Blood Curse (Branded Trilogy Book 2) (24 page)

She released her and watched through tear filled eyes as Tsura hugged her father.

Hiram wiped a tear from his own eye and kissed the girl’s cheek. “My love will be with you until the end of time.”

“I know.”

He stood and observed the bodies of his brothers. “You are the only blood I have left,” he said to Kade. “You will always be welcome home.”

Kade nodded but did not respond, and she wasn’t sure if he’d accepted that he was a Monroe yet or not. Such things took time, and he would need plenty.

“I bid you farewell.” He took one last look at the cabin. She knew he was remembering Vadoma and the love they shared.

She stood with Tsura and Red Wolf as Hiram disappeared into the forest.

Kade stepped toward them, and she pushed Tsura behind her. He’d broken her confidence therefore she’d not allow him near her daughter.

He stopped, and sadness reflected in his eyes. “I mean no harm.”

“Is it because Silas is dead along with his brother?”

“No, I decided long ago that I would not take the child to them.”

“Bah!” Anger consumed her. She’d begun to care for Kade Walker, and he’d shown her his true side. He’d manipulated her, and she’d been so caught up in finding her daughter that she’d believed every word he’d said as truth.

“You must know I’d never harm a child. I am not that kind of man.”

“You are many things to which I cannot speak of right now.” She glanced down at the children on either side of her.

“My father’s life was at risk? For all the good I tried to do, Silas still killed the only person I ever cared for.”

She’d seen how the news of Sam’s death affected him, and a part of her wanted to comfort him, but she could not see past what he’d done. She straightened.

“Look around you at the bloodshed, at the lives lost for your child. Can you not see the sacrifices made?”

“I see a traitor and nothing more.”

His shoulders fell, and he shook his head.

“Take your leave.” A small piece of her did not want to see him go, but her stubbornness refused to forgive him.

He glanced at Tsura and then Red Wolf.

“Where do you wish to stay, boy?” he asked.

Red Wolf peered up at Pril, his bottom lip trembled, and his brown eyes misted.

“I wish to go with Strong One.”

Pril’s heart broke. She was sure he’d want to stay with her. He had become a part of her, and she loved him. She could see he battled with his decision and wanted him to know it was okay.

“I have grown to love you, Red Wolf, but you must go where your heart speaks. Strong One will care for you and keep you safe. I shall miss you.”

He released a sob before he jumped into her arms and squeezed her tight.

“Go now, and carry me in your heart, for you will be in mine always.” She kissed his cheek one last time before he went to stand with Kade.

“Sister, are you well?” Galius asked, concern stretched across his face as he surveyed the bodies strewn about the ground.

She spun surprised to see him.

“Brother…you are here. You have come.”

“I did.” He frowned. “You were to wait for me.”

She averted her gaze from his unable to see the disappointment within the dark realms of his eyes.

“I could not. You must understand. She is my life.”

He smiled.

“As she is mine.” He glanced at Kade. “Thank you for protecting my sister and niece.”

“It was an honor.” His eyes met hers. She saw the torment within them and glanced away.

“I see you’ve done well, and all but one Monroe is dead.”

“Hiram will remain alive. He is Tsura’s father.”

Galius’ eyes widened.

“It is true. Vadoma had us fooled into believing Silas to be Tsura’s father.”

“How can that be? We watched her go off with him.”

“Yes, but Vadoma did not want us, or anyone to know of her love for Hiram.”

“Why?”

“She wanted to run away with him. They were to sail to the other world when his brothers shanghaied him. Silas wanted Vadoma for himself.”

“I remember he’d come to call on her several times.”

“And she refused.”

“And he got angry.”

“Hiram did not return until after she’d had Tsura, and by then it was too late.”

“She’d surpassed the evil we’d seen in her and became far worse than any of us had ever expected.”

She nodded.

Galius’ eyes clouded, and she knew he thought of how he’d spoken of his sister all these years. He blamed Vadoma for the blood curse—the reason they’d been hunted, and so many had died. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Time will heal your wounds, Brother.”

Kade waited. He did not want to leave Pril. Not like this. Not with hard feelings. Not with his insides in turmoil, and his chest aching so fiercely he was sure he’d die.

She kept her distance from him, and when he tried to explain she closed him out, refusing to hear him.

There was nothing left to do but say goodbye. Now that Galius was here, she was in safe hands. He could leave knowing all would be well with her and the child. He took the boys hand in his.

“Goodbye, Gypsy.”

She lifted her head. He memorized every feature on her face—her short nose, pointed chin, high cheekbones, rose-colored lips and fire-red hair. He embedded her image into his mind.

