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

by Cara Carnes

  Crunan soldiers uncloaked, creating a wall of at least thirty between me, and my quarry—the Well. There was no way we could fight our way through the wall of sacrificial flesh she’d commanded. She dipped her hand into the Well.

  I tasted its rage and anger on my tongue, as if it sensed the true Summoner within its midst.

  “Destroy her and them. I command you!”

  “By right of ancient Oracle law, I, Snow, challenge Queen Vilma for the right of true Summoner.”

  The woman laughed. My father sneered. He rubbed his fat belly and belched loudly. “You have no right under ancient Oracle law, slave. You are Skeron property, the bastard daughter of a Tezan whore slave. You have only the rights you earn on your back.”

  “By ancient law, you have asserted my right to challenge. Anyone with Tezan blood has the right to test it within the Well.”

  “You have and failed,” Queen Vilma spat.

  “No. I was not bled before your so-called test, and I commanded it to ignore me.” My voice rose as I took a step to the side, then another.

  Slade’s brows quirked as he tracked my movements. I eyed the small stream of thick liquid flowing within the cavern, toward the Summoner’s Well. The stream was the true source of power. Or so I hoped. I retracted a Roteran blade and held up my hand. I carved a deep groove into my palm. I heard Varik growl.

  “Do you, the Summoner, refuse to abide by the ancient laws of the Oracle?” I asked. “Surely you, Queen Vilma of the mighty Crunan Empire, are not afraid of a mere Tezan slave? The daughter of a supposed whore.”

  I bit back my rage at calling my beautiful mother that vile word. I imagined a thousand excruciating deaths for both the evil monsters on the supposed throne. They would soon feel the lash of true power. I sensed the Well’s rage.

  “I bore of this nonsense.” The Queen snapped her fingers. “Guards, kill her and them. Now.”

  The wall moved. I raced the few feet between me and my quarry. I fell to my knees.

  “Guard her!” Slade ordered.

  Avaru and Roteran warriors surrounded him and me. I took a deep breath and hoped my plan worked. Otherwise, I’d killed us all.

  The thick liquid coiled around my hand like a serpent. Its hiss enveloped me in a bone deep pain, one so intense I cast my shockwave of pain across to the telepathic realm. She wouldn’t get amusement from my suffering, nor would my so-called father. Roteran and Avaru warriors fought behind me, kept the Crunan and Skeron guards away from me. Why wasn’t it working?

  The liquid crawled toward the divination bowl, the Well. Tears burned my gaze when I turned, saw the chaos and destruction behind me. Tired. I was tired of the pain and death Queen Vilma left in her wake. I needed to get up and fight, kill as many as I could. A fresh wave of them would arrive any moment, have me and my Shadows and the other warriors loyal to the Well pinned in. It would not matter that Slone and a large contingent of warriors were behind them.

  The Well had failed. I had failed.

  There was no snap of power, no instantaneous Omega status. Everyone had been wrong.

  I was no Omega.

  Snow. Never doubt who you are. You are our mate. We love you. Love conquers all. You are the Omega, but it does not matter to us. We love you no matter what. Ashan’s healing love filled me. My other Shadows joined him.

  My Shadows. I love you all so much.

  A declaration. Give the Well a declaration of possession. A vow. Unify with the Well. Dacian’s statement thundered through me. Of course.

  “I am Snow, a female slave born to the Skeron king. My mother was a war prize, a Tezan queen enslaved for the Skeron king’s pleasure. I am the rightful heir to the Summoner’s Well. As long as Tezan blood is within my veins, I remain loyal to the one true power of the Well and all of the known galaxies. The Oracle. I, and those with me, vow to protect the Oracle, the Well, and its followers. I am the Tezan Queen without an empire. I ask you, Oracle, to declare my empire be the Well and everyone within its grasp. Together, we will heal and begin anew, a life devoted to love and joy, as you wished in the ancient texts. I will give your visions a voice, no matter what they may be. The Roteran and Avaru empires are united by blood to be your body and bone. My blood will be yours, as will my mind. Heed my declaration and forsake Queen Vilma and all those loyal to her and the Skeron King. Heed this blood vow, Oracle, for I am your Omega Summoner. I am your true voice and conduit.”

