Illuminate: Upper YA Paranormal Romance

by Sarah Addison-Fox

  Her eyebrows rose at the flippant dismissal. “How can you be so callous?”

  He shrugged and tucked the tent under his arm. “Easy. He’s part of the reason you got in trouble with the council. He narked on you for failing to bring your last charge back to the light.”

  The ground shifted under her. The words slipped from her mouth. “Narked? You mean he was the one who told them?”

  All this time she’d thought Skylar must have told them. They’d never discussed it, but when he’d brought her before the council, she’d just assumed he had when he’d taken responsibility.

  How many other things had she mistakenly believed?

  Tarquin’s forehead relaxed as he stepped closer to her. His voice softened. “He’s better off up here out of harm’s way. He’s fading fast. It’s a mercy he’ll never see what’s coming.”

  A spark of outrage ignited. “He’s still an old man.”

  His brow creased again. “You want to go check on him, don’t you?”

  She wrenched out a tiny smile in the hopes she could smooth the awkwardness between them. “I do. If we can convince him to come back, maybe he can redeem himself?”

  And maybe I can redeem myself too…

  A reluctant sigh escaped his pursed lips. The tension relaxed from his body, and he nodded. “I don’t suppose he’ll be too pleased to see either of us.”

  Merrin suppressed a stilted laugh. “He’s never pleased to see anyone.”

  Tarquin stared off in the direction of the Zolten’s home and sniffed. “You really want him to come back to the council?”

  Merrin swallowed thickly, knowing if she agreed, he’d be able to make it happen. “He’s been up here on his own too long. I know what’s it like to be alone.”

  He stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowed, dimmed as he considered. Finally, he nodded slowly. “Fine. We’ll go get him. I don’t care if he’s an old man. He insults you one more time, I end him.”

  Merrin forced the surprise away and glared as hard as she could. “You will not.”

  Tarquin’s eyes narrowed as he shrugged. “Maybe not. But it won’t end well for him.”

  At the look in his eyes and the set to his shoulders as he placed the tent on the back of the donkey, she knew he meant every word.

  Whatever happened when they got back to the council, Merrin was sure Tarquin would defend her to the bitter end.

  Just like Skylar had done.

  The camp packed away, the donkeys fed and watered, they set off. Snow descended around them, reminding her of the hail that had fallen the first time she’d seen him.

  She glanced sidelong, assessing him, appraising whether he was angry with her.

  His eyes found hers for a split second before he scratched his stubbled chin and peered into the distance. Much like he had when he’d spotted the phantom deer she was still at a loss to understand.

  Perhaps it was his mixed blood? Something she’d not seen happen before? Another question to ask the Chief when they returned.

  His posture shifted. His eyes dimmed, and his hand was on her arm in a cautioning manner that stole her protests he not touch her again.

  His voice was low as he spoke. “Do you feel that?”

  Merrin froze. Her skin tingled as the itch she’d not felt for a while grew.

  His eyes were wide. “What is that?”

  Before she could process what was coming across the rocky ravine, he grabbed her arm and motioned to an outcropping of rocks. They ducked down, her heart beginning to thud erratically, veins firing heat as she sought the danger approaching.

  She closed her eyes and knew instantly who approached. Tarquin’s eyes flashed furiously as the snow swirled around them. “Tartarean’s men. And they have someone.”

  She managed a feeble nod, too consumed by the muddle in her mind, a muddle that only a few people could produce. A bitter thought struck her as she sought the light struggling to break through.

  I shouldn’t have left the forest. I should have listened to Skylar’s warning.

  The air sucked from her lungs as the murkiness shattered by realisation.

  She turned to Tarquin, her throat raw as she forced the words out. “It’s Skylar. They have Skylar.”

  Chapter 11.

  From behind the snow-dusted rocks where they crouched, Tarquin located the Luminary in the distance, still partially obscured by the falling snow. Propped up between two burly looking men, Skylar’s hands were bound, and his head appeared to be covered. Tarquin’s heart jumped into his throat as they crossed the ground with speed, dragging the man between them as though he lacked the strength to keep pace.

