Amber Eyes

by S. D. Grimm

  Her daggers clashed against another man’s sword. She kicked his leg. His knee buckled. She stabbed his arm and moved to another attacker. Cracking in the brush sounded between the clash of steel. A swarm of men infiltrated the threes. Hundreds of men.

  “Get on Dash and get out of here.” Logan shouted over his shoulder.

  Where would she go?

  Logan cried out as three men took him on at once. Westwind jumped up and grabbed one of them by the throat. Logan’s pain filled her first. She whirled to face him again, still battling men, stopping as many of them from getting past him as he could.

  She couldn’t leave and let him fight alone.

  “No!” She charged at them. Her dagger bit into one of the men, but someone struck her from behind. She whirled around. Clashed her dagger against another blade.

  Another soldier sliced her arm. The cut was deep. She turned and hacked into his arm. But there were too many.

  “Serena, look out.”

  She turned in time to see a blade coming toward her head. Logan’s sword met it. Stopped the fatal blow. Another sword cut deep into his side.

  He fell.

  “Stop.” The voice of the man Logan had called Balton rose above all the rest. “We have them now. Don’t kill the girl or the unicorn.”

  She fell against Logan’s side. Westwind stood beside her, facing the encroaching men, head low and fur bristling. His ears flattened and his blood lips peeled back to reveal reddened teeth.

  Dash stayed on her other side, bloody horn pointed at the soldiers.

  Blood stained his hooves. His fur. The ground. And Logan’s clothes. And they were completely surrounded. Beaten.

  She turned on her talent. It was as she feared. If she didn’t heal Logan, he’d die. She pressed her hands against his wound.

  “No, Serena. They can’t know what you are.”

  Her breathing stilled. He was right, but her wounds had already healed. “They already do.” She took his pain inside her. It filled her middle, burned like a fire. And his wound closed.

  “Take them!”

  Dash’s wild whinnies would not be tamed. Westwind’s growls resounded and men screamed. She couldn’t focus; she had to heal Logan. He had saved her. He was her father. Imprisonment or not, she would not let him die.

  They wrenched her arms behind her. “Stupid girl. We’re just going to kill him anyway.”

  Balton poised his sword above Logan and plunged it into his gut.

  Chapter 69

  Black Blood Army

  Ethan pulled Scout tight to his chest. There was no way he’d leave

   his friend’s body on this island. Not if it was the Mistress’s prison.

  His chest burned with warning of a threat. It was so hard to explain, but since he let his talent back in, it had become stronger. Easier to understand. He could tell which place in his chest was the warning for Serena, which pulled for Jayden, without thinking. And the one for Jayden was most urgent. Serena had Logan with her. Jayden was alone with Franco.

  How would he get to her? He stopped and set Scout down.

  The gryphon turned to him. “What are you doing?”

  Ethan touched the animal’s silky feathered chest. “Wishing I could give my dog a hero’s funeral. Trying to figure out how to get off this island.” Ethan smiled ruefully at the creature. “Thank you for saving me. I don’t even know your name.”

  A sensation like a warm wind hit Ethan’s face. It smelled so familiar, like harvest wheat in the fields, sweat grass, and flowers in bloom. The west wind. Warm. “That’s your name?”

  The gryphon seemed to smile. “How do you say it in your tongue?”

  “It’s the warm wind, like a zephyr.”

  “Zephyr. Yes, that is my name.”

  “Well, thank you, Zephyr. I don’t know how to repay you.”

  “You freed me first. When you broke the spell and cut the leash.”

  That made sense. And now the animal felt indebted to him. Having a gryphon around could be a good thing—especially since it could fly—but this one was injured. “I can’t leave you here, either. You saved my life.”

  “You’re in danger if you stay here. Let me carry you both off this island,” the gryphon said. “We can give your friend a funeral.”

  “You’re hurt.”

  “I’ll be able to get you off the island.”

  He clutched his dog to his chest and stood.