  Beads of white, purple, gold, and deep blue rose from the thick liquid stream. The power streamed into my skin and within those around me. My Shadows and the Roteran and Avaru warriors. They stood motionless as more and more droplets rose from the stream and enveloped me in light. The light filled me within the physical realm and blinded me within the telepathic one. The beads burst within me, spiraled and rolled within my blood. I bit back my pained screams as the burning liquid seeped into my bone, became my marrow.

  “I am the Oracle. I am an Ancient entrusted with the protection and governing of the galaxies. For thousands of millennia, I have guided those within my grasp. You are no longer Snow, a slave. You were never born to the Skeron king. Your Tezan mother, the queen and true Summoner, the Omega, gave her heart and soul to a true union, one which gave my power blood, bone, marrow, and mind. You are not the Omega Summoner, Snow. You are my daughter, born to guide the galaxies with the light and spirit within you, that of your mother and me. My voice. My eyes. My ears and my heart.”

  The colorful beads hanging within the cavern came together, formed the face of a man. Tears burned my vision. My heart and soul recognized him as my blood, bone, marrow, and mind. Father.

  The Skeron king cowered as he stumbled to the ground. “I did what you ordered. We have an agreement.”

  “No, Skeron. We had an arrangement. I allowed you to live as long as you kept my daughter protected. You violated your vow to me by marrying the Crunan Queen.”

  “I-I…this is madness. Why did you not destroy her? I could not protect her any longer. You never could.”

  “This plane is not mine to exist within. I exist within this plane to offer guidance, nothing more. The Well was an energy source to help the galaxies, but I made a grievous error early on. I committed the source to two species through a blood vow—the Tezans and the Crunans. One proved invaluable, but the other craved the power of the Well, violated my trust by using it to dominate the known galaxies.” The face turned, faced me. “I did not see their true nature until it was too late. I mourn the loss of your people, Snow. I saved those I could. They are hidden within another time and place. Only the Gypsies have access to them. There is one bloodline within the Gypsies I entrusted with them. Find them, return them to where they belong—with you. Rebuild the Tezan empire I failed, child.”

  Child. I had a father.

  He’d saved those he could.

  Confusion and shock kept me silent. I looked down at my hands, felt the throbbing power within my veins. “But the Well. I don’t understand. You could have revealed yourself earlier, saved so many.”

  “My powers within this realm are limited. The Well is pure energy from my realm, meant to strengthen my connection to that plane and energize yours. The Crunans destroyed my connection with it long ago. I lost power over The Well when the Tezan Empire fell. You were my answer to everyone’s prayers for a rescue. You may be my blood, bone, and marrow, but your spirit is entirely your mother’s. She would be proud of who you became.”

  “You could have come to me sooner. I felt the pull of the Well long ago.”

  “Yes. You were never alone aboard The Paradox with your guards and Yora. I was there, guiding them in your education and training.”

  “You should have come to me.” Tears trekked down my cheeks.

  “You were not prepared for the burden within your veins, the hum of power and the pull of everyone’s desperation. You are ready now. You are mated. The union is a true one, blessed within all realms.”

  My Shadows stood around me. He fell into a silence
as he regarded my mates.

  “Protect her well, love her fiercely. Remain at her side in solidarity, but do not ever crush her spirit. She is too strong-willed to be a meek female requiring protection or coddling.”

  My Shadows laughed. None offered words in response. I had none either.

  “I love you, child, as did your mother. Never doubt that. Your journey from here will be long and difficult but trust the men you have mated to accompany you.”

  “I love you.” And I did. The pull of the Well had been my natural recognition of the piece of me locked away tight. He was right. I hadn’t been prepared for the power within me. I was now, though, thanks to my Shadows, what I’d learned about myself because of them.

  I was no slave. I never was.

