by Deirdra Eden
I looked into the kitchen. Loaves of bread garnished the table, along with several pots. Why did Pearl make so much? “Did Orion and Azrael eat?” I asked.
Pearl shook her head. “No.”
I raised one eyebrow. “What time did they return to the shop?”
“Not until this morning,” Ruburt answered.
“I suppose they already ate,” Pearl mused. “Azrael was the one who brought us the rabbits. He seemed quite adamant you get a good meal.”
I knelt next to the miniature kitchen table. Pearl brought the dishes to the table until the meal covered the whole surface. “I hope you have a healthy appetite because we won’t have ice until winter comes. Food doesn’t keep on its own, you know.”
I ate as much as I could, but there was no way I could eat all Pearl had prepared.
Pearl shook her head as if she was disappointed in me. “You better go get cleaned up before the daylight is spent. There’s a pond on the edge of the forest about a half a mile from here. Just follow the trail.”
I picked up the new dress and held it against my chest. “Thank you, Pearl. I’m sure once I’m clean, I will feel human again.”
Ruburt cleared his throat.
“I meant, I will feel like a Neviahan again.” I paused in the doorway and turned to Pearl. “Thank you for the advice.”
Pearl’s rosy cheeks lifted when she smiled.
I left and followed a narrow trail toward a cluster of trees surrounding the pond. The sun dipped below the tree line and the horizon glowed with gold and orange light. Once in the privacy of the grove, I peeled the tattered clothing from my body and assessed the damage. The sleeves were burnt to the elbows, my skirt irreparable.
I dangled one foot in the cold water. I thought about using my powers to warm the water, but the pond was full of fish that Ruburt’s family used for food. I pressed away from the bank and immersed myself. My tense muscles relaxed as my battle-beaten, travel-worn body adjusted to the temperature.
The thought of loving two men terrified me, but Pearl was right. I needed to open my heart and allow the void to be filled naturally. Everything would work out in the end.
I waded back to the bank for the soap and lathered my body. Soot, ash, and dirt floated from my skin across the water. I must have looked completely war ravaged. I rinsed the last bit of soap from my body and let the gravel on the bottom of the pond massage my feet as I soaked in the water.
The sun set and the first few stars appeared overhead. I pulled myself out of the water, dried, and slipped the fresh cloth next to my skin.
For the first time since I left London, I felt renewed. Instead of using the heat of my powers to dry my hair, I let the long red waves hold the moisture and stick to the exposed skin on my back. I took a deep breath and held the feeling of newness near me a moment longer.
Reaching into the pond, I took a pebble from the water. My warm fingers curled around the rock and stole the cool radiance of the stone. As soon as Korban awoke, we would return to London and fight Erebus and his army. After that, I didn’t know what would happen. Everything in my life felt like chaos and I wanted to do the right thing. I just didn’t know what the right thing was.
I dropped the pebble into the water and let it shatter my reflection. The waves rippled, then stood as still as glass, mirroring the brilliant silvery moon and sprinkled stars across the heavens. A strong breeze broke the flawless water. The wind caught the edge of my dress and tousled it with the long grass. I wrapped my arms around myself as a feeble shield against the cold night air. I took in a deep breath of the wind and let it fill me with a moment of peace.
Across the pond, a pair of eyes glowed between the dark trees. My heart sprinted as the creature stared at me. I held my breath and took a step back. They found me. The Shadow Wolves always traveled in packs—where there was one, there were always more. A hand touched my shoulder from behind. I let out a sharp shriek and whirled around ready to fight.
“Shhh. ‘Tis just me.” Azrael grinned, obviously amused by my startled reaction. His eyes shimmered behind his dark mask.
I cupped my hand over his mouth, hushing him. “There’s something on the other side of the water,” I whispered. “Shadow Wolf.”
Azrael looked up sharply and eyed the woods. He unfastened his cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders. It still held the warmth of his body and intoxicating scent of leather and spruce. “Stay here. I’ll investigate.”
