by Grant, Donna
Mina smiled. “But a good one, I think. Well, if Jayna is correct, we’ll have to trust our parents and ourselves. It also means that until the battle, we’ll have to deceive the men into believing we’re making headway.
Elle snorted. “There’s no way I can lie to Roderick. He always knows when I try to lie to him.”
“Same with Cole,” Shannon agreed.
Mina sighed. “All right. Then, does anyone have any other suggestions?”
“I might,” Nicole said in her thick Scottish accent. “We keep the men occupied in bed as much as possible.”
For half a heartbeat the solar grew quiet before they all burst out laughing.
Jayna hadn’t laughed so hard in ages and it felt wonderful.
She let her gaze roam over the four unique and vibrant women.
They were risking their lives in order to save their realm. Her respect for them continued to grow with each moment she was with them. Their men might be powerful warriors of the Fae, but each woman was strong enough to stand beside her mate.
Jayna suddenly found herself wanting to be with Gabriel. She was so very tired of being alone, and he was a connection to her family, to her realm.
For so long she had been intent on one thing – Gabriel. Yet now that she was with him, learning him over again she found that she remembered more and more memories of her family.
The worst part of all is that she didn’t know if she could kill Gabriel now, not after seeing the man he had become and what he fought for. And the others, they had welcomed her, clothed her, and fed her.
But it didn’t matter what she wanted to do anymore. She had made a promise to the evil, a vow to find and kill Gabriel. She knew better than to try and go back on her word with the evil. He would never let her rest if she didn’t carry out with the vow she made.
Jayna closed her eyes as tears threatened. How she wished she had listened to her mother and let the anger go instead of it festering and growing inside of her. Now, she was no better than when Gabriel betrayed her.
She had turned into the very thing she hunted.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gabriel watched his breath billow around his face, the cold numbing his lips and his fingers. The storm had finally passed sometime during the night, the snow blanketing the ground thick and heavy. Most of the clouds had departed with the storm allowing the rays of the morning sun to penetrate the grayness of the morning.
They had taken a great chance that morn as all five of the Shields left Stone Crest to seek out the Fae army that was supposed to guard them.
The air was thick with moisture and the animals quiet. It was as if the very air knew that a great battle would soon take place, a battle that could either save or destroy realms.
“I hate when it’s this eerie,” Val whispered from beside him.
Gabriel nodded. Hugh rode in the lead as Cole and Roderick rode behind him and Val. They all knew that if the Fae didn’t want to show themselves they didn’t have to, but they were hoping for the best.
His eyes itched from lack of sleep, and he wanted nothing more than to find Jayna and take her back to her chamber to make slow, sweet love to her then fall asleep in her arms. He had been tempted to go to her last eve when he hadn’t been able to return to his chamber, but he decided against it.
The more he was around Jayna, the more he wanted to tell her how sorry he was and that he understood why she had hunted him.
Each of the Shields gripped their weapons as they rode into the forest. It was the perfect opportunity for the Harpy to attack, and they fully expected her to.
They said not a word as they slowly made their way though the forest, the horses having a difficult time in the deep snow. When they reached the edge of Hugh’s land where the Fae were supposed to stand guard, Hugh dismounted and motioned for the others to do the same.
Gabriel exchanged a look with Val as they tied their horses to a tree. He reached for an arrow and notched it in his bow. He had a bad feeling about venturing so far from the castle, but they’d had no choice. The Fae wouldn’t leave their posts unless Aimery ordered them too.
“Fae army show yourselves!” Hugh shouted into the stillness of the morning.
When nothing happened, Hugh turned to his men and with a slight nod. He reached for his deadly crossbow on his mount and notched one of his unique arrows. Then, he rested the crossbow over his shoulder and motioned with his hand for the men to spread out.
Gabriel and Val moved back toward the forest. Cole and Roderick moved in the opposite direction while Hugh ventured forward. They hadn’t moved two paces before something hit Val in the back knocking him to the ground.
