Betrayal's Price (In Deception's Shadow Book 1) (9 page)

Damn, you’re
trusting.

On the heels of
her thought, her Larnkin stirred, magic flowed between them where they touched.
The energy sharing Vinarah spoke of?

With the
wounded tended to, the group moved on. At Cymael’s command, two phoenix
bodyguards took to the air to scout for other possible dangers.

* * * *

The sun had
settled into its western descent by the time the weary travelers came to lands
adjacent to the Elemental City. Here the land was still richly clothed in
forest, but it began to open up, with shafts of the sun’s evening brilliance
penetrating the shadows.

The small
attention to details kept her focused and prevented her from dwelling too long
on the warmth of Sorntar’s skin, his spicy scent, and the strangely pleasant
sensation of sharing power.

When Summer Flame
slowed to a walk, Ashayna looked up to see a different world. Forest gave way
to blue sky and a starkly defined cliff’s edge. Directly across from them
reared a tall mountain range, its deep valleys already cloaked in the shadows
of night. A mantle of trees covered the opposite slopes as heavily as did the
ones on this side. Wind, which had been evident in the forest was greatly
increased at the exposed cliff-face. Strands of dark hair, long escaped from
her braid, whipped across her face and shoulders.

Summer Flame
trotted closer to the cliff’s edge. Ashayna’s breath escaped in a hiss. A sheer
drop greeted her eyes. No gentle rolling slope, just empty sky. The narrow
trail turned sharply to show a stone stairway carved out of the cliff’s craggy
face. Her heart sped, her eyes followed its narrow and twisted descent.
Tightening her grip on Sorntar’s arms, she closed her eyes.

“Ashayna?”
Sorntar asked in a crackling broken voice, so different from his usual mellowed
pitch.

She didn’t
respond. She couldn’t, her heart was in her throat.

He called her
name a second time, his voice more insistent. Why couldn’t he have remained
asleep, oblivious to her shameful fear?

“What’s wrong?”
He didn’t wait for her answer, instead invading her thoughts. “How can one
chosen to be my bondmate be afraid of heights?” His disbelief echoed through
their mental link. “We’ll fly many times throughout our lives. Your fear will
only strengthen if you put this off, and
that
I can’t suffer in a
bondmate.”

First you
invade my private thoughts. Then you insult me. If you weren’t injured, I’d
knock you on your princely ass, Sorntar Crown Prince of the Phoenix, but you
also saved my life, so I suppose I owe you for that.

“Ashayna,” he
said, his breath brushed her ear. “It’s a familiar, well-marked trail the
santhyrians have traveled many times. They’ll not let us come to harm.”

She shivered.
More than the power of his voice lingered behind the words. The taint of magic
invaded her mind a second time. She resisted, shoving his magic back.

He grasped his
head, rumbling something in his own language. By the pointed looks Sorntar’s
sisters were giving her, it wasn’t flattering. He rallied faster than she wished.

“Look to Grey
Spires, glowing in the twilight, lit from within by thousands of mage globes.
Their light reflects upon the pale silver stone of the exposed rock face. Look
how it illuminates the valley below.” He raised a hand to point Ashayna in the
right direction. Defeated more by the clamor of her curiosity than Sorntar’s
magic-laced voice, she turned her gaze to view what she had already pictured in
her mind. The city rose up out of the mountain like it was born of the stone
itself. Buildings connected to their neighbors by courtyards and irregular
stretches of greenery. The silver-grey ribbons of streams and pools broke up
the smooth grey-blue stone. Many buildings had beautiful ornate facades, each
distinct from its neighbors, but blending in with the overall design. As Summer
Flame picked his way down the path, Ashayna’s eyes followed the city as it
spread out and down.

And farther
down. Her vision swam, breath grew short. The path turned sharply upon itself,
giving her a clear view of empty space. Her heart smashed against her ribcage.

Taking the
coward’s way, Ashayna closed her eyes.

