Ransomed to the World

by Stacey Brutger

  Six sets of eyes fell on to her, dissecting her. Magic tickled against her skin, but she was careful not to claim it for her own, keeping her own powers locked down tight, even though it wanted to lash back. Silence lasted another minute when the older gentleman finally nodded. “Very well.”

  Once his approval had been given, the rest quickly agreed. Some seemed pleased in a malicious sort of way, while others just shook their heads, but they all dismissed her.

  Except Daxion.

  Fury radiated from him even across the room. He addressed the guard, “Please see my daughter home.”

  The guard gave a short, precise bow, understanding it was an order. He turned smartly on his heel, clearly not pleased to be assigned to a half-breed like her, a sneer curling his lips. He didn’t touch her, but she didn’t have a doubt he’d take great pleasure in beating her to a pulp if she tried to disobey.

  She followed the guard, keeping her pace slow and measured, still able to feel the council studying her every move, taking her apart to see what it was about her that would motivate Daxion to face public humiliation by claiming her.

  As she and the guard exited the council room, the doors closed with a resounding thud that reverberated in her chest like a coffin sealing her fate. A young man a few years her senior strolled down the hall, sharp, intelligent eyes landing on her, but what caught her attention was the small ferret loping down the hallway behind him, darting in and out of the shadows.

  Prem!

  Her breath caught in her chest, and she hurriedly dragged her gaze away before she gave away his location.

  The man came to a stop in front of her, his hands behind his back. He towered over her, a little over six feet tall, but everyone was tall since she barely topped five feet.

  The guards and Sadie snapped to attention, but he didn’t even bother acknowledging them. He gazed at her for a moment, not speaking, his regard a bit intrusive, but not cruel like the council. “I’m Cedwyn Dairi.”

  When she remained quiet, his lips twitched in amusement. “And who are you?”

  Fuck if she wanted to tell him, but saying nothing would only make him more curious, which she couldn’t afford.

  “Annora…” She hesitated for a second. “Daxion.” Even saying his name left a bad taste in her mouth, but she had no choice, at least for now.

  His eyebrows inched up, and he nodded, then turned to the side and offered her his arm. “Will you allow me to show you home?”

  Annora stiffened at his offer, but she didn’t dare search for the guys or look at Sadie. Something told her it’d be best not to be alone with the guards, so she gave a small nod and accepted his arm. “Thank you.”

  His hand landed on hers, his grip firm, and she suspected that she didn’t really have a choice.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Annora allowed herself to be escorted from the building, figuring it was better to go with Cedwyn Dairi than the guard. As she passed through the wards, she braced herself for another interview, but other than a crackle of static against her skin, she made it through without a problem.

  As the connection to her mates snapped back into place, a rush of warmth tingled along her veins, the relief at having them back nearly making her giddy. Her hold on the darkness lessened, flooding her system, and it was a struggle to hold back the surge when it wanted to seek out her mates to make sure they were safe.

  She remained quiet as she followed Cedwyn down the steps. She thought about sneaking away to join the guys, but she didn’t want to reveal the extent of her abilities. She didn’t doubt that at least Daxion, and probably some of the others were having her watched.

  She eyed Cedwyn, wondering if she was being led to her death. Annora glanced at Sadie, who was following them a pace behind, trying to gauge her reaction…and saw a small smile play on her lips.

  So either Sadie was happy to be marching Annora to her death or she trusted this guy.

  Cedwyn patted Annora’s hand, then nodded and smiled at a group of passing people. He spoke to her through his teeth, his lips barely moving. “We’ll explain everything when we get you to your father’s house. There are too many people watching us now.”

  Annora wasn’t sure she believed them, but she didn’t have a choice. Only when she caught sight of a small fox darting along the buildings, following them, did she allow herself to relax. Her team would find her.

  They strolled through the city, away from the busy streets, away from the shops and carts. On the opposite side of the main building were half a dozen or more stately buildings, each more majestic and imposing than the last.