Gabriel glanced at Val before falling to his knee and taking aim with his bow.
There was nothing to see, no creature, man or Fae moved. “Val?”
“Aye,” the Roman answered as he jumped to his feet and readied his halberd. “What was it? Why didn’t you shoot your arrow?”
Gabriel blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I saw nothing.”
“Well I sure as hell felt it,” Val said as he moved his shoulders around. Then he stilled as a flock of birds suddenly took flight, their cries echoing around the forest. “Gabriel.”
But Gabriel already knew. They were being hunted. By something they couldn’t see. “We shouldn’t have left the castle,” he murmured as he jumped to his feet. “Hugh. Cole. Roderick, get back to the castle. Now!” he bellowed as he and Val raced to their mounts.
The thick snow hampered their efforts to get to their horses. Gabriel was nearly to his mount when he felt what he was sure was a foot in his abdomen. He bent over, grasping for breath as something else landed hard and heavy on his back, knocking him on his stomach.
“Gabriel,” he heard Val shout, but he wasn’t able to answer much less breathe.
He forced himself to his hands and knees to see his bow lying within reach. He lunged toward it, rolling onto his back as he notched the arrow and waited.
He didn’t have long to wait as something landed on his jaw. Gabriel hissed in pain as he took aim and let his arrow fly. To his utter amazement the arrow stopped midair and just hovered there for a moment before it jerked back a little then fell to the ground.
“Gabriel,” Val said as he came up to him. “What the hell happened?”
With his gaze on his arrow, Gabriel gained his feet and slowly walked to where they arrow lay. On the tip of the double headed arrow was a dark substance and he didn’t need to lean down to smell the evil of it.
“By the gods,” Roderick stated as he, Cole, and Hugh came running up. “Gabriel, are you all right? I saw you flying through the air as if someone was beating you, but I never saw a thing.”
“Because there was nothing to see,” Gabriel said as he went down on his haunches beside his arrow. “Whatever it was got in some good punches, but I managed to nick him.”
They all stared at the arrow in silence for a moment. Hugh was the first to speak. “By the amount of blood on that tip, I’d say you more than nicked him.”
“That’s not blood,” Cole said. “At least not blood like I’ve ever seen.”
Roderick reached down and picked up the arrow. “It’s some kind of blood, and its evil. We don’t really need to know more than that.”
Gabriel sighed as he straightened and reached for the arrow. “It got to me and Val without us ever seeing it. I think the Great Evil is cloaking it.”
“Nay,” said a voice behind them.
They turned as one to find Theron, king of the Fae, standing before them. He stood tall and regal in his robes of white trimmed with blue and silver. His long nearly white hair was pulled away from his face and hung down to the middle of his back. His unusual Fae eyes swirled blue as he looked the small group over, though his face was devoid of expression.
Gabriel and Cole bowed low while the others inclined their heads.
“Thank God,” Hugh said as he briefly closed his eyes. “We’ve been calling for Aim
ery.”
Theron nodded. “I know. Aimery is...busy at the moment with an important matter in our realm.”
Cole stepped forward. “What did you mean when you said the evil wasn’t cloaking the creature?”
“Simple,” Theron said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Whatever attacked you wasn’t cloaked. I would’ve been able to see that. I saw nothing.”
That in itself worried Gabriel tremendously. He felt someone’s gaze on him and turned to find Cole watching him. Since both spent a considerable amount of time in the Realm of the Fae they knew better than the others just what Theron wasn’t saying.
Gabriel looked to Theron. “Is the Fae army still here?”
“Aye,” Theron said after the briefest of moments. “To stay out here is to invite the creatures to attack. Return to the castle. The true battle will be here soon enough.”
There was something in Theron’s tone that told Gabriel all was not as it seemed. He turned toward his mount only to find Cole beside him.
“Something is going on.”
Gabriel nodded. “Aye, but what?” he whispered. He didn’t wish to worry the others until they had proof.
