City of Fractured Souls

by Olivia Ash

  Edric nodded. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes. We have to go, it’s the only way.”

  They all knew the trip into the mountain was inevitable. That was where the heirs vanished, and Andreas was sure that was where they would find them again. In the meantime, they needed to pack up and move to another location before they were at this new sorcerer’s mercy. As it had been made clear, he didn’t have any.

  “We need to move,” Andreas said.

  Edric nodded. “I agree.”

  “Where?” Ezekiel looked at Andreas. “Would your people take us in?”

  Andreas opened his mouth to answer, but Edric spoke up instead. “We can’t hide in the Shade.” Edric dropped his gaze, away from Andreas. “The castle monitors the district.”

  Andreas shook his head and started to pace the room. His breathing turned erratic. Of all the nights they had assumed there were eyes on them, there was. No matter what the king did or said, the duchess undid all the work the wraiths had done to prove themselves, and still, it didn’t make a difference. They would never be trusted so long as the duchess whispered words of fear among the populace.

  “I knew it. I knew the duchess didn’t trust us.”

  Edric held up his hands in surrender, a look of shame in his eyes. “I’m sorry, brother. I wish it wasn’t so.”

  Andreas nodded, knowing full well it hadn’t been Edric’s decision. He had been following orders. Nothing more.

  When the Averell monarchy had been in place, they were never monitored, never persecuted so severely. Trust had been there from the moment the king opened the gates to all the wraith people and allowed them to settle inside the city walls.

  There was only one place they could go. And that was the mountain. No one would follow them inside. No one would be crazy enough to do so.

  “How fast can you make your potions?” Andreas asked Ezekiel.

  “He seemed to think about it for a moment then tapped his thumb against his fingers on one hand. “The soonest I can have the bare minimum prepared with no supply run is tomorrow evening. I can’t rush it quicker than that.”

  “Good. Because we have to leave as soon as possible,” Andreas said.

  Edric nodded. “Tomorrow night.”

  There were nods of agreement all around.

  “I’ll go tell Sophia,” Andreas said and turned on his heel to march upstairs to the bathing room. First, of course, he would stop by Sophia’s room and make sure she wasn’t in fact trying to sneak out or do something on her own.

  Chapter Eight

  Sophia

  As Sophia packed her weapons into her traveling bag, she chuckled to herself. Her men thought she was having a bath, not sitting on the stairs listening to their conversation. She chomped at the bit to leave, fully intending to go into the mountain by herself to fulfill her destiny. She figured it was better this way, since she’d gotten Edric, Andreas, and Ezekiel into enough trouble. They would never be able to go back to their previous lives. Forever, they would be labeled traitors, unless she could find the heirs and restore them to the throne. After that, they could be pardoned for their crimes. The crimes they had committed for her.

  Besides, if she were to perish in the mountain, that would be her fate to accept. She couldn’t allow harm to befall her men because of her. They may never understand, but she couldn’t stand the thought of her men dying slow agonizing deaths by the poisonous mountain magic.

  She shoved another one of her knives into the bag, along with her leather wrist bracers to protect her skin from the string of her bow. Her eyes caught the tattoo on her forearm and imagined what Haris would think about what she was doing. Would he think she was running away? Or protecting her men? Maybe it was a little of both.

  Andreas chuckled and said, “Going somewhere?”

  She didn’t turn as Andreas stepped into the room. She wasn’t surprised she hadn’t heard him approach. He moved as silent as a ghost. They had that in common. And so much more.

  Finally, she said, “I can’t stay here anymore. It’s best I go.”

  “Best for whom?”

  “You. And Edric, and Ezekiel. I’ve brought you all nothing but trouble.” She shoved another pair of leather pants into the bag. They were padded, better suited for climbing over hard terrain. They wouldn’t easily rip or tear on rocks or tree branches.

  “If you left, I would follow you,” he said, as he moved even closer. His voice was calm, yet dark. Soft, yet deep. “To the ends of the world and beyond. Whether you like it or not.”

  She sighed, knowing full well he would, despite all her protests.

  “Edric and Zeke would, too,” he added.

  That was true. The men she’d chosen were just as stubborn as she was. Albeit occasionally more. She smiled. She knew she couldn’t live without her men. She loved them too much.

  Andreas pressed into her back. The heat from his body soaked into her, warming her skin. “It’s my duty to protect you, Sophia.”

  She closed her eyes and leaned into him just a little. Smiling, she said, “I can protect myself.”

  “I know. Probably more than most. Well, definitely more than most. I have yet to meet another woman that could handle a sword as well as you. You even come close to rivaling Edric.” He chuckled as he gently squeezed her upper arms. “Just don’t tell him I said that.”

  She giggled and leaned into his comfort a little more.

  They were both outsiders within the city they loved and called home. He knew what it was like to be persecuted. To be thought of as an outsider. He understood her on that level. She appreciated that despite hating that he lived under such terms.

  “Indulge me. Let me help protect you,” he whispered against her neck, sending a pleasant tingle through her body.

  With a sigh, she leaned into him even more. His hands slid down her arms, linking his fingers with hers. He pressed a soft kiss under her ear.

  “You don’t have to do anything by yourself anymore. Not with me around. And I, for one, will never leave your side. None of us will.”

  “I know.” She closed her eyes, angling her head to allow Andreas to nibble at her neck. His loving touch brought her so much comfort and eased the frayed nerves from the stress of living under the weight of the accusations placed on her and her men. She was grateful for him being there for her. For all her men.

  Even though she’d always gone solo for years, she had a team now. Men she could rely on. Andreas was right. She didn’t have to do anything alone anymore. Her men would truly run to the ends of the world for her and not think twice about it. She was grateful for them, thankful to have them with her. They were family—but even moreso, her loves. She felt whole and less broken with them. Without her men, she would be lost, lacking control of her magic and ever on the run from herself more than the world.

  He sucked on her earlobe, and need pooled between her thighs. She slid one hand into his hair as his kisses on her neck turned bolder with more heated passion. He moved his hands up her body, caressing her belly and then her breasts. He stroked her nipples through the fabric of her shirt. A groan left her lips. She ached to be touched. Skin on skin.

  As though he sensed her need, Andreas pulled at her shirt, lifting it over her head. He tossed the garment to the side and set his hands back on her breasts, circling his fingers over her nipples. She angled her head back to capture his mouth, kissing him hard, tasting his mouth with her tongue. Andreas’s hand moved to the ties on her pants. He untied them and slid his fingers under the fabric, massaging her clit that swelled with each stroke.

  He buried his fingers inside her. She moaned and bucked against him. Her ass pushed against his hard erection. She wanted him so desperately, she could barely breathe. This was the release she’d longed for since everything had become a chaotic, tangled mess.

  Andreas nudged her toward the bed while pulling at her trousers with his hand. He tugged at the leather until it slipped over her ass and down her legs, collecting in a bundle at
her feet. He untied and pulled down his own pants, freeing his firm cock. Sophia bit her lip at the sight of him.

  So strong and beautiful. Her wraith lover.

  She raked her fingers along his torso, from his shoulders to the base of his stomach.

  He bent forward and kissed her deeply, pushing her back onto the bed as she pulled her feet free from her pants that surrounded her ankles. His hands explored her body with hungry need, and she clutched at his head as his tongue moved with hers.

  His fingers dipped inside her again, sending tingles through her body and bringing the edge of her release forward.

  He pulled away, panting for breath and cupping the side of her face as he stared into her eyes with so much depth that it took her own breath away.

  “I would be empty if you left, Sophia,” Andreas said, emotion clear in his voice. “You’re a piece of me now.”

  She knew that much was true. He held a piece of her soul. He was just as much a part of her as she was a part of him. She smiled and pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him fervently.

  He kissed her back and settled himself between her legs. The tip of his cock teased her entry before sliding into her wetness, filling her completely. A moan escaped her mouth. His thrusts were slow at first but picked up pace and force with each movement.

  Sophia wrapped her legs around his waist, allowing him to fill her even more. He tucked his arms under hers, gripping her shoulders, digging his fingers into her skin. And she wrapped her arms around him even tighter as her climax drew ever closer.

  The release came as she melted into the bed, moaning. Andreas groaned, almost a primal growl as he allowed her to finish her climax before pulling out and forcefully flipping her to her stomach. She got onto her knees, clutching fistfuls of the fur blanket that covered the bed. He ran his fingers along her back, raising goosebumps along her skin. An electric sensation covered her skin.

  “Sophia…” His voice was full of awe.

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw tiny blue sparks sizzling up her back. Andreas hovered a hand just above her skin, his eyes wide as he watched the sparks move along her skin. She thought the sight was different as well, but that was the least of her concerns.

  “Don’t stop,” she panted. “

  Andreas met her gaze and his lips stretched into a wicked smile. As he entered her again, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the moment. To Andreas.

  He wrapped his hands around her body, filling his palms with her breasts as he buried himself deep within her. She could hardly breathe with the intensity of emotions and sensations cascading around her like a whirlpool. It almost made her dizzy. She pushed against him with each thrust, and pressure built in her apex.

  As he moved, he slid one hand down and flicked at her sensitive clit. She gasped as his fingers made circles against her swollen mound. The pressure increased as her orgasm began to crescendo.

  The muscles in her legs tightened, and her breath hitched in her throat. Release found her and pushed her over the edge of her threshold, into a pool of pleasure, drowning her in every delicious sensation. Everything around her exploded with color, sound, and texture. Her hands glowed blue, and the very air seemed to caress her like a lover.

  Andreas’s thrusts quickened, until he groaned and collapsed on top of her. Sweat slicked his skin. Once he stilled, he kissed her on the shoulder. “I think you did indeed kill me.”

  He chuckled as he pulled out of her then lay on his back on the mattress. She softly laughed and curled into him, draping her arm over his torso as she rested her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her.

  She found herself caught in the afterglow of their lovemaking. She sighed, feeling even closer to him. Closer than she thought she could be. In that moment, she knew she could never leave him, Edric, or Ezekiel. They were each fundamental parts of her. She couldn’t live without them anymore than she could live without her heart or breath to fill her lungs.

  She angled her head to look at him. Tendrils of dark hair stuck to his forehead and cheeks, and there was a completely satisfied grin on his beautiful face. His eyes were focused on a spot on the ceiling before they shifted to catch her stare. She lifted herself up enough to kiss him on the cheek and lay back on his shoulder.

  He wrapped an arm around her, his hand making its way back down to her ass. “Give me a minute and we can go again.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.” Her lips found their way over his chin and down to his chest. A sound caught her attention, setting her nerves on guard. She waited for the sound to happen again.

  It did. Shifting armor. She knew that sound well.

  She looked to Andreas. A crease had formed in between his eyebrows and he pulled from her into a sitting position. “I think that second round may have to wait.”

  “Agreed,” she said and sat.

  Andreas stood from the bed and started pulling clothes from the floor, handing Sophia hers. They both dressed and prepared for the worst.

  Chapter Nine

  Edric

  Edric watched as Ezekiel drew a sigil on the doorframe of the back door to the inn with an enchanted potion. With the information he got from Malcolm, it wouldn’t be long before there was another attack. And much sooner than later. He knew they didn’t have a week, despite what Winston may have told the guards. Winston would have known some of the guards remained loyal to Edric and would relay any information or orders given to the castle guards. Winston was much more cunning than that. He figured Winston had also sent for the sorcerer the moment things went sideways.

  Ezekiel marked the other side of the door and hoped Andreas had talked some reason into Sophia. She was likely packing and preparing to head to the mountain on her own. He knew she was extremely stubborn and blamed herself for the problems they now faced, no matter how many times he and the others had told her he would go to the ends of the world for her. She hadn’t made him do anything. He wasn’t forced into helping her fight the headmistress and the Nameless Master. He fought because he believed in the prophecy the oracles spoke of, and he believed in her.

  Edric had been tempted to dash up the stairs to find Sophia, for his own peace of mind, but he trusted Andreas had done what was necessary. So far, the wraith hadn’t run back to tell them she had disappeared. Besides, Ezekiel needed his help, even if the sorcerer was too proud to ask.

  Ezekiel turned to face him. He dusted his hands off. White and black powder covered his clothes. “That’s it. I’ve reconstructed several traps in all the rooms. If guards get in this time, they won’t ever get out.”

  Edric nodded. “Good.” He went to slap Ezekiel on the shoulder just as the entire inn rumbled. The ground beneath their feet shook, nearly knocking Edric off balance. “What was that?”

  “Fuck.” Ezekiel glowered. “Looks like they got their sorcerer sooner than expected.”

  Every window in the house imploded, sending thousands of shards of glass flying. Edric took two steps and grabbed Ezekiel, taking him to the ground just as a large piece of glass sliced through the air, a mere inch from impaling the sorcerer through the head.

  Another crack resounded throughout the inn like thunder, and every doorframe snapped like twigs from a tree during a storm. The wood splintered, rendering the wards useless.

  Ezekiel jumped to his feet. “Follow me.”

  “What about Sophia?” Edric asked.

  “She’s with Andreas. He’ll protect her.”

  Edric followed Zeke to a storage room. Booted feet rushed in and traps were triggered. Screams echoed through the air and mini explosions rocked the inn again. Fire popped and crackled followed by the smell of smoke and burning wood and flesh. They crouched low behind the door while the remaining traps on the bottom floor went off. There would be nothing left of the inn after everything was said and done.

  Edric reached for the handle of the door and cracked it open enough to peek into the hallway. The guards frantically flapped at themselves,
trying to douse the flames that grew and consumed more of them with each futile movement.

  Edric closed the door and shook his head. So much death to his comrades for blindly following such a corrupt idiot as Winston Kent.

  “The fire will consume them,” Ezekiel said.

  Edric nodded. “I saw as much. Remind me to never piss you off, Zeke. You can be very scary and ruthless.”

  He shrugged. “It’s us or them. We have to survive to help Sophia find the heirs and clear our names. Unfortunately, your comrades are casualties of an unnecessary war.”

  Edric wanted to punch the floor, the wall—anything—to release his anger that grew with Winston’s incessant need to get to him and his team. He sucked in a deep breath to try and ease his growing need for wringing that bastard’s little neck.

  Once the last of the traps were set and the screams had lessened, Ezekiel stood and stepped into the hall. Edric followed with a sigh. He followed the sorcerer to the stairs, eyeing the burnt corpses of his fallen comrades as they made their way through the maze of charred wood and other debris.

  An eerie blue glow emanated from Ezekiel’s hands as he moved further along. His shoulders became rigid as his back straightened and his steps grew heavier.

  A loud command echoed to Edric, and he reached for Ezekiel to stop him as more guards flooded through the smoking embers of the inn. They stopped at the center of the room, where Ezekiel had laid an invisible trapping circle. Watching the guards with confused expressions constantly try to step out of the circle and then bouncing back as they hit the invisible walls made Edric force himself to stifle a chuckle. It truly was a sight to see. One guard took a running start a few feet back and ran toward the other side. He slammed hard into the barrier, squishing his face and nose as if his face had hit glass. The loud thump brought a grin to Edric’s face.