by J. L. Madore
Stepping from behind a large mountain ash was my mentor and friend, Chiron. From his barrel, tree trunk of a waist down, he was a stunning black and white gypsy horse with long, thick feathering on his lower legs. Above the waist he was a burly, powerful man, cut from the same granite mold as my father, muscled, grisly and clad in the armour and leathers of a celebrated warrior of his race. His ebony mane hung long and loose, swirling, ice encrusted, in the breeze. It made him look wild and very much the dangerous bastard he was.
"You're a long way from home, kid." His veiled concern warmed me to the bone.
"What? Didn't you miss me?"
"Oh, I missed you." Chiron opened his arms and scooped me up. The heat coming off him was amazing. I didn't even mind that he was crushing me or that he reeked of man-sweat and horse. "What I didn't miss is you running off and putting my nuts in a sling with Reign."
"Me?" I batted my eyes. "Please. You handle my father just fine."
Chiron barked a laugh and set me back on my feet. "No one handles Maximus Reign, my dear, and you know that as well as anyone."
The mention of Reign swamped me with guilt. I'd pulled the GPS chip from my phone and left it in Toronto. But really, why would I want to go straight back and wait for news at the castle when we could maybe find some answers here? I was a Talon enforcer. Why shouldn't I be part of this search? I stepped back from Chiron's hug and caught a faint scent of wood smoke. "Are you going to invite us in?"
"And who would the he in the us be?" Chiron said, his eyes shifting to Galan.
After the introductions had been made, Chiron led the way through the maze of trees.
"So how did you find us out here in the woods?" I asked.
Chiron smiled. "When the outer perimeter guards called in a human woman with your description I wondered. When they said you called on bard energy and they had trouble blocking your scan, I knew." He draped his arm heavy over my shoulders and squeezed. "It's good to have you here, kid, but you should've given me some warning. The City Guard doesn't take kindly to company arriving unannounced. Best if you two keep quiet until we get where we're going."
Walking on in silence the haze of the moon eventually gave way to the flickering light of lampposts fixed in regular intervals along the massive Wall of Deleran. The ebony steel surface stretched out on either side of an outer gate until it blended with the shadows of the forest beyond and reached upward until it disappeared into the black of night.
It truly lived up to its reputation of the wall which had no end.
Without uttering a word, Chiron escorted us past four heavily armed Centaur, City Guard and stood, shoulders back and hand on the battle-ax hanging from his belt, in front of the steel gate. One guard on each side of us grabbed a wide wooden handle attached to a wheel on the wall and began heaving it in slow circles. As their momentum built, an intricate mesh of cogs and wheels began to turn above the gate, lacing the teeth with a low scraping of metal on metal.
When the gate swung open Chiron placed a firm hand between my shoulder blades and ushered us inside. "Welcome to Delaran, kid."
Walking close to Chiron we made our way through the dark streets of the city. Steam hissed from grates in the sidewalks, in front of houses and along the wide cobbled streets. It rose like a curtain of ghostly mist evaporating into the frigid air of night. We continued past stone houses with wide steel doors reminiscent of the main gate, shops closed and battened down till morning, then industrial buildings with smokestacks still exhaling clouds from the day's efforts.
At the crossroads of what appeared to be the main intersection, a Clydesdale male was shoveling coal from two large, communal bins into a wide metal cart. When his load mounded well above the sides of the barrow he speared his spade into his haul and wheeled away. We continued to the next corner joining the flood of Centaur traffic going in and out of the tavern.
The air inside the tavern was thick with humidity and smelled of beast, beer and barn. It rang with deep male voices, the rattle of bones and dice and the music Chiron had tried for years to make me appreciate. It still sounded like war drums and Celtic flutes to me. I winced as my body warmed too fast and my skin began to sting.
Chiron kept his arm around me and ushered us past the raised brows of the Centaur clientele. From years with him, I knew that physical affection shown by a Centaur to anyone not of their race was rare and respected. By the simple gesture of his touch, Chiron had made it clear to his people that I was his.
