Demon Untamed (40 page)

Sonya glanced up, gauging the dimming sunlight. Her expression turned sorrowful. Endeavoring to search at night would be too dangerous for any of them, especially after the attack.

“You know Cale is fierce. Wherever he is. I’m sure he and Kyra are in no danger.”

Sonya locked gazes with him. “Thank you for attempting to sooth my worries, but I can see right through you.”

Ethan pressed his lips together. It was true; even he didn’t believe his own words.

Portia’s slight figure popped so suddenly into the clearing that they all jumped. “I see you’ve made a mess of things without me.”

“Portia!” Sebastian yelled. “By the gods, where have you been?”

She shot him an affronted look, but her words came out blithely. “Only doing my best to campaign for your cause. Commence with gratuitous behavior.”

“I’ll ask you why I should be grateful later. Is there a way for you to use magic to find Cale and Kyra? They’ve been missing since yesterday.”

“I’m aware. Hence the comment about the mess. I can scry for them, but that takes time and concentration, and I won’t be able to work spells to conceal the oncoming horde.” She pointed to the sky.

“Do it,” Sebastian ordered without hesitation.

“Very well. I should hear back from the council in a few hours’ time regarding what they are willing to provide. With any luck, they’ll send more powerful magic wielders than I.” With that, she vanished.

Chapter 34

The next morning, Sonya found herself faced with bad news, followed by terrible news. Neither Ru nor Ina had returned to their guild, and Portia’s scrying had failed. So not only were they no closer to finding Kyra and Cale, but more of the
horde
, as Portia had so eloquently put it, were fast approaching, all but announcing to the Kayadon that an invasion was coming.

The only good news seemed to be that far more races had come to the Faieara’s aid than any of them could have anticipated. Numerous ships were now stationed around the planet, waiting, and new transmissions were flooding in by the hour.

Unfortunately, with the search for Cale ongoing and no intel on the Kayadon’s stronghold, they were nowhere near battle-ready. 

Sebastian kept up the pretense of leader, dividing his time between the search and consulting with Aidan, Tristan, and Ivan over battle strategies. All the while, he kept the waiting ships in check and far enough away from the planet that the element of surprise was not lost. Many of the crafts were run by bloodthirsty captains, mercenaries, and pirates who didn’t take kindly to being ordered around. They were itching for action.

And Sonya was right there with them.

Each moment that past felt like lost time. Time that could be spent taking back what the Kayadon had callously claimed. This world might not appeal to her taste, but it should not belong to Kayadon scum.

She knew Ethan could sense her urgency, but made no attempt to temper it. She imagined he felt the same. The only thing holding them back was the worry that if they attacked now, both Cale and the future Faieara queen would be put in worse jeopardy than they might already be.

If they were even alive.

Sonya shook the notion from her mind, clinging to the only thought that would keep her from breaking down completely. She knew her brother well, and if he’d been captured or killed, he wouldn’t have gone down without a fight.

Sebastian summoned them all to the clearing to perform one last search before he unleashed the legion of eager warriors upon the Kayadon…and this planet. In a moment of uncharacteristic compassion, Sonya worried for the ignorant Faieara who had no idea their world was very close to delving into a fiery pool of chaos.

Would any of them join the fray and take to battle, or would they escape farther into their protective woodland? That is, if there even were any more hidden guilds. It was entirely possible that Azule’s band of brothers was an anomaly among an otherwise enslaved race.

Ethan believed there were others. He would have her believe there were hundreds, if not thousands of free Faieara concealed all over Evlon. After he’d insisted it, Sonya had given her best encouraging smile, but feared it looked more patronizing than anything.

Azule had yet to decide whether he would fight by their side or not. Each time he refused to give a definitive answer, she had to bite her tongue to keep from crying, “Coward!”

At times she had to wonder if any from this world had the guts to do what needed to be done. Then she would admonish herself for such thoughts. She only had to remember the bravery Anya had displayed, as well as Anya’s sisters. Not to mention, Ethan was more than a fearsome fighter, filled with courage and determination equal to her brothers, perhaps even outshining them in some ways.

“We’ll head off as a group,” Sebastian said when they were all gathered. “We can’t risk splitting up at this point.”

Sonya nodded, assessing the rest of the group: Nadua, Marik, Anya, Tristan, and Ethan. If another pack of those creatures attacked, the little buggers wouldn’t stand a chance.

A voice called from behind. “What about us?”

They all glanced at Azule, a little surprised to see he was flanked by what must have been his entire guild—Sonya determined forty or more.

“We’re glad to have you,” Sebastian said diplomatically.

Ethan called out, “Are you here merely to help in the search or to fight when the time comes?”

“I’d hoped just to recover the princess, but my guild has spoken. They’re eager to take back their home. And as far as I can tell, this time—with you, Ethan, and your constituents—we may just have a chance.”

“About time,” Sonya mumbled.

“Very good,” Sebastian said more loudly.

Sebastian instructed Azule to split his guild members into two and send them in opposite directions for a wider search. Azule complied without argument.

Then Sebastian turned to his own group. “Rex, Tristan, take the lead. The rest of us will follow behind. Marik, and Ethan, take up the rear.”

It didn’t escape Sonya’s notice that Sebastian had placed all the females, including herself, at the center of the group and she was reminded of Ethan’s comment about a male’s natural instinct to protect their females. Yet instead of indignation, Sonya felt only affection for her eldest brother. Although, she did give him a swift jab in the arm and call him an overbearing dolt.

He responded with a bemused look before taking his position.

Just as Ethan took his first steps behind the party into the foliage, Portia popped into existence at their front.

