Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) (29 page)

“Have you seen Brenna?” he asked.

Seraph turned from the map. “She is taking Mira to recon one of the nearby tunnels.” He raised his hand as Gray began to protest. “The tunnel doesn’t connect to a portal, we just need to eliminate it from the list. If they find anything unusual, they have orders to come right back.”

“Why didn’t you wait so I could go with her?”

Seraph sighed and folded the map. “I don’t think they’ve left yet, but you need to give her space.”

“It didn’t go the way I expected,” Gray admitted.

“I would say it went better than you had a right to expect, given how long you waited.” Seraph smiled. “At least she didn’t try to kill you.”

Gray shrugged. “She’s not the person I knew.”

“She was beaten and banished and forced to remain on this world without any of her kind for ninety years.” Seraph sighed. “You can’t expect her to be the same.”

“I want justice,” Gray said. “My father wanted to see our clans united. We have to show them that even after all that has happened, we are willing to go forward with the original plan.”

“Your brothers lied to you. You can’t trust them any more than Brenna can trust her father. The rest of your family is dead. Do you think your brother will step down from the throne without a fight? It’s your birthright, but he’s been ruling in your place for ninety years.”

“I have to do it.”

“Not with me.” Brenna stood in the doorway. She was bundled for the cold weather, a pack slung over one shoulder, Mira next to her. “I’m not going back there. My home is here now.”

“You took an oath—”

“That bond can still be severed,” she interrupted. “We never completed the entire ritual.”

Gray’s heart seized at her words. “That’s not an option, Brenna.”

“It’s your only option, Gray.” Slowly she walked toward him. “I’m not going to say this again. My home is here.”

He jerked to his feet, knocking his chair over. “You have a duty to your people.”

She met his gaze unflinching. “I have a duty to myself.” Walking around him, she turned to Seraph. “We’re leaving. I’ll call if we find anything.”

Gray watched as she and Mira disappeared through the door. Her defiance now had an unshakable self-confidence to it. He admired the woman she had become, but it was going to make things a lot more difficult.

Brenna cursed under her breath, as the cabin door slam shut behind her. The frosty winter air did little to soothe her fiery temper. How could Gray think she would leave this world behind as if nothing had happened? Had he forgotten they were fighting a war here? Capturing Orien would not stop the demons. There were too many of them on this side already. Her time here may not have been ideal, but this was home now, and she owed a measure of loyalty both to her friends and to this world.

She was having a hard time coming to grips with Dunham’s return. Deep down she had always felt Dunham was still alive, even if she couldn’t believe it. Now she couldn’t reconcile Gray with her dead husband. They were similar in many ways, and yet so different.

Gray had whittled his way into her affections. Her feelings for him had blossomed to the point she had been willing to take that next step. It was a relief to know those feelings had not been a betrayal to Dunham. Even so, she wouldn’t return home just to incite more chaos and violence.

Even with his silence, Gray had lied to her. Looking back over their time together, she found it hard to differentiate between what was real and what had been part of his ruse. It wasn’t something she found easy to forgive.

“Why so glum?” Mira teased walking next to her. “You look like someone stole your puppy.”

Brenna shrugged. “I’m allowed to have a bad day.”

Wisely, Mira didn’t respond.

In silence they trudged up the hillside. Although it was only a few miles from the cabin, the atmosphere changed significantly as they approached. The air was tinged with magic at the place Seraph had marked. It seemed benign, but looks could be deceiving. She felt the aura of leftover magic as she moved closer. It felt abandoned, in the same way a landmine was abandoned. “The tunnels should be empty,” she said, turning to Mira. “But if they aren’t, I need you to stand guard here. I’ll contact you if I get in trouble.”

Mira tilted her head. Because of Brenna’s blood, they still had a light connection. “I’ll keep our link open, but I feel the power too. You might need my help.”

She shook her head, motioning to the tree line. “Wait for me there.”

Mira was right. It would be safer if they both went in, but the magic required to break the enchantment around the entrance was too dangerous. If it backfired they could both be hurt. Brenna had to do this alone.

Brenna moved quietly through the foliage. When she reached the clearing, her eyes were drawn to the crumbling stone well in the middle of the field. Tangled vines with wilted yellow and white flowers twined through the stone at its mouth, it was filled to the brim with cement. As Brenna approached she could feel the spell deeply wrapped around the structure. It had to be the entrance.

She stripped the glamour away and the cement core in the well vanished. She stared down into a dark abyss.

Power surged from down below, swirling around her outstretched hand. It was a complicated defensive barrier. One she did not recognize. She wrapped her power around her like a cloak as she murmured a counter spell, and forced her body through the entrance. The surge fragmented the barrier. If Mira or one of the others ran into the splintered spell, they would be injured by the unstable energy. But she could get through. She would have to return and clean up the remnants later.

She stared down the well and focused. A second later she shifted down to the bottom. Brushing the dust from her jeans, she looked around. She stood in the center of a maze, strangely lit from all sides by an unseen source. Entrances to multiple tunnels surrounded her on all sides. She felt Mira’s concern in her mind and reassured her she was alright, but warned her to stay back from the entrance.

She lost track of time as she explored. Each tunnel was identical to the one before it but eventually she sensed a change. Wiping her sweat drenched brow with the back of her hand, she listened. Off in the distance, she could hear running water. She quickened her pace and moved toward the sound.

The tunnel abruptly ended, opening up into a cavern that seemed strangely out of place. Bursting with green, it resembled a meadow. Vines covered in blossoming yellow and pink flowers streamed down the walls and danced across the ceiling. Lush grass so thick it was spongy beneath her feet spread across the floor. But it was the waterfall in the very center that drew her attention. Spanning the height of the cavern, it poured crystal clear water into the seemingly sunlit pool beneath it. She ached to strip off her clothes and let the water stream down her body.