Mid-way down
the rock-strewn mountain path, Ashayna mastered her fear enough to force her
eyes open a crack. Focusing on Sorntar’s scent and his intense warmth, where he
pressed against her back, helped combat her fear. Something about him soothed
her. Maybe it was the sharing of power Vinarah mentioned—it was like a drug.
Ashayna promised herself she wouldn’t let it happen again, but for now she relaxed
and allowed her Larnkin to continue whatever it was doing.

“Ashayna, thank
you, for helping me earlier and for allowing me to help you now.” Sorntar’s
simple statement did something strange to her heart. It leapt at his simple
statement. She swallowed, uncertain what she could say.

Full dark had
descended by the time they came to a small gate. Even through the fog of
exhaustion, she wondered at the diminutive entrance. She’d expected something
grander. They passed beyond the Grey Spires gate into a tunnel.

Reaching
corridor’s end, she was blinded by a bright light. It wasn’t the golden light
of a natural fire, instead it glowed pure white. She squinted until her vision
cleared. The light came from torches held high above the tree-lined streets by
immense unmoving figures. Each stone statue depicted a different species.

“They’re
magnificent.” She motioned to the statues and craned her neck. The path twisted
again and Summer Flame trotted under the spread wings of a polished onyx
phoenix. Not every statue was the same dark color. Some bore shades of
translucent greens, others brown, and some with a reddish luster.

“They’re old as
the city itself.” Sorntar’s voice formed out of the darkness behind, stronger
now, almost back to his usual mesmerizing tone. “A statue for each member race
of the Elementals.”

Ashayna took in
the line of statues, pretending Sorntar’s nearness didn’t affect her. Some
species she recognized—lupwyn, santhyrian, phoenix—but there were others she
hoped never to meet. One looked to be a winged lupwyn-like creature, another a
dragon out of ancient legend. Her study of the statues ended abruptly when
several ranks of guards surrounded them. She cast Sorntar a questioning look.

“My mother has
sent her Guard to escort us,” Sorntar said, his tone unvaried.

The Guard
circled them and Summer Flame continued on up. A large palace complex reared
above them, blocking her view to the rest of Grey Spires. Soon she would be
within that immense structure, forced to face the king and queen of the phoenix,
and confront her future. A sense of dread, one she’d first felt upon the Wild
Path, returned. No amount of distractions could dispel it. A shiver racked her
body. Exhaustion and fear would have drained away all her warmth long ago if it
wasn’t for Sorntar’s plentiful heat.

Gates opened at
their approach, allowing them entrance to the palace. Summer Flame walked at a
sedate pace through the corridors, his hooves echoing on the polished stone
floors. The dim glow of mage globes revealed beautiful frescoes covering both
walls and ceiling. Most depicted landscapes and wildlife. Some so real, it was
like looking out a window.

Summer Flame
halted in front of large oak doors where four guards stood watch. Sorntar slid
his good leg over the santhyrian’s back and dropped to the floor, where he swayed
until he gained his balance.

Ashayna slid
down beside him and patted the santhyrian in thanks before joining Sorntar at
the doors. They swung inwards, opening smoothly at a guard’s slight touch. She
followed behind Sorntar as he hobbled through the door.

Her first
sighting of councilors and royals surprised her. There were only seven present,
sitting to one side, well away from a pair of imposing formal thrones. The
first creature she studied looked as if some power had fashioned a hybrid
between lupwyn and phoenix. She couldn’t be certain of its gender, but it had
the head, wings, and tail of a bird blended with the body of a lupwyn. Fur and
feathers of a matching shade flowed seamlessly together, to create a surprisingly
handsome-looking specimen.

Now she
regretted blocking Sorntar from her mind. She could benefit from his mind
reading about now. Brushing Sorntar’s arm, she inclined her head in the new
creature’s direction.

“Gryphon.”
A smile accompanied his silent reply.

“Thank you.”

While she had
been staring at this new species, two of the phoenixes stood. The other
councilors rose and by some unheard signal they filed out using a side
entrance. The two strangers approached Sorntar, their talons making faint clicking
sounds against the polished stone floor. They did not wear crowns or hold
scepters, nor did they wear great robes of office, but the way these two
carried themselves told Ashayna they were royalty. She recognized that regal
elevation of head, that expectant look in the eye, and the air of assurance
which said ‘I am law, cross me at your peril.’

