by Linda Kage
I laughed, loving that idea. “As you wish, empress.”
And I kissed her: a long, sweet, closed-mouth coupling. She swayed forward when I pulled back, and closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead to my cheek. Then she balled her hand into a fist and held it over my heart as if she might still want to be mad at me but couldn’t summon any anger.
“I know,” I murmured sadly. “I realize how difficult this is for you.” Kissing her brow, I stroked her hair. “But we have time. The rest of our lives, in fact. It’s been years since I first sensed you. So I’m used to waiting.”
“Years?” She looked up at me, the skin around her big brown eyes crinkling with curiosity. “You sensed me years ago? When?”
“When I was fifteen, right after my grandparents were killed.” Gathering a piece of her pale hair, I focused on threading it between my fingers. “I was in the village of Warren. When they sent me up to live with Everett, I had to travel with a caravan of suppliers who were picking up and dropping off merchandise, so instead of going straight to Tyler from Elaina, they detoured through Warren first to pick up a load of clear rock.”
Lifting my hand to my love mark, I traced the circle surrounding the heart. “I felt a great disturbance right here, and I remember knowing immediately it was you nearby. So I jumped from the wagon and ran in the direction it was trying to send me. But I couldn’t find you, and I never got quite close enough to really lock on to your essence, so I wouldn’t be able to find you again after that either. One of the guards chased me down and caught me before I could get that close. They forced me back to the wagon and chained me up to keep me from escaping.”
Quilla touched my cheek, sympathy in her gaze. Gently, her fingers lifted until they smoothed over the mark where she tapped it enough times to cause it to crackle and spark.
I caught her wrist and kissed her hand gratefully.
“Sometimes, I would break free from my uncle’s home and try to return to Warren, but I was always caught and dragged back, then beaten for running away and locked in some dungeon or another. When I met Jemma by accident one day while I was walking around the edge of the loch, contemplating a way to bolt without getting caught, Jemma came up to the surface and introduced herself. Her friendship was a balm I hadn’t realized I even needed. My cousin Axel was never cruel to me, but he wouldn’t get too friendly either, afraid it would upset his father. So I was grateful to have Jemma as a companion who freely talked to me. And when she asked out of curiosity one day what it felt like to kiss a ground-walker, I let her experiment, mostly as a thank you for her amity.” My gaze went to Quilla as I apologized to her with my eyes. “But that was all it ever was, I swear.”
She nodded, letting me know she believed me. Then she blinked back tears. “Did you really sense me in Warren?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “The day I turned eighteen and was free from Uncle Everett’s custody, I returned there, but I couldn’t sense you anywhere in the village.”
“What year was that?”
“Three-twenty.”
Quilla released a breath. “That was the very year I left the academy and began searching for amulets with Melaina. You probably just missed me.”
That sounded like my luck.
“I joined the High Cliff army after that, hoping it would give me a chance to get out and search for you. But I always wondered what would’ve happened if I had found you back then. It was strange, knowing someone existed somewhere out there that I belonged to but never having any assurance that I’d actually find them. I could’ve gone the rest of my life and never sensed you again. Friends would tell me I was crazy for holding on to one moment from years ago that kept me clinging to my hope. They’d encourage me to give up and just settle down with some nice woman. And a part of me did, I guess. I basically stopped searching and I eventually gave in to the ladies who were only interested in a couple of hours of companionship. But I could never seem to let myself allow anyone more than that. More belonged to you. Always.”
She sighed sadly and cupped my face. “I don’t feel like I’m worth it.”
“Oh, you’re more than worth it,” I assured, pressing my brow to hers. “Never doubt that.”
I opened my mouth, wishing I could explain what being in her mere presence did to me, but she gasped and slapped a hand over her inner forearm, right on top of her mark, distracting me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked a split second before I felt her pain through my tattoo. “Shit.” Gripping her arm to check her mark, I asked, “Is it just like before?”
