by Cara Carnes
What is the matter, mate?
Your brother and his squadron. They do not exist like we do. They’re physically in this realm, but their minds and thoughts are mostly in the other world, the telepathic one.
Yes. It is the Guardian way. The spirits they contain are violent, evil. They would be locked in an eternal hell if they didn’t escape to the other realm.
But they are alone there.
They have each other.
They deserve more. I squeezed Slade closer. Had that been how he’d escaped the Admiral’s spirit when he’d gotten too hard to handle?
I banished myself from that realm, Snow. It was a decision I made to save myself and the others. If I had not, the Admiral would have found all the Dark Guardians on that plane, destroyed their sanctuary. It is the only place they have true peace.
No. They deserved more, a real life. True happiness, like I’d found with my Shadows. I understood the bitterness, the cloying loneliness isolation bred. I would find a way to give them all more, a chance at what they’d helped me get. I studied the Guardians before me. None offered words, as if sensing the battle I waged with myself internally.
I’d made the right decision when I calmed their spirits or tried to. Most remained angrier and more violent than any spirit I’d met within my Shadows. True evil.
“Thank you.” The two words were not enough to convey the enormity of what they’d done for me. My Shadows.
Slone and the Guardians grinned as the vessel rocked. Zelig and Dacian got closer to me, caging me between their massive bodies. I didn’t sense danger but remained where they’d put me.
“The sensors didn’t indicate a nearby vessel,” Dacian said.
“Forgive me. The Admiral contacted me moments ago on our private link,” Slone said. “There was not time for me to warn you he was near.”
The Admiral? I looked at Slone. He was the Admiral, right?
Shadow Admiral Zarx. Zelig’s voice in my head calmed some of the concern. He was not worried, merely frustrated and surprised.
The Shadows relaxed their protective stance around me. Dacian put an arm around my shoulder.
“Come, they are arriving via the cargo area. Admiral Zarx wishes us to all go there.”
I didn’t want to meet Admiral Zarx. I had enough to handle as it was. I glanced out the viewing windows and tightened. “I forgot about the Avaru vessels with us. Are they okay?”
“They are fine. We have been in constant contact with them,” Dacian said. “Nikki and her two mates, Xan and Molden, are arriving as well. Apparently, they received a warning.”
“Avaru technology picks up our cloaked ships,” Slone replied, likely for my benefit. “We must go. There is much to discuss, and we are very near Tezan.”
We were? My pulse quickened as we went toward the cargo area. The Roteran vessel Slone and his Guardian squadron used was far larger than The Paradox had been and had two cargo bays that I’d seen so far. The largest of them was big enough to hold at least five Paradox-sized ships, likely more. I felt exposed without my weapons. I wanted to dress properly, in my weapon-filled attire. My mom’s sword.
Ashan grabbed my hand. The lightness within his aura was darker now, weighted with far more than before. “Let’s get you dressed.”
He’d sensed my desire. It was foolish in many ways. I had no business meeting the Shadow admiral, their Commander, armed. But I wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity, either. The entire procession halted outside his quarters. He and I entered.
“Ren, Varik, and I cleaned all your weapons,” he said.
“Thank you.” I hugged him close. “Are you okay?”
“I am more than okay. You are my mate, and we are all safe.” He stroked my cheek. “I love you, Snow.”
“I love you, Ashan.” I knew we had little time. Everyone waited in the hall.
But I sensed Ashan needed a few moments of just him and me. I filled his aura with warm energy, calmed the angst and negativity he’d drawn from everyone else. I didn’t want whatever happened to taint him anymore than it already had. The change within my sensitive Shadow was obvious. A darkness outlined his vibrant aura. I wouldn’t allow it to darken him in any way.
“Thank you,” he whispered into my ear. “I needed this.”
I held him a couple more minutes, then changed clothes. Embarrassment crawled up my cheeks when Ashan and I returned to the hall. Not because I’d spent some time alone with him. I’d never be ashamed or embarrassed about being with my Shadows. It was the weapons.
