The Queen's Consorts (31 page)

Taryen struggled too, pushing back against the cross as if he hadn’t just been bleeding to death. It was clear Laysa didn’t understand what was happening. She did, however, seem to enjoy Taryen’s
fight
, but no matter how hard she lashed out, he was immune to the pain.

Completely absorbed in his own problem, Calder leaned down and pressed his head to the ground for leverage against the bolts. Then, without knowing why, he switched tactics, pulling at the armbands that had been around his wrists since he was thirteen. It should have been impossible, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from attempting to slip his large hands through the tight bands. Though they’d been unforgiving for years, this time they molded and stretched, letting him pull his right hand free.

For one brief second, he stared at his hand in astonishment when he sat up once more, admiring the way it looked. It was bleeding from the struggle, and there was a white strip around his wrist from where the skin had been blocked from the light, but it was still astonishing to finally be free of the bands Laysa had placed on him personally.

“Break ours too.” Macro growled low in his throat.

Calder willed the gold around Macro and Haven’s wrists to become pliant. He didn’t know what else to do besides that, but it felt natural. Then he pulled at his other hand, freeing it.

“
Your
Majesty!” the new captain of the guard shouted.

Out of the corner of his eye, Calder saw Laysa turn, her eyes growing wide for one moment before Taryen pulled free of the bonds holding him to the cross and jumped away from it. She screamed and made a move to run, but not before Taryen grabbed her arm. He jerked her back so hard she fell, her legs getting tangled in her skirts, her cry trapped in her chest from the force of Taryen’s blow that clearly stole her breath.

At the same time, Calder leaped at the new captain of the guard. Calder knew him to be Katon, but he’d never been close with the man like he was with some of the other soldiers, which was a good thing. Blue bolter energy filled the room, but it missed Calder as he brought down the older soldier. Katon’s head cracked against the marble, but it wasn’t near enough. Calder fisted his hand in Katon’s dark hair, and slammed his head back against the marble a second time, using every ounce of the strength Sari’s fear had gifted him with.

Katon’s eyes were wide in death, but Calder didn’t stop to study him. He went after his next victim, dodging the bolter shots easily as he did it.

Macro and Haven had pulled free too.

Together the four of them annihilated that room of soldiers—bare-handed.

The gore they left behind put Laysa to shame. Strangely, she was the least of their concerns in that moment. The way they had fanned out kept her trapped. There was nowhere for her to go as they worked together to eliminate the threat that kept Calder and Taryen from their queen. It happened so fast it was bizarre when they ran out of enemies.

Taryen and Haven went after the last soldier together, with Taryen bringing him down and Haven grabbing Laysa’s nailed flogger to wrap it around his neck. Haven pulled the straps
viciously,
cutting off the soldier’s pained scream and nearly severing his head.

Then they were all standing there, dripping in blood and sweat, breathing hard as their gazes found Laysa in unison. She had pushed herself back against a corner as if trying to fade into the background. Her breathing was rough and panicked like that of a trapped wild animal.

Taryen spoke all their thoughts out loud. “Laws
be
dammed. This one has to die.” The calm logic to his voice made it all the more chilling.
“Immediately.”

Calder knew his lifemate didn’t harbor resentment like the rest of them did, but he had no problem eliminating a threat. Even with his back torn to shreds, three of the soldiers died at Taryen’s hands, making it clear Laysa had never understood how true hearts worked.
Particularly ones under command of a queen.

“You can’t!” Laysa screeched in unrestrained panic. “I’m female. I’m blessed. It’s an unforgivable sin! You’ll burn for it!”

“I’m willing to deal with that.” Macro grabbed a second flogger off the table and stepped toward her. “She’s ours.”

“Absolutely,” Haven agreed as he spared Calder and Taryen a glance. “Go save the queen.”

Calder had fantasized about killing Laysa for a long time, but in the end, he gave the honor to Macro and Haven. They’d earned it in a way Calder didn’t plan on empathizing with.

They had to save Sari.

Taryen found his discarded robes and pants. He pulled them on quickly. Neither of them bothered to acknowledge Laysa’s screams, even when they suddenly cut off into eerie silence. The reign of Laysa was done, but they were too driven to fully appreciate it. They just gathered what weapons they could off the fallen soldiers and then turned to run out of the room.