  “Welcome to Elite Row, or that’s what the people on the lower side call it.” Cedwyn gave her a mocking grin, his grip firm as he dragged her along with him. “This is where the elite families live, away from the riffraff on the other side.”

  Sadie was alert as she scanned the streets, but there were more guards than people loitering. “Can it, Cedwyn.”

  He tossed Sadie a sharp grin and a salute, his pace slow as he sauntered down the street like he owned the place. Maybe he did. “As you can guess, Daxion’s family seat is biggest.”

  “Of course.” Annora glanced up…it was the house at the end of the street, house being a massive understatement—it was a fucking mansion. The lawns and gardens were well maintained, not even a leaf or a blade of grass out of place, everything so lush and green it almost hurt the eyes.

  They said no more as they approached the gates. Sadie placed her hand against the guard post, and the gates slowly slid open, like it recognized her. The fragrance of flowers was almost overwhelming as they walked up the well-groomed pathway, Sadie poking and prodding at them to keep moving until they entered the front door.

  Cedwyn looked around inquisitively, then shrugged and smiled when he caught her looking at him. “I’ve only been here a handful of times. My family deals in illusions, which Daxion finds beneath him.”

  Annora frowned at his mocking tone, but Sadie spoke before Annora could muster a reply. “Shut it, Cedwyn. She hates Daxion even more than you do.”

  Sadie headed straight for the grand staircase, and Annora followed, glancing around curiously. The place was stunning, everything gilded with gold or draped in flowers…and it left her cold. This wasn’t a home, it was a business. There was nothing personal around the mansion but a bunch of old portraits.

  They walked down the hallway, along carpets so lush her feet didn’t make a sound. It was unnatural. Sadie stopped at a far doorway and opened it up. “This is your room, reserved for family members.”

  Annora stepped forward and peered inside, unable to hide her grimace. While everything was beautiful, she was afraid to touch anything and sully it. “There is nothing less…”

  “Snobby?” Sadie snorted and followed her inside. “It’s all about perception. You’re one of the few survivors from the Daxion bloodlines, even if you are tainted.”

  Annora resisted rolling her eyes. “How did the council figured out my status so quickly?”

  “That you’re a half-breed?” Cedwyn asked as he strolled around the room, picking up things at random. “Because when a phantom becomes pregnant, they must report it to their families and the council. Breeding is big business.”

  He plucked up an apple from a bowl on a side table near the balcony and tossed it in the air. “Not to mention…” He cast her a look, waving his arm up and down to indicate her.

  Annora glanced down with a frown, not seeing what he was indicating. “What do you mean?”

  “He means that phantoms flaunt their powers—kind of like guys who are proud of their dick and can’t wait to share it with everyone.” Sadie smirked when Cedwyn scowled and took a bite of his apple. “You don’t draw the power toward you like the others who wear it like a cloak. You’re—”

  “More like a witch, where you struggle to even cast the simplest of spells.” He smirked, like he’d given her the greatest of insults.

  Sadie burst out laughing, lea
ning against the dresser when her legs weakened. “Why do you think she presented herself to the council, you idiot?”

  Cedwyn straightened and glanced between the two of them, his amusement falling away. “Fuck…you’re the captain’s mark, aren’t you? How is that possible?”

  Sadie straightened abruptly, glaring at them both. “What the fuck is going on here?”

  The two of them stood opposite each other, both scowling, neither bending. Annora didn’t have time for it. “You’re the contact the captain said would find me?”

  Cedwyn stared at her, his gaze skeptical, but he nodded. “He said you were the key. That you needed to be found and protected. I was expecting…” His lips twisted in derision. “Something more.”

  “Oh my god, you’re as big an idiot as the council.” Sadie threw up her hands in exasperation. “She’s as powerful as Daxion. With more training, she could defeat him.”

