Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series (23 page)

Lorcan nodded in acknowledgement when the
witch halted before him, withholding any formal greeting he might
have otherwise offered. He had fought in many battles against the
Dark with the younger witch. Lorcan respected his skill, but
Kendrick was also no doubt responsible for the gathering that
pressed at his gates.

Kendrick offered the same reserved greeting.
Already having anticipated that he would not be well received by
the Warrior of Light, he wasted no time, “Lorcan, we know the witch
is here; there are reports in the Realm that you have given the
girl protection.” At the sardonic lift of Lorcan’s brow he rushed
on, “We are left to wonder why she, the
Chosen,
has not been returned to her people. We
realize that the prophecy of the Chosen is disconcerting to the
Vampire faction, but understand me in this, if the girl has been
harmed…” Kendrick did not follow with the remainder of his threat,
having observed the danger in the dark shift of the vampire’s
eyes.

Disdain threaded his tone when Lorcan
responded evenly, “You are misinformed Kendrick. The girl is no
longer yours to claim and whether or not she is the Chosen remains
to be seen.”

His words had the desired effect. Immediately
agitated, Kendrick stepped forward aggressively but he checked
himself when he noted that all of the Elite had reflexively
tightened their hold on their weapons. Lorcan had made no move
towards his sword however, the insult obvious to the Vampire in
attendance. The Warrior of Light considered Kendrick too paltry a
threat to raise any defense.

Raising his palms in a conciliatory gesture,
Kendrick took a pace back in retreat, “The Realm is filled with the
tale of the destruction of the Dark at her hands. From what the
Seers have divined, this girl is Kaitriana, Myrrdyn’s own and in
the line of the Warrior Caste.” Assuming a nonthreatening posture
by folding his arms over his chest his words were the opposite, “We
expect that Kat be presented so that we can verify her condition
and we demand that she be released to her Caste.”

Lorcan’s eyes narrowed, more over Kendrick’s
familiar use of Kat’s name than his implied threat. He greeted the
witch’s challenge with scorn, “Understand
me
in
this
, Witch. Your
demands mean nothing to me. I will produce her because I choose to
as it is the only expeditious way to get your distasteful kinfolk
the hell off my land. You will see that her choice is to stay with
us and that
my
Coven is her home.” Lorcan
took pleasure in the burning anger his words raised in the other
and imparted the final insult arrogantly, “I hate to dash your
hopes Kendrick but I believe your Prophecy is dead.”

Kendrick, peril from the Elite forgotten,
rushed at Lorcan angrily, “What have you done to her? No witch
would choose to remain with the Vampire, not of her own
accord.”

Lorcan’s unyielding hand, pressed to the
center of the male’s chest, stopped his forward progress. With an
easy shove, Lorcan returned the witch to his former location before
nodding to Colm; the confidence in the vampire’s eyes rubbed
Kendrick further, “Colm, bring Kaitriana.”

Kaitriana had made her way down to the
entryway, worry marring her expression. Through the panes of glass
that overlooked the grounds, she had spied the large group of the
Witch loitering beyond the gates. When Colm appeared back inside
the doors she anxiously hurried to his side.

Despite the tense situation outside, Colm
smiled appreciatively at her appearance. Kat had changed from the
dress she had worn earlier and was a vision in a navy hued gown of
silk with flowing gossamer skirts. Colm noted that it was a
recreation of the gown she had worn the first eve of her arrival,
only that the color was blue and the Warrior Caste symbols that
adorned it were in glittering silver. Her hair fell in heavy waves,
gleaming black, down to her waist. She had a headpiece fashioned of
ornate silver scrolls and sparkling navy gems resting high on her
forehead that kept the tumbling curls back from her face. The witch
had chosen Lorcan’s colors. He would be pleased and the showing of
solidarity with their leader pleased Colm as well.

Raising a questioning gaze to his, she placed
her hand on his arm. Her voice interrupted his musings, “What is it
Colm? Is Myrrdyn here?”

She sounded hopeful at the mention of her
grandfather’s name; he hated to disappoint her. Shaking his head in
answer to the second question, Colm offered explanation to the
first, “They want you back lass. The stories of your return have
circulated and they are aware that you are under Lorcan’s care.
They still believe you to be their Chosen.”

