Betrayal's Price (In Deception's Shadow Book 1) (16 page)

“I’ll try, but
I doubt I’ll be able to forget there was a third person present and I might not
learn her identity.”

“A troubling
thought,” he agreed. “However, no matter how much I would like to find out who
else means you harm, I think we need to find answers. The library is the best
place to start.”

“But when will
we find time to research this problem? We can’t surround ourselves with books
and go into hiding without causing more suspicion.”

“Five days
hence is one of the scheduled relaxation times, when we are free to do as we
wish. If anyone notices us gone, they will think I’ve taken you hunting or some
such.”

“I’ll try not
to get kidnapped before then.” Ashayna couldn’t shake the nagging fear as she
gazed at him. Deep within her heart, she wondered if what she’d seen could so
readily be explained away.

Sorntar grunted
in answer, obviously not finding her jest particularly humorous.

The quiet of
night descended, marking the end of another day that seemed long to Sorntar’s
reckoning. Sadly, this night promised to be no more relaxing than the last
three sleepless ones. Since Ashayna’s ordeal with the Oracle Tower, he’d done
all in his power to appear as if nothing was wrong—a difficult feat with his
concentration in shambles. Only luck kept his friends or instructors from
noticing his distracted state. Perhaps they put it off to his awakening Larnkin,
or his infatuation with Ashayna.

There was one
bit of good news. His Larnkin had returned to sleep. Sorntar thanked both the
God and the Goddess for that. Still, all was not peaceful. Hence the reason he
was lurking outside Ashayna’s rooms, perched on a bench, hidden in an alcove
between two pillars.

To anyone
looking down the hall he wasn’t visible. Sorntar hoped no one decided to come
down this particular corridor tonight since he didn’t trust magic under the
circumstances. Besides, it would make it more complicated if he had to explain
he didn’t trust his own Larnkin or the Elders. So he waited and watched,
trusting the shadows to hide him.

Ashayna’s joke
about being kidnapped a second time had him guarding her door each night. While
a second abduction was unlikely, the nagging worry was enough to keep him on
edge. Never again did he want to experience the despair he’d felt when his Larnkin
had tracked her to the Oracle’s Tower.

When he had
first seen Ashayna emerge from the Tower, her face seemed sunken, almost aged,
and her eyes—he shuddered at the memory. They were bruise-dark with horror.
Then with dignity, she’d gathered her pride and straightened to extend her
hands out to the lupwyn, challenging him with a sharp look to say anything.
Seeing what she held out toward King Ryanth, Sorntar had been struck
speechless. Etched into her palm was a leader’s symbol, marking her as a
natural born ruler, pre-ordained to follow that path.

As he had
hoped, Ashayna would become a ruling queen, not just his consort, when he took
the throne in some vague and distant future. His bondmate, his queen, his
equal. Those thoughts had warmed him the last three nights.

The swish of
feathers and clicking of talons against stone announced the immediate arrival
of one of his race. He unsheathed his dagger, idly testing the sharpness of its
tip.

Kandarra
appeared around a branch in the corridor and proceeded directly to Ashayna’s
door. She reached into a satchel slung over one shoulder and pulled out a
ribbon wrapped package. Sorntar sheathed his dagger and slipped up behind his
sister.

“A little late,
isn’t it?”

She dropped her
bundle and spun around in surprise. Expelling a ragged breath, she growled, “Next
time, say something!”

“I did.”
Sorntar challenged her with a look.

“Before you’re
breathing down my neck, idiot.” Kandarra jabbed a finger into his chest to
emphasize her point.

“Insult me
later. What exactly are you doing?”

Kandarra
studied him with a narrow-eyed look. Perhaps taking in his thin-lipped
expression and edgy stance, her demeanor softened. “I was just bringing Ashayna
some Moonbane for her hair.”

“Flowers?” His
hand crept towards his dagger again. “Ashayna asked you for flowers?”

“She didn’t
actually ask for them, but I saw how she admired the way some of us wear them
woven into their manes and crests. I thought since Ashayna no longer needs to
adhere to the restrictions as she did among the humans, she might like some ornaments
for her hair.” She paused, and then added with a liberal dose of sarcasm, “I
also brought some clips and other things if they meet with your approval.”