I was born a slave, was half Skeron. Surrounded by mighty Roteran warriors, arguably the best within their entire empire. The freaking Admirals of the Shadows and the Guardians were here. What would a woman born a slave need a sword for? And the blades. I felt the Guardian’s gazes on the Roteran blades along my thighs.
“Only my brother would be lucky enough to land a warrioress for a mate,” Slone commented. His gaze glinted amusement, but his aura projected respect, admiration. “Are you any good with those blades?”
“I get by,” I admitted. “My Shadows will make me better.”
“And the sword?” Enzo asked.
“She is good, better than most Roteran warriors,” Zelig said. “With swords and blades. Her Roteran protector trained her well. He and her other two protectors are spirits within Ren.”
Warmth filled me at the compliment. None of my Shadows had ever shared their thoughts on how good I was with my weapons.
“She is a worthy mate. Protect her well,” one of the Guardians said.
I glared at him. I wasn’t a meek female needing anyone’s protection. “They are worthy mates. I will protect them very well.”
Slade smiled. “Come, mate. The Admiral waits.”
Slone and the other Guardians chuckled. My Shadows did as well. Ren grasped my hand as we headed toward the cargo area. A still silence filled the area, but emotions assailed me. Curiosity, determination, shock, and anxiousness were the most prevalent. Fear and anger struck me in smaller bursts. The large entry opened. A gasp escaped me when we entered.
Two massive contingents of warriors stood in tight formation within the cargo deck. A path divided the two groups. The one to the left wore the black uniform my Shadows did, had the same purple insignias emblazoned on them. Shadows. The second warrior force wore black uniforms emblazoned with a dark gold, the same as Slone’s squadron. I hadn’t noted their insignias until now. Guardians.
My mind reeled as I attempted a count but gave up when it approached over a thousand. What were they all doing here? I pressed against my Shadows. Slone prowled down the angled walkway leading to the cargo area where the warriors were clustered. None moved. I felt very little in the way of emotion from any of them now that we had entered, as if none wished to shame themselves by displaying any emotion in front of the two Admirals.
A tall warrior moved to intercept Slone. The two clasped hands and slapped each other’s backs. Pale white hair accented the warrior’s otherwise dark hair. Wrinkles appeared along his eyes and mouth. Zelig and Slade settled me between them as we all moved toward them. The older Roteran’s focus landed on me, his aura fanned outward. I reflexively surrendered to his curiosity, trusting my Shadows to know if he were a threat. I sensed the praise within our connection, the pride. The man’s gaze roamed down me in an assessing, but non-threatening, perusal.
“Admiral Zarx,” Zelig greeted. “It has been too long.”
“Zelig.” Zarx offered the warrior’s greeting, smiled at my Shadows. “Your squadron does Rotera proud.”
No other statement was offered. We followed him and Slone to the open space before the two squadrons.
“This will be repetitive for many of you since you are already aware of what has transpired, but Zelig’s squadron has not been privy to the events of the past few cycles. Nor have I had the opportunity to update Admiral Slone, though his guidance was instrumental in the successes we have had.” Admiral Zarx’s voice boomed.
; None of the amassed warriors moved. I held my breath, locked my movements in an awkward repetition of their stance. Slade laughed beside me.
Hot breath grazed my ear. “Breathe, Snow. I promise they are.”
I punched his stomach playfully for teasing me. The smile I got melted the anxiety building in me. I loved Slade’s smile.
“Commander Zelig approached the Roteran Council with irrefutable evidence that he and his squadron had finally located the true Summoner of the Well, the Oracle’s true conduit. Not only is Snow a royal blooded Tezan, she is believed to be the Omega of ancient legend.” Admiral Zarx’s voice cracked toward the end. Emotion swept through the room. Relief. Anticipation. Happiness. “I am one of the few Roteran warriors still alive who served the last Tezan king. I was a young whelp back then, one undeserving of Guardian status. I was a mere squire. I remember the King and his Queen well, stood behind the Roteran squadron sworn to protect them.”
Emotion rose up my throat. I swallowed. My eyes burned as the tender emotions wrapped around me. He knew my mother.