“Ashayna, this
is my mother, Queen Talnarra and my father, King Kysoran.” Sorntar’s voice held
a cold formality.

Ashayna
wondered at his unease. Surely it wasn’t on her account. They might not have
struck an accord upon first meeting, but he knew much less of her character
than she thought if he worried she would say or do anything to bring shame to
him.

The king nodded
his head at Ashayna, a glint of humor in his dark, reflective eyes. His
night-sky feathers were a shade darker than Sorntar’s. He was also a hand’s
span taller, with paler skin. Though Kysoran lacked Sorntar’s dramatic
handsomeness, there was no mistaking blood. She glanced at the queen to see her
looking her son in the eye. The high cheekbones and a narrow blade of a nose seemed
to be the only traits mother and son shared. Her deep-red wings with their
golden markings contrasted against Sorntar’s indigo plumage.

The queen
cupped her hands above Sorntar’s wound. “There is wardlen poison running
through your veins. Why haven’t you had this healed?”

“Vinarah bound
it closed,” Sorntar replied. “We couldn’t risk using strong magic and drawing
more wardlen to our location. I’ve suffered worse wounds.”

“With your Larnkin
on the edge of waking? I think not.” Queen Talnarra turned so fast her pleated
skirt slapped Sorntar’s shins. She paced away from him before whirling back,
her expression thunderous. “Have you learned nothing about the volatility of Larnkins?
They perceive injury as weakness, and a weakened host as something in need of
protection.” The queen sighed. “And a Larnkin protecting its host is more
dangerous than a wardlen.”

“I am sorry,
mother.” Sorntar bowed awkwardly. “The danger was past. I did not think.”

“Talnarra,
leave the boy alone.” King Kysoran inclined his head in Ashayna’s direction. “There
is another we need to speak with.”

“Kysoran is
right.” Talnarra’s stony expression softened a notch. “Go have this looked at,
we will talk later.” She signaled a guard forward. A lupwyn glided over, barely
ruffling his cloak as he moved. The guard placed his shoulder under Sorntar’s
arm and threaded an arm under his wings. Together they started to make a
shuffling exit. Ashayna didn’t follow. She hadn’t been dismissed and would
remain standing there until her legs turned to stone rather than show weakness
to this queen.

Piercing black
eyes, solemn with ancient knowledge, bored into Ashayna. “You are not injured
and are capable of answering my questions.”

The sharp crack
of a whip would have been gentler than Queen Talnarra’s tone. Ashayna only
squared her shoulders and met the queen’s eyes.

“Ashayna is my
responsibility.” Sorntar shook free of the guard’s hold. “I will stay until you
are finished.”

Queen Talnarra
locked her gaze with Sorntar. Ashayna could hear the sound of their soft
breathing. Neither moved nor spoke, at least not aloud. Then between one blink
and the next, magic-scent filled the room.

“That’s enough
of that.” King Kysoran’s jovial expression faltered for a moment. “Sorntar,
control your Larnkin.”

Sorntar hissed.
His eyes glinting with a predator’s unblinking stare, he stepped between
Ashayna and his parents.

“So very
protective, and you haven’t even known her two days.” Kysoran laughed, the
sound more forced than natural. “Talnarra, let these two find healing and rest,
or else we
will
have an enraged Larnkin on our hands.”

“It is regrettable
when my mate must remind me of hospitality.” Talnarra’s expression didn’t
soften enough to allow a hint of a smile, though it seemed somewhat less
chilled. “Welcome, Ashayna. It pleases me the gods have destined such a
powerful bondmate for my son.”

Talk of
bondmates soured Ashayna’s stomach, but she scrounged for a polite response. “Thank
you. I will endeavor to learn your ways.” She sneaked a glance at Sorntar.
Intelligence had returned to his eyes, his crest and wings more relaxed. The
tension between her shoulder blades eased as well.