  “Bullshit!” Cedwyn laughed. “She—”

  “She pulled Alcott out of the banished lands. By accident. Without even trying.” Sadie gave Cedwyn an amused smile when he blanched, obviously enjoying his discomfort.

  Annora grimaced when Sadie mentioned Alcott’s name, hating the reminder that she knew him first. That they were betrothed at one time. But to Annora, he would always be Edgar.

  “That’s impossible.” He speared his fingers through his hair and began to pace, his eyes locked on her the entire time, as if he’d seen a ghost. “No one returns from the banished lands.”

  “One of the women in the wards said I’m what they used to call a bridge.” Both Sadie and Cedwyn stilled completely, and she wondered if she should’ve kept her mouth shut.

  “Holy fuck!” Cedwyn’s voice was hoarse. “Does your father know?”

  Annora pursed her lips. “It’s possible. The only reason I’m here is because Daxion threatened my mates. He said he’d report me and have them killed unless I complete a task for him. To counter his threat, he was to claim me in front of the council so they wouldn’t hunt us down.”

  “And this task?” Cedwyn propped his hands on his hips, his expression grim.

  “Go into the afterworld and kill his wife.”

  “Fuck me!” Cedwyn rocked back on his heels and gave an incredulous laugh. “That’s a death sentence.”

  “Unless she’s a bridge,” Sadie countered. “Daxion knew she could cross over, so he must have suspected the truth.”

  “I don’t understand why this is so important. What exactly is a bridge?” Annora wished Edgar was here so he could explain it to her. She trusted him to tell her the truth.

  Both of them stared at her like she was some kind of idiot, then Sadie spoke slowly. “It’s exactly like it sounds. You’re able to cross over to the banished lands and take people with you.”

  “I get that part.” Annora rolled her eyes. “I meant, is that not normal? Can’t you bring people with you?”

  Cedwyn laughed, which turned into a cough when he realized that she was completely serious. He thumped a fist on his chest a couple of times then cleared his throat. “Most phantoms never enter the banished lands. Ever. The risks are too high. A few warriors have the skill and strength to ghost, move from one spot to the next, but they never fully enter the other realm. You can compare it to dipping a toe into a pool of water versus learning how to swim.

  “Each time a warrior ghosts, he pops into the banished lands for a few seconds, then drops back out. The longer they linger, the more their powers are drained. If they stay too long, they lose the ability to return.”

  Annora kicked at the hem of her dress and began to pace. “That makes no sense. It’s literally teeming with dark matter. All the power they want is just within reach.”

  Cedwyn and Sadie glanced at each other, clearly uneasy. Cedwyn licked his lips. “Pure dark matter. Raw and untamed. Touching it would fry our ability to do magic. The few who take the risk to enter the banished lands for any amount of time and return almost never keep their abilities intact.”

  Annora stopped pacing, completely floored. “Not all of them return?”

  “Phantoms gain power with age. A few of the elders and maybe the council could enter the banished lands for maybe an hour without being adversely affected. It would weaken them and take a while for them to recover.” Sadie took a step closer toward her. “It’s why no one went after Alcott. The council forbade it. After a while, we just assumed he was dead.”

  “You know if you do what Daxion wants and survive, he’s never going to allow you to go. He’s going to bind you to him and siphon off your powers.” Cedwyn tossed the rest of his uneaten apple away. “We can’t allow that to happen.”

  That sounded very much like a threat.

  Daxion is outside the mansion. You have only minutes. Logan’s voice sliced through the tension.

  “Daxion is home.” Annora smoothed back her hair, rolling her shoulders, preparing herself to face his wrath. “You should be gone when he gets here.”

  Sadie reached forward and grabbed Cedwyn’s arm, dragging him out of the room, but he didn’t go quietly. “You can’t trust the council. War is brewing between phantoms, and they’ll sacrifice you without hesitation if it means they’ll remain in power.”

  Annora snorted. “Like you and your captain don’t plan on doing the same.” The front door slammed, and she jumped. “Just go. My first priority is to protect my mates. I don’t give a fuck about phantom politics right now.”