Sari’s voice was raw from screaming.

She could still feel Taryen’s pain. Even if it had faded to the background behind more pressing issues of survival, it was there, and she was terrified he was going to die. Sari knew right then that if they lost him, Calder and she would follow him past the veil. It would be like trying to live without part of her soul.

It was impossible.

She’d worked herself up so much that she could feel the entire palace shaking, even from underground. She knew she was likely leveling the Sacred City and she didn’t want that, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She thought of little Aria out there somewhere.
Her new attendants who had been so kind.
Macro and Haven.
She had many new friends she didn’t want hurt just because she couldn’t seem to control herself.

“
Your
Majesty.”

Sari jerked in surprise. Her fear had blocked her from feeling anything but Taryen’s pain. Suddenly there was a pretty face pressed against the floor on the other side of the flap. Bright blue eyes reflected the white energy still lighting up the room she was trapped in.

“Where are they?” Sari asked frantically. “Are they with you?”

“No.” A slim hand slid under the panel, but then she jerked it back with a hiss when she was shocked. “Listen to me, Your Majesty. I need you to reach out and touch me. This room has special fields to keep the energy in. Do you remember me? We were supposed to be friends.”

“K-Kayla.”
Sari took a shuddering breath. “I remember.”

Kayla flashed a smile. “I can help calm you, but you have to let me touch you.”

“Why are you here? Where are Taryen and Calder?”

Even as she questioned the pretty true heart, she stuck out her hand and let Kayla grasp it. The effect was almost immediate. Her thoughts cleared. The fear didn’t ease completely, not even close, but it was enough to make her rational. She could sense Taryen free and working with Calder to find her.

“They’re coming.” Sari squeezed her hand tighter in gratitude. “I can feel it now. He’s in pain, but he’s coming.”

“We’re going to sit here and be calm and breathe,” Kayla said in a peaceful, even voice. “My friend Larim is trying to find the keys to free you, but we won’t be able to open the door until some of that energy is gone.”

Sari took another deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Kayla said soothingly. “You’re supposed to be asleep right now.”

“Yes, I know,” Sari whispered, still fighting for breath. “I’ve been ill since I woke.”

“You’re stronger than most.”

Another sob burst out of Sari. “Everyone says it, but it feels like a lie. I don’t feel very strong right now.”

“Asking for help.
Admitting
you’re
scared. There’s strength in that.” Kayla’s voice was soft and vulnerable. “I’m scared too.”

“You are?” Sari asked in surprise. “I didn’t think true hearts could feel negative emotions.”

“We can. We feel all emotions. We just don’t hold on to them once they’re gone. We live in the moment.”

Sari had the sudden urge to hug Kayla. “Why are you scared?”

“I don’t know if Haven and Mac are safe.” Her voice squeaked as she said it. “And I know if they died, I’d hold on to it. Even if it’s against my nature, I don’t think I could let that pain go. I love them too much.”

Sari squeezed Kayla’s hand tighter and then turned on her side, sliding her other hand out past the slat to deepen their connection. For just a moment, she directed her thoughts away from Calder and Taryen, searching for the two soldiers instead.

“I can feel them,” Sari assured Kayla, leaving out that their rage was so overwhelming she had to withdraw from both of them instantly or risk never calming down enough to be free. “They’re healthy. They’re still alive.”

Kayla let out a grateful sob, her hands shook, but she held on to Sari tightly. “I knew we had to free you first.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have done that. I don’t want anyone to make that kind of sacrifice for me.”

“You’re the sun,” Kayla reminded her.

A male voice came from the other side of the door. “What’re you doing? You’re too weak. You should’ve stayed in the healing waters rather than come with me.”

“I’m not weak,” Kayla denied, though the lie sounded clearly in her voice. “And I’m the only one who can heal her.”

Sari didn’t want to let go of Kayla when she pulled away, but then she was looking at another face, this one equally beautiful. His eyes reminded her of Calder’s.

“Your Majesty, my name is Larim.”