  Zephyr’s legs wobbled. Ethan planed his hand on the creature’s feathered chest. “You’re not okay.”

  “If I have to protect you, I won’t feel it. Hurry, we won’t be alone here soon.”

  He wouldn’t feel it? That was the same as Ethan’s talent. “We’re bonded, aren’t we?”

  “Yes. Like the dog, I’ll protect you unto death.”

  That word send a pang through Ethan’s chest.

  “Family protects family. You don’t have to go alone.”

  Like Logan had said. Maybe he really did need to start leaning on others. Ethan opened his mouth to speak, but those expressive eyes cut into his soul. Big and brown, like Scout’s. Family didn’t have to be something you were born into. It was those whom you loved enough to die for. He reached out and touched the gryphon’s feathered head. “Thank you, friend.”

  Zephyr curled his talons gently around Scout’s body and Ethan climbed onto his back. In the air, wind pushed against him, rippled through everything, making him feel exposed and alive, weightless and grounded, all at once.

  And his purpose shone clear. He would make sure Jayden could save them from the Mistress.

  Zephyr took them to the shore across from the island’s east side, but that was the wrong way.

  “My friends aren’t over here. They’re south.”

  “You mean to go after the girl?”

  “Yes.”

  “The other way puts you in danger.”

  Zephyr landed and let go of Ethan. This side of the island was so different. Ruins, as if another massive castle sat here, towered up to the heavens. Rock, fire-stained black on one side, towered as high as the volcano. Beyond the ruins was a lake, bluer than the sky on a summer day—except for the mouth of a tiny stream that emptied from the black water of the moat into the lake. “Where are we?”

  “The Forest of Woes used to be called the Forest of Prosperity.”

  Ethan spun around at the sound of that voice and pulled out his sword. He scanned the place for anyone. “Zephyr?”

  “I smell them.” He stood next to Ethan.

  Hundreds of rocks seemed to move all around him. Not rocks. People—wearing Feravolk cloaks. One person, a young woman, lowered her hood. She looked familiar with her piercing green eyes and long, brown hair. She smiled, revealing a dimple.

  Ethan approached her. “Morgan.”

  She shrugged. “I have a talent for being in the right place at the right time, remember?”

  Did he ever.

  Her dimple reappeared with her sweet smile. “You saved my friends, the Dissenters, once. They seem to think we should return the favor.”

  “How did you—”

  “Your brother sent me for you this time.”

  “Ryan?”

  She nodded. “I was coming this way regardless. Franco is bringing his black blood army here. We’ve been following them. That’s always been our purpose. That and rescuing Children from becoming part of the army. The closer I came to this place, the more often your familiar face frequented my visions.” She shook her head. “I see you still have the same propensity for getting into trouble?” She turned to a younger girl who looked very similar to her. “Lana, will you heal them?”

  An innocent-faced young woman stepped forward, and Morgan wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “This is my little sister. She’s a Healer, like my mother. Will your gryphon friend allow her to heal him?”

  As if in response, Zephyr lay down.

  As Lana healed him, Morgan picked up a stick and began drawing in t
he sandy soil. “There are two armies on the mainland. One on the west shore and one on the south shore—”

  “I left friends there.”

  “One of them has a unicorn?”

  “Yes.”

  “They’re in danger. We will go fight with them.” She paused.

  “I’m not going with you. Is that what you see?”

  She nodded and chewed her lip.

  Ethan’s talent pulled him elsewhere, even though his heart burned with the knowledge that Serena was in trouble. He needed to listen. “It’s all right. I have someone else to protect.”

  “Go quickly.” She touched his shoulder. “After we leave here, the place will be surrounded. Franco is returning to complete the ritual. I’m sorry, I don’t know more than that. This is the hard part about seeing the future. This scenario has so many possible endings. I don’t know what happens from here.”

  “The future changes?”

  Morgan nodded. Then she touched his hand and placed something in his palm. Flint and steel and a char cloth. “As for your dog, I’m so sorry. We came across the lake, same as Franco’s men. But they didn’t go around the crescent. They stopped on the north side.” She motioned to the lake that the moat’s waters trickled into. “Use the small boat. Give him a hero’s farewell.”

