Vengeance From The Dark (D'Vaire Book 3)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  Chapter 10

  Edion crossed through Dravyn’s garden with a smile on his ugly face. He couldn’t wait to get close to the barrier and speak with Lorcan. From their talk the previous day, Edion had learned a great deal about him. It was obvious Lorcan had suffered tremendously, and Edion was determined to help him. The other elf was alone, and Edion didn’t think he had a home. What Lorcan needed, Edion thought, was a family and roof over his head.

  Fate had surely sent him to speak to Edion so he could help him. After all, Edion lived in a sanctuary for people just like Lorcan. Although he’d mentioned the application and Lorcan had refused to consider it, Edion was determined to wear him down. All his life he had tried to fade into the woodwork and for the most part, his plan had gone well. When he was ignored by the other Cwylld, it guaranteed he would not be insulted, have things thrown at him, or worse.

  Things were different now. He lived with wonderful people whose sole purpose was to lend a hand to others. They had befriended him despite the fact this his former elven tribe had annihilated the warlock race. Now he called them family and he was very proud to do so. He wanted Lorcan to feel that same pride; it was Edion’s wish that Lorcan also be surrounded by these amazing people that lived at Court D’Vaire.

  To do that, he was going to be brave and continue to bring up the sanctuary to his new pal. Edion considered Lorcan his friend after their long speech the day before, and he was positive the other elf considered them close as well. He could fathom no other reason why he continued to speak with him each day if he did not have the same kindly feelings toward Edion.

  Their acquaintance was new, and Edion understood he was going to have to build trust with Lorcan to convince him Court D’Vaire was the perfect place to live. Edion decided that to create that bond of trust he was going to have to take a leap of faith. Lorcan had asked him on more than one occasion to cross the barrier Dra’Kaedan had erected. If Edion wanted Lorcan to truly trust him, he was going to have to gather his courage and walk through that buzzing magic field.

  Edion had decided the night before while he lay trying to sleep that he was going to do as Lorcan had asked. He had not mentioned it to his family; he did not want Aleksander to forbid him or any of the other D’Vaires to try and deter him. Lorcan’s happiness was at stake and for the first time, Edion could help someone else instead of always being the one people had to assist.

  “There you are,” Lorcan said as Edion halted his steps near the barrier. “I wondered if perhaps I would not see you today.”

  “Would you be sad if I decided to stay indoors?” Edion asked as he rocked slightly on his feet.

  “You are too curious to stay inside that large fortress you live in.”

  Edion laughed at the truth of the other elf’s words. “I confess, I do enjoy conversing with you. I am happy to make new friends.”

  “You think us friends?”

  “Yes, and I have a plan to prove it.”

  “I find I am the one who is curious now.”

  “I have learned that friendship requires trust. I must prove to you that you have mine.”

  “And how is it that you are going to prove this trust?”

  “I have decided to cross through the magic that contains my home and speak to you on your side of the wall.”

  * * *

  At Edion’s words, Lorcan’s lips curled into a truly demonic smile and he grabbed the bag he always kept close at hand. He curled his hand around the dagger as he thought of its original purpose of bonding him to the bastard calling him friend. Then Lorcan remembered that his mate was still waiting for some sort of reply from him. “If you were to cross, then I truly would know I had your trust and your friendship as well.”

  “I knew my plan had to be a sound one,” Edion said. Lorcan rose and took a moment to close his eyes and remember all that had led him to this spot on this day. His life would end when Talfryn did as he promised, but Lorcan had no fear. But before he died, he wanted a few answers from him, Lorcan thought as he fondled the hilt of the athame in his hand.

  “I await your presence on this side, friend,” Lorcan said as he tried to keep, perhaps in vain, the sneer out of his voice when he used the word friend in regard to the betrayer standing in front of him. Edion sucked in a deep breath and took a small step. Another large exhale and then he took three more strides which brought him just to the other side of the barrier that had protected him.