Legs unsteady, she waded into the shallow pool. She knew it was an enchantment, but couldn’t find the strength to fight it. The water closed around her legs as she moved forward. Tilting back her head, she let the cool water flow down her face and body. It felt wonderful.

Almost immediately a net wove around her body, trapping her. Magic twisted through the cords. The harder she fought, the more confining it became. She couldn’t sense Mira anymore. Shadows began to fill the room. Darkness stripped away the illusion until she stood in a barren grotto made of dirt. Then the shadows parted to reveal a figure.

Orien.

His face was a study in masculinity framed by an ebony mane, but madness glinted from the once revered general’s dark eyes.

“It is hard to believe you are the same woman who destroyed hundreds of my men.” He stood so close she could feel his breath on her face. He trailed a finger down her cheek. “You’ve become weak. Adare was sure you would come alone once you felt the force of the defensive spell. You wouldn’t want the others to get hurt.”

The confirmation of Adare’s betrayal bruised her already wounded heart. She had valued his friendship and respected his staunch grasp on morality. She had been a fool.

“What do you want, Orien? I know it’s not world domination. That’s not your style.” Pulling her magic together, she struggled against the restraints of the spell, searching for a weak point.

He laughed. “I could care less about this world. Bringing the demons over is how I got Adare to help me. Then you had to go and heal the Veil. Always meddling.” He shook his head. “I promised to spread the infection again, to bring him back on my side. It never occurred to him the Guardians now know how to fight it. Your people left him undercover too long. He believes his own propaganda now. He’s mad, with grand designs and global ambitions. The only thing I want out of this is you, broken, bloody and dead.”

Brenna shook her head. “I don’t believe you. There was no reason to involve anyone else, I wasn’t hiding.”

His eyes smoldered with hatred. “No? I wanted you to suffer. None of your friends died well. They begged for their lives.” He grabbed her chin with his hand. “I wonder if you will?”

Scorn filled her gaze. “It would take a better man than you to kill me, let alone get me to beg.”

His eyes narrowed and he struck her across the face. Licking the blood from her lips, she laughed. “Is that all you’ve got?” The spell tightened around her, choking the air from her lungs.

“Your father’s biggest mistake was that he thought you were delicate. His breakable daughter who would not question his will.” Orien snorted. “If he had sent one of your sisters, we would be ruling our world and the Vires would be dead.”

“You’re right. I should have let you murder the entire clan in cold blood.” She grimaced as he struck her again.

A smirk turned Orien’s lips. “You and your siblings gave your father more than enough reason to hate you.” He paused, considering. “You should be grateful he let you live in his house. Most men aren’t that kind to their wife’s bastards.”

She felt the familiar ache that came when someone called her a bastard. She wished it was true, had prayed for it some days. But the irony was she was indisputably her father’s daughter. The only one. Her brother and sisters were the result of affairs and strict planning on the part of her father to appear as though he had sired an heir. He had sacrificed his only true flesh and blood on the altar of his hatred.

Orien grabbed Brenna and unceremoniously tossed her over one shoulder. He carried her through the tunnels, taking a path so convoluted she would never be able to find her way out.

Eventually they arrived in a darkened corridor that housed a makeshift prison. The space was lined on either side with cells. Numerous eyes peered from behind the iron bars. Torture had left the missing deviants unrecognizable.

The last cage was larger and set apart from the others.

“I saved this one for you, my lady,” Orien spat. He took her inside, locking the door behind them. Tossing her to the ground, he grabbed a stool from beside the dirt wall. As soon as he placed it beside her, he changed his mind and kicked it across the room. Rubbing his hands together, he crouched in front of her. “Where shall we start?”

She laughed, struggling to her knees as the spell released. “You’re not strong enough to kill me.” She grinned, swiping her hand across her bloody mouth.

Orien slammed his fist against her chest, knocking the wind out of her. Pain radiated across her body, but still she pushed herself to her feet. “I’m not a scared little girl anymore.” Pushing her magic toward him, she knocked him onto his back.

He hit the ground cursing, then wrapped his power around her like a blanket of fire. She fought the pain, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much it hurt.

“Is that all you’ve got?” She staggered, hands on her thighs to keep from toppling down to the dirt. “I thought my father taught you better,
General
.”

Orien rose and took her by the throat. “I’m taking my time, pet.” He licked the blood from her face. “I’m considering drinking you dry.” He slammed her against the cage bars.

Although it took most of her strength, she managed to stay on her feet. His net had weakened her, but now that it was gone she had another option. Rather than attack again, she connected with Mira. Brenna sent her an image of Orien, imbuing it with a sense of urgency. Relieved, she collapsed onto the wet dirt.

Orien crouched next to her. His long fingers tangling in her hair, he tapped her temple and said, “No matter how strong you are here. There comes a point when your body will give out.” Grinning, he shoved her face into the dirt. “I want you to know what it feels like to lose everything. Your betrayal stripped me of my position, my army, of everything but my life. It was your lies that made me like this.” He kicked her in the ribs so hard she slammed against the wall.

Blood poured from her nose and mouth. The pain was so intense that when he bent down to grab her hair, darkness clouded her vision. His fist slammed into her face and she lost consciousness.

Chapter Nineteen

Brenna swam back into consciousness. Her body throbbed with pain. She tried to roll to her belly, but something held her still.

“Wake up, Brenna.” Orien’s voice penetrated the fog around her brain. “I brought you an old friend.” He lifted his steel-toed boot from her back and kicked her in the ribs. It all came rushing back.