  Ethan sucked in a shuddering breath. “Thank you.” He grabbed her arm as she started to turn away. “You say Franco is coming back here to perform the ritual?”

  “Yes.”

  Then he’d be bringing Jayden.

  “What about the man with the scar on his face?” Ethan drew his finger over his cheek to show her. “Have you seen him?”

  “Yes. He will meet Franco here to perform the ritual.”

  “Can I stop him?”

  She touched his shoulder. “I hope so.”

  She smiled softly, then led her Feravolk army toward the shore across from the south side of the island.

  Ethan turned to his dog and picked him up. He’d have a hero’s funeral after all. He laid Scout into the small, empty boat and set it ablaze. Thank you again, my friend.

  As the fiery craft floated away from the island, Ethan wiped his eyes and breathed deep. Okay, talent, where to? The burn in his chest surged. He had to go now, and he knew exactly where.

  “Someone you love is in danger.” Zephyr lowered his head and Ethan mounted the creature.

  “I know this plan is going to sound crazy, but I need to know if you trust me.”

  “Of course.”

  “Remember the man with the scarred face?”

  Zephyr growled.

  “Show me where his camp is.”

  “Why?”

  “I need to get to Jayden.”

  “You think she’s there?”

  “I think Franco and Scarface are together.”

  Logan stared into Balton’s eyes as the general pulled out the sword.

  Pain crushed his insides like an avalanche.

  Westwind howled. “Aurora, where are you?”

  A dozen arrows spattered Balton’s chest.

  He looked down at the shafts sticking out of his chainmail. Blood dripped over his bottom lip.

  “Take them out. Rescue the Feravolk.”

  Feravolk? The voice was fuzzy, like a dream he was waking from. And he was so warm. Hot. Someone leaned over him. Rebekah?

  “Please don’t die. Please don’t.” Her voice chanted. Not Rebekah. It was Serena’s beautiful face. So like her mother’s. She looked at him, smiled. “Father?”

  That had to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard. Father. In the rest of his days, may he never forget how wonderful that name sounded. Strength filled his limbs as her healing power coursed through him. Again.

  He grabbed her hand. “Thank you.”

  “I wasn’t going to let you die. Not if I could help it.”

  “It’s about time you woke up.” Westwind’s voice was shaky.

  Logan’s attention snapped to the reality around him. Hundreds of men and women in Feravolk garb fought the king’s men. “How?”

  “The Dissenters sent help. Seems they thought we might need it.”

  “The Creator bless them.” Logan stood, sword in hand.

  Dash ripped his horn through a soldier. The Dissenters shot arrows into the line of men. A young woman approached them, a bloody cut on her cheek. She looked familiar. “I’m Morgan. Ethan sent me to you. He went after Jayden. We have to get away from here. More soldiers will be on their way. Franco plans to use the island to complete his ritual.”

  “How do you know this?” Serena asked.

  “Sometimes I see the future. Franco plans to surround the island so no one can get to him while he performs the ritual.”

  “He can’t get to the island without boats.”

  “I’ll show you where they’re keeping them. The mainland’s west shore.”

  Logan scanned the fighting men. Feravolk fought against the Royal Army just like during the Blood Moon wars. “If Franco wants his men to protect him, how many more does he have coming?”

  Her green eyes grew round and she seemed to look past him. She pressed her hand against his arm to steady herself.

  “Morgan?”

  She didn’t answer. Finally she shook her head and looked into his eyes, horror plain on her face. “Franco knows we’re here,” she whispered.

  Logan gripped her arms. “He’s sending more men?”

  “His black blood army is bigger than I saw. I don’t know how he kept that from me. He—” She shook her head wildly. “My talent failed you. Failed all of us.”

