“I gave that title up a long time ago. I repeat, touch either of them again, and I’ll kill you.”
“Enough,” comes the quiet command from the shadows. “You have no allegiance to him, Dorlan, but you do have one to me.”
Harlu gives Dorlan one last look before returning to his seat next to Aureinia. Kalis helps Lily up and gently places her back into her seat. A look passes between them before Kalis pulls away, looking angrily after Harlu. Dorlan doesn’t look at anyone but returns to his place at the window, facing out.
“Why father,” ask Aureinia, getting up from her seat and moving toward Lily. “Why are you letting the humans live? Who cares about a human girl?”
When she reaches the desk, she puts her hand out to Lily’s shoulder and concentrates on her wound. A second later she pulls the knife out and Lily gasps, but doesn’t scream.
“Frank Chase has a task I need him to do for me, and the only thing he is obsessed with is the queen’s friend, Julia. Isn’t that right, Lilianethia?”
Lily doesn’t respond and Kolinest laughs quietly at her silence.
“Fine, but why should we care about her?” asks Aureinia indicating Lily as she returns to her seat.
“Because, if we don’t the king will destroy the realm before I find the doorway,” replies Kolinest. “One other thing,” he adds. “My brother is not in the realm. I can no longer feel his noose around my neck. The remaining Ancients have disappeared as well. He has chosen a new thirteen to hold the realm together.”
“What does this mean?” asks Harlu.
“Nothing. It means nothing, they’re too late,” insists Kolinest. “As it stands, Tharin is holding the realm together. Ka passed his core energy to him. I felt it the moment it happened.”
Harlu shakes his head thoughtfully. “It wasn’t just the thirteen elite guards of Kalinest that kept it together; he and his queen also had that burden. So it should be fifteen needed to hold the realm together.”
Kolinest sighs. “Ka and Sema were not required to participate, but they did as an added precaution. A truth he has kept to himself. I will take care of Tharin at the doorway after I have taken his queen.”
“So, we attack within the Willow as we did the Oak?” asks Morlo.
“No,” replies Kolinest. “We work on the other clans first. Thilthen has both armies within the Willow walls. It is the only reason why we were able to take the Oak so easily. We take the surrounding clans. Your people will be ready to strike when called for, Dorlan?”
“I will send the word when you’re ready,” answers the assassin.
“What about the Unnamed Sidhe?” interjects Kalis. “Legend has it he will come to Lily’s aide.”
“He will come to her aid as long as she remains the Virgin Queen. I am sure Harlu will take care of that.”
Aureinia sits up. “No. She has to remain that way to open the door.” She looks at Harlu, kicking at his foot. “Don’t look so eager, lover.”
Harlu ignores her as he keeps his eyes on Lily.
That’s it. I am about to call Alorn when someone else whispers to me.
“Tharin?”
I look across the room and see Lily look about her as if looking for something, or someone. Me…she senses me.
“Lily?”
~ * ~
Chapter Twenty-Nine
~ Lily ~
I take a deep breath to hide my sigh of relief when Tharin whispers back.
“Yes, Tharin it’s me,” I answer. “Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? I’m not the one held hostage,” he replies. I can hear the disbelief in his thoughts, but I don’t care. I am just happy he’s alive.
“Tharin, please get into your body and come get me,” I say calmly, at least I hope it comes across calmly.
“Lily, how are you whispering to me while I’m in the drift state?” he asks. Really?
“Tharin, see that blonde woman over there? The one who calls Kolinest ‘father’?”
“Yes, Lily, her name is Aureinia. Why?”
“Well, um, she healed my shoulder, but the bite on my neck that you gave me – isn’t,” I explain patiently. “Now get your kingly butt back into your body and get me the hell out of here.” I wait for a reply. “Hello?”
“Kalis,” says Kolinest, “why don’t you take Queen Lilianethia to the bedroom so she can rest. She has a big day tomorrow.”
“Come on,” says Kalis as she waits for me.
