Snow and the Shadows (Once Upon a Harem Book 2)

by Cara Carnes

  “Ease your grip on my mate’s throat or we will have a problem, Shadow.”

  Slade backed off, releasing his hold on them both. I moved to his side and placed a hand on his back.

  “Did they harm you?”

  “No.” I relished the possessive glide of his hands along my arms. “I didn’t share anything with them, but one of the spirits in Marden said they were trustworthy. He’s not doing good, Slade. I’m worried.”

  “Stay with him. I’ll handle these two.”

  “Come sit with me,” I ordered. I didn’t want the guards to return, not until the others were awake. I still remembered all those red dots on me, them. I clutched Marden as I stretched out on the surface.

  I wanted more of my Shadows awake. The longer they slept, the more my concern increased, made the restless agitation in me grow.

  Slade’s body pressed alongside mine. I faced Marden, didn’t dare touch any of the intricate glyphs, except for Daxan’s, which was difficult since he was on his back. “Help me get him on his side, Slade. I need to reenergize Daxan.”

  “You need to rest. You are pale and exhausted,” Slade argued.

  “I will rest when I reenergize him. He’s trying to contain the feral spirits, but it’s hard and I haven’t given him an energy boost in a while.”

  “He speaks with you?” Xan asked.

  “This isn’t your concern, Avaru,” Slade clipped. He helped me move Marden until the spirit etching I needed was touchable. “Don’t weaken yourself too much.”

  I’d likely passed the point he deemed too much but didn’t offer that fact. He moved to examine the others. “They should come around soon since you did.”

  “Not necessarily. The Avaru within me came to early, but many others remain out. They woke me. Zelig will come to soon.”

  “How did you come to be in possession of my people’s spirits? Avaru would consider this a crime against our people.”

  “They were given a choice,” Slade replied. “Ask them yourselves if you wish, your people are psychic.”

  “They are?” I asked.

  “Yes, so be careful what you share with us. Your telepathy is too weak for them not to read. If you wish to convey something to us in private, squeeze my arm or Zelig’s when he wakes. We’ll secure a connection. Marden can too.”

  I nodded. Securing telepathic lines. I felt a bit like a warrior within my own right. Heat rose in my cheeks. I hoped Xan and Nikki didn’t tell Slade or the others what I’d done after they passed out. As if sensing the trajectory of my thoughts, Slade leaned in and pulled his knife from my thigh sheath. “Why do you have this?”

  “I figured I’d hold on to it, just in case.”

  He studied me a moment. “And the plasma blaster?”

  My gaze swept to the weapon I’d secured to my side. “I figured it was a good idea too.”

  “Right.” He brushed his lips across mine. “I’m sorry you were frightened. I still taste the fear in your aura. They will pay for that, Snow.”

  “No. I just want everyone awake. Then can we get the supplies and leave? I want far, far away from this station and everyone on it.”

  Slade sat with his back against the wall. Legs outstretched on the sleeping surface beside me, he patted his lap. “Come here, let me hold you.”

  “I should stay with Marden. Daxan’s tired.”

  “Marden will wake soon.” Determination resonated in his aura. I crawled into his lap. Tezan spirits spread around me. I sighed into the contact and closed my eyes. Slade was awake. He’d make sure everyone was okay.

  Snow

  * * *

  Anger woke me, so all-consuming my vision turned red. A growl rumbled near my jugular, feral in its depth and sincerity.

  Marden.

  “Let her go,” Zelig ordered. “Do not make me sedate you.”

  “He’s slipped into Roteran Rage. The drug let too many of the violent spirits he suppressed loose. We would’ve lost him entirely if it weren’t for the Avaru warrior within him,” Varik said. “Someone’s renewed him several times, but he weakens.”

  The grip about my chest tightened until each breath was but a reedy gasp. I relaxed into the grip, hoping my submission would calm Marden. But he raged on. His teeth snapped near my ear and a low rumble more primal than a mere growl, more pained than a howl filled the silence. The sound fractured a part of me, called to my soul.