  “Close your eyes, child. I will right what wrongs I can since you have restored my use of the Well. We will meet again one day many, many cycles from now. You are the new Oracle. Use your power wisely.”

  I shook my head. The statements were too final. Whatever he planned would sever his connection to the realm. To me. I wasn’t ready. I’d had a few moments with him. I wanted more time. I had so many questions.

  Strong arms pulled me into a firm embrace. I turned, pressed my head into Marden’s chest and sobbed. Blinding light filled the cavern. Screams echoed. My mind reached out, followed my father’s trembling force as he thundered his might throughout the known galaxies. The Crunan and Skeron scourge was wiped from existence within moments.

  A part of me mourned their loss. It was not their fault. Many of them were as innocent as me, but I understood the decision. Vengeance had guided me before. The galaxies would never be safe as long as anyone loyal to the Crunan queen lived. Anyone unfaithful to the Oracle’s true will had to die.

  Life.

  Life was my father’s parting gift to the galaxies. To me.

  Entire planets ravaged by the Crunans and Skerons were healed. Beauty replaced the carnage, the bloody war so many sacrificed for.

  Tezan was beautiful. Eyes closed, I memorized each image my father showed me. It was exactly as my mother once described. By the time he was through, the beads of light forming his face had vanished, all except for two lone green beads. They entered me through my palm.

  Be at peace, child. Love and be loved. The galaxies will need much from you and your mates. Trust your instincts for I will always be with you, as will your mother.

  I love you, Father.

  Then he was gone.

  I collapsed into my Shadows. They took turns holding me, as if each needed a moment to do so, affirm the fact it was finally over. The galaxies were safe because my father, the real father I knew for mere moments had finally been freed long enough to right what injustices he could.

  But the work had only begun. Exhaustion plagued me from the enormity of what awaited us. For now, I’d mourn for those lost, including my father.

  Varik carried me to the jumper craft. Arms around his shoulders, I fell asleep as my mind processed the conversations drifting around me. I fanned my mind outward as exhaustion lulled me into a healing sleep. The Roteran and Avaru warriors had suffered injuries. Some lost their lives. I would make sure they did not die in vain.

  Tomorrow.

  Varik

  * * *

  “Sleep is all she needs right now,” Varik commented unnecessarily. Her head rested against his shoulder. Her entire body was limp within his embrace. Marden removed her boots while Slade divested her of what weapons he could reach without rousing her.

  “We cannot leave until we assess what happened within the galaxies,” Dacian said.

  “Surely he did not destroy all Crunans and Skerons,” Xan said.

  “Only the children remain. Snow showed us what she saw,” Ashan said. “We’ll need to find the children.”

  “They are within shelters. He gave Dacian and me the locations,” Ren replied.

  “And the Tezans he mentioned?” Marden asked. “Someone must retrieve them. Snow will want her mother’s people here where they belong.”

  But was this where they belonged? Roteran Shadows wandered. They did not settle on a planet. On solid ground. Varik’s heart swelled at the thought of a home with a mate. Children. Snow would be a wonderful mother. This was where she should remain, where it all began long ago.

  “Where she goes, we go,” Zelig said. “I will speak with Admiral Zarx, make it so.”

  Varik nodded. Anything else was never an option. Their union with Snow was the priority.

  “All the galaxies will require our assistance. All Roteran and Avaru warriors will be busy helping everyone. Leaving you all here on the fringes of the fallen Crunan and Skeron empires makes sense,” Slone said. “We will fan our warriors out. Rioting and chaos will ensue until order is restored.”

  “She needs to address everyone,” Ashan said. “She can calm them all. The Oracle projected what occurred here through the Wells. Enough heard to recognize her.”

  “Is she ready? She needs time to mourn, heal.” Slade looked around. “We all do.”

  “The galaxies need guidance more than we need time. We are committed to this cause, to her. She will not rest and heal until everyone is safe. It is not in her nature to do otherwise.” Varik pulled her hair from her eyes. “He shared much with her. It will come to her in random spurts. We must ensure she has someone near her at all times.”