Galan pulled two tall stools from against the wall and we climbed up to sit at a private high-boy in the back. Standing with his elbows resting on the surface, Chiron waved to the bartender then turned back to us. "So, what brings you to my mountain?"
I flexed my frozen fingers for a second and when they were moving again I unzipped my jacket and reached into my bra. Chiron raised a brow as I retrieved the folded parchment covered in elegant black script. "It's been a while since we played a game of 'What does this prophetic poem say?' Care to give this one a try?"
The corner of Chiron's mouth twitched as a conspiratorial light gleamed in his eyes. "Let's see what you brought me." The moment his gaze settled on the parchment he froze. "Where did you get this, kid?"
I leaned in. "The Oracles of Toronto called Galan in to deliver their message. Unfortunately, we have no idea what it says."
Chiron closed the paper as three huge steins were delivered to our table. "Bless you, Sluran." He nodded to the bartender and took a long, slow swallow. With our heads lifted it was obvious we were on the cold side of the welcome mat. Chiron lifted his stein and cast a scathing smile around the room. "To those who judge and gossip, this warning should appeal; the steam that blows the whistle will never turn the wheel."
That seemed to do it. One by one Centaurs stomped their hooves into the packed dirt floor and heads turned until we were alone again. Chiron took a second look at the parchment while Galan and I drank our cider perplexed. "When prophesy comes to an oracle, the language is determined by the energy of the message itself. As a rule, the language of a missive can be read or translated because most members of the realm live hundreds if not thousands of years."
"And they can recognize or read most of the current languages of that time."
"Right, but this . . . this is an ancient script coming from arcane powers." He scowled and tapped the folded paper with his fingertips, looking around. "What are you into, kid?"
I shrugged. "We don't know. That's why we're here."
Over the next half-hour, the three of us drank while catching Chiron up on the events since the night of the solstice: the spellbook, the Scourge taking Lia and everything the Queens had said about the rebellion and the silver Highborne. Throughout the conversation, Chiron studied the parchment and made notes in a small notebook he'd retrieved from the leather pouch he wore across his chest.
"Okay. This is going to take some time, girlie, days or possibly weeks." He folded the parchment and tucked it into his sporran with his notebook. After fishing around in his pouch for a minute he came away with another folded paper pinched between his fingers and leaned in. "Still hunting ghosts? A Dark Elf Scourge slipped this to a friend this week and asked for me to get it to you. Said it was a matter of honor."
The serious edge in his tone should probably have given me pause, but my focus was on that paper. Bloodvine.
After accepting the info, I stared Chiron straight in the eye. "I won't stop until I've fulfilled my Right of Vengeance. Every last one will die." The burn in my chest flared and raged. How could something as innocuous as a tiny yellow paper drive me to bloodshed so completely?
"What is it, Jade?" Galan asked. His eyes were sharp and his brow deeply furrowed.
"A lead on one of the remaining men who killed my parents."
Chiron closed his hand over mine and squeezed until I could feel my bones rubbing. "You go back to that castle and stay out of trouble, Jade. A twenty-year-old vendetta isn't worth getting yourself killed. It won't bring the
m back."
I squared my shoulders and shifted my gaze to the silver band locked around his wrist. "And how many of Essandra's killers still walk this realm?"
Chiron's nostrils flared. After a long moment, he released my hand and nodded. Draining the last inch of his cup he slammed it down on the table and stepped back. "I'll be in touch."
"Apologies." Galan stood and pointed discretely to Chiron's sporran. "That missive was meant for me. It may well be the only means to find and reclaim my sister."
"It's fine, Galan." I hopped down from my stool and squeezed his arm. "Chiron will take good care of it."
Galan shook his head. "Verily, I mean no offense—"
"You kids having fun?" I stiffened and closed my eyes, praying whoever was standing behind me just sounded like Reign . . . exactly like Reign. Cracking one eye open, I peeked over my shoulder and gritted my teeth. I knew better than to offer a 'hey' or 'I was just about to call'. Instead I waited. Thankfully, Galan took my lead and did the same.
Reign's obsidian glare had my blood pumping. He was fully armored, as was protocol, and covered in protective leathers from head to toe. He was intimidating at the best of times, but amped like this, he was flat out scary. "Thanks for the call, Chiron. I owe you," he growled.