  The tiniest amount of anger surged in his middle, not for the treatment of the Luminary, but at the memory his arrival conjured.

  Freckles.

  That had been what he’d called Merrin. My Merrin.

  He pulled his eyes away to find Merrin starting, horror struck as she watched the men cross the distance move towards them.

  His body was rigid with irritation. “What is he doing here?”

  Merrin’s turned to look at him. “I don’t know. Maybe he came looking for us? He told me to stay in the forest. Maybe he figured out I might try to speak to Zolten?”

  At the waver in her voice, he relaxed his posture. “It doesn’t matter now. They probably killed the old man, and they’re probably going to kill him.”

  Her mouth slackened, and he hastily corrected himself. “I mean. We’ll try to stop it, of course. But if Tartarean wants him dead…”

  He let the words merge with the falling snow in the hopes she might see reason. Tartarean’s men rarely travelled in small numbers. That much he remembered.

  Merrin rose to her feet, anguish written on her face as the wind tossed her hair about. As if noticing him staring, her jaw clenched, her eyes ahead. “I’m going to get him. Stay here if you want. It’s my fault he’s been captured. I’m going to try to save him.”

  His laugh was too cold. Save him. “How are you planning on doing that?”

  Her eyes blazed white-hot, and he stepped back a fraction, recalling the pain she’d sent through him when she’d been angry.

  “Oh. Like that. Well, maybe it’s a good time to see what I can do?”

  Her lips pursed, her arms folded across her chest. “Fine. Take the one on the right. I’ll take the left. Then we take Skylar back to the camp and get out of here.”

  His less than enthusiastic response went unnoticed as she began to walk boldly towards the men.

  His heart leapt in his chest as he followed in her footsteps, wondering why on earth he was doing so. These were the very men she’d sought to keep him from. Now she was actively asking for his assistance in attacking them.

  Why? What had changed that she no longer worried so much about him?

  At the determination on her face as her eyes fired, he saw the answer.

  Skylar.

  His stomach twisted as they moved closer, close enough to see the men’s waxy complexions, gazes dull and empty as they dragged Skylar forwards.

  The men plodded on, unhampered by the falling snow as they carried on to an unknown destination.

  The grimace on each face he glimpsed through the snow caused ice to rush through him. Thoughts crept around him as he struggled to keep pace with a fuming Merrin.

  Do I really want him around her?

  He inhaled sharply and steeled himself to take out the one closest to him. How? He had no idea.

  ***

  Merrin’s temper flared to life the closer she stepped to Skylar. Any concern for her own wellbeing flew away at the defeated posture of her kinsman. The two men holding him dropped him at her approach. Skylar’s knees buckled as he slammed into the snow, tipping over to his side.

  Her heart began to pound mercilessly in her chest as he lay prone, hands bound, head covered in a sack.

  If he were still alive, he gave no sign of it. Her veins firing with anger, Merrin ran at her man, hoping Tarquin would
do as he’d said.

  She grabbed the man’s bulky forearm and wrenched up his shirt sleeve, so she could make contact with his bare skin.

  He swung a meaty fist at her, connecting with her stomach, Merrin doubled over, gasping for air as he made what would be his last attempt to harm her.

  Filled with fury, she squeezed her fingers tighter, locking him into a death grip so he would stop struggling as she turned to check on Tarquin’s progress.

  His attack was less then fluid, more like a brawl as he tussled with the larger opponent. Then in a flood of light that burst from his eyes, the man flew backwards and skidded across the snow.

  But Tarquin wasn’t finished with him. His face set hard as he stalked towards the man, who’s black eyes filled with fright as he scrambled backwards.

  Merrin’s heart clenched as Tarquin yanked him up, spinning him around so he could place the man’s head in the crook of his arm.