Azrael snuck around the pond near the pair of glowing eyes. A creature the size of a bear reared up and roared. “Auriella, stay where you are. ‘Tis a ferocious beast. I can handle this.”
“I’m coming to help you!” I picked up a few stones and a long stick. Men were so stubborn and never asked for help.
“No, no. I’ve got it,” he assured me.
In the darkness, I couldn’t make out the details of the beast. The creature charged at Azrael and knocked him to the ground. “Ah, gentle,” he said in hushed tones. Something strange was going on.
The beast roared again, then went silent. Azrael stood and bounded toward me like a boyish warrior who just won a game. He grinned and held his chest high.
“Are you all right?” I frantically ran my hands up his arms to make sure he wasn’t damaged. “Are you hurt?”
He took note of my hands and his smile grew wider. “‘Twas a forest beast.”
“A forest beast?” I gasped.
He nodded. “Yes, very dangerous.”
“What a ridiculous thing for you to do. You weren’t even armed. Let me see if you are hurt.” I examined him in the moonlight. Not even a scratch. I felt his solid chest, his heavy breath and quickening heartbeat. What kind of a half-wit runs into the woods and wrestles a forest beast with his bare hands? “Do you want to be in survival sleep like Korban?” I scolded.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Baby’s silhouette stalking off into the woods. It was a trick. Azrael was only trying to impress me.
“Azrael, why are you doing this?” I turned and focused on the stars overhead. “Don’t you know I’m already impressed with you? You don’t need to prove anything to me. I’ve already felt your soul. I know your intentions and all your dreams.” I took a deep breath and whispered, “You haunt me.” A moment of silence passed. I waited for him to leave, but he didn’t.
He reached for my hand, but pulled away in a repentant manner. “Auriella,” he started, “Since we are speaking so openly, please tell me what I can do to win your heart and hand in marriage.”
I dropped my shoulders. “Azrael, you don’t need to try. I’m afraid my heart already belongs to you, but my hand belongs to someone else.” I turned toward the cottage and walked away from him. I couldn’t talk about this anymore. It was too painful.
Azrael caught up and took my hand. White sparks flew from his fingertips and skittered up my forearm. “When I first saw you, I stopped breathing. I still feel like I’m holding my breath.” Azrael lifted my hand to his lips. “But if all I ever get on Earth is your heart, I will be more than satisfied.”
I leaned into him and held my hand against his chest. His heart beat fiercely under my touch. He wrapped his arms around me in a secure embrace that felt like a natural mold for my body. Energy flew from the woods and danced around us. I did love him and I realized this wasn’t just a reaction or side effect of Starfire. I desperately wanted to yank the mask off his face and see him for the first time. Everything about him was familiar and comforting.
Azrael brushed back my hair. “When we used Starfire, you saw all my desires. Please tell me what you desire.”
“You know what I want,” I said. “I just want to do the right thing.”
His gaze captured mine and smoldered with passion. He leaned forward, pressing closer. His hand curled around my waist to the small of my back and drew me in.
The more we touched, the more I struggled to keep the tsunami of energy from bursting out of me. The power of Starfire was too dangerous for us to be toget
her like this.
I held my hand between us to stop his welcomed, but forbidden advance. My fingertips trickled with white smoke as the fire he ignited rushed through my veins like hot adrenaline. I clenched my hands into fists and lowered my head in retreat. “And you know why we can’t do this.”
Azrael must have realized what was happening because he took a step back and blinked away the fire in his eyes. “Not yet, at least,” he whispered. He squared his shoulders and stood like a disciplined military soldier. “Know this.” His voice grew intense. “I want the same thing you do.” His fingers wove between mine and seized my hand in an embrace. My hand burst to flames in his grip. I tried to jerk away before we caused another Starfire explosion.
He clutched tighter, letting the flames grow in a scorching dance around our interlocked hands. “Someday we will find a way to be together,” he promised and pulled away before our fire got out of control.
I wrangled my emotions and smothered the flames. My touch was a weapon to which only he was immune, but it was no excuse for losing control of my feelings.