“The Roteran Council refused Zelig’s request that would have finally put Roteran warriors where we have belonged all along—protecting the true wielder of the Summoner’s Well. We have skulked along the fringes of the Intergalactic War far too long, allowed entire civilizations to be razed by Queen Vilma and her Crunan scourge. Now she has aligned with the Skerons. They believe themselves to be unstoppable. Today will be the day they fall.” There was no doubt or hesitancy within his aura.
A warrior’s shout echoed through the converged crush of Roterans. Their relief and joy assailed me.
“They have waited for this moment a long time,” Slone commented. “It has pained our warriors greatly to stand aside, let so many die.”
“Why wouldn’t the Roteran Council let you fight?” I asked.
“The Tezan Empire we’d vowed to protect was decimated. We had suffered severe blows. Most of the amassed warriors you see here were mere children back then, babies,” Zelig said. “This is a mere fraction of the Crunan forces, but this is well over three quarters of our Shadows and Guardians.”
The Admirals had brought almost the entire Roteran army here. Why?
Then I remembered what I’d done to their Council. I gasped. “I willed them to suffer the pains of those they didn’t protect. I attacked the Roteran Council. What happened to them?”
“The suffering ended shortly after you went under,” Slade said. “They are not here to exact vengeance for the Council. None of the warriors can stand the pompous assholes.”
“Two cycles ago, Admiral Zarx and I, by ancient right, declared martial law over the Roteran Empire. The entire council has been detained and will be tried before the Roteran citizens for high treason.” Slone moved to stand before his Guardians. “Until a new council is appointed by the citizens, he and I will govern those we have all vowed to protect.”
The warriors’ cry was louder and longer this time. My ears rang from the tremendous display of support and assent. Zarx and Slone looked at one another, then approached me. My Shadows backed away. I moved with them, but Slade and Zelig kissed my cheeks.
“It is okay, Snow. Relax. We are right behind you,” Zelig said.
The two admirals knelt on their left knees. Each retracted a Roteran blade and sliced their palms.
“I, Admiral Zarx, swear the fealty of the Roteran Shadows. We will enforce the Oracle’s Will as declared by the rightful Summoner, the Tezan Queen Snow. Omega Summoner of the Well.”
What? Fealty? Queen? I looked back at my Shadows, then back at the gathered warriors as noise echoed through the cargo bay. Every Shadow knelt, bloodied hand raised. I swallowed. What now?
As if sensing my anxiety, Dacian’s voice offered the guidance. Return the fealty. Swear your oath to protect the people loyal to the Well.
Right. Okay. I was no Queen, though. We didn’t even know if I was the Omega or the true Summoner. I’d trust my Shadows. I closed the distance between myself and Zarx. I retracted my Roteran blade, heard gasps ripple through the Shadows as I raised my hand and cut my palm. I grasped Zarx’s bleeding hand.
“I, Queen Snow, Omega Summoner of the Well, swear my fealty to the Oracle, and all those loyal to the Well. I vow to do everything within its power to protect the Tezan and Roteran Empires and all those who swear fealty to the Oracle.” To strengthen the vow, I summoned energy into myself and fed it through the blood connection I’d made.
Zarx’s spirit was powerful, pure of heart and consumed with so many emotions I almost stumbled beneath the weight. The connection blossomed as he fed the energy to those amassed behind him. Sensing the rising surge of awareness amongst the Shadows, I fed more and more energy until I was confident every warrior connected to Zarx received the energy.
The Well’s power pulsated within me, hummed with an awareness when I moved to stand beside Slone. The power recognized him from the energy I’d fed him through Slade. He and his Guardians needed more than the Shadows. Though they were both elite warrior units, the Guardians held far more evil spirits. The entire area darkened beneath the weight. I let the energy build within me, pulsate until I felt as though my insides would explode.
“Careful, Snow,” he teased softly, barely a murmur I doubted anyone else could hear.
I leaned closer, mimicked the low tone. “Thank you for saving me and my Shadows. Thank you for ending Slade’s silence. For that alone I will do anything within my power to protect you and your squadron, all those you command.”