I glance at her before getting up. She moves to the side to let me walk in front of her and I take advantage of my viewpoint. I look to where Kolinest sits and try to see his face, but some kind of shadow hides his new identity. Frustrated, I move toward the door as I pass Dorlan. He watches me with hooded eyes and I give him a slight nod, my way of thanking him for earlier. I don’t know his story but I know he tried to help me at the garden and then defended Kalis. He may have stepped in for her, but I didn’t miss how he included me when he threatened Harlu. I remind myself again he is still dangerous.
We walk to the master bedroom without saying a word. I move inside the room as Kalis closes the door behind us and leans against it as she watches me look about.
“So why did you do it?” she asks.
I turn to her. “Do what?”
“Let’s not go back to playing stupid, Lily. You know what I’m talking about,” she replies as she moves toward the sofa.
I shrug as I move to look at the biggest bed I have ever seen in my entire life. I mean it is massive. They may have slept in separate bedrooms, but they still slept a lot closer than sleeping in this bed.
I turn and sit on the large bed step, facing Kalis. “I don’t know. Maybe because I didn’t want to see you killed? I mean I’d like to beat the crap out of you for betraying Tharin like this, but, yeah, don’t want you dead.”
She cocks her head at me. “Betray Tharin?” She tosses her sickeningly beautiful head back and barks out a laugh. “He promised me a life that you now live. He promised a love that you now possess. He broke my heart and killed the only person I truly loved and I’m the one who betrayed him?”
“The one you truly love?” I ask confused. Tharin wouldn’t just kill anyone unless he had no other choice.
Kalis doesn’t say anything for a moment. She casts her eyes downward, staring at her hands. When she looks up again I’m surprised to see them glistening.
“He killed my brother,” she answers so quietly, I find myself leaning forward to hear her.
“Did you say your brother?”
“You should know, Lily, you were there when he killed him. He killed him to save you.”
I stare at her stunned and confused. I think back, trying to remember all the battles, all the times Tharin stepped in to save me.
And then it hits me. “Fien. Fien was your brother.”
She stares just over my shoulder, retelling a painful memory. “We were just kids, two of many in Molker’s guild. Fien protected me the best he could growing up, at least he tried. But once Kolinest found me, he took me from Molker. I begged him to bring Fien along and we paid the ultimate price to remain together.” She refocuses and her eyes snap back to me. “You think you know what evil is? You will tomorrow.” She sighs, brushing off her comments as if they were never spoken. “And the rest, as they say, is history.”
“I’m sorry,” I say and I mean it.
“I don’t want your pity, queen. I want your help getting us out of here. Dorlan has a plan, and no, he won’t call on the Sithide to join Kolinest’s armies.”
“You and Dorlan?”
She shrugs. “It sounded good at the time.”
“Seriously?”
She abruptly gets up and walks to the double doors leading out to the balcony. “He’s here isn’t he?”
The lie is on the tip of my tongue but instead I say, “Yes.”
She continues staring out into the darkness. “There was a time when he would do anything to come for me. It seems like a lifetime ago now.” She tu
rns to me. “My time with him is over, but I will tell you this. If you should get in the way of a stray arrow, or a blade, or anything that cuts you down, you can bet I’ll be back in his bed before you hit the ground.”
I don’t have a response to that, so I just sit and stare at her in complete disbelief.
She smirks. “So watch your back.”
She walks to the doors and before opening them, she turns back to me. “By the way, tell Julia I won’t let her excuse of a father touch her, because I’m going to kill her myself.” She walks out, letting the doors close behind her.
God she’s irritating.
I move to the double doors and peer out onto the balcony, looking for signs of Tharin and Alorn. I am so intent on looking out for them that I don’t hear him until I feel him in the room.
Harlu.
I turn on him at the same time as I call a shield around me.
“Hello, Lily.”
I stay quiet as my heart jumps to my throat. I remain near the double doors as my brain quickly forms a plan to run out onto the balcony.
