Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) (37 page)

“Told me what?”

“If she drinks your blood the addiction becomes hers.”

Shock washed through Kalan. Annika’s insistent need to hunt after the
Vorc
attack suddenly made sense. “She told me she once fed on human blood then managed to wean herself.”

“
Na’Chi
children have the capacity to recover. We don’t know why. But no adult has ever survived withdrawal.”

Drinking human blood would condemn Annika to a life dependent on others. But not feeding now meant she’d die. His vision blurred as his soul filled with black, bitter fury for Davyn. Consumed by blind hatred, the warrior cared nothing for the suffering he’d caused. He’d been willing to sacrifice the life of two innocents and the trust of their people to keep a truth from being revealed.

“Please, Annika, you’ve got to drink.” With a shaking hand Kalan smoothed disheveled hair away from Annika’s face and leant in close to her ear. “I love you.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed and her head rolled against his shoulder.

“Annika?” His voice broke. Kalan touched her face but she didn’t respond. Anguish sliced through his body, tearing him until he truly believed his heart bled. “
Lady’s Breath
, no!” She couldn’t die. He wouldn’t let her. His gaze linked with Varian’s. “Help me! Open her mouth!”

The young
Na’Chi
raised an eyebrow at his harsh order but complied. Kalan pressed his wounded wrist to her lips. He wasn’t strong enough to allow her the choice of living or dying. She’d claimed his heart. He needed her. “Drink!”

Long moments passed, the silence in the room only broken by the sound of his ragged breathing. Annika stirred, the faintest movement of her lips against his wrist, then he felt a faint sucking sensation against his skin. A small shock tingled through his body at the feel of her feeding, drinking his blood. He saw her swallow. Once, twice, then a third time.

Her body convulsed and she tried to pull away from him. He didn’t let her. She moaned softly. “Keep going, Annika.”

While her sucking was weak at first, it slowly grew stronger until he swore he could feel the blood rushing through his veins as she fed on him. Behind him he heard one of his other warriors hiss in distaste.

He glared at the man. “Leave if this offends you, Light Blade, but remember I owe this woman my life.”

The warrior grimaced. “My apologies,
Chosen
, there’ve been too many shocks in one day… the
Na’Chi
, Zataan’s journal, the dismissal and imprisoning of Councilors, and now this…” He shook his head. “I’m having trouble keeping up.”

“I know, Warnas, I know.” Considering the implications of all that had transpired could wait until he knew Annika was safe. “Place your faith in the
Lady
.
She
guides us. And rely on the wisdom of the remaining Blade Council members until we can sort this all out.”

Varian grunted. “Your people are divided,” he said, so softly only he could hear. “Dissention will follow.”

“Perhaps,” Kalan agreed, wearily. “I’ll worry about it later.”

The young warrior nodded then motioned to Annika. “She’ll regain her strength shortly.” His tone became terse. “Her instinct will be to drain you. You have to stop feeding her the moment you begin to feel light-headed.”

They both heard running footsteps out in the other room. They glanced up as Arek entered the room, the feathered carcass of a
geefan
in his hand. He drew up short as he took in the scene.

“What have you done?” Alarm lit his face.

“Saved Annika’s life.” Kalan met his eyes, his gaze level. “She might hate me for it once she recovers, but I’ll deal with that then. Give Varian the beast.”

He let Varian take over Annika’s feeding once he’d prepared the substitute blood source then dealt with the wound on his wrist.

“Commander, Annika needs my help.” Candra’s comment came from the other side of the room. She gestured with one hand, dark gaze shining with concern. “That wound has to be sealed.”

With a potential disaster averted, Kalan could feel the fury he’d kept contained begin to rise. “You and Rissa are the only healers I’ll allow near Annika until she’s well.”

Nodding, the older woman approached. Varian discarded the drained carcass and Kalan carefully laid Annika down on the floor, his mouth tightening when he saw that her eyes were closed again.

“She’ll sleep now,” the
Na’Chi
warrior murmured. “It’ll help her heal faster.”

They made more room for Candra as she began treating Annika but Kalan made sure he kept hold of her hand, unable to stand being separated from her just yet. His gaze shifted to Arek. He couldn’t keep the growl from his voice.

“No one will enter my apartments unless you sanction their visit. I’ll not see Annika harmed again.” His gaze swept the room, hard and uncompromising. “The other
Na’Chi
, all forty-seven of them are being granted sanctuary within human territory. I expect you to consult with the
Temple Elect
. She’ll compose the announcement that I expect to be delivered to every crofter, village, and Outpost.”

A few shared, startled gazes at his sweeping order but no one said anything.

He turned to look at Varian. “Will you trust Kymora to accompany you to bring the
Na’Chi
to Sacred Lake?”

The young scout regarded him gravely for several, long heartbeats as he considered his question. “If I assent, we reserve the right to defend ourselves against anyone who threatens us.”

“Agreed.” Arek stirred but Kalan quelled him with a glare. “Take a good look at Annika, Second. Put aside your dislike and ask yourself if she deserved this. Davyn’s actions have proven that he, and others who share his views, threaten the
Na’Chi
.”

His friend reluctantly inclined his head. “I’ll arrange for one of the storage buildings within the compound to be cleared and made into a dormitory for them.”

“And I’ll protect Kymora with my life as we bring back the others.” Varian’s solemn promise was reflected in his gaze.

“You all have your tasks.” Kalan received murmurs of assent and the room emptied quickly until only a few Light Blades, Arek, Candra, Annika, and himself remained. The Master Healer’s expression was grim. A frisson of fear licked the length of his spine. “Candra? Is something wrong?”

“I’ve used my Gift to seal the wound but Davyn’s blade went deep.” The woman finished tying off a new bandage around her shoulder. “Annika’s lost a lot of blood.”

