A Soul for Trouble (36 page)

Ahead, a small mound of earth encased the necromancer’s lower body. The same clay hands that effortlessly sucked the undead underground minutes before clawed at his arms and his robes. They tugged at him, but he shrugged them off. Jagged red streaks of light that shot out from his fingers pummeled an invisible wall a few feet from Arden. With each second, they pushed it further back.

Kell tightened his jaw. “Let’s get him before he hurts her.” He sprang to his feet and raced toward Sulaino. Footsteps crunched against the hardened clay behind him, letting him know Dev was right on his heels. He raised his sword, ready to strike as soon as he got close enough.

The necromancer turned to him with shock clearly on his face. The red magic dimmed from his fingers, and the earthen mound climbed up his chest. A snarl curled his lips as a bolt of magic snaked across the field at him.

Another blanket of magic encircled Kell, but the blow still knocked him off his feet as if he’d been punched in the gut. The taste of blood filled his mouth.

Dev grabbed his arm and pulled him up. “Keep running. I’ll protect you from him.” He looked back and saw Arden drop to her knees. His mouth went dry, and his throat constricted. The wall now only stood inches from her face. He fought the urge to turn around and protect her.

“Stop wasting time,” Dev growled behind him. “If her shield breaks, she’s dead.” That was all the encouragement he needed. He dug his toes into the ground and ran until his lungs felt like they were going to burst. More bolts of red magic bounced helplessly off the shield Dev cast around them as they closed the distance between them. Time to kill that bastard before he took the one thing on this earth that he cared about. He aimed the tip of his blade straight at Sulaino’s heart and didn’t slow down until the crunch of bone vibrated up his arm.

Arden’s cry of exhaustion echoed across the plain in harmony with the necromancer’s death shriek.

Kell threw the weight of his body behind his sword and continued to press through Sulaino’s flesh until the bloodied tip appeared on the other side. He stared into the face of the man who caused so much terror and destruction through his kingdom. “Time for you see what waits for you in the void,” he spat with one final shove of his sword.

Sulaino’s mouth hung open, and his eyes bugged out. A spasm racked his body. His one hand grasped Kell’s. “Fool…”

“Step back, Kell,” Dev ordered. His sword sliced through the air and lopped off the necromancer’s head in one clean swing.

Flames engulfed the beheaded body, forcing Kell to jump back before they ignited his clothes. The ashes disintegrated and dispersed in the wind. Now there was nothing left of the necromancer.

Relief surged through him. They’d done it. All three of them. Sulaino was nothing more than a memory.

An eerie silence hung in the air as if everyone inside the city was scared to breath. His lungs burned, and a stitch in his side reminded him of how hard he pushed himself tonight. But there was still one more thing he needed to do. He sheathed his sword and stumbled back to Arden.

She lay face-down on the ground. When he rolled her over, her pale face appeared grey in the moonlight. He gathered her into his arms. Seconds ticked by as he watched for the subtle rise and fall of her chest, fearing the worst.

“She’s not dead,” Dev said as he approached. The necromancer’s head dangled from his hand. “I would know it if she was.”

“How?”

“I’m her protector.” If he knew his vague answer perturbed Kell, he didn’t show it. His lean face seemed tense when he knelt next to them. “She needs to sleep for a day or two, and then we’ll know more about her condition.”

“What do you mean?”

“I warned you that if she channeled Loku, there could be dire consequences, and I didn’t mean the collapse of the outer wall.” He visibly struggled with the next sentence. “She may not be the same person when she awakens.”

Kell traced the outlines of her cheekbones and jaw. She appeared to be the same as before, no different than the first night he saw her. Just a skinny girl with hair the color of sunshine.

His chest tightened, and he pulled her closer until he felt her warm breath on his neck. He had to hope for the best. “She’ll be fine, Dev. You’ll see. She’s stronger than we give her credit for.”

Chapter 37

Dev stared across the sunny room at Kell. The young prince rubbed his sagging eyelids for the third time in the last five minutes, but he refused to leave Trouble’s side. “Get some sleep.

She’s not going to wake up any time soon.”

He shook his head like a stubborn child. “I want to be here when she does.”