“Why bring them
now?” he countered.

“Because they
have the loveliest scent of any night blooming flower. They’re newly picked. I
just placed a weaving upon them so they’ll remain fresh for a few days.” His
sister glowered at him a second time for good measure. “With your permission, I’ll
leave them here so she can get them in the morning. I even left a note so she’d
know who they’re from. We wouldn’t want her to come hunting you in revenge if
she mistook them for a love token.”

Sorntar
grunted. He would not feel foolish, not for protecting his bondmate. Idly he
wondered if he should reveal what he knew. Uncertainty stilled his tongue.

“So tell me,
brother, why are you guarding Ashayna’s door?” Her expression shifted to one of
worry. “Has something else happened? A few days ago, when you said Ashayna had
gotten lost, I thought you were hiding something, and then Vinarah was late as
well.”

“You could say
that. Don’t mention it to anyone else. We have it well in hand.”

“Yes, that’s
why you’re encamped in front of Ashayna’s door.” Kandarra arched a feathered
brow at him. “She doesn’t know, does she?”

“No,” he said. “I’m
here in case anyone else may have a grudge against a human with power. You said
Vinarah was late. Which lesson?”

“Weapons, the
one you and Ashayna neglected. Vinarah missed weapons warm-ups and had to
partner with Caltanwyn.” Kandarra smiled. “She told me she had forgotten her
throwing knives and went back for them.”

“Thank you. I’m
sorry if I was abrupt.”

“Hmm, abrupt. I
can think of another word for it.” She hugged him.

After she
released him, he watched her until she vanished back down the tunnel. Before he
returned to his perch, he gave the flowers one fleeting probe with his power.
They were nothing more than Kandarra claimed.

* * * *

“Remind me to
thank Kandarra for the flowers.”

The sound of
Ashayna’s voice jarred him awake, and the corridor swam into focus. Ashayna
stood in front of him, a wing-length away, watching him. Sorntar couldn’t move
or speak for a full five heartbeats, while his Larnkin slid back deep within,
returning to its slumber. The sensation of his consciousness and the ancient Larnkin
slipping past each other, like two strangers brushing shoulders in a narrow
passage, caused a shudder to ripple down his wings.

He wasn’t sure
which he was more concerned about: that his Larnkin felt the danger to Ashayna
was great enough to warrant close watch, or that it was skilled enough to
control his body while he slept.

“You’ll need to
mask your emotions better if you’re going to be king one day,” Ashayna said,
her expression sympathetic. “Besides, I saw your magic flare before you got it
under control.”

He held his
tongue, not sure how much to tell.

“That’s
something I understand. To lose control. Your life no longer completely your
own. To have magic raging—when a moment before there had been nothing—then gone
again just as suddenly.” Ashayna began to laugh with a sharp-edged quality. “Ha!
You call it Larnkin. Gods, your people even welcome it.” She shook her head and
flicked her braid back over her shoulder. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, your
fear proves you’re the only one with a bit of sense.”

Sorntar
recovered enough to speak. “While there are times being host to a Larnkin can
be uncomfortable, you should not fear them. They are divine, sent by the God
and Goddess to guide us.”

“Don’t say the
words unless you believe them.” She exhaled loudly. “Sorry. I didn’t intend to
get into a debate. What will today’s lessons be? More weapons practice, history
lessons, or the ritual abuse of trying to summon my magic?”

Sorntar
laughed, surprising himself. There was no doubt what Ashayna preferred. “I
believe Caltanwyn wishes to see us in the practice yard again today, our
history lesson will wait another day, but some magic practice is expected.”

“I hate magic.”

* * * *

Ashayna stifled
a yawn. Sorntar glared at her, but she didn’t look up at him, her gaze fixed
upon the ground a hand’s span from where she sat cross-legged. Her jaw flexed
as she fought off another yawn. He might have felt pity for her if he hadn’t
been up the last four nights in a row. Blinking to clear his vision, Sorntar
looked outside the small circle of Wardstones. Most other mentors and apprentices
had retired for the night.

“Concentrate.”

“I am,” Ashayna
snapped.

“On what,
sleeping?”

Her eyebrow
arched up in warning.