  He hurt.

  Ached.

  “Leave us,” I ordered the others.

  “No,” Zelig responded. “He’s raging right now. Remain calm. Varik will sedate him. We will get you loose soon.”

  I pressed my aura against Marden’s, felt the instantaneous resistance overridden by fear and concern. “He will not harm me. He’s…” I swallowed the admission, one not mine to share. These were his brothers in every way. I didn’t want them knocking him out. They needed to sense what I did, understand the primal reaction. “He’s afraid.”

  Zelig’s grip on the weapon faltered. Slade, Ashan, and Ren paled. I heard curses behind us, realized the others had moved behind Marden in an attempt to surround him. The Shadow gripping me tightly slammed his back against the wall and snarled at Varik and Dacian. I didn’t need a translator to understand the feral word he shouted over and over. Possessiveness consumed his aura, struck mine.

  Mine.

  “We have a healer. Let us summon him. He can aid your warrior’s plight,” Nikki said.

  “Marden will have to face the battle alone, as he did the last time. Only a Tezan healer comes close to handling something like this,” Varik said, his lips thinned in a grim expression.

  I looked at him. I could help. I knew I could. As if sensing the argument building in me, he shook his head.

  Xan opened the door and shouted for someone to fetch Gamal. The Avaru crossed his arms, regarded me as if sensing something he hadn’t noticed before. His eyebrows rose.

  “What else may we provide?” Xan asked.

  “A Well,” I replied quickly, before those around me could refute the trust I offered the warrior and his mate.

  “Gamal has a very small one,” Nikki said. “He will bring it when he arrives.”

  I didn’t want anyone touching Marden except me. I sensed the importance of Daxan’s request to not let anyone have skin-to-skin contact.

  Mine.

  The growl returned when Slade approached.

  “You’re hurting her,” Slade growled back. “Warriors do not harm their females. Ease your hold. She does not fight your claim, does she? She allowed your touch.”

  Mine. You are all mine. You are not alone, never again. I pushed the thought to Marden over and over until he listened, truly heard what I said.

  Hot breath fanned along my neck. The grip around my chest and ribs eased, turned into deft strokes along my side. Back and forth, as if lulling me to sleep.

  Marden hummed. His voice turned soft, melodic as he sang.

  I didn’t understand the language. Everyone within the room remained silent. Adoration and desire assailed my senses as Marden’s psychic shield fell. I flung beads of energy into him, returning the emotions he gave me. One by one, the spirits within him came forward, rubbed against me on the psychic plane. So many images overcame me. Keeping track of them was impossible. I’d see them again, when Marden was better. I sought Daxan, sensing he’d somehow orchestrated this move. He remained steadfast at my side, between the more aggressive souls, and me, but even they calmed.

  I hummed along with Marden, having no clue what the words meant. It didn’t matter. Whatever it was soothed him. I closed my eyes and ignored everyone but Marden and the spirits he possessed. The sheer volume astounded me. I sensed the connection I’d formed with Slade, Ren, Ashan, Dacian, and Varik awaken beneath the psychic overload. Without question, I drew from them, fed them the overwhelming emotions wafting from the man holding me tight.

  A new connection formed.

  Zelig.

  The commanding presence encased u
s all, a firm grip I knew would never break no matter what occurred within the room. Marden relaxed beneath the grip, as if recognizing his childhood friend. Images of three young boys filled me. Tears spilled down my cheeks. The young boys turned into young warriors within my mind’s eye. Stark loss, fear, and desperation overwhelmed me as images of an impossible battle filled me.

  Curses and gasps filled the room, but I held on, fed more and more energy into the spirit. Slade and Zelig fed me more. Ashan too. Then Varik. They all sensed my need for the healing energy as the battle within my mind continued.

  Zelig’s brother. Marden’s best friend, brother at heart. Marden held the dying warrior in his arms now, shouted his rage as tears flowed down his face.

  Protect them, Marden. Protect Zelig and his squadron as you have ours.

  I failed you.

