. Collapsing on the ground, waves of nausea hit her, and it was impossible to fight the blackness fogging her vision.

  “Oh shit! Diamond? Come on. Don’t give up on me. You have to get up,” Jack urged, running a hand through his sweaty, blood soaked hair. Taking a ragged breath, the prince squatted in front of her. Anxiety swamped his gaunt, handsome face.

  “Diamond, listen to me. Stand up—then I’m going to carry you,” he said, gently cupping her throbbing chin in one hand as he pushed the silver threads of blood-caked hair from her eyes with the other.

  She couldn’t understand him. His voice seemed such a long way off, just muffled words and confused sounds. I wish I could just close my eyes and drift away, Diamond thought, exhausted.

  Jack swore quietly then stood and raised his sword, staring intently into the trees ahead. Diamond whimpered. Her whole body ached as she looked up at him through the slits of her half closed eyelids.

  “I’m sorry, I need to….” Jack’s voice was suddenly choked off as a huge arm snaked around his throat. Diamond couldn’t even scream as he was pulled backwards.

  “Get up! Run!” he choked out, his eyes wide.

  But she couldn’t, her body just wouldn’t work. Three shadowy figures appeared in front of them, arrows nocked in their bows, ready to fire in an instant. Something was amiss; they faced the forest not Jack.

  “Hello, Jack,” growled a deep voice. “Don’t move and don’t shout. You are walking straight into the path of your enemy.”

  Diamond tried to focus on Jack’s attacker. His voice was wonderfully familiar. Hoping she was right, she squinted up through sticky eyes at the large shadow.

  “Hugo!” breathed Jack. His tired face lit up and his shoulders sagged in relief. He looked closely at the men, poised, watching the shadows, ready to strike in an instant. “Diamond, it’s okay. These are my men,” Jack said looking down at her.

  “By the goddess, Jack, you look rough!” exclaimed Hugo with a quizzical twitch of his eyebrows whilst shoving Jack back up on his feet. “I thought you looked bad when I left, but hell’s teeth, prince!” he grimaced taking in Jack’s blood-stained clothes and sword.

  “I’m fine, but Diamond isn’t. This blood is mainly hers,” Jack answered.

  Diamond was vaguely aware of Hugo squatting down in front of her, his back to the others. He swore quietly but she could only stare at him in a daze, unable to speak. Tears of relief pricked her eyes as she looked at the concern in his. Pulling a disgusted face, he gently touched her lip and swollen cheek with his thumb. She dropped her eyes in shame. Her face must be a mess. Hugo clicked his fingers and someone passed him a water skin. Lifting her head with one hand, he held the water skin with the utmost care and gentleness against her torn lips.

  “Drink,” he ordered gruffly and tipped a few drops of the blessed liquid onto her tongue.

  Throbbing pain stung her lips. Diamond swallowed with difficulty, coughing as the dried blood became sticky in her mouth. Hugo tipped more water between her lips, waiting patiently for her to rinse and spit out clots. Putting the water skin down, he ripped material off his shirt, using it to gently clean up her face whilst Jack had a drink. She winced as he dabbed her lip.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  “Thank you,” she rasped, her throat still raw.

  Before she or Jack knew what was happening, Hugo had hoisted her into his arms and stood up. “The general is waiting in Sentinel’s Cave. It’s not far away now.” His deep voice rumbled through her chest into her bones, and to her shame she could not stop herself grabbing on desperately to his shoulders. Hugo tightened his grip as he felt her push against him.

  “There are more of Ragor’s soldiers ahead. Another large squadron. Bigger than the one you just fought,” he told Jack.

  Jack swore, jamming his sword into the ground at his feet. It swayed side to side.

  “How big?” he asked, his nostrils flaring.

&nb
sp; “At least one hundred fifty strong—probably more, it’s difficult to tell as they’re hidden in the forest,” Hugo answered gravely, holding Diamond tightly against his chest.

  Belonging rushed through her at the feel of hard muscle and heat against her cold body. Startled, she wriggled a little. He glanced down, holding her eyes. Arms of steel tightened, and he raised an eyebrow, snarling a little. Immediately her movements stilled. But she wasn’t trying to escape him, completely the opposite in fact.

  “This squadron of Dust Devils travels with Battle Imps and Wolfmen, just like Ragor's main host; not to mention they have a giant swelling their ranks,” Hugo said, keeping eye contact with Jack.

