Shift

  Both of the females wore flowing gowns similar to the one worn by Melanthe. The first had rich, brown hair worn in an up-do decorated with jeweled pins. Her pretty face was dusted with freckles across the bridge of her nose. She stood beside the giant and her head topped out just above his elbow. The second female was taller and her blonde hair was cut into a short style that suited her long face. It was clear by the way she stood and the well-toned lines of her build that she knew how to handle herself.

  “—and that is that,” Melanthe said, pulling Sophia’s attention away from the group staring at her. She turned from Derian and offered a small smile. “I would like to introduce you to some friends of mine, Sophia. I assure you that they will not harm you.” She darted a warning look at Derian. “Despite what impression has been made.”

  “Okay,” Sophia replied, squelching her fear. She tried not to think of the time ticking away.

  “These are my friends, Alys,” Melanthe said, indicating the blonde female, “and Oria.” She pointed to the brunette. Turning to the copper-haired male, she continued, “This is Verrell, and over there is Cleve. You have already deduced that this is Derian, I am sure.”

  “Hello,” Sophia said, sweeping her gaze across the group to include all of them in her greeting. When they stared at her without responding, she added, “Thank you for pulling me out of the marsh.”

  “Are you a Kynzesti then?”

  The question came from Verrell. She realized he was the male with the French accent. “I am,” she answered.

  They all exchanged glances. Her heart picked up in pace as she wondered if they would now decide to hold her prisoner to bargain for her return to her family. In an effort to protect the Kynzesti, little about them was shared with outsiders. The elders only notified the other classes about births and shared a few details about the newest Estilorian class. She could see the group taking her measure.

  Unable to stand the silence, she said, “I really must go.” When she saw Melanthe’s face fall, guilt flooded her. “After the tour.”

  “Not so fast, Kynzesti,” Derian said, his arms crossed over his chest. “What brings ye out here to the middle of nowhere?”

  Unsure how much she should share, she hedged, “I was following my cousin and a friend. I really need to catch up with them.”

  “Is that so? And why, I have to ask, are ye away from yer protected homeland in the first place?” His eyes bored holes through her.

  “We’re helping the elders,” she said, trying to find a way to convey a sense of importance without attracting too much of their interest. Fortunately, since she had grown up with a truth-detecting cousin, she had long ago learned the art of telling the truth without telling the truth. “Since you know of my class, you likely know that we each have different abilities. The elders requested the assistance of some of us.”

  “What kind of assistance?” Verrell asked.

  “I would prefer not to discuss it.” Sophia watched them process that. When Derian’s expression darkened, she held his gaze and added, “Believe me when I say that it’s in all of your best interests not to pursue that answer any further.”

  A long silence followed. Eventually, Derian gave a brief nod of acknowledgement. Sophia couldn’t help but be impressed by his restraint. The fact that he took her seriously told her that he had good instincts and that he respected the position he was in as the apparent leader of this group.

  “How did ye get out here all alone without a stitch of clothing?” he asked.

  Not batting an eye under his scrutiny, she replied, “I fell behind the group I’m following. I exhausted myself trying to catch them. My abilities include shapeshifting. When I assume an animal form, I shed my clothes.”

  “And why are there two Mercesti followin’ ye?”

  “What?”

  “There are two Mercesti males on the outskirts of our marsh,” Derian explained, making Sophia’s skin prickle with chill bumps. “They were followin’ ye and appear to be waitin’ for yer departure to pick back up the chase.”

  Sophia had to sit down as his words sank in. Melanthe hurried to her side with an exclamation of concern, but Sophia barely registered that.

  She had been followed? By whom? For how long? And why?

  “What—” She had to clear her throat, as it had become so dry with fear that her words were raspy. “What do they look like?”

  As Derian relayed a detailed description, Sophia felt the color leech from her face. Her head swam. Bertram and Tycho.

  They had followed her.

  “Do ye know them?” Derian asked.