  Lorcan did not hesitate; he grabbed a fistful of blond hair and yanked Talfryn’s head back. Reaching up with his other hand, he had the knife at his mate’s throat. Talfryn led out a sharp squeak and then the air in his lungs began puffing out in short gasps as Lorcan pulled their bodies tightly together. Once they were touching, his demon allowed him to feel the dark magic spell that was etched on his back. His instincts had not failed him, Talfryn had indeed found a sorcerer to hide their matebond.

  “You must have a memory somewhere of who you truly are. Before you die, will you not admit Talfryn is your true name?” This time he wasted no effort in disguising the hatred in his tone.

  “I-I-I am n-n-not T-Talf-fryn,” he stuttered out and Lorcan roared in frustration.

  Lorcan laughed, a truly demonic sound. “You will die this day. Whether it is quick or torturous is up to you. Admit it. Admit it or I will begin carving into your flesh. It will not be enough to kill you at first, though by the time I am finished you will beg for death.”

  * * *

  “What the fuck?” Dra’Kaedan yelled after screaming his mate’s name. Brogan came tearing out of the house with Aleksander quick on his heels. Dre’Kariston was only a step behind the pair.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” Brogan asked, his dark blue eyes filled with questions as he grasped Dra’Kaedan’s arms lightly around his biceps.

  “Edion, he crossed my barrier. I’m going to teleport there and see what the hell is going on.”

  “No, you’re not. We’re all going there together,” Brogan replied as Dra’Kaedan shook off Brogan’s hands.

  “Fucking shift then,” Dra’Kaedan said. Brogan didn’t bother undressing; he threw his head back and Dra’Kaedan watched as a large navy-blue dragon appeared where his mate had been standing. Without any qualms, he vaulted up onto Brogan’s back and gestured for his twin to do the same. Before they took flight, he saw Aleksander shift and his clothing go flying. Aleksander’s unique blue-and-black dragon was so large that he dwarfed the enormous house he had built for his family. Both beasts flapped their wings and took flight. As he journeyed across the yard, the air around him rippled and though they were invisible, he knew Gavrael and Gedeon were somewhere close by. Dra’Kaedan was unsurprised—the pair took security as seriously as Brogan.

  As soon as Dra’Kaedan got close to the barrier, he could see Edion with some fucking elf who had a knife at his throat. Brogan came to a halt and the warlocks slid off his scaled back.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Dra’Kaedan yelled as above him Aleksander filled the air with fire—no doubt to intimidate the idiot with the blade.

  “It is of no concern to you, sorcerer,” the knife-toting jerk replied with a sneer. Dra’Kaedan could see Edion was petrified and he hoped the blind elf could keep it together until he was safe because there was no way Dra’Kaedan was going to allow anyone to hurt his family.

  “You hold a D’Vaire hostage, it is of concern to all of us,” Aleksander said as he dropped seamlessly out of his dragon form and came to stand next to where Dra’Kaedan and his brother stood just a few paces away from the two elves. Waving a hand through the air, Dra’Kaedan covered both his king and Brogan, who was now back in human form, in clothing. He knew the dragons had little concern for their nudity, but Dra’Kaedan didn’t really like the whole world seeing his man naked.

  “Whatever you believe he is to you, my connection to him outmatches it. Leave us be,” the knife guy said and Dra’Kaedan bared his teeth. This had to be Lorcan that Edion spoke of so often. The strange thing
was, Dra’Kaedan had a sense that he was more than elf but had no idea what else he had in his blood. He tried to concentrate on what he believed was a small anomaly to distract himself from the terror that had to be gripping Edion. If he focused on that, Dra’Kaedan knew he was liable to lose his temper and do something stupid that could cost Edion dearly.

  “You’re mistaken. He is a member of our family. Just remove the knife from his throat and allow him to come home. We are more than willing to let you leave of your own accord if you promise to never return, Lorcan,” Aleksander said calmly. Dra’Kaedan admired the dragon’s ability to never lose his cool.