I knew it was as the needle-like barbs were already receding from my temple, but she nodded anyway, confirming my fears. “But I don’t understand,” she rasped. “We weren’t even moving. How could I have walked into another magical parameter trap without going anywhere?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, already pulling up my trousers and tying the opening closed. “Unless the trap’s moving. Maybe they’ve figured out a way to make a mobile one, except I’m sure a traveling trap couldn’t have as big a circumference as a stationary one.”
Which meant they’d have to be much closer for it to trip this time.
“Fuck,” I hissed, watching her face. “Your eyes are starting to change.”
We needed to get out of here.
I snagged her hand and began to run in the direction of the horses. But shouting voices from the direction we’d left them caused me to skid to a stop. “This way.”
We changed paths and darted between trees. When I glanced over, her eyes were brown again. “Okay,” I said, breathing out a relieved breath, even though I knew we definitely were not out of danger yet. “I think we got you out of the trap.”
She didn’t seem relieved at all, though. “What about our horses?”
I glanced back. No way were we going back that way. At least…
No way was she going back there.
“I’ll get them,” I said. “I won’t trip the alarm. You follow the stream back to the loch, and I’ll meet you there with the horses.”
But she was already shaking her head no. “We shouldn’t separate. What if—” Sucking in a sharp breath, she smacked her hand over her mark once again, and almost immediately, her eyes changed.
“Dammit.” They were on our trail again. We both looked around, and when we heard riders through the trees, I dragged her low, crouching behind some brush.
Then came a muffled call. “Oh, little Graykey slut. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Quilla shuddered out a breath against me.
I pressed a finger to her mouth. “Shh.” With my mouth against her ear, I whispered, “Follow me. We’re going to crawl.”
She nodded, and we began to move. I kept her at my side, so I could look over constantly to monitor her eyes. They remained black no matter where we went. Since we couldn’t seem to evade our pursuers, and Melaina wasn’t here to disguise us, nor was Holly around to turn into a dragon, I doubled us back to where we’d left the horses. And had weapons.
Our hunters hadn’t found them yet, thank goodness.
We crept as silently as possible through the grass to my old mare, where I leaped to my feet and dug into my pack, fingers shaking the entire time.
Quilla busied herself, extracting weapons from her own pack and strapping them on. She blinked in surprise when I pulled out my second pair of tattered boots after getting my hand on a sword.
“What’re you doing?” she hissed, shaking her head in confusion.
Fumbling, I cursed under my breath, then slid open the hidden compartment in the heel of the boot. Quilla let out a silent gasp as she watched me gently pull out the leather strap of a necklace where the length was wound around a golden amber crystal.
Her gaze lifted questioningly to mine as I held it out to her. When she didn’t move to take it, I shook my head and grabbed her hand, pushing the amulet into her palm before manually closing her fingers around it.
Then I leaned in and pressed my foreh
ead to hers, explaining almost soundlessly, “Qualmer was wearing it the night he attacked and killed my parents. It came off in the scuffle, and I picked it up after he left. I’ve kept it ever since to help me remember what he did to them.”
She shook her head, still not understanding. She looked almost betrayed to learn I’d had one of the very amulets she’d been looking for all along, so I added, “I had no idea what it was until I saw the one you were wearing last night, I swear.”
Torment filled her gaze.
“I didn’t want you to leave me behind,” I hissed urgently. “But now, you have to.”
Her eyes flared even wider, filling with panic. I glanced around to make sure no one had found us yet. “You stay here,” I instructed. “I’m going to cause a diversion, make sure they chase me, thinking I’m you. I’ll lead them in the opposite direction as the loch. When they’re far enough away, you run. Okay? Get back to Melaina and use the amulets so you two can go to Earth. Go to your safe place and live a full, happy life.”
Her lashes fluttered and her breath heaved as she shook her head insistently. “No. I’m not leaving you here to deal with this alone. Never.”
