Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series (44 page)

Lorcan immediately began to disagree as did
his men, but she waved her hand in irritation, “We must know who
did this. It is the only way. I can turn my attention to removing
this barrier and cease the slaughter of our allies or I can waste
precious time trying to create complex spells. However, by the time
I finish it will be unnecessary as our people will be dead and the
traitors will be long gone.” Her tone had turned icy and the regal
poise with which she addressed them stifled further argument.

Before she turned back to tackle the task of
the barrier, her eyes had already been taken again by the
shimmering wave of blue. They all heard her griping under her
breath, “Bastards…ambushing me…I’ll show them magic…” She raised
her hands and her reignited fury had lightning streaking the sky. A
blue hue was emanating from under her pale skin, giving her an
ethereal glow. Her smile was contemptuous when she whispered, “Dark
Witch, you should have been better prepared for me.” Light from one
hand and fire from the other shot forward. Kaitriana was chanting
in the Witch speak of the Ancients.

No counterstrikes would reach her now; none
would have the strength to make it past the magic she had just
leveled at the defenses. She took a step forward simultaneous with
a booming flash of white light. When the magic burgeoned to this
magnitude, she was gloriously powerful. Kaitriana issued a derisive
little laugh and kept walking. The blast of her magic made direct
impact on the castle walls as the dark barrier collapsed.

A victorious cry rent the air; their enemy
was now visible and vulnerable. Strikes of fire and light were
launched with precision, felling targets. The Vampire assault was
only seconds behind. Unable to shadow, the group had had to rely
upon their preternatural speed to gain the castle grounds. Loud
growls were mingling with screams of pain as Vampire of both sets
ripped the throats of their foe.

The Elite fanned out once more behind. Cade
had taken his sword and was engaging in the melee with the vampire
warriors. Kaitriana was effective in taking down opponents from
this distance with her magic, but a quick glance up at Lorcan
revealed that he shared her frustration. He was as impatient as she
to gain entrance and find the agents of this betrayal.

Kaitriana pulled back her assault and spun to
face her mate. The planes of his face had grown harsh with the
stress of battle and his fangs had extended wickedly. He was a
death-dealing warlord at present, an opponent she would never want
to face. Slightly daunted, she hesitated before shouting up at him,
“If you will guard us, I can unbind you.” Lorcan took his eyes from
the encroaching threats only long enough glance at her and then
cast a meaningful look back over his shoulder to his Elite. She
caught it and smiled, “Them as well." He grinned his thanks as did
those five that caught the conversation.

Lorcan took a defensive stance watching the
area before them, knowing the Elite were keeping their backs free
from menace. Kaitriana stepped close, her body flush with his
behind the protection of his broadsword. Putting her hand to his
chest, she began chanting. She stopped almost immediately, a frown
marring her brow. Her eyes were now only icy blue; the full thrust
of her power had receded back into her control.

Lorcan was momentarily distracted by it
before he pulled his gaze away back to the area before them. His
attention remained there though he whispered to her, “My mother was
a Queen. Her eyes shifted as yours do when she was fully empowered
with her magic.”

She nodded absently but was chewing at her
lower lip. He could tell her focus was not on the conversation and
her words spilled freely without thought, “I am the Queen of
Queens, only we few have the shift of eyes.” Her hands glowed once
more and she murmured, “Damn Cade and his tricky spells.”

Kaitriana stumbled when Lorcan unexpectedly
shoved her behind him to take the heads of two Darks. He issued a
wry laugh when he yanked her back into the protective circle,
“Having trouble with the Spell Caster again, love?” Before she
could answer, Lorcan went back to their former topic, “No doubt you
are magnificent Witch, but you cannot be a Queen of Queens when
there are none. No Witch endowed with that level of magic has risen
in recent history.”

Even though Kat seemed to be paying little
attention to his words, they apparently struck a chord deep within
her. Her eyes were suddenly awash with the sparkling veil yet again
and her tone was distant, dreamy, with her secretive smile, “The
Queens are rising Lorcan…it has already begun.”

He was too shocked for a moment to probe
further and when he recovered she had resumed her chanting as
though there had been no interruption. The blue overlay was gone as
suddenly as it had arrived and her hands were smoothing over his
armor. Lorcan shook his head, wondering if his mate was even aware
when the Seer power overtook her and if she could consciously
recall the visions from when it did.