He glances behind me. “Oh, I hope you weren’t thinking of running away, were you? I should warn you there are about twenty of my best archers out there ready to cut down anyone coming in or out of this room.”
I keep my face calm, not wanting to give him the satisfaction that his words got to me.
He keeps his eyes on me as he walks to an armchair and takes a seat. “Come, Lily, I thought we were beyond the awkward stage in our relationship. Please, take a seat.” He indicates the sofa, but I remain where I stand, the small panic rising inside me. He shrugs. “Suit yourself. I prefer you standing anyways. There’s so much more for me to admire.”
I refuse to let him goad me.
He lifts his hands as if giving up. “You are a stubborn one. But it is one of your many traits that I have come to love. What I don’t get is why you would be in love with Tharin? Oh, I get the good looks and the whole ‘hero’ thing, and then of course, there’s being king and all, but still…why?”
“That’s not enough?” I ask, surprising myself.
His lip lifts in a half smile. “Ah, it’s true what they say, love is blind. But if you ask me, the muscle-elf is so boring, my dear sister. I mean, come on, Lily, you can’t seriously tell me that if you take away all of the above you would still find him interesting, would you?” He stares at me expectantly and then slaps the armrests laughing. “Please say it; please just say it once for me.”
“Say what?”
“That you love him because he’s a sweet guy, or better yet, you love his kind and generous heart and his looks and fortune has nothing to with it.” He laughs again and when he sees my face, which I’m assuming is pissed off red if the heat I am feeling is any indication, he stops and looks at me once again before grabbing his stomach, laughing even harder.
After what seems like an eternity, he sits back, trying to control himself. “Oh my, you are too funny. I forget how innocent you are. Mother would be so proud, if only she were still alive. And I’m still searching for father; despite him being only human he has evaded my every attempt to flush him out. Perhaps you can find him in your drift state? I understand you’re very good at it.”
I look at him, catching the jealousy in his voice. “You don’t have any abilities do you?”
“Really? Don’t be too sure of yourself,” he replies.
“No, you’re right,” I answer slowly. “You do have abilities, but you don’t have mine. And it’s killing you that you don’t know what all of them are. You’re curious, too. You wonder if my abilities are stronger than yours. After all, I was blessed by our mother, while you got a dem –”
In a blink of an eye, Harlu has me by the throat and across the room, slamming me onto the bed. I claw at his hand and in response he laughs out loud, ecstatic at my mounting fear and helplessness. I can feel myself hyperventilating despite his hand at my throat. I can also feel the hot tears as I feel him tear at my coat, trying to get under my jersey.
He presses his body heavily on me, as he eases up on his choke hold and leans in close to my ear. “I haven’t forgotten your kiss, dear sister. It’s all I can think of. So much promise…Ah, poor Tharin will never kn…”
He doesn’t finish as with everything I can muster, I slam my fist into his elbow, buckling it and forcing him to release my neck. I follow up by lifting off the bed with the force of my will and drive another elbow to his chin, all the while hearing Ziri’s voice instructing me on the elbows and knees being weak points, but they are also my strongest weapons. He falls off me to the side but still holds my jersey. It rips when I tear away from him and quickly bring up my knee before he recovers.
Still shaken, and trying to get air past my throat, I stumble off the bed hitting my knee against the bed steps. I fall to the floor, half crawling, half leaping on all fours to the door trying to get as far away from him as possible. Sheer panic rises when I hear Harlu roar and come after me. I twist quickly onto my back and find my bow and arrow in my hands aiming directly at his heart. His eyes widen as I release the arrow, but he puts out his hand as he twists mid-air to the side, hitting the floor growling with pain. I look and see the arrow has gone half way through his hand.