Tears sparkled in my lashes as I nodded. “Yes, you are.” Cupping her face between my hands, I smiled from watery eyes. “We don’t have time to argue this, empress. You need to go. Now. Stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine. It’ll be okay. And you’ll be safe. Forever. Just get to safety, now, and live. Live for me. Please.”
I leaned in and urgently pressed my mouth to hers. “I love you,” I swore as I pulled away. “Forever.”
She grabbed my wrist tight, keeping me down when I tried to stand. “No.” Shaking her head, she begged. “They’ll catch you. They’ll kill you. You helped us. You murdered one of theirs for us. Your own cousin. They’ll see you as a traitor and—”
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted, tugging my hand free of hers and kissing her cheek one last time. “I’m a High Clifter, and King Ignatius likes me. I’m close friends with all his children. He won’t hurt me.”
“But—”
I kissed her again. This one was harder, faster, and more pressing. “I know you never claimed me as yours. I know I can’t follow you, and I’ll never get to see you again. But you know this. It was worth it anyway. This short time I got to be with you.” I shook my head insistently. “It was worth everything.”
Tears flooded her eyes. “But I never told you—”
“Stay!” I ordered because our pursuers were getting too close, and we were out of time. I could see movement through the trees.
Shooting to my feet, I swung myself into the saddle of my mare and kicked her in the sides, causing her to whinny and gallop for all she was worth in a mad scramble through the trees. A shout followed and hoofbeats pounded, telling me they’d taken the bait and were chasing me.
Thank God. At least Quilla still had a chance.
Chapter 31
Quilla
Stupid fool man.
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears streaming down my face. I was utterly unable to believe what Indigo had just done. I wanted to stand up and follow him, share whatever fate he was about to meet with him. But then I looked down and opened my hand, staring in amazement at the amulet I held. My other hand wrapped around the front of my dress, and I clutched the second amulet through the cloth of my chemise.
I had two now. Right here in my possession.
A moon cycle ago, this was the main goal of my entire life. Nothing else had mattered as much as getting my hands on two of these suckers.
More shouting rose. I looked up.
Had they caught him already? I couldn’t tell.
A sob rose in my chest. I couldn’t leave him here like this. I couldn’t. But if I didn’t go now, his sacrifice would be in vain. He wouldn’t forgive me for allowing myself to be caught alongside him. Besides, I couldn’t save him if I was caught too.
I also needed to ensure Melaina’s safety.
Mind made up, I glanced around for my horse, but the mare was long gone. Probably frightened off when Indigo had given the others chase.
Stupid horse.
Why was everyone being so stupid today?
Didn’t matter. I just hoped it wasn’t catching.
I probably would’ve drawn too much attention climbing into a saddle and riding off with a horse right now anyway.
Holding my breath, I strained my ears, listening. No shouts, no hoofbeats, no clanging metal of a nearby battle. It seemed like Indigo had kept his word and gotten everyone off my trail. At least I think he had. I patted my face, wondering if my eyes were still black.
With no way to know for sure, I released a lungful and started to work my way to the stream, keeping low and quiet, dodging from tree to bush to boulder, always ducking behind and under whatever cover was available.
Hearing the running brook nearby, I gave up on stealth and plunged forward, hoping the sound of running water masked my headlong dash through the trees. The brook appeared before me, and I shuddered, not realizing I’d been crying the entire time.
I wasn’t sure if I was elated or devastated to reach my destination—maybe a little of both—but sobs seized me as I fell to my knees at the edge of the stream and looked down at my reflection. The water was running too fast, ripples distorting my view, but I think my eyes were brown again. I hoped so, anyway, because I’d be no good to Indigo if I was caught right now.
“Quilla?”
I jumped and whirled around, popping to my feet as my heart leaped into my throat for not noticing I wasn’t alone. But the sight of Melaina approaching—her hand wrapped around the reins of my horse as it loped obediently along behind her—caused my knees to buckle again.