“I’ll send for you the minute she stirs.” It was a lie, but one he wanted the prince to believe. He didn’t want Kell to witness her mental deterioration before he had a chance to evaluate her. After her display of power last night, she could’ve well turned into Robb. His gut clenched at the thought.

“You promise?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I give you my word as a knight.” Kell snorted. “We both know what kind of knight you are.” He brushed a stray piece of hair off of her face. “But unless I can crawl into bed next to her…” Dev crossed his arms. He’d allowed the prince’s doting so far, but he drew the line with him sharing Trouble’s bed. A twinge of guilt stabbed him when he remembered how much he enjoyed lying next to her, but he saw no reason for Kell to know about that. Instead, he glared at him until the prince retreated from her.

“Fine, I’ll sleep in my own bed. But remember, you’ll send for me the moment she starts to wake up.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Kell bent over and pressed his lips to Trouble’s forehead, causing something to clench in Dev’s gut. He envied how freely the other man could show his affections for the girl. But he knew the reason why more than ever now. If he’d allowed his feelings for Trouble to get the better of him last night, they’d all be dead. His head, not his heart, had protected them from Sulaino’s magic. He just hoped he’d made the right decision letting her fight Sulaino instead of locking her up in the dungeon.

“I’ll be back in a few hours, then.”

Dev nodded and waited until he was alone before he sat in his chair next to the bed. Dark smudges circled the lower half of her eyes, creating a stark contrast to her waxen complexion.

If he didn’t see her breathing, he would have sworn she was dead. He resisted the urge to hold her in his arms while she slept. Was it selfish of him to want to be the first person she saw when she opened her eyes?

She sighed softly and nestled deeper into the pillows. A smile played on her lips.

He tensed, preparing to send for the prince, but when made she made no movement afterward, he relaxed back in the chair. A dream. That’s all it was. He wondered what it was about. Hopefully, nothing like the dream Loku sent him. He didn’t know if he’d be able to resist this time.

“What do you have in store for her, Loku? You’ve won her over. How much further are you going to push her?”

The god didn’t answer.

He pressed his knuckles into his chin. Even if she was awake, the king still declared them prisoners. After last night, no one would deny that she was a witch. The entire city watched her destroy the necromancer’s army. It took a small band of men surrounding them to get them through the city streets and back to the palace. People pressed up to them, their cries of gratitude mingling with their cries of fear. He balled his fingers into a fist. Yes, the Ranellians were happy to be alive, but they didn’t want to thank the witch that saved them.

Even the king shared their reaction, only he seemed more troubled. Bynn and Ortono had brought Gandor and Larenis to him before she saved the city. He’d seen their battered and burned bodies and knew the savior of the kingdom had also attacked his heir and the captain of the guard, two symbols of his authority. Heodis spent most of the night with his gaze flickering back and forth between her and Sulaino’s head while he listened to the series of events. The first rosy fingers of dawn had pierced the sky before he waved them away, saying he needed to sleep before he reached a conclusion.

Dev rubbed his temples. At least Heodis wasn’t making any rash decisions. He just wished time wasn’t ticking against them. Thick frost covered the land and coated the windows this morning. Storm season would be coming early this year.

He mused over their situation until the sun rose higher in the sky. A beam of light crossed the window, flashed on her pendant when she rolled her head to the side. He waited for a few seconds to see if she stirred again before placing the flat gold square in his palm. She’d always kept it hidden from him, but now he had a chance to study it.

His eyes widened when he saw the Elvish writing on one side. No wonder she just dismissed it as random etchings. He peered closer at the inscription. “To Alisa, the brightest star in the sky.” He flipped it over. His blood turned to ice when he saw the Milorian Rose, a symbol of one of the oldest Elvan families in Gravaria, on the back.

He released the pendant as if it burned him. The room swayed, forcing him to close his eyes. How could she be connected to the Milorians? She was just a barmaid from a remote corner of Ranello. The political ramifications alone boggled his mind.

When his eyes opened, the first thing they focused on was the scar on the top of her ear.