  No. This was our fault, not yours. You warned us. We did not listen. Protect them, Marden.

  I sensed the importance of the moment, the words the spirit shared, but another had taken his place. In the distance, I heard a commotion, sensed a new presence within the room. But the Summoner’s Well called me, offered its replenishing nourishment to my parched energy. I drank heavily, fed Marden’s spirits and those of my warriors until a calm settled within the warrior still holding me.

  Sleep, warrior. We have you. You are mine. You are all mine.

  Marden

  * * *

  Warmth and silence. The two foreign sensations filled Marden as he roused on the psychic plane. A low rumbling of conversation drifted around him, but he focused inward, sought out the most trusted of his souls. His head throbbed, but a healing energy infused him. He stretched, fanned his aura outward and greeted the spirits as they aroused within him.

  One by one, he assessed them, took whatever bits and pieces they offered by way of information, grumblings. It was a meditative communication he’d begun long ago. Order within the chaos.

  But he found no chaos.

  A beautiful, elegant order took its place. Even the most malevolent within him remained calm, as if lulled by the same warming silence he basked within.

  Daxan, my friend. Tell me what this is.

  Our mate. Snow.

  No. She cannot ever be ours. It is too dangerous. They would harm her.

  You are wrong. None would dare. Look.

  It is true. She healed us all. Zarik. His childhood friend and fellow warrior had been lost within the madness long ago, as had the other Shadows of his platoon.

  The former squad he’d lost, the ones he’d failed, stepped forward, showed him bits and pieces from the horrid day. The pieces fell together, and for the first time he had a complete image of what had happened.

  He was not at fault.

  Marden expended a breath.

  Be well, my friends. We are together once more.

  Yes, because of Snow. Love her well, Shadow. She is a worthy mate.

  Marden couldn’t refute the truth, but that didn’t mean she could remain theirs. His burden was great.

  He woke, focused on the woman gripping him tightly. She slept peacefully, head on his bare chest. None of the spirits she touched roused. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the blissful silence within his head. For once, none of the spirits raged.

  Keep her.

  Mate.

  Mine.

  The possessiveness focused the spirits on one path—claiming the female, keeping her safe.

  Snow was pale.

  Concern roused a few within him, but he remained steadfastly focused on the beautiful enchantress within his arms.

  “She expended much energy.” An old man sat on a seat beside the bed. Marden glared, but made no demand for more. “I am Gamal. We have much to discuss, but it will wait until the female wakes.”

  “You are awake.” Zelig’s voice shifted Marden’s focus. “Do you require a healer?”

  Zelig studied the old man. “He did not heal me.”

  “No. The woman would not let me touch you. Her aura remained between me and you.” Gamal looked down. “She is quite powerful.”

  “You never saw her,” Marden growled.

  “My father was the Tezan king’s healer.” His voice lowered. “She resembles her mother.”

  “So we were told,” Ren replied.

  “You are voyaging to Tezan,” the man commented.

  “Yes,” Zelig replied. “Do you have information to help ease the journey?”

  “No, but I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you it is a fruitless effort. The Oracle’s Well was a legend, one recorded history never verified.” Gamal frowned. “Tezan historians long believed it was a myth to strengthen people’s belief of the Oracle. Do you understand what the Oracle’s Well is?”

  “Not exactly. Texts I read indicated it was the true source of the Summoner’s Wells powers. The ones used by all, including Queen Vilma are merely relay stations,” Dacian said.

  “In a way, yes. The Oracle’s Well was rumored to possess many powers the Summoner’s Wells do not possess. It is so powerful the energy will destroy anyone who dares wield it without the proper bloodline,” Gamal said. “Only a true blood is a wielder.”

  “And what of the Omega?” Dacian shot back. “You imply she is not the true wielder because she is not entirely Tezan, yet she is a royal blood born of five lineages, just as the Omega was foretold to be.”

  “And you would have the slave of a Skeron king declared the Omega? Were it true, she would never survive the process because she will become a bridge between the planes. If it is false, the Oracle will destroy her for heresy. Your journey is a foolish one, warriors. She is not the one you think she is.”