"No," Chiron said. "I think the debts are still heavily weighted in your favor."
Reign inclined his head to my tutor and then turned on me.
"I'm sorry—"
His hand clamped around my arm at the same time he grabbed Galan by the scruff of his neck. We Flashed. Without letting go Reign rounded on me the instant we were standing in his mint green office. Face-to-face, his ire froze me in place. "You went to Delaran? Unarmed. Without backup? What the fuck were you thinking?"
A blast of cold air lifted my hair and sucked the breath from my lungs. "Both of you, go to your goddamn suites and plant your asses. I'll speak with you when I'm calm." He rubbed his eyes, his mottled jaw clenching like a vice. Both were signs he was about to crack. "Go. Now."
He released my arm and a rush of warm and tingly flooded to my fingers. We scooted out the door without a word. The broad span of his chest eclipsed the doorway then disappeared as the deafening bang of the door slammed home. It shook the stone walls of the castle. Dozens of students jumped and scurried down the halls.
"That went well."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
From the landing of the stairs Galan and I could hear the muted roar coming from the fifth-floor lounge. Reclined in leather club chairs, Cowboy, Rue and a couple other enforcers were slaughtering each other at Black Ops while tossing back Scotch, insults and in Savage's case . . . glares. Julian and Lexi were playing poker with Tham, Aust and Nyssa while a harried looking Iadon paced the room with Ella, squawking like someone was torturing her.
"At last," Tham said as we joined the fun. He hauled himself out of his chair like an old man stiffened from sitting too long. "Reign said the two of you were attacked and Galan was poisoned. Are you well, brother mine?"
"Never better." Galan helped Tham to his feet. "And what ails you?"
Tham rolled his right shoulder and winced. "While you have been gallivanting in the Modern Realm, Aust and I have been enduring grueling torture. Those men might pose as peacekeepers, however, in actuality they are beasts." He pointed to the enforcers who hadn't raised their heads from their video slaughter. "Every inch of my formerly glorious body cries in agony, besmirched by bruises and unseen strains."
I tried not to laugh, but failed. "Training's tough, but you'll tighten up in no time."
Tham threw me an adorable scowl and sidled up against me. "Mayhap you might heal my aches, neelan?"
Galan patted his shoulder with a heavy hand and laughed as Tham buckled and pulled away. "I am certain you shall survive, Tham, even without Jade's gentle hands."
As he winked, I blushed, my mind flooded with images of our morning escapades. Yep, other than Reign wanting to strangle me, life was pretty good at the moment. It really was.
Had anyone noticed the tone in Galan's teasing? Nyssa definitely did. A private look passed between the two of them. It was subtle, the corners of her mouth turned up. She threw her glance to Iadon who nodded infinitesimally to Tham who smiled and leaned to whisper to Lexi. Aust smiled and splashed his chips into the pot. Thankfully the gossip train passed-right-on-by the others in the room.
Highbornes.
Galan stepped over to Iadon holding his hands out. "Neelan, such a raucous is unbecoming," he cooed, raising Ella to his kiss. The baby stared at him, her face red and pouty, her fists balled tight. "Come now, little one. What ails you?" Galan nuzzled her neck and covered her with a dozen kisses as his hair brushed against her cheeks.
The screeching stopped. Ella's blue eyes blinked wide and her little pout curled into an open-mouthed smile. Galan smiled back, tucking her into the crook of his arm. "Much better, my love. Much better."
"Nicely done," Iadon sighed, sinking onto the arm of a sofa.
"Fuckin' A," Cowboy shouted over his shoulder and flicked the brim of his hat with his finger. "Where the hell were you an hour ago when she got really rollin'? That's the last mission you go on, my friend. You're needed here."
"We heard you moved in," I said to Nyssa, scratching my head at the whole exchange.
Nyssa nodded and tossed in her cards. "Your oracles have foreseen Ella is in danger, though not from where the threat stems."
"What did Reign say?"
Iadon crossed his arms over his chest looking seriously pissed. "In truth, your father has said very little, however, we would never take a chance with Ella's safety."
