Night Blade: Blade Hunt Chronicles Book Two

by Juliana Spink Mills

  Immediately, creepers began to sprout from the impact point, growing up and out, wrapping the clay golem like a mummy. Together they shoved it hard, and it fell into the wool river and was dragged away.

  Ben saw Raze harrying her foe, darting here and there in wolf form, far faster and more agile than the golem she faced. She’d be safe for a little longer. May, however, was in trouble. The golem she’d been trying to dodge had backed her up right to the river’s edge, and she had nowhere to go.

  “Move!” Lix screamed as they ran up from the side. She grabbed her baton back from Ben and went into a slide, kicking out at its feet and lashing upward at the same time. The golem crashed down heavily as May skipped out of the way. Before the golem could get to its feet, she helped Ben push it across the last foot of carpet and into the river.

  Ben turned to Raze and saw her dart under the creature’s legs, right at the riverbank. It turned clumsily just as Raze shifted back and kicked it, hard. It teetered on the brink, unbalanced. Raze kicked it again, and the thing began to topple. It made a wild grab for Raze’s leg, but Ben got there first and hauled her to safety. Panting, they watched the golem sink as it was dragged away. Beside Ben, May was shaking. He put an arm around her in wordless comfort.

  Lix broke the silence. “Great job. But now we have another problem. We still need to get across.”

  “About that.” Raze was eyeing the far bank. “I think I can make the jump as a wolf. I have rope in my backpack. I can throw it back and then haul you all across. The lightest first, and then they can help pull the others.”

  “Me,” May said. “I’m lightest.”

  Raze nodded, and then she was in wolf form and backing up. Everyone stepped aside to make space. Ben eyed the fast-flowing river nervously. If Raze fell in as a wolf, she’d never get out. Could she even shift back if she was stuck in the wool?

  Raze’s wolf blurred as she ran with preternatural speed. Ben always forgot how fast werewolves were. In a moment she was at the river’s edge and then she was flying, muscles bunching and stretching in a magnificent leap. She landed gracefully on the far side. There was a yelp as one paw hit the river, catching in the woolen strands. But she tugged it free before it could tighten completely, and then the wolf was gone, and it was Raze again, doubled over on the riverbank as she caught her breath.

  She tied one end of her rope around her waist and threw the other. It took a couple of tries, but eventually she managed. May tied the rope around her own waist.

  “Are you ready for this?” Ben asked her.

  “No. But we have to get across, right? And I was useless against that stupid clay thing, but I’m a pretty decent swimmer,” May answered.

  She launched herself into the river, pulling herself toward Raze hand over hand even as Raze hauled her in on the other side. There were a few snarls and tangles, and a heart-clenching moment when she went under, but at last she made it to the other side. May crawled out onto the far bank, Raze dragging her by the arm. She stood up, a little shaky, and raised a fist in victory.

  The rope landed back on their side, and it was Ben’s turn.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Del

  Del was led back onto the dance floor after a while by a stately older gentleman in a kilt. Once again, she was swept from partner to partner. Everyone wanted a chance to be seen with the Heart Bearer. She danced for what felt like hours, until she could hardly stand. Finally, she pleaded exhaustion and gently tugged herself free from a scarlet-haired pixie with an awestruck expression on his face.

  A tall body stepped in front of her as she turned to leave the dance floor, barring her way. She looked up to find herself face-to-face with none other than Shade Raven herself. “Will you do me the honor?” the demon said in a cold voice. Del stiffened, eyes darting around for Ash, or Alex, or anyone.

  A man Del recognized as Andrew, Deacon’s second, was at her side in an instant. “Excuse me, Baroness, but the Heart Bearer was about to rest,” he said, respectful but firm.

  Shade smiled, an empty expression that didn’t touch her silver eyes. “Don’t be churlish, Sir Knight. I merely want to dance with the child. I think she can afford me that courtesy, no?”

  Del steeled herself, and set a hand on Andrew’s arm. “It’s okay. It’s just a dance. Will you find Ash for me?” He nodded as Shade swept her away and into the twirling mass of bodies on the dance floor.