  Jack ground his teeth together, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching rhythmically. “Where are the rest of my soldiers?” the prince asked quietly, staring at Diamond, who had nestled into Hugo’s warmth. For a moment Jack’s eyes softened and a worried frown creased his brow.

  “General Edo is commanding your men. He has ordered a rotational guard to watch the enemy nearest the cave, the remainder are sheltering and resting inside the cave,” Hugo informed Jack in clipped, precise tones.

  Jack grunted in acknowledgment. “You said you’d take three days to get back to us, Hugo. It’s day four, what happened?” he asked coldly.

  Hugo bristled. Diamond could feel his muscles tense all around her. His chin lifted proudly, and there was a slight pause before he answered. “We needed to deal with the Wolfmen that were tracking you and end the rest of the squad you just fought before we could get to you safely,” he explained stiffly.

  Jack grunted and Diamond felt her stomach lurch. They had been tracked by Wolfmen? She felt limp. Suddenly she was happy not to be standing up.

  “Fair enough,” said Jack almost dismissively. “If it isn’t far to the cave, I’ll take Diamond whilst you show us the way,” he said, gesturing at her with his chin.

  Hugo glanced down, holding her eyes. His grip tightened and he snarled a little. Not at her, but because of Jack’s words. With an almost imperceptible movement of his head he seemed to ask: “Do you want to go with, Jack?”

  Her emotional turmoil at seeing him again was overshadowed by such a deep, deep relief that he was here to take care of her. A tear ran down her cheek. No. With all her heart she wanted to stay in his arms. She pushed her body against his, gripping him like a life line.

  “No, prince. You are exhausted and need to recover. I will take her,” Hugo replied.

  Jack opened his mouth to argue until he caught the way Diamond was clinging to Hugo. Clamping his jaw shut, he stared hard at her.

  Guilty for wanting Hugo so badly, she made herself push back and rasped, “I can walk by myself.” Her lip started bleeding again.

  “No!” both men declared at the same time.

  “Fine. You take her, Hugo,” Jack acquiesced but held Hugo’s challenging gaze for a moment longer. “But think about what I said before.”

  Diamond looked from one to the other, wondering what Jack meant as Hugo gave a cursory nod. Tight-lipped, he allowed Jack to give the order to move out.

  “Let’s go. No flying. I don’t want anyone taken down by an enemy arrow. There are already more of them than there are of us,” ordered Jack.

  The group moved stealthily through the gloomy trees. Surround by warriors, Diamond felt safer than she had for weeks. Hugo’s arms were wonderfully warm and she couldn’t help but tighten her grip on him and snuggle closer into his chest. His warmth and musky scent over ran her senses. Strength seeming to flow from him into her. Her head wanted him to put her down—he was a guard, a queen’s guard—but her heart wanted him to hold her tighter. Frustrated, she shook her head at her chaotic thoughts.

  Hugo flashed her a quick look. “Something wrong?” he asked innocently, his eyes glinting with amusement as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  “You can put me down, Hugo. I can walk,” she told him, her words muffled by her swollen lip.

  “No.”

  Diamond scowled at his refusal but that just seemed to amuse him more.

  “We both know you don’t really want me to,” he stated. “And don’t scowl, it’s making your lip bleed all over me and you’ve already ruined one of my tunics,” he reminded her.

  Secretly pleased, she crossed her arms and huffed loudly, then found herself utterly transfixed as his lips twitched in a broad smile. His scarred features twisted in a grotesque way but Diamond didn’t notice. Her eyes did not stray from his mouth. Her heart clenched. She had just made this ruthless warrior smile.

  Soon, with nothing else to do but stare at his face or rest, Diamond let her exhausted, starving body relax. The rhythmic sway of Hugo’s powerful body was so soothing and she felt so safe and warm. By the goddess, she was tired. Lulled by the heat radiating from Hugo’s body, her eyelids became heavier and her head drooped onto his chest. His scent and magic cocooned Diamond, comforting her.

  Hitching her up, Hugo tightened his grip and resettled her weight. Briefly he glanced down, doing his best to hide his satisfaction when she murmured with contentment and nestled her face into his chest.