  He searched her face, then gave a brief nod, and she realized he’d been testing her, wanting to see what side she’d choose. She spoke honestly—she would always choose her men—which meant Cedwyn was an ally…at least for now.

  Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and she twisted her fingers together. She hated being separated from her men, but keeping them safe was more important. Annora rolled her shoulders and straightened her spine, bracing for the confrontation with Daxion. She’d survived years under her uncle’s not-so-tender-loving care, she could survive a day with the man who was supposed to be her father.

  She calmed the darkness that swirled under her skin, longing to go on the offensive. She intended to bide her time and make sure her men were protected first. She gritted her teeth at the thought of the coming pain, then blew out her breath.

  She could do this.

  A sharp knock sounded on her door, and Annora jumped as if shot. She rolled her eyes, then strode forward and opened it…and found a female guard waiting for her. Her spine stiffened at the thought of someone touching her—it freaked her out almost as much as being taken into custody.

  “Lord Daxion would like to see you in his study.” The woman retreated, a haughty look of disdain on her face as she headed down the hallway without waiting for a confirmation.

  The guard paused, looked over her shoulder, and raised her eyebrows, and Annora looked both ways before cautiously stepping into the hallway, expecting a squad of goons to be waiting to ambush her.

  And found the hallway empty.

  Annora scowled and followed the guard back down the stairs. She hated not knowing what to expect. With her uncle, it was always the same, either beatings or torture. She’d become accustomed to the pain and knew how to deal with it.

  The mansion was quiet as she crept down the stairs after the soldier, and she couldn’t have been more stunned when she was led directly to Daxion’s office.

  The soldier gave a smart salute, turned on her heel, and left them alone, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing in the room. Daxion sat behind his desk, going over papers, his head coming up when he saw her, then he smiled. “Good, you’re here.”

  She stiffened at his apparent cheer, not trusting him an inch. She glanced around the room, wondering if he was putting on an act for an audience, but they were alone. The room was lined with leather-bound books, dark matter practically oozing from a dozen or so of them, but one in particular caught her attention.

  Familiar sheets of paper.

  The missing pages f
rom her grimoire!

  Why was she not surprised to find them in his possession? She turned away, masking her interest, pretending to be awestruck by the gaudy surroundings. She took special note of the security in the room.

  She’d be damned if she’d leave those pages with him.

  “What do you think of your new home?” Daxion came around his desk, then leaned back against it with the same smarmy smile.

  Did he honestly believe people fell for that shit?

  Annora decided to play along. “Your mansion is very impressive.”

  Just not in a good way, but she kept those thoughts to herself, waiting for him to show his hand.

  His smile brightened, genuinely pleased by her praise. “The council wants to be present for the claiming ceremony…tomorrow evening. You must remain inside until then. Under no circumstances are you to alert them about your abilities. At best, they’ll challenge me for ownership, or worse, they’ll take you apart in hopes of duplicating your skills.”

  He was trying to show himself as benevolent, but the muscle twitching near his eye showed he was still furious. He pushed himself away from the desk, tugging down his jacket, and fiddling with his cufflinks as he headed toward the door. “I must make preparations for the ceremony. Try not to do anything stupid, or I might not be able to protect you this time.”

  “I’ll do my best,” she responded and bit back her snort—like he’d ever lifted a finger to help her. If he had his way, she’d be ground under his heel and hidden away, just like her uncle tried to do.

  Daxion opened the door, indicating she should precede him, and she played her part and obeyed him docilely. He took a key out of his pocket and locked the door behind them, black matter shimmering across the surface of the door when the locks clicked. He turned and strode toward the front entrance, but not before she saw coldness seep back into his expression.

  Annora dutifully headed toward the stairs but halted when she saw him pause with his hand on the knob. “I’ll have a dress delivered for you. All you have to do is be ready by tomorrow afternoon.”