“Goodbye.”

She was strong, and he knew she’d forget him before he was out of her sight. The thought struck him, almost taking him to the ground as he walked away. He’d be forever changed because of her—a man who cared only for himself, and his problems had grown to care for a little girl he’d never met and her mother. He’d seen into Pril’s life and grew compassion for the things she’d dealt with.

He sighed. It was far better this way. He glanced down at Red Wolf. He had the boy. He thought of Sam. He’d never see him again. He swallowed past the guilt in his throat. He wouldn’t hear Sam’s rustic laugh, see the twinkle in his eye or ask him for advice. He was gone. The thought stopped him, and his life with Sam replayed in his mind.

Red Wolf tugged on his arm.

“Strong One?”

He focused on the boy’s face. Faint lines creased the sides of his eyes.

“Yes?”

“Your thoughts make you sad.”

“They do.”

“Why?”

He didn’t see any sense in hiding how he felt about Sam Walker.

“My father has died.”

“The man with the slanted face killed him.” It wasn’t a question, and he was taken aback at the boy’s keen sense of the things that had gone on around him.

“Yes.”

“We have both faced this death.”

The boy had seen hardships far worse than Kade. He’d watched his father die, and was kept a slave for many years.

“I will not leave you.”

Red Wolf’s words nestled into his heart, and his chest ached with affection for the lad. The days they’d spent together the child had not spoken. Afraid and unsure, he’d remained mute. Last night he’d rambled on about all sorts of things, and Kade listened, enjoying the way his voice grew with excitement.

Goliath stood where Kade had left him hours before, and he ran his hand along the smooth coat.

“Hello, boy.”

Goliath whinnied and stomped his feet.

“Your horse has great affection for you,” Red Wolf said.

“Think so?”

He nodded.

Kade lifted Red Wolf up onto Goliath’s back and climbed up after him. He clicked his tongue, and the horse set out at an even gait. The tops of the trees swayed, rustling the leaves together as a light breeze blew against them. He inhaled, smelling the sea. The salt lingered in the air, and he could taste it upon his tongue. He was almost home—to his ship, his mates and his cabin. He yearned to run his hand along the wooden rail, feel the uneven boards as he walked across them. He thought of Pril and the urge to look back. To see what he’d left behind. He tensed. He would not seek her face among the trees.

“Strong One?”

“Yeah, lad?”

“You love, Gypsy?”

“Love does not exist.” He still believed this to be true. Love was a fairy tale he wanted nothing to do with. He desired real emotions, not flippant spurts of joy followed with a pain so deep you wondered if healing would ever come. He needed none of it.

“Then why do your eyes tell me so?”

“No more questions.”

“Does your heart beat for her?”

“Quiet.”

“She has become a part of you.”

He didn’t answer. There was no reason to. The lad wouldn’t listen, and he was tired of talking. He wanted to forget the last few weeks, board his ship and set sail to the farthest place from here.

Pril picked up Tsura and faced Galius.

“Where do we go now?”

He assessed their surroundings before he answered her. “I see no reason to go anywhere. Hiram does not want the child, therefore she is safe here.”

She eyed him. Why would they stay here? In the very place their sister died?

“I’d rather not. We should set sail to the other world and start fresh.”

“What purpose do we have to move? She is well. Nothing else matters.” He lifted Silas’ body and carried it into the trees. She watched as he picked up each corpse and one by one took them into the forest.

He grabbed the shovel leaning against the south wall of the cabin and went back into the woods to bury the men.

She did not want to stay here. Her stomach clenched, unsettled, and she glanced about the area trying to distinguish why she felt so anxious. Galius was here, and all would be well, but the knowledge did nothing to ease her mind. She picked up Tsura, and the child laid her head on Pril’s shoulder.

“Why did the man go, mama?”

“He was no longer needed.”

“But you need him.”

She peeked at Tsura. The girl had shown she was far beyond her years, but how did she know what was in Pril’s heart?

“I have all I need here, darling. You and Uncle Galius.”

Tsura shook her head, and the black curls whipped Pril’s face.

Her last words to Kade permeated her mind and replayed over and over. She’d been harsh, cutting even, but was unwilling to set him free from her anger. How was she to ignore what he did? She could not look the other way and pretend it never happened? She had begun to care for him in a way she never thought possible. She trusted him, had sacrificed her life to save him. When she thought of all they’d been through hope arose within her chest, but as quickly as it came, she squashed it with the reality of the deceit he had shown her.