His lips turned up in a velvet smile. “You don’t always say what you’re feeling.” He looked at his hand, still perfect and unmarked by the fire bath. “At least this way I can feel what you are feeling.”
Chapter Twelve
Slave Master
The sun shone through the tailor shop window and beamed across the bright threads. I wove a wooden needle through a loom and pressed the threads down with a comb. Kassi played with ragdolls in the back of Pearl’s seamstress shop and broke up the menial silence of our work with playful giggles. Pearl measured another piece of cloth and pinned it in several places. She noticed me watching her and asked, “Any word on Korban?”
I dropped my shoulders “No, and it’s been almost a week.” I wove another thread through the loom. “As much as I love being with you and Ruburt, the longer we stay here, the longer your village is in danger.”
Pearl flipped her hand through the air. “The Shadow Legion has never crossed our borders.”
I still worried. Every night, the armies of darkness hunted for us. It was only a matter of time before the Blood Hunters would pick up our scent. We couldn’t stay here much longer—I had to get back to London. I debated whether I should go on my own and leave Azrael and Orion with Korban until he awoke. I shook my head. Azrael would never agree to that idea. If I tried to sneak away, I knew he could out-ride me, and I wasn’t going to push my horse after the recent wolf attack. There had to be something I could do. I hated just waiting for the wolves to find us.
A shrill scream from outside the shop startled me from my thoughts.
“What in the world could that be?” Pearl asked.
I jumped up from the loom and raced to the window.
Two large men flung a dwarf into the back of a wagon. Half a dozen men chased after dwarven women and children. Several other dwarves fought to get out of the wagon.
My jaw tightened as I clenched my teeth together. I turned to Pearl and instructed, “Take Kassi and run home. Stay hidden until Ruburt or I come for you.”
I burst from the shop and instinctively reached to draw my sword as Pearl and Kassi ran down the road toward their cottage. My fingers grasped air and I rolled my eyes at my own folly. I couldn’t believe I was caught unarmed again. I had asked Ruburt to sharpen my sword for me last night.
At least I wasn’t alone. Azrael and Orion argued with a man who appeared to be the leader. Orion crossed his arms, making his muscles bulge. Azrael kept one hand on the hilt of his sword.
Ruburt raced to me, his eyes wide with horror. “Pearl and Kassi—are they. . .”
“They’re safe. I told them to go home,” I said.
Ruburt let out a deep sigh of relief and fought to catch his breath. “These are the same slave merchants who came last year and took some of our people.”
I narrowed my eyes as rage sweltered inside me. “They’re not taking anyone this time.” I sprinted across the muddy road toward the wagon, ready to assist Azrael and Orion in battle against the slave merchants if necessary.
“Release the dwarves,” Azrael bellowed. “This town ‘tis a sanctuary and you’re not welcome here.” If I hadn’t been angry myself, I would’ve been startled to hear Azrael’s gentle voice sound so fierce.
“You can’t stop us.” The slave master’s lip curled into a devilish smile. “With two men? Even my weakest warrior can crush you.” Of course I was offended that he didn’t acknowledge me.
Azrael put his hands on his hips and leaned back. “Oh, really? Should we have a duel, then? If our best warrior wins, you leave and never come back. If your best warrior wins, we will purchase every slave in the wagon from you.”
The slave master eyed the wagon full of dwarves and nodded. “Agreed.”
Azrael spun around and whispered in a confident tone, “They have no idea what a foolish bet they have made.”
I smirked. Orion or Azrael could easily defeat the slave master’s best warrior. I could already see the epic victory in my mind. Azrael unsheathed his sword and handed it to me. “Try not to be too rough on him. If he dies, we will have to fight all of them.”
I met his eyes and tried to read the intentions behind his dark mask. Was he really suggesting that I was the best warrior of the three of us?
The slave master erupted in laughter. “Her? Now this will be entertaining. I would like to see this wisp of a lass fight my champion.”
I gripped the hilt of the sword and stepped forward. It felt good to have a blade in my hands again. If I couldn’t fight the Rebellion in London, I was more than happy to fight injustice elsewhere.