She gently turned Annika’s head to reveal the scalp wounds and swollen knots on her skull then lifted the sleeve of her dress to show him one of her forearms. Kalan winced at the teeth marks, torn flesh, and bruises marring her skin.

“I believe she did all this to herself to fight the hunger,” Candra said, quietly. “If she hadn’t, Rissa would probably be dead.”

He released a shaky breath. Annika’s courage and strength continued to astound him. “How is the child?”

“I’m fine,
Chosen
.” The young girl’s voice came from behind him. He turned to see Rissa standing next to Arek, her small face pinched with worry. “Is she going to be all right, Master Healer?”

“With rest, she’ll recover.”

The frown on Rissa’s face cleared. “Good.” She glanced to him, her gaze direct. “There’s just one thing I don’t understand.”

“What’s that?” he asked gently.

Her lips pursed and she lifted her arm to point at one of the walls in the room. “Why does Councilor Davyn have a picture-weaving of Annika in his apartment?”

Chapter 27

A
NNIKA didn’t want to wake. Instinct warned her that rousing would be unpleasant. A memory hovered in the darkness between the drowsiness of sleep and alertness. Her body urged her to remain warm and at peace but she could hear voices talking, one in an elevated tone, both some distance away.

She was aware of the softness of a bed beneath her and a thick blanket tucked under her chin. Her body felt heavy and, for a while, she drifted in and out of sleep but the nagging memory and sound of voices kept rousing her.

Inhaling deeply, she grunted as the muscles along her neck and shoulder protested. She cracked her eyes open. The only light came from a brazier on the wall but its soft glow made her eyeballs ache and throb. She grimaced. Blinking, she discovered that she lay in Kalan’s bed.

“Good, you’re awake.” The whisper came from her left. “Kalan’s been worried.”

Turning her head slowly, Annika saw a fatigued looking woman sitting in a chair beside the bed. Her name slowly emerged from the fuzziness in her head. “Candra?”

“Easy, don’t move yet. Let me help you.” The bed dipped as the older woman climbed onto it to help her rise.

Annika’s breath caught as the action of being propped on pillows sent pain ricocheting from her shoulder throughout her body. As Candra untangled the soft-worn nightshirt from around her, her memory came flooding back. A wave of ice slid through her. “
Lady’s Breath
, did I hurt Rissa?”

“It’s all right, Annika, she’s fine.”

She sighed. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Nearly four days.”

She stared at Candra, trying to make sense of the jumble of vague images and hazy recollections in her mind.

“You lost a lot of blood. Don’t be surprised if your recovery takes a little time.” With a smile, Candra tucked the blanket over her lap then raised her voice. “Kalan!”

The sound of the voices stopped. Rapid footsteps sounded outside the room then a tall figure appeared in the doorway. Annika’s breath hitched again and warmth spread throughout her at the sight of him standing there.

Gone were the fine, velvety clothes of the
Chosen
. Instead he wore black leather breeches and the body armor of a warrior, his lean, muscular arms bare. Around his throat he wore the
Lady
’s amulet. The ambient light caught on the sun symbol as he entered the room.

He looked so weary, so exhausted, but with his long, dark hair drawn back into a ponytail it lent a severe look to his unshaven face. His aura seemed dangerous, lethal, something she hadn’t seen since their escape from the fortress.

Kalan stared at her in the flickering light, then joy and relief filled his face, and in three strides he was kneeling at her bedside. His arms went around her and he buried his head against her chest. She ran a hand over his bowed head, her throat tightening as she felt him tremble.

“Thank the
Lady
you’re all right.” His voice cracked then he lifted his head to stare at her, his tired, green eyes glittering. “How do you feel?”

“Sore, a little weak, but all right.” Her smile shook as she tried to reassure him. Inhaling a ragged breath, she fought the urge to look away and kept her gaze on him.

The knowledge that Kalan had seen her dark side made her more than a little uncomfortable but the emotion wasn’t as intense as she expected. His touch, the expression on his face, the look in his eyes eased her fears.

She stroked a hand across his rough cheek. “Thank you for finding us in time.”

Something shadowed flickered through his gaze and he swallowed hard. He took her hands in his and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “Forgive me. I was weak.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I forced you to feed from me.” He showed her his wrist and the newly healed-over wound.

A tingle of shock shot through her. The blood addiction scared her, there was no denying it but the thought of relying on him for her survival wasn’t as frightening as she thought it would be.

She searched her memory. “I don’t remember anything after you and someone else stopped me attacking Rissa—”

“You didn’t want to feed from me, but I made you do it anyway,” he admitted, his mouth pulling down at the corners then he closed his eyes. “You hold my heart. I love you, Annika. I couldn’t bear losing you.”

He loved her?

The words stuck in her mind, repeating themselves over and over. She raised an unsteady hand to his face, her fingertips brushed his cheek. Emerald green eyes opened and blazed with a fierce heat and an intensity that burrowed deep, lighting all the dark places, warming her soul.

Her heart contracted. For the first time in her life, she was something special to someone. She pressed her forehead against his, her breath hitching. Tears burned in her throat and she began to shake.

“Kalan…” Heat raced through her quickly followed by a chill.
Merciful Mother
, did he expect her to tell him how she felt when she didn’t know? “I… don’t…”

One side of Kalan’s mouth curved upward. He knew. “Only when you’re ready, Annika.”

Her cheeks flamed. Annika bit her lip and glanced at Candra. A wide grin split the healer’s face. Over by the door Arek stood stiffly with his arms folded, the flesh over his cheekbones pulled tight. His blue eyes pierced hers as his lips thinned in disapproval.

“This is between us, Annika.” Kalan’s arms tightened around her, drawing her attention back to him. “This is our Journey. Not theirs.”