  “Adeline,” she said. “The one who got away.” The demon’s eyes roamed hungrily across Del’s face. “Your new aura is lovely, my daughter.” One hand captured Del’s in an iron grip, the other settled firmly around her waist, just a touch below the ragged scar where Shade had once ripped Del’s human life from her body. You did this, she wanted to say. You killed me. Instead, she placed her own free hand lightly on the demon’s shoulder, keeping as much distance as she could between them as they swayed to the beat.

  “I’m not your daughter, not anymore.”

  “But you are, Adeline. And you will always be mine.”

  Del stuck her chin up defiantly. “We’ll see about that.” She wanted to say more, wanted to demand Shade tell her why she chose Del, of all people. She burned with questions about Rowan, and about the curse she was under. Ailith’s curse. But something told her she should keep this to herself. Shade didn’t need to know that Del was slowly uncovering bits of the past. It was too dangerous.

  There was a loud cough, and Ash was there beside her, nothing but bland politeness on his face, though Del knew he had to be raging inside. This was the woman who had ordered his mother’s death, after all. “Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind if I cut in,” he said, plucking Del neatly from Shade’s clutches. The demon’s right hand tightened for a second, hard enough to feel the pinch, and then she released Del with a half-bow.

  “I wouldn’t want to keep Adeline from her young man. I shall see the two of you at the hearing tomorrow. Enjoy your evening.”

  Ash led her away, escorting her back to the empty table. Del found she was shaking as she collapsed next to him. “That was awful.”

  “Are you okay? Did she do anything to you?” When Del shook her head, he gestured at the entrance doors, where Shade’s back was clearly visible exiting the ballroom. “She’s gone now, anyway. She won’t try that again, not tonight.”

  “Yeah, well, she can be pretty intimidating.” You will always be mine, Shade had said. She shivered again. “You don’t think she’d, you know, try and take me, do you?”

  “Like, kidnap you? No, she wouldn’t dare. Not at Court, with so many witnesses around. Not with your big session tomorrow.” He took her hand, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. “Do you want to leave? Call it a night?”

  “Not yet. I’m not giving her the satisfaction of knowing she scared me.” Shade might have left, but her pack members were still here, watching. “Just sit with me for a bit.”

  She held Ash’s hand quietly until the trembling stopped and she relaxed. She yawned, suddenly wiped out now that the adrenaline high was fading. She bent down to pull off her sandals. “What on earth made me think that high heels were a good idea?” she complained, rubbing an aching foot.

  Ash took her foot in his sword-callused hands, rubbing his thumbs along the sole. Del melted back against the chair. “Mmm. That feels wonderful. Did they teach you that in knight school?”

  “Anything for Milady,” he teased.

  They sat for a while quietly, until Alex arrived to escort them to their rooms, declaring the event a “resounding success”. Del wasn’t really sure what that meant, or what they’d achieved, but he seemed to think she’d done her part, at least.

  “What did you think of it?” Dan asked, falling in beside them as they left the ballroom.

  “Being on display the whole time kind of sucked,” she told him. “But the ball itself was actually pretty amazing. I’m ready for bed, though. My feet feel like they’re about to fall off!”

  ***

  She wasn’t ready for be
d. It was past midnight, and Camille hadn’t returned yet. Del supposed she was busy, trying to win support for her Court plea. She rubbed her eyes. She should put her pajamas on, and get some rest. She had a busy day ahead. But she kept remembering the witch, Elana. When the clock on her phone said 12:32, she gave in and slipped out of her room. This was probably a dumb idea, but the need to know was eating her up inside. She hesitated at Ash’s door, but the witch had been clear. Come alone. And really, like he had said at the ball, who was going to risk attacking the Heart Bearer publicly at Court? She was safe here, right?

  Del took the stairs up two more levels, following the signs to the rooftop pool. A door led directly into the glass-enclosed space, a haven of tropical warmth against the winter-cold outside. Barefoot, and dressed only in her ball gown, Del was glad for the heating.