The scene around them was a bloodbath and it
was much the same over the grounds leading up to the Castle steps.
The land was littered with the dead and dying, both Light and Dark.
The Light Healers were moving through the wounded, protected by
guards, trying to repair those of the faction that could still gain
benefit from their magic. He called back to his Elite while he
stood still under the ministrations of his wife’s hands, “Make your
way to the interior as quickly as you are able, we need to find
those that had a hand in this betrayal. We will join you.”

Before they could be off, Kaitriana stepped
back with a cocky grin and waved her hand at him and then over to
his men, “There is no need to fight your way. We can shadow to the
steps…Cade is not as good as he thinks he is.” She was certain from
their expressions that no less than three of the Elite would have
kissed her if Lorcan would not have taken their throats over the
gesture.

Lorcan brushed his lips over her brow,
murmuring, “You are a useful little brat.” The group of seven
shadowed to the steps.

The massive doors to the castle were not
barred nor were they protected by magic. After Kaitriana reported
that particular fact to Lorcan, he advised the group in a cautious
tone, “We’re expected…be on guard.” He pushed one heavy door and it
swung easily to grant access to a well-lit interior. The hall that
loomed before them was massive and conspicuously empty at first
glance. Colm shouted to draw the attention of Lorcan’s men in the
yard, signaling for them to join with their leader with all
possible haste. Lorcan fixed a steady gaze on Kaitriana and gave
the order in a tone that would brook no argument, “You wait here.”
Turning to Sayer, he gave another, “Guard the witch and detain the
first few that make it this way to provide assistance.”

Kaitriana did not agree with the directive
but with Sayer standing guard she knew she had little chance of
making it into the interior to assist with routing any Darks. Her
mutinous frown drew Lorcan’s attention and his voice was terse when
he grasped her chin tightly, “I mean what I say Kaitriana. If you
move from here before I signal to you, I will bind your powers
until I am damned good and ready to give them back.”

Her frown remained but she at least
acknowledged the order this time. Sayer had already managed to
gather five other warriors to remain on watch with him, so Lorcan
and the other Elite made their way guardedly through the entrance.
Kaitriana was left to watch them from her vantage point on the
steps, feeling rather impotent as she stood glowering at their
retreating backs. She saw a movement off the side of the hall at
the same time as Lorcan; her call of warning was overtaken by her
male’s bellow of rage at the sight of his long held enemy,
“Rhydach!”

Kaitriana recoiled in distaste at the Dark
One’s appearance; she had heard tales of him but this was her first
time to view the leader of the Dark forces with her own eyes. His
deathly pale bald head gleamed in the light and his elongated fangs
dripped blood of the fallen onto his chin. He was a tall, thin
figure. Garbed in black flowing robes over his war armor, he moved
with a confident swagger. Sneering evilly at his nemesis, he
acknowledged the greeting, “Lorcan…I have been expecting you.” The
words confirmed to all in witness that they had been betrayed in
their mission. This battle was not yet theirs to claim victory;
rather it was only the first round that the Light seemed to have
won.

Rhydach’s gaze swung unerringly to the
doorway and Lorcan’s followed. The Dark One gushed excitedly, “You
have brought your little Witch pet…she has grown into such a
ravishing beauty. Bring her in here and make the introductions…it
would be my pleasure to play with her.” The evil vampire actually
licked his lips in eager anticipation.

Kaitriana was hopeful that Lorcan would call
her to him. She had much to repay this one and she prayed that the
treacherous bitch Cordelia was lurking somewhere nearby. Her thirst
for vengeance had been multiplied by Rhydach’s unexpected
appearance. Her hand fell automatically to the weapon riding her
hip as blue light erupted in her palm.

Rhydach’s guard stepped in place behind him.
There were twenty armed warriors to face Lorcan and his four. The
current odds presented by the Ancient Dark were not in her mate’s
favor. Kaitriana would risk his wrath and make entrance if Lorcan
was not joined soon by more of his own warriors. She caught
Lorcan’s look and the shake of his head. He knew her well and
understood her thoughts and intentions. She was giving him a
rebellious glare when a shout in the yard drew her attention.

Looking over, she saw a massive warrior about
five hundred yards back. He was flanked by a burly red-haired giant
on his right and a statuesque female on his left. Kaitriana had to
give the girl a second look; she was wearing sunglasses and had hot
pink streaks scattered through her shoulder length black hair.