Before he could respond, I stood and boomed the same vow I’d offered to Zarx. I slapped our palms together and gripped tightly as the power erupted from me and entered him. He gritted his teeth.
I think my mate took exception to the comment about us needing to protect her, brother.
Slade’s amused voice filled my head.
I see your mate is a little vixen, brother.
Sweat dampened my brow by the time I finished siphoning energy into the Guardians. Varik drew me into his arms. I leaned into his weight, thankful he’d been there to prevent me stumbling. I didn’t want the warriors watching me to see the energy I fed them had exhausted me.
Zarx rose. “Tell me. How did you know about the energy transfer?”
“I had a compulsion the first time I did it with my Shadows, as if a part of me thought it would help the spirits within them.”
“It does,” the man said. “It is an ancient custom, one which has not been done in many, many generations. Your mother’s great-great-grandfather was the last to offer the energy to those who protected the Well. One of the ancient Tezan historians within me recalls the ceremony. He is proud to see you share the power of the Well.”
“She is a healer as well,” Slone said. “Our squad had quite a few spirits we’d yet to calm with a healer’s touch. She did so.”
“I see why you are confident she is the Omega. I am glad we did this before verification. Our forces are aligned, unified behind the rightful Summoner. Now, whomever is within this cargo bay should be recognized by the Well as its protectors,” Zarx said.
“We have entered the far edges of the Crunan Empire. Tezan is within orbiting distance,” Dacian said. “Snow will rest, then we will begin.”
“Fan the fleets out in the formations we discussed,” Slone said. “Queen Vilma’s response will be swift. Under no circumstances is she to get near this vessel or Snow.”
“Understood,” Zarx said.
She was coming to finish what my Shadows had failed to do. Destroy me. She had no idea they’d done far more than ignore her order. She would soon learn what they proved to me. I was not a slave to my father’s empire, nor a servant to hers. They had annihilated my species, killed my family, enslaved my mother, and sentenced me to fates far worse than the death she demanded. Zarx was right.
Today, they would fall.
I did not know how, but the certainty pulsated within my veins and within my Shadows.
Today, all those
who died at the hands of Queen Vilma’s tyrannical reign would be avenged.
16
Snow
We waited longer than I expected. Everyone needed the break as much as me. The oath I’d sworn, the bond I’d formed between the entire Roteran army had its toll. First off, my telepathic powers had increased to the point I projected my thoughts if I inflected too much emotion into them. Which meant anyone with telepathic abilities could hear whatever the thought was. My Shadows found it rather amusing, as did the rest of the Roteran warriors. I did not.
Varik assured me I would gain better control over my telepathy and the other powers I was rapidly gaining from the Well. I spent time alone with each of my Shadows, affirmed my love and bond with each. When evening came, I wrapped my arms around Ashan. Though I craved longer bouts of time alone with each, I sensed he needed me far more than the others.
By the time we woke the next morning, much of the darkness clouding the fringes of his aura was gone. We hadn’t gotten much sleep. We’d made love enough times for my body to ache slightly in the morning.
That had been hours ago. We had just landed on Tezan moments ago. I was in the middle of the group deboarding. I looked over at my shoulder for Ashan and wondered if he was feeling the effects of our night together like I was. He and Ren were behind the large entourage exiting the jumper vessel.
From everyone’s accounts, it’d once been a thriving planet, the focal point of a mighty empire’s reign as Summoners of the Well. It was hard to believe as I looked out on a barren wasteland of pale yellow sand. Thick puffs of foamy red burst from the ground in random patterns. I remained between my Shadows and breathed in deeply through the breathing filter they’d put on me. More than twenty-three solar cycles had passed, and there was no life to be found. Sadness enveloped me, as I suspected it would.
My mother had told me so many stories of her adventures as a child here. The palace she’d whispered about as though it was the Oracle’s most favored treasure sat atop a mountain, a crumbling husk of what’d it once was. Dread clawed my insides. How could anything worth the risk still remain here? Surely my Shadows, the Roteran historians, and all those spirits who’d verified the decision were mistaken.
