by Jaymin Eve
There are so many problems with what she just said. The gargoyles will kill me on sight for starters. Baelen too. I can’t just waltz into Erador and expect them to help me. I can’t leave Erawind either—I have to stay with the Vault to subdue the storm—although looking at the Storm right now, I’m not sure that’s a problem anymore.
Cautiously, I ask, “How are you here?”
She says, simply, “You freed me.”
“Then why aren’t you…” I wave my hands around. “Storming?”
“The Storm Vault never contained me. You did. I stayed there because that was where the first Storm Princess wanted me to stay. And the one after that. And you. Now, I’m here because you want me to be here. I’m calm because you want me to be calm.” She leans forward with a hint of a smile. “Don’t worry, if you die, I promise I will ‘storm.’”
I glance around at the Elven Command. Then I consider all the hurt and wounded warriors, as well as my closest friends: Elise, Jordan, Reisha, and Jasper too. Even Sebastian and Sahara. If I’m going to leave, I can’t leave them to the mercy of the Command. That’s if I’m going to leave, and I’m not even sure about that. “What if I don’t want you to be calm?”
A large smile breaks across her face, deliciously wicked in the way it lights up her eyes. “Then I will rage at your command.”
I close my eyes for a moment, exhaling my doubt and dread. Then I contemplate my frozen friends, deciding how I need this to play out. First of all, I need to know if what the Storm told me is true—that the only way to help Baelen is to take him to Erador. As a healer, Sahara can tell me whether that’s true or not.
I cross the distance to her first. She’s caught in a moment of despair, her line of sight trained on Baelen, running toward him. I brace in front of her, planting my feet and leaning forward to counter her momentum. Then I take hold of her wrist.
She comes alive, her legs moving, running straight into me, but I keep my hold and swing her around to slow her down.
She screams. “Princess!” Her eyes dart across the room where I was last placed. “But you…”
“Thunder,” I say.
She knows about me being able to use thunder to slow time so she catches up fast—especially given that everyone else is still frozen—but then her line of sight swivels back to me and she screams again as she catches sight of my hand on her arm. “Princess! Let go!”
“It’s okay,” I say. “Baelen has my power.”
She’s shaking. She doesn’t argue with me. “We have to help him.”
I’m relieved to know I was right about her: that she wouldn’t get distracted by the details. “Please, I need your help.”
I hurry with her to where Baelen lies. She immediately starts assessing his wounds, deftly peeling off parts of his armor, clicking her tongue unhappily.
I say, “I need to know if there’s anything you can do for him. I need to know if I have any alternatives.”
“Alternatives to what?” she asks, but she’s already distracted. “These wounds were caused by blades strengthened with sorcery. There’s no other way to pierce Rath armor. His wounds are deep, but it’s strange… He’s not bleeding. It’s almost like he’s…”
“Paused?” I ask, using the Storm’s description. “You’re right. He used the thunder on himself. What I need to know is whether you can heal him?”
She shakes her head, stricken pale. “A mortal wound caused by sorcery can only be countered by deep magic.”
Across the room, the Storm gives me a smug I-told-you-so shrug of her shoulders. I haven’t figured out yet whether Sahara can see her. I’m guessing not when the older female looks right through the Storm.
I return my attention to Sahara. “How do I find deep magic? Or create it? Or whatever it is that I do to get it?”
“The deep magic comes from life itself. You could give your life to save his, but somehow I don’t think he’d appreciate it.” She gives me a sad smile. “There’s only one other way, but it’s very dangerous.”
I sigh. “I have to go to Erador.”
She blinks at me. “How did you know?” She waves her own question away. “It’s only a whisper, but being the daughter of an Elven Commander has some advantages, such as overhearing things I’m not meant to hear. They say there’s a spring in the heart of Mount Erador—”
“Where the females can harness deep magic.” I sink beside her. “I was hoping there was another way.”
“Marbella… you’re not thinking of going there?”