Cole shrugged as they reached their horses. Hugh had already mounted and began to ride through the forest. Val and Roderick were close behind him.
Gabriel took one more look at the arrow in his hand. How he wished he could have seen what he aimed at.
“Listen close,” Theron said as he stopped between Gabriel and Cole’s horses. “Keep to the castle. Do not venture out until you have no other recourse.”
“What is going on?” Cole demanded.
Theron glanced down. “I cannot say as of yet. Aimery will be here as soon as he can. He said each of you would know what to do.”
“Why didn’t you tell the others this?” Gabriel asked.
“Because Hugh feels as though he must lead no matter what. Roderick is afraid of losing Elle almost as much as he fears the Shields will lose. As for Val, he needs to see the proof before he will act. He would ask too many questions. I need to know that you two will heed my orders.”
Gabriel nodded. “We will do what we must to succeed.”
With a nod, Theron vanished.
“Bloody hell,” Cole muttered as he mounted. “I don’t like the ominous feeling I got from Theron’s words.”
Gabriel swung his leg over the horse and settled in the saddle. “Me either, but we don’t have much of a choice.”
“Not if we want to live.”
They nudged their horses into a walk and hurried to follow the others. Several times Gabriel could feel eyes on him, yet no matter how hard he looked, he saw nothing. But something was out there. He’d bet his Fae crafted bow on it.
The castle and gate came into view and Gabriel let out a relieved sigh. They were nearing the gate when it began to slowly open. Then, they heard the unmistakable scream of the Harpy just before the banging of her wings silenced all.
“Into the castle,” Hugh cried as he spurred his horse into a run.
Gabriel reached for two arrows as he turned his horse toward the approaching Harpy. He notched the arrows then sighted down them until he found the Harpy. With measured precision, he let loose the arrows and watched as they sunk into the Harpy.
The creature screamed in pain before she jerked the arrows from her body and tossed them to the ground. Gabriel grabbed his horse’s reins and turned the horse toward the castle. The others had made it through safely.
Gabriel raced through the crack in the gate just before it banged closed behind him. The people of Stone Crest had been warned of an attack so most had kept to their homes unless they had no other choice but to venture out. Those few ran swiftly to their cottages and the safety of the tunnels beneath.
“It’s coming!” Roderick shouted as he handed his horse to a stable boy.
Gabriel glanced over his shoulder to see the Harpy flying over the castle, her talons slicing through two of the guards on the battlements.
Hugh stood ahead of him and readied his crossbow and fired, giving everyone a few more moments to find safety. Gabriel felt a rush of excitement as he always did when battling creatures of darkness. The Shields may not hold special powers like the Fae but they had managed to always win against the evil. This time would be no different.
Gabriel leaned over his horse as he approached Hugh. He was just about to jump from his mount when he saw Hugh’s eyes narrow and his face clench.
Then he saw the Harpy’s talons as she sunk them into Hugh’s chest and lifted him from the ground.
“Nay,” Gabriel bellowed as he quickly reached for another arrow. He notched and fired arrow after arrow hoping to get the Harpy to release Hugh before she flew off with him.
He had no idea how many arrows he had gone through when he saw the Harpy stop mid-flight and turn toward him. She screamed her anger into the air just before she released Hugh and flew off.
With a growl, he swung his leg over his horse’s neck and slid to the ground at a run. He reached for the black bag he carried with him at all times, his heart pumping wildly in his chest. He found Hugh surrounded by Val, Cole, and Roderick who was trying hard to keep Mina away from her husband.
Gabriel dropped to his knees beside Hugh to find his leader unconscious and bleeding badly.
“The fall he took,” Cole said softly. “I’m afraid to see just how many bones are broken.”
Gabriel gave a vicious jerk of his head. “Don’t touch him,” he said between clenched teeth.
If he got to Hugh in time he could save him.
He just prayed he got there in time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Hugh,” Mina screamed tearfully. “Hugh, don’t leave me. I need you.”