“You agreed to fight our best warrior.” Azrael motioned toward me. I squared my shoulders and stood ready.
“This is the best you’ve got?” The slave master roared with laughter. I knew how I must look to him. I was in one of my lovely dresses and gripping Azrael’s Celtic broad-sword.
My challenger stepped forward. He stood almost as tall as Orion, and veins lined his muscular arms. He spat on the ground and grinned wickedly at me, showing his tobacco-stained teeth. It didn’t matter how big or strong he looked—I knew he was a coward. Only a coward would abduct innocent women and children.
My hands smoldered with heat. I took a deep breath to control the angry fire raging inside me. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t use my powers in this battle. The slave merchants would know we were Neviahan and report us to the Legion.
The warrior cracked his knuckles and gripped his sword. The sun glistened off his bald head and the gold hoop ring that dangled from his ear. He tossed off his shirt to reveal a muscular chest covered in scars and sloppy tattoos.
I was not amused. I elegantly lifted my gown from the muddy road with my free hand. I wasn’t about to let one of my best dresses get dirty.
The thug bellowed a war cry and charged toward me. He swung his blade with all his strength, but over-extended. I wove the tip of my sword into his hand guard and flung it into the air and onto the mud. I couldn’t believe the novice mistake he made.
The dwarves cheered from the side of the road.
“Slave master,” I taunted, still holding my skirt like a lady. “How am I supposed to fight your champion if he does not have his weapon?” I tilted my head and gave him an overly innocent smile. I intentionally moved with more feminine elegance to insult him.
The dwarves laughed. The slave master grunted.
Hot blood sped through my veins. Adrenalin quickened my senses. I kicked my challenger’s muddy sword back to him. “I see this is not fair. I will fight two of your men.”
The slave master shouted, ordering another man to attack me.
Azrael and Orion laughed at the brutes struggling to keep up with me. One charged toward me. I stepped out of the way at the last moment. The slave merchant’s momentum propelled him forward as he slid in the mud. Another round of laughter came from the gathering crowd of dwarves. I had to admit I was havin
g fun. The large tattooed slave merchant swung his sword at me like a club. I couldn’t believe he made the same novice mistake twice. I disarmed him again. I released the hand on my dress and picked up the fallen sword. The other fighter scrambling to his feet, ready to attack afresh. I locked his sword between the two blades I now held. I kicked, hurling him back into the mud, and then held up all three swords. “It seems this is still not a fair fight, two men against a maiden. Send me a third man!” I called to the slave master.
The slave master reluctantly motioned to the wagon and several men unlocked the door. Azrael and Orion helped the dwarves from the wagon.
I needed this. I needed to feel like someone’s hero again. Serving others was the cure for my self-pity and feelings of helplessness. I returned to Azrael and held out the hilt of his weapon to him. “Thank you for having faith in me.”
Azrael’s eyes sparkled in that majestic way I would never get used to. “There never was a doubt in my mind,” he said. “You are the strongest warrior I’ve ever met.” He put his hand on the hilt of his sword and pushed it toward me. “Keep it.”
“Your sword?” This wasn’t like a bouquet of flowers or even a new dress. This was his weapon. “No, I can’t take it.”
Azrael put his hand over mine. “‘Tis yours now. In our culture, once you win a battle with a weapon, it becomes yours.” He turned back to the wagon as a silent way of saying that the conversation was over.
I couldn’t help but feel tricked into receiving a valuable gift from him.
Ruburt raced toward me with a huge grin on his face. “You fight like a she-bear defending her cubs. You’re undoubtedly the most terrifying woman they’ve ever seen.” He chuckled in his deep, comforting voice. “The slave master was right about one thing—that was entertaining.”
“Pearl and Kassi,” I remembered out loud. “We need to let them know we’re safe.”
Ruburt and I started for the cottage in the meadow. I looked back and met the slave master’s gaze. His eyes flashed with revenge. His face flared red and the veins in his neck pulsed. He snatched a dagger from his belt and charged toward Azrael.