  “I…”

  Sophia trailed off and shook her head. She struggled to regain her composure as shock eased into acceptance.

  Despite the other beings in the room, she suddenly felt very alone…and she longed to see Quincy again with a need so painful it surprised her. Unexpected tears stung her eyes and she forced them back.

  “Sophia?” Melanthe said in a quiet voice, likely noting her distress. “Do those Mercesti mean you harm?”

  “If they’re the two males I think they are,” Sophia said at last, “they wouldn’t be following me for a good reason.”

  “Rogues,” Verrell muttered.

  He glanced at Derian, who nodded once. Turning without another word, Verrell left the room with Cleve and Alys right behind him.

  “Ye can wait here while we dispatch the two males,” Derian said as though this was a common occurrence. “Then ye can leave.”

  Uncertain how to feel, Sophia just said, “Thanks.”

  “Would you allow me and Oria to style your hair for you while you wait?” Melanthe asked.

  “Sure,” Sophia said with a shrug. She supposed it would give her some reason to sit still while she tried to figure out what in the world she would do when she was finally allowed to leave.

  How had Bertram and Tycho found her? Even more important, why were they following her? She had nothing to offer them. Tate and Ariana were the ones who—

  She stiffened. They hadn’t been following her. They’d been following Tate and Ariana. And the two males served Eirik, which meant he was surely involved.

  “Is everything all right?” Melanthe asked. Her hands were full of Sophia’s hair, telling Sophia that she and Oria either lacked the Lekwuesti abilities to style hair or they just preferred to work with their hands.

  “Not really,” she murmured as she finally grasped the gravity of the situation.

  Fortunately, no one pressed her for more information, though they exchanged glances over her head.

  She thought through her options as she waited. She wished she could figure out a way to get back home, but the memory of her homeland’s location had been wiped from her mind the moment she left, thanks to the protections. Even if she could go home, that would take at least a day. Besides, the homeland had surely been alerted to what happened and help was likely already on the way.

  She could head in the direction that Knorbis had gone with Tate and Ariana. The problem was that she had no idea whether he had departed from that course. It seemed probable, as he had been very evasive in his flight path. Even if she shifted into an animal with hunting abilities, she didn’t have a scent or other stimuli to help guide her now.

  Or did she?

  Her mind returned to the moment nine weeks before when she stood on the cliff outside the area of protection surrounding her homeland. She’d been scratched by the trees in her eagerness to escape Quincy’s touch and the feelings he evoked in her, so her skin bore open wounds. As she stood on that cliff, Tate was grabbed by Nyx and snapped through the air with the kragen’s powerful tail. The resulting spray of blood had covered Sophia, open wounds and all.

  So they had shared bodily fluids, one of the ways Gloresti bonds formed. On top of that, she and Tate were cousins, and both of them were part Gloresti. She should be able to use that connection to find Tate.

  So why didn’t she experience the pull and connection to Tate that she
should?

  She balled her right hand into a fist. The only explanation for her failure to draw on her Gloresti side was her freakish DNA. That meant, if her conclusion was correct, she would be unable to properly track Tate and Ariana.

  It also meant that Eirik was soon going to be in possession of the Elder Scroll.

  Verrell and the others returned just as Melanthe and Oria finished Sophia’s hair. He looked at Derian and shook his head.

  Sophia understood. The Mercesti had escaped.

  Even as fear threatened to choke her, she got to her feet. She looked to Melanthe and said, “Thank you so much for your hospitality, but I really have to go.”

  “Of course,” Melanthe replied. She looked at Derian. “Can we not offer her an escort?”

  Frowning, Derian looked at Sophia. “Where is it ye need to go?”

  Feeling utterly overwhelmed, she shrugged in defeat. “I have no idea,” she said. Then she issued a brittle laugh. “Unless you happen to know where Hoygul the Scultresti lives.”

  Quirking an eyebrow, Derian said, “What do ye know? Today is yer lucky day.”