Sari recognized him for one brief moment before she jerked back in fear. “You’re Garid’s lifemate. You serve Laysa.”

“I was Garid’s lifemate. That’s true. I was also bonded to Laysa, but I never served her.” His voice was even and pure, his intention even more so. “If you listen to my voice, you’ll hear the truth of my words. Many great sacrifices were made in this war; one of them was my lifemate.” His voice cracked in pain. “His brother was your father, did you know that?”

“He was?” Sari pushed her face closer to the slat once more.

“You’re his blood. He was very loyal to you,” Larim assured her. “All your uncles have worked hard to ensure your legacy carried on. Garid was a spy. He recruited me to the cause when I was nineteen, and I have never regretted serving you. In Garid’s name, I would very much like the honor of helping you in any way you require.”

Sari could hear his good intentions as clearly as his pain. She reached out, squeezing his hand. “I’m so sorry about your lifemate.” Her voice cracked. “I feel like it’s my fault.”

“Never say that.” Larim squeezed her hand back. “He loved you. He wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.”

“Nor you, Larim,” Kayla added. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened. You were forced to make unpleasant choices, but if you had revealed yourself, so many more would have died…me included.”

“What happened to you?” Sari tilted her head in concern, trying to see Kayla once more.

“Can we open the door?” Larim asked rather than let Kayla answer her. “Is it safe?”

Sari took another deep breath, focusing on the image of Taryen and Calder, imagining them by her side, healthy and whole. The energy in the room faded down to a dull glow, but she couldn’t release it completely.

“I-I can’t stop the fear,” she whispered miserably. “It’d be easier if Calder and Taryen were here, but—”

“We can’t open the door until it’s gone. That room is designed to contain the energy you create, but it doesn’t absorb it. There is a battle raging at the entrance to the dungeons. We were lucky to slip in the side doors. The fighting was so fierce we barely made it, and it had only just started. I’m certain it has grown worse. Though our enemies are out there, so are our allies.” Larim sighed. “I’m not sure how dangerous the surge you created in the cell is, but queens have been known to destroy cities when they’re scared. History hides it from commoners, but your fury is to be feared.”

“It’s dangerous. Deadly.” Sari knew that if nothing else. “Just go before they come after you.”

“They’re not coming into the dungeons.” Larim let out a broken laugh. “They’re terrified of your anger, your enemies most of all. The storms raging have been proof enough of your power.”

“We’ll stay with you while you wait for Taryen and Calder. You’ve called them. They’ll come.” Kayla sounded completely confident. “Move over, Larim. We’ll simply honor each other’s pain until then. There’s healing in that.”

Kayla and Larim lay on the floor, head to head so they could both look past the slat. Sari clasped Kayla’s hand when she opened it, while squeezing Larim’s hand tightly with her other one.

“Tell me of my uncle,” she said when some of the warmth of Kayla’s touch washed over her.
“Unless it’s too painful.”

Larim gave her a sad smile, his light eyes growing watery as tears spilled down his tan cheeks. “I would love to share Garid with you, Your Majesty.”

* * * *

Getting to Sari wasn’t an easy task. War had broken out in the Sacred City as the sister council, likely under Laysa’s orders, tried to combat those who stood by the queen. The soldiers weren’t going quietly, their defense of Sari was unbending, and the brothers had banded together to attempt to bring them under control. The brothers enjoyed the life of luxury as much as the sisters had in the queen’s absence and they weren’t willing to give it up without a fight.

It would have been hard to make it through the Sacred City just wearing red, but they were wearing royal robes. Taryen and Calder might as well have painted a target on their backs. Though it pained them, they abandoned the robes they wore for Sari and stripped two dead soldiers of their uniforms. The armor helped too, and they were comfortable wearing it. They trained in full battle gear and were better fighters with it on despite the added weight.

Even still, they attempted to avoid the little skirmishes they passed, keeping the hoods of their robes low over their eyes as they tried to stay in the shadows.

They might have made it without incident if the largest battle wasn’t at the entrance to the main guard station leading to the dungeons. They pulled up short when they spied the fray, watching it with wide eyes because there were hundreds fighting, and there was no other path to Sari. They would have to fight their way through it.