Kaitriana frowned a bit at the last
statement, puzzled. She
still
believed her
to be their Chosen as well, though if Colm’s words were any
indication the vampires did not. She shook it off; she would get
answers to that later. The current situation required her full
attention, “Has Lorcan bid me to him?” At Colm’s affirmation, she
turned one last long gaze at the gathering through the window and
nervously smoothed wet palms down her skirts.

Lilly appeared at her side and after
acknowledging Colm’s greeting, placed a light hand on Kat’s
shoulder. Offering a squeeze of reassurance and her support, she
questioned, “Shall I go with you Kat?” At Kat’s quizzical look,
Lilly winked, “I am curious to see if any one of
those
witches might have some ruby slippers.
Some
of us are rather fond of shoes, you
know.” Kat’s face brightened over the teasing camaraderie of her
friend. In unison the party of three rejoined Lorcan at the
gate.

The sudden appearance of the witch in
question brought silence to the crowd; they had been growing unruly
in their discontent over the delay. The utter quiet of the scene
increased Kaitriana’s anxiety. It escalated further when both
Kendrick and Lorcan simultaneously made move towards her. Lorcan’s
icy gaze fell to the male witch, as the vampire’s hand fell
possessively to Kat’s shoulder.

She eyed each of them, pondering how best to
ease the tension that was thick between the two. Knowing she need
tread carefully lest she cause a battle to begin at the gates, she
smiled affectionately to Lorcan first. Unable to resist the urge,
she reached out and let her fingertips trail down the side of his
chest. His answering smile was warm; his ire over their earlier
dispute dismissed.

Given the tenderness she found in his gaze,
she suddenly felt rather confident in her place at his side and in
her ability to handle the challenges of facing her kin. She took a
step beyond Lorcan, her expression fixed with a smile of greeting
for her old acquaintance, “Kendrick, tis good to see you once
more.”

Kendrick moved closer, his eyes examining her
for signs of abuse. When he was satisfied with her condition, he
reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly. A myriad of emotions
played over his face - disbelief, joy, confusion. His voice was
awestruck when he finally found it, “Kaitriana, you have returned.”
Kendrick continued to look at her in wonder as though her
reappearance defied the laws of the very Heaven they believed
in.

Her smile broadened at Kendrick’s obvious
acceptance of her; there was much to tell her family of witches.
Her sudden delight at being in the company of them was obvious, as
she explained, “Tis no miracle Kendrick, I never perished. I was
but…indisposed…for an extended period.” Lorcan scoffed at her
understatement and she shot him a quelling glance. Kendrick’s hand
closed tightly on hers and he was tugging her forward, away from
Lorcan as she was attempting to explain, “I am still adjusting to
this world and my place in it.”

In his excitement Kendrick was neither
registering her words nor conscious of her resistance to his pull.
Stretching their joined hands skyward, his voice rang out to the
witches, “The Prophecy is alive!” The joyous cry that resulted was
overwhelming to her acute senses and Kaitriana jerked her hand from
his in reaction. She was flinching in response to the noise that
continued to grow, splintering the quiet night.

Lorcan’s concern had him stepping forward; he
witnessed her distress and his instinct was to protect his female.
He wondered how quickly the Witch would forsake her and their
celebration once they realized she was no longer solely their own.
Dealing with the aftermath of her devastation over the disloyalty
of her kin would fall to him. Despite his worry for her, it was
then that he noticed Kat’s attire and a smile tugged at his
lips.

The little one pleased him greatly and
possessiveness surged through him. Lorcan took position at her
back, his murmured praise only for her ears, “Your beauty is
breathtaking, Kaitriana. Perhaps I should require that you wear my
colors every day.” Stroking a hand lightly over her hair, he saw
the tension ease from her shoulders as she found comfort in his
close presence.

The boisterous noise at the gates had drawn
more of Lorcan’s warriors outside. Their tempers were rankled at
witnessing the claiming of the girl they had come to think of as
their own. All wondered when the little vampire would dispel the
Witch of their notions and make her new nature known.