  Chapter 28

  The sun was high in the sky as Knorbis landed with Tate and Ariana on the outskirts of the land surrounding Kanika’s home. Despite the time of day, red balls glowed in the air above her dwelling, lighting the way in a mockery of welcome.

  He had never felt so wretched in his entire existence. On the other side of the trees in front of him was the dwelling where his wife lay—in what condition he could only guess. The meeting location that Metis had imparted to him when he connected with her a short while ago was a ten-minute walk from here. He had only to lead Tate and Ariana to the site and then go and retrieve his wife. Straightforward enough.

  Looking at the two females as they stood in front of him with vacant stares, he knew he couldn’t do it.

  Malukali, he thought as anguish gripped him, if you can hear me, please forgive me. I love you. I’ll find another way to save you.

  His vision blurred as he released Tate and Ariana from the mental hold he’d kept on them since he abducted them nearly thirty-six hours ago. They slowly blinked back to awareness.

  “Whoa,” Tate said, swaying. The elixir he had given them to fly would wear off soon. They would have to sleep when it did. “How did we get outside the forest?”

  Ariana also looked around in confusion, pressing her hands to her temples. “Why is it daytime?” she asked.

  “Tate, Ariana, I’m so sorry,” he said, reaching out to touch their arms. “I’ve taken you away from the others. They have Malu—”

  “Tsk, tsk.”

  They all turned as a group of beings emerged from the forest. Knorbis froze in shock, then instinctively threw up what mental defenses he could. A number of the younger and weaker-willed Mercesti turned and moved back into the forest, obeying Knorbis’ silent command. Everyone else stopped.

  Eirik was neither young nor weak-willed, and his red eyes bored into Knorbis. “I sense your will, elder, and I feel it weakening. You have not slept in quite some time and you have already exerted a great deal of your energy getting the females here. You will not hold me long.”

  He was right. “Tate, Ariana—you have to leave,” Knorbis said. “Hurry.”

  But the effects of the elixir were already taking their toll. Ariana sank to the ground. She let out a sob. Tate bent to try and pick her up, but fell to her knees.

  Then Metis, still maintaining Kanika’s form, stepped out of the forest. The weight of his complete failure broke through the last thread of Knorbis’ concentration. He lost the hold he had on the minds of the surrounding Mercesti.

  “Your wife will surely appreciate your cooperation,” Metis said in silky tones.

  It felt like someone squeezed a band around his heart. “Please don’t hurt her.”

  “But you were about to release the two females,” Eirik pointed out.

  “I did bring them, though,” Knorbis argued, swallowing against his raging fear for Malukali.

  How had he let things get to this point? He was an elder with the ability to predict the future, damn it. Why hadn’t he foreseen this?

  Eirik made a motion with his hand and four Mercesti stepped forward, moving toward Tate and Ariana. Even as Ariana whimpered, Tate surged to her feet, her blessed nunchucks in her hands. The weapons winked with an inner light that hurt the eyes of the Mercesti.

  With more courage than Knorbis could ever hope to have, Tate faced down her opponents. She didn’t appear concerned that she was outnumbered. Indeed, it didn’t matter.

  Her blessed weapons hurt the Mercesti and she used that to her advantage. Whirling, dipping, spinning and charging as though she wasn’t beyond exhausted, she had all four males backing away with injuries that ranged from a broken arm to a badly burned face.

  “Enough,” Eirik snapped. He looked at Knorbis. “Does she know we have your wife?”

  When he saw the shock flash across Tate’s face, saw her lower her weapons, Knorbis’ fear switched instantly to fury. “Damn you.”

  “It is too late for that.” Eirik now looked at Tate. “If you do not want to be responsible for the slow and painful death of the Orculesti elder, I suggest you drop your weapons and cooperate.”

  It both pained and relieved Knorbis when Tate tossed her nunchucks away. She still stood protectively in front of Ariana, who hadn’t moved from her spot on the ground.

  “You will also notice that you cannot send thoughts,” Eirik said, walking over to Tate and slowly circling her. “I have taken more precautions this time, knowing I would have a Kynzesti to keep under control.”