Gabriel briefly closed his eyes and tried to regain some composure. He looked up at the other Shields to find them looking at Hugh as if he were already dead.
“Cole,” Gabriel barked. “I need some bandages. Now,” he bellowed when Cole didn’t move.
Once Cole raced off to get the bandages, Gabriel turned to Val. “Get me some hot water. As much as you can carry. I’ll also need some cool water. And have servants continue to bring them to me.”
Val jumped up and ran to the castle, leaving Gabriel alone. He could hear Mina sobbing behind him, and he knew he would gladly give his life if Hugh would only live.
The cold ground didn’t deter Gabriel as he spread open his black bag then reached to Hugh’s chest to feel a very weak heartbeat. “Hang on, Hugh. I’m coming for you.”
Suddenly, a soft hand touched his shoulder and he looked up to find Jayna beside him. “Tell me what to do,” she urged.
“Take his hand,” Gabriel commanded. “And put your other hand over a wound, pressing hard to staunch the flow of blood.”
She did as he requested without question. He jerked out his dagger and split Hugh’s tunic open. He swallowed then leaned over to look at how deep the wounds in Hugh’s chest were. The Harpy’s talons had sunk deep, nearly all the way through Hugh and puncturing a lung.
Thankfully, Cole and Val returned quickly. Gabriel dunked a cloth in the hot water and began to wipe off the blood that continued to flow.
“Put your hands over the wounds,” he ordered Cole and Val.
Time seemed to stand still as Gabriel took vial after vial from his bag. He mixed some herbs together then sprinkled them over Hugh’s body where a thin line of smoke began to waft skyward as it touched his skin.
He then grabbed a goblet Val had brought and scooped up water. Another vial was taken out and herbs dumped into the goblet. Gabriel swirled the cool water with his fingers to mix the herb.
“Remove your hands,” he told the others just before he dumped the water over Hugh’s wounds.
Hugh groaned and stiffened as the herb dropped into the wounds. A hissing noise filled the air as the herb began its journey inside Hugh to stop the bleeding.
While that herb was working, Gabriel took two leaves
from a vial and tore them into tiny pieces into the empty goblet. Then he took a vial with an orange liquid in it and poured four drops into the goblet. Next, he reached for a small white flower with five petals.
He looked at the flower, then glanced at Mina. Her gaze hadn’t left Hugh since she had run to him. Tears coursed unheeded down her face as she allowed Roderick to hold her.
Gabriel knew if he used the flower he would have to go out and look for another. He was never without one, because the flower, if used with the other herbs correctly could bring a person back from the brink of death.
He tore each of the petals from the flower and dropped them into the goblet. With the stem and leaves still in his hand, he took his dagger and used it to cut open a small wound in his palm. Blood rushed out and he let it cover the stem and leaves before throwing it in the goblet.
Gabriel then poured a small amount of water into the goblet. He held his hands over the goblet and closed his eyes as he felt his knowledge of healing flow through him. Mumbling the ancient words of his people, he used his power to mix the contents of the goblet, but knowing it would take more than his blood, he allowed a small amount of his life essence to leave his body through his hands and into the goblet.
That small amount of life essence felt as though he had been trampled by a minion of creatures. His body began to ache and exhaustion began to sweep through his body. But he refused to give in until he was finished with Hugh.
“What is that?” Cole asked.
“Ask later,” Gabriel answered. “Hold him still. This will hurt.”
Once Val, Cole, and Jayna had a hold of Hugh, Gabriel lifted the goblet over Hugh’s body and emptied it into Hugh’s wounds.
Hugh let out a vicious scream as he tried to buck his holders off his body.
Gabriel cringed as he heard bones that had been fractured began to break. More work had yet to be done on Hugh, but the bones could be healed once the bleeding was stopped and the damage to the inside of Hugh’s body was repaired.
Finally, Hugh stopped moving.
“Is he dead?” Val asked softly.