  Black blood? Logan recalled the man who had thrust himself onto the sword blade. His blood had flowed black. It had to be some sort of spell. He looked out at the battle. That meant these soldiers were under a spell. His heart ached. “Morgan, call a retreat. We fight where we can hide best. In the woods. Call the Dissenters back. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, regaining her composure. “Fall back!”

  “Logan!” Westwind’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Watch your back!”

  Logan looked at the tree line he planned to escape into. Men marched out of the trees. Men bearing shields with the mark of a muzzled dragon—the crest of the queen. Only this crest had been changed—likely Franco’s own design.

  This muzzled dragon wasn’t red. This one was black.

  The black blood army.

  And they were sorely outnumbered.

  Zephyr flew low and Ethan saw the tents among the trees. Yes, here. His talent urged him to be here. “Okay, buddy.” He patted Zephyr’s head. “I’m going to go alone here.”

  “What? No, I can—”

  “I’ll need you to help me get out. I have to get close to Jayden. But I don’t want them to know about you. You’re my way out.”

  “You think she’s at this camp?”

  “I do. But if she’s not, I have another idea. Though it involves going back to the island as Scarface’s prisoner.”

  Something filled Ethan as if a string tied to his soul. It made his stomach squeeze, but it wasn’t his emotion. It was Zephyr’s. From the bond? Was this what Jayden felt? Zephyr landed and Ethan slid off his back. He looked into the gryphon’s huge eyes. “I’m not sure I like either of these plans.”

  Ethan sighed. He didn’t really have much time to think of anything else. “I didn’t say it was ideal. If I can sneak in here, can you get Jayden and me out?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “I think a surprise is our best bet. We’re too outnumbered otherwise.”

  “That’s the only thing that makes sense about this plan of yours.”

  He patted the gryphon. “I’ll be fine. One of my many talents is the ability to become very still—like stone—so that no one notices me.”

  “I share this talent. It’s not as foolproof as you suggest with your cocky attitude.”

  Ethan smiled at his new friend. Then a pang hit his heart. How many times had Scout thought the same things o
f him? He’d never know. “All right. Then you stay hidden, too. I’ll sneak in and find Jayden.”

  “Can you feel her presence here?”

  “No. But my talent pulled me here so I can protect her. That must mean something, right?”

  Zephyr’s eyes squinted. He cocked his head and peered down at Ethan. “Do what you must to protect her. I will do what I must to protect you.”

  That was all he could ask for. Zephyr melted into the woods, and Ethan sneaked near the camp. Heat pulsed across his chest.

  An arrow pointed right at him.

  Zephyr screeched and charged toward Ethan.

  “Shoot it. I want the boy alive.”

  Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. He knew that voice. Scarface wouldn’t make it out alive this time.

  Zephyr landed in front of Ethan as arrows rained down around him.

  No! Ethan darted in front of his friend to deter another volley—the soldiers had been ordered to take him alive. Too late. The arrows were already unleashed. Behind him, Zephyr’s wings beat. Wind swirled around him and shot the arrows away from Ethan, sending them into the ground, the trees, the enemy.

  Neat trick.

  Men leaked out from the cover of trees.

  “Stand down!” Scarface barked.

  One arrow loosed and sailed toward him. Zephyr covered Ethan with his wing.

  “You fool.” Scarface raised his bow. “The arrows are coated in black lion venom. I need the boy unspoiled.” He shot an arrow at the offender and that man tumbled down, an arrow in his heart.

  “Venom?” Zephyr fell.

  “Zeph?” Ethan leaned over his friend. Not venom. Not that stupid black lion venom. Again.

  “Bring the boy to me. I’ll bring his heart to Franco personally.”

  Ethan braced himself, listened to his talent as the men approached. His sword met the first attacker. He sliced through that man’s arm then stabbed him through. He grabbed that man’s sword. With two blades he faced the men circled around him. Ethan called on his speed. Called on his strength.

  Three more men fell to his sword.

  Then his talent spoke to him softly. Surrender.

  What?

  “Surrender.” It was Zephyr’s voice this time. “I’m okay.”

  “What?”