  “And we have your word on it, a supposed healer of a dead king? The king mated to this female’s mother?” Marden moved Snow deeper into his arms. “How do you know she is a false Omega?”

  “Because I sent the true Omega into the Gypsy Nebulae before the Crunan destroyed Tezan,” Gamal said. “The king and queen of Tezan had a child, a female born of five lineages. She is the true heir to the Tezan throne and wielder of the Well.”

  “Yet you have her cowering in a slipstream. That is where you sent her, yes?” Slade prowled toward the old man. “You allowed the Crunans to destroy entire civilizations, enslave entire species while you knew a true Tezan heir lived?”

  “She was an infant, born less than a solar cycle before the attack. She was no queen!” Gamal shouted the latter. “She will return when the Crunan rebellion has been crushed.”

  “Rebellion?” Varik growled the word. “Are you mad? Have you cowered so deep in this space station you have no idea what occurs?”

  “You have no authority over me,” Gamal said. “This female is not the Omega. Taking her to Tezan will only get her killed. Let her live her life free. It is more than someone of half Skeron blood deserves.”

  “Remove him or he dies,” Zelig ordered. He glared at Xan and Nikki. “Leave us a moment.”

  Marden growled low and long after Xan and Nikki removed Gamal. “He lies.”

  “Perhaps, perhaps not. There is nothing to refute either legend. In all honesty, both could be right. There is nothing saying the true wielder is the same person as the Omega. If there is a full-blooded Tezan royal alive, she very well could be the true Queen of the Summoner’s throne.” Dacian leaned forward. Elbows on his knees, he sighed. “I honestly do not know what to believe, but there is no question Snow has a stronger tie to the Wells than we have ever seen.”

  “I don’t want to risk her,” Ashan admitted. “What he said about her dying? Dare we take the risk?”

  “How can we not?” Ren asked.

  Varik, Slade, and Zelig nodded their agreement. They’d vowed to protect the Roteran Empire and any of those still loyal to the true conduits of the Summoner’s Well.

  “I do not understand what the difference is between Summoner’s Wells and an Oracle Well. The old man is daft,” Marden growled.

  “And if he’s not? What then? Do we chance har
ming her, or do nothing and allow Queen Vilma and her new mate to plow through the resistance? We all know the Roteran Empire will be their next target, and the Roteran Council will never enter the war without provocation. By then, it will be too late.” Dacian shook his head. “We have much to think about.”

  “We will consider the options en route. Staying here in the same outpost as that so-called healer is not an option,” Slade said.

  “I agree,” Zelig said. He glanced down at Snow. “She does not need to know any of this. It would change nothing.”

  “You’re wrong. It would change everything,” Ashan said. “She doubts her strength already. Hearing Gamal’s emphatic beliefs, discovering her mother had another child, a full-blooded Tezan, would undermine what we’ve done with her.”

  “He’s right,” Varik said. “We say nothing. Not until we are closer.”

  “I do not like lying to her,” Ren said.

  “It is not a lie,” Marden argued.

  “Half-truths are carefully veiled lies, nothing more,” Dacian said. “Our first priority as warriors is to the Roteran Empire. Our first as men—mates—is to our female. We cannot refute Snow is our mate.”

  “Either way, we must take the chance, believe what we have learned versus trusting the rantings of a loon in the Meridian Highway,” Varik said.

  “Then we continue with our original plan. Get her to Tezan. Find the Well,” Zelig said.

  “It is the only way she will ever be truly free. Reclaiming the throne and defeating Queen Vilma is the only way Snow can live a good life. A happy one,” Ren said.

  “As our mate?” Marden guffawed. “You truly think any mate of ours will ever be safe? If we claim her, she will never have a home on soil, never have a home that does not move. What kind of life can we give her? She deserves more than we have to offer.”

  Sadness assailed him. He stroked her face, allowed himself to pretend his words were not true. For a moment, at least.

  “She is ours. No matter what comes of the Well, she is ours,” Ashan declared.