“Of course I will. I love him.”
Her eyes fill with tears. She tries to blink them away, but they drip down her cheeks. “What can I do to help?”
“I need to unfreeze all these people. Then I need you to get everyone out of here before the Elven Command wakes up. Gideon Glory is dead. He was the main sorcerer, but the others are just as dangerous. You have to get everyone far away from here. Including your father.”
She chews her lip. “We can go to Rath land. It’s furthest from the city. Sebastian told me there are places to hide in the Rath mountains—Baelen showed him where.”
“The House of Mercy controls Rath land now. They will protect you,” I say. “My brother is already back at Rath land and he will make sure you’re safe. Thank you, Sahara.”
“Marbella.” She hesitates, but gently lays her hand over mine. It’s a gesture I never thought I’d experience again—a consoling touch. “Be safe.”
“I’ll come back. I promise. The Elven Command is corrupt. It can’t be allowed to continue. But I have to help Baelen first.”
She nods while I rise to my feet.
“Storm!” I call, hoping I don’t confuse Sahara too much by speaking to something that’s not there. “A hurricane is called for. Something that will whisk those males to a place where they can’t get out for a while. And keep them frozen for as long as possible.”
The Storm ponders my request for a moment. “The bottom of the river? A dungeon?” Her eyes light up. “No… I know… The Storm Vault.”
How perfect. “You’ll have to seal its doors.”
“Of course.” She grins. “With pleasure.”
A mini tornado builds as I watch, catching up the Elven Commanders in its pull and tug, spinning them round and round. It spins toward the doors, pushing them open with ease, and the Commanders disappear from sight.
The Storm gives me a distracted smile.
I say, “I wasn’t sure if you’d stay here with me.”
“Of course. I stay where you are. But let me concentrate so I get this right.”
I trust her to do what she says and I can’t waste any time by hovering over her. If I’d created the thunder, then I could release everyone at once, but since it was Baelen, I have to touch everyone to bring them out of it. That’s twenty Storm Commanders and fifteen of Baelen’s soldiers. After so long not touching anyone at all, I brace myself for my senses to go haywire with sensory overload.
I brush my hand lightly across Jasper’s arm and then Sebastian’s. They’re the least wounded and will be able to help the others. Also, I trust that Sahara will explain to them what’s happening. I’m not sure how many difficult conversations I can handle right now. I don’t try to stop them running forward like they were about to. Sahara’s right there to catch up with them, drawing them to a stop before they race toward Baelen.
I cross the floor to Jordan, Elise, and Reisha next, but I’m not prepared for how emotional I am. They’re all wounded because of me. I drop to my knees next to Jordan who lies between Elise and Reisha. I stroke Jordan’s hair to wake her up, reaching across to touch Elise’s arm at the same time. They both gasp, turning onto their backs, staring at the ceiling, trying to get their bearings.
“Princess?” Jordan tries to get up first, while Elise uses her elbow as leverage, wobbling and squinting at me.
“Sahara!” I call. “We need help over here.”
“It’s okay,” Jordan says, holding up her hand. “I’m
okay. Elise?”
Elise rubs the back of her head. “Just dazed. I’ll be fine.” She suddenly jolts upward with a new urgency. “Where is Commander Rath? What happened?”
“He’s…” I swallow. There’s no easy way to tell them what happened or that I’m leaving. It all tumbles out at once. “He’s hurt but I’m going to do everything I can to help him. But I have to leave you and I need you to be safe.”
I help them to their feet, grateful that the pause in time must have given their bodies moments longer to heal.
“Princess, we’re coming with you,” Elise says. “Wherever you’re going.”
I shake my head. “I don’t have a lot of time, but I need you to follow Sahara’s instructions. The Elven Command is gone for now, but they won’t be contained for long. I need to know you’ll be safe. Promise me you won’t come after me.”
“Where are you going?” Jordan demands, always loyal. “You have to change your mind. Let us come with you.”