  The snow building in intensity, Merrin caught the look on Tarquin’s face a second before she realised he meant to kill the man. Before she could tell him there was another way, he wrenched the man’s head to the side, the sickening crack loud before he fell face first into the snow.

  Tarquin stood over him, breathing heavily. His eyes found hers, and her stomach roiled in response at the confused expression on his face. The light died in his eyes as he dropped his chin, shoulders rounded as though remorseful.

  She should have been clearer with him, should have explained that Luminary preserved life where possible. Another failure to add to the growing list.

  Tarquin’s face softened slightly as he crossed the snow towards where Skylar still lay. “I’m sorry. Instinct took over.”

  She released her man, who collapsed with a mewl of pain into the snow. Alive, but in no way capable of harming anyone. “It’s my fault. You don’t know how to control your strength yet.”

  His expression grew sour as he dropped into a crouch to examine Skylar. She did the same, her heart in her throat as she carefully rolled him onto his back and removed the hood.

  Her chest constricted at the damage to his face—eyes blackened, nose broken, infected cuts scattered across his face. His hair was matted and stuck to a gash on the side of his head.

  Her eyes filling, she pressed her hand on his chest. The faintest of breaths gave her hope they weren’t too late.

  She sniffed and look up at Tarquin, starting at the expression on his face. His eyes locked on Skylar as though he were something he’d scraped from the bottom of his boot. “Tarquin? We need to get him somewhere safe.”

  His eyes shot to her, his lips pressed tightly together, the snow falling heavier around them. He nodded slowly. “He might not make it far.”

  Her fists bunched at her sides. “That’s not the point. We have to try.”

  He shrugged, his manner too flippant for her liking. “We need to get out of here. He’ll slow us down.”

  Her eyebrows rose, her voice right with annoyance as she shook her head. “I can carry him. Go ahead and get the donkeys ready to leave.”

  He snorted a laugh. “You can’t carry him. Even I’d struggle.”

  She didn’t waste her breath arguing, just petitioned Onom for strength and hauled Skylar roughly up under the arms. Ignoring the protest to her muscles, she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, warmth filling her as she positioned her feet so she could squat.

  With a grunt, she lifted him, ignoring Tarquin’s slack-jawed expression. She shuffled slightly, shifting Skylar’s bulky body over her shoulder, draping her arm over him so he was snug against her body.

  “Hurry up. They’ll come looking soon.”

  Without a word, Merrin started to jog, leaving Tarquin gaping at her as she covered the snowy valley floor as quickly as possible.

  Her stomach tied in knots as Skylar groaned, she whispered to him. “It’s going to be alright. I’m not losing you too.”

  And she meant it. There was no going to the council if she were to lose him too.

  She was as responsible for him being here as if she’d pulled him here along with them. He knew her better than anyone—all the hours spent talking, him trying to get her to read the scrolls so she’d understand her role better.

  Of course, he followed me.

  Tarquin met her stride, his eyes wide as he slid a glance sidelong. “That’s how I got inside the tent? You carried me?”

  Merrin managed a slight nod before picking up her pace, using everything she had to save the one person in the world who’d never let her down.

  No one else would have come looking for her when she’d recklessly ignored his warning. No one cared quite so much as Skylar did.

  The thought echoed around her pained mind, penetrating the fuzzy logic she’d experienced ever since meeting Tarquin. His own declaration of love chafed as the words flittered through her mind.

  No one can love you like I can.

  ***

  Tarquin’s anger boiled in his veins, ridiculous anger that he worried would light at the slightest provocation. Most of his anger was directed at the unconscious man currently lying on the floor of the hastily erected tent.

  Merrin had managed to locate a spot they could hide, wedged in between a crack in the mountains, snow drizzling over them.

  For now anyway. All his attention on keeping a lid on the rage seething through him, he blew out a sigh and tried to sort through his messed-up head. His throat was tight, as though a noose hovered around his neck, constricting his breathing until he was certain there really was something holding him.