"Certainly not." Galan rubbed his lips over Ella's forehead, her heavy lids fighting to stay open. "Has there been any word on Lia?"
"Actually. . ." Cowboy rose from the couch and handed his controller to Sin before sauntering over. It was easy to see the wolf in him as he moved. As a Were, his gait in human form depicted his animal-self. Cowboy was smooth and dangerous, predatory.
"From what we hear, an Elven woman is being guarded in the caverns of one of the northern compounds. We're working on getting a man inside. If it's your sister, we're on our way to recovering her." He patted the pocket of his plaid button-down and pulled out a pack of hand rolled cigarettes. "I know it rots, but this is progress."
"How will you get one of your own in to her?" Galan asked.
Sin paused the game and scowled. "Leave that to us, Highborne."
Galan tickled Ella's belly absently as he moved to the window and stared out onto the grounds. She couldn't fight his touch, her eyes rolled shut as she drifted off.
"What else have we missed?" I asked.
"A few things," Cowboy said, his eyes lighting up. "The old horse arena is the new Highborne training centre. The team leaders you set up in the village are coming to train with the morning session."
"Maybe by next year they might even be able to defend their own village and we can get off babysitting duty," Sin sneered.
Cowboy shook his head. "Reign's keeping at least four enforcers on site at all times in case anyone comes after Galan or his family. He's right pissed about something and. . . ." Cowboy stopped mid thought and scrubbed his hand over the stubble of his darkened jaw.
"And what?"
"Maybe I shouldn't bring it up." He propped a cigarette between his lips and fingered into his pocket for a lighter.
"Spill it, Wolf. Bring what up?"
Cowboy flipped open the silver lighter and rolled the flint wheel. It hissed and fired to life. After a deep inhale the end of his hand-rolled glowed orange and he snapped the thing shut. "Well, Reign and Samuel have lost their god-lovin' minds, is all. They won't say what's up, but something bad is brewing between the pair of 'em."
"They've been fighting? Again?"
"Fighting? That doesn't quite cover it." Cowboy's gaze shifted to the baby as he exhaled a cloud of sweet smelling smoke and turned for the balcony. "It's messed, whatever it is."
&
nbsp; Reign commanded a great deal of respect and a healthy dose of fear, but the aggressive side of my father—the ruthless, tough-as-steel warrior—was something, present situation excluded, I rarely faced. The chosen few who basked in the privilege of his more tender side, if you could call it that, were Lexi, Bruin, Julian, me and a few others. It was an extremely elite circle, those within it were in it for life . . . or so I assumed.
Four months ago, Samuel and Reign had been tight. Now, they were fighting at every turn. Is it about me? Whether or not I was dating Samuel, he was a great guy, an inspired lecturer and a powerful wizard. It sucked that he was at odds with my father.
Deep in thought, I sensed his concern before I felt the warmth of his hand on my shoulder. "Blossom?" Galan whispered close to my ear. "Are you well?"
"Sorry." I forced a smile. "Are you ready for dinner?"
"The repast can wait." Galan eased Ella into her bassinet and moved us into the privacy of the reading alcove on the far end of the lounge. "What is it?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
He raised a brow and frowned. Sliding his hand around my waist, he pulled me close. At some point in the past few days my body had found its home—it was folded in Galan's arms. "You are far from fine, Blossom. Now, trust me."
"It will make you angry."
"Regardless, I wish to know."
It was the warm silk of his voice that undid me. His brows grew tight when I paused to think, but I wanted to get this right. "Something is happening between Reign and Samuel and neither of them will say what it's about. They're seriously upset with one another. I have a bad feeling—a gut instinct—it has something to do with me. Somehow I'm the cause." I couldn't bear to look at him so I studied the lines of his abs where they peeked out of his tunic.
Galan brushed his lips back and forth across my forehead and sighed. "You are a compassionate female. I am certain you will figure it out." With his fingers laced in my hair he tilted my face up to look at him. "Meanwhile, I could try to make you feel better. Are you up for a little distraction?" He smirked and kissed my temple. "Unless you would prefer to keep our relationship to ourselves for a time?"