“No, my dear friends.” Before they can stop me, I hug them both at once, tears leaking down my cheeks even though they freeze, aghast.
Elise almost shrieks in my ear. “Princess! What are you doing touching us?”
“It’s okay. Baelen has my power.” It seems to be my new mantra, repeated everywhere I go.
“Oh. Okay then…” Jordan and Elise suddenly hug me back. A big, warm hug to make up for all the hugs I haven’t been able to have. I haven’t woken the rest of the Storm Command yet but I wish I could hug them all.
“Look after each other,” I whisper, pulling away before I don’t have the strength to leave my friends.
Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I drop to Reisha next, making sure that Sahara is ready to tend to her. Then I walk around the rest of the group, quickly assessing who is least and most wounded, leaving the most badly wounded until last, waiting as long as I can to make sure Elise and Sahara are ready to help them.
Finally, I wake Teilo Splendor. He holds his head in his hand, squinting up at me. “Princess, you’re alive.”
“Your daughter will tell you what needs to be done,” I say, turning away from him.
“Forgive me,” he calls. “I should have seen their betrayal, their sorcery.”
I don’t know what to say so I keep walking, returning to Baelen where the Storm is waiting again. My friends are all busy now, helping each other. I take a moment to close my eyes. I need to get to Erador as fast as possible, which means I need transport. I need a bird with fiery wings that isn’t afraid to carry the storm on its back.
Phoenix! I cry inside my mind. You said I could call you if I needed your help. Please help me.
There’s a brief moment of silence. Then…
I’m outside when you’re ready.
I sink to Baelen’s side as relief washes through me. But I have another problem. I whisper to the Storm, “I need to move Baelen, but I’m not sure how.”
“Oh, that’s easy. Wind will help us.” She lifts her hands and Baelen’s body rises off the ground. “Which way do you want to go?”
On any other day, I might have smiled at how easy she makes it look to float him upward with a mere lift of her hands. Now, I’m just grateful that it can be done. “Outside. A friend is waiting for us.”
I rise to my feet, but before I can take two steps, Jasper blocks my path. His armor is dinted. Like the others he bears welts across his face and lower arms. I wince as I picture my lightning cutting across his body like whips.
He says, “I’m coming with you.”
I shake my head, maneuvering around him, which is difficult now that more elves are awake. I already told Jordan and Elise that they couldn’t come with me. I’m not changing my mind for Jasper. “No.”
He swiftly steps into my path again. His eyes flick left to where the Storm hovers. For a second, I think he can see her, but then I realize he’s looking past her to Jordan and Sebastian. They’ve taken a moment to embrace each other, their heads together, the relief on their faces visible even from here.
Jasper says, “If I’m going to leave my family, it has to be for something more than hiding out and surviving in the mountains.”
“Jasper, I’m going into gargoyle country. I might never make it back.”
“The same way you walked out of a gargoyle’s nest?” His gaze is piercing. “You survived that. I think you have the chance to survive this.”
My jaw drops. He has to be talking about the nest I found on Scepter Peak. He’d come upon me as I exited the nest but I never suspected he knew it was there. “You knew it was a gargoyle nest?”
He shrugs. “It’s not the first one I’ve encountered. You can use my help, Marbella. So can Baelen. He made me promise, right from that first trial, that I wouldn’t let any harm come to you. I’m not going to break my promise to him. Let me come with you.”
He stares at me with earnest eyes. He kept me alive on Scepter Peak—we kept each other alive. I wasn’t expecting help, didn’t think I needed it, but where I’m headed I know I’m going to need it. Besides, he’s really not going to budge and he’s blocking the door. “I guess I can take one more. Follow me, please.”
Baelen floats along beside me as I reach the doors. I’m not sure what Jasper makes of that, but I’m hoping he thinks I’m using the storm’s power to move Baelen on my own. It’s close to the truth.