  The solarium was empty. It was eerily beautiful, the area lit only by the underwater lights. Condensation shimmered on the windows. Del walked over to the pool and leaned down, trailing her hand in the lukewarm water. It was very quiet, no noise but the soft hum of machinery. When the door opened, loud in the silence, Del rose hurriedly to her feet. Elana was early.

  However, instead of the witch, a young man walked in. She recognized him immediately; it was the handsome blond with the silvery blue aura that she’d spotted at dinner the first night. He dropped his towel on a chair, and then looked up. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “You didn’t. I was expecting someone else, that’s all.”

  “I promise not to get in the way. I’m just going to do a few laps and I’ll be out of here.” He pulled off his t-shirt, pacing toward her in tight knee-length trunks, the sort pro swimmers wore. He flashed her a grin, and dived straight in, all lean torso and grace. Del watched him swim to the end of the pool and back, underwater all the way, dolphin-like.

  When he returned, he stood in the chest-high water, shaking droplets from his hair. “The water is lovely. Aren’t you going to swim?”

  “No, not tonight.” She wasn’t in the mood to talk, but she didn’t want to be rude. What if this guy was some sort of dignitary? She couldn’t afford to offend anyone important. Del gave a forced smile. “I’m just waiting for a friend.” She glanced at the clock on the wall: five past one. Where the hell was Elana?

  “Well, then, I shall keep you company,” he told her with a dazzling smile of his own. “Someone as pretty as you shouldn’t have to wait alone. I’m Serren, by the way,” he said, holding out a hand. There was something wild in his lilting voice, something that made her think of crashing waves, of sea spray, and the hiss of salt water on the sand.

  She crouched, dress spilling out around her, and took his hand. “Del. Nice to meet you.”

  This close, she could see his eyes had shades of blue and green, like the sea she could hear in his voice. No, not in his voice, but all around her. It was everywhere, calling to her, inviting her in. She tried to look away, but she was trapped in his eyes. Let go, the sea urged her. Give in. A single drop of water fell from his eyelashes and, mesmerized, she tracked its progress down a chiseled cheek until it came to rest in a corner of his lips. There was something she was supposed to be doing, someone she was supposed to be meeting, but it all seemed so distant, so unimportant. The sea whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and her hand tingled in the warmth of Serren’s grasp.

  Inside her, the Heart Blade roared to life in a furious blaze of warning, and Del blinked, her hazy mind clearing with shocking abruptness. Why was she staring at a stranger’s lips? Why was she still holding his hand? She inhaled sharply and let go, expecting Serren to release her. Instead, his grip tightened painfully around her fingers.

  “Del…” he sounded disappointed. “This could have been fun, you know? Now you’ll resist, and I hate that.”

  “What—” She tried to pull her hand away, but the sound of the sea grew louder, until the ocean’s roar drowned everything else out: the distant rumble of machinery, the splash of wavelets against the side of the pool, and Del’s own frantic shout. The waves rose up and embraced her, as Serren dragged her in with a splash.

  She swallowed a mouthful of water and choked as she surfaced, half-aware of her dress floating up around her like a cloud of pale seaweed. She struggled frantically in his hold, but she was no match for his water-enhanced strength, and even with the Heart Blade beating within she was tiring fast. One of Serren’s arms closed tight around her waist, while the other held the back of her head. He forced her lips open with his tongue, his own mouth closing upon hers aggressively. He kissed the air out of her as he sank to the bottom of the pool, taking her with him even as she fought to get free.

  His kiss trailed off when they hit the bottom, and so did her breath, escaping to the surface in a trickle of bubbles. She clawed at him, lungs screaming, desperation clouding her mind. Everything began to fade to white, and then to black. Her last conscious thought was, This is how I die.

  ***

  Del opened her eyes with a gasp, coughing up water. A firm hand turned her head to one side. Her throat burned, her eyes burned. Her chest ached.

  “Rowan. Rowan!” Del blinked up at the voice. “Stay with me, Rowan,” the voice said, tight with fear.

  She coughed once more, and then she was struggling to her knees, retching, throwing up until nothing was left. She clung to the wet arms that held her, and it wasn’t Serren but the witch, Elana. Elana’s clothes were plastered to her body, her hair streaming down her back. She dipped her face down to Del’s, their foreheads touching.