  Diamond sat with her back against the cave wall watching Jack. Catching her eye, he smiled but it was strained and tired. Her returning smile was a little forced. Since being back with his men, Jack had left her to her own devices. Not that he had a choice really. Diamond leaned her head back and watched him, feeling the gap between them widen. It had begun to sink in, what and who he was. It left Diamond with no illusion as to her unimportance compared to him. His responsibilities would distance them, not to mention her blood. Although she didn’t think Jack as shallow as the Avalonian ruler. Rubbing her temples she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. It would be nice to be free to pick her friends for once, or to have a friend who accepted her for who she was, rather than shunned her for her mixed blood.

  Focus on the positive things, she told herself. Valentia is a busy trading city with huge ports. It must have goods and people arriving from the other kingdoms all the time. Surely heritage won’t count for so much there?

  A headache pounded behind her eyes. But maybe it did. Hugo had already warned her that as a half-blood she had no rights, no protection under Avalonian law. She would just have to be really careful where she went and with whom. Tom had been her only friend back in Berriesford; nothing need change, she didn’t need other friends.

  Diamond sighed. She was being foolish. Of course things would change, her whole life already had. Trying not to think of her father, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and studied the big warriors and tough-looking soldiers that filled the gloomy space.

  Sentinel’s Cave was large, its entrance hidden amongst a cluster of ancient, moss covered boulders. Small holes allowed rain and moisture to drip in from the earth above, and the rock wall she leaned against was obscured by a covering of green, velvety moss. Further inside the cave where it was more protected, the walls and floor were dry. Clearly it had been used as a hideout or guard station for years. There were cooking pots piled beside a stone fire pit and several mounds of old dried moss on top of sticks and pines needles that seemed to serve as makeshift beds.

  Diamond’s tired eyes stung, so she leaned her head back and closed them for a moment. The first time she had suffered a nightmare she had awoken with sweat coating her body and running between her breasts. Terrified and trembling, she had found Hugo kneeling next to her asking if she was alright. It had been too dark to see his face, but she was sure she had heard concern in his voice. Without asking, he had settled his bulk next to her, his sapphire and silver energy had wrapped itself around her protectively; Diamond had not even thought of protesting. Twice more nightmares had jolted her awake. Each time Hugo had reached out a big hand and rested it on her shoulder, gently rubbing his thumb against her neck, calming her. Even now Diamond was left with a sense of gratitude for him watching over her.

  The protection and warmth of the cave was wonderful after being
so long out in the open. Bags of supplies lined the far wall next to a row of full water skins. It seemed an age since food had last passed her lips. A painful ache rumbled through her belly at the thought. She rubbed at it, sorely tempted to sneak over and rummage through the sacks. A tall female warrior lounged against the wall near the bags, clearly supervising them. With long, light brown hair and sharp features, she was perhaps the most intimidating female Diamond had ever seen. Her eyes wandered over Diamond, completely disinterested, before moving on to rest on Roin.

  Perhaps not, thought Diamond, discounting the food. It was not worth a confrontation with such a female.

  Damp-loving plants crawled up the ancient rocks near the cave entrance, their spiral bright green stems intertwining and hanging down to conceal the cave from the outside. Soldiers guarded the hidden cave mouth, coming and going for the past few minutes as they swapped the watch, their faces drawn and bodies tense.

  The water leopard, Trajan, crouched near Jack, flicking his barbed tail. Clearly they were communicating through telepathy. Jack shook his head vehemently. Snarling, Trajan stood.

  Diamond gaped in amazement, never having been this close to a water leopard before; she was stunned. He was huge, his head easily as high as Jack’s chest. Peculiar gill-like structures stood out at the base of his jaw and black markings covered his white fur. But it was the exposed bony ridge of spine that travelled from the base of his huge skull to the tip of his barbed tail that drew Diamond’s attention. He was beautiful in a savage, dangerous way. Clearly he had recovered well, only the scab on his chest wall any indication of a recent injury.

  Diamond’s eyes widened as Tom pushed himself off the ground and bowed slightly to something Jack said before following Trajan out of the cave. Tom had never been that respectful to anyone before.

  Tom had also lost weight, but when she had spoken with him this morning, he had been far more positive about the city than she felt. Zane, who stood guard next to his prince, watched Tom disappear before his eyes drifted to Diamond’s. The hard planes of his face split into a sheepish grin and he shrugged. Even with a split lip, Diamond found it hard not to smile back. So Zane was interested in Tom. She wondered if Tom realised the broad-shouldered warrior ribbed him every moment he could because he wanted Tom’s attention. Probably not.