“Ah, she
speaks, and so solemnly. The perfect bondmate for my son. Perhaps you will make
him seem less dower in comparison.” Kysoran’s lips curved, suggesting he wasn’t
finished yet.

Ashayna let the
corners of her mouth creep up the tiniest amount in answer.

Queen Talnarra
cut her mate off before he could start in again. “Cymael kept us informed, but
she didn’t know all the details of what occurred when she was not present.
Later, after you have rested and eaten, you will tell me everything. Now go
have your wound healed properly.”

When Sorntar
took his leave, Ashayna followed.

* * * *

With Ashayna’s
help, Sorntar managed to make slow progress to the healer’s quarters. He looked
down on her dark hair. His bondmate. That thought should have inspired joy.
Instead it haunted him until it eclipsed all else. Ashayna’s mistrust of magic
was so deeply embedded he doubted she would ever completely overcome her fear.
Other things ate at his confidence. Why had his Larnkin flared with such
violence? He could not be certain, but something did not feel right with it.
With a shake of his head, Sorntar gathered his thoughts and acknowledged he
could do nothing else this night with his strength depleted.

At last they
arrived at the healer’s. He fell upon the nearest bed with a groan. Ashayna
stayed close until a healer came to attend him, then she took up a position
along one wall and stared off into space, her posture rigid as if her knees
were incapable of bending. So fierce. The sight made him smile. How long would
it take her to settle into one of the nearby chairs?

The healer, a
gryphon of the Greywaters Clan, removed soiled bandages, inhaling sharply and
clicked his beak when he saw the bite of a wardlen. Sorntar relaxed against the
table while the healer used magic to mend the ugly wound until only a shiny
scar remained. When finished, the healer subjected him to a foul herbal drink.
Sorntar felt the first effects of the drink within moments of swallowing. He
didn’t fight it and slipped into a deep slumber.

* * * *

Waking, Sorntar
blinked blurriness from his sight. Instinct guided his gaze in Ashayna’s
direction. Exhaustion must have overcome her. She slept in a nearby chair.
After testing his leg’s stability and finding it adequate, he went over and
gathered her up. Even under the layers of her clothes and armor, a male would
have to be blind not to realize she was lovely. When she snuggled into his
shoulder, something tightened in his chest.

He buried his
powerful emotions to mull over later, and followed a familiar corridor in the
semidarkness, only stopping to whisper a few magic-laced words when she nearly
stirred awake. He arrived at the rooms prepared for her. The first chamber was
warm, a fire still burned in the hearth. He continued to the next room with its
human-type bed, complete with pillows and blankets.

He laid her in
her nest, then removed her cloak and boots. Her belt and pants gave him a
little trouble, but he managed without waking her. Sorntar was unlacing her
vest when he noticed a silver chain around her neck. A familiar silver clasp
nestled between the upper swell of her breasts. The lower portion of the
necklace was hidden behind a band of tightly wrapped fabric that flattened her
breasts. Even without seeing her necklace in its entirety, he could remember it
well enough. He’d worn it since he’d crossed into manhood.

Using one
talon, he cut through the restricting cloth. She drew in a deep lungful of air,
and then with a contented sound, rolled onto her side and murmured softly. The
necklace shifted and the feather fluttered down onto the sheet. He sat on the
edge of the bed and touched a fingertip to the silver chain, just to be
certain.

Yes, this was
his courtship gift, same one he’d spent days making when his hormones had first
awoken and declared him mature. Apparently, he hadn’t lost it during weapons
practice like he’d thought.

Ashayna didn’t
have a right to wear it. He hadn’t offered it to her. He should reclaim
it...and yet…it looked right circling his bondmate’s neck.

Unable to
resist, he brushed his hand against her arm. Her skin, warm and silky, so
human, yet not so different compared to a female of his species. He traced a
finger up her arm to the curve of a shoulder, then leisurely back down. She
slurred his name and intertwined her fingers with his, drawing their clasped
hands to rest between the swell of her breasts.