He brushed his fingers against it, eliciting the same trembling reaction as before. He traced his own ears. The light touch sent tingles through his body that grew more intense as he neared the tips. A shudder ripped through him. He stopped, jumped to his feet, and gripped the windowsill to steady himself.

None of this makes any sense
. He searched his memory for any information she’d given him about her parents or the pendant. Her father had seduced her mother while she worked in the palace nearly twenty-two years ago, the same time the last Gravarian delegation visited Trivinus. By Jussip, if her father was a member of the Milorian family…

His breath hitched. He already feared losing her to Loku. Who knew what twisted plans the Milorians would have for her once her heritage was discovered? She’d become a pawn in their games.

An image of her lashing out her frustrations at her absent father flickered in his mind, followed by her stream of heated words. She wanted nothing to do with him, whoever he was.

Relief cascaded through him. He’d protect her from the Milorians.

At least that explains a few things
, he thought grimly. Her power, her appearance, her grace and quick reflexes. All signs of a heritage he’d refused to acknowledge until now. When he brought her before the Empress or the Mages Conclave, would they notice? Once again, the name “Trouble” suited her all too well.

Outside, fat white flakes started to fall from the clouds above. He frowned. No ship would sail from Boznac until the spring. At least it gave him time to research the members of the last Gravarian delegation and learn the identity of her father without raising too many suspicions.

***

Arden’s stomach growled loudly enough to rouse her from her dreams. How many days had it been since she’d last eaten anything? She opened her eyes and lifted her head. The familiar east wing room surrounded her, complete with Dev dozing in the chair next to her bed.

Her mouth curled up into a smile, and she covered his hand with her own.

He jumped at her touch. Once he blinked the sleep from his eyes, he leaned forward and searched her face. “How are you feeling?”

“He’s trying to see if you’ve gone mad.”

“Have I, Loku?”

“No, my dear Soulbearer. I promised you I wouldn’t do that to you.”
He paused and added,
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with him.”
Laughter welled up inside her, threatening to explode. After everything they’d been through, could she possibly play a trick on Dev?

“Trouble, why aren’t you answering me?” He tightened his grip on her hand and practically hovered over her. “What’s Loku telling you?”

“Who’s Loku?” she asked in a dazed voice. “And who are you, for that matter?” A curse flew from his lips. He tried to untangle his fingers from hers, but she held on and yanked him to the bed. He froze as he rolled on top of her, pressing her deep into the soft mattress.

Dev’s weight didn’t feel as uncomfortable as she’d imagined it would be. Instead, it stirred something deep inside her, dredging up feelings of desire and contentment. Fire raced along the length of her skin where he touched her. She traced the sharp angle of his jaw with the tip of her finger, reveling how strange it felt with its lack of stubble, and inhaled the blend of spices and leather that made his scent unique.

“Arden, are you well?” He licked his lips, but his gaze never left hers. A hard ridge pressed into her stomach.

“Ah, see? His desire matches yours.”

The hunger grew in his eyes, widening the black centers and darkening the remaining green rims into the color of cypress trees. Every muscle in his body tensed. He seemed to be waiting on her.

She needed to taste his lips, to know if they affected her the same way Kell’s did. “Yes, Dev, I’m perfectly fine here with you.” She lifted her face to close the gap between them.

“Damn it, Arden.” He shoved her shoulders back into the mattress and flew from the bed.

Agitation replaced the hunger in his face as he paced the room and ran his fingers through his hair. “What kind of joke are you trying to pull on me?”

“It wasn’t a joke.” She sat up and plucked the loose threads on the embroidered coverlet.

“I just wanted…” What exactly did she want?

A greedy voice inside her mind answered,
“Dev naked in your bed.”

“What did you want?” He stopped pacing and crossed his arms.

One look at him told her all she needed to know, but she still replied, “I wanted to know if there could be anything between us, if you could feel for me what I do for you.” His lips parted, and the knob in his throat bobbed up and down. Maybe she’d been wrong about him. For several long seconds, neither of them said anything. Then he spun around on his heels and stared out the window. “No,” he said, his voice strained with what sounded like regret. “I’m your protector, Trouble. Nothing more, and nothing less. I’m forbidden to let anything distract me from my duty.”