He breaks the arrow shaft and yanks the bottom piece out, tossing it aside. He shoots his other hand at me and my bow goes flying. He takes the half of the shaft with the arrowhead still intact and comes after me again. I turn quickly to where the bow is and concentrate on it until it comes flying back to my hand, but I’m too late. Harlu leaps at me, pulling the arrow back to give it optimal force when it comes down on me. But, to my surprised and stunned reaction, he lands on top of me with a heavy thud, without stabbing me. I look over his shoulder and standing above us is Glynnis holding a bronze bust in her hand.
I am so overwhelmed by the thought of what could have happened if Glynnis didn’t show up that I lie back in relief. I lay under Harlu gasping for air, releasing my fear through my breathing.
Glynnis shoves Harlu off me and says, “We must hurry, my queen, before he comes to. I don’t believe we are capable of taking him out a second time.”
I’m unable to talk and when she reaches down to pull me up – I pull her down instead and hug her tightly. I can feel her uncertainty until she finally relaxes and allows me a chance to calm myself. It takes me longer than I like to stop shaking and regulate my breathing.
“My queen, you are safe now,” she soothes. “I will take you away from here if you are ready?”
I pull away nodding, still unable to speak. But then I remember about Tharin and Alorn.
“No,” I finally say, not letting go of her hand. “Tharin and Alorn are here, looking for me. We can’t leave.”
“Do you know where they are?” she asks.
“I tried whispering to them, but I guess I’m still not that good at it.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s not you. It’s this room. There is a ward of some sort in place. I felt your need for help, but it took me awhile to find you because of it.”
All I can do is nod at her explanation.
She finally notices my torn jersey and the scratch marks on my chest. She moves my hair aside to see the bruising along my neck. Her exotic eyes flame into golden fire and her face turns hard.
“Say the word, my queen, and I will kill him where he lies.”
Harlu starts to come to, moaning.
“No, let’s just go, please.” Before I can say anything else, Glynnis holds my hand tightly and changes into her golden form. I look at my hand and watch in amazement as the golden specks from her body quickly cover my skin and soon all of me. I turn to Harlu as Glynnis pulls me away and see him turn to us, hatred in his eyes as he roars his frustration. He tries to reach out but we are already gone.
~ * ~
Chapter Thirty
~ Tharin ~
“I don’t sense her anywhere, Alorn,” I call, trying to stay calm.
“She’s
not anywhere in the suites, Tharin. Where else would they take her?”
I try again to whisper to her, knowing if she is near, I should be able to connect with her. Nothing.
“Tharin?”
“Mellis, what are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to hear from him.
“We’re all waiting for you” he says. “When we didn’t find you there, I decided to come and look for you here.”
“Is Lily with the others?” asks Alorn, before I could.
“No, isn’t she with you?” answers Mellis.
“The study is empty, you might as well come in,” I say, moving toward the bedroom.
“What is it, Tharin?” asks Alorn.
I stop and stare at the bedroom door. I let my senses flow throughout the suite, particularly at the master bedroom. Nothing. I look at Alorn, shaking my head, hoping it would be that easy to find her.
We open the doors to the front rooms. No lights are on and we make our way to the front doors when someone speaks from the sitting area. Quickly, we melt into the shadows and slip into a spare room. We leave the door ajar and listen.
“But you told the others you were going...” says Aureinia’s whispered voice.
“Yes, child, I did,” replies Kolinest, cutting her off. “But the assassin has betrayed us, and so has Kalis. They know of my plans to take no one with me when I go through the doorway.”
“And, me. And I won’t go without Harlu,” insists Aureinia.
“Of course,” he answers quietly. “Our men are ready to strike the Willow Clan in about an hour.”
“What about the priests and assassins? Are they in place and ready to go?”
Kolinest gives a low laugh. “There are no priests and assassins. That was something I created to take the attention off the real catalyst to destroying Velesi.”
The world around me suddenly stops. No, it can’t be. I remember now what I couldn’t remember when Kolinest took over my body. It’s me. I am the catalyst, the detonator to causing the destruction of Velesi. And with the dragon spirit inside me, the gift of the Healers, Lily won’t be able reach me when I go atomic on the realm and everyone in it.