  Something unseen.

  The thought jolted him as Merrin’s teary eyes found his. She pushed herself up, her expression pained as she stood alongside him. “He’s just holding on. I’m going to need your help.”

  Tarquin’s own brow scrunched in reply. “What can I do?”

  She released a breath. “I’m not sure. I wondered if you could try to convince him to…ah, well, wake up?”

  “What?” Tarquin snorted. “You think that will work?”

  A blush appeared. “I don’t know. But I think we should try.”

  Tarquin folded his arms over his chest and looked into her eyes. “Merrin. Why would I want to help him? He’s part of the reason we’re here. If he’d helped, we’d never have ended up in this position.”

  Merrin’s jaw worked furiously, her voice shaking. “We’re here because I didn’t listen to his warning not to leave my home.”

  Tarquin shook his head. “Your prison, you mean? A prison he probably helped confine you to.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes, and her fists curled, letting him know he’d pushed too far.

  Or did I hit another sore spot?

  “Skylar did everything he could to convince me to stay at Evanswood and learn more. Every time I didn’t listen to his advice, I ended up in trouble.”

  Tarquin scoffed, anger causing his skin to heat. “Just stop it. It’s obvious you have feelings for him. The least you can do is be honest with me about it.”

  Merrin’s eyebrows rose. She sucked in a breath through her teeth. “Honest? You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

  She turned, and he grabbed her, pulling her into him and kissing her roughly. This time she didn’t respond with anything resembling eagerness.

  This time, pain screamed through him, pushing him backwards. Her eyes were blazing white fury as she set her shoulders. “Don’t ever do that again. I’m done being manipulated by you.”

  Tarquin staggered backwards. Confusion slipped in, swallowing the anger he still didn’t understand. “But…I love you.”

  She shook her head. “This? This is not love. Whatever we had. It’s over. And it certainly wasn’t love.”

  A chill snaked down his back, the wind whispering as he slumped to the ground.

  You have failed.

  Tarquin’s eyes widened as the restriction around his neck grew, his hands flew to his collar; desperation muddled with panic and terror over the unse
en entity.

  He choked, airways narrowing. Blackness smothered him and chased out the light until it vanished. He shuddered as a surge of ice filled his body, flowing through him, travelling from his toes to his head.

  Fear, so vivid, so strong, crept towards him, all thoughts crushed as he struggled to breathe.

  Spots formed before his eyes, white pricks against the blackness as he writhed on the ground consumed by horror and knowledge he was losing the fight.

  A fight he’d never stood a chance of winning. Not without her.

  His heart thudding in his chest, Tarquin realised he’d lost the only person who wanted to save him.

  His eyes filled with tears, with dread, and as he gave up, he saw too late how right she’d been.

  He had been controlling her—using her and manipulating her to get what he wanted.

  But she was wrong about one thing.

  He did love her. As much as a monster could love anyone.

  ***

  Merrin’s hands were shaking as she laid them on Skylar. His skin felt cold and clammy under the horrific bruising. Her heart constricted in her chest as she prayed, her prayers more fevered, more concentrated than ever before.

  Tarquin made a noise behind her. She ignored him, too angry to care if she’d hurt him.

  She’d been so wrong about him. About her feelings for him. Skylar and Zolten had tried to warn her he would try to control her. To use her inexperience and desire to work against her, and they’d both been right.

  Humiliation and shame settled on her as she stared at the mottled bruising on Skylar’s face, a reminder of how wrong she’d been and the consequences of her disobedience. How could she forgive herself if he died?

  What if his light dimmed and never fired again? How could she face the council? The Chief? Not only had she failed Tarquin, she’d destroyed another Luminary along with him.

  The sob escaped, and with it, she lost her composure completely. She was just a girl. It was too much to expect her to understand, to know what to do and how to stop making the same mistakes over and over again.

  The wind picked up outside, causing the side of the tent to shift. The slight whisper caught her by surprise.