  “You know my name yet you call him by the wrong one,” Lorcan said as he tugged on Edion’s hair. “His name is Talfryn. Dark magic conceals his true identity from you.”

  Dre’Kariston gave him a poke in the ribs and he knew what his brother was thinking. Somehow this guy had figured out what they now suspected was the reason for Edion’s maladies.

  “Okay, perhaps you could remove the knife from his throat and we could discuss this dark spell that prevents him from knowing he is Talfryn as you say,” Aleksander said.

  “Remove the spell. Remove it and have him tell you all he has done to me. You will see from his words that it is only death he deserves,” Lorcan said and then yelled out, “I know you have cloaked assassins. Keep back from me.”

  “What the fuck are you that you can tell that?” Dra’Kaedan blurted out and Lorcan gave him a sinister smile. Without warning, he dropped his knife-wielding hand to his side and Dra’Kaedan watched as Edion’s chest rose and fell rapidly in his fear. He released his hold on Edion’s hair and shoved the elf down to his knees.

  Before anyone could make a sound, much less any movement, Lorcan unfurled giant red wings from his back. Dra’Kaedan’s mouth fell open and his brows drew together; he had no idea what kind of elf could sprout wings. They looked leathery, and soon the elf or whatever-the-hell-he-was went airborne.

  “Talfryn can answer that question too,” Lorcan taunted before he whipped his wings and soared high into the sky. The dragons had no hope of even completing a shift before Lorcan disappeared. Dra’Kaedan dismissed him immediately from his mind and dropped to his own knees next to Edion. The elf had his head bent and his hands were on the dirt ground in front of him.

  Touching Edion gently to let him know he was close, Dra’Kaedan could feel the tremors wracking his tall but slight frame. Without saying a word, he helped Edion slowly to his feet and tucked him close to his side. They needed to get him home and then they could slowly begin the process of making him somehow feel safe again.

  Chapter 11

  Flying high in the air, Lorcan fled the place where, for one brief moment, he’d had the destiny of a thousand years in his hand. Obviously, things had not exactly gone according to the plan he’d been holding on to for so long. He would not be deterred, Lorcan promised himself. This was merely a setback—he suddenly had a great many questions he wished to be answered before he left this world, anyway.

  The sorcerers who created that giant barrier around their home were warlocks. That knowledge would have stunned Lorcan were he not so jaded against such emotions. However, Lorcan did find himself surprised. After all, he had believed they were all dead. Up until this day, he would have sworn all their kind had been murdered by Talfryn’s kin.

  Lorcan found it ironic that Talfryn would be living with what had to be the last of the warlocks. To Lorcan’s mind, these sorcerers, though they had survived an atrocious war, had to be stupid beyond measure. He had no idea how they could not be otherwise after inviting the enemy to live amongst them. Perhaps his fancy athame would not be necessary, he thought as he flew to his camp not far from Talfryn’s home.

  They had to be curious about Talfryn’s real identity. Although they were warlocks of light magic, it would not be too difficult to find a dark practitioner to remove the spell that wreaked havoc over Talfryn’s face and eyes. Once they removed it and Talfryn was revealed to be the only offspring of the Cwylld chieftains who had waged the war, they might kill him immediately.

  Should they decide not to, Lorcan knew it would not take much time before their attitudes changed. Talfryn was a liar, and the warlocks would soon grow weary of his selfish presence. Lorcan nearly smiled at the idea of his treacherous mate living in a sanctuary. Such places were for people who deserved the kindness of others, and Lorcan could think of no one less worthy than Talfryn.

  Of course, the warlocks might not even get the chance to grow tired of Talfryn, Lorcan thought as he dropped easily to his feet and sheathed his large wings. While Talfryn had never spoken highly of his parents during the year he lived with Lorcan, he had certainly run home to them quick enough. Lorcan could only surmise the chieftains were the lesser of the two evils compared to a life with him.