Kendrick mistook her withdrawal as hesitation
to face the large crowd. He quickly reclaimed her hand, pointedly
ignoring the possessive growl the action brought forth from Lorcan.
Kendrick swept his other hand towards the gathering. Gazing at the
group his pleasure at their joy was etched on his face. He offered
explanation, “You are their hope Kat, when all hope had been lost.
Accept their welcome as is your due.”

Her gaze was drawn back to the witches as the
crowd continued to revel at her appearance. The recounting of her
destruction of the forces of the Dark en mass had bolstered their
belief that the fulfillment of the Prophecy was upon them; the end
of their long suppression by the Dark had begun. Kat extracted her
hand once more, causing Kendrick to direct his full attention back
to her with a frown over her behavior. Wondering at the possible
reasons for her reluctance, he looked from her to Lorcan and then
back.

“Kaitriana, have you chosen to stay at this
Coven
?” he said the word as though vile.
“Were you waiting for us to come and claim you?” Before she could
answer, he gave her a contemplative stare, the thought just
entering his mind, “Or is the fulfillment of the Prophecy is to be
found here?” Glancing back meaningfully over his shoulder to the
increasing Vampire presence in the courtyard, Kendrick continued,
“If you intend to join with one of these warriors,
he
should make home with
you
at your Caste. One such as you has no place in a Vampire coven. It
is beneath you Kaitriana.” His words drew growls from more than
just Lorcan this time.

The Vampire in attendance possessed the sight
to view the marking on Kat’s neck while the Witch did not. They
understood the significance of the scar and that the girl would
remain. She was theirs; the mark indicated Lorcan had claimed her.
All had heard the question and were not shocked when she cast a
sidelong glance back to Lorcan. A telling blush filled her cheeks
even as she reprimanded the Witch leader for his insult, “Your
disdain is unappreciated Kendrick. I have been well cared for by
these Vampire. None here are beneath me.”

In slow realization, Kendrick followed the
track of her gaze, her admonishment barely even registered over his
shock. His gaze sought hers and he bellowed his outrage,
“
He
cannot be the one Kat; Lorcan is not a
true Vampire. It is a well known fact that he is not even fully
accepted by their breed.”

Even though she was obviously distraught over
his slanderous characterization of the vampire in question,
Kendrick continued irately, “Lorcan was born a witch, but he has
repeatedly spurned his true kin. He was tainted by
their
blood and he suffered the loss of his magic as a
result. He is not worthy to fulfill the Prophecy!”

To his surprise, rather than heed the wisdom
of his words, Kat moved backwards until she was fixed against the
wall of Lorcan’s chest. She snarled at Kendrick when she finally
spoke, “And
you
are worthy to divine the
meaning of the words of the Prophecy? Tis odd, is it not, given
that
I
am the Chosen? You are but a male
witch temporarily occupying the seat of a Queen and you know not of
what you speak, Kendrick. Tis only
your
opinion and
your
interpretation of the
Prophecy, and you have wasted my time with your visit.”

Lorcan was pleased with her loyalty and his
arrogant nod of agreement was emulated by his men. Slipping his arm
around her waist, he cemented his claim to her for all in witness.
The weight of his gaze fell back to Kendrick and triumph lurked in
the depths; the satisfaction on his countenance grew as he ran his
fingertips lazily over the mark at her neck.

Kendrick was disturbed by her words and
Lorcan’s familiarity with the girl. She was certainly not in
possession of her wits and he attempted to wrench her from the
other’s hold. “Kaitriana, when Myrrdyn returns he will explain this
to you. A match between you and that… male…is not acceptable,” he
sputtered the words as though the correct description for Lorcan
had momentarily escaped him. His next words were forcefully
malicious though, “Lorcan denounced his Witch heritage in favor of
the Vampire. He is nothing more than a foul blend of the two
species and will never be given full acceptance by either.”

Her laughter was surprising, but there was an
edge of temper in it that Lorcan immediately recognized. He
wondered if she was about to give Kendrick the same lesson she had
Gareth when he had confronted her. Given the insults being hurled
his direction, Lorcan could not deny that he would love to see his
little beauty set the arrogant warrior on his ass.