Sayer saw the intimidating warrior at the
same time that Kaitriana did and he jerked his head in that
direction. He provided the name of their menace, “Nicholas, the
Warrior of Dark, has decided to grace us with his presence.” His
tone was derisive and Kaitriana looked on in awe for a moment. The
male vampire was equal to Lorcan in size and build and he was a
fierce looking opponent in his black fatigues. The title was not
lost on her either, this warrior presented no minor threat.
Nicholas was obviously the champion of the Darks; he would not be
referred with such a lofty alias if he were an ordinary
warrior.

Her gaze was pulled back to Sayer when a
strangled sound came from his throat. He was noticeably paler and
his eyes had widened in disbelief. He was fixated on the wild
looking female in company with Nicholas and his voice was barely
audible when he breathed, “Kylie?” Kaitriana was surprised when the
girl seemed to acknowledge the utterance with wicked laughter.

Sayer’s normally unflappable manner shifted
into one of murderous rage. His call to arms to his men and those
that lingered in the yard was simultaneous with Nicholas’s booming
order of attack. Within seconds, another battle began just off the
steps of the castle. Sayer had shadowed and was fully engaged in
deadly sword play with the Warrior of Dark even as he was parrying
the occasional thrust of sword from the female. Kaitriana was
relieved to see Kendrick’s witch Warriors along with the Fire Caste
moving in to offer assistance.

Cade was next to her before she realized his
approach; he had hold on her arm and was tugging her inside. His
unit of witches along with an additional dozen vampire warriors
accompanied him. Lorcan was holding the same position as when her
attention had turned, engaging in a battle of words with the Dark
Ancient. Kaitriana caught the last of that one’s taunt as she
stumbled in after Cade, “…did you not expect that there would be
Vampire now aligned against you, since you have taken the Witch not
only as allies but are keeping one of the critters in your bed?”
Rhydach laughed coldly. He was well pleased with himself and this
change in circumstance within the Vampire faction.

Lorcan’s focus was interrupted by the
entrance of Cade and his expression turned furious upon noting
Kaitriana in the witch’s wake. Cade offered immediate explanation,
“Nicholas is attempting to retake the grounds, she is not safe
without your guard.”

The explanation eased the heat in Lorcan’s
expression, but his eyes glittered with rage when he turned back to
Rhydach, “Who? Tell me and I will let you keep your head for
another day.”

Rhydach mocked him instead, “You shall see…”
His hand fell to his weapon and his guards mirrored the action.

Cade took the signal as enough of a
declaration of their intent. With a wave of his hand and a vicious
curse, three of the darks disappeared with a flash. He winked at
Kaitriana. The forces of Light spread out behind the pair as they
made ready to deal with the Darks moving to intercept them. Two
Elite shadowed to flank Kaitriana in that instant and at Cade’s
puzzled look, she winked back, “Your spells suck, Caster.”

More Darks had been in the shadows and
entered the fray as Lorcan as his group began cutting through to
make way to Kaitriana. The fight was brutal around them. Half of
their group kept watch on the door at their back in the event that
Nicholas and his troops found success against the Light Warriors
keeping them from the entrance. The others were in full combat with
Rhydach and his men. Kaitriana was singularly focused on Rhydach
who appeared to be withdrawing from the fray. He cut a path towards
the massive staircase at the end of the hall. A quick look to
Lorcan told her that he too was mindful of the Dark leader’s
retreat.

Kaitriana sought the attention of her two
guards, Broderick and Marcus, by a hand placed on each. Her nod
directed their notice to Rhydach, whose back was now being guarded
by four warriors as he gained the bottom of the steps leading up to
the second level. Her voice was firm, “I need to be closer and I
need you to guard me well. I sometimes lose myself when I go this
deep.” Both looked at her for explanation and then gained her
meaning; her eyes were shifting, the veil of color already washing
over them. Her powers were surging and she meant to use them
against Rhydach. Broderick nodded his agreement to Marcus and each
took hold of an arm to shadow her within a few feet of the base of
the steps. The two were immediately engaged by the four men
guarding Rhydach. Kaitriana looked up with glowing eyes to her
enemy. Her hands were full of blue fire, but she was distracted by
his laughter.