She spoke quickly so that no one could get in a word. “Oh, good. I caught you. The counsel sent a few more witchlings. Not what I’d hoped for, but better than nothing I suppose. Anyway, I’ve had Enaki take over scrying. She seems confident that she can get results. Loralye will help me with other things while Yarrow is attempting to brew up some major concealment. He has some very interesting ideas.”

Ethan blinked, and Portia was gone.

Tristan visibly shuddered. “Canna say enough how unsettling all this magic is to me.” At their looks, he added. “Doona get me wrong, the Faieara are different. They’re born with it, same as dragons. Runs in our blood. Witches, Serakians, whatever they want to call themselves, they use magic in unnatural ways. They go against the natural order, in my opinion.”

After hiking for several hours, they took a short break in a thickly wooded area that overlooked the valley. Sebastian and Rex kept watch while the others relaxed. Marik reached into his pack and fished out a bundle. He unwrapped it, revealing a hunk of smoked meat. The sweet scent drew everyone’s attention. Without a word, he broke off pieces and passed them around.

Ethan bit into his portion and then settled next to Tristan on the branch of a downed tree. “So, you and the witches on your planet are still at odds?”

Tristan looked at him. “You heard of that?”

He nodded. “My king spoke of your people often.”

Tristan ripped of a chunk of meat, chewed, and then swallowed before saying, “A more deceitful bunch I have never met, those witches. Claim to want peace between us, but forever find ways to sabotage it.”

Ethan glanced over the beloved mountains that surrounded the deep valley containing his once home; the palace. “Have you or anyone in your clan spent much time exploring off world, or learning of other spacefaring cultures besides the Faieara?”

Tristan raised a brow and shook his head. “We’ve no’ had the need. Our world is plentiful. Would not have even bothered with your lot had your king not sought out and befriended my father so many years ago.”

“There are other benefits to be gleaned than forming alliances. It’s a valuable experience. I’ve spent a lot of time away from my people, having to find unique ways to survive. Of course, my situation is extreme, but if I ever need, I can mingle with every manner of foreign cultures without inadvertently causing or taking offense. Once I understood the ways of others, animosity was easily avoided.”

Tristan narrowed his gaze. “Now, I know you’re no’ suggesting there’s a lack of understanding on the part of my clan. You doona know what those bluidy witches have done.”

Ethan shrugged. “You’ve shared the same land for centuries, yet cannot get along. I imagine both sides are guilty of something. Could it be pride that keeps you from peace?”

A muscle ticked in Tristan’s jaw. He opened his mouth to respond—

A brilliant light flashed over the sky. Seconds later, the rumbling of the fierce, yet distant, explosion rocked the ground at their feet. A shockwave followed, compressing the air from Ethan’s lungs and nearly knocking them all over. Ethan sucked in a breath and shot to his feet. A plume of smoke billowed up from behind the wall of trees.

A deafening quiet settled over the group as they all gaped. Even the wildlife seemed to have taken a stunned pause. A light wind filtered through the leaves above.

A second explosion accompanied the first, this one slightly farther away. A heavy ball of dread settled in the pit of Ethan’s stomach.

The good news was the explosions were nowhere near
Marada
—they resided in another valley altogether—but they were far too close for comfort.

Several ships shot overhead, made into shadowy figures by the thick forest ceiling.

Sebastian let out a harsh curse. “We must get back, now!” He started to move, but then froze in place and tilted his head to the side.

Sonya retrieved her gun and swung her head around as if hearing whatever had alarmed Sebastian.

“Those creatures are coming,” she said.

Ethan pulled his gun, though he could detect nothing out of the ordinary. A heartbeat later, low growls registered. He tightened the grip on his weapon. Snapping of twigs indicated numerous entities approached.

“Not just creatures,” Marik hissed. “Kayadon.”

“An army of them,” Sebastian declared. “Let’s go.” He ushered everyone in the opposite direction. Their pace started as a jog at first, in order to remain quiet, but before long, Sebastian ordered, “Hurry!” and they all sprinted forward.

The creatures Ethan had only seen in drawings suddenly raced beside him. He had to hold back a gag from the sight. Bony, gray skinned animals with large jaws designed for catching and holding prey. He kept them in his peripheral as he forced his legs faster. When one jumped at him, he was ready with his weapon and shot it down.

Sonya made good use of her gun. Her aim was spot on as she kept a swift pace. Ethan took to counting the yelps as she felled one creature after another, allowing pride to wash over him.

He reached thirteen when all at once chaos threaded through his world. Blast after blast vibrated the ground around them—targeting them—the heat of each explosion scorching his skin. Through the turmoil, he tried to determine if Ivan’s fleet or the dragon’s ships had moved in, but it was impossible to tell. The trees shielded every craft that flew over.

A plethora of violent noises bombarded his ears. He could only assume the Kayadon had discovered the presence of the enormous army stationed around the planet and initiated the attack.

“They’re closing in,” Tristan yelled.

Ethan glanced back. Several Kayadon dodged through the trees after them. They appeared a bit more haggard than he recalled, their skin just as tight and devoid of color as their ravenous pets. Several sets of veiny white eyes locked onto him.

“What’s the plan?” he asked no one in particular.

Only a few feet ahead, Tristan answered, “We need to find a place to make a stand. Any ideas?”

With a quick glance around, Ethan tried to draw on his memory of the land. After a moment of gauging their position, an idea sparked. “Keep going! There should be a hanging cliff ahead. If we get there, we can keep the Kayadon from surrounding us. I think it’s our best chance.”

Nadua gasped. “Oh! The cliff! I”—she directed an arrow toward a creature nipping at her heels—“I had a vision once. We were all there on the cliff that overlooks the palace! I’m sure of it now.”