  “I thought I’d lost you,” Elana whispered. “You almost drowned.” She turned her head, listening, and then got up, tearing herself from Del’s frantic grip. “Your friends are coming. You’re safe now.”

  Elana took two steps, leaving Del sitting in a sodden heap by the pool. “Find me,” she hissed. And then she was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Raze

  Raze yawned and opened her eyes, meeting Lix’s hard gaze. “Mornin’, sunshine,” Lix drawled in a fake Southern accent.

  The sky was the same flat and unwavering white-gray it had been since they’d entered the warp spell. Well, not sky, exactly. More like ceiling and walls. But with space stretched out around them it may as well have been the sky, high and unreachable. Raze touched her face.

  “Ugh, I have carpet burn on my cheek. What time is it? In real time?” she asked. The time warp was infuriatingly illogical, designed to confuse. Sometimes the hours raced by; at others, time slowed to almost normal standards.

  Lix consulted her own watch through the alexandrite gemstone. “It’s three in the morning. It’s already Saturday. We need to hurry.” She nudged Ben in the cheek with the toe of her boot. He awoke with a start.

  “Hell, Lix. Just kick a guy in the face, why don’t you?” he grumbled. But he immediately began rolling up his blanket and stowing it in his backpack. He drew out a water bottle and uncapped it, trickling the last of it into his mouth. “I’m down to two bottles,” he said. “And we still need to get back to the door. This is taking too long.”

  After they’d crossed the river and climbed out the other side of the canyon, they had all needed rest. Ben’s magic was perilously depleted. May was limping. They’d hiked another hour or so, just to be on the safe side, and then camped upon the carpet expanse, tearing into their marching rations and crashing hard afterward.

  Raze scrubbed again at her face. She hadn’t slept enough, and she ached all over from the hard ground, and from the hours of walking and fighting before that. “If we’re going to get a move on, then let’s do this.” She got to her feet, stretching her arms and back.

  Lix was checking the route through the alexandrite. “We’re just over halfway across the room. The sword’s straight ahead.”

  “Halfway?” May’s voice rose in dismay. “There’s no way we’ll get there and back in time.”

  “Chill,” Lix replied smugly, as she shrugged on her backpack and se
t off with everyone else following. “And trust me. Do I ever lead you wrong? Getting back shouldn’t be a problem. The time and space warp is to keep us from getting to the artifacts in the first place. My research shows that by accessing the vault’s treasure, we should nullify the warp spell. All we’ll have to do is turn around and walk straight out of the room.” She narrowed her eyes. “And don’t give me that look, Ben. I always do my homework, you know that.”

  “Should,” he reminded her. “You said should nullify the spell. You don’t know for sure, do you?”

  “I’m almost sure,” Lix conceded. “Warp spells are tricky bastards. I doubt he’s got it rigged to reset in the opposite direction. It would interfere with the original spell. It’s far more likely he has some other defense planned in case an artifact gets taken. Maybe more of those golem things.”

  Raze shuddered, remembering the blank faces of the clay creatures. She was jumpy, and she kept looking over her shoulder in case one of them had survived. But eventually she got tired of watching out for trouble. They trudged onward across the carpeting, and all she saw around them was a whole lot of nothing. Nothing but boring beige on the ground, and boring white-gray in the sky. She yawned and rubbed her tired eyes so hard her vision blurred.

  She blinked, trying to clear her sight. No, she was still seeing a blur ahead, right in the middle of the way. “Can anyone else see that?” she asked, pointing.

  The air ahead of them was definitely denser. As Raze stared, it took shape and form, rolling out to the sides in a thick layer of dull gray fog. Lix held out a hand, signaling a halt. “Look sharp, everyone. There’s some sort of spell coming up. And it’s right in our path; we can’t detour.”

  They all stopped. “What is it?” Ben asked Lix. “What do you see?”

  Lix peered through the alexandrite. “It’s not an illusion spell, whatever it is. May? Do you get any vibes off it?”