  Wanting to kick himself for his lack of sense, Knorbis belatedly tried to send a thought to Uriel. He knew immediately that it didn’t get through and understood that Eirik had at least one mentally gifted Mercesti capable of dampening somewhere in their midst.

  “This one,” Eirik added with a nod in Ariana’s direction, “is already cowed.” He stopped when he once again stood in front of Tate. “It will be entertaining to break you, however.”

  Knorbis was relieved when Tate refrained from comment. She must have known how much trouble they faced.

  “You will also be coming with us,” Metis said to Knorbis. “Once you have rested, you will use your abilities to help control these two females. So long as you do what we say, your wife will remain sedated and unharmed.”

  He should have known Metis would never keep her word. But it had been the only option he had to try and protect Malukali. Wishing he hadn’t exhausted himself to the point where he could barely think, he asked, “How will you explain your absence to the Waresti in your—Kanika’s home?”

  “The Waresti have been contained. They will not be a problem.”

  Her words slammed the lid on the last sliver of hope Knorbis had that he could rescue his wife. He saw nothing but a yawning pit of darkness and hopelessness where the future lay.

  A noise emitting from the forest had the hairs on the nape of his neck standing on end. It sounded like an animal in heat. When another group emerged from the woods, he realized his assumption was accurate enough.

  “Ah, my sweet Deimos,” Metis said, hurrying over to the males who held the straining Mercesti with some kind of harness. “I told you I would bring them to you, did I not?”

  As she spoke, the howling quieted. She said a few more words that Knorbis couldn’t hear, but they appeared to calm the horrid creature. Eirik reached down and lifted Ariana, who was as pale as the moon. Tears glistened on her cheeks.

  “Now,” he said, “unless you want me to turn you and the Kynzesti over to Deimos, tell me which way to go to get the scroll.”

  Ariana and I are with Knorbis. Eirik is here w—

  Tiege’s wings locked as Tate’s alarmed and confused thoughts flashed through his head. He lost a bit of altitude before he regained control of himself. His sister’s words had fear and adrenaline pumping through his system. Beside him, Zachariah looked over
as though he sensed news coming.

  “What’s wrong?” Uriel asked from his other side.

  “I just received a thought from Tate,” Tiege answered, looking over at the elder. “She said that she and Ariana are with Knorbis, and that Eirik is with them.”

  Uriel didn’t react to the awful news. Instead he asked, “Did she indicate that Sophia is with them?”

  “No,” Tiege said, and a fresh wave of worry hit him. “Maybe Sophia tracked them and she’s hiding from the Mercesti while she tries to figure out how to help.”

  “Ask Tate if they’re at Kanika’s so we can be sure—” Uriel began.

  “She’s no longer accessible,” Tiege interrupted. “Her thoughts were cut off.”

  “Her connection to you is likely being dampened by someone,” Zachariah said.

  Tiege hated that the other male shared this statement as though it was a simple fact and nothing of concern. Anger had him glaring at Zachariah and snapping, “Don’t you care at all that they’re back in Eirik’s control?” When that provoked nothing more than a stare, he said, “You may not know what Eirik is capable of, but I do. Ariana was his captive for almost two weeks. I know what he did to her. He’s very creative in his tortures.”

  “She has been trained—”

  “Don’t you get it?” Tiege interrupted, fury making his voice tight. “He needs Ariana coherent and healthy to get the scroll piece. She’ll be relatively safe.” He watched the Mercesti process this and then drove his point home. “Eirik can shatter whatever illusion surrounds the scroll piece by tossing Tate’s barely conscious body at it. He knows this after the last time. He’ll use Tate however he wants to in order to ensure Ariana’s cooperation.”

  There was a long pause as Zachariah considered Tiege’s words. Finally, the Mercesti looked over at Uriel. When he spoke, his voice was hard.

  “You must bring us to the Scultresti’s home so that we can acquire the map to the library.”