  The important thing, Lorcan knew, was to keep focused on his goal. Death was Talfryn’s fate as it was Lorcan’s. Before that could happen, he wanted Talfryn’s identity returned. He wanted Talfryn to know it was his actions that had ended the lives of so many. Perhaps as a spirit, he could begin the process of repenting his sins.

  In the meantime, Lorcan needed to journey back to Wales and visit the Cwylld. His infrequent visits over the centuries had not kept him up enough with current events. Lorcan wanted to know exactly how many Cwylld besides Talfryn’s parents and Cadlyr still lived. Once Lorcan completed his task at Talfryn’s ancestral home, Lorcan would return someplace not too far from where he now slept at night.

  Those warlocks and the rest of the people who belonged to the sanctuary would be prowling around searching for Lorcan. Perhaps it would be best for him to venture where he could more easily hide himself. It was common knowledge the Council of Sorcery and Shifters kept their headquarters in Las Vegas. Lorcan thought it would be best to find an abandoned building to call home until he could safely get close to Talfryn again and end their lives.

  Packing up his small bag of possessions, Lorcan wanted the same things he had awoken with this morning. Talfryn needed to remember who he was so he would know exactly why he was better off dead. Then, once that knowledge was crushing the tiny excuse his mate had for a brain, Lorcan was going to swoop in and find the perfect moment to kill him. But for now, he needed to set aside his hatred and focus logically on the world around him.

  * * *

  Edion sat down on one of the comfortable couches in his family’s living room and began wringing his hands where they sat in his lap. He didn’t think he had ever been so scared as he’d been earlier when Lorcan had held the knife at his throat. Lorcan’s hasty exit had been described to him as well as the elf’s ability to sprout giant red wings. Realizing it was no use struggling to figure out what any of it meant, Edion just tried to focus on keeping calm.

  “How ya doing?” Dra’Kaedan asked as the cushion next to Edion squished down with the warlock’s weight.

  “I will be all right,” Edion replied and forced his hands to stop moving. He placed them on his thighs and took a deep breath in. This place was one of safety, and he would not let Lorcan or anyone else rob him of that.

  “Lorcan is one scary dude.”

  “At least you know Lorcan is not a figment of my imagination,” Edion said in a self-deprecating manner.

  “I rather wish he was,” Aleksander said. Edion could tell from the closeness of his voice that he sat somewhere across from him.

  “He thinks there is a dark spell on me. He thinks I am someone named Talfryn,” Edion said.

  “Has he spoken of this to you before?” Aleksander asked.

  “Yes, but I told him my name was Edion. Could he be right? Could there be a dark spell on me?” If there was, he would search for a way to remove it. He wanted to believe he was simply Edion, but he needed to know for sure that who he thought he was coincided with the truth.

  “It’s something we have wondered. We don’t have the ability to feel it as Lorcan says he can. We thought Blodwen might feel it,
but she doesn’t sense anything either. We would have to search on your skin to find it. Or you could wait for us to come up with a spell to do that for us. We’ve been working on it, but I can’t tell you how long that will take,” Dre’Kariston said softly and Edion could hear the frustration over their efforts in his voice.

  “Where do you think it might be?”

  “When I had them, they were on my back. It seems to me that would be a good place to start looking,” Dra’Kaedan replied. Edion had been told the story of Carvallius covering the warlock’s back with black magic centuries ago.

  “I trust you to look,” Edion said. Elves were taught to keep themselves covered in long-sleeved tunics and pants each day of their lives unless they were with their other half. But Dra’Kaedan was mated already and more importantly, he was a part of Edion’s family. In the traditional world of his race, it was only family members and mates who could touch another elf.

  “Thanks for trusting me. If it’s there, it should be immediately apparent. Mine were silver and shone easily in any kind of light,” Dra’Kaedan said. Without delay, Edion was walking side by side with the warlock to the hall bathroom to look for the spell Lorcan said they would find on his body. It was only focusing on finding the truth about himself that was soothing Edion after the traumatic events of the day. Once inside the room, Edion heard the door shut and Dra’Kaedan sucked in a deep breath.