I pause there for a moment. Behind me, all the people I love—my family—are taking care of each other, preparing to leave, preparing to go into hiding. My heart tugs with the knowledge that I’m about to leave them, but I’m determined that I’ll see them again. I will come back and end the Elven Command’s reign over them.
I step out into the light with the Storm and Jasper on my heels.
The Phoenix waits for me, its wings tucked in at its sides, taking up all of the space across the wide cobbled path.
Princess, it greets me.
“Thank you for helping me, Phoenix.”
I gesture to Jasper to get on the Phoenix’s broad back and then turn to the Storm, keeping my voice low. “Please tell me you can tether Baelen to the Phoenix.”
“Of course,” she says. “I’ll do it this once, but I can teach you how to do it yourself. That way it will look less strange to your friend.”
“Thank you. And his name is Jasper.”
The Storm floats Baelen up onto the Phoenix’s back beside Jasper and a thin line of lightning appears around Baelen like a silver rope. The Phoenix spreads its wings to allow the lightning to stretch all around its body, keeping Baelen in place. It’s a good thing the bird is so enormous given that it’s about to carry three of us.
“He won’t fall,” the Storm promises. “The Phoenix has melded with the lightning so it’s practically part of its own body.” She lifts off the ground. “I will ride the wind. I’m ready when you are.”
I climb on behind Baelen, placing his head in my lap and my hand over his heart, listening for the calm, slow thump of his heartbeat.
I vow to you, Baelen Rath, I will bring you back to me.
I don’t know what Erador holds for me, but I will find the springs and heal Baelen. No matter what it takes.
The Phoenix contemplates me with fiery eyes, spreading its wings and preparing to take flight. Where do you wish to go, Princess?
“To Erador,” I say. “To the gargoyles.”
The Princess Must Strike
Releasing 1st October 2018
https://smarturl.it/StormPrincess2
A power lost. An enemy gained.
In a gargoyle city beneath the streets of Chicago, Storm Princess Marbella Mercy walks a dangerous path to find the only source of magic that will save Baelen Rath's life.
Now in control of her storm power, Marbella must infiltrate gargoyle territory, heal Baelen, and escape. It's a simple get in, get out plan... until she crosses paths with the brutal gargoyle king.
Already in possession of savage power, the king is hell bent on adding the storm to his l
ist. Wanting the Princess for his own, he is prepared to do anything to bend her to his will.
When the king’s ruthless actions push Marbella to the edge, she is left with only one choice – the princess must strike.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements from Everly: This book began as an act of courage, the kind Marbella would make without a moment’s hesitation, but took me months… to pitch an idea to an author I count as one of the best of our time and who I’m grateful to call my friend. Thank you Jaymin, for saying yes. It’s been amazing to write Marbella and Baelen’s story with you. Thank you also to my husband and kids for forgiving me for all the times you had to literally jump up and down, dance, or arm-wave to get my attention while I zoned out with noise-cancelling headphones and a world of elves, gargoyles, and magic—you are the magic in my life. Thank you to my brothers who braved the wind and rain when we were kids to sit out on the verandah watching summer storms break and crash over the horizon; do you remember the purple lightning? That one’s for you. Thank you to my work colleagues who let me ramble on at lunchtime about my book obsession. And to our readers: you are amazing, truly awesome. This book is for you. xx
Acknowledgements from Jaymin: I’m finding it difficult to put into words the true joy I’ve experienced writing this series with Everly. She was my first author friend (outside of my mum … Hi, Mum!!) and has been there through every step of my journey. Everly was the first person I commiserated and shared successes with. She is (and always has been) a phenomenal writer, one of my favourites, and I have devoured every single word she has ever written. Begging her for the next book each and every time.
I really can’t believe it has taken us this long to work together. This story is seven years in the making. It’s something we are both tremendously proud of, and I’m very blessed to have such a wonderful friend in my life.
Thank you also to my family, who put up with me on a daily basis, my friends who put up with me less, but still more than enough, and to my readers. You are the reason I continue to write. Thank you for everything.