He wasn’t
intimidated. Instead he reached out and picked up a blindfold lying between
them. Tossing it at her, she snatched it out of the air. “Try the blindfold
again. You did better with it last time. Without visual distractions, maybe it
will force you to concentrate on communication with your Larnkin.”

“It doesn’t
seem interested in talking,” Ashayna said. “Or maybe it’s just not ready.”

Sorntar sighed.

“I’ll try. That’s
all I can promise.” Ashayna tied the cloth over her eyes.

“Good, now
relax, breathe deep. Reach within.” Sorntar threaded a hint of hypnotic magic
into his words. Echoing his own commands, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply,
matching her. “You can feel your magic, your Larnkin within you. Her spirit
burning clear and bright, near limitless power. Eternal.”

“I…yes, it’s
there. Just out of my reach.”

“She. Your Larnkin
is the female half to mine. You may not know her name, but I doubt she
appreciates being called ‘it,’” Sorntar said. “Ask her to grant you the use of
your power. Focus your intentions so she may understand.”

The air inside
the wardstone shield heated. A peculiar odor reached his nose. The scent of
Elemental Fire was familiar, but there was another magic—like frost on a late
fall morning—one he should never have been able to scent. Spirit Elemental
magic mixed with Elemental Fire. Sorntar snapped his eyes open. Ashayna sat in
the same position as she had been before, only now a pale white fire outlined
her body, not just her hands, her entire body. At their apex, the dancing
flames were blood kissed.

“Sorntar,” she
breathed his name out, no panic marred her voice. “I think I’m actually doing
it.”

“Yes, Ash.”
Sorntar whispered, while trying to maintain his calm. He glanced at the nearest
wardstone. Its crystalline surface pulsed with absorbed power, more than it
could siphon off into its protective shield. The other pillars encircling them
showed the same pulsing power. A stress fracture appeared along the base of
one. “That’s good enough for now. Ground your power. We’ll work on it more
tomorrow.”

Ashayna cocked
her head to one side. “I can’t…it’s not obeying me.” She ripped her blindfold
from her eyes. Ashayna didn’t even look at him, instead her eyes locked on the
fire burning along her arms, and then to the rest of her body. The magic
encircling her flared again. She screamed and bolted upright. Sorntar didn’t
have the luxury to wait and see if she would get it under control.

“Everyone, get
out now,” Sorntar shouted. He sprang to his feet, letting his momentum carry
him forward. Slamming into Ashayna, he overbalanced her and she went stumbling
backwards. They sprawled flat on the ground. While Ashayna was still dazed, he
mantled his wings and tail around her, and summoned his personal shields to
full power. A series of pops from displaced air told him the remaining mentors
were getting their charges out of danger.

The world
exploded around him. A screaming vortex of power washed around them as the
violated wardstones erupted. Crystal shards flew in all directions. Fragments
rained down upon his shield. He held his position, listening for the sounds of
tinkling crystal shards to stop. Ashayna’s warm breaths puffed against his
shoulder, and he tilted his head until he could see her face clearly. It was
ashen, but at least power no longer painted her in shades of white and crimson.

“Ah, guess it’s
settled then. Mother wanted me to find out what you were capable of. Remember
how you could sense the power of the Wild Path? And I said it was odd you could
work Fire and sense Spirit. Mother wanted to know if you could do more than
sense it,” he commented.

Ashayna pushed
at him, trying to get out from under his shrouding wings. He let her shove him
away. Drawing one leg under himself, he sat and surveyed the scene. Most of the
room was damaged, the worst radiating outwards from their own demolished
wardstone circle. An adjacent circle had sustained a lesser amount of damage,
but those pillars were heavily stressed. It was good the mentor and youngling
working there had escaped in time.

On the tail of
that thought, several of his mother’s personal guard arrived, followed closely
by his parents. Sorntar struggled to his feet. By his mother’s dark look, he
guessed this wasn’t how she wished him to find out about his bondmates
capabilities. Ashayna stiffened. He stepped forward until he was shoulder to
shoulder with her.

* * * *

That Sorntar
seemed to think they needed to show a unified front to his mother probably didn’t
bode well for her. Ashayna stood at attention, prepared for a spectacular
dressing down. To her surprise Sorntar took a step ahead of her, shielding her
from Queen Talnarra’s intense gaze.