She would miss Kade Walker, his arrogant comments and rude behavior, but that was all she’d allow herself to do. There was no room left inside of her heart for anything else. She could not abide what he’d done. Ill circumstances or not, he wasn’t the person she thought him to be.

Tsura wiggled free from Pril’s arms and sat on the ground.

She watched as her daughter drew the shape of a pyramid in the dirt.

“What are you doing?”

The child looked at her, her green eyes glazed. She was seeing something Pril could not.

“What do you see, Tsura?”

She drew four more pyramids, all in different sizes. Her small hand shook as she continued to use her finger and shape another picture. When Pril saw it she gasped.

It was Kade’s dagger, the symbol of the lion on the blade.

Tsura dropped her head and exhaled.

“The man who bears the pyramid has killed many.”

“Does he live?”

She nodded.

“What of the dagger? Tell me what you know of the knife.”

Her small forehead crinkled. “I do not know. I saw the knife but I cannot tell if it brings good or evil.”

She scanned the area. The cabin was covered in overgrown branches and shrubs. The grounds eluded to a warm invitation but the longer she stayed a strange sensation took hold. She felt the tug on her soul, the push from behind telling her to leave this place and never return.

Galius came from the woods, shovel in hand, dirt smeared on his wide shoulders and arms. She stepped toward Tsura’s drawings and messed them with her boot. Until she understood what Tsura’s vision meant she’d not be showing anyone, not even her own brother.

Galius searched among the ground kicking up twigs and rocks. The skin on his forehead wrinkled, and even though his lips were covered with his beard, she knew he frowned.

“What is it you seek, Brother?”

“The talisman. You said the Monroes had it—Silas coveted it.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve searched all of the bodies, and none showed signs of the pendant. Nor can I find the spell book. I’ve gone through the cabin but it is not there.”

“Jude Monroe threw the spell book into the fire. It is gone.”

“And the pendant?”

“I have it here.”

His step was too quick, and she retreated, her senses alert.

“Why do you want it?”

He gazed behind her at Tsura before meeting her eyes and shrugged. “It is the only way to break the blood curse.”

“It has been broken.”

Galius’ stance shifted, and he smiled.

She released the clenched muscles in her back. She’d been leery of everyone and with just cause. Tsura’s drawing hadn’t helped, but now she felt terrible for the mere moments where she’d suspected Galius.

“Tsura has lifted the curse. All is well now, Brother.”

“I know Hiram is not of concern, but I thought it best to remove the curse all together.”

“You need not explain.” She went to Tsura and picked her up.

“I still cannot fathom Vadoma and Hiram.”

“We were not searching for it. Our eyes watched someone else. Vadoma planned it that way.”

“Yes, I see it now.” He frowned.

“What is it?”

“I cannot help my anger still even after all this time.”

She knew he spoke of the blood curse and why their sister had laid such a burden upon them. She no longer held the blame within her heart. She’d let it pass through her when Hiram spoke of Vadoma, and how much she loved him. Pril understood why she’d cursed the Monroes, and she could forgive her sister for it.

“The anger will seep from you like nectar from the flower. It will take time.”

She placed her arm around him, and he wrapped her in his embrace.

“Together we shall remain strong,” she whispered. Her stomach growled, and she giggled.

“I will hunt our dinner.” Without waiting for her reply, he grabbed his quiver and walked into the forest.

Pril eased onto the ground, keeping Tsura in her arms.

“Mama, your face is hurt.”

“It is.” She’d forgotten about the cuts and bruises upon her skin until now. The flesh on the right side of her face was the most tender, and when she blinked the bruise stung.

“Want me to make it better?”

“No, my sweet. I will be fine.” She didn’t want to see Tsura get sick like she did when healing Hiram.

How had she received such a gift, to heal with her hands, without words from a spell book? It was amazing and dangerous all at the same time. She thought of Kade, and her gaze went to the trees where he’d left. She’d not lay eyes on him again.

He’d placed himself in danger on many occasions during their brief time together, and for that she was grateful, but she still couldn’t understand why he hadn’t told her the truth. There had been several opportunities to speak it, yet he held the information inside—afraid.

She knew fear all too well. She’d lived with constant guilt, shame and agony, but with all of it came a strong need to love. She yearned for freedom, to give herself entirely without fear and reservations pushing her away. Love was a difficult thing, one that came with many daggers to the back. Love had shown her deception, betrayal, hatred, anger, lust, agony, warmth, exuberance and a contentment she’d never thought possible. Love had given her Tsura. No matter what Vadoma did, Pril would be forever grateful to her sister for the gift she’d bestowed upon her.