  “He filled me with knowledge, my mind is still processing it all,” Dacian admitted.

  “We will have to compare. Likely we each got a small piece of what he had to share,” Zelig said. “It was too much a burden for one.”

  “She is our mate, but she is everyone’s leader. We share her with the galaxies,” Ren said. “It is a burden we must never let her know we carry.”

  “In time, we will learn to accept it,” Marden argued. “It is no different than sharing our bodies with many spirits.”

  It was though. They had spent their entire lives training together, becoming one in battle. He trusted them with everything, including Snow. Strangers though? A rumble rose from his throat. He was a bit surprised Marden was amenable to the idea.

  “I would rather share her with the galaxies than not have her at all,” Marden said. “Our opinion does not matter. This is her decision. I will support whatever choice she makes because she is my mate, as she would support us.”

  “When did you become the wise one?” Ashan remarked.

  “When my mate risked her life to keep us alive in the cavern.”

  “Or when she got trapped in the Oracle’s realm,” Slade added.

  “She takes too many risks,” Zelig commented. “But Marden is right. She is ours. That is all I care about.”

  “I never imagined having children,” Ashan whispered into the silence.

  Varik could not imagine better fathers than the men around him. Snow would make a wonderful mother. “When she is ready, it is her decision.”

  Everyone nodded. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. No one moved to leave her side, but he noted everyone’s exhaustion. As medical officer, their health was just as much a concern to him as Snow’s.

  “Ren, take her with you. We can all sense the restlessness in you,” he said. The three warriors he’d salvaged were agitated, needed time with Snow.

  The warrior looked around at everyone. His jaw twitched. “They will wait, I will make them. They cannot make demands of me or her.”

  “They will acclimate. She’ll need them nearby when she wakes,” Ashan said.

  18

  Snow

  Lazar, Evon, and Vellis were chasing me in a field of my mother’s favorite flowers. Tezan fire wheels. Tiny bursts of red exploded from the flowers as I flew past them. Laughter tumbled from me even though my insides churned with vile thoughts, fears and concerns I couldn’t process. Something kept me from them. No, someone. Reminders whispered in my mind, a stream of memories.

  The Oracle destroyed the Crunan and Skeron empires.

  The Intergalac
tic War was over.

  And I…

  I was his daughter. I collapsed in the middle of the field. Lazar crouched beside me. He scooped me up into his arms, as he always did when I’d failed miserably in training. This was so much worse than those times.

  “Did you know?” I whispered. The words barely escaped from my throat. I wanted to believe he did not, but he’d been the chief guard of my father’s slaves. My mother. His aura skirted away from me when I reached for him. Anger pitched my voice higher in my mind when I repeated my question. “Did you know?”

  “I suspected,” he admitted. “We all did.”

  Yet they had never thought to tell me, not that it mattered. The king, the man I’d thought was my father, knew all along. He’d agreed to keep me alive to save his people. The Oracle, my father, had allowed me to be relegated to a ship, cast out like trash. He had abandoned me.

  I wasn’t sure why it hurt. I didn’t want to wake, return to the reality where I had to deal with the fallout from what I’d learned.

  But my Shadows waited.

  I sensed them nearby, concerned. I’d intentionally drifted into a dimensional pocket they couldn’t navigate to. I needed to be alone, think about all that awaited me. And them. My thoughts jumped from one random emotion to another. I was angry at The Oracle. I was hurt that no one had thought I could handle knowing the truth. They had been aboard the ship with me for so long. Not once had it come up. There was no excuse.

  “What would you have done had you known?” Vellis asked.

  “No. You do not get to turn this into a philosophy lesson,” I answered. “We will never know because you did not trust me enough to share the truth with me.”

  “You know that is not true,” Ellis whispered. “We spent every moment of our lives terrified the king would destroy you, that The Oracle would decide he did not care one way or the other. That you would get hurt by the Well. The list was endless.”

  And they said nothing to me. “You should have told me. It would have been easier on you.”