“Me-Melaina,” I croaked in relief, tripping forward on jelly legs to reach her.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded irritably, storming forward to meet me, her voice abrasively loud in the forest. “You were supposed to meet me—”
“Shh.” I rushed into her, slamming my hands over her mouth and causing her to stumble backward with the force of my tackle. “They’ll hear you,” I hissed, vaguely realizing that my distress probably came off as senseless and crazed, but I was too frantic to care. “Listen to me…”
Except Melaina had never been good at listening to anyone. Ripping my hand off her mouth with a growl of annoyance, she immediately started lecturing, “You do not tell me what to do, little girl. I am the elder here, and I’m in charge of this—”
Cutting herself off short this time, she paused suspiciously and scowled around the forest, searching for something. “Where the hell is that damn mate of yours? He was supposed to be watching over you while Mommy had a spot of fun. And better yet, where is my horse?”
“He took the horse,” I started in a rush. “Now listen—”
Arching stiff eyebrows, she seethed, “You let that worthless High Clifter take my horse?”
I slapped her. Hard. “It was always his horse, dammit,” I snarled. “Now shut the fuck up and listen to me.”
She blinked, startled mute, and her gaze widened, tracking a tear that was running down my cheek as if it was the most bizarre thing she’d ever seen. But at least I had her full attention now. I think the slap helped clear my head as well. I was finally able to think straight as I gripped her shoulders.
“They got him. I think they got Indigo.”
“What?” Her brow furrowed with confusion. “Who?”
“The—the—the hunters!” I screeched as if that should be obvious. Holding up my arm to show her my mark that looked absolutely the same as it always did, I added, “With the perimeter magic trap. They found me again. And they chased us. But then Indigo—” My voice cracked, not ready to speak aloud what Indigo had done. For me. “Here,” I muttered. “Take this.” I shoved one of the amulets at her.
She fumbled to catch it, her eyes going as big as saucers when she did. “How in the…?” She held it up, blinking rapidly. “Where did you
…?” Looking at me in dumbfounded distress, she shook her head. “What the hell is going on?”
“It was the one Qualmer had,” I explained, distracted as I rubbed the center of my forehead and tried to think of the best way to sneak back and reach Indigo. “Indigo took it from him during the tenth reaping when they fought.” Dropping my fingers, I suddenly scowled at Melaina. “You never told me you’d had an amulet for Qualmer.”
“I had one for all my children,” she announced, as if that always should’ve been obvious. “Taiki was the one who needed to find three more for her kids before we could leave. But then the reaping happened, and all our plans went to hell. I searched Qualmer’s bedroom for years after we returned from Earth that first time, looking for this damn thing. But how did…?” She shook her head, confused.
“I can’t explain more. I need to go back for Indigo. Just know that he got the amulet from Qualmer. And now I must go back and help him. They might’ve already caught him. We were surrounded and hiding in some brush. It was only a matter of minutes before they found us, so he—” I choked on my own words, more tears filling my eyes.
“Indigo took off, riding away from me as a decoy so they would follow him instead, and I could get away. But I have to go back. I can’t just let them…” Swallowing at the painful knot in my throat, I shook my head. “Indy had the amulet. He gave it to me to go to Earth and save myself, but you take it. Go to Taiki, and I’ll—we’ll follow whenever I get Indy back. Okay?”
I don’t know why I didn’t tell her I had a second amulet. Maybe because I knew she’d try to talk me into coming with her now.
Which is exactly what she did anyway.
She grabbed my shoulders, gripping hard. “No, I’m not leaving you here like this. If the hunters can find you this easily, then come with me. You can hide out on Earth for a few moon cycles until you’re sucked back here after everything’s calmed down. And then you can—”
“No,” I told her. “I’m staying now. Indigo could be dead in a few moon cycles if I went to